Defence & Security Current Affairs — Last 6 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Tue, 19 May 2026
Amit Shah chairs 26th Central Zonal Council meeting in Bastar, Chhattisgarh
On 19 May 2026 Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, attended by the Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
DRDO completes development trials of ULPGM-V3 in air-to-ground and air-to-air modes near Kurnool
DRDO announced on 19 May 2026 that it had completed final deliverable configuration trials of the UAV Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 in air-to-ground and air-to-air modes at its range near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
Rajnath Singh holds talks with Vietnam's Defence Minister in Hanoi; MoU on AI and quantum technology
On 19 May 2026 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks in Hanoi with Vietnam's Deputy PM and Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang; the two sides signed an MoU on AI and quantum technology and India announced an AI lab at Nha Trang.
Sun, 17 May 2026
Sat, 16 May 2026
Operation RAGEPILL: NCB makes India's first-ever seizure of Captagon, 227.7 kg worth ₹182 crore
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) announced on 16 May 2026 that Operation RAGEPILL had produced India's first-ever seizure of Captagon – about 227.7 kg of tablets and powder worth about ₹182 crore – and the arrest of a Syrian national.
Indian Navy's oceanographic research vessel INS Sagardhwani concludes port call at Port Klang, Malaysia
The Indian Navy's oceanographic research vessel INS Sagardhwani left Port Klang, Malaysia, on 15 May 2026 after an engagement with the Royal Malaysian Navy focused on hydrography and oceanography.
Fri, 15 May 2026
PM Modi in UAE: ADNOC to store up to 30 million barrels in India's strategic reserves; Strategic Defence Partnership framework signed
On 15 May 2026 PM Narendra Modi visited the UAE, where India and the UAE signed an ISPRL–ADNOC pact for up to 30 million barrels of ADNOC crude in India's strategic reserves, a Framework for the Strategic Defence Partnership, and announced US$5 billion of UAE investment.
Foundation stone laid for AMCA Core Integration & Flight Testing Centre at Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh
On 15 May 2026 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu laid foundation stones for the AMCA Core Integration & Flight Testing Centre at Puttaparthi and BDL's Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility in Anakapalli district.
Thu, 14 May 2026
Tue, 12 May 2026
Mon, 11 May 2026
Sun, 10 May 2026
INS Sagardhwani visits Cam Ranh, Vietnam to deepen India–Vietnam maritime and scientific cooperation
The Navy said on 10 May 2026 that its oceanographic research vessel INS Sagardhwani visited Cam Ranh, Vietnam from 4 to 8 May 2026, where DRDO's NPOL scientists engaged with Vietnamese oceanographers.
INS Sudarshini concludes port call at Mindelo, Cape Verde during Lokayan 26; heads for trans-Atlantic leg
The Navy said on 10 May 2026 that sail training ship INS Sudarshini concluded a four-day port call at Mindelo, Cape Verde on 8 May 2026 under expedition Lokayan 26, and was sailing for Antigua on the voyage's longest leg.
Sat, 09 May 2026
Government appoints Lt Gen N. S. Raja Subramani (Retd) as CDS and Vice Adm Krishna Swaminathan as Chief of the Naval Staff
On 9 May 2026 the Government appointed Lt Gen N. S. Raja Subramani (Retd) as the next Chief of Defence Staff, succeeding Gen Anil Chauhan, and Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the next Chief of the Naval Staff, succeeding Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi.
DRDO's DRDL runs actively cooled full-scale scramjet combustor for over 1,200 seconds in Hyderabad
On 9 May 2026 DRDO's Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) ran its actively cooled full-scale scramjet combustor for over 1,200 seconds at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test facility in Hyderabad, a step towards hypersonic cruise missiles.
Indian Coast Guard commissions ICGS Achal, an Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessel, at Goa Shipyard
On 9 May 2026 the Indian Coast Guard commissioned ICGS Achal, the latest Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessel built by Goa Shipyard Limited with more than 50% indigenous components.
Fri, 08 May 2026
India flight-tests Advanced Agni missile with MIRV system from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha
On 8 May 2026 India successfully flight-tested an Advanced Agni missile with a Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) system from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, hitting multiple targets spread over the Indian Ocean Region.
Steel cutting of fifth and last Fleet Support Ship for Indian Navy held at Hindustan Shipyard, Visakhapatnam
On 8 May 2026 the steel cutting of the fifth and last of five Fleet Support Ships for the Indian Navy was held at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam; the ships, of over 40,000 tonnes displacement, will replenish fleet ships at sea.
10th India–Australia Defence Policy Talks held in New Delhi
On 8 May 2026 the 10th India–Australia Defence Policy Talks were held in New Delhi, co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Australia's First Assistant Secretary Bernard Philip, with both sides looking ahead to the first India–Australia Joint Staff Talks later this year.
Thu, 07 May 2026
DRDO and IAF conduct maiden flight-trial of TARA, India's first indigenous glide weapon kit
On 7 May 2026 DRDO and the Indian Air Force conducted the maiden flight-trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon off the Odisha coast, India's first indigenous glide weapon system that turns unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons.
Nation marks first anniversary of Operation Sindoor; PM salutes armed forces
On 7 May 2026 PM Narendra Modi saluted the armed forces on one year of Operation Sindoor, the strikes of 7 May 2025 on nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Wed, 06 May 2026
Tue, 05 May 2026
North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj: defence production at record ₹1.54 lakh crore
At the three-day North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said on 5 May 2026 that India's defence production has reached ₹1.54 lakh crore, a 174% rise in a decade, and Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth credited indigenous weapons for the success of Operation Sindoor.
Inaugural India–Algeria defence Joint Commission meets in New Delhi
On 5 May 2026 India and Algeria held the inaugural meeting of their defence Joint Commission in New Delhi, co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Algeria's Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces Maj Gen Kaid Nour Eddine, and signed its Rules of Procedure.
MoD signs ₹1,476 crore contract with BEL for five Ground-Based Mobile Electronic Systems
On 5 May 2026 the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹1,476 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited, Hyderabad, for five Ground-Based Mobile Electronic Systems for the Indian Army with at least 72% indigenous content.
Mon, 04 May 2026
BRO's Project Deepak marks its 66th Raising Day in Shimla
Project Deepak of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), raised in 1961 and responsible for over 1,100 km of roads in Himachal Pradesh including the Hindustan-Tibet Road and stretches of the Manali-Leh axis, celebrated its 66th Raising Day in Shimla on 4 May 2026.
Indian Ocean Ship Sagar (INS Sunayna) arrives at Yangon, Myanmar
The Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, INS Sunayna, entered Yangon Harbour in Myanmar on 4 May 2026, coinciding with Chief of the Naval Staff Adm Dinesh K Tripathi's visit, in line with India's MAHASAGAR vision and Neighbourhood First policy.
Sun, 03 May 2026
Sat, 02 May 2026
Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi begins four-day visit to Myanmar
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi began a four-day official visit to Myanmar from 2 to 5 May 2026 to review maritime cooperation with the Myanmar Armed Forces and Myanmar Navy.
Rajnath Singh pays tribute to forces at 'Shaurya' event ahead of Op Sindoor anniversary
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing 'Shaurya' in New Delhi on 2 May 2026 in the run-up to the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, called the operation a golden chapter in India's military history.