Defence Current Affairs — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Thu, 07 May 2026
India Pavilion opens at the 61st Venice Biennale with 'Geographies of Distance: remembering home'
On 7 May 2026 the Pavilion of India opened at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia with 'Geographies of Distance: remembering home', curated by Dr Amin Jaffer, marking India's return to the Biennale Arte since 2019.
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.
IndiaAI and ICMR sign MoU to accelerate responsible AI adoption in healthcare
On 7 May 2026 IndiaAI, under MeitY, signed an MoU with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under which ICMR will share datasets and models from its MIDAS framework on the AIKosh platform and get subsidised GPU compute.
MoSPI releases uniform guideline for compiling Gross State Value Added with base year 2022-23
On 7 May 2026 MoSPI released a uniform guideline for States and UTs to compile Gross State Value Added (GSVA) estimates with the new base year 2022-23, prepared by a sub-committee on regional accounts chaired by Prof. Ravindra H. Dholakia.
101 auctioned mineral blocks operationalised since 2015 auction regime; Odisha leads
On 7 May 2026 the Ministry of Mines said 101 auctioned mineral blocks have been operationalised since the auction regime began in 2015, led by Odisha with 34, while FY 2025–26 saw a record 212 blocks auctioned.
Commerce Secretary visits Switzerland to advance India–EFTA TEPA implementation
On 6–7 May 2026 Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal visited Switzerland to review implementation of the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), India's first trade agreement with the EFTA economies, as India's exports to Switzerland crossed USD 1.2 billion in FY 2025–26.
India and France review science and space cooperation in the Indo-French Year of Innovation
On 7 May 2026 Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh held a video meeting with France's Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space Philippe Baptiste, who proposed closer cooperation in human spaceflight, as both sides noted 2026 is the Indo-French Year of Innovation.
Wed, 06 May 2026
NITI Aayog releases policy report on India's school education system and roadmap for quality
On 6 May 2026 NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery and CEO Nidhi Chhibber released the report 'School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for Quality Enhancement', covering 14.71 lakh schools and over 24.69 crore students across all 36 States and UTs.
India and Vietnam elevate ties to Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during To Lam's State Visit
On 6 May 2026 PM Narendra Modi and Vietnam's General Secretary and President To Lam elevated India–Vietnam relations to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, in the 10th anniversary year of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and witnessed the exchange of MoUs on rare earths, digital payments and more.
Shashi Shekhar Vempati appointed Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification
On 6 May 2026 the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting appointed Shashi Shekhar Vempati as Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for three years, after Prasoon Joshi stepped down on becoming Chairman of Prasar Bharati.
ASUSE 2025: 7.92 crore unincorporated non-agricultural establishments; women head over 60% of manufacturing units
On 6 May 2026 MoSPI released the detailed report of the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025, which estimates 7.92 crore unincorporated non-agricultural establishments and finds female proprietors heading over 60% of manufacturing establishments.
Education Ministry launches School Management Committee (SMC) Guidelines 2026
On 6 May 2026 Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the School Management Committee (SMC) Guidelines 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, to translate NEP 2020 into action across India's nearly 15 lakh schools through community participation.
New Aadhaar App crosses 21 million downloads in three months
On 6 May 2026 MeitY said the new Aadhaar App has been downloaded over 21 million times in three months, with over 28 lakh people updating their mobile numbers and nearly 6 lakh updating addresses through it.
Tue, 05 May 2026
Cabinet approves Bill to raise Supreme Court judge strength from 33 to 37
On 5 May 2026 the Union Cabinet approved introducing the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament to raise the number of Supreme Court judges, excluding the Chief Justice of India, from 33 to 37.
Cabinet approves ₹5,659.22 crore Mission for Cotton Productivity for 2026–27 to 2030–31
On 5 May 2026 the Union Cabinet approved the Mission for Cotton Productivity with an outlay of ₹5,659.22 crore for 2026–27 to 2030–31, aligned with the '5F' vision, to raise cotton yields and quality and make India self-sufficient in cotton.
Cabinet approves Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme 5.0 with ₹5,000 crore for airlines
On 5 May 2026 the Union Cabinet approved ECLGS 5.0, targeting additional credit of ₹2,55,000 crore for MSMEs, other businesses and airlines hit by the West Asia situation, including ₹5,000 crore for airlines.
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.
Sugarcane FRP fixed at ₹365 per quintal for sugar season 2026–27
On 5 May 2026 the CCEA approved a Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of ₹365 per quintal for sugarcane for sugar season 2026–27 at a basic recovery rate of 10.25%, 2.81% higher than the current season.
India and EU launch €15.2 million joint call on EV battery recycling under the TTC
On 5 May 2026 India and the EU launched a third coordinated call for proposals on recycling EV batteries under Working Group 2 of the India–EU Trade and Technology Council, with a combined €15.2 million (~₹169 crore) funding pool and a deadline of 15 September 2026.
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
Summer crop sowing reaches 81.60 lakh hectares, 2.60 lakh hectares more than last year
Summer crops had been sown on 81.60 lakh hectares as on 1 May 2026, against 79.00 lakh hectares a year earlier, the Agriculture Ministry said on 4 May 2026, with coarse cereals and oilseeds up and rice down.
Health Ministry launches Fire Safety Week (4–10 May 2026) and new fire safety guidelines for hospitals
The Union Health Ministry began a nationwide Fire Safety Week from 4 to 10 May 2026 with a pledge on 'Fire Safety in Health Facilities' led by Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, and unveiled the National Guidelines on Fire and Life Safety in Healthcare Facilities (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
GalaxEye launches Mission Drishti, the world's first OptoSAR satellite
Bengaluru-based startup GalaxEye launched Mission Drishti, the world's first OptoSAR satellite combining optical and synthetic aperture radar imaging and India's largest privately built satellite, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg, California, on 3 May 2026.
NEET UG 2026 held for nearly 23 lakh candidates; Pradhan reviews arrangements at NTA
The National Testing Agency conducted NEET UG 2026 on 3 May 2026 for nearly 23 lakh registered candidates, and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited NTA headquarters to review the arrangements.
West Asia update: LPG carrier MT Sarv Shakti crosses Strait of Hormuz with Indian cargo
The Petroleum Ministry said on 3 May 2026 that the Marshall Islands-flagged LPG carrier MT Sarv Shakti, carrying 46,313 MT of Indian LPG cargo, had safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and was expected at Visakhapatnam on 13 May 2026.
Indian Army contingent departs for India–Cambodia exercise CINBAX-II 2026
An Indian Army contingent of 120 personnel, mainly from the Maratha Light Infantry, departed on 3 May 2026 for CINBAX-II, the second India–Cambodia bilateral military exercise, to be held at Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia, from 4 to 17 May 2026.
World Press Freedom Day 2026: 'Shaping a Future at Peace'
World Press Freedom Day was observed on 3 May 2026 on the theme 'Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security', with UNESCO's global conference co-hosted with Zambia in Lusaka on 4 May.
MeitY clarifies there is no plan to change Aadhaar's look to only a photo and QR code
The Ministry of Electronics and IT clarified on 3 May 2026 that reports claiming Aadhaar would change by the end of the year to show only a photo and a QR code are not correct, and there is no plan for any such change.