RPSC RAS Current Affairs — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Wed, 20 May 2026
PM Modi receives FAO's Agricola Medal 2026 at FAO Headquarters in Rome
On 20 May 2026 the Food and Agriculture Organization conferred its Agricola Medal for 2026 on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at its Rome headquarters, for leadership on food security, sustainable agriculture and rural development.
India and Italy elevate ties to a Special Strategic Partnership during PM Modi's visit to Rome
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Italy on 19–20 May 2026, India and Italy elevated their relations to a Special Strategic Partnership and set a goal of €20 billion in bilateral trade by 2029.
First ICMR Annual Clinical Trial Meet: Ayurvedic anaemia trial results, Phase 1 report and single ethics review guidelines
At the 1st ICMR Annual Clinical Trial Meet on 20 May 2026, ICMR presented an ICMR-CCRAS anaemia trial, launched a report on First-in-Human Phase 1 trials and released guidelines for single ethics review of multicentre research.
Atal Pension Yojana adds a record 1.35 crore subscribers in FY 2025-26; women's share at 55.14%
At PFRDA's APY Annual Felicitation Programme on 20 May 2026, officials reported a record 1.35 crore new Atal Pension Yojana subscribers in FY 2025-26, over 9 crore gross enrolments and assets above ₹54,000 crore.
Eight core industries grow 1.7% in April 2026; steel, cement and electricity in positive territory
The Index of Eight Core Industries rose 1.7% (provisional) in April 2026 over April 2025, with only cement, steel and electricity recording positive growth.
World Metrology Day 2026: theme 'Metrology: Building Trust in Policy Making'; 40 GATC certificates and e-Maap portal
On World Metrology Day, 20 May 2026, the Department of Consumer Affairs highlighted the theme 'Metrology: Building Trust in Policy Making', 40 Government Approved Test Centre certificates and the new e-Maap legal-metrology portal.
ANRF selects 10 institutions for Convergence Research Centres of Excellence
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) announced on 20 May 2026 that it had selected 10 institutions to set up Convergence Research Centres of Excellence combining social sciences and humanities with science and technology.
India and South Korea sign defence MoUs on cyber, training and UN peacekeeping in Seoul
On 20 May 2026 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with South Korea's Minister of National Defence Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul, where the two sides exchanged agreements on defence cyber, defence-college training and UN peacekeeping.
ARIES–IIT Delhi study shows transverse waves can reveal hidden turbulence in the solar corona
A study by ARIES Nainital and IIT Delhi, reported on 20 May 2026, shows through 3D simulations that transverse waves in the Sun's corona can produce asymmetries in coronal spectral lines, giving a new way to detect hidden turbulence.
Tue, 19 May 2026
3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo: ties shaped into a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership
At the 3rd India-Nordic Summit, hosted by Norway in Oslo on 19 May 2026, India and the Nordic countries decided to shape their relations into a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership.
Project Cheetah review: population at 53, of which 33 are India-born
A Project Cheetah review chaired by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on 19 May 2026 reported 53 cheetahs in India, 33 of them born in the country, with Banni grasslands in Gujarat and Nauradehi in MP lined up for expansion.
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.
Ayush Anudan Portal launched under Ayush Grid for online grant management
On 19 May 2026 Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav launched the Ayush Anudan Portal, built under the Ayush Grid initiative to handle funding proposals under the ministry's Central Sector Schemes online.
Mon, 18 May 2026
India and Norway elevate ties to a Green Strategic Partnership; aim to double trade by 2030
On 18 May 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held talks in Oslo, elevated India–Norway ties to a Green Strategic Partnership and set a goal of doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
Judges Inquiry Committee on Justice Yashwant Varma submits report to Lok Sabha Speaker
On 18 May 2026 the Judges Inquiry Committee investigating allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma submitted its report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
CSIR signs five agreements with Norwegian institutions in Oslo on clean energy, offshore wind and geosciences
On 18 May 2026 CSIR/DSIR, led by Director General Dr N. Kalaiselvi, signed five agreements in Oslo with the Research Council of Norway, SINTEF, NTNU and Emerald Geomodelling covering clean energy, offshore wind, sustainability, geosciences and academic exchange.
Goyal sets $1 trillion export target for this year and $2 trillion in five years; exports at $863 billion
On 18 May 2026 Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India is targeting exports of $1 trillion this year and $2 trillion over five years, after exports reached $863 billion, nearly 5% higher than the previous year.
PM Modi receives the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit from King Harald V
On 18 May 2026 King Harald V of Norway conferred the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Norway's highest honour for foreign Heads of Government, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Oslo.
Saurabh Vijay takes charge as CEO of UIDAI
On 18 May 2026 Saurabh Vijay, a 1998-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, assumed charge as Chief Executive Officer of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Agriculture Ministry simplifies household pesticide licensing and fertiliser registration under 'Reform Express'
On 18 May 2026 the Agriculture Ministry reviewed reforms under the 'Reform Express', including a one-page licence form for selling household pesticides, QR codes in place of paper leaflets and digital integration of all 649 customs ports for farm imports.
Sun, 17 May 2026
India and Sweden elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership; adopt Joint Action Plan 2026-2030
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson held talks in Gothenburg during the PM's visit on 17 May 2026, elevated India–Sweden ties to a Strategic Partnership and adopted the India-Sweden Joint Action Plan 2026-2030.
Census 2027: houselisting field work begins in Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Delhi's MCD area; 1.44 crore households self-enumerate
On 17 May 2026 field operations for the Houselisting and Housing Census under Phase I of Census 2027 began in Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and the MCD area of Delhi, while self-enumeration opened in Gujarat, J&K, Ladakh and Puducherry.
PM Modi visits the Afsluitdijk dam with Dutch PM Rob Jetten; India–Netherlands Letter of Intent on Gujarat's Kalpasar project
On 17 May 2026 PM Narendra Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten visited the 32-km Afsluitdijk dam, and the two sides welcomed a Letter of Intent on technical cooperation for Gujarat's Kalpasar project.
PM Modi receives Sweden's Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross; first Asian leader to get it
On 17 May 2026 Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden conferred the Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gothenburg, making him the first Asian leader to receive it.
DoNER explores blending North-East's Eri silk with Rajasthan's Kota Doria at Kaithoon
On 17 May 2026 a Ministry of DoNER team led by Secretary Sanjay Jaju visited the Kaithoon Common Facility Centre in Kota, Rajasthan, to explore blending the North-East's Eri silk with the GI-tagged Kota Doria fabric.
Sweden gifts PM Modi replicas of Tagore's handwritten epigrams found in the Swedish National Archives
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and PM Narendra Modi exchanged gifts honouring Rabindranath Tagore during the PM's visit to Sweden on 17 May 2026, marking the centenary of Tagore's 1926 visit to Sweden.
Sat, 16 May 2026
India and the Netherlands elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership; adopt Roadmap 2026-2030
On 16 May 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten met in The Hague, elevated India–Netherlands relations to a Strategic Partnership and adopted a Strategic Partnership Roadmap for 2026-2030.
2nd BRICS CGETI meeting in Gandhinagar; intra-BRICS trade has grown to US$1.17 trillion
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal gave the keynote address at the 2nd meeting of the BRICS Contact Group on Trade and Economic Issues (CGETI) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, PIB reported on 16 May 2026, saying intra-BRICS trade had risen to US$1.17 trillion.
Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi takes office as Prime Minister of Iraq; PM Modi sends congratulations
On 16 May 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi on assuming office as Prime Minister of Iraq.
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.