RPSC RAS Current Affairs — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Sat, 16 May 2026
India produces over 70% of the world's jaggery; exports up 106.5% in value since 2015-16
A PIB backgrounder of 16 May 2026 says India accounts for over 70% of global jaggery production, diverts 20–30% of its sugarcane to jaggery, and saw jaggery exports rise 106.5% in value between 2015-16 and 2024-25.
GeM marks Incorporation Day 2026; platform has 1.36 lakh buyers and nearly 25 lakh sellers
Government e Marketplace (GeM) observed its Incorporation Day 2026, PIB said on 16 May 2026, noting that the GeM SPV was incorporated on 17 May 2017 and that the platform now has over 1.36 lakh government buyers and nearly 25 lakh sellers.
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.
CCPA fines Motion Education ₹10 lakh and Career Line Coaching ₹5 lakh for misleading ads
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) penalised Motion Education ₹10 lakh and Career Line Coaching, Sikar, ₹5 lakh for misleading advertisements under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, PIB said on 15 May 2026.
India's total exports rise 13.59% to US$80.80 billion in April 2026
India's total exports (merchandise and services) in April 2026 were estimated at US$80.80 billion, up 13.59% from April 2025, the Commerce Ministry said on 15 May 2026.
PLFS April 2026: urban unemployment eases to 6.6%; urban female unemployment at one-year low of 8.5%
The PLFS monthly bulletin for April 2026, released by MoSPI on 15 May 2026, put the urban unemployment rate (15+) at 6.6% and the overall labour force participation rate at 55.0%.
Rajasthan gets its first semiconductor plant: Sahasra Semiconductors' OSAT unit at Bhiwadi
On 15 May 2026 Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually inaugurated Sahasra Semiconductors' ATMP/OSAT facility – Rajasthan's first semiconductor plant and India's first SME-led semiconductor facility – and ELCINA's Electronics Manufacturing Cluster at Bhiwadi.
India has 6,628 specified dams, third in the world; DRIP Phase II & III outlay ₹10,211 crore
A PIB backgrounder of 15 May 2026 says India ranks third in the world with 6,628 specified dams, over 26% of them more than 50 years old, and that DRIP Phases II and III carry an outlay of ₹10,211 crore.
Jayant Chaudhary represents India at Uganda President Museveni's swearing-in for a seventh term
Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary represented India at the swearing-in of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni for his seventh term and visited NFSU's Jinja campus, India's first overseas public academic campus, PIB said on 15 May 2026.
Hindustan Copper posts record PBT of ₹1,233 crore in FY26, up 95%
Hindustan Copper Limited, a Miniratna CPSE under the Ministry of Mines, reported a record profit before tax of ₹1,232.73 crore for FY 2025-26, up 95%, the ministry said on 15 May 2026.
Thu, 14 May 2026
Workshop on BIRSA 101, India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease
On 14 May 2026 the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, CSIR and CSIR-IGIB held a workshop in New Delhi on BIRSA 101, India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease, named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
WPI inflation jumps to 8.30% in April 2026, led by fuel and power at 24.71%
On 14 May 2026 DPIIT said annual WPI inflation rose to 8.30% (provisional) in April 2026 from 3.88% in March, driven by mineral oils, crude petroleum and natural gas.
ECI orders SIR Phase III of electoral rolls in 16 States and 3 UTs covering 36.73 crore electors
On 14 May 2026 the Election Commission of India ordered Phase III of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 16 States and 3 UTs, covering 36.73 crore electors; only Himachal Pradesh, J&K and Ladakh remain.
Central Electronics Limited's 200 MW solar module manufacturing line dedicated to the nation
On 14 May 2026 Union Minister Jitendra Singh dedicated the 200 MW Solar Module Manufacturing Line of Central Electronics Limited (CEL), the Mini Ratna PSU that made India's first solar cell in 1977.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calls on PM Modi; reviews progress since 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit
On 14 May 2026 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on PM Narendra Modi and briefed him on bilateral progress since the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit of December 2025.
ITU Council accepts India's proposal to host ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2030
The ITU Council 2026 in Geneva (28 April–8 May) accepted India's proposal to host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in 2030 (PP-2030), likely to be approved at PP-2026 in Doha in November 2026, DoT said on 14 May.
India–Africa Business Dialogue curtain raiser ahead of 4th India-Africa Forum Summit; trade at US$93.69 billion in 2025-26
On 13 May 2026 Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held the curtain raiser for the India-Africa Business Dialogue & Exhibition, to be held alongside the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit, noting India–Africa trade of US$93.69 billion in 2025-26.
India becomes Chair of the Common Criteria Development Board for 2026–2028
India has been nominated Chair of the Common Criteria Development Board (CCDB), the technical core of the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement, from April 2026 to April 2028, MeitY said on 14 May 2026.
EU includes India in revised draft list for continued aquaculture exports from September 2026
On 12 May 2026 the European Union included India in its revised draft list of countries allowed to keep exporting aquaculture products to the EU from September 2026, reversing an omission in Regulation (EU) 2024/2598.
Wed, 13 May 2026
Cabinet approves ₹37,500-crore scheme to promote surface coal and lignite gasification
On 13 May 2026 the Union Cabinet approved a ₹37,500-crore Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects, aiming to gasify about 75 million tonnes of coal/lignite and attract ₹2.5–3 lakh crore of investment.
Cabinet raises MSP for 14 kharif crops for 2026-27; paddy (common) at ₹2,441 per quintal
On 13 May 2026 the CCEA approved higher MSPs for 14 kharif crops for marketing season 2026-27, with paddy (common) at ₹2,441 per quintal and the biggest rise for sunflower seed (₹622).
₹401.50 crore released as first instalment for 2026-27 under the court infrastructure scheme
On 13 May 2026 Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal released ₹401.50 crore as the first instalment of mother sanction for 2026-27 under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for infrastructure of district and subordinate courts.
Piyush Goyal presents LEAPS 2025 awards and releases LEADS 2025 report; exports at record US$863 billion
On 13 May 2026 Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal gave the LEAPS 2025 logistics awards in 13 categories, released the LEADS 2025 report, and said India's exports hit a record US$863 billion with a US$1 trillion target for the current year.
Chile's Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna visits India; both sides seek early conclusion of CEPA
On 13 May 2026 Chile's Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna held talks with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi, and both sides reaffirmed their commitment to an early conclusion of the India–Chile CEPA.
Tue, 12 May 2026
Public sector banks post record ₹1.98 lakh crore net profit in FY 2025-26; gross NPA falls to 1.93%
On 12 May 2026 the Finance Ministry said public sector banks earned a record aggregate net profit of ₹1.98 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, their fourth straight profitable year, with gross NPA at a record-low 1.93%.
Retail inflation at 3.48% in April 2026 on new CPI base 2024; food inflation 4.20%
On 12 May 2026 MoSPI said CPI retail inflation (base 2024=100) was 3.48% (provisional) in April 2026, up from 3.40% in March, with food inflation (CFPI) at 4.20%.
DFS launches US$1.5 billion Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool backed by ₹12,980-crore sovereign guarantee
On 12 May 2026 the Department of Financial Services launched the US$1.5 billion Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool, with a sovereign guarantee of US$1.4 billion (₹12,980 crore), to keep maritime insurance available amid Middle East tensions.
India and IFAD launch eight-year Country Strategic Opportunities Programme for 2026–2033
On 12 May 2026 India and the International Fund for Agricultural Development launched a new eight-year Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) for 2026–2033 to raise rural incomes and resilience.
I4C and Reserve Bank Innovation Hub sign MoU for AI-driven detection of mule accounts
On 12 May 2026 the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) of MHA and the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) signed an MoU to feed I4C's Suspect Registry data into AI-driven fraud detection to catch mule accounts.
President Murmu confers National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 on 15 nurses
On 12 May 2026, International Nurses Day, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 on 15 nursing professionals at Rashtrapati Bhavan.