Asia Current Affairs — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Fri, 22 May 2026
Raipur workshop reviews 2 lakh new cooperatives, grain storage plan and White Revolution 2.0
On 22 May 2026 the Ministry of Cooperation held a regional workshop at Raipur to review the formation of 2 lakh new M-PACS, dairy and fisheries cooperatives and the World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in the cooperative sector.
Vice President releases 'The Library Man of India: The Story of P.N. Panicker'
On 22 May 2026 Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan released 'The Library Man of India: The Story of P.N. Panicker', written by P.P. Sathyan, at Uprashtrapati Bhavan.
Thu, 21 May 2026
Falta Assembly constituency in West Bengal votes again in full repoll; ECI's final turnout is 89.09%
The 144-Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, voted afresh in all 285 polling stations on 21 May 2026 after the Election Commission countermanded the 29 April poll; ECI's final figure puts turnout at 89.09% of 2,36,537 electors.
Indian War Memorial inaugurated at Imjingak Park, Seoul, honouring Indian troops in the Korean War
On 21 May 2026 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and South Korea's Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul inaugurated the Indian War Memorial at Imjingak Park, Seoul, honouring the 60 Para Field Ambulance and the Custodian Force of India.
UMMID programme for rare genetic disorders dedicated to the nation
On 21 May 2026 Science Minister Dr Jitendra Singh dedicated the Department of Biotechnology's UMMID (Unique Methods of Management of Inherited Disorders) programme for rare genetic disorders to the nation.
BRICS Justice Ministers adopt Gandhinagar declaration on strengthening mediation and arbitration
On 21 May 2026 BRICS Ministers of Justice meeting in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, under India's Chairship adopted a Declaration on Strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution through capacity building in mediation and arbitration.
Unincorporated establishments cross 9 crore; sector employment tops 15 crore (QBUSE, Jan–Mar 2026)
NSO's Quarterly Bulletin on Unincorporated Sector Enterprises, released on 21 May 2026, put the number of unincorporated non-agricultural establishments at 9.16 crore in January–March 2026, up 16.69% year-on-year, with employment crossing 15 crore for the first time.
Sports Ministry proposes criminalising organised doping; draft amendments open for comment till 18 June
On 21 May 2026 the Sports Ministry placed draft anti-doping law amendments for public consultation, proposing criminal action against doping traffickers, suppliers and syndicates while keeping athletes out of criminal prosecution for rule violations.
First International Big Cat Alliance Summit postponed along with Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit
On 21 May 2026 the Environment Ministry said the First International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit, set for 1 June 2026 in New Delhi alongside the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit, will be held at a later date.
Goyal at AmCham summit: US industry commitments in India top $60 billion in six months
On 21 May 2026 Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told the American Chamber of Commerce's Annual Leadership Summit in New Delhi that American industry commitments in India over the last six months were estimated at upwards of $60 billion.
Gadkari reviews quality and maintenance of 11,672 km NH network in Uttar Pradesh
On 21 May 2026 Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari reviewed the quality and maintenance of 11,672 km of National Highway projects in Uttar Pradesh and ordered monsoon preparedness.
BRICS Youth Entrepreneurship Working Group meeting concludes in Indore
The BRICS Youth Entrepreneurship Working Group Meeting, organised by the Department of Youth Affairs under India's BRICS Chairship 2026, concluded in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on 21 May 2026 after two days.
UPSC adds Bhubaneswar, Kanpur and Meerut as Civil Services Prelims centres; over 23,000 opt for them
UPSC said on 21 May 2026 that its three new Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 centres at Bhubaneswar, Kanpur and Meerut, which raise the total from 80 to 83, drew nearly 23,000 applicants.
DRI seizes about 3 lakh smuggled e-cigarettes worth over ₹120 crore
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said on 21 May 2026 it had seized nearly 3,00,000 China-sourced e-cigarettes worth over ₹120 crore at ports, airports and ICDs in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal.
138th Offshore Security Coordination Committee meets in Ahmedabad under Coast Guard chief
On 21 May 2026 the 138th Offshore Security Coordination Committee met in Ahmedabad under Indian Coast Guard Director General Paramesh Sivamani to review security of offshore installations and energy infrastructure.
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.
Multilateral Exercise PRAGATI 2026 with 12 friendly nations begins at Umroi, Meghalaya
On 20 May 2026 the multilateral military exercise PRAGATI 2026, with armies from 12 friendly nations, began at Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya, with a focus on counter-terrorism in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain.
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.
Atal Innovation Mission opens applications for 500 new Atal Tinkering Labs in Jammu & Kashmir
On 20 May 2026 NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission opened applications for 500 new Atal Tinkering Labs in Jammu and Kashmir under its Frontier Region Program.
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.
Scindia launches ₹167-crore 'Mission on Arunachal Kiwi' for cluster-based kiwi value chain
On 20 May 2026 DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the 'Mission on Arunachal Kiwi: The USP of Arunachal Pradesh', a cluster-based kiwi cultivation and value-chain mission with an outlay of about ₹167 crore.
IOS SAGAR deployment ends as INS Sunayna returns to Kochi with crew from 16 partner nations
On 20 May 2026 INS Sunayna returned to Kochi, ending the IOS SAGAR deployment, a multinational Indian Ocean mission with 38 personnel from 16 partner nations.
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.
Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel 'Sanghmitra' launched at GRSE, Kolkata
On 20 May 2026 the Navy's Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel Sanghmitra (Yard 3039) was launched at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata, in the presence of Vice Chief of the Naval Staff VAdm Sanjay Vatsayan.
Bhagwan Birsa Munda statue and feature wall inaugurated at Ranchi Airport
On 20 May 2026 Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu inaugurated a Bhagwan Birsa Munda statue and feature wall and new passenger facilities at Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi.
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.