India Current Affairs — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Wed, 20 May 2026
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.
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.
Former Uttarakhand CM and ex-Road Transport Minister Maj Gen B. C. Khanduri (Retd.) dies at 91
Major General Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri (Retd.), twice Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (2007–09, 2011–12) and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways in the Vajpayee government credited with executing the Golden Quadrilateral, died in Dehradun on 19 May 2026 aged 91.
Coal production begins at Urtan and Dhirauli mines in MP; Urtan is first underground mine under commercial auctions
The Coal Ministry said on 19 May 2026 that production had begun at the Urtan mine in Anuppur and the Dhirauli mine in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, with Urtan the first underground mine to produce under the commercial coal auction regime.
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.
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.
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.
Education Ministry's Bharat Innovates Investor Showcase in Bengaluru: 24 deep-tech start-ups meet 90+ investors
On 19 May 2026 the Ministry of Education and IVCA held the Bharat Innovates Investor Showcase in Bengaluru, where 24 deep-tech start-ups presented to over 90 investors ahead of the flagship Bharat Innovates 2026 event in Nice, France, on 14–16 June.
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.
Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference opens in Bhubaneswar with five eastern states
On 19 May 2026 Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference in Bhubaneswar, bringing together Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
Railways approves ₹962-crore Kiul–Jhajha third line in Bihar and ₹993-crore Arakkonam–Chengalpattu doubling in Tamil Nadu
On 19 May 2026 Indian Railways approved the 54-km Kiul–Jhajha third line on the Howrah–Delhi route at ₹962 crore and the 68-km Arakkonam–Chengalpattu doubling of Southern Railway at ₹993 crore.
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.
Indian astronomers report first confirmed blue straggler star with a brown dwarf companion in a 5.6-hour orbit
A team from Gauhati University, IIA Bengaluru, ARIES Nainital and INAF-Catania reported on 19 May 2026 the first confirmed blue straggler star hosting a brown dwarf companion, in one of the shortest-period stellar binaries known.
NISM and IICA sign MoU on corporate governance, ESG and capital markets in Mumbai
On 19 May 2026 the SEBI-established National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) and the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) signed an MoU in Mumbai to advance corporate governance, ESG and capital markets.
C. R. Patil chairs 14th HPRB meeting of Brahmaputra Board in Guwahati; State Water Reforms Framework launched
On 19 May 2026 Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil chaired the 14th meeting of the Brahmaputra Board's High-Powered Review Board in Guwahati and launched the State Water Reforms Framework.
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.
Scindia launches ₹175-crore Mission 'Coffees of Nagaland' with Arabica and Robusta pilot clusters
On 18 May 2026 DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the ₹175-crore Mission 'Coffees of Nagaland', a cluster-based coffee value-chain mission with pilot clusters at Tuophema (Arabica) and Ghotovi (Robusta).
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).
Draft National Water Metro Policy 2026 circulated; Water Metro planned for 18 cities, Guwahati in Phase I
On 18 May 2026 Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the Draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026 has been circulated for inter-ministerial consultation, with Water Metro services planned in 18 cities and Guwahati, Srinagar, Patna, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj in Phase I.
V. D. Satheesan takes oath as Chief Minister of Keralam
V. D. Satheesan took oath as Chief Minister of Keralam, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him on 18 May 2026, assuring Central support to the newly formed state government.
INST Mohali's nanogold-PVDF ultrathin film boosts pyroelectricity for self-powered sensors
Scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, reported on 18 May 2026 that adding a small amount of nanogold to ultrathin PVDF films sharply improves their ability to turn small temperature changes into electricity.
Centre signs reform-linked Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 MoUs with West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands
On 18 May 2026 West Bengal and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands signed reform-linked MoUs with the Centre under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, committing to a Gram Panchayat-led model of rural water supply.