Daily Current Affairs

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved the Rs 20,667 crore Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)–Dholera Semi High-Speed Double-Line railway project — a 134 km stretch in Gujarat — marking the first Indian Railways (IR) project using indigenous semi high-speed technology up to 220 kmph. The Cabinet also approved modernisation measures for Nagpur’s international airport.

• Ahmedabad–Dholera Rail: First Indian Railways project utilising indigenous semi high-speed technology capable of speeds up to 220 kmph; double-line project spanning 134 km in Gujarat; targeted completion by 2030–31.
• Nagpur Airport: Union Cabinet approved extension of AAI (Airports Authority of India) land lease to MIHAN India Limited (MIL) beyond August 2039, enabling GMR Nagpur International Airport Limited (GNIAL) to operate and modernise Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur, Maharashtra.

In May 2026, India assumed the chairmanship of the Common Criteria Development Board (CCDB) for a two-year term from April 2026 to April 2028, confirmed during the 1st Quarter Meeting of the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA) held from 14–16 April 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. India is represented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate.

• CCDB: Common Criteria Development Board — the governing body for the Common Criteria (CC) standard for IT security certification globally.
• CCRA: Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement — member countries mutually accept each other’s IT security certificates; meeting held in Tokyo, Japan.
• India’s representation: MeitY and STQC Directorate — India’s official body for IT security certification.
• India’s CCRA membership: Member since 16 September 2013 as a Certificate Authorising Nation.
• Significance: Reflects India’s growing stature in international IT security standards development.

In May 2026, Tripura became the first state in India to complete all priority areas identified under Deregulation Phase-I and Phase-II reforms — a landmark achievement in improving Ease of Doing Business and reducing regulatory burden.

In May 2026, the Indian Army (IA) and Indian Navy (IN) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Affiliation in New Delhi to strengthen inter-service cooperation, operational cohesion, and jointness among the armed forces.

• Signatories: Lt Gen VPS Kaushik, Adjutant General, Indian Army; Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh, Chief of Personnel, Indian Navy.
• Objective: Institutionalise structured professional exchanges, operational familiarisation, joint activities, and coordinated multi-domain operations between the Army and Navy.
• Operational scope: Supports rapid decision-making, cross-domain coordination, and enhanced protection of territorial and maritime interests.
• Significance: Establishes broad guidelines for affiliation activities between IA and IN; facilitates future inter-service affiliations across defence forces.

In May 2026, India hosted the Kimberley Process (KP) Intersessional Meeting 2026 from 11–14 May 2026 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, under its 2026 Chairship. Suchindra Misra, Special Secretary, Department of Commerce (DoC), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), serves as the official KP Chair for 2026.

• Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS): Established under UNGA Resolution 55/56 in 2000; aims to prevent conflict diamonds (‘blood diamonds’) from entering the legitimate global trade.
• Membership: 60 Participants representing 86 countries; EU participates as a single bloc; WDC (World Diamond Council) and civil society groups participate.
• 3Cs framework: Credibility, Compliance, and Consumer Confidence.
• Artisanal mining: Meeting addressed socio-economic welfare, formalisation, and regularisation of artisanal and alluvial diamond miners in producing nations.

In May 2026, the United Nations’ Global Forest Goals (GFG) Report 2026 was launched during the 21st session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) at UN Headquarters, New York. The report highlights fuelwood demand as a key driver of forest loss and records a significant decline in global forest cover over the past decade.

• Key Finding 1: Rising demand for fuelwood (including woodfuel and charcoal) is a key driver of global forest loss — particularly across sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia.
• Key Finding 2: Agricultural expansion identified as the biggest cause of deforestation globally.
• Primary forest loss: 16 million ha of primary forests lost during 2015–2025; South America had the largest share; South America and Africa together recorded the steepest decline.
• Prepared by: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the UNFF Secretariat.
• UNFF: United Nations Forum on Forests — the intergovernmental body under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) that addresses global forest policy.

In May 2026, ICICI Bank Limited in partnership with Visa launched India’s first USD-denominated debit card designed specifically for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) customers through its IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) at GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

In May 2026, IDFC FIRST Bank launched the ‘Fixed Deposits (FD)-backed Business Multiplier Metal Credit Card’ in Mumbai, offering a dedicated business credit solution for founders, entrepreneurs, startups, and business owners with credit limits assured against FDs.

In May 2026, Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) entered into a strategic partnership with France-based Exail Technologies to develop an advanced Unmanned Mine Countermeasure (MCM) system for the Indian Navy (IN).

• L&T’s role: Prime contractor; will offer the Unmanned MCM Suite to shipyards participating in the Indian Navy’s proposed programme for 12 Mine Counter Measure Vessels.
• Exail’s role: Technology partner; France-based; provides globally proven MCM technologies already operational with several navies worldwide.
• MCM Suite capability: Advanced unmanned and remotely operated systems for safe detection, identification, and neutralisation of naval mines.
• L&T HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra; major Indian conglomerate in engineering, construction, defence, and technology.

In May 2026, Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA), a deep tech defence company, announced that its AI-powered Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) ‘Kaal Bhairava’ will be manufactured at its first international production facility in Portugal.

• Operation 777: Part of FWDA’s ‘Operation 777’ — aims to establish seven global headquarters across 77 countries.
• Collaboration: Developed with SKETCHPIXEL, a European company known for advanced fighter jet simulation systems including those for the F-16 aircraft.
• Capabilities: Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) autonomous combat aircraft; range: 3,000 km; endurance: over 30 hours; indigenous design.
• Significance: First Indian AI-powered combat aircraft to have an international manufacturing facility.

World Hypertension Day (WHD) is observed globally on 17 May every year to raise awareness about hypertension (high blood pressure), its prevention, detection, and control. The day is organised by the World Hypertension League (WHL), an affiliate of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH).

• 2026 Theme: ‘Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer’
• Global burden: Hypertension affects approximately 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 worldwide; only 1 in 5 adults with hypertension has it under control.
• Health impact: Leading cause of premature death; major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
• SDG link: Linked to SDG 3 — Good Health and Well-Being; target to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by one-third by 2030.
• First observed: 17 May 2005.

In May 2026, veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader and former Member of Parliament (MP), Sudhanshu Sil, passed away at the age of 81 in Kolkata, West Bengal.

• Born: 27 March 1945, Calcutta, Bengal Province, British India (now Kolkata).
• Local governance: Councillor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation for five terms (1990–2015); Member of Mayor-in-Council in charge of Roads Department (1990–2005).
• MLA: Elected from Jorabagan constituency, West Bengal from 2001 to 2004.
• MP: Served in the 14th Lok Sabha (2004–2009) representing Calcutta North West constituency, West Bengal.