Daily Current Affairs

External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar undertook an official visit to Jamaica, Suriname, and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) from May 2–10, 2026, to strengthen India’s engagement with Caribbean nations and deepen South-South cooperation.

• Jamaica (May 2–4): Delegation-level talks with PM Andrew Holness and FM Kamina Johnson Smith; 3 MoUs signed covering health cooperation, solarisation, and broadcasting.
• Suriname (May 6–7): Co-chaired the 9th Joint Commission Meeting with FM Melvin Bouva; India handed over a passion fruit processing facility completed under an Indian grant; soft loans offered for infrastructure and strategic sectors.
• Trinidad & Tobago: Bilateral meeting with PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar; both sides signed 8 MoUs across a wide range of bilateral cooperation areas.
• Significance: Deepens India-Caribbean engagement; strengthens South-South cooperation; reinforces India’s diaspora diplomacy in the Caribbean region.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (Ministry of Communication and MDoNER — Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region) participated in Sikkim’s 51st Statehood Day celebrations on 16 May 2026, and launched Mission Sikkim Organics with an outlay of Rs. 360 crore.

• Mission Sikkim Organics: Launched with Rs. 360 crore outlay; positioned as a major USP (Unique Selling Point) of Sikkim to strengthen organic farming and sustainable agricultural practices.
• Statehood background: Sikkim observes 16 May as ‘Sikkimi State Day’ to mark its integration with India in 1975; became the 22nd state of India through the Constitution (36th Amendment) Act, 1975.
• Key dignitaries present: VP C.P. Radhakrishnan, Governor Om Prakash Malthur, CM Prem Singh Tamang.
• Other projects: Foundation stone laid for 21 development projects worth Rs. 223 crore under MDoNER including NESIDS scheme and the Rs. 24.52 crore Rimbi Khola–Yukam road upgrade.

In May 2026, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) introduced a new post-retirement framework under the National Pension System (NPS), giving subscribers greater flexibility in receiving periodic payout options post retirement through Retirement Income Schemes (RIS).

• Objective: Provide subscribers with flexible periodic payout options during their decumulation phase via Retirement Income Schemes (RIS), while supporting corpus appreciation.
• Existing rule: NPS subscribers at retirement could withdraw up to 60% of corpus tax-free; required to use at least 40% to purchase an annuity.
• Key reform: Both government and non-government subscribers can now continue NPS till age 85 (earlier: accounts had to be closed at age 75).
• PFRDA: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority; statutory body established under the PFRDA Act, 2013; regulates and develops the pension sector in India.

In May 2026, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology — MeitY) virtually inaugurated India’s first SME-led semiconductor ATMP/OSAT facility at Bhiwadi, Rajasthan — a milestone in India’s semiconductor self-reliance mission.

• Set up by: M/s Sahasra Semiconductors Pvt. Ltd. under the SPECS (Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors) — flagship scheme of MeitY.
• New EMC inaugurated: Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at Salarpur, Khushkhera in Bhiwadi; developed by ELCINA EMC Pvt. Ltd. (SPV); built over 50.3 acres; project cost Rs. 46.09 crore; GoI provided Rs. 20.24 crore under EMC scheme.
• Significance: Marks Rajasthan’s formal entry into India’s semiconductor ecosystem; supports India’s semiconductor self-reliance mission.

In May 2026, Vishwas Sarang (Minister of Co-operation, Madhya Pradesh) inaugurated India’s first ‘Algae Tree’ at Swami Vivekananda Park, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh — a solar-powered bioreactor designed to reduce urban air pollution.

• Technology: Solar-powered bioreactor uses microalgae suspended in a liquid tank to absorb CO₂ and perform photosynthesis, releasing fresh oxygen; developed by Mushroom World Group after 2 years of research.
• Environmental impact: Can reduce particulate pollution by 45–55% within a 15-metre radius; absorbs up to 1.5 tons of CO₂ and generates ~1 ton of oxygen annually; equivalent to ~25 mature trees’ CO₂ absorption.
• Utility: Operates on integrated solar panels; no dependence on conventional power grid; designed for densely populated urban areas.

In May 2026, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted the parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women for the year 2026–27, effective from 21 April 2026, with Dr. Daggubati Purandeswari (MP and Senior BJP leader) as Chairperson.

• Chairperson: Dr. Daggubati Purandeswari, MP and Senior BJP leader.
• Nature: Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC); first constituted on 29 April 1997 during the 11th Lok Sabha.
• Composition: 30 members — 20 nominated by Lok Sabha Speaker + 10 by Rajya Sabha Chairman; tenure: not more than one year; reconstituted annually.
• Functions: Reviews NCW (National Commission for Women) reports; advises on women’s welfare, equality, education, and representation; monitors women-related schemes referred by Parliament.

In May 2026, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), under MoRTH, in collaboration with the Vertis Foundation, launched ‘Project Saksham’ to empower rural women through skill development and employment opportunities.

• Objectives: Provide industry-relevant skills; promote financial independence; create access to formal employment for rural women.
• Training network: Operates through 12 training centres across India, providing underserved communities with industry-relevant skills.
• Impact so far: Trained over 6,000 youth; more than 4,000 successfully placed; over 80% of beneficiaries are women.
• Partnership: NHAI (under MoRTH) + Vertis Foundation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 15 May 2026 as the first leg of his 5-nation tour (also covering the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy). He held a high-level bilateral meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.

• Energy MoU: Signed between ISPRL (Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited) and ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) to strengthen India’s energy security.
• LPG deal: IOCL–ADNOC agreement for long-term LPG supply to India.
• Maritime MoU: Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) signed MoU with Drydocks World (DDW) of UAE to establish a ship repair cluster at Vadinar, Gujarat.
• Tripartite agreement: CSL + DDW + CEMS signed for skill development in Ship Repair.
• Investment: UAE announced investment worth USD 5 billion in India.

In May 2026, Himanta Biswa Sarma (CM of Assam) inaugurated India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered ‘phygital’ banking branch of Slice Small Finance Bank (Slice SFB) in Guwahati, Assam.

• Phygital model: Combines physical banking infrastructure with advanced digital technologies for seamless, faster, and customer-friendly services.
• AI-enabled services: AI customer support, automated banking solutions, digital onboarding, and smart service systems.
• Significance: Major step towards an inclusive financial ecosystem; extends access to credit, savings, and payment solutions to underserved communities.
• Bank: Slice Small Finance Bank (Slice SFB) — inaugurated by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

In May 2026, British insurer Prudential plc announced its plan to acquire a 75% stake in Bharti Life Insurance Company Limited in a deal valued at an initial Rs. 3,500 crore (approx. USD 389 million).

• Transaction structure: Prudential will buy controlling stake from Bharti Life Ventures Pvt. Ltd. (60%) and remaining from funds managed by 360 ONE Asset Management (15%).
• Additional acquisitions: 35% of ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company; 22% of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company.
• Regulatory condition: Prudential must lower its shareholding in ICICI Prudential Life Insurance below 10% to receive regulatory approval.
• Significance: One of the largest foreign investments in India’s insurance sector.

In May 2026, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) approved UAE-based Emirates NBD‘s proposal to acquire a 49%–74% stake in RBL Bank through a preferential allotment and mandatory open offer — valued at USD 3 billion (Rs. 26,850 crore) — marking one of the largest FDI deals in India’s banking sector.

• Transaction: Emirates NBD receives initial controlling stake of up to 60%; open offer for additional 26%; raising total holding to 74%.
• Share issuance: Up to 95.91 crore equity shares at Rs. 280 per share; agreement signed 18 October 2025; completion expected in Q1 FY27.
• Pending approvals: Final approval from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and other procedural clearances.
• Post-completion: Emirates NBD will gain management control of RBL Bank; classified as wholly-owned foreign bank subsidiary under Indian banking regulations.

In May 2026, Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi, nominated by the Coordination Framework, was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Iraq and Commander-in-Chief of Iraq’s Armed Forces. At 40 years old, al-Zaidi became the youngest Prime Minister in Iraq’s modern history.

• Ceremony: Held in Baghdad, Iraq; outgoing PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani formally transferred power.
• Cabinet approval: Parliament approved 14 out of 23 ministerial positions in a session attended by 266 lawmakers; remaining portfolios delayed due to ongoing negotiations.
• Nominated by: The Coordination Framework — the dominant political bloc in Iraq’s parliament.

The Asian Weightlifting Championships (AWC) 2026 was held at Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 11–17 May 2026. India won 10 medals (1 silver + 9 bronze); China topped the medal tally with 41 medals.

• Indian silver medallist: Gyaneshwari Yadav — silver in Women’s 53 kg snatch event.
• Indian bronze medallists: Komal Kohar, Ajith Narayana, Harjinder Kaur, Sanjana (among others).
• Edition: 54th edition of the men’s tournament; 35th edition of the women’s tournament.
• Organised by: Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) under Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) and IWF (International Weightlifting Federation).

In May 2026, Nepali mountaineers Kami Rita Sherpa (‘Everest Man’) and Lhakpa Sherpa (‘Mountain Queen’) created history by scaling Mount Everest for the 32nd and 11th time respectively — breaking their own world records for the highest number of Everest ascents in the male and female categories.

• Kami Rita Sherpa: First climbed Everest in 1994; first person to achieve 22 Everest ascents in 2018; also climbed K2, Lhotse, Manaslu, and Cho Oyu.
• Lhakpa Sherpa: First summited Everest in 2000; featured in the 2023 documentary ‘Mountain Queen’.
• About Mt. Everest: Known as Sagarmatha (Nepali) and Chomolungma (Tibetan); stands on the Nepal-China border; first climbed in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay; height: 8,849 m (29,032 ft).

In May 2026, actor Ishaan Khatter was conferred with an honorary membership of the 45 Cavalry Regiment of the Indian Armoured Corps for his portrayal of a 45 Cavalry Regiment officer in the film ‘Pippa’.

• Recognition for: Portraying ‘Captain Balram Mehta’ in ‘Pippa’ and representing the values of the 45 Cavalry Regiment.
• About Pippa: Directed by Raja Krishna Menon; produced by RSVP Movies and Roy Kapur Films; based on the book ‘The Burning Chaffees’ by Balram Singh Mehta.
• Recent achievement: Only Indian male actor featured in the 2026 Gold House Gold 100 list; also recognised for Homebound and The Royals.

• Endangered Species Day (15 May 2026): Observed globally on the third Friday of May; started in 2006 by David Robinson and the Endangered Species Coalition; US Senate recognised it as a national observance; ESA (Endangered Species Act, 1973) is the cornerstone for species protection in the USA; celebrated internationally since 2013.
• International Day of Light (16 May 2026): Observed annually by the United Nations on 16 May; commemorates Theodore Maiman’s first successful laser operation (1960); traces to the International Year of Light (IYL 2015), proclaimed by UNGA on 20 December 2013; first IDL celebrated on 16 May 2018; organised by UNESCO through its International Basic Science Programme (IBSP).
• National Dengue Day (16 May 2026): Observed every year on 16 May across India; initiated in 2010 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW); focuses on pre-monsoon prevention through mosquito control, early detection, and community participation; Anti-Dengue Month observed in July; ASEAN Dengue Day observed annually on 15 June.