Daily Current Affairs

President of Vietnam To Lam undertook a 3-day official visit to India from May 5 to 7, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defence, trade, science & technology, maritime affairs, and renewable energy.

• New Delhi meetings: PM Modi held a bilateral meeting at Hyderabad House; President To Lam also met President Droupadi Murmu and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh (MoS&T).
• Mumbai leg: To Lam visited the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and participated in the India-Vietnam Business Forum; 27 cooperation agreements exchanged between Indian and Vietnamese firms.
• Key MoUs: 13 MoUs signed covering digital technologies, culture, health regulation, education, tourism, and public sector cooperation.
• Partnership elevated to Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP); bilateral trade target set at USD 25 billion by 2030.

In May 2026, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), released its annual report ‘Crime in India 2024’, showing India’s overall crime rate declined from 448.3 (2023) to 418.9 (2024).

• NCRB: Functions under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA); releases annual ‘Crime in India’ report.
• Crime rate decline: Overall rate fell by approximately 6% from 448.3 (2023) to 418.9 (2024).
• Delhi: Topped among 19 metropolitan cities with 2,75,402 cognisable offences; also has the lowest charge-sheeting rate.
• Suicides: 1,70,746 suicide cases registered in 2024 (ADSI 2024 report); Bengaluru recorded 2,403 suicides.

In May 2026, the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoS&PI), notified uniform guidelines for compiling Gross State Value Added (GSVA) with 2022–23 as the new base year for a standardised framework and comparability across all states.

• Current base: 34 states and UTs compile GSDP using 2011–12 as base (except Lakshadweep, D&NH and D&D).
• Impact: Revision incorporates modern data sources, improved estimation practices, and aligns with international standards.
• GSVA vs GSDP: Gross State Value Added (GSVA) measures economic output by sector; GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) = GSVA + taxes – subsidies on products.

Suman K. Bery (former Vice Chairman) and Nidhi Chhibber (interim CEO, NITI Aayog) released ‘School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for Quality Enhancement’ in New Delhi.

• Coverage: Decade-long (2014–25) assessment of India’s school education system — access, enrolment, infrastructure, equity, inclusion, learning outcomes.
• Scale: India has 14.71 lakh schools serving 24 crore+ students across 36 States/UTs — the world’s largest school education system.
• Ghost schools: ~8,000 zero-enrolment schools; highest in West Bengal (3,812), followed by Telangana (2,245), J&K (146), and Punjab (13).

The Maritime India Foundation (MIF), implementing agency of the Sagarmala Startup Innovation Initiative under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), signed MoUs with IIT Madras (Tamil Nadu), IIT Bombay (Maharashtra), and the Indian Maritime University (IMU) Chennai (TN) to establish Maritime Innovation Hubs (MIH).

• Implementation: Selected institutions serve as Maritime Innovation Hubs (MIH) to mentor 36 startups working on 40 priority innovation projects.
• Vision: Aligned with ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ objectives.
• Presided by: S. Viswanathan, MD, MIF & Chairperson, Chennai Port Authority (ChPA).
• Sagarmala: Government of India’s flagship programme for port-led development under MoPSW.

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) signed an MoU to strengthen India’s R&D and innovation ecosystem.

• Signed by: Dr. Preeti Banzal (Scientist-G, PSA) and Sumneet Gupta (Deputy Secretary General, FICCI) at Kartavya Bhavan, New Delhi.
• Key focus areas: Industry-academia linkages; technology sharing in energy, pharma, agriculture; expanding solar energy and green batteries.

MBDA (Missile d’Interception, de Combat et d’Autodéfense) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) signed a pact to establish Maintenance, Repair and Mid-Life Overhaul (MRO) capability for the MICA air-to-air missile in India, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

• MICA: Multi-mission ‘fire-and-forget’ air-to-air missile used on Dassault Rafale and Dassault Mirage 2000; includes both Beyond Visual Range (BVR) and short-range capability.
• MRO facility: Will provide mid-life overhaul extending missile service life by 10–15 years; includes domestic servicing infrastructure with tooling, industrial machinery, and Technical Data Packages by MBDA.

Dr. Samir V. Kamat (Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO) inaugurated a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Field Training and Demonstration Centre at Burari Plains, New Delhi.

• Framework: Operates under Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), supported by Ministry of Defence (MoD); part of DRDO-CBRN Centre of Excellence (CoE).
• Training scope: Multi-agency workshops for MoD, MHA, NDMA, Indian Armed Forces, civil defence agencies, and emergency medical teams on crisis response.
• Research areas: Heavy ion research, radiation studies, nuclear safety validation, advanced emergency response technologies.

The Government of India (GoI) appointed Shashi Shekhar Vempati, former CEO of Prasar Bharati (PB), as Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) for three years from the date of joining. He succeeds Prasoon Joshi.

• Profile: Indian media professional, technologist, public policy expert; 15 years at Infosys before transitioning to digital media and public policy.
• Past roles: CEO of Prasar Bharati (2017–2022); headed Doordarshan, All India Radio (AIR), and Rajya Sabha TV (2017–2019); earlier Director, BARC (2024).
• Award: Padma Shri (2026) in the field of Literature and Education.
• About CBFC: Statutory body under MIB; functions under the Cinematograph Act, 1952; certifies films for public exhibition; HQ: Mumbai; established 1951.

FICCI nominated Priyanka Mittal, Director of KRBL (Khushi Ram & Behari Lal) Limited, as Co-Chair of the Saudi-India Business Council (SIBC). Dr. Siddeek Ahmed (Chairman, Eram Holdings) was nominated as Chair from the Indian side.

• About SIBC: Jointly formed by FICCI and the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC); bilateral platform for India-Saudi trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
• Priyanka Mittal: Co-founded Koosia (premium handbag brand); Whole-Time Director, KRBL Limited (since 2008); received ‘Business Woman of the Decade’ — Women Economic Forum 2018.

Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) secured approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire up to 9.99% stakes of the paid-up share capital or voting rights each in AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) and Federal Bank.

• Acquirer: Kotak Mahindra Group (KMBL along with its subsidiaries/funds).
• Compliance: Subject to Banking Regulation Act (BR Act, 1949); Banking (Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights) Directions, 2025; foreign exchange regulations.
• Impact: KMBL will become one of the largest institutional shareholders of Federal Bank upon completion.
• Federal Bank: One of India’s largest mid-sized private lenders by market cap.

O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) became India’s first Institute of Eminence (IoE) to be accredited by the Data Science Council of America (DASCA) — an international standards body for academic institutions in data science and AI.

• Awarded under: World Data Sciences & AI Initiative (WDSAI) — an international platform led by DASCA for adopting benchmarked standards.
• Scope: Seven flagship AI and Data Science programmes aligned to DASCA standards.
• Validity: Accreditation valid through 2031 for residential, non-residential, and online formats.
• JGU: O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana; designated as Institute of Eminence (IoE) by UGC/MHRD.

DRDO and the Indian Air Force (IAF) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) successfully conducted the maiden flight-trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon off the coast of Odisha.

Pixxel, a space technology company, secured a contract from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), United States, under the Commercial Systems Program Office (CSPO) to develop advanced hyperspectral remote sensing capabilities using its Firefly satellite constellation.

• Firefly: Six hyperspectral satellites launched in 2025 demonstrating high-resolution global Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) capabilities.
• HSI (Hyperspectral Imaging): Enables advanced spectral analysis for defence, environmental monitoring, agriculture, energy, and intelligence applications.
• NRO: US agency responsible for developing and operating America’s intelligence satellites.

World Athletics Day is observed annually on 7 May to promote fitness and encourage children and youth to participate in sports, especially athletics. The same date marks the 66th Raising Day of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

• World Athletics Day — Organising Body: World Athletics (formerly IAAF — International Association of Athletics Federations, 2001–2019; International Amateur Athletic Federation, 1912–2001).
• Origin of World Athletics Day: IAAF established 17 July 1912, Stockholm; introduced World Athletics Day under the theme ‘Athletics for a Better World’; first celebrated 15 May 1996 with 50 nations; launched by Primo Nebiolo (then IAAF President).
• BRO: Established 7 May 1960; primary objective — securing India’s borders and developing infrastructure in remote and strategic regions of northern and northeastern India.
• BRDB: Border Roads Development Board formed 14 March 1960 under PM’s chairmanship; reconstituted in 1985 under the Defence Minister.

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is observed on 8 May annually to honour the principles and humanitarian efforts of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and to remember those who lost their lives in humanitarian service.

• Founded by: Henry Dunant (born 8 May 1828); founder of ICRC; first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1901).
• Origin: 1859 Battle of Solferino, Italy → inspired ICRC formation in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Day history: 14th International Conference (1938, London) proposed 8 May; first International Red Cross Day: 8 May 1948; renamed ‘World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day’ in 1984 to include Red Crescent Societies.

Former India midfielder Mohan Singh passed away on 7 May 2026 in Kolkata, West Bengal, at the age of 78 (born 1948).

• International debut: vs Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar) on 22 March 1972 during the Pre-Olympic Tournament; earned 3 international caps (1972 Pre-Olympic campaign).
• Clubs: East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan SC.
• Titles: Calcutta Football League (1972, 1975), IFA Shield (1972, 1975), Durand Cup (1972), Rovers Cup (1972, 1975), Bordoloi Trophy (1972).