Daily current affairs for 15 May 2026 with exam-focused key facts, connected news context, and revision notes for UPSC, SSC, banking and government exams.
Editorial note for exam revisionLast updated: 15 May 2026. This briefing is structured for current affairs revision, with key updates and related coverage links to help readers connect recurring topics across days.
Jio Finance Platform and Service Limited (JFPSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL), launched the JioFinance app and introduced an early access initiative titled ‘Finsider’. The app…
The CBUAE has launched the Sovereign Financial Cloud Services Infrastructure (SFCSI), the world’s first sovereign financial cloud for the nation’s financial sector. The SFCSI was developed in partnership with Core42…
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) are monitoring Anthropic’s Mythos AI model for its potential to destabilise banking systems. South…
Gnani.ai and Razorpay have partnered to launch an agentic AI collections platform that can complete Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions during live customer calls. The platform utilizes Razorpay’s Model Context…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Cancels Licence of Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai
Key Updates:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the licence of Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai, effective from the close of business on May 12, 2026.
The RBI stated that the bank lacks adequate capital and earning prospects, making its continuance prejudicial to the interests of its depositors.
The Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Maharashtra, has been requested to issue a winding-up order and appoint a liquidator for the bank.
Depositors are entitled to receive insurance claims up to a monetary ceiling of ₹5,00,000 from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
Approximately 98.36 per cent of depositors are entitled to full deposit recovery, with the DICGC having already paid ₹26.72 crore as of March 31, 2026.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the banking licence of Paytm Payments Bank on April 24, 2026, under Section 22(4) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The RBI cited that the bank's business was conducted in a…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹31.80 lakh on YES Bank. The penalty on YES Bank was levied for non-compliance with certain provisions of the Know Your Customer (KYC) norms.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the licence of The Shirpur Merchants' Co-operative Bank due to inadequate capital and earning prospects. The bank ceases all banking operations from the close of business on 6 April…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of 36 NBFCs in February 2026. Nine NBFCs surrendered their CoR to RBI during the same month.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) releases LEADS 2025 report and LEAPS 2025 awards
Key Updates:
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) organised the Logistics Excellence, Advancement and Performance Shield (LEAPS) 2025 Awards and released the LEADS 2025 report in New Delhi.
India's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) cover 38 developed economies across nine FTAs, with four operational and five expected within the next 12 months.
India is conducting negotiations to widen market access with the GCC, Canada, Mexico, Chile, SACU, and Mercosur.
India achieved record exports of USD 863 billion in 2025-26 and has set a target of USD 1 trillion for the current year.
Under the LEADS 2025 report's revised four-tier classification, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram, and Delhi were placed as Exemplars.
The LEAPS Awards winners include FedEx, MSC, Safexpress, DP World Rail Logistics, Delhivery, and IIM Mumbai.
India's defence exports reached a record ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025-26, up over 62% from FY 2024-25. Defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) contributed 54.84% of total exports, while private industry contributed…
Export Promotion Mission (EPM) launched by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal with ₹25,060-crore outlay over six years. Live Events Direct E-Commerce Credit Facility offers up to ₹50-lakh credit with 90% guarantee for…
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) released the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2026. India's economy is projected to grow at 6.4% in 2026 and 6.6% in…
India's total merchandise and services exports grew by 5.79% to reach US$ 790.86 billion (₹72.76 lakh crore) between April 2025 and February 2026. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) reported that merchandise…
Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) sign MoU to curb mule accounts
Key Updates:
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) to combat mule accounts.
The collaboration will utilise Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect and cull hidden mule accounts by feeding data from the I4C Suspect Registry into AI-driven fraud detection systems.
The RBIH will use datasets to train and enhance AI-driven fraud-risk assessment models, including MuleHunter.ai, which is implemented across banks.
The MoU was signed by Roopa M, IG (Admin) of I4C, and Sahil Kinni, CEO of RBIH, in the presence of senior officials from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
The agreement aims to facilitate cooperation in fraud-risk intelligence sharing, analytical support, and operational coordination to strengthen proactive fraud detection and prevention mechanisms.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has constituted a dedicated task force named "cyber-suraksha.ai" to examine cybersecurity risks arising from advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. SEBI identified…
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has entered into a five-year partnership with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) to bolster India's digital identity infrastructure. The memorandum of…
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will include special QR codes on its notices from May 1 to verify their genuineness. Verification will be conducted through an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot named…
Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) and Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance information sharing and coordination. The MoU was signed by…
AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) launches four-card credit card portfolio
Key Updates:
AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) launched a segmented four-card credit card portfolio targeting first-time credit customers, young salaried professionals, Gen Z spenders, and affluent travellers.
The AU Ananta Credit Card offers 8,000 welcome reward points, 16 annual complimentary domestic airport lounge visits, and up to 50,000 bonus points on annual spends of ₹10 lakh.
The AU Ananta Credit Card features an industry-first benefit of complimentary airport lounge access for cardholders and their family members when flight tickets are booked via the AU Rewardz platform.
The AU Vibe Credit Card provides 4,000 reward points or a ₹1,000 voucher, 15% instant discount on grocery and food delivery partners, and 8 annual airport lounge visits.
The AU Value Credit Card offers 2,000 reward points or a ₹500 voucher and up to 10% cashback on cab bookings, bill payments, grocery, movies, and food delivery.
The AU Lite Credit Card is an entry-level product for first-time borrowers featuring reward points on daily spending, milestone incentives, and fuel surcharge waivers.
AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) and CheQ have launched a co-branded credit card featuring an LED-powered tap-to-pay indicator. The LED feature is powered by the Near Field Communication (NFC) field of the point-of-sale…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Vivek Tripathi as Whole-time Director and Executive Director of AU Small Finance Bank. The appointment is for a period of three years, effective from April 24…
HDFC Bank and Visa have introduced a co-branded, limited‑edition FIFA World Cup 2026‑themed Pixel credit card. The card is issued on the Visa network and is positioned as a digital‑first offering with instant issuance…
Swiggy and HDFC Bank introduced Swiggy BLCK HDFC Bank Credit Card and Swiggy Ornge HDFC Bank Credit Card. Both cards target food delivery, quick commerce, travel, and online shopping users.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancels licence of Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank
Key Updates:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of the Mumbai-based Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank due to inadequate capital and earning prospects.
The bank will cease banking business with effect from the close of business on May 12, 2026.
The RBI has directed the Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Maharashtra, to order the winding up of the bank and appoint a liquidator.
Depositors are entitled to receive insurance claims up to ₹5 lakh from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
As of March 31, 2026, the DICGC has already paid ₹26.72 crore of the total insured deposits.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the banking licence of Paytm Payments Bank on April 24, 2026, under Section 22(4) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The RBI cited that the bank's business was conducted in a…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹31.80 lakh on YES Bank. The penalty on YES Bank was levied for non-compliance with certain provisions of the Know Your Customer (KYC) norms.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the licence of The Shirpur Merchants' Co-operative Bank due to inadequate capital and earning prospects. The bank ceases all banking operations from the close of business on 6 April…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of 36 NBFCs in February 2026. Nine NBFCs surrendered their CoR to RBI during the same month.
The Assam Cabinet approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill on May 13, 2026.
The Bill will be tabled in the Assam Assembly on May 26, 2026.
The UCC Bill focuses on civil matters including registration of marriages, divorce procedures, regulation of live-in relationships, and mandatory marriage registration.
Tribal communities and their traditional customs and rituals are completely exempted from the scope of the law.
The Bill has been designed along the lines of UCC models introduced in Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Goa.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) issued new guidelines for states to shift the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) base year to 2022-23 to align with national Gross Domestic Product (GDP)…
The Assam government has approved a 3 per cent reservation for tea tribes and Adivasi people in Grade I and Grade II government jobs. The reservation policy will extend to recruitment for the Assam Civil Service (ACS)…
The high-level committee on Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for Gujarat submitted its final report to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar. The committee was headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash…
The Gujarat Assembly passed the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill by a majority vote, making Gujarat the second state in India after Uttarakhand to adopt such legislation. The Bill seeks to regulate personal civil…
India bans sugar exports until September 2026 to control local prices
Key Updates:
The Government of India banned the export of raw and white sugar with immediate effect until 30 September 2026, or until further orders.
The ban was implemented to rein in local sugar prices.
India is the world's second-largest sugar producer and the largest sugar exporter after Brazil.
Sugar production is expected to lag consumption for a second consecutive year due to weakening cane yields in major growing regions.
Forecasts of El Nino weather conditions could disrupt the monsoon, increasing the risk that next season's output falls below initial estimates.
The Government of India has raised the import duty on gold and silver to 15% from 6%, comprising a 10% basic customs duty and a 5% Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged…
India exported 2,01,547 tonnes of sugar through February in the 2025-26 marketing year. The central government approved a total export quota of 2 million tonnes for the 2025-26 marketing year, including a recent addition…
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution released the draft Sugarcane (Control) Order 2026 to replace the 1966 regulations. The draft order recognizes ethanol as a core output of sugar mills and…
The Government of India (GoI) has authorised the resumption of wheat exports after a four-year hiatus, lifting the ban originally imposed in 2022. India, the world's second-largest wheat producer after China, has…
Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) to provide 1 Crore Internships
Key Updates:
The Central Government launched the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) to provide practical workplace experience to one crore young people over a period of five years.
The pilot phase of the PMIS commenced in 2024-25 with a target of offering 1.25 lakh internship opportunities across various sectors.
The internships under the PMIS are structured for a duration of 12 months, ensuring at least half of the period is dedicated to hands-on work experience.
Selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend of ₹5,000, which includes ₹4,500 from the government and ₹500 from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds of the company.
The government will provide a one-time grant of ₹6,000 to each intern to support incidental expenses during the internship programme.
The Meghalaya government launched the CM-INSPIRE initiative to provide financial assistance to candidates appearing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination. Under the scheme, candidates…
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is piloting the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS). Eligibility for the PMIS pilot phase has been expanded to include final-year students in graduate and postgraduate…
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has relaxed CSR obligation requirement for companies to join the PM Internship Scheme. New-age sectors like semiconductors, renewable energy and global capability centres are now…
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the Banglar Yuva Sathi Scheme 2026 during the state interim budget to support unemployed youth. The scheme provides a monthly allowance of ₹1,500 to educated but…
IPC signs MoUs with State Pharmacy Councils to strengthen medicine safety framework
Key Updates:
The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the State Pharmacy Councils of Bihar, Maharashtra, and Mizoram.
The agreements were signed at the IPC headquarters in Ghaziabad by IPC Secretary-cum-Scientific Director Dr. V. Kalaiselvan and representatives from the participating state councils.
The collaboration aims to promote the adoption of the National Formulary of India (NFI) and establish it as a mandatory reference document in hospital pharmacies across the participating states.
The partnership seeks to strengthen the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) by promoting adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting and facilitating the establishment of ADR Monitoring Centres (AMCs).
The MoUs include provisions for joint training programmes, workshops, and awareness campaigns to enhance professional competencies in rational medicine use and pharmacopoeial standards.
Boehringer Ingelheim India Private Limited and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Raebareli signed an MoU on 22 Feb 2026 at the Department of Pharmaceuticals, New Delhi. The MoU…
Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Shri J P Nadda announced a Budgetary provision of ₹13,000 crore for the Bio-Pharma SHAKTI Mission and three dedicated Chemical Parks. ₹10,000 crore of the allocation is…
India Pharma 2026 will be held on 13-14 April at Federation House, New Delhi. The 9th edition is organised by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and…
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved his reappointment on a contractual basis for one year from 1 March 2026. The proposal for re-employment was moved by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
DigiLocker Integration: Five States Felicitated for Strengthening Digital Governance
Key Updates:
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) felicitated Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Nagaland, and Rajasthan for integrating DigiLocker with state government services.
The recognition was conferred on May 11 during the National Consultative Workshop on Strengthening Cybersecurity Frameworks for State Data, an initiative led by the National e-Governance Division (NeGD).
Gujarat onboarded 65 per cent of its services, benefiting over 1.92 crore citizens, and introduced digital disability certificates for free bus transport services.
Karnataka integrated 73 per cent of government e-services, recorded over 2.7 crore registered users, and digitised approximately 3 crore electricity bill records.
Kerala onboarded more than 117 services in less than seven days, while Nagaland integrated over 32 services within a month.
Rajasthan rolled out the Jan Aadhaar Family Register through DigiLocker, covering more than 7.5 crore citizens.
S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), launched the Blockchain India Challenge on 23 February 2026 at the MeitY headquarters in New Delhi. The initiative is implemented by…
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has constituted the Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC). The TPEC is an advisory body designed to provide specialised technical, policy, and…
India hosts BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on 14-15 May 2026
Key Updates:
The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting is scheduled for 14th and 15th May 2026 in New Delhi.
The meeting is held under India's 2026 chairship and is chaired by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar.
The theme for India's BRICS 2026 chairship is Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.
The theme reflects a Humanity First and people-centric approach emphasised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
This is the fourth occasion on which India is hosting a BRICS summit-level engagement.
The 4th India-Africa Forum Summit will be held in New Delhi from 28 to 31 May 2026, with senior officials meetings on 28 May, Foreign Ministers meeting on 29 May, and the leaders summit on 31 May. Previous summits were…
Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for high-level consultations covering defence, energy, trade, and other critical areas of bilateral cooperation. India’s Ministry of…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead the Indian delegation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Bishkek on April 28. The meeting will focus on regional and global security…
The meeting of agriculture ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) will be held in Indore from June 12 to 13 under India's presidency. A three-day meeting of officials under the BRICS…
India hosts 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue in New Delhi on 07-08 May 2026
Key Updates:
India hosted the 10th edition of the Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD-10) in New Delhi.
The IOD-10 was conducted over two days from 07 May to 08 May 2026.
The theme for the 10th edition of the dialogue was Indian Ocean Region in a Transforming World.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) served as the primary organiser of the event.
The MEA collaborated with the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) to host the dialogue.
University of Delhi (DU) and Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity (CMEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen maritime education and research. The MoU was signed at the Delhi School of…
The 10th Australia-India Defence Policy Talks were held in New Delhi on May 8, led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad for India and First Assistant Secretary Bernard Philip for Australia. The Ministry of Defence (MoD)…
The 9th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC 2026) was inaugurated in Port Louis, Mauritius and will run from 10 to 12 April 2026. The conference is organised by India Foundation in association with the Government of Mauritius…
The 4th edition of World Ocean Science Congress 2026 is being held in Goa from February 23 to February 26 at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO). The event is co-organised by NIO, National Centre for Polar and…
India and International Fund for Agricultural Development launch Country Strategic Opportunities Programme for 2026–2033
Key Updates:
The Government of India and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) launched the Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) for 2026–2033.
The programme was unveiled at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and is aligned with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.
The strategy focuses on enhancing the social, economic, and climate resilience of rural communities and strengthening knowledge systems to scale development models across India and the Global South.
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) signed a strategic partnership agreement with IFAD to strengthen rural finance systems and support innovation in agriculture and allied sectors.
India and IFAD have partnered for nearly five decades, during which 35 rural development projects have been implemented across multiple states.
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) has outlined a two-phased strategy for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to facilitate the transition toward a $30 trillion economy by 2047. The strategy is…
The Ministry of Rural Development announced the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) from July 1…
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has constituted a high-level Special Task Force to counter emerging global challenges and safeguard India's agricultural sector. The Task Force chaired by M L Jat…
Uber and Adani Group Partner to Establish First Data Centre in India
Key Updates:
Uber has partnered with the Adani Group to establish its first data centre in India.
The data centre project is scheduled to be ready later this year to test and deploy Uber's technology.
Adani Enterprises, through its joint venture AdaniConneX, has partnered with Google to develop India's largest Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centre campus and green energy infrastructure in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
The proposed Google AI hub in Visakhapatnam involves an estimated investment of $15 billion over five years from 2026 to 2030.
The Visakhapatnam project includes gigawatt-scale data centre operations and subsea cable connectivity, developed in collaboration with AdaniConneX and Airtel.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched Bharat Taxi, India's first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform, on February 5 in Delhi. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal launched the Bharat Taxi app in…
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone for the Google Cloud India AI hub in Visakhapatnam on April 28, 2026. The project is valued at over $15 billion.
Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Vyoma signed an MoU with the Gujarat Department of Science and Technology during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The MoU envisages a 250 MW high-scale, green AI-ready data centre at…
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and NVIDIA will jointly develop a gigawatt-scale artificial intelligence data centre in India as part of the government’s IndiaAI Mission. The partnership will expand NVIDIA GPU cluster capacity to…
Super El Niño Forecast for 2026 and its Potential Impact on India
Key Updates:
El Niño is a warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean and is part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) weather pattern, which also includes La Niña.
A super El Niño occurs when sea surface temperatures increase by at least 2 degrees Celsius above normal and is monitored using the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI).
The super El Niño of 1877-78 caused at least 50 million deaths globally, including 12.2 to 29.3 million in India, 19.5 to 30 million in China, and around 2 million in Brazil, alongside outbreaks of malaria, plague, dysentery, smallpox, and cholera.
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) predicts that central equatorial Pacific Ocean water temperatures could potentially exceed 3 degrees Celsius above average in late 2026.
In India, below-normal rainfall may reduce harvests of rice, cotton, soyabeans, wheat, and rapeseed, impacting an agricultural sector that accounts for 18% of the nearly $4 trillion (Rs. ~3,32,00,000 crore) economy and a hydropower sector that provides 6% of the power mix.
Arctic sea ice extent in March 2026 fell 5.7% below normal, the lowest March level ever recorded. Global surface temperatures for January-March 2026 ranked as the fourth-highest on record.
Moist heatwaves occur when high temperature combines with high humidity, preventing sweat evaporation and raising risk of fatal heatstroke within hours. University of Reading (UoR) scientists analysed 1940-2023 weather…
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the State of the Climate 2025 report, revealing that Earth’s energy imbalance has reached its highest level in at least 65 years. Approximately 91 per cent of excess…
Union Minister Jitendra Singh launches two AI-enabled weather forecast systems under Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
Key Updates:
Union Minister Jitendra Singh launched two AI-enabled weather forecast products under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES): a monsoon advance forecasting system and a high spatial resolution rainfall forecast for Uttar Pradesh (UP), both as a pilot service.
The monsoon advance forecasting system provides probabilistic forecasts of monsoon progression every Wednesday up to four weeks in advance.
The high spatial resolution rainfall forecast for Uttar Pradesh (UP) generates rainfall forecasts at one-kilometre spatial resolution up to 10 days in advance using AI-driven downscaling techniques.
The new systems integrate data from automatic weather stations, Doppler weather radars, and satellite-based rainfall datasets, combining AI models, extended range prediction, and statistical techniques.
The forecasts will be disseminated through multiple modes including mobile phones, radio, television, print media, and displays at vegetable markets, with Krishi Sakhi and Pashu Sakhi groups communicating at block and panchayat levels.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar has launched India’s first fully integrated agricultural intelligence system. The system was developed by the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in AI for Agriculture, ANNAM.AI.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, established an Urban Testbed and Aerosol Observatory in Chennai under the Mission Mausam initiative of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). Inaugurated on May…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Missile Integration facility at Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) in Bengaluru. He flagged-off the Akash 3rd and 4th Regiment Combat systems and unveiled the Mountain Fire…
GalaxEye, a Bengaluru-based private space technology company, will deploy NVIDIA Jetson Orin on its upcoming satellite mission, Mission Drishti. Mission Drishti will feature the world’s first SyncFused OptoSAR…
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Inaugurates India’s First Integrated CCUS Field Laboratory at IIT Bombay
Key Updates:
Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated India’s first Integrated Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Field Laboratory Facility under Bharat Innovates 2026 at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) on 12th May 2026.
The facility is the first pilot-scale platform in India to integrate Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) with Geological CO2 Sequestration (GCS) specifically in basalt formations.
The project includes India’s first pilot-scale scientific drilling initiative to assess CO2 storage potential in the Deccan Traps and serves as a national testbed for scalable carbon management technologies.
The indigenous technology uses non-potable water to capture emissions from the air and industries, converting them into industrial-grade carbonate and bicarbonate salts.
The CCUS technology is being scaled up by UrjanovaC, a deep-tech venture founded by Prof. Vikram Vishal and Prof. Arnab Dutta and incubated at the Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SINE), IIT Bombay.
Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development (R&D) and Chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), inaugurated a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN)…
Andhra Pradesh launched two open-access quantum computer test beds under the Amaravati Quantum Valley project. The 1Q test bed is located at Medha Towers and the 1S test bed at SRM University, Amaravati.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-enabled Public Distribution System (PDS) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Shah stated that India now accounts for half of the world’s digital…
The Karnataka government launched the country's first state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology in Bengaluru on May 1, 2026. The Centre was established by the Karnataka government through the Karnataka…
Faustino Oro achieves second youngest Grandmaster title in Italy
Key Updates:
Faustino Oro from Argentina became the second youngest Grandmaster in chess history at the age of 12 years, 6 months, and 26 days.
He secured his third and final Grandmaster (GM) norm during the Sardinia World Chess Festival conducted in Italy.
Oro is the seventh player to earn the GM title before turning 13, alongside Abhimanyu Mishra, Sergey Karjakin, D Gukesh, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, Javokhir Sindarov, and R Praggnanandhaa.
The record for the youngest Grandmaster is held by Abhimanyu Mishra of the United States, who achieved the feat at 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days.
Faustino Oro is the first player under the age of 12 in the history of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to be rated 2500-plus.
Tomas Martin Etcheverry defeated Alejandro Tabilo 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 to win his first ATP Tour title at the Rio Open. The Rio Open is an ATP 500 event held in Rio de Janeiro.
Aronyak Ghosh from Kolkata became the 95th Grandmaster (GM) of India. He achieved his final GM norm at the Bangkok Chess Club Open, finishing tied for first place with a score of 7/9.
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes won the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on 29 March 2026. Antonelli became the youngest driver in Formula One history to lead the world championship standings at 19 years old.
Kimi Antonelli claimed his first Formula One victory in the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit. Mercedes secured a one-two finish with George Russell second, 5.515 seconds behind Antonelli.
International Day of Families observed on May 15 with theme "Families, Inequalities and Child Wellbeing"
Key Updates:
The International Day of Families 2026 will be observed on May 15, 2026.
The theme for the 2026 observance is "Families, Inequalities and Child Wellbeing".
The event will be held at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York.
The observance aims to promote investments in integrated family-oriented policies and highlight practices including universal child benefits, parental leave systems, affordable early childhood education, and community-based family support services.
The event will examine issues relating to the Doha Political Declaration of the Second World Summit for Social Development.
Mother's Day will be celebrated on Sunday, May 10, 2026. The modern version of Mother's Day in the United States (US) traces back to the early 20th century through the efforts of activist Anna Jarvis.
International Day of the Midwife is observed on May 5, 2026. Midwives provide essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health services worldwide.
National Safe Motherhood Day is observed annually on 11 April in India. The day was first established in 2003 by the White Ribbon Alliance India (WRAI).
International Nurses Day observed on May 12 with theme “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives”
Key Updates:
International Nurses Day is observed worldwide on May 12 annually to commemorate the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.
The theme for International Nurses Day 2026 is “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives”.
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) first began observing the occasion in 1965 and officially established the day in 1974.
The day was first suggested by Dorothy Sutherland, an employee of the US Department of Health, in 1953.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated a global nurse deficit of 5.8 million in 2025.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Florence Nightingale Nurses Award to Lalenthangi Hnamte, also known as Maeni, in New Delhi. The award ceremony was held on International Nurses Day to recognise exceptional…
National Administrative Professional Day was observed on April 22, 2026. The Blood Tribe Administration (BTA) recognised the contributions of support staff, including Administrative Assistants, Office Managers, and…
International Labour Day (also known as May Day) is observed globally on May 1, 2026. Labour Day originated in the United States in the 1880s as a protest for an eight-hour workday.
V D Satheesan Appointed Chief Minister of Kerala
Key Updates:
V D Satheesan was appointed as the Chief Minister of Kerala on 14 May 2026.
The 61-year-old appointee previously served as the Leader of the Opposition.
The selection was made by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) following a three-way contest involving K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala.
The appointment was announced by AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala, Deepa Dasmunsi.
Satheesan received support from the United Democratic Front (UDF) allies, including the Muslim League which has 22 MLAs.
C. Joseph Vijay, chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), took oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at Nehru Stadium in Chennai. TVK emerged as the single largest party in the 2026 Assembly election with 108 seats in…
Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani (Retd) was appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs. He will assume charge after the current CDS, General Anil…
N Rangasamy, leader of the All India NR Congress (AINRC), took oath as the Chief Minister of Puducherry for a fifth term on May 13. Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan administered the oath of office and secrecy to…
The Union Cabinet approved the renaming of Kerala as Keralam on 25 February 2026. The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed unanimous resolutions in 2023 and 2024 urging the change.
Yoweri Museveni Sworn in as President of Uganda
Key Updates:
Yoweri Museveni was sworn in for a seventh term as the President of Uganda on 12 May 2026.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala.
According to the Electoral Commission, Museveni won 71.65 per cent of the vote.
Museveni has served as leader for 40 years since taking office in 1986.
Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, received 24.72 per cent of the vote.
Narendra Modi became the longest-serving head of an elected government in India by completing 8,931 days in office. He surpassed the record of 8,930 days previously held by Pawan Kumar Chamling, the former Chief Minister…
