Sunday, May 24

Daily Current Affairs: 24 May 2026

Daily current affairs for 24 May 2026 with exam-focused key facts, connected news context, and revision notes for UPSC, SSC, banking and government exams.

Editorial note for exam revision Last updated: 24 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.

Today at a glance

Top current affairs to revise

  1. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves surplus transfer of ₹2.86 lakh crore to Government
  2. British International Investment (BII) and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) launch $300 million India renewable energy platform
  3. National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) and Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) Sign MoU to Strengthen ESG and Capital Markets
  4. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) authorises ZikZuk Technologies as PPI Issuer
  5. Smart Border Project and High Powered Demography Mission Announced for National Security
  6. UMMID Programme Dedicated to Nation for Genome-Based Precision Healthcare

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves surplus transfer of ₹2.86 lakh crore to Government

Key Updates:

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved a record surplus transfer of ₹2.86 lakh crore to the government for FY26, which is a 7% increase from the previous year.
  • The RBI balance sheet expanded by 20.6% to reach ₹91.9 lakh crore at the end of the last financial year.
  • Net income before risk provisions and transfers to statutory reserves rose to ₹3.9 lakh crore in FY26, compared to ₹3.13 lakh crore in the previous year.
  • Under the revised Economic Capital Framework (ECF), the RBI lowered the Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB) to 6.5% for FY26 from 7.5% in the previous year.
  • The RBI transferred ₹1.09 lakh crore to the CRB for FY26, as against ₹44.8 crore transferred in the previous year.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

British International Investment (BII) and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) launch $300 million India renewable energy platform

Key Updates:

  • British International Investment (BII) and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) have launched a $300 million renewable energy platform named North Star in India.
  • BII and CIP will each commit up to $150 million to the platform, which is structured to attract additional institutional and private capital.
  • North Star will invest across solar, wind, hybrid renewable energy, and storage projects.
  • The platform is estimated to generate more than 4 million MWh of clean energy and avoid around 4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
  • North Star is the first investment under British Climate Partners (BCP), a £1.1 billion climate finance platform launched by BII as part of its five-year strategy for emerging Asian economies.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) and Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) Sign MoU to Strengthen ESG and Capital Markets

Key Updates:

  • The National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) and the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mumbai on May 19.
  • NISM is an educational institution established by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), while IICA functions under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
  • The collaboration focuses on capacity building, research, and policy support in corporate governance, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices, and capital markets.
  • SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey emphasised the need for a performance-driven corporate governance ecosystem and enabling Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to access capital markets.
  • The institutions will jointly conduct certification courses and training programmes in areas such as Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR), insolvency, and valuation.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) authorises ZikZuk Technologies as PPI Issuer

Key Updates:

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted final authorisation to Hyderabad-based ZikZuk Technologies Private Limited to operate as a Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) Issuer.
  • The authorisation was issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
  • ZikZuk Technologies is authorised to provide General Purpose PPIs, which include Full-KYC and Small PPIs.
  • The company can issue Special Purpose PPIs, including Gift PPIs, Transit PPIs for public transport (metro, bus, rail, and toll payments), and PPIs for Foreign Nationals and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) visiting India under the UPI One World framework.
  • The company is positioned to develop regulated payment products such as digital wallets, prepaid cards, and stored-value solutions under the oversight of the RBI.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Smart Border Project and High Powered Demography Mission Announced for National Security

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will launch the Smart Border Project equipped with drones, radars, and advanced cameras to create an impregnable security grid along the borders within the next year.
  • Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi announced the formation of a High Powered Demography Mission to address unnatural demographic changes and identify illegal infiltrators.
  • The Border Security Force (BSF), established in 1965 under K.F. Rustamji, has expanded from 25 battalions to become the world’s largest border guarding force with 2.70 lakh personnel.
  • The central government has extended the operational jurisdiction of the BSF from 15 kilometres to 50 kilometres to strengthen border management and coordination with state administrations.
  • A comprehensive welfare programme for all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel and their families is scheduled to be introduced by the government within the next two months.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

UMMID Programme Dedicated to Nation for Genome-Based Precision Healthcare

Key Updates:

  • Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh dedicated the UMMID (Unique Methods of Management of Inherited Disorders) programme to the nation on 21 May 2026.
  • The programme is designed to improve early diagnosis, screening, counselling and management of inherited disorders and lay the foundation for precision medicine in India.
  • The programme has already helped nearly three lakh individuals through various screening and diagnostic services.
  • Nearly 30 NIDAN Kendras have been established across the country to provide advanced genetic testing, counselling and diagnostic support.
  • The initiative has expanded its reach into Aspirational Districts and underserved regions.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY): ₹5 Lakh Health Coverage (Start of May)

Ayushman Bharat Diwas is celebrated annually on April 30 to recognise the impact of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). PM-JAY was launched on September 23, 2018, in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Bharat Tex 2026 Event App launched for AI-driven Networking and Matchmaking

Key Updates:

  • The government launched the Bharat Tex 2026 Event App to enhance Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven networking, business matchmaking, and participant engagement at India’s flagship textile event.
  • The digital platform was launched by Neelam Shami Rao and is supported by the Ministry of Textiles (MoT) to assist buyers, exhibitors, international delegates, sourcing consultants, speakers, and visitors.
  • Key features of the app include an AI-powered smart assistant for 24x7 conversational support, Quick Response (QR) based lead capture for saving contact details, and venue navigation with floor plans.
  • Bharat Tex 2026 is organised by the Bharat Tex Trade Federation in collaboration with 11 textile export promotion councils and industry bodies, with support from the MoT.
  • Based on the 5F Vision (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign), the event will be held in New Delhi from July 14 to 17, 2026, expecting over 7,000 international buyers and 1.3 lakh trade visitors.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

India and Cyprus Elevate Bilateral Ties to Strategic Partnership During Presidential Visit

Key Updates:

  • Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides elevated bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership during high-level talks in New Delhi.
  • The two nations signed six agreements, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) on counter-terrorism and another between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service and the Diplomatic Academy of Cyprus.
  • Agreements were also signed for cooperation in higher education, culture (2026–2030), and innovation between India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Cyprus’s Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy.
  • A technical arrangement for search and rescue operations was concluded between the Larnaca Joint Rescue Coordination Center of Cyprus and India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), alongside a defence cooperation roadmap for 2026–2031.
  • Cyprus joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) trade pillar, announced a new Trade Center in Mumbai, and scheduled the first India-Cyprus Space Day for May 18, 2026.
  • India will gift a Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri (BHISM) Cube to Cyprus as part of the new bilateral strategic initiatives which include dedicated Cyber Security and Consular Dialogues.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

India successfully tests Agni-1 Ballistic Missile on May 22, 2026

Key Updates:

  • India successfully test-launched the Short Range Ballistic Missile ‘Agni-1’ from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, on May 22, 2026.
  • The test of the Agni-1 missile was conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command.
  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a flight-trial of an advanced Agni missile featuring the Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) system from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
  • The MIRV-capable missile tested multiple payloads targeted at different locations spatially distributed over the Indian Ocean Region.
  • The missile was developed by DRDO laboratories with support from industries across the country and the trial was witnessed by DRDO scientists and Indian Army personnel.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

India and Ethiopia sign bilateral WTO accession protocol in Geneva

Key Updates:

  • India and Ethiopia signed a bilateral accession protocol in Geneva to facilitate Ethiopia's membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO).
  • The protocol was signed by Senthil Pandian C., Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the WTO, and Tsegab Kebebew Daka, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations Office and Other International Organisations in Geneva.
  • The agreement was fast-tracked and concluded under the guidance of the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.
  • India is the second-largest trading partner of Ethiopia.
  • Bilateral relations between India and Ethiopia were elevated to a Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ethiopia in December 2025.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

India postpones first International Big Cat Alliance Summit in New Delhi

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has postponed the first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit, which was originally scheduled for 1 June 2026 in New Delhi.
  • The summit was being organised in conjunction with the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS IV), which has also been deferred following consultations with the African Union (AU) and the African Union Commission.
  • A key expected outcome of the summit is the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Big Cat Conservation, a unified global commitment to strengthen transboundary cooperation and landscape-based conservation.
  • The IBCA was established by the Government of India in 2024 through the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to conserve seven species: tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, and pumas.
  • Membership of the alliance is open to all United Nations (UN) member states, including range countries harbouring these species and non-range countries interested in supporting big cat conservation.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

India and Norway sign 12 agreements during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Norway in May 2026

Key Updates:

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Oslo was the first by an Indian prime minister to Norway in 43 years.
  • King Harald V conferred Norway's highest civilian honour, the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, on PM Modi.
  • The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) target is set at USD 100 billion in investments and one million jobs over 15 years.
  • India aims to increase the share of Norwegian ships built in India from 10% to 25% within the next five years.
  • Bilateral ties were elevated to a Green Strategic Partnership focusing on climate action, green industries, and the circular economy.
  • Norway joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative to support a free, open, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
  • India confirmed participation in Nor Shipping 2027 with an India pavilion to deepen cooperation in the blue economy, shipbuilding, green shipping, and port infrastructure.
  • An agreement was signed for cooperation in the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space.
  • The India-Norway Digital Development Partnership was launched to cooperate on digital public goods and infrastructure, supporting the Digital India Mission and Global South countries.
  • A healthcare cooperation pact was signed to establish institutional cooperation through a Joint Working Group.
  • An agreement was signed for specialised consultancy services related to tunnels, slope stability, and capacity building for roads and highways.
  • A technology cooperation agreement was signed to promote joint research in clean energy, climate action, healthcare, and the blue economy.
  • The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and SINTEF signed a collaboration agreement on sustainable development projects including bio-based materials, ocean energy, and carbon capture.
  • A project-specific implementation agreement for the Ocean Energy Program was finalised, focusing on offshore wind and wave energy technologies.
  • A green shift science and innovation agreement was signed to promote the mobility of students, researchers, and faculty.
  • The CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI) and Emerald Geomodelling AS signed a collaboration agreement on geoscience and infrastructure planning.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Nibe Limited conducts successful technical trials of indigenous Vayu Astra-1 loitering munition for Indian Army on 21 May 2026

Key Updates:

  • Nibe Limited successfully completed technical trials of the indigenous Vayu Astra-1 loitering munition system designed for precision strikes.
  • The trials for the munition system were conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan and Joshimath in Uttarakhand.
  • The Vayu Astra-1 demonstrated a strike range of 100 kilometres and high-altitude endurance flying at elevations above 14,000 feet.
  • The system features high-precision targeting, night strike capability, and control transfer functions for modern battlefield operations.
  • The loitering munition showcased advanced operational capabilities including abort and re-attack functions along with a reusable recovery capability.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

World Turtle Day 2026 Observed to Protect Turtles and Tortoises

Key Updates:

  • World Turtle Day is celebrated annually on May 23 to educate people about turtles and tortoises and inspire actions to protect them.
  • The observance was established in 2000 by the American Tortoise Rescue.
  • The theme for World Turtle Day 2026 is the Turtle Protector Pledge.
  • Sea turtle species include the Green sea turtle, Leatherback turtle, Hawksbill turtle, Loggerhead turtle, and Olive ridley turtle.
  • Leatherback turtles are the largest sea turtles in the world.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Chandrayaan-3 receives 2026 Goddard Astronautics Award

Key Updates:

  • The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) presented the 2026 Goddard Astronautics Award to India's Chandrayaan-3 mission in Washington DC on May 21.
  • Chandrayaan-3 became the first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing near the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023.
  • The mission confirmed the presence of key chemical elements in the lunar south polar soil and provided data to support future human missions to the Moon.
  • India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, accepted the award on behalf of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at the AIAA ASCEND 2026 Conference.
  • The Goddard Astronautics Award is the highest honour bestowed by the AIAA for notable achievements in astronautics and was established in its current form in 1975.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

National Technology Day observed on May 11 (Mid of May)

National Technology Day is observed every year on May 11 to commemorate the successful Pokhran-II nuclear tests of May 11, 1998. The 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, developed by…

New Worm-Eating Snake Species Trachischium lalremsangai Discovered in Mizoram and Myanmar

Key Updates:

  • A new species of worm-eating snake, Trachischium lalremsangai, has been discovered in the jungles of Mizoram and Myanmar.
  • The species was described in the Herpetozoa journal of the Austrian Herpetological Society by scientists from Mizoram University and the Max Planck Institute for Biology.
  • The snake is named after Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, a professor of Zoology at Mizoram University.
  • Specimens of the snake were identified from Murlen National Park in Mizoram and Haka Township in the Chin State of Myanmar.
  • The discovery is located within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, which covers 2.4 million square kilometres across India, Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

New Species of Burrowing Reed Snake Discovered in Meghalaya (Mid of April)

A new species of burrowing reed snake, named Calamaria garoensis (Garo Hills reed snake), has been described from the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. The species was previously identified as Calamaria pavimentata…

Vijay Shankar announces retirement from domestic cricket and IPL

Key Updates:

  • Indian all-rounder Vijay Shankar announced his retirement from domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the age of 35 to pursue new opportunities.
  • Shankar represented India in 12 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and nine T20 Internationals (T20Is) between 2018 and 2019, including a stint in the 2019 ODI World Cup.
  • He expressed gratitude to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and cited bowling the final over in India's 500th ODI at Nagpur as a career highlight.
  • During his career, he played for four IPL franchises: Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Gujarat Titans (GT).
  • His professional record includes 77 First-Class matches with 4,253 runs and 13 centuries, 112 List A games with 2,790 runs, and 159 T20 matches since 2012.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Mohan Singh Dies Former Indian Footballer (Start of May)

Former Indian football midfielder Mohan Singh died on May 7 at the age of 78, with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) paying tribute to his contributions. He made his senior national team debut against Burma in…

Coal mine blast in Shanxi, China on May 22, 2026

Key Updates:

  • A gas explosion occurred at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County, Changzhi city, located in the Shanxi province of China.
  • At least 90 people were killed, and 201 out of 247 workers who were underground were rescued.
  • Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an all-out rescue effort and an investigation to hold those responsible accountable.
  • Shanxi province is the primary coal mining province in China, producing 1.3 billion tons (1.17 billion metric tons) of coal last year, accounting for nearly one-third of the country's total.
  • Executives of the company responsible for the Liushenyu coal mine have been detained following the incident.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Boiler blast at Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh (Mid of April)

Ten workers were killed and 23 injured in a boiler explosion at Vedanta Limited power plant in Sakti district, Chhattisgarh. The explosion occurred in the afternoon and three victims died on the spot while others…

World Cities Report 2026 released on May 20, 2026

Key Updates:

  • The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) released the World Cities Report 2026 during the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
  • Anacláudia Rossbach serves as the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
  • The report identifies that 40% of the global population, approximately 3.4 billion people, are affected by a housing crisis involving affordability, shortages, and poor quality.
  • In India, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) programme has expanded subsidised housing from 0.3% of households in 2010 to 7% in 2023, with 12 million houses sanctioned.
  • The report notes that the affordable housing segment in the eight largest Indian cities declined from 52% of new builds in 2018 to 17% in 2025.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Sandeep Bakhshi reappointed CEO of ICICI Bank

Key Updates:

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the reappointment of Sandeep Bakhshi as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ICICI Bank.
  • The reappointment is for a further period of two years, extending his term until October 3, 2028.
  • The reappointment is effective from October 4.
  • ICICI Bank is India's second-largest private lender by market capitalisation.
  • Sandeep Bakhshi has led the bank since 2018.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Soumya Swaminathan and Manindra Agrawal Elected as Fellows of the Royal Society (FRS)

Key Updates:

  • Dr Soumya Swaminathan and Professor Manindra Agrawal have been elected as fellows of the FRS in the 2026 cohort for their landmark contributions to science.
  • Dr Soumya Swaminathan, a paediatrician and former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organisation (WHO), is the second Indian woman to be elected as a fellow in the 400-year history of the academy.
  • Professor Manindra Agrawal, the Director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, developed the AKS primality test and has received the Infosys Prize, the Gödel Prize, and the Padma Shri in 2013.
  • Adaseer Cursetjee Wadia was the first Indian elected to the society in 1841, followed by Srinivasa Ramanujan in 1918 and CV Raman in 1924, who later resigned from the fellowship in 1968.
  • Gagandeep Kang became the first Indian woman elected as a fellow in 2019, while Dr Swaminathan previously served as the Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Manindra Agrawal Elected Fellow of the Royal Society (End of May)

Manindra Agrawal, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. The Royal Society is the national academy of sciences of the United Kingdom, founded…

Dr Gopalrao Patil passes away as former Rajya Sabha member (End of April)

Dr Gopalrao Patil, a former Rajya Sabha member and paediatrician, passed away at the age of 94 in Latur, Maharashtra. He served as a member of the Rajya Sabha representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) between 1994…

N Chandrasekaran conferred honorary knighthood by UK (End of March)

N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group, was awarded the honorary knighthood of Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by the British government. The honour was conferred at a ceremony…