Daily current affairs for 30 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: 30 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.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Plans Introduction of Polymer Banknotes to Increase Shelf Life
Key Updates:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is planning to introduce polymer banknotes for circulation through a pilot project to address rising currency demand and increase the shelf life of notes.
The expenditure on printing paper currency notes increased to ₹6,372.8 crore in the 2024-25 financial year (FY25) from ₹5,101.4 crore in the previous year.
A total of 23.8 billion pieces of soiled banknotes were disposed of in FY25, representing a 12.3 per cent increase from 21.24 billion pieces in the previous year.
Currency in Circulation (CiC) reached a record high of ₹42.86 trillion as of 15 May, growing by 11.5 per cent year-on-year.
The supply of coins rose to 1.5 billion in FY25, with the ₹5 denomination accounting for 800 million pieces and the ₹20 denomination for 400 million pieces.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a draft notification proposing that pan masala packaging should not use plastic material or metal layers. The proposed regulation prohibits the use of…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Master Direction – Facility for Exchange of Notes and Coins on April 01, 2026. The guidelines were issued under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, for providing note and coin…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has barred authorised dealers from offering non-deliverable derivative contracts involving the Indian rupee to residents or non-residents. Deliverable foreign exchange derivatives allowed only…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) instructed banks to limit their net open exposure to the currency in the foreign exchange market to $100 million by the end of each day. The new cap must be complied with by April 10.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Projects 6.9% GDP Growth for 2026–27
Key Updates:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projected India’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at 6.9 per cent and Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 4.6 per cent for the financial year 2026–27.
The Gross Fiscal Deficit (GFD) for 2025–26 stood at 4.4 per cent of GDP, while the Centre has projected the fiscal deficit for 2026–27 at 4.3 per cent.
The balance sheet of the RBI expanded by 20.6 per cent year-on-year to reach ₹91.97 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026, compared to ₹76.25 lakh crore in the previous year.
The total surplus of the RBI for 2025–26 rose by 6.7 per cent to ₹2.87 lakh crore, with revenue increasing by 26.4 per cent and expenditure surging by 102.4 per cent.
Domestic assets accounted for 29.5 per cent of total assets at the end of March 2026, while gold holdings and foreign investments grew by 44.9 per cent and 63.8 per cent respectively.
State Bank of India (SBI) expects India's real GDP growth to reach nearly 7.2 per cent in the final quarter of the 2025-26 fiscal year. The SBI projects the full-year GDP growth for FY26 to be 7.5 per cent and for FY27…
Morgan Stanley has raised India's FY27 growth forecast to 6.7% from 6.2%. The firm projects gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 7% for FY28 and 7.6% for FY26.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) revised India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast upward to 6.9% from 6.5%. ADB projects India’s FY26 growth at 7.6% and FY28 growth at 7.3%.
S&P Global (S&P) has lowered India’s economic growth projection for the financial year 2026-27 (FY27) to 6.6% from its earlier estimate of 7.1%. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for the financial year ended March…
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) completes 10 years with creditor realisations exceeding ₹4 lakh crore
Key Updates:
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), enacted in 2016, completed 10 years and facilitated creditor realisations exceeding ₹4 lakh crore as of March 2026.
As of March 2026, 1,419 cases yielded resolution plans, with realisation to creditors at 95% of fair value and 167% of liquidation value.
Of the total 8,987 cases admitted, 7,102 reached closure, with 4,099 companies rescued (58%) and 3,003 liquidated.
Over 30,000 cases were resolved at the pre-admission stage through withdrawals, involving amounts estimated at nearly ₹14 lakh crore.
The IBC process accounted for 52.4% of total recoveries (₹0.54 lakh crore) by Scheduled Commercial Banks, and recovery rates improved to 36.6% in 2024-25 from 28.3%.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The Bill is the seventh amendment since the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) came into…
National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) launched the Dirghavadhi Krishak Punji Sahakar Yojana under the Ministry of Cooperation. The scheme provides long-term financial assistance to cooperatives engaged in…
IRDAI approved the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Actuarial, Finance and Investment Functions of Insurers) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026. All insurers — life, general, stand-alone health…
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) issued final regulations for transition to Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) effective 1 April 2026. Insurers may request forbearance until 30 April 2026…
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) projects record foodgrain production of 376.56 million tonnes for 2025-26
Key Updates:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) released the Third Advance Estimates, projecting India’s total foodgrain production to rise by 5% to a record 376.56 million tonnes in the 2025-26 crop year.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan credited the achievement to climate-resilient varieties developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and a hike in Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Wheat production is estimated to reach an all-time high of 120.65 million tonnes and rice at 154.02 million tonnes, while pulses include tur at 3.59 million tonnes, gram at 12.51 million tonnes, and lentil at 1.76 million tonnes.
Nutri/coarse cereals are estimated at 74.47 million tonnes with maize at a record 55.09 million tonnes, while oilseeds include groundnut at 13.07 million tonnes, soyabean at 12.59 million tonnes, and rapeseed and mustard at 13.76 million tonnes.
Sugarcane production is estimated at 500.06 million tonnes, cotton at 29.024 million bales (170 kg per bale), and jute at 9.176 million bales (180 kg per bale).
Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan approved the second advance estimate of crop production for 2025-26. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) released the estimates covering both…
Maharashtra's economy is expected to grow at 7.9 per cent in 2025-26, outpacing the projected national growth rate of 7.4 per cent. The nominal Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2025-26 is estimated at ₹51 lakh…
The Union Cabinet approved the Mission for Cotton Productivity for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a total outlay of ₹5,659.22 crore. The mission aligns with the '5F vision' (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to…
India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) expanded 5.2% year-on-year in February 2026, up from 4.8% in January 2026. Manufacturing sector grew 6.0% in February 2026, contributing the largest share to overall…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Payment Aggregator-Physical licence to Mobikwik Systems
Key Updates:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted in-principle approval for a Payment Aggregator-Physical (PA-P) licence to Mobikwik Systems.
This approval follows the company's acquisition of a non-banking financial company (NBFC) licence from the RBI.
Mobikwik Systems aims for 10x growth in its merchant business by FY28.
Consulting firm Redseer estimates the gross merchandise value (GMV) of the merchant payments opportunity at $1.8-2 trillion by FY28.
Mobikwik currently supports approximately 4.9 million merchants through UPI QR codes, soundboxes, and EDC machines.
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…
One MobiKwik Systems has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) licence to launch its in-house lending business. The company will establish a wholly owned…
PhonePe has launched the RuPay On-The-Go Card, a National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), to enable offline tap-and-pay transactions across public transport services. The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s One…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted final authorisation to CRED (Dreamplug Paytech Solutions Private Limited) to operate as a payment aggregator. The license enables the Bengaluru-based fintech firm to onboard…
Andhra Pradesh and SIDBI to set up Angel Fund for Startups
Key Updates:
The Andhra Pradesh government will create an angel fund for startups in collaboration with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
The fund is aimed at deep-tech startups in artificial intelligence (AI), deep tech, electronics, quantum technologies, and advanced manufacturing.
A dedicated seed fund is being launched through the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH) in collaboration with SIDBI.
Electronics and IT minister Nara Lokesh stated that the platform through RTIH and SIDBI will provide deep-tech startups access to capital, real-world use cases, and the ecosystem needed to scale globally.
The RTIH will focus on sectors aligned with the state's economic strategy, including AI, electronics manufacturing, clean energy, and quantum technologies.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) Global Research Foundation established its first centre in the United States at Menlo Park, California, on April 24. The centre will be developed with a total…
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) notified the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0) with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore. The scheme aims to mobilise venture and growth capital for deep‑tech startups…
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) recognised more than 55,200 startups in FY26, representing a 51.6% increase over the previous year. Direct job creation by startups grew by 36.1% in…
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) partnered with Razorpay on 26 Mar 2026 to provide financial tools, founder enablement programmes and ecosystem support to startups. Startup Sahayak platform…
Adarsh Shahar Samriddhi Yojana: ₹200 Crore for Urban Infrastructure in Chhattisgarh
Key Updates:
The Chhattisgarh government will launch the Adarsh Shahar Samriddhi Yojana to equip emerging towns and urban centres with modern civic infrastructure and facilities.
The state government has earmarked ₹200 crore for the scheme in the 2026-27 budget.
The Urban Administration and Development Department has selected 32 urban local bodies in the first phase, comprising six each from Bastar, Surguja and Raipur divisions, nine from Bilaspur division and five from Durg division.
The selected urban bodies include: Sukma municipality and Bhopalpatanam, Geedam, Keshkal, Pakhanjur and Narharpur nagar panchayats (Bastar); Pandariya and Khairagarh municipalities and Gurur, Ghumka and Chhuikhadan nagar panchayats (Durg); Kurud, Mahasamund, Arang and Balodabazar municipalities and Pithora and Chandkhuri nagar panchayats (Raipur); Surajpur, Pathalgaon and Manendragarh municipalities and Lakhanpur, Kotba and Kunkuri nagar panchayats (Surguja); and Takhatpur, Mungeli, Lormi, Janjgir-Naila and Sakti municipalities and Bilha, Gharghoda, Pusaur and Sariya nagar panchayats (Bilaspur).
Key focus areas of the scheme include roads, drainage systems, water supply, transport facilities, parks, housing, education, healthcare, community services, employment generation, promotion of trade and entrepreneurship, e-governance, smart traffic management, security systems, green zones, renewable energy, water conservation, and grievance redressal and reporting systems.
The Atal Pension Yojana (APY), a flagship social security scheme of the central government, exceeded 9 crore total gross enrolments on April 21, 2026. The APY is administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and…
Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) Yojana is a voluntary, contributory pension programme for unorganised sector workers aged 18-40 years with monthly income below Rs 15,000. Subscribers contribute monthly…
Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing to visit India for first overseas trip
Key Updates:
Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to visit India, marking his first overseas trip since assuming his role in April.
Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as President on April 10, 2026, with India represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.
President Min Aung Hlaing and Prime Minister Narendra Modi previously met last year on the sidelines of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit.
India and Myanmar share a border of more than 1,600 km, making partnership on security and counter-insurgency critical.
The then Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi visited Myanmar in early May to expand existing bilateral security cooperation.
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi visited Myanmar from May 2-5, 2026, to intensify the 'Act East Policy'. Admiral Tripathi met Admiral Htein Win, Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Navy, in Naypyitaw on…
India and Myanmar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a Small Development Project to build a school in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar's capital. Kirti Vardhan Singh, India's Minister of State for External Affairs…
Min Aung Hlaing assumed the presidency after stepping down as armed forces commander as required by the constitution. The newly-elected parliament that selected him is dominated by military loyalists, with the military…
Vietnam President To Lam arrived in India on 5 May 2026 on his first state visit since assuming office earlier that month. He was received at the airport by Union Minister Nityanand Rai and accorded a warm welcome.
India and United States sign framework agreement for critical minerals and rare earths supply chain
Key Updates:
India and the United States (US) signed a framework agreement titled Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths in New Delhi on 26 May 2026.
The agreement was signed by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deepen cooperation in mining, processing, recycling, and related investments.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the framework seeks to strengthen resilient supply chains and promote collaboration in financing and management of critical minerals scrap.
The signing marks a milestone in the vision shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald J. Trump during the visit to Washington, D.C. in February 2025.
India previously became a signatory to the US-led Pax Silica initiative on 20 February 2026 and partners with the US under the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE) initiative.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched the Critical Minerals-to-Manufacturing Financing Partnership Facility to secure supply chains for clean energy, batteries, electric vehicles, and digital technology. The…
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio held delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The two sides reviewed the India-US Comprehensive Global…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the launch of the India-Canada Defence Dialogue after talks in New Delhi. Both countries set a bilateral trade target of $50 billion…
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Fourth Valley Concierge Corporation (FVCC) Partner to Strengthen Workforce Mobility for Indian Talent in Japan
Key Updates:
The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Tokyo-based Fourth Valley Concierge Corporation (FVCC) to facilitate workforce mobility for Indian talent in Japan.
The collaboration utilizes the Credibility Check framework provided by NSDC Trust, a group organisation of NSDC, to establish a verification mechanism for Indian candidates.
The verification process includes identity, educational and qualification credentials, employment history, criminal background checks where legally permissible, and consistency checks of submitted documents.
India and Japan have outlined an action plan to facilitate the movement of at least 50,000 skilled Indian professionals to Japan over the next five years.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Japan in 2025, both nations reaffirmed their special strategic and global partnership, emphasizing people-to-people exchange.
National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) convened the first meeting of the High-Powered Education to Employment and Enterprise Standing Committee on May 22. The committee, announced in the Union Budget…
T-Hub and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) signed a partnership on Thursday to strengthen India–Japan startup collaboration. The collaboration targets sectors including pharma and medical equipment, space…
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed four Official Development Assistance loan agreements with the Government of India totalling ₹16,420 crore. The agreements cover Maharashtra tertiary healthcare and…
State Bank of India (SBI) and Japan-based MUFG Bank Ltd. (MUFG) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to advance bilateral financial collaboration. The alliance aims to strengthen the India-Japan economic…
Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Hot-Fire Test in Florida
Key Updates:
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded on the launchpad during a hot-fire test at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, US.
A hot-fire test is a procedure where a rocket engine is fired while it remains anchored to the ground.
The New Glenn rocket is being prepared to launch 48 Amazon Leo satellites into low-Earth orbit.
The satellite launch is part of an effort to build a broadband constellation to rival the Starlink network of SpaceX.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Jared Isaacman was contacted regarding the incident by US House Representative Mike Haridopolos.
Blue Origin successfully landed the reusable booster of the New Glenn rocket at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission was the third for New Glenn and utilised a booster named Never Tell Me the…
A Blue Origin New Glenn reusable rocket failed to place the AST SpaceMobile BlueBird 7 communications satellite in the designated low Earth orbit during its third mission on April 19, 2026. The launch was conducted from…
Russia successfully test-launched its new Soyuz-5 rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) confirmed the flawless lift-off.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a 1,200-second runtime of its actively cooled scramjet full-scale combustor. The test was conducted at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) facility of…
Esha Singh wins 25m pistol gold at ISSF Munich World Cup
Key Updates:
Esha Singh won the gold medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Munich World Cup.
Esha Singh set two world records by scoring 43 in the final.
The previous seniors world record of 42 was held by Kim Ye-ji of Korea, and the junior world record of 41 was held by Yang Ji-in of Korea.
German shooter Doreen Vennekamp secured the second spot with a score of 38.
Esha Singh, a 21-year-old shooter from Hyderabad, is coached by Ronak Pandit.
The 8th annual Hockey India (HI) awards were held in New Delhi to recognise standout performances during the 2025 season. Hardik Singh and Navneet Kaur were conferred with the Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the…
India finished on top of the table at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun held in Cairo, Egypt. India won a total of 16 medals, including five gold, six silver, and…
India secured four gold medals at the Commonwealth Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships and the Universal Cup (Senior) held in Apia, Samoa. Sunil Singh won gold in the 65kg men's category with a total lift of…
Indian shooters Palak and Mukesh Nelavalli won the gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team competition at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup for rifle and pistol. The event was held in…
India to host 2027 Asian Relays and 2028 Asian Indoor Championships
Key Updates:
Chandigarh will host the third edition of the Asian Relays in 2027.
Bhubaneswar will host the 2028 Asian Indoor Championships at the Kalinga Stadium complex, likely in February.
The Kalinga Stadium complex in Bhubaneswar will also host the 2028 World Indoor Championships from March 3-5.
The hosting rights were awarded by the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) during an executive council meeting in Hong Kong.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has expressed interest in hosting the 2028 World U20 Championships and either the 2029 or 2031 senior World Athletics Championships.
India finished the Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026 with a tally of 10 medals, including one silver and nine bronze medals. The championships were held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, marking only the second time India…
Delhi has been awarded the hosting rights for the second leg of the Asia Cup archery tournament in 2027. The decision was finalised following approvals from World Archery Asia during a meeting held in Kolkata.
The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar has been named as the venue for the World Indoor Athletics Championships to be held from 3-5 March 2028. India is hosting its maiden national indoor athletics championship in…
Odisha in India will host the World Athletics Indoor Championships from 3-5 March 2028. Astana in Kazakhstan will host the 2030 edition of the championships from 15-17 March 2030.
Book 'India’s First Olympic Gold' released on May 27, 2026
Key Updates:
The book titled India’s First Olympic Gold was released on May 27, 2026, by P.T. Usha, the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
The book was authored by hockey historian K. Arumugam.
It chronicles the Indian hockey team's journey in 1928, including their final triumph against the host on May 26 in Amsterdam.
The work identifies Dhyan Chand as India's first-ever international sporting hero.
Dilip Tirkey, the president of Hockey India, was also present at the release event.
The 8th annual Hockey India (HI) awards were held in New Delhi to recognise standout performances during the 2025 season. Hardik Singh and Navneet Kaur were conferred with the Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the…
Gurjant Singh announced his retirement from international hockey during the 8th Hockey India annual awards on 27 March 2026. He won two Olympic medals and scored 48 goals in 130 appearances for India.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level ministerial meeting with the New Zealand sports delegation in New Delhi to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in sports. The year…
World Hunger Day observed on May 28
Key Updates:
World Hunger Day is observed globally on May 28.
The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises found 35.5 million children aged 6–59 months were acutely malnourished across 23 countries and territories.
Nearly 10 million children were identified as severely acutely malnourished in the 2026 Global Report on Food Crises.
Famine was identified in two separate contexts in the same year for the first time in the history of the report.
Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) shipped 132.9 million meals between January and April 2026.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) released a joint statement on April 9, 2026. The statement highlights growing risks of food insecurity and potential…
International No Diet Day (INDD) is observed annually on May 6 to focus on body acceptance and a healthy lifestyle. The day was created by Mary Evans Young, the director of the group Diet Breakers, and first celebrated…
World Ovarian Cancer Day is observed annually on May 8 to raise awareness about the disease and promote early symptom recognition. The theme for World Ovarian Cancer Day 2026 is No Woman Left Behind, which continues a…
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…
International Day of the Midwife is observed on May 5, 2026. Midwives provide essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health services worldwide.
Menstrual Hygiene Day observed on May 28
Key Updates:
Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed annually on May 28 to promote menstrual hygiene management and break taboos surrounding menstruation.
The inaugural Menstrual Hygiene Day was established in 2014 by social entrepreneur and activist Trina Talbot.
The day was recognized as a global observance in 2015 by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), governments, and other international organisations.
The Break the Silence campaign was launched in 2018 to foster open dialogue and improve education regarding menstrual health.
By 2020, the initiative evolved into a global movement with participation and events recorded in over 100 countries.
International Day to End Obstetric Fistula is observed annually on May 23 to raise awareness about a severe childbirth injury affecting women. The theme for the year 2024 is Ending Fistula by 2030: Act Now!
World Ovarian Cancer Day is observed annually on May 8 to raise awareness about the disease and promote early symptom recognition. The theme for World Ovarian Cancer Day 2026 is No Woman Left Behind, which continues a…
International No Diet Day (INDD) is observed annually on May 6 to focus on body acceptance and a healthy lifestyle. The day was created by Mary Evans Young, the director of the group Diet Breakers, and first celebrated…
World Hand Hygiene Day 2026 was observed on May 5, 2026. The theme for World Hand Hygiene Day 2026 is 'Hand Hygiene: one action that saves lives'.
Shrey Parikh wins Scripps National Spelling Bee
Key Updates:
Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old Indian-American student from California who was also a finalist in the 2024 edition, won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
He spelled 32 words correctly in 90 seconds, defeating Ishaan Gupta of New Jersey who spelled 25 words.
The winning word was 'cashaw'.
Parikh received prizes including $50,000, the Scripps Cup, a commemorative medal, $2,500 from Merriam-Webster, $1,000 in flight credits from Delta, and $400 worth of reference works from Encyclopaedia Britannica.
The competition featured 247 contestants from all 50 US states, Washington D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Defence Department schools in Europe, and five other countries: the Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates.
Soma Mandal was named the regional winner for the South Asia region of the 2026 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards by the International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment (Cambridge). She was…
Indian journalists R.K. Anand and Suparna Sharma won the Pulitzer Prize in the Illustrated Reporting and Commentary category. The award was conferred for their work highlighting digital surveillance and cyber fraud…
Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay's Bengali novel 'Hara Parbati Katha' won the Saraswati Samman for 2025. The K.K. Birla Foundation established the Saraswati Samman in 1991.
Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar Appointed Chairperson of High-Level Committee on Demographic Change
Key Updates:
Retired judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar has been appointed as the chairperson of the high-level committee to examine demographic changes in India.
The committee includes former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Durga Shankar Mishra and former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Balaji Srivastava as members.
Economist Dr Shamika Ravi and the Census Commissioner have also been appointed as members of the high-level panel.
The Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I) in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will serve as the member secretary of the committee.
The panel is tasked with conducting a comprehensive assessment of demographic changes caused by illegal infiltration and recommending planned, time-bound solutions.
The Supreme Court (SC) Collegium recommended the elevation of Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli, and Senior Advocate V Mohana as judges of the SC. The…
Justice (retired) Anupinder Singh Grewal has been appointed President of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet cleared his appointment on April 29.
The Finance Ministry (FinMin) has notified the Principal Bench of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) as the National Appellate Authority for Advance Rulings. The notification is deemed to have come…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the appointment of Dr R Balasubramaniam and Dr Joram Aniya as full-time members of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog). Dr Joram Aniya's inclusion marks a…
Raja Randhir Singh passes away as former President of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA)
Key Updates:
Raja Randhir Singh, a five-time Olympian and Arjuna Awardee shooter, passed away at the age of 80 in New Delhi on May 27, 2026.
He was the first Indian shooter to win a gold medal at the Asian Games in the trap event.
He became the first Indian to preside over the OCA in 2024 and previously served as its Secretary General.
He held positions at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
He served as the vice chairman of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the 75th-year anniversary ceremony of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) in New Delhi on 27 April. The NRAI launched a new Athlete…
Former Indian archer Shyam Lal Meena died at the age of 61 after a prolonged illness. He represented India at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, which marked the country's archery debut at the Summer Games.
Raghu Rai, a renowned photographer and photojournalist, passed away in Delhi at the age of 83 after suffering from cancer. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972.
Raghu Rai, a legendary photojournalist, passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. He was born on December 18, 1942, in Jhang, which is now in Pakistan.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extends tenure of Fino Payments Bank interim CEO
Key Updates:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the extension of Ketan Merchant's tenure as interim CEO of Fino Payments Bank for three months.
The extension is effective from May 27, 2026, as per an RBI letter dated May 25, 2026.
Ketan Merchant was initially appointed as interim CEO in March for a period of three months.
Former MD and CEO Rishi Gupta resigned on May 21, 2026, following his arrest by GST officials in a tax evasion fraud case.
Shares of Fino Payments Bank closed at ₹128.70 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), marking a 2.71 per cent increase.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has capped the continuous tenure of directors in Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) at 10 years. A mandatory three-year cooling-off period is required before a director can be reappointed to…
The board of Fino Payments Bank has approved the appointment of Ketan Merchant as Interim CEO, subject to approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Merchant will carry out the duties of the Managing Director (MD)…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued the Reserve Bank of India (Urban Co-operative Banks - Governance) Amendment Directions, 2026, effective immediately. An individual cannot serve as a director continuously for…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a mandatory three-year cooling-off period for directors of Urban Co-operative Banks (UCB), State Co-operative Banks (StCB), and Central Co-operative Banks (CCB) who complete…
