Daily Current Affairs 20 May 2026

Indian Railways has approved infrastructure works, including slope stabilisation, tunnel rehabilitation, and bridge protection, on the Jammu-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra section with an investment of ₹238 crore.

The 54 km Kiul-Jhajha 3rd line project has been approved at a cost of ₹962 crore to enhance capacity on the high-density Howrah-Delhi route. Further, the Arakkonam-Chengalpattu doubling project has been sanctioned at a cost of ₹993 crore to strengthen the Chennai suburban rail network.

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has notified the implementation of the ‘Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin)’ (VB–G RAM G) Act, 2025, which will come into effect from July 2026. This Act will repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA, 2005).

The new Act provides a statutory guarantee of 125 days of unskilled manual work per financial year to every household, an increase from the 100-day provision under the MGNREGA. The scope of work under the VB–G RAM G Act, 2025, covers 4 key areas: water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure, and climate resilience.

Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav has launched the ‘Ayush Anudan Portal’ to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in grant management for the Ayush sector. The portal is developed under the ‘Ayush Grid’ initiative.

It enables the online submission, processing, and monitoring of funding proposals under Central Sector Schemes. The portal is integrated with the ‘NGO Darpan Portal’ for faster verification, aiming to reduce manual processes and support the ‘Digital India’ and ‘Ease of Living’ initiatives.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched the PM Gram Sadak Yojana-IV (PMGSY-IV) during the silver jubilee celebrations of the scheme in Bhairunda, Madhya Pradesh. Under PMGSY-IV, the government has approved 973 roads spanning 2,117.52 km in Madhya Pradesh at a cost of ₹1,763.08 crore. Separately, the centre approved 259 roads, spanning 600.39 km, for the Vidisha parliamentary constituency.

He also handed over a mother sanction worth ₹2,055 crore to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Dr. Mohan Yadav under the PM Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G). Additionally, road projects worth ₹261.81 crore, covering 384.34 km, were approved under the PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN).

The SEBI has proposed a new regulatory framework named ‘Green Channel: Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) Rollout Upon Document Acknowledgement (GARUDA)’ to accelerate the launch and approval process of AIF schemes in India.

The GARUDA mechanism aims to streamline the processing of Placement Memorandums (PPMs) to facilitate faster fundraising. Under this, the waiting period for Non-Accredited Investor schemes is reduced from 30 days to 10 working days after filing the PPM. Additionally, Angel Funds and Accredited Investor-only schemes can commence fundraising almost immediately after filing their documents with the regulator.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has signed an MoU with the National University of Singapore Institute of Systems Science (NUS-ISS) to strengthen AI governance and digital leadership capabilities among Indian enterprises.

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has signed MoUs with the State Pharmacy Councils of Bihar, Maharashtra, and Mizoram to strengthen medicine safety, promote rational drug use, and enhance pharmacovigilance activities across India.

The United Nations (UN) has launched a report titled “The Global Forest Goals (GFG) Report 2026” during the 21st session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) in New York.

The report states that global forest cover decreased from 4.18 billion hectares (ha) in 2015 to 4.14 billion ha in 2025, representing an annual net loss of 4.12 million ha. It is to be noted that 16 million ha of primary forests were lost between 2015 and 2025. South America accounted for the most share of primary forest losses recorded during the decade.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal released the 7th edition of the ‘Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2025’ report during the ‘Logistics Excellence, Advancement and Performance Shield (LEAPS) Awards 2025’ ceremony held in New Delhi. The LEADS 2025 framework has transitioned from a three-tier to a four-tier performance framework: ‘Exemplars’, ‘High Performers’, ‘Accelerators’, and ‘Growth-Seekers’. Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram, and Delhi are categorized as ‘Exemplars’.

The ‘High Performers’ category includes 11 states and UTs, such as Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Puducherry, and J&K. The ‘Accelerators’ category includes 18 states and UTs, such as Punjab, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Ladakh, and Lakshadweep. West Bengal, Rajasthan, Sikkim, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are categorized as ‘Growth-Seekers’.

Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) has partnered with the France-based Exail Technologies to supply advanced Unmanned Mine Countermeasure (MCM) systems for the Indian Navy (IN). Under the agreement, L&T will serve as the prime contractor for the Indian Navy’s programme to build 12 Mine Counter Measure Vessels, with Exail Technologies acting as the technology partner.

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has released the first satellite-tagged Ganges Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia gangetica) in the country at the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam.

The project was executed in collaboration with the Assam Forest Department and Kaziranga park authorities, with funding provided by the National Geographic Society. The adult turtle was fitted with a transmitter under strict veterinary supervision and released along the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Mizoram CM Lalduhoma have launched the ‘Mizoram Ginger Mission’. The initiative, with a financial outlay of ₹189.79 crore, is designed to enhance ginger cultivation and value chain development in the state. It also aims to promote Geographical Indication (GI)-certified pharma-grade Mizo Ginger in international markets.

Tripura has become the first state in India to complete all Priority Areas under Deregulation Phase-II of the national Compliance Reduction and Deregulation initiative, spearheaded by the Cabinet Secretariat.

The state is the first in the country to successfully implement all 51 Priority Areas under both Phase-I and Phase-II of the reform programme. The reforms, launched in January 2026, aim to enhance the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and strengthen technology-driven governance through comprehensive regulatory improvements.

N Rangasamy, the founder of the All India NR Congress (AINRC), has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Puducherry for a record fifth term.

The oath of office was administered by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) K Kailashnathan. This marks the second consecutive National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the Union Territory (UT).

VD Satheesan has been sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister (CM) of Kerala. The oath of office was administered by the Governor of Kerala, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.

Professor Kuljeet Kaur Marhas has been elected as a Fellow of The Meteoritical Society, becoming the first Indian woman to receive this distinction. She is the third Indian scientist to be awarded this international honour, following space scientists Devendra Lal and JN Goswami.

67th Raising Day of Border Roads Organisation (BRO):

Day – May 07

Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War:

Day – May 08, 09

Observed since – 2005

Commemorating – The surrender of Nazi Germany in WWII

Also known in Europe as – Victory day

World Athletics Day:

Day – May 07

Theme 2026 – "Sport: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers"

Observed since – 1996

Initiated by – Primo Nebiolo, former President of World Athletics