Daily Current Affairs 22 May 2026

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia has launched the mission “Arunachal Kiwi: The USP of Arunachal Pradesh” in New Delhi. This cluster-based cultivation and value chain development program, with an outlay of ₹167 crore, aims to transform Arunachal Pradesh into a premium, traceable, single-origin global organic kiwi hub by FY28.

The mission targets increasing farmer realization for Grade A kiwis from ₹120 per kg to premium global export prices, while Grade C kiwis (previously sold at ₹20–₹40 per kg) will be upcycled into premium sub-products. The program also aims to extend product shelf life from 7–10 days to 45 days and establish cold-chain logistics with a capacity of 2,000 Metric Tonnes (MT).

IDFC FIRST Bank has launched a ‘Fixed Deposits (FD)-backed Business Multiplier Metal Credit Card’ in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The card is designed for founders, entrepreneurs, startups, and business owners. Key features include assured credit limits linked to FDs, zero forex markup, and business expense management capabilities.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated India’s first AI-powered ‘phygital’ banking branch of Slice Small Finance Bank (Slice SFB) in Guwahati, Assam. The ‘phygital’ model integrates physical banking infrastructure with digital technologies to provide seamless and efficient financial services.

TVS Venu Group has announced plans to acquire up to a 9.9% stake in Jana Small Finance Bank (Jana SFB) through a combination of warrants and secondary share purchases. GWC Family Fund Investments will acquire a 5.64% stake via a primary issue of shares, and TVS Motor Company will purchase a 4.9% stake in the bank.

Viyona Fintech India Pvt Ltd has received certification from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The certification covers integrations for UPI Acquirer, UPI Issuer, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), and Interoperable Mobile Banking (IBMB). This development aims to provide secure and seamless digital payment solutions for banks, fintech companies, and merchants.

India has assumed the chairmanship of the Common Criteria Development Board (CCDB) for a 2-year period, from April 2026 to April 2028. The leadership was confirmed during the 1st Quarter Meeting of the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA) held in Tokyo, Japan.

Under the CCRA, member countries accept each other’s IT security certificates without re-certification, facilitating seamless global trade in secure IT products. It is to be noted that India has been a member of the CCRA since 2013.

Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi has been sworn in as the Prime Minister (PM) of Iraq and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the country. Nominated by the Coordination Framework, he is the youngest PM in the modern history of Iraq at the age of 40. He succeeds Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

The Indian Navy (IN) has launched ‘Sanghmitra’ (Yard 3039), its first Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV), at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) facility in Kolkata.

The construction of 11 NGOPVs is being carried out across two domestic shipyards to enhance the naval presence of India in multi-domain operations. These indigenously designed vessels have a displacement of 3,000 tonnes, measure 113 metres in length and 14.6 metres in width, and can achieve a maximum speed of 23 knots.

The United States has approved two Foreign Military Sales (FMS) sustainment packages for India, worth a total of $428.2 million. The first package, valued at $198.2 million, provides support for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, while the second package, worth $230 million, is for the sustainment support of M777A2 ultra-light howitzers.

Adani Power has signed agreements to acquire a 24% stake in Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd (JPVL) and thermal assets from Jaiprakash Associates for ₹4,193.59 crore. The acquisition is part of a resolution plan approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and upheld by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

The first solar-powered ‘Algae Tree’ in India has been installed at Swami Vivekananda Park in Bhopal under the Smart City initiative to mitigate urban air pollution. Developed by the Mushroom World Group, this 3-metre-tall climate tech device uses microalgae-based photobioreactor technology to function as an artificial lung. It is capable of absorbing 1.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) and generating about 1 tonne of pure oxygen annually.

The Karnataka government has launched India’s first integrated technology-driven monitoring portal to track ‘Not of Standard Quality’ (NSQ) medicines and regulate ‘Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances’ (NDPS) drugs.

This initiative aims to strengthen drug surveillance, enhance transparency, and ensure public safety.

The Madhya Pradesh government has partnered with Google Cloud to deploy advanced AI frameworks for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2028 in Ujjain.

PM Narendra Modi has been conferred the prestigious FAO Agricola Medal by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The award recognises his contributions to food security, sustainable agriculture, and rural development.

It is one of the highest honours given by the FAO to individuals for their role in advancing global food security, improved nutrition, and agricultural development.

National Technology Day:

Day – May 11

Theme 2026 – “Responsible Innovation for Inclusive Growth”

Observed by – Technology Development Board (TDB), under Ministry of Science and Technology(MoS&T)

Observed since – 1999

Commemorating – Operation Shakti (Pokhran-II) nuclear tests and the maiden flight of the indigenous Hansa-3 aircraft