Monthly current affairs for May 2026

Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has signed an MoU with the Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon, to collaborate on Executive Education Programmes. The partnership aims to develop future-ready leadership within SAIL by integrating academic knowledge with real-world applications.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

The Asian Weightlifting Championships (AWC) 2026 was held at the Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Organised by the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF), this event marked the 54th edition of the men’s tournament and the 35th edition of the women’s tournament.

China topped the medal tally with 41 medals (including 21 gold), followed by North Korea with 30 medals and Chinese Taipei with 13 medals. India secured a total of 10 medals, comprising 1 silver and 9 bronze. Gyaneshwari Yadav won a silver medal in the women’s 53kg snatch event and a bronze medal in the overall category.

Major General Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri (Retd), a senior BJP leader and former CM of Uttarakhand, passed away at the age of 91. He was a veteran of the 1962 Indo-China War and the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak Wars and was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM). He also represented the Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency multiple times, including during the 16th Lok Sabha.

The Union Cabinet has approved a new Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects with a total outlay of ₹37,500 crore. The initiative, structured under the National Coal Gasification Mission launched in 2021, aims to boost clean energy production and reduce reliance on imports of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), urea, and methanol.

The scheme provides financial incentives of up to 20% of the cost of plant and machinery, disbursed in 4 equal installments linked to project milestones. the coal linkage tenure has been extended to a maximum of 30 years under the ‘Production of Syngas leading to Coal Gasification’ sub-sector in the Non-Regulated Sector (NRS) linkage auction framework.

The centre has capped the financial incentive at ₹5,000 crore for any single project, ₹9,000 crore for any single product (excluding Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) and urea), and ₹12,000 crore for any single entity group across all projects.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has constituted the parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women for the 2026–27 session, effective from April 21, 2026, with Dr. Daggubati Purandeswari appointed as the Chairperson.

The committee comprises 30 members, with 20 nominated by the Speaker from the Lok Sabha and 10 nominated by the Chairman from the Rajya Sabha. The tenure of the JPC does not exceed one year, and it is reconstituted annually.