27th-28th May 2026

1. Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav and MP CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Inaugurate IBCA Pre-Summit in Bhopal,MP
2. AYUSHEXCIL – Spices Board MoU to Boost Global Promotion of Ayush Products & Medicinal Spices
3. Google Announces ‘GES’ Free AI Training Programme for School Teachers Across Maharashtra, Assam, Punjab & Other Regions
4. WHO’s 79th World Health Assembly Concludes in Geneva, Switzerland
5. Federal Bank Appoints Elias George as Part-Time Chairman
6. LIC Increases Stake in Central Bank of India to 6.06%
7. Italian Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli Wins Canadian Grand Prix 2026
8. Davis Cup Skipper Rohit Rajpal Named India’s Chef de Mission for 2026 CWG in Glasgow
9. Swara Lakshmi Nair Becomes Karnataka’s Second WIM in Chess
10. HP CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Releases Novel ‘Bazaar’ by Niranjan Dev Sharma
11. World Schizophrenia Awareness Day 2026 – May 24
12. Commonwealth Day in India 2026 – May 24
13. ICMR launches India’s largest biomedical innovation platform, transfers 41 health technologies to industry
14. LIC Launches Two New Joint Insurance Products ‘New Jeevan Sathi’ for couples
15. Nibe Group Signed JV with Elbit Systems to Set up Propellant Manufacturing facility in India
16. Senegal Appoints Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo as New PM After Ousmane Sonko’s Dismissal
17. SEBI Approves Appointment of 2 Executive Directors at CDSL
18. Jawahar Officially Assumes Charge as Chairman of MPEDA
19. NASA Unveils USD 20 billion 3-Phased Plan for Permanent Moon Base
20. Veteran Olympian Archer and Arjuna Awardee Shyam Lal Meena Passed Away
21. International Missing Children’s Day 2026 – May 25
22. World Thyroid Day 2026 – May 25
23. Gujarat Govt, Meta Sign MoU for WhatsApp-Based Citizen Service Delivery
24. India and Canada Reset Economic Ties with Ambitious Free Trade Agreement Goal by 2026
25. Adani Green Commissions Massive Battery Storage Project at Khavda
26. India Intensifies Cybersecurity Checks Amid Concerns Over Advanced AI System Risks
27. PM Modi Showcases India’s Cultural Diplomacy with Tribal Art and Indigenous Gifts for World Leaders
28. Oil India Finds New Gas-Bearing Zone in Rajasthan’s Dandewala Field
29. Indian Scientist Leads Discovery of Ancient ‘Loktak Protocluster’
30. Third India-Nordic Summit 2026: Key Outcomes of India’s Green Technology Partnership
31. Khajuraho to Host Yoga Mahotsav 2026 as India Begins Countdown to International Day of Yoga
32. Indian Scientists Develop CLEAR Technology, Breakthrough Protein Imaging Platform for Precision Medicine
33. Kerala Gets First Private Medical Museum in Thiruvananthapuram
34. Indian Railways Launches CHIRAG Centre in Hyderabad to Modernise HR Governance with AI
35. Sports Ministry Notifies Rules for National Sports Board and Tribunal Under Governance Reform Act
36. Assam Introduces UCC Bill 2026 in Assembly, Proposing Major Personal Law Reforms
37. Gujarat Intensifies Jal-Parab Campaign to Protect Wildlife in Little Rann of Kutch Amid Extreme Heat
38. India Overtakes UK to Become Sri Lanka’s Second-Largest Export Destination in 2026
39. ICMR Transfers 41 Public Health Technologies to Industry at India’s Largest Biomedical Innovation Event
40. India Chairs First BRICS Tourism Working Group Meeting 2026, Sets New Cooperation Agenda
41. Padma Awards 2026: President Murmu Honours 66 Distinguished Personalities at Rashtrapati Bhavan

National News

India and Canada Aim for Trade Pact

• What: India and Canada are negotiating a free trade agreement to lower trade barriers, reduce tariffs, and boost investment opportunities, aiming to conclude the discussions by the end of November 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is visiting Canada for the third round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
  • India and Canada aim to triple their bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030, nearly tripling economic exchanges between the two countries.
  • India mainly exports pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, seafood, cotton garments, electronics, and chemicals to Canada, while importing pulses, coal, fertilisers, crude oil, paper, pearls, and semi-precious stones.
  • India and Canada discussed cooperation in food security, sustainable agriculture, agricultural technology, and food processing, while Canada announced a business delegation visit to India later this year.
  • Both countries are exploring the introduction of UPI in Canada and expanding educational cooperation through university partnerships, dual-degree programmes, and overseas campuses.
  • Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Prime Minister Presents Tribal Crafts to World Leaders

• What: The Prime Minister presented international leaders with specially selected gifts that showcase the rich tribal heritage, traditional craftsmanship, and cultural identity of different states across India during a recent diplomatic tour.
• Tell me more:

• All of them, except Shirui Lily Stole, are GI-tagged products.

India and Nordic Nations Elevate Strategic Partnership

• What: India and the Nordic countries launched a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership during the Third India-Nordic Summit in Oslo to boost clean energy, digital innovation, and climate action.
• Tell me more:

• Joint Decisions with All Nordic Countries:
  • Advance cooperation in STEM and 6G research, maritime and blue economy sectors, Arctic and polar research, talent mobility, academic partnerships, technology transfer, innovation ecosystems, sustainable development, governance, resource optimisation, green jobs, and defence partnerships.
  • Leverage the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) to improve market access, reduce trade barriers, and boost investment flows.
• Trade and Investment between India and Nordic Countries:

Indian Railways Launches Digital Human Resource Excellence Centre

• What: Indian Railways launched the Centre for HR Information Systems, Research and Analytics in Governance (CHIRAG) at the South Central Railway (SCR) Grounds in Moula-Ali, Hyderabad to modernize workforce management.
• Tell me more:
  • The headquarters of the South Central Railway (SCR) is located at Rail Nilayam in Secunderabad, Telangana.
  • The facility, to be completed by May 2028 under the Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management (IRIFM), Hyderabad, will provide Human Resource Management System (HRMS) training and develop HRMS-MITRA master trainers.
  • The facility will support AI-driven human resource management, predictive analytics, and digital governance in Indian Railways.

Government Notifies New National Sports Governance Rules

• What: The Union Government notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026 and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 to regulate administrative bodies and resolve athletic disputes.
• Tell me more:
  • The National Sports Governance Rules, 2026 establish the framework for the newly created National Sports Board (NSB) and National Sports Tribunal (NST). The rules define their composition, appointments, tenure, salaries, service conditions, and powers.
  • The NSB will regulate and recognize National Sports Bodies, while the NST will provide a dedicated, speedy dispute-resolution mechanism for sports-related matters through a digital single-window system featuring online filings and virtual hearings.

India Hosts First BRICS Tourism Meeting Virtually

• What: The Joint Secretary (Tourism) chaired the first edition of the BRICS 2026 Tourism Working Group (TWG) Meeting held virtually on 25 May 2026 under India’s official chairship.
• Tell me more:
  • The Second BRICS Tourism Working Group Meeting will be held on 19–20 August 2026 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, followed by the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting (TMM) on 21–22 August 2026, also in Jaipur.
  • India’s official theme for its BRICS 2026 Chairship is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.

State News

Himachal Pradesh University Signs Green Energy Agreement

• What: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu released a novel titled ‘Bazaar’ while Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) signed a memorandum of understanding with Cosmo Ferrites Limited to develop sustainable green energy technologies.
• Tell me more:
  • Author Niranjan Dev Sharma wrote the literary novel which chronicles important social and political history from the year 1971 to 1992.
  • The MoU aims to strengthen industry-academia collaboration for research and innovation in green energy, advanced magnetic materials, and sustainable industrial technologies.
  • HPU Vice-Chancellor – Professor Mahavir Singh

Gujarat Government Signs Agreement with Meta Platforms

• What: The Gujarat government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Meta Platforms Inc (Meta) in Gandhinagar to provide citizens access to 20 different public services through a customized WhatsApp chatbot.
• Tell me more:
  • The WhatsApp-based platform will provide government services such as certificates, grievance redressal, ration card updates, and revenue records in Gujarati and English, making service delivery faster, simpler, and more accessible.

Oil India Discovers Natural Gas in Rajasthan

• State-owned energy major Oil India Limited (OIL) successfully discovered a new gas-bearing sand in the Dandewala Field of Jaisalmer district, boosting India’s drive towards energy self-sufficiency during the global energy crisis.

Yoga Mahotsav Countdown Starts in Khajuraho

• What: Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) will organise Yoga Mahotsav tomorrow at the Western Group of Temples in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, marking the 25-day countdown to the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • The Ministry of Ayush launched a nationwide 100-day countdown campaign across 100 locations to promote yoga ahead of the International Day of Yoga, featuring training programmes, public participation, and Common Yoga Protocol sessions.

Kerala Opens First Private Medical Museum

• What: Founder A Sivaraman opened the Museum of Medical Archives in Ulloor, establishing the first private medical museum in Kerala to teach the general public about human anatomy through handmade models.
• Tell me more:
  • The institute showcases decades of handcrafted medical models, anatomical displays, paintings, and archives, transforming complex biological concepts into interactive learning experiences and making medical science accessible to the general public.

Assam Government Introduces Uniform Civil Code Bill

• The Assam Government introduced the Uniform Civil Code Assam Bill, 2026 (UCCAB) in the State Assembly to reform personal laws by banning polygamy, mandating registration of marriages, divorces, and live-in relationships, while exempting Scheduled Tribes from its provisions.

Gujarat Forest Department Intensifies Wildlife Conservation Campaign

• What: The Gujarat Forest Department intensified its Jal-Parab Campaign (JPC) in the Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) within Surendranagar district to protect diverse desert wildlife from severe summer water scarcity.
• Tell me more:
  • Forest officials place artificial water troughs across wildlife habitats and regularly refill them with water tankers, ensuring animals and birds have access to water and remain within protected areas during extreme summer heat.

International News

WHO’s 79th World Health Assembly Concludes in Geneva, Switzerland

• Dr Víctor Elías Atallah Lajam of the Dominican Republic (a Caribbean nation) was the President of the Health Assembly.

• Theme of 79th WHA – Reshaping global health: a shared responsibility

• In total, the Member States adopted more than 20 decisions and 13 resolutions at the WHA.

• The primary decisions and announcements made during the assembly include:

  → Resolutions:

  • First-Ever Dedicated Stroke Resolution
    • Led by Egypt and co-sponsored by Chile, Georgia, Palestine, Paraguay and Tunisia, this historic resolution focuses specifically on expanding diagnosis and managing severe hypertension in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
  • Historic Hemophilia and Rare Bleeding Disorders Resolution
    • Formally adopted in partnership with the World Federation of Hemophilia to drive equitable access to expensive specialized therapies and clotting factors globally.
  • Smart and Efficient Pharmacovigilance
    • Delegates adopted a resolution to use digital tools for medicine and vaccine safety monitoring, strengthen misinformation control, and upskill the global health workforce for faster safety detection.
  • First Resolution on Radiation and Health
    • Member states passed the first joint resolution on ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, mandating stronger national infrastructure to protect populations from radiation risks.

  → Decisions:

  • Updated Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR 2026–2036)
    • Target alignment: The assembly adopted the second edition of the GAP-AMR. This mirrors the UN General Assembly target to reduce human bacterial AMR deaths by 10% by 2030.
    • Agrifood systems: The plan requires an aggressive reduction in antimicrobial use across agrifood sectors.
    • Pollution containment: Mandates are set to minimize environmental pollution caused by resistant microbes.
    • Quadripartite collaboration: Framework execution will be coordinated with Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, and World Organisation for Animal Health.
  • Strategy on the Economics of Health for All (2026–2030)
    • Member states approved a strategy integrating health, well-being, and equity into fiscal and industrial policies to strengthen investment and achieve universal health coverage.
  • Pandemic Agreement and Health Emergencies
    • Member states discussed and advanced the PABS system to improve sharing of pathogens and benefits during pandemics, while also strengthening preparedness for hospital capacity, vaccine access, and mental health support during outbreaks.
    • PABS: Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system
  • Global Health Emergency Corps Strategy
    • Launched on the sidelines by Germany, Ethiopia, and Brazil and supported by the Gates Foundation and the Institute of Philanthropy, this strategy aims to ensure that 10% of every country’s health workforce is fully trained and connected to respond to health emergencies by 2030.
  • “From Cost to Catalyst” Framework
    • A global health-economics service launched alongside the assembly by FINN Partners and WifOR Institute to help governments mathematically quantify the economic value and return on investment (ROI) of public health spending.
  • JW Lee Strategic Situation Room
    • The World Health Organization established the JW Lee Strategic Situation Room with financial and institutional support from the Republic of Korea to respond quickly and effectively to global health emergencies.
  • Argentina’s Withdrawal:
    • Argentina officially announced its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2026. It was discussed at WHA.
  • Six Global Nutrition Targets Extended:
    • These targets were originally established by the 65th World Health Assembly in 2012 with a target date of 2025, but they were officially extended to 2030 to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The extension was announced last year and it was discussed again this time.

→ India at 79th WHA

• Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda represented India and made the following announcements.
  • India reiterated its vision of achieving equitable, inclusive, affordable, and technology-driven universal healthcare through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach under the guiding principle of “Health for All.”
  • India established more than 1,85,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to provide comprehensive primary healthcare services.
  • Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana was highlighted as the world’s largest public health assurance scheme, covering nearly 600 million beneficiaries.
  • Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission has created over 880 million unique digital health IDs, strengthening India’s digital health ecosystem through seamless healthcare services and longitudinal health records.
  • India announced the launch of the Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India to promote ethical and human-centric AI systems in healthcare.
  • India reaffirmed its role as the “Pharmacy of the World” through affordable generic medicines and vaccine production.
  • India highlighted that under the Vaccine Maitri initiative, nearly 300 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were supplied to around 100 countries.
• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is WHO Director‑General.
  • The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO. It is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Announces Lunar Base Missions

• What: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) officially announced three upcoming lunar missions under a USD 20 billion plan to establish a permanent research outpost on the moon.

• Tell me more:

  • Artemis-II Mission: Four astronauts completed a lunar flyaround in April, becoming the first humans to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt were the last astronauts to walk on the moon in 1972.

  • Artemis-III Mission: Planned for 2028, it aims to land astronauts on the Moon, with Moon Base-I helping reduce engineering risks for the mission.

  • Moon Base-I Mission: Scheduled no earlier than September, it will use Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander to deliver scientific instruments studying lunar surface interactions and navigation systems.

  • Moon Base-II Mission: Scheduled later this year, it will use Astrobotic’s Griffin lander to deliver over 1,100 pounds of cargo, including Astrolab’s FLIP rover for mobility testing.

  • Moon Base-III Mission: Scheduled this year, it will carry NASA’s Lunar Vertex payload to study lunar swirls and transport additional payloads from the European and Korean space agencies.

  • NASA’s Artemis missions aim to return astronauts to the Moon and develop technologies for future deep-space exploration, while its Moon Base missions aim to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon.

Banking and Economy

Google Launches Artificial Intelligence Education Initiatives in India

• What: Technology giant Google announced a set of Artificial Intelligence (AI) focused education partnerships for India at the Education World Forum 2026 in London.
• Tell me more:
  • Google will introduce its Google AI Educator Series (GES) in India to train school and higher education instructors in the responsible classroom use of AI systems like Gemini.
  • The initiative involves collaborations with the governments of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Assam, the Union Territory of Ladakh, and the Punjab School Education Board.
    • The targeted languages include Assamese, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Odia, and Punjabi.
  • Google had earlier partnered with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Chaudhary Charan Singh University in January to build India’s first AI-enabled state university.

Life Insurance Corporation Hikes Central Bank Stake

• What: Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) officially increased its equity stake in the public sector lender Central Bank of India to 6.06% from its previous holding of 3.16%.
• Tell me more:
  • The primary legislation is Section 12B of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, which is implemented operationally through the RBI Master Direction (Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights in Banking Companies) Directions for acquisition of shares.

Life Insurance Corporation Launches Joint Life Insurance Plans

• What: The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) introduced two new joint life insurance savings plans called LIC’s New Jeevan Sathi Single Premium and LIC’s New Jeevan Sathi Limited Premium for couples.
• Tell me more:
  • Single Premium Joint Life Plan: A one-time premium savings and insurance plan covering both spouses under a single policy, offering guaranteed additions of ₹70 per ₹1,000 sum assured, flexible terms, and death benefit options.
  • Limited Premium Joint Life Plan: A joint life savings plan with limited premium payments, guaranteed additions equal to 7% of annual premium, automatic premium waiver after first death, and flexible policy and payout options.

Adani Green Commissions World Largest Battery Storage at Khavda, Gujarat

• What: Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) commissioned a 3.37 Gigawatt-hour (GWh) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Khavda, Gujarat, making it the largest single-location deployment outside China.
• Tell me more:
  • A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) stores solar and wind power for later use, ensuring stable 24×7 clean electricity, reducing shortages, and meeting peak demand. The Khavda BESS can power nearly one million homes.
  • AGEL plans to add over 10 GWh of battery storage capacity in FY27, expand to 30 GWh at Khavda by 2029, and reach 50 GWh over the next five years.
  • AGEL currently operates a renewable energy portfolio of 19.7 GWh across 12 states and targets achieving 50 GWh by 2030.

Indian Banks Overhaul Cybersecurity to Fight AI Threats

• What: Indian banks are strengthening cybersecurity and adopting continuous AI-based threat monitoring to counter faster AI-driven cyberattacks.
• Tell me more:
  • Artificial intelligence does not create new types of attacks but reduces the time and effort required to exploit system weaknesses.
  • The Finance Ministry, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and Computer Emergency Response Team-India (CERT-In) warned banks about autonomous AI systems.
  • Banks expanded 24×7 AI-enabled security operations centres, deployed automated monitoring tools, increased Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) testing using AI-generated attack scenarios.
  • Banks also tested rapid isolation of compromised systems without disrupting banking or UPI services, and strengthened board-level cybersecurity oversight.

India Becomes Sri Lanka’s Second Largest Export Market

• What: The Sri Lankan Export Development Board (EDB) reported that India surpassed the United Kingdom (UK) to become Sri Lanka’s second-largest export market during January-April 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • The United States (US) remains the largest single market for Sri Lankan exports.

Defence News

Nibe Group Signs Manufacturing Agreement with Elbit Systems

• What: The Nibe Group signed a joint venture with Elbit Systems of Israel to establish advanced energetic materials and propellant manufacturing facilities in India to supply strategic defense products.
• Tell me more:
  • The joint venture plans to manufacture Nitro Cellulose, Nitro Glycerine, and Single, Double, and Triple Base Propellants in India.
  • Elbit Systems will provide technical know-how, while Nibe Group and GDIL will establish, invest in, and operate the facilities to strengthen indigenous propellant manufacturing.
  • Recently, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis separately inaugurated a private Defence Manufacturing Complex for Nibe Group at Shirdi.
  • This new industrial complex intends to manufacture advanced artillery systems, missile technologies, space technologies, rocket systems, and autonomous defense platforms.

Science and Technology

Indian Council of Medical Research Organizes Technology Transfer Event

• What: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) successfully organized India’s largest biomedical and technology transfer facilitation event, called “Medical Innovations Patent Mitra: Innovators-to-Industry (I2I) Connect”, at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • The Department of Health Research within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare oversees this specialized apex medical research body.
  • The scientific council transferred 41 public health technologies to commercial industry partners for further development, manufacturing, and commercialization.
  • ICMR Director General and Department of Health Research Secretary – Doctor Rajiv Bahl

Indian Astrophysicist Discovers Ancient Loktak Galaxy Protocluster

• What: Indian astrophysicist Dr Ronaldo Laishram led an international team to discover a 12.6-billion-year-old primitive galaxy protocluster named the Loktak Protocluster.
• Tell me more:
  • A protocluster is an early-stage collection of galaxies that will eventually grow into a massive galaxy cluster, similar to how a small town can grow into a large city over time.
  • The discovery helps scientists understand how the first large cosmic structures formed and how galaxies evolved in the early Universe. It provides a glimpse into the Universe’s early history.
  • The team named the cosmic structure after Loktak Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in northeast India.
  • The discovery was made using the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and the findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
• Knowledge Nuggets
  • Dr Ronaldo Laishram, a postdoctoral researcher at National Astronomical Observatory of Japan; he was felicitated by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam for discovering an asteroid at age of 18; and he founded the Manipur Astronomical Society.

Researchers Develop New Advanced Protein Imaging Platform

• What: Researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru developed a novel imaging platform called Cleavable Light-Erased Antibody Reporter (CLEAR) to visualize many proteins within a single biological sample using one fluorescent marker.
• Tell me more:
  • The CLEAR platform helps scientists create detailed maps of many proteins in the same cell or tissue sample, improving disease detection, understanding of immune responses, and development of targeted medical treatments.
    • Proteins perform most of the important functions in the body, such as building tissues, carrying signals, and fighting diseases. Since many diseases involve faulty proteins, medicines often target specific proteins to treat them.
  • The journal Chemical Science by the Royal Society of Chemistry published this newly developed method.
• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), was established in 1989 to commemorate the birth centenary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • In 2002, JNCASR became a Deemed-to-be University and was later granted Category-I Deemed-to-be University status (highest level of “graded autonomy”) by the UGC, providing greater academic and administrative autonomy.

Awards

Padma Awards 2026

• Although announced on Republic Day, these awards were presented to the recipients at a later investiture ceremony by the President of India.

Important Days

World Schizophrenia Awareness Day 2026 – May 24

Commonwealth Games Day in India 2026 – May 24

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organized the 75th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle across 8,000+ locations to commemorate Commonwealth Games Day, while building momentum for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
• Commonwealth Day (formerly Empire Day) is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations (countries which were once British-ruled), often held on the second Monday in March (9 March 2026).

International Missing Children’s Day 2026 – May 25

World Thyroid Day 2026 – May 25

• Theme: ‘Thyroid and Nutrition’
• The thyroid gland produces and releases the hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), which help regulate the body’s metabolism, energy use, growth, and development.

Sports

Kimi Antonelli Wins Thrilling Canadian Grand Prix

• Italian teenage driver Kimi Antonelli secured his fourth consecutive Formula 1 (F1) victory after winning the Canadian Grand Prix.

Swara Lakshmi Nair Achieves Women’s International Master Title

• What: Karnataka’s 19-year-old chess player Swara Lakshmi Nair became the second player from the state to achieve the prestigious Women’s International Master (WIM) title.
• Tell me more:
  • Sports player Isha Sharma previously made history by becoming the very first woman from the state to achieve this ranking.

Memorandum of Understanding

Ayush Export Promotion Council and Spices Board Sign MoU

• What: The Ayush Export Promotion Council (AYUSHEXCIL) and the Spices Board of India signed a memorandum of understanding in New Delhi to promote the global integration of Ayurveda, medicinal plants, and traditional Indian spices.
• Tell me more:
  • The central government launched the “Spice and Heal” branding campaign to position the nation as a global leader in holistic health solutions, aligning with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Heal in India’ initiatives.
  • AYUSHEXCIL Chairman – Dr Anurag Sharma

Appointments

Federal Bank Appoints Elias George Part-Time Chairman

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officially approved the appointment of Elias George as the part-time chairman of Federal Bank for a fixed three-year term.

Rohit Rajpal Appointed Indian Chef de Mission

• What: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officially appointed India’s Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal (tennis) as the country’s Chef de Mission for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, which will be held from July 23 to August 2.
• Tell me more:
  • The sports organization selected Ravi Bengani to serve as the Deputy Chef de Mission for the international athletic event.
  • Sports administrators Vandana Rao and Rahul Swami will travel with the national sports contingent to act as general team managers.
  • IOA President P T Usha will join the senior leadership delegation along with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Raghuram Iyer and Vignesh Vengalil Ujjwal.
  • Mary Kom, Kamalpreet Kaur, Sunaina Kumari, and Rajlaxmi Singh Deo will accompany the Indian delegation as special guests.

Senegal Appoints Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo as New PM

• President Bassirou ⁠⁠Diomaye Faye

Securities and Exchange Board Approves Central Depository Appointments

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) officially approved the appointment of two new executive directors, Amit Mahajan and Nayana Ovalekar, to the board of Central Depository Services (CDSL).
• MD & CEO, CDSL – Shri Nehal Vora

P. Jawahar Assumes Charge as MPEDA Chairman

• What: Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer P. Jawahar formally assumed charge as the new Chairman of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) to lead the national seafood export sector.
• Tell me more:
  • The newly appointed leader belongs to the 2007 batch of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre.
  • MPEDA is a statutory body, established by the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act, 1972, responsible for promoting, regulating, and developing India’s marine products industry, with a special focus on seafood exports.
  • MPEDA replaced the Marine Products Export Promotion Council, which was set up in 1961.

Miscellaneous

Pioneering Indian Olympic Archer Shyam Lal Meena Passes Away

• Shyam Lal Meena was a pioneer of Indian archery, winning India’s first international archery medal at the 1987 Asian Championships, representing the country at its Olympic archery debut in 1988, and receiving the Arjuna Award in 1989.

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