Weekly Current Affairs (May 2026 – Week 3) – Exam Revision Notes
1) International Current Affairs
Ali al-Zaidi Sworn in as Prime Minister of Iraq
Ali al-Zaidi officially assumed office as the Prime Minister of Iraq on May 16, after being formally confirmed and sworn in by the Iraqi Parliament.
PM Modi Visits the Netherlands – First Front-End Semiconductor Fab, Chola Copper Plates Returned
India and the Netherlands expanded cooperation in semiconductors, water management, heritage restoration, and floriculture. PM Modi and Dutch PM Rob Jetten witnessed the signing of an agreement between Tata Electronics and ASML — creating India’s first front-end semiconductor fabrication (Fab) facility at Dholera. (ASML supplies advanced lithography machines essential for chip manufacturing.)
The Leiden University Library returned 11th-century Chola Copper Plates to India — royal charters issued by Chola kings, documenting the donation of Anaimangalam village to a Buddhist vihara in Nagapattinam; inscriptions in Tamil and Sanskrit.
Both leaders visited the Afsluitdijk — a 32-km flood-control dam in the Netherlands — and signed a Letter of Intent for the Kalpasar Project in Gujarat (a major freshwater reservoir-cum-tidal power project across the Gulf of Khambhat, compared to Afsluitdijk in vision).
Establishment of an Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence for Flowers in West Tripura announced.
PM Modi Visits Norway – Green Strategic Partnership; Norway Joins IPOI
PM Modi held bilateral talks with Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo on May 18, 2026. Both countries elevated bilateral ties to a Green Strategic Partnership, with a goal to double bilateral trade by 2030.
Cooperation in offshore wind energy, Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), and clean energy. Norway supported India’s permanent membership in a reformed UNSC. Norway joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
About Norway: Capital: Oslo | Currency: Norwegian Krone (NOK) | PM: Jonas Gahr Støre | King: Harald V | Constitutional Monarchy | NATO member
PM Modi Visits Sweden – Strategic Partnership; Joint Action Plan 2026–2030
PM Modi held bilateral talks with Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson in Gothenburg on May 18, 2026. Both nations elevated India–Sweden ties to a Strategic Partnership and adopted the India–Sweden Joint Action Plan 2026–2030.
1. Strategic Dialogue for Stability and Security
2. Next-Generation Economic Partnership
3. Emerging Technologies and Trusted Connectivity
4. People, Planet, Health and Resilience
About Sweden: Capital: Stockholm | Currency: Swedish Krona (SEK) | PM: Ulf Kristersson | King: Carl XVI Gustaf | EU member
3rd India-Nordic Summit – Oslo (Finland, Iceland, Denmark)
PM Modi held bilateral meetings with the PMs of Finland, Iceland, and Denmark on the sidelines of the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo.
| Country / PM | Key Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Iceland – Kristrún Frostadóttir | Geothermal energy, fisheries, Arctic research, tourism; India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) opportunities discussed |
| Finland – Petteri Orpo | Target to double bilateral trade by 2030; cooperation in AI, 5G/6G, quantum, renewable energy, circular economy; India & Finland to jointly host World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in Gandhinagar, September 2026 |
| Denmark – Mette Frederiksen | Reviewed progress under India–Denmark Green Strategic Partnership; climate action, green tech, defence, AI; highlighted Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers initiative in Varanasi |
PM Modi Visits Italy – Special Strategic Partnership; IMEC Reaffirmed
PM Modi visited Italy on May 19–20, 2026, where he held talks with PM Giorgia Meloni. Both countries elevated ties to a Special Strategic Partnership with a trade target of €20 billion by 2029.
MoUs in critical minerals, agriculture and agricultural research, and maritime transport and ports.
Launch of INNOVIT India — an innovation hub for startup, AI, semiconductor, and research collaboration.
Both countries strongly condemned terrorism and pledged cooperation against terror financing.
Italy supported the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (negotiations concluded).
2027 declared “Year of Culture and Tourism” between India and Italy.
Cyprus President’s Visit to India – Strategic Partnership; First India–Cyprus Space Day
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides visited India; both countries announced an India–Cyprus Strategic Partnership. Cyprus joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) under the “Trade, Connectivity and Maritime Transport” pillar. India gifted a BHISHM Cube (portable emergency medical assistance system for disaster/humanitarian response) to Cyprus. The first-ever India–Cyprus Space Day was celebrated on May 18, 2026. Cyprus also expressed intent to open a Cyprus Trade Center in Mumbai. A Defence Cooperation Roadmap 2026–2031 was signed.
2) National Current Affairs
MP High Court Declares Bhojshala Complex a Temple – Quashes 2003 Friday Prayer Order
A Division Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court (Justices Vinay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi) ruled that the disputed Bhojshala–Kamal Maula complex in Dhar district is a temple dedicated to goddess Saraswati (Vagdevi). The court quashed a 2003 ASI order that permitted Muslims to offer Friday prayers at the site. The ASI’s scientific survey — using carbon dating, palaeography, XRF spot analysis, and material composition testing — was accepted as evidence. Key directions: the Union Government was asked to bring back the idol of goddess Saraswati from a London museum; the site remains a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
Operation RAGEPILL – NCB Seizes Captagon in India’s First-Ever Haul of This Drug
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) launched Operation RAGEPILL, busting a major international drug trafficking network smuggling Captagon — India’s first-ever seizure of this drug. Captagon contains Fenetylline and Amphetamine — psychotropic substances under the NDPS Act. It is often called the “Jihadi Drug” due to its reported misuse in conflict zones across the Middle East.
‘Coffees of Nagaland’ Mission Launched – ₹175 Crore for Premium Speciality Coffee
Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia launched the “Coffees of Nagaland” Cluster-based Coffee Value Chain Development Mission on May 18, 2026 with an outlay of ₹175 crore to develop Nagaland into a premium speciality coffee destination under “Viksit North East”. Tuophema village (Kohima) selected for Arabica coffee; Ghotovi village (Niuland) for Robusta coffee.
V.D. Satheesan Sworn in as Chief Minister of Kerala
Senior Congress leader V.D. Satheesan was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Kerala at Central Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, along with 20 Ministers. The Congress-led UDF won 102 of 140 seats in the Kerala Assembly elections, defeating the LDF.
Arunachal Kiwi Mission – ₹167 Crore to Build ‘Arunachal Organic Kiwi’ as a Global Brand
Union Minister Scindia launched the “Arunachal Kiwi: The USP of Arunachal Pradesh” mission with an outlay of ~₹167 crore. Arunachal Pradesh contributes over 50% of India’s kiwi production. The initiative aims to establish “Arunachal Organic Kiwi” as a premium global brand by FY 2028, leveraging its November–January harvest season that coincides with New Zealand’s off-season — giving it a natural export window.
3) Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs
ACCHA Project – Improving Anganwadi Education Across 55,746 Centres
The AP government launched the Andhralo Chinnarula Chaduvulu (ACCHA) project to improve early childhood education quality and strengthen Anganwadi centres. The project focuses on play-based learning, skill enhancement of Anganwadi workers, and improving enrolment. AP currently has 55,746 Anganwadi centres with around 8.5 lakh children enrolled. The project was first piloted in Kuppam.
‘Pillale Sampada’ Policy – AP Plans to Incentivise a Third and Fourth Child
The AP government is planning the ‘Pillale Sampada’ (Children are Wealth) policy to encourage population growth and address the State’s declining fertility rate.
AP’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined to 1.50, well below the national average of 1.9 and far below the replacement level of 2.1. A continued decline risks workforce shortages, demographic imbalance, and long-term economic slowdown.
Proposed Incentives:
₹30,000 for the birth of a third child | ₹40,000 for the birth of a fourth child
Matsyakarula Sevalo Scheme – ₹261.59 Crore Disbursed to 1.3 Lakh Fishermen Families
CM N. Chandrababu Naidu deposited ₹261.59 crore to ~1.3 lakh fishermen families under the Matsyakarula Sevalo Scheme at a programme in SPSR Nellore district. Each family receives ₹20,000 during the annual fishing ban period (April 15 to June 15) to support fish breeding and marine conservation.
Diesel subsidy of ₹9 per litre for mechanised fishing boats | AP allocated ₹50 crore towards diesel subsidy for FY 2026-27.
CM emphasised strict action against illegal intrusion by fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry into AP’s territorial waters.
Andhra Model of Education – 100% Enrolment, Chromebooks, and Star-Rating for Schools
AP HRD Minister Nara Lokesh announced the ‘Andhra Model of Education’ to become a national benchmark in public education. Key initiatives: target of 100% school enrolment, Clicker technology and Chromebooks for Class IX students, a star-rating system for government schools, expansion of smart kitchens statewide within two years, and a focus on value-based education, yoga, sports, and foundational literacy.
‘Amaravati Amma Vanta’ – Women-Led Food Entrepreneurship in the Capital Region
The APCRDA is promoting women-led entrepreneurship through ‘Amaravati Amma Vanta’ — providing skill training, branding support, packaging assistance, and market access to women’s SHGs and micro-entrepreneurs for traditional food products, including millet-based foods, traditional snacks, pickles, and sweets. It also aims to preserve AP’s culinary heritage.
‘Holiday in Andhra Pradesh’ Tourism Campaign Launched
AP Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh launched the ‘Holiday in Andhra Pradesh’ campaign to promote tourism and position AP among India’s leading travel destinations.
Historical Heritage of Visakhapatnam – Static GK for APPSC
| Topic | Key Facts |
|---|---|
| Thotlakonda Buddhist Complex | Flourished 2nd century BCE – 3rd century CE; atop a hill overlooking the sea |
| Dutch Settlement – Bheemunipatnam | Dutch East India Company trading post in 17th century; Dutch cemetery at Kummaripalem (1661) — among the oldest European burial grounds on India’s eastern coast |
| Vizag Sepoy Uprising (1780) | Led by Shaik Mohammad Khan on October 3, 1780 — one of India’s earliest recorded sepoy rebellions against the East India Company; occurred 77 years before the 1857 Revolt; rebels briefly captured the town and seized the Company treasury |
| Hindustan Shipyard | India’s first greenfield shipyard, established in Vizag (1941) by Walchand Hirachand as Scindia Shipyard; foundation stone laid by Rajendra Prasad on June 21, 1941; vessel Jal Usha launched by Nehru in 1948; later became Hindustan Shipyard Limited |
| World War II – Japanese Air Raid | April 6, 1942 — Japanese warplanes from aircraft carrier Ryujo attacked Visakhapatnam harbour; came shortly after Japanese advances across Southeast Asia |
4) Polity & Governance
Judges Inquiry Committee – Yashwant Varma Case; How Judge Removal Works in India
A Judges Inquiry Committee constituted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 submitted its report regarding allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on May 18, 2026. The three-member panel was headed by Justice Aravind Kumar, with B.V. Acharya and Chandrashekhar as other members. It was constituted by the Lok Sabha Speaker on August 12, 2025.
Constituted by: Speaker (Lok Sabha) or Chairman (Rajya Sabha) after a removal motion is admitted.
Composition: One sitting SC Judge + One HC Chief Justice + One distinguished jurist.
Process: Frames charges, gives judge opportunity for written and oral defence, operates like a civil court on principles of natural justice.
Outcomes: If charges not proved — proceedings dropped. If proved — report is laid before both Houses of Parliament, and Parliament may proceed with impeachment by special majority in both Houses; final removal order by the President of India.
CAA Rules Amended – Applicants Must Declare Pakistani, Afghan, or Bangladeshi Passports
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs amended the Citizenship Rules under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019. Under the amendment, CAA applicants must declare whether they possess a valid or expired passport issued by Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh. If they do, they must provide passport number, date and place of issue, and expiry date — and surrender these passports within 15 days after citizenship approval. The CAA provides a citizenship pathway for six non-Muslim communities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) who migrated from these three countries before December 31, 2014. The amendment is particularly significant for the Matua community in West Bengal, many of whom migrated from Bangladesh without adequate documents.
5) Economy
Rupee Depreciation – Causes, Effects, and Solutions
Rupee depreciation means a fall in the value of the Indian rupee compared to foreign currencies — when more rupees are needed to buy one US dollar, the rupee has depreciated. (Example: Earlier ₹80 per USD → Now ₹97 per USD.)
| Cause | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Higher Imports > Exports (CAD) | India imports crude oil, electronics, machinery, and gold heavily; excess imports create a Current Account Deficit, raising dollar demand and weakening the rupee |
| Rising Crude Oil Prices | Higher global oil prices increase dollar demand for purchases, putting direct pressure on the rupee |
| Foreign Capital Outflow | Foreign investors withdrawing from Indian markets to seek safer returns elsewhere increases dollar demand |
| Higher US Interest Rates | When the US Fed raises rates, investors prefer US markets, causing capital outflow from India and rupee depreciation |
| Positive Effects | Negative Effects |
|---|---|
| Indian exports become cheaper in global markets | Import costs increase; petrol/diesel prices rise |
| IT companies and exporters earn higher profits | Inflation rises; burden of foreign loans increases |
| Foreign tourists find India cheaper to visit | Foreign education and travel become expensive for Indians |
RBI’s Role: The Reserve Bank of India can sell US dollars from its foreign exchange reserves to stabilise the rupee when depreciation is sharp.
6) Science & Technology
WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in Congo and Uganda a Global Health Emergency (PHEIC)
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus — a rare strain of the Ebola virus. Ebola is a highly contagious viral disease spread through contact with bodily fluids (blood, vomit, semen) and can be fatal.
SMILE Mission – ESA and China to Study Solar Winds with First-Ever X-Ray Observations of Earth’s Magnetic Field
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences are launching the SMILE (Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) spacecraft to study how Earth’s magnetic field interacts with solar winds. The spacecraft will make the first-ever X-ray observations of Earth’s magnetic field. Launch vehicle: Vega-C | Launch site: Kourou
Solar storms (caused by Coronal Mass Ejections/CMEs) can damage satellites, disrupt communications, and threaten power grids. Earth’s magnetic field is the shield against these charged particles. SMILE will observe the magnetopause (boundary where Earth’s magnetic field deflects solar particles) and polar regions where X-ray photons linked to space weather appear.
When solar wind particles interact with gases in the upper atmosphere near the poles, they create the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) in the Northern Hemisphere and Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) in the Southern Hemisphere.
7) Environment
India’s First Satellite-Tagged Ganges Soft-Shell Turtle Released in Kaziranga
India’s first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle was released along the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, Assam — an initiative led by the Wildlife Institute of India in collaboration with the Assam Forest Department, funded by the National Geographic Society.
IUCN Status: Endangered | Protection: Schedule I, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
Recognised by its distinctive arrowhead-shaped markings on its head. Inhabits large rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in India.
Purpose of Satellite Tagging: To study seasonal movement patterns, home range, and nesting and breeding habitats — data critical for active conservation in the Brahmaputra River Basin.
8) Defence
INS Sunayna Returns After IOS SAGAR Deployment – India’s Maritime SAGAR Vision
The Indian Navy’s landmark IOS SAGAR Deployment concluded with the return of INS Sunayna to Kochi on May 20, 2026. The deployment was flagged off from Mumbai on April 2, 2026 and covered port calls at Malé, Phuket, Jakarta, Singapore, Yangon, Chattogram, and Colombo.
SAGAR: Security and Growth for All in the Region.
MAHASAGAR: Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
16 Participating Countries: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and UAE.
Focused on non-traditional maritime threats: piracy, illegal fishing, arms trafficking, and smuggling.
Exercise PRAGATI 2026 – 12-Nation Multilateral Exercise in Meghalaya
Exercise PRAGATI 2026 commenced in Meghalaya with 12 friendly nations participating: Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. PRAGATI = Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region. The two-week exercise focuses on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain.
9) Awards & Honours
PM Modi Receives Norway’s Highest Honour and FAO Agricola Medal 2026
| Award | Details |
|---|---|
| Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit | Norway’s highest honour, awarded to foreign Heads of Government; presented in Oslo |
| FAO Agricola Medal 2026 | Prestigious award by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations; presented at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy |
International Booker Prize 2026 – Taiwan Travelogue; First Mandarin Chinese Work to Win
Taiwanese writer Yang Shuang-zi and translator Lin King won the International Booker Prize 2026 for the novel Taiwan Travelogue, announced at Tate Modern, London on May 19, 2026. Originally written in Mandarin Chinese, this is the first Mandarin Chinese work to win the International Booker Prize. The £50,000 prize is shared equally between author and translator.
10) Committees & Conferences
79th World Health Assembly – India as “Pharmacy of the World”
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda addressed the plenary of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva on the theme “Reshaping Global Health: A Shared Responsibility.” Key highlights: over 1.85 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs established nationwide for primary healthcare; India advancing Universal Health Coverage; India reaffirmed as the “Pharmacy of the World” through affordable generic medicines and vaccines.
68th APO Governing Body Session – India Hosting; India’s Chairmanship Since 2025
India hosted the 68th Session of the Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) Governing Body from May 20–22, 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, with 20 APO member countries participating plus observers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Bhutan.
Established: 1961 | HQ: Tokyo, Japan | Members: 21 Asia-Pacific economies | India is a founding member. India assumed the APO Governing Body Chairmanship at the 67th session in 2025. APO is non-political, non-profit, and non-discriminatory, focused on improving productivity and sustainable socioeconomic development.
11) Person in News
Former Uttarakhand CM B.C. Khanduri Passes Away at 91
Former Union Minister and former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, B.C. Khanduri, passed away in Dehradun at the age of 91. He served as Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways under PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, played a major role in India’s highway expansion including the Golden Quadrilateral Project, and served twice as CM of Uttarakhand.
12) Important Days
World Metrology Day – 20 May | Theme 2026: “Metrology: Building Trust in Policy Making”
World Metrology Day is observed on May 20 every year — marking the 151st anniversary of the Metre Convention signed in Paris in 1875. The 2026 theme: “Metrology: Building Trust in Policy Making.”
40 Government Approved Test Centre (GATC) certificates issued to private entities.
e-Maap Portal launched for Legal Metrology registration and enforcement.
Minor offences under the Legal Metrology Act decriminalised under Jan Vishwas reforms.
India became the 13th country authorised to issue OIML pattern approval certificates.
“One Nation, One Time” initiative being implemented with ISRO and National Physical Laboratory for precise dissemination of Indian Standard Time (IST).
13) Miscellaneous
Key Appointments, Portals & Events
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Saurabh Vijay – UIDAI CEO | Senior IAS officer Saurabh Vijay assumed charge as CEO of UIDAI on May 18, 2026 |
| Ayush Anudan Portal | Streamlines submission and monitoring of grants under Ministry of Ayush schemes; integrates with NGO Darpan Portal and MAISP; promotes paperless governance in the Ayush sector |
| Indian War Memorial – South Korea | Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Indian War Memorial at Imjingak Park, Seoul (May 21, 2026), honouring the 60 Para Field Ambulance and Custodian Force of India (CFI) during the Korean War; part of the 75th anniversary commemorations |
| CBSE On-Screen Marking (OSM) | CBSE introduced OSM for Class 12 evaluation — examiners assess digitally scanned answer sheets rather than physical copies; ~98 lakh sheets scanned; enables evaluation beyond regional geographic limits |
| JEEVAN App & SHATAYU Dashboard | Launched by Ministry of Social Justice for senior citizens: JEEVAN (Joint Elderly Empowerment & Virtual Assistance Network) improves safety and healthcare access; SHATAYU (Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training) provides district-wise availability of geriatric caregivers |
| Operation Navjeevan – Jharkhand | 27 Maoists surrendered before Jharkhand Police under Operation Navjeevan — a rehabilitation and reintegration initiative for Left-Wing Extremists |
| Chand Tara – Cannes 2026 | Film by Mohammad Ali Baig on Hyderabad’s Qutub Shahi heritage selected for trailer screening at Cannes Film Festival 2026 |
Quick Revision Table
| Topic | One-Line Summary |
|---|---|
| AP – ACCHA Project | Andhralo Chinnarula Chaduvulu (ACCHA) project launched to improve early childhood education through play-based learning across AP’s 55,746 Anganwadi centres (8.5 lakh children enrolled); first piloted in Kuppam. |
| AP – Pillale Sampada Policy | AP plans ‘Pillale Sampada’ (Children are Wealth) policy to tackle its TFR of 1.50 (below national average of 1.9 and replacement level of 2.1), with proposed incentives of ₹30,000 for a third child and ₹40,000 for a fourth child. |
| AP – Matsyakarula Sevalo | ₹261.59 crore disbursed to ~1.3 lakh fishermen families at ₹20,000 each during the annual fishing ban (April 15 – June 15) under Matsyakarula Sevalo Scheme; diesel subsidy ₹9/litre; ₹50 crore allocated for diesel subsidy in FY 2026-27. |
| AP – Andhra Model of Education | AP HRD Minister Nara Lokesh announced the Andhra Model of Education with 100% school enrolment target, Clicker technology and Chromebooks for Class IX students, a star-rating system for government schools, and smart kitchens expansion statewide within two years. |
| AP – Amaravati Amma Vanta | APCRDA’s ‘Amaravati Amma Vanta’ initiative promotes women-led food entrepreneurship through skill training, branding, packaging, and market access for traditional food products including millet-based foods, snacks, pickles, and sweets. |
| AP – Visakhapatnam Heritage (Static GK) | Thotlakonda Buddhist Complex (2nd century BCE–3rd century CE); Dutch cemetery at Bheemunipatnam–Kummaripalem (1661, oldest European burial ground on east coast); Vizag Sepoy Uprising (Oct 3, 1780 — 77 years before 1857); Hindustan Shipyard established 1941 by Walchand Hirachand; foundation stone by Rajendra Prasad on June 21, 1941. |
| PM Modi – Netherlands Visit | Tata Electronics–ASML agreement creates India’s first front-end semiconductor Fab at Dholera; Leiden University returned 11th-century Chola Copper Plates; Letter of Intent signed for the Kalpasar Project (Gujarat); Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence for Flowers announced for West Tripura. |
| India–Norway: Green Strategic Partnership | India–Norway elevated bilateral ties to a Green Strategic Partnership (Oslo, May 18); Norway joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI); Norway supported India’s UNSC permanent membership; cooperation in offshore wind, CCUS, and clean energy. |
| India–Sweden: Strategic Partnership | India–Sweden elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership (Gothenburg, May 18) with a Joint Action Plan 2026–2030 built on 4 pillars: Strategic Dialogue, Next-Gen Economic Partnership, Emerging Technologies, and People-Planet-Health-Resilience. |
| India–Italy: Special Strategic Partnership | India–Italy elevated ties to a Special Strategic Partnership (May 19-20); trade target €20 billion by 2029; INNOVIT India hub launched; Italy supported India-EU FTA; 2027 declared “Year of Culture and Tourism”; cooperation in critical minerals, agriculture, maritime. |
| India–Cyprus Strategic Partnership | India–Cyprus elevated to Strategic Partnership; Cyprus joined IPOI (Trade, Connectivity and Maritime Transport pillar); first India-Cyprus Space Day on May 18, 2026; India gifted BHISHM Cube; Defence Cooperation Roadmap 2026–2031 signed. |
| Bhojshala Ruling – MP High Court | MP High Court declared Bhojshala–Kamal Maula complex in Dhar as a temple dedicated to Saraswati (Vagdevi); quashed 2003 ASI order permitting Friday prayers; accepted ASI survey using carbon dating, XRF analysis; directed government to retrieve Saraswati idol from London. |
| Arunachal Kiwi Mission | ₹167 crore Arunachal Kiwi Mission launched to establish “Arunachal Organic Kiwi” as a premium global brand by FY 2028; AP contributes 50%+ of India’s kiwi; harvest coincides with New Zealand’s off-season, creating a natural export window. |
| Judges Inquiry Committee – Article 124 | Judges Inquiry Committee (Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968) consists of 1 SC judge + 1 HC Chief Justice + 1 distinguished jurist; constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker or Rajya Sabha Chairman after removal motion admission; impeachment requires special majority in both Houses; removal by President. |
| CAA Rules Amended | MHA amended CAA 2019 rules to require applicants to declare any Pakistani, Afghan, or Bangladeshi passports and surrender them within 15 days after citizenship approval; significant for the Matua community in West Bengal. |
| Ebola PHEIC – Congo & Uganda | WHO declared Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC); caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus strain; spreads via bodily fluids and can be fatal. |
| SMILE Mission – ESA & China | Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) — a joint ESA-Chinese Academy of Sciences mission launching on Vega-C from Kourou; will make the first-ever X-ray observations of Earth’s magnetic field and study magnetopause interactions with solar wind. |
| Ganges Soft-Shell Turtle – Satellite Tagged | India’s first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica — IUCN Endangered, Schedule I) released in Kaziranga along the Brahmaputra by the Wildlife Institute of India to study movement, nesting, and breeding habitats. |
| IOS SAGAR & Exercise PRAGATI 2026 | INS Sunayna completed IOS SAGAR deployment (16 nations, April 2–May 20, 2026) under India’s SAGAR and MAHASAGAR maritime visions; Exercise PRAGATI 2026 (PRAGATI = Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region) held in Meghalaya with 12 nations. |
| PM Modi Awards – Norway & FAO | PM Modi received the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (Norway’s highest honour for foreign Heads of Government) in Oslo and the FAO Agricola Medal 2026 in Rome. |
| World Metrology Day – 20 May | Observed May 20 (151st anniversary of Metre Convention, 1875); 2026 theme “Metrology: Building Trust in Policy Making”; India became the 13th country to issue OIML pattern approval certificates; “One Nation, One Time” initiative with ISRO for precise Indian Standard Time. |
| Indian War Memorial – South Korea | Rajnath Singh and South Korea’s minister jointly inaugurated the Indian War Memorial at Imjingak Park, Seoul (May 21, 2026), honouring the 60 Para Field Ambulance and Custodian Force of India during the Korean War. |
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