Current Affairs 3 & 4 May 2026

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs May 3 & 4 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches PMGSY-IV In Odisha
In May 2026, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Rural Development(MoRD), launched the 4th phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV) in Odisha, marking a major push for rural connectivity.

• The scheme, launched at a special event in Rayagada district, Odisha, with an outlay of Rs.1,700 crore, aims to improve connectivity in remote and underserved areas, in the presence of Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister(CM) of Odisha and other officials.

About Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV):
Implementation: Under this initiative, 827 road projects covering 1,701.84  kilometer (km) were taken up at a cost of Rs.1,698.04 crore(Cr), enabling 898 habitations to gain all-weather road connectivity for the first time.
Funding: The project cost was shared between the Centre and the State in a 60:40 ratio.
Districts Covered: In this phase, 898 villages across eight districts: Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Khordha, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, and Sambalpur in Odisha, were provided with all-weather road connectivity.

MoSPI Releases ‘Women and Men in India 2025’ Report: Key Education, Employment & Health Trends
In April 2026, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoS&PI), released the 27th edition of its publication titled ‘Women and Men in India 2025: Selected Indicators and Data’ at the National Deliberative Summit on “Data for Development”, at Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Overview of Report:
Metadata inclusion: Metadata for 50 key indicators has been included to improve clarity and provide a better understanding of concepts, definitions, sources, and methodology.
Sex Ratio: India’s sex ratio at birth improved from 904 (2017-19) to 917 (2021-23), indicating improved survival of females.
Total Fertility Rate (TFR): The TFR in urban areas has shown a decline between 2019 to 2023. In 2023, the TFR for Urban is 1.5 and rural is 2.1.
GER Trend: GER at Higher Education has improved from 28.5 to 30.2 for females and 28.3 to 28.9 for males between 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): There has been an increase in LFPR for ages 15 and above for both men and women. In particular, rural females have seen the highest increase in LFPR, going from 37.5% to 45.9% during the period 2022 to 2025.

MHA Notifies Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026; Introduces e-OCI & New Compliance Norms
In April 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026, introducing key changes to the existing Citizenship Rules, 2009. The new rules came into force on April 30, 2026, following publication in the official gazette.
About Citizenship (Amendment) Rules 2026:
Dual Passport: Minor children cannot hold both Indian and foreign passports simultaneously, ensuring compliance with India’s single citizenship policy.
Digital OCI: The rules introduce e-OCI along with digital records, allowing issuance of physical or electronic OCI cards and maintaining a central database.
Online Process: The entire OCI application process, including registration, renunciation, and acknowledgements, will be conducted online through the official portal.
Renunciation: OCI card surrender must be filed electronically, after which acknowledgement is issued and the applicant’s name is removed from the records.

Ministry of Mines Approves 58 Companies under Rs 1,500 Crore Critical Mineral Recycling Incentive Scheme
In May 2026, the Ministry of Mines (MoM) approved 58 companies as eligible participants under the Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling (IS-PCMR), a key initiative under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with a total outlay of Rs.1,500 crore.

• The scheme aims to reduce import dependence while strengthening clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors by building domestic recycling capacity for lithium-ion batteries, e-waste, and industrial scrap.

About the Application & Evaluation for IS-PCMR:
Data: Pledged investments of around Rs. 5,000 crore, with a capacity of 850 Kilo Tonnes Per Annum (KTPA).
Segments: Includes battery recycling, Electronic Waste  (e-waste) processing, and industrial scrap recovery across key industrial sectors.
Process: Applications were open from October 2, 2025 to April 1, 2026, evaluated by Project Management Agency (PMA) at Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur, Maharashtra, and approved by the Executive Committee (EC), with 20 entities cleared on March 30, 2026 and 38 on April 29, 2026.

C-ART Observatory Established At Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, AP
On 1 May 2026, Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), inaugurated the Open-Field Observatory of the Coastal Atmospheric Research Testbed (C-ART), a coastal weather research facility established by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), at Andhra University (AU), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).

• The observatory was developed with an estimated cost of Rs 180 crore under Mission Mausam.

About C-ART Weather Testbed:
Aim: The initiative aims to strengthen observational networks, enhance numerical weather prediction, and improve early warning systems for cyclones and extreme weather along India’s east coast.
Infrastructure: The facility features an open-field meteorological observatory equipped with remote sensing and in-situ systems, eddy covariance tower, and advanced observational instruments.
Location: Situated in Visakhapatnam (AP), the first such testbed on India’s east coast and a cyclone-prone Bay of Bengal region, it complements existing facilities at Bhopal(Madhya Pradesh, MP); Mumbai(Maharashtra) and Mahabaleshwar(Maharashtra), with another planned in Chennai, TN.

TN Overtakes Gujarat as Top Marine Fish Producer in 2025: CMFRI Data
In May 2026, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) released a report titled ‘ICAR-CMFRI Annual Report 2025’, which stated that Tamil Nadu(TN) became India’s top marine fish producer in 2025 with 6.85 lakh tonnes, surpassing Gujarat, whose output declined by 15% to 6.43 lakh tonnes from 2024.

• India’s total marine fish production increased by 3% to 35.7 lakh tonnes in 2025.

State-wise Production:
Top States: TN recorded a 1% rise in marine fish landings over 2024 despite cyclones, while Gujarat experienced a decline due to adverse weather, extended fishing bans, and cyclonic disruptions.

• Karnataka ranked fourth with 5.78 lakh tonnes, followed by Maharashtra in fifth place with 3.66 lakh tonnes of marine fish production.

Resources Performance: The Indian oil sardine emerged as the top resource at 0.16 million tonnes, rising 13% to a decade high, while threadfin breams and cephalopods recorded increases of 27% and 16%, respectively.
Species: Indian mackerel remained the most landed marine resource in the country at 0.27 million tonnes, followed by cephalopods at 0.25 million tonnes and oil sardine at 0.25 million tonnes.
Market Value : Marine fish landings generated an estimated Rs. 69,254 crore at landing centres and Rs. 97,702 crore at the retail level, reflecting strong market demand.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Launches India’s First Barrier-less Tolling System in Gujarat 
In May 2026, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari,  Ministry of Road Transport & Highways(MoRTH), launched India’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling system at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the Surat–Bharuch section of National Highways(NH)-48 in Gujarat, marking a major shift in highway tolling.

About First Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF):
Technology: The system enables barrier-free tolling using integrated technologies such as ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) withArtificial intelligence (AI) analytics and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)-based Electronic Toll Collection (FASTag).
Benefits: Under the barrier-less model, toll charges are automatically deducted from linked accounts, enabling contactless, seamless transactions while reducing fuel use, emissions, and travel time.

Impact: The initiative supports India’s push for digital infrastructure and smart mobility, aiming to build a more efficient, user-friendly road transport system nationwide.

Sikkim Becomes India’s First Paperless Judiciary State 
In May 2026, Sikkim became the first state in India to have a fully paperless judiciary. The announcement was made by Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India(CJI), during the “Conclave on Technology and Judicial Education” held at Chintan Bhawan in Gangtok(Sikkim), marking the state’s 50 years of statehood.
Key Details:
e-Courts System: A paperless judiciary refers to the transition from physical records to a fully digital court system, including e-filing (electronic filing), digital case management (DCM), virtual hearings via video conferencing (VC), and e-Seva Kendras (eSK) to assist users with limited digital literacy.
Digital Processes: Court processes are digitised with electronic summons via SMS (Short Message Service) and email (Electronic Mail) through National Service and Tracking of Electronic Processes(NSTEP), while hybrid virtual hearings (VH) enable remote participation and improved accessibility.

Impact: The initiative improves access to justice in remote and hilly areas, while reducing administrative costs and environmental impact through paperless operations.

DPIIT Signs MoU with Chamber India to Strengthen India’s startup ecosystem 
In May 2026, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoC&I), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chamber India to bolster the Indian startup ecosystem and foster innovation-led growth.
Key Details of MoU:
Objectives: The partnership aims to strengthen engagement between startups, corporates, investors, and global stakeholders, while enabling international linkages and cross-border collaboration.
Focus: It will also support startups through initiatives aligned with national programmes and promote entrepreneurship across key sectors such as skilling, healthcare, agriculture, and emerging technologies.
Benefits: Under the collaboration, startups recognised by the DPIIT will receive 50% concessional membership with Chamber India, enabling access to export support, IPR( (Intellectual Property Rights) advisory, business matchmaking, and global networking opportunities.
Initiatives: The Chamber will establish five incubation and startup support centres across India, focusing on Aspirational Districts, Northeastern states, and emerging regions to promote inclusive and balanced entrepreneurial growth.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

USTR Special 301 Report 2026: Retains India On Priority Watch List; Vietnam Named Priority Foreign Country 
In April 2026, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its 38th annual 2026 Special 301 Report , classifying countries into Priority Foreign Country (PFC), Priority Watch List, and Watch List.

• India was placed on the Priority Watch List alongside 5 countries, while Vietnam was designated as a Priority Foreign Country (PFC), the highest scrutiny category and first in 13 years, potentially triggering a Section 301 investigation.

About USTR Special 301 Report:
Ranking: Countries classified into Priority Watch List are India, China, Russia, Chile, Indonesia, Venezuela and the Watch List are 19 countries including Pakistan, Türkiye, European Union (EU), Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Canada and others.
Changes: Argentina and Mexico were moved to the Watch List due to improvements, Bulgaria was removed, the EU was added over concerns related to Geographical Indications (GI) and pharmaceutical legislation, and Ukraine’s review was suspended due to the ongoing war.
Section301: Under Section 301 of Trade Act of 1974, USTR may initiate an investigation within 30 days against Vietnam, leading to consultations to resolve trade issues.

BANKING & FINANCE

NBBL, Juspay Launch Switch and SDK for Banking Connect to Upgrade Net Banking
In May 2026, NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL), a subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), partnered with fintech firm Juspay Technologies Private Limited, to launch a unified switch and software development kit (SDK) for its Banking Connect platform across India, aimed at enhancing the net banking experience.
About Banking Connect Framework:
Overview: Banking Connect is an interoperable platform that standardizes net banking workflows, enabling banks and payment aggregators to move beyond fragmented legacy integrations while strengthening digital payment infrastructure.
Features: The platform provides a unified integration layer with central routing, structured data delivery, and standardized workflows, enhancing security, improving customer experience, enabling faster onboarding, and supporting reliable, scalable innovation in the payment ecosystem.
Technology: Utilizes SDK to support interoperability, scalability, and open architecture for ecosystem innovation.

IPPB Launches Zero-Balance SHG Savings Account to Empower Women-Led Self Help Groups
In April 2026, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), under the Department of Posts (DoP), Ministry of Communications, launched a dedicated Self Help Group (SHG) Savings Account across India to advance financial inclusion and empower women-led micro-enterprises across rural India by providing a zero-balance, zero-cost banking solution accessible via the postal network.
About IPPB’s SHG Banking Account:
Features: Provides zero balance and zero charges account with no Monthly Average Balance (MAB), free cash deposits and withdrawals, no closure or Quick Response  (QR) card charges, one free monthly statement, and paperless digital onboarding via Post Offices, Postmen, and Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS).
Data: Allows a maximum balance of Rs. 2 lakh  with quarterly interest payouts at 2% up to Rs. 1 lakh and 2.25% between Rs. 1–2 lakh, supported by a vast network of over 1.65 lakh post offices and nearly 3 lakh postal workers serving 5.5 lakh+ villages through biometric-enabled mobile platforms.
Services: Supports SHG-led livelihoods across various micro-enterprises while enabling basic savings and transactions, with exclusions such as mobile banking, nomination, standing instructions, Post Office Savings Account (POSA) linkage, bill payments, and virtual debit card services.
Linkage: Aligned with National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) under Ministry of Rural Development and supported by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Vishvajit Sahay Assumes Charge as Secretary of MoD
In May 2026, Vishvajit Sahay, a 1990 batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), assumed the charge as Secretary (Defence Finance), Ministry of Defence(MoD).

• He succeeds Rasika Chaube, who retired from the position.

About Vishvajit Sahay:
Profile: He brings over three decades of extensive experience in public administration and financial management, with expertise in procurement, audit, budgeting, and oversight.
Key Roles: He has held several senior roles, including Finance Manager (Acquisition Wing), MoD; Additional Secretary & Financial Adviser (Department of Science & Technology, DST); Joint Secretary (Heavy Industries); CMD of Heavy Engineering Corporation; and Director in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting(MIB), along with key positions in the Defence Accounts Department
Previous Role: Prior to this appointment, he was serving as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA).
International Exposure: He has represented India at prestigious international forums, including the University of Cambridge (United KingdomUK) and the George C. Marshall European Centre for Security Studies (Germany).

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

MDL Delivers Sixth Project-17A Stealth Frigate ‘Mahendragiri’ to Indian Navy
In April 2026, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking(PSU) under the Ministry of Defence(MoD), delivered the advanced stealth frigate ‘Mahendragiri (Y-12654)’ under the Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) to the Indian Navy (IN).

• The Acceptance Document was signed at MDL, Mumbai(Maharashtra), by Capt Jagmohan (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director(CMD) of MDL, and Rear Admiral Gautam Marwaha, Chief Staff Officer (Technical), Eastern Naval Command, in the presence of MDL Directors and senior officers of the IN.

About Stealth Frigate ‘Mahendragiri’:
Induction: It is the sixth ship delivered under Project 17A to the Indian Navy and the fourth frigate built by MDL, marking the completion of all Project 17A warships constructed at MDL.

• The other ships already delivered to the IN include Indian Naval Ship (INS) Nilgiri, INS Himgiri, INS Udaygiri, INS Taragiri, and INS Vindhyagiri.

Naming: The ship is named after the Mahendragiri mountain peak located in the Eastern Ghats of Odisha.
Design: It was designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team Mumbai, the project reflects the Indian Navy’s in-house expertise in advanced warship development.

• With this, WDB has achieved the milestone of designing and delivering its 100th vessel.

SPORTS

Jharkhand’s Swimmer Ishank Singh Sets World Record for Youngest and Fastest Palk Strait Crossing 
On 30 April 2026, seven-year-old Ishank Singh from Ranchi, Jharkhand, set a world record by swimming about 29 kilometer (km) across the Palk Strait from Talaimannar (Sri Lanka) to Dhanushkodi (Tamil Nadu, TN) in 9 hours 50 minutes, becoming the youngest and fastest swimmer on this route and boosting India’s presence in global open-water swimming.

About Ishank Singh’s Palk Strait Swim Achievement:
Features: The swim involved a highly challenging route between TN (India) and Jaffna (Sri Lanka), known for strong currents, high waves, and unpredictable weather, connecting the Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mannar.
Record: He was recognised by the Universal Records Forum (URF) as the Youngest and Fastest Palk Strait Swimmer, surpassing the previous record set by Jay Jashwanth (10 hours 30 minutes) in 2019.
Significance: Demonstrates exceptional youth endurance, highlights emerging sports talent, and underscores the role of structured training in achieving high-level physical feats.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Workers’ Day 2026 – May 1
International Workers’ Day, also known as International Labour Day, is observed annually across the world on May 1, to honor workers’ contributions, recognize their struggles, and promote fair wages, better working conditions, and workers’ rights.

• In India, International Workers’ Day is also known as ‘May Day’, ‘Antar Rashtriya Shramik Divas’, and ‘Kamgar Din’. 

Background: 
Origin : The day traces back to the Haymarket Affair on May 4, 1886, when a peaceful rally demanding an eight-hour workday turned violent after a bomb explosion, marking a defining moment in the global struggle for workers’ rights.
Global Recognition: In 1889, the Second International declared May 1 as International Workers’ Day to commemorate the Haymarket Affair and to advance labor rights worldwide.
Observance in India: In India, the day was first observed on May 1, 1923, in Chennai (then Madras) by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan under the leadership of Malayapuram Singaravelu Chettiar, marking the beginning of the organized labor movement in the country.

STATE NEWS

Mizoram Launches ‘Khuarel’ App to Boost Real-time Disaster Response 
In May 2026, the Mizoram government launched ‘Khuarel’ mobile application(app), the disaster incident & reporting management system,
to enable real-time disaster response and coordination across the state.

• It was unveiled in Aizawl(Mizoram) by Lalnilawma, Minister of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation (DM&R), making Mizoram one of the first Northeastern states to adopt such a digital disaster management solution.

About Khuarel App:
Development: The app was developed by the Mizoram State e-Governance Society for the disaster-prone regions of Mizoram.
Purpose: The app is designed to enable quick communication and information sharing between the public, the Disaster Management & Rehabilitation (DM&R) Department, and the State & District Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA & DDMA) during disasters, while also ensuring systematic recording of disaster-related data.
Features: The app includes an offline mode, supports both Mizo and English interfaces, and provides a database of nearby hospitals, relief camps, and emergency contacts, ensuring faster response even in remote areas.

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