Current Affairs 24 & 25 May 2026

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs May 24 & 25 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 Dr. Virendra Kumar Launches ‘JEEVAN’ Mobile App and ‘SHATAYU’ Dashboard
In May 2026, Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar,  Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE), launched the Joint Elderly Empowerment & Virtual Assistance Network(JEEVAN) mobile application for Senior Citizens and  Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training For Your Utility(SHATAYU) Geriatric Caregiver Dashboard.

• The dual platforms were unveiled during a virtual national workshop on ‘Creating a Well-Functioning Care Economy’, organised by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE), MSJE.

Key Details of Platform: 
JEEVAN: The app provides information on government schemes, welfare programmes, emergency assistance, support services, and senior citizen homes under the DoSJE.

• It features a user-friendly interface with simplified navigation and accessibility tools designed for elderly users.

SHATAYU: It is a digital caregiving dashboard that provides information on geriatric caregiver availability across districts and states in India, supporting elder care services nationwide.
The platform is designed with simplified features and a user-friendly

ANRF Selects 10 Convergence Research CoEs to Boost Multidisciplinary Innovation 
In May 2026, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) selected 10 institutions under its Convergence Research Centres of Excellence (CoE) programme to promote multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research integrating science, technology, social sciences, and humanities for solving complex societal challenges.
About ANRF Convergence Research CoEs:
Selected Institutes: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Gandhinagar, Gujarat; National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, Karnataka; IIT Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN); National Institute of Technology (NIT) Agartala, Tripura; Institute for Human Development (IHD), Delhi; IIT Dharwad, Karnataka; Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K); IIT Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP); Chanakya University, Bengaluru, Karnataka; and PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore, TN.
Funding: Selected Centres can receive funding support of up to Rs 25 crore for projects with a maximum duration of five years.
Research: The initiative focuses on areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, digital humanities, rural livelihoods, archaeology, sustainability, language studies, computational economics, and big data analytics.

ITBP’s First All-Women Expedition Successfully Summits Mt Everest 
In May 2026, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) completed its first-ever all-women international mountaineering expedition to the world’s highest peak Mount (Mt) Everest, with a 14-member team summiting the 8,848 meter (m) peak via the South Col Route from Nepal.

• The Border Security Force (BSF), a Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), also successfully scaled Mt Everest through its first all-women expedition, ‘Mission Vande Mataram’, as part of its Diamond Jubilee celebrations (60 years of service).

About the Expeditions:
 ITBP Team: Composed of 11 women climbers and three technical and support members who faced extreme weather, low oxygen levels, and difficult ice-wall sections in the “Death Zone” above 8,000 m.
BSF Team: The expedition team comprised four women constables: Kouser Fatima from Ladakh, Munmun Ghosh from West Bengal (WB), Rabeka Singh from Uttarakhand, and Tsering Chorol from Kargil (Ladakh), who reached the summit despite extreme weather and low oxygen conditions.
Objective: Supporting the ‘Clean Himalaya – Save Glacier’ campaign through the collection of non-biodegradable waste from the Everest region.

BIT Mesra and NESAC Sign MoU to Advance GeoAI and Geospatial Research
In May 2026, Birla Institute of Technology Mesra (BIT Mesra) and the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Department of Space (DoS) and the North Eastern Council (NEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in geospatial technologies, Geospatial Artificial Intelligence(GeoAI), remote sensing, and higher education.

• The MoU was signed by Dr SP Aggarwal, Director, NESAC and Prof. Indranil Manna, Vice Chancellor, BIT Mesra in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Key Details of MoU:
Tenure: The MoU will be valid for five years, with a provision for extension.
Objective: The agreement aims to improve academic accessibility for students from the North Eastern region and leverage the complementary strengths of BIT Mesra and NESAC for collaboration in GeoAI applications and research.
Collaboration: Under the agreement, NESAC will provide geospatial databases, satellite imagery, meteorological data, and expertise in Earth observation and GIS, while BIT Mesra will support research, training, outreach, and capacity building in engineering and remote sensing and emerging geospatial technologies.
Provisions: The MoU allow BIT Mesra to empanel NESAC scientists as guest faculty, enable joint supervision of research scholars, and facilitate NESAC scientists and scholars pursuing part-time Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes at BIT Mesra, subject to institutional approvals and norms.

• The MoU includes provisions for internships, workshops, research exchange, specialised GeoAI courses, research projects.

BDIA Launches Bharat Digital Samvad in New Delhi
In May 2026, the Bharath Digital Infrastructure Association (BDIA) launched ‘Bharat Digital Samvad’, India’s first dedicated national forum on digital sovereignty and infrastructure policy, in New Delhi, Delhi to promote dialogue and collaboration among policymakers, digital platforms, broadcasters, and industry stakeholders on India’s evolving digital ecosystem.
About Bharat Digital Samvad:
Collaboration: The forum brings together leaders from cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), and data platforms, along with policymakers, regulators, academia, and innovators, to create a roadmap for India’s next digital decade.
Focus: The initiative focuses on the intersection of national security, economic growth, and technological self-reliance, emphasising that these priorities must work together
Principle: It promotes the principle of ‘Data Swaraj’, highlighting India’s sovereign right to control how its data is collected, stored, governed, and monetised as the country’s digital economy moves towards the USD 1 trillion mark by 2030.
About BDIA: It is an industry association representing broadcasters and digital media companies in India. It works towards policy advocacy, industry collaboration, and the promotion of a balanced and sustainable digital media ecosystem.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Italy on May 19-20, 2026
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was on a two-day official visit to Italy from May 19 to 20, 2026, at the invitation of Giorgia Meloni, the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic.

• This visit marked the culmination of PM Modi’s 5-nation tour which included: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway from May 15 to May 20, 2026.

Highlights of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Italy:
Bilateral Meeting: During his visit to Italy, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Italian counterpart Meloni  in Rome, Italy. During the meeting, leaders of both countries reviewed the progress made in bilateral cooperation across all segments of the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029.
FAO’s highest honour: During his visit to Italy, PM Narendra Modi was honoured with the Agricola Medal, the highest honour of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), by its Director-General(DG) Qu Dongyu at the organisation’s headquarters in Rome.
Key Outcomes:  Elevation of India–Italy ties to a Special Strategic Partnership (SSP), establishment of a Foreign Ministerial-level mechanism to review the Joint Strategic Action Plan (2025–29), a target to expand bilateral trade to EUR 20 billion by 2029, creation of INNOVIT India innovation hub, adoption of a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) and Defence Industrial Roadmap, and declaration of 2027 as the “Year of Culture and Tourism”.
Key MoUs: India and Italy signed 10 Key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering sectors such as: critical minerals, agriculture, maritime transport, marine products, higher education, Ayurveda, climate research and science cooperation.

India Among Largest New Carbon Markets; Global Carbon Pricing Covers 29% of Emissions : World Bank Report
In May 2026, the World Bank Group (WBG) released the 13th edition of the report titled “State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2026”, which identified India among the world’s largest new carbon markets following the launch of its Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) in 2026, while noting that global carbon pricing systems currently cover 29% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Key Findings:
Revenues: The report showed that  annual revenues from emissions trading systems and carbon taxes  have tripled over the last decade i.e. increasing from less than USD 30 billion (in 2016) to over USD107 billion (in 2025).
Average Global Prices: The report highlighted that globally, the direct carbon prices have increased 7% compared to last year’s report and have nearly doubled over the last 10 years  i.e.  from USD10 per tCO2e (in 2016) to nearly USD21/tCO2e (in 2026)
Policies Status: The report also showed that at present, 87 carbon policies are being implemented globally, increasing by 7 since 2025.

• The report further highlighted that if all carbon pricing policies under development are implemented by 2030, then, nearly1/3rd (33.33%)of global GHG emissions could come under carbon pricing systems.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Declared Rs 2.87 lakh Crore Dividend to GoI for FY26 
In May 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved a record surplus transfer of Rs 2,86,588.46  crore to the Government of India (GoI) for Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26), higher than last year’s transfer of Rs 2.69 lakh crore.

• The decision to transfer the dividend was taken during the 623rd meeting of the Central Board of Directors (CBoDs) of RBI, chaired by Dr. Sanjay Malhotra, Governor of RBI in Mumbai , Maharashtra.

Key Details: 
Expansion of Balance Sheet: As on March 31 2026, the balance sheet of RBI expanded by 20.61% to Rs 91.97 lakh crore.
Income and Expenditure: The gross income of RBI has increased by 26.42% over the last financial year while its expenditure before risk provisions surged by 27.60%.
Transfer towards  CRB: Considering macroeconomic conditions, financial performance and risk management requirements, the board of central bank approved a transfer of Rs 1,09,379.64 crore towards the Contingency Risk Buffer (CRB) for FY26 (up from Rs 44, 861.70 crore allocated in the previous year), maintaining CRB at 6.5% of the RBI’s balance sheet.

• As per the revised Economic Capital Framework (ECB), RBI is required to maintain CRB within a range of 4.5% to 7.5% of the balance sheet size.

Skydo Secures PSP Approval in GIFT City and RBI Nod for Outward Remittances
 In May 2026, Skydo, a leading cross-border payments platform, secured the in-principle approval to operate as Payment Service Provider (PSP) in the International Financial Service Centre (IFSC) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

• This approval will enable the company to develop capabilities such as: multi-currency collections, e-money accounts, and merchant acquisition services for cross-border trade.

Key Details:
Other Key Approval: In addition, the payment platform company has received the regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to support outward remittance flows under the Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB) framework.
PA-CB framework: It regulates and streamlines cross-border payment activities for fintech companies working in international payments ecosystem of India.
Significance: These approvals will allow the company to process both inbound payments from overseas customers and outward transactions to overseas vendors and service providers, through a unified platform.

Fintech Jumpp Receives IRDAI Approval for Insurance Distribution
In May 2026, conversational fintech platform Jumpp, operated by Finvasia Group, received Corporate Agency and Insurance Self Network Platform (ISNP) licences from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to distribute insurance products digitally through its Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered platform.
About Jumpp Insurance Expansion:
Insurance Expansion: With the IRDAI approval, Jumpp will offer insurance products through its AI-powered platform, marking its entry into the insurance distribution segment and expanding its financial services beyond investments.
Insurance Offerings: Jumpp plans to offer health, life, motor, business, and home insurance through partnerships with insurers, while developing a fully digital platform for policy discovery, purchase, and management.
Technology: The platform provides a fully digital insurance experience using AI-based personalised financial and insurance recommendations, while the Account Aggregator framework integrates multiple financial accounts into a single dashboard for efficient financial tracking.
Banking: Jumpp has partnered with YES Bank for banking and Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) services and operates Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services through National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) authorisation.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Major Abhilasha Barak honoured with UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2025 
In May 2026, Major Abhilasha Barak, Indian Army(IA) was announced as the recipient of 2025 United Nations (UN) Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, as confirmed by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations.

• Barak is recognised for her community outreach for women and adolescent girls and for conducting gender sensitisation training for UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, becoming the third recipient of the award from India.

Career: She completed her training at the Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS), Nashik, Maharashtra, earning her “wings” as the first woman combat helicopter pilot of Indian Army after joining the Army Aviation Corps in 2022.

• She was formally qualified to co-pilot the indigenous Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) weaponised platforms in the Army Aviation Corps.

Current Role: Major Barak served with distinction as Commander of the Female Engagement Team (FET) in the Indian Battalion (INDBATT-XXVI) deployed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Karnataka Grameena Bank Receives National Award for Outstanding APY Performance 
In May 2026, Karnataka Grameena Bank (KGB), an Indian Regional Rural Bank (RRB), received the National Award from the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) for its outstanding performance in enrolment under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
About Recognition:
Award Presentation: The award was received by Shreekant M Bhandiwad, Chairman of KGB, from M Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services(DFS), Ministry of Finance(MoF), and S Ramann, Chairperson of PFRDA, during the APY Annual Felicitation Programme in New Delhi, Delhi.
Achievement: KGB enrolled 2,49,185 APY accounts against the PFRDA target of 1,75,500 accounts, achieving 142% of the target, the highest among all banks in Karnataka.
APY: Launched in May 2015, it is a government-backed social security scheme for workers in the unorganised sector that provides a guaranteed monthly pension of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 after the age of 60 based on the subscriber’s contribution.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

ACC Extends Tenure of NCB Director General Anurag Garg Till July 2027 
In May 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, extended the deputation tenure of Anurag Garg, Director General (DG) of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), till 31 July 2027.

• He was appointed DG of the NCB in September 2024 following the retirement of Satya Narayan (S.N) Pradhan, who served as DG from July 2021 to August 2024.

About Anurag Garg: 
Profile: He is a 1993 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Himachal Pradesh (HP) cadre.
Postings:  In the HP Police, he served as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Shimla, HP, Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Governor of HP, and Superintendent of Police (SP) in Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) and Kullu districts HP.
Leadership: He later served as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in Mandi district, HP, where he introduced systematic security infrastructure reforms, and as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for Law and Order and the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) between November 2018 and early 2021.
About NCB: It was established in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as India’s apex anti-drug law enforcement and intelligence agency functioning under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India Test-Fires Agni-1 Short-Range Ballistic Missile at Chandipur, Odisha 
In May 2026, India successfully test-fired the Agni-1 Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha, under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), validating all operational and technical parameters of the missile system.

• The Agni-1 missile is part of India’s Agni series of ballistic missiles developed for strategic deterrence and capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.

About Agni-1 Missile Test 2026:
Missile: Agni-1 is a single-stage, solid-fuelled, road-mobile SRBM with Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) and rail-launch capability, designed for rapid deployment with a strike range of 700–900 kilometer (km), extendable up to 1,200 km in some configurations .
Payload: The missile can carry up to 1,000 kilogram (kg) of conventional or nuclear warheads and provides India with quick-reaction, high-precision strike capability under its credible minimum deterrence strategy.
Development: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed Agni-1 under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), and the missile was inducted into the Indian Armed Forces in 2004.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan Releases Book “The Library Man of India” on P.N. Panicker
In May 2026, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book ‘The Library Man of India: The Story of P.N. Panicker’, authored by P. P. Sathyan, at Uprashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The book was published by Rupa Publications India Private Limited.

Key Details:
Legacy: The book highlights the legacy of P.N. Panicker, a visionary reformer who led Kerala’s public library movement and mass literacy drive under the slogan “Vayichu Valaruka” (Read and Grow).
P.N. Panicker: Regarded as the Father of Father of the Library Movement in Kerala, P.N. Panicker led the expansion of the Granthashala Sangham (Library Association) from a few small rooms into a vast network of over 6,000 public libraries across Kerala.

• P.N. Panicker’s death anniversary on June 19 is observed by the Government of India (GoI) as National Reading Day.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2026 – May 21
The United Nations (UN) annually observes the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on 21 May to promote cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable development.
Background: 
UNESCO Declaration: In November 2001, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, recognising cultural diversity as the “common heritage of humanity” and emphasising its role in development.
UNGA Resolution: On 20 December 2002, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/57/249, proclaiming 21 May as the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
First Observance: The first observance of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development was held on 21 May 2003.
Organiser: The day of celebration is annually led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

National Anti-Terrorism Day 2026 – May 21 
National Anti-Terrorism Day is annually observed across India on 21 May to mark the death anniversary of former Prime Minister (PM) Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated in 1991 in a terrorist attack carried out by a suicide bomber associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu (TN).

• 21 May 2026 marks the 35th death anniversary of the 6th PM of India, Rajiv Gandhi (1984 – 1989)

Background: 
Designation: In 1992, the Government of India (GoI) designated 21 May as National Anti-Terrorism Day in memory of former PM Rajiv Gandhi.
Coordination: The annual observance is coordinated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to honour his legacy and promote awareness against terrorism.
Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026: The 13th edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI)2026, published by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), where Pakistan ranked 1st as the country most impacted by terrorism in 2026 with a score of 8.574, while India ranked 13th with a score of 6.428.

International Day for Biological Diversity 2026 – May 22 
The United Nations (UN’s) International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) is observed globally on May 22 every year to raise awareness about biodiversity conservation and its critical role in sustaining life on Earth.

• 2026: “Acting locally for global impact.”

Background: 
Resolution: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) initially designated 29 December as IDB in 1995 through resolution A/RES/49/119.
Revision: In 2001, the UNGA changed the IDB observance date to May 22 through resolution A/RES/55/201.
First Observance: The inaugural IDB was observed on May 22, 2002.
2026 Events in India: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh(MP), the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), organized the National-Level Celebration of the IDB 2026 at the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) in Bhopal, MP.

• On the occasion, several publications, initiatives, and outreach materials were released.

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