Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 1- 30 May 2026, Compiled Daily Roundup

Compact Revision Sheet -Current Affairs May 26

1️⃣ Major Global Theme — West Asia Crisis & Strait of Hormuz

Core Developments

• US–Iran tensions continued over the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil supply.
• Oil prices crossed $100/barrel, affecting inflation and fuel prices globally.
• India closely monitored fuel, fertiliser and supply chains.
• US launched maritime protection efforts (“Project Freedom”) to secure oil shipping routes.
• India maintained strategic neutrality while balancing ties with the US, Iran and Gulf countries.

Exam Value

• Strait of Hormuz handles nearly 20% of global oil trade.
• Important for India’s energy security.
• Affects inflation, rupee, imports and global trade.

2️⃣ Major National Policies & Governance

Key Government Actions

• Assam became 3rd state (after Uttarakhand & Gujarat) to pass Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
  • ST communities exempted.
  • Covers marriage, divorce, inheritance, live-in registration.
• SARTHAK-PDS Scheme (2026–31) approved
  ➜ ₹25,530 crore for modernising Public Distribution System using:
  • AI
  • Blockchain
  • IoT
  • Biometric authentication
• PM-AJAY Portal & App launched for SC welfare.
• Debate on:
  • Women’s Reservation (33%)
  • Delimitation Bill 2026
  • Expansion of Lok Sabha seats.
• National Seed Reserve launched – 1.74 lakh quintals for the Kharif season.
• South Coast Railway (SCoR) became India’s 18th Railway Zone
  HQ: Visakhapatnam
• Khet Bachao Abhiyan announced for balanced fertiliser use and soil conservation.

3️⃣ Economy & Infrastructure

Major Economic Developments

• Fuel prices rose repeatedly due to the crude oil surge.
• FM flagged “3F Risks”:
  • Fuel
  • Fertiliser
  • Foreign Exchange
• BHAVYA Scheme operational guidelines released
  ➜ ₹33,660 crore
  ➜ 100 Industrial Smart Cities (2026–32)
• RBI conducted a $5 billion dollar-rupee swap for liquidity.
• India strengthened its semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.

Infrastructure Highlights

• BRO created a world record –  Highest motorable road at Mig La Pass (Ladakh) — 19,400 ft.
• India’s first hydrogen-powered train approved-  Jind–Sonipat route (Haryana).
• New gas reserve discovered in Rajasthan (Dandewala field).

4️⃣ Defence & Security

Major Defence Developments

• AMCA Project (5th Generation Fighter Aircraft) advanced.
• India moved ahead with the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets.
• Suryastra Rocket System unveiled-  Indigenous 300-km Universal Rocket Launching System.
• ULPGM-V3 missile cleared for mass production-  Drone-launched precision-guided missile.
• Agni-1 missile successfully tested.
• Indian Army launched:
  • Q-FORCE
  • Kautilya AI warfare platform
• India negotiated more S-400 systems with Russia.
• Indian Navy inducted:
  • ASW Craft ‘Malwan’
  • INS Sudarshini completed trans-Atlantic voyage.
• Smart Border Project announced-  drones + radars + surveillance systems.

Important Military Exercises & Cooperation

• Quad defence cooperation strengthened.
• India–Cyprus defence roadmap signed.
• India–Australia defence ties expanded.

5️⃣ Science & Technology

Semiconductor Push (Highly Important)

India aggressively expanded the semiconductor ecosystem:

• NITI Aayog Semiconductor Roadmap 2035
• Assam Tata semiconductor plant progressed.
• Semiconductor investor portal launched.
• India–US critical minerals agreement signed.

Space & Innovation

• Chandrayaan radar data indicated subsurface moon ice near the South Pole.
• Common Technical Facilities approved for space-tech startups.
• Tejas Mk-2 expected maiden flight in late 2026.

Health & Technology

• ABHA digital health IDs crossed 90 crore.
• NFHS-6 released:
  • Fertility Rate: 2.0
  • Child stunting declined
  • Institutional delivery increased.
• ICMR launched:
  • Patent Mitra
  • UMMID Phase-II
  • Kyasanur disease vaccine push.

6️⃣ Environment & Agriculture

Major Environmental Developments

• Severe heatwave across India:
  • Balangir (Odisha) became the world’s hottest city (~48°C).
• India strengthened:
  • Soil conservation
  • Climate-resilient agriculture
  • Sustainable fertiliser use.
• New species discovered:
  • Kali Night Frog
  • New evergreen tree (Humboldtia nairiana)
• Methane emissions concern:
  • Mumbai & Secunderabad landfills among top emitters globally.

Agriculture

• Mission Queen Pineapple-  Tripura
• Record foodgrain production projected:
  • Rice: 154 MT
  • Wheat: 120 MT

7️⃣ International Relations – Current Affairs

Major Diplomatic Developments

Quad Meeting (Very Important)

India hosted the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting:
Members:

• India
• US
• Japan
• Australia

Focus:

• Critical minerals
• Indo-Pacific security
• Semiconductor resilience
• Maritime cooperation

India–Cyprus Strategic Partnership

6 agreements signed:

• Defence
• Cybersecurity
• Counter-terrorism

India–US

• Critical minerals pact signed.
• Trade talks expanded.

India–Africa Forum Summit IV launched

Theme: “IA SPIRIT”

India–Canada

Trade target: $50 billion by 2030

8️⃣ Health & Social Sector

Important Health Updates

• NFHS-6 released
  Key findings:
• Institutional delivery: 90.6%
• Child immunisation: 87.1%
• TFR: 2.0
• WHO adopted roadmap:  10% reduction in AMR deaths by 2030
• ToFEI App launched: ➜ Tobacco-free institutions monitoring.

9️⃣ Sports Highlights

Major Achievements

• Esha Singh:  World record in 25m pistol event.
• Sumit Antil-  Broke own javelin world record.
• Gurindervir Singh-  First Indian man to run 100m under 10.10 sec.
• India won medals in:
  • Asian U-20 Athletics
  • Asian U-23 Wrestling
• India secured hosting:
  • 2027 Asian Relays
  • 2028 Asian Indoor Championships
• IPL 2026:
  • Final: RCB vs Gujarat Titans- RCB won

🔟 Awards & Recognitions

• Padma Awards 2026 conferred.
• Major Abhilasha Barak-  UN Military Gender Advocate Award.
• Indian peacekeepers honoured with: Dag Hammarskjöld Medal
• Dr Soumya Swaminathan-  Elected Fellow of Royal Society (FRS).

1️⃣1️⃣ Important Observances

Theme (WNTD 2026): “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco & Nicotine Products”

Most Important Personalities

• Thiru C Joseph Vijay – Tamilnadu CM
• Suvendu Adhikari- W Bengal CM
• D.K. Shivakumar – Karnataka CM-designate
• Lt Gen N.S. Raja Subramani – CDS
• Pete Hegseth – US Defence Secretary
• Justice Prakash Navlekar – HLCDC Chairman

Most Important Schemes / Initiatives

Revise Carefully:

• SARTHAK-PDS Scheme
• PM-AJAY Portal
• BHAVYA Scheme
• Smart Border Project
• Khet Bachao Abhiyan
• ToFEI App
• Semiconductor Roadmap 2035
• India Semiconductor Mission
• Q-FORCE Platform
• Mission Queen Pineapple

Most Probable Exam Questions

1. SARTHAK-PDS scheme features
2. Assam UCC Bill provisions
3. South Coast Railway (18th Railway Zone)
4. Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting outcomes
5. NFHS-6 key findings
6. Hydrogen-powered train route
7. Suryastra rocket system
8. ULPGM-V3 missile
9. Semiconductor Roadmap 2035
10. Strait of Hormuz significance
11. Mig La Pass world record road
12. Smart Border Project

Ultra-Short Final Revision Current Affairs

• Assam passed the UCC Bill.
• SARTHAK-PDS approved till 2031.
• South Coast Railway became the 18th zone.
• Quad meeting held in New Delhi.
• NFHS-6 fertility rate = 2.0.
• Hydrogen train approved in Haryana.
• Suryastra indigenous rocket unveiled.
• Semiconductor Roadmap 2035 released.
• Mig La became the world’s highest motorable road.
• Strait of Hormuz crisis dominated world affairs.