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Current affairs / 2026 / May 2026

Current affairs — May 2026

30 exam-relevant headlines, written simply. Read the bold fact in each — that's what exams ask.

2026-05national

South Coast Railway becomes India's 18th railway zone

The new South Coast Railway zone, with headquarters at Visakhapatnam, became operational from June 1, 2026. It has Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Guntur divisions.

  • 📌 18th railway zone: South Coast Railway
  • 📌 HQ: Visakhapatnam
2026-05awards

Indian journalists win Pulitzer Prize for Illustrated Reporting

At the 110th Pulitzer Prizes, Indian journalists Anand RK and Suparna Sharma won in the Illustrated Reporting category for 'trAPPed', a cybercrime report, with Bloomberg.

  • 📌 Pulitzer 2026 Illustrated Reporting: Anand RK and Suparna Sharma
2026-05appointments

Prasoon Joshi appointed Chairman of Prasar Bharati

Lyricist Prasoon Joshi was appointed Chairman of Prasar Bharati. He was earlier the Chairperson of CBFC.

  • 📌 Prasar Bharati Chairman: Prasoon Joshi
2026-05obituaries

Alex Zanardi, F1 driver and Paralympic champion, dies at 59

Italian racing driver Alex Zanardi, who won four Paralympic gold medals in para-cycling after losing his legs, died at 59.

  • 📌 Alex Zanardi: Italy, 4 Paralympic golds
2026-05schemes

SEHAT Mission launched to link farming and health

J.P. Nadda and Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the SEHAT Mission, a joint effort of ICAR and ICMR to link agriculture, nutrition and public health.

  • 📌 SEHAT Mission: ICAR + ICMR
2026-05national

CJI launches 'One Case One Data' and AI chatbot Su Sahay

CJI Surya Kant announced the 'One Case One Data' initiative giving each case a single digital ID, and the AI chatbot 'Su Sahay' built by NIC.

  • 📌 CJI: Surya Kant
  • 📌 Su Sahay: judicial AI chatbot
2026-05defence

Army inducts ULPGM and AGNIKAA kamikaze drone

The Indian Army inducted the UAV-Launched Precision Guided Munition (ULPGM) and the AGNIKAA VTOL-1 FPV kamikaze drone, co-developed by DRDO and Adani Defence.

  • 📌 ULPGM = UAV-Launched Precision Guided Munition
2026-05states

Punjab launches Meri Rasoi Yojana for free food kits

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann launched Meri Rasoi Yojana in Sangrur to give free food kits to 40 lakh poor families every three months.

  • 📌 Meri Rasoi Yojana: Punjab
2026-05schemes

Rs 175 crore Coffee of Nagaland Mission launched

Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the Rs 175 crore Coffee of Nagaland Mission for coffee cultivation, branding and export.

  • 📌 Coffee of Nagaland Mission: Rs 175 crore (MDoNER)
2026-05defence

AMCA programme facility launched at Puttaparthi

Rajnath Singh and Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu launched the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme facility at Puttaparthi, Sri Sathya Sai district, costing Rs 15,000 crore.

  • 📌 AMCA = Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (5th generation)
  • 📌 Facility at Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh
2026-05appointments

Saurabh Vijay appointed CEO of UIDAI

Saurabh Vijay was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Unique Identification Authority of India.

  • 📌 UIDAI CEO: Saurabh Vijay
2026-05sports

Rohit Rajpal named India's Chef de Mission for Glasgow CWG

Former Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal was named Chef de Mission for India at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

  • 📌 India's CWG 2026 Chef de Mission: Rohit Rajpal
2026-05-03sports

China win Thomas Cup, South Korea win Uber Cup 2026

The Thomas and Uber Cup Finals were held in Horsens, Denmark. China's men beat France 3-1 for their 13th Thomas Cup title, and South Korea's women beat China 3-1 for their 3rd Uber Cup.

  • 📌 Thomas Cup 2026: China (13th title)
  • 📌 Uber Cup 2026: South Korea
  • 📌 Venue: Horsens, Denmark
2026-05-03days

World Laughter Day observed on first Sunday of May

World Laughter Day was founded in 1998 by Mumbai doctor Madan Kataria. The 2026 theme was 'World Peace through Laughter'.

  • 📌 World Laughter Day founder: Dr. Madan Kataria (1998)
2026-05-04economy

NSE launches Electronic Gold Receipts segment

The National Stock Exchange launched an Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR) segment on May 4, 2026. EGRs are SEBI-approved demat securities backed by physical gold.

  • 📌 EGR = Electronic Gold Receipt
  • 📌 Launched by NSE on 4 May 2026
2026-05-09states

Suvendu Adhikari sworn in as West Bengal Chief Minister

After the BJP's big win in the West Bengal Assembly election, Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 9, 2026.

  • 📌 West Bengal CM: Suvendu Adhikari (BJP)
2026-05-10states

Actor Vijay sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

Actor Vijay of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) took oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2026. TVK emerged as the largest party in the Assembly election.

  • 📌 Tamil Nadu CM: C. Joseph Vijay (TVK)
2026-05-10national

PM releases Rs 75 coin at Somnath Amrut Mahotsav

PM Modi took part in the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav and released a stamp and a Rs 75 coin marking 1,000 years of the Somnath temple.

  • 📌 Rs 75 coin released for Somnath Amrut Mahotsav
2026-05-10schemes

PMGSY-IV launched in Madhya Pradesh

Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched PMGSY-IV works in Sehore district, approving 973 roads covering 2,117 km.

  • 📌 PMGSY = Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
2026-05-11days

National Technology Day marks Pokhran tests

National Technology Day on May 11 marks the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests. The 2026 theme was 'Responsible Innovation for Inclusive Growth'.

  • 📌 National Technology Day: 11 May (Pokhran-II, 1998)
2026-05-12national

NTA cancels NEET-UG 2026 over paper leak

The National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET (Undergraduate) 2026 exam on May 12 because of a question paper leak.

  • 📌 NEET-UG 2026 cancelled on 12 May 2026
  • 📌 NEET is conducted by NTA
2026-05-14states

V.D. Satheesan becomes Kerala Chief Minister

V.D. Satheesan of the Congress-led UDF became Kerala's 13th Chief Minister, succeeding Pinarayi Vijayan. Governor Rajendra Arlekar administered the oath.

  • 📌 Kerala CM: V.D. Satheesan (13th CM)
  • 📌 Predecessor: Pinarayi Vijayan
2026-05-17sports

Sinner and Svitolina win Italian Open 2026

Jannik Sinner beat Casper Ruud to win the men's title at the Italian Open in Rome. Elina Svitolina beat Coco Gauff in the women's final.

  • 📌 Italian Open 2026 men: Jannik Sinner
  • 📌 Women: Elina Svitolina
2026-05-17days

World Telecommunication Day marks ITU founding

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is observed on May 17, the day ITU was founded in 1865.

  • 📌 ITU founded: 17 May 1865
2026-05-18economy

RBI removes Investment Fluctuation Reserve requirement

RBI discontinued the Investment Fluctuation Reserve requirement for banks from May 18, 2026, saying existing capital rules were enough.

  • 📌 IFR requirement removed from 18 May 2026
2026-05-18international

79th World Health Assembly adopts first-ever resolution on stroke

The 79th World Health Assembly was held in Geneva from May 18 to 23 with the theme 'Reshaping Global Health: A Shared Responsibility'. It adopted the first-ever resolution on stroke.

  • 📌 79th WHA venue: Geneva
2026-05-20international

Cyprus President visits India; ties raised to Strategic Partnership

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides visited India from May 20 to 23. The two countries raised ties to a Strategic Partnership and agreed a 5-year defence roadmap.

  • 📌 India-Cyprus: Strategic Partnership (2026)
2026-05-22environment

Saudi Arabia joins International Big Cat Alliance as 26th member

At an IBCA pre-summit in Bhopal on May 22, Saudi Arabia joined the International Big Cat Alliance as its 26th member.

  • 📌 IBCA 26th member: Saudi Arabia
  • 📌 IBCA launched by India
2026-05-27national

Supreme Court upholds Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls on May 27, 2026.

  • 📌 SIR = Special Intensive Revision of voter lists
2026-05-28states

D.K. Shivakumar chosen as Karnataka Chief Minister

D.K. Shivakumar was selected as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka on May 28, 2026, replacing Siddaramaiah.

  • 📌 Karnataka CM: D.K. Shivakumar (replaced Siddaramaiah)

May 2026 quiz — 9 questions

From exactly the headlines above. If you read the month, you should score 8+.

Topic test · 9 questions

Suggested time 3 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.