🔆 CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26 MAY 2026

🔆 NATIONAL

📍 Oil India Discovers New Natural Gas Reserve in Rajasthan
✅ New gas-bearing sand discovered in Dandewala Field, Jaisalmer
✅ Estimated production: ~25,000 standard cubic metres/day
✅ Gas obtained from shallower Sanu Formation 

📍 NITI Aayog Convenes Education-to-Employment Committee
✅ Chaired by Nidhi Chibber, CEO of NITI Aayog
✅ Goal: Achieve 10% share in global services market by 2047
✅ Focus on jobs, skills and AI-driven workforce transformation 

📍 Ladakh to Host India’s First Geothermal Power Plant
✅ Pilot 1 MWe plant to be developed at Puga Valley
✅ ONGC to prepare DPR for commercial exploitation
✅ Supports India’s renewable energy goals 

📍 Kumbhalgarh Fort Wall Gets Global Recognition
✅ UNESCO recognised Kumbhalgarh Fort wall as world’s second longest continuous wall
✅ Located in Rajsamand district, Rajasthan
✅ Built by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century 

🔆 INTERNATIONAL

📍 NPT Review Conference Ends Without Consensus
✅ 11th Review Conference of Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons concluded without final agreement
✅ NPT entered into force in 1970
✅ India remains outside the treaty framework 

📍 Google Unveils ‘Information Agents’
✅ AI-powered agents continuously monitor web content
✅ Can track news, finance and online updates in real time
✅ Raises concerns regarding privacy and data usage 

🔆 AGREEMENTS & MoUs

📍 CSIR-NIScPR Signs MoU with NIAS
✅ Collaboration on science communication and S&T policy research
✅ Includes joint research, scholar exchange and capacity building programmes 

📍 AYUSHEXCIL & Spices Board Sign MoU
✅ Promotes Ayurveda, medicinal plants and Indian spices globally
✅ Supports traditional wellness systems and exports 

🔆 APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

📍 Raghav Chadha Appointed Chairman of Rajya Sabha Committee on Petitions
✅ Assigned leadership role in Parliamentary petitions committee 

🔆 AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

📍 Sansad Ratna Awards 2026 Announced
✅ Awards recognise outstanding parliamentary performance
✅ Honours 10 Lok Sabha MPs, 2 Rajya Sabha MPs and 4 Standing Committees
✅ Based on debates, questions, attendance and legislative participation 

🔆 SPORTS

📍 Lionel Messi Joins Billionaire Club
✅ Becomes second footballer after Cristiano Ronaldo to cross $1 billion net worth
✅ Listed in Bloomberg Billionaires Index 

📍 India Wins Two Golds at Asian U-23 Wrestling Championships
✅ Akshay Tanaji Dhere won gold in 57 kg freestyle category
✅ Vicky secured gold in 97 kg freestyle category
✅ Event held in Da Nang, Vietnam 

📍 India Creates History at 24-Hour Asia & Oceania Championships
✅ Won five medals at International Association of Ultrarunners event in Japan
✅ Amar Singh Devanda clinched gold medal
✅ Strong performance in men’s category 

🔆 SCHEMES

📍 Government Releases BHAVYA Scheme Guidelines
✅ BHAVYA = Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna
✅ Outlay: ₹33,660 crore
✅ Aims to develop 100 world-class industrial parks across India 

🔆 IMPORTANT DAYS

📍 World Thyroid Day – 25 May
✅ Theme 2026: “Thyroid and Nutrition”
✅ Observed to raise awareness about thyroid disorders 

🔆 SUMMITS & CONFERENCES

📍 79th World Health Assembly Concludes in Geneva
✅ Theme: “Reshaping Global Health: A Shared Responsibility”
✅ Adopted Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR) 2026–2036
✅ Focus on reducing AMR burden globally 

🔆 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

📍 China Launches Shenzhou-23 Mission
✅ Three astronauts sent to Tiangong Space Station
✅ One astronaut expected to remain in orbit for one year
✅ Mission launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre 

#CurrentAffairs

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🔆 National Sports Governance Board Rules & National Sports Tribunal Rules, 2026

📍 Why in News?
✅ Government notified rules under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
✅ Aim: Promote sports governance, athlete welfare, fair play & dispute resolution.

📍 National Sports Board (NSB)
✅ Apex regulatory body for recognition of National Sports Bodies.
✅ Composition: Chairperson + 2 Members
✅ Appointed by Central Government through Search-cum-Selection Committee.
✅ Tenure: 3 years or till 65 years, whichever earlier.
✅ Eligible for one reappointment.

📍 Functions of NSB
✅ Maintain records of National Sports Bodies & Election Panel.
✅ Frame model governance guidelines for sports bodies.
✅ Accounts audited by CAG.

📍 National Sports Tribunal (NST)
✅ Established for speedy and independent resolution of sports disputes.
✅ Composition: Chairperson + 2 Members
✅ Chairperson: Current/former SC Judge or former HC Chief Justice.
✅ Members: Experts in sports, law & public administration.

📍 Tenure
✅ Chairperson: 5 years or till 70 years
✅ Members: 5 years or till 67 years
✅ Eligible for one additional term.

📍 Key Features
✅ Dedicated digital portal for techno-legal implementation.
✅ Powers similar to a Civil Court under CPC, 1908.
✅ Appeals lie with the Supreme Court within 30 days.

📍 Jurisdiction Exclusions
✅ Cannot hear disputes related to:
• Olympics & Asian Games
• Doping matters
• Issues under exclusive jurisdiction of international federations/sports bodies

📍 Prelims Fact
✅ CAG audits the accounts of the National Sports Board.

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Upsc source

🔆 Gupta Dynasty (Golden Age of Ancient India)

📍 Sri Gupta (Late 3rd Century CE)
✅ Founder of the Gupta Dynasty.

📍 Ghatotkacha (280/290–319 CE)
✅ Expanded the early Gupta kingdom.
✅ Used the title Maharaja.

📍 Chandragupta I (320–335 CE)
✅ Son of Ghatotkacha and first independent Gupta ruler.
✅ Expanded control over Bihar, eastern UP, and Bengal.
✅ Adopted the title Maharajadhiraja.
✅ His marriage alliance with the Lichchhavis strengthened Gupta power.

📍 Samudragupta (335–370 CE)
✅ Greatest ruler of the Gupta Dynasty.
✅ Known as the “Napoleon of India”.
✅ Expanded empire from Himalayas to southern India.
✅ Allahabad Pillar Inscription describes his achievements.
✅ Followed principles of Rajdharma and Kautilya’s Arthashastra.
✅ Patron of art, culture, and religion.

📍 Kacha (Mid 4th Century CE)
✅ Lesser-known Gupta ruler mentioned mainly through coins.

📍 Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (c. 380–415 CE)
✅ Gupta Empire reached its peak.
✅ Defeated Saka Kshatrapas of western India.
✅ Gained control over important ports like Broach and Cambay.
✅ Mehrauli Iron Pillar inscription linked to him.
✅ Chinese pilgrim Fahien visited India during his reign.
✅ His court had the famous Navaratnas.

📍 Kumaragupta I (415–455 CE)
✅ Maintained the vast Gupta Empire.
✅ Empire stretched from Gujarat to Bengal.
✅ Associated with the development of Nalanda.

📍 Skandagupta (455–467 CE)
✅ Successfully defended India against Hun invasions.
✅ Restored Gupta fortunes during crisis.
✅ Considered the last great Gupta ruler.

📍 Key Facts
✅ Gupta Age is called the Golden Age of Ancient India.
✅ Major progress in science, mathematics, literature, and art.
✅ Important scholars: Kalidasa, Aryabhata, Varahamihira.

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🔆 CURRENT AFFAIRS – 27 MAY 2026

🔆 ECONOMY

📍 MoSPI Proposes Major IIP Reforms
✅ New proposed base year: 2022–23
✅ Industrial basket to expand from 407 to 463 items
✅ Includes sectors like gas supply, sewerage and waste management

📍 Shift from WPI to PPI Proposed in IIP
✅ Producer Price Index (PPI) suggested for better price adjustment
✅ Seasonal adjustment framework also proposed
✅ Mining basket may include rare earth minerals

🔆 STATES

📍 Delhi Govt & SBI Sign MoU for e-Procurement Payments
✅ SBI to implement ‘e-Pay’ digital payment solution
✅ Enables digitised Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) payments
✅ Improves transparency and ease of doing business

📍 Kerala Gets First Private Medical Museum
✅ Museum of Medical Archives inaugurated in Thiruvananthapuram
✅ Founded by A. Sivaraman
✅ Focuses on anatomy, medical history and biological education

📍 Gujarat Intensifies Jal-Parab Campaign
✅ Wildlife support initiative in Little Rann of Kutch
✅ Provides water supply and rescue support during extreme heat
✅ Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary located in the region

🔆 NATIONAL

📍 DoT Introduces PM-WANI Reforms
✅ QR-based authentication for easier public Wi-Fi access
✅ Sachet-style affordable data plans introduced
✅ Standardised PMWANI hotspot naming to prevent cyber fraud

📍 Indian Railways Launches CHIRAG Centre in Hyderabad
✅ CHIRAG = Centre for HR Information Systems, Research and Analytics in Governance
✅ Focus on AI-based HR governance and predictive workforce analytics
✅ Centre established at Moula-Ali, Hyderabad

📍 Government Launches PM-AJAY Portal & Mobile App
✅ PM-AJAY = Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana
✅ Tracks SC welfare schemes across 47,000+ villages
✅ Covers more than 40 lakh beneficiaries

📍 PAIMANA Portal Strengthens Infrastructure Monitoring
✅ Tracks 1,981 infrastructure projects worth ₹43 lakh crore
✅ Operated by Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
✅ Replaces OCMS-2006 system

📍 India Enters Wi-Fi 7 Era
✅ TP-Link begins local manufacturing of Wi-Fi 7 devices
✅ Wi-Fi 7 offers speeds up to 46 Gbps
✅ Features lower latency and Multi-Link Operation (MLO)

📍 Khajuraho to Host Yoga Mahotsav Countdown Event
✅ 25-day countdown to International Day of Yoga 2026
✅ Organised by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga
✅ Venue: Western Group of Temples, Khajuraho

📍 India Semiconductor Mission Launches ‘Investors Support’ Portal
✅ Portal launched under Semicon India Programme
✅ Provides policy, project and regulatory information
✅ Supports semiconductor investors and grievance redressal

🔆 INDIA & THE WORLD

📍 Quad Launches Critical Minerals Initiative
✅ Quad nations aim to mobilise US$20 billion investments
✅ Covers mining, refining, recycling and supply-chain financing
✅ Focus on lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements

📍 Quad Unveils Five Indo-Pacific Initiatives
✅ Maritime Surveillance Cooperation initiative launched
✅ Expanded Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) framework
✅ Fiji to host pilot project under “Ports of the Future” initiative

📍 India Becomes Sri Lanka’s Second-Largest Export Destination
✅ India overtook UK during January–April 2026
✅ Sri Lankan exports to India grew 8.9%
✅ US remains Sri Lanka’s top export destination

🔆 AGREEMENTS & MoUs

📍 Department of Posts Signs Agreement with Flipkart
✅ Strengthens India’s e-commerce logistics ecosystem
✅ India Post to provide last-mile delivery support
✅ Focus on rural and remote connectivity

🔆 APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

📍 Ketan Merchant Gets Extension as Interim CEO of Fino Payments Bank
✅ RBI extended tenure for three months

🔆 AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

📍 Cannes Film Festival 2026
✅ Cristian Mungiu won Palme d’Or for “Fjord”
✅ Andrey Zvyagintsev won Grand Prix for “Minotaur”
✅ Festival held in Cannes, France from 12–23 May 2026

🔆 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

📍 ICMR Transfers 41 Public Health Technologies
✅ Event organised under Patent Mitra initiative
✅ India’s first transfer of inactivated biomaterials completed
✅ Related to Kyasanur Forest Disease and Chandipura virus

#CurrentAffairs

🔆 Safety of India’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

📍 Why in Focus?
✅ Rapid digitisation through IoT, AI and Operational Technology (OT) has increased vulnerabilities in India’s critical infrastructure, raising concerns over cyber warfare, remote disruptions and national security.

📍 What is Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)?
✅ CNI includes essential physical and digital systems whose disruption can severely affect national security, economy, public safety and governance.

✅ It covers sectors like power grids, transport networks, telecom, BFSI, healthcare, water supply and defence communication systems.

📍 Key Highlights:
✅ India’s infrastructure is increasingly dependent on interconnected IT-OT-IoT ecosystems, expanding the attack surface for cyber threats.

✅ Key sectors under risk include PowerGrid transmission systems, RBI payment networks, airport ATC systems, telecom networks and oil-gas pipelines.

✅ Around one-third of industrial IoT systems remain vulnerable to legacy credential attacks, while cyberattacks on critical sectors have surged globally.

✅ India has created institutions like NCIIPC under Section 70A of the IT Act and strengthened CERT-In and Trusted Telecom Portal initiatives.

✅ Technologies such as AI-driven anomaly detection, Zero-Trust Architecture and advanced STQC verification systems are being promoted for infrastructure protection.

📍 Challenges / Issues / Implications:
✅ Convergence of IT, OT and IoT networks makes industrial control systems vulnerable to remote cyber manipulation.

✅ Dependence on imported or poorly verified hardware raises risks of hidden malware, trojans and foreign surveillance.

✅ Slow certification and procurement systems delay deployment of secure indigenous technologies.

✅ State-sponsored cyber warfare and ransomware attacks threaten strategic assets like energy grids, banking systems and transport networks.

✅ Mains Question:
Explain the concept of Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) and its importance in ensuring national security. Highlight the major threats posed to India’s critical infrastructure in the era of IoT and AI-driven automation. (150 Words)

#GS3 #InternalSecurity #mains

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