Current affairs relevant to GS3.
The Ayush Vertical under DGHS, with the Ministry of Ayush, issued a Public Health Advisory on Extreme Heat/Heatwave. It guides the public, workers and event organisers on hydration, avoiding peak sun, light cotton clothes and electrolyte-rich fluids. Infants, elderly, pregnant women, outdoor workers and people with chronic illness need extra care. Heatstroke is a medical emergency—call 108/102.
18 May 2026
A PIB backgrounder says India accounts for over 70% of global jaggery production and diverts nearly 20 to 30% of cane to jaggery, supporting about 2.5 million livelihoods. Cane output in 2024-25 was about 444.9 MT, with Uttar Pradesh at 48.5%. Exports rose to USD 406.8 million in 2024-25 from USD 197 million in 2015-16.
16 May 2026
Under Operation RAGEPILL, NCB seized about 227.7 kg Captagon tablets and powder worth about ₹182 crore and arrested an overstaying Syrian national. About 31.5 kg of tablets came from Neb Sarai, Delhi, and about 196.2 kg of powder from a Mundra CFS container from Syria. It is India's first Captagon seizure under the NDPS Act.
16 May 2026
A PIB backgrounder notes India ranks third worldwide with 6,628 specified dams (6,545 operational). Over 26% (1,681) are more than 50 years old. The Dam Safety Act, 2021 sets up NCDS, NDSA and State safety bodies. DRIP II and III cost ₹10,211 crore for 736 dams in 19 States plus central agencies. All specified dams are on DHARMA.
15 May 2026
NSO released Supply and Use Tables for 2022-23 and 2023-24—the first full set under GDP base 2022-23 (earlier 2011-12). Annual estimates integrate with the SUT so final current-price figures reconcile production/income and expenditure. Tables cover 155 products and 67 industries. Total supply was ₹627.18 lakh crore in 2022-23 and ₹669.88 lakh crore in 2023-24.
15 May 2026
Foundation stones were laid on 15 May 2026 at Puttaparthi for ADA's Core Integration & Flight Testing Centre for AMCA (about ₹2,000 crore; programme outlay about ₹15,000 crore). A BDL Naval Systems facility (₹480 crore) at Anakapalli will build underwater weapons and naval systems. Agneyastra energetics (₹1,500 crore) and an HFCL fuse plant (about ₹1,200 crore) were also grounded.
15 May 2026
NSO's PLFS Monthly Bulletin for April 2026 shows overall LFPR (15+) at 55.0% and female LFPR at 33.9%. Overall unemployment rate was 5.2%. Urban female UR fell to 8.5%, the lowest since April 2025. Overall WPR was 52.2%. The bulletin is the thirteenth monthly release under the modified PLFS methodology from January 2025.
15 May 2026
Rajasthan's first semiconductor facility—Sahasra Semiconductors' ATMP/OSAT unit at the ELCINA Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Bhiwadi—was inaugurated on 15 May 2026. It is India's first SME to start commercial semiconductor chip packaging, set up with over ₹150 crore under MeitY's SPECS scheme. The 50.3-acre EMC cost ₹46.09 crore with ₹20.24 crore central support.
15 May 2026
Indian Railways recorded a 170% rise in cement movement in the four months after its November reforms. The reforms use Make in India bulk cement tank containers and a bulk cement terminal policy. Next, Railways wants a bigger share of fly ash: about 300 million tonnes are produced, but only about 13 million tonnes now move by rail.
14 May 2026
WPI inflation (base 2011-12) jumped to 8.30% in April 2026, up from 3.88% in March. Fuel & Power inflation was 24.71% and crude petroleum 88.06%. Primary articles rose 9.17% and manufactured products 4.62%. Food index inflation stayed low at 2.31%. CPI inflation for April was only 3.48%, so producers felt the oil shock first.
14 May 2026