Daily and monthly current affairs mapped to syllabus topics and related PYQs.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports published draft amendments to criminalise organised doping activities for public consultation on 21 May 2026. Targets include trafficking, illegal supply, administering banned substances for doping, supply to minors, commercial doping crime, unlabelled sale and paid doping ads. Athletes' ordinary anti-doping rule violations stay outside criminal prosecution. Feedback is invited by 18 June 2026.
21 May 2026
The First International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit, scheduled for 1 June 2026 in New Delhi alongside the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit, has been postponed. After consultations with the African Union Chairperson and Commission on shifting IAFS IV, organisers will announce new IBCA dates later so Range countries, including African partners, can take part fully.
21 May 2026
India hosted the first day of the 68th Asian Productivity Organization Governing Body Meeting at Bharat Mandapam on 21 May 2026. India was the outgoing Governing Body Chair; Indonesia's APO Director assumed the Chair for 2026–27. The APO, founded in 1961, has 21 member economies. Closing was set for 22 May 2026.
21 May 2026
The Department of Biotechnology dedicated the UMMID (Unique Methods of Management of Inherited Disorders) programme for rare genetic disorders to the nation on 21 May 2026. The programme has screened or diagnosed nearly three lakh people and set up nearly 30 NIDAN Kendras for advanced diagnostics and counselling. A UMMID Compendium and Dashboard were also launched.
21 May 2026
NSO's Quarterly Bulletin on Unincorporated Sector Enterprises for January–March 2026 estimates 9.16 crore unincorporated non-agricultural establishments, up 16.69% year-on-year, and employment at 15.17 crore, past the 15-crore mark for the first time. About 81% of establishments used the internet for business and about 81% used cashless payments. Women were about 29% of the sector workforce.
21 May 2026
India and Italy elevated ties to a Special Strategic Partnership during the PM's visit on 19 to 20 May 2026. They aim for bilateral trade of €20 billion by 2029 and a Foreign Ministers review of the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029. Deliverables include a defence industrial roadmap, a maritime MoU, and Italy's role at Lothal's maritime heritage complex.
20 May 2026
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation selected ten institutions to host Convergence Research Centres of Excellence, mixing social sciences and humanities with science and technology. The call drew 945 proposals; Co-PIs span 20 collaborating institutes. The programme cites NEP 2020's multidisciplinary push and Viksit Bharat 2047.
20 May 2026
The Index of Eight Core Industries rose 1.7% (provisional) in April 2026 versus April 2025. Cement, steel and electricity grew; coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products and fertilizers fell. The eight cores carry 40.27% of IIP weight. March 2026 final growth was 1.2%; cumulative April–March 2025-26 growth was 2.7%.
20 May 2026
The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region launched Mission on Arunachal Kiwi (about ₹167 crore) and Mission Coffees of Nagaland (₹175 crore). Kiwi work spans six post-harvest hubs and targets 2,000 MT cold-chain capacity; coffee pilots Coffea arabica at Tuophema (Kohima) and Coffea canephora at Ghotovi (Niuland). Both push Brand North East specialty produce.
20 May 2026
Multilateral exercise PRAGATI 2026 began on 20 May 2026 at Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya, with 12 partner nations: Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. PRAGATI means Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region. The two-week drill focuses on counter-terrorism in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain.
20 May 2026