Daily and monthly current affairs mapped to syllabus topics and related PYQs.
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
On 16 May 2026 in The Hague, the Indian and Dutch Prime Ministers witnessed an agreement between Tata Electronics and ASML to support India's first front-end semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat. The same day they elevated ties via the Roadmap of India–Netherlands Strategic Partnership for 2026–2030, covering dialogue, trade, water, semiconductors, energy, defence and mobility.
16 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
On the PM's 15 May 2026 UAE visit, ISPRL and ADNOC signed an MoU for potential ADNOC crude storage of up to 30 million barrels in India's Strategic Petroleum Reserves, including Vizag and Chandikol, plus possible Fujairah storage for India's SPR. LNG/LPG storage options in India and an IOCL–ADNOC LPG collaboration were also listed.
15 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
India will chair the Common Criteria Development Board (CCDB) from April 2026 to April 2028. The post was confirmed at the CCRA's first quarter meeting in Tokyo (14 to 16 April 2026). The CCDB runs the technical work on the Common Criteria for IT security testing. India has been a CCRA certificate-authorising nation since 16 September 2013.
14 May 2026