May 2026

 National and State News 

• EPFO E-PRAAPTI Portal: EPFO launched the E-PRAAPTI digital portal for tracking inoperative and dormant PF accounts using Aadhaar.  

• Maharashtra AI Policy 2026: Maharashtra Cabinet approved the AI Policy 2026 aiming to attract ₹10,000 crore investment by 2031.  

• Namma 112 AI Feature: Bengaluru Police introduced an AI-powered multilingual feature in the Namma 112 emergency helpline.  

• Ganga Expressway Inauguration: PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 594 km long Ganga Expressway in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh.  

• Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0: Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0 report.  

• West Bengal Voter Turnout: West Bengal recorded its highest-ever voter turnout of around 92% in the Assembly Elections.  

• Karnataka Gig Workers System: Karnataka launched India’s first digital grievance redressal system for gig workers.  

• Aarogya Maitri in Jamaica: India deployed Aarogya Maitri portable healthcare infrastructure in Jamaica under humanitarian assistance.  

• Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026: Government announced Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026 to be held from June to August.  

• NRAI 75th Anniversary: NRAI marked its 75th anniversary by launching a fully digitized athlete application.  

• Citizenship Amendment Rules 2026: Government notified Citizenship Amendment Rules 2026 streamlining OCI cardholder processes.  

• BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers Meeting: India chaired the BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers meeting focusing on regional stability and West Asia.  

• Women and Men in India 2025: MoSPI released the 27th edition of the ‘Women and Men in India 2025’ report.  

• Tamil Nadu Marine Fish Production: Tamil Nadu emerged as the top marine fish-producing state in India in 2025, overtaking Gujarat.  

• Multi-Lane Free Flow Tolling: India launched its first Multi-Lane Free Flow barrier-less tolling system on NH-48 in Gujarat.  

• USTR Priority Watch List 2026: India was placed on the United States Trade Representative Priority Watch List 2026.  

• Underwater National Flag Record: Andaman and Nicobar Islands set a Guinness World Record for the largest underwater national flag.  

• Sikkim Paperless Judiciary: Sikkim became India’s first fully paperless judiciary state.  

• Childhood Diabetes Framework: Ministry of Health launched a national framework for childhood diabetes management (0-18 years).  

• Space Technology CoE: Karnataka launched India’s first state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology in Bengaluru.  

• Indigenous Cell Broadcast System: Ministry of Communications launched the indigenous Cell Broadcast System for disaster alerts.  

• Padma Doree Initiative: NEHHDC launched ‘Padma Doree’ integrating Eri silk with Chanderi handloom weaving.  

• Fire Safety Week 2026: Ministry of Health launched Fire Safety Week 2026 with new healthcare safety guidelines.  

• Hazaribag Pearl Farming Cluster: Hazaribag in Jharkhand is set to become India’s first pearl farming cluster.  

• BIS Medical Standards: BIS published six new Indian Standards for priority medical assistive technologies.  

• South Coast Railway Zone: Union Government notified the South Coast Railway Zone with headquarters at Visakhapatnam.  

• PRASHAST 2.0 Platform: NCERT launched PRASHAST 2.0 digital platform for early identification of school disabilities.  

• Supreme Court Strength Expansion: Union Cabinet approved increasing Supreme Court judge strength from 34 to 38.  

• Vadinar Ship Repair Facility: Union Cabinet approved a ship repair facility at Vadinar, Gujarat, with ₹1,570 crore investment.  

• Semiconductor Projects in Gujarat: Union Cabinet approved two semiconductor projects under the ISM in Gujarat worth ₹3,936 crore.  

• International Big Cat Alliance Summit: India announced it will host the first International Big Cat Alliance Summit in New Delhi in June 2026.  

• Vande Mataram Legal Protection: Union Cabinet proposed legal protection for Vande Mataram on its 150th anniversary.  

• India-EU EV Battery Recycling: India and the EU launched a ₹169 crore joint initiative for EV battery recycling.  

• JANANI Digital Platform: MoHFW launched the JANANI digital platform for integrated maternal and child healthcare monitoring.  

• Plastic Waste Geocells: CSIR-CRRI and BPCL were recognized for developing plastic waste-based road geocells.  

• Reliance AI Data Centre Cluster: Reliance Industries is building India’s largest AI-focused 1.5 GW data centre cluster in Visakhapatnam.  

• NCRB Suicide Rate Data: NCRB data revealed Bengaluru recorded the highest suicide rate among major Indian cities.  

• La Biennale di Venezia 2026: India inaugurated its pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2026.  

• Worker Health Check-up Drive: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched a nationwide free annual health check-up for workers aged 40+.  

• BRICS Agriculture Meeting 2026: India to host BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting 2026 in Indore focused on food security.  

• AIOS-AFOU 2026 Conference: AIOS-AFOU 2026 ophthalmology conference held at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.  

• Regional Cooperative Reform Conference: Aizawl hosted the first Regional Cooperative Reform Conference under the ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ vision.  

• BRICS MSME Fintech Cooperation: India advanced BRICS MSME cooperation under its 2026 chairship focusing on financial technology.  

• Census 2027 QR Code Cards: India introduced QR-code-enabled identity cards for Census 2027 enumerators.  

• PMAY-Urban 2.0 House Completions: Odisha emerged as the top-performing state in house completions under PMAY-Urban 2.0.  

• Compressed Biogas Policy 2026: Maharashtra approved the Compressed Biogas Policy 2026 with a ₹500 crore support allocation.  

• SCBA Women-Only Vice-President Post: Supreme Court proposed a permanent women-only Vice-President post in SCBA from 2027-28.  

• Jharkhand Zero Dropout Rate: Jharkhand achieved a zero primary dropout rate (0%) in 2024-25 as per UDISE+ data.  

• India Steel Sector Ranking: India’s steel sector emerged as the second-largest global producer and consumer of finished steel.  

• Aircraft Leasing Summit 2.0: India Aircraft Leasing and Financing Summit 2.0 held at GIFT City, Gandhinagar.  

• Section 498A IPC Review: Supreme Court ruling highlighted misuse concerns surrounding Section 498A of the IPC.  

• PM Karnataka-Telangana Visit: PM Modi visited Karnataka and Telangana, inaugurating development projects worth ₹9,400 crore.  

• Sehat Mission Launch: India launched the ‘Sehat Mission’ integrating agriculture, nutrition, and healthcare.  

• VB-G RAM G Act Rollout: Government announced the rollout of the VB-G RAM G Act replacing MGNREGA from July 1, 2026.  

• Made in India Brand Scheme: Government planned the ‘Made in India Brand Scheme’ to boost domestic manufacturing of 100 products.  

• Supreme Court ‘One Case One Data’: Supreme Court launched ‘One Case One Data’ initiative and ‘Su-Sahayak’ AI chatbot.  

• Annapurna Bhandaar Scheme: West Bengal announced the Annapurna Bhandaar Scheme providing ₹3,000 monthly financial aid to women.  

• Jute Crop Information System: Jute Crop Information System implemented using satellite monitoring and BHUVAN JUMP app.  

• PLFS Monthly High-Frequency Data: PLFS revamped from January 2025 to provide monthly and quarterly high-frequency labor data.  

• Judicial Infrastructure Committee: CJI announced the Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee headed by Justice Aravind Kumar.  

• Gold and Silver Import Duty Hike: India raised import duty on gold and silver to 15% to protect forex reserves and the rupee.  

• Ahmedabad-Dholera Rail Project: Cabinet approved Ahmedabad-Dholera Semi High-Speed Rail project worth ₹20,667 crore.  

• Surface Coal Gasification Scheme: Union Cabinet approved a ₹37,500 crore surface coal and lignite gasification scheme.  

• Prime Minister Internship Scheme 2026: Central Government launched the Prime Minister Internship Scheme 2026 targeting 1 crore youth.  

• Sugar Export Ban: India imposed an immediate ban on sugar exports until September 2026 to control inflation.  

• Trillion Dollar Export Target: India set an ambitious $1 trillion export target, releasing the LEADS 2025 report.  

• Assam UCC Bill Draft: Assam Cabinet approved the draft Uniform Civil Code Bill exempting tribal communities.  

• Uber-Adani Data Centre Partnership: Uber partnered with Adani Group to establish its first data centre in India in Ahmedabad.  

• Maize Ethanol Feedstock: Maize emerged as India’s top ethanol feedstock surpassing sugarcane in supply year 2025-26.  

• Indian Ocean Dialogue 10th Edition: India hosted the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue in New Delhi.  

• Oman-Gujarat Subsea Pipeline: India planned a ₹40,000 crore Oman-Gujarat subsea gas pipeline (MEIDP).  

• Election Commission Special Revision: Election Commission began Phase III of Special Intensive Revision across 19 States/UTs.  

• Common Criteria Board Chairship: India assumed Chair of the Common Criteria Development Board for 2026-2028.  

• Mahey Tokpo-Raldho Irrigation Canal: LG of Ladakh inaugurated the high-altitude Mahey Tokpo-Raldho irrigation canal in Changthang.  

• Mizoram Ginger Mission: Centre launched the ₹189.79 crore Mizoram Ginger Mission.  

• Mission Mausam Incubation Centre: IIT Pune launched a climate-tech startup incubation centre under Mission Mausam.  

• Rajasthan Semiconductor Cluster: Rajasthan launched its first semiconductor and electronics manufacturing cluster in Bhiwadi.  

• Project Saksham Launch: NHAI launched Project Saksham for rural women’s skill development and empowerment.  

• Kimberley Process Intersessional 2026: India concluded the Kimberley Process Intersessional 2026 in Mumbai focusing on ethical diamond trade.  

• SC Judge Strength Ordinance: President approved the ordinance increasing Supreme Court judge strength to 38.  

• Andhra Pradesh Child Incentives: Andhra Pradesh announced cash incentives for third (₹30,000) and fourth (₹40,000) children.  

• Nimapara Patha Utsav 2026: Nimapara Patha Utsav 2026 inaugurated in Puri under Utkarsha Nimapara 2.0.  

• Sikkim Anand Marriage Act: Sikkim announced implementation of the Anand Marriage Act, 1909 from June 1, 2026.  

• Out-of-School Adolescents Pilot: Ministry of Education launched a pilot program to reintegrate 2 crore out-of-school adolescents.  

• CBI ‘Abhay’ AI Helpbot: CBI launched ‘Abhay’ AI-based helpbot to protect citizens from cyber fraud and digital arrest scams.  

• Karnataka Digital Drug Monitoring: Karnataka introduced two digital drug monitoring systems to block substandard medicines.  

• Tripura Deregulation Reform: Tripura became the first state to complete all priority areas under deregulation reform Phase-II.  

• Coffees of Nagaland Mission: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the ₹175 crore Coffees of Nagaland Mission.  

• Ganges Softshell Turtle Release: India released its first satellite-tagged Ganges softshell turtle in Assam’s Brahmaputra River.  

• Rishikesh-Neelkanth Ropeway: Uttarakhand planned a ₹450 crore ropeway connecting Rishikesh to Neelkanth Mahadev Temple.  

• Maharashtra Infrastructure Ranking: Maharashtra ranked first in India with 215 Central Government infrastructure projects.  

• Delhi Airport Automated Air Train: Delhi Airport set to launch an automated air train project by 2029 worth up to ₹4,000 crore.  

• West Bengal 7th Pay Commission: West Bengal approved the 7th Pay Commission for state employees and pensioners.  

• E30 Petrol Standards: India notified E30 petrol standards signaling the next phase of ethanol blending policy.  

• Jammu-Katra Rail Upgrade: Indian Railways approved a ₹238 crore upgrade for Jammu-Katra rail section.  

• IAEA Regional Agreement Chairship: India assumed chairmanship of the IAEA Regional Cooperative Agreement for 2026.  

• APO Governing Body Meeting: India hosted the 68th Asian Productivity Organization Governing Body Meeting in New Delhi.  

• World Metrology Day 2026: India observed World Metrology Day 2026 focusing on legal metrology and digital compliance.  

• Arunachal Kiwi Mission: India launched the Arunachal Kiwi Mission with a ₹167 crore financial outlay.  

• Kerala AI Portfolio: Kerala became the first state to create a cabinet-level Artificial Intelligence portfolio.  

• JEEVAN App & SHATAYU Dashboard: Government announced JEEVAN app and SHATAYU dashboard for senior citizen care.  

• Delhi Ration Card Eligibility: Delhi government plans to raise ration card income eligibility limit to ₹2.5 lakh.  

• Chenab River Hydropower Projects: India approved major Chenab river hydropower projects worth ₹2,600 crore.  

• Vaman Van Biodiversity Project: Delhi Forest Department planned the ‘Vaman Van’ dwarf plant biodiversity project.  

• Project Cheetah Milestone: Project Cheetah achieved major success with India’s cheetah population reaching 53.  

• High-Powered Demography Mission: Centre plans a High-Powered Demography Mission to tackle illegal border infiltration.  

• UMMID Programme Phase-II: Dr Jitendra Singh launched Phase-II of the UMMID programme for rare genetic disorders.  

• Central Zonal Council Meeting: Amit Shah chaired the 26th Central Zonal Council meeting in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.  

• India-US Quad Talks: India and US held high-level talks ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting.  

• BHAVYA Scheme Guidelines: Government released guidelines for the BHAVYA scheme to develop 100 industrial parks.  

• Kerala Private Medical Museum: Kerala established its first private medical museum in Thiruvananthapuram.  

• Semiconductor Investors Support Portal: India Semiconductor Mission launched the Investors Support Portal.  

• Yoga Mahotsav 2026: Khajuraho to host Yoga Mahotsav 2026 ahead of International Day of Yoga.  

• Rajasthan Gas Discovery: Oil India discovered a new natural gas-bearing zone in Rajasthan’s Dandewala field.  

• Tribal Heritage Diplomatic Gifts: PM Modi showcased tribal heritage through diplomatic gifts like Gond paintings presented abroad.  

• Khavda Battery Storage System: Adani Green Energy commissioned the world’s largest battery storage system at Khavda, Gujarat.  

• GATC Dispenser Verification: Consumer Affairs Department expanded the role of GATCs to verify CNG, LPG, and hydrogen dispensers.  

• 51st PRAGATI Meeting: PM Modi chaired the 51st PRAGATI meeting reviewing major infrastructure projects worth ₹30,000 crore.  

• Mission Queen Pineapple: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched Mission Queen Pineapple in Tripura.  

• National Health Accounts 2022-23: Union Health Ministry released National Health Accounts Estimates 2022-23 showing reduced out-of-pocket expenses.  

• Assam UCC Bill Passage: Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026.  

• SkyCast Weather Monitoring System: SkyCast aviation weather monitoring system inaugurated at IGI Airport under Mission Mausam.  

• SARTHAK-PDS Scheme: Cabinet approved SARTHAK-PDS scheme with ₹25,530 crore outlay for ration transport automation.  

• Adarsh Shahar Samriddhi Yojana: Chhattisgarh to launch ‘Adarsh Shahar Samriddhi Yojana’ for urban infrastructure development.  

• Puducherry SEZs: Government approved two new Special Economic Zones in Puducherry worth ₹1,975 crore.  

 

Govt Scheme & Policies 

• EPFO E-PRAAPTI Portal: EPFO launched the E-PRAAPTI digital portal for tracking inoperative and dormant PF accounts using Aadhaar.  

• Maharashtra AI Policy 2026: Maharashtra Cabinet approved the AI Policy 2026 aiming to attract ₹10,000 crore investment by 2031.  

• Citizenship Amendment Rules 2026: Government notified Citizenship Amendment Rules 2026 streamlining OCI cardholder processes.  

• Childhood Diabetes Framework: Ministry of Health launched a national framework for childhood diabetes management (0-18 years).  

• Indigenous Cell Broadcast System: Ministry of Communications launched the indigenous Cell Broadcast System for disaster alerts.  

• VB-G RAM G Act Rollout: Government announced the rollout of the VB-G RAM G Act replacing MGNREGA from July 1, 2026.  

• Made in India Brand Scheme: Government planned the ‘Made in India Brand Scheme’ to boost domestic manufacturing of 100 products.  

• Prime Minister Internship Scheme 2026: Central Government launched the Prime Minister Internship Scheme 2026 targeting 1 crore youth.  

• Mizoram Ginger Mission: Centre launched the ₹189.79 crore Mizoram Ginger Mission.  

• Out-of-School Adolescents Pilot: Ministry of Education launched a pilot program to reintegrate 2 crore out-of-school adolescents.  

• Arunachal Kiwi Mission: India launched the Arunachal Kiwi Mission with a ₹167 crore financial outlay.  

• UMMID Programme Phase-II: Dr Jitendra Singh launched Phase-II of the UMMID programme for rare genetic disorders.  

• BHAVYA Scheme Guidelines: Government released guidelines for the BHAVYA scheme to develop 100 industrial parks.  

• SARTHAK-PDS Scheme: Cabinet approved SARTHAK-PDS scheme with ₹25,530 crore outlay for ration transport automation.  

• Annapurna Bhandaar Scheme: West Bengal announced the Annapurna Bhandaar Scheme providing ₹3,000 monthly financial aid to women.  

• Compressed Biogas Policy 2026: Maharashtra approved the Compressed Biogas Policy 2026 with a ₹500 crore support allocation.  

• Project Saksham Launch: NHAI launched Project Saksham for rural women’s skill development and empowerment.  

• Coffees of Nagaland Mission: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the ₹175 crore Coffees of Nagaland Mission.  

• Mission Queen Pineapple: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched Mission Queen Pineapple in Tripura.  

• Adarsh Shahar Samriddhi Yojana: Chhattisgarh to launch ‘Adarsh Shahar Samriddhi Yojana’ for urban infrastructure development.  

Banking & Financial News 

• Mission SAKSHAM for UCBs: RBI introduced Mission SAKSHAM capacity-building programme for Urban Co-operative Banks.  

• PSB Workforce Capacity Building: DFS strengthened Public Sector Bank workforce capacity through calibrated recruitment via IBPS.  

• Expected Credit Loss Framework: RBI issued Master Direction shifting to Expected Credit Loss (ECL) framework from April 2027.  

• OTP-Free Biometric Card Payments: Flipkart, Axis Bank, and PayU introduced OTP-free card payments with biometric authentication.  

• IPPB SHG Savings Account: IPPB launched Self Help Group Savings Account to boost financial inclusion in rural areas.  

• NARCL Borrower Debt Acquisition: NARCL acquired 33 borrower entities with debt exposure of ₹1,65,862 crore by March 2026.  

• JPMorgan Indian Equities Downgrade: JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Indian equities from ‘overweight’ to ‘neutral’ on valuations.  

• Forex Reserves Management Report: RBI released 46th report on management of forex reserves showing reserves at $691.11 billion.  

• OTC FX Derivatives Reporting: RBI directed AD Category-I banks to report all OTC FX derivative contracts involving INR to CCIL.  

• Small NBFC Registration Exemption: RBI exempted small NBFCs with assets below ₹1,000 crore from registration norms from July 2026.  

• Credit Card Past-Due Grace Period: RBI introduced a 3-day grace period for credit card past-due reporting effective April 2027.  

• SEBI PaRRVA Framework: SEBI operationalized PaRRVA framework with CARE Ratings and NSE to validate performance claims.  

• 100% FDI in Insurance: Finance Ministry notified 100% FDI in the insurance sector under the automatic route.  

• DRT/DRAT Presiding Officers Colloquium: DFS organized colloquium of DRT/DRAT presiding officers to enhance debt recovery efficiency.  

• Jewellery Loans Growth: Bank loans against jewellery rose nearly fivefold to ₹4.6 lakh crore by March 2026.  

• Overseas Investment Chinese Stake Norms: Finance Ministry permitted overseas entities with up to 10% Chinese stake to invest under automatic route.  

• Banking Connect Unified Switch: NBBL and Juspay introduced unified switch and SDK for Banking Connect net banking platform.  

• Tata AIA Shubh Health Criti: Tata AIA Life Insurance launched ‘Shubh Health Criti’ unit-linked health fund plan.  

• Securitised Debt Instruments Amendments: SEBI proposed amendments to Securitised Debt Instruments regulations aligning with RBI norms.  

• Scheduled Commercial Banks Credit Growth: Scheduled Commercial Banks reported strong credit growth of 15.9% in FY 2025-26.  

• ADB Asia Infrastructure Link Plan: ADB unveiled a $70 billion plan to link Asia’s energy and digital infrastructure by 2035.  

• Domestic Gold Custody Increase: RBI moved 104.23 metric tonnes of gold domestically, bringing total domestic custody to 680 MT.  

• Record Gross GST Revenue: India’s gross GST revenue hit a record ₹2.43 lakh crore in April 2026, growing 8.7% y-o-y.  

• ECLGS 5.0 Approval: Cabinet approved ECLGS 5.0 providing credit guarantees to MSMEs and airlines.  

• Viability Plan 2.0 for RRBs: DFS approved Viability Plan 2.0 for Regional Rural Banks for FY25-28.  

• Electronic Gold Receipts Segment: NSE launched Electronic Gold Receipts segment with SEBI approval.  

• Critical Minerals Financing Facility: ADB launched Critical Minerals-to-Manufacturing Financing Partnership Facility.  

• AIF PPM Fast-Track Approval: SEBI introduced fast-track approval system for PPMs of Alternative Investment Funds.  

• Jio Payments Bank Ezeepay Partnership: Jio Payments Bank partnered with Ezeepay as Business Correspondent for rural digital banking.  

• SBI Cards Stressed Pool Sale: SBI Cards sold a ₹1,800 crore stressed credit card pool to Integro Finserv.  

• UCB Revised Lending Norms: RBI issued final revised lending norms for Urban Co-operative Banks.  

• NSE Unique Investors Milestone: NSE crossed 13 crore registered unique investors.  

• Online Bond Platform Reforms: SEBI proposed major regulatory reforms for Online Bond Platform Providers.  

• Cyber-suraksha.ai Task Force: SEBI formed ‘Cyber-suraksha.ai’ task force to address AI-driven financial cyber threats.  

• S&P Global GDP Forecast Cut: S&P Global cut India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast to 6.6%.  

• Retail Gilt Accounts Increase: Retail investors’ Gilt accounts rose 64% to 3.61 lakh on RBI Retail Direct platform.  

• Bihar World Bank Loan: Bihar Cabinet cleared a $500 million World Bank loan for urban transformation.  

• Jan Suraksha Schemes 11th Anniversary: Three Jan Suraksha Schemes (PMSBY, PMJJBY, APY) completed 11 years of social security delivery.  

• IRRA Platform Discontinuation: SEBI discontinued the Investor Risk Reduction Access (IRRA) platform for stock brokers.  

• DFS Insurance Division GRAI Ranking: DFS Insurance Division secured top position in Group A category of GRAI rankings.  

• SASCI Fiscal Discipline Framework: Ministry of Finance launched a performance-based framework under SASCI scheme for fiscal discipline.  

• RBI-ECB Central Banking MoU: RBI and European Central Bank signed MoU to strengthen central banking cooperation.  

• Yes Bank KYC Penalty: RBI imposed ₹31.80 lakh penalty on Yes Bank for KYC non-compliance.  

• Offshore Rupee Derivatives Reporting: RBI made reporting of offshore rupee-linked derivative transactions mandatory for banks.  

• Himachal Pradesh Gramin Bank Penalty: RBI levied ₹5 lakh penalty on Himachal Pradesh Gramin Bank.  

• Standardised Approach Credit Risk Directions: RBI issued final 2026 directions on capital charge for credit risk under Standardised Approach.  

• PSB Record Net Profit FY26: Public Sector Banks posted record net profit of ₹1.98 lakh crore in FY26.  

• SEBI Market Data Educational Use: SEBI revised rules allowing market data use for educational purposes with a 30-day lag.  

• SBI Research Q4 FY26 GDP Estimate: SBI Research estimated India’s Q4 FY26 GDP growth at 7.2%.  

• Universal Cash Exchange Master Direction: RBI issued Master Direction on universal cash exchange of notes and coins by bank branches.  

• Credit Risk Management Second Amendment: RBI issued Second Amendment Directions on credit risk management for commercial banks.  

• DMRC Airtel Payments Bank NCMC: DMRC partnered with Airtel Payments Bank for RuPay ‘On-The-Go’ NCMC mobility cards.  

• India Post Record Revenue FY26: India Post recorded record revenue of ₹15,296 crore in FY26 growing 16%.  

• Currency Distribution Chest Penalties: RBI issued Master Direction on currency distribution incentives and penalties for currency chests.  

• India-IFAD COSOP Strategy: India and IFAD launched 8-year COSOP 2026-2033 strategy to boost rural livelihoods.  

• Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool: DFS launched $1.5 billion Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool with sovereign guarantee.  

• GARUDA AIF Green-Channel Mechanism: SEBI proposed GARUDA green-channel mechanism to fast-track AIF scheme approvals.  

• GSTAT Principal Bench Designation: Finance Ministry designated GSTAT Principal Bench as National Appellate Authority for Advance Rulings.  

• Moody’s GDP Forecast Cut: Moody’s cut India’s CY2026 GDP growth forecast to 6%.  

• CMS Info Systems ATM Contract: CMS Info Systems secured ₹400 crore ATM managed services contract from HDFC Bank.  

• IPF Interest Administrative Expenses: SEBI proposed allowing depositories to use up to 5% of IPF interest for administrative expenses.  

• Forex Dealer Authorisation Overhaul: RBI overhauled forex dealer authorisation regulations discontinuing fresh FFMC licences.  

• Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank Licence: RBI cancelled banking licence of Mumbai-based Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank.  

• FPI Holding 14-Year Low: FPI holding in Indian equities fell to a 14-year low of 14% while DII stake rose to 18.9%.  

• CET1 Capital Quarterly Profits: RBI relaxed rules allowing banks to include quarterly profits in CET1 capital for CRAR calculation.  

• GSDP Base Year Shift: MoSPI released uniform guidelines shifting GSDP base year to 2022-23 by FY27.  

• AU Small Finance Bank Credit Cards: AU Small Finance Bank launched four new credit cards with travel and lifestyle benefits.  

• DGFT Duty-Free Gold Import Cap: DGFT tightened duty-free gold import rules under Advance Authorisation capping imports at 100 kg per licence.  

• Fintech Outward Remittance Relaxation: RBI removed prior approval requirement for fintechs partnering with banks for outward remittances.  

• Agricultural Derivatives Physical Settlement: SEBI proposed gradual transition to physical settlement for agricultural derivative contracts.  

• Retail Inflation 14-Month High: India’s retail inflation rose to 3.48% in April 2026, hitting a 14-month high.  

• CTBC Bank GIFT City Branch: CTBC Bank became the first Taiwanese bank to open a branch at GIFT City, Gujarat.  

• UDGAM Portal Bank Integration: RBI informed Supreme Court that 30 banks are integrated with UDGAM portal for unclaimed funds.  

• NSO Annual GDP Release Schedule: NSO revised release schedule for Annual GDP provisional estimates to June 7 every year.  

• InvIT Borrowing Norms Relaxation: SEBI eased borrowing norms for Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) exceeding 49% net debt.  

• WPI Inflation 42-Month High: India’s WPI inflation surged to a 42-month high of 8.3% in April 2026.  

• GSTAT Operational Benches: GSTAT operationalized nationwide benches and structured listing for GST appeals.  

• ICICI Bank USD Debit Card GIFT City: ICICI Bank partnered with Visa to launch India’s first USD-denominated debit card linked to GIFT City.  

• Central Banks Net Gold Sellers: Central banks became net gold sellers in March 2026 for the first time in 10 months.  

• IIFL Finance Gold Auction Penalty: RBI imposed ₹3.10 lakh penalty on IIFL Finance for violating gold auction surplus return norms.  

• FSDC Sub-Committee 33rd Meeting: FSDC Sub-Committee held its 33rd meeting at RBI Mumbai reviewing macroeconomic stability.  

• Emirates NBD RBL Bank Investment: RBL Bank received regulatory clearance for Emirates NBD’s nearly $3 billion investment.  

• Xflow Stablecoin Pilot: Xflow launched pilot program for stablecoin-based cross-border payments into INR.  

• Significant Indices Framework: SEBI introduced framework classifying market benchmarks as ‘Significant Indices’ based on AUM.  

• UPI 10 Years Milestone: UPI completed 10 years of transformational growth, processing 24,162 crore transactions in FY26.  

• Slice Small Finance Bank Phygital Branch: Assam CM inaugurated India’s 1st AI-powered phygital banking branch of Slice Small Finance Bank in Guwahati.  

• IDFC FIRST Bank FD-Backed Card: IDFC FIRST Bank introduced FD-backed Business Multiplier Metal Credit Card for startups.  

• Morgan Stanley GDP Forecast Upward: Morgan Stanley revised India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast upward to 6.7%.  

• Countercyclical Capital Buffer Inaction: RBI decided against activating Countercyclical Capital Buffer at present.  

• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Amendment Workshop: DFS organized workshop on Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Amendment) Act, 2026.  

• Maritime Investment Fund Manager: Government selected SBI Ventures to manage the ₹20,000 crore Maritime Investment Fund.  

• Mahindra-DBS Dealer Financing Program: Mahindra & Mahindra and DBS Bank launched India’s first sustainability-linked dealer financing program.  

• UN GDP Forecast Downgrade: UN revised India’s GDP growth forecast for 2026 downward to 6.4%.  

• USD-INR Buy/Sell Swap Auction: RBI announced $5 billion USD-INR buy/sell swap auction to inject durable liquidity.  

• APY Annual Felicitation Programme: PFRDA organized APY Annual Felicitation Programme awarding top performers for FY25-26.  

• Bajaj General Insurance MHCP EDGE+: Bajaj General Insurance launched MHCP EDGE+ health plan offering coverage up to ₹5 crore.  

• NCDEX RAINMUMBAI Weather Derivatives: NCDEX launched ‘RAINMUMBAI’, India’s first exchange-traded weather derivatives contract.  

• ICRA GDP Forecast Cut: ICRA cut India’s FY27 GDP growth projection to 6.2% due to elevated crude oil prices.  

• GIFT City Review Meeting: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired review meeting on GIFT City progress.  

• PFRDA New Asset Classes Committee: PFRDA formed committee chaired by Narayan Ramachandran to explore new asset classes.  

• ZikZuk PPI Authorisation: RBI granted PPI issuer authorisation to ZikZuk Technologies.  

• City Union Bank Priority Sector Penalty: RBI levied ₹10.10 lakh penalty on City Union Bank for priority sector loan reporting non-compliance.  

• Loan Recovery Agent Regulations: RBI issued revised loan recovery agent regulations effective October 2026 restricting calls to 8 AM – 7 PM.  

• AIIB West Asia Support Facility: AIIB launched $10 billion facility to support West Asia-affected member countries.  

• Record RBI Surplus Transfer: RBI approved record ₹2.87 lakh crore surplus transfer to Government for FY26.  

• Unincorporated Sector Enterprises Bulletin: NSO released Quarterly Bulletin on Unincorporated Sector Enterprises showing over 9 crore establishments.  

• Karnataka Grameena Bank PFRDA Award: Karnataka Grameena Bank won national award from PFRDA for APY enrolments.  

• TEXPROCIL Export Awards 2023-24: FM Nirmala Sitharaman chaired TEXPROCIL Export Awards 2023-24 ceremony in Mumbai.  

• Eurobank Representative Office: Eurobank opened its first representative office enabling Greek/Cypriot remittances to India via UPI.  

• Mintifi Finserve KYC Penalty: RBI imposed ₹3.10 lakh penalty on Mintifi Finserve for KYC non-compliance.  

• Skydo GIFT City PSP Licence: Skydo received Payment Service Provider licence at GIFT City and RBI approval for cross-border payments.  

• LRS Outward Remittances Decline: RBI data showed India’s outward remittances under LRS declined by 2% to $28.9 billion in FY26.  

• PFRDA NPS Retirement Schemes: PFRDA launched new Retirement Income Schemes and drawdown facilities under NPS.  

• Co-operative Bank Directors Cooling-Off: RBI introduced mandatory 3-year cooling-off period for co-operative bank directors after 10-year tenure.  

• Insurance Ombudsman Resolution FY26: IRDAI reported Insurance Ombudsman resolved 41,055 complaints in FY26 with 79% in favor of policyholders.  

• Jumpp IRDAI Licences: Jumpp received IRDAI corporate agency and ISNP licences for digital insurance distribution.  

• Newa Investments Governance Penalty: RBI imposed ₹2.70 lakh penalty on Newa Investments for governance non-compliance.  

• India Carbon Market CCTS: World Bank report identified India as a major emerging carbon market under CCTS.  

• Q-SAFE Expert Panel: RBI formed 8-member expert panel under Q-SAFE initiative chaired by Dr. Anil Prabhakar.  

• Gross Savings-to-GDP Ratio Revision: SEBI revised household savings calculation raising India’s FY25 gross savings-to-GDP ratio to 34.94%.  

• SIDBI-Backed Portals Launch: FM Sitharaman launched SIDBI-backed portals during 37th Foundation Day celebrations.  

• Udaipur Tripura Credit Outreach: DFS conducted credit outreach programme in Udaipur, Tripura, sanctioning ₹105.40 crore.  

• Historic Gross FDI Inflows FY26: India recorded historic gross FDI inflows of $94.53 billion in FY26 while net FDI stood at $7.65 billion.  

• IBC Decade Completion: India’s IBC completed a decade since implementation in 2016.  

• LIC New Jeevan Sathi Plan: LIC introduced ‘New Jeevan Sathi’ joint life insurance savings plans for couples.  

• MobiKwik PA-P Licence: MobiKwik received RBI in-principle approval for Payment Aggregator-Physical (PA-P) licence.  

• Andhra Pradesh Deep-Tech Angel Hub: Andhra Pradesh government and SIDBI launched Deep-Tech Angel Hub through Ratan Tata Innovation Hub.  

• RBI-State Bank of Vietnam MoU: RBI and State Bank of Vietnam signed MoU to enhance cooperation in digital payments and QR code settlements.  

• Common Landing Portal for Unclaimed Assets: DFS introduced Common Landing Portal for Unclaimed Financial Assets.  

• PSB FY26 Performance Review: DFS Secretary reviewed FY26 performance of PSBs and unveiled ‘Aapki Punji, Aapkar Adhikar’ book.  

• Overseas Travel Expenditure March 2026: RBI data showed Indians’ overseas travel expenditure fell to $1.09 billion in March 2026.  

International News 

• UNESCO Global Geoparks Expansion: UNESCO added 12 new Global Geoparks raising the total network count to 241 sites.  

• UAE Exit from OPEC: UAE announced its exit from OPEC and OPEC+ alliance effective May 2026.  

• Project Freedom in Strait of Hormuz: US launched naval operation ‘Project Freedom’ in the Strait of Hormuz to secure shipping.  

• S. Jaishankar Visit to Jamaica: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar undertook a first-ever bilateral visit to Jamaica.  

• Rooppur Nuclear Fuel Loading: Bangladesh began uranium fuel loading at Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.  

• IUCAA Banner Handover: India handed over the IUCAA banner to South African Astronomical Observatory at Cape Town.  

• Global Forest Goals Report 2026: UN released Global Forest Goals Report 2026 highlighting fuelwood demand as a key driver of forest loss.  

• India-Bangladesh Trade Milestone: India overtook the US to become Bangladesh’s second-largest trading partner.  

• PM Modi Sweden Visit: PM Modi visited Sweden, participated in the European Round Table, and received the Royal Order of the Polar Star.  

• WTO Steel Safeguards Critique: India, China, and Japan joined WTO members in criticizing UK steel safeguard measures and 25% tariffs.  

• 79th World Health Assembly: WHO organized the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) in Geneva with the theme ‘Reshaping Global Health’.  

Awards & Honours 

• Parveen Shaikh Whitley Award 2026: Parveen Shaikh won the 2026 Whitley Award for Indian Skimmer conservation.  

• Pulitzer Prize for Cyber Fraud Reporting: Indian journalists R.K. Anand and Suparna Sharma won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for reporting on cyber fraud (‘trAPPed’).  

• Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award: Soma Mandal won the South Asia regional award in Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards 2026.  

• National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026: President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 on International Nurses Day.  

• Sweden Royal Order of the Polar Star: PM Narendra Modi received Sweden’s Royal Order of the Polar Star, Commander Grand Cross.  

• Norway Grand Cross of Merit: PM Narendra Modi received Norway’s highest civilian honor, Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit.  

• FAO Agricola Medal: PM Narendra Modi received the Food and Agriculture Organization Agricola Medal in Rome.  

• International Booker Prize 2026: ‘Taiwan Travelogue’ by Yang Shuang-zi won the International Booker Prize 2026.  

• Padma Shri for Tripti Mukherjee: Kantha embroidery artisan Tripti Mukherjee to receive Padma Shri.  

• AIAA Goddard Astronautics Award: Chandrayaan-3 received the 2026 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Goddard Astronautics Award.  

• Royal Society Fellows: IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal and Dr. Soumya Swaminathan were elected Fellows of the Royal Society.  

Appointments 

• Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee Head: CJI announced the Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee headed by Justice Aravind Kumar.  

• PFRDA New Asset Classes Committee Chair: PFRDA formed a committee chaired by Narayan Ramachandran to explore new asset classes.  

• Q-SAFE Expert Panel Chair: RBI formed an 8-member expert panel under the Q-SAFE initiative chaired by Dr. Anil Prabhakar.  

• Maritime Investment Fund Manager: Government selected SBI Ventures to manage the ₹20,000 crore Maritime Investment Fund.  

Summits & Conferences 

• BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers Meeting: India chaired the BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers meeting focusing on regional stability and West Asia.  

• 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue: India hosted the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue in New Delhi.  

• 68th APO Governing Body Meeting: India hosted the 68th Asian Productivity Organization Governing Body Meeting in New Delhi.  

• Kimberley Process Intersessional 2026: India concluded the Kimberley Process Intersessional 2026 in Mumbai focusing on ethical diamond trade.  

• India Aircraft Leasing and Financing Summit 2.0: Aircraft Leasing Summit 2.0 was held at GIFT City, Gandhinagar.  

• Regional Cooperative Reform Conference: Aizawl hosted the first Regional Cooperative Reform Conference under the ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ vision.  

• AIOS-AFOU 2026 Ophthalmology Conference: AIOS-AFOU 2026 conference held at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.  

• 79th World Health Assembly: WHO organized WHA79 in Geneva with the theme ‘Reshaping Global Health’.  

• 26th Central Zonal Council Meeting: Amit Shah chaired the 26th Central Zonal Council meeting in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.  

• 51st PRAGATI Meeting: PM Modi chaired the 51st PRAGATI meeting reviewing major infrastructure projects.  

MoUs & Agreements 

• RBI-ECB Central Banking MoU: RBI and European Central Bank signed an MoU to strengthen central banking cooperation.  

• RBI-State Bank of Vietnam MoU: RBI and State Bank of Vietnam signed an MoU to enhance cooperation in digital payments and QR code settlements.  

• Uber-Adani Data Centre Partnership: Uber partnered with Adani Group to establish its first data centre in India in Ahmedabad.  

• DMRC-Airtel Payments Bank Partnership: DMRC partnered with Airtel Payments Bank for RuPay ‘On-The-Go’ NCMC mobility cards.  

• Jio Payments Bank-Ezeepay Partnership: Jio Payments Bank partnered with Ezeepay as Business Correspondent for rural digital banking.  

• India-EU EV Battery Recycling Initiative: India and the EU launched a ₹169 crore joint initiative for EV battery recycling.  

Acquisition & Mergers 

• NARCL Borrower Debt Acquisition: NARCL acquired 33 borrower entities with debt exposure of ₹1,65,862 crore by March 2026.  

• SBI Cards Stressed Pool Sale: SBI Cards sold a ₹1,800 crore stressed credit card pool to Integro Finserv.  

• Emirates NBD RBL Bank Investment: RBL Bank received regulatory clearance for Emirates NBD’s nearly $3 billion investment.  

Science & Tech 

• Space Technology CoE: Karnataka launched India’s first state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology in Bengaluru.  

• Mission Mausam Incubation Centre: IIT Pune launched a climate-tech startup incubation centre under Mission Mausam.  

• SkyCast Weather Monitoring System: SkyCast aviation weather monitoring system inaugurated at IGI Airport under Mission Mausam.  

• Supreme Court AI Initiatives: Supreme Court launched ‘One Case One Data’ initiative and ‘Su-Sahayak’ AI chatbot.  

• CBI ‘Abhay’ AI Helpbot: CBI launched ‘Abhay’ AI-based helpbot to protect citizens from cyber fraud.  

• Plastic Waste Geocells: CSIR-CRRI and BPCL were recognized for developing plastic waste-based road geocells.  

Defence News 

• Project Freedom in Strait of Hormuz: US launched naval operation ‘Project Freedom’ in the Strait of Hormuz to secure shipping.  

 

Ranking & Indexes 

• Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0: Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0 report.  

• Women and Men in India 2025: MoSPI released the 27th edition of the ‘Women and Men in India 2025’ report.  

• USTR Priority Watch List 2026: India was placed on the United States Trade Representative Priority Watch List 2026.  

• Maharashtra Infrastructure Ranking: Maharashtra ranked first in India with 215 Central Government infrastructure projects.  

• DFS Insurance Division GRAI Ranking: DFS Insurance Division secured top position in Group A category of GRAI rankings.  

• NCRB Suicide Rate Data: NCRB data revealed Bengaluru recorded the highest suicide rate among major Indian cities.  

Environment News 

• UNESCO Global Geoparks Expansion: UNESCO added 12 new Global Geoparks raising the total network count to 241 sites.  

• Global Forest Goals Report 2026: UN released Global Forest Goals Report 2026 highlighting fuelwood demand as a key driver of forest loss.  

• Ganges Softshell Turtle Release: India released its first satellite-tagged Ganges softshell turtle in Assam’s Brahmaputra River.  

• Project Cheetah Milestone: Project Cheetah achieved major success with India’s cheetah population reaching 53.  

• Vaman Van Biodiversity Project: Delhi Forest Department planned the ‘Vaman Van’ dwarf plant biodiversity project.  

Books & Authors 

• ‘Aapki Punji, Aapkar Adhikar’: DFS Secretary unveiled the book titled ‘Aapki Punji, Aapkar Adhikar’.  

Sports News 

• NRAI 75th Anniversary: NRAI marked its 75th anniversary by launching a fully digitized athlete application.  

 

Important Days 

• International Labour Day: Observed on May 1 with the theme ‘Ensuring a Healthy Psychosocial Working Environment’.  

• Gujarat Foundation Day: Celebrated in Surat on May 1 to mark the state’s formation in 1960.  

• World Tuna Day: Observed globally on May 2 to emphasize tuna conservation and food security.  

• World Press Freedom Day: Observed on May 3 with the theme ‘Shaping a Future of Peace’.  

• World Asthma Day: Observed on May 5 with the theme ‘Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma – still an urgent need’.  

• World Thalassaemia Day: Observed on May 8 to raise awareness about the genetic blood disorder.  

• World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day: Celebrated on May 8 on the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant.  

• National Technology Day: Marked on May 11 to commemorate the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests.  

• International Nurses Day: Observed on May 12 with the theme ‘Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives.’.  

• Mental Health Awareness Week: Observed from May 11-17 with the theme ‘Action’.  

• International Day of Families: Celebrated on May 15 with the theme ‘Families, Inequalities and Child Wellbeing.’.  

• World Hypertension Day: Observed on May 17 to create awareness about high blood pressure.  

• World Telecommunication Day: Celebrated on May 17 to highlight IT and digital connectivity.  

• Anti-Terrorism Day: Observed in India on May 21 on the death anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi.  

• Cultural Diversity Day: Observed on May 21 for Dialogue and Development to promote inclusion.  

• Biological Diversity Day: Observed on May 22 with the theme ‘Acting Locally for Global Impact.’.  

• Commonwealth Day: Observed in India on May 24 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s birth anniversary.  

• Women’s Health Day: Observed on May 28 focusing on sexual and reproductive rights.  

• UN Peacekeepers Day: Observed on May 29 to honor UN peace force sacrifices.  

• International Everest Day: Commemorated on May 29 to mark the first successful ascent of Mount Everest.  

• World No Tobacco Day: Observed on May 31 to promote tobacco-free lifestyles.