Current Affairs 9 May 2026

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs May 9 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

Our Current Affairs May 2026 events will help you to get more marks in Banking, Insurance, SSC, Railways, UPSC, CLAT and all State Government Exams. Also, try our Latest Current Affairs Quiz and Monthly Current Affairs 2026 PDF which will be a pedestrian to crack your exams.

Dear Aspirants,
With effect from 26 January 2026, the Exam Hint and In-Depth Content of articles (news) will be available exclusively in our Daily PDF (DailyScoop PDF).
To access the DailyScoop PDF, please subscribe to the Crack Current Course on the CareersCloud app or website.

Read Current Affairs in CareersCloud APP, Course Name – Learn Current Affairs – Free Course –Click Here to Download the APP

We are Hiring – Subject Matter Expert – English | CA Video Creator | Content Developers(Pondicherry)

Click here for Current Affairs May 8 2026

Click here for Affairscloud Hindu Free Vocabs telegram channel

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of Vietnam President To Lam’s Visit to India from May 5 to 7, 2026
To Lam, President of Vietnam undertook a 3-day official visit to India from May 5 to 7, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defence, trade, and critical technologies between the two countries.
Highlights of the Visit:
In New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Vietnamese President To Lam at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Delhi, where both leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation in defence, security, trade, science and technology, maritime affairs, renewable energy, atomic energy, space, and people-to-people ties.

• Vietnamese President To Lam also met President Droupadi Murmu and Union Minister (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T).

In Mumbai: During his one-day tour to Mumbai(Maharashtra), he visited the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) and participated in the
India-Vietnam Business Forum.

• During the event, both Vietnamese and Indian firms exchanged a total of 27 cooperation agreements covering various sectors.

Key MoUs: As part of the visit, India and Vietnam strengthened their bilateral relations by signing 13 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) across sectors including digital technologies, culture, health regulation, education, tourism, and public sector cooperation.
Major Announcements: These include Elevation of bilateral ties to Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP); expand bilateral trade to USD 25 billion by 2030 and others.

NCRB’s Crime in India 2024: Crime Rate Declined by 6%; Delhi Recorded Highest Cognisable Offences
In May 2026, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), released its annual report titled “Crime in India 2024”.  As per the data, India recorded 58.86 lakh cognisable crimes in 2024, marking a 6% decline compared to 62.41 lakh cases reported in 2023.

• The total cognisable offences reported in 2024 included: 35.44 lakh cases were registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)/Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), while 23.41 lakh cases were registered under Special and Local Laws (SLL).

Key Findings:
Crime Rate: It is calculated based on the number of cases registered per lakh population. As per NCRB’s latest data, the overall crime rate in India declined from 448.3 (in 2023) to 418.9 (in 2024).
Maximum Cognisable Offences: Among all 19 metropolitan cities, Delhi topped in terms of number of cognisable offences, recording  more than 2.7 lakh cases(2,75,402) , with charge-sheeting rate being the lowest.
Suicides Rate: NCRB also released the ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) 2024 report. The report showed that a total of 1,70,746 suicide cases were registered in 2024.

• The report revealed that Bengaluru (Karnataka) which is commonly referred as ‘Silicon Valley of India’ registered over 2,313 suicides (in 2022), 2,370 (in 2023) and 2,403 (in 2024), with the city’s suicide rate stands close to 20 per lakh population through the 3-year period.

MoS&PI Updates State GDP Calculation with 2022-23 as New Base Year
In May 2026, the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoS&PI) notified uniform guidelines for compiling Gross State Value Added (GSVA), with 2022-23 as the new base year to ensure a standardised framework and comparability of performance across all states.
Key Highlights
Background: The MoS&PI has updated the base year of the National Accounts to 2022-23. 

• This revision aims to more accurately capture the current structure of the economy by incorporating modern data sources and improved estimation practices with evolving international standards.

GSDP Revision: In line with this change, states and Union Territories (UTs) are required to adopt the new base year for compilation of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
Current Base: At present, 34 states and UTs compile GSDP estimates using 2011-12 as the base year, except Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (DNH&DD).

NITI Aayog Releases Policy Report on School Education System in India 
In May 2026, Suman K. Bery, former Vice Chairman and Nidhi Chhibber, interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, released a policy report titled ‘School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for Quality Enhancement’ in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The report provides a decade-long (2014–25) assessment of India’s school education system, covering access and enrolment, infrastructure, equity and inclusion, learning outcomes.

About School Education System in India Report (2014–25):
System Scale: India has 14.71 lakh schools serving over 24.69 crore students across all 36 States and Union Territories (UTs), making it the world’s largest school education system.
Access: Key concerns include a low higher secondary Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 58.4%, a secondary dropout rate of 11.5%, and only ~5% composite schools, resulting in major transition gaps from primary to secondary education.
Zero-Enrolment Schools: Approximately 8,000 schools across India reported zero student enrolment (ghost schools), with the highest numbers recorded in West Bengal(WB)(3,812) and Telangana (2,245), followed by Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) (146) and Punjab (13).

MIF Signs Agreements with IITs and IMU to Promote Atmanirbhar Bharat
In May 2026, the Maritime India Foundation (MIF), implementing agency for the Sagarmala Startup Innovation Initiative under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras(Chennai, Tamil Nadu, TN), IIT Bombay(Mumbai, Maharashtra), and the Indian Maritime University (IMU) Chennai(TN) to establish Maritime Innovation Hubs(MIH).

• The ceremony was presided  over by S. Viswanathan, Managing Director(MD), MIF and Chairperson of the Chennai Port Authority(ChPA), in Chennai.

Key Details :
Implementation: The MoU advanced the Sagarmala Startup Innovation Initiative into execution phase, with selected institutions serving as MIH to mentor 36 startups working on 40 priority innovation projects addressing critical challenges in the Indian maritime sector.
Operation: MIF and the MIHs provide a platform for the maritime sector to share real-world challenges with startups for the development of innovative, advanced technology solutions.
Impact: The initiative aims to develop advanced technology transformation, modernise the sector, and promote indigenous innovation under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and ‘Make in India, Make for the World.’

PSA & FICCI Sign MoU to Foster R&D Ecosystem
In May 2026, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India (GoI) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen India’s Research and Development (R&D) and innovation ecosystem.

• The MoU was signed by Dr Preeti Banzal, Scientist-G, Adviser, PSA, and Sumeet Gupta, Deputy Secretary General, FICCI at Kartavya Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi.

Key Details of MoU:
Objective: The partnership aims to create a robust R&D ecosystem by strengthening collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions.
Collaboration: The MoU will facilitate structured engagement by strengthening industry–academia linkages and connecting stakeholders across India’s R&D ecosystem to deliver tangible outcomes.
Diversification: The initiative promotes technology sharing to develop new ideas, products, and processes in sectors like energy, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. It also focuses on expanding solar energy and green batteries, increasing global R&D participation, strengthening indigenous technologies.

MBDA, IAF sign pact to set up MICA missile MRO facility in India
In May 2026, European multinational missile manufacture MBDA signed an agreement with the Indian Air Force (IAF), to establish Maintenance, Repair and Mid-Life Overhaul (MRO) capability for MICA (Missile d’Interception, de Combat et d’Autodéfense) air-to-air missiles in India, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, to enhance indigenous defence sustainment and operational readiness.

• The facility will be set up, operated, and maintained by the IAF with technical support, machinery, training, and data packages provided by MBDA.

About MBDA–IAF MICA Missile MRO Facility:
Missile: MICA Missile is a multi-mission “fire-and-forget” air-to-air missile used on Dassault Rafale and Dassault Mirage 2000 with both Beyond Visual Range (BVR) and short-range combat capability.
Seekers: The missile system includes MICA RF with radar seeker capability for all-weather operations and MICA IR with dual-waveband imaging infrared seeker capability for high off-boresight engagements.
Sustainment: The initiative focuses on long-term missile lifecycle sustainment through MRO, mid-life overhaul extending missile service life by 10–15 years, and domestic servicing infrastructure supported by tooling, industrial machinery, and Technical Data Packages supplied by MBDA.

Readiness: Domestic sustainment improves missile readiness, increases combat-ready availability, eliminates dependence on overseas servicing, reduces replacement costs, and enhances operational preparedness of the IAF.

DRDO Inaugurates CBRN Field Training and Demonstration Centre In Delhi to Strengthen Nuclear Emergency Preparedness 
In May 2026, Dr Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, , Department of Defence, Research and Development (R&D) and Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence (MoD), inaugurated a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Field Training and Demonstration Centre at Burari plains in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The centre aims to strengthen preparedness for radiological and nuclear emergencies through a DRDO-CBRN Centre of Excellence (CoE) equipped with advanced test bed, heavy ion research, emergency medical response, and real-time field response facilities.

About DRDO CBRN Training Centre:
Framework: The centre operates under the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) with support from the MoD, as part of DRDO’s expanding role in disaster preparedness, biomedical defence research, emergency medical systems, hazard detection, and civil security applications.
Training: The facility provides multi-agency training and workshops for responders from the MoD, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Indian Armed Forces, emergency medical teams, civil defence agencies, and specialised response organisations to strengthen practical crisis response capabilities.
Preparedness: CBRN emergency simulation, hazard detection drills, radiation analysis, medical countermeasure preparedness, real-time disaster response exercises, and coordinated field operations under simulated high-risk emergency conditions.
Research: Focuses on heavy ion research, radiation studies, nuclear safety validation, and advanced emergency response technologies.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

JGU Becomes India’s 1st IoE to Receive Data Science Council of America Accreditation 
In May 2026, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) becomes India’s Institute of Eminence (IoE) to be accredited by the Data Science Council of America (DASCA), an international standards body that provides accreditation for academic institutions and certification for professionals in data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

• This recognition consolidates JGU’s position at the forefront of higher education’s most consequential segment i.e. the integration of AI and data science into the academic ecosystem.

Key Details:
Awarded under: JGU received this accreditation under the World Data Sciences & AI Initiative (WDSAI), an international platform led by DASCA, supporting universities in adopting internationally benchmarked standards.
Accreditation Programs: Seven of JGU’s flagship AI and Data Science-related programmes such as: M.Sc . in AI & Data Science; Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in AI & Law; BBA (Hons.) Business Analytics, among others, have been successfully aligned with DASCA standards prescribed under the WDSAI framework.
Key Areas: The accreditation valid through 2031, covers residential, non-residential, and online delivery formats.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Govt Appoints Shashi Shekhar Vempati as CBFC Chairperson
In May 2026, the Government of India (GoI) appointed Shashi Shekhar Vempati, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Prasar Bharati(PB), as the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), for three years from the date of joining.

• He succeeds Prasoon Joshi, who has been appointed chairman of PB.

About Shashi Shekhar Vempati :
Profile: He is an Indian media professional, technologist, and public policy expert known for his contributions to digital media transformation and public broadcasting in India.
Experience: He spent 15 years at Infosys before transitioning into the fields of digital media and public policy.
Key Roles: He served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PB from 2017 to 2022, leading digital initiatives across Doordarshan and All India Radio(AIR), and concurrently headed Rajya Sabha Television(TV) from 2017 to 2019.
Previous Role: Earlier, he resigned as Director of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), a position he had held since 2024.
Current Roles: He currently serves in various policy and academic roles, including as co-founder of the DeepTech for Bharat Foundation, and has been associated with several media and communication institutions.
Award: He received the Padma Shri, fourth-highest civilian award , in 2026 in the field of Literature and Education.
About Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC):
Overview: The CBFC is a statutory body under the MIB, functioning under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, to certify films for public exhibition in India based on age and content classification.
Functions: The CBFC, commonly known as the Censor Board, examines films, trailers, and other audiovisual content before their public exhibition in India.
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established  – 1951

FICCI Nominates Priyanka Mittal as Co-Chair of Saudi-India Business Council 
In May 2026, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) nominated Priyanka Mittal, Director, KRBL(Khushi Ram & Behari Lal) Limited, as Co-Chair of the Saudi-India Business Council (SIBC).

• Dr. Siddeek Ahmed, Chairman of Eram Holdings, has been nominated as the Chair of the Indian side of the Council.

About Priyanka Mittal : 
Profile: She co-founded Koosia, a premium handbag brand, and transitioned from international finance to the family business.
Institutional Roles: Serves as President of the All-India Rice Exporters Association(AIREA), Chairperson of the Foreign Trade and Policy Committee at the Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and Board Member of the University of Southern California’s (USC) Viterbi School of Engineering Board of Councilors.
Current Role: She joined KRBL Limited, the company behind India Gate Basmati Rice, in 2001 and has been serving as its Whole-Time Director since 2008.
Recognition: Priyanka Mittal received the ‘Business Woman of the Decade’ award from the Women Economic Forum in 2018.
About SIBC: It was jointly formed by FICCI and the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC), is a key bilateral platform that promotes trade, investment, and economic cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia.

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

KMBL gets RBI nod to buy 9.99% each in AU SFB, Federal Bank 
In May 2026, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL), secured the approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire  up to 9.99% stakes of the paid-up share capital or voting rights each in AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) and Federal Bank, one of India’s largest mid-sized private lenders by market cap.

• The approval  is subject to application regulatory norms and investment limits.

Key Details:
Acquirer:  KMBL along with its subsidiaries, the funds/schemes managed by its subsidiaries, collectively referred as ‘Kotak Mahindra Group’, will be the acquirer in the transaction.
Compliance with: RBI has granted approval subject to compliance with provisions under the Banking Regulation (BR Act, 1949); the central bank’s Commercial Banks (Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights Directions, 2025), foreign exchange regulations, and other applicable rules.
Impact: Upon the completion of the transaction, KMBL will become one of the largest institutional shareholders of the Federal Bank.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DRDO, IAF successfully conduct maiden flight-trial of indigenous TARA glide weapon 
In May 2026, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Air Force (IAF) under the Ministry of Defence(MoD) successfully conducted the maiden flight-trial of Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon off the coast of Odisha.

• TARA, the modular range extension kit, is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system to convert unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons.

About TARA: 
Development: TARA has been designed and developed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, Telangana, along with DRDO laboratories to enhance the lethality and accuracy of a low-cost weapon to neutralise ground-based targets.
TARA Glide Weapon Capabilities: The TARA system can convert 250 kg, 450 kg, and 500 kg conventional bombs into guided munitions using Inertial Navigation System (INS), GPS (Global Positioning System), and electro-optical guidance.

Pixxel Secures USA’s NRO Contract for Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Development
In May 2026, Pixxel, a space technology company, secured a contract from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), United States of America (USA), under the Commercial Systems Program Office (CSPO) to develop advanced hyperspectral remote sensing capabilities using its Firefly satellite constellation.

• The project aims to integrate commercial hyperspectral data into national intelligence architectur, supporting next-generation Earth observation systems for defence and security applications.

Pixxel–NRO Hyperspectral Contract:
Contract: Pixxel secured a contract under the Strategic Commercial Enhancements Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) programme from NRO to evaluate and integrate commercial hyperspectral data into USA remote sensing architecture.
Execution: The project is being executed by Pixxel Federal under the leadership of Allyson Jenkins, Vice President of Pixxel, to support multi-phenomenology remote sensing capabilities.
Firefly: Pixxel utilised its Firefly constellation, comprising six hyperspectral satellites launched in 2025, to demonstrate high-resolution global Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) capabilities.
HSI: Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) enables advanced spectral analysis of materials, conditions, and activities beyond conventional imaging, supporting defence, environmental monitoring, agriculture, energy, and intelligence applications.

OBITUARY

Former India Midfielder Mohan Singh Passed Away
On 7 May 2026, former India midfielder Mohan Singh passed away at the age of 78 in Kolkata, West Bengal (WB). He was born in 1948.
About Mohan Singh:
Profile: He was known for his skilful play and contributions to Indian football during the 1970s.
International Career: He made his India debut against Burma on 22 March 1972 during the Pre-Olympic Tournament in Rangoon (now Yangon, Myanmar) and earned three international caps during the 1972 Pre-Olympic campaign.
Clubs: He represented East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Mohammedan Sporting Club during the 1970s, scoring 11 goals for East Bengal and three for Mohun Bagan.
Achievements: He won major titles including the Calcutta Football League (1972, 1975), Indian Football Association (IFA) Shield (1972, 1975), Durand Cup (1972), Rovers Cup (1972, 1975), and Bordoloi Trophy (1972).

IMPORTANT DAYS

Border Roads Organisation Raising Day 2026 – May 7
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrates its Raising Day annually on 7 May to commemorate its establishment in 1960 and honour the dedicated service of its personnel in developing and maintaining strategic road and bridge infrastructure in India’s border areas.

• 7th May 2026 marks the 66th Raising Day of BRO.

Background:
Establishment of BRO: The BRO was established on 7 May 1960 with the primary objective of securing India’s borders and developing critical infrastructure in the remote and strategic regions of northern and northeastern India.
Formation of BRDB: Earlier, on 14 March 1960, the Union Cabinet approved the formation of the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB) under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister (PM) of India to oversee and coordinate road development projects for defence and developmental needs.

• In 1985, the BRDB was reconstituted under the chairmanship of the Defence Minister to align it more closely with national security priorities.

World Athletics Day 2026 – May 7 
World Athletics Day is observed annually on May 7 across the globe to promote fitness and encourage children and youth to participate in sports, especially athletics.
Background: 
Launch: The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) introduced World Athletics Day under the social responsibility theme “Athletics for a Better World”.

• The IAAF was established on July 17, 1912, in Stockholm, Sweden.

First Celebration: The first World Athletics Day was celebrated on May 15, 1996, with participation from 50 nations.

• The initiative was launched by Primo Nebiolo, the then President of IAAF.

Organising Body: The annual observance is led by World Athletics, formerly known as the International Association of Athletics Federations (2001–2019) and the International Amateur Athletic Federation (1912–2001).

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2026 – May 8
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is annually observed across the globe on May 8 to honour the principles and humanitarian efforts of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, while remembering those who lost their lives in humanitarian service.

• The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant (8 May 1828 – 30 October 1910), founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the first laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.
• 2026 Theme: ‘United in Humanity’

Background:
Origin: The observance traces its origins to 1859 when Henry Dunant witnessed the suffering of soldiers during the Battle of Solferino in Italy, which later inspired the establishment of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Recognition: During the 14th International Conference of the Red Cross held in 1938 in London, United Kingdom (UK), delegates proposed observing 8 May as International Red Cross Day, while the League of Red Cross Societies (LORCS) advocated a uniform global observance in 1946.
Observance: The first International Red Cross Day was celebrated on 8 May 1948 and was later renamed World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day in 1984 to recognise the inclusion of Red Crescent Societies.

*******

Current Affairs Today (AffairsCloud Today)