Current Affairs 15 May 2026

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Cabinet Approves Rs 37,500 Crore Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects 

In May 2026, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved a new Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects with a total budget outlay of Rs 37,500 crore, aimed to boost clean energy production and reduce India’s reliance on imports of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), urea and methanol.

• The newly approved scheme is structured on the National Coal Gasification Mission (NCGM) which was launched in 2021.

About Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects :

Extension of Coal Linkage Tenure: Also, the GoI has extended coal linkage tenure with a maximum time period of 30 years under the ‘Production of Syngas leading to Coal Gasification’ sub-sector in the Non-Regulated Sector (NRS) linkage auction framework.

Incentive: The scheme will offer financial incentive up to 20% of the cost of plant and machinery.

Disbursement of Incentive: Under the scheme, incentive will be disbursed in four equal instalments, linked to project milestones.

• The GoI has capped the financial incentive for any single project at Rs.5,000 crore; for any single product (excluding SNG and Urea) at Rs.9,000 crore; and any single entity group at Rs.12,000 crore across all projects.

Cabinet Approves MSP for Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2026-27 
In May 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 14 Kharif Crops for marketing season 2026-27.
Key Highlights
Highest Increase: The highest absolute increase in MSP over the previous year has been recommended for:

• Sunflower seeds at Rs 622 per quintal
• Cotton at Rs 557 per quintal
• Sesamum at Rs 500 per quintal

Food grains: Among major food grains, the MSP for common paddy has been increased to Rs 2,441 per quintal for the 2026-27 season, up by Rs 72 from the previous MSP.

• Grade A paddy has been fixed at Rs 2461 per quintal.

MoPSW Signed Tripartite MoU for First Mega Greenfield Shipyard at Thoothukudi, TN
In May 2026, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) under Government of India (GoI), signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Limited (HD KSOE), National Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries Park Tamil Nadu Limited (NSHIP-TN) and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), MoPSW, for the development of India’s first Mega Greenfield Shipyard at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu (TN).

• The MoU was exchanged in the presence of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, MoPSW, during the State Visit of President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung to India in April 2026, under the India-ROK Comprehensive Framework ‘VOYAGES’ (Shared Vision for Operation of Yard Assisted Growth with Efficiency and Scale).

About Thoothukudi Greenfield Shipyard:
Shipyard: The Greenfield shipyard is being developed from scratch as the anchor facility of the Thoothukudi Shipbuilding Cluster under NSHIP-TN, integrating Industry 4.0 technologies, smart manufacturing, and sustainable shipbuilding systems.
Capacity: The proposed shipyard will have an annual shipbuilding capacity of 2.5 Million Gross Tonnage (MGT), contributing more than half of India’s 4.5 MGT target under Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 (MAKV 2047).
Infrastructure: The Techno-Economic Feasibility Report (TEFR) has been completed, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is under preparation, and the project has received in-principle approval from the National Shipbuilding Mission (NSbM).

Union Minister Piyush Goyal Releases LEADS 2025 Report; TN & UP Emerge as Top Logistics Performers
In May 2026, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I), released the 7th edition of Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2025 report at the Logistics Excellence, Advancement and Performance Shield  (LEAPS) Awards 2025 ceremony, organised by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), MoC&I, in New Delhi, Delhi.

• As per the report, Tamil Nadu (TN), Uttar Pradesh (UP), Mizoram and Delhi have been categorized as ‘Exemplars’ for their exceptional logistics performance.

About LEADS 2025 Report:
New Performance Categories: The latest LEADS framework has transitioned from its previous three-tier classification (Achievers, Fast Movers, and Aspirers)to four-tier performance framework (Exemplars, High Performers, Accelerators and Growth-Seekers).

• The latest edition of the LEADS report has categorised 11 states and UTs such as Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), among others, as high performers.
• 18 states and UTs such as: Punjab, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh (AP), Ladakh, Lakshadweep, among others, have been categorised as Accelerators.
• This year, 3 states namely, West Bengal (WB), Rajasthan, and Sikkim and One UT (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) have been categorised as Growth-Seekers.

LEAPS 2025 Awards: During the event, Union Minister of Piyush Goyal felicitated the winners of LEAPS Awards 2025 across 13 categories.

MeitY Launches IP Catalyst and Digital Platform to Transform Patents into Products
In May 2026, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has launched the Intellectual Property (IP) Catalyst initiative and its accompanying digital platform (https://cipie.in), during the national conference on ‘From Patent to Product: Accelerating IP Commercialization in Electronics & Information Technology(IT)’ held at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The initiatives were formally launched by S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY.

About IP Catalyst:
Implementation: It is implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune(Maharashtra) and supported by MeitY,  to build a digital ecosystem that supports the full innovation cycle, from research and IP creation to technology transfer, commercialization, and market deployment.
Objective: It aims to bridge the gap between publicly funded Research and Development (R&D) and industry adoption by enabling stronger collaboration among MeitY organizations, startups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs), academia, and industry.
Digital platform: The CIPIE Platform will function as a unified online gateway for IP and technology commercialisation support services.

MHI Unveils Unified Bharat e-Charge; Approves 1,243 EV Chargers for Karnataka  
In May 2026, Union Minister Haradanahalli Devegowda (H. D.) Kumaraswamy, Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), unveiled the Unified Bharat e-Charge (UBC) platform, a national unified electric vehicle (EV) charging platform, and approved the installation of 1,243 EV charging stations in Karnataka with a financial outlay of Rs.123.26 crore.

• The initiatives were announced under Prime Minister Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme during the ‘National Conference on Enabling Nationwide EV Charging Infrastructure’ held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

About UBC Platform:
Development: UBC is being developed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) with support from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
Features: The platform integrates public and private charging networks through open protocols, provides real-time information on charger availability, ownership, power output, charging capacity, and location, and enables access to any participating charger regardless of the operator.
Integration: Integration of UBC with the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app is being explored to support seamless digital payments for EV charging services.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia Launches Rs.189.79 Crore Mizoram Ginger Mission
In May 2026, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Madhavrao (M.) Scindia, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and Ministry of Communications, and Chief Minister (CM) of Mizoram Lalduhoma, launched the Rs 189.79 crore Mizoram Ginger Mission, a convergence-led initiative for ginger cultivation and value chain development in Mizoram.
About Mizoram Ginger Mission:
Objective: The Mission aims to promote Geographical Indication (GI)-certified pharma-grade Mizo Ginger in international markets, enhance farmer income through processing, branding and exports, reduce post-harvest losses, and strengthen farmer participation across the agricultural value chain.
Convergence: The Mission is anchored by MDoNER in convergence with Schemes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW), Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Government of Mizoram.
Processing: The initiative will establish one integrated processing hub and three spoke centres supported by over 30 strategic interventions focused on traceability, quality assurance and farmer-led value creation.

DBN, AP sign pact for BharatNet expansion with Rs.2,432 cr financial aid 
In May 2026, Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP), signed an Agreement for the implementation of the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) in the state under the State-led model at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.

• The Agreement was signed between Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), DoT, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (APBIL), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), and Andhra Pradesh State FiberNet Limited (APSFL).

About Amended BharatNet Programme:
Objective: The programme aims to upgrade, expand, and strengthen the BharatNet network to provide reliable, future-ready broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages on a demand basis.
Implementation: The Government of India has allocated Rs. 2,432 crore for its implementation in Andhra Pradesh. It will be implemented through APBIL. The project covers 13,426 Gram Panchayats (GPs) through phases.

IndiaAI Mission Signs MoU with Karya to Strengthen Inclusive AI Ecosystem
In May 2026, IndiaAI Mission, operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Karya, Bengaluru(Karnataka) based Nonprofit Organization(NPO), to increase accessibility of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) economy through collaboration in data, technology and capacity building.
Key Details of MoU:
Objective: The collaboration will support capacity building and ecosystem development through training programmes, workshops, technical consultations, and knowledge-sharing initiatives across government bodies and partner institutions.
Focus: The MoU focuses on the development, curation, and sharing of high-quality language and multimodal datasets to support inclusive and representative AI systems.
Technical Collaboration: As part of the partnership, both organisations will collaborate on strengthening AIKosh data infrastructure, model evaluation frameworks, and standards related to dataset quality, validation, and interoperability.
AIKosh: It is India’s national AI data platform that supports AI research and development through quality datasets, model testing, and secure data-sharing collaboration among government, industry, and research institutions.

IEPFA–Prasar Bharati Signs MoU to Strengthen Investor Education Initiatives
In May 2026, the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MoCA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prasar Bharati(PB), a public service broadcaster under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), to strengthen investor awareness initiatives across the country through informative scroll messages on Doordarshan’s national and regional channels.

• The MoU was signed by Lieutenant Colonel(Lt. Col.) Aditya Sinha, General Manager(GM), IEPFA and Sanjay Prasad, Deputy Director General, PB(Sales) in the presence of Anita Shah Akella, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), IEPFA and Joint Secretary, MoCA, in New Delhi, Delhi.

About IEPFA–Prasar Bharati MoU:
Awareness Outreach: The collaboration will use PB’s broadcasting network to spread awareness about investor rights and reclaiming unclaimed dividends and shares transferred to the IEPFA through Doordarshan channels, including in remote regions.
Investor Services: The initiative will encourage investors to use facilities such as the Search Facility and claim filing through Form IEPF-5, while also promoting awareness about fraud prevention and safe investing practices.
Financial Inclusion: The MoU reflects IEPFA’s commitment to strengthening investor awareness and promoting financial inclusion through collaboration with public institutions.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Removes Prior Approval Requirement for Banks’ Outward Remittance Tie-ups with Fintechs 
In May 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) removed the prior approval requirement for non-bank entities(fintechs) to form tie-up arrangements enabling outward remittance services through banks in India.

• This direction is part of the operating framework issued by RBI to facilitate outward remittance services by non-bank entities through Authorised Dealer (AD) Category-I banks in India.

Key Details:
Previous Arrangement: Under the previous 2016 framework, non-bank entities were mandated to obtain RBI approval before entering into tie-up arrangements with AD banks in India, for outward remittance services.
Applicability: The updated framework will be applicable to cross-border outward remittance of funds for non trade current account transactions facilitated via websites, online platforms, software applications (apps), and mobile apps operated by 3rd-party entities.
Compliance: As per RBI directions, AD banks have been mandated to adhere to the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) and perform due diligence through Know Your Customer (KYC).
Other Key Directions: In addition, banks have been directed to inform customers about the exact foreign exchange amount to be credited and the maximum time required for the beneficiary to receive funds.

CTBC Bank Becomes 1st Taiwanese Bank to Open Branch at GIFT City, Gujarat
In May 2026, CTBC Bank Co. Ltd., announced the opening of its new branch at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat,  becoming the 1st Taiwanese bank to establish its presence in India’s premier International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
Key Details:
Regulatory Approval: The branch was established after obtaining the required approvals from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). The development marks a key milestone in enhancing financial and economic cooperation between India and Taiwan.
Significance: The key focus of CTBC bank’s  new branch in GIFT City is to support cross-border financing, trade, and investment flows and financial connectivity between India, Taiwan, and the wider Asia region.
Commitment: With 30 years of presence in India, CTBC bank with its existing branches in New Delhi (Delhi) and Kattupakkam, Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN), has continued to support its customers through evolving economic conditions and regional integration.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

AINRC Leader N. Rangasamy Takes Oath as CM of Puducherry
On May 13 2026, N. Rangasamy, the leader of the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) from Thattanchavady and Mangalam constituencies, was sworn in as the Chief Minister(CM) of Puducherry for a fifth term, after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a majority in 2026 Assembly polls. With this, he became the first leader in the history of the Union Territory of Puducherry to serve as CM for a fifth term.

• The oath of office and secrecy was administered by the Lieutenant Governor (LG), Kuniyil Kailashnathan, at Lok Nivas, Puducherry.
•  Along with CM N. Rangasamy, two cabinet members: Malladi Krishna Rao from the regional party and A. Namassivayam of the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP), also took oath as ministers in the AINRC-led NDA government.

Background:
Election Results: In the 33-member Puducherry Legislative Assembly, the NDA secured 18 seats, crossing the majority mark of 17 seats. Among the alliance partners, the AINRC won 12 seats, the BJP secured 4 seats, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(AIADMK) and Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi(LJK) won one seat each.
Opposition Performance: Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) secured 6 seats. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) emerged as the main opposition, winning 5 seats, while the INC was reduced to 1 seat.
Voter Turnout: The 2026 Assembly elections recorded a historic voter turnout of 89.87%, the highest ever in the history of Assembly elections in Puducherry.

Yoweri Museveni Sworn in as President of Uganda for Seventh Term
On May 13 2026, Yoweri Museveni, the leader of the National Resistance Movement(NRM), was sworn in as the President of Uganda for seventh term, following his victory in the country’s presidential election held in January 2026.
Key Highlights:
Oath Ceremony: Yoweri Museveni took the oath of office at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, Uganda, during a ceremony marked by fly-pasts of Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jets.
Long Tenure: Museveni first came to power as a rebel leader in 1986 and has since won seven elections, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
Election Result: Museveni secured over 71% of the vote, while opposition leader Bobi Wine received nearly 25% amid reports of internet blackout and opposition intimidation during the January election.

Jio Platforms Appoints Akash Ambani as MD for Five-Year Term 
In May 2026, Jio Platforms Limited (JPL), the digital services arm of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), appointed Akash Ambani as its first Managing Director (MD) for a five-year term effective from April 9, 2026.
About Akash Ambani:
Background: Akash Ambani, the eldest son of Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Reliance Industries, joined the Board of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL) in October 2014, currently serves as its Chairman since June 2022.
Retail: He also serves as Director on the board of Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL) and contributed to India’s data and digital connectivity revolution.
Sports: He is the co-owner of Mumbai Indians, a five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champion franchise, and promotes football through the Indian Super League (ISL).
Recognition: He was included in the TIME100 Next 2022 list by TIME as one of the world’s rising leaders for shaping the future through extraordinary contributions.

ENVIRONMENT

ZSI Discovers Two New Spider Species in Nagaland; Revises Indian Whip Scorpions After a Century  
In May 2026, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered two new spider species, Psechrus ntu and Psechrus phenshunyu, in Nagaland and completed the first comprehensive taxonomic revision of Indian whip scorpions ‘Thelyphonids’ in over 100 years.

• The findings were published in the International Journal Zootaxa.

About the Findings:
Spider: The newly discovered spider species were named after Ntu and Phenshunyu villages in Nagaland, highlighting Northeast India as a biodiversity hotspot.
Species: Both species belong to the genus Psechrus under the family Psechridae and Psechrus himalayanus was recorded in the region for the first time.
Whip Scorpions: Whip Scorpions, or Vinegaroons, are non-venomous arachnids distinct from true scorpions, characterised by whip-like tails (flagella), enlarged pedipalps for catching prey, and acetic acid-like defensive spray mechanisms.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Families 2026 – May 15 
The United Nations(UN’s) International Day of Families (IDF) is observed annually on 15 May to highlight the role of families in societal development and address global social, economic, and demographic challenges.

• 2026 Theme: “Families, Inequalities and Child Wellbeing”

Background: 
Declaration: In 1989, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 1994 as the International Year of the Family through Resolution 44/82.
IDF Designation: In 1993, the UNGA adopted Resolution A/RES/47/237, declaring 15 May as the annual International Day of Families. The observance is coordinated by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) through its Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD).
First Observance: The first IDF was observed on 15 May 1994.
Symbol: The International Day of Families is represented by a green circle enclosing a red heart beneath a roof, symbolising home and family.

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