101 verified updates with instant GK Bytes — for Punjab Police, RSSB LDC, SSC & state exams.
As the ECI prepared to conduct a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Manipur, the Supreme Court asked it to accept voter ID cards as valid documents, given the displacement of tribal communities amid ethnic violence.
Results for West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were announced. The BJP won a majority in West Bengal, retained Assam for a third term, and the Congress-led UDF won Kerala ousting the LDF, alongside regional churn in Tamil Nadu.
The Labour Ministry notified rules operationalising the four Labour Codes, capping weekly working hours at 48, allowing women night shifts with consent and safeguards, and granting gig/platform workers social-security eligibility.
The rules define a vehicle not declared fit within 180 days as an 'end-of-life vehicle' and require geo-tagged video capture of fitness tests uploaded via a central government app, tightening the vehicle-scrappage framework.
President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, raising the number of judges (excluding the CJI) from 33 to 37, taking total strength from 34 to 38. The Union Cabinet had approved the proposal on 5 May 2026 to help clear pendency.
A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan took a critical view of bail denial in the 2020 Delhi riots larger-conspiracy case, noting (18 May) that a January 2026 judgment overlooked the binding precedent in Union of India v. K.A. Najeeb (2021). On 22 May the Court granted six-month interim bail to Khalid Saifi and Tasleem Ahmad and referred to a larger bench whether prolonged pre-trial incarceration should outweigh stringent UAPA bail conditions.
The Home Ministry set up a committee chaired by Justice (Retd.) Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar to study demographic change from illegal immigration and recommend measures on deportation and border management, with its report due within one year.
The Supreme Court upheld the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, affirming the Election Commission's power under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
The Court held that the ECI can undertake a limited inquiry into an individual's citizenship to decide eligibility for inclusion in the electoral roll, but clarified that such a determination is not a final or conclusive decision on citizenship.
Himanta Biswa Sarma took oath as Assam Chief Minister for a second successive term, with the ceremony attended by the Prime Minister and senior Union ministers.
The Karnataka government withdrew the 2022 order, allowing limited traditional and religious symbols including hijabs alongside prescribed uniforms in schools and colleges.
The new West Bengal government decided to discontinue welfare programmes based on religious categorisation, scrapping the existing list of 113 backward sub-groups and forming a new panel for quota eligibility.
Gross GST revenue for April 2026 rose 8.7% year-on-year to Rs 2,42,702 crore - the highest-ever monthly collection - with GST on imports up 25.8%.
India's CPI inflation for May 2026 was a provisional 3.93%, the fifth straight monthly rise, with food inflation at 4.78%; the uptick was partly driven by four fuel price hikes in May, the first in four years.
IIP grew 5.1% in May 2026, a five-month high, led by electricity and gas (+9.9%) and manufacturing (+5.5%), while mining contracted 1.6%.
MoSPI launched a revamped IIP series updating the base year from 2011-12 to 2022-23, adding items such as rare earths, gas supply and aircraft parts to better reflect the modern economy.
Gross GST collection for May 2026 stood at Rs 1,94,184 crore, a 3.2% year-on-year rise, moderating from the record Rs 2,42,702 crore in April 2026.
The World Bank raised India's FY 2026-27 growth forecast to 6.6%, citing strong domestic demand and keeping India the fastest-growing major economy.
The RBI allowed non-bank entities - NBFCs, corporates, housing finance companies and all-India financial institutions - to participate in the term money market (14 days to one year), to deepen liquidity and improve policy transmission.
The RBI imposed monetary penalties on Union Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Bank of India and fintech firm Pine Labs for lapses in crediting customer accounts, priority-sector lending and KYC norms.
The RBI approved UAE-based Emirates NBD to acquire up to a 74% stake in RBL Bank for around $3 billion - described as the largest foreign investment in an Indian bank.
The RBI extended the enhanced 450-day export credit period for pre- and post-shipment finance until 30 June 2026, a facility introduced in November 2025 to help exporters amid West Asia disruptions.
NPCI data showed UPI transactions reached a record 23.2 billion in volume worth Rs 29.90 lakh crore in May 2026 - up 24% in volume year-on-year - aided by summer travel and IPL spending.
Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) agreed to acquire a 20% stake in Yes Bank for about $1.6 billion, a major foreign investment in the private lender.
Fintech major BillDesk agreed to buy Worldline India's payments arm in a deal pegged at $100-150 million, strengthening its merchant aggregation and omnichannel capabilities.
The boards of Axis Max Life Insurance and Max Financial Services granted in-principle approval for their amalgamation, subject to regulatory and shareholder clearances.
Medical device maker Poly Medicure Ltd signed a definitive agreement to fully acquire Italy-based Citieffe Group at an enterprise value of Rs 324 crore (EUR 31 million), expanding its global footprint.
The UN's World Economic Situation and Prospects mid-2026 update cut global GDP growth to 2.5%, while India remained the fastest-growing major economy, projected around 6.6% for 2026.
The Finance Ministry notified the FEMA (Non-debt Instruments) Second Amendment Rules, 2026, removing the 74% cap and allowing up to 100% foreign investment in insurance companies under the automatic route (LIC remains capped at 20%).
The RBI invited comments on draft norms barring lenders from disabling a borrower's mobile device, requiring advance notice before in-person visits, and mandating IIBF certification for recovery agents.
SEBI proposed allowing AMCs to accept consolidated payments via salary deduction, allotment of MF units in lieu of cash trail commission, and investor donations to NGOs, with KYC safeguards.
The RBI Central Board approved a record surplus transfer of Rs 2,86,588 crore (~Rs 2.87 lakh crore) to the Central Government for FY26 as its balance sheet expanded over 20%; the Contingent Risk Buffer allocation more than doubled.
India's foreign exchange reserves fell to a one-year low of about $681 billion in the week ended 22 May 2026 as the RBI sold dollars to defend the rupee amid the oil-price shock and FPI outflows.
The Corporate Affairs Ministry amended Schedule VII of the Companies Act to make subscription to Zero Coupon Zero Principal Instruments issued by NPOs on a social stock exchange an eligible CSR activity (up to 10% of annual CSR spend).
The Rural Development Ministry released draft rules under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 - which replaces MGNREGA from 1 July 2026 - mandating all wages via DBT and using 16th Finance Commission parameters.
The Cabinet approved the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme 5.0 for MSMEs, non-MSMEs and scheduled passenger airlines. Cover is up to 20% of peak Q4 FY26 working capital (max Rs 100 crore) for firms and up to 100% (max Rs 1,500 crore) for airlines, for loans sanctioned until 31 March 2027.
The Cabinet approved the Mission for 2026-27 to 2030-31 with an outlay of Rs 5,659 crore, covering 140 districts across 14 cotton-producing states and focusing on high-yielding seeds and quality-testing infrastructure.
The Cabinet fixed the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane for sugar season 2026-27 at Rs 365 per quintal at a 10.25% recovery rate.
The government extended the 2008 Scheme for Investment Promotion up to 2030-31 with an estimated outlay of Rs 996 crore, to support investor facilitation and Make in India.
The Cabinet raised Minimum Support Prices, with paddy (common) up 3% to Rs 2,441/quintal and larger hikes for jowar (+9%), sunflower (+8%), soybean (+7%) and cotton (+7%).
The Cabinet approved a scheme with a total outlay of Rs 37,500 crore, offering incentives up to 20% of plant and machinery cost (capped at Rs 5,000 crore per project) through competitive bidding.
The government launched the JEEVAN mobile app and the SHATAYU dashboard to strengthen elder-care delivery and real-time monitoring of services for senior citizens, advancing India's ageing-population welfare framework.
DPIIT issued guidelines for the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) to build 100 industrial parks (50 in phase one) between 2026-27 and 2031-32, with central funding up to Rs 1 crore per acre through NICDIT.
The Cabinet extended the ration transport, handling and PDS-automation umbrella scheme until March 2031, with an estimated central outlay of Rs 25,530 crore under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
India and Finland announced joint hosting of the World Circular Economy Forum in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in September 2026, deepening cooperation on sustainability and the circular economy.
PM Modi held talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and signed five agreements, including expanding UAE crude storage in India's strategic reserves to 30 million barrels and a Framework for Strategic Defence Partnership.
During PM Modi's visit, ties were elevated to a strategic partnership with a Roadmap 2026-2030 covering semiconductors, critical minerals and clean energy, including a Tata Electronics-ASML MoU.
PM Modi made a two-day visit to Norway - the first by an Indian PM in 43 years - holding bilateral talks with PM Jonas Gahr Store in Oslo and elevating ties to a Green Strategic Partnership.
India and Norway signed 12 bilateral agreements on the sidelines of the Nordic Summit, setting a target to double bilateral trade by 2030 across sectors such as the blue economy and clean energy.
PM Modi joined the PMs of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, elevating ties to a 'Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership' focused on green hydrogen, offshore wind and the circular economy; the 4th summit will be hosted by Finland.
PM Modi and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni upgraded ties with 15 outcomes, agreeing a Defence Industrial Roadmap, an MoU on critical minerals and raising the bilateral trade target from EUR 14 billion to EUR 20 billion.
India hosted the foreign ministers of Australia, Japan and the US Secretary of State, launching the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration, the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework and an Indo-Pacific energy-security initiative.
India and the US signed a framework on 'Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths', covering mining, processing, recycling and related investments.
May 2026 marked the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor (7-10 May 2025), India's response to the 22 April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, with commemorations highlighting drone and multi-domain warfare lessons.
The Defence Acquisition Council advanced a major modernisation package, including a decision to acquire five additional S-400 Triumf air-defence systems from Russia, plus remotely piloted strike platforms and transport aircraft.
DRDO conducted the second flight test of its Long-Range Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM) off the Odisha coast at hypersonic speeds, a major leap in India's strike capability.
DRDO's DRDL achieved a run-time of over 1,200 seconds (20 minutes) in an actively cooled full-scale scramjet combustor test in Hyderabad, a foundation for India's Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Programme.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with Vietnam's Defence Minister in Hanoi and jointly inaugurated the Indian War Memorial at Imjingak Park, Seoul, with South Korea's Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.
DRDO completed developmental trials of the final configuration of the UAV-launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM-V3) in air-to-ground and air-to-air modes at a test range near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
India's maiden multilateral military Exercise PRAGATI-I 2026, held at Umroi, Meghalaya, brought together troops from 12 friendly nations for counter-terrorism drills in jungle and semi-mountainous terrain.
The Nordic Summit welcomed a Framework Agreement between ISRO and the Norwegian Space Agency on space cooperation, expanding India's international space partnerships.
NASA's Psyche spacecraft flew about 4,500 km above Mars in a gravity-assist manoeuvre, en route to the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche.
SpaceX launched its CRS-34 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station, carrying scientific experiments and supplies for the crew.
The European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences jointly launched the SMILE mission to study the interaction between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere.
SpaceX carried out a partially successful suborbital Starship Flight 12, during which the vehicle deployed 20 dummy Starlink satellites and made a water landing in the Indian Ocean.
China launched three astronauts aboard Shenzhou-23 to its Tiangong space station; the crew included Lai Ka-ying, the first astronaut from Hong Kong to fly to space.
Member states approved the first-ever World Health Assembly resolution on stroke, calling for integrated prevention, acute care and rehabilitation, noting one in four adults is expected to suffer a stroke in their lifetime.
WHA79 adopted a first-of-its-kind resolution on precision medicine with health equity at its core, calling on WHO to develop a global strategy so genomics and personalised therapies benefit all nations.
Countries approved the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR) 2026-2036, using a One Health approach to preserve effective antimicrobials worldwide.
For the first time in 16 years, the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel was updated, now explicitly including care workers and clarifying rules during emergencies.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla - India's first astronaut to visit the ISS via Axiom-4 in 2025 - authored his memoir 'The Second Orbit' recounting his space experience.
Merck Life Science India signed an MoU with CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, to strengthen collaboration in scientific research, innovation and academia-industry engagement.
India held the groundbreaking of its first advanced 3D semiconductor packaging unit in Odisha, aimed at boosting AI, 5G and defence technology applications.
The government signed an MoU between IndiaAI (MeitY) and the Indian Council of Medical Research to integrate AI into healthcare delivery, biomedical research and public-health management.
India observed its 28th National Technology Day, marking the 1998 Pokhran-II (Operation Shakti) nuclear tests. The 2026 theme was 'Responsible Innovation for Inclusive Growth'.
On National Technology Day, CSIR-Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee transferred 13 indigenous technologies to industries and start-ups, targeting fire safety, green construction and energy-efficient infrastructure.
Tata Electronics and Netherlands-based ASML signed a strategic agreement under which ASML supplies advanced lithography technology for Tata's first front-end semiconductor fab; Tata plans to invest about $11 billion in the fab at Dholera, Gujarat.
The 79th WHA met under the theme 'Reshaping global health', adopting 13 resolutions and over 20 decisions. Dr Victor Elias Atallah Lajam of the Dominican Republic was elected President of the Assembly.
ICMR invited Expressions of Interest for technology transfer and commercialisation of SHetA2, an investigational drug candidate for HPV-induced cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer, with a 20 May applications deadline.
The India Meteorological Department forecast normal-to-below-normal maximum temperatures in many regions due to above-normal rainfall, while issuing heatwave alerts for parts of north, central and east India amid an intensifying El Nino.
As of May 2026, India had 99 Ramsar wetland sites covering about 13.85 lakh hectares, with Tamil Nadu (20 sites) leading; the 99th site, Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary (Aligarh, UP), was designated in April 2026.
The sixth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation - the world's largest wildlife monitoring exercise - continued through 2026, building on the previous count of 3,682 tigers (about 74% of the world's wild tigers).
Concerns were raised over alleged violations of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 in the diversion of more than 13,000 hectares of forest land on Great Nicobar Island for a mega-infrastructure project.
Observed globally on 22 May with the theme 'Acting locally for global impact', a call to halt and reverse biodiversity loss in line with the global biodiversity framework.
The 15-year-old topped the run charts with 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 - the highest ever among Orange Cap winners - ahead of Shubman Gill (732) and Sai Sudharsan (722).
Gujarat Titans pacer Kagiso Rabada finished as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 29 wickets, earning the Purple Cap.
China defended the Thomas Cup, beating France 3-1 at Horsens, Denmark, retaining the premier men's team badminton title.
South Korea beat defending champions China 3-1 at Horsens, Denmark, for their third Uber Cup title in women's team badminton.
The Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry released draft amendments proposing up to 5 years' imprisonment and Rs 2 lakh fine for trafficking prohibited substances, with up to 10 years for offences involving minors.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, chasing 161 in 18 overs. Virat Kohli (75* off 42) was Player of the Match as RCB claimed back-to-back titles.
CSIR received the Clarivate South Asia Innovation Award 2026 in the Government Sector category, recognising its patent and innovation output.
ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 mission received the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' Goddard Astronautics Award at the ASCEND Conference in Washington DC, honouring the 2023 lunar south-pole soft landing.
President Droupadi Murmu presented Padma Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan, conferring 66 awards in the first phase (2 Padma Vibhushan, 6 Padma Bhushan, 58 Padma Shri). A total of 131 Padma Awards were announced for 2026.
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting appointed lyricist-writer Prasoon Joshi as Chairman of Prasar Bharati, India's public-service broadcaster.
Rohit Jain took charge as RBI Deputy Governor for a three-year term, after which the RBI reassigned portfolios among its four deputy governors.
Former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati was appointed Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for a three-year term.
Observed globally with the 2026 theme 'Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security', highlighting the role of a free press.
Observed on 12 May with the theme 'Our Nurses. Our Future.', marking the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale and honouring the nursing workforce worldwide.
Observed across India on 21 May to spread awareness against terrorism and violence, marking the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The WHO-led global observance on 31 May raises awareness of the health harms of tobacco use and advocates effective policies to reduce consumption.
Suman Kalyanpur, the legendary Hindi and multilingual playback singer known for her melodious voice across the 1950s-70s, passed away on 31 May 2026 at the age of 89.
It covers 101 verified current affairs from May 2026 across 14 sections including polity, economy, international relations, government initiatives, science, defence, sports and awards. Each item includes a short explanation and a GK Byte linking it to static general knowledge.
Yes. The full May 2026 capsule PDF is free to download on MockSutra, with no login required.
It is built for Punjab Police Constable, RSSB LDC / Junior Assistant, SSC and state PSC exams, and is useful for any Indian government exam with a current affairs section.
Read each story's heading and explanation once, note the GK Byte, then use the PDF for a fast final skim before your exam.