Current Affairs - May 24, 2026 Current Affairs

Medha Vishram Kulkarni, a BJP member of the Rajya Sabha, was nominated as the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change on May 18, 2026. The appointment was made by Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan. The committee plays an important role in examining government policies, reviewing proposed legislation, and assessing budgetary allocations related to scientific and environmental sectors. Parliamentary Standing Committees are essential mechanisms for detailed legislative scrutiny and oversight, helping Parliament evaluate the functioning and performance of various government departments and ministries.

Bharat Singh Chauhan was unanimously re-elected as the Chairman of the Commonwealth Chess Association (CCA) for a four-year term on May 17, 2026. The election took place during the Annual General Body Meeting held in Wasakaduwa, Sri Lanka. Under his leadership, the association approved the launch of the Commonwealth School Chess Championship, with the inaugural edition scheduled to be hosted by Malaysia in October 2026. Chauhan is a prominent chess administrator who also serves as Chairman of the FIDE Advisory Board and Deputy President of the Asian Chess Federation, contributing significantly to the growth and development of chess across the region and the Commonwealth.

The Bihar Cabinet approved direct international flight operations on the Gaya–Bangkok route and selected IndiGo to operate the service for a period of 12 months. The initiative aims to improve international connectivity and facilitate travel for Buddhist pilgrims from Thailand visiting Bodh Gaya, one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world. Along with this decision, the cabinet also approved the Young Professionals Selection Policy-2026 and extended the recommendations of the Fifth State Finance Commission for FY 2026–27. The move is expected to strengthen tourism, cultural exchanges, and economic activity in the region.

Dave Cousins, a former American world champion archer, was appointed as the chief coach of India’s national compound archery team by the Archery Association of India (AAI) on May 21, 2026. He will serve as the full-time coach until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and receive a monthly salary of USD 12,000. Cousins was expected to join the Indian team before the World Cup Stage 3 event in Antalya, Turkey. His appointment is particularly significant as compound archery is set to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games through a mixed team event, creating new opportunities for Indian archers on the global stage.

"Better Never Stops" is the debut book authored by Shyam Srinivasan, the former Managing Director and CEO of Federal Bank. Released on May 18, 2026, the book combines elements of a memoir and a leadership guide, drawing from his three decades of experience in the banking industry. It highlights themes such as resilience, continuous improvement, adaptability, and professional growth. Srinivasan is widely recognised for transforming Federal Bank from a regional institution into a nationally recognised private sector bank while driving significant expansion in digital and retail banking. The book offers valuable insights into leadership and organisational transformation.

South Africa’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Mapungubwe, was conferred on Professors Salim Abdool Karim and Keertan Dheda on May 21, 2026, in Pretoria. They were recognised for their exceptional contributions to medical science, public health epidemiology, and groundbreaking research in HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB). Their work has significantly influenced national health policies and improved public health outcomes. The award is granted to South African citizens whose excellence and achievements benefit both the nation and the global community. Karim received the Order of Mapungubwe in Gold, the highest category within the honour.

Liberty Mutual Insurance increased its stake in Liberty General Insurance Limited (LGI) to 74% on May 18, 2026, up from 55.40% held since September 2025. The move followed changes in India's foreign direct investment (FDI) regulations, which allowed greater foreign participation in the insurance sector. Liberty Mutual, one of the world's leading insurers, aims to use the additional capital to strengthen its retail and commercial insurance businesses in India and improve insurance penetration. The development highlights growing international investment in India's insurance industry and reflects confidence in the sector's long-term growth potential.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the prestigious FAO Agricola Medal 2026 on May 20, 2026, at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome, Italy. The award was presented by FAO Director-General Dr Qu Dongyu in recognition of India's achievements in food security, sustainable agriculture, and rural development. The honour also acknowledged initiatives such as climate-resilient crop development, micro-irrigation through the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ program, and the use of digital technologies in agriculture. The event marked a historic occasion, as it was the first visit by an Indian Head of Government to FAO Headquarters in three decades.

On April 23, 2026, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone for ReNew Energy Global plc’s ₹5,400 crore solar manufacturing facility in Anakapalli district, which is located in Andhra Pradesh. The project includes a 6 GW solar ingot and wafer manufacturing unit and falls under the Andhra Pradesh Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2024. It is expected to be commissioned within 24 months, creating over 2,100 direct and indirect jobs. Additionally, ReNew Energy has committed a total cumulative investment of ₹82,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh.

India formally assumed the Chair of the Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) for 2026 during the 48th Meeting of National Representatives held in Navi Mumbai from May 19–22, 2026. Hosted by the Department of Atomic Energy, the meeting brought together delegates from Asia-Pacific nations, representatives from AFRA, and officials from the IAEA and RCARO. Discussions focused on the peaceful applications of nuclear science in healthcare, agriculture, food technology, water management, and environmental sustainability. India’s leadership under the theme “India By Your Side” reflects its commitment to regional cooperation and the promotion of nuclear technologies for socio-economic development.

Manindra Agrawal was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2026 for his outstanding contributions to theoretical computer science. He is widely known for co-developing the AKS primality test, a landmark achievement in mathematics and computer science. The algorithm provided the first deterministic polynomial-time method for testing whether a number is prime, with important applications in cryptography and internet security. Agrawal has received several prestigious awards for his research and was serving as the Director of IIT Kanpur when he received this honour.