Online Current Affairs Test - Current Affairs Test - Random (Last 2 months)

Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi was approved by the Iraqi Parliament as the new Prime Minister on May 16, 2026. He emerged as a consensus candidate to end a prolonged five-month political deadlock in Iraq. Despite having no prior political experience, he was chosen to lead the government during a period of economic and political challenges. His appointment came along with the approval of a partial cabinet, where only 14 out of 23 ministerial positions were filled. The remaining posts stayed vacant because of internal disagreements and external pressures influencing Iraq’s political system.

Vivek Tripathi was appointed as the Whole-Time Director of AU Small Finance Bank, marking an important addition to the bank’s leadership structure. As a Whole-Time Director, he becomes part of the full-time executive management, contributing to strategic and operational decisions. Such appointments in banking institutions require regulatory oversight and alignment with provisions under the Companies Act, 2013. AU Small Finance Bank, headquartered in Jaipur, has evolved from a Non-Banking Financial Company into a Scheduled Commercial Bank, and leadership appointments like this play a key role in guiding its growth and governance.

Sikander Kumar, a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Himachal Pradesh, was appointed as the Chairman of the Grappling Federation of India in April 2026. His appointment was made unanimously, reflecting strong support within the federation. The organisation governs grappling, a combat sport recognised by the United World Wrestling and considered for future Olympic inclusion. With his administrative and legislative experience, Sikander Kumar is expected to strengthen the development and promotion of grappling in India while aligning it with international standards and expanding its reach among athletes.

Maj Gen Rachel Thomas assumed the appointment of Additional Director General (ADG) of the Military Nursing Service (MNS) on June 01, 2026. She succeeded Maj Gen Lissamma PV, who retired from the post on May 31, 2026. Commissioned into the Military Nursing Service on June 01, 1988, she is an alumna of the College of Nursing at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune. During her distinguished career, she held various clinical and administrative appointments in military hospitals under the Northern and Eastern Commands. Her appointment reflects her extensive experience and leadership in military healthcare services.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation for March 2026 in India was recorded at 3.88% on a year-on-year basis. WPI reflects price changes at the wholesale or factory level and is an important indicator of inflationary trends in the economy. Among the components, Primary Articles showed higher inflation at 6.36%, while Manufactured Products stood at 3.39% and Fuel & Power at 1.05%. Despite stable food inflation at 1.85%, sharp price fluctuations were observed in commodities like crude petroleum and vegetables, indicating sector-specific volatility within the broader inflation framework.

Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, introduced a Performance Incentive (PI) relaxation and Cash Discount scheme specifically for power sector consumers for the first quarter of FY 2026–27. The scheme was designed to encourage higher coal offtake by offering financial incentives based on different slabs of coal lifting. It applies to consumers under Fuel Supply Agreements and includes provisions for both raw coal and washed power coal. By implementing this scheme, BCCL aims to optimize coal distribution efficiency and support power generation needs in India.

Eighteen Namo Oxygen Parks were inaugurated across New Delhi on World Environment Day 2026 under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. The initiative was launched by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to improve urban air quality, increase green cover, enhance biodiversity, and provide recreational green spaces for citizens. The parks are designed to function as urban green lungs and support environmental sustainability. Alongside this initiative, the Delhi Government announced a target of planting 15 lakh trees and released important environmental planning documents to strengthen conservation and ecological governance in the national capital.

The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region witnessed a significant environmental change with a 27% decline in snow persistence during the winter season of November 2025 to March 2026. This marks the fourth consecutive year of declining snow levels, highlighting a worrying trend linked to climate change. Reduced snow persistence affects water availability as it lowers early summer river flows, which are crucial for agriculture, hydropower, and drinking water supply. The decline also increases dependence on groundwater and raises drought risks in several basins. This situation underscores the urgent need for climate adaptation and sustainable water management strategies.

Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary, located in Aligarh, has been recognised as India’s 99th Ramsar site, highlighting its ecological significance. This designation strengthens wetland conservation efforts and underscores the importance of preserving biodiversity. With this addition, Uttar Pradesh now has a total of 12 Ramsar sites, making it a leading state in wetland conservation. Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance, providing habitats for migratory birds and supporting ecological balance. The inclusion of Shekha Jheel also contributes to climate regulation, groundwater recharge, and promotes eco-tourism and local livelihoods.

India and Vietnam held bilateral discussions in New Delhi and agreed to achieve a bilateral trade target of $25 billion by 2030 under their enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership. The talks focused on expanding trade, improving agricultural market access, and strengthening defence cooperation. Both countries granted access for products such as Indian grapes and Vietnamese durians while also working toward faster clearances for other agricultural goods. They additionally agreed to establish a 2+2 Dialogue mechanism involving foreign and defence ministries. The discussions also emphasised the early review and implementation of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to further strengthen economic integration and regional cooperation.

The United Kingdom delayed the legislative process to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius due to geopolitical concerns and lack of support from the United States. The proposed agreement included transferring full sovereignty while maintaining a 99-year lease of Diego Garcia for continued military use by the US and UK. The delay also reflects broader strategic considerations in the Indian Ocean region. Historically, the UK has controlled the islands since 1814, and the issue has been subject to international legal scrutiny, including a 2019 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice urging decolonisation.

India and Norway strengthened their strategic partnership in science and innovation through five major bilateral agreements signed in Oslo on May 18, 2026. The agreements involved India’s CSIR and DSIR collaborating with leading Norwegian institutions in areas such as clean energy, offshore wind technology, geosciences, sustainability, and public health research. The partnerships also focused on student mobility, scientific exchanges, and advanced infrastructure solutions. Key organisations involved included SINTEF, NTNU, and FME NorthWind. These agreements reflect growing cooperation between India and Norway in green technology, climate research, renewable energy, and sustainable industrial development.

In the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), headquartered there, undertook the initiative to add 33,000 missing Indian soldiers to a digital memorial. These soldiers had previously been excluded from proper recognition and were only commemorated numerically. The update is linked to the Basra Memorial in Iraq and relates to casualties from the Mesopotamia Campaign during World War I. This effort corrects historical inequalities by individually naming the soldiers and integrating them into the broader record of over 46,000 Commonwealth personnel remembered for their service.

India signed a customs cooperation agreement with Kenya on April 27, 2026, during the 10th India-Kenya Joint Trade Committee meeting held in Nairobi. The agreement was executed between India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). It focuses on enhancing trade efficiency by enabling pre-arrival information exchange for faster customs clearance and better risk management. The pact also supports collaboration in key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, digital infrastructure, renewable energy, and manufacturing, aiming to strengthen bilateral trade relations and economic cooperation between the two nations.

The Cell Broadcast Alert System, introduced in India for real-time disaster warnings, is powered by an indigenous technology known as SACHET. This system has been developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and plays a crucial role in enhancing disaster preparedness and response. It enables authorities to send immediate alerts to citizens’ mobile phones without requiring any prior subscription or user action. The alerts include loud alarm tones and flashing messages, ensuring high visibility. SACHET supports multiple regional languages and is designed to cover a wide range of emergencies, including natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as man-made threats.

Tripura introduced a rotational work-from-home policy for Group C and Group D government employees to reduce fuel consumption and state expenditure. Under this arrangement, only 50 percent of employees attend offices physically each day, while the remaining staff work remotely on a weekly rotational basis. Employees working from home are required to stay electronically connected and must report immediately during emergencies. Essential and emergency services were exempted from the directive to ensure uninterrupted public services. Tripura, with its capital at Agartala, became a full-fledged state on January 21, 1972, under the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and other researchers announced the discovery of a new lizard species, Mesalina bishnoi, on June 1, 2026. The species was discovered near Gajner in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan and represents the first confirmed record of the genus Mesalina in India. It was named in honour of the Bishnoi community for their long-standing commitment to wildlife and environmental conservation. The lizard inhabits the arid landscapes of the Thar region and is currently considered endemic to western India. Genetic studies confirmed its placement within the Mesalina watsonana species complex.

Madhya Pradesh is the state from which the month-long nationwide 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' was launched on June 1, 2026, from Ramasiya village in Raisen district. The campaign focuses on improving soil health through balanced fertiliser use and Soil Health Cards, promoting natural farming, water conservation, and green manure usage, and creating awareness against counterfeit fertilisers and pesticides. It also includes field demonstrations, farmer training on modern agricultural technologies, deployment of agricultural experts, and initiatives to support women and rural youth through employment and skill development in the agriculture sector.

The Madhya Pradesh government partnered with Google on May 20, 2026, to establish an AI-powered governance ecosystem and an AI Centre of Excellence (AI CoE). The initiative aims to enhance public service delivery through advanced technologies such as real-time crowd monitoring, predictive safety analytics, digital twin models, and multilingual AI assistants. The partnership also focuses on innovation, startup incubation, and large-scale AI skill development. Additionally, Google Play plans to train 10,000 app developers, while AI-based solutions will be introduced in education, agriculture, and healthcare. The collaboration reflects the growing adoption of artificial intelligence for governance and socio-economic development.

GalaxEye Space, a Bengaluru-based private Earth observation space technology company, successfully launched Mission Drishti aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket on May 3, 2026. The satellite weighs 190 kg and is considered the largest satellite ever built by a private Indian company. It carries the innovative OptoSAR payload, which combines optical imaging and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) into a single platform. This technology allows simultaneous collection of optical and radar data under all weather conditions, both day and night. The satellite is expected to support disaster management, agriculture monitoring, border surveillance, and infrastructure planning with enhanced Earth observation capabilities.