Current Affairs One - Liner : 12th & 13th May 2026

National:

• On May 1, 2026, India announced its first green methanol plant at Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Kandla, Gujarat, designed to convert the invasive weed Prosopis juliflora into clean marine fuel, advancing green ports and circular economy goals.

• On May 10, 2026, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Airtel Payments Bank launched co‑branded RuPay ‘On‑The‑Go’ National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC) at the Delhi Metro HQ. These open‑loop cards allow seamless travel and payments across metros, buses, and transit networks nationwide, unlike earlier Delhi‑only cards.
• On May 10, 2026, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (MP from Sambalpur) laid the foundation stone for the Bhimmandali Eco Heritage Site in Naktideul Block, Sambalpur district, Odisha. This groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of a project designed to blend eco-tourism with heritage conservation.
• On May 11, 2026, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant unveiled two landmark digital reforms — the ‘One Case One Data’ initiative and the launch of the AI legal chatbot ‘Su Sahay’. The One Case One Data initiative will create a single, unified digital record for each case, ensuring consistency, transparency, and easier tracking across all levels of the judiciary.

International:

• On May 8, 2026, India’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Prabhat Kumar, handed over the IUCAA banner to the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town. This symbolic exchange strengthens India–South Africa cooperation in astronomy and astrophysics, under the IAU banner relay initiative.

Economy:

• Moody’s Investors Service, in its Global Macro Outlook (May 2026 Update) released on May 12, 2026, cut India’s GDP growth forecast for CY26 to 6% from 6.5%. The downgrade was attributed to global energy market stress and escalating US–Iran tensions in West Asia, which are disrupting supply chains.

MoUs:

• May 8, 2026 – Bhubaneswar: The AIFF and Odisha Government renewed their 5‑year MoU, signed by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey and CM Naveen Patnaik, reaffirming Odisha as India’s “football hub”. Focus: grassroots training, academies, infrastructure, talent scouting, and women’s football.
• May 10, 2026 – Basel, Switzerland: The RBI and European Central Bank (ECB) renewed their MoU during BIS meetings, signed by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra and ECB President Christine Lagarde. Focus: central banking cooperation, information exchange, policy dialogue, and technical collaboration.
• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and National University of Singapore – Institute of Systems Science (NUS‑ISS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on May 11, 2026 at the CII Annual Business Summit, New Delhi. Aim: Strengthen Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance and Digital Leadership capacity for Indian enterprises.
• On May 11, 2026, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with National University of Singapore – Institute of Systems Science (NUS‑ISS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at New Delhi to strengthen Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance and Digital Leadership.
• Dhash Defence Systems Private Limited (DDS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Defence Research and Innovation Foundation (DRIF) of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar) on May 5–6, 2026 at the North Tech Symposium 2026. Purpose: Develop next‑generation indigenous all‑terrain ground mobility platforms.

Sports:

• On May 12, 2026, former Indian cricket captain Rahul Dravid officially acquired the Dublin franchise in the Euro T20 Performance League (ETPL). This marks his entry into the ranks of ex‑cricketers turned team owners. ETPL aims to expand its footprint in Europe, targeting the growing cricket market in Ireland.

Defence:

• On May 9, 2026, the Indian Coast Guard commissioned the indigenous Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) ‘ICGS Achal’ at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), Goa. It is the 5th Adamya‑class FPV, built with 50–60% indigenous content, measuring ~52 metres, 320 tons displacement, and a top speed of 27 knots, at a cost of ₹473 crore.
• On May 9, 2026, the DRDO successfully tested an Actively Cooled Full‑Scale Scramjet Combustor for a record 1,200 seconds (20 minutes) at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) facility, DRDL Hyderabad. The breakthrough validated combustion stability, fuel efficiency, and thermal management at sustained Mach 6+ hypersonic speeds
• On May 11, 2026, the Indian Army formally inducted two advanced indigenous combat platforms — the ULPGM and the AGNIKAA VTOL-1 — in Hyderabad, under the Emergency Procurement (EP-6) framework. Developed by Adani Defence & Aerospace, with the ULPGM co-developed alongside DRDO, these systems were handed over to officials from the Western Command.

Govt.Schemes:

• On May 11, 2026, Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV) in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, marking the silver jubilee (25 years) of PMGSY.
• Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann launched the ‘Meri Rasoi Yojana’ on May 10, 2026, in Bhalwan village, Sangrur. The scheme targets ~40.85 lakh poor families (NFSA/blue ration cards) to reduce kitchen expenses and fight malnutrition. Free kits are distributed every 3 months, containing dal, sugar, salt, turmeric, and mustard oil.

Important Days:

• World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2026 was celebrated on May 9, 2026, and will be observed again on the second Saturday of October to mark peak bird migration in both hemispheres. The theme for 2026 is “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!.
• On May 10, 2026, the world celebrated the International Day of Argania, marking five years since the UN recognized the Argan tree as a global symbol of resilience and heritage. The 2026 theme was “Cooperatives Safeguarding Heritage, Empowering Women, and Protecting the Future”.
• International Day of Plant Health 2026 was observed on May 12 (Tuesday). The UN marks this day to highlight plant health’s role in food security, poverty reduction, biodiversity, and economic growth. Plants give ~80% of our diet and 98% oxygen, yet pests destroy 40% of crops annually, causing $220B losses. Theme 2026: “Plant Biosecurity for Food Security and Nutrition”.
• On May 12, 2026, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 to 15 nursing professionals at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The awards were presented on International Nurses Day (birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale). National theme echoed the global call: “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives.”

Appointments:

• Dr. Harvansh Chawla, a noted legal expert and trade policy leader, was appointed as Chairman of the BRISEC Chamber of Commerce & Industry on May 11, 2026. He stepped down from his earlier role as Chairman of BRICS CCI to take on this expanded global mandate.
• On May 12, 2026, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) elected new office bearers for the 2026–27 term. R. Mukundan, Managing Director & CEO of Tata Chemicals Limited, became the CII President. He succeeded Rajiv Memani, Chairman of EY India, who served as President for 2025–26. Dr. Suchitra K. Ella, Co-Founder & MD of Bharat Biotech International Limited. She is now on track to become the CII President for the 2027-28 term.
• On May 11, 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the appointment of Prashant Pise as the next Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman. He is a seasoned diplomat from the 1995 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). He will succeed Godavarthi Venkata Srinivas, a 1993 batch IFS officer, in Muscat.

Obituaries:

• Australian tennis legend Mal Anderson passed away at the age of 91 on May 11, 2026. He was the first unseeded player to win the U.S. Open singles title (1957) and later became a mentor to stars like Pat Rafter, leaving a lasting legacy in Australian tennis.
• On May 12, 2026, the Indian sports community mourned the passing of Swapan Sadhan Bose, popularly known as Tutu Bose, at the age of 78. He suffered a massive cardiac arrest and passed away at a private hospital in Kolkata.
• Prateek Yadav, the younger son of Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and stepbrother to Akhilesh Yadav, passed away in Lucknow on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. He was 38.

Questions:

Q.1 In which Odisha district was the Bhimmandali Eco Heritage Site project launched?
a) Sambalpur
b) Puri
c) Khordha
d) Balasore

Answer: a) The project was launched in Naktideul Block of Sambalpur district by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Q.2 Moody’s Investors Service reduced India’s Calendar Year 2026 Gross Domestic Product growth forecast to:
a) 5.5%
b) 6.0%
c) 6.5%
d) 7.2%

Answer: b) Moody’s Investors Service, in its Global Macro Outlook (May 2026 Update) released on May 12, 2026, cut India’s GDP growth forecast for CY26 to 6% from 6.5%.