Current Affairs One - Liner: 30th 31st May & 1st June 2026

National:

• MoH&FW releases the 10th National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates for FY23 (May 28, 2026) Government Health Expenditure (GHE) jumped to ₹3.85 lakh crore in 2022–23, nearly tripling over the past decade.

• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates PECVD System and RETINA incubation centre at IACS Kolkata (May 26–27, 2026). During IACS’s 150-year celebrations, the Minister inaugurated an indigenous PECVD system for India’s first amorphous silicon solar cells and the RETINA incubation centre to promote research commercialisation and innovation.
• IT-M Unveils Rs 4.5 Crore Circulating Water Tunnel Facility (May 25, 2026; inaugurated May 20). IIT Madras, with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, launched this advanced hydrodynamic research facility at its Thaiyur campus in Chennai to support ship design, ocean engineering, and maritime self-reliance.
• Taiwan Overtakes India To Become World’s 5th Largest Stock Market (May 26, 2026). Driven by a strong rally in semiconductor stocks (especially TSMC), Taiwan’s stock market capitalization surpassed India’s, reaching approximately $4.95 trillion compared to India’s $4.92 trillion. India slipped to 6th/7th place.
• TCS Signs Multi-million Dollar Deal with Sweden’s SKF for AI-led Manufacturing Business (May 27, 2026). Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) secured a multi-year, multi-million dollar strategic partnership with SKF (a leading Swedish bearings manufacturer) to drive AI-powered digital transformation and modernize global operations.
• Red Balloon Aerospace Launched India’s 1st Stratospheric SPB in Vijayawada, AP (May 27, 2026). The Vijayawada-based startup successfully launched India’s first indigenous Stratospheric Super Pressure Balloon (VISTA platform) under Mission SANA. It reached ~25 km altitude carrying commercial payloads, positioning India among a select group of nations with this capability.
• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) for FY 2024-25 and four other major digital initiatives during the 37th Foundation Day celebrations of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in Mumbai on May 29, 2026.
• GoI Notifies Two SEZs in Puducherry (May 29, 2026): The Government of India notified two new Special Economic Zones in Puducherry — an IT/ITES SEZ at Thattanchavady (developed by Oulgaret Municipality) and a Multi-Sector SEZ at Karasur. Expected to attract nearly ₹2,000 crore in investment and create thousands of jobs, boosting exports and industrial growth.
• Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s Visit to Canada (May 25–27/29, 2026): Piyush Goyal led a large delegation of ~150 Indian business leaders to Ottawa and Toronto to strengthen trade ties, advance CEPA negotiations, and boost investments. The visit concluded with positive engagements on bilateral economic cooperation.
• TCS Partners with Mistral AI (May 28, 2026): Tata Consultancy Services announced a strategic partnership with French AI firm Mistral, becoming the first global systems integrator for Mistral Forge. Focuses on custom enterprise generative AI solutions across sectors like banking, manufacturing, and healthcare
• Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar Assumes Charge as 48th Vice Chief of Naval Staff (May 29, 2026): Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, PVSM, AVSM, NM, took over as the 48th VCNS, succeeding Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan. He previously commanded the Andaman & Nicobar Command.
• Chandrayaan-2 Radar Detects Subsurface Ice in Lunar South Polar Craters (Announced May 27–28, 2026): Scientists from the Physical Research Laboratory analysed Chandrayaan-2’s Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR) data, revealing possible subsurface water-ice in permanently shadowed craters near the Moon’s South Pole.
• May 29, 2026: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates India’s first ‘SkyCast’ System at IGI Airport, New Delhi. The advanced integrated atmospheric remote sensing system for real-time weather monitoring and alerts aims to minimize weather-related flight disruptions. India joins a select group of nations with this capability.
• On May 29, 2026, in Mumbai, Bajaj Finserv partnered with IIT Bombay to launch “Finserv Intelligence”. The initiative commits ₹1,500–2,000 crore over 5 years, with a joint research centre at IIT‑B. Focus areas → AI, cybersecurity, quantum tech, fintech, retail/consumer technology; support for seed to Series‑B startups.
• India Signs USD 629 Million BrahMos Deal with Vietnam (announced/confirmed around May 31, 2026): The agreement strengthens defence cooperation; India’s Defence Secretary confirmed the deal at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Banking:

• On May 26, 2026, in West Bengal, West Bengal Gramin Bank (WBGB) partnered with Canara HSBC Life Insurance. The collaboration was via bancassurance, leveraging WBGB’s rural branch network. Aim → To expand life insurance access among rural and semi‑urban customers.
• Japan’s DBJ partners with HDFC Capital to invest in housing projects across India (May 28, 2026). The Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) has partnered with HDFC Capital to invest in a USD 1 billion fund focused on affordable and mid-income residential projects across India.
• BoB Launches Biometric & UIDAI Face Authentication, UPI Services on bob e - Pay (May 27–28, 2026): Bank of Baroda introduced mobile OS-native biometric authentication (for transactions up to ₹5,000), UIDAI-based face authentication for UPI PIN management, and IoT-based payments on its universal UPI app.
• Fintech Firm Decentro Becomes 1st PA to Secure PSP Licence at GIFT City (Announced ~June 1, 2026): Decentro received final approval for a Payment Service Provider (PSP) licence from IFSCA, becoming the first Indian payment aggregator to do so. This will enable expanded cross-border and multi-currency payment services.
• May 27, 2026: MCA Expands Schedule VII and Amends CSR Rules to Enable Subscription to ZCZP Instruments. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs notified amendments allowing companies to allocate up to 10% of their CSR expenditure to subscribe to Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) instruments on the Social Stock Exchange. This promotes impact investing in NPOs with enhanced transparency.

MoUs:

• On May 27, 2026, in Mumbai, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Steel Users Federation of India (SUFI) signed an MoU. The aim was to strengthen the steel commodity derivatives ecosystem. Highlights include improving hedging mechanisms and enhancing market liquidity for steel users.
• May 29, 2026: Odisha, Intel and 3DGS Sign Agreement to Bring Substrate Manufacturing Technology to India. A landmark ~$3.3 billion MoU for an advanced semiconductor substrate manufacturing facility (glass core and high-density interconnect technologies) in the Bhubaneswar-Khurda region.
• On May 27, 2026, in New Delhi, RITES Ltd. (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) and CRISIL Ltd. (Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited) signed an MoU. The collaboration aims to deliver data‑driven infrastructure consultancy solutions. Focus sectors include railways, metro systems, highways, and allied infrastructure projects.

Sports:

• On May 31, 2026, India’s men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty won the Singapore Open 2026 (Super 750). The event was held in Singapore, marking their maiden triumph at this tournament. They clinched the Men’s Doubles title, their first BWF World Tour win in nearly two years.
• On June 1, 2026, the International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended Cricket Canada’s membership with immediate effect. Reason → Serious breaches of membership obligations including governance, financial oversight, and administrative failures.

Defence:

• IAF Partners with IIT Bombay for Su-30MKI Predictive Maintenance (May 27, 2026). The Indian Air Force signed three contracts with IIT Bombay for AI-powered predictive, prognostic, and prescriptive maintenance of the Su-30MKI fleet to boost availability and indigenise technology.

Apps & Portals:

• On May 28, 2026, the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances launched the NeSDA 2025 Portal.The portal is part of the National e‑Governance Service Delivery Assessment framework. It aims to assess & improve digital public service delivery across States, UTs, and Central Ministries.
• May 29, 2026: DFS Launches ‘Common Landing Portal’ for Unclaimed Financial Assets. The Department of Financial Services launched the unified portal (unclaimedassetsportal.in) to help citizens search for unclaimed deposits, insurance, shares, dividends, and mutual funds. It supports the “Your Money, Your Right”
• ‘Swachh Mobile App’ Launched in West Bengal (May 30, 2026): Union Minister Manohar Lal unveiled the app to enable citizens to report sanitation and civic issues for faster resolution under Swachh Bharat Mission.
• ‘Samadhan Didi’ AI Chatbot Launched (May 30, 2026): Union MoS Jitendra Singh introduced this AI-enabled voice chatbot for CPGRAMS to simplify grievance redressal in multiple languages.

Important Days:

• Observed from May 25 to 31, 2026, the International Week of Solidarity with Non‑Self‑Governing Territories was marked globally. It reaffirms the UN’s commitment to decolonization and the rights of peoples yet to attain self‑governance. The week highlights solidarity, awareness campaigns, and UN resolutions supporting these territories.
• World Digestive Health Day 2026, observed annually on May 29, organised by the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO). The 2026 campaign theme was “Chronic Diarrhea: Don’t Flush the Signs Away”, aiming to raise awareness about digestive health issues and encourage early medical consultation.
• On May 29, 2026, the world observed the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. It honours the service, dedication, and sacrifices of peacekeepers worldwide. The 2026 theme was “Invest in Peace”, stressing support for missions amid complex global challenges.
• International Day of Potato 2026 was observed with FAO’s theme “Where potatoes grow, livelihoods flourish”. It highlighted potatoes’ role in food security, farmer livelihoods, and resilient agrifood systems. Focus was on smallholders and sustainable value chains, marking the 3rd annual observance since 2024.
• World Vape Day 2026 was led by the World Vapers’ Alliance with the theme “One Switch – Everyone Wins”. It promoted harm reduction, showcasing vaping as a safer alternative to smoking. Observed one day before WHO’s World No Tobacco Day, it contrasted vaping with tobacco restrictions.
• World Multiple Sclerosis Day 2026 carried the theme “Navigating MS Together” under the MS Connections campaign. Organized by MS International Federation (MSIF), it focused on solidarity and early diagnosis (“My MS Diagnosis”). It raised awareness for 2.9 million people globally, promoting access to quality care and community bonds.
• International Everest Day 2026, observed annually on May 29, commemorating the first successful summit of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa on May 29, 1953. The day celebrates mountaineering spirit, Sherpa heritage, and adventure tourism

Appointments:

• On May 29, 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) assigned Rajesh Kumar Singh (1989‑batch IAS, Kerala cadre) additional charge. He will serve as Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, alongside his role as Defence Secretary.
• Janez Janša Appointed as Prime Minister of Slovenia for Fourth Term (May 22, 2026). Slovenia’s parliament elected right-wing leader Janez Janša as Prime Minister, marking his fourth term. He secured a 51-36 vote with a centre-right coalition.
• Protean eGov Technologies Ltd., a pioneer in building Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in India (formerly NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Ltd.), has appointed Mr. Ajay Rajan as its new Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2026.

Awards & Honours:

• In May 2026 (reported around May 28–31), Tamil Nadu farmer Valluvan was honoured as FAO Soil Farmer Hero. The award was conferred by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for his sustainable agriculture practices. He promoted soil health, organic farming, and climate‑resilient methods in rural Tamil Nadu.
• On May 29, 2026, three Indian students — Avyana Mehta, Vivaan Chhawchharia, Ariana Agarwal from Jayshree Periwal International School, Jaipur — became the first‑ever global winners from India at The Earth Prize 2026. Their innovation “Plas‑Stick” won after advancing from the Asia regional category to the global stage.
• On May 2026, MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat) earned a Guinness World Records title for the “Most Users to Take an Online Quiz in One Week”. The record was achieved through the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD) Quiz 2026.

Books:

• On May 29, 2026, in New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released a commemorative volume on Operation Sindoor. The book compiles first‑hand accounts of ~100 Army, Navy & Air Force personnel. It highlights the human side, resilience, and experiences beyond official military history.
• May 18, 2026: Former Federal Bank CEO Shyam Srinivasan Releases Debut Book ‘Better Never Stops’. Shyam Srinivasan launched his debut book, sharing leadership lessons from over 30 years in banking and insights from cricket.

Obituaries:

• Senior Congress Leader and Former Kerala MP, K. P. Dhanapalan Passed Away (May 30, 2026). Veteran Congress leader K. P. Dhanapalan (aged 76), former Lok Sabha MP from Chalakudy (2009–2014) and prominent figure in central Kerala politics, passed away at a private hospital in Paravur, Kochi.
• On June 1, 2026, legendary playback singer Suman Kalyanpur passed away at the age of 89, leaving Indian music in mourning. She was celebrated for her melodious voice, often compared to Lata Mangeshkar, and recorded thousands of songs across Hindi and regional films.
• Former Bureaucrat and CCI’s 1st Chairman Dhanendra Kumar Passed Away (May 28, 2026): Retired IAS officer Dhanendra Kumar (first Chairman of the Competition Commission of India) died following a fire at his Hauz Khas residence in Delhi, suspected to be caused by an AC unit blast. He was nearly 80.
• Urdu Poet and Padma Shri Awardee Bashir Badr Passed Away (May 28, 2026). Renowned Indian Urdu poet Bashir Badr (aged 91) passed away in Bhopal. He was a Padma Shri awardee known for his powerful and widely quoted poetry.

Questions

Q1. Which fintech company became the first Payment Aggregator to secure a PSP licence at GIFT City?
a) Razorpay
b) Cashfree
c) Decentro
d) PayU

 Answer: c) Decentro received final approval from IFSCA, enabling expanded cross-border payment services.

Q2. Which bank launched UIDAI Face Authentication and biometric services on its bob e-Pay UPI app?

a) SBI
b) Canara Bank
c) Bank of Baroda
d) Punjab National Bank

Answer: c)  Bank of Baroda introduced face authentication, biometric verification, and IoT-based payment features.