INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Five-Nation Diplomatic Tour (15–20 May 2026)

• Narendra Modi visited the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy from 15–20 May 2026.

• The tour secured investment commitments worth nearly US$40 billion in energy, semiconductors, defence, AI and green hydrogen sectors.

• More than 50 multinational companies met the Prime Minister during the visit.

• The UAE announced about US$5 billion investment in petroleum reserves, LPG, defence and shipping sectors in India.

• India and the Netherlands upgraded ties to a Strategic Partnership and signed 17 agreements.

• India and Sweden upgraded relations with focus on AI, green transition and resilient supply chains.

• India and Italy elevated ties to a Special Strategic Partnership and discussed raising trade to 20 billion euros by 2029.

• In Norway, India strengthened Green Strategic Partnership cooperation on clean energy, climate resilience and blue economy.

WTO Criticism of UK Steel Safeguard Measures

• World Trade Organization members including India, China and Japan criticised the UK steel safeguard measures in 2026.

• The UK system applies tariff-rate quotas and a 25% tariff on imports beyond quota limits.

• Safeguard measures are temporary WTO-approved restrictions to protect domestic industries from import surges.

• The UK imposed safeguards on 15 categories of steel products after the 2018 US Section 232 tariffs.

• The safeguards were extended till 30 June 2026 on recommendations of the Trade Remedies Authority.

• From July 2026, the UK plans to reduce tariff-free quotas by nearly 60% and raise penalty tariffs to 50%.

• India’s steel exports to the UK were valued at about US$893.4 million in 2025-26.

• Tariff-rate quotas allow lower duty within quota limits and higher tariffs beyond the fixed quota.

India Raises Pakistan-Linked Civilian Harm Issues at UNSC

• India raised Pakistan-linked civilian harm issues during the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on 21 May 2026.

• India’s statement was delivered by Harish Parvathaneni.

• The UNSC conducts debates on protection of civilians in armed conflict.

• India referred to Operation Searchlight during the discussion.

• United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported 750 civilian deaths and injuries in early 2026.

• UNAMA attributed 94 of 95 cross-border incidents to Pakistani security forces.

• More than 94,000 people were reportedly displaced due to cross-border violence.

• India also mentioned the March 2026 airstrike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul.

APPOINTMENTS

Medha Kulkarni Appointed Chairperson of Parliamentary Panel

• Medha Vishram Kulkarni, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, was appointed Chairperson of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change in May 2026.

• The appointment was approved by C. P. Radhakrishnan, who is the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

• The appointment came into effect from 18 May 2026.

• The nomination was made under Sub-Rule (1) and Sub-Rule (2) of Rule 269 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha).

• The Parliamentary Standing Committee examines policy matters, legislation, and issues related to science and technology, environment, forests, and climate change.

• Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees are important parliamentary bodies that scrutinise government functioning and legislative proposals.

• Om Birla appointed Sudheer Gupta as Chairperson of the Joint Committee on the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

• Parliamentary committees play a major role in detailed legislative examination and policy oversight in the Indian parliamentary system.

Bharat Singh Chauhan Re-Elected as Chairman of Commonwealth Chess Association

• Bharat Singh Chauhan was re-elected as Chairman of the Commonwealth Chess Association for the 2026–2030 term in May 2026.

• The election took place during the Annual General Body Meeting held at Wasakaduwa.

• Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidsh Sanusi was elected as Deputy Chairman of the association.

• G. Luxman Wijesuriya was elected as General Secretary, while Vicky Magu became Treasurer.

• Executive members elected to the association included Hurrynarain Bhowany, Allan Herbert, Benard Wanjala, Craig Hall, and Crition Tornaritis.

• The Commonwealth Chess Association announced the launch of the Commonwealth School Chess Championship.

• The first edition of the Commonwealth School Chess Championship will be hosted in Malaysia in October 2026.

• The Commonwealth Chess Association promotes chess activities and competitions among Commonwealth nations.

AWARDS

UNESCO–L’Oréal International Awards for Women in Science 2026

• UNESCO and Fondation L’Oréal honoured five women scientists with the UNESCO–L’Oréal International Awards for Women in Science 2026 on 19 May 2026.

• The 2026 awardees included Professor Liesl Zühlke, Professor Felice Jacka, Professor Sarah A. Teichmann, Professor Raquel Lia Chan, and Professor Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic.

• The awards recognise outstanding contributions in life and environmental sciences.

• Areas of recognition in 2026 included cardiovascular care, nutritional psychiatry, single-cell biology, agricultural biotechnology, and tissue engineering.

• The award ceremony will be held at UNESCO Headquarters on 11 June 2026.

• The selection was made by an independent international jury chaired by Professor Brigitte L. Kieffer.

• Professor Brigitte L. Kieffer is Research Director Emeritus at National Institute for Health and Medical Research and a former laureate of the programme.

• The UNESCO–L’Oréal programme promotes women’s participation and leadership in global scientific research.

NATIONAL NEWS

Sample Registration System Report 2024

• The 2024 Sample Registration System report recorded India’s crude death rate at 6.4 deaths per thousand population and the total fertility rate at 1.9 children per woman.

• The total fertility rate remained below the replacement level of 2.1 for the fifth consecutive year in India.

• The Sample Registration System is a large-scale demographic survey conducted by the Office of the Registrar General of India to estimate fertility, mortality and population indicators.

• India’s crude birth rate declined slightly from 18.4 in 2023 to 18.3 births per thousand population in 2024.

• The infant mortality rate improved from 25 in 2023 to 24 deaths per thousand live births in 2024.

• Cardiovascular diseases accounted for 32.1% of total deaths in 2024, while respiratory infection-related deaths increased to 5.7% during 2022-24.

• Deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents rose from 2.9% to 3.2%, and suicide-related deaths increased from 2.5% to 2.8%.

• The sex ratio at birth for 2022-24 stood at 918 girls per thousand male children, compared with 917 in 2021-23.

SPORTS

India’s Archery Coaching Setup for Asian Games & LA Olympics 2028

• Dave Cousins, former World No. 1 from the United States, has been appointed as the head foreign coach of India’s compound archery team.

• Dave Cousins will train archers at the Sports Authority of India centre in Sonepat until the 2028 Summer Olympics.

• Kisik Lee has been linked with India’s recurve archery programme for the Los Angeles Olympic cycle.

• South Korean coach Baek Woong Ki earlier resigned after being denied accreditation for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

• Italian coach Sergio Pagni rejoined as head coach of India’s compound archery team on 8 January 2026.

• Indian recurve archers Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das appointed former Commonwealth Games champion Rahul Banerjee as their personal coach in December 2024.

• Kirti Sharma qualified for the 2026 Asian Games, and coach Udham Singh will accompany the Indian women’s team.

• Recurve is currently the only archery discipline included in the Olympic Games, while both recurve and compound events feature in the Asian Games.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

International Big Cat Alliance Summit Postponed

• India postponed the first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit in New Delhi on 21 May 2026.

• The summit was earlier scheduled for 1 June or 1–2 June 2026 and was linked with the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS IV).

• The International Big Cat Alliance is a multilateral initiative for the conservation of big cats and was formally established on 12 March 2024.

• The IBCA currently includes 25 member countries and five observer nations.

• Big cats covered under the alliance include tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.

• The Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit was also deferred because several African countries are important partners in wildlife and big cat conservation efforts.

• The postponement was linked to the evolving Ebola virus health situation in parts of Africa and was decided after consultations with the African Union leadership.

• India stated that fresh dates for the IBCA Summit will be announced later and reaffirmed its commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.