LEGAL NEWS

Supreme Court Directions on Missing Children and Human Trafficking Cases

• The Supreme Court of India directed all police stations to register an FIR for every complaint related to missing children or missing persons.

• The order was issued on 22 May 2026 by a bench comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R. Mahadevan.

• In missing child cases, police must immediately register FIRs under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 without conducting a preliminary inquiry.

• The Court instructed police to presume kidnapping or abduction whenever a child is reported missing.

• Around 47,000 missing children in India remain untraced, highlighting concerns related to trafficking and child safety.

• All Anti-Human Trafficking Units were directed to become fully operational within four weeks.

• The Ministry of Home Affairs was asked to create a nationwide data grid linking police stations through a dedicated trafficking and missing persons portal.

• A committee headed by former Justice Mukta Gupta was constituted to prepare a uniform standard operating procedure for missing child investigations across India.

Delhi High Court Order on Vinesh Phogat’s Asian Games Trials

• The Delhi High Court permitted Vinesh Phogat to participate in the Asian Games 2026 wrestling selection trials.

• The selection trials are scheduled to be conducted on 30 and 31 May 2026 under the supervision of the Wrestling Federation of India.

• Revised eligibility rules issued in 2026 allowed only reigning national champions to compete in the trials.

• Vinesh Phogat was initially declared ineligible because she had been on maternity leave since December 2024.

• A Division Bench led by Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela heard the appeal against an earlier single-judge order.

• The court directed that the entire trial process should be video-recorded to ensure transparency.

• Independent observers from the Sports Authority of India and Indian Olympic Association were ordered to monitor the trials.

• The Asian Games, organised by the Olympic Council of Asia, are among the largest multi-sport events in the continent.

APPOINTMENT

Raghav Chadha Appointed Chairman of Rajya Sabha Committee on Petitions

• Raghav Chadha was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Petitions of the Rajya Sabha in May 2026.

• The appointment became effective from 20 May 2026 after the committee was reconstituted.

• C. P. Radhakrishnan nominated 10 members to the Committee on Petitions.

• The Committee on Petitions examines petitions submitted before the Rajya Sabha on public and legislative matters.

• The committee makes recommendations regarding public grievances and issues of national importance.

• Parliamentary committees in India help in detailed examination of legislative, administrative, and policy-related subjects.

• The Rajya Sabha committee includes members such as Harsh Mahajan, Gulam Ali, Jebi Mather Hisham, and P. Sandosh Kumar.

• The Committee on Petitions is one of the important parliamentary committees functioning under the Upper House of Parliament.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day for Biological Diversity 2026 and Odisha’s Seed Conservation Efforts

• The International Day for Biological Diversity is observed every year on 22 May under the Convention on Biological Diversity to promote biodiversity awareness.

• The 2026 theme, “Acting locally for global impact”, highlights the importance of community-based conservation practices.

• The Convention on Biological Diversity was introduced at the 1992 Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro.

• Odisha is known for tribal seed preservation practices that support biodiversity and climate-resilient agriculture.

• Women seed custodians in tribal areas conserve traditional millet, paddy, and pulse varieties suited to local soil and rainfall conditions.

• Community seed banks in the Eastern Ghats help protect indigenous crop diversity and strengthen local farming systems.

• The DIVERSIFARM-India project, supported by Fridtjof Nansen Institute and M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, promotes sustainable seed systems for farmers.

• Millets such as finger millet, pearl millet, and sorghum require less water and are important for sustainable farming in dry and rainfed regions.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Saudi Arabia Joins International Big Cat Alliance

• Saudi Arabia became the 26th member country of the International Big Cat Alliance on 22 May 2026.

• The International Big Cat Alliance is a global wildlife conservation initiative led by India and launched in 2023.

• The Union Cabinet approved the alliance in February 2024 to strengthen international cooperation for big cat protection.

• The alliance works for the conservation of seven major big cat species, including tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.

• The IBCA currently includes 26 member nations along with five observer countries.

• The alliance promotes collaboration through knowledge sharing, research support, and capacity-building programmes.

• It also focuses on biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecosystem management across member countries.

• Saudi Arabia expressed its intention to join the alliance in May 2026 before formally becoming a member.

India–Venezuela Energy Relations and Oil Diplomacy

• India and Venezuela are strengthening energy cooperation through discussions on crude oil trade and supply partnerships.

• Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez is expected to visit India for talks related to oil exports and bilateral energy ties.

• Venezuela possesses the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, mainly located in the Orinoco Belt region.

• India is among the largest global importers of crude oil and depends heavily on overseas energy supplies for domestic needs.

• India follows an energy diversification strategy by importing oil from West Asia, Africa, Russia, and the Americas.

• The Strait of Hormuz, situated between Iran and Oman, remains a crucial route for global petroleum transportation.

• The International Court of Justice, headquartered in The Hague, recently heard Venezuela’s territorial claims in the Guyana dispute.

• India–Venezuela relations continue to focus on energy security, petroleum diplomacy, and long-term crude oil cooperation.

India–Germany Higher Education and Academic Cooperation 2026

• India and Germany signed a Comprehensive Roadmap on Higher Education in January 2026 to strengthen academic and research cooperation.

• The agreement focuses on student exchange, joint research, institutional partnerships, and higher academic mobility.

• German preparatory programmes, called Studienkolleg, help international students meet university admission standards in Germany.

• Study Feeds and Desh Bhagat University launched a German Pathway Program with the first study year in India at no tuition cost.

• The programme follows German qualification recognition systems such as anabin and KMK for admission eligibility.

• Under the National Education Policy 2020, India invited top German universities to establish campuses in the country.

• DAAD continues to support scholarships, academic exchange, and research collaboration between Indian and German institutions.

• Germany remains a preferred destination for Indian students due to affordable education, strong research opportunities, easy visa pathways, and career prospects.

NATIONAL NEWS

NITI Aayog Committee on Education, Employment and Skilling

• NITI Aayog held the first meeting of the High Powered Education to Employment and Enterprise Standing Committee on 22 May 2026 in New Delhi.

• The committee was constituted under the Union Budget 2026–27 to improve coordination between education, skilling, and employment systems.

• Nidhi Chibber chaired the inaugural meeting of the committee.

• The panel focuses on employability, entrepreneurship, industry-oriented skilling, and growth of the services sector.

• Discussions included labour force participation, youth employment, and alignment of education outcomes with market demand.

• The committee also examined the impact of Artificial Intelligence and other frontier technologies on future jobs and skill requirements.

• India aims to achieve a 10% share in the global services market by 2047 through reforms in education and workforce development.

• The committee promotes coordination among the Centre, States, industries, academic institutions, and the skilling ecosystem for workforce preparedness.

Heatwave Conditions Across India in May 2026

• India recorded 97 of the world’s 100 hottest cities on 22 May 2026 during an intense heatwave across northern, central, and eastern regions.

• Balangir and Sasaram touched 48°C, while Varanasi recorded 47°C.

• The India Meteorological Department issued heatwave and severe heatwave warnings for several states until 27 May 2026.

• Heatwaves in India are generally experienced during the pre-monsoon season from April to June due to extremely high daytime temperatures.

• Low humidity levels between 6–8% combined with extreme heat increased dehydration, heat stress, and health risks.

• Andhra Pradesh reported over 325 suspected heatstroke cases between March and May 2026.

• AQI.in ranked Balangir as the hottest city in the world on 22 May 2026, with many Indian cities dominating the global list.

• Heatstroke is considered a serious medical emergency caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures and lack of hydration.

India’s Rooftop Solar Expansion and PM Surya Ghar Scheme

• India’s rooftop solar capacity reached 20.8 GW in 2025 after adding 7.1 GW of new installations during the year.

• Rooftop solar systems use photovoltaic panels installed on buildings for decentralised electricity generation.

• The residential sector contributed nearly 76% of rooftop solar installations in 2025, showing strong household participation.

• The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana was launched in February 2024 with a financial outlay of ₹75,021 crore.

• The scheme aims to provide rooftop solar systems to one crore households by FY 2026–27 along with up to 300 units of free electricity per month.

• By December 2025, more than 19 lakh rooftop solar systems had been installed under the scheme across India.

• Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh emerged as leading states in rooftop solar deployment during 2025.

• The Utility-Led Aggregation model expanded rooftop solar adoption across several states and Union Territories by May 2026.

STATE NEWS

Oil India’s Natural Gas Discovery in Rajasthan

• Oil India Limited announced a new natural gas discovery in the Dandewala Field of Jaisalmer on 22 May 2026.

• The discovery marks the first successful identification of natural gas in the shallower Sanu Formation of the field.

• The Dandewala Field lies in western Rajasthan, an important onshore hydrocarbon exploration region in India.

• The discovery well was drilled to a depth of nearly 950 metres during exploration activities.

• Testing showed an average gas inflow of around 25,000 standard cubic metres per day (SCMD).

• Preliminary estimates indicate about 75 million standard cubic metres (MMSCM) of Gas In Place resources in the newly identified zone.

• The natural gas from the Sanu Formation contains relatively low carbon dioxide content, making it commercially significant.

• Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted the discovery as an important development for energy exploration in western Rajasthan.

AWARDS

Major Abhilasha Barak and UN Military Gender Advocate Award 2025

• Major Abhilasha Barak received the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2025 in May 2026.

• She is serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon as Commander of the Female Engagement Team in the Indian Battalion.

• The award was established in 2016 by the Office of Military Affairs under the United Nations Department of Peace Operations.

• The honour recognises contributions toward gender equality and the Women, Peace and Security agenda in peacekeeping missions.

• United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 focuses on women’s participation and protection in conflict and peace processes.

• During her deployment in Lebanon, Major Barak conducted outreach programmes for women and adolescent girls and organised gender sensitisation training.

• She became the first woman combat helicopter pilot in the Indian Army in May 2022.

• Major Barak is the third Indian peacekeeper to receive the award after Major Suman Gawani and Major Radhika Sen.

SPORTS

Gurindervir Singh Sets New National Record in Men’s 100 Metres

• Gurindervir Singh created a new men’s 100 metres national record with a timing of 10.09 seconds on 23 May 2026.

• The record was achieved at the Federation Cup Athletics Championships held in Ranchi.

• He became the first Indian athlete to officially complete the men’s 100 metres in under 10.10 seconds.

• Before the final, Gurindervir Singh had earlier clocked 10.17 seconds in the semifinal round on 22 May 2026.

• Animesh Kujur briefly improved the national record with 10.15 seconds before Gurindervir reclaimed it in the final.

• In the final race, Animesh Kujur secured silver with 10.20 seconds, while Pranav Pramod won bronze with 10.29 seconds.

• Gurindervir Singh belongs to Punjab and also serves as an officer in the Indian Navy.

• His record timing qualified him for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.