Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing Visits India

• U Min Aung Hlaing began a five-day official visit to India from 30 May to 3 June 2026.

• The visit includes engagements in New Delhi, Bodh Gaya, and Mumbai.

• He is scheduled to meet Narendra Modi on 1 June 2026 and Droupadi Murmu during the visit.

• India and Myanmar share a 1,643-km land border across Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.

• Bilateral cooperation covers trade, connectivity, border management, and defence under India’s Act East Policy.

• Min Aung Hlaing became Myanmar’s President in April 2026 after leading the military takeover that began in 2021.

• India and Myanmar are members of BIMSTEC.

• Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at approximately US$1.95 billion in 2025–26, covering petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and agricultural goods.

• Key connectivity projects include the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.

Rajesh Kumar Singh Given Additional Charge as DRDO Chairman

• Rajesh Kumar Singh was given the additional charge of Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development, and Chairman of DRDO on 29 May 2026.

• He assumed the additional responsibilities from 31 May 2026 following the completion of the tenure of Dr. Samir V. Kamat.

• Rajesh Kumar Singh is a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre.

• He has been serving as Defence Secretary since 1 November 2024.

• The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

• Defence Research and Development Organisation is India's premier defence research agency under the Ministry of Defence.

• DRDO is responsible for the development of military technologies, weapons systems, and strategic defence research for the armed forces.

• Rajesh Kumar Singh will hold the additional charge until a regular appointment is made or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

South Coast Railway (SCoR) Becomes India’s 18th Railway Zone

• The South Coast Railway (SCoR) zone will become operational from 1 June 2026.

• It is the 18th railway zone of Indian Railways.

• The headquarters of the new zone is located at Visakhapatnam.

• The zone was created under the framework linked to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

• The new railway zone includes the Vijayawada, Guntur and Guntakal divisions from South Central Railway.

• It also includes the newly created Visakhapatnam Division, formed after the reorganisation of the Waltair Division.

• The Ministry of Railways issued the gazette notification for operationalisation on 4 May 2026.

• Indian Railways unveiled a new 18-star logo to represent its 18 railway zones after the creation of SCoR.

Exercise PRAGATI 2026

• The Indian Army concluded the inaugural edition of Exercise PRAGATI 2026 on 30 May 2026 at Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya.

• The exercise was conducted from 18 to 31 May 2026.

• It was the first-ever multilateral military exercise of its kind hosted by the Indian Army.

• More than 400 military personnel from 13 countries participated in the exercise.

• Participating countries included Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and others.

• The exercise focused on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain.

• Activities included tactical drills, validation exercises, technology discussions, cultural exchanges and joint training programmes.

• Exercise PRAGATI aimed to enhance interoperability, military cooperation, mutual trust and collective readiness among participating armed forces.

General Anil Chauhan Completes Tenure as Chief of Defence Staff

• General Anil Chauhan completed his tenure as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs (DMA) on 30 May 2026.

• He was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at South Block, New Delhi, on the occasion of his retirement.

• General Chauhan had assumed office as India's second CDS on 28 September 2022.

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) extended his tenure until 30 May 2026 in September 2025.

• The Chief of Defence Staff is the highest-ranking military officer in India and serves as the principal military adviser to the Government.

• The CDS also functions as Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) under the Ministry of Defence.

• Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani was appointed as the next CDS on 9 May 2026.

• The CDS post plays a key role in tri-services integration, joint military planning, defence reforms, and coordination among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.