Daily Current Affairs: 23rd May, 2026
Q1. In May, 2026, Dr. Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit (IFS: 2004) has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to which West Asian country?
(a) Oman
(b) Kuwait
(c) Bahrain
(d) Qatar
(e) Saudi Arabia
Answer: c
Solution:
Dr. Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit (IFS:2004), presently High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Q2. In May, 2026, Dr. Ajay Kumar has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to which African nation?
(a) Kenya
(b) South Africa
(c) Nigeria
(d) Tanzania
(e) Uganda
Answer: e
Solution:
Dr. Ajay Kumar (IFS:2002), presently posted at Embassy of India in Washington, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Uganda.
Q3. The International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated annually on 22 May. What is the official global theme for the 2026 edition?
(a) From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity
(b) Our Solutions are in Nature
(c) Acting locally for global impact
(d) We’re part of the solution #ForNature
(e) Mainstreaming Biodiversity; Sustaining People and their Livelihoods
Answer: c
Solution:
- International Day for Biological Diversity 2026 is observed every year on 22 May to raise global awareness about biodiversity conservation and the rapid loss of species across the planet.
- The observance encourages collective action to protect Earth’s ecosystems, wildlife, and natural resources.
- The theme for International Day for Biological Diversity 2026 is “Acting Locally for Global Impact.”
- The theme highlights the importance of local-level conservation efforts in addressing global environmental challenges and preserving biodiversity.
- In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed 22 May as the International Day for Biological Diversity.
Q4. Who was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly in May, 2026?
(a) Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma
(b) Shri Ranjeet Kumar Dass
(c) Shri Sarbananda Sonowal
(d) Shri Biswajit Daimary
(e) Shri Hitendra Nath Goswami
Answer: b
Solution:
Ranjeet Kumar Dass, a four-time MLA from the Bharatiya Janata Party, was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly on 21 May 2026.
Q5. In May 2026, the Delhi Government launched the “Hauslon ki Udaan 2026-27” scheme. What is the primary objective of this state initiative?
(a) Identifying and nurturing the hidden artistic talent of Delhi’s youth
(b) Providing subsidized electric scooters to college students
(c) Offering free coding bootcamps to unemployed graduates
(d) Distributing sports equipment kits to local schools
(e) Financing young entrepreneurs through collateral-free microloans
Answer: a
Solution:
- The Delhi Government announced the launch of the “Talent Hunt Scheme – Hauslon Ki Udaan 2026–27” on 20 May 2026.
- The initiative aims to identify, nurture, and provide a national platform for the hidden talents of youth in Delhi.
- The scheme seeks to provide equal opportunities to young people from diverse social and economic backgrounds and help channel their creative potential in a constructive direction.
- The programme will be implemented across all 70 Assembly constituencies of the national capital.
- A budget allocation of ₹10 crore has been earmarked for the implementation of the scheme.
- Youth between the ages of 16 and 35 years can register free of cost through the official portal delhitalenthunt.com.
- The competition will include seven major categories such as dancing, singing, acting, and digital art.
Q6. What does the acronym “SHATAYU” stand for in the context of the newly launched geriatric caregiver dashboard?
(a) Senior Health Assistance and Technological Aid for Your Utility
(b) Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training For Your Utility
(c) Systematic Home Assistance and Trained Attendants Youth Union
(d) Senior Healthcare Advanced Treatment and Yield Optimization Unit
(e) State Holistic Assistance and Tracking of Aged Citizens Utility
Answer: b
Solution:
- The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the “JEEVAN” mobile application and the “SHATAYU” Geriatric Caregiver Dashboard to strengthen support systems for senior citizens in India.
- JEEVAN stands for “Joint Elderly Empowerment & Virtual Assistance Network.”
- SHATAYU stands for “Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training For Your Utility.”
- The initiatives aim to promote the safety, care, dignity, and empowerment of senior citizens while strengthening the elder-care ecosystem through technology and caregiving support.
- The JEEVAN mobile application has been developed as a dedicated digital platform to improve healthcare access, welfare support, safety, and social inclusion for senior citizens.
- The application provides information on government welfare schemes, emergency assistance services, support facilities, and details of senior citizen homes supported by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- The SHATAYU dashboard has been developed to strengthen caregiving services and support systems for senior citizens across the country.
Q7. NCDEX launched India’s first exchange-traded weather derivatives contract. What is the official name given to this innovative financial product?
(a) WEATHERINDEX
(b) MONSOONHEDGE
(c) BOMBAYRAIN
(d) RAINMUMBAI
(e) AGROMONSOON
Answer: d
Solution:
- National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange announced the launch of RAINMUMBAI in May 2026.
- RAINMUMBAI is India’s first SEBI-approved exchange-traded weather derivatives contract.
- The launch marks India’s entry into a regulated market for trading weather-related risks and monsoon variability.
- The contract is designed to help businesses hedge losses arising from unpredictable weather conditions and fluctuating monsoon patterns.
- Unlike conventional insurance products, weather derivatives are settled on the basis of observed weather data instead of physical assessment of losses, allowing quicker payouts and lower operational complexity.
- Weather derivatives are widely used internationally in sectors such as agriculture, power, construction, logistics, tourism, and energy, where revenue is significantly affected by weather conditions.
- RAINMUMBAI was developed by NCDEX in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology Bombay using rainfall data from Mumbai.
- The contract has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
- Rainfall data for the contract will be sourced from the India Meteorological Department through surface rainfall observations and Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) located at Santacruz and Colaba in Mumbai.
- The contract will track deviations in actual rainfall from Mumbai’s Long Period Average (LPA) during the monsoon season.
- Trading will be available only for the monsoon months of June, July, August, and September in line with Mumbai’s rainfall pattern.
Q8. In May, 2026, which prestigious international award was bestowed upon ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)?
(a) Von Karman Award
(b) Goddard Astronautics Award
(c) Space Pioneer Award
(d) Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy
(e) Collier Trophy
Answer: b
Solution:
- Indian Space Research Organisation’s Chandrayaan-3 was honoured with the prestigious Goddard Astronautics Award 2026 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
- The award was presented in Washington, D.C. on 21 May 2026 during the AIAA ASCEND 2026 Conference.
- On 23 August 2023, Chandrayaan-3 created history by becoming the first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing near the Moon’s south pole.
- The lunar south pole is considered scientifically and strategically important because it had not previously been explored at the surface level.
- Vinay Kwatra received the award on behalf of ISRO during the ceremony.
Q9. President Nikos Christodoulides paid his first official State visit to India in May 2026. He is the Head of State of which Mediterranean nation?
(a) Greece
(b) Malta
(c) Republic of Cyprus
(d) Egypt
(e) Turkey
Answer: c
Solution:
- At the invitation of MP Narendra Modi, President of the Republic of Cyprus H.E. Mr. Nikos Christodoulides is paying a State visit to India from 20 to 23 May 2026.
- President Christodoulides is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Constantinos Kombos, Alexis Vafeades, senior government officials, and business leaders.
- This marks the first visit of Nikos Christodoulides to India in his capacity as the President of Cyprus.
Q10. During the State visit of the President of Cyprus to India in May 2026, to which diplomatic level were the bilateral relations between the two countries officially elevated?
(a) Comprehensive Economic Partnership
(b) Strategic Partnership
(c) Global Green Alliance
(d) Free Trade Coalition
(e) Privileged Defense Cartel
Answer: b
Solution:
- During the State visit of President of the Republic of Cyprus H.E. Mr. Nikos Christodoulides to India from 20 to 23 May 2026, India and Cyprus elevated their bilateral ties to the level of a Strategic Partnership.
- The decision marked a significant step in strengthening cooperation between the two countries across areas such as trade, investment, connectivity, diplomacy, and regional cooperation.