Daily Current Affairs- 26th May 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 26th May 2026

Assam Introduces UCC Bill 2026 in Assembly, Proposing Major Personal Law Reforms

In the News: The Assam government introduced the Uniform Civil Code Bill in the State Assembly on May 25, 2026. Assam is the third state to introduce UCC legislation, after Uttarakhand (first to pass into law) and Gujarat (passed in March 2026). The Bill proposes major reforms in personal laws, including a ban on polygamy, compulsory registration of live-in relationships and uniform marriage-related provisions. It connects Article 44, personal laws, gender justice, federalism and Scheduled Tribe exemptions.

Key Points:

• Major Provisions: The Bill seeks to ban polygamy and make the registration of live-in relationships compulsory. It also proposes a common civil framework for matters such as marriage, divorce, succession and related personal law issues.
• Scheduled Tribe Exemption: The Bill provides that it will not apply to Scheduled Tribes residing in Assam. This exemption is linked to the customary laws followed by many tribal communities and their protection under constitutional and legal frameworks.
• Marriage Age Rules: The Bill fixes the minimum marriage age at 21 years for men and 18 years for women. It also prohibits polygamy under the proposed framework.
• Constitutional Link: Uniform Civil Code is mentioned under Article 44 of the Constitution as a Directive Principle of State Policy. DPSPs are not enforceable in courts, but they guide law-making by governments.

Oil India Finds New Gas-Bearing Zone in Rajasthan’s Dandewala Field

In the News: Oil India Limited has unlocked a new gas-bearing pay zone in Rajasthan’s Dandewala Field in Jaisalmer district. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the flow of natural gas from the shallower Sanu Formation was nearly 25,000 standard cubic metres per day. The discovery links domestic energy production, hydrocarbon exploration, import dependence and energy security.

Key Points:

• Location of Discovery: The new gas-bearing zone has been found in the Dandewala Field of Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan. The region is part of western Rajasthan’s hydrocarbon landscape.
• Gas Flow and Formation: The discovery recorded nearly 25,000 standard cubic metres per day of gas flow. It was reported from the shallower Sanu Formation, making it significant for exploration in already known fields.
• Oil India Limited: Oil India Limited is a state-owned Maharatna public sector company engaged in oil and gas exploration and production. The discovery strengthens its role in India’s upstream hydrocarbon sector.
• Energy Security Importance: The find can help strengthen domestic natural gas production and reduce dependence on imported fuel. Natural gas is also important as a transition fuel in India’s energy mix.
• Rajasthan’s Hydrocarbon Role: Rajasthan is already important for India’s oil and gas sector due to fields in the western desert region. The Dandewala discovery reinforces the energy potential of the state.

Government Launches PM-AJAY Portal for Real-Time Monitoring of SC Welfare Schemes

In the News: Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar launched the PM-AJAY Portal and AJAY Mobile App on May 26, 2026. The digital platform has been launched to strengthen implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana for Scheduled Caste welfare. It connects digital governance, welfare delivery, real-time monitoring and social justice schemes.

Key Points:

• About PM-AJAY: PM-AJAY stands for Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana. It is implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for socio-economic development of Scheduled Caste communities.
• Purpose of the Portal: The portal aims to shift scheme implementation from paper-based processing to end-to-end digital workflow. It will enable real-time monitoring, transparent governance and milestone-linked fund flow.
• Three Main Components: The portal covers Adarsh Gram, Grants-in-Aid and Hostel components under PM-AJAY. These relate to SC-majority village development, livelihood support and hostel infrastructure.
• Monitoring Indicators: The portal will monitor development in more than 47,000 SC-majority villages and track beneficiaries across scheme components. The Adarsh Gram component uses 50 socio-economic indicators across 10 developmental domains.
• AJAY Mobile App: The mobile app supports field-level monitoring, digital beneficiary registration, offline surveys and geo-tagged, time-stamped photographs. It is designed to improve inspection, reporting and beneficiary tracking.

Quad Unveils 5 Major Indo-Pacific Initiatives at Delhi Meet: What It Means

In the News: The Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in New Delhi on May 26, 2026, with India, the United States, Japan and Australia participating. The meeting announced major Indo-Pacific initiatives covering maritime surveillance, critical minerals, energy security, port infrastructure and emerging technologies. The developments are linked with India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, maritime security, supply-chain resilience and minilateral diplomacy.

Key Points:

• Quad Delhi Meet 2026: The meeting was the 11th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and was hosted by India in New Delhi. It focused on strengthening a free, open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific. The Quad members are India, the United States, Japan and Australia.
• Maritime Surveillance Initiative: The Quad launched the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration to improve maritime domain awareness. It will initially focus on the Indian Ocean Region through information sharing, expert exchanges and tabletop exercises. The initiative is linked with maritime security and illegal activities at sea.
• Critical Minerals Framework: The Quad announced a Critical Minerals Initiative Framework to coordinate investments in mining, processing and recycling. Critical minerals are essential for clean energy, electronics, defence and advanced technologies. The initiative also reflects concern over supply-chain concentration and China’s dominance in rare earths.
• Energy Security Initiative: The Quad launched an Indo-Pacific Energy Security initiative to strengthen regional energy resilience. It will focus on technology, management, policy coordination, market analysis and emergency response exercises. The initiative is relevant amid risks to global energy routes and supply chains.
• Emerging Technology Cooperation: The Quad discussed Open RAN cooperation, next-generation communication standards, digital identity standards and AI-based agricultural innovation. These initiatives show that Quad cooperation is not limited to defence and security. They also connect with digital infrastructure, 5G, 6G and technology governance.

India Overtakes UK to Become Sri Lanka’s Second-Largest Export Destination in 2026

In the News: India has overtaken the United Kingdom to become Sri Lanka’s second-largest export destination in 2026, according to Sri Lanka Export Development Board data reported in May 2026. The United States remained Sri Lanka’s largest export market, while India moved ahead of the UK during the January-April 2026 period. The development reflects growing India-Sri Lanka economic ties, regional trade integration and Sri Lanka’s export diversification.

Key Points:

• India’s New Position: India became Sri Lanka’s second-largest export market during January-April 2026. The United States remained Sri Lanka’s top export destination. The shift is significant because the United Kingdom had traditionally been one of Sri Lanka’s major Western export markets.
• Export Value to India: Sri Lanka’s exports to India rose by 8.9% to USD 364.15 million during January-April 2026. India had also emerged as Sri Lanka’s fastest-growing major export destination in the first quarter of 2026. This shows India’s growing role in Sri Lanka’s regional trade pattern.
• Q1 Growth Trend: During January-March 2026, Sri Lanka’s shipments to India rose 12.02% year-on-year to USD 287.49 million. This helped India overtake the UK during the first quarter as well. The trend highlights India’s increasing importance in Sri Lanka’s export recovery.
• Sectors Supporting Export Growth: Growth was supported by sectors such as coconut-based products, electronics, processed food, ICT and business process management services. Coconut-based products showed strong performance during the period. Apparel and tea exports faced pressure in some traditional markets.

Indian Scientist Discovers Loktak Protocluster

In the News: Indian astrophysicist Dr Ronaldo Laishram, associated with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, led an international team that discovered the Loktak Protocluster. The structure existed about 12.6 billion years ago, when the Universe was around 1.2 billion years old. It has been named after Manipur’s Loktak Lake because four galaxy concentrations are linked like floating islands in one larger system.

Key Points:

• About Loktak Protocluster: The Loktak Protocluster is a primitive galaxy cluster from the early Universe. Such protoclusters are considered the early building blocks of massive galaxy clusters seen in the present-day Universe.
• Scientific Discovery: The structure was discovered using the Subaru Telescope’s wide-field camera, Hyper Suprime-Cam. Scientists identified the dense galaxy region by tracing Lyman-alpha emitters, which are useful markers of young star-forming galaxies.
• Role of JWST: The James Webb Space Telescope studied the structure in greater detail. The study found that galaxies in dense regions were more extended than similar galaxies in less crowded environments.
• Naming Link with Manipur: The structure was named after Loktak Lake in Manipur. The name reflects how four separate galaxy concentrations are connected into one larger structure, resembling the lake’s floating phumdis.

Sports Ministry Notifies Rules for National Sports Board and Tribunal Under Governance Reform Act

In the News: The Union Government notified the National Sports Governance Board Rules, 2026 and the National Sports Tribunal Rules, 2026 on May 26, 2026. These rules were issued under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The reform aims to strengthen governance of sports bodies and create a dedicated system for resolving sports-related disputes.

Key Points:

• National Sports Board: The National Sports Board will oversee recognition and governance standards of National Sports Bodies. It will function as the central authority for ensuring compliance with governance, financial and ethical norms.
• Board Composition: The Board will have a Chairperson and two Members appointed by the Central Government. Their names will be recommended by a Search-cum-Selection Committee under the notified rules.
• National Sports Tribunal: The National Sports Tribunal will function as a dedicated adjudicatory body for sports-related disputes. It is expected to reduce dependence on civil courts and provide faster dispute resolution.
• Digital Process: The Tribunal rules provide for a dedicated portal for filing disputes, notices, documents and clarifications. They also provide for communication from the Tribunal, publication of orders, virtual hearings and digital maintenance of records.
• Governance Reform: The rules are part of a broader effort to make sports administration more transparent, accountable and professionally regulated. They are linked with institutional reform in national sports federations and athlete-related dispute handling.

Padma Awards 2026: President Murmu Honours 66 Distinguished Personalities at Rashtrapati Bhavan

In the News: President Droupadi Murmu presented Padma Awards 2026 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 25, 2026. In this first ceremony, 66 distinguished personalities were honoured, including 2 Padma Vibhushan, 6 Padma Bhushan and 58 Padma Shri awardees. For 2026, the President approved 131 Padma Awards to be conferred across two ceremonies.

Key Points:

• Total Padma Awards 2026: The approved list includes 131 Padma Awards for 2026. This includes 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards.
• Award Categories: Padma Vibhushan is given for exceptional and distinguished service. Padma Bhushan recognises distinguished service of high order, while Padma Shri recognises distinguished service in any field.
• Fields Covered: The awards recognise contributions in fields such as art, literature and education, science and engineering, medicine, social work, public affairs, sports, civil service, trade and industry.
• First Ceremony Details: The first Civil Investiture Ceremony honoured 66 personalities at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The remaining awardees are to be honoured in a second ceremony.