Daily Current Affairs- 28th May 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 28th May 2026

Sikkim Becomes India’s Fifth Fully Literate State Under ULLAS Initiative

In the News: Sikkim was declared a fully literate state under the ULLAS initiative during a programme linked with the Sikkim University convocation in Gangtok. The declaration was made in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu. Sikkim became India’s fifth fully literate state after Mizoram, Goa, Tripura and Himachal Pradesh.

Key Points:

• ULLAS Initiative: ULLAS stands for Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society. It is linked with adult education, functional literacy and lifelong learning for persons aged 15 years and above.
• Fifth Fully Literate State: Sikkim joined Mizoram, Goa, Tripura and Himachal Pradesh in the group of fully literate states. The recognition reflects progress under the ULLAS framework and community-based literacy efforts. Additionally, three UTs namely Ladakh, Chandigarh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands have also been declared fully literate under ULLAS.
• NEP 2020 Link: ULLAS is aligned with the National Education Policy 2020. The programme focuses on foundational literacy, numeracy, life skills and continuing education among adult learners.

Assam Assembly Passes Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026, Creating History in Northeast India

In the News: The Assam Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026, making Assam the first northeastern state to pass such legislation. The Bill proposes a common legal framework for personal matters such as marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships. The development is linked with Article 44, personal law reform and state-level civil code legislation.

Key Points:

• UCC Bill Passed: Assam became the first state in the Northeast and the third BJP-ruled state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to move ahead with UCC legislation. The Bill was passed by the State Assembly on May 27, 2026.
• Major Provisions: The Bill bans polygamy and mandates registration of live-in relationships. It also seeks uniformity in civil matters related to marriage, divorce, inheritance and succession.
• Tribal Exemption: Scheduled Tribes in Assam have been kept outside the ambit of the Bill. This exemption is relevant because tribal communities often follow customary laws protected through constitutional and legal arrangements.
• Marriage Rules: The Bill fixes the minimum marriage age at 21 years for men and 18 years for women. It also prohibits polygamy within the framework of the proposed civil code.
• Constitutional Link: Uniform Civil Code is mentioned in Article 44 of the Constitution as a Directive Principle of State Policy. The Assam Bill reflects a state-level attempt to create uniform civil rules while retaining exemptions for tribal communities.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Launches ₹236 Crore Mission Queen Pineapple in Tripura

In the News: Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia launched the ₹236 crore Tripura Queen Pineapple Mission on May 27, 2026. The mission is a convergence-led initiative for pineapple cultivation and value-chain development in Tripura. It aims to promote Tripura’s GI-tagged Queen Pineapple as a premium agricultural brand.

Key Points:

• Mission Launch: The Mission Queen Pineapple was launched by Jyotiraditya Scindia along with Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha. It has been designed as a three-year roadmap from Q2 FY2026 to Q4 FY2028.
• GI-Tagged Product: Tripura Queen Pineapple has Geographical Indication status and is known for its aroma, low-fibre texture and distinct quality. The mission aims to convert this local strength into a stronger domestic and export-oriented brand.
• Value-Chain Focus: The mission covers production, aggregation, processing, branding, packaging and exports. It seeks to shift farmers from raw crop sales to higher-value participation across the full pineapple economy.
• Infrastructure Plan: The programme will create a hub-and-spoke post-harvest ecosystem with one central hub near Agartala airport and eight spoke collection centres. It will include grading facilities, cold storage, reefer logistics, solar cold storage and traceability systems.

Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Five New Judges Including Senior Advocate V Mohana

In the News: The Supreme Court Collegium recommended five names for appointment as judges of the Supreme Court of India. The recommendations include four High Court Chief Justices and Senior Advocate V. Mohana. The decision was taken in Collegium meetings held on May 22 and May 27, 2026.

Key Points:

• Five Names Recommended: The Collegium recommended Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli and Senior Advocate V. Mohana for elevation to the Supreme Court.
• High Court Chief Justices: Justice Sheel Nagu is Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar is Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva is Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
• Justice Arun Palli: Justice Arun Palli is Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. His parent High Court is the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
• Senior Advocate V. Mohana: V. Mohana is a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India. Her recommendation is significant because she has been recommended directly from the Bar.
• Judicial Appointments Process: Collegium recommendations are sent to the Union Government for appointment under the constitutional process. The development is linked with Supreme Court vacancies, judicial capacity and higher judicial appointments.

What Is SARTHAK-PDS? Key Features and Benefits of the New PDS Scheme

In the News: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved SARTHAK-PDS as an umbrella scheme to strengthen and modernise India’s Public Distribution System. The scheme has an outlay of ₹25,530 crore as Central share for the next five years. It integrates existing support for intra-state movement of foodgrains, Fair Price Shop dealer margins and technology-led PDS reforms.

Key Points:

• Full Form: SARTHAK-PDS stands for Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS. It is structured as an umbrella scheme for strengthening PDS implementation under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
• Integrated Schemes: It combines two ongoing schemes: assistance for intra-state movement of foodgrains and FPS dealer margins under NFSA, and SMART PDS for technology-based reforms in the distribution system.
• Financial Support: The scheme provides assured support for intra-state movement, handling of foodgrains and Fair Price Shop dealer margins. The revised norms are meant to support states and Union Territories in running the ration distribution network.
• PDS Modernisation: SARTHAK-PDS aims to create a unified, citizen-centric and interoperable PDS architecture. Its purpose is to improve last-mile delivery, reduce leakages and strengthen food security under NFSA.
• Beneficiary Coverage: The scheme supports the food security framework covering 81.35 crore persons under NFSA. It builds on earlier digitisation efforts such as end-to-end computerisation of TPDS, IM-PDS, SMART PDS and citizen-facing applications.

UN Blacklist Adds Israel and Russia for Sexual Violence

In the News: The United Nations has added Israeli and Russian armed and security forces to its annual blacklist on conflict-related sexual violence. The listing appears in the latest UN Secretary-General’s report on sexual violence in conflict zones. The development is important for international relations, human rights law, armed conflict reporting and the role of UN monitoring mechanisms.

Key Points:

• UN Blacklist: The UN blacklist is part of the Secretary-General’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence. It names state and non-state parties suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of sexual violence in armed conflicts.
• Israel’s Inclusion: Israeli armed and security forces were added for the first time in connection with allegations involving Palestinian detainees. Reported concerns relate to detention settings linked with Gaza and the West Bank. Israel has denied the allegations and criticised the listing.
• Russia’s Inclusion: Russian armed and security forces were also added in relation to the war in Ukraine. The UN report refers to documented cases involving prisoners of war and civilians held during the conflict. Russia has also rejected the allegations.
• Other Listed Parties: The UN blacklist includes several state and non-state parties across conflict zones such as Sudan, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Syria and Mali. Hamas had already been listed earlier and remains on the blacklist.

Russia to Build Kazakhstan’s First Nuclear Power Plant

In the News: Russia and Kazakhstan signed a $16.5 billion agreement for the construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant. The project will be built by Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom at Ulken, near Lake Balkhash. It is significant because Kazakhstan is the world’s top uranium producer but does not yet operate a nuclear power plant.

Key Points:

• Project Location: The nuclear power plant will be located at Ulken, near Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan. The location has become central to Kazakhstan’s plan to diversify its electricity generation and reduce dependence on coal-based power.
• Rosatom’s Role: Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, will lead the project. It secured the lead contract over rival bidders from China, France and South Korea, making the project an important example of Russia’s nuclear diplomacy in Central Asia.
• Reactor Technology: The plant will have two Russian VVER-1200 Generation III+ reactors. These reactors are part of Russia’s modern nuclear export portfolio and are designed for large-scale power generation.
• Timeline and Financing: Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the first reactor planned to become operational by early 2034. The project will be supported by a large Russian export loan, while Kazakhstan will participate in financing and implementation.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Hits Record 65 Sixes in IPL 2026, Surpasses Chris Gayle

In the News: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set a new six-hitting record in IPL 2026 by reaching 65 sixes in a single season. The 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals batter surpassed Chris Gayle’s previous single-season IPL record of 59 sixes from 2012. The record came during Rajasthan Royals’ Eliminator win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, where Sooryavanshi scored 97 runs off 29 balls.

Key Points:

• New Six-Hitting Record: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the batter with the most sixes in a single IPL season.His tally reached 65 sixes in IPL 2026, going past Chris Gayle’s 59 sixes in IPL 2012. The record is now an important sports current-affairs fact linked with IPL batting milestones.
• Performance Against SRH: The record-breaking innings came in the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sooryavanshi scored 97 off 29 balls and hit 12 sixes in that match. Rajasthan Royals won by 47 runs and moved into Qualifier 2.
• Surpassing Chris Gayle: Chris Gayle’s 2012 record had stood for more than a decade before Sooryavanshi crossed it. Gayle had set the benchmark while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
  Sooryavanshi’s achievement is significant because it came at the age of 15 in a high-pressure IPL season.
• Season Impact: Sooryavanshi’s 65 sixes also made him the leading six-hitter of IPL 2026.
  Reports noted that he had scored 680 runs at a strike rate above 240 after the Eliminator.
  His batting form became a major factor in Rajasthan Royals’ playoff campaign.