Daily Current Affairs- 2nd May 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 2nd May 2026

Government Notifies New Citizenship Rules, Streamlines OCI and Application Processes

In the News: The Union Home Ministry on April 30, 2026, notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026, amending the Citizenship Rules, 2009. The amendments introduce a comprehensive digital shift in processes for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders and citizenship applications, including e-OCI registration, online application portals, and new grievance redressal provisions.

Key Points:

• Notification of Amendment: The Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026 were notified via gazette on April 30, 2026, by the Ministry of Home Affairs, amending the Citizenship Rules, 2009. The changes introduce digital and procedural reforms across OCI registration, renunciation, and citizenship application processes.
• Minor Child and Passport Restriction: A new proviso has been added stating that a minor child cannot hold the passport of any other country at any time while simultaneously holding an Indian passport. Earlier rules only required a declaration that the child did not hold a foreign passport at the time of application.
• Digital Application Portal: All applications for OCI card registration and renunciation must now be submitted electronically through the official portal at https://ociservices.gov.in. The earlier paper-and-ink procedure under the old rules stands replaced. The government will also maintain its official register of OCI holders digitally.
• Introduction of e-OCI: The amendment introduces electronic OCI (e-OCI), allowing registered individuals to be issued either a physical OCI card or an electronic OCI registration. The previous requirement of submitting documents in duplicate has been removed.
• Renunciation and Cancellation of OCI: Upon renunciation, the individual must surrender the original physical card to the nearest Indian Mission, Post, or Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO). In case of government-ordered cancellation, the physical card must be returned; if not returned, the government can still declare it officially cancelled. For e-OCI holders, the government can cancel digital registration in its records directly.
• Fast Track Immigration Programme: OCI applicants must now sign a consent form to opt into the Fast Track Immigration (Trusted Traveller) Programme, agreeing to biometric data collection during OCI registration. This data may be shared for future fast-track applications or used for automatic enrolment in the programme.
• About the OCI Scheme: The OCI scheme was introduced through an amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955, in 2005. It provides registration to Persons of Indian Origin who were citizens of India on or after January 26, 1950, or were eligible to become citizens on that date. Individuals who are, or whose parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent was, a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh are ineligible for OCI status.

Om Birla Reconstitutes Parliamentary Committees for 2026–27: Full Details

In the News: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has reconstituted four key Parliamentary Committees for the year 2026–27, with effect from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027. The reconstituted committees are the Public Accounts Committee, the Estimates Committee, the Committee on Public Undertakings, and the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Key Points:

• Committees Reconstituted: The four Parliamentary Committees reconstituted for 2026–27 are: (1) Public Accounts Committee (PAC), (2) Estimates Committee, (3) Committee on Public Undertakings, and (4) Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The term runs from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027.
• Chairpersons Appointed: Congress MP K.C. Venugopal (Lok Sabha) has been appointed Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee; BJP MP Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal (Lok Sabha) will head the Estimates Committee; BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda will chair the Committee on Public Undertakings; and BJP MP Faggan Singh Kulaste (Lok Sabha) will lead the Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
• Committee Composition: The PAC has 22 members -- 15 from Lok Sabha and up to 7 from Rajya Sabha. The Estimates Committee has 30 members, all drawn exclusively from Lok Sabha. The Committee on Public Undertakings has 22 members -- 15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha. The Committee on Welfare of SCs and STs has 30 members -- 20 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.
• About the PAC: The Public Accounts Committee functions under Rule 308(1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. It examines whether public funds have been used as approved by Parliament, making it one of the most important financial oversight bodies in the legislature.
• Election of Chairpersons: Chairpersons of Parliamentary Committees are elected from among members through proportional representation using the single transferable vote system.
• Role of Parliamentary Committees: These committees play a crucial role in ensuring financial accountability and administrative oversight of the government. They examine reports, scrutinise government spending, and make policy recommendations to Parliament.

Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker Named Festival Director for 57th International Film Festival of India

In the News: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has appointed acclaimed filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker as the Festival Director for the 57th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), to be held in Goa. Gowariker, known for landmark films such as Lagaan, Swades, and Jodhaa Akbar, succeeds Shekhar Kapur, who had led the 55th and 56th editions of the festival.

Key Points:

• Appointment: Ashutosh Gowariker has been named Festival Director of the 57th IFFI by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. He takes over from filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who directed the two preceding editions of the festival.
• About Ashutosh Gowariker: A celebrated Indian filmmaker, Gowariker is best known for directing Lagaan (2001), Swades (2004), and Jodhaa Akbar (2008). He has had a long association with IFFI, having first attended the festival in 1984, and most recently served as Jury President for International Cinema at the 2024 edition.
• About IFFI: The International Film Festival of India was established in 1952, making it one of the oldest and most prestigious film festivals in Asia. Since 2004, it has been permanently hosted in Goa and serves as a major platform for showcasing global cinema and celebrating filmmaking excellence.
• Gowariker's Remarks: Expressing gratitude upon the appointment, Gowariker described it as a matter of immense pride and joy. He acknowledged the legacy built since 1952 by numerous festival teams and stated that carrying it forward is a great honour accompanied by a renewed sense of responsibility.

UN Secretary-General Election

In the News: The United Nations has formally initiated the process for the selection and appointment of its next Secretary-General, following the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 79/327 in September 2025. The process, governed by Article 97 of the UN Charter, is guided by principles of transparency and inclusivity. Interactive dialogues with nominated candidates were held on 21 and 22 April 2026 and broadcast live on UN WebTV.

Key Points:

• Process Initiation: A joint letter from the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council, published on 25 November 2025, formally launched the selection process. It invited nominations from Member States and outlined the guiding principles and timeline of the process.
• Governing Framework: The selection is based on General Assembly Resolution 79/327, adopted on 5 September 2025, which builds on earlier resolutions and introduces improvements to transparency and inclusivity in the appointment process under Article 97 of the UN Charter.
• Nomination Process: Member States or groups of Member States nominate candidates, who must submit a vision statement, curriculum vitae, and campaign financing disclosures. The Presidents of the General Assembly and Security Council jointly maintain and update a public list of candidates.
• Active Candidates: Five nominations have been received (in alphabetical order): Rafael Mariano Grossi (Argentina) -- nominated 26 November 2025, Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis (Costa Rica) -- nominated 3 March 2026 and Macky Sall (Burundi) -- nominated 2 March 2026.
• Withdrawn Candidacies: Two nominations were subsequently withdrawn on 25 March 2026 -- Michelle Bachelet Jeria (nominated by Chile, Brazil, and Mexico) and Virginia Gamba (nominated by the Maldives).
• Interactive Dialogues: In accordance with Resolution 79/327, the President of the General Assembly convened webcast interactive dialogues with all candidates on 21 and 22 April 2026, broadcast live on UN WebTV, allowing Member States to engage directly with the candidates.

Received NDMA Alert? India Tests New Cell Broadcast Emergency Warning System

In the News: The Government of India has formally launched its indigenously developed Cell Broadcast System for instant disaster alerting, with Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia announcing the initiative on social media. As part of the launch, a test notification accompanied by a siren alert was transmitted to citizens' mobile devices, displaying the message: "Alert citizens, safe nation -- no action is required by the public upon receipt of this message as this is a test message." The system has been developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Key Points:

• Formal Launch of Indigenous Cell Broadcast System: The Government of India has officially launched the Cell Broadcast (CB) System, an indigenously developed mobile-based disaster communication framework. The system enables instant, location-specific disaster alerts to be sent simultaneously to all mobile devices within a defined geographic area, ensuring near real-time delivery without requiring recipients to take any action during test transmissions.
• Cell Broadcast Technology: Unlike SMS-based alerts, the Cell Broadcast System transmits emergency messages to all mobile devices within a geo-targeted area simultaneously. It is particularly suited for time-critical emergencies such as tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning strikes, gas leaks, and chemical hazards, where speed and reach are critical.
• Indigenous Development by C-DOT: The CB system has been developed indigenously by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier R&D wing of the Department of Telecommunications. It is based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), as recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and reflects India's commitment to self-reliance in critical communication infrastructure.
• Existing SACHET System: Prior to the CB system, NDMA had operationalised the Integrated Alert System called SACHET, also developed by C-DOT, which delivers geo-targeted SMS alerts. SACHET is currently active across all 36 States and Union Territories and has transmitted over 134 billion SMS alerts in more than 19 Indian languages during natural disasters, weather warnings, and cyclonic events to date.
• How to Manage Alerts on Mobile Devices: Users can enable or disable Cell Broadcast test messages on their mobile devices via: Settings → Safety and Emergency → Wireless Emergency Alerts → Test Alerts. Once fully operationalised, the system will transmit alerts across all handsets regardless of test channel settings, ensuring maximum reach during actual emergencies.