Current Affairs Quiz 20th May 2026 Quiz

Exp. Narendra Modi Conferred Norway’s Highest Civilian Honour During Historic Visit

‘Norway conferred its highest civilian honour, the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Oslo, marking his 32nd international honour from a foreign nation.

The visit of PM Modi to Norway is the first by a sitting Indian Prime Minister in 43 years, highlighting a significant milestone in India–Norway diplomatic relations.

PM Modi is also participating in the 3rd India–Nordic Summit in Oslo along with leaders of Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden; the summit was earlier held in Stockholm (2018) and Copenhagen (2022).

Exp. TVS Venu Group Acquires 9.9% Stake in Jana Small Finance Bank for ₹193.3 Crore

The TVS Venu Group has acquired a 9.9% stake in Jana Small Finance Bank for ₹193.3 crore, marking a significant strategic investment in the banking sector.

The stake acquisition will be completed through a mix of primary warrant subscription and secondary share purchase, including a 4.9% direct holding by TVS Motor Company.

Exp. ICICI Bank and Visa Launch India’s First USD-Denominated Debit Card for NRIs at GIFT City

ICICI Bank, in partnership with Visa, has launched India’s first USD-denominated debit card for NRI customers from its IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) at GIFT City, Gujarat.

The card is linked to ICICI Bank’s USD Global Savings Account and is built on Visa’s premium Infinite platform, enabling seamless global transactions across ATMs, POS terminals, and e-commerce platforms.

A key feature of the card is zero markup on USD transactions worldwide, allowing NRIs to avoid currency conversion charges and supporting cost-efficient international payments.

Exp. Prudential plc to Acquire 75% Stake in Bharti Life Insurance Company Ltd in Major Insurance Sector Deal After 100% FDI Approval

In the first major insurance sector deal after the government allowed 100% FDI in insurance, Bharti Enterprises announced that Prudential plc will acquire a 75% stake in Bharti Life Insurance Company Ltd for an initial ₹3,500 crore.

The deal also includes a potential additional payment of up to ₹700 crore based on the fulfilment of certain conditions, highlighting a significant cross-border investment in India’s insurance sector.

With this transaction, Bharti Life Insurance becomes the fifth insurance company to have 75% FDI participation, marking a key development following the liberalisation of the sector.

Exp. Bhupender Yadav Inaugurates ‘Lion’ Species Spotlight Event at Sasan Gir Ahead of IBCA Summit 2026

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the ‘Lion’ Species Spotlight Event at Sasan Gir, Gujarat, as part of the Pre-Summit activities for the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026.

The event highlighted India’s successful lion conservation model and focused on global cooperation among lion-range countries, along with discussions on challenges like habitat loss, climate change, and human–wildlife conflict.

During the programme, a ‘Lion Conservation Brochure’ was launched, along with presentations and educational films showcasing conservation efforts for big cats, with participation from students and other stakeholders.

Exp. 16 May – International Day of Living Together in Peace

The International Day of Living Together in Peace is observed annually on 16 May, promoting harmony, unity, and peaceful coexistence among communities worldwide.

Theme 2026 – Living Together in Peace: Building Trust through Dialogue, Inclusion and Reconciliation

The observance is linked to UN initiatives such as the International Year for a Culture of Peace (2000) and the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for Children of the World (2001–2010), declared by the United Nations General Assembly.

Exp. 20 May – International HR Day

International HR Day is observed on 20 May every year to recognise and appreciate the role of Human Resources professionals in organisations worldwide.

The day highlights the importance of HR in talent management, employee well-being, workplace culture, and organisational growth.

Exp. Viyona Fintech Secures NPCI Certification for End-to-End UPI, IMPS and Mobile Banking Infrastructure

Viyona Fintech has secured NPCI certification for its technology framework across key payment systems, including UPI Acquirer, UPI Issuer, IMPS, and IBMB integrations.

With this achievement, the Hyderabad-based company joins a select group of fintech infrastructure firms building end-to-end payment orchestration systems aligned with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) standards.

The certification enables Viyona Fintech to operate across the full UPI ecosystem, including merchant acceptance (QR acquiring) and customer-side issuance infrastructure, strengthening its role in digital payments.

Exp. Narendra Modi Announces India–Norway Triangular Development Cooperation Pact for Global South Development

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India and Norway have signed a triangular development cooperation agreement aimed at supporting human development initiatives across the Global South.

The agreement strengthens international collaboration for development assistance, focusing on capacity building and welfare-oriented projects in developing countries.

Exp. GE Aerospace Invests ₹100 Crore in Pune Facility

GE Aerospace has announced a fresh investment of ₹100 crore in its manufacturing facility located in Pune, strengthening its aerospace production capabilities in India.

With this new investment, the total investment in the Pune facility has crossed ₹510 crore, highlighting the company’s continued expansion in the Indian aerospace sector.

GE Aerospace also operates a Technology Centre in Bengaluru, supporting engineering and innovation activities in India.

Exp. 20 May – World Bee Day

World Bee Day is observed every year on 20 May to raise awareness about the importance of bees and other pollinators in maintaining ecological balance and global food security.

Theme 2025 – Bee Together for People and the Planet – A partnership that sustains us all.

The day highlights the crucial role of bees in pollinating crops, supporting biodiversity, and ensuring sustainable agriculture and food production systems.

It also aims to promote conservation of bees by addressing threats such as habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and declining bee populations worldwide.

Exp. Former England Test Captain MJK Smith Passes Away at 92

Former England Test captain MJK Smith (Mike Smith) passed away at the age of 92. He played 50 Test matches for England and captained the team in 25 of them.

MJK Smith made his Test debut against New Zealand in 1958 and played his final Test against Australia in 1972. He was also a dual-sport athlete, representing England in rugby union with one international cap in 1956.

Exp. RBI Appoints Gunveer Singh as ED to Head Payment and Settlement Systems

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Shri Gunveer Singh as Executive Director (ED).

Before his promotion, he served as Chief General Manager-in-Charge of the Department of Payment and Settlement Systems and had over three decades of experience in areas like banking supervision, risk monitoring, and government banking.

Shri Gunveer Singh will now head the Department of Payment and Settlement Systems and has also worked as a payment systems expert at the Central Bank of Oman.

About Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

• Founded – 1 April 1935
• RBI Nationalized – 1 January 1949
• Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
• RBI set up – Hilton Young Commission
• 1st Governor – Sir Osborne Smith (Australia)
• 1st Indian Governor – CD Deshmukh
• 26th Governor – Sanjay Malhotra;26th