Current Affairs Quiz 28th May 2026 Quiz

Exp. Government Forms High-Level Committee to Study Demographic Changes and Population Stabilisation

The Union Government has constituted a High-Level Committee to study demographic changes caused by illegal immigration and other abnormal factors, with a focus on population trends and national impact.

The committee will also recommend an appropriate institutional mechanism for population stabilisation and has been asked to submit its report within one year, extendable by six months if required.

The panel will be headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar and includes former IAS officer Durga Shanker Mishra, retired IPS officer Balaji Srivastava, Census officials, and economist Dr. Shamika Ravi.

According to recent demographic data, India’s birth rate declined from 21 in 2014 to 18.3 in 2024, while the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) dropped to 2.0, below the replacement level of 2.1.

Exp. Dr. Virendra Kumar Launches PM-AJAY Portal and Mobile App for Scheduled Caste Welfare

Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar launched the PM-AJAY Portal and AJAY Mobile App to improve the implementation and monitoring of Scheduled Caste welfare schemes.

PM-AJAY stands for Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana, a Central Government scheme aimed at the socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes (SCs).

The scheme focuses on poverty reduction, education improvement, skill development, self-employment, income generation, and infrastructure development in SC-dominated villages.

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is a merger of three earlier Centrally Sponsored Schemes — Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY).

Exp. Nirmala Sitharaman Launches SIDBI MachFin Mart, RRB Co-Lending Portal and MoRE Initiative to Strengthen MSME Ecosystem

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched multiple SIDBI initiatives in Mumbai during the 37th Foundation Day celebration of SIDBI to strengthen the MSME ecosystem.

SIDBI launched the MachFin Mart, a digital platform that enables MSMEs to access machinery through a structured marketplace supporting price discovery, standardisation, and technology adoption.

The RRB Co-Lending Portal was introduced to strengthen partnerships between SIDBI and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), improving credit flow to rural and underserved areas.

SIDBI also launched the MoRE (Modernisation of Rural Enterprises) initiative to support 10,000 rural micro and artisanal units over the next three years through cluster-based interventions.

About Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

• Founded – 2 April 1990
• Jurisdiction – Ministry of Finance
• Headquarters – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• Chairman & MD – Manoj Mittal (replace Siva S Ramann)

Exp. RBI Tightens Co-operative Bank Governance: Introduces 3-Year Cooling-Off Period for Directors After 10-Year Tenure

Reserve Bank of India has introduced a mandatory 3-year cooling-off period for directors of Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) and Rural Co-operative Banks (RCBs) after completing 10 continuous years on the board.

During the cooling-off period, directors are not barred from joining the board of another bank, provided they are otherwise eligible as per the RBI (UCBs & RCBs Governance) Amendment Directions, 2026.

The rule has been introduced to strengthen governance and prevent circumvention of provisions under the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2020.

Exp. Droupadi Murmu Confers Padma Awards 2026 to 66 Eminent Personalities at Rashtrapati Bhavan Civil Investiture Ceremony

Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Awards 2026 to 66 eminent personalities at the first Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, including Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri awards.

Out of 66 awardees, 2 were awarded Padma Vibhushan, 6 received Padma Bhushan, and 58 were conferred Padma Shri for distinguished contributions across various fields.

Film actor Dharmendra Singh Deol was awarded Padma Vibhushan (posthumously), with the honour received by his wife and MP Hema Malini.

Renowned violin maestro Dr. N. Rajam was also honoured with Padma Vibhushan for her exceptional contribution to Indian classical music.

Padma Bhushan recipients included Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Shatavadhani Dr R Ganesh, industrialist Uday Kotak, and Dr. Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaiswamy for their contributions in public affairs, art, trade, and medicine.

The remaining Padma Shri awardees include personalities like Harmanpreet Kaur Bhuller and Taga Ram Bheel, with the awards recognising excellence across fields such as sports, arts, science, and social service.

For the year 2026, the President has approved conferment of 131 Padma awards including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards. The remaining Padma awardees will be conferred in the second round of the ceremony to be held later.

Exp. AIIB Launches USD 10 Billion Facility to Support Member Nations Affected by West Asia Conflict

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), where India is the second-largest shareholder after China, has launched a USD 10-billion fund facility to support member countries affected by the West Asia conflict.

The facility, named Energy, Food Security and Economic Resilience Facility, provides time-bound financing over two years to address energy shortages, food security challenges, and economic instability.

AIIB, established in 2016 with over 100 member countries, aims to strengthen resilience in developing economies by supplementing its regular financing instruments through this special support package.

Exp. Cristian Mungiu Wins Palme d’Or 2026 for Norwegian Drama Fjord at Cannes Film Festival

Cristian Mungiu won the Palme d’Or top prize at the Cannes Film Festival for the Norwegian drama Fjord, marking his second Palme d’Or victory.

Mungiu previously won the Cannes top honour in 2007 for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days and has now become the 10th filmmaker to win the Palme d’Or twice.

The Grand Prix second prize was awarded to political thriller Minotaur, directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev, while this year’s jury was headed by South Korean director Park Chan-wook.

Exp. PT Usha Releases “India’s First Olympic Gold” Book Celebrating Historic 1928 Hockey Triumph

The book India’s First Olympic Gold was released by PT Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association, and it highlights India’s historic Olympic achievement in hockey.

It commemorates India’s first-ever Olympic gold medal, won by the men’s field hockey team at the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Olympics.

The 1928 team, then representing British India, defeated the host nation Netherlands to secure the historic gold medal.

Exp. Gurindervir Singh Creates History with 10.09s 100m Run

Gurindervir Singh created history by becoming the fastest Indian ever, clocking 10.09 seconds in the 100m, and becoming the first Indian to break the 10.1-second barrier.

His performance also bettered the 2026 Commonwealth Games qualifying mark (10.16s) set by the Athletics Federation of India and is currently the second-fastest time in Asia this season.

In the same event, Vishal TK also made history by becoming the first Indian to run the 400m under 45 seconds, marking a double national record breakthrough in a single day.

Exp. 25 – 31 May – The International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories

The International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories (25–31 May) is observed annually by the UN General Assembly to support the rights of people living in remaining colonial territories.

It focuses on 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, promoting their right to self-determination and encouraging their political, economic, and social development.

Exp. 25 May – World Football Day

World Football Day is observed globally on  25 May to celebrate the sport of football and its role in promoting unity, peace, and international cooperation among nations.

The day marks the historic first international football tournament held on 25 May 1924 in Paris during the Olympic Games, involving teams from all regions.

In 2024, the UN General Assembly officially declared 25 May as World Football Day through Resolution A/RES/78/281, recognizing football’s global cultural and developmental importance.

Exp. Raghav Chadha Appointed Chairman of Rajya Sabha Committee on Petitions After Panel Reconstitution

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has been appointed as the Chairman of the Committee on Petitions in the Upper House after its reconstitution.

The committee was restructured by Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, who nominated 10 members, including Raghav Chadha and other MPs from different parties.

Separately, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat also announced the nomination of Dr. Menaka Guruswamy to the Joint Committee on the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Recent Appointments

• Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau – Anurag Garg; till 31 July 2027
• First Indian Elected Fellow of Society of Experimental Test Pilots – K. K. Venugopal
• Chairman of Commonwealth Chess Association – Bharat Singh Chauhan (for term 2026–2030)
• CEO of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) – Saurabh Vijay
• MD & CEO of Tata Chemicals for 2026–27– R Mukundan

Exp. 27 May 2026 – World Otter Day

World Otter Day is observed on the last Wednesday of May every year to raise awareness about otters and the need for their conservation worldwide. In 2026, it was celebrated on 27 May.

The day highlights the importance of protecting otter habitats, as many otter species are threatened due to pollution, habitat loss, and illegal hunting.

Exp. Venkaiah Naidu and H.D. Deve Gowda Launch Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Book “Apnapan” on Governance and Public Welfare

The book “Apnapan: Narendra Modi sang mere anubhav”, written by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, was launched in New Delhi by former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda.

The book highlights the collaborative governance approach and experiences of working together for resolving state-level issues and public welfare initiatives.

Recent Books

• Apnapan: Narendra Modi sang mere anubhav – Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• The Library Man of India: The Story of P.N. Panicker – P. P. Sathyan; released by VP
• A Man for All Seasons: The Life of K.M. Panikkar – Narayani Basu
• The Bench, The Bar and The Bizarre – Tushar Mehta; released by Amit Shah
• The Lawful and The Awful – Tushar Mehta; released by Amit Shah

Exp. Ahmedabad to Host 1st World Yogasana Championship 2026

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that the 1st World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad marks a major step in promoting India’s traditional yoga practice as a global sporting discipline.

He highlighted that Yogasana reflects India’s soft power, promoting physical fitness, mental well-being, and healthy living, with participation expected from around 75 countries and over 500 participants.

The Minister emphasised global acceptance of yoga, noting its origin in India, and also launched the official mascot, jersey, and championship film for the 2026 event, aiming to boost international recognition.