One Liner Current AFfairs
May 20&21, 2026
| Event/Development | Key Highlights |
|---|---|
| BIS Notifies E22–E30 Fuel Norms | The Bureau of Indian Standards notified standards for E22, E25, E27, and E30 ethanol-blended petrol under IS 19850:2026, allowing up to 30% ethanol blending in gasoline for positive ignition engine vehicles. The move supports cleaner fuels, reduced crude oil imports, and domestic biofuel production, though nationwide E30 rollout is not yet mandatory. |
| Ayush Anudan Portal Launched | Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav launched the ‘Ayush Anudan Portal’ under the Ayush Grid initiative to digitise funding proposal submission, approval, and monitoring in the AYUSH sector. The portal integrates with NGO Darpan for verification and reduces manual paperwork. |
| CBI Launches ‘ABHAY’ Helpbot | The Central Bureau of Investigation launched AI-based helpbot ‘ABHAY’ to help citizens verify fake notices linked to cyber fraud and digital arrest scams. Users can upload suspicious notices after OTP verification to check authenticity. |
| Bharat Forge Marine Gas Turbine Facility | Bharat Forge signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government to establish India’s first private-sector Marine Gas Turbine Repair, Overhaul, and Development Complex in Visakhapatnam for indigenous naval turbine capabilities. |
| PM Modi Visits Netherlands | Narendra Modi visited Netherlands during May 16–17, 2026. Both nations elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership, adopted a 2026–2030 cooperation roadmap, signed 17 agreements, and the Netherlands returned 11th-century Chola copper plates to India. |
| Green Dealer Financing Scheme | Mahindra & Mahindra and DBS Bank India launched India’s first sustainability-linked dealer financing scheme in the automobile sector. Dealers meeting ESG benchmarks will receive preferential financing benefits. |
| RBI Cancels Yashwant Co-operative Bank Licence | The Reserve Bank of India cancelled the licence of Yashwant Co-operative Bank due to poor financial health and regulatory violations. Eligible depositors will receive insurance coverage up to Rs 5 lakh through DICGC. |
| UNESCO–L’Oréal Awards 2026 | UNESCO and L’Oréal Foundation honoured five women scientists for contributions in life sciences and environmental sciences under the UNESCO–L’Oréal International Awards for Women in Science 2026. |
| Bharat Singh Chauhan Re-Elected | Bharat Singh Chauhan was re-elected Chairman of the Commonwealth Chess Association for 2026–2030 during the AGM in Sri Lanka. |
| Medha Kulkarni Appointed Panel Chairperson | Medha Vishram Kulkarni was appointed Chairperson of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change. |
| Liberty Mutual Raises Stake | Liberty Mutual Insurance increased its stake in Liberty General Insurance from 55.4% to 74% after India approved 100% FDI in the insurance sector. |
| DRDO Completes ULPGM-V3 Trials | The Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully completed trials of the UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 in both air-to-ground and air-to-air modes using indigenous UAV platforms. |
| ESA–CAS Launch SMILE Satellite | European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences launched the SMILE satellite aboard the Vega-C rocket from French Guiana to study solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere interactions. |
| B.C. Khanduri Passes Away | Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri passed away at the age of 91 in Dehradun. He was also a retired Army officer and AVSM awardee. |
| Shyam Srinivasan Launches Book | Former Federal Bank CEO Shyam Srinivasan launched his leadership book Better Never Stops focusing on resilience, leadership, and banking sector transformation. |
| International Museum Day 2026 | International Museum Day 2026 was observed on May 18 with the theme “Museums Uniting a Divided World,” coordinated annually by ICOM. |
| World AIDS Vaccine Day 2026 | World AIDS Vaccine Day 2026 was observed on May 18 to promote awareness about HIV vaccine research and recognise contributions of researchers and healthcare workers. |
| International Day for Women in Maritime 2026 | International Day for Women in Maritime 2026 was observed on May 18 with the theme “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence.” |