21 May 2026 Current Affairs

Daily CA One-Liner: May 21

A clean and reader-friendly current affairs roundup with a natural human touch

• The Government of Uttarakhand announced a ₹450 crore ropeway project connecting Rishikesh with the famous Neelkanth Mahadev Temple to improve pilgrimage tourism and connectivity.
• India is witnessing rapid infrastructure growth through major Central Government projects involving highways, railways, airports, industrial corridors, ports, energy networks, and urban development initiatives.

• Indira Gandhi International Airport is preparing to introduce its first automated air train system by 2029 to improve passenger movement across airport terminals.
• The Government of West Bengal approved the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission for state employees and pensioners during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
• India officially notified new fuel standards for higher ethanol-blended petrol variants such as E22, E25, E27, and E30, strengthening the country’s transition towards cleaner fuels and bio-energy.
• Indian Railways approved a ₹238 crore safety and infrastructure modernisation project for the Jammu–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra rail section under the Northern Railway Zone.
• Google and Blackstone launched a new $5 billion AI cloud infrastructure venture aimed at boosting global artificial intelligence computing capacity.
• Bharat Forge Limited signed an MoU with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to establish India’s first private-sector Marine Gas Turbine facility.
• The Reserve Bank of India decided not to activate the Countercyclical Capital Buffer at present, citing stable banking and economic conditions.
• The Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance organised a workshop in New Delhi on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Amendment) Act, 2026 to discuss reforms and implementation strategies.
• The Government of India selected SBI Ventures as the fund manager for the ₹20,000 crore Maritime Investment Fund aimed at strengthening India’s maritime sector.
• Mahindra & Mahindra and DBS Bank India partnered to launch India’s first sustainability-linked dealer financing programme in the automobile industry.
• The Reserve Bank of India appointed Gunveer Singh as Executive Director with effect from 18 May 2026.
• Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi took oath as the new Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Iraq.
• Tonbo Imaging secured a defence contract from the Indian Navy under the ADITI 3.0 innovation framework.
• India is set to receive the fourth squadron of the Russian-origin S-400 Triumf, further strengthening the country’s air defence network.
• Larsen & Toubro entered into a strategic partnership with France-based Exail Technologies to provide advanced unmanned mine countermeasure systems for the Indian Navy.
• Researchers developed a new ultrathin flexible film capable of converting tiny temperature variations into electrical signals, opening possibilities for flexible electronics and smart sensors.
• Scientists from the CSIR–National Geophysical Research Institute identified an ancient underground river channel beneath the Prayagraj–Kanpur region of Uttar Pradesh.
• Liberty Mutual Insurance increased its stake in Liberty General Insurance to 74%, strengthening its presence in India’s insurance market.
• Prataprao Jadhav launched the Ayush Anudan Portal at Kartavya Bhawan to improve transparency and digital governance in the AYUSH sector.
• Anti-Terrorism Day is observed every year on 21 May to spread awareness about terrorism, violence, and extremism.
• World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is celebrated annually on 21 May to encourage inclusion, cultural understanding, and peaceful coexistence across societies.