1. POLITY & GOVERNANCE — Assam Tables Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026
| Key Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | Assam Legislative Assembly |
| Introduced by | Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora (on behalf of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma) |
| Constitutional Basis | Article 44 — Directive Principles of State Policy |
| Status if enacted | Assam will become 3rd state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to have UCC law |
| Cabinet Approval | 13 May 2026 (first cabinet meeting after CM's second term) |
Key Provisions:
- Live-in relationships must be registered within 30 days
- Marriages must be registered within 60 days of the ceremony
- Non-registration penalty: ₹10,000
- Polygamy banned; minimum marriage age: 21 (men), 18 (women)
- Rights of partners and children from live-in relationships recognised
Exemptions: Scheduled Tribes residing in Assam are exempted (protected under 5th & 6th Schedules)
Opposition: Congress, Raijor Dal, and Trinamool Congress opposed the bill, demanding wider stakeholder consultation.
UPSC Angle: Article 44 (DPSP) | UCC debate | Uttarakhand as first state | Constitutional exemptions for STs
2. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / DEFENCE — Indian Army's AI Platforms: Kautilya & Q-FORCE
| Platform | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Kautilya | AI-powered Command Intelligence Platform |
| Q-FORCE | Integrated Digital Application for Logistics & Sustainment |
About Kautilya:
- Launched during 21–25 May 2026
- Uses AI dashboards and Natural Language Processing (NLP) interfaces
- Processes data on: personnel, weapons, equipment, training, logistics, and operational readiness
- Supports tablet-based data entry; functions as an AI co-pilot
About Q-FORCE:
- Launched around 22–25 May 2026
- Designed for inventory management, supply chain, and sustainment operations
- Works across varied terrain and operational conditions
Broader Context:
- Indian Army declared 2026 as a year of networking and data centricity
- Full AI integration into operations projected for 2027
- Earlier AI deployment during Operation Sindoor involved 23 applications (ECAS, TRINETRA) under Project SANJAY
UPSC Angle: AI in defence | NLP | Project SANJAY | Operation Sindoor | Defence modernisation
3. GOVERNMENT SCHEMES — Mission Karmayogi 2.0 for Civil Service Capacity Building
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Mission Karmayogi 2.0 (next phase of NPCSCB) |
| Original Launch | 2020 under National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) |
| Custodian Body | Capacity Building Commission (CBC) |
| Digital Platform | iGOT (Integrated Government Online Training) |
Key Statistics (as of April 2026):
- Learners registered on iGOT: 1.5 crore+
- Course completions: 8 crore+
- Courses available: 4,600+ in multiple languages
- UP alone: 5.41 lakh employees completed 4+ training modules
Recent Initiatives:
- Sadhana Saptah (2–8 April 2026): Week-long AI-based capacity building programme
- Partnership with Coursera Inc. (11 March 2026): Technology, data analytics & leadership courses on iGOT
- Learning outcomes now integrated into performance appraisals
Mission Karmayogi 2.0 Focus:
- Greater emphasis on states, frontline institutions, and organisational-level capacity
- India sharing its reform architecture with partner nations
UPSC Angle: NPCSCB | iGOT | CBC | Competency-based training | Civil service reforms
4. ENVIRONMENT & BIODIVERSITY — India Tops Global IRCC Issuance Under Nagoya Protocol
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Achievement | India is now the global leader in issuing IRCCs under the Nagoya Protocol |
| India's IRCCs issued | ~3,556–3,561 certificates |
| Global total | 6,311 certificates on ABS Clearing-House |
| First National Report | Submitted on 27 February 2026 (covering Nov 2017 – Dec 2025) |
What is the Nagoya Protocol?
- Supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- Adopted in 2010 at Nagoya, Japan
- Governs Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) of genetic resources
- Requires Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT)
IRCC: Officially issued document serving as proof that PIC has been obtained and MAT established between users and providers of genetic resources.
India's Institutional Framework:
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002
- National Biodiversity Authority (central level)
- State Biodiversity Boards
- 2,76,653 Biodiversity Management Committees at local level
Financial Data (2017–2025):
- ABS approvals generated: ~₹263 crore
- Benefits disbursed: ~₹145 crore (monetary payments, capacity building, technology transfer)
UPSC Angle: Nagoya Protocol | CBD | ABS Clearing-House | National Biodiversity Authority | Biological Diversity Act 2002
5. ECONOMY & BANKING — RBI Mandates 3-Year Cooling-Off for Co-operative Bank Directors
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issued by | Reserve Bank of India (RBI) |
| Date | 25 May 2026 |
| Applicable to | Urban Co-operative Banks & Rural Co-operative Banks |
| Key Rule | Mandatory 3-year cooling-off period for outgoing directors before re-appointment |
UPSC Angle: RBI regulatory powers | Co-operative banking governance | Banking sector reforms
6. ECONOMY — India's Foreign Tax Information Rules Effective from 1 July 2026
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Effective Date | 1 July 2026 |
| Applies to | Requests received by the Income Tax Department from foreign jurisdictions |
| Purpose | Framework for cross-border exchange of foreign tax information |
UPSC Angle: International taxation | DTAA | FATF compliance | Information exchange treaties
7. PERSONS IN NEWS — Neelam Meena Appointed West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Appointee | Neelam Meena |
| IAS Batch | 1998 batch, West Bengal cadre |
| New Role | Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal |
| Date of Appointment | 25 May 2026 |
UPSC Angle: Election Commission structure | CEO role in state election machinery | IAS cadre allocation
8. SPORTS — India's First Official Freediving Team for World Championship
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | World Apnea Pool Championship |
| Venue | Budapest, Hungary |
| Dates | 2 June 2026 onwards |
| India's Team Athletes | Archana Thiagarajan + 2 others (3 athletes total) |
| Significance | India's first official freediving team at a world-level competition |
What is Freediving? A form of underwater diving where the diver holds their breath without the use of breathing apparatus. "Apnea" is the medical term for breath-holding.
UPSC Angle: Sports firsts for India | Emerging aquatic disciplines | Budapest, Hungary (capital on Danube)
9. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY — India's First National AI and Digital Water Summit
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event Name | National AI Summit on Water 2026 |
| Significance | India's first National AI and Digital Water Summit |
| Host Organisation | Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) |
| Focus | Application of Artificial Intelligence in water management and digital governance of water resources |
UPSC Angle: AI in governance | Jal Jeevan Mission | Smart water management | BWSSB