Current Affairs 31 May 2026
National Affairs
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Launches LPPI for FY25 & 4 Other Digital Initiatives at 37th Foundation Day of JNPA
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), launched the Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) for FY25 along with four major digital initiatives, during the 37th Foundation Day celebrations of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
LPPI: A national benchmarking mechanism developed under the Sagar Aankalan framework to evaluate and improve the operational performance of Indian ports.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cargo Segments Assessed | Dry bulk, liquid bulk & container cargo |
| 6 Key Operational Metrics | Cargo handled, vessel turnaround time, berth idle time, pre-berthing waiting time, container dwell time & ship berth day output |
| Approach | Weighted approach including absolute performance and Y-o-Y improvement |
4 Major Digital Initiatives (developed by DGS):
| Initiative | Platform |
|---|---|
| 24×7 Grievance Redressal Module | e-Navik platform |
| Ship Registration Module | e-Samudra platform |
| Medical Practitioner Module | — |
| Unified Ship Recycling Credit Note Module | — |
GoI Notifies Two SEZs in Puducherry to Enhance Industrial Growth and Export
The Government of India (GoI) notified two Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the Union Territory (UT) of Puducherry, with a total proposed investment of ₹1,975 crore, to strengthen India's industrial, manufacturing, technology, and services ecosystem.
The proposals were approved by the Board of Approval for SEZs under the Department of Commerce (DOC), MoC&I, during its 137th meeting held on February 27, 2026.
| SEZ | Developer | Location | Area | Investment | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT/ITES SEZ | M/s Oulgaret Municipality (ULB) — first such project in India developed by a Municipality | Thattanchavady village, Oulgaret Taluk | 8.6230 hectares | ₹725 crore | 3,500 direct & indirect |
| Multi-Sector SEZ | M/s PIPDIC | Karasur village, Villianur Taluk | 86.2457 hectares | ₹1,250 crore | 5,000 direct & indirect |
International Affairs
Overview of Union Minister Piyush Goyal's Visit to Canada from May 25–27, 2026
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), undertook a 3-day official visit to Canada (Ottawa and Toronto) from May 25–27, 2026, aimed at advancing negotiations on the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations.
Visit to Ottawa:
- Met Canadian PM Mark Carney
- Held meetings with International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald, and Foreign Minister Anita Anand
Visit to Toronto:
- Addressed faculty, researchers, and students at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto
- Visited the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) and interacted with Canada-India Tech Connect
Key Outcomes:
- Launch of India-Canada Trade and Investment Forum
- Finalization of CEPA by end of 2026
- Expansion of bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030
Banking & Finance
BoB Launches Biometric & UIDAI Face Authentication, UPI Services on bob इ Pay
Bank of Baroda (BoB), one of India's largest PSBs, launched biometric payment authentication, UIDAI-based face authentication for UPI PIN services, and IoT-based payment capabilities on its UPI app 'bob इ Pay'.
New Digital Payment Features:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Biometric Authentication | Authorise UPI transactions of max ₹5,000 using fingerprint or facial recognition; supports P2P and P2M transactions; voluntary opt-in (users can continue using UPI PINs) |
| Aadhaar-Based Face Authentication | Set or reset UPI PINs using UIDAI face authentication + bank OTP verification; reduces dependence on debit cards and OTP-based Aadhaar verification |
| IoT-Based UPI Payments | Link supported connected vehicles and smart appliances to the app to make payments directly via these devices |
Fintech Firm Decentro Becomes 1st PA to Secure PSP Licence at GIFT City
Decentro, a leading fintech firm, became the 1st Indian Payment Aggregator (PA) to secure final approval from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to operate as a Payment Service Provider (PSP) at GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Expansion: Established a separate entity in GIFT City to offer multi-currency accounts, cross-border collections, escrow services, and international payment settlements.
4 Services Under PSP Framework:
- Merchant acquisition
- Virtual account issuance
- Cross-border money transfers
- Escrow services
About Decentro: Established in 2020; offers banking and payments infrastructure via payments collections and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) offerings.
Economy & Business
TCS Partners with Mistral AI to Deliver Enterprise Generative AI Solutions
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) became the first Global Systems Integrator (GSI) to partner with Mistral AI, a prominent French AI startup, to deliver advanced enterprise Generative AI (GenAI) solutions for global clients across industries.
Objective: Strengthens TCS's AI ecosystem, enabling a differentiated AI offering that addresses industry-specific challenges, regulatory requirements, and sovereign enterprise needs.
Integration: TCS will use Mistral Forge to build custom enterprise AI models, enabling clients to integrate their data and context for better decision-making.
Focus: Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), manufacturing, healthcare, and the public sector.
Capacity Building: TCS will establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Mistral to build industry-specific AI solutions, support project delivery, and accelerate enterprise adoption — serving as a hub for AI talent, training, and deployment capabilities.
Appointments & Resignations
Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar Assumes Charge as 48th Vice Chief of Naval Staff
Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, Commander-in-Chief (CoC), Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Command, assumed charge as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) of the Indian Navy (IN).
He succeeded Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, who has taken over as FOC-in-C of the Western Naval Command.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Commissioned | Executive Branch of the IN in July 1988; Gunnery and Missile Systems specialist; 37+ years of distinguished service |
| Commands | INS Nashak, INS Vibhuti, INS Kirpan; Commissioning CO of INS Trikand; commanded aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (oversaw integration and operationalisation of air wing) |
| Awards | Nau Sena Medal (NM); Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) (2022); Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) (2026) |
Science & Technology
Chandrayaan-2 Radar Detects Subsurface Ice in Lunar South Polar Craters
India's Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft, orbiting the Moon since 2019, revealed evidence of subsurface water ice deposits in permanently shadowed regions of lunar south polar craters.
The study was conducted by scientists at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and published in the Nature Portfolio Journal (NPJ) Space Exploration.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Evidence | A 1.1 km crater in the Faustini Basin showed strong evidence of lunar ice; radar signals and lobate-rim features indicate impact into an ice-rich subsurface that briefly flowed and refroze |
| Study Focus | 'Doubly shadowed craters' within the Moon's Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs) |
| Detection Method | Dual-Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR) operating at L- and S-band frequencies; capable of penetrating the Moon's surface and mapping subsurface structures |
| Significance | Water ice can serve as a vital resource for sustaining human presence on the Moon — oxygen generation, drinking water supply & rocket fuel production |
Chandrayaan-2: Launched in July 2019; India's second lunar exploration mission developed by ISRO.
Obituary
Former Bureaucrat and CCI's 1st Chairman Dhanendra Kumar Passes Away
Dhanendra Kumar, former bureaucrat and 1st Chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), passed away at the age of 80 in New Delhi, Delhi. He was born in 1946.
Served as Chairman of CCI from February 2009 to June 2011, playing a pivotal role in strengthening India's competition law framework and ensuring fair market practices.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Civil Service | 1968-batch IAS officer of Haryana Cadre |
| Key Roles | CMD of HSIDC; Principal Secretary to CM of Haryana; Secretary in various Union Ministries; CMD of Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) |
| International Role | India's Executive Director (ED) at the World Bank (WB) (2005–2009) — prior to CCI chairmanship |
Books & Authors
Former Federal Bank CEO Shyam Srinivasan Releases Debut Book 'Better Never Stops'
Banking veteran Shyam Srinivasan, former CEO of Federal Bank Limited, released his debut book titled 'Better Never Stops: Leadership Insights from Life's Unscripted Moments', exploring leadership lessons drawn from real-life corporate and sports experiences.
Published By: Wyzr Content Private Limited.
Insights: Based on 30+ years of experience in India's banking and financial services sector, the book offers leadership lessons and insights into the growth and transformation of private banking institutions in India.
Focus Area: Leadership development through unconventional learning moments, highlighting how decision-making, resilience, and adaptability contribute to effective leadership in dynamic environments.
Important Days at a Glance
| Date | Event | Key Theme / Significance |
|---|---|---|
| May 30 | International Day of Potato | Theme 2026: "Where potatoes grow, livelihoods flourish". 3rd observance in 2026; coincides with the 81st anniversary year of FAO (HQ: Rome, Italy). Adopted via UNGA Resolution A/RES/78/123 (8 December 2023). Proposal submitted by Peru (ancestral home of the potato), following an FAO Conference resolution (July 2023). First observed on 30 May 2024. |
| May 30 | World Vape Day | Theme 2026: "One Switch – Everyone Wins". Initiated by the World Vapers' Alliance (WVA), a USA-based non-profit advocating for vapers' rights and responsible vaping regulation. Observed strategically ahead of World No Tobacco Day (31 May) to highlight harm reduction approaches. |
| May 30 | World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day | Campaign Theme (2024–2026): "My MS Diagnosis"; tagline: 'Navigating MS Together'. Launched in 2009 by the London (UK)-based Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF). MSIF partners with member organisations from India, USA, Australia, Argentina, Greece, Kenya, Tunisia, Spain & UK. Symbol: Orange Ribbon — representing awareness, solidarity & support. |
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