Current Affairs 30 May 2026
National Affairs
MoH&FW Releases 10th NHA Estimates for FY23; GHE Jumps to ₹3.85 Lakh Crore
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) released the National Health Accounts (NHA) estimates for India for FY23 — the 10th report on health expenditure estimates.
Government Health Expenditure (GHE) increased from ₹1.30 lakh crore (2013–14) to ₹3.85 lakh crore (2022–23), stating higher public investment in the health sector.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| NHA | Comprehensive insights into sources, scale & patterns of health expenditure across India's health system |
| Prepared By | National Health Accounts Technical Secretariat (NHATS), National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), MoH&FW, using the System of Health Accounts (2011) framework |
| Total Health Expenditure (THE) — FY23 | ₹8.81 lakh crore — 3.37% of GDP (base year 2022–23) |
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Inaugurates PECVD System & RETINA Incubation Centre at IACS Campus in Kolkata, WB
Union MoS (IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST), inaugurated two key initiatives on the occasion of 150 years celebrations of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) at its campus in Kolkata, West Bengal (WB).
IACS holds historic scientific significance as the birthplace of the discovery of the Raman Effect by Nobel laureate Sir C.V. Raman on February 28, 1928.
| Initiative | Details |
|---|---|
| PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition) | Developed indigenously at IACS for fabrication of India's 1st amorphous silicon solar cell under Atmanirbhar Bharat; developed under the leadership of Ashok Kumar Barua |
| RETINA (Research Entrepreneurship for Translation, Innovation and NAvigation) | Incubation centre to support commercialisation of scientific research and promote startup-driven innovation |
DARPG Launches 'NeSDA 2025 Portal' to Assess Digital Public Service Delivery
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), under MoPP&P, launched the Portal for the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA), 2025 for comprehensive assessment of e-governance service delivery.
Framework: NeSDA is a biennial assessment framework developed by DARPG to measure the depth and effectiveness of e-governance service delivery from the citizen's perspective.
Categories: All Government Portals assessed under NeSDA are classified into:
- State, UT, City and Central Ministry Portals
- State, UT, City and Central Ministry Service Portals
Focus Sectors: Government-to-Citizen (G2C) and Government-to-Business (G2B) services across finance, labour and employment, education, local governance and utilities, social welfare, environment, tourism, public grievances, and transport.
RITES & CRISIL Sign MoU to Develop Data-Driven Infrastructure Consultancy Solutions
RITES Limited (formerly Rail India Technical and Economic Service) signed an MoU with Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL) to jointly develop data-driven infrastructure consultancy solutions across multiple sectors in India and overseas.
Objective: Strengthen analytical and advisory support for infrastructure projects through market intelligence, data validation, financial due diligence, valuation support, and development of analytical models.
Strategic Partnership: Combines RITES' transport infrastructure expertise with CRISIL's advanced data analytics and research capabilities.
Coverage: Transport, energy, water, hydropower, wastewater, and industrial infrastructure sectors.
IAF Partners with IIT Bombay for Su-30MKI Predictive Maintenance System
The Indian Air Force (IAF) signed three contracts with IIT Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, to indigenously develop AI-driven predictive maintenance technologies, including a digital diagnostic health index for the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft fleet.
Presided over by Air Marshal KAA Sanjeeb, DG (Aircraft), IAF, and Shireesh B Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay.
Predictive Maintenance Initiative: Focuses on adopting predictive, prognostic, and prescriptive maintenance technologies for the Su-30MKI fleet using indigenous expertise.
Operational Readiness: Expected to improve aircraft availability, reduce service and maintenance costs, and strengthen mission readiness of the IAF's frontline fighter fleet.
Su-30MKI: A twin-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft operated by the IAF, developed by Sukhoi, Russia, and customised for India under a licence-production agreement with HAL.
IIT-M Unveils ₹4.5 Crore Circulating Water Tunnel Facility in Chennai, TN
IIT Madras (IIT-M), Chennai, TN, launched the Circulating Water Tunnel Facility, an advanced hydrodynamic testing facility in Thaiyur, near Chennai, designed to strengthen indigenous ship design, ocean engineering research, and hydrodynamic testing capabilities.
Funding: Constructed with ₹4.5 crore in CSR funding from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), a Navratna defence PSU.
Research Applications: Ship design, marine vehicles, naval technologies, offshore structures, fluid dynamics, hydrodynamics, and ocean engineering systems.
Future Collaborations: IIT-M and MDL are exploring new avenues to foster collaborations in advanced maritime and naval technologies.
NSE & SUFI Sign MoU to Develop Steel Commodity Derivatives Ecosystem
National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) signed an MoU with Steel Users Federation of India (SUFI) in Mumbai, Maharashtra, to develop the steel and commodity derivatives ecosystem.
Focus: Exchange-traded derivatives, hedging mechanisms against steel price volatility, product design, industry consultations, market outreach, and capacity-building programmes.
NSE: Will develop the derivatives trading platform for steel commodity products.
Benefit: Steel manufacturers, processors, MSMEs, OEMs, infrastructure companies, and end-users.
Steel Production Growth: India's crude steel production increased by nearly 11% Y-o-Y to 168.4 MT in FY26; projected to reach 300 MT by 2030.
Banking & Finance
WBGB & Canara HSBC Life Insurance Partner to Strengthen Rural Insurance Coverage in WB
West Bengal Gramin Bank (WBGB), one of India's largest RRBs, collaborated with Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited to strengthen life insurance coverage across rural and semi-urban areas of West Bengal (WB).
Network: Canara HSBC Life Insurance will use WBGB's network of 960 branches across the state.
Key Offerings: Protection, savings, long-term wealth creation, and family financial security products.
Canara HSBC Life Insurance: Established in 2007; a joint venture between Canara Bank and HSBC Insurance (Asia Pacific) Holdings Limited.
Japan's DBJ Partners HDFC Capital to Invest in Housing Projects Across India
Japanese financial institution Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) entered into a strategic partnership with HDFC Capital Advisors Limited (HDFC Capital) to invest in real estate funds for the construction of affordable and mid-income housing projects in India — DBJ's 1st-ever real estate investment in India.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Investment Vehicle | HDFC Capital Development of Real Estate Affordable and Mid-Income Fund (H-DREAM Fund) |
| Target Fund Corpus | USD 500 million (including USD 500 million green shoe option) |
| Commitments Secured | Over USD 350 million |
| Investment Route | Via HDFC Capital's offshore feeder fund structure under IFSCA framework at GIFT City |
Economy & Business
Taiwan Overtakes India to Become World's 5th Largest Stock Market
Taiwan Stock Exchange surpassed India to become the world's 5th largest stock market, with market capitalisation reaching USD 4.95 trillion compared to India's USD 4.92 trillion, amid Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) outflows.
Global Stock Market Rankings 2026: USA, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, and South Korea.
| Market | Key Driver |
|---|---|
| Taiwan | AI-led semiconductor boom — TSMC shares surged ~45–50% in 2026; accounted for ~42% of the Taiex index; benefited from relaxed domestic fund investment limits raised from 10% to 25% |
| India | Faced FPI outflows, benchmark declines & reduced MSCI Emerging Markets Index weight due to slower growth, high valuations, limited AI-linked firms, rising costs & global capital shifts towards Taiwan and South Korea |
TCS Signs Multi-Million Dollar Deal with Sweden's SKF for AI-Led Manufacturing Business
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) signed a multi-million dollar agreement with Swedish industrial manufacturer SKF to roll out a next-generation Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform.
Objective: Use AI across IT systems and business operations to enhance customer experience and support long-term growth.
Significance: TCS will help SKF build a future-ready digital enterprise by integrating centralized AI-enabled systems to transform industrial manufacturing business.
Key Service: TCS will provide end-to-end managed services across applications, infrastructure, data, end-user services, security, and connectivity for SKF across the world.
Appointments & Resignations
Janez Janša Appointed as Prime Minister of Slovenia for Fourth Term
Nationalist politician Janez Janša, leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), was elected as the Prime Minister (PM) of Slovenia for a fourth term, securing 51 votes in Parliament. He succeeded Robert Golob.
Parliamentary Approval: Received 51 votes in the 90-member National Assembly.
Coalition Government: SDS formed a centre-right coalition with allied parties, ending the political deadlock following the 2026 parliamentary elections.
Science & Technology
Red Balloon Aerospace Launches India's 1st Stratospheric SPB in Vijayawada, AP
India's space startup Red Balloon Aerospace Private Limited launched India's 1st indigenous Stratospheric Super Pressure Balloon (SPB) named "VISTA" as part of Mission SANA, at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
With this, India is now among the world's five countries with indigenous stratospheric balloon capability, joining the USA, France, Japan, and China.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Altitude | ~25 km above Earth |
| Payloads | From 7 national and international partners |
| Purpose | Biological experiments, propulsion systems, Earth observation sensors, onboard computing platforms & navigation technologies |
| Technology | SPB technology maintains stable altitude for weeks/months without losing gas during day-night temperature changes |
Obituary
Urdu Poet and Padma Shri Awardee Bashir Badr Passes Away
Renowned Urdu poet and Padma Shri awardee Dr. Bashir Badr passed away at the age of 91 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (MP). He was born in 1935 in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Padma Shri (1999): Awarded in the field of Literature and Education for his contribution towards literature.
Awards: His collection of 69 ghazals is considered a masterpiece and earned him the Sahitya Akademi Award (Urdu) in 1999.
Important Days at a Glance
| Date | Event | Key Theme / Significance |
|---|---|---|
| May 29 | International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers | Theme 2026: "Invest in Peace". Marks the 78th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping (began in 1948 with deployment of military observers to the Middle East under UNTSO). Established via UNGA Resolution 57/129 in 2002. First observed on 29 May 2003. Coordinated by the UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO). Symbol: UN Blue Helmet/Beret. First mission: UNTSO launched on 29 May 1948. |
| May 29 | World Digestive Health Day (WDHD) | Theme 2026: "Chronic Diarrhea: Don't Flush the Signs Away". Initiated by the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO). WGO formally established on 29 May 1958 at the 1st World Congress of Gastroenterology in Washington, USA. WDHD established to commemorate WGO's 45th anniversary (2003). First observed on 29 May 2004. |
| May 29 | International Everest Day | Commemorates the first successful ascent of Mt Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary (New Zealand) and Tenzing Norgay on 29 May 1953. Initiated by the Government of Nepal. First observed on 29 May 2008. 2026: Everest Summiteers Summit 2026 (2nd edition) held in Kathmandu — 176 climbers from 26 countries honoured. |
State News
West Bengal Government Begins Annapurna Yojana Enrolment Process
The West Bengal (WB) government officially began enrolment for the Annapurna Yojana (also known as the Annapurna Bhandar scheme), aimed at promoting women's empowerment and supporting household finances.
Purpose: Support women who do not have any fixed income source, government salary, or pension.
Eligibility:
- Women's welfare scheme providing monthly financial assistance
- Eligible women aged between 25 and 60 years
- Applicant must be a permanent resident of West Bengal
Application Window: Enrolment process continues for 90 days from June 1; applications can be submitted across municipalities and wards through online and offline modes.
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