Find the Weekly Current Affairs for the 3rd week of May 2026. Stay informed with the most important news and events from around the world. Our curated updates provide a comprehensive summary of the week’s key happenings, covering politics, economics, science, technology, sports, and international affairs.
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Highlights of May 3rd Week Current Affairs
- The Union Cabinet approved a scheme to promote coal and lignite gasification projects and support India’s target of gasifying 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030.
- Eligible coal gasification projects can receive incentives up to 20% of plant and machinery costs, with a maximum support of ₹5,000 crore per project.
- Coal gasification converts coal or lignite into syngas, which can be used for producing fuels, fertilisers, chemicals, and industrial feedstock while reducing import dependence.
- A UNDP report under the EQUANOMICS initiative stated that rising sovereign debt burdens disproportionately affect women through job losses, reduced income, and declining healthcare access.
- The report estimates that nearly 55 million women’s jobs are at immediate risk due to high sovereign debt servicing pressures worldwide.
- Sirhind Fateh Diwas commemorates Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s 1710 victory over Mughal forces and the establishment of the first sovereign Sikh state at Lohgarh.
- Baba Banda Singh Bahadur abolished the Zamindari system in his territories and granted land ownership rights to farmers.
- Following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, demands for reforms in the National Testing Agency have increased, including AI-based surveillance and biometric verification systems.
- Blue Moon MK1, developed by Blue Origin in partnership with National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is an unmanned lunar cargo lander designed to support the Artemis Moon missions.
- The Swadeshi Platform launched by DigiHaat aims to connect local artisans and grassroots producers directly with consumers while promoting “Made-in-Bharat” products.
- LEADS 2025 Report was released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to improve India’s logistics efficiency and reduce logistics costs.
- LEADS stands for Logistics Ease Across Different States and was launched in 2018 based on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index model.
- LEADS 2025 introduced a new four-tier ranking system: Exemplars, High Performers, Accelerators and Growth-Seekers.
- Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram and Delhi were placed in the Exemplars category of LEADS 2025.
- LEAPS Awards 2025 recognised innovation and excellence in logistics and supply chain development across 13 categories.
- Thucydides Trap refers to the risk of conflict when a rising power challenges an established dominant power, often linked to China-US rivalry.
- India hosted the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue under IORA and also assumed the IORA Chairship for 2025–2027.
- Kallakkadal is a sudden swell surge causing unexpected coastal flooding along Kerala’s coast due to distant storms in the southern Indian Ocean.
- Mizoram Ginger Mission was launched to promote cultivation, branding, processing and export of Mizo Ginger under the Brand Northeast strategy.
- India approved Lormalzi (donanemab), the country’s first disease-modifying therapy for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
- Narendra Modi visited the United Arab Emirates to strengthen cooperation in energy, defence, AI, trade, and investment sectors.
- India and UAE signed agreements for strategic petroleum reserves, LNG/LPG storage, and long-term LPG supply to enhance India’s energy security.
- Defence ties expanded through plans for a Strategic Defence Partnership and a ship repair cluster at Vadinar with cooperation in maritime skill development.
- India and UAE partnered to establish 8 Exaflop supercomputing clusters under India’s AI Mission through collaboration between C-DAC and G42.
- Bilateral trade between India and UAE crossed US$100 billion in FY 2025–26, with a target of US$200 billion by 2032.
- Jharkhand will establish India’s first Human-Elephant Conflict Research Centre at Palamu Tiger Reserve to study and reduce human-elephant conflicts.
- Human-elephant conflict in India causes around 500 human deaths and nearly 100 elephant deaths annually due to habitat loss, deforestation, and infrastructure expansion.
- World Health Organization released the World Health Statistics Report 2026 highlighting a 40% decline in HIV infections since 2010 but rising malaria cases and air pollution deaths.
- Gir National Park launched the Lion Species Spotlight Programme, while Asiatic lion numbers in the Greater Gir region increased to 891 in 2025.
- Kalam & Kavach 3.0 focused on defence modernisation, indigenisation, innovation, and strengthening India’s self-reliant defence capabilities.
- The Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Complex was declared a Hindu temple by the Madhya Pradesh High Court based on an ASI survey conducted in 2024.
- The 11th-century Anaimangalam Copper Plates were returned by the Netherlands to India during Narendra Modi’s visit to The Hague.
- World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to the Bundibugyo virus strain.
- India became the Chair of the Common Criteria Development Board for the 2026–2028 period for the first time.
- Narendra Modi visited the Afsluitdijk Dam to strengthen India–Netherlands cooperation in water management and climate resilience.
- India’s jaggery exports increased by 106.5% between 2015–16 and 2024–25, with India remaining the world’s largest producer of jaggery.
- Tripura became the first Indian state to complete all deregulation priority areas under the National Compliance Reduction and Deregulation Initiative.
- Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), known as the “Mother of Satan,” was reportedly used in the 2025 Red Fort Blast vehicle-borne IED case.
- India’s first satellite-tagged Ganges softshell turtle was released into the Brahmaputra River at Kaziranga National Park.
- The Wildlife Institute of India led the turtle conservation initiative with support from the Assam Forest Department and funding from the National Geographic Society.
- Global press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in decades, with over half the countries placed in “difficult” or “very serious” categories.
- India ranked 157th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index 2026 and was placed in the “very serious” category.
- Misuse of laws like UAPA, IT Rules, and sedition provisions is increasing self-censorship among journalists in India.
- India’s defence production touched a record ₹1.54 lakh crore in FY 2024–25, while defence exports saw a major rise of over 62%.
- Despite growth in local manufacturing, India remains the world’s second-largest arms importer due to technological dependence and security needs.
- Under the Make in India initiative, DAP 2020 and iDEX are promoting indigenous defence manufacturing, startups, drones, and AI technologies.
- India and the Netherlands upgraded ties to a Strategic Partnership with cooperation in semiconductors, water management, defence, and green energy.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Norway’s highest civilian honour during the 3rd India–Nordic Summit held in Oslo.
- India and the UAE signed agreements on energy, defence, shipping, and technology, including expansion of UAE participation in India’s oil reserves.
- India made its first-ever seizure of Captagon, a synthetic stimulant drug known as the “Jihadi Drug,” during Operation RAGEPILL by the Narcotics Control Bureau.
- Supreme Court reaffirmed that “bail is the rule, jail is the exception” even in cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, stressing protection of personal liberty.
- Citizenship (Amendment) Rules 2026 introduced e-OCI cards, a centralised OCI database and stricter passport surrender rules after obtaining Indian citizenship.
- The Central Information Commission ruled that Board of Control for Cricket in India is not a public authority under the RTI Act as it is not substantially government-controlled.
- India and Sweden upgraded ties to a Strategic Partnership with focus on AI, defence, trade, green technology and innovation cooperation.
- RBI decided not to activate the Countercyclical Capital Buffer (CCyB), citing stable financial indicators and no excessive credit growth in the economy.
- A privilege notice was moved in the Rajya Sabha against the Union Education Minister for allegedly lowering the dignity of Parliament.
- Debate over the Maratha Empire map in NCERT books revived discussion on the extent of Maratha influence across India during the 18th century.
- Taiwan Travelogue won the International Booker Prize 2026, becoming the first Mandarin Chinese translated work to receive the honour.
- The SHE-MART initiative was launched to strengthen market access, branding and income opportunities for women-led Self Help Groups in rural India.
- The SMILE Mission was launched by ESA and China to study interactions between solar wind, Earth’s magnetosphere and ionosphere.
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15 to 21 May 2026 (Weekly Current Affairs Quiz)