UPSC Current Affairs Daily Digest - 12 May 2026

UPSC Current Affairs Daily Digest - 12 May 2026

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### Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Karnataka and Telangana (10 May 2026)
- Purpose: Participated in Art of Living’s 45th anniversary in Bengaluru; inaugurated/dedicated projects worth Rs 9,400 crore in Hyderabad.
- Highlights:
- Karnataka: Attended Art of Living’s 45th anniversary & Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s 70th birthday; inaugurated Dhyan Mandir at Art of Living International Centre, Bengaluru.
- Telangana: Laid foundation stones for NH-167 four-laning (Gudebellur to Mahabubnagar, Rs 3,175 crore); Zaheerabad Industrial Area; dedicated IOCL’s Malkapur Terminal & Sindhu Hospital.
- Textile Sector: Inaugurated India’s first functional PM MITRA Park in Warangal.

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### AIFF & Odisha Government Renew 5-Year MoU (May 2026)
- Partnership: Focused on youth football development via AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy.
- Framework: Defined roles, governance, benchmarks, financial commitments.
- Support: AIFF handles technical/operational aspects; Odisha’s DSYS provides infrastructure and funding.

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### India-South Africa Scientific Cooperation
- Event: Handed over IUCAA banner to South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO).
- Significance: Strengthens joint astronomy research; SALT telescope collaboration.
- IUCAA: Pune-based centre for astronomy & astrophysics research.

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### RBI & ECB Sign MoU (May 2026)
- Purpose: Enhance cooperation in central banking.
- Signatories: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra & ECB President Christine Lagarde.
- Focus: Information exchange, policy dialogue, technical cooperation.
- Impact: Strengthens institutional engagement on banking practices.

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### Delhi Metro & Airtel Payments Bank Launch RuPay ‘On-The-Go’ Cards
- Aim: Promote ‘One Nation, One Card’ for seamless transit payments.
- Features:
- Single card for metro, buses, transit across India.
- Available as Debit & PPI-MTS cards with EMV chip.
- Made from 99% recycled plastic.
- Rechargeable via DMRC & Airtel apps.

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### SBI Research on India’s Q4FY26 Growth
- Projection: 7.2% real GDP growth in Q4 FY26 (lower than 7.3% estimated earlier).
- Full FY26: Estimated at 7.5%; FY27 at 6.6%.
- Key Factors: Rural demand, fiscal stimulus, urban consumption.
- Bank Credit: Grew by 16.1%; Rs 29.5 trillion incremental credit.

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### National Panchayat Awards 2025
- Winners: 42 Panchayats recognized for rural governance, sanitation, development.
- Top State: Karnataka with 6 awards.
- Special Mentions:
- Best GP: Napam Gaon Panchayat, Assam (Rs 1.5 crore prize).
- Other winners: Telcup (Bihar), Biraharu (UP).

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### Suvendu Adhikari Sworn-in as 9th CM of West Bengal
- Party: BJP (first BJP CM in WB).
- Event: Sworn in by Governor Ravindra Ravi.
- Context: BJP won 207 seats in WB Legislative Assembly, ending 15-year TMC rule.

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### C. Joseph Vijay Becomes Tamil Nadu CM
- Party: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
- Event: Sworn in at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium.
- Priority Initiatives:
- 200 units free electricity.
- Women’s safety (Singappen Task Force).
- Anti-Narcotics Task Force.

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### SAIL Appoints Ashok Kumar Panda as CMD
- Background: Joined SAIL in 1992; extensive experience.
- Goals: Increase capacity from 20 MTPA to 35 MTPA.
- Previous Roles: Director (Finance & Commercial), Nominee Director on ICVL.

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### Indian Coast Guard Commission ‘ICGS Achal’ in Goa
- Type: Indigenous Adamya-class FPV.
- Cost: Rs 473 crore, over 50% indigenous.
- Role: Coastal security, offshore patrol.
- Deployment: Vadinar, Gujarat.
- Crew: 5 officers, 34 personnel.

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### DRDO Conducts Long-duration Scramjet Test & India’s Missile Development
- Scramjet: Over 1200 seconds test in Hyderabad, validates hypersonic propulsion.
- Agni MIRV: Successful flight trial from Odisha; capable of multiple re-entry vehicles, speeds near Mach 24.

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### Shanghai Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 2 (May 2026)
- India’s Achievements:
- Gold in Women’s Recurve Team (Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, Kumkum Mohod).
- Bronze for Sahil Jadhav in Men’s Individual Compound.
- Medal Tally: China 6, South Korea 5, India 2 medals.

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### Obituary: Mal Anderson (May 2026)
- Profile: Australian tennis legend, former World No. 2.
- Achievements: First unseeded US Open men’s singles winner (1957), multiple Grand Slam doubles titles, Davis Cup winner.
- Honours: Hall of Fame inductee, MBE recipient.

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### Union Minister Amit Shah Releases Tushar Mehta’s Books
- Titles:
- “The Bench, the Bar, and the Bizarre”
- “The Lawful and The Awful”
- Focus: Legal practice, courtroom experiences, judicial insights.

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### World Migratory Bird Day 2026
- Date: May 9, 2026 & October 10, 2026.
- Purpose: Raise awareness about migratory birds’ challenges and habitat conservation.

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End of Notes