Current Affairs

Government Notifies National Sports Governance Board Rules and National Sports Tribunal Rules, 2026

Government has notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026 and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026.

The National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026 provide for the composition of the Board, term of office of the Chairperson and Members, salary, allowances and other conditions of service, as well as the powers and functions of the Board.

Under the Rules, the National Sports Board shall consist of a Chairperson and two Members to be appointed by the Central Government from a panel of names recommended by the Search-cum-Selection Committee.

The National Sports Board will function as the central authority for granting recognition to National Sports Bodies and ensuring compliance with governance, financial and ethical standards.



Assam Tables Uniform Civil Code Bill In State Assembly

In a very significant development, the Assam government has tabled the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill in the state assembly on Monday. Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora introduced the bill on behalf of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, amid opposition MLAs trying to raise their voices against the bill, asking the speaker not to approve the tabling of the bill.

The Assam Cabinet last week approved the draft of the Uniform Civil Code.

While the function of the Assam Assembly has been extended by one day to May 27, discussion on the bill is likely to take place on Tuesday, sources added.



India’s New Foreign Tax Information Rules Effective From July 1

India has strengthened its framework for exchanging tax information with foreign jurisdictions, marking a major step toward faster detection of offshore tax evasion and undisclosed foreign assets. While the revised system does not introduce new taxes, experts say it significantly enhances the Income Tax Department’s enforcement capabilities through stricter timelines, better coordination, and greater monitoring.

According to Rahul Charkha, Partner, Economic Laws Practice, India’s updated framework is “an administrative and enforcement upgrade, rather than a procedural change." The country already exchanged tax information through treaties, Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs), the Multilateral Convention, FATCA, and the Common Reporting Standard (CRS).



RBI sets 3-year cooling-off for co-op bank directors after 10 years

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday said that a director on the board of co-operative banks who has served continuously for 10 years can be reappointed to the same board only after a three-year cooling-off period.

Also, during this period, the director cannot be involved with the bank in any role except as a regular member or customer. However, this does not prevent them from becoming a director on the board of another bank.

RBI said, “For calculating the period of continuous tenure, the total time served on the board of the UCB, including the period of directorship preceding an interruption of less than three years, but excluding the period of directorship preceding at least a three-year interruption, shall be reckoned.”



Bengaluru to host 1st national AI and digital water summit

Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is set to host India’s first and largest National AI and Digital Water Summit 2026 in Bengaluru on Wednesday, bringing together global experts, policymakers, technology leaders, startups, and urban planners to deliberate on the future of intelligent urban water management, said BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar.

The summit comes at a time when cities across the world are facing growing challenges arising from climate change, rapid urbanisation, groundwater depletion, and increasing pressure on civic infrastructure. BWSSB aims to position Bengaluru as a leading model for technology-driven and sustainable urban water governance.



Neelam Meena appointed Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal

Neelam Meena, a senior IAS officer of the Bengal cadre, was appointed the new Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal on Monday (May 25, 2026). The outgoing CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal was recently appointed as the Chief Secretary of the State after the Bharatiya Janta Party came to power in West Bengal.

“I am directed to forward herewith the Commission’s Notification No.154/WB/2026-P.Admn, dated 25.05.2026 appointing Smt. Neelam Meena, IAS (WB:1998), as the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, in place of Sh. Manoj Kumar Agarwal, IAS,” a letter from the Principal Secretary of the State addressed to the CEO office of West Bengal stated on Monday (May 25, 2026).



A Historic Dive for India: India Sends Its First Freediving Team to the World Championship

For the first time ever, Team India will be representing the country at the World Apnea Pool Championship in Budapest starting June 2, 2026. This is a major milestone for the growth of freediving in India. This moment also comes in the same year the Freediving Association of India (FAI) was formed by Archana Sankaranarayanan, an 11-time national record holder. Earlier this year, FAI became an Observer Member of AIDA International as AIDA India, giving Indian freedivers official representation at the global level.
Under AIDA India, three athletes will represent India at the 2026 World Apnea Pool Championship:

- Archana Thiagarajan - India's leading freediver, holding all national records in both pool and depth disciplines, and the first Indian to compete at a World Championship in Wakayama, Japan (2025).
- Akshay Thatte - India's first Freediving Instructor Trainer, leading pool freediver and four-time national record holder.



RBI forms panel to study quantum technology risks in finance sector

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has formed an eight-member panel to study issues related to quantum technology and recommend a roadmap and framework to quantum-secure the Indian financial system.

Anil Prabhakar, professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras, will be the convenor of the panel and the FinTech Department of the RBI will provide secretarial support to the committee.

“Quantum technology represents a paradigm shift compared with traditional systems as it leverages the principles of quantum mechanics, such as superposition and entanglement. This enables quantum systems to address complex financial problems such as portfolio optimisation, risk assessment, macroeconomic modelling, etc,” the RBI said while highlighting the introduction of significant risks, particularly the potential to undermine certain existing cryptographic standards.



Taiwan overtakes India in market cap, enters top five for the first time

In a first for Asian equity markets, Taiwan has displaced India to claim fifth place in the global market capitalisation rankings. The rise has been swift and concentrated, fuelled almost entirely by the artificial intelligence-driven surge in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

Currently Taiwan's market cap stands at $4.95 trillion while pushing India to sixth rank with market cap at $4.92 trillion.

The United States remains the world's largest market with a market cap of $77.96 trillion, followed by China and Japan with market caps of $15.57 trillion and $8.67 trillion respectively. Hong Kong ranks fourth with a market cap of $7.26 trillion.



President Droupadi Murmu To Confer Padma Awards 2026 At Rashtrapati Bhavan

Padma Awards, India's highest civilian honours, are given to recognise exceptional service and contribution across fields such as art, public affairs, literature, medicine, sports, science and social work. Instituted in 1954, the awards are announced every year on the eve of Republic Day. This year, the President has approved 131 Padma awards, including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards.

President Droupadi Murmu will confer the awards in two phases at a Civil Investiture Ceremony to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, beginning Monday. The ceremony will be attended by Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other dignitaries. The remaining awardees will be honoured in a later second phase.

The awards are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order, and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.