Current Affairs — 19 May 2026

📖 Explanation

The 2026 International Day for Women in Maritime was observed with an event in London organised by the United Nations and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The theme was 'From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence.' IMO is the UN specialised agency responsible for shipping safety and preventing marine pollution. This day is linked to UN Sustainable Development Goal 5, which focuses on Gender Equality.

📖 Explanation

The International Day for Women in Maritime is observed globally every year on 18 May. It is supported by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which is the United Nations' specialised agency for regulating shipping. The day is meant to promote and recognise the contribution of women in the maritime sector worldwide, including in seafaring, port operations, and maritime administration.

📖 Explanation

Rajasthan's first semiconductor packaging facility was inaugurated in Bhiwadi on 15 May 2026 and was developed by Sahasra Semiconductors Pvt. Ltd. It is described as India's first SME-led (Small and Medium Enterprise-led) semiconductor unit to begin commercial chip production. The facility was supported under the SPECS (Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors) scheme launched by the Government of India.

📖 Explanation

The Bhiwadi semiconductor packaging facility, developed by Sahasra Semiconductors, was supported under the SPECS scheme — the Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors. SPECS is a Central Government initiative to boost domestic manufacturing of semiconductor components in India. The facility plans to scale capacity from 60 million to 600 million units over three years, making it a significant step in India's semiconductor self-reliance goals.

📖 Explanation

Saurabh Vijay is a 1998-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre who took charge as CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on 18 May 2026. UIDAI works under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and is responsible for issuing Aadhaar — the 12-digit unique identification number. Aadhaar is used for identity verification and is linked to direct benefit transfer schemes under various government programmes.

📖 Explanation

The National Test House (NTH) set up a modern Shoe Testing Laboratory in Ghaziabad on 17 May 2026, at its Northern Region centre. The lab is equipped to test footwear for durability, slip resistance, material strength, and chemical safety as per Indian Standards. It provides easier access to footwear manufacturers in nearby hubs including Delhi-NCR, Kanpur, and Agra, and supports the Make in India mission by improving the quality of Indian-made footwear.

📖 Explanation

Karnataka adopted the Alcohol-in-Beverage (AIB) based excise duty on 11 May 2026, becoming the first Indian state to do so. Under this system, the tax on liquor is determined by the actual alcohol content in the drink, rather than a fixed price set by the government. This reform also allowed producers to set their own prices and simplified Indian Made Liquor into eight slabs under the Karnataka Excise Rules, 1968. Excise duty on liquor is one of the most significant sources of revenue for Indian states.

📖 Explanation

The Million Minds Tech Park and the GREMI City Campus were inaugurated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on 17 May 2026. These projects aim to make Gujarat a leading hub for emerging technologies and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). GCCs are offshore offices set up by multinational companies for technology, research, and analytics work. Gujarat has been actively positioning itself to attract large technology investments and skilled professionals in recent years.

📖 Explanation

The Chhattisgarh government's 'Jan Bhagidari – Sabse Door, Sabse Pehle' campaign ran from 18 to 25 May 2026 and covered more than 8,000 tribal villages across the state. The campaign was run by the state's Tribal Development Department with a focus on delivering health, nutrition, education, social security, and drinking water benefits to the most remote tribal communities. It was linked to national programmes including PM-JANMAN and the Dharti Aaba mission.

📖 Explanation

The 'Jan Bhagidari – Sabse Door, Sabse Pehle' campaign in Chhattisgarh was linked to two Central Government programmes: PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan) and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. Both programmes aim to improve the living standards of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and other tribal communities across India through coordinated delivery of welfare services.