Current Affairs — 21 May 2026

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Bhopal became the first Indian city to install solar-powered 'Algae Trees' under its Smart City project. These units use living microalgae as outdoor photo-bioreactors that absorb CO2 and reduce PM 2.5 particles while generating oxygen. Each unit runs on its own solar panels, making it self-powered. Indore is also a Smart City but this specific initiative belongs to Bhopal.

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India's first AI-powered 'phygital' (physical + digital) bank branch was inaugurated in Guwahati, Assam, on 16 May 2026. The branch features AI self-service kiosks, paperless onboarding, and allows working capital access directly through UPI. 'Phygital' is a term that blends in-person and digital banking into one seamless experience. This initiative is part of India's broader push toward digital transformation in the banking sector.

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The Ministry of Finance approved UAE-based Emirates NBD to acquire up to 74% stake in RBL Bank through an investment of over ₹26,000 crore. Under the deal, Emirates NBD must hold at least 51% and can go up to 74%; RBL Bank will then become a foreign bank subsidiary. The deal was reviewed and cleared by both the Reserve Bank of India and the Competition Commission of India. This marks one of the largest foreign acquisitions in India's private banking sector.

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Tushar Kumar, aged 23, was appointed Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood in the United Kingdom, becoming the youngest person of Indian origin to hold a mayoral office in British history. He had earlier served as Deputy Mayor and succeeded Dan Ozarow as mayor. Kumar is a graduate of King's College London and plans to focus on youth empowerment and community welfare. The appointment ceremony took place in Hertfordshire.

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The United States approved $428.2 million in defence sustainment packages for India's AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers through the Foreign Military Sales programme. The support covers logistics, spare parts, technical training, and repair services to keep these systems operationally ready. Key companies involved in providing the support are Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and BAE Systems. The M777A2 is a lightweight 155mm artillery howitzer that India operates in high-altitude terrain.

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The West Bengal Cabinet approved the 'Annapurna' scheme on 18 May 2026 to provide ₹3,000 monthly financial aid to women, replacing the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. The state also approved free travel for women on all state-run buses to support workforce participation. Kanyashree, Rupashree, and Swasthya Sathi are other West Bengal welfare schemes but were not replaced by Annapurna. The initiative aims to promote women's financial independence and reduce the burden of daily commuting costs.

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The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor is approximately 508 kilometres long, making it India's first bullet train project. The first visual design was unveiled by the Ministry of Railways on 18 May 2026, based on Japanese Shinkansen technology. The corridor includes a notable engineering feature — an undersea tunnel beneath Thane Creek. Once operational, the bullet train is expected to cut travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad from over 7 hours to roughly 2 hours.

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Prudential Plc, a UK-based global insurance company, acquired a 75% controlling stake in Bharti Life Insurance for ₹3,500 crore. As a result, Bharti Enterprises reduced its stake from 85% to 25%, while 360 ONE Asset Management exited fully by selling its 15% holding. Following Indian regulatory requirements, Prudential will also have to reduce its existing stake in ICICI Prudential Life Insurance. This deal gives Prudential a strong foothold in India's rapidly growing life insurance market.

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Squadron Leader Saanya became the first woman officer in IAF history to earn the Category-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) rating on 18 May 2026. The Category-A QFI is the highest instructional grade in military aviation, certifying an officer to train new pilots, operational pilots, and junior flying instructors. The qualification requires completing a rigorous 22-week course at the Flying Instructors School in Tambaram, near Chennai. This milestone reflects the IAF's increasing integration of women officers into high-responsibility aviation roles.

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Exoplanet WASP-94A b is located approximately 700 light years from Earth and is a gas giant nearly twice the size of Jupiter but with only half Jupiter's mass. It orbits its star so closely that it completes one full revolution in just four days, making its atmosphere extremely hot. A study of the planet's weather was published in the journal Science on 21 May 2026. An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star other than the Sun; studying their atmospheres helps scientists understand planetary formation.