Current Affairs 26 May 2026

The ICAR Khet Bachao Abhiyan has reached 2.71 crore people.

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research reached 2.712 crore citizens through the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan.
• 12,979 awareness camps organized across India.
• 7.17 lakh farmers engaged on scientific nutrient management.
• 7,928 field demonstrations conducted on green manuring and bio-fertilisers.
• Campaign promotes soil fertility and sustainable agriculture practices.

India’s cold water fisheries are emerging as a key pillar of the blue economy.

• India released the Model Guidelines for Cold Water Fisheries Development on May 23, 2026, strengthening the Blue Economy.
• Total fish production reached 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024–25.
• Trout production increased to 6,000 MT, 1.8 times higher than a decade ago.
• Jammu and Kashmir is India’s leading trout producer with 3,010 MT production.
• Cold-water fisheries contribute about 3% of inland fish production.
• Major species include Rainbow trout, Golden Mahseer, and Snow trout.
• ₹5,638.76 crore sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana for cold-water states.
• India partnered with Norway and Iceland for sustainable aquaculture and hatchery management.

The scope of GATC has been expanded for fuel dispenser verification.

• The Department of Consumer Affairs amended the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013.
• Five new fuel dispensing systems added for mandatory verification: Petrol/Diesel, CNG, LPG, LNG, and Hydrogen dispensers.
• Total verifiable categories under GATC increased from 18 to 23.
• Reform aims to ensure accurate measurement in clean fuel infrastructure.
• State Governments can now notify additional categories based on local needs.
• The reforms align India’s metrology system with International Organization of Legal Metrology standards.

Royal Society of Chemistry joins India’s ONOS scheme.

• Royal Society of Chemistry joined India’s One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme on May 25, 2026.
• The scheme provides nationwide access to RSC chemical science journals.
• Access extended to 6,500 Indian institutions and around 18 million researchers, students, and educators.
• Covers all Central Government-funded R&D institutions.
• Initiative aims to promote chemistry education, research, and equitable access to scientific resources.
• ONOS is managed through the INFLIBNET Centre.

China launches the Shenzhou-23 mission with its first year-long stay in orbit.

• China launched the Shenzhou-23 mission on May 24, 2026.
• Mission aims for the first 1-year long astronaut stay in orbit (365 days).
• Launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using a Long March 2-F rocket.
• Crew includes three astronauts: Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai Ka-ying (first astronaut from Hong Kong).
• Objective is to study long-duration microgravity effects and support future lunar missions.
• Part of China’s roadmap to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030 and develop the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) by 2035.