Current Affairs 31 May 2026

India to Pilot Plastic Currency Notes as RBI Revives Polymer Banknote Initiative.

• The Reserve Bank of India is considering a pilot project for polymer (plastic) currency notes.
• Polymer notes are expected to be more durable than paper-based notes.
• The move aims to reduce printing and replacement costs.
• It could improve cash management efficiency amid rising demand for currency.
• The proposal was discussed in RBI board meetings.
• If implemented, it would mark a significant change in India's currency system after more than a decade.

World Record and Gold for India’s Esha Singh at ISSF World Cup Munich.

• Esha Singh won a gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup Munich.
• She set a new world record during her gold-medal-winning performance.
• The achievement came at the age of 21.
• Esha outperformed top international shooters, including Yang Jiin and Doreen Vennekamp.
• The victory is one of the biggest achievements of her shooting career so far.

Indian-American Student Shrey Parikh Crowned Scripps Spelling Bee Champion 2026.

• Shrey Parikh won the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee 2026 title.
• The 14-year-old student from California emerged as the champion after a highly competitive contest.
• He defeated Ishaan Gupta in the final spell-off.
• Shrey correctly spelled 32 words during the dramatic tie-breaker round.
• His victory highlights the continued success of Indian-origin students in major academic competitions in the United States.

India Introduces 1st SkyCast System at Delhi Airport to Tackle Flight Delays.

• India launched its first SkyCast System at Indira Gandhi International Airport under Mission Mausam.
• India became the 19th country to deploy this advanced aviation weather monitoring technology.
• The system provides real-time atmospheric and weather intelligence for aviation operations.
• It helps pilots and airport operators manage adverse weather conditions more effectively.
• SkyCast is expected to reduce flight disruptions caused by fog, turbulence, and poor visibility.
• The system was inaugurated by Jitendra Singh.

New Government Portal Launched for Easy Access to Unclaimed Financial Assets.

• The Department of Financial Services has launched the Common Landing Portal for Unclaimed Financial Assets.
• The portal enables citizens to search for unclaimed bank deposits, insurance claims, shares, dividends, and mutual funds through a single platform.
• It was developed in collaboration with PSB Alliance.
• The initiative aims to help citizens easily trace and recover unclaimed financial assets.
• It supports the government’s आपकी पूँजी, आपका अधिकार (Your Money, Your Right) campaign.