4.5/5
Current Affairs 29th May 2026
Major Areas of Priority in Five-Year Plans
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1st Five-Year Plan (1951–56): Priority to agriculture
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2nd Five-Year Plan (1956–61): Priority to the industrial sector
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3rd Five-Year Plan (1961–66): Focus on agriculture and industry
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4th Five-Year Plan (1969–74): Growth with justice and reduction of poverty
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5th Five-Year Plan (1974–79): Removal of poverty and achieving self-reliance
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6th Five-Year Plan (1980–85): Emphasis similar to the Fifth Plan
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7th Five-Year Plan (1985–90): Food production, employment, and productivity
1. India's Esha Singh wins Munich World Cup with 25m pistol World Record
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World Record: Her score of 43/50 shattered the previous senior world record of 42, set by South Korea's Kim Ye-ji in 2024. She also broke the junior world record of 41, previously held by Paris 2024 Olympic champion Yang Ji-in.
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Dominant Performance: Esha finished with a five-point lead over the silver medalist, Germany's Doreen Vennekamp (38/50). Bulgaria's Miroslava Mincheva took the bronze with 31/45.
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Significance: This victory marked India's first individual shooting medal of the 2026 ISSF World Cup season. Additionally, the gold medal earned Esha a direct qualification spot for the season-ending ISSF World Cup Final, which is scheduled to take place in Rome, Italy, in December 2026.
2. Sikkim Becomes India’s Fifth Fully Literate State
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Official Recognition: The announcement was made in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu during the seventh convocation ceremony of Sikkim University in Gangtok. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang confirmed the achievement, noting that the state has attained a literacy rate of 99.82%.
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Framework: This recognition was granted under the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) initiative, also known as the Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, which was launched by the Ministry of Education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
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What "Fully Literate" Means: Under this program, the "fully literate" status is not based on traditional Census definitions, but rather on meeting specific adult literacy benchmarks set by the Ministry of Education. It requires literacy levels among individuals aged 15 and above to cross approximately 95% and focuses on functional literacy, basic numeracy, and lifelong learning.
Footnotes: Sikkim's CM: Prem Singh Tamang, Capital: Gangtok, Governor: Om Prakash Mathur
3. RBI re-appointed Ketan Merchant as CEO of Fino Payments Bank
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Leadership Context: Merchant, the bank's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), originally took on the interim CEO role in February 2026. This followed the arrest of the former MD and CEO, Rishi Gupta, in connection with a GST tax evasion investigation.
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Bank Stability: Rishi Gupta formally resigned from his position on May 21, 2026, opting for voluntary retirement. This extension ensures management continuity at a critical time as the bank continues its operations and its transition toward becoming a Small Finance Bank (SFB).
Footnotes: FPB's HQ: Navi Mumbai, Estd: 2007
4. India to host 2027 Asian Relays and 2028 Asian Indoor Championships
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Host Cities and Timeline: Chandigarh will host the 2027 Asian Relay Championships in May 2027, while Bhubaneswar will host the 2028 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in January 2028.
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Strategic Importance: Bhubaneswar’s selection is particularly significant as it serves as a "test event" for the city, which is also scheduled to host the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships in March 2028. This allows the city and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to evaluate operational readiness and infrastructure at the Kalinga Stadium’s state-of-the-art indoor facility.
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Boost for Indian Athletics: These events represent a significant milestone in India’s efforts to become a leading global athletics destination. The Asian Relays in Chandigarh will feature six events (men's, women's, and mixed 4x100m and 4x400m), providing a major platform for domestic athletes to compete against top international talent on home soil.
5. PT Usha, Dilip Tirkey Release Book on India’s First Olympic Hockey Gold
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Formal Resignation: Siddaramaiah submitted his resignation to the Governor's office. This move follows an agreement made by the Congress high command to implement a power-sharing arrangement after the party's 2023 election victory, which concluded his three-year tenure as Chief Minister.
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Succession of D.K. Shivakumar: He is expected to lead the state for the remaining two years of the current assembly term, marking a significant generational shift and change in leadership dynamics within the state unit of the Congress party.
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Caretaker Status: While the Governor has accepted the resignation, Siddaramaiah will continue to serve as the caretaker Chief Minister until the formal appointment of his successor. A crucial Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting is scheduled for May 30, 2026, to finalize the leadership transition.
6. Siddaramaiah Quits, Names DK Shivakumar As Next CM
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Execution of Power-Sharing Pact: Siddaramaiah resigned on May 28, 2026, following a directive from the Congress high command. This transition fulfills a power-sharing agreement established in May 2023, where it was decided that Siddaramaiah would serve the first three years of the term, to be followed by D.K. Shivakumar for the remaining two years.
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Formal Acceptance and Caretaker Role: Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot officially accepted the resignation on May 29, 2026. Siddaramaiah continues to serve as the caretaker Chief Minister until D.K. Shivakumar is formally sworn in, with a crucial Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting scheduled for May 30, 2026, to finalize the transition.
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Commitment to State Politics: Despite the high command reportedly offering him a position in the Rajya Sabha, Siddaramaiah has explicitly declined to move into national politics. He has vowed to remain active in state-level politics, focusing on his commitment to social justice and the welfare of marginalized communities.
Footnotes: Karnataka's Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot, Capital: Bengaluru
7. Sikkim Police Awarded Prestigious President’s Police Colour
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Historic Milestone: With this recognition, Sikkim became the 15th state police force in India and the third in the Northeast (following Assam and Tripura) to receive this prestigious distinction. The award was presented during a ceremonial parade held at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok.
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Significance of the "Nishaan": Often referred to as the Nishaan, the President’s Police Colour is a ceremonial flag and emblem that recognizes a force’s sustained excellence, professionalism, discipline, and outstanding service to the public.
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President’s Vision for Modern Policing: During the ceremony, President Murmu praised the Sikkim Police (established in 1897) for their dedication but urged the force to shed colonial-era mindsets.
Footnotes: Sikkim's CM: Prem Singh Tamang, Capital: Gangtok, Governor: Om Prakash Mathur
8. Veteran Urdu Poet Bashir Badr passed away at the age of 91
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Prolonged Illness: He had been battling a long-term illness, including the effects of dementia, for approximately 14 years. His family confirmed he passed away at his home, "Bashir Manzil," at around 12:15 pm on Thursday.
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Literary Stature: Dr. Badr was a titan of modern Urdu ghazal, known for his ability to blend contemporary themes with traditional poetic forms. He authored numerous celebrated collections, including Aas, Ikaai, and Aamad.
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Lasting Legacy: Renowned for his accessible yet profound verses, he penned thousands of couplets that explored themes of love, loss, and the mysteries of life.
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY
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International Day of UN Peacekeepers: 29th May
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The 2026 observance is held under the Theme “Invest in Peace.”
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Observed annually on May 29 to honor the professionalism, dedication, and courage of military, police and civilian personnel
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