Daily Current Affairs (19 – May – 26)

Daily Current Affairs (19 – May – 26)

1. India’s Total Sugar Export Ban –

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a notification placing the export of all categories of sugar (raw, white, and refined) under the “Prohibited” category with immediate effect until 30th September 2026. 

What are the Reasons for the Total Sugar Export Ban?

The El Niño-Induced Agro-Climatic Threat: While the 2026–27 crop is secure, global meteorological models predict a moderate-to-strong El Niño persisting through 2026.

• El Niño suppresses the Southwest Monsoon, threatening the crucial planting window for the 2027–28 sugar year.
• Sugarcane has a prolonged vegetative phase. In North India (Suru crop), it takes 11–12 months. In Maharashtra (Pre-seasonal and Adsali crops), it takes 15–18 months.

Geopolitical Spillover on Agri-Inputs: Sugarcane is a highly water and fertilizer-intensive crop.

• The geopolitical escalation in West Asia threatens maritime chokepoints, risking massive disruptions in the global supply chains for nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers.
• Input shortages directly depress cane yields and sucrose recovery rates.

Inflationary Targeting: Sugar holds a sensitive weight in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

• Amidst global volatility in food and fuel matrices, the government is exercising extreme caution to prevent domestic speculative hoarding and localized price shocks.

Administrative Asymmetry: Banning exports seals off the international leak, ensuring domestic obligations are met first. Sugar mills must file monthly ‘P-II’ returns declaring stock levels, which dictate their domestic release quotas.

• The government suspects discrepancies between declared virtual ledgers and actual physical inventory in mill godowns.

Exemptions: The prohibition excludes a minimal preferential quota of approximately 14,500 tonnes earmarked for concessional duty exports to the European Union (EU) and the United States.

What is the Current Status of the Indian Sugar Industry?

• Global Standing:India retains its position as the world’s second-largest producer of sugar (trailing only Brazil) and is the world’s largest consumer.
• In 2024, India was the world’s third-largest exporter of raw sugar.

2. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Constitutes Committee on Empowerment of Women –

• Lok Sabha Speaker Shri. Om Birla has constituted the Committee on Empowerment of Women. This committee focused on focused on women centric policy oversight and the welfare initiatives. This newly formed committee will be chaired by the BJP MP Dr Daggubati Purandeswari.

Committee on Empowerment of Women Formed

• The Committee on Empowerment of Women has officially been constituted by the Lok Sabha Speaker.
• This parliamentary panel plays the important role in examining issues related to women’s welfare, development and empowerment.
• Their main functions to reviewing government policies and implementation concerning women.
• The formation of the committee this comes as part of regular parliamentary institutional processes.

3. Indian Air Force Officer Squadron Leader Saanya Becomes First Woman Cat-A Flying Instructor –

• The Indian Air Force has marked the historic milestone as Squadron Leader Saanya has becomethe first women in the Indian Air Force to earn the Cat-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) qualification. It showcases the growing role of the women in the India’s defense forces.

Historic First for the Indian Air Force

• The Indian Air Force has officially announced the achievement on 18th of May, 2026. On X post (Formerly Twitter) IAF has described the Squadron Leader Saanya’s success as a proud milestone.
• The force said her achievement reflects the excellence, dedication and relentless pursuit of the professional standards.

What Is the Cat-A Qualified Flying Instructor Qualification?

• The Cat-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) qualification is one of the most respected flying instructor certifications in the Indian Air Force.
• It is awarded to those pilots who demonstrates the exceptional instructional ability, flying expertise and professional competence.
• Also Qualified Flying Instructors plays the critical role in training future military pilots.
• The Cat-A category represents the highest standards in the flying instruction.

4. Amit Shah Launches AI-Powered Dial 112 Emergency Response Vehicles in Chhattisgarh –

• Respectable Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched the major public safety initiative by flagging off a new fleet of advanced Dial 112 emergency response vehicles and the modern forensic mobile vans in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. This upgraded system now expands from the 16 districts to all 33 districts of the state.

Amit Shah Flags Off Advanced Dial 112 Emergency Fleet in Raipur

• A major upgrade has come to the Chhattisgarh’s emergency response infrastructure.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched the modern emergency vehicle fleet at a state level event in Raipur.
• IN the flag off event,

1. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai
2. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma
3. Assembly Speaker Raman Singh

• also presented along with the Home Minister.

5. IAS Officer Saurabh Vijay Takes Charge as CEO of UIDAI –

• Senior IAS officer Shri. Saurabh Vijay has officially assumed the charge as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). He is a 1998 batch Maharashtra cadre officer and will bring the extensive administrative experience from both the state and central government roles.

Saurabh Vijay Assumes Charge as UIDAI CEO

• Saurabh Vijay took the charge as the new CRO of UIDAI on 18th of May, 2026.
• He will take the India’s most crucial digital governance leadership roles
• UIDAI manages the Aadhaar which is the world’s largest biometric identity program.

MCQ Quiz

Q1. Which organisation is the nodal agency for the National One Health Mission ?

1. a) NITI Aayog
2. b) Indian Council of Agricultural Research
3. c) Indian Council of Medical Research
4. d) Council of Scientific & Industrial Research

Q2. According to recent report, which state is the largest producer of Jaggery ?

1. a) Karnataka
2. b) Gujarat
3. c) Uttar Pradesh
4. d) Maharashtra

Q3. Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state?

1. a) Gujarat
2. b) Rajasthan
3. c) Maharashtra
4. d) Karnataka

Q4. Which of the following provisions/mechanisms under the Indian Constitution mandates a minimum number of judges to sit for deciding cases involving the interpretation of the Constitution ?

1. a) Article 124(3)
2. b) Article 131
3. c) Article 145(3)
4. d) Article 143

Explanation-

• Article 145(3) is correct: This article states that the minimum number of Judges who are to sit for the purpose of deciding any case involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution (commonly referred to as Constitution Benches) shall be five. Increasing the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court is tied to the need to form larger and more frequent Constitution Benches without hampering the day-to-day operations of regular benches.
• Article 124(3) is incorrect: This article deals with the qualifications required for a person to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court.
• Article 131 is incorrect: This article pertains to the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, particularly in disputes between the Government of India and one or more States, or between States.
• Article 143 is incorrect: This article grants the President of India the power to consult the Supreme Court and seek its advisory opinion on questions of law or fact of public importance.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding Ebola Virus Disease (EVD):

• It is a zoonotic disease caused by viruses belonging to the genus Orthoebolavirus.
• The Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus has multiple WHO-approved vaccines and therapeutic treatments available globally.
• Upon declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the WHO mandates that all countries impose strict international travel and border restrictions.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is Correct): Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal zoonotic illness (transmitted from animals to humans) caused by viruses belonging to the genus Orthoebolavirus. Wild animals like fruit bats are its natural reservoirs.
• Statement 2 is Incorrect): The present outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is caused by the Bundibugyo strain. This is a rare type of Ebola virus for which no approved vaccines or specific therapeutics currently exist.
• Statement 3 is Incorrect): When declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the WHO explicitly advises countries against imposing international travel or border restrictions. Such measures can disrupt vital trade and humanitarian assistance routes needed to.