Current Affairs — Friday, 22 May 2026

Tamil Nadu

- TVK Government Reaffirms Two-Language Policy — Tamil Nadu Education Minister Rajmohan confirmed that the Vijay-led TVK government will continue the state's long-held two-language (Tamil + English) policy in schools, rejecting the Centre's three-language formula.

- Tamil Nadu Rejects PM-SHRI Scheme — The new TVK government has declined to participate in the PM Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme, as it requires adopting the three-language policy; the Centre has withheld approximately ₹3,500 crore in funding for two years over this standoff.

- MDMK's Vaiko Warns of 'Language War' — MDMK chief Vaiko urged CM Vijay to firmly reject the PM-SHRI scheme, warning of a "language war" if Hindi imposition continues through central education schemes.

- CM Vijay Expands Tamil Nadu Cabinet to 33 Ministers — Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay expanded the Tamil Nadu Cabinet to 33 members, including four women ministers; Congress joined the government for the first time in 59 years as part of the ruling alliance.

- CPI-M Warns Vijay Government Over AIADMK — Alliance partner CPI-M cautioned CM Vijay's TVK government over its approach toward the AIADMK, threatening to withdraw support if concerns are not addressed.

- TVK Rolls Back ₹17 Lakh Contract After DMK Red Flag — The TVK government cancelled a ₹17 lakh contract after DMK flagged irregularities in a six-hour tender process, highlighting early governance scrutiny of the new administration.

India — National

- Supreme Court Upholds Tribunal Independence — The Supreme Court ruled against executive and legislative attempts to control tribunals, reinforcing the separation of powers and judicial independence.

- Supreme Court Quashes Madras HC Order on 'Ungaludan Stalin' Scheme — The Supreme Court dismissed a plea challenging the use of former CM Stalin's name in government schemes and imposed a ₹10 lakh cost on AIADMK MP C. Ve. Shanmugam for filing the petition.

- Tamil Nadu Moves Supreme Court Against Madras HC Order — The Tamil Nadu government challenged a Madras High Court order that restrained the use of living persons' names and ex-CMs' photos in government scheme advertisements.

- Justice Varma Impeachment Controversy — Concerns have been raised over the Central Government's reported plan to bypass the Judges (Inquiry) Act procedure in the impeachment proceedings against Justice Varma, raising questions about judicial independence.

- Supreme Court Under Scrutiny Over Case Pendency — The Supreme Court is facing a reported "crisis" over mounting case pendency, with PRS India data highlighting the judiciary's backlog as a systemic concern.

- AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi — UN Secretary-General António Guterres and several global leaders are set to converge in New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit 2026, positioning India as a key player in global AI governance.

Economy & Finance

- RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% — The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% in its first policy review after Union Budget 2026, citing positive growth and inflation outlook.

- RBI Projects FY26 Inflation at 2.1%, GDP Growth at 7.4% — RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra indicated that budget measures, trade deals, and benign inflation are setting the stage for robust growth, with real GDP pegged at 7.4% for FY26.

- Economic Survey 2025-26 Released — The government released the Economic Survey 2025-26 via PIB, providing a comprehensive assessment of India's macroeconomic performance and policy outlook.

- Union Budget 2026 Faces Key Challenges — Despite India's world-beating GDP growth, the Union Budget 2026 must navigate challenges including fiscal consolidation, global trade uncertainties, and social spending demands.

- Air Quality Management Outlay Cut by 10% in Budget 2026-27 — The Union Budget 2026-27 reduced the allocation for air quality management by 10% and also saw a dip in pollution control funding, raising environmental concerns.

Science & Technology

- ISRO & DRDO Building India's Quantum Communication Network — ISRO and DRDO are jointly developing an unhackable quantum communication network aimed at eliminating cybercrime vulnerabilities in critical national infrastructure.

- Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to Carry Indian Food on Axiom Mission 4 — ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will carry ISRO and DRDO-prepared moong dal halwa and aam ras aboard the Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station.

- CSIR & ISRO Hold Joint Meet on Human Spaceflight Research — CSIR and ISRO conducted a space research meet to advance India's human spaceflight programme (Gaganyaan), focusing on life sciences and health monitoring.

- DRDO & ISRO Collaborate on Himalayan Meteorology — DRDO and ISRO signed an agreement to enhance the use of space assets for improving meteorological monitoring and disaster preparedness in the Himalayan region.

Environment

- State of India's Environment 2026 Report Released — The report highlights rising climate risks, increasing human-wildlife conflicts, and critical gaps in pollution monitoring across India.

- India–Nepal Sign MoU on Forest and Wildlife Cooperation — India and Nepal signed a new MoU to boost bilateral cooperation in forest conservation and wildlife protection along their shared ecological zones.

- Budget 2026-27 Cuts Air Quality and Pollution Control Spending — The Union Budget 2026-27 reduced the air quality management outlay by 10% and trimmed pollution control allocations, drawing criticism from environment experts.

Sports

- Cricket at LA 2028 Olympics to Kick Off on July 12 — The International Olympic Committee confirmed that cricket at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics is scheduled to begin on July 12, marking the sport's historic return to the Olympics after 128 years.

- India Targets 12 Gold Medals at 2036 Olympics — India has set an ambitious target of winning 12 gold medals at the 2036 Olympics, as the country positions itself to host the Games and develop elite sports infrastructure.

- 2026 Winter Olympics Medal Tally: Norway Leads — In the ongoing 2026 Winter Olympics, Norway tops the medal count, followed closely by Italy and the USA.

- India's Medal Prospects at LA 2028 Olympics Assessed — Analysts have identified hockey, wrestling, badminton, and athletics as India's strongest disciplines for podium finishes at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Appointments & Awards

- Justice M. Fathima Beevi, First Woman Judge of Supreme Court of India, Passes Away — Justice M. Fathima Beevi, a trailblazer who became the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of India, has passed away; her appointment in 1989 remains a landmark in Indian judicial history.

- Justice Manikumar Appointed as New SHRC Chairman — Justice Manikumar has been appointed as the new Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), according to reports from The Times of India.

- Bhagat Singh Koshyari Awarded Padma Bhushan — Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was conferred the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honours.

- Former CJI J.S. Khehar Receives Padma Award — Former Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar, known for landmark rulings that often contradicted the government's position, was recognised with a Padma award.

- Vinai Kumar Saxena Takes Oath as 22nd Lt Governor of Delhi — Vinai Kumar Saxena was sworn in as the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, assuming charge of the Union Territory's administration.

International

- Africa Occupies Central Place in India's Foreign Policy: Jaishankar — External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that Africa holds a central position in India's contemporary foreign policy, reflecting India's South-South cooperation priorities.

- EU and India Seek Closer Relations Amid Global Uncertainty — The European Union and India are working toward strengthening bilateral ties in trade, technology, and security as the global order faces disruption from shifting US policies under the Trump administration.

- South Korea PM Returns from India–Vietnam Trip Focused on Supply Chains — South Korean Prime Minister Lee concluded a trip to India and Vietnam aimed at strengthening economic ties and diversifying supply chains, reflecting the growing strategic importance of India in Asian geopolitics.