Daily Current Affairs – 20-05-2026

National News

Supreme Court Collegium Approves 19 Judges for Madras High Court

The Supreme Court Collegium approved the appointment of 19 judges to the Madras High Court during its meeting held on May 18. The proposals were cleared in four phases during the previous year. Among the 19 appointees, 9 belong to the judicial service and 10 are lawyers. The judicial officers approved are Dr. P. Murugan, M.D. Sumathi, S. Alli, C. Thirumagal Chandrasekar, Dharmalingam Lingeswaran, Karthikeyan Palathandayutham, Shanmugam Karthikeyan, Balusamy Murugesan, and N. Gunasekaran. The lawyers approved are Natarajan Ramesh, G.K. Muthukumar, Ramakrishnan Rajesh Vivekananthan, Sankaranarayanan Ravikumar, Nagarajan Dileep Kumar, Ellappan Manoharan, Krishnaswamy Govindarajan, Rajneesh Pathiyil, K. Appadurai Kandavel alias Appadurai, and Ramasamy Anitha. The Supreme Court Collegium is the body responsible for the appointment, transfer, and promotion of judges to the Supreme Court of India and the High Courts. The present Collegium consists of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Allows Euthanasia of Dangerous Stray Dogs

The Supreme Court of India on May 19 permitted the euthanasia of rabid dogs, dogs suffering from incurable diseases, and dangerous stray dogs that pose a threat to public safety. The court directed that euthanasia should be carried out only after evaluation by veterinary experts and by strictly following legal procedures. The case was taken up suo motu by the Supreme Court in July 2025 based on reports of deaths and injuries caused by stray dog attacks. On November 7, 2025, the court issued directions to state governments regarding the removal of stray dogs and stray cattle from public places such as streets, schools, hospitals, and government offices. The court ordered that captured stray dogs should be vaccinated or sterilized and maintained in special shelters instead of being released again into public places. The bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice N.V. Anjaria dismissed petitions seeking withdrawal of the earlier order. The court also directed states and Union Territories to establish Animal Birth Control (ABC) Centres in all districts and ensure uninterrupted availability of anti-rabies vaccines. The ruling stated that euthanasia must comply with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and related legal provisions.

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri Passes Away

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri passed away on May 19 at the age of 91 in Dehradun. Before entering politics, he served in the Indian Army and retired with the rank of Major General. B.C. Khanduri served twice as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. After the BJP’s victory in the 2007 Uttarakhand Assembly Elections, he became Chief Minister and later resigned following the party’s defeat in all five constituencies in the 2009 Lok Sabha Elections. In 2011, he was again appointed as Chief Minister by the BJP. He also served as the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He is known for implementing the Golden Quadrilateral Project, which connects the four corners of India through highways. Following his demise, the Uttarakhand Government announced three days of state mourning. His daughter Ritu Khanduri Bhushan is the Speaker of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.

Maharashtra Signs Nuclear Power Agreements

Maharashtra signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 6.5 lakh crore with four major companies on May 19 to strengthen nuclear power generation in the state. Reliance Industries will establish a 7,200 MW power project with an investment of Rs 2 lakh crore, while Adani Power will develop a 6,000 MW project worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore. NTPC will invest Rs 1 lakh crore for a 7,200 MW project, and Bajaj Group subsidiary Lithpur Power Generation will invest Rs 2 lakh crore for a 5,000 MW project. Through these agreements, the state expects to generate a total of 25,400 MW of electricity and create around 1,23,500 jobs. Devendra Fadnavis stated that nuclear energy is an important component of clean energy production.

Growth in Digital and Credit Card Transactions

According to a report by the Reserve Bank of India, credit card transactions increased by 2.6 times, while the number of overall card transactions declined to 133.6 crore by the end of last year. The total value of card transactions also decreased from Rs 7.4 lakh crore to Rs 4.5 lakh crore. The report stated that the increased use of UPI, digital wallets, and credit cards contributed to the decline in traditional card transactions. In the credit card market, the share of private sector banks increased from 67.7% in 2021 to 71.1% in December last year. The market share of public sector banks rose slightly from 23.5% to 23.9%, while the share of foreign banks declined from 9.3% to 3.8%. Between 2016 and 2025, the number of overall digital financial transactions increased by 33 times. The number of UPI QR codes increased from 6,782 lakh in June to 7,313 lakh in December, while the usage of traditional infrastructure such as ATMs and POS machines declined.

Inquiry into OCI Cardholders Voting in Tamil Nadu

An inquiry is being conducted into the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status of foreign nationals who voted in the recent Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. Official sources stated on May 19 that the number of foreign nationals of Indian origin who allegedly voted illegally has increased to 30. Authorities are examining whether these individuals had falsely declared during their OCI card application that they had surrendered their voter identity cards or removed their names from the electoral rolls. Under OCI regulations, registration can be cancelled if it is obtained through fraud, false representation, or concealment of important facts, and such persons can also be barred from entering India. Law enforcement agencies are analysing the arrival and departure details of Indian-origin foreign nationals over the last 30 days. Individuals arrested in Chennai, Madurai and other places will not be allowed to leave the country until the investigation is completed, unless they obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) or permission from the designated court. Authorities also reviewed the details of foreigners who entered Tamil Nadu from April 15, 2026.

International News

US Approves Defence Equipment Sale to India

The United States Department of State approved the sale of defence technologies and equipment worth 428.2 million US dollars (around Rs 4,145 crore) to India on May 19. The approved deals include technologies, technical data, and related equipment for sustaining the operations of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzer artillery systems. Of the total amount, 198.2 million US dollars (around Rs 1,918 crore) was approved for Apache helicopter support systems. The main contractors for this project are Lockheed Martin of Florida, USA, and Boeing of Virginia, USA. Another 230 million US dollars (around Rs 2,226 crore) was approved for equipment, spare parts, and technical assistance related to M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers. The main contractor for this project is BAE Systems based in Cumbria, Britain. The deal is aimed at strengthening India’s defence and security capabilities.

India–Italy Strategic Partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that relations between India and Italy have developed into a Strategic Partnership based on the values of freedom and democracy. The partnership focuses on cooperation in sectors such as defence, space, clean technology, machinery, automobile components, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, agri-food, and tourism. India aims to strengthen economic and technological cooperation with Italy, which is known for its industrial and manufacturing capabilities. India currently has more than 100 unicorn companies and around 2,00,000 startups. Both countries aim to achieve trade worth 20 billion Euros (around Rs 2.24 lakh crore) by 2029. The proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) aims to improve connectivity through modern transport systems, digital networks, energy infrastructure, and supply chains. The article also highlighted the Indian cultural principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” meaning “The World is One Family”.

Vladimir Putin Visits China

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China on a two-day state visit to Beijing on May 19. During the visit, Putin is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 20. The visit marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation Treaty signed between Russia and China in 2001. Discussions between the two leaders are expected to focus on bilateral relations and energy sector cooperation. Putin was welcomed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Putin stated that trade between Russia and China has crossed 200 billion US dollars, with most transactions being conducted in the national currencies of the two countries. The article also noted that leaders of the permanent member countries of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), including the United States, Russia, France, and Britain, visited China during the past year. Donald Trump visited China recently, while Emmanuel Macron visited in December and Keir Starmer visited in January.

South Korea–Japan Energy and Security Agreement

South Korea and Japan signed an agreement on May 19 to strengthen cooperation in fuel supply and regional security. The agreement was announced after talks held in Andong between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Both countries agreed to work together to address economic challenges arising from the Middle East conflict and to expand coordination with Asian countries. The agreement includes improving crude oil and LPG reserves and exchanging fuel during emergency situations to manage disruptions in the fuel supply chain. The two leaders also agreed to strengthen trilateral security cooperation with the United States to address threats from North Korea and regional tensions. The meeting took place in Andong, a UNESCO heritage city and the hometown of President Lee Jae-myung. Earlier, in January, Lee Jae-myung visited Nara, the hometown of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, for bilateral talks.

New Zealand to Reduce Government Jobs

New Zealand announced plans to reduce around 9,000 government jobs by 2029 as part of measures to control government expenditure. The announcement was made on May 19 by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. The planned reduction accounts for 14% of the total government workforce and is expected to save around 1.4 billion dollars. After the reduction, the number of government employees in New Zealand will decrease to 55,000. The government stated that employees in the military, teaching, and medical sectors will be exempted from the job cuts.

Economy News

PepsiCo Investment in India by 2030

PepsiCo announced that it will invest Rs 5,700 crore in India by 2030 to expand its food and beverage production capacity. The announcement was made on May 19 by Jagrut Kotecha, CEO of PepsiCo India and South Asia. The investment will be made mainly in Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam. A beverage production plant will be established in Madhya Pradesh, while snack production plants will be set up in Tamil Nadu and Assam. In 2025, PepsiCo India recorded a revenue of Rs 9,789 crore and a net profit of Rs 905 crore. The company also reported 11% growth in its food products division and achieved double-digit growth for the second consecutive year.

Tamil Nadu News

Tamil Nadu Plans Talent Research Wing for Sports

Tamil Nadu government is taking steps to establish a Talent Research Wing to identify talented sportspersons in the State. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Aadhav Arjuna during a review meeting held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai. The proposed wing will identify talented students from poor backgrounds, and selection will be based on merit. During the meeting, discussions were held on sports infrastructure projects for 2026-27, implementation of 3% reservation for sportspersons in government departments, incentive schemes for medal winners in national and international competitions, improvement of sports hostels, and financial assistance for athletes. C. Joseph Vijay was stated to be formulating schemes to meet the future needs of the State. The meeting was attended by Sajjansingh R. Chavan and J. Meganatha Reddy.

Sports News

Arsenal Near Premier League Title

Arsenal moved closer to winning the Premier League title after defeating Burnley 1-0 in a match held in London on Monday. The victory gave Arsenal a five-point lead at the top of the points table and brought the club close to ending a 22-year wait for the league title. Kai Havertz scored the only goal through a header in the 37th minute from a corner delivered by Bukayo Saka. Arsenal is scheduled to face Crystal Palace next, and a victory in that match will officially confirm the Premier League title. The report also noted that Arsenal has scored 18 goals from set-pieces in the league during the current season. Manchester City remains in contention, as Arsenal drawing its final match could allow City to win the title on goal difference if it wins its remaining matches.