23 May 2026 Daily Current Affairs Quiz | Today’s Practice MCQs
Daily Current Affairs Summary – 23 May 2026
India-Cyprus Strategic Partnership
Bilateral relations between India and Cyprus have been officially elevated to the status of a “Strategic Partnership”. A comprehensive 5-year Roadmap for Defence Cooperation (2026-2031) was announced, along with a Technical Arrangement for Search and Rescue (SAR) coordination. Cyprus formally joined India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) under the Trade, Connectivity and Maritime Transport pillar. As a gesture of goodwill, India gifted an indigenously developed portable disaster hospital called the BHISM Cube to Cyprus. Additionally, Cyprus announced its intention to open a new Trade Center in Mumbai to boost economic ties during the visit of Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.
Khet Bachao Abhiyan (Save the Fields Campaign)
Managed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), this nationwide campaign aims to protect soil health and curb overdependence on chemical inputs by promoting balanced fertiliser usage. The initiative achieved a massive digital outreach extending to 2.712 Crore citizens. Furthermore, 12,979 awareness camps were conducted to directly sensitise 7.17 Lakh farmers regarding sustainable nutrient management and green manuring.
Next-Generation Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
A national conference themed “Next-Gen Trade Pacts: Leveraging India’s Partnership with Europe under FTAs” was convened in New Delhi. Next-generation FTAs extend beyond traditional tariff liberalisation to cover digital economy frameworks and environmental standards. Experts highlighted that the impending India-EU FTA will grant preferential tariff treatment to 99.5% of Indian exports. The forum also debated major structural challenges, including navigating the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) tax on carbon-intensive goods like steel and aluminium.
International Day for Biological Diversity 2026
Observed on May 22, 2026, under the theme “Acting Locally for Global Impact”, the national event was hosted at the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Key milestones reviewed included the successful breeding progress of Project Cheetah and the disbursement of ₹145 Crore nationwide under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. India reiterated its commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and launched a new digital ABS End-to-End Portal.
NHAI and Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) MoU
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Norway’s NGI in Oslo. This technical collaboration focuses on advanced tunnel engineering, site characterization, and structural safety audits. It also aims to enhance road infrastructure resilience in geologically sensitive terrains through slope stability analysis and satellite-based InSAR technology to set up robust Early Warning Systems.
JEEVAN App and SHATAYU Caregiver Dashboard
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched new technology-driven elder-care systems. The JEEVAN (Joint Elderly Empowerment & Virtual Assistance Network) mobile application acts as a single window for welfare schemes and emergency assistance for senior citizens. Alongside it, the SHATAYU dashboard was introduced to provide real-time, localized data on trained Geriatric Caregivers. These initiatives align with the constitutional mandate under Article 41, which directs the State to secure public assistance for the elderly.