Updates on 27 May 2026
All of May 2026 →Assam Assembly Passes Uniform Civil Code Bill, Becoming Third State to Implement UCC
On 27 May 2026, the Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, becoming the third Indian state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to enact such legislation. The Bill standardizes civil laws related to marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships for all citizens in Assam regardless of religion, banning polygamy and mandating registration of these relationships. Scheduled Tribes residing in Assam are exempted from the Bill. This aligns with Article 44 of the Indian Constitution, which lists the Uniform Civil Code among the Directive Principles of State Policy.
West Bengal Announces Free Bus Travel for Women from 1 June 2026
The West Bengal government has introduced a Free Bus Travel Scheme for women in all state-run buses across West Bengal starting 1 June 2026. Women travelling in government-operated buses will not be required to pay any fare and will be issued "zero value tickets" upon identity verification. This initiative is part of the state government's efforts to empower women and promote public welfare, announced alongside the Annapurna Yojana.
West Bengal Launches Annapurna Yojana Providing ₹3,000 Monthly to Women from June 2026
West Bengal government has introduced the Annapurna Yojana, a cash assistance scheme effective from 1 June 2026, providing ₹3,000 per month to eligible women aged 25-60 years. Payments are made via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. Existing beneficiaries of Lakshmir Bhandar scheme will be migrated to this scheme, except those found ineligible. The scheme excludes permanent government employees or women receiving government pension/salary. An online portal for new applications opens on 1 June 2026. The Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare administers the scheme.
Blue Origin Secures NASA Contract to Deliver Lunar Rovers for Moon Base 2030s
On 26 May 2026, NASA awarded Blue Origin a multimillion-dollar contract to deliver lunar rovers and equipment to the Moon as part of its Moon Base initiative. This project aims to establish a sustained human presence at the lunar South Pole by the 2030s. Blue Origin will provide lunar terrain vehicles via its robotic Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander. The initial contract value is $188 million with an option for an additional $280.4 million. Additional contracts worth $439 million were awarded to Astrolab and Lunar Outpost for lunar terrain vehicle development. Blue Origin also has a separate $3.4 billion contract from 2023 for a human landing system for Artemis crewed missions.
India Ranks Second in Asia Pacific Data Centre Market with 1.6 GW Capacity
As of May 27, 2026, India holds the position as the second-largest data centre market in the Asia Pacific region with an operational data centre capacity of 1.6 gigawatts (GW). The country also has a significant development pipeline, with 3.1 GW under construction and planned, placing it among the top three markets globally. Major cities driving growth include Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi NCR, and Pune. Mumbai is expected to exceed 1 GW operational capacity by end of 2026. Hyderabad ranks as the top secondary data centre market in APAC and ninth globally. Key growth drivers are AI adoption, hyperscale cloud expansion, and rising enterprise demand, positioning India as a leading digital infrastructure hub in the region.
Rayalaseema to Become Rs 40,000 Crore Horticulture Hub Under Purvodaya Scheme
The Andhra Pradesh government plans to develop Rayalaseema into a Rs 40,000 crore horticulture hub by leveraging Central government funds under the Purvodaya scheme. This initiative aims at infrastructure development including irrigation, roads, warehouses, and cold storage to boost fruit and vegetable production and exports from drought-prone districts such as Kurnool, Anantapur, Kadapa, and Chittoor. The scheme aligns with broader efforts to reduce regional disparities and strengthen economic growth in eastern India.
Andhra Pradesh Launches 'Farm to Home' Model for Direct Agricultural Produce Delivery
Andhra Pradesh has initiated the 'Farm to Home' programme to facilitate direct delivery of fruits and vegetables from Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs) to consumers, minimizing intermediaries. This scheme is part of a wider strategy to improve farmers' incomes, promote sustainable natural farming, employ modern agricultural technology (such as drones and farm machinery), and integrate services via digital platforms like the Farmer App and Digi Rythu Bazaar app. Region-specific crop planning and price protection via Minimum Support Prices (MSP) are also emphasized, aiming to strengthen the agricultural supply chain and rural livelihoods in the state.
India's Cockroach Diversity and DNA Barcoding Initiative by ZSI
India is home to 191 documented species of cockroaches, with over 60% of these species endemic to the country. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), in collaboration with Prof. Ramkrishna More College, has developed the first and largest DNA barcode reference library for cockroaches in India, representing a significant advancement in insect taxonomy and biodiversity research.
NASA's Three-Phase Plan for a Permanent Moon Base Near Lunar South Pole
NASA announced a $20 billion, three-phase plan starting in 2026 to establish a permanent Moon base near the lunar South Pole as part of its Artemis program. The plan includes robotic missions (2026-2029) focused on cargo delivery and technology testing; building early semi-habitable infrastructure with power and communication systems (2029-2032); and establishing a permanent, long-duration human presence (until 2036). Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander and Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) providers play critical roles. The lunar South Pole offers strategic advantages like water ice deposits and continuous solar power. Continuous presence aims to support scientific exploration, lunar economy, and future Mars missions.
SEBI Initiates Bond ETFs and Corporate Bond Derivatives to Expand Retail Debt Market Participation
On 26 May 2026, SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey announced plans to develop bond exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and derivatives based on corporate bond indices. The initiative aims to boost retail investor participation in India's corporate debt market, which currently has less than 1% retail involvement. Bond ETFs will facilitate smaller ticket sizes, improved liquidity, and offer hedging tools against interest-rate risk. SEBI is also implementing regulatory reforms including a distinct classification for debt brokers, a market-making framework in collaboration with the RBI and Ministry of Finance, and pilot projects for tokenisation of corporate bonds. Additionally, investor education will be enhanced under Project Jagrook to increase awareness of fixed-income product risks and benefits.
Discovery of 10 Billion-Year-Old Fast Radio Burst FRB 20240304B by MeerKAT and James Webb Telescope
On 4 March 2024, scientists detected a fast radio burst (FRB) named FRB 20240304B with the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa. The radio signal traveled approximately 10 billion years before reaching Earth, originating from a small, clumpy, low-mass, star-forming dwarf galaxy identified using the James Webb Space Telescope. This event occurred about 3 billion years after the Big Bang, during the epoch known as cosmic noon—the peak period of star formation in the universe. The discovery effectively doubled the known redshift range of localized FRBs, providing valuable insights into galaxy evolution, the intergalactic medium, and compact astrophysical objects such as magnetars.
Rare Blueberry Species Vaccinium piliferum Rediscovered in Arunachal Pradesh After 188 Years
Vaccinium piliferum, a rare and endangered wild relative of the blueberry, was rediscovered in May 2026 in the forests of Vijoynagar, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh, after no confirmed sightings for 188 years. Originally collected in 1836 from the Mishmi Hills and again recorded in 1850 from Meghalaya's Khasi Hills, the species is a climbing shrub belonging to the genus Vaccinium and family Ericaceae, known for edible berries and wide temperate distribution. Only 16 individual plants were found across a 2 sq km area at elevations between 1,150 and 1,280 metres near tributaries of the Noa-Dihing river. This rediscovery highlights the biodiversity significance of the Eastern Himalaya hotspot and emphasizes the conservation urgency for this endangered species.