Daily Current Affairs: 13th May, 2026
Q1. India is hosting the Kimberley Process (KP) Intersessional Meeting in May 2026. In which city is this global event being held?
(a) Surat
(b) New Delhi
(c) Mumbai
(d) Hyderabad
(e) Chennai
Answer: c
Solution:
- The Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting 2026 commenced in Mumbai under the chairmanship of India. The meeting is being held from 11 to 14 May 2026.
- The event has brought together representatives of Kimberley Process participant countries, observers, and diamond industry stakeholders from across the world to discuss important issues related to the global trade of natural diamonds.
- The Kimberley Process is a global coalition of governments, civil society organisations, and the diamond industry aimed at eliminating the trade in conflict diamonds.
- Conflict diamonds, also known as “blood diamonds,” are defined under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1459 as rough diamonds used by rebel groups or their allies to finance conflicts against legitimate governments.
- Established under a mandate of the United Nations, the Kimberley Process regulates international trade in rough diamonds through a certification mechanism.
- Countries participating in the Kimberley Process are required to establish national legislation, institutions, and import-export control systems to meet the scheme’s minimum requirements.
- Participants must also ensure transparent practices, exchange statistical data, trade only with other Kimberley Process participants, and certify diamond shipments as conflict-free.
- At present, the Kimberley Process has 60 participants representing 86 countries, including the European Union as a single participant. Together, they account for over 99 per cent of global rough diamond production and trade.
- The Kimberley Process holds two major meetings every year — the Intersessional Meeting and the Plenary Meeting — and the chairmanship rotates annually among participating countries.
Q2. A senior executive with extensive experience in finance and commercial operations recently assumed charge as the Chairman & Managing Director of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). Who has been appointed as the CMD of SAIL?
(a) Amarendu Prakash
(b) TV Narendran
(c) Soma Mondal
(d) Ashok Kumar Panda
(e) Anil Kumar Chaudhary
Answer: d
Solution:
- Ashok Kumar Panda assumed charge as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) on 9 May 2026.
- Before taking over as CMD, Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda was serving as the Director (Finance) of SAIL.
Q3. In May 2026, the mission-mode programme ‘SEHAT’ was jointly launched by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). What does the ‘S’ in ‘SEHAT’ stand for?
(a) Sustainable
(b) Science
(c) Social
(d) Systematic
(e) Synergy
Answer: b
Solution:
- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) jointly launched “SEHAT – Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation.”
- SEHAT is a national mission-mode programme aimed at strengthening the convergence between agriculture, nutrition, and public health.
- The initiative seeks to convert agricultural advancements into measurable health benefits for the people of India.
- The programme was launched by Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare.
- Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, also participated in the launch event.
- The launch ceremony was attended by senior policymakers, scientists, and key stakeholders from the fields of health, agriculture, and nutrition.
- The initiative reflects the Government of India’s focus on integrated approaches to food security, nutritional improvement, and preventive healthcare.
Q4. In May, 2026, Himanta Biswa Sarma took the oath as the Chief Minister of Assam for a second successive term. Who administered the oath of office to him?
(a) Governor Jagdish Mukhi
(b) Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya
(c) Governor Gulab Chand Kataria
(d) Governor Banwarilal Purohit
(e) Governor Ramesh Bais
Answer: b
Solution:
- Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Assam on 12 May 2026 for a second consecutive term.
- He became the first non-Congress leader in the state to serve as Chief Minister for two successive terms.
- Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Sarma.
Q5. A senior Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1995 batch has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman. Who has been appointed to this position?
(a) Vikram Misri
(b) Pavan Kapoor
(c) Prashant Pise
(d) Sanjay Verma
(e) Harsh Vardhan Shringla
Answer: c
Solution:
In May, 2026, Prashant Pise, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1995 batch, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Oman. He is currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.
Q6. In May,2026, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Florence Nightingale Awards. Which Ministry is responsible for instituting these awards?
(a) Ministry of Women and Child Development
(b) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
(c) Ministry of Home Affairs
(d) Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(e) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Answer: e
Solution:
- Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Florence Nightingale Awards for the year 2026 at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 12 May 2026.
- A total of 15 nursing professionals from different regions and healthcare settings across India were honoured for their exemplary service, dedication to public healthcare delivery, and commitment to community welfare.
- The National Florence Nightingale Awards were instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to recognise the dedication, compassion, and resilience of nursing professionals.
- The awards are presented to Registered Nurses, Midwives, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), and Lady Health Visitors serving under Central and State Governments, Union Territories, and voluntary organisations.
- Each award carries a Certificate of Merit, a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, and a medal as a mark of the nation’s gratitude towards healthcare workers.
Q7. International Nurses Day 2026 was observed globally on 12 May to honour the contribution of nurses and highlight their role in strengthening healthcare systems worldwide. What was the official theme of International Nurses Day 2026?
(a) Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives.
(b) Caring Beyond Boundaries
(c) Nurses Together for Global Health
(d) Strengthening Healthcare through Innovation
(e) Safe Care for Every Patient
Answer: a
Solution:
- International Nurses Day 2026 is being observed on 12 May 2026 to honour the contribution of nurses to healthcare systems across the world.
- The day is celebrated every year on 12 May to mark the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, who is regarded as the pioneer of modern nursing.
- The theme for International Nurses Day 2026 is “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives.”
- The theme highlights the importance of supporting nurses through improved wellbeing, workplace safety, professional empowerment, and leadership opportunities in order to strengthen global healthcare systems.
Q8. India achieved a major milestone in climate innovation with the inauguration of the country’s first Integrated CCUS Field Laboratory Facility under Bharat Innovates 2026. At which institution was this facility inaugurated?
(a) IIT Delhi
(b) IIT Madras
(c) IIT Bombay
(d) IISc Bengaluru
(e) IIT Kanpur
Answer: c
Solution:
- Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated India’s first Integrated CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage) Field Laboratory Facility at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay on 11 May 2026 under the Bharat Innovates 2026 initiative.
- The facility is India’s first end-to-end CCUS field laboratory integrating indigenous carbon capture technology with carbon utilisation and permanent geological sequestration.
- The project showcases a self-reliant and closed-loop carbon mitigation model based on indigenous innovation and aligned with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- The facility was developed at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.