The UPSC Current Affairs Pointers provide crucial updates from the past week to support your preparation for the UPSC, State PCS, and other competitive exams.

Event

• International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026

— The main celebration of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026 will take place in Kolkata on June 21.

— This year’s theme is “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” emphasizing the importance of yoga in enhancing physical health, mental well-being, and promoting healthy ageing.

The term “yoga” is referenced in the Vedic texts (1,500-500 BCE), the oldest surviving literature from the subcontinent, though in a context different from the modern understanding of postural or meditational practice. The Mahabharata, written over a span of six centuries from 300 BCE to 300 CE, presents yoga in a more familiar context.

The Yoga Sutra by Maharishi Patanjali, composed around 350 CE, is the most recognized text on yoga, shaping contemporary interpretations of the practice.

UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — May 25-29, 2026

Test your knowledge with 8 questions on current affairs.

Q1 of 8
Where will the main celebration of International Day of Yoga 2026 be held?

• New Delhi
• Mumbai
• Kolkata

The main IDY 2026 celebration is set for Kolkata on June 21, with the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing.”

Q2 of 8
What GST rate did the Supreme Court uphold on online gaming companies in May 2026?

• 18%
• 28%
• 36%

On May 27, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of a retrospective 28% GST on online gaming companies, reviving tax demands of nearly Rs 2.5 lakh crore against gaming firms, fantasy sports platforms, and casinos.

Q3 of 8
The Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) functions under which ministry?

• Ministry of Finance
• Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

OGAI operates as a unified regulator under MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology), established after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026, took effect on May 1, 2026.

Q4 of 8
Which four countries make up the Quad grouping?

• India, USA, UK, Japan
• India, USA, Australia, Japan
• India, USA, Australia, South Korea

The Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting occurred at Hyderabad House, New Delhi on May 26, 2026, comprising India, the United States, Australia, and Japan.

Q5 of 8
To what level did India and Cyprus agree to elevate their bilateral ties during the May 2026 State visit?

• Comprehensive Partnership
• Enhanced Engagement Framework
• Strategic Partnership

During Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides’s State visit (May 20-23, 2026), India and Cyprus agreed to elevate their relationship to a Strategic Partnership and introduced a 5-year defense cooperation roadmap (2026-2031).

Q6 of 8
What is the key legal distinction between parole and furlough?

• Furlough is only for undertrials; parole is for convicts
• Time on parole does not count toward sentence; furlough period is treated as remission
• Parole is a matter of right; furlough requires a specific reason

Under parole, the sentence is suspended, and time spent on parole does NOT count toward sentence completion. In contrast, furlough is treated as remission of sentence and is seen as a matter of right; parole requires a specific reason.

Q7 of 8
What technology powers India’s first hydrogen train, approved by the Railway Board in 2026?

• Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technology
• Nuclear thermal propulsion
• Hydrogen Fuel Cell (HFC) technology

India’s first hydrogen-powered trainset utilizes HFC (Hydrogen Fuel Cell) technology, generating energy through the electrochemical reaction of compressed hydrogen with atmospheric oxygen, emitting only water vapor, thus functioning as a zero-emission mechanism at the point of use.

Q8 of 8
What distinguishes Green Hydrogen from Grey and Blue Hydrogen?

• Produced from coal combined with carbon capture and storage
• Produced from natural gas through steam methane reforming
• Produced through water electrolysis powered by renewable energy

Green Hydrogen is generated by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy-powered electrolysers, making it a virtually emission-free process. Grey Hydrogen is produced via steam methane reforming (natural gas), while Blue Hydrogen utilizes coal or gas with carbon capture.

UPSC Essentials

UPSC Current Affairs Pointers: May 18-24, 2026

Knowledge Nugget

India’s first hydrogen train: Everything you need to know

Express InfoGenIE

Art & Culture

• Vagdevi idol

— Recently, the Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that the 11th-century Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar is a temple. The court addressed claims regarding the idol of the temple’s deity, Saraswati or Vagdevi, believed to be housed in the British Museum.

— The idol was excavated during clearing operations in Dhar by British colonial officer Major General William Kincaid. After its removal, it was shipped to England, arriving in 1886, and was officially acquired by the British Museum in 1909.

— According to the British Museum, the “Standing figure of the Jaina yakṣiṇī Ambikā carved in a coarse white marble” originates from the Paramara dynasty, dated to 1034.

The Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex has been a site of contention, with Hindu and Muslim groups asserting religious rights. The Madhya Pradesh High Court determined that the complex’s religious character is that of a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi Saraswati, supported by historical literature and architectural references linking it to Raja Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty as a center of Sanskrit learning.

Economy

• RBI’s Kill Switch

— The Reserve Bank of India is considering a ‘Kill switch’ mechanism to enable users to halt all financial transactions immediately in the event of a potential digital scam.

— This ‘kill switch facility’ would allow a system, device, account, or service to be disabled instantly in emergencies.

— The proposal, under examination by the government and RBI, includes an emergency button integrated into payment applications that could freeze all banking operations when users suspect fraudulent activity.

• Retrospective taxation

— On May 27, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the government’s retrospective 28% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on online gaming companies.

— This ruling revives tax demands totaling nearly Rs 2.5 lakh crore against gaming firms, fantasy sports platforms, and casinos, potentially jeopardizing the online gaming sector, which is already facing a ban imposed by the government in 2025.

— Retrospective taxation involves legislative changes that affect the tax implications of actions taken before the enactment of such laws.