Prelims Current Affairs includes World Bee Day 2026, National Dengue Day 2026, World Hypertension Day, Us To Host G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting In Atlanta, India And Norway Elevate Ties To Green Strategic Partnership, India Unveils First Proposed Design For Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train, National Ai Doctors Mission (Naidm) Launched, Pm Modi Receives Norway’s Grand Cross Honour, Bcci Not A Public Authority Under Rti Act: Cic, Andris Kulbergs Nominated As New Prime Minister Of Latvia & Horned Lark Sighting Adds To Kinnaur’s Rich Bird Diversity

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. WORLD BEE DAY 2026

Current Context: World Bee Day is celebrated each year on 20 May to raise awareness of the importance of bees as pollinators, the threats they face, and their contribution to sustainable development.

ABOUT WORLD BEE DAY

• Theme 2026: “Bee together for people and the planet. A partnership that sustains us all”
• Designated by: United Nations
• First celebrated by FAO: 2018
• Date significance: Birthday of Anton Janša (1734-1773), a pioneer of modern apiculture
• Anton Janša: Came from a family of beekeepers in Slovenia, Austrian Empress Maria Theresa appointed him as permanent teacher of apiculture at the School of Beekeeping in Vienna

IMPORTANT DAYS

2. NATIONAL DENGUE DAY 2026

Current Context: National Dengue Day is observed every year on May 16 as a pre-monsoon alert to prepare communities before mosquito breeding peaks.

ABOUT NATIONAL DENGUE DAY

• Launched: 2010
• Theme 2026: “Unite. Act. Eliminate.”
• Dengue virus transmission: Bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquito (bites during day, particularly early morning and late afternoon)
• Common symptoms: High fever (up to 104°F), severe headache (pain behind eyes), muscle and joint pain (“break-bone fever”), skin rash, nausea and vomiting.

IMPORTANT DAYS

3.  WORLD HYPERTENSION DAY

Current Context: World Hypertension Day is observed every year on 17 May to raise awareness about high blood pressure (hypertension) and its prevention.

ABOUT WORLD HYPERTENSION DAY

• Theme 2026: “Controlling Hypertension Together”
• Hypertension known as: “Silent killer” (may not show symptoms but significantly increases risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure)

INTERNATIONAL

4. US TO HOST G20 FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING IN ATLANTA

Current Context: The United States will host the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, on 30-31 October 2026.

ABOUT THE MEETING

• Provides a platform for major economies to coordinate on global political and economic issues.
• Important for diplomacy, multilateral cooperation, and global governance reforms.
• G20 Leaders’ Summit: 14-15 December 2026 at Trump National Doral, Miami, Florida (coincides with 250th anniversary of the United States, counted from 1776)

About G20:

• Formed: 1999 (after Asian financial crisis of 1997-98)
• Upgraded to leaders’ level: 2008 (after global financial crisis)
• Members: 19 countries + European Union + African Union
• Accounts for large share of global GDP, international trade, and population

INTERNATIONAL

5. INDIA AND NORWAY ELEVATE TIES TO GREEN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

Current Context: India and Norway have upgraded bilateral ties to a Green Strategic Partnership during PM Narendra Modi’s first-ever official visit to Norway.

ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

• To promote clean energy transition and climate-resilient development.
• Enhance collaboration in sustainable industries and innovation.
• Focus areas: Clean energy, blue economy, AI, green shipping, digital infrastructure, space cooperation, climate action, sustainable industrial solutions
• Announcement location: Oslo, Norway (delegation-level talks between PM Modi and Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre)
• PM Modi’s description: India offers scale, speed, and skilled talent. Norway brings advanced technology, capital, and maritime expertise

Green Strategic Partnership

• A Green Strategic Partnership is a cooperation framework between countries focused on climate action, clean energy, and sustainable development.
• Objective: Promote economic growth while protecting the environment and reducing carbon emissions.

INFRASTRUCTURE

6. INDIA UNVEILS FIRST PROPOSED DESIGN FOR MUMBAI-AHMEDABAD BULLET TRAIN

Current Context: India has unveiled the first proposed design of its Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, set to run at 320 kmph and cut travel time to just two hours.

ABOUT THE BULLET TRAIN

• A Bullet Train is a high-speed rail system designed for very fast passenger transportation.
• Known for high speed, safety, comfort, and advanced technology
• India’s first bullet train corridor connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
• Length: Around 508 km.
• Maximum Speed: 320 km/h.
• Travel Time: Around 2 hours.
• Based on Japan’s Shinkansen technology.
• First introduced in Japan in 1964 through the Shinkansen high-speed rail network.

Train Design and Manufacturing

• The train sets are being developed under the Make in India initiative by Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, and BEML Limited, Bengaluru. The design speed of the train is 280 kmph.

HEALTH

7.  NATIONAL AI DOCTORS MISSION (NAIDM) LAUNCHED

Current Context: The National AI Doctors Mission (NAIDM) was launched at Health AI Con 2026 in New Delhi on 17 May 2026.

ABOUT NAIDM

• To train India’s medical professionals in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare.
• To promote ethical, safe, and responsible use of AI in clinical practice.
• Conceptualised by: Medical Dialogues in collaboration with National Medical Forum
• Mission type: Doctor-led initiative
• Covers: AI knowledge, practical skills, ethical framework for medical professionals
• Aligns with: Digital India, National Digital Health Mission, Viksit Bharat

HealthAIcon 2026, New Delhi

• HealthAIcon 2026 was held on 17 May 2026 at Eros Hotel, New Delhi.
• Organized by Medical Dialogues in association with the National Medical Forum

National Medical Commission (NMC)

• National Medical Commission (NMC) is the apex medical regulatory body in India.
• Established under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
• Came into force in 2020, replacing the Medical Council of India (MCI).
• Headquarters: New Delhi.

AWARDS & HONOURS

8. PM MODI RECEIVES NORWAY’S GRAND CROSS HONOUR

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit in Oslo, Norway, on 18 May 2026.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• Type: Highest civilian honour of Norway; highest grade within Royal Norwegian Order of Merit
• Instituted: 1985 by King Olav V of Norway
• Awarded to: Foreign nationals and Norwegian citizens for meritorious service in interests of Norway and for strengthening international relations
• PM Modi’s international honours: 32nd international honour
• Visit significance: First visit by a sitting Indian Prime Minister to Norway in 43 years (previous visit in 1983)

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

9. BCCI NOT A PUBLIC AUTHORITY UNDER RTI ACT: CIC

Current Context: The Central Information Commission (CIC) ruled on 18 May 2026 that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not a “public authority” under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

ABOUT THE RULING

• Legal basis: Section 2(h) of RTI Act defines public authority as institution established or constituted by Constitution, law made by Parliament/State Legislature, or government notification
• BCCI’s legal status: Private autonomous body registered under Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act
• Key findings: BCCI not established by Constitution, Parliament, State Legislature, or government notification; neither owned, controlled, nor substantially financed by government
• Reversed: October 2018 order by Information Commissioner M. Sridhar Acharyulu (who had held BCCI as public authority)
• Madras High Court: Remitted matter to CIC for fresh adjudication in September 2025 after BCCI challenged 2018 order

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)

• BCCI stands for Board of Control for Cricket in India.
• Established in 1928.
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Central Information Commission (CIC)

• Central Information Commission (CIC) is the apex body for implementing the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 at the central level.
• Consists of: Chief Information Commissioner, up to 10 Information Commissioners
• Appointed by the President of India.
• Established in 2005 under the RTI Act.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.

APPOINTMENTS

10. ANDRIS KULBERGS NOMINATED AS NEW PRIME MINISTER OF LATVIA

Current Context: Edgars Rinkevics has nominated opposition MP Andris Kulbergs as the next Prime Minister of Latvia.

ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT

• Nominee: Andris Kulbergs (member of opposition United List)
• Nominated by: President Edgars Rinkevics
• Outgoing PM: Evika Silina (announced resignation)

HIMACHAL NEWS

11. HORNED LARK SIGHTING ADDS TO KINNAUR’S RICH BIRD DIVERSITY

Current Context: A horned lark has been sighted at the Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary in Kinnaur, marking the first formal documented record of the species from the region.

ABOUT THE SIGHTING

• A Horned Lark was sighted at the Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It marks the first formal documented record of the species from the Kinnaur region.
• Scientific Name: Eremophila alpestris.
• Found across North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of the Himalayas.
• In India, mainly seen in high-altitude Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan regions.
• Small ground-dwelling bird known for horn-like feather tufts on the head.
• Found in open grasslands, cold deserts, and alpine habitats.
• Bird species recorded in Kinnaur: Over 170 bird species

Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary

• Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
• Situated in the upper Himalayas near the Indo-Tibetan border.

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