The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Manisha Sanjay Havaldar, headmistress of Seth Hiralal Saraf Prashala, Pune, in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak scandal.
She was appointed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as a subject expert for the Physics paper — giving her direct access to confidential question sets.
Investigators allege she shared Physics questions with co-accused Manisha Mandhare (arrested earlier on May 16) in April 2026.
Leaked questions were found to match the actual NEET-UG 2026 Physics paper used on May 3, 2026.
Total arrests in the case: 11, including teachers, coaching operators, and middlemen.
The original exam was cancelled on May 12 after significant overlap was detected between leaked "guess papers" and actual question sets.
Re-examination scheduled: June 21, 2026.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chaired a high-level security review and announced enhanced digital surveillance and stricter paper-handling protocols.
Why It Matters for UPSC/Exams: Touches on NTA accountability, examination integrity, federal investigative agencies (CBI), and governance reform — a potential Mains essay or Ethics question.
2. India Heatwave 2026 — 97 of World's 100 Hottest Cities Located in India
On May 22–23, 2026, global weather tracking platform AQI.in recorded that 97 of the world's 100 hottest cities were located in India; remaining 3 were in Nepal.
Odisha's Balangir recorded the highest temperature at 48°C at 2:50 PM IST, topping global charts.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved a transfer of ₹2,86,588.46 crore (~₹2.87 lakh crore) as surplus to the Central Government for FY 2025-26.
Decision taken during the 623rd meeting of the RBI Central Board, chaired by Governor Sanjay Malhotra in Mumbai.
This is the highest-ever dividend payout by the RBI to the government.
RBI's gross income rose by 26.42% in FY26 compared to the previous year; the balance sheet expanded 20.61% to ₹91,97,121.08 crore as of March 31, 2026.
Additionally, ₹1,09,379.64 crore was transferred to the Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB), maintaining it at 6.5% of the balance sheet.
Previous record (FY25): ₹2.68 lakh crore; FY24: ₹2.11 lakh crore.
This windfall significantly boosts the government's fiscal space — reducing borrowing pressure and enabling higher capital expenditure without widening the deficit.
Why It Matters for UPSC/Exams: Essential for Monetary Policy, RBI functions, Contingent Risk Buffer, fiscal deficit management — high-frequency Prelims question topic.
4. Agni-I Ballistic Missile Successfully Test-Fired from Odisha
Earlier on May 8, 2026, India successfully tested an advanced Agni missile fitted with MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island.
Agni-1 test demonstrates India's layered deterrence posture — not merely relying on long-range missiles.
India follows a No First Use (NFU) nuclear doctrine with Credible Minimum Deterrence.
Why It Matters for UPSC/Exams: Missile defence, DRDO capabilities, NFU doctrine, SFC, NCA — core to both Prelims and Mains (GS-III).
5. Raghav Chadha Appointed Chairman — Rajya Sabha Committee on Petitions
The Delhi High Court on May 22, 2026, cleared Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games 2026.
Phogat, who retired briefly after a controversial disqualification at the Paris Olympics 2024 (1 gram overweight), has returned to competitive wrestling.
7. Hazaribag Archaeological Site Reveals 3,200-Year-Old Settlement (Jharkhand)
Category: Art & Culture | History | Archaeology GS Paper: GS-I (Indian Culture, History)
An archaeological excavation in Hazaribag district, Jharkhand, in the Mohane river basin (Chauparan block) has yielded evidence of a layered human settlement dated ~3,200 years ago.
The site provides rare insight into the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age habitation patterns in peninsular India's interior regions.
Key villages within the excavation zone are being studied for artefacts, settlement structures, and material culture.
8. CAFE III Norms & ADAS to Reshape India's Auto Sector (2027–2032)
Major Abhilasha Barak, Indian Army officer, received the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2025 during a ceremony held on May 22–23, 2026.
She serves with a UN peacekeeping mission and was recognised for promoting gender equality and women's participation within military operations.
India is among the largest contributors to UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO).
10. Odisha Launches Revival Plan for Bomkai Weaving Tradition
Category: Art & Culture | Economy (Handicrafts) GS Paper: GS-I (Indian Culture, Art Forms)
Odisha's Department of Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts launched the project "Revival of Languishing Products" aimed at restoring the traditional Bomkai weaving technique in Ganjam district.
Bomkai (also called Sonepuri) is a GI-tagged traditional saree-weaving art form from Odisha, known for its intricate tribal motifs and Ikat technique.
The initiative seeks to economically empower local weavers while preserving an endangered cultural heritage.
11. China's Chang'e-7 Lunar Mission Scheduled for Launch in Second Half of 2026
China's Chang'e-7 lunar exploration mission is slated for launch in H2 2026.
Mission objectives: environmental surveys and resource mapping at the Moon's South Pole.
Significance: The lunar south pole is of global interest due to confirmed presence of water ice, making it a priority target for future crewed missions and resource utilisation.
India's Chandrayaan-3 (2023) was the first mission to achieve a soft landing near the lunar south pole.
An international research team (including scientists from the University of São Paulo) published findings in the journal Astrodynamics (April 2026) on an optimised low-fuel Earth-to-Moon trajectory.
The route leverages gravitational dynamics to significantly reduce propellant requirements for lunar missions — directly relevant to cost-effective deep-space exploration.
13. National Mission on Edible Oils — Oil Palm (NMEO-OP): Key Facts
India launched NMEO-OP in 2021 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with an outlay of ₹11,040 crore.
Goal: Reduce India's dependence on imported edible oils by boosting domestic oil palm cultivation — particularly in the Northeast and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
India is the world's largest importer of edible oils; palm oil accounts for ~40% of total edible oil imports.
PRACTICE MCQs
Which organisation conducted the successful test-launch of Short-Range Ballistic Missile Agni-1 on May 22, 2026?
According to global weather data around May 22–23, 2026, which city in India recorded the world's highest temperature at approximately 48°C?
The RBI approved a record dividend of ₹2,86,588.46 crore for FY 2025-26. The Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB) was maintained at what percentage of RBI's balance sheet?
In the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, Manisha Sanjay Havaldar was arrested by the CBI. What was her official role that gave her access to the question paper?
The Bomkai weaving tradition, recently revived by Odisha's government, originates from which district of Odisha?
The Hazaribag archaeological site (May 2026) in Jharkhand revealed evidence of a settlement dating approximately how many years ago?
India's CAFE III (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency Phase III) norms, which are scheduled from April 2027 to March 2032, are framed by which body?
Which of the following statements about China's Chang'e-7 lunar mission is correct?