May 26, 2026 - Current Affairs

President Murmu to Confer Padma Awards on 66 Recipients

May 26, 2026

66 people received the Padma Awards from the President in the first Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on 25 May 2026. Padma Awards are among the most coveted civilian awards given in India, and are bestowed under three categories of Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Awards are given for outstanding achievement in the arts, literature, education, sports, medicine, public affairs, science and social work. Earlier, the Government of India had announced the award of 131 Padma Awards on the eve of the Republic Day Parade for 2026.

President Confers Padma Awards 2026: Key Highlights

The first Civil Investiture Ceremony 2026 was attended by President Droupadi Murmu, who conferred 66 Padma Awards.
A ceremony was organised at Ganatantra Mandap in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Padma awards are considered one of the most prestigious civil awards of the nation.
Each year, awards are presented in three categories, i.e., Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
In total, 131 Padma Awards were approved by the Government in Y2026.
There are 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards presented in the 2026 list.
The list of Padma Awards 2026 comprised 19 women awardees.
6 test takers are foreign nationals, NRIs, PIOs and OCIs.
Sixteen Posthumous Padma Awards were given to them for the year 2026.
The Padma Vibhushan was posthumously given to veteran actor Dharmendra.
Singer Alka Yagnik and actor Mammootty were among the Padma Bhushan awardees.
R. Madhavan, actor and Prosenjit Chatterjee, Bengali cinema veteran, were given Padma Shri awards.
The Padma Awards are announced every year on the eve of Republic Day.
The awards show excellence and distinguished service in various areas of national interest.

PYQs on Padma Award

Exam & Year	Question	Options	Answer
SSC CGL 2020	Padma Awards are announced around which occasion every year?	A. Hindi Diwas B. Independence Day C. Republic Day D. Sadbhavana Diwas	C. Republic Day
UPSC Prelims 2021	Which of the following statements about Padma Awards is correct?	A. They are titles B. Instituted in 1960 C. Civilian honours D. Only for politicians	C. Civilian honours
SSC GD 2022	In which year were Padma Awards instituted?	A. 1947 B. 1950 C. 1954 D. 1965	C. 1954
RRB NTPC 2021	Which is the highest category among Padma Awards?	A. Padma Shri B. Padma Bhushan C. Padma Vibhushan D. Bharat Ratna	C. Padma Vibhushan
SSC CHSL 2019	Who presents the Padma Awards in India?	A. Prime Minister B. President C. Home Minister D. Chief Justice	B. President
SSC MTS 2021	Which is the lowest category of Padma Awards?	A. Padma Vibhushan B. Bharat Ratna C. Padma Bhushan D. Padma Shri	D. Padma Shri
CDS 2022	Padma Awards are announced on the eve of which national occasion?	A. Republic Day B. Independence Day C. Gandhi Jayanti D. Constitution Day	A. Republic Day
Railway Group D 2018	Padma Awards were instituted in which year?	A. 1950 B. 1952 C. 1954 D. 1956	C. 1954
State PCS 2023	Padma Awards are related to which type of honours?	A. Military B. Civilian C. Sports D. Literary	B. Civilian
SSC CPO 2020	Which Article was linked to debates over Padma Awards?	A. Article 14 B. Article 18 C. Article 21 D. Article 32	B. Article 18

Major Abhilasha Barak to Get 2025 UN Gender Award

Conclusion: Importance of Padma Awards

The Padma Awards are the awards which are in recognition of extraordinary service and contribution to the progress and development of the nation. These awards have been presented since 1954 to recognise excellence in a wide range of fields such as science, arts, sports, literature, medicine and public affairs. The awards highlight India’s commitment to honouring talent, dedication, innovation, and public service. The Padma Awards have evolved as a source of pride and motivation for the citizens for their service and contribution to nation-building and social progress over these decades.

Indian Army Launches Advanced AI Platforms Kautilya, Q-FORCE

May 26, 2026

The Indian army has officially inaugurated 2 new, advanced Artificial Intelligence platforms known as Kautilya and Q-FORCE in the framework of the army’s digital modernisation and integration of AI. In light of the Indian army’s digital modernisation and AI integration strategy, the military has officially inaugurated two advanced Artificial Intelligence platforms, namely Kautilya and Q-FORCE. Intended to enhance Command Intelligence, Battlefield Awareness, Logistics Management and immediate Operational Decision Making, these indigenous applications are the cornerstone of the Integrated Intelligence Complex. They are built for the enhancement of Command Intelligence, Battlefield Awareness, Logistics Management and real-time Operational Decision Making, and form the guts of the Integrated Intelligence Complex. Kautilya is an AI-powered command intelligence platform with systems based on NLP and analytics dashboards with a focus on logistics, inventory, and sustainment operations. The scheme embodies the Army’s new direction of preparing for defence with smart Military systems, AI-based systems, and data-focused warfare. The initiative also aligns with India’s aspirations for defence modernisation and strategic technologies to make the country ‘Atmanirbhar’.

Army Unveils AI Platforms Kautilya & Q-FORCE: Key Highlights

In May of 2026, the Indian Army introduced two new sophisticated AI systems: Kautilya and Q-FORCE.
To bolster Data Driven Military Operations and Digital Warfare capability, the platforms were introduced.
Kautilya is an AI-enabled command intelligence solution designed to facilitate strategic planning and operational analytics.
The platform features AI-powered dashboards alongside natural language processing (NLP) interfaces for structured data analysis.
Kautilya receives messages about manpower, guns, supplies, readiness and training.
Q-FORCE is a cohesive digital solution for logistics, inventory and sustainment.
Q-FORCE will streamline supply chain management in the military in various operational environments.
The AI platforms are said to enhance battlefield support and on-the-fly analysis to give commanders.
The Indian Army has termed 2026 as the year of networking and data centricity in the army business.
This is part of the Army’s AI strategy to develop a vision of how AI, ML and big data can be used in defence and national security.
The systems align with India’s initiatives of making the country self-reliant and indigenous defence technology development, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
AI integration can be anticipated to enhance the interpretation of surveillance, predictive analytics, and mission planning capabilities.
In recent years, the Army has been incorporating more artificial intelligence into its systems, including smart sensors, analytics platforms, drones and automated systems for future warfare preparedness.
The platforms are supposed to aim for a digitally empowered and AI-ready Indian Army, officials said.

Expected MCQs for “Army Launches Kautilya & Q-FORCE”

Question	Options	Answer
Kautilya platform launched recently is associated with which organization?	A. DRDO B. ISRO C. Indian Army D. Indian Navy	C. Indian Army
Q-FORCE platform is mainly related to which field?	A. Space Research B. Logistics & Sustainment C. Agriculture D. Banking	B. Logistics & Sustainment
Which technology forms the core of Kautilya and Q-FORCE platforms?	A. Blockchain B. Artificial Intelligence C. Quantum Computing D. Biotechnology	B. Artificial Intelligence
The Indian Army launched AI platforms Kautilya and Q-FORCE to improve:	A. Tourism B. Defence Operations C. Textile Industry D. Banking Sector	B. Defence Operations
Consider the following statements regarding Kautilya platform: 1. It is an AI-powered command intelligence platform. 2. It is related to water governance. Which statements are correct?	A. 1 Only B. 2 Only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2	A. 1 Only

WHA Recognises Stroke as a Public Health Priority

Conclusion: AI-Based Military Modernisation in India

The induction of Kautilya and Q-FORCE represents an important stride in the Indian Army’s efforts to shift to an AI-centric and data-driven approach to warfare systems. Complex analytics, digital integration, and other advanced functions on these platforms will provide efficiency gains in battlefield awareness, logistics, strategic planning and operations. India’s technological advancements and self-reliance in the field of defence will be bolstered by such indigenous innovations, as warfare is increasingly becoming reliant on AI and real-time information processing. The initiative also underscores the Indian Army’s commitment towards future-ready military capabilities and smart defence infrastructure.

Bengaluru to Host India’s First National AI & Digital Water Summit 2026

May 26, 2026

The first National AI & Digital Water Summit 2026 will be hosted in Bengaluru on 27th May 2026, organised by Elets Technomedia (ETM) in association with Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWS&WB). The event will be dedicated to topics of Artificial Intelligence, IoT, water system control, such as SCADA systems, digital twins, and smart analytics in water management. Policymakers, urban planners, water utility members, start-ups and tech companies are anticipated. The summit will help increase the water security of cities, curb water loss, scale up wastewater management systems, and enable water systems that are resilient to climate risks by leveraging digital innovations.

National AI & Digital Water Summit 2026: Key Highlights

Bengaluru will host India’s first National AI & Digital Water Summit on 27 May 2026.
The summit is being organised by Elets Technomedia in association with the Strategy partner, Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
The event is meant to advocate the use of smart and technologically advanced water management systems in India.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), GIS mapping, SCADA platforms, and smart metering, are among the key technologies that will be briefly discussed.
The summit will address issues like water leakage, groundwater depletion, urban water stress, water treatment of wastewater, and so on.
Experts will be on hand to explain how AI is helping to transition electric utilities from reactive to predictive water management.
They will be attended by government officials, municipal bodies, researchers, startups, investors and international agencies.
Climate-resilient infrastructure, digital governance, sustainable financing, and smart urban utilities are some of the key themes.
The summit underlines the need to support the programmes such as Smart Cities, AMRUT Mission and Digital Transformation of Indian Cities.
Live demonstrations of AI-powered leak detection, smart sensors and digital monitoring systems can be exhibited.
Bengaluru is being touted as a model for future cities to adopt, to become water visionary and technology-centric.
The summit will be expected to become a national knowledge-sharing platform for water utilities and digital innovation experts.

Previous Year Questions

Exam Name	Year	Question	Options	Answer
SSC CGL	2023	Which technology is mainly used for smart automated decision-making systems?	A. Blockchain B. Artificial Intelligence C. Biotechnology D. Nanotechnology	B. Artificial Intelligence
UPSC Prelims	2021	What is the primary objective of the AMRUT Mission?	A. Rural electrification B. Urban infrastructure development C. Space research D. Agricultural exports	B. Urban infrastructure development
RRB NTPC	2022	SCADA systems are mainly associated with which sector?	A. Railway signaling B. Industrial monitoring and control C. Tourism D. Banking	B. Industrial monitoring and control
SSC CHSL	2024	IoT stands for which of the following?	A. Internet of Technology B. Interface of Things C. Internet of Things D. Integration of Technology	C. Internet of Things
Expected		Which city is hosting India’s first National AI & Digital Water Summit 2026?	A. Mumbai B. Hyderabad C. Chennai D. Bengaluru	D. Bengaluru

Scientists Discover New Fuel-Saving Route

Conclusion: The Importance of AI in India’s Water Management Future

The National AI & Digital Water Summit 2026 is a significant milestone in the journey of technology-enabled water governance in India. The summit will facilitate discussions and connections among policymakers, experts, startups, and urban utility professionals, fostering the uptake of smart and sustainable water management practices. AI, Internet of Things, predictive analytics and digital monitoring are technologies that can play a key role in lowering water loss, increasing efficiency and enhancing climate resilience. The hosting of Bengaluru brings into the limelight the importance of the city in the face of digital innovation, together with urban transformation. The summit is anticipated to significantly contribute to reaching India’s long-term vision of smart infrastructure, water security, and sustainable urban development.