NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled – CBI Probe into Paper Leak

Why in News The National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 12, 2026 cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3, 2026, after a confirmed paper leak. The Ministry of Education handed the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), while Rajasthan’s Special Operations Group (SOG) arrested two suspects – Manish Yadav and Rakesh Mandavriya – in Sikar, Rajasthan.

Key Points

  • Leak chain traced from a Nashik printing-press to a coaching nexus operating out of Sikar (Rajasthan)
  • A “guess paper” containing about 410 questions had approximately 120 questions across Biology and Chemistry (around 90 Biology + 30 Chemistry) identical to the actual paper
  • NTA Director General Abhishek Singh announced a re-examination within 6-8 days; fees to be refunded
  • Approximately 23 lakh candidates were affected; Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan briefed media and Parliament
  • Second major NTA controversy since the 2024 NEET-UG row that already led to the High-Level Committee on Exam Reforms

Facts Corner – Knowledgepedia

NTA: National Testing Agency; established in 2017 as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, under the Ministry of Education. Conducts JEE (Main), NEET-UG, UGC-NET, CUET-UG/PG, CSIR-UGC NET, NCHM-JEE, NID-DAT, NIFT entrance, and other examinations. NEET-UG: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate); statutory single national entrance for MBBS/BDS and allied courses under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 (replacing the IMC Act 1956). CBI: Central Bureau of Investigation; constituted in 1963 by an executive order; derives powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946; works under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024: Punishes paper leaks with up to 10 years’ imprisonment and Rs 1 crore fine – the principal statute now being invoked.

WPI April 2026 – 8.30 Per Cent, a 42-Month High

Why in News The Office of the Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, on May 14, 2026 released the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) data for April 2026. Headline WPI inflation rose to 8.30 per cent, up from 3.88 per cent in March 2026 – a 42-month high – driven by a sharp jump in Fuel & Power.

Key Points

  • Headline YoY: 8.30 per cent (Apr 2026) vs 3.88 per cent (Mar 2026); month-on-month change 3.86 per cent
  • Fuel & Power: +24.71 per cent YoY – highest fuel-component reading since September 2022; petrol +32.40 per cent; HSD +25.19 per cent
  • Primary Articles: +9.17 per cent; Manufactured Products: +4.62 per cent
  • WPI Food Index: +2.31 per cent (up from 1.85 per cent)
  • Base Year: 2011-12 (revision to a 2017-18 base under deliberation)

Facts Corner – Knowledgepedia

WPI: Wholesale Price Index; compiled by the Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT (NOT MoSPI); base year 2011-12; three major groups – Primary Articles (22.62 per cent), Fuel & Power (13.15 per cent), Manufactured Products (64.23 per cent). CPI vs WPI: CPI-Combined (the monetary-policy anchor under RBI’s flexible inflation-targeting since 2016) is compiled by NSO/MoSPI with base 2012; CPI weights services, WPI does not. MPC framework: Section 45ZA-ZN of the RBI Act, 1934 (inserted in 2016); inflation target 4 per cent +/- 2 per cent on CPI-Combined. Strait of Hormuz risk premium: West Asia tensions through May 2026 are the principal driver of the April fuel-component spike.

Cabinet Approves Rs 37,500 Crore Coal and Lignite Gasification Scheme

Why in News The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, on May 13, 2026 approved a Rs 37,500 crore scheme to promote coal and lignite gasification – targeting 75 million tonnes (MT) of coal/lignite to be gasified under new surface gasification units, with capital subsidy of up to 20 per cent of plant and machinery cost.

Key Points

  • Outlay: Rs 37,500 crore; target capital mobilisation Rs 2.5-3 lakh crore
  • Expected employment: ~50,000 direct/indirect; annual revenue addition ~Rs 6,300 crore
  • Reduces import dependence for LNG, urea, ammonia, methanol, coking coal
  • Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Coal; aligned with the National Coal Gasification Mission and the national target of 100 MT gasified by 2030
  • India has the 5th largest coal reserves globally (~300+ billion tonnes proven)

Facts Corner – Knowledgepedia

Coal gasification: Conversion of coal/lignite into syngas (CO + H2) at high temperature in a gasifier – syngas is the feedstock for fertiliser (urea/ammonia), methanol, SNG (synthetic natural gas), DRI and hydrogen. Surface gasification: Above-ground; mature technology. UCG (Underground Coal Gasification): In-situ conversion; experimental in India. Ministry of Coal: Allied with Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Ltd (Neyveli Lignite), Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL). National Coal Gasification Mission: Conceptualised in 2020; current scheme is the fiscal-incentive vertical. Lignite (brown coal): Lower carbon content; principally mined in Neyveli (Tamil Nadu), Barsingsar (Rajasthan), Mata-no-Madh (Gujarat).

Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) Launched

Why in News Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary M. Nagaraju on May 12, 2026 formally launched the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) – a national reinsurance pool with USD 1.5 billion underwriting capacity and a sovereign guarantee of Rs 12,980 crore (~USD 1.4 billion). The pool was approved by the Cabinet in April 2026.

Key Points

  • Pool Administrator: GIC Re (General Insurance Corporation of India); members are domestic insurers
  • Four risk categories: Hull & Machinery, Cargo, Protection & Indemnity (P&I), War Risk
  • First Marine Hull & Machinery War Policy: issued to Hoger Offshore and Marine Pvt Ltd
  • Other early beneficiaries: Vedanta Sterlite Copper, Balrampur Chini Mills
  • Covers Indian-flagged or Indian-controlled vessels and any vessel originating from or destined for an Indian port

Facts Corner – Knowledgepedia

GIC Re: Sole Indian reinsurer; formed in 1972; reorganised in 2000 after privatisation of public-sector general insurers; HQ Mumbai. IRDAI: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India; statutory body under the IRDA Act, 1999; HQ Hyderabad. Insurance FDI: Raised to 100 per cent (automatic route) in 2026 – earlier 74 per cent (2021), 49 per cent (2015). P&I cover: Protection & Indemnity – third-party liability cover for shipowners (pollution, crew, cargo damage). Maritime Hub vision: Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 target a top-10 global shipbuilding nation. Driver: Strait of Hormuz war-risk premium spikes (April-May 2026) made foreign reinsurance prohibitive.

Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting Mumbai

Why in News The Kimberley Process (KP) Intersessional Meeting 2026 is being hosted by India at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, from May 11 to May 14, 2026. India has held the KP Chairship since 2026 (specifically since January 1, 2026) under the “3Cs” theme – Credibility, Compliance, Consumer Confidence.

Key Points

  • Vice-Chair: United Arab Emirates (will take over as Chair in 2027)
  • KP has 60 Participants representing 86 countries (EU counted as one bloc)
  • KP Certification Scheme (KPCS): Established in 2003 to prevent the trade in conflict (or “blood”) diamonds
  • Implementing partner in India: Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • India is the world’s largest diamond cutting and polishing hub (~90 per cent by volume; Surat the principal centre)

Facts Corner – Knowledgepedia

Kimberley Process (KP): A joint Government-industry-civil society initiative; named after Kimberley, South Africa, where the founding meeting was held in 2000. KPCS launched in force since 2003. Three pillars of KP: Participants (Governments), Observers (industry – WDC and civil society – KP Civil Society Coalition). Conflict diamond: Defined in UN GA Resolution 55/56 (2000) as a rough diamond used by rebel movements to finance war against legitimate Governments. GJEPC: Sponsored by Ministry of Commerce; set up in 1966. India’s status: Founding member; previously chaired in 2008 and 2019; world’s leading diamond-cutting hub. Recent agenda: Tightening monitoring of alluvial production and aligning trade statistics with KP data.

PM Modi Five-Nation Tour and 3rd India-Nordic Summit

Why in News The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on May 13, 2026 held a curtain-raiser for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-nation tour from May 15-20, 2026: UAE (May 15) -> Netherlands (May 15-17) -> Sweden -> Norway (May 18-19) -> Italy. The high-point is the 3rd India-Nordic Summit at Oslo on May 19, 2026.

Key Points

  • First Indian PM visit to Norway in 43 years
  • 3rd India-Nordic Summit attendees: PMs of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway – previous summits held at Stockholm (2018) and Copenhagen (2022)
  • In the Netherlands: hosted by PM Rob Jetten; in Italy: meetings with President Sergio Mattarella and PM Giorgia Meloni
  • Focus areas: green transition, energy, defence, space, Arctic cooperation, supply-chain resilience
  • Backdrop: India-EFTA TEPA (Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement) operational since October 2025

Facts Corner – Knowledgepedia

India-Nordic Summit format: First held Stockholm 2018; second Copenhagen 2022; third Oslo 2026. Nordic 5: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden. EFTA: European Free Trade Association (1960) – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland. India-EFTA TEPA in force since 2024 (specifically signed March 10, 2024); operational since October 2025; commits EFTA to USD 100 billion of investment in India over 15 years. India-Italy: Strategic Partnership upgraded in 2023; Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29 signed at G20 New Delhi. India-UAE: Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2017); CEPA in force since May 1, 2022. Arctic Council: India has been Observer status since 2013. India-Nordic bilateral trade: ~USD 19 billion (2024).

South Coast Railway Notified – 18th Railway Zone

Why in News The Ministry of Railways through a Gazette notification on May 4, 2026 formally constituted the South Coast Railway (SCoR) as the 18th Zone of Indian Railways, with headquarters at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Operations begin from June 1, 2026.

Key Points

  • Notified under Section 3(4) of the Railways Act, 1989
  • Four divisions: Vijayawada, Guntur, Guntakal (carved from South Central Railway) and new Visakhapatnam Division (carved from the Waltair Division of East Coast Railway)
  • Fulfils a statutory commitment under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014
  • Originally announced in principle by then-Railway Minister Piyush Goyal in February 2019
  • Indian Railways earlier had 17 zones; broad-gauge track length ~63,000 km

Facts Corner – Knowledgepedia

Indian Railways structure: Departmentally run under the Ministry of Railways, governed by the Railways Act, 1989 (replaced the 1890 Act). Railway Board: Created in 1905; statutory body since the Railway Board Act, 1905; chaired by CEO & Chairman, Railway Board (post merged in 2019 under the rationalisation reform). Earlier zones: 17 zones (Central, Eastern, Northern, North-Eastern, Northeast Frontier, Southern, South-Central, South-Eastern, Western, East-Central, East-Coast, North-Central, North-Western, South-East-Central, South-Western, West-Central, Metro Railway Kolkata). AP Reorganisation Act, 2014: Section 8, Schedule XIII – residuary obligations included a new railway zone for Andhra Pradesh. Indian Railways: ~13,200 trains/day; ~23 million passengers/day; world’s 4th largest network.

Bioenergy and Green Hydrogen Pivot – Shaktikanta Das at CII Summit

Why in News At the CII Annual Business Summit 2026 in New Delhi on May 12, 2026, Shaktikanta Das, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister (and former RBI Governor 2018-2024), flagged bioenergy and green hydrogen as the Government’s two principal energy-transition priorities. The pivot is taking place against the backdrop of West Asia tensions and elevated crude.

Key Points

  • National Green Hydrogen Mission: Outlay Rs 19,744 crore, approved by the Cabinet in January 2023
  • Flagship sub-scheme: SIGHT – Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (two sub-components: electrolyser manufacturing and green hydrogen production)
  • Installed green-hydrogen production capacity reached approximately 8,000 tonnes per year by 2026
  • 5th iEGoM (Informal Empowered Group of Ministers) on energy supply-chain disruption – chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
  • National Bioenergy Programme: Covers Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) under SATAT, biomass, biodiesel

Facts Corner – Knowledgepedia

Green Hydrogen: Hydrogen produced by electrolysis of water using renewable electricity – zero direct CO2 footprint. Grey hydrogen (steam methane reforming, current dominant), blue hydrogen (SMR + CCS), green hydrogen (electrolysis on renewables). NGHM 2023: Target 5 MMT green-hydrogen production by 2030; 125 GW of associated renewables; 6 lakh+ jobs; investment Rs 8 lakh crore. SATAT: Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation; launched October 1, 2018; promotes Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) outlets through long-term offtake by oil PSUs. Mission GreenH2 Pilot Projects: Steel sector, shipping (NGHM x MoPSW), heavy mobility. India energy mix: Coal ~55 per cent of primary energy; oil ~28 per cent; gas ~6 per cent; renewables + nuclear ~10 per cent.

Combined Facts Corner

Topic Key Fact
NEET-UG 2026 NTA cancelled May 12, 2026; CBI probe; ~23 lakh candidates; re-exam in 6-8 days
WPI April 2026 Headline 8.30 per cent (42-month high); Fuel & Power +24.71 per cent YoY
Coal Gasification Scheme Rs 37,500 cr outlay; target 75 MT; capital subsidy up to 20 per cent of P&M
BMIP USD 1.5 bn capacity; Rs 12,980 cr sovereign guarantee; GIC Re administrator
Kimberley Process India KP Chair 2026; theme “3Cs”; Mumbai meeting May 11-14, 2026
PM 5-Nation Tour May 15-20, 2026; 3rd India-Nordic Summit Oslo May 19; first PM visit to Norway in 43 years
South Coast Railway 18th Zone; HQ Visakhapatnam; ops June 1, 2026; 4 divisions (3 ex-SCR + new Vizag)
Bioenergy/Green H2 NGHM Rs 19,744 cr (2023); 5 MMT by 2030; SATAT for CBG; 5th iEGoM under Rajnath Singh