UPSC Current Affairs 21 May 2026 — The Hindu

• India, Italy seal defence pact, elevate their bilateral ties to a ‘special strategic partnership’
• SC rejects plea against caste count in census
• Forest staff shortage in Rajasthan impeding action against illegal mining in Chambal: SC
• Modi, Shah are traitors who are attacking Constitution, says Rahul
• Rules for new rural employment scheme to be issued soon
• Preparing India for a credible digital Census
• Oral remarks and institutional limits
• New crystal found in the detritus of the first-ever nuclear blast
• Analysing India’s budgets for justice
• Boosting climate action in Tamil Nadu
• StanChart CEO reassures staff over ‘lower value human capital’ comment
• No new hydel projects can come up in upper Ganga, govt. tells SC
• Marco Rubio to begin India visit on May 23; discuss trade, energy
• SC flags lack of uniform excise laws across States
• Simultaneous polls: Gujarat govt. backs move before JPC
• SC extends date for Bengaluru civic polls
• Sperm whale ‘clicks’ have complex patterns similar to human speech
• How States are managing the surging summer power demand
• Board of Peace will ask UNSC to press Hamas militants to disarm