22 May 2026 · Daily Current Affairs

Banking and RBI

RBI Board approves record surplus transfer of about Rs 2.87 lakh crore to the Centre for 2025-26

22 May 2026 | The Indian Express and Reuters (RBI statement)

The Indian Express reported that the RBI's Central Board on 22 May 2026 approved a record surplus transfer of Rs 2,86,588 crore to the Central Government for the accounting year 2025-26, about 6.7 per cent (Rs 17,998 crore) higher than the Rs 2,68,590 crore transferred in 2024-25. CNBC-TV18 reported it was approved at the 623rd Central Board meeting chaired by Governor Sanjay Malhotra in Mumbai.

Reuters, citing the RBI statement, put the figure at 2.87 trillion rupees and said the RBI lowered its contingency risk buffer to 6.5% of its balance sheet from 7.5% the previous year. The primary RBI statement was not read for this edition, so figures are attributed to these outlets.

Exam takeaway: The RBI transfers its annual surplus to the Government under Section 47 of the RBI Act.

Quick revision: RBI surplus transfer for 2025-26: about Rs 2.87 lakh crore, record; CRB 6.5% (Reuters/Indian Express, 22 May).

Banking and RBI

RBI Bulletin May 2026: CPI inflation rose to 3.5 per cent in April

22 May 2026 | Reserve Bank of India

The RBI released the May 2026 issue of its monthly Bulletin on 22 May 2026. Its State of the Economy article says CPI inflation rose to 3.5 per cent in April, driven mainly by food inflation, while core inflation remained steady.

It adds that net FDI stayed positive for the second consecutive month in March, and foreign portfolio investors remained net sellers in April and May, though outflows moderated. The views in the article are the authors' and not the RBI's.

Exam takeaway: The State of the Economy article in the RBI Bulletin carries the authors' views, not the RBI's.

Quick revision: RBI Bulletin May 2026: April CPI 3.5%, driven by food (RBI, 22 May).

Banking and RBI

RBI to conduct Rs 1,50,000 crore 4-day VRR auction on 25 May

22 May 2026 | Reserve Bank of India

The RBI announced on 22 May 2026 a 4-day Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction under the LAF on Monday, 25 May 2026, for Rs 1,50,000 crore, after a review of liquidity conditions. The window is 9:30 to 10:00 AM and the reversal date is Friday, 29 May 2026.

Exam takeaway: VRR auctions are used to manage liquidity in the banking system.

Quick revision: RBI 4-day VRR auction, 25 May 2026, Rs 1,50,000 crore (RBI).

Reports, Indices, Science and Technology

India's first Biennial Transparency Report: GHG inventory workshop held at CSIR-IIP Dehradun

22 May 2026 | Press Information Bureau

PIB said India has recently submitted its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR-1) to the UNFCCC. Following this, a three-day workshop on the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory was held from 20 to 22 May 2026 at CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, jointly by CSIR-IIP and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Experts from institutions such as CSIR-CIMFR, CMPDI, CII, IIT-ISM Dhanbad and NIAS discussed greenhouse gas accounting for the Energy and Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) sectors.

Exam takeaway: BTRs report a country's emissions and progress under the Paris Agreement's transparency framework.

Quick revision: India submitted BTR-1 to UNFCCC; GHG inventory workshop 20-22 May 2026 (PIB).