UPSC Daily Current Affairs for 20 May 2026

JPC on Simultaneous Election Bill

Context

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on ‘One Nation, One Election’ has said that simultaneous elections can save nearly 7 lakh crore rupees, improve governance efficiency and increase India’s GDP growth by up to 1.6%.

Background

To introduce simultaneous elections, the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were introduced in Lok Sabha in 2024.

The Bills provide for synchronising the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections by curtailing the terms of state assemblies that are elected after a particular Lok Sabha to end with the term of that Lok Sabha.

Human Evolution in the Last 10,000 Years

Context

A major study led by scientists analysed ancient and modern human genomes to understand how humans evolved during the last 10,000 years.

What is Ancient DNA?

Ancient DNA refers to genetic material extracted from skeletal remains, teeth, and bones of humans who lived thousands of years ago.

Scientists sequence this DNA and compare it with modern genomes to understand human migration, evolutionary adaptations, disease susceptibility and changes in physical and behavioural traits.

Self-Help Groups as Instruments of Women’s Empowerment

Context

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has initiated a nationwide roadmap for establishing SHE-MARTs (Self Help Entrepreneurs–Marketing Avenues for Rural Transformation) to strengthen women-led rural enterprises, enhance market access, and increase rural incomes.

About SHE-MARTs

SHE-MARTs are decentralised, women-led rural marketing and enterprise ecosystems designed to provide market access, branding support, aggregation facilities, and retail opportunities for products made by Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and women producer collectives.

The initiative aims to transform rural women from livelihood seekers into rural entrepreneurs and market leaders.

SHE-MARTs were announced in the Union Budget 2026 as part of the government’s strategy for women-led rural economic transformation.

India’s Urban and Rural Local Bodies

In Context

India’s rapid urbanisation has highlighted the weak state of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

Present Status

The Panchayati Raj system: It was introduced by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in 1993, gave constitutional status to local self-government (Part IX). Panchayats are a state subject under Article 243, and each state governs them through its own laws.

Urban Local Bodies: The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 (Nagarpalika Act) introduced Part IXA (Articles 243P to 243ZG) in the Constitution, giving constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities).

Legumes: A Climate-Smart Alternative For Indian Agriculture

Context

Legumes offer a way to cut fertiliser use and import dependence, as India is facing an import crisis of nitrogen-based fertilizer (urea) triggered by Middle East conflicts and disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz.

Why Does India Need a Shift in Cropping Patterns?

Agriculture contributes nearly 16% of India’s greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to the rice-wheat cropping system promoted after the Green Revolution.

Excessive use of nitrogen fertilisers releases nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas.

Flooded paddy fields emit large quantities of methane.

India is Rapidly Scaling up Renewable Energy but Now it Needs to Store it

Context

As India rapidly scales up its renewable energy capacity to meet its climate goals, a key challenge is emerging for its power system i.e. energy Storage.

About

Renewable power generation sources come with a fundamental limitation of being intermittent.

Solar power generation drops to zero after sunset and wind output fluctuates with changing weather.

This creates a growing mismatch between when electricity is generated and when it is needed.

News In Short 20-05-2026

Context

After the Third India-Nordic Summit, Prime Minister Modi said that India and the Nordic countries are committed to “democracy, rule of law and multilateralism”.

Nordic Countries

Nordic countries are a group of countries in northern Europe consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

The designation includes the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are autonomous island regions of Denmark, and the Åland Islands, an autonomous island region of Finland.