In Defence Current Affairs for 27 May 2026, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.
Defence Current Affairs 27 May 2026
IAF Introduces GATE-Based Entry for Technical Branch
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched a new entry scheme for induction into its Technical Branch under the Officers Cadre. Under this initiative, candidates with valid Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) scores will be directly shortlisted for testing at the Air Force Selection Boards (AFSBs).
This system allows eligible aspirants to bypass the preliminary written examination such as the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT). Selection will now be based on merit through GATE performance and subsequent assessment procedures.
The new scheme is applicable only for Technical Branch recruitment. However, AFCAT will continue to remain the regular examination route for induction into all branches of the IAF, including the Technical Branch.
The educational eligibility criteria for candidates applying through the GATE route will remain the same as those prescribed under the AFCAT process. The list of accepted GATE subjects has already been detailed in the AFCAT Notification 02/2026.
Importantly, candidates are free to apply through both AFCAT and the GATE Score scheme, providing greater flexibility and more opportunities for aspiring officers.
Lt Gen Harjeet Singh Sahi Appointed Chief of Staff, Western Command
Lieutenant General Harjeet Singh Sahi has assumed the appointment of Chief of Staff at the Headquarters of Western Command located at Chandimandir Military Station.
He succeeds Lieutenant General Puneet Ahuja, who has moved to Army Headquarters as Director General Strategic Planning.
Lt Gen Sahi is an alumnus of Punjab Public School, Nabha, and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He was commissioned into the 23rd Battalion of The Rajput Regiment in December 1988 and currently serves as the Colonel of The Rajput Regiment.
Throughout his military career, he has gained vast operational experience across the Northern, Western, and Eastern sectors, including service in the challenging Siachen Glacier region. He has commanded both an Infantry Battalion and an Infantry Brigade along the Line of Control as well as Counter Insurgency Force (Kilo) in Jammu and Kashmir.
He has also completed several prestigious military courses including:
- Staff Course at DSSC Wellington
- Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow
- National Defence College (NDC) Course in New Delhi
Academically, Lt Gen Sahi holds two MPhil degrees and a master’s degree in Defence and Strategic Studies.
BEL Launches Vahaan 50 Heavy Lift Logistics Drone
Bharat Electronics Limited has introduced the Vahaan 50, an indigenous heavy-lift logistics drone designed for operations in high-altitude and difficult terrains.
The drone features:
- Payload capacity: 50 kilograms
- Operational range: 10 kilometres
- Service ceiling: 5,000 metres
The Vahaan 50 was showcased during the North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj. The platform has been developed to support troop logistics in remote border regions where traditional transport methods such as helicopters or mule caravans are expensive, slow, or risky.
The drone uses a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) quad-rotor design, allowing it to operate from compact forward bases without requiring a runway.
Key technological features include:
- Dual GPS systems
- Parachute-based fail-safe mechanism
- Ability to function in GPS-denied environments
- Electro Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) camera for surveillance and precision navigation
The Vahaan 50 demonstrates high payload efficiency, carrying nearly one-third of its maximum take-off weight even in thin-air conditions found at high altitudes.
Adani Green Commissions Massive Battery Storage Project
Adani Green Energy has commissioned a 3.37 GWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Khavda in Gujarat. This project is considered the world’s largest single-location battery storage facility outside China.
The system was completed within just 10 months and has the capacity to supply electricity to nearly one million homes for an entire day.
The Khavda renewable energy project is one of India’s largest clean energy developments. The broader renewable energy park spans around 538 square kilometres and forms part of a planned 30 GW renewable energy expansion.
Currently, approximately 9.9 GW of renewable energy capacity has already become operational at the site, strengthening India’s transition toward sustainable energy infrastructure.
Battery Energy Storage Systems are important because they:
- Store excess renewable energy
- Improve grid stability
- Support uninterrupted electricity supply
- Enhance the efficiency of solar and wind power integration
Oil India Discovers New Gas-Bearing Zone in Rajasthan
Oil India Limited has discovered a new natural gas-bearing zone in the Dandewala field located in Rajasthan.
The discovery is significant because it expands the hydrocarbon potential of the Rajasthan sedimentary basin, which is already known as one of India’s major onshore oil and gas regions.
India currently depends heavily on imported energy resources:
- More than 85% of crude oil is imported
- Around 50% of natural gas demand is met through imports
This new discovery may help strengthen domestic energy production and reduce dependence on foreign energy supplies.
The breakthrough comes at a crucial time when global energy markets are facing challenges such as:
- Geopolitical tensions in West Asia
- Supply disruptions
- Volatility in crude oil prices
- Rising international demand for gas
Oil India Limited has been actively expanding exploration activities across multiple sedimentary basins to improve India’s energy security.
OMSPACE Develops India’s First Fully Cryogenic Bio-Methane and LOX Engine
OMSPACE has unveiled India’s first fully cryogenic liquid propulsion engine powered by Bio-Methane and Liquid Oxygen (LOX).
The engine produces 10 kN of thrust and is specifically designed for reusable launch vehicles.
This development is considered a major milestone for India’s private space industry because it combines:
- Indigenous innovation
- Reusability
- Environment-friendly propulsion technology
Unlike conventional cryogenic engines that use traditional hydrocarbon fuels, OMSPACE has adopted Bio-Methane, a renewable fuel source. This helps reduce soot formation and thermal stress, improving engine life and efficiency.
The engine uses a cryogenic cycle, where propellants are stored at extremely low temperatures in liquid form before combustion. This provides higher efficiency and better specific impulse compared to many conventional propulsion systems.
The propulsion system is expected to support:
- Low-cost satellite launches
- Reusable space missions
- Development of orbital infrastructure
- Commercial space operations
This innovation also aligns with global efforts to promote greener and more sustainable space technologies.
Review Questions
1. The Indian Air Force introduced a new entry scheme for the Technical Branch based on which examination score?
A. JEE
B. NDA
C. GATE
D. CDS
Answer: C. GATE
2. Under the new IAF Technical Branch scheme, candidates with valid GATE scores are exempted from:
A. Medical Examination
B. Interview Process
C. Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) written exam
D. Physical Fitness Test
Answer: C. Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) written exam
3. Lieutenant General Harjeet Singh Sahi has been appointed as the Chief of Staff of:
A. Northern Command
B. Eastern Command
C. Southern Command
D. Western Command
Answer: D. Western Command
4. Lt Gen Harjeet Singh Sahi was commissioned into which regiment?
A. Sikh Regiment
B. Rajput Regiment
C. Gorkha Rifles
D. Jat Regiment
Answer: B. Rajput Regiment
5. The Vahaan 50 logistics drone has been developed by:
A. DRDO
B. HAL
C. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
D. ISRO
Answer: C. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
6. What is the payload carrying capacity of the Vahaan 50 drone?
A. 20 kg
B. 35 kg
C. 50 kg
D. 100 kg
Answer: C. 50 kg
7. Adani Green Energy commissioned the world’s largest single-location battery storage project outside China in:
A. Rajasthan
B. Maharashtra
C. Gujarat
D. Tamil Nadu
Answer: C. Gujarat
8. The newly discovered gas-bearing zone by Oil India Limited is located in:
A. Assam
B. Rajasthan
C. Gujarat
D. Odisha
Answer: B. Rajasthan
9. OMSPACE developed India’s first fully cryogenic propulsion engine powered by:
A. Hydrogen and Oxygen
B. Diesel and Oxygen
C. Bio-Methane and Liquid Oxygen
D. Kerosene and Nitrogen
Answer: C. Bio-Methane and Liquid Oxygen
10. The thrust generated by OMSPACE’s new cryogenic engine is:
A. 5 kN
B. 10 kN
C. 20 kN
D. 50 kN
Answer: B. 10 kN
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