In Defence Current Affairs for 23 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 23 May 2026
Successful Test Launch of Agni-1 Ballistic Missile
India successfully carried out the test launch of the short-range ballistic missile Agni-1 from the Integrated Test Range located at Chandipur in Odisha on May 22, 2026. The launch was conducted under the supervision of the Strategic Forces Command and successfully met all operational and technical objectives.
The Agni-1 missile is a short-range ballistic missile with a strike capability ranging from approximately 700 to 1,200 kilometres. It forms an important part of India’s policy of maintaining a “Minimum Credible Deterrence” for national security.
The missile is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads, making it a flexible and effective weapon system in India’s strategic defence structure.
Agni-1 was developed after the 1999 Kargil conflict to bridge the operational gap between the Prithvi-II missile and the longer-range Agni-II missile. Over the years, it has remained a crucial component of India’s missile programme for meeting tactical defence requirements.
India’s missile development programme demonstrates a balanced approach toward regional security and long-range strategic preparedness. While advanced systems like Agni-5 focus on extended deterrence capabilities, missiles such as Agni-1 continue to play an essential role in short-range operational readiness.
138th Offshore Security Coordination Committee Meeting Held
The 138th meeting of the Offshore Security Coordination Committee was held in Ahmedabad on May 21, 2026, under the leadership of Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, Paramesh Sivamani.
The meeting focused on strengthening the security arrangements for India’s offshore installations and critical maritime energy infrastructure. Discussions were held on improving maritime domain awareness, boosting surveillance systems, enhancing coordination among agencies, and strengthening emergency response mechanisms.
Special attention was given to emerging security threats, including the increasing use of drones and unmanned systems in modern warfare. The participants also reviewed security concerns linked with expanding offshore exploration activities in the Andaman and Nicobar region.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of various stakeholders toward safeguarding India’s strategic maritime assets and ensuring the security of offshore infrastructure.
India to Launch ‘Smart Border’ Project
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Government of India will introduce a “Smart Border” project in the coming year to strengthen security along the nearly 6,000-kilometre borders shared with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The announcement was made during the annual Rustamji Memorial Lecture organised by the Border Security Force (BSF). The project aims to make the borders more secure and technologically advanced to prevent illegal infiltration and other security threats.
The Home Minister stated that advanced surveillance technologies and modern border management systems would be used to ensure effective monitoring of border areas. He also emphasised the government’s determination to identify infiltrators and take necessary action against illegal entry into the country.
K. F. Rustamji, after whom the memorial lecture is named, was the first Director General of the BSF when the force was established in 1965.
The minister also called upon BSF personnel to remain vigilant and ensure the security and demographic stability of border regions.
India to Host Quad Security Alliance Meeting
India will host a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Quad grouping, where discussions will focus on the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region and developments arising from the West Asia crisis.
The meeting in New Delhi will be attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the meeting will continue discussions initiated during earlier Quad engagements held in Washington DC in 2025. The ministers are expected to review progress on existing initiatives and discuss cooperation in areas of regional security, maritime safety, and strategic coordination.
The Quad alliance, comprising India, United States, Australia, and Japan, has become an important platform for promoting peace, stability, and a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
In recent years, the grouping has expanded cooperation in maritime security and regional strategic initiatives.
Major Abhilasha Barak Receives UN Military Gender Advocate Award 2025
Indian Army officer Major Abhilasha Barak has been awarded the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2025 for her outstanding service in UN peacekeeping operations in Lebanon.
She is currently serving with the Indian Battalion in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as the Commander of the Female Engagement Team. Major Barak is also recognised as the first woman combat helicopter pilot in the Indian Army.
With this achievement, she has become the third Indian peacekeeper to receive the honour. Earlier, Suman Gawani received the award in 2019, while Radhika Sen was honoured in 2023.
The award was established in 2016 by the Office of Military Affairs under the UN Department of Peace Operations. It recognises military peacekeepers who make exceptional contributions toward promoting gender equality and implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
India continues to remain one of the largest contributors of troops and police personnel to United Nations peacekeeping missions across the world.
Review Questions
- Where was the Agni-1 ballistic missile successfully test-launched in May 2026?
A. Pokhran, Rajasthan
B. Chandipur, Odisha
C. Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
D. Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
ANSWER: B - The Agni-1 missile was developed after which major conflict?
A. Indo-China War
B. Indo-Pak War of 1971
C. Kargil War
D. Doklam Standoff
ANSWER: C - Who chaired the 138th Offshore Security Coordination Committee meeting
held in Ahmedabad?
A. Rajnath Singh
B. Amit Shah
C. Paramesh Sivamani
D. Manoj Pande
ANSWER: C - Which countries are members of the Quad grouping?
A. India, China, Russia, Japan
B. India, US, Australia, Japan
C. India, France, UK, Australia
D. US, UK, Japan, South Korea
ANSWER: B - Major Abhilasha Barak received the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year
Award for which year?
A. 2023
B. 2024
C. 2025
D. 2026
ANSWER: C - In which city did the Indian Navy inaugurate its premier Naval Sailing Node on
17 May 2026?
A. Visakhapatnam
B. Kochi
C. Bhopal
D. Mumbai
ANSWER: C - In which city was the third edition of the Kalam & Kavach strategic defence
conference inaugurated on May 14, 2026?
A. Bengaluru
B. Hyderabad
C. New Delhi
D. Pune
ANSWER: C - What is the name of the strategic initiative aimed at establishing manufacturing and integration partnerships across 7 continents and 77 countries for the Kaal Bhairava combat aircraft?
A. Operation 777
B. Mission Garuda
C. Project Astra
D. Operation Trident
ANSWER: A - Which Indian Naval Ship completed the IOS SAGAR initiative port call at
Chattogram, Bangladesh?
A. INS Sunayna
B. INS Vikrant
C. INS Kolkata
D. INS Shivalik
ANSWER: A - Which organization successfully conducted the long-duration test of an
Actively Cooled Full Scale Scramjet Combustor for hypersonic missiles?
A. ISRO
B. DRDO
C. HAL
D. BHEL
ANSWER: B - The Highest Rank Structure In NSG Is
A. Director General
B. Inspector General
C. Deputy Inspector General
D. Group Commander
ANSWER: A - INS Tarangini Is A
A. Helicopter
B. Sailing Ship
C. UAV
D. None of the above
ANSWER: B - FGM-148 Javelin Is Made By
A. Boeing
B. Lockheed Martin
C. Raytheon
D. None of the above
ANSWER: C - Q.M.HAV Stands For
A. Quarter Havildar
B. Quartermaster Havildar
C. Quartermaster Hawadar
D. None of the above
ANSWER: B - Santiago Is The Capital Of
A. Oman
B. Colombia
C. UAE
D. Chile
ANSWER: D - “Vahana Masterclass” Book Is Written By
A. Alfredo Covelli
B. Sitaram Yechuri
C. Hew Strachan
D. R. Kaushik
ANSWER: A - “Balidanam Vir Lakshanam” Is The Motto Of
A. JKLI
B. THE MAHAR REGIMENT
C. THE BIHAR REGIMENT
D. None of the above
ANSWER: A - Prithvi III Is A
A. Air to Air Missile
B. Surface to Air Missile
C. Surface to Surface Missile
D. Air to Sea Missile
ANSWER: C - Shishumar Is a
A. Air to Air missile
B. Sniper Rifle
C. Anti-tank Guided missile
D. Submarine
ANSWER: D - Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) Centre Is Located In
A. Hyderabad, Telangana
B. Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
C. Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
D. Tezpur, Assam
ANSWER: A
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