Daily Current Affairs Quiz: May 12, 2026

Notes:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Psyche mission captured a crescent image of Mars from nearly 5 million kilometres away. It was launched on 13 October 2023 to study the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche and understand the formation of planetary cores. The spacecraft is expected to reach the asteroid in 2029 and will spend around two years orbiting and studying its surface and composition. The Psyche spacecraft is about the size of a small van and uses solar-electric propulsion powered by xenon gas.

Notes:
Sabarmati River recently remained dry in parts of Ahmedabad after water flow was halted at the Vasna Barrage for gate repair works. It is a monsoon-fed, west-flowing river originating from Dhebar Lake in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan’s Udaipur district. The river flows southwest through Rajasthan and Gujarat before draining into the Gulf of Khambhat in the Arabian Sea. It is 371 kilometres long and bisects Ahmedabad into eastern and western halves. The basin is bounded by the Aravalli Hills, Rann of Kutch, and Gulf of Khambhat, with agriculture dominating land use.

Notes:
United Nations Human Settlements Programme recently launched the Catalogue of Solutions 2026–2029 to promote sustainable urban development and better housing policies worldwide. UN-Habitat was established in 1977 after the Habitat I Conference and is headquartered in Nairobi. Its primary objective is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable cities and ensure adequate shelter for all. The UN-Habitat Assembly includes all 193 United Nations member states and approves the organisation’s strategic plans.

Notes:
National Technology Day is celebrated every year on 11 May to commemorate the success of the Pokhran-II nuclear tests conducted in 1998. The day recognises India’s achievements in science, technology, and innovation. Pokhran-II was a series of nuclear tests carried out at Pokhran Test Range. The 2026 theme is “Responsible Innovation for Inclusive Growth,” focusing on indigenous technology development and the use of Artificial Intelligence for equitable progress. The observance highlights the role of scientific research and technological self-reliance in national development.

Notes:
National Jute Board has been implementing the Jute Crop Information System (JCIS) since 2023 in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation and Jute Corporation of India for scientific monitoring of jute cultivation. Jute Crop Information System (JCIS) integrates satellite imagery, weather analytics, vegetation indices, and geo-tagged field data for near real-time crop monitoring and production estimation. Two major tools developed under the system are BHUVAN JUMP, a mobile application for field monitoring, and PATSAN, a web-based analytics platform for jute surveillance.