Daily Current Affairs Quiz: May 21, 2026

Notes:
International Booker Prize is awarded annually for the best translated fiction published in the UK or Ireland. It was established in 2005 as the Man Booker International Prize. The award honours both authors and translators, with prize money equally shared between them. In 2026, Taiwan Travelogue, translated by Lin King, won the 2026 International Booker Prize prize. The award promotes global literature and encourages reading of translated works worldwide. India achieved notable success through Tomb of Sand in 2022 and Heart Lamp in 2025. These victories highlighted Indian regional languages internationally.

Notes:
Scientists discovered a new species of burrowing snake named Trachischium lalremsangai near the India–Myanmar border. The species was found in Murlen National Park, located within the Indo–Burma biodiversity hotspot. The snake was named after Dr. Lalremsanga for his major contributions to herpetology in Northeast India. The snake is characterised by smooth iridescent scales, a brown body, a white-speckled underside, and a unique head-scale arrangement. The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of Northeast India and the ecological importance of Mizoram’s forest ecosystems.

Notes:
The rare Kashmir Flycatcher was recently spotted in the wetlands of Chemmattamavayal wetlands, Kerala. It is a small passerine bird belonging to the Muscicapidae flycatcher family. The species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and mainly breeds in the Kashmir region of the northwest Himalayas. It is a migratory bird that winters in the high-altitude Nilgiris of the Western Ghats and also in Sri Lanka. Due to habitat loss and declining population, the species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The sighting highlights the ecological importance of Kerala’s wetlands for migratory birds.

Notes:
Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and is globally famous for its floating islands called phumdis. It is located in Manipur. Phumdis are floating masses of vegetation, soil, and organic matter that support fishing huts, settlements, and wildlife habitats. Keibul Lamjao National Park, located within the lake, is the world’s only floating national park and the natural habitat of the endangered Sangai deer. Recent reports also highlighted concerns about pollution, shrinking phumdis, and ecological imbalance affecting the lake ecosystem

Notes:
Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajasthan was recently recognised by UNESCO surveys as having the world’s second-longest surviving wall after the Great Wall of China. It was built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha, the fort is located in the Aravalli Hills and was an important military stronghold of Mewar. Its massive wall stretches over 36 kilometres, giving it the title “Great Wall of India.” The fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the Hill Forts of Rajasthan.