Current Affairs Quiz - May 2026

Notes:
A scientific survey has started in Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Andhra Pradesh to assess the Peacock Tarantula population. Peacock Tarantula, also called Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula, is known for its bright metallic blue colour. It is endemic to India and mainly found in Andhra Pradesh forests. It actively hunts prey using speed and venom instead of webs. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists it as Critically Endangered. It helps maintain ecological balance by controlling insect populations.

Notes:
Marta Kostyuk won the Madrid Open Tennis Tournament 2026, marking the biggest title of her career. She defeated Mirra Andreeva in the women’s singles final with a score of 6-3, 7-5. Kostyuk is 23 years old and represents Ukraine. With this victory, she is set to rise from world No. 23 to a career-high ranking of 15 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings. This is her third WTA 1000 title, highlighting her growing dominance in women’s tennis. The win strengthens her position as a strong contender for the upcoming French Open in Paris.

Notes:
South Korea has launched the Compact Advanced Satellite 500-2 (CAS500-2) on May 3, 2026. The satellite is an Earth-observation satellite also known as Next-Generation Medium Satellite No. 2. It was launched aboard Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in the United States. The mission was overseen by the Korea AeroSpace Administration. The launch was delayed for nearly four years due to changes from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The satellite entered a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 498 kilometres. It successfully established communication with a ground station in Svalbard shortly after launch.

Notes:
World Asthma Day 2026 is observed on May 5 to raise awareness about asthma and its management. It is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma. The theme for 2026 is “Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma – still an urgent need.” The focus is on improving access to inhaled corticosteroids, which treat the underlying inflammation rather than just symptoms. The initiative highlights that over 260 million people worldwide are affected by asthma.

Notes:
United Nations Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) announced the expansion of the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) to include coal mines and waste facilities. MARS is the world’s first public global satellite-based methane detection and notification system. It was launched by the UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO). The system was announced at the Conference of Parties (COP) 27 in 2022 and entered pilot phase in 2023.

Notes:
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav recently launched the website and logo for the 1st International Big Cat Alliance Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The International Big Cat Alliance is an inter-governmental organisation headquartered in India for the conservation of seven big cat species: Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma. India will host the first IBCA Summit on 1 June 2026 in New Delhi with participation from Heads of State, policymakers, scientists, and conservation experts from around the world. The summit will be organised under the theme “Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem.”

Notes:
CSIR-Central Road Research Institute and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited were recognized by the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records for constructing the first roadblock section using technical textile geocells made from end-of-life plastic waste. The project demonstrated the scientific use of difficult-to-manage plastic waste in sustainable road infrastructure development. The technology uses technical textile geocells manufactured from processed end-of-life plastic waste for road engineering applications. The initiative supports sustainable waste management, resilient road construction, and circular economy goals.

Notes:
World Athletics Day is celebrated on 7 May to promote athletics and fitness among youth. The day encourages young students to participate in sports and develop discipline, confidence, and healthy lifestyles. The celebration mainly promotes Track and Field athletics as an important sport for youth development. The day is observed annually to commemorate the founding of the International Association of Athletics Federations, now known as World Athletics.

Notes:
Researchers have recorded Lutjanus arakan, a rare species of snapper fish, in Indian waters for the first time at Gopalpur-on-Sea in the Ganjam district of Odisha. Lutjanus arakan belongs to the Lutjanidae family, a group of marine fishes commonly known as snappers that are mainly found in tropical and subtropical coastal waters. Snapper fishes are ecologically important because they act as mid-level predators in reef and coastal ecosystems, helping maintain marine ecological balance. The species was earlier recorded only along the coast of Bangladesh, making this discovery significant for Indian marine biodiversity and fish taxonomy studies.

Notes:
Fruit Horizon 2026 was organised at ICAR–Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture in Lucknow. A joint task force involving Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), exporters, and scientists will be formed to solve export issues and increase farmers’ income. Under the Clean Planting Material Program, a modern Clean Plant Centre is being set up at CISH, Lucknow to develop disease-free planting material for mango, guava, litchi, and avocado crops. The conference stressed the importance of premium-quality fruits, zero rejection standards, better storage, processing, and export infrastructure.