Current Affairs Quiz - May 2026

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Delhi launched the “Catch the Rain 2026” campaign to promote rainwater harvesting and water conservation. The campaign mascot, ‘Neera’, was unveiled to spread awareness about sustainable water management among citizens. The initiative aims to improve groundwater recharge and encourage storage of rainwater where it falls. The Delhi Jal Board will provide financial assistance up to ₹50,000 along with technical guidance for rainwater harvesting systems.

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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.

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Scientists recently discovered three new plant species in the Eastern Ghats region of Andhra Pradesh. Euphorbia ananthapuramensis is a shrubby plant species found in Nigidi Forest of Sri Sathya Sai district, where it grows among granite rocks. Euphorbia chalamensis is a small annual herb discovered in Chalama Forest of Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary. Both Euphorbia species possess medicinal properties and are used by tribal communities to treat wounds, skin diseases, and digestive disorders. Ceropegia andhrica is a dwarf tuberous herb discovered in the Paderu Forest Division of Alluri Sitharamaraju district. The plant flowers after the first rains between May and June and later produces edible potato-like tubers.

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Scientists recently discovered a new species of freshwater crab named Indopotamon alipurduarense in the sub-Himalayan Dooars region of West Bengal. The discovery marks only the second species recorded under the Indopotamon genus. With this finding, the total number of known freshwater crab species in India has increased to 183. These crabs are highly secretive and spend most of the year hidden underground. They emerge mainly during the heavy rainy season and are usually visible between May and August. The species name “alipurduarense” honours the Alipurduar district of West Bengal, where the crab was discovered.

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According to National Crime Records Bureau data released in May 2026, Bengaluru recorded the highest suicide rate among major Indian metropolitan cities. Bengaluru reported more than 2,430 suicide cases in 2024, with the suicide rate remaining close to 20 per lakh population between 2022 and 2024. Although Delhi recorded a higher total number of suicides, Bengaluru had the highest suicide rate based on population. Experts linked the rising suicide rates to urban stress, social isolation, work pressure, rising living costs, and weak support systems. Bengaluru also recorded 4,748 cases of crimes against women in 2024, making it one of the cities with the highest such cases in India.

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Yildirimhan Missile is a prototype intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) unveiled by Turkey to strengthen defence self-reliance and expand its strategic military capabilities. The missile is capable of targeting regions across Europe, Africa, and Asia if launched from Turkey. Yildirimhan can reportedly travel at speeds up to Mach 25, which is nearly 25 times the speed of sound and falls under hypersonic speed range. It uses four rocket propulsion engines and is powered by liquid nitrogen tetroxide fuel, which improves range and payload capacity.

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PM MITRA Park at Warangal, Telangana was inaugurated by Narendra Modi as India’s first functional PM MITRA Park. The park operationalises the government’s 5F vision — Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign. The park is strategically located near NH-163G and NH-163, providing strong road, railway, and port connectivity. It includes modern infrastructure such as internal roads, power substation, water supply, Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), Zero Liquid Discharge technology, and a 10 megawatt solar power plant. PM MITRA Parks were approved in seven states including Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.

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The Girder Laying Ceremony for the 4th, 5th, and 6th Air Cushion Vehicle of the Indian Coast Guard was held at the Rassaim Yard of Chowgule Shipyard in Goa on 11 May 2026. These Air Cushion Vehicles are being manufactured under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative with around 50% indigenous content. The contract for six indigenously designed and built Air Cushion Vehicles was signed with Chowgule & Company Private Limited in October 2024. The vehicles will be used for coastal patrolling, reconnaissance, interception, interdiction, and search-and-rescue operations.

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Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Reserve Bank Innovation Hub to combat cyber-enabled financial frauds and mule accounts. The collaboration aims to strengthen fraud-risk intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and Artificial Intelligence-based fraud detection. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) is established under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as the national nodal agency to fight cybercrime.

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Maize has emerged as India’s largest ethanol feedstock, encouraging farmers in Uttar Pradesh to diversify towards maize cultivation due to its lower water requirement. According to a report by the All India Distillers’ Association, maize-based ethanol production reached 182 crore litres between November 2025 and April 2026. This exceeded ethanol production from surplus food grain, damaged food grain, and sugarcane-based sources. Uttar Pradesh has become one of India’s top five maize-producing states, cultivating around 8 lakh hectares and producing nearly 28–30 lakh metric tonnes annually.