Current Affairs Quiz - May 2026

Notes:
India has recorded a 250% increase in Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) under Mission Mausam to strengthen weather monitoring. DWR works on the Doppler Effect, which measures changes in frequency due to motion of objects like raindrops. Mission Mausam was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It is implemented by India Meteorological Department, National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting, and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. The mission has a budget of ₹2,000 crore for two years. Its aim is to make India “Weather Ready” and “Climate Smart.”

Notes:
Dr Bhaskar Jyoti Sonowal from Assam has been elected President of the BRICS Entrepreneurs Alliance (BEA) Global Forum for the 2026–27 term. This marks a significant step in strengthening India’s role within the BRICS+ economic framework. He currently serves as CEO and Executive Director of BEA India. His leadership comes as India prepares to host the BEA Global Summit in November 2026. The appointment aims to boost cross-border trade, global partnerships, and MSME opportunities. It is expected to enhance market access for Indian entrepreneurs and promote inclusive global trade.

Notes:
NITI Aayog released the report “Moving Towards Effective City Government: A Framework for Million-Plus Cities.” India has 47 million-plus cities that house nearly one-third of the urban population and contribute about 60% of GDP. The report highlights challenges such as infrastructure deficits, poor service delivery, housing shortages, mobility issues, and environmental concerns. It notes that city governments have limited control over functions under the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act.

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International Labour Day, also called International Workers’ Day, is celebrated every year on May 1 to honour the hard work and contributions of workers across all sectors. The day highlights the need for fair wages, safe working conditions, and reasonable working hours for all employees. It also reminds us of the struggle of workers in history and the continued importance of protecting their rights. The International Labour Organization (ILO), a United Nations agency, plays a key role in setting global labour standards.

Notes:
Narendra Modi addressed the 11th Heads of Mission Conference in New Delhi. The conference was organised by the Ministry of External Affairs from April 28 to 30. The theme of the conference was “Reforming Indian Diplomacy for 2047.” Discussions covered geopolitical developments, emerging technologies, and future-ready diplomacy. The event aimed to strengthen India’s global diplomatic strategy and national interests.

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India hosted the first Culture Working Group meeting under its BRICS Presidency 2026 in New Delhi. Representatives from BRICS countries participated virtually. India’s delegation included officials from Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. India’s presidency focuses on cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. The theme is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The initiative aims to promote shared heritage and stronger cultural ties among BRICS nations.

Notes:
The Department of Commerce issued revising schedules under the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products Scheme. The revision aligns RoDTEP tariff lines with updates in the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 via the Finance Act, 2026. The scheme was launched in 2021 under the amended Foreign Trade Policy 2015–20. It replaced the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme after it was found non-compliant with World Trade Organization rules. Its objective is to refund hidden taxes and duties not reimbursed by other mechanisms. It covers taxes incurred during manufacturing and distribution of exported goods. The scheme is administered by the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance.

Notes:
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 (2023–24). Tripura and Kerala have the best-governed Panchayats, with the highest share in Category ‘A’. Tripura recorded 80.2% Panchayats in Category ‘A’, while Kerala had 10.1%. Odisha ranked third with 8.2% Panchayats in Category ‘A’. Manipur, Meghalaya, and Nagaland had the highest share in Category ‘D’ (lowest performance). PAI evaluates over 2.5 lakh Panchayats using 150+ indicators and 230 data points. It is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Notes:
India’s first commercial seaplane service has been approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The operator is SkyHop Aviation. The initial launch of services will be in Lakshadweep. It will connect five islands internally and link them to the mainland. Trial water take-offs and landings were conducted in Rishikesh. The service will use a 19-seater aircraft and improve connectivity to remote regions. It is expected to boost tourism and reduce travel time in island areas.

Notes:
The Unified Payments Interface completed 10 years (2016–2026), becoming the world’s largest real-time payments platform. It was launched by the National Payments Corporation of India under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India. Transaction volume surged from 2 crore (2016–17) to over 24,162 crore (2025–26). UPI accounts for nearly 49% of global real-time payment transactions. The International Monetary Fund recognised UPI as the world’s largest real-time payment system.