Current Affairs Quiz - May 2026

Notes:
The 2nd India Aircraft Leasing and Financing Summit 2.0 was inaugurated at GIFT City, Gujarat. The summit was organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation along with International Financial Services Centres Authority and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. India aims to become the world’s third-largest civil aviation market by 2035 with an estimated fleet of nearly 2,250 aircraft.

Notes:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched a statewide deep-tech skilling initiative in collaboration with IBM SkillsBuild, Andhra Pradesh State Council for Higher Education (APSCHE), Andhra State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC), and Amaravati Quantum Valley. The programme aims to train 2 lakh learners in 2026–27 and expand to 10 lakh learners over five years through digital learning, industry-linked training, and globally recognised certifications. The initiative focuses on Quantum Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, and Entrepreneurship.

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International Nurses Day is observed every year on 12 May to mark the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. The 2026 theme is “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives.” The theme highlights the importance of empowering nurses through better support systems, workplace safety, and adequate resources. The International Council of Nurses emphasises that strong nursing systems are essential for quality healthcare and patient care. The observance also focuses on addressing the global nursing shortage and improving working conditions for nurses worldwide.

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West Bengal government launched the Annapurna Bhandaar Scheme. Under the scheme, eligible women may receive ₹3,000 per month directly into their bank accounts. The scheme is intended to replace the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme introduced by the All India Trinamool Congress government. It aims to provide financial assistance to women from low and middle-income households. The implementation of the scheme has been proposed from 1 June by the new state government.

Notes:
Valley fever recently came into news after a 37-year-old Indian tech professional in California died due to severe lung complications and respiratory failure caused by the infection. Also known as acute coccidioidomycosis, it is a fungal disease caused by Coccidioides fungi found in dry, dusty soil of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central and South America. Infection occurs by inhaling airborne fungal spores disturbed through farming, construction, or wind; it does not spread from person to person. Treatment involves antifungal medicines, while no vaccine is currently available.

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India Meteorological Department launched India’s first Artificial Intelligence-enabled block-level monsoon forecasting system. The system was developed with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting. It provides hyperlocal and impact-based monsoon forecasts up to four weeks in advance. The model combines Artificial Intelligence with numerical weather prediction models and has an error margin of around four days. Forecasts and alerts will be shared through mobile apps, SMS, and agricultural extension networks.

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The Energy and Resources Institute released the report “India’s Nuclear Energy Vision: Strategic Pathways for Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Deployment.” The report states that India will require ₹23–25 lakh crore investment to achieve 100 Gigawatt nuclear power capacity by 2047. It emphasizes the role of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in ensuring clean energy, grid stability, and industrial decarbonisation. India currently operates 25 nuclear reactors with around 8.8 GW installed capacity. The Union Budget 2025–26 allocated ₹20,000 crore for SMR research and deployment, targeting five indigenous SMRs by 2033.

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Agalega Islands have gained strategic importance amid increasing competition in the Indian Ocean region. Agalega Islands are a two-island dependency of Mauritius located in the western Indian Ocean. The islands consist of North Island and South Island, connected by a natural sandbank during low tide. Their economy mainly depends on coconut oil exports. The islands are emerging as an important logistics and maritime surveillance base, enhancing India’s reach across the southern and western Indian Ocean.

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The Department of Personnel and Training and the Capacity Building Commission organized the National Departmental Summit on “Institutionalizing Capacity Building: From Training to Performance-linked Governance” on 15 May 2026 in New Delhi. The summit aims to strengthen role-based, competency-driven, and performance-linked governance across the Centre, States, and Union Territories. The initiative is aligned with Mission Karmayogi, launched in 2020 to transform civil services capacity building from a rule-based to a competency-based system.

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Yoweri Museveni has been elected as the President of Uganda for a seventh term. The oath-taking ceremony was held at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala. Museveni has been in power since 1986, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. He secured more than 71% of the vote, while opposition leader Bobi Wine received nearly 25%. The election was marked by reports of internet shutdowns and intimidation of opposition groups.