Current Affairs Quiz - May 2026

Notes:
A fire and two powerful explosions at a shipyard on Staten Island caused one civilian death and injured around 36 people. Staten Island is one of the five boroughs of New York City in the United States. Historically, the island was inhabited by the Native American Lenape community before Dutch and English settlement. Staten Island is popularly known as the “Borough of Parks” because of its extensive parks, forests, and green spaces.

Notes:
India gifted a special variety of sandalwood to Nepal for use at the Pashupatinath Temple. Pashupatinath Temple is a famous Hindu temple situated on the banks of the Bagmati River near Kathmandu. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Pashupati, meaning “protector of animals.”

Notes:
Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre recently identified a sophisticated phishing campaign targeting Apple iPhone users whose devices were lost or stolen. I4C issued an advisory warning users about cyber fraud and phishing attempts. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It serves as the national nodal agency for combating cybercrime in India. I4C provides a coordinated framework for law enforcement agencies to prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute cybercrimes.

Notes:
The Anal Naga community in Manipur has traditionally protected forests through community-led systems called Uju and Rangkang. These traditional systems help conserve forests, water sources, biodiversity, and village ecosystems. The Anal Naga tribe is primarily found in Manipur, with the majority of the population concentrated in the Chandel district. They are recognised as a Scheduled Tribe in India.

Notes:
Hutti Gold Mines Company Limited recorded an additional earning of ₹633.34 crore in 2025–26 due to rising global gold prices. HGML is a Government of Karnataka undertaking established in 1947. It is the only functional producer of primary gold in India. The company is involved in exploration, development, and mining of gold deposits in Karnataka. HGML currently processes ore from the Hutti Gold Mine along with the Uti opencast mine and Heera-Buddinni underground mine.

Notes:
Oreshnik Missile is a Russian-made intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile. Ukrainian authorities recently claimed that Russia used the missile during attacks on Kyiv. The missile was first reportedly used in November 2024 against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Oreshnik is based on the RS-26 Rubezh ballistic missile system. It is capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads. The missile is mounted on a mobile transporter-launcher for rapid deployment and concealment.

Notes:
Asian Under-23 Wrestling Championships was held in Da Nang, Vietnam. Indian wrestlers won two gold, two silver, and one bronze medal in the men’s freestyle category. Mohit Kumar won gold in the 65 kg category by defeating Kyrgyzstan’s Oskonbai A. Abdisamatov. Chandermohan secured gold in the 79 kg category after defeating Kazakhstan’s Yerkhan Abil. Punit Kumar won silver in the 92 kg category, while Lacky claimed silver in the 125 kg category. Sachin Mor secured bronze in the 86 kg category.

Notes:
Researchers rediscovered Vaccinium piliferum in the forests of Vijoynagar in Arunachal Pradesh after nearly 188 years. The species was found in Changlang district near tributaries of the Noa-Dihing River in the Eastern Himalayan region. Vaccinium piliferum is a rare and endangered wild relative of blueberry species and belongs to the Ericaceae family, which also includes cranberries. The plant was originally recorded in 1836 during the colonial period. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the species as Endangered.

Notes:
Researchers at Catholicate College discovered a new species of green algae named Interfilum shuklaii in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The species is named after Shubhanshu Shukla. It is the first reported discovery of the genus Interfilum from India. The genus has importance in biotechnology, carbon sequestration, biofertilizer development, and future space life-support systems due to its stress tolerance and efficient biomass production.

Notes:
The main celebration of International Day of Yoga 2026 will be held in Kolkata on 21 June 2026. The theme for IDY 2026 is “Yoga for Healthy Ageing.” The announcement was made during Yoga Mahotsav 2026 organised at the Western Group of Temples Khajuraho. The event marked the beginning of the 25-day countdown to IDY 2026 and was organised by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga under the Ministry of Ayush. The theme highlights the role of yoga in promoting physical health, mental well-being, preventive healthcare, and healthy ageing.