Current Affairs 09 May 2026

Apple launches clean energy and environmental initiatives in India

Apple announced new clean energy and environmental initiatives in India to expand renewable energy infrastructure, reduce plastic pollution, and promote green entrepreneurship.

Key Highlights

• Apple partnered with CleanMax.
• The company made an initial investment of ₹100 crore.
• The investment will support the development of more than 150 megawatts of renewable energy capacity.
• This capacity is estimated to power around 1.5 lakh Indian households annually.

Somnath Swabhiman Parv 2026

Somnath Temple, located at Somnath Temple, is the first among the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. In 2026, the temple will commemorate two major milestones: 1,000 years since the first recorded attack in 1026 and 75 years of its reopening in 1951.

The Somnath Swabhiman Parv highlights the temple’s enduring legacy of faith, courage, and cultural continuity. After Independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel resolved to rebuild the temple. It was ceremonially consecrated on 11 May 1951 by Rajendra Prasad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also Chairman of the Somnath Trust, will visit the temple on 11 May 2026. The occasion is being observed through special rituals, cultural programmes, and the Somnath Swabhiman Parv Yatra.

Key facts

• Located at Prabhas Patan, Gujarat
• First among the 12 Jyotirlingas
• First recorded attack: 1026
• Reopening: 11 May 1951
• 2026: 75th anniversary of reopening

Royal Enfield to set up ₹2,200 crore manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh

Royal Enfield has selected Andhra Pradesh for its new manufacturing expansion project, the company’s first major expansion outside Tamil Nadu.

Key Highlights

• Total investment: ₹2,200 crore
• Location: Satyavedu mandal, Tirupati district
• Project approved by the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB)

Land Allocation

The Andhra Pradesh government allocated 267 acres for the project in:

• Vanelluru — 233.76 acres
• Rallakuppam — 42.38 acres

Production and Employment

• The project will add 9 lakh units to Royal Enfield’s manufacturing capacity.
• It is expected to generate around 5,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Project Timeline

• Phase I — completion by 2029
• Phase II — completion by 2032

‘Mee Intiki – Mee Doctor’ launched in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer launched Mee Intiki – Mee Doctor in Vijayawada on World Red Cross Day. The initiative aims to provide primary healthcare services at the doorstep for poor families living in inaccessible areas. This programme was launched during the World Thalassemia Day.

Key Highlights

• Coverage target: 5 lakh poor families
• Duration: 3 years
• Coverage area: 7 districts of Andhra Pradesh

Focus Groups

Medical teams will primarily provide services to:

• pregnant women
• children aged 0–6 years
• bedridden persons unable to visit health centres

DRDO to set up advanced aircraft integration and flight testing facility at Puttaparthi

Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Aeronautical Development Agency will establish an aircraft integration and flight testing complex at Puttaparthi in Sri Sathya Sai district. The project received in-principle approval from the Ministry of Defence.

Importance

The facility will play a key role in advancing the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme and future indigenous combat aircraft and unmanned aerial systems.

State Support

The Andhra Pradesh government will provide:

• 150 acres adjoining the Puttaparthi runway
• 200 additional acres for a satellite office complex and residential township
• runway extension to 10,000 feet

The facility is expected to support:

• aircraft assembly
• systems integration
• flight testing

5th BRICS Supreme Audit Institutions Leaders’ Summit

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is conducting a special audit of 101 cities to assess ease of living from the citizens’ perspective. The announcement was made at the 5th BRICS Supreme Audit Institutions Leaders’ Summit. This summit was hosted by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Key Highlights

• India is auditing multi-modal transport and first-mile, last-mile logistics.
• The audit is being carried out in partnership with:
  • Indian Institutes of Technology
  • Indian Institutes of Management
  • World Bank

Summit Theme

The three-day summit is being hosted by India under its BRICS Chairmanship 2026 with the theme: “Ease of Living with a Focus on Urban Mobility.”

DRDO and IAF conduct maiden flight-trial of TARA weapon

Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Air Force successfully conducted the maiden flight-trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon off the coast of Odisha on May 7, 2026.

Key Highlights

• Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system.
• It converts unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons.
• The system is designed to improve range, lethality, and accuracy against ground-based targets.
• TARA was designed and developed by the DRDO.

World Thalassemia Day – 08 May

World Thalassemia Day is observed every year on May 8 to raise global awareness about Thalassemia. The World Thalassemia Day 2026 theme is “Hidden No More: Finding the Undiagnosed. Supporting the Unseen.”

About Thalassemia

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder that results in low haemoglobin levels. It often causes severe anaemia and requires long-term medical care.

Treatment

• regular blood transfusions
• iron chelation therapy

Prevention

To reduce the prevalence of thalassemia major, emphasis is placed on:

• prenatal screening
• genetic counselling

Telangana records the highest cybercrime cases in India in 2024

According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau report, Telangana recorded the highest number of cybercrime cases in the country in 2024.

Key Highlights

• Telangana — 27,230 cases
• Karnataka — 21,993 cases
• Uttar Pradesh — 11,073 cases
• Maharashtra — 9,922 cases

Major Findings

• Cybercrime cases in Telangana rose by about 49% from 18,236 cases in 2023 to 27,230 cases in 2024.
• Between 2022 and 2024, cybercrime cases in the State increased by nearly 78%.
• Telangana accounted for more than one-fourth of all cybercrime cases in India in 2024.

Metropolitan Cities

Hyderabad remained among the most cybercrime-affected metropolitan cities.

• Hyderabad — 4,009 cases
• Bengaluru — 17,561 cases
• Mumbai — 4,939 cases