Weekly Current Affairs (May 2026 – Week 4) – Exam Revision Notes
1) International Current Affairs
11th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting – New Delhi; Maritime Surveillance, Energy Security
The 11th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) was held in New Delhi, bringing together the foreign ministers of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. Three major new initiatives were announced to strengthen the Indo-Pacific.
| Initiative | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration | Integrate and strengthen maritime surveillance capabilities; improve information sharing and coordination among Quad countries |
| Expansion of Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) | Provide near-real-time maritime data to Indo-Pacific countries for emergency response, humanitarian assistance, and commercial shipping monitoring |
| Quad Initiative on Indo-Pacific Energy Security | Improve regional energy resilience and conduct emergency response exercises |
India–US Framework on Critical Minerals; Quad Critical Minerals Initiative ($20 Billion)
On the sidelines of the 11th Quad FMM, India and the United States finalised a bilateral framework for cooperation in the supply chain of critical minerals and rare earth elements. Alongside this, all four Quad countries launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework — aiming to mobilise nearly $20 billion in government and private-sector investments to establish stable and secure critical mineral supply chains.
Canada–India Joint Statement 2026 – CEPA Target by End of 2026
Canada and India reaffirmed their commitment to concluding a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2026. Both countries launched the Canada–India Trade and Investment Forum as a platform for business collaboration and commercial partnerships. A Team Canada Trade Mission to India was announced for later in the year. Priority cooperation sectors: clean energy, critical minerals, agri-food, advanced manufacturing, and digital technologies.
2) National Current Affairs
Maithili Language Included in CBSE Curriculum – Mithila Region Context
The CBSE has decided to include the Maithili language in its curriculum up to the secondary level from the next academic session. Maithili is one of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The Mithila (Mithilanchal) region spans northern Bihar and parts of Nepal, covering districts like Darbhanga, Madhubani, and Sitamarhi — traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Sita.
India’s First Indigenous Hydrogen Train Approved – Jind–Sonipat Section, Haryana
Indian Railways approved the introduction of India’s first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell-based train on the Jind–Sonipat section of Northern Railway in Haryana. The 10-car train will operate with a 1,200 KW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system. With this, India joins a select group of nations — Germany, Japan, China, and the USA — operating hydrogen-powered trains.
International Day of Yoga 2026 – Main Event in Kolkata; Theme: “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”
The Ministry of Ayush announced that the main celebration of International Day of Yoga 2026 will be held in Kolkata on June 21, 2026. The theme is “Yoga for Healthy Ageing.” The announcement was made at Yoga Mahotsav 2026 held at Khajuraho Group of Monuments (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) — marking the 25-day countdown to the event. Organised by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga under the Ministry of Ayush.
India Inaugurates First Indigenous SkyCast System – India Becomes 19th Country with This Technology
India’s first SkyCast System — an integrated atmospheric remote sensing system — was inaugurated at Indira Gandhi International Airport under the Mission Mausam initiative, making India the 19th country in the world to deploy this technology.
Improves aviation safety, fog monitoring, turbulence detection, and real-time weather forecasting. Provides real-time weather intelligence to pilots and air traffic controllers. Reduces flight delays and cancellations caused by fog. Enables short-term snowcasting alerts within three hours.
Origin: Developed from findings of the Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX), initiated in 2015 by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and the India Meteorological Department.
3) Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs
SRKVM Scheme – Free School Kits for 35+ Lakh Students in Government Schools
The AP government is implementing the Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyarthi Mitra (SRKVM) Scheme since the 2025–26 academic year, providing free school kits to more than 35 lakh students in Classes 1 to 10 in government schools across the state.
Objectives: Reduce school dropout rates, support economically weaker students, improve access to educational resources, and remove political branding from educational materials.
SRKVM Mobile App was also launched to digitise and monitor kit distribution across government schools.
Egyptian Vultures Facing Local Extinction in AP’s Sri Sathya Sai District
Wildlife experts have raised serious concerns over the rapid decline of the Egyptian Vulture in the rocky hill ranges of Sri Sathya Sai district, Andhra Pradesh — once commonly seen across the Rayalaseema region, the species is now nearing local extinction.
IUCN Status: Endangered | Protection: Schedule I, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Primary habitat: Rocky cliffs and semi-arid terrain around Ratnagiri Fort, Rolla Mandal, near the Karnataka border.
About Egyptian Vultures: They are nature’s scavengers — critical to ecosystem health as they dispose of carcasses, preventing the spread of diseases like anthrax and rabies to other animals and humans.
J. Ramudu – AP’s Best Individual Biodiversity Conservator Award 2026
J. Ramudu, Botany lecturer at Dr. Lakkireddy Hanimireddy Government Degree College in NTR district, received the “Best Individual Biodiversity Conservator Award-2026” from the Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board. The award was presented during International Day for Biological Diversity celebrations at Acharya Nagarjuna University.
Bandaru Dattatreya Launches Autobiography ‘Prajala Kathe Naa Atmakatha’ in Visakhapatnam
Senior BJP leader and former Governor of Haryana, Bandaru Dattatreya, launched his autobiography titled ‘Prajala Kathe Naa Atmakatha’ at the Kakatiya Convention Centre in Visakhapatnam. The event was attended by Odisha Governor Hari Babu, who praised Dattatreya’s role during the Diviseema cyclone relief efforts, and Ganta Srinivasa Rao, who highlighted his reputation as a leader respected across party lines. The event also celebrated his annual cultural gathering “Alai Balai” — known for bringing together political leaders from different backgrounds.
4) Polity & Governance
High-Level Committee on Demographic Change Constituted
The Government of India constituted a High-Level Committee on Demographic Change to study demographic changes arising from illegal immigration and other abnormal settlement patterns, and to recommend policy measures.
Announcement: PM Modi on August 15, 2025 | Cabinet approval: September 11, 2025 | Report deadline: Within one year.
Chairman: Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar.
Members: Durga Shankar Mishra, Balaji Srivatsava, Shamika Ravi, Census Commissioner of India.
Objectives: Study illegal immigration and abnormal settlement patterns; analyse structural population changes among religious and social communities; recommend mechanisms for identification, detention, and deportation of illegal immigrants; strengthen border management and population monitoring.
5) Economy
Cold Water Fisheries – India’s Emerging Blue Economy Component
India’s cold water fisheries sector is emerging as an important component of the Blue Economy, generating employment, supporting mountain development, and promoting eco-tourism. Cold water fisheries are practised in high-altitude snow-fed rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs where water temperature ranges between 5°C and 25°C.
| Indicator | Data |
|---|---|
| India’s total fish production (2024–25) | 197.75 lakh tonnes |
| Cold water fisheries share | ~3% of inland fish production; ~7,000 metric tonnes nationally |
| Trout production growth | Increased ~1.8 times over the last decade to ~6,000 metric tonnes |
| J&K – leading state | India’s leading trout-producing region — ~3,010 metric tonnes (2024–25) |
| Key species | Rainbow trout, Golden mahseer, Snow trout |
| Supporting schemes | PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, Blue Revolution Scheme, PM-MKSSY, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund |
‘Memflation’ – AI Chip Boom Causes Shortage of Budget Smartphones in India
Memflation refers to inflation caused by shortages and rising prices of memory chips (NAND flash and DRAM). The global AI boom is driving it: AI applications require massive amounts of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), which consumes memory capacity equivalent to 3× that of standard DRAM. Semiconductor companies are therefore prioritising AI infrastructure chips over consumer memory — causing a shortage of entry-level smartphones priced below ₹10,000–₹15,000 in India, with smartphone prices rising 15–20%.
DRAM (Dynamic Random-Access Memory): Temporary memory in smartphones and computers that stores data actively being processed — data is lost when power is off.
NAND Flash Memory: Permanent storage in smartphones that retains data even without power (like internal storage).
6) Science & Technology
Evidence of Ancient Wildfires Found in Gondwana Coal Deposits – Godavari Valley Coalfields
Researchers from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), under the Department of Science and Technology, discovered molecular evidence of massive wildfires that occurred ~250 million years ago during the Permian period in the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. The study focused on coal-bearing sediments from the Godavari Valley Coalfield, India. Techniques used: Palynofacies analysis, Raman Spectroscopy, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. The findings reveal Earth’s ancient climate and coal-forming environments.
JNCASR Develops ‘CLEAR’ Technology – Advanced Protein Imaging for Cancer Diagnosis
Researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), under the Department of Science and Technology, developed a novel imaging platform called CLEAR (Cleavable Light-Erased Antibody Reporter). CLEAR enables scientists to visualise a very large number of proteins within the same biological sample using a single fluorescent marker (fluorophore) — dramatically improving high-resolution protein mapping for cancer diagnosis, immunology, and precision medicine.
7) Environment
Water Governance Crisis in India’s Peri-Urban Areas
Peri-urban areas — transitional zones between rural villages and expanding cities, neither fully rural nor officially urban — are facing serious water governance and sanitation gaps. The number of Census towns in India increased from 1,362 to 3,784 over the last two decades, creating a rapidly growing population that lacks adequate urban civic infrastructure.
Suggested Solutions: Nagar Panchayats for Census towns | Swachh Bharat Mission 3.0 for peri-urban sanitation | Decentralised wastewater treatment | GPS-based desludging vehicle monitoring | Sustainable financing for peri-urban water infrastructure.
New Tree Species ‘Humboldtia nairiana’ Discovered in Western Ghats, Kerala
Scientists from the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Kerala discovered a new evergreen tree species in the Southern Western Ghats — named Humboldtia nairiana. Found in the riparian forests of Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary within the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. Named in honour of G.M. Nair, a noted plant biotechnologist and former Director of JNTBGRI.
8) Schemes
BHAVYA Scheme – ₹33,660 Crore for 100 World-Class Industrial Parks (2026–32)
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) released operational guidelines for the BHAVYA Scheme (Bharat Highly Advanced Ventures for Youth and Manufacturing Advancement) — a major Central Sector Scheme to develop investment-ready industrial parks and make India a globally competitive manufacturing hub.
Financial outlay: ₹33,660 crore | Duration: 2026–27 to 2031–32 (6 years).
Target: Develop 100 industrial parks (50 in Phase 1 via competitive selection).
Infrastructure: Plug-and-play infrastructure, multimodal logistics, renewable energy, worker housing, skill centres, digital governance.
Land: Minimum 100 acres (plains) | Minimum 25 acres (hilly/NE states/UTs).
Implementation: Through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) under Companies Act, 2013.
Project Management Agency: National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC).
Monitoring: GIS-based; oversight by a National Level Steering Committee chaired by the DPIIT Secretary.
SARTHAK-PDS – New Umbrella Scheme for Food Security; ₹25,530 Crore till 2031
The CCEA approved the SARTHAK-PDS (Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS) — a new umbrella scheme integrating two existing PDS schemes. It will support food security for ~81.35 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) till March 31, 2031, with an outlay of ₹25,530 crore over five years.
1. Assistance to State Agencies for intra-state movement of foodgrains and Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealer margins under NFSA.
2. SMART PDS (Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in PDS) — to reduce leakages, improve transparency, and ensure last-mile delivery through technology.
9) Defence
‘Suryastra’ – India’s First 300 KM Universal Rocket Launching System, Launched at Shirdi
Rajnath Singh and Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the NIBE Group’s Defence Manufacturing Complex at Shirdi, Maharashtra on May 23, 2026. “Suryastra” — India’s first 300 km Universal Rocket Launching System — was flagged off during the event, along with the laying of a foundation stone for a dedicated missile complex. Also unveiled were indigenous TNT plant technology and RDX Plant Technology. An MoU was signed between NIBE Group and Blacksky for cooperation in satellite assembly. The complex will manufacture advanced artillery systems, missile and space technologies, rocket systems, energetic materials, and autonomous defence platforms.
10) Awards & Honours
Major Abhilasha Barak – UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year 2025
Major Abhilasha Barak, an Indian peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), has been selected for the prestigious 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award — presented by the United Nations to recognise exceptional efforts in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in peacekeeping missions.
11) Ranks & Reports
Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 2024 – Birth Rate, Death Rate, IMR Improving
India’s Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 2024 — conducted by the Registrar General of India (started 1971) — shows continued improvement in key demographic indicators, confirming India’s demographic transition.
| Indicator | 2014 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Rate (per 1,000) | 21.0 | 18.3 |
| Death Rate (per 1,000) | 6.7 | 6.4 |
| IMR (per 1,000 live births) | 39 | 24 |
| Rural IMR | 43 | 27 |
| Urban IMR | 26 | 17 |
Note: Unlike the Census (every 10 years) or NFHS (roughly every 5 years), the SRS is an annual demographic survey with continuous data collection. Urban death rate slightly increased from 5.5 to 5.6 — a persistent challenge.
Lightning – India’s Most Fatal Natural Hazard (1,02,263 Deaths in 50 Years)
NCRB data analysis reveals that lightning has become the most lethal natural hazard in India, claiming 1,02,263 lives between 1975 and 2024 — more than half of these occurred between 2005 and 2024. The single deadliest year was 2016 with 3,315 deaths. Most affected states: Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
Why it’s increasing: Rising temperatures, increased atmospheric moisture, higher Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), and changes in land use patterns. IMD’s Damini app provides real-time lightning alerts and safety guidelines in 23 regional languages.
National Health Accounts (NHA) 2022–23 – Government Spending Triples; OOPE Falls to 43.4%
The Ministry of Health released NHA Estimates 2022–23, showing Government Health Expenditure (GHE) nearly tripled from ₹1.30 lakh crore (2013–14) to ₹3.85 lakh crore (2022–23), and GHE as share of GDP rose from 1.15% to 1.43%. Per capita GHE rose from ₹1,042 to ₹2,786. Most critically, Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) as a share of Total Health Expenditure fell sharply from 64.2% to 43.4% — meaning households are bearing significantly less direct financial burden. Social Security Expenditure on healthcare rose from 6% to 9.9%.
NFHS-6 (2023–24) – Key Health Improvements; TFR Stable at 2.0
The Ministry of Health released National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) for 2023–24, conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences covering 6.79 lakh households across 715 districts.
| Indicator | NFHS-5 | NFHS-6 |
|---|---|---|
| Institutional deliveries | 88.6% | 90.6% |
| Full immunisation (12–23 months) | 83.8% | 87.1% |
| Rotavirus vaccination | 36.4% | 85.4% |
| Stunting (under-5 children) | 35.5% | 29.3% |
| Total Fertility Rate (TFR) | 2.0 | 2.0 (stable) |
| Health insurance coverage | 41% | 60.2% |
| Women using internet | 33.3% | 64.3% |
| Women with self-operated bank accounts | — | 89% |
12) Miscellaneous
Key Portals, Appointments & Events
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| PM-AJAY Portal | Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana portal and app launched by Ministry of Social Justice; tracks development in 47,000+ SC-majority villages; covers 4 million beneficiaries; includes Adarsh Gram, Grants-in-Aid, and Hostel components |
| PAIMANA Portal | Centralised web portal by MoSPI for monitoring Central Sector Infrastructure Projects worth ₹150 crore and above; works on “One Data, One Entry” principle; improves transparency and data-driven project monitoring |
| Kimi Antonelli – Canadian Grand Prix 2026 | Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) won the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix — his fourth consecutive Formula One victory of the season, becoming the first driver in F1 history to win his first four races consecutively |
| India’s First Olympic Gold Book | ‘India’s First Olympic Gold’ by hockey historian K. Arumugam released in New Delhi by P.T. Usha; commemorates India’s first Olympic gold medal in hockey at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam |
Quick Revision Table
| Topic | One-Line Summary |
|---|---|
| AP – SRKVM Scheme | Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyarthi Mitra (SRKVM) Scheme provides free school kits (bag, books, notebooks, uniform, shoes) to 35+ lakh students in Classes 1–10 in AP government schools since 2025–26, with the SRKVM Mobile App tracking distribution. |
| AP – Egyptian Vulture | The Egyptian Vulture (IUCN Endangered, Schedule I WPA) is facing local extinction in Sri Sathya Sai district’s Ratnagiri Fort–Rolla Mandal rocky cliffs near the Karnataka border; once common across Rayalaseema, now nearing disappearance. |
| Quad 11th FMM – New Delhi | The 11th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi launched three new initiatives: Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration, expansion of IPMDA (near-real-time maritime data), and Quad Indo-Pacific Energy Security Initiative. |
| Quad Critical Minerals Initiative | India-US finalised a Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Framework; all four Quad nations launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative to mobilise ~$20 billion in investments for stable and secure critical mineral supply chains. |
| Canada–India CEPA 2026 | Canada and India reaffirmed CEPA target by end of 2026; launched Canada-India Trade and Investment Forum; Team Canada Trade Mission to India announced; priority sectors: clean energy, critical minerals, agri-food, advanced manufacturing, digital tech. |
| India’s First Hydrogen Train | Indian Railways approved India’s first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell-based train for the Jind–Sonipat section, Northern Railway, Haryana — a 10-car train with 1,200 KW propulsion; India joins Germany, Japan, China, USA in this group. |
| SkyCast System – India 19th Country | India’s first indigenous SkyCast System inaugurated at IGI Airport under Mission Mausam, making India the 19th country with this integrated atmospheric remote sensing technology; improves aviation safety, fog monitoring, turbulence detection, and enables 3-hour snowcasting alerts; developed from WiFEX (2015). |
| International Day of Yoga 2026 | Main celebration of International Day of Yoga 2026 will be held in Kolkata on June 21; theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”; announced at Yoga Mahotsav 2026 at Khajuraho Group of Monuments (UNESCO World Heritage Site), organised by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga. |
| BHAVYA Scheme | BHAVYA (Bharat Highly Advanced Ventures for Youth and Manufacturing Advancement) — ₹33,660 crore scheme to develop 100 world-class industrial parks (2026–32) with plug-and-play infrastructure; implemented through SPVs; managed by NICDC; min 100 acres (plains), 25 acres (hills/NE). |
| SARTHAK-PDS | SARTHAK-PDS (Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS) — new umbrella scheme covering ~81.35 crore NFSA beneficiaries till March 2031; ₹25,530 crore outlay; integrates FPS dealer margin support with SMART PDS technology. |
| Suryastra – India’s First 300 km Rocket | India’s first 300 km Universal Rocket Launching System “Suryastra” flagged off at NIBE Group’s Defence Manufacturing Complex in Shirdi, Maharashtra (May 23, 2026); also unveiled TNT and RDX plant technologies; MoU with Blacksky for satellite assembly. |
| Memflation | Memflation = inflation from memory chip (NAND/DRAM) shortages caused by the AI boom’s demand for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM, which uses 3× standard DRAM capacity); causing India’s entry-level smartphones to face shortage and 15–20% price rise. |
| SRS 2024 – Key Indicators | SRS 2024 shows India’s Birth Rate fell from 21.0 to 18.3, Death Rate from 6.7 to 6.4, and IMR from 39 to 24 (per 1,000) between 2014 and 2024; rural-urban gap persists; SRS is India’s annual demographic survey (started 1971), unlike NFHS (every ~5 yrs) or Census (every 10 yrs). |
| NFHS-6 (2023–24) – Highlights | NFHS-6 (6.79 lakh households, 715 districts) shows Rotavirus vaccination jumped from 36.4% to 85.4%; stunting dropped from 35.5% to 29.3%; TFR stable at 2.0; health insurance coverage rose from 41% to 60.2%; women using internet rose from 33.3% to 64.3%. |
| NHA 2022–23 | Government Health Expenditure tripled from ₹1.30L cr (2013-14) to ₹3.85L cr (2022-23); GHE as % of GDP rose from 1.15% to 1.43%; Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) fell sharply from 64.2% to 43.4% of total health spending. |
| Lightning – Most Fatal Natural Hazard | NCRB data shows lightning killed 1,02,263 people in India between 1975 and 2024; highest in 2016 (3,315); most affected states: MP, Bihar, UP, Odisha, Chhattisgarh; IMD’s Damini app provides real-time alerts in 23 languages. |
| Humboldtia nairiana – New Tree Species | New evergreen tree species Humboldtia nairiana discovered by JNTBGRI scientists in Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve (Southern Western Ghats, Kerala); named after G.M. Nair, former JNTBGRI director. |
| Major Abhilasha Barak – UN Award | Major Abhilasha Barak, Indian peacekeeper with UNIFIL (Lebanon), selected for the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2025, given for exceptional promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment in peacekeeping missions. |
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