Tuesday, May 05

Daily Current Affairs: 5 May 2026

Daily current affairs for 5 May 2026 with exam-focused key facts, connected news context, and revision notes for UPSC, SSC, banking and government exams.

Editorial note for exam revision Last updated: 5 May 2026. This briefing is structured for current affairs revision, with key updates and related coverage links to help readers connect recurring topics across days.

Today at a glance

Top current affairs to revise

  1. Government of India allows 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance companies via automatic route
  2. Global Financial Regulators Assess Risks of Anthropic Mythos AI to Banking Systems
  3. Government of India (GoI) Resumes Wheat Exports with 5 Million Tonnes Allocation
  4. Asian Development Bank (ADB) to invest $70 Billion in Asia-Pacific infrastructure by 2035
  5. Savills ranks Bengaluru as world's fastest-growing major city through 2035
  6. Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system launched for barrier-less collection on NH-48

Government of India allows 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance companies via automatic route

Key Updates:

  • The Government of India has allowed 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance companies through the automatic route.
  • The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), in Press Note 1 (2026 Series), clarified that foreign investment is permitted automatically subject to regulatory clearance by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
  • Foreign investment in Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) remains capped at 20% under the automatic route, keeping it under a separate framework.
  • Insurance companies with foreign investment must appoint at least one resident Indian citizen as chairperson, managing director, or chief executive officer to ensure domestic control.
  • The 100% FDI limit also extends to insurance intermediaries such as brokers, reinsurance brokers, corporate agents, third-party administrators, surveyors, loss assessors, managing general agents, and insurance repositories, subject to IRDAI norms.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Global Financial Regulators Assess Risks of Anthropic Mythos AI to Banking Systems

Key Updates:

  • The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) are monitoring Anthropic’s Mythos AI model for its potential to destabilise banking systems.
  • South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) convened with banks and insurance companies to review vulnerabilities associated with the AI tool.
  • The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) in the Netherlands reported that Mythos can construct chain attacks by combining small, seemingly harmless software bugs into serious exploits.
  • The Canadian Financial Sector Resiliency Group (CFRG) and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) met with executives from Canada’s six largest banks to discuss AI-related cybersecurity risks.
  • Anthropic has restricted Mythos from public release to prevent the tool from being weaponised to detect and exploit software vulnerabilities within the global financial sector.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Government of India (GoI) Resumes Wheat Exports with 5 Million Tonnes Allocation

Key Updates:

  • The Government of India (GoI) has authorised the resumption of wheat exports after a four-year hiatus, lifting the ban originally imposed in 2022.
  • India, the world's second-largest wheat producer after China, has permitted traders to export a total of 5 million tonnes of wheat in two tranches of 2.5 million tonnes each.
  • ITC Limited (ITC) has commenced loading 22,000 metric tons of wheat at the Kandla port for shipment to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
  • The export deal for the shipment to the UAE was finalised at a price of approximately $275 per ton on a free on board basis.
  • Indian wheat is currently at least $20 per ton more expensive than supplies from Australia or the Black Sea region, which are priced between $290 and $300 per ton.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Asian Development Bank (ADB) to invest $70 Billion in Asia-Pacific infrastructure by 2035

Key Updates:

  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will support $70 billion in new energy and digital infrastructure projects across the Asia-Pacific region by 2035.
  • Under the Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative, ADB aims to mobilise $50 billion for cross-border power infrastructure, including 22,000 circuit-kilometers of transmission lines.
  • The power initiative targets the integration of 20 gigawatts of renewable energy and aims to reduce regional power sector emissions by 15% by 2035.
  • The Asia-Pacific Digital Highway will mobilise $20 billion to finance digital corridors, subsea fibre networks, and satellite links to provide broadband access to 200 million people.
  • ADB President Masato Kanda advised countries like India to strengthen domestic economies and build reserves to ensure resilience against global order stress tests.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Savills ranks Bengaluru as world's fastest-growing major city through 2035

Key Updates:

  • Global real estate advisory firm Savills identified Bengaluru as the world’s fastest-growing major city through 2035 in its Growth Hubs Index.
  • The index evaluated 245 cities globally based on indicators including projected Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to 2035, personal wealth expansion, and inward migration.
  • India emerged as a standout performer with multiple cities featuring in the top 20, reflecting broad-based urban growth momentum across the country.
  • Bengaluru's top position is attributed to its strong talent pool and its growing appeal as a destination for Global Capability Centres (GCCs).
  • The Asia-Pacific region dominates the rankings, accounting for 85% of the top 20 and approximately 75% of the top 50 fastest-growing cities globally.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

QS Best Student Cities 2026 report (Start of February)

Delhi has emerged as the world's most affordable city for international students, ranking first globally in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Best Student Cities 2026 report. The report titled India's 155 Million Student…

Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system launched for barrier-less collection on NH-48

Key Updates:

  • Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Nitin Gadkari launched India’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling system on 1 May 2026.
  • The system is implemented at the Chorayasi toll plaza on the Surat–Bharuch stretch of National Highway 48 (NH-48) in Gujarat.
  • The MLFF technology utilises Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and FASTag-based radio frequency identification to collect tolls without requiring vehicles to stop.
  • High-performance sensors read FASTag data and vehicle registration numbers to allow uninterrupted traffic flow and reduce travel time at toll points.
  • The initiative aims to modernise national highway infrastructure, improve fuel efficiency, and lower vehicle emissions by removing physical barriers at toll plazas.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

National Guidelines on Fire and Life Safety in Healthcare Facilities (2026) launched to enhance hospital safety

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) launched a nationwide Fire Safety Week from May 4 to 10 to strengthen fire prevention and response systems in healthcare facilities.
  • Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava inaugurated the initiative under the theme Fire Safety in Health Facilities and released the National Guidelines on Fire and Life Safety in Healthcare Facilities (2026).
  • The new guidelines introduce stricter safety protocols for high-risk zones including Intensive Care Units (ICUs), Neonatal and Pediatric ICUs (NICUs/PICUs), and operation theatres.
  • States and institutions are required to upload fire safety audit details on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) to ensure continuous monitoring and compliance.
  • Over 50,000 participants have completed fire safety training courses through government platforms, with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) planning further regional preparedness programmes.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

'Safe Cities' Project: ₹10 Crore Allocation for Dhar (End of April)

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has selected Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, under the 'Safe Cities' project for 2026. The project is fully funded by the Central Government, with an allocation of ₹10 crore for…

National Fire Service Day observed on April 14 (Mid of April)

National Fire Service Day is observed every year on April 14 across India. The day commemorates the Bombay Dock Explosion that occurred on April 14, 1944, at Victoria Dock in Mumbai.

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Mandates 5-Year Retraction Disclosure for Advanced Research Grant (ARG)

Key Updates:

  • The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has made it compulsory for researchers applying for the Advanced Research Grant (ARG) to disclose research paper retractions from the past five years.
  • The policy requires Principal Investigators (PI) and Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PI) to provide details and reasons for any retractions due to plagiarism, data fabrication, or ethical violations.
  • Applicants must submit an undertaking stating that their research proposals are not generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and must clearly cite any AI-assisted text.
  • Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ANRF, leads the initiative aimed at enhancing research integrity and funding efficiency in India.
  • The ANRF has reiterated a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism, stating that proposals may be subjected to third-party plagiarism checks and tools to detect AI use.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Samarth Panchayat Portal Expanded to Boost Rural Financial Autonomy

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is expanding the Samarth Panchayat portal to Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra to digitise revenue collection and asset management.
  • The portal enables village panchayats to generate and collect tax and non-tax payments, maintain records, and track revenue to enhance financial self-reliance.
  • Successful pilot projects for the online platform have already been implemented in Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh.
  • According to MoPR data, 25 states and Union Territories (UTs) have implemented Own Source of Revenue (OSR) regulations, specifically Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
  • India currently has a total of 266,999 panchayats, including 57,678 in Uttar Pradesh, 27,894 in Maharashtra, and 2,192 in Assam.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Samriddh Gram Initiative nominated for WSIS Prizes 2026 (End of April)

The Samriddh Gram: Integrated Phygital Service Delivery Model is enabled by BharatNet, an initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The initiative has been nominated for the World Summit on the…

India and Cambodia to commence 2nd edition of CINBAX exercise from May 4, 2026

Key Updates:

  • The 2nd edition of the bilateral military exercise CINBAX-II between India and Cambodia will be held from 4th May 2026 for two weeks.
  • The exercise will take place in Cambodia's Kampong Speu Province.
  • A total of 120 personnel from the Indian Army, primarily from a battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, and 160 personnel from the Royal Cambodian Army will participate.
  • The exercise focuses on counter-terrorism operations, tactical drills, drone operations, and training in sniper and mortar handling.
  • Key objectives include improving interoperability, communication, coordination, and developing shared strategies for conflict situations.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Singapore and New Zealand Sign World's First Legally Binding Supply Chain Resilience Pact on May 4, 2026

Key Updates:

  • Singapore and New Zealand signed the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies, the world's first legally binding bilateral agreement to maintain the flow of critical goods during crises.
  • The pact was signed by Singapore's Minister-in-charge of Energy, Science and Technology Tan See Leng and New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay on May 4, 2026.
  • Both nations committed to not imposing unnecessary export restrictions on essential goods including food, fuel, healthcare products, and chemical and construction materials.
  • The agreement will be incorporated into the existing bilateral free trade agreement between the two countries once domestic procedures on both sides are completed.
  • The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) stated that the framework facilitates information sharing and consultation between the two countries before or during supply chain disruptions.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

India and New Zealand sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA) (End of April)

India and New Zealand have signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to enhance trade in goods and services, investment flows, and labour mobility. The FTA comprises 20 chapters covering goods, services, rules of origin…

India and Cambodia commence second edition of joint military exercise CINBAX-II 2026

Key Updates:

  • The Indian Army dispatched a 120-member contingent for the second edition of the India-Cambodia Joint Military Exercise, CINBAX-II 2026.
  • The exercise is scheduled to be held from May 4 to 17, 2026, in the Kampong Speu Province of Cambodia.
  • The venue for the training is the Techo Sen Phnom Thom Mreas Prov Royal Cambodian Air Force Training Centre Camp Basil.
  • Conducted under the Chapter VII mandate of the United Nations (UN), the exercise focuses on company-level joint operations in a sub-conventional environment.
  • The Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated that the exercise aims to strengthen defence cooperation between the two nations amid evolving global security challenges.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

United States and Philippines conduct Balikatan 2026 exercise featuring HIMARS live-fire on 27 April 2026

Key Updates:

  • The United States (US) Army deployed the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) from Palawan during the Balikatan 2026 exercise to reinforce archipelagic coastal defence.
  • The exercise, running from 20 April to 8 May 2026, is the largest to date with over 17,000 troops involved, including approximately 10,000 from the US.
  • Participating nations in the Palawan drills included the Philippines, the US, Australia, and New Zealand, while Japan joined the broader Balikatan exercise for the first time.
  • The M142 HIMARS launcher used in the training was operated by the 5th Battalion, 3rd Artillery Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division/Multi-Domain Command-Pacific.
  • The live-fire event on 27 April 2026 integrated multiple weapon systems including Stinger missiles, Javelin systems, and TOW missiles to validate readiness against simulated coastal assaults.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Canada joins European Political Community Summit in Armenia as first non-European participant

Key Updates:

  • Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Yerevan, Armenia, marking the first time a non-European nation has participated in the forum.
  • The EPC is an institution championed by French President Emmanuel Macron to strengthen diplomatic ties and includes member nations such as the United Kingdom (UK) and Armenia.
  • Armenia, which froze its membership in the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) in 2024, is set to hold its first bilateral summit with the European Union (EU) to discuss democracy funding and visa liberalisation.
  • Three Indian nationals sustained moderate injuries following an Iranian drone attack on the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which also triggered a fire at the energy installation.
  • The United States (US) has initiated Project Freedom, a multi-layered defensive mission involving guided-missile destroyers and aircraft to secure merchant vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

India to host North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj from May 4 to May 6

Key Updates:

  • The North Tech Symposium 2026, themed 'Defence Triveni Sangam', is scheduled to be held in Prayagraj from May 4 to May 6.
  • The event is organised by the Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to showcase India’s military and technological capabilities.
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the symposium, with Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh attending as special guests.
  • The symposium will feature live demonstrations of AI-based surveillance systems, heavy-lift logistics drones, and indigenous artillery systems to promote self-reliance.
  • The platform aims to connect the armed forces, academia, and defence manufacturers to strengthen the strategic ecosystem and support the Make in India campaign.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Nepal objects to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Lipulekh; India rejects claims as unjustified

Key Updates:

  • On May 3, 2026, Nepal's Foreign Ministry objected to India and China planning the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh pass, asserting that the area is Nepali territory.
  • India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the territorial claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence, and that the Lipulekh pass has been a route for the Yatra since 1954.
  • Nepal claimed that Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani east of the Mahakali River are integral parts of Nepal since the Sugauli Treaty of 1816.
  • Lipulekh pass became a point of discord in 2020 when the then Nepalese government under K P Sharma Oli objected to India building infrastructure and a road there, leading Nepal to publish its own map claiming Lipulekh.
  • India announced the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra on April 30, 2026, to take place from June to August 2026; trade via Lipulekh had resumed in August 2025 before the GenZ protests toppled the government in September 2025.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

United States launches Project Freedom to secure transit in the Strait of Hormuz

Key Updates:

  • United States (US) President Donald Trump announced Project Freedom to guide neutral commercial ships safely out of the Strait of Hormuz following Iran's closure of the waterway.
  • United States Central Command (Centcom) deployed guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, and 15,000 service members to support the operation.
  • According to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), an estimated 20,000 sailors and 2,000 ships have been trapped in the Gulf since the start of the conflict.
  • Centcom reported that US forces sunk six Iranian small boats targeting civilian vessels and confirmed that two US-flagged merchant vessels successfully transited the strait.
  • A tanker affiliated with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) state-owned oil company, Adnoc, and a South Korean cargo vessel were reportedly targeted during the hostilities.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

European Southern Observatory (ESO) completes first observations with PoET telescope

Key Updates:

  • The European Southern Observatory (ESO) successfully completed the first observations using the Paranal solar ESPRESSO Telescope (PoET) located on the Paranal Plateau in Chile.
  • The PoET instrument is designed to help astronomers distinguish signals from exoplanets by filtering out astrophysical noise caused by stellar activity such as sunspots, flares, and convective movements.
  • Equipped with a 60-centimetre-diameter mirror, the telescope simultaneously studies specific regions of the solar disk and records the total light from the entire visible disk of the Sun.
  • Data from the telescope is processed by the ESPRESSO spectrograph on the Very Large Telescope (VLT), allowing the instrument to be utilised during the day while it searches for distant stars at night.
  • Developed by Portuguese researchers with funding from the European Research Council (ERC), the system is undergoing final calibration before regular scientific data collection begins.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Pixxel and Sarvam to Launch India’s First Orbital Data Centre Satellite Pathfinder

Key Updates:

  • Pixxel has partnered with Sarvam to develop and build Pathfinder, which is India’s first orbital data centre satellite.
  • The Pathfinder is a 200 kg-class satellite scheduled for launch as early as the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2026.
  • The satellite will host data centre-class Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to enable Artificial Intelligence (AI) training and inference directly in orbit.
  • Pathfinder will carry a hyperspectral imaging camera to capture high-fidelity data and analyse it in real-time using foundation models.
  • The satellite will be developed at the Gigapixxel facility, which is designed to scale satellite production to up to 100 units.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Implements Syndromic Surveillance for Early Outbreak Detection

Key Updates:

  • The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) introduced a syndromic surveillance approach in 2025 to track symptom patterns and provide early warnings for potential disease outbreaks.
  • The surveillance method focuses on primary symptoms including fever, cough, diarrhoea, neurological symptoms, and rashes to detect clusters before laboratory confirmation.
  • ICMR has developed standardised syndrome-wise pathogen lists categorised into Priority 1 (High risk), Priority 2 (Medium risk), and Priority 3 (Low risk) to manage public health caseloads.
  • The tracked respiratory viruses include seasonal influenza A, seasonal influenza B, SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, human respiroviruses 1 and 3, human rubulaviruses 2 and 4 (formerly human parainfluenzaviruses 1-4), human metapneumovirus, and measles virus.
  • The bacterial pathogens identified for surveillance include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bordetella pertussis, and Gram-negative bacilli such as K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa.

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NASA identifies X-ray dot 3DHST-AEGIS-12014 using Chandra and Webb telescopes

Key Updates:

  • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Chandra X-ray Observatory and James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) identified a unique object named 3DHST-AEGIS-12014, also known as an X-ray dot.
  • The X-ray dot is located approximately 11.8 billion light-years from Earth and provides a link to a class of mysterious early universe objects called Little Red Dots (LRDs).
  • Researchers propose that LRDs are supermassive black holes embedded in dense gas clouds, and the X-ray dot represents a transition phase where gas is being consumed.
  • The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, were led by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy and the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian.
  • NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center manages the Chandra programme, while the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's Chandra X-ray Center (CXC) controls its science operations.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

World Health Organisation (WHO) reports suspected Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship

Key Updates:

  • The World Health Organisation (WHO), led by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reported three deaths and three illnesses following a suspected Hantavirus infection outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic.
  • Hantavirus is a rare rodent-borne disease transmitted through contact with infected rodent droppings or urine that can cause life-threatening respiratory problems.
  • The cruise liner, operated by a Dutch company, departed from Argentina three weeks ago and is currently positioned off the coast of Cabo Verde in West Africa.
  • One case of the infection has been laboratory-confirmed and sequencing of the virus is ongoing, with one patient currently receiving intensive care in South Africa.
  • WHO is managing the situation under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, a treaty that outlines the rights and obligations of countries in managing public health risks.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) discovers 2.5-billion-year-old structure in Zimbabwe

Key Updates:

  • Scientists from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have identified a 2.5-billion-year-old hidden internal structure within the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe using satellite imaging and geophysics mapping.
  • The Great Dyke is a massive igneous formation stretching over 500 kilometres in a nearly straight line, formed during the Archaean Eon through the intrusion of magma from deep inside the Earth.
  • The newly discovered internal feature, which is not visible on the surface, is believed to be an ancient magmatic pipe or a storage site where magma cooled and chemically differentiated into mineral layers.
  • Researchers utilised data from NASA Earth Science programmes, integrating remote sensing, gravity, and magnetism data to reveal subsurface heterogeneities and early magmatic events.
  • The discovery provides insights into the complexity of early magma systems and the formation of terrestrial planets, while also aiding the exploitation of mineral deposits like chromium and platinum group elements.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Hidden ocean found 700 km inside Earth’s mantle (End of March)

A water-saturated reservoir located roughly 700 km beneath Earth’s surface has been detected in the mantle transition zone (410–660 km deep). The water is chemically bound within ringwoodite, a high-pressure mineral that…

France defeats India in Thomas Cup 2026 semi-finals

Key Updates:

  • The Indian men's badminton team secured a bronze medal at the Thomas Cup 2026 after losing to France in the semi-finals.
  • This achievement marks India's second medal in the history of the tournament, following their gold medal victory in 2022.
  • The competition was held in Horsens, Denmark, from 24 April to 3 May 2026, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
  • India's top-ranked player Lakshya Sen was unable to play the semi-final due to an elbow injury sustained during the quarter-final against Chinese Taipei.
  • In the singles matches, Ayush Shetty lost to Christo Popov (21-11, 21-9), Kidambi Srikanth lost to Alex Lanier (21-16, 21-18), and HS Prannoy lost to Toma Junior Popov (21-19, 21-16).

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Largest Indian National Flag Unfurled Underwater in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Key Updates:

  • India secured a place in the Guinness World Records (GWR) for unfurling the largest Indian national flag underwater.
  • The record-setting feat was performed at Radhanagar Beach located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • The operation involved a team of 223 divers comprising personnel from the Navy, police, and various other agencies.
  • Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat confirmed the tricolour was unfurled in the depths of the sea to set the world record.
  • The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stated that the achievement reflects a nation constantly pushing its limits under the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

International Firefighters Day observed globally on May 4

Key Updates:

  • International Firefighters Day is observed annually on May 4 to recognise the commitment and bravery of firefighters who protect lives, property, and the environment.
  • The establishment of this day was prompted by a tragic bushfire in Linton, Australia, on 2 December 1998, which led to the deaths of five firefighters.
  • JJ Edmondson, a volunteer firefighter from Victoria, advocated for the international day of recognition through a proposal sent on 4 January 1999.
  • The first International Firefighters Day was officially observed in 1999 and coincides with the feast day of Saint Florian, the patron saint of firefighters.
  • The day is symbolised by a red and blue ribbon, where red represents the intensity of fire and blue represents water and emergency services.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

National Fire Service Day observed on April 14 (Mid of April)

National Fire Service Day is observed every year on April 14 across India. The day commemorates the Bombay Dock Explosion that occurred on April 14, 1944, at Victoria Dock in Mumbai.

Hazaribag becomes India's first pearl farming cluster (May 3, 2026)

Key Updates:

  • Hazaribag district has been identified as the first and only pearl farming cluster in India by the Government of India (GoI).
  • The fisheries department is developing Hazaribag into a model pearl hub at the national level.
  • Women self-help groups are being encouraged to take up pearl farming, with plans to form an all-women Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO).
  • Cage culture operations at Tilaiya reservoir have integrated pearl culture along the periphery of cages.
  • A phased plan includes connecting more farmers, promoting modern technology, and ensuring direct market linkages.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Prasoon Joshi Appointed Chairman of Prasar Bharati

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the appointment of lyricist and writer Prasoon Joshi as the Chairman of the Prasar Bharati Board on 3 May 2026.
  • Prasoon Joshi has served as the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) since 2017 and is a trustee of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
  • He previously held senior leadership roles in the advertising sector, including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of McCann World Group India and Chairman of McCann World Group Asia Pacific.
  • Prasar Bharati is India's public service broadcaster established under the Prasar Bharati Act of 1990 and comprises All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD).
  • The broadcaster has launched the Waves Over-The-Top (OTT) platform to expand its free-to-air digital service offerings in the spirit of public broadcasting.

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PB-SHABD platform free access extended till March 2027 (Mid of March)

Prasar Bharati extended free access to its PB-SHABD (Shared Audio-Visuals for Broadcast and Dissemination) platform until March 2027. PB-SHABD was launched in March 2024 and delivers daily news content in video, audio…

Key Updates:

  • The Goa government announced the establishment of a dedicated gallery to celebrate the life and works of Goan cartoonist Mario Miranda on his 100th birth anniversary.
  • The gallery will be located at the centuries-old Adil Shah palace situated on the banks of the Mandovi river in Panaji.
  • The facility is expected to be housed on the first floor of the palace, which currently functions as part of the state museum complex.
  • The project is being managed by the Directorate of Museums, with Vasu Usapkar serving as the Director and Michael D’Souza as the Museums Secretary.
  • The reimagined museum space is planned to include dedicated sections for other prominent Goan artists such as Laxman Pai and F N Souza.

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