Weather Forecasting Tools :

• Advance Monsoon Forecast for Different Parts of India: It will provide accurate predictions regarding the advancement of monsoon across different regions of the country.
• High-Resolution Rainfall Forecast for Uttar Pradesh: It has been specially designed to provide high-resolution rainfall data for the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Importance :

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): For the first time, AI technology has been integrated into Indian weather forecasting systems.
• Development: These tools were developed through the collaboration of the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• Benefits: These systems will strengthen agriculture, disaster management, and public services by reducing losses caused due to uncertain rainfall.
• Historical Context: Earlier, the ministry had also launched the ‘Bharat Forecast System’ (BharatFS), capable of providing accurate predictions up to the Panchayat level with a high resolution of 6 km.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) :

• Established: 15 January 1875
• Headquarters: New Delhi (Mausam Bhavan)
• Current Director General (DG): Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra
• Six Regional Meteorological Centres (RMCs): New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Nagpur, and Guwahati
• IMD is one of the six Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It is also responsible for naming cyclones over the North Indian Ocean region (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea).
• Mission Mausam: Launched during the 150th Foundation Day celebrations in January 2025 with the aim of making India “Weather-ready”.

• What is FOM?: A nutrient-rich by-product remaining after the process of Anaerobic Digestion in biogas plants.
• White Paper: The IBA recently released a white paper titled "FOM Feeds Soil, Soil Feeds Sustainability," which was launched by the Union Secretary for New and Renewable Energy.
• Proposed Phases: 2026-27: 1% mandatory blending; 2027-28: 3%; 2028-29: 5%; 2029-30: 10%.
• Related Summit: It was released during the BBB Summit 2026 (May 7–9).
• IBA (Indian Biogas Association): Established in 2011, it was reconstituted in 2015. Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.

Soil:

• It is the uppermost layer of the Earth, consisting of a mixture of minerals, organic matter (humus), water, and air.
• Study: The scientific study of soil is known as Pedology.
• World Soil Day: Observed annually on December 5th.
• Formation: It can take up to approximately 1,000 years for 2–3 cm of soil to form.
• pH Value: The ideal pH value for most crops lies between 6.5 and 7.

• Integrated Capability: This is India's first pilot-scale platform that integrates Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) with Geological CO₂ Sequestration (GCS).
• Indigenous Technology: It utilizes an aqueous CO₂ capture technology developed and patented by IIT Bombay, which is capable of capturing carbon from the air and industrial emissions using non-potable water (such as industrial wastewater).
• Value Addition: The captured CO₂ is converted into industrial-grade carbonate and bicarbonate salts, which can be used as a substitute for lime in sectors such as cement, steel, and petrochemicals.
• Scientific Drilling: This project also marks India's first pilot-scale drilling initiative aimed at assessing the potential for permanent underground storage of CO₂ within the basalt formations of the Deccan Traps.
• Capacity: The operational capacity of this plant is up to 3 tons per day.
• National Goals: This initiative aligns with India's 'Panchamrit' climate goals and its commitment to achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2070.

• India currently has reserves of 60 days of crude oil, 60 days of natural gas, and 45 days of LPG.
• The country’s foreign exchange reserves stand at a strong level of 703 billion dollars.
• India is the world’s third-largest oil refiner and the fourth-largest exporter of petroleum products, exporting to more than 150 countries while fully meeting domestic demand.
• The government has extended the full customs duty exemption on 40 critical petrochemical products till June 2026.
• A 25% cap has been imposed on the increase in monthly Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices for domestic aviation.
• Fertilizer Availability: Against the required 390.54 LMT fertilizer for Kharif 2026, India already has 51% stock (199.65 LMT), which is significantly higher than the normal level of 33%.

Key Features of the Film :

• Technical Details: The film was entirely shot on an iPhone in black and white and uses a one-take storytelling technique.
• Theme: The film imagines a world without digital connectivity, where society begins to collapse after the disappearance of the internet.
• Objective: It was originally developed as a proof-of-concept for a larger feature film to attract investors.

79th Cannes Film Festival :

• The Cannes Film Festival is being held in France from 12 to 23 May 2026.
• Marché du Film: ‘Signal’ is scheduled to be showcased at the festival’s international film market, ‘Marché du Film’, on 15 May 2026.

Awards and Recognition :

• International Recognition: ‘Signal’ won the ‘Best International Short Film Mini’ award at the SF3 Smartphone Flick Fest in Sydney, Australia.
• Success in Italy: In 2025, Sagi Hari Varma won a total of 7 awards at Italy’s ‘Cinemadamare’ festival, including 4 awards for ‘Signal’.

Other Major Decisions of the New Government :

• Other Central Schemes: Along with Ayushman Bharat, approval was also given to implement the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana across the state.
• Age Relaxation for Jobs: A proposal was passed to provide a 5-year age relaxation for candidates applying for government jobs.
• Border Security Force (BSF): Orders were issued to complete the process of land transfer for barbed-wire fencing along the Bangladesh border within 45 days.
• Census Process: It was decided to immediately restart the stalled Census process in the state as per the Ministry of Home Affairs circular of June 2025.
• Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on 9 May 2026.

Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) :

• Launch: September 2018
• Location: Ranchi, Jharkhand (launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi)
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
• Implementing Agency: National Health Authority (NHA)

Key Features :

• Insurance Coverage: ₹5 lakh per family per year
• Beneficiaries: Around 12 crore families (about 55 crore citizens) based on SECC 2011 data
• Coverage: Includes expenses from 3 days before hospitalization to 15 days after discharge
• Nature: Completely cashless and paperless scheme
• Portability: Beneficiaries can avail treatment in any empaneled government or private hospital across India

Important Terminology :

• ABHA ID: Ayushman Bharat Health Account (14-digit unique identification number)
• PM-JAY Mitra: Staff deployed in hospitals to assist beneficiaries
• Health and Wellness Centres (HWC): Now renamed as ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’

Funding Pattern :

• General States: 60% (Centre) : 40% (State)
• North-Eastern and Hilly States: 90% (Centre) : 10% (State)
• Union Territories without Legislature: Fully funded by the Central Government.

• Organizers: Jointly organized by the Department of Ophthalmology at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) and the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS).
• Title: This two-day event was titled AIOS-AFOU 2026 (All India Ophthalmological Society – Armed Forces Ophthalmology Update).
• Inauguration: By the Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth.

• Objective: To create a scientific framework for “Healthy Food, Healthy Farming, and Healthy India.”

Five Priority Areas :

• Biofortified Crops: Development and evaluation of nutrient-rich crops to address malnutrition.
• Integrated Farming System: Promoting dietary diversification and increasing farmers’ income.
• Farmers’ Health and Safety: Reducing occupational health risks for agricultural workers, such as pesticide exposure.
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Developing food-based solutions for managing diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
• One Health: Strengthening integrated research and surveillance among humans, animals, and the environment.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) :

• Established: 16 July 1929 (as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research)
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• President: Union Agriculture Minister (Ex-officio President)

• Location: It has been developed as part of the 'Kakatiya Mega Textile Park' (KMTP) in Warangal, spanning across 1,327 acres.
• Cost and Investment: The park has been developed with infrastructure built at a cost of approximately ₹1,695.54 crore. It is expected to attract investments exceeding ₹6,000 crore.
• Connectivity: It is strategically located near the proposed Nagpur-Vijayawada Greenfield Expressway (NH-163G), offering enhanced connectivity to railways and ports.
• Environment and Sustainability: The park features a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) based on 'Zero Liquid Discharge' (ZLD) technology, as well as a 10 MW solar power plant.
• 5F Vision: This scheme is based on the Prime Minister's "5F" vision: Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion, and Fashion to Foreign.
• Total Parks: The government has approved the establishment of 7 PM MITRA Parks across the country. In addition to Telangana, these parks are located in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
• Implementation Model: These parks are being developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, involving a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with participation from both the Central and State governments.
• Financial Assistance: For 'Brownfield' projects (such as Warangal), there is a provision for ₹200 crore in 'Development Capital Support' and ₹300 crore in 'Competitive Incentive Support' (CIS).

• FY27 GDP Growth Estimate: According to SBI, India's GDP growth rate for the financial year 2026-27 is estimated at 6.6%.
• RBI's Comparative Estimate: For the same period (FY27), the RBI has projected a growth rate of 6.9%.
• Fourth Quarter (Q4) Growth: According to the report, actual GDP growth in the fourth quarter (Q4) of the previous financial year is estimated to be approximately 7.2%.
• Bank Credit Growth: A significant surge was observed in the credit extended by Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs). This figure has risen to 16.1%, up from 11.0% in the previous year.
• Total Credit Amount: According to the report, the total bank credit growth was recorded at ₹29.5 lakh crore.
• Report Title: The name of this economic research report, released by SBI, is 'Ecowrap'.

• Historical Context: Gharials were considered extinct from the Brahmaputra River System (BRS) since the 1950s.
• Recent Sighting: In May 2026, tourists and forest officials spotted a gharial near the confluence of the Difalu River and the Brahmaputra in the Burapahar Range of Kaziranga.

Gharial :

• Scientific Name: Gavialis gangeticus
• It is a unique crocodilian species found in the Indian subcontinent, known for its long and narrow snout.
• Natural Habitat: The Chambal River system (Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh) is the largest and primary habitat of gharials in India.
• Diet: Gharials are mainly fish-eating reptiles and are not considered dangerous to humans.
• Species: India is home to three crocodilian species — Gharial, Mugger Crocodile, and Saltwater Crocodile.
• Project Crocodile: India launched the Crocodile Conservation Project in 1975.

Kaziranga National Park :

• Location: Situated in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam.
• Speciality: It is home to two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceroses.
• UNESCO: Declared a World Heritage Site in 1985.
• Tiger Reserve: Declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006 and known for its high tiger density.
• River: The Brahmaputra River flows along its northern boundary.

Other Important National Parks of Assam (Trick: K-M-O-N-D-R-D) :

• Kaziranga
• Manas – Famous for wild buffaloes
• Orang – Also known as “Mini Kaziranga”
• Nameri
• Dibru-Saikhowa
• Raimona – Declared in 2021
• Dehing Patkai – Declared in 2021

• Winning Pair: Neeru Dhanda and Vivaan Kapoor
• Medal: Bronze
• Sporting Category: Trap Mixed Team (Part of Shotgun disciplines)
• Venue: Almaty, Kazakhstan
• Organizing Body: ISSF

International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF):

• The world's premier global governing body responsible for determining shooting competitions and regulations.
• Established: 1907
• Headquarters: Munich, Germany
• Current President: Luciano Rossi

• Winner: Jorge Martin of Aprilia Racing secured the victory after starting from 7th place on the grid.
• First Place: Jorge Martin
• Second Place: Marco Bezzecchi
• Third Place: Ai Ogura — This marked the first podium finish of Ogura's MotoGP career.

• This was a military operation launched on May 7, 2025, executed in response to the terrorist attack that took place in Pahalgam (Jammu & Kashmir) on April 22, 2025 (in which 26 tourists lost their lives).
• The IAF carried out precision strikes on terrorist bases linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and PoK.

Indian Air Force:

• Establishment: October 8, 1932 (as the Royal Indian Air Force)
• Motto: 'Nabhaḥ Spṛśaṃ Dīptam' (Touch the Sky with Glory) — This is derived from the 11th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.
• Supreme Commander: The President of India
• Chief of the Air Staff (2026): Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet (AP) Singh (28th Chief)
• Headquarters: Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi