May 2026 Current Affairs for NDA

National Affairs

Q1. Vande Mataram recently completed how many years in 2026? ★

A) 100 years

B) 125 years

C) 150 years

D) 175 years

Answer: C) 150 years

Vande Mataram was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875.It was first published in the novel Anandamath (1882).The song completed 150 years in 2026.The first two stanzas of Vande Mataram were adopted as the National Song of India on 24 January 1950.Jana Gana Mana is the National Anthem of India.

Q2. The nationwide trial of the Cell Broadcast Alert System in 2026 was conducted under the leadership of which organisation?

A) Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)

B) National Informatics Centre (NIC)

C) National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

D) Department of Telecommunications (DoT)

Answer: C) National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

The nationwide trial was conducted by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).The system is powered by the SACHET Integrated Alert System, developed by C-DOT.It can send emergency alerts in 19+ Indian languages, even during network congestion.

Q3. Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which completed 10 years in 2026, was developed by which organisation?

A) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

B) Ministry of Finance

C) National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

D) NITI Aayog

Answer: C) National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

UPI was launched in 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).It is the world’s largest real-time payment system.UPI enables instant bank-to-bank digital payments and is widely used for P2P and P2M transactions.The system has expanded to several countries, strengthening India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

Q4. The ‘One Case One Data’ initiative was launched by which institution?

A) NITI Aayog

B) Ministry of Law and Justice

C) Supreme Court of India

D) National Judicial Academy

Answer: C) Supreme Court of India

Introduced the AI-powered chatbot ‘Su-Sahayak’.Aims to improve judicial data management and make court information more accessible.

Q5. The Supreme Court ruled that safe travel on highways is a fundamental right under which Article of the Constitution?

A) Article 14

B) Article 19

C) Article 21

D) Article 32

Answer: C) Article 21

The Supreme Court held that safe travel on highways is part of the Right to Life under Article 21.The Court directed the formation of District Highway Safety Task Forces.The judgment strengthens road safety and protection of citizens’ rights.

Q6. Recently, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the appointment of five new judges to the Supreme Court. How many judges are part of the Supreme Court Collegium?

A) 3

B) 4

C) 5

D) 7

Answer: C) 5

The Supreme Court Collegium consists of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the four senior-most judges of Supreme Court.It recently recommended the appointment of five new judges to the Supreme Court.The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court was increased from 34 to 38 judges.Senior Advocate V. Mohana is set to become only the second woman directly elevated from the Bar to the Supreme Court, after Justice Indu Malhotra.

Q7. Yoga Mahotsav 2026, marking the countdown to the 12th International Day of Yoga, was inaugurated at:

A) Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

B) Mysuru, Karnataka

C) Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

D) Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Answer: C) Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Yoga Mahotsav 2026 was inaugurated at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.It marked the 25-day countdown to the 12th International Day of Yoga (21 June).The event was organized by the Ministry of Ayush.

Q8. Somnath Temple, which was in the news for completing 75 years of its reopening, is located in which Indian state?

A) Rajasthan

B) Madhya Pradesh

C) Gujarat

D) Maharashtra

Answer: C) Gujarat

Somnath Temple is located at Prabhas Patan, Gir Somnath district, Gujarat.It is revered as the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva.The temple marked 75 years of its reopening (1951–2026).The year 2026 also marked 1,000 years since the first recorded invasion of the temple (1026 CE) by Mahmud of Ghazni.The present temple was reconstructed in the Chalukya (Kailash Mahameru Prasad) style and inaugurated in 1951 by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, India’s first President.

Q9. Kumbhalgarh Fort, which was in the news recently, is located in which Indian state?

A) Gujarat

B) Madhya Pradesh

C) Rajasthan

D) Maharashtra

Answer: C) Rajasthan

Located in Rajsamand district, Rajasthan.Famous for having the world’s second-longest continuous wall (about 36 km) after the Great Wall of China.It is one of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Q10. India has allowed 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under the automatic route in which sector?

A) Defence

B) Banking

C) Insurance

D) Telecommunications

Answer: C) Insurance

India allowed 100% FDI under the automatic route in the insurance sector.The reform aims to attract global investment, technology, and expertise.The sector continues to be regulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).LIC continues to have a separate FDI limit of 20%.

Q11. Which Indian state became the first fully paperless judiciary in 2026?

A) Kerala

B) Karnataka

C) Sikkim

D) Himachal Pradesh

Answer: C) Sikkim

Sikkim became India’s first fully paperless judiciary.The announcement was made during the National Conclave on Technology and Judicial Education in Gangtok.The initiative promotes digital courts and paperless judicial administration.

International Affairs

Q12. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in 2026 due to the outbreak of which disease?

A) Cholera

B) Mpox

C) Ebola

D) Marburg Virus Disease

Answer: C) Ebola

WHO declared a PHEIC due to the Ebola outbreak.The outbreak affected the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.PHEIC is the highest level of international public health alert under the International Health Regulations (IHR).

Q13. Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through:

A) Mosquito bites

B) Contaminated food and water

C) Rodents such as rats and mice

D) Tick bites

Answer: C) Rodents such as rats and mice

Hantavirus is primarily spread through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.Most hantaviruses do not spread easily from person to person.The Andes virus strain is a notable exception, with documented limited human-to-human transmission, including during the 2026 cruise ship outbreak.

Q14. The first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit in 2026 was hosted by which country? ★

A) South Africa

B) Kenya

C) India

D) Nepal

Answer: C) India

The first IBCA Summit was held in New Delhi on 1–2 June 2026.The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is a global initiative launched by India for the conservation of seven big cats.The seven big cats are: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.The headquarters of IBCA is located in India (New Delhi).

Q15. Which country withdrew from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on 1 May 2026, ending nearly 60 years of membership? ★

A) Qatar

B) Angola

C) United Arab Emirates

D) Kuwait

Answer: C) United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The UAE officially exited OPEC on 1 May 2026 after nearly 60 years of membership.The move allows the UAE greater flexibility to increase oil production outside OPEC production quotas.OPEC stands for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

Q16. Which country became the 26th member of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) in 2026?

A) Brazil

B) Kenya

C) Saudi Arabia

D) Indonesia

Answer: C) Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia became the 26th member of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).IBCA is a global initiative launched by India for the conservation of seven big cat species.The alliance promotes research, habitat conservation, and international cooperation for big cat conservation.

Q17. The Third India–Nordic Summit 2026 was held at which of the following places? ★

A) Stockholm, Sweden

B) Oslo, Norway

C) Helsinki, Finland

D) Copenhagen, Denmark

Answer: B) Oslo, Norway

Held in Oslo, Norway, on 19 May 2026.India and the five Nordic countries — Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden participated.Both sides agreed to establish a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership.The partnership focuses on green hydrogen, clean energy, AI, 6G technology, cybersecurity, climate action, Arctic research, and the blue economy.

Q18. Consider the following countries: ★

1. Denmark

2. Finland

3. France

4. Norway

5. United Kingdom

Which one of the above is/are NOT Nordic countries?

A) 1 and 2

B) 2 and 5

C) 2 and 4

D) 3 and 5

Answer: D) 3 and 5

Q19. India recently hosted the Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting 2026 in Mumbai. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is primarily related to the trade of:

A) Gold

B) Diamonds

C) Silver

D) Platinum

Answer: B) Diamonds

India hosted the Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting 2026 in Mumbai.The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) aims to prevent the trade of conflict (blood) diamonds.India is the world’s largest diamond cutting and polishing hub.

Q20. ‘Mythos’, which was in the news due to cybersecurity concerns, is an AI model developed by which company?

A) OpenAI

B) Google

C) Anthropic

D) Meta

Answer: C) Anthropic

Mythos is an AI model developed by Anthropic.It was in the news over concerns about its potential misuse in cybersecurity attacks on financial institutions.

Q21. Consider the following AI models and their parent companies:

1. Gemini – Google

2. Mythos – Anthropic

3. Grok – OpenAI

4. Llama – Meta

Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?

A) 3 only

B) 1 and 2 only

C) 2 and 3 only

D) 1, 3 and 4 only

Answer: A) 3 only

AI Model	Company / Organisation
ChatGPT	OpenAI
Gemini	Google
Claude	Anthropic
Grok	xAI
Llama	Meta
Copilot	Microsoft

Grok is developed by xAI (Elon Musk’s AI company), not OpenAI.

Defence & Security

Q22. Who was appointed as India’s next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in 2026?

A) General Upendra Dwivedi

B) Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi

C) Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh

D) General N. S. Raja Subramani

Answer: D) General N. S. Raja Subramani

General N. S. Raja Subramani assumed office as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on 30 May 2026.He succeeded General Anil Chauhan.Before becoming CDS, he served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff and Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).The CDS is responsible for promoting jointness and integration among the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and heads the Department of Military Affairs (DMA).

Q23. Who was appointed as the Chief of the Naval Staff in 2026?

A) Admiral Sanjay J. Singh

B) Admiral R. Hari Kumar

C) Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi

D) Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan

Answer: D) Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assumed office as the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) on 31 May 2026.He succeeded Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi.Before his appointment, he served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Western Naval Command.He is a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare.He previously served as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

Q24. India’s first underwater warship museum has been developed around which decommissioned Indian Navy vessel? ★

A) INS Vikrant

B) INS Viraat

C) INS Guldar

D) INS Shivalik

Answer: C) INS Guldar

Location: Near Nivati Rocks, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra.Built by submerging (scuttling) the decommissioned INS Guldar to create an underwater museum and artificial coral reef.

Q25. The 2nd edition of the India–Cambodia joint military exercise CINBAX-II 2026 was conducted in which country?

A) Thailand

B) Vietnam

C) Cambodia

D) Laos

Answer: C) Cambodia

CINBAX-II 2026 was conducted in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia, from 4–17 May 2026.It is a bilateral military exercise between the Indian Army and the Royal Cambodian Army.

Q26. ‘Kaal Bhairava’, which was in the news recently, is an:

A) Ballistic missile

B) Main Battle Tank

C) AI-powered combat aircraft (MALE UAV)

D) Aircraft carrier

Answer: C) AI-powered combat aircraft (MALE UAV)

Kaal Bhairava is an AI-powered MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) combat UAV.It has been developed by Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace.It is being manufactured in Portugal, marking India’s first overseas defence production project.It is part of Operation 777, which aims to expand India’s global defence manufacturing footprint.

Q27. Recently, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Project was launched to develop India’s first indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft at which of the following places?

A) Bengaluru, Karnataka

B) Hyderabad, Telangana

C) Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh

D) Nagpur, Maharashtra

Answer: C) Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh

The project was launched at Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh.AMCA aims to develop India’s first indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft.The programme is led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under DRDO.The project includes an Aircraft Integration and Advanced Flight Testing Centre.

Q28. Recently, India achieved a major defence milestone by launching ‘Suryastra’, the country’s first fully indigenous 300-km weapon system. It is a:

A) Hypersonic Cruise Missile

B) Universal Rocket Launching System (URLS)

C) Air Defence System

D) Loitering Munition

Answer: B) Universal Rocket Launching System (URLS)

The project supports Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and iDEX initiatives.It is designed to enhance long-range precision strike capability.

Q29. Who became the first woman officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF) to earn the Cat-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) certification?

A) Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh

B) Wing Commander Anjali Singh

C) Squadron Leader Saanya

D) Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth

Answer: C) Squadron Leader Saanya

Squadron Leader Saanya became the first woman officer in the IAF to earn the Cat-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) certification.Cat-A QFI is one of the highest instructional qualifications in military aviation.She was trained at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad.

Science, Space & Technology

Q30. Which company developed ‘Vikram-1’, India’s first privately built orbital rocket?

A) Agnikul Cosmos

B) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

C) Skyroot Aerospace

D) NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)

Answer: C) Skyroot Aerospace

Vikram-1 is India’s first privately built orbital rocket.It is designed to place payloads into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).It was transported to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota for launch preparations.The mission marks a major milestone for India’s private space sector.

Q31. Which Indian company developed Mission Drishti, India’s largest privately developed Earth observation satellite?

A) Agnikul Cosmos

B) Skyroot Aerospace

C) GalaxEye

D) Pixxel

Answer: C) GalaxEye

Mission Drishti is India’s largest privately developed Earth observation satellite.Developed by GalaxEye, a Bengaluru-based startup.Launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg, California.Features OptoSAR technology, combining Electro-Optical (EO) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging.

Sports

Q32. Who became the fastest Indian sprinter ever by clocking 10.09 seconds in the men’s 100 m event at the Federation Cup 2026? ★

A) Animesh Kujur

B) Manikanta Hoblidhar

C) Gurindervir Singh

D) Amlan Borgohain

Answer: C) Gurindervir Singh

Gurindervir Singh clocked 10.09 seconds in the men’s 100 m at the Federation Cup 2026.He became the fastest Indian sprinter ever.The event was held in Ranchi, Jharkhand.He broke the previous national record of 10.15 seconds set by Animesh Kujur.The Federation Cup is one of India’s premier national athletics competitions.

Awards, Honours & Books

Q33. Indian journalists R. K. Anand and Suparna Sharma were honoured with which prestigious international award in 2026?

A) Ramon Magsaysay Award

B) International Emmy Award

C) Pulitzer Prize

D) Booker Prize

Answer: C) Pulitzer Prize

They were honoured in the Illustrated Reporting and Commentary category.The award recognized their collaborative work published in Bloomberg.

Q34. Which book won the International Booker Prize 2026? ★

A) Orbital

B) Kairos

C) Taiwan Travelogue

D) The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida

Answer: C) Taiwan Travelogue

Author: Yang Shuang-zi.Translator: Lin King.It became the first work translated from Mandarin Chinese to win the International Booker Prize.

Q35. Who has been awarded the 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award? ★

A) Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

B) Lieutenant Colonel Seema Rao

C) Major Abhilasha Barak

D) Major Radhika Sen

Answer: C) Major Abhilasha Barak

Major Abhilasha Barak became India’s third recipient of the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.She was honoured for her service with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).She is a combat helicopter pilot in the Indian Army.

Q36. Indian peacekeepers Harbhajan Singh and Sujit Kumar Pradhan were posthumously honoured with which United Nations medal?

A) UN Peace Medal

B) UN Blue Helmet Medal

C) Dag Hammarskjöld Medal

D) United Nations Military Cross

Answer: C) Dag Hammarskjöld Medal

Awarded posthumously by the United Nations.Honoured for sacrifice during UN peacekeeping missions in DR Congo and South Sudan.The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal is the highest honour for UN peacekeepers who die in service.

Reports & Indices

Q37. Which country topped the World Press Freedom Index 2026?

A) Netherlands

B) Denmark

C) Sweden

D) Norway

Answer: D) Norway

Norway ranked 1st in the World Press Freedom Index 2026.India ranked 157th out of 180 countries.The index is published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).Reporters Without Borders (RSF – Reporters Sans Frontières) is an international NGO headquartered in Paris, France.

Q38. India secured which rank in the Henley Passport Index 2026?

A) 72nd

B) 75th

C) 78th

D) 82nd

Answer: C) 78th

India ranked 78th in the Henley Passport Index 2026.Indian passport holders have access to 56 destinations through visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or e-visa facilities.Singapore ranked 1st, with visa-free access to 192 destinations.The Henley Passport Index is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is published by Henley & Partners.Japan and France jointly ranked 2nd with access to 193 destinations.

Q39. Who has been appointed as the Chairman of Prasar Bharati in 2026?

A) Anurag Thakur

B) Prasoon Joshi

C) Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

D) Shekhar Kapur

Answer: B) Prasoon Joshi

Prasoon Joshi is a renowned lyricist, screenwriter, and advertising professional.He is also the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Obituary

Q40. Recently, Raghu Rai, who passed away, was associated with which field? ★

A) Literature

B) Journalism

C) Photojournalism

D) Cinema

Answer: C) Photojournalism

Raghu Rai was one of India’s most renowned photojournalists.He was a recipient of the Padma Shri.He gained international recognition after being mentored by Henri Cartier-Bresson and later joined Magnum Photos.His work extensively documented the 1971 India–Pakistan War, social movements, and Indian public life.

Q41. Recently, Bashir Badr, who passed away, was associated with which field?

A) Classical Music

B) Painting

C) Urdu Poetry

D) Theatre

Answer: C) Urdu Poetry

Bashir Badr was one of the most celebrated Urdu poets of his generation.

Important Days

Date	Day / Observance	Theme
3 May	World Press Freedom Day
17 May	World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD)
31 May	World No Tobacco Day

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