Daily Current Affairs — 02 May 2026
Daily Current Affairs · 02 May 2026
10 fully-analysed topics · 30 bilingual MCQs · 3 embedded videos · built for UPSC Prelims & Mains
📚 10 Topics
🎯 30 MCQs
🎬 3 Videos
🇮🇳 Hindi + English
🎯 30 MCQs
🎬 3 Videos
🇮🇳 Hindi + English
Polity: 5 · Economy: 2 · History: 2 · Geography: 1
▶ Start Here — UPSC-Standard Quiz
UPSC Current Affairs MCQ — 02 May 2026
10 UPSC-standard bilingual MCQs covering today's top stories · 10-sec timer per question
Score yourself as you go. Get a feel for how UPSC-level questions are framed around the day's news.
📰 Today’s Top 5 Current Affairs
#01
Economy
Economy
UN Secretary-General Election
📰 Why in News
The election process for the next Secretary-General of the United Nations is underway
✅ Quick Facts
- Constitutional Provision: The UN Charter simply states that the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the…
- The Power of the P5: Because the recommendation must come from the Security Council
- Nominations and Public Dialogues Joint Call for Candidates: The process officially begins when the Presidents of the General Assembly and the…
- Vision Statements: Candidates must submit a formal curriculum vitae and a "vision statement" detailing their proposed direction for the UN
- The Security Council holds a series of secret ballots known as "straw polls." Members vote to "encourage," "discourage," or express "no opinion" on…
- In the later rounds of straw polling, the ballots of the P5 nations are printed on different colored paper
- These polls continue until a single candidate emerges with sufficient support (at least nine out of 15 votes) and zero vetoes from the P5.
- However, historically, the General Assembly approves the Security Council's recommendation by consensus or acclamation without a formal vote.
- Regional Rotation: By convention, the post rotates among the UN's five regional groups (Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the…
- Term Limits: The UNSG serves a five-year term
#02
Economy
Economy
UN Secretary-General
📰 Why in News
The United Nations has officially launched the selection process to choose the next Secretary-General (SG), who will take office in January 2027 once Antonio Guterres completes his second term on 31 st December 2026.
✅ Quick Facts
- About: The Secretary-General (SG) is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations under Article 97 of the UN Charter
- Traditionally, the post rotates among regions, though this is not legally binding.
- All UN Secretaries-General so far have been men , prompting calls for a woman SG.
- Initiation: sg selection process begins with a joint invitation from the Presidents of the UNGA and UNSC for Member States to submit nominations
- Ballots from the five permanent members (US, UK, Russia, China, France) are colour-coded to indicate potential vetoes.
- Administrative and Executive Duties: Acts as the chief administrative officer of the UN under Article 97 of the Charter
- Chairs the UN System Chief Executives Board (CEB) for system-wide coordination.
- Performs functions assigned by the Security Council, General Assembly, ECOSOC, and other UN bodies .
- SG can bring to the Security Council's attention any matter that may threaten international peace and security (Article 99).
- SG holds a mandate that combines administrative responsibilities with considerable political discretion.
#03
Geography
Geography
Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026
📰 Why in News
The Germanwatch Climate Risk Index 2026 report, presented at COP30 in Belm, Brazil, ranks India as the 9 th most affected country by extreme weather events (EWEs) over the past three decades (1995-2024).
✅ Quick Facts
- The Climate Risk Index , published annually by the environmental think tank Germanwatch since 2006, tracks the human and economic impacts of extreme…
- Indicators: The index uses six key indicators
- Globally Most Affected Countries: The top 10 CRI countries are all in the Global South , highlighting unequal climate vulnerability
- Between 19952024, 9,700 extreme weather events worldwide caused over 832,000 deaths and USD 4.5 trillion in economic losses.
- India's Vulnerability: India's position in the CRI 2026 emphasizes its growing vulnerability to climate-related disasters
- India ranked 3 rd globally in 2024 for the number of people affected by extreme weather, after Bangladesh and the Philippines.
- CRI ranks countries by extreme weather impacts
- Long-Term Vulnerability: Repeated disasters cause accumulating losses
- Water Crisis: Melting Glaciers: Rising temperatures are shrinking Himalayan glaciers , threatening river flows of the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus .
- Depleting Groundwater: Groundwater use rose from ~1020 km³
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- worldwide caused over 832,000 deaths and USD 4.5 trillion in economic losses. India's
- National Adaptation Plans , and secure USD 300 billion by 2035 for climate adaptation and
- climate impacts could cut India's GDP by 6.410% and push 50 million people into poverty by
🎯 UPSC Relevance
The CRI 2026 underscores India's high vulnerability to extreme weather events and long-term climate risks, affecting water, ecosystems, coasts, and socio-economic stability.
#04
History
History
Komagata Maru Incident
📰 Why in News
The Komagata Maru incident (1914) was a pivotal event in the global history of the Indian freedom struggle
✅ Quick Facts
- About: The Komagata Maru incident refers to the 1914 voyage of the Japanese steamship Komagata Maru (also known as the Guru Nanak Jahaz )
- This policy was aimed at South Asians, as nonstop travel from India to Canada was largely unavailable and acted as a "hidden" ban on Indian…
- The local Indian community formed a " Shore Committee " to pursue legal action, but the court upheld the exclusionary law.
- The authorities restricted supplies, and the ship was eventually forced to leave Canadian waters in July 1914 under naval escort.
- 20 passengers were killed, and many were imprisoned
- Ghadar Movement: It provided a massive recruitment boost for the Ghadar Party
- Exposing Colonial Hypocrisy: It highlighted the contradiction of the British Empire
- International Relations: It remains a significant moment in Indo-Canadian history
- About: The Ghadar Movement was a transnational revolutionary movement founded by expatriate Indians (primarily Punjabis) in North America with the…
- Thousands of Ghadarites returned to India to incite a mutiny among Indian soldiers
#05
Polity
Polity
Making Right to Vote a Fundamental Right
📰 Why in News
The Opposition party advocates upgrading the Right to Vote from a mere statutory right to a Fundamental Right (under Part III of the Constitution )…
✅ Quick Facts
- This demand gains urgency amid concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process
- Elevating it to a Fundamental Right would make it strictly justiciable
- The demand aligns with the historical foresight of the Drafting Committee , notably Dr
- Currently, the Right to vote in India is a statutory right rooted in the principle of universal adult franchise
- The statutory framework is provided by the Representation of the People Act
- It includes a voter's ability to express choice by selecting a candidate or opting for NOTA (None of the Above)
📚 💰 Core Subject Drill — Indian Economy
💰 Indian Economy MCQ Quiz · भारतीय अर्थव्यवस्था
10 bilingual MCQs · Indian Economy · Members Only on YouTube
Today's rotation: Indian Economy. Take this break between news topics to sharpen the core concept.
📖 More Current Affairs Coverage
#06
Polity
Polity
Right to Vote Different from Freedom of Voting
📰 Why in News
The Union government recently told the Supreme Court (SC) of India that the right to vote is different from freedom of voting.
✅ Quick Facts
- This submission was made while responding to a petition challenging Section 53(2) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA 1951) and Rule 11…
- Nature: Right to Vote: It is a statutory right granted under the RPA, 1951 and is not a Fundamental Right.
- Freedom of Voting: It is considered part of Article 19(1)(a) (guarantees all citizens the right to freedom of speech and expression)
- With no poll, voters cannot exercise freedom of voting or use NOTA
- The Union government said that NOTA is not a candidate under Section 79(b) of the RPA, 1951
- The EC noted that uncontested elections are rare (only nine in 20 General Elections (19512024), and just one since 1991).
- ECI said that as democracy has evolved, more parties and candidates contest elections , making uncontested wins uncommon.
- About: The right to vote allows eligible citizens to participate in choosing their representatives
- While guaranteed through universal adult franchise , its nature has largely been interpreted as statutory, not fundamental.
- The 61 st Constitutional Amendment Act (1988) lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 .
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
Supreme CourtParliamentLok SabhaElection Commission
#07
Polity
Polity
NOTA Option in Indian Elections
📰 Why in News
Recently, the Lok Sabha elections in Indore, Madhya Pradesh saw a remarkable outcome, with the NOTA (None of the Above) option receiving over 2 lakh votes, making it the highest ever for NOTA in any constituency.
✅ Quick Facts
- About: It is a voting option on the ballots and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) that allows voters to indicate disapproval of all contesting…
- NOTA empowers the electors to express their negative opinions and a lack of support for the contenders.
- It gives them the right to reject while maintaining the secrecy of their decision.
- In its 170th Report in 1999, the Law Commission explored the concept of negative voting alongside a 50%+1 voting system , but practical challenges…
- In September 2013, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to introduce the NOTA option as a measure to safeguard the…
- NOTA was used for the first time in the 2013 Assembly elections in five states of Chhattisgarh
- It was introduced into the electoral process following the 2013 Supreme Court directive in the PUCL vs Union of India Case Case.
- The Election Commission of India clarified that votes cast as NOTA are counted, but are considered 'invalid votes'.
- Even if NOTA votes get the most number of votes in a constituency, the next candidate with the second-most number of votes is declared the winner
- However, the Supreme Court is considering a petition seeking guidelines/rules for situations where NOTA receives the most votes, including the…
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
Supreme CourtLok SabhaRajya SabhaElection CommissionMinistry of Home Affairs
🎯 UPSC Relevance
Discuss the effectiveness and challenges of the NOTA (None of the Above) option in Indian elections.
#08
History
History
Supreme Court on MTP Act Reforms
📰 Why in News
The Supreme Court has orally observed that the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 , may be amended to remove statutory time limits for terminating pregnancies resulting from the rape of minors.
✅ Quick Facts
- Issues Arising Out of Design & Implementation of Policies
- The observation was made while dismissing a curative petition against a 15-year-old rape survivor's 30-week pregnancy termination
- About: It is the landmark legislation that legalized and regulated access to abortion services in India
- Key Provisions of the 1971 Act: The original 1971 Act allowed the termination of pregnancy by a registered medical practitioner under specific…
- Conditions for Termination: To save the life of the pregnant woman
- Increased Gestational Limit: The upper limit for termination was raised from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women (including rape survivors
- Inclusion of Unmarried Women: The failure of contraception clause was extended to unmarried women
- No Limit for Fetal Abnormalities: If a Medical Board diagnoses substantial fetal abnormalities, a pregnancy can be terminated beyond 24 weeks .
- Opinion Requirement: The Act requires the opinion of one doctor for terminations up to 20 weeks and two doctors for those between 20 and 24 weeks .
#09
Polity
Polity
Curative Petition
📰 Why in News
In a significant move, the Supreme Court of India has exercised its "extraordinary powers" through a curative petition to overturn its previous judgement from 2021.
✅ Quick Facts
- This judgement overturns an arbitral award of nearly Rs 8,000 crore that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was ordered to pay to Delhi Airport…
- Background: In 2008, the DMRC partnered with DAMEPL to construct, operate, and maintain the Delhi Airport Metro Express.
- Disputes led to the termination of the agreement by DAMEPL in 2013, citing safety concerns and operational issues.
- Legal battles ensued, resulting in an arbitration panel ruling in favour of DAMEPL, ordering DMRC to pay nearly Rs 8,000 crore
- DAMEPL then approached the Supreme Court, which initially upheld the arbitral award in 2021.
- Recent judgement of the SC ruled in favour of DMRC, citing a "fundamental error" in its previous judgement.
- The SC's decision is significant as it highlights the importance of curative petitions
- Definition: A curative petition is a legal recourse available after the dismissal of a review plea against a final conviction
- Violation of Natural Justice: It must be demonstrated that there was a breach of principles of natural justice
- Apprehension of Bias: It may be admitted if there are grounds to suspect bias on the part of the judge, such as failure to disclose relevant facts.
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- overturns an arbitral award of nearly Rs 8,000 crore that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
- Delhi High Court directed DMRC to deposit 75% of the amount in an escrow account. The
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
Supreme CourtHigh CourtPresident of IndiaAttorney General
#10
Polity
Polity
Balancing Reproductive Autonomy and Unborn Child's Rights
📰 Why in News
The Supreme Court of India recently denied permission to terminate a 26-week pregnancy for a married woman under the provisions of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy(MTP) Act, 1971.
✅ Quick Facts
- Issues Arising Out of Design & Implementation of Policies
- Case: The case involved a 27-year-old married woman who was in her 26th week of pregnancy, seeking legal permission to terminate her pregnancy
- The Court expressed reluctance to order a medical termination when the pregnancy is viable and does not pose an immediate threat to the woman's life
- The three-judge Bench, led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), emphasized that a woman cannot claim an "absolute, overriding right" to abort…
- The government argues that the woman's reproductive autonomy cannot infringe upon the rights of her unborn child.
- Refers to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act of 2021
- The case raises fundamental questions about women's reproductive rights
- Until the 1960s, abortion was illegal in India
- The MTP Act was amended in 2021 to allow certain categories of women
- The case underscores the need for a delicate balance between women's reproductive rights and the protection of unborn children
🗞️ Wrap Up — Simple CA Quiz
Simple Current Affairs MCQ — 02 May 2026
10 accessible MCQs covering the same topics · great for quick revision
End your study session with these simpler MCQs to lock in recall of today's current affairs.
