Daily Current Affairs — 05 May 2026
Daily Current Affairs · 05 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
Environment: 7 · Economy: 3
▶ Start Here — UPSC-Standard Quiz
UPSC Current Affairs MCQ — 05 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
Environment
Environment
NGT Pushes South States for Stronger Air Pollution Control
📰 Why in News
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Southern Zone has directed Southern States and Puducherry to strictly implement State Action Plans (SAPs) under the…
✅ Quick Facts
- Disproportionate Expenditure: States like Karnataka utilized funds heavily on road dust control (86%)
- Breaching Limits: PM2.5 and PM10 levels in cities like Eloor
- Airshed Approach: The NGT mandated the establishment of institutional arrangements for "Airshed-level coordination" among southern states (managing…
- NCAP: The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
- Non-attainment cities are urban areas in India that have consistently failed to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for…
- City Action Plans: Localized plans focused on dust control, reducing vehicular emissions, waste management, and industrial pollution.
- State Action Plans (SAPs): Under NCAP, SAPs cover the entire State/UT, including both NCAP and non-NCAP areas, with a clear funding mechanism
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- funds heavily on road dust control (86%) , while largely ignoring vehicular
- while largely ignoring vehicular emissions (6.6%) and biomass burning (4.1%). Breaching
- emissions (6.6%) and biomass burning (4.1%). Breaching Limits: PM2.5 and PM10 levels
- . Goal: NCAP aims to reduce PM10 levels by 2030% by 202425 from the 201718 baseline, later
- baseline, later revised to achieve up to 40% reduction or meet national standards (60
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
MoEFCCWHOFinance Commission
#02
Environment
Environment
India’s Progress Under NCAP
📰 Why in News
India achieved a 26.84% reduction in nationwide Particulate Matter (PM) levels from 2019 to 2024, with National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) cities showing a 24.45% improvement due to targeted interventions.
✅ Quick Facts
- Top Performers: Varanasi led with a 76.4% reduction in pollution, followed by Moradabad (58%) and Kanpur (51.2%)
- Southern and western cities, like Bengaluru ( 8% ) and Chennai ( 9.2% ), steadily reduced pollution levels.
- Cities like Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad require urgent interventions.
- The target has been revised to 4 0% reduction in PM10 levels or meeting national standards (60 g/m³) by 2025-26.
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- Top Performers: Varanasi led with a 76.4% reduction in pollution, followed by
- in pollution, followed by Moradabad (58%) and Kanpur (51.2%). Among the major
- followed by Moradabad (58%) and Kanpur (51.2%). Among the major cities, Kolkata saw a
- Among the major cities, Kolkata saw a 21.5% reduction in pollution, driven by stricter
- and western cities, like Bengaluru ( 8% ) and Chennai ( 9.2% ), steadily reduced
- cities, like Bengaluru ( 8% ) and Chennai ( 9.2% ), steadily reduced pollution levels.
#03
Environment
Environment
Air Pollution in India
📰 Why in News
An analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA)
✅ Quick Facts
- The analysis used data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) collected through Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS)
- Widespread National Non-Compliance: During the winter period
- The majority of India's economic hubs struggled with toxic air
- Bengaluru was the only megacity to keep its air quality slightly below the NAAQS limit, recording an average PM2.5 concentration of 39 g/m³.
- Southern and Central/Northeastern India performed the best
- Particulate Matter (PM10 & PM2.5): Microscopic solid or liquid matter suspended in the atmosphere
- It is not emitted directly but is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the…
- They are emitted from paints, solvents, vehicle exhaust, and industrial processes, and play a major role in smog formation.
- Photochemical Smog: A b rownish-gray haze caused by the action of solar ultraviolet radiation on an atmosphere polluted with hydrocarbons and oxides…
- In winter, Delhi's cold conditions cause pollutants to accumulate in the lower atmosphere, forming dense smog and worsening surface-level air…
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- ambient air quality. In India, NAAQS covers 12 pollutants (the 8 in AQI plus Benzene
- across the country, targeting a 20-30% reduction in particulate matter
- concentrations by 2024 (later revised to a 40% reduction by 2026). Frequently Asked
- particulate matter pollution by up to 40% by 2026 through city-specific action plans
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
MoEFCCWHO
#04
Environment
Environment
Air Pollution in India & NCAP
📰 Why in News
Under the National Clean Air Campaign (NCAP) , analysts found that progress has been slow, and pollution has only incrementally reduced in most cities.
✅ Quick Facts
- It was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019.
- It is the first-ever effort in the country to frame a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target.
- It seeks to cut the concentration of coarse (particulate matter (PM) of diameter 10 micrometer or less
- It covers 132 non-attainment cities which were identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
- Current Scenario: The country's current, annual average prescribed limits for PM2.5 and PM10 are 40 micrograms/per cubic metre (ug/m3) and 60…
- New Targets: The NCAP initially set a target of reducing key air pollutants PM10 and PM2.5 by 20-30% in 2024
- Anything less will be considered low, and the funding will consequently be reduced.
- Achieving Targets: An analysis of the four-year performance of the NCAP by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA)
- The CREA noted that 37 cities have completed the source apportionment studies (which list and quantify the significant sources of pollution in a city)
- The CREA estimates that India will need to install more than 300 manual air quality monitoring stations per year to reach the NCAP goal of 1,500…
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- micrometer or less, or PM2.5 ) by at least 20% in the next five years, with 2017 as the
- as the base year for comparison. It covers 132 non-attainment cities which were identified
- key air pollutants PM10 and PM2.5 by 20-30% in 2024, taking the pollution levels in
- the goalposts and set a new target of a 40% reduction in particulate matter
- to quantify improvement starting from 2020-21, which requires 15% and more reduction in
- starting from 2020-21, which requires 15% and more reduction in the annual average
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
MoEFCCWHO
#05
Environment
Environment
Environmental Protection Charge
📰 Why in News
According to a CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) report submitted to the National Green Tribunal
✅ Quick Facts
- As much as 80% of the EPC and EC collected by the Central Pollution Control Board remains unspent.
- The EPC is a fund used by the Central Board of Pollution Control (CPCB) to provide scientific inputs for improving air quality in Delhi NCR
- The EPC is received as per an order of the Supreme Court (M.C
- The CPCB also receives 25% of the environmental compensation collected by state pollution control boards
- The EC is a tool aimed at protecting the environment and mitigating the damage caused by pollution
- In simple terms, environmental compensation involves imposing monetary penalties on individuals, companies, or entities that pollute the environment…
- These penalties are intended to recover the costs associated with the environmental damage and to deter future violations.
- The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) , is a statutory organisation, was constituted in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of…
- CPCB was also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
- It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate change of the provisions…
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- by the CPCB remains unspent. As much as 80% of the EPC and EC collected by the Central
- and Punjab. The CPCB also receives 25% of the environmental compensation collected
- the SC (Supreme Court) imposed an EPC of 1% on the sale of 2000cc and above diesel cars
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
WHOSupreme Court
📚 💰 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
Economy
Economy
Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban
📰 Why in News
As a prelude to Swachh Bharat Diwas, the annual Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) fortnight was also organized by Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban and Gramin between 15th Sept to 2nd Oct 2023.
✅ Quick Facts
- The fortnight aims to mobilize the participation of crores of citizens across the country via various activities such as Indian Swachhata League 2.0
- About: Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) was launched on 2nd October
- It aimed to make cities and towns across India clean and free from open defecation.
- The first phase of SBM-U focused on achieving the target of making urban India ODF by providing access to toilets and promoting behavioral change.
- SBM-U 1.0 was successful in achieving the target and 100% of urban India was declared ODF.
- SBM-U 2.0, announced in Budget 2021-22, is the continuation of SBM-U first phase.
- The second phase of SBM-U aimed to go beyond ODF to ODF+, and ODF++, and focus on making urban India garbage-free.
- It emphasized sustainable sanitation practices, waste management, and the promotion of a circular economy.
- 12 crore toilets have been built in the last nine years
- Urban India has become Open Defecation Free (ODF) , with all 4,715 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) completely ODF.
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- was successful in achieving the target and 100% of urban India was declared ODF. Swachh
- ODF. Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 (2021-2026): SBM-U 2.0, announced in Budget 2021-22
- from the scourge of open defecation and 75% of the total villages have achieved the
- in regular toilet usage in rural India from 2018-19 onwards, raising concerns about the
- improved or unimproved) increased from 46% to 75% on average in rural areas during
- or unimproved) increased from 46% to 75% on average in rural areas during 2015-16
#07
Environment
Environment
Colombia’s Hippo Crisis and Vantara’s Relocation Proposal
📰 Why in News
The Vantara in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has offered to relocate 80 hippos from Colombia, following the Colombian government's decision to cull invasive hippo populations due to ecological concerns.
✅ Quick Facts
- The hippo population has grown from four individuals in 1981 to around 170 today after spreading into the Magdalena River basin
- Colombia declared Hippopotamus amphibius an invasive alien species in 2022 and explored sterilisation using the GonaCon vaccine
- However, relocation faces multiple challenges, including sedation risks, capture stress (capture myopathy), logistical complexity, high transport…
- Hippopotamus amphibius is a large, semi-aquatic herbivore native to sub-Saharan Africa (males up to 3000 kg), known for its territorial and…
- It is the 2 nd largest land animal (after the elephant), and is highly territorial and aggressive, especially in aquatic environments.
- It is herbivorous , feeding mainly on grasses, and spends most of the day submerged in water to regulate body temperature.
- It acts as an ecosystem engineer , transferring nutrients from land to water through waste, often causing eutrophication and ecological imbalance in…
- Classified as Vulnerable (IUCN Red List) and listed under CITES Appendix II due to habitat loss and illegal hunting
#08
Environment
Environment
Invasive Alien Species
📰 Why in News
A recent study estimates that the global economic cost of Invasive Alien Species (19602022) exceeds USD 2.2 trillion , with management costs underreported up to 16 times .
✅ Quick Facts
- For India, the study highlights a hidden cost discrepancy of 1.16 billions of times higher than reported figures indicating gross underestimation of…
- About: Invasive Alien Species are non-native organisms (plants
- According to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- In India, the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 defines IAS as non-native species that threaten wildlife or habitats .
- Globalisation-Linked Dispersal: Increased trade and travel facilitate unintentional spread of species via cargo
- Also, the Zebra mussel, native to Eurasia, was introduced to the Great Lakes of North America via the ballast water of cargo ships .
- Eg: Warmer conditions accelerate spread of invasive insects
- Eg: Parthenium hysterophorus , commonly known as carrot grass , thrives in disturbed habitats like roadsides and agricultural fields
- However, these introductions often backfire, as species escape into the wild and outcompete native biodiversity.
- For instance, Water hyacinth or "Terror of Bengal" was introduced in India because of its beautiful foliage and flowers.
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- Invasive Alien Species (19602022) exceeds USD 2.2 trillion , with management costs
- Europe incurs the highest absolute costs ( 71.45% of global expenditure ) due to higher
- on biodiversity and ecosystem services by 50% by 2030 . IUCN Invasive Species Specialist
#09
Economy
Economy
Pre-1857 Revolts
📰 Why in News
While the 1857 Revolt is traditionally celebrated as the "First War of Independence," a series of formidable anti-colonial uprisings preceded it, challenging the British East India Company (EIC)'s growing hegemony.
✅ Quick Facts
- The territories called 'Santhal Parganas' were created.
- It became illegal for a Santhal to transfer land to a non-Santhal.
- Economic distress after the Famine of 1770 and restrictions on pilgrims.
- Equal participation of Hindus and Muslims , famously featured in Bankim Chandra's Anandamath .
- It was eventually suppressed by Warren Hastings .
- British attempts to collect direct taxes from military chieftains (Poligars) in the Carnatic region.
- Led by legendary figures such as Veerapandiya Kattabomman and the Maruthu Brothers of Sivagangai.
- They employed guerrilla warfare and published the Tiruchirappalli Proclamation (1801) calling for unified resistance against the British.
🎯 UPSC Relevance
2. What was the significance of the Tiruchirappalli Proclamation (1801)? Issued during the Poligar Wars
#10
Economy
Economy
Santhal Hul of 1855
📰 Why in News
Recently, the 169 th anniversary of the Santhal Hul of 1855 was commemorated on 30 th June 2024, marking a pivotal peasant revolt against British colonial oppression.
✅ Quick Facts
- This uprising led to the enactment of the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act of 1876 and the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act of 1908
- Historical Background : The Santhal Hul of 1855 was one of the earliest peasant uprisings against British colonial rule in India
- It aimed to protect the economic, cultural, and religious rights of the Santhal community.
- In 1832, certain areas were designated as 'Santhal Pargana' or 'Damin-i-Koh', which includes present-day Sahibganj, Godda, Dumka, Deoghar, Pakur, and…
- Two systems of bonded labour emerged in Santhal territory, known as kamioti and harwahi
- The Murmu brothers led around 60,000 Santhals in guerrilla warfare against the East India Company
- The Hul highlighted early resistance against British colonial rule and remains a symbol of tribal resilience.
- It is the third largest scheduled tribe in India after the Gonds and Bhils, known for their calm and peaceful nature
- Munda Rebellion: The Munda Ulgulan (rebellion ) was a significant tribal revolt during Indian Independence
- Birsa Munda spearheaded the movement , striving to reclaim the tribe's lost land and rights.
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- Midnapore and Bankura), Khond Uprisings (1837-56 and 1914), Koya Revolts (1879-80, Eastern
- of Andhra Pradesh), and Rampa Revolts (1922-1924, Andhra Pradesh ) Ahom Revolt (1828
🗞️ Wrap Up — Simple CA Quiz
Simple Current Affairs MCQ — 05 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.
