Daily Current Affairs โ 28 May 2026
Daily Current Affairs ยท 28 May 2026
10 fully-analysed topics ยท 30 bilingual MCQs ยท 3 embedded videos ยท built for UPSC Prelims & Mains
๐ 10 Topics
๐ฏ 30 MCQs
๐ฌ 3 Videos
๐ฎ๐ณ Hindi + English
๐ฏ 30 MCQs
๐ฌ 3 Videos
๐ฎ๐ณ Hindi + English
Environment: 7 ยท Economy: 2 ยท Geography: 1
โถ Start Here โ UPSC-Standard Quiz
UPSC Current Affairs MCQ โ 28 May 2026
10 UPSC-standard bilingual MCQs covering today's top stories ยท 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.
๐ฐ Today’s Top 5 Current Affairs
#01
Economy
Economy
SARTHAK-PDS Scheme
๐ฐ Why in News
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
โ
Quick Facts
- The SARTHAK-PDS Scheme (โน25,530 crore, 202631) aims to modernize India's Public Distribution System using AI, ML, blockchain, and data-driven toolsโฆ
- It focuses on improving transparency, reducing leakages, enhancing last-mile delivery, and building a real-time, citizen-centric and interoperableโฆ
- The scheme marks a shift towards a tech-enabled food security system
- About: SARTHAK-PDS stands for "Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS." It is an umbrella scheme aimedโฆ
- It integrates two existing schemes: Assistance for intra-State movement and FPS dealer margin under NFSA
- Technology-Driven PDS Reform: Introduce AI, ML, Blockchain and NLP for intelligent monitoring and analytics and enable real-time tracking ofโฆ
- Reduction of Leakages: Improve transparency, reduce diversion of food grains and strengthen supply-chain monitoring and beneficiary authentication.
- Citizen-Centric Governance: Develop interoperable and unified PDS architecture. Enhance grievance redressal and beneficiary feedback systems.
- Strengthening Last-Mile Delivery: Provide financial assistance for intra-State transportation
- Data-Driven Monitoring: Establish State Command and Control Centres and enable predictive analytics and real-time decision-making.
๐ Key Numbers & Data
- System Scheme with an outlay of โน25,530 crore for 202631 to modernize India's Public
- The Act legally entitles: Up to 75% of the rural population, and Up to 50% of
- to 75% of the rural population, and Up to 50% of the urban population to receive
- 2024 with an estimated financial outlay of โน11.80 lakh crore, fully funded by the Central
- 2024 report stated that a staggering 28% of grains supplied through India's Public
#02
Environment
Environment
Illegal Sand Mining in National Chambal Sanctuary
๐ฐ Why in News
The Supreme Court recently expressed concern over illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary and directed the governments of Uttar Pradesh
โ
Quick Facts
- The Supreme Court recently raised concerns over illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary
- Illegal sand mining in India is driven by rising construction demand
- The judiciary has strengthened regulation through landmark judgments and environmental principles like the Public Trust Doctrine and Precautionaryโฆ
- About Sand Mining: Sand mining refers to the extraction of sand and gravel from riverbeds, coasts and dunes mainly for construction activities
- Economic Drivers: India's rapid urbanization and infrastructure expansion have created a massive demand-supply gap for sand used in constructionโฆ
- In addition, authorities frequently lack adequate manpower, surveillance technology and monitoring capacity to regulate mining activities effectively.
- Weak transport monitoring systems and the slow adoption of alternatives such as Manufactured Sand further make it difficult to curb illegal sandโฆ
- Ecological Degradation: Causes riverbank erosion, destruction of aquatic habitats and loss of biodiversity.
- Hydrological Disruption: Alters river flow, deepens riverbeds, lowers groundwater levels and increases flood risks.
- Threat to Infrastructure: Weakens bridges, embankments and nearby public infrastructure.
๐ฏ UPSC Relevance
Discuss the ecological significance of riverine species such as the Gangetic River Dolphin and Gharial.
#03
Environment
Environment
National Chambal Sanctuary
๐ฐ Why in News
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance to protect the fragile lotic ecosystem of the National Chambal Sanctuary from rampant and well-organized illegal sand mining by the "sand mafia."
โ
Quick Facts
- About: The National Chambal Sanctuary , also known as the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary , is one of India's most ecologicallyโฆ
- Biodiversity: It harbors nearly 90% of the world's remaining wild Gharial population and a significant number of endangered Ganges River Dolphins
๐๏ธ Key Stakeholders
UNESCOSupreme Court
#04
Environment
Environment
Gharials
๐ฐ Why in News
A lone female gharial in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve , Assam has sparked hopes for the species' revival in the Brahmaputra River System (BRS).
โ
Quick Facts
- The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is distinct from other crocodilians due to its long snout
- According to the Wildlife Institute of India
#05
Economy
Economy
Amendment to the Mines and Minerals Act 1957
๐ฐ Why in News
Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to amend the Second Schedule to the MMDR (Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation) Act toโฆ
โ
Quick Facts
- MMDR Act, 1957 regulates the mining sector in India and specifies the requirement for obtaining and granting mining leases for mining operations.
- The Act was amended in 2015 to usher in new regime of granting mineral concessions through auction to ensure transparency and non-discrimination inโฆ
- To give further impetus to the mineral sector, the Act has been further amended in 2021
- Exploration activities have increased not only for traditional minerals such as iron ore
- In the last 4-5 years, central agencies such as the Geological Survey of India and Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd have carried out explorationโฆ
- There are three kinds of mineral concessions, viz Reconnaissance Permit (RP), Prospecting License (PL) and Mining Lease (ML).
- RP is granted for preliminary prospecting of a mineral through regional, aerial, geophysical or geochemical surveys and geological mapping.
- PL is granted for undertaking operations for the purpose of exploring, locating or proving mineral deposit.
- ML is granted for undertaking operations for winning any mineral.
- The approval would ensure auction of mineral blocks in respect of Glauconite
๐ ๐บ๏ธ Core Subject Drill โ Indian Geography
๐บ๏ธ Indian Geography MCQ Quiz ยท เคญเคพเคฐเคคเฅเคฏ เคญเฅเคเฅเคฒ
10 bilingual MCQs ยท Indian Geography ยท Members Only on YouTube
Today's rotation: Indian Geography. Take this break between news topics to sharpen the core concept.
๐ More Current Affairs Coverage
#06
Environment
Environment
Guidelines to Monitor Sand Mining
๐ฐ Why in News
For the first time, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released guidelines to monitor and check illegal sand mining in the country.
โ
Quick Facts
- At present, the Sustainable Sand Management Guidelines (SSMG), 2016 focus on the management of sand mining, but there was a need to have guidelinesโฆ
- The 2020 guidelines are to be enforced simultaneously with the SSMG, 2016, in case of conflict, the new set will hold legal precedence.
- Background The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act
- However, there was a large number of illegal mining cases in the country and in some cases, many of the officers lost their lives while executingโฆ
- Illegal and uncontrolled illegal mining also leads to loss of revenue to the State and degradation of the environment.
- Constitutional/ Legal Framework of Mining Sector in India The entry at serial No
- The entry at serial No. 54 of List I (Central List) mandates the central government to own the minerals within the exclusive economic zone of Indiaโฆ
- Also, the Central Government notifies certain minerals as 'minor' minerals from time to time for which the absolute powers for deciding on proceduresโฆ
- Schedule I contains minerals such as coal and lignite, minerals of the "rare earths" group containing Uranium and Thorium.
- Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining 2020 Source to Destination Monitoring: The new set of guidelines focuses on the effectiveโฆ
#07
Environment
Environment
Gangetic Dolphins
๐ฐ Why in News
A recent study by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has highlighted severe chemical pollution risks posing threats to the endangered Gangetic dolphins ( Platanista gangetica ) .
โ
Quick Facts
- About: The Ganga River Dolphin , also known as the "Tiger of the Ganges," was officially discovered in 1801
- It acts as a reliable indicator of river ecosystem health , highlighting biodiversity and water quality.
- Features: Exclusively a freshwater species, they are functionally blind and rely on ultrasonic echolocation to locate prey
- It is locally called 'Susu' due to the sound it makes while exhaling.
- The population of Ganges dolphins has declined by over 50% since 1957 , with a 25% shrinkage in range .
- Pollutants such as industrial chemicals (DEHP
- Additional threats include fishing gear entanglement, poaching, habitat loss from dams and water extraction, and vessel noise.
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) : Appendix I
- Project Dolphin : Implements special conservation measures for Gangetic River Dolphins, recognized as umbrella species
๐ Key Numbers & Data
- of Ganges dolphins has declined by over 50% since 1957 , with a 25% shrinkage in range
- declined by over 50% since 1957 , with a 25% shrinkage in range . Threat: A WII study
#08
Environment
Environment
Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle
๐ฐ Why in News
The Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagur kachuga) has been reintroduced into the Ganga River after 30-years, marking a major success under the Namami Gange Mission and the Turtle Survival Alliance India (TSAFI) project.
โ
Quick Facts
- Turtles were released in the Haiderpur Wetland
- About: It is a freshwater turtle belonging to the family Geoemydidae
- Key Characteristics: The females grow up to 56 cm and 25 kg
- This herbivorous species feeds on aquatic plants and lays 1130 eggs during MarchApril .
- Due to habitat degradation , sand mining , and pollution , it disappeared from the Ganga's main channel.
- It has now been reintroduced into the Haiderpur Wetland in Uttar Pradesh
- TSAFI is the Indian chapter of the global Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA )
#09
Environment
Environment
Indian Skimmers
๐ฐ Why in News
As per the Asian Waterbird Census 2023 (recommended dates for the AWC are 7 22 January) which has been started recently
โ
Quick Facts
- Around 250 Indian Skimmers, were sighted in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.
- About: Another common name for Indian skimmers is Indian scissors bill.
- They are more widespread in winter; the Indian skimmer is found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India
- Habitat degradation, excessive and widespread increases in disturbances near the rivers.
- The Government declared a part of the Godavari mangrove system as Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in 1978 to rehabilitate the salt water crocodile and toโฆ
- About 120 species of resident and migratory birds depend on this area for breeding and nesting.
- Every January, thousands of volunteers across Asia and Australasia visit wetlands in their country and count waterbirds
- The AWC is an integral part of the global waterbird monitoring programme
#10
Geography
Geography
Mugger Crocodile
๐ฐ Why in News
Recently, the Indian Railways has delivered water to Pali district in western Rajasthan to ensure survival of Mugger Crocodile or Marsh Crocodile as the region's water bodies have dried up due to a hot March.
โ
Quick Facts
- Description: An egg-laying and hole-nesting species, also known to be dangerous.
- Mainly restricted to the Indian subcontinent where it may be found in a number of freshwater habitat types and also in coastal saltwater lagoons andโฆ
- Habitat destruction, fragmentation, and transformation, fishing activities and use of crocodile parts for medicinal purposes.
- Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile: Considered as the Earth's largest living crocodile species, infamous globally as a known maneater.
- Found in Odisha's Bhitarkanika National Park , the Sundarbans in West Bengal and the Andamans and Nicobar Islands
- CITES : Appendix I (except the populations of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, which are included in Appendix II).
- Sometimes called gavials, are a type of Asian crocodilian distinguished by their long, thin snouts which resembles a pot (ghara in Hindi).
- Mostly found in fresh waters of the himalayan rivers.
- The Chambal river in the northern slopes of the Vindhya mountains (Madhya Pradesh) is known as the primary habitat of gharials.
- Other himalayan rivers like Ghagra , Gandak river, Girwa river, Ramganga river and the Sone river are secondary habitats.
๐๏ธ Wrap Up โ Simple CA Quiz
Simple Current Affairs MCQ โ 28 May 2026
10 accessible MCQs covering the same topics ยท great for quick revision
End your study session with these simpler MCQs to lock in recall of today's current affairs.
