NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India Launches QR-Code Verification for Census Enumerators: India has issued identity cards with QR codes to Census enumerators for the Census 2027 exercise. The QR code allows residents to verify the authenticity of enumerators by scanning the card through a mobile device. The first phase of the Census began on 1 April 2026 and is scheduled to end on 30 September 2026. Around 30 lakh enumerators are involved in the nationwide exercise, which uses mobile applications and a centralised portal for data management. The Census of India Self-Enumeration Portal allows citizens to submit their details directly. In some areas, including Noida and Ghaziabad, the self-enumeration window remained open from 7 May to 21 May 2026, and the administration also provided a QR code that generated a unique self-enumeration ID.
2. Odisha Leads PMAY-U 2.0 Housing Completions: Odisha has emerged as the top-performing state in India for house completion under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U 2.0) as of 8 May 2026. The state has held the first position in house completion performance from March 2025 to March 2026. PMAY-U 2.0 was launched in September 2024 as the urban housing phase of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. PMAY-U 2.0 is a Central sector housing scheme for urban areas. It is linked to the objective of providing pucca houses to eligible urban poor and middle-income families. The scheme uses geo-tagging, foundation tracking, and completion monitoring for implementation at the field level. A total of 24,625 houses have been sanctioned under PMAY-U 2.0 in Odisha. Of these, 23,464 proposed sites had been geo-tagged by 8 May 2026. Foundation work had begun for 3,134 houses by 5 May 2026, and 2,008 houses had been completed by the same date. The Housing and Urban Development Department and urban local bodies are the main implementing agencies for urban housing projects in the state.
3. India Achieves Zero Primary Dropout Rate in Jharkhand: Jharkhand recorded a primary dropout rate of 0% in 2024-25, compared with 6.41% in 2014-15, in education data linked to the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2024-25 and a NITI Aayog report released on 8 May 2026. The state also reported a decline in upper primary dropout rate from 7.42% to 1.7% and in secondary dropout rate from 23.2% to 3.5% between 2014-15 and 2024-25. Dropout rate is the proportion of students who leave a school stage before completion of that level. In India, primary education generally covers Classes I to V, while upper primary covers Classes VI to VIII and secondary covers Classes IX to X. UDISE+ is the national school education database used for school-level indicators such as enrolment, teachers, infrastructure, and dropout rates. The 2024-25 data placed Jharkhand at zero primary dropout for both boys and girls, after a rate of more than 11% in 2022-23.
4. Supreme Court Proposes Permanent Woman Vice-President Post in SCBA: The Supreme Court of India proposed on 8 May 2026 a permanent women-only Vice-President post in the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) from the 2027-28 cycle. The proposal was issued during hearings on reforms in Bar bodies and was linked to representation of women in the SCBA’s elected office-bearer structure. The court asked the SCBA General Body Meeting to consider creating an additional Vice-President post exclusively for women. The order also recalled an earlier direction of 27 April 2026, which had reserved the Vice-President post for women for the 2026-27 elections. After objections from several women lawyers, the court restored the earlier arrangement for the 2026-27 elections. Under that arrangement, the Secretary’s post, two posts in the senior executive committee, and three posts in the executive committee remain reserved for women members. The Supreme Court Bar Association is the recognised association of advocates practising before the Supreme Court of India. Its office-bearer posts include the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and members of the executive committee.
5. Ramachandra Huddar Appointed AOC Chairperson: Retired Karnataka High Court judge Ramachandra Dattatray Huddar was appointed chairperson of the Admission Overseeing Committee (AOC) for professional courses in Karnataka on 8 May 2026. The AOC is a committee associated with admission oversight for professional education in the state. The Admission Overseeing Committee functions in the field of admissions to professional courses in Karnataka. The chairperson post became vacant after the term of Justice B. Manohar ended in October 2024. The committee is linked with admission-related oversight in professional education, which includes courses such as engineering, medical, dental, and other professional streams regulated by the state framework. Justice Ramachandra Dattatray Huddar was sworn in as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Karnataka on 24 January 2023. He was appointed as a permanent judge of the Karnataka High Court on 8 January 2025. He retired as a permanent judge on 12 August 2025.
6. Maharashtra Approves Compressed Biogas Policy 2026: Maharashtra approved the Compressed Biogas (CBG) Policy, 2026, on 22 April 2026, and the policy was officially released on 5 May 2026. The Maharashtra Cabinet approved it under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and the policy provides ₹500 crore for 2026-27. Compressed biogas is a renewable fuel produced from organic waste through anaerobic digestion and purification. The Maharashtra policy covers urban waste and agricultural residue, and the state generates about 24,500 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste every day and more than 20 million metric tonnes of agricultural residue annually. The policy aims to establish compressed biogas projects in every district of Maharashtra. It provides for implementation through Public-Private Partnership and hybrid annuity models, and it requires source segregation of waste into organic and inorganic categories. Each CBG project must process at least 200 tonnes of segregated organic waste per day. A steering committee chaired by the Chief Secretary will oversee implementation, and district-level coordination committees will also function under the policy framework.
7. Suvendu Adhikari to Become West Bengal Chief Minister: Suvendu Adhikari was elected leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party legislative party in West Bengal on 8 May 2026. He is scheduled to take oath as the 9th Chief Minister of West Bengal on 9 May 2026. The Bharatiya Janata Party won the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election and ended the Trinamool Congress tenure of 14 years. The Chief Minister is the head of the elected government in a state under Article 164 of the Constitution of India. The office is held by the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Legislative Assembly. West Bengal became a state in 1950, and the Chief Minister heads the Council of Ministers. The West Bengal Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the state. It has 294 seats, and members are elected for a five-year term under the first-past-the-post system. The Assembly meets at the West Bengal Legislative Assembly building in Kolkata.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. IIT Madras Launches Deep-Tech Research Hub in California: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras Global Research Foundation, also called IITM Global, launched its first United States centre in Menlo Park, California. The centre became operational on 24 April 2026 and was announced at the SelectUSA Investment Summit held from 6 May to 9 May 2026. IITM Global is the overseas research and innovation arm linked to the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. The new centre has a planned investment of 7.5 million, including a greenfield investment of 4.5 million from IITM Global. The Menlo Park hub is planned as a centre for deep-tech research, commercialisation, and startup incubation. Deep-tech refers to technology based on advanced scientific and engineering research, including areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, clean technology, and immersive systems.
2. China Confirms Technical Support to Pakistan: China confirmed on 7 May 2026 that it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during a four-day conflict with India in May 2025. The confirmation concerned Chinese personnel involvement in an India-Pakistan clash linked to the military operation India called Operation Sindoor. The conflict began on 7 May 2025 after a militant attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir on 22 April 2025 killed 26 civilians. Indian forces launched strikes on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir, and India stated that the sites were used to plan the attack. Zhang Heng, an engineer from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, provided technical support to Pakistan during the conflict. The support was linked to Pakistan’s air force and its Chinese-made J-10CE fighter jets, which are part of the J-10 family of multirole combat aircraft. Pakistan’s J-10C fighters were reported to have shot down multiple Indian Air Force fighters during the 2025 conflict, including between one and four Rafale aircraft. India has maintained that China provided support to Pakistan during the conflict, and Lieutenant General Rahul R. Singh stated in July 2025 that India faced three adversaries during Operation Sindoor, with China and Türkiye providing support to Pakistan.
3. 10th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks Held in New Delhi: The 10th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks were held in New Delhi on 8 May 2026. The Indian side was led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, and the Australian side was led by First Assistant Secretary, International Policy, Bernard Philip. The talks covered bilateral defence cooperation, maritime security, training exchanges, and defence industry collaboration. The India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was established in 2020, and defence cooperation is one of its major pillars. The annual India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue began in 2025. The Defence Policy Talks are part of the institutional mechanism for consultation between the two countries. Both sides reviewed the implementation of outcomes from the 2024 India-Australian Annual Leaders’ Summit. They discussed renewal of the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation and the development of a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap. The two sides also finalised key implementing arrangements and planned the first India-Australia Joint Staff Talks later in 2026.
4. David Attenborough Turns 100: Sir David Attenborough turned 100 on 8 May 2026. He is a British broadcaster, natural historian, and author known for wildlife programming and conservation advocacy. BBC organised a live event at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 8 May 2026 for David Attenborough’s 100th birthday. The event included wildlife stories, public tributes, and musical performances. David Attenborough’s work has been linked with global conservation campaigns and wildlife education. His 1979 series Life on Earth included an encounter with gorillas in Rwanda and became associated with support for mountain gorilla conservation. The mountain gorilla population increased from about 250 to more than 1,000 worldwide after decades of conservation measures. Tributes for his centenary included events by WWF UK, the United Nations Environment Programme, and New Zealand’s Department of Conservation.
5. Bangladesh Measles Outbreak: Bangladesh has recorded 336 child deaths since 15 March 2026 in a measles outbreak, with more than 50,000 confirmed and suspected cases by 8 May 2026. The outbreak has affected 58 of 64 districts across all eight divisions, and the Directorate General of Health Services has reported cases among children mainly in the 1 to 14 years age group. Between 15 March and 14 April 2026, Bangladesh reported 19,161 suspected measles cases and 2,897 laboratory-confirmed cases. During the same period, 166 measles-related deaths were recorded, with a case fatality rate of 0.9 per cent, and 79 per cent of the deaths were among children under five years of age. On 4 May 2026, Bangladesh recorded 17 child deaths in a single day, which was the highest daily toll during the outbreak. On 8 May 2026, 12 more children died within 24 hours, including six deaths in the Dhaka division.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India Conducts Maiden Test of Nuclear-Capable ICBM: India conducted a maiden test of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) off the Odisha coast on 8 May 2026. The launch took place from Abdul Kalam Island near Chandipur, and the missile test involved a danger corridor of about 3,560 km over the Bay of Bengal. An intercontinental ballistic missile is a long-range ballistic missile with a range of more than 5,500 km. ICBMs are designed to deliver conventional or nuclear warheads over intercontinental distances and follow a ballistic trajectory after powered flight. Abdul Kalam Island, earlier known as Wheeler Island, is a missile test site off the Odisha coast. The island lies near Chandipur, which is associated with India’s Integrated Test Range under the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
2. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan Appointed Next Navy Chief: Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan was appointed as the next Chief of the Naval Staff of India on 9 May 2026. He is scheduled to assume office on 31 May 2026 and will succeed Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, who retires on the same date. The Chief of the Naval Staff is the professional head of the Indian Navy and one of the three service chiefs in India. The post is held by a four-star officer and is part of the higher defence leadership structure under the Ministry of Defence. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1987. He specialises in Communication and Electronic Warfare, which are branches linked to naval command, signals, and electronic countermeasures.
3. India Discusses BrahMos Missile Sale to Vietnam: India and Vietnam discussed the sale of the BrahMos missile system during the state visit of Vietnamese President To Lam to India from 5 May to 7 May 2026. The visit took place at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and both sides elevated their ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. India and Vietnam identified defence and security cooperation as a key pillar of their bilateral relationship. The two sides agreed to establish a 2+2 ministerial dialogue involving the foreign and defence ministers of both countries. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral talks with Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Phan Van Giang, in New Delhi on 6 May 2026. The discussions covered joint military exercises, staff talks, maritime security, information sharing, and joint research and co-production of defence technologies.
SPORTS
1. India to Participate in FIFA ASEAN Cup: India has signed a participation agreement with FIFA for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, which is scheduled for the international window from 21 September to 6 October 2026. The All India Football Federation has accepted the invitation and is awaiting further tournament details. The FIFA Council approved the FIFA ASEAN Cup on 20 March 2026. The tournament will use a two-division format, with Indonesia hosting Division 1 and Hong Kong hosting Division 2. The event is expected to include 14 teams from Southeast Asia and invited nations such as China and Hong Kong. Division 1 winners of the FIFA ASEAN Cup are set to receive US1 million, while Division 2 winners are set to receive US300,000. All 14 participating teams are guaranteed a participation fee of US$125,000.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. James Webb Telescope studies rocky exoplanet LHS 3844 b: The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) directly studied the rocky exoplanet LHS 3844 b, also called Kuaꞌkua, on 4 May 2026. LHS 3844 b is a super-Earth located about 49 to 50 light-years away and is around 30% larger than Earth. The James Webb Space Telescope is a space observatory developed by NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. It operates in the infrared region and carries instruments such as the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), which studies heat and molecular signatures from distant objects. LHS 3844 b is a tidally locked exoplanet, which means one hemisphere permanently faces its host star. The planet reaches temperatures of about 1,340 degrees Fahrenheit, or 725 degrees Celsius, on the star-facing side. Observations from MIRI in 2023 and 2024 found that the planet is dark, hot, barren, and without an atmosphere.
2. NASA Tests Plasma Engine for Mars Travel: NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California tested a lithium-fed magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster on 24 February 2026. The prototype reached 120 kilowatts of power, which is the highest-power electric propulsion system tested in the United States to date. A magnetoplasmadynamic thruster is an electric propulsion device that uses electromagnetic fields to accelerate ionised propellant. The tested prototype used lithium metal vapour as fuel and produced a plume during operation. The 120-kilowatt output is 25 times higher than the electric thrusters used on NASA’s Psyche mission. During the test, the central tungsten electrode exceeded 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, or 2,800 degrees Celsius.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. UNCTAD Flags Rising Cost of Non-Tariff Barriers: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development has released a report titled Invisible Barriers: The Costs of Non-Tariff Measures. The report states that non-tariff measures now impose greater costs on global exports than tariffs for 88% of countries. Non-tariff measures are trade-related rules other than customs duties. They include mandatory standards, product requirements, licensing requirements, and health regulations. These measures apply to goods trade and often require compliance with technical, sanitary, or administrative conditions. he report states that developing economies and least-developed countries face higher compliance costs under non-tariff measures. Least-developed countries lose about 10% of their exports to G20 markets because they cannot meet non-tariff requirements. The report also states that weak participation by least-developed countries in World Trade Organization disputes and negotiations affects their ability to address technical barriers.
2. US CDC Classifies Hantavirus Outbreak as Level 3: On 8 May 2026, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classified a hantavirus outbreak as a Level 3 emergency response. Level 3 is the CDC’s lowest emergency activation level and is used for active monitoring, emergency operations centre activation, and deployment of an emergency support team. The CDC uses emergency response levels to organise public health operations during outbreaks and other health events. Level 3 is associated with a low risk to the general public and with continued situational monitoring by the agency. Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that usually spread through contact with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. The outbreak involved the Andes strain of Hantavirus, a rare variant that has been associated with limited human-to-human transmission in some cases.
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