Weekly Current Affairs Test : 15th to 21st May 2026

Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater alpine lake located along the boundary of the US states of California and Nevada. It is surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountain range and is considered the highest lake in the United States. Lake Tahoe is also North America’s largest alpine lake and one of the largest lakes in the United States after the Great Lakes. The lake’s only outlet is the Truckee River, which begins at Tahoe City in California. The lake recently came into focus amid concerns over electricity demand from Artificial Intelligence data centres in the region.

Three church leaders belonging to the Thadou Tribe were killed in an ambush in Kangpokpi district of Manipur. The Thadou are an indigenous tribal community mainly residing in Manipur and neighbouring regions of Northeast India and Myanmar. In Manipur, they largely inhabit the hill regions surrounding the Imphal Valley. The Thadou are the second-largest tribe in Manipur after the Meiteis. According to the 2011 Census, the tribe had a population of about 190,595 in Manipur. The community shares close cultural ties with the Chin-Kuki-Mizo ethnic groups.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched the Intellectual Property (IP) Catalyst initiative along with its digital platform. The initiative is being implemented by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC Pune). It aims to create a digital ecosystem supporting the entire innovation cycle, from research and patent generation to commercialization and market deployment. The initiative seeks to strengthen collaboration among startups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), academia, industry, and MeitY organizations. It also aims to bridge the gap between publicly funded research and industrial adoption.

India’s first Human-Elephant Conflict Research Centre will be established at Palamu Tiger Reserve. The tiger reserve is located on the Chhotanagpur Plateau in Jharkhand and forms part of Betla National Park. Palamu was among the first nine tiger reserves created under Project Tiger. It was also the first reserve in the world where a tiger census was conducted through the pugmark counting method in 1932. The reserve has an undulating terrain consisting of valleys, hills, plains, granite, limestone, and gneiss formations.

Psechrus ntu and Psechrus phenshunyu are two newly discovered spider species identified by the Zoological Survey of India. Both species belong to the genus Psechrus of the Psechridae family, known for building large horizontal sheet webs in moist forests. The spiders were discovered in Nagaland and named after the villages Ntu and Phenshunyu. They possess elongated flattened bodies, long anterior legs, and fine sensory hairs that help detect vibrations in dense forest habitats. The spiders build expansive sheet-like webs that act as prey-capture and environmental sensing platforms. Researchers also observed a rare heterospecific association where different spider species shared the same web.

Euphrates River is the longest river in Western Asia and one of the world’s oldest historically significant rivers. The river originates in the Armenian Highlands of Turkey and flows through Syria and Iraq before joining the Tigris River and draining into the Persian Gulf. Together with the Tigris, it forms the Tigris-Euphrates river system. Ancient Mesopotamia and major civilizations such as Babylon developed along the Euphrates in the Fertile Crescent region. The river mainly depends on winter rainfall and mountain snowfall for its water supply. The Euphrates is now facing severe decline due to environmental and water-related pressures.

The government recently imposed limits on gold imports under the Advance Authorisation Scheme. The scheme allows duty-free import of inputs used in manufacturing export products. It also permits import of packaging materials, fuel, oil, and catalysts used during production. Imports under the scheme are exempt from duties such as Basic Customs Duty, Anti-dumping Duty, Integrated Tax, and Compensation Cess, subject to conditions. Exporters receiving benefits under the scheme must fulfill specified export obligations.

Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary witnessed sightings of Himalayan brown bears, reviving conservation interest in the region. The sanctuary is located in Himachal Pradesh and is also known as the Sangla Wildlife Sanctuary. The Lamkhanga Pass trekking route passes through the sanctuary. Lamkhanga Pass connects Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh with the Gangotri region of Uttarakhand.

Dhruva Space secured ₹105 crore under the Research, Development & Innovation Fund for “Project Garud.” Project Garud is a satellite platform programme focused on developing a flat-pack 500 kg-class satellite platform for scalable and high-volume manufacturing. The project aims to bridge the gap between small experimental satellites and large traditional spacecraft systems. The platform is designed for applications in telecommunications, national security, Earth observation, and data-driven services. Its flat-pack architecture enables efficient launch stacking, faster integration, and quicker deployment timelines.

The Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at Bhiwadi and the Semiconductor ATMP/OSAT facility of Sahasra Semiconductors Pvt. Ltd. were inaugurated virtually. The Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) was developed by ELCINA at Salarpur, Khushkhera in Rajasthan. The cluster has been established over 50.3 acres with support under the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster scheme. The facility is India’s first Small and Medium Enterprise commercial semiconductor chip production unit. The semiconductor plant was developed under the Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS).

Central Bureau of Investigation launched the AI-based helpbot “ABHAY” (AI-Based Helpbot for Authentication of Your Notice). The system helps citizens verify the authenticity of notices issued in the name of the CBI and protects them from digital arrest and impersonation scams. It is India’s first real-time AI-powered notice verification platform designed to combat cyber fraud. Users can upload scanned copies of notices after OTP verification, and the system identifies whether the notice is genuine or fake.

Mount Uturuncu volcano in Bolivia has recently drawn scientific attention after researchers detected fresh batches of hot magma rising from deep underground, raising concerns about possible volcanic activity in the future. Mount Uturuncu is a dormant stratovolcano located in the Andes Mountains of southwestern Bolivia. It is known as a “zombie volcano” because it shows signs of activity despite being considered dormant. Beneath the volcano lies the massive Altiplano-Puna Magma Body, one of the largest active magma reservoirs in Earth’s crust. The volcano displays a unique “sombrero” pattern where the central region rises while surrounding land subsides.

Narcotics Control Bureau busted an international synthetic drug trafficking network under Operation RAGEPILL. The operation led to the seizure of around 227.7 kg of Captagon tablets and powder and the arrest of an overstaying Syrian national. Captagon contains psychotropic substances such as fenetylline and amphetamine, which are regulated under the NDPS Act. This was India’s first-ever seizure of Captagon, often referred to as the “Jihadi Drug.” The drug consignment was reportedly intended for the Middle East region.

During the R N Kao Memorial Lecture 2026 organised by Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), the Union Home Minister emphasized the need for global cooperation against drug trafficking, including uniform laws, extradition mechanisms, and intelligence sharing. R&AW is India’s external intelligence agency responsible for gathering foreign intelligence and monitoring external security threats. The agency plays a major role in counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, counter-proliferation, and strategic intelligence operations. It is headquartered in New Delhi.

A fresh outbreak of Ebola has been reported in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with dozens of deaths reported. Ebola is a severe viral hemorrhagic fever caused by orthoebolaviruses and affects humans as well as non-human primates. The disease was first identified in 1976 in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It spreads through direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, organs, or contaminated surfaces, but not through air transmission. Fruit bats are considered the natural hosts of the virus.

The historic Tungabhadra Dam near Hosapete has been restored after all 33 crest gates were replaced, nearly two years after Gate No. 19 was washed away. The dam is built across the Tungabhadra River, a tributary of the Krishna River. It is located in Ballari district of Karnataka. The dam serves irrigation, hydropower generation, and flood control purposes. Its left canals irrigate areas in Karnataka, while right canals also benefit the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. Tungabhadra Dam is one of the few reservoirs in India built using a combination of mud and limestone.

A rare sighting of the Red-necked Falcon was recently recorded in Kawal Tiger Reserve. Scientifically known as Falco chicquera, it is a medium-sized bird of prey found in India and parts of Africa. The species is recognised by its reddish-brown crown and neck, bluish-grey upperparts, and agile flight. It inhabits open woodlands, dry deciduous forests, scrublands, and agricultural landscapes. The falcon is known for hunting in pairs, especially during dawn and dusk. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is classified as Near Threatened.

The Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference 2026 was held in Bhubaneswar on May 19, 2026. The conference is organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The event aims to strengthen agricultural development, improve farmers’ income, and enhance Centre-State coordination.

Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Million Minds Tech Park and the Ganesh Real Estate Management Institute in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The projects aim to strengthen Gujarat’s role in technology, innovation, AI, robotics, semiconductors, and services. The Million Minds Tech Park is spread across the Ahmedabad–GIFT City–Gandhinagar corridor and is expected to generate over 70,000 high-skilled jobs. The initiative supports Gujarat’s transformation into a global hub for technology and services under the vision of Narendra Modi.

Narendra Modi was conferred Sweden’s prestigious Royal Order of the Polar Star Commander Grand Cross honour during his visit to Sweden. The award is among Sweden’s highest honours given to foreign leaders for contributions to diplomacy, international cooperation, and bilateral relations. PM Modi received the honour during talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Discussions focused on trade, green transition, technology, innovation, and strategic cooperation between India and Sweden. The honour reflects strengthening India–Sweden relations and India’s growing global diplomatic influence.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). A PHEIC is the highest level of global health alert issued by WHO under the International Health Regulations (IHR). It is declared when a health crisis poses an international public health risk and requires coordinated global action.

The fifth meeting of the Scientific Steering Committee on the National One Health Mission was held in New Delhi. The mission was launched in 2024 to strengthen integrated disease surveillance and pandemic preparedness in India. It follows a collaborative approach connecting human, animal, and environmental health sectors. The mission aims to improve coordinated disease control and health security across sectors. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), under the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, is the nodal agency for the mission.

India accounts for over 70% of global jaggery production, making it the world’s largest producer of jaggery. Jaggery, commonly called gur, is an unrefined natural sweetener made by concentrating sugarcane juice without chemicals. It retains important minerals and micronutrients often lost during sugar refining. Jaggery contains minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus along with vitamins and antioxidants. In India, Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer, followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) recovered live Red Sand Boa snakes from an illegal wildlife trade operation in Warangal. Scientifically known as Eryx johnii, the Red Sand Boa is a non-venomous snake found in dry regions of the Indian subcontinent. The species is endemic to India, Pakistan, and Iran. It prefers sandy and loose soil habitats and spends most of its time underground. The snake is known for its thick reddish-brown body and “double-headed” appearance due to its tail shape. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, it is classified as Near Threatened.

Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is being developed as a second habitat for the Asiatic Lion to reduce extinction risks associated with concentrating the entire wild population in Gir Forest. The sanctuary is located in the Barda Hills near Porbandar in Gujarat. Historically, it served as a private hunting ground for the royal families of Jamnagar and Porbandar. The sanctuary features hilly terrain surrounded by forests, wastelands, and agricultural land.

International Booker Prize is awarded annually for the best translated fiction published in the UK or Ireland. It was established in 2005 as the Man Booker International Prize. The award honours both authors and translators, with prize money equally shared between them. In 2026, Taiwan Travelogue, translated by Lin King, won the 2026 International Booker Prize prize. The award promotes global literature and encourages reading of translated works worldwide. India achieved notable success through Tomb of Sand in 2022 and Heart Lamp in 2025. These victories highlighted Indian regional languages internationally.

Scientists discovered a new species of burrowing snake named Trachischium lalremsangai near the India–Myanmar border. The species was found in Murlen National Park, located within the Indo–Burma biodiversity hotspot. The snake was named after Dr. Lalremsanga for his major contributions to herpetology in Northeast India. The snake is characterised by smooth iridescent scales, a brown body, a white-speckled underside, and a unique head-scale arrangement. The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of Northeast India and the ecological importance of Mizoram’s forest ecosystems.

The rare Kashmir Flycatcher was recently spotted in the wetlands of Chemmattamavayal wetlands, Kerala. It is a small passerine bird belonging to the Muscicapidae flycatcher family. The species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and mainly breeds in the Kashmir region of the northwest Himalayas. It is a migratory bird that winters in the high-altitude Nilgiris of the Western Ghats and also in Sri Lanka. Due to habitat loss and declining population, the species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The sighting highlights the ecological importance of Kerala’s wetlands for migratory birds.

Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and is globally famous for its floating islands called phumdis. It is located in Manipur. Phumdis are floating masses of vegetation, soil, and organic matter that support fishing huts, settlements, and wildlife habitats. Keibul Lamjao National Park, located within the lake, is the world’s only floating national park and the natural habitat of the endangered Sangai deer. Recent reports also highlighted concerns about pollution, shrinking phumdis, and ecological imbalance affecting the lake ecosystem

Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajasthan was recently recognised by UNESCO surveys as having the world’s second-longest surviving wall after the Great Wall of China. It was built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha, the fort is located in the Aravalli Hills and was an important military stronghold of Mewar. Its massive wall stretches over 36 kilometres, giving it the title “Great Wall of India.” The fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the Hill Forts of Rajasthan.