8 May 2026 — Daily Current Affairs Quiz
10 Questions • Answer all questions and submit to see your results
Quiz Complete! 🎉
0/10
0
Correct
0
Incorrect
Answer Review
Review all questions with correct answers and explanations
📝 Revision Notes
Key takeaways from today’s quiz to strengthen your preparation
Health
International Thalassaemia Day — 8 May 2026
Observed on 8 May every year. 2026 theme: ‘Hidden No More: Finding the Undiagnosed. Supporting the Unseen.’ Established by Panos Englezos, founder of Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF), in 1994 in memory of his son George. Thalassaemia is an autosomal recessive inherited blood disorder — mutations in alpha- or beta-globin genes reduce haemoglobin production causing chronic anaemia. India has ~10,000–15,000 thalassaemia major births annually — one of the most affected nations globally.
Agriculture
Sugarcane FRP 2026-27 — CCEA Approval
CCEA approved FRP (Fair and Remunerative Price) for sugarcane at Rs 365 per quintal for 2026-27 at a basic recovery rate of 10.25% — up 2.81% from previous season’s Rs 355. Effective 1 October 2026. Mandated under Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966; determined by CCEA on recommendation of CACP (Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices). FRP protects Ganna Kisan (sugarcane farmers) across India with a guaranteed minimum price.
Agriculture
Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026-31)
Union Cabinet approved Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026-27 to 2030-31) with outlay of Rs 5,659.22 crore. Aligns with 5F vision: Farm → Fibre → Factory → Fashion → Foreign. Joint implementation by MoAFW (Agriculture) and MoT (Textiles). India is the world’s largest cotton producer and a leading exporter. Aims to boost cotton yield, quality, and farmer income while strengthening the domestic textile-to-export value chain.
Science
IITM Pune — India’s First Urban Testbed & Aerosol Observatory
IITM Pune (Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology), an autonomous institute under Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), established India’s first Urban Testbed and Aerosol Observatory at SRMIST, Ramapuram, Chennai. Also houses CASRI (Centre for Atmospheric Science Research and Innovation). Investment: over Rs 60 crore. Inaugurated by Dr. M. Ravichandran, MoES Secretary. Monitors ~50 atmospheric parameters; to deploy ~100 AWS. IITM established: 1955; renowned for monsoon research.
International
India-Japan Agreements — Quantum & Health Research
MoC on health research signed between Japan’s AMED (Agency for Medical Research and Development), India’s ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research; est. 1911; under MoHFW), and DST (Dept. of Science and Technology). LoI on Quantum Science and Technology signed between Japan’s Cabinet Office and DST. Signed in presence of Jitendra Singh (MoS IC, MoS&T) and Japan’s Minister Kimi. Reinforces India-Japan Strategic Partnership in emerging tech.
Climate
India-EU TTC — EV Battery Recycling Initiative
Third coordinated call under India-EU Trade & Technology Council (TTC) Working Group 2 (Green & Clean Energy Technologies) launched 5 May 2026. Focus: Recycling of EV Batteries. Combined funding: EUR 15.2 million (~Rs 169 crore) — co-funded by EU’s Horizon Europe and India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI). Deadline: 15 September 2026. Targets recovery of lithium, graphite, cobalt from battery waste — the concept of a ‘virtual mine.’ TTC established: 2023.
Digital Governance
Swasth Bharat Portal — Unified Digital Health Platform
MoHFW launched the Swasth Bharat Portal at the 10th National Summit on Innovation and Inclusivity, Chandigarh. Integrates fragmented health programme systems into a unified platform. API-based, federated, compliant with ABDM (Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission); integrated with ABHA, HPR (Healthcare Professionals Registry), HFR (Health Facility Registry). Estimated to cut infrastructure load by ~20-30% and data entry burden by ~20-40%. Relieves ASHAs, ANMs, CHOs, Medical Officers.
Business & Economy
India’s FY26 Export Performance & EV Sales
India’s combined goods and services exports in FY2025-26 rose 4.59% to USD 863.11 billion. Electric passenger vehicle sales surged 75.14% in April 2026 (FADA data) — a key indicator of India’s EV transition momentum. Export growth is critical for India’s USD 2 trillion economy target. Context: India-EU EV battery recycling initiative and ongoing trade diversification strategy amid global tariff uncertainties.
Education
Cape Breton University (CBU) — India Academic MoUs
Cape Breton University (CBU), Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada (est. 1974), signed three MoUs with Indian universities in May 2026. In New Delhi: 5-year MoU with BML Munjal University, Kapriwas, Haryana. Also signed MoUs in Vadodara and Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Led by CBU president David C. Dingwall. Focus: student and faculty exchanges, joint research, co-development, and innovation partnerships. Delegation visited New Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Vadodara, Ahmedabad.
International
World Red Cross & Red Crescent Day — 9 May
Observed on 9 May every year to honour Henry Dunant’s birthday (8 May 1828) — Swiss founder of ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross), established 1863. Witness to Battle of Solferino (1859); co-authored First Geneva Convention. Co-recipient of first Nobel Peace Prize (1901) with Frédéric Passy. ICRC (HQ: Geneva) has won Nobel Peace Prize three times: 1917, 1944, 1963. IRCS (Indian Red Cross Society) established 1920. 2026 theme: ‘Humanity That Unites Us.’
🎴 Revision Flashcards
Click each card to flip and test your recall
Tap to Reveal
Who established International Thalassaemia Day, when, and what is the 2026 theme?
Panos Englezos (TIF founder) — 1994; 2026 theme: ‘Hidden No More: Finding the Undiagnosed. Supporting the Unseen.’
Autosomal recessive disorder; ~10,000–15,000 thalassaemia major births/year in India
Tap to Reveal
What is the FRP for sugarcane for 2026-27, and what is the basic recovery rate?
Rs 365 per quintal at 10.25% basic recovery rate; effective 1 October 2026
Up 2.81% from Rs 355 in previous season; CACP recommends, CCEA approves
Tap to Reveal
What is the budget outlay and vision behind the Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026-31)?
Rs 5,659.22 crore; aligns with 5F vision — Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign
Jointly implemented by MoAFW and MoT; India is the world’s largest cotton producer
Tap to Reveal
What is the combined EU-India funding for the EV battery recycling initiative under TTC WG2?
EUR 15.2 million (~Rs 169 crore); co-funded by EU’s Horizon Europe and India’s MHI
Third TTC coordinated call; targets lithium, graphite, cobalt recovery; deadline: 15 Sep 2026
Tap to Reveal
IITM Pune functions under which ministry, and what is India’s first Urban Testbed facility?
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES); Urban Testbed & Aerosol Observatory + CASRI at SRMIST, Chennai
Investment: over Rs 60 crore; ~50 atmospheric parameters; ~100 AWS planned; IITM est. 1955
Tap to Reveal
Henry Dunant — ICRC founder; Nobel Prize year, and how many times has ICRC won the Nobel Peace Prize?
First Nobel Peace Prize: 1901 (with Frédéric Passy); ICRC won Nobel Peace Prize 3 times — 1917, 1944, 1963
Born 8 May 1828; ICRC est. 1863; IRCS (India) est. 1920; 2026 theme: ‘Humanity That Unites Us’
Tap to Reveal
What was India’s combined goods and services export figure for FY26, and what was the EV sales growth in April 2026?
USD 863.11 billion (4.59% growth); EV passenger vehicle sales +75.14% in April 2026 (FADA data)
Critical for India’s USD 2 trillion economy target; tracked amid global tariff uncertainties
Tap to Reveal
Which Indian body signed the health research MoC with Japan’s AMED in May 2026?
ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research; est. 1911) and DST jointly
Also: LoI on Quantum Science and Technology between Japan’s Cabinet Office and DST
Think & Discuss
From Cotton Fields to EV Batteries: Can India Build Integrated Value Chains — or Will It Remain a Supplier of Raw Inputs?
Context from today’s quiz: Today’s quiz highlighted two ends of India’s industrial ambition. On one side: the Mission for Cotton Productivity (Rs 5,659.22 crore, 2026-31) aims to complete the 5F value chain — Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign — turning raw agricultural output into finished export goods. On the other side: India and the EU jointly launched a EUR 15.2 million EV battery recycling initiative to recover lithium, cobalt, and graphite from battery waste — creating a ‘virtual mine.’ Together, they frame a central question about whether India’s manufacturing strategy is building deep value chains or remaining at the lower end of global supply networks.
🤔 Your Perspective Matters
India is the world’s largest cotton producer — yet it exports significant raw cotton while importing high-value garments. Similarly, India is emerging as a major EV market, but the critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, graphite) in its batteries are largely imported. The EV battery recycling initiative aims to recover these from waste — essentially building domestic supply from the ‘back end.’
Is India’s policy of building value chains from both ends — agricultural raw materials upward (5F cotton) and industrial waste downward (EV recycling) — a coherent industrial strategy, or are these disconnected initiatives that lack the coordinated policy ecosystem needed to create globally competitive industries?
Is India’s policy of building value chains from both ends — agricultural raw materials upward (5F cotton) and industrial waste downward (EV recycling) — a coherent industrial strategy, or are these disconnected initiatives that lack the coordinated policy ecosystem needed to create globally competitive industries?
- India’s FY26 exports grew 4.59% to USD 863.11 billion — steady but not transformative. Given the 5F cotton mission and EV battery recycling push, which sector has a higher realistic probability of driving India’s next export surge, and what structural bottlenecks — logistics, skilling, standards — stand in the way?
- The Swasth Bharat Portal aims to cut data entry burden by 20-40% for frontline health workers (ASHAs, ANMs, CHOs). As India digitises its public health infrastructure, how should it balance the efficiency gains of centralised platforms against risks of data privacy, rural digital exclusion, and over-reliance on fragile infrastructure?
- India’s sugarcane FRP was raised 2.81% to Rs 365/quintal for 2026-27. With climate stress affecting sugarcane yields and the sugar industry also critical for ethanol blending and energy security, should India’s agricultural pricing policy explicitly incorporate climate resilience and biofuel strategy — or does that risk distorting farm economics?
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your perspective in the comments.
📤 Found this useful? Help your friends stay updated too!
