Current Affairs 7 May 2026 | 7th May 2026 Current Affairs | Daily GK Updates

NCRB Crime in India 2024 Report — Cybercrime Surges 17.9%, Overall Crime Down 6%

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released its flagship annual report "Crime in India 2024" — and the numbers tell a striking story about where India's crime landscape is heading.

The headline numbers:

India's crime landscape is undergoing a structural shift from conventional crimes to cyber and economic offences.

What is NCRB? The National Crime Records Bureau functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It was established in 1986 and serves as a repository of crime statistics at the national level. It compiles data on cognisable crimes, cyber offences, and ADSI (Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India) — making it the primary database for criminal justice policy formulation in India.

Key exam observations from Crime in India 2024:

• The 17.9% surge in cybercrime while overall crime declined confirms India's crime profile is shifting from physical to digital — a structural transformation driven by increased internet penetration, digital payments, and online services

• Delhi's crime rate of 138.4 vs the national average of 42.3 underscores serious urban governance and policing gaps

• The fact that daily wage workers (31%) account for the largest share of suicides is a powerful socio-economic data point — directly linked to weak informal sector welfare, precarious employment, and lack of social security nets

• Crimes against children rising alongside a 7.8% increase in missing children cases — with girls forming 77% of missing cases — highlights persistent vulnerabilities in child protection systems

NCRB = under MHA. Established 1986. Cybercrime up 17.9%. Overall crime down 6%. Delhi crime rate = 138.4 (national avg = 42.3). Bengaluru = highest metro cybercrime (17,561 cases). Telangana = highest human trafficking (423 cases). Odisha = highest violent crime rate (161.6/lakh). Student suicides = 14,488. Daily wage worker suicides = ~31% of total. All are standard UPSC, SSC, and State PSC exam data points.

School Management Committee (SMC) Guidelines 2026 — A Unified National Framework for School Governance

The Union Minister for Education launched the School Management Committee (SMC) Guidelines 2026 in New Delhi — a comprehensive and unified national framework delineating the roles and responsibilities of SMCs. It serves as a consolidated reference for States and Union Territories to harmonise their rules with the national vision for inclusive, participatory, and accountable education. The Ministry responsible is the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.

What are School Management Committees? SMCs were mandated under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 — specifically under Section 21 — for all government and government-aided schools. Every such school is required to constitute an SMC comprising elected representatives of local authority, parents/guardians of children enrolled in the school, and teachers. Three-quarters (75%) of SMC members must be parents or guardians, and at least 50% must be women. The SMC is responsible for preparing the School Development Plan (SDP), monitoring school functioning, and ensuring proper utilisation of grants.

Why were new guidelines needed? The 2026 guidelines update the framework to reflect ground realities — many SMCs existed only on paper, with low awareness among parents about their roles, inadequate training, and poor documentation. The new guidelines create a standardised operational manual to make SMCs genuinely functional and accountable.

SMC = mandated under RTE Act 2009, Section 21. 75% members = parents/guardians. 50% = women. Responsible for School Development Plan. SMC Guidelines 2026 = unified national framework. RTE Act covers children aged 6–14, Article 21A.

UIDAI and National Forensic Sciences University Sign 5-Year Cybersecurity Pact

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) on cybersecurity and digital forensics.

About UIDAI: Established under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, UIDAI is responsible for issuing Aadhaar numbers and maintaining the biometric database of over 130 crore enrolled individuals. Cybersecurity of Aadhaar infrastructure is a matter of national importance — making this partnership with NFSU highly strategic.

About NFSU: The National Forensic Sciences University is India's first and only university dedicated entirely to forensic science education and research. It is a Central University established through the NFSU Act, 2020, with its main campus in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

UIDAI = Ministry of Electronics and IT. Governed by Aadhaar Act, 2016. NFSU = India's first forensic science university. Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Central University. NFSU Act, 2020. 5-year MoU on cybersecurity + digital forensics.

Indian Army Gets DRDO-Developed Electronic Warfare System — ELINT + COMINT on Mobile Platform

A significant indigenous defence procurement was formalised on May 7, 2026. The contract for a new Electronic Warfare (EW) system was signed for the Indian Army. Key details: it falls under the Buy Indian – IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category with at least 72% indigenous content. It was designed and developed by DLRL (Defence Electronics Research Laboratory) — a wing of DRDO — and manufactured by BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited). Capabilities include ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) and COMINT (Communications Intelligence) functions for detecting radars and intercepting communications, supports counter-drone 'soft kill' operations, and is mounted on mobile platforms for deployment in active tactical zones.

Key definitions:

• ELINT (Electronic Intelligence): Collection and analysis of non-communication electronic signals — primarily radar emissions — to understand enemy radar capabilities and locations

• COMINT (Communications Intelligence): Interception and analysis of enemy communications — voice, data, radio — to gather tactical and strategic intelligence

• Soft Kill (Counter-Drone): Neutralising drones using electronic jamming, GPS spoofing, or signal disruption rather than physically destroying them (which is "hard kill")

Why this matters strategically: Modern warfare is increasingly decided in the electromagnetic spectrum — whoever controls the spectrum controls the battlefield. Indigenous EW systems reduce India's dependence on imported systems, protect critical communications from enemy interception, and enhance battlefield situational awareness.

DLRL (under DRDO) designed. BEL manufactured. Buy Indian IDDM = 72%+ indigenous content. ELINT = radar signal intelligence. COMINT = communications interception. Soft kill = electronic counter-drone. Mobile platform deployment. This is a flagship Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence story.

Vadinar Ship Repair Facility — ₹1,570 Crore CCEA Approval

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a ₹1,570 crore ship repair facility at Vadinar in Gujarat. The project will be jointly implemented by Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).

Why Vadinar? Vadinar Port in Gujarat is strategically located on India's western coast, close to the Gulf of Kutch — one of the most active maritime corridors for India's oil imports. Currently, India sends many of its vessels abroad for major repairs — to Dubai, Singapore, and China — losing significant foreign exchange. A world-class ship repair facility at Vadinar will service not just Indian vessels but also international ships transiting Indian Ocean routes, generating revenue and creating skilled employment.

Vadinar Ship Repair = ₹1,570 crore. DPA + CSL joint implementation. CCEA approval. Vadinar = Gujarat. DPA = Deendayal Port Authority. CSL = Cochin Shipyard Limited. Atmanirbhar Bharat in maritime sector.

Railway Multi-Tracking Projects Worth ₹23,437 Crore Approved

The CCEA also approved railway multi-tracking projects worth ₹23,437 crore — covering capacity expansion across multiple rail corridors in India. Railway multi-tracking — adding third and fourth lines alongside existing tracks — is a critical capacity expansion tool that reduces congestion, improves punctuality, and enables freight separation from passenger traffic on busy routes.

Railway multi-tracking = ₹23,437 crore CCEA approved. Multi-tracking = adding 3rd/4th lines on congested corridors. Improves freight + passenger capacity simultaneously.

RBSK 2.0 Guidelines Launched — Child Health Screening Now Covers Birth to Age 18

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) launched the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) 2.0 Guidelines under the National Health Mission (NHM), at the 10th National Summit on Good Practices and Innovations in Public Healthcare Service Delivery held in Chandigarh. This marks a major expansion of India's child health screening and early intervention programme for children from birth to 18 years.

The upgraded 4Ds model under RBSK 2.0:

RBSK 2.0 introduces a preventive, promotive and curative continuum of care with a lifecycle-based approach ensuring continuous healthcare support from birth to adolescence.

Original RBSK (Phase 1): Launched in 2013, the original RBSK covered children up to 14 years and focused on 4D conditions. RBSK 2.0 extends coverage to 18 years and explicitly adds mental health and NCD screening — a significant expansion reflecting India's changing disease burden among young people.

RBSK 2.0 = MoHFW under NHM. Launched Chandigarh, 10th National Summit. Covers birth to 18 years (earlier up to 14). New additions: mental health, behavioural disorders, NCDs. 4Ds = Defects, Diseases, Deficiencies, Developmental Delays. Preventive + promotive + curative continuum.

ECLGS 5.0 — Emergency Credit Line for MSMEs and Airlines

The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 was extended, covering MSMEs and non-MSMEs with existing working capital limits and scheduled passenger airlines with outstanding credit facilities as of March 31, 2026 (provided their accounts are standard). The scheme is administered through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC). Airlines were given a longer repayment tenor of 7 years, reflecting the capital-intensive nature of the industry.

ECLGS background: The ECLGS was originally launched in May 2020 under the Atmanirbhar Bharat package as an emergency liquidity lifeline for businesses hit by COVID-19. Subsequent versions (2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and now 5.0) expanded coverage to different sectors. The inclusion of airlines in ECLGS 5.0 specifically responds to the West Asia geopolitical crisis — which caused spikes in aviation fuel costs and disrupted international airspace, squeezing airline finances.

ECLGS 5.0 = for MSMEs + airlines. Administered by NCGTC. Airlines get 7-year repayment tenor. ECLGS originally launched May 2020 under Atmanirbhar Bharat. NCGTC = National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited.

First International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit — New Delhi, June 1–3, 2026

India will host the first IBCA (International Big Cat Alliance) Summit from June 1–3, 2026 in New Delhi. The summit is expected to adopt the "Delhi Declaration" — marking the first global framework dedicated exclusively to big cat conservation — with participation from approximately 95 countries.

About IBCA:

• Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023 — coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger

• Aims to conserve seven big cat species: Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma

• India uniquely hosts four of these seven — Tiger, Lion (Asiatic), Leopard, and Snow Leopard

• IBCA is an intergovernmental platform with a Secretariat based in India

• Funded with an initial outlay of ₹150 crore over five years

Why big cats matter ecologically: Big cats are apex predators, maintaining trophic balance, biodiversity stability, and ecosystem resilience — making them keystone species in terrestrial ecosystems.

The Delhi Declaration: This will be the first time the global community adopts a dedicated multilateral framework for big cat conservation — a significant diplomatic and environmental achievement for India, building on the success of Project Tiger (1973) and Project Lion.

IBCA launched April 9, 2023 (50th anniversary of Project Tiger). 7 big cats: Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma. India hosts 4. First IBCA Summit = June 1–3, 2026, New Delhi. Delhi Declaration = first global big cat conservation framework. ~95 countries participating. ₹150 crore over 5 years.

Peacock Tarantula — First Scientific Survey Launched in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh launched the first scientific survey of Peacock Tarantulas (Poecilotheria metallica) in Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve. The Peacock Tarantula — also called the Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula and Blue Ornamental Tarantula — is a rare, large arboreal spider. Its habitat consists of crevices and hollows within dry deciduous forests of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh.

Why this is significant: The Peacock Tarantula is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List — making it one of the most threatened spider species in the world. Its stunning blue metallic colouration makes it highly sought after in the illegal exotic pet trade. This is the first systematic scientific survey of the species — baseline data from which will be essential for framing targeted conservation interventions.

Peacock Tarantula = Poecilotheria metallica. Also called Gooty Sapphire Ornamental / Blue Ornamental Tarantula. IUCN = Critically Endangered. Habitat = Eastern Ghats, AP. Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve. First scientific survey = 2026.

India-EU Launch €15.2 Million EV Battery Recycling Initiative

India and the EU launched a €15.2 million joint initiative under the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) to advance electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling. The initiative is funded by the EU's Horizon Europe programme and India's Ministry of Heavy Industries.

Key components include establishment of a joint India–EU pilot facility for real-world testing and industrial deployment, emphasis on safe and digitised collection systems, integration of the informal sector, and green transition goals through circular economy practices.

Why EV battery recycling is strategic: EV batteries contain critical minerals — Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Manganese — that are expensive to mine and concentrated in geopolitically sensitive regions (Congo for Cobalt, Chile and Australia for Lithium). Recycling spent EV batteries recovers these materials domestically, reducing import dependence, cutting environmental damage from mining, and supporting India's circular economy ambitions.

India-EU TTC: The Trade and Technology Council was established in 2022 to deepen India-EU cooperation on trade, technology, and security. Key focus areas include semiconductors, clean energy, digital connectivity, and supply chain resilience.

€15.2 million joint initiative. India-EU TTC (established 2022). Funded by EU Horizon Europe + India Ministry of Heavy Industries. Joint pilot facility in India for EV battery recycling. EV batteries = Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Manganese. Circular economy + critical minerals strategy.

ANEEL Thorium-Based Nuclear Fuel — Successful High Burnup Test Completed

US-based Clean Core Thorium Energy successfully completed high burnup irradiation of its ANEEL fuel at Idaho National Laboratory. ANEEL is a thorium-based fuel blended with HALEU (High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium) for use in heavy-water reactors (PHWRs). It achieves very high burnup — extracting significantly more energy than conventional fuels. Benefits include reduced nuclear waste, improved reactor efficiency, enhanced safety, and better proliferation resistance. It can be deployed in existing reactors (PHWRs) without major design changes.

Why this matters specifically for India: It supports India's thorium-based energy strategy, reducing dependence on imported uranium. It will help accelerate India's third-stage thorium cycle without waiting for the slow deployment of Fast Breeder Reactors.

India's three-stage nuclear programme — quick explainer:

India has the world's largest thorium reserves — estimated at 25% of global thorium — primarily concentrated in Kerala's monazite sand deposits. ANEEL's compatibility with existing PHWRs means India could accelerate thorium utilisation without waiting for FBR deployment.

What is HALEU? High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium is uranium enriched to between 5% and 20% U-235 — higher than conventional reactor fuel (3–5%) but well below weapons-grade (90%+). It enables higher efficiency and smaller reactor cores.

ANEEL = thorium fuel + HALEU. Tested at Idaho National Laboratory. Works in existing PHWRs (no design change needed). India has world's largest thorium reserves (~25% global). India's 3-stage nuclear programme = PHWRs → FBRs → Thorium. HALEU = 5–20% enriched uranium. Reduces nuclear waste. Better proliferation resistance.

NSE Launches Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs) — Gold Goes Digital

The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) announced Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs) to improve transparency in India's gold market.

What are EGRs? Electronic Gold Receipts are digital instruments that represent ownership of physical gold stored in SEBI-registered vaults. Think of them as the gold equivalent of demat shares — instead of holding physical gold (with storage, safety, and purity verification risks), investors hold EGRs in their demat accounts. EGRs are tradable on stock exchanges, making gold investment as easy and transparent as buying shares.

Regulatory framework: EGRs were introduced under the Securities Contracts (Regulation) (Stock Exchanges and Clearing Corporations) Regulations, 2018, with SEBI issuing specific EGR regulations in 2021. NSE's announcement marks a significant scaling of this market.

Why this matters: India is the world's second-largest gold consumer — importing approximately 700–900 tonnes annually. Much of this gold sits in homes and temple trusts, unproductive and economically idle. EGRs aim to mobilise this idle gold into the formal financial system, reduce physical gold imports over time, and bring price transparency.

EGR = Electronic Gold Receipt. NSE announced scaling. Digital instrument = physical gold ownership via demat. SEBI regulated. Introduced under Securities Contracts Regulations. India = world's 2nd largest gold consumer. Aim: mobilise idle gold, reduce imports.

Ministry of I&B + IICT Launch AI Skilling Initiative for Creative Sector

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), launched a national AI skilling initiative for the creative sector. The programme was developed in partnership with Google and YouTube. It provides 15,000 AI skill scholarships for creative fields like media, animation, gaming, and digital storytelling. It covers Generative AI, prompting, workflow automation, and responsible AI, aligned with industry needs.

Why this is significant: India's creative economy — comprising media, entertainment, animation, visual effects (VFX), gaming, and digital content — is growing rapidly and is projected to reach $100 billion by 2035. However, there is a massive skill gap between traditional creative training and the AI-enabled workflows that now dominate global studios and digital platforms. This initiative directly bridges that gap.

Ministry of I&B + IICT + Google + YouTube. 15,000 AI scholarships. Fields: media, animation, gaming, digital storytelling. Covers GenAI, prompting, responsible AI. India's creative economy = projected $100 billion by 2035.

Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2023-24 — Key Data

Key findings from the ASUSE (Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises) 2023-24:

What is the unincorporated sector? It refers to enterprises that are not registered as companies under the Companies Act — typically small shops, street vendors, repair workshops, small manufacturers, and informal service providers. This sector is the backbone of India's employment — absorbing crores of workers outside the formal economy.

ASUSE 2023-24. Total establishments = 7.92 crore. Employment = 12.81 crore. Top states = UP, WB, Maharashtra. Female-owned = 26.93%. GVA growth = 10.87%. Trade sector led at 16.77%. Critical data for Economy and Governance sections of all exams.

India-Jamaica Sign Three MoUs — Jaishankar Holds Bilateral Talks

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held delegation-level talks with Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Michael Holness and Kamina Elizabeth Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, reviewing bilateral relations and discussing cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, digitalisation, tourism, sports, infrastructure, education, capacity building and multilateral affairs. Three MoUs were signed covering health cooperation, solarisation of the Hugh Lawson Shearer Building, and broadcasting.

About Jamaica:

• Capital: Kingston

• Official language: English

• Member of: CARICOM (Caribbean Community), Commonwealth of Nations

• Jamaica is significant for India in the context of South-South cooperation and CARICOM engagement — India has been actively deepening ties with Caribbean nations through the India-CARICOM Summit framework

India-Jamaica MoUs = 3 (health, solar, broadcasting). EAM Jaishankar held talks. Jamaica PM = Andrew Michael Holness. Capital = Kingston. Jamaica = CARICOM member. Three MoUs = new bilateral data for exams.

India-Vietnam Discuss BrahMos Missile Sale During To Lam's Visit

India and Vietnam discussed the sale of the BrahMos missile system during the state visit of Vietnamese President To Lam to India from May 5 to 7, 2026.

About BrahMos:

• BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India (DRDO) and Russia (NPO Mashinostroyeniya) through the BrahMos Aerospace joint venture

• Named after rivers Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia)

• Speed: approximately Mach 2.8–3.0 (supersonic)

• Range: approximately 290–500 km (extended range variants)

• Can be launched from land, sea, sub-sea, and air platforms

• Vietnam would be a significant export customer — it already purchased BrahMos in a landmark deal signed in December 2021 for the Indian Navy's shore-based anti-ship variant

• BrahMos is India's most successful defence export — already sold to the Philippines and Vietnam

BrahMos = India-Russia joint venture (DRDO + NPO Mashinostroyeniya). Named: Brahmaputra + Moskva. Speed = Mach 2.8–3.0. Vietnam BrahMos deal first signed December 2021. Philippines = another BrahMos export customer. Multi-platform: land, sea, sub-sea, air.

India-UAE Review Comprehensive Strategic Partnership — Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Visits Abu Dhabi

India and the UAE reviewed the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's official visit to Abu Dhabi on 7 May 2026.

India-UAE relationship — key facts:

• UAE elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January 2017 during PM Modi's visit

• UAE is India's 3rd largest trading partner and 2nd largest export destination

• Bilateral trade exceeds $85 billion annually

• India-UAE signed the CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) in February 2022 — India's first CEPA with a Gulf nation

• The India-UAE Corridor is the 5th largest global migration corridor (as per World Migration Report 2026)

• UAE hosts approximately 3.5 million Indians — the largest Indian diaspora in any single country

India-UAE = Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2017). CEPA signed February 2022. Bilateral trade = $85 billion+. UAE = India's 3rd largest trading partner. Foreign Secretary = Vikram Misri. India-UAE = 5th largest global migration corridor.

Solomon Islands Parliament Passes No-Confidence Motion Against Jeremiah Manele

The Solomon Islands Parliament passed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.

About Solomon Islands: Located in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea. Capital: Honiara. The Solomon Islands has been a geopolitical flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific since signing a security agreement with China in 2022 — a development that alarmed Australia, New Zealand, and the US, and drew India's attention as part of its broader Pacific Island engagement strategy.

Solomon Islands PM = Jeremiah Manele (no-confidence motion passed). Capital = Honiara. China-Solomon Islands security pact (2022) = major Indo-Pacific flashpoint. Relevant for India's Pacific Island engagement strategy.

Indian Teacher Soma Mandal Wins Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award 2026

Indian teacher Soma Mandal won the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award 2026.

About the Award: The Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award is conferred by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) — a part of the University of Cambridge. It recognises teachers who have made an outstanding and lasting impact on the lives of their students. This is a prestigious global award that honours teaching excellence at the international level.

Soma Mandal = Indian winner of Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award 2026. Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) = organiser. Part of University of Cambridge.

Unincorporated Sector GVA Grows 10.87% — Trade Sector Leads

Already covered in detail in the ASUSE section above. Key economic takeaway: India's unincorporated (informal) sector — employing 12.81 crore workers — grew at a healthy pace in 2023-24, with GVA rising 10.87% and the trade sector leading at 16.77% growth. However, the 31% suicide share of daily wage workers in NCRB data is a sobering reminder that informal sector growth has not yet translated into adequate social security or income stability for crores of workers at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

Q. What did the NCRB Crime in India 2024 report reveal about cybercrime? Cybercrime rose sharply by 17.9% even as India's overall crime rate declined by 6% — signalling a structural shift in India's crime landscape from conventional to cyber and digital offences.

Q. What is RBSK 2.0 and what is new about it? Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram 2.0, launched under NHM, expands child health screening from birth to 18 years (earlier up to 14). It adds mental health conditions, behavioural disorders, and NCDs like diabetes and hypertension to the original 4Ds framework.

Q. What is the first IBCA Summit and when will it be held? The first International Big Cat Alliance Summit will be held from June 1–3, 2026 in New Delhi. It is expected to adopt the "Delhi Declaration" — the world's first global framework dedicated exclusively to big cat conservation — with participation from around 95 countries.

Q. What is ANEEL fuel and why is it important for India? ANEEL is a thorium-based nuclear fuel blended with HALEU (High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium), compatible with existing PHWRs without design changes. It is important for India because it accelerates the use of India's vast thorium reserves (~25% of global) without waiting for Fast Breeder Reactors.

Q. What is an Electronic Gold Receipt (EGR)? A digital instrument representing ownership of physical gold stored in SEBI-registered vaults, tradable on stock exchanges. Announced by NSE, EGRs aim to make gold investment transparent and bring idle gold into the formal financial system.

Q. What are the three MoUs signed between India and Jamaica? Health cooperation, solarisation of the Hugh Lawson Shearer Building, and broadcasting.

Q. What is the BrahMos missile? A supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India (DRDO) and Russia (NPO Mashinostroyeniya) through BrahMos Aerospace. Named after Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers. Speed: Mach 2.8–3.0. Can be launched from land, sea, sub-sea, and air platforms.

Q. What did the ASUSE 2023-24 survey find about India's unincorporated sector? Total establishments stood at 7.92 crore (up 7.97%), employing 12.81 crore workers. GVA grew 10.87%. UP, West Bengal, and Maharashtra together account for over one-third of total employment in this sector.

Q. What is the Peacock Tarantula and why is it in the news? Poecilotheria metallica — also called Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula — is a Critically Endangered arboreal spider found in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh launched its first-ever scientific survey in Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve in May 2026.

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