10 May 2026 Current Affairs MCQ — 10 Questions & Explanations

The EU Blocking Statute (Council Regulation No. 2271/96) was originally enacted in 1996 to protect European companies from the extraterritorial reach of US sanctions targeting Cuba, Iran, and Libya. It was later significantly updated in 2018 when the US reimposed sanctions on Iran after withdrawing from the JCPOA. India is examining this statute to build a similar domestic legal shield — particularly relevant given India's S-400 purchase from Russia exposing it to potential CAATSA sanctions and its continued trade with countries under US-led unilateral sanctions.

FSSAI directed that non-milk products cannot be sold under the name "paneer" and must be clearly labelled as "Paneer Analogue" or "Non-dairy" — preventing consumer deception. Analogue paneer is manufactured using vegetable oils, starches, and emulsifiers instead of milk, making it far cheaper to produce than genuine paneer which requires 5–6 litres of milk per kg. The FSSAI also mandated that analogue manufacturers obtain a separate licence, not merely basic registration, to ensure tighter regulatory oversight of this segment. FSSAI was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Nature study warned that the Amazon could begin self-driven ecological collapse at just 1.5–1.9°C of global warming — alarmingly within the very temperature range the Paris Agreement aims to stay below. The Amazon generates approximately 50–75% of its own rainfall through transpiration, and once enough forest is lost, this self-sustaining water cycle collapses — potentially converting vast stretches of rainforest into degraded savanna. At current warming trajectories of ~1.2–1.3°C, this tipping point is not a distant scenario but a near-term risk with catastrophic consequences for India's monsoon and global biodiversity.

India's National Coal Gasification Mission targets gasifying 100 million tonnes (MT) of coal by 2030, supported by a ₹37,500 crore incentive scheme approved by the Cabinet. Coal gasification is a thermochemical process that converts coal into syngas — a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane — which can be used to produce fertilisers, fuels, and petrochemicals. India's first coal gasification-based fertiliser plant is being set up at Talcher, Odisha, with operations expected from December 2027, significantly reducing India's dependence on imported urea.

Type-IV CNG cylinders use a polymer liner fully wrapped in carbon fibre, making them 70–75% lighter than conventional steel cylinders while handling pressures exceeding 600 bar. Carbon fibre has a tensile strength five times greater than steel at one-fifth the weight — making it ideal for high-pressure gas storage. The Technology Development Board (TDB), which operates under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), partnered with NTF Energy Solutions to commercialise this technology, which will significantly improve fuel efficiency and reduce vehicle dead weight in India's large CNG fleet.

The Buff-tip moth (Phalera bucephala) belongs to the family Notodontidae and is native to parts of Africa, East Asia, and Europe — making it an invasive alien species in Ladakh. Its larvae are voracious feeders with a polyphagous nature, meaning they feed on a wide range of plants including apple, walnut, White Willow, poplar, and mountain ash — directly threatening Ladakh's orchard-based farming economy. Ladakh's high-altitude fragile ecosystem has limited natural predators for this species, allowing its population to grow unchecked once established.

AMOC stands for Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation — a massive ocean current system that acts as a global heat conveyor belt, redistributing warmth from the tropics to higher latitudes. It is driven by thermohaline circulation — differences in temperature and salinity that cause water to sink near the Arctic and flow southward as deep cold currents. Its collapse would disrupt the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) linked to the South Asian Monsoon, threatening India's rain-fed agriculture on which over 50% of the workforce depends.

The Anti-Defection Law was introduced through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985, which added the 10th Schedule to the Constitution. It was named after Haryana MLA Gaya Lal, who switched parties three times in a single day in 1967 — giving rise to the famous phrase "Aaya Ram Gaya Ram." The Supreme Court in its 2026 clarification reaffirmed that a valid merger requires not just 2/3rd of the legislature party but also a substantive decision by the original political party — legislators alone cannot create a merger.

India's first coal gasification-based fertiliser plant is being established at Talcher, Odisha, with operations expected from December 2027. This plant will produce ammonia-based urea using domestically gasified coal — significantly reducing India's import dependence, given that India currently imports nearly 45% of its urea. It is worth noting that Angul, Odisha — while also in Odisha — is the location of Jindal Steel & Power's (JSPL) plant, which is India's only currently operational commercial-scale coal gasification facility.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a statutory body established under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, functioning under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It certifies films under four categories — U (unrestricted), UA (parental guidance for under-12), A (adults only), and S (specific professional groups). Shashi Shekhar Vempati, a former CEO of Prasar Bharati and IIT Bombay graduate, succeeded Prasoon Joshi for a three-year term beginning 6 May 2026. Prasar Bharati — which governs Doordarshan and All India Radio — was itself established under the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990.