Current Affairs Quiz — 14 May 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
'BIRSA 101', discussed at a workshop in May 2026, is:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease
BIRSA 101, named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda, is India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease.
Which CSIR laboratory is associated with BIRSA 101, the CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi
The workshop on BIRSA 101 was organised with CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) at CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi.
As per the Environment Ministry (May 2026), the estimated lion population in the Greater Gir Landscape in 2025 was:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 891
The lion population in the Greater Gir Landscape rose to an estimated 891 in 2025, a 32% increase over 2020.
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) works for the conservation of how many big cat species?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Seven
IBCA covers seven big cats: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma.
Consider the following statements about the Asiatic lion: 1. Project Lion was launched by the Government of India in 2020. 2. The Asiatic lion is listed in Appendix II of CITES. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The Asiatic lion is in Appendix I of CITES (and Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972), not Appendix II.
What is the motto of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Aapda Seva Sadaiv Sarvatra
Amit Shah noted at the President's Colour ceremony that NDRF personnel go anywhere with the motto 'Aapda Seva Sadaiv Sarvatra'.
Where was the President's Colour presented to the NDRF on 14 May 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 8th Battalion, Ghaziabad
Amit Shah presented the President's Colour at a parade held at 8th Bn NDRF, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
Consider the following statements about the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF): 1. It was constituted under the Disaster Management Act, which was enacted in December 2005. 2. It was raised in 2006 with 8 battalions and now has 16 battalions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The Disaster Management Act was enacted on 26 December 2005 and provided for the NDRF, which started with 8 battalions in 2006 and has expanded to 16.
What was India's annual WPI inflation rate (provisional) for April 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 8.30%
WPI inflation was 8.30% in April 2026; 3.88% was March, 9.17% primary articles and 24.71% fuel and power.
Which major group of the WPI recorded the highest annual inflation in April 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Fuel & Power
Fuel & Power inflation was 24.71%, against 9.17% for primary articles, 4.62% for manufactured products and 2.31% for the food index.
Consider the following statements about the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) in India: 1. The current WPI series has 2011-12 as its base year. 2. DPIIT releases the WPI on the 14th of every month with a time lag of two weeks of the reference month. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct, as stated in DPIIT's April 2026 WPI release (base year 2011-12; release on the 14th, or the next working day, with a two-week lag).
SIR Phase III of electoral rolls, ordered by the ECI on 14 May 2026, covers about how many electors?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 36.73 crore
Over 3.94 lakh BLOs will go house to house to 36.73 crore electors in SIR Phase III.
Which of the following is NOT covered in SIR Phase III announced by the ECI in May 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Himachal Pradesh
Phase III covers the whole country except Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, whose schedule will be announced later.
Consider the following statements about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Phase III (2026): 1. The ECI ordered it under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. 2. Enumeration begins first, on 30 May 2026, in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The ECI order cites Article 324 and Section 21 of the RP Act, 1950, and the house-to-house enumeration starts on 30 May in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur.
In which year did Central Electronics Limited (CEL) manufacture India's first solar cell, as recalled at the dedication of its 200 MW module line (May 2026)?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1977
India's first solar cell was manufactured by CEL in 1977, and the country's first solar plant was set up by CEL in 1979.
Which technology did CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories transfer to Central Electronics Limited in May 2026, described as now fully indigenous?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Drishti Transmissometer System
Technology transfer covered the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) and the new-generation Drishti Transmissometer System, which is now fully indigenous.
When Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on PM Modi in May 2026, he briefed him on progress since which India–Russia Annual Summit held in December 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 23rd
Lavrov briefed the PM on progress since the leaders' meeting in December 2025 for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit.
Consider the following statements about Sergei Lavrov's call on PM Modi on 14 May 2026: 1. PM Modi reiterated India's stand in favour of dialogue and diplomacy. 2. The talks were limited to bilateral trade and did not cover Ukraine. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The two discussed regional and global issues including Ukraine and West Asia, so statement 2 is wrong.
About how many devotees paid obeisance during the 14-day Sacred Exposition of the Holy Relics of the Tathāgata in Ladakh (May 2026)?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Over 1.18 lakh
More than 1,18,000 devotees paid obeisance during the 14-day exposition in Leh and Zanskar.
The concluding ceremony of the Holy Relics exposition in Leh on 14 May 2026 coincided with which festival of Ladakh?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Monlam Chenmo
The closing coincided with Monlam Chenmo, Ladakh's annual Great Prayer Festival dedicated to world peace and universal happiness.
At the ITU Council 2026 in Geneva, India's proposal to host which ITU event was accepted?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2030
The ITU Council accepted India's proposal to host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-2030); it is likely to be approved at PP-2026 in Doha.
Consider the following statements about the ITU Council: 1. It is the governing body of the ITU and comprises 48 elected Member States. 2. India became a member of the ITU Council only in 1992. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. DoT states that India has been a member of the ITU Council since 1952.
The dual-targeting CAR-T therapy for multiple myeloma being developed by Helix Cell Therapeutics with TDB support targets which two markers?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — BCMA and CD19
The therapy simultaneously targets both BCMA and CD19 markers expressed on multiple myeloma cells.
The TDB-backed CAR-T project of Helix Cell Therapeutics (May 2026) is being implemented under a collaborative framework between India and which country?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Singapore
The project is under the Indo-Singapore collaborative framework in partnership with Biocell Innovations, Singapore.
According to the Commerce Ministry (May 2026), India–Africa bilateral trade in 2025-26 stood at about:
Show answer
Correct answer: A — US$93.69 billion
Bilateral trade reached US$93.69 billion in 2025-26 (exports US$45.42 bn, imports US$48.27 bn); US$3.4 trillion is the value of AfCFTA.
Consider the following statements about India–Africa trade, as stated at the IAFS-IV business curtain raiser (May 2026): 1. In 2025-26, India's imports from Africa were higher than its exports to Africa. 2. India and Africa share the ambition of tripling bilateral trade by 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct: imports were US$48.27 bn against exports of US$45.42 bn. The stated ambition is doubling, not tripling, trade by 2030.
India's chairship of the Common Criteria Development Board (CCDB) for 2026–2028 was confirmed at a CCRA meeting held in April 2026 in which city?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Tokyo
It was confirmed at the 1st Quarter Meeting of the CCRA held from 14 to 16 April 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
Consider the following statements about India and the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA): 1. India has been a member of the CCRA since September 2013 as a Certificate Authorizing Nation. 2. CERT-In acts as India's official certification body for IT security evaluations under the Common Criteria. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. India joined on 16 September 2013; the official certification body is MeitY's STQC Directorate, not CERT-In.
As per the Commerce Ministry, what was the European Union's rank among markets for Indian seafood exports in 2025-26?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Third
The EU emerged as the third-largest market, with 18.94% of total export value (US$1.593 billion).
Consider the following statements about India's seafood exports to the EU (May 2026): 1. India had been omitted from the EU's Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598 on third countries allowed to export from September 2026. 2. EU Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905 concerns the use of antimicrobials in animals whose products are exported to the EU. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. India's omission was in Regulation (EU) 2024/2598, and Regulation (EU) 2023/905 requires exported animals and products to be free of antimicrobials used for growth promotion or reserved for humans.