Current Affairs Today — May 3, 2026

Top Stories — May 3, 2026

1. SIPRI 2026: India is World’s 5th Largest Military Spender

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its annual Military Expenditure Report on May 3, 2026. India’s defence spending in 2025 was $92.1 billion — an 8.9% increase year-on-year — placing India as the world’s 5th largest military spender. Global military expenditure reached $2,887 billion — the 11th consecutive annual increase. The top 5 countries — US, China, Russia, Germany, India — account for 58% of global military spending. India’s jump is partly attributed to accelerated procurement following Operation Sindoor (May 2025). India displaced Saudi Arabia and the UK to enter the top five. | GS3/Security & Defence, GS2/IR

2. World Press Freedom Day 2026 — India Ranked 157th

World Press Freedom Day is observed every year on May 3 (declared by UNESCO in 1993). The 2026 conference theme is “Shaping a Future at Peace” (UNESCO). Reporters Without Borders (RSF / Reporters Sans Frontières) released the 2026 World Press Freedom Index ranking India 157th out of 180 countries — a six-place drop from 151 in 2025. The RSF cited judicial harassment of independent journalists, application of criminal defamation and national security laws, and concentrated media ownership. India ranks below Pakistan (153rd), Sri Lanka (134th), and Nepal (87th) in South Asia. Bangladesh (152nd) ranks just above India but below Pakistan. | GS2/Governance, Polity, IR

3. Rohit Jain Appointed RBI Deputy Governor

The Government of India appointed Rohit Jain as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for a three-year term effective May 3, 2026. He succeeds T. Rabi Sankar (whose term ended in April 2026) and was previously serving as Executive Director at RBI. RBI has four Deputy Governors — three are typically career central bankers and one is from the commercial banking sector. | GS3/Economy, Monetary Policy

4. Andaman & Nicobar: Guinness World Record — Tallest Underwater Human Stack

On May 3, 2026, the Andaman & Nicobar Administration set a Guinness World Record for the tallest underwater human stack — 22.3 metres tall, involving 14 people including Lt. Governor D.K. Joshi, sustained for 3 minutes underwater. This followed May 2’s record for the largest national flag unfurled underwater — a 60×40 metre (2,400 sq m) Tricolour at Radhanagar Beach (Swaraj Dweep / Havelock Island), involving 223 divers from the Navy, Police, and other agencies. Radhanagar Beach is Blue Flag certified — one of 13 Blue Flag beaches in India. | GS1/Geography, Polity, Persons

5. DRDO Tests LR-AShM Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile (Phase-II)

DRDO conducted the Phase-II trial of India’s indigenously developed Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM) from the Odisha coast, targeting a ship in the Bay of Bengal. The missile — a boost-glide hypersonic system — achieved a range of approximately 1,500 km at speeds of up to Mach 10 in its initial boost phase before gliding to the target. The test strengthens India’s anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) capability and the Indian Navy’s stand-off maritime strike capability. Phase-I tests were conducted in 2023 and November 2024. [Note: Test reported by multiple media sources; PIB press release was pending at time of publication.] | GS3/Security & Defence, Science & Tech

6. WRI Report: 4.3 Million Hectares of Tropical Rainforest Lost Annually

The World Resources Institute (WRI) released its Global Forest Watch report (data year 2025), finding that 4.3 million hectares of tropical primary rainforest are still being lost annually — equivalent to the area of Denmark — at a rate of 11 football fields per minute. This represents a 36% decline from the 2024 peak — largely due to Brazil’s 41% reduction in non-fire forest loss under stricter enforcement. However, global loss remains 70% above the pace needed to meet the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration (COP26, 2021) target of halting deforestation by 2030. | GS3/Environment & Ecology

7. Prasoon Joshi Appointed Prasar Bharati Chairman

The Central Government appointed Prasoon Joshi — renowned lyricist, writer, and former CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) Chairman — as Chairman of Prasar Bharati. He is expected to assume charge on May 4, 2026. Prasar Bharati is India’s statutory public service broadcaster, operating Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR), established under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990. | GS2/Governance, Polity

8. Manipur Ethnic Violence — Third Anniversary (May 3, 2023)

May 3, 2026 marks the third anniversary of the outbreak of ethnic clashes in Manipur between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, which began on May 3, 2023. The violence left over 250 dead and approximately 58,800 displaced (government figures, March 2026). The Thadou Inpi Manipur (apex body of the Thadou-Kuki community) observed the day as a “Day of Peace and Prayer”, calling on churches and community members to remember victims. The situation in Manipur remains a live constitutional and humanitarian issue under Articles 355, 356, and the Sixth Schedule. | GS2/Polity, Social Issues, Security

9. ECI Deploys QR Code Identity System for Counting Centres

The Election Commission of India (ECI) deployed a QR code-based Photo Identity Card system integrated with its ECINET platform for a three-tier security framework at election counting centres. The system debuted on May 4 for assembly election counting. All authorised personnel — Returning Officers, candidates, election agents, counting agents — must undergo mandatory QR scanning at the inner counting hall. The system replaces older manual ID verification and is to be extended to all future elections. | GS2/Polity, Electoral Governance

10. India Power Grid: Solar Duck Curve and Peak Demand Record

India’s power grid recorded a peak demand of 256.11 GW on April 25, 2026 — a national record. However, the real stress occurs at night, when approximately 150 GW of solar generation goes offline post-sunset while cooling demand from air conditioners during heatwaves remains high, compounded by 18–21 GW of coal plant outages. This “duck curve” problem — falling daytime demand followed by a steep evening ramp — is driving India’s Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) target of 47 GW (plus 27 GW pumped hydro) by 2031-32 under CEA projections. | GS3/Economy, Science & Tech

Facts Corner