Current Affairs Today — May 4, 2026

Top Stories — May 4, 2026

Science & Technology

GalaxEye Mission Drishti — World’s First OptoSAR Satellite Bengaluru startup GalaxEye launched Mission Drishti on May 3 via SpaceX Falcon 9 — the world’s first satellite combining Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Multispectral Imaging (MSI) in a single platform. Weighing ~190 kg and orbiting at ~500 km, it can image through clouds and darkness at 1.2–1.8 m resolution, with an onboard AI processor for real-time analysis. Founded by IIT Madras alumni and built entirely in India, GalaxEye plans a constellation of ~10 satellites by 2030.

LR-AShM Hypersonic Missile — Phase-II Trial Success India successfully tested the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM) on May 1, 2026 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha — striking its target at 1,500 km range at speeds exceeding Mach 5. DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat noted the glide missile programme is more advanced than the cruise variant. The missile bridges the gap between BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and longer-range strategic platforms.

Security & Defence

INS Mahendragiri — Sixth P17A Frigate Delivered Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) delivered INS Mahendragiri (Y-12654) to the Indian Navy on April 30 — the sixth Project 17A (Nilgiri-class stealth frigate) and MDL’s fourth, completing its P17A quota. All 7 P17A ships are now either delivered or on sea trials; the project is split between MDL (4 ships) and GRSE (3 ships). Named after Mahendragiri mountain in the Eastern Ghats, Odisha.

Exercise CINBAX-II 2026 — India–Cambodia Military Exercise The Indian Army’s 120-strong Maratha Light Infantry contingent departed for CINBAX-II (May 4–17) at Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia — focusing on counter-terrorism in sub-conventional and semi-urban environments, including drone operations, mortar, and sniper tactics.

Polity & Governance

Sikkim — India’s First Fully Paperless Judiciary CJI Surya Kant declared Sikkim the country’s first fully paperless state judiciary at the National Conclave on Technology and Judicial Education in Gangtok on May 1, 2026. Systems deployed: e-filing, Digital Case Management (DCM), video conferencing, e-Seva Kendras, and electronic summons via the NSTEP platform. The milestone coincides with Sikkim’s 51st year of statehood (Golden Jubilee was 2025).

Citizenship (Amendment) Rules 2026 — e-OCI Introduced The Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules 2026 (effective April 30), introducing e-OCI cards, fully online OCI application processes, and a central digital database. Dual passports are prohibited for minor children under the new rules.

Directorate of Enforcement — 70 Years India’s Directorate of Enforcement marked 70 years of operation (established May 1, 1956) under the Ministry of Finance. The ED operates 10 Zonal Offices and 11 Sub-Zonal Offices, enforcing PMLA 2002, FEMA 1999, and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act 2018.

International Relations

USTR Special 301 Report 2026 — India Retained on Priority Watch List The 38th annual USTR Special 301 Report retained India on the Priority Watch List alongside China, Chile, Indonesia, Russia, and Venezuela — citing inadequate IP protection in pharmaceuticals, copyright enforcement, and trade secrets. Vietnam was designated Priority Foreign Country (PFC, first since 2013), potentially triggering a Section 301 investigation. The EU was also added over GI and patent concerns.

Santa Marta Climate Conference — Fossil Fuel Phase-Out 57 countries met in Santa Marta, Colombia (April 24–29, 2026; hosted by Colombia and Netherlands) to develop fossil fuel phase-out roadmaps outside the UNFCCC framework. Major absentees: USA, China, India. France pledged: coal phase-out by 2030, oil by 2045, gas by 2050. Next conference: early 2027, Tuvalu.

Economy & Development

PMGSY-IV Launched in Odisha Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched PMGSY Phase IV in Odisha — 827 road projects covering 1,701.84 km at Rs 1,698 crore, providing all-weather connectivity to 898 habitations across 8 districts (Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Khordha, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Sambalpur). Centre–State funding ratio: 60:40.

Critical Mineral Recycling — 58 Companies Approved The Ministry of Mines approved 58 companies under the Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling (IS-PCMR) — Rs 1,500 crore outlay, Rs 5,000 crore pledged investment, 850 KTPA target capacity. Targets: lithium-ion batteries, e-waste, secondary aluminium.

Barrier-less Tolling — India’s First System, Gujarat Union Minister Nitin Gadkari launched India’s first barrier-less tolling system at Chorayasi Toll Plaza, NH-48 (Surat–Bharuch), using ANPR cameras + FASTag RFID for contactless, no-stop toll deduction.

IPPB SHG Zero-Balance Account India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) launched a zero-balance, zero-charges savings account for women-led Self Help Groups (max Rs 2 lakh; 2%–2.25% interest; linked with NRLM and NABARD).

Environment

EU CBAM Full Compliance — India’s Response The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered full compliance phase (January 1, 2026) covering 6 sectors: cement, iron/steel, aluminium, fertilizers, electricity, hydrogen. India is exploring an India Border Adjustment Mechanism (IBAM) as a countermeasure; its domestic carbon market now covers 490 entities (208 added in January 2026).

C-ART Observatory — East Coast Weather Research The Coastal Atmospheric Research Testbed (C-ART) observatory was inaugurated at Andhra University, Visakhapatnam (May 1) under Mission Mausam at Rs 180 crore — India’s first such facility on the east coast, operated by IITM, enhancing cyclone prediction.

Social Issues

Supreme Court — Women’s Reproductive Autonomy The Supreme Court (Bench: Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan) allowed a 15-year-old rape survivor to terminate a 30-week pregnancy and directed Parliament to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act to extend limits for rape survivors. The ruling affirms reproductive autonomy as a fundamental right under Article 21.

MoSPI — Women and Men in India 2025 Report (27th Edition) Key data: sex ratio improved from 904 (2017–19) to 917 (2021–23); female GER in higher education 30.2 (above male 28.9); rural female LFPR rose from 37.5% to 45.9% (2022–2025); urban TFR 1.5, rural TFR 2.1.

Geography

Tamil Nadu Overtakes Gujarat — Top Marine Fish Producer Tamil Nadu (6.85 lakh tonnes) surpassed Gujarat (6.43 lakh tonnes) to become India’s top marine fish producer in 2025 as per CMFRI data. National total: 35.7 lakh tonnes (+3%), retail value Rs 97,702 crore. Top species: Indian mackerel (0.27 million tonnes).

Persons & Awards

Ishank Singh — Youngest Palk Strait Swimmer Seven-year-old Ishank Singh (Ranchi, Jharkhand) swam the Palk Strait — 29 km from Talaimannar (Sri Lanka) to Dhanushkodi (Tamil Nadu) in 9 hours 50 minutes — becoming the youngest and fastest person to complete the crossing, breaking the 2019 record. Recognized by the Universal Records Forum (URF).

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