• 05 May 2026

Prasoon Joshi Appointed Chairman of Prasar Bharati

Why in News?  

The Government of India has appointed Prasoon Joshi as the Chairman of Prasar Bharati.  

Key Points  

• Appointment: Prasoon Joshi has been appointed as the Chairman of Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster.  
• Organisational Role: Prasar Bharati functions as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.  
• Previous Roles: He has also served as the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) since 2017.  
  • He worked as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of McCann World Group India. 
  • He also served as the Chairman of McCann World Group Asia Pacific. 
• Prasar Bharati: 
  • Prasar Bharati was established under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990, and became operational in 1997.  
  • It consists of two major divisions, namely All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD). 
  • Prasar Bharati has also launched the WAVES OTT platform. 

Read More: Prasar Bharati 

Delhi Launched “Catch the Rain 2026” Campaign

Why in News?  

The Chief Minister of Delhi launched the “Catch the Rain 2026” campaign to promote rainwater harvesting and water conservation across the city, along with unveiling its official mascot ‘Neera’.  

Key Points  

• Campaign: The Delhi government launched the “Catch the Rain 2026” initiative to encourage rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge in the national capital. 
• Mascot Unveiled: The campaign’s mascot ‘Neera’ was introduced to spread awareness about water conservation among citizens and institutions.  
• Objective: The initiative aims to promote sustainable water management by encouraging collection and storage of rainwater to improve groundwater levels.  
• Financial Incentives: The Delhi Jal Board will provide financial assistance of up to ₹50,000 along with technical support, including guidance on pit design, material specifications, and size standards. 
• Catch the Rain:  
  • The “Catch The Rain” campaign is a time-bound water conservation initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, with the tagline “Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls.” 

Read More: Catch the Rain, Rainwater harvesting 

Karnataka Launched Centre of Excellence for Space Technology in Bengaluru

Why in News?  

The Karnataka government has launched a Centre of Excellence for Space Technology in Bengaluru to boost innovation, research, and ecosystem development in the space sector.  

Key Points  

• Launch: Karnataka launched the country’s first state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology (CoE SpaceTech Foundation) in Bengaluru.  
  • The Centre was inaugurated by IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge.  
• Implementing Agency: The initiative has been set up by the Karnataka government through the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society in collaboration with industry partners such as SIA-India.  
• MoUs: The Centre has signed agreements with institutions like Manipal Academy of Higher Education for research collaboration, internships, and space biology studies.  
• Objective: The CoE aims to promote advanced research and innovation in space technologies, along with industry-aligned training, talent development, startup incubation, ecosystem building, and cross-sector applications. 

Read More: Centre of Excellence, Space Technology 

Coca-Cola India Partners with Uttar Pradesh for Community and Environmental Initiatives

Why in News?  

Coca-Cola India Pvt Ltd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Invest UP, Government of Uttar Pradesh to advance community development and environmental initiatives across the state.  

Key Points  

• MoU Agreement: Coca-Cola India entered into a three-year MoU with Invest UP to collaborate on sustainability and community-focused initiatives.  
  • The partnership will focus on water access infrastructure, waste collection and recycling systems, and livelihood generation for local communities.  
• Community Development: The initiative aims to create skill-building opportunities and improve livelihoods, especially in high-footfall tourism areas.  
• Environmental Sustainability: It seeks to strengthen environmental infrastructure, promote water stewardship, and improve waste management practices.  
• Public-Private Collaboration: The partnership highlights collaboration between government and private sector to achieve long-term, scalable, and community-led development outcomes.  
• Invest UP: 
  • It was previously known as Udyog Bandhu, serves as the investment promotion and facilitation agency of the Government of Uttar Pradesh.  
  • It focuses on attracting new investments and addressing challenges faced by existing and upcoming industries in the state.  

Read More: Tourism, Invest UP 

BJP Wins West Bengal Assembly Elections for the First Time

Why in News?  

The Bharatiya Janata Party has secured its first-ever victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, marking a major political shift in the state.  

Key Points  

• Historic Victory: The BJP won a clear majority in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, forming the government in the state for the first time.  
  • The BJP secured 206 seats, indicating a landslide mandate and strong electoral performance.  
• End of TMC Rule: The victory ended the long-standing dominance of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee, which had been in power for over a decade.  
  • TMC secured approximately 81 seats.  
• Controversy: The contentious revision process under SIR resulted in the removal of around 91 lakh names from the Bengal electoral rolls.  
• TMC:Founded:1998 
  • Founder: Mamata Banerjee. 
• BJP:Established year: 1980 
  • Predecessor: Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), founded in 1951 by Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee. 

Read More: SIR 

India–Cambodia Exercise CINBAX-II 2026

Why in News?  

An Indian Army contingent has departed for Cambodia to participate in the second edition of the India–Cambodia Joint Military Exercise CINBAX-II 2026.  

Key Points  

• Exercise: The bilateral military exercise CINBAX-II 2026 will be held in May 2026 at Kampong Speu Province in Cambodia.  
  • The exercise involves the Indian Army and the Royal Cambodian Army, reflecting growing defence cooperation between India and Cambodia.  
• Indian Contingent: India has deployed around 120 personnel, primarily from a battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment.  
• Focus: The exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in a sub-conventional environment under the framework of Chapter VII of the UN mandate.  
• Objective: The main aim is to enhance interoperability, coordination, and operational synergy between the two armed forces.  

Read More: Counter-terrorism 

Vijay's TVK Emerges as Single-Largest Party in Historic Tamil Nadu Debut

Why in News? 

On 4 May, 2026, actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay and his newly formed party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), disrupted Tamil Nadu's decades-old DMK-AIADMK bipolar landscape by emerging as the single-largest party in the 17th Legislative Assembly elections. 

Key Points 

• Stunning Debut: Contesting solo across all 234 constituencies, TVK won 108 seats, finishing just short of the 118-seat majority mark. 
• A "Hung" Assembly: For the first time in Tamil Nadu’s history, no single party or alliance secured an absolute majority. 
• Major Upsets: In one of the biggest upsets in Indian political history, incumbent Chief Minister MK Stalin lost his long-held stronghold of Kolathur to TVK’s V.S. Babu by a margin of 8,795 votes. 
• Vijay’s "Double" Win: TVK chief Vijay secured decisive victories in both constituencies he contested: Perambur (by over 50,000 votes) and Tiruchirappalli East (by over 27,000 votes). 
• End of Dravidian Duopoly: This is the first time since 1967 that a non-Dravidian party (defined by traditional DMK/AIADMK lineages) has emerged as the single-largest entity in the state.

Tea Garden Workers Approach ILO over Rights Issue

Why in News? 

On International Labour Day (1 May, 2026), the Paschim Banga Cha Majoor Samity (PBCMS), a non-political union representing tea garden workers in West Bengal, escalated a long-standing domestic labor dispute by filing a formal representation before the International Labour Organization (ILO). 

Key Points 

• Article 24 Jurisdiction: The union invoked Article 24 of the ILO Constitution, which permits workers' organizations to file representations against a member state for ineffective observance of ratified conventions. 
• Allegations of Systemic Failure: The PBCMS cited a "systemic regime of labour rights violations" and the government's persistent failure to comply with international obligations, including: 
  • Prohibition of Forced Labour 
  • Mandatory Equal Remuneration 
  • Protection of Indigenous and Tribal Populations 
• Critical Grievances: The complaint spotlights the continued non-payment of wages, Provident Fund (PF), and gratuity, alongside the state's failure to enforce a statutory minimum wage despite the sector being a "scheduled employment." 
• Extreme Precarity: The union's survey of 20,000 workers revealed severe nutritional deficiencies, with 44% having a Body Mass Index (BMI) below 17, indicating chronic hunger. 
• Starvation Deaths: The representation references instances of starvation deaths among Adivasi workers, describing the situation as a collapse of the governance system. 

Read More: International Labour Organisation 

India Sets Guinness World Record with Largest Underwater Flag in Andaman

Why in News? 

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands has set a Guinness World Records record by unfurling the largest underwater national flag, showcasing India’s maritime pride and adventure tourism potential.  

Key Points 

• Event: Organised in the waters near Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), a main diving destination. 
• Dimensions & Scale: The flag measured several meters in length and width (60m x 40m), making it the largest of its kind underwater. 
  • Massive Participation: Led by Lieutenant Governor Admiral (Retd.) D.K. Joshi, the dive involved personnel from the Navy, Coast Guard, local police, and experts. 
  • Tourism Boost: The initiative, part of a wider effort to promote the region for adventure tourism, showcased the islands' marine biodiversity. 
• Significance: Promotion of Adventure Tourism highlighting Andaman as a hub for scuba diving and marine tourism 
  • The project highlights the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, with further records like the "Tallest Human Stack Underwater" planned to boost the tourism sector.  
• National Pride & Awareness: Symbolises patriotism and unity in a unique environment

Read More: Swaraj Dweep