State PCS - West Bengal (WBCS)

• 06 May 2026

Madrid Open 2026

Why in News?  

Italy’s Jannik Sinner won the Madrid Open 2026 men’s singles title by defeating Alexander Zverev, setting a historic record in men’s tennis.  

• Marta Kostyuk also won the women's singles title by defeating Mirra Andreeva.  

Key Points  

• Men's Victory: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev to clinch the 2026 Madrid Open title. 
  • He became the first player in history to win five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles.  
  • This was Sinner’s maiden Madrid Open title. 
• Women’s Victory:  
  • The 23-year-old Marta Kostyuk from Ukrainian overcame world No. 8 Mirra Andreeva in the women’s singles final, extending her clay-court winning streak to 11 matches.  
  • This was her first WTA 1000 title.  
  • She is set to climb from world No. 23 to a career-best No. 15 in the latest WTA rankings. 

Rohit Jain Appointed as RBI Deputy Governor

Why in News?  

The Government of India has appointed Rohit Jain as a Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. 

Key Points  

• Appointment: Rohit Jain has been appointed as a Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).  
• Successor: He succeeds T. Rabi Sankar, who completed his tenure at the RBI.  
• Tenure: His appointment is for a period of three years, effective from May 2026.  
• Previous Position: Prior to his appointment, he served as Executive Director in the RBI, handling key supervisory responsibilities.  
• Structure: As per the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the central bank is to have four Deputy Governors—two from within the Reserve Bank of India, one from the commercial banking sector, and one economist responsible for heading the monetary policy department.  
• RBI: The Reserve Bank of India was set up on April 1, 1935, under the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.  
  • It was nationalised in 1949.  
  • It was initially established in Kolkata but was permanently shifted to Mumbai in 1937.   

Read More: RBI 

BWF Thomas & Uber Cup 2026

Why in News?  

At the BWF Thomas & Uber Cup 2026, South Korea defeated China in the women’s final to win the Uber Cup, while China won the men’s Thomas Cup title.  

Key Points  

• About Tournament: The Thomas Cup (men) and Uber Cup (women) are biennial international badminton team championships organised by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).  
  • The tournament featured the 34th edition of the Thomas Cup and the 31st edition of the Uber Cup.  
• Uber Cup Winner: South Korea defeated defending champions China in the women’s team final to clinch the Uber Cup title. This marks South Korea’s third title, after earlier victories in 2010 and 2022. 
  • Gold – China 
  • Silver – France 
  • Bronze – Denmark, India 
• Thomas Cup Winner: China won the men’s Thomas Cup by defeating France in the final, securing its 12th title.  
  • Gold – South Korea 
  • Silver – China 
  • Bronze – Japan, Indonesia 
• Venue: The tournament was held at Forum Horsens in Denmark from 24th April to 3rd May 2026.  

Read More: Thomas Cup 

Cabinet Approves Increase in Supreme Court Judge Strength to 37

Why in News?

The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to increase the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India from 34 to 37 judges (excluding the Chief Justice of India).. 

Key Points 

• Article 124 of the Constitution of India: Provides for the establishment of the Supreme Court and states that the number of judges shall be determined by Parliament by law. 
• Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956: Fixes the sanctioned strength of judges. The last major increase was in 2019, when the number of judges was raised from 31 to 34.  
  • 2026 (proposed): 37 judges 
• Article 145 of the Constitution of India: Empowers the Supreme Court to frame rules for regulating its practice and procedure, including bench formation. 
• Need: As of 2026, the Supreme Court has ~80,000+ pending cases, including constitutional matters and civil/criminal appeals. 
• Low Judge-Population Ratio: India has about 21 judges per million population (including lower judiciary), far below countries like the USA (~100+). 
• Burden of Special Leave Petitions (SLPs): Under Article 136 of the Constitution of India, a large number of appeals reach the Supreme Court, increasing workload. 
• Focus on Speedy Justice:The government stated that augmenting the number of judges will enable the Supreme Court to function more effectively, reduce case backlog, and strengthen access to timely justice. 

Read More:Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 

Cities with Highest Air Quality Index (AQI) Levels in 2026

Why in News? 

According to recent 2026 AQI-based global rankings, air pollution remains a serious environmental concern, with both developing and some unexpected regions appearing on the list. The ranking is based on the Air Quality Index (AQI)—a higher value indicates worse air quality and greater health risks.  

Key Points 

• Top 10 Most Polluted Cities in the World (2026): According to recent Air Quality Index (AQI)-based global data (2026), the following cities rank among the most polluted globally: 
  • Cobh – AQI 208 
  • Dungarvan – AQI 196 
  • Clonmel – AQI 192 
  • Kashgar – AQI 162 
  • Bikaner – AQI 160 
  • Patna – AQI 154 
  • Aurangabad – AQI 152 
  • Begusarai – AQI 150 
  • Abu Dhabi – AQI 146 
  • Muzaffarpur – AQI 136 
• Unexpected Trend: Three Irish towns—Cobh, Dungarvan, and Clonmel—top the list, indicating that pollution is not limited to traditional industrial hotspots. 
• India’s High Presence: Five Indian cities feature in the top 10, reflecting persistent challenges such as vehicular emissions, construction dust, biomass burning, and industrial pollution. 
• West Asia Entry: Abu Dhabi’s presence highlights the role of desert dust, climatic conditions, and urban emissions. 
• Diverse Pollution Sources: Air pollution is influenced by a mix of industrial activity, weather patterns (temperature inversion), and local human activities.

Cabinet Approves “Mission for Cotton Productivity”

Why in News? 

The Union Cabinet has approved the Mission for Cotton Productivity (MCP) with a total outlay of ₹5,659.22 crore to be implemented till 2030–31. The mission aims to achieve self-sufficiency in cotton production and enhance India’s competitiveness in global textile markets.  

Key Points 

• Objectives of the Mission: Enhance cotton yield through improved seeds and scientific practices. 
  • Ensure Self-Sufficiency: Reduce dependence on imports of extra-long staple (ELS) cotton. 
  • Boost Farmer Income: Improve profitability of cotton farmers. 
  • Enhance Export Competitiveness: Strengthen India’s position in global textile value chains by 2030–31. 
• Research & Development: Development of high-yielding, climate-resilient, and pest-resistant cotton varieties through institutions like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. 
  • Technology Adoption: Promotion of modern agronomic practices, precision farming, and mechanization. 
  • Pest Management: Focus on integrated pest management (IPM) to tackle issues like pink bollworm infestation. 
  • Quality Improvement: Emphasis on better fiber quality to meet global textile standards. 
  • Cluster-Based Approach: Targeted interventions in major cotton-growing regions for maximum impact. 
• Challenges: India is one of the largest producers and consumers of cotton globally. However, productivity remains relatively low (around 450–500 kg lint/ha) compared to global leaders like Brazil and China.  
• Problems: Issues such as pest attacks (notably pink bollworm), climate variability, and stagnation in yield have affected output. 

Tamil Nadu Records Highest Marine Fish Landings in 2025

Why in News?

According to the latest data released by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Tamil Nadu emerged as the top marine fish-producing state in 2025, surpassing Gujarat and marking a significant shift in India’s marine fisheries sector. 

Key Points 

• Top Producer: Tamil Nadu recorded ~6.85 lakh tonnes of marine fish landings in 2025, the highest among all states. 
• National Output: India’s total marine fish production reached ~35.7 lakh tonnes, registering a ~3% increase over 2024. 
• State Rankings (2025): 
  • Tamil Nadu – 6.85 lakh tonnes 
  • Gujarat – Declined (~15% fall) 
  • Kerala – ~6.24 lakh tonnes 
• Major Species: 
  • Indian mackerel (~2.7 lakh tonnes) – most landed 
  • Cephalopods and oil sardine also significant 
• Tamil Nadu’s Rise: Compared to western coast states, Tamil Nadu experienced relatively stable conditions. 
  • Infrastructure & Coastline Advantage: Tamil Nadu has a long coastline with numerous fishing harbours and landing centres, supporting large-scale marine fishing. 
  • Mechanised Fishing Growth: Increased contribution from mechanised fishing vessels improved total landings. 
• Significance: Tamil Nadu’s emergence as the top marine fish producer in 2025 reflects both regional resilience and structural changes in India’s fisheries sector.