Prelims Current Affairs includes International Tea Day 2026, Sweden Joins India’s Venus Orbiter Mission – Shukrayaan, India Notifies E30 Petrol Norms, Pm-Shri Scheme, Uk’s Youngest Indian-Origin Mayor Elected At 23, Anaimangalam Copper Plates (Leiden Plates), Amit Shah Chairs Central Zonal Council Meeting In Jagdalpur, Supreme Court Allows Euthanasia Of Rabid Stray Dogs, In-Space, Kunzum Pass Route To Spiti Opens After 6-Month Closure

IMPORTANT DAYS

1.  INTERNATIONAL TEA DAY 2026

Current Context: International Tea Day 2026 is celebrated worldwide on May 21 to honour one of the most widely consumed beverages tea, recognising its cultural, economic, and social significance across countries.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TEA DAY

• Theme 2026: “Fostering Growth and Inclusion”
• Led by: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• Adopted by: United Nations in 2019
• First UN observance: 2020

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2. SWEDEN JOINS INDIA’S VENUS ORBITER MISSION – SHUKRAYAAN

Current Context: India’s Venus orbiter mission, called Shukrayaan, is a planned interplanetary mission to Venus with international collaboration from Sweden.

• Swedish Contribution: Swedish Institute of Space Physics to develop Venusian Neutrals Analyser (VNA) – studies interaction between charged particles from Sun and Venus’s atmosphere/exosphere
• Study the interaction between Venus’ atmosphere and solar wind.
• Analyse neutral particles escaping from the Venusian atmosphere.

ABOUT SHUKRAYAAN MISSION

• Shukrayaan-1 is India’s planned Venus Orbiter Mission by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• Objective: Study the atmosphere, surface, geology, and climate of Venus.
• Approved by: Union Cabinet (2024) with outlay of ₹1,236 crore
• Launch Vehicle: LVM-3 rocket
• Expected Venus Arrival: July 2028 (112-day journey)

ECONOMY

3. INDIA NOTIFIES E30 PETROL NORMS

Current Context: India has notified new petrol standards for ethanol blends up to E30, with BIS issuing a Gazette notification on 18 May 2026.

ABOUT THE NEW NORMS

• E30 means petrol blended with 30% ethanol and 70% gasoline.
• Reduce dependence on imported crude oil.
• Promote ethanol blending and strengthen India’s biofuel ecosystem.
• Cut vehicle emissions and support cleaner fuel usage.
• Notified Specifications: E22, E25, E27, E30 (petrol blended with 22%, 25%, 27%, 30% ethanol)
• Effective from: 15 May 2026
• Issued by: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

• BIS stands for Bureau of Indian Standards.
• National standards body of India.
• Established in 1986 under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986.
• Functions under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.

SCHEMES 

4. PM-SHRI SCHEME

Current Context: The Union Ministry of Education signed an MoU with the West Bengal government to implement the PM SHRI Schools initiative in the state.

ABOUT PM-SHRI SCHEME

• Develop over 14,500 schools as model schools across India.
• Implement the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• PM-SHRI stands for Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India.
• Launched in 2022 by the Government of India.
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Education.
• Ministry: Ministry of Education
• Time Period: 5 years (2022-23 to 2026-27)

Funding Pattern:

• Managing Bodies: Central Govt, State/UT Govts, local bodies, KVS, NVS

PERSON IN NEWS

5. UK’S YOUNGEST INDIAN-ORIGIN MAYOR ELECTED AT 23

Current Context: Tushar Kumar, a 23-year-old Labour Party councillor, was elected and sworn in as the Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood on 13 May 2026.

ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT

• Education: Political Science at King’s College London
• Joined Council: 2023, served as Deputy Mayor before becoming Mayor
• Mother: Councillor Parveen Rani (former Deputy Mayor of Hertsmere)
• Priority Charity: WD6 Food Support

CULTURE & HERITAGE

6.  ANAIMANGALAM COPPER PLATES (LEIDEN PLATES)

Current Context: The Netherlands returned the 11th-century Anaimangalam Copper Plates (Leiden Plates) to India during the Prime Minister’s recent visit.

ABOUT ANAIMANGALAM COPPER PLATES

• Anaimangalam Copper Plates are important Chola-period copper plate inscriptions discovered in Tamil Nadu. Issued during the reign of Rajaraja I in the 11th century CE.
• Record grants made to a Buddhist vihara at Nagapattinam.
• Written mainly in Tamil and Grantha scripts.
• Provide details about administration, land grants, taxation, and Chola governance
• Evidence of Chola maritime trade and cultural links with Southeast Asia.
• Show religious tolerance and patronage to Buddhism by the Cholas.
• Also known as: Leiden Plates
• Languages: Sanskrit (genealogy of Chola rulers) and Tamil (administrative and grant details)
• Acquired by Dutch missionary: Florentius Camper around 1700 (Dutch East India Company period)

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

7. AMIT SHAH CHAIRS CENTRAL ZONAL COUNCIL MEETING IN JAGDALPUR

Current Context: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is chairing the Central Zonal Council meeting in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh.

ABOUT CENTRAL ZONAL COUNCIL

• Promote cooperation and coordination among states and the Centre.
• Discuss issues related to economic and social planning, border disputes, transport, and security.
• States attending meeting: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand
• Chaired by: Union Home Minister Amit Shah
• Key role: Discuss inter-state disputes, economic planning, border coordination, infrastructure development, internal security, social welfare issues

ZONAL COUNCIL

• Zonal Councils are statutory bodies established to promote cooperation and coordination among states and the Centre.
• Established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
• Type: Statutory advisory body

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

8. SUPREME COURT ALLOWS EUTHANASIA OF RABID STRAY DOGS

Current Context: The Supreme Court of India on 19 May 2026 permitted the euthanasia of rabid, incurably ill, or demonstrably dangerous stray dogs.

ABOUT THE JUDGMENT

• Decision aimed at balancing public health concerns and animal welfare.
• Euthanasia refers to: Lawful killing of an animal to end suffering or prevent public health risk
• Must follow: Animal Birth Control Rules 2023 and other statutory protocols
• Decision requires: Assessment by qualified veterinary experts
• Directions to States/UTs: Establish at least one fully functional Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre in each district
• Key Laws: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960; Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

9. IN-SPACe

Current Context: Nine Indian space-tech companies, part of a delegation led by IN-SPACe, signed multiple partnerships at Space Meetings Veneto 2026 in Venice, Italy.

ABOUT IN-SPACe

• Full Form: Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre
• Established in 2020 by the Government of India.
• Headquarters: Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• Type: Single-window, independent, nodal agency; autonomous agency in Department of Space (DOS)
• Functions: Promote, enable, authorize, supervise space activities of non-governmental entities (NGEs); act as interface between ISRO and NGEs
• Three Directorates: Promotion Directorate (PD), Technical Directorate (TD), Program Management and Authorization Directorate (PMAD)

Space Meetings Veneto 2026

• Space Meetings Veneto 2026 is an international conference and business forum dedicated to the global space and aerospace industry. Promote collaboration among space companies, investors, research institutions, governments, and space agencies.
• Held from 11-13 May 2026 in Venice, Italy.

HIMACHAL NEWS

10. KUNZUM PASS ROUTE TO SPITI OPENS AFTER 6-MONTH CLOSURE

Current Context: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has reopened the strategic Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphu highway via Kunzum Pass for 4×4 vehicles after remaining shut for over six months due to heavy snowfall.

ABOUT THE REOPENING

• Highway reopened: Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphu highway via Kunzum Pass
• Closure period: Over six months (first week of November to mid-May)
• Reason for closure: Heavy snowfall blanketing Kunzum Pass
• Kunzum Pass altitude: 14,931 feet above sea level
• Current permission: Light 4×4 vehicles only (heavy vehicles to be allowed after full restoration)
• Distance (Kaza to Manali via Atal Tunnel): ~225 km

IMPORTANT LOCATIONS IN SPITI

• Key Monastery: 1,000-year-old monastery
• Chandratal Lake: Iconic high-altitude lake
• Hikkim: World’s highest post office
• Komic: Among world’s highest motorable villages
• Langza: Known for giant Buddha statue and fossil-rich terrain
• Pin Valley National Park: Rare wildlife including snow leopard and Himalayan ibex
• Tabo and Dhankar Monasteries: Ancient Buddhist monasteries

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