CURRENT AFFAIRS 16 May, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 16 May, 2026

1. MADHYA PRADESH HIGH COURT DECLARES BHOJSHALA COMPLEX A TEMPLE –

• The Madhya Pradesh High Court, Indore Bench, declared the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar district a temple on 15 May 2026. The Bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi held that the religious character of the disputed structure is that of a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, also called Vagdevi.

Bhojshala Complex and Dispute

• Bhojshala is a disputed religious site in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. The site has been the subject of petitions seeking Hindu worship rights and restrictions on Muslim prayers inside the complex. The Hindu Front for Justice was among the petitioners in the case.

Archaeological Survey of India and Earlier Orders

• The High Court quashed the 2003 order of the Archaeological Survey of India that had restricted Hindu worship rights and permitted the Muslim community to offer prayers. The Archaeological Survey of India conducted a scientific survey of the complex between 22 March and 30 June 2024. The survey report stated that the existing structure was made from parts of earlier temples.

2. INDIA, UAE SIGN PACTS ON LPG AND STRATEGIC OIL RESERVES –

• India and the United Arab Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 15 May 2026 for cooperation in strategic petroleum reserves and for increased liquefied petroleum gas supplies to India. The agreements were signed during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Abu Dhabi, where bilateral talks were held with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

India-UAE Energy Cooperation

• The UAE is India’s largest supplier of liquefied petroleum gas and meets about 40% of India’s LPG requirement. The UAE was also India’s fourth-largest source of crude oil in the previous year, with a share of nearly 11% of India’s crude oil imports. India and the UAE had earlier partnered on strategic petroleum reserves in 2018, when Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company agreed on storage of more than 5 million barrels of crude oil at the Mangaluru facility in Karnataka.

3. INDIA WINS 27 MEDALS AT ASIAN BOXING U15 CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026 –

• India delivered the exceptional performance at the Asian Boxing U15 Championships 2026 and finished with the total of 27 medals. Out of 27 models India have claimed the 9 Gold medal and this achievement reflects the emergence of young talent on international stage.

India Tops U-15 Girls Category with 7 Gold Medals

• The U-15 girls team was the standout performer in this tournament.
• Medal Tally (U-15 Girls)
• Gold: 7
• Silver: 2
• Bronze: 5

4. BHAJAN LAL SHARMA INAUGURATES RAJASTHAN’S FIRST SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CLUSTER –

Rajasthan’s First Semiconductor Cluster

• The newly launched semiconductor cluster is located in Bhiwadi, which is one of the Rajasthan’s important industrial clusters.
• The project is part of a broader electronics manufacturing push.
• According to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Bhiwadi electronics manufacturing cluster has already attracted around the ₹1,200 crore in investment.
• The project is expected to generate approximately 2,500 jobs in future.
• With this it marks the Rajasthan’s formal entry into one of the world’s most strategically important manufacturing sectors.

Why Semiconductors Matter So Much

• Semiconductors are the backbone of the digital economy.
• They are essential components in the,

1. Smartphones
2. Computers
3. Electric vehicles
4. Defense systems
5. Medical equipment
6. Telecom networks
7. Artificial intelligence hardware
8. Industrial electronics

5. INDIA’S FIRST SATELLITE TAGGED GANGES SOFTSHELL TURTLE RELEASED IN KAZIRANGA –

• India’s first satellite tagged Ganges softshell turtle released in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. This initiative was launched on Endangered Species Day and it aims to track the movement and habitat of this rare species.

What Is the Ganges Softshell Turtle?

• The Ganges softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica) is a unique freshwater species found across the India.
• Key Features
• Distinct arrowhead-shaped markings on the head
• They are found in rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
• Mainly large and long-lived species.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  India’s first Artificial Intelligence-enabled block-level monsoon forecasting system was launched by which organisation ?

1. a) Indian Space Research Organisation
2. b) India Meteorological Department
3. c) National Disaster Management Authority
4. d) Central Water Commission

Q2.  The report titled “India’s Nuclear Energy Vision: Strategic Pathways for SMR Deployment” was released by which organisation ?

1. a) NITI Aayog
2. b) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
3. c) The Energy and Resources Institute
4. d) Central Electricity Authority

Q3.  Agalega Islands, recently seen in news for their strategic importance in the Indian Ocean, belong to which country ?

1. a) Sri Lanka
2. b) Mauritius
3. c) Seychelles
4. d) Maldives

Q4.  Regarding India’s forest conservation and restoration targets as of 2025, consider the following statements:

1. India has achieved its target of 33% forest and tree cover, standing at 35% as per 2025 data.
2. Under the Bonn Challenge, India has pledged to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
3. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA) and the Green India Mission are key initiatives to meet these restoration targets.

         Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is incorrect: As of 2025, India’s forest and tree cover stands at approximately 25.17% (827,357 sq km), not 33% or 35%. The target is 33%, but it has not been achieved yet.
• Statement 2 is correct: India has committed to restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 under the international Bonn Challenge.
• Statement 3 is correct: Key initiatives to increase forest cover and restore land include the Green India Mission, CAMPA, and the Aravalli Green Wall Project.

Q5.  Consider the following statements regarding the 2026 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF):

1. The 2026 report indicates that the global average score for press freedom has reached its highest level in 25 years.
2. The index evaluates countries based on five core indicators: political context, legal framework, economic conditions, sociocultural environment, and safety of journalists.
3. According to the 2026 findings, the legal indicator registered the steepest global decline.

         Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The 2026 report indicates that the global average score for press freedom reached its lowest level in 25 years, reflecting a sharp global decline in press freedom, not the highest.
• Statement 2 is correct: The RSF World Press Freedom Index assesses 180 countries based on five distinct indicators: political context, legal framework, economic conditions, sociocultural environment, and safety of journalists.
• Statement 3 is correct: Key findings in 2026 highlight that the legal indicator recorded the steepest decline globally, driven by the increased misuse of national security laws, anti-terror laws, and Strategic lawsuits against journalists (SLAPPs)

Answer Key