Daily Current Affairs 2026-EnglishMay 2026 Current Affairs – English

09 May 2026 Daily Current Affairs | Today’s News for UPSC & Exams

Somnath Temple: Key Highlights (Exam Point of View)

1. Historical Background & Significance

  • Jyotirlinga: First among the twelve Jyotirlingas in India.
  • Location: Prabhas Patan, Saurashtra coast, Gujarat.
  • Destruction & Reconstruction: First major invasion in 1026. Rebuilt by King Kumarapala (12th Century) and Ahilyabai Holkar (18th Century).
  • Modern Era: Reconstructed post-independence by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
  • Style: Built in the ‘Kailash Mahameru Prasad’ architectural style.
  • Consecration: Dedicated on May 11, 1951, by Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

2. Somnath Swabhiman Parv (2026)

  • Milestones: Marks 1000 years of resilience (since 1026) and 75 years of reopening (1951).
  • Veer Hamirji Gohil: Remembered for defending the temple in 1299; a symbol of ‘Rajadharma’.
  • Centenary/Jubilee: Commemorates India’s civilizational resurgence and cultural continuity.

3. Architecture & Stats

  • Shikhar: 150 feet high with a 10-tonne gold-plated Kalash.
  • Dhwajdand: 27 feet tall flag pole.
  • Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi: The government’s approach of balancing modern development with heritage.

4. Sustainability & Social Initiatives

  • Mission LiFE: Recycling plastic waste into paver blocks.
  • Miyawaki Forest: Carbon sequestration project within the temple complex.
  • Somganga Jal: Bottling purified Abhishek water for devotees.
  • Women Empowerment: Significant female workforce (363 women) in prasad and temple management.
Quick Revision Keywords:

1st Jyotirlinga Kailash Mahameru Style Prabhas Patan Sardar Patel 75th Anniversary 1026 AD

PM-SETU & Aeronautics Centre of Excellence (Key Points)

1. PM-SETU Scheme

  • Full Name: Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs.
  • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
  • Primary Objective: Modernization of ITIs nationwide to align skill training with industry needs and boost employability.
  • Executing Agency: Overseen by the Directorate General of Training (DGT).

2. National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) – Aeronautics

  • Host Institute: National Skill Training Institute (NSTI), Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
  • Core Sectors: Aeronautics, Defence Aerospace, Civil Aviation, and Precision Engineering.
  • Partnership: Envisioned with Indo-French bilateral support and industrial co-investment.
  • Vision: Developing a skilled workforce for the aerospace ecosystem to achieve Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliance).

3. Hub-and-Spoke Model

  • Component-I Strategy: Hub ITIs mentor a network of Spoke ITIs to upgrade regional skilling ecosystems.
  • Identified Hub Clusters: Aliganj, Saket, Pandu Nagar (Kanpur), Muzaffarnagar, Agra, Naini (Prayagraj), Varanasi, and Chargawan.
  • Operational Focus: Strengthening industry linkages and improving the quality of vocational training.

4. Major Stakeholders

  • Public Sector Units (PSUs): Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
  • Private Giants: Tata Advanced Systems, Dassault Aviation India, L&T Precision Engineering, Adani Skill Development Centre.
  • Multilateral Support: World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Quick Revision Keywords:

PM-SETU Scheme NSTI Kanpur Aeronautics NCoE Hub-and-Spoke Model Indo-French Support MSDE

BRICS MSME Cooperation: India’s Chairship 2026

1. Framework and Mandate

  • BRICS PartNIR: India is leading cooperation under the Partnership on New Industrial Revolution framework.
  • Mandated Events: As Chair, the Ministry of MSME will host three SME Working Group Meetings and the inaugural BRICS MSME Forum.

2. 1st SME Working Group Meeting (April 2024)

  • Main Theme: “Access to Finance for MSMEs”.
  • Bridging the Credit Gap: Focused on Financial Inclusion, Financial Literacy, and Credit Readiness.
  • Fintech Innovation: Leveraging technology for expanded credit ecosystems and seamless Global Trade Payments.

3. Strategic Significance

  • Economic Drivers: MSMEs are recognized as vital for employment generation, innovation, and inclusive growth within BRICS economies.
  • The Credit Challenge: Timely and adequate access to finance remains the primary barrier identified by member nations.
  • Collaborative Goals: Commitment to strengthening institutional capacities and promoting innovative financing mechanisms.

4. Essential Facts for Exams

  • 2026 BRICS Chair: India.
  • Member Nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (plus recently joined members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and UAE).
  • Key Term: PartNIR – A platform for industrial growth and technological cooperation among BRICS members.
Quick Revision Summary:

India Chairship 2026 Access to Finance PartNIR Framework Credit Readiness Fintech Payments BRICS MSME Forum

TARA Weapon System: Maiden Flight-Trial

1. What is TARA?

  • Full Name: Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation.
  • System Type: It is a Modular Range Extension Kit.
  • Core Function: India’s first indigenous system designed to convert conventional unguided warheads (dumb bombs) into Precision Guided Weapons (smart bombs).

2. Development and Design

  • Nodal Laboratory: Designed and developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, along with other DRDO labs.
  • Manufacturing Partners: Developed with Development cum Production Partners (DcPP) and Indian private industries.
  • Maiden Trial: Successfully conducted off the coast of Odisha on May 07, 2026.

3. Key Features & Benefits

  • Precision & Accuracy: Enhances the accuracy of low-cost weapons to effectively neutralize ground-based targets.
  • Innovative Tech: It is the first glide weapon to utilize state-of-the-art, low-cost indigenous systems.
  • Strategic Vision: A major milestone for Atmanirbhar Bharat in the defense sector.

4. Quick Revision Points

  • Agencies Involved: DRDO and Indian Air Force (IAF).
  • Testing Site: Odisha Coast.
  • Nodal Center: RCI, Hyderabad.
  • Objective: Converting unguided warheads into precision-guided munitions.
Quick Revision Summary:

TARA Weapon RCI Hyderabad Glide Weapon DRDO & IAF Precision Guided Odisha Trial
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