10 May 2026 Daily Current Affairs | Today’s News for UPSC & Exams
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
1. Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
- Objective: To promote Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) that are resilient to climate change.
- Key Highlights:
- ₹2,119.84 crore released since 2014-15.
- Covered 8.50 lakh hectares and benefited 14.35 lakh farmers.
- Integrates multi-cropping, horticulture, livestock, and fisheries to diversify risk.
2. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
- Objective: To enhance water-use efficiency through Micro-Irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler systems).
- Key Highlights:
- ~109 lakh hectares covered since 2015-16.
- Target: Additional 100 lakh hectares between 2025-26 and 2029-30 (20 lakh hectares/year).
3. Soil Health Management (SHM)
- Soil Health Card (SHC): Launched in 2015 as a principal advisory tool.
- Progress: 25.79 crore cards generated up to February 2026.
- Impact: 68.5% of farmers reported significant improvement (NITI Aayog 2025).
4. Climate Resilient Research (ICAR)
- NICRA: Launched in 2011 for location-specific climate technologies.
- Results: 2,996 climate-resilient crop varieties released (2014-2025).
- Vulnerability: 310 districts identified as highly vulnerable out of 651 assessed.
5. Alignment with SDGs
Supports the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- SDG 2 Zero Hunger (Sustainable food production)
- SDG 6 Clean Water (Water-saving via PDMC)
- SDG 13 Climate Action (Adaptation strategies)
Crucial Facts for Examination
| Rainfed Agriculture | 60% of net sown area; 40% of total food production. |
| NRAA | National Rainfed Area Authority – Expert body for dry-land farming. |
| Fertility Mapping | Conducted in 6,954 model villages for site-specific data. |
National Panchayat Awards 2025 (NPA-2025)
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has announced the winners of the National Panchayat Awards 2025. This initiative aims to recognize and incentivize best-performing Panchayats across India.
A. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP): Focuses on 9 themes of Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) like Poverty-free, Healthy, and Women-friendly Panchayats.
B. Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (NDSPSVP): Conferred for overall excellence at District, Block, and Gram Panchayat levels.
| Panchayat Name | Block / District | Category | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Srungavaram (AP) | Nathavaram, Visakhapatnam | Good Governance | Rank 1 |
| Bokkasam Palem (AP) | Srikalahasti, Tirupati | Women-Friendly | Rank 1 |
| Chemmullapalli (AP) | Khajipet, Y.S.R. Kadapa | Poverty-Free Livelihoods | Rank 2 |
| Kuppam (AP) | Chittoor | Best Block Panchayat | Rank 3 |
| Gundamala (AP) | Kotha Patnam, Prakasam | Infrastructure | Rank 3 |
| Mothukupalle (TS) | Kotepally, Vikarabad | Good Governance | Rank 3 |
| Fasalwadi (TS) | Sangareddy | Women-Friendly | Rank 3 |
- RGSA The awards are part of the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan scheme.
- PAI 2.0 Selection is based on the Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0 scores.
- BEST DISTRICT Sepahijala (Tripura) secured Rank 1 in the Best District category.
- GOAL To empower Panchayats towards achieving Viksit Bharat@2047.
Jan Suraksha Schemes (2015 – 2026)
11 Years of Social Security Implementation
1. PMJJBY (Life Insurance)
- Eligibility: 18 – 50 Years (Cover up to 55).
- Premium: ₹436 / annum.
- Benefit: ₹2 Lakh (Any cause of death).
2. PMSBY (Accident Insurance)
- Eligibility: 18 – 70 Years.
- Premium: ₹20 / annum.
- Benefit: ₹2 Lakh (Death/Total Disability), ₹1 Lakh (Partial).
3. Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
- Admin: PFRDA.
- Eligibility: 18 – 40 Years (Non-tax payers).
- Benefit: ₹1000 – ₹5000 Monthly Pension (Post 60).
📌 Key Facts for Competitive Exams
IOS SAGAR: Multinational Deployment 2026
The Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar arrived at Chattogram, Bangladesh on May 08, 2026. This visit is a key component of the IOS SAGAR 2026 deployment to bolster maritime security and bilateral ties.
- Reception: The ship was received and escorted by the Bangladesh Navy Ship BNS Ali Haider (F17).
- Professional Exchange: Personnel visited the Issa Khan Training Complex and the Bangladesh Naval Academy to discuss capacity building.
- Commemoration: The Commanding Officer paid tribute at the Chattogram War Cemetery.
| Parameter | Exam Context |
|---|---|
| MAHASAGAR | India’s initiative for Regional Cooperation and growth in the IOR. |
| Location | Chattogram (Major Port City of Bangladesh). |
| Strategic Vision | Supports the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision. |
| Bilateral Focus | Enhancing interoperability between Indian and Bangladesh Navies. |
Maharana Pratap Jayanti – Examination Perspective
1. Historical Background
- Birth: Born on May 9, 1540, at Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajasthan.
- Lineage: He was the 13th King of the Sisodia Rajput clan of Mewar. He was the son of Maharana Udai Singh II and Rani Jaiwanta Bai.
- Coronation: He ascended the throne of Mewar in 1572 at Gogunda.
2. Historical Significance: The Battle of Haldighati
- Date: June 18, 1576.
- Conflict: Fought between the forces of Maharana Pratap and the Mughal army led by Raja Man Singh I (on behalf of Emperor Akbar).
- Outcome: Despite the Mughals having superior numbers, Maharana Pratap did not surrender and transitioned to guerrilla warfare. He lost his loyal horse, ‘Chetak’, during this battle.
- Significance: He is remembered for his refusal to accept Akbar’s suzerainty and his lifelong struggle for independence.
3. Guerrilla Warfare
He was an expert in using the Aravalli mountain ranges for strategic ambushes. His tactics later inspired other great leaders, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
4. Battle of Dewair (1582)
- Col. James Tod famously referred to this battle as the ‘Marathon of Mewar’.
- Maharana Pratap achieved a decisive victory here, reclaiming most of the lost territories of Mewar from the Mughals.
📌 Key Facts for Competitive Exams:
| Capital: | Chavand (during later years) |
| Famous Steed: | Chetak |
| Mughal Contemporary: | Akbar |
| Lunar Calendar: | Jyeshtha Shukla Tritiya |
Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti (Pochishe Boishakh)
Detailed Examination Perspective (UPSC, SSC, Banking)
1. General Overview
- Titles: Gurudev, Kaviguru, Biswakabi.
- Nobel Prize: He was the first Indian (and the first Asian) to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his work ‘Gitanjali’.
2. Architect of National Anthems
He is the only poet to have composed the national anthems for two nations:
- India: Jana Gana Mana.
- Bangladesh: Amar Sonar Bangla (written in 1905 during the Bengal Partition).
The national anthem of Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka Matha) was also heavily inspired by his compositions.
3. Key Institutions – Shantiniketan
- Founded the Shantiniketan ashram in West Bengal in 1901.
- In 1921, it evolved into the Visva-Bharati University.
- Current Affairs Update: In 2023, Shantiniketan was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
4. Political and Social Contributions
- Renunciation of Knighthood: He returned his ‘Knighthood’ (Sir) title in 1919 as a protest against the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
- Relationship with Gandhiji: Tagore bestowed the title ‘Mahatma’ upon Gandhi. In return, Gandhi addressed him as ‘Gurudev’.
- Swadeshi Movement: During the Partition of Bengal (1905), he used the ‘Raksha Bandhan’ festival as a symbol of unity between Hindus and Muslims.
5. Literary and Artistic Legacy
Major Works: Gitanjali, Gora, Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World), Chokher Bali, and The Post Office.
Art & Music: He took up painting at the age of 60 (3,000+ artworks) and created the unique ‘Rabindra Sangeet’ genre.
West Bengal Political Developments – Constitutional & Legal Aspects
Essential Notes for UPSC | SSC | State PSC Exams
1. Appointment of the Chief Minister
- 🔹 Constitutional Provision: According to Article 164 of the Indian Constitution, the Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor.
- 🔹 Oath of Office: The Governor administers the oath of office and secrecy to the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers.
- 🔹 Accountability: The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly of the State.
2. Size of the Council of Ministers
- 🔹 91st Constitutional Amendment Act (2003): Mandates that the total number of Ministers (including CM) shall not exceed 15% of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly.
- 🔹 Minimum Strength: The number of Ministers in a state shall not be less than 12.
3. West Bengal Legislative Assembly Statistics
Total Seats: 294 | Majority Mark: 148 seats
Note: The Governor’s role is crucial during the formation of a new government or a constitutional crisis.
4. Appointment of Other Ministers
Other Ministers are appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. Recently, leaders like Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, and Nisith Pramanik were inducted into the cabinet.
📌 Quick Facts for Competitive Exams
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| State | West Bengal |
| New Chief Minister | Suvendu Adhikari |
| Relevant Article | Article 164 |
| Assembly Strength | 294 Seats |
| Tenure | During the pleasure of the Governor |
❓ Potential Exam Questions (Static GK)
1. Which Article deals with the appointment of the CM?
Ans: Article 164
2. To whom does the CM submit his resignation?
Ans: The Governor
3. To whom is the State Council of Ministers collectively responsible?
Ans: State Legislative Assembly