UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 7 May 2026

by Vajiram & Ravi - 7 May 2026

Vajiram & Ravi provides Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 7 May 2026, tailored for aspirants. We cover all relevant news and events crucial for the exam, ensuring you stay updated & well-prepared.

Gulf of Aden

May 7, 2026
Gulf of Aden

Gulf of Aden Latest News

Yemen’s coast guard recently reported that unidentified armed men hijacked an oil tanker off the coast of Shabwa province and diverted it towards the Gulf of Aden near Somali waters.

About Gulf of Aden

  • It is an extension of the Indian Ocean, located between the Arabian Peninsula (north) and the Horn of Africa (south).  
  • It connects to the Red Sea in the West and the Arabian Sea in the East via the Strait of Bab el Mandeb.
  • The gulf is named after “Aden,” a port city on Yemen’s coast.  
  • It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world, with an area of about 70 sq.km. of sheltered water.
  • It is approximately 900 km long and 500 km wide.
  • It is bounded to the south by Somalia and the Socotra Islands (part of Yemen), north by Yemen, east by the Arabian Sea, and west by Djibouti. 
  • The gulf is connected to the Somali Sea to the south by the Guardafui Channel.
  • In the west, it narrows into the Gulf of Tadjoura, near Djibouti.
  • The dominant relief feature is the Sheba Ridge, an extension of the Indian Ocean ridge system, which extends along the middle of the gulf.
  • The Gulf of Aden is strongly influenced by the upwelling of cool, nutrient-rich waters during the southwest and northeast monsoons and is characterized by a prevailing high-energy climate.
  • Compared to the neighbouring Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden has a lower saline content.
  • The Gulf is filled with numerous islands belonging to Yemen and Somalia.  
  • Some of the major cities near the gulf include Aden, Mukalla, Ahnwar, Balhaf, Berbera, Bosaso, and Djibouti City.
  • Major Ports: Aden in Yemen, and Berbera and Bosaso in Somalia. 
  • It is also a critical part of the Suez Canal shipping route, which connects the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
  • There are an estimated 21,000 ships passing through the Gulf annually, making it one of the busiest bodies of water. 
  • An estimated 11% of seaborne petroleum passes through the Gulf of Aden en route to the Mediterranean or Arabian Seas.

Source: N18

Gulf of Aden FAQs

Q1: Where is the Gulf of Aden located?

Ans: It is located between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa.

Q2: Which water bodies are connected by the Gulf of Aden?

Ans: It connects the Red Sea with the Arabian Sea.

Q3: Through which strait does the Gulf of Aden connect with the Red Sea?

Ans: It connects through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Q4: Which country lies to the north of the Gulf of Aden?

Ans: Yemen lies to the north.

Q5: What is the dominant relief feature of the Gulf of Aden?

Ans: The Sheba Ridge is the dominant relief feature.

Swasth Bharat Portal

May 7, 2026
Swasth Bharat Portal

Swasth Bharat Portal Latest News

Recently, the Government of India has launched the Swasth Bharat Portal.

About Swasth Bharat Portal

  • It is a unified platform designed to integrate fragmented health programme systems across the country.
  • It acts as a one-stop aggregator platform to integrate programme systems via APIs, enabling interoperability and reducing administrative burden
  • It is a single platform
    • To eliminate duplicate data entry, streamline reporting, and support faster decision-making across health programmes.
    • To provide easy access, along with data visualisation tools and the use of data at the local level for monitoring and evidence-based planning.
  • It is designed to evolve into a comprehensive and interoperable digital health ecosystem, further integrating with national registries such as the Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR) and Health Facility Registry (HFR).
  • The portal is ABDM-compliant and supports integration with ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account), enabling seamless and secure exchange of patient health records. 
  • It envisages the following
    • Reduce Infrastructure Duplication: Independent hosting, storage, and compute resources are maintained across programs, which will reduce when they will be aggregated through Swasth Bharat
    • Reduce Repetitive Data Entry: Similar beneficiary data which was entered across multiple systems will be entered on a single platform thus reducing repetitive tasks
    • Unified HR Deployment: Separate development and maintenance teams are required in all programs, a unified system will reduce the HR burden
    • Increased Interoperability: As the system is designed on federated architecture via APIs, the interoperability will be higher

Source: PIB

Swasth Bharat Portal FAQs

Q1: Swasth Bharat Portal supports which national mission?

Ans: National Health Mission

Q2: Swasth Bharat Portal is an initiative of which ministry?

Ans: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Rusty Spotted Cat

May 7, 2026
Rusty Spotted Cat

Rusty Spotted Cat Latest News

Recently, for the first time in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and Haryana, a rusty-spotted cat has been photographed.

About Rusty Spotted Cat

  • It is the world’s smallest and lightest known cat.
  • Appearance
    • It weighs less than 1.5 kilograms and is 20 to 29 inches in length, about half the size of a domestic cat.
    • Its large eyes may be an adaptation to its nocturnal behaviour.
  • Habitat: It prefers moist and dry deciduous forests, scrublands, grasslands, and rocky areas.
  • Distribution: It is found in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. In India, its range extends from Tamil Nadu to Jammu and Kashmir, including Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Odisha.
  • Characteristics
    • It is a very active and agile and extremely fierce cat.
    • It is primarily nocturnal, resting in dense cover during the daytime.
    • Like other cats, Rusty-spotted cats mark their territory with urine.
    • It is an excellent climber, which allows it to catch birds.
    • Diet: It also preys on rodents, lizards, frogs and insects.
  • Threats: Habitat loss, farm expansion, and industrial growth threaten nearly 75% of its range.
  • Conservation Status
    • IUCN: Near Threatened
    • CITES: Appendix I
    • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Source: TH

Rusty Spotted Cat FAQs

Q1: Which is the main habitat of Rusty Spotted Cat in India?

Ans: Dry deciduous & scrub forests of Central & Southern India

Q2: Under which Schedule of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is it listed?

Ans: Schedule I

Lutjanus Arakan

May 7, 2026
Lutjanus Arakan

Lutjanus Arakan Latest News

Researchers recently recorded a new snapper species ‘Lutjanus arakan’ in Indian waters for the first time at Gopalpur in Ganjam district, in a significant contribution to Indian marine fish taxonomy. 

About Lutjanus Arakan

  • It is a species of snapper.
    • Snappers, belonging to the family Lutjanidae, are marine fishes typically found in tropical and subtropical regions. 
    • They are known for their ecological importance as mid-level predators and are often associated with reef and coastal ecosystems.  
  • Lutjanus arakan was identified at Gopalpur-on-Sea in the Ganjam district, Odisha.
  • The species had previously been recorded off the coast of Bangladesh but had not been documented in Indian waters until now. 
  • It is distinguished from other snappers by its unique body colouration, featuring a reddish-silver hue with a series of four dark-reddish-brown horizontal stripes extending from the head to the posterior.
  • While the upper body of the snapper is mostly dark brown to blackish, its median fins are dark reddish brown, and its paired fins appear translucent pinkish.

Source: TOI

Lutjanus Arakan FAQs

Q1: What is Lutjanus arakan?

Ans: It is a species of snapper fish.

Q2: Where are snapper fishes generally found?

Ans: They are commonly found in tropical and subtropical marine regions.

Q3: What ecological role do snappers play?

Ans: They act as mid-level predators in marine ecosystems.

Q4: Where was Lutjanus arakan identified in India?

Ans: It was identified at Gopalpur-on-Sea in Ganjam district of Odisha.

Q5: What is the body colour of Lutjanus arakan?

Ans: It has a reddish-silver body colour.

International Big Cat Alliance

May 7, 2026
International Big Cat Alliance

International Big Cat Alliance Latest News

The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the website and logo for the 1st International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026 which is to be hosted by India in New Delhi. 

About International Big Cat Alliance

  • It is an inter-governmental international organisation launched in April 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger.
  • It focuses on the conservation of seven big cats - Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma.
  • Objective: To facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise to achieve the conservation of big cats at a global level.
  • It brings together 95 range and non-range countries, conservation partners, scientific organisations, and corporations to promote collaboration and share conservation practices.
  • Implementation agency: The IBCA is implemented through the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
  • Founding Members: India, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Suriname, & Uganda.
  • Membership: Membership is open to all UN Member States, including:
    • Range countries, where big cats naturally occur.
    • Non-range countries that are interested in supporting global conservation of big cats.
  • Institutional Support and Funding: India has committed ₹150 crore (for the period 2023–2028) as budgetary support for: Creating a corpus fund, Building infrastructure, and Covering recurring expenses of the IBCA.

Governance of International Big Cat Alliance

  • Assembly: It is a main decision making body which is composed of representatives of all member countries.
  • Standing Committee: It is established by the Assembly shall assist in effective and efficient functioning of the IBCA. 
  • Secretariat: It is based in New Delhi

Source: TH

International Big Cat Alliance FAQs

Q1: What is the main aim of IBCA?

Ans: Conservation of 7 big cats & their habitats globally

Q2: Where is the headquarters/secretariat of IBCA located?

Ans: New Delhi, India

Galapagos Archipelago

May 7, 2026
Galapagos Archipelago

Galapagos Archipelago Latest News

A newly installed monitoring system called smart island monitoring model promises to scale ecosystem conservation in Ecuador’s Galapagos archipelago. 

About Galapagos Archipelago

  • Location: It is situated in the Pacific Ocean, roughly 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador.
  • It is distributed on either side of the Equator.
  • Terrain 
    • The Archipelago is a group of 19 islands, 13 large and 6 small, and dozens of islets and rocks
    • Repeated volcanic eruptions helped to form the rugged mountain landscape of the Galápagos Islands.
    • Islands: It is very young with the largest, and youngest islands, Isabela and Fernandina, with less than one million years of existence, and the oldest islands, Española and San Cristóbal, somewhere between three to five million years. 
  • Highest Point: Mount Azul, at 5,541 feet, is the highest point of the Galapagos Islands. 
  • Climate: It is characterized by low rainfall, low humidity, and relatively low air and water temperatures.
  • It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978.
  • Biodiversity: It includes the giant Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra), the marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), the flightless cormorant (Phalacrocoraz harrisi), and the Galápagos penguin.
  • The Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is the only penguin species to live in the Northern Hemisphere.

Source: DTE

Galapagos Archipelago FAQs

Q1: Galapagos lies on the equator but has cool waters due to which current?

Ans: Humboldt Current

Q2: Which famous species is endemic to Galapagos?

Ans: Marine Iguana

Sambhar Lake

May 7, 2026
Sambhar Lake

Sambhar Lake Latest News

Environmentalists have criticised the proposed 100 MW solar power project near Sambhar Lake, warning that even a relatively small installation could disturb the fragile wetland ecosystem.

About Sambhar Lake

  • It is located in the districts of Nagaur and Jaipur in Rajasthan.
  • It is the largest inland saltwater lake in India.
  • This saline wetland is elliptical in shape, with a length of 35.5 km and a breadth varying between 3 km and 11 km.
  • It covers an area in excess of 200 sq.km., surrounded on all sides by the Aravalli hills.
  • The waters of five streams feed the lake: Rupangarh and Mendha are the main ones, and the lesser ones are Samoad, Khari, and Khandela.   
  • It was designated as a Ramsar site in the year 1990.
  • The lake is divided by a 5-kilometer-long dam made of stone. East of the dam are salt evaporation ponds where salt has been farmed for a thousand years. 
  • Salt Production: It is known for the production of brine/salt and also houses one of the largest salt manufacturing units in the country. It accounts for nearly 9% of the country’s total salt production.  
  • The specialized algae and bacteria growing in the lake provide striking water colours – colours that also impart their distinctive hues to the salt that is harvested – and support the lake’s ecology.
  • Fauna: 
    • It is the most important wintering area for flamingoes (both Phoniconaias minor and Phoenicopterus roseus) in India outside the Rann of Kachchh.
    • Other migratory species like pelicans, common shelduck, redshank, and common sandpiper, black-winged stilt, Kentish plover, and Ringed plover, Ruff, and Sociable lapwing are also found here.

Source: TOI

Sambhar Lake FAQs

Q1: Where is Sambhar Lake located?

Ans: It is located in the Nagaur and Jaipur districts of Rajasthan.

Q2: What is the significance of Sambhar Lake in India?

Ans: It is the largest inland saltwater lake in India.

Q3: Which mountain range surrounds Sambhar Lake?

Ans: The Aravalli Range surrounds the lake.

Q4: Which are the two main streams feeding Sambhar Lake?

Ans: Rupangarh and Mendha are the main streams.

Q5: For how long has salt been farmed at Sambhar Lake?

Ans: Salt has been farmed there for nearly a thousand years.

Suriname

May 7, 2026
Suriname

Suriname Latest News

Recently, the External Affairs Minister reviewed the full spectrum of India-Suriname relations during the 9th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) held in Paramarib.

About Suriname

  • Location: It is a small country located on the northern edge of South America.
  • Bordering Countries: It is bordered by Brazil to the south, French Guiana to the east; Guyana to the west.
  • Water Bodies: It is North Atlantic Ocean to the north.
  • Capital City: Paramaribo
  • It is a member country of the CARICOM organization.

Geographical Features of Suriname

  • Climate: It has an equatorial climate almost everywhere, hot and humid throughout the year, with abundant rainfall.
  • Mountain Ranges: Bakhuys Mountains and Van Asch Van Wijck Mountains. 
  • Highest Point: Its highest point is Juliana Top, in the Wilhelmina Mountains. 
  • Major rivers: It is drained by the Suriname River, Maroni River, Courantyne River etc. 
  • Natural Resource: It consists of natural resources, namely bauxite, gold, petroleum, and agricultural products. 

Source: BS

Suriname FAQs

Q1: Where is Suriname located?

Ans: South America

Q2: What is the capital of Suriname?

Ans: Paramaribo

Suru River

May 7, 2026
Suru River

Suru River Latest News

Over a month after a six-year-old boy from Ladakh drowned in the Suru River in Hunderman, his mortal remains returned home recently after being retrieved from the river in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

About Suru River

  • It is an important river in the Kargil district of Ladakh, India. 
  • It is a tributary of the Indus River.
  • Course:
    • It starts from the Panzella Glacier, which lies at Pensi La Pass near the Drang Drung Glacier. 
    • The source of the Suru River lies 142 km south of Kargil town and 79 km north from Zanskar. 
    • The Suru River forms the western and northern boundary of the Zanskar mountain range. 
    • The river flows westwards, along with the Kargil-Zanaskar Road, from its source and forms the Suru valley. This valley is surrounded by the towering peaks of the Nun Kun mountain.
    • The river flows into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
    • It eventually joins the mighty Indus River at a place called Nurla.
  • Total Length: 185 kilometers
  • It passes through several towns like Tongul, Suru, Grantung, Goma, and Kharul. Kargil town is the biggest city located right on the banks of the Suru River.
  • A branch of the ancient Silk Road ran alongside the Suru River, connecting Kargil and Skardu.

Source: ETVB

Suru River FAQs

Q1: Where is the Suru River located?

Ans: It is located in the Kargil district of Ladakh.

Q2: The Suru River is a tributary of which river?

Ans: It is a tributary of the Indus River.

Q3: From where does the Suru River originate?

Ans: It originates from the Panzella Glacier near Pensi La Pass.

Q4: Which mountain peaks surround the Suru Valley

Ans: The valley is surrounded by the Nun Kun Peaks.

Q5: What is the total length of the Suru River?

Ans: The river is about 185 kilometers long.

Cordyceps

May 7, 2026
Cordyceps

Cordyceps Latest News

A rare and highly valued species of mushroom, Cordyceps, has been recently discovered in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Siang district, drawing significant scientific attention.

About Cordyceps

  • It is a genus of parasitic fungi that grows on insect larvae. 
    • When these fungi attack their host, they replace its tissue and sprout long, slender stems that grow outside the host’s body.
  • The fungi have a cosmopolitan distribution and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
  • Some of the rarest kinds are at higher altitudes in the Himalayan regions of China, Nepal, and India.
  • In total, there have been more than 750 species of cordyceps identified.
  • Of those, scientists have identified at least 35 kinds that have had some potential health benefits and medicinal properties. 
  • It is one of the most prized medicinal fungi.
  • It is often referred to as “Himalayan gold” because of their exceptionally high commercial value and extensive use in traditional medicine, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical research.
  • It produces a wide range of bioactive compounds, including cordycepin, adenosine, and polysaccharides.
  • These compounds are associated with immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor properties.

Source: EM

Cordyceps FAQs

Q1: What is Cordyceps?

Ans: Cordyceps is a genus of parasitic fungi.

Q2: On which organisms do Cordyceps fungi typically grow?

Ans: They typically grow on insect larvae.

Q3: Where are some of the rarest Cordyceps species found?

Ans: They are found in the Himalayan regions of China, Nepal, and India.

Q4: Why is Cordyceps often called “Himalayan gold”?

Ans: It is called “Himalayan gold” because of its very high commercial value.

Q5: Why is Cordyceps considered important in medicine?

Ans: It is widely used in traditional medicine, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical research.

Guru Ravidas

May 7, 2026
Guru Ravidas

Guru Ravidas Latest News

The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the Adampur Airport in Punjab and renamed it after Sri Sant Guru Ravidas Ji in a bid to honour the revered saint and social reformer on his birth anniversary.

About Guru Ravidas

  • Guru Ravidas (1377-1527 C.E.) was a renowned saint known for his contributions to the Bhakti movement.
  • His devotional songs and verses made a lasting impact upon the Bhakti Movement.
  • Guru Ravidas is also known as Raidas, Rohidas, and Ruhidas.
  • Ravidas was born in a village called Sir Gobardhanpur, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India. 
    • Today, his birthplace is a special place known as Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan.
    • His birthday is celebrated as Ravidas Jayanti.
  • Ravidas is traditionally seen as a student of the bhakti-poet Ramananda. 
  • He is also thought to have lived around the same time as Kabir, another famous poet-saint.
  • He was a well-known poet. His poems, written in local languages, inspired many people.
    • 41 of his devotional songs and poems are found in the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. 
    • Many of his poems are also in the Panch Vani text of the Dadu Panthi tradition within Hinduism. 
  • Philosophy and Teachings:
    • The core of Guru Ravidas’s philosophy was the rejection of the caste system and the promotion of human rights and dignity. 
    • He envisioned a society called 'Beghumpura' (a city without sorrow), where there is no suffering, no fear, and no discrimination.
    • He also became a symbol of opposition to untouchability in society by the higher caste people for the lower caste people.
    • He emphasised the philosophy of spiritual freedom.
    • He abandoned the saguna (with attributes, image) forms of supreme beings and focussed on the nirguna (without attributes, abstract) form of supreme beings.
    • Meera Bai, a revered figure in Hindu spiritualism, is said to have considered Guru Ravidas as her spiritual Guru. 
  • Ravidassia religion:
    • The Guru’s teachings now form the basis of the Ravidassia religion.
    • Ravidassias believe that Guru Ravidas should be treated as a saint just like the other gurus, as he lived before the first Sikh Guru, and his teachings were studied by the Sikh Gurus.
    • The Ravidassia community adopted the Amrit Bani Guru Ravidass as its holy book and established its own symbols and rituals.

Source: IT

Guru Ravidas FAQs

Q1: Who was Guru Ravidas?

Ans: Guru Ravidas was a renowned saint known for his contributions to the Bhakti movement.

Q2: During which period did Guru Ravidas live?

Ans: Guru Ravidas lived from 1377 to 1527 C.E.

Q3: By what other names is Guru Ravidas known?

Ans: He is also known as Raidas, Rohidas, and Ruhidas.

Q4: Who is traditionally considered Guru Ravidas’s spiritual teacher?

Ans: Ramananda, the Bhakti poet-saint.

Q5: Which contemporary saint is Guru Ravidas believed to have lived alongside?

Ans: He is also thought to have lived around the same time as Kabir, another famous poet-saint.

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