UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 15 May 2026

Project Garud

May 15, 2026

Project Garud Latest News

Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space recently secured ₹105 crore under the Research, Development & Innovation Fund (RDIF) to power ‘Project Garud’, a major step towards strengthening India’s private-sector satellite capabilities.

About Project Garud

It is a satellite platform programme launched by Hyderabad-based space startup Dhruva Space.
It is focused on developing a flat-pack 500 kg-class satellite platform designed for scalable and high-volume manufacturing.
It is positioned to bridge the gap between smaller experimental satellites and larger traditional systems.
The platform is being developed as a standardised, production-oriented spacecraft capable of supporting multiple mission configurations.
The satellite architecture is aimed at applications across Telecommunications, National Security, Earth Observation, and emerging data-driven use cases.
The platform introduces a flat-pack architecture that enables efficient launch stacking, faster system integration, and improved deployment timelines, making it suitable for large-scale satellite deployments.
Dhruva Space will also establish the infrastructure, tooling, and industrial processes required for high-volume satellite manufacturing at scale.
The manufacturing roadmap is designed to support production of up to two satellites per day, translating into an annual manufacturing capacity of nearly 500-600 satellites.

Source: TH

Project Garud FAQs

Q1: What is Project Garud?

Ans: It is a satellite platform programme launched by Dhruva Space.

Q2: What type of satellite platform is being developed under Project Garud?

Ans: A flat-pack 500 kg-class satellite platform is being developed.

Q3: What is the main objective of Project Garud?

Ans: The project aims to develop a scalable and high-volume satellite manufacturing platform.

Q4: What is the planned manufacturing capacity under Project Garud?

Ans: The project aims to manufacture nearly 500–600 satellites annually.

Uzbekistan

May 15, 2026

Uzbekistan Latest News

Recently, India and Uzbekistan held the 17th Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi.

About Uzbekistan

Location: It is a landlocked Central Asian country.
Bordering Countries: It is bordered by 5 nations; Kazakhstan (north); Kyrgyzstan (north-east) Tajikistan (south-east), Afghanistan (south) and Turkmenistan (south-west)
Capital City: Tashkent

Geographical Features of Uzbekistan

Climate: Uzbekistan has an extreme continental climate. It is generally warmest in the south and coldest in the north.
Desert: The Kyzylkum Desert occupies a large portion of the country,
Mountains: Tien Shan mountain rises in the east, featuring Beshtor Peak which is the country’s highest point at 14,104 feet.
It lies mainly between two major rivers, the Syr Darya to the northeast and the Amu Darya.
Lakes: Major lakes include Lake Ayddrkul and Lake Sarykamish.
Natural Resources: It has significant reserves of copper, lead, zinc, tungsten, and uranium, natural gas.

Source: DD News

Uzbekistan FAQs

Q1: What is the capital city of Uzbekistan?

Ans: Tashkent

Q2: India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise is called?

Ans: Dustlik

Euphrates River

May 15, 2026

Euphrates River Latest News

The Euphrates, one of the oldest and most storied rivers in human history, is disappearing.

About Euphrates River

It is Western Asia’s longest river and has a length of about 2,800 km.
Course:
- The river originates in the Armenian Highlands of southeastern Turkey.
- It then flows through the countries of Syria and Iraq, where it meets with the Tigris River and finally drains into the Persian Gulf.
The Euphrates River flows parallel to the Tigris River and along with all their tributaries, form the large Tigris-Euphrates River System.
Ancient Mesopotamia, a part of what is often called the “Fertile Crescent,” occupied the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Some of the world’s oldest civilizations were established there thousands of years ago.
One of the ancient world’s most important cities, Babylon, was built along the Euphrates.
Often used as a boundary between various kingdoms, the Euphrates was the scene of battles during ancient times.
The Euphrates receives most of its water from winter rains and snowfall in the mountains. The rest of the land that the Euphrates flows through is dry.

Source: IT

Euphrates River FAQs

Q1: What is the approximate length of the Euphrates River?

Ans: The Euphrates River is about 2,800 km long.

Q2: Where does the Euphrates River originate?

Ans: It originates in the Armenian Highlands of southeastern Turkey

Q3: Through which countries does the Euphrates River flow?

Ans: It flows through Turkey, Syria, and Iraq.

Q4: Into which water body does the Euphrates River finally drain?

Ans: It finally drains into the Persian Gulf.

Q5: Which river flows parallel to the Euphrates River?

Ans: The Tigris River flows parallel to the Euphrates River.

Ginger

May 15, 2026

Ginger Latest News

Recently, the Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) launched the ₹189.79-crore Mizoram Ginger Mission.

About Ginger

It is an herbaceous perennial plant of the family Zingiberaceae.
Required Climatic Conditions
- Climate: It requires a warm and humid climate (up to an altitude of 1500m).
- Temperature: The crop performs well in a temperature range of 19°C- 28°C.
- Rainfall: It requires moderate to high rainfall of about 1,500–2,500 mm per year or reliable irrigation.
- Ginger does not tolerate frost or prolonged drought.
- Soil: It requires loose, fertile, well-drained loam or sandy-loam soils rich in organic matter.
Largest Producer: India is the largest producer of ginger and mainly in Kerala, Orissa, Meghalaya, West Bengal, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Uses: It is the most widely used spice both for flavouring and for medicinal purposes. It is used in food preparations, confectionery, beverages, making ginger candy/ preserves.
Significance: It contains a vast amount of antioxidant compounds which can be used to treat various inflammatory conditions.
- Ginger supplementation significantly reduces the levels of fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, apolipoprotein B etc.

Source: DD News

Ginger FAQs

Q1: Which part of the ginger plant is economically used?

Ans: Rhizome

Q2: What is an active compound responsible for pungency in ginger?

Ans: Gingerol

Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary

May 15, 2026

Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

Himalayan brown bear sightings in Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary have revived conservation interest after a female bear and her cubs were photographed recently.

About Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary

It is located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
The sanctuary is also referred to as `Sangla Wildlife Sanctuary`.
It is spread over an area of 30.98 sq.km.
It is situated at an elevation ranging from 3200 to 5486 meters above sea level.
It is a part of the Western Himalayan range.
It is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys, and gushing rivers.
The perilous Lamkhanga Pass is one of the many trekking routes that pass through this sanctuary.
- This pass connects the Himachal Pradesh province of Kinnaur to the Uttarakhand region of Gangotri.
Unlike the climate of other sanctuaries in Himachal Pradesh, the sanctuary is located in a dry zone; hence it does not experience monsoons.
Vegetation: Sub-Alpine Forests, Dry Broadleaf and Coniferous Forests, Dry Temperate Forests and Dry Alpine Scrubs and Pastures.
Flora: Some of the common flora found in the sanctuary include rhododendrons, oak trees, pine trees, and medicinal herbs.
Fauna: It is also home to various species of wildlife, such as snow leopards, Himalayan black bears, musk deer, and numerous bird species.

Key Facts about Himalayan Brown Bear

It is the largest mammal found in the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas.
It is one of the most ancient brown bear lineages.
Scientific Name: Ursus arctos isabellinus
It is also known as the “Himalayan Red Bear” and the “Isabelline Bear”. It is known as Denmo in the Ladakhi language.
It is believed by some that the bear’s ability to walk upright probably gave rise to the legend of the Yeti or “Abominable Snowman.”
Distribution:
- They are found in the northwestern and central Himalayas, including Pakistan, India, Nepal, the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, and Bhutan.
- They are found above the timberline, between 3,000 and 5,500 meters above sea level.
- In India, this species exists in small isolated populations in the fragmented alpine and subalpine habitats of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Features:
- Males are larger than females, with an average length of 1.9 m and weight of 135 kg, in comparison to the female averages of 1.6 m and 70 kg.
- It has thick fur, which is most often sandy or reddish-brown in colour.
- Food: Omnivorous, eating grasses, roots, bulbs, and other plants, insects, and small mammals such as marmots, pikas, and voles.
- They hibernate in dens during the winter.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

Source: IE

Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary FAQs

Q1: Where is Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Ans: It is located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.

Q2: Which mountain range does Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary belong to?

Ans: It is part of the Western Himalayan range.

Q3: Which famous trekking pass passes through the Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans: The Lamkhanga Pass passes through the sanctuary.

Q4: What type of forests are found in Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans: Sub-alpine forests, dry broadleaf and coniferous forests, dry temperate forests, and dry alpine scrubs and pastures are found there.

Advance Authorisation (AA) Scheme

May 15, 2026

Advance Authorisation (AA) Scheme Latest News

Recently, the government put limits on the quantity of gold that can be imported under the Advance Authorisation (AA) Scheme.

About Advance Authorisation (AA) Scheme

It allows duty free import of inputs, which are physically incorporated in an export product.
In addition to any inputs, packaging material, fuel, oil and catalysts which are consumed/utilized in the process of production of export products, are also allowed.
The inputs imported are exempt from duties like,
- Basic Customs Duty, Additional Customs Duty, Education Cess, Anti-dumping duty, Safeguard Duty and Transition Product-Specific Safeguard duty, Integrated tax, and Compensation Cess, wherever applicable, subject to certain conditions.
An export obligation is usually set as a condition for issuing Advance Authorization.
Advanced Authorization Issued to
- Manufacturer Exporters: Entities engaged in manufacturing goods for export.
- Merchant Exporters tied to Supporting Manufacturer(s): Traders who do not manufacture themselves but procure goods from a supporting manufacturer for export.
The Advanced Authorization shall be issued for
- Physical exports
- Intermediate supply
- Supplies made to specified categories of deemed exports
- Supply of ‘stores’ on board of a foreign-going vessel/aircraft, provided that there are specific Standard Input Output Norms (SION) in respect of items supplied.
Advance Authorization is valid for 12 months from the date of issue of such Authorization.
It is overseen by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

Source: FE

Advance Authorisation (AA) Scheme FAQs

Q1: Advance Authorisation is issued for?

Ans: Physical exports + deemed exports + intermediate supplies

Q2: Advance Authorisation is issued under which policy framework?

Ans: Foreign Trade Policy

Tughlaqabad Fort

May 15, 2026

Tughlaqabad Fort Latest News

Despite being monitored by Delhi High Court and occasionally even by Supreme Court, work on a survey to weed out encroachers and preserve the historic Tughlaqabad Fort appears to be going around in circles.

About Tughlaqabad Fort

It is located in South Delhi.
It was built by the founder of the Tughlaq Dynasty, Ghiyas-ud-din-Tughlaq in 1321.
Ghias-ud-din Tughlaq, also called Ghazi Malik, was the slave who served Sultan Mubarak Khilji of the Khilji Dynasty.
Ghazi Malik drove away the Khilji ruler and built his city of Tughlaqabad and the fort.
Established as the 3rd historic city, the fort was later abandoned in 1327 after a curse given by Nizamuddin Auliya.

Tughlaqabad Fort Features

The fort is divided into three parts: the main city area with houses built along a rectangular grid between its gates, the citadel with a tower at its highest point known as Bijai-Mandal, and the adjacent palace area containing the royal residences.
The fort is an irregular rectangle gigantic stone structure, with walls that are 10-15 m high and covers an area of more than 6.5 km.
Crowning the walls are battlement parapets and bastions.
The fortified city contained artificial lakes and other rainwater tanks.
On the southern side of the fort is the tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, which was built in 1325 AD by the ruler himself.
Ghiyas-ud-din's successor, Muhammad Tughluq (1325-51), added the small fortress of ‘Adilabad on the hill south of Tughluqabad, with which it shares the main characteristics of construction.

Source: MSN

Tughlaqabad Fort FAQs

Q1: Where is Tughlaqabad Fort located?

Ans: Tughlaqabad Fort is located in South Delhi.

Q2: Who built Tughlaqabad Fort?

Ans: It was built by the founder of the Tughlaq Dynasty, Ghiyas-ud-din-Tughlaq in 1321.

Q3: What is Bijai-Mandal in Tughlaqabad Fort?

Ans: Bijai-Mandal is a tower located at the highest point of the citadel.

Q4: Where is Adilabad Fort located?

Ans: It is located on the hill south of Tughlaqabad.

Meningitis

May 15, 2026

Meningitis Latest News

Health officials in England are scrambling to stop a new meningitis outbreak after a student died and two more fell seriously ill in areas around Reading and Oxfordshire recently.

About Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. These membranes are called meninges.
It can be deadly and often results in serious long-term health issues.
Causes:
- It can be caused by several species of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
- Injuries, cancers, and drugs cause a small number of cases.
Bacterial meningitis is the most serious type of meningitis. It is a severe, life-threatening condition that can often lead to long-term adverse health consequences.
Transmission: Infections that cause meningitis can be spread through sneezing and coughing.
Symptoms:
- Common symptoms of meningitis are neck stiffness, fever, confusion or altered mental status, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
- Less frequent symptoms are seizures, coma, and neurological deficits (for example hearing or vision loss, cognitive impairment, or weakness of the limbs).
- Types of meningitis caused by viruses or bacteria can have similar symptoms. Symptoms may be stronger in some types of meningitis than in others and require different treatment.
Treatment and Prevention:
- Meningitis is a medical emergency. It is potentially fatal within 24 hours and requires urgent medical attention.
- Meningitis can vary in severity, appropriate treatment and care depending on the cause.
- Meningitis caused by bacteria requires immediate antibiotic treatment.
- Vaccines offer the best protection against common types of bacterial meningitis.
- Antibiotics for close contacts of those with meningococcal disease, when given promptly, decreases the risk of transmission.
- Viral meningitis usually goes away on its own without treatment.

Source: TOI

Meningitis FAQs

Q1: What is Meningitis?

Ans: Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

Q2: What are the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord called?

Ans: They are called meninges.

Q3: What are the major causes of meningitis?

Ans: Meningitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

Q4: Which is the most serious type of meningitis?

Ans: Bacterial meningitis is the most serious type.

Q5: Why is meningitis considered a medical emergency?

Ans: It can become fatal within 24 hours and requires urgent medical attention.