UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 17 May 2026

Committee on Empowerment of Women

May 17, 2026

Committee on Empowerment of Women Latest News

Recently, the Lok Sabha Speaker has constituted the Committee on Empowerment of Women.

About Committee on Empowerment of Women

It was constituted for the first time on 29th April, 1997 during the 11th Lok Sabha.
Composition: It consists of 30 Members;
- 20 nominated by the Speaker from amongst the Members of Lok Sabha
- 10 nominated by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha from amongst the Members of the Rajya Sabha.
Term: The term of the Committee does not exceed one year and it is re-constituted year after year.
Working: The Members of the Committee are expected to work together for the empowerment of women cutting across the party affiliations.

Functions of the Committee

To consider the reports submitted by the National Commission for Women and to report on the measures that should be taken by the Union Government for improving the status/conditions of women.
To examine the measures taken by the Union Government to secure for women equality, status and dignity in all matters;
To examine the measures taken by the Union Government for comprehensive education and adequate representation of women in Legislative bodies/services and other fields;
To report on the working of the welfare programmes for the women;
To report on the action taken by the Union Government and Administrations of the Union Territories on the measures proposed by the Committee; and
To examine such other matters as may deem fit to the Committee or are specifically referred to it by the House or the Speaker and the Rajya Sabha or the Chairman, Rajya Sabha.

Source: News On Air

Committee on Empowerment of Women FAQs

Q1: When was the Committee on Empowerment of Women constituted?

Ans: 1997

Q2: What is the Composition of the Committee on Empowerment of Women?

Ans: 30 members: 20 Lok Sabha + 10 Rajya Sabha

Captagon

May 17, 2026

Captagon Latest News

Recently, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), under Operation RAGEPILL, has successfully unearthed an international drug syndicate involved in the trafficking of Captagon.

About Captagon

It is a highly addictive amphetamine-type drug.
The original Captagon contained fenetylline, a synthetic drug of the phenethylamine family to which amphetamine also belongs.
It is a synthetic drug which was originally manufactured in Germany in the 1960s and 1970s where it was intended to treat attention deficit disorders.
It was commercially sold in several countries until the 1980s and was banned due to fears of its highly addictive nature.
It is commonly known as “poor man’s cocaine,” has emerged as the drug of choice among young adults throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
It contains fenethylline, a synthetic amphetamine, caffeine, and other stimulants.
- Fenethylline is metabolized by the body into two molecules: amphetamine and theophylline, both of which are stimulants.
It was made illegal in 1986 in most countries and discontinued in medical markets.
It was later placed under Schedule II of the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
It is considered highly addictive and has become a major source of illegal trafficking and funding in conflict-hit regions.

Source: PIB

Captagon FAQs

Q1: What are the major health effects of Captagon abuse?

Ans: Euphoria, increased alertness, heart issues, addiction, psychosis

Q2: Captagon is classified under which category by UNODC?

Ans: Amphetamine-Type Stimulant

Sonerila roxburghii

May 17, 2026

Sonerila roxburghii Latest New

Researchers recently identified a new species of flowering plant named Sonerila roxburghii from the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats in Kerala.

About Sonerila roxburghii

It is a new species of flowering plant.
It was discovered in the Mankulam and Kallar areas of the Idukki district of Kerala, at elevations ranging between 1,380 and 1,480 metres above sea level.
The species has been named in honour of renowned botanist William Roxburgh - hailing from Scotland - often regarded as the Father of Indian Botany and one of the earliest scientists to document the Sonerila genus.
It belongs to the Sonerila genus of the Melastomataceae (flowering plant) family.
It can be distinguished by several unique morphological characteristics, including:
- Plant stems growing up to 60 cm in height.
- Light pink flowers.
- Smooth, flattened leaf surfaces gradually tapering toward the stem.
- Adaptation to moist, high-altitude rocky habitats.
The species belongs to a group of delicate tropical herbs largely confined to the higher reaches of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
has been placed in the Critically Endangered category due to its highly restricted distribution and fragile habitat conditions.

Source: ETVB

Sonerila roxburghii FAQs

Q1: What is Sonerila roxburghii?

Ans: It is a newly discovered species of flowering plant.

Q2: Where was Sonerila roxburghii discovered?

Ans: In the Mankulam and Kallar areas of Idukki district, Kerala.

Q3: After whom was Sonerila roxburghii named?

Ans: It has been named in honour of renowned botanist William Roxburgh, often regarded as the Father of Indian Botany.

Barn Swallow

May 17, 2026

Barn Swallow Latest News

Descendants of migratory barn swallows may have gradually stopped making long journeys and settled permanently in Manipur’s Imphal Valley, a new study suggests.

About Barn Swallow

It is a migratory passerine bird species.
Scientific Name: Hirundo rustica

Barn Swallow Habitat and Distribution

It is the most abundant and widely distributed swallow species in the world.
It breeds throughout the Northern Hemisphere and winters in much of the Southern Hemisphere.
It can be found in open habitats from fields, parks, and roadway edges to marshes, meadows, ponds, and coastal waters.

Barn Swallow Features

They are small to medium songbirds with long, pointed wings.
They grow to between 5.5 and 7 inches in length with a wingspan of 12.5 to 13.5 inches.
Barn swallow adult upperparts are dark iridescent blue-black, and the tail is long and forked, with white spots visible when the tail is spread during flight.
Underparts are buff or cinnamon with a dark chestnut throat.
The lighter belly is separated from the throat by a narrow blue-black band.

Barn Swallow Conservation Status

It is classified as 'Least Concern' under the IUCN Red List.

Source: TH

Barn Swallow FAQs

Q1: What type of bird is the Barn Swallow?

Ans: It is a migratory passerine bird species.

Q2: What type of habitats are preferred by Barn Swallows?

Ans: Open habitats such as fields, parks, marshes, meadows, ponds, and coastal waters.

Q3: What is the IUCN Red List status of the Barn Swallow?

Ans: Least Concern.

Rottnest Island

May 17, 2026

Rottnest Island Latest News

A 38-year-old man has died after a suspected shark attack near Rottnest Island recently, a popular tourist destination off the coast of Western Australia.

About Rottnest Island

It is an Australian island in the Indian Ocean.
It lies 19 km northwest of Fremantle (at the mouth of the Swan River, near Perth), Western Australia.
A coastal limestone fragment, the island measures about 11 by 5 km and has sand dunes and several salt lakes.
It was sighted in 1658 by a Dutch party under Samuel Volkerson.
In 1696 a Dutch sea captain, Willem de Vlamingh, gave the island its original name, Rottenest (meaning “rat’s nest”), because the place appeared to be infested with large rats.
These, in reality, were quokkas (a kind of wallaby), rare marsupials whose existence is now protected by the island’s status as a wildlife sanctuary.
First settled in the 1830s, Rottnest has served as a pilot station for Fremantle, an Aboriginal penal settlement (to 1850), a juvenile reformatory (1882–1906), and a World War II military base.
It is now a resort for the Perth area and is accessible by sea and air.

Source: ET

Rottnest Island FAQs

Q1: Where is Rottnest Island located?

Ans: It is an Australian island in the Indian Ocean.

Q2: Which Australian city lies near Rottnest Island?

Ans: Perth.

Q3: Which natural features are found on Rottnest Island?

Ans: Sand dunes and several salt lakes.

Q4: What type of animal is a quokka?

Ans: A kind of wallaby and a marsupial.

United Nations Forum on Forests

May 17, 2026

United Nations Forum on Forests Latest News

Recently, the Global Forest Goals Report 2026 was launched during the 21st session of the United Nations Forum on Forests.

About United Nations Forum on Forests

It is an intergovernmental body established in 2000 by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Its objective is to promote sustainable forest management and conservation worldwide.
Its mandate includes
- Strengthening long-term political commitment to forests;
- Facilitating policy dialogue among countries and stakeholders;
- Promoting international cooperation, including financial and technical support; and
- Considering future options for international forest policy, including legal frameworks.
The forum holds annual sessions at the UN Headquarters, alternating between technical discussions (odd years) and policy-level dialogues (even years).
Members: It is composed of all United Nations Member States and States members of specialised agencies, participating on a full and equal basis.
- India is a founding member of the UNFF, and continues to play a proactive role in shaping forest-related global policy.
Headquarters: New York, United States
It has established the Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN) to facilitate access to and effective use of funding for forests, to share data and best practices.

Source: DTE

United Nations Forum on Forests FAQs

Q1: Headquarters/Secretariat of UNFF is located at?

Ans: New York

Q2: United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) was established by?

Ans: UN Economic and Social Council

Eublepharis jhuma

May 17, 2026

Eublepharis jhuma Latest News

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India recently discovered a new species of leopard gecko named Eublepharis jhuma from the rocky hills of Bihar, India.

About Eublepharis jhuma

It is a new species of leopard gecko.
It was discovered during a wildlife survey on the outskirts of the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, Bihar.
It is the first of its kind ever recorded in the state, with unique physical traits and distinct DNA.
It is named in honour of Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, the first female director of the Zoological Survey of India, nicknamed Jhuma.
Reaching about 14 centimetres in body length, this medium-sized reptile sports a dark brown back decorated with two pale, spotty bands.
Unlike its closest known relative, Eublepharis satpuraensis, this new species has large, flat, bumpy scales on its back with unusually wide gaps in between them.
It also features a higher number of tiny, textured ridges, known as lamellae, underneath its fourth toe, which help with gripping.
It has a specific pattern of 12 to 13 pores near its tail, and if its tail drops and regrows, the new scales grow back in a distinct, flat, and rectangular shape rather than a circular one.

Source: RM

Eublepharis jhuma FAQs

Q1: What is Eublepharis jhuma?

Ans: It is a newly discovered species of leopard gecko.

Q2: Where was Eublepharis jhuma discovered?

Ans: On the outskirts of Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary in Bihar.

Q3: After whom was Eublepharis jhuma named?

Ans: It is named in honour of Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, the first female director of the Zoological Survey of India, nicknamed Jhuma.

Q4: What is the color of the back of Eublepharis jhuma?

Ans: Dark brown.

Semaglutide

May 17, 2026

Semaglutide Latest News

Dr Reddy's Laboratories recently said it has launched its generic version of Semaglutide injection used in treatment of type 2 diabetes in Canada.

About Semaglutide

It is a prescription medication used primarily to treat type 2 diabetes.
- Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that causes the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood to become too high.
Semaglutide works by increasing insulin levels in your body, which decreases your blood sugar (glucose).
It also reduces the amount of glucose, or sugar, produced by the liver, and slows down how quickly food is digested.
Semaglutide can also lead to weight loss. This is because it slows down how quickly food is digested.
Semaglutide resembles a natural hormone, GLP-1, released from the body after eating.
It may also be used to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with type 2 diabetes.
Changes to diet are often combined with this medication.

Source: ET

Semaglutide FAQs

Q1: What is Semaglutide primarily used for?

Ans: It is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Q2: What is type 2 diabetes?

Ans: It is a condition in which blood glucose (sugar) levels become too high.

Q3: How does Semaglutide help lower blood sugar?

Ans: Semaglutide works by increasing insulin levels in your body, which decreases your blood sugar (glucose).

Q4: How does Semaglutide affect digestion?

Ans: It slows down how quickly food is digested.

Latvia

May 17, 2026

Latvia Latest News

Recently, Latvian Prime Minister resigned after controversy over stray Ukrainian drones.

About Latvia

Location: It is a Baltic country situated in North Eastern Europe.
Bordering Countries: It is bordered by 4 Nations: by Estonia in the north; Lithuania in the south; Belarus in the southeast and Russia in the east.
Maritime Border: It lies along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga.
Capital City: Riga
It is a member of the European Union (EU) and NATO.

Geographical Features of Latvia

Climate: The climate in Latvia is temperate continental.
Highest Point: The highest point of Latvia is Gaizinkalns at 311.6 m (1,022 ft).
Rivers: Its important rivers include the Gauja( Longest River) Daugava, , Lielupe, Venta and Salaca.
Natural Resources: It majorly consists of limestone, gypsum, dolomite, peat, and other construction materials are some of the important natural resources of Latvia.

Source: TH

Latvia FAQs

Q1: Which major water body lies to the west of Latvia?

Ans: Baltic Sea

Q2: What is the Capital of Latvia?

Ans: Riga

Western Hoolock Gibbon

May 17, 2026

Western Hoolock Gibbon Latest News

In a first, a male Western Hoolock Gibbon housed in the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam's Jorhat district crossed the canopy bridges installed over a railway line passing through the sanctuary.

About Western Hoolock Gibbon

It is the smallest and fastest of all apes.
Habitat: It is found in a range of forest types, from moist deciduous to evergreen, sub-tropical to lowland.
Distribution: It is found in all the states of the north-east, restricted between the south of the Brahmaputra river and east of the Dibang river. Outside India, it is found in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Characteristics of Western Hoolock Gibbon
- They are diurnal and arboreal, brachiating through the trees with their long arms.
- They are monogamous (same partner throughout life).
- They live in small families and communicate with other gibbons by vocalisation.
- Life span: 25 years.
Threats: Habitat destruction illegal logging presented the greatest threat.
Conservation Status
- IUCN: Endangered
- Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule I

Source: TOI

Western Hoolock Gibbon FAQs

Q1: What is unique about Hoolock Gibbons among Indian primates?

Ans: These are the only apes found in India

Q2: Western Hoolock Gibbon is listed under which Schedule of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972?

Ans: Schedule I