UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 2 May 2026

by Vajiram & Ravi - 2 May 2026

Vajiram & Ravi provides Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 2 May 2026, tailored for aspirants. We cover all relevant news and events crucial for the exam, ensuring you stay updated & well-prepared.

Korowai Tribe

May 2, 2026
Korowai Tribe

Korowai Tribe Latest News

Papua’s Korowai tribe, often labelled ‘cannibals’, is re-examined as myths fade, revealing a misunderstood culture shaped by isolation, conflict, and historical misrepresentation.

About Korowai Tribe

  • The Korowai tribe is a group of indigenous people who live in the southeastern part of Papua, Indonesia. 
  • According to estimates, there are between 2500 and 4000 indigenous Korowai people.  
  • The tribe has unique cultural practices and a unique way of living in treehouses high above the ground. 
  • The Korowai people have a deep connection to the forest, which they rely on for their survival. 
  • They hunt and gather food from the forest, including wild animals and plants. 
  • They are living high up in the trees which they built on the tree trunks. 
    • They build tree houses to protect their homes from floods and wild animals, as well as to keep them safe from rival tribes.  
    • A Korowai treehouse is made of wood and tree bark, plus some bamboo and sago leaves for the roof.
    • The tallest houses can reach a height of 40 metres (130ft).  
    • A treehouse will remain to be used for about 3 years, or till the tree is eaten by termites. 
  • The Korowai people were totally disconnected from the outside world until the 1970s.  
  • They have been sensationalised in modern media for their association with cannibalism, a practice of eating human flesh.
    • While it is believed that the tribe historically practised cannibalism as part of their spiritual and social beliefs, it has largely faded over time.

Source: N18

Korowai Tribe FAQs

Q1: Where does the Korowai Tribe live?

Ans: Southeastern Papua in Indonesia

Q2: What is the most distinctive feature of Korowai housing?

Ans: Treehouses built high above the ground.

Q3: What is the primary source of livelihood for the Korowai people?

Ans: Hunting and gathering from the forest.

Q4: Is cannibalism still widely practiced among the Korowai today?

Ans: No, it has largely faded over time.

Mount Dukono

May 2, 2026
Mount Dukono

Mount Dukono Latest News

Mount Dukono in eastern Indonesia erupted recently, sending an ash column up to 1,400 meters above its summit.

About Mount Dukono

  • It is an active volcano located on Halmahera Island in North Maluku, Indonesia.
  • It is a complex volcano presenting a broad, low profile with multiple summit peaks and overlapping craters. 
  • Standing at 1,087 meters above sea level, Mount Dukono is one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes. 
  • It is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region with high tectonic activity. 
  • Since its first eruption in 1933, the volcano has exhibited significant volcanic activity, including frequent eruptions and smoke emissions. 
    • Eruptions have been explosive and also produced lava flows and mudflows.  
    • It often produces ash plumes that can reach several kilometers into the atmosphere. 
  • The tropical rainforest surrounding the volcano is home to various endemic flora and fauna species.

Source: MSN

Mount Dukono FAQs

Q1: Where is Mount Dukono located?

Ans: Halmahera Island in North Maluku, Indonesia

Q2: What type of volcano is Mount Dukono?

Ans: A complex volcano with multiple summit peaks and overlapping craters.

Q3: When did Mount Dukono begin its recorded eruptions?

Ans: 1933

INS Mahendragiri

May 2, 2026
INS Mahendragiri

INS Mahendragiri Latest News

Recently, the INS Mahendragiri was delivered to the Indian Navy at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL) Mumbai.

About INS Mahendragiri

  • It is the sixth ship of Nilgiri Class (Project 17A).
  • It was designed by Warship Design Bureau (WDB).
  • It was built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL) Mumbai.

Features of INS Mahendragiri

  • Propulsion: These ships are configured with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plants.
  • Comprising a diesel engine and a gas turbine that drive a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft, and state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS)
  • Armaments: The potent weapon and sensor suite comprises anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare systems.

What are Project 17A frigates?

  • These are versatile multi-mission platforms designed to address current and emerging challenges in the maritime domain. 
  • The five already delivered to the Navy are INS Nilgiri, INS Himgiri, INS Udaygiri, INS Taragiri and INS Vindhyagiri.
  • Armaments: P17A ships are fitted with an advanced weapon and sensor suite like MF-STAR active phased array radar, BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, and Barak-8 long-range surface-to-air missiles, designed for superior anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.

Source: PIB

INS Mahendragiri FAQs

Q1: Which shipyard built INS Mahendragiri?

Ans: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai

Q2: INS Mahendragiri belongs to which class of warships?

Ans: Nilgiri-class stealth frigate / Project 17A

Jamaica

May 2, 2026
Jamaica

Jamaica Latest News

Recently, India has deployed its flagship Aarogya Maitri portable healthcare infrastructure in Jamaica, viewed as part of India’s broader outreach to CARICOM countries.

About Jamaica

  • It is a large island nation located in the west-central Caribbean in the Greater Antilles archipelago.
  • It is situated to the south of Cuba; to the west of Hispaniola Islands (Haiti & the Dominican Republic) and to the northwest of Cayman Islands.
  • It is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea.
  • Capital City: Kingston

Geographical Features of Jamaica

  • Climate: The tropical climate is influenced by the sea and the northeast trade winds, which are dominant throughout the year. 
  • Major Mountains: It consists of Blue Mountains (highest point), John Crow Mountains, Don Figuero Mountains, Santa Cruz, etc. 
  • Major Rivers: Rio Minho (the longest river of Jamaica), Black River, Rio Cobre
  • Natural Resources: Jamaica's main natural resources are bauxite, gypsum and limestone.

What is Aarogya Maitri?

  • 'Aarogya Maitri' project is a humanitarian initiative that extends India's commitment to global health and disaster relief.
  • The Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri (BHISHM), part of Project Aarogya Maitri, is an innovative emergency medical aid program.
  • At its core are compact, portable "mini cubes" filled with essential medicines and equipment, designed for rapid deployment in various emergencies.

Source: News On Air

Jamaica FAQs

Q1: Jamaica is located in which sea?

Ans: Caribbean Sea

Q2: What is the capital of Jamaica?

Ans: Kingston

Whitley Awards

May 2, 2026
Whitley Awards

Whitley Awards Latest News

Recently, Indian conservationists Barkha Subba, Parveen Shaikh won Whitley Awards for conservation of Himalayan salamander and endangered Indian skimmer.

About Whitley Awards

  • It is often called as the “Green Oscars,”
  • It recognises grassroots conservation leaders in the Global South.
  • It is given by the UK charity Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN).
  • It provides winners with £50,000 in project funding over one year to scale up local solutions to biodiversity loss.

Key Facts about Himalayan salamander

  • It is a lizard-like amphibian species.
  • Although it resembles a lizard, it lacks scales on its body.
  • Distribution: It is endemic to India (the Darjeeling region), Nepal and Bhutan,
  • It can grow up to 17 cm in length and live for up to 11 years.
  • Salamanders return to their natal site to breed and lay eggs—a process known as philopatry, which makes them highly vulnerable to changes in habitat and wetland health.
  • Cultural Significance: The wetlands where Himalayan salamanders breed are culturally revered water bodies, associated with local deities and rituals.
  • Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable

Key Facts about Indian skimmer

  • It is one of the three species that belong to the skimmer genus Rynchops in the family Laridae. 
  • It gets its name from the way it feeds, flying low over the water surface and ‘skimming’for fish.
  • Habitat: It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes.
  • Distribution: It is mainly found in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, with some populations extending to Nepal and Myanmar.
  • In India, one of the key areas for spotting Indian Skimmers is the Chambal River.
  • Conservation status: IUCN: Endangered

Source: HT

Whitley Awards FAQs

Q1: Whitley Awards are given by which organization?

Ans: Whitley Fund for Nature, UK

Q2: Whitley Fund for Nature was established in which year?

Ans: 1993 – By Edward Whitley

Incentive Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Recycling

May 2, 2026
Incentive Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Recycling

Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling Latest News

Recently, the Ministry of Mines has approved 58 companies under the Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling as eligible for participation. 

About Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling

  • It is part of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which is aimed at building the domestic capacity of and supply chain resilience in critical minerals. 
  • Time Period: The Scheme will have a tenure of six years from Financial Year 2025-26 to Financial Year 2030-31. 

Features of Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling

  • Eligible feedstock is e-waste, Lithium Ion Battery (LIB) scrap, and scrap other than e-waste and LIB scraps. 
  • Expected beneficiaries will be both large, established recyclers, as well as small, new recyclers (including start-ups), for whom one-third of the scheme outlay has been earmarked. 
  • It is applicable to investments in new units as well as expansion of capacity and modernization and diversification of existing units. 
  • It provides incentive for the recycling value chain, which is involved in the actual extraction of critical minerals, and not the value chain involved in only black mass production.
  • The incentives include a 20% capital subsidy on plant and machinery for projects that commence production within the stipulated timeframe and an operational subsidy tied to incremental sales. 
  • The operational support will be provided in tranches—40% in the second year and 60% in the fifth year—on meeting specific sales thresholds.
  • To ensure wider participation, the total incentive has been capped at ₹50 crore per large entity and ₹25 crore per small entity, with limits on operating subsidies of ₹10 crore and ₹5 crore, respectively..

Source: News On Air

Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling FAQ's

Q1: Which Ministry implements the scheme?

Ans: Ministry of Mines

Q2: What is the total financial outlay of the scheme?

Ans: ₹1,500 crore

Leprosy

May 2, 2026
What is Leprosy?

Leprosy Latest News

Leprosy will be declared a notifiable disease under the Delhi Epidemic Diseases Act, making it mandatory for all healthcare providers to report every new case of leprosy to the District Leprosy Officer, the government recently.

About Leprosy

  • Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae.
  • It primarily affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes. 
  • It is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) which still occurs in more than 120 countries, with around 200000 new cases reported every year. 
  • People affected by the disease often face social isolation and discrimination, particularly in regions where the illness is more common. 

Leprosy Transmission

  • The disease is transmitted through droplets from the nose and mouth of an untreated case of leprosy, containing the causative agent, following prolonged, close contact. 
  • The disease does not spread through casual contact (like shaking hands or hugging, sharing meals or sitting next to each other). 
  • The patient stops transmitting the disease upon initiation of treatment.

Leprosy Symptoms

  • It usually takes about 3 to 5 years for symptoms to appear after you come into contact with the bacteria that cause leprosy.
  • The main symptom is disfiguring skin sores, lumps, or bumps that don’t go away after several weeks or months.
  • In some cases, body parts may lose their sense of touch and pain, increasing the likelihood of injuries such as cuts and burns.
  • Left untreated, the disease may cause progressive and permanent disabilities. 
  • It can cause permanent paralysis, blindness, and damage to your hands, feet, and face.  

Leprosy Treatment

  • Leprosy is a curable disease. 
  • The currently recommended treatment regimen consists of three medicines (dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine) and is referred to as multi-drug therapy (MDT).

Source: TH

Leprosy FAQs

Q1: What is leprosy also known as?

Ans: Hansen’s disease.

Q2: Which bacterium causes Leprosy?

Ans: Mycobacterium leprae

Q3: Which parts of the body are primarily affected by leprosy?

Ans: Skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and eyes.

Q4: How is leprosy transmitted?

Ans: Through droplets from the nose and mouth of an untreated person during prolonged close contact.

Q5: Is Leprosy curable?

Ans: Leprosy is a curable disease.

DAMPE Satellite

May 2, 2026
DAMPE Satellite

DAMPE Satellite Latest News

China's DAMPE space telescope recently made an observation on the acceleration of cosmic rays, such as nuclei of hydrogen, helium, etc., and found that the intensity of the cosmic radiation decreases more rapidly upon reaching a specific high-energy threshold.

About DAMPE Satellite

  • DAMPE (Dark Matter Particle Explorer), also known as “Wukong”, is China's first astronomical satellite.
  • It is a powerful space telescope for high-energy gamma-ray, electron, and cosmic ray detection. 
  • The satellite was launched into a polar, sun-synchronous orbit with an altitude of 500 km on December 17, 2015.  
  • The main scientific objective of DAMPE is to measure electrons and photons with much higher energy resolution and energy reach than achievable with existing space experiments in order to identify possible dark matter signatures. 
  • It also has great potential in advancing the understanding of the origin and propagation mechanism of high-energy cosmic rays, as well as in new discoveries in high-energy gamma astronomy. 
  • Since its launch, DAMPE has recorded about 18.5 billion high-energy particle events.

Source: IS

DAMPE Satellite FAQs

Q1: Which country launched the DAMPE Satellite?

Ans: China

Q2: What kind of particles does DAMPE detect?

Ans: High-energy gamma rays, electrons, and cosmic rays.

Q3: When was the DAMPE launched?

Ans: 17 December 2015

Q4: What is the primary objective of DAMPE?

Ans: To detect high-energy electrons and photons with high precision to identify possible dark matter signatures.

Hepatitis

May 2, 2026
Hepatitis

Hepatitis Latest News

According to the WHO’s Global Hepatitis Report 2026 India remains among the countries bearing the highest burden of hepatitis-related deaths.

About Hepatitis

  • It is an inflammation of the liver that is caused by a variety of infectious viruses and non-infectious agents.
  • It is commonly the result of a viral infection, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis.
    • These include autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis that occurs as a secondary result of medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol.
    • Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease that occurs when your body makes antibodies against your liver tissue.
  • Common Symptoms: Fatigue, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, pale stool, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, yellow skin and eyes, which may be signs of jaundice.

Classification of Hepatitis 

  • Hepatitis A: It is the result of an infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). This type of hepatitis is an acute, short-term disease.
  • Hepatitis B: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes hepatitis B. This is often an ongoing, chronic condition.
  • Hepatitis C: It comes from the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is among the most common bloodborne viral infections and typically presents as a long-term condition.
  • Hepatitis D: It is a rare form of hepatitis that only occurs in conjunction with hepatitis B infection.
    • The hepatitis D virus (HDV) causes liver inflammation like other strains, but a person cannot contract HDV without an existing hepatitis B infection
  • Hepatitis E: It is a waterborne disease that results from exposure to the hepatitis E virus (HEV).
    • It is mainly found in areas with poor sanitation and typically results from ingesting fecal matter that contaminates the water supply.

Treatment for Hepatitis 

  • There are vaccines that can help protect against many hepatitis viruses.
  • There are vaccines for prevention against Hepatitis A, B and D.
  • However, there is no vaccine for Hepatitis C or E.

Source: TOI

Hepatitis FAQs

Q1: Hepatitis is inflammation of which organ?

Ans: Liver

Q2: Which Hepatitis types are transmitted through contaminated food and water?

Ans: Hepatitis A and E

Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary

May 2, 2026
Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

Ten years after it was notified as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), a committee of monks recently demanded scrapping of this conservation status for the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary that houses 54 lions so that all religious activities can be organized freely.

About Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary

  • It is located in the Junagadh district of Gujarat.
  • It spans the rugged terrain of the Girnar hills, which are a part of the Saurashtra region. 
  • Girnar has a rich cultural and religious significance with Hindu and Jain temples situated on the hills.  
  • Flora:
    • Predominantly dry deciduous forests with species like teak, dhak, acacia, and other drought-resistant plants.
    • The sanctuary supports a mix of dense forest, open scrub, and grasslands.
  • Fauna:
    • It is filled with abundant wildlife, including Asiatic lions, spotted deer, Sambar, Chousinghas, Chinkaras, leopards, Indian golden jackals, and around 300 species of birds, which include both resident and migratory.
    • It serves as an extension of the Gir National Park’s lion population.

Source: TOI

Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary FAQs

Q1: Where is the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Ans: Junagadh district of Gujarat

Q2: The Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over which hill range?

Ans: It spans the rugged terrain of the Girnar hills, which are a part of the Saurashtra region.

Q3: What type of forest dominates the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans: Dry deciduous forest

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