News of The Day – 11th May 2026

The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS-1: Art and Culture)

• Rabindranath Tagore was a poet, philosopher, educationist and Nobel laureate in Literature (1913).
• Author of Gitanjali and composer of India’s national anthem Jana Gana Mana.
• Founded Visva-Bharati University at Santiniketan.
• Important figure in Bengal Renaissance and Indian cultural nationalism.

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• About National Panchayat Awards 2025
• Awards recognise outstanding performance of Panchayati Raj Institutions in governance, localisation of SDGs, sanitation, women empowerment and digital initiatives.
• Encourage competitive and accountable grassroots governance under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• About Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
  • Acts as principal military adviser to the government and promotes jointness among the armed forces.
  • The office was created in 2019 following recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee and Shekatkar Committee.
• CDS heads the Department of Military Affairs (DMA).

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• Governor plays a key constitutional role during a hung Assembly or government formation under Articles 163 and 164.
• Conventionally invites the leader most likely to command majority support.
• The Supreme Court has emphasised floor tests as the proper method to determine majority.
• Debate continues over gubernatorial discretion and political neutrality.

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• Reproductive and maternal health policies largely focus on women, with limited male participation.
• Experts stress shared responsibility in family planning, maternal care and child health.
• Linked to gender equality, SDG goals and behavioural change in public health interventions.

(GS-2: International Relations)

• India highlighted the importance of maritime safety in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Focus areas include freedom of navigation, anti-piracy operations, disaster response and secure Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs).
• Important in the context of SAGAR doctrine, Indo-Pacific strategy and maritime diplomacy.

(GS-3: Economy)

• India’s agricultural exports showed resilience despite tariff barriers and global trade disruptions.
• Growth driven by diversification of export markets, value-added products and government support schemes.
• Key exports include rice, spices, marine products and sugar.
• Important for food security, WTO issues and agri-trade competitiveness.

(GS-3: Economy )

• Advisory aimed at promoting economic resilience and reducing non-essential expenditure amid global uncertainties.
• Work From Home (WFH) practices can reduce fuel consumption and urban congestion.
• Highlights behavioural-economic measures during crises and importance of domestic savings stability.

(GS-3: Security)

• ICGS ACHAL is an indigenously built Fast Patrol Vessel commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard.
• Enhances coastal surveillance, search and rescue, anti-smuggling and maritime law enforcement capabilities.
• Supports maritime security in India’s coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• India’s advanced Agni missile equipped with MIRV (Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicle) capability can strike multiple targets using a single missile.
• Enhances strategic deterrence and second-strike capability.
• Reflects advances in indigenous missile and nuclear delivery systems under DRDO.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• About Huntington’s Disease
  • It is a rare inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by genetic mutation affecting brain cells.
• Patients seek formal rare disease recognition and a national registry for better treatment access and policy support.
• Linked to National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• India achieved a major milestone in scramjet engine testing, crucial for hypersonic missile development.
  • Scramjet engines operate efficiently at speeds above Mach 5 using atmospheric oxygen.
• Important for next-generation strategic missiles, high-speed aerospace systems and indigenous defence technology advancement.