Current Affairs - May 10, 2026 Current Affairs

C. Joseph Vijay, the actor-turned-politician and founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2026. The oath-taking ceremony was held at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in the presence of political leaders, celebrities, alliance partners, and thousands of supporters. His victory marked a major political shift in Tamil Nadu, ending nearly six decades of dominance by the DMK and AIADMK parties. TVK emerged as the single largest party in the 2026 Assembly elections and formed the government with support from alliance partners, including Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML.

World Thalassemia Day is observed every year on May 8 to spread awareness about thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder that affects haemoglobin production and requires lifelong medical care. The 2026 theme, “Hidden No More: Finding the Undiagnosed. Supporting the Unseen,” highlighted the importance of identifying undiagnosed patients and improving support systems. The observance also promotes prenatal screening to reduce the number of affected births. Established officially on May 8, 1994, by Panos Englezos, the day honours patients battling thalassemia and encourages global healthcare communities to improve treatment, care, and advocacy efforts worldwide.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) lifted the ban on Belarus on May 7, 2026, allowing Belarusian athletes to participate under their national flag at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Belarusian teams and officials will also be included in the opening ceremony and official medal standings. In contrast, Russia continues to remain suspended because the Russian Olympic Committee unlawfully absorbed sports organisations from occupied Ukrainian territories. Russian athletes are only permitted to compete as “Individual Neutral Athletes” without national symbols. The decision reflects changing international sports policies and varying stances among global sporting federations regarding participation restrictions.

Mother’s Day 2026 was celebrated globally on May 10, which fell on the second Sunday of May. The occasion honours the unconditional love, sacrifices, care, and support provided by mothers and maternal figures. People celebrate the day through family gatherings, heartfelt wishes, gifts, flowers, and expressions of gratitude. The modern celebration of Mother’s Day began in the early 20th century due to the efforts of American social activist Anna Jarvis, who organised the first official observance in 1908 in memory of her mother. Today, Mother’s Day is recognised worldwide as one of the most meaningful family-oriented celebrations.

India’s first International Ophthalmology Research Conference, AIOS-AFOU 2026, is being held at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on May 09 and 10, 2026. The conference is jointly organised by the Department of Ophthalmology at Army Hospital (Research & Referral) and the All-India Ophthalmological Society. The event focuses on advancements in ophthalmology and encourages collaboration between civil and military medical institutions. Renowned international experts and leading ophthalmologists from premier institutes such as AIIMS New Delhi, PGI Chandigarh, and LV Prasad Eye Institute are participating. The conference also highlights innovations in AI-driven eye diagnostics and modern ophthalmic research.

NASA, in collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), successfully tested a 120-kilowatt lithium-fed magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster on May 08, 2026. The advanced propulsion technology uses ionized lithium plasma accelerated through magnetic fields to produce electromagnetic thrust. The system operates using Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP), where a compact nuclear reactor powers the thrusters instead of solar energy. This innovation is significant for future deep-space exploration and crewed Mars missions, which may require power outputs between 2 and 4 megawatts. The successful test represents a major milestone in high-power space propulsion technology for long-duration interplanetary travel.

Suvendu Adhikari became the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister of West Bengal after taking oath on May 9, 2026. His appointment followed the BJP’s historic victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, where the party secured 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior NDA leaders. Suvendu Adhikari had earlier joined the BJP in December 2020 after leaving the Trinamool Congress and later emerged as one of the party’s strongest leaders in West Bengal politics.

World Ovarian Cancer Day is observed annually on May 8 to raise awareness about ovarian cancer and promote better healthcare access for women worldwide. In 2026, the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition marked the 14th observance of the day by launching new initiatives focused on health equity. The campaign theme “No Woman Left Behind” emphasised equal access to diagnosis and quality treatment irrespective of geographic location. Awareness activities, including the #ReachForTheScars campaign and the WOCD 2026 toolkit, aimed to educate people about early symptoms, the importance of timely medical care, and the risks associated with delayed diagnosis.

India hosted the ISO TC 20 / SC 14 international subcommittee meetings on space systems and operations for the first time on May 08, 2026, in New Delhi. The meetings were organized by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) at Bharat Mandapam and witnessed participation from 131 delegates representing 13 countries. The event focused on creating global standards for mission safety, interoperability, and mitigation of space debris. The conference also highlighted India’s rapidly growing private space ecosystem, encouraged through IN-SPACe policy reforms. Experts from ISRO and several international space agencies participated, strengthening India’s role in global space governance and technological cooperation.

The 52nd All India Sainik Schools Principals’ Conference was inaugurated at Kazhakoottam in Kerala by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth on May 07, 2026. The conference brought together delegates from 33 Sainik Schools and principals of 79 New Sainik Schools through video conferencing. The event included activities such as a wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial and exhibitions on educational technology at the Gyan Mela. Several awards for academic excellence and contributions to defence academy admissions were presented during the conference, highlighting the role of Sainik Schools in preparing students for leadership and military careers.