LEGAL NEWS
Supreme Court Hearing PIL on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is currently being examined by a nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in a PIL challenging the practice.
• The practice has been linked mainly with the Dawoodi Bohra community, and the Court is considering its constitutional and legal implications.
• FGM involves partial or complete removal/injury of female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognised as causing serious physical and psychological harm.
• In earlier hearings (July 2018), a three-judge bench observed that FGM prima facie violates the right to privacy and may attract provisions of the POCSO Act, 2012.
• The present hearings began on 7 April 2026 and are being led by CJI Justice Surya Kant.
• On 7 May 2026, Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that FGM can be restricted under Article 25 on health grounds, even without deciding whether it is an essential religious practice.
• The Court has also discussed the difference between FGM and male circumcision, highlighting the reproductive and long-term health impact on girls.
• India has no separate law banning FGM, but it may be examined under provisions relating to causing hurt (IPC Sections 319–326) and under the POCSO Act, while the issue is also being tested against Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.
APPOINTMENTS
Suvendu Adhikari Sworn in as West Bengal Chief Minister (9 May 2026)
• Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on 9 May 2026.
• He became the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal and the 9th person to hold the post.
• The BJP secured a decisive victory by winning 207 out of 294 seats in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
• This result ended the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the state.
• The swearing-in ceremony was held at Brigade Parade Ground, Kolkata on 9 May 2026.
• The oath of office was administered by West Bengal Governor R.N. Ravi under Article 164 of the Constitution.
• The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
• Along with Adhikari, five MLAs—Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Nisith Pramanik, and Kshudiram Tudu—were inducted into the Council of Ministers, and he succeeded Mamata Banerjee (CM since 2011).
Justice R.D. Huddar Appointed Chairperson of Karnataka AOC
• Retired Karnataka High Court judge Justice Ramachandra Dattatray Huddar was appointed Chairperson of the Admission Overseeing Committee (AOC) for professional courses in Karnataka on 8 May 2026.
• The AOC is responsible for monitoring and supervising admissions to professional courses such as engineering, medical, dental, and other regulated streams in the state.
• The chairperson post had remained vacant after the term of Justice B. Manohar ended in October 2024.
• Justice Huddar was sworn in as an Additional Judge of the Karnataka High Court on 24 January 2023.
• He was elevated as a Permanent Judge on 8 January 2025.
• Justice Huddar retired from the Karnataka High Court on 12 August 2025.
• Born on 13 August 1963, he hails from Gokak (Belgaum district) and earlier served as Principal District and Sessions Judge in Dharwad and Mysuru.
• He also served as Director of the Karnataka Judicial Academy, Bengaluru, and was later recommended in November 2025 for the post of Ethics Officer-cum-Ombudsman of KSCA.
NATIONAL NEWS
ECI Lifts Model Code of Conduct After 2026 Assembly Poll Results
• The Election Commission of India (ECI) lifted the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) on 7 May 2026 after completion of the 2026 Assembly elections.
• The MCC was withdrawn for Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry after the declaration of results.
• The MCC was also lifted for bye-elections in Assembly constituencies of Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura.
• The Model Code of Conduct is a set of election guidelines issued by the ECI under its powers derived from Article 324 of the Constitution.
• It regulates election-related behaviour such as speeches, rallies, polling conduct, and misuse of official government machinery.
• However, MCC will continue in West Bengal’s 144-Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district.
• The ECI cancelled voting in Falta on 3 May 2026 due to allegations of electoral offences, including alleged EVM tampering in 60 polling stations during polling held on 29 April 2026.
• Fresh polling in all 285 polling stations (including auxiliary booths) is scheduled for 21 May 2026, and counting of votes will be held on 24 May 2026.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
10th India–Australia Defence Policy Talks Held in New Delhi
• The 10th India–Australia Defence Policy Talks were held in New Delhi on 8 May 2026.
• The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, while the Australian side was headed by Bernard Philip (First Assistant Secretary, International Policy).
• Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, maritime security, training partnerships, and defence industry collaboration.
• The talks were held under the framework of the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2020).
• Both sides reviewed progress on outcomes of the 2024 India–Australia Annual Leaders’ Summit.
• They discussed renewing the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation and preparing a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap.
• The two countries finalised implementing arrangements and planned the first India–Australia Joint Staff Talks later in 2026.
• Training and industry linkages were also highlighted, including the Gen Bipin Rawat Memorial Young Officers Exchange Programme, exchanges between IMA Dehradun and Royal Military College, Duntroon (Canberra), and defence industry dialogues held in Sydney (2025) and Raisina Dialogue 2026.
India–European Union Free Trade Agreement Politically Concluded
• The India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was politically concluded on 27 January 2026, ending nearly two decades of negotiations.
• The agreement is expected to come into force in early 2027, after completion of legal vetting and ratification procedures in both India and the EU.
• The FTA is aimed at reducing trade barriers and boosting cooperation in goods, services, investment flows, and regulatory standards.
• The European Union (EU) is a 27-member bloc that follows a common trade policy for international trade agreements.
• Ratification in the EU generally takes about one year, requiring approval from the Council of the European Union and consent of the European Parliament.
• EU legal scrutiny of the negotiated text is underway and is expected to be completed by July 2026.
• The main FTA does not contain a full investment chapter, and a separate Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) is still under negotiation.
• India–EU trade remains significant, with goods trade at USD 136.54 billion (2024–25) and services trade at USD 83.10 billion (2024), while the deal is expected to impact around 2 billion people and cover nearly one-third of global trade.
RANKING AND REPORTS
NCRB 2024: Odisha Tops India in Violent Crime Rate
• Odisha recorded the highest violent crime rate in India in 2024 at 161.6 victims per lakh population, as per NCRB Crime in India 2024.
• Bihar ranked second with a violent crime rate of 83 victims per lakh population in 2024.
• In absolute numbers, Odisha reported 75,403 violent crime cases during 2024.
• Odisha ranked fourth in total violent crime cases after Bihar, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.
• The state showed a sharp rise in violent crime cases: 43,566 (2022) → 31,749 (2023) → 75,403 (2024).
• Odisha ranked second in India in the rate of crimes against women in 2024, recording 118.3 cases per lakh women.
• Telangana recorded the highest rate of crimes against women at 128.6 per lakh women, while Odisha reported 33,021 cases of crimes against women in 2025.
• Other key concerns include a decline in rape cases from 3,054 (2024) to 2,994 (2025) and reports of 6,000+ missing children in 2024, with girls forming nearly 87% of such cases.
