LEGAL NEWS
Supreme Court Ruling on SC/ST Act “Public View” Requirement
• The Supreme Court of India (11 May 2026) held that caste-based abuses inside a private residence and not visible to the public do not attract the SC/ST Act, 1989.
• The judgment was delivered by a bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice N.V. Anjaria.
• The Court interpreted the requirement of “within public view” under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act.
• It clarified that a private house can be treated as “public view” only if members of the public can witness the incident.
• The case was Gunjan @ Girija Kumari vs State of NCT of Delhi & Anr., arising from a property dispute in Delhi.
• An FIR was registered in January 2021 at Kirti Nagar Police Station, alleging caste slurs and intimidation by family members.
• The Supreme Court quashed the FIR and proceedings, holding that the alleged abuse occurred inside the four walls of the house.
• The Court relied on precedents like Swaran Singh (2008), Hitesh Verma (2020), and Karuppudayar (2025) for interpreting “public view”.
Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee Constituted (May 2026)
• CJI Surya Kant constituted the Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee on 12–13 May 2026 for a national court infrastructure roadmap.
• The committee is headed by Justice Aravind Kumar (Supreme Court Judge).
• Members include Justice Debangsu Basak (Calcutta HC), Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra (Punjab & Haryana HC) and Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan (Bombay HC).
• The Director General, CPWD and the Secretary General of the Supreme Court are also members.
• The Secretary General of the Supreme Court will function as the Member Secretary.
• The committee will identify gaps in court buildings, facilities, staff support, and infrastructure needs for judges, lawyers, litigants and court personnel.
• It will also examine computerisation of courts and recommend citizen-friendly digital services to reduce the digital divide.
• The panel is expected to suggest ₹40,000–₹50,000 crore funding, and submit an interim report by 31 August 2026 to the CJI for further action with Centre and States.
APPOINTMENTS
N. Rangasamy Sworn in as Puducherry CM (13 May 2026)
• N. Rangasamy was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Puducherry for the fifth time on 13 May 2026.
• The oath was administered by Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan at Lok Nivas, Puducherry.
• He heads the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, beginning its second consecutive term in the UT.
• Puducherry follows the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, with a legislative assembly and Council of Ministers.
• The NDA alliance in Puducherry includes AINRC, BJP, AIADMK, and Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi.
• Malladi Krishna Rao (AINRC) and A. Namassivayam (BJP) were also sworn in as ministers.
• Malladi Krishna Rao, representing Yanam, took oath in Telugu.
• The six-member Council of Ministers will be completed later with three more ministers.
St Stephen’s College Appoints First Woman Principal (2026)
• St Stephen’s College, Delhi appointed Professor Susan Elias as its first female principal on 12 May 2026.
• She will assume charge on 1 June 2026.
• She becomes the 14th principal of the 145-year-old institution.
• St Stephen’s College was founded in 1881 and is a constituent college of the University of Delhi.
• The college began admitting women students in 1975, but the principal post remained male-led until 2026.
• Professor Susan Elias is a computer scientist with over three decades of teaching, research, and administrative experience.
• She earlier served as Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) at Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh (Jan–May 2026).
• She has proposed introducing certification courses in Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing, while preserving the college’s legacy.
AWARDS
National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026
• National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 were conferred on 15 nursing professionals on 12 May 2026.
• The awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
• The ceremony was held on International Nurses Day (12 May).
• Each awardee received a Certificate of Merit, a medal, and ₹1 lakh cash prize.
• The awards are instituted by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The awards recognise services of ANMs, registered nurses, nursing officers, and nursing educators.
• Aysha Beebi K (Lakshadweep) was honoured for conducting a midnight delivery on a remote island.
• Kulwinder Parhi (Ladakh) was recognised for nearly 30 years of service in high-altitude regions.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India Bans Sugar Exports (May–Sept 2026)
• India prohibited sugar exports with immediate effect from 13 May 2026, valid till 30 September 2026 or further orders.
• Sugar exports were moved from “restricted” to “prohibited” under India’s Foreign Trade Policy.
• The ban covers raw, white and refined sugar under ITC (HS) Codes 1701 14 90 and 1701 99 90.
• The notification was issued by the DGFT under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.
• Exemptions include exports to the EU and USA under CXL and tariff-rate quota arrangements.
• Exports under the Advance Authorisation Scheme and government-to-government food security shipments are also allowed.
• Cargo already in the pipeline (loading started / shipping bill filed / vessel berthed or anchored) can proceed.
• The ban was linked to lower domestic production, weaker cane yields, and possible El Niño-related monsoon risks, while global sugar prices rose after the announcement.
India Rejects Sanctioned Russian LNG Cargo Offer (30 April 2026)
• India rejected Russia’s offer to sell LNG cargoes that were under United States sanctions on 30 April 2026.
• The decision was communicated during the New Delhi visit of Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin.
• Sorokin met Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and other Indian officials for energy discussions.
• LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) is natural gas cooled to about −162°C for transport in special tankers.
• India refused the cargo mainly because LNG shipments are easily traceable, making sanction compliance stricter than crude oil.
• The tanker Kunpeng (138,200 cubic metres) carried LNG from Russia’s sanctioned Portovaya LNG plant (Baltic Sea).
• The vessel could not unload at Dahej LNG terminal (Gujarat) and remained stranded near Singapore waters in May 2026.
• India remains open to buying Russian LNG not under sanctions, but many such supplies are already committed to Europe.
Import Duty on Gold & Silver Raised to 15% (13 May 2026)
• India raised the effective import tariff on gold and silver to 15% on 13 May 2026, from 6% earlier.
• The new structure includes 10% Basic Customs Duty (BCD) + 5% Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC).
• The revised duty applies to imports of both gold and silver under updated government orders.
• Basic Customs Duty is the main import tax levied under India’s customs framework.
• AIDC is an additional cess imposed on imports to support agriculture infrastructure development.
• India’s gold imports rose over 24% in FY 2025-26, reaching a record $71.98 billion.
• Gold became India’s second-largest import item after crude oil, forming nearly 9% of total imports.
• The duty hike also covers UAE quota-based gold imports, jewellery findings, and related industrial precious metal categories.
NATIONAL NEWS
1% Construction Welfare Cess under Code on Social Security, 2020
• The Government of India notified a 1% cess on the total construction cost incurred by employers for building and construction works.
• The notification was issued under Section 100(1) of the Code on Social Security, 2020.
• This notification replaced the earlier cess notification dated 26 September 1996.
• The cess applies on commercial construction projects irrespective of total cost.
• Under the new labour code framework, individual house construction below ₹50 lakh is exempt from cess from 21 November 2025.
• Earlier exemption limits were lower, i.e., ₹10 lakh or houses above 100 sq. metres.
• The cess amount is used for construction workers’ welfare, including health support, insurance, education aid, and financial assistance.
• The welfare funds are managed through Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Boards (BOCWWB) functioning in States/UTs.
STATE NEWS
Assam Cabinet Clears Draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill (2026)
• The Assam Cabinet approved the draft UCC Bill on 13 May 2026, during the first meeting of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s second term.
• The bill is proposed to be introduced in the Assam Legislative Assembly on 26 May 2026.
• The Assembly session is scheduled from 21 May to 26 May 2026 (Budget Session).
• Uniform Civil Code (UCC) aims to bring common civil laws for matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption.
• The constitutional base is Article 44, placed under the Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV).
• Key provisions include mandatory registration of marriage/divorce, ban on polygamy, property rights for girls, and rules for live-in relationships.
• Tribal communities in both hill and plain areas are kept outside the scope, and customary/religious rituals are exempted.
• Assam becomes the third state to move towards UCC after Uttarakhand (law enacted in 2024) and Gujarat (drafting committee formed).
Karnataka Allows Religious Symbols with School Uniform (2026)
• Karnataka withdrew its earlier 5 February 2022 order on 13 May 2026.
• The new order allows limited traditional and faith-based symbols along with prescribed school uniforms.
• It applies to government, aided, and private institutions under the School Education Department.
• Coverage includes Classes 1 to 12, including schools and pre-university colleges.
• Permitted items include hijab/headscarf, turban, Janeu, Shivadhara, and Rudraksha with the uniform.
• These symbols are allowed only if they do not affect discipline, safety, identification, or institutional functioning.
• The order clarifies that such symbols must match and complement the prescribed uniform.
• The announcement was made by School Education & Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa, and it reverses the controversial 2022 hijab ban that led to protests and a split Supreme Court verdict.
DEFENCE
IASV Triveni – Samudra Pradakshina Expedition
• IASV Triveni, an Indian Army Sailing Vessel, is sailing from Cape Town to Mumbai after completing major stages of global circumnavigation.
• The voyage is named “Samudra Pradakshina”, India’s first all-women tri-service circumnavigation.
• The expedition began from Mumbai on 11 September 2025 and is expected to conclude in June 2026.
• The vessel is a 50-foot sailing yacht built in Puducherry.
• The crew consists of 10 women officers from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Lieutenant Colonel Anuja Varudkar is the Expedition Leader, while Squadron Leader Shraddha P. Raju is the Deputy Leader.
• By 8 May 2026, the yacht had covered over 23,000 nautical miles, with halts in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Cape Town.
• The voyage includes crossing the equator twice and rounding three major capes: Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, and Cape of Good Hope.
