The Supreme Court expressed deep concern over the NEET-UG paper leak case, highlighting the trauma inflicted on students and their families due to wasted years of hard work. The court criticized the National Testing Agency (NTA) for its "ad-hocism" and lack of "institutional memory and framework," questioning why it repeats mistakes unlike the UPSC. The Union government informed the court that the Prime Minister is personally monitoring the situation. The NTA stated that the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 and the transfer of investigation to the CBI reflect the seriousness of the issue, affecting around 23 lakh candidates.
The Supreme Court highlighted the severe emotional trauma experienced by NEET-UG aspirants and their families due to the paper leak.
The court criticized the National Testing Agency (NTA) for its "ad-hocism" and lack of "institutional memory and framework," leading to repeated mistakes.
The Union government assured the court that the Prime Minister is personally monitoring the situation.
Exam Points
The case concerns the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) paper leak.
The Supreme Court Bench was headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha.
The investigation was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has lowered its 2026 southwest monsoon forecast to 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA), down from 92% projected in April. The IMD also acknowledged that the monsoon's arrival in Kerala would be delayed beyond the predicted May 26, now "likely arrive" in the first week of June. This rainfall downgrade places India's principal water source firmly into "below-normal" territory, raising the probability of a "deficient" monsoon (rain under 90% of LPA) to 60%. This situation entrenches fears of a potential drought.
The IMD has revised down its 2026 southwest monsoon forecast to 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA).
The onset date for the monsoon in Kerala has been pushed to the first week of June, missing the initial May 26 prediction.
The forecast indicates a "below-normal" monsoon, with a 60% probability of a "deficient" monsoon.
Exam Points
The 2026 southwest monsoon forecast is 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA).
The probability of a "deficient" monsoon (rain under 90% of LPA) is 60%.
Mrutyunjay Mohapatra is the Director-General of IMD.
Eight lion cubs have died this week in Gujarat's Gir Somnath and Amreli districts due to suspected Babesia infection, a parasitic disease transmitted by ticks. Gujarat Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia confirmed the deaths and stated that disease-control measures have been intensified around the Gir wildlife sanctuary. Large-scale tick-removal operations have been launched, and lions within a 10-km radius of affected areas are being isolated. Officials are treating the infection as a "potential threat" due to its rapid transmission possibility. Samples from the dead cubs have been sent for examination to confirm the cause of death.
Eight lion cubs died in Gir Somnath and Amreli districts of Gujarat from suspected Babesia infection.
Babesia is a parasitic disease transmitted through ticks, causing weakness, fever, coughing, and nasal discharge.
The Forest Department has intensified disease-control measures, including large-scale tick-removal operations.
Exam Points
Eight lion cubs died in Gir Somnath and Amreli districts, Gujarat.
The suspected cause of death is Babesia infection.
India is experiencing scorching summer heat, with temperatures reaching 48°C in Sri Ganganagar. Climate change is exacerbating heatwaves, but urban heat islands, caused by concrete, asphalt, loss of tree cover, and AC waste heat, make Indian cities 2°C to 10°C hotter than rural areas. This phenomenon disproportionately affects outdoor workers and street vendors. The article advocates for urban design mandates requiring reflective materials and green cover, updated building codes, and strict enforcement of labor laws that protect outdoor workers during extreme heat, emphasizing the need for a national conversation on heat management budgets.
India's Core Heatwave Zone has seen an increase in heatwave frequency and duration since 1961.
Urban heat islands in Indian cities are 2°C to 10°C hotter than surrounding rural areas due to urbanization factors.
The problem is exacerbated by concrete, asphalt, loss of tree cover, and waste heat from air-conditioners.
Exam Points
Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, recorded 48° Celsius.
India's Core Heatwave Zone covers about 30% of its total land area.
Delhi's average humidity rose by eight percentage points between 2015-19 and 2020-24.
The recent Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting aimed to reaffirm the grouping's validity despite geopolitical shifts. Initiatives on maritime security (IPMSC, IPMDA, Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission), critical minerals, and energy security were finalized, along with a port project in Fiji. The joint statement reiterated commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and international law. However, the article notes clear constraints in language, particularly concerning U.S. engagement with China and Russia, and its unilateral moves in West Asia. Internal contradictions and the lack of a scheduled summit for 2026 suggest a potential downgrade in Quad engagement, hindering its collective pursuit of objectives.
The Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting aimed to reaffirm the group's relevance amidst geopolitical changes.
Key initiatives finalized include maritime security collaboration, critical mineral cooperation, energy security partnership, and an infrastructure project in Fiji.
The Quad reiterated its commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and upholding international law, including UNCLOS.
Exam Points
The Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting was the third such engagement since U.S. President Donald Trump's tenure.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended.
Initiatives include Maritime Surveillance Collaboration (IPMSC) and Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA).
The article argues that public international law is increasingly seen as "optional" by powerful states, leading to a fraying of the rules-based order. It highlights numerous violations of foundational principles, including the UN Charter's prohibition on the use of force, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, citing Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Violations of UNCLOS, international humanitarian law, human rights treaties, and arms-control regimes are also discussed. The author contends that the impunity with which powerful states act signals that "might is right," leading to a vacuum where power determines legality and threatening global peace and stability.
International law is increasingly disregarded by powerful states, undermining the rules-based global order.
Violations of the UN Charter's prohibition on the use of force and principles of sovereignty are becoming common.
Examples include Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, and China's actions in the South China Sea.
Exam Points
The UN Charter prohibits the use of force and guarantees sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The 2003 Iraq invasion and Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine are cited as breaches.
UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) is one of the most widely ratified treaties.
Ningbo, a port city in China's Zhejiang province, has become a key hub for the country's green industrial push, particularly in Electric Vehicles (EVs). The Zeekr factory, part of Geely Auto Group, exemplifies this with its automated production and emphasis on energy efficiency. Zhejiang province leads China in green metrics, having invested billions in overhauling polluting industries and enforcing stricter emission standards. China's dominance in EV manufacturing, batteries, and critical minerals gives it a "complete supply chain" advantage, making it a global leader in green technologies. While this offers affordable green transformation to the Global South, it raises concerns for European industries facing intense Chinese competition.
Ningbo, Zhejiang province, is a central hub for China's green industrial transformation, especially in Electric Vehicles (EVs).
Factories like Zeekr (part of Geely Auto Group) demonstrate advanced manufacturing, automation, and energy efficiency.
Zhejiang province has invested billions in environmental upgrades, leading to significant improvements in air and water quality.
Exam Points
Ningbo is in Zhejiang province, China.
Zeekr is a high-end EV brand, part of Geely Auto Group, which also owns Volvo Cars and Lotus autos.
Geely group sold close to 1.7 million EVs in 2025.
U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, announced that an interim trade agreement between India and the United States is expected to be finalized "over the next few weeks and months." Speaking at IIT, Mr. Gor highlighted India's alignment with "trusted ecosystems and resilient supply chains." He noted the significant growth in bilateral trade, from $20 billion to $220 billion in goods and services over two decades, attributing it to deeper engagement and stronger economic integration. A U.S. delegation is expected in India next week to continue trade talks, signaling progress in strengthening economic ties.
The U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, announced that an interim trade agreement between India and the U.S. is nearing finalization.
The deal is expected to be signed "over the next few weeks and months."
India is aligning with "trusted ecosystems and resilient supply chains," according to the Ambassador.
Exam Points
U.S. Ambassador to India is Sergio Gor.
Bilateral trade between India and the U.S. grew from $20 billion to $220 billion in two decades.
Mr. Gor made the announcement at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced a complete transformation of India's border security arrangements. A new "quadrangular security grid" will be established, involving the public, civil administration, local police, and military working with the Border Security Force (BSF). This initiative, part of the Smart Border Security Project, will replace the traditional "mere border security" with a concept of "territorial security." The project involves significant investment in drones, radars, watchtowers, and state-of-the-art technology to create a robust security grid, particularly addressing incomplete fencing along the West Bengal boundary and securing forested and riverine channels.
India plans a complete transformation of its border security arrangements.
A "quadrangular security grid" will be established, integrating public, civil administration, local police, and military with the BSF.
The new approach will shift from "mere border security" to "territorial security."
Exam Points
Union Home Minister is Amit Shah.
The initiative is part of the Smart Border Security Project.
The Border Security Force (BSF) will be a key component.
The National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) reveals significant progress in India's maternal and child health. Institutional deliveries rose to 90.6% (from 88.6% in NFHS-5), and 95.6% of infants under six months were breastfed. Child health indicators improved, with stunting declining to 29.3% and severe wasting to 5.2%. Antenatal care coverage increased, with 95.9% of pregnant women receiving care and 54.9% consuming iron-folic acid supplements for 100+ days. However, the survey flagged a sharp increase in caesarean section deliveries to 27.2% (40% in urban areas), exceeding WHO optimal thresholds, and noted persistent challenges from non-communicable diseases and rising obesity.
The NFHS-6 shows that 90.6% of Indian babies are now born in hospitals, a rise from previous surveys.
Significant improvements were recorded in child health, with a decline in stunting and severe wasting among children under five.
Maternal health services saw increased coverage for antenatal care and iron-folic acid supplementation during pregnancy.
Exam Points
The survey is National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6).
Institutional deliveries reached 90.6%.
Stunting among children under five declined from 35.5% to 29.3%.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held high-level bilateral engagements at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 in Singapore, reaffirming India's commitment to strengthening defense partnerships and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. He met with Major-General Micheal Rosette of Seychelles to discuss deepening cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. Discussions with Canada's Senior Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, Kelvin Brosseau, focused on expanding defense cooperation across strategic domains. In a separate meeting with Commander Admiral Samuel J. Paparo of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, both sides reviewed military-to-military cooperation and reiterated their commitment to deepening strategic defense ties.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh engaged in high-level bilateral meetings at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026.
India reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening defense partnerships and ensuring regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Discussions were held with Seychelles on deepening maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.
Exam Points
Defence Secretary is Rajesh Kumar Singh.
Meetings took place at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 in Singapore.
He met Major-General Micheal Rosette (Chief of Defence Forces, Seychelles Armed Forces).
The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) annual report for 2025-26 shows a Balance of Payments (BoP) deficit of $30.8 billion, a more than six-fold increase from the previous year. This deficit, entirely covered by drawing down foreign exchange reserves, is primarily due to a sharp fall in net foreign investments and a widening current account deficit (CAD). While the merchandise trade deficit decreased, the services surplus shrank more significantly, leading to an overall wider CAD of $30.2 billion. The capital account surplus also drastically reduced, exacerbated by Indians parking funds abroad and foreign portfolio investors pulling out $4.3 billion.
India recorded a Balance of Payments (BoP) deficit of $30.8 billion in 2025-26, a significant increase from the previous year's deficit.
The deficit was primarily caused by a sharp decline in net foreign investments and a widening current account deficit (CAD).
The services trade surplus shrank more than the merchandise trade deficit decreased, contributing to the wider CAD.
Exam Points
India's Balance of Payments (BoP) deficit was $30.8 billion in 2025-26.
The current account deficit (CAD) was $30.2 billion in 2025-26.
Merchandise trade deficit stood at $251.6 billion in 2025-26.
The RBI's Annual Report 2025-26 projects the Indian economy to remain resilient in 2026-27, despite a challenging external environment marked by elevated energy and commodity prices, rising logistics costs, and geopolitical risks. The report attributes this resilience to India's strong macroeconomic fundamentals, robust domestic demand, and a stable policy environment, with relatively lower dependence on exports for growth. Globally, geopolitical risks, particularly the West Asia conflict, have re-emerged as a dominant drag on global growth and inflation forecasts, with the IMF projecting global economic growth at 3.1% in 2026.
The RBI forecasts the Indian economy to remain resilient in 2026-27 despite global challenges.
Key factors supporting India's resilience include strong macroeconomic fundamentals, robust domestic demand, and a stable policy environment.
India's growth is less dependent on exports, providing a buffer against global trade uncertainties.
Exam Points
The RBI's Annual Report 2025-26 was released on Friday.
The IMF projects global economic growth at 3.1% in 2026.
Global merchandise and services trade volume is expected to decelerate to 2.8% in 2026.
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