Daily Current Affairs- 13th March 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 13th March 2026

Cricketers Javon Searles, Griffith and Rathod Suspended Over Bim10 Scandal

In the News: The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) jointly announced the provisional suspension of West Indian cricketer Javon Searles, Titans team owner Chitranjan Rathod, and team official Trevon Griffith over alleged anti-corruption violations during the Bim10 Tournament 2023/24 held in Barbados.

Key Points:

• The Accused and Charges: Javon Searles (fast bowler) faces 4 charges under the CWI Anti-Corruption Code; Chitranjan Rathod (Titans team owner) faces 3 charges under the CWI Code; and Trevon Griffith (team official) faces 4 charges under the CWI Code and 1 additional charge under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code — making Griffith the most heavily charged among the three.
• Nature of Allegations: All three have been charged with match fixing or improperly influencing match results (Article 2.1.1), soliciting or encouraging others to commit corruption offences (Article 2.1.4), and failing to cooperate with the anti-corruption investigation (Article 2.4.4). Additionally, Searles and Griffith are charged with failing to report corruption approaches, while Griffith alone faces an (Article 2.4.7) additional ICC charge of obstructing the investigation by concealing or tampering with evidence.
• Wider Investigation: This case is a continuation of a broader ICC-CWI probe into the Bim10 tournament, which previously saw USA cricketer Aaron Jones charged with five breaches of the CWI and ICC Anti-Corruption Codes on January 28, 2026.
• Response Deadline and Suspension: All three have been provisionally suspended from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. They have 14 days from March 11, 2026 to either admit the charges or contest them through the official disciplinary process. The ICC has stated it will make no further public comment until proceedings conclude.

Goa Government Plans Advocate Protection Bill 2026

In the News: The Goa government has decided to introduce the Goa Advocate Protection Bill 2026 in the state legislative assembly to address rising incidents of violence, intimidation, and harassment against advocates performing their professional duties, while also incorporating safeguards against misuse of the proposed law.

Key Points:

• Need for the Bill: Recent years have witnessed a significant increase in cases of violence, intimidation, harassment, and false implication of advocates in criminal proceedings — often while they are performing professional duties in courts. Such actions not only threaten legal professionals but also undermine citizens' fundamental right to legal representation and the overall functioning of the justice delivery system.
• Key Penalties Proposed: The Bill prescribes strict punishments — assault or criminal force against an advocate attracts up to 2 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹55,000; grievous hurt attracts up to 7 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh; intimidation or harassment attracts up to 2 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹25,000; and threats involving death, grievous injury, or destruction of property attract up to 7 years imprisonment.
• Constitutional and Legal Significance: Advocates are recognised as officers of the court and are central to the administration of justice. The Bill reinforces constitutional values of rule of law, access to justice, and judicial independence enshrined in the Constitution of India, ensuring that interference with advocates does not obstruct litigants' fundamental rights.
• Balanced Framework: While focusing on protecting advocates, the Bill also incorporates safeguards to prevent misuse of its protective provisions — ensuring accountability alongside protection, and maintaining public confidence in the judicial process.
• Broader Trend: Goa joins several other Indian states that have proposed or enacted advocate protection laws, reflecting a growing national recognition of the need to legally safeguard legal professionals to ensure effective and fearless administration of justice.

India Co-Sponsors UN Resolution Condemning Iran Attacks

In the News: India co-sponsored UNSC Resolution 2817, condemning Iran's "egregious" attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan, demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities and denouncing threats to close the Strait of Hormuz. The resolution was adopted with 13 votes in favour, with China and Russia abstaining.

Key Points:

• The Resolution: The Bahrain-led Resolution 2817, co-sponsored by over 135 nations including India, Pakistan, the US, UK, France, Germany, and Japan, condemned Iran's attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan as a breach of international law and a serious threat to international peace and security. It demanded Iran immediately and unconditionally cease all attacks, provocations, and use of proxies against neighbouring states.
• India's Diplomatic Stance: India's co-sponsorship signals a clear diplomatic alignment with Gulf nations and the broader international community on regional stability. Notably, India and Pakistan — usually on opposite sides — both co-sponsored this resolution, marking a rare convergence of their foreign policy positions.
• China and Russia's Abstention: Both veto-wielding permanent members China and Russia abstained, allowing the resolution to pass. Russia separately submitted a draft resolution urging cessation of military activities — making no mention of Iran, Israel, the US, or Gulf states — which failed to garner the required nine votes, receiving only four in favour (China, Russia, Pakistan, Somalia).
• Strait of Hormuz and Maritime Security: The resolution specifically condemned any Iranian threats to close or obstruct the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab Al Mandab — two of the world's most critical maritime oil transit routes — reaffirming the right of all states to defend their vessels and uphold navigational freedoms under international law.
• India's Strategic Interests: India's support reflects its vital interests in the Gulf — home to a large Indian diaspora and a key source of crude oil and natural gas imports. Stability in the region is directly linked to India's energy security and the welfare of millions of Indian nationals living and working across GCC countries.

SC Clarifies OBC Creamy Layer Criteria

In the News: The Supreme Court of India ruled on March 11, 2026, that parental income alone cannot determine the "creamy layer" status of OBC candidates, resolving long-standing confusion between the 1993 DoPT Office Memorandum and its 2004 clarificatory letter, particularly regarding children of PSU and private sector employees.

Key Points:

• The Core Issue: The 1993 DoPT OM clearly stated that income from salaries and agricultural land should not be counted in the creamy layer income/wealth test. However, a 2004 DoPT clarificatory letter directed inclusion of salary income of PSU and private sector employees, creating unequal treatment between children of government employees and those of PSU/private sector employees — a contradiction that affected hundreds of OBC candidates in civil services examinations since 2016.
• SC's Ruling — Status Over Income: A division bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice R Mahadevan held that creamy layer determination must be status-based, not purely income-based, considering the parent's post category (Group A/B/C/D) rather than salary alone. The bench observed that "unequal treatment of similarly placed OBC candidates would not only be legally erroneous but constitutionally impermissible," ruling it violative of Articles 14, 15, and 16.
• About Creamy Layer: The concept was first introduced in the landmark 1992 Indra Sawhney vs Union of India (Mandal) judgment to exclude socially advanced OBCs from reservation benefits. Under existing rules, children of Group A officers or those promoted before age 40, and children of two Group B officers, fall under the creamy layer. The income limit for non-government occupations is Rs 8 lakh per annum (revised in 2017).
• Relief for Affected Candidates: The verdict expands OBC reservation eligibility for children of PSU and private sector employees previously excluded due to salary-based calculations. The Court also directed the government to create supernumerary posts to accommodate candidates who were wrongly denied OBC benefits under the now-quashed 2004 clarification.

India's 1st Comprehensive Checklist of Fireflies

In the News: Scientists have compiled India's first-ever comprehensive checklist of fireflies, documenting 92 species across 27 genera using over 260 years of scattered scientific records (1758–2025). The study, published in the journal Zootaxa, was led by Parvez, a PhD scholar at the University of Calcutta.

Key Points:

• First-Ever National Checklist: Despite more than 260 years of scattered scientific documentation, no consolidated record of Indian firefly species had ever been compiled before. The checklist brings together records from nearly 300 scientific publications spanning 1758 to 2025, identifying 92 species across 27 genera — over 60% of which are endemic to India.
• Geographical Distribution: The Western Ghats emerged as the richest habitat accounting for 25.33% of species, followed by the North-East and Gangetic Plains (~22.66% each), Coastal Regions (17.33%), and the Deccan Peninsula (13.33%). No fireflies were recorded in Desert and Semi-Arid zones.
• About Fireflies: Fireflies are soft-bodied beetles belonging to the family Lampyridae, order Coleoptera. They produce bioluminescence through a chemical reaction involving luciferin, luciferase, oxygen, and ATP via a light organ called the photophore — generating nearly 100% energy-efficient "cold light" used primarily for mating communication in adults and as a predator warning signal in larvae.
• Conservation Gaps: No Indian firefly species has been assessed for the IUCN Red List, nor are they protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022. Major threats include light pollution, habitat destruction, agricultural chemicals, and rapid urbanisation.

Russia is not fighting West Asia war, but is its real winner — thanks to crude windfall

In the News: As the US-Israel-Iran conflict intensifies in West Asia (March 2026), Russia — despite not being a direct participant — has emerged as one of the clearest strategic and economic winners, reaping a massive crude oil windfall driven by surging global oil prices and increased demand for its exports.

Key Points:

• Russia's Pre-War Oil Struggle: Russia's federal budget in early 2026 was under severe strain — energy revenues had fallen nearly 50% year-on-year, pushing the budget deficit close to critical levels. The Kremlin was forced to offer heavy discounts to India and China just to keep oil sales going, with crude selling well below the hoped-for $60 per barrel.
• The Oil Price Surge & Russia's Windfall: Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global oil flows, pushing Brent crude towards $100 a barrel — potentially the largest supply disruption on record. Russia capitalised immediately, earning up to $150 million per day in extra revenue, with an estimated $1.3–$1.9 billion in additional tax revenues in just the first 12 days of the conflict.
• Urals Crude at a Historic Premium: Russian Urals crude surged over 10% and traded at a premium to the Brent benchmark for the first time in history. Indian and Chinese imports from Russia rose about 22% in the week following strikes on Iran, with India's purchases reaching roughly 1.5 million barrels per day — nearly 50% higher than the previous month.
• Strategic Gains Beyond Oil: Russia has reportedly provided Iran with satellite intelligence and tactical insights, benefiting from a prolonged conflict. Additionally, with no European sanctions currently on Russian LNG shipments until 2027, Europe may increase Russian gas imports — further extending Moscow's energy leverage.
• Limits and Risks: Russia's windfall has constraints — sanctions, damaged energy infrastructure from Ukrainian attacks, and reliance on a narrow buyer base limit its ability to fully capitalise. A potential US-Iran deal lifting the Iranian oil embargo could crash Brent prices back to $60 or below, while a prolonged crisis risks triggering a global recession that would ultimately hurt Russian energy demand too.
• Ukraine — The Silent Casualty: With US attention consumed by the West Asia conflict, Ukraine has been pushed to the back burner, already facing critical shortages of PAC-3 Patriot interceptor missiles — directly benefiting Russia on the Ukrainian front as well.