Daily Current Affairs- 13th May 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 13th May 2026

Supreme Court Forms Panel to Overhaul Court Infrastructure Nationwide

In the News: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has constituted a "Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee" to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for strengthening judicial infrastructure across India. The committee, headed by Supreme Court Justice Aravind Kumar, has been tasked with securing a government allocation of Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 crore for court modernisation. The panel has been asked to submit an interim report by August 31, 2026, to Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council.

Key Points:

• Committee Composition and Mandate: The committee is chaired by Supreme Court Justice Aravind Kumar and includes Justice Debangsu Basak of the Calcutta High Court, Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan of the Bombay High Court, and the Director General of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). Supreme Court Secretary General Bharat Parashar will function as Member Secretary. The committee aims to ensure a unified infrastructural ecosystem on a pan-India basis, keeping in view the varied requirements of different High Courts and District Courts.
• Scope and Key Focus Areas: The committee will focus on seven key areas, including identifying systemic constraints in the justice delivery system, recommending improved facilities for judges, lawyers, litigants and court staff, and implementing cutting-edge technology to accelerate case disposal. It will also examine computerisation of courts, citizen-centric services aimed at bridging the digital divide, and the construction of modern court complexes designed for the 21st century. The e-Courts initiative has been identified as a specific area of focus.
• Context of Mounting Judicial Challenges: The initiative comes at a time when concerns over mounting pendency of cases, shortage of courtrooms, inadequate staffing, lack of basic facilities and uneven technological integration continue to dominate discussions around judicial reforms. The mismatch between judicial workload and financial support available for courts has been a growing concern within the judiciary. The CJI is seeking to secure a dedicated allocation of Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 crore for comprehensive modernisation of judicial infrastructure across the country.
• Declining Budgetary Allocations for Judiciary: The Ministry of Law and Justice has been allocated Rs 4,509.06 crore in the Union Budget for 2026-27, nearly Rs 400 crore lower than the previous year's allocation of Rs 4,998.24 crore. The allocation for the judiciary constitutes barely 0.08% of the total Union Budget, while the Centre's contribution to overall judicial expenditure remains limited to around 8%, leaving states to shoulder nearly 90 to 92% of the burden. Allocations under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for the Judiciary have dropped to Rs 810 crore from Rs 998 crore in 2025-26, the lowest since 2022-23.

Puducherry Gets New Leadership as Rangasamy Takes Charge as CM

In the News: N. Rangasamy, founder of the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) and head of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Puducherry, was sworn in as Chief Minister for a record fifth time on May 13, 2026. Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan administered the oaths of office and secrecy at Lok Niwas. BJP leader A. Namassivayam and AINRC legislator Malladi Krishna Rao were also sworn in as Ministers.

Key Points:

• Presidential Appointment and Government Formation: President Droupadi Murmu appointed N. Rangasamy as Chief Minister, following which Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan invited him to form the government. Mr. Rangasamy staked his claim by submitting letters of support from elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). In the 30-member Puducherry Assembly, the NDA secured the support of 18 MLAs, two more than the majority mark of 16.
• Rangasamy's Political Career and Record Fifth Term: Seventy-six-year-old N. Rangasamy has become the first leader to serve as Chief Minister of Puducherry for five terms, having earlier served from 2001 to 2006, 2006 to 2008 as a Congress leader, 2011 to 2016 and 2021 to 2026 after founding the AINRC. In the recently held Assembly elections, he was elected from both the Thattanchavady and Mangalam constituencies, winning by margins of 4,441 and 7,050 votes respectively.
• Swearing-In Ceremony and Key Attendees: The ceremony was held at Lok Niwas in Puducherry, with Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan administering the oath. BJP National President Nitin Nabin, national general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santhosh and party in-charge Nirmal Kumar Surana attended the event. MLAs-elect from the AINRC, BJP, DMK, AIADMK, and other parties, along with Chief Secretary Sharat Chauhan and Director General of Police Shalini Singh, were also present.
• Immediate Policy Actions After Assuming Charge: Upon assuming charge, the Chief Minister signed files related to 17 subjects, including extension of health insurance coverage of Rs 3 lakh to Above Poverty Line (APL) families. Other key decisions included the establishment of a 'Namo Cancer Hospital' at the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and land allotment to IIT-Madras and JIPMER. These decisions signal the new government's priorities in healthcare, education and institutional development.
• About Puducherry as a Union Territory: Puducherry is a Union Territory administered by the Central government through a Lieutenant Governor who acts as the representative of the President of India. Unlike most Union Territories, it has its own elected Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers headed by a Chief Minister, a feature shared with Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir. The Assembly comprises 33 seats, of which 30 are directly elected while three members are nominated by the Union government.

How Supreme Court endorsed the right to be taught in one’s mother tongue

In the News: The Supreme Court of India, in a significant judgment delivered on May 13, 2026, held that the right to receive education in one's mother tongue flows from Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression. A Division Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta set aside the Rajasthan High Court's dismissal of a public interest litigation and directed the State of Rajasthan to recognise the Rajasthani language for educational purposes and introduce it as a subject in all government and private schools in a phased manner. The case was titled Padam Mehta and Anr. versus The State of Rajasthan and Ors., SLP(C) No. 1425/2025.

Key Points:

• Constitutional Basis in Article 19(1)(a): The Supreme Court held that the guarantee of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) necessarily encompasses the right to receive information in a form that is both meaningful and comprehensible. The Court observed that the true value of this freedom lies not merely in the ability to communicate but in the ability to understand, internalise and process information so as to make informed choices. It held that instruction in the mother language or a language of choice fortifies the learner's conceptual clarity, ensures deeper cognitive engagement and secures the constitutional promise of meaningful access to knowledge. The Court also referred to its earlier decision in State of Karnataka v. Associated Management of English Medium Primary and Secondary Schools (2014), where it was recognised that Article 19(1)(a) confers freedom of choice on a child regarding the medium of instruction at the primary level.
• Constitutional and Statutory Framework for Mother Tongue Education: The Court undertook an elaborate discussion on the historical, constitutional and pedagogical significance of mother tongue-based education, tracing its roots through Part XVII of the Constitution (Articles 343 to 351), Article 350-A inserted by the Seventh Constitutional Amendment, and Article 21-A guaranteeing the right to education. It observed that Articles 21, 21-A, 41, 45, 51-A(k) and 350-A collectively establish education as a constitutional entitlement coupled with a corresponding public duty on the State. The Court also referred to Section 29(2)(f) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which provides that the medium of instruction shall, as far as practicable, be in the child's mother tongue. The D.S. Kothari Commission (1964-66), which advocated for the three-language formula and stressed that regional language should ordinarily be the medium of instruction, was also discussed.
• National Education Policy 2020 and Pedagogical Rationale: The Court noted that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasised the use of home language, local language or regional language as the medium of instruction up to at least Grade V and preferably till Grade VIII. It observed that the NEP 2020 reflects a considered governmental policy that education imparted in a familiar language improves conceptual clarity and long-term learning outcomes. The Court held that education delivered in a language not understood by the child cannot meaningfully qualify as quality education, as the very purpose of education is to equip the learner with knowledge, understanding and skills. It referred to State of U.P. v. Anand Kumar Yadav (2018) and Devesh Sharma v. Union of India (2023) to emphasise that the right to education necessarily means the right to quality education.
• Criticism of State Inaction and Rajasthan's Stand: The Court expressed serious concern that despite constitutional provisions, statutory mandates and policy declarations, there had been little effective implementation of mother tongue-based education at the ground level. It termed the stand taken by the State of Rajasthan as "myopic" and "lackadaisical," observing that the State's justification that only Eighth Schedule languages were being taught in schools amounted to an attempt to sidestep constitutional obligations.

Pakistan Explores Islamic NATO Defence Cooperation

In the News: Pakistan has indicated that Qatar and Turkiye could soon join its existing Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia, signalling a possible expansion of a regional security bloc amid growing instability in West Asia. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that discussions on the arrangement were ongoing and could eventually evolve into a broader regional security and economic framework. The proposed expansion has revived discussions around the idea of an "Islamic NATO," a term used to describe a potential military alliance among major Muslim-majority countries.

Key Points:

• Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in September 2025 during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Riyadh. Under the agreement, any aggression against one country would be treated as an aggression against the other, formalising long-standing defence cooperation between the two nations. Saudi Arabia also provided 3 billion US dollars in financial support to Pakistan on April 15, 2026, to address a financing gap. The two countries have further strengthened military coordination in recent months, with a Pakistani military contingent arriving at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia as part of joint military and regional security efforts.
• Proposed Expansion to Qatar and Turkiye: Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking during an interview with Pakistani television channel Hum News, described the possible inclusion of Qatar and Turkiye as a "welcome development" and stated that the agreement was "being finalised." Turkiye, which is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and possesses one of the largest armed forces in the alliance, has a significant defence industry and a long record of military modernisation. Qatar has been part of several regional security discussions in West Asia, and the idea of an Islamic NATO gained renewed attention after a 2025 Israeli strike on Doha raised questions about deterrence and the security of Gulf states.
• India's Response and Strategic Implications: India has reacted cautiously to the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defence agreement. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that New Delhi was aware of the development and would closely study its implications for India's national security as well as regional and global stability.
• About NATO and Key Facts: The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is a military alliance that was formed in 1949 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. The term "Islamic NATO" has been used to describe proposals for a collective security arrangement among Muslim-majority nations, though such a formal alliance has not materialised to date. Turkiye is the only Muslim-majority country that is a full member of NATO and maintains one of the largest standing armed forces in the alliance.

India Raises Import Duty on Gold and Silver to 15%

In the News: The Indian government hiked the customs duty on gold and silver imports from 6% to 15% to curb non-essential precious metal imports and conserve foreign exchange reserves amid the ongoing West Asia crisis. The move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to citizens to avoid purchasing gold for one year. The total effective import duty of 15% includes a 10% basic customs duty and a 5% Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC).

Key Points:

• Duty Structure and Coverage: The government increased the basic customs duty on gold and silver imports from 5% to 10% and the Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) from 1% to 5%, taking the total effective import duty to 15%. Import duty on gold and silver findings, which are small components such as hooks, clasps, clamps, pins and screws used in jewellery, has been raised to 5%. The effective import duty on platinum has also been increased to 15.4% from 6.4%, with platinum findings attracting a 5.4% duty. Additionally, a 3% Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) will be payable on all imports of precious metals over and above the basic customs duty and AIDC.
• Forex Reserves and Rupee Depreciation: India's foreign exchange reserves have depleted by nearly 38 billion US dollars in just two months since the start of the West Asia conflict, falling to 691 billion US dollars. The Indian rupee hit an all-time low of 95.75 per US dollar on May 13, 2026, and has been Asia's worst-performing currency in 2026, losing almost 5% against the US dollar since the conflict began and 6% overall during the year. Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) outflows in the January to May 2026 period stood at Rs 1.97 lakh crore, adding further pressure on the external sector. Officials described the duty hike as a carefully calibrated and proportionate intervention to address external vulnerabilities.
• Gold Import Trends and Current Account Deficit (CAD): Gold constitutes the second-largest item in India's import bill after crude oil, with gold imports rising by 24.1% to 71.97 billion US dollars in Financial Year 2025-26 compared to 58 billion US dollars in the previous financial year. Gold prices have surged over 40% in the past year, inflating the import bill even as physical gold imports declined from 757.09 tonnes to 721.04 tonnes in the same period. Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran stated that managing the current account credibly, financing it, and preventing further currency depreciation are the central macroeconomic imperatives of Financial Year 2026-27. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has also called for a review of tariff concessions on precious metals under the India-United Arab Emirates (UAE) free trade agreement, which it says has fuelled import growth.

Rahul Dravid Becomes Owner of Dublin Franchise in ETPL

In the News: Former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid has been announced as the co-owner of the Dublin franchise in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), completing the six-team structure of the league ahead of its planned 2026 debut. The Dublin team, named Dublin Guardians, will be captained by former India spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin. The announcement was made at a launch event in Dublin on May 11, 2026, attended by ETPL co-founders including Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, along with franchise stakeholders and senior officials from European cricket bodies.

Key Points:

• About the European T20 Premier League (ETPL): The ETPL is Europe's first International Cricket Council (ICC)-sanctioned multi-country franchise Twenty20 (T20) competition. The league is being run in collaboration with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. Six franchises are based out of Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, with franchises sold for approximately 11.1 million pounds (15 million US dollars) over a ten-year period. The inaugural tournament is scheduled to be played from August 26 to September 20, 2026, with matches staged in The Hague and Dublin.
• Dravid's Role and Vision: Rahul Dravid, aged 53, who played 164 Tests and 344 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India and coached the national team from 2021 to 2024, is part of an Indian consortium that has acquired the Dublin Guardians franchise. Dravid stated that the league's focus on strengthening grassroots development and creating pathways for emerging talent across Ireland and Europe attracted him to the project. He highlighted Dublin's passionate cricketing community and the enormous potential for growth of the sport in the region.
• Franchise Ownership Structure: The six ETPL franchise teams have been acquired by prominent figures from the cricketing world. The Dublin franchise is owned by Rahul Dravid, Belfast by Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund, Edinburgh by Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum and Rachel Wiseman, Glasgow by Vipul Aggarwal and Chris Gayle, Amsterdam by Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer and Tim Thomas, and Rotterdam by Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis and Samir Shah with Madhukar Shree as managing partner.
• Player Involvement and Talent Development: The league is expected to feature international cricketers including Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, Liam Livingstone, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen, among others. The ETPL aims to create opportunities for emerging players from Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands and other Associate nations to compete alongside established international stars. Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from Test cricket in December 2024 and stepped away from the Indian Premier League (IPL), will captain the Dublin Guardians.