Daily Current Affairs- 31st May 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 31st May 2026

Can Election Commission decide who is an Indian citizen? What Supreme Court said in SIR verdict

In the News: The Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission of India’s power to conduct Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Court clarified that the Election Commission may conduct a limited enquiry into citizenship only for deciding voter-roll eligibility. It cannot finally decide whether a person is an Indian citizen, as formal citizenship determination remains with the competent authority under the Citizenship Act.

Key Points:

• Limited Citizenship Enquiry: The Court held that the Election Commission can examine citizenship-related material only for inclusion or exclusion from electoral rolls. Such scrutiny is limited to electoral eligibility and does not amount to a final declaration on citizenship.
• Competent Authority: Formal adjudication of citizenship remains within the domain of the competent authority under the Citizenship Act. If the Election Commission is not satisfied about a person’s eligibility, the matter must be referred to the competent Central Government authority.
• Legal Basis: The Court traced the SIR exercise to Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. It held that the exercise supports free and fair elections by maintaining accurate electoral rolls.
• Documents and Aadhaar: The Court accepted the Election Commission’s discretion in prescribing documents for verification. It clarified that Aadhaar may be considered for identity, but it is not conclusive proof of citizenship or domicile.
• Procedural Safeguards: The Court emphasised show-cause notices, reasoned orders, appeals and judicial review as safeguards against arbitrary exclusion. It held that the SIR process must remain fair, proportionate and legally controlled.

India-Oman CEPA Comes Into Force from June 1

In the News: The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into force on June 1, 2026. The agreement gives Indian exporters wide duty-free access to Oman’s market and strengthens cooperation in goods, services, investment and digital trade. It is expected to deepen India’s economic engagement with the Gulf region.

Key Points:

• About CEPA: The India-Oman CEPA is a comprehensive trade agreement covering goods, services and wider economic cooperation. It is broader than a basic free trade agreement and aims to strengthen bilateral trade and investment flows.
• Market Access: Oman has offered zero-duty access on 98.08% of its tariff lines, covering 99.38% of India’s exports to Oman. India has placed 2,789 tariff lines in the exclusion list to protect sensitive domestic sectors. The agreement will reduce tariff barriers and improve the competitiveness of Indian exports in the Omani market.
• Key Beneficiary Sectors: The agreement is expected to support food and beverages, agriculture, textiles, chemicals, petrochemicals, engineering goods and pharmaceuticals. Services and professional mobility are also expected to gain from improved access.
• Certificate of Origin: Preferential certificates of origin for exports to Oman are to be issued through the Trade Connect portal. These certificates are required for exporters to claim duty concessions under the agreement.

Malaysia Enforces Social Media Ban for Under-16 Users

In the News: Malaysia began enforcing new rules restricting children under 16 from owning social media accounts from June 1, 2026. The policy applies to major platforms and requires age-verification systems to prevent underage account creation. The regulation is part of Malaysia’s wider push to reduce harmful online exposure for minors.

Key Points:

• Age Restriction: Children below 16 years are not allowed to own social media accounts under the new Malaysian rule. The measure targets large platforms with significant user bases, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
• Platform Duties: Social media companies must introduce age-verification systems and block underage users. They are also expected to provide reporting mechanisms for harmful content and adopt safety-by-design protections for children.
• Regulatory Objective: The policy aims to protect minors from harmful content, cyberbullying, grooming, scams and manipulative platform features. Malaysia has stepped up scrutiny of online platforms after rising concerns over harmful digital content.
• Penalty Framework: Non-compliant companies may face fines, while parents are not penalised if children bypass restrictions. The regulatory burden is placed mainly on digital platforms and their compliance systems

India Signs BrahMos Missile Deal with Vietnam

In the News: India signed a deal with Vietnam to supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. The agreement marks another major step in India’s defence export outreach to Southeast Asia. BrahMos is jointly developed by India and Russia and is known for its supersonic speed and precision-strike capability.

Key Points:

• India-Vietnam Deal: The agreement covers the supply of BrahMos missile systems to Vietnam. It also includes training and logistical support, making it a complete defence cooperation package.
• About BrahMos: BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia. Its name is derived from the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, representing the Indian and Russian partnership.
• Missile Variants: BrahMos has land, sea and air-launched variants. The naval version can be deployed from warships for anti-ship missions, making it important for maritime security and coastal defence.
• Southeast Asia Outreach: India had earlier exported BrahMos to the Philippines, which became the first foreign buyer of the missile system. The Vietnam deal further expands India’s defence cooperation in Southeast Asia.
• Regional Defence Link: India’s Defence Secretary confirmed the Vietnam deal and also indicated that negotiations with Indonesia for a similar missile agreement were nearing completion. This reflects growing demand for Indian strategic defence platforms.

RCB Win IPL 2026 Final by 5 Wickets, Defend Title Against Gujarat Titans

In the News: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL 2026 final by defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets. RCB successfully defended their title and secured a second consecutive IPL championship. Virat Kohli played a match-winning unbeaten innings in the chase at Ahmedabad.

Key Points:

• Final Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final. RCB chased down Gujarat’s target with 12 balls remaining and retained the title.
• Venue and Score: The final was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Gujarat Titans scored 155/8, while RCB reached 161/5 in 18 overs.
• Key Performer: Virat Kohli anchored the chase with an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls. His innings helped RCB win their second IPL title and complete back-to-back championship victories.
• Captain and Coach: RCB captain Rajat Patidar credited head coach Andy Flower for improving the team culture. Flower’s coaching role was highlighted after Bengaluru retained the IPL title.

World No Tobacco Day 2026: History, Theme, Significance and Health Impact Explained

In the News: World No Tobacco Day 2026 was observed on May 31 with the theme “Unmask the appeal – countering tobacco and nicotine addiction.” The campaign focuses on how tobacco and nicotine industries use attractive products and marketing to draw young people into addiction. The day is led by the World Health Organization.

Key Points:

• Date and Origin: World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on May 31. WHO Member States created the observance in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and preventable deaths and diseases caused by tobacco use.
• 2026 Theme: The 2026 theme is “Unmask the appeal – countering tobacco and nicotine addiction.” It highlights how tobacco and nicotine products are repackaged and marketed to attract children and adolescents.
• Youth Protection: The campaign focuses strongly on protecting young people from nicotine addiction. It covers products such as e-cigarettes, vapes, nicotine pouches and other attractive or misleading tobacco-related products.
• Health Impact: Tobacco use is linked with long-term disease risks, including cancer and other chronic conditions. Health experts describe tobacco-related harm as slow-building because many diseases develop gradually over years.
• Public Health Role: The day supports awareness, prevention and quitting efforts. It also strengthens the case for stronger tobacco-control measures, youth-focused regulation and public health campaigns against nicotine dependence.