May 13, 2026
90 articles published on this date
How Volcanoes Affect the Earth's Atmosphere: Mechanisms and Climate Impacts
Scientific understanding of volcanic impacts on Earth's atmosphere has been consolidated and is gaining renewed attention as researchers study the...
IMD's Southwest Monsoon 2026 Forecast: Below-Normal Rainfall Predicted
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued its Long Range Forecast (LRF) for the 2026 Southwest Monsoon season (June–September), predicting...
India's Sugar Export Ban: Domestic Supply Protection Amid Production Shortfall
The Union government banned sugar exports with immediate effect until September 30, 2026, or until further orders, through a notification issued by the...
Mizoram Ginger Mission: ₹189.79 Crore Convergence Scheme for GI-Tagged Pharma-Grade Ginger
The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) launched the Mizoram Ginger Mission, a ₹189.79 crore convergence-led scheme aimed at...
IndiaAI Mission Signs MoU with Karya to Build Inclusive AI Ecosystem
The IndiaAI Mission, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Karya, a...
Amended BharatNet Programme: ₹2,432 Crore Agreement for Rural Broadband in Andhra Pradesh
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infrastructure...
Return of India's Lost Cultural Heritage: Antiquities Repatriated from the United States
India repatriated three significant Chola and Vijayanagara-period bronze sculptures from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington D.C....
Central Government Releases ₹401.50 Crore First Instalment for District Court Infrastructure Scheme
The Ministry of Law and Justice released the first instalment of a 'mother sanction' of ₹401.50 crore for FY 2026-27 to States and Union Territories through...
India-Bound Ships Resume Transit Through the Strait of Hormuz Amid Crisis
By May 13, 2026, twelve India-bound commercial vessels had successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the conflict, with a thirteenth...
India's Nuclear Arsenal Reaches 180 Warheads: SIPRI 2025 Data and Pokhran II at 28
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2025 reports India's nuclear warhead count increased from 172 in 2024 to 180 in 2025...
India Bans Sugar Exports Until September 2026 Amid West Asia Crisis and Supply Concerns
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification on May 13, 2026 changing the export policy for sugar — covering raw sugar, white...
India and UAE Sign Strategic Petroleum Reserves and LPG Supply Agreements
During a high-level bilateral visit to the UAE, India signed two significant energy security agreements with Abu Dhabi. The first agreement — signed between...
Why the Tenth Schedule Does Not Protect AIADMK Rebels
Following the Tamil Nadu trust vote on May 13, 2026, in which 25 of the AIADMK's 47 MLAs voted in favour of the ruling government against party direction...
US-China Summit in Beijing: Diplomacy over Iran and the Geopolitical Order
The US and China held a high-stakes summit in Beijing on May 13–14, 2026, with the Iran war, global trade, and Taiwan among the primary agenda items. The...
NTA and NEET-UG 2026: The Credibility Crisis in National Examination Governance
The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted on May 3, 2026, after investigations revealed that 'guess papers'...
Centre-State Joint Funding Framework for Heatwave Mitigation
The Union government is weighing a formal joint Centre-State funding architecture for heatwave mitigation, moving heatwaves from an ad hoc, state-managed...
India-Russia Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Trade, Energy, and Geopolitics at BRICS Conclave
The External Affairs Minister held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New Delhi on 13 May 2026, on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign...
Nicobarese Tribal Council Opposes Wildlife Sanctuaries Proposed Without Consent
The Tribal Council of Great Nicobar and Little Nicobar Islands has formally opposed three proposed wildlife sanctuaries — a Leatherback Turtle Sanctuary on...
Iran's Hormuz 'Service Fee' Protocol and the BRICS FM Meet in Delhi
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, attending the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi (May 14–15, 2026), stated that Iran is working...
India Eyes $1 Trillion Merchandise Exports in FY27 on the Back of New Trade Agreements
The Union Commerce Ministry has set a target of USD 1 trillion in total exports (goods and services) for FY 2026-27, up from approximately USD 863 billion...
NTA Reform: Transport, Storage, and Human Handling Are NEET's Weakest Links
A high-level committee headed by former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan, constituted by the Ministry of Education in June 2024, identified local transport...
Sri Lanka's Fertiliser Ban: Lessons for India's Agriculture Policy and Supply Chain Resilience
At a panel discussion on the 'Impact of West Asia Crisis on Economic Disruptions and Sustainability: Implications for India,' experts urged India to draw...
AIADMK Splits in Tamil Nadu Assembly: 25 of 47 MLAs Back Government in Trust Vote
During a trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on May 13, 2026, 25 of the AIADMK's 47 MLAs voted in favour of the ruling TVK-led government...
LEADS 2025: India's Logistics Performance Rankings Across States
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry released the LEADS 2025 (Logistics Ease Across Different States) report, benchmarking logistics performance across all...
Digital Bharat Nidhi Signs Rs 2,432 Crore BharatNet Pact with Andhra Pradesh
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), the Government of India, the Andhra Pradesh government, APBIL (Andhra Pradesh Broadband Infrastructure Limited), BSNL, and APSFL...
Minimum Support Prices Raised for 14 Kharif Crops for 2026-27 Season
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved an increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all 14 mandated kharif crops for the 2026-27...
Constitution Was Adopted in English, Not Hindi: Kerala High Court Clarifies Authoritative Text
The Kerala High Court, while deciding a PIL challenging the Hindi titles given to three new criminal laws (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik...
Minimum Support Price Hike for 14 Kharif Crops: Marketing Season 2026-27
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a hike in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops for Marketing Season 2026-27...
Cabinet Approves ₹37,500 Crore Scheme to Promote Coal and Lignite Gasification
The Union Cabinet approved the Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects on May 13, 2026, with a total financial outlay of ₹37,500...
Ahmedabad–Dholera 134-Km Rail Corridor: Connecting Greenfield City, International Airport, and Lothal Heritage Site
Cabinet approved a 134-km semi high-speed double-line railway corridor between Ahmedabad (Sarkhej) and Dholera at an estimated project cost of approximately...
Great Nicobar Project: Alleged Violations of Tribal Rights and Consent Norms
Parliamentary opposition raised allegations of 'flagrant violations' of tribal rights in the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) development project, writing...
IMD's AI-Powered Hyperlocal Rainfall Forecasts: 1-Km Resolution for Precision Agriculture
The Ministry of Earth Sciences launched two AI-enabled weather forecast products under the India Meteorological Department (IMD): a block-level monsoon...
NIA Arrests Hizbul Mujahideen Terror Financing Accused After Extradition from Portugal
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Iqbal Singh alias 'Shera' at Delhi airport on May 13, 2026, immediately upon his arrival from Portugal...
NEET-UG 2026 Leak: CBI Probe Widens Across Maharashtra and Rajasthan, NTA Insiders Arrested
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a multi-state investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, conducting raids and arrests across...
NEET-UG Leak Demands Institutional Accountability Under 2024 Exam Protection Law
Following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, various civil society organisations and student bodies demanded dismissal of National Testing Agency (NTA) officials...
Trump-Xi Beijing Summit: Trade, Taiwan, Iran and AI on the Agenda
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a two-day summit in Beijing on May 14–15, 2026 — the first US presidential visit to Beijing...
India Raises Gold and Silver Import Duty to 15% to Contain Rupee Pressure and Widen of Current Account
Effective 13 May 2026, the government raised the import duty on gold and silver from 6% to 15%, comprising a 10% basic customs duty and a 5% agriculture...
West Asia Conflict's Impact on Oil Markets: What It Means for India's Energy Security
The ongoing West Asia conflict has pushed crude oil prices to levels significantly higher than earlier anticipated, with the Indian crude basket reaching...
Criminal Law Procedures: FIR, Police Investigation, and the BNSS 2023
A case of assault on hotel staff was registered by police in Kerala following a complaint by the victims — a young man and woman who worked at a hotel in...
Trump-Xi Beijing Summit: US-China Strategic Competition at a Crossroads
US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on May 13, 2026, for a state visit and bilateral summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping — Trump's first visit...
Cabinet Approves Ahmedabad–Dholera Semi High-Speed Rail Project: India's First Indigenous Corridor
The Union Cabinet approved the Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)–Dholera Semi High-Speed Double Line railway project on 13 May 2026 at an estimated cost of approximately...
₹37,500-Crore Coal Gasification Package: Energy Security Through Domestic Chemical Production
The Union Cabinet approved a ₹37,500-crore incentive package for coal and lignite gasification projects, with the explicit objective of reducing India's...
India Raises Gold and Silver Import Duty to 15% Amid Forex Pressure
The government raised the import duty on gold and silver to 15% from the earlier 6%, effective May 13, 2026 — a hike of 9 percentage points, more than...
Cabinet Approves Kharif MSP Hikes and ₹37,500-Crore Coal Gasification Scheme
In a single CCEA session, the Union Cabinet approved two major economic measures: MSP hikes for 14 kharif crops for 2026-27, and a ₹37,500-crore incentive...
Global Wildfires Hit Record High as Scientists Warn of Unprecedented Heat Extremes
Scientists have warned that global wildfire outbreaks reached a record high, with data showing that wildfires and extreme heat events are intensifying at an...
CCEA Approves Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal and Lignite Gasification Projects
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) formally approved the 'Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects' with a total...
Kharif MSP 2026-27: CCEA Approves Price Support for 14 Crops, Paddy at ₹2,441 per Quintal
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 14 mandated kharif crops for the marketing season 2026-27....
NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: Students Devastated as Exam Crisis Exposes NTA Failures
The NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted on May 3, 2026 by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to undergraduate medical courses, was found to...
Assam Moves to Enact Uniform Civil Code: Key Provisions and Tribal Exemptions
The Assam Cabinet approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, clearing it for introduction in the state legislature on May 26, 2026. The Bill proposes...
IMD Unveils Block-Level Monsoon Onset Forecast Model Using NWP and Ensemble Techniques
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) unveiled a new block-level monsoon onset forecasting model that will generate probabilistic forecasts of the...
Oil Marketing Companies, Refining Margins, and India's Petroleum Policy
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) reported a 78% year-on-year jump in consolidated net profit for Q4 FY2026 (January–March 2026) to Rs 6,065...
India's ₹37,500-Crore Incentive to Accelerate Coal and Lignite Gasification
The Union government approved a financial incentive package of ₹37,500 crore to promote domestic surface coal and lignite gasification projects. The...
India's Wheat Procurement Crosses 30 Million Tonnes, Eyes 34 MT Target
Wheat procurement for the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2026-27 crossed the 30-million-tonne mark, with the overall procurement target set at approximately 34...
Road Safety Governance and the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019
A fatal road accident near a police checkpoint in Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu, killed six people including a police constable on duty, after a speeding...
Why India's Leadership Is Urging Citizens to Cut Cooking Oil Consumption
Amid a West Asia crisis that strained global energy and commodity markets, India's leadership made a public appeal urging citizens to reduce cooking oil...
Nicobarese Tribal Opposition to Proposed Wildlife Sanctuaries on Nicobar Islands
The Tribal Council of Campbell Bay and Nicobarese community representatives have formally opposed a proposal to establish three new wildlife sanctuaries on...
Karnataka's ST Reservation Restored to 3%: Proportional Representation and Constitutional Framework
Karnataka has restored the Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation to 3% — after a period when it was altered — prompting a debate about proportional...
India's Edible Oil Import Bill Surges 19% in H1 of Oil Year 2025-26
India's edible oil import bill rose 19% in the first half of oil year 2025-26 (November 2025–April 2026), climbing to approximately ₹87,000 crore from...
US Golden Dome Missile Defense: Architecture, Cost, and Strategic Implications
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the proposed US 'Golden Dome' missile defense system could cost approximately $1.2 trillion over 20 years —...
Apprenticeships as CSR: Centre Pushes India Inc. to Scale Up Skill Training
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs urged large companies to treat apprenticeship programmes as both an economic necessity and a Corporate Social...
India Doubles Platinum Import Duty, Raising Costs for Diesel SUVs and Hybrids
The government raised the import duty on platinum to 15.4% from 6.4%, effective May 13, 2026 — effectively more than doubling the previous rate, as part of...
Iran's Hormuz Toll Stance at Delhi BRICS Meet: International Maritime Law at Stake
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, present in New Delhi for the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting (May 14–15, 2026), stated that Tehran intends to continue...
Pakistan's Dual Role: Nur Khan Airbase Allegations and Iran War Mediation
A US media report alleged that Pakistan permitted Iran to park military aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi during the 2026 US-Iran conflict...
India Hikes Gold and Silver Import Duties to 15% to Defend the Rupee
The government raised import duties on gold and silver with effect from May 13, 2026, more than doubling the effective rate from 6% to 15%. The revised...
Strengthening Enforcement Against Illegal Wildlife Trade: Key Frameworks
A three-day enforcement meet focused on combating illegal wildlife trade concluded with a call to significantly strengthen enforcement mechanisms across...
BRICS FM Meet and the West Asia Fracture: India's Palestine Dilemma
The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting is scheduled for May 14–15, 2026, in New Delhi, under India's chairship of the bloc. Eight of BRICS's eleven Foreign...
India's $1 Trillion Export Target and the FTA Network Covering Two-Thirds of Global Trade
India now has preferential trade access covering two-thirds of global trade, following the conclusion of multiple free trade agreements since 2021. The FTAs...
Paddy MSP Raised to ₹2,441/Quintal for Kharif 2026-27 Marketing Season
The CCEA approved an increase of ₹72/quintal in paddy MSP for the 2026-27 kharif marketing season (procurement begins September–October 2026). Common paddy...
US Appeals Court Halts Order Invalidating Trump's Global 10 Percent Tariff Under Section 122
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on May 12, 2026 issued an administrative stay on an order by the US Court of International Trade (CIT) that...
Supreme Court: All Religious Practices Presumed Protected Unless They Violate Public Order, Morality, or Health
The Supreme Court's nine-judge constitution bench, hearing the Sabarimala reference case, articulated a broad principle: all religious practices are...
Gold Import Duty Hike to 18.4% Effective Rate: Industry Impact and Smuggling Risks
Following the revision of gold and silver import tariffs to 15% (Basic Customs Duty 10% + AIDC 5%), the total effective import levy on gold — including...
Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) Test: What It Measures, What It Cannot Predict
A clinically informed article explained what the Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) test measures, why it has become widely used in fertility assessment, and —...
Anti-Defection Law and the Tamil Nadu Assembly Crisis: How the Tenth Schedule Operates
A floor test in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly triggered a split within the AIADMK legislative party, with a faction of approximately 24–25 MLAs voting...
Kharif MSP Hike 2026-27: Government Formula vs. Farmer Demand for C2-Based Pricing
The CCEA approved MSP hikes for 14 kharif crops for the 2026-27 marketing season; all notified crops maintain at least 50% return above A2+FL production...
Supreme Court Corrects Madras HC's Intervention in Tamil Nadu Floor Test Proceedings
The Supreme Court stayed a Madras High Court order that had restrained a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly from participating in the Tamil Nadu...
India Raises Import Duty on Gold and Silver to 15% to Ease Forex Pressure
The Finance Ministry raised the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on gold and silver from 5% to 10%, effective May 13, 2026, with the Agriculture Infrastructure and...
State MSP Bonuses Distort Rice Procurement, Burden Central Pool: CACP Warning
The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has flagged that state governments offering bonuses above the Union Government's announced MSP for...
Gold and Silver Import Duty Raised to 15 Percent to Defend Rupee
The Union government raised the import duty on gold and silver from 6 percent to 15 percent, effective May 13, 2026. The revised structure comprises a 10...
India-Japan Economic Security Dialogue: Critical Minerals, Semiconductors, and Resilient Supply Chains
The second round of the India-Japan Economic Security Dialogue was held in New Delhi on May 11, 2026, co-chaired by India's Foreign Secretary and Japanese...
Kharif MSP 2026-27: Cabinet Approves Price Hikes for 14 Crops, Oilseeds Lead Gains
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for 14 kharif crops for the 2026-27 marketing season. Sunflower seed...
Karnataka Withdraws 2022 Dress Code Order Restricting Religious Symbols in Schools
The Karnataka state government issued a fresh dress code order withdrawing its February 2022 order that had effectively barred students from wearing hijab...
Assam Cabinet Approves UCC: Tribal Exemption, Personal Law Reform, and Constitutional Architecture
The Assam Cabinet on May 13, 2026 formally approved the draft Uniform Civil Code bill for introduction in the Assam Legislative Assembly on May 26, 2026....
Assam to Table UCC Bill on May 26: Tribal Exemption and State-Level Civil Code Momentum
The Assam Cabinet, in the first cabinet sitting of the newly reconstituted government after the 2026 state assembly elections, approved a draft Uniform...
Tamil Nadu Floor Test: TVK Secures Majority Through Post-Poll Coalition
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government in Tamil Nadu successfully passed a floor test in the State Legislative Assembly on May 13, 2026, securing a...
India-Russia Bilateral Talks: Trade, Energy, and Strategic Autonomy
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held wide-ranging bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New Delhi on May 13, 2026. The...
Freedom of Conscience and Religious Conversion: What Article 25 Protects
The Supreme Court, in proceedings concerning religious conversion, reaffirmed the constitutional position that Article 25 of the Constitution protects the...
RBI Issues Operating Framework for Outward Remittance Services by Non-Bank Payment Service Providers
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued an operating framework governing the facilitation of outward remittance services by non-bank Payment Service...
Gold and Silver Import Tariffs Raised to 15%: Policy Rationale and Customs Duty Structure
The central government raised the import tariff on gold and silver to 15% effective May 13, 2026, through customs notifications issued on May 12, 2026. The...
India's Economic Response to West Asia Conflict: PMO Coordinates Plan to Boost Foreign Fund Flow
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is coordinating a multi-ministry effort to mitigate the economic impact of the West Asia conflict, with officials at the...
India Procures DAP Fertilizer at 40% Above Pre-War Prices as Supply Chains Fracture
Indian Potash Ltd. (IPL) contracted approximately 1.35 million tonnes of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer — a record volume in a single tender — at...