1. Five New Judges Appointed to the Supreme Court of India

Why in News?

On 2 June 2026, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant administered the oath of office to five new judges of the Supreme Court of India, raising the court's working strength to 37 out of a sanctioned strength of 38.

Key Points

• Newly appointed judges:
  • Justice Sheel Nagu (former CJ, Punjab & Haryana HC)
  • Justice Shree Chandrashekhar (former CJ, Bombay HC)
  • Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva (former CJ, Madhya Pradesh HC)
  • Justice Arun Palli (former CJ, J&K and Ladakh HC)
  • Smt. V.S. Mohana (Senior Advocate, elevated directly from the Bar)
• Four of the five were serving High Court Chief Justices; V.S. Mohana was elevated directly from the Bar.
• V.S. Mohana becomes only the second woman in Indian history elevated directly from the Bar to the Supreme Court, after Justice Indu Malhotra (2018).
• Appointments made under Article 124(2) of the Constitution.
• The Supreme Court's sanctioned strength was recently raised from 34 to 38 via the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026.
• The appointments are expected to address the massive backlog of pending cases in the apex court.

Static Knowledge

• Under Article 124(2), Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President after consultation with the CJI and other judges deemed necessary.
• The collegium system (evolved through the Three Judges Cases) comprises the CJI and four senior-most judges.
• Retirement age of SC judges: 65 years.
• The first woman judge of the Supreme Court was Justice M. Fathima Beevi (1989).
• Justice Indu Malhotra (2018) was the first woman elevated directly from the Bar to the Supreme Court.

2. India–US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) Negotiations: Section 301 Focus

Why in News?

India and the United States began a fresh round of BTA negotiations in New Delhi from June 2–4, 2026, with relief from Section 301 tariff investigations emerging as a central Indian demand before finalisation of the first tranche of the pact.

Key Points

• US delegation led by Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch; Indian team headed by Darpan Jain, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce.
• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed that "99% of discussions" have been concluded; formal announcement of the first BTA tranche is imminent.
• Section 301 of the US Trade Act enables investigations into countries for alleged unfair trade practices (forced labour, excess production capacity); India is among 60 economies under the current US probe.
• The broader BTA covers: market access, non-tariff barriers, customs facilitation, investment promotion, and economic security cooperation.
• Leaders of both nations had set Mission 500 — doubling bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030 (current bilateral trade: ~USD 191 billion).
• The US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024–25 (bilateral trade: USD 131.84 billion).
• USTR Jamieson Greer is expected to meet Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal once core issues are resolved.

Static Knowledge

• Section 301 is a provision of the US Trade Act of 1974 that allows the US President to impose tariffs/sanctions on countries engaging in unfair trade practices.
• India and the US had imposed 25% reciprocal tariffs + 25% penalty tariffs (for purchasing Russian crude) = 50% additional import duty on Indian goods.
• India's top exports to the US: pharmaceuticals, IT services, gems & jewellery, textiles, chemicals.
• WTO's Most Favoured Nation (MFN) principle requires non-discriminatory trade, but BTA's preferential access can be structured under Article XXIV of GATT.

3. Delhi High Court Upholds Right to Be Forgotten — Landmark Ruling

Why in News?

The Delhi High Court, in a 144-page judgment delivered by Justice Sachin Datta (dated May 29, 2026, reported widely on June 1–2), recognised the Right to Be Forgotten as flowing from the fundamental right to privacy under Article 21, and directed search engines (Google) and legal databases (Indian Kanoon) to de-index judicial records from name-based searches in specific categories of cases.

Key Points

• The judgment consolidated over 30 petitions filed by individuals seeking removal of their names from online judicial records.
• De-indexing ordered for: cases ending in acquittal, discharge, quashing, settlement, or those of a purely private nature.
• De-indexing refused for: convictions involving offences against women/children, breach of public trust, offences by public servants and elected representatives.
• Google and all search engine operators directed to de-index relevant content globally across all domains under Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
• Indian Kanoon directed to restrict name-based search functionality; records remain accessible by case number, citation, court details, and date.
• The Court affirmed that open justice does not require an individual's name to function as a permanent retrieval key in commercial search engines.
• Platforms have two weeks to comply.
• India presently has no comprehensive statutory framework explicitly governing the Right to Be Forgotten; the judgment fills this gap through constitutional interpretation.

Static Knowledge

• The Right to Privacy was declared a fundamental right under Article 21 by the Supreme Court in K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India (2017) — a 9-judge unanimous bench.
• The Right to Be Forgotten has been part of EU law since 2014 and is codified in the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 provides limited right to erasure.
• The IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules were notified in February 2021 under the IT Act, 2000.
• Section 79 of the IT Act provides safe harbour to intermediaries, subject to compliance with court/government orders.

4. ECLGS 5.0 — ₹35,194 Crore Sanctioned Within Weeks of Launch

Why in News?

The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0, approved by the Union Cabinet on 5 May 2026 to address West Asia crisis-induced liquidity stress, recorded over 2.62 lakh applications and ₹35,194 crore in sanctions as of 29 May 2026.

Key Points

• Total applications sourced: 2.62 lakh+ (total value: ~₹1.71 lakh crore).
• Sanctions: ~79,950 accounts; ₹35,194 crore.
• Guarantees issued: 26,000+ accounts; ₹15,720 crore.
• MSME share: Applications worth ₹1,31,107 crore from MSMEs; sanctions of ₹30,355 crore.
• Implementing agency: National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC).
• Guarantee coverage: 100% for MSMEs; 90% for non-MSMEs and scheduled passenger airlines.
• Loan quantum:
  • MSMEs/Non-MSMEs: Up to 20% of peak working capital (Q4 FY26), capped at ₹100 crore.
  • Airlines: Up to 100% of outstanding credit, capped at ₹1,500 crore per borrower.
• Repayment tenure: 5 years (MSMEs/Non-MSMEs) with 1-year moratorium; 7 years (airlines) with 2-year moratorium.
• Guarantee fee: Nil (waived by government).
• Scheme valid for loans sanctioned until 31 March 2027.
• ECLGS was originally launched in May 2020 under the Atmanirbhar Bharat package to support COVID-19-affected MSMEs.

Static Knowledge

• ECLGS 1.0 was launched in May 2020 as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package (COVID-19 response).
• NCGTC is a GoI enterprise under the Ministry of Finance, mandated to manage credit guarantee schemes.
• MSMEs contribute approximately 30% of India's GDP, 45% of exports, and employ over 11 crore people.
• Definition of MSME (Revised 2020): Micro (investment < ₹1 cr, turnover < ₹5 cr); Small (< ₹10 cr, < ₹50 cr); Medium (< ₹50 cr, < ₹250 cr).

5. JEE Advanced 2026 Results Declared — Shubham Kumar AIR 1

Why in News?

IIT Roorkee (the organising institute for JEE Advanced 2026) declared results on 1 June 2026. Shubham Kumar from the IIT Delhi zone secured All India Rank (AIR) 1, and Arohi Deshpande emerged as the top female candidate.

Key Points

• AIR 1 (Overall): Shubham Kumar (IIT Delhi zone) — 330/360 marks.
• AIR 2: Kabir Chhillar (IIT Delhi zone) — 329 marks.
• AIR 3: Jatin Chahar — 319 marks.
• Top Female Candidate: Arohi Deshpande (IIT Delhi zone) — 280/360 marks; CRL Rank 77.
• JEE Advanced 2026 was conducted on 17 May 2026 by IIT Roorkee.
• Total registered candidates: 1,87,389.
• Candidates who appeared: 1,79,694 (both papers).
• Total qualified: 56,880 (including 10,107 female candidates).
• The IIT Delhi zone dominated, placing four candidates in the top 10 of the Common Rank List (CRL).

Static Knowledge

• JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) is conducted in two stages: JEE Main (by NTA) and JEE Advanced (rotated among IITs).
• There are 23 IITs in India as of 2026.
• JEE Advanced 2026 was organised by IIT Roorkee (established 1847; given IIT status in 2001).
• The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts JEE Main; the score qualifies students for JEE Advanced.
• Maximum marks in JEE Advanced: 360 (Paper 1 + Paper 2 combined).

6. 2nd BRICS Culture Working Group Meeting — Varanasi (June 4–5)

Why in News?

India, holding the BRICS Chairship for 2026, announced the 2nd BRICS Culture Working Group (CWG) Meeting in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on 4–5 June 2026, with AI, cultural heritage repatriation, and climate-culture linkages as priority themes.

Key Points

• India's BRICS 2026 Chairship Theme: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."
• The meeting is chaired under the Ministry of Culture (Secretary: Vivek Aggarwal); IGNCA is the knowledge partner.
• Three priority thematic areas:
  1. Creative Economy, Cultural Industries, and Copyright in the Age of AI.
  2. Cultural Heritage Protection and Return of Cultural Property (repatriation of stolen artefacts).
  3. Culture, Climate, and Sustainable Development.
• Five thematic panel discussions are planned.
• The deliberations will contribute to an Outcome Document to be discussed at the BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting in Bhopal (August 2026).
• The 1st BRICS CWG Meeting was held virtually on 29–30 April 2026.
• BRICS has 11 full members (2026): Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Indonesia; plus 10 Partner Countries (2025).
• India has chaired BRICS in 2012, 2016, 2021, and now 2026.

Static Knowledge

• BRICS was originally BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China); South Africa joined in 2010.
• BRICS represents about 40% of world population and ~25% of global GDP.
• The New Development Bank (NDB), headquartered in Shanghai, was established by BRICS nations in 2015.
• India previously hosted BRICS Culture Ministers' Meetings in Goa (2016) and New Delhi (2021).
• Varanasi is listed among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities; nearby Sarnath is where the Buddha delivered his first sermon.

7. Air Marshal Tarun Chaudhry Takes Charge as AOC-in-C, Central Air Command

Why in News?

Air Marshal Tarun Chaudhry, AVSM, VSM, assumed charge as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Indian Air Force's Central Air Command (CAC) on 1 June 2026, succeeding Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan who retired after 40 years of service.

Key Points

• Air Marshal Chaudhry was commissioned into the Fighter stream of the IAF in December 1989.
• He is an alumnus of: National Defence Academy (NDA), Defence Services Staff College, College of Air Warfare, and National Defence College.
• He served as Defence Attaché at the Embassy of India in Sweden, with concurrent accreditation to Norway, Finland, and Denmark.
• He has led key staff assignments at HQ Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) and Air HQ in projects, acquisitions, and HR management.
• Central Air Command (CAC) is headquartered at Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) and is responsible for safeguarding India's northern and central airspace.
• The appointment comes amid ongoing IAF modernisation with induction of advanced technologies.

Static Knowledge

• The Indian Air Force has 7 operational commands and 2 functional commands.
• Commands and HQs: Western Air Command (Delhi), Central Air Command (Prayagraj), Eastern Air Command (Shillong), Southern Air Command (Thiruvananthapuram), South Western Air Command (Gandhinagar), Training Command (Bengaluru), Maintenance Command (Nagpur).
• IAF's Chief of Air Staff (CAS) is Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh (as of 2026).
• NDA is located in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra.

8. Ladakh — LG Inaugurates 15 Common Facility Centres (CFCs)

Why in News?

On 2 June 2026, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena inaugurated 15 Common Facility Centres (CFCs) across the Union Territory to empower artisans, weavers, and women SHGs and curb rural-urban migration.

Key Points

• 15 CFC locations: Skurbuchan, Wanla, Saspol, Chuchot, Kharu, Anlay, Koyul, Korzok, Chushul, Phobrang, Sato, Panamik, Diskit, Turtuk, and Digger.
• The CFCs serve as shared workspaces for weavers, spinners, tailors, artisans, and women Self Help Groups (SHGs).
• Goal: Strengthen micro-enterprises, generate livelihood for women and youth in their own villages, reduce migration from remote areas.
• Focus on preserving Ladakh's handloom heritage (Pashmina, local crafts) and connecting products to national/international markets.
• LG Vinai Kumar Saxena is the 4th Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh (assumed office: March 2026); was previously LG of Delhi.
• Ladakh became a Union Territory on 31 October 2019 under the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
• Ladakh is a UT without a legislature (unlike Delhi and Puducherry).

Static Knowledge

• Ladakh was bifurcated from J&K on 31 October 2019 under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.
• Ladakh borders China (to the east/north) and Pakistan (to the northwest).
• Key products: Pashmina wool, Sea Buckthorn, Apricot.
• The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution provides for autonomous district councils; Ladakh has the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) for Leh and Kargil.

9. Indian Teens Win Global Earth Prize 2026 — 'Plas-Stick' Innovation

Why in News?

Three 16-year-old Indian students — Vivaan Chhawchharia, Ariana Agarwal, and Avyana Mehta — were named the first-ever Global Winners of The Earth Prize 2026 on 1 June 2026 for 'Plas-Stick', a tamarind seed-based microplastic filtration innovation.

Key Points

• Invention: 'Plas-Stick' — a biodegradable powder made from waste tamarind seeds that binds microplastics in contaminated water into visible clumps, which are then removed with a handheld magnet.
• The solution is electricity-free, low-cost, and designed for resource-scarce communities.
• Developed with research support from IIT Guwahati.
• The team won both the Asia Regional Prize and the Global Earth Prize 2026.
• Award: USD 12,500 grant to scale the project across India; global selection voted by 23,000 experts.
• The Earth Prize is one of the world's largest environmental competitions for teenagers (aged 13–19), run by The Earth Foundation (Geneva, Switzerland).
• The project has already reached over 8,000 students and teachers through awareness programmes.
• India is the first country to have a team win the Global Earth Prize.

Static Knowledge

• Microplastics are plastic particles less than 5 mm; they enter water bodies through industrial discharge, synthetic textiles, and degradation of larger plastics.
• The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has flagged microplastic pollution as a critical global crisis.
• Tamarind (Imli) is a leguminous tree (Tamarindus indica); native to tropical Africa but widely cultivated in India.
• IIT Guwahati is located in Assam; one of the oldest IITs established under the Institute of Technology Act.
• India is the world's second largest plastic polluter by land-based contribution to ocean plastic waste.

10. Meesho–BSE 'Project Shikhar': MSME IPO Pathway

Why in News?

Meesho and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) signed an MoU on 2 June 2026 to launch Project Shikhar, a structured programme to help high-performing e-commerce MSME sellers transition into publicly listed companies on the BSE SME platform.

Key Points

• MoU signed by: Lopamudra Rao (Head, Corporate Affairs, Meesho) and Sundararaman Ramamurthy (MD & CEO, BSE).
• Project Shikhar provides sellers a stage-by-stage roadmap covering: entity conversion, compliance tracking, and regulatory positioning for public listing.
• The programme will screen and onboard eligible sellers over the next year.
• BSE SME platform was pioneered by BSE to give small businesses access to capital markets; hundreds of MSMEs have listed on this platform.
• Meesho is India's largest e-commerce platform by annual transacting users and placed orders.
• BSE is Asia's oldest stock exchange (established 1875) and the world's largest by number of listed companies.
• The initiative aims to bridge the gap between informal, rapidly-scaling digital businesses and formal capital markets.

Static Knowledge

• BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) was established in 1875; India's first stock exchange, headquartered in Mumbai.
• NSE (National Stock Exchange) was established in 1992.
• SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India), established under SEBI Act, 1992, regulates the securities market.
• BSE SME platform launched in 2012 to help small businesses access equity capital.
• MSMEs account for about 45% of India's merchandise exports and create maximum employment after agriculture.

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