Daily Current Affairs (09/08/07 – May – 26)

Daily Current Affairs  (09/08/07 – May – 26)

1. India Conducts Maiden Test of Nuclear-Capable ICBM  –

• India conducted a maiden test of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) off the Odisha coast on 8 May 2026. The launch took place from Abdul Kalam Island near Chandipur, and the missile test involved a danger corridor of about 3,560 km over the Bay of Bengal.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles

• An intercontinental ballistic missile is a long-range ballistic missile with a range of more than 5,500 km. ICBMs are designed to deliver conventional or nuclear warheads over intercontinental distances and follow a ballistic trajectory after powered flight.

Odisha Test Range

• Abdul Kalam Island, earlier known as Wheeler Island, is a missile test site off the Odisha coast. The island lies near Chandipur, which is associated with India’s Integrated Test Range under the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Pre-Launch Procedures and Related Trials

• India issued a Notice to Airmen for the Bay of Bengal from 6 May to 9 May 2026 before the launch. The missile test followed the maiden flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation glide weapon system on 7 May 2026, also off the Odisha coast.

2. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan Appointed Next Navy Chief –

• Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan was appointed as the next Chief of the Naval Staff of India on 9 May 2026. He is scheduled to assume office on 31 May 2026 and will succeed Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, who retires on the same date.

Chief of the Naval Staff

• The Chief of the Naval Staff is the professional head of the Indian Navy and one of the three service chiefs in India. The post is held by a four-star officer and is part of the higher defence leadership structure under the Ministry of Defence.

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan

• Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 July 1987. He specialises in Communication and Electronic Warfare, which are branches linked to naval command, signals, and electronic countermeasures.

Western Naval Command

• Before this appointment, he served as the Western Naval Commander in Mumbai. The Western Naval Command is one of the three operational commands of the Indian Navy and has its headquarters at Mumbai, Maharashtra.

3. Lt Gen N S Raja Subramani Appointed India’s Next CDS –

• Lieutenant General N S Raja Subramani (Retd.) was appointed as India’s next Chief of Defence Staff on 9 May 2026. He will take charge from General Anil Chauhan on 30 May 2026 and will also serve as Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Military Affairs.

Chief of Defence Staff in India

• The Chief of Defence Staff is the senior-most military officer in India’s armed The office was created in 2019 after the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee and the Group of Ministers on defence reforms.

Career Profile of Lt Gen N S Raja Subramani

• Lt Gen N S Raja Subramani served as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat from 1 September 2025. He was Vice Chief of the Army Staff from 1 July 2024 to 31 July 2025 and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army’s Central Command from March 2023 to June 2024.

4. China Confirms Technical Support to Pakistan –

• China confirmed on 7 May 2026 that it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during a four-day conflict with India in May 2025. The confirmation concerned Chinese personnel involvement in an India-Pakistan clash linked to the military operation India called Operation Sindoor.

Operation Sindoor and the 2025 Conflict

• The conflict began on 7 May 2025 after a militant attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir on 22 April 2025 killed 26 civilians. Indian forces launched strikes on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir, and India stated that the sites were used to plan the attack.

5. Suvendu Adhikari Sworn in as West Bengal Chief Minister –

• Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on 9 May 2026. He became the first Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Minister of the state and the 9th person to hold the office in West Bengal.

West Bengal Chief Ministership

• West Bengal is a state in eastern India, and the Chief Minister is the head of the elected state government under Article 164 of the Constitution of India. The Governor of West Bengal administers the oath of office to the Chief Minister under the constitutional procedure.

2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly Election

• The Bharatiya Janata Party won 207 of 294 seats in the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election. The result ended the Trinamool Congress government’s 15-year tenure in the state.

MCQ Quiz

Q1. Ulsoor Lake, that was recently seen in news, is located in which city ?

1. a) Bengaluru
2. b) Chennai
3. c) Hyderabad
4. d) Mumbai

Q2. TARA is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system designed developed by which institution ?

1. a) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
2. b) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
3. c) Indian Space and Research Organization
4. d) None of the Above

Q3. Sambhar Lake, that was recently seen in news, is located in which state ?

1. a) Gujarat
2. b) Odisha
3. c) Karnataka
4. d) Rajasthan

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the “Essential Religious Practices (ERP) Doctrine” and Constitutional Morality:

• The ERP doctrine was established to allow secular courts to distinguish core religious tenets from non-essential, secular practices, originating from the Shirur Muttcase (1954).
• In the 2018 judgment on Sabarimala Temple Entry Case, the Supreme Court ruled that the exclusion of women aged 10–50 was an essential practice of the Ayyappa sect, but it was invalid under Articles 14 and 15.
• The 2026 review hearings are examining whether “constitutional morality” based on principles of equality should take precedence over “public morality” derived from long-standing religious customs.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: The Essential Religious Practices (ERP) doctrine originated in the Commissioner Hindu Religious Endowments Madras v Sri Lakshmindra Thirtha Swamiar of Shirur Mutt (1954) case. The court decided that only “essential” practices are protected under Articles 25 and 26, allowing courts to distinguish religious acts from associated secular or economic activities.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: In the 2018 judgment, the Supreme Court ruled that the exclusion of women aged 10–50 was not an essential religious practice, but rather a discriminatory custom violating Articles 14, 15, and 25(1). The Court held that the devotees of Lord Ayyappa did not constitute a separate religious denomination under Article 26.
• Statement 3 is correct: A major debate in the 2026 review hearings (before a 9-judge Bench) is the interpretation of “morality” under Article 25(1). The court is balancing whether “constitutional morality” (ideals of equality, dignity, and liberty) should prevail over “public morality” (the traditional, established practices of a community).

Q5. With reference to juvenile crimes in India, consider the following statements:

1. Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, every person below 18 years of age is considered a juvenile.
2. In cases of heinous offences, juveniles between 16–18 years of age may be tried as adults under special circumstances.
3. The Juvenile Justice Board consists only of police officials.

Which of the above statements are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 is the primary legislation governing the judicial process related to children in India. According to the Act, any individual below 18 years of age is considered a juvenile.
• After the Nirbhaya case, the law was amended to provide that juveniles aged between 16–18 years accused of heinous crimes may be tried as adults after an assessment of their mental and physical capacity by the Juvenile Justice Board.
• The Juvenile Justice Board does not consist solely of police personnel. It includes a judicial magistrate and two social workers. Hence, Statement 3 is incorrect.
• The recent rise in juvenile crime reflects growing concerns related to social disintegration, cybercrime, substance abuse, family instability, and the influence of social media.

Value Addition:

• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) works for the protection of child rights in India.