13 May 2026 Current Affairs (With PDF)

We bring you the most relevant and important news updates from around the world and India, specially curated for competitive exams and different entrance exams. Today's Current Affairs cover all significant national and international headlines, legal updates, economic news, and environmental highlights to boost your preparation. With our crisp, to-the-point coverage, you can confidently tackle current affairs questions in your exams.

Issue of Counterfeit Currency

The NCRB’s Crime in India 2024 report highlights Counterfeit Indian Currency Notes (CICN) as a continuing security and economic threat nearly a decade after demonetisation.

What is Counterfeit Currency?

• Counterfeit currency refers to fake currency notes illegally produced to imitate genuine banknotes with the intention of deceiving users and disrupting the economy.

Regulatory Framework Against Fake Currency

1. Legal Provisions

• Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA): Production or smuggling of high-quality fake currency is treated as a terrorist act due to its links with terror financing.
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Sections 178–182: Prescribe life imprisonment, imprisonment, or heavy fines for Manufacturing counterfeit notes, Possessing fake currency and Circulating or trafficking counterfeit notes

2. Institutional Mechanism

• CBI acts as the nodal agency for coordination with international organisations such as Interpol.
• NIA investigates cross-border counterfeit currency and terror-financing networks.

Why Does Fake Currency Continue to Persist?

1. Technological Sophistication

• Modern syndicates use Industrial-grade printers and scanners & AI-based image enhancement tools
• This help replicate features like Micro-lettering, Watermarks, Security threads and Latent images

2. Large Cash Economy

• Currency in circulation has crossed ₹42 lakh crore, creating a vast cash ecosystem where counterfeit notes can mix unnoticed.

3. Verification Gaps

• Rural markets and small businesses often lack UV scanners and Currency authentication devices
• This makes them vulnerable “soft targets”.

4. Geographical Vulnerability

• Porous borders and maritime routes are exploited for smuggling fake notes.
• International syndicates use advanced machinery to print “Super Notes”.

What are Super Notes?

• Super Notes are extremely high-quality counterfeit notes that closely resemble genuine currency in Paper quality, Printing precision and Security features
• These are officially classified as High Quality Fake Indian Currency Notes (HQ-FICN).

Government Initiatives Against Counterfeit Currency

1. FCORD Mechanism

• Ministry of Home Affairs established the Fake Indian Currency Notes Coordination Group (FCORD).
• Objective: Real-time intelligence sharing & Coordination among central agencies and state police

2. Terror Funding and Fake Currency (TFFC) Cell

• Operated by the NIA
• Targets terror-financing and cross-border fake currency syndicates.

3. Public Awareness

• RBI runs the “Paisa Bolta Hai” campaign to educate citizens on identifying security features in banknotes.

4. Security Features in Indian Currency

• Indian notes include Watermark, Security thread, See-through register, Intaglio printing, Colour-shifting ink, Micro-lettering, Latent image features

Impact of Counterfeit Currency

• Threatens monetary stability
• Fuels terrorism and organised crime
• Erodes public trust in currency
• Causes losses to businesses and consumers
• Distorts the formal financial system

PM’s Call for Import Reduction

PM has urged Indians to reduce import-linked consumption to contain forex outflows and Balance of Payments (BoP) pressures amid the Iran conflict–driven rise in fuel, fertiliser, and commodity prices.
IMF projects India’s CAD may widen to $84.5 billion in 2026 (~2% of GDP).

What is Forex?

• Foreign Exchange Reserves (Forex) are foreign currencies and foreign assets held by the RBI to manage external payments and currency stability.
• Components of Forex Reserves
• Foreign Currency Assets (USD, Euro, etc.)
• Gold Reserves
• Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)
• Reserve Tranche Position with IMF

Why Are Concerns Rising?

• India’s external sector position by mid-2025 is being compared to the 2013 “Fragile Five” phase, when high current account deficits and weak capital inflows created pressure on the rupee and forex reserves.

How Do Imports Drain Forex?

• Imports require payment in foreign currencies, mainly US dollars.
• Higher imports increase dollar demand and reduce forex reserves.
• Since mid-2024, weaker capital inflows and repeated current account deficits have intensified pressures.

Vicious Cycle of Import Dependence

• Rising imports → Higher dollar demand → Rupee depreciation → Costlier imports → Wider trade deficit → Further rupee weakening

PLFS Quarterly Bulletin (Jan–March 2026)

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Quarterly Bulletin for January–March 2026.

About PLFS

• Conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO).
• A nationwide survey measuring Employment, Unemployment, Labour force participation and Workforce indicators
• Provides both rural and urban labour market trends.

Key Highlights of PLFS (Jan–March 2026)

1. Unemployment Rate (UR)

• Overall unemployment rate increased slightly to 5%.
• Urban UR declined marginally from 6.7% to 6.6%.
• Rural UR increased from 4.0% to 4.3%.

2. Sectoral Employment Shift

• Share of rural employment in agriculture declined from 58.5% to 55.8%.
• Employment in Secondary sector rose to 22.6% and Tertiary sector rose to 21.7%
• Indicates gradual diversification away from agriculture.

3. Job Regularisation

• Share of salaried rural employees increased from 14.8% to 15.5%, indicating improvement in formal employment.

4. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)

• Remained stable at 55.5%.
• Female LFPR also remained stable at 34.7%.

5. Worker Population Ratio (WPR)

• Overall WPR declined slightly from 53.1% to 52.8%.
• Rural WPR decreased from 56.1% to 55.7%.
• Urban WPR remained stable at 46.9%.

Significance

• Highlights ongoing structural transformation of the economy.
• Shows gradual movement from agriculture toward manufacturing and services.
• Provides crucial inputs for labour market and employment policy formulation.

European Central Bank

The Reserve Bank of India and the European Central Bank signed a revised MoU to strengthen cooperation in banking supervision and financial regulation.

About ECB

• The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank of the Eurozone, the group of European Union countries that use the euro as their official currency.
• It was established in 1998 under the Maastricht Treaty.
• The ECB is collectively owned by the national central banks of all 27 EU member states.
• Headquarters: Frankfurt

Eurozone

• The Eurozone currently consists of 21 member countries using the euro currency.
• It expanded from the original 11 members to 21 members over time.
• Recent additions: Croatia (2023) and Bulgaria (2026)

Organisational Structure

• Governing Council: Main decision-making body.
• Formulates Eurozone monetary policy.
• Includes ECB Executive Board members and Governors of Eurozone national central banks
• Executive Board: Handles day-to-day management and implementation of monetary policy.
• General Council: Advisory and transitional body involving all EU central banks.

Key Functions of ECB

• Monetary Policy: Determines interest rates and manages inflation across the Eurozone.
• Currency Issuance: Authorises issuance of euro banknotes.
• Banking Supervision: Supervises major European banks through the Single Supervisory Mechanism
• Foreign Exchange Management: Manages Eurozone foreign reserves and foreign exchange operations.
• Financial Stability: Ensures stability of the Eurozone financial and banking system.

‘One Case One Data’ and ‘Su Sahayak’ Initiatives

Supreme Court of India launched two digital initiatives — ‘One Case One Data’ and ‘Su Sahayak’ — to strengthen technology-enabled judicial access and court administration.

One Case One Data

• A nationwide digital initiative aimed at creating a unified judicial database across India.
• Objective: Improve Case management, Judicial coordination, Data integration, Information sharing across courts
• Key Features: Integrates case-related information from Taluka courts, District courts, High Courts and Supreme Court
• Enables a single digital identity for each case across the judicial system.

Su Sahayak

• Su Sahayak is an AI-powered chatbot integrated with the Supreme Court website.
• Objective: Provide citizens and litigants easier access to Court-related information, Case status, Judicial procedures and Filing-related assistance
• Developed by: National Informatics Centre in collaboration with the Supreme Court Registry.

MIRV Technology

India successfully tested an advanced Agni-5 missile variant equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.

What is MIRV Technology?

• MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology enables a single ballistic missile to carry and deliver multiple nuclear warheads to different targets simultaneously.
• Each warhead can follow a separate trajectory, travel at different speeds, and strike independent targets.

1. Mechanism

• After launch, the missile releases a post-boost vehicle (“bus”) once in space.
• The bus, fitted with independent thrusters, deploys multiple warheads along different flight paths toward separate targets.

2. Significance

• Enhances strategic deterrence capability.
• Makes missile defence interception more difficult due to multiple incoming warheads.
• Improves target coverage using a single missile system.

Global Status

•  United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India

Mission Divyastra

• India’s MIRV capability was demonstrated under Mission Divyastra, associated with the testing of the Agni-5 missile.

About Agni-5

• Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with Three-stage solid-fuel propulsion and Range exceeding 5,000 km
• Forms a key component of India’s strategic nuclear deterrence capability.

SEHAT Initiative

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched the Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation (SEHAT) Initiative.

About SEHAT

• SEHAT reflects India’s transition from a curative healthcare approach toward preventive and promotive healthcare.
• Objective: Strengthen convergence between agriculture, nutrition, and public health: Improve long-term health outcomes through scientifically guided food systems.

1. Key Focus Areas

• Promotion of biofortified crops and nutrient-rich foods.
• Encouragement of integrated farming systems.
• Prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through healthier diets.
• Use of agriculture as a tool for improving nutrition and public health.

2. Core Idea

• Promotes the concept that “food can become medicine” through nutritious and scientifically validated agricultural practices.

Huntington’s Disease

There have been demands to include Huntington’s Disease under India’s National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD), 2021.

About Huntington’s Disease

• A rare inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutation in the HTT gene.
• It progressively damages nerve cells in the brain, affecting Movement, Cognition, Behaviour and Mental health
• Symptoms generally appear between 30–50 years of age and worsen gradually over time.

1. Inheritance Pattern

• Inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.
• If one parent is affected, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease.

2. Treatment

• No permanent cure currently exists.
• Treatment mainly focuses on symptom management and supportive care.

National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD), 2021

• Launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Objective: Improve prevention and early diagnosis, Enhance treatment access and Ensure affordable healthcare support for rare disease patients

Key Features

• Rare diseases are classified into 3 categories based on treatment availability and cost.
• Provides up to ₹50 lakh financial assistance for eligible patients.
• Promotes: National rare disease registry, Research and data ecosystem, Better policy planning and awareness

Recent Update

• In 2024, diseases covered under the policy increased from 55 to 63.

Lupus Disease

World Lupus Day was observed on 10 May with the theme “Make Lupus Visible.”

About Lupus

• Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissues and organs.
• It primarily affects women of childbearing age.
• The disease causes widespread inflammation and can affect Skin, Joints, Kidneys, Heart, Lungs and Brain.
• Often identified through Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) testing.
• No permanent cure currently exists.
• Treatment focuses on controlling inflammation, managing symptoms, and preventing organ damage.

Autoimmune Diseases

• Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own healthy tissues instead of foreign pathogens.
• They are more common among women.

Yavari-Tapiche Territorial Corridor

A recent report warned that the Yavari-Tapiche Territorial Corridor in the western Amazon is facing growing ecological and anthropogenic threats.

About YTTC

• The Yavari-Tapiche Territorial Corridor (YTTC) is a proposed transboundary protected corridor located along the border of Peru and Brazil in the western Amazon region.
• It is considered one of the most ecologically significant forest landscapes in the Amazon Basin.

Key Features

• Home to the world’s largest population of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact (PIACI).
• Contains one of the Amazon rainforest’s largest continuous stretches of tropical forest.
• Characterised by Extremely high biodiversity, Dense carbon storage capacity, Intact forest ecosystems

Protected Status

• Around 66% of the corridor lies in Brazil.
• Much of this area is already protected, particularly under the Vale do Javari Indigenous Territory

Canary Islands

A cruise ship reporting a hantavirus outbreak recently arrived at the Canary Islands.

About Canary Islands

• The Canary Islands are an autonomous archipelago of Spain located in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Situated around 100 km west of Morocco off the north-western coast of Africa.
• The islands are of volcanic origin and form part of the Macaronesia biogeographical region.
• The archipelago lies at the junction of Europe, Africa and Atlantic routes toward the Americas
• It serves as a key transit point in the Atlantic migration route into Europe.

One-Liners

Habshan Gas Complex

• Habshan Gas Complex is among the world’s largest gas-processing facilities.
• Located in Abu Dhabi, it was damaged during the recent West Asia conflict due to drone and missile attacks.
• Full restoration is expected by 2027.

INS Sagardhwani

• INS Sagardhwani is an indigenous oceanographic research vessel of the Indian Navy.
• It completed a scientific mission to Cam Ranh under the SAGAR Maitri initiative.
• Primary role: Underwater Domain Awareness, Marine acoustic research, Improving sonar performance and underwater surveillance

National Florence Nightingale Awards

• In 2026, 15 nursing personnel received the National Florence Nightingale Awards on International Nurses Day (12 May).
• Instituted in 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to honour outstanding nursing services.
• Florence Nightingale was a British social reformer and statistician.
• She established the first scientifically based nursing school at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London.
• Widely regarded as the founder of modern nursing.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV

• Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched PMGSY-IV from Sehore, marking 25 years of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (2000).
• Announced in Budget 2024–25, PMGSY-IV will run from FY 2024–25 to 2028–29 and focus on durable, green, and technology-driven rural road infrastructure.

Hasdeo-Arand Forest

• Hasdeo-Arand Forest, known as the “green lung” of Chhattisgarh, is a biodiversity-rich Sal forest region threatened by coal mining.
• It supports elephants, leopards, sloth bears, tiger corridors, and serves as a crucial catchment for the Hasdeo River and Bango Dam.

India’s First Paperless Judiciary State

• Sikkim became India’s first fully paperless judiciary state by digitising the High Court and all district courts through e-filing, digital records, and virtual hearings.
• In 2022, Kerala became the first state with a paperless High Court.

National Technology Day

• National Technology Day is observed on 11 May to commemorate the Pokhran-II Nuclear Tests (Operation Shakti).
• The 2026 theme is “Responsible Innovation for Inclusive Growth.”
• On 11 May 1998, India conducted three nuclear tests at Pokhran, alongside the first test flight of the indigenous Hansa-3 aircraft and successful testing of the Trishul missile.

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