Daily Current Affairs — 13 May 2026
Daily Current Affairs · 13 May 2026
10 fully-analysed topics · 30 bilingual MCQs · 3 embedded videos · built for UPSC Prelims & Mains
📚 10 Topics
🎯 30 MCQs
🎬 3 Videos
🇮🇳 Hindi + English
🎯 30 MCQs
🎬 3 Videos
🇮🇳 Hindi + English
Economy: 4 · Defence: 3 · Polity: 1
▶ Start Here — UPSC-Standard Quiz
UPSC Current Affairs MCQ — 13 May 2026
10 UPSC-standard bilingual MCQs covering today's top stories · 10-sec timer per question
Score yourself as you go. Get a feel for how UPSC-level questions are framed around the day's news.
📰 Today’s Top 5 Current Affairs
#01
Economy
Economy
Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani Appointed 3rd CDS
📰 Why in News
The Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani as the 3 rd Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) , succeeding General Anil Chauhan on 31 st May 2026.
✅ Quick Facts
- Chief of Defence Staff: The CDS is the highest-ranking military officer in the Indian Armed Forces
- The office was established following decades of recommendations from the Kargil Review Committee (1999) and the Shekatkar Committee (2016) to address…
- The position is not a constitutional office ; it was created through a Cabinet decision and sits 12 th in the Indian Order of Precedence .
- Administrative Leadership: The CDS heads the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) within the Ministry of Defence and functions as its Secretary .
- Dual Advisory Roles: The officer acts as the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister on all tri-service matters and the Military Advisor…
- Permanent Chairman of COSC: Unlike the previous rotating system
- Fiscal and Strategic Oversight: The CDS is a member of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and is responsible for implementing the Five-Year…
- Mandate for "Jointness": A primary responsibility is to foster jointness in operations
#02
Defence
Defence
New Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
📰 Why in News
Recently, the central government appointed the former head of eastern command Lt General Anil Chauhan (retired) as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
✅ Quick Facts
- Background: Its creation was recommended in 2001 by a Group of Ministers (GoM) that was tasked with studying the Kargil Review Committee (1999) report
- In 2012, the Naresh Chandra Committee recommended the appointment of a Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee as a midway to eliminate…
- Finally, the post of CDS was created in 2019 on the recommendations of a committee of defence experts headed by Lt General DB Shekatkar
- Roles and Responsibilities: His core function will be to foster greater operational synergy between the three service branches of the Indian military…
- The CDS will be the single-point military adviser to the Defence Minister on matters involving all three services and the service chiefs will be…
- As the head of DMA, CDS is vested with the authority in prioritising inter-service procurement decisions as Permanent Chairman-Chiefs of Staff…
- The CDS is also vested with the authority to provide directives to the three chiefs
- CDS is first among equals, he enjoys the rank of Secretary within the DoD (Department of Defence) and his powers will be confined to only the revenue…
- He will also perform an advisory role in the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) .
- Synergy between Armed forces and Government: CDS' role is not simply about tri-service (Army
#03
Defence
Defence
Defence Acquisition Council
📰 Why in News
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 70,500 crore for the Armed…
✅ Quick Facts
- Indian Navy: Out of the total proposals, Indian Navy proposals constitute more than Rs 56,000 crore, which largely includes indigenous BrahMos cruise…
- Long Range Stand-Off Weapon for the Indian Air Force gets a nod, which is to be integrated on SU-30 MKI aircraft.
- Also, 155mm/52 Caliber Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), along with High Mobility & Gun Towing Vehicles will be procured for the Indian…
- Hindustan Aeronautics is a big beneficiary of this announcement by DAC, as it shall supply Advance Light Helicopters MK-III to the Indian Coast Guard
- Under the Make-I category, the Medium Speed Marine Diesel Engine will be manufactured indigenously.
- The DAC is the highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry for deciding on new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services (Army
- The Minister of Defence is the Chairman of the Council.
- It was formed, after the Group of Ministers recommendations on 'Reforming the National Security System', in 2001, post Kargil War (1999).
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
Indian ArmyIndian NavyIndian Air Force
#04
Defence
Defence
Integration Among Defence Forces
📰 Why in News
Recently, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) highlighted that nine verticals have been identified for integration among three defense services which…
✅ Quick Facts
- Security Challenges & their Management in Border Areas
- The process of 'theatrisation', part of a reorganization effort undertaken by the armed forces, which will be fulfilled through integration of the…
- Integration of three defense services in India involves establishment of Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs)
- Integrated Theatre Command: An integrated theatre command envisages a unified command of the three Services
- The commander of such a force will be able to bear all resources at his disposal from the Army
- The integrated theatre commander will not be answerable to individual Services.
- Integration and jointness of the three forces will avoid duplication of resources
- The services will get to know one another better, strengthening cohesion in the defense establishment.
- The Shekatkar committee has recommended the creation of 3 integrated theatre commands northern for the China border
- There is one joint command in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
ISROLok SabhaMinistry of Home AffairsIndian Air Force
#05
Economy
Economy
Government Revises SOP for FDI Approvals
📰 Why in News
Recently, the Ministry of Commerce issued a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for processing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) applications to improve transparency and efficiency.
✅ Quick Facts
- Processing Timeline: The updated SOP fixes a maximum processing timeline of 12 weeks for FDI applications
- Digital Process: All FDI proposals must now be filed through the Foreign Investment Facilitation (FIF) Portal or National Single Window System (NSWS)
- Institutional Role: DPIIT will identify the concerned ministry within two days and circulate proposals to agencies such as Reserve Bank of India…
- Security Scrutiny: Investments in sensitive sectors like defence
- Large Investments: FDI proposals involving equity investment above ₹5,000 crore will require approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs…
- Land Border Countries: Investments from India's land-border countries
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
RBIMinistry of Home AffairsMinistry of External AffairsDPIITReserve Bank
📚 📜 Core Subject Drill — Indian History
📜 Indian History MCQ Quiz · भारतीय इतिहास
10 bilingual MCQs · Indian History · Members Only on YouTube
Today's rotation: Indian History. Take this break between news topics to sharpen the core concept.
📖 More Current Affairs Coverage
#06
Economy
Economy
Foreign Direct Investment
📰 Why in News
India received the highest annual FDI inflows of USD 84,835 million in FY 21-22, overtaking last year's FDI by USD 2.87 billion.
✅ Quick Facts
- In 2021, FDI inflows increased from USD 74,391 million in FY 19-20 to USD 81,973 million in FY 20-21.
- UNCTAD World Investment Report (WIR) 2022 has ranked India at 7 th rank among the top 20 host economies for 2021, in terms of FDI.
- India's Statistics: India received the highest annual FDI inflows of USD 84,835 million in FY 21-22, overtaking last year's FDI by USD 2.87 billion
- About: A Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is an investment made by a firm or individual in one country into business interests located in another…
- Some common ones include establishing a subsidiary in another country
- FPI does not provide the investor with control over the business.
- Equity capital: It is the foreign direct investor's purchase of shares of an enterprise in a country other than its own.
- It comprises the direct investors' share of earnings not distributed as dividends by affiliates, or earnings not remitted to the direct investor
- These refer to short- or long-term borrowing and lending of funds between direct investors (or enterprises) and affiliate enterprises.
- Automatic Route: In this, the foreign entity does not require the prior approval of the government or the RBI (Reserve Bank of India).
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- increased from USD 74,391 million in FY 19-20 to USD 81,973 million in FY 20-21. UNCTAD
- in FY 19-20 to USD 81,973 million in FY 20-21. UNCTAD World Investment Report (WIR) 2022
- increased from USD 74,391 million in FY 19-20 to USD 81,973 million in FY 20-21. Top 5
- in FY 19-20 to USD 81,973 million in FY 20-21. Top 5 FDI Sourcing Nation: Singapore
- Top 5 FDI Sourcing Nation: Singapore: 27.01% USA : 17.94% Mauritius: 15.98% Netherland
- Sourcing Nation: Singapore: 27.01% USA : 17.94% Mauritius: 15.98% Netherland: 7.86%
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
RBIMinistry of Home AffairsDPIITReserve Bank
#07
Economy
Economy
DIPP Renamed as DPIIT
📰 Why in News
The government has notified changing the name of the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) to th e Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
✅ Quick Facts
- The renamed body will also be in charge of four new categories of responsibilities: the promotion of internal trade (including retail trade),
- matters relating to facilitating Ease of Doing Business,
- CAIT is the non-governmental apex body of trading community of India at National Level.
- It is headquartered at Vyapar Bhawan in New Delhi.
#08
Polity
Polity
Appointment to Cabinet Committees
📰 Why in News
Recently, the Union government constituted eight Cabinet committees , with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) getting three new faces…
✅ Quick Facts
- In another development Lok Sabha Speaker has amended the oath-taking rules for Members of Parliament
- About: A Cabinet Committee is a subset of the Union Cabinet, consisting of selected Union Ministers.
- These committees are established to streamline decision-making by dividing responsibilities among different groups
- They provide detailed consideration and ensure efficient handling of complex issues , which are then presented to the full Cabinet for final approval.
- They are based on the principles of division of labour and effective delegation.
- Ad hoc (Temporary nature to deal with special problems)
- The executive in India works under the Government of India Transaction of Business Rules, 1961
- They are set up by the Prime Minister according to the exigencies of the time and requirements of the situation.
- Their membership varies from three to eight. They usually include only Cabinet Ministers. However
- Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (referred as Super-Cabinet)
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
ParliamentLok SabhaUnion CabinetPrime Minister
🎯 UPSC Relevance
Long-Term Goals : Mandate committees to develop long-term strategic plans alongside short-term action items.
🗞️ Wrap Up — Simple CA Quiz
Simple Current Affairs MCQ — 13 May 2026
10 accessible MCQs covering the same topics · great for quick revision
End your study session with these simpler MCQs to lock in recall of today's current affairs.
