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Netherlands returns Chola-era copper plates to India during PM Modi’s visit
The Netherlands has repatriated the 11th-century Anaimangalam copper plates, a crucial record of the Chola dynasty, to India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. These plates, dating back to the reign of Rajaraja I, document land grants to a Buddhist monastery in Nagapattinam, highlighting religious tolerance and international relations in medieval India.
Must ReadCensus 2027: Field visits for house-listing, household data collection begin in Jharkhand
The first phase of the decadal Census, focusing on house-listing and housing data collection, has commenced in Jharkhand, signaling the beginning of the delayed population enumeration exercise across India. This initial phase, running until June 2026, will gather granular data on housing conditions and amenities, preceding the actual population enumeration scheduled for early 2027.
Must ReadIndia's April exports jump 13.8%, trade gap widens to 3-month high
India’s exports surged by 13.8% in April, reaching the fastest pace of growth in five months, even as the **trade deficit** widened to a three-month high of $28.38 billion due to a 10% rise in imports. A notable decline was seen in both exports and imports with West Asia, primarily attributed to ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting crucial maritime routes like the [Strait of Hormuz].
Read on Economic TimesDive Into Study Notes![Illustration about History & Culture: The [Madhya Pradesh High Court] has delivered a significant verdict regarding the disputed [Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fprepdose-article-images%2Fdaily-read%2F2026-05-16%2Fbhojshala-case-what-did-the-high-court-decide-d505a1fe.png&w=1200&q=75)
Must ReadBhojshala Case: What did the High Court decide?
The [Madhya Pradesh High Court] has delivered a significant verdict regarding the disputed [Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque] complex in Dhar. The court declared the site a Hindu temple, granting full worship rights to the community, effectively altering the previous arrangement where both Hindus and Muslims had designated access.
Read on The HinduDive Into Study Notes![Illustration about International Relations: A meeting of [BRICS] Foreign Ministers was held in Delhi, chaired by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fprepdose-article-images%2Fdaily-read%2F2026-05-16%2Fbrics-is-evolving-with-new-members-differences-will-take-time-to-resolve-brazil-fm-mauro-vieira-3f61c98a.png&w=1200&q=75)
ImportantBRICS is evolving with new members; differences will take time to resolve: Brazil FM Mauro Vieira
A meeting of [BRICS] Foreign Ministers was held in Delhi, chaired by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
Read on The HinduDive Into Study Notes
Must ReadTrade, supply chains and economic statecraft
This editorial analyzes the changing nature of 21st-century geopolitics, where economic tools like supply chains, trade routes, and technology have become strategic weapons, blurring the lines between economics and national security. It argues that this shift presents a historic opportunity for India to position itself as a central, reliable node in a diversified global economy, provided it can balance integration with strategic autonomy.
Read on The HinduDive Into Study Notes![Illustration about Economy: This editorial argues that India's goal of becoming a developed nation ([Viksit Bharat]) by 2047 requires a significant](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fprepdose-article-images%2Fdaily-read%2F2026-05-16%2Fproductivity-not-just-growth-for-viksit-bharat-02913a8b.png&w=1200&q=75)
ImportantProductivity, not just growth, for Viksit Bharat
This editorial argues that India's goal of becoming a developed nation ([Viksit Bharat]) by 2047 requires a significant increase in productivity, particularly within the manufacturing sector. The author highlights the structural problem of 'zombie firms'—inefficient businesses that survive on debt rather than economic viability—which prevent the efficient allocation of resources and hinder the growth of a robust, medium-to-large scale manufacturing base.
Read on The HinduDive Into Study Notes![Illustration about Polity & Governance: The [Supreme Court of India], during hearings related to the Sabarimala case, revisited a 1995 judgment that controversi](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fprepdose-article-images%2Fdaily-read%2F2026-05-16%2Fas-supreme-court-cites-hinduism-as-way-of-life-recalling-30-year-old-ruling-that-coined-the-phrase-af49ea83.png&w=1200&q=75)
Must ReadAs Supreme Court cites ‘Hinduism as way of life’, recalling 30-year-old ruling that coined the phrase
The [Supreme Court of India], during hearings related to the Sabarimala case, revisited a 1995 judgment that controversially described Hinduism and Hindutva as a 'way of life'. This phrase originated in a ruling involving [Ramesh Yeshwant Prabhoo] and [Bal Thackeray], where the court condemned election speeches seeking votes in the name of religion as 'corrupt practices' under the [Representation of the People Act, 1951].
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