News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants
Source: The Hindu , Indian Express and others

NTA announces NEET-UG re-exam on June 21

Medical entrance exam NEET-UG, which was cancelled following allegations of irregularities in the examination process, will be re-conducted on June 21, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced on Friday (May 15, 2026). The exam was earlier conducted on May 3. The NTA had on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) announced the cancellation of NEET-UG and said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged irregularities linked to the exam.

Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex declared as temple by Madhya Pradesh High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday (May 15, 2026) declared that the disputed Bhojshala complex in Dhar is a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, adding that the Muslim community may approach the State government for allotment of separate land in the district for construction of a mosque.

CBI nabs alleged mastermind behind NEET-UG 2026 chemistry paper leak

In a major breakthrough, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Pune-based chemistry lecturer P.V. Kulkarni, accusing him of being the kingpin behind the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. The agency has so far arrested eight accused in the case. According to the agency, investigations revealed that Mr. Kulkarni had access to the question papers as he was allegedly involved in the examination process on behalf of the National Testing Agency (NTA). During the last week of April 2026, he allegedly mobilised students with the help of co-accused Manisha Waghmare, a beauty salon owner who was arrested by the CBI on May 14.

BRICS members agree on ‘independent’ State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as capital

The BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting that concluded on Friday (May 15, 2026), reaffirmed the grouping’s call for the creation of an ‘independent and viable State of Palestine’ within the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. While consensus emerged on the Statehood for Palestine, several other issues saw the members disagreeing among themselves, which prevented the emergence of a Joint Statement, leading instead to the release of a ‘Chair’s Statement and Outcome Document’.

Israel and Lebanon agree to 45-day extension of ceasefire, says U.S.

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of their ceasefire after another round of talks in Washington, the U.S. State Department said Friday (May 15, 2026). It comes after two “productive” days of talks and will be followed by more negotiations June 2-3, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said. A shaky truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon had been due to end on Sunday (May 17, 2026).

PM Modi dismisses reports of government mulling tax on foreign travel

Dismissing news media reports that the government is considering levying taxes on foreign travel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (May 15, 2026) said that there is “no question of putting such restrictions on foreign travel.” The Prime Minister’s response follows a news report that suggested that the government was considering levying a tax or a cess or a surcharge on foreign travel but no final decision had been taken yet. “This is totally false. Not an iota of truth in this. There is no question of putting such restrictions on foreign travel. We remain committed to improving ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and ‘Ease of Living’ for our people,” Mr. Modi said in a post on X.

Election Commission orders probe into voting by foreign nationals in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered a probe into the allegations of foreign nationals casting votes in the recent Assembly election in Tamil Nadu. A report has been sought from the returning officers of at least two cities and five districts across the State on how the foreigners managed to vote despite the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), official sources said on Friday (May 15, 2026). The investigation was launched after many foreign nationals of Indian origin were arrested or detained by law-enforcement agencies in Chennai and Madurai for fraudulently casting votes and immigration officials sent a report to the ECI.

Growing ‘attacks’on the judiciary by ‘parasites’, CJI Surya Kant says

While hearing a lawyer’s plea seeking designation as a senior advocate, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Friday (May 15, 2026) came down heavily on what he described as growing and unwarranted “attacks on the judiciary” by “media, social media, and RTI activists”. “There are parasites in society who attack the system... they don’t get any employment and don’t have any place in the profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, some of them become RTI activists, and they start attacking everyone,” the Chief Justice observed.

Charity Commissioner directs Tata Trusts to defer Saturday’s Board meeting

The Maharashtra Charity Commissioner on Friday (May 15, 2026) directed the Board of Trustees of TATA Trusts to defer the meeting scheduled for Saturday (May 16, 2026). It has further directed the TATA Trusts not to hold any such meeting till the submission of Inspector’s inquiry report. The order followed recent developments in which the office of the Charity Commissioner received an email dated April 18, 2026, sent by Advocate Katyayani Agrawal. She had requested the urgent intervention of the Charity Commissioner for a violation of Section 30A(2) of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, which pertains to the number of perpetual trustees in a public trust.

Israel says carried out Gaza strike targeting head of Hamas armed wing

Israel said on Friday (May 15, 2026) that it carried out a strike in Gaza targeting Ezzedine Al-Haddad, whom it described as the chief of the armed wing of the Palestinian movement Hamas. “Under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, the IDF has carried out a strike in Gaza targeting arch-terrorist Ezzedine Al-Haddad, commander of Hamas’s military wing and one of the principal architects of the October 7 massacre,” a statement issued by the office of the Defence Minister said.

Iran FM says U.S. willing to continue talks, open to China’s help

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday (May 15, 2026) he had “received messages” from the United States saying it is willing to continue talks and that he is open to any support, including from China. “We received messages again from the Americans saying that they are willing to continue the talks and continue the interaction,” Mr. Araghchi told reporters in New Delhi.

Petrol, diesel prices hiked by ₹3 across all variants

In response to price and supply pressures due the West Asia crisis, oil-marketing companies on Friday (May 15, 2026) hiked the prices of petrol and diesel by ₹3 per litre across all variants. That is, the latest price hikes extend to both the regular variants of petrol and diesel alongside the premium and high-octane products.

Rathindra Bose, a Chartered Accountant and BJP north Bengal MLA, elected Speaker of Bengal Assembly

Rathindra Bose, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from the Cooch Behar Dakshin Assembly seat, was on Friday (May 15, 2026) elected as the Speaker of West Bengal Legislative Assembly. Mr. Bose was elected the Speaker of the 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly unanimously through a voice vote. The legislators of Trinamool Congress and other Opposition parties did not oppose his election.

Gautam Adani agrees to $18 million penalty in U.S. bribery case

Billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani has agreed to pay a multi-million-dollar settlement in a U.S. civil court case linked to corruption without admitting guilt, his company said on Friday (May 15, 2026). The November 2024 indictment in New York accused the industrialist and multiple subordinates of deliberately misleading international investors as part of a vast bribery scheme

India can play ‘greater role’ for peace in West Asia, says Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi

India can play a “greater role” for peace in West Asia, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday (May 15, 2026). Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, he said there is no military solution to anything related to Iran. He also said Iran is ready to help pass all vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, adding the situation in Strait of Hormuz is very complicated now.

Rupee hits record low of 96.14/dollar, settles at fresh closing low of 95.86/dollar

The Indian rupee crashed below the 96/USD mark on Friday (May 15, 2026) before closing at an all-time low of 95.86 (provisional) against the U.S. dollar as elevated crude oil prices and inflation concerns added to the downside pressure on the rupee. The currency has registered over 6% losses so far this year, and in the past six trading sessions, it has depreciated nearly 2% as Iran war risk escalation pushed crude oil prices higher. The dollar index moved northwards after strong U.S. retail sales and stable labour market data reduced expectations of aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts.