Daily Morning Brief- (18 May)- Top News from World India Economy and Odisha

National

1. Centre Defends Exclusion of CJI from Election Commissioner Selection Panel

The Centre informed the Supreme Court that including the Chief Justice of India in the Election Commissioner selection panel is not constitutionally required. It defended the present selection committee consisting of the Prime Minister, a Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of Opposition.

2. NCET-UG Paper Leak Row: Rahul Gandhi Demands Dharmendra Pradhan’s Resignation

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in the national exam. He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for remaining silent on the controversy.

3. PM Modi Receives Sweden’s Highest Civilian Honour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Royal Order of the Polar Star, Sweden’s highest civilian honour, during his Stockholm visit. Modi also held bilateral talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on strengthening cooperation in green technology and defence.

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Economy

4. India’s Unemployment Rate Climbs to Six-Month High

India’s unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in April, the highest in the last six months, mainly due to rising rural joblessness. Youth unemployment increased to 15.3%, while the overall labour force participation rate fell to 55%, despite improvement in urban female employment.

5. Foreign Investors Withdraw Over ₹27,000 Crore from Indian Markets

Foreign Portfolio Investors pulled out more than ₹27,000 crore in May, taking total outflows in 2026 beyond ₹2.2 lakh crore. Rising U.S. bond yields, shifts in global AI investments, and geopolitical tensions have added pressure on Indian markets and weakened the Rupee.

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World

6. Drone attack Reported Near UAE Nuclear Power Plant

A suspected drone strike triggered a brief fire in an external generator area outside Abu Dhabi’s Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. UAE authorities said the fire was quickly controlled and confirmed there was no impact on radiological safety or core plant operations.

7. Ukraine Launches 600 plus Drone Attack on Russia; One Indian Killed

Ukraine carried out a large overnight drone strike targeting Moscow and other regions of Russia. Russian air defence systems intercepted hundreds of drones, but civilian infrastructure was damaged, leaving five dead. The Indian Embassy confirmed that one Indian worker was killed and three others were injured.

8. Taliban’s New Child Marriage Law Triggers Global concern.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan enacted a new 31-article family law stating that a post-pubescent “virgin girl’s” silence can be treated as legal consent for marriage. The law grants sweeping powers to male guardians over minors, drawing strong condemnation from global human rights groups.

Odisha 

9. Question over Odisha police's encounter justice system to control law and order.

Odisha DGP Y.B. Khurania warned criminals of strict action and possible encounters, announcing a statewide crackdown that led to 1,700 warrant drives, 50 arrests, NSA cases, and intensified surveillance on offenders. So questions arised by the social workers.

10. Commissionerate police started "Convey Petroling" to control Mob lynching .

Following the brutal Balianta mob lynching, the Commissionerate Police has launched aggressive "Convey Patrolling" in Bhubaneswar. Large police vehicle convoys, backed by checkpoint blocks and potential NSA tracking, are flooding sensitive areas to eliminate vigilante violence and restore public order.