Sakshi Education

NATIONAL

Justice B.R. Gavai recommended as next Chief Justice of India

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Wednesday recommended Justice B.R. Gavai, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor. Justice Gavai is expected to be sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on May 14.
Justice Khanna was appointed as CJI on November 11, 2024, succeeding former CJI D Y Chandrachud, who retired on November 10. Khanna is due to retire on May 13, having served a tenure of six months. The retirement age of Supreme Court judges is 65 years.
Justice Gavai’s tenure as CJI will span over six months, concluding on November 23.
As per the established practice of the senior-most judge being named as the successor, CJI Khanna wrote to the Central government recommending Justice Gavai’s name.
According to the Memorandum of Procedure, the Centre requests the outgoing CJI to name their successor approximately one month prior to retirement.
Justice Gavai was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 29, 2019. He was first appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003 and became a permanent judge in November 2005.
Before his elevation to the Bench, Justice Gavai practiced Constitutional and Administrative Law. He served as Standing Counsel for the Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation, and Amravati University. He was appointed Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the Bombay High Court (Nagpur Bench) in August 1992, serving until July 1993. He later became Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench on January 17, 2000.
In the Supreme Court, Justice Gavai was part of a 7-judge Constitution Bench that dealt with whether sub-classification within reserved category groups is permissible under the Constitution for more targeted affirmative action.

INTERNATIONAL

India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise DUSTLIK-VI begins in Pune

The 6th edition of the India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK-VI commenced on Wednesday at the Foreign Training Node in Aundh, Pune. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries.
The Indian contingent, comprising 60 personnel, is represented by a battalion of the JAT Regiment along with units from the Indian Air Force. The Uzbekistan side is represented by personnel from the Uzbekistan Army.
DUSTLIK is an annual military training initiative held alternately in India and Uzbekistan. The previous edition took place in the Termez District of Uzbekistan in April 2024.
This year’s exercise focuses on Joint Multi-Domain Sub-Conventional Operations in a semi-urban scenario. It will simulate counter-terrorism missions involving territory capture, establishment of a Joint Operations Centre at the battalion level, population control measures, raids, search-and-destroy operations, and coordinated use of air assets.
The exercise also includes the deployment of drones, counter-UAS systems, logistics support from the Air Force, heliborne operations, and special forces missions. Through the sharing of tactics and techniques, DUSTLIK-VI aims to boost operational synergy, deepen defence cooperation, and strengthen bilateral relations between India and Uzbekistan.

ECONOMY

World Bank’s Banga urges developing nations to lower tariffs, focus on regional trade

World Bank President Ajay Banga urged developing countries to liberalize trade, saying many maintained higher tariffs than advanced economies and lowering them could offset the risk of reciprocal import taxes.
Global uncertainty – triggered in recent months by U.S. tariffs and retaliatory measures announced by China and other countries – was contributing to a more cautious business and economic environment.
He said the impact would vary country by country, but that global growth is expected to slow from the level forecast several months ago.
The global development bank forecast flat global economic growth of 2.7% in 2025 and 2026, the same as in 2024, and warned that developing economies now faced their weakest long-term growth outlook in 25 years.
At the time, it warned that U.S. across-the-board tariffs of 10% could reduce already lackluster global growth in 2025 by 0.3 percentage points if America’s trading partners retaliated with tariffs of their own.
U.S. President Donald Trump has upended the global trading system by imposing a new baseline 10% U.S. tariff on goods from all economies, and higher rates for some countries, although those have been paused for 90 days to allow negotiations.

SPORTS

Mirabai Chanu Appointed Chairperson of IWLF Athletes Commission

Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, India’s celebrated Olympic silver medallist, was appointed as the Chairperson of the Athletes Commission of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF).
A key figure in Indian sports, Chanu pledged to amplify the voices of fellow athletes, ensure their well-being, and help streamline their focus on sporting excellence. Her appointment brings not only a wealth of competitive experience but also a strong advocacy role for athlete welfare and representation in administrative decision-making.

About Mirabai Chanu