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News 11 of 22

SC Upholds 28% Retrospective GST on Online Gaming, Quad Launches Maritime Initiative, India-Cyprus Elevate to Strategic Partnership

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GABankingPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
01 Jun 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:28% GST₹2.5 lakh crore2026–20315-year roadmapYear 1034
Bodies:Supreme CourtReserve Bank of IndiaElection CommissionQuadBritish MuseumHigh-Level Committee on Demographic ChangesOnline Gaming Authority of IndiaFederation of Western India Cine EmployeesRailway BoardFood and Agriculture Organization
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of a retrospective 28% GST levy on online gaming companies, reviving tax demands of nearly ₹2.5 lakh crore.

2.India and Cyprus elevated bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and unveiled a 5-year defence cooperation roadmap (2026–2031).

3.The Quad Foreign Ministers launched initiatives including the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation Initiative and a Critical Minerals Framework.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

This week's key developments include a landmark Supreme Court judgment on retrospective GST for online gaming, major strategic and defence partnerships with Cyprus and Vietnam, and the launch of new Quad initiatives. These events test core concepts in polity, economy, and international relations, making them high-yield for both Prelims and Mains.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Retrospective GST Rate28%
Tax Demand Revived₹2.5 lakh crore
India-Cyprus Defence Roadmap2026–2031
IDY 2026 Theme"Yoga for Healthy Ageing"

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Retrospective GST Rate: 28%
  • ›Tax Demand Revived: ₹2.5 lakh crore
  • ›Target this Data: 28% GST rate upheld retrospectively for online gaming.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) under MeitY.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Distinction between Parole (sentence suspended) and Furlough (counts as remission).

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Under which ministry does the newly formed Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) function?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements:

1. Under parole, the period of release is treated as remission of the sentence.

2. Furlough is generally seen as a matter of right for a prisoner to maintain social ties.

3. The Supreme Court upheld a 28% retrospective GST levy on online gaming companies in May 2026.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

What is the approximate value of the tax demand revived by the Supreme Court's verdict on retrospective GST for online gaming companies?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What was a key outcome of Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides's State visit to India in May 2026?

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