14th JULY CURRENT AFFAIRS

1Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, on [upload error]July 14, 2026, Flagged-off the 13-day ‘Shaurya Vijay Yatra’,

As part of the nationwide observance of Kargil Vijay Diwas 2026, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, on July 14, 2026, flagged-off the 13-day ‘Shaurya Vijay Yatra’, a commemorative motorcycle expedition, from the National War Memorial, New Delhi to the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Ladakh.

The expedition will witness 28 riders, including serving & retired defence forces personnel, and their family members, cover 1,900 kilometers while traversing through the demanding terrain of the northern Himalayas to honour the courage, resolve & supreme sacrifice of the Indian bravehearts who ensured victory in the 1999 Kargil War. The motto of the expedition is ‘One Ride, One Nation, One Salute’.

Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed every year on 26 July, commemorates India’s decisive victory in the 1999 Kargil War against Pakistan.

The day is a tribute to the 527 brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives to reclaim strategic peaks in the Kargil region of Jammu & Kashmir during Operation Vijay.

Kargil Vijay Diwas 2026 honours their extraordinary courage and serves as a reminder of the importance of national unity and defence preparedness.

2Supreme Court Stays Tamil Nadu Cow Slaughter Ban

The Supreme Court stayed the Madras High Court's order directing a statewide ban on cow and calf slaughter in Tamil Nadu, while hearing the State government's appeal.

Supreme Court issued interim stay Order challenged by Tamil Nadu Government Concerned Madras High Court order

The Supreme Court observed that the operative portion of the Madras High Court's order required reconsideration and stayed its implementation until further hearing.

The case concerns the interpretation of the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958, and the balance between statutory provisions and judicial directions.

The Madras High Court Order (May 27, 2026):

A division bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and V. Lakshminarayanan ruled that cow or calf slaughter was prohibited across the state, citing Article 48 of the Constitution and a 1976 Government Order.

Article 48 of the Constitution - The State shallprohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle.

The decision was delivered during a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that initially aimed only to stop public animal slaughter during Bakrid.

The Tamil Nadu Government's Challenge: The state government filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court, arguing that the High Court committed "judicial legislation" and went way beyond the scope of the original PIL.

The 1958 Act: The state highlighted that an absolute ban directly contradicts the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958.

This statutory law legally regulates rather than prohibits slaughter, allowing it for cattle over 10 years of age if certified unfit for breeding or work by a competent authority

the Supreme Court added a condition that no animal shall be slaughtered anywhere other than authorized, licensed slaughterhouses.

3SC-JUDICARE

SC-JUDICARE, launched under CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, uses AI to automatically classify pending cases and group matters involving similar legal questions for joint hearing, saving court time.

The backlog clearance targets a massive pending docket of over 96,000 cases—comprising roughly 74,000 civil and 21,000 criminal matters.

Civil Benches: Headed by Justices P.K. Mishra and S.V.N. Bhatti.

Criminal Benches: Headed by Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan.Schedule: These benches meet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, allowing uninterrupted hearing of regular matters.

43,600-Year-Old Human Burial Sites Discovered in Salem

Telunganoor is located along the banks of the Cauvery River near Mettur in Salem district. Until 1990, this area was a dense forest

subsequently, the forest cover diminished, and human settlements emerged.

When the water level of the Mettur Dam recedes, numerous burial sites become visible in the area. There is a significant number of stone circles surrounding Telunganoor.

Local residents refer to these stone circles as "Pandiyan Thittugal" (Pandya Mounds).

Archaeological surveys in the region have yielded swords, arrows, Mudhumakkal Thazhi (ancient burial urns), various-sized pottery, and tools.

Following a preliminary field survey and a detailed report submitted by the Archaeology Department, a formal excavation is being conducted with the approval of the Tamil Nadu government.

Excavations carried out along the Cauvery riverbanks at Telunganoor and Mangadu have uncovered human burial sites dating back approximately 3,600 years.

The excavation unearthed intact human skeletons alongside associated grave goods, including defensive swords made of high-carbon steel, burial urns, limestone beads, earthenware pots, and other funerary objects.

Archaeologists have stated that the analysis of these recovered artifacts confirms that both Neolithic and Iron Age people inhabited the region and provides insight into the items they used.