Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.5% in May as Rural Joblessness Increases
The unemployment rate in India rose to 5.5% in May 2026, according to the latest periodic labour force survey (PLFS) monthly bulletin released on Monday. This compares with 5.6% in the same month last year and a sequential increase from 5.2% in April. The rise was primarily driven by a sharp increase in joblessness in rural areas, where the unemployment rate climbed to 5.1% from 4.6% in April. In contrast, urban areas saw a slight improvement, with the unemployment rate dipping to 6.4% from 6.6% in the previous month.
Among men in rural areas, unemployment rose for the fourth consecutive month to 5.2% in May, up from 4.7% in April. For women in rural areas, the rate increased to 4.7% from 4.4%.
Karnataka High Court Rules on Bank Account Freezes
In a significant ruling, the Karnataka High Court has held that a bank cannot freeze an entire account if there is a direction to freeze only a part of it. Justice Suraj Govindaraj stated that when a freezing direction specifies an amount, the bank must allow the account holder to operate the remaining balance. The court emphasized that banks have no power to suspend all funds in an account under a partial freeze order.
UK to Ban Social Media for Under-16s
Britain is set to ban children under the age of 16 from using a range of social media apps, including Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, in a bid to protect them from harmful content and excessive screen time. The move, announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's aide on Monday, aims to safeguard young users from online risks.
No Bail for Former RCom Director in Loan Case
A Delhi court has taken cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) chargesheet against former Reliance Communications (RCom) director Punit Narendra Garg for alleged diversion and laundering of over Rs 40,000 crore in loan funds through overseas subsidiaries. The court rejected Garg's bail plea. The ED submitted that the proceeds of crime were routed through foreign subsidiaries and offshore entities.
No Anticipatory Bail for Majithia
An Amritsar court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to Shiromani Akali Dal's Bikram Singh Majithia in connection with the Majitha police station confrontation case. Majithia was accused of tearing documents inside the police station and attempting to free his supporter Jobanpreet Singh. The FIR was registered on May 31, leading to continuous raids to arrest him.
