The Bihar Cabinet has made domicile mandatory for women to avail the 35% reservation in State government jobs. This decision, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, reverses the previous policy where women from outside Bihar could also benefit. Now, only women belonging to Bihar will be eligible for the quota, while others will be treated as general category candidates. The Cabinet also approved the constitution of the "Bihar Youth Commission" to foster self-reliance, skills, and employment among the state's youth, aiming to improve their status and coordinate better education and job opportunities.
Bihar Cabinet has mandated domicile for women to access the 35% reservation in State government jobs.
The new policy restricts the reservation benefit exclusively to women belonging to Bihar, treating women from other states as general category candidates.
The decision was made at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Exam Points
Bihar Cabinet mandated domicile for 35% reservation for women in State government jobs.
The policy was introduced in 2016, allowing women from outside Bihar to benefit.
The "Bihar Youth Commission" was approved to make youth self-reliant and employment-oriented.
The Union Cabinet approved a ₹1-lakh crore Research Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme to boost private sector investment in basic research. A special purpose fund within the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) will provide low-interest loans, with ANRF expected to source 70% of its budget from private sources. However, the scheme is criticized for its conservatism, as it only funds Technology Readiness Level-4 (TRL-4) projects, neglecting basic research (TRL-1). The article argues that advanced countries developed due to military-industrial complexes supporting risky R&D, and highlights India's brain drain and lack of a skilled manufacturing sector as persistent issues.
The Union Cabinet approved a ₹1-lakh crore RDI scheme to incentivize private sector investment in basic research.
The scheme will operate through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), which will provide low-interest loans and is expected to get 70% of its budget from private sources.
A major criticism is the scheme's focus on Technology Readiness Level-4 (TRL-4) projects, which are already halfway developed, rather than supporting fundamental research.
Exam Points
Union Cabinet approved ₹1-lakh crore Research Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme.
The scheme will be managed by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
The scheme is criticized for only funding Technology Readiness Level-4 (TRL-4) projects.
The Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar is raising significant concerns. While presented as a routine update, it mandates new documentary proof for nearly 60% of the electorate, including birth certificates and land deeds, which are difficult to obtain. Critics argue this process risks disenfranchising millions, particularly the poor, Muslims, and migrant workers, and is akin to a de facto National Register of Citizens (NRC) without legislative backing. The ECI's refusal to accept its own voter ID cards as proof of eligibility further erodes institutional credibility, and the process is being challenged in the Supreme Court for violating fundamental rights.
The ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar requires new documentary proof for a large portion of the electorate, including birth certificates and land deeds.
This process is criticized for potentially disenfranchising millions, especially marginalized communities like the poor, Muslims, and migrant workers.
The ECI's own voter ID cards are not accepted as sufficient proof of eligibility, raising questions about institutional credibility.
Exam Points
Nearly 4.74 crore voters (60% of Bihar's electorate) are required to prove eligibility.
The SIR guidelines require documents like birth certificates, school-leaving documents, and land deeds.
The process is being challenged in the Supreme Court.
Bihar's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, termed 'votebandi', is a complete reconstruction requiring extensive document submission from 50 million voters. This process is compared to demonetisation and Assam's NRC, raising fears of mass disenfranchisement. The ECI demands documents like birth certificates and land records, rejecting common IDs like Aadhaar and voter cards. High out-migration from Bihar further complicates matters for migrants proving residency. Critics warn this could create a permanent category of "second-grade" citizens and fundamentally disrupt India's electoral democracy. The ECI's plan to replicate this template in other states like Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal raises national concerns.
Bihar's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a complete reconstruction of electoral rolls, termed 'votebandi', subjecting 50 million voters to a harsh eligibility test.
The ECI demands specific documents like birth certificates and land records, while rejecting commonly available IDs such as Aadhaar and existing voter cards.
The process disproportionately affects migrant workers and marginalized communities, who struggle to provide the required documents or prove 'ordinary residence'.
Exam Points
The SIR in Bihar was launched on June 24, 2025, after a gap of over 20 years.
An estimated 50 million voters of Bihar are subject to the eligibility test.
The ECI demands 11 specific enabling documents as proof of electoral eligibility.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar by the Election Commission of India (ECI) faces legal challenges, with allegations of disenfranchisement. While Article 326 of the Constitution outlines adult suffrage based on citizenship and age, and the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950, specifies registration conditions, the SIR is deemed non-compliant. The ECI's chosen qualifying date (July 1, 2025) lacks legal sanction, as per RPA, it should be January 1, 2025. Furthermore, a special intensive revision for an entire state is not permitted, only for a constituency or part. The Supreme Court has clarified that ECI's "reservoir of power" under Article 324 is not unfettered and must conform to existing laws and natural justice, meaning electoral officers cannot summarily reject applications based on document deficiencies.
The ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar is legally challenged for not conforming to the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950.
The qualifying date of July 1, 2025, specified by the ECI for the revision, lacks legal sanction, as the RPA mandates January 1, 2025.
The ECI's power to order a special intensive revision is limited to a constituency or part thereof, not an entire state.
Exam Points
Article 326 of the Constitution deals with adult suffrage.
The Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950, lays down disqualifications and conditions for elector registration (Sections 19, 20, 21).
Article 324 of the Constitution empowers the ECI for electoral tasks.
Andhra Pradesh's ₹81,900 crore Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project, aiming to transfer Godavari water to Rayalaseema, is in limbo due to multiple challenges. Telangana alleges it violates the A.P. State Reorganisation Act, 2014. An expert committee denied clearance, citing the need to examine the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal award and consult the CWC. The project is energy-intensive, requiring 3,377 MW, and has a significant environmental footprint, including a 19.5-km tunnel through the Nallamala forest. Its hybrid annuity funding model places clearance responsibility on contractors, and the assumption of surplus Godavari floodwaters remains unverified, raising legal and financial uncertainties.
The Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project, costing ₹81,900 crore, aims to transfer Godavari river water to the drought-prone Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh.
Telangana opposes the project, arguing it violates the A.P. State Reorganisation Act, 2014, and an expert committee denied initial clearance.
The project is highly energy-intensive, requiring 3,377 MW of power, and poses significant environmental concerns, including cutting through the Nallamala forest.
Exam Points
The Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project is an ₹81,900 crore project in Andhra Pradesh.
It aims to transfer water from the Godavari river to Rayalaseema.
Telangana cites the A.P. State Reorganisation Act, 2014, in its objections.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) report, 'Comprehensive Update on Terrorist Financing Risks', highlights that accused in two recent terror attacks in India utilized online payment services, e-commerce platforms, and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). In the 2022 Gorakhnath Temple attack, a lone actor transferred ₹6,69,841 via PayPal for ISIL support and used VPNs for detection evasion. For the 2019 Pulwama attack, materials like aluminium powder for the IED were procured through Amazon. The report notes terrorists exploit e-commerce platforms as multiple buyers/sellers and use trade-based money laundering techniques like over/under invoicing to transfer value.
The FATF report indicates that terrorists in India are exploiting online payment services, e-commerce platforms, and VPNs for financing and operational activities.
In the Gorakhnath Temple attack (2022), an individual used PayPal to transfer funds for ISIL support and VPNs to evade detection.
Materials for the Pulwama attack (2019), specifically aluminium powder for the IED, were procured via Amazon.
Exam Points
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published the report 'Comprehensive Update on Terrorist Financing Risks'.
A lone actor in the April 3, 2022 Gorakhnath Temple attack used PayPal to transfer ₹6,69,841.
Materials for the February 2019 Pulwama attack were procured via Amazon.
The Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development Rashtriya Sarvekshan (PARAKH RS), formerly National Achievement Survey (NAS), revealed significant learning deficits across India. Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Chandigarh are top performers. The survey assessed over 21 million children in Grades 3, 6, and 9 in subjects like language, mathematics, science, and social science. Key findings include low performance in mathematics for Kendriya Vidyalayas in Class 3 and government-aided schools in Class 6. Overall, only 55% of Class 3 students could arrange numbers, 38% of Class 6 students could solve puzzles, and 45% of Class 9 students could explain the Constitution, highlighting widespread conceptual gaps.
The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan (formerly NAS) survey identified significant learning deficits across various grades and subjects in Indian schools.
Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Chandigarh were identified as the top-performing states/UTs in school education.
Specific deficits include only 55% of Class 3 students being able to arrange numbers up to 99, and only 38% of Class 6 students capable of solving puzzles involving whole numbers.
Exam Points
The survey is called Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development Rashtriya Sarvekshan (PARAKH RS).
It was conducted on December 4, 2024, covering 21,15,022 students.
The survey assessed students in Grades 3, 6, and 9.
Global military spending reached $2,718 billion in 2024, a 9.4% increase, the highest since 1988, driven by conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war. NATO's pledge to increase member nations' defence expenditure to 5% of GDP by 2035 is a key driver. The US, China, Russia, Germany, and India are the top five spenders. This increased militarisation is criticized for crowding out domestic health spending, especially in low- and middle-income countries. It also negatively impacts the UN's budget, which is facing cuts due to insufficient funding, partly from US foreign aid reductions. Furthermore, rising military spending hinders progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty eradication, health, and climate change.
Global military spending reached $2,718 billion in 2024, marking a 9.4% increase, the highest since 1988, primarily due to ongoing conflicts.
NATO members have pledged to increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a significant rise from the previous 2% target.
Increased military spending is shown to crowd out domestic health spending, particularly in middle- and low-income countries, and negatively impacts the UN's budget and its ability to fund humanitarian aid.
Exam Points
Global military spending was $2,718 billion in 2024, a 9.4% increase.
NATO pledged to increase military spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.
The top five military spenders are the US ($997B), China ($314B), Russia ($149B), Germany ($88.5B), and India ($86.1B).
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