The Centre has not decided whether to update the National Population Register (NPR) during the upcoming Census 2027, senior Home Ministry officials informed Census directors at a preparatory meeting. The NPR, first created in 2010 and updated in 2015-16, is considered the initial step towards creating a National Register of Citizens (NRC) under the Citizenship Rules, 2003. Unlike Census data, which is shared in aggregate format, NPR data contains household-wise details of 119 crore usual residents and can be shared with Central and State governments and agencies. The 2027 Census will be the first to use mobile apps for data collection.
The Union government has not yet decided on updating the National Population Register (NPR) alongside the upcoming Census 2027.
The NPR is considered the first step towards establishing a National Register of Citizens (NRC) under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
NPR data, unlike Census data, includes specific individual and household details and can be shared with government agencies.
Exam Points
The NPR was first created in 2010 and updated in 2015-16.
The upcoming Census is scheduled for 2027.
The NPR is linked to the Citizenship Rules, 2003, under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
The 17th BRICS Summit, which included newly inducted members like Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, Iran, and Indonesia, demonstrated the group's cohesion despite internal rivalries and external pressures. The Rio declaration addressed critical geopolitical issues, including attacks on Gaza and Iran, terror financing, cross-border terrorism, and U.S. tariffs. India played a significant role in shaping the joint statement, ensuring condemnation of terror attacks like Pahalgam. As India prepares to lead the BRICS grouping next year, which represents about half the global population, 40% of global GDP, and a quarter of global trade, it aims to fulfill the vision of "Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability."
The 17th BRICS Summit, with new members, demonstrated cohesion among its members despite global challenges and internal differences.
The Rio declaration addressed critical geopolitical issues, including conflicts in Gaza and Iran, terror financing, and U.S. tariffs.
India played a significant role in shaping the joint statement, ensuring condemnation of terror attacks like Pahalgam.
Exam Points
The 17th BRICS Summit included newly inducted members: Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, Iran, and Indonesia.
India will assume leadership of the BRICS grouping next year.
BRICS represents about half the global population, 40% of global GDP, and a quarter of global trade.
The article highlights the alarming pattern of custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu, citing recent cases like Ajith Kumar, Vignesh, and Raja, whose autopsies revealed severe injuries. It argues that these are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a system that normalizes force over fairness, failing both citizens and the police force due to underinvestment in reform. The author advocates for a reallocation of policing budgets towards mental health support, mandatory counselling, and updated training focusing on ethics, human rights, and trauma-informed investigation. It also calls for legislative clarity, an anti-custodial violence law, mandatory video documentation, and real-time CCTV audits to ensure accountability and transparency.
Custodial deaths in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, reveal a systemic issue of normalized force and lack of accountability within the police.
The current policing budget disproportionately funds hardware over essential human elements like mental health support and ethical training for officers.
Comprehensive criminal justice reform is needed, including legislative clarity, an anti-custodial violence law, and mandatory video documentation of interrogations.
Exam Points
The article mentions specific cases of custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu: Ajith Kumar, Vignesh (2022), Raja (2024).
It suggests redirecting even 5% of the annual policing budget towards mental health units and sensitisation courses.
The author, Apsara Reddy, is the official spokesperson for AIADMK.
Delhi's policy to ban refuelling for petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years, effective July 1, 2025, aims to curb air pollution. However, the policy is imprecise as vehicle age is a poor proxy for actual emissions without fitness checks. Implementation faces challenges with ANPR systems, staff training, and drivers bypassing the ban. Analysis shows only 8% of Delhi's vehicle fleet (7.5 lakh vehicles) is covered, potentially reducing PM2.5 emissions by only 8%. The article suggests learning from cities like Beijing and Tokyo, advocating for scrappage incentives, retrofits, annual conditional renewals, public engagement, and regional enforcement to achieve cleaner air.
Delhi's policy banning refuelling for older vehicles is a simple approach to air pollution but lacks precision as age is an imperfect proxy for emissions.
Implementation challenges include inaccurate ANPR systems, untrained staff, and drivers circumventing the ban.
The policy is projected to cover only 8% of Delhi's vehicle fleet and reduce PM2.5 emissions by approximately 8% if fully enforced.
Exam Points
Delhi's refuelling ban is effective from July 1, 2025.
It targets petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years.
The policy is estimated to cover about 7.5 lakh vehicles (8% of Delhi's fleet).
India played a key role in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) report, "Comprehensive Update on Terrorist Financing Risks," which for the first time recognized state sponsorship as a means of funding terrorism. This reinforces India's long-held position, particularly regarding Pakistan, identified as a source of terror financing since 2022. The report highlights that governments can provide financial, logistical, and training support to terrorist organizations, posing a threat to international peace. The findings are expected to influence National Risk Assessments (NRAs) of other countries, with the U.S. already noting terror threats from Pakistan. This will increase scrutiny and cost of doing business for Pakistani entities.
India was a key contributor to the FATF report that, for the first time, explicitly recognized state sponsorship as a method of terrorist financing.
This FATF finding significantly strengthens India's stance against Pakistan, which India has identified as a source of terror financing since 2022.
The report details various forms of government support for terrorist activities, including direct financial aid, logistical assistance, and training.
Exam Points
The report is titled "Comprehensive Update on Terrorist Financing Risks".
The United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and France were co-leads for the project.
India identified Pakistan as a source of terror financing risk in its 2022 money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessment.
Amidst controversy over valid documents for voter registration in Bihar, the Election Commission's March 2023 manual empowers Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to decide on voter inclusion or exclusion even in the absence of required documents. EROs can base their decisions on field verification, reports from Booth-Level Officers (BLOs), and testimonials from village heads or families. Proof of age can include an oath from parents or a 'Sarpanch', or even a visible examination by the BLO. Opposition parties, however, warn that EROs, being state government functionaries, could be influenced by the ruling party, potentially leading to biased decisions.
Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are empowered by the EC manual to decide on voter inclusion even without complete documentation.
EROs can rely on field verification, BLO reports, and testimonials from local authorities or family members for proof of age and residence.
The discretion granted to EROs is a point of concern for opposition parties, who fear potential political influence on their decisions.
Exam Points
The EC manual on electoral rolls was issued in March 2023.
EROs are appointed under Section 13B of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
The controversy is specifically highlighted in Bihar regarding the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Indian Navy has inducted INS Nistar, its first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), from Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. (HSL) in Visakhapatnam. This warship, measuring 118 meters and weighing nearly 10,000 tonnes, is equipped with advanced diving equipment capable of deep-sea saturation diving up to 300 meters. With nearly 75% indigenous content, the induction of INS Nistar marks a significant milestone in the Indian Navy's ongoing efforts towards indigenous construction and self-reliance in defense capabilities.
The Indian Navy has inducted INS Nistar, its first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV).
The ship was constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. (HSL) in Visakhapatnam.
INS Nistar is equipped for deep-sea saturation diving up to 300 meters, enhancing the Navy's underwater capabilities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Namibia, emphasized India's commitment to cooperating with Africa for shared growth rather than competition. He highlighted India's historical support for Namibia's decolonization and congratulated the nation for adopting India's UPI digital payment system. Modi met with Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, signing agreements for an Entrepreneurship Development Centre and cooperation in health and medicine. Namibia also joined the India-led Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the Global Biofuel Alliance. Modi was conferred Namibia's highest civilian honor, the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis, underscoring strong bilateral ties.
PM Modi advocated for India-Africa cooperation based on shared growth and mutual benefit, rather than competition.
Namibia adopted India's UPI digital payment system, marking a significant step in digital cooperation.
Several agreements were signed, including establishing an Entrepreneurship Development Centre and cooperation in health and medicine.
Exam Points
PM Modi visited Namibia.
Namibia adopted India's UPI digital payment system.
Namibia joined the Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the Global Biofuel Alliance.
Catastrophe bonds (cat bonds) are hybrid insurance-cum-debt financial products that transfer hazard risk from at-risk states to global financial markets through securitization. This mechanism provides a larger pool of funds for post-disaster relief and reconstruction, offering quicker payouts and reduced counter-party risk. Governments sponsor these bonds, paying premiums, with the principal at risk for investors if a disaster occurs. While profitable for investors seeking diversification, India could benefit from sponsoring a South Asian cat bond to ring-fence public finances against increasing extreme weather events. However, defectively designed cat bonds might not pay out despite significant disasters, emphasizing the need for transparent government procedures.
Catastrophe bonds (cat bonds) are financial instruments that convert insurance risk into tradable securities, transferring disaster risk to global financial markets.
They offer a mechanism for quicker payouts and reduced counter-party risk for post-disaster relief and reconstruction.
Governments act as sponsors, paying premiums, while investors risk their principal if a specified disaster occurs, making them attractive for diversification.
Exam Points
Cat bonds are a hybrid insurance-cum-debt financial product.
Nobel Prize-winner Harry Markowitz famously stated that "risk diversification is truly the only free lunch in finance".
Globally, there have been $180 billion worth of new cat bond issuances, with about $50 billion currently outstanding.
Himachal Pradesh made a remarkable leap from 21st to the top five in the National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2025 results, signaling a reversal of decline in its public education system. The NAS, conducted every three years by the Ministry of Education, assesses learning outcomes in core subjects. Himachal's success is attributed to the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government's reforms, including merging under-enrolled schools for better resource deployment, unifying the education system under a single directorate, and encouraging school-level decision-making. While NAS provides an important signal, it doesn't fully capture socio-emotional well-being or teaching quality, underscoring the need for holistic assessments and continued commitment to teacher appointments and inclusive education.
Himachal Pradesh significantly improved its ranking in the National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2025, moving from 21st to the top five.
The NAS is a nationwide assessment by the Ministry of Education measuring learning outcomes in government and government-aided schools.
Key reforms contributing to Himachal's success include school mergers, unified education directorate, and promotion of school-level decision-making and peer learning.
Exam Points
Himachal Pradesh moved from 21st (2021) to top five (2025) in NAS.
The NAS is conducted every three years by the Ministry of Education.
The reforms were implemented by the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government.
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