The Supreme Court expressed strong concerns over Governors indefinitely withholding State Bills, potentially rendering State legislatures defunct. Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai questioned if the SC, as the Constitution's custodian, should remain powerless when constitutional functionaries fail to discharge their duties without valid reasons. The Solicitor-General argued that such delays are political matters, not judicial, and the court should avoid encroaching on law-making. However, the CJI referenced the SC's past role in upholding the Basic Structure by setting aside constitutional amendments that limited judicial review, asserting the court's power to intervene in such constitutional impasses.
The Supreme Court questioned the constitutional validity of Governors indefinitely withholding assent to State Bills.
CJI B.R. Gavai highlighted instances like the Tamil Nadu Governor's inaction on crucial State Bills for years.
The Solicitor-General argued that delays in assenting to Bills are political issues to be resolved in the political sphere, not through judicial orders.
Exam Points
Chief Justice of India: B.R. Gavai
Solicitor-General: Tushar Mehta
Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 (42nd Amendment) was referenced for limiting judicial review.
The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Rate Rationalisation has accepted the Centre's proposal for a simplified two-rate Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure, recommending it to the GST Council. The reform aims to reduce the weighted average GST rate from 14.4% to 9.5% by FY26-27. The proposal involves retaining the 5% and 18% slabs while eliminating the 12% and 28% slabs. Most items from the abolished slabs will shift to the 5% or 18% categories. However, 'sin' goods and services like tobacco, cigarettes, and online real-money gaming, previously in the 28% slab, will move to a higher 40% slab, with the existing compensation cess on these items being removed. States have raised concerns about potential revenue loss.
The GoM on Rate Rationalisation has endorsed the Centre's proposal for a two-rate GST structure.
The new structure will retain 5% and 18% slabs, eliminating the 12% and 28% slabs.
'Sin' goods and services will be moved to a higher 40% slab, replacing the existing compensation cess.
Exam Points
Group of Ministers (GoM) on Rate Rationalisation.
Proposed GST slabs: 5%, 18%, and 40% for 'sin' goods.
Projected weighted average GST rate decline from 14.4% (May 2017) to 9.5% (FY26-27).
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has declared the state as India's first fully digitally literate state, marking the successful completion of the first phase of the Digi Kerala project. This grassroots-level intervention aimed to bridge the digital divide across all local bodies. Surveys conducted among 1.5 crore people identified 21.88 lakh digitally illiterate individuals. Of these, 99.98% (21.87 lakh people) successfully completed the training and evaluation. The Chief Minister lauded Kerala's achievement as a model for other states to emulate in fostering digital literacy.
Kerala has been declared India's first fully digitally literate State.
The achievement is attributed to the successful first phase of the Digi Kerala project.
The project is a grassroots-level initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide across local bodies.
Exam Points
Kerala Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
Project name: Digi Kerala project
Number of people identified as digitally illiterate: 21.88 lakh
Health officials in Kozhikode, Kerala, are investigating well water as a potential source of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) cases, in addition to pond water. This suspicion arose after the infection-causing organism, Naegleria fowleri, was detected in a well on the premises of a three-month-old child's house, who is currently in critical condition with PAM. Three other individuals are also undergoing treatment for PAM in Malappuram and Kozhikode, and a nine-year-old had previously died from the infection. While such organisms are common in water bodies, and the strain found in the child differed from the well, the investigation continues to focus on well water until another source is identified.
Kerala health officials are investigating well water as a potential source for Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) cases.
The presence of Naegleria fowleri, the causative organism, was detected in a well linked to a critical PAM patient.
PAM cases have been reported in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, with one fatality already recorded.
The 'Kannapuram model,' a community-based cancer-control initiative from Kannapuram grama panchayat in Kannur district, Kerala, has been recognized for its success in promoting early detection of breast cancer. Developed in collaboration with the Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC), the model focused on sustained awareness campaigns, culturally sensitive communication, and a women volunteers' squad to guide patients through treatment. This led to 96% of women over 30 undergoing breast cancer screening, with a high rate of early-stage cancer detection. The initiative effectively addresses barriers like lack of awareness, fear of diagnosis, and social stigma, which contribute to late-stage presentations and high mortality, especially given the 300-fold increase in breast cancer incidence in Kerala over 25 years.
The 'Kannapuram model' is a successful community-based initiative for breast cancer control in Kerala.
It emphasizes sustained awareness campaigns, culturally sensitive communication, and a women volunteers' squad for patient navigation.
The model achieved a 96% breast cancer screening rate among women over 30 in the panchayat, detecting cancers in early stages.
The article critically examines the erosion of public trust in electoral rolls due to discrepancies like duplication and ineligible entries, which facilitate electoral fraud. It argues that while the Election Commission of India (ECI) is criticized for its opacity and failure to address inconsistencies, political parties are also complicit by neglecting their local-level organizational structures. The shift towards digital communication and reliance on professional consultants has weakened grassroots party engagement, leading to unchecked systemic failures in electoral roll management. The author contends that despite robust mechanisms like Booth Level Agents (BLAs) designed to ensure electoral integrity, their effectiveness is compromised by potential ECI biases and parties' lack of vigilance. The current controversy presents an opportunity for parties to revitalize their local units and restore democratic functioning.
Flawed electoral rolls, characterized by discrepancies and duplication, are eroding public trust and undermining representative democracy.
Both the Election Commission of India (ECI) and political parties are held responsible for the decline in electoral integrity.
The ECI's credibility has diminished since its peak in the 1990s under T.N. Seshan.
Exam Points
Election Commission of India (ECI).
Former Chief Election Commissioner: T.N. Seshan (1990s).
This article critiques a Chhattisgarh High Court observation in a custodial death case, where police officers were deemed to have intended 'to teach a lesson' to the victim. The author argues that such judicial language rationalizes state violence and normalizes custodial torture, undermining constitutional principles of dignity, due process, and proportionality. The victim, a Dalit man, died after severe assault in custody, highlighting caste-coded enforcement. The High Court's failure to intervene on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act aspect, by demanding explicit proof of caste motivation, is also criticized. The piece emphasizes that judicial integrity requires courts to reject the idea of violence as disciplinary and to ensure robust application of laws to protect vulnerable groups.
The Chhattisgarh High Court's observation that police intended 'to teach a lesson' in a custodial death case is criticized for rationalizing state violence.
Such judicial language normalizes custodial torture and undermines constitutional values of justice, dignity, and due process.
The case involved a Dalit victim, highlighting the issue of caste-coded enforcement and the judiciary's narrow interpretation of the SC/ST Act.
Exam Points
Chhattisgarh High Court.
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC/ST Act).
Supreme Court judgments cited: Shri D.K. Basu, Ashok K. Johri vs State of West Bengal, Munshi Singh Gautam (D) and Ors. vs State of M.P.
The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has issued a 10-point advisory to address gender disparity in organ transplants, prioritizing women patients and relatives of deceased donors in organ allocation. Data from 2019-2023 reveals that women constitute 63.8% of living organ donors but receive significantly fewer transplants (17,041) compared to men (39,447). NOTTO, as the apex government body, oversees organ donations under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act 1994. The advisory also calls for creating permanent transplant coordinator posts and developing facilities for organ retrieval in trauma centers, emphasizing early identification of deceased donors. Globally, only 10% of the worldwide need for organ transplants is met, with lack of awareness and cultural myths being major obstacles in India.
NOTTO has issued an advisory to address gender disparity in organ donation, prioritizing women patients and relatives of deceased donors.
Women are the majority of living organ donors (63.8%) but receive significantly fewer transplants than men.
NOTTO is the apex government body overseeing organ donations under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act 1994.
Exam Points
National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO).
Transplantation of Human Organs Act 1994 (amended in 2011).
63.8% of living organ donors (2019-2023) were women.
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