The 56th GST Council meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, decided to simplify the tax structure into primarily two slabs: 5% and 18%. A significant move includes removing the 18% GST on life and health insurance policies to make them more affordable. A 'special rate' of 40% will be introduced for 'sin goods' and luxury items like tobacco, large cars, and yachts. The changes, effective from September 22, aim to reduce prices for daily-use items, food, and life-saving medicines while addressing the long-pending inverted duty structure in sectors like textiles and fertilizers.
The GST structure is being streamlined to 5% and 18% slabs for most goods and services.
Health and life insurance premiums are now exempt from GST, moving from 18% to 0%.
A 40% special rate applies to sin goods like tobacco and super-luxury items like yachts and large cars.
The Supreme Court is hearing arguments from states like West Bengal and Karnataka regarding delays by Governors in assenting to bills. Senior advocates argue that under Article 200, Governors must return bills 'as soon as possible,' which should be interpreted as 'forthwith' or 'immediately.' They contend that Governors, as titular heads, cannot sit on bills indefinitely or question their constitutionality, as that role belongs to the judiciary. The states argue that such delays obstruct the will of the people and violate the federal structure, emphasizing that Governors must act on the 'aid and advice' of the State Cabinet.
Article 200 requires Governors to either assent, withhold assent, or reserve bills for the President 'as soon as possible.'
States argue that Governors are bound to grant assent if the legislature re-passes a bill after it was returned.
The 'forthwith' interpretation aims to prevent Governors from creating a constant state of conflict with elected governments.
Recent extreme rainfall in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has highlighted the critical intersection of weather events and governance. The editorial argues that while extraordinary rains can overwhelm systems, damage is often magnified by infrastructural weaknesses and neglect of sluices and drainage channels. Effective disaster management requires moving beyond immediate relief to proactive measures like real-time hydrological modeling for reservoir management. Urban planning must prioritize permeable land and drainage networks. The article emphasizes that 'rain and repeat' cycles can only be broken through continuous maintenance and insulating infrastructure upkeep from political cycles.
Extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent, requiring a shift in monsoon management and reservoir strategies.
Reservoir management needs real-time data to create 'flood cushions' by drawing down water levels before a deluge.
Urban flooding is exacerbated by concretized surfaces and encroached stormwater channels that restrict water absorption.
Exam Points
Andhra Pradesh recorded 27% of annual rainfall in two days in 2024
Srisailam reservoir reached 94% capacity during the crisis
Budameru rivulet received 35,000 cusecs against a capacity of 7,000 cusecs
This opinion piece discusses the lack of transparency in the Supreme Court Collegium, highlighted by Justice B.V. Nagarathna's recent dissent regarding a judicial appointment. It argues that the 'culture of justification' is missing in the judiciary's own administrative decisions. While the Collegium system vests power in senior judges, the lack of public reasoning for appointments or rejections erodes institutional legitimacy. The author suggests that the judiciary must subject itself to the same standards of openness it demands from other branches of government to maintain public trust and democratic accountability.
The Collegium system is a product of judge-made law from the Second (1993) and Third (1998) Judges Cases.
Dissent within the Collegium is rarely made public, leading to a perception of total opacity in judicial appointments.
Comparisons are drawn with the UK and South Africa, where judicial selection processes involve more public scrutiny.
The passage of the Indian Ports Bill 2025 and the Merchant Shipping Act 2025 marks a significant shift in India's maritime governance. While intended to modernize outdated laws from 1908 and 1958, critics argue these reforms centralize power at the expense of states. The new Ports Act allows the Centre to direct State maritime boards, potentially undermining cooperative federalism. The Merchant Shipping Act introduces 'partial' Indian ownership, including OCI and foreign entities, which raises security concerns. The article calls for a course correction to balance ease of doing business with federal balance and maritime security.
The Indian Ports Bill 2025 replaces the 1908 Act to streamline maritime governance and align with global practices.
Critics highlight the centralization of power in the Maritime State Development Council, chaired by the Union Minister.
The Merchant Shipping Act 2025 allows for partial foreign ownership of Indian-flagged vessels.
Following a Calcutta High Court order, the Centre is set to resume MGNREGA in West Bengal after a three-year hiatus due to alleged irregularities. However, the revival faces significant hurdles, including the mandatory Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS) and the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS). Millions of workers, particularly women and marginalized groups, remain non-compliant with ABPS. The article emphasizes that restarting the scheme requires more than just a 'green signal'; it needs trust-building, logistical preparation, and administrative muscle to ensure that no worker is left behind due to technological bottlenecks.
MGNREGA provides a vital safety net of 100 days of guaranteed work for rural households.
The scheme was halted in West Bengal in March 2022 over 'widespread irregularities' involving over ₹10,000 crore.
Technological requirements like ABPS and NMMS (geo-tagged photos) are major barriers for rural workers with limited digital access.
Exam Points
MGNREGA Act enacted in 2005
100 days of guaranteed employment per year
83 lakh workers removed from West Bengal's rolls in 2022-23
Data reveals that less than 40% of India's projected population of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) have been issued a Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card. This card is essential for accessing government benefits, including the ADIP scheme for assistive devices and reservations in jobs and education. Delays in processing applications (over 60% pending for more than six months) and digital literacy barriers are primary reasons for low coverage. States like West Bengal show extremely low coverage (6%), while Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra perform better. The lack of updated census data further complicates accurate targeting and resource allocation.
The UDID card is a national database for PwDs implemented by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
It enables access to schemes like ADIP (Assistance to Persons with Disabilities) for wheelchairs, hearing aids, and prostheses.
Digital literacy and the shift to online applications have excluded many PwDs who cannot navigate digital interfaces.
Exam Points
Less than 40% coverage of UDID cards nationally
ADIP scheme (Assistance to Persons with Disabilities)
The Union Home Ministry has issued an order exempting Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who entered India before January 9, 2015, from penal provisions under the Passport and Foreigners Acts. This means those without valid documents will not be treated as illegal migrants or face fines and imprisonment. The government clarified that this exemption is distinct from the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and does not automatically extend the CAA cut-off date. The move is seen as a step toward providing relief to long-term refugees while maintaining the standard naturalization process for citizenship, which requires 11 years of residency.
Refugees entering before Jan 9, 2015, are exempt from prosecution for lack of valid travel documents or visas.
The exemption applies to those who opt to stay in India or voluntarily return to Sri Lanka.
This order is separate from the CAA 2019, which has a different cut-off date and target group.
This explainer examines the ongoing debate regarding the 50% ceiling on reservations in India. While the Indra Sawhney case (1992) established this limit to balance equality of opportunity with affirmative action, several states are pushing for higher quotas based on population data. The article explores Articles 15 and 16, which guarantee equality and allow for special provisions for backward classes. It also discusses the EWS reservation, which was upheld by the Supreme Court despite exceeding the 50% limit, and the recent debate over sub-categorization within SC/ST groups to ensure benefits reach the most marginalized.
Articles 15 and 16 provide the constitutional basis for reservations in education and public employment.
The 50% cap was established in the Indra Sawhney (Mandal) case but is not an absolute constitutional limit.
The 103rd Constitutional Amendment introduced 10% EWS reservation, pushing the total beyond 50% in many states.
Exam Points
Indra Sawhney Case (1992)
103rd Constitutional Amendment (EWS)
Articles 15(4), 15(5), 16(4)
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