The Supreme Court has extended the stay on the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) probe into money laundering cases involving the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC). The court questioned whether the federal structure is being affected by the ED's intervention in cases where local police are already investigating. The Bench, led by CJI B.R. Gavai, highlighted concerns about the ED's conduct and the necessity of sharing information with state authorities under Section 66(2) of the PMLA. The case also touches upon the mandatory nature of providing the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) to the accused, following the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary ruling.
The Supreme Court is examining if the ED is encroaching upon the state's authority to investigate local offences.
Section 66(2) of the PMLA requires the ED to share information with state authorities for parallel investigations.
The court previously ruled in the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case regarding the status of the ECIR as an internal document.
Exam Points
Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
India's retail inflation dropped to a 99-month low of 1.54% in September 2025, falling below the RBI's comfort band of 2%-6%. This trend suggests that supply is outstripping demand, a situation similar to China's oversupply problem. The article argues that the RBI needs to improve its forecasting accuracy, as its predictions have seen drastic revisions within short periods. To stimulate the economy, there is a call for the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to consider significant interest rate cuts in December to boost private investment and consumption, as current household savings are being used to reduce debt rather than increase spending.
Retail inflation reached a 99-month low of 1.54% in September 2025.
The RBI's target inflation rate is 4%, with a tolerance band of 2%-6%.
Low inflation indicates weak domestic demand, prompting calls for interest rate cuts by the MPC.
Exam Points
Retail inflation rate: 1.54% (Sept 2025)
RBI inflation target: 4% (+/- 2%)
Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting scheduled for December
Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, visited Delhi to advance the India-Australia Renewable Energy Partnership (REP). The partnership focuses on scaling up renewable energy while reducing dependence on China, which currently dominates the processing of critical minerals like lithium and rare earths. India offers scale and a young demographic dividend, while Australia provides resource wealth. Cooperation areas include solar PV, green hydrogen, and circular economy. The partnership aims to build a resilient, regionally anchored clean energy ecosystem to mitigate climate change impacts in the Indo-Pacific and ensure energy security through diversified supply chains.
The partnership aims to diversify supply chains for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths.
India has pledged to reach 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030.
Australia recently set a target for a 62%-70% reduction in emissions below 2005 levels by 2035.
Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals a significant rise in cybercrime cases in Karnataka, particularly those involving 'cheating by personation' under Section 66D of the IT Act. Karnataka accounted for over 70% of such cases in India in 2023. Despite the high volume of cases, the charge-sheeting and conviction rates remain low, with only about one in four cases being charge-sheeted. Experts call for better-trained police, proactive recording of crimes, and specialized training for the legal system to handle complex digital fraud and deepfake-related offences effectively.
Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, deals with cheating by personation using computer resources.
Karnataka's share in India's total cybercrime cases rose to 25.3% in 2023.
The conviction rate for Section 66D cases is significantly lower than the national average for all cybercrimes.
Exam Points
Section 66D of the IT Act, 2000
Karnataka's share of national cybercrime: 25.3% (2023)
The Supreme Court has directed all States and Union Territories to appoint nodal officers to handle cases of missing children. These officers' contact details must be published on the Mission Vatsalya portal, managed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The court observed that despite existing portals like TrackChild and Khoya-Paya, there is a lack of information sharing among stakeholders. The Bench emphasized the need for a coordinated network across districts and states to ensure prompt action on complaints and effective collection of information to trace missing children and investigate perpetrators.
Nodal officers must be appointed in every State and UT to manage missing children cases.
The Mission Vatsalya portal serves as the central platform for information sharing and coordination.
The SC highlighted the failure of authorities to take timely action despite a surge in child abduction and trafficking.
Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav emphasized the need for ambitious climate measures at 'Pre-COP' meetings in Brasilia, Brazil, ahead of COP30 in Belem. He highlighted the urgent lack of resources for developing countries to implement adaptation and mitigation strategies. The Minister acknowledged the conclusion of the first Global Stocktake (GST), a five-yearly process under the Paris Agreement to assess collective progress. India called for a shift from dialogue to imperative action, focusing on closing gaps in climate finance and technology transfer to support global climate goals and strengthen ambition across all member countries.
Pre-COP meetings are held annually to iron out differences before the main Conference of Parties (COP).
The Global Stocktake (GST) is a mechanism under the Paris Agreement to evaluate progress every five years.
COP30 is scheduled to be held in the city of Belem, Brazil, in November.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a medical product alert for three liquid medicines—Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and ReLife—identified in India as contaminated. These products, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical, Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and Shape Pharma, were found to contain diethylene glycol, which is toxic and potentially fatal to humans. The CDSCO has informed WHO that these batches have not been exported from India. Regulatory authorities have been advised to increase market surveillance to prevent these substandard products from reaching consumers through informal or unregulated supply chains, as they pose significant risks to public health.
Diethylene glycol is a toxic contaminant found in oral liquid medicines that can cause life-threatening illness.
The CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) is the Indian regulatory body monitoring the situation.
Substandard products failed to meet quality standards and specifications for active ingredients used for common colds.
A study by CSIR-NIO and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research found significant microplastic contamination in fish along the Goa coast. Researchers identified 4,871 particles of 19 different types of polymers in 251 fish samples. Microplastics, primarily from fishing gear, tires, and wastewater, accumulate in the food chain through bioaccumulation. The study warns that human consumption of contaminated fish may lead to immune dysfunction, increased cancer risk, and neurotoxicity. The findings underscore the urgent need for better waste disposal and research into biodegradable alternatives to protect marine ecosystems and public health in coastal regions.
Microplastics enter the food chain and accumulate in higher organisms, a process known as bioaccumulation.
The study found higher contamination on the sea floor and in benthic organisms compared to the water column.
Common polymers found include those from fishing gear, textiles, and road residue.
Exam Points
Research institute: CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO)
Number of microplastic particles identified: 4,871
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt. Mokyr was recognized for identifying the prerequisites for sustained growth through technological progress, emphasizing the role of 'useful knowledge.' Aghion and Howitt were honored for their 'theory of sustained growth through creative destruction,' which explains how new innovations replace older technologies, leading to economic gains but also the destruction of incumbents. Their research provides a mathematical model to determine optimal R&D investment and suggests that governments should subsidize R&D to ensure long-term societal benefits and overcome resistance from established interest groups.
Joel Mokyr distinguished between propositional knowledge (natural world) and prescriptive knowledge (instructions/recipes).
The theory of 'creative destruction' posits that innovation leads to growth but also displaces existing technologies and interests.
The research suggests that R&D should be subsidized because private firms may not invest enough if they cannot capture all the value.
Exam Points
2025 Nobel Laureates: Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, Peter Howitt
ISRO's Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts to low-earth orbit, incorporates a vital Crew Escape System (CES). The CES is designed to rapidly separate the crew module from the LVM3 launch vehicle in case of a malfunction during the atmospheric phase of flight. There are two types of CES: puller type (used in Gaganyaan) and pusher type (used by SpaceX). ISRO has successfully tested the CES using a cost-effective Test Vehicle (TV-D1) powered by a Vikas engine. The system ensures astronaut safety by moving the module to a safe distance before a parachute-assisted splashdown in the sea.
The Crew Escape System (CES) is critical during the atmospheric phase where the rocket faces high structural loads.
Gaganyaan uses a 'puller type' CES that pulls the crew module away from the launch vehicle.
The Test Vehicle (TV-D1) validated the system under transonic conditions in October 2023.
Exam Points
Mission name: Gaganyaan
Launch vehicle: LVM3 (HLVM3)
Test vehicle: TV-D1
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