Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while inaugurating the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Rajkot, highlighted India's trajectory as the world's fastest-growing economy. He stated that India is on course to become the third-largest global economy. The PM emphasized the success of the Digital India initiative, noting India as the largest consumer of data and the leader in real-time digital payments via UPI. Additionally, he visited the Somnath temple, marking 1,000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni's attack in 1026, and noted the temple's resilience as a symbol of national pride and history.
India is currently the world's fastest-growing economy and aims to become the third-largest globally.
The country has transitioned from a mobile importer to the world's second-largest manufacturer of mobile handsets.
India's first semiconductor fabrication facility is being established in Dholera, Gujarat.
Exam Points
Mahmud of Ghazni attacked the Somnath temple in 1026 AD.
India is the world's second-largest manufacturer of mobile handsets.
The first semiconductor fabrication facility in India is located in Dholera, Gujarat.
Recent data reveals a significant milestone in 2025 where fast-track special courts cleared more child sexual offence cases than registered, achieving a 109% disposal rate. However, this surge in disposals has not led to higher conviction rates; instead, convictions fell from 35% in 2019 to 29% in 2023. The analysis suggests that rapid case processing might lead to weaker investigations and incomplete forensic reports. The article emphasizes that children in POCSO cases require comprehensive support systems, including trained professionals and sensitive legal procedures, rather than just speedy trials.
Fast-track special courts achieved a record 109% disposal rate in 2025, clearing 87,754 cases.
Despite faster disposals, the national average conviction rate dropped to 29% by 2023.
The POCSO Act (2012) was designed to provide child-friendly procedures and time-bound trials.
Exam Points
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was passed in 2012.
Fast-track special courts (FTSCs) were started in October 2019 with funding from the Nirbhaya Fund.
The national average conviction rate for POCSO cases was 34.9% in 2019 and fell to 29% in 2023.
The year 2025 marked a period of 'interregnum' for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), comprising India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S. While the group maintained operational momentum through initiatives like the Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission, it failed to convene a leader-level summit. The return of Donald Trump to the White House and leadership changes in Japan have introduced new strategic variables. Despite these shifts, the Quad remains anchored in its objective of ensuring a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, serving as a crucial platform for regional stability against Chinese expansionism.
The Quad's primary objective is establishing and sustaining a rules-based order in a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The group was originally formed in 2004 following the Indian Ocean tsunami but was revived in 2017.
Operational successes in 2025 include the Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission and the Ports of the Future Partnership.
Exam Points
The Quad consists of four countries: India, Australia, Japan, and the United States.
The Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission was operationalised for the first time in June 2025.
The 2024 Quad summit was held in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
The upcoming delimitation exercise, expected after the 2028 Census, poses a significant challenge to India's federal balance. Southern states, which successfully implemented population control and health reforms, fear a reduction in their Lok Sabha seat share compared to northern states with higher population growth. The 84th Constitutional Amendment (2001) froze seat numbers until 2026. Proposed solutions include increasing the total number of Lok Sabha seats to approximately 866 or adopting a 'Digressive Proportionality' principle, similar to the European Parliament, to ensure fair representation without penalizing states for demographic progress.
Delimitation based strictly on population could reduce the relative political and fiscal power of southern states.
The 84th Constitutional Amendment Act (2001) extended the freeze on Lok Sabha seats until the first census after 2026.
The Finance Commission currently uses population size as a 15% weight for tax revenue redistribution.
Exam Points
The 84th Constitutional Amendment Act (2001) froze the number of seats in Lok Sabha until 2026.
The next Census results are expected by October 2028.
A redistribution based on the 2011 Census without losing existing seats would result in a Lok Sabha of about 866 members.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has begun the countdown for the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This marks the 105th launch from Sriharikota and the 64th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The mission is a commercial venture by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), carrying the EOS-N1 earth observation satellite and 15 small satellites from various start-ups and academic institutions across India, the U.S., U.K., and other nations. A unique feature is the re-starting of the PS4 stage for de-boosting.
PSLV-C62 is the 64th flight of the PSLV and the fifth mission of the PSLV-DL variant.
The primary payload, EOS-N1, is an earth observation satellite intended for strategic purposes.
The mission includes 15 co-passenger satellites developed by domestic and international entities, including student-led projects.
Exam Points
PSLV-C62 is the 105th launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) is the commercial arm of ISRO.
The mission carries the EOS-N1 satellite and 15 co-passengers into a Sun Synchronous Orbit.
There is a growing legal and social debate regarding the age of consent in India, currently set at 18 years under the POCSO Act (2012). Critics argue that the rigid age limit criminalizes consensual adolescent relationships, often weaponized by families to punish young couples. While the Law Commission (2023) advised against lowering the age to 16, it recommended 'guided judicial discretion' for sentencing in cases involving minors aged 16-18. Recent High Court and Supreme Court judgments have highlighted the need to distinguish between predatory abuse and 'young love' to protect adolescent autonomy.
The POCSO Act applies strict liability, making a minor's consent legally irrelevant if they are under 18.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, raised the age of consent from 16 to 18 to align with POCSO.
The Law Commission's 283rd Report (2023) opposed lowering the age but suggested judicial discretion in sentencing.
Exam Points
The age of consent was raised from 16 to 18 by the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013.
The Law Commission of India's 283rd Report (2023) deals with the age of consent under the POCSO Act.
Section 63 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) defines rape and includes acts without consent if the woman is under 18.
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