The Supreme Court questioned the Election Commission (EC) regarding the authority of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to strike individuals off electoral rolls based on citizenship inquiries. During a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, nearly 6.5 crore names were deleted. The Court raised concerns whether an ERO's finding could trigger a central government investigation into an individual's right to remain in India. The EC argued that citizenship is a cornerstone of the electoral process and that excluded individuals have a right to appeal, maintaining that verifying citizenship is essential for maintaining valid electoral rolls.
The Supreme Court is examining if EROs can effectively strip the 'colour of citizenship' before a final central government decision.
Article 326 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 are central to the EC's claim of authority for these deletions.
Nearly 6.5 crore names were deleted in the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process across several states.
Exam Points
Article 326 (the right of adult Indian citizens to vote)
The Kerala Assembly passed the Malayalam Language Bill, 2025, aiming to make Malayalam the official language for all administrative, judicial, and educational purposes in the state. The Bill proposes Malayalam as the first language in schools and its use in sectors from IT to the judiciary. However, the Karnataka government opposes the Bill, claiming it violates the rights of linguistic minorities, specifically Tamil and Kannada speakers in border districts like Kasaragod. Kerala maintains the Bill includes protections for these minorities, allowing correspondence in their mother tongues in notified areas and exempting certain students from examinations.
The Bill mandates Malayalam as the first language in all government and aided schools up to Class 10.
It seeks to replace the existing Official Languages Act of 1963 to advance the enrichment of the language.
Karnataka argues the Bill is unconstitutional and violates the rights of Kannada-speaking linguistic minorities.
Exam Points
Malayalam Language Bill, 2025
Official Languages Act, 1963
Article 347 of the Constitution (special provisions for language spoken by a section of the population)
While AI's benefits are widely discussed, its environmental impact, particularly carbon footprint and water consumption, requires urgent attention. Data centers housing AI servers consume massive amounts of electricity and water for cooling. A single ChatGPT query can consume ten times more energy than a Google search. India currently lacks specific legislation for AI's environmental impact, unlike the EU's AI Act. Experts suggest integrating AI assessments into Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and adopting sustainable practices like using renewable energy for data centers and deploying pre-trained models to mitigate adverse impacts.
The ICT industry is estimated to be responsible for 1.8% to 2.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Training a single Large Language Model (LLM) can generate approximately 3,00,000 kilograms of carbon emissions.
India needs to establish measuring standards and disclosure requirements for AI's environmental footprint as part of ESG standards.
Exam Points
UNESCO's 'Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence' (2021)
The colour blue holds deep historical significance in India, tracing back to the 1859 Indigo revolt in Bengal against oppressive British planters. Mahatma Gandhi's first satyagraha in Champaran (1917) also centered on the plight of indigo farmers under the tinkathia system. Later, B.R. Ambedkar adopted the blue suit, which became a symbol of the Dalit movement, representing the expanse of his vision and a non-discriminatory nature. Today, the blue chakra in the national flag reflects the strength of the Dalit community and the spirit of civil disobedience, serving as a reminder of unkept promises.
The 'blue movement' of 1859 was a significant anti-colonial struggle by peasants against white planters.
The tinkathia system forced farmers to plant indigo on three-twentieths of their land holdings.
Ambedkar's choice of a blue suit is interpreted as a symbol of equality and the representative of the working class.
A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on the constitutionality of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. This section mandates prior government sanction before investigating a public servant for decisions made in their official capacity. Justice B.V. Nagarathna declared the provision unconstitutional, while Justice K.V. Viswanathan upheld it, arguing it protects honest officers from frivolous complaints and 'policy paralysis.' The case will now be referred to a larger three-judge bench for a final decision on balancing public probity with officer protection.
Section 17A was introduced to provide a filter against malicious prosecution of public servants for official decisions.
Justice Nagarathna argued that the provision is unconstitutional as it creates an arbitrary distinction between classes of public servants.
Justice Viswanathan suggested that independent bodies like Lokpal should handle the grant of sanction to ensure impartiality.
Exam Points
Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act
Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice K.V. Viswanathan (bench members)
The Supreme Court ruled that the Right to Education (RTE) Act is a vital tool for transforming India's social structure by ensuring children from diverse economic backgrounds study together. A bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha stated that the obligation of neighborhood schools to admit children from weaker sections is a 'national mission.' The Court emphasized that true equality of status, as envisioned in the Constitution, begins when the child of a multi-millionaire sits alongside the child of a street vendor in the same classroom, breaking down historical barriers of class and caste.
The RTE Act aims to create a shared institutional space across class, caste, gender, and economic positions.
Article 21A provides the constitutional right to free and compulsory education for children.
The Court criticized schools that fail to respond to neighborhood admission requests despite available seats for disadvantaged sections.
The Union government informed the Supreme Court that it has established a high-level inter-departmental committee (IDC) to tackle 'digital arrest' scams. These scams involve fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials to extort money from citizens, particularly the elderly. The IDC, chaired by the Special Secretary (Internal Security), includes representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, RBI, CBI, and major tech platforms like Google and WhatsApp. The committee aims to identify regulatory gaps, suggest corrective measures, and guide enforcement agencies in real-time to clear the bane affecting a large populace.
Digital arrests have deprived citizens of crores of rupees through sophisticated psychological manipulation and impersonation.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) plays a central role in the IDC, with its CEO as member-secretary.
The committee will examine 'real-time issues' and implementation gaps in current rules and circulars.
Reports suggested the Indian government was contemplating a requirement for smartphone makers to disclose their source code to third-party testing agencies for security audits. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) has downplayed these reports, stating no final regulations have been framed. Tech companies and digital rights groups oppose such a move, arguing that exposing source code increases vulnerability to cyberattacks and compromises trade secrets. The debate centers on balancing national security needs with the privacy and intellectual property rights of global tech firms, with calls for transparent public consultation.
Source code is the core repository of software and programs that drive a digital system.
The Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Equipment (MTCTE) framework currently governs gear imports.
Digital rights groups like the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) demand transparency and public disclosure of meeting minutes.
Exam Points
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity)
Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR)
The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has reiterated its demand for a separate Union Territory with a legislature for the Kuki-Zo tribes in Manipur. In a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the council alleged that the state government was complicit in atrocities against their community during the ongoing ethnic conflict. The KZC also warned against the resettlement of Meitei internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 'buffer zones' separating the two communities, calling it a provocative attempt that could reignite violence. They seek urgent constitutional and political intervention by the Centre for lasting peace.
The ethnic conflict in Manipur has resulted in over 250 deaths and the displacement of 40,000 people since May 2023.
Buffer zones are narrow strips of land separating Meitei-dominated valleys from Kuki-Zo inhabited hills.
The KZC claims that Kuki-Zo people have been unable to access the Imphal Valley for nearly three years, leading to hardships.
India is set to replace its outdated Consumer Price Index (CPI) dataset, which currently uses 2012 as the base year. The new series, starting February 2026, will use 2024 as the base year and incorporate updated weightages based on the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24. The current 2012-based index fails to capture modern consumption patterns, leading to a gap between official inflation figures and the actual cost of living experienced by households. This update is crucial for more accurate policymaking and capturing the nuances of a diverse country like India.
The 2012 base year is over a decade old and does not reflect current spending on services, technology, and subsidies.
Official retail inflation for December 2025 stood at 1.33%, while household perceptions were significantly higher at 6.6%.
The new index will incorporate updated weightages for various sub-sectors based on the latest consumption patterns.
India is intensifying its 'minerals diplomacy' to secure critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, essential for the clean energy transition. New Delhi is pursuing bilateral and multilateral partnerships with resource-rich nations like Australia, Japan, and various African countries. The India-Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership has already identified five target projects. However, challenges remain, including China's dominance in the supply chain, US trade policy volatility, and the need for domestic midstream processing capabilities to reduce dependence on raw material exports and build long-term resilience.
Critical minerals are vital for EV batteries, renewable energy infrastructure, and high-tech manufacturing.
India is exploring joint ventures in Argentina through Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) with a ₹200 crore agreement.
African nations like Namibia, Zambia, and Congo offer opportunities for lithium, rare earths, and copper exploration.
Data reveals that Aravalli districts in Rajasthan account for a disproportionately high volume of illegal mining, with over 77% of all First Information Reports (FIRs) filed in the state. Despite the Aravalli landscape being ecologically sensitive and acting as a barrier against the Thar Desert, illegal extraction of sand and stone continues. Recent proposals to redefine what constitutes an 'Aravalli hill' have raised concerns that protections might be further diluted. The Supreme Court has previously intervened, setting up committees to establish a scientifically robust definition of the range to curb illegal activities and protect groundwater.
Aravalli districts contribute only 40% of the state's mining leases but over 56% of illegal mining cases.
The Forest Survey of India (FSI) uses parameters like slope and height to identify Aravalli hills for protection.
Illegal mining threatens groundwater recharge, stabilizes the local climate, and functions as a wildlife corridor.
Exam Points
77% of illegal mining FIRs in Aravalli districts
EIA Notification, 2006
22 wildlife sanctuaries located in the Aravalli landscape
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of reports regarding sewage contamination of drinking water in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. The NGT noted that corroded infrastructure and leaking sewage pipes passing through drinking water lines have led to serious health risks, including deaths from water-borne diseases in cities like Indore and Greater Noida. The tribunal observed that these issues indicate prima facie violations of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Water Act, 1974, and has directed state governments and the CPCB to file responses.
Contamination has been reported in major cities including Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bhopal, and Noida.
The NGT has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and state governments to file affidavits on the matter.
Leaking sewage into tube-wells and drinking water pipelines has caused outbreaks of vomiting and diarrhoea.
Exam Points
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
The International Labour Organization (ILO) in its 'World Employment and Social Trends 2026' report projects the global unemployment rate to stay at a historically low level of 4.9%. However, the report warns of rising numbers of 'working poor' and informal workers in low-income countries. About 284 million workers still live in extreme poverty, earning less than $3.00 a day. The report highlights that while headline numbers look positive, structural transformations, digital shifts, and trade uncertainties continue to challenge the quality of jobs and gender equality in the global workforce.
186 million people are projected to be unemployed globally this year despite the low percentage rate.
Over two billion workers remain in informal employment, which is a persistent feature of the economic landscape.
Extreme poverty among workers declined by only 3.1 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.
Exam Points
ILO World Employment and Social Trends 2026 report
Global unemployment rate: 4.9%
284 million workers in extreme poverty (<$3.00/day)
Marine and space biotechnology are emerging as frontiers for India's scientific and economic growth. Marine biotech focuses on discovering bioactive compounds from deep-sea organisms for use in pharmaceuticals, food, and cosmetics. Space biotech, led by ISRO's microgravity experiments, studies biological systems in extreme environments to support long-duration human missions and develop new materials. With a vast coastline and growing space capabilities, India aims to position itself as a leader in biomanufacturing, though private sector participation remains in its nascent stages and requires more investment.
India's 11,000 km coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone offer rich marine biodiversity for biomanufacturing.
ISRO is conducting microgravity biology experiments on microbes, plants, and algae to study life-support regeneration.
The Deep Ocean Mission and BioE3 policy are key government drivers for these futuristic sectors.
Exam Points
Deep Ocean Mission
ISRO microgravity biology programme
BioE3 policy
Read more
Read it. Retain it. Recall it.
Get spaced-repetition flashcards, daily quizzes and offline access — free on Android.