Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that nearly 44,000 start-ups registered in 2025, marking the highest annual addition since the Startup India mission's launch in 2016. Celebrating the scheme's 10th anniversary, the PM noted India's rise to the third-largest start-up ecosystem globally. The number of start-ups has grown from under 500 in 2014 to over 200,000 today, with nearly 125 unicorns. To further boost innovation, the government approved Fund of Funds 2.0 with a ₹10,000 crore corpus, focusing on deep tech areas like AI, machine learning, and quantum technologies to drive future economic growth.
India is now the third-largest start-up ecosystem globally with over 200,000 registered entities.
The Startup India mission, launched in 2016, aims to foster innovation and enable investment-driven growth.
Fund of Funds 2.0 will specifically target deep tech sectors including aerospace, defense, and artificial intelligence.
Exam Points
Startup India launched on January 16, 2016.
Fund of Funds 2.0 corpus is ₹10,000 crore.
India has approximately 125 unicorns as of early 2026.
The Supreme Court dismissed a petition by Justice Yashwant Varma challenging the Lok Sabha Speaker's decision to constitute an inquiry committee for his removal. The court emphasized that constitutional safeguards for judges should not paralyze the removal process. Justice Varma argued that since removal notices were submitted in both Houses on the same day, a joint committee was required under Section 3(2) of the Judges (Inquiry) Act. However, the Bench ruled that because the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman rejected the notice while the Lok Sabha Speaker admitted it, the Speaker acted within his legal autonomy to proceed independently.
The Supreme Court clarified that the rejection of a removal motion in one House does not render the other House incompetent to proceed.
Section 3(2) of the Judges (Inquiry) Act regarding joint committees applies only if notices are admitted in both Houses.
The judiciary must balance the protection of judges with the effective functioning of constitutional removal mechanisms.
Exam Points
Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
Section 3(2) of the Act pertains to joint committees.
The ruling was delivered by a Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and S.C. Sharma.
The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Environment Ministry has asked the Tamil Nadu government to substantially revise the design for the proposed International Dugong Conservation Centre at Manora, Thanjavur. The ₹40.94-crore project faces scrutiny because nearly 22,000 square metres of the site fall within the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-III 'No Development Zone.' The EAC expressed concerns over the use of heavy concrete structures in a pristine area containing mangroves and seagrass meadows. It recommended adopting a 'Low Impact Engineering' approach using eco-friendly materials like timber to minimize environmental harm.
Dugongs are critically endangered marine mammals and serve as a keystone species for seagrass ecosystems.
The proposed conservation centre aims to facilitate research, rescue, rehabilitation, and public awareness.
The EAC highlighted that the current design violates CRZ-III and overlaps with CRZ-I areas involving mangroves.
Exam Points
Project cost is ₹40.94 crore.
Location: Manora, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu.
Dugongs are listed as a keystone species for seagrass ecosystems.
Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has dismissed disqualification petitions against seven out of ten Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) legislators. These MLAs were accused by the BRS of switching allegiance to the ruling Congress party following the 2023 Assembly elections. The Speaker's decision comes after the Supreme Court issued a contempt notice to him in November 2025 for failing to comply with directives to decide on the disqualification pleas expeditiously. The BRS has criticized the move, alleging it makes a mockery of the Tenth Schedule and the constitutional principles intended to prevent political defection.
The Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution (Anti-Defection Law) gives the Speaker the power to disqualify members for defection.
The Supreme Court has previously emphasized that Speakers must decide on disqualification petitions within a reasonable timeframe.
Disqualification can occur if a member voluntarily gives up party membership or votes against party directions.
Exam Points
Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
2023 Telangana Assembly elections.
Supreme Court contempt notice issued on November 17, 2025.
India is facing significant diplomatic challenges as the US Trump administration threatens a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran. This move directly impacts India's multi-billion dollar investment in the Chabahar port, a crucial gateway for trade with Central Asia. While some reports suggested India might wind up operations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that engagement with both the US and Iran continues. India currently holds a conditional sanctions waiver for Chabahar valid until April 2026. Analysts argue that maintaining strategic autonomy is vital for India's long-term economic and geopolitical interests in the region.
Chabahar port is strategically located in southeastern Iran and is essential for India's connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
The US has threatened additional tariffs on any country trading with Iran, complicating India's regional energy and infrastructure goals.
India has invested billions of dollars in Chabahar to bypass Pakistan for land-based trade routes.
Exam Points
Chabahar Port location: Sistan-Baluchestan province, Iran.
US sanctions waiver expiry: April 26, 2026.
Proposed US tariff: 25% on trade with Iran-linked entities.
Jyoti Vij, Director General of FICCI, has proposed several focus areas for the upcoming Union Budget 2026-27 to maintain India's economic momentum. Key recommendations include increasing the capital outlay for defense to 30%, establishing an Eastern India defense industrial corridor, and boosting the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM). The proposal also emphasizes deepening corporate bond markets, resolving tax disputes through a dual-track disposal system, and calibrating customs tariffs to address inverted duty structures. These measures aim to strengthen domestic growth levers while maintaining fiscal consolidation and encouraging private investment across various sectors.
The budget should prioritize growth-enhancing productive capital expenditure and social sector spending.
A dedicated fund for critical minerals recovery and tailings processing is suggested under the NCMM.
To improve export competitiveness, the allocation for the RoDTEP scheme needs to be significantly raised.
Exam Points
National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) approved in early 2025.
Recommended defense capital outlay: 30%.
RoDTEP: Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products.
The Union Labour Ministry announced that the social security net has expanded to over one crore new workers due to recent reforms. Specifically, 1.03 crore new employees and 1.17 lakh new employers registered with the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) between July 2025 and January 2026. This growth is attributed to the 'Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers/Employees' (SPREE), which offers a one-time opportunity for registration without punitive action for past non-compliance. Additionally, reforms in the EPFO now allow members to withdraw up to 75% of their balance under simplified provisions, enhancing financial flexibility.
The SPREE scheme aims to formalize the workforce by encouraging employers to register workers for social security benefits.
ESIC provides medical and cash benefits to employees in case of sickness, maternity, or employment injury.
EPFO reforms have introduced an 'auto mode' for claim settlement, with over 72% of advance claims now processed automatically.
Exam Points
SPREE Scheme operational period: July 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
New ESIC registrations: 1.03 crore workers.
EPFO withdrawal limit: up to 75% of balance.
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