Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu while facing a parliamentary motion for removal. His decision came as a panel, appointed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, was set to investigate allegations of burnt currency recovered from his official Delhi residence during a fire in March last year. In a separate letter, Justice Varma withdrew from the inquiry, terming it 'unfair' and expressing deep anguish. The controversy, which began on March 14, 2025, with the discovery of unaccounted cash, escalated into a major scandal, raising questions about judicial integrity and accountability.
Justice Yashwant Varma resigned from the Allahabad High Court while facing a parliamentary motion for his removal.
His resignation coincided with the formation of an inquiry panel under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, to investigate allegations of burnt currency found at his official residence.
Justice Varma explicitly withdrew from the inquiry proceedings, labeling them as 'unfair' and expressing profound sadness.
Exam Points
Justice Yashwant Varma was a judge of the Allahabad High Court.
The inquiry panel was appointed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
The legal framework for the inquiry is the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
A draft master plan for the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) outlines a ₹92,000-crore mega-infrastructure project, designating tourism as the 'primary economic driver.' The plan aims to settle 3.36 lakh people by 2055 and attract over a million tourists annually. It includes an international container transshipment port, airport, power plants, and a township, with clusters for administration, logistics, and tourism along the eastern coast. However, local Nicobarese tribes have withdrawn their consent, alleging unsettled forest rights, leading to a challenge in the Calcutta High Court. The project spans 166.10 sq. km, with 121.86 sq km from diverted forest areas, and proposes various tourism models.
The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) draft master plan proposes a ₹92,000-crore mega-infrastructure project with tourism as its primary economic driver.
The plan projects a population of 3.36 lakh and over a million annual tourists by 2055.
Key components include an international container transshipment port, airport, power plants, and a township, divided into specialized clusters.
Exam Points
The Great Nicobar Island project is a ₹92,000-crore mega-infrastructure initiative.
The plan projects a population of 3.36 lakh and over a million tourists by 2055.
The Supreme Court decided to intervene on behalf of 26 Indian nationals allegedly 'stuck' in Russia and 'unwillingly' forced to fight in the Ukraine war, indicating a human trafficking angle. A three-judge Bench, including Chief Justice Surya Kant, asked Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta to obtain a copy of the petition and inquire with the Centre. The petitioners claim to be victims of illegal overseas recruitment, trafficking, and exploitation, with their passports seized and forced into military service. The plea seeks judicial direction to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Russia for immediate diplomatic and consular measures, ascertainment of whereabouts, legal status, safety, and safe repatriation. It also calls for prosecution of those involved in illegal recruitment. The next hearing is April 24.
The Supreme Court is addressing a plea concerning 26 Indian nationals allegedly trafficked and forced to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The court views the situation as a serious case of human trafficking, with victims reporting seized passports and forced military service.
The plea seeks immediate diplomatic and consular intervention from the Indian government for the protection and repatriation of these individuals.
Exam Points
The Supreme Court Bench included Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi.
Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta was asked to inquire with the Centre.
The next hearing for the case is scheduled for April 24.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed the second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. A simulated Crew Module, weighing 5.7 tonnes (equivalent to the uncrewed Gaganyaan G1 mission module), was lifted by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter to an altitude of about 3 km and released over a designated drop zone in the sea. Ten parachutes of four types deployed in a precise sequence, gradually reducing the descent velocity for a safe touchdown. The module was successfully recovered in coordination with the Indian Navy. This test validated the parachute-based deceleration systems, marking a significant step towards the readiness of the Gaganyaan G1 Mission, with support from IAF, Indian Navy, and DRDO. The first test, IADT-01, was accomplished on August 24, 2025.
ISRO successfully conducted the second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) for the Gaganyaan mission at Sriharikota.
The test involved dropping a 5.7-tonne simulated Crew Module from a 3 km altitude using an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter.
The successful deployment of ten parachutes and subsequent recovery of the module validated the parachute-based deceleration systems.
Exam Points
Test name: Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02).
Location: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The article critiques the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan (VBSA) Bill, intended to implement the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), as a constitutional overreach. It argues the Bill grants excessive discretionary power to Union government-controlled councils, usurps the Education Ministry's fund allocation authority, and dilutes the University Grants Commission's (UGC) consultative requirements. The author, Dinesh Abrol, contends that the Bill undermines the autonomy of premier institutions like IITs and IIMs, promotes Hindutva ideologies, and centralizes regulation. He proposes that State Higher Education Councils (SHECs) be represented on the Bill's three councils to ensure consensual decision-making, shared responsibility, and the establishment of a separate Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) for equitable fund disbursement, focusing on inter-regional equity and social justice.
The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan (VBSA) Bill is criticized for constitutional overreach and centralizing power in Union government-controlled councils.
The Bill is alleged to undermine the autonomy of premier educational institutions and dilute the consultative role of the UGC.
The author argues that the Bill promotes Hindutva ideologies and a top-down, prescriptive regulatory approach.
Exam Points
Bill name: Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan (VBSA) Bill.
Policy it aims to implement: National Education Policy (NEP 2020).
Constitutional provision mentioned: Entry 66 of the Union List.
Krushna Chandra Panigrahy, Director General of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), stated that the increasing adoption of induction-based cooking is projected to raise electricity demand by 13 to 27 gigawatts (GW) at the distribution level. This additional demand is expected to peak during morning and evening hours, influenced by various factors such as climatic zones, cooking habits, and socio-economic patterns. The BEE is proactively analyzing and preparing for this transition. This trend follows a reported 50% spike in induction stove and microwave oven sales, which occurred after the government raised concerns about LPG supply due to the Iran-U.S.-Israel war, indicating a notable shift in household energy consumption patterns.
Induction-based cooking is projected to increase electricity demand by 13 to 27 gigawatts (GW) at the distribution level.
The additional demand is expected to peak during morning and evening hours, influenced by climatic zones, cooking habits, and socio-economic patterns.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is proactively analyzing and preparing for this anticipated rise in power consumption.
Exam Points
Projected increase in electricity demand: 13 to 27 gigawatts (GW).
Official: Krushna Chandra Panigrahy, Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
Reported sales spike of induction stoves and microwave ovens: 50%.
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