The Union government has circulated drafts of a Constitution Amendment Bill and a Delimitation Bill proposing to redistribute Lok Sabha seats based on the 2011 Census, aiming to increase the total strength to 850. This move, linked to implementing 33% women's reservation, is contentious as it would shrink the representation of southern states (from 24.3% to 20.7%) while increasing that of Hindi heartland states (from 38.1% to 43.1%). States like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, and Punjab have opposed this, advocating for an extension of the existing freeze on seat readjustment beyond 2026.
The government proposes to redistribute Lok Sabha seats based on the 2011 Census, potentially increasing the total strength to 850 members.
This initiative is linked to the operationalisation of 33% women's reservation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
Southern states are projected to lose parliamentary representation, while Hindi heartland states are expected to gain significantly.
Exam Points
The proposed legislation includes the Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill and a Delimitation Bill.
Currently, Lok Sabha seats are distributed based on the 1971 Census for inter-State allocation and the 2001 Census for intra-State boundaries, frozen until after 2026 (Article 82).
The proposed maximum strength of Lok Sabha is 850 seats (815 for States, 35 for UTs).
The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of new judges to the Kerala and Karnataka High Courts. A notable aspect of these recommendations is that a majority of the nominees are women advocates and judicial officers. For the Kerala High Court, Preeta Aravindan Krishnamma and Liz Mathew Anthraper have been proposed. For the Karnataka High Court Bench, Rajeshwari Narayana Hegde, Kedambadi Ganesh Shanthi, and Mahadevappa Brungesh have been recommended, emphasizing a push for greater diversity in judicial appointments.
The Supreme Court Collegium has put forward names for new judicial appointments in Kerala and Karnataka High Courts.
A significant number of the recommended individuals are women, reflecting a focus on gender diversity in the judiciary.
The Collegium system plays a crucial role in the appointment and transfer of judges in higher courts.
Exam Points
The Supreme Court Collegium is responsible for recommending judicial appointments.
Preeta Aravindan Krishnamma and Liz Mathew Anthraper are proposed for Kerala High Court.
Rajeshwari Narayana Hegde, Kedambadi Ganesh Shanthi, and Mahadevappa Brungesh are proposed for Karnataka High Court.
India faces a growing obesity epidemic and associated metabolic conditions, leading to an alarming rise in medicalisation. The market for anti-obesity drugs is expanding rapidly, with new medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide gaining prominence. However, concerns are rising about aggressive marketing, potential side effects like sarcopenia (muscle loss), and a 'cascading logic' where drugs for one condition lead to more drugs for side effects. Experts highlight the limited attention given to fundamental drivers like ultra-processed foods and call for a shift towards lifestyle modifications and ethical medical practices, rather than solely relying on pharmacological solutions.
India is experiencing a significant increase in obesity and related metabolic conditions, driving a trend of medicalisation.
The market for anti-obesity drugs is rapidly expanding, with new medications becoming widely available.
Concerns exist regarding the aggressive marketing of these drugs and their potential side effects, such as sarcopenia.
Exam Points
Nearly a quarter of Indians are overweight or obese; one in ten adults has diabetes.
Anti-obesity drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide are mentioned.
Sarcopenia, the loss of lean muscle mass, is a noted side effect of some anti-obesity medications.
India is experiencing a profound heat crisis, transitioning from a seasonal hardship to a systemic national issue, with over 57% of districts now heat-prone. The impact disproportionately affects informal workers, leading to 'thermal injustice' and significant income loss. A legislative vacuum exists, as current laws like the Factories Act, 1948, and OSHWC Code 2020 are inadequate for outdoor heat. Recommendations include adding heatwaves to the National Disaster list, using the Heat Index for declarations, implementing binding heat safety rules, recognizing 'Right to Cool' under Article 21, and providing financial compensation for lost income.
India's heat crisis has become a systemic national issue, disproportionately affecting informal workers and leading to 'thermal injustice'.
Existing legislative frameworks like the Factories Act, 1948, and OSHWC Code 2020 are insufficient to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat.
Heatwaves are not currently on the Nationally Notified Disaster list, limiting states' access to relief funds.
Exam Points
Over 57% of Indian districts are now classified as heat-prone.
The Factories Act, 1948, and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code 2020 are cited as inadequate.
The 16th Finance Commission's recommendation to include heatwaves in the Notified National Disaster list for 2026-31 is mentioned.
The Union government's move to link women's reservation (106th Amendment of 2023) with a post-Census delimitation, through the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, is seen as a political maneuver to reallocate Lok Sabha seats. Critics argue this will reshape Parliament's federal composition, benefiting states where the BJP is strong and disadvantaging those that have successfully controlled population growth. The Bill proposes to raise Lok Sabha membership to 850, remove the 1971 Census-based freeze on seat allocation, and use the 2011 Census for delimitation, leading to a significant shift in political power from southern to northern states.
The government is linking women's reservation with a post-Census delimitation exercise, which critics view as a political strategy to reallocate Lok Sabha seats.
The proposed changes would significantly alter the federal composition of Parliament, potentially benefiting northern states at the expense of southern states.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, aims to increase Lok Sabha membership to 850 and remove the existing freeze on seat allocation based on the 1971 Census.
Exam Points
The Constitution (106th Amendment of 2023) provides for one-third reservation for women in Lok Sabha and Assemblies.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposes to amend Articles 55, 81, 82, 170, 330, 332, and 334A.
The Bill aims to raise the Lok Sabha membership ceiling from 550 to 850 (815 for States, 35 for UTs).
India ranks second globally in food waste, discarding 78-80 million tonnes of food worth ₹1.55 lakh crore annually, according to the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024. This starkly contrasts with India's 111th rank in the Global Hunger Index. Food loss and waste contribute 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with methane from landfills being a significant concern. The article emphasizes the need for a systemic overhaul, including building robust cold chains, legislating against waste, empowering farmers to reduce post-harvest losses, implementing mandatory waste reporting, and reviving the cultural ethic of treating food as sacred ('Anna Brahma').
India is the second-largest food-wasting nation globally, discarding 78-80 million tonnes of food annually.
The value of food wasted in India each year is estimated at ₹1.55 lakh crore.
Food waste has significant environmental consequences, contributing 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane.
Exam Points
The UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024 highlights global food waste.
India wastes 78-80 million tonnes of food annually, valued at ₹1.55 lakh crore.
India ranks 111th out of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, aims to significantly alter the size and composition of State Assemblies by restarting the delimitation process and removing the freeze on seat readjustment in effect since 1976. The Bill proposes to amend Article 170 to allow fresh readjustment of Assembly seats and redrawing of territorial constituencies based on a future Census, to be specified by Parliament. It also substitutes Article 334A to operationalize one-third women's reservation in Assemblies, effective only after a fresh delimitation exercise based on the latest published Census (2011).
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeks to restart the delimitation process for State Assemblies and remove the 1976 freeze on seat readjustment.
Article 170 is proposed to be amended to allow for fresh readjustment of Assembly seats and redrawing of constituencies based on a future Census.
The Bill operationalizes one-third women's reservation in State Assemblies, which will take effect after a new delimitation exercise based on the latest published Census.
Exam Points
The proposed legislation is the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The Bill proposes to amend Article 170, which governs the composition of Assemblies.
It substitutes Article 334A to operationalize women's reservation in Assemblies.
The Union Home Ministry has formulated a new deportation policy, directing states to establish special task forces in each district to identify, detect, and deport illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar. States are required to provide monthly status reports and operationalize 'holding centres/camps' with strict security measures. The policy mandates a 90-day limit for verifying antecedents, cancellation of identity documents, and blacklisting. It also introduces a 'Foreigners Identification Portal (FIP)' for biometric data capture and emphasizes immediate return of intercepted migrants at borders, while outlining guidelines for humane conditions in holding centres.
The Union Home Ministry has introduced a new policy to detect, identify, and deport illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
States are mandated to form special task forces in each district and submit monthly status reports on foreign nationals.
'Holding centres/camps' with high security are to be established to restrict migrants' movement until deportation.
Exam Points
The policy targets illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
States must set up a special task force in each district.
A 'Foreigners Identification Portal (FIP)' has been launched for biometric and demographic details.
A UNDP report, 'Military Escalation In The Middle East: Human Development Impacts Across Asia And The Pacific,' warns that the ongoing conflict in West Asia could push 2.5 million people in India into poverty. Globally, 8.8 million people are at risk, with Asia-Pacific facing an economic cost of up to $299 billion. The report attributes this to higher fuel, freight, and input costs, diminishing purchasing power, increasing food insecurity, and straining public budgets. India's poverty rate is estimated to rise from 23.9% to 24.2%, and the country is projected to experience a loss of 0.03-0.12 years in Human Development Index (HDI) progress.
The UNDP report highlights that the West Asia conflict could push 2.5 million people in India into poverty.
Globally, the conflict threatens to push 8.8 million people into poverty, with Asia-Pacific facing significant economic costs.
Increased fuel, freight, and input costs are identified as primary drivers of economic hardship.
Exam Points
The UNDP report is titled 'Military Escalation In The Middle East: Human Development Impacts Across Asia And The Pacific'.
The conflict is estimated to push 2.5 million people in India into poverty.
India's poverty rate is projected to rise from 23.9% to 24.2%.
A new international study published in Cell Stem Cell indicates that a single infusion of mesenchymal stem cells (Lomecel-B) significantly improves physical endurance in frail elderly individuals. Frailty, a state of accelerated biological ageing affecting one in four people over 50 globally, currently lacks a standard treatment protocol. While promising, the therapy's mechanism involves reducing inflammation and promoting tissue repair. For India, with its rapidly aging population, the findings highlight the need for its health system to shift from acute illness focus to preventive geriatric care, recognizing frailty as a treatable condition and adapting policies like Ayushman Bharat and ICMR guidelines for stem cell therapies.
A new study suggests that mesenchymal stem cell therapy can biologically treat frailty in the elderly, improving physical endurance.
Frailty is defined as accelerated biological ageing, affecting a significant portion of the global elderly population.
Mesenchymal stem cells work by reducing inflammation and promoting tissue repair, without strongly activating the immune system.
Exam Points
The study was part of Phase IIb of the CRATUS trial.
The findings were published in the journal Cell Stem Cell on March 5.
The mesenchymal stem cell product is called Lomecel-B (or laromestrocel).
Ritual offerings, such as pouring 11,000 litres of milk into the Narmada River, are significantly contributing to river pollution in India, intensifying ecological stress. Studies show that dairy effluents and other offerings accelerate microbial activity, deplete dissolved oxygen, and trigger algal blooms, severely degrading water quality. Despite constitutional provisions like the Water Act (1974) and Article 21 guaranteeing a clean environment, and NGT directives for idol immersion, enforcement remains uneven. Experts advocate for site-specific caps, waste collection, and diversion strategies, emphasizing that religious freedom under Article 25 is not absolute and must be balanced with ecological limits and public health concerns.
Ritual offerings, including dairy effluents, significantly accelerate microbial activity and pollution loads in Indian rivers.
Pollution from such practices depletes dissolved oxygen, triggers algal blooms, and degrades water quality, rendering stretches 'ecologically dead'.
Despite legal frameworks like the Water Act (1974) and Article 21, and NGT guidelines, enforcement against ritual pollution is inconsistent.
Exam Points
A ritual involved pouring 11,000 litres of milk into the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)'s 2025 assessment identified 296 polluted river stretches.
The Yamuna River in Delhi records BOD levels as high as 83 mg/l, 27 times the safe limit.
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