A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2026. The petitioner argues that Regulation 3(c) is discriminatory because it limits the benefit of reservation and protection against discrimination solely to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). The plea contends that this excludes members of the general or upper castes from legal protection against caste-based hostility, thereby violating the right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution. The petition seeks a more inclusive definition of caste-based discrimination.
- The 2026 UGC Regulations superseded the 2012 version with the goal of fostering equity in higher education.
- The petitioner argues that the current definition of discrimination creates a 'hierarchy of victimhood'.
- The plea claims that the regulations assume caste-based discrimination only operates in one direction.
The Karnataka government has officially constituted the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers’ Welfare Development Board under the 2025 Act. This move aims to implement welfare measures for gig workers engaged with platforms like Zomato, Uber, and Amazon. Both workers and aggregators must register with the Board within 45 days. A welfare fee of 1% to 1.5% will be levied on aggregator platforms to fund social security benefits. The Board will include representatives from the government, labor unions, and aggregator platforms, with the Labour Minister serving as the ex-officio president.
- Karnataka is among the first states to create a dedicated welfare board and fund for gig workers.
- Aggregators are required to pay a welfare fee based on their turnover to support the fund.
- Registered gig workers will receive a unique identification number to access social security benefits.
India's four new Labour Codes aim to promote the formalisation of employment and improve the ease of doing business. However, data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24 highlights significant challenges for the youth (aged 15-29). Youth unemployment stands at 10.2%, and a large portion of young workers are in informal or self-employed roles without written contracts or social security. The new codes introduce the 'gig worker' category and mandate social security, but gaps in coverage and the lack of a statutory national floor wage remain concerns for labor advocates.
- The four Labour Codes consolidate 29 central laws to simplify compliance and expand social protection.
- Youth labor force participation is 46.5%, significantly lower than the 76.4% for those aged 30-59.
- Over 90% of young workers are informally employed, with 66.1% of regular salaried youth lacking written contracts.
A recent RBI report highlights an uneven demographic transition across Indian states. Southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu are projected to become 'ageing states' by 2036, with elderly populations exceeding 20%. Conversely, northern states like Bihar and UP will see rising working-age populations beyond 2031. This shift creates fiscal pressures, as ageing states face higher pension costs and lower tax devolution due to population-based formulas. The article advocates for a new industrial policy focused on the 'care economy' and a massive expansion of public geriatric care to ensure 'graceful ageing' for all.
- Kerala and Tamil Nadu's elderly populations are expected to exceed 22% and 20% respectively by 2036.
- The Finance Commission's population weightage formula disadvantages states that have successfully controlled population growth.
- Ageing in India disproportionately affects women, who often live longer but with fewer financial assets and no formal pensions.
The article critiques the newly introduced Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (VB-GRAM G Act), which aims to replace or modify MGNREGA. While the government claims it enhances the employment guarantee to 125 days, critics argue that Section 5(1) allows the Centre to 'switch off' the guarantee in specific areas, undermining the 'right to work' principle. Furthermore, the shift toward 'normative funding' (budget caps) may lead to an inequitable distribution of funds across states, potentially disadvantaging poorer states like Bihar and Jharkhand that require higher MGNREGA employment.
- The VB-GRAM G Act introduces a discretionary 'switch-off' provision that allows the government to suspend the guarantee in specific areas.
- Normative funding replaces the demand-driven approach, potentially limiting funds for states with high poverty levels.
- The Act emphasizes digital technology for transparency, though critics point to past failures of such systems in MGNREGA.
As India prepares for Budget 2026-27, there is a critical need to address constraints on women’s time and productivity. Women contribute only 18% to India’s GDP, largely due to the burden of unpaid domestic work. The article suggests reimagining schemes like PMAY and Jal Jeevan Mission with a 'gender-savings' focus. Key recommendations include expanding the 'Care Infrastructure Convenience Window', increasing allocations for women-led MSMEs, and upskilling women for the AI-driven future. The goal is to move beyond just spending on women to ensuring outcomes in income, agency, and opportunity through targeted gender budgeting.
- Women's unpaid labor remains a major barrier to their participation in the formal workforce.
- Gender budgeting should focus on time-saving infrastructure like piped water and clean cooking energy.
- The 'Care Infrastructure Convenience Window' is proposed to mandate reporting on time-use metrics.
India's school network remains fragmented, with many small schools lacking adequate resources and specialized teachers. Drawing lessons from China's large-scale school design, experts suggest consolidating small units into 'composite schools' (Class 1-12). States like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have already begun this transition. Large schools allow for subject-specialist teachers, better infrastructure (ICT labs, libraries), and smoother student transitions between educational levels. By 2035, India needs a state-specific roadmap to create integrated school models in every Gram Panchayat to ensure high-quality, universal education and better future outcomes for students.
- Fragmented school networks (5.6 lakh schools with <50 students) hinder the quality of education in India.
- Composite schools (Class 1-12) provide better access to specialized teachers and vocational training.
- Madhya Pradesh has consolidated 36,000 under-enrolled schools under the NITI Aayog's SATH-E programme.
The Centre announced 131 Padma awards for 2026, including 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri. The Padma Vibhushan recipients include actor Dharmendra, former judge K.T. Thomas, and violinist N. Rajam. The awards recognize exceptional service in fields like art, public affairs, literature, and education. Notable Padma Shri awardees include actor R. Madhavan, former UGC chief M. Jagadesh Kumar, and aerospace scientist Chandramouli Gaddamanugu. The list also features 'unsung heroes,' such as Ashok Khade, a Dalit entrepreneur, and Asok Kumar Haldar, a railway guard turned author, highlighting contributions from all corners of society.
- The awards include 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri.
- Recipients represent a wide range of fields including social work, public affairs, science, and engineering.
- The 'unsung heroes' category highlights individuals who have made significant contributions from humble backgrounds.
Addressing the nation on the eve of the 77th Republic Day, President Droupadi Murmu emphasized India's role as a messenger of peace amidst global conflicts. She highlighted the success of 'Operation Sindoor' in national security and the rise of 'Nari Shakti' as central to becoming a developed nation by 2047. The President noted significant progress in poverty alleviation through the principle of 'Antyodaya' and the achievement of making the Constitution available in all 22 Eighth Schedule languages, fostering 'constitutional nationalism'. She also celebrated India's digital leadership and the 150th anniversary of the composition of 'Vande Mataram'.
- India's defense preparedness was showcased through 'Operation Sindoor' which destroyed terror infrastructure.
- Women's empowerment is seen as a reshaper of the country, with 46% representation in Panchayati Raj institutions.
- The 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' is expected to take political empowerment to unprecedented heights.
The Siddi Badshah community, descendants of Africans brought to India centuries ago, thrives in the Jambur and Shirvan villages of Gujarat's Gir region. Originally brought by the Portuguese to work for the King of Junagadh, they were known for their exceptional strength and endurance, earning the title 'Siddi Badshah' or 'kings of labour.' The community has successfully adapted to the local environment, assisting in tracking Asiatic lions. They maintain their unique cultural identity through the 'Dhamal' dance form, which traces its roots back to East Africa, while being fully integrated into Indian society.
- The Siddis are an Afro-Indian ethnic group primarily settled in Gujarat, Karnataka, and Hyderabad.
- They are known for the 'Dhamal' dance, a high-energy performance reflecting their East African ancestry.
- The community plays a vital role in the local ecosystem of the Gir forest, often working as trackers for Asiatic lions.
India has set an ambitious target to eliminate malaria by 2030 under the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (2016-2030). Significant progress has been made, with malaria cases reducing by 80% between 2015 and 2023. By 2024, India exited the WHO 'High Burden to High Impact' group. However, challenges remain, including persistent Plasmodium vivax transmission, drug resistance (especially to artemisinin derivatives), and cross-border importation of cases. The strategy focuses on transforming malaria surveillance into a core intervention, ensuring universal access to diagnosis and treatment, and intensifying vector control in high-burden districts.
- The National Framework for Malaria Elimination aims for zero indigenous cases by 2030.
- India achieved an 80% reduction in malaria cases from 2015 to 2023.
- Plasmodium vivax accounts for nearly two-thirds of regional cases and is harder to eliminate due to its dormant liver stage.
This article advocates for the rights of ASHA and Anganwadi workers, who are central to India's social welfare schemes but lack permanent employee status. Despite recommendations for job regularization and minimum wages at the 45th Labour Conference, successive governments have failed to implement them. The article argues that the Centre must legally reclassify these 'volunteers' as statutory employees under the Code on Social Security. Ensuring equitable pay and social security is essential to grant these workers their rightful dignity and recognize their critical contribution to public health and child development.
- ASHA and Anganwadi workers are currently classified as 'volunteers' or 'scheme workers,' denying them labor law protections.
- The 45th Labour Conference recommended minimum wages, pension, and gratuity for these workers.
- The State of Karnataka vs Ameerbi (1996) case initially excluded them from the category of government employees.
Members of the Tribal Council in Little and Great Nicobar have alleged that the district administration is pressuring them to sign 'surrender certificates' for their ancestral lands. The ₹92,000-crore Great Nicobar Island mega-infrastructure project requires the diversion of forest lands in Galathea Bay and Pemmaya Bay. These areas were inhabited by the indigenous Nicobarese community before the 2004 tsunami. The council argues that surrendering this land would leave nothing for future generations. The project is nearing final approval, but the lack of transparency regarding the surrender documents has caused significant distress among the tribal population.
- The Great Nicobar Island project is a ₹92,000-crore mega-infrastructure initiative.
- The project affects the Nicobarese and Shompen tribes, who are recognized as Scheduled Tribes.
- Key project areas include Galathea Bay and Pemmaya Bay.
The Registrar-General and Census Commissioner of India (RG&CCI) has notified 33 questions for the first phase of Census 2027, scheduled from April 1 to September 30. This will be India's first digital census, allowing respondents to self-enumerate through a portal. Significantly, this census will include caste enumeration for the first time. The first phase focuses on house-listing and housing schedules, while the second phase (Population Enumeration) in February 2027 will record caste details. The notification splits questions on housing materials into three distinct categories to improve data accuracy.
- Census 2027 will be the first digital census in India's history.
- Caste enumeration will be conducted during the second phase in February 2027.
- The first phase includes 33 questions covering building details, household amenities, and assets.
A new Private Member's Bill proposes lowering the age threshold for treating children as adults in cases of 'heinous' crimes from 16 to 14 years. This follows the 2015 amendment to the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, which introduced a 'transfer system' for 16-18 year olds. Critics argue this move is a 'step back,' as it ignores developmental science and structural vulnerabilities. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) suggests that adolescents aged 14-16 are not the primary drivers of serious crime, contradicting the bill's premise and raising concerns about punitive rather than rehabilitative justice.
- The 2015 JJ Act allows 16-18 year olds to be tried as adults for heinous crimes after a preliminary assessment by the JJ Board.
- Lowering the age to 14 would expose younger children to adult prisons and criminal processes, potentially causing long-term harm.
- NCRB data shows that Children in Conflict with the Law (CiCL) constitute only 0.5% of total registered crimes in 2023.
The Congress party has urged the Union government to fully implement Article 15(5) of the Constitution, which empowers the state to provide reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs in private educational institutions. This demand coincides with the 20th anniversary of the 93rd Constitutional Amendment. While the amendment enabled 27% reservation for OBCs in centrally funded higher education institutions (HEIs), the party argues that its application to private institutions remains incomplete. The Supreme Court upheld the validity of this provision in the Pramati Educational and Cultural Trust vs Union of India judgment (2014).
- Article 15(5) was added via the 93rd Constitutional Amendment to enable reservations in both public and private educational institutions.
- The provision excludes minority educational institutions referred to in Article 30(1).
- The Congress suggests that any new regulator for higher education must oversee the implementation of these reservations.
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has approved an ordinance to levy a dedicated 'orphan and widow cess' on the sale of petrol and high-speed diesel within the state. The revenue generated from this cess will be used to fund welfare schemes for orphans and widows. The government stated that the cess would be 'non-burdensome' to consumers while ensuring adequate financial resources for social welfare. Additionally, the Cabinet approved a national policy on geothermal energy and designated the Directorate of Energy as the nodal agency for its implementation in the state.
- The cess is aimed at creating a dedicated fund for the effective implementation of welfare schemes for vulnerable groups.
- The Cabinet also focused on energy diversification by adopting a policy for geothermal energy exploration.
- Four new laboratories will be established for nutritional profiling to strengthen the food testing ecosystem in the state.
The Tamil Nadu government has introduced the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS), a hybrid model combining features of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and the National Pension System (NPS). TAPS aims to address the growing demand for pension security while maintaining fiscal sustainability. Under TAPS, employees continue to contribute 10% of their salary (as in NPS), but are assured a monthly pension of 50% of their average pay from the last 12 months of service. This model seeks to provide the certainty of OPS without the massive fiscal burden that led to the shift to NPS in 2003.
- TAPS provides an assured pension of 50% of the last drawn pay, similar to the OPS, but retains the contributory nature of the NPS.
- The scheme includes a Dearness Allowance (DA) linked to inflation, ensuring the pension's value is maintained over time.
- The government's contribution to TAPS will be around 14%, and the scheme is expected to be more fiscally sustainable than a full return to OPS.
The article discusses the polarizing nature of illegal immigration in Indian politics, particularly following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. It argues that while the Opposition often dismisses concerns about undocumented immigrants as xenophobic, national security concerns are legitimate and should not be ignored. The author suggests a 'centrist' approach that acknowledges the complexity of the issue, focusing on legal work authorizations and tech-driven regulation. Drawing parallels with global trends in Europe and the U.S., the piece notes that ignoring public anxiety over immigration can lead to the rise of populist, anti-immigration parties.
- The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) omitted nearly 6.5 crore electors from draft rolls across nine States and three Union Territories.
- The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, passed in June 2025, aims to regulate entry and stay using a tech-driven, time-bound approach.
- Centrist politics must reconcile emotive issues like national identity with humanitarian concerns to prevent political polarization.
Child trafficking remains a critical issue in India, with over 53,000 children rescued between 2024 and 2025. The Supreme Court, in the K. P. Kiran Kumar case, issued strict guidelines to prevent trafficking, linking it to the fundamental right to life under the Constitution. The article examines the legal framework, including the Palermo Protocol and Section 143 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, which provides a broad definition of exploitation. Despite these laws, the conviction rate remains low at 4.8%. The author emphasizes the need for socio-economic interventions for marginalized communities and enhanced Union-State cooperation, as law and order are state subjects while trafficking is often a cross-border crime.
- The Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, Section 143, defines trafficking to include recruitment, transportation, and receipt of persons for exploitation.
- Articles 23 and 24 of the Indian Constitution provide fundamental protections against human trafficking and hazardous child labor.
- The conviction rate for trafficking offenses in India was only 4.8% between 2018 and 2022, highlighting a major gap in law enforcement.
The Supreme Court of India, using its plenary powers under Article 142, issued nine directions to address the 'epidemic' of student suicides in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The court highlighted that the rapid 'massification' and 'privatisation' of education have occurred without a corresponding boost in quality, leading to severe student distress. A major concern is the high vacancy rate in faculty positions, with some universities reporting up to 50% vacancies. The Court ordered that all vacant faculty, Registrar, and Vice-Chancellor positions in both public and private HEIs be filled within four months. This move aims to ensure institutional support and fulfill the National Education Policy 2020's goal of 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio by 2035.
- The Supreme Court invoked Article 142 to issue binding directions for student well-being and institutional reforms.
- Seven of the nine directions focus on tracking student suicides and providing mental health support within HEIs.
- The Court mandated a strict four-month deadline for filling all vacant faculty and administrative positions in universities.
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.
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.
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.