Context
The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court directed Parbhani police to register an FIR within a week in the alleged custodial death of Dalit law student Somnath Suryawanshi, citing prima facie evidence of custodial torture and fundamental rights violations. The decision follows a petition filed by the victim’s mother after autopsy and judicial findings revealed signs of physical assault during illegal detention.
As per NCRB 2021:
Context
CJI B.R. Gavai reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to a transparent, merit-based, and socially inclusive collegium system for judicial appointments. His remarks, made at a Bombay Bar Association event, come amid heightened concerns over external interference and demands for greater accountability in the process.
Collegium System
Definition and Constitutional Basis
Evolution Through Judicial Pronouncements
Composition of Collegium
Functions of Collegium
Procedure for Appointment
Criticism of the System
Efforts for Reform
Recent Developments
Way Forward
Context
A coalition of five prominent Naga tribes in Nagaland has called for a re-evaluation of the 48-year-old reservation policy in State government jobs. They argue that the existing quota for 11 "backward" tribes is outdated and no longer reflects present-day socio-economic and educational conditions.
Reservation Policy in Nagaland (Since 1977):
Committee's Argument for Review:
Constitutional & Administrative Relevance:
Article 16(4) – Reservation in Public Employment
Constitutional Provision:
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Context
On the occasion of a diaspora outreach in Trinidad and Tobago, the Indian Prime Minister announced the extension of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card eligibility to sixth-generation Indian-origin individuals. This move aims to deepen India’s engagement with the Girmitiya diaspora, who are descendants of indentured laborers sent abroad during the colonial era
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) Card:
Girmitiya Diaspora and Historical Context:
India’s Diaspora Diplomacy:
Context
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has withdrawn all its remaining inspectors from Iran, following an ongoing impasse over access to Iranian nuclear facilities after military strikes by Israel and the United States. Iran has passed legislation to suspend cooperation with the agency, and there is no clarity on when inspections might resume.
Context
China has announced anti-dumping duties ranging from 27.7% to 34.9% on European brandy imports, particularly French cognac. These duties, effective for five years starting July 6, 2025, were introduced following an investigation into unfair trade practices, and are seen as a response to the European Union’s probe into Chinese electric vehicle (EV) subsidies.
Context
In July 2025, Kerala reported fresh cases of Nipah virus infection in Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad districts, with one confirmed fatality and two other confirmed cases under treatment. The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, has validated the diagnosis, prompting the Kerala government to initiate strict containment measures and surveillance, with 345 individuals placed under observation.
What is Nipah Virus (NiV)?
Modes of Transmission and Symptoms:
Government Response and Preparedness:
Context
On July 4, 2024, as the United States observed its Independence Day, a federal judge issued a stern reminder that democracy is not self-sustaining and must be protected against internal threats. Drawing parallels with India’s 1975 Emergency, the warning underlines how democratic backsliding can occur within the framework of law, not just through external aggression or revolution.
“Constitutional democracies are not destroyed only by revolutions, but often by legal manipulation and institutional failure.” Examine this statement in the Indian context of the 1975 Emergency and draw comparisons with contemporary global democratic trends. (250 words)
Context
Ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court of India upheld the inclusion of the words "secular" and "socialist" in the Preamble, which were introduced through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976. This judgment came in response to multiple petitions challenging the validity of these insertions, amidst renewed ideological debates and political demands for their removal from the Constitution.
“Secularism and Socialism are not merely inserted words in the Indian Constitution but integral to its basic structure and democratic identity.” Critically analyze the historical, judicial, and ideological significance of these terms in the Preamble, in the context of contemporary challenges to constitutional values. (250 words)
Context
On July 1, 2025, India marked the 8th anniversary of the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). However, this milestone coincided with the lowest GST collection in four months — ?1.85 lakh crore for June 2025. This reflects not only slowing consumption but also structural inefficiencies in the current GST regime. The editorial underscores urgent reforms such as rate rationalization, inclusion of fuel under GST, and removal of GST Compensation Cess.
"The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was envisioned as a unified indirect tax regime to promote cooperative federalism and economic efficiency. In light of recent trends in revenue collection and fiscal dynamics, critically evaluate the need for structural reforms in GST." (250 words)
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