POLITY

GS2 – Polity Context: The upcoming 16th Finance Commission, whose recommendations will apply from April 2026, is facing increasing pressure from States to enhance their share in centrally collected taxes from the current 41% to 50%. What Is the Divisible Pool of Taxes? This refers to the shareable portion of …

GS2 – Polity Context: India has not appointed a Deputy Speaker for both the 17th and 18th Lok Sabha sessions, despite constitutional provisions requiring it. Constitutional Provision Article 93 of the Constitution mandates the election of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha “as soon as …

GS-2: Polity and Governance Key Points: India’s parliamentary oversight has weakened due to limited scrutiny by committees and the executive evading accountability. Standing Committees meet infrequently, lack follow-through, and their recommendations rarely influence policy. The article calls for “Maximum Accountability” alongside “Maximum Governance.” Proposes reforms like mandatory discussions of committee …

GS2 – Polity Context: Tata Trusts, in collaboration with a network of civil society organizations, has released the 2025 edition of the India Justice Report. The report evaluates the performance of states and union territories across 24 indicators, covering the four core pillars of the justice system—police, judiciary, prisons, and …

GS2 – Polity Tamil Nadu Forms Committee on State Autonomy Context: The Tamil Nadu government has set up a high-powered panel led by former Supreme Court judge, Justice Kurian Joseph. This committee’s primary role is to analyze Centre-State relations and recommend ways to reinforce the constitutional rights of states. Previously, …

GS2 – Polity Context : Telangana has taken a pioneering step by becoming the first state in India to implement sub-categorisation among Scheduled Castes (SCs), also known as “reservation within reservation.” As per the recent government notification, SCs in the state will be divided into three distinct groups – Group …

GS2 (Polity & Judiciary) Understanding Bail and Bail Conditions Bail refers to the legal process by which an accused person is released from custody, typically upon payment of a sum of money, ensuring their return for court proceedings. Bail conditions are specific requirements imposed by the court that an accused …

GS II-Judiciary Context The Chief Justice of India (CJI) recently initiated a three-member in-house inquiry into allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, leading to his transfer to the Allahabad High Court. This has reignited discussions on judicial transparency. Judicial Transfers in India Constitutional Basis: Article 222 of the Indian Constitution grants …

GS II-POLITY Introduction Parliamentary privileges are rights and immunities granted to members of Parliament individually and collectively to enable them to function effectively. A breach of privilege occurs when these rights and immunities are disregarded, and it is considered an offence punishable under parliamentary law. Key Aspects of Breach of …

GS II-POLITY Introduction Judicial appointments in India have long been a subject of debate. Recently, two key developments in the Supreme Court’s Collegium system have surfaced: first, the introduction of interviews for judicial candidates, and second, the exclusion of candidates with close relatives in the judiciary. A persistent power struggle …

GS II – Polity The Finance Bill is a crucial legislative proposal that outlines the government’s taxation and financial policies for the upcoming fiscal year. It is introduced annually in Lok Sabha as part of the Union Budget and includes all necessary legal amendments required for implementing tax proposals. Key …

GS II- Polity Context: The assisted suicide of Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman in 2024 in Switzerland has rekindled global ethical discussions on the issue of assisted dying. Daniel Kahneman’s Contributions Influence on Behavioral Economics: Integrated psychology into economic theories, transforming decision-making analysis. Key Theoretical Contributions: Loss Aversion: Individuals tend to …

GS 2 – POLITY Context The government has introduced the Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha to enhance and modernize immigration regulations. Rationale Behind the Bill Legal Streamlining: The bill seeks to eliminate redundancy by repealing four existing laws, ensuring a more coherent legal framework. Impact on …

GS2 POLITY: Introduction The Dramatic Performances Act of 1876 was a colonial-era law used by the British government to censor theatrical performances deemed seditious or scandalous. The Modi government repealed it as part of broader efforts to modernize India’s legal framework by removing outdated colonial laws. Background & Purpose Enacted …

GS2 POLITY:  The regulation, formulated by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) aim to attract private investment in inland waterways. IWAI under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is the nodal agency for development of waterways Key Provisions of the Regulations Scope: Covers existing and new terminals, both …

GS2 POLITY:  The Union Ministry of Law and Justice withdrew the draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill on February 23, 2025, following widespread lawyer protests and objections from the Bar Council of India (BCI). The Bill, introduced on February 13, 2025, proposed major changes to the legal profession but faced unanimous opposition …

GS2 POLITY: The Supreme Court has halted a Lokpal order concerning a corruption complaint against a High Court judge, highlighting tensions between judicial accountability and independence. The Lokpal, headed by former Supreme Court judge A.M. Khanwilkar, claimed jurisdiction under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, prompting Supreme Court intervention. Supreme …

GS2 POLITY:  What Is Delimitation? Redrawing electoral boundaries to ensure equal representation. Mandated by the Constitution after each Census. Last major delimitation happened in 2001, following a freeze on seat changes since 1976. Historical Context Conducted in 1951, 1961, and 1971 based on Census data. 42nd Amendment (1976) froze seat …

GS2 POLITY: Overview of the DPDP Act The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 regulates digital data processing while balancing individual rights and lawful processing needs. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) is consulting on its draft rules. Disability rights activists oppose Section 9(1), which mandates guardian consent …

GS 2 – POLITY Context The Union Home Minister has assured that the proposed delimitation exercise will not result in a reduction of parliamentary seats in South Indian states, addressing concerns raised by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. What is Delimitation? Delimitation is the process of determining the number of …