Tag: Polity
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SIR and the Annihilation of Rights: Analyzing the Controversy over Electoral Roll
Context : The opinion article critiques the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in several states, arguing that the process imposes an excessive burden of proof on ordinary citizens, potentially leading to the arbitrary disenfranchisement and the “annihilation of rights.” I. Context: The Special Intensive Revision…
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Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act Secures Amaravati
Secures Amaravati Context: The Centre’s move to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act comes amid renewed demands from the Naidu government to formally recognise Amaravati as the state capital. How is the changing of the capital done in India Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act Constitutional–Legal Procedure The Constitution does not prescribe a uniform process for shifting…
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Balancing Identity and Inclusivity: The Supreme Court’s Verdict on Section 6A of the Citizenship Act
Balancing Identity and Inclusivity This essay explains the Supreme Court’s verdict about Section 6A of the Citizenship Act. It looks at the Court’s ruling and opinions from news articles, showing how the Court supported the Assam Accord, which tries to balance helping immigrants with protecting Assam’s culture. The Court decided that Section 6A is fair…
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Ladakh’s Political Journey and the Path to Autonomy
This essay, inspired by Rangarajan’s article “What Special Status is Ladakh Seeking?” from The Hindu (October 3, 2024), talks about how Ladakh changed from being an independent kingdom to becoming a Union Territory. This change shows how Ladakh is trying to protect its special culture while asking for more control over its own affairs and…
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The Living Constitution: A Dynamic Framework for India’s Evolving Society
This essay critically analyses the September 26 New Delhi news story in The Hindu (September 27, 2024) titled “Constitutional Doctrine Evolves with Society, No Generation can Claim Monopoly over it,” which covers Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud’s speech at the M.K. Nambyar Memorial Lecture. The analysis highlights his emphasis on the Indian Constitution’s adaptability…
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Understanding Patriotism: How the Constitution Separates Government from Nation
Introduction As India just celebrated its 77th Independence Day, it is a good time to reflect on what it means to be truly patriotic. Many people confuse loyalty to the government with love for the nation. However, true patriotism means loving the values, principles, and ideals of the country, which are protected by the…
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Assam’s Foreigner’s Tribunals
Context: The Assam government, keeping with the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019, asked the Border wing of the State’s police not to forward cases of non-Muslims who entered India illegally before 2014 to the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs). About Foreign tribunals(FT’s): The FTs are quasi-judicial bodies formed through the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order of 1964 under…
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Central Information Commission
Context: The Supreme Court has affirmed that the Central Information Commission (CIC) has the authority to constitute benches and establish regulations, emphasising the importance of the CIC’s autonomy for its effective functioning. More in the news: The ruling was given in the Central Information Commission vs Delhi Development Authority case (2024). The Chief Information Commissioner’s…
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Gram Nyayalayas
Context: The Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court (HC) inaugurated two-gram Nyayalayas in Jharkhand with the primary aim of deliver justice through constitutional means at the local level. About Gram Nyayalayas Constitutional Provisions: Under Part IV of the Constitution Article 39A: Equal justice and free legal aid The State shall provide free legal aid,…
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Jurisdiction Powers of CBI
Context: The Supreme Court upheld the maintainability of the West Bengal government’s suit accusing the Union government of “constitutional overreach” accusing the CBI of investigating cases in the state despite the withdrawal of general consent in November, 2018. About CBI The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was set up in 1963 by a resolution…
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Parliamentary Privileges
Context: In the 18th Lok Sabha, both the opposition and the ruling party have been accusing each other of violating parliamentary privileges by expunging proceedings(cease to exist in the records of Parliament and cannot be reported by media houses) and making inflammatory statements. Parliamentary Privileges: Parliamentary privileges refer to the special rights, immunities, and exemptions…
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Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) Annual Board Meeting in Sri Lanka
Context: Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Additional Secretary, is representing India at the three-day CLGF Annual Board meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka. More on News: The conference facilitated regional exchange and priority setting for ongoing initiatives in Commonwealth Asia. It also guided the future work of CLGF’s Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network. It…
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Deputy Speaker
Context : In the 18th Lok Sabha duly constituted Opposition’s is hoping to get the post of Deputy Speaker as the convention in past has been of opposition keeping the Dy speaker post. Why in news? There was no Deputy Speaker for the entire duration of the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24). M Thambi Durai…
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Leader of Opposition
Context: Lok Sabha got the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, a position that was left vacant for the past 10 years. Criteria for selection : There is no provision in the Constitution or in the Lok Sabha Rules of Procedure in regard to the recognition of the LoP. There was no…
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Amended Surrogacy Leave Rules for Government Employees.
Context: The Centre has notified amended rules to allow women government employees to take 180 days of maternity leave in case they have children through surrogacy. More on news: Government has amended Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972. Maternity leave of 180 days granted to surrogate or commissioning mothers if they are government servants…
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Kerala Assembly’s demand to rename state as “Keralam’
Context: The Kerala Assembly’s recent unanimous resolution urging the Centre to rename the state from “Kerala” to “Keralam” has sparked attention due to its historical and cultural significance. More in News: This move, reiterated after a previous attempt last year, aims to align the state’s official name in the Constitution with its Malayalam pronunciation…
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Mercy Petition
Context: President Droupadi Murmu rejected the Mercy Petition filed by Pakistani National Mohammed Arif who was sentenced to death for a Terrorist attack on the Red Fort. More on News: Mohammed Arif was implicated in the terrorist attack at the Red Fort on December 22, 2000. In 2005, the Trial court convicted him and…
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National Litigation Policy
Context: To reduce the burden of pending court cases in which the government is a party, the law ministry clears the National Litigation Policy that seeks to expedite the resolution of pending cases. More on News: The policy would address issues of litigants such as high legal costs, lack of access to legal appeals,…
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European Parliament
Context: The June 6-9 European Parliament elections, which involved 51% of 27 EU countries’ electors, saw rightwing and far-right parties gain at the expense of mainly Left and liberal parties. The European Parliament (EP) is the main institution of the EU, providing democratic legitimacy to its activities. President: Roberta Metsola Established in: 1952 as…
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Competition Commission of India (CCI)
Context: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of Global Infrastructure Management, LLC (GIM) by BlackRock Funding, Inc. (BFI). More on News: The acquisition involves BFI acquiring 100% of the limited liability company interests in GIM. BFI, a newly created subsidiary fully owned by BlackRock Inc., has no independent activities. BlackRock is…
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Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme
Context: The Union Government, on June 10, released the 17th installment of the PM Kisan Nidhi as the first decision of the newly sworn-in government. More on News: The scheme will benefit 9.3 crore farmers. Approximately Rs 20,000 crore will be distributed to the farmers. The Union government expressed intent to continue working even…