- Tamil Nadu Forms Committee to Strengthen State Autonomy
Subject: Polity
- The Tamil Nadu government has established a high-level committee to enhance state autonomy and federalism, chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph.
- The committee aims to address perceived erosion of state rights, emphasizing India’s federal structure as a “Union of States.”
- It will submit an interim report by January 2026 and a final report within two years.
- Tamil Nadu opposes central policies like NEET and the three-language policy, citing threats to state identity and autonomy.
- Concepts: Article 200 (Governor’s assent to state bills), Concurrent List (42nd Amendment Act, 1976).
- Significance: Strengthens the debate on federalism and state rights in India’s governance framework.
2. India Seeks Financial Transparency in Pharma Marketing Practices
Subject: National Issues
- The Central Government has requested pharmaceutical companies to disclose marketing expenditure details for the past year.
- This move aims to curb unethical marketing practices and ensure transparency in the healthcare sector.
- It aligns with efforts to regulate the pharmaceutical industry, which impacts public health and economic fairness.
- The initiative is part of broader reforms to enhance accountability in corporate practices.
- Concepts: Public health policy, regulatory oversight under the Ministry of Health.
- Significance: Addresses concerns about inflated drug prices and unethical promotions affecting consumers.
3. India-Pakistan Tensions and Disinformation Challenges
Subject: International
- Amid a recent ceasefire, Pakistan has intensified state-sponsored disinformation campaigns using doctored visuals and fake narratives.
- India’s Election Commission and defense agencies are urged to enhance real-time monitoring to counter disinformation.
- Disinformation is identified as a non-kinetic strategy in modern warfare, aiming to destabilize public morale.
- Concepts: Freedom of speech vs. hate speech, Model Code of Conduct (Election Commission).
- India advocates for global partnerships to combat narrative manipulation and protect democratic discourse.
- Significance: Highlights the need for media literacy and robust cybersecurity in international relations.
4. RBI Introduces Draft Guidelines for Gold Loans
Subject: Economy
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released draft guidelines for gold loans, effective January 1, 2026, to address rising non-performing assets (NPAs).
- The guidelines aim to strengthen risk management in gold loan portfolios for banks and NBFCs.
- They include stricter valuation norms and enhanced borrower verification processes.
- Concepts: Monetary policy, financial inclusion, and NPA management.
- Significance: Protects the financial sector’s stability while ensuring fair lending practices for consumers.
- Tamil Nadu, a key gold loan market, will see impacts on local NBFCs and borrowers.
5. Women Cadets Graduate from National Defence Academy
Subject: Defence
- Seventeen women cadets graduated from the National Defence Academy (NDA), marking a milestone in gender inclusion in the Indian armed forces.
- This event reflects the evolving role of women in defense, with increased opportunities in combat roles.
- The graduation aligns with ongoing reforms to modernize India’s military training infrastructure.
- Concepts: Gender equality in defense, modernization of armed forces.
- Significance: Enhances diversity and strengthens India’s defense capabilities through inclusive policies.
- Tamil Nadu’s contributions to defense personnel training are notable, with several cadets from the state.
