1. SUPREME COURT QUASHES CONTEMPT CONVICTION OVER JUDICIAL CRITICISM
SUBJECT: POLITY
- The Supreme Court set aside a Bombay High Court order convicting a woman for criminal contempt over a social media post criticizing a judge, ruling that contempt jurisdiction protects institutional dignity, not individual judicial officers.
- The bench emphasized proportionality and accepted sincere apologies under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, as sufficient mitigation in bona fide criticism cases.
- Election Commission extended the deadline for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu and four other states; draft rolls in Tamil Nadu now to be published on 19 December.
- A national convention demanded constitutional recognition of health as a fundamental right under Article 21, highlighting chronic underfunding of public health at just 1.28% of GDP.
- Working paper on Generative AI and copyright proposed a “One Nation, One License, One Payment” framework to regulate use of copyrighted material for AI training.
- Concepts: Articles 129 & 215 – Contempt powers of Supreme Court and High Courts; Article 324 – Superintendence of elections by Election Commission.
2. NATIONAL CONVENTION CALLS FOR RIGHT TO HEALTH AS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- Jan Swasthya Abhiyan’s National Convention on Health Rights demanded enforceable right to health under Article 21, criticizing low public health spending and access gaps for Adivasis and marginalized groups.
- Enforcement of Clinical Establishments Act remains weak, with less than 30% private facilities registered in several states, affecting quality regulation.
- A new shield-tail snake species, Rhinophis siruvaniensis, discovered in Siruvani hills of Tamil Nadu, highlighting biodiversity richness of Western Ghats.
- Schools and colleges in several Tamil Nadu districts remained closed due to heavy rain alerts following remnants of Cyclone Ditwah.
- Ministry of Minority Affairs reviewed progress of PM Jan Vikas Karyakram, stressing convergence with PM-SHRI schools and NHM in 870 minority-concentration blocks.
- Concepts: Disaster Management Act, 2005 – Roles of NDMA/SDMA; Clinical Establishments Act, 2010 – Regulation of healthcare facilities.
3. INDIA TO HOST WHO GLOBAL SUMMIT ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINE 2025
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- India launched the 100-day countdown for WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine 2025 in New Delhi, aiming to integrate evidence-based traditional systems into global healthcare frameworks.
- Deepavali inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the New Delhi session, boosting India’s cultural diplomacy.
- India-Russia annual summit concluded with agreements targeting $100 billion bilateral trade by 2030 and deeper defence and energy cooperation.
- U.S. approved fresh arms sales worth $92.8 million to India, strengthening defence interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region.
- India and Brazil signed tripartite MoU with Mazagon Dock for Scorpène submarine maintenance and life-cycle support collaboration.
- Concepts: Non-Alignment 2.0 – Balanced multipolar diplomacy; Indo-Pacific Strategy – U.S.-India partnership for regional stability.
4. ADB RAISES INDIA’S FY26 GROWTH FORECAST TO 7.2%
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- Asian Development Bank upgraded India’s GDP growth projection for FY26 to 7.2% from earlier 6.5%, citing strong domestic demand and continued policy reforms.
- India retained its position as the fastest-growing major economy despite global headwinds from trade tariffs and monetary tightening.
- Retail inflation cooled significantly in recent months, increasing expectations of a rate cut by RBI in the upcoming monetary policy review.
- Microsoft announced $17.5 billion investment in cloud and AI infrastructure in India over four years – its largest commitment in Asia.
- Amazon pledged over $35 billion by 2030 for e-commerce, logistics, and rural digital inclusion initiatives.
- Concepts: Balance of Payments – Managing rupee volatility and forex reserves; Atmanirbhar Bharat – Driving self-reliance through PLI schemes and export targets.
5. INDIA UNVEILS FIRST INDIGENOUS HYDROGEN FUEL CELL VESSEL
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- India launched its first indigenously developed Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel, marking a major step toward green maritime technology and naval decarbonization.
- DRDO transferred seven indigenous technologies to armed forces, including long-life seawater batteries and advanced waterjet propulsion systems.
- HAL Koraput received Russian Transfer of Technology for manufacturing Su-57E engines, advancing fifth-generation fighter production capability.
- Indian Air Force plans integration of SCALP-EG cruise missiles on Su-30MKI fleet to enhance deep-strike precision.
- Sagar Defence’s Varuna heavy-lift drone cleared high-altitude trials; Army evaluating it for logistics supply to forward LAC posts.
- Concepts: Strategic Autonomy – Reducing import dependence through ToT and domestic manufacturing; Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 – Promoting private-sector participation in indigenization.
