1. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS PRIVACY NORMS IN DIGITAL ARREST INVESTIGATIONS
SUBJECT: POLITY
- The Supreme Court of India, in a landmark ruling today, established strict guidelines for law enforcement agencies investigating “digital arrest” scams, emphasizing that accused individuals cannot be forced to share biometric passwords without a judicial warrant.
- The Bench cited Article 21 (Right to Life and Liberty) and Article 20(3) (Right against Self-Incrimination), stating that digital privacy is an extension of personal liberty in the 21st century.
- The Union Home Ministry reported a 40% decline in cyber-fraud success rates following the mandatory integration of the ‘Chakshu’ portal with private banking APIs.
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced a pilot project for “Remote Voting” for internal migrants in upcoming state bye-elections, aiming to increase voter turnout among the labor force.
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice submitted a report recommending the “One Nation, One Registration” policy for property deeds to minimize litigation and improve federal land record transparency.
- Concepts: Doctrine of Self-Incrimination – Protection under the Constitution against being a witness against oneself; Article 324 – Powers of the ECI to ensure inclusive and fair elections.
2. INDIA LAUNCHES ‘MISSION AMRIT GANGA’ FOR SUSTAINABLE RIVER ECOSYSTEMS
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ISSUES
- The Prime Minister officially launched ‘Mission Amrit Ganga 2.0’, focusing on the “Circular Water Economy” which treats 100% of municipal sewage in 50 riparian cities before it enters the river system.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified new ‘Blue Carbon’ credit rules, allowing coastal states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat to trade credits generated from mangrove restoration.
- In Tamil Nadu, the State Government inaugurated the ‘Kalaignar Centenary Library & Knowledge Hub’ in Tiruchirappalli, aimed at providing free digital resources for UPSC and TNPSC aspirants in suburban regions.
- The NITI Aayog released the ‘State of Healthcare Report 2026’, ranking Tamil Nadu and Kerala as the top performers in maternal health and geriatric care infrastructure.
- The Central Government approved the North-East Green Energy Corridor, a ₹15,000 crore project to evacuate 10 GW of renewable energy from Arunachal Pradesh to the National Grid.
- Concepts: National Ganga Council – Chaired by the PM to oversee river rejuvenation; Blue Carbon – Carbon sequestered by coastal and marine ecosystems like mangroves and seagrasses.
3. INDIA-ASEAN SIGN REVISED FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (AITIGA)
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- India and the ASEAN bloc finalized the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) in Jakarta today, addressing long-standing trade deficits by securing better market access for Indian chemicals and textiles.
- India abstained from a UN General Assembly vote regarding global digital tax norms, advocating instead for a “Global South Consensus” that protects the taxing rights of developing nations.
- The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) reached a milestone with the signing of a ‘Data Cable Protocol’ between India, UAE, and Saudi Arabia for high-speed undersea connectivity.
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with his counterpart from Russia to discuss the “Rupee-Rouble” settlement mechanism’s expansion into non-energy sectors like fertilizers and coking coal.
- India sent a third consignment of humanitarian aid, including mobile hospitals and disaster relief equipment, to Vietnam following the aftermath of a major tectonic shift in the South China Sea region.
- Concepts: Act East Policy – Strategic shift from ‘Look East’ to proactive engagement with ASEAN; IMEC – A multi-modal connectivity project aimed at countering regional monopolies.
4. RBI MAINTAINS REPO RATE AT 6.25% AMID STABLE INFLATION TRENDS
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI voted to keep the Repo Rate unchanged at 6.25%, citing a “cautious optimism” as headline inflation settled within the 4% +/- 2% target range.
- India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves hit a record high of $710 billion, providing a significant cushion against global currency volatility and FPI outflows.
- The GST Council proposed a simplified three-tier tax structure (5%, 12%, and 18%) to replace the current complex slabs, aiming to further ease the compliance burden on MSMEs.
- Direct Tax collections for FY 2025-26 exceeded targets by 15%, driven by AI-enabled tax auditing and increased corporate profitability in the manufacturing sector.
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced “Instant Settlement” (T+0) for the top 500 listed stocks, making India the first major economy to implement real-time trade settling.
- Concepts: Inflation Targeting – The primary mandate of the MPC; T+0 Settlement – The transition from trade-day plus one to immediate transfer of shares and funds.
5. INDO-PACIFIC DEFENCE SUMMIT: INDIA UNVEILS ‘VIKRANT-II’ BLUEPRINT
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- The Ministry of Defence officially unveiled the design blueprint for INS Vikrant-II, India’s third aircraft carrier, which will feature 80% indigenous components and an integrated electric propulsion system.
- The Indian Army successfully tested the ‘Nag-ER’ (Extended Range) anti-tank guided missile in the Pokhran range, achieving a strike precision of 7km.
- A high-level defence delegation from France arrived in New Delhi to finalize the ‘Atmanirbhar’ joint venture for building Scorpene-class submarines with advanced Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology.
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) formally inducted the first squadron of ‘Tejas Mk2’ fighter jets, marking a significant leap in India’s 4.5-generation combat aircraft capabilities.
- Joint military exercise ‘SURYA KIRAN 2026’ between India and Nepal commenced today in Pithoragarh, focusing on counter-terrorism and high-altitude disaster rescue operations.
- Concepts: AIP Technology – Allows conventional submarines to stay submerged for longer periods; Indigenization List – A list of defense items restricted from import to promote local manufacturing.
