1. Supreme Court Re-evaluates ‘Contempt of Court’ Provisions
Subject: POLITY
Review of 1971 Act: The Supreme Court has initiated a suo motu review of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, aiming to redefine the boundaries between “scandalizing the court” and the fundamental right to “freedom of speech” under Article 19(1)(a).
Electoral Reform Proposal: A parliamentary standing committee submitted a report recommending a “cooling-off period” for civil servants and judges before they can join political parties or contest elections to ensure institutional neutrality.
Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Updates: Following Uttarakhand, two more states have tabled draft bills for the implementation of UCC, leading to a renewed national debate on Article 44 of the Directive Principles.
Digital Data Sovereignty: The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) notified new guidelines for the “Right to be Forgotten,” empowering citizens to request the removal of personal data from search engines under the DPDP Act 2023.
Governor’s Role: A Constitutional Bench clarified that Governors must return Bills “as soon as possible” if they withhold assent, emphasizing that the discretionary power cannot be used to paralyze state legislatures.
Concepts:
Article 142: Extraordinary powers of the SC to do “complete justice.”
Separation of Powers: The delicate balance between the Judiciary, Executive, and Legislature.
2. Tamil Nadu Launches India’s First ‘Green Hydrogen Valley’
Subject: NATIONAL ISSUES / ENVIRONMENT
Green Energy Hub: Tamil Nadu officially inaugurated the ‘Green Hydrogen Valley’ in Thoothukudi, aiming to produce 100 tonnes of green hydrogen per day, positioning the state as a leader in India’s Net-Zero 2070 goal.
AI for Landslides: The Ministry of Earth Sciences has deployed AI-based early warning sensors across the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal to predict soil shifts during unseasonal rains.
Caste Census Update: The Union Government informed Parliament that it is considering a “Sub-categorization of OBCs” based on the Rohini Commission recommendations to ensure equitable distribution of reservation benefits.
Inter-State River Linking: The Godavari-Cauvery river linking project saw a breakthrough as the Centre cleared the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the first phase, crucial for Tamil Nadu’s water security.
Heritage Conservation: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) announced a special mission to preserve the “Living Chola Temples” using advanced laser scanning and chemical preservation techniques.
Concepts:
National Green Hydrogen Mission: India’s roadmap to becoming a global hub for clean energy.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Specifically SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
3. India Hosts Global South Summit on Digital Public Infrastructure
Subject: INTERNATIONAL
DPI Leadership: India hosted a virtual summit for 50 “Global South” nations to share the ‘India Stack’ (UPI, Aadhaar, ONDC) technology, promoting digital inclusion as a tool for diplomatic soft power.
India-UK FTA: Negotiators in London have reportedly resolved the “Rules of Origin” deadlock, paving the way for the signing of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement by mid-2026.
Middle East Corridor (IMEC): India and the UAE signed a functional agreement to start “trial shipments” along the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, bypassing traditional maritime bottlenecks.
UNSC Reforms: India, along with the G4 nations, submitted a joint text-based proposal for the expansion of the UN Security Council, gaining support from several African Union members.
Arctic Council: India increased its research footprint in the Arctic by launching the ‘Himadri-II’ station, focusing on the impact of polar melting on the Indian Monsoon.
Concepts:
Multi-alignment: India’s strategy of maintaining robust ties with various power blocs (US, Russia, EU).
Strategic Autonomy: Decision-making independent of external pressure.
4. RBI Reports Record $700 Billion Forex Reserves
Subject: ECONOMY
Forex Milestone: For the first time, India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves touched the $700 billion mark, providing a massive cushion against global currency volatility and oil price shocks.
GST Surge: January 2026 GST collections hit an all-time high of ₹1.98 lakh crore, attributed to increased compliance and robust domestic consumption in the manufacturing sector.
CBDC Expansion: The RBI announced that the Digital Rupee (e-Rupee) will now support “offline transactions,” a move designed to boost digital adoption in rural areas with poor internet connectivity.
Gig Economy Protection: The Ministry of Labour introduced a new social security framework for “Gig Workers,” mandating insurance and accidental benefits for platform-based delivery and service staff.
Semiconductor PLI: Under the PLI 2.0 scheme, three new fabrication units (Fabs) were approved in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, aiming for 40% domestic sourcing of chips by 2027.
Concepts:
Current Account Deficit (CAD): The difference between the value of exports and imports of goods and services.
Fiscal Consolidation: The government’s effort to reduce the fiscal deficit to below 4.5% of GDP.
5. Induction of ‘Tejas Mk2’ and ‘Prachand’ Fleet Expansion
Subject: DEFENCE
LCA Tejas Mk2: The Indian Air Force (IAF) officially inducted the first squadron of Tejas Mark-2, featuring higher payload capacity and advanced indigenous AESA radar.
Indo-Pacific Deterrence: The Indian Navy launched its third ‘Arighat-class’ nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) to strengthen the sea-based leg of India’s Nuclear Triad.
Drone Warfare: The Army established a dedicated “Drone Command” in the Northern Sector, integrating swarm drones and loitering munitions for high-altitude surveillance along the LAC.
Space Defence: ISRO and the Defence Space Agency (DSA) successfully tested an “inspector satellite” designed to protect Indian assets from orbital debris and anti-satellite threats.
Border Infrastructure: The BRO (Border Roads Organization) completed the world’s highest motorable tunnel at Shinku La, providing all-weather connectivity to Ladakh.
Concepts:
Nuclear Triad: The capability to launch nuclear missiles from land, air, and sea.
iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence): Encouraging startups to innovate for the Indian Armed Forces.
