1. SUPREME COURT RULES ON SUB-CLASSIFICATION WITHIN SC/ST QUOTA
SUBJECT: POLITY
- The Supreme Court of India, in a landmark constitutional bench judgment, has upheld the power of States to create sub-classifications within the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories to ensure “equitable distribution” of reservation benefits.
- The bench noted that the “creamy layer” principle, previously applicable only to OBCs, should now be identified within SC/ST categories to prevent the concentration of benefits among a few advanced sub-groups.
- The Government of Tamil Nadu has welcomed the move, stating it validates the state’s existing 3% internal reservation for the Arundhathiyar community within the SC quota.
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has also initiated a pilot project for Remote Voting Technology (RVT) for domestic migrants, aiming to increase voter turnout in the upcoming assembly elections.
- A new Private Member’s Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha seeking to amend Article 16(4) to provide a statutory framework for periodic reviews of reservation effectiveness.
- Concepts: Article 341 – Power of the President to specify SCs; Article 16(4) – Enables the State to make provisions for reservation in appointments.
2. TAMIL NADU LAUNCHES ‘GREEN ENERGY CORRIDOR PHASE-III’
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ISSUES
- The Tamil Nadu government, in collaboration with the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, has launched the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-III to integrate 10 GW of offshore wind energy into the state grid.
- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a directive to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to implement a “National Dust Mitigation Manual” across 50 “non-attainment” cities to combat rising PM10 levels.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the “Viksit Bharat” Exhibition in New Delhi, highlighting the digital transformation of rural cooperatives through the “PACS-to-Common Service Centre” initiative.
- The Ministry of Jal Shakti reported that 85% of households in the Kaveri River Basin have now been covered under the Jal Jeevan Mission, marking a significant milestone for water security in South India.
- A massive forest fire in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve has prompted the deployment of Mi-17 helicopters for “Bambi Bucket” operations to protect the endemic Nilgiri Tahr population.
- Concepts: Article 48A – Directive Principle for the protection and improvement of the environment; Public Interest Litigation (PIL) – Often used in NGT for environmental justice.
3. INDIA-ASEAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (AIFTA) REVIEW CONCLUDES
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- India and the 10-member ASEAN bloc concluded the final round of the AIFTA review in Jakarta, focusing on narrowing the trade deficit and addressing “Rules of Origin” concerns.
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the UN Security Council, emphasizing the need for a “Permanent Membership for the Global South” to reflect 21st-century geopolitical realities.
- India has extended a $500 million Line of Credit (LoC) to Mauritius for the development of sustainable blue economy infrastructure and maritime security assets.
- The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) saw progress as a new MoA was signed between India and the UAE for a digital “Virtual Trade Gallery” to track shipments in real-time.
- In response to the political crisis in the Indian Ocean region, the “Colombo Security Conclave” met in Chennai to discuss shared intelligence on maritime drug trafficking.
- Concepts: Look East to Act East Policy – Evolution of India’s engagement with Southeast Asia; Soft Power Diplomacy – Utilization of LoC and cultural ties in international relations.
4. RBI MAINTAINS REPO RATE AT 6.50% AMID STICKY FOOD INFLATION
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI voted to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.50% for the eighth consecutive time, citing the need to bring inflation down to the 4% target durably.
- India’s Direct Tax Collections for the current fiscal year have surpassed the budget estimates by 15%, driven by increased corporate tax compliance and expanded TDS/TCS coverage.
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced new “Instant Settlement” rules (T+0 settlement cycle) for select stocks to enhance liquidity for retail investors.
- The Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission (TANSIM) announced a ₹500 Crore Venture Capital Fund specifically for deep-tech startups in Coimbatore and Madurai.
- India’s Export-Import (EXIM) Bank projected that India’s merchandise exports will hit a record $480 billion by the end of March 2026, despite global supply chain disruptions.
- Concepts: Fiscal Deficit – The gap between total expenditure and total revenue; Gini Coefficient – Used to measure income inequality within the economic framework.
5. INDIAN NAVY COMMISSIONS INS JATAYU IN LAKSHADWEEP
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- The Indian Navy officially commissioned INS Jatayu, a new naval base on Minicoy Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, to bolster maritime domain awareness in the Arabian Sea.
- The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has cleared the procurement of 97 additional Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets, cementing the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative in the aerospace sector.
- The “Dharma Guardian” joint military exercise between India and Japan concluded in Rajasthan, focusing on counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban terrains.
- India has successfully test-fired the Agni-Prime (P) ballistic missile with a canisterized launcher, showcasing improved mobility and rapid-response capabilities for the Strategic Forces Command.
- The Ministry of Defence announced that defence exports have reached an all-time high of ₹25,000 crore, with major demand for BrahMos missiles and Akash air defence systems.
- Concepts: Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – Areas where India has sovereign rights for exploration; Strategic Autonomy – The core of India’s independent defence procurement policy.
