Supreme Court junks plea seeking Air India safety audit after Ahmedabad plane crash
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to hear a plea to appoint a retired top court judge to examine Air India's safety practices among other aspects and asked the petitioner why target the airline that witnessed an "unfortunate tragedy".
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi told the petitioner in-person, Narendera Kumar Goswami, to withdraw his PIL and asked him to move the appropriate forum in case of grievances.
"Don't give the impression that you are playing with other airlines. Why target Air India only which recently witnessed an unfortunate tragedy? If you want some regulatory mechanism in place, then why did you not make other airlines as party in your petition? Why only Air India?" the bench asked Goswami, a lawyer. The petitioner claimed to be a victim of "some unfortunate incident" with the airline. Justice Kant then told him, "We also travel every week and know what is the status. There was a tragedy, a very unfortunate one. This is not a time to run down an airline."
Goswami in his PIL, which he filed in July, sought directions for constituting an independent committee, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to examine Air India's safety practices, maintenance procedures, and operational protocols, with a report to be submitted within three months. He also sought a direction for a comprehensive safety audit of Air India's entire fleet by an international aviation safety agency accredited by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), addressing deficiencies identified in the 2024 ICAO audit report, to be completed within six months. Additionally, Directorate General of Civil Aviation was sought to be directed to implement and enforce a transparent, publicly accessible reporting system for all aviation safety incidents, including a centralized database, ensuring compliance with the Aircraft Rules, 1937, and international best practices. The PIL further sought a direction to Air India to provide compensation to the families of AI-171 crash victims in accordance with the Montreal Convention, 1999, and to offer ex-gratia payments or compensation to passengers of AI-143 for distress and inconvenience caused by the safety incident, as per applicable laws and industry standards.
The London-bound Air India flight, Boeing Dreamliner 787-8, with 242 passengers and crew on board, crashed moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on the afternoon of June 12.
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Indian Express
18 minutes ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Open Book Exam, Sports Governance Bill and Wastewater Surveillance
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 13, 2025. If you missed the August 12, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here. Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues. Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Constitution of India —historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. What's the ongoing story: The Supreme Court on Monday said inclusion of a citizen oг exclusion of a non-citizen from the voters' list was well within the Election Commission's powers. Key Points to Ponder: — Who is a citizen in India? — What are the constitutional provisions providing for citizenship? — According to the ECI, which documents are considered conclusive proof of citizenship in the ongoing SIR in Bihar? — What does the Aadhaar Act tell about the citizenship of a person holding it? — What are the issues in including Aadhaar and Ration card as a document for approving citizenship? — Is the name in the electoral roll automatically qualifies the person for citizenship? Key Takeaways: — The court also agreed with the EC's view that Aadhaar and voter card can't be conclusive proof of citizenship in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and would need further verification. — Hearing petitions challenging the SIR, Justice Surya Kant, presiding over a two-Judge bench, said the litigation 'largely' seemed to be 'a case of trust deficiency'. — The top court said that self-declaration of citizenship may lead to legal complications and added that the ECI can verify their authenticity. — Justice Kant pointed out that it's not the ECI but the Aadhaar Act which says that the unique identification number is not proof of citizenship. — Activist and psephologist Yogendra Yadav, who also addressed the court, said, 'This is the first revision exercise in the whole country where there is zero addition and there are only omissions.' — He said Bihar has an adult population of 8.18 crore and that when there should have been more voters, 65 lakhs have been excluded. — Yadav contended that mass disenfranchisement has already taken place, adding that it did not happen due to the failure of the SIR but that the process was designed for the purpose. Do You Know: — In a separate ruling, the Bombay High Court said on Tuesday (12th August) that a person does not become a citizen of India merely by possessing documents like Aadhaar card, PAN card or a voter ID, while refusing bail to a man, allegedly from Bangladesh, for entering India illegally. — The Constitution of India came into effect on January 26, 1950. However, it's worth noting that the sections regarding citizenship were only put into effect on the day of the Constitution's adoption, which was November 29, 1949. — Although the term citizenship is not explicitly defined in the Constitution, Articles 5-11 outline the framework for citizenship at the time of the Constitution's commencement. — These provisions delineate the methods of acquiring citizenship, such as birth, domicile, and descent, as well as circumstances that disqualify individuals from obtaining Indian citizenship. — Article 5 specifically addresses citizenship at the outset of the Constitution. It establishes a dual requirement for granting citizenship, which includes being 'domiciled' in India and meeting one of three criteria. — These are — being born in Indian territory, having at least one parent born in Indian territory, or being a resident of Indian territory for a minimum of five consecutive years preceding the Constitution's commencement. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍How citizenship was decided by makers of Indian Constitution 📍Yogendra Yadav, Rahul Shastri write on SIR: In Bihar, the edge of disenfranchisement Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (1) With reference to India, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2021) 1. There is only one citizenship and one domicile. 2. A citizen by birth only can become the Head of State. 3. A foreigner once granted the citizenship cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 2 and 3 only Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Indian Constitution, significant provisions and basic structure, Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary. What's the ongoing story: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced Tuesday that he has accepted a resolution signed by 146 MPs across parties seeking the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court — who is facing allegations of 'corruption' following the recovery of half-burnt wads of currency notes at his official residence — and set up a three-member committee to probe the charges against him. Key Points to Ponder: — What are the constitutional provisions related to the judiciary? — What are the powers and functions of High Court judges? — What is impeachment? — What are the constitutional provisions and procedures governing the impeachment of High Court judges? — What are the grounds for impeachment of judges? — What is the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968, and what are its key provisions? — What Article 218 of the Constitution of India says? — What role do parliamentary Houses and presiding officers play in the impeachment of High court judges? Key Takeaways: — The committee comprises Supreme Court's Justice Aravind Kumar, Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Karnataka High Court senior advocate B V Acharya. Birla said the committee will present its report as soon as possible. The report will form the basis of debate and voting in Parliament on Justice Varma's impeachment. — The Judges Inquiry Act 1968 deals with the process for removal of a judge of a constitutional court. — Reading out the resolution, Birla said, 'This House resolves that a petition be presented to the President for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court from his office for the following misconduct.' — Quoting from the resolution, Birla stated, 'Impeccable character and financial/ intellectual integrity are the foundation of the trust placed by a common man in the judiciary. And that the facts of the present case which point to corruption are violative of the tenets of Article 124, Articles 217 and 218 of the Constitution of India and deserve due process and scrutiny.' — Birla said, 'Finding this proposal to be in accordance with the rules, I have approved it. In accordance with sub-section 2 of section 3 of the Judges (Judges) Act, 1968, I have constituted a committee consisting of the following 3 members to examine the grounds of request for removal of Justice Yashwant Verma from the post.' Do You Know: — The Constitution states that a judge of a constitutional court can only be removed on two grounds: proved 'misbehaviour' and 'incapacity'. The procedure to be followed for removal is laid down in the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968. — Once a motion for impeachment is adopted by either House, the Speaker/ Chairman has to constitute a three-member committee of inquiry. The committee is headed by the Chief Justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court, and has a Chief Justice of any High Court, and a person who is in the opinion of the Speaker/ Chairman, a 'distinguished jurist'. — For an impeachment motion against an SC or HC judge to go through, at least two-thirds of those 'present and voting' in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha must vote in favour of removing the judge — and the number of votes in favour must be more than 50% of the 'total membership' of each House. If Parliament passes such a vote, the President will pass an order for the removal of the judge. — The process of impeachment of a judge of the Supreme Court is laid down in Article 124(4) of the Constitution of India. Article 218 says the same provisions shall apply in relation to a judge of the High Court as well. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Impeachment of judges 📍145 LS, 63 RS MPs submit notices for Justice Varma impeachment Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (2) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2020) 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per the Judges (Inquiry) Act 1968. 2. The Constitution of India defines and gives details or what constitutes 'incapacity and proved misbehaviour' of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India. 3. The details of the process of impeachment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India is given in 4 the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. 4. If the motion for the impeachment of a Judge is taken up for voting, the law requires the motion to be backed by each House of the Parliament and supported by a majority of total membership of that House and by not less than two-thirds of total members of that House present and voting. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 3 only (c) 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 3 and 4 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. What's the ongoing story: A key public health tool that is crucial to monitor infectious diseases, and identify outbreak trends early, is being strengthened to cover more areas and identify more infections. Key Points to Ponder: — What is wastewater surveillance? — Why is it important? — What is antimicrobial resistance? — Why is wastewater surveillance important for antimicrobial resistance? — What is the difference between antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance? Key Takeaways: — Wastewater surveillance, which is currently used for polio and Covid-19, is now being deployed to monitor more commonly reported symptoms caused by several pathogens, such as fever, diarrhoea, acute encephalitis syndrome (inflammation of the brain), and respiratory distress. — Such an expansion has significant public health implications since it is being done with the aim of detecting potential outbreaks early, as well as identifying unusual patterns that may indicate a public health concern. — The surveillance will also study patterns of antimicrobial resistance — a global public health threat — that results in the drugs becoming less effective, making it difficult to treat infections. — At present, tracking changes in the susceptibility of different pathogens to available antimicrobials is being done through a network of 60 hospitals across the country. — While antimicrobial resistance surveillance through a hospital network can provide important trends on which drug continues to work for which disease, it cannot track resistance patterns in the community. Wastewater surveillance, on the other hand, can capture these patterns — even in those who might not go to a hospital for treatment. — The enhanced surveillance will be carried out through the ICMR's (Indian Council of Medical Research) flagship national network of Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories: specialised facilities that focus on the diagnosis, research and surveillance of viral diseases. — Wastewater surveillance proved to be an effective tool in tracking Covid-19. A study from Mumbai shows that the pathogen was detected in wastewater up to three weeks before clinical diagnosis of cases. — Another study from Pune showed that silent waves of Covid-19 after the Omicron wave could be detected in wastewater. The XBB variant was detected 130–253 days before it was clinically identified in patients. Do You Know: — Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a condition in which bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, which include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics. — As a result, infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death. It is the result of evolution of microbes in a situation where there is a misuse or overuse of antibiotics. — According to World Health Organisation- Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of antibiotics. Bacteria, not humans, become antibiotic resistant. These bacteria may then infect humans and are harder to treat than non-resistant bacteria. — Antimicrobial resistance is a broader term, encompassing resistance to drugs to treat infections caused by other microbes as well, such as parasites (e.g. malaria), viruses (e.g. HIV) and fungi (e.g. Candida). — According to WHO— ' Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health and development threats. It is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.' Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍What is anti-microbial resistance (AMR) and why is it a grave threat? 📍UPSC Issue at a Glance | Antimicrobial Resistance and India Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (3) Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India? (UPSC CSE 2019) 1. Genetic predisposition of some people 2. Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases 3. Using antibiotics in livestock farming 4. Multiple chronic diseases in some people Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 2, 3 and 4 only Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without Doctor's prescription, be contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseasesin India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved. (UPSC CSE 2014) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Indian Constitution, Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary. What's the ongoing story: The Chief Justice of India is not superior to other judges of the Supreme Court and exercises the same judicial powers as the rest, Chief Justice B R Gavai said on Tuesday. Key Points to Ponder: — Appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of India—What you know about the same. — How is the seniority of judges in the Supreme Court decided? — What are the qualifications required for a person to be appointed as the Chief Justice of India? — What are the constitutional provisions to safeguard and ensure the independent and impartial functioning of a Judge? — Jurisdiction and powers of Chief Justice of India-Know in detail. Key Takeaways: — The CJI made the observation as a three-judge bench, presided by him and comprising Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria, took up an application by the Enforcement Directorate for recall of the court's April 26, 2023 judgment in Ritu Chhabaria vs. Union of India & Ors case. — A two-judge bench of Justices (retired) Krishna Murari and C T Ravikumar it its 2023 judgment deprecated the 'practice' of investigating agencies filing chargesheet in court even before completion of probe so as to deny default bail to accused, and said that even in such cases the right of the accused to default bail will not be extinguished. — As per the law, the chargesheet has to be filed within 60 days from the date of arrest of the accused in cases triable by lower courts and 90 days in cases triable by a sessions court. Failure to file the chargesheet within this period entitles an accused to default bail. — Days after the April 26 ruling, the ED approached the SC and told a bench presided by then CJI D Y Chandrachud that the Delhi High Court had granted bail to the accused in a case probed by it based on the SC judgment in the Ritu Chhabaria case. The agency pointed out that the decision will have nationwide repercussions. By order dated May 12, 2023, the SC suspended the operation of the April 26 judgment. — On Tuesday, CJI Gavai expressed his displeasure over the one-judge bench, even if that be the CJI-headed bench, hearing appeals against judgements of any other bench of the SC. — 'The Chief Justice of India is not superior to the other judges. He is the first among the others. The CJI exercises the same judicial powers as all other judges of this court,' the CJI said. Do You Know: — The Chief Justice of India and the other judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Indian Constitution. It is mentioned in Article 124 that appointment by the President is to be done 'after consultation' with judges of the Supreme Court, as the President may 'deem necessary'. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍 How is India's top judge chosen? 📍How is seniority decided in the SC? Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (4) What is the provision to safeguard the autonomy of the Supreme Court of India? (UPSC CSE 2012) 1. While appointing the Supreme Court Judges, the President of India has to consult the Chief Justice of India. 2. The Supreme Court Judges can be removed by the Chief Justice of India only. 3. The salaries of the Judges are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India to which the legislature does not have to vote. 4. All appointments of officers and staffs of the Supreme Court of India are made by the Government only after consulting the Chief Justice of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: Critically examine the Supreme Court's judgement on 'National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014' with reference to appointment of judges of higher judiciary in India. (UPSC CSE 2017) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. What's the ongoing story: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will introduce open-book assessments (OBE) in Class 9 from 2026-27, after a pilot study showed strong 'teacher support' for the idea. Key Points to Ponder: — What are open-book exams? — What is the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020? — What is the history of the open-book examination format worldwide? — Is the open-book examination a new concept in India? — What are the benefits of OBE? — What are the concerns associated with OBE? — Know in detail about the educational reforms in India? — What are the constitutional provisions related to Education? Key Takeaways: — The CBSE Governing Body cleared the plan in June. Held in November-December 2023, the pilot was conducted for English, Mathematics and Science in Classes 9 and 10, and for English, Mathematics and Biology in Classes 11 and 12. The move has put the spotlight on OBEs and the debate over their place in India's classrooms. — An open-book exam allows students to use approved resources like textbooks, class notes, or other specified material during an assessment, rather than mainly testing memory. — The challenge lies in knowing where to look, making sense of the material, and applying it to the problem at hand. In a science paper, for instance, the facts might be in front of you, but the real test is linking them together to reach a conclusion. These exams evaluate whether students can interpret ideas effectively, instead of just repeating them. — Open-book exams have been around for decades. In fact, Hong Kong introduced them as early as 1953. — Despite early experiments, OBEs remain rare in high-stakes school exams. Most secondary boards and standardised tests — such as the UK's GCSEs or the US SATs — still require closed-book answers. — The Covid-19 pandemic changed that temporarily. As universities shifted online, many introduced open-book, open-note or even open-web exams. Many students struggled initially — not because of the subject matter, but because they were not familiar with the format. — The open-book examination is not a new concept in India. In 2014, CBSE launched the Open Text-Based Assessment (OTBA) to steer students away from rote learning. It applied to Class 9 for Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science, and to Class 11 final exams for subjects like Economics, Biology and Geography. Students were given reference material four months in advance. — But by 2017-18, CBSE dropped the initiative, concluding it had not succeeded in developing the 'critical abilities' it was meant to promote. — The CBSE approval to the OBE is part of a larger shift in the way schools approach assessment. While the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 does not name open-book tests, it calls for moving away from rote memorisation and towards competency-based learning. The goal is for students to grasp concepts, understand processes, and explain how they apply them. Do You Know: — Open-book formats have a stronger presence in collegiate education. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approved their use in engineering colleges in 2019 after an expert panel's recommendation. During the pandemic, Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Aligarh Muslim University used OBEs, while IIT Delhi, IIT Indore and IIT Bombay ran them online. — Delhi University's first OBE took place in August 2020; the last was in March 2022. The university returned to physical exams in January 2022 but allowed one more round for students admitted in November 2021. — More recently, Kerala's higher education reforms commission has proposed using the format only for internal or practical exams. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Best of Both Sides: With open book exams, Indian students will benefit from ancient wisdom, modern pedagogy 📍Before open book exams, teach students to think Previous year UPSC Prelims/Mains Question Covering similar theme: (5) Which of the following provisions of the Constitution does India have a bearing on Education? (UPSC CSE 2012) 1. Directive Principles of State Policy 2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies 3. Fifth Schedule 4. Sixth Schedule 5. Seventh Schedule Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3, 4 and 5 only (c) 1, 2 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. What's the ongoing story: Rajya Sabha cleared the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, on Tuesday, a day after its passage in Lok Sabha. Key Points to Ponder: — What was the need for passing the National Sports Governance Bill? — Why is the BCCI excluded from the RTI Act under this new Bill? — Is BCCI a public authority? — Which committee was formed for reform in the BCCI? — What are the issues related to transparency in the BCCI? — What are the other Bills passed by the Parliament in this Monsoon session? Key Takeaways: — Under the provisions of the Bill, only a sports body that receives financial assistance from the state qualifies as a 'public authority' under the Right to Information Act, 2005. This effectively excludes the BCCI because it does not receive any direct financial aid from the government. — The proposed law will provide for the recognition of national sports bodies and regulate their functioning, and will align sports governance in India with the Olympic and Paralympic Charters, and with international best practices. — The aim is to bring transparency and accountability in national sports federations, and open up hosting, collaboration, and funding opportunities. Since cricket will soon be an Olympic sport, it is necessary for the government to also bring BCCI under the proposed law. — A subsequent amendment to the draft, however, said that a recognised sports organisation 'receiving grants or any other financial assistance' from the government shall be considered a public authority only 'with respect to utilisation of such grants or any other financial assistance'. — The BCCI has for long argued that it is a private, autonomous body and not a 'public authority'. Indeed, it is not a sports federation under the Union Sports Ministry; legally, it is an autonomous charitable society registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975. — In its 275th Report (2018) titled 'Legal Framework: BCCI vis-à-vis Right to Information Act, 2005', the Law Commission of India recommended that BCCI should be classified as a public authority, pointing to the significant indirect financial assistance it had received from the government over the years. — The Report noted that between 1997 and 2007, the board had received tax exemptions to the tune of more than Rs 2,100 crore due to its legal status as a charitable institution. The foregoing of this revenue amounted to indirect funding for the board, the Commission argued. — The report also cited examples of state governments providing land to state cricket associations at highly subsidised rates; for example, in Himachal Pradesh, the land for a stadium was reportedly leased for Re 1 per month. — The Supreme Court has noted that the BCCI performs 'public functions' that are akin to those of a state body. In a 2015 judgment, the court noted that it selects the teams that represent India, uses national colours and symbols, and exercises a monopoly over the sport with the 'tacit concurrence' of the government. — A committee led by Justice R M Lodha, which was appointed by the Supreme Court in 2015 to recommend reforms in cricket, described the functioning of the BCCI as a 'closed door and back-room affair', and said that the 'legislature must seriously consider bringing BCCI within the purview of the RTI Act'. — Bringing the BCCI under the RTI Act would mean that any citizen of India could seek information covering not just financial matters, but the entire gamut of the board's operations. — The public would be able to demand information on the criteria for team selection, details of contracts awarded for broadcasting and infrastructure, the process of appointment of officials and coaches, and the minutes of BCCI meetings. This would force the board to justify its decisions to the public at large, and not just to its constituent members. Do You Know: — Parliament on Tuesday also passed a new income tax Bill to replace the six-decade-old Income Tax Act, 1961. — The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, which reinforces NADA's autonomy as required by the World Anti-Doping Agency, was also passed by the Parliament. — Piloting the Income Tax Bill, 2025, in Rajya Sabha, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said it does not impose any new tax rate and only simplifies the language, which is required for understanding the complex income tax laws. — The new Bill removes redundant provisions and archaic language and reduces the number of Sections from 819 in the Income Tax Act of 1961 to 536 and the number of chapters from 47 to 23. — The Lok Sabha passed the Indian Ports Bill 2025 and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2025 by voice vote. — The Indian Ports Bill 2025 intends to establish and empower State Maritime Boards for effective management of ports other than major ports besides establishing the Maritime State Development Council for fostering structured growth and development of the port sector. — The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2025 seeks to widen the scope and territorial domain of the National Mineral Exploration Trust to enable the use of the funds accrued to it within India, including offshore areas, and outside India for the exploration and development of mines and minerals. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained Interview | Unpacking the National Sports Governance Bill, now in Lok Sabha UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: An athlete participates in the Olympics for personal triumph and nation's glory; victors are showered with cash incentives by various agencies, on their return. Discuss the merit of state sponsored talent hunt and its cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement. (UPSC CSE 2014) Human-canine conflict is not a novel issue in India…In the present case, the Supreme Court's concern is understandable. When there is complete failure on behalf of the state to address an issue, even the doctrine of separation of powers permits the judiciary to step in and hold the executive accountable. However, the Court's August 11 intervention is legally problematic on multiple counts.' 'The first major problem with the order is that it was passed in contravention of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 and the PCA (Animal Birth Control) Rules, 2023, which prohibit the relocation of dogs and provide for the establishment of scientifically proven and robust animal birth control programmes across the country.' 'Second, by ignoring its own jurisprudence on the issue, the Supreme Court has violated the principle of stare decisis (to stand by things decided). The Supreme Court has already settled this in Animal Welfare Board of India vs People for Elimination of Stray Troubles (2024). Reopening the issue in just a little over one year will dilute the people's faith in the certainty and finality of decisions of the apex court.' 'Third, the Supreme Court's order violates a core principle of natural justice: Audi alteram partem (hear the other side).' Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at
Hindustan Times
18 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Bill to form trust for Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan introduced in UP assembly
LUCKNOW: The Yogi Adityanath government introduced the Shri Banke Bihari Temple Trust Bill, 2025, on Wednesday to replace the ordinance promulgated on May 26, which the Supreme Court had stayed. The top court had also asked the Allahabad high court to decide the validity of the ordinance, preferably within a period of one year from the date the petitions are taken up for hearing. The Bankey Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh. (PTi) The bill proposes creating a trust to manage the temple and is expected to be taken up for passage on Thursday. The bill proposes the establishment of a board of government-appointed trustees, comprising 11 nominated and 7 ex officio members. Both the temple management and members of the Sewayat Goswami community had approached the top court challenging the May 26 ordinance as well as a judgment of the top court passed on May 15 that allowed the state to use temple funds for a corridor project in a 5-kilometre space around the temple. As an interim measure, the top court's bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, in its August 8 ruling also constituted a 14-member interim committee to carry out the daily administration of Mathura's Banke Bihari temple. This committee would be headed by retired Allahabad high court judge justice Ashok Kumar. The court also modified the May 15 order and deleted the portions permitting the state to use temple funds from the judgment, noting that the top court committed the error of passing the order without hearing the Goswami community, who were stakeholders in the day-to-day affairs of the temple. Several petitions were filed against the ordinance by which the state has assumed administrative control of the temple by creating a trust and ousting the members of the Goswami community, who previously managed the temple affairs, under a judicial order issued in 1939. In the assembly on Wednesday, the government highlighted the objectives and reasons of the proposed bill, underlining that the temple in Vrindavan town of Mathura district was an ancient and world-famous shrine. Every year, a large number of devotees and tourists visit the temple, which spans approximately 870 square metres, including a scenic courtyard that covers around 365 square metres. Due to the extremely narrow access route to the temple, devotees and visitors face severe inconvenience. The tragic death of two devotees during an incident of overcrowding on August 20 2022 highlighted the urgent need for efficient crowd management, it said. 'To fulfill the above-mentioned objectives, and for the all-round development and proper management of the Shri Bankey Bihari ji Temple area including pilgrimage, religious, cultural, spiritual, and establishment-related aspects and to ensure the temple's development and regulation in an organized manner, it was decided to constitute a trust named – Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust,' the bill said, adding that the trust would get rights over all offerings and properties of the temple, its including movable and immovable properties.
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
US tariff impact not to last more than 6 months; pvt sector has to do more for India: CEA
Chief Economic Advisor Nageswaran anticipates US tariff challenges to ease within two quarters, urging private sector engagement to address long-term issues like AI and critical mineral reliance. He attributed FY25's growth slowdown to tight credit and highlighted agriculture's potential to boost GDP. Nageswaran also emphasized the need for diversified import sources and cautious AI adoption to mitigate labor displacement. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads As per Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran , the impact of US tariffs will disappear in the next one or two said US tariffs-related challenges will dissipate in the next one or two quarters, and urged the private sector to do more as the country navigates through other longer-term attributed the growth slowdown in FY25, which saw a deceleration to 6.5% from FY24's 9.2%, to tight credit conditions and liquidity issues. The correct agriculture policies can add 25% to real GDP growth, Nageswaran the US tariffs, Nageswaran said it is the second and third order impacts. The impact will flow once sectors like gems and jewellery, shrimps and textiles have taken the first order brunt,as that will be "more difficult" to government is aware of the situation and conversations with the impacted sectors have already begun, Nageswaran said. One will hear from the policymakers in the coming days and weeks but people have to be patient, he about the upcoming meet in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladmir Putin, he said that the outcome of US officials' visit to India is likely to be asked about the details on the trade negotiations between India and the US, the academic-turned-advisor said things are very fluid at the world stage right now with relations swinging from cooperation to spelled out his expectation of the impact of 50% US tariff on Indian exports. "I do believe that the current situation will ease out in a quarter or two. I don't think that from a long-term picture, the India impact will be that significant but in the short run, there will be some impact," he said no one can guess the exact reasons why President Donald Trump chose to slap the high tariffs on India, wondering if it's the fallout of Operation Sindoor or something even more the CEA said the focus on tariff-related issues should not blind us to more "important challenges", including the impact of artificial intelligence, reliance on one country for critical minerals, and their processing and strengthening of supply exhorted the private sector to do more "as we navigate these longer-term challenges, promising that public policy will play the facilitator's role"."Private sector also has a lot of thinking to do, given the massive strategic challenges we face in the coming years... the private sector also has to think about the long-term rather than the next quarter, which is what might have led to many of the challenges we are currently beginning to face," he said in the comments aimed at India however, did not elaborate on the subject any that the government has allocated money towards the research purposes, he said it is now for the private sector to up their investments in the Indian youth is staring at both physical and health health issues arising from excess screen use, consumption of ultra processed food, etc, which is leading to anxieties and even suicidal thoughts among people, the CEA said, seeking the private sector's help to tackle the welcomed the capital expenditure put in by the private sector in FY26 and data to be released in February next year will attest to the consumption story is "quite healthy", the CEA said, pointing to the data on UPI usage. Specifically on urban consumption, he rued that there is no proper data source to capture services consumption, and added that drawing from listed companies' earnings may also not be the right measure as consumption is moving to the unlisted overall resource mobilisation in the economy is not showing any slackening, the CEA said, asking all to look at banks credit growth, commercial paper issuances, and IPO fundraising China, Nageswaran said "we also need to understand the security dimension and look at the USD 100 billion trade deficit beyond just the number". As a solution, there is a need to diversify the sources of imports and the CEA stressed that the private sector will have a role to play naming China, he said only one country supplies critical minerals, which are essential for semiconductors, artificial intelligence tech, and added that the supply is "critically unstable"."We cannot go from crude oil import dependence to critical minerals and ladders import dependence. Understand that crude oil (sources) at least is more diversified," he said."Indian policy makers must choose between accepting permanent strategic dependence on adversaries or committing the resources necessary for genuine support to independence," Nageswaran that AI will cause labour displacement, Nageswaran pitched for caution in AI adoption and added that "we will have to choose the areas in which we allow AI to be deployed and harnessed, and also the speed with which we do so".There is a need to create at least 80 lakh new jobs per annum in the next 10-12 years, he added.(With inputs from PTI)
