Content:
- The problem of regulating live-in relationships
- Centre’s allocations for justice-related schemes fluctuate
- What Has the Budget Offered Scientists?
- Modi arrives in France for AI summit, talks with Macron
- Hamas to stop release of prisoners, accuses Israel of ceasefire violations
- Is global warming accelerating?
- Cross-blood transplant performed on a patient with Bombay blood
The problem of regulating live-in relationships
Mandatory Registration: Opposite-sex live-in relationships must be registered within one month.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance)
- Criminalisation: Failure to register a live-in relationship or refusal to do so after notice is punishable by imprisonment or fines.
- Legitimacy of Children: Children born in live-in relationships are deemed legitimate.
- Maintenance Rights: Provides maintenance rights in case of desertion but not upon voluntary termination.
- State Surveillance: All registered live-in relationships must be reported to the local police.
Potential Issues and Criticism
Legal and Social Mismatch
- Undefined ‘Desertion’: While maintenance is granted in cases of desertion, the term remains legally vague.
- No Maintenance for Termination: A partner (especially a woman) left without financial support if the relationship ends voluntarily.
- Ambiguous Definition of Live-in Relationships: Drawn from domestic violence law, assumes they are ‘marriage-like’, which does not reflect reality.
- Fluid Nature of Relationships Overlooked: Many live-in relationships do not have a clear starting point, making mandatory registration impractical.
Violation of Sexual Autonomy and Privacy
State and Parental Control Over Adults:
- If a partner is under 21, their parents/guardians are informed—violating privacy and increasing risks of honour-based violence.
- Contradicts Shakti Vahini v. Union of India (2018), where the Supreme Court upheld an adult’s right to sexual autonomy.
Police Surveillance:
- Conceptualises live-in relationships as potential law-and-order problems.
- Creates undue state interference in personal lives.
Exclusion and Discrimination
- Same-Sex Relationships Ignored: UCC mandates registration only for opposite-sex live-in relationships, leaving same-sex couples without legal protections.
- Moral Policing?: Unlike global laws that extend marital benefits to cohabiting couples, Uttarakhand’s UCC treats live-in relationships as a problem to regulate rather than protect.
Conclusion
The UCC’s approach prioritises control over protection, undermining individual rights. Instead of ensuring welfare and legal safeguards, the law increases state and social surveillance.
Centre’s allocations for justice-related schemes fluctuate
Context : Findings from the India Justice Report 2025-26
Relevance : GS 2(Judiciary )
Declining Budget Allocations:
- The Central government has consistently reduced funds for justice-related schemes since 2019.
- Only a fraction of the allocated budget is actually utilized.
Modernisation Fund for State Police Forces:
- Created to upgrade State police infrastructure and Crime and Criminal Tracking Systems.
- Budget Estimates (BE) have declined from ₹900 crore (FY19) to ₹587.97 crore (FY26).
- Revised Estimates (RE) show drastic reductions—e.g., ₹780 crore (BE) in FY21 was revised to ₹106 crore.
- Actual spending is even lower; in FY23, only ₹34.7 crore (6% of the allocation) was spent.
Modernisation of Forensic Capacities:
- Aims to strengthen forensic testing infrastructure and increase the number of forensic scientists.
- Funding has fluctuated significantly over the past few years.
Modernisation of Prisons Fund:
- Established over two decades ago to improve prison infrastructure.
- Peak allocation: ₹400 crore (FY23), reduced to ₹300 crore (FY25 & FY26).
- Utilization fell sharply after FY23 (only 44% of funds were used).
Judiciary-Related Schemes:
- National Legal Services Authority (NALSA):
- Allocations have increased over the years, ranging from ₹150-200 crore.
- 100% utilization from FY19 to FY24.
Infrastructure Development for Judiciary:
- A centrally sponsored scheme for State judicial resources.
- High utilization rates but reduced allocation from ₹1,123.40 crore (FY25) to ₹998 crore (FY26).
Key Issues & Implications
- Severe Underutilization of Allocations: Police modernisation and forensic capacity schemes see low spending despite budgetary provisions.
- Focus on Judiciary Efficiency: Judiciary-related schemes show high utilization rates, contrasting with law enforcement funding gaps.
- Security and Justice System Disparities: The declining trend in police modernization funds may impact law enforcement effectiveness.
What Has the Budget Offered Scientists?
Overall Budget Trends
- ₹20,000 crore dedicated fund for private sector R&D, part of the ₹1 lakh crore corpus from the July 2024 Budget.
- Focus on strategic autonomy in deeptech and sunrise sectors.
- Increased funding for biotechnology and applied sciences, while basic science funding stagnates.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance) , GS 3(Science)
Sector-Wise Analysis
- Department of Science & Technology (DST):
- ₹20,000 crore allocated to boost innovation through public-private partnerships.
- ₹100 crore for National Geospatial Mission to enhance geospatial infrastructure.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT):
- ₹3,446.64 crore allocation (51.45% increase).
- ‘Bio-RIDE’ scheme launched to promote biomanufacturing and bio-entrepreneurship.
- Focus on gene-editing, personalised medicine, and sustainable agriculture.
- New missions on high-yielding seeds, minor oil seeds, and genetic resource characterisation.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR):
- Supports Agri-Districts Initiative, Millets Mission, and Cotton Mission for self-reliance.
- Focus on Green Hydrogen Mission and Indigenous Manufacturing.
- Jigyasa Programme for STEM education and Seaweed Mission for women entrepreneurs.
Nuclear Energy and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs):
- Aim to increase nuclear power capacity to 100 GWe by 2047.
- Private sector participation introduced in nuclear energy.
- Concerns over Nuclear Liability and Damage Act 2010 amendments.
Challenges & Criticism
- Basic Science Funding Declining: IISc and IISERs saw funding cuts, while education spending remains at only 2.54% of GDP (far below the NEP-2020 target of 6%).
- Curiosity-Driven Science Overlooked: Focus is on mission-mode projects like AI and nuclear energy, leaving fundamental research underfunded.
- Rigid Bureaucracy in Research Grants: Hinders efficient fund allocation and scientific progress.
Modi arrives in France for AI summit, talks with Macron
Context: AI Action Summit:
- Modi co-chaired the AI Action Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron.
- Focus areas: innovation, AI governance, future of work, and public interest.
- India represents the Global South in AI discussions.
- Part of a global AI dialogue following the UK (2023) and South Korea (2024) summits.
Relevance :GS 2(International Relations), GS 3(Technology)
Bilateral Engagements with France:
- Economic Cooperation: Interaction with the India-France CEOs Forum.
- Strategic Partnership: Reviewing the 2047 Horizon Roadmap for India-France ties.
- New Indian Consulate: To be opened in Marseille, strengthening diplomatic outreach.
Nuclear & Energy Collaboration:
- Visit to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project.
- ITER is a major global initiative for nuclear energy research.
Tribute to Indian Soldiers:
- Modi to visit Mazargues War Cemetery to honor Indian soldiers who died in World War I & II.
Geopolitical & Strategic Significance
- AI & Digital Cooperation: Strengthening India’s position in global AI governance.
- Strengthening Ties with the West: Engagements in France & the U.S. boost India’s global influence.
- Economic & Technological Advancements: Collaboration in nuclear research, AI, and industrial sectors.
Next Stop: United States
- Modi will visit Washington, D.C. after France.
- Plans to meet Donald Trump to strengthen India-U.S. ties in diverse sectors.
- Emphasis on continuity in India-U.S. relations from Trump’s first term.
Hamas to stop release of prisoners, accuses Israel of ceasefire violations
Context : Hamas’ Announcement:
- Stopped releasing Israeli hostages over alleged Israeli ceasefire violations.
- Conditions for Resumption: Compliance with the ceasefire and compensation for past violations.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)
Accusations Against Israel:
- Delaying Palestinian return to northern Gaza.
- Israeli shelling & gunfire targeting Palestinians.
- Blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza.
Ceasefire Status:
- Began on January 19, largely holding despite stray violent incidents.
- Some Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces during this period.
- Aid agencies report an increase in humanitarian aid since the ceasefire.
Israeli Response:
- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called Hamas’ move a violation of the ceasefire deal.
- Ordered military readiness in Gaza and to defend Israeli communities.
Hostage Release Status:
- 16 out of 33 Israeli hostages expected in the first phase have been released.
- Five Thai hostages were returned in an unscheduled release.
Implications
- Ceasefire Fragility: The breakdown of trust increases the risk of renewed hostilities.
- Humanitarian Concerns: Delayed aid and restrictions on movement worsen conditions in Gaza.
- Geopolitical Impact: International pressure on both sides to uphold the agreement may intensify.
Is global warming accelerating?
Context:Record-Breaking January 2025:
- January 2025 was 0.09°C warmer than January 2024, making it the hottest January on record.
- It was 1.75°C warmer than pre-industrial times.
- 18 of the last 19 months hit or surpassed the 1.5°C threshold.
Relevance : GS 3(Environment ,Climate Change)
Scientific Debate on Acceleration:
- James Hansen (Former NASA Scientist) claims global warming is accelerating, with the past 15 years warming twice as fast as the previous 40 years.
- University of Michigan’s Overpeck agrees, saying climate change impacts are getting worse.
Skepticism from Other Scientists:
- Gabe Vecchi (Princeton): Not enough data; could be random variation.
- Michael Mann (University of Pennsylvania): Warming is within climate model predictions.
Natural Climate Factors & Their Impact:
- El Niño (2023-24): Caused temperature spikes, but ended in June 2024.
- La Niña (2025 Onset): Expected to cool global temperatures, but January still broke records.
- Sulphur Pollution Reduction: New shipping regulations reduced sulphur aerosols, which previously reflected sunlight and mitigated warming.
Uncertainty About 2025:
- Earlier predictions suggested 2025 would be cooler than 2024 due to La Niña.
- Hansen contradicts this, arguing 2025 may surpass 2024’s record.
Implications:
- Climate Thresholds & Paris Agreement:
- 1.5°C threshold is being exceeded frequently but not permanently yet.
- Scientists won’t declare the Paris Agreement limit breached until global temperatures stay above it for 20 years.
Policy & Global Response:
- Need for urgent emission reductions from fossil fuels.
- Climate policies may need adjustments if acceleration is confirmed.
Scientific Uncertainty & Debate:
- Conflicting views highlight the complexity of climate science.
- More long-term data needed to confirm if warming is truly accelerating.
Cross-blood transplant performed on a patient with Bombay blood
Context : First-Ever Cross-Blood Kidney Transplant for Bombay Blood Group
- A 30-year-old patient with the extremely rare Bombay blood group received a kidney transplant from his mother, who had a different blood type.
Relevance : GS 2(health) ,G S 3(Science)
Challenges of the Bombay Blood Group in Transplantation
- The Bombay blood group (HH group) lacks the H antigen, making it impossible to receive blood or organs from any ABO group.
- Only 0.0004% of the global population has this blood type, making donor matches exceedingly rare.
- Even type O blood, considered the universal donor, is incompatible with Bombay blood group patients.
Breakthrough Medical Innovation
- Doctors applied principles from ABO cross-blood transplants, using a Japanese technique called Double Filtration Plasmapheresis (DFPP).
The process involved:
- Measuring anti-H antibodies to determine safe transplantation levels.
- Administering monoclonal antibodies to deplete B cells producing these antibodies.
- Performing plasmapheresis to further reduce antibody levels.
- Using immunosuppressive IVIG therapy to prevent organ rejection.
- No prior medical literature existed on managing anti-H antibodies in transplantation, so doctors had to make assumptions about safe antibody levels.
Successful Surgery & Post-Operative Recovery
- The patient did not require blood transfusion during surgery.
- No signs of organ rejection were observed in the critical first two weeks post-transplant.
- Six months later, the patient has returned to his normal activities.
Implications & Future Prospects
- New Hope for Bombay Blood Group Patients
- The success of this case opens doors for similar transplants worldwide.
- If further studies confirm its viability, Bombay blood group patients may no longer be restricted to only matching blood group donors.
Medical & Research Breakthrough
- A major advancement in transplant medicine, proving that cross-blood transplantation is possible even in ultra-rare cases.
- Sets a precedent for future medical interventions in rare blood group transplants.
Challenges & Further Research Needed
- The lack of prior data means long-term outcomes remain uncertain.
- Future research is needed to refine safe antibody threshold levels for similar procedures.
