Supreme Court of India Allows Sub-Classification of Reserved Categories
Context: The Supreme Court of India, in a review judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has delivered a landmark verdict allowing states the authority to sub-classify reserved category groups, such as Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), for reservation purposes. This 6-1 majority decision overturns the 2004 ruling in E.V. Chinnaiah vs. […]
Ministry of Civil Aviation Introduces Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024
Context: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has tabled the “Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024,” replacing the Aircraft Act 1934, in an effort to move beyond the colonial legacy of aviation and modernize the sector. The Aircraft Act 1934 was originally enacted to regulate the manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale, import, and export of aircraft. Relevance: […]
About Mekedatu Project
Context: Karnataka Chief Minister(CM) has highlighted the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project as a key solution to address water-sharing issues with Tamil Nadu during monsoon distress years, asserting that the project would benefit both states, particularly in times of water scarcity. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Governance (Intra-State Relations, Functions & responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues […]
Karnataka High Court Quashes POCSO Proceedings with Caveat
Context: The Karnataka High Court has recently quashed proceedings under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 against a 23-year-old man accused of raping a minor, who he subsequently married. This decision includes a caveat allowing the criminal proceedings to be revived if the man abandons his wife and child in the […]
Supreme Court to Hear Landmark “Right to be Forgotten” Case
Context: Last week, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that will likely shape the contours of the “right to be forgotten” in India, similar to the “right to erasure” in European information privacy regulation. The Court must decide whether this right is fundamental in India and how it relates to other constitutional rights. […]
Right to Shelter and Constitutional Provisions
Context: The Supreme Court called for a balance between developing railway infrastructure in Haldwani and the fundamental right to shelter for people accused of illegally occupying railway land. The court clarified that its orders should not be misinterpreted as encouraging future encroachments on public land. Relevance: GS II: Polity and Governance Dimensions of the Article: […]
Panchamasali Lingayats Demand Inclusion in OBC Category 2A
Context: Recently, the Panchamasali Lingayats, a sub-caste within Karnataka’s dominant Lingayat community, have been demanding inclusion in Category 2A of the Other Backward Classes (OBC). Relevance: Polity and Governance Dimensions of the Article: Panchamasali Lingayats’ Quota Demand Background: Current Quota System in Karnataka: Previous Government Actions: Current Situation: Significance: -Source: The Hindu, PIB
Supreme Court of India on Taxation of Mineral Rights
Context: The Supreme Court of India has recently addressed a crucial issue regarding the taxation of mineral rights, overturning its 1989 verdict and reaffirming the power of states in this context. This decision, delivered by a nine-judge Bench, clarifies the extent of authority both Parliament and states hold over mineral royalties. This landmark ruling will […]
Ban Lifted on Public Servants’ Participation in RSS Activities
Context: Recently, the Indian government lifted a longstanding ban preventing public servants from participating in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activities. This decision, issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), removed references to the RSS from official memorandums dating back to 1966, 1970, and 1980. Relevance: GS II: Polity and Governance Dimensions of the […]
Rising Demand for Separate Bhil Pradesh State
Context: Recently, there has been a growing demand for the formation of a separate Bhil state, “Bhil Pradesh,” in Rajasthan and neighbouring states. Relevance: GS II: Polity and Governance Dimensions of the Article: Bhills: An Overview Background: Cultural and Religious Practices: Demand for Bhil Pradesh Historical Context: Proposed Area: Reasons for Demand: Criticisms: Regions Demanding […]