JUSTICE YASHWANT VARMA REMOVAL CASE
TOPIC: (GS2) INDIAN POLITY: THE HINDU
The Lok Sabha Speaker has admitted a motion for the removal of Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma after burnt currency notes were found at his residence. A three-member inquiry committee has been formed to investigate the charges.
Background
- Justice Varma was transferred from Delhi High Court to Allahabad High Court in March 2025.
- Burnt bundles of cash were discovered at his official residence, leading to suspicion of corruption.
- A Supreme Court in-house probe found him guilty of misconduct.
- Then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna asked him to resign; upon refusal, the CJI forwarded the report to the President and Prime Minister for removal action.
- Justice Varma challenged this in the Supreme Court, but his plea was dismissed.
Current Action by Lok Sabha
- Motion Signed – 146 MPs signed the removal motion.
- Panel Formation – Speaker Om Birla appointed:
- Justice Aravind Kumar (Supreme Court)
- Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava (Madras HC Chief Justice)
- Advocate B.V. Acharya (Karnataka HC senior lawyer)
- The committee will submit its report “as early as possible.”
- Until the report is received, the motion remains pending.
Speaker’s Remarks
- Judicial integrity is the foundation of public trust.
- Corruption in the judiciary must be met with zero tolerance.
- Action taken under Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 and Articles 124, 217, and 218 of the Constitution.
Constitutional Provisions for Removal of High Court Judges
- Article 217(1)(b) – Judge can be removed by the President on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
- Article 218 – Provisions of Article 124 (regarding Supreme Court judges) apply to High Court judges.
- Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 – Lays down the procedure for investigation and removal.
JUDGES (INQUIRY) ACT, 1968
The Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 lays down the procedure for investigating and removing judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts for misconduct or incapacity, as per Article 124(4) and Article 217 of the Constitution.
Key Provisions of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968
Purpose: Provides a legal framework to investigate allegations of proved misbehaviour or incapacity of a judge.
Who can initiate?
- A motion for removal must be signed by:
- 100 Lok Sabha members or 50 Rajya Sabha members.
Role of the Speaker/Chairman
- The Speaker (Lok Sabha) or Chairman (Rajya Sabha) can admit or refuse the motion.
- If admitted, they constitute a three-member inquiry committee.
Composition of Inquiry Committee
- One Supreme Court judge.
- One Chief Justice of a High Court.
- One eminent jurist.
Committee Procedure
- Committee investigates charges, collects evidence, and allows the judge to defend themselves.
- Submits report to the Speaker/Chairman.
Outcome of Report
- If the committee finds the judge guilty, both Houses of Parliament must pass an address for removal by:
- Special majority (majority of total membership + two-thirds present and voting).
Presidential Role
- The President issues the final order for removal.
Significance
- Reinforces accountability of the higher judiciary.
- Sends a public message of zero tolerance towards corruption.
- Tests the balance between judicial independence and public accountability.
Conclusion:
The Justice Yashwant Varma case underscores that judicial independence must go hand in hand with accountability, ensuring public trust in the system. Swift and transparent action will reinforce faith in the integrity of India’s higher judiciary.
RETAIL INFLATION HITS 8-YEAR LOW
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
Retail inflation in India dropped to 1.55% in July 2025, the lowest in over eight years, mainly due to falling food prices. This is below the RBI’s 2–6% comfort zone, reflecting stable prices and a favourable agricultural outlook.
Background & Data Highlights
- CPI Inflation (July 2025): 1.55%, down from 2.1% in June 2025.
- Lowest level since June 2017.
- Food & Beverages inflation: -0.8% in July vs. -0.2% in June and 5.1% in July 2024.
- Key Deflation Drivers:
- Vegetables: -21%
- Pulses: -14%
- Spices and meat prices also fell.
- Core inflation (excluding food & fuel): 4.1% in July, near RBI’s 4% target.
- Favourable Factors:
- Good monsoon progress.
- Adequate reservoir storage.
- Strong kharif crop sowing.
- Statistical high base effect from last year’s higher prices.
Significance
- Reinforces accountability of the higher judiciary.
- Sends a public message of zero tolerance towards corruption.
- Tests the balance between judicial independence and public accountability.
Conclusion:
The Justice Yashwant Varma case underscores that judicial independence must go hand in hand with accountability, ensuring public trust in the system. Swift and transparent action will reinforce faith in the integrity of India’s higher judiciary.
What is Inflation?
- A sustained rise in the general price level of goods and services over time.
Types:
- Demand-Pull Inflation – when demand exceeds supply.
- Cost-Push Inflation – when production costs increase.
Impact:
- Reduces purchasing power of money.
- Example: If inflation rises from 5% to 10%, the same ₹100 note will buy fewer goods than before.
- For instance: Last year, ₹100 could buy 5 kg of rice. Due to price rise, ₹100 now buys only 4 kg of rice.
- This means the purchasing power of money has reduced — your money now gets you less.
How is Inflation Measured in India?
- Consumer Price Index (CPI) Tracks retail prices of a fixed basket of goods and services; used by RBI for inflation targeting.
- Wholesale Price Index (WPI) Measures price changes at the wholesale level.
- Producer Price Index (PPI) Tracks prices received by producers (not yet widely used in India).
Why are Food Prices Volatile?
- Seasonal variations – Harvest cycles cause supply fluctuations.
- Weather dependence – Monsoon failure or excess rain impacts crops.
- Perishability – Limited storage for vegetables, fruits, and milk leads to sharp price swings.
- Global price trends – Edible oil and pulses affected by import costs.
- Supply chain disruptions – Strikes, transport bottlenecks, or geopolitical events.
How to Control Inflation
Monetary Measures (RBI-led)
- Adjusting repo rate and reverse repo rate to influence borrowing and spending.
- Open market operations to manage liquidity.
- Tightening credit availability during high inflation.
Fiscal Measures (Government-led)
- Rationalising taxes and subsidies to influence prices.
- Managing public expenditure to avoid excess demand.
- Cutting import duties on essential commodities during shortages.
Supply-Side Measures
- Improving storage & logistics for perishable goods.
- Importing essential food items during shortages.
- Maintaining buffer stocks of grains via FCI.
Government Measures to Keep Inflation in Check
- Inflation Targeting Framework: Under RBI Act, target set at 4% ± 2%.
- Price Stabilisation Fund: Used for market intervention to control prices of pulses, onions, etc.
- Minimum Export Price (MEP) & export bans on certain food items during shortages.
- Agri-Market reforms (e-NAM, APMC reforms) for better price discovery.
- Subsidies on fertilisers, seeds, and fuel to reduce input costs.
Way Forward
- Maintain agriculture supply chain resilience.
- Strengthen monsoon forecasting and climate-resilient farming.
Conclusion:
Lower prices increase purchasing power. Allows scope for maintaining or lowering interest rates to boost growth. But excessively low inflation could hint at weak demand, and a sudden weather shock could reverse the trend.
DEBUNKING THE MYTH OF JOB CREATION
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
The government has approved the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme with an outlay of ₹99,446 crore to boost job creation, sparking debates on its design, sectoral focus, and exclusion of informal workers.
Background
- India faces a persistent employment crisis with high underemployment, skill mismatches, and a dominant informal sector.
- The ELI Scheme aims to incentivise employers, especially in manufacturing, for creating new jobs.
- Concerns arise that it may favour formal sector firms while overlooking the majority in the informal economy.
Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme
- The Union Cabinet has approved the Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme with an outlay of ₹99,446 crore, aiming to generate over 3.5 crore new formal jobs between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2027.
Key Features
- Objective: Promote large-scale job creation in the formal economy.
- Target Beneficiaries: Employers and establishments registered under EPFO/ESIC.
- Incentive Nature: Financial incentives based on the number of new employees hired.
- Sectors Covered: Initially focuses on manufacturing and service sectors, with scope for expansion.
- Monitoring Agency: Ministry of Labour & Employment.
Eligibility Criteria
- Establishments must be registered under the EPFO or ESIC.
- New jobs must be in compliance with labour laws.
- Workers hired should be new additions, not replacements.
- Minimum monthly wages to be paid as per applicable laws.
Scheme Components
Component | Beneficiary | Incentive Details |
Part A | First-time employees | One-month EPF wage up to ₹15,000, paid in two installments (after 6 and 12 months, plus financial literacy completion). A portion kept in a savings account. Expected beneficiaries: ~1.92 crore. |
Part B | Employers | Incentive up to ₹3,000/month for each additional employee retained for ≥ 6 months. Applies for 2 years; extended to 4 years for manufacturing. Expected to benefit ~2.6 crore jobs. |
Strategic Significance
- Formalisation Drive: Encourages youth entering the workforce to be part of formal structures like EPFO and ESIC.
- Boost to Manufacturing: Extended benefits for manufacturing can spur inclusive industrial growth.
- Skill & Financial Literacy: Integrates incentives with upskilling and savings disorder.
- Youth Employment Push: Tackles unemployment by combining demand (jobs) and supply-side (new entrants) measures
Key Concerns with the ELI Scheme
Employer-Centric Approach
- Provides fiscal benefits to employers without addressing the core skill mismatch problem.
- May strengthen employers’ bargaining power, widening wage gaps.
Skill Mismatch & Underemployment
- Only 8.25% of graduates have jobs matching their qualifications.
- Over half of graduates and a third of postgraduates work in low-skill roles.
- Just 4.9% of youth have received formal vocational training.
- Without skill reforms, subsidies may simply place unprepared workers into low-productivity roles.
Exclusion of Informal Sector
- Scheme largely benefits EPFO-registered firms, bypassing 90% of workers in the informal economy.
- Risks deepening the dual labour market—state-supported formal sector vs. neglected informal sector.
Possibility of Disguised Employment
- Employers may reclassify existing jobs as “new” to claim incentives.
- Could lead to low productivity and stagnant wages.
Sectoral Imbalance
- Over-focus on manufacturing despite its low and declining employment elasticity.
- Manufacturing accounts for less than 13% of total jobs; agriculture and services employ 70%.
- Women, rural youth, and informal workers in services/agriculture risk further marginalisation.
Suggested Alternatives
- Invest in skilling & education to align workforce capabilities with market needs.
- Expand coverage to informal sector workers and ensure social security.
- Focus on job quality and productivity rather than only job counts.
- Promote sector-diverse strategies, including services and agro-based industries.
- Ensure policies protect labour rights and workers’ bargaining power.
Conclusion
While the ELI Scheme aims to tackle unemployment, its current design risks reinforcing structural inequalities. A shift towards skill development, inclusive sectoral support, and long-term employment strategies is essential for equitable and sustainable job creation.
SATELLITE INTERNET
TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: THE HINDU
Starlink, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet service, is expected to enter the Indian market soon, raising discussions on its role in bridging connectivity gaps and its security implications.
Background
- Internet access is now essential for both civilian and defence purposes.
- Ground-based networks (cables, towers) are cost-effective in cities but unviable in remote or sparsely populated areas.
- Natural disasters and conflicts can damage physical infrastructure, creating demand for resilient alternatives like satellite internet.
Why Satellite Internet?
- Coverage in remote areas – Works where cables and towers cannot reach.
- Resilience – Continues functioning during disasters (e.g., Hurricane Harvey, 2017).
- Mobility support – Provides internet to ships, aircraft, oil rigs, and military bases.
- Quick deployment – Rapid setup during emergencies or sudden demand spikes.
Dual-use Nature
- Civilian benefits – Disaster relief, healthcare, education, agriculture, smart cities.
- Military applications – Secure communications, drone operations, troop coordination.
- Security risks – Can be misused by insurgents, smugglers, or criminal networks due to its borderless nature.
How It Works
- Two segments –
- Space segment – Satellites carrying communication payloads.
- Ground segment – User terminals and gateways connecting to satellites.
- Satellites’ altitude determines coverage, speed, and latency.
Types of Orbits
GEO (35,786 km)
- Covers 1/3rd of Earth; stationary over one point.
- High latency; not ideal for real-time applications.
- Example: Viasat GX.
MEO (2,000–35,786 km)
- Medium coverage and latency; needs several satellites for global reach.
- Example: O3b network.
LEO (<2,000 km)
- Very low latency, small coverage per satellite.
- Requires mega-constellations (e.g., Starlink with 7,000+ satellites).
Mega-Constellations
- Features – Hundreds/thousands of small satellites with on-board processing.
- Optical inter-satellite links – Satellites talk to each other, reducing ground dependence.
- Challenge – Continuous handover as satellites move at ~27,000 km/h.
Cost & Access
- Currently costlier than terrestrial broadband (~$500 equipment + $50/month).
- Future may allow direct-to-smartphone connectivity, removing the need for separate terminals.
Applications
- Civilian – Telemedicine, online education, disaster management, smart farming, environmental monitoring.
- Transport – Better navigation, connected vehicles, logistics.
- Defence – Secure battlefield communications, surveillance.
Way Forward for India
- Build national strategy for integration into disaster resilience plans.
- Use to bridge the digital divide in rural and border areas.
- Ensure strict regulation to prevent misuse.
- Actively participate in global rules for satellite internet governance.
Conclusion:
Satellite internet can be a game-changer for India’s connectivity and disaster resilience, but its adoption must be paired with strong regulations to prevent misuse. Balancing accessibility, affordability, and security will determine its long-term success in the country.
ICMR WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE EXPANSION
TOPIC: (GS2) GOVERNANCE: THE HINDU
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is expanding its wastewater monitoring network from 5 cities to 50 cities to track 10 different viruses, aiming for early detection of outbreaks.
Background
- Wastewater Surveillance – Method of testing sewage water to detect virus presence and track infection trends in a community.
- Already in use for COVID-19 and polio monitoring in selected locations.
- Helps identify rising infection trends before clinical cases surge.
ICMR’s New Initiative
- Expansion to 50 cities over the next six months.
- Will monitor 10 viruses, including:
- Avian Influenza Virus (AIV)
- COVID-19 virus
- Polio virus
- Other high-risk pathogens (names to be notified)
- Focus on both surface water and wastewater.
- Works as an early warning system for potential outbreaks.
Current Surveillance Systems
- ILI & SARI – Nationwide monitoring for Influenza-like Illness and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness.
- AMR Surveillance – Tracking antimicrobial resistance in hospitals across the country.
Why Wastewater Surveillance Matters
- Detects viruses before they cause widespread illness.
- Useful in areas with limited access to healthcare or testing.
- Can be applied for pandemic preparedness, seasonal flu, and emerging infections.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Concern
- AMR occurs when microorganisms resist the effects of medicines, making infections harder to treat.
- Leads to prolonged illness, higher treatment costs, and increased death rates.
- Wastewater monitoring can also help detect resistance genes in the environment.
Significance for India
- Strengthens public health preparedness.
- Provides data-driven alerts for timely interventions.
- Helps integrate environmental monitoring with disease control strategies.
Conclusion
Expanding wastewater surveillance to 50 cities will greatly boost India’s ability to detect health threats early. This proactive approach can help control outbreaks before they escalate into public health emergencies.
SECTION 152 BNS CASE
TOPIC: (GS2) INDIAN POLITY: THE HINDU
The Supreme Court has questioned whether the possibility of misuse of Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which penalises acts endangering India’s sovereignty and unity, can be a valid reason to strike down the provision.
Background
- Section 152 of BNS Punishes acts that threaten the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
- Replaces the colonial-era IPC Section 124A (sedition) but faces criticism for being similarly vague.
- FIR registered in Assam against The Wire co-founder Siddharth Varadarajan and the Foundation of Independent Journalism over a published news article.
What is sedition:
- Sedition – Any act, speech, or writing that incites hatred, contempt, or disaffection towards the government established by law in India.
- Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) – A legal provision that prescribes punishment (up to life imprisonment) for committing sedition, while excluding lawful criticism aimed at improving government policies.
Supreme Court Proceedings
- Bench composition – Justices Surya Kant & Joymalya Bagchi.
- Petitioners’ stance
- Section 152 is essentially sedition in a new form.
- Its broad and unclear language can be used to suppress free speech, especially journalistic work.
- Court observations –
- Vague penal provisions can be challenged on constitutional grounds.
- Recalled the Kedar Nath Singh judgment, which held sedition is applicable only if speech incites violence or poses a real threat to sovereignty.
- Political dissent alone cannot be treated as a danger to national unity.
Interim Protection
- The court protected Mr. Varadarajan and other Foundation members from coercive police action.
- Notices issued to the Union Government and Assam Government for their responses.
Key Legal Points
- Debate on whether potential misuse of a law justifies striking it down entirely.
- Custodial interrogation of journalists questioned; the court hinted it may not be necessary unless clear security threats exist.
- Government’s stand – Journalists are not a separate legal category and are subject to the same laws as others.
Significance
- The case will help clarify the constitutional validity of Section 152 BNS.
- It reopens the broader discussion on balancing national security with freedom of expression in the post-sedition law framework.
why the colonial sedition law (Section 124A IPC) is still present in India:
- Not yet repealed by Parliament: Even after Independence, lawmakers have not formally removed Section 124A from the IPC.
- Seen as a tool for security: Governments argue it helps tackle threats like separatism, terrorism, or anti-national activities.
- Judicial interpretation: allows limited use The Supreme Court (Kedar Nath Singh case, 1962) upheld it but restricted its application only to cases involving violence or incitement to public disorder.
- Political convenience: Both colonial and modern governments have used it to curb dissent and criticism.
Conclusion:
The outcome of this case will shape how India balances national security concerns with the constitutional right to free speech. It will also set a precedent on whether vague laws with potential for misuse can withstand judicial scrutiny.
BEFORE TACKLING STRAY DOGS ISSUE, INDIA MUST COUNT THEM PROPERLY
TOPIC: (GS2) GOVERNANCE: THE HINDU
The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi government and civic bodies to immediately capture and shelter stray dogs in response to rising dog-bite incidents, raising debates over feasibility, shelter capacity, and outdated dog population data.
Background
- India is facing increasing stray dog attacks, especially on children.
- Policy responses are being shaped using outdated census data (Livestock Census 2019; Delhi’s last census in 2016).
- Accurate data is crucial to design effective control measures like confinement or vaccination.
Key Data Issues
Outdated and Inaccurate Counts
- The 2019 census forms the basis for current policy, but ground realities may differ sharply.
- Example: Tamil Nadu had 4.4 lakh stray dogs in 2019 but reported 8.3 lakh bites — roughly 2 bites per stray dog.
- Manipur’s census recorded zero stray dogs in 2019, yet it had 5,500 bite cases that year.
- Odisha reported the second highest dog population (17.3 lakh) but only 1.7 lakh bites — far lower bite rate compared to Tamil Nadu.
Mismatch Between Dog Numbers and Bite Incidents
- Tamil Nadu has 1,896 bites per 1,000 dogs (Chart 2), while Odisha has only ~100 per 1,000 dogs.
- Such inconsistencies suggest data flaws in dog counts, not bite reports (as bite cases are usually recorded due to rabies risk).
Public Health Concerns
Rabies Burden
- WHO estimates 99% of human rabies cases are due to infected dog bites.
- India’s National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination (2018) aims to eliminate rabies by 2030 through mass vaccination.
Vaccination Strategy
- WHO recommends vaccinating 70% of dogs for 3 consecutive years to break transmission.
- Evidence from Goa’s rabies elimination programme:
- Vaccination of ~70% of dogs cut canine rabies cases by 92%.
- Human rabies cases reduced to zero by 2019 (Chart 3).
Policy Challenges
- Shelter Shortage – Delhi lacks facilities to house large numbers of stray dogs.
- Implementation Gaps – Current removal orders may be unworkable without infrastructure and funding.
- Sectoral Learning Missing – High-bite States could learn from low-bite States if data was reliable.
Way Forward
- Nationwide Accurate Census of stray dogs using modern tech (GIS, AI image recognition).
- Mass Vaccination Drives aligned with WHO’s 70% target.
- Data Transparency & Sharing for state-wise learning.
- Balanced Policy – combine humane population control (ABC programme), vaccination, and public awareness.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU’S PUSH FOR A NO-STATE SOLUTION
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
Several Western nations, including the UK and France, have announced plans to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state, signalling growing global disapproval of Israel’s ongoing Gaza war and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opposition to a two-state solution.
Background
- The Balfour Declaration (1917) marked Britain’s support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
- Many Global South countries, including India, recognised Palestine in the late 1980s.
- Western powers traditionally linked recognition of Palestine to a final peace agreement under the two-state framework.
- The ongoing Gaza conflict, marked by high civilian casualties and destruction, has accelerated calls for recognition despite no peace deal in sight.
Reasons for Shift in Western Position
Genocide & War Crimes Allegations
- International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for PM Netanyahu.
- International Court of Justice (ICJ) is examining genocide charges.
- Prominent Israeli and global human rights organisations (B’Tselem, Amnesty International, MSF) accuse the Israeli Defence Forces of systemic atrocities.
- Over 2.6% of Gaza’s pre-war population killed; 18,000+ children among the dead; widespread starvation due to blockade.
Public Opinion Pressure
- Polls show plummeting support for Israel in Western Europe (as low as 6% approval for the Gaza war).
- In the U.S., nearly half of voters believe Israel is committing genocide; 84% support an immediate ceasefire.
- Large-scale protests in Europe and North America demand an end to the war.
Netanyahu’s Position & Political Calculations
- Driven by neo-Zionist, expansionist ideology.
- Rejects ceasefire to avoid political collapse; far-right allies (Smotrich, Ben-Gvir) oppose any compromise.
- Sees war as an opportunity to re-establish Jewish settlements in Gaza.
- “No-state solution” goal: deny Palestinians statehood, sovereignty, and basic rights.
Structural & Ideological Factors
- Settler groups push for permanent control over Palestinian territories.
- Some Israeli leaders openly advocate destroying Gaza and expelling its residents to confined zones like Rafah.
- War framed not just as against Hamas, but against Gaza as a whole.
Global Implications
- Recognition of Palestine by Western powers challenges the post-1948 Israel consensus in the West.
- Marks a turning point in diplomatic discourse, though immediate change on the ground is unlikely.
- Intensifies debate over international law, occupation, and human rights accountability.
Conclusion
The Gaza conflict is reshaping global attitudes towards Palestine, pushing even Israel’s traditional allies to reconsider long-standing diplomatic positions. Netanyahu’s continued war strategy risks deepening Israel’s isolation and undermining prospects for lasting peace.