Author: Ramvilas

M.P. Cabinet Approves Draft UCC Bill

Polity

Context

• The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill.

Major Highlights of the Bill

• • Objective: The Bill seeks to prohibit polygamy and simultaneously multiple marriages across all communities.
  • It proposes a prohibition on practices like polygamy and nikah halala, while introducing strict provisions for live-in relationships. 
  • Exemptions: The law will not apply to Scheduled Tribes (such as Bhil, Gond, Korku, Baiga, Sahariya, and Bharia) covered under Articles 342 and 366 of the Constitution.
  • Furthermore, communities whose traditional rights are protected under Part XXI of the Constitution have also been specifically exempted.
  • Registration: It will be mandatory to register marriages and divorces across all communities through government portals.
  • Children of married or unmarried parents—whether biological, adopted, or born through surrogacy or Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)—will enjoy equal legal status.
  • Live-in Relations: It is mandatory for live-in couples to submit an affidavit to the local registrar within a month of entering in a relationship, failing which could attract legal action.

• Children born out of live-in relationships will be considered legitimate and entitled to full inheritance rights. 

Uniform Civil Code

• Article 44 of the Directive Principles of the State Policy (DPSP) states that it is the duty of the State to secure Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the citizens throughout the country. 
• It mainly aims to replace Personal Laws based on the scriptures and customs of each major religious community in India with a common set of rules governing every citizen. 
• “Uniform” in UCC signifies
  • Uniformity of laws between communities. 
  • Uniformity of laws within communities ensuring equalities between the rights of men and women. 

Efforts Towards UCC in India

• Special Marriage Act, 1954: The Special Marriage Act of 1954 provides for civil marriage for any citizen irrespective of religion, thus, permitting any Indian to have their marriage outside the boundaries of any religious personal law. 
•  Shah Bano Case 1985: In this case, Shah Bano was refused her claim for maintenance. The Supreme Court ruled in her favour under Section 125 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which applied to all citizens the order for maintenance of wives, children and parents. 
  • The Supreme Court further recommended that the long pending Uniform Civil Code should be finally enacted. 
• The Supreme Court also called on the government to implement the UCC in the 1995 Sarla Mudgal judgement as well as in the Paulo Coutinho vs Maria Luiza Valentina Pereira case (2019). 

Arguments in Favour of UCC

• Accommodating the Aspirations of the Youth: As the world transitions into the digital age, the social attitude and aspiration of the young population is shaping by universal and global principles of equality, humanity and modernity.
  • Thus, the enactment of Uniform Civil Code will help in utilising their full potential towards nation building. 
• Support National Integration: The Constitution guarantees all citizens equal treatment in courts of law whether it is criminal laws or other civil laws (except Personal Laws). 
  • Thus, the implementation of Uniform Civil Code will grant an equal set of personal laws to all, resulting in the end of politicization of issues of the discrimination or concessions or on the other hand exceptional benefits appreciated by a specific community on the basis of their specific religious personal laws. 
• The Rise Above the Patriarchal Mindset: The existing personal laws of most religions are based upon the upper-class patriarchal notions of the society. Thus, the codification and implementation of the Uniform Civil Code will destroy the sanctity of the patriarchal orthodox. 
  • Thus, the Uniform Civil Code will promote gender equality and will bring both men and women at par. 
• Convenient for Judicial Process: There exist many personal laws, including Hindu Code, Sharia Law, etc. The presence of so many laws leads to confusion, complexity, and inconsistencies in the adjudication of personal matters, sometimes resulting in delayed or incomplete justice. 
  • UCC will help the judiciary deliver justice efficiently and within a reasonable timeframe. 

Arguments Against UCC

• 21st Law Commission Report : The Law Commission of India has opined that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is neither necessary nor desirable to reconcile conflicts in personal/family laws. 
  • It stated that many countries are now moving towards recognition of difference, and the mere existence of difference does not imply discrimination, but is indicative of a robust democracy. 
  • Therefore, the Commission has suggested amendments to existing family laws to tackle discrimination and inequality in personal laws, rather than do away with differences between them altogether. 
• Against Cultural Diversity India: Practical difficulties due to diversity in India, it is difficult to come up with a uniform set of rules for personal issues like marriage due to the tremendous diverse culture in India across the religions, sects, castes, states, etc.
• Encroachment on Religious Freedom: Articles 25 to 28 of Indian Constitution provide the Right to Freedom of Religion. The Uniform Civil Code is viewed as a threat to religious freedom (Article 25) by many communities, especially the minority communities. 
  • According to them, the Uniform Civil Code will neglect their traditions and impose rules which will be mainly influenced by the majority religious communities.
• Against the Indigenous Rights of Tribes: The Naga Community has claimed that the implementation of UCC would bring about clear trouble for their culture and dignity. 
  • It can potentially cause social disorder, as the personal and social life of the tribes are quite distinct from the rest of the people in the country. 

Conclusion 

• The goal of a UCC should ideally be reached in a piecemeal manner through a brick-by-brick approach rather than an omnibus approach. A just code is far more important than a uniform code.

Operation Vajra

Polity

Context

• The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) prevented illegal trafficking of high-strength Tramadol Hydrochloride (250 mg) tablets under the Operation Vajra.

Tramadol 

• It is a synthetic opioid painkiller, popularly known as the ‘Fighter Drug’. 
• It has reportedly been misused by fighters, including ISIS militants, to suppress pain and fatigue. 
• In 2018, India brought Tramadol under the ambit of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, making its production and sale without approval from the Central Bureau of Narcotics illegal. 

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985

• Objective – It is India’s primary law regulating narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. It balances strict prohibition with medical use.

Constitutional & Global Pillars

• Article 47: Aligns with the Directive Principle to prohibit health-injurious drinks and drugs.
• UN Treaties: Fulfills India’s obligations under the 1961, 1971, and 1988 UN drug conventions.
• Jurisdiction: Covers all of India, its citizens abroad, and India-registered ships/aircraft.

Key Provisions & Definitions

• Blanket Ban: Prohibits cultivation, production, possession, and sale of narcotics except for medical/scientific use.
• Bhang Exception: Explicitly bans Charas and Ganja, but excludes Bhang (leaves), leaving it to state laws.
• Property Forfeiture: Empowers the state to freeze and seize assets derived from illicit drug trafficking.

Enforcement Nodal Body

• Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB): Formed in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as the apex coordinating enforcement agency.

Taj Mahal

History and Culture

Context

• The Allahabad High Court has issued notices to the Union Government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on a petition seeking a survey of the Taj Mahal, claiming it is a Hindu temple called “Tejo Mahalaya.”

Taj Mahal

• • The Taj Mahal is a 17th-century Mughal mausoleum located on the right bank of the Yamuna River  in Agra and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
  • It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal  (Arjumand Bano Begum) with construction starting in 1632 AD and completed in 1648 AD.
  • In Mughal records, it was referred to as “Rauza-i-Munavvara” (Illuminated Tomb).

• Chief architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahori.

• The land for the monument was acquired from Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber, who was compensated by Shah Jahan.
• Architectural Features: The Taj Mahal represents the zenith of Mughal architecture, combining Persian, Timurid, and Indian architectural traditions.

Key features include:

• White Makrana marble
• Perfect bilateral symmetry
• Charbagh garden layout
• Quranic calligraphy
• Islamic funerary design elements
• Extensive Pietra dura, a decorative technique in which semi-precious stones are inlaid into marble to create intricate floral and geometric patterns.

Birth Anniversary of Mangal Pandey

History

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tribute to the great revolutionary and freedom fighter Mangal Pandey on his birth anniversary.

Mangal Pandey

• Born on 19 July 1827 in Nagwa village, Ballia (present-day UP), into a Bhumihar Brahmin family. 
• He joined the East India Company’s army at 22, serving in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry.
• The spark of Revolt: The British had just introduced the Enfield rifle, whose cartridges had to be bitten open to load  and word spread that they were greased with beef and pork fat.
• For Hindu and Muslim sepoys alike, this was deeply offensive. Mangal Pandey refused to use it, and on 29 March 1857 at Barrackpore, he fired the first shot of rebellion at his Sergeant Major.
• That one act set off the Revolt of 1857  variously called the Sepoy Mutiny or India’s First War of Independence. 
• Pandey was court-martialled and hanged on 8 April 1857. His regiment was disbanded later.
• Aftermath: On 10 May 1857, sepoys in Meerut rose up, and things escalated quickly into a full-blown national revolt. They marched to Delhi and convinced the elderly Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal emperor to become their symbolic leader.
• The British recaptured the Red Fort by September 1857, and Bahadur Shah was exiled to Rangoon, where he died in 1862.
• As a Result: The revolt ended East India Company rule for good. The British Crown took direct charge through Queen Victoria’s Proclamation of 1858 and the Government of India Act, 1858 replacing the Governor-General with a Viceroy. Lord Canning became India’s first Viceroy.

Museum of Word

Polity

Context

• The Union Home Minister inaugurated the first phase of the ‘Museum of Word’ in Kolkata.

About

• It is developed by the National Library under the aegis of the Union Culture Ministry.
• It is the first immersive language museum in the country, also known as Shabdalok.
• It celebrates India’s 22 official languages and traces their journey from oral traditions and ancient manuscripts to printed works and modern electronic texts.
• The museum features nine galleries exploring different facets of the history of languages and their influence on India’s civilisation and culture. 
• Significance – It seeks to present language as a living entity that has continuously shaped society while also being shaped by it.

Eighth Schedule

• The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the official languages of the Republic of India.
• Part XVII of the Indian Constitution deals with the official languages in Articles 343 to 351.

The Eighth Schedule includes the recognition of the following 22 languages:

• Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri are the 22 languages presently in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.
• Of these languages, 14 were initially included in the Constitution. 
• Subsequently, Sindhi was added in 1967; Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added in 1992; and Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santali were added by the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003.

Right to Protest

Polity

In News

• Recently, Delhi Police stated that the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has no permission to continue the protest at Jantar Mantar or to hold the proposed march to Parliament.

Laws governing the right to protest

• • In India, the right to protest is protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution that guarantees freedom of speech and expression and

• Article 19(1)(b) that guarantees the right to assemble peacefully without arms. 

• But it is subject to such reasonable restrictions as are necessary for maintaining public order, security and other constitutional interests.
• Conditions : Law and order is a State subject and each state has its own rules for granting permission for protests and public gatherings.
• Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) too allows authorities to issue prohibitory orders and bar any continuing protests.
• But there must be reasons for any refusal or withdrawal of permission, stating the risks or threats involved.

72nd National Film Awards for the year 2024

Miscellaneous

Context

• The 72nd National Film Awards, which honoured films that received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the 2024 calendar year, were announced.

About

• National Film Awards are the most prestigious awards, which are announced annually to honor the best filmmaking talent across the country. 
• It aims at encouraging the production of films of aesthetic and technical excellence and social relevance.
• The awards are given in three sections – Features, Non-Features and Best Writing on Cinema.

History 

• The awards were first presented in 1954 and were known as the ‘State Awards’.
• At the time, only best films in different regional languages were recognised and awarded. 
• Separate awards for artists and technicians were instituted in 1968 for the films of 1967. 
• Nargis Dutt and Uttam Kumar being the first actress and actor to get the Best Actress and Best Actor Awards respectively.

Key Recipient of the Awards

• Best Feature Film: Article 370 (Hindi)

• Best Non-feature film: Bhangaar (Marathi & English)

• Best Documentary: Ram-Nami (Hindi)

• Best Actor: Mammootty (Bramayugam) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion).
• Best Actress: Yami Gautam (Article 370)

Manasbal Lake

Environment

Context

• Manasbal Lake is on the path of ecological recovery with the return of migratory birds.

About – 

• Located in – Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district

• It is India’s deepest natural freshwater lake, reaching depths of 13 meters (43 feet). 
• Known as  – Supreme Gem of all Kashmir Lakes. 
• Uniqueness – It is famous for its crystal-clear waters, extensive summer lotus blooms, and bird-watching opportunities.

Features- 

• Location & Elevation: Situated in the Jhelum Valley at an altitude between 1,585 and 1,600 meters.
• Hydrology: It is a warm monomictic lake (circulates completely only once a year). 
• Topography: The lake is flanked by the Baladar Mountains (east), the Karewa plateau (north), and the Ahtung Hills (south).
• Biodiversity: It is a significant natural stamping ground for migratory aquatic birds in Kashmir, supporting dozens of species including Mallards, White-headed Ducks, and Golden Eagles.
• Economic Value: It supports local livelihoods via fisheries and the harvesting of lotus rootstocks, locally known as Nadru.

World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO)

Polity

In News

• China formally launched the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) in Shanghai, at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference.

WAICO

• • It is an intergovernmental body for AI cooperation, capacity building, and shared governance standards among developing nations, 

• Headquarters – Shanghai.

• • Uniqueness – It’s the first standing institution of its kind aimed squarely at the Global South.  

• Members – 29 countries. 

Significance – 

• China will provide 5,000 AI training opportunities and establish joint AI cooperation centres with ASEAN, African Union, BRICS, SCO, League of Arab States.
• It will promote open-source AI models, technology sharing, and collaborative AI development.
• The platform will strengthen China’s influence in global AI governance with the Global South.

Investment Friendliness Index (IFI)

Polity

Context

• NITI Aayog has released the report titled “Investment Friendliness Index (IFI)”.

About

• Objective – It assesses how effectively States and Union Territories create, enable, and sustain an environment conducive to investments. 
• Parameters – Infrastructure, Business climate, Resources, Government policy, Regulatory Ease, Institutional Environment, Financial Health; and Environmental Resilience.
• State Categorisation: States and Union Territories have been classified into four performance categories:

1. Top Performers (scores above 50).
2. Frontrunners (45–50).
3. Emerging Performers (≥40 – <45).
4. Aspiring States (below 40).

• Among the Large States, Gujarat secured the first rank, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, which are also the top three performers in the overall Index.
• In the Hilly and North-Eastern States category, Uttarakhand emerged as the highest-ranked State, followed by Assam and Himachal Pradesh. 
• Among the City States and Union Territories, Goa secured the top position, followed by Delhi and Chandigarh.

National Commission for Minorities

Polity

Context

• The Union government appointed Harjit Singh Grewal as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM).

National Commission for Minorities (NCM)

• • The Union Government set up the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. 
  • The first Statutory National Commission was set up in 1993.
  • Initially five religious communities, viz., Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis) were notified as minority communities by the Union Government.

• In 2014, Jains were also notified as another minority community.

• Composition – The Commission consists of: A Chairperson, a Vice- Chairperson, and Five Members.
• Objective: The organisation is set-up to safeguard and protect the interests of minorities as provided in the Constitution of India and laws enacted by the Parliament and the State Legislatures.

ICMR i-DRONE Initiative

Science & Technology

News

• Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under its i-DRONE initiative has successfully demonstrated the use of drone-assisted transport of TB sputum samples to improve access to tuberculosis diagnosis in remote areas. 

i-DRONE initiative

• Full form – ICMR’s Drone Response and Outreach for North East (i-DRONE)

• • It was launched in 2021.
  • Objective – It aimed to evaluate the use of drones to deliver vaccines and medical supplies to remote areas of Manipur and Nagaland. 
  • The i-DRONE project developed a hub and spoke drone network to connect 60 sub-centres, 11 primary health centres and four TB units in Telangana to transport sputum samples for TB diagnosis. 

• Outcomes:  The median time to diagnosis was reduced from 15 days to 5 days.

• Average out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) dropped from ₹9,451 to about ₹91 with a large number of patients having zero travel costs.

ASW Shallow Water Craft Malvan

Science & Technology

Context

• The Indian Navy is set to commission Malvan, the second of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC).

About

• Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi.
• Malvan has more than 80 per cent indigenous content.
• It reflects India’s growing self-reliance in warship design, construction and systems integration under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• Function – to operate effectively in coastal and shallow waters, enhancing the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. 
• The Mahe-class ASW-SWC vessels are being inducted to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes.