Deputy Election Commissioner

Polity and Governance

Context

Prakash Rajpurohit has been appointed as a Deputy Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India (ECI).

DEPUTY ELECTION COMMISSIONER

Role: Senior administrative officer assisting the Election Commission of India (ECI) in managing and supervising election-related work.
Appointment: Generally appointed by the Central Government from among senior civil servants.
Number: Usually five or six Deputy Election Commissioners and Director Generals assist the Commission.
Status: Administrative officers functioning under the overall supervision of the ECI; they are not constitutional authorities.

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA (ECI)

Constitutional Basis: Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.
Composition: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and such number of Election Commissioners (ECs) as the President may determine.
Appointment: The President of India appoints the CEC and ECs, subject to applicable parliamentary law.
Functions: Supervises, directs and controls:
- Preparation of electoral rolls.
- Conduct of elections to Parliament.
- Conduct of elections to State Legislatures.
- Conduct of elections to the offices of the President and Vice-President.

KEY DIFFERENCE

CEC and Election Commissioners: Constitutional authorities under Article 324.
Deputy Election Commissioners: Supporting administrative officers who assist the ECI in carrying out its functions; they are not constitutional authorities.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

Polity and Governance

Context

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) celebrated its 33rd Foundation Day.

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (NHRC)

Nature: Statutory, autonomous body established on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993.
Basis: Paris Principles (1991).
Headquarters: New Delhi.
Mandate: Protects rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity.

COMPOSITION AND TENURE

Appointment: President appoints the Chairperson and members on the recommendation of a six-member committee headed by the Prime Minister.
Tenure: 3 years or until 70 years of age, whichever is earlier.
Reappointment: Permitted under the Act.

KEY FUNCTIONS

Investigation: Inquires into human rights violations and negligence by public servants, suo motu or on complaints.
Judicial Intervention: May intervene in court proceedings with court approval.
Inspections: Visits jails and government-controlled institutions.
Awareness and Research: Promotes human rights education and reviews legal safeguards.
Recommendations: May recommend compensation, prosecution and remedial measures.
Reports: Submits annual reports to Central and State Governments.

BIMSTEC’s Delhi Declaration

Context

The Delhi Declaration was adopted on 13 October 2026 during the inaugural BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting hosted by India in New Delhi

BIMSTEC

Full Form: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
Established: 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Members (7): Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Founding Members: Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Objectives: Promote regional cooperation in economic growth, trade, connectivity, science and technology.
Geographical Coverage: Countries in South and Southeast Asia around the Bay of Bengal.
Significance: Strengthens regional connectivity, economic integration and security cooperation between South and Southeast Asia.

DELHI DECLARATION

Adopted at: The first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting hosted by India.
Key Focus: Strengthening regional cooperation against terrorism, terror financing, drug trafficking, human trafficking and money laundering.

Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) Tax

Economy

News

Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) tax is back in debate as investors, markets and economists question whether it helps or hurts capital formation.

LONG-TERM CAPITAL GAINS (LTCG) TAX

Meaning: Tax on profits earned from selling a capital asset held beyond the specified period.
Holding Period: 12 months for listed equity shares; 24 months for property and unlisted shares.
LTCG on Listed Equity: 12.5% on annual gains exceeding ₹1.25 lakh.

SHORT-TERM CAPITAL GAINS (STCG) TAX

Meaning: Tax on profits earned from selling a capital asset held for a short period.
Holding Period: For listed equity shares and equity-oriented mutual funds, 12 months or less.
Tax Rate: 20% on specified short-term gains from listed equity shares and equity-oriented mutual funds, subject to applicable conditions.

Improved Soybean Varieties NRC 268 and NRC 270

Economy

News

The ICAR–National Soybean Research Institute, Indore, under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) showcased the yield potential of the improved soybean Varieties NRC 268 and NRC 270.

IMPROVED SOYBEAN VARIETIES — NRC 268 AND NRC 270

Developed by: ICAR–National Soybean Research Institute, Indore.
Yield: Around 20 quintals/hectare, potentially reaching 22–25 quintals/hectare under favourable conditions.
NRC 270: Larger, heavier seeds with potentially better market prices.
Resilience: Designed to withstand irregular rainfall, dry spells, pests and diseases.

SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN INDIA

Scientific Name: Glycine max; belongs to the Fabaceae family.
Crop Type: Kharif oilseed, grown mainly during the southwest monsoon.
Leading States: Madhya Pradesh, followed by Maharashtra.
Climate: Warm conditions with adequate soil moisture.
Nitrogen Fixation: Root nodules host Rhizobium bacteria, which fix atmospheric nitrogen.
Government Support: MSP is announced for soybean; ICAR develops improved varieties to enhance productivity and resilience.

‘Nameri Wild Classroom’ Initiative

Environment

News

The Assam Forest and Climate Change Department launched the ‘Nameri Wild Classroom’ initiative at Nameri Tiger Reserve to connect students with nature through hands-on learning.

NAMERI WILD CLASSROOM

Launched by: Assam Forest and Climate Change Department at Nameri Tiger Reserve.
Objective: Promote environmental awareness, scientific curiosity and wildlife conservation among schoolchildren from Class 8 onwards.
Programme: Residential 2–3 day field camps featuring birdwatching, biodiversity studies, ecosystem learning and traditional knowledge of forest-dwelling communities.

NAMERI TIGER RESERVE

Location: Sonitpur district, Assam, in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas.
River: Jia-Bharali (known as the Kameng River in Arunachal Pradesh).
CA|TS Status: Received Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS) approved status in September 2026.
CA|TS: Global framework to assess tiger conservation and protected-area management effectiveness; launched at the 1st Asian Parks Congress, Japan (2013).