Current Context :The Bihar State Election Commission announced India’s first Android‑based e‑voting trial for upcoming municipal elections. ABOUT BIHAR E‑VOTING System: Dual Android apps (“e‑Voting SEC BHR”) developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing and State Commission. Security: Blockchain ledger, facial‑verification liveness checks, and tamper‑proof audit trail akin to VVPAT. Eligibility: Urban voters with Aadhaar‑linked registration; demo in select wards before wider roll‑out. Benefits: Enhanced accessibility for migrant, elderly, and disabled Potential to boost turnout and reduce Booth‑level time. Challenges: Cybersecurity risks; digital divide concerns; ensuring privacy and non‑coercion.  Read More

Current Context: The Government of India is set to inaugurate the National e-Vidhan Application for the Puducherry Legislative Assembly, following its successful deployment in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. ABOUT: Ministry : Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Aim: Digitize legislative proceedings across all 37 State and Union Territory legislatures (28 State Legislative Assemblies and 9 Union Territory legislatures.) under the “One Nation – One Application” vision. Technical Platform: Hosted on National Informatics Centre’s MeghRaj Cloud for secure, paperless operations. Funding Model: Centrally sponsored, ensuring equitable financial support for each State and Union Territory.Read More

Current Context : India is set to conduct its next population census by March 1, 2027. Announced on 4 June 2025: The 16th Census will be digital, conducted in two phases, and include caste enumeration (first since 1931). About Census : Constitutional & Legal Framework: Conducted under: Census Act, 1948 & Census Rules, 1990. Last full census carried out in 2011; the 2021 exercise was postponed due to COVID-19. Phases & Reference Dates: Phase I (House Listing): Timeline: April 1, 2026 – February 28, 2026 (approx.). Activities: Listing all buildings; collection of housing & ancillary information; National Population Register (NPR)....Read More

Current Context: Uttar Pradesh government plans to export Kalanamak rice (Buddha rice) to countries with significant Buddhist populations. ABOUT KALANAMAK RICE Agricultural and Cultural Background: Non-basmati, aromatic traditional rice variety. Cultivated mainly in eastern UP, especially Siddharthnagar. Known as ‘Buddha rice’; dates back to the 6th century BCE (Buddha period). Listed under ODOP (One District One Product) Recognition & Export: Received GI tag in 2013. Listed among specialty rice varieties by the FAO of the UN. Export plans target nations with Buddhist cultural ties.Read More

Current Context: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has launched the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 portal to streamline data collection and evaluation of panchayat performance. About PAI 2.0 A multi-domain and multi-sectoral index designed to assess the holistic development, performance, and progress of Panchayats. Helps in evidence-based governance. Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) Rationalisation of Indicators: Number of indicators reduced from 516 to 147 to improve data quality and ease of reporting.Read More

Current Context: The Union government is set to introduce an impeachment motion in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament against former Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, following a Supreme Court in-house panel’s findings in the “cash-at-home” scandal and a recommendation from CJI Sanjiv Khanna. Impeachment Process: Initiation: A motion must be signed by at least 100 members of the Lok Sabha or 50 members of the Rajya Sabha. Grounds for removal: Proved misbehaviour or incapacity (Article 124(4), 217). Investigation: A three-member committee, including the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge, a Chief Justice of a....Read More

Current Context: Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment in the case of K. Umadevi v. Government of Tamil Nadu, affirming that maternity leave is an essential component of a woman's reproductive rights, thereby reinforcing the constitutional and human rights of working women. About: Background of the Case: The petitioner, a government school teacher in Tamil Nadu, was denied maternity leave for her third child, citing the state's policy limiting benefits to women with only two children. The Madras High Court's Division Bench upheld this denial, leading to an appeal in the Supreme Court. Supreme Court's Ruling: The Supreme Court set aside....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: WHO Member States approved a historic resolution calling for adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, aimed at making the world safer from future pandemics. WHO Pandemic Agreement The agreement is the result of over three years of negotiations initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic to address global inequities and improve pandemic preparedness and response. This includes equitable and timely access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. It was adopted under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution. It seeks to enhance collaboration among countries, WHO, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders to prevent pandemics and improve response....Read More

Current Context : The Ministry of Home Affairs launched the e-Zero FIR initiative—piloted in Delhi—to automatically convert financial cybercrime complaints over ₹10 lakh into FIRs when reported via the 1930 helpline or National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) About Zero FIR Definition: A Zero FIR may be registered at any police station, regardless of where the crime occurred. Origin: Recommended by the Justice Verma Committee (2013) after the Nirbhaya case to eliminate jurisdictional delays. Process: Complainant approaches any police station. The station registers a Zero FIR and sends a copy to the jurisdictional station. About the e-Zero FIR Initiative Objective: Streamline....Read More

Current Context : Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the new Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Portal in New Delhi, aiming to streamline services for over 5 million OCI cardholders and new applicants . About the OCI Scheme & Portal Scheme Origin: Introduced via amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955 in August 2005 to allow lifelong visa and related privileges to eligible foreign nationals of Indian origin. Eligibility Criteria: Citizens of India on or after 26 January 1950, or eligible under that date. Descendants up to great-grandchild of such citizens. Minor children of eligible persons. Spouse of Indian....Read More