News 1: SC Expands Judicial Team to Aid Bengal SIR Process
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Judicial Intervention: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rapidly expanded the judicial team deployed to aid the Election Commission (EC) in completing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, even authorizing the borrowing of judges from neighbouring Odisha and Jharkhand if needed .
- Trigger: A Special Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant met urgently after receiving a letter from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court detailing the scale of the challenge—50 lakh claims and objections raised by voters excluded on grounds of “logical discrepancies and mapping” were pending before Electoral Registration Officers (EROs/AEROs) .
- Scale of the Task: The Calcutta High Court Chief Justice noted that the 294 district and additional district judges initially selected were “merely a drop in the ocean.” Even if each heard 250 cases daily, the process would take 80 days—too long given approaching Assembly election deadlines .
- Background: On February 20, the Supreme Court had taken the “extraordinary” decision to involve the judiciary in the SIR, citing a persistent “trust deficit” between the Mamata Banerjee government and the EC .
- Key Directions:
- Publication of the final voter list on February 28, 2026 (as previously scheduled)
- Continuous publication of supplementary lists until nominations are filed
- Use of Aadhaar, Class 10 admit card, and pass certificate as proof during verification
- Invocation of Article 142 to deem supplementary list voters as part of the final roll
Prelims 360
Judiciary Entering Executive Domain (UPSC Prelims)
The Indian judiciary generally follows the Doctrine of Separation of Powers, but it can intervene in executive matters under certain constitutional provisions.
🔹 1. Judicial Review (Basic Structure)
- Power of courts to review executive and legislative actions.
- Ensures actions are constitutional.
- Recognized as part of the Basic Structure in
➜ Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
📌 Constitutional Provisions:
- Article 13 – Laws inconsistent with Fundamental Rights void
- Article 32 – SC writ jurisdiction
- Article 226 – HC writ jurisdiction
🔹 2. Writ Jurisdiction
Courts can issue writs against executive authorities:
- Habeas Corpus
- Mandamus
- Certiorari
- Prohibition
- Quo Warranto
👉 Against arbitrary, illegal or unconstitutional executive action.
🔹 3. Article 142 – Complete Justice (Supreme Court)
- SC can pass any decree/order necessary to do complete justice.
- Allows judicial directions even in policy gaps.
Used in:
- Environmental regulation
- Police reforms
- Administrative guidelines
🔹 4. Article 141 – Law Declared by SC Binding
- SC judgments are binding on all authorities (including executive).
🔹 5. Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
Expanded in:
- ➜ S.P. Gupta v. Union of India
Judiciary began monitoring:
- Environmental governance
- Prison reforms
- Corruption cases
- Policy implementation
🔹 6. Judicial Activism & Guidelines
When executive fails to act, court frames guidelines.
Example:
- ➜ Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan
(Laid down guidelines on sexual harassment before legislation)
🔹 7. Doctrine of Ultra Vires
Executive action beyond legal authority can be struck down.
🔹 8. Judicial Review of President & Governor’s Actions
- Article 361 – Immunity to President/Governor
BUT actions can be judicially reviewed.
Example:
- ➜ S.R. Bommai v. Union of India
(Judicial review of President’s Rule)
⚠ Limitations (Important for Prelims)
Judiciary cannot:
- Directly frame policy (except temporary guidelines)
- Interfere in policy matters unless arbitrary/unconstitutional
- Question political decisions unless mala fide
Case:
- ➜ Asif Hameed v. State of J&K
News 2:Govt. to Roll Out Free HPV Vaccination Programme
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Policy Announcement: The Union Health Ministry is set to launch a nation-wide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme targeting girls aged 14. The vaccination will be voluntary and free of cost, ensuring equitable access across socio-economic groups .
- The Vaccine: India will use Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine, which provides protection against:
- HPV types 16 and 18 (responsible for causing cervical cancer)
- HPV types 6 and 11 (responsible for genital warts)
- Scientific Basis: “Global and Indian scientific evidence confirms that a single dose provides robust and durable protection when administered to girls in the recommended age group,” a senior Health Ministry official stated .
- Timing Rationale: Targeting girls aged 14 ensures maximum preventive benefit, “well before potential exposure to the virus” .
- Procurement Partnership: India has secured vaccine supplies through a transparent mechanism in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The vaccines are approved by India’s drug regulator and meet stringent quality and cold chain standards .
Disease Burden: Cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in India, with nearly 80,000 new cases reported annually
Understanding HPV and Cervical Cancer
| Aspect | Details |
| HPV (Human Papillomavirus) | Common virus transmitted through sexual contact; most infections clear spontaneously, but persistent infection with high-risk types can cause cancer |
| High-Risk Types | HPV 16 and 18 cause approximately 70-80% of cervical cancer cases globally |
| Low-Risk Types | HPV 6 and 11 cause genital warts (non-cancerous but distressing) |
| Transmission | Sexual activity; hence vaccination before exposure (adolescence) is critical |
| Disease Burden in India | Cervical cancer is the 2nd most common cancer among Indian women; nearly 80,000 new cases/year; high mortality due to late detection |
- Preventability: Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screening (Pap smear, VIA). Yet India accounts for a significant share of global cervical cancer deaths .
B. The Programme Design: Key Features
| Feature | Details | Significance |
| Target Group | Girls aged 14 years | Maximum benefit before exposure; aligns with WHO recommendations |
| Vaccine | Gardasil (quadrivalent) | Protects against 4 HPV types (16, 18, 6, 11) |
| Dosage | Single dose | Evidence-based; reduces cost, logistics, and improves compliance |
| Cost | Free of cost | Removes financial barrier; ensures equity |
| Voluntary | Not mandatory | Respects individual choice while encouraging uptake |
| Delivery Sites | Government health facilities: Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (PHCs), CHCs, district hospitals, medical colleges | Leverages existing infrastructure; reaches rural areas |
| Quality Assurance | Trained medical officers; post-vaccination observation | Ensures safety and adverse event management |
- Single-Dose Regimen: The shift from multi-dose to single-dose schedules (based on recent evidence) is a game-changer—reducing costs, simplifying logistics, and improving completion rates. India’s adoption reflects responsiveness to scientific advances .
News 3:Union Cabinet Nod for ‘Kerala’ to Become ‘Keralam’
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Cabinet Approval: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Kerala government’s proposal to change the State’s name from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’ , the name used in the Malayalam language .
- Constitutional Process: The President will now refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the Kerala Legislative Assembly to express its views, under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution. After receiving the Assembly’s views, the Union government will obtain the President’s recommendation to introduce the legislation in Parliament .
- Background: The move comes almost two years after the Kerala Assembly passed a unanimous resolution on June 24, 2024, seeking the name change .
- Resolution’s Rationale: The resolution noted that while the State’s name in Malayalam is ‘Keralam’, the First Schedule to the Constitution records it as ‘Kerala’. Since States were reorganized on linguistic basis in 1956, and the demand for a united Kerala for Malayalam-speaking people predates independence, the Assembly appealed for the name to be modified to ‘Keralam’ .
- Consultative Process: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) considered the matter, and with the approval of Home Minister Amit Shah, consulted the Department of Legal Affairs and the Legislative Department, which concurred with the proposal .
Prelims 360
Constitutional Provision for Renaming a State
👉 Governed by Article 3 of the Constitution of India
Article 3 empowers Parliament to:
- Form a new State
- Alter boundaries
- Increase/decrease area
- Change the name of a State
🔹 Procedure Under Article 3
- Bill introduced in Parliament
- Only with President’s prior recommendation
- President refers the Bill to the concerned State Legislature
- State gives its views within specified time
- State’s opinion is not binding
- Parliament passes the Bill by simple majority
📌 Important: Constitutional Amendment under Article 368 is NOT required for renaming a state.
🔹 Why “Keralam”?
- “Keralam” is the name used in Malayalam.
- The move reflects linguistic and cultural identity.
- Similar precedents exist.
Why Constitutional Amendment (Article 368) is NOT Required for Renaming a State?
1️⃣ Because the Constitution Itself Provides a Special Procedure
Renaming a State is governed by:
👉 Article 3 of the Constitution.
Article 3 explicitly empowers Parliament to:
- Form new States
- Alter boundaries
- Change the name of any State
So the power already exists within the Constitution.
2️⃣ Article 4 Makes It Clear
👉 Article 4 states that any law made under Article 2 or Article 3:
- May include amendments to the First Schedule (List of States)
- May include amendments to the Fourth Schedule (Rajya Sabha seat allocation)
- Shall NOT be considered an amendment under Article 368
📌 This is the most important line for Prelims.
So even though schedules are amended, it is treated as an ordinary law, not a constitutional amendment.
3️⃣ Article 368 – When Is It Used?
Article 368 is used for:
- Amending Fundamental Rights
- Changing federal structure
- Altering constitutional provisions
Renaming a State does not alter the basic structure or constitutional framework, only the First Schedule entry.
News 4:Committee to Probe Repeated Failures of PSLV, Says ISRO
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- The Decision: ISRO has constituted a high-level committee, including external experts, to probe “systemic issues” underlying the successive failures of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The committee will investigate whether “organisational” problems may have played a role, moving beyond mere technical failure analysis .
- The Failures:
- May 18, 2025: PSLV-C61 failed after the third stage failed to ignite, destroying the EOS-09 satellite intended for strategic government needs .
- January 12, 2026: PSLV-C62 failed in an identical manner—third stage ignition failure—resulting in the loss of 16 satellites .
- Committee Composition: The panel includes K. Vijay Raghavan (former Principal Scientific Adviser) and S. Somanath (former ISRO Chairman), along with other experts external to ISRO. They will submit findings to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan before April 2026 .
- Scope of Investigation: Beyond identifying which component failed, the committee will examine manufacturing, procurement, and assembly processes, as well as accountability mechanisms—particularly relevant as India’s space ecosystem now involves multiple private players .
- Context: National Security Adviser Ajit Doval (also a Space Commission member) visited the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in February, reportedly in connection with the PSLV-C62 failure .
editorial
India’s Trade Strategy in a Multipolar World
Preliminary Facts (For Mains Answer Introduction)
- Strategic Shift: India has moved from a cautious, regionally-focused approach to FTAs to a proactive global strategy, pursuing comprehensive agreements with major developed economies. By 2026, India’s FTA network is projected to cover nearly 71% of its total export basket—up from approximately 22% in 2019 .
- Trade Performance: According to the Department of Commerce’s 2025 Year-End Review, India recorded a 6.05% annual increase in total exports (merchandise and services combined), reaching $825.25 billion .
- Landmark EU FTA: On January 27, 2026, India signed a “historic” FTA with the European Union after nearly two decades of negotiations. It creates a free trade zone covering nearly two billion people, reducing/eliminating tariffs on over 90% of traded goods .
- US Interim Agreement: In February 2026, India and the US signed a framework for an interim agreement on reciprocal trade, committing to advance negotiations on a broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) . The pact includes strategic collaboration in rare earths and semiconductors .
- Policy Framework: The 2023 Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) sets the goal of increasing exports to $2 trillion by 2030, reinforcing a framework of strategic autonomy that supports sovereign decision-making while engaging major global powers .
Prelims 360
🇮🇳–🇪🇺 India–EU Trade Deal
🔹 Agreement Name
India–EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)
Negotiations between India and the European Union
🔹 Background
- Talks started: 2007
- Stalled: 2013
- Relaunched: 2022
- Still under negotiation (FTA + Investment + GI protection)
🔹 What EU Wants from India
- Lower tariffs on:
- Automobiles
- Wines & spirits
- Dairy products
- Strong IP protection
- Data protection standards (GDPR-related)
- Sustainability & climate commitments
- Government procurement access
🔹 What India Wants
- Easier mobility for professionals (Mode 4 services)
- Recognition of Indian standards
- Access for textiles, pharma, IT services
- Data adequacy status
🔹 Key Issues
- Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
- Human rights & sustainability clauses
- High EU standards (Sanitary & Phytosanitary norms)
🔹 Importance
- EU is one of India’s largest trading partners.
- Diversification away from overdependence on China.
🇮🇳–🇺🇸 India–US Trade Deal
India and the United States are negotiating a limited trade package, not a full FTA (as of now).
🔹 Background
- Trade tensions during Trump era (tariffs, GSP withdrawal).
- India removed from US GSP in 2019.
- Ongoing discussions for a “mini trade deal” or sectoral agreements.
🔹 Major Issues
US Concerns:
- High Indian tariffs (agriculture, motorcycles, medical devices)
- Market access for dairy
- Digital trade regulations
- Data localization rules
India’s Concerns:
- Restoration of GSP benefits
- Easier visa rules (H1B)
- Removal of tariffs on steel & aluminium
- Recognition as developing country
🔹 Strategic Angle
- Linked to Indo-Pacific strategy
- QUAD cooperation
- Technology partnerships (semiconductors, AI)
Example of strategic grouping:
➜ Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
