India has launched its first Digital Census with self enumeration starting in Assam. The online phase continues till 16 August, followed by House Listing from 17 August.
What is the Census?
The Census is the official collection of demographic, social and economic data of the population.
Key Facts
Legal Basis: Census Act, 1948
Authority: Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs
Frequency: Every 10 years (Decennial)
Nature: Mandatory; information is kept confidential
Constitutional Status: Union Subject (Entry 69, Union List)
What is Self Enumeration?
Households can submit Census details online instead of depending solely on enumerators.
Two Phases
House Listing: Housing and household details
Population Enumeration: Individual demographic details
Significance
Improves data accuracy through digital verification.
Enables faster processing and publication.
Provides updated data for Delimitation, Welfare targeting, Reservation, Fiscal devolution, and Development planning
Replaces reliance on 2011 Census data after the delay of the 2021 Census.
Prelims Facts
First Census: 1872 (non synchronous)
A non-synchronous census is a population count that is carried out at different times in different regions rather than all at once on a single date
First synchronous Census: 1881
A synchronous census is an official population count conducted simultaneously across an entire country within a specific, unified timeframe rather than at different times in different regions.
Conducted by Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India
Census falls under the Union List.
[2009] Consider the following statements:
1. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the density of the population of India has increased more than three times.
2. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the annual growth rate (exponential) of the population of India has doubled.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
India’s drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has approved Qdenga, the country’s first dengue vaccine, after its licensing in over 40 countries and World Health Organisation (WHO) prequalification, arriving amid some of India’s worst dengue outbreaks.
Why was developing any dengue vaccine so difficult in the first place?
Four serotypes must be defeated at once: The four antigenically distinct dengue serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4) require a vaccine to generate strong immunity against all four simultaneously.
The antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) risk: A second infection with a different serotype can cause more severe disease through antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), the mechanism that undermined the first licensed dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, and led to the 2017 Philippines controversy.
Qdenga’s design choice: Developed by Japan-based Takeda, Qdenga differs from Dengvaxia and does not require prior screening for previous dengue infection before vaccination.
What specific gaps in Qdenga’s protection could undermine its rollout this monsoon?
Uneven serotype coverage: Protection is highest against DENV-2, followed by DENV-1, while uncertainty remains regarding DENV-3 and DENV-4 in seronegative individuals.
A rising mismatch: Although DENV-2 currently predominates in India, DENV-3 is increasing. If DENV-3 becomes dominant during the 2026 monsoon, the vaccine’s real-world effectiveness could decline, especially among those with no prior dengue exposure.
A dangerous timing gap:Qdenga requires two doses administered three months apart. The first dose provides uneven protection, leaving seronegative individuals vulnerable if exposed to DENV-3 before completing the vaccination schedule.
A specific trial finding on vulnerable children: The Tetravalent Immunization against Dengue Efficacy Study (TIDES) trial raised concerns about negative efficacy against hospitalisation related to DENV-3 among seronegative children who do not complete both doses.
Why is the vaccine’s price, not just its science, presented as the real barrier to protection?
The mobile workforce problem: Ensuring that migrant workers receive the second dose on schedule will be difficult, increasing the risk highlighted in the TIDES trial.
Tiered pricing risks excluding vulnerable groups: Under Takeda’s global tiered pricing strategy, Qdenga may remain unaffordable for residents of dense urban slums with poor drainage, who face the highest exposure to Aedes mosquitoes.
The Aedes mosquito’s changing range compounds the problem:Aedes mosquitoes are spreading into semi-urban and rural areas, making vector control more difficult and expanding the population requiring affordable vaccination.
Conclusion
The approval of Qdenga is a significant milestone in India’s fight against dengue, but its public health impact depends on addressing serotype-specific protection gaps, ensuring completion of the two-dose schedule, and making the vaccine affordable for high-risk populations. The editorial argues that price negotiations are essential for the vaccine to achieve meaningful public health outcomes.
Back2Basics
About Dengue:
Dengue (break-bone fever) is a viral infection that is spread from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical than in temperate climates.
Transmission: The dengue virus is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Other species within the Aedes genus can also act as vectors, but their contribution is normally secondary to Aedes aegypti.
Human-to-mosquito transmission: Mosquitoes can become infected by people who are viremic with DENV. This can be someone who has a symptomatic dengue infection, someone who is yet to have a symptomatic infection (those who are pre-symptomatic), and also someone who shows no signs of illness (those who are asymptomatic).
Dengue Serotype
Four Types: The virus exists as four closely related strains: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4.
Immunity: Catching one serotype gives you lifelong immunity to that specific type, but only short protection against the other three.
Severe Risk: Getting infected a second time by a different serotype can raise your chance of getting severe dengue.
Important Keywords:
Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE): A phenomenon in which antibodies generated from a previous infection with one dengue serotype enhance, rather than prevent, severe disease during infection with a different serotype, making dengue vaccine development particularly challenging.
WHO prequalification: A World Health Organization (WHO) assessment that certifies a vaccine meets international standards of quality, safety, and efficacy, enabling procurement by governments and international agencies.
PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2022] What is the basic principle behind vaccine development? How do vaccines work? What approaches were adopted by the Indian vaccine manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines?
Linkage: The PYQ examines the science behind vaccine development and immunization, a core GS-3 Science & Technology theme. The article applies these principles to dengue, highlighting challenges of multi-serotype vaccines, ADE, efficacy, and rollout.
The Union Government introduced the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Rajya Sabha to extend statutory protection to the National Song (Vande Mataram).
Key Highlights
Introduced by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai.
Seeks to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
Extends penalties for insulting the National Flag, Constitution, and National Anthem to the National Song.
Opposition members argued that the Constituent Assembly intentionally did not accord the National Song the same constitutional status as the National Anthem.
The government cited Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s statement (24 January 1950) that both should enjoy equal respect.
National Anthem
Jana Gana Mana, composed by Rabindranath Tagore.
Adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950.
Full rendition duration: 52 seconds.
National Song
Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
Taken from the novel Anandamath (1882).
Only the first two stanzas enjoy official status as the National Song.
Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971
Prohibits insults to the National Flag, Constitution, and National Anthem.
Prescribes imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine, or both.
The 2026 Amendment Bill seeks to include the National Song within its ambit.
[2023] Consider the following statements in respect of the National Flag of India according to the Flag Code of India, 2002: Statement-I: One of the standard sizes of the National Flag of India is 600 mm x 400 mm. Statement-II: The ratio of the length to the height (width) of the Flag shall be 3:2. Which one of the following is correcti in respect of the above statements?
[A] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-l.
[B] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.
[C] Statement-l is correct but Statement-II is incorrect is incorrect.
[D] Statement-l is incorrect Statement-II is correct.
The Ministry of Rural Development, in collaboration with BRLPS-JEEVIKA, organised a two-day Regional Workshop to prepare a strategy and roadmap for achieving the national target of 6 Crore Lakhpati Didis.
Key Highlights
Objective: Formulate a Strategy, Roadmap, and Annual Action Plan (FY 2026–27) for creating 6 Crore Lakhpati Didis.
Organised by: Ministry of Rural Development with BRLPS-JEEVIKA at BIPARD, Gaya (Bihar).
Key Focus Areas:
Farm and non-farm livelihoods.
Enterprise promotion and value addition.
Digital Management Information System (MIS).
Market linkages and convergence.
Climate-resilient livelihoods.
Major Outcomes:
Strategy for sustainable income enhancement.
Greater use of digital platforms and data-driven planning.
Strengthening community institutions and SHGs.
MoU signed between BRLPS-JEEVIKA and Arunachal State Rural Livelihood Mission (ArSRLM) for knowledge sharing.
Milestone Achieved:3 Crore Lakhpati Didis; next target is 6 Crore.
About Lakhpati Didi Initiative
Launched under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
Aims to enable women Self-Help Group (SHG) members to earn a sustainable annual household income of at least ₹1 lakh through diversified livelihood activities.
Focuses on financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, skill development, and market access.
[2023] Consider the following statements: 1. The Self-Help Group (SHG) programme was originally initiated by the State Bank of India by providing microcredit to the financially deprived. 2. In an SHG, all members of a group take responsibility for a loan that an individual member takes. 3. The Regional Rural Banks and Scheduled Commercial Banks support SHGs. How many of the above statements are correct?
The Union Minister reviewed the initiatives of the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), highlighting its role in border management, disaster resilience, and socio-economic development in the Northeast
Key Highlights
NESAC: North Eastern Space Applications Centre, located at Umiam, Meghalaya.
Implementing ~130 space application projects, including 78 ongoing and 50 recently completed.
Supporting geospatial mapping of the India-Myanmar border and inter-state boundaries.
Promoting bamboo resource mapping in collaboration with NECBDC (North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council).
Strengthening flood early warning systems and the GeoTourism ‘ManzilNE’ dashboard.
Encouraged partnerships with State Governments, academia, startups, and industry to expand space-based applications.
About NESAC
Established in 2000 as a joint initiative of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and the North Eastern Council (NEC).
Provides space technology, remote sensing, GIS (Geographic Information System), satellite communication, and disaster management support for the eight Northeastern States.
[2024] The North Eastern Council (NEC) was established by the North Eastern Council Act, 1971. Subsequent to the amendment of NEC Act in 2002, the Council comprises which of the following members? 1. Governor of the Constituent State 2. Chief Minister of the Constituent State 3. Three Members to be nominated by the President of India 4. The Home Minister of India Select the correct answer using the code given below:
CSIR organised ASPIRE-SHAKTI: Celebrating Women in STEM at its headquarters and released the ASPIRE-SHAKTI Compendium, highlighting the achievements of women researchers.
Key Highlights
CSIR: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
DSIR: Department of Scientific & Industrial Research
STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
CSIR-ASPIRE was launched on International Women’s Day 2023 to support women scientists as independent Principal Investigators (PIs).
Out of 2,878 proposals from 969 institutions, 301 women researchers were selected (~10% selection rate).
Research outcomes include:
253+ SCI-indexed publications
15+ patent filings
20+ international conference presentations
Training of 300+ research fellows.
Next phase will focus on:
Commercialisation of innovations
Industry and startup linkages
Technology translation
Greater participation from the North-East, Ladakh, and Tier-2/Tier-3 institutions.
About CSIR-ASPIRE
ASPIRE: A Special Call for Research Grants for Women Scientists
Implemented by CSIR-Human Resource Development Group (CSIR-HRDG).
Supports women researchers across Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Engineering Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Sciences.
Aims to promote women-led research, innovation, and scientific leadership.
[2018] Consider the following statements : Human capital formation as a concept is better explained in terms of a process which enables 1. individuals of a country to accumulate more capital. 2. increasing the knowledge, skill levels and capacities of the people of the country. 3. accumulation of tangible wealth. 4. accumulation of intangible wealth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Supreme Court released the Draft Regulations for Use of Artificial Intelligence in Courts, 2026 last month, inviting public comments till July 15. The draft permits AI for administrative and research functions in courts but places an absolute, non-derogable bar on any AI role in decisions affecting bail, recidivism (a critical metric used to measure the effectiveness of the justice and rehabilitation systems.), witness credibility, or personal liberty.
What does the Draft Regulations permit AI to do in courts?
Administrative and assistive functions: AI use is permitted for case management, transcription, translation, legal research, document summarisation, accessibility, and court administration.
Approval requirement: Every permitted use requires prior written approval from the Apex Body for the Supreme Court, or the AI Committee of the concerned High Court or tribunal.
Human supervision: Officers nominated by the court must supervise and verify AI-assisted outputs before use.
Scope boundary: Permission covers efficiency-enhancing functions only. It does not extend to any function that produces or contributes to a judicial outcome.
Why has the SC opted for a staggered, court-wise implementation instead of a uniform rollout?
SC-specific notification: Provisions apply to the Supreme Court only from a date notified by the Chief Justice of India.
High Court autonomy: Provisions for High Courts and the courts and tribunals under their jurisdiction come into force separately, on dates notified by the respective High Court Chief Justice.
Provision-wise phasing: Different provisions can be brought into force on different dates within the same court.
Rationale: Phasing allows each court to adopt AI at a pace suited to its own infrastructure, caseload, and readiness.
Why is human judicial authority made non-negotiable in adjudicative outcomes?
Categorical bar on algorithmic outcomes: No judicial outcome can be reached through algorithmic decision-making alone, or solely on the basis of AI-generated information.
Determinative human authority: Human judicial authority is determinative in all adjudicative decisions, regardless of AI input.
Advisory-only role: Where AI is used anywhere in a decision-making process, its role is only advisory.
Independent evaluation mandate: Any AI-assisted input is subject to independent human judicial evaluation before use.
What functions has the SC placed beyond regulatory reach altogether, and why?
Risk scoring barred: AI cannot be used for ‘risk scoring’ to assess flight risk.
Recidivism prediction barred: AI cannot be used to predict recidivism.
Bail eligibility barred: AI cannot be used to evaluate bail eligibility.
Witness credibility barred: AI cannot be used to determine the credibility of witnesses.
Profiling barred: AI cannot be used to predict, profile, or infer the future conduct or behaviour of parties, accused persons, witnesses, or legal representatives.
Undisclosed AI evidence barred: AI-generated output cannot be submitted as independent evidence without full disclosure of its AI-generated character.
Blackbox AI barred in liberty matters: Unexplainable AI systems cannot be used in matters affecting personal liberty.
Non-derogable status: These prohibitions are absolute. No authority can permit them later under the Regulations.
Does the disclosure mechanism for litigants adequately safeguard their right to know?
Material assistance trigger: Litigants must be informed only when an AI tool “materially assists” case management, document analysis, or judicial administration.
Timely and accessible disclosure: Disclosure to litigants and their counsel must be made in a timely and accessible manner.
Threshold-based, not blanket disclosure: Litigants are not informed of every instance of AI use in their case, only instances that meet the material assistance standard.
Undefined threshold: The Regulations do not define what constitutes “material assistance,” leaving the disclosure trigger to case-by-case determination by courts.
What institutional architecture will govern AI use in courts?
Apex Body: An Apex Body at the Supreme Court will set minimum mandatory standards for AI systems and issue implementation guidelines.
Composition: The Apex Body comprises sitting Supreme Court and High Court judges, an official of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and experts in finance and cybersecurity.
Specialised committees: The Apex Body will function through five specialised committees.
Court-level AI Committees: The Supreme Court and each High Court will constitute their own AI Committees, backed by an AI Secretariat.
Dedicated research body: The Centre of Research and Excellence on Artificial Intelligence (CoRE-AI) will evaluate AI tools and track technological developments to support the Apex Body.
How are private AI vendors regulated to prevent capture of judicial data and infrastructure?
Prior written approval: Private companies can supply AI tools only with written approval from the relevant court authority.
Mandatory contract terms: Vendor agreements must include a mandatory list of contract terms set out by the Regulations.
Data ownership and access: Contracts must specify ownership of, and access rights to, court data and AI outputs.
Bar on sensitive data use: Vendors are barred from using sensitive judicial data.
No unauthorised model training: Vendors cannot retain or fine-tune models using court data without the AI Committee’s written approval.
IP restriction: Vendors cannot claim exclusive intellectual property rights over tools built substantially using public resources.
Conclusion
The Draft Regulations construct a two-tier framework for judicial AI: broad permission for administrative efficiency, and an absolute prohibition on AI’s role in outcome-determinative and liberty-affecting functions. This boundary, not the list of permitted uses, is the framework’s operative safeguard against algorithmic opacity compromising due process. The undefined “material assistance” threshold for litigant disclosure remains its weakest link, leaving courts significant discretion over what litigants get to know. Effective implementation will depend on how the Apex Body and CoRE-AI operationalise this boundary as AI adoption scales across courts.
PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2024] Explain the reasons for the growth of public interest litigation in India. As a result of it, has the Indian Supreme Court emerged as the world’s most powerful judiciary?”
Linkage: The PYQ discusses expansion of judicial power through institutional self-assertion. The Draft AI Regulations are another instance of the SC using its institutional authority to self-regulate its own processes.
