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  • NCRB data shows chronic pendency under the National Honour Act, even as government moves to add Vande Mataram

    Why in the News?

    National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data spanning 2014 to 2024 on the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 shows pendency above 90% and a conviction rate below 16%. The government is simultaneously pushing an amendment to criminalise insult to Vande Mataram on par with the national anthem, despite the existing law’s poor enforcement record.

    What is the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971?

    1. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 is an Indian law that bans the burning, mutilation, destruction, or disrespect of the national flag, the Constitution, and the national anthem.

    Key Rules and Penalties

    1. National Flag and Constitution: Section 2 prohibits burning, damaging, defacing, or showing disrespect to the flag or Constitution in any public place.
    2. National Anthem: Section 3 penalizes anyone who stops people from singing the national anthem or creates a disturbance during it.
    3. Punishment: Violations are punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine, or both. Repeat offenders face a minimum prison term of one year.
    4. Exceptions: Peaceful or lawful criticism aimed at changing or amending the Constitution or flag does not count as a crime

    Why does the enforcement record complicate the case for expanding the law?

    1. Pendency scale: Over 90% of cases registered under the Act between 2014 and 2024 remain pending, indicating a chronic backlog rather than an occasional delay.
    2. Low conviction: A conviction rate below 16% suggests weak evidentiary standards, prosecutorial capacity constraints, or both, in cases actually brought to trial.
    3. Expansion without fixing enforcement: Adding Vande Mataram to the Act’s protected symbols expands what the law covers without addressing why the existing provisions on the national anthem and flag are so poorly enforced.
    4. Symbolic versus functional legislation: A law with a sub-16% conviction rate functions more as a symbolic statement of state intent than as an operative deterrent.

    Conclusion

    The government’s push to expand the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 proceeds without addressing why the existing law convicts fewer than one in six prosecuted cases. Enforcement capacity, not statutory scope, is the constraint the amendment leaves unaddressed.

      Back2Basics

      The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026:

      1. It is a legislative proposal introduced in the Rajya Sabha on July 24, 2026. It amends the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, to extend statutory protection to India’s national song, Vande Mataram.

      Key Provisions

      1. Inclusion of the National Song: Amends Section 3 of the 1971 Act to place Vande Mataram under the same legal umbrella as the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
      2. Offenses Covered: Criminalizes intentionally preventing the singing of the national song or causing a disturbance at an assembly engaged in its rendition.
      3. Penalties: Proposes imprisonment for up to three years, a monetary fine, or both for first-time offenders, and a mandatory minimum of one year in prison for subsequent convictions

    1. West Bengal strips panchayat pradhans of registration and cheque signing powers, reopening the devolution debate

      Why in the News

      West Bengal Government has stripped elected panchayat pradhans of birth and death registration powers and cheque signing authority, transferring them to bureaucrats. The state cites the need to curb corruption after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, but the move raises questions about devolution of powers to elected local bodies.

      Why does shifting these powers to bureaucrats raise a devolution question?

      1. Constitutional mandate: The 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 envisages panchayats as institutions of local self-government with functional autonomy, not merely implementing agencies for state bureaucrats.
      2. Elected versus appointed authority: Registration and cheque signing powers are everyday functions through which an elected pradhan exercises visible authority over local administration, and removing them shifts real power to an appointed official.
      3. Corruption justification: The stated reason, curbing corruption, does not explain why oversight rather than outright transfer of power was not chosen as the remedy.
      4. Precedent risk: A state government’s ability to strip elected local body powers by executive order, without a corresponding law reform process, sets a precedent other states could follow.

      Conclusion

      The central idea is that a corruption justification is being used to recentralise powers that the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 assigned to elected local government. Whether West Bengal reverses this transfer, or other states adopt the same approach, will determine if devolution in India remains a one way commitment or a reversible administrative choice.

      Back2Basics

      Devolution of powers under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992: Functional Devolution (The 3 Fs [Functions, Funds, and Functionaries] and Eleventh Schedule)

      1. 29 Subjects: Article 243-G empowers state legislatures to devolve responsibilities to Panchayats for economic development and social justice across 29 areas listed in the Eleventh Schedule (such as agriculture, drinking water, health and sanitation, and primary education).
      2. The “3 Fs” Challenge: Real devolution relies on transferring Functions (the tasks), Funds (the money), and Functionaries (the administrative staff).
      3. State Discretion: Because local government is a state subject, actual transfer of these powers depends entirely on individual state laws rather than automatic constitutional enforcement.

      Institutional and Financial Framework

      1. Three-Tier System: Established a uniform structure of Panchayats at the village (Gram Panchayat), intermediate (Block/Taluk Panchayat), and district (Zilla Panchayat) levels.
      2. Gram Sabha: Positioned as the foundational base comprising all registered voters in a village area to ensure direct local oversight and social audit.
      3. State Finance Commission (SFC): Mandated the creation of an SFC every five years to recommend tax assignments, tolls, fees, and grants-in-aid to improve local fiscal autonomy.

      PYQ Relevance

      [UPSC 2023] ‘The states in India seem reluctant to empower urban local bodies both functionally as well as financially.’ Comment.”

      Linkage: The PYQ tests the extent of functional and financial devolution to local bodies. The article highlights the rollback of Panchayat powers, reflecting weak implementation of the 73rd Amendment.

    2. India’s Rs 40,000 crore mine closure corpus opens a circular economy opportunity, but needs inter ministry coordination

      Why in the News

      India has accumulated a Rs 40,000 crore mine closure corpus, alongside the 2025 Mine Closure Guidelines, opening opportunities for circular economy activity and eco-tourism at exhausted mine sites. Realising this potential requires coordination across the Coal, Mines and Environment Ministries, a structure that does not currently exist.

      What does the Mine Closure Guidelines framework provide for?

      1. Corpus purpose: The Rs 40,000 crore corpus is built from contributions mining companies make toward the eventual environmental restoration of a mine site.
      2. Progressive closure: The 2025 guidelines push miners toward progressive closure, restoring parts of a mine as operations wind down rather than waiting until full exhaustion.
      3. Repurposing scope: Restored sites can potentially host circular economy activity, such as reprocessing mine waste, or be converted into eco-tourism destinations.

      Why does inter ministry coordination remain the binding constraint?

      1. Divided jurisdiction: Mine closure decisions touch the Ministry of Coal, the Ministry of Mines, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, each with separate approval processes.
      2. No single owner: No single ministry currently holds end to end responsibility for converting a closed mine site into a productive circular economy or tourism asset.
      3. Execution gap: The problem is not the availability of funds in the corpus, but the absence of an institutional mechanism to direct that money toward a repurposing plan across ministries.

      Conclusion

      The mine closure corpus and the 2025 guidelines create the financial and regulatory basis for circular economy and eco-tourism use of closed mine sites. Whether that potential is realised depends on whether the Coal, Mines and Environment Ministries build a coordinated execution mechanism, not on the size of the corpus itself.

      1. Rupee’s Real Effective Exchange Rate turns undervalued, more so than the yuan

        Why in the News

        India’s Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) has moved from overvalued, above 100 until mid-2025, to undervalued at around 91 in June 2026. The rupee is now more undervalued than China’s yuan, a shift driven by oil price volatility and the West Asia war.

        What is the Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER)?

        1. Definition: REER measures a currency’s value against a trade weighted basket of other currencies, adjusted for inflation differentials, with 100 as the base year benchmark.
        2. Above 100: A REER above 100 signals overvaluation, meaning the currency is more expensive than its trade weighted fair value, hurting export competitiveness.
        3. Below 100: A REER below 100 signals undervaluation, meaning exports become cheaper and more competitive in foreign markets.
        4. Current reading: The rupee’s REER at around 91 in June 2026 places it firmly in undervalued territory, a reversal from above 100 as recently as mid-2025.

        Why does rupee undervaluation matter now?

        1. Export competitiveness: An undervalued rupee makes Indian exports cheaper relative to competitors, a potential offset to the tariff pressure Indian exporters face from the United States.
        2. Oil price link: Volatility from the West Asia war affects oil import costs, which in turn move the rupee’s value against the dollar and the wider currency basket.
        3. Comparative position: The rupee being more undervalued than the yuan reverses a longstanding pattern where China’s currency was seen as the more actively managed, undervalued one.
        4. Policy dilemma: Sustained undervaluation aids exporters but raises import costs, including for oil, creating a trade off the Reserve Bank of India must weigh in its currency management.

        Conclusion

        The rupee’s shift from overvalued to undervalued reflects oil price and West Asia conflict volatility more than a deliberate policy choice. Whether this undervaluation becomes a durable export advantage or reverses with oil price stabilisation remains the open question.

      2. India’s “almost great power” status collides with domestic polarisation and stalled reform

        Why in the News

        India’s “almost great power” status is assessed against domestic political polarisation and stalled economic reforms. The piece argues these widen the gap between India’s geopolitical ambition and its material capability.

        Why does the gap between ambition and capability persist?

        1. Reform stall: Structural economic reforms needed to sustain great power level growth rates have slowed, limiting the material base India’s geopolitical ambitions depend on.
        2. Domestic polarisation: Political polarisation at home diverts governance bandwidth and consensus building capacity away from the sustained reform effort great power status requires.
        3. Capability versus signalling: India’s diplomatic signalling of great power ambition has outpaced the material capability, in economic scale and military modernisation, needed to back that signalling consistently.

        Conclusion

        The central idea is that India’s great power ambition is a signalling exercise running ahead of the material capability domestic reform stagnation and polarisation have failed to build. Closing the gap requires resuming the reform effort at home, not further diplomatic signalling abroad.

      3. Madhya Pradesh farmers march to Bhopal demanding 100% moong procurement at MSP

        Why in News?

        Around 2,000 Madhya Pradesh farmers under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha marched to Bhopal demanding 100% moong procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP), against the current 25% cap under the central Price Support Scheme, along with fixes to fertiliser distribution.

        Key Highlights

        1. Scale: Around 2,000 farmers marched to Bhopal.
        2. Organiser: March organised under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha banner.
        3. Demand: 100% moong procurement at MSP, against the current 25% cap.
        4. Scheme cited: Current cap operates under the central Price Support Scheme.
        5. Additional demand: Fixes to fertiliser distribution.

        What is the Price Support Scheme (PSS)?

        1. A component of the PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan).
        2. Implemented by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
        3. Provides physical procurement of notified pulses, oilseeds and copra at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) when market prices fall below MSP.
        4. Procurement is undertaken by Central Nodal Agencies in coordination with State governments.

        What is Minimum Support Price (MSP)?

        1. MSP is the minimum price at which the government purchases crops from farmers to protect them from sharp price declines.
        2. Recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and announced by the Central Government.
        3. MSP is currently announced for 23 crops.

        “[2018, GS3, 10 marks] What do you mean by Minimum Support Price (MSP)? How will MSP rescue the farmers from the low-income trap?”

        [2020] Consider the following statements:

        1.In the case of all cereals, pulses and oil-seeds, the procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) is unlimited in any State/UT of India.
        2.In the case of cereals and pulses, the MSP is fixed in any State/UT at a level to which the market price will never rise.

        Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
        a) 1 only
        b) 2 only
        c) Both 1 and 2
        d) Neither 1 nor 2

      4. ICMR-NICPR validates oral therapy SHetA2 to block HPV’s cancer causing proteins

        Why in News?

        The Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (ICMR-NICPR) has validated an oral small molecule therapy, SHetA2, that blocks Human Papillomavirus (HPV)’s cancer causing proteins, potentially treating pre-cancerous and cancerous cervical lesions. The molecule has been transferred to Emcure for larger human trials.

          Key Highlights

          1. Therapy: SHetA2, an oral small molecule drug.
          2. Mechanism: Blocks HPV oncoproteins (E6 and E7), which drive cervical cancer development.
          3. Target: Designed to treat pre-cancerous (CIN) and cancerous cervical lesions.
          4. Validating body: ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (ICMR-NICPR).
          5. Next stage: Technology transferred to Emcure for advanced human clinical trials.
          6. Significance: Represents a potential non-surgical, oral treatment for HPV-related cervical disease.

          What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?

          1. HPV is a common DNA virus that infects the skin and mucous membranes.
          2. It is transmitted mainly through sexual contact.
          3. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV types, especially HPV-16 and HPV-18, is the leading cause of cervical cancer.
          4. HPV is also associated with cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, penis and oropharynx.

          How Does SHetA2 Work?

          1. Inhibits the activity of HPV’s E6 and E7 oncoproteins.
          2. Restores the function of tumour suppressor proteins (p53 and Rb), allowing abnormal cells to undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis).
          3. May help prevent progression from pre-cancerous lesions to invasive cervical cancer.

          Significance

          1. Offers a non-invasive oral treatment option for HPV-related cervical lesions.
          2. May reduce the need for surgical procedures in early-stage disease.
          3. Supports India’s efforts to reduce the burden of cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers among women.
          4. Demonstrates the growing role of indigenous biomedical research and public-private collaboration.

          Government Initiatives

          1. National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) includes cervical cancer screening.
          2. Introduction of Cervavac, India’s indigenous HPV vaccine, to expand cervical cancer prevention.
          3. Promotion of HPV vaccination, screening and early diagnosis under national health programmes.

          [2021] Consider the following statements:
          1. Adenoviruses have single-stranded DNA genomes whereas retroviruses have double-stranded DNA genomes.
          2. Common cold is sometime caused by an adenovirus whereas AIDS is caused by a retrovirus.
          Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

          [A] 1 only

          [B] 2 only

          [C] Both 1 and 2

          [D] Neither 1 nor 2

        1. All four dengue virus serotypes found co-circulating nationally, ICMR-VRDL study finds

          Why in News?

          A two year Indian Council of Medical Research-Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ICMR-VRDL) surveillance study finds all four dengue virus serotypes co-circulating nationally, raising hyperendemicity concerns and complicating future vaccine rollout.

            Key Highlights

            1. Study duration: Conducted over two years through nationwide surveillance.
            2. Conducting body: ICMR-Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) Network.
            3. Key concern: Simultaneous circulation of all serotypes indicates hyperendemicity, increasing the risk of severe dengue and complicating vaccine strategies.
              • Note: A serotype is a distinct subgroup or variation of a microorganism (such as a bacterium or virus) classified by the specific antigens found on its surface

            What is Dengue?

            1. Dengue is a viral disease caused by the dengue virus (DENV).
            2. It is transmitted by the female Aedes aegypti mosquito (also Aedes albopictus).
            3. The virus has four distinct serotypes: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4.
            4. Infection with one serotype provides lifelong immunity only against that serotype and temporary protection against the others.

            What is Hyperendemicity?

            1. Hyperendemicity refers to the simultaneous circulation of multiple serotypes of the same pathogen in a region.
            2. It increases the likelihood of secondary infections, which can lead to severe dengue due to Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE).

            About the ICMR-VRDL Network

            • Established by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
            • Functions as a nationwide network for diagnosis, surveillance and research on viral diseases.
            • Supports early detection and monitoring of emerging and re-emerging viral infections.

            [2017] Consider the following statements:
            1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue.
            2. Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible.
            Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

            [A] 1 only

            [B] 2 only

            [C] Both 1 and 2

            [D] Neither 1 nor 2

          1. India’s Record Exports in FY 2025-26

            Why in News?

            India recorded its highest-ever exports of US$ 863.1 billion in FY 2025-26, driven by strong merchandise and services exports and growing benefits from recent Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), particularly with the UAE, UK, Australia, Oman and EFTA.

            Key Highlights

            • Record exports: India’s total exports reached US$ 863.1 billion in FY 2025-26.
              • Merchandise exports: US$ 441.8 billion
              • Services exports: US$ 421.3 billion
            • Top FTA export destinations:
              • ASEAN: US$ 38.4 billion
              • UAE (CEPA): US$ 37.4 billion
              • SAFTA: US$ 25.8 billion
              • UK (CETA): US$ 13.4 billion
              • Singapore (CECA): US$ 11.9 billion
            • Recent FTAs boosted exports:
              • UAE CEPA: 4.45 lakh Certificates of Origin issued; export tariff lines increased from 7,546 to 8,053.
              • Australia ECTA: Certificates of Origin rose from 1,482 (FY21) to an average 45,500+ annually after implementation.
              • Mauritius CECPA: Export tariff lines increased by 20.9%.
              • Oman CEPA: June 2026 exports grew 54.7% month-on-month and 189.6% year-on-year.
              • India-EFTA TEPA: Over 7,885 Certificates of Origin issued since October 2025.
            • Labour-intensive sectors benefited most: Textiles & apparel, Leather & footwear, Gems & jewellery, Marine products, Carpets, Handicrafts, Agricultural products
            • Trade facilitation initiatives:
              • Trade e-Connect: Provides market intelligence, tariff information, Rules of Origin guidance and FTA advisory.
              • Trade Intelligence & Analytics (TIA) Portal: Offers commodity-wise trade analytics and real-time export monitoring.

            Significance

            • Diversifies export markets and products.
            • Enhances global value chain integration.
            • Boosts manufacturing and employment in labour-intensive industries.
            • Improves India’s competitiveness through preferential tariff access.

            [2023] Consider the following statements:
            Statement-I: India accounts for 3.2% of global export of goods.
            Statement-II: Many local companies and some foreign companies operating in India have taken advantage of India’s Production-linked Incentive’ scheme.
            Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

            [A] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-ll is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

            [B] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-l is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

            [C] Statement-l is correct but Statement-II is incorrect.

            [D] Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

          2. Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2026

            Why in News?

            NITI Aayog has released the second edition of the Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2026, providing a comprehensive assessment of the fiscal performance of Indian States during FY 2023–24. The report expands its coverage to include 10 North-Eastern and Himalayan States, in addition to the 18 major States assessed in the inaugural edition.

            Key Highlights

            • Expanded coverage: Evaluates 28 States (18 major States + 10 North-Eastern and Himalayan States).
            • Purpose: Measures the fiscal health of States using a transparent and data-driven framework.
            • Fiscal significance: States account for nearly two-thirds of public expenditure and about one-third of the general government debt.
            • Key finding: Most States recorded moderate fiscal performance, with significant variations across regions.
            • Recommendations: Improve own tax revenue, rationalise committed expenditure, strengthen capital expenditure, enhance public financial management, and ensure debt sustainability.

            What is the Fiscal Health Index (FHI)?

            • The Fiscal Health Index (FHI) is an annual report released by NITI Aayog to evaluate the fiscal performance of States using objective indicators. It promotes fiscal discipline, financial sustainability, and evidence-based policymaking while encouraging States to improve public financial management.

            Key Parameters of the Fiscal Health Index

            • Quality of Expenditure
            • Revenue Mobilisation
            • Fiscal Prudence
            • Debt Management

            Significance of the Fiscal Health Index

            • Encourages competitive and cooperative federalism.
            • Helps identify strengths and weaknesses in State finances.
            • Supports informed policy decisions and fiscal reforms.
            • Promotes sustainable public finances and efficient resource allocation.
            • Enhances transparency and accountability in fiscal governance.

            Challenges Highlighted by the Report

            • Low own tax revenue in several States.
            • High committed expenditure on salaries, pensions, and interest payments.
            • Rising debt burden in some States.
            • Limited fiscal space for developmental expenditure.
            • Regional disparities in fiscal performance.