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Subject: Governance

Important aspects of Society

  • Rajya Sabha clears the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026

    Why in the News

    The Rajya Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after the Lok Sabha cleared it earlier. The amendment requires an order from a Judicial Magistrate First Class for any birth or death registered more than two years after the event, tightening the civil registration system toward universal registration.

    What is the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969?

    1. Legal basis: The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 makes recording of every birth and death compulsory and lays down the machinery of registrars for the Civil Registration System.
    2. Vital statistics: Registration data feeds official birth and death rates and underpins the issue of legal identity documents.

    What does the amendment change?

    1. Stricter delayed registration: It amends sub section (3) of Section 13 so that registrations delayed beyond two years need an order from a Judicial Magistrate First Class.
    2. Existing tier retained: Delays of up to two years will continue to require an order from a district, sub divisional or authorised executive magistrate.

    Why tighten delayed registration?

    1. Curbing misuse: The government stated that late registration beyond two years was being misused to create fraudulent records.
    2. Guarding the rolls: Ministers argued the change stops fictitious entries from becoming voters and prevents registration of persons born elsewhere.
    3. Universal registration: The stated aim is that every child born is registered and every death recorded, encouraging timely reporting.

    What concerns were raised?

    1. Overburdened magistrates: Members warned that judicial magistrates are already overburdened, so the requirement could delay genuine registrations.
    2. Uneven capacity: The number of judicial magistrates varies sharply across states, creating disparity in access.
    3. Ease of registration: Some urged easier registration through camps and door to door drives and removal of penalties rather than added judicial steps.

    What are the challenges to universal civil registration?

    1. Rural and remote reach: Home births and deaths in remote areas often go unreported because families lack awareness of the reporting window.
    2. Migrant populations: Mobile and migrant families struggle to register events at their place of residence, producing gaps and duplicate records.
    3. Institutional coordination: Registration depends on hospitals, panchayats and municipal registrars whose reporting discipline varies widely.
    4. Cause of death recording: Medical certification of cause of death remains weak outside large hospitals, limiting the quality of vital statistics.
    5. Added judicial load: Routing older registrations through magistrates can create backlogs where courts are already understaffed.

    Conclusion

    The amendment tightens the civil registration system by making very late registration a judicial act rather than an administrative one. It now proceeds to receive the President’s assent, after which state rules and registrar capacity will determine whether it improves accuracy without excluding the genuinely late.

    Back2Basics:

    Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969

    1. Central legislation administered through the Registrar General of India and state Chief Registrars.
    2. Makes registration of births, deaths and stillbirths compulsory across the country.
    3. Provides for the Civil Registration System that generates continuous vital statistics.
    4. Amended in 2023 to enable a national database and use of birth certificates as a single document for various services.

    The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI)

    1. It is the top government authority under the Ministry of Home Affairs responsible for conducting the country’s decennial Census, managing demographic surveys, and overseeing civil registration.

    Key Functions and Responsibilities

    1. Census Operations: Plans, conducts, and analyzes India’s large-scale population censuses.
    2. Civil Registration: Implements the Registration of Births and Deaths Act (1969), maintaining national vital statistics via the Civil Registration System.
    3. Linguistic & Demographic Surveys: Conducts linguistic surveys and tracks socio-economic and population indicators

    What are the benefits of registration of birth and death?
    The birth certificate is the first right of the child and it is the first
    step towards establishing its identity. The following compulsory
    uses     of birth and death certificates are emerged:

    1. For admission to schools
    2. As proof of age for employment.
    3. For proof of age at marriage.
    4. To establish parentage.
    5. To establish age for purpose of enrollment in Electoral
      Rolls.
    6. To establish age for insurance purposes.
    7. For registering in National Population Register (NPR).
    8. Production of Production of death certificate for the purpose of inheritance of property and for claiming dues from insurance companies and other companies.

  • The dilemma over PM SHRI in Kerala

    Why in the News?

    Kerala’s Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government is caught between the need for withheld central education funds and its declared opposition to the National Education Policy, 2020 (NEP 2020). The funds are tied to the PM SHRI scheme, whose memorandum of understanding the earlier Left government had signed. The bind exposes the conflict between fiscal dependence and ideological consistency in India’s education federalism.

    What is the PM SHRI scheme?

    1. Core design: PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) upgrades selected government schools into model schools that showcase the NEP 2020. It is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Education.
    2. Access condition: A State must sign a memorandum of understanding to receive funds. The framework requires the school curriculum to follow the National Curriculum Framework aligned with the NEP.
    3. Funding link: Kerala has around Rs 1,158.13 crore in education funds held up by the Centre. Access depends on continuing with the PM SHRI commitment.

    What is the National Education Policy, 2020?

    1. Definition: The NEP 2020 is the Union government’s framework for restructuring school and higher education, replacing the 1986 policy. It covers curriculum, pedagogy, and school structure.
    2. Curriculum clause: The NEP allows States to prepare their own curricula and textbooks. It also states that the NCERT curriculum is to be treated as the nationally acceptable criterion.

    Why is the UDF government in a bind?

    1. Reversed roles: The UDF had attacked the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government for signing the PM SHRI memorandum. The current government now argues it is bound because Kerala became a party once the deal was signed.
    2. Coalition fault lines: The Indian Union Muslim League and other allied organisations oppose implementation and want the Cabinet sub-committee’s report first. The internal split has produced repeated flip-flops on the government’s stance.
    3. Fiscal pressure: The Union Minister of State for Education said in the Rajya Sabha that States that do not sign or withdraw miss out on PM SHRI benefits. Punjab opted out in 2023 and reversed course after the Centre froze its funds.

    What is the deeper federalism concern?

    1. Curriculum autonomy: The memorandum asks States to implement all NEP provisions in their entirety. Kerala fears this narrows its freedom to design its own curriculum.
    2. Funding leverage: The Union government declared in 2022 that the Samagra Shiksha scheme’s objective was to help implement the NEP. Regular school funding is thereby tied to policy acceptance.
    3. Creeping intervention: Even without direct curriculum control now, the State fears future prescription of teaching materials and assessment patterns. Curriculum-based programme implementation could later be imposed.

    What are the challenges before the UDF government?

    1. Legal route risk: Following Tamil Nadu’s litigation path is available but slow. It offers no guarantee of releasing the frozen funds in time.
    2. Reputational cost: Writing to the Centre to demand curricular freedom exposes the government to the charge of letting the NEP enter Kerala by the back door. Its earlier opposition sharpens this criticism.
    3. Loss of funds: Refusing PM SHRI forfeits crucial federal education funding. A cash-strained State cannot easily absorb the shortfall.
    4. Precedent of coercion: The Punjab episode shows the Centre freezes funds to force compliance. The leverage limits how far any State can resist.

    Conclusion

    The dispute reflects how conditional central funding narrows a State’s room to hold an independent education stance. The UDF loses either way: implementing PM SHRI concedes its NEP opposition, while refusing forfeits over Rs 1,158 crore. The resolution rests on whether cooperative federalism can separate routine school funding from acceptance of a contested national policy.

    Back2Basics

    PM Shri

    1. Full form: Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India, a centrally sponsored scheme to develop model schools aligned with the NEP 2020.
    2. Ministry: Ministry of Education, launched in 2022.
    3. Objective: Upgrade and strengthen selected existing schools run by Central, State, and local bodies into exemplar schools.
    4. Funding pattern: Shared between the Centre and States, contingent on a signed memorandum of understanding.
    5. Linked scheme: Samagra Shiksha is the umbrella school-education programme through which much of this funding is routed.

    The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020:

    It replaces the 34-year-old 1986 policy with a focus on a 5+3+3+4 school structure, mother tongue instruction, and flexible higher education. You can read the official document on the Ministry of Education portal.

    School Education Changes

    1. 5+3+3+4 Design: Covers ages 3 to 18, broken into foundational (5 years), preparatory (3 years), middle (3 years), and secondary (4 years) stages.
    2. Language: Mother tongue or local language used as the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, and ideally Grade 8.
    3. No Hard Separations: Mixing of science, arts, vocational crafts, and sports streams.
    4. Assessments: Focus on regular, competency-based testing instead of rote memory, with school exams in grades 3, 5, and 8.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2020] ‘Education is not an injunction, it is an effective and pervasive tool for all-round development of an individual and social transformation’. Examine the New Education Policy, 2020 (NEP, 2020) in light of the above statement.

    Linkage: UPSC has examined NEP 2020 as a tool for educational and social transformation. The article highlights the federal and implementation challenges of NEP 2020, especially when central funding is linked to policy adoption.

  • Parliamentary panel questions Meta and threatens Section 79 safe harbour

    Why in the News?

    The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology questioned Meta over the temporary removal of the Prime Minister’s Facebook post and warned of withdrawing safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

    What is Section 79?

    • Grants safe harbour protection to intermediaries, shielding them from liability for third-party content.
    • Applies only if intermediaries:
      • Follow due diligence requirements.
      • Do not create or modify user content.
      • Comply with lawful government or court directions.

    Who is an Intermediary?

    • An entity that stores or transmits third-party content, such as Social media platforms, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and Search engines
    • Hosts user-generated content without being its author.

    Key Findings

    • A Prime Ministerial Facebook post was temporarily restricted.
    • The Parliamentary Committee sought:
      • An explanation and audit trail from Meta.
      • Assurance against future recurrence.
    • The issue revived the debate on intermediary liability and platform accountability.

    Challenges

    • Withdrawal of safe harbour may encourage excessive content removal.
    • Risks chilling free speech and legitimate dissent.
    • Platforms cannot realistically pre-screen billions of posts.
    • Balancing accountability with freedom of expression remains difficult.

    Back2Basics

    • Information Technology Act, 2000: Governs cyber laws and intermediary liability in India.
    • IT Rules, 2021: Prescribe due diligence obligations for intermediaries.
    • Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015): Supreme Court held that content takedown under Section 79 generally requires a court order or government notification.

    [2017] In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cyber security incidents?

    1. Service providers

    2. Data Centres

    3. Body corporate.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 1 and 2 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3.

  • New real-time national portal for organ transplants

    Why in the News?

    The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has launched a real-time national portal and mobile application to streamline organ transplantation by creating a unified waiting list, enabling national swap donations, and improving transparency.

    Key Features

    • National Waiting List: Creates hospital, State, regional and national waiting lists.
    • Real-time Allocation: Enables transparent organ allocation across India.
    • National Swap Donor Pool: Matches incompatible donor-recipient pairs across the country.
    • Aadhaar-linked Organ Pledge: Links donor pledges with Aadhaar for better verification.
    • Outcome Tracking: Hospitals upload follow-up data to monitor transplant outcomes.

    How does the Portal Work?

    • Patients are registered by authorised transplant hospitals.
    • Allocation follows the sequence: Hospital → State → Regional → National pool.
    • Kidney Allocation: Donor hospital retains one kidney and sends the other to the nearest matching government hospital.
    • Supports super-urgent transplant requests through the portal.

    Significance

    • Improves transparency and equity in organ allocation.
    • Expands the pool for compatible donor matching.
    • Reduces dependence on manual coordination.
    • Creates a national transplant database for better monitoring.

    Challenges

    • Different States follow different organ allocation policies.
    • NOTTO cannot mandate uniform allocation rules.
    • Low deceased organ donation rates remain a major constraint.
    • Portal effectiveness depends on accurate hospital data entry.

    Back2Basics

    • NOTTO: National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation.
    • Parent Body: Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
    • Legal Basis: Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 (THOTA).
    • Network: Works with Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (ROTTOs) and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (SOTTOs).

    [2023] Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: India’s public sector health care system largely focuses on curative care with limited preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care.
    Statement-II: Under India’s decentralized approach to health care delivery, the States are primarily responsible for organizing health services.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

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

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

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

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

  • Proof of life: reworking the law on delayed birth and death registration

    Why in the News?

    The Lok Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amending the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. It requires a Judicial Magistrate’s order for registration of births or deaths delayed by more than two years.

    Key Provisions

    • Judicial Approval: Delayed registration beyond 2 years requires approval from a Judicial Magistrate.
    • Existing Process Retained: Delays up to 2 years continue to require approval from an Executive Magistrate.
    • Objective: Strengthen verification and prevent fraudulent birth or death registrations.

    Why was the Amendment Needed?

    • The 2023 amendment made the birth certificate the primary proof of date and place of birth for: School admissions, Passports, Aadhaar, Voter rolls, Driving licences, and Government jobs
    • Higher importance of birth certificates increased the risk of fraudulent registrations.

    Significance

    • Enhances authenticity of delayed registrations.
    • Supports reliable digital civil registration records.
    • Reduces misuse of birth certificates for identity fraud.

    Challenges

    • Judicial process may increase costs and delays for genuine applicants.
    • Remote and vulnerable populations may face greater difficulty.
    • Adds workload to the lower judiciary.
    • No clear evidence supporting the two-year threshold.

    Back2Basics

    • Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969: Makes registration of every birth and death compulsory.
    • Registrar General of India (RGI): Nodal authority under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
    • Concurrent List: Both Parliament and State Legislatures can legislate on registration.
    • 2023 Amendment: Birth certificate became the primary document for proving date and place of birth.

    [2018] Consider the following statements:
    1.Aadhaar can be used as proof of citizenship and domicile.
    2.Once issued, the Aadhaar number cannot be deactivated or omitted by the issuing authority.
    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

  • The legal patchwork facing doxxing victims in India

    Why in the News?

    The online targeting of women protesters has highlighted the absence of a dedicated law against doxxing in India, forcing victims to rely on scattered legal provisions.

    What is Doxxing?

    • Doxxing is the unauthorised public disclosure of a person’s private or personal information online to harass, intimidate or threaten them.
    • It can lead to stalking, identity theft, threats and physical harm.

    Existing Legal Framework

    • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: Provisions relating to stalking, criminal intimidation and harassment.
    • Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000: Covers privacy violations and unauthorised disclosure of personal information.
    • Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021: Prescribe due diligence obligations for online platforms and provide safe harbour protection.

    Challenges

    • No specific offence for doxxing under Indian law.
    • Delays in content removal and prosecution.
    • Difficulty in fixing platform liability due to safe harbour provisions.
    • Rising digital threats to privacy and safety.

    Prelims Facts

    • The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 governs the processing of personal digital data but does not specifically criminalise doxxing.
    • Safe Harbour under Section 79 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 protects intermediaries from liability if they comply with due diligence requirements.

    [2024] Under which of the following Articles of the Constitution of India, has the Supreme Court of India placed the Right to Privacy?

    (a) Article 15

    (b) Article 16

    (c) Article 19

    (d) Article 21

  • Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan launched

    Why in the News?

    The government launched the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan, a nationwide anti-drug campaign from 28,000+ locations with a 100-week action plan to promote a drug-free youth for Viksit Bharat 2047.

    About the Campaign

    • A national drug awareness and demand reduction campaign targeting youth.
    • Launched simultaneously from 28,000+ locations.
    • Over 1 crore youth participated in the anti-drug pledge.
    • Includes a 100-week activity plan for sustained community engagement.

    Significance

    • Strengthens the demand reduction pillar of India’s anti-drug strategy.
    • Promotes awareness, prevention and rehabilitation alongside enforcement.
    • Supports the vision of a healthy workforce for Viksit Bharat 2047.

    Challenges

    • Sustaining community participation over 100 weeks.
    • Expanding de-addiction and counselling infrastructure.
    • Measuring the campaign’s long-term impact.
    • Success depends on parallel action against drug trafficking.

    Prelims Facts

    • Implemented under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS).
    • Complements the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE).
    • Focuses on awareness, prevention, rehabilitation and youth participation.

  • Census 2027 self-enumeration begins in Assam

    Why in the News?

    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?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

  • Activists raise alarm over PM CARES denial of access to audit statements

    Why in the News

    The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund has not published audited financial statements for the last three financial years. The government maintains that the trust is not a “public authority” under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 and is therefore not bound by its disclosure requirements. Activists argue that the fund has all the characteristics of a public body. They point out that the Prime Minister is its Chairperson, Union Ministers serve as ex officio trustees, and government employees have contributed from their salaries. Yet, the fund remains outside the RTI Act, parliamentary scrutiny, and audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).


    What is the PM CARES Fund?

    1. Establishment: Set up in March 2020 and registered as a public charitable trust under the Registration Act, 1908, with its trust deed registered in New Delhi on 27 March 2020, to support relief during public health emergencies and other disasters.
    2. Composition: The Prime Minister serves as ex officio Chairperson, and the Union Ministers of Defence, Home Affairs and Finance serve as ex officio trustees.
    3. Funding: Funded entirely through voluntary contributions from individuals and organisations, with the government stating it receives no budgetary support.
    4. Tax and foreign funding benefits: Donations qualify for a 100% deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961, count as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure under the Companies Act, 2013, and the fund holds an exemption under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) to receive donations from overseas.

    What financial disclosure has the fund made?

    1. Last published statement: The last publicly available audited statement, for financial year 2022 23, showed an opening balance of Rs 5,415.65 crore, voluntary contributions of Rs 909.64 crore, total receipts of Rs 6,723.07 crore, total payments of Rs 439.38 crore, and a closing balance of Rs 6,283.68 crore as of 31 March 2023.
    2. Disclosure gap: Only the audited statements for 2019 20, 2020 21, 2021 22 and 2022 23 are available on the fund’s website, leaving the last three financial years without any published audit.
    3. Primary use: The fund has primarily financed India’s COVID 19 response and emergency health infrastructure.

    Why does the government’s “not a public authority” position sit uneasily with the fund’s structure?

    1. Government’s legal position: The government maintains the trust is not a public authority under the RTI Act, and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs retrospectively amended the relevant Companies Act rules to support this position.
    2. Activists’ counter: Activists argue the fund was presented as set up by the Union government, carries the sanctity of the Prime Minister’s office as chairperson, and drew contributions from government employees’ salaries, features that make it appear to be a public authority in substance.
    3. The accountability gap: The fund remains outside the RTI Act’s disclosure obligations, outside parliamentary scrutiny, and outside audit by the CAG, the three principal mechanisms that apply to ordinary government spending.

    What are the challenges to ensuring transparency in the PM CARES Fund?

    1. A named precedent: Activists cite the electoral bonds case, where sustained anonymity in political funding enabled quid pro quo arrangements between donors and the government, before the Supreme Court struck the scheme down in February 2024 for violating the right to information.
    2. No independent constitutional audit: Without CAG audit, no independent constitutional auditor verifies how contributions, including those from government employees’ salaries, are spent.
    3. Retrospective rule change: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ retrospective amendment to Companies Act rules narrows the scope for legal challenge based on the fund’s original design.
    4. CSR channel scrutiny: Because CSR contributions to PM CARES count toward companies’ mandatory CSR spending obligations, opacity in fund utilisation also affects corporate accountability for those obligations.
    5. No periodic review clause: Unlike time bound government schemes, PM CARES has no periodic legislative or parliamentary review clause forcing disclosure at fixed intervals.

    Conclusion

    The PM CARES Fund’s structure gives it the outward markers of a public authority, a Prime Minister led chairpersonship, ministerial trustees and salary contributions from government employees, while its legal classification as a private trust keeps it outside the RTI Act, parliamentary scrutiny and CAG audit. Three consecutive years without a published audited statement leave activists’ comparison to the electoral bonds case as the operative risk to track. Whether the fund publishes its pending audits or its RTI exempt status changes remains the open question.

    Back2Basics:

    Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India

    1. Constitutional basis: The CAG is a constitutional authority under Articles 148 to 151 of the Constitution, appointed by the President.
    2. Governing law: Its powers and duties are laid out in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971.
    3. Mandate: Audits all receipts and expenditure of the Union and state governments, including bodies substantially financed by government grants, and reports findings for placement before the legislature.
    4. Tenure and independence: Holds office for six years or until age 65, whichever is earlier, and can be removed only through a process similar to a Supreme Court judge’s removal.
    5. Relevance here: PM CARES Fund’s exclusion from CAG audit means its accounts face no scrutiny from this constitutional auditor, unlike most bodies with government backed establishment.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2020] “Recent amendments to the Right to Information Act will have profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss.

    Linkage: This PYQ tests the role of the RTI Act in promoting transparency and accountability in public institutions.The article examines the PM CARES Fund’s exemption from the RTI Act and the resulting concerns over public accountability.

  • IRDAI Reforms to Revamp the Insurance Sector

    Why in News?

    The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) approved a series of reforms to modernise the insurance sector and implement the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025.

    Key Highlights

    • Reforms aim to:
      • Improve ease of doing business.
      • Enhance insurance penetration.
      • Strengthen governance and policyholder protection.
      • Provide greater operational and financial flexibility to insurers.
    • Liberalised norms for Investments. Capital infusion. Corporate restructuring. Transfer of shares and amalgamation of insurers.
    • Policyholders’ Education and Protection Fund (PEPF) operationalised under Section 16A of the IRDA Act, 1999 to Promote insurance awareness. Improve grievance redressal. Trace unclaimed insurance amounts. Enhance policyholder services.
    • Insurance intermediaries reforms:
      • Mandatory tagging of the authorised salesperson with every insurance proposal and policy.
      • Perpetual registration for intermediaries through an annual fee system, replacing periodic renewals.

    About IRDAI

    • Statutory regulator established under the IRDA Act, 1999.
    • Regulates, promotes, and ensures orderly growth of the insurance sector.
    • Headquarters: Hyderabad.

    Prelims Facts

    • IRDA Act, 1999 established IRDAI.
    • PEPF aims to strengthen insurance literacy and policyholder protection.
    • The reforms implement the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025.

    [2019] In India, which of the following bodies/mechanisms review the functioning of independent regulators like PFRDA, IBBI, AERA, and PNGRB?
    1.Ad Hoc Committees appointed by the Parliament.
    2.Parliamentary Standing Committees.
    3.NITI Aayog.
    4.Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC).
    5.Finance Commission.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    [A] 1 and 2 only

    [B] 1, 3, and 4

    [C] 2, 4, and 5

    [D] 2 only