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JHARKHAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (JPSC) 

🏛️ POLITY & GOVERNANCE

1. Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 – Passed

News Context: Parliament passed Bill restricting States’ powers to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands.

Key Provisions:

• Restricts States’ power to tax mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands
• Passed by Lok Sabha (Wednesday) and Rajya Sabha (Thursday)
• Awaits President’s assent

Opposition by States:

• Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren: Called it a “black Bill” – Jharkhand holds ~40% of India’s total minerals
• Kerala CM V.D. Satheesan: Called it a “grave threat to federal structure”
• Land (Entry 18) falls under State List – States have exclusive legislative jurisdiction

Static Link:

• Entry 18 of State List: Land, that is to say, rights in or over land, land tenures, etc.
• Entry 54 of Union List: Regulation of mines and mineral development
• Article 246: Distribution of legislative powers between Union and States

2. Rajasthan Cabinet Approves UCC Bill

News Context: Rajasthan Cabinet approved Uniform Civil Code Bill – fifth BJP-ruled State to initiate UCC action.

Key Provisions:

• Prohibits polygamy
• Mandatory registration of marriage and divorce within 60 days
• Equal property rights for sons and daughters across all religions
• Allows marriages according to customs (Saptapadi, Nikah, Anand Karaj, Holy Union)
• Not applicable to Scheduled Tribes (customary rights protected)

States with UCC: Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan (5th)

Static Link:

• Article 44: “State shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code” – DPSP (not justiciable)
• Article 371: Special provisions for certain States (not applicable here)

3. Tamil Nadu CM Writes to PM on Delimitation

News Context: TN CM C. Joseph Vijay wrote to PM Modi urging constitutional amendment to freeze Lok Sabha seats at 543.

Key Demands:

1. Freeze Lok Sabha strength at 543 (third constitutional amendment)
2. Maintain current proportion of inter-State seats
3. Retain Lok Sabha-Rajya Sabha seat ratio at 2.2:1
4. Implement 33% reservation for women from upcoming Lok Sabha election (based on existing 543 seats)

Static Link:

• Article 3: Parliament may by law change name/area/boundaries of States
• 42nd Amendment (1976) and 84th Amendment (2001) – froze delimitation
• Delimitation freeze based on 1971 census (extended to 2026)

4. Seven-Judge Bench to Hear Legislative Privileges Case

News Context: SC said seven-judge Constitution Bench will hear from October 6 the case questioning whether legislative privileges can override freedom of speech.

Case Background:

• 2003: The Hindu published editorial criticizing then TN CM Jayalalithaa
• TN Assembly passed resolution – comments “amount to breach of privilege” under Article 194
• Assembly passed resolution to arrest five senior journalists
• Journalists approached SC and won stay

Legal Questions:

• Interplay between Article 194(3) (legislative privileges), Article 19 (free speech), and Article 21 (life and liberty)
• 1959: Contradictory opinions in Pandit M.S.M. Sharma vs Shri Krishna Sharma
• 1964: Presidential Reference on interplay

Static Link:

• Article 19(1)(a): Freedom of speech and expression
• Article 194: Powers, privileges, and immunities of State Legislatures
• Article 194(3): Privileges of MLAs

5. SC to Hear MP’s Plea Against Facial Recognition Surveillance

News Context: SC agreed to hear Rajya Sabha MP A.A. Rahim’s plea against facial recognition technology deployed during CJP protests.

Key Issues:

• “Ikshana” vehicle and “Ajan-Lens” smart glasses used for surveillance
• Data hosted with private agencies – violation of DPDP Rules
• Real-time processing through automated facial recognition technology
• Biometric data collection occurred in a “legal vacuum”

Static Link:

• Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 – regulates personal data processing
• Article 21: Right to privacy (recognized in K.S. Puttaswamy case, 2017)

6. SC Sets Guidelines on Arrest (Vihaan Kumar Case, 2025)

News Context: SC in Vihaan Kumar vs State of Haryana (2025) reinforced safeguards against arbitrary arrest.

Key Holdings:

• Every arrested person must be properly and meaningfully informed of grounds of arrest
• Failure = violation of Article 22(1) and Section 50 of CrPC (Section 47 of BNSS, 2023)
• Communicating details to relatives or providing ambiguous records does not satisfy constitutional requirements
• If initial arrest unconstitutional, subsequent remand orders also illegal
• Must present arrested person to local magistrate within 24 hours (Article 22(2) and Section 57 CrPC/Section 58 BNSS)

Arnesh Kumar vs State of Bihar (2014) Guidelines:

• Arrests should be exception in cases where punishment <7 years
• Police must determine whether arrest is necessary under Section 41 CrPC (Section 35 BNSS)
• Routine arrests cannot be made merely because power exists

Golden Triangle: Articles 14, 19, and 21 (Maneka Gandhi case, 1978)

• Article 14: Antithesis to arbitrariness
• Article 19(1): Procedural natural justice
• Article 21: Personal liberty

Static Link:

• BNSS, 2023 – replaced CrPC
• Article 22: Protection against arrest and detention
• Preventive Detention: Procedural safeguards in Article 22 do not apply

7. Monsoon Session Productivity – Lowest in 22 Years

News Context: Monsoon Session concluded with multiple lows in productivity.

Key Data:

• Lowest Lok Sabha productivity in 22 years (only 2004 recorded lower)
• 12 Bills passed – only one had detailed debate (Public Examination Amendment Bill, 2026)
• Only 2 questions answered orally in Lok Sabha; 16 in Rajya Sabha
• 9 Bills passed without any MP speaking on them (other than Minister)

Key Successes for Opposition (Jairam Ramesh):

1. Delimitation Bill prevented from being brought
2. Simultaneous polls legislation deferred to Winter Session
3. Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 – committee couldn’t submit report
4. FCRA Amendment Bill – referred to JPC
5. Automatic removal of PM/CM if arrested (Constitution amendment) – report not ready

Static Link: PRS Legislative Research – independent research institute tracking Parliament functioning

8. Punjab Governor Recommends Parole for Hawara

News Context: Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria recommended parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara (life sentence for Beant Singh assassination) on humanitarian grounds.

Reason: To meet his ailing mother

Static Link: Parole vs Furlough – both are temporary release from prison, but differ in eligibility criteria and duration.

9. West Bengal Revokes Banga Bibhushan Award

News Context: WB government withdrew Banga Bibhushan award from Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Roy (Ananta Maharaj).

Reason: Called Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose a “war criminal”

Static Link: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose – Founder of Azad Hind Fauj (INA)

10. Bihar Police Bans Automatic Weapons for Law and Order

News Context: Bihar police banned use of “automatic and assault weapons” while maintaining law and order.

Exceptions: Organized crime, militancy

Background: Policeman in Siwan fired AK-47 on protesting students

Static Link: AK-47 – assault rifle; use against civilians raises human rights concerns

11. UPSC Defers Odisha DGP Selection Meeting

News Context: UPSC assured SC it will not convene meeting to finalize Odisha DGP selection till August 18.

Allegation: Odisha government trying to include a junior officer (given promotion just a day before)

Background: Prakash Singh case (2006) – SC directed DGP office should be divorced from political/external pressures

Static Link: Prakash Singh vs Union of India (2006) – landmark judgment on police reforms

💰 ECONOMY

12. Goods Exports Surge 20% in July

News Context: India’s merchandise exports grew nearly 20% in July.

Key Data:

Exports to West Asia: Recovered – 8.8% higher than July 2025

Exports to China: $2.2 billion (+65% in July; +36% in April-July)

Taiwan: 130% growth in exports – “strong silver lining”

Routes: Oman ports, UAE (Fujairah, Khor Fakkan) – outside Strait of Hormuz – handling more cargo

Key Point: Trade deficit widened due to services imports growing faster than services exports

13. Air India CEO Warns Employees

News Context: Air India CEO Campbell Wilson expressed anger at employees flouting rules.

Key Points:

• Pilot-in-command reportedly tested positive for marijuana on Phuket-Delhi flight
• Mandatory screenings and medications for pilots – replacing random testing
• 1,000 employees terminated in last 3 years (abuse of travel privileges, forgery)
• CEO urged employees to “do the right thing even when no one is watching”

Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB): Classified incident as “serious incident”

14. Tata Trusts Accepts Chandrasekaran’s Resignation

News Context: Sir Dorabji Tata Trust accepted resignation of Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran.

Key Fact: Sir Dorabji Tata Trust controls 27.9% holding in Tata Sons

Timeline: Current tenure expires February 20, 2027

Static Link: Tata Trusts – philanthropic organizations established by the Tata family

15. E20 Fuel – SIAM Withdraws Complaint

News Context: SIAM withdrew complaint about E20 fuel contamination.

Key Facts:

• Automakers (Maruti, Tata, Mahindra – 67% of India’s car market) found:
  • High chlorine contamination in samples from 18 states
  • High moisture content
• SIAM withdrew letter saying “some numbers” needed authentication
• Ministry of Petroleum: only 4 cases of contamination found

Static Link: E20 = Petrol blended with 20% ethanol – launched to curb pollution and reduce oil imports

16. India Q1 Pharma Exports Up 7%

Key Data:

Largest Market: USA (22.6% of exports)

Largest Region: NAFTA (34.28%)

17. Retail Inflation at 4.45% – Highest in 19 Months

Key Data:

Key Price Increases:

Monsoon Concern: Parts of western, central, and southern India remain rain-deficient

Rupee Depreciation: ~1.6% between June 15 and July 15

RBI: Held repo rate at 5.25% (fourth consecutive meeting)

🌐 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

18. Israel Dispatching Troops to West Bank Settlers

News Context: Israeli forces moved against rogue settlers who besieged Palestinian homes.

Key Facts:

• Settlers blockaded Palestinian homes near Nablus since Sunday
• One home owned by U.S. citizen
• U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee: “no excuse for such thuggish behaviour”
• Israel invested at U.S. request

West Bank Settlements:

• Over 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in West Bank
• Settlement at Ganim reopened (dismantled 20+ years ago)

Static Link: West Bank – Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967

19. Putin Visits Kuril Islands – Japan Protests

News Context: Russian President Putin made first visit to Kuril Islands (claimed by Japan).

Key Facts:

• Iturup Island – part of southern Kuril chain
• Japan calls them “Northern Territories”
• Soviet Union took islands from Japan in 1945
• Dispute prevented peace treaty formally ending WWII
• Japan summoned Russian Ambassador

Static Link: Kuril Islands – disputed territory between Russia and Japan

🌍 GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENT

20. Haridwar Tackles 7,000 Tonnes of Waste After Kanwar Yatra

News Context: Haridwar administration launched clean-up drive to remove ~7,000 tonnes of waste.

Key Facts:

• ~50 million pilgrims undertook 12-day Kanwar Yatra
• Normal daily garbage: 200-250 tonnes
• Additional waste: 7,000 tonnes
• 1,000 additional sanitation workers deployed
• 80+ vehicles deployed
• Bottles filled with urine found in women’s changing rooms at Har Ki Pauri

Static Link: Kanwar Yatra – annual Hindu pilgrimage; Shiva devotees carry Ganga water

21. Six Trapped in Tunnel in Uttarakhand

News Context: Six workers feared trapped after water and debris entered under-construction tunnel.

Location: Pipalkoti area, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand

Project: Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited

Rescue Teams: Indian Army, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF

Static Link: Tehri Dam – one of the tallest dams in India; on Bhagirathi River

22. Elephant and Calf Run Over by Train

News Context: Elephant and calf killed by Mangaluru-Chennai Superfast Express.

Location: Pudupathy, Chavadippara (Walayar-Palakkad forest stretch) – near Kerala-Tamil Nadu border

Static Link: Elephant corridors – connectivity between habitats; crucial for wildlife conservation

🔬 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

23. Chemotherapy Drug Shortage – Cisplatin & Carboplatin

News Context: India facing critical nationwide shortage of cisplatin and carboplatin.

Why Shortage?

1. Soaring global platinum raw material costs (more than doubled)
2. West Asia shipping route disruptions
3. Domestic price caps

Drugs:

NPPA Action: Raised price cap by 50% (June 12)

• Cisplatin: ₹7.26 → ₹10.89 per mL
• Carboplatin: ₹60.49 → ₹90.74 per mL

Impact:

• Treatment delays/interruptions
• Alternative regimens less effective/non-standard
• Increased costs for patients

India’s Cancer Burden: 1.5+ million new cases annually

Long-term Strategy Needed:

• Strategic reserves of essential cancer medicines
• Diversified domestic manufacturing
• Stronger active pharmaceutical ingredient companies
• Early-warning system for shortages

Static Link:

• NPPA: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority – fixes prices of essential medicines
• National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) – updated periodically

24. SC Slams FSSAI on Front-of-Pack Warning Labels

News Context: SC criticized FSSAI for not introducing front-of-pack warning labels on packaged food.

Required Labels: Sugar, salt, saturated fat levels

Petitioner: Kerala-based NGO 3S and Our Health Society

Justice Pardiwala: “Are you taking the court for a toss?”

Static Link: FSSAI – Food Safety and Standards Authority of India – under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

🏅 SPORTS (Current Affairs)

25. Satwik-Chirag Ready for World Championships

News Context: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty eye third World championships medal.

Key Facts:

• Ranked 5th in the world
• Won Singapore Open – first title after two years
• Have two World championships bronze medals
• Playing in India – home crowd advantage
• Defending champions at Asian Games

26. India vs Sri Lanka Test Series – Galle

News Context: India’s Test series against Sri Lanka begins August 15 in Galle.

Key Facts:

• India coach: Gautam Gambhir
• Sri Lanka coach: Gary Kirsten (former India head coach)
• India captain: Shubman Gill
• Ajinkya Rahane to make Test commentary debut

Static Link: Galle International Stadium – iconic venue in Sri Lanka

27. PSG Retains UEFA Super Cup

News Context: PSG beat Aston Villa 2-1 to retain UEFA Super Cup.

Static Link: UEFA Super Cup – annual match between Champions League and Europa League winners

📌 STATIC CORNER – ESSENTIAL ARTICLES & DATA

🎯 PRELIMS PRACTICE MCQs

Q1. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, restricts States’ powers to levy taxes on:
(a) Mineral rights only
(b) Mineral-bearing lands only
(c) Both mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands
(d) None of the above

✅ Answer: (c)

Q2. Which of the following is NOT a BJP-ruled State that has initiated action for UCC?
(a) Uttarakhand
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Kerala
(d) Gujarat

✅ Answer: (c) – Kerala is Congress-ruled (UDF)

Q3. The Rajasthan UCC Bill will NOT apply to:
(a) Muslims
(b) Christians
(c) Scheduled Tribes
(d) Scheduled Castes

✅ Answer: (c) – Tribal customary rights protected under Constitution

Q4. In the Vihaan Kumar vs State of Haryana (2025) case, the SC held that:

1. Every arrested person must be informed of grounds of arrest
2. Failure to inform violates Article 22(1)
3. If initial arrest is unconstitutional, subsequent remand orders are also illegal

Which of the above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: (d)

Q5. The case questioning whether legislative privileges can override freedom of speech will be heard by:
(a) Three-judge Bench
(b) Five-judge Bench
(c) Seven-judge Bench
(d) Nine-judge Bench

✅ Answer: (c)

Q6. The Monsoon Session 2026 recorded Lok Sabha productivity of:
(a) 19%
(b) 29%
(c) 39%
(d) 49%

✅ Answer: (a)

Q7. India’s merchandise exports grew by what percentage in July 2026?
(a) 10.6%
(b) 15.6%
(c) 19.6%
(d) 25.6%

✅ Answer: (c)

Q8. The cancer drugs facing shortage in India are:

1. Cisplatin
2. Carboplatin
3. Oxaliplatin

Which of the above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: (a) – Oxaliplatin is third-generation; not mentioned as facing shortage

Q9. The NPPA raised the price cap of cisplatin by:
(a) 25%
(b) 50%
(c) 75%
(d) 100%

✅ Answer: (b)

Q10. The Kuril Islands, recently visited by Putin, are claimed by:
(a) China
(b) Japan
(c) South Korea
(d) United States

✅ Answer: (b)

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