Source : THE HINDU News Paper

1. Election Commission / SIR / Political Finance

News Facts:

• Continued demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation (Rahul Gandhi, Left parties, CJP).
• Editorial on political party finance: RUPPs (Registered Unrecognised Political Parties) received large donations; ECI delisted 334 RUPPs; tax exemptions under Section 13A of Income-tax Act; limited power of ECI to deregister parties.
• T.N. Seshan’s 1994 order under Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 flagged poor internal functioning of parties.

Static Linkages:

• Art. 324; Representation of the People Act, 1951 (Section 29A – registration).
• Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
• Income-tax Act, Section 13A (exemption for political parties).
• Tenth Schedule (only constitutional mention of political parties).

2. Vande Mataram Editorial

News Facts:

• Editorial: “A nation’s song – Vande Mataram’s rendition must be in the spirit of unity in diversity.”
• Argues against compulsion of all six stanzas; supports first two stanzas as decided by Congress Working Committee in 1937.
• Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026 extends penalties to National Song.
• SC reference to Bijoe Emmanuel (1986).

Static Linkages:

• Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala (1986) – Art. 25 (freedom of conscience).
• Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 (originally for National Anthem/Flag).
• National Song vs National Anthem distinction (no constitutional status for National Song).

3. Cauvery Water Dispute

News Facts:

• SC sought Karnataka’s response to Tamil Nadu’s plea claiming shortfall of 20 TMC ft of Cauvery water.
• Karnataka cited drought conditions and claimed compliance as upper riparian state.
• References to Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).

Static Linkages:

• Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
• Art. 262.
• CWMA (constituted after SC directions) and CWRC.

4. UNSC Veto Reform (Parley)

News Facts:

• France (Macron) at UNGA pushed for regulation of veto in cases of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes (French-Mexican initiative, 2015).
• 128 states support the declaration; UK has joined France.
• Liechtenstein initiative (2022): UNGA debate within 10 days after a veto.
• ACT Code of Conduct.

Static Linkages:

• UN Charter (Chapter V – Security Council; veto not explicitly named but flows from Art. 27).
• P5: US, UK, France, Russia, China.
• UNGA resolutions on Security Council reform.

5. Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment

News Facts:

• Odisha Assembly discussed potential revenue loss due to MMDR Amendment Act, 2026.
• Section 9D restricts State governments from imposing independent taxes/cesses on mineral rights without Union approval.
• Opposition claims loss of over ₹1 lakh crore (cumulative) / ₹12,000 crore annually for Odisha.

Static Linkages:

• Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (as amended).
• Entry 54, List I (Union List) vs Entry 23, List II (State List) – regulation of mines.
• Federal fiscal relations.

6. Assam Muslim Marriage Registration Rules

News Facts:

• Assam Cabinet approved Assam Muslim Marriage Registration (Compulsory) Rules, 2026.
• Operationalises Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024.
• Minimum age: 18 (woman), 21 (man); registration shifted from qazis to government officials; 30-day public notice period.

Static Linkages:

• Personal laws vs Uniform Civil Code debate.
• Compulsory registration of marriages (various state laws).
• Protection of rights of women and prevention of child marriage.

7. OBC Creamy Layer

News Facts:

• SC reserved orders on Centre’s plea for prospective operation of a March 2024 ruling on re-assessment of OBC non-creamy layer status (linked to 1993 Office Memorandum).

Static Linkages:

• Indra Sawhney (1992) – creamy layer concept.
• Art. 15(4) & 16(4).
• Art. 142 (complete justice) sometimes invoked in such matters.

8. Ladakh – Martyrs’ Day / Sixth Schedule Demand

News Facts:

• Shutdown and prayers in Leh & Kargil on first anniversary of 24 September 2025 violence (four civilians killed).
• Demands for Statehood and Sixth Schedule inclusion continue.
• Talks with Centre on special status under Art. 371.

Static Linkages:

• Sixth Schedule (tribal areas – Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram).
• Art. 371 (special provisions for certain states).
• Ladakh as Union Territory (2019 reorganisation).

9. SWIFT Alternatives (Text & Context)

News Facts:

• BRICS New Delhi Declaration emphasised trade in national currencies.
• Alternatives: CIPS (China), SPFS (Russia), Project mBridge (multi-CBDC platform), SEPAM (Iran).
• BIS exited mBridge in Oct 2024.
• India-Russia trade largely settled in rupees-roubles (≈96%).

Static Linkages:

• SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication).
• De-dollarisation trends; financial sanctions as geopolitical tool.
• Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).

10. Other High-Yield Items