🏛️ POLITY & CONSTITUTION

1. Meghalaya Assembly Resolution Against Uranium Mining – Sixth Schedule & Mineral Rights

News Context: Meghalaya Assembly passed resolution opposing uranium mining/ore-processing in South West Khasi Hills.

Key Facts:

Anti-Uranium Day: October 28 – commemorates Spility Lyngdoh Langrin’s 1990s protest against Atomic Minerals Directorate’s exploratory drilling

Constitutional Provisions:

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• Sixth Schedule: Covers tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram (not all NE states)
• Mineral Rights: Entry 54, Union List – mines and mineral development
• Land Rights: Entry 18, State List – but Sixth Schedule grants special protection

Prelims Pointer: Unlike other states, in Sixth Schedule areas, community/private land rights over minerals beneath land are recognized. This is why Meghalaya can effectively block uranium mining.

2. Judicial Controversy – Rajasthan HC Acting CJ Allegations

News Context: SC judge Justice Sandeep Mehta wrote 3 letters to CJI alleging “maladministration,” “favouritism,” and “nepotism” by Rajasthan HC Acting CJ Sanjeev Prakash Sharma.

Key Facts:

CJI’s Statement:

• Allegations against a sitting judge must be handled via “established institutional mechanism”
• Matter under examination; judge to get fair opportunity to respond

Constitutional Provisions:

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• Acting Chief Justice: Appointed when regular CJ position vacant – senior-most judge of that HC
• Judicial Accountability: In-house procedure (1999) and Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 for removal

Prelims Pointer: The judicial accountability mechanism is internal – no parliamentary scrutiny for individual conduct except impeachment.

3. Karnataka Minister B. Nagendra – Governor’s Role (Valmiki Scam)

News Context: Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot sought Cabinet’s clarity on Nagendra’s continuation after CBI sought sanction for prosecution.

Key Facts:

Constitutional Provisions:

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• Governor’s Discretionary Powers: Article 163 – Governor acts on aid/advice of Council of Ministers, but has discretionary powers in certain matters (e.g., appointment of CM, dismissal of Ministry, assent to Bills)
• Sanction for Prosecution: Required under Section 197 CrPC / Section 218 BNSS for public servants

Prelims Pointer: Governor is a constitutional head – acts on aid and advice of Council of Ministers, except in discretionary matters.

4. Delhi Lakshmi Yojana – Sanction Letters & Welfare Scheme

News Context: CM Rekha Gupta distributed sanction letters to 4,190 women.

Key Facts:

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• DBT: Direct Benefit Transfer – launched 2013
• CBDC: Central Bank Digital Currency – digital rupee (e₹)
• Article 21: Right to life includes right to livelihood (but welfare schemes are statutory, not fundamental rights)

Prelims Pointer: CBDC is a legal tender issued by RBI – unlike cryptocurrencies which are not legal tender.

5. Electoral Roll SIR – Arbitrary Deletions & Standardization Concerns

News Context: ECI’s Manual on Electoral Rolls (2023) defines “Absentee” as temporarily away – NOT automatically deletable.

Key Issues:

Constitutional Provisions:

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• Representation of the People Act, 1950 – electoral rolls provisions
• SIR: Special Intensive Revision – electoral roll cleaning exercise

Prelims Pointer: “Absentee” means temporarily away – should NOT be automatically deleted under ECI’s own Manual.

💰 ECONOMY

6. India’s Highest Quarterly FDI in 15 Years

News Context: Gross FDI reached $30.7 billion in April-June 2026 – highest since Sept 2011 quarter.

Key Data:

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• FDI: Foreign Direct Investment – long-term investment with management control
• Automatic Route: No prior approval required
• Government Route: Prior approval required (e.g., Press Note 3 of 2020)

Prelims Pointer: Gross FDI is total inflows; Net FDI = Gross FDI – Outflows (disinvestment by foreign investors).

7. LPG Supply Disruption – West Asia Crisis & Energy Security

News Context: New 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder connections on hold since mid-March 2026.

Key Data:

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• Strait of Hormuz: Connects Persian Gulf to Arabian Sea – ~30% of global seaborne oil passes through
• LPG: Liquefied Petroleum Gas – propane + butane
• OMCs: Oil Marketing Companies – IOC, BPCL, HPCL

Prelims Pointer: India imports LPG primarily from West Asia – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE. Strait of Hormuz is the critical chokepoint.

8. Free Coaching Scheme – Parliamentary Standing Committee Report

News Context: Only 2,790 of targeted 10,500 candidates enrolled – 26% achievement.

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• PM CARES Fund: Public charitable trust – created March 2020
• MoSJ: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
• Article 16(4): Reservation for backward classes

Prelims Pointer: The scheme is under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment – not Education Ministry.

9. Disaster Fund Architecture – Heatwaves Added

News Context: MHA added heatwaves + lightning to notified natural calamities list (August 4, 2026).

Key Data:

Implementation Gaps:

• Only 300 of ~4,800 ULBs/districts have Heat Action Plans (HAPs)
• 79% of HAPs rely on unfunded “self-allocation”

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• Disaster Management Act, 2005 – SDRF, NDRF, SDMA, NDMA
• FC-XVI: 16th Finance Commission – recommended fund architecture

Prelims Pointer: SDRF = State Disaster Response Fund; SDMF = State Disaster Mitigation Fund; NDRF = National Disaster Response Fund.

🌐 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

10. India-China Boundary Talks – 25th SR Round Outcome

News Context: 25th Special Representatives (SR) meeting – outcome document with 8 points.

Key Outcomes:

Key Concepts to Revise:

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• Kailash Manasarovar Yatra: Pilgrimage to Tibet – conducted through Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) or Nathu La (Sikkim)
• India-China border: 3,488 km – not yet delimited

Prelims Pointer: The SR mechanism is at the NSA/State Councillor level – dual-track approach with WMCC for operational matters.

11. Nepal Flash Flood – Bhotekoshi River

News Context: Rock-and-ice landslide along Nepal-China border blocked Lhende River, causing debris-laden flood.

Key Facts:

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• Gandak River: Tributary of Ganga – originates in Nepal (Tibet) – enters India at Triveni, Bihar
• Western Disturbance: IMD cited as possible contributing factor – moves eastward toward Himalayas
• Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF): Risk from climate change

Prelims Pointer: Bhotekoshi is a transboundary river – India and Nepal share river waters under various agreements.

12. Smart Border Management – Integrated Command Centres

News Context: MHA developing AI/sensor/surveillance-based unified command-and-control architecture.

Key Facts:

India’s Land Border:

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• BSF: Pakistan and Bangladesh border
• SSB: Nepal and Bhutan border
• ITBP: China border
• CIBMS: Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System

Prelims Pointer: India shares border with 7 countries – Afghanistan via Wakhan Corridor (though not continuous).

13. UN CERD Report – India’s Rejection

News Context: UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination flagged concerns; India rejected findings.

Issues Raised:

• Discrimination against Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes
• Rohingya refugees
• Hate speech, hate crimes, excessive force

India’s Response (MEA):

• Rejected findings as “politically motivated”
• Cited constitutional safeguards

Static Link:

• ICERD: International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965)
• Article 1 of ICERD: Internal affairs exception – India’s reservation
• UN Treaty Bodies: Monitor implementation; observations not binding

Prelims Pointer: India ratified ICERD in 1969 – with reservations on Article 1 (internal affairs exception).

🌍 GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENT

14. Nepal Flash Flood – Climate & Disaster Link

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• Western Disturbance: Weather system originating in Mediterranean – brings winter/spring rain to NW India and Himalayas
• GLOF: Glacial Lake Outburst Flood – risk increasing due to climate change
• Indo-Nepal River Sharing: Gandak Treaty (1959) – Mahakali Treaty (1996)

Prelims Pointer: Western disturbances are extra-tropical cyclones – not monsoonal.

15. Meghalaya Uranium Mining – Sixth Schedule Context

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• Atomic Minerals Directorate: Under Department of Atomic Energy – explores uranium deposits
• Uranium in Meghalaya: Deposits found in Domiasiat (South West Khasi Hills) – one of India’s largest
• Anti-Uranium Day (Oct 28): Commemorates local resistance

Prelims Pointer: Domiasiat uranium deposit is in Meghalaya – one of India’s largest but has faced local opposition.

🏅 SPORTS (Exam-Relevant)

16. F1 – 2026 Season Review

Key Facts:

Static Link: Formula One – governed by FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile)

📌 STATIC CORNER – QUICK REVISION