Jharkhand Public Service Commission

1. SIR — Karnataka & Telangana Draft Electoral Roll Deletions

What happened?

Under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls:

• Karnataka: Around 1.07 crore names were deleted from the draft electoral rolls.
• The electorate consequently stood at around 4.46 crore.
• Discrepancy notices are to be issued to around 43.81 lakh voters.
• Once the process is triggered, it is expected to be completed within 7 days.

Telangana angle

Telangana recorded the highest deletion rate in the country — 21.7%.

The deletions were particularly high in urban constituencies:

• Hyderabad/Secunderabad constituencies witnessed 35%+ deletion in 21 Assembly Constituencies.
• This highlights the problem of urban migration, duplicate entries and electoral-roll portability.

Data methodology

The analysis classified constituencies according to their degree of urbanisation using:

Night-time light intensity → SHRUG database → Jenks Natural Breaks method

Four categories:

1. Highly Urban
2. Moderately Urban
3. Moderately Rural
4. Highly Rural

Important observation

Unlike several northern States, Telangana’s gender ratio in the draft electoral roll improved:

1,018 → 1,028 women per 1,000 men

Static Link

SIR → Electoral Roll → ECI → ERO/BLO → Form 7 → Representation of the People Acts, 1950 & 1951

Mains Angle

Electoral-roll revision must balance electoral integrity with the constitutional principle of universal adult suffrage. Excessive deletion can potentially disenfranchise genuine voters, while inadequate revision can allow duplicate/dead/non-resident entries.

2. Delhi Polling Booth Rationalisation

What happened?

The Election Commission rationalised polling stations in Delhi by reducing the maximum number of electors per polling booth:

Earlier: 1,500 electors
New ceiling: 1,200 electors

As a result:

• Polling booths increased from 13,033 → 14,947
• Booth locations increased from 2,696 → 2,856

The exercise comes ahead of the publication of the SIR draft electoral roll.

Why is it important?

Lowering the elector-per-booth ratio can:

• Reduce overcrowding
• Shorten waiting time
• Improve voter accessibility
• Facilitate smoother polling
• Strengthen electoral participation

Static Link

Election Commission → Article 324 → Electoral Administration → Polling Stations → Voter Accessibility

Exam Angle

This is an example of administrative reform in electoral management, rather than a change in electoral law.

3. Industrial Relations Code — Redefining “Industry”

What happened?

A 9-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by CJI Surya Kant, examined the meaning of “industry” under the Industrial Relations Code (IRC), 2020.

Key ruling

The majority held that the definition of “industry” under the IRC, 2020 should be interpreted independently and not mechanically through the earlier Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) “Triple Test”.

However:

Pending cases under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 continue to be governed by the earlier BWSSB interpretation.

What was the Triple Test?

Broadly, the BWSSB judgment looked at:

Systematic activity + Cooperation between employer and employee + Production/distribution of goods or services

Minority view

Justices Nagarathna, Datta and Bhuyan considered the re-evaluation unnecessary and warned that changing the established interpretation could disturb industrial peace and legal certainty.

Core doctrinal principle

The IRC, 2020 is an:

“Independent legislative enactment”

Therefore, courts must interpret it according to its:

Text → Scheme → Object → Legislative framework

rather than automatically importing interpretations developed under the old law.

Static Link

Article 246 → Concurrent List → Entry 22: Trade unions & industrial disputes

Mains Angle

This case illustrates the principle of purposive and statute-specific interpretation and the relationship between judicial precedent and legislative change.

4. NCDC (Amendment) Act, 2026

What happened?

The NCDC (Amendment) Act, 2026, passed on 12 August 2026, amends the National Cooperative Development Corporation Act, 1962.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has criticised the legislation as an attack on the federal rights of States.

Why is federalism involved?

“Cooperative societies” fall primarily within the State List, particularly:

Seventh Schedule → State List → Entry 32

Therefore, greater Union intervention in State-regulated cooperatives raises questions about legislative competence and cooperative federalism.

Major changes highlighted

The amendment:

• Removes the earlier rural-only limitation for cooperative registration.
• Expands NCDC’s ability to intervene/directly support activities beyond conventional agricultural/rural sectors.
• Potentially increases the Union’s institutional role in cooperative development.

Constitutional Link

97th Constitutional Amendment, 2011

Important provisions:

• Article 43B — promotion of cooperative societies
• Part IXB — cooperative societies
• Seventh Schedule — distribution of legislative powers

Supreme Court Link

The debate also connects with the Supreme Court’s federalism jurisprudence concerning the limits of Parliament’s power over State-regulated cooperative societies.

Mains Angle

Cooperatives are simultaneously an economic institution and a federalism issue.

5. Tamil Nadu Drops Parandur Airport Project

What happened?

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that the proposed Parandur greenfield airport project would be dropped.

Instead:

Existing Chennai Airport → New Terminal 5 → AAI collaboration

The expansion is expected to raise annual passenger-handling capacity:

30 million → 55 million passengers

Why important?

The issue highlights the classic infrastructure-development dilemma:

Land acquisition + Environmental concerns + Urban expansion + Infrastructure capacity

Exam Angle

Greenfield infrastructure projects often involve conflicts between:

Development needs ↔ Livelihoods ↔ Environment ↔ Land rights

Static Link

Land Acquisition → RFCTLARR Act, 2013 → Compensation → Rehabilitation & Resettlement

6. Airport Privatisation Push — 11 Airports

What happened?

The Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) gave an in-principle nod for privatisation of 11 airports.

They are proposed to be grouped into 5 bundles:

1. Amritsar–Kangra
2. Varanasi–Gaya–Kushinagar
3. Bhubaneswar–Hubballi
4. Raipur–Aurangabad
5. Tiruchirappalli–Tirupati

Why bundling?

Bundling can make smaller airports commercially attractive by combining them with airports having stronger passenger/revenue potential.

Competition concern

A cap on the number of bundles that one bidder can acquire has been proposed.

This is significant because in the previous round:

Adani Group → Won all 6 airports offered

Static Link

PPP → PPPAC → Asset Monetisation → Airports Authority of India → Airport privatisation

Mains Angle

Airport privatisation raises the classic policy question:

Efficiency and private investment vs competition and concentration risk

7. Manipur Census 2027 Standoff

What happened?

The House Listing phase of Census 2027, scheduled for September 1–30, has faced resistance in Manipur.

Competing demands

Meitei/Naga civil society groups:

• Demand that an NRC be compiled first.
• Concerned about demographic changes.

Kuki-Zo groups:

• Want the Census to proceed.
• Argue that it could help dispel claims about demographic changes.

Judicial development

The Manipur High Court constituted a Special Division Bench following a PIL filed by the Kangleipak Students Association.

Why does Census matter beyond population data?

Census data can influence:

Population statistics → Representation → Delimitation → Political power

Hence, demographic data becomes politically sensitive in conflict-affected regions.

Delimitation Link

Future delimitation may rely on updated Census data.

This creates anxiety among different communities over possible changes in:

• Constituency boundaries
• Representation
• Political influence

Static Link

Census → Delimitation → Representation → Federal/Political power

8. Doval–Wang Border Talks

What happened?

India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi under the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism.

This was the 25th round of SR talks on the India-China boundary question.

Doval also met Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng.

Strategic context

The talks come amid efforts to stabilise India-China relations following the 2020 Ladakh crisis.

The:

October 2024 Modi–Xi Kazan meeting

is widely viewed as an important starting point for renewed diplomatic engagement.

Possible Xi visit

The talks take place ahead of a possible Xi Jinping visit to India for the BRICS Summit in September 2026.

Static Link

2003 Special Representatives Mechanism

Important agreements:

• 1993 Agreement — Peace and Tranquillity along LAC
• 1996 Agreement — Confidence Building Measures
• 2005 Agreement — Political Parameters & Guiding Principles

Mains Angle

India-China boundary management involves two parallel tracks:

Immediate: Border disengagement/de-escalation
Long-term: Final boundary settlement

9. Jaishankar–Putin Meeting & India–Russia Relations

What happened?

Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed his intention to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and subsequently welcome him to India for the BRICS Summit.

India-Russia economic engagement

The 27th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission was co-chaired by:

• S. Jaishankar
• Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov

Trade target

India and Russia are pursuing a bilateral trade target of:

$100 billion by 2030

Major challenge

The relationship faces a significant trade imbalance, with India’s imports from Russia substantially exceeding its exports.

Static Link

India-Russia → Defence → Energy → Nuclear → Space → Fertiliser → Multilateral platforms

Important platforms:

SCO + BRICS + G20 + UN

10. U.S. “Economic Asphyxiation” of Iran

What happened?

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced expanded secondary sanctions targeting Iranian economic networks.

Sectors reportedly targeted include:

• Digital assets
• Technology
• Gold
• Aviation
• Shipping

The measures were described as an attempt at economic asphyxiation.

Strategic context

The escalation follows the 2026 Iran conflict involving U.S.-Israeli strikes.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a major strategic flashpoint, with shipping severely disrupted.

Why is Hormuz important?

The Strait connects:

Persian Gulf → Gulf of Oman → Arabian Sea → Indian Ocean

It is crucial for global energy transportation.

India relevance

Any prolonged disruption can affect:

Crude oil prices → India’s import bill → Inflation → Current Account → Rupee

Mains Link

Geopolitics → Energy Security → Inflation → Balance of Payments

11. H-1B Visa Fee Proposal

What happened?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposed a $103,265 fee for H-1B cap-subject applications.

This would be in addition to existing petition-related fees.

H-1B structure

Annual statutory cap:

65,000 → Regular cap

20,000 → U.S. Master’s degree exemption

Total:

85,000

Why important for India?

Indian professionals constitute a major share of H-1B beneficiaries.

Therefore, changes in H-1B policy can influence:

Indian IT sector → Skilled migration → Remittances → India-US economic relations

Mains Angle

The issue illustrates the tension between:

Domestic labour protection ↔ Global talent mobility ↔ Technology-sector demand

12. UPI Turns 10

What happened?

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched on 25 August 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

It completes 10 years in 2026.

Growth

Transaction volume:

FY17: 1.78 crore → FY26: 24,162 crore

≈ 13,000-fold increase

Transaction value:

₹0.07 lakh crore → ₹314 lakh crore

≈ 4,000-fold increase

UPI is now operational in 11 countries.

Why is UPI important?

UPI represents India’s model of:

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

Key characteristics:

• Interoperability
• Low-cost digital payments
• Real-time settlement
• Open architecture
• Large-scale adoption

Static Link

NPCI → RBI → Payment Systems → Digital Public Infrastructure

Mains Angle

UPI demonstrates how public digital infrastructure can enable financial inclusion and innovation at population scale.

13. Press Note 3 (2020) & FDI Relaxation

What was Press Note 3?

In April 2020, India introduced restrictions on FDI from countries sharing a land border with India.

Countries include:

China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan

The key policy change:

FDI from such countries would require the Government route, rather than the automatic route.

Why was it introduced?

The immediate context was the COVID-19 economic shock and concerns over opportunistic acquisition/takeover of vulnerable Indian companies.

Important chronology:

Press Note 3 → April 2020

Galwan clash → June 2020

Therefore, Press Note 3 was not introduced after the Galwan clash.

2026 relaxation

In March 2026, the government eased the framework by permitting the automatic route in specified circumstances where the relevant land-border-country entity holds less than 10%.

Data

Around 29 FDI projects worth ₹4,895.65 crore had reportedly been received under the revised framework up to 10 August 2026.

Static Link

Press Note 3 → FEMA 1999 → FDI Policy → Automatic Route vs Government Route

Mains Angle

FDI policy increasingly balances:

Capital inflow + Ease of Doing Business

against

National Security + Strategic Autonomy

14. Medical Device Rules Amendment

What happened?

The Union Health Ministry proposed amendments to the Medical Devices Rules, 2017.

Key proposals

1. Outsourced sterilisation

The proposal removes the requirement for a separate loan licence for outsourced sterilisation under Rule 44.

Objective: Reduce regulatory duplication and compliance burden.

2. Clinical investigation

Under Rule 63, the list of recognised regulatory jurisdictions is proposed to be expanded.

The European Union is among the jurisdictions added.

This can allow certain medical devices to receive exemptions from additional clinical investigation requirements where specified regulatory conditions are met.

Why important?

The reform attempts to balance:

Patient safety + Regulatory oversight

with

Ease of Doing Business + Faster medical-device availability

Static Link

Medical Devices Rules, 2017 → CDSCO → Drug & Cosmetics Act → Medical-device regulation

🔗 STATIC CONCEPT LINKAGES — QUICK REVISION

🎯 JPSC/UPSC/BPSC MAINS — BIG PICTURE THEMES

1. Electoral Governance

SIR + Booth Rationalisation

→ Electoral integrity
→ Inclusion
→ Voter accessibility
→ ECI’s constitutional role

2. Cooperative Federalism

NCDC Amendment

→ State List
→ Centre-State relations
→ Cooperative societies
→ Article 43B

3. Judicial Interpretation

IRC Industry Judgment

→ New legislation vs old precedent
→ Judicial interpretation
→ Industrial peace
→ Concurrent List

4. Infrastructure & PPP

Airports

→ Privatisation
→ PPP
→ Competition
→ Asset monetisation
→ Land acquisition

5. Internal Security & Demography

Manipur Census

→ Census
→ NRC
→ Delimitation
→ Ethnic conflict
→ Representation

6. Foreign Policy

India-China + India-Russia + Iran

→ Strategic autonomy
→ Border management
→ Energy security
→ Multipolarity
→ BRICS/SCO

7. Digital Public Infrastructure

UPI

→ Financial inclusion
→ Digital economy
→ DPI
→ FinTech

8. Economic Security

Press Note 3 + H-1B + Iran sanctions

→ FDI
→ Migration
→ Supply chains
→ National security
→ Globalisation