News at a Glance
| Topic | GS Paper | Context & Key Facts (Explained) |
| Monetary Bail Framework in India | GS2 – Polity – Laws | India’s bail system uses cash deposits, sureties, or promises to appear. However, money-based bail often traps poor undertrials in jail while the wealthy pay and walk free, leading to inequality. Experts urge reforms: more personal bonds, legal aid for the poor, codified national bail principles, and digital bail tracking for transparency. |
| Elderly Women in India’s Health Policy | GS2 – Vulnerable Sections | Elderly women in India are a growing group, living longer but with more years in ill-health. Most lack income, depend on others for healthcare, and face diseases like osteoporosis, cancer, and dementia. Policy gaps persist: more gender-sensitive geriatric care, targeted insurance, and better support systems are needed, alongside efforts to reduce isolation and boost pensions. |
| 25th SCO Summit | GS2 – IR – Groupings | At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, members agreed to create a development bank and reaffirmed priorities like fighting terrorism, building economic resilience, and supporting just solutions for global issues (e.g., Palestine). For India, this keeps regional stability and new infrastructure opportunities in focus amid rising Eurasian competition. |
| 15th India–Japan Summit | GS2 – IR – Bilateral | The summit marked deeper India–Japan ties: they signed new MoUs for defence, economic investment, tech (AI, digital), minerals, clean energy, and cultural exchange. Japan’s new $68 billion investment pledge and Chandrayaan-5 lunar cooperation headline major outcomes, reflecting mutual trust amid complex Asia-Pacific geopolitics. |
| Disposable Income Outlook | GS3 – IE – Resources | India’s economic outlook brightened with rising disposable incomes in FY25, thanks to high GDP growth, falling inflation, tax relief, and ambitious GST reforms. Increased digital transactions and strong rural demand show a broader consumption recovery, giving households more to spend and save. |
| Semiconductor Push | GS3 – IE – Industry | India is fast-tracking its semiconductor ambitions with a new OSAT pilot line in Gujarat and expanded chip design training (over 1.2 crore hours logged). With a global chip talent gap looming by 2032, India stands to gain if it can align education, investment, and innovation towards semiconductor self-reliance. |
| India’s Electricity Sector | GS3 – Infra – Initiatives | While India boasts 476 GW installed power capacity, high industrial tariffs, losses, and heavy coal reliance make it less competitive than China. Power sector reforms must aim for smart metering, cutting subsidies for the wealthy, decarbonization, and direct benefits for the poor to ensure affordable and sustainable growth. |
| India’s Energy Sovereignty | GS3 – Infra – Initiatives | Because India imports most of its crude and gas, it’s vulnerable to volatile prices and geopolitics. The path forward is clear: expand renewables, biofuels, nuclear, green hydrogen, and diversify import sources, while investing in local energy infrastructure for true energy autonomy. |
| Blue Dragons | Prelims – Envi – Species | Blue dragons (Glaucus atlanticus) spotted off Spain are actually delicate sea slugs that float upside down, camouflaged by their iridescent color. They eat jellyfish and store their stinging cells for protection. Their recent sighting is linked to warming seas and shifting ecosystem patterns. |
| Ramon Magsaysay Award | Prelims – Awards | Educate Girls, an Indian NGO promoting girls’ education, is the first Indian group to win the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2025. This “Asia’s Nobel” honours social impact; past Indian winners include Vinoba Bhave, Mother Teresa, and R. Ravi Kannan, highlighting India’s tradition of grassroots leadership. |
| One Liners: Ruwais LNG, Health Risks | Prelims – Misc. | India signed a 15-year clean LNG supply deal with UAE’s Ruwais project, enhancing energy security and climate goals. Also, keep in mind: old pillows and air fresheners can worsen allergies due to dust mites and chemicalsan emerging public health point. |