Polity and Nation Updates for UPSC IAS Prelims 2025 Examination

News- In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court struck down Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi’s decision to withhold assent to 10 State Bills, terming it illegal and erroneous in law. SC verdict on Governor’s assent to Bills. About Supreme Court’s ruling (Tamil Nadu Governor Assent Case) The Court held that the Governor cannot sit indefinitely… Continue reading SC verdict on Governor’s assent to Bills

News- The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified the “Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications Obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions Regulations, 2025” to streamline the process of recognizing foreign degrees in India. UGC Equivalence Certificate Regulations 2025. About UGC Equivalence Certificate Regulations 2025 Aim: To establish a structured and transparent framework for issuing equivalence… Continue reading UGC Equivalence Certificate Regulations 2025

News– The Union government recently introduced The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha. It aims to strengthen India’s borders and streamline immigration and foreigner-related laws. Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025. About Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 The Bill repeals and replaces the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000, and three pre-independence laws, the… Continue reading Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025

News: The issue of ‘D’ (Doubtful) voters in Assam has resurfaced as the opposition demands the tabling of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) report and the closure of the state transit camp. D-voter and rules governing D voters. About D-voter The term “D-voter” refers to “Doubtful Voter”, a classification used in Assam to indicate… Continue reading D-voter and rules governing D voters

News: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP that multiple electors have been assigned identical EPIC numbers, raising concerns about electoral integrity ahead of the state elections. About Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) An Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is issued to all registered voters to prevent impersonation during elections. It serves as… Continue reading Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC)

News: The controversy over the three-language policy has resurfaced due to the ongoing conflict between the Tamil Nadu government and the Union government regarding its implementation under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. About Three-Language Formula The three-language formula was first introduced in the National Education Policy (NEP), 1968 and was later retained with modifications… Continue reading Three-Language Formula

News: Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah presided over the 27th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Pune. About Zonal Councils Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru introduced the concept of zonal councils in 1956 during the debate on the States Reorganisation Commission report. It was introduced as a mechanism to promote inter-state cooperation and resolve… Continue reading Zonal Councils

News: Recently, the Supreme Court in a landmark ruling, directed all states with remission policies to consider the premature release of eligible prisoners even if they have not applied for remission. About Remission Remission is the reduction of a prison sentence granted to a convict before the completion of their term. It is different from… Continue reading Remission

News: Recently, the Supreme Court struck down the National Medical Commission (NMC)’s eligibility condition requiring MBBS aspirants with disabilities to have “both hands intact, with intact sensation and sufficient strength.” About National Medical Commission (NMC) The National Medical Commission (NMC) is the statutory body established under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, replacing the Medical… Continue reading National Medical Commission (NMC)

News: Amritpal Singh, incarcerated under the National Security Act, has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court to attend the ongoing Parliament session. He seeks to avoid disqualification under Article 101(4) due to prolonged absence from the Lok Sabha. About Article 101(4) of the Indian Constitution Article 101(4) of the Indian Constitution provides that: If… Continue reading Article 101(4) of the Indian Constitution

News: Recently, two separate murder cases resulted in contrasting verdicts, shedding light on how Indian courts interpret and apply the ‘rarest of rare’ doctrine while awarding the death penalty. About Rarest of Rare Doctrine 1. The Doctrine of Rarest of Rare is a principle adopted in India to guide courts in deciding between the death… Continue reading Rarest of Rare Doctrine

News: India ranked 96 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024, dropping three places from 93 in 2023. About Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024 The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is released annually by Transparency International. It ranks 180 countries and territories based on perceived levels of public sector corruption. The score… Continue reading Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024

News: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recently amended the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018, introducing stricter rules to combat spam calls and SMS messages. About Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 It was introduced by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to curb unsolicited commercial communication (spam)… Continue reading Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations 2018

News: In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has reaffirmed the constitutional protection of private property under Article 300A, emphasizing that any acquisition of private property must strictly adhere to procedural safeguards.  Key Highlights of the Judgment Due Process is Integral to Property Rights The Supreme Court held that the requirement of a… Continue reading Supreme Court Rules: Private Property Acquisition Invalid Without Due Procedure

News: The Supreme Court is currently hearing a case involving the Tamil Nadu government and Governor RN Ravi over delays in granting assent to Bills. The ruling in this case will set a precedent for other states facing similar issues. About Article 200 Article 200 of the Indian Constitution deals with the Assent to Bills… Continue reading Article 200

News: To address the increasing backlog of cases in High Courts, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled on January 30, 2025, that retired judges can be appointed as ad-hoc judges under specific conditions. About Ad-hoc Judge Ad-hoc judges are retired High Court judges who are temporarily reappointed to help clear pending cases.  They have the same… Continue reading Ad-hoc Judges in High Courts

News: Recently, the convicts of the Hashimpura massacre have moved the Delhi High Court against a prison rule related to furloughs.  About Parole Parole is a conditional release of a prisoner who has served part of their sentence, allowing the person to live outside prison under specified conditions. The term originates from the French phrase… Continue reading Furlough and Parole

News: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has informed National Green Tribunal (NGT) that only 167 posts out of 2,228 vacancies have been filled so far in 12 states and 2 UTs. Earlier the NGT had ordered to fill vacant posts across pollution control boards in the country by April end.  About Central Pollution Control… Continue reading Central Pollution Control Board

News: The Inland Waterway Authority of India (IWAI) has set up a new regional office at Varanasi.  About Inland Waterway Authority of India  It is a statutory body established by the central government under the provisions of the Inland Waterway Authority of India Act, 1985.  The authority undertakes projects for development and maintenance of inland… Continue reading Inland Waterway Authority of India (IWAI)

News: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly establish a Centre of Excellence for Energy Transition (CoEET) in Hyderabad.  About Bureau of Energy Efficiency   It is a statutory body established by the central government in 2002 under the provisions… Continue reading Bureau of Energy Efficiency

News: Recently, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) ordered the liquidation of budget carrier Go First. It potentially brings an end to the airline and its 20-month-long insolvency proceedings. About National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) It is a quasi-judicial body established to handle civil corporate disputes.  It was established on 1st June 2016 under the… Continue reading National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)

News: The Supreme Court recently suggested the temporary appointment of retired High Court judges on an ad hoc (as-needed) basis to address the backlog of pending criminal cases in several High Courts. About Ad-hoc Judges in High Court Constitutional Provisions– The appointment of ad hoc judges is provided for in the Constitution under Article 224A… Continue reading Ad-hoc Judges in High Court

News: The Foundation Day of the Lokpal of India was held for the first time on 16th January at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi in the august presence of the Chief Justice of India, Shri Justice Sanjiv Khanna. About Lokpal The Lokpal is a statutory body established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. Its primary… Continue reading Lokpal of India

News: The government has reconstituted the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to include T V Somanathan, the new Cabinet Secretary, and Manoj Govil, the newly appointed Expenditure Secretary.  About Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)  The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was established in August 1948 within the Department of Scientific Research later the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)… Continue reading Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) 

News: Recently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) marked its 150th anniversary. About India Meteorological Department (IMD) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) was established in 1875. It is the principal agency for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology in India. Headquarters: New Delhi, IMD operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences and plays a vital role… Continue reading India Meteorological Department (IMD) and its future vision