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SHANTI Bill, 2025: Overhauling India’s Nuclear Energy Sector

Context: The Union Government has introduced the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha. The Bill aims to comprehensively reform India’s nuclear energy framework, enable private sector participation, and scale nuclear power capacity to 100 GW by 2047, supporting India’s Net Zero target by 2070.

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Key Features of the SHANTI Bill

1. Legislative & Institutional Reforms

The Bill proposes a single, unified legal framework by replacing the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010.
It grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), making it accountable to Parliament.

Nuclear disputes will be adjudicated by the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL), while a Nuclear Damage Claims Commission will handle compensation in cases of severe nuclear incidents.

2. Private Sector Participation

The Bill ends the operational monopoly of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). Indian private companies will be allowed to build, own, and operate nuclear power plants, subject to licensing and safety norms.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is capped at 49%, ensuring domestic control while enabling global capital and technology inflows.

3. Liability and Compensation Framework

A tiered liability system links operator liability to plant size, ranging from ₹100 crore for plants below 150 MW to ₹3,000 crore for plants above 3.6 GW.
Suppliers are granted liability immunity, removing provisions that allowed operators to sue suppliers for equipment failure.

A central nuclear liability fund will cover damages beyond the operator’s capped liability. Financial penalties for violations are capped at ₹1 crore.

4. Technology and Innovation Push

The Bill amends Section 4 of the Patents Act, 1970, allowing patenting of peaceful nuclear energy inventions.

It institutionalises a ₹20,000 crore Nuclear Energy Mission to deploy indigenous 220 MW Bharat Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Strategic activities such as uranium enrichment, spent fuel reprocessing, and heavy water production remain under full government control.

Objectives of the SHANTI Bill

  • Mobilise ₹15–20 lakh crore in private investment.
  • Scale nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047.
  • Deploy SMRs to replace coal and reduce industrial carbon taxes.
  • Provide clean, reliable baseload power to stabilise renewable-heavy grids.
  • Establish nuclear energy as the third pillar alongside solar and wind for Net Zero 2070.

India’s Nuclear Energy Landscape

India currently operates 25 nuclear reactors with 8,880 MW installed capacity, contributing about 3% of total electricity generation (FY 2024–25). The country targets 22.5 GW by 2031–32 and 100 GW by 2047.

India imports most of its uranium, primarily from Kazakhstan (80%), followed by Russia, Uzbekistan, and Canada.

India’s Increasing Push for Free Trade Agreements

Context: Amid slowing global growth, supply-chain disruptions, and rising geopolitical uncertainty, India is actively signing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) as part of a strategic shift to secure markets, investments, and technology in a volatile global order.

Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

An FTA is a binding trade pact between countries or economic blocs that reduces or eliminates tariffs, quotas, and other trade barriers to promote cross-border trade in goods and services.

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Why India Is Pushing FTAs

1. Market Access for Exports

FTAs provide preferential access to overseas markets, benefiting labour-intensive sectors.
Example: The India–UAE CEPA offers duty-free access for about 90% of Indian exports, leading to a 12% export rise in the first year.

2. Investment Gains

Stable trade rules under FTAs attract long-term foreign investment.
Example: The India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) commits $100 billion of investment over 15 years.

3. Improved Competitiveness

Lower tariffs on inputs help India integrate into global value chains.
Example: Under the India–ASEAN FTA, Indian textile exports to ASEAN grew by 15%.

4. Expansion of Services Trade

Modern FTAs increasingly cover services and mobility.
Example: The proposed India–UK FTA seeks improved market access for Indian professionals in IT and healthcare.

5. Geopolitical Alignment

FTAs act as strategic stabilisers by strengthening partnerships with key regions. Agreements with QUAD partners, the EU, and Indo-Pacific countries reinforce India’s strategic position.

6. Technology Access

Trade agreements facilitate access to advanced technologies.
Example: The India–Australia ECTA improves access to renewable energy and critical mineral technologies.

Key Concerns in India’s FTA Strategy

  • Trade Imbalances: Imports under pacts like AITIGA have outpaced exports.
  • Low Utilisation: Only about 25% of exporters use FTA benefits due to complex rules and paperwork.
  • Rules of Origin (RoO) Misuse: Risk of third-country goods entering India via FTA partners.
  • Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs): Strict standards in developed markets limit real market access.
  • Domestic Vulnerability: Dairy and farm sectors fear competition from subsidised producers abroad.
  • Sustainability Pressures: Measures like the EU’s CBAM add carbon-related costs to exports.
  • Overdependence Risk: Excessive bilateralism may weaken India’s multilateral bargaining power.

Way Forward

  • Simplify & Digitise RoO to cut compliance costs and prevent misuse.
  • Support MSMEs through export facilitation and awareness programmes.
  • Align PLI Schemes with FTA objectives to boost high-value manufacturing.
  • Improve Trade Logistics via ports, ICDs, and customs digitalisation.
  • Sectoral Strategy: Push strengths (services, textiles, gems) while protecting sensitive sectors.
  • Sustainability Readiness: Prepare industry for NTBs and carbon regulations.
  • Regular FTA Reviews: Modernise older FTAs like AITIGA to correct imbalances.

India’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Slowdown

Context: Recent Commerce Ministry data reveal that 466 Special Economic Zone (SEZ) units have shut down over the last five years across seven SEZs, signalling structural stress in India’s flagship export-promotion framework. Closures accelerated after the COVID-19 shock, peaking in FY25 (100 units) and FY22 (113 units).

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About Special Economic Zones (SEZs):

India announced its SEZ policy in 2000 under the Foreign Trade Policy, later institutionalised through the SEZ Act, 2005 and SEZ Rules (2006). SEZs were envisaged as duty-free enclaves to promote exports, attract domestic and foreign investment, generate employment, and create world-class infrastructure. Section 18 of the Act also allows International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) within SEZs, a provision operationalised through GIFT City.

Current Status of the SEZ Sector:

Despite rising exports and investments, the sector shows signs of stagnation. Employment declined marginally from 31.94 lakh to 31.77 lakh (FY25), while exports doubled from ₹7.59 lakh crore (FY21) to ₹14.63 lakh crore (FY25) and investments rose from ₹6.17 lakh crore to ₹7.82 lakh crore. However, sectoral stress is evident: gems and jewellery units fell from ~500 (pre-2019) to ~360 by FY22, reflecting vulnerability to global demand shocks and policy rigidities.

Consequences of the SEZ Slowdown:

  • Export Headwinds: U.S. tariffs and compliance rigidity have slowed SEZ export growth to below 4% YoY (FY24–25).
  • Idle Capacity: 25–30% capacity underutilisation during seasonal demand dips undermines efficiency.
  • Competitiveness Loss: Competing economies like Vietnam attract three times more FDI due to flexible domestic-linkage rules.
  • Fiscal Impact: Over 35 units sought de-notification since 2023, implying an estimated ₹2,800 crore annual revenue shortfall (customs and income tax).
  • Employment Risks: The gems and jewellery SEZs employ about 1.05 lakh artisans; declining U.S. orders led to 12,000+ job losses in FY25.

Way Forward

India must recalibrate SEZs to a post-pandemic, geopolitically fragmented trade environment.

  • Policy Flexibility: Allow controlled domestic subcontracting (job-work) with fair duty adjustment, akin to China’s dual-use SEZ model.
  • Global Branding: Reposition Indian SEZs via coordinated outreach with Invest India.
  • Investment Protection: Negotiate modern Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) aligned with global best practices.
  • Innovation Push: Launch an SEZ Innovation & Skill Mission offering tax incentives for R&D, design, and upskilling.
  • Digital Integration: Seamlessly link SEZs with the National Single-Window System to cut approval delays.

Conclusion:

The SEZ slowdown reflects not failure, but policy inertia amid changing global trade dynamics. Targeted reforms can restore SEZs as engines of export competitiveness, jobs, and investment.

Environmental Impact of Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme

Context: During Question Hour in Parliament, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways highlighted the environmental and economic gains achieved under India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, particularly after achieving the 20% blending target in 2025, five years ahead of schedule.

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What is the EBP Programme?

The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme is a Central Sector scheme under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) aimed at blending ethanol with petrol to reduce fossil fuel dependence, cut emissions, and enhance farmer incomes.

Launched in 2003, the programme initially struggled due to supply constraints but gained momentum after policy reforms post-2014. Ethanol is sourced from sugarcane juice, B-heavy molasses, FCI surplus rice, maize, and damaged food grains, with production overseen by the Department of Food and Public Distribution.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

  • Emission Reduction: Achieving 20% ethanol blending has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 736 lakh metric tonnes, supporting India’s climate commitments.
  • Energy Security: Ethanol blending substituted over 260 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil between 2014 and 2025, lowering vulnerability to global oil price shocks.
  • Forex Savings: Reduced crude imports resulted in foreign exchange savings of over ₹1.55 lakh crore.
  • Investment Mobilisation: Expansion of distillery capacity attracted investments exceeding ₹40,000 crore, strengthening biofuel infrastructure.
  • Rural Income Support: Ethanol feedstock procurement has transferred over ₹1.36 lakh crore to farmers, boosting rural livelihoods.

Emerging Environmental and Economic Challenges

Despite its gains, ethanol blending poses significant sustainability concerns:

  • Water Stress: Producing one litre of ethanol from sugarcane consumes nearly 2,860 litres of freshwater, raising concerns in water-stressed regions.
  • Industrial Pollution: Ethanol distilleries generate spent wash, a toxic and highly polluting effluent requiring strict treatment.
  • Import Dependence: Rising ethanol demand has shifted India from a maize exporter to an importer, with ~1 million tonnes imported in 2024–25.
  • Food Inflation: Increased demand for maize led to 65–70% price rise, impacting food and feed markets.
  • Air Toxicity: Ethanol combustion emits acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, posing public health risks.
  • Vehicle Efficiency Loss: Lower energy density results in 5–20% mileage reduction.
  • Material Corrosion: Ethanol’s hygroscopic nature can damage fuel lines and seals over prolonged use.

Way Forward

Balancing climate benefits with sustainability requires water-efficient feedstocks, stricter effluent standards, vehicle compatibility upgrades, and region-specific blending strategies.

UNESCO Recognises Deepavali as Intangible Cultural Heritage

Context: During the 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, hosted at the Red Fort, New Delhi, UNESCO inscribed Deepavali (Diwali) on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity. With this, Deepavali becomes India’s 16th ICH element, joining earlier inscriptions such as Kumbh Mela (2017), Kolkata Durga Puja (2021), and Garba of Gujarat (2023).

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About Deepavali

Deepavali is a 2,500-year-old festival rooted in ancient agrarian and seasonal traditions, later assimilated into diverse religious and regional practices across South Asia.

  • Hindu traditions:
    It commemorates events such as Rama’s return to Ayodhya, Goddess Lakshmi’s emergence, Krishna’s victory over Narakasura, and the return of the Pandavas, symbolising the triumph of light over darkness and dharma over adharma.
  • Other religious traditions:
    • Jainism: Marks Mahavira’s Nirvana.
    • Sikhism: Celebrated as Bandi Chhor Divas, recalling Guru Hargobind’s release from imprisonment.
    • Buddhist and regional practices: Observed as Tihar and by Newar Buddhist communities in Nepal.
  • Cultural practices:
    Celebrated over five days (Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj), Deepavali involves lighting diyas, ritual worship, home decoration, exchange of gifts, community gatherings, and region-specific customs across India and Nepal.
  • Socio-economic dimension:
    The festival generates significant economic activity in textiles, gold, handicrafts, traditional lamps, firecrackers, and e-commerce, and is increasingly celebrated globally with official recognition in several countries.

About the 20th UNESCO ICH Committee Session

India is hosting the 20th session from 8–13 December 2025 at the Red Fort, New Delhi.

  • Agenda:
    Review new nominations, assess safeguarding reports, examine existing ICH elements, approve international assistance, and share best practices for protecting living heritage.
  • Participation:
    Over 800 delegates from 180+ countries, including committee members, UNESCO officials, experts, NGOs, and cultural practitioners.

Significance for India

The inscription of Deepavali strengthens India’s cultural diplomacy and soft power, highlights the country’s pluralistic traditions, and reinforces its leadership role in global heritage governance. Hosting the ICH session further positions India as a key voice in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage worldwide.

One Nation, One Licence, One Payment: India’s Proposed AI Copyright Framework

Context: A DPIIT-led committee has released a working paper titled “One Nation, One License, One Payment”, proposing a statutory licensing framework to govern the use of copyrighted content for Artificial Intelligence (AI) training. If implemented, India would become the first country to adopt a nationwide compulsory licensing system with retrospective royalty obligations for AI developers.

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What is the Proposal?

The proposal seeks to address growing conflicts between AI developers and content creators by introducing a blanket compulsory licence. This would allow AI developers to train models on all lawfully accessed copyrighted works without negotiating individual licences, in return for statutory royalty payments.

A key institutional innovation is the creation of a Copyright Royalties Collective for AI Training (CRCAT)—a non-profit body that would collect royalties from AI companies and distribute them to authors, publishers, musicians, artists and other rights holders.

Royalty rates would be fixed through a revenue-linked, government-appointed expert committee, ensuring uniformity across India.

Notably, the proposal also recommends retroactive royalty payments from AI systems that are already commercially successful.

Why India Needs an AI Royalty Framework

India’s Copyright Act, 1957 does not explicitly provide exceptions for text-and-data mining or AI training, creating legal uncertainty.

At the same time, creative sectors such as publishing, news media, music and cinema—worth thousands of crores annually—receive no compensation despite extensive use of their content in AI datasets.

A statutory model would ensure fair compensation, prevent exploitative licensing practices, and create a level playing field between global AI giants and India’s vast base of creators. With over 1.3 million registered creators, India has the scale to shape global norms in AI governance.

Additionally, a clear licensing regime could reduce copyright litigation under Section 51 of the Act, where multiple cases are already pending against unlicensed AI training.

Key Challenges

The proposal faces several hurdles. No major economy currently uses government-mandated royalty rates for AI training, raising concerns about global compatibility.

Fixing fair rates across more than 20 copyright categories—books, music, films, photographs, software—will be complex.

CRCAT will require advanced technical capacity to audit datasets and revenues. There are also concerns that retroactive payments may strain early-stage Indian AI startups operating on thin margins. Judicial scrutiny of royalty rates could further delay implementation.

Way Forward

A phased and adaptive approach can mitigate risks. Flexible royalty tiers, periodic rate revisions, and concessional slabs for startups can balance innovation with creator rights.

Continuous dialogue between AI firms and creative industries, along with strong digital infrastructure within CRCAT, will be critical for effective rollout.

Conclusion

The “One Nation, One Licence, One Payment” proposal represents a bold attempt to reconcile AI innovation with copyright justice.

If carefully implemented, it could position India as a global rule-setter in AI-copyright governance.

Karnataka Hate Speech Bill, 2025

Context: Karnataka has introduced the Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, marking India’s first State-level legislation to explicitly define hate speech. The Bill aims to address rising incidents of hate crimes, particularly those amplified through digital platforms, and to strengthen preventive and punitive mechanisms.

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Key Provisions of the Bill

The Bill provides a clear statutory definition of hate speech, covering expressions that cause injury, hostility, or disharmony against individuals or groups based on religion, caste, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, disability, or place of birth.

Punishments range from 2 to 10 years of imprisonment, along with fines, depending on the severity and recurrence of the offence.

A notable feature is collective liability, whereby office-bearers of organisations can be held responsible if hate crimes are linked to organisational activities.

The Bill empowers the State to restrict or remove online content that promotes hate speech and authorises the police to take suo motu action in specified circumstances, eliminating the need for a formal complaint in serious cases.

Existing Legal Framework in India

India currently relies on dispersed provisions to regulate hate speech.

  • BNS Section 196 (earlier IPC 153A) penalises promotion of enmity between groups.
  • BNS Section 299 (earlier IPC 295A) punishes deliberate acts outraging religious feelings.
  • BNS Section 353 addresses speech likely to incite offences against the State or disturb public order.

The IT Act’s Section 66A was struck down in the Shreya Singhal judgment (2015) for vagueness, leaving a regulatory gap for online hate speech. In Tehseen Poonawalla (2018), the Supreme Court mandated preventive measures, including nodal officers, to curb hate crimes and mob violence.

Challenges in Hate Speech Regulation

Despite legal provisions, conviction rates remain low, with only about 20% of cases under hate speech provisions resulting in conviction (NCRB data). Over-criminalisation, weak evidence collection, and the subjective nature of defining hate speech increase the risk of misuse.

Online platforms exacerbate the problem, with nearly 70% of reported hate speech originating digitally. Political influence further complicates enforcement, as hate speech cases spike before elections.

Way Forward

Effective regulation requires harm-based, precise definitions, as recommended by the Law Commission (267th Report).

Independent nodal authorities, clear digital takedown protocols, and robust forensic standards for online evidence can improve enforcement while safeguarding free speech.

Significance

If implemented carefully, the Karnataka Bill could serve as a model for other states, balancing constitutional free speech with the need to protect dignity, public order, and social harmony.

India–UK Defence Partnership: A Strategic Indo-Pacific Convergence

Context (Indian Express): India and the United Kingdom are deepening defence cooperation through regular joint exercises and a 10-year Defence Industrial Roadmap, signalling a long-term strategic alignment, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.

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Key Pillars of the India–UK Defence Partnership

1. Operational Interoperability

Regular high-end military exercises enhance joint warfighting capabilities, interoperability, and mutual trust.
Example: Ajeya Warrior 2025 focused on complex multi-domain operations in desert conditions in Rajasthan, improving coordination between the two armies.

2. Maritime Cooperation

Shared Indo-Pacific priorities have strengthened naval coordination in sea control, carrier operations, and air defence.
Example: KONKAN 2025 witnessed India’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant operating alongside the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales, reflecting advanced carrier strike cooperation.

3. Defence Industrial Synergy

The 10-year Defence Industrial Roadmap leverages complementary strengths—India’s manufacturing scale and the UK’s advanced defence technologies.
Objective: Support Make in India, co-production, technology transfer, and job creation in both countries.

4. High-Value Defence Deals

Government-to-government agreements reinforce strategic trust and operational readiness.
Example: The £350-million deal for supplying Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) to the Indian Army enhances short-range air defence capabilities.

5. Advanced Technology Collaboration

Cooperation extends to future-oriented defence technologies.
Example: Joint work on maritime electric propulsion systems aims to improve efficiency, stealth, and sustainability of Indian naval platforms.

Strategic Potential of the Partnership

  • Indo-Pacific Stability:
    Joint carrier operations and maritime coordination strengthen a rules-based order and deter coercive actions in critical sea lanes.
  • Counter-Terrorism & Intelligence:
    Enhanced intelligence sharing and joint training improve the ability to counter cross-border terrorism, cyber threats, and hybrid warfare.
  • Resilient Defence Supply Chains:
    Industrial collaboration reduces dependence on single-source suppliers, supporting diversified and secure global defence ecosystems.
  • Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR):
    Combined strengths in logistics, airlift, and medical response improve joint capacity for evacuations and disaster relief across the region.
  • Emerging Technology Governance:
    Cooperation in cyber security, AI-enabled defence systems, and space domain awareness helps shape global norms for responsible military technology use.

Conclusion

The India–UK defence partnership has evolved from episodic engagement to a structured, long-term strategic collaboration.

By combining operational cooperation with industrial and technological synergy, it contributes significantly to India’s defence modernisation and to stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Brain–Computer Interface (BCI): Bridging the Human Brain and Machines

Context: As reported in The Hindu, Brain–Computer Interfaces (BCIs) are moving beyond experimental laboratories into real-world applications, accelerating the global neurotechnology revolution. Neurotechnology refers to mechanical or digital tools used to record, analyse, or influence the human nervous system, particularly the brain.

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What is a Brain–Computer Interface?

A Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) is a system that enables direct communication between the brain’s electrical signals and an external device, bypassing the neuromuscular pathways.

Its primary objective is to restore, enhance, or substitute cognitive and sensory-motor functions, especially for individuals suffering from paralysis, stroke, or neurodegenerative diseases.

Key Components of a BCI System

  1. Signal Acquisition: Electrodes capture neural electrical activity from the brain.
  2. Signal Processing: Raw signals are filtered to remove noise and extract meaningful patterns.
  3. Translation: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms convert neural patterns into digital commands.
  4. Device Output & Feedback: Commands control external devices (e.g., robotic limbs, cursors), while feedback helps users improve accuracy.

Types of BCIs

  • Non-Invasive BCIs: Sensors placed on the scalp (EEG, fMRI); low risk but lower signal resolution.
  • Partially Invasive BCIs: Electrodes placed beneath the skull but outside brain tissue (ECoG); better signal quality with moderate risk.
  • Invasive BCIs: Electrodes implanted directly into brain tissue; high precision but higher infection risk (e.g., Neuralink, Blackrock Neurotech).

Key Applications

  • Medical: Mobility assistance for paralysis, speech recovery in stroke patients, Parkinson’s and epilepsy treatment, and vision-restoration research.
  • Cognitive Enhancement: Neurofeedback-based training for attention, memory, and performance improvement.
  • Security & Defence: Secure authentication and hands-free control of advanced systems.
  • Human–Machine Interaction: Thought-controlled gaming, VR/AR navigation, and smart-home systems.

Why India Needs BCI Adoption

India’s neurological disease burden doubled between 1990 and 2019, with stroke contributing 37.9% of DALYs (Lancet Global Health). An ageing population, coupled with rising dementia cases, makes assistive neurotechnology essential. With a projected USD 6 billion global BCI market by 2030, indigenous innovation can boost startups, patents, and India’s status as a neurotechnology hub.

India’s Current Standing

India holds about 2.5% of the global BCI market (2024). Notable developments include IIT Kanpur’s BCI-controlled robotic hand, C-DAC’s Vivan-BCI for children with special needs, and startups like BrainSight AI working on neurological mapping and screening tools. India’s BCI ecosystem is currently dominated by non-invasive EEG-based systems.

Global Landscape

The United States leads with companies like Neuralink and Synchron. Europe focuses on collaborative neurorehabilitation research.

China’s Brain Project (2016–2030) integrates cognition research and brain-inspired AI, while Japan and South Korea emphasise rehabilitation, robotics, and gaming-oriented BCIs.

Fire Safety in India: From Tragedy to Systemic Reform

Context: A devastating fire at Birch by Romeo Lane, a nightclub in Goa, led to the death of about 25 people, once again exposing chronic weaknesses in India’s fire safety governance, enforcement, and urban planning.

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Fire Safety Legal Framework in India

India’s fire safety regime is guided primarily by the National Building Code of India (NBC) 2016, particularly Part IV, which deals with fire prevention, life safety, safe building design, evacuation norms, and firefighting infrastructure. However, the NBC is recommendatory, not self-executing.

States and Urban Local Bodies must adopt its provisions through local building bye-laws to make them enforceable. Consequently, implementation varies widely across states.

Most states mandate a Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) for occupancy—especially for high-risk premises such as nightclubs, hotels, assembly halls, basements, and high-rise buildings—but renewals and inspections remain inconsistent.

Why Fire Incidents Recur Frequently

  1. Weak Enforcement:
    Fire safety inspections are often irregular, and NOCs are renewed mechanically. The Jaisalmer bus fire revealed serious gaps in monitoring sleeper-coach safety norms.
  2. Hazardous Material Mismanagement:
    Illegal storage of flammable materials persists due to poor surveillance. In Gujarat, a fireworks warehouse blast killed 21 people after aluminium powder was stored without permits.
  3. Electrical Faults:
    Overloaded circuits and ageing wiring are major urban fire triggers. A Hyderabad residential fire killed 17 people, including 8 children, due to suspected wiring failure.
  4. Unsafe Escape Routes:
    Encroached staircases, locked exits, and poor ventilation trap occupants. In the Kolkata hotel fire, 14 people died from asphyxiation in a narrow stairwell.
  5. Regulatory Gaps:
    As of 2024, only about 22–24 states have fully incorporated NBC 2016 fire provisions into their bye-laws (MoHUA data), leaving large compliance gaps.

Way Forward: Governance Reforms for Fire Safety

  • Mandatory Code Adoption:
    Make NBC 2016 Part IV legally binding through state bye-laws with periodic compliance audits.
  • Basement Safety Norms:
    Enforce smoke extraction systems, mechanical ventilation, sprinkler curtains, and dual exits for basements.
  • Occupancy-linked Audits:
    Tie licences for nightclubs, restaurants, and hotels to annual third-party fire safety audits.
  • Exit Discipline:
    Ensure obstruction-free stairwells and exits with strict penalties for encroachments—replicating Mumbai Fire Brigade’s zero-tolerance inspections before festivals.
  • Fire Service Modernisation:
    Upgrade state fire services with rapid-response units and narrow-lane vehicles, as seen in Bengaluru’s rapid-intervention fire vehicles.

Private Member’s Bill to Amend the Tenth Schedule

Context: A Private Member’s Bill has been introduced in the Lok Sabha proposing significant reforms to the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law). The Bill seeks to allow Members of Parliament (MPs) to vote independently on most legislative business, while retaining party discipline only on motions that directly affect the stability of the government.

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Key Features of the Bill

The Bill proposes a limited application of disqualification. An MP would face disqualification only if they vote or abstain against party directions on motions that determine government survival, such as confidence motions, no-confidence motions, and money bills.

On all other legislation, MPs would enjoy free voting, enabling them to exercise judgment based on constituency interests and legislative merit. To ensure clarity, the Speaker or Chairman must explicitly announce when a party whip is issued for stability-related motions.

The Bill introduces a structured appeal mechanism, allowing a disqualified member to appeal within 15 days, with a mandatory decision by the Presiding Officer within 60 days.

Further, it proposes shifting defection adjudication from the Presiding Officer to independent tribunals, comprising Supreme Court Division Benches for Parliament and High Court Division Benches for State Legislatures.

Rationale Behind the Bill

The proposal addresses key shortcomings of the existing anti-defection framework. While the current law curbs individual defections, it has failed to prevent coordinated group defections that destabilise elected governments.

The Bill seeks to restore voter-centric accountability, ensuring that MPs are answerable primarily to their electorate rather than party leadership.

By limiting whips to critical votes, the reform aims to improve legislative scrutiny, encouraging MPs to engage more deeply with bills, suggest amendments, and enhance parliamentary deliberation.

Anti-Defection Law: Constitutional Background

The Tenth Schedule was inserted by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985, and later strengthened by the 91st Amendment Act, 2003.

It provides for disqualification of legislators who voluntarily give up party membership or violate party whips, unless condoned within 15 days.

Independent members are disqualified if they join a political party post-election, while nominated members face disqualification if they join a party after six months.

An exception exists where two-thirds of a legislative party support a merger. Currently, disqualification decisions are taken by the Presiding Officer, subject to judicial review.

Significance

If enacted, the Bill could rebalance the relationship between party discipline and parliamentary democracy, strengthening debate, accountability, and legislative effectiveness without undermining government stability.

Right to Disconnect: Towards Work–Life Balance in India

Context: A Private Member’s Bill titled the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 has been introduced in the Lok Sabha to address rising concerns over excessive work-related digital communication beyond official hours. The Bill seeks to legally empower employees to disengage from work calls, emails, and messages after working hours without fear of penalties or disciplinary action.

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What is the Right to Disconnect?

The Right to Disconnect refers to an employee’s right to remain offline outside official working hours and to refuse work-related communication unless explicitly required by the nature of employment. It aims to draw clear boundaries between professional and personal life in an era of smartphones, remote work, and constant connectivity.

Key Provisions of the Bill

The Bill proposes the creation of an Employees’ Welfare Authority to oversee implementation. Employers violating the provisions may face a penalty of up to 1%, alongside mandatory overtime compensation for after-hours work.

It also recommends counselling services and digital detox centres to promote healthy technology usage.

Need for a Right to Disconnect in India

India currently lacks statutory safeguards against digital overreach at the workplace. This legal vacuum enables unpaid overtime and constant availability expectations, often described as telepressure. Such practices adversely affect mental health and productivity.

From a constitutional perspective, the Bill aligns with Article 21, which encompasses the right to health, rest, and sleep, and reinforces Articles 39(e) and 42, which mandate humane working conditions and maternity relief.

Empirical evidence underscores the urgency: studies indicate that nearly 49% of Indian employees report work-related stress, while average weekly working hours stand at 47.7 hours, among the highest globally.

Excessive work hours have also been linked to declining productivity, burnout, and presenteeism, suggesting that structured rest improves efficiency and workplace outcomes.

Global Best Practices

Several countries have already legislated the right to disconnect. France pioneered this approach under the El Khomri Labour Law (2017). Portugal criminalised after-hours work contact in 2021, except during emergencies. Australia, in 2024, introduced an enforceable right allowing employees to refuse unreasonable after-hours communication.

Significance for India

If enacted, the Bill could modernise India’s labour governance framework, promote mental well-being, and align workplace practices with constitutional values and global standards.

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