Context: Writer, activist, and lawyer Banu Mushtaq won the International Booker Prize 2025 for her short story collection Hridaya Deepa (Heart Lamp).
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about International Booker Prize; International Booker Prize 2025.
About Hridaya Deepa (Heart Lamp):
Hridaya Deepa (Heart Lamp) is a collection of twelve short stories written in Kannada by Banu Mushtaq. It is translated from Kannada to English by Deepa Bhasthi.
Heart Lamp narrates the everyday lives of Muslim women moved by their lived experiences of pain and suffering in a patriarchal society.
It became the first Kannada work of literature to be bestowed with the International Booker Prize.
International Booker Prize
International Booker Prize (formerly Man Booker International Prize) is an international literary award hosted in the United Kingdom.
It is awarded annually to:
single work of fiction or collection of short stories translated into English (originally written in a language other than English) and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland.
The £50,000 prize for the winning title is shared equally between author and translator. It promotes international literature in the English language.
Context: Defending the recently-passed legislation Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, the Central government told the Supreme Court that though Waqf is an Islamic concept, it is not an essential religious practice in Islam.
The Centre asserted that it is the state's duty to ensure that public property is not diverted illegally, and nobody could claim right over public land by using waqf by user principle.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Essential Religious Practice; Right to freedom of religion.
Waqf is not an Essential Religious Practice in Islam
The Central government told the Supreme Court that-
Waqf, by its very nature, is charity, and any Charity is a part of every religion, but not an essential religious practice of any religion.
A Muslim who does not create a waqf would not be less Muslim or cease to be a Muslim. Creating a waqf was not mandatory in Islam, neither is it a fundamental right in itself.
The law only focusses on the secular and administrative aspects of Waqf institutions without interfering with essential religious practices or beliefs of the Islamic faith.
What is an Essential Religious Practice?
The essential religious practices (ERP) doctrine governs which religious practices are protected under Articles 25 & 26 of Indian Constitution.
In theCommissioner of Police v Acharya Jagadisharananda Avadhuta (2004): The SC held that-
In order to determine whether or not a particular practice is an essential part of religion, the test must be whether the absence of the practice itself fundamentally alters the religion.
If the taking away of that part or practice could result in a fundamental change in the character of that religion or in its belief, then such part could be treated as an essential or integral part.
There cannot be additions or subtractions to such a part because it is the very essence of that religion and alterations will change its fundamental character. It is such permanent essential parts which are protected by the Constitution.
Some cases associated with Essential Religious Practice:
Commissioner of Police v Acharya Jagadisharananda Avadhuta (2004): The SC held that the Tandava Dance was not an essential practice of the Ananda Marga faith.
Shayara Bano v Union of India (2017): The SC held that the practice of Triple Talaq is not an essential practice under Islam and could not be offered constitutional protection under Article 25.
Karnataka High Court (2022) upheld the ban on the wearing of hijab (head scarf) by students in schools and colleges in the State. It held that wearing the hijab is not an essential religious practice in Islam, and is not protected under the right to freedom of religion guaranteed by Article 25.
Articles 25 & 26 of Indian Constitution
Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.
All persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion.
It does not include the right to convert another person to one’s own religion. Forcible conversions impinge on the ‘freedom of conscience’ guaranteed to all the persons alike.
These rights are available to all persons- citizens as well as non-citizens. It covers not only religious beliefs (doctrines) but also religious practices (rituals).
Reasonable restrictions: However, these rights are subject to public order, morality, health and other provisions relating to fundamental rights.
The state can regulate such practice on grounds of public order, morality and health.
The state can regulate or restrict any economic, financial, political or other secular activity which may be associated with religious practice.
Article 26: Freedom to manage religious affairs.
Every religious denomination or any of its section shall have the following rights:
Right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes
Right to manage its own affairs in matters of religion
Right to own and acquire movable and immovable property
Right to administer such property in accordance with law.
Article 26 protects collective freedom of religion. Article 25 guarantees rights of individuals, while Article 26 guarantees rights of religious denominations or their sections.
Reasonable restrictions: Rights under Article 26 are also subject to public order, morality and health but not subject to other provisions relating to the Fundamental Rights.
Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the registration of 194 Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) since 2014, 57 in 2024, under the Section 7D of the Citizenship Act 1955.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Overseas Citizen of India (OCI).
Who is an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)?
OCI is an immigration status authorising a foreign citizen of Indian origin to live and work in India for an indefinite period.
OCI card was launched by the Government of India to meet the demands of the Indians residing overseas who insisted on dual citizenship.
Eligibility Criteria:
OCI is a Foreign National:
Who was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after 26th January 1950
Who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January, 1950
Who belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August 1947
Who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen
Who is a minor child of such persons mentioned above
Who is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India - is eligible for registration as OCI cardholder.
Spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder and whose marriage has been registered for a continuous period of not less than 2 years immediately preceding the application.
However, no person, who or either of whose parents or grandparents or great grandparents is or had been a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or other country as notified by the Central Government shall be eligible for registration as an OCI.
Foreign nationals cannot apply for OCI in India while on Tourist Visa, Missionary Visa and Mountaineering Visa. Moreover, the foreigner must be ordinarily resident of India to be eligible to apply for OCI registration in India.
Benefits to OCI cardholders
Allows them to visit India without having to apply for a visa and stay indefinitely.
Exempt from having to register with the local police for the duration of their stay.
Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in economic, financial, and educational fields, except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
Equality for the NRIs for intercountry adoption.
OCIs can travel freely within India and work in the country, however they cannot vote or own agricultural land.
When can the OCI card be cancelled?
Under Section 7D of the Citizenship Act 1955, the Union government can issue notice to an OCI holder and cancel their registration:
If the OCI cardholder gets registration using fraud, false representation, or the concealment of any material fact.
If the OCI (within five years after their registration as an OCI cardholder) is sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than 2 years.
If the OCI has shown disaffection towards the Indian Constitution.
If the OCI has engaged, associated, unlawfully traded, or communicated with an enemy nation with which India is at war, or has undertaken any business or commercial activity to assist an enemy in that war.
Additionally, If the government feels that it is necessary to revoke an OCI cardholder’s registration in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity and security of India, friendly relations of India with any foreign country, or in the interests of the general public, the government can cancel the concerned OCI card.
Context: Global Standards 1 (GS1) is preparing to replace the current barcodes with next-generation formats such as QR Codes powered by GS1 and GS1 DataMatrix. The global rollout is expected by 2027, and aims to improve product traceability and supply chain transparency.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about bar code; next-generation Barcodes.
What is Barcode?
Barcode is the small image of lines (bars) and spaces of varying widths that is used to identify a particular product number, person or location.
The bars are used to represent the binary digits 0 and 1, sequences of which in turn can represent numbers from 0 to 9 and be processed by a digital computer.
This encoded information can be interpreted by a barcode scanner. The scanner shines a laser or LED light on the barcode, and detects the reflected light. The reflected light is converted into a digital signal,and interpreted.
What is QR Code?
QR Code (quick-response code) is a two-dimensional bar code. It consists of a printed square pattern of small black and white squares that encode data which can be scanned into a computer system.
The black and white squares can represent numbers from 0 to 9, letters from A to Z, or characters.
QR codes can encode URLs, text, payment information, geo-location etc.
Applications: Digital payments, inventory management, government IDs, medical certificates, boarding passes etc.
Next-generation Barcodes:
The upgraded barcodes will be structured to:
enhance supply chain traceability, information-sharing and support recall tracking.
support integration with technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, especially for applications requiring secure and multi-party data sharing.
The barcodes would be compatible with smartphone cameras, allowing broader accessibility without the need for proprietary scanners.
Applications:
The upgraded barcode -
Would enable businesses, consumers and regulators to access product-specific information- including expiry dates, sourcing data and recall notices through a single scan.
Would help track the movement of medicines, medical devices and agricultural goods through standardised labelling.
Tool to verify product authenticity in sectors such as pharmaceuticals. Integrated into Ayushman Bharat for inventory management and cost tracking.
Global Standards 1 (GS1)
GS1 is a not-for-profit entity that develops and maintains open standards used across retail, logistics, healthcare, agriculture and other sectors.
In India, GS1 standards are already used in national programmes such as FASTag, Ayushman Bharat and ROHINI (a hospital registry).
Context: India does not have a dedicated law to tackle cyber crimes at present. Instead, the provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, and the Information Technology Act 2000 are used to deal with such cases.
Relevance of the topic:
Prelims: Definitions of different types of cybercrimes.
Mains: Cybersecurity landscape in India.
What are Cybercrimes?
Cybercrimes referto a range of criminal activities carried out using computers and the internet. Common cybercrimes include-
Hacking
data theft and financial fraud
phishing and impersonation
malware attacks and ransomware
cyberbullying and digital arrest
stalking and doxxing (unauthorised release of private information).
Cybercrimes in India have increased 60.9% from 2022 to 2023, resulting in the loss of over Rs. 10,000 crores over the past three years. Cybercrimes disproportionately affect women and minorities.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is the use of technology to intentionally and repeatedly harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person viz. offensive messages, hate speech, derogatory content, doctored images, doxxing and threats of physical or sexual violence.
Existing laws to tackle Cyberbullying in India:
India lacks a dedicated law to address online hate speech and trolling.
Provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, and the Information Technology (IT) Act 2000 cover certain aspects of cyberbullying.
BNS includes provisions such as Section 74 (assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), Section 75 (sexual harassment), Section 351 (criminal intimidation), Section 356 (defamation), and Section 196 (promoting enmity between groups).
The IT Act includes provisions like Section 66C (identity theft), Section 66D (impersonation fraud), and Section 67 (publishing or transmitting obscene material electronically).
Limitations of Existing Frameworks
1. Absence of dedicated law on Cyberbullying:
The existing regulatory framework is functional but incomplete. Sustained online abuse that does not qualify as obscene, threatening, or fraudulent often falls outside the purview of criminal law.
Offences like criminal intimidation or defamation often require proof of threat or reputational harm, and are not-suited to counter the rapid, anonymous abuse unleashed by online mobs.
2. Legal ambiguity around Doxxing and Public data:
The Delhi High Court in a case involving doxxing (2024) ruled that while doxxing raised privacy concerns, the concerned incident did not constitute doxxing as the information was already publicly available.
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, exempts from regulation personal data that is made publicly available, either by the individual concerned or by an entity under a legal obligation. However, it does not define what qualifies as publicly available data.
This lack of clarity on what qualifies as public information may inadvertently enable cybercrimes such as doxxing, given the ease with which fragmented data from multiple platforms can be easily aggregated and used for harassment or intimidation.
3. Concerns over Censorship:
Section 69A of the IT Act empowers the government to issue blocking orders on grounds aligned with constitutionally permissible speech restrictions, such as sovereignty, friendly relations with foreign States, and public order.
Platforms failing to comply risk losing safe harbour protection under Section 79, which shields intermediaries from liability for user-generated content.
However, these provisions are increasingly being used for censorship with content taken down without r notification, thus, violating the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in Shreya Singhal versus Union of India. E.g., After the Pahalgam attack, X disclosed that it had been directed to block 8,000 accounts in India.
Government Initiatives to enhance Cybersecurity in India:
IT Act 2000: Provides a legal framework for dealing with cyber crimes.
CERT-In: Nodal agency to deal with cyber-security threats like hacking or phishing.
National Cyber-Security Policy 2013 to provide an overarching framework to deal with cybersecurity.
Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): enhances the coordinated response of law enforcement agencies to cybercrimes.
National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre - nodal agency to protect India’s Critical Information Infrastructure.
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal to report cyber crimes.
Defence Cyber Agency to protect military systems and conduct offensive cyber-operations.
Enactment of Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 for regulation and protection of personal data.
Context: Recently, the President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu has made a reference to the Supreme Court under Article 143 of the Constitution on certain questions of law.
The current reference is a result of a recent Supreme Court judgment that had specified timelines for Governors and the President to act on Bills passed by State legislatures.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Presidential Reference.
Advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 143 is a relic of the Government of India Act, 1935. It vested the Governor-General with discretionary power to refer any question of law of public importance to the federal court for its opinion.
Presidential Reference:
As per Article 143, the President may refer any question of law or fact of public importance to the Supreme Court for its opinion. The President makes such a reference based on the advice of the Union council of ministers.
Article 145 of the Constitution provides that any such reference shall be heard by a bench of minimum five judges.
The Supreme Court may provide its opinion after such hearing as it thinks fit. It is not obligatory for the Supreme Court to render its opinion.
The opinion islegally not binding on the President, and does not hold a precedential value for the courts to follow in subsequent cases. However, it carries a strong persuasive value and is usually followed by the executive and the courts.
The latest Presidential Reference:
The present reference has raised 14 questions, primarily surrounding the interpretation of Articles 200 and 201, for the court’s opinion.
Supreme Court’s Judgment in Tamil Nadu Governor case (2025):
Time limit for the Governor:
SC has prescribed a time limit for the Governor to exercise his powers under Article 200.
The governor has a maximum of one month to withhold the assent based on the aid and advice of the State Cabinet.
The governor has a maximum period of three months to return the bill by specifying reasons, if the bill is withheld contrary to the advice of the Cabinet.
The governor has a maximum period of three months to reserve the bill for the President's consideration against the advice of the Cabinet.
The governor must grant assent to the bill re-passed by the state legislature under Article 200 within a maximum period of one month.
The court said that a governor must be a friend, guide and philosopher to the State, not a hindrance.
Time limit for the President
The President is required to take a decision on the bills reserved for his consideration by the governor within a period of three months.
The SC noted that absence of timeline in Article 201 does not imply that the President can delay decisions indefinitely. It aims to prevent delays and ensure the efficient functioning of the legislative process.
Past instances of Presidential Reference:
There have been around 15 references made since 1950 before the current reference. Some of the landmark opinions from such references include-
The first reference was made in the Delhi Laws Act case (1951) which laid down the contours of ‘delegated legislation’, through which the legislature could delegate legislative powers to the executive for effective implementation of any law.
The reference in the Kerala Education Bill (1958) resulted in the court laying down the principle of harmonious construction between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy as well as interpretation of protection given to minority educational institutions under Article 30.
In the Berubari case (1960), the court opined that ceding or acquisition of territory by India would need a constitutional amendment under Article 368.
In the Keshav Singh case (1965), the court interpreted the powers and privileges of the legislature.
In the Presidential poll case (1974), the court opined that Presidential elections should be held notwithstanding vacancies in the electoral college due to dissolution of State assemblies.
The Special Courts Bill (1978) provided that the court may decline to answer a reference; that the questions referred must be specific and not vague; and that the court, while answering a reference, should not encroach upon the functions and privileges of Parliament.
The Third Judges case reference (1998) laid down detailed guidelines for the collegium system with respect to the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary.
It is not obligatory for the Supreme Court to render its opinion. Out of all the references made till date, the court has declined to provide its opinion for only one reference in 1993 with respect to the Ram Janmabhoomi case.
The government had an option to seek review of the original judgement (by the Supreme Court, settling timelines for Governors and Presidents on Bills). Failing the review, the government could have filed a curative petition.
The Presidential Reference raises fundamental questions about the justiciability of executive discretion and the extent to which courts can intervene in the legislative assent process. Clarifying these boundaries will protect the constitutional balance between the executive, legislature, and judiciary.
Context: Collapse of recent French-led negotiations to resolve New Caledonia's political future have deepened the territory's crisis.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to the location of New Caledonia.
Location of New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a French overseas territory located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and north of New Zealand.
It had Kanaks as the original inhabitants.
It was colonised by France in 1853 and used as a penal colony. Indigenous Kanak people have long sought independence due to historical injustices and colonial trauma.
The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front emerged during this period as a powerful political force, advocating for complete independence.
The 1984-1988 conflict between Kanaks and pro-French groups nearly led to civil war.
Noumea Accord (1998):
The Noumea Accord explicitly recognised the trauma inflicted upon the indigenous Kanak people. It offered a compromise in the form of significant autonomy, a local Congress, and restricted voting rights to long-term residents to protect Kanak political power.
It promised three referendums on independence held in 2018, 2020, and 2021. While all three rejected independence, the final vote was boycotted by pro-independence parties and its legitimacy has been contested.
Current Political Crisis:
In 2024, France proposed unfreezing the electoral roll to allow voting rights to citizens who were either born or lived in the territory for at least 10 years. Kanaks opposed this as it would dilute their electoral power, thus marginalising them and undermining their future towards decolonisation. This resulted in riots and the proposal was later scrapped.
Recently, the French government offered a new agreement- the “sovereignty in partnership” model. It aimed to provide New Caledonia with enhanced autonomy while maintaining ties with France. The proposal was rejected by the hardline loyalist factions in the island. Instead, the loyalist groups proposed a form of partition, with the pro-independence North and Loyalty Islands provinces having an association status, while the wealthier, loyalist-majority South Province would remain fully French.
However, the recent negotiations have failed and left New Caledonia in a precarious position with provincial elections due in November 2025.
Context: India has restricted Bangladeshi ready-made garment exports through land ports, citing unfair trade practices. This decision is in response after Bangladesh imposed restrictions on export of Indian yarn and rice via its land ports.
Relevance of the Topic: Mains: India-Bangladesh bilateral relations: Key Developments
India restricts Bangladeshi Exports via Land Ports:
Bangladesh will no longer be allowed to use Indian land ports to export specified commodities to India.
Specified commodities will be prevented from entering India through the land ports of Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram. The specified items include ready-made garments, plastic, wooden furniture, juices, carbonated drinks, fruit-flavoured drinks, bakery, confectionery, cotton yarn, and dyes.
Ready-made garments will be allowed to enter India only through the ports of Kolkata and Mumbai, where the cargo shipments will be subjected to mandated inspections.
Bangladesh was India’s largest trade partner in South Asia, accounting for bilateral trade worth $18 billion in FY 2022-23. Political and economic tensions between India and Bangladesh are growing, reflected by:
India ended the Transshipment Facility for Bangladesh that allowed export cargo from Bangladesh to third countries via Indian Land Customs Stations, en route to Indian ports and airports.
The transshipment arrangement began in 2020. Under this system, cargo could be transported through Indian borders and shipped from Indian ports or airports, destined for third countries including Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar.
Bangladesh imposed port restrictions on export of Indian yarn via land ports allowing the yarn exports only via seaports.
India imposed port restrictions on imports from Bangladesh of ready-made garments of all categories across all land ports- LCS (Land Customs Stations) and ICP (Integrated Check Posts).
The move is expected to complicate the already fragile India-Bangladesh relationship; given Bangladesh's increasing ties with China. At least 93% of Bangladesh’s ready-made garment exports to India pass through the land ports.
The restrictions imposed on specified items on all LCS and ICP will also help advance the local manufacturing sector in India's north-east region.
Context: According to a recent study, humans have mapped only 0.001% of the deep ocean since the 1950s. Most of the ocean floor remains unimaged.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts related to Deep Sea; Deep Sea Mission.
What is the Deep Sea?
Deep sea is broadly defined as the ocean depth where light begins to fade, at an approximate depth of 200 m or more below the sea level.
Two-thirds of the earth’s surface consists of the deep ocean. It is thus the world’s largest as well as least explored ecosystem.
The latest study shows:
Evident geographic disparities in deep-sea exploration. Almost 65% of sightings are from waters around three countries- the U.S., Japan, and New Zealand's coastlines.
Overrepresentation of oceanic features like canyons and escarpments in observations, whereas abyssal plains, which dominate the seafloor, are under-represented.
Hence, our perception of the deep sea is based on this limited data. This emphasises the necessity for broader global engagement in deep sea exploration and research.
Significance of expanded Deep-Sea Research:
Build evidence-based policies for ocean protection: The deep ocean stabilises our climate and ecosystems. With growing threats such as deep sea mining and warming, deep-sea research will bridge the gap in knowledge of oceanic processes associated with climate.
Mapping unexplored species: Deep sea hosts enormous marine biodiversity. It might host species in unexplored areas with medicinal potential, and also aid the conservation efforts of species.
Resource Potential: Deep sea is a storehouse of untapped natural resources including: Minerals and gas hydrates (poly-metallic nodules, gas hydrates and rare earth elements); Oil and natural gas.
Strategic importance: Deep-sea infrastructure like undersea cables facilitate over 95% of global internet traffic, and must be safeguarded from potential threats, especially as countries like China advance their deep-sea military capability. Deep-sea research and development is crucial for asserting rights within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), under UNCLOS.
In a bid to explore those vast regions beneath the surface of the ocean, India is preparing for a deep-sea mission- Samudrayaan, expected to be launched by the end of 2026.India will send its scientists 6000 metres beneath the ocean surface in a submersible named Matsya (a 25-tonne titanium-hulled vehicle) to collect biological and geological samples, conduct environmental observations, and explore mineral resources critical to future technologies.
Context: The Indian authorities are planning to apprise the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the latest evidence related to the terror bases in Pakistan destroyed by the Indian defence forces as part of Operation Sindoor, and the existing terror infrastructure in Pakistan. India seeks FATF grey list re-entry for Pakistan.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to Financial Action Task Force.
Financial Action Task Force
FATF is an independent inter-governmental body that develops and promotes policies to protect the global financial system against money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The FATF Recommendations are recognised as the global anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) standard.
Established in: 1989 by the G7 countries to combat money laundering. In 2001, the mandate was expanded to combat terrorist financing.
Headquarters: Paris, France.
FATF Members:
Currently 39 members: 37 jurisdictions and 2 regional organisations (Gulf Cooperation Council and European Commission).
India, China, Israel, UK and USA are the members. Pakistan, North Korea, and Iran are not the members.
Key Functions
The FATF has developed the FATF Recommendations, or FATF Standards, which ensure a coordinated global response to prevent organised crime, corruption and terrorism.
The FATF reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques, and continuously strengthens its standards to address new risks, such as the regulation of virtual assets, which have spread as cryptocurrencies gain popularity.
The FATF works to stop funding for weapons of mass destruction.
FATF does not address issues related to low tax jurisdiction, tax evasion/avoidance or tax competition.
The FATF conducts peer reviews of each member to assess levels of implementation of the FATF Recommendations. It holds countries to account that do not comply.
FATF 40+9 Standards
FATF issues a report containing a set of 40 Recommendations- intended to provide a comprehensive plan of action needed to fight against money laundering.
In 2001, the development of standards in the fight against terrorist financing was added to the mission of the FATF, thereby further adding 9 Special Recommendations.
Hence, FATF has 40 recommendations against money laundering (AML) and 9 special recommendations against terrorist financing (CFT), commonly known as ‘40+9’ FATF Standards.
FATF Lists:
Black List: FATF issues a list of ‘Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories’ (NCCTs), commonly called FATF Blacklist. These countries or territories are uncooperative in international efforts against money laundering and terrorism financing. Presently, Iran and North Korea are in Black list.
Grey List (Jurisdictions under increased monitoring): List of countries or territories with strategic anti-money laundering/countering financing of terrorism deficiencies, for which they have developed an action plan with the FATF. Greylisting is said to limit a country’s access to loans from international bodies.
FATF Grey List and Pakistan:
Pakistan has a fluctuating FATF status. It was initially greylisted in 2008, removed in 2009, and re-added to the list between 2012 and 2015, with a fresh greylisting in 2018 that lasted until 2022.
Pakistan was removed from the FATF Grey List in 2022 with the reminder that Pakistan will continue to work with the Asia Pacific Group to further improve its AML/CFT system. Pakistan was told to implement the action plan, which included demonstration of effective action against United Nations-designated terror outfits, individuals and their associates in terms of financial sanctions, asset seizures, investigation, prosecution, and convictions.
The decision making in the FATF is based on technical compliance of its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) recommendations, which is evaluated through the measures taken by the country concerned and on-ground verification.
Context: MoSPI has released India’s first-ever monthly labour market data under the revamped Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for the month of April 2025.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key trends and statistics from India’s first-ever monthly labour market data under PLFS (April 2025).
First monthly Periodic Labour Force Survey (April 2025):
India’s first-ever monthly unemployment data under the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) was released for April 2025.
Released by: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
This marks a shift from earlier annual or quarterly datasets to more frequent, granular reporting of labour market conditions.
The size of sample households has also increased, which can help provide better information about the labour market and its seasonality factor.
The revamped model assesses employment and unemployment data from rural areas too.
Periodic Labour Force Survey:
PLFS is India’s primary official source for measuring employment and unemployment indicators.
Launched by: National Statistical Office under the MoSPI in 2017, replacing the earlier Employment-Unemployment Surveys (EUS) conducted by the NSSO.
PLFS provides estimates based on two reference periods:
Usual Status (US): capturing long-term employment over the previous 365 days.
Current Weekly Status (CWS): capturing short-term employment over the last 7 days.
Current Weekly Status (CWS) Methodology:
The PLFS uses the CWS approach to estimate labour indicators. Under CWS, a person is considered:
Employed if they worked at least one hour on any day during the 7 days preceding the date of the survey.
Unemployed if they did not work at all but were available for or seeking work for at least one hour on any day during that week.
The estimates of unemployment in CWS give an average picture of unemployment in a short period of 7 days during the survey period. This helps capture dynamic labour market trends more frequently and is the basis for calculating the monthly UR, LFPR, and WPR.
Key Highlights of the First PLFS monthly bulletin:
1. Unemployment Rate (UR):
The unemployment rate (UR) in April was 5.1%. As this is the first monthly data, no comparisons are available.
The report for 2024 had recorded an unemployment rate at 4.9%.
Male vs Female UR: UR among males was higher at 5.2% compared with female UR of 5%.
Rural vs Urban UR: Urban URfor all persons was higher at 6.5%, as compared to rural UR at 4.5%.
2. Labour Force Participation Data:
Labour Force Participation Rate: LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in the labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population.
LFPR in CWS among persons of age 15 years and above was 55.6% during the period.
Rural vs Urban: LFPR in rural areas was 58% and in urban areas it was 50.7% in April for persons of the same age group.
Rural men vs women: LFPR among rural men of age 15 years and above was 79% and it was 38.2% for women.
Urban men vs women: LFPR among women of age 15 years and above was 25.7% compared with 75.3% observed for men of the same age-group.
3. Worker Population Ratio:
Worker Population Ratio: WPR is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population. WPR = (Total number of workers / Total population) × 100
Overall WPR: WPR at the country level was observed as 52.8% during April.
WPR in rural areas among persons of age 15 years and above was 55.4%.
WPR in urban areas among persons of the same age group was 47.4%
The revamped PLFS marks a significant step towards real-time labour market monitoring in India, enabling more responsive and evidence-based employment policies.
Context: Hypertension, often termed the "silent killer", is a growing public health concern in India. Once considered a disease of old age, recent data indicate that children and adolescents are increasingly affected, highlighting an urgent need for preventive strategies at the population level.
Relevance of the Topic : Prelims: Key facts related to Hypertension.
About Hypertension
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is blood pressure that is higher than normal. It is a condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high.
High blood pressure is consistently at 140/90 mm Hg or higher. It is common but can be serious if not treated.
Hypertension typically progresses without symptoms, gradually damaging the heart, brain, and kidneys.
Risk factors for Hypertension:
Unhealthy Diet: High intake of salt, processed, and packaged foods; alcohol and tobacco use.
High Salt Consumption: Average Indian adolescents consume over 8 grams of salt/day whereas WHO recommends less than 5 grams/day even for adults
Rising Childhood Obesity: Excess weight increases cardiac and vascular strain.
Physical Inactivity: Sedentary lifestyle becoming the norm.
The risk factors also include non-modifiable factors like age, genetics, and co-existing conditions such as diabetes.
Key Trends in India
Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (2016-18): 7.3% of Indian adolescents already had hypertensive blood pressure levels, rising to 9.1% in urban areas.
NFHS-5 (2019-21):
12% of teenagers aged 15-19 already exhibit elevated blood pressure.
21% women and 24% men aged 15 and above have elevated blood pressure. The rates are slightly higher in urban areas than in rural areas.
A study conducted between 2019 and 2021 revealed that over one in four Indian adults has hypertension. Of these, only one-third are diagnosed, fewer than one in five are treated, and a mere one in 12 have their blood pressure under control.
Government Initiatives to Tackle Hypertension:
Population-Based Screening (2016): Launched under the National Health Mission for early detection of NCDs, including hypertension.
India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI, 2017): Joint initiative by MoHFW, ICMR, WHO India, and Resolve to Save Lives. It focuses on standard treatment protocols, uninterrupted medicine supply, task-sharing, and decentralized care at the primary level.
Integration with NP-NCD: IHCI best practices merged into the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) to enable real-time tracking of screening, treatment, and control outcomes down to village level.
‘75 by 25’ Target: Goal to bring 75 million people with hypertension or diabetes under standard care by 2025; 71 million already enrolled (as of 2025).
Solutions & Way Forward
Strengthen Primary Healthcare Delivery: Ensure continuous availability of antihypertensive drugs at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Promote the use of validated, automated BP monitors for accurate diagnosis and monitoring.
Enhance Digital Health Integration: Leverage ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) to track patient history and treatment across facilities for better continuity of care.
Incentivize Screening and Follow-up: Expand and align incentives for frontline workers (CHOs, ASHAs) with outcomes such as diagnosis, treatment initiation, and BP control.
Transform Mid Day Meal Scheme: Upgrade PM POSHAN into a nutrition + food literacy platform reaching 120 million children. Incorporate regionally-inspired, fresh menus and student participation in meal planning and preparation.
Adopt Global Best Practices: Adapt Japan’s ShoKuiku model of food education and Vietnam’s school lunch reforms to instill healthy eating habits from a young age.
Policy Actions: Increasing excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol, banning their advertisement, reducing salt in processed foods, eliminating trans fats, and promoting healthy eating and physical activity.
