Current Affairs for 25 May 2026

Public Accounts Committee (PAC): Role, Significance and Recent Developments

Recently, the first meeting of the reconstituted Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for 2026–27 was held under the chairmanship of K. C. Venugopal. Differences emerged regarding the Committee taking up certain subjects for examination suo motu (on its own initiative).

About the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

• The Public Accounts Committee is the oldest parliamentary committee in India, established in 1921. 
• It is constituted every year. 
• The Chairperson of the Committee is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from among its members. 
• In 1967–68, for the first time, the Speaker appointed a member of the Opposition as the Chairperson of the Committee. 
• Its primary objective is to examine the receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and ensure that public funds are utilized in a legal, transparent, and efficient manner. 

Functions of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

• The Committee examines audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India related to government expenditure. 
• It ensures that funds approved by Parliament have been utilized for their intended purposes. 
• It investigates financial irregularities, fiscal losses, procedural violations, and inefficiencies in government expenditure. 

Composition of the Committee

• The Public Accounts Committee consists of 22 members, including 15 members from Lok Sabha and 7 members from Rajya Sabha. 
• The Chairperson is a member of the Lok Sabha and, by convention, this position is usually given to a member of the Opposition. 
• The tenure of members is one year. 
• No minister can become a member of the Public Accounts Committee. 

Reconstituted PAC Meeting and Recent Controversy

Recently, the reconstituted PAC for 2026–27 held its meeting, during which differences emerged over the Committee taking up certain subjects for examination suo motu.

• The subjects considered by the Committee included policy reforms in the banking, insurance, and energy sectors. 
• A BJP Member of Parliament objected to the Committee taking up these subjects on its own initiative. 
• However, Committee Chairperson K. C. Venugopal cited previous precedents and stated that during the tenure of Murli Manohar Joshi, the Committee had also taken up subjects suo motu for consideration. 
• The Chairperson clarified that deciding which subjects should be examined is the prerogative of the Committee. 
• The Public Accounts Committee is an important parliamentary committee that examines reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and presents its findings and reports before Parliament.

Launch of Jeevan App and Shatayu Geriatric Caregiver Dashboard

Context

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched the Jeevan (Joint Empowerment and Virtual Assistance Network) mobile application and the Shatayu (Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training for Your Utility) Geriatric Caregiver Dashboard for senior citizens.

About Jeevan App

• It is a step towards ensuring the safety, care, dignity, and empowerment of senior citizens by creating an elderly care ecosystem through technology-based care support.
• It is a dedicated digital platform designed to enhance the safety, welfare, access to healthcare services, and social inclusion of senior citizens in India.
• The app provides several features aimed at addressing the needs and concerns of elderly citizens, including information on government schemes and welfare programmes, emergency assistance and support services, and details of senior citizen homes supported by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The platform has been designed with a user-friendly interface, simple navigation, and accessibility features while keeping the needs of elderly users in mind.

About Shatayu Dashboard

• Another application developed to strengthen care services for senior citizens across the country, the Shatayu (Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training for Your Utility) Dashboard, was also launched during the National Workshop on the theme “Building a Smoothly Functioning Care Economy.”
• It provides information such as the availability of geriatric caregivers for senior citizens in specific districts and states.
• The platform has been designed with simplified functionalities and a user-friendly interface to ensure ease of use and effective service delivery.

World Trade Organization (WTO): Ethiopia’s WTO Accession and Strengthening India–Ethiopia Strategic Partnership

Why in News ?

Recently, India and Ethiopia signed a bilateral accession protocol in the context of Ethiopia’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). The signing took place during a ceremony held in Geneva. 

WTO Accession Process

• Under the WTO accession process, it is necessary to align domestic economic and trade policies with WTO rules and negotiate market access commitments with existing member countries.
• Ethiopia is currently at an advanced stage of its accession process, and the seventh meeting of its Working Party was held on 22–23 April 2026. 
• As Ethiopia continues reforms in its economic and trade policies through the WTO accession process, new opportunities are expected to emerge for enhanced trade, investment, and business cooperation between India and Ethiopia.

About the World Trade Organization (WTO)

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Established: 1 January 1995
• Created through: Uruguay Round negotiations (1986–94)
• Membership: 166 members representing around 98% of global trade
• Budget: 205 million Swiss francs for 2024
• Secretariat Staff: 623

Objectives and Goals

• The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.
• At its core are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by most trading nations of the world and ratified by their respective parliaments.
• The fundamental objective of the WTO, as stated in its founding agreement, is to use trade as a means to improve people’s living standards, create better employment opportunities, and promote sustainable development.

Functions of WTO

• Administer trade agreements.
• Provide a forum for trade negotiations.
• Settle trade disputes.
• Monitor national trade policies.
• Provide technical assistance and training for developing countries.
• Promote cooperation with other international organizations.

India–Ethiopia Relations

• India and Ethiopia share deep people-to-people ties and long-standing civilizational relations.
• India is Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, and Indian companies are among the leading foreign investors in Ethiopia.
• During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ethiopia in December 2025, bilateral relations between the two countries were elevated to the level of a Strategic Partnership.

Padma Awards 2026: Eligibility, Posthumous Cases, Decoration, Nomination & Selection Process.

Padma Awards 2026

The Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian honour of India, are announced every year on the eve of Republic Day. The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of higher order and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field of activity. There ought to be an element of public service in the achievements of the person to be selected for these Awards.

Eligibility

Any person without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex is eligible for these Awards. However, serving Government servants, including those working with PSUs, except Doctors and Scientists, are not eligible for these Awards.

The Award seeks to recognize works of distinction and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements/service in all fields of activities/disciplines. An illustrative list of the fields is as under:

• Art - Includes Music, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Cinema, Theatre, etc.
• Social Work - Includes social and charitable services in the areas of affordable healthcare and education, other contributions to community projects like Environment, Sanitation, etc.
• Public Affairs- Includes work in the area of Law, Public Life, Politics, etc. 
• Science & Engineering - Includes Space Engineering, Nuclear Science, Information Technology, Research & Development in Science & its allied subjects, etc.
• Trade & Industry - Includes banking, economic activities, management, trading and business in the areas of manufacturing, hospitality, technology, textiles, accounting, finance, tourism, etc.
• Medicine - Includes medical research and distinction/specialization in Allopathy, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha, Naturopathy, etc.
• Literature & Education - Includes promotion of literacy and education, education reforms, teaching, journalism, literature & poetry, authors, etc.
• Civil Service - Includes distinction/excellence in administration etc. by Government Servants
• Sports - Includes Sports, Athletics, Mountaineering, promotion of sports, etc.
• Others - Includes fields that are not covered in the above-mentioned fields. This may include Spirituality, Yoga, Wild Life protection/conservation, Culinary, Agriculture, Grassroot Innovations, Archaeology, Architecture, etc.

Posthumous Cases

The Award is not conferred posthumously. However, in highly deserving and rare cases, the Government could consider giving an Award posthumously.

Eligibility for a Higher Category of Padma Award

A higher category of Padma Award can be conferred on a person only where a period of at least five years has elapsed since conferment of the earlier Padma Award. However, an exception can be made by the Awards Committee in cases of rare and most exceptional achievements.

Decoration

1. Sanad (Certificate) and Medallion.
2. A small size replica (miniature) of the main medal is separately handed over to the recipient which can be worn by him/her during State/Ceremonial functions, etc.
3. No monetary grant is attached to these Awards.
4. The Award does not amount to a title and should not be used as a suffix or prefix to the name of the recipient in any manner whatsoever.

No. of Awardees

The total number of Awards which can be given in a year (excluding posthumous cases and Foreigners/NRIs/OCIs) is 120.

Who can nominate ?

The nomination process is open to the public. Even self-nomination can be made.

Nominations/Recommendations will be invited from 15th March to 31st July 2026.

Selection Process

All nominations/recommendations received for Padma Awards are placed before the Padma Awards Committee which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. No Award is conferred except on the recommendation of the Awards Committee. The recommendations of the Committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval. The names are announced on the eve of Republic Day every year.

Ceremony Details

The Awards are presented by the President of India usually in the month of March/April every year where the awardees are presented a Sanad (Certificate) signed by the President and a medallion. The names of the awardees are published in the Gazette of India on the day of the presentation ceremony. 

Padma Vibhushan Winners 2026

Padma Bhushan Winners 2026

Padma Shri Winners 2026