GS Paper-2

Acid Violence in India: Gaps Between Law, Justice and Survivor Rehabilitation

08-Jan-2026

The acquittal of the accused in the 2009 Shaheen Malik acid attack case, after a prolonged 16-year legal battle, has reignited concerns over India’s response to acid violence. The case exposed systemic failures in police investigation, prosecution, judicial sensitivity, and survivor rehabilitation, despite the existence of strong laws and Supreme Court directives.

SHINE Initiative: Empowering Women at the Heart of India’s Quality Movement

08-Jan-2026

At the 79th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs launched the SHINE Scheme (Standards Help Inform & Nurture Empowered Women) in New Delhi. The initiative marks a strategic shift towards placing women at the centre of India’s quality and standardisation ecosystem.

Madras HC on Thiruparankundram: Balancing Faith, Heritage and Public Order

08-Jan-2026

The Madras High Court allowed the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp at Thiruparankundram hill near Madurai, while rejecting the Tamil Nadu government’s apprehensions of communal unrest as speculative.

Is Court letting down its mandate on liberty?

07-Jan-2026

This editorial “Is Court letting down its mandate on liberty?”, published in The Indian Express on 6th Jan 2026, critically examines the SC’s approach to bail and prolonged pre-trial incarceration, raising concerns about judicial delay, erosion of the presumption of innocence, and the weakening of constitutional safeguards for personal liberty.

The struggle to count women’s labour

07-Jan-2026

This editorial “The struggle to count women’s labour”, published in The Hindu on 6th Jan 2026, examines the persistent invisibility of women’s unpaid, emotional, and care work, highlighting how economic frameworks, policy priorities, and legal systems continue to undervalue labour that is essential for households, society, and the broader economy.

Beijing’s Coercive Signalling: ‘Justice Mission 2025’ and Cross-Strait Tensions

07-Jan-2026

China recently conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan under the banner of “Justice Mission 2025”, involving coordinated deployment of army, navy, air force, and missile units.

The drills come amid heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait, following major US arms sales to Taiwan, and reflect Beijing’s increasing use of military signalling and coercive deterrence to assert its sovereignty claims over the island.

Expanding the Terror Lens: Supreme Court on UAPA, Bail and ‘Terrorist Acts’

06-Jan-2026

The Supreme Court of India granted bail to five accused in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots case but denied bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, holding that all accused did not stand on equal footing despite facing similar charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Greenland in the Crosshairs: Trump’s Arctic Push and the Limits of Power

06-Jan-2026

Denmark and Greenland have strongly rejected US President Donald Trump’s assertion that the United States needs Greenland “for defence”, calling any attempt to annex or purchase the island unacceptable and absurd.

Delhi Declaration

03-Jan-2026

Recently, a new chapter in integrative medicine began with the release of the "Delhi Declaration" at the World Health Organization's (WHO) Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine.

India’s Tobacco Taxation Reforms: Aligning Public Health with Fiscal Strategy Prelims: (Economy + CA)

02-Jan-2026

India has notified a new taxation regime for tobacco and related sin goods, effective 1 February, following legislative changes approved by Parliament. The reform restructures GST slabs, excise duties, and cess mechanisms for tobacco products, marking a significant shift in India’s approach to public health-oriented taxation.