Polity 

President’s Rule imposed in Manipur days after CM’s exit - The Hindu 

Four days after Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned, President’s Rule was imposed on Thursday in the northeastern State that has been affected by ethnic violence for the past two years.

Pesident’s rule.

History of President’s Rule in India

• Imposition: Since 1950, imposed 134 times across 29 states & UTs.
• Frequent imposition: Manipur & Uttar Pradesh (10 times each).

Longest durations:

• Jammu & Kashmir – 12+ years (4,668 days).
• Punjab – 10+ years (3,878 days).
• Puducherry – 7+ years (2,739 days).
• Reasons: Militant activity, law & order issues, political instability.

Supreme Court on President’s Rule (S.R. Bommai Case, 1994)

• Judicial review applicable: Courts can examine if the proclamation is illegal, malafide, or an abuse of power.
• President’s decision not absolute: Courts can check if relevant material was considered.
• State governments’ autonomy protected: Only the legislature is suspended unless Parliament approves the rule within two months.

Public Accounts Committee asks Centre to review toll tax rule for National Highways - The Hindu 

The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament at a meeting held recently, directed the government to review the existing rules that decide the toll tax on National Highways.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

• About: Parliamentary committee for auditing government revenue and expenditure.
• Role: Examines C&AG audit reports to ensure proper use of funds & acts as a check on government spending.
• Genesis: 1921; initially chaired by the Finance Member and under the Finance Ministry.
• 1950: Became a Parliamentary Committee under the Lok Sabha Speaker; secretarial functions transferred to Lok Sabha Secretariat.
• Membership: 22 members - 15 from Lok Sabha, 7 from Rajya Sabha elected annually through proportional representation.
• Chairperson: Appointed by Lok Sabha Speaker (traditionally from the Opposition since 1967-68).
• Restriction: Ministers cannot be members; if appointed as a Minister, membership ceases.

World Affairs 

What is happening in the DRC? - The Hindu

The crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is back in the spotlight after the M23 militia, backed by eastern neighbour Rwanda, captured the mineral-rich city of Goma, which lies on the border between the two countries. 

History of Conflict in the Region

• Origin: Rooted in Hutu-Tutsi conflict since colonial times.
• Hutu resentment: Tutsi monarchy favored under German and Belgian rule.
• 1959 Hutu Revolution: Led to 20,000 Tutsis killed and King Kigeli V fleeing.
• 1962: Rwanda gained independence, Hutu regime under Grégoire Kayibanda established.

Rwandan Genocide (1994)

• Hutu-led repression: Led to the formation of Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).
• April 1994: Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana's plane shot down, triggering mass killings.
• 100 days of violence: 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus killed.
• July 1994: RPF took control, led by Paul Kagame (President since 2000).

Post-Genocide Fallout

• 2 million Hutus fled to DRC, including genocide perpetrators.
• Eastern DRC became home to over 120 armed groups, including:
  • FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) – Hutu-led.
  • M23 (March 23 Movement) – Tutsi-led.

Congo Wars & Regional Instability

• First Congo War (1996): Rwandan troops invaded, led to the overthrow of Mobutu Sese Seko and renaming of Zaire to DRC.
• Second Congo War (1998-2003): 9 nations & 25 armed groups involved, killing 5 million due to war, disease, and starvation.
• Post-2003: DRC remains unstable, while Rwanda is seen as a stabilizing force under Kagame but accused of backing M23 rebels.

M23 Rebels

• Formation: 2012, led by Sultani Makenga in North Kivu province.
• Origin: Broke off from the Congolese Army after the failure of a 2009 peace agreement.
• 2012: Captured Goma, later withdrew after assurances of Tutsi protection.
• 2022: Resurfaced, citing failure to honor past agreements.
• Crime: Accused of war crimes by the UN.
• Ethnic vs. Economic Factors:
  • DRC’s eastern region rich in Coltan, essential for electronics.
  • 40% of global Coltan supply comes from DRC.
  • Goma’s capture strengthens M23's control over trade and transport.

Defence to energy, deepening of India-France ties amid geopolitical shifts - Indian Express

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France recently at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Defence & Strategic Cooperation

• Defence: France remains a key defence supplier for India alongside Russia.
• Strategic trust: Developed since France’s refusal to sanction India post-Pokhran-II (1998).
• Defence Industrial Roadmap (2023) includes:
  • Scorpene submarines.
  • Additional Rafale jets & helicopters.
  • Indigenous defence production efforts.
• India’s support: India offers Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher to France.

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

Nuclear Energy & Challenges

• Nuclear generation in France: ~70% of electricity from nuclear energy.
• Plans for nuclear reactors in Jaitapur, Maharashtra stalled:
  • High costs.
  • Legal & technical challenges under India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act, 2010.
• Revival: India’s proposed amendments to the 2010 Act & Atomic Energy Act, 1962, may revive French interest.
• Shifting focus: Focus on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) & Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) due to:
  • Lower capital investment & space requirements.
  • India’s ₹20,000 crore Nuclear Energy Mission (2024-25).

Economy 

What's new in I-T Bill, 2025 - Indian Express

The Income-tax Bill, 2025, which was introduced in Lok Sabha, intends to simplify India’s six-decade-old structure of direct taxation by streamlining provisions, removing obsolete references, and creating a crisper and simpler legal framework. Once passed by Parliament, the new law will likely come into effect on April 1, 2026.

Income-tax Bill, 2025

• Aim: To simplify the six-decade-old direct tax structure.
• Significance: Removes outdated provisions, reduces legal complexity.
• Operation: Expected to come into effect from April 1, 2026.
• Simplification & Structural Changes:
  • Concise format:
    • Word count reduced from 5.12 lakh to 2.60 lakh.
    • Sections reduced from 819 to 536.
    • Chapters reduced from 47 to 23.
  • More tables: 57 tables (up from 18) for deductions, TDS/TCS rates, exemptions.
  • Clearer presentation: Cross-referencing removed, redundant provisions omitted.
• Key Changes in Tax Framework:
  • Introduction of "Tax Year" (April 1–March 31): Replacement of "Assessment Year" (AY).
  • "Virtual Digital Space": Included in tax investigations, covering email servers, social media, online investments, and cloud storage.
  • Cryptocurrencies: To be recognized as "property", included under capital assets for taxation.
• Dispute Resolution & Capital Gains:
  • Clearer guidelines for the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP).
  • Outdated capital gains exemptions removed, such as Section 54E (pre-1992 asset transfers).
• Income & Tax Rates:
  • Expanded definition of income to include evolving sources.
  • Tax slabs provided only for the new tax regime.
  • Exemptions, deductions, TDS/TCS rates detailed in separate schedules.

Adani, SL wind power project: what to know - Indian Express 

The Adani Group recently withdrew from a proposed wind power project in Sri Lanka, with the company writing a letter to Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment.

Project Overview

• Location: Adani to invest $440 million in a 20-year wind power project in Mannar and Pooneryn, Sri Lanka.
• Capacity: 484 MW, part of Sri Lanka’s renewable energy push.

Criticism 

• Lack of transparency: MoU signed under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022, details not made public.
• CEB Chairman’s Allegations: Claimed PM Modi pressured Rajapaksa to award the project to Adani; later retracted statement and resigned.
• Legal challenges: Petitioners approached the Sri Lankan Supreme Court against project approval.
• Pricing concerns: Proposed tariff of $0.0826 per kWh criticized as financially unviable; demand to lower it to $0.005 per kWh.
• Ecological concerns: Local groups and CEB unions opposed the project, citing environmental impact and lack of competitive bidding.

Sci and Tech

Challenges of malaria vaccination, as elimination becomes achievable - The Hindu

The WHO’s recent declaration of Georgia as the 45th country to eliminate malaria is a significant milestone.

Malaria’s Persistence Despite Scientific Advances

• WHO declared Georgia as the 45th malaria-free country, yet malaria still causes 240 million cases & 600,000 deaths annually.
• Unlike smallpox, malaria persists due to complex parasite biology and weak vaccine efficacy.

Discovery of Malaria Transmission

• 1880: Alphonse Laveran identified Plasmodium parasite as the cause.
• 1891: Patrick Manson proposed mosquito transmission, but lacked proof.
• 1897: Ronald Ross (India) confirmed Plasmodium completes its life cycle in mosquitoes, proving them as vectors.

Challenges in Vaccine Development

• Nature of the  vector: Plasmodium is a complex protozoan, unlike simpler viruses.
• Antigenic variation: Parasite constantly changes surface proteins, evading immunity.
• Intracellular lifestyle: Hides in liver & RBCs, avoiding immune response.
• Multi-stage life cycle across humans & mosquitoes: Making it difficult to target with a single vaccine.
• Genetic adaptability: Parasite evolves resistance to new interventions.

Current Malaria Vaccines

• RTS,S vaccine (WHO-approved):
  • Targets liver-stage Plasmodium sporozoites.
  • 36% efficacy after 4 doses over 4 years, much lower than measles vaccines (90-95%).
  • Protection inconsistent and declines over time.
• Next-generation vaccines under development:
  • R21/Matrix-M – 77% efficacy over 12 months, stronger immune response.
  • PfSPZ – Whole-parasite vaccine, targeting liver-stage infection.
  • RH5-based vaccines – Prevents RBC invasion, targeting blood stage.
  • Transmission-blocking vaccines – Stops mosquito infection by targeting parasite proteins Pfs25 & Pfs230.

Funding & Research Challenges

• Affects low-income countries: Leads to chronic underfunding.
• High research costs & low financial returns: Discourage pharmaceutical investment.

Way Forward

• Integrated approach: Efficient vaccines, mosquito control, and better treatment options.
• Climate change: Affects mosquito habitats, increasing disease resurgence.
• R&D: Malaria-free world achievable with sustained research & investment.

Defence 

P-8I Aircraft - The Hindu 

India is looking to revive the proposal to procure six more P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft from the U.S. and the issue is expected to figure in the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump.

P-8I Aircraft

• About: A long-range maritime patrol aircraft for the Indian Navy.
• Manufacturer: Boeing (USA); it replaces the Tupolev Tu-142 fleet.
• Role: Variant of P-8A Poseidon, used by the U.S. Navy.
• Features: Equipped with advanced sensors & weapons for detecting submarines, surface threats, and environmental challenges.
• Capabilities: Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (AsuW), intelligence, maritime patrol, and surveillance.
• Dimensions: Length 39.47m, Wingspan 37.64m, Height 12.83m.
• Maximum Take-off Weight: 85,139 kg.
• Crew: 9 members.
• Speed & Altitude: Max speed 789 km/h, max altitude 12,496m.
• Range: Over 2,222 km with a 4-hour on-station endurance.