Social 

How do habitual offender laws discriminate? - The Hindu 

Months after the Supreme Court of India questioned the need for decade-old laws that have classified a section of criminals as “habitual offenders” across India, the Government of India has revealed in Parliament that such laws continue to operate in as many as 14 States and Union Territories.

Origin of Habitual Offender Classification

• 1793: Regulation XXII allowed imprisonment based on suspicion.
• 1871: Criminal Tribes Act (CTA) labelled communities as “criminal”.
• 1952: CTA repealed; DNT, NT, SNT categories created.
• State Wise Habitual Offender Acts: Focus on individual convictions, not community.

State-Level Laws

• Examples: Madras (1948), Rajasthan (1953), extended across multiple States.
• Change in definition: Definitions moved from caste-based to conviction-based but continued targeting DNTs.

Criticism and Reform

• 1998: Custodial death of Budhan Sabar sparked national outrage.
• Denotified and Nomadic Tribes Rights Action Group (DNT-RAG): Highlighted ongoing police misuse.
• NHRC (2000): Recommended repeal of habitual offender laws.
• UN Committee (2007): Urged repeal due to racial discrimination.
• Commissions (2008, 2014): Reiterated negative impact on DNTs.

State Responses

• Repealed/Inactive: Haryana (repealed), Punjab, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh (not implemented).
• Against Repeal: Gujarat (no misuse), Goa (no DNTs), Telangana (preventive law), UP (covered under Goondas Act).
• High Proportion: Delhi – 21.5% of convicts classified as habitual offenders (NCRB 2022 data).

Key Concerns

• Systemic bias against DNTs continues.
• SC and Commissions demand repeal, citing human rights and constitutional concerns.
• Mixed stance from States reflects lack of uniform policy.

Rajasthan's coaching centre Bill, why it has been criticised - Indian Express 

Following years of demands for such legislation, a Bill for regulating coaching centres was tabled in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. The creation of a high-pressure academic ecosystem in cities like Kota and Jaipur, with coaching centres and residential schools to aid students in preparing for competitive exams, had prompted calls for regulation.

Rajasthan Coaching Regulation Bill – Key Provisions

• Aim: To curb commercialisation of coaching centres and prioritise students' well-being.
• Mandates:
  • Minimum quality standards
  • Mandatory registration of coaching centres
  • Psychological counselling for students
• Penalties (Stricter than Centre's guidelines):
  • 1st violation: ₹2 lakh fine
  • 2nd violation: ₹5 lakh fine
  • Further violations: Cancellation of registration

Key Differences (Tabled vs Draft/Guidelines)

• Age Limit for Admission:
  • Draft: Minimum age of 16 years or completion of secondary school required.
  • Tabled Bill: No mention of age criteria.
• Biometric Attendance:
  • Draft: Mandatory facial recognition; parents to be informed after 2 days of unexplained absence.
  • Tabled Bill: Provision omitted.
• Holiday Compliance:
  • Draft: Centres must follow national, local holidays and festivals.
  • Tabled Bill: Only suggests aligning leaves with festivals; no mention of national/local holidays.
• Anti-Discrimination Clause:
  • Draft/Guidelines: Prohibits discrimination based on religion, caste, gender, etc.
  • Tabled Bill: Omitted.
• Support for Vulnerable Groups:
  • Draft/Guidelines: Encouraged inclusion of female and differently-abled students; infrastructure to comply with Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
  • Tabled Bill: Provisions removed.

Criticism of the Rajasthan Coaching Regulation Bill

• Concerns by Parents’ Associations: 
  • Demand for clear punishment clauses for coaching centres in case of student suicides.
  • Call for regulation of arbitrary fees through a dedicated committee.
• Allegations of Bias:
  • It is alleged that the Bill favours coaching centres.
  • Stronger fee control mechanisms demanded.
• Political Opposition:
  • Removal of 16-year age criteria criticised.
  • Government accused of diluting the Bill under coaching centre influence.

World Affairs 

China presence in Indo-Pacific region is concerning, say Quad defence officers - Indian Express 

Top defence officers from countries of Quad grouping recently expressed concern at the Chinese assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific refers to the interconnected waters of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean which facilitates 60% of global maritime trade.

QUAD 

• Members: India, US, Japan, Australia
• Nature: Strategic forum (not a military alliance)
• Focus Areas:
  • Maritime security
  • Economic cooperation
  • Free, open, rules-based Indo-Pacific
• Operates via:
  • Annual summits
  • Foreign ministers’ meetings
• Six Working Groups:
  • Health
  • Climate
  • Critical & Emerging Technology
  • Space
  • Infrastructure
  • Cybersecurity
• Evolution:
  • 2007: Proposed by Japan's PM Shinzo Abe at ASEAN meet
  • 2012: Concept of ‘Democratic Security Diamond’ introduced
  • 2017: Revived amid China's rise; first formal meeting in Manila
  • 2020: Australia joined Malabar naval exercises (first joint military drill)
  • 2021: First virtual Quad leaders’ summit; "Spirit of the Quad" statement released

Economy 

Finland tops World Happiness rankings again; India ranks below Pakistan - Indian Express 

For the eighth consecutive year, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report 2025, published Thursday by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford.

Methodology

• Evaluation: Based on responses from the Gallup World Poll in which people rate their life on a 0-10 scale using the Cantril Ladder method.
• Data tenure: The 2025 rankings are based on data collected from 2022 to 2024.
• Key indicators: 
  • GDP per capita
  • Healthy life expectancy
  • Social support
  • Perceived freedom to make life choices
  • Generosity
  • Perception of corruption

Key Highlights 

• Top rankings: Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden
• New entrants in top 10: Costa Rica (6th) and Mexico (10th)
• Israel (8th): Despite the ongoing war with Hamas, Israel secured a high position in the rankings.
• Determinants of happiness: Economic growth, trust, social connections, and support networks.
• United States (24th): Dropped from 11th (2012) due to increased isolation, with a 53% rise in people dining alone over two decades.
• United Kingdom (23rd): Lowest happiness level since 2017.
• Least happy countries:
  • Afghanistan: Continues to be the unhappiest, with Afghan women facing extreme hardship.
  • II and III lowest: Sierra Leone and Lebanon.
  • Global social support decline: 19% of young adults reported having no one to rely on.

India’s Ranking

• Improvement: India moved up from 126th (out of 143 countries last year) to 118th (out of 147 countries).
• Score: India’s happiness score rose from 4.054 to 4.389 (on a scale of 10).
• Neighboring countries: India ranked below Nepal, Pakistan (109th), Ukraine, and Palestine in overall happiness.
• Comparison with Pakistan: Lower ranking than Pakistan.
• Economic strength: India’s per capita income ($2,480.8 in 2023) is higher than Pakistan’s ($1,365.3).
• Health indicators: India’s healthy life expectancy (58.1 years in 2021) is better than Pakistan’s (56.9 years).
• Corruption perception: India ranked 96th in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 is better than Pakistan (135th).

Sci and Tech 

Sansad Bhashini initiative - PIB 

In a major step toward modernizing parliamentary processes, the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop the Sansad Bhashini initiative.

Sansad Bhashini Initiative

• Launched by: Lok Sabha Secretariat and Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY)
• Purpose: Use of in-house AI tools to enhance parliamentary operations
• Multilingual Support:
  • Real-time speech-to-text transcription
  • Speech-to-speech translation
  • Translation of debates, reports, and documents into Indian languages
• Operational Efficiency:
  • AI-enabled chatbots for interaction
  • Background noise reduction and customizable vocabulary
  • Improved documentation and summarization tools
• Benefits:
  • Greater inclusivity and public engagement
  • Faster decision-making and better record-keeping
     

What are neglected tropical diseases and why it is important to control them - Indian Express 

India is progressing towards eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) through political support, community involvement, and regional cooperation. Major milestones include the elimination of trachoma and reduced rates of visceral leishmaniasis.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

• Definition: Group of diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins.
• Causes: Lead to severe health, social, and economic impacts.
• Spread: Primarily affect poor communities in tropical regions.
• Linkage: To poor sanitation, unsafe water, and inadequate healthcare access.
• Response: Labeled “neglected” due to historically low priority in global health funding and attention.
• Examples: Guinea worm, Chikungunya, Dengue, Kala Azar, and Elephantiasis.
• NTDs in India: India reports around 12 NTDs.
• Epidemiological Complexity: Often vector-borne, with complex life cycles and animal/human reservoirs.
• Burden: Affect over 1 billion people; around 1.5 billion need preventive or curative interventions.
• Awareness: January 30 observed as World NTDs Day to reaffirm global commitment.