Why in the News ? President Droupadi Murmu has given assent to the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, formally changing the State’s name from Kerala to Keralam. The legislation follows a unanimous resolution by the Kerala Legislative Assembly and requires consequential constitutional amendments. Background and Process of Renaming: ● The Kerala Legislative…
Why in the News ? Tamil Nadu Assembly has urged the Centre to retain the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats and their State-wise distribution. The debate has intensified over whether future delimitation should prioritise population-based representation or protect India’s federal balance and States’ political weight. Delimitation and the Democratic Principle: ● Delimitation refers…
Why in the News ? A National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) assessment has found no measurable ecological or socio-economic damage to Lakshadweep following the sinking of MSC Elsa 3 off Kerala in May 2025. However, the incident highlights island ecosystems’ vulnerability to maritime accidents. Study Findings on Lakshadweep: ● The container…
Why in the News ? Hara mangrove forests around Iran’s Qeshm Island face a serious ecological threat after a major oil spill spread along the southern coast. The pollution could damage mangrove ecosystems, marine biodiversity, fisheries and coastal livelihoods, while the ongoing regional conflict complicates cleanup operations. Hara Mangroves — Ecological Significance ● …
Why in the News ? The Madhya Pradesh government and ASI are renewing efforts to excavate and restore Vaishya Tekri in Ujjain after nearly 90 years. The ancient mound may contain a Mauryan-era stupa larger than Sanchi, prompting renewed archaeological and historical interest. Vaishya Tekri: A Major Mauryan-Era Monument ● Vaishya Tekri, located…
Why in the News ? The Indian Army has departed for Thailand to participate in the 15th India-Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-XV (2026). The exercise focuses on enhancing joint counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism capabilities, interoperability and operational cooperation in jungle and semi-urban environments. MAITREE-XV: Key Features and Objectives ● Exercise MAITREE-XV (2026) is the…
Why in the News ? Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla paid tribute to revolutionary freedom fighter Madan Lal Dhingra on his martyrdom day, recalling his patriotism, courage and sacrifice. Dhingra’s revolutionary activities in London and opposition to British rule remain significant in India’s freedom struggle. Madan Lal Dhingra: A Revolutionary Patriot: ● Madan…
Why in the News? The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 has been referred by the Lok Sabha to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) amid strong Opposition and Church objections. The referral has renewed debate over whether parliamentary committees can meaningfully influence legislation, particularly when the ruling government enjoys a parliamentary majority. The issue is…
Why in the News? The Supreme Court has scheduled from October 6 the hearing of a long-pending case before a seven-judge Constitution Bench concerning the conflict between legislative privileges and the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. The case originated from the Tamil Nadu Assembly’s action against The Hindu journalists in 2003 and…
Why in the News? Researchers at IISc’s SPIRE Lab, in collaboration with ARTPARK and Google, have released SraVaani, a multilingual speech-recognition model trained across 65 Indian languages and dialects. Released publicly under an MIT licence, it seeks to bridge the digital divide faced by regional and non-scheduled languages that remain poorly supported by existing speech-AI…