26 February 2026

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Knesset.
• Condemned the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack as a terrorist act and reiterated India’s zero- tolerance policy on terrorism.
• Expressed support for the UNSC-endorsed Gaza Peace Initiative, emphasizing a just and durable peace including the Palestine issue.
• Held talks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on regional security and bilateral cooperation.
• Supported normalization efforts under the Abraham Accords.
• Announced progress on India–Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and digital financial linkages.

Key Points

• India follows a consistent zero-tolerance approach to terrorism (UAPA, NIA Act).
• India supports a two-state solution and peaceful resolution of the Israel–Palestine conflict.
• India–Israel diplomatic relations established in 1992.
• Bilateral trade (excluding defence) ~USD 10 billion (recent official data).
• Cooperation areas:
  • Defence and security
  • Agriculture (Indo-Israel Agricultural Project – Centres of Excellence)
  • Water management (drip irrigation, desalination)
  • Cybersecurity and innovation
• Jewish communities historically present in:
  • Kerala (Cochin Jews)  Mumbai (Bene Israel)
  • Kolkata (Baghdadi Jews

Static Linkages

• Article 51 – Promotion of international peace and security.
• UN Security Council – Binding resolutions under Chapter VII.
• India’s foreign policy principles:
  • Strategic autonomy
  • Multi-alignment
• Energy security:
  • ~60% of India’s crude imports from West Asia.
• Indian diaspora in Gulf region (~8–9 million).
• Defence indigenisation under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Critical Analysis

• Positives
  • Strengthens strategic and defence cooperation.
  • Reinforces India’s global anti-terror stance.
  • Balances Israel ties with support for Palestinian cause.
  • Enhances India’s role in West Asian geopolitics.
• Concerns
  • Balancing relations with Israel and Arab nations.
  • Oil price volatility and diaspora vulnerability.
  • Regional instability affecting trade routes.

Way Forward

• Maintain balanced diplomacy (Israel security + Palestine rights).
• Fast-track India–Israel FTA.
• Enhance trilateral cooperation (e.g., I2U2 framework).
• Promote humanitarian diplomacy alongside counter-terror policy.
• Safeguard energy and diaspora interests.

BENGAL COURTS STALL OVER SIRs

• Nearly 50 lakh claims and objections were received during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
• The Supreme Court of India directed that judicial officers examine these claims due to a trust deficit between the State Government and the Election Commission.
• Judicial officers were deployed across district courts, affecting regular trials, including POCSO cases.
• Final electoral rolls were directed to be published by February 28, with supplementary lists allowed later.

Key Constitutional & Legal Provisions

• Article 324 – Election Commission of India (ECI) has superintendence, direction and control of elections.
• Representation of the People Act, 1950
  • Deals with preparation and revision of electoral rolls.
  • District Magistrate acts as District Election Officer (DEO).
• Article 50 – Separation of judiciary from executive.
• Article 21 – Right to speedy trial (judicial interpretation).
• POCSO Act, 2012 – Mandates special courts for time-bound trial of child sexual offences.

Core Issues for UPSC

1. Separation of Powers

• Judiciary performing executive election-related functions raises concerns.
• Possible dilution of institutional specialization.

2. Judicial Independence

• Involvement in administrative tasks may blur functional boundaries.
• Risk of judiciary being drawn into political controversies.

3. Electoral Integrity vs Administrative Capacity

• Judicial scrutiny may enhance neutrality and credibility.
• However, it signals lack of confidence in regular election machinery.

4. Impact on Justice Delivery

• Delay in criminal trials affects Article 21.
• Sensitive cases (POCSO, sexual assault) disrupted.

Constitutional & Governance Dimensions

• Balance between Article 324 powers of ECI and Article 50 principle of separation.
• Institutional coordination vs institutional overreach.
• Need for capacity building in electoral administration.
• Ensuring electoral credibility without compromising judicial efficiency.

Way Forward

• Strengthen ECI’s district-level verification mechanisms.
• Develop dedicated electoral grievance redressal systems.
• Avoid routine deployment of judicial officers for executive tasks.
• Protect time-bound criminal trials from administrative diversion.
• Clarify legal framework for exceptional judicial involvement.

HARYANA EDUCATION OUTLAY SLIPS DEBT

• RBI’s State Finances: A Study of Budgets 2025– 26 highlights trends in Haryana’s expenditure.
• Over the last 15 years:
  • Share of education expenditure in total budget has declined.
  • Share of social welfare expenditure has increased significantly.
  • Debt and interest payments have risen sharply.
• Major allocations concentrated in two schemes:
  • Old Age Samman Allowance Scheme  
  • Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana

Key Data Points

• Education
  • 2010–11:
    • ₹5,946 crore (out of ₹39,554 crore total expenditure).
  • 2025–26:
    • ₹22,312 crore.
  • National average spending on education (as % of total expenditure): 13.1% (RBI).
  • Technical education share declined from 1.08% to 0.6%.
  • ~50% vacancies in regular teaching posts in colleges.
  • 4.9% dropout rate at secondary level.
• Health
  • Health expenditure: 0.77% of GSDP (Performance Audit 2022–23).
  • National benchmark (National Health Policy 2017): 2.5% of GDP.
  • Several states spend higher proportions than Haryana.
• Social Welfare
  • 2025–26:
    • ₹18,751 crore for social empowerment, SC/BC welfare.
    • ₹10,210 crore allocated to two major schemes.
  • Old Age Pension:
    • 20 lakh beneficiaries.
    • ₹3,200 per month.
  • Lado Lakshmi Yojana:
    • ₹2,100 per month for eligible women.
  • Institutional Indicators
    • No Haryana university in QS World Rankings 2026.
    • No institution in top 150 of NIRF rankings.
    • Govt schools with internet: 69.3% (vs 94.5% private).

Constitutional & Policy Linkages

• Article 41 – Public assistance in old age (DPSP). 
• Article 21A – Right to Education.
• FRBM Acts – Fiscal discipline for Union and States.
• National Education Policy (2020) – 6% of GDP target.
• National Health Policy (2017) – 2.5% of GDP public health target.
• Human capital formation as driver of long-term growth (Economic Survey theme).

Issues for Analysis

1. Fiscal Structure Concern

• Rising revenue expenditure (pensions, cash transfers).
• Increasing debt servicing burden.
• Potential crowding out of capital expenditure.

2. Human Capital Gap

• Low spending on education and health relative to income level.
• High vacancy in educational institutions.  
• Weak higher education performance.

3. Populism vs Welfare State

• Targeted vs universal transfers debate.
• Electoral commitments vs fiscal sustainability.
• Short-term consumption vs long-term productivity gains.

Way Forward

• Increase education allocation toward 6% benchmark.
• Raise public health spending in line with NHP 2017.  
• Rationalize welfare schemes with:
  • Better targeting.
  • Periodic outcome evaluation.
• Fill vacancies in teaching and technical institutions.  
• Strengthen outcome-based budgeting.
• Maintain fiscal prudence under FRBM framework.

LOOSE LINK: DOOMED SATELLITE

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released the report of an apex committee examining the failure of the NVS-02 satellite to reach its intended circular orbit.
• NVS-02 was launched on 29 January 2025 aboard GSLV F15 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
• The launch marked the 100th mission from Sriharikota.
• The satellite was successfully placed in an elliptical transfer orbit, but orbit-raising manoeuvres failed.
• NVS-02 is part of the NavIC constellation (second-generation satellites).

Key Findings of the Committee

• The failure occurred because the signal to activate a key valve in the oxidiser line did not reach the engine.
• Most probable reason: Loose or failed electrical connection in both primary and backup lines.
• As a result, the engine could not fire for orbit raising.

Importance for India

1. NavIC System

• Indigenous regional navigation system.
• Provides:
  • Standard Positioning Service (SPS) – civilian use.
  • Restricted Service (RS) – encrypted for strategic users.
• Coverage: India and up to 1500 km beyond.
• Reduces dependence on foreign systems like GPS.

2. Strategic & Security Relevance

• Critical for:
  • Defence operations.
  • Maritime domain awareness.  
  • Disaster management.
  • Transportation & logistics.

Corrective Measures Taken

• Recommendations to enhance redundancy and reliability of pyro systems.
• Successfully implemented in CMS-03.
• CMS-03 was launched by LVM-3 M5 (November 2025).
• CMS-03 (GSAT-7R):
  • ~4,400 kg.
  • Strengthens Navy’s secure communications.

Static Linkages

• PSLV – Primarily used for polar and Sun- synchronous orbits.
• GSLV – Used for Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit missions.
• LVM-3 – Heavy-lift launch vehicle.
• India is a signatory to the Outer Space Treaty (1967).
• Space sector functions under the Department of Space (DoS).

Mains Dimensions

• Indigenisation of critical technologies.
• Strategic autonomy in space infrastructure.
• Reliability challenges in high-technology missions.
• Space as a component of internal security and blue economy.
• Public accountability and transparency in strategic sectors.

Critical Analysis

• Positives
  • Transparent disclosure of technical findings.
  • Quick implementation of corrective recommendations.
  • Strengthening self-reliant navigation infrastructure.
• Concerns
  • Failure in both primary and backup systems indicates design-level vulnerability.
  • Successive mission issues may affect India’s commercial launch credibility.
  • Need for stronger quality control mechanisms.

Way Forward

• Independent mission assurance audits.
• Strengthened vendor and supply-chain certification.
• AI-based predictive diagnostics.
• Deeper private-sector quality benchmarking under IN-SPACe.
• Institutionalised post-mission transparency.

• In 2018, the Supreme Court in Indian Young Lawyers Association vs State of Kerala (2018) allowed entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala Temple.
• The judgment struck down the practice excluding women aged 10–50 years.
• Several review petitions were filed.
• A nine-judge Constitution Bench is now examining broader constitutional questions:  
  • Scope of Articles 25 & 26
  • Validity of the Essential Religious Practices (ERP) doctrine
  • Balance between religious autonomy and individual dignity

Core Constitutional Issues

• Whether Sabarimala devotees constitute a religious denomination under Article 26.
• Whether exclusion of women violates:
  • Article 14 – Equality before law
  • Article 15(1) – Non-discrimination  
  • Article 25(1) – Freedom of religion
• Scope of Article 25(2)(b) – Social reform and temple entry.
• Whether courts should determine what is an “essential religious practice”.

Essential Religious Practices (ERP) Doctrine

• Origin: 1954 Shirur Mutt case (Commissioner, Hindu Religious Endowments vs Sri Lakshmindra Thirtha Swamiar).
• Courts decide whether a practice is essential to religion.
• Criticism:
  • Judiciary acts as theological authority.
  • Inconsistent application.
  • Difficult to reconcile with secularism.

Anti-Exclusion Test

• Focus shifts from “Is it essential?” to:
  • “Does it violate dignity and equal access?”
• If a practice results in systematic exclusion affecting dignity → State/Court can intervene.
• Grounded in constitutional morality and transformative constitutionalism.

Static Constitutional Provisions Relevant

• Article 14 – Equality before law.
• Article 15(2) – Access to public spaces.  Article 21 – Dignity jurisprudence.
• Article 25 – Freedom of religion (subject to morality, health, public order, other FRs).
• Article 26 – Rights of religious denominations.
• Basic Structure Doctrine – Secularism.

Critical Analysis

• In Favour of 2018 Judgment
  • Strengthens gender justice.
  • Reinforces dignity as central constitutional value.
  • Expands scope of Article 25(2)(b) social reform.
• Concerns
  • Judicial overreach in theological matters.
  • Tension between group rights and individual rights.
  • Potential impact on denominational autonomy.

Way Forward

•  Develop a clear constitutional test balancing:
• Religious autonomy  Individual dignity
• Limit judicial theological inquiry.
• Strengthen principle of constitutional morality.
• Harmonise Articles 14, 25, and 26 through proportionality analysis.