14 March 2026

• The Supreme Court directed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to frame a no-fault compensation scheme for serious Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) during the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
• The directive came in the Rachana Gangu case, related to the 2021 deaths of two young women allegedly due to Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT) after receiving Covishield.
• Petitioners argued that India lacks a dedicated vaccine injury compensation mechanism, leaving affected families without relief.
• The Court rejected the government’s argument that victims could file civil suits against manufacturers, stating it is impractical for ordinary citizens.
• The ruling builds on Jacob Puliyel vs Union of India (2022) which upheld vaccine approvals but stressed transparency in AEFI data.

Key Points

• No-Fault Compensation System: Claimants do not need to prove negligence; only a plausible causal link with vaccination.
• AEFI: Any untoward medical occurrence following immunisation, not necessarily causally related to vaccine use.
• India’s COVID-19 Vaccination Drive:
  • Over 219 crore vaccine doses administered.
  • Around 1,100 deaths reported following vaccination (MoHFW data).
• Covishield and VITT:
  • In 2024, AstraZeneca acknowledged in a UK court document that Covishield may rarely cause VITT.
• Global Practice:
  • Countries such as USA and UK operate Vaccine Injury Compensation Programmes (VICP).
  • COVAX Facility introduced a no-fault compensation mechanism for 92 low- and middle-income countries.
• Judicial Observation: In a welfare state, absence of compensation leaves affected families in a legal vacuum.

Static Linkages

• Article 21 – Protection of life and personal liberty (includes right to health).
• Directive Principles of State Policy – Duty of the State to improve public health.
• Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) – Launched in 1985, one of the largest immunisation programmes in the world.
• AEFI Surveillance System – Multi-tier structure: District, State, and National AEFI Committees.
• Welfare State Principle – State responsibility to protect citizens in public health programmes.

Critical Analysis

• Significance
  • Strengthens state accountability in public health programmes.
  • Improves public trust in vaccination campaigns.
  • Aligns India with international vaccine safety compensation frameworks.
  • Ensures equitable relief to affected families.
• Challenges
  • Determining causality between vaccine and adverse event.
  • Potential fiscal burden on the government.
  • Risk of misinterpretation leading to vaccine hesitancy.
  • Need for robust scientific and administrative mechanisms for claim assessment.

Way Forward

• Establish a National Vaccine Injury Compensation Programme.
• Strengthen AEFI surveillance and transparent data disclosure.
• Create independent medical review panels for evaluating claims.
• Ensure time-bound compensation mechanisms.
• Integrate compensation policies in future immunisation drives (e.g., HPV vaccination).

BILL ON ‘UNLAWFUL’ CONVERSION

• The Maharashtra government introduced the Dharma Swatantrya Bill, 2026 to regulate religious conversions and prevent “unlawful” conversions.
• The Bill proposes strict penalties, prior declaration before conversion, and regulation of conversions linked to marriage.
• A new provision states that a child born from a marriage resulting from an unlawful religious conversion will be deemed to follow the religion of the mother before such marriage.
• If passed, Maharashtra will become around the 10th state with an anti-conversion law, after Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka and Rajasthan.

Key Provisions

• Definition of Unlawful Conversion
  • Conversion by allurement, fraud, coercion, misrepresentation, or undue influence.
  • Includes promise of marriage, social pressure, or inducements such as money, gifts, employment or free education.
• Prior Permission
  • Individuals intending to convert must give a 60-day prior notice to the District Magistrate.
  • Authorities may conduct an inquiry to verify that the conversion is voluntary.
• Post-Conversion Declaration
  • Both the converted person and the person conducting the ceremony must submit a declaration within 60 days.
  • District authorities will maintain an official register of conversions.
• Marriage and Conversion
  • Conversion for the purpose of marriage or under promise of marriage is treated as unlawful.
  • Courts may declare such marriages null and void.
• Child’s Religion
  • A child born from such a marriage will belong to the religion followed by the mother before marriage.
• Punishments
  • Up to 7 years imprisonment and fine up to ₹1 lakh for unlawful conversion.
  • Higher penalties if the victim is a minor, woman, SC/ST or person with unsound mind.
  • Mass conversion (two or more persons) attracts stricter punishment.
  • Repeat offenders: up to 10 years imprisonment and ₹7 lakh fine.
• Burden of Proof
  • Lies on the person conducting the conversion to prove that it was voluntary.
• Nature of Offences
  • Offences are cognizable and non-bailable.

Constitutional & Legal Linkages

• Article 25: Freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality and health.
• Public Order falls under the State List, enabling states to enact such laws.
• Rev. Stanislaus v. State of Madhya Pradesh (1977): Supreme Court held that the right to propagate religion does not include the right to convert another person by force, fraud or inducement.

Issues Analysis

• Freedom of religion vs state regulation.
• Privacy and individual choice concerns due to mandatory notice to authorities.
• Possibility of misuse against interfaith marriages.
• Ambiguity in terms like “allurement” or “undue influence”. 
• Administrative oversight vs personal liberty debate.

Way Forward

• Ensure clear legal definitions to prevent misuse.
• Balance religious freedom with protection against coercion.
• Strengthen judicial oversight in conversion disputes.
• Promote awareness of constitutional rights and voluntary religious choice.

OIL CRUNCH MAKES RUSSIA WINNER

• Escalation of conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel has disrupted energy flows in West Asia.
• Iran has effectively restricted movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil trade.
• Global crude prices surged close to $100 per barrel, rising sharply from about $73 per barrel before the conflict escalation (Feb 2026).
• The U.S. issued a temporary waiver allowing purchase of Russian oil already in transit, easing sanctions for about 30 days.
• As supply tightens, Russia is benefiting from higher prices and stronger demand for its crude.

Key Points

• Strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz
  • Around 20% of global petroleum trade passes through this narrow maritime chokepoint.
  • Major exporters dependent on this route include Saudi Arabia, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.
• US waiver on Russian oil
  • Permits countries to import Russian crude loaded before March 12, 2026.
  • Applies only to oil already on ships (“oil on water”).
  • Aim: prevent supply shortages and stabilize global prices.
• Impact on Russia
  • Russia gains from higher global oil prices.
  • Earlier discounts on Urals crude have narrowed or disappeared.
  • Estimated extra revenue around $150 million per day due to price rise and increased demand.
• Impact on India
  • India is the third-largest oil consumer globally.
  • Around 88% of India’s crude oil demand is met through imports.
  • Nearly 40–50% of India’s oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
  • India increased Russian crude imports to about 1.5 million barrels/day in early March 2026.

Static Linkages

• India maintains Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) to manage supply disruptions.
• Global oil price fluctuations influence inflation, fiscal deficit, and current account deficit.
• Maritime chokepoints such as Hormuz, Malacca, and Bab-el-Mandeb are crucial for global trade and energy security.
• Energy security is a key component of economic stability and national security.

Critical Analysis

• Advantages
  • Temporary waiver ensures short-term global energy supply stability.
  • Helps Asian refiners secure alternative crude supplies.
  • Prevents extreme oil price spikes that could worsen global inflation.
• Concerns
  • Higher oil prices increase import bill and inflation risk for India.
  • Russia’s additional revenue may strengthen its war financing capacity.
  • Prolonged disruption in Hormuz could trigger global energy crisis.
  • Geopolitical tensions increase uncertainty in energy markets.

Way Forward

• Diversify crude oil import sources beyond West Asia.
• Expand strategic petroleum reserves for emergency supply.
• Accelerate transition to renewable energy and green hydrogen.
• Strengthen energy diplomacy with multiple suppliers.
• Promote energy efficiency and alternative fuels to reduce import dependence.

OBC CREAMY LAYER: WHY SC RULED AGAINST ‘HOSTILE’

• The Supreme Court of India ruled that income alone cannot be the sole criterion for determining the creamy layer among Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
• The judgment addressed disputes arising from the 2004 clarification by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) regarding the 1993 Office Memorandum on creamy layer criteria.
• The Court held that treating children of government employees differently from those of PSU/private sector employees violates equality principles under Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution.

Key Points

• Creamy Layer Concept:
  • Refers to the socially and economically advanced section within OBCs excluded from reservation benefits.
• Origin:
  • Introduced by the Supreme Court in Indra Sawhney v. Union of India.
• Court’s Observations
  • Income cannot be the only determinant of creamy layer status.
  • Nature of parental employment and social status must also be considered.
  • Unequal treatment between government employees vs PSU/private sector employees is unconstitutional.
• Current Income Limit
  • Creamy layer income ceiling: ₹8 lakh per annum (since 2017).
• Categories Included in Creamy Layer
  • Children of constitutional post holders  Group A/Class I officers
  • Certain Group B/Class II officers  Armed Forces officers
  • Professionals, businesspersons and property owners exceeding income/wealth limits.

Static Points

• Article 14 – Equality before law.
• Article 15(4) – Special provisions for advancement of socially and educationally backward classes.
• Article 16(4) – Reservation in public employment for backward classes.
• Article 340 – Appointment of a commission to investigate conditions of backward classes.
• Mandal Commission (1979) recommended 27% reservation for OBCs in central government services.
• Indra Sawhney Judgment (1992):
  • Introduced creamy layer exclusion.  
  • Upheld 27% OBC reservation.
  • Fixed 50% ceiling on total reservations (with later exceptions).

Prelims Focus

• Creamy layer applies only to OBC reservations, not to SC/ST reservations.
• Income threshold presently ₹8 lakh annually.
• Salary income and agricultural income treatment has been debated in policy interpretations.

Mains Focus

• Significance of the Judgment
• Ensures equitable distribution of reservation benefits within OBCs.
• Prevents dominant groups within OBCs from monopolising quotas.
• Reinforces constitutional equality principles.

Issues

• Difficulty in assessing equivalence of private sector positions with government posts.
• Debate over appropriate income limit for creamy layer. 
• Lack of updated socio-economic data on OBCs.

Way Forward

• Periodic revision of creamy layer income limit based on economic conditions.
• Develop clear equivalence criteria for PSU and private sector posts.
• Use multi-dimensional indicators (education, occupation, social status) rather than only income.
• Strengthen data collection on backward class socio- economic conditions.

• Escalation of geopolitical tensions in West Asia and Iran’s disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has raised concerns over global energy supplies.
• India imports a large share of its LPG requirements, and a significant portion of these imports passes through this strategic chokepoint.
• The issue has implications for India’s clean cooking fuel programme, especially the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), which aims to expand LPG access among poor households.
• Supply disruptions or price increases could push vulnerable households back to biomass fuels, increasing health and environmental risks.

Key Points

• PMUY Launch: 2016, by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
• Objective: Provide clean cooking fuel (LPG) to poor households, especially women.
• Coverage: Over 9 crore LPG connections released under PMUY (PIB).
• Energy Import Dependence: India imports around 60% of LPG demand.
• Strategic Risk: Around 90% of India’s LPG imports transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Health Impact: Biomass burning causes indoor air pollution leading to respiratory diseases (WHO estimates millions of deaths globally).
• Social Dimension: Access to LPG is lower among SC/ST households and rural populations due to affordability and distribution challenges.
• Gender Dimension: Women and girls face higher exposure to indoor air pollution due to cooking responsibilities.

Static Linkages

• Energy Security: Availability, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of energy resources.
• Indoor Air Pollution: Major contributor to diseases like COPD and lung infections.
• Energy Ladder Theory: Transition from traditional fuels (wood, dung) to modern fuels (LPG, electricity) with rising income.
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-7): Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Used for LPG subsidy to reduce leakages.

Critical Analysis

• Benefits
  • Reduces indoor air pollution and improves health outcomes.
  • Saves time for women previously spent collecting firewood.
  • Enhances women’s productivity and economic participation.
  • Supports environmental protection by reducing biomass burning.
• Challenges
  • High LPG refill costs reduce sustained adoption among poor households.
  • Heavy dependence on imports exposes India to geopolitical disruptions.
  • Distribution challenges in remote rural areas.
  • Social and gender norms affect fuel decision-making in households.

Way Forward

• Ensure targeted LPG subsidies for poor households.
• Strengthen domestic LPG storage and strategic reserves.
• Promote alternative clean fuels such as biogas and electric cooking.
• Improve rural LPG distribution infrastructure.
• Integrate gender-sensitive energy policies.