21 February 2026

• The Supreme Court of India intervened in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
• The dispute arose between the State government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) over personnel deployment and procedural issues.
• The Court directed the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to deploy serving/retired District Judges to perform quasi-judicial functions of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).
• The intervention was termed “extraordinary” due to a stalemate affecting the timely completion of electoral roll revision.

Key Constitutional & Legal Provisions

• Article 324 – Superintendence, direction and control of elections vested in ECI.
• Articles 325–326 – No exclusion from electoral roll on discriminatory grounds; universal adult suffrage.
• Representation of the People Act, 1950 – Preparation and revision of electoral rolls.
• Representation of the People Act, 1951 – Conduct of elections.
• Right to Vote – Statutory right (not a Fundamental Right).
• Free and Fair Elections – Part of Basic Structure (Indira Nehru Gandhi case, 1975).

Institutional & Governance Dimensions

• Tension between two constitutional functionaries (State Executive & ECI).
• Judicial intervention to ensure timely electoral process.
• Questions regarding:
  • Separation of powers
  • Judicial overreach vs judicial review  
  • Institutional trust deficit
  • Autonomy of constitutional bodies

Importance for Exam

• Prelims
  • Constitutional Articles related to elections.
  • Difference between statutory and fundamental rights.
  • Role and powers of ECI.
  • Quasi-judicial authorities.
• GS Paper 2
  • Constitutional bodies: powers, functions and limitations.
  • Government policies & interventions.  Separation of powers.
  • Electoral reforms.
• GS Paper 4
  • Constitutional morality.  
  • Institutional integrity.
  • Ethical governance.

Critical Analysis

• Positives
  • Safeguards free and fair elections.
  • Ensures time-bound completion of electoral revision.
  • Strengthens public confidence in electoral processes.
• Concerns
  • Possible blurring of separation of powers.
  • Judicial officers diverted from regular judicial work.
  • Precedent of judiciary entering administrative space.

Way Forward

• Strengthen ECI’s independent secretariat.
• Clear statutory mechanism for dispute resolution in roll revision.
• Better coordination protocols between ECI and State governments.
• Greater digitization and verification safeguards.

INDIA JOINS U.S. TECH ALLIANCE

• India joined the Pax Silica group during the AI Impact Summit.
• The declaration was signed by Union Minister for Electronics and IT and the U.S. Undersecretary of State.
• Pax Silica includes the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union.
• Objective: Build resilient supply chains for electronics, semiconductors, and critical minerals.
• Background: Growing global concern over excessive dependence on China for rare earth processing and electronics value chains.

Key Points

• Focus areas:
  • Semiconductor manufacturing  
  • Rare earth elements (REEs)
  • Critical minerals
  • Trusted electronics ecosystem  
• China accounts for:
  • ~60–70% of global rare earth processing (USGS data).
  • Dominant share in battery-grade lithium refining (IEA estimates).
• India initiatives linked:
  • India Semiconductor Mission (₹76,000 crore package).
  • Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for electronics.
  • National Mineral Policy, 2019.  Critical Minerals List (2023).

Static Linkages

• Union List Entry 41: Trade and commerce with foreign countries.
• National Mineral Policy, 2019 – Strategic and critical minerals.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat – Supply chain resilience.
• Make in India – Electronics manufacturing push.
• Rare Earth Elements:
  • Used in defence systems, EVs, wind turbines, semiconductors.
  • Found in monazite sands (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha).

Critical Analysis

• Significance
  • Reduces “weaponised interdependence”.
  • Enhances India’s semiconductor and electronics ecosystem.
  • Strengthens strategic alignment with democratic economies.
  • Supports supply chain diversification (“friend- shoring”).
• Concerns
  • India lacks advanced semiconductor fabrication capacity.
  • Environmental risks from mineral extraction.  
  • High capital and technological barriers.
  • Possible geopolitical tensions with China.

Way Forward

• Accelerate semiconductor fab implementation.
• Promote rare earth recycling and processing capacity.
• Increase R&D investment in chip design and materials science.
• Integrate Pax Silica strategy with Indo-Pacific policy.
• Ensure sustainable mining practices.

GEN Z SHAPES DEMOCRACY

• Recent regime-challenging youth-led protests in Bangladesh (2024) and Nepal (2025) have drawn global attention.
• These protests were largely spearheaded by Generation Z (born 1997–2012).
• Issues mobilised around:
  • Corruption
  • Institutional accountability  
  • Transparency in governance
• Globally, democracies have been witnessing signs of democratic backsliding (as noted in reports such as Freedom House and V-Dem indices).
• Compared with earlier mass movements like:
  • Occupy Wall Street (2011)
  • Arab Spring (2010–12)
  • Brazilian Spring (2013)
• The new protests are:
  • More decentralised  Leaderless
  • Digitally mobilised
  • Episodic but high-impact

Key Points

• Gen Z protests are:
  • Technology-driven
  • Platform-centric (social media mobilisation)
  • Less ideologically structured  Leaderless and decentralised
• Characterised by:
  • Radical individualism
  • Reduced prejudice (caste/religion)
  • Strong assertion of personal dignity
  • Episodic mobilisation rather than sustained agitation
• Reflect:
  • Economic precarity (high youth unemployment — Periodic Labour Force Survey data)
  • Rising mental health concerns (National Mental Health Survey)
  • Frustration with toxic institutional cultures
• Market and technology act as:
  • Social equalisers  Identity shapers
• Risk:
  • Digital echo chambers  Hyper-nationalism
  • Fragmented civic engagement

Static Linkages

•  Democracy: Defined in NCERT as government by consent and participation.
• Article 19(1)(a) & 19(1)(b) – Freedom of speech and peaceful assembly.
• Basic Structure Doctrine – Democracy and rule of law are part of basic structure.
• Directive Principles (Art. 38, 39) – Promote social justice and reduce inequality.
• 73rd & 74th Amendments – Grassroots democratic participation.
• Economic Survey – Youth demographic dividend.
• Second ARC Report on Ethics in Governance – Transparency and accountability.
• Right to Information Act, 2005 – Institutional accountability mechanism.
• Digital India Mission – Technology-enabled governance.

Critical Analysis

• Positive Dimensions
  • Revitalisation of democratic participation.
  • Greater demand for transparency and accountability.
  • Reduced caste/religious prejudice.
  • Digital literacy enhancing information access.
  • Assertion of dignity and rights.
• Concerns
  • Lack of sustained leadership.
  • Episodic and short-lived mobilisation.
  • Weak structural understanding of systemic inequality.
  • Susceptibility to misinformation.
  • Hyper-nationalistic digital mobilisation.
  • Economic insecurity leading to political volatility.
• Stakeholders
  • Youth population (India: ~65% below 35 years – Census/Economic Survey).
  • Governments and policymakers.  
  • Civil society organisations.
  • Digital platforms.
  • Judiciary (protector of civil liberties).

Way Forward

• Strengthen civic education in schools and universities.
• Promote institutionalised youth participation (e.g., youth councils).
• Improve employment generation (Skill India, Startup India).
• Enhance digital literacy to counter misinformation.
• Strengthen mental health support systems.
• Encourage structured dialogue platforms between youth and government.
• Reform political party internal democracy to attract youth leadership.
• Strengthen local self-governance participation mechanisms.

BHASHA IN MULTILINGUAL INDIA

• 21 February observed as International Mother Language Day by UNESCO.
• UNESCO’s State of the Education Report for India 2025 (7th Edition) titled “Bhasha Matters: Mother Tongue and Multilingual Education” highlights status and roadmap for MTB-MLE in India.
• Census 2011:
  • 1,300+ mother tongues reported.
  • 121 languages spoken by more than 10,000 persons.
  • 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule.
• NCERT (2022): ~44% of children begin schooling in a language different from their home language.
• National Education Policy (NEP 2020) recommends mother tongue/local language as medium of instruction at least till Grade 5 (preferably Grade 8).

Key Points

• Global Data (UNESCO):
  • Over 250 million learners lack access to education in a language they fully understand.
• Educational Implications:
  • Language mismatch → weak foundational literacy & numeracy (FLN).
  • Higher dropout rates and learning poverty.
• Constitutional Backing:
  • Article 350A – Facilities for instruction in mother tongue at primary stage for linguistic minorities.
  • Articles 29 & 30 – Cultural and educational rights of minorities.
  • Eighth Schedule – 22 recognized languages.
• Policy Framework:
  • NEP 2020 – Multilingualism as pedagogical principle.
  • National Curriculum Framework (2022, 2023) aligns with multilingual education.
• Digital Initiatives:
  • DIKSHA
  • BHASHINI
  •  PM eVIDYA
  • AI-based language tools (AI4Bharat etc.)
• State Example:
  • Odisha’s MLE programme covers 21 tribal languages across 17 districts (~90,000 students).

Static Linkages

• Fundamental Rights – Articles 14, 21A (Right to Education).
• Directive Principles – Article 46 (Promotion of educational interests of weaker sections).
• Three-Language Formula (1968, revised in NEP 2020).
• Census methodology for linguistic classification. 
• Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat Mission).
• Cultural pluralism and unity in diversity (Indian Society).

Critical Analysis

• Advantages
  • Improves learning outcomes in early grades.  Reduces dropout rates.
  • Protects linguistic diversity and indigenous knowledge.
  • Promotes equity and inclusion.
  • Strengthens national integration through respect for diversity.
• Challenges
  • Shortage of trained multilingual teachers.
  • Lack of standardized multilingual textbooks.  
  • Political sensitivities around language.
  • Financial constraints in resource-poor states.
  • Balancing global competitiveness (English proficiency) with local language promotion.

Way Forward

• Formulate clear State-level Language-in- Education Policies.
• Establish National Mission for MTB-MLE.
• Strengthen teacher recruitment & multilingual pedagogy training.
• Invest in AI-driven translation and content creation (BHASHINI).
• Community participation in preserving tribal/indigenous languages.

• The Government of Tamil Nadu constituted a High-Level Committee on Union–State relations.
• Chaired by former Supreme Court Judge Justice Kurian Joseph.
• The Committee examined:
  • Increasing centralisation of powers.  Weakening of federal democracy.
  • Need for a “structural reset” in Indian federalism.
• The report draws upon:
  • Constituent Assembly Debates.  Reports of:
  • Sarkaria Commission
  • Punchhi Commission
  • Rajamannar Committee
• It critiques recent governance trends that allegedly reduce the autonomy of States.

Key Constitutional and Governance Issues

1. Tilt Towards Centralisation in the Constitution

• Article 1: India described as “Union of States”.
• Residuary powers vested in Union (Article 248).
• Article 3: Parliament can alter State boundaries.
• Strong emergency provisions (Part XVIII).  Many constitutional amendments do not require State ratification (Article 368).

2. Reorganisation of States

• 2019 reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.
• Raised questions about:
  • Extent of Parliament’s power under Article 3.
  • Consent vs consultation of State Legislature.

3. Fiscal Federalism Concerns

• 101st Constitutional Amendment introduced GST.
• Created GST Council (Article 279A).
• Implementation of Goods and Services Tax:  
  • Subsumed several State taxes.
  • Increased indirect tax harmonisation.  
  • Vertical fiscal imbalance persists (Finance Commission reports).
• GST compensation issue during COVID period highlighted dependency concerns.

4. Role of Governor

• Article 163 & 200:
  • Discretionary powers.
  • Power to reserve Bills for President.
• Allegations of:
  • Delay in assent to State Bills.
  • Political interference in State governance.

5. Delimitation Debate

• Freeze on delimitation extended till 2026 (84th Constitutional Amendment).
• Post-2026 delimitation may:
• Alter Lok Sabha seat distribution.
• Impact States that achieved population control.

6. Sectoral Centralisation

• 42nd Constitutional Amendment shifted education to Concurrent List.
• Expansion of Centrally Sponsored Schemes in:  
  • Health 
  • Education
  • Social welfare sectors

Static Constitutional Linkages

•  Article 246 – Distribution of legislative powers.  Seventh Schedule – Union, State & Concurrent Lists.
• Article 249 – Parliament’s power in national interest.
• Article 356 – President’s Rule.
• Article 263 – Inter-State Council.
• Article 280 – Finance Commission.
• Basic Structure Doctrine – Federalism recognised in Kesavananda Bharati (1973).
• S.R. Bommai (1994) – Judicial limits on Article 356 misuse.

Analytical Dimensions for Mains

• Why India Adopted a Strong Centre
  • Partition and national integration.  
  • Integration of princely States.
  • Security and territorial integrity concerns.
  • Centralised economic planning model post- independence.
• Concerns About Excessive Centralisation  
  • Reduced fiscal autonomy of States.
  • Weakening of cooperative federalism.  Political misuse of Governor’s office.
  • Demographic imbalance in representation.
  • Overuse of Concurrent List for Union expansion.
• Arguments Supporting Centralisation  
  • National market integration (GST).  Uniform regulatory standards.
  • Coordinated disaster response (e.g., pandemic).
  • National security imperatives.
• Governance & Constitutional Implications  Balance between:
  • Cooperative federalism.  Competitive federalism.
  • Need to:
    • Strengthen Inter-State Council.
    •  Reform GST Council voting dynamics.
    • Clarify Governor’s discretionary powers.
    • Ensure equitable delimitation formula.
• Judicial oversight remains critical to preserving federal balance.