📰 Current Affairs

Article 262 of the Indian Constitution deal with the adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-state rivers or river valleys.

The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act was enacted by Parliament in 1956 under Article 262.

The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) was constituted on June 2, 1990.

In February 2018, the Supreme Court reduced Tamil Nadu's share from 192 TMC ft to 177.25 TMC ft at the Biligundlu gauging station.

The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) were constituted in June 2018.

Part XIV (Articles 315 to 323) of the Indian Constitution deals with Public Service Commissions for the Union and States.

Under Article 316, the Chairman and members of UPSC are appointed by the President, whereas SPSC members are appointed by the Governor.

SPSC members hold office for a term of 6 years or until age 62, raised from 60 by the 41st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.

Article 317 states that SPSC and UPSC members can be removed only by the President following a Supreme Court inquiry under Article 145.

Madras Service Commission, established in 1929, was the first Provincial Public Service Commission in India, later renamed TNPSC.

Under Article 323, UPSC submits its annual performance report to the President, while SPSC submits its report to the State Governor.

Joint State Public Service Commission (JSPSC) can be created by an Act of Parliament on request of concerned State Legislatures.

Under Seventh Schedule List I Entry 41 of the Constitution, Trade and Commerce with foreign countries is an exclusive subject of Parliament.

Article 253 empowers Parliament to make laws for the entire country to implement any treaty or agreement with foreign nations.

India established the Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) program in 2004 under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) was created as a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Oil Industry Development Board in 2004.

Phase I Strategic Petroleum Reserve locations in India are Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur.

International Energy Agency (IEA) recommends member countries maintain emergency oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net imports.

The Petroleum Act was enacted in 1934 to regulate the import, transport, and storage of petroleum in India.

Part XIV-A of the Indian Constitution deals with Tribunals and was inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976.

Article 323A empowers Parliament to establish Administrative Tribunals for disputes concerning public services.

Article 323B empowers Parliament and State Legislatures to establish tribunals for matters like taxation, foreign exchange, and land reforms.

The Swaran Singh Committee (1976) recommended the incorporation of tribunals into the Indian Constitution.

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) was originally enacted in 1976 and substantially amended in 2010 and 2020.

Article 85 of the Constitution empowers the President to summon each House of Parliament at such time and place as deemed fit.

The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Parliament was accorded statutory recognition under the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched in April 2016 by NPCI.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was established in 2008 under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

Article 265 of the Indian Constitution mandates that no tax shall be levied or collected except by authority of law.

Money Bills are defined and introduced in Lok Sabha under Article 110 of the Constitution.

Digital India Programme was launched on July 1, 2015 to transform India into a digitally empowered economy.

Article 117 of the Constitution contains special provisions regarding Financial Bills in Parliament.

The original Bankers' Books Evidence Act was enacted in 1891 during British rule.

The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 was recently replaced by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.

Admissibility of electronic records was previously governed under Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

Legal recognition for electronic records and digital signatures was first established by the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Article 107 of the Constitution deals with the introduction and passing of Bills in Parliament.

The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935 under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

Article 324 provides for the superintendence, direction, and control of elections to be vested in the Election Commission of India.

Articles 324 to 329 in Part XV of the Indian Constitution deal with electoral matters and the Election Commission.

The Election Commission was converted into a multi-member body in October 1989 and made permanently multi-member from October 1993.

In the landmark Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023) case, the Supreme Court mandated a selection panel including the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, and Chief Justice of India.

The 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988 reduced the voting age in India from 21 to 18 years, taking effect in 1989.

Sukumar Sen served as the first Chief Election Commissioner of Independent India from 1950 to 1958.

Gyanesh Kumar assumed office as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India in February 2025.

The Justice P. Kalaiyarasan Commission was constituted in March 2020 to assess the low enrolment rate of government school students in medical colleges.

The Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Courses in Medicine, Dentistry, Indian Medicine and Homeopathy on Preferential Basis Act was passed in October 2020.

The 7.5% quota operates as horizontal reservation across all communal reservation categories including BC, MBC, SC, and ST.

Article 15(4) of the Indian Constitution empowers the State to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes.

The M. Anandakrishnan Committee (2006) recommended the abolition of Professional College Entrance Examinations in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu enacted the Tamil Nadu Abolition of Entrance Examinations for Admission to Professional Educational Institutions Act in 2007.

Rule 110 of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Rules empowers Ministers to make statements on matters of public importance without a motion.

Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) was established in 1972 to manage paddy procurement through Direct Procurement Centres (DPCs).

Minimum Support Price (MSP) is recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and approved by CCEA.

Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane is statutorily fixed under the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966.

According to the Tamil Nadu Economic Survey, Mayiladuthurai is the top paddy producing district in the state.

According to the Tamil Nadu Economic Survey, Kallakurichi is the leading sugarcane producing district in Tamil Nadu.

'Tamil Thai Vazhthu' was written by Manonmaniam P. Sundaram Pillai from his famous drama 'Manonmaniam' published in 1891.

The song was tuned to music by prominent music director M.S. Viswanathan.

The Government of Tamil Nadu declared 'Tamil Thai Vazhthu' as the official state song on June 17, 1970 under Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

In December 2021, the Government of Tamil Nadu formally notified 'Tamil Thai Vazhthu' as the State Song with mandatory standing protocol.

Article 347 of the Indian Constitution provides special provisions relating to language spoken by a section of the population of a State.

Article 293(3) of the Indian Constitution mandates state governments to obtain Union approval before raising loans if previous central loans remain outstanding.

The National Pension System (NPS) was introduced for central government employees joining service on or after January 1, 2004, replacing the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).

Tamil Nadu adopted the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for state government employees recruited on or after April 1, 2003.

Article 292 empowers the Union government to borrow money on the security of the Consolidated Fund of India, while Article 293 governs state borrowing powers.

Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act 2003 sets borrowing limits and fiscal deficit targets for Central and State governments.

Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) was approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2024 to assure 50% of basic pay as pension for central employees with 25 years of service.

Article 110 of the Indian Constitution defines a Money Bill.

Money Bills and Financial Bills Type I can be introduced only in Lok Sabha under Article 109 and Article 117(1).

Rajya Sabha cannot reject or amend a Money Bill; it can only return it with recommendations within 14 days.

The decision whether a bill is a Money Bill or not rests solely with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched in April 2016 by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

NPCI was established in 2008 under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 as an initiative of RBI and IBA.