Current Affairs – February 21, 2026

{GS2 – Polity} Diversity in the Indian Judiciary **

Context (TH): A recently introduced private member’s Bill seeks to amend the Constitution to enable judicial diversity and establish regional Supreme Court benches.

Judicial diversity entails the representation of various social, gender, and regional groups within the court system to enhance the legitimacy of legal interpretations.

Current Status of Representation in the Indian Judiciary

Gender Disparity: The Supreme Court has only one woman judge (Justice B.V. Nagarathna), and women constitute roughly 13-14% of High Court judges nationwide.
Caste Dominance: Almost 77% of High Court appointees since 2018 are from general/upper castes.
Marginalised Communities: OBCs secured about 12% of higher court appointments during this period, while SCs and STs made up roughly 3% and 2% respectively.
Religious Minorities: In recent years, religious minorities have represented approximately 5% of judges appointed to the higher judiciary.

Need for Diversity in the Judiciary

Jurisprudential Enrichment: Judges from diverse backgrounds enable more empathetic judgments in gender justice and discrimination cases.
Institutional Legitimacy: A judiciary that reflects demographic realities strengthens public confidence in constitutional adjudication.
Constitutional Morality: An inclusive composition operationalises equality principles under Articles 14 and 15 within the institutional structure.
Historical Redress: Adequate representation corrects the historical exclusion of marginalised communities from legal decision-making.
Role-Model Effect: Diversity in apex courts inspires first-generation lawyers and breaks the “glass ceiling” in a male-dominated profession.

Constitutional and Legal Framework

Constitutional Provisions: Article 124 and Article 217 govern appointments to the Supreme Court and High Courts, respectively, but neither mandate demographic reservations.
Procedural Guidelines: The Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) guides executive-judiciary appointments, but Union Government requests for diversity are strictly advisory.
State Innovations: State Governments and High Courts oversee district judiciary appointments (Article 233), enabling states like Goa and Rajasthan to implement affirmative action.
Legal Aid: The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, makes nearly 80% eligible for aid, yet limited bench diversity perpetuates socio-cultural gaps.

Systemic Challenges and Barriers to Diversity

Leaking Pipeline: Women leave mid-career due to caregiving burdens and inadequate institutional support, limiting eligibility for higher courts.
Collegium Opacity: The absence of demographic guidelines and public disclosure perpetuates elite networks in judicial appointments.
Informal Elitism: Nepotism and entrenched patriarchal norms subject women and first-generation practitioners to systemic bias.
Absence of Quotas: Higher judiciary lacks a reservation framework, unlike many subordinate courts.
Infrastructure Deficit: Inadequate facilities, such as creches and safe retiring rooms, hinder women’s sustained participation.
Eligibility Constraints: A seven-year practice requirement and a 35–45 age bracket disadvantage women candidates for higher judicial recruitment.

Way Forward

Diversity Metrics: Amend the MoP to include measurable diversity targets and mandatory demographic audits for all judicial appointments.
Standardised Recruitment: Establish the All-India Judicial Service (AIJS) under Article 312 to standardise recruitment and broaden socio-economic representation.
Collegium Reform: Introduce transparency by disclosing the demographic rationale or consider restructuring the judicial commission.
Infrastructure Upgrades: Allocate dedicated funds for gender-friendly court facilities and mandate ongoing anti-bias training.
Mentorship Programmes: High Courts and Bar Associations should institutionalise mentorship for SC, ST, OBC, and women lawyers.
Regional Benches: Establish Regional Benches (Article 130) to democratise appellate practice and broaden career progression pathways.

Read More > Judicial Reforms in India

{GS2 – Polity} Privileges Committee

Context (IE): A breach of privilege notice led to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra being summoned before the Maharashtra Legislative Council’s Privileges Committee.

About Privileges Committee

Nature: The Privileges Committee is a parliamentary body responsible for examining cases involving alleged breach of privilege or contempt of the House.
Primary Function: It evaluates whether specific actions have violated the rights, immunities, or authority of the House, its members, or its committees.

Composition of the Committee

Composition (Lok Sabha): Consists of 15 members nominated by the Speaker. The Committee is headed by a chairperson appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Composition (Rajya Sabha): Comprises 10 members nominated by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Traditionally, it is headed by the Deputy Chairman of the RS, ensuring procedural neutrality.
State Legislatures: The Privileges Committee is nominated by the Speaker in the Legislative Assembly and by the Chairman in the Legislative Council, as per the respective House Rules of Procedure. The exact member strength varies across States depending on House rules,

Power and Functions of the Privileges Committee

Investigative Role: The Committee may summon individuals, call for documents, record statements, and conduct detailed fact-finding inquiries.
Recommendatory Authority: The Committee cannot directly impose punishment but submits recommendations to the House for final decision.
Procedure Guidance: Reports often specify the procedural steps the House should adopt to implement the Committee’s recommendations.
Quasi-Judicial Character: Functions with elements of fairness, including providing concerned parties an opportunity to present their case.
Role in Defection Matters: May conduct preliminary inquiries into defection-related petitions if such matters are referred by the Presiding Officer.

About Parliamentary Privileges

Meaning: Parliamentary privileges refer to special rights, immunities, and exemptions enjoyed by the two Houses of Parliament and State Legislatures to ensure independent legislative functioning.
Origin: Parliamentary privileges in India trace their roots to the Charter Act, 1833, and were subsequently strengthened under the Government of India Act, 1935.
Constitutional Basis: These privileges are provided under Article 105 of the Indian Constitution for Parliament and under Article 194 for State Legislatures.
Core Objective: The primary purpose is to safeguard legislative autonomy, protect the dignity of the House, and enable members to discharge duties without external pressure or intimidation.
Uncodified Framework: Parliament has not enacted a comprehensive law codifying privileges, resulting in reliance on multiple legal and conventional sources.
Sources of Privileges: Derived from constitutional provisions, statutory laws, rules of procedure, parliamentary conventions, and judicial interpretations.
Institutional Focus: Privileges are designed to protect the institution of Parliament collectively rather than to grant personal advantages to individual members.

{GS2 – Governance} Supreme Court Slams Freebies Culture in Indian Politics **

Context (TH): The Supreme Court criticised the indiscriminate distribution of election-linked freebies, emphasising development spending and targeted welfare schemes.

It warned that universal handouts weaken labour participation and undermine productivity culture.

About Freebies

Freebies are short-term populist measures aimed at electoral gains, lacking long-term structural economic support. RBI categorises them as non-merit goods.
Welfare vs. Freebies: Welfare schemes invest structurally in human capital, contrasting sharply with temporary, non-merit consumer subsidies.

Constitutional–Legal Framework

Balaji Precedent: In S. Subramaniam Balaji vs. State of Tamil Nadu, the Court excluded manifesto promises from “corrupt practice” under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
DPSP: Articles 38 and Article 39 of the Constitution mandate social welfare and inequality reduction, providing a defence for various redistribution schemes.
Spending Autonomy: Article 282 permits public purpose expenditure alongside the deficit ceilings mandated by the FRBM Act.

Arguments in Favour of Freebies

Safety Net: Subsidised food, housing, and cash transfers prevent extreme poverty and distress, enhancing health and productivity.
Capability Expansion: Targeted support enhances access to education and female mobility, aligning with Amartya Sen’s capability approach.
Demand Boost: Direct transfers increase the disposable income and may stimulate economic growth through a multiplier effect.
Market Correction: State relief cushions agrarian distress and jobless growth in sectors where markets fail to generate employment.
Equity Fulfilment: Redistribution advances the constitutional goal of social justice in historically disadvantaged regions.

Arguments Against Freebies

Fiscal Stress: Indiscriminate subsidies widen deficits, increase debt-to-GDP ratios, and heighten credit risks for States.
Capex Crowding: High consumption spending crowds out crucial investments in infrastructure, technology, and long-term asset creation.
Electoral Distortion: Pre-poll competitive populism undermines informed voter choice and distorts fair democratic competition.
Resource Mispricing: Free electricity in Punjab led to groundwater depletion and DISCOM losses, as highlighted by the CAG report.
Credit Erosion: Blanket loan waivers weaken financial repayment discipline and distort institutional lending norms.

Way Forward

Fiscal Council: Establish an independent Fiscal Council to publicly assess the feasibility of manifestos before elections.
RPA Reform: Debate amending Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to include electoral accountability.
Sunset Clause: Mandate time-bound subsidies with periodic audits to prevent permanent fiscal burdens.
Voter Literacy: Promote fiscal literacy to help citizens recognise the long-term inflationary and tax implications of freebies.

Read More > Freebies Culture in Indian Politics

{GS2 – IR} USA Withdraws ALARA Radiation Safety Rule

Context (TH): The U.S. Department of Energy eliminated the ALARA principle from its regulatory framework to reform its radiation safety regulations governing nuclear operations.

Policy Reorientation: The move signals a shift from the LNT-based precautionary framework towards a radiation regime recalibrated to support the deployment of advanced nuclear technology.

Linear No-Threshold (LNT) Model

The LNT model is a risk-assessment framework stating that any exposure to ionising radiation proportionally increases the risk of adverse health effects.
Threshold Principle: It assumes that no biologically safe threshold exists below which radiation exposure can be considered completely harmless.
Linear Relation: Cancer probability increases in a direct, linear relationship as radiation dose rises.
Effect Scope: The model applies primarily to stochastic effects, where occurrence probability increases with dose, but severity remains unchanged.

ALARA (As Low as Reasonably Achievable)

ALARA is an operational safety philosophy that requires radiation exposure to be kept as low as reasonably achievable.
Core Pillars: It functions as one of three principles of the ICRP system, alongside Justification (benefits must outweigh risks) and Dose Limitation (staying below legal caps).
Practical Execution: The principle is implemented through three protective measures – reducing exposure time, increasing distance from the source, and using effective shielding.
Precautionary Mandate: Radiation must remain well below prescribed legal limits rather than merely complying with them.
Feasibility Constraint: The term “reasonably” ensures that optimising protection remains economically and practically justified.

International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)

The ICRP is an independent international non-governmental body that issues authoritative recommendations on ionising radiation protection.
Regulatory Domains: Its guidance covers three exposure categories – (1) occupational, (2) medical, and (2) public exposure.
Institutional Hub: The Commission is registered in the United Kingdom, while its Scientific Secretariat operates from Ottawa, Canada.
Membership Selection: Members are selected for their scientific expertise and serve in a personal capacity rather than as national representatives.
Framework Update: The Commission is revising its 2007 recommendations to address scientific uncertainties regarding low-dose radiation exposure.

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is India’s national regulator for nuclear & radiation safety.

Read More> Nuclear Energy

{Prelims – MoCA} Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

Context (ET): The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) proposed authorising airlines to impose an immediate 30-day ban on flying for disruptive passengers.

This proposal bypasses the mandatory approval of an independent committee (took up to 45 days).
The DGCA is the primary regulatory body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, responsible for overseeing aviation safety and air regulations.
It functions as a statutory body under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024.
It serves as India’s nodal agency for coordinating with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to ensure global safety compliance.
Licensing: The body issues and renews mandatory licences for commercial pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, and air traffic controllers.
Safety Enforcement: It sets airworthiness standards, issues operational certificates, and conducts safety audits to enforce Civil Aviation Requirements.
Digital Governance: It uses the e-GCA digital platform to streamline administrative processes and improve transparency in domestic aviation.

Read More > India’s Aviation Sector

{Prelims – Infra} NHAI to Discontinue Cash Payments in Toll Plazas

Context (PIB): The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to discontinue cash transactions at all National Highway Toll (fee) plazas from April 1, 2026.

Mandatory Digitalisation: Toll payments will be accepted exclusively through FASTag and UPI.
Objective: The transition will improve the Ease of Commuting by reducing waiting times and fuel waste across 1,150 fee plazas.
Adoption Rate: Current data shows that FASTag penetration has already exceeded 98%, providing a stable foundation for a 100% digital mandate.
Future Infrastructure: This move facilitates the transition to the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system with barrier-free tolling, powered by AI cameras.

{Prelims – S&T} Drogue Parachutes Test for Gaganyaan Mission *

Context (TOI): The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a qualification load test of the drogue parachute for the Gaganyaan mission.

The test confirms India’s capability to design and manufacture high-strength ribbon parachutes for safe descent and crew-module recovery.

About Gaganyaan Mission

It is India’s first human spaceflight programme, led by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Objective: To send a crew to a 400 km low-Earth orbit (LEO) for a three-day operation.
Safe Recovery: It plans to demonstrate indigenous capability by returning the crew safely through a controlled splashdown in Indian waters.
Launch Vehicle: The programme utilises the Human-Rated LVM3, an upgraded variant of India’s heavy-lift launch vehicle, the LVM3 (formerly GSLV Mk III).
Significance: A successful execution of this mission will make India the fourth country in the world to achieve independent human spaceflight capability.

{Prelims – Species} Spinosaurus mirabilis *

Context (LM): Scientists discovered a new Spinosaurus (‘spine lizard’) species, Spinosaurus mirabilis, at Jenguebi in the central Sahara Desert of Niger.
Taxonomic Significance: It represents the second known species of the genus Spinosaurus, following the 1915 discovery of Spinosaurus aegyptiacus in Egypt.
Evolutionary Timeline: This species lived approximately 95 million years ago in inland riparian ecosystems during the Late Cretaceous period.
Morphological Feature: A 20-inch, scimitar-shaped head crest likely functioned as a colourful “beacon” for socio-sexual signalling and territorial displays.
Ecological Niche: This dinosaur acted as a wading predator, standing in shallow water to ambush prey, much like a modern-day giant heron.
Specialised Dentition: Interlocking, interdigitating teeth formed a “fish trap” to help it secure slippery aquatic prey.