Transgender Persons Amendment Bill 2026

For Prelims: Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, Supreme Court, National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India, 2014, Transgender, National Council for Transgender Persons, Ayushman Bharat, World Bank, GDP.

For Mains: Key changes proposed in the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 and associated concerns, Key provisions of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, Steps needed to empower transgender persons in the future. 

Source: IE 

Why in News? 

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has introduced the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, that proposes major changes to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. 

• Transgender activists fear the amendments aim to rewrite the legal framework for transgender rights in India, overriding the Supreme Court’s landmark National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India, 2014  judgment. 

Summary 

• The Transgender Persons (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposes to replace the right to self-identification with a medical certification process, contradicting the NALSA judgment (2014).  
• While introducing stricter punishments for crimes, it narrows the definition of transgender persons.  
• This has raised concerns about clinical gatekeeping and the exclusion of gender-fluid individuals. 

What are the Key Changes Proposed in the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026? 

• Abolition of Self-Identification: The 2026 Bill removes Section 4(2) of the 2019 Act, which enshrined the right to self-identify as a transgender person. The government argues the original definition was "vague" and made it difficult to identify the "genuinely oppressed" beneficiaries. 
  • The government is also of the view that the existing definition renders numerous criminal, civil, and personal laws "unworkable" and is "not compatible" with various statutory provisions. The legislation’s intended purpose was never to protect every class of persons with diverse gender identities, self-perceived sex/gender identities, or gender fluidities. 
  • Narrower Definition: The definition of a 'transgender person' is significantly narrowed. It primarily recognizes those with specific socio-cultural identities (like kinner, hijra, aravani and jogta) or persons with a specified, medicalised list of congenital biological variations (chromosomal patterns, gonadal development, etc). 
• Name Change: It proposes that transgender persons can change their first names on birth certificates and ID documents. However, for this, individuals must meet the newly proposed statutory definition of a "transgender person". 
• Introduction of Medical Certification: It replaces the administrative process for identity cards with a Medical Board (headed by a Chief Medical Officer). This board's recommendation is now mandatory for the District Magistrate to consider before issuing a certificate of identity. 
• Increased Oversight: Representatives on the National Council for Transgender Persons from States/UTs must now hold a minimum rank of Director in the relevant Ministry or Department, indicating a push for higher-level bureaucratic oversight. 
• New Criminal Category for Forced Identity: The Bill introduces a distinct category to address the "coerced" assumption of transgender identity. It penalizes the act of compelling a person (through force, deceit, or allurement) to undergo procedures like emasculation or hormonal changes to assume a transgender identity. 
• Increased Punishments: The bill introduces stringent penalties: 
  • Kidnapping an adult to force a transgender identity can lead to minimum 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI), extendable to life. The same offence against a child mandates RI for life and a minimum fine of Rs 5 lakh. 
  • Forcing an adult into begging or bonded labour as a transgender person invites 5-10 years RI. The same offence against a child attracts 10-14 years RI. 

What Fears are Associated with the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026? 

• Rejection of Self-Identification Principle: By removing Section 4(2) of the 2019 Act, the bill directly contradicts the core principle of the NALSA verdict, which recognized the Right to Self-Determination and held that it does not need to be proven through external, especially medical, means. 
• Clinical Gatekeeping: By requiring a board headed by a Chief Medical Officer to "recommend" a person's gender to the District Magistrate, the Bill returns to a model where transgender identity is treated as a medical condition rather than a social or personal identity. 
  • For a transgender person, navigating a system with deep-rooted transphobia and proving their identity to a board of doctors would be extremely difficult, humiliating, and regressive. 
• Exclusion of Gender Fluidity: By explicitly stating that the law is not for those with "self-perceived" or "gender fluid" identities, it ignores a vast section of the community that does not fit into rigid biological categories. Critics argue that this arbitrarily decides who is "oppressed enough" to deserve rights. 
• Threat to those outside "Socio-Cultural" groups: While the Bill recognizes groups like Hijras or Kinner, it potentially delegitimizes trans persons who exist independently of these traditional systems (the guru-chela system), leaving them without legal standing. 
• Reversal of Progress and Statistical Impact: With 32,424 transgender certificates and identity cards already issued under the 2019 Act, the amendment creates uncertainty. If the definition changes, it is unclear if these individuals will have to "re-prove" their identity under the new, stricter medical criteria. 
• Concerns over "Forced Identity" Clauses: There are concerns that these clauses could be misused to target trans-led communities or families who support a minor's gender transition, labelling it as "allurement" or "inducement" under the new, stricter definitions. 

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, enacted following the NALSA v. Union of India (2014) judgment, provides legal recognition and rights to transgender persons in India. 

• Definition of Transgender: Defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth, inclusively covering trans men, trans women, intersex persons, and socio-cultural identities like kinner and hijra, regardless of medical interventions. 
  • According to Census 2011, India's transgender population stands at approximately 4.88 lakh, with Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra being the top three states. 
• Right to Self-Identification: Grants the right to self-perceived gender identity. A certificate of identity is issued by the District Magistrate through a purely administrative process, without any medical examination. 
• Prohibition of Discrimination: Forbids discrimination in education, employment, healthcare, and public facilities. 
• Institutional Mechanism: Establishes a National Council for Transgender Persons to advise the government on welfare policies, monitor implementation, and coordinate inter-ministerial efforts. 
• Offences & Penalties: Prescribes punishment (6 months to 2 years imprisonment and fine) for offences like forced labour and abuse. 

What Steps Should India Take to Empower Transgender Persons in the Future? 

• Restoring Self-Identification: Align national laws with the NALSA (2014) judgment to ensure that gender identity remains a matter of personal autonomy rather than medical certification.  
  • Train District Magistrates, police personnel, and medical boards to interact with the community without prejudice or "gatekeeping" behavior. 
• Holistic Healthcare Access: Standardize Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS) and hormone therapy in government hospitals to make it affordable and safe. 
  • Explicitly include transition-related healthcare in public schemes like Ayushman Bharat and establish dedicated helplines and community-led counseling centers to address mental health challenges. 
• Livelihood Opportunities: Efforts must scale up successful models like Karnataka's 1% job reservation in government services and Tata Steel's corporate diversity hiring. A World Bank report (2021) estimates that integrating transgender persons into the workforce could boost India's GDP by 1.7%. 
• Social Awareness & Cultural Change: Sustained public awareness campaigns like "I Am Also Human" and respectful media representation are essential to challenge stigma. This must be supported by amplifying cultural advocacy such as the Koovagam Festival (Tamil Nadu) and inclusive platforms like sports, exemplified by the Ya_All Sports Club (Manipur) all-transgender football team.  

Conclusion 

The proposed Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 has sparked debate over the balance between administrative regulation and the right to self-identification recognized in the NALSA (2014) judgment. Ensuring legal recognition, social inclusion, healthcare access, and livelihood opportunities will be crucial for advancing transgender rights and dignity in India. 

Drishti Mains Question:

Discuss the key changes introduced by the Transgender Persons (Amendment) Bill, 2026. How do these changes impact the legal and social recognition of transgender persons in India?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Q. What is the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026? 
It proposes changes to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, including medical certification for identity and revised definitions of transgender persons. 

Q. What was the significance of the NALSA v. Union of India (2014) judgment? 
The Supreme Court recognized transgender persons as the third gender and affirmed the right to self-identified gender identity as a fundamental right. 

Q. How does the 2026 Amendment Bill change the process of gender identity recognition? 
It introduces mandatory recommendation by a Medical Board before the District Magistrate issues a transgender identity certificate. 

Q. What is the estimated transgender population in India according to Census 2011? 
India recorded about 4.88 lakh transgender persons, with Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra having the largest populations. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)   

Prelims 

Q. In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following types of citizens? (2020)

1. Person with an annual income of less than Rs. 1,00,000   
2. Transgender with an annual income of less than Rs. 2,00,000   
3. Member of Other Backward Classes (OBC) with an annual income of less than Rs. 3,00,000   
4. All Senior Citizens   

Select the correct answer using the code given below:   

(a) 1 and 2 only  

(b) 3 and 4 only  

(c) 2 and 3 only  

(d) 1 and 4 only   

Ans: (a)

---

Mains

Q. Women empowerment in India needs gender budgeting. What are the requirements and status of gender budgeting in the Indian context? (2016)

Women in Indian Politics

For Prelims: Lok Sabha, 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, Constitution (106 Amendment) Act, 2023, SVEEP 

For Mains: Women’s Political Representation in India, Gender Equality and Democratic Deepening, Role of Political Parties in Inclusive Democracy

Source: TH 

Why in News?  

Women’s political participation in India highlights a major democratic paradox. The rise in electoral participation has not translated into proportional political representation or decision-making power. This gap continues to draw attention to structural barriers and the need for meaningful reforms.

Summary 

• India has achieved near gender parity in voter turnout, but women remain underrepresented in legislatures due to structural, institutional, and socio-cultural barriers. 
• Bridging this gap requires effective implementation of reservation policies, party-level reforms, and the removal of barriers to ensure women’s meaningful participation in decision-making.

What is the Current Status of Women in Indian Politics? 

• As Voters: Over the past six decades, the gender gap in voter turnout has steadily declined, indicating a profound transformation in India's electoral landscape. 
  • In the 1967 Lok Sabha election, male turnout was 66.7% and female turnout 55.5%, a gap of 11.2% points that slightly increased to 11.8 points in 1971 due to structural barriers like lower literacy and restricted mobility.  
  • Over time, with improvements in education, awareness, political outreach, and mobility, the gap steadily declined, reaching about 1.5 percentage points by 2014. 
  • In both the 2019 and 2024 general elections, women voted at almost the exact same rate as men (around 66%).  
    • In several State Assembly elections since the 1980s, female turnout has even surpassed male turnout. 
• Political Campaigns: Although voter turnout between men and women has reached near parity, campaign-level participation still shows a gender gap.  
  • Between 2009 and 2024, women’s attendance at election meetings and rallies increased from 9% to about 16%, while participation in processions and door-to-door canvassing rose from 5–6% to around 11%, yet men’s involvement remains roughly double. 
• As Representatives: Despite voting in record numbers, women remain largely excluded from the corridors of power. 
  • The 18th Lok Sabha has only 74 women MPs (13.6% of the 543 seats). This is a drop from the 17th Lok Sabha, which saw the highest-ever representation with 78 women MPs (14.4%). India's figures remain far below the global average of roughly 26%. 
  • The average representation of women in State Legislative Assemblies continues to hover around a dismal 9% to 10%. 
  • The bright spot remains at the grassroots level, where women constitute over 44% of representatives in local self-government institutions, supported by reservation provisions under Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). 

What Barriers Limit Women’s Political Participation? 

• Institutional and Structural Barriers: Political parties act as key gatekeepers and often deny women tickets citing “winnability”, despite evidence that women candidates often have comparable or higher success rates. 
  • Candidate selection and party decisions occur within male-dominated informal networks, limiting women’s access to leadership roles. 
  • Even when elected, women are frequently assigned “soft ministries” (e.g., Women and Child Development, Culture) rather than key portfolios like Home Affairs, or Defence. 
• Economic Barriers: Electoral politics is highly capital-intensive, creating a disadvantage for women who generally have less access to property, wealth, and campaign financing. 
  • Women are often excluded from political donor networks and business funding circles that support electoral campaigns. 
• Socio-Cultural and Patriarchal Barriers: Patriarchal norms continue to divide society into public (male) and private (female) spheres, discouraging women from entering politics. 
  • The burden of unpaid care work and household responsibilities limits time for political activities. 
  • In some cases, proxy representation occurs (e.g., the Sarpanch Pati phenomenon), where male relatives influence or control elected women representatives. 
• Hostile Political Environment: The presence of violence, intimidation, and criminalization in politics discourages women’s participation. 
  • Female politicians often face gendered attacks, character assassination, and online harassment, including threats and digital abuse, which creates psychological barriers to political engagement. 
• Capacity and Pipeline Deficit: Women are often excluded from traditional political pipelines like student unions and activist networks, and the lack of mentorship and leadership training limits their political capacity, sometimes leading to dependence on male relatives in governance. 
• Electoral System and Incumbency Barriers: The First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system encourages parties to field “safe” candidates, usually male incumbents with strong local networks.  
  • Since most seats are already held by men, the incumbency advantage further limits opportunities for new entrants, disproportionately affecting women’s chances of contesting and winning elections. 

What are India’s Initiatives to Promote Women’s Political Participation? 

• Constitutional Provisions for Local Governance: The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992) mandated 33% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).  
  • More than 20 states (such as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Gujarat) have increased the quota to 50%. 
  • As a result, India now has over 1.4 million elected women representatives at the local level. 
• Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023: The Constitution (106 Amendment) Act, 2023 provides 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. 
  • Implementation will begin after the Census 2027 and delimitation, and the provision will operate for 15 years. 
• Election Commission of India (ECI) Initiatives: SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) programme promotes awareness and increases women’s voter turnout through targeted campaigns. 
  • Introduction of “Sakhi” or Pink polling booths, managed entirely by women, to create a comfortable and safe voting environment. 
  • Special voter registration drives focus on first-time female voters and women who migrate after marriage. 
• Capacity Building and Leadership Training: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the National Commission for Women (NCW) conduct training programmes for elected women representatives. 
  • These programmes build skills in governance, financial management, and legislative processes. 
• Political Party-Level Initiatives: Some parties have voluntarily increased women’s representation in candidatures. 
  • For example, parties like Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have allocated 33% or more tickets to women in elections. 
• Role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs): Women’s Self-Help Groups under livelihood missions act as platforms for leadership development. 
  • Participation in SHGs improves financial independence, public speaking, and collective decision-making, encouraging women to enter local politics. 

What Measures can Strengthen Women’s Political Participation? 

• Legal Amendments to the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951: Make the registration and recognition of political parties strictly contingent upon an enforceable inner-party quota for women.  
  • Parties must allocate at least 33% of their organizational posts (Parliamentary Boards, Central Election Committees) to women. 
  • The legal definition of electoral corrupt practices must be updated. Character assassination of female candidates, the deployment of gender-targeted deepfakes, and weaponized digital misogyny should be explicitly codified as corrupt practices, leading to immediate disqualification of the offending candidate. 
• Reviving Dual-Member Constituencies: India successfully used dual-member constituencies in the 1952 and 1957 elections.  
  • Instead of rotating single-member reserved seats, select constituencies could elect two representatives—one male and one female.  
    • This forces parties to develop female leadership in every region without displacing entrenched male leaders. 
• Precision Financial Engineering: The ECI could amend election expenditure caps based on gender.  
  • Electoral trusts and corporate donors could be given enhanced tax exemptions if their donations are specifically earmarked for female candidates or capacity-building programs for women politicians. 
• Legally Dismantling the "Proxy" (Sarpanch Pati) Phenomenon: Grassroots representation can be strengthened by mandating Aadhaar-linked biometric authorization for Gram Panchayat funds, ensuring that only the elected woman representative exercises financial control, thereby preventing proxy governance by male relatives. 
• Formalizing Shadow Cabinets: The opposition should be encouraged to institutionalize the "Shadow Cabinet" system (common in the UK).  
  • Mandating women in top shadow portfolios allows them to debate finance and defense on the floor of the house, building their visibility and public credibility as serious administrators.

Conclusion

Women in India have moved from being silent voters to active political participants, reflecting stronger grassroots democracy. However, real progress requires going beyond voting to greater representation and decision-making power. This calls for effective implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, party-level reforms, and removal of structural and patriarchal barriers, making women’s leadership essential for inclusive governance and a Viksit Bharat. 

Drishti Mains Question:

Women in India vote in equal or higher numbers than men, yet remain underrepresented in legislatures. Examine the reasons behind this paradox.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What is the current status of women’s representation in Parliament? 
Women constitute about 13.6% in the 18th Lok Sabha, far below their share in the electorate and the global average.

2. What is the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023? 
It provides 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, to be implemented after delimitation. 

3. How have the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments helped women? 
They mandate a minimum 33% reservation in PRIs and ULBs, leading to over 44% women representation at the grassroots

4. What are the major barriers to women’s political participation? 
Key barriers include patriarchy, lack of party tickets, financial constraints, unpaid care work, and political violence.

5. Why is women’s voter turnout high but representation low? 
Due to limited party nominations, structural inequalities, and socio-cultural constraints, participation does not translate into power.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question 

Q.1 What are the continued challenges for Women in India against time and space? (2019) 

Q.2 Discuss the desirability of greater representation to women in the higher judiciary to ensure diversity, equity and inclusiveness. (2021) 

India's Tribal Paintings

Source: PIB 

Why in News? 

The Tribes Art Fest 2026, organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, featured over 75 tribal artists showcasing more than 30 distinct tribal art traditions, particularly tribal paintings across India. 

What are the Various Tribal Paintings Practised Across India? 

Tribal Paintings	State	Key Features	Technique/Style	Themes
Warli Painting (Received GI tag in 2014)	Maharashtra (Sahyadri Range)	One of the oldest tribal art forms, known for simple geometric figures (circle, triangle, square) representing sun/moon, mountains, and humans.	Painted on red ochre mud walls using white rice-flour paste mixed with water.	Depicts social life such as hunting, fishing, farming, and the Tarpa dance, rather than mythological themes.
Gond Paintings  (Received GI tag in 2023)	Madhya Pradesh	Known for intricate dots and lines that create movement and detailed patterns.	Traditionally used charcoal, colored soil, and plant sap; modern versions use vibrant colors.	Focuses on nature, including the Tree of Life, animals, plants, and spirits from Gond mythology.
Pithora Paintings (Received GI tag in 2021)	Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh	A ritualistic painting tradition practiced by Rathwa and Bhil tribes; horses are mandatory, especially the horse of Baba Pithora.	Traditionally painted by men called Lakhara, often accompanied by songs and chants during the ritual.	More of a ritual than an art form. Created to thank deities or fulfill wishes.
Saura Paintings (Received GI tag in 2024)	Odisha	Geometric human figures similar to Warli but more elongated, usually with decorative borders.	Saura wall paintings are called italons or ikons. Practised by the Saura tribe.	Dedicated to Idital (main deity); depicts village life, sun, moon, animals, and rituals.
Sohrai Paintings (Received GI tag in 2020)	Jharkhand	Colorful mural art practiced mainly by tribal women.	Uses natural earth colors painted on walls.	Celebrates harvest, cattle, and agricultural prosperity, featuring animal motifs.
Khobar Paintings (Received GI tag in 2020)	Jharkhand	Matrimonial mural art used to decorate the bridal chamber.	Uses a comb-cut technique where layers of colored earth are applied and scraped to reveal patterns.	Associated with marriage rituals and fertility symbolism.
Bhil Art	Madhya Pradesh & Rajasthan	Recognized by large, uneven dots, with each artist having a unique dot pattern.	Created using bright colors and dotted patterns to form images.	Depicts tribal myths, legends, and storytelling landscapes (Galo).
Mandana Paintings	Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh	Ritualistic folk art practiced by the Meena community, especially during festivals and religious occasions.	Women prepare a base of red clay and cow dung on walls or floors and paint symmetrical designs with white lime (Kharia) using date-twig or cotton brushes.	Features geometric patterns, peacocks, nature motifs, and the footprints of Goddess Lakshmi (Paglya), symbolizing prosperity and welcoming deities.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What is Warli painting and where is it practiced? 
Warli painting is a tribal art form from Maharashtra’s Sahyadri region, known for simple geometric figures depicting daily life and painted with rice-flour paste on mud walls. 

2. Which tribal painting tradition mandates the depiction of horses? 
Pithora painting, practiced by the Rathwa and Bhil tribes of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, requires the depiction of the horse of Baba Pithora, reflecting its ritual significance. 

3. How are Sohrai and Khovar paintings different? 
Sohrai art celebrates harvest and cattle, while Khovar art is a matrimonial mural tradition decorating the bridal chamber, often using a comb-cut technique. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)  

Q. The well-known painting “Bani Thani” belongs to the (2018)

(a) Bundi school   

(b) Jaipur school  

(c) Kangra school   

(d) Kishangarh school  

Ans: (d)

Q. The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft-illustrated paintings at (2017)

(a) Ajanta   

(b) Badami  

(c) Bagh   

(d) Ellora  

Ans: (a)

Q. Kalamkari painting refers to (2015) 

(a) a hand-painted cotton textile in South India  

(b) a handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in North-East India  

(c) a block-painted woollen cloth in Western Himalayan region of India  

(d) a hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North Western India  

Ans: (a)

Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna

Source: PIB 

The Union Cabinet has approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) with an outlay of Rs. 33,660 crore to establish 100 plug-and-play industrial parks. 

• Plug-and-Play Ecosystem: The scheme provides pre-approved land and ready infrastructure (100 to 1,000 acres), allowing industries to transition from "intent to production" without delays in land acquisition or approvals. 
• Financial Support: The Centre will provide up to Rs. 1 crore per acre for core (internal roads, drainage), value-added (testing labs), and social infrastructure (worker housing), plus 25% of project costs for external connectivity. 
• Selection Mechanism: Projects will be selected via a "Challenge Mode," ensuring high-quality, reform-oriented, and investment-ready proposals from States and UTs. 
• Strategic Integration: Aligned with PM GatiShakti principles, the parks will feature multimodal connectivity, green energy, and integrated underground utility corridors for a "no-dig" environment. 
• Implementation Framework: It will be implemented under the framework of the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) by the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC), in partnership with states and the private sector. 
  • NICDC functions under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 
• Beneficiaries: The primary beneficiaries include manufacturing units, MSMEs, startups, and global investors seeking ready-to-use industrial infrastructure. 
  • Secondary beneficiaries include workers, logistics providers, service sector enterprises, and local communities.

Read More: Industrial Corridors And NICDP 

Guillotine Procedure

Source:TH 

The Lok Sabha approved Demands for Grants worth over Rs 53 lakh crore for 2026–27 using the Guillotine procedure, passing most ministry-wise expenditures without detailed parliamentary discussion. 

• Meaning of Guillotine: In parliamentary practice, the Guillotine refers to clubbing and fast-tracking financial business, where all pending Demands for Grants are put to vote together without discussion due to time constraints. 
• Budget Process Context: After the Budget is presented, Parliament goes into a recess of about three weeks, during which Department-related Standing Committees examine Demands for Grants.  
  • Once reassembled, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) schedules discussions on selected key Ministries. 
• Application of Guillotine: Due to limited time or continuous disruptions, the Speaker applies the Guillotine on the last day of discussion, putting all remaining Demands for Grants to vote at once, regardless of whether they were debated. 
• Implications: While the Guillotine ensures timely passage of the Budget and prevents a funding crisis, it reduces parliamentary scrutiny over large public expenditure, raising concerns about accountability. 
• Post-Guillotine Stage: After the Guillotine is applied, the Finance Bill and Appropriation Bill are passed, authorizing expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India. 
• Institutional Significance: The process is exclusive to the Lok Sabha, which holds the power of the purse, while the Rajya Sabha can only discuss and recommend on Demands for Grants.

Read more: Guillotine in Indian Legislative 

Discovery of the Xi-cc-plus Baryon at CERN

Source: TH 

The Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has announced the discovery of a new particle, the Xi-cc-plus, a heavy baryon that will help physicists better understand how the strong force binds protons, neutrons and other composite particles together.  

• About Xi-cc-plus Particle: The Xi-cc-plus consists of two charm quarks and one down quark, making it a heavy sibling of the proton (which has two up quarks and one down quark). 
  • It was produced by smashing high-energy protons in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Like most hadrons, it is unstable and decays rapidly. 
  • This is the first new particle found since the 2023 LHCb detector upgrades, bringing the total number of hadrons discovered by LHC experiments to 80. 
• Physical Properties: Due to the presence of two heavy charm quarks, the particle is approximately 4 times heavier than a proton and has a significantly shorter lifetime than its counterparts. 
• Rare Find: This marks only the 2nd time a baryon containing two heavy quarks has ever been observed. The first, a similar particle with two charm quarks and an up quark, was discovered by LHCb in 2017. 
• Scientific Significance: The discovery helps theorists test models of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the theory describing the strong force that binds quarks into hadrons (mesons and baryons). 
  • It opens doors for studying exotic hadrons like tetraquarks and pentaquarks, setting the stage for future research at the High-Luminosity LHC. 
  • QCD is the theoretical framework in particle physics that describes the strong nuclear force, one of the four fundamental forces of nature. It explains how quarks and gluons interact to form composite particles like protons, neutrons, and mesons.

Large Hadron Collider (LHC) 

• LHC is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator located at CERN near Geneva. It boosts particles, such as protons, to nearly the speed of light in two high-energy beams traveling in opposite directions.  
  • These beams are then made to collide at four specific points around the ring, where massive detectors (like ATLAS, CMS, and LHCb) record the resulting "subatomic debris." 

Key Terms 

• Baryon: A baryon is a type of composite subatomic particle made up of three quarks, held together by the strong nuclear force. Along with mesons (which consist of one quark and one antiquark), baryons belong to the broader family of particles known as hadrons. 
• Quark: Quarks are elementary particles and fundamental building blocks of matter. They carry a fractional electric charge (either +2/3 or -1/3). 
• Antiquark: Every quark has a corresponding antiparticle known as an antiquark. An antiquark has the same mass as its quark counterpart but possesses opposite physical charges. If a charm quark has a +2/3 charge, the charm antiquark has a -2/3 charge. If a quark is "blue," its antiquark is "anti-blue." 

Read More: Large Hadron Collider 

SC Rules Maternity Leave for All Adoptive Mothers

Source: TH

The Supreme Court of India ruled that adoptive mothers are entitled to maternity leave irrespective of the child’s age, declaring maternity leave a basic human right and urging the Union Government to recognise paternity leave as a social security benefit. 

• Striking Down Age Restrictions: The Supreme Court declared Section 60(4) of the Code of Social Security, 2020 (which replaced the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, in November 2025) unconstitutional and discriminatory.  
  • This provision had previously restricted the 12-week maternity benefit strictly to mothers adopting children below three months of age. 
  • The Court held that adoptive mothers have the same rights and responsibilities as biological mothers. Therefore, maternity leave cannot be restricted based on the age of the adopted child. 
• Practicality of Adoption: The Bench noted that the legal adoption process in India typically takes much longer than three months to complete, rendering the three-month age restriction completely impractical and "otiose." 
• Right to Reproductive Autonomy: The Court elevated adoption to an "expression of reproductive autonomy," emphasizing that a family is constituted by shared responsibility, caregiving, and emotional bonds, rather than biology alone. 
• Maternity Leave as a Workplace Equality Measure: The court noted that the maternity benefits act as an instrument of "de-familisation."  
  • This means it reduces a woman's reliance on her family for financial support, actively protecting her economic independence and ensuring motherhood does not lead to workplace exclusion. 
• Addressing Gender Inequality: The Court noted that without maternity leave, mothers may return to work early, shifting childcare to older siblings.  
  • If the caregiver is a girl child, it can lead to school dropout, reinforcing the cycle of gender inequality. 
• Call for Legal Recognition of Paternity Leave: The Court urged the Central Government to introduce statutory paternity leave, noting that parenthood is a shared responsibility and not solely the mother’s role. 
  • The absence of fathers during early childcare can affect parent-child bonding and family support systems.

Read more: Maternity Benefits for Third Child 

Dark Fleet

Source: TH 

A China-bound sanctioned Russian tanker (Aqua Titan), part of the ‘dark fleet’, was diverted mid-route to India. 

• Dark Fleet:  The 'Dark Fleet' or 'shadow fleet' refers to a growing armada of aging, often uninsured commercial vessels utilized specifically to transport petroleum products subject to international sanctions, primarily from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. 
• Modus Operandi:  
  • Disabling AIS: These ships routinely turn off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders to "go dark" and evade satellite tracking. 
  • Ship-to-Ship (STS) Transfers: They engage in risky mid-ocean transfers (Bunkering) to mix sanctioned crude with non-sanctioned oil, thereby masking its true origin. 
  • Flags of Convenience: They register under countries with lax maritime oversight (e.g., Panama, Liberia) and frequently use shell companies to obscure ownership. 
    • All vessels must fly a flag indicating their legal jurisdiction, as per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which determines a ship’s nationality. However, limited enforcement in international waters (high seas) allows shadow fleets to exploit regulatory grey zones and evade oversight. 
• Concerns with Dark Fleet: The use of the dark fleet raises concerns of low transparency, regulatory gaps, environmental risks, weakening of global sanctions enforcement mechanisms, and exposes India to geopolitical risks and compliance challenges despite cost advantages from discounted crude. 
  • Tracking by S&P Global and Ukrainian intelligence shows that Russia relied heavily on its shadow tanker fleet in 2025, with India as the main destination importing about 5.4 million tonnes (or 55% of Russian crude oil sales via shadow tankers).

Read more: Shadow Fleet