Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 Defeated in Lok Sabha
- Context: A united Opposition defeated the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, with 298 votes in favour and 230 against, falling short of the required two-thirds majority (352 votes) needed for constitutional amendments.
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- The Bill aimed to redistribute Lok Sabha seats based on the 2011 Census, linking it to the implementation of women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 general elections.
- Following the defeat, the government withdrew two related Bills: Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, Delimitation Bill, 2026
Types of Majorities in Indian Parliament
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- The process of making a law in Parliament starts when a Bill is introduced and concludes once it receives the approval of the President.
- The Indian Parliament uses four different kinds of majorities to decide on various matters. They are Simple majority, Absolute majority, Effective majority and Special majority
Simple majority
- This refers to a situation where more than half of the members who are present and actually voting support a proposal.
It is reflected in provisions such as
- Article 100 – Deals with voting in Houses, quorum, and functioning despite vacancies.
- Article 108 – Provides for joint sittings of both Houses.
- Article 169 – Relates to the creation or abolition of State Legislative Councils.
- Article 356 – Concerns the imposition of President’s Rule.
A simple majority is required for
- Passing ordinary bills in both Parliament and State Legislatures.
- Approving motions like No-Confidence, Confidence, Adjournment, and Censure motions.
- Passing resolutions related to Financial Emergency and President’s Rule.
- Deciding on the creation or abolition of a State Legislative Council.
- Conducting elections for positions such as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Current Facts
- Meghalaya has declared the indigenous Khasi and Garo languages as official languages of the state, alongside English.
- Nominated member Harivansh has been elected as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the third consecutive time.
Absolute Majority- This means securing more than half of the total strength of the House, irrespective of how many members are present or voting.
- It is generally not used for routine legislative work in Parliament or State Legislatures.
- It is mainly required when forming the government at the Centre or in the States after general elections, where a party or coalition must prove it has the support of over half of the total members.
Effective Majority
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- This refers to a majority of more than 50% of the actual working strength of the House, meaning the total membership minus any vacant seats.
- If the Lok Sabha has 545 seats but 15 are vacant, the effective strength becomes 530. In such a case, the effective majority required would be more than half of 530, i.e., 265.
- It is mentioned in provisions like
- Article 67(b) – Removal of the Vice President
- Article 90(c) – Removal of the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
- Article 94(c) – Removal of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
This type of majority is used for
- Passing a resolution in the Rajya Sabha to remove the Vice President, which must then be approved by the Lok Sabha with a simple majority.
- Removing the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha as well as similar presiding officers in State Legislatures.
Special Majority – I (Parliament)
- This type of majority requires more than half of the total strength of the House along with at least two-thirds of the members present and voting.
It is needed in situations such as
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- Article 368 – Amending the Constitution
- Article 124 – Removal of Supreme Court judges
- Article 217 – Removal of High Court judges
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- Article 148 – Removal of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India
- Article 324 – Removal of the Chief Election Commissioner
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- Article 243K – Removal of the State Election Commissioner
- Article 352 – Approval by Parliament of a Proclamation of National Emergency
Special Majority – II (Parliament)
- This majority means at least two-thirds of the total membership of the House must support the motion.
It is specifically required for
- Article 61- Impeachment of the President
- The President can be removed before completing the five-year term for violation of the Constitution.
- The motion must be approved by both Houses of Parliament with a two-thirds majority of their total strength.
Special Majority – III (Parliament)
- This type applies only in the Rajya Sabha and requires two-thirds of the members present and voting.
It is used in cases such as
- Article 312- Recommending the creation of new All-India Services
- Article 249- Allowing Parliament to make laws on subjects in the State List
India’s First Semiconductor SEZ at Dholera
- Context: The government has approved a new Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to be developed by Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited at Dholera, Gujarat.
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- This SEZ will cover 66.166 hectares and is expected to generate around 21,000 jobs.
- It will focus on electronic hardware, software, and IT/ITES services, supported by strong infrastructure and a single-window approval system for smoother operations.
- The project is significant as it represents India’s first chip fabrication (fab) facility.
Policy Reforms to Boost Semiconductor Ecosystem
- The government has introduced major reforms in SEZ regulations to promote semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.
Amendments to the SEZ Rules, 2006 (notified on June 3, 2025) include
- Reduction in minimum land requirement from 50 hectares to 10 hectares
- Relaxation in land encumbrance conditions
- Inclusion of free supplies in Net Foreign Exchange (NFE) calculations
- Permission for domestic sales in the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) after paying applicable duties
These changes aim to
- Attract high-value and capital-intensive investments
- Encourage innovation and advanced manufacturing
- Improve ease of doing business
- Build a globally competitive semiconductor ecosystem
Current Facts- Launch of the Tourism Anthology
- The Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Suman Bery, released a new anthology titled “Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India” in New Delhi.
- The book is designed as a year-round tourism guide covering all States and Union Territories of India.
Government schemes supporting tourism growth include:
- Dekho Apna Desh initiative
- Swadesh Darshan scheme
- Plan to develop 50 global-standard destinations
Other Major Approved Semiconductor & Electronics SEZsMicron Semiconductor Technology India Pvt Ltd
- Setting up an SEZ in Sanand
- Focus: Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging (ATMP)
- Investment: ₹13,000 crore
Aequs Group
- Developing an electronics component SEZ in Dharwad
Expected Impact
- Development of domestic semiconductor value chains
- Creation of high-skilled employment opportunities
- Reduction in import dependence
- Strengthening India’s position in the global electronics and chip manufacturing industry
About Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
- A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a clearly defined area that operates as a duty-free region, considered outside the domestic customs territory for trade, tariffs, and taxation purposes.
- The SEZ Act, 2005 lays down the legal structure governing exports, investment, employment generation, and infrastructure development within SEZs.
- Amendments to the SEZ Rules, 2006 in June 2025 reduced the minimum land requirement for semiconductor units from 50 hectares to 10 hectares, aiming to convert SEZs into dynamic industrial and development centres.
- India set up Asia’s first Export Processing Zone (EPZ) at Kandla, Gujarat, in 1965. Today, the country has 368 notified SEZs, providing employment to over 31 lakh people.
AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG)- Context; The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has set up the AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG) as a top-level inter-ministerial body for shaping and coordinating AI governance in India.
The formation of AIGEG implements recommendations from
- India’s AI Governance Guidelines
- The Economic Survey of India
Purpose and Role
AIGEG will act as the central institutional mechanism for
- Developing AI governance policies
- Ensuring coordination across ministries, regulators, and departments
- Promoting a whole-of-government approach to AI
It aims to
- Align AI development with national strategy and priorities
- Balance technological growth with labour market realities
- Maintain social and economic stability
Leadership and Composition
- Chairperson: Minister for Electronics & IT, Railways, and I&B)
- Vice-Chairperson: Minister of State for Electronics & IT and Commerce & Industry
- Members include senior officials from multiple sectors, such as: Policy-making, Science and technology, Security, Economic affairs
Institutional Framework
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- AIGEG will function as the apex inter-ministerial authority for AI governance in India.
- It will be supported by a Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC), which will
- Provide technical and policy advice
- Track global AI trends and innovations
- Assess risks, regulations, and emerging challenges
Overall Significance
- Strengthens India’s AI governance architecture
- Encourages coordinated policymaking across government
- Supports responsible and inclusive AI development
- Positions India to better respond to global AI advancements and challenges
India’s First National Bat Assessment- Context: India’s first comprehensive bat assessment has been prepared by organisations such as the Nature Conservation Foundation and Bat Conservation International, among others.
Biodiversity Findings
- The study records around 135 bat species in India.
- Out of these, 16 species are endemic, meaning they are found only in India.
- Seven species are listed as threatened under the IUCN classification.
Major Threats Identified
- Rapid urbanisation leading to habitat loss
- Increasing deforestation
- Impacts of climate change
- Continued public stigma and fear, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic
About Bats
- Bats are mammals, meaning they give birth to live young, are warm-blooded, and have bodies covered with fur.
- They are the only mammals capable of sustained powered flight.
- Most bats rely on echolocation, where they emit high-frequency sound waves to move, locate prey, and navigate in complete darkness.
Ecological Importance
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- Bats play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystems by providing services such as:
- Pollination of plants
- Natural pest control by consuming insects
- Seed dispersal, helping forest regeneration
National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)- Launched in 2011 under the Ministry of Rural Development
- Aims to reduce multidimensional rural poverty
- Focuses on: Self-employment generation, Financial inclusion, Skill development and livelihood enhancement
Scale and Achievements in India
- Over 100 million households reached
- More than 9 million Self-Help Groups (SHGs) formed
- Around 20 million women earn over ₹1 lakh annually through SHGs
- Over 50 million women have accessed bank credit
- Credit linkage worth approximately ₹12 lakh crore facilitated
- Presence of women banking correspondents in 60%+ local governments
- Active implementation across 742 districts
- Total capital support of ₹51,368 crore provided
Women-Centric Empowerment
- Strong emphasis on women-led SHGs
Built systems of:
- Village, cluster, and block-level federations
- Community-based service delivery cadres
- Strong financial inclusion networks
- Helped increase female labour force participation since 2018
Global Influence and South-South Cooperation
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- NRLM model increasingly studied and adopted by countries in Africa
- Delegations from: Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya, Rwanda
Focus of learning:
- SHG scaling strategies
- Credit linkage mechanisms
- Community mobilisation systems
- Financial discipline and accountability structures
African Countries Are Adopting the Model
- Promotes women’s economic empowerment
- Uses a low-cost, community-driven approach
- Suitable for large informal economies
- Strengthens local institutions and governance systems
- Encourages sustainable livelihood diversification
India’s Development Diplomacy
- NRLM reflects India’s shift from aid-based support to knowledge export
- Promotes institutional and social innovation sharing
- Strengthens South-South cooperation through: Training programmes, Study visits, Capacity-building initiatives
- Proposed idea: creation of a Rural Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Platform for global collaboration
Significance
- NRLM has become a flagship rural transformation programme in India
- It is now a global model for women-led, community-based development
- Demonstrates India’s growing role in shaping international development practices beyond financial aid
