Strife-hit Manipur put under President's Rule

Four days after Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned, President's Rule was imposed in the northeastern State that has been affected by ethnic violence for the past two years. President Droupadi Murmu issued a proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution after receiving a report from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.

The order said she was satisfied that a situation had arisen that the "government of that State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of Constitution of India". A statement by the Manipur government said the "Manipur Legislative Assembly will be under sus-pended animation”. The Assembly has not been dissolved, a government official said. The State Assembly's tenure is till 2027. 

New I-T Bill proposes easier tax compliance

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the new Income Tax Bill of 2025 in the Lok Sabha, aimed at simplifying and revamping the 1961 Income Tax Act, amended over 4,000 times since it came into force in April 1962, and viewed as complicated and cumber-some by taxpayers as well as accountants. Ms. Sitharaman, who had announced a comprehensive review of the I-T law to make it concise, and easy to understand while providing tax certainty, in her Budget presented last July, said the proposed Bill will be sent for a review to a select committee of Parliament. 

Shared understanding

During his visit to France this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India and France could be a force for "global transformation". This statement carried significant geopolitical context for both him and his host, French President Emmanuel Macron. The visit took place just before Mr. Modi's scheduled trip to Washington, where the Trump administration's unpredictability has reshaped global dynamics. Their discussions focused on strengthening the defence partnership, reviewing deals on missiles, helicopter and jet engines. India also offered Indian-made rocket launchers. 

The problematic globalisation of medical education

There has been an increase in international mobility of medical students from high-, mid- and low-income countries. Annually, approximately 2.3 million students sit for the national medical school entry examination, but only one in around 22 successful candidates is able to enter the country's 700-plus medical colleges. The fierce competition for medical seats in India has compelled many students to explore opportunities abroad. It is estimated that more than 20,000 Indian medical students go abroad to study. With limited government medical seats and high tuition fees in private institutions, studying medicine abroad has emerged as an "affordable" and practical alternative for Indian aspirants. 

China's dam project opens the floodgates of concern

The planned construction by China, of a massive hydroelectric dam on the lower section of the upper stream of the Yarlung Zangbo river in Tibet, has become a matter of concern for India due to its potential impact on the local environment and spillover, the flow of water downstream, and bilateral relations. The Brahmaputra is a part of the everyday life of millions of people from India's northeastern States and Bangladesh. China's decision to plan a dam on the Yarlung Zangbo is a part of its broader strategy to transition from coal to renewable energy sources, particularly hydroelectric power. As outlined in its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), China aims to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The construction of the dam raises critical legal issues under international water law. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (UN Watercourses Convention) 1997 emphasises the principles of equitable and reasonable utilisation, the obligation to prevent significant harm, and the duty to cooperate. These principles are essential in ensuring that shared water resources are managed sustainably and equitably

Is appointing ad-hoc judges a viable means to reduce backlog?

The Supreme Court on January 30, 2025, permitted High Courts to appoint retired judges on an ad-hoc basis to address the mounting backlog of cases. However, these judges were authorised to hear only criminal appeals as part of a bench led by a sitting judge. The Supreme Court first endorsed the appointment of ad-hoc judges in its 2021 ruling in Lok Prahari v. Union of India, though such a measure should have been introduced even earlier. In our 75-year constitutional history, no policy measure has been introduced to address the docket crisis systematically. We will have to wait and see how this initiative unfolds. However, the government's handling of regular judicial appointments remains a concern, with several deserving judges either overlooked for elevation to the Supreme Court or appointed as High Court Chief Justices far too late. 

What is happening in the DRC?

The crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is back in the spotlight after the M23 militia, backed by eastern neighbour Rwanda, captured the mineral-rich city of Goma, which lies on the border between the two countries. UN estimates suggest that the fighting, which began in January, has taken the lives of more than 2,900 people, displaced close to 7,00,000 and injured many more. While the root cause of the crisis is generally attributed to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the region has been beset with conflict between the Hutus and Tutsis since colonial times; so much so that some 1,50,000 Tutsis had migrated to neighbouring countries even before Rwanda's independence from Belgium in 1962

'Food prices to be under control, critical imports face uncertainty

Food prices are expected to be under control in the coming year, going by advance estimates of crop output, but the government will keep monitoring prices and act to ensure that ordinary citizens are not burdened by inflation, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the Rajya Sabha. Responding to members's concerns about high inflation during the discussion in the House on the Union Budget 2025-26, Ms. Sitharaman said the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed price rise eased to 4.31% in January from 5.22% in December and is now close to the Re-serve Bank of India (RBI) target of 4%.