APRIL -8-DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

1Sabarimala Case (2018)

Why in news :

Supreme Court begins review of 2018 Sabarimala judgment & Questions of right to religious freedom enshrined in Article 25 and denomination’s privilege to manage its own religious affairs under Article 26 ofthe Constitution.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta representing the government has questioned the previous verdict, arguing that legislature, not courts, should handle such social reforms, emphasizing the denominational autonomy of Article 26

Article 25 (Individual Rights): Protects the right of individuals to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion, but is subject to public order, morality, and health.

Article 26 (Denominational Rights): Grants religious denominations the right to manage their own affairs in matters of religion. Supporters of the ban argued that Ayyappans constitute a separate religious denomination, thus shielding the custom from interference.

On September 28th 2018, a 5-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court delivered its verdict in the Sabarimala Temple Entry case. A 4:1 majority held that the temple’s practice of excluding women is unconstitutional. It held that the practice violated the fundamental right to freedom of religion—Article 25(1)of female worshippers

2. Custodial Death in India

A Tamil Nadu trial court awarded the death penalty to nine policemen for the brutal 2020 custodial murder of traders P. Jayaraj and his son J. Benicks in Sattankulam

Custodial death refers to the death of a person while under the custody of the police or judicial authorities. It often results from custodial torture, which includes physical assault, psychological pressure, or medical negligence.

While the Indian Constitution guarantees the Right to Life (Article 21), custodial violence represents a naked violation of human dignity where the protector turns into the predator.

India recorded 170 custodial deaths in the financial year 2025-26

In the 2025-26 period, Bihar recorded the highest number of deaths in police custody (19), followed by Rajasthan (18).

3Article 124-Establishment and Constitution of Supreme Court

124(1) There shall be a Supreme Court of India consisting of a Chief Justice of India and, until Parliament by law prescribes a larger number, of not more than seven other Judges.

124(2) Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal on the recommendation of the National Judicial Appointments Commission referred to in article 124A and shall hold office until he attains the age of sixty-five years:

124(3) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court unless he is a citizen of India and--

(a) 5 year Judge of High court

(b)at least ten years an advocate of a High Court

(C ), in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist.

124(4) A Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the President

It ispassed by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-third of the members of the House present and voting has been presented to the President in the same session

4. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

India has unveiled its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2035 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC

Three climate goals

The First is an increase in the reduction of emissions intensity of its GDP, from 45% below 2005 levels by 2030 to 47% below 2005 levels by 2035.

The second is ensuring that 60% of installed capacity for power generation is from non-fossil fuel sources,

The third is the enhancement of forest and tree cover carbon sinks to 3.5 – 4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent above 2005 levels.

2015: First NDC (targeting 2025)

2022: Updated NDC (targets for 2030)

2026: Third NDC (targets for 2035)

Key Climate Initiatives & Policies

Panchamrit Targets (COP26): Five main goals including 50% energy from non-fossil sources by 2030 and reducing total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030.

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): Features eight core missions, including the National Solar Mission, National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, and Green India Mission.

Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment): A global movement initiated by India to encourage individual and community action towards environmental protection.

Electric Mobility (FAME India): Focused on faster adoption and manufacturing of electric vehicles (FAME) to reduce emissions, currently on Phase III/PM E-DRIVE, focusing on 2/3 wheelers.

Renewable Energy Focus: Aggressive expansion of solar power through schemes like PM-KUSUM (solar pumps) and PM-SURYA (solar rooftops).

Green Hydrogen Mission: Aims to make India a global hub for the production and export of Green Hydrogen.

Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)-role of mangroves as natural buffers against cyclones, storm surges and coastal erosion

Blue Flag beaches are coastal sites certified for maintaining international standards of cleanliness, water quality, safety and sustainable management

International Solar Alliance (ISA)-India continues to lead global solar cooperation through the International Solar Alliance (ISA) under the vision “One World, One Sun, One Grid.”

5From Conservation to Climate Action

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Renewable Energy (RE) Statistics 2025,(with data as on December2024), globally, India stands

3rd in Solar Power installed capacity

4th in Wind Power capacity

4th in total Renewable Energy capacity

6Space-Based Solar Power

Space-based solar power (SBSP) involves capturing solar energy using satellites with solar panels in orbit—unaffected by darkness or weather—and converting it into microwaves or lasers to transmit wirelessly to Earth. It provides consistent, 24/7 renewable energy with 5–10 times higher efficiency than terrestrial solar power.

Unlike Earth-based solar, space-based solar does not experience nightfall or cloud cover, enabling continuous energy generation. It provides a potential "green" solution for high-capacity, base-load power.

Challenges: The primary hurdles include high transportation costs to orbit, complex in-space assembly, and the need for efficient, lightweight solar arrays.

Current Progress: Projects like the Caltech Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD-1) have demonstrated successful wireless power transmission in space. Japan, among other nations, is actively developing technologies to achieve practical deployment.

The Shimizu Corporation in Japan has proposed a belt of power plants sitting along the moon’s equator, which is 11,000 km long, called the “Lunar Ring”

7A New Chapter in India's Nuclear Journey

India has marked a major milestone in its nuclear energy programme.

The indigenously designed and built Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu successfully attained its first criticality on 6th April 2026, marking the initiation of a sustained nuclear chain reaction.

This PFBR is a 500 MWe (MegaWatt electrical) reactor built by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) at the Kalpakkam Nuclear Complex.

What is first criticality

The reactor core is brought to a controlled, self-sustaining state where nuclear fission initiates and continues independently.

Itsignifies the transition from construction to operational testing (low-power physics experiments).

With this achievement, India has officially entered the second stage of its three-stage nuclear power programme, a vision first conceived by Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the architect of India's nuclear programme

The milestone carries substantial global significance. Once fully operational, India will become only the second country in the world after Russia to operate a commercial fast breeder reactor.

India's Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme

Stage 1: Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs)

Natural uranium is used as fuel in PHWRs to generate power.

The spent fuel from these reactors produces plutonium, which becomes the primary input for the next stage.

Stage 2: Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs)

The plutonium obtained from Stage 1 is used as fuel in Fast Breeder Reactors, which generate more fuel than they consume.

The PFBR at Kalpakkam marks India's entry into this stage. These reactors will be used to breed Uranium-233 from thorium, laying the groundwork for Stage 3.

Stage 3: Thorium-Based Reactors

This stage will harness India's vast thorium reserves at scale, using the Uranium-233 bred in Stage 2 as fuel. Thorium is considered a practically vast energy source and this stage holds the key to India's long-term energy security.

8.WOMEN TO HELP INDIA TAKE THE NEXT BIG LEAP

Political participation Iniative for women-, The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam marks a historic and transformative milestone by providing one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.(106th Constitutional amendment)

National Family Health Survey 5, which recorded a sex ratio of 1,020 females per 1,000 males, signallinga meaningful societal shift

For mothers, institutional support has expanded significantly. Under the PM Matru Vandana Yojana,(it is integrated with muthulakshmi maternity scheme in TN)

Financial Inclusion -Under the PM Mudra Yojana, 57.79 crore loans worth over `40 lakh crore have been extended, with nearly 66% women beneficiaries

Jan Dhan Yojana, under which 57.93 crore accounts have been opened, of which 55.7% belong to women

Lakhpati Didis-over 3 crore women to emerge as Lakhpati Didis, with SHGs receiving bank credit of over 12.50 lakh crore

Drone Didi initiative, targeting the training of 15,000 women as drone pilots, reflects a forward-looking approach.

Empowerment is also about easing everyday burdens. Over 10.56 crore smoke-free kitchens under the PM Ujjwala Yojana - Providing LPG GAS

The construction of more than 11.8 crore toilets under the Swachh Bharat

Mission has enhanced dignity and safety. Housing under the PM Awas Yojana, with 73% women beneficiaries.