January 2026

Lokapal: HC gives Lokpal two months to decide on sanction against MP

Context: The Delhi High Court on Friday granted two months’ time to the Lokpal of India to decide on granting sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a chargesheet against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in connection with the cash-for-query allegations against her.

• A Division Bench allowed the application filed by the Lokpal of India seeking additional time to decide the matter.
• The court also clarified that no further time would be granted.
• The High Court, on December 19, 2025, had set aside a November order of the Lokpal granting sanction to the CBI to file a chargesheet against the Trinamool MP in the case. It had said the Lokpal’s decision was a clear departure from the procedure expressly mandated under law. The order came on a plea filed by Ms. Moitra challenging the Lokpal’s decision.
• Ms. Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December 2024 after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and advocate Jai Dehadrai alleged that she had taken a bribe from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions in Parliament. She was accused of compromising her parliamentary privileges and causing national security threats by sharing her Lok Sabha login credentials.

Governors: Gubernatorial walkouts test constitutional limits

Context: The walkouts of Governors from the inaugural State Legislative Assembly sessions in Opposition-ruled Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala mark a departure from the “limited freewheeling” allowed to them under the Constitution.

• Article 176 (1) mandates that Governors, at the commencement of the first session of each year, “shall” address the Legislative Assembly or, in the case of a State having a Legislative Council, both Houses assembled together and inform the Legislature of the causes of its summons.
• Reports said the Karnataka government may approach the Supreme Court for a judicial declaration on the constitutionality of these gubernatorial walkouts after selective or aborted reading of the special address to the assembled legislators, and indirectly to the people they represent in the Assembly. Leaders from these States argue that the Governors have no discretion to skip paragraphs or not read them in toto. The address articulates the policy of the State Cabinet, whose advice the Governors are to abide.
• The Constituent Assembly Debates quoted Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on the role of the Governor in Parliamentary democracy, “The Governor under the Constitution has no functions which he can discharge by himself; no functions at all. While he has no functions, he has certain duties to perform… He is the representative not of a party; he is the representative of the people as a whole of the State.”
• The Supreme Court in its judgment in the Tamil Nadu Governor case held that the discretionary powers of the Governor cannot have the “effect of negating the powers of a responsible government”. The following Presidential Reference agreed to term the Governor as a “guide, philosopher and a friend of the government and the people in general”.
• A seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court in the 1974 case of Shamsher Singh versus State of Punjab observed that for a centrally appointed constitutional functionary to “take up public stances critical of government policy settled by the Cabinet” amounted to “unconstitutional faux pas and ran counter to Parliamentary system”.
• The Supreme Court has consistently held that the discretionary powers of Governors are plainly stated in the Constitution. Governors cannot cross the line. A Constitution Bench in the 2016 Nabam Rebia case observed that the Constitution allows Governors elbow room in giving assent or withhold or refer a Bill for Presidential assent, the appointment of the Chief Minister, the dismissal of a government which has lost confidence but refuses to quit since the Chief Minister holds office during the pleasure of the Governor, the dissolution of the House, the Governor’s report under Article 356 (President’s rule), and while exercising gubernatorial responsibility for specific States.
• The court said addressing the House under Article 175(1) or making a special address under Article 176(1) were “executive functions” performed by the Governor on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
• The Shamsher Singh judgment spelt out clearly that even the “limited freewheeling” allowed to the Governor was “not left to the sweet will of the Governor but remote-controlled by the Union Ministry which is answerable to Parliament for those actions”.
• The court reasoned that if discretion was permitted to the Governor in every one of his roles, Parliamentary democracy would become a “dope” and the Head of the State would become a “reincarnation of Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for India, untroubled by even the British Parliament – a little taller in power than the U.S. President”.

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)

• OCI quota rules amended
• The State government has amended the Karnataka Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Capitation Fee) Act, 1984 (Karnataka act 37 of 1984), for admission to government seats in professional educational institutions rules, 2006, and announced the gazette notification draft rules specifying the quotas for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) in medical education.
• As per the draft, Overseas Citizen of India born on or before March 4, 2021 or being an OCI card holder before the said date will not be entitled for any reservation applicable to a citizen of India.
• Meanwhile, the OCI candidates born on or after March 5, 2021 or being an OCI card holder after the date are eligible for admission only against any Non-Resident Indian (NRI) seat or any supernumerary seat.

India to become third largest space-tech economy by 2030: Report

Context: India’s space economy, currently estimated at $13 billion, is set to touch $40 billion by 2030, according to the recent India Spacetech-2026 report by early-stage venture capital (VC) firm, Arkam Ventures.

• Titled ‘India’s Space Odyssey’, the report forecasts the sector to grow at twice the pace of the global market and that structural shifts in India’s spacetech ecosystem will propel it to the world’s third-largest space-tech economy by 2030. The growth will be fuelled by cost-efficient engineering, deep manufacturing capabilities and a new generation of start-ups building advanced space technologies for customers worldwide, it noted.
• Over the past five years, more than 300 space-tech start-ups have emerged in India, in areas such as satellite manufacturing, earth observation, launch vehicles, and in-space solutions. “More than two-thirds of the historical capital flows in the Indian spacetech sector have come in the last five years, post the space policy being formulated. We expect $3 billion to $5 billion of private capital flows in the sector over the next couple of years to fund cutting edge space innovations.” the report read. According to the VC, this momentum is built on ISRO’s legacy of low-cost, high-impact missions and its active support for private innovation.

• “India is uniquely positioned to lead the global spacetech sector fuelled by the unique ecosystem development role played by the ISRO and the support from the government. Over the next five years, we expect $3billion to $3.5 billion of the VC and Private Equity investments in the sector,” said Rahul Chandra, managing director, Arkam Ventures.

Sinners makes Oscar history with record 16 nominations

Context: Vampire period horror film Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, smashed the all-time Oscars record with 16 nominations, the Academy announced. The tally included a best actor nomination for Michael B. Jordan.

One Battle After Another came in second with 13 nods including best picture, best actor for Leonardo DiCaprio and best director for Paul Thomas Anderson.

Guillermo del Toro’s monster epic Frankenstein, Timothee Chalamet-led ping-pong drama Marty Supreme and Norwegian arthouse favourite Sentimental Value each bagged nine nominations. Period drama Hamnet secured eight nods including best actress for Jessie Buckley.

• Mr. DiCaprio, Mr. Chalamet and Mr. Jordan will battle for the best actor Oscar, along with Ethan Hawke for Broadway period drama Blue Moon and Wagner Moura from Brazilian political thriller The Secret Agent. For best actress, Ms. Buckley will compete with Emma Stone in conspiracy theorist drama Bugonia, Renate Reinsve in Sentimental Value, Kate Hudson in music biopic Song Sung Blue, and Rose Byrne in indie hit If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.
• Persian-language Palme d’Or winner It Was Just An Accident, Spain’s hippie odyssey Sirat and heart-wrenching Palestinian docudrama The Voice of Hind Rajab will compete for best international film.

Theyyam, a ritual art form of northern Kerala

Context: Theyyam is a ritualistic art form practiced in the northern districts of Kerala, especially Kannur and Kasaragod. It is a sacred performance tradition in which the performer is believed to embody a deity or ancestral spirit during the ritual.

Key Features

• Religious–ritual nature: Performed in kavus (sacred groves) and temples.
• Transformation of the performer: Elaborate make-up, face painting, towering headgear, and costumes symbolize the deity.
• Trance and possession: The performer enters a trance state, during which devotees seek blessings and oracles.
• Social dimension: Many Theyyam deities represent folk heroes, ancestors, and oppressed communities, reflecting social justice themes.

Music and Performance

• Accompanied by traditional percussion like chenda and elathalam.
• Includes ritual dances, songs, and fire rituals.

Cultural Significance

• Preserves folk beliefs, oral traditions, and local history.
• Represents the syncretic culture of Kerala, blending religion, art, and social memory.

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)-Equity infusion

Cabinet okays ₹5,000 crore equity infusion into SIDBI

Context: The Union Cabinet approved an equity infusion of ₹5,000 crore into the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to expand the credit available to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

• The infusion will be made by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) in three tranches. Of the total amount, ₹3,000 crore will be infused in 2025-26 at a book value of ₹568.65 as on March 31, 2025, and ₹1,000 crore each in 2026-27 and 2027-28 at the book value prevailing at the end of the respective previous financial year.
• “After the capital infusion, the number of MSMEs to be provided financial assistance is expected to increase from 76.26 lakh at the end of financial year 2025 to 102 lakh (approximately 25.74 lakh new MSME beneficiaries will be added) by the end of financial year 2027-28,” the government said.
• According to official data, as of September 30, 2025, about 6.9 crore MSMEs registered with the government employed 30.16 crore people. This worked out to an average employment generation of 4.37 persons per enterprise, it said. Based on this average, the addition of new MSME beneficiaries is estimated to generate employment for about 1.12 crore people by 2027-28.
• The additional capital infusion would be necessary to help SIDBI maintain a strong capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (CRAR), as its risk-weighted assets are expected to grow with increased lending to MSMEs. “A healthy CRAR, well above the mandated level, is a key to protecting credit ratings,” the release said. “SIDBI will benefit from an infusion of additional share capital by maintaining a healthy CRAR. This infusion of additional capital would enable SIDBI to generate resources at fair interest rates, thereby increasing the flow of credit to MSMEs at competitive costs.”