February 2026

Motion of Thanks in Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha

Context: Amid continued protests by Opposition, Lok Sabha was adjourned; Speaker says the conduct of some Opposition members in his office was not appropriate, terms it a ‘black spot’

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address before it was passed in the Lok Sabha . In fact, he was not present in the House when the Motion was put to vote.
• The last time that the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address was passed without the Prime Minister’s reply was in June 2004, when then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could not deliver his reply to the debate in the Lok Sabha following BJP protests.
• He had then asked the Lok Sabha to put the Motion to vote without his reply. In his 2005 speech, Dr. Singh mentioned that he had not been allowed to speak the previous year.
• The Rajya Sabha adopted the Motion to Thank President Droupadi Murmu for her Address to the joint session of Parliament. The amendments moved by Opposition MPs were defeated in a voice vote in their absence. The Opposition had walked out of the House during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply to the debate.

Source: The Hindu

Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA)

Context: A tripartite agreement for creation of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) was signed between Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), Nagaland government and Union Home Ministry.

• The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. ENPO is an apex body representing eight recognised Naga tribes of the six eastern districts of Nagaland.
• The agreement paves the way for creation of the FNTA for six districts of Nagaland — Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak and Shamator — and devolution of powers in respect of 46 subjects to the FNTA.
• Mr. Shah said it was a significant day for a dispute-free Northeast. “Eleven years ago, several armed groups and disputes in the Northeast were pushing the region towards fragmentation and disturbing its peace. At the same time, many inter-State disputes were disrupting the peace of the States,” he said.
• Mr. Shah said that since 2019, the Centre has signed 12 important agreements in the Northeast. Mr. Shah said that he wants to assure the representatives of ENPO that the Government of India will assist in the development of Eastern Nagaland and also will shoulder its responsibility. He added that a fixed amount will be determined every year, and the MHA will cover the initial expenditure for its establishment.
• The agreement provides, inter alia, for a mini-Secretariat for FNTA, headed by Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary, sharing of development outlay for the Eastern Nagaland region proportional to population and area. However, this agreement does not affect in any manner, the provisions of Article 371(A) of the Constitution, the Ministry said.

Source: The Hindu

Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026

Context: The State Cabinet has decided to bring an amendment through the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to reintroduce ballot papers in the local body election. The decision was taken to bring transparency and secrecy in elections, a note said, adding that the government had decided to drop EVMs from the election process.

• The Cabinet also decided to bring amendment through Karnataka Police (Amendment) bill, 2026, to allow Police Establishment Board to transfer officials who have been suspended following dereliction of duty, gross negligence and misconduct.
• Currently because of the two-year tenure, the law had not permitted transfer of such officials though being suspended.
• The government has also decided to announce a one-time settlement scheme (OTS) for those who had availed themselves of loans from Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation between 2013 and 2019 when about ₹800 crore had been disbursed to beneficiaries under various schemes.

Tackling hate speech with AI

Context: Content on social media and other digital platforms can come under the scanner as the State government will deploy AI-powered Social Media Analytics Solution software to identify hate speech and malicious campaigns in news and advertising.

• Content on social media and other digital platforms could come under the scanner as the Karnataka government will deploy AI-powered ‘Social Media Analytics Solution’ software to identify hate speech, misinformation and malicious campaigns in news and advertising.
• The AI-based software will be used to assess misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and harmful narratives, especially for safety of women, children, and the public.
• The decision to deploy the AI-powered software at the cost of ₹67.26 crore was arrived at during the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister .
• “This is not only for fact checking, but also to identify manipulation on social media platforms and digital media platforms. Right now, the AI software will be deployed to assess. Law will come later and action will be initiated,”
• On the legal standing of screening of content, there is no absolute bar to screen or verify criminal intentions or manipulation.” He also clarified that this would not be applicable to news media outlets. “Fake media banners and houses will, however, not be spared, that there will be no human interference in this, and that no party or government will benefit.
• The Cabinet note said that the software would be developed adhering to guidelines on data sovereignty and data localisation, and cloud architecture would be developed adhering to the guidelines of MeitY. It also pointed out that the Department of IT/BT has after evaluation found the importance of IDTU project in controlling the spread of misinformation ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
• The proposed software will be proprietary algorithm, which will be dynamic and continuously renewed AI/ ML units since there is a threat of misinformation evolving and fixed algorithm was not an answer. There will be real-time alerts and geo-specific threat mapping. It would help in identifying new-age misinformation, hate speech, deep fakes, bot networks, multi-language narratives, and subject-based manipulations.

Source: The Hindu