Why in the News?

• Recently, the Supreme Court upheld the Madras High Court's decision invalidating a Tamil Nadu government order that allowed persons converting to Islam from specified Hindu social categories to obtain Backward Class Muslim certificates without establishing eligibility for the notified communities.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Conversion & Reservation (Court’s Ruling, Constitutional Framework, Identification of OBCs, Social Disadvantage Amongst Muslims, etc.)

Supreme Court Ruling on Conversion and Reservation

• In The Secretary to Government v. Sameer Ahamed N., the Supreme Court upheld the invalidation of Tamil Nadu's Government Order dated March 9, 2024.
• The order sought to enable persons converting to Islam from Backward Classes (BC), Most Backward Classes (MBC), Denotified Communities (DNC) and Scheduled Castes (SC) to obtain Backward Class Muslim certificates and access the state's 3.5% reservation for BC Muslims.
• The Court held that religious conversion does not automatically establish membership of a different notified backward community.
• A person does not become a member of a particular Muslim community merely by converting to Islam, and a community certificate cannot independently create legal eligibility.
• The ruling does not mean that Muslims cannot qualify as a backward class. Rather, the State must establish eligibility through a constitutionally valid classification supported by relevant evidence.

Constitutional Framework for Reservation

• The Constitution provides distinct legal frameworks for Scheduled Caste status and backward-class identification.
• Scheduled Castes

• Article 341: Empowers the President to specify Scheduled Castes for each State or Union Territory. Under Article 341(2), Parliament may subsequently include or exclude communities by law.
• Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950: Paragraph 3 currently restricts Scheduled Caste status to persons professing Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism. Conversion to Islam or Christianity does not preserve SC status under the existing Order merely because of a person's former caste identity.

• Socially and educationally backward classes

• Article 15(4): Enables special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
• Article 16(4): Permits reservation in public employment for backward classes that, in the State's opinion, are not adequately represented in public services.
• Article 342A: Provides the constitutional framework for identifying socially and educationally backward classes, while recognising States' authority to maintain their own lists for State purposes following the 105th Constitutional Amendment.

• Unlike the Scheduled Caste framework, backward-class identification is not restricted exclusively to Hindu caste identities. Non-Hindu communities may qualify if they satisfy the relevant constitutional criteria.

Evidence-Based Identification of Backward Classes

• The ruling highlights the importance of establishing a defensible basis for identifying a backward class rather than assuming that a person's previous classification automatically determines their eligibility after conversion.
• Mandal Commission framework
  • The Second Backward Classes Commission, chaired by B.P. Mandal, used 11 indicators covering social, educational and economic disadvantage.
  • Social indicators carried three points each, educational indicators two and economic indicators one, with a maximum score of 22.
  • The framework sought to identify communities experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage. Its broader principle remains relevant: backward-class identification requires a reasoned assessment of disadvantage rather than reliance on labels alone.
• Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Commission
  • The Tamil Nadu Government Order followed a letter from the Chairman of the State Backward Classes Commission.
  • The letter recorded a view that quantifiable data could be collected to assess how many converts had previously benefited from reservation.
  • However, no empirical inquiry established that converts from different Hindu classifications shared relevant social characteristics with Tamil Nadu's seven notified Muslim communities: Ansar, Dekkani Muslims, Dubekula, Labbais (including Rowthar and Marakayar), Mapilla, Sheik and Syed.

Evidence of Social Disadvantage Among Muslims

• The Sachar Committee, constituted in 2005 under Justice Rajindar Sachar, examined the social, economic and educational status of Muslims in India.
• Its 2006 report documented disadvantages in areas such as education, employment and access to credit.
• Such evidence demonstrates the importance of examining social disadvantage through empirical research.
• However, evidence of disadvantage among Muslims generally does not automatically establish that converts from particular Hindu BC or MBC communities belong to one of Tamil Nadu's notified backward Muslim communities.

Religious Conversion and Scheduled Caste Status

• The question of Scheduled Caste status after conversion remains distinct from the eligibility of converts for backward-class reservation.
• The National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, chaired by Justice Ranganath Misra, recommended in 2007 that Scheduled Caste status be delinked from religion by removing Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950. This recommendation did not itself amend the existing legal framework.
• In October 2022, a commission headed by former Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan was constituted to examine whether Scheduled Caste status could be extended to persons claiming historical SC origins who converted to religions outside those specified in the Presidential Order.
• The two questions involve different constitutional inquiries:

• Scheduled Caste status: Governed by Article 341 and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.
• Backward-class status: Governed by the framework under Articles 15(4) and 16(4), requiring identification of a socially and educationally backward class under the applicable State framework.

• The findings or recommendations concerning one category cannot automatically determine eligibility under the other.

Context

• India’s electoral system has evolved to make elections more inclusive, accessible and credible.
• However, mass revisions of electoral rolls, suspicious voter deletions, discrepancies in polling data and restrictions on access to election records have raised concerns about the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) effectiveness.
• The central challenge is to balance accurate electoral rolls with the constitutional right to vote.
• Transparency, accountability and institutional independence are essential to maintaining public confidence in elections.

Historical Lessons in Electoral Inclusion

• During the preparation of India’s first electoral roll, nearly 28 lakh women were excluded because they were identified through their relationships with men rather than registered in their own names.
• Sukumar Sen, India’s first Chief Election Commissioner, worked to register women as independent voters.
• By the 1957 elections, approximately 85% of the affected women had been registered under their own names.
• This experience established that every eligible citizen must be recognised as an independent political participant.
• Electoral administration must uphold universal adult suffrage and prevent procedural requirements from becoming instruments of exclusion.

Special Intensive Revision: Accuracy versus Exclusion

• The Bihar Experience
  • In Bihar, approximately 65 lakh names were missing from the draft electoral roll published in August 2025.
  • The ECI cited deaths, migration and duplicate entries as reasons for exclusion. Although accurate rolls are necessary, voters must be informed of the reasons for deletion and allowed to challenge mistakes.
  • The Supreme Court directed the ECI to publish excluded voters’ names along with the reasons for their exclusion.
  • Transparent verification and accessible appeals are essential to ensure that electoral revision does not result in wrongful disenfranchisement.
• The West Bengal Experience
  • In West Bengal, more than 27 lakh names were deleted during adjudication, leading to approximately 22 lakh appeals.
  • Tribunal judges reported technical problems with the appeals portal, including difficulties issuing notices, conducting hearings and restoring names.
  • These challenges demonstrate the importance of timely grievance redressal. An appeal decided after an election cannot restore a voter’s lost opportunity.
  • Electoral administration must therefore ensure that appeals are processed efficiently and eligible voters are not denied participation because of administrative failures.

The Form 7 Question

• Form 7 allows electors to request deletion of names from electoral rolls. In Aland, Karnataka, 6,018 online deletion applications were submitted.
• The ECI rejected 5,994 applications as incorrect and accepted only 24 after verification. An inquiry followed, and an FIR was registered.
• Although the rejection of incorrect applications demonstrates that safeguards can work, concentrated applications raise concerns about identity misuse and fraudulent deletions.
• Every request must undergo proper verification, supported by a traceable audit trail recording the applicant’s identity, evidence and final decision.
• Such safeguards can prevent electoral manipulation while protecting legitimate voters.

Transparency in Polling Data

• During Maharashtra’s 2024 Assembly election, reported turnout increased from 58.22% at 5 p.m. to 66.05% in the final figure.
• The ECI explained that the earlier figure was provisional and that updates continued as polling parties returned and records were scrutinised.
• The difference does not automatically establish malpractice, but substantial changes require clear explanations.
• Transparent data disclosure, documented updates and verifiable reconciliation procedures would enable citizens and independent observers to assess electoral claims objectively.

Public Access to Election Records

• In December 2024, following a Punjab and Haryana High Court order concerning election records in a Haryana Assembly election case, the government amended Rule 93 of the Conduct of Elections Rules.
• The change raised concerns about public access to electronic records, including CCTV footage and webcasting material.
• While voter privacy and data security deserve protection, restrictions must not prevent legitimate scrutiny.
• A balanced framework should establish clear rules for preserving, accessing and disclosing records while protecting sensitive information.
• Independent examination of election records is vital for accountability.

Institutional Independence of the Election Commission

• In Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023), the Supreme Court prescribed an interim selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India for appointing election commissioners.
• Parliament subsequently replaced the Chief Justice with a Union Cabinet Minister.
• The government consequently has two representatives on the three-member selection committee, raising concerns about executive influence over appointments.
• A transparent and impartial selection mechanism is necessary to strengthen the ECI’s credibility and perceived independence.
• Institutional autonomy is essential for ensuring that electoral rules are enforced fairly, regardless of political interests.

Conclusion

• India’s electoral democracy requires accurate electoral rolls, fair deletion procedures, timely appeals, transparent polling data and accessible election records.
• The ECI must combine administrative efficiency with accountability and institutional independence.
• Constitutional authority alone cannot replace verifiable evidence.
• Public confidence grows when decisions are explained, mistakes are corrected promptly and electoral processes remain open to legitimate scrutiny.
• Ultimately, the right to vote must be protected in both law and practice, ensuring that every eligible citizen can participate freely and equally in India’s democracy.

Context

• The India–United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) marks a new phase in bilateral economic relations.
• Its success will depend on translating negotiated commitments into tangible benefits for businesses, workers, universities and regional communities.
• The Great North delegation’s visit to India reflects this shift towards practical implementation, regional partnerships and sustainable economic growth.

Beyond Headlines: Converting Agreements into Opportunities

• Trade agreements create opportunities through tariff reductions, regulatory alignment and mobility provisions.
• However, businesses must understand how to access these benefits and fulfil the relevant requirements.
• Northern England and India share strong economic and cultural connections.
• Nearly 5,40,000 people of Indian origin live across the region, while Indian companies have invested over £1 billion in northwest England, supporting more than 6,700 jobs.
• Nearly 200 delegates, including mayors, businesses, universities and representatives from tourism, culture and sport, participated in the Great North delegation.
• Their objective was to strengthen trade, investment and academic collaboration.
• Former U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the trade pact as the floor, not the ceiling of bilateral relations.
• After 14 negotiation rounds, both countries must build on this foundation.
• India can become a strategic partner in research and development, technology, talent and supply chains, rather than merely a market for British goods.

From Visits to Action: Building Long-Term Partnerships

• High-level visits have maintained diplomatic momentum, but the present phase requires implementation, measurable outcomes and sustained business engagement.
• Government meetings, university partnerships, research collaborations and cultural exchanges can establish long-term connections.
• According to Grant Thornton UK's India Meets Britain Tracker, the number of Indian-owned companies in Britain increased by nearly 60% over the previous year, with combined revenues exceeding £105 billion.
• Bilateral trade reached £47.4 billion in 2025, registering 11.7% annual growth. Advanced manufacturing, clean energy and technology contributed to this expansion.
• CETA can accelerate trade and investment by improving market access and providing greater predictability.
• Its success should be measured through export growth, employment generation, investment flows and technology transfer, rather than the number of meetings conducted or commitments announced.

Regional Collaboration: Connecting India's Strengths with Britain's Industrial Heartlands

• A regional approach can connect the complementary strengths of Indian States and British industrial regions.
• India's economic diversity offers opportunities for targeted cooperation:
  • Maharashtra: Aerospace development and manufacturing.
  • Gujarat: Chemical exports and industrial collaboration.
  • Karnataka: Information technology and digital innovation.
  • Tamil Nadu: Pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• These partnerships can connect Indian industries with British research institutions, technology clusters and innovation-driven businesses.
• Northern England offers opportunities in manufacturing, education, research, tourism and culture, extending engagement beyond London.
• Regional cooperation can promote technology transfer, skill development, research partnerships and supply-chain integration.
• It can also distribute the benefits of international trade more widely among industries and communities.

Empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

• MSMEs are vital for employment, industrial development and export diversification.
• However, limited information, administrative capacity and financial resources often prevent them from fully utilising trade agreements.
• Businesses must determine whether their products qualify for preferential tariffs, comply with rules of origin, obtain appropriate documentation and manage administrative costs.
• These requirements can be particularly challenging for smaller exporters.
• Therefore, accessible information, simplified procedures, targeted training and institutional support are essential.
• MSMEs must also assess whether tariff preferences offer genuine commercial advantages.
• Greater participation by smaller enterprises can diversify exports, strengthen domestic supply chains and broaden the benefits of international trade.

Conclusion

• CETA offers significant opportunities to deepen India–U.K. economic cooperation.
• Rising bilateral trade, expanding Indian investment in Britain and stronger regional partnerships provide a promising foundation.
• The next phase must prioritise effective implementation, MSME participation, regional collaboration and business awareness.
• Ultimately, CETA should be judged by its ability to generate sustainable investment, employment, innovation, export growth and shared prosperity.

About Rajmargyatra Application:

• It is a citizen-centric unified mobile application developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
• This user-friendly app empowers travelers with comprehensive information on Indian National Highways while also offering an efficient complaint redressal system.
• The app is currently available in English, Hindi, and over 13 other regional languages.

●      Key Features:

• Comprehensive Highway Information:
  • 'Rajmargyatra' serves as a one-stop repository of essential information for National Highway users.
  • Get real-time weather conditions, timely broadcast notifications, and access to details about nearby toll plazas, petrol pumps, hospitals, hotels, and other essential services that ensure a seamless and safe journey on National Highways.
• Revamped Route Planner (EnRoute):
  • Get precise cost estimates and instantly see how much you save with the Annual Pass.
• Hassle-Free Complaint Redressal:
  • The app comes equipped with an inbuilt complaint redressal and escalation mechanism.
  • Users can easily report highway-related issues, attaching geo-tagged videos or photos for better clarity.
  • The registered complaints will be handled in a time-bound manner, with system-generated escalations to higher authorities in case of any delays.
  • Users can also track the status of their grievances for complete transparency.
• Seamless FASTag Services: 'Rajmargyatra' integrates its services with various bank portals, making it convenient for users to recharge their FASTags, avail monthly passes, and access other FASTag-related banking services – all within a single platform.
• Over-speeding notifications and voice assistance to encourage responsible and safe driving behavior.
• Report & Track Issues: Lodge and track complaints about road conditions, toll operations, or facilities.
• 24x7 Emergency Support: Get immediate assistance by calling the 1033 National Highway Helpline directly from the app.
• Toll Plaza Feedback: Enables National Highway users to rate their toll plaza experience, report concerns and suggest improvements.

About Osteoporosis:

• It is a disease in which the bones become weak and are likely to fracture (break).
• Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” Viewed under a microscope, a healthy bone looks like a honeycomb. When osteoporosis occurs, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb are much larger than in healthy bone.
• Osteoporotic bones have lost density or mass and contain abnormal tissue structure. As bones become less dense, they weaken and are more likely to break (bone fractures).
• Fractures can occur in any bone but happen most often in bones of the hip, vertebrae in the spine, and wrist.
• What Causes Osteoporosis?
  • Bones are made of living tissue. To keep them strong, the body breaks down old bone and replaces it with new bone.
  • Osteoporosis develops when more bone is broken down than replaced.
  • You lose bone mass, and changes happen in the structure of the bone tissue. This can happen as you get older.
  • Some of the common risk factors for developing osteoporosis include:
    • Are female
    • Over the age of 50
    • Are of white or Asian descent
    • Have a family history of osteoporosis
    • Have low body weight
    • Have low levels of sex hormones (low estrogen in women, low testosterone in men)
    • Have too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism)
    • Are chronically on certain medications such as steroids
  • Symptoms:
    • It is called a “silent” disease because it doesn’t usually cause symptoms.
    • Although most people are not aware that they may have osteoporosis until they experience a fracture, there are some signs and symptoms that you may experience in later stages of the condition. They include:
      • Back pain (in the presence of vertebral compression fracture)
      • Loss of height over time (this will be gradual)
      • A stooped posture
      • Low-impact bone fracture
    • Treatment: Treatment for osteoporosis may involve:
      • Making lifestyle changes, such as changing the diet and exercise routine
      • Taking calcium and vitamin D supplements
      • Using medicines to strengthen bones.

About Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C):

• I4C has been established under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to act as a nodal point at the National level in the fight against cybercrime.
• The I4C was dedicated to the nation on 10th January 2020.
• It is designed to provide a framework and ecosystem for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to deal with cybercrime in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
• I4C brings together academia, industry, public, and government in the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrimes.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Objectives:
  • To act as a nodal point to curb cybercrime in the country.
  • To strengthen the fight against cybercrime committed against women and children.
  • Facilitate easy filing of cybercrime-related complaints and identifying cybercrime trends and patterns.
  • To act as an early warning system for LEAs for proactive cybercrime prevention and detection.
  • Awareness creation among the public about preventing cybercrime.
  • Assist states/UTs in the capacity building of Police Officers, Public Prosecutors and Judicial Officers in the area of cyber forensics, investigation, cyber hygiene, cyber-criminology, etc.
  • Identify the research problems and needs of LEAs and take up R&D activities in developing new technologies and forensic tools in collaboration with academia/research institutes within India and abroad.
  • Suggest amendments, if required, in cyber laws to keep pace with fast-changing technologies and international cooperation.
  • To coordinate all activities related to the implementation of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLAT) with other countries related to cybercrimes in consultation with the concerned nodal authority in MHA.
• Components:
  • National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (TAU)
  • National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP)
  • National Cybercrime Training Centre (NCTC)
  • National Cybercrime Research and Innovation Centre
  • Platform for Joint Cyber Crime Coordination Team
  • Cybercrime Ecosystem Management Unit
  • National Cybercrime Forensic Laboratory (Investigation) Ecosystem
• Major Initiatives:
  • Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS): For immediate reporting of financial cyber frauds and preventing the siphoning of funds by cyber criminals on a near-real-time basis.
  • National Toll-Free Helpline number ‘1930’ has been operationalized to provide citizen assistance in lodging online cyber complaints.
  • The social media handle “CyberDost”, which provides cyber safety tips at regular intervals.
  • I4C has envisaged the Cyber Crime Volunteers Program to bring together citizens with a passion to serve the nation on a single platform and contribute to the fight against cybercrime in the country.
  • Pratibimb geospatial crime mapping platform maps locations of criminals and crime infrastructure on a map to give visibility to jurisdictional officers.
  • Samanvaya Portal:
    • It is a web-based Joint Cybercrime Investigation Facilitation System.
    • The platform works as a centralized one-stop system for cybercrime data sharing, crime mapping, data analytics, and coordination among police and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) across States and Union Territories.

How does the I4C differ from CERT-In (the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team)?

• The I4C is a Ministry of Home Affairs body focused on cybercrime against citizens and the policing response, including the 1930 helpline and the cybercrime reporting portal.
• CERT-In, under the Ministry of Electronics and IT and anchored in Section 70B of the IT Act, 2000, handles cybersecurity incident response and network protection rather than crime against persons.

About Bud Rot Disease:

• It is a fatal disease of the coconut palm, characterized by the rotting of the terminal bud and the surrounding tissues.
• It affects the palms of all ages, but young palms are found to be most vulnerable.
• It is caused by the fungus Phytophthora palmivora, which attacks the growing point of the coconut palm.
  • Once the growing point is attacked, the palm is beyond recovery.
• The incidence is found to be severe during the monsoon when the relative humidity is high.
• With the onset of dry weather, the infection becomes less severe, and the fungus remains dormant in the leaf base.
• The disease is often seen in river banks subject to flooding. Normally, the disease is observed sporadically in widely scattered palms.