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- Why in News?
- The Supreme Court has strongly pulled up the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the handling of Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
- Key Provisions:-
- It directed the ECI to publish the names of nearly 65 lakh excluded voters, along with reasons for their removal. This intervention highlights serious flaws in the Commission’s process, which lacked transparency and fairness.
- The ECI has claimed that deletions were due to deaths, migration, or duplicate entries, yet no individualised reasons were provided.
- Data suggests troubling anomalies: women have been disproportionately excluded, even though male migration and mortality rates are higher. Reports also show genuine voters wrongly declared dead or missing despite valid documents.
- The Court’s order allowing Aadhaar as proof is a step toward correcting these errors. With universal suffrage central to Indian democracy, the upcoming hearings and the ECI’s corrective measures will determine whether public faith in the voter enrolment process can be restored.
- Why in News?
- The Anchorage summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin fell short of a breakthrough on the Ukraine war but succeeded in opening a diplomatic channel.
- Key Provisions:-
- Ukraine dominated the discussions, reflecting the sharpest point of contention between Washington and Moscow. While Mr.
- Trump reiterated calls for a ceasefire, Mr. Putin maintained that only a comprehensive peace agreement addressing the “root causes” could end the conflict. This divergence underscores the complexity of finding common ground.
- Nevertheless, hints at a possible arms control pact and a broader dialogue between the world’s two nuclear superpowers were notable.
- Reports suggest Russia could consider freezing hostilities along certain frontlines if it retains control over Donbas, a proposition Ukraine rejects.
- With President Zelenskyy scheduled to meet Mr. Trump, the road ahead remains uncertain. Any resolution must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, as peace in Eastern Europe hinges on credible guarantees against future aggression.
- Why in News?
- India has firmly rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) award concerning the interpretation of the Indus Waters Treaty, reiterating its consistent stand that disputes must be resolved bilaterally in line with the treaty’s provisions. New Delhi maintains that third-party adjudication undermines the spirit of cooperation envisioned in the agreement with Pakistan.
- Key Provisions:-
- The PCA is a treaty-based intergovernmental body created to facilitate arbitration and peaceful settlement of disputes between states. Established in 1899 through the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes at the first Hague Peace Conference, the PCA has grown into a key institution in global dispute resolution. Today, it has 125 member states, including India, as contracting parties. The organization is headquartered at the historic Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.
- India’s rejection of the award underscores its emphasis on bilateralism and respect for the original framework of the Indus Waters Treaty.