India-Japan Strategic Partnership: The Beginning of a New Era

General Studies Paper – II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.

India-Japan Strategic Partnership: The Beginning of a New Era

General Studies Paper – II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.

The Crisis of Fair Trial: 'Process as Punishment' vs. Personal Liberty

General Studies Paper – II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.

Context

The status of undertrial prisoners and pending trials under special laws including UAPA has presented a serious challenge before the Indian judiciary. This debate focuses on the need to maintain a constitutional balance between national security and personal liberty.

Right to a Fair Trial

The right to a fair trial is a fundamental human right. In the case of Hussainara Khatoon vs. State of Bihar, the Supreme Court clarified that a 'speedy trial' is an integral part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21. This is essential for the transparency and democratic robustness of the justice system.

Reasons for Discussion

• An Additional Sessions Court in Delhi rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots cases.

• This decision was given in compliance with the Supreme Court's order dated January 5, 2026, in which the court had denied bail, finding a prima facie case.
• The concerned undertrial prisoners have spent a long period of five to six years in custody without any conviction.
• This situation raises a serious question as to "how long is too long" to keep people in jail without being found guilty.
• A debate has also emerged on whether the prolonged time spent in prison in itself turns the 'process into punishment'.
• The question arises whether excessive delay transforms the 'process into punishment', leading to the violation of human rights.

Bail, Delay, and Rights

Section 43D(5) of the UAPA imposes strict statutory restrictions on bail, but according to constitutional jurisprudence, these restrictions cannot completely abrogate the right to personal liberty under Article 21. When the question of delay is sidelined at the bail stage solely on the basis of the gravity of the offense, it creates a grave situation against personal liberty.

Legal Anomaly

Inconsistency is often observed in the judicial decisions of the lower and higher courts. Variation in the facts of cases is a part of judicial discretion, but ensuring the continuity of the 'rule of law' remains a constant challenge for the judiciary.

Supreme Court Guidelines and Legal Review

• State of Rajasthan vs. Balchand (1977): In this landmark judgment, the Supreme Court propounded the principle of "bail is the rule, jail is the exception".

• Sanjay Chandra vs. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), 2011: Reaffirming the principle of Balchand, the Supreme Court stated that keeping an undertrial accused in prison unnecessarily is contrary to the right to personal liberty, and the protection of Article 21 must be kept in mind while deciding on bail.
• K. A. Najeeb vs. Union of India (2021): This is a highly significant judgment in which the Supreme Court highlighted that if the trial is not likely to be completed in a long time, bail can be granted on the grounds of Article 21 despite the stringent provisions of UAPA.

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 21: Right to life and personal liberty, which encompasses a speedy trial.

• Article 14: Right to equality before the law and equal protection of the laws, which forms the basis of a fair judicial process.

Analysis

Special laws like UAPA are crucial from the perspective of national security, but due to their stringent bail provisions and pending trials, maintaining a balance between personal liberty and the right to speedy justice is a continuous challenge for both the judiciary and the legislature. This is not merely a legal question, but a matter of preserving constitutional values.

Way Forward

• Speedy Trial: Strengthening special courts for the swift disposal of pending cases, filling vacant posts of judges immediately, and strengthening judicial infrastructure.

• Digital Evidence Management: Using modern technology to expedite judicial processes.
• Witness Protection: Ensuring the safety of witnesses for a fair trial.
• Constitutional Balance: Discouraging 'process as punishment' by the judiciary in line with the spirit of judgments like K.A. Najeeb.

Conclusion

Both national security and personal liberty are essential pillars of a constitutional democracy. The true test of a justice system is to establish a balance between these two, ensuring that justice is not only done but is also seen to be done in a timely and fair manner.

Vikram-1 and Mission Aagaman: India's Private Space Era

General Studies Paper – III: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management.

Context

India's space sector is undergoing a historic transformation. Following the government's decision in 2020 to open the space sector to private participation, Indian private companies have begun to demonstrate their technical capabilities. In this sequence, the upcoming launch of 'Vikram-1', developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, underscores the emergence of an independent and capable private ecosystem outside the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Vikram-1: What is it?

Vikram-1 is India's first privately developed 'orbital-class' rocket. 'Orbital-class' means that this rocket is capable of placing satellites into Earth's Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This rocket has been specifically designed to target the small satellite market.

Main Reasons for Discussion

• Launch Window: Skyroot Aerospace has announced the first test flight of Vikram-1 under 'Mission Aagaman'.

• Timeline: This launch is scheduled between July 12 and August 4, 2026.
• Process: All stages of the rocket have been successfully integrated and stacked on the launch pad. This mission will collect critical data such as propulsion, stage separation, guidance, and navigation.

Vikram-1

• Manufacturer: It has been developed by the Hyderabad-based private startup 'Skyroot Aerospace'.

• Technical Specifications:
  • Propulsion System: It is a 4-stage rocket, which is a unique combination of solid and liquid propulsion.
    • Solid Stages: Its first three stages are powered by solid-fuel motors (Kalam-1200, Kalam-250, and Kalam-100).
    • Liquid Stage: The fourth/upper stage is equipped with four 'Raman-I' engines, which use MMH (Monomethylhydrazine) and NTO (Nitrogen Tetroxide). This is critical for precise orbital insertion.
  • 3D-Printed Technology: The rocket utilizes specially 3D-printed 'Raman-I' liquid engines and other advanced manufacturing techniques, which have improved production time, cost, and manufacturing efficiency.
  • GNC System: The rocket uses a fully indigenous Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) system, which operates autonomously during the flight.
• Significance:
  • Cost-Effective: Provides a cheap and reliable medium for launching small satellites.
  • Self-Reliance: Further strengthens India's indigenous space capabilities.
  • Commercial Success: This 'Mission Aagaman' will serve as the foundation for a major commercial flight for Skyroot, paving the way for fully commercial missions in the future.

Other Important Points

• Historical Background: This mission is the second major step after the successful suborbital flight of 'Vikram-S' on November 18, 2022.

• Mission Name: The word 'Aagaman' means 'beginning' or 'start', which symbolizes the new era of the Indian private space industry.
• Launch Site: It will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, which demonstrates the shared use of ISRO's infrastructure.

Analysis

The testing of Vikram-1 demonstrates the maturity of India's 'New Space' approach. It shows that India is not only proficient in large government missions but is also ready to compete in the global space market through the private sector. The indigenization of technology and the use of 3D printing are strategic steps towards making India a 'Global Launch Hub'.

Way Forward

• Expansion of Infrastructure: There is a need to encourage private companies to build private launchpads.

• Regulation: Regulatory bodies like IN-SPACe should further simplify the approval process for private companies.
• Research and Development: Focusing on reusable rocket technology in the future will further reduce costs.

Conclusion

Vikram-1 is not just a rocket, but the result of the synergy between India's technical aspirations and private entrepreneurship. The success of 'Mission Aagaman' will establish India as a major global player in the space economy. If India continues to support its private sector with this momentum, it will not only become self-reliant in satellite launching but will also become a preferred destination for space services at the global level.

New Trend of GST Collection in India: Genuine Value Addition or Imported Inflation?

General Studies Paper – III: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.

Context

India implemented a historic reform in its indirect tax system in 2017 by introducing the 'Goods and Services Tax' (GST). Currently, India has successfully completed nine years of operation of this integrated destination-based tax system. Recently released tax collection data for the month of June has once again brought this system into the center of discussion. A major surge has been witnessed in GST collection in the first quarter of the current financial year (FY27), which at first glance indicates economic resilience. However, an in-depth analysis of these figures by economic experts has brought a new perspective to light, which shows that this surge is driven more by global factors and imported inflation rather than an improvement in domestic manufacturing.

What is GST?

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a comprehensive, multi-stage, destination-based indirect tax for the entire country, which has subsumed all indirect taxes (such as VAT, excise duty, service tax, etc.) from manufacturing to final consumption.

• Types of GST: It is mainly divided into three categories:
  • CGST (Central GST): Tax levied by the Central Government on the supply of goods and services within a state.
  • SGST / UTGST (State/Union Territory GST): Tax levied by the State or Union Territory government on supply within the state.
  • IGST (Integrated GST): Tax levied by the Central Government on inter-state trade and commerce as well as on imports into India. The states' share from this is later transferred to them.
• Center and State Share: The total tax revenue generated from transactions within a state is divided equally between the Center and the respective State in a 50:50 ratio as CGST and SGST.
• Key Rules: GST primarily operates on the 'destination-based' principle, meaning that the tax is received by the state where the final consumption of goods or services takes place, and not where they were produced. Additionally, there is a provision for Input Tax Credit (ITC) to prevent double taxation in the supply chain.

Reasons for Discussion

Following the recent data, this topic remains a matter of serious debate among policymakers and economists due to the following main reasons:

• Sharp Increase in Collection vs. Domestic Slowdown: A massive surge has been recorded in GST collection in June data, but conversely, economic indicators on the domestic front do not look as strong.
• Imported Inflation: The main point of discussion is that the primary reason for this acceleration in tax collection is not domestic value addition, but goods coming from abroad at expensive rates and imported inflation.
• Unexpected Role of IGST: Integrated tax levied on imports (Import IGST) played the biggest role in boosting total collection, outpacing the pace of domestic tax growth.

Reasons for the Surge in GST Collection

The following key factors were behind the unexpected growth in June GST collection (which primarily reflects economic activities of May):

• Increase in Value of Imported Goods: In the month of May, the value of merchandise imports of crude oil and petroleum products registered a massive year-on-year (YoY) growth of 54%. Additionally, the import value of gold also increased by 34%. These expensive imports directly expanded the tax base.
• Surge in Gold Prices and Hedging: Between last May and this May, gold prices in the global market saw a massive increase of about 60%. Due to investors buying gold as 'hedging' (safe investment) during times of economic uncertainty, its import value went up.
• Increase in Import Duty: To control the rising import of gold, the government increased the import duty on it from 6% to 15% on May 13. This policy decision mechanically boosted the import GST pool for May.
• Depreciation of the Rupee: Since the latter half of February, the Indian Rupee has weakened by about 6% against the US Dollar. With the weakening of the rupee, every item coming from abroad became more expensive in terms of Indian currency, which automatically increased the collection of IGST.
• Increase in Freight Charges and Non-Oil Imports: A sudden sharp rise in global ocean freight charges and a 14.5% increase in non-oil imports in May (at higher global prices) worked to pull up the tax collection.

Key GST Statistics

• Total June GST Collection: ₹1.95 lakh crore (13.9% year-on-year growth).

• Import IGST Growth: A massive jump of 34.6% compared to June 2025 (it was 17.2% in May).
• Domestic GST Collection Growth: A modest growth of only 6.5%.
• Expansion of Taxpayer Base: From about 66 lakh taxpayers in the year 2017, the number of taxpayers today has grown to more than 1.65 crore.
• Performance of Major Industries: In the first quarter (Q1 FY27), the expansion of the country's eight core industries was only 2.8%, compared to 6% in the same period last year.
• Manufacturing Index (HSBC Manufacturing PMI): The latest reading was recorded at 54.2, which is stable but indicates a slowing down of factory activities (this is the second-lowest expansion in the last 13 months).

Economic Impact

• Strengthening Fiscal Position: High tax collection has increased government revenue, which will help keep the fiscal deficit under check.

• Cost-Push Inflation: Since imported inputs (raw materials and oil) have become expensive, the cost of domestic manufacturing will rise, the ultimate burden of which will fall on consumers.
• Pressure on Trade Deficit: Due to the high import value of gold and petroleum, the country's current account deficit could be affected.

Concerns and Challenges

• Weak Domestic Demand: Growth of just 6.5% in domestic GST indicates that actual consumption and demand within the country remain sluggish.
• Weakness in Core Sectors: Growth in core infrastructure sectors such as crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, and electricity has been lower than expected.
• Relatively Low Manufacturing Growth: Declining PMI figures confirm the slowing momentum of factories.
• Unresolved Structural Issues: Even after nine years of the tax system, regulations related to Input Tax Credit (ITC), legal litigation, and federal balance disputes regarding revenue sharing between the Center and States have not been fully resolved.

Need for Institutional and Policy Reforms

Given this new form of GST, it is now essential to make the tax structure focused on economic stability rather than just being revenue-centric.

• Simplification of GST Slabs: There is a need to rationalize the current complex multi-tier rates (5%, 12%, 18%, 28%) and reduce the number of slabs to make compliance easier.
• Bringing Petroleum and Electricity under the Ambit: To provide relief to the country's core industries, consensus-based consideration can be given to the long-pending demand of bringing petroleum products and the electricity sector under the ambit of GST in a phased manner, allowing manufacturers to get the full benefit of Input Tax Credit.

Economic Analysis

The current brightness seen in GST collection is a reflection of external market inflation rather than the internal strength of the Indian economy. Sluggish domestic tax collection amidst a decline in domestic manufacturing and PMI highlights the lack of real demand within the country. Therefore, considering this revenue surge as a yardstick of economic prosperity could create a policy illusion.

Way Forward

• Focus on Domestic Value Addition: Instead of relying solely on imports, the government should encourage the production of capital goods and industrial inputs domestically under 'Make in India'.

• Proactiveness of the GST Council: In upcoming meetings, a swift mechanism should be created to remove anomalies related to Input Tax Credit (ITC) and resolve disputes with states.
• Stability of Currency: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will have to take concrete steps to prevent excessive volatility of the rupee globally, so as to minimize the shocks of imported inflation.

Conclusion

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has certainly formalized and strengthened India's indirect tax structure over the past nine years, as evidenced by the growing number of taxpayers. However, the June data serves as a warning to policymakers that the recent revenue surge is sustained by imported inflation and a weak rupee rather than sustainable domestic production. For long-term and sustainable economic growth, the government must pay special attention to reviving domestic manufacturing and ground-level demand along with the volume of tax collection.