EC discretion during SIR is not unregulated power: SC

Court ticks off EC for 'deviations, and says roll revision must be in line with prescribed norms; EC contends that Section 21(3) unshackles it from procedures, provided reasons are fair and recorded

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the Election Commission (EC) is blessed with the "widest discretions" but its "deviations" while revising electoral rolls, as in the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) exercise, cannot be "untrammelled or unregulated" in breach of principles of natural justice and procedure prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules of 1960.

Lowering the age of juvenility for crimes is a step back

It has been a decade since the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, or the JJ Act, came into force, altering the juvenile justice landscape by introducing the "transfer system." A Private Member's Bill introduced in Parliament in December 2025 has sought to amend the JJ Act by lowering the age threshold from 16 to 14 years for children accused of "heinous" offences. These are offences with a minimum punishment of seven years' imprisonment or more. If enacted, this will permit 14 to 15 year olds to potentially be exposed to adult criminal trial processes and prison, further eroding principles of care, rehabilitation and reintegration and prioritising retribution.

Building bridges

The benefits of cross-border CBDC payments could outweigh costs

The RBI's reported moves towards encou-raging India's BRICS partners to link their digital currencies with the RBI's own Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) are sensible but one that could pose some risks. According to news reports, the RBI has recommended to the Centre that a proposal connecting the CBDCs of the BRICS countries be made part of the agenda for the 2026 BRICS summit in India. This is a natural progression of India's push during its presidency of the G-20 in 2023 for international cooperation and standardisation on cryptocurrencies.

Judicial removal - tough law with a loophole

Impeachment of a judge of the Supreme Court of India is provided for in Articles 124(4) and 124(5) of the Constitution and that of a High Court judge in Articles 217(1)(b) and 218. The term 'impeachment' is not used in the Constitution which instead uses the term 'removal' in the case of judges. The term 'impeachment' is used only in the context of the removal of the President of India from office (Article 61). The procedure laid down in Article 124 for the removal of a Supreme Court judge applies to a High Court judge as well.

Meaningless formality

The conduct of Governors has undermined their constitutional role

The actions of Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi and his Kerala counterpart Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar during their customary Legislative Assembly addresses on January 20 came as no surprise to those who have followed the conduct of Governors in non BJP-ruled States. In Chennai, Mr. Ravi declined to read the speech, which, his office said, had "unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements" to justify his walk out. In the past three years, the Governor has either digressed from the prepared speech or refused to read it out before walking out.

Why Al infrastructure matters more

The central insight of the white paper is simple but profound: Al access is destiny. Nations that control and democratise Al infrastructure will shape innovation; those that do not will remain dependent.

Trump's Greenland quest unravels NATO and EU ties

The battle for the Arctic territory heats up as EU leaders mull a €93 billion 'trade bazooka to counter Washington's ultimatum.

Should corruption charges need prior sanction?

The PCA, 1988 provides for punishment with respect to offences committed by public servants while performing public duties.

Section 19 of the PCA, 1988 requires prior sanction from the appropriate government before prosecution of a public servant in a court of law.

In Vineet Narain versus Union of India (1998), the Supreme Court struck down an executive order, referred to as 'Single Directive', issued to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), that required prior sanction of the designated authority before initiating investigation against certain categories of public servants.

A fight over figures: the constitutional debate over numerals

A forgotten but fiery debate in the Constituent Assembly once pitted cultural pride against pragmatic modernity over something as simple as numerals. This controversy reminds us how even digits became symbols of identity and plurality.

One of the most passionate debates in the Constituent Assembly was not just about fundamental rights or federalism, but about the choice of numerals – -Devanagari (१, २, ३) or international numerals (1, 2, 3). Two blocs emerged: the traditionalists who championed Devanagari, and the moderates who favoured international numerals.

SC tells States to frame policy on police media briefing in 3 months

The Supreme Court has directed the State governments to evolve a policy for police-media briefing modelled on a manual prepared by the court's amicus curiae, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, establishing a "principled, rights-compatible and investigation-safe framework".

Rupee sinks 68 paisa to fresh low of *91.7/USD on persistent FPI outflow

Indian rupee depreciated to a fresh low of ₹91.65 a dollar on Wednesday on continued capital outflow and rising risk of U.S. acquisition of Greenland.

A Carney doctrine for a third way in global politics

As Prime Minister, Mark Carney has been trying to advance a new framework for Canada's identity and engagement with the world. In his speech at Davos on January 20, Mr. Carney outlined a new agenda for the world a "third -path". The suggestion seems to be to steer clear of the emerging rivalry between the U.S. and China, premised on what he called a "values-based realism", citing Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

While other leaders of the West are trying to brush off the current volatility in U.S. policy and behaviour as an aberration induced by just one person - President Donald Trump - Mr. Carney sees it as a rupture, not a transition, and expects no return to any old order. Because, Mr. Carney said, the old order was about living a lie.