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March 25th Current Affairs
Table of Contents
March 25, 2026
March 16, 2026
February 21, 2026
February 19, 2026
February 9, 2026
February 9, 2026
February 5, 2026
February 2, 2026
January 30, 2026
January 28, 2026
SC status is only for Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists
The Supreme Court of India (March 2026) ruled that:
- SC status is only for Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists
- Conversion to any other religion (e.g., Christianity, Islam) leads to immediate loss of SC status
Constitutional & Legal Provisions
- Article 341 (Scheduled Castes)
- President notifies SCs for each state.
- Parliament can amend the list.
- Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950
- Key provision (Clause 3):
- SC status limited to Hindus (originally).
- Later extended to:
- Sikhs (1956 amendment)
- Buddhists (1990 amendment)
Hence, legally only 3 religions are covered.
- SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
- Uses same definition of SC → benefits lost after conversion.
- Scheduled Tribes (STs) – Important Difference
- Religion NOT a criterion for ST status
- Based on:
- Tribe identity
- Customs & social practices
What is this Case?
- Case involved a person who:
- Was born SC
- Converted to Christianity
- Filed a case under SC/ST Act
Court held:
- Cannot practice another religion AND claim SC benefits simultaneously
- Loss of status is:
- Immediate
- Absolute
- No exceptions
Is Religious Conversion Allowed in India?
Yes ✔
Under Article 25:
- Freedom to:
- Profess
- Practice
- Propagate religion
BUT:
- Subject to:
- Public order
- Morality
- Health
States can regulate:
- Forced / fraudulent conversions
Which Religions Get SC Benefits Now?
Eligible:
- Hindu
- Sikh
- Buddhist
Not Eligible:
- Christian
- Muslim
- Jain (not included under SC Order despite being a minority religion)
Why Not Other Religions?
Constitutional Reason:
- SC concept is linked to caste-based untouchability, historically present in:
- Hindu social structure
- Later extended to Sikhism & Buddhism
Judicial Logic:
- Other religions (Islam, Christianity):
- Do not recognize caste officially
- Hence, legal basis for SC status weak
Court view:
- SC is a social + religious category, not purely economic
Criticism
Arguments FOR inclusion:
- Caste discrimination continues even after conversion
- Dalit Christians/Muslims still face social exclusion
Arguments AGAINST:
- SC is meant for historical caste oppression within Hindu fold
- Extending may:
- Distort reservation system
- Create policy overlap
Amendments Related to SC Religion
Amendment | Change |
1950 Order | Only Hindus |
1956 Amendment | Included Sikhs |
1990 Amendment | Included Buddhists |
No inclusion of other religions till now.
Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025
- Released annually by Transparency International
What is CPI?
- A global index measuring perceived levels of public sector corruption
- Based on:
- Expert assessments
- Business surveys
- Score range:
- 0 = Highly corrupt
- 100 = Very clean
India’s Rank in 2025
- Rank: 91 out of 182 countries
- Score: 39/100
- Change: Improved from 96th (2024)
Interpretation:
- Slight improvement, but still below global average – corruption remains high
Global Trend (2025)
- Global average score: ~42 (decline)
- Majority of countries show:
- Stagnation or worsening corruption
- Only limited countries improved
Conclusion:
- Corruption is increasing / stagnating globally
India Trend
- Rank improved (96 → 91)
- Score increased slightly (38 → 39)
Conclusion:
- Marginal improvement, but systemic corruption persists
Impact of Corruption
- Economic Impact (GDP)
- Reduces investment (FDI declines)
- Increases cost of doing business
- Leads to inefficient allocation of resources
Effect:
- Lower GDP growth
- Studies show corruption can reduce GDP growth by 1–2% annually (approx trend)
- Governance Impact
- Weak institutions
- Policy paralysis
- Reduced trust in government
- Social Impact
- Inequality increases
- Poor suffer most
- Denial of basic services
- Political Impact
- Electoral corruption
- Crony capitalism
- Weak democracy
Reasons for Corruption
Structural
- Bureaucratic red tape
- Discretionary powers
Institutional
- Weak enforcement agencies
- Delay in judiciary
Political
- Black money in elections
- Lack of transparency in funding
Social
- Low awareness
- Acceptance of corruption as “normal”
SHAKTI Initiative
- Focuses on:
- S – Strengthening institutions
- H – Human resource accountability
- A – Accountability mechanisms
- K – Knowledge transparency (RTI, digital governance)
- T – Technology use (e-governance, DBT)
- I – Integrity systems
Linked with:
- Digital India
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
- E-governance reforms
Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR)
What is it?
- Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) are emergency stockpiles of crude oil maintained by a country
- Used during:
- War
- Supply disruptions
- Price shocks
Objective: Ensure energy security
Background: 1973 Oil Crisis
1973 Oil Crisis
- Triggered by:
- Arab nations imposed oil embargo on Western countries
- Result:
- Oil prices increased ~4 times
- Severe global economic crisis
Lesson learned:
- Countries must maintain buffer oil reserves
Indian Institutional Setup
Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL)
- Established in 2004
- Under:
- Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
- Function:
- Build and maintain India’s SPR
IEA Norms
International Energy Agency
- Recommends:
- Minimum 90 days of net oil imports as reserves
Includes:
- Strategic reserves + commercial reserves
India’s Current Capacity
- Around 9-10 days of SPR
- Including commercial stocks:
- ~65-70 days total coverage
Still below IEA ideal level
SPR Locations in India
Phase–1 (Completed)
- Visakhapatnam
- Mangaluru
- Padur
Features:
- Underground rock caverns
- Total capacity ≈ 5.33 million metric tonnes (MMT)
Phase–2 (Planned/Under Progress)
- Chandikhol
- Padur (Expansion)
Goal:
- Increase storage capacity significantly
- Move closer to IEA norms
Why SPR is Important?
- Protects against:
- Global oil shocks
- Geopolitical tensions (e.g., Middle East conflicts)
- Stabilizes:
- Domestic fuel prices
- Ensures:
- Strategic autonomy
Judicial Push for Environmental CSR
What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?
Legal Basis
- Under Companies Act, 2013 (Section 135):
- Companies must spend 2% of average net profits (last 3 years) on CSR
CSR Areas (Schedule VII)
Includes:
- Education
- Health
- Poverty alleviation
- Environmental sustainability (key focus here)
What is “Judicial Push”?
Courts, especially the Supreme Court of India, are increasingly:
- Encouraging companies to:
- Use CSR funds for environmental protection
- Linking:
- Industrial activity → Environmental responsibility
Why Environmental CSR?
Current Context
- Rising:
- Climate change
- Pollution
- Biodiversity loss
Government funds alone are insufficient → private sector participation needed
Key Judicial Trends
1. Polluter Pays Principle
- Based on Polluter Pays Principle
- Courts say:
- Companies causing damage must compensate AND restore environment
2. Sustainable Development
- Derived from Brundtland Report
- Balance:
- Economic growth + Environmental protection
3. Expanding CSR Interpretation
- Courts interpret CSR not just as charity, but:
- Strategic environmental responsibility
Constitutional Backing
Directive Principles
- Article 48A:
- State shall protect environment
Fundamental Duties
- Article 51A(g):
- Citizens must protect environment
Judiciary uses these to justify environmental CSR push
Why This Matters for India
Benefits
- More funding for:
- Afforestation
- Clean energy
- Waste management
- Helps achieve:
- Climate goals (Paris Agreement)
Concerns
- Judicial Overreach
- Courts entering policy domain
- Corporate Burden
- Already mandatory CSR → more pressure
- Greenwashing Risk
- Companies may show fake environmental work
- Accountability Issues
- Weak monitoring of CSR spending
Way Forward
1. Policy Clarity
- Clear guidelines for environmental CSR
2. Monitoring Mechanism
- Strong audit system
3. Incentivization
- Tax benefits for genuine environmental CSR
4. Public-Private Partnership
- Align CSR with:
- National climate goals
- SDGs
UPSC mains questions
- “The linkage of Scheduled Caste status with specific religions raises questions of social justice and constitutional morality.” Discuss in light of recent Supreme Court judgment. (250 words)
“The judiciary is increasingly shaping corporate responsibility towards environmental sustainability in India.” Critically examine. (250 words)
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