Evening edition
Daily current affairs for UPSC, BPSC, State PCS and PSC exams.
Why in news?
Protests erupted in Hyderabad demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with allegations that the exercise could lead to mass exclusion of voters.
Key points
- Protesters allege SIR is a backdoor National Register of Citizens (NRC).
- Demand resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and a transparent selection process for CEC including the CJI.
- Allegations of 13 crore names being excluded from draft electoral rolls nationwide.
- Concerns about delayed detection and potential ongoing transmission of leprosy among children.
Background & context
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is part of the process of updating electoral rolls. Historically, concerns about voter exclusion or inclusion have arisen during such exercises, particularly in the context of demographic changes and administrative processes.
★ Prelims fact capsule
The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body established under Article 324 of the Constitution.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper II: Governance, Polity, Election Commission of India, Electoral Reforms.
Why in news?
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra reiterated India's cautious approach towards cryptocurrencies while emphasizing the promotion of underlying technologies like distributed ledger technology (DLT) and tokenisation.
Key points
- India supports innovation in DLT and tokenisation but remains wary of cryptocurrencies.
- Concerns cited include monetary sovereignty, monetary policy, and capital flows.
- RBI is exploring DLT in public-private partnerships.
- Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are seen as a potential solution for cross-border payments.
Background & context
Cryptocurrencies are decentralized digital or virtual currencies secured by cryptography. Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is a database that is consensually shared and synchronized across multiple sites, institutions, or geographies. Tokenisation involves converting rights to an asset into a digital token.
★ Prelims fact capsule
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is India's central banking institution.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper III: Economy, Digital Economy, Financial Technology, Monetary Policy.
Why in news?
India recorded a significant number of new leprosy cases among children in 2025-26, exceeding targets and highlighting concerns over delayed detection, even as the country pursues its goal to interrupt transmission by 2027.
Key points
- 3,832 new leprosy cases diagnosed in children in 2025-26, with 37 having Grade-2 disability.
- Child caseload was 91.6% higher than the National Leprosy Eradication Programme's (NLEP) target.
- India aims to interrupt leprosy transmission at the district level by 2027.
- WHO considers new cases in children under 15 as an indicator of recent transmission.
Background & context
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, primarily affecting the skin, peripheral nerves, upper respiratory tract, eyes, and testes. The National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) is the flagship programme for the control and elimination of leprosy in India.
★ Prelims fact capsule
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides guidelines for the global elimination of leprosy.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper II: Health, Social Justice, Government Policies and Interventions.