26 May 2025

• Polity: The Supreme Court ruled on the constitutional validity of Governor's pocket veto, holding that indefinite inaction on a state Bill is unconstitutional.
• Economy: India's GDP growth for FY25 was confirmed at 6.5 per cent by the National Statistical Office's Second Advance Estimate.
• International: India and Saudi Arabia signed a MoU on strategic petroleum reserves and green hydrogen cooperation.
• Environment: A CAG report found 27 Indian cities exceeded PM2.5 standards for 200 or more days in 2023-24.
• Science: DRDO tested the MPATGM (Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile) with 100 per cent accuracy at Mahajan Field Firing Range.

GS area: Polity, Constitutional Law, Centre-State Relations

The Supreme Court in State of Kerala v. Governor of Kerala (2025) held that a Governor cannot indefinitely withhold assent to state Bills.

• Governor's options under Article 200: Assent to the Bill; withhold assent; reserve the Bill for the President's consideration; return the Bill for reconsideration (except Money Bills).
• "Pocket veto" problem: When a Governor neither assents nor withholds nor reserves, but simply does nothing. The Constitution does not set a time limit for the Governor's action.
• Court's ruling: A Governor's silence is not a constitutional option. Indefinite inaction amounts to unconstitutional exercise of power. The President of India is also bound by this principle.
• Earlier ruling (Punjab, Tamil Nadu cases): SC held that once a Bill is returned and re-passed by the legislature, the Governor must give assent.
• Article 143 reference: This ruling may inform the President's Article 143 reference on the same issue.

Static linkage: Governor's powers, Centre-state relations, Federalism, Article 200.

GS area: Economy, National Accounts, Statistics

The NSO's Second Advance Estimate confirmed India's GDP growth at 6.5 per cent for FY25 (2024-25).

• Sectoral performance:
  • Agriculture: 4.2 per cent growth (good kharif and rabi). Agriculture contributes about 18 per cent of GDP.
  • Industry: 6.2 per cent (manufacturing 6.5 per cent; mining 2.1 per cent; electricity 7.8 per cent).
  • Services: 7.5 per cent (the largest contributor at about 55 per cent of GDP).
• Expenditure side: Private Consumption grew 7.3 per cent. Government Consumption grew 4.1 per cent. Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) grew 7.5 per cent (investment-driven).
• GVA vs GDP: GVA = GDP minus product taxes plus subsidies. GVA growth was 6.4 per cent.
• World Bank comparison: India remains the fastest-growing major economy in FY25. China grew 4.6 per cent; USA 2.8 per cent.

Static linkage: National income accounting, India's economy, growth drivers.

GS area: International Relations, Energy, Economy

India and Saudi Arabia signed cooperation agreements during PM Modi's visit to Riyadh.

• Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) pact: India will expand its SPR capacity at Chandikhol (Odisha) and Padur (Karnataka) with Saudi Aramco participation. Current SPR capacity: 5.33 million metric tonnes (about 9-10 days of import cover).
• IEA standard: The International Energy Agency recommends 90 days of net import cover as the strategic reserve target for member states. India is not an IEA member but aims to move closer to this standard.
• Green Hydrogen MoU: Saudi Arabia's NEOM city plans to produce 600 tonnes per day of green hydrogen by 2030. India will supply electrolysers and partner on export of green ammonia.
• India-Saudi trade: Over $52 billion annually. Saudi Arabia is India's fourth largest trading partner. About 20 per cent of India's crude oil import comes from Saudi Arabia.
• Indian community: About 2.6 million Indian workers in Saudi Arabia. Largest Indian diaspora community in a single country.

Static linkage: Energy security, strategic petroleum reserves, green hydrogen, Gulf diplomacy.

GS area: Defence Technology, National Security

DRDO successfully tested India's indigenously developed MPATGM at Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan.

• Classification: Man-portable, fire-and-forget, infrared imaging seeker-based anti-tank guided missile.
• Range: 2.5 km (500 metres minimum). Weight: below 14 kg (entire system including launcher).
• Seeker technology: Dual-band imaging infrared (IIR) seeker with Lock-On-Before-Launch (LOBL) capability.
• Comparison: Currently India uses Israeli Spike missiles for the infantry anti-tank role. MPATGM is India's indigenous replacement.
• DRDO lab: R&DE (E) Pune as the lead lab.
• Operation Sindoor relevance: Enhanced indigenous anti-tank capability strengthens India's ground forces during any follow-on operations.

Static linkage: Defence indigenisation, DRDO, Army weapons systems.

GS area: Environment, Governance, Public Health

A CAG audit found that 27 Indian cities exceeded PM2.5 national ambient standards for 200 or more days in 2023-24.

• India's PM2.5 standard: 40 micrograms per cubic metre (annual average). 60 micrograms per cubic metre (24-hour average). This is less stringent than WHO guidelines (5 micrograms per cubic metre annual average).
• Worst performers: Delhi (303 days), Faridabad (280 days), Patna (265 days), Lucknow (240 days).
• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): Launched 2019 under MoEFCC. Target: 20-30 per cent reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 by 2024 (baseline 2017). 131 non-attainment cities covered.
• CAG finding: NCAP targets were not met in most cities. Real-time monitoring exists in only 344 locations nationally.
• Health cost: Air pollution causes approximately 1.6 million premature deaths annually in India.

Static linkage: Air pollution, NCAP, National Clean Air Programme, governance.

• National Maritime Day (5 April): Commemorate the voyage of the first Indian ship SS Loyalty in 1919. The Directorate General of Shipping is under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• EXIM Bank: Export-Import Bank of India. Established 1982 under the Export-Import Bank of India Act. Provides credit for India's international trade and foreign investment.
• Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY): Total loans disbursed crossed Rs 33.5 lakh crore since inception in 2015. Three categories: Shishu (up to Rs 50,000), Kishore (Rs 50,001-5 lakh), Tarun (Rs 5-10 lakh).