01
Appropriation Bill and Parliamentary Control
The Rajya Sabha cleared the Appropriation Bill, 2026, authorising withdrawal of Rs 54,067.44 crore from the Consolidated Fund for excess expenditure in FY 2022-23. The bill is classified as a Money Bill under Article 110, limiting the Rajya Sabha's role to discussion and 14-day return. The excess demand arose from a court order for Railways (Rs 196.44 crore) and debt repayment (Rs 53,871 crore). This reaffirms the principle that no money can be withdrawn without an Appropriation Act under Article 114.
02
GOBARdhan Scheme: Boosting Compressed Biogas
The Cabinet approved the National Circular Bioenergy Scheme (GOBARdhan) with an outlay of Rs 23,731 crore for 2026-27 to 2035-36. The scheme aims to increase domestic CBG production nearly 10-fold through assured offtake by city gas distributors, capital subsidies (up to Rs 2 crore per tonne per day), and pipeline infrastructure. CBG blending obligations start at 3% in 2026-27, rising to 5% from 2028-29. This reduces India's 50% import dependence on natural gas and leverages agricultural waste.
03
New Solar Images from DKIST Telescope
The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) in Hawaii captured the highest-resolution images of the Sun's surface, revealing feathery plasma patterns. Researchers published findings in Nature, confirming a decades-old fluid dynamics theory about ripples caused by magnetized plasma moving at different speeds. This enhances understanding of solar phenomena like sunspots and solar flares, relevant for space weather prediction.
04
Road Safety: Good Samaritan Scheme Underutilised
Despite 1.77 lakh road fatalities in 2024, only 813 Good Samaritans (Raah-Veers) were awarded in 5 years (2021-26). The scheme provides Rs 25,000 for helping accident victims during the 'Golden Hour' (first 60 minutes). Eight high-fatality states saw low participation, with Rajasthan leading (224). The Supreme Court's 2016 order for grievance redressal mechanisms remains poorly implemented, highlighting the gap between policy and ground reality.
05
School Consolidation and Demographic Trends
Government school numbers declined by 94,000 from 2014-15 to 2024-25, driven by falling fertility rates (TFR below 2.1) and rising private school enrolment. However, teacher numbers increased, improving pupil-teacher ratios. The challenge is balancing access with quality, especially in rural areas where mergers may disrupt access for young children. The NITI Aayog report flagged these trends, noting the need for data-driven consolidation.
06
Ethanol Policy: Successes and Sustainability Concerns
India achieved 20% ethanol blending (E20) by 2025, ahead of the 2030 target. This reduced crude imports and boosted rural incomes. However, Ashok Khemka's article warns that higher ethanol blends in older engines cause fuel economy loss and corrosion. Also, ethanol production from sugarcane and maize raises water sustainability issues. The policy must now balance blending targets with environmental costs.
07
FIR Withdrawal: Legal Procedure Clarified
The Supreme Court clarified that FIRs cannot be 'withdrawn' by executive order; only the case can be closed via three routes: police closure report, prosecution withdrawal, or court quashing. The magistrate retains supervisory role under BNSS Section 193. This clarifies the distinction between 'withdrawal of case' and 'cancellation of FIR', a common confusion in criminal procedure.
