PM CARES Fund: Audited Statements Not Public Since FY 2022-23, RTI Scrutiny Bypassed

PM CARES Fund Donations Surge 592% to ₹480 Crore, Only 0.1% Spent in FY 2024-25

PM CARES Fund received ₹480 crore in donations during 2024-25 – a 592% jump – yet spent only 0.1% of its income. Activists question the fund's transparency as it remains outside RTI and CAG audit, with a closing balance of ₹8,452 crore. This raises serious concerns about accountability of public charitable trusts.

SC Dismisses Plea to Abolish Hanging; PM CARES Fund Donations Jump 592% to ₹480 Crore in 2024-25

Today's news highlights key developments for exam aspirants: the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of execution by hanging but left the door open for a government review; the PM CARES Fund disclosed a massive 592% jump in donations to ₹480 crore but spent only 0.1% of it; and the SC sought a government response on a standardized probe for paper leak cases. These stories cover constitutional law, transparency in public charities, and governance reforms.

PM CARES Fund: Donations Fall to ₹479.96 Cr, Spending Hits 5-Year Low of ₹87.85 Lakh

PM CARES Fund donations dropped to ₹479.96 crore in FY 2024-25, while spending fell to a five-year low of just ₹87.85 lakh, mostly on the PM CARES for Children Scheme. The fund's closing balance, however, hit an all-time high of ₹8,452.06 crore, raising questions about the pace of fund utilization.

PM CARES Fund: Donations Fall to ₹479.96 Cr, Balance Hits Record ₹8,452 Cr; No Questions in Lok Sabha

PM CARES Fund, a public charitable trust set up in 2020 for COVID-19 relief, saw donations plunge to ₹479.96 crore in FY2024-25 while its closing balance hit a record ₹8,452.06 crore. Spending fell to a five-year low of ₹87.85 lakh. The PMO has informed Lok Sabha that questions on PM CARES, PMNRF, and NDF are not admissible under parliamentary rules as they are funded by voluntary contributions, not from the Consolidated Fund of India.

Allahabad HC: Wearing Headscarf Not Essential Religious Practice; Reiterates Judicial Doctrine

The Allahabad High Court has reaffirmed the 'essential religious practices' test, ruling that wearing a headscarf is not essential to Islam. This judgment clarifies the scope of religious freedom in educational institutions and is crucial for understanding the judiciary's role in defining religious practices.

Allahabad HC Quashes NSA Detention of Activist, Terms it 'Despotic', Orders ₹5 Lakh Compensation from Officers' Salaries

The Allahabad High Court quashed the NSA detention of DU law student and activist Akriti Chaudhary, calling it an 'abuse of draconian preventive detention law' and a 'despotic' act by the Noida administration. The court ordered ₹5 lakh compensation to be deducted from the salaries of the officers responsible. This judgment is a crucial check on executive arbitrariness and misuse of preventive detention laws, a key topic for UPSC Polity (Article 22, NSA).

Delhi Govt to Repeal B&B Act 2007, Table 3 Bills & 2 CAG Reports in Monsoon Session

The Delhi government is set to repeal the 2007 B&B Act, introduce three new Bills including a Right to Services law, and table two CAG reports in the upcoming Monsoon Session. This comes after a tragic fire at a B&B facility killed 23 people, prompting a shift from a registration-based to a self-certification-based regulatory framework for bed-and-breakfast establishments.

CAG Report Flags 89% of 512 Non-Suburban Railway Stations Deficient in Minimum Essential Amenities

CAG audit reveals that over 89% of 512 surveyed non-suburban railway stations lack Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA) like drinking water, fans, and toilets. Even premier stations such as New Delhi, Howrah, and CSMT are deficient, exposing systemic gaps in maintenance and monitoring despite Railway Board norms since 1952.