What is the common examiner trap about Polity in UPSC exams?

They may swap 'Constitutional Morality' with 'Societal Morality' as used by the Solicitor General, or confuse 'Innocent Passage' (can be suspended) with 'Transit Passage' (cannot be suspended) in questions on the Strait of Hormuz and UNCLOS. Another trap is stating that a judge's resignation automatically nullifies all charges, whereas the article mentions other legal methods may still be possible with CJI's sanction.

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Polity for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) is Rs 73.1 per person per day (2023-24). 2. Target this Nodal Body: The investigation into Justice Varma was by a Lok Sabha committee under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. 3. Target this Legal Point: Article 124(4) and Article 218 govern the removal of Supreme Court and High Court judges, respectively.

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News 4 of 29

Justice Varma Resigns, Ending Impeachment Probe; Constitutional Morality Debated; LPG Crisis Raises CoHD to Rs 73.1

Q: Under which Act was the Lok Sabha committee investigating Justice Yashwant Varma constituted?

The Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, The article explicitly states that the investigation by the Lok Sabha committee was under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. This act regulates the procedure for investigation and proof of misbehaviour or incapacity of a judge.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the concept of 'Constitutional Morality': 1. The term was first coined by the British historian George Grote. 2. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar used this term during his speech in the Constituent Assembly on the Draft Constitution. 3. It refers to a fixed judicial standard of adjudication that provides clear answers in all constitutional cases. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both 1 and 2, Statement 1 is correct as the term was coined by George Grote. Statement 2 is correct as Ambedkar quoted Grote in the Constituent Assembly. Statement 3 is incorrect because, as the article notes, constitutional morality is 'indeterminate' and 'cannot, by itself, yield a standard of adjudication'; it is more of a guiding principle or diagnostic tool.

Q: According to the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24 data cited in the article, what is the estimated national average Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) for a non-vegetarian diet per person per day?

Rs 73.1, The article directly states: 'We estimate the national average CoHD for a non-vegetarian diet at Rs 73.1 per person per day in 2023-24.' This is a precise data point crucial for understanding economic and social welfare dimensions.

Q: What is the primary legal reason cited in the article for Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz being contentious under international law?

Iran is applying the regime of 'Innocent Passage', which it can suspend, instead of 'Transit Passage', which it cannot., The article explains that the Strait of Hormuz qualifies as a 'strait used for international navigation' under UNCLOS, where the 'Transit Passage' regime applies. This regime guarantees continuous transit and cannot be suspended. By applying the more restrictive 'Innocent Passage' regime, Iran brings itself into conflict with UNCLOS.

Polity Economy Intl. Relations EnvironmentHIGH

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link

11 Apr 2026

~2 min

Source: Indian Express

Key Data:Rs 73.16.1%20-25%20312028

Bodies:Supreme CourtAllahabad High CourtLok SabhaWorld BankUNFCCCIPCC

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~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court resigned, halting impeachment proceedings under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, and preventing what could have been the first impeachment of a constitutional court judge.

2.The editorial debates the judicial use of 'Constitutional Morality', a term rooted in George Grote's work and used by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, versus 'Societal Morality', highlighting its role in cases like Sabarimala and Navtej Singh Johar.

3.The LPG crisis, triggered by West Asia conflict, has raised the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) to Rs 73.1 per person per day, potentially making it unaffordable for 32-62% of India's population when fuel costs are included.

The Big Picture

Prelims · HighMains · High

A UPSC-focused compilation covering a High Court judge's resignation ending impeachment, a debate on 'Constitutional Morality' vs. 'Societal Morality', and an analysis of how the LPG supply crisis impacts the affordability of a healthy diet in India. These are high-yield topics for both Prelims and Mains.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Judge's Retirement Year2031

Cost of Healthy Diet (CoHD)Rs 73.1 per person/day

Fuel & Light Expenditure (Rural)6.1% of total

Strait of Hormuz Oil Flow20-25% of global supply

COP33 Host Decision Year2028

1-Minute Revision

›Judge's Retirement Year: 2031
›Cost of Healthy Diet (CoHD): Rs 73.1 per person/day
›Target this Data: Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) is Rs 73.1 per person per day (2023-24).
›Target this Nodal Body: The investigation into Justice Varma was by a Lok Sabha committee under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
›Target this Legal Point: Article 124(4) and Article 218 govern the removal of Supreme Court and High Court judges, respectively.

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News Snapshot

⚖️

Judge's Resignation Halts Impeachment

Justice Yashwant Varma resigned, ending a Lok Sabha committee probe under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, and preventing a historic impeachment.

📜

Constitutional Morality Debate

The Solicitor General expressed scepticism about 'Constitutional Morality', a term coined by George Grote and used by Ambedkar, sparking debate on its judicial application.

🔥

LPG Crisis & Nutrition Security

Disruptions from the West Asia war have increased LPG prices, raising the Cost of a Healthy Diet and threatening nutrition outcomes for a large section of the population.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

This article is a UPSC essentials compilation covering three distinct but significant themes. The first involves a high-profile judicial resignation that touches upon the rarely invoked impeachment process for judges. The second revives a foundational debate in Indian constitutional jurisprudence—the tension between constitutional values and societal norms. The third analyses a contemporary economic shock (LPG crisis) through the lens of public health and nutrition security, linking global geopolitics to household welfare.

Core Analysis & Implications

1. Judiciary & Accountability: Justice Varma's resignation under Article 217(1)(a) closes the impeachment route but leaves corruption charges in uncharted territory, highlighting a gap in judicial accountability. It echoes the 2011 case of Justice P.D. Dinakaran and underscores that resignation grants full pension benefits. 2. Constitutional Philosophy: The critique of 'Constitutional Morality' is part of a broader attempt to hollow out the Constitution's substantive commitments to liberty and equality, as seen in cases like Sabarimala and Navtej Singh Johar. Invoking 'Societal Morality' can foreclose reasoned scrutiny of discriminatory practices. 3. Economic & Human Security: The LPG crisis demonstrates how external shocks translate into domestic welfare crises. The CoHD metric (Rs 73.1) shows that even before the crisis, healthy diets were unaffordable for 25-49% of Indians. The crisis exacerbates this, with fuel costs adding ~Rs 6.5 to the CoHD, pushing unaffordability to 32-62%.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

For the judiciary, there is a need for a clearer legal pathway to prosecute judges who resign mid-probe. On constitutional morality, the Supreme Court must continue to use it as a 'diagnostic' tool against arbitrariness. To address nutrition security, immediate steps include expanding PMUY to migrants and social safety nets for nutritious food. Long-term measures require agriculture policies focused on dietary diversity and reducing import dependency for critical commodities like LPG and fertilisers.

International Dimensions & Strategic Straits

The LPG and broader energy crisis is rooted in the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a classic 'maritime chokepoint'. Iran's application of 'Innocent Passage' (which can be suspended) instead of 'Transit Passage' (which cannot) for this international strait violates UNCLOS norms. This highlights the fragility of global supply chains and India's strategic vulnerability, given its dependence on the Gulf for energy. The situation also shows the limits of diversifying to sources like the US and Venezuela due to higher production costs.

Key Facts at a Glance

Judge's Retirement Year2031

Cost of Healthy Diet (CoHD)Rs 73.1 per person/day

Fuel & Light Expenditure (Rural)6.1% of total

Strait of Hormuz Oil Flow20-25% of global supply

COP33 Host Decision Year2028

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, MPSC, SSC, State PSC

Under which Act was the Lok Sabha committee investigating Justice Yashwant Varma constituted?

Q2Statement-basedMediumUPSC, MPSC, State PSC

Consider the following statements regarding the concept of 'Constitutional Morality':

1. The term was first coined by the British historian George Grote.

2. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar used this term during his speech in the Constituent Assembly on the Draft Constitution.

3. It refers to a fixed judicial standard of adjudication that provides clear answers in all constitutional cases.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumUPSC, MPSC, SSC, Banking

According to the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24 data cited in the article, what is the estimated national average Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) for a non-vegetarian diet per person per day?

Q4Application/ImpactHardUPSC, MPSC

What is the primary legal reason cited in the article for Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz being contentious under international law?

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Justice Varma Resigns, Ending Impeachment Probe; Constitutional Morality Debated; LPG Crisis Raises CoHD to Rs 73.1

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Judge's Resignation Halts Impeachment

Constitutional Morality Debate

LPG Crisis & Nutrition Security

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

International Dimensions & Strategic Straits

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance