LEGAL NEWS
Gender Imbalance in the Supreme Court: A Structural, Societal, and Constitutional Concern
• Since 1950, only 11 out of 287 judges appointed to the Supreme Court have been women, highlighting a glaring gender imbalance. As of now, following the retirement of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, there is just one woman judge — Justice B.V. Nagarathna — among the 34 sitting judges, underscoring the persistent lack of gender representation at the highest level of the judiciary.
• The appointment process under the Collegium system lacks formal diversity criteria, making gender representation incidental rather than intentional, with no accountability or transparency in how judges are selected.
• Deep-rooted stereotypes in the legal profession, combined with the male-dominated culture of both the Bar and the Bench, restrict the entry and rise of women, particularly limiting those who are elevated late in their careers.
• Most women judges have shorter tenures due to delayed appointments, leaving little time to rise to leadership roles such as Chief Justice or to influence the Collegium’s decisions on future appointments.
• The opaque nature of judicial appointments and the absence of a written diversity policy contribute to the exclusionary practices, as gender is not treated with the same weight as regional, caste, or religious considerations.
• This disparity undermines public trust in the judiciary’s dedication to equality, narrows the range of legal perspectives, and stands in contradiction to the principles of Articles 14 and 15, which uphold substantive equality and inclusiveness.
• Corrective measures must include institutionalizing gender as a criterion, increasing women’s elevation from High Courts and the Bar, ensuring transparency in appointments, and learning from countries like the UK and Canada that have institutionalized judicial diversity.
• Achieving gender balance in the higher judiciary is not symbolic but essential for justice, legitimacy, and upholding constitutional morality—it reflects the values the judiciary is meant to protect and promotes broader trust in democratic institutions.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
UK Cabinet Reshuffle 2025: Major Changes Following Rayner’s Resignation
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has named David Lammy as the new deputy prime minister in a significant cabinet reshuffle.
• Alongside his deputy role, Lammy has also been appointed as the new justice secretary, taking over key legal responsibilities.
• Yvette Cooper has been moved from her previous post as home secretary and is now heading the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
• Shabana Mahmood has been elevated from her role in the Ministry of Justice and is now serving as the new home secretary.
• Angela Rayner stepped down from her positions as deputy prime minister and housing secretary amid a tax-related controversy.
• The issue arose when Rayner underpaid stamp duty on a home she declared as her main residence, despite owning another family property held in trust.
• An independent ethics probe found that Rayner breached the ministerial code by failing to seek tax advice, resulting in an estimated £40,000 liability.
• Rayner, a senior Labour MP representing Ashton-under-Lyne, admitted the error and expressed regret over not consulting a professional earlier.
AWARDS
82nd Venice Film Festival: Global Recognition and Indian Spotlight
• Indian filmmaker Anuparna Roy clinched the Best Director award in the Orizzonti section for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees — the sole Indian entry — which narrates the journey of two migrant women living in Mumbai.
• The award was announced by Orizzonti jury president Julia Ducournau, with the section known for honoring innovative and independent cinema from around the world.
• Jim Jarmusch received the Golden Lion for Best Film for Father Mother Sister Brother, marking the highest recognition at the festival.
• The Silver Lion was awarded to The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, as the runner-up in the main competition.
• Toni Servillo earned Best Actor for his role as a fatigued president in Paolo Sorrentino’s Italian political drama La Grazia.
• Chinese actress Xin Zhilei was named Best Actress for her performance in The Sun Rises On Us All, a film that earned wide acclaim for its emotional depth.
• Benny Safdie was awarded Best Director in the main competition for his film The Smashing Machine, solidifying his standing as an emerging force in global cinema.
• Italian documentarian Gianfranco Rosi received a special jury prize for Below the Clouds, a black-and-white feature praised for its artistic and social impact.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCES
India's Scientific Shift: ESTIC to Replace Indian Science Congress
• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will host the first Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) in November 2025.
• ESTIC marks a new direction in India’s scientific events, focusing on global collaboration and cutting-edge research.
• The conclave seeks to bring together leading scientists, technologists, and innovators from both India and around the world.
• ESTIC is likely to take the place of the Indian Science Congress (ISC), which has seen a decline in recent years.
• Once the country’s leading science event, the Indian Science Congress (ISC) was founded before independence and was typically held in January, drawing top dignitaries and global attention.
• The ISC faced disruptions — cancelled in 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19, with limited participation in 2023.
• The 2024 and 2025 editions of ISC were cancelled after DST withdrew funding, following disputes with the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA).
SPORTS
India Lifts Asia Cup Hockey Trophy, Books Spot in 2026 World Cup
• On September 7, India triumphed over South Korea with a 4-1 scoreline in the Asia Cup Hockey final held in Bihar.
• The win ended India’s eight-year title drought in the continental tournament.
• India’s title victory ensured them a direct spot in the 2026 Hockey World Cup.
• Sukhjeet Singh set the tone early, netting the fastest goal of the tournament within just 31 seconds.
• Dilpreet Singh scored twice, and Amit Rohidas chipped in with a goal to round off India’s total.
• South Korea managed a lone goal through Dain Son in the 51st minute of the match.
• Hockey India declared a reward of ₹3 lakh for each Indian player; Malaysia defeated China 4-1 to take home the bronze.
STATE NEWS
Punjab Battles Devastating 2025 Floods Amid Record Rainfall
• All 23 districts of Punjab have been declared flood-affected, with nearly 1,902 villages submerged and over 3.8 lakh people impacted.
• Gurdaspur has been hit the hardest, with 329 villages submerged, and the state has recorded at least 43 fatalities so far.
• More than 11.7 lakh hectares of farmland have been destroyed, dealing a heavy blow to Punjab’s agriculture.
• Rivers like Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej, along with seasonal streams such as the Ghaggar, have overflowed due to excessive rainfall.
• Punjab’s flood crisis is worsened by heavy monsoon rains in upstream states like Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
• Rainfall this year has exceeded normal levels by over 45%, leading to the Beas and Ravi rivers breaching critical points like the Madhopur Barrage.
• Southern Punjab’s Malwa region faced intense waterlogging, while Pakistan’s Punjab province also suffered severe flooding, displacing over 9 lakh people.
NATIONAL NEWS
NITI Aayog’s Roadmap for Self-Sufficiency in Pulses by 2030
• NITI Aayog has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to double pulses production by 2047, with the immediate target of achieving full self-sufficiency by 2030 under the report “Strategies and Pathways for Accelerating Growth in Pulses.”
• Current projections without policy changes estimate 30.59 million tonnes by 2030 and 45.79 million tonnes by 2047, but with focused interventions, output could reach 48.44 million tonnes by 2030 and 63.64 million tonnes by 2047.
• India, being the world’s largest producer and consumer of pulses, has seen production rise by 59.4% from 2015–16 to 2022–23, reducing import dependence from 29% to 10.4%.
• Although India’s diverse agro-climatic zones can support 12 different pulse varieties, their cultivation remains largely confined to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, which together account for 55% of the country’s total production.
• A six-year national mission announced in the 2025–26 Union Budget prioritizes self-reliance in pulses, focusing on crops like pigeonpea, lentils, and black gram through area expansion and yield improvements.
• The plan promotes horizontal expansion via use of rice fallows and intercropping, while vertical growth will be achieved by adopting scientific practices, improved varieties, and precision farming technologies.
• A district-centric approach identifies 111 high-potential districts, covering 75% of total production, with proposals like crop-specific clusters, enhanced seed distribution, and “One Block-One Seed Village” led by farmer producer organizations.
• Emphasizing sustainability, the roadmap highlights the need for climate-resilient practices, data-driven monitoring systems, and positions pulses self-sufficiency as key to reducing imports, ensuring food security, and supporting farmer livelihoods.
