NATIONAL NEWS
Three-Member Inquiry Panel Formed Against Justice Yashwant Varma
• Speaker Om Birla has appointed a three-member inquiry panel to investigate serious corruption allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma.
• The action follows a March 2025 incident in which charred currency notes were found at the judge’s New Delhi residence.
• The inquiry team includes Justice Aravind Kumar (SC judge), Justice Maninder Mohan Shrivastava (Madras HC Chief Justice), and Senior Advocate B.V. Acharaya.
• The committee has been tasked with submitting its report without delay, as confirmed by the Speaker.
• A motion to remove Justice Varma, signed by 146 MPs from both government and opposition benches, has been officially taken up.
• However, the motion’s progress is paused until the inquiry panel delivers its conclusions.
• Earlier, the former Chief Justice of India had constituted a separate committee to examine the claims.
• That report, submitted to the President and Prime Minister, formed the basis for the current removal proceedings backed by the sitting CJI.
SC Orders Stray Dog Removal in Delhi: Civic Crisis Unfolds
• The Supreme Court has ordered the removal of all stray dogs from Delhi’s streets within two months, creating major pressure on civic bodies.
• Delhi lacks the infrastructure—including permanent shelters, updated data, workforce, and funds—to manage nearly 1 million stray dogs.
• Experts have flagged the directive as nearly unfeasible, raising concerns over animal welfare and public health hazards.
• The last official dog census in 2009 recorded 5.6 lakh dogs; unofficial estimates in 2019 placed the number at 8 lakh, with current projections nearing 10 lakh.
• No recent formal survey has been conducted, leaving authorities unable to plan resources or draft effective management policies.
• The MCD operates 20 ABC centres in collaboration with NGOs, designed only for temporary sterilisation and release, not long-term sheltering.
• These facilities can house only around 3,500–4,000 dogs, which is less than 4% of the stray population, far below requirements.
• Experts estimate that humane accommodation would need thousands of enclosures and hundreds of acres, based on 40–45 sq ft per dog.
BOOKS NAD AUTHORS
Former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud Unveils First Book: Why the Constitution Matters
• The cover of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s debut book, Why the Constitution Matters, was officially revealed ahead of its release by Penguin Random House in late August 2025.
• The book delves into landmark judgments delivered during his tenure, addressing key constitutional themes like privacy rights, LGBTQ+ decriminalization, and gender equality in the military.
• Justice Chandrachud served as the 50th Chief Justice of India, retiring in November 2024, after succeeding Justice U.U. Lalit.
• His term spanned nearly two years, during which he played a pivotal role in shaping progressive constitutional jurisprudence.
• He was succeeded by Justice Sanjay Khanna (51st CJI) and currently, Justice B.R. Gavai holds office as the 52nd Chief Justice.
• The Chief Justice and SC judges are appointed by the President under Article 124(2) of the Indian Constitution.
• This book marks an important contribution to public constitutional discourse from a retired Supreme Court head.
• Through this work, Justice Chandrachud reflects on the evolving role of the Constitution in modern India’s legal and social landscape.
ECONOMY NEWS
India’s Retail Inflation Hits 8-Year Low – July 2025
• Retail inflation dipped to 1.55% in July 2025, the lowest since June 2017, and remained under the RBI’s target range of 2–6%.
• The fall was mainly due to a sharp decline in food prices, with the food and beverages segment showing -0.8% deflation.
• Vegetables and pulses saw significant drops in price, falling 21% and 14% year-on-year.
• According to CPI data released on August 12, this marks the ninth straight month of disinflation.
• Core inflation, excluding food and fuel, also dropped to 4.1%, aligning closely with the RBI’s 4% target.
• Housing inflation stayed unchanged at 3.2%, while the fuel and light segment edged up slightly to 2.7%.
• Economists credited the trend to robust farm output and a favorable base effect.
• However, experts warned that global tensions, like curbs on Russian oil, could pressure prices going forward.
SPORTS
Namrata Batra Bags India’s First Wushu Medal at World Games 2025
• Namrata Batra clinched silver in women’s 52kg Wushu, becoming the first Indian to win a Wushu medal at the World Games.
• She lost 0-2 in the final to China’s Mengyue Chen in Chengdu, China.
• Her journey included dominant wins over Lebanon’s Barbara El Rassi and the Philippines’ Krizan Faith Collado.
• A four-time national champion, Namrata had also earned silver at the 2024 Asian Championships.
• Her win marks India’s second medal at the 2025 edition after Rishabh Yadav’s archery bronze.
• India’s total at the World Games now stands at seven medals: 1 gold, 2 silvers, and 4 bronzes.
• This historic achievement has added Wushu to India’s World Games medal list for the first time.
• Wushu, a traditional Chinese martial art, now finds new recognition in India’s sporting landscape.
