LEGAL NEWS

Justice Surya Kant Becomes the 53rd Chief Justice of India

• Justice Surya Kant was sworn in as India’s 53rd Chief Justice on 24 November, with President Droupadi Murmu administering the oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

• He succeeded Justice B.R. Gavai, who retired from the post a day earlier.

• Top dignitaries, including the Vice President, Prime Minister and several Union Ministers, attended the ceremony.

• Born in 1962 in Hisar, Haryana, he began his legal practice in 1984, focusing on constitutional, civil and service matters.

• At 38, he became Haryana’s youngest Advocate General in 2000, representing multiple government bodies.

• He was appointed a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2004 and later served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court from 2018.

• Since joining the Supreme Court in May 2019, he has delivered notable judgments in key constitutional and legal cases.

• His term as CJI will last around 15 months; as per convention, the senior-most Supreme Court judge is appointed CJI by the President under Article 124(2) of Indian Constitution.

Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025

• The Centre plans to table the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.

• The proposal seeks to bring Chandigarh under the scope of Article 240 of the Constitution.

• Once included, Chandigarh will fall in the same category as UTs without legislatures such as Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu.

• The amendment will enable Chandigarh to have its own independent Administrator, instead of the Punjab Governor currently holding the role.

• Article 240 empowers the President to frame regulations for the effective administration of designated Union Territories.

• Aligning Chandigarh under Article 240 is aimed at streamlining governance similar to other non-legislative Union Territories.

• The Winter Session of Parliament is scheduled from 1 December to 19 December, during which the Bill will be presented.

• The move is expected to formalise administrative clarity for Chandigarh and redefine its governance structure.

New Executive Chairman of NALSA

• Justice Vikram Nath has been appointed as the new Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority through a notification from the Union Law Ministry.

• His nomination was approved by the President of India under Section 3(2)(b) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

• The appointment became effective from 24 November 2025, following the completion of Justice Surya Kant’s term in the position.

• Justice Surya Kant stepped down after assuming charge as the 53rd Chief Justice of India.

• CJI Surya Kant began his 14-month tenure, taking over from Justice Bhushan R. Gavai, who retired at the age of 65.

• NALSA, constituted through the 1987 Act, works to ensure legal support for weaker and vulnerable sections of society.

• The authority’s core responsibility flows from Article 39A of the Indian Constitution, which focuses on guaranteeing equal access to justice.

• Article 39A mandates that no individual should face denial of justice on grounds of financial difficulty or other constraints.

NATIONAL NEWS

Dharmendra Passes Away

• Legendary actor Dharmendra died at 89 on 24 November, marking the end of an illustrious six-decade journey in Indian cinema.

• Often hailed as Bollywood’s He-Man, he featured in over 300 films and was admired for his remarkable versatility.

• Rising to prominence soon after his 1960 debut, he delivered timeless hits such as Sholay, Phool Aur Patthar, Chupke Chupke, Seeta Aur Geeta, and Pratigya.

• His portrayal of Veeru in Sholay became an iconic performance, cementing his popularity across generations.

• Dharmendra’s last on-screen appearance was in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024), while his final film Ikkis had its poster unveiled just hours before his demise.

• Born in Ludhiana on 8 December 1935, he also served as a Member of Parliament from Bikaner (2004–2009) representing the BJP.

• Throughout his career, he received numerous honours, including the Padma Bhushan, Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, and multiple international lifetime achievement recognitions.

53rd International Emmy Awards

• The 53rd International Emmy Awards were announced in New York, celebrating standout television content from across the world.

• Hosted by Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, the ceremony honoured winners across 16 major global TV categories.

• Although Amar Singh Chamkila earned two nominations from India, it did not win in any category.

• For the first time, two documentaries centred on Gaza secured awards in the non-fiction segment.

• Diljit Dosanjh, nominated for Best Actor, lost the title to Spain’s Oriol Pla for Yo, Adicto.

• UK productions dominated several categories, winning Best Drama (Rivals), Best Comedy (Ludwig), and Best TV Movie/Mini-Series (Lost Boys and Fairies).

• Japan’s Ryuichi Sakamoto: Last Days won Best Art Programming, while Australia’s Bluey topped the Kids: Animation category.

• Awards also went to Canada (La Mediatrice for Best Short-Form Series), Türkiye (Deha for Best Telenovela), Denmark (Shaolin Heroes), and Qatar (Gaza, Search for Life in News).

DEFENCE

Exercise Suryakiran – 19th Edition (India–Nepal)

• India and Nepal will hold the 19th round of their joint military exercise, Suryakiran, in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, from 25 November to 8 December.

• This annual drill is conducted alternately in both countries as part of their long-standing defence partnership.

• Both armies have completed all preparatory arrangements and deployment plans for the exercise.

• The focus will be on enhancing joint capability in counter-terror operations and jungle warfare in hilly terrain.

• Modern technologies will be used to boost interoperability and exchange advanced operational skills.

• The previous edition (18th) was held in Saljhandi, Nepal, where troops trained in aviation support, medical tasks and environmental safety.

• The exercise helps soldiers from both sides refine coordination and share practical battlefield experiences.

• India’s Army has consistently supported Nepal in humanitarian and disaster response, including during the 2015 earthquake and the COVID-19 crisis.

Mahe-Class ASW Shallow Water Craft Commissioned

• The Indian Navy inducted its first Mahe-class ASW shallow water craft, INS Mahe, during a ceremony at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard on 24 November.

• The commissioning was overseen by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, with senior naval leadership also in attendance.

• This marks the debut of a new line of indigenously designed and built anti-submarine platforms.

• INS Mahe features over 80% indigenous components, showcasing India’s growing maritime manufacturing capabilities.

• Built as a fast and quiet coastal combatant, the vessel is engineered to act as a “Silent Hunter” in shallow waters.

• The craft boosts India’s Western Seaboard security, strengthening anti-submarine defence close to the coastline.

• Its arrival reflects India’s continued push toward naval modernisation and advanced warship integration.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCES

Sixth International Agronomy Congress & Rural Buddhist Heritage Conference

• The Sixth International Agronomy Congress (IAC-2025) will open in New Delhi on 24 November, led by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

• The three-day event will host plenary sessions, theme-based symposia, research showcases, exhibitions, and a special forum for young scientists and students.

• The Agriculture Ministry stated that the Congress will act as a global hub for high-level scientific exchange in agronomy.

• Over 1,000 international delegates—including university leaders, ICAR experts, industry stakeholders, and agri-business innovators—are expected.

• The 2025 theme, “Re-envisioning Agronomy for Smart Agro-Food Systems and Environmental Protection,” highlights future-ready and sustainable agricultural practices.

• From 28 November, New Delhi will also host a separate international meet on conserving rural Buddhist heritage, organised by the Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development.

• This heritage conference aims to strengthen global collaboration for preserving rural Buddhist sites and link heritage protection with long-term rural development, including plans for a new training academy at Nagarjunakonda, Andhra Pradesh.

MISCELLANEOUS

Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0

• The fourth Kashi Tamil Sangamam will commence on 2 December, celebrating the cultural bond between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.

• The Ministry of Education is leading the event, showcasing the essence of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

• IIT Madras and BHU are jointly coordinating the programme with support from multiple Union ministries.

• Started in 2022, the Sangamam has grown into a major bridge between the two ancient knowledge traditions.

• This year’s theme, “Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam”, focuses on expanding Tamil learning nationwide.

• Over 1,400 delegates from Tamil Nadu—students, educators, writers and media persons—will participate.

• Participants will be taken on an eight-day cultural journey, covering Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya.

• Key visits in Varanasi include Subramanya Bharatiyar’s ancestral home, Kedar Ghat, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and Mata Annapurna Temple.