LEGAL NEWS

Child Marriage in India: Law, Reality and Continuing Challenges

• Even after nearly two decades of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, states like Andhra Pradesh continue to record significant cases, revealing a gap between legal intent and social practice.

• Child marriage involves a marital union where one or both individuals are under 18 years, denying children their basic rights to education, health, safety and informed choice.

• Girls are the worst affected, facing early motherhood, higher risks of violence, school discontinuation and long-term economic dependence.

• During the colonial period, social reformers such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar strongly opposed early marriage and framed it as a social evil.

• The Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 fixed minimum ages but remained largely ineffective due to weak enforcement mechanisms.

• The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 strengthened the framework by making such marriages voidable, prescribing punishments and appointing Child Marriage Prohibition Officers.

• Although prevalence has declined over time, a notable proportion of girls aged 15–19 are still married, and India records the highest number of child marriages globally in absolute terms.

• The practice remains concentrated in economically vulnerable regions such as Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and parts of Madhya Pradesh, prompting renewed national efforts like Bal Vivah-Mukt Bharat aligned with SDG-5.

NATIONAL NEWS

Communist Party of India: A Century of Left Politics

• The Communist Party of India has completed 100 years, symbolising a century-long journey of organised Left politics in the country.

• CPI is among India’s oldest political parties, inspired by Marxist thought and focused on advancing the rights of workers, peasants and socially marginalised groups.

• The party was formally founded on 26 December 1925 at Kanpur through a national conference of Indian Communist groups operating within the country.

• Its early objective was to free India from colonial rule and work towards a society based on equality, social justice and collective ownership of resources.

• In its formative decades, CPI drew inspiration from the Russian Revolution and faced severe colonial repression through cases such as the Kanpur and Meerut Conspiracy trials.

• During the 1930s and 1940s, the party played a key role in trade union activism and agrarian struggles, notably the Tebhaga movement and the Telangana uprising.

• After Independence, CPI increasingly adopted parliamentary politics, contributing to elected governments in states like Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura.

• Internal ideological differences culminated in the 1964 split that led to the creation of CPI (Marxist), while leaders such as M. N. Roy, S. A. Dange, P. C. Joshi, A. K. Gopalan and E. M. S. Namboodiripad shaped its historical trajectory.

India’s First National Weapon Database for Internal Security

• The Union Government has introduced the country’s first centralised database to track government firearms that enter illegal circulation.

• The initiative is designed to strengthen internal security by countering terrorism, organised crime and extremist activities.

• Named the Lost, Looted and Recovered Firearm (LLRF) database, it was formally unveiled by the Union Home Minister.

• The launch took place during the Anti-Terror Conference 2025, a national forum focused on counter-terror preparedness.

• Developed by the National Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the system reflects modernised policing efforts.

• The platform records details of weapons lost, stolen, looted or recovered from state police and Central Armed Police Forces.

• A secure digital interface allows authorised agencies to access real-time data and share information seamlessly across states.

• With nationwide inputs from all States and Union Territories, the database enhances tracing of firearm origins and supports faster investigations.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

India’s Economic Transformation in the Modi Era

• The Vice-President of India released a book by Sikander Kumar that analyses India’s economic journey over the last decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

• The book highlights how India has undergone deep structural changes, leading to higher national confidence and sustained reform-oriented growth.

• India has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy and continues to be the fastest-growing major economy, reflecting macroeconomic stability.

• Major governance reforms such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, banking transparency and digital systems have strengthened accountability and reduced inefficiencies.

• The governance approach of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” has translated into better institutional efficiency and disciplined administration.

• The JAM trinity has transformed welfare delivery, enabling direct benefit transfers worth over ₹47 lakh crore by reducing leakages and improving transparency.

• The introduction of GST unified the country into a single market, simplified taxation, enhanced compliance and strengthened cooperative federalism.

• Initiatives like Digital India, Make in India, Startup India and UPI, along with the vision of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat@2047, aim to combine self-reliance with inclusive, sustainable and technology-driven development.

STATE NEWS

Varanasi to Host Senior National Volleyball Championship

• Varanasi is set to host the 72nd Senior National Volleyball Championship for both men and women, marking a major sporting achievement for the city.

• The tournament will take place from 4 to 11 January at Dr Sampurnanand Sports Stadium, Sigra, under the broader vision of the Khelo India initiative.

• This will be the first time a national-level volleyball championship of such scale is being organised in the Purvanchal region of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

• A total of 73 teams from across India will compete, with participation from more than 1,000 players in men’s and women’s categories.

• The event is expected to strengthen local sports infrastructure, improve organisational capacity and raise Varanasi’s profile on the national sports stage.

• The organising committee, led by the Varanasi mayor and state volleyball officials, extended a formal invitation to the Prime Minister, who conveyed encouragement and support for the championship.

• To showcase Kashi’s cultural heritage, two mascots—‘Nandu’ symbolising tradition and strength, and ‘Neera’ highlighting environmental awareness—have been unveiled.

• Transparent arrangements, including random anti-doping tests, are being put in place to ensure fair competition and uphold sporting integrity.

India’s First PPP-Based Medical Colleges Launched in Madhya Pradesh

• The Union Health Minister and the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister laid the foundation stones of two new medical colleges in Dhar and Betul districts.

• These institutions are the first in the country to be developed under the public–private partnership (PPP) model in medical education.

• The initiative is part of a larger state plan to set up four PPP medical colleges, with Katni and Panna proposed as the next locations.

• Under the model, the state provides land and oversight, while private partners build hospitals, academic facilities, hostels and laboratories.

• District hospitals linked to these colleges will be upgraded to National Medical Commission standards while remaining under government control.

• Located in tribal-dominated areas, the colleges aim to improve healthcare access and reduce doctor shortages in underserved regions.

• The Dhar medical college involves an investment of around ₹260 crore, with a private foundation participating in its development.

• The project aligns with national health reforms focused on preventive care, primary healthcare expansion and increasing medical seats across India.