📰 Daily Current Affairs Notes — Monday, July 27, 2026

Sources scanned: PIB India, The Hindu, Indian Express, PRS India, RBI, NITI Aayog, and Chhattisgarh State Government portals.

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Supreme Court Quashes Executive Order Allowing Retrospective Environmental Clearances — [Environment & Ecology: GS Paper III / Polity & Governance: GS Paper II]

#### 1. The Core News Report

The Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark judgment quashing a 2021 Office Memorandum (OM) issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The invalidated executive memorandum had permitted industrial projects, mining units, and infrastructure developments to apply for and receive retrospective or ex-post facto Environmental Clearances (EC) after commencing operations without prior statutory approval.

A Bench of the apex court ruled that executive orders or administrative OMs cannot override or dilute the mandatory statutory provisions framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006. The Court emphasized that routinely grant of ex-post facto approvals severely undermines the “Precautionary Principle” and the “Polluter Pays Principle,” both of which form the bedrock of Indian environmental jurisprudence under Article 21 of the Constitution.

However, the Bench clarified that the Central Government retains limited power in exceptional circumstances and in larger public interest to introduce a narrowly tailored, time-bound amnesty mechanism, provided it is enacted through a valid statutory notification or legislative amendment subject to judicial review, rather than through executive circulars.

#### 2. Examination Analysis (Why it is Important & Exam Relevance)

• Why it is Important: This judgment reinforces the supremacy of environmental rule of law over executive discretion, establishing that economic development cannot bypass mandatory prior environmental impact assessments.

• UPSC Relevance:

* Prelims: Mandatory provisions of Environment (Protection) Act 1986, EIA Notification 2006, Precautionary Principle, Polluter Pays Principle, and administrative vs. statutory law distinctions.

* GS Paper (I / II / III): GS Paper II (Delegated legislation, judicial review of executive circulars); GS Paper III (EIA process, environmental governance, sustainable development vs. industrial growth balance).

* Essay: Prompts on “Economic Growth versus Environmental Integrity” or “The Precautionary Principle in Governance.”

* Interview: Questions on balancing ease of doing business with environmental protection regulations.

• CGPSC Relevance:

* Prelims: Roles and powers of Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB), Environment Protection Act provisions, and statutory clearance procedures.

* Mains Paper: Paper 5 (Economic and Environmental Governance) and Paper 3 (Constitutional law and administrative discretionary powers).

* Chhattisgarh Special (if applicable): Direct impact on mining operations (coal, iron ore, bauxite) and industrial projects in Chhattisgarh’s mineral-rich districts like Korba, Raigarh, and Dantewada, ensuring strict adherence to pre-operational statutory clearances.

• Key Facts to Remember:

* Important figures / Constitutional Articles / Committees: Article 21 (Right to a Clean Environment), Environment (Protection) Act 1986 (Section 3).

Reports / Organizations / Schemes / Acts / Locations / Dates: EIA Notification 2006; MoEFCC 2021 Office Memorandum (Quashed); Precautionary Principle & Polluter Pays Principle (established in Vellore Citizens’ Welfare Forum v. Union of India*).

• Possible Prelims MCQs:

1. With reference to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in India, consider the following statements:

1. EIA is statutorily backed by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

2. The Supreme Court has ruled that administrative Office Memorandums can grant ex-post facto clearances without statutory amendments.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 only

(B) 2 only

(C) Both 1 and 2

(D) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (A)

Explanation: Statement 1 is correct as EIA notifications derive statutory authority from Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Statement 2 is incorrect because the SC explicitly held that executive OMs cannot grant retrospective clearances without valid statutory notifications.

2. Which of the following constitutional articles serves as the foundation for the Supreme Court to uphold the ‘Precautionary Principle’ in environmental matters?

(A) Article 14

(B) Article 19

(C) Article 21

(D) Article 32

Correct Answer: (C)

Explanation: The Supreme Court has consistently held that the right to a clean and healthy environment is an integral part of the Right to Life under Article 21.

• Possible Mains Questions:

1. “Granting ex-post facto environmental clearances dilutes the essence of environmental impact assessment.” In light of the recent Supreme Court judgment, critically analyze the conflict between administrative flexibility for business and strict statutory environmental compliance. (250 words / 15 marks)

• Keywords / Tags: `Environmental Impact Assessment` `Ex-Post Facto Clearance` `Environment Protection Act 1986` `Precautionary Principle` `Supreme Court`

• Related Topics for Revision:

* EIA Notification 2006 vs Draft EIA 2020 provisions

* Landmark judgments: Vellore Citizens’ Welfare Forum (1996) and TN Godavarman case

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Kerala High Court Directs State to Formulate Paid Menstrual Leave Policy for Female Transit Workers — [Polity & Governance: GS Paper II / Social Issues: GS Paper II]

#### 1. The Core News Report

The Kerala High Court recognized menstrual leave as a “progressive welfare step” and urged the Kerala State Government and the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to consider formulating a paid menstrual leave policy for women bus conductors and field staff.

A Division Bench was hearing a petition filed by female KSRTC conductors highlighting the physical strain, health hazards, and social discomfort experienced during field shifts without adequate rest facilities. The High Court observed that modern labor jurisprudence must incorporate gender-sensitive workplace policies to ensure equal opportunity and physical well-being for female employees.

The Court directed state authorities and KSRTC leadership to convene consultations with female employees and trade unions to evaluate the practical feasibility of paid leave or flexible duty scheduling during menstrual cycles, setting a administrative precedent for public sector undertakings nationwide.

#### 2. Examination Analysis (Why it is Important & Exam Relevance)

• Why it is Important: Highlights the evolving constitutional jurisprudence surrounding gender equality at workplaces, occupational health, and the state’s welfare duties under Directive Principles of State Policy.

• UPSC Relevance:

* Prelims: Constitutional provisions regarding gender justice, Article 15(3), Article 42, and labor laws in India.

* GS Paper (I / II): GS Paper I (Women empowerment, social empowerment); GS Paper II (Mechanisms, laws, institutions for the protection and betterment of vulnerable sections).

* Essay: Themes related to “Workplace Inclusivity and Gender Justice” or “Expanding the Horizons of Labor Welfare in India.”

* Interview: Questions on balancing social welfare policies with economic productivity in state public sector enterprises.

• CGPSC Relevance:

* Prelims: Articles 15, 39, and 42 of the Indian Constitution; State Labor Welfare Policies.

* Mains Paper: Paper 3 (Constitutional provisions for vulnerable sections) and Paper 6 (Sociological dimensions of women empowerment in Chhattisgarh).

* Chhattisgarh Special (if applicable): Relevant for state-run bodies such as Chhattisgarh State Road Transport Corporation (CSRTC) workers, Mahila Police Volunteers, and field-level Anganwadi/Mitanin workers under state health initiatives.

• Key Facts to Remember:

* Important figures / Constitutional Articles / Committees: Article 15(3) (Special provisions for women), Article 42 (Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief).

* Reports / Organizations / Schemes / Acts / Locations / Dates: Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (amended 2017); First Indian state to introduce menstrual leave for students in higher education: Kerala (2023).

• Possible Prelims MCQs:

1. Which of the following Directive Principles of State Policy explicitly enjoins the State to make provision for securing “just and humane conditions of work”?

(A) Article 39A

(B) Article 41

(C) Article 42

(D) Article 43A

Correct Answer: (C)

Explanation: Article 42 of the Constitution mandates that the State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief.

2. Under the Indian Constitution, special provisions for women and children can be made by the State under which of the following provisions?

(A) Article 14(2)

(B) Article 15(3)

(C) Article 16(4)

(D) Article 19(2)

Correct Answer: (B)

Explanation: Article 15(3) empowers the State to make special provisions for women and children as an exception to the general prohibition of discrimination.

• Possible Mains Questions:

1. “Institutionalizing menstrual leave policies is a vital imperative for inclusive labor market participation of women in India.” Discuss the constitutional, economic, and operational dimensions of this assertion. (150 words / 10 marks)

• Keywords / Tags: `Menstrual Leave Policy` `Article 42` `Gender Equality` `Labor Reforms` `Kerala High Court`

• Related Topics for Revision:

* Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017

* Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) female labor force participation rates

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Draft CAFE-III Fuel Efficiency Norms Introduce Regulatory Incentives for Biofuel and Flex-Fuel Vehicles — [Economy & Decarbonization: GS Paper III / Environment: GS Paper III]

#### 1. The Core News Report

The Union Ministry of Power, in coordination with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), released the draft Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) Phase-III standards. The draft rules introduce explicit regulatory credits and recognition for auto manufacturers producing ethanol-blended (E20, E85) and flex-fuel/biofuel vehicles.

CAFE norms require automobile manufacturers to keep average fleet carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions below designated statutory limits. Under the proposed CAFE-III regulations scheduled to take effect from FY 2027, vehicle manufacturers will receive favorable weighting factors for biofuel and flex-fuel models, allowing them to offset total fleet emissions and comply with stringent fuel economy mandates.

The initiative aims to accelerate India’s transition toward clean mobility, reduce crude oil import vulnerability, support domestic agriculture through increased ethanol procurement, and align transportation policy with India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

#### 2. Examination Analysis (Why it is Important & Exam Relevance)

• Why it is Important: Connects energy security, agricultural economy, automotive decarbonization, and regulatory standards into a single policy framework.

• UPSC Relevance:

* Prelims: CAFE norms, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), National Biofuel Policy 2018, E20 Ethanol Blending Target (2025-26).

* GS Paper (III): Indian Economy (Energy sector, import substitution); Environment & Sustainable Development (Climate change mitigation, transport sector emissions).

* Essay: “Decarbonizing India’s Growth Engine: Challenges and Potential of Biofuels.”

* Interview: Policy tradeoff between biofuel feedstock usage (sugarcane/grains) and food security.

• CGPSC Relevance:

* Prelims: Statutory bodies like BEE; Ethanol blending targets; Industrial policy of Chhattisgarh.

* Mains Paper: Paper 5 (Indian and Chhattisgarh Economy, Bio-energy sector and agriculture).

* Chhattisgarh Special (if applicable): Direct relevance to Chhattisgarh’s first commercial bio-ethanol plant at Bhoramdeo (Kawardha district) utilizing surplus paddy/molasses, boosting state agri-economy and ethanol supply to oil marketing companies (OMCs).

• Key Facts to Remember:

* Important figures / Constitutional Articles / Committees: E20 Target (20% ethanol blending target moved forward to 2025-26 from 2030); CAFE-III implementation target (FY 2027).

* Reports / Organizations / Schemes / Acts / Locations / Dates: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under Energy Conservation Act 2001; National Policy on Biofuels 2018 (amended 2022).

• Possible Prelims MCQs:

1. Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms in India are primarily designed to regulate which of the following parameter in the automotive sector?

(A) Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) tailpipe emissions

(B) Average fleet fuel consumption and CO2 emissions

(C) Noise pollution levels of heavy commercial vehicles

(D) Life cycle recyclability of electric vehicle batteries

Correct Answer: (B)

Explanation: CAFE norms set target limits on the average CO2 emissions and fuel consumption across an automaker’s entire annual vehicle fleet production.

2. With reference to the National Policy on Biofuels, consider the following statements:

1. It allows the use of damaged food grains and surplus rice for ethanol production.

2. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is the statutory body regulating ethanol procurement prices in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 only

(B) 2 only

(C) Both 1 and 2

(D) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (A)

Explanation: Statement 1 is correct (amended policy allows surplus grains/rice under FCI approval). Statement 2 is incorrect as ethanol procurement prices are set by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), not BEE.

• Possible Mains Questions:

1. Evaluate how integrating biofuel incentives into Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE-III) norms can simultaneously address India’s energy security, agricultural sustainability, and climate goals. (250 words / 15 marks)

• Keywords / Tags: `CAFE-III Norms` `Biofuels` `Ethanol Blending` `Bureau of Energy Efficiency` `Decarbonization`

• Related Topics for Revision:

* National Policy on Biofuels 2018 amendments

* Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act 2022

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150 Years of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) — [Science & Technology: GS Paper III / History & Heritage: GS Paper I]

#### 1. The Core News Report

The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), located in Kolkata, West Bengal, celebrates its 150th year of foundation. Established in 1876 by the visionary physician Dr. Mahendralal Sarkar, IACS holds the distinction of being India’s oldest premier institute dedicated to basic scientific research and indigenous scientific inquiry.

The institute holds historic landmark significance in global science: it was within the laboratories of IACS that Sir C.V. Raman conducted his foundational optical research on molecular light scattering, leading to the discovery of the “Raman Effect” on February 28, 1928, which earned Asia its first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

Operating today as an autonomous research institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, IACS continues to perform advanced multidisciplinary research in quantum materials, chemical sciences, biological physics, and renewable energy storage.

#### 2. Examination Analysis (Why it is Important & Exam Relevance)

• Why it is Important: Honors the historical evolution of modern science in pre-independence India, institutional scientific self-reliance, and current R&D milestones.

• UPSC Relevance:

* Prelims: Historical institutions of modern science (IACS, IISc, Bose Institute), Dr. Mahendralal Sarkar, C.V. Raman, Raman Effect, National Science Day.

* GS Paper (I / III): GS Paper I (Modern Indian History, socio-cultural renaissance and scientific institutions); GS Paper III (Achievements of Indians in science & technology, indigenization of technology).

* Essay: “Science, Reason, and Human Progress: The Historical Journey of Indian Research.”

* Interview: Discussions on modern scientific funding, basic research vs applied R&D in Indian academia.

• CGPSC Relevance:

* Prelims: Foundation year (1876), founder (Dr. Mahendralal Sarkar), C.V. Raman Nobel Prize (1930), Raman Effect.

* Mains Paper: Paper 3 (History of modern science and prominent Indian scientists) and Paper 4 (Role of Science and Technology in National Development).

* Chhattisgarh Special (if applicable): Links to science education infrastructure in Chhattisgarh, such as NIT Raipur, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University research facilities, and state DST scientific promotion schemes.

• Key Facts to Remember:

* Important figures / Constitutional Articles / Committees: Dr. Mahendralal Sarkar (Founder, 1876); Sir C.V. Raman (Nobel Prize 1930); Article 51A(h) (Fundamental Duty to develop scientific temper).

* Reports / Organizations / Schemes / Acts / Locations / Dates: Autonomous institute under DST, Govt of India; Discovery of Raman Effect (Feb 28, 1928 — celebrated as National Science Day).

• Possible Prelims MCQs:

1. The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), India’s oldest scientific research institute, was founded in 1876 by:

(A) Sir J.C. Bose

(B) Dr. Mahendralal Sarkar

(C) Acharya P.C. Ray

(D) Meghnad Saha

Correct Answer: (B)

Explanation: Dr. Mahendralal Sarkar founded IACS in Kolkata in 1876 to foster original scientific research by Indian scholars.

2. The ‘Raman Effect’, discovered at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), deals with which of the following phenomena in physics?

(A) Inelastic scattering of photons by matter

(B) Thermionic emission of electrons from metals

(C) Nuclear magnetic resonance in liquid solutions

(D) Total internal reflection of light in optical fibers

Correct Answer: (A)

Explanation: The Raman Effect describes the change in wavelength/frequency of light that occurs when a light beam is deflected by molecules (inelastic scattering of photons).

• Possible Mains Questions:

1. Trace the institutional evolution of scientific research in pre-independence India with special reference to the contribution of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS). How does fostering basic research align with India’s current R&D vision? (150 words /