CPI 2024 Revision and Interpretation of Inflation in India
Context
India has revised its Consumer Price Index (CPI) to better reflect current household spending patterns and to improve measurement of inflation.
The revision affects how inflation is interpreted at national and State levels.
Source: A new CPI base, a clearer inflation signal, The Hindu
Core Points:
- Earlier CPI grouped consumption into six broad categories; many services were combined under one head.
- Revised CPI reorganises the basket into 12 distinct categories based on COICOP 2018.
- Revision improves visibility of individual components of household expenditure.
- Weight of food has declined; housing and services now have a larger share.
- Revision changes measurement of spending, not what households actually spend.
- CPI measures price level relative to a base year, not the speed of price rise.
- Inflation rate measures how fast prices have increased over one year.
- Under CPI 2024, non-food price pressures influence headline inflation more strongly.
- State-level inflation now reflects differences in consumption structure, not only food prices.
- RBI can better distinguish between transitory and persistent price pressures using CPI 2024.
Key Details
- Intellectual basis: Joseph Lowe (1822) argued prices should be weighted by importance in consumption.
- CPI uses a fixed basket for a base period; latest revision updates basket using HCES data.
- Base year: 2024 = CPI value of 100.
- CPI General (Combined) at 104.46 in January 2026 means the same basket costing 100 in 2024 costs ₹104.46 in 2026.
- Inflation rate of 2.75% compares January 2026 prices with January 2025 prices.
- States with highest inflation in January 2026: Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Karnataka.
- Telangana inflation: 5%; Kerala: 3.67%; Tamil Nadu: 3.36%; Rajasthan: 3.17%.
- Higher inflation in services-intensive States linked to higher costs of housing, health, education, transport, and personal services.
- CPI 2024 includes rural housing and utilities, correcting earlier understatement of non-food inflation in rural States.
- Food prices are volatile; service prices tend to remain high for longer, influencing RBI’s policy assessment.
Freedom of Speech Of MPs And Expunction Of Parliamentary Records
Context
Recent developments in Parliament have highlighted concerns about restrictions on MPs’ freedom of speech under Article 105 and the increasing use of expunction of speeches.
The issue centres on whether House rules are being applied in a manner that undermines constitutional guarantees.
Source: Protecting the freedom of speech of MPs, The Hindu
Core Points:
- Article 105 guarantees freedom of speech to MPs in Parliament, subject to constitutional provisions and House rules.
- House rules regulate proceedings; they cannot override or eclipse constitutional rights.
- Excessive or arbitrary expunction of speeches can infringe MPs’ freedom of speech.
- MPs have the right to speak freely and have their remarks entered into official records.
- Expunction should be limited only to offending words, not entire sentences or paragraphs.
- Mindless application of expunction can make speeches incoherent and weaken legislative debate.
- Freedom of speech is the principal parliamentary privilege enabling effective legislative functioning.
- Rules restricting speech exist but are not meant to stifle debate.
- Weaponisation of rules distorts their constitutional purpose.
- Democratic functioning of Parliament requires a strong and speaking Opposition.
Key Details
- Supreme Court has held that restrictions on rights should not eclipse the rights themselves.
- Rule 380 allows expunction of words that are unparliamentary, defamatory, indecent, or undignified.
- Article 121 prohibits discussion in Parliament on the conduct of Supreme Court or High Court judges except during removal motions.
- House rules restrict:
- Discussion of sub judice matters.
- Personal allegations.
- Questioning bona fides of fellow members.
- Reflections on conduct of persons in high authority.
- Defamatory or incriminatory allegations without prior notice to the Speaker.
- Parliamentary speeches are preserved for posterity.
- Constitutional scholars have noted that the Opposition’s duty is to oppose and that parliamentary government depends on mutual forbearance between majority and minority.
- Present situation reflects a breakdown in government–Opposition relationship, with attempts to prevent the Leader of Opposition from speaking and moves to seek lifetime disqualification.
Implementation Constraints Of The Women’s Reservation Act, 2023
Context
The Women’s Reservation Act, passed in September 2023, promises one-third reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies but links implementation to a future Census and delimitation exercise.
This linkage creates a constitutional and logistical delay in actual enforcement.
Source: Parliament’s historic law, an extended wait for women, The Hindu
Core Points:
- Act provides one-third reservation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
- Implementation is conditional upon a Census conducted after 2026 and a subsequent delimitation exercise.
- Reservation cannot be implemented in the 2029 general election under existing constitutional requirements.
- Without further constitutional amendment, reservation is possible only from 2034.
- Two mandatory sequential steps: national Census → delimitation based on Census data.
- Delimitation process is historically time-consuming and complex.
- Linking reservation to delimitation delays women’s representation.
- Act entangles women’s reservation with unresolved north–south seat distribution tensions.
- Several design and coverage issues remain unaddressed in the Act.
- Parliament has the power to amend the Constitution to enable earlier implementation.
Key Details
- Next Census scheduled for 2027; data publication historically takes 12–18 months.
- Only after data publication can a Delimitation Commission be constituted under Article 82.
- Commission must redraw 543 parliamentary and over 4,000 Assembly constituencies.
- Past Delimitation Commissions: none finished in under three years; the 2002 Commission took six years.
- Next delimitation will reallocate seats among States for the first time since 1976 and implement women’s reservation simultaneously.
- Even on an optimistic timeline, delimitation may conclude only by 2032–33.
- Immediate implementation within existing 543 Lok Sabha seats would require 181 seats to become women-only.
- Linking reservation to delimitation avoids displacement of current male incumbents by allowing expansion of total seats.
- Total Lok Sabha strength after delimitation is expected to rise substantially.
- Women’s Reservation Bill first introduced in 1996; passed by Rajya Sabha in 2010 but not taken up in Lok Sabha; enacted in 2023.
- Act excludes Rajya Sabha and State Legislative Councils.
- No sub-reservation for OBC women, though SC/ST women receive proportional sub-quotas.
- Reserved constituencies are to rotate after each general election, but operational details are unclear.
- Article 15(3) empowers the State to make special provisions for women and children.
- Possible options mentioned:
- Delink reservation from delimitation.
- Modestly expand Lok Sabha.
- Reserve seats within current constituencies for limited election cycles.
India’s Entry Into The Pax Silica Alliance And Its Strategic Implications
Context
India has joined the Pax Silica alliance, a U.S.-led coalition focused on AI infrastructure and critical minerals, to support its technological and industrial ambitions.
The move has potential economic, strategic, and geopolitical consequences.
Source: Lines in the sand, The Pax Silica alliance holds benefits, but could also tie India down, The Hindu
Core Points:
- Entry into Pax Silica is aimed at securing India’s technological future.
- Alliance focuses on infrastructure for AI and critical minerals.
- Membership complements India’s domestic missions on semiconductors, AI, and critical minerals.
- India seeks to secure raw material supply, advanced equipment, investment, and influence over global tech and security standards.
- India lacks significant capacity in processing and extracting critical minerals.
- India’s large demand can help justify new non-China-centred supply chains.
- India can contribute engineering talent and assembly capacity to global diversification efforts.
- Participation strengthens efforts to establish democratic governance for critical technologies.
- Joining may expose India to economic retaliation from China.
- Partnership may impose rigid export control and technology-transfer expectations.
- These expectations could clash with India’s preference for issue-based alignments.
- Domestic criticism may arise if the bloc influences India’s AI rules.
- Smaller Indian firms may face higher costs and delays due to stricter security audits.
- Success of Pax Silica depends on building end-to-end supply chains among members.
Key Details
- Potential Chinese responses: trade friction, slower market access, pressure on minerals and active pharmaceutical ingredients.
- “Trusted ecosystems” may lead to tighter guardrails on exports and technology transfer.
- India’s demand can financially justify new supply chains not pegged to China.
- Desired supply chain sequence: mining → refining → chip manufacturing → AI system deployment within member countries.
- Goal is a secure technology network that supports India’s economic growth and protects the alliance from disruptions.
Divergence Between Gandhian Ideals And Post-Independence India
Context
Since Independence, India has undergone rapid technological, social, and urban transformations.
These structural shifts have increasingly moved society away from several core Gandhian ideals relating to abstinence, village self-rule, and khadi-based self-reliance.
Source: The Waning Relevance of Gandhian Ideals in Urbanising India, ORF
Core Points:
- Post-Independence India has experienced technological revolutions, global cultural convergence, and urbanisation.
- Transformation has weakened adherence to several Gandhian precepts.
- Public respect for Gandhi remains, but practical alignment with his ideals has declined.
From Gandhian Abstinence to Rising Alcohol Consumption
- Gandhi strongly opposed alcohol and influenced inclusion of prohibition in Directive Principles (Article 47).
- Several States experimented with prohibition; most efforts failed.
- Black markets flourished where prohibition was imposed.
- Per capita alcohol consumption has steadily increased.
- Social acceptance of alcohol has expanded, including among women.
- Gandhian abstinence appears to be losing political and social support.
Gram Swaraj vs. Urbanisation
- Gandhi advocated decentralised, self-sufficient village republics with minimal state interference.
- He opposed urban growth and envisioned India as a nation of empowered villages.
- India has undergone steady urbanisation since 1951.
- Rural population share has declined while urban population has risen sharply.
- Urban governance challenges are increasing; rural governance appears less central.
- Migration to cities and abroad reflects shift away from village-centric vision.
Khadi and Market Transition
- Gandhi promoted khadi as employment source and symbol of self-reliance.
- Khadi was central to the freedom movement and post-Independence symbolism.
- Government established KVIC in 1956 to promote khadi.
- Technological advances and mass production reduced khadi’s competitiveness.
- High production costs and distribution constraints limited expansion.
- Market preference shifted to affordable, mass-produced clothing.
- Khadi’s presence in the overall apparel market remains marginal despite growth in sales.
Key Details
- Article 47: State shall endeavour to prohibit intoxicating drinks and drugs injurious to health.
- WHO data: per capita alcohol consumption exceeds four litres.
- Indian whiskies account for 48% of global whisky consumption.
- 14.6% of adults consume alcohol.
- Urban population: 17.29% (1951) → 31.16% (2011) → ~36% currently.
- Rural population share declined from 82.71% to ~64%.
- Urban population increased from under 60 million at Independence to over 500 million.
- Around 18 million Indians have migrated abroad.
- Khadi sales: ₹1,081 crore (2013–14) → ₹5,943 crore (2022–23).
- Total apparel market: ~₹7 lakh crore (2023).
Securitisation Of Biotechnology And The Dual-Use Security Dilemma
Context
Biotechnology is increasingly framed as a strategic and security asset amid techno-nationalist competition and geopolitical shifts.
This securitisation deepens its dual-use security dilemma, with implications for innovation, collaboration, and biosecurity.
Source: Governing Biotechnology’s Dual-Use Security Dilemma, ORF
Core Points:
- Biotechnology’s dual-use nature creates a security dilemma with major policy implications.
- Framing biotechnology as a strategic asset promotes securitisation and exceptional policy measures.
- Securitisation can constrain international collaboration and deter beneficial research.
- Low distinguishability between civilian and harmful applications intensifies mistrust.
- Convergence of biotechnology with AI heightens complexity of governance.
- Techno-nationalist strategies are reshaping biotechnology from a developmental to a security-oriented domain.
- Exceptional measures may amplify threat perceptions and fragment global research ecosystems.
- Reduced collaboration and oversight can increase biosecurity risks.
- Managing the dilemma requires balancing security concerns with scientific openness.
Key Details
- Biotechnology advances include recombinant DNA technology, CRISPR-Cas, gene-edited crops, and mRNA vaccines.
- First fully AI-discovered drug candidate (rentosertib) reported in 2025.
- Governments including the US, China, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and India treat biotechnology as central to economic growth and competitiveness.
- US National Security Strategy (2025) identifies biotechnology as a core national interest.
- EU’s proposed Biotech Act emphasises biomanufacturing.
- Low distinguishability: same infrastructure and knowledge can support vaccines, genomic surveillance, or harmful applications.
- US–China tensions in biotechnology mirror dynamics seen earlier in other strategic technologies.
- ASPI’s Critical Technology Tracker highlights intense US–China competition.
- National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology warned China could surpass the US.
- Biosecure Act (December 2025) limits US agencies’ engagement with certain Chinese biotech firms and establishes a mechanism to list high-risk companies.
- Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act expands the US biosecurity framework.
- China integrates biotechnology into military-civil fusion strategy.
- NATO identified biotechnology and human enhancement as a strategic imperative (2019) and adopted a strategy in 2024.
- Russia invests in human enhancement to maintain military capabilities.
- China strengthened regulation of human genetic resource data following scrutiny of its genomic surveillance programme.
- Accessibility of tools, DIY bio communities, and large-language models increases risk of misuse by non-state actors.
- Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) remains the central instrument against deliberate misuse.
- Strengthening confidence-building and verification under the BWC is suggested.
- Norm-building around responsible science and embedding cooperation in multilateral and minilateral frameworks are proposed.
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