Prelims-Pinpointer-for-07-NOV-2025

Prelims

Information Commission

Central Information Commission (CIC) and State Information Commission (SIC)

• CIC statutory body constituted under Section 12 of RTI Act, 2005; while SIC is constitutedd under Section 15 of the Act.

Objectives

• Exercise powers conferred under RTI Act, 2005
• Receive and inquire complaints from citizens (Section 18).
• Receive and decide second appeal from citizens (Section 19)
• Perform “Monitoring and Reporting” duty (Section 25).

Composition

• Central Information Commission (CIC)
  • Chief Information Commissioner and not more than ten Information Commissioners at central level.
• State Information Commission (SIC)
  • State Chief Information Commissioner and not more than ten State Information Commissioners at state level.

Appointment

• CIC appointed by President on recommendation of committee
  • PM (Chairperson), Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha), Union Cabinet Minister.
• SIC appointed by Governor on recommendation of committee
  • CM (Chairperson), Leader of Opposition (Assembly), State Cabinet Minister.

Eligibility

• Members shall be persons of eminence with wide knowledge in law, science, technology, social service, management, journalism, media, administration.
• Cannot be MP, MLA or hold any office of profit; not connected with political party or pursue business/profession.

Tenure

• Members hold office for term prescribed by Central Government or until age 65, whichever earlier.

Reappointment

• Chief Information Commissioner not eligible for reappointment ensuring independence and rotation of leadership positions.
• Information Commissioner eligible for appointment as CIC; term not more than five years aggregate as IC and CIC.
• State IC eligible as State CIC; term not more than five years aggregate ensuring limited tenure comprehensively.

Removal

• President removes CIC members; Governor removes SIC members if adjudged insolvent, convicted of moral turpitude offense.
• If engaged in paid employment outside duties or declared unfit by infirmity of mind/body requiring removal.
• Removal for misbehavior/incapacity: President/Governor refers matter to Supreme Court for inquiry before final removal.

Salary and Jurisdiction

• Salary, allowances, service conditions prescribed by Central Government (RTI Amendment Act, 2019) ensuring uniformity.
• CIC jurisdiction: extends over all Central Public Authorities; SIC jurisdiction: extends over all State Public Authorities.

Powers and Functions

• Section 18: duty to inquire complaints regarding information requested under RTI Act ensuring transparency.
• Section 19: adjudication in second appeal for giving information protecting citizen rights comprehensively.
• Section 20: imposition of penalties if Public Information Officer not performed duty without reasonable cause.
• Access to all public records during inquiry; can ask records under control of public authority.
• Suo-moto power: can order inquiry into any matter; has powers of civil court for summoning, requiring documents.
• Secure compliance: power to secure compliance with decisions from public authority ensuring implementation effectively.
• Annual Report: CIC submits to Central Government placed before Parliament; SIC submits to State Government placed before State Legislature.

RTI Amendment Act 2019 Changes

• Term: Chief Information Commissioner and IC term prescribed by Central Government modifying earlier provisions.
• State Chief IC and IC term also prescribed by Central Government centralizing control over terms.
• Salary, allowances, service conditions of CIC, SIC members now prescribed by Central Government ensuring uniformity nationwide.

CAG Creates Two New Specialized Cadres

About New Cadres

• CAG granted in-principle approval for creating two new specialized cadres within Indian Audit and Accounts Department.
• Cadres named: Central Revenue Audit (CRA) Cadre and Central Expenditure Audit (CEA) Cadre ensuring specialization.
• Benefits of Centralization
  • K. Subramaniam (Deputy Auditor General) stated specialization will lead to deeper domain expertise in revenue/expenditure audits.
  • Reform effective from January 1, 2026: aims to build deeper professional expertise and improve audit quality of Central Government finances.
• Current Fragmentation
  • Currently: audit of Central receipts and expenditure undertaken by multiple offices with cadre control dispersed across State Civil Audit offices.
  • Leads to fragmentation: new cadres will consolidate over 4,000 audit professionals out of total CAG strength of 42,000.
  • Measure will reduce dependence on deployment and manage manpower in more flexible manner ensuring operational efficiency.
• Transfer Liability
  • Officers in both cadres will be liable for all-India transfers ensuring nationwide mobility and expertise sharing.

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India

• Article 148: CAG heads Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA-AD) responsible for safeguarding public purse at central/state levels.
• Upholds Constitution and parliamentary laws in financial administration; considered key pillar of India’s democratic system alongside SC, EC, UPSC.
• Governed by CAG (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971 with amendments in 1976, 1984, 1987.
• Appointment and Term
  • Appointed by President of India by warrant under his hand and seal serving six years or until age 65, whichever earlier.
  • Takes oath to uphold Constitution and perform duties impartially, without fear or favour ensuring independence comprehensively.
  • Removal possible by President on same grounds as SC judge requiring special majority resolution in both Houses for misbehavior/incapacity.
  • Can resign anytime by addressing resignation letter to President ensuring voluntary exit option available.
• Independence
  • Removed only by President following constitutional procedure, not at President’s pleasure ensuring job security and autonomy.
  • Ineligible for any further office under Government of India or state after leaving office preventing conflict of interest.
  • Salary determined by Parliament: equal to SC judge ensuring financial independence and status parity comprehensively.
  • President prescribes service conditions for CAG’s staff in consultation with CAG ensuring administrative autonomy effectively.
  • Administrative expenses (salaries, allowances, pensions) charged upon Consolidated Fund of India, not subject to Parliamentary vote ensuring financial security.
  • No minister can represent CAG in Parliament or take responsibility for actions ensuring complete independence from executive.
• Duties and Powers
  • Audits accounts related to expenditure from Consolidated Fund of India and state funds ensuring fiscal accountability comprehensively.
  • Audits government corporations, public sector undertakings, bodies substantially funded by government ensuring comprehensive oversight of public finances.
  • Provides certificate on net proceeds of taxes/duties; audits transactions related to debt, advances, suspense accounts ensuring accuracy.
  • Submits audit reports to President who places them before Parliament; reports examined by Public Accounts Committee ensuring legislative scrutiny.
• Role
  • Acts as agent of Parliament ensuring public money spent legally and efficiently with proper authorization and accountability.
  • Reviews whether money disbursed was legally available, applied correctly and expenditure conforms to governing authority ensuring compliance.
  • Responsible for safeguarding taxpayers’ money ensuring spent in accordance with law and intended purposes preventing misuse.
  • Can conduct propriety audits: assess wisdom, faithfulness, economy of government expenditure, comment on wastefulness and extravagance beyond legal compliance.
  • Propriety audits discretionary unlike legal/regulatory audits which are obligatory ensuring flexibility in audit approach comprehensively.
  • CAG in India performs Auditor-General role only, does not control issuance of funds unlike CAG in Britain which also functions as Comptroller.
• International Audits
  • IAEA (2022-2027): CAG is External Auditor for International Atomic Energy Agency promoting safe use of nuclear technologies.
  • FAO (2020-2025): CAG audits Food and Agriculture Organization working towards global food security ensuring international credibility.
• Constitutional Provisions
  • Article 148: appointment, oath, conditions of service; Article 149: duties and powers of CAG comprehensively.
  • Article 150: accounts of Union/States kept in form prescribed by President on advice of CAG ensuring standardization.
  • Article 151: CAG’s reports on Union accounts submitted to President, laid before Parliament; state reports to Governor/State Legislature.
  • Article 279: CAG certifies calculation of “net proceeds”; certificate is final ensuring authoritative determination.
  • Third Schedule Section IV: prescribes oath for SC judges and CAG upon assuming office ensuring constitutional commitment.
  • Sixth Schedule: accounts of District/Regional Councils kept in form prescribed by CAG and audited accordingly; reports to Governor/Council.

INS Ikshak

Commissioning Details

• Third vessel of Survey Vessel Large (SVL) class, INS Ikshak commissioned into Indian Navy at Naval Base, Kochi.

Capabilities

• Marks significant step in strengthening India’s hydrographic survey and maritime operational capabilities ensuring enhanced surveillance comprehensively.
• Ship capable of operating as platform for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, medical support operations ensuring versatility.

Inclusivity Milestone

• INS Ikshak first SVL designed with dedicated women’s accommodation reflecting Navy’s commitment to inclusivity ensuring gender diversity.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Context: Centre will soon release national SAF policy.

More in News:

• Global SAF demand currently 2 million tonnes, expected to rise to 183 million tonnes by 2040; India is positioned as an agricultural powerhouse with production potential.
• India has 750 million tonne available biomass and surplus 213 million tonne agricultural residue with adequate manufacturing capacity for sustainable aviation fuel production.
• 1% SAF blending target by 2027 requires 30 million litre; 2% target for 2028 translates to 62 million litre of sustainable aviation fuel domestically.
• Local oil makers collectively have annual production capacity of 70 million litre, sufficient to meet domestic demand and emerge as global SAF player internationally.

About SAF

• Biofuel also known as bio-jet fuel produced from sustainable feedstocks for aviation use reducing carbon emissions.
• Chemistry similar to conventional aviation turbine fuel (ATF) or jet fuel derived from crude oil ensuring compatibility.
• Existing aircraft engines can easily use SAF-ATF blend without requiring engine modifications or infrastructure changes.
• Composition
  • Made from renewable biomass and waste resources having potential to deliver performance of petroleum-based jet fuel effectively.

• Indian Context
  • Various Indian airlines already operated successfully few test and demonstration flights using jet fuel doped with SAF in various proportions.
• Production
  • Can be produced from number of sources (feedstock) including waste oil and fats, green and municipal waste, non-food crops.
  • Also produced synthetically via process that captures carbon directly from air ensuring diverse production pathways comprehensively.

Significance

• Environmental Benefits
  • Carbon footprint significantly lower than aviation turbine fuel (ATF) reducing greenhouse gas emissions from aviation sector.
  • ‘Sustainable’ because raw feedstock does not compete with food crops or water supplies or responsible for forest degradation.
• Decarbonization Potential
  • Remains major mature and viable pathway to decarbonize aviation sector ensuring long-term sustainability of air transport.
• Current Status
  • SAF accounts for only 0.3% of current fuel use for aviation showing significant potential for expansion and growth.

Abraham Accords

About Abraham Accords

• Historic agreement between Israel, United States, and United Arab Emirates first announced August 13, 2020.
• Term also covers subsequent agreements involving Bahrain, alongside Israel and UAE aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations.
• Official signing took place September 15, 2020 with UAE, Bahrain foreign ministers and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu as signatories.

Name Significance

• “Abraham Accords” symbolizes shared reverence for patriarch Abraham, regarded as prophet in Judaism and Islam reflecting interfaith recognition.
• Abraham called “Father of Many Nations”: revered figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam showing common heritage.
• Name chosen to highlight spirit of reconciliation, mutual respect, possibility of lasting cooperation between signatories comprehensively.

Key Provisions

• Diplomatic exchanges: establish embassies in each other’s countries and appoint ambassadors ensuring formal recognition.
• Collaboration across sectors: work with Israel in trade, tourism, healthcare, technology, security ensuring multi-sectoral cooperation.
• Access to religious sites: allow Muslims worldwide to visit historic sites in Israel, offer prayers at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Significance

• Highlights readiness of Arab states to look beyond Palestine issue and establish direct relations with Israel.
• Strategic departure from past policies promoting cordial ties between Israel and Arab nations reducing tensions.
• Potential to reduce tensions, encourage dialogue, promote cooperation in West Asia ensuring regional stability comprehensively.

Impact on India

• Provides India diplomatic space to engage both Israel and Arab states without appearing tilted towards either.
• Israel and Arab nations opening to collaboration; India can strengthen partnerships in trade, investments, energy, defense, technology.
• Agreements work in India’s favor easing diplomatic challenges; allow deepening ties with both blocs while safeguarding strategic interests.

Declaration Principles

• Aim to strengthen peace in Middle East rooted in mutual understanding, coexistence, respect for human dignity/freedom.
• Encourage interfaith and intercultural dialogue among three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) advancing peace culture.
• Emphasize cooperation and dialogue as most effective ways to resolve challenges; friendly relations contribute to lasting peace.
• Advocate tolerance and respect for every individual regardless of race, faith, or ethnicity ensuring dignity and hope.
• Pledge support for science, art, medicine, commerce as means to inspire humanity, unlock potential, strengthen ties.
• Focus on ending radicalization and conflict ensuring safer and more secure environment for future generations globally.

Challenges

• Hamas attack on Israel exposed fragile foundation of Accords; escalations threaten to undo limited progress reinforcing mistrust.
• Palestinians view Accords as tilted in Israel’s favor, sidelining struggle for statehood weakening legitimacy in Arab world.
• Saudi Arabia’s reaction reflects fluid stance of Arab bloc; hardening of position can influence future trajectory of Arab-Israel relations.