Daily Prelims Pinpointer
July 15, 2026
Quick-revision notes for UPSC Prelims — NCLT & IBC, Trial in Absentia (BNSS), Protein Biosensors, India Forced Labour Import Ban, ISS & Anil Menon, and FCNR(B) Deposits.
Topic 01 of 06
National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) & IBC
Polity & Governance
GS Paper 2 & 3
Quasi-Judicial Body
Key Facts
Constituted: June 1, 2016 under Companies Act, 2013
Based on: Balakrishna Eradi Committee recommendations
Nature: Quasi-judicial authority for corporate civil disputes
IBC role: Adjudicating authority under Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code 2016
Composition: 1 President + 31 Judicial + 31 Technical Members
Principal bench: New Delhi; 11 additional benches across India
Appeals: NCLT → NCLAT → Supreme Court (on point of law)
Q1 2026 record: 78 resolution plans worth ₹5,517.66 crore — highest ever first quarter
Powers of NCLT
- Guided by the principles of natural justice in all its proceedings
- Can enforce its own orders in the same manner as a court of law
- Has power to scrutinise its own orders and regulate its own procedure
- Functions as adjudicating authority under IBC 2016 for insolvency of companies and LLPs
- Covers disputes of civil nature under the Companies Act, 2013
UPSC Angle: NCLT = constituted June 1, 2016, Companies Act 2013, Balakrishna Eradi Committee recommendation. Composition = 1 President + 31 Judicial + 31 Technical Members. IBC 2016 adjudicating authority. Appeals: NCLT → NCLAT → SC (law point). Cumulative till June 2026 = 1,628 plans, ₹4.78 lakh crore. Additional benches: Allahabad, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Hyderabad, Indore, Kolkata, Kochi, Mumbai.
📰 Source: Economic Times
Topic 02 of 06
Trial in Absentia — Section 356 BNSS
Polity & Governance
GS Paper 2
Criminal Law Reform
Key Facts
Provision: Section 356 of BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) 2023
Earlier position: Trial in absentia NOT explicitly provided under CrPC
Applicability: Proclaimed offenders under Section 84 BNSS
Offence threshold: Imprisonment of 10+ years, life imprisonment, or death
Jurisdiction: Sessions Court conducts the trial
Key safeguard: Court must appoint a lawyer to defend the accused
CrPC vs BNSS — Trial in Absentia
| Feature | CrPC | BNSS 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Trial in absentia | Not explicitly provided | Explicitly under Section 356 |
| Proclaimed offender trial | Limited provisions | Full trial permitted |
| Legal framework | Colonial-era law | New criminal law (2023) |
| Applicability | General | Specific categories (10+ yrs) |
Procedural Safeguards & Rights of Accused
- Court must appoint a lawyer to defend the accused even in their absence — fair trial principle maintained
- Notice must be published in a newspaper or prescribed means to inform accused of proceedings
- Evidence recorded in presence of court-appointed lawyer — procedural integrity maintained
- If accused appears or is arrested later, they can apply for retrial or re-examination of evidence
- Conviction in absentia does not bar the accused from challenging it before a higher court
UPSC Angle: Trial in absentia = significant shift under BNSS 2023. Section 356 BNSS (equivalent Section 84 = proclaimed offender). Threshold = 10+ years/life/death offences. Sessions Court jurisdiction. Key safeguard = court-appointed lawyer mandatory. Accused can seek retrial on later appearance. CrPC had no equivalent explicit provision — this is a major criminal law reform distinguishing BNSS from its colonial predecessor.
📰 Source: The Hindu
Topic 03 of 06
Protein Biosensors — Disease Detection Technology
Science & Technology
GS Paper 3
Healthcare Innovation
Key Facts
Concept introduced by: Leland C. Clark Jr. in 1962 (first glucose biosensor)
What it detects: Proteins/peptides — disease biomarkers, pathogens, toxins
3 steps: Recognition → Signal generation → Signal processing
Application: Point-of-Care (PoC) diagnostics in remote/rural settings
Gold nanoparticles: Colorimetric detection — visible to naked eye
Aptamers: Preferred over antibodies — chemically synthesised, more stable, cheaper
Antibodies vs Aptamers — Recognition Elements
| Feature | Antibodies | Aptamers |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Biological proteins | Single-stranded DNA/RNA |
| Production | Animal-derived | Chemically synthesised |
| Stability | Lower | Higher |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Modification | Difficult | Easy |
Nanomaterials Used in Biosensors
- Gold nanoparticles: Unique optical properties + biocompatibility → colorimetric detection visible to naked eye
- Carbon nanotubes: High surface area, excellent conductivity for electrochemical detection
- Graphene: Ultra-high sensitivity, large surface area, excellent electrical conductivity
- Quantum dots: Semiconductor nanocrystals — used as fluorescent labels for sensitive protein detection
UPSC Angle: Biosensor = biological recognition element + physicochemical transducer. First introduced by Leland C. Clark Jr. (1962). Protein biosensors target disease biomarkers. 3 steps: recognition → signal generation → signal processing. Aptamers = DNA/RNA, chemically synthesised, preferred over antibodies. Gold nanoparticles = naked-eye colorimetric detection. Key challenge = non-specific binding causing false positives.
📰 Source: The Hindu
Topic 04 of 06
India’s Forced Labour Import Ban & ILO Framework
International Relations & Economy
GS Paper 2 & 3
Labour Rights
Key Facts
ILO definition: Work exacted under threat of penalty without voluntary consent
Two elements: Threat of penalty + Involuntariness (absence of free consent)
ILO Convention 29 (1930): Forced Labour Convention — ratified by 179 countries
ILO Convention 105 (1957): Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
India ratified: Both Convention No. 29 and Convention No. 105
Article 23: Prohibits forced labour and human trafficking — Fundamental Right
ILO Instruments on Forced Labour
- ILO Convention No. 29 (1930): One of eight ILO Core Conventions; requires member states to suppress forced labour; ratified by 179 countries
- Protocol of 2014 to Convention 29: Added prevention, protection and remedy measures — strengthened the framework
- ILO Convention No. 105 (1957): Prohibits forced labour as political coercion, economic development tool, discipline or discrimination
- ILO Recommendation No. 203 (2014): Calls for business due diligence in supply chains; compensation and rehabilitation for victims
India’s Domestic Framework
- Article 23 — prohibits forced labour and human trafficking as a Fundamental Right
- Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 — abolishes bonded labour, provides rehabilitation
- Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 — prohibits employment of children below 14 years in any occupation
- Four Labour Codes (2019-2020) — consolidate 29 central labour laws including forced/bonded labour provisions
UPSC Angle: ILO defines forced labour = threat of penalty + involuntariness. Two key ILO conventions: No. 29 (1930, 179 countries) and No. 105 (1957) — India ratified both. Protocol 2014 = prevention/protection/remedy. Article 23 = Fundamental Right against forced labour. Bonded Labour Act 1976. Child Labour Act 2016 = below 14 no occupation; 14-18 no hazardous work. India aligning with US Section 301 supply chain scrutiny.
📰 Source: The Hindu
Topic 05 of 06
International Space Station (ISS) & Anil Menon — Soyuz MS-29
Science & Technology
GS Paper 3
Space & International
Key Facts
Mission: Anil Menon + 2 Russian cosmonauts aboard Soyuz MS-29
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Docking module: Prichal module — 2-orbit, 3-hour trip, automatic docking
Mission duration: 8 months; ends April 2027; Anil Menon’s first spaceflight
ISS orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Assembly began: Zarya module, November 20, 1998
Continuous habitation: Since Expedition 1, November 2000
Future: US Deorbit Vehicle to enable controlled re-entry after 2030
Five ISS Partner Agencies
NASA
🇺🇸 USA
Roscosmos
🇷🇺 Russia
ESA
🌍 Europe
JAXA
🇯🇵 Japan
CSA
🇨🇦 Canada
UPSC Angle: ISS = Low Earth Orbit, modular, assembly started November 1998 (Zarya module), continuous habitation since November 2000 (Expedition 1). Five partners: NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), CSA (Canada). Soyuz = Russian crewed spacecraft, Baikonur launch site, Kazakhstan. Prichal = docking module. ISS operates beyond 2030; US Deorbit Vehicle planned for controlled re-entry.
📰 Source: Hindustan Times
Topic 06 of 06
FCNR(B) Deposits — Foreign Currency NRI Scheme
Economy & Banking
GS Paper 3
RBI & Monetary Policy
Key Facts
Full form: Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Banks) Account
Introduced: May 15, 1993 (replaced FCNR(A) introduced 1975)
Eligible: NRIs, OCIs, and PIOs in Indian banks
Type: Fixed-term deposit only; tenure 1 to 5 years
Currencies: USD, GBP, EUR, JPY, AUD, CAD
RBI action: Temporarily removed interest rate ceiling (till Sep 30, 2026)
Tax: Interest tax-free in India (NRI status); no TDS applicable
Repatriation: Both principal and interest fully repatriable
NRI Deposit Schemes — Prelims Comparison
| Feature | NRE Account | NRO Account | FCNR(B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency | Indian Rupee | Indian Rupee | Foreign Currency |
| Repatriation | Fully | Restricted | Fully |
| Tax on Interest | Tax-free | Taxable | Tax-free |
| Exchange Rate Risk | Yes (on repatriation) | Yes | No |
| Account Type | Savings/Current/FD | Savings/Current/FD | FD only |
UPSC Angle: FCNR(B) = Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Banks), introduced May 15, 1993 (replaced FCNR(A) of 1975). FD only, tenure 1–5 years, in foreign currency (USD/GBP/EUR/JPY/AUD/CAD). Key advantage = NO exchange rate risk (unlike NRE/NRO). Tax-free interest + full repatriation + no TDS. RBI temporarily removed interest rate ceiling to attract inflows amid rupee depreciation. CRR/SLR exempt under RBI swap window. Eligible: NRI/OCI/PIO.
📰 Source: Indian Express
