New Appointment — News Context

• Harjit Singh Grewal was appointed Chairperson of the NCM, filling a post vacant since April 2025 after the tenure of Iqbal Singh Lalpura ended.
• Munawari Begum was appointed Vice-Chairperson, and Glenn E. Souza Ticlo was named a member.
• With these appointments, NCM now has four members against its sanctioned strength of seven.

NCM — Key Facts for Prelims

• NCM is a statutory body established under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
• The first statutory Commission was constituted on May 17, 1993.

Composition and Powers

• NCM consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and five Members, all nominated by the Central Government.
• Each member must belong to one of the six notified minority communities and serves a three-year term from the date they assume office.
• NCM has quasi-judicial powers.

Six Notified Minority Communities

• In 1993, the Ministry of Welfare notified five religious communities as minorities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians (Parsis).
• Jains were added as the sixth minority community in 2014.
• As per the 2001 Census, these six communities together constitute 18.80% of India’s population.
• The Parsi population is estimated at around 57,000 (the 2011 Census did not specifically mention them).

News Context

• The Indian Navy received another MH-60R Seahawk helicopter from the United States at Kochi.
• India has now received 21 of the 24 MH-60R helicopters ordered under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement.

Key Features and Capabilities

• MH-60R Seahawk is a multi-role maritime helicopter developed by Lockheed Martin.

Role in the Indian Navy

• Strengthens anti-submarine warfare capability and enhances maritime security across the Indian Ocean Region.
• Protects Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) through continuous surveillance and supports carrier groups during naval operations.
• Responds effectively to diverse maritime security threats.

Launch — News Context

• The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) launched the E-Commerce Council of India (ECCI), a dedicated platform to strengthen India’s digital commerce ecosystem through stakeholder collaboration.
• ECCI has onboarded 70–80 companies from the digital commerce sector, including Amazon, Flipkart, IndiaMART, ixigo, Uber, Rapido, Shiprocket, eBay, Urban Company and Meesho.

Objectives and Functions

Key Focus Areas

• Service and Product E-Commerce, Digital Trade, and Logistics and Supply Chain infrastructure.
• Mobility platform innovation, MSME enablement through digital commerce, and Travel Technology.

Mahaprabhu Jagannath Row — News Context

• The Orissa High Court restrained the release of the CBFC-certified animated film Mahaprabhu Jagannath.
• The Supreme Court allowed the film’s release after the conclusion of the Rath Yatra.
• The dispute raised questions regarding judicial powers over the release of CBFC-certified films.

CBFC — Key Facts for Prelims

• A statutory body functioning under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, established under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
• Its primary role is to certify films for public exhibition in India, examining them according to the Act’s provisions and prescribed guidelines.
• Certification decisions are made by a statutory expert body before public exhibition.

Film Certification — Process and Legal Framework

• A “U” Certificate permits unrestricted public exhibition for all age groups.
• Films undergo examination by the CBFC before public exhibition; separate certificates may be issued for different language versions of the same film.
• Certification creates a legal presumption that the film satisfies statutory requirements.
• Courts may examine whether CBFC followed legal procedure, but generally defer to its expert assessment when statutory provisions are followed.

Cinematograph Act, 1952 — Key Powers

• Provides the legal framework for certification of films in India, empowering the Central Government to suspend or revoke certification under specified circumstances.
• Allows temporary restriction on screening in certain cases, and provides for criminal liability for violations of the Act.
• Authorises authorities to enter theatres and seize materials where legally permitted.

Important Supreme Court Judgements