Prelims Pinpointer: 02 & 03 January 2026

Lokpal and Lokayukta

Context: Lokpal cancelled its controversial tender to procure seven BMW cars worth around ₹5 crore, two months after it was floated, officials said on Thursday. The decision followed sharp criticism from Opposition parties and civil society activists who slammed the high-end vehicle procurement.

Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013

• Legislative Framework

• Enactment Purpose: Established Lokpal at Union level and Lokayukta at State level for corruption complaints against public functionaries.

• 2016 Amendment: Enabled leader of single largest opposition party to join Lokpal selection committee without recognized Leader of Opposition. 

• Also amended Section 44 regarding asset and liability disclosure provisions.

• Lokpal: Structure and Appointment

• Composition

• Chairperson with maximum eight members, ensuring 50% are judicial members.

• • • • Reservation: At least 50% total members from SC, ST, OBC, minorities and women.
      • Tenure: Five years or until 70 years age, whichever is earlier.

• Selection Committee

• President appoints after selection committee recommendations comprising

• Prime Minister (Chairperson), 

• Lok Sabha Speaker, 

• Leader of Opposition 

• Chief Justice of India 

• one eminent jurist nominated by President.

• Jurisdiction Coverage

• Extensive Reach: Includes Prime Minister (except international relations, security, public order, atomic energy, space allegations), Ministers, Parliament members, and all Central Government officers (Groups A, B, C, D).

• Powers and Functions

• DSPE Superintendence: Exercises oversight over Delhi Special Police Establishment investigations for preliminary inquiries.

• • • • Investigation Powers: Authorizes agencies for document search and seizure during investigations.
      • CVC Coordination: Central Vigilance Commission reports complaint actions; Lokpal issues disposal guidelines.
      • Judicial Powers: Possesses civil court powers under Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 for preliminary inquiries.

• Lokayukta: State-Level Framework

• State Autonomy: Each state establishes Lokayukta through separate legislation with varying structure, eligibility, tenure and appointment methods.

Critical Issues

• Whistleblower Protection Gap

• Inadequate Immunity: Act fails providing concrete protection to complainants discouraging corruption reporting.

• Reverse Penalty: Inquiry provisions against complainant when accused found innocent creates fear.

• Structural Weaknesses

• Appeal Limitations: Inadequate appeal provisions reduce process transparency significantly.

• Political Influence: Selection committee’s political composition risks compromising Lokpal’s independence.

• Ambiguous Criteria: No clear definition of “eminent jurist” enabling appointment manipulation.

• Jurisdictional Concerns

• PM Inclusion Debate: Enquiry into Prime Minister’s conduct by non-Parliamentary authority undermines government leadership capacity.

• Other Lacunae
  • No constitutional backing
  • Seven-year complaint limitation
  • Judiciary exclusion
  • Unclear Lokayukta appointment provisions,
  • Investigation delays.

Reform Recommendations

• Second ARC Suggestions

• PM Exclusion: Remove Prime Minister from Lokpal purview preserving parliamentary supremacy.

• Constitutional Status: Grant constitutional backing with financial autonomy enhancing institutional strength.

• Power Distribution: Decentralize authority across multiple accountable institutions preventing excessive concentration.

• 11th All India Lokayukta Conference (2012)

• Nodal Agency Status: Make Lokayukta single point for all corruption complaints.

• Enhanced Powers: Grant jurisdiction over state probe agencies, search and seizure powers, contempt proceedings authority.

• Bureaucratic Coverage: Include all state bureaucrats under Lokayukta ambit.

• Operational Autonomy: Ensure administrative and financial independence for effective functioning.

• NGO Inclusion: Bring government-funded NGOs under Lokayukta jurisdiction.

Conclusion

• Implementation Priority: Better execution of existing laws more crucial than creating additional legislation. As Publius Cornelius Tacitus observed, “the more corrupt the state, the more laws”—emphasizing quality enforcement over legislative quantity.

Technical Textiles

Context: Export of technical textile goods from India declined 1.2% to $1.95 billion during April-October 2025 compared to $1.97 billion in the same period of 2024, mainly due to U.S. tariffs. However, shipments climbed 2.3% in rupee terms during the same period, the Manmade and Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council said.

More in News

• Exports witnessed month-on-month growth between April-September; October 2025 exports were $249.7 million against $305.5 million in October 2024.
• FIBC bags, sling, ropes, gauze, wipes constituted almost 60% of technical textile products exported; technical fabrics accounted for 27.7%.
• United States is largest market with 25.9% share of India’s exports, followed by Germany (6%) and UK (5%).
• Exports to U.S. between April-October 2025 were 15% lower than same period of 2024 due to imposed tariffs.
• Indian goods cannot be shipped to Vietnam or Bangladesh as these countries also face lacklustre demand for their products.

Technical Textiles

• Definition and Core Characteristics

• • Technical textiles are textile materials prioritising technical performance over aesthetic or decorative value.
  • They are designed for functional efficiency in specialised industrial and commercial applications.
  • Alternative terms include industrial, functional, performance, engineering, invisible, and hi-tech textiles.

• Material Properties and Design

• • Technical textiles possess enhanced physical, mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties.
  • These properties enable use in demanding and performance-critical environments.
  • They are manufactured using natural fibres as well as man-made fibres.

• Areas of Application

• • Widely used in earthworks, construction, civil engineering, transport, defence, medical, and healthcare sectors.
  • Technical textiles may be used independently or as a component of another product.
  • Individually, they fulfil specific functions like fire-retardant fabrics for firefighters’ uniforms.
  • Coated fabrics are used independently for applications such as awnings and protective covers.
  • As components, they enhance strength, durability, and functional performance of end products.

Classification of Technical Textiles

• Technical textiles are classified into 12 groups based on application areas.
• Agrotech supports agriculture and horticulture-related applications.
• Geotech is used in soil stabilisation and geotechnical engineering works.
• Buildtech applies to construction and infrastructure development activities.
• Mobiltech serves transportation sectors including automobiles and railways.
• Hometech includes functional textiles used in household applications.
• Clothtech covers components used in clothing and footwear manufacturing.
• Indutech caters to industrial filtration and conveyance applications.
• Meditech supports medical and healthcare products and devices.
• Sportstech is used in sports equipment and performance gear.
• Protech provides protective clothing and safety equipment.
• Packtech includes packaging materials for industrial and consumer goods.
• Oekotech focuses on environmental protection and sustainability-related uses.

National Technical Textiles Mission

• Launch and Objectives

• • Launched by the Ministry of Textiles to enhance technical textile penetration in India.
  • The mission aims to position India as a global leader in technical textiles.
  • It leverages the sector’s high growth potential and expanding industrial demand.

• Key Components of the Mission

• • Research, Innovation, and Development to promote advanced textile technologies.
  • Promotion and Market Development to expand domestic consumption.
  • Export Promotion to strengthen India’s presence in global markets.
  • Education, Training, and Skill Development to build a skilled workforce.

• Targets

• • Target to raise domestic market size to $40–50 billion by 2024.
  • Envisions an annual growth rate of 15–20% for the sector.

Pralay Missile

Context

• DRDO successfully conducted a salvo launch of two Pralay missiles from the same launcher.
• The launch was executed off the Odisha coast during user evaluation trials.
• The test marked a key milestone in validating rapid, successive firing capability.

What is Pralay Missile?

• Pralay is an indigenously developed, solid-propellant, quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile.
• It is designed for high-precision conventional strikes against diverse battlefield targets.
• The missile is intended for deployment by the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

Aim and Operational Role

• To provide armed forces with a rapid-response, high-accuracy strike capability.
• To strengthen tactical deterrence and enhance battlefield dominance through precision attacks.
• To enable swift conventional responses without escalating to nuclear thresholds.

Key Features

• Quasi-ballistic trajectory reduces predictability and complicates enemy air defence interception.
• Missile range varies approximately from 150 kilometres to 500 kilometres.
• Classified as a quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile for tactical operations.
• Uses solid propellant, ensuring quick launch readiness and operational reliability.
• Equipped with advanced guidance and navigation systems for high targeting accuracy.
• Capable of carrying multiple warhead types for different mission requirements.
• Features salvo launch capability, enabling multiple missiles to be fired rapidly.
• Salvo firing enhances saturation attack potential against adversary defences.

Significance

• Strengthens India’s indigenous missile development under Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.
• Enhances conventional deterrence while avoiding strategic nuclear escalation.
• Improves operational readiness through fast, precise, and survivable strike options.
• Demonstrates technological maturity of Defence Research and Development Organisation missile systems.
• Expands India’s ability to conduct precision conventional warfare in regional contingencies.

Bomb Cyclone

Context

• Winter Storm Ezra rapidly intensified into a bomb cyclone over the United States.
• The storm disrupted peak holiday travel with flight cancellations, blizzards, and power outages.
• Several states experienced hurricane-force winds, whiteout conditions, and infrastructure disruptions.

What is a Bomb Cyclone?

• A bomb cyclone is a powerful mid-latitude storm system.
• It undergoes explosive cyclogenesis, marked by extremely rapid intensification.
• Intensification is defined by a sharp fall in central air pressure within 24 hours.
• Such storms generate severe, widespread, and multi-hazard weather impacts.

Formation Process

• Bomb cyclones form when cold, dense polar air collides with warm, moist air masses.
• This interaction typically occurs over oceans, where strong temperature contrasts exist.
• Warm air rises rapidly, releasing latent heat that fuels storm intensification.
• Rapid uplift sharply lowers surface pressure, accelerating inward air movement.
• The inflow strengthens winds and drives explosive storm development.

Key Features

• Rapid Pressure Fall

• Central pressure drops by 24 millibars or more within 24 hours.
• This reflects extreme atmospheric instability rather than gradual storm evolution.

Extreme Weather Conditions

• Generates blizzards, freezing rain, flooding rainfall, and hurricane-force winds.
• Frequently produces dangerous whiteout conditions, reducing visibility to near zero.

Sharp Temperature Swings

• Advancing cold fronts can cause 40–50°F temperature drops within hours.
• Sudden cooling stresses human health, transport infrastructure, and energy systems.

Large Spatial Extent

• Bomb cyclones span hundreds of kilometres, affecting multiple regions simultaneously.
• Aviation, road transport, shipping routes, and electricity networks face widespread disruption.

Significance

• Bomb cyclones combine snowstorms, high winds, rain, and ice into a single event.
• This multi-hazard nature overwhelms single-disaster preparedness frameworks.
• Rapid intensification leaves minimal time for warnings, shutdowns, or rerouting measures.
• Airports, power grids, ports, and supply chains are especially vulnerable to sudden impacts.
  

RBI Financial Stability Report (December 2025)

Context

• Reserve Bank of India released the December 2025 Financial Stability Report (FSR).
• The report assesses systemic risks and resilience of India’s financial sector.
• It evaluates stability amid domestic economic strength and global uncertainties.

Growth Outlook

• Real GDP growth exceeded expectations during the first half of FY 2025–26.
• GDP grew 7.8% in Q1 and 8.2% in Q2, surprising on the upside.
• Growth was driven by strong private consumption and sustained public investment.

Banks’ Asset Quality

• Asset quality of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) improved further.
• Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) ratio declined to 2.1% in September 2025.
• Improvement supported by strong recoveries, prudent lending, and better risk management.

Capital Adequacy

• Capital buffers of banks remained comfortable and resilient.
• CRAR stood at 16% for public sector banks.
• CRAR was higher at 18.1% for private sector banks.

Emerging Vulnerabilities

• Unsecured loans emerged as a key source of stress in retail portfolios.
• Unsecured loans accounted for 53.1% of total retail loan slippages.
• They contributed nearly 76% of slippages in private banks.
• In contrast, unsecured loans formed 15.9% of slippages in public sector banks.

Fintech Lending Risks

• RBI flagged elevated impairment among borrowers with multiple unsecured loans.
• Higher stress observed among borrowers with loans from five or more lenders.
• Over 70% of fintech loan portfolios consist of unsecured lending.

Stablecoins and Monetary Risks

• RBI reiterated concerns over stablecoins undermining monetary sovereignty.
• Foreign currency–denominated stablecoins may weaken monetary policy transmission.
• Stablecoins pose risks to financial stability and money supply regulation.

External Sector and Currency

• The rupee depreciated against the US dollar during the period.
• Depreciation was driven by falling terms of trade and high global tariffs.
• Slowing capital flows also contributed to currency pressures.

Scheduled Tribes (STs) Status

Context: Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA) rejected the Group of Ministers (GoM) recommendations to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six OBC communities, calling them illegal and unconstitutional. The CCTOA, representing 14 tribes of Assam, said the recommendations would destroy political rights of existing tribes at all levels.

Process of Listing of Scheduled Tribes (STs)

• State Government Proposal

• • State or Union Territory identifies a community seeking Scheduled Tribe status.
  • Ethnographic and socio-cultural studies are conducted at the State level.
  • Proposal is forwarded to the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
  • Ministry sends the proposal to the Office of the Registrar General of India (ORGI).

• Review by Registrar General of India (RGI)

• • RGI functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • It examines historical, cultural, and anthropological evidence of the community.
  • Upon verification and approval, the proposal is forwarded to the NCST.

• Review by National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)

• • NCST evaluates socio-economic conditions and cultural distinctiveness.
  • It assesses isolation from mainstream society and degree of social backwardness.
  • After examination, NCST recommends inclusion to the Union Government.

• Final Approval and Implementation

• • Approved proposals are placed before the Union Cabinet.
  • Cabinet initiates amendment to the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.
  • Final decision rests with the President of India.
  • Notification is issued under Articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution.

Criteria for Inclusion in ST List

• Lokur Committee Criteria (1965)

• • Presence of primitive traits within the community.
  • Existence of distinctive cultural practices.
  • Geographical isolation from mainstream populations.
  • Shyness of contact with wider society.
  • Economic backwardness compared to other social groups.
  • ORGI continues to follow these criteria for verification.

Status of Scheduled Tribes in India

• • The Constitution does not define specific criteria for recognising Scheduled Tribes.
  • Census 1931 classified STs as “backward tribes” in excluded areas.
  • Government of India Act, 1935 provided political representation to backward tribes.

• Constitutional Provisions for STs

• • Article 366(25) defines Scheduled Tribes with reference to Article 342.
  • Article 342(1) empowers the President to notify STs after Governor consultation.
  • Article 342(2) authorises Parliament to modify the ST list.
  • ST status is State/UT specific, varying across regions.
  • Fifth Schedule governs Scheduled Areas excluding Sixth Schedule States.
  • Sixth Schedule applies to tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

The Central Excise (Amendment) Act, 2025

Context and Background

• The Central Excise (Amendment) Act, 2025 was notified to revise taxation on tobacco products.
• Changes take effect from February 1, 2026, coinciding with the end of GST compensation cess.
• The reform aligns public health objectives with fiscal restructuring of tobacco taxation.

What is the Act?

• Amends the Central Excise Act, 1944 to revise excise duties on tobacco products.
• Applies to products remaining outside the full GST framework.
• Seeks to preserve overall tax incidence after cess withdrawal.

Key Excise Duty Revisions

• Unmanufactured tobacco duty increased from 64% to 70%.
• Chewing tobacco excise raised sharply from 25% to 100%.
• Hookah and gudaku tobacco duty increased from 25% to 40%.
• Smoking mixtures duty raised steeply from 60% to 325%.
• Cigarettes duty revised from ₹200–₹735 to ₹2,700–₹11,000 per thousand sticks.

GST Compensation Cess Changes

• GST compensation cess introduced in July 2017 to protect State revenues.
• Extended until March 31, 2026 due to pandemic-related shortfalls.
• Used to repay about ₹2.7 lakh crore borrowed for State compensation.
• Phased out fully from February 1, 2026, including on tobacco products.

PRAGATI Platform (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation)

Overview

• PRAGATI is a multi-purpose, multi-modal digital platform for grievance redressal and project monitoring.
• It simultaneously addresses citizens’ grievances and reviews key Central and State Government programmes.
• The platform strengthens e-transparency and e-accountability through real-time coordination among stakeholders.
• Launched on March 25, 2015, under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister.
• Designed in-house by the PMO, with technical support from the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

Technological Architecture

• Integrates three advanced technologies into a single governance framework.
• Combines digital data management, video conferencing, and geospatial technology.
• Enables real-time visualisation of ground-level project status and grievance details.

Federal Governance Dimension

• Acts as a platform promoting cooperative federalism.
• Brings Union Government Secretaries and State Chief Secretaries together on one stage.
• Allows the Prime Minister to directly engage with officials using updated data and visuals.

Institutional Structure

• Operates as a three-tier system involving PMO, Union Secretaries, and State Chief Secretaries.
• Ensures vertical and horizontal coordination across governance levels.

Operational Framework

• The Prime Minister chairs a monthly PRAGATI meeting via video conferencing.
• The meeting is held on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 3:30 PM, termed PRAGATI Day.
• Issues are selected from databases on public grievances, ongoing programmes, and pending projects.

Issue Identification and Review Cycle

• Flagged issues are uploaded seven days before PRAGATI Day.
• Union Secretaries and Chief Secretaries can access issues through the application portal.
• Officials must submit comments and progress updates within three days.
• The PMO reviews inputs on Tuesday, before the Prime Minister’s interaction.

Database Integration

• Builds upon and re-engineers existing databases of CPGRAMS, Project Monitoring Group, and MoSPI.
• Provides a unified digital interface for grievance redressal, project tracking, and programme monitoring.

Governance Significance

• Enables direct monitoring by the Prime Minister with real-time data and geo-visuals.
• Enhances administrative responsiveness, accountability, and time-bound decision-making.

Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)

 

Context: India’s manufacturing performance slowed to a two-year low in December, with the rate of new business orders, production, and employment growth at slowest pace, per a private sector survey. The seasonally-adjusted HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index fell from 56.6 in November to 55.0 in December.

What is PMI?

• Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is an indicator measuring overall business activity trends.
• It captures conditions in both manufacturing and services sectors of the economy.
• PMI is a survey-based index, reflecting monthly changes in business perceptions.
• Responses compare current conditions with the previous month’s performance.
• It helps assess whether economic activity is expanding, contracting, or stagnant.
• PMI is calculated separately for manufacturing and services, then combined into a composite PMI.
• It is widely used as a leading economic indicator due to timely data availability.

Types of PMI

• Manufacturing PMI: Measures activity levels in the manufacturing sector.
• Services PMI: Tracks business conditions in the services sector.

Manufacturing PMI: Methodology

• Derived from monthly surveys sent to a large number of manufacturing firms.
• Survey consists of fact-based questions, not subjective opinions.
• It evaluates changes across five key variables.
• Key variables include new orders, output, employment, supplier delivery times, and inventory levels.
• Responses are aggregated into a single index value.

Interpretation of PMI Values

• PMI above 50 indicates expansion in business activity.
• PMI below 50 signals contraction in economic activity.
• Distance from the 50-mark shows strength or weakness of expansion or contraction.
• Month-on-month comparison highlights the momentum of economic trends.

PMI in India

• PMI data for India is released by S&P Global, a financial analytics firm.

Export Promotion Mission (EPM)

Background

• Announced in the Union Budget 2025–26 to strengthen India’s export ecosystem.
• Focuses on improving export competitiveness amid rising global tariff and non-tariff barriers.

Time Span and Coverage

• Mission duration spans six years, from FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31.
• Priority support for tariff-impacted sectors like textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, and marine products.

Institutional Framework

• Involves Department of Commerce, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Finance, EPCs, Commodity Boards, financial institutions, industry bodies, and States.
• Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) acts as the implementing agency.
• Implemented through a dedicated digital platform, integrated with existing trade systems.

Structure of the Mission

• Comprises two integrated sub-schemes: Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha.

Financial Support – Niryat Protsahan

• Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) offers 100% credit coverage via NCGTC.
• Provides additional collateral-free credit up to ₹20,000 crore.
• Enhances liquidity, especially for MSMEs, improving export readiness.

Non-Financial Support – Niryat Disha

• Supports compliance with non-tariff measures through certifications and standards.
• Assists market access, branding, and packaging for global competitiveness.
• Aims at logistics cost reduction and supply-chain efficiency.

Overall Significance

• Facilitates export credit access, reduces compliance burdens, and promotes sustained export growth.

Line of Control (LoC)

Context: Security forces detected suspicious drone activity near the LoC in Poonch district, recovering explosives and contraband.

What is the Line of Control (LoC)?

• The Line of Control (LoC) is the de facto military boundary between India and Pakistan.
• It divides the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir into Indian- and Pakistani-controlled areas.
• The LoC is not an internationally recognised border, but functions as the effective ground boundary.

Historical Evolution

• 1949: Emerged as the Ceasefire Line after the first India–Pakistan war.
• Established following the Karachi Agreement under United Nations mediation.
• 1972: Renamed the Line of Control after the Simla Agreement, post the 1971 war.
• The Simla Agreement committed both countries to bilateral dispute resolution, reducing UN involvement.
• Over decades, especially after the 2000s, the LoC became heavily militarised.

Key Features of the LoC

• Length: Approximately 740 kilometres, stretching from Jammu to the Siachen Glacier.
• Highly militarised zone with frequent ceasefire violations and armed patrols.
• Partial fencing: India has fenced around 550 km to prevent infiltration and smuggling.
• Equipped with surveillance systems, forward posts, and layered security infrastructure.
• Distinct from LAC: Separate from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

Strategic and Security Significance

• Central to India–Pakistan security dynamics and military preparedness.
• Acts as a frontline defence against cross-border infiltration and terrorism.
• Used for arms trafficking, narcotics smuggling, and drone-based deliveries.
• Frequent flashpoint during periods of bilateral tensions and ceasefire breakdowns.

Contemporary Relevance

• Increasing use of drones highlights evolving security threats along the LoC.
• Continues to shape regional stability, counter-terrorism strategies, and defence planning.

Sirkeer Malkoha

Context

• The Sirkeer Malkoha was recorded for the first time in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand.
• Earlier sightings were largely limited to the plains of Uttarakhand, marking a notable range extension.

About Sirkeer Malkoha

• Common name: Sirkeer malkoha / Sirkeer cuckoo.
• Scientific name: Taccocua leschenaultii.
• Belongs to the cuckoo family, but does not practise brood parasitism.
• Unlike many cuckoos, it lays eggs in its own nest.

Geographical Distribution

• Widely distributed across the sub-Himalayan Indian subcontinent.
• Found in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and patchily in Pakistan and Rajasthan.
• Recent record confirms presence in Uttarkashi, indicating habitat adaptability.

Habitat Preferences

• Inhabits scrublands and thin forests.
• Prefers hilly terrain, generally below 1,500 metres above sea level.
• Often observed moving quietly through dense undergrowth.

Physical Characteristics

• Medium-sized bird, measuring 42–44 centimetres in length.
• Distinctive long tail and olive-brown upper plumage.
• Underparts are lighter, sometimes yellowish.
• Features a curved red beak with a yellow tip.
• Legs are grey, and both sexes appear morphologically identical.

Behaviour and Diet

• Extremely shy and silent species.
• Possesses zygodactyl feet, aiding branch gripping and ground movement.
• Feeds on small lizards, insects, and occasionally berries and seeds.

Conservation Status

• Listed as Least Concern under the IUCN Red List.