PAIPrelimsAI

Current affairs — 25 September 2026

5 prelims-relevant stories, each distilled into quick facts — with a 5-question quiz at the end.

Polity & Governancemineral-fiscal-federalism

Yet to assess impact of mines Act on Odisha, says Minister as legislators flag potential loss

Odisha has not quantified the revenue impact of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026. Section 9D restricts States from independently taxing mineral rights or mineral-bearing lands without Union approval, prompting legislators to seek an assessment and opposition parties to announce protests.

Source published PrelimsAI reviewed/published
Read the original report from The Hindu (opens in a new tab)

Prelims pointers

  • The Odisha Assembly considered the revenue implications of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026.
  • Section 9D stops States from independently taxing mineral rights or mineral-bearing lands without Union government approval.
  • Odisha’s Steel and Mines Minister said the State had not made a quantified estimate of financial gain or loss from Section 9D.
  • The State government said it would assess the financial impact after the Union government framed the necessary rules and regulations.
  • The BJD and INDIA bloc parties scheduled protests for September 28 and 29 respectively over alleged losses to Odisha.
Polity & Governanceunsc-veto-reform

Should permanent membership and veto powers of the UNSC be abolished?

France renewed a proposal for voluntary veto restraint by the five permanent UN Security Council members in mass-atrocity cases. The discussion distinguishes that initiative from a 2022 accountability mechanism and the wider, harder question of formal Charter reform.

Source published PrelimsAI reviewed/published
Read the original report from The Hindu — International (opens in a new tab)

Prelims pointers

  • The French-Mexican initiative, first launched in 2015, seeks voluntary veto restraint by permanent UNSC members in specified mass-atrocity situations.
  • The UNSC’s five permanent members identified in the article are the United States, United Kingdom, France, China and Russia.
  • France and Mexico said 128 states support the declaration, with 21 joining during the preceding four months.
  • The Liechtenstein initiative adopted by the UNGA in 2022 calls for an Assembly debate within 10 working days after a veto is cast.
  • The ACT code of conduct asks permanent and non-permanent Security Council members not to oppose credible action against specified atrocity crimes.
Polity & Governancenational-song

A nation’s song: On Vande Mataram’s rendition

An editorial examines the legal status and rendition of Vande Mataram after a 2026 amendment extended Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 to the National Song. It invokes the 1937 two-stanza decision and the Supreme Court’s Bijoe Emmanuel precedent against compelled singing.

Source published PrelimsAI reviewed/published
Read the original report from The Hindu (opens in a new tab)

Prelims pointers

  • In 1937, the Congress Working Committee resolved that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram should be sung at national gatherings.
  • Jana Gana Mana was adopted as the National Anthem on January 24, 1950; Rajendra Prasad said Vande Mataram would be honoured equally.
  • The Constitution does not mention a National Song, according to the editorial’s account of Vande Mataram’s status.
  • The 2026 amendment extended Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 from the National Anthem to the National Song.
  • Bijoe Emmanuel (1986) held that no law obliges anyone to sing the anthem and that standing in respectful silence is not an offence.
Polity & Governancepolitical-party-finance

The murky world of political party finance

An opinion article examines weak oversight of political parties and their finances. It distinguishes recognition, delisting and deregistration; maps party registration, contributions and tax treatment to separate statutory provisions; cites data on RUPPs and political wealth; and urges stronger Election Commission scrutiny, standardised disclosure and expenditure limits.

Source published PrelimsAI reviewed/published
Read the original report from The Hindu (opens in a new tab)

Prelims pointers

  • Political parties are not mentioned in the Constitution except in the Tenth Schedule and exist as associations linked to Article 19 rights, the article notes.
  • Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 concerns political-party registration, while Section 29B permits parties to receive contributions.
  • An ADR report found a 223% rise in declared RUPP income in FY2022-23, but only 739 of 2,764 RUPPs submitted financial records.
  • The Election Commission said on August 9, 2025 that it had delisted 334 of 2,854 RUPPs; delisting does not amount to deregistration.
  • Order 16A of the Election Symbols Order permits the ECI to suspend or withdraw recognition for MCC violations or failure to follow lawful directions.
Polity & Governancefreedom-of-religion

‘Enter at own risk’: churches to non-Christians as anti-conversion law takes effect in Chhattisgarh

Churches in Dhamtari put up warning boards after the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 was notified in August. A Christian forum said the law requires 60 days’ advance notice to the district administration before changing religion and claimed that over 1,000 voluntary-attendance declarations had been filed.

Source published PrelimsAI reviewed/published
Read the original report from The Hindu (opens in a new tab)

Prelims pointers

  • The Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 was notified in August and is aimed at curbing religious conversions, according to State Ministers.
  • A person seeking to change religion must inform the district administration 60 days in advance, according to the Dhamtari forum’s general secretary.
  • The forum claimed that more than 1,000 people filed self-declarations at the District Collectorate about voluntary attendance at churches or prayer halls.
  • The declaration asks applicants to confirm that no force, threat, undue influence, inducement, fraud or deception was involved.
  • The 116-year-old Sunderganj Mennonite Church in Dhamtari displayed a notice stating that non-Christians enter voluntarily at their own risk.

Today's quiz

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Question 1 of 5

Under Section 9D as described in the report, what must a State obtain before independently imposing a tax or cess on mineral rights or mineral-bearing lands?

Answer key

Take the quiz above first. This key is for revision after you finish.

  1. Q1

    Under Section 9D as described in the report, what must a State obtain before independently imposing a tax or cess on mineral rights or mineral-bearing lands?

    (A) Approval of the Union government

  2. Q2

    Which initiative provides for the UN General Assembly to convene within 10 working days after a Security Council veto?

    (A) The Liechtenstein initiative

  3. Q3

    Consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution does not mention a National Song. 2. The 2026 amendment itself compels every person to sing all six stanzas. Which is correct according to the editorial?

    (A) Statement 1 only

  4. Q4

    Which provision of the Representation of the People Act allows even unrecognised political parties to receive contributions?

    (A) Section 29B

  5. Q5

    According to the article, how far in advance must a person seeking to change religion inform the district administration?

    (A) 60 days in advance

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