Why in the news?

• Ahead of Assam Assembly Elections 2026, reports show that 14% of candidates have criminal cases, highlighting the growing issue of criminalisation of politics.

What is Criminalisation of Politics?

Criminalization of politics refers to the infiltration of criminals, lawbreakers, and corrupt

individuals into the political system, who then use their power and influence to further their own

interests at the cost of the country and its citizens.

Data & Trends:

• Assam Elections 2026:
  • 102 out of 722 candidates have criminal cases
  • 82 candidates face serious criminal charges
• National Trends:
  • 2024 Lok Sabha: 31% MPs have serious criminal cases
  • Candidates with criminal cases have higher chances of winning (15.3%)

Causes of Criminalisation:

• Money and Muscle Power:
  • Candidates with criminal records can provide funding and influence, increasing “winnability”
• Weak Judicial System:
  • Delayed trials and low conviction rates
• Vote Bank Politics:
  • Parties prioritise electoral success over ethics as money and muscle power of criminals help political parties gain votes
• Lack of Intra-party Democracy:
  • Candidate selection controlled by top leadership, thus, politicians with criminal records often escape the scrutiny by local workers
• Low Voter Awareness:
  • Voters often unaware of criminal backgrounds of the candidate

Impact on Democracy:

• Erosion of Rule of Law: Lawbreakers become lawmakers
• Increased Corruption: Misuse of public resources
• Weakening of Institutions: Legislature and governance lose credibility
• Loss of Public Trust: Citizens lose faith in democracy
• Negative Social Impact: Normalisation of crime in politics

Legal & Institutional Framework:

• Representation of the People Act, 1951:
  • Disqualification only after conviction
• Election Commission of India:
  • Ensures free and fair elections

Supreme Court Judgements:

• Association for Democratic Reforms Case (2002):
  • Mandatory disclosure of criminal records
• Lily Thomas Case (2013):
  • Immediate disqualification upon conviction
• Public Interest Foundation Case (2014):
  • Fast-track trials for elected representatives
• Rambabu Singh Thakur Case (2020):
  • Mandatory publicity of candidates’ criminal history

Committee Recommendations:

• Vohra Committee (1993):
  • Highlighted nexus between politicians, criminals, and bureaucracy
• Dinesh Goswami Committee (1990):
  • Suggested electoral reforms and state funding

Way Forward:

• Establish fast-track courts for political cases
• Strengthen Election Commission powers
• Bring political parties under Right to Information
• Reform Representation of the People Act
• Promote voter awareness and ethical voting

Why in the News?

• Researchers have discovered a new frog species named the Kali Night Frog (Nyctibatrachus kali) in the Kali Tiger Reserve of Karnataka in the Western Ghats.

Key Points:

Scientific Name:

• Nyctibatrachus kali, named after the Kali River.

Cryptic Species:

• It is classified as a cryptic species, meaning it closely resembles another species—Kumbara Night Frog (Nyctibatrachus kumbara)—but differs genetically and acoustically.
• The frog produces a distinct call resembling the sound of wood being chopped, which helped researchers identify it in the field.

Habitat:

• Found in the humid, rain-drenched corridors of the Castle Rock region in the Kali Tiger Reserve in Western Ghats.
• Almost two out of five species are currently threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, climate change, and emerging diseases.

Diversity:

• India currently hosts over 470 amphibian species, representing about 5% of the world’s amphibian diversity.

Why In The News?

• The Khelo India Tribal Games concluded in Chhattisgarh with a vibrant closing ceremony attended by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
• The event also witnessed the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, along with celebrated sportspersons Mary Kom and Bhaichung Bhutia.
• The Games brought together tribal athletes from across India, highlighting sporting talent and promoting inclusivity in national sports development.

Highlights from the Final Day:

=> The concluding day featured key events including the men’s football final and multiple archery finals. In football, West Bengal secured the gold medal after defeating host Chhattisgarh by a narrow 1–0 margin in Raipur.

=> Chhattisgarh finished with the silver medal, marking a strong performance on home ground.

Archery Events Showcase Emerging Talent:

=> Archery competitions witnessed remarkable performances across categories.

=> Jharkhand’s Komalika Bari clinched gold in the women’s recurve individual event, while Nagaland secured the top position in the women’s recurve team category.

=> In the men’s recurve individual event, Arjun Khara of Odisha won gold, whereas Jharkhand emerged victorious in the men’s team event, underlining its strength in archery.

Medal Tally and State Rankings:

=> Karnataka emerged as the overall champion with an impressive tally of 23 gold, 8 silver, and 7 bronze medals.

=> Odisha secured second place with 21 gold medals along with 15 silver and 21 bronze.

=> Jharkhand finished third, winning 16 gold, 8 silver, and 11 bronze medals.

=> Host state Chhattisgarh ranked ninth, securing 3 gold, 10 silver, and 6 bronze medals.

Participation and Sporting Disciplines:

=> The Games saw participation from approximately 3,800 athletes representing 30 states and Union Territories.

=> Competitions were held across seven disciplines, including archery, athletics, football, hockey, swimming, weightlifting, and wrestling.

=> Additionally, traditional and indigenous sports such as Mallakhamb and Kabaddi were showcased as demonstration events, emphasising cultural heritage alongside competitive excellence.

Why in the News?

• The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has approved excavation work for Units 1 and 2 of the Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (MBRAPP), marking an important step in the construction of the nuclear power plant in Rajasthan.

Key Points:

Approval:

• The AERB granted permission to start excavation activities for Units 1 and 2 of the Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project.
• The project is being developed by Anushakti Vidyut Nigam Limited (ASHVINI), a joint venture between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and NTPC Limited.

Foundation:

• The foundation stone of the project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2025.
• The project is estimated to cost around ?42,000 crore.

Location:

• The Mahi Banswara Atomic Power Project is located in Banswara district of Rajasthan, near the Mahi River.

Project Capacity:

• The nuclear power project will have four units of 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) with a total installed capacity of about 2,800 MW.
• PHWRs use natural uranium as fuel, while heavy water (deuterium oxide) acts as both the coolant and the moderator.

Fleet Mode Programme:

• The project is part of India’s “fleet mode” nuclear programme, which aims to build multiple reactors of the same design across the country to reduce costs and speed up construction.

Energy Security:

• The project is expected to strengthen India’s nuclear power capacity and support long-term energy security while promoting clean energy generation.