Governor Role in Removal of Chief Minister
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
In News
- Trinamool Congress Chief refused to resign from Chief Minister post after election defeat, calling the result a conspiracy, alleging unfair polls and misuse of central forces
Do you know?
- An election can be challenged by filing an election petition before the Calcutta High Court within 45 days of result declaration, under Section 100 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, on grounds such as corrupt practices or violations of election rules by officials.
- Additionally, a writ petition may be filed if the integrity of the electoral process is questioned, including issues like large-scale deletion of voters during electoral roll revisions, which can be argued as a violation of fundamental rights.
Chief Minister
- Article 164(1) of the Constitution states that the Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor and ministers hold office “during the pleasure of the Governor.”
- The governor normally acts on the “aid and advice” of the Council of Ministers, preventing arbitrary use of this power.
Governor’s role in removal
- If the Governor doubts whether a Chief Minister enjoys majority support in the Legislative Assembly, a floor test must be conducted in the House.
- During this process, the Chief Minister has to prove that they have the support of more than half of the MLAs.
- If the Chief Minister fails to demonstrate this majority, they are required to resign from office.
- If no party is able to form a stable government, President’s Rule under Article 356 may be imposed as a last resort.
Supreme Court’s Interpretation
- In A.G. Perarivalan v. State Through Superintendent of Police, the Supreme Court held that the Governor generally acts on the “aid and advice” of the Council of Ministers.
- The Governor is mainly a constitutional/formal head, not an independent authority in ordinary matters.
Article 172 of the Constitution
- It lays down the tenure of a State Legislative Assembly. It states that an Assembly normally continues for five years from the date of its first meeting unless it is dissolved earlier.
- At the end of this five-year period, the Assembly automatically stands dissolved, making way for the formation of a new Assembly and government.
Source:TH
World Migration Report 2026
Syllabus: GS2/ Indian Diaspora
Context
- The International Organization for Migration released the World Migration Report 2026 highlighting that the India–UAE and India–U.S. migration corridors were among the top 10 international migration corridors in 2024.
Key Findings of the Report
- International migrants accounted for 3.7% of the global population in 2024, compared to 2.9% in 1990.
- Around 304 million people were living outside their country of birth by mid-2024.
- The largest migration corridor globally remains Mexico–United States Corridor with nearly 11 million migrants.
- Other major corridors include: Afghanistan–Iran Corridor, Syria–Türkiye Corridor and Russia–Ukraine Corridor.
India–UAE Migration Corridor
- The India–United Arab Emirates Corridor is the fifth-largest migration corridor globally.
- More than 8 million international migrants live in the United Arab Emirates, constituting nearly 74% of its total population.
- Indians form the largest migrant community in the UAE, numbering over 3 million.
- The corridor is dominated by labour migration, especially in construction, services, transport, and domestic work sectors.
India–United States Migration Corridor
- The India–United States Corridor is the sixth-largest migration corridor globally. Around 3.2 million Indian migrants were residing in the United States in 2024.
- Indian migrants constitute the second-largest foreign-born group in the U.S. after Mexicans.
- Indian migration to the U.S. is largely driven by:
- Highly skilled professionals.
- Information technology workers.
- International students.
- Healthcare professionals and researchers.
Source: TH
Karnataka’s New Gig Worker Grievance System
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
Context
- The Karnataka government announced the operationalisation of a specialised grievance redressal mechanism for platform-based gig workers in the State.
About
- Background: The Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025, was notified in 2025.
- In 2026, Karnataka became the first Indian State to notify the Rules to enact the law for gig workers.
- The grievance-redressal mechanism for gig workers in the State forms a crucial part of the Act.
- Aim: To bring more structure and transparency into the process and ensure legal recourse for these workers outside the formal economy.
- It allows workers to officially lodge complaints through the Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System (IPGRS).
- They can lodge grievances, including those related to pay, working conditions, and platform-specific disputes.
- Every aggregator platform must constitute an Internal Dispute Resolution Committee (IDRC).
- Grievances filed on the IPGRS will be automatically routed to the respective platform’s IDRC.
- Upon receiving a complaint, the IDRC is expected to attempt resolution within 15 working days, and is allowed up to 45 days to issue a final order.
- Any party aggrieved by the final decision can escalate the matter to the Karnataka Gig Workers Welfare Board within 30 days.
Source: TH
India to host 1st IBCA Summit
Syllabus: GS3/Environment
In News
- The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the website and logo for the 1st International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026, in New Delhi.
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
- It is an inter-governmental international organisation headquartered in India,
- It was launched in 2023, during the event ‘Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger’.
- There are 24 member countries, three observer countries, and several other ‘range’ countries in the alliance.
- It was launched with the aim of conservation of seven big cats – Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma – with membership of all UN countries/the range countries harbouring the said species and non-range countries where historically these species are not found but interested to support big cat conservation.
- The primary objective of IBCA is to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise to achieve a common goal of conservation of big cats at global level.
- It aims to bolster the conservation agenda, halt the decline in big cat populations, and reverse current trends.
Source : PIB
Mitigating SO2 from Coal Power Plants
Syllabus: GS3/Environment
In News
- A new IIT Delhi study published in Nature estimates that fully reducing SO₂ emissions from coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in India could prevent about 1,24,564 deaths annually.
Key Findings
- Mechanism of pollution: CFPPs emit SO₂, which react in the atmosphere to form sulphate, nitrate, and ammonium aerosols.
- These contribute to PM2.5 pollution, linked to heart and lung diseases.
- Trend in emissions: Global SO₂ emissions from power plants declined (2005–2021).
- India’s emissions increased from 2.36 to 5.05 thousand kilotonnes (2005–2021).
- Further ~30% rise observed in 2023.
- Health impact : About 14,777 cardiovascular deaths could be avoided annually.
- About 8,476 respiratory deaths could be avoided annually.
- Statewise data: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were estimated to see the highest number of avoidable deaths due to high population exposure to pollution.
- Chhattisgarh and Odisha were expected to see the biggest improvement in air quality because they have several coal power-based pollution hotspots
- Equity: Benefits of SO₂ reduction would be higher for Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and lower/middle-income groups.
- This makes SO₂ mitigation both an air pollution and environmental justice issue.
Initiatives taken in India
- India introduced stricter emission norms for power plants in 2015, including SO₂ limits and FGD requirements.
- The FGD is a technology that removes SO₂ from exhaust gases of fossil fuel power plants and industrial boilers, reducing acid rain and air pollution.
- In 2025, many coal plants (about 79%) were exempted from installing FGDs.
Technology debate
- FGDs (Flue Gas Desulphurisation systems) remove SO₂ from emissions.
- Critics argue Indian coal has low sulphur, making FGDs expensive.
- The study argues health benefits outweigh installation costs.
Recommendations
- Strict enforcement of SO₂ emission norms.
- Wider installation of FGDs and pollution control technologies.
- Focus on pollution hotspot regions.
- Complementary measures: cleaner cooking fuels, EV adoption, reduced stubble burning.
Source:IE
Joint Initiative to Strengthen EV Battery Recycling
Syllabus: GS3/Environment
In News
- India and EU Launched Joint Initiative to Strengthen EV Battery Recycling under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC)-Working Group-2.
| Working Group 2 (WG2) of the TTC focuses on Green and Clean Energy Technologies, identifying battery recycling as a strategic priority. |
About the India and EU Initiative to Strengthen EV Battery Recycling
- It aims to promote EV battery recycling, with submissions due by 15 September 2026.
- It will be funded through the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, while the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) will support the Indian component.
- It will focus on developing advanced recycling technologies, including high-efficiency material recovery, safe and digitalised collection systems, and pilot-scale demonstration of innovative processes.
- It will also support the establishment of a joint India-EU pilot line in India to enable real-world validation and industrial deployment, bringing together leading researchers, industries, and startups.
- It will also focus on high material recovery, handling mixed battery types, improving logistics, ensuring safety, and enabling reuse of key minerals like lithium, cobalt, and graphite.
India’s progress
- India’s EV battery recycling market is rapidly growing.
- The sector is valued at approximately ₹1,380 crore to ₹3,510 crore (2024-25) and is projected to reach ₹4,14,000 crore by 2035.
- NITI Aayog estimates 128 GWh of recyclable battery capacity by 2030, driven primarily by the public transport and EV segments.
- Recycling at this scale can reduce battery production carbon emissions by up to 90%.
- Consequently, recycling of Lithium-ion batteries as secondary materials sourcing has become one of the focus areas for both the EU and Indian governments to reduce their dependence on international imports.
Source: PIB
Samagra Shiksha Teachers
Syllabus: GS2/Government Initiatives
Context
- Delhi Government has approved a substantial increase in the salaries of vocational teachers and those working under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
Samagra Shiksha Scheme
- It is an integrated scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2018-19, for school education covering complete pre-primary to senior secondary (up to class 12th).
- Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (partnership with States& UT).
- Subsumed erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes:
- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)
- Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and
- Teacher Education (TE)
- Objectives: To implement SDG 4, Right to Education and New Education Policy.
- Coverage: 1.16 million schools, over 156 million students and 5.7 million Teachers of Govt. and Aided schools.
Source: AIR
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