UPSC Daily Current Affairs for 7 November 2025

Karnataka’s Menstrual Leave Policy

Context

Karnataka has become the first State in the country to approve 12 days of paid menstrual leave per year (one day per month) for all women employees, covering both government and private sectors.

Arguments in Favour

Promotes Gender-Sensitive Workplaces: Recognises biological realities of women and promotes inclusivity and empathy in the workplace.

Moves beyond gender-neutral policies to gender-responsive labour reforms.

Acknowledgement of Menstrual Health: Encourages open discussion and destigmatisation of menstrual health.

Improves Productivity and Well-being: Allows women to rest during periods of pain or discomfort, leading to better overall performance and morale.

Centre Says Right to Vote Different From Freedom of Voting

Context

The Centre has argued in the Supreme Court that the ‘right to vote’ in an election is different from the ‘freedom of voting’.

About

The petition before the Supreme Court seeks to declare Section 53(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Rule 11 with Forms 21 and 21B of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 as unconstitutional.

India’s Electoral System: Why the Nomination Process Needs Reform?

Context

There is a need for reforms in the nomination process in India’s electoral system that has become increasingly exclusionary, vulnerable, and convoluted to procedural misuse.

Lapses & Concerns in Current Nomination System

Procedural Complexity vs. Substantive Justice: The process of verifying qualifications made under RPA, 1951 has become overly procedural.

The Returning Officers (RO) may reject a nomination deemed invalid after a summary inquiry, under Sections 33–36 of RPA, 1951, and the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.

RO is unchecked until after the election due to Article 329(b), allowing technicalities to triumph over fairness.

Procedural Traps: Candidates often fall to paperwork errors rather than constitutional disqualifications. Common procedural pitfalls include:

Contempt of Court in India

Context

The recent controversy over alleged remarks against the Chief Justice of India and the Supreme Court has sparked concerns about undermining the court’s authority and obstructing the administration of justice, prompting calls for contempt proceedings.

What Does Not Amount To Contempt?

Fair and accurate reporting of court proceedings;.

Fair and reasoned criticism of a judicial order after disposal of a case (protected under free speech);

Uniform Penalty For Violations of Van Adhiniyam, 1980

In News

The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Union Environment Ministry has recommended standardising penal provisions under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, particularly concerning violations involving forest land diversion without prior central approval.

What is Van Adhiniyam, 1980?

It was originally enacted as the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and it was renamed Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 under legislative updates.

It governs the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, such as infrastructure, mining, or agriculture.

It mandates central government approval for any such diversion and aims to prevent deforestation and protect ecological balance.

News in Short – 7 November, 2025

In News

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has granted in-principle approval for setting up two new specialised cadres within the Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD).

Background

At present, audits of Central receipts and expenditure are handled by different state-based offices, leading to duplication and uneven quality.

The new structure aims to mirror international practices where revenue and expenditure audits are handled by specialised verticals, enhancing accountability and fiscal transparency.