8 August 2025 : Daily Current Affairs

1. Elections Stolen, Alleges Rahul Gandhi

Source: Page 1 , The Hindu UPSC IAS Edition

Topic: GS- 2 – Polity & Governance (Electoral Reforms)

Context

Rahul Gandhi has accused the Election Commission (EC) of colluding with the BJP in manipulating electoral rolls in Karnataka to favor the ruling party.

Content

• Allegation Details:

  • Rahul Gandhi claims 1,00,250 fake votes were created in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment.

  • He accuses the EC of being complicit in “criminal fraud” and “vote theft”.

• Five Methods of Manipulation Alleged:

  1. Duplicate voters

  2. Fake/invalid addresses

  3. Bulk voters registered at single address

  4. Invalid photos

  5. Misuse of Form 6 (used for voter registration)

• Political Fallout:

  • BJP countered the claim as “selective outrage”.

  • EC has demanded evidence under oath.

• Constitutional & Legal Angle:

  • Article 324 of the Constitution empowers EC with election oversight.

  • Integrity of electoral rolls is vital for democracy.

  • Allegations point to a need for reforms in voter registration and scrutiny.

Way Forward:

• Independent probe into electoral rolls.

• Use of AI and digital verification to detect fake/duplicate entries.

• Transparency in Form 6 processing.

Practice Question:

“Critically examine the challenges faced by the Election Commission in maintaining free and fair electoral rolls. Suggest institutional reforms to ensure greater transparency and accountability“ (250 words / 15 marks)

2. Modi Defends Farmers in FTA Talks with U.S.

Source: page 1, The Hindu UPSC IAS Edition

Topic: GS- 2 – International Relations; GS Paper 3 – Agriculture & Economy

Context

PM Modi reassured farmers that their interests will not be compromised during Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks with the United States.

Analysis from UPSC Angle:

• Key Points:

  • U.S. is seeking access to Indian markets in dairy, soybeans, corn, almonds.

  • Modi said “Bharat will never compromise on the interests of farmers, dairy farmers, and fishermen.”

• Political Economy Context:

  • FTAs can open markets but also impact domestic producers.

  • India has earlier resisted U.S. pressure on dairy due to religious and livelihood reasons.

• Implications:

  • Trade liberalization vs. farmer protection debate.

  • Government balancing geopolitical alliances with domestic political costs.

Way Forward:

• Conduct stakeholder consultations before signing FTAs.

• Implement safeguard mechanisms for vulnerable sectors.

Practice Question:

“Examine the challenges faced by India in balancing trade liberalization with the protection of vulnerable sectors such as agriculture during FTA negotiations. (“ (250 words / 15 marks)

3. SC Validates In-House Judicial Inquiry

Source: Page 1, Indian Express Delhi Edition

Topic: GS-2 – Polity & Governance (Judiciary)

Context

The Supreme Court upheld the legality of in-house inquiry procedures against a sitting High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, in light of misconduct allegations.

Key Points for UPSC:

• Issue:

  • Justice Varma challenged the in-house probe as extra-constitutional.

  • He was accused of misconduct after burnt currency was found at his residence.

• SC Ruling Highlights:

  • In-house procedures are legally valid under precedents and Article 141.

  • Parliament’s authority to remove judges (under Articles 124(4), 217, and 218) remains untouched.

  • Reports submitted to the President/PM are in line with protocol.

• Implications:

  • Strengthens internal judicial accountability mechanisms.

  • Balances judicial independence with public interest.

Way Forward:

• Codify in-house procedures through legislation for consistency and transparency.

• Ensure procedural fairness and right to appeal.

Practice Question:

“Discuss the significance of in-house inquiry mechanisms in ensuring judicial accountability. Should such procedures be codified by law? ” (150 words / 10 marks)

Check more: 7 August 2025 : Daily Current Affairs