1.Karnataka Scraps Hijab Ban Order 2.National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) 3.NIA Arrests Narco-Terror Kingpin Shera After Portugal Extradition 4.How New Fossils and Technology Are Tracing the Origins of Snakes 5.India Gets Its First Alzheimer’s Therapy

1.Karnataka Scraps Hijab Ban Order

Source: The HinduSubject: Polity (Prelims)

Why in News?

• Karnataka government revoked the February 2022 order that had effectively banned hijab in government and aided educational institutions.
• Students are now allowed to wear limited religious symbols along with prescribed uniforms.
• The issue remains under judicial consideration after the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict in 2022 and referred the matter to a larger bench.

New Karnataka Government Order

• Educational institutions will continue to follow prescribed uniforms.
• Students can wear limited religious symbols that do not substantially alter the uniform.
• Permitted symbols include hijab/headscarf, turban, sacred thread, and similar faith markers.
• Students cannot be denied admission, examination entry, or participation in academic activities on the basis of such symbols.
• The order aims to balance institutional discipline with religious freedom and non-discrimination.

Constitutional Provisions Related to Religious Freedom

• Article 25 guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion.
• Article 26 gives religious denominations the right to manage religious affairs.
• Article 27 prohibits compulsory taxation for promotion of any particular religion.
• Article 28 restricts religious instruction in State-funded educational institutions.
• Religious freedom is subject to public order, morality, health, and other Fundamental Rights.

Judicial and Constitutional Issues

• The 2022 Karnataka order triggered protests and communal tensions across the State.
• Karnataka High Court had upheld the ban, stating hijab was not an essential religious practice in Islam.
• Supreme Court delivered a split verdict in 2022:
  • One judge upheld the ban.
  • Another judge favoured students’ right to choice and dignity.
• The matter was referred to a larger Constitution Bench.
• The debate involves balancing:
  • Religious freedom,
  • Institutional discipline,
  • Equality,
  • Secularism,
  • Individual autonomy.

Significance

• The decision reflects evolving debates on secularism and accommodation of religious identity in public institutions.
• It highlights tensions between uniformity in educational spaces and protection of individual freedoms.
• The issue is important for understanding Fundamental Rights, reasonable restrictions, and constitutional morality.

Prelims Facts

• Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.
• Article 28: Restricts religious instruction in State-funded institutions.
• Essential Religious Practices doctrine is used by courts to determine constitutional protection of practices.
• India follows a model of principled secularism rather than strict separation of religion and State.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q.Discuss the constitutional issues involved in regulating religious symbols in educational institutions. How should the balance between institutional discipline and individual religious freedom be maintained?

2.National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)

Source: The HinduSubject: Government Schemes / Sports (Prelims)

Why in News?

• A Parliamentary panel raised concerns over the declining contributions to the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).
• Contributions fell from ₹85.26 crore in 2023–24 to ₹37.02 crore in 2025–26.
• The decline has raised concerns regarding funding support for athletes, sports infrastructure, and training programmes.

National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)

• The National Sports Development Fund was established in 1998 to mobilise resources for the promotion and development of sports in India.
• The fund functions under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Contributions are received from:
  • Corporate entities,
  • Public sector undertakings,
  • Individuals,
  • Non-government organisations.
• The fund supports:
  • Training of athletes,
  • International exposure,
  • Sports infrastructure,
  • Coaching and scientific support,
  • Preparation for global sporting events.

Reasons for Declining Contributions

• Reduced corporate confidence in the functioning of the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
• Increasing preference of donors for privately managed sports organisations and leagues.
• Greater reliance on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding, where corporations seek visible and measurable outcomes.
• Perception that private sports foundations provide more efficient utilisation of funds.

Concerns Highlighted by Parliamentary Panel

• Shrinking funds may weaken support for elite athletes and grassroots sports development.
• Reduced funding can affect infrastructure creation, sports science support, and talent identification.
• Dependence on private funding may create uneven development across sports disciplines.
• Lack of transparency and accountability may discourage future corporate participation.

Measures Suggested

• Strengthening transparency and accountability mechanisms in fund utilisation.
• Improving monitoring and public disclosure of outcomes supported through NSDF.
• Enhancing collaboration between government institutions and private sports organisations.
• Encouraging long-term CSR partnerships for sports development.
• Expanding grassroots sports funding and athlete welfare programmes.

Prelims Facts

• NSDF was established in 1998.
• It operates under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Sports Authority of India (SAI) is the nodal agency for implementation of several sports development programmes.
• CSR provisions are governed under the Companies Act, 2013.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q.Consider the following statements regarding the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF):

1. It was established to mobilise resources for sports promotion in India.
2. It functions under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
3. It receives contributions only from public sector undertakings.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 onlyB. 2 and 3 onlyC. 1 and 3 onlyD. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

UPSC MAINS QUESTION

Q.Discuss the role of sports in promoting national integration, youth development, and soft power diplomacy in India. Highlight the major challenges faced by the sports sector and suggest measures for its improvement.

3.NIA Arrests Narco-Terror Kingpin Shera After Portugal Extradition

Source: The HinduSubject: Internal Security / International Organisations (Prelims)

Why in News?

• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Iqbal Singh alias Shera after his extradition from Portugal.
• Shera is accused of operating a Punjab-based narco-terror network linked to heroin smuggling from Pakistan.
• Drug proceeds were allegedly routed through hawala channels to fund terrorist activities.

Narco-Terror Network and Case Details

• Shera allegedly smuggled heroin from Pakistan into India through cross-border networks.
• The proceeds from narcotics trafficking were channelled through hawala networks.
• Funds were allegedly transferred to members of Hizbul Mujahideen for terror operations.
• Shera absconded in 2020 and was later traced abroad.
• An Interpol Red Notice was issued against him in June 2021.
• His extradition from Portugal highlights international cooperation against organised crime and terrorism financing.

Hawala System

• Hawala is an informal and trust-based money transfer system operating outside formal banking channels.
• The system functions through networks of hawaladars without physical movement of money across borders.
• Hawala is often misused for:
  • Terror financing,
  • Drug trafficking,
  • Money laundering,
  • Tax evasion.

Interpol Red Notice

• An Interpol Red Notice is a global alert issued at the request of a member country to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted person.
• It is not an international arrest warrant.
• The notice is based on a valid national arrest warrant or court order.
• Interpol facilitates police cooperation among member countries.

Significance

• The case highlights the nexus between narcotics trafficking and terrorism financing.
• It underlines the importance of:
  • Extradition treaties,
  • Intelligence sharing,
  • Anti-money laundering frameworks,
  • International policing cooperation.

Prelims Facts

• NIA was established under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008.
• Hizbul Mujahideen is a banned terrorist organisation.
• Interpol headquarters is located in Lyon, France.
• Hawala transactions generally operate outside formal financial systems.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q.Consider the following statements:

1. An Interpol Red Notice is an international arrest warrant.
2. Hawala transactions generally operate outside formal banking systems.
3. The National Investigation Agency was established under an Act passed in 2008.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 2 and 3 onlyB. 1 and 2 onlyC. 1 and 3 onlyD. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

UPSC MAINS QUESTION

Q.Discuss the growing challenge of narco-terrorism in India. Examine its linkages with organized crime, terrorism, and border security, and suggest measures to effectively counter the threat.

4.How New Fossils and Technology Are Tracing the Origins of Snakes

Source: The HinduSubject: Science and Technology / Environment (Prelims)

Why in News?

• New fossil discoveries and advanced genetic technologies are helping scientists better understand the origin and evolution of snakes.
• Research suggests that snake ancestors may have emerged nearly 160 million years ago, while major diversification occurred around 125 million years ago.

Evolution and Origin of Snakes

• Scientists believe snakes evolved from lizard-like reptilian ancestors.
• The exact origin of snakes remains debated:
  • Some theories suggest underground burrowing ancestors,
  • Others support marine origins,
  • Some indicate terrestrial evolution.
• Early snake fossils have been discovered in varied habitats, making their evolutionary pathway complex.

Major Evolutionary Adaptations in Snakes

• The elongated body evolved through an increase in vertebrae.
• The loss of limbs is linked to the reduced function of the ZRS gene sequence involved in limb development.
• Flexible skulls and movable jaws evolved to allow swallowing of large prey.
• Specialized jaw structures enabled snakes to consume diverse prey such as rodents, birds, fish, snails, and even other snakes.
• Adaptations improved mobility in burrowing, terrestrial, arboreal, and aquatic environments.

Role of Fossils and Modern Technology

• Fossil evidence helps reconstruct evolutionary transitions in reptiles.
• Scarcity of complete snake fossils remains a major challenge.
• Scientists are increasingly using:
  • Whole genome sequencing,
  • Genetic analysis,
  • Comparative anatomy,
  • Phylogenetic trees,to trace evolutionary relationships.
• Modern reptile censuses and AI-assisted genetic analysis are improving classification and evolutionary mapping.

Important Concepts

Phylogenetic Tree

• A phylogenetic tree is a diagram showing evolutionary relationships among species based on common ancestry.
• It is constructed using:
  • DNA sequences,
  • Protein similarities,
  • Fossil evidence,
  • Morphological characteristics.

Evolutionary Biology

• Evolutionary biology studies how organisms change over generations through mechanisms such as:
  • Natural selection,
  • Mutation,
  • Genetic drift,
  • Speciation,
  • Adaptation.

Prelims Facts

• Snakes belong to the reptile group Squamata.
• ZRS gene sequence is associated with limb development.
• Fossil records provide evidence for evolutionary transitions.
• Homologous structures indicate common ancestry among organisms.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q.Consider the following statements regarding snake evolution:

1. The loss of limbs in snakes is linked to changes in the ZRS gene sequence.
2. Phylogenetic trees are used to show evolutionary relationships among species.
3. Snakes belong to the amphibian group Squamata.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 onlyB. 2 and 3 onlyC. 1 and 3 onlyD. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

UPSC MAINS QUESTION

Q.Discuss how recent fossil discoveries and modern technologies have improved scientific understanding of the origin and evolution of snakes. Examine their significance in reconstructing prehistoric biodiversity and evolutionary history.

5.India Gets Its First Alzheimer’s Therapy

Source: The HinduSubject: Science and Technology (Prelims)

Why in News?

• Eli Lilly launched donanemab (brand name: Lormalzi) in India as the country’s first approved Alzheimer’s therapy.
• The therapy costs nearly ₹1 lakh per dose and is aimed at slowing progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
• The launch is significant as Alzheimer’s cases are rapidly increasing in India.

Donanemab and Its Mechanism

• Donanemab is a monoclonal antibody-based immunotherapy.
• The therapy targets amyloid-beta plaques deposited in the brain.
• Amyloid-beta plaques are a major pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
• The drug helps clear these plaques and slows cognitive decline.
• The therapy is administered as a once-a-month 350 mg intravenous infusion.
• Treatment is generally recommended for at least 18 months.
• Clinical trials showed nearly 30–35% slowing of disease progression in early-stage patients.

Alzheimer’s Disease

• Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the leading cause of dementia worldwide.
• It mainly affects elderly individuals and gradually damages brain cells, leading to a continuous decline in mental and cognitive functions.
• The disease primarily affects memory, thinking ability, learning capacity, behaviour, language, and decision-making skills, eventually interfering with a person’s ability to perform daily activities independently.
• The major pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease include the accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques outside brain cells and tau protein tangles inside neurons.
• These abnormal protein deposits disrupt communication between nerve cells and cause their gradual degeneration and death. As the disease progresses, brain shrinkage and severe cognitive impairment occur.
• Common symptoms include persistent memory loss, confusion, difficulty in understanding or speaking language, poor judgment, mood and behavioural changes, difficulty in recognizing familiar people or places, and overall cognitive decline.
• In advanced stages, patients may become completely dependent on caregivers for routine activities.

Concerns and Challenges

• The therapy is most effective only during early stages such as mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia.
• The treatment cannot reverse existing brain damage.
• High treatment cost may restrict accessibility in India.
• Early diagnosis remains difficult because Alzheimer’s is often detected late.
• Clinical trials reported side effects known as Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities (ARIA), including:
  • Brain swelling,
  • Brain bleeding.

Significance

• The launch marks a major advancement in neurodegenerative disease treatment in India.
• The therapy reflects growing use of precision medicine and monoclonal antibody therapies.
• Early intervention may improve quality of life and delay severe neurological decline.

Prelims Facts

• Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.
• Amyloid-beta plaques accumulate outside neurons in Alzheimer’s patients.
• Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced proteins designed to target specific molecules.
• Donanemab is a disease-modifying therapy and not a complete cure.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q.Consider the following statements regarding Alzheimer’s disease and donanemab:

1. Amyloid-beta plaques are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Donanemab is a monoclonal antibody therapy.
3. Alzheimer’s disease is caused by bacterial infection.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 onlyB. 2 and 3 onlyC. 1 and 3 onlyD. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

UPSC MAINS QUESTION

Q.Discuss the significance of monoclonal antibody therapies in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Highlight the challenges associated with accessibility, affordability, and early diagnosis in India.