The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025

Why in News?

Recently, The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025 has been introduced to create a clear legal framework for a special excise cess on manufacturing of pan masala and other tobacco products.

What is the need for the bill?

• About the bill – The Health Security se National Security Cess –proposes to tax all those people who have machines installed for production of pan masala.
• The machines include fill and seal machines and any packing machine used to fill pan masala in in pouches, tins or other containers.
• India’s tobacco use – According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2), nearly 42% of men and 14% of women in India use tobacco.
• Moreover, India amounts to 70% of the world’s smokeless tobacco (SLT) users i.e. gutkha, pan masala and among smoked tobacco, bidis are preferred over cigarettes, especially in rural and lower income families.
• As both SLT and smoked tobacco use increase cancer risk in lung, head, neck, stomach, and pancreas, India ranks first globally in male cancer deaths.
• Increased economic cost of tobacco use – Experts found that the economic cost of both SLT and smoked tobacco amounted to ₹1.77 lakh crore in 2016-17.
• Ineffective ban – Centre’s ban on use of gutkha has more or less remained ineffective as the tobacco industry has ensured wide accessibility of its products via policy interference, pricing tactics, targeted marketing and dense tobacco shop networks.
• Who recommendation – Though WHO has recommended taxing tobacco products at 75% of its MRP, very few have followed through.
• Affordability of tobacco products – Also, study has shown that affordability of cigarettes and bidis remain the main hamper.
• 87% of Indian cigarette vendors sell single sticks, frequently operating near tea stalls, found research.
• This practice is banned in 88 countries but not in India.

What are the theme-based provisions?

• Goods Covered – Pan Masala & any other goods as notified.
• Taxable person– Any person who owns/operates/controls machines or processes manufacturing specified goods as given, regardless of tax status, as prescribed.
• Nature of Levy – achines installed or processes undertaken, in addition to other certain duties/taxes, as prescribed.
• Basis of Calculation – Computed by maximum rated speed (pouches/tins per minute) & weight per pack, or manual process flat rate, as prescribed.
• Monthly Cess Amounts – or Machine based process: ₹101 lakh/month, as prescribed.
• (cess for item - up to 500 Number of pouches or tins or containers per minute, up to 2.5g)
• For Manual process:  ₹11 lakh/month flat, as prescribed.
• Abatement – 15+ days continuous stoppage eligible for abatement
• Use of Proceeds – Credited to Consolidated Fund of India, for public health & National Security.
• Registration & Returns – Registration, Self-declaration of machines, monthly returns & payment by 7th of month.
• Monitoring & Verification – Scrutiny, Audit, Inspection/search/seizure.
• Offences – Offences & penalties, Confiscation, Arrest, Graded Imprisonment Levels, as prescribed
• Appeals Structure – Appeal to Appellate Authority → Tribunal → High Court → Supreme Court.
• Government Powers – May increase cess up to 2× in public interest; may exempt taxable persons; may add goods to Schedule I, as applicable & prescribed.

What are the procedural format for effective implementation?

• Registration – Any person owning/operating/controlling machines or processes manufacturing specified goods must register with the proper officer.
• Self-Declaration of Machinery / Process Parameters – Taxable person must submit self-declaration of machines/processes, including parameters like maximum rated speed, weight per pack, and type of packing.
• Verification / Calibration – Details declared may be verified or calibrated by the proper officer (with opportunity of being heard).
• Cess Computation – Cess is computed based on machine capacity (pouches/tins per minute) and weight per pack, or a flat monthly rate for manual process.
• Monthly Payment & Return Filing – Cess must be paid at the beginning of each month but no later than the 7th, with a monthly return filed by the taxpayer.
• Abatement for Non-Operation – If a machine or unit remains inoperative for 15+ days, cess amount may be abated proportionately, subject to conditions.
• Review, Audit & Assessment – Provisions for scrutiny of returns, audit, and assessment where cess is unpaid or short-paid.
• Enforcement – Includes inspection, search, seizure, confiscation, arrest and penalties for contraventions.
• Compliance, Enforcement & Appeal Framework – The Bill establishes a structured compliance framework under which every taxable person must register, self-declare machine and process details, and file monthly returns along with the applicable cess payment.
• The strong compliance framework further strengthens oversight through scrutiny of returns, audits, and the deployment of technological and monitoring mechanisms to ensure accuracy and transparency in reporting.
• Non-submission of returns, failure to maintain required declarations, or non-payment of cess will also attract specified compliance consequences.
• Other Inclusions – An Enforcement Framework that includes search, inspection, seizure, confiscation of goods and machinery, recovery of dues, penalties, and arrest in severe contraventions, has been provided to safeguard revenue.
• For effective implementation, the Bill specifies a Graded Penalty Structure based on the nature and scale of the violation.

 What lies ahead?

• The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025 represents a significant step towards establishing a stable and transparent revenue channel dedicated to strengthening India’s Public Health Systems and National Security capabilities.
• By adopting a capacity-based levy structure supported by a robust compliance and enforcement framework, the Bill ensures predictability in revenue mobilisation while maintaining accountability through oversight.
• It also offers a balanced approach that is administratively practical, legally coherent, and aligned with National Priorities.

Reference

PIB| The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025

Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018

Why in News?

Recently, the Finance Ministry informed the Lok Sabha that Fifteen people have been declared wanted by various courts under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) as of October 31, 2025, nine of whom are linked to large-scale financial frauds against public sector banks.

What is Fugitive Economic Offenders Act?

• Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO) – It defines an individual against whom an arrest warrant has been issued for a scheduled economic offence and who either leaves India to avoid prosecution or refuses to return when summoned.
• Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 – It enables swift action against high-value financial offenders, ensuring asset seizure, faster recovery, and stronger deterrence against major scams.
• It aims to stop economic offenders from escaping India after committing major financial crimes and ensure that their assets can be quickly seized to recover public money.
• Applicability – The Act applies only when the amount involved in the offence is ₹100 crore or more.
• Objectives – It aims to prevent major economic offenders from escaping India and ensure quick recovery of assets involved in high-value financial crimes.
• To stop high-value economic offenders from fleeing India to evade investigation.
• To enable swift attachment and confiscation of their properties.
• To strengthen asset recovery mechanisms in major financial fraud cases.
• To act as a deterrent against money laundering, bank fraud, and financial scams.
• To support faster justice by reducing delays caused by absconding offenders.

What are the important provisions of the act?

• Role of ED – Enforcement Directorate (ED) can file an application before the Special Court to declare a person an FEO.
• It is the primary agency responsible for implementing the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 by identifying absconders, tracing their assets, and initiating legal processes to declare them FEOs.
• ED may provisionally attach properties of the accused for 180 days to prevent disposal.
• Special Court – The special courts under PMLA (prevention of money laundering act) conducts the FEO declaration hearing and issues final orders.
• Confiscation of properties – Once declared an FEO, the court can confiscate all properties, including benami and overseas assets (equivalent value).
• Offenders are barred from filing or defending civil claims in India unless they return to face investigation.
• Assets covered – The Act covers both movable and immovable assets, including proceeds of crime and corporate properties.
• Confiscated properties vest in the Central Government free of all encumbrances.

What are the recent developments regarding the FEOs?

• Identified FEOs – The Ministry of Finance informed Parliament that 15 individuals had been declared FEOs as of October 31.
• Nine of them are involved in large-scale financial fraud, and the amounts they owe have been made public.
• Amount owed to banks – Just nine Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEOs) owed Indian banks over ₹58,000 crore in principal and interest.
• State Bank of India (SBI) is owed over ₹22,000 crore, followed by Punjab National Bank and Bank of India.
• In terms of total dues owed initially (principal plus interest), businessman Mallya tops the list with nearly ₹27,000 crore.
• He is followed by the Sandesara family (Sterling Group) and Nirav Modi.
• Recovery rate – Notably, the SBI has achieved the highest recovery rate among these lenders, retrieving close to 52%.
• This is largely attributed to effective recovery measures, including liquidation, in Vijay Mallya’s account.
• In contrast, the recovery rate for other banks remains below 40%.
• Over 56% of amount owed by Mallaya has been recovered till date, date show, while for others, the rate is much lower at 17% for the Sandesara family and 7% in the case of Modi.
• Despite having arrest warrants issued against them, these FEOs have left India and refuse to return to avoid criminal prosecution.

Reference

The Hindu| FEO Act

Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025

Why in News?

The Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, set to be introduced in the upcoming legislative session.

Karnataka is the 1^st state in India to introduce a Bill for targeting hate speech.

• Aim - To introduce a specific legal framework to curb the spread of hatred and disharmony.
• Hate speech definition - The Bill defines hate speech as expressions intended to cause harm or animosity based on categories such as religion, race, caste, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability, or tribe.
• Hate crimes - These are defined as acts of making, publishing, circulating or promoting such hate speech or inciting, abetting, or attempting such speech.
• Imprisonment and Penalty -
  • For first-time offenders - The Bill proposes imprisonment from 1 to 7 years and a Rs.50,000 fine and
  • For repeat offenders - 2 to 10 years and a Rs.1,00,000 fine.
• Offenses are cognizable and non-bailable and they will be tried by a Judicial Magistrate First Class.
• Collective liability for organizations - Organizations can be held liable, with responsible individuals accountable unless they demonstrate lack of knowledge or due diligence.
• Regulation of Online Hate Content - A designated officer can direct the blocking or removal of online content promoting hate crimes.
• Executive Magistrates and senior police officers have preventive powers if a hate crime is deemed imminent.
• Exemptions - Exemptions exist for genuine works in science, literature, art, heritage, or bona fide religious practices.
• The state government views the Bill as necessary to strengthen social harmony and address a gap in national laws regarding the definition of hate speech.

Reference

The Indian Express | Karnataka’s new Hate Speech Bill

Schemes to Promote Electric vehicles in India

Why in News?

Recently, there has been an increasing adoption of electric vehicles in India.

Reference

 PIB | INCREASING ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN INDIA

Horn-eyed ghost crab

Why in News?

Visakhapatnam researchers recently documented the first confirmed instance of a horn-eyed ghost crab preying on a Mottled Lightfoot crab along the Rushi Konda shoreline suggests a temporary merging of habitats where sand and stone occur in close succession.

Mottled Lightfoot crab is a species that occupies rocky crevices and does not ordinarily cross paths with its sand-dwelling counterpart.

• Scientific Name - Ocypode ceratophthalmus.
• Genus - Ocypode.
• It is a fast-running, sand-colored crab commonly found on tropical and subtropical beaches of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific — including India’s coastline.
• Key identification features
  • “Horns” on eyes - Each eye has a pointed extension (a style) on top — the crab’s trademark.
  • Color- Pale sandy to grey; blends well with beach sand (excellent camouflage).
  • Size - Carapace up to ~5–6 cm wide.
  • Build - Long legs; built for speed on open sand.

• Habitat - It is generally restricted to sandy zones, above the high-tide line.
• Digs deep, slanting burrows for shelter and moisture.
• Behavior - Their pale bodies blend easily with sand, a feature that, along with their swift movement at dusk and dawn, has given rise to their common name.
• Mostly nocturnal; active at dusk and night.
• Breathes using modified gills and can stay out of water for long periods.
• Diet - They have been recorded hunting clams, snails, worms, isopods, shrimps and a variety of insects.
• In some regions, they feed on the eggs and hatchlings of birds and turtles. They also prey on other crabs, including smaller hermit crabs.
• Ecological importance - Cleans beaches by scavenging dead matter.
• Indicator species - Healthy ghost-crab populations often reflect low beach disturbance.
• Aerates sand through burrowing, aiding nutrient cycling.

Six species of ghost crabs have been reported along the Indian coastline, and at least 3 of these have been observed at Rushikonda Beach, including O. brevicornis, O. macrocera and O. cordimanus.

Reference

The Hindu | Horn-eyed ghost crab

23rd India-Russia Annual Summit

Why in News?

India and Russia have recently agreed to continue working towards enhancing the settlement of bilateral trade in the national currencies of the two countries in the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit

Key Outcomes & Agreements

Economic & Trade Cooperation

• Program 2030 – Two countries aiming to boost bilateral trade, investment, and industrial cooperation — including high-technology and manufacturing partnerships.
• They reaffirmed a target of expanding bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030.
• Both sides have agreed to continue consultations on enabling the interoperability of the national payment systems, financial messaging systems, as well as central bank digital currency platforms.
• The two leaders also discussed how to remove the tariff and non-tariffs barriers so that the two countries can achieve their target of crossing bilateral trade worth $100 billion by 2030.

Annual bilateral trade stood at $68.7 billion in 2024-25.

Energy & Nuclear Cooperation

• The Summit reinforced cooperation in civil nuclear energy: continuing fuel-cycle cooperation, life-cycle support for the existing Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), and exploring new nuclear-energy projects — including small modular reactors (SMRs).
• India-Russia cooperation in the energy sector is a significant pillar of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership the two countries share.

Defence & Military-Technical Cooperation

• The two sides agreed to deepen collaboration increasingly through joint R&D, co-development and co-production of advanced defence systems under a “Make-in-India” framework.
• Plans include localisation of spare parts/components for Russian-origin equipment, and potential export of jointly produced systems to third countries.

Labour Mobility & Broader Cooperation

• An agreement was signed on mobility of skilled workers, opening up regulated pathways for Indian workforce, especially in sectors where Russia has demand.
• Cooperation will also expand in science & technology, space programmes (with collaboration between ISRO and Russian counterpart), critical-minerals processing, and other emerging-tech domains.

Geopolitical & Strategic Alignment

• The Summit reaffirmed the mutual commitment to strategic partnership, underlining respect for sovereignty, and balancing global geopolitics despite turbulence (sanctions, international tension, instability).
• The two Sides also agreed to deepen cooperation in building stable and efficient transport corridors, with the aim to further support
  • The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC),
  • The Chennai-Vladivostok (Eastern Maritime) Corridor, and
  • The Northern Sea Route.

Reference

The Hindu | 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit

Shani Shingnapur Temple

Why in News?

Ahilyanagar police cyber cell recently arrested two Shani Shingnapur Temple Trust employees for allegedly diverting over Rs.50 lakh each into their personal accounts by manipulating online applications used for booking pooja services.

• The temple is located in the village Shani Shingnapur in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra.
• Associated Deity - It is dedicated to Shani (Saturn), a celestial deity in Hindu tradition associated with justice, karma and cosmic discipline.
• Unique sanctum - The idol of Shani is a large black stone believed to be self-manifested (Swayambhu), placed on a raised platform, but there’s no roof, no enclosed sanctum.
• The god is worshipped under the sky itself.
• “Doorless Village” tradition - Unusually, houses (and many shops) in the village historically had no doors or locks just doorframes or curtains as villagers believed that under Shani’s watch, thefts or crime would not occur.
• Rituals & beliefs- Devotees often offer oil to the idol (a way to pacify Shani), and special worship happens on Saturdays and on new-moon days (Amavasya), considered particularly auspicious.
• Popularity & Significance - Over time, what was once a small village shrine has become a major pilgrimage centre, drawing thousands of devotees every day.
• On peak days (e.g. Amavasya), tens or even hundreds of thousands may visit.
• Significance - The belief in the temple’s protective power (especially against theft or misfortune) and the legends surrounding the idol have given the place a unique aura of faith, devotion, and mysticism among worshippers and visitors.

The premises also contain a tomb of Saint Udasi Baba and a temple dedicated to Dattatreya.

Reference

Hindustan Times | Shani Shingnapur temple