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Census 2027 | Journey of India’s 1.5 billion headcount
The Government of India has announced the resumption of the decennial population enumeration exercise, originally scheduled for 2021 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming census will be India's first digital census, conducted in two phases: House-listing (2026) and Population Enumeration (2027), and will notably include a caste census, a significant departure from practice since 1931.
Read on The HinduDive Into Study Notes![Illustration about International Relations: India has strongly rejected a ruling by the [Permanent Court of Arbitration] (PCA) at The Hague, which ordered India to](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fprepdose-article-images%2Fdaily-read%2F2026-09-01%2Fciting-lack-of-jurisdiction-india-rejects-hague-courts-indus-waters-treaty-ruling-f73011f5.png&w=1200&q=75)
Must ReadCiting lack of jurisdiction, India rejects Hague court’s Indus Waters Treaty ruling
India has strongly rejected a ruling by the [Permanent Court of Arbitration] (PCA) at The Hague, which ordered India to halt specific construction on the [Ratle Hydro-Electric Project] and declared the [Indus Waters Treaty] fully in force. The [Ministry of External Affairs] stated that the arbitral body, established by the [World Bank], lacks jurisdiction and was formed in violation of the treaty's provisions.
Read on The HinduDive Into Study Notes![Illustration about Election & Representation: The [Supreme Court] has directed the Union Government to clarify its position on the use of 'totalisers' in elections, a](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fprepdose-article-images%2Fdaily-read%2F2026-09-01%2Fsc-seeks-centres-stand-on-use-of-totalisers-in-polls-ec-warns-against-risks-flags-public-misapprehensions-against-evms-26bfc50d.png&w=1200&q=75)
Must ReadSC seeks Centre’s stand on use of totalisers in polls; EC warns against risks, flags public misapprehensions against EVMs
The [Supreme Court] has directed the Union Government to clarify its position on the use of 'totalisers' in elections, a machine that consolidates votes from multiple [EVMs] to mask booth-wise voting patterns. The [Election Commission of India] (ECI) has strongly opposed the move, citing a lack of legal framework, potential transparency issues, and the risk of exacerbating public skepticism surrounding EVMs.
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Must ReadIndia’s GDP growth at 7.8% in Q1, slower than last quarter but quicker than last year
India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at 7.8% in the first quarter (Q1) of the financial year (FY), outperforming the previous year's 6.9% but slowing from the 8.6% recorded in the preceding quarter. This growth was primarily driven by the manufacturing sector and services, while agriculture and mining underperformed.
Read on The HinduDive Into Study Notes![Illustration about International Relations: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the [Shanghai Cooperation Organisation] (SCO) summit, strongly advocated for a](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fprepdose-article-images%2Fdaily-read%2F2026-09-01%2Fsco-must-work-unitedly-to-dismantle-terror-ecosystem-pm-modi-6f6b5f66.png&w=1200&q=75)
Must ReadSCO must work unitedly to dismantle terror ecosystem: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the [Shanghai Cooperation Organisation] (SCO) summit, strongly advocated for a united effort to dismantle terrorist ecosystems and their funding mechanisms, highlighting the danger of 'double standards' in global counter-terrorism. He also emphasized the necessity of dialogue over conflict and stated that regional connectivity projects must respect national sovereignty, implicitly addressing concerns surrounding China's [Belt and Road Initiative].
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Must ReadIndia’s growth beat suggests economy on cusp of investment boom
India's economy recorded a robust growth rate of 7.8% in the June quarter, driven primarily by strong performance in the manufacturing, construction, and services sectors. A significant surge in gross fixed capital formation indicates a potential private investment boom, raising optimism for sustained economic momentum.
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ImportantPolitical demography, the future of democracy
Recent calls by various political and social leaders encouraging larger families have sparked a nationwide debate on pronatalism (policies or beliefs encouraging reproduction). This discourse is unfolding against the backdrop of India's impending [Census] and the crucial delimitation of [Lok Sabha] constituencies scheduled after 2026, raising profound questions about the intersection of population dynamics, democratic representation, and federalism.
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The broken promise of the right to work
The Union government has reportedly replaced [MGNREGA] (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) with a new act called the [Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar & Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM G) Act], effective July 2026. This has triggered a Supreme Court debate regarding whether the 'Right to Work' should be elevated to a fundamental right under [Article 21] (Right to Life) and raised concerns about a significant drop in rural employment due to the new Act's funding structure and departure from a demand-driven model.
Must ReadDeadly span: On vulture safety in India, threat of electrocution
Recent studies highlight that while chemical threats like diclofenac previously devastated India's vulture populations, electrocution from expanding power infrastructure is emerging as a critical new threat. The decline of vultures has far-reaching consequences, including increased human mortality and economic costs due to a rise in feral dog populations and rabies outbreaks.
Read on The HinduDive Into Study Notes![Illustration about Polity & Governance: The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ([CERD]) has expressed deep concern over reports of large-s](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fprepdose-article-images%2Fdaily-read%2F2026-09-01%2Fv-dems-democracy-index-rates-india-at-its-lowest-since-1975-3d5566ea.png&w=1200&q=75)
Must ReadV-dem’s democracy index rates India at its lowest since 1975
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ([CERD]) has expressed deep concern over reports of large-scale violations by law enforcement and the exclusion of voters, particularly Muslims, during the revision of electoral rolls in India. This aligns with the findings of the [V-Dem Institute]'s latest democracy report, which categorizes India as an 'autocratizing' country and marks its electoral democracy index score at the lowest point since the 1975 Emergency.
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