The Hindu — Important News Articles & Editorial Analysis
Ordinance Increases the Number of Supreme Court Judges to 37
President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, under Article 123 — raising the sanctioned strength of puisne judges from 33 to 37. Including the Chief Justice of India, the apex court's total strength now stands at 38, against a backdrop of pendency exceeding 93,000 cases.
Power to Change Judge Strength
The constitutional and statutory framework
- Article 124(1): The Constitution originally provided for the CJI and "not more than seven other judges," but explicitly empowered Parliament to prescribe a larger number by law.
- The 1956 Act: The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act is the parent legislation Parliament uses to periodically scale up judicial capacity.
Evolution of the Sanctioned Strength
| Year | Sanctioned Strength (Excl. CJI) | Total Strength (Incl. CJI) |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 (Original) | 7 | 8 |
| 1956 | 10 | 11 |
| 1960 | 13 | 14 |
| 1977 | 17 | 18 |
| 1986 | 25 | 26 |
| 2009 | 30 | 31 |
| 2019 | 33 | 34 |
| 2026 (Present) | 37 | 38 |
The Ordinance Route & Drivers Behind the Move
Why the Article 123 route?
- Justification: With Parliament not in session and the court's summer recess approaching, immediate action was deemed necessary.
- Sustenance: The ordinance must be approved by both Houses within six weeks of reassembly, failing which it lapses.
Drivers (Why now?)
- The pendency avalanche: A backlog above 93,000 cases challenges the implicit Article 21 promise of "speedy justice."
- Frequent structural vacancies: Multiple scheduled retirements through June and August leave working strength below the sanctioned limit.
- E-filing & rising litigation: Post-COVID digital transformation lowered the barrier to filing, swelling fresh cases beyond disposal capacity.
- Constitution Benches: Consistently forming 5- and 9-judge benches without freezing appellate work needs more judges.
Significance of the Decision
- Enhanced disposal rate: More judges allow additional benches, accelerating disposal of Special Leave Petitions and routine appeals.
- Structural division of work: It helps the court balance its dual role as a Constitutional Court and a Final Court of Appeal.
- Strengthened judicial infrastructure: It acknowledges pressing human-resource constraints at the apex of the judiciary.
Associated Challenges
Why numbers alone may not solve the backlog
- The appointment bottleneck: A higher sanctioned limit is meaningless unless the Collegium recommends names and the Executive clears them promptly.
- The problem of SLPs: Indiscriminate admission of Special Leave Petitions under Article 136 reduces the court to error-correction, diluting its constitutional role.
- Ignoring structural reform: The 229th Law Commission Report proposed a Constitution Bench in Delhi plus regional Cassation Benches — a model the Full Court rejected.
The 2026 Ordinance is a pragmatic, urgent intervention to keep pendency below the six-figure threshold. But treating pendency as a numbers game offers only a temporary fix to a systemic disease. Meaningful efficiency demands a friction-free appointment process, stricter norms for admitting routine appeals, and serious deliberation on structural reforms like regional benches.
With reference to the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, consider the following statements:
- The ordinance was promulgated under Article 123 of the Constitution.
- The ordinance increases the sanctioned strength of puisne judges from 33 to 37.
- Article 124(1) itself fixes the permanent strength of the Supreme Court at 38 judges.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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"Judicial pendency in India is not merely a numerical problem but a structural crisis." Discuss in the context of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026. (150 Words)
Trade, Energy and Global Conflicts Top the Agenda on PM's Norway Visit
PM Modi's visit to Oslo — the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Norway in 43 years — serves a dual purpose: deepening ties with an energy powerhouse and convening the 3rd India-Nordic Summit with Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
Key Highlights of the Visit
A. Bilateral focus with Norway
- G2G agreements: Three pivotal MoUs on health cooperation, digital public infrastructure and space ties.
- Commercial energy pacts: At least 18 B2B MoUs, mainly in energy, following a 15-year LNG supply agreement with Equinor.
- Sovereign wealth investments: India is pitching for greater capital from the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global — the world's largest sovereign wealth fund.
B. Diplomatic recognition from Sweden
- En route, PM Modi held talks with Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson on defence, technology and trade.
- He was conferred Sweden's 'Royal Order of the Polar Star' (Commander Grand Cross), signalling an upgrade in India-Sweden strategic ties.
Strategic Significance for India
- Energy & the Arctic frontier: A diversified, long-term energy pipeline strengthens India's engagement with the Arctic Council, where it holds Observer status and runs the Himadri research station.
- EFTA alignment: Boosting modest $19 billion trade aligns with operationalising the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement.
- Green Strategic Partnership: Cooperation on green hydrogen, offshore wind and sustainable shipping edges India toward its Net Zero 2070 target.
Complex Diplomatic Balancing Acts
Tightropes the summit requires India to walk
- The Russia-Ukraine equation: Nordic states (especially NATO members Finland and Sweden) view Russia as an existential threat — India must articulate its independent stance amid expiring U.S. sanctions waivers on Russian oil.
- The West Asia conundrum: Discussions on Gaza require balancing ties with Israel against energy interests in Iran.
- Overcoming regional tensions: Reviving a summit cancelled last year shows India's resolve to decouple global diplomacy from neighbourhood frictions.
The Nordic Bloc and India's Footprint
| Country | Key Area of Synergy | Recent Developments |
|---|---|---|
| Norway | Blue economy, LNG/energy, sovereign wealth funds | 15-year LNG deal with Equinor; MoUs on space & DPI |
| Sweden | Defence (Gripen/Saab), innovation, urban mobility | 'Royal Order of the Polar Star' conferred on PM Modi |
| Denmark | Green Strategic Partnership, wind energy, water | Joint action plan on wind power and waste-to-energy |
| Finland | 5G/6G telecom, quantum computing, education | Deeper collaboration in high-tech research |
| Iceland | Geothermal energy, food processing, tourism | Collaboration on geothermal clean-energy technology |
The Nordic outreach reflects a pragmatic shift — moving beyond traditional European power centres to cultivate specialised partnerships with smaller, technologically advanced democracies. Though differences over Russia will persist, convergence on the green transition, digital infrastructure and energy diversification provides a resilient foundation for India's sustainable development goals.
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA), with which India has signed a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, comprises which group of countries?
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Examine the strategic significance of Norway for India's energy security and Arctic policy. (150 Words)
India, Netherlands Upgrade Bilateral Ties and Sign 17 Pacts
In The Hague, PM Modi and newly elected Dutch PM Rob Jetten elevated India-Netherlands relations to a Strategic Partnership, signing 17 agreements across high-tech manufacturing, renewable energy and traditional domains — even as friction surfaced over Dutch remarks on domestic governance and press freedoms.
Structural Pillars of the New Partnership
A. The "WAH" agenda — Water, Agriculture, Health
- Water management: Scaling the existing Strategic Partnership on Water into delta management, flood control and river rejuvenation using Dutch engineering.
- Agriculture: New Centres of Excellence for smart farming, cold-chain logistics and food safety.
- Health: Collaborative genomic research, digital health infrastructure and pandemic preparedness.
B. Deep-tech & semiconductors — the TATA-ASML deal
- The crown jewel of the 17 pacts is an agreement between TATA Electronics and ASML, the global leader in photolithography equipment.
- ASML will supply cutting-edge lithography solutions and help develop local talent for Tata's upcoming 300 mm semiconductor fabrication facility in Dholera, Gujarat.
C. Critical minerals & energy resiliency
- A framework for securing critical-mineral supply chains essential to India's clean-energy goals.
- Joint investment plans for green hydrogen, biofuels and green shipping corridors.
Geopolitical Significance for India
- Gateway to Europe: The Netherlands is India's logistical commercial gateway to continental Europe and a major FDI source — anchoring the broader India-EU FTA talks.
- De-risking supply chains: Partnerships in critical tech (ASML) and minerals reduce vulnerabilities, advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.
Friction Points: Values vs. Sovereignty
Managing the diplomatic clash
- Clash of values: The Dutch PM raised concerns over press freedoms and minority rights.
- India's pushback: The MEA characterised such concerns as a "lack of understanding," asserting India's status as a robust, organic democracy and favouring direct bilateral channels over public commentary.
- Transnational legal tangles: Individual cases such as a child-custody dispute were handled through standard diplomatic protocol as sub judice.
The upgrade underscores the maturity of modern Indian foreign policy — its capacity to separate hard-nosed economic and technology acquisition from unavoidable friction over internal political matters. Both nations must decouple transactional gains from ideological differences, managing friction through institutional backchannels rather than media briefings.
ASML, recently in the news for an agreement with Tata Electronics, is globally recognised as a leader in:
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The India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership reflects the growing importance of issue-based diplomacy in contemporary international relations. Discuss. (150 Words)
Return of Chola-era Copper Plates Should Spark Further Repatriations
The Netherlands formally repatriated the Chola-era Anaimangalam copper plates — the Leiden copper plates — held by Leiden University for nearly two centuries. Archaeologists view the return as a watershed moment that sets a precedent for reclaiming other Indian antiquities housed in Western museums.
The Two Charters
A. The Larger Charter (Rajendra Chola I)
- The vow: Raja Raja Chola I (985–1014 CE) committed a land grant at Anaimangalam near Nagapattinam to a Buddhist monastery; his son Rajendra Chola I institutionalised it.
- Composition: 21 large plates held by a massive ring — five in Sanskrit (Chola genealogy) and 16 in Tamil (local administration and boundaries).
B. The Smaller Charter (Kulottunga Chola I)
- Three small Tamil plates issued later by Kulottunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE).
- Records additional land grants and 4,500 kalam of paddy to the same monastery, initiated after emissaries arrived from the Javanese kingdom.
Socio-Cultural & Political Dimensions
Proof of pluralism and the imperial insignia
- Religious pluralism: Though devout Saivites, the Cholas funded the Chulamanivarma Vihara, a Buddhist monastery built by a Srivijaya (Java) king — evidence of a cosmopolitan, secular state.
- Tragic colonial loss: The Vihara's tower was demolished in 1867 by Jesuit priests with colonial Madras government permission.
- Imperial seal: The bronze ring bears a Tiger (Chola emblem), with the Pandya Fish and Chera Bow placed below to signal Chola suzerainty, plus the royal parasol and other symbols.
Significance for Indian Heritage & Diplomacy
- Boost to repatriation: Reclaiming an entire institutional state record expands the scope of what India can demand under frameworks like the 1970 UNESCO Convention.
- Cultural soft power: The return was tied to the India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership upgrade — integrating cultural diplomacy into hard economic ties.
- Maritime geohistory: Records of Tamil Nadu–Srivijaya links reinforce India's historical role as an anchor of Indo-Pacific trade.
Next Steps in Antiquity Reclamation
What India should target next
- The Velvikkudi copper plates: Issued by the Pandya ruler Parantaka Nedunchadaiyan (765–815 CE) and held by the British Museum — a prime candidate for the next repatriation push.
- Legal obstacles: Statutes like the British Museum Act 1963 forbid de-accessioning — so India must rely on sustained bilateral negotiation, not legal battles alone.
The return of the Leiden copper plates is a monumental victory for India's historical preservation, bridging a centuries-old gap left by colonial displacement. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Archaeological Survey of India must build on this precedent, transforming repatriation from sporadic gestures into a systematised, institutionalised policy.
The Chulamanivarma Vihara, mentioned in the Leiden copper plates, was associated with:
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Examine the role of the Chola Empire in shaping India's maritime and cultural links with Southeast Asia. (150 Words)
Diversification Gains: India Needs to Improve Export Competitiveness
India's merchandise exports grew 14% year-on-year to $43.6 billion in April 2026 — a dual product of price realisations and aggressive geographic diversification. Yet contractions in West Asia and AI-driven structural shifts underline that lasting stability needs deeper reforms in cost, scale and quality.
Core Drivers of the Export Surge
A. Geographic diversification — the "New Pathway" strategy
- Expanding footprints: At least 20 key export sectors penetrated 17 or more new country destinations over the past year.
- The niche push: Indian handloom products reached 29 additional nations versus the 2024-25 baseline — small volumes, but vital long-term pipelines.
B. Resilience in core merchandise sectors
- Growth pillars: Engineering goods, petroleum products, electronics, drugs & pharmaceuticals and chemicals all performed strongly.
- Healthy non-oil matrix: Stripping out volatile petroleum, non-oil exports grew 9% to roughly $40 billion.
- Narrowing the deficit: Export growth outpaced import growth (9.9%), stabilising the Current Account Deficit.
Emerging Structural Vulnerabilities
Headwinds beneath the headline numbers
- West Asia crisis: Exports to the region contracted sharply by 28% in April; imports fell 32% — gains in new markets cannot yet fully offset the loss.
- Gold import surge: Gold imports skyrocketed 82%, draining foreign exchange and prompting duty hikes and appeals to curb consumption.
- The AI threat matrix: Services now command a 49% share of exports (up from 39% in 2014) — Generative AI automating routine IT/BPM work is a new vulnerability.
The Path to Global Contendership: Cost, Scale, Quality
- Cost competitiveness: High logistics costs must fall — fully implementing the National Logistics Policy and expanding dedicated freight corridors.
- Scale — the factory deficit: MSME-dominated manufacturing lacks East Asian mega-factory scale; PLI schemes must expand across high-volume sectors.
- Quality & standards: Adopting zero-defect processes and meeting strict SPS and technical standards is vital to win regulated EU and US markets.
April 2026 proves that diversifying export markets and securing new FTAs delivers tangible results. But high gold imports, West Asia shocks and IT-sector disruption show external trade remains vulnerable. True structural stability requires a concerted national effort to optimise manufacturing costs, scale up capacity and elevate product quality.
In the context of international trade, "Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures" primarily relate to:
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"India's recent export resilience masks deeper supply-side weaknesses in cost, scale and quality." Critically examine in the light of the April 2026 trade data. (150 Words)
Oslo Summit Must Mark India's Northward Turn
PM Modi's participation in the 3rd India-Nordic Summit marks a foundational shift toward Northern Europe. Against the Russia-Ukraine war, the NATO accession of Finland and Sweden and accelerating polar ice melt, the Arctic has transformed from a scientific sanctuary into a critical arena of global resource competition.
The Transformed Arctic Geopolitical Landscape
The most dramatic realignment since the Cold War
- NATO-ization of the High North: With Finland and Sweden in NATO, Russia is the Arctic Council's sole non-NATO member — a deep fracture in polar governance.
- The Sino-Russian polar alliance: Facing Western isolation, Russia has expanded Arctic cooperation with China on shipping corridors and energy.
- Contested strategic spaces: The Arctic now sees underwater mapping, satellite surveillance of subsea cables and competitive infrastructure near chokepoints.
The Indian Stakes: Why the Arctic Matters
A. The monsoon-polar linkage (ecological urgency)
- The Arctic is warming over three times faster than the global average.
- Ice loss in the Barents-Kara Sea is linked to unpredictability in India's summer monsoon — the backbone of its food security — while rising seas threaten India's coastline.
B. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) & trade logistics
- Retreating ice is making the NSR along Russia's coast increasingly navigable, cutting East Asia–Europe transit by roughly 40% versus the Suez route.
- Linking the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor to Murmansk and Nordic ports could build a resilient supply chain bypassing the Malacca Strait and Red Sea.
Key Imperatives for India's "Northward Turn"
- Ice-class maritime infrastructure: Build a domestic fleet of at least five Arctic-capable, ice-class tankers by 2030-31 under the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy.
- A Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs: Unlike China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, India lacks a dedicated high-level Arctic representative.
- Co-development of clean technology: Partner with Nordic leaders in green hydrogen and offshore wind to manufacture locally under Make in India.
- Securing critical minerals: Leverage Sweden's iron ore and rare earths and Denmark's links to Greenland to diversify away from China.
Strategic Autonomy in the High North
Navigating the Western-Russia divide
- India's polar engagement with the Nordic states and its energy partnership with Russia are not a zero-sum game.
- A balanced, multi-aligned framework lets India work with Russia on energy transit via Murmansk while collaborating with the Nordic Five on green shipping and deep-tech innovation.
The 2026 Oslo Summit is a timely reminder that geography is no longer a barrier to geopolitical relevance. By building ice-class maritime infrastructure, establishing an "Arctic-Himalaya Climate Data Corridor" and taking a proactive stance on polar governance, India can execute its "Northward Turn" — elevating Nordic engagement into a long-term, consequential strategic partnership.
With reference to India and the Arctic Council, consider the following statements:
- India is a permanent member of the Arctic Council with voting rights.
- India operates a research station named Himadri in the Arctic region.
- The Arctic Council includes Russia among its member states.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Click to reveal answer
Analyze the strategic significance of the Arctic region for India's climate security, maritime connectivity and energy interests. (250 Words)
