UPSC Mains Current Affairs for 9 May 2026

EC Appointment Process Debate

May 9, 2026

EC Appointment Process Latest News

The Supreme Court of India has criticised Parliament’s long delay in enacting a law governing appointments to the Election Commission of India, describing it as a “tyranny of the elected.”
The SC bench was hearing petitions challenging the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.
The law replaced the Chief Justice of India with a Union Cabinet minister in the selection panel for appointing Election Commissioners.
The issue gained further attention when Leader of Opposition formally dissented during the appointment process of current Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, urging the government to wait for the Court’s decision on the legality of the new system.

How Election Commissioners Are Appointed

Article 324(2) of the Constitution states that the appointment of Election Commissioners should be made according to a law enacted by Parliament.
Although the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991 regulated salaries, tenure, and functioning of the Commission, it did not prescribe any appointment procedure.

Executive-Controlled Appointment Process

In the absence of a parliamentary law, appointments remained effectively under the control of the executive. Traditionally:
- the Union Law Ministry prepared a panel of names,
- the Prime Minister recommended candidates, and
- the President formally made the appointments.
Most Election Commissioners were senior bureaucrats, and the senior-most Election Commissioner usually became the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

Challenge Before the Supreme Court

In Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2022), petitioners argued that the existing system gave excessive control to the government of the day, threatening the independence of the Election Commission of India.
During the hearings, former IAS officer Arun Goel was appointed as Election Commissioner in a process reportedly completed within a single day.
The apex court expressed surprise over the speed of the appointment and questioned Parliament’s prolonged silence on establishing a transparent appointment mechanism.

Supreme Court’s 2023 Anoop Baranwal Ruling

In this case, the Supreme Court of India established an interim procedure for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) until Parliament enacted a dedicated law.
The Court directed that appointments should be made by the President on the advice of a three-member committee comprising:
- the Prime Minister,
- the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha (or leader of the largest opposition party), and
- the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
The judgment also broadened the understanding of voting rights, holding that the right to vote flows from the Constitution and that casting a vote forms part of freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a).

Ensuring Independence of the Election Commission

The ruling emphasised that free and fair elections require an independent Election Commission of India insulated from executive influence.
The Court referred to Constituent Assembly debates and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s warning that election authorities should not come “under the thumb of the executive.”
The Court described the Election Commission as a “guardian of democracy” and stressed that those supervising elections must function impartially, independently, and honestly.

Call for Institutional Reforms

The Supreme Court urged Parliament to strengthen the Election Commission institutionally and financially by:
- creating an independent secretariat, and
- charging its expenditure to the Consolidated Fund of India.
The Court warned that financial dependence on the executive could indirectly compromise the Commission’s independence.

What the 2023 Law on Election Commission Appointments Provides

Following the Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India judgment, Parliament enacted the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.
The law replaced the Chief Justice of India in the selection committee with a Union Cabinet minister nominated by the Prime Minister.

Executive Dominance in the Panel

Under the new arrangement, the three-member selection committee consists of:
- the Prime Minister,
- a Union Cabinet minister nominated by the PM, and
- the Leader of Opposition.
This effectively gives the executive representation in two out of three seats.
Further, under Section 7(2), the Act ensures that an appointment “shall not be invalid merely by reason of any vacancy in or any defect in the constitution of the Selection Committee.”
The Act creates a two-stage appointment process:
- a search committee headed by the Law Minister prepares a panel of names, and
- the selection committee makes the final choice.
However, the law allows the selection committee to choose “any other person” meeting eligibility conditions, even outside the search committee’s shortlist.
Critics argue this grants broad discretion and reduces the significance of the formal search process.

Legal Challenge to the 2023 Law

The law was challenged in 2024 by petitioners including Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The petitions argue that the law restores executive dominance over appointments and weakens the independence of the Election Commission of India.

Source: IE

EC Appointment Process FAQs

Q1: What is the EC appointment process in India?

Ans: The EC appointment process currently involves a selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet minister, and the Leader of Opposition.

Q2: Why is the EC appointment process controversial?

Ans: The EC appointment process is criticised for giving the executive dominance in selecting Election Commissioners, raising concerns about institutional independence and neutrality.

Q3: What did the Supreme Court say about the EC appointment process?

Ans: The Supreme Court questioned Parliament’s delay in framing appointment laws and warned against excessive executive control over the Election Commission.

Q4: What was the Anoop Baranwal judgment on EC appointment process?

Ans: The Anoop Baranwal judgment proposed an interim selection committee including the Chief Justice of India to ensure independence in the EC appointment process.

Q5: Why was the 2023 law challenged in the EC appointment process debate?

Ans: The 2023 law was challenged because it removed the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel, increasing executive influence over appointments.

Tagore Gandhi Charkha Debate

May 9, 2026

Charkha Latest News

Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi shared a close friendship for nearly three decades, but they also differed sharply on several political and social questions. One of their most significant debates centred on the charkha, or spinning wheel.
While Gandhi viewed spinning as a symbol of self-reliance, discipline, and national regeneration, Tagore was uncomfortable with the idea that every Indian must adopt it as a moral duty.
Their disagreement reflected deeper philosophical differences on nationalism, individual freedom, and the direction of India’s freedom movement.

The Gandhi–Tagore Intellectual Conflict

Jawaharlal Nehru once remarked that few people differed as profoundly as Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore.
Despite mutual respect and friendship, their contrasting worldviews made ideological conflict almost inevitable.
The first major differences emerged in 1915 when Gandhi visited Shantiniketan after returning from South Africa. They differed on issues such as nationalism, education, and political strategy.

Debates Over Nationalism and Protest

Their disagreements widened after the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement, while Tagore feared that mass political mobilisation could encourage blind nationalism.
Instead of joining the movement, Tagore renounced his British knighthood in protest against colonial repression.

Differences on Religion and Social Reform

The two leaders also clashed over Gandhi’s interpretation of the 1934 Bihar earthquake as divine punishment for untouchability.
Tagore rejected linking natural disasters with moral or religious explanations, arguing against associating cosmic events with ethical judgments.

Contrasting Philosophies

Historians have described Gandhi and Tagore as representing contrasting ideals:
- Gandhi as the ascetic, nationalist, and mass mobiliser
- Tagore as the artist, internationalist, and individualist thinker
Their debates reflected deeper disagreements on politics, spirituality, nationalism, and the future direction of Indian society.

The Gandhi–Tagore Debate on the Charkha

Rabindranath Tagore strongly opposed what he viewed as the “cult of the charkha” and the growing moral pressure surrounding the khadi movement promoted by Mahatma Gandhi.
In 1924, Gandhi and Congress leaders resolved that party members should wear khadi at political functions and contribute hand-spun yarn every month. Gandhi believed spinning would promote self-reliance and morally discipline Congress workers.
Tagore criticised the movement in his essay The Cult of the Charkha, arguing that it encouraged blind obedience and suppressed individual freedom and diversity.
He feared Indians were being pushed into uniformity under moral pressure from revered leaders.

Concerns About Mechanical Labour

Tagore believed repetitive spinning involved “muscles and not the mind,” reducing creative and intellectual engagement.
He argued that turning spinning into a ritual diluted its original purpose of helping the poor secure clothing.
Tagore rejected the idea of withdrawing from science and modern technology.
Using the examples of Sparta and Athens, he argued that societies flourish through openness, creativity, and intellectual development rather than rigid uniformity.

Gandhi’s Defence of the Charkha

In response, Gandhi defended the spinning wheel in The Poet and the Charkha, arguing that Tagore misunderstood its social and ethical value.
Gandhi believed spinning connected people with the struggles of the poor and restored dignity to manual labour.
For Gandhi, the charkha represented more than cloth production.
It symbolised self-reliance, cooperation, rural upliftment, and resistance to exploitative industrial systems, while still allowing limited use of machinery where necessary.

Tagore’s Uneasy Dissent on the Charkha

Rabindranath Tagore was not opposed to the charkha as a practical means of helping people meet basic clothing needs.
However, he was uncomfortable with the central moral and political importance it acquired in Mahatma Gandhi’s programme.
Despite his disagreements, Tagore expressed them with reluctance and respect, admitting that opposing Gandhi on principles or methods was personally painful for him, even though he believed intellectual disagreement was legitimate.

Source: IE

Charkha FAQs

Q1: What was the Tagore Gandhi charkha debate about?

Ans: The Tagore Gandhi charkha debate centred on Gandhi’s promotion of spinning and khadi, which Tagore viewed as excessive moral and political conformity

Q2: Why did Tagore oppose the charkha movement?

Ans: In the Tagore Gandhi charkha debate, Tagore feared the movement encouraged blind obedience, mechanical labour, and suppression of creativity and individual freedom.

Q3: How did Gandhi defend the charkha in the debate?

Ans: In the Tagore Gandhi charkha debate, Gandhi argued the spinning wheel promoted self-reliance, dignity of labour, rural upliftment, and national regeneration.

Q4: What broader issues emerged in the Tagore Gandhi charkha debate?

Ans: The Tagore Gandhi charkha debate reflected wider disagreements on nationalism, technology, spirituality, political mobilisation, and India’s future development path.

Q5: Did Tagore completely reject the charkha in the debate?

Ans: The Tagore Gandhi charkha debate did not involve total rejection, as Tagore accepted its practical value but opposed its elevated moral symbolism.

NITI Aayog Report on School Education – Dropout Crisis and Policy Reforms

May 9, 2026

School Education Latest News

NITI Aayog has released a comprehensive report highlighting India's school education challenges, including sharp dropout rates after Class 10, weak learning outcomes, teacher shortages, and fragmented school structures.

Overview of India's School Education System

India's school education system is one of the largest in the world, comprising 14.71 lakh schools serving 24.69 crore students.
While the country has achieved near-universal enrolment at the primary level, the system continues to face deep structural problems affecting quality, retention, and learning outcomes.
The new NITI Aayog report titled "School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for Quality Enhancement" draws on data from UDISE+, PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2017 and 2021, and the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024.

Key Findings of the NITI Aayog Report

The Pyramid Problem: Fragmented School Structure
- India's school system resembles a sharp pyramid rather than a continuous structure.
- While the country has 7.3 lakh primary schools (Classes 1-5), the number drops drastically to 1.64 lakh higher secondary schools (Classes 11-12).
- Only about 5% of schools offer continuous education from Grade 1 to Grade 12.
- This fragmentation forces students to change schools multiple times, after Class 5, Class 8, and Class 10, contributing to poor retention and high attrition rates.
Sharp Dropout Rates After Elementary Education
- While primary-level dropout has fallen to just 0.3%, it rises to 3.5% at the upper primary level and jumps to 11.5% at the secondary stage.
- The report notes that four out of every ten children who enter the system drop out before completing higher secondary education.
- The transition from secondary (Classes 9-10) to higher secondary (Classes 11-12) remains a critical point of attrition.
- Although the national transition rate improved from 67.7% in 2014-15 to 75.1% in 2024-25, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at the higher secondary level stands at only 58.4% nationally.
- States like Bihar (38.1%), Meghalaya (39.7%), Nagaland (39.8%), and Assam (43.5%) report the lowest GER at this level.
- The report identifies financial constraints, early workforce entry, and social pressures as key factors impeding progression beyond Class 10.
- The Right to Education Act guarantees free education only until age 14, leaving families to bear costs for older children.
Weak Learning Outcomes
- Despite rising enrolment, learning outcomes remain a serious concern.
- Reading proficiency among Grade 8 students has declined, from 74.7% in 2014 to 71.1% in 2024, for students who could read a Grade 2 text.
- In mathematics, only 45.8% of Grade 8 students can solve a basic division problem.
- Even private schools, often perceived as offering better education, show weak outcomes.
- The report found that 35% of Class 5 students in low-fee private schools cannot read a Class 2 textbook, while 60% are unable to solve a basic division problem.
Teacher Shortages and Single-Teacher Schools
- India has approximately 1.01 crore teachers, but significant shortfalls persist, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
- Bihar alone has over 2.08 lakh vacancies at the elementary level, besides 36,035 vacancies in secondary schools and 33,035 in senior secondary schools. Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka also report large shortages.
- Around 1.04 lakh schools, over 7% of all schools, operate with just one teacher, who must handle multiple grades while managing administrative duties and mid-day meals.
- Nearly 14% of planned teaching days are lost to non-academic work such as elections and surveys.
Weak Teacher Preparation
- Data from NITI Aayog's SATH-E programme found that many teachers score below 60-70% in subject papers of the grades they teach.
- Only 10-15% of candidates appearing for CTET and State TETs score above the 60% qualifying threshold. Average marks in primary-level mathematics hover around just 46%.
Infrastructure Gaps
- According to UDISE+ 2024-25, 1.19 lakh schools lack access to functional electricity. While 99% of schools now have drinking water facilities, 14,505 schools still lack functional water sources, and nearly 59,829 lack handwashing facilities.
- More than one-third of schools have fewer than 50 students, operating with minimal infrastructure and staff.
- Additionally, 7,993 schools reported zero student enrolment, with the highest numbers in West Bengal (3,812) and Telangana (2,245).
Shift Toward Private Schools
- Government school enrolment has fallen from 71% in 2005 to 49.24% in 2024-25, while private schools now account for 44.01% of all secondary institutions.
- Parents increasingly perceive private schools as offering better discipline, English-medium instruction, and employability.
- However, the report criticises the weak regulation of private schools, noting that many low-fee institutions lack proper infrastructure, trained teachers, and oversight.

NITI Aayog's Recommendations

Cylindrical Schooling Model
- The report recommends shifting from the current pyramidal structure to a cylindrical model built around composite schools offering education from Grades 1 to 12 under one roof.
- This would reduce unnecessary transitions and support smoother academic progression.
Foundational Learning Over Textbook Completion
- NITI Aayog calls for a shift from "textbook completion to foundational mastery," recommending that children be taught at their actual learning level rather than strictly by grade.
Teacher Reforms
- The report recommends that professional development move beyond occasional lecture-based sessions toward sustained, practice-centred learning.
- It proposes structured career pathways, from senior to master to mentor-teacher roles, and urges that teachers be freed from non-teaching duties.
Balanced AI Integration
- While advocating for AI literacy from upper primary onwards, the report cautions against overuse.
- It recommends that AI should assist teachers rather than replace them and calls for ethical frameworks and age-appropriate safeguards to sustain learners' creativity and independent thinking.
Sushikshit Bharat Abhiyaan
- Framing reforms as part of a proposed "Sushikshit Bharat Abhiyaan", NITI Aayog emphasises that piecemeal reforms will no longer suffice.
- "Incremental change will not be sufficient; meeting the aspirations of a resurgent India will demand a system-wide transformation of school education," the report states.

Source: TH | Print

School Education FAQs

Q1: How many schools and students does India's school system currently have?

Ans: India has 14.71 lakh schools serving 24.69 crore students.

Q2: What is the dropout rate at the secondary level in India?

Ans: The dropout rate at the secondary stage (Classes 9-10) is 11.5%.

Q3: What percentage of schools offer continuous education from Grade 1 to 12?

Ans: Only about 5% of schools in India offer continuous schooling from Grades 1 to 12.

Q4: What is the cylindrical schooling model recommended by NITI Aayog?

Ans: It involves creating composite schools that cover Grades 1-12 under one roof to reduce transitions and improve retention.

Q5: What are the key concerns regarding learning outcomes?

Ans: Reading proficiency has declined, and only 45.8% of Grade 8 students can solve a basic division problem.