Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Dunes)
Now shines on the UNESCO Tentative List of World Natural Heritage Sites! 🌍👏
A breathtaking natural wonder from India, finally receiving the global recognition it deserves.
Now shines on the UNESCO Tentative List of World Natural Heritage Sites! 🌍👏
A breathtaking natural wonder from India, finally receiving the global recognition it deserves.
Supreme Court’s Interim Order on Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025
Context
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, passed in April, was challenged by nearly 65 petitions.
Petitioners included leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), Mahua Moitra (TMC), Manoj Jha (RJD), YSRCP, CPI, etc.
They argued the law violated Article 26 (right to manage religious affairs).
Supreme Court’s Key Directions (Stay Orders)
1. District Collector’s Powers (Section 3C)
Stayed: Provision that removed Waqf status of a property as soon as inquiry begins.
Stayed: Collector’s power to directly alter revenue/Waqf records.
Directed: Waqf status continues during inquiry; no dispossession but no third-party rights until Tribunal decides.
2. Non-Muslim Representation
Cap imposed:
Central Waqf Council (22 members) → Max 4 non-Muslims
State Waqf Boards (11 members) → Max 3 non-Muslims
3. Five-Year Practice of Islam Rule
Stayed: Mandatory proof of practising Islam for 5 years to create Waqf.
Condition: Stay remains till government frames rules for verification mechanism.
What Was NOT Stayed
1. Abolition of ‘Waqf by Use’
The concept allowing land used for religious purposes over time to be deemed Waqf is abolished.
Court saw no prima facie reason to stay this.
2. Applicability of Limitation Act
Claims for encroachment must now be filed within a fixed period.
Court upheld this as removing earlier discrimination.
Significance
Interim relief ensures Waqf properties retain protection during legal proceedings.
Maintains status quo while balancing community rights with state powers.
Final decision pending after detailed hearings.
Context
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, passed in April, was challenged by nearly 65 petitions.
Petitioners included leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), Mahua Moitra (TMC), Manoj Jha (RJD), YSRCP, CPI, etc.
They argued the law violated Article 26 (right to manage religious affairs).
Supreme Court’s Key Directions (Stay Orders)
1. District Collector’s Powers (Section 3C)
Stayed: Provision that removed Waqf status of a property as soon as inquiry begins.
Stayed: Collector’s power to directly alter revenue/Waqf records.
Directed: Waqf status continues during inquiry; no dispossession but no third-party rights until Tribunal decides.
2. Non-Muslim Representation
Cap imposed:
Central Waqf Council (22 members) → Max 4 non-Muslims
State Waqf Boards (11 members) → Max 3 non-Muslims
3. Five-Year Practice of Islam Rule
Stayed: Mandatory proof of practising Islam for 5 years to create Waqf.
Condition: Stay remains till government frames rules for verification mechanism.
What Was NOT Stayed
1. Abolition of ‘Waqf by Use’
The concept allowing land used for religious purposes over time to be deemed Waqf is abolished.
Court saw no prima facie reason to stay this.
2. Applicability of Limitation Act
Claims for encroachment must now be filed within a fixed period.
Court upheld this as removing earlier discrimination.
Significance
Interim relief ensures Waqf properties retain protection during legal proceedings.
Maintains status quo while balancing community rights with state powers.
Final decision pending after detailed hearings.
❤5
Master the Waqf Amendment Act 2025 and other reforms – it’s more than law, it’s a game-changer for Polity (GS Paper-II).
Stay ahead with updated key judgments and boost your exam preparation.
Stay ahead with updated key judgments and boost your exam preparation.
❤3
Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)
Key Features
Provides an assured pension of 50% of the average basic pay of the last 12 months before retirement (requires minimum 25 years of service).
Spouse benefit: After the pensioner’s death, the spouse gets 60% of the pension.
Minimum guaranteed pension: ₹10,000 per month after 10 years of service.
Government contribution: 8.5% of basic pay + DA to a pool corpus.
Offers a lump sum payment of 1/10th of last basic + DA for every completed 6 months of service.
Employees dismissed from service are not eligible for assured payout.
UPS vs NPS
UPS is optional, whereas NPS is mandatory for employees who joined service after January 1, 2004.
Under UPS, employee and employer each contribute 10% of basic pay + DA.
Under NPS, employee contributes 10%, employer 14%, but the final pension is market-linked (no assured amount).
UPS offers an assured monthly payout, while NPS depends on the accumulated corpus.
UPS allows employees to switch back to NPS once before retirement or VRS, but not vice versa.
Why Adoption Is Low
Many employees still prefer the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), which required no employee contribution and gave 50% of the last drawn basic + DA as pension.
Skepticism about UPS benefits compared to OPS.
Government is trying to spread awareness — deadline to opt is September 30, 2025, but only about 40,000 of 23.94 lakh eligible employees have chosen UPS so far.
Key Features
Provides an assured pension of 50% of the average basic pay of the last 12 months before retirement (requires minimum 25 years of service).
Spouse benefit: After the pensioner’s death, the spouse gets 60% of the pension.
Minimum guaranteed pension: ₹10,000 per month after 10 years of service.
Government contribution: 8.5% of basic pay + DA to a pool corpus.
Offers a lump sum payment of 1/10th of last basic + DA for every completed 6 months of service.
Employees dismissed from service are not eligible for assured payout.
UPS vs NPS
UPS is optional, whereas NPS is mandatory for employees who joined service after January 1, 2004.
Under UPS, employee and employer each contribute 10% of basic pay + DA.
Under NPS, employee contributes 10%, employer 14%, but the final pension is market-linked (no assured amount).
UPS offers an assured monthly payout, while NPS depends on the accumulated corpus.
UPS allows employees to switch back to NPS once before retirement or VRS, but not vice versa.
Why Adoption Is Low
Many employees still prefer the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), which required no employee contribution and gave 50% of the last drawn basic + DA as pension.
Skepticism about UPS benefits compared to OPS.
Government is trying to spread awareness — deadline to opt is September 30, 2025, but only about 40,000 of 23.94 lakh eligible employees have chosen UPS so far.
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