11 May 2026 Current Affairs (With PDF)

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Doctrine of Essential Religious Practices

During the Sabarimala Temple Entry Case reference hearing, the Supreme Court of India examined the balance between individual religious freedoms and denominational rights under the Essential Religious Practices (ERP) Doctrine.

What is the ERP Doctrine?

The Doctrine of Essential Religious Practices (ERP) is a judicial principle evolved by the Supreme Court to determine which religious practices receive constitutional protection under:

• Article 25 → Freedom of religion
• Article 26 → Rights of religious denominations

The doctrine helps courts distinguish:

• Essential religious practices → Protected
• Secular or non-essential activities → Regulated by the State

Constitutional Basis

• Article 25: Guarantees Freedom of conscience & Right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion However, this right is subject to Public order, Morality, Health, Other Fundamental Rights
• Article 26: Provides religious denominations the right to Manage religious affairs, Own property and Administer institutions

Origin of the Doctrine

• Shirur Mutt Case (Commissioner, Hindu Religious Endowments v. Sri Lakshmindra Thirtha Swamiar): Supreme Court held that Religion includes rituals, ceremonies, and practices integral to a faith.
• Courts may determine whether a practice is essential to religion.
• This case laid the foundation of the ERP doctrine.

Essentiality Test

A practice is considered “essential” only if:

1. It is fundamental to the religion
2. It is mandated by foundational religious texts or doctrines
3. Its removal would fundamentally alter the religion’s identity or character

What is NOT Protected?

The State can regulate:

• Economic activities
• Commercial practices
• Political activities
• Secular administration linked to religion

because they are not treated as essential religious practices.

Key Supreme Court Judgments on ERP

1. Sri Adi Visheshwara Case

• The Court distinguished Religious functions → Protected & Secular/administrative temple functions → Regulated by State

2. Acharya Jagadisharananda Avadhuta Case

• The Court clarified that A practice is essential only if its absence fundamentally changes the religion.

3. Shayara Bano v. Union of India

• The Supreme Court held Triple talaq is not an essential practice in Islam
• Its removal does not alter the core character of the religion

Examples of Practices Held Non-Essential

The Court has ruled that the following are not essential religious practices:

• Triple talaq
• Cow sacrifice on Bakrid
• Public Tandava dance performances

Criticisms of the ERP Doctrine

1. Judicial Overreach

• Critics argue courts effectively become Interpreters of theology and Arbiters of religious doctrine

2. Lack of Clear Standards

• Determining “essentiality” is subjective and inconsistent across cases.

3. Threat to Religious Autonomy

• Religious groups argue that courts, not believers, decide what constitutes their faith.

4. Reform vs Freedom Debate

• ERP is often criticised for prioritising Social reform over Religious autonomy

Significance of the Doctrine

• Balance religious freedom with constitutional morality
• Address discriminatory practices
• Protect reform-oriented constitutional values such as Equality, Dignity, Gender justice

UNCTAD Report on Impact of Non-Tariff Measures

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development published its latest Global Trade Update titled Invisible Barriers: The Costs of Non-Tariff Measures.

What are Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs)?

• NTMs are policy measures other than customs tariffs that influence international trade by affecting the quantity, price, or conditions of imports and exports.
• They may be regulatory, administrative, technical, or procedural in nature.

Key Findings of the Report

• NTMs impose higher export costs than tariffs in 88% of countries.
• Least Developed Countries (LDCs) lose nearly 10% of exports to G20 markets because of complex compliance requirements.
• The agricultural sector faces the highest burden, followed by manufacturing and natural resources.
• Lack of transparency in regulations creates “hidden trade barriers.”

Major Types of NTMs

1. Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)

• Product standards, labelling, packaging, certification requirements.
• Example: safety or quality standards for electronics.

2. Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures

• Health and safety regulations related to food, plants, and animals.
• Example: pesticide residue limits on agricultural imports.

3. Export-Related Measures

• Export restrictions, licensing rules, quotas, or inspection norms.

Important Observation

• Failure to notify regulations to the World Trade Organization creates hidden trade costs equivalent to a 28% tariff.
• Improving regulatory transparency could reduce NTM-related trade costs by nearly 20%.

Recommendations by UNCTAD

• Create a unified digital transparency framework for trade regulations.
• Promote harmonisation of international standards.
• Provide technical assistance to developing countries for compliance with global standards.

Significance for India

• Indian agricultural and MSME exports often face SPS and TBT barriers in developed markets.
• Better compliance systems, digital certification, and standard harmonisation can improve India’s export competitiveness.
• NTMs are becoming increasingly important as global tariffs decline under free trade agreements.

Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme

The Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme achieved 100% utilisation of its approved budget and surpassed its target of establishing 4.02 lakh new micro-enterprises.

Key Outcomes

• Around 80% of enterprises were established in rural areas.
• Nearly 40% of beneficiaries were women.

What is PMEGP?

• Launched in 2008, PMEGP merged two earlier schemes: Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana and Rural Employment Generation Programme.
• PMEGP is a Central Sector credit-linked subsidy scheme aimed at promoting self-employment through establishment of micro-enterprises.
• Covers both Rural areas and Urban areas
• Administered by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
• Implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

Objective of PMEGP

• Generate sustainable self-employment opportunities
• Promote entrepreneurship
• Create new micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector
• Reduce rural unemployment and migration

Financial Assistance Under PMEGP

• The scheme provides a Margin Money Subsidy on bank loans.
• 15% to 35% depending on category of beneficiary and rural or urban location

Eligibility Criteria

• Any individual aged 18 years or above can apply.
• Minimum qualification of Class VIII pass required for Manufacturing projects above ₹10 lakh and Service projects above ₹5 lakh

JANANI Platform

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the JANANI (Journey of Antenatal, Natal and Neonatal Integrated Care) Platform.

About JANANI

• JANANI is a service-oriented digital platform designed to comprehensively monitor and maintain digital health records of women during their reproductive age.
• It is an upgraded version of the existing Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Portal.
• Coverage Areas: Antenatal care, Delivery preparedness, Postnatal care, Newborn care, Home-Based Child Care, Family planning services
• Key Features
• Digital Mother and Child Health Cards
• Automated alerts for high-risk pregnancies
• Real-time dashboards for monitoring and supervisory review
• Integration with U-WIN and POSHAN

Kamikaze Dolphins

Reports emerged during U.S.–Iran tensions in the Strait of Hormuz alleging the possible use of “kamikaze dolphins.”

What are “Kamikaze Dolphins”?

• It is a hypothetical concept involving dolphins being trained to carry explosives for suicide-style attacks against ships or naval targets.
• There is no confirmed evidence of operational deployment in modern warfare.

What Does “Kamikaze” Mean?

• “Kamikaze” is a Japanese term meaning “divine wind.”
• It became associated with deliberate suicide attacks carried out by Japanese pilots during World War II against enemy targets.
• The term is now also used for concepts like Kamikaze drones and Suicide attacks using explosive-laden platforms

Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA)

Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Air Force successfully conducted the maiden flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon system.

About TARA

• TARA is a modular range-extension kit that can be attached to an existing unguided warhead to convert it into a precision-guided weapon.
• It has been designed and developed indigenously by DRDO.
• India’s first indigenous glide weapon system capable of transforming conventional unguided munitions into guided weapons.

New Drug for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed pancreatic cancer patients to access the drug Daraxonrasib before its formal approval process is completed.

About Daraxonrasib

• Daraxonrasib is a novel oral therapy developed for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
• It targets RAS mutations, which are among the most common genetic alterations driving cancer growth.

DRDO CBRN Field Training Centre

Defence Research and Development Organisation established a CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) Field Training Centre in Delhi.

About the Centre

• The facility has been developed under Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS).
• It aims to strengthen India’s preparedness and coordinated response to CBRN emergencies and disasters.

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