India Climbs 25 Places in Global Pro-Competition Reform Ranking

What’s the News?

India improved its position from 82nd in 2010 to 57th in 2023, advancing 25 places in the Competere Foundation’s assessment of structural and pro-competitive reforms.

The report, titled “India’s Next Growth Frontier: Reducing Anti-Competitive Market Distortions to Build on India’s 2010–2023 Reform Progress,” attributes the improvement mainly to reduced domestic market distortions, stronger competition and a more integrated business environment. It was presented at an event organised by the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT).

Market Distortions Performance Index

The Market Distortions Performance Index (MDPI) examines government-imposed or government-tolerated measures that interfere with voluntary exchange and competition.

It assesses economies through three pillars:

• Domestic Competition: Conditions governing market entry, business operations, investment and asset reallocation.
• Property Rights Protection: Contract enforcement, intellectual property rights and legal safeguards.
• International Competition: Customs procedures, cross-border trade and foreign participation.

India’s pillar scores changed as follows:

The largest improvement occurred in domestic competition, while progress in international competition remained limited.

Reform Drivers

• Goods and Services Tax: Reduced internal fiscal fragmentation and created a more unified national market.
• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code: Improved insolvency resolution, capital reallocation and exit mechanisms for unviable firms.
• Regulatory reforms: Simplified business entry and operational procedures.
• Trade facilitation modernisation:
  • Indian Customs Electronic Gateway—ICEGATE
  • Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade—SWIFT
  • Authorised Economic Operator programme
  • Direct Port Delivery and Direct Port Entry
  • Risk Management System

The report estimates that reforms reduced the projected five-year GDP-per-capita loss associated with market distortions by 11 percentage points, equivalent in its model to approximately 1% additional GDP per capita annually during the study period.

Remaining Market Distortions

The report identifies the following constraints:

• Sector-specific foreign investment caps and government approval routes.
• Sourcing, investment and ownership conditions.
• Restrictions on permissible retail and e-commerce business models.
• Regulatory uncertainty in digital competition policy.
• External sanitary, phytosanitary and technical barriers faced by Indian exporters.
• Relatively weak progress in international competition and customs-related indicators.

It estimates that foreign-investment restrictions and competition-policy distortions could impose a combined economic loss of approximately $173.6 billion over five years, or about 4.2% of GDP:

• Foreign-investment restrictions: $127.2 billion.
• Competition-policy distortions: $46.4 billion.

These are estimates produced by the report’s economic model, not official government loss calculations.

Suggested Reform Priorities

• Review sectoral investment restrictions according to their impact on productivity, entry and consumer welfare.
• Adopt the least competition-restrictive regulation required to protect legitimate public interests.
• Keep competition enforcement evidence-based, proportionate and linked to demonstrable market harm.
• Promote science-based standards, mutual recognition and regulatory equivalence in international trade.
• Address non-tariff barriers that limit effective market access for Indian exporters.

Additional Info

• Competere Foundation
  • A non-governmental research organisation working on competition policy, open trade, property rights and anti-competitive market distortions.
  • The MDPI should not be confused with the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking or earlier World Economic Forum indices.
• Centre for Trade and Investment Law
  • Established by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry at IIFT.
  • Provides research and legal inputs on international trade, investment negotiations and dispute settlement.
• GST constitutional provisions
  • Introduced through the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016.
  • Article 246A: Legislative powers concerning GST.
  • Article 279A: Establishment of the GST Council.
• Competition framework
  • The Competition Act, 2002 seeks to prevent practices adversely affecting competition.
  • The Competition Commission of India is the principal statutory competition regulator.

Sources

• The Tribune
• The Economic Times
• Orissa Diary

Parliament Passes Bill Protecting Vande Mataram from Intentional Disruption

What’s the News?

Parliament has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, extending statutory protection to the National Song, Vande Mataram.

The Rajya Sabha cleared the Bill by voice vote amid an Opposition walkout. The Lok Sabha subsequently approved it, and the Bill now requires the President’s assent to become law.

What Does the Bill Provide?

The Bill substitutes Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. It makes the following intentional acts punishable:

• Preventing the singing of the National Anthem or National Song.
• Disturbing an assembly engaged in singing either of them.

Punishment

• Imprisonment for up to three years; or
• Fine; or
• Both.

The punishment is unchanged from the existing provision governing the National Anthem.

Scope of the Offence

Despite headlines referring broadly to “insulting” Vande Mataram, the Bill’s operative provision is narrower. It specifically penalises intentional prevention or disruption of its singing.

It does not expressly:

• Criminalise every expression of criticism concerning the song.
• Make singing Vande Mataram compulsory for every individual.
• Create a separate offence merely for remaining silent without disrupting others.

These distinctions arise from the actual wording of the proposed Section 3.

National Honour Act, 1971

The existing central legislation protects major national symbols:

• Section 2: Penalises specified forms of disrespect to the National Flag and the Constitution.
• Section 3: Penalises intentional prevention or disturbance of the singing of the National Anthem.
• Section 3A: For a second or subsequent conviction under Sections 2 or 3, imprisonment must be at least one year.

Once enacted, the amended Section 3 will cover both the National Anthem and the National Song.

Why Was the Amendment Introduced?

The Statement of Objects and Reasons notes that:

• Vande Mataram played a significant role in the freedom struggle.
• Constituent Assembly President Dr Rajendra Prasad stated that it should be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana.
• Unlike the National Anthem, the National Song previously had no specific penal protection against intentional disruption of its singing.

Constitutional Context

• Article 19(1)(a): Freedom of speech and expression.
• Article 19(2): Permits reasonable restrictions on specified grounds, including public order and the sovereignty and integrity of India.
• Article 25: Freedom of conscience and religion, subject to public order, morality and health.
• Article 51A(a): Fundamental duty to respect the Constitution, its institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.
  • The provision does not expressly mention the National Song.

Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala

The Supreme Court held that students who stood respectfully but did not sing the National Anthem could not be punished merely for non-participation based on a genuine conscientious religious belief.

The Court distinguished respectful silence from intentionally preventing or disturbing the singing. This principle may be relevant when courts interpret the amended provision, although its specific application to Vande Mataram would depend on future judicial interpretation.

Additional Info

• Vande Mataram
  • Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
  • Published in his novel Anandamath.
  • Recognised as India’s National Song.
  • The official version prescribed by the Ministry of Home Affairs has a playing time of approximately 3 minutes and 10 seconds.
  • When the National Song and National Anthem are both performed, the National Song is played or sung first.

Sources

• The Indian Express
• The Economic Times
• NDTV

India Introduces Safety and Liability Rules for Spacecraft Re-entry

What’s the News?

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has issued a regulatory framework for the planned atmospheric re-entry of satellites, rocket stages, capsules and other space objects.

Prior IN-SPACe authorisation is required for planned re-entry missions undertaken by Indian entities. The framework establishes a human-casualty risk limit of less than 1 in 10,000, while placing responsibility for third-party damage on the mission operator.

Planned Re-entry?

A planned re-entry is an intentional return of a space object into Earth’s atmosphere in which the operator can fully or partially control:

• Re-entry timing and trajectory.
• Probable impact or landing area.
• Survival and recovery of the spacecraft or its components.

It may cover re-entry capsules, reusable spacecraft, cargo-return vehicles, experimental payloads, rocket stages and future crewed missions.

Safety Requirements

Operators must demonstrate that the expected casualty risk from a re-entry is below:

• 1 in 10,000, or
• 10⁻⁴ per re-entry event.

This refers to the probability that surviving spacecraft debris could cause at least one human casualty, not merely the probability that debris will reach Earth.

Applications must include:

• Spacecraft design and physical characteristics.
• De-orbit and re-entry strategy.
• Predicted re-entry corridor and impact zones.
• Fragmentation and debris-survivability analysis.
• Ground-casualty risk assessment.
• Tracking and monitoring arrangements.
• Environmental and hazardous-material assessment.
• Ability to alter or abort the re-entry sequence during an anomaly.

The 1-in-10,000 threshold is also used by several international space regulators and the European Space Agency as a benchmark for re-entry safety.

Authorisation Process

• Indian entities require IN-SPACe approval even when the planned re-entry occurs outside Indian territory.
• Foreign entities planning re-entry within Indian territory must apply through an Indian-incorporated entity, such as a subsidiary or joint venture.
• When re-entry is planned after launch, the operator must generally apply at least six months in advance.
• Risk calculations must be updated closer to the proposed re-entry, including approximately three months before the event.
• Operators must coordinate with aviation and maritime authorities.
  • Notice to Air Missions—NOTAM
  • Maritime danger-zone notification
  • Such notifications are expected around 45 days before re-entry.

Liability and Insurance

The operator will bear responsibility for damage caused by the spacecraft or its surviving debris, including damage to:

• Persons and property on Earth.
• Aircraft in flight.
• Ships and maritime infrastructure.
• Assets located outside India.

Operators must maintain adequate insurance, including third-party liability coverage where prescribed, and ensure that the re-entry operation does not expose the Government of India to avoidable financial liability.

International-Law Position

Domestic transfer of financial liability to a private operator does not eliminate India’s obligations under international space law.

• Outer Space Treaty
  • Article VI makes states internationally responsible for national space activities, including those conducted by private entities.
  • Private space activities require state authorisation and continuing supervision.
  • Article VII provides for international liability for damage caused by a state’s space objects.
• Liability Convention, 1972
  • A launching state has absolute liability for damage caused by its space object on Earth or to aircraft in flight.
  • Liability for damage caused to another space object in outer space is generally fault-based.
  • India may therefore face an international claim and subsequently recover the amount from the responsible operator under domestic authorisation and indemnity arrangements.

Which Re-entries Are Exempt?

Separate re-entry authorisation is generally not required where:

• A satellite naturally re-enters because of orbital decay.
• Re-entry forms part of routine post-mission disposal.
• The spacecraft is expected to burn up substantially or completely.
• Surviving debris and casualty risk are minimal.

However, the disposal method must be included in the mission’s space-debris mitigation plan submitted to IN-SPACe.

Additional Info

• IN-SPACe
  • Autonomous government organisation under the Department of Space.
  • Acts as the single-window agency for promoting, authorising and supervising non-governmental space activities.
  • Authorises planned re-entry of space objects with or without recovery.
• Indian Space Policy 2023
  • Opened a wider range of space activities to non-government entities.
  • Separates major institutional roles:
    • IN-SPACe: Promotion and authorisation.
    • ISRO: Research, development and advanced space technologies.
    • NewSpace India Limited: Commercialisation of publicly developed technologies.
    • Department of Space: Overall policy and implementation.

Sources

• The Economic Times
• Indian Defence News
• India Today

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2026 Highlights Forced Online Scamming

What’s the News?

The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is observed annually on 30 July to raise awareness about human trafficking, protect victims’ rights and strengthen international cooperation.

The 2026 theme is “Trapped behind the scam.” It highlights the growing trafficking of people into online scam centres, where organised criminal groups force victims to conduct cyber-enabled financial fraud.

2026 Theme: “Trapped behind the scam”

The theme draws attention to the hidden victims behind online scams. Many individuals operating fraudulent accounts or contacting potential targets are themselves victims of trafficking and forced criminality.

Common fraudulent activities include:

• Cryptocurrency and investment scams.
• Romance scams.
• Phishing and digital-payment fraud.
• Fake e-commerce or employment schemes.
• Social-media impersonation.

The campaign emphasises that law-enforcement agencies must identify coercion and avoid automatically treating trafficked persons as willing cybercriminals.

How Are Victims Trapped?

Trafficking networks commonly use the following process:

• Deceptive recruitment
  • Fake advertisements offer high-paying overseas jobs in information technology, marketing, customer support or data entry.
• Cross-border movement
  • Victims are transported to another country, sometimes through irregular routes.
• Confinement
  • Passports and mobile phones may be confiscated.
  • Victims are confined in guarded scam compounds.
• Forced criminality
  • Victims are compelled to meet fraud targets under threats, violence, debt bondage and surveillance.
• Further exploitation
  • Victims may be sold or transferred between criminal organisations when they fail to meet targets.

Scale of Scam-Centre Crime

UN estimates indicate that scams targeting people in East and South-East Asia caused approximately US$18–37 billion in financial losses during 2023.

Scam centres increasingly combine:

• Human trafficking.
• Cybercrime.
• Money laundering.
• Corruption.
• Illegal gambling.
• Drug and wildlife trafficking.

This convergence allows transnational organised crime groups to diversify their operations and conceal illicit financial flows.

History of the Observance

• The United Nations General Assembly designated 30 July as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons through Resolution A/RES/68/192.
• The resolution was adopted in 2013.
• The day was first observed in 2014.
• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime—UNODC—leads the global campaign.

Human Trafficking?

Under the Palermo Protocol, trafficking in persons generally contains three elements:

• Act
  • Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons.
• Means
  • Force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or exploitation of vulnerability.
• Purpose
  • Exploitation, including forced labour, sexual exploitation, slavery, servitude, forced criminality or organ removal.

For trafficking involving a child, proving the use of coercion, fraud or other “means” is not necessary when the act is undertaken for exploitation.

India’s Anti-Trafficking Framework

• Article 23 of the Constitution
  • Prohibits trafficking in human beings, begar and similar forms of forced labour.
  • A violation is punishable according to law.
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
  • Section 143: Trafficking of persons.
  • Section 144: Exploitation of a trafficked person.
  • Section 146: Unlawful compulsory labour.
• Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
  • Primarily addresses trafficking and exploitation connected with commercial sexual exploitation.
  • It is not a comprehensive law covering every form of human trafficking.
• Anti-Human Trafficking Units
  • Financial assistance has been provided to States and Union Territories for setting up or upgrading AHTUs covering districts.
  • As police and public order are State subjects, prevention, investigation and prosecution are primarily handled by State governments.
• Shakti Sadan
  • Operates under the Samarthya component of Mission Shakti.
  • Provides shelter, counselling, medical care, legal assistance, vocational training and rehabilitation for women in distress, including trafficked women.

International Initiatives

• Palermo Protocol
  • Formally called the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
  • Supplements the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
• Blue Heart Campaign
  • UNODC’s global awareness campaign against human trafficking.
  • The blue heart symbolises solidarity with victims and the cold-heartedness of traffickers.
• Sustainable Development Goals
  • Target 5.2: Eliminate trafficking and other forms of exploitation of women and girls.
  • Target 8.7: End forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking.
  • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation and trafficking of children.

Additional Info

• Trafficking vs migrant smuggling
  • Trafficking requires exploitation and may occur without crossing an international border.
  • Migrant smuggling involves facilitating illegal entry into another country for financial or material benefit.
  • A smuggling situation can become trafficking when migrants are subsequently coerced or exploited.
• Key policy requirement
  • Governments must combine prosecution of criminal networks with victim identification, rehabilitation, safe repatriation and the non-punishment of victims for offences they were compelled to commit.

Sources

• International Organization for Migration