• On April 4, 2025, after an extensive 14-hour discussion in the Rajya Sabha, Parliament approved the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Bill was passed in the Upper House with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, reflecting a tighter margin compared to the Lok Sabha, which passed it with a 56-vote lead. Initially tabled the previous year, the legislation was reviewed by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) led by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal. The JPC submitted its findings to both Houses on February 13, 2025.
• Under Islamic tradition, waqf refers to property permanently dedicated for religious or charitable activities, such as maintaining mosques, supporting education, or aiding the poor.
• Once classified as waqf, the property becomes inalienable—it cannot be sold, inherited, or gifted. The original Waqf Act of 1995, along with its 2013 amendments under the UPA government, provided the legal foundation for managing waqf assets and established State Waqf Boards for their administration.
• The 2025 amendment rebrands the law as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act and introduces significant changes. It expands the government’s regulatory role and dispute resolution authority concerning waqf properties.
• The government has defended these changes as steps toward greater transparency, while critics and opposition parties contend that they infringe upon the Muslim community’s religious rights.
• One of the key modifications is the restriction on who may create a waqf: only individuals who have practiced Islam for a minimum of five years are now eligible. This departs from the previous provision, which allowed anyone, regardless of religious affiliation, to dedicate property.
• Critics, including Dr. Faizan Mustafa, Vice-Chancellor of Chanakya National Law University, have argued that this discriminates against recent converts and violates Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law.
• The Bill also addresses the doctrine of “waqf by user”—a principle from Islamic law that recognizes properties used continuously for religious or charitable purposes as waqf, even without formal documentation.
• Although the government had initially proposed eliminating this doctrine entirely, the JPC advised caution, warning that such a move could destabilize the status of many long-standing waqf properties managed informally. The revised version of the Bill preserves waqf-by-user properties registered before the law’s enactment, unless contested as government-owned land.
• Other key changes include transferring the responsibility of waqf property surveys from specialized commissioners to District Collectors. The repeal of Section 40, which allowed Waqf Boards to independently assess whether a property qualifies as waqf, has also drawn attention.
• Responding to the JPC’s recommendations, the new law requires that such surveys, particularly in cases involving government land, be conducted by officers above the rank of Collector.
• One of the most debated provisions involves the inclusion of non-Muslims in waqf governance bodies. The Bill mandates that both Central and State Waqf Boards must include at least two non-Muslim members, and removes the requirement for the Chief Executive Officer of a Waqf Board to be a Muslim.
• Additionally, it specifies that the State government’s representative on the Waqf Board must be a joint secretary-level officer responsible for waqf affairs. While critics argue these provisions undermine the community’s autonomy in managing its religious institutions, Dr. Mustafa welcomed the changes as a reflection of India’s diversity, noting the inclusion of women, non-Muslims, and OBCs as a progressive step—though he also questioned whether similar reforms would be applied to temple boards.
• To strengthen financial oversight, the Bill introduces a centralized digital portal for waqf property registration. Muttawalis (custodians) are required to upload details of waqf properties within six months of the law taking effect, and all future registrations must go through this portal.
• Lastly, the Bill seeks to repeal Section 107 of the 1995 Act, which had exempted waqf properties from the Limitation Act, 1963. This exemption allowed Waqf Boards to reclaim encroached land beyond the typical 12-year limitation period. Critics warn that removing this protection could legitimize illegal occupations through adverse possession, posing risks to the integrity of waqf land

1.The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks to enhance transparency and efficiency in waqf property management, but also raises concerns about religious autonomy and constitutional rights." Critically examine the key provisions of the Bill and discuss their implications on minority rights and secular governance in India. (250 words)

Migrant workers subjected to long working hours, says T.N. Planning Commission study

For Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and international Significance

For Mains Examination: GS III - Economy

Context:

A study conducted by the State Planning Commission (SPC) has found that migrant workers are subjected to long working hours, with 53% of them working for more than eight hours a day.

Read about:

Who is a Migrant Worker?

Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)

Key takeaways:

• A recent study by the State Planning Commission (SPC) has revealed that migrant workers often endure extended working hours, with 53% of them logging more than eight hours a day.
• In the construction industry, most migrant labourers work close to 10 hours daily. Similarly, in the manufacturing sector, about half exceed the standard eight-hour workday. Those employed in services often work as many as 12 hours per day.
• The research aimed to understand the demographic profile of migrants arriving in the Chennai area, the types of jobs they take up, their income levels, and their living standards. It found that key factors driving migration to Tamil Nadu include the prospect of higher earnings, limited employment options back home, and the perception of a better lifestyle.
• The report also proposed various measures that the state government could adopt to improve the welfare of these workers.
• One of the most alarming findings was that around 84% of those surveyed were employed without any formal, written contracts. Many migrant workers receive no supplementary benefits such as food or travel allowances, nor do they get access to social security schemes like Provident Fund, health insurance, or paid medical leave. Workers in the construction sector reported frequent exposure to occupational hazards.
• Over half of the migrants reside in substandard housing provided at or near their workplaces. Nearly 80% live in kutcha or semi-permanent structures with poor infrastructure. Despite the low quality of these dwellings, they spend about 15% of their monthly income on rent. Sanitation is another major concern, with many forced to use shared toilet facilities.
• According to SPC data, the average monthly income of a migrant worker in the Chennai region in 2024 was ₹15,902—slightly above the estimated poverty line threshold for a four-member household, which stands at ₹14,556 per month.
• This benchmark is based on figures from the 2022–23 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey and uses the Rangarajan Committee's methodology, which pegged the urban poverty line at ₹3,639 per person per month.
• Assuming no change in the poverty line between 2022 and 2024, a family of four in Chennai would need ₹14,556 per month to stay above the poverty line. Within sectors, construction workers reported the highest average income (₹18,696 per month), followed by those in services (₹17,025), and manufacturing (₹14,534).
• Despite the challenges, migrant workers expressed that relocating to the Chennai region has improved their quality of life. They are now able to allocate more money toward essential needs such as food, healthcare, and education, invest in assets like land or housing in their native places, repair existing properties, clear debts, and participate in social functions like weddings

Follow Up Question

1.The condition of migrant workers in urban India highlights critical gaps in labour welfare, housing, and social security." Discuss the challenges faced by migrant workers in metropolitan regions like Chennai and suggest policy measures to improve their living and working conditions. (250 words)

Can the U.S. President serve a third term?

For Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and international Significance

For Mains Examination: GS II - International relations

Context:

On March 30, the 78-year-old U.S. President Donald Trump said he’s “not joking” about serving a third term in the White House. He further claimed that a legal loophole could make it possible.

Read about:

What is the ‘VP loophole’?

What does 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution state?

Key takeaways:

• The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified on February 27, 1951, limits any individual from being elected as U.S. President more than twice. This change was prompted by Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four-term presidency (1933–1945), which broke the informal two-term tradition established by George Washington, who declined a third term in 1796.
• The amendment further stipulates that if someone serves more than two years of another President’s term — such as a Vice President who assumes office mid-term — they may only be elected once themselves.
• This effectively sets a 10-year cap on presidential tenure. In Donald Trump’s case, having been elected in 2016 and again in 2024, he is ineligible for a third term under this provision, regardless of whether the terms are consecutive.
• Despite this constitutional limit, Mr. Trump has reportedly explored ways to bypass it. One proposal involved J.D. Vance running for President in 2028 with Trump as Vice President, planning for Vance to step down and Trump to reassume the presidency. However, the 12th Amendment invalidates this route, as it prohibits anyone barred from the presidency from holding the vice-presidency.
• Another theoretical, though controversial, possibility involves the presidential line of succession. As noted by legal scholar Bruce G. Peabody, while the 22nd Amendment bans being elected President more than twice, it doesn't explicitly prohibit serving more than two terms.
• This means that a former two-term President could technically become Speaker of the House — a position that doesn't require membership in Congress — and ascend to the presidency if both the President and Vice President become incapacitated.
• A third — though highly improbable — route would be to repeal the 22nd Amendment altogether. Under Article V of the Constitution, this requires approval from two-thirds of both houses of Congress or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures, followed by ratification by three-fourths (38) of the states.
• Considering the current polarized political climate, such a repeal remains virtually impossible — especially since no constitutional amendment has been passed in over three decades.
• Globally, leaders have often extended their reign by altering constitutional provisions. In Russia, Vladimir Putin navigated the two-term rule by serving as Prime Minister (2008–2012) after his two presidential terms, while an ally took the presidency. Constitutional amendments in 2020 reset his term count, potentially allowing him to serve until 2036.
• In Türkiye, Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan transitioned from Prime Minister to President, abolished term limits through a 2017 referendum, and transformed the political system into a strong presidency. Similarly, China’s Xi Jinping removed presidential term limits in 2018, enabling him to remain in power indefinitely