Monthly Current Affairs August 2025 — Key Terms (Vocabulary)

Glossary of key terms drawn from the August 2025 current affairs notes, covering law, governance, judiciary, gender rights, elections, and ethics topics relevant for UPSC prelims and mains.

Sedition (IPC Section 124A)

An offence defined in the Indian Penal Code for promoting disaffection against the government established by law; punishable with penalties including life imprisonment, up to 3 years in jail, and a fine.

Section 124A (Sedition)

The specific provision of the Indian Penal Code dealing with sedition, in which acts inciting disaffection against the government can be prosecuted.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)

The new penal code replacing IPC; introduces Section 152 to replace sedition by prohibiting activities that promote disaffection toward the nation.

Section 152 (BNS)

Prohibition on activities that promote disaffection against the nation, including subversive activities, secession, and armed struggle.

Heddar Nat Singh v. State of Bihar (1962)

Supreme Court case upholding the validity of Section 124A; held sedition is constitutional with restrictions and that a speech is sedition only if it incites violence.

Balwan Singh (1997)

Supreme Court case reaffirming that promoting disaffection that incites violence or overthrowing the government can be sedition; emphasizes democratic means to change government.

Khalistan movement (Sedition context)

Movement associated with secessionist aims; Supreme Court held slogans in favor of the movement are not seditious if they do not incite violence.

Singing v. Union of India (2015)

Supreme Court ruling that individuals can advocate their views without inciting violence; criticized as a misuses/misapplication of sedition law.

Vinod Dua sedition case

Journalist Vinod Dua was booked under sedition for highlighting migrants’ plight during COVID-19 lockdown.

Article 19(1)(A) and eight restrictions

Constitutional provision guaranteeing freedom of speech; eight grounds for reasonable restrictions including sovereignty, integrity, security, and public order.

Article 13(1)

Laws in force before the Constitution that remain valid only if consistent with fundamental rights; otherwise void.

Constituent Assembly not retaining sedition as a restriction

Decision that sedition should not be a ground for reasonable restriction on free speech; rationale linked to democratic discourse.

Gandhi sedition case

Mahatma Gandhi was booked for sedition; pleaded guilty and framed as an individual's duty to oppose a morally corrupt government.

Lokmanya Tilak sedition case

Tilak prosecuted under sedition; British authorities argued disaffection against the government; Tilak sentenced to 18 months.

Justice Strachey’s interpretation of sedition

Judicial view that sedition includes not just disaffection but absence of affectionate regard towards the government; affected Tilak’s case.

Governing framework for free speech: Article 19(1)(A) and restrictions

Key constitutional framework for free speech with restrictions including sovereignty, integrity, security, public order, defamation, and more.

Gandhi, Tilak, and sedition history in India

Notable nationalist leaders who faced sedition cases under the colonial regime, highlighting the law’s use against dissent.

Vishaka Guidelines (1997) and POSH Act (2013)

Judicial guidelines on preventing sexual harassment at the workplace; later enacted as the POSH Act to provide statutory protection.

Bhanwari Devi and Vishaka guidelines

Bhanwari Devi’s case sparked the Vishaka guidelines; guidelines later codified into law to protect women from harassment at work.

NALSA v. Union of India (2014) and transgender rights

Judicial recognition of transgender rights; led to greater protections and affirmative action including reservations.

Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Act 2019

Legislation recognizing self-identification of gender and protecting rights of transgender persons without mandatory surgeries.

Self-identification (transgender rights)

Right to identify one’s gender without undergoing gender reassignment surgery, as established in recent jurisprudence and legislation.

Beyoncé Lehra case (Manipur High Court)

Case where the court ordered change of gender on certificates, highlighting travel rights under Article 21 and self-identification principles.

“U is equal to U” campaign

Public health messaging that undetectable HIV viral load is untransmittable; promotes treatment access and stigma reduction.

HIV/AIDS Testing and Right to Privacy

Legal framework balancing compulsory/public health interests with privacy; consent, counselling, and confidentiality are key.

HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Act 2017

Legislation requiring consent and counselling for HIV testing; confidentiality of test results and voluntary testing.

130th Constitutional Amendment Bill (ministers’ accountability)

Bill proposing changes to ministerial accountability and governance provisions; introduced in Lok Sabha with committee review.

PMLA and Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases

Statistics showing high number of cases filed under PMLA with relatively few convictions; concerns about misuse for political ends.

Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) findings

Research showing high shares of MPs with criminal charges; calls for reform to cleanse politics.

VVPAT and election transparency (symbol loading units)

Paper audit trail system and related election integrity measures; rules on storage and verification of VVPAT data.

One Nation, One Election concept

Proposal to hold Lok Sabha and state elections simultaneously to reduce costs and disruptions; various pros and cons discussed.

One Nation, Two Elections concept

Alternative reform idea to cluster state polls at the parliamentary term midpoint; discussed as a compromise approach.

Nash equilibrium (political context)

Game theory concept used to analyze candidate strategies across parties in elections; implies no unilateral gain from changing strategies.