GOVERNMENT / POLITY
Rules & Regulations
Supreme Court Upholds Human Dignity in Harish Rana Case, Permitting Passive Euthanasia
The Supreme Court of India has authorized the withdrawal of artificial life support for Harish Rana, who has remained in a permanent vegetative state since 2013.
The landmark judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Justices J. B. Pardiwala and K. V. Viswanathan.
The ruling emphasizes that the right to refuse prolonged medical intervention is tied to the principle of human dignity when recovery is impossible.
The procedure will be conducted at AIIMS, New Delhi, following strict medical board evaluations as per the 2023 Supreme Court guidelines.
Significance: This case reinforces the legal framework for passive euthanasia in India, balancing the sanctity of life with the right to a dignified death.
The landmark judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Justices J. B. Pardiwala and K. V. Viswanathan.
The ruling emphasizes that the right to refuse prolonged medical intervention is tied to the principle of human dignity when recovery is impossible.
The procedure will be conducted at AIIMS, New Delhi, following strict medical board evaluations as per the 2023 Supreme Court guidelines.
Significance: This case reinforces the legal framework for passive euthanasia in India, balancing the sanctity of life with the right to a dignified death.
Key Facts / Static GK
AIIMS: All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Passive Euthanasia: The withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment.
Passive Euthanasia: The withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment.
Practice Quiz — 16 March 2026
Q1. Who administered the oath of office to Syed Ata Hasnain as the Governor of Bihar?
Answer: (C) Chief Justice of Patna High Court — As per the Constitution of India, the oath of office to a Governor is administered by the Chief Justice of the High Court of that state. In this case, Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo of the Patna High Court administered the oath.
Q2. Which Union Ministry was primarily responsible for organizing the 'Purple Fest' at Rashtrapati Bhavan?
Answer: (C) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment — The 'Purple Fest' is an initiative focused on Divyangjan (Persons with Disabilities), which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Q3. What is the new revised fee for the NHAI FASTag Annual Pass for the financial year 2026-27?
Answer: (C) ₹3,075 — The NHAI has revised the FASTag Annual Pass fee from ₹3,000 to ₹3,075 for the financial year 2026-27, effective April 1, 2026.
Q4. Tuticorin Airport, which was recently renamed Thoothukudi Airport, is located in which Indian state?
Answer: (D) Tamil Nadu — The airport is located in the state of Tamil Nadu. The renaming was approved to reflect the local name of the city, Thoothukudi.
Q5. The festival of 'Chapchar Kut' is associated with which Indian state?
Answer: (C) Mizoram — Chapchar Kut is the most important traditional spring festival of the Mizo people in Mizoram, celebrated after the completion of jhum cultivation tasks.
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