The Centre has sought public opinions on the Advocates Amendment Bill, 2025, seeking to revamp the legal profession and weed out unethical practices. The Bill wants to amend the Advocates Act, 1961, and repeal the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879.

The Advocates Amendment Bill, 2023, passed in December 2023, made key reforms aimed at regulating the legal profession in India. The Bill seeks regulation of touts, who acquire clients for legal practitioners on behalf of them against compensation

The Bill intends to control the legal profession and eliminate touts, who acquire clients for lawyers in return for money. The Bill empowers each High Court and district judge to draw up and promulgate lists of touts. Any individual whose name appears in the list of touts shall be barred from being a tout.

In addition, the Bill mandates a punishment for touts in the form of imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or a fine not exceeding Rs 500, or both. This clause seeks to discourage people from resorting to illegal practices and safeguard the dignity of the legal profession.

The people have been requested to forward their suggestions and opinions on the Bill within a set time limit. The Centre will then take the feedback and incorporate any alterations required in the Bill before tabled in the Parliament for enactment. 

The reforms sought are likely to have profound effects on the legal profession in the direction of more transparency, accountability, and ethical behavior. By soliciting people's opinions, the Centre is demonstrating that it is serious about government by participation and making sure that everyone has had their say.

The completing 36 Assistant Commandants, one of whom is a lady officer, have added to the operational strength of the Indian Coast Guard after completing the CG Law and Operations Course conducted at the Indian Coast Guard Training Centre (CGTC), Kochi. 

The CG Law and Operations Course is a rigorous training aimed at imparting officer trainees with specific skills and knowledge necessary for carrying out their duties. Topics covered within the training include Maritime Law, Search and Rescue Operations, Boarding Procedures, Fisheries Monitoring and Control, and Marine Pollution Prevention. The course ensures that the officers are well-equipped to deal with maritime security challenges and carry out Coast Guard functions efficiently. 

The Indian Coast Guard Training Centre in Kochi provides world-class training programs in order to upskill their Coast Guard personnel on statutory responsibilities and various functions. The graduation of these officers is a big boost to the force, increasing their capabilities in law enforcement, coastal security, and maritime operations. 

The Indian Coast Guard achieved an excellent milestone: graduation of 36 Assistant Commandants, one lady officer among them, from Coast Guard Training Centre (CGTC) in Kochi. The strenuous training program rightly included specialized disciplines like Maritime Law and Search and Rescue Operations. The CGTC Kochi has gained repute with respect to imparting total effective and quality-training to the Coast Guard personnel, preparing them with the wherewithal to succeed in the profession. 

The graduation ceremony thus, not only celebrates these officers' achievements, but also adds to the operational readiness of the Indian Coast Guard, enhancing its maritime security and safeguarding the nation's waterways. With an ambitious growth plan toward achieving a fleet of 200 vessels and 100 aircraft by the year 2030, this newly inducted batch will play a significant role in sustaining the organization toward fulfilling its charter in protecting the coastal limits of India. With these officers ready for induction, the Indian Coast Guard pursues the strengthening of the maritime security lattice and uphold its motto of protecting the country's waterways.

The charge of this petition is that the Petitioner claims to violate privacy and constitutional provisions and therefore the petition has struck down the PIL and the argument advanced appears to be self-reasoned. Critically, the order of the petitioner was based on the assumption that lawyers are granted broad immunity when questioned about their past as legal professionals. The Court also ruled that there are many experienced personnel in the field who are far better qualified than students in the required degrees.

The court has now issued a judgment that has triumphed on matters pertaining to public interest and thus strikes a balance between violence in the legal field and violence in students pursuing a degree in law without prior education. It is against the BCI policy to assume that lack of discretion will not be seen as being in contempt of court. It is a well-known fact that potential students enjoying the public trust which motivates the legal system profoundly lessens the level of scrutiny available to a central system deeming a candidate’s background to decide stressfully. Nonetheless, the legal ethics these lawyers are said to adhere to is completely shockingly abandoning any egregious behaviors.

The arguments posed by the petitioner were quite weak, for the systems that are put in place both to nurture an emerging clientele and later sanction a breach of legal trust are loose Leviathan systems. On that note, the policies set out by BCI are not relenting, for the hope exists that submission of an application or resume will become the basis upon which they will be idolized freely.

This rule is anticipated to have a profound effect on legal education and professional conduct. However, concern about privacy rights has been expressed by some students and legal practitioners, but the majority view it as progress in maintaining ethical standards in the legal profession.

A critique from Mumbai has observed that trust in the legal system must be preserved through the conduct of future lawyers, and this means students must possess a clean record. Legal experts have also said that this ruling could set an important legal precedent for other professions, which will, henceforth, require character certification before employment.

While this discussion on privacy and professional ethics plays out, the Bombay High Court has made it clear that issues of integrity and moral fitness cannot be compromised in regard to the legal profession.

To safeguard investor interests and enhance transparency in the financial services industry, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has initiated a comprehensive crackdown on a growing number of online "fin-fluencers" or Finance influencers, who market stock tips under the guise of educational content. The regulator’s actions come amid increasing concerns that misleading investment advice circulating on social media platforms is jeopardizing the financial well-being of retail investors.

SEBI has taken a firm stance by clarifying that the term "investment advice" extends beyond explicit buy or sell recommendations. According to the regulator, any content that implies guidance—including the dissemination of research reports, market analysis, or subtle recommendations—is considered investment advice. Consequently, individuals or entities sharing such information are now required to register with SEBI as investment advisors, ensuring that they adhere to a set of strict regulatory standards.

A key component of SEBI’s initiative is the mandatory disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Finfluencers are now obligated to openly reveal any financial relationships they may have with the companies they discuss or promote. This transparency is aimed at eliminating bias and providing investors with a clearer understanding of the underlying motivations behind the advice offered. Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in severe penalties, including substantial fines and even suspension of registration, which could effectively bar the offenders from offering any further investment advice.

Market experts have hailed the move as a crucial step toward regulating the largely unorganized space of online investment advice. “SEBI’s crackdown on finfluencers is a significant step towards ensuring that only qualified and accountable individuals provide financial guidance,” observed one market expert, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high standards in financial communications. The expert further noted that the enhanced regulatory oversight is expected to restore confidence among investors, who have often been exposed to dubious advice and speculative tips on digital platforms.

With the digital landscape rapidly evolving, SEBI’s timely intervention is aimed at curbing the spread of misleading information and protecting investors from potential financial losses. The regulator’s robust measures underscore a broader commitment to accountability and integrity within the financial sector, ensuring that the dissemination of investment advice is both responsible and transparent.

As SEBI continues to monitor the digital space, both seasoned investors and market novices are encouraged to exercise caution and rely on registered, credible sources for their investment decisions. This crackdown is expected to serve as a deterrent, reinforcing the message that in India’s financial markets, transparency and accountability remain paramount.