PYQ Relevance:
[UPSC 2024] In a crucial domain like the public healthcare system, the Indian State should play a vital role to contain the adverse impact of marketisation of the system. Suggest some measures through which the State can enhance the reach of public health care at the grassroots level.
Linkage: The article highlights how tariff-free entry of HFSS products leads to “lower prices” and “aggressive marketing,” posing “grave long-term health risks”. The question’s call for the Indian State to play a “vital role to contain the adverse impact” and suggest measures aligns perfectly in the article’s advocacy for “strong measures to regulate the advertising of HFSS” and “mandatory FOPNL” to protect public health. |
Mentor’s Comment: India and the United Kingdom signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on July 24, 2025, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK. While the deal promises economic benefits, it has triggered serious public health concerns due to the likely surge of tariff-free imports of unhealthy, ultra-processed food products from the UK into India.
Today’s editorial analyses the recently signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the United Kingdom. This topic is important for GS Paper II (International Relations) in the UPSC mains exam.
_
Let’s learn!
Why in the News?
India and the United Kingdom recently signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to boost bilateral trade, reduce tariffs, enhance market access, and strengthen economic and strategic ties between both nations.
What are the key provisions of the India–UK FTA?
- Tariff Reductions on Goods: Reduction or elimination of customs duties on products like textiles, leather, and machinery from India and premium liquor, automobiles, and pharma from the UK.
- Services Sector Access: Easier market access for Indian professionals (e.g., IT experts, nurses, yoga instructors) and UK financial, legal, and education services.
- Investment and Regulatory Cooperation: Investor protection clauses and liberalised FDI norms to encourage bilateral investments with predictable regulatory environments.
- Digital Trade and Intellectual Property Rights: Provisions for secure cross-border data flows, IPR enforcement, and e-commerce facilitation, supporting startups and tech trade.
- Labour Mobility and Social Security Coordination: Allows short-term professionals to avoid double social security payments, benefiting workers on temporary assignments.
Why has the FTA triggered health concerns in India?
- Stricter Intellectual Property (IP) Provisions: The UK is pushing for TRIPS-plus measures such as patent term extensions and data exclusivity, which could delay the entry of generic medicines in India. Eg: Cancer or HIV patients in India may face delayed access to affordable generics if extended patents block local production.
- Threat to Domestic Pharma Industry: Indian generic manufacturers fear reduced competitiveness due to stricter IP norms, which may raise medicine costs and affect public health schemes. Eg: India’s role as the “pharmacy of the Global South” may weaken, affecting exports to Africa and Latin America.
- Limited Access to Government Procurement: If the FTA includes government procurement commitments, it may restrict India’s ability to prioritise domestic firmsfor health supplies under public schemes. Eg: Public procurement for schemes like Jan Aushadhi may face restrictions, impacting affordable medicine distribution.
How does Mexico’s NAFTA experience inform India’s approach to FTAs?
- Uneven Gains Across Sectors: NAFTA boosted Mexico’s manufacturing exports, especially to the US, but agriculture suffered due to competition from heavily subsidised US farms, displacing small farmers. Eg: India should protect its small-scale agriculture and MSMEs in FTAs to avoid rural distress and job losses.
- Job Creation Without Security: While NAFTA generated employment in export-driven industries, these jobs were often low-paid, lacked labour rights, and offered poor working conditions. Eg: India must ensure FTAs include labour safeguards and social protection for workers, especially in textiles and electronics.
- Weak Domestic Supply Chains: Mexico became heavily dependent on foreign inputs and technologies, undermining local value chains and domestic innovation. Eg: India should strengthen its Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat efforts by ensuring technology transfer and local sourcing mandates in FTAs.
|
What are the regulatory differences between India and the UK on unhealthy food products?
| Aspect |
India |
United Kingdom (UK) |
| Front-of-Pack Labelling |
Voluntary system; no mandatory warning labels for high fat/sugar/salt |
Mandatory traffic light system highlighting fat, sugar, and salt levels |
| Advertising to Children |
Limited restrictions; junk food often advertised during kids’ content |
Strict regulations on TV and online adstargeting children for junk food |
| Nutritional Standards in Schools |
No uniform enforcement across states; junk food in/near schools persists |
Banned sale of sugary drinks and high-fat snacks in school premises |
Why is Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) important post-FTA?
- Protects Public Health from Imported Junk Food: With the FTA, imports of ultra-processed and unhealthy foods may rise. FOPNL provides clear warnings (e.g., high in sugar, fat, salt) to help consumers make healthier choices. Eg: Chile introduced warning labels, leading to a drop in sugary drink sales by 25%.
- Empowers Consumers with Informed Choices: Indian consumers often lack nutritional awareness. FOPNL enables them to understand the health risks of packaged foods at a glance, regardless of foreign branding or marketing. Eg: In Brazil, FOPNL helped rural consumers avoid misleading “natural” claims on unhealthy imported snacks.
- Counters Aggressive Marketing by Foreign Brands: Post-FTA, multinational food companies may flood the Indian market with aggressive marketing. FOPNL acts as a visual deterrent, discouraging overconsumption, especially among children. Eg: In Mexico, FOPNL helped reduce the purchase of snacks targeted at children despite flashy packaging.
Way forward:
- Implement Mandatory Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPNL): The Indian government should finalize and enforce strong, interpretive FOPNL regulations (like warning labels) based on WHO guidelines to help consumers easily identify foods high in salt, sugar, and fat.
- Strengthen Domestic Food Standards and Surveillance: Ensure alignment between imported and domestic food safety regulations, backed by robust monitoring by FSSAI. This will prevent imported unhealthy products from bypassing scrutiny and harming public health.
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
Recently, a social audit tabled in Parliament revealed 150 hazardous cleaning deaths in 2022–23, exposing unsafe outsourcing, poor implementation of safety laws, and inadequate funding under schemes like NAMASTE. Despite Supreme Court orders and successful models in states like Odisha and Tamil Nadu, enforcement and mechanisation remain critically lacking nationwide.
Why has manual scavenging persisted despite laws and schemes like NAMASTE?
- Weak Enforcement of Legal Provisions and Court Orders: Despite the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 and Supreme Court directions to cancel offending contracts and penalise principal employers, enforcement remains minimal. Eg: In 2024, Parliament revealed that 150 workers died in 2022–23 due to hazardous cleaning.
- Poor Implementation and Underfunding of Schemes: Schemes like NAMASTE are hindered by insufficient financial support, poor outreach, and lack of protective equipment or training. Eg: Of the 57,758 workers involved in hazardous cleaning, only 16,791 received PPE kits, and a mere ₹14 crore had been released under NAMASTE—inadequate for mechanisation in even one major city.
- Obscured Employer Liability through Subcontracting: The use of contractual and ‘loaned’ labour allows government and private employers to avoid responsibility for worker safety. Eg: A social audit tabled in Parliament found that out of 54 hazardous cleaning deaths, only five workers were on government payroll, while others were ‘loaned’ to private contractors, making accountability unclear.
How have Odisha and Tamil Nadu offered viable alternatives to manual scavenging?
- Odisha has ensured identified sanitation workers are equipped with PPE kits and have access to mechanised desludging vehicles, reducing the need for manual entry.
Eg: Workers now use vacuum trucks for sewer cleaning instead of entering toxic manholes, improving safety and dignity.
- Tamil Nadu has piloted robotic interventions to eliminate manual scavenging in urban areas.
Eg: In Chennai, sewer robots have been deployed to clean over 5,000 manholes, showcasing how technology and political will can prevent hazardous practices.
How does the lack of rural data hinder sanitation worker reforms?
- Exclusion from Mechanisation Schemes: Without reliable data on rural sanitation workers, schemes like NAMASTE do not extend their benefits (e.g. robotic cleaning or desludging machines) to villages. Eg: In many gram panchayats of Bihar, manual pit cleaning is still done without equipment as workers remain unregistered and thus unaccounted for in policy rollouts.
- No Health or Safety Monitoring: The lack of worker enumeration means occupational health risks go unnoticed, and safety training or PPE kitsare not distributed in rural regions. Eg: In Chhattisgarh’s rural blocks, no health cards or protective equipment have been distributed to sanitation workers, exposing them to toxic gases and infections.
- Obstructs Legal Accountability and Compensation: If workers are not documented, accidental deaths are often unreported or misclassified, preventing compensation to families and accountability for employers. Eg: In a 2023 case in Madhya Pradesh, a worker died while cleaning a septic tank, but due to lack of registration, the case was recorded as a general accident, not as a violation of the Manual Scavenging Act.
What are the steps taken by the Indian Government?
- Legislation and Legal Ban: The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 bans manual scavenging and mandates identification and rehabilitation of affected workers.
- NAMASTE Scheme (2023): The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme promotes mechanised cleaning, provides training, PPE kits, and financial support to sanitation workers.
- Welfare and Skill Development Initiatives: The government has launched surveys, provided one-time cash assistance, health insurance under Ayushman Bharat, and livelihood loans to support entrepreneurship among workers.
|
What reforms can ensure safety and rehabilitation for workers?
- Mandatory Mechanisation and Licensing: Urban local bodies should mandate mechanised sewer cleaning, make it a licensed profession, and classify manual cleaning without valid certification as a cognisable offence. This will ensure accountability and eliminate unsafe practices.
- Rehabilitation Through Financial and Social Support: Provide sanitation workers with housing, education scholarships, health cards, and loans to operate mechanised equipment. These should be linked to guaranteed municipal contracts, enabling long-term economic and social upliftment.
Mains PYQ:
[UPSC 2024] Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle?
Linkage: Manual scavenging represents an extreme form of poverty and human capital degradation. This article mentions that “Two-thirds of validated workers are also Dalits, yet rehabilitation packages rarely include housing or scholarships that might help families exit contemptible occupations”. This question allows for a discussion of how ending such hazardous labor and providing meaningful rehabilitation can break this vicious cycle.
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) filed a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court defending the constitutionality of the citizenship verification process being carried out as part of the voter list revision in the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
What is the legal basis for the SIR exercise in Bihar?
- Article 326 of the Constitution: It states that every citizen of India shall be entitled to be registered as a voter. The ECI invokes this to justify verifying citizenship before including names in the electoral rolls.
- Section 15 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950: This section empowers the Election Commission to prepare and revise electoral rolls under its “superintendence, direction and control.”
- Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950: It allows the ECI to order a “special revision” of electoral rolls for specific constituencies. However, the term “intensive” is not mentioned in the Act, making the legal foundation of SIR somewhat vague.
- Registration of Electors Rules, 1960: The 1987 amendment introduced the concept of “intensive” and “summary” revisions, but did not define or elaborate the legal modality for intensive revisions, including SIR.
|
Why is the demand for citizenship proof for existing voters controversial?
- Burden shifts to already registered voters: The SIR process forces existing electors—who were added through due process—to resubmit proof of citizenship, treating them with suspicion. Eg: A voter registered in 2010 using valid documents must now provide fresh documents, despite no change in their status.
- Lack of evidence for illegal migrants in voter rolls: The ECI affidavit does not provide data on the presence of foreign nationals or illegal migrants in electoral rolls, especially in Bihar, weakening the justification for a blanket citizenship test. Eg: Over 600 pages of complaints attached to ECI’s affidavit did not cite any case of foreigner inclusion in Bihar’s voter list.
- No legal rule for asking voters to prove citizenship: The Representation of the People Act, 1950 does not require voters to give proof of citizenship. There are already legal ways to remove non-citizens from the voter list if someone complains with proof. So, asking all voters to show documents again is unnecessary and legally doubtful.
How is SIR similar to or different from the Assam NRC?
-
- Both involve citizenship verification based on documentary evidence.
- Both processes have significant exclusion risks and logistical challenges.
- The CAA 2003-based criteria used in NRC Assam are being replicated in Bihar SIR (e.g., birth dates of voters and parents).
-
- The NRC in Assam was conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court, based on a specific clause in the Assam Accord.
- The SIR in Bihar is being conducted by the ECI independently, without a similar legal precedent or court mandate.
- NRC was formally initiated by the Registrar General of India, which has not happened for a nationwide NRC; SIR lacks such authority.
What is the 2003 electoral roll?
- The 2003 electoral roll as a baseline refers to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025 to treat the voter list prepared in 2003 as a reference point for proving citizenship and voter eligibility.
- In simple terms: If a person’s name was already included in the 2003 electoral roll, or if they are a child of someone listed in that roll, they are not required to submit additional documents to prove their citizenship during the current revision process.
|
What are the implications of using the 2003 electoral roll as a baseline?
- Creates legal inconsistency: Prioritising the 2003 electoral roll over rolls from the last two decades undermines the validity of later voter lists, creating legal confusion and questions of equal treatment for all voters.
- Lacks evidence of reliability: The ECI affidavit does not provide proof that the 2003 SIR involved thorough citizenship verification. Without such evidence, treating the 2003 roll as more authentic is unjustified.
- Grants unequal advantage: Voters listed in 2003 and their children are exempted from submitting documents, while others must provide multiple proofs, leading to discrimination and inequity in the revision process.
Why are documents like Aadhaar and ration cards being rejected in the SIR process?
- Aadhaar not considered proof of citizenship: The ECI argues that while Aadhaar can confirm identity and residence, it does not prove Indian citizenship.
- Ration cards seen as forgery-prone: The ECI claims that many fake ration cards exist and hence rejects them as valid proof.
Way forward:
- Adopt a targeted verification approach: Instead of a blanket citizenship test for all voters, the ECI should focus on specific complaints supported by evidence, using existing legal mechanisms to identify and remove ineligible voters. This ensures efficiency, legal compliance, and avoids harassment of genuine voters.
- Accept a broader range of documents with safeguards: The ECI should allow widely held documents like Aadhaar and ration cards as supporting evidence, along with robust verification procedures to detect forgeries. This promotes inclusivity, especially for marginalised groups, while maintaining the integrity of the electoral rolls.
Mains PYQ:
[UPSC 2024] Examine the need for electoral reforms as suggested by various committees with particular reference to “one nation-one election” principle.
Linkage: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which is the subject of the ECI’s counter affidavit, is presented as an effort to refine electoral rolls, inherently linking it to the broader discourse on electoral reforms in India. The article critically evaluates the ECI’s rationale and legal arguments for undertaking such an intensive revision, which the ECI seems to position as a measure to address typical defects like duplication and non-deletion, and implicitly, to ensure the integrity of the voter list.
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
Home Minister is set to move a statutory resolution in the Rajya Sabha to extend President’s Rule in Manipur by another 6 months.
What is President’s Rule?
- Overview: It refers to the suspension of a state’s constitutional machinery, placing the state under direct control of the Union Government.
- It is also known as State Emergency or Constitutional Emergency.
-
- Article 355: Obligates the Union to ensure that governance in every state is in accordance with the Constitution.
- Article 356(1): Allows the President to assume control of a state’s executive if the Governor reports a constitutional breakdown or the President independently concludes so.
- Article 365: Deems a state’s failure to comply with Union directions as a failure of constitutional machinery.
Duration and Extension of President’s Rule:
- Initial duration: Valid for 6 months from the date of proclamation.
- Extensions: Can be extended every six months, subject to parliamentary approval, for a maximum of 3 years.
- Parliamentary Approval (Article 356(3)):
- Must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within 2 months.
- Requires a simple majority (members present and voting).
- Beyond 1 Year: Allowed only if:
- A National Emergency (Article 352) is in operation in the whole or part of the state.
- The Election Commission of India certifies that elections to the Legislative Assembly cannot be held.
- Beyond 3 Years: Requires a constitutional amendment (e.g., 67th and 68th Amendments extended President’s Rule in Punjab).
Implications of President’s Rule on a State:
- Executive Powers (Article 356(1)(a)):
- The President assumes functions of the state government via the Governor.
- Administration is carried out by the Governor, with support from the Chief Secretary and advisors.
- Legislative Powers (Article 356(1)(b)):
- The Legislative Assembly is either suspended or dissolved.
- Legislative powers are exercised by Parliament or delegated to the President.
- Financial Powers (Article 356(1)(c)):
- The President may authorize expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of the State pending Parliament’s approval (under Article 206 and Article 357).
Revocation:
- President’s Rule can be revoked at any time by the President under Article 356(2).
- No parliamentary approval is required for revocation.
Supreme Court Judgments related to it:
- S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994):
- President’s Rule is subject to judicial review.
- A floor test is the proper method to prove majority.
- The Governor’s report alone is not sufficient for justification.
- Sarbananda Sonowal v. Union of India (2005): Widened the scope of Article 355 for preventive action by the Union.
- Rameshwar Prasad v. Union of India (2006):
- Dissolution of Bihar Assembly was declared unconstitutional.
- Use of Article 356 to prevent political defections was struck down.
Key Reforms/Recommendations:
- Sarkaria Commission (1987): President’s Rule should be used only as a last resort after exploring all other options.
- Punchhi Commission (2010): Proposed localized emergency provisions for specific districts or regions instead of the entire state.
- National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000):
- Article 356 should remain but be used sparingly.
- Suggested amendments to allow its use without National Emergency if elections cannot be held.
| [UPSC 2018] If the President of India exercises his power as provided under Article 356 of the Constitution in respect of a particular State, then
Options: (a) the Assembly of the State is automatically dissolved.
(b) the powers of the Legislature of that State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of the Parliament.
(c) Article 19 is suspended in that State.
(d) the President can make laws relating to that State. |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has introduced AdFalciVax, a new malaria vaccine candidate targeting Plasmodium falciparum.
About AdFalciVax
- Developer: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); private partners will handle trials and manufacturing.
- Vaccine Type: Chimeric recombinant vaccine targeting Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite.
- Technology:
- Circumsporozoite Protein (CSP): Offers direct protection to the vaccinated individual.
- Pro6C Protein: A hybrid of Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 that blocks transmission via mosquitoes.
- Key Advantages
- Dual Benefit: Provides personal protection and reduces community transmission.
- Full-length CSP: Promotes a stronger and longer immune response compared to current vaccines.
- High Efficacy in Animals: Over 90% protection in animal models (human trials pending).
- Stability: Contains alum as an adjuvant — safe, effective, and stable at room temperature for 9 months.
Malaria Control in India:
- Progress:
- Malaria deaths reduced from 1,151 in 1995 to 83 in 2022 (National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme).
- World Health Organization estimates are higher (5,511 deaths in 2022).
- Current Limitation: India’s dominant malaria strain is Plasmodium vivax, which AdFalciVax does not target.
|
| [UPSC 2010] Widespread resistance of malarial parasite to drugs like chloroquine has prompted attempts to develop a malarial vaccine to combat malaria. Why is it difficult to develop an effective malaria vaccine ?
(a) Malaria is caused by several species of Plasmodium*
(b) Man does not develop, immunity to malaria during natural infection
(c) Vaccines can be developed only against bacteria
(d) Man is only an intermediate host not the definitive host. |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that the Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) for Financial Year (FY) 2025 has risen to 67.0, up from 64.2 in FY 2024.
About Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index):
- Developer: Created by the Reserve Bank of India to assess the extent of financial inclusion in India.
- First Release: Published in August 2021 for the financial year ending March 2021.
- Coverage: Encompasses five key sectors—banking, investments, insurance, postal services, and pensions.
- Scoring Scale: Ranges from 0 (total exclusion) to 100 (full inclusion).
- Update Cycle: Updated annually in July; cumulative index with NO base year.
- Indicators: Based on 97 indicators across all five sectors to ensure comprehensive assessment.
- Key Parameters:
-
- Access (35%): Measures availability of financial infrastructure like bank branches, automated teller machines, and postal outlets.
- Usage (45%): Tracks frequency of use of services like savings, loans, insurance, and pension schemes.
- Quality (20%): Assesses financial literacy, consumer protection, equity, and service reliability.
India’s Performance Over the Years:
- March 2017: Index at 43.4, reflecting the initial phase of inclusion efforts.
- March 2021: Rose to 53.9, due to the expansion of banking and digital infrastructure.
- March 2024: Improved to 64.2, with broader access and increased adoption of financial services.
- March 2025: Reached 67.0, driven by digital transactions, better service quality, and financial literacy campaigns.
| [UPSC 2016] The establishment of ‘Payment Banks’ is being allowed in India to promote financial inclusion. Which of the following statements is/are correct in this context?
1. Mobile telephone companies and supermarket chains that are owned and controlled by residents are eligible to be promoters of Payment Banks
2. Payment Banks can issue both credit cards and debit cards
3. Payment Banks cannot undertake lending activities
Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only* (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
India has improved its global mobility ranking, moving up eight places to 77th in the Henley Passport Index 2025, up from 85th in 2024.
About Henley Passport Index, 2025
- Overview: A global ranking of passports based on the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa.
- Compiled by: Published by Henley & Partners using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
- Coverage: Includes 227 travel destinations and is updated quarterly.
- Purpose: Reflects changes in global mobility, international relations, and travel freedoms.
Global Scenario (2025 Rankings):
- 1st Rank: Singapore – Visa-free access to 193 destinations.
- 2nd Rank: Japan and South Korea – Access to 190 destinations.
- 3rd Rank (tie): Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Finland, Denmark, Ireland – Access to 189 destinations.
- United States: Fell to 10th rank – Access to 182 destinations.
- Overall Trend:
- Asian and European passports dominate top positions.
- Countries with restrictive or unstable foreign policies rank lower.
India’s Achievements:
- 2025 Rank: 77th, up from 85th in 2024 – an 8-place improvement.
- Access Level: Indian passport holders have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 59 countries.
- New Additions: Philippines, Sri Lanka.
- Context:
- Despite gaining access to only two new countries, India’s rank rose significantly due to global reshuffling.
- This marks a recovery from a 5-place drop in 2024, indicating improved travel diplomacy.
| [UPSC 2011] In terms of economy, the visit by foreign nationals to witness the XIX Commonwealth Games in India amounted to-
Options: (a) Export (b) Import (c) Production (d) Consumption |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
The Meghalaya High Court heard a PIL against the Khasi Lineage Act (preserves Khasi matrilineal traditions) for allegedly denying ST certificates to those with paternal surnames.
About Khasi Tribe:
- Region: Indigenous to Meghalaya, Northeast India.
- Linguistic Family: Belong to the Austroasiatic language group.
- Language: Speak Khasi language, written in the Roman script, with several dialects.
- Religion: Follow Niam Khasi (traditional animist faith); many are also Christians.
- Mythical Origin: Believe in Ki Hynniew Trep – the seven ancestral clans who descended from heaven.
- Cultural Identity: Strong emphasis on nature worship, oral traditions, and clan-based social structure.
Special Customs and Traditions:
- Inheritance System: Follows matrilineal inheritance – property and surname pass from mother to daughter.
- Post-Marital Residence: Follow matrilocality, where the husband lives in the wife’s household.
- Heir Designation: The Ka Khadduh (youngest daughter) is the custodian of family property and ancestral duties.
- Marriage Rules: Practice clan exogamy – marriage within the same clan is prohibited to avoid incest.
- Village Governance: Administered through Dorbar Shnong (village councils) and led by Syiem (traditional chiefs).
- Major Festivals:
- Shad Suk Mynsiem – A thanksgiving and harvest dance.
- Shad Nongkrem – A royal ritual dance for communal prosperity.
- Traditional Attire:
- Women wear the Jainsem (a draped dress with silver jewelry).
- Men wear tunic-style garments and ceremonial headgear.
- Spiritual Practices: Emphasize ancestor veneration and worship of natural elements like stones, rivers, and groves.
| [UPSC 2014] With reference to ‘Changpa’ community of India, consider the following statements:
1. They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand. 2. They rear the Pashmina goats that yield a fine wool. 3. They are kept in the category of Scheduled Tribes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only* (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now
Why in the News?
A 24-year-long study conducted by the Nature Conservation Foundation reveals that coral cover in Lakshadweep has declined by 50% since 1998.
Coral Decline in Lakshadweep: Key Highlights
- Study Duration: Based on a 24-year study (1998–2022).
- Findings: 50% decline in live coral cover—from 37.2% to 19.6%.
- Main Cause: Repeated marine heatwaves linked to climate change.
- Study Locations: Monitored across Agatti, Kadmat, and Kavaratti atolls.
- Response Clusters: Six coral groups identified based on:
- Depth and wave exposure
- Heat resistance and recovery patterns
- Recovery Timeline: Requires at least 6 years without bleaching for healthy regeneration.
Back2Basics: Corals and Coral Bleaching:
- About: Corals are colonies of tiny animals called polyps, which build calcium carbonate skeletons.
- Symbiotic Algae: Host zooxanthellae, microscopic algae that provide nutrients via photosynthesis.
-
- Hard Corals: Form reef structures (e.g., brain coral, staghorn coral).
- Soft Corals: Flexible, grow on reef surfaces but do not build reefs.
- Habitat Requirements:
- Water Quality: Must be clean and low in sediment.
- Temperature Range: Prefer 20–21°C.
- Depth: Typically found in waters less than 90 metres deep.
- Salinity: Optimal range is 27–30 parts per thousand (ppt).
- Ocean Currents: Require nutrient-rich water flow.
- Coral Bleaching:
- Cause: Triggered by heat stress, pollution, or acidification, which drive algae out.
- Effect: Coral turns white due to loss of algae; Loses its main food source. Dies if stress persists for long periods.
| [UPSC 2022] “Biorock Technology” is talked about in which one of the following situations?
Options: (a) Restoration of damaged coral reefs * (b) Development of building materials using plant residues (c) Identification of areas for exploration/extraction of shale gas (d) Providing salt licks for wild animals in forests |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
Attend Now