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[pib] National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)

Schemes | Social Justice | Mains Paper 1: Social Empowerment

Why in the News?

PIB has provided an update regarding the progress of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).

About National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP):

  • Overview: Launched on 15 August 1995, NSAP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Rural Development.
  • Objective: To provides financial and food security to individuals living below the poverty line (BPL), fulfilling the Directive Principles of State Policy (Article 41) by supporting the elderly, widows, persons with disabilities, and families suffering the loss of a breadwinner.
  • Coverage: It operates across rural and urban India, covering over 3.09 crore beneficiaries.
  • Components of NSAP:
    1. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): Provides ₹200/month to citizens aged 60–79 and ₹500/month to those 80+, with States adding top-up support.
    2. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS): Offers ₹300/month to widows aged 40–79 and ₹500/month for those 80+.
    3. Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS): Extends ₹300/month to persons aged 18–79 with severe disabilities; ₹500/month for those 80+.
    4. National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS): Grants a one-time ₹20,000 to BPL families on the death of a breadwinner aged 18–59.
    5. Annapurna Scheme: Supplies 10 kg of free food grains/month to senior citizens eligible for IGNOAPS but not receiving pension.

Implementation and Monitoring Framework:

  • Selection: Eligible beneficiaries identified by Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies.
  • Disbursement: About 94% through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to bank or post office accounts; cash-at-doorstep allowed in special cases.
  • Monitoring: Each State/UT appoints a Nodal Secretary; quarterly progress reports are mandatory, and failure to submit can lead to withholding of funds.
  • Transparency Measures: Integration with Public Financial Management System (PFMS) ensures real-time tracking, Aadhaar linkage, and prevention of duplication.

Recent Update (2024–25):

  • NSAP disbursed funds of ₹6,143.92 crore (IGNOAPS), ₹2,150.03 crore (IGNWPS), ₹243.74 crore (IGNDPS), and ₹394.29 crore (NFBS & Annapurna).
  • 2.5 crore+ beneficiaries have Aadhaar-linked accounts ensuring transparent payments.
  • Budget for 2025–26: ₹9,652 crore, with IGNOAPS receiving the largest share (₹6,645.9 crore).
  • Digital Life Certification (DLC) mobile app launched in July 2025, enabling Aadhaar-based verification and reducing manual procedures.
  • The programme continues to serve as a core pillar of India’s social safety net, enhancing welfare delivery and inclusion through digitisation, DBT, and Aadhaar authentication.

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Electoral Reforms In India

Disclosure of Election Finance

Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Representation Of People's Act

Why in the News?

A recent report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) revealed that over half of registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs) linked to Bihar have failed to comply with mandatory financial disclosure norms for FY 2023–24.

Key Findings of ADR Report:

  • Non-Compliance: Over 59% of registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs) linked to Bihar failed to file either their audit reports or donation statements for FY 2023–24, violating Election Commission of India (ECI) norms.
  • Scope: Of 275 RUPPs reviewed, 184 were from Bihar and 91 from other states. Only 67 parties (24.36%) disclosed both audit and contribution reports.

Political Funding in India:

  • Overview: Political funding refers to financial resources raised by political parties or candidates to sustain organisational operations and election campaigns.
  • Purpose: Ensures participation in democratic processes, electoral competitiveness, and mass outreach.
  • Sources of Funding:
    • Individuals: Citizens contribute voluntarily; deductions under Section 80GGB (Income Tax Act).
    • Corporates: Donations governed by Section 182 (Companies Act, 2013).
    • State Support: Indirect subsidies (media access, tax exemption) allowed; direct funding prohibited.
    • Electoral Trusts (2013): Channel corporate contributions transparently.
    • Electoral Bonds (2018): Introduced donor anonymity; struck down by Supreme Court (2024) for violating transparency and citizens’ right to information.

Legal Framework for Political Funding:

  • Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA): Governs election conduct, contributions, and maintenance of accounts.
  • Income Tax Act, 1961:
    • Section 13A: Exempts tax only for parties maintaining audited accounts and disclosing donations.
    • Section 80GGB/GGC: Offers tax benefits to individual and corporate donors.
  • Companies Act, 2013:
    • Section 182: Limits corporate donations to 7.5% of average net profits of the last three years.
    • Mandates annual disclosure of political contributions.
  • Election Commission Guidelines: Mandate submission of audited accounts and contribution reports above ₹20,000.

Mechanisms Governing Political Funding Disclosure:

  • Disclosure Requirements:
    • Under Section 29C (RPA, 1951): Political parties must disclose donations above ₹20,000 to the ECI annually.
    • Under Sections 77–78 (RPA, 1951): Candidates must submit true election expenditure accounts within 90 days (Lok Sabha) or 75 days (Assembly).
    • Violations invite disqualification up to three years (Section 10A).
  • Transparency Gaps:
    • Over 60% of party income from “unknown sources”, mainly due to inadequate enforcement and loopholes.
    • Frequent delays, incomplete disclosures, and absence of independent audits persist.
  • Judicial Oversight:
    • Supreme Court judgments (e.g., PUCL v. Union, 2003) and 2024 ruling on Electoral Bonds strengthened citizens’ right to know funding sources.
  • Reform Recommendations:
    • Bring political parties under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
    • Lower disclosure threshold from ₹20,000 to ₹2,000.
    • Establish National Election Fund for equitable, state-audited funding.
    • Ensure real-time digital reporting and independent third-party audits.
[UPSC 2021] Which one of the following effects of the creation of black money in India has been the main cause of worry to the Government of India?

Options: (a) Diversion of resources to the purchase of real estate and investment in luxury housing

(b) Investment in unproductive activities and purchase of precious stones, jewelry, gold, etc.

(c) Large donations to political parties and the growth of regionalism

(d) Loss of revenue to the State Exchequer due to tax evasion*

 

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Wildlife Conservation Efforts

Panel seeks higher protection for Rhesus Macaque under Wildlife Act

Species | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Why in the News?

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) chaired by Union Environment Minister has recommended reinstating the Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

rhesus

Back2Basics: Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

  • Objective: Provides legal protection to species requiring conservation monitoring but not critically endangered.
  • Protection Scope: Hunting, capture, or trade prohibited except under extraordinary conditions such as disease or threat to human life.
  • Legal Provision: Section 11 authorises Chief Wildlife Wardens to grant permissions for justified exceptions.
  • Penalties: Imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine up to ₹25,000, or both; slightly lower than Schedule I provisions.
  • Species Included: Assamese macaque, Indian fox, Himalayan black bear, Indian cobra, large Indian civet, etc.
  • Distinction from Schedule I: Offers near-equivalent protection but allows limited regulation and control measures.
  • Authority: Central Government empowered under Section 61 to amend species inclusion or exclusion

About Rhesus Macaque:

  • Scientific Name: Macaca mulatta, a species of Old World monkey native to South, Central, and Southeast Asia.
  • Distribution: Widest-ranging non-human primate, found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, and Afghanistan.
  • Physical Traits: Brown or grey fur; body length 47–53 cm, tail 20–23 cm, weight 5–8 kg; strong sexual dimorphism.
  • Habitat: Highly adaptable; lives in forests, grasslands, riverine zones, agricultural lands, and even urban settlements.
  • Behaviour: Diurnal, semi-terrestrial, and social; organised in matrilineal troops (20–200 members) with complex vocal and gestural communication.
  • Diet: Omnivorous, feeds on fruits, seeds, roots, cereals, and occasionally invertebrates; uses cheek pouches for temporary food storage.
  • IUCN Status: Least Concern, due to wide distribution and high adaptability.
  • Legal Reclassification: Previously listed under Schedule II of the WPA, 1972, offering stringent protection against hunting, cruelty, illegal trade, and exploitation. After the 2022 amendments, it was shifted to Schedule IV (mid-level protection category with lesser punishments).
  • Scientific Relevance: Extensively used in biomedical research, instrumental in developing polio, rabies, smallpox vaccines, and in HIV/AIDS and neuroscience studies.
  • Human Conflict: Increasing crop raids, urban aggression, and food theft; declared vermin in Himachal Pradesh (2019) for selective culling in non-forest zones.

How is the Culling of Vermin allowed in India?

  • Definition: Animals declared harmful or nuisance-causing, legally permitted for hunting to safeguard life, crops, or property.
  • Legal Provision: Section 62 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 empowers the Central Government to declare species (excluding Schedule I) as vermin for specific regions and timeframes.
  • Earlier Classification: Schedule V (pre-2022) listed vermins such as rats, fruit bats, and common crows.
  • 2022 Amendment: Schedule V removed; Centre can now issue direct notifications declaring vermin status.
  • Declaration Process:
    • State government submits request citing local damage or risk.
    • MoEFCC evaluates ecological and administrative justification.
    • Centre issues notification for specified region and duration.
  • Examples:
    • Wild boar (Uttarakhand, Kerala, Goa)
    • Nilgai (Bihar, Uttar Pradesh)
    • Rhesus macaque (Himachal Pradesh, 2019)
    • Fruit bats and crows (select farming regions)
  • Legal Consequence: Once notified, the species loses protection, and hunting incurs no penalty during the declared period.
  • Ecological and Ethical Concerns: Risks of ecosystem imbalance and animal cruelty; experts advocate contraception, relocation, and scientific management instead.
[UPSC 2022] If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?
Options: (a) A licence is required to cultivate that plant. *
(b) Such a plant cannot be cultivated under any circumstances.
(c) It is a Genetically Modified crop plant.
(d) Such a plant is invasive and harmful to the ecosystem.

 

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Foreign Policy Watch: United Nations

Bangladesh’s accession to the UN Water Convention

Prelims Only | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Important International Institutions

Why in the News?

In 2025, Bangladesh became the first South Asian nation to join the UN Water Convention (Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes).

About UN Water Convention:

  • Overview: Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, adopted in Helsinki (1992) and enforced in 1996 under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
  • Globalisation: Originally regional (Europe, Central Asia); opened to all UN Member States in 2016 after a 2013 amendment, becoming a global treaty for transboundary water governance.
  • Objective: Promotes sustainable management of shared water resources and conflict prevention through cooperative mechanisms.
  • Key Goals: Implements SDG-6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG-16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) via equitable water sharing and joint management.
  • Obligations for Parties:
    • Prevent and reduce transboundary pollution and unsustainable extraction.
    • Use shared waters equitably and reasonably.
    • Coordinate national and transboundary water management policies.
    • Establish joint bodies or commissions for shared basins.
  • Institutional Mechanism: Managed by the UNECE Secretariat, which organises meetings, facilitates implementation, and promotes basin-level cooperation among signatories.
  • Legal Character: Functions as a framework convention, complementing rather than replacing bilateral treaties (e.g., Indus Waters Treaty, Ganga Treaty).
  • Significance: Serves as a legal and institutional mechanism for Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), regional peacebuilding, and climate-resilient governance.
  • Related Instruments: Inspired the UN Watercourses Convention (1997); both operate in complementary scopes within international water law.

Why did Bangladesh join (2025):

  • First in South Asia: Became the first South Asian nation to ratify the Convention amid escalating water stress and climate vulnerability.
  • Hydrological Dependence: Over 90% of river inflows come from outside Bangladesh, mainly India and China, making Dhaka highly vulnerable to upstream interventions.
  • Upstream Projects: Concerns over China’s Motuo Hydropower Project (Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra) and India’s unresolved Teesta water-sharing dispute drove the decision.
  • Environmental Risks: 60% of population exposed to floods; half live in drought-prone areas, heightening need for cooperative governance.
  • Legal Context: Bangladesh’s 2019 High Court ruling granting rivers legal personhood reinforced its institutional focus on water rights.
  • Strategic Motivation: Seeks global legal recourse, access to data-sharing mechanisms, and international funding for climate adaptation and water security.

Implications for India:

  • Shift from Bilateralism: India prefers bilateral river treaties (e.g., Indus, Ganga). Bangladesh’s multilateral engagement introduces scope for third-party mediation, contrary to India’s stance.
  • Ganga Treaty Renewal (2026): Bangladesh may invoke “equitable utilisation” to seek a higher share of Ganga waters under Convention norms.
  • Teesta River Pressure: The stalled Teesta agreement could face renewed international pressure, citing fairness and sustainability principles.
  • Regional Domino Effect: Likely to motivate Nepal and Bhutan to join, potentially transforming South Asia’s hydro-diplomatic architecture.
  • Strategic Concerns: Bangladesh’s simultaneous trilateral cooperation with China and Pakistan raises apprehensions of a Beijing-influenced hydro-bloc.

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What is Animal Birth Control (ABC) Program?

Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters

Why in the News?

The Supreme Court has ordered all States and Union Territories to remove stray dogs from public areas and relocate them to shelters after sterilisation and vaccination under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.

About Animal Birth Control (ABC) Program:

  • Purpose: Humane, scientifically proven method to control stray dog populations and reduce rabies.
  • Legal Basis: First under Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001 (under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960); updated as Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.
  • Development: Created with support from the World Health Organization (WHO).
  • Core Method: “Catch–sterilise–vaccinate–release” model; prohibits relocation or culling.
  • Implementation: Managed by municipalities, municipal corporations, and panchayats.
  • Authorisation: Only organisations recognised by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) can conduct programs.
  • Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023:
    • Implemented to comply with Supreme Court guidelines in Writ Petition No. 691 of 2009.
    • Assigns responsibility to local bodies (municipalities, corporations, panchayats) to conduct ABC programs for sterilisation and immunisation of stray dogs.
    • Prohibits relocation of stray dogs as a means of population control; instead, they must be sterilised and returned to the same area.
    • Only organisations recognised by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) can conduct ABC programs.

Key Features:

  • Sterilisation Target: Minimum 70% of stray dogs in an area within one reproductive cycle (~6 months).
  • Focus: Female sterilisation at a 70:30 female-to-male ratio.
  • Rabies Control: Mandatory rabies vaccination (ABC–ARV) for every sterilised dog.
  • Infrastructure: Kennels, veterinary facilities, vehicles, and hygienic shelters required.
  • Recordkeeping: Detailed records for catching, surgery, vaccination, and release.
  • Monitoring: State and local committees ensure compliance and handle complaints.
  • Legal Protection: Mass relocation or killing prohibited under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.
[UPSC 2010] Consider the following statements:

1. Every individual in the population is equally susceptible host for Swine Flu.

2. Antibiotics have no role in the primary treatment of Swine Flu

3.To prevent the future spread of Swine Flu in the epidemic area, the swine (pigs) must all be culled.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Options: (a) 1 and 2 only* (b) 2 only  (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

 

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Forest Conservation Efforts – NFP, Western Ghats, etc.

Senna spectabilis removed from 1,963 hectares of land in Mudumalai TR

India MappingSpecies | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Why in the News?

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has successfully removed Senna spectabilis, a highly invasive tree species, from 1,963 hectares of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).

Senna spectabilis removed from 1,963 hectares of land in Mudumalai TR

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

  • Location: Situated in Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, at the tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.
  • Area: Covers 321 sq. km, forming part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India’s first biosphere reserve.
  • Terrain: Undulating landscape ranging from 960–1266 m elevation.
  • Rivers: The Moyar River flows through the reserve, supporting rich biodiversity.
  • Vegetation: Includes evergreen, moist and dry deciduous forests, teak, bamboo, and grasslands (vayals).
  • Flora: Contains wild relatives of cultivated plants like rice, turmeric, and ginger.
  • Fauna: Home to tigers, elephants, gaurs, sambars, leopards, blackbucks, wild dogs, and 8% of India’s bird species.
  • Boundaries: Shares borders with Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala).
  • Cultural Note: The Oscar-winning documentary “The Elephant Whisperers” was filmed at the Theppakadu Elephant Camp inside MTR.

About Senna spectabilis:

  • Origin: A fast-growing deciduous tree native to tropical America, introduced in India as an ornamental and shade plant.
  • Issues: Reaches 15–20 metres, produces thousands of seeds annually, spreading rapidly.
  • Invasive Impact: Dense canopy suppresses native trees and grasses, causes food scarcity for herbivores, and reduces biodiversity.
  • IUCN Status: Listed as ‘Least Concern’ but ecologically harmful in Indian forests.

How was the eradication achieved?

  • Method: Threefold strategy- debarking mature trees, uprooting saplings with weed pullers, and mechanically clearing seedlings.
  • Duration: Large trees dry up in about 18 months after debarking.
  • Post-Removal Use: Felled trees used for paper production.
  • Objective: Restore native flora, improve wildlife forage, and ensure long-term ecosystem recovery.
[UPSC 2018] Why is a plant called Prosopis juliflora often mentioned in news?

Options: (a) Its extract is widely used in cosmetics.

(b) It tends to reduce the biodiversity in the area in which it grows. *

(c) Its extract is used in the synthesis of pesticides.

(d) None of the above.

 

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[7th November 2025] The Hindu Oped: Redraw welfare architecture, place a UBI in the centre

op-ed snap | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Inclusive Growth & Issues

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2015] In what way could replacement of price subsidy with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) change the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss.

Linkage: The shift from price subsidies to Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) improved efficiency and targeting in welfare delivery. Universal Basic Income (UBI) is the next step in this evolution, moving from targeted transfers to universal, unconditional income support that ensures inclusion and economic stability.

Mentor’s Comment

As automation, artificial intelligence, and widening inequality reshape global economies, India faces an urgent need to rethink its welfare model. Universal Basic Income (UBI) , once dismissed as utopian, is emerging as a viable economic tool to balance growth with inclusion, stabilize consumption, and future-proof citizens against technology-driven disruptions.

Introduction and Why in the News

India’s wealth gap is at a 75-year high, and technological transformation is outpacing job creation. The article argues that a Universal Basic Income could act as a stabilizer for an economy characterized by automation-led job loss, consumption inequality, and welfare fragmentation. UBI thus represents both an economic necessity and moral evolution, a reform that can ensure social security while sustaining demand in an AI-driven economy.

Understanding UBI in the Economic Context

  1. Concept: A periodic, unconditional cash transfer to all citizens, regardless of income or employment.
  2. Economic Foundation: Acts as a floor for consumption and stabilizer of demand during economic downturns.
  3. Rationale in India: Addresses inefficiencies, leakages, and exclusions in existing welfare subsidies and improves fiscal targeting through direct transfers.
  4. Global Relevance: Countries like Finland, Kenya, and Iran have experimented with variants of basic income to address automation shocks and inequality.

Why India Needs a New Welfare Model

  • Automation and Jobless Growth:
    1. India’s labour-intensive sectors are losing relevance as AI and robotics replace routine work.
    2. A 2023 McKinsey Report estimates 40-45% of Indian jobs risk automation by 2030.
    3. Consumption Inequality: The top 10% hold over 40% of total income, weakening demand from lower strata, a key factor behind India’s K-shaped recovery post-COVID.
  • Fragmented Welfare Spending:
    1. Over 950 central schemes exist; only 20% reach intended beneficiaries (NITI Aayog, 2022).
    2. Rationalizing and merging subsidies could free 1-2% of GDP, enough to fund a phased UBI.

Fiscal Feasibility and Implementation Models

  1. Budgetary Realignment: A UBI costing ₹7,500 per person annually = ~1% of GDP, fiscally manageable by pruning inefficient subsidies.
  2. Digital Readiness: India’s JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) enables transparent Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) to 450+ million beneficiaries.
  3. Phased Approach:
    • Start with vulnerable groups (elderly, women, informal workers) and expand gradually.
    • Link with automation tax or digital economy levy to ensure sustainability.
  4. Behavioral Economics View: Unconditional transfers improve human capital investment (nutrition, education) without creating disincentive to work, proven in Madhya Pradesh SEWA UBI Pilot, 2013.

UBI as an Economic Stabilizer

  1. Counter-Cyclical Tool: Maintains aggregate demand in economic slowdowns; ensures liquidity among lower-income households.
  2. Productivity Boost: Financial security allows workers to upskill and pursue entrepreneurial ventures instead of insecure subsistence jobs.
  3. Gender Dividend: Recognizes unpaid care work and enhances female labour participation, a major economic multiplier.
  4. Rural Resilience: Ensures income continuity against climate shocks, agrarian distress, and market failures.

Challenges in Adopting UBI

  1. Fiscal Trade-offs: High recurring costs could strain the fiscal deficit if not balanced by rationalization of subsidies.
  2. Inflationary Pressure: Sudden increase in liquidity may spike prices unless accompanied by supply-side reforms.
  3. Exclusion Risks via Aadhaar/DBT: Digital divide and authentication errors can replicate old exclusion patterns.
  4. Political Economy Resistance: Targeted benefits create patronage networks; universalization dilutes control, making reform politically sensitive.

Global Insights for India

Country Nature of UBI Trial Lessons
Finland (2017-18) €560/month for unemployed Improved well-being, not joblessness
Kenya Cash transfer for 12 years Increased small business formation
Iran (2010) Universal transfer replacing subsidies Reduced poverty without fiscal collapse
Brazil (Bolsa Família) Conditional transfer, near-universal Boosted literacy, health, consumption

India can blend these experiences into a hybrid model: quasi-universal, fiscally prudent, and tech-enabled.

Conclusion

A Universal Basic Income is no longer a moral luxury, it is an economic inevitability in a future where automation, inequality, and climate shocks converge. By realigning subsidies and leveraging digital infrastructure, India can embed economic dignity into fiscal policy. UBI is not about welfare dependency, it is about stabilizing markets through empowered citizens.

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Surrogacy in India

The Second Issue: On Surrogacy for a Second Child

Explained | Social Justice | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

Introduction

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 stipulates that an “intending couple” is eligible for surrogacy only if they do not have any surviving child, biological, adopted or via surrogacy, except where the child is physically or mentally challenged or has a life-threatening disorder.A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court by a couple facing secondary infertility who seek to use surrogacy to have a second child. Their argument: the law’s restriction interferes with the reproductive choices of citizens and treats primary and secondary infertility differently.

What is the law’s objective and rationale

  1. Objective of the Act: The primary stated purpose is to prohibit commercial surrogacy, regulate fertility and surrogacy clinics, and protect surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy.
  2. Eligibility restriction: Section 4(iii)(C)(II) mandates the ‘no surviving child’ condition for an intending couple.
  3. Rationale for restriction: The government’s position is that the use of another woman’s body for surrogacy demands strict regulation; therefore, limiting eligibility helps prevent exploitation and commercialization.
  4. Court’s interim view: The Supreme Court has indicated the restriction appears “reasonable” but is examining whether the ban on surrogacy for couples with a surviving child amounts to a violation of reproductive choice.

How does the law differentiate primary and secondary infertility

  1. Secondary infertility defined: In this context, it refers to couples unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term despite having borne a child naturally earlier.
  2. Law’s silence on distinction: The Act does not expressly differentiate between primary and secondary infertility in defining “infertility” for eligibility. The petitioners argue the statute uses “infertility” generically and should be read to include secondary infertility.
  3. Effect of the distinction: As a result of the clause, a couple with one surviving (healthy) child is barred from surrogacy for a second child, even if they face medical infertility. The petition argues this amounts to unreasonable discrimination.

Why is this matter significant now?

  1. Reproductive autonomy at stake: The case raises the question whether reproductive choice including whether and how many children to have falls under the fundamental right to privacy and reproductive autonomy (Article 21).
  2. Scale of the issue: Secondary infertility affects a substantial number of couples; the law’s bar effectively restricts access to surrogacy for many intending parents. The article emphasises that restricting access solely because a couple already has a child may not align with the law’s stated objective.
  3. Precedents of regulation being diluted: The Court recently relaxed age restrictions for couples who had frozen embryos prior to the law’s enactment, signalling willingness to interpret surrogacy law expansively.
  4. Contradiction with other family-related rights: There is no law in India capping the number of children a person may have naturally; yet, the surrogacy law imposes a “one-child existing” rule. This invites scrutiny of rational basis for differentiation.

What are the potential implications of a broader interpretation”

  1. Facilitating access: A more expansive reading allowing surrogacy for intending parents would align the law with reproductive autonomy and reduce arbitrary differentiation.
  2. Safeguard against exploitation: The law can maintain its core safeguards against commercialisation and exploitation while enabling access for medically infertile couples seeking a second child.
  3. Policy coherence: It would harmonise the surrogacy statute’s eligibility norms with the lack of statutory restriction on the number of natural children and prevent unjust exclusion of couples.
  4. Legal precedent: A favourable interpretation could open up examination of other eligibility criteria under the Act (such as age or marital status) in light of constitutional rights.

What are the counter-arguments and concerns?

  1. Risk of commercial surrogacy revival: Critics argue liberalising eligibility may inadvertently open doors to exploitation of surrogate mothers and a resurgence of commercial surrogacy in disguised form.
  2. Resource and monitoring constraints: Greater eligibility implies more oversight burden on regulatory infrastructure (ART clinics, surrogacy boards, monitoring of insurance/compensation).
  3. State interest in regulation: The restriction can be defended as within the State’s margin of appreciation to regulate surrogacy in public interest, preserving dignity of women and children.
  4. Potential slippery slope: Expanding eligibility might raise questions about single individuals, LGBTQ+ couples or live-in partners accessing surrogacy, aspects the law currently restricts.

Conclusion

The surrogacy debate in India reflects the evolving tension between state regulation and personal autonomy. While the law rightly seeks to prevent exploitation and commercialisation, it must not overlook the constitutional promise of reproductive freedom and equality. A more inclusive, rights-based interpretation, sensitive to medical realities like secondary infertility, would uphold both ethical safeguards and individual dignity, aligning the law with India’s vision of gender justice and compassionate governance.

Value Addition: Surrogacy Law in India

Legal Framework:

Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021

  • Objective: Regulate surrogacy procedures, prohibit commercial surrogacy, and ensure ethical practices in assisted reproduction.
  • Type allowed: Only altruistic surrogacy (no monetary compensation except medical expenses and insurance).
    • Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021
  • Objective: Regulate ART clinics and banks; maintain records, screening, and ethical standards for gamete donation and IVF processes.
  • Together, these Acts create a twin legal framework governing all forms of medically assisted reproduction in India.

Key Provisions of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021

  1. Eligibility of intending couple:
    • Must be Indian citizens, legally married, and aged:
      • Husband: 26–55 years
      • Wife: 23–50 years
    • Must possess a certificate of infertility from a District Medical Board.
    • Must not have any surviving child (biological, adopted, or through surrogacy), except if the child is mentally/physically challenged or suffers a life-threatening disorder.
  2. Eligibility of surrogate mother:
    • Must be a married woman with a child of her own.
    • Age limit: 25–35 years.
    • Can act as a surrogate only once in her lifetime.
    • Must be a close relative of the intending couple.
    • Must obtain a certificate of medical and psychological fitness.
  3. National and State Surrogacy Boards: Oversee implementation, formulate policies, and ensure ethical compliance.
  4. Penal provisions:
    • Commercial surrogacy, sale/purchase of human embryos, and exploitation of surrogate mothers attract imprisonment up to 10 years and fine up to ₹10 lakh.

Objectives and Rationale

  1. Prevent commercial exploitation: Protects poor women from being coerced into surrogacy for financial gain.
  2. Ensure child welfare: Guarantees the child’s legal status and parentage from birth.
  3. Promote ethical medical practices: Prevents unregulated fertility clinics and misuse of technology.
  4. Align with constitutional morality: Balances individual reproductive rights with social ethics and public health considerations.

Judicial and Policy Developments

  1. SC observations (2023–2025):
    • Examining secondary infertility cases to test whether barring surrogacy for a second child violates reproductive autonomy under Article 21.
    • Previously allowed age relaxation for couples with frozen embryos prior to enactment of the Act.
  2. Delhi High Court (2023): Directed the government to reconsider rules preventing single women or widows from accessing surrogacy, citing discrimination concerns.
  3. Policy evolution: Shift from the 2015 ban on foreign commercial surrogacy to a 2021 framework permitting only altruistic domestic surrogacy.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2023] Explain the constitutional perspectives of Gender Justice with the help of relevant constitutional provisions and case laws.

Linkage: This question is key as it tests understanding of Articles 14, 15 and 21 on women’s equality and autonomy. This is central to debates like the Surrogacy Act 2021, which restricts reproductive choice and raises issues of bodily rights and gender justice.

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Electoral Reforms In India

Why the nomination process needs reform

Explained | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Representation Of People's Act

Introduction

The Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951, empowers the Election Commission of India (ECI) and returning officers to scrutinize nominations to ensure candidates meet legal qualifications. However, excessive procedural formalism has made nomination scrutiny a potential chokepoint where even minor clerical errors can disqualify legitimate contenders. This procedural rigidity, instead of filtering unqualified candidates, has evolved into a tool of exclusion, undermining electoral fairness and the voter’s right to choice, a core tenet of representative democracy.

Why is the Nomination Process in News?

A young woman from Darda Nagar Haveli recently had her nomination for a municipal election rejected without hearing or clarification, sparking outrage. The issue resonates nationally because it reveals how India’s nomination process. Once a procedural safeguard now functions as a gatekeeping mechanism, often silencing genuine candidates on technical grounds. This marks a sharp contrast with the intended democratic spirit of the RPA and represents a major procedural failure in the electoral framework.

How Does India’s Nomination Process Work?

  1. Legal Framework: Governed by Section 33 to 36 of the RPA, 1951.
  2. Returning Officer’s Power: The RO decides on validity; their decision is final at the nomination stage.
  3. Grounds for Rejection: Nomination can be rejected for “defective or incomplete declaration,” even if trivial.
  4. Judicial Context: The Resurgence India v. Election Commission (2014) case held that a wrong declaration is disqualifiable, but an incomplete one is not. Yet, in practice, both are often treated alike.

What Are the Problems in the Existing Process?

  1. Excessive Proceduralism
    • Focus on compliance over intent: The system overemphasizes technical correctness of forms rather than substantive eligibility.
    • Example: Minor errors like mismatched affidavits, late filings, or missing entries in Form 26 (assets/liabilities) can lead to disqualification.
  2. Discretionary Power and Arbitrary Rejection
    • Unilateral authority: ROs can reject nominations without appeal or review, creating room for bias or manipulation.
    • Violation of Article 326: Denies both the candidate’s right to contest and the voter’s right to choose.
  3. Delay and Lack of Rectification
    • No correction window: Candidates have no opportunity to correct clerical errors before rejection.
    • Contrast: Countries like the UK and Canada allow rectification before the final list is published.
  4. Facilitation vs Filtration
    • Wrong design philosophy: The nomination process should facilitate participation, not filter out candidates on hyper-technical grounds.
    • Outcome: Bureaucratic compliance is rewarded over democratic legitimacy.

How Have Other Democracies Addressed This?

  1. UK Model: Allows candidates to correct nomination papers within a defined time.
  2. Canada: Uses a post-scrutiny correction period to avoid unjust disqualifications.
  3. United States: Courts can overturn wrongful exclusions promptly through expedited hearings.

These systems treat nomination scrutiny as an inclusive process ensuring access, not exclusion, emphasizing facilitation over filtration.

What Can Be Done to Reform the Process?

  1. Institutional Reform
    • Independent Review Mechanism: Introduce an appeal or review system within 24 hours for rejected nominations.
    • Digital Scrutiny System: Online form submissions and auto-validation to reduce human error and bias.
  2. Procedural Reforms
    • Correction Period: Allow 48-hour correction for minor defects, akin to GST return rectifications.
    • Uniform Scrutiny Guidelines: Draft model SOPs by the Election Commission for all states.
  3. Accountability Reforms
    • Recordable Decisions: ROs must record written reasons for rejections; such records should be reviewable by the ECI.
    • Transparency Measures: Make all nominations, scrutiny notes, and rejections publicly available online.

Conclusion

India’s electoral democracy must evolve from a bureaucratic to a participatory model. The nomination process, meant to protect electoral integrity, should not become an instrument of disenfranchisement. Reform should focus on substantive eligibility, procedural fairness, and digital transparency. This ensures that every qualified citizen has a fair opportunity to contest preserving the spirit of democracy envisioned in the Constitution.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2017] To enhance the quality of democracy in India, the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful?

Linkage: Electoral reforms in specific and Election Commission in particular is a recurring theme in UPSC mains exam. This 2017 PYQ covers procedural and legal reforms including nomination scrutiny, transparency in funding, and fair competition.

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Electoral Reforms In India

Right to Vote NOT same as Freedom of Voting: Centre

| Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

Why in the News?

The Union Government has submitted before the Supreme Court that the ‘right to vote’ is distinct from the ‘freedom of voting’.

About the Case and Centre’s Affidavit:

  • Petition: Filed by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
  • Context: Concerns Section 53(2) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951, which allows uncontested candidates to be declared elected without polling.
  • Core Challenge: Argues that uncontested elections deny voters the right to dissent through NOTA, violating Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
  • Centre’s Argument: Draws a distinction between the “Right to Vote” (statutory) and “Freedom of Voting” (fundamental right).
  • Legal Basis:
    • Right to Vote – Granted by Section 62 of RPA, 1951, subject to statutory limits.
    • Freedom of Voting – A form of free expression under Article 19(1)(a), as held in PUCL v. Union of India (2003).
  • Government’s Position: The freedom of voting exists only when a poll occurs; in uncontested elections, no poll means no expressive act under Article 19.

Legal Reasoning by the Government:

  • Poll Dependency: Freedom of voting arises only during active polling; without a poll, no expressive right is engaged.
  • Statutory Framework:
    • Section 53(1) – Poll required when candidates exceed seats.
    • Sections 53(2) & 53(3) – If candidates ≤ seats, no poll needed; candidate declared elected.
  • NOTA’s Legal Status: NOTA is not a “candidate” under Section 79(b); it is merely an expression option, not an electoral participant.
  • Administrative Rationale: Holding polls solely to include NOTA would waste resources and delay electoral outcomes.
  • EC’s View: The Election Commission concurred, treating NOTA as a candidate would need legislative amendment.
  • Empirical Data: Only 9 uncontested elections since 1951, making such instances rare exceptions in Indian democracy.

About Right to Vote in India:

  • Overview: It is also known as suffrage, allows citizens to elect their representatives in democratic institutions.
  • Constitutional Basis: Guaranteed under Article 326 of the Constitution of India, which provides for universal adult franchise.
  • Eligibility: Every citizen of India aged 18 and above is entitled to vote, unless disqualified by law.
  • Supervision: Organised and overseen by the Election Commission of India.
  • Supporting Laws:
    • Representation of the People Act, 1950: Defines voter eligibility and grounds for disqualification.
    • Representation of the People Act, 1951: Governs the procedures for conducting elections.
  • Current Legal Status: : It is legally a statutory right.
  • Constitutional Context: It is shaped by constitutional provisions but does not hold the status of a fundamental right.

Judicial Interpretation:

  • N.P. Ponnuswami v. Returning Officer (1952): Declared the Right to Vote as a statutory right.
  • Jyoti Basu v. Debi Ghosal (1982): Reiterated that the Right to Vote is neither a fundamental right nor a common law right.
  • People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India (2003): Recognised the Right to Vote as at least a constitutional right.
  • Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006): Held that the Right to Vote continues to be a statutory right.
  • Raj Bala v. State of Haryana (2015): Recognised the Right to Vote as a constitutional right.
  • Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023):
    • Majority View: Right to Vote is a statutory right.
    • Dissenting Opinion by Justice Ajay Rastogi:
      • Linked the Right to Vote with the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a).
      • Considered it essential to free and fair elections and thus part of the basic structure of the Constitution.

Back2Basics: Other Types of Rights in India

Description Enforceability
Natural Rights Inherent and inalienable rights (e.g., life, liberty); not directly enforceable unless linked to fundamental rights. Indirectly through Fundamental Rights
Fundamental Rights Guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution (e.g., right to equality, speech, life). Enforceable in Supreme Court under Article 32
Constitutional Rights Rights given in the Constitution but outside Part III (e.g., property, trade). Enforceable under Article 226 via High Courts
Statutory Rights Granted by ordinary laws (e.g., MGNREGA, Forest Rights Act, Food Security Act). Enforceable as per respective legislations

 

[UPSC 2017] Right to vote and to be elected in India is a:

Options: (a) Fundamental Right (b) Natural Right (c) Constitutional Right* (d) Legal Right

 

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CAG plans to create two new cadres for more centralisation

Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

Why in the News?

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India approved two new Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD) cadres, the Central Revenue Audit and Central Expenditure Audit, effective from 1 January 2026.

About the New Cadres:

  • Objective: Designed to build deeper professional expertise in auditing Central receipts and expenditures, streamline manpower management, and reduce dependence on regional deployments.
    1. Central Revenue Audit (CRA): Focuses on auditing Central Government revenues, including direct taxes, indirect taxes, customs, excise, and non-tax receipts. It ensures compliance, accuracy, and transparency in revenue administration.
    2. Central Expenditure Audit (CEA): Concentrates on auditing Central Government expenditures, assessing legality, efficiency, and prudence in public spending across ministries and departments.
  • Impact: The reform consolidates around 4,000 audit professionals (out of a total CAG strength of ~42,000), improving manpower flexibility, domain expertise, and data-driven audit capabilities.
  • Significance: Marks a major shift toward centralised auditing, ensuring a uniform approach to the examination of national finances and reinforcing accountability in public administration.

About the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India:

  • Overview: Established under Article 148, the CAG heads the Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD) and acts as guardian of public finance.
  • Legal Framework: Functions under the CAG (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971, amended in 1976, 1984, and 1987.
  • Appointment & Tenure:
    • Appointed by the President under warrant and seal.
    • Tenure – Six years or until age 65, whichever earlier.
    • Removal – Same as a Supreme Court judge, requiring special majority in Parliament.
  • Independence Safeguards:
    • Salary and expenses charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.
    • No reappointment to government posts after retirement.
    • No minister can defend the CAG in Parliament.
  • Duties & Powers:
    • Audits Consolidated Funds of the Union, States, and UTs.
    • Examines PSUs, autonomous bodies, and grant-in-aid institutions.
    • Submits reports to the President, later examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
  • Role & Importance: Serves as the watchdog of public finance, conducting regulatory and propriety audits to ensure legality and efficiency in expenditure.
  • International Role: Currently the External Auditor for IAEA (2022–2027) and FAO (2020–2025), enhancing India’s global audit leadership.
[UPSC 2012] In India, other than ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and for intended purpose, what is the importance of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)?

1. CAG exercises exchequer control on behalf of the Parliament when the President of India declares national emergency/financial emergency

2. CAG reports on the execution of projects or programmes by the ministries are discussed by the Public Accounts Committee.

3. Information from CAG reports can be used by investigating agencies to press charges against those who have violated the law while managing public finances.

4. While dealing with the audit and accounting of government companies, CAG has certain judicial powers for prosecuting those who violate the law.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1, 3 and 4 only  (b) 2 only  (c) 2 and 3 only * (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

 

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State of Food and Agriculture Report, 2025

IOCR | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Major Crops & Cropping Patterns

Why in the News?

The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) Report 2025, released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on 3 November 2025, highlights the alarming global impact of human-induced land degradation.

About the SOFA Report:

  • Goal: Aims to help governments design sustainable land management and food security policies.
  • Publication: Released annually by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations as one of its flagship analytical reports.
  • Focus (2025 Edition): Examines human-induced land degradation and its effects on agricultural productivity, poverty, and ecosystem stability.
  • Analytical Scope: Integrates soil data, land use patterns, crop yields, and socioeconomic indicators to identify global vulnerability hotspots.

Key Global Findings (2025):

  • Population Exposure: Around 1.7 billion people live in land-degraded regions with declining agricultural output.
  • Deforestation Drivers: Agricultural expansion remains the cause of nearly 90% of global forest loss.
  • Land Use Trends (2001–2023): Global agricultural land shrank by 78 mha (–2%); cropland increased by 78 mha, while pastures declined by 151 mha.
  • Land Abandonment: About 3.6 mha of cropland is abandoned annually due to soil degradation.
  • Restoration Potential: Reversing 10% of degraded cropland could feed 154 million people yearly; restoring abandoned land could feed 476 million.
  • Vulnerability Hotspots: Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia face the highest overlap of degradation, poverty, and child malnutrition.
  • Farm Structure Inequality: Small farms (<2 ha) constitute 85% of all farms but hold only 9% of farmland; large farms (>1,000 ha) control nearly 50% of it.
  • Degradation Masking: Large farms offset degradation through high input use, while smallholders face disproportionate yield losses.

India-specific Insights:

  • Overview: India among countries with highest yield losses due to human-driven land degradation.
  • Regional Impact: Eastern and southern India worst affected owing to dense population and intensive cropping.
  • Major Causes: Include soil erosion, nutrient depletion, deforestation, and over-irrigation.
  • FAO Recommendations:
    • Scale up sustainable land management, soil health, and watershed programs.
    • Promote precision farming, agroforestry, and organic inputs for soil restoration.
    • Strengthen smallholder resilience through credit, technology, and market access.
    • Integrate land restoration with national missions like PM-KUSUM and PMKSY for long-term sustainability.
[UPSC 2024] Consider the following statements:

1. India is a member of the International Grains Council.

2. The country needs to be a member of the International Grains Council for exporting or importing rice and wheat.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Options: (a) 1 only* (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

 

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Land Reforms

Watandari System of Land Revenue

Prelims Only | History | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History

Why in the News?

An inquiry has been ordered into a Pune land deal over alleged irregularities and undervaluation of 40 acres of a Watandari land.

What is the Watan / Watandari System?

  • Overview: A hereditary land tenure and revenue-rights system once prevalent in Maharashtra and the Deccan, granting Watan lands to individuals or families for performing state or village services.
  • Historical Origin: Evolved under the Rashtrakutas, Deccan Sultanates, and Mughals to institutionalise local governance through hereditary offices.
  • Purpose: Created to compensate local officials and functionaries (like village heads, accountants, or priests) through land revenue rights rather than direct salaries.
  • Administrative Role: Integrated local elite families into the state’s fiscal system, ensuring continuity of governance and tax collection.
  • Socio-Economic Character: Reflected the fusion of land, caste, and service, forming a semi-feudal agrarian order at the village level.

Key Features of the Watan System:

  • Hereditary Tenure: Watan rights and duties passed from one generation to another, often within the same lineage.
  • Service-Based Grant: Land given as compensation for hereditary duties– administrative, military, or religious, performed for the state.
  • Watandars: Holders included Patils, Kulkarnis, Deshmukhs, Josis, and Purohits, each tied to specific village roles.
  • Non-Transferability: Watan lands were non-saleable and non-alienable, as tenure depended on continued public service.
  • Revenue Rights: Watandars retained a share of village revenue in lieu of fixed payment, ensuring local autonomy.
  • Caste-Linked Hierarchy: Reinforced hereditary privilege and caste dominance within village administration.
  • Decline and Inefficiency: Over time, hereditary claims caused disputes, mismanagement, and reduced accountability.
[UPSC 2024] With reference to revenue collection by Cornwallis, consider the following statements:
1. Under the Ryotwari Settlement of revenue collection, the peasants were exempted from revenue payment in case of bad harvests or natural calamities.
2. Under the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, if the Zamindar failed to pay his revenues to the state on or before the fixed date, he would be removed from his Zamindari.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only* (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

 

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Foreign Policy Watch: India-Africa

Civil War in Sudan

World Mapping | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Effect Of Policies & Politics Of World On India'S Interests

Why in the News?

The United Nations Secretary-General has warned that the civil war in Sudan is “spiralling out of control” after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized the strategic Darfur city of El-Fasher.

Civil War in Sudan

About the Civil War in Sudan:

  • Outbreak: Began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti).
  • Causes: Rooted in Sudan’s failed democratic transition after the 2019 overthrow of Omar al-Bashir and the October 2021 military coup.
  • Immediate Trigger: Power struggle over RSF integration into the national army under the proposed political framework agreement.
  • Conflict Spread: Fighting engulfed Khartoum, Omdurman, and Darfur, causing massive civilian casualties and infrastructure collapse.
  • Humanitarian Toll: Over 8.5 million displaced, famine conditions emerging, and public health systems near total breakdown.
  • Atrocities: Both sides accused of war crimes, ethnic killings, and looting, particularly in Darfur.
  • Territorial Shift: RSF’s capture of El-Fasher (2025) consolidated its control over western Sudan.
  • Foreign Actors: Egypt supports SAF; UAE and Russia’s Wagner Group back RSF, fuelling proxy dynamics.

What Lies Ahead?

  • Risk of Partition: Sudan may split RSF holding the west, SAF dominating the northeast, leading to de-facto fragmentation.
  • Regional Destabilisation: Prolonged conflict could spill into the Horn of Africa and Red Sea corridor, worsening insecurity.
  • Political Outlook: Civilian transition appears remote; both factions remain focused on military dominance.
  • Economic Collapse: Inflation above 250%, agricultural failure deepening food insecurity.
  • Regional Impact: Refugee influx threatens Chad, South Sudan, and Ethiopia with cross-border instability.
[UPSC 2024] Consider the following pairs: Country Reason for being in the news
1. Argentina Worst economic crisis
2. Sudan War between the country’s regular army and paramilitary forces
3. Turkey Rescinded its membership of NATO
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Options: (a) Only one pair (b) Only two pairs* (c) All three pairs (d) None of the pairs

 

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Global Study on Biomass Movement

Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Why in the News?

A new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution highlights how species mobility, measured as biomass movement, shapes ecosystems and reflects human ecological dominance.

About the Concept of Biomass Movement:

  • Overview: Biomass movement is the product of a species’ total biomass and the distance it travels annually, representing the mass of living matter displaced across ecosystems each year.
    • Biomass movement = (Total biomass of a species) × (Distance it travels annually).
  • Purpose: Quantifies how living organisms contribute to nutrient transport, seed dispersal, and energy flow through movement.
  • Comparative Metric: Enables cross-species comparison of ecological influence via mobility, bridging animal ecology and global biogeography.
  • Analytical Value: Provides a standardised ecological indicator to study both natural migrations and human-induced mobility patterns.
  • Anthropocene Context: Serves as a unified measure of ecological and energetic impact in a human-dominated epoch.
  • Scientific Basis: Concept explored in Nature Ecology & Evolution (2025) to assess species-level and anthropogenic movement on a global scale.

Key Highlights with Example:

  • Arctic Tern: Weighing ~100 g, travels ~90,000 km annually (Arctic–Antarctica circuit), the longest animal migration known.
  • Collective Biomass Movement: Two million terns contribute only 0.016 gt/km/yr, due to low body mass despite vast distances.
  • Grey Wolf: Records 0.03 gt/km/yr, higher due to larger body size and wider terrestrial range.
  • Serengeti Migration: Over a million wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras generate biomass movement 20× greater than wolves.
  • Human Parallel: The total biomass moved in the FIFA World Cup equals that of major animal migrations, highlighting scale disparity between species.

Human Biomass Movement and Its Consequences:

  • Magnitude: Humans move an estimated ~4,000 gt/km/yr, the largest on Earth, 40× greater than all wild land mammals combined.
  • Mobility Patterns: Average human travels 30 km/day, mostly motorised, 65% by cars/motorcycles, 10% by air, 5% by rail.
  • Economic Disparity: Two-thirds of total human mobility occurs in high- and upper-middle-income countries, reflecting global inequality.
  • Ecological Effects: Drives carbon emissions, urban sprawl, resource depletion, and land fragmentation.
  • Marine Decline: Marine animal mobility has halved since 1850 due to industrial fishing and whaling.
  • Livestock Factor: Domesticated cattle show biomass movement comparable to humans, indicating the ecological weight of livestock farming.
  • Wildlife Contrast: Combined biomass movement of all wild land mammals (excluding bats) is only 30 gt/km/yr, underscoring human dominance.
  • Anthropocene Insight: Demonstrates that human and domesticated animal mobility now defines Earth’s biogeochemical and ecological motion.

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Electoral Reforms In India

[6th November 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The malleable Code of Conduct

op-ed snap | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Representation Of People's Act

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2022] Discuss the role of the Election Commission of India in the light of the evolution of the Model Code of Conduct.

Linkage: It explores how the Election Commission’s authority evolved through the MCC. It assesses the effectiveness in upholding electoral fairness amid growing political violations.

Mentor’s Comment

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) represents India’s democratic conscience. It is a self-imposed ethical framework ensuring that elections are fought on fairness, not power misuse. Yet, the political ingenuity in bypassing it reflects a deeper erosion of moral restraint in governance. With recent welfare disbursements in Bihar triggering debate, the MCC stands at a crossroads between relevance and redundancy.

Introduction

The Model Code of Conduct is an ethical framework evolved through consensus among political parties to ensure level competition during elections. It prevents the misuse of official machinery, state resources, and authority to influence voters. However, repeated violations especially by governments announcing pre-poll cash transfers or populist projects show that while the MCC binds in letter, its spirit is increasingly compromised.

Why in the News

The Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana (MMRY) launched in Bihar in August 2025 has reignited the debate over MCC violations. Cash disbursements continued into late October and early November, overlapping with the election schedule. Though legally permissible, the scheme’s timing tilted public perception toward favouring the ruling party, raising serious concerns about the sanctity of the electoral process. The controversy marks another instance where governments use public funds to gain electoral mileage, undermining the spirit of the MCC.

Genesis and Purpose of the MCC

  1. Origin and Evolution: The MCC was first used during the 1960 Assembly elections in Kerala, and later adopted nationwide by the Election Commission of India (ECI) during the 1962 general elections.
  2. Consensus Document: It was not enacted by Parliament but evolved through agreement among political parties.
  3. Formal Enforcement: The Model Code of Conduct was first issued by the Election Commission of India under the title of ‘Minimum Code of Conduct’ on September 26, 1968 during the Mid-Term Elections 1968-69. The code was further revised in 1979, 1982, 1991 and 2013
  4. Core Purpose: Ensures free, fair, and peaceful elections by preventing misuse of government machinery and undue influence over voters.

When It Is Applicable and Who Enforces It

  1. Trigger Point: The MCC comes into effect immediately from the date the Election Commission announces the election schedule.
  2. Duration: It remains in force until the declaration of election results.
  3. Enforcing Authority: The Election Commission of India is the sole authority for its enforcement and interpretation.
  4. Withdrawal: The MCC automatically ceases once the results are officially declared by the ECI.

What Gets Suspended Under the MCC

  1. Policy Announcements: Ministers and authorities cannot announce new projects, financial grants, or inaugurate schemes that may influence voters.
  2. Public Advertisements: No use of government funds for publicity of achievements or campaigns during this period.
  3. Transfers and Appointments: Major administrative transfers or appointments in departments are prohibited unless approved by the EC.
  4. Use of Official Machinery: Government vehicles, buildings, and personnel cannot be used for electioneering.
  5. Foundation Stones or Inaugurations: These are disallowed if they could project partisan benefit.

What Is Permitted During MCC

  1. Ongoing Projects: Continuing existing schemes and projects (initiated before MCC enforcement) is allowed if there’s no modification or new announcement.
  2. Routine Governance: Day-to-day administration and delivery of essential services can continue.
  3. Emergency Actions: Governments can act during natural disasters or emergencies with EC approval.
  4. Election Campaigning: Political parties are free to campaign, release manifestos, and address voters, provided they follow EC guidelines on ethics and expenditure.

The Challenge of “Violations in Spirit”

Despite the clarity of rules, violations persist:

  1. Cash Schemes: Governments frequently announce last-minute transfers to favourable groups.
  2. Symbolic Launches: Old projects are rebranded as new initiatives to gain media traction.
  3. Moral Erosion: Such acts violate the spirit of fairness, reducing elections to a contest of resource deployment rather than ideas.
  4. Quote Insight: As Shakespeare’s Hamlet said, the MCC is often “more honoured in the breach than in the observance.”

Legal Status and Enforcement Issues

  1. Voluntary Nature: The MCC is a moral code, not a legal statute.
  2. Legal Overlap: Specific violations may be prosecuted under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, or Indian Penal Code (IPC).
  3. 2013 Standing Committee View: Recommended making MCC legally binding, but EC preferred flexibility due to the short election window.
  4. Judicial Constraints: Courts find it difficult to act swiftly during elections, leaving real-time violations unchecked.

Impact on Democratic Integrity

  1. Erosion of Level Playing Field: Pre-poll welfare schemes distort voter perception.
  2. Loss of Trust: Frequent violations weaken public confidence in EC neutrality.
  3. Ethical Degradation: Turning elections into transactional exercises undermines constitutional morality.
  4. Institutional Burden: Constant MCC imposition hampers governance continuity, hence the push for simultaneous elections.

Way Forward

  1. Legal Backing with Flexibility: Grant partial statutory status to the MCC to enhance enforceability while retaining EC’s discretion for quick decisions during elections.
  2. Swift Adjudication Mechanism: Establish fast-track EC tribunals for resolving MCC violation complaints within days, not weeks.
  3. Transparent Public Disclosure: Mandate real-time publication of EC orders and violations to ensure accountability and deter misconduct.
  4. Institutional Empowerment: Strengthen EC’s independence by insulating it from executive interference in appointments and funding.
  5. Ethical Political Culture: Political parties should adopt internal codes of ethics and conduct public pledges to uphold MCC principles.
  6. Simultaneous Elections Debate: Explore synchronizing elections to reduce frequent MCC enforcement disruptions and policy paralysis.
  7. Civic Awareness: Promote voter education campaigns to build public pressure against MCC violations and ethical breaches.

Conclusion

The Model Code of Conduct is not just an election rulebook, it is a mirror reflecting the ethical health of Indian democracy. When leaders manipulate it, they erode not just electoral fairness but the foundational trust between citizen and state. The MCC must therefore be strengthened, through legal clarity, swift EC action, and moral political leadership, so that it remains a living instrument of democracy, not a symbolic ritual.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) Breakthrough

India AI: Governance Guidelines

Explained | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence has evolved from an assistive tool to an autonomous decision-maker, influencing governance, economy, security, and social life. Recognizing both its potential and perils, the Government of India, through MeitY’s drafting committee (July 2025), released the India AI Governance Guidelines.It is  rooted in the vision of “AI for All”. The framework aims to foster inclusive growth, innovation, and ethical use of AI, ensuring that India’s AI journey is safe, transparent, and globally credible.

Why in the News

For the first time, India has articulated a unified, principle-based framework on AI governance, a techno-legal and institutional roadmap aligning AI with constitutional values and national priorities. It promotes voluntary frameworks over strict regulation marking a shift from restraint to responsible innovation.

What are the Core Principles Guiding India’s AI Governance?

  1. Seven Sutras: Trust, People First, Innovation over Restraint, Fairness & Equity, Accountability, Understandable by Design, Safety, Resilience & Sustainability. These are adapted from the RBI’s FREE-AI Committee report and designed to be sector-neutral and technology-agnostic.
  2. Trust as Foundation: Builds confidence in AI systems by ensuring transparency, safety, and ethical use.
  3. People First: Emphasizes human oversight and empowerment, preventing machine dominance.
  4. Innovation over Restraint: Encourages experimentation with accountability, not prohibition.
  5. Fairness & Equity: Prevents algorithmic discrimination and digital exclusion.

How Does the Framework Promote AI Development and Infrastructure?

  1. Compute Expansion: Over 38,000 GPUs made available to startups and researchers at subsidized rates.
  2. AIKosh Data Platform: Houses 1,500 datasets and 217 models from 20 sectors, ensuring data accessibility with privacy.
  3. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Combines Aadhaar, UPI, and Bhashini for scalable, low-cost AI deployment.
  4. MSME Enablement: AI-linked loans via SIDBI & Mudra, tax rebates for certified AI adoption, and starter packs for sectors like textiles and logistics.

How Does India Address Risk and Regulation in AI?

  1. Balanced Regulation: No separate AI law yet existing laws (IT Act, DPDP Act, Copyright Act, etc.) govern AI harms.
  2. Key Risk Areas: Deepfakes, data poisoning, discrimination, loss of control, national security threats.
  3. India-specific Risk Framework: Classifies harms empirically and promotes voluntary, proportionate compliance.
  4. Content Authentication: Suggests watermarking and provenance tools aligned with global C2PA standards.

How Will Institutions Enforce AI Safety and Accountability?

  1. AI Governance Group (AIGG): Apex inter-ministerial body chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser, coordinating AI policy across ministries.
  2. Technology & Policy Expert Committee (TPEC): Offers domain expertise on law, data, security, and governance.
  3. AI Safety Institute (AISI): Anchors technical safety, risk research, and international collaborations like the Global Network of AI Safety Institutes.
  4. Accountability Measures:
    • Graded Liability System based on role and risk.
    • Transparency Reports, Grievance Redressal Systems, Peer Monitoring, and Self-certifications for compliance.

What is India’s Global and Long-term Vision for AI Governance?

  1. Foresight & Diplomacy: Positions India as a voice of the Global South in AI governance debates (G20, UN, OECD).
  2. AI Incident Reporting System: Centralised database tracking AI harms for national security and regulatory learning.
  3. Techno-Legal Architecture: Concepts like DEPA for AI Training embed consent and privacy by design.
  4. Action Plan:
    • Short-term: Build institutions and awareness.
    • Medium-term: Develop standards, risk frameworks, and legal clarity.
    • Long-term: Evolve global leadership and adaptive legal frameworks.

Conclusion

India’s AI Governance Guidelines represent a paradigm shift from regulation to enablement, balancing innovation with public trust. By rooting governance in human values, institutional cooperation, and digital infrastructure, India positions itself as a responsible AI power, one that prioritizes inclusivity, transparency, and resilience. The framework sets a precedent for the Global South, reflecting India’s vision of “AI for All, AI for Good”.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2023] e-governance, as a critical tool of governance, has ushered in effectiveness, transparency and accountability in governments. What inadequacies hamper the enhancement of these features?

Linkage: The AI Governance Guidelines integrate e-governance and AI to improve transparency, accountability, and citizen-centricity. This addresses the same governance challenges this question targets.

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Freedom of Speech – Defamation, Sedition, etc.

What constitutes Contempt of Court in India

Explained | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Executive & Judiciary

Introduction

Recent remarks made against the Chief Justice of India and the Supreme Court have sparked nationwide debate on whether such statements amount to contempt of court. This incident is significant as it goes beyond personal criticism, it questions the authority of India’s top court and raises issues regarding the balance between free speech and judicial independence. The spread of such remarks through social media amplifies their impact, prompting discussions about protecting the dignity of the judiciary while upholding democratic accountability.

Understanding the Concept of Contempt

  1. Constitutional Reference: The term ‘contempt of court’ appears in Article 19(2) as a valid ground for imposing reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech and expression.
  2. Lack of Procedural Guidelines: The Constitution does not specify how contempt proceedings should be initiated; these are governed by statutory provisions.
  3. Courts of Record: Under Articles 129 and 215, the Supreme Court and High Courts are designated as Courts of Record, implying their judgments serve as precedents and they possess the power to punish for contempt.

Types of Contempt and Their Legal Basis

  1. Governing Law: The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 provides the legal framework for contempt proceedings.
  2. Classification: Section 2(a) of the Act divides contempt into civil and criminal.
    • Civil Contempt: Wilful disobedience of any court judgment, decree, direction, or undertaking.
    • Criminal Contempt: Publication or act that:
      • Scandalizes or lowers the authority of any court.
      • Prejudices or interferes with judicial proceedings.
      • Obstructs the administration of justice.

How Contempt Differs from Mere Disobedience

  1. Broader Implication: Contempt extends beyond disobedience. It encompasses disruption of justice delivery and diminishing public faith in the judiciary.
  2. Objective: Ensures that the judicial process remains uninfluenced and the authority of courts remains intact.
  3. Public Order Impact: Any act that weakens confidence in the justice system indirectly threatens the rule of law.

Freedom of Criticism vs Judicial Dignity

  1. Legitimate Criticism: The law recognizes that fair criticism of judicial decisions is not contempt.
  2. Boundary of Legality: Criticism crosses into contempt when it transgresses limits of fairness, becomes malicious, or undermines the authority of the court.
  3. Balance Required: Maintaining equilibrium between transparency and respect for institutions is vital to constitutional morality.

Significance of Recent Controversy

  1. Erosion of Judicial Authority: Remarks against the Chief Justice are not just personal; they symbolically attack the institution itself.
  2. Amplification via Social Media: Online circulation transforms isolated opinions into mass narratives, posing greater risks to judicial credibility.
  3. Trigger for Debate: Highlights the need for clear boundaries between criticism, activism, and contempt, particularly in digital public discourse.

Conclusion

Contempt of court serves as a constitutional safeguard for maintaining judicial integrity and authority. However, in a democracy, constructive criticism is vital for institutional reform. The challenge lies in ensuring that such criticism remains responsible, reasoned, and respectful. As public discourse migrates online, India’s legal system must re-examine the contours of contempt to preserve both judicial dignity and freedom of speech, two essential pillars of constitutional morality.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2019] Do you think that the Constitution of India does not accept the principle of strict separation of powers rather it is based on the principle of checks and balances? Explain.

Linkage: This topic is important for both Prelims and Mains. While direct questions can be asked in both, in the mains examination it can be well integrated into various judicial topics. Like in this 2019 question, contempt jurisdiction is part of this checks-and-balances system. Judicial contempt powers are mechanisms for internal checks within the democratic structure.

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Panchayati Raj Institutions: Issues and Challenges

Mayor in India

Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Panchayats & Local Bodies

Why in the News?

Zohran Mamdani of Indian-origin has been elected as the mayor of New York City.

Mayor in India:

  • Overview: The Mayor serves as the head of a Municipal Corporation, responsible for urban governance, civic infrastructure, and local service delivery in large cities.
  • Basis: Institutionalised under the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which gave constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and transferred 18 functional subjects to them.
  • Administrative Framework: Municipal corporations function under state municipal laws, operating under the supervision of state urban development departments.
  • Historical Context: The first municipal corporation was created in Madras (1688), followed by Bombay and Calcutta (1762) under British rule.
  • Evolution of the office: The idea of an elected municipal President was first introduced through Lord Mayo’s Resolution (1870). The present form of local self-government was shaped by Lord Ripon’s Resolution (1882), earning him the title “Father of Local Self-Government in India.”
  • Election and Tenure:
    • Direct Election: Citizens directly elect the Mayor in cities like Bhopal, Indore, and Jaipur.
    • Indirect Election: Elected councillors choose the Mayor in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru.
    • Tenure: Varies from 1 to 5 years, depending on state-specific legislation.
  • Powers and Functions:
    • Ceremonial Role: Acts as the first citizen of the city, representing it in official and public functions.
    • Presiding Officer: Chairs meetings of the Municipal Corporation and ensures smooth deliberations.
    • Limited Executive Power: Administrative authority lies with the Municipal Commissioner (IAS officer) appointed by the state government.
    • Policy and Representation: Serves as a political leader and civic advocate, voicing urban development concerns.

How a Mayor in India differ from a Mayor in the U.S.?

India U.S.
System Type Parliamentary model under state supervision Executive or presidential city model
Election Usually indirectly elected by councillors Directly elected by citizens
Tenure 1–5 years, varies by state Fixed 4-year term, renewable once
Administrative Power Ceremonial, executive power with Commissioner Full executive control over departments and budget
Financial Authority Dependent on state approval Autonomous budgetary power (e.g., NYC manages $120+ bn)
Legislative Role Chairs council meetings Can veto bills and issue executive orders
Autonomy Subordinate to state Semi-autonomous, independent within city jurisdiction
Nature of Office Symbolic and representational Powerful executive, city-level head of government

 

[UPSC 2024] Consider the following statements:

1. Powers of the Municipalities are given in Part IX A of the Constitution.

2. Emergency provisions are given in Part XVIII of the Constitution.

3. Provisions related to the amendment of the Constitution are given in Part XX of the Constitution.

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3*

 

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Indian Navy Updates

[pib] Indian Navy commissions INS Ikshak

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Achievements Of Indians In S&T

Why in the News?

The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Ikshak, the third Survey Vessel (Large) (SVL) and the first to be based at the Southern Naval Command, at Naval Base Kochi.

About INS Ikshak:

  • Overview: It is the third vessel of the Survey Vessel (Large) [SVL] class and the first to be based at the Southern Naval Command.
  • Series Lineage: Third ship in the SVL series, following INS Sandhayak and INS Nirdeshak, replacing older Sandhayak-class vessels.
  • Builder & Origin: Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd., Kolkata, under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, with over 80% indigenous content sourced from Indian MSMEs.
  • Name Meaning: Means ‘Guide’ in Sanskrit – symbolising its role in charting unexplored waters and strengthening maritime safety in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
  • Mission Role: Designed primarily for hydrographic surveys but also configured for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations and can serve as a hospital ship during crises.

Key Features:

  • Dimensions & Displacement: 110 m long, 16 m wide, 3,400-ton displacement, with crew capacity of ~231 personnel.
  • Propulsion & Speed: Powered by twin main engines and twin-shaft configuration; achieves 14 knots cruising speed, 18 knots maximum.
  • Survey Systems: Equipped with multi-beam echo sounder, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), four Survey Motor Boats (SMBs), and advanced oceanographic sensors for coastal and deep-water mapping.
  • Aviation Facility: Features a helicopter deck, extending its range, reconnaissance, and operational versatility.
  • Dual Role Capability: Convertible for HADR and medical missions, enhancing naval disaster-response capability.
  • Gender-Inclusive Design: India’s first survey vessel with dedicated accommodation for women officers and sailors.
[UPSC 2016] Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently?
Options: (a) Amphibious warfare ship
(b) Nuclear-powered submarine
(c) Torpedo launch and recovery vessel *
(d) Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

 

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