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  • The legal patchwork facing doxxing victims in India

    Why in the News?

    The online targeting of women protesters has highlighted the absence of a dedicated law against doxxing in India, forcing victims to rely on scattered legal provisions.

    What is Doxxing?

    • Doxxing is the unauthorised public disclosure of a person’s private or personal information online to harass, intimidate or threaten them.
    • It can lead to stalking, identity theft, threats and physical harm.

    Existing Legal Framework

    • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: Provisions relating to stalking, criminal intimidation and harassment.
    • Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000: Covers privacy violations and unauthorised disclosure of personal information.
    • Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021: Prescribe due diligence obligations for online platforms and provide safe harbour protection.

    Challenges

    • No specific offence for doxxing under Indian law.
    • Delays in content removal and prosecution.
    • Difficulty in fixing platform liability due to safe harbour provisions.
    • Rising digital threats to privacy and safety.

    Prelims Facts

    • The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 governs the processing of personal digital data but does not specifically criminalise doxxing.
    • Safe Harbour under Section 79 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 protects intermediaries from liability if they comply with due diligence requirements.

    [2024] Under which of the following Articles of the Constitution of India, has the Supreme Court of India placed the Right to Privacy?

    (a) Article 15

    (b) Article 16

    (c) Article 19

    (d) Article 21

  • India imposes Minimum Import Price on PVC resin to curb import dependence

    Why in the News?

    The Government has imposed a Minimum Import Price (MIP) of US$0.766/kg on PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Suspension Resin to protect domestic manufacturers from cheap imports.

    What is MIP?

    • Minimum Import Price (MIP) is the minimum price below which a product cannot be imported.
    • It protects domestic industries from low-priced imports.
    • Unlike anti-dumping duty, MIP applies to all imports, irrespective of the exporting country.

    What is DGTR?

    • The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) investigates unfair trade practices.
    • It recommends: Anti-dumping duties, Countervailing duties, and Safeguard measures

    Why was MIP Imposed?

    • Protect domestic PVC manufacturers from cheap imports.
    • Address import dependence due to insufficient domestic production.
    • Exemptions are available for:
      • Export Oriented Units (EOUs)
      • Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
      • Advance Authorisation Scheme imports.

    Challenges

    • Higher input costs for PVC-based industries.
    • Possible disputes at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
    • Does not address the domestic capacity gap.
    • Requires strict customs enforcement against under-invoicing.

    Prelims Facts

    • India uses MIP, anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty and safeguard duty as trade remedy measures.
    • PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is a widely used plastic in pipes, cables, packaging and construction.
    • DGTR functions under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

    [2020] With reference to the international trade of India at present, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1.India’s merchandise exports are less than its merchandise imports.
    2.India’s imports of iron and steel, chemicals, fertilisers and machinery have decreased in recent years.
    3.India’s exports of services are more than its imports of services.
    4.India suffers from an overall trade/current account deficit.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:
    a) 1 and 2 only
    b) 2 and 4 only
    c) 3 only
    d) 1, 3 and 4 only

  • The fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo

    Why in the News?

    The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing its largest Ebola outbreak, with 3,605 cases and 1,587 deaths, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine exists.

    What is a PHEIC?

    • A Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) highest level of global health alert.
    • Declared when an outbreak poses a cross-border public health risk and requires international coordination.

    Why is the Outbreak Difficult to Control?

    • Caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) strain, with no approved vaccine or treatment.
    • Ongoing conflict hampers movement of health workers and supplies.
    • Weak healthcare infrastructure and community distrust delay detection and isolation.

    Response Measures

    • Oxford ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine is undergoing clinical trials.
    • India has supplied emergency medicines to support relief efforts.
    • Surveillance, contact tracing and isolation remain the primary control measures.

    Prelims Facts

    • Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever caused by Ebolaviruses.
    • It spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids of humans or animals.
    • The Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) is one of the six known Ebola virus species.
    • The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

    [2025] With reference to monoclonal antibodies, consider the following:

    I. They are man-made proteins.

    II. They stimulate the patient’s immune system to fight the specific disease.

    III. They are produced using animal cells only.

    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    (a) I and II only

    (b) II and III only

    (c) I and III only

    (d) All the three

  • Centre asks states to set up exclusive NDPS courts

    Why in the News?

    The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed States and Union Territories to establish exclusive NDPS courts to tackle the backlog of nearly 39 lakh drug-related cases. However, 22 States are yet to comply.

    What is the NDPS Act?

    • The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 is India’s primary law to regulate and prohibit narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
    • The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is the apex agency for enforcement.
    • The Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) coordinates anti-drug efforts among Central and State agencies.

    Why Exclusive NDPS Courts?

    • Speed up disposal of nearly 39 lakh pending cases.
    • Ensure specialised and faster trials for drug offences.
    • Improve conviction rates and reduce judicial delays.

    Significance

    • Strengthens deterrence against drug trafficking.
    • Helps curb crimes linked to money laundering, organised crime and terror financing.
    • Enhances India’s internal security, especially along vulnerable border regions.

    Challenges

    • 22 States have not yet established exclusive NDPS courts.
    • Need for adequate judges, prosecutors and infrastructure.
    • Court reforms must be complemented by effective enforcement and rehabilitation.

    Is it Mandatory?

    • Legally: The NDPS Act empowers State Governments to establish Special Courts, but it does not make exclusive NDPS courts mandatory in every district.
    • Administratively: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has strongly directed States and Union Territories to establish exclusive NDPS courts due to the huge backlog. While this directive is not directly enforceable like a statute, States are expected to comply in the interest of effective criminal justice and internal security.

    Prelims Facts

    • NCORD was established in 2016 to improve inter-agency coordination against drug trafficking.
    • NDPS Act, 1985 replaced the Opium Act, 1857, the Opium Act, 1878, and the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930.
    • The NCB functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

    [2018, GS3, 15 marks] India’s proximity to two of the world’s biggest illicit opium-growing states has enhanced her internal security concerns. Explain the linkages between drug trafficking and other illicit activities such as gunrunning, money laundering and human trafficking. What counter-measures should be taken to prevent the same?”

  • Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan launched

    Why in the News?

    The government launched the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan, a nationwide anti-drug campaign from 28,000+ locations with a 100-week action plan to promote a drug-free youth for Viksit Bharat 2047.

    About the Campaign

    • A national drug awareness and demand reduction campaign targeting youth.
    • Launched simultaneously from 28,000+ locations.
    • Over 1 crore youth participated in the anti-drug pledge.
    • Includes a 100-week activity plan for sustained community engagement.

    Significance

    • Strengthens the demand reduction pillar of India’s anti-drug strategy.
    • Promotes awareness, prevention and rehabilitation alongside enforcement.
    • Supports the vision of a healthy workforce for Viksit Bharat 2047.

    Challenges

    • Sustaining community participation over 100 weeks.
    • Expanding de-addiction and counselling infrastructure.
    • Measuring the campaign’s long-term impact.
    • Success depends on parallel action against drug trafficking.

    Prelims Facts

    • Implemented under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS).
    • Complements the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE).
    • Focuses on awareness, prevention, rehabilitation and youth participation.

  • Nearly 94,000 government schools shut in a decade

    Why in the News?

    A NITI Aayog report shows that about 94,000 government schools closed over the past decade. While the government calls it school rationalisation, concerns have been raised over its impact on access to education and the Right to Education (RTE).

    Key Findings

    • Government school enrolment declined from 71% (2005) to 49.24% (2024-25).
    • The sharpest decline was seen in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.

    Government’s Stand vs Concerns

    Government’s Rationale

    • Merging low enrolment schools to improve teacher and resource utilisation.
    • Supported by the NEP 2020 concept of school complexes/clusters.

    Key Concerns

    • Increased travel distance, especially in rural and remote areas.
    • Greater impact on SC, ST, girl students and poor households.
    • May push disadvantaged families towards unaffordable private schools.

    Link with the Right to Education (RTE)

    • The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 guarantees a neighbourhood school for children aged 6 to 14 years.
    • School closures should not compromise this legal entitlement or equitable access.
    • Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) is India’s official school education database.

    [2018] Consider the following statements:

    1. As per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a State, a person would be required to possess the minimum qualification laid down by the concerned State Council of Teacher Education.

    2. As per the RTE Act, for teaching primary classes, a candidate is required to pass a Teacher Eligibility Test conducted in accordance with the National Council of Teacher Education guidelines.

    3. In India, more than 90% of teacher education institutions are directly under the State Governments.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 and 2

    (b) 2 only

    (c) 1 and 3

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • Census 2027 self-enumeration begins in Assam

    Why in the News?

    India has launched its first Digital Census with self enumeration starting in Assam. The online phase continues till 16 August, followed by House Listing from 17 August.

    What is the Census?

    The Census is the official collection of demographic, social and economic data of the population.

    Key Facts

    • Legal Basis: Census Act, 1948
    • Authority: Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs
    • Frequency: Every 10 years (Decennial)
    • Nature: Mandatory; information is kept confidential
    • Constitutional Status: Union Subject (Entry 69, Union List)

    What is Self Enumeration?

    Households can submit Census details online instead of depending solely on enumerators.

    Two Phases

    • House Listing: Housing and household details
    • Population Enumeration: Individual demographic details

    Significance

    • Improves data accuracy through digital verification.
    • Enables faster processing and publication.
    • Provides updated data for Delimitation, Welfare targeting, Reservation, Fiscal devolution, and Development planning
    • Replaces reliance on 2011 Census data after the delay of the 2021 Census.

    Prelims Facts

    • First Census: 1872 (non synchronous)
      • A non-synchronous census is a population count that is carried out at different times in different regions rather than all at once on a single date
    • First synchronous Census: 1881
      • A synchronous census is an official population count conducted simultaneously across an entire country within a specific, unified timeframe rather than at different times in different regions.
    • Conducted by Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India
    • Census falls under the Union List.

    [2009] Consider the following statements:

    1. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the density of the population of India has increased more than three times.

    2. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the annual growth rate (exponential) of the population of India has doubled.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

  • In Indo-Pacific, a steady projection of power, Quad, Great Nicobar

    Why in the News

    India has agreed to build a trilateral Track 1.5 dialogue mechanism with Japan and the Philippines and continues developing the $10 billion Great Nicobar Island Development Project near the Strait of Malacca. These moves mark a shift from India’s earlier cautious, ambiguity-preserving approach to the Indo-Pacific toward more visible geostrategic positioning, raising the question of whether India is emerging as a third power in the region alongside the United States and China.

    What is the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)?

    1. Quad: The Quad is a strategic dialogue between the United States, Japan, Australia and India, first conceived in 2007 and formally revived in 2017, working toward a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific without a permanent secretariat or headquarters.

    How has India’s engagement with the Indo-Pacific evolved under the current government?

    1. Summit participation: India’s Prime Minister has attended 12 ASEAN-India Summits, nine East Asia Summits, and all six Quad leader-level summits held since 2021.
    2. Bilateral visits: The Prime Minister has visited Japan eight times, Singapore five times, Indonesia four times and Australia three times over the past decade.
    3. Engagement with China: Despite bilateral differences, the Indian and Chinese leaders have crossed paths over 20 times in the last 12 years, though not all of these constituted serious engagements.

    Why did India historically avoid an assertive framing of its Indo-Pacific role?

    1. Deliberate ambiguity: While the US proposed “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” as the Quad’s motto, India added the word “inclusive,” leaving open the question of which countries the grouping might exclude.
    2. ASEAN Centrality: India proclaimed the concept of “ASEAN Centrality” for the Indo-Pacific at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in 2017, positioning Southeast Asian nations rather than any single power at the centre of the framework.
    3. China and Russia’s rejection: China and Russia refused to adopt the term “Indo-Pacific.” China’s foreign minister in 2018 dismissed it as an effort by Western powers to encircle and contain China.

    What signals a shift toward more assertive geostrategic positioning?

    1. Great Nicobar project: The $10 billion Great Nicobar Island Development Project sits just 40 nautical miles north of the Strait of Malacca, a route that carries around 100,000 ship crossings annually, 60% of them Chinese-flagged, positioning India’s own maritime infrastructure directly along a critical Chinese trade corridor.
    2. New trilateral mechanism: India formally agreed to build a Track 1.5 dialogue with Japan and the Philippines during the Japanese Prime Minister’s visit to Delhi in July, extending Indian engagement into the East and South China Seas, a traditionally tense maritime zone.
    3. Beyond trade and technology: These engagements involve defence deals and strategic maritime collaboration, not only economic cooperation.

    What does the rise in Japanese and South Korean defence spending show about the region’s security environment?

    1. Japan: Japan raised its defence budget to $58 billion last year, moving toward a 2027 target of 2% of GDP.
    2. South Korea: South Korea has increased its defence spending to almost $45 billion, with a target of 3.5% of GDP by 2035.
    3. Shared driver: Both increases reflect a regional assessment that US engagement in the Indo-Pacific is waning even as the challenge posed by China’s rise continues to grow.

    Conclusion

    India’s recent Indo-Pacific moves, from the Great Nicobar project to the new Japan-Philippines trilateral, mark a departure from its earlier gradualist posture built around ASEAN Centrality and deliberate ambiguity. Whether India can sustain this more assertive positioning while preserving its strategic autonomy remains unresolved.

    Back2Basics

    1. Quad: Formed as a concept in 2007, formally revived in 2017.
    2. Headquarters: No formal headquarters; it functions as a strategic dialogue rather than a treaty organisation.
    3. Mandate: Strategic dialogue between the US, Japan, Australia and India on maritime security, counter-terrorism and connectivity in the Indo-Pacific.
    4. Great Nicobar Island Development Project: A roughly $10 billion project on Great Nicobar Island approved in 2022, comprising an international container transshipment terminal, a greenfield international airport, a power plant and a township, and the subject of ongoing environmental and tribal rights concern over its impact on Nicobarese and Shompen communities and coastal biodiversity.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2020] ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)’ is transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in present times. Discuss.

    Linkage: The PYQ tests the Quad’s evolving role in the Indo-Pacific strategic architecture and regional security. The article highlights India’s more assertive Indo-Pacific strategy through the Quad, new minilateral partnerships, and maritime initiatives like Great Nicobar.

  • Tariff-free Scottish salmon under UK-India CETA

    Why in the News

    The first tariff free shipment of Scottish salmon reached Bengaluru on July 31 under the UK India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), eliminating India’s earlier 33 percent import tariff on the product. A single consignment marks the transition of a trade agreement from signed text into commercial reality, with industry estimating up to £130 million in additional export opportunity for Scotland’s salmon sector over the next decade.

    What is the UK India CETA?

    1. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA): CETA is the bilateral free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and India that eliminates or reduces tariffs across a wide range of goods and services traded between the two countries, recently operationalised as part of the broader India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

    Why does the tariff removal matter?

    1. Immediate price effect: Removing the 33 percent import tariff makes Scottish salmon significantly cheaper for Indian importers and retailers, directly affecting shelf pricing for consumers.
    2. Early proof of implementation: A commercial shipment moving within months of the agreement taking effect signals that CETA’s tariff schedules are being implemented on the ground, not just agreed on paper.
    3. Export opportunity for Scotland: Industry estimates suggest the tariff elimination could unlock up to £130 million in additional export opportunities for Scotland’s salmon sector over the next decade.

    What are the challenges to realising CETA’s full trade potential?

    1. Cold chain and logistics: Perishable goods such as fresh salmon require reliable cold chain logistics from the United Kingdom to Indian cities, infrastructure that must scale alongside tariff-driven demand growth.
    2. Domestic industry exposure: Cheaper imported salmon could pressure India’s own aquaculture and seafood sector as volumes scale beyond this early shipment.
    3. Uneven sector by sector implementation: Tariff elimination for individual products such as salmon does not guarantee equally smooth implementation across CETA’s other covered sectors, some of which involve more complex regulatory alignment.
    4. Consumer market development: Realising the full projected export opportunity depends on Indian consumer demand for premium imported seafood growing at the pace industry estimates assume.

    Conclusion

    The Scottish salmon shipment is an early, narrow proof point for CETA’s tariff provisions rather than evidence of the agreement’s full commercial impact. Subsequent months will show whether tariff elimination translates into sustained trade volumes across the agreement’s broader list of covered goods.

  • Beyond MSP: Farmers need income, not price support

    Why in the News

    Madhya Pradesh has raised its guaranteed procurement of summer moong at Minimum Support Price (MSP) from 25% to 60% of estimated yield, after farmers demanded the state’s declared MSP be honoured in practice, not left on paper. The concession exposes the deeper conflict between expanding price-support procurement, which is fiscally unsustainable for any state, and shifting toward direct income support that does not distort what farmers choose to grow.

    What is driving Madhya Pradesh’s decision to raise the procurement threshold?

    1. Price gap: Moong is wholesaling in mandis at about Rs 7,000 a quintal, well below the MSP of Rs 8,768 a quintal.
    2. Prior cap: The state had earlier guaranteed MSP procurement only for up to 1.2 quintals of yield per acre, since raised to 3 quintals.
    3. Unequal benefit: Farmers harvesting 6 to 8 quintals an acre, twice the state’s assessed average yield, still stand to lose the most on the extra output sold below MSP.
    4. Broader demand: The demand for MSP as a guaranteed entitlement is no longer confined to Punjab and Haryana’s wheat and rice growers. It now extends to pulses and oilseed farmers in states like Madhya Pradesh.

    Why is expanded physical procurement not a sustainable solution?

    1. Fiscal capacity: No state government, including Madhya Pradesh, has the resources to procure and stock all the moong or soyabean farmers bring for MSP sale.
    2. Existing surplus problem: Even in wheat and rice, where government agencies already hold stocks beyond the requirements of the public distribution system and welfare schemes, continued procurement adds to storage costs without matching need.
    3. Best available alternative still costly: Paying only the price difference between MSP and the market rate, rather than physically procuring the crop, is a cheaper alternative but still not a long-term sustainable solution.

    What alternative does the case for reform point to?

    1. Minimum Income Support (MIP): A per-acre direct cash transfer, described as Minimum Income Support (MIP), would guarantee farmers income without requiring the state to procure or store any crop.
    2. Market-aligned incentive: Once assured of an MIP, farmers would have the freedom to grow crops the market actually wants, rather than crops guaranteed a price floor.
    3. Complementary measures: Crop insurance and greater public investment in agricultural research and rural infrastructure are identified as the support structures that should accompany an MIP.
    4. Policy stance: Agricultural policy should complement markets rather than displace or distort them, an approach both MSP-based procurement and open-ended input subsidies have failed to deliver.

    What are the challenges to a Minimum Income Support (MIP) approach

    1. Land record dependence: A per-acre transfer requires accurate, updated land records, which many tenant farmers and sharecroppers lack access to.
    2. Moral hazard risk: A flat per-acre payment could be gamed through short-term land leasing arrangements designed solely to capture the transfer.
    3. State fiscal capacity still tested: An MIP still requires sustained budgetary commitment from state or central governments. Its affordability has not been demonstrated at the scale MSP procurement currently operates.
    4. Loss of price floor: Removing procurement-based price support exposes farmers fully to market price volatility, without the safety net an assured MSP purchase currently provides.
    5. Political resistance: Farmer groups that have organised around MSP as an entitlement may resist a transition away from procurement guarantees they have fought to expand.

    Conclusion

    Madhya Pradesh’s expanded moong procurement buys short-term calm but adds to a fiscal burden no state can sustain at scale. The alternative on the table, a per-acre Minimum Income Support transfer paired with crop insurance and rural investment, would let farmers respond to market signals instead of price guarantees, though its own implementation challenges remain unresolved.

    Back2Basics

    1. Minimum Support Price (MSP): A price floor announced by the central government for select crops, based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
    2. Coverage: MSP currently covers 22 crops, but assured physical procurement at scale is concentrated overwhelmingly in wheat and rice through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state procurement agencies.
    3. Pulses and oilseeds: Procurement of pulses and oilseeds like moong at MSP has historically been far more limited than for cereals, leaving a wider gap between announced MSP and actual market realisation for these crops.

    Committee/Report

    1. Ashok Dalwai Committee (Doubling Farmers’ Income): Shift focus from price support to income enhancement through diversification, value addition and market reforms.
    2. Shanta Kumar Committee (2015): Recommended restricting MSP procurement and replacing it with Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs) where feasible.

    Economic Survey

    1. Economic Survey 2016-17: Advocated replacing input subsidies with direct income transfers for better efficiency and lower market distortions.

    International Examples

    1. United States: Income support through Farm Bill programmes (Price Loss Coverage and crop insurance) rather than open-ended government procurement.
    2. European Union: Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) provides direct income payments largely decoupled from production, reducing production distortions.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2018] What do you mean by Minimum Support Price (MSP)? How will MSP rescue the farmers from the low-income trap?

    Linkage: The PYQ tests the role of MSP in ensuring remunerative prices and improving farmers’ incomes. The article examines the limitations of MSP-based procurement and the case for Minimum Income Support (MIP) as an alternative.

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