💥Join UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (July Batch) + XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to Mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

Search results for: “”

  • Recalling the landmark Shah Bano Case

    Why in the News?

    The upcoming Bollywood film revisits the historic Shah Bano case (1985), one of India’s most politically charged legal battles.

    Recalling the landmark Shah Bano Case

    Background of the Case:

    • Origin: In 1978, Shah Bano Begum, a 62-year-old Muslim woman from Indore, was divorced by her husband, Mohammad Ahmad Khan, a lawyer, via triple talaq after 43 years of marriage.
    • Legal Action: She filed for maintenance under Section 125 of the CrPC (1973), a secular law ensuring financial support for dependents unable to maintain themselves.
    • Husband’s Argument: Claimed that under Muslim personal law, his obligation ended after the iddat period (~3 months) and that payment of mahr (dower) fulfilled his duty.
    • Lower Court Ruling: Ordered payment of ₹25/month; the Madhya Pradesh High Court raised it to ₹179.20. Khan appealed to the Supreme Court, triggering the landmark 1985 judgment.

    Supreme Court Verdict of April 23, 1985:

    • Bench & Ruling: A five-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI Y.V. Chandrachud dismissed the appeal, upholding the High Court’s decision.
    • Secular Applicability: Held that Section 125 CrPC applies to all religions, as its purpose is to prevent destitution, not to regulate personal law.
    • Maintenance Beyond Iddat: Affirmed that a divorced Muslim woman is entitled to maintenance beyond the iddat period if she cannot sustain herself.
    • Religious Harmony: Cited Quranic verses to show consistency between Islamic principles and maintenance under secular law.
    • Uniform Civil Code (UCC): Expressed concern that Article 44 remained a “dead letter,” urging steps toward a common civil code.

    Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986:

    • Enactment: Passed after protests from Muslim organisations and AIMPLB, reversing the Shah Bano ruling.
    • Key Provision: Limited husband’s liability to maintenance during iddat, shifting later responsibility to relatives or Waqf Boards.
    • Judicial Interpretation:
      • Danial Latifi v. Union of India (2001) – Upheld the Act but read it progressively, requiring lump-sum payment within iddat for lifetime support.
      • Mohd. Abdul Samad v. State of Telangana (2024) – Reaffirmed that Muslim women may still claim relief under Section 125 CrPC, preserving the choice of remedy.

    Legacy and Significance:

    • Landmark Impact: Became a watershed case in India’s struggle between gender justice and religious identity.
    • Political Consequence: The 1986 Act was seen as appeasement politics, deepening the secularism debates.
    • Reform Catalyst: Revived the UCC discourse, influenced feminist legal reform, and reinforced constitutional morality.
    • Enduring Symbol: Continues to shape discussions on minority rights, women’s empowerment, and judicial activism in India’s plural legal framework.
    [UPSC 2020] Customs and traditions suppress reason, leading to obscurantism. Do you agree?

     

  • BRICS Pay and the Push to De-dollarize Global Finance

    Why in the News?

    Since 2014, BRICS nations have worked to cut dependence on the U.S. dollar, launching the New Development Bank (NDB), Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), and now BRICS Pay to promote local currency trade and rival the SWIFT system.

    BRICS Pay and the Push to De-dollarize Global Finance

    About BRICS Pay Initiative:

    • Overview: BRICS Pay is a proposed cross-border digital payment and settlement platform developed by the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) to facilitate trade in local currencies and reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar and the SWIFT network.
    • Origins: The idea emerged after the 2014 Fortaleza Summit, where BRICS established its own financial architecture, the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA).
    • Purpose: To enable direct financial transactions among member nations using local currencies, minimizing the role of Western-controlled financial systems and avoiding U.S.-led sanctions.
    • Development Path:
      • 2017: BRICS agreed to enhance currency cooperation via swaps, local currency settlements, and direct investments.
      • Early 2020s: The BRICS Payments Task Force (BPTF) was created to design interoperable systems.
      • 2024 Kazan Summit: Leaders highlighted strengthening of correspondent banking networks and settlements in local currencies under the BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative.
    • Prototype: A demo of BRICS Pay was unveiled in Moscow (October 2024), marking a concrete step toward implementation.
    • Supporting National Systems:
      • India: Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
      • China: Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS)
      • Russia: System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS)
      • Brazil: Pix instant payment system
    • Strategic Importance: The initiative seeks to establish a self-reliant financial network, bypass SWIFT, and enhance monetary sovereignty among emerging economies.

    Back2Basics: Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) System

    • Establishment: Founded in 1973 by 239 banks from 15 countries to standardize and secure cross-border financial communications.
    • Headquarters: La Hulpe, Belgium.
    • Nature: A messaging network, not a bank, it does not hold or transfer funds but enables secure interbank communication for financial transactions.
    • Coverage: Connects over 11,000 financial institutions across 200+ countries, making it the largest international payment messaging system.
    • Operation:
      • Assigns each member a Bank Identifier Code (BIC) of 8–11 characters.
      • Standardizes message formats to ensure seamless global financial communication.
      • Facilitates fund transfer instructions, trade settlements, and foreign exchange operations.
    • Governance:
      • Supervised by G10 central banks, the European Central Bank (ECB), and the National Bank of Belgium.
      • Managed by a 25-member board of directors, representing about 3,500 member institutions.
    • Strategic Role:
      • Forms the backbone of global finance, allowing efficient movement of capital.
      • Exclusion from SWIFT acts as a powerful economic sanction tool, isolating nations (e.g., Russia and Iran) from the international financial system.
    • Significance: SWIFT’s dominance reflects Western control over global finance, making it a central target for alternative networks like BRICS Pay, China’s CIPS, and Russia’s SPFS that seek a multipolar monetary order.

     

    [UPSC 2023] With reference to the Central Bank digital currencies, consider the following statements:

    1. It is possible to make payments in a digital currency without using US dollar or SWIFT system.

    2. A digital currency can be distributed with a condition programmed into it such as time-frame for spending it.

    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

     

  • Gamma-Ray Bursts from Black Hole ‘Morsels’ could expose Quantum Gravity

    Why in the News?

    A recent theoretical study (accepted in Nuclear Physics B, August 2025) introduces the idea of “black hole morsels”, tiny, asteroid-mass micro-black holes possibly formed during black hole mergers.

    What are Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs)?

    • Overview: They are extremely energetic cosmic explosions that emit intense bursts of gamma radiation, the highest-energy form of electromagnetic waves.
    • Discovery: First detected in the late 1960s by U.S. Vela satellites, initially built to monitor nuclear tests.
    • Duration-Based Classification:
      • Short GRBs: Lasting <2 seconds, typically formed by merging neutron stars or neutron stars–black hole collisions.
      • Long GRBs: Lasting 2–1000 seconds, arising from supernova collapses of massive stars (collapsars).
    • Energy Output: A single GRB can release as much energy in seconds as the Sun emits over its entire lifetime (~10⁵¹–10⁵⁴ ergs).
    • Afterglow: Follows the main burst in X-ray, optical, and radio wavelengths, allowing astronomers to study host galaxies and distances.

    Hypothesis about Black Hole ‘Morsels’:

    • Study Context: Research proposes the existence of “black hole morsels”, tiny remnants formed during black hole mergers.
    • Formation Mechanism: During merger, spacetime “pinches off” into ultra-dense pockets, creating micro-black holes or morsels that may later evaporate.
    • Emissions: These morsels are predicted to release gamma rays and high-energy particles via Hawking radiation, providing a possible observational signature of quantum gravity.
    • Scientific Goal: The hypothesis aims to bridge general relativity and quantum mechanics, offering a natural test case for quantum spacetime dynamics.

    What are Black Hole Morsels?

    • Overview: Hypothetical micro–black holes formed as fragments during black hole mergers under extreme gravitational stress.
    • Origin: Result from pinched-off regions of spacetime during coalescence of two black holes.
    • Mass & Size: Much smaller than parent black holes, roughly asteroid-scale mass but with extreme density.
    • Temperature & Radiation: Extremely hot, emitting intense Hawking radiation– photons, neutrinos, and high-energy particles.
    • Lifetime: Short-lived — ranging from milliseconds to years, depending on initial mass.
    • Detectability: Expected to produce isotropic gamma-ray bursts, unlike directional jets of typical GRBs.
    • Observation Instruments: Potential detection via HESS (Namibia), HAWC (Mexico), LHAASO (China), and Fermi Space Telescope (USA).

    Scientific Significance:

    • Quantum Gravity Evidence: Detection would confirm that gravity behaves quantum mechanically at microscopic scales.
    • Spacetime Structure: Provides direct insight into the quantum texture of spacetime near black hole singularities.
    • Cosmic Accelerator Analogy: Morsels could probe energy scales far beyond the LHC, acting as natural high-energy laboratories.
    • Current Status: None observed yet, but existing gamma-ray data are being analysed to set upper mass limits and refine the model.
    [UPSC 2019] Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant ‘Blackholes’ billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?

    Options: (a) Higgs boson particles were detected.

    (b) Gravitational waves were detected.*

    (c) Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through ‘wormhole’ was confirmed.

    (d) It enabled the scientists to understand ‘singularity’.

     

  • Meghalaya’s Umngot River turns Muddy

    Why in the News?

    The Umngot River, celebrated for its crystal-clear waters and tourist appeal at Dawki and Shnongpdeng, has turned murky and opaque.

    Meghalaya’s Umngot River turns Muddy

    About Umngot River:

    • Location: Flows through West Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya, close to the India–Bangladesh border.
    • Origin: Arises from the Jaintia Hills, traversing limestone-rich terrain that naturally filters impurities and maintains clarity.
    • Distinct Appearance: Known for its crystal-clear waters that create the illusion of boats floating on air, earning it global recognition.
    • Length & Course: Flows southward to Dawki town, where it merges with Bangladesh’s Piyain River.
    • Ecological Features: Possesses high dissolved oxygen levels, preventing algal growth and supporting diverse aquatic biodiversity.
    • Tourism Hub: Popular at Dawki and Shnongpdeng for boating, fishing, camping, and eco-tourism, drawing thousands of visitors annually.
    • Infrastructure Landmark: The Dawki Suspension Bridge (1932) is a heritage structure spanning the river and serving as a trade route link.
    • Economic Role: Sustains cross-border trade, local fishing, and tourism-driven livelihoods vital to Meghalaya’s rural economy.
    • Cultural Boundary: Serves as a natural divider between Ri Pnar (Jaintia Hills) and Hima Khyrim (Khasi Hills).

    Cause of Discoloration:

    • Primary Cause: Linked to Shillong–Dawki road-widening project upgrading it to a two-lane highway with a 400 m bridge at Dawki.
    • Pollution Source: Hill-cutting, excavation, and soil dumping along sites near Umtyngar and Dawki caused heavy sediment runoff.
    • Inspection Findings: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) detected uncontained debris and sliding soil entering the river, reducing water transparency.
    [UPSC 2021] Consider the following rivers:

    1. Brahmani 2. Nagavali 3. Subarnarekha 4. Vamsadhara

    Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats?

    Options: (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 4* (c) 3 and 4 (d) 1 and 3

     

  • ‘Phool Walon Ki Sair’ Festival

    Why in the News?

    For the first time since its 1962 revival (except during COVID-19), Delhi’s interfaith festival Phool Walon Ki Sair will not be held this year.

    About ‘Phool Walon Ki Sair’ Festival:

    • Timing: Held annually post-monsoon (September–November), attracting large participation from artisans, locals, and cultural groups.
    • Meaning: Literally translates to “Procession of the Florists,” celebrated annually in Mehrauli, Delhi.
    • Origin: Began in 1811 under Mughal Emperor Akbar Shah II when Begum Mumtaz Mahal offered floral chadars at both the Yogmaya Temple and the dargah of Khwaja Bakhtiar Kaki.
    • Symbolism: Represents Hindu–Muslim unity, interfaith respect, and religious harmony in Delhi’s cultural fabric.
    • Historical Timeline:
      • Banned by the British (1942) during the freedom movement.
      • Revived in 1962 by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as a symbol of secular revivalism.
    • Celebrations: Include floral processions, decorative pankhas (fans), qawwali, folk dances, and traditional fairs.

    Cultural Significance:

    • Ganga–Jamuni Tehzeeb: Embodies Delhi’s composite Indo-Islamic culture, celebrating shared heritage and pluralism.
    • Interfaith Harmony: Promotes unity, peace, and mutual respect between communities.
    • Secular Ethos: Serves as a living symbol of Indian secularism, transcending religious and social boundaries.
    [UPSC 2017] Consider the following pairs:

    Traditions: Communities

    1. Chaliha Sahib Festival- Sindhis 2. Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra- Gonds 3. Wari-Warkari- Santhals

    Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

    Options: (a) 1 only * (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) None of the above

     

  • Dams and Hydroprojects

  • 🔴[UPSC Webinar for 2027] By Arvind Sir, lead Smash Mains, Civilsdaily IAS | How to Balance Ideal and Practical Microtheme Prep for UPSC Mains | Join on 5th November at 7PM

    🔴[UPSC Webinar for 2027] By Arvind Sir, lead Smash Mains, Civilsdaily IAS | How to Balance Ideal and Practical Microtheme Prep for UPSC Mains | Join on 5th November at 7PM

    Register Now!

    Register for the session

    Register Now!

    Read about Webinar

    When aspirants hear microtheme preparation, they often imagine an ideal world, perfect notes, complete coverage, every theme mapped, PYQs integrated, tests aligned, and revisions on time.

    But UPSC prep doesn’t happen in an ideal world.

    There are time constraints, overlapping subjects, current affairs piling up, fatigue, unexpected weaknesses, and the constant pressure of tests and evaluation.

    This session is about bridging the ideal approach to microthemes with the practical execution required to actually score in UPSC Mains.

    I will show you how to turn microthemes from a theory into a system you can follow every single week.

    Arvind sir, Civilsdaily IAS

    What I will cover (practical, no fluff):

    1. What microthemes really mean
    Not just small topics, but core recurring ideas that UPSC keeps testing across GS, Essay, and even Ethics.

    2. The ideal approach vs real life execution
    Where aspirants get stuck while trying to follow microtheme prep
    and how toppers adjust their approach without losing structure.

    3. Weekly and monthly microtheme cycles
    How to maintain consistency without burnout.

    4. How to align microthemes with:

    • PYQs
    • Current affairs
    • Essay themes
    • Ethics case studies
    • Mock schedules

    5. Mistakes aspirants make
    Over collecting notes, ignoring revision, chasing perfection, and losing momentum.

    6. My actionable method for you
    A structure you can start using the same night, realistic, efficient, result focused.


    Why attend this session:

    • To stop being overwhelmed by the idea of microthemes.
    • To learn how toppers execute this in real life.
    • To integrate microthemes into daily and weekly prep.
    • To build discipline and structure without rigidity
    • To get a sustainable plan till Mains 2026/2027

    This session will make microtheme prep clear, doable, and high yield and not intimidating.

    Register Now!

    Join us, for a 45 minute live Zoom session on 05th Nov at 7PM.

    See you in masterclass.

    Register Now!

    It will be a 45 minute session, post which we will open up the floor for all kinds of queries which a beginner must have. No questions are taboo and Arvind sir is known to be patiently solving all your doubts.

    Join us for a Zoom session on 05th Nov at 7 PM. This session is a must attend for you If you are attempting UPSC for the first time or have attempted earlier and now preparing for 2027, then it is going to be a valuable session for you too.

    See you in the session”

    Register for the session for a complete in-depth UPSC Prep

    Register Now!

    In this Civilsdaily masterclass, you will get:

    1. A 45-minute deep dive on how to plan your UPSC strategy from the start to the end.
    2. How do first-attempt IAS Rankers get the most out of their one year prep?
    3. Insider tips that only the top IAS and IPS rankers know and apply to get rank.

    By the end, you’ll have razor-sharp clarity and a clear path to crack UPSC with confidence and near-perfect certainty. 

    Join UPSC session on 05th Nov, at 7 PM

    Register Now!

    (Don’t wait—the next webinar/session won’t be until Mid Nov’25)

    These masterclasses are packed with value. They are conducted in private with a closed community. We rarely open these webinars for everyone for free. This time we are keeping it for 300 seats only.

    Ready to attend the UPSC Webinar?

    Register Now!

    Not sure yet?

    We recommend you register here. It takes less than 10 seconds to register.

    • No spam! Once in a while, we’ll only send you high-quality exam-related content. 
    • We will inform you about the upcoming Masterclasses that might benefit you.
    • You can demand one free mentorship call from verified Civilsdaily mentors. 
    • You can always choose to unsubscribe. 

  • [4th November 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The case for energy efficiency

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2022] Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective? Explain.

    Linkage: The question relates to India’s renewable energy transition and the feasibility of meeting its 2030 targets. The article links by emphasizing that without efficiency and subsidy realignment, rising renewable capacity alone cannot ensure a cleaner grid.

    Mentor’s Comment

    India’s clean energy transition faces a paradox: even as renewable capacity doubles, the electricity flowing into homes is becoming dirtier. The rise in India’s grid emission factor despite record renewable expansion reveals deep systemic challenges, capacity-generation mismatch, demand peaks, and underutilization of renewables. This editorial decodes why energy efficiency, the “first fuel”, must become central to India’s decarbonisation strategy.

    Introduction

    India’s non-fossil fuel sources now account for about 50% of total installed capacity, yet its grid emission factor (GEF) has worsened from 0.703 tCO₂/MWh in 2020-21 to 0.727 tCO₂/MWh in 2023-24 (Central Electricity Authority). This anomaly highlights that while renewable capacity has expanded, fossil-fuel-based generation still dominates. To make India’s grid cleaner and more reliable, scaling up energy efficiency and flexibility is essential.

    Why Is India’s Grid Getting Dirtier Despite More Renewables?

    1. Grid Emission Factor (GEF): This measure of carbon intensity has increased instead of falling, reflecting rising dependence on coal during peak demand hours.
    2. Installed capacity doesn’t always equate to generation: Renewables deliver less electricity annually compared to thermal or nuclear sources.
    3. Coal’s dominance: Fossil fuels continue to meet the marginal demand, making India’s grid more emission-intensive even with rising renewable capacity.

    What Explains the Capacity-Generation Mismatch?

    1. Low capacity utilisation: Solar and wind plants run at only 15-25% utilisation, versus 65-90% for coal and nuclear.
    2. Temporal mismatch: Solar peaks during afternoon hours, while demand peaks at night, requiring fossil backup.
    3. System inflexibility: Lack of energy storage, flexible grids, and responsive pricing structures forces reliance on coal during non-solar hours.
    4. Data point: In 2023-24, renewables (including hydro) supplied only 22% of total electricity; the rest came from fossil fuels.

    How Can Energy Efficiency Bridge the Gap?

    1. First fuel approach: Efficiency reduces demand before generation, lowering peak load, reducing reliance on coal during evening peaks.
    2. Economic benefit: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) reports savings of 200 million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE) between FY2017-FY2023. This is equivalent to 1.29 GT of CO₂ and savings of ₹76,000 crore.
    3. Enabler of renewables: Efficiency flattens demand peaks, preventing renewable curtailment and enhancing integration of solar and wind.
    4. Preventing lock-in: Replacing old, inefficient technologies avoids long-term carbon lock-ins.

    What Policy and Structural Changes Are Needed?

    1. Battery integration: Enabling homes and offices to connect storage systems for balancing demand.
    2. Appliance efficiency: Transition to 4-star and 5-star appliances with updated standards.
    3. Market mechanisms: Incentives for consumers to shift electricity usage to periods of high renewable availability.
    4. Scrappage policy: Phasing out inefficient fans, motors, and air conditioners through targeted rebates.
    5. RTC renewable procurement: Promote Round-the-Clock (RTC) renewable electricity, currently costing less than ₹5/kWh, to replace coal power.

    Why Energy Efficiency Must Be at the Core of Decarbonisation Strategy

    1. Invisible yet indispensable: Efficiency is distributed and diffuse, but without it, India’s energy transition remains incomplete.
    2. Global comparison: Nations like France, Norway, and Sweden have achieved GEFs of 0.1-0.2 tCO₂/MWh via high efficiency and nuclear-hydro mix.
    3. India’s targets: National Electricity Plan (2023) projects India’s GEF to fall to 0.548 by 2026-27 and 0.430 by 2031-32.
    4. Integrated approach: A balance of renewable expansion, storage, and efficiency measures is key to achieving India’s Net Zero by 2070 target.

    Conclusion

    India’s clean energy paradox underscores that generation capacity alone cannot drive decarbonisation. Efficiency, flexibility, and policy coherence must shape the next phase of transition. Making energy efficiency the “first fuel” and embedding it across homes, industries, and infrastructure will determine how India powers its future while keeping its grid truly green.

  • Need to shift focus from food security to nutrition security

    Introduction

    India’s post-Green Revolution success ensured adequate food grain availability and established the foundation for food security through schemes like the Public Distribution System (PDS) and National Food Security Act (2013). However, caloric sufficiency has not translated into nutritional adequacy. Over 35% of Indian children remain stunted, and anaemia affects over half of women of reproductive age (NFHS-5). The Prime Minister’s address at ESTIC emphasizes the need for biofortified crops, sustainable fertilizers, and innovation-led solutions to make nutrition, not just food, accessible and affordable.

    Why in the News

    Prime Minister Modi’s call for a shift from food security to nutrition security at the first ESTIC represents a significant policy evolution. For the first time, a national scientific forum has explicitly linked agriculture, health, and technology to address malnutrition. This highlights India’s new priority: from ensuring “enough food for all” to ensuring “healthy food for all.”

    What is Nutrition Security and How is it Different from Food Security?

    1. Food Security ensures availability and access to sufficient food to meet caloric needs.
    2. Nutrition Security ensures access to safe, diverse, and balanced diets that meet both energy and micronutrient requirements.
    3. Holistic scope: It includes food diversity, clean water, healthcare, and education, linking agriculture to overall well-being.
    4. Policy evolution: India’s focus must evolve from distributing cereals to promoting dietary quality, fortified foods, and local nutrition systems.

    Why is Nutrition Security Critical for India?

    1. Persistent Malnutrition: Over three decades after economic liberalization, India still ranks low in the Global Hunger Index (111/125 in 2023).
    2. Hidden Hunger: Deficiencies of iron, vitamin A, zinc, and iodine affect productivity and cognitive growth.
    3. Economic cost: Malnutrition can cause an annual GDP loss of 2-3%, according to World Bank estimates.
    4. Demographic Dividend: Nutritional well-being determines the cognitive and physical potential of India’s young population.

    What are the Major Challenges to Achieving Nutrition Security?

    1. Calorie-centric PDS: Current public distribution primarily ensures cereals (rice/wheat) with low nutritional diversity.
    2. Agricultural bias: Focus remains on yield maximization, not on nutrient content or crop diversification.
    3. Socio-cultural patterns: Poor dietary habits, gender-based food discrimination, and lack of nutrition awareness persist.
    4. Implementation gaps: Fragmented nutrition programmes (like ICDS, Poshan Abhiyan, Mid-day Meal) lack convergence and data monitoring.
    5. Climate stress: Rising temperatures affect micronutrient quality of crops and food affordability.

    What Strategies Can Strengthen Nutrition Security in India

    1. Biofortification: Development of nutrient-rich crop varieties (e.g., iron-rich bajra, zinc wheat) to tackle hidden hunger.
    2. Crop diversification: Encouraging millets, pulses, and coarse grains through missions like the International Year of Millets 2023.
    3. Fortification of staples: Government’s push for fortified rice in all social schemes (PDS, ICDS, MDM) by 2024.
    4. Integrated policies: Poshan 2.0 integrates various nutrition initiatives under one umbrella for targeted delivery.
    5. Community-based models: Promoting local kitchen gardens and women SHGs for decentralized nutrition access.
    6. Nutrition-sensitive agriculture: Linking agriculture with public health goals via cross-sectoral planning and R&D.

    How Can Science and Technology Catalyze Nutritional Transformation?

    1. Genomic mapping: Identifying crop genes that enhance micronutrient profiles and resilience.
    2. Low-cost fertilizers: Innovations for soil and plant health, directly impacting food nutrition levels.
    3. Digital nutrition monitoring: Use of AI for dietary tracking, malnutrition mapping, and localized health data.
    4. Clean energy for cold chains: Affordable storage systems to prevent nutrient loss post-harvest.
    5. Public-private R&D: Funding mechanisms like the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (₹1 lakh crore) can boost nutrition-focused innovation.

    What are the Policy and Governance Interventions for Nutrition Security?

    1. National Nutrition Mission (Poshan Abhiyaan): Convergence-based approach using real-time monitoring and community mobilization.
    2. Food Fortification Policy: Fortified rice, edible oils, and milk distributed under welfare schemes.
    3. Mid-day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN): Integration of eggs, fruits, and regional food habits into school nutrition.
    4. Anaemia Mukt Bharat & ICDS: Focused maternal and child health interventions.
    5. NFSA Reforms: Potential inclusion of nutrient-diverse baskets beyond rice and wheat.
    6. NITI Aayog’s SDG Localization: Linking nutrition with sustainable agriculture and local governance through district-level nutrition action plans.

    Conclusion

    India’s food story has been one of abundance without adequacy. As the nation aspires to become a developed economy by 2047, the focus must shift from feeding the population to nourishing it. Nutrition security integrates agriculture, health, gender equity, and science, symbolizing a mature, human-centered development vision. The future lies in a “Nutrition Revolution”, where innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability converge to ensure every Indian is not just fed, but well-nourished.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2024] Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle?

    Linkage: It captures the core developmental challenge of transforming food sufficiency into nutrition sufficiency. It emphasizes how malnutrition erodes human capital and inclusive growth.

  • What are the challenges with the High Seas Treaty

    Introduction

    The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, establishes a legal framework to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in areas outside national control. It covers nearly two-thirds of the ocean’s surface. Adopted under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982, it aims to address threats from climate change, overfishing, and pollution through tools like Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). Ratified by over 60 nations in 2024, it will come into effect in January 2026. This makes it one of the most comprehensive global conservation instruments after the Paris Agreement.

    Why in the News? 

    The High Seas Treaty being ratified by 60+ nations represents a historic step in ocean governance, a domain previously beyond formal protection. For the first time, the international community has agreed on a legally binding mechanism to preserve marine life that exists outside any country’s jurisdiction. This is strikingly different from the earlier regime under UNCLOS, which lacked clear provisions for protecting biodiversity.

    What is the High Seas Treaty About?

    1. Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ): Creates an all-inclusive framework to conserve and manage marine biodiversity beyond national boundaries.
    2. Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs): Recognised as a common heritage of humankind, ensuring equitable benefit-sharing between nations.
    3. Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs): Establishes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to safeguard biodiversity and improve climate resilience and food security.
    4. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs): Mandates prior assessment of projects with potential cross-border or cumulative ecological impact.
    5. Capacity Building and Technology Transfer: Facilitates scientific collaboration, especially for developing nations, combining modern science and indigenous knowledge.

    Major Challenges with the High Seas Treaty

    1. Uncertainty over Core Principles
      1. Common Heritage vs. Freedom of High Seas: The “common heritage” principle promotes equitable access and benefit-sharing, while “freedom of the high seas” allows unrestricted navigation and resource use.
      2. Partial Application: The treaty applies the “common heritage” principle only partially, especially for MGRs, reflecting a compromise rather than resolution.
      3. Result: Creates ambiguity in rights and responsibilities of states in exploration, research, and benefit distribution.
    2. Ambiguity in Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs) Governance
      1. Undefined Governance Mechanism: Earlier, no clear framework existed for using or sharing MGRs.
      2. Biopiracy Concerns: Developing nations fear exploitation by developed countries, who could monopolize genetic discoveries and profits.
      3. Equity Gap: The lack of clarity risks excluding Global South nations from scientific and commercial benefits.
    3. Implementation and Enforcement Gaps
      1. Jurisdictional Complexity: The high seas lie beyond national boundaries, making monitoring and enforcement difficult.
      2. Institutional Limitations: While UNCLOS provides a broad legal foundation, there’s no dedicated global enforcement body to ensure compliance.
      3. Dependence on Voluntary Reporting: Could weaken accountability, especially in regulating corporate activities.
    4. Financial and Technological Inequities
      1. Unequal Capabilities: Developing countries lack access to marine technologies for monitoring and sustainable use.
      2. Technology Transfer Gap: The treaty mandates capacity-building, but without specific funding mechanisms, commitments may remain rhetorical.
      3. Risk: Could widen the North-South divide in ocean research and benefit sharing.
    5. Balancing Conservation and Development
      1. Sustainable Use vs. Conservation: Striking a balance between environmental protection and economic opportunities (like deep-sea mining or biotechnology) remains contentious.
      2. Unclear Prioritization: Without clear hierarchy between ecological and developmental objectives, policy conflicts may persist.

    Conclusion

    The High Seas Treaty represents a landmark effort to bring order and justice to the global commons. Yet, the true test lies in resolving philosophical ambiguities and ensuring equitable implementation. Without robust funding, technology sharing, and accountability mechanisms, it risks becoming another well-intentioned but weak global accord. For India, aligning its Blue Economy strategy with the treaty’s framework will be key to ensuring both ecological and economic dividends.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2022] Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997.

    Linkage: Both Kyoto Protocol and High Seas Treaty are UN-backed frameworks aimed at addressing global commons issues, air and ocean respectively.

More posts