šŸ’„UPSC 2026, 2027, 2028 UAP Mentorship (March Batch) + Access XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

Type: Prelims Only

  • Wildlife Conservation Efforts

    Indian Grey Wolf sighted in Chambal after Two Decades

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

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Indian Grey Wolf

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    wolf

    Introduction

    • The recent sighting of an endangered Indian grey wolf within the vast expanse of the National Chambal Sanctuary in Etawah after 20 years has sparked immense excitement among wildlife enthusiasts and experts.

    About Indian Grey Wolf

    Conservation Status
    Scientific Name Canis lupus pallipes
    Adaptation to Climate Thrives in warmer conditions
    Social Behavior Travels in smaller packs, less vocal
    Physical Traits Size falls between Tibetan and Arabian wolves
    Preferred Habitat Scrublands, grasslands, semi-arid regions
    Wide Distribution Indian subcontinent to Israel, ~3,000 in India
    IUCN Listing Least Concern
    Legal Protection Schedule I of Wildlife Act, CITES Appendix I
    Major Threats Habitat loss, prey population decline

     

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

    Attend Now

  • Global Geological And Climatic Events

    What is Humboldtā€™s Enigma and What does it mean for India?

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 1: Salient Features Of World’S Physical Geography

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Humboldt's Enigma

    Mains level: NA

    Humboldtā€™s Enigma

    Introduction

    • The question of where biodiversity is concentrated has intrigued explorers and naturalists for centuries. Humboldt has tried to answer this question.

    Humboldt’s Insights

    • Alexander von Humboldt: A polymath of the 18th century, Humboldt recorded diverse natural observations, proposing a relationship between temperature, altitude, humidity, and species distribution.
    • Mountain Exploration: During his exploration of South America, Humboldt studied plant distribution on mountains, noting variations with elevation.
    • Chimborazo Mountain: Humboldt used Chimborazo Mountain in Ecuador as an example, illustrating the concept of mountain diversity.

    What is Humboldt’s Enigma?

    • Sun’s Energy: Tropical areas receive more solar energy, fostering greater primary productivity and biodiversity due to the availability of ecological niches.
    • Mountain Exception: Mountains, despite being outside the tropics, have been an exception to the rule, posing Humboldt’s enigma.

    Biodiversity Drivers

    • Earth’s History, Geography, and Climate: These factors are the primary drivers of mountain diversity.
    • Geological Processes: Mountains serve as ‘cradles’ for new species due to geological processes like uplifts, creating new habitats.
    • Climatic Stability: Climatologically stable mountains act as ‘museums,’ preserving species over time.
    • Coastal Tropical Sky Islands: Examples like the Shola Sky Islands in the Western Ghats exhibit both cradle and museum characteristics.

    Eastern Himalaya: An Anomaly

    • Diversity Beyond Tropics: Eastern Himalaya boasts exceptional diversity, challenging the conventional tropical biodiversity paradigm.
    • Multiple Factors: Climate dissimilarity and geological heterogeneity contribute to high biodiversity.
    • Climate Variability: Different temperature and rainfall levels on the same mountain support diverse biomes.

    Unresolved Questions

    • Complexity of Biodiversity: Numerous factors drive diversification and Humboldt’s enigma in different regions, leading to over a hundred hypotheses.
    • Data Limitations: Fine-scale species occurrence data are lacking, hindering precise explanations.
    • Call for Research: India’s under-studied areas need more extensive research, including the use of genetics, to understand true biodiversity.
    • National Initiatives: Programs like the National Mission on Himalayan Studies and Biodiversity need strengthening to support basic research.

    Conclusion

    • Humboldt’s enigma represents one facet of mountain biodiversity, offering opportunities for study and insights into global climate and landscape change issues.

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

    Attend Now

  • Food Processing Industry: Issues and Developments

    Pioneering Collaboration for Lab-Grown Fish

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Food Processing & Related Industries In India

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Lab-Grown Fish

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    IntroductionĀ 

    • ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), headquartered in Kochi, collaborated with Neat Meatt Biotech, a private-sector start-up specializing in lab-grown meat technology.
    • This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marks the first initiative of its kind in India.

    Understanding Lab-Grown Fish

    • Lab-Grown Fish Definition: Lab-grown fish, a type of cultivated or cultured meat, is seafood produced in a laboratory setting without the need to raise and slaughter animals.
    • Production Process: Specific fish cells are isolated and grown in a controlled laboratory environment using animal-free media. The goal is to replicate the taste, texture, and nutritional qualities of traditional fish meat.

    Roles of CMFRI and Neat Meatt

    • CMFRI’s Responsibilities: Under the MoU, CMFRI will focus on genetic, biochemical, and analytical aspects of the project. Its cell culture lab will research early cell line development for high-value marine fish species, including pomfret, kingfish, and seerfish.
    • Neat Meatt’s Expertise: Neat Meatt, with expertise in cell culture technology, will lead in optimizing cell growth media, developing scaffolds or microcarriers for cell attachment, and scaling up production via bioreactors. The company will also provide consumables, manpower, and additional equipment.

    Addressing the Need for Lab-Grown Fish

    • Growing Demand: The demand for seafood is increasing, creating pressure on wild resources.
    • Overfishing Consequences: Overfishing has led to population declines in certain species and negatively impacted marine ecosystems.
    • Environmental Benefits: Lab-grown fish meat can reduce the reliance on traditional fishing, offering antibiotic-free, contamination-free, and pollution-free alternatives.

    Global Pioneers in Lab-Grown Fish

    • Leading Nations: Several countries are advancing lab-grown fish technology. Israel is a frontrunner, followed by Singapore, the United States, and China.
    • Recent Developments: Israel-based Forsea Foods successfully produced lab-grown freshwater eel meat. Israel’s Steakholder Foods, in collaboration with Umami Meats in Singapore, 3D printed the first-ever ready-to-cook fish fillet from laboratory-grown animal cells.

    Bridging India’s Gap

    • Accelerating Development: The CMFRI-Neat Meatt partnership aims to expedite India’s progress in lab-grown seafood to ensure it doesn’t lag behind countries like Singapore, Israel, and the USA.
    • Leveraging Expertise: CMFRI’s marine research and Neat Meatt’s technological prowess form a collaboration that promises a sustainable future for seafood production in India.
    • Timeline Expectation: Dr. Sandeep Sharma of Neat Meatt anticipates establishing the project’s proof of concept within a few months.

    Expanding Lab-Grown Meat

    • Wide Range: Beyond fish, lab-grown meat development encompasses chicken, pork, lamb, beef, and more.
    • Global Industry Growth: The lab-grown meat industry has expanded to over 150 companies across six continents, with $2.6 billion in investments.
    • US Regulatory Clearance: In June 2023, the US Department of Agriculture approved the sale of lab-grown chicken meat, allowing companies like Good Meat and Upside Foods to supply it to restaurants and supermarkets.

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

    Attend Now

  • Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

    Deep Learning and Antibiotics Discovery

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Deep Learning in Antibiotic Discovery

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    Introduction

    • The year 1944 witnessed the simultaneous emergence of artificial neural networks, laying the foundation for deep learning, and the discovery of streptomycin, the first aminoglycoside antibiotic.
    • This historical synchrony ultimately connects deep learning and antibiotics.

    Why in news?

    • In December 2023, scientists introduced a groundbreaking alliance between deep learning and antibiotics by leveraging deep learning techniques to discover a new class of antibiotics, addressing a multi-decade gap in antibiotic development.

    Deep Learning in Antibiotic Discovery

    • Different Approach: Unlike previous applications of deep learning in drug discovery, this study focused on identifying chemical motifs or substructures used by the deep learning model to evaluate compounds for antibiotic potential, rendering the model “explainable”.
    • Proven Efficacy: The research successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of two compounds from the newfound antibiotic class against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, a major cause of human fatalities in 2019.
    • Recognition and Expansion: Experts praised the study for its contributions to antibiotic research and its potential to enhance drug development strategies.

    Understanding Deep Learning and Explainability

    • Neural Networks: Deep learning relies on artificial neural networks, comprising layers of artificial “neurons” that process inputs and yield outputs through training and testing phases.
    • Training and Testing: Deep learning networks are trained on large datasets with annotated inputs to learn specific tasks. During testing, they classify novel inputs based on their learned knowledge.
    • The Black Box Issue: Most deep learning models lack transparency in explaining how they arrive at their conclusions, remaining “black boxes.”
    • Explainable Deep Learning: In contrast, the study’s model was designed to be explainable, allowing it to not only predict antibiotic potential but also elucidate the substructures contributing to this property.

    Journey to Novel Antibiotics

    • Experimental Screening: The research began by screening over 39,000 compounds to inhibit S. aureus growth, shortlisting 512 active compounds.
    • Graph Neural Network (GNN): A GNN was trained on the dataset, representing atoms as nodes and bonds as edges on a mathematical graph.
    • Selecting Non-Toxic Compounds: To ensure safety, 306 compounds were identified that didn’t harm human cells, and other GNNs were trained to identify cytotoxic compounds.
    • Identifying Potential Antibiotics: The GNNs evaluated a database of over 1.2 crore compounds, identifying 3,646 potential antibiotics based on substructures.
    • Substructure Rationales: The study introduced “rationales” to explain the substructures that conferred antibiotic properties to molecules.
    • Efficacy Against MRSA and VRE: Certain compounds, including N-[2-(2-chlorophenoxy)ethyl]aniline, exhibited inhibition of MRSA and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).
    • Mouse Models: One compound effectively reduced MRSA-related skin and thigh infections in mouse models.

    Significance and Ongoing Challenges

    • Transparency in Drug Discovery: The study’s significance lies in rendering deep learning approaches to drug discovery more transparent and reproducible across drug categories.
    • Future Exploration: Researchers are applying substructure rationales to design new antibiotics and explore applications in drugs targeting age-related disorders.
    • Addressing a Lacuna: An identified shortcoming is that explainability analysis occurred after predicting antibiotic properties. Implicitly incorporating explainability in deep learning models is proposed as a more robust approach.

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

    Attend Now

  • River Interlinking

    Rajasthan-MP collaborate on Modified PKC-ERCP Link Project

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Modified PKC-ERCP Project

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    PKC-ERCP

    IntroductionĀ 

    • Rajasthan and MP have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to execute the Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal-ERCP (Modified PKC-ERCP) Link Project.

    About Modified PKC-ERCP Project

    • Inter-link: The Modified PKC-ERCP is an inter-state river linking project, with preparations underway for a Detailed Project Report (DPR).
    • Integration Purpose: This project aims to integrate the long-pending PKC river link project with the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) under the national perspective plan of the interlinking of rivers (ILR) program initiated by the Government of India.
    • Update: This MoU will cover aspects such as water sharing, cost-benefit sharing, water exchange, and implementation mechanisms in the Chambal basin.

    Understanding PKC Link Project

    • Inclusion in National Plan: The Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link project is one of the 30 links listed in the National Perspectives Plan, established by the former Union Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Water Resources) and the Central Water Commission in 1980.
    • Historical Progress: The preliminary feasibility report for the Kalisindh-Chambal link canal project was prepared in 1991. It proposed diverting water from river Newaj and Kalisindh to the river Chambal, either at the Rana Pratap Sagar dam or the Gandhi Sagar dam.
    • ERCP Proposal: Rajasthan introduced the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) in 2019, aiming to optimize water resources.
    • Merging of projects: Subsequently, the Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers (TFILR) explored merging the ERCP with the PKC link project, an integration approved by the Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers in December 2022.

    Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP)

    • Project Objective: The ERCP targets intra-basin water transfer within the Chambal basin. It utilizes surplus monsoon water from subbasins like Kalisindh, Parvati, Mej, and Chakan, diverting it to water-deficient sub-basins such as Banas, Gambhiri, Banganga, and Parbati.
    • Beneficiary Regions: The ERCP provides drinking and industrial water to 13 districts in eastern Rajasthan, including Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Sawai-Madhopur, Dausa, Jaipur, Ajmer, Tonk, Bundi, Kota, Baran, and Jhalawar.

    Benefits of Modified Project

    • Drinking and Industrial Water: The Modified PKC-ERCP project aims to provide drinking and industrial water to 13 eastern Rajasthan districts, Malwa, and Chambal regions of Madhya Pradesh.
    • Irrigation: It also supports irrigation across a significant area in both states, totalling 5.6 lakh hectares or more.

    Need for the MoU

    • Dependable Yield Norms: The project’s planning was initially based on 50% dependable yield, contrary to the prevailing norm of 75% dependable yield for inter-state river projects.
    • Integration Proposal: In November 2019, the Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers proposed exploring the integration of ERCP with the PKC Link Canal Project, following deliberations and consensus between both states.
    • Modified PKC Link Proposal: As a result of these discussions, a proposal for the Modified PKC link project was formulated, combining components from the Government of MP and ERCP, designed for 75% dependable water availability.

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

    Attend Now

  • Parliament – Sessions, Procedures, Motions, Committees etc

    Explained: Rajya Sabha Election Process

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

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Rajya Sabha Elections

    Mains level: NA

    Introduction

    • The Election Commission notified elections to 56 Rajya Sabha seats that will be held on February 27.

    Uniqueness of Rajya Sabha Elections

    • Retirement Cycle: One-third of Rajya Sabha members from each State retire every two years, necessitating elections to fill vacancies.
    • Eligible Voters: Only elected members of State Legislative Assemblies are eligible to vote in Rajya Sabha elections.
    • Six-Year Term: Newly elected members serve a six-year term, with vacancies arising due to resignation, death, or disqualification filled through by-polls.

    Election of Rajya Sabha Members

    • Blocs and Elections: A group of MPs from one or more parties can elect a member if they possess the required numbers.
    • Avoiding Majority Rule: This approach ensures that ruling party candidates do not monopolize elections.
    • Union Territories Representation: Delhi and Puducherry Assemblies elect members to Rajya Sabha to represent the respective Union Territories.

    Electoral Process

    • Polling Condition: A Rajya Sabha election requires polling only when the number of candidates surpasses the available vacancies.
    • Predictable Strength: Parties estimate their potential seats based on their strength in the Assembly.
    • Contesting Candidates: Parties field candidates based on their strength; additional candidates trigger a contest.
    • Candidate Nomination: Political party candidates must be proposed by at least 10 Assembly members or 10% of the party’s House strength, whichever is lower.
    • Independent Candidates: Independents require 10 proposers, all Assembly members.

    Voting Procedure

    • Single Transferable Vote: Rajya Sabha elections employ the single transferable vote system, based on proportional representation.
    • Preferences Voting: Electors can vote for multiple candidates in order of preference.
    • Winning Requirement: Candidates need a specific number of first preference votes to win, with each first choice vote valued at 100 in the initial round.
    • Qualification: To qualify, a candidate must secure one point more than the quotient obtained by dividing the total value of seats available in the election plus one.

    Transparency in RS Elections

    • Open Ballot System: Rajya Sabha elections employ an open ballot system with limited transparency.
    • Preventing Cross-Voting: Showing marked ballots to the party’s authorized agent (Whip) is mandatory; not following this rule renders the vote invalid.
    • Secrecy for Independents: Independent candidates are prohibited from showing their ballots to anyone.
    • NOTA in Rajya Sabha: Initially, Rajya Sabha members had the option to use the NOTA (None of the Above) button during elections, as per circulars issued by the Election Commission.
    • Supreme Court Ruling: However, in 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that NOTA is only applicable in general elections and cannot be used in indirect elections based on proportional representation.

    Consequences of Cross-Voting

    • Supreme Court’s Stand: The Supreme Court clarified that not voting for the party candidate in Rajya Sabha elections does not trigger disqualification under the anti-defection law.
    • Legislators’ Freedom: MLAs retain the freedom to vote for a candidate of their choice.
    • Party Action: Parties are free to take disciplinary action against legislators who vote against their candidate.

    Voting Eligibility before Taking Oath

    • Voting Without Oath: The Supreme Court ruled that members can participate in Rajya Sabha elections even before taking the oath as legislators.
    • Non-Legislative Activity: Rajya Sabha voting is considered a non-legislative activity, allowing members to vote without taking the oath.
    • Membership Status: A person becomes a member as soon as the Election Commission notifies the list of elected members.
    • Proposal Rights: Members can also propose a candidate before taking the oath of office.

    Other facts

    • Limited Union Territories (UTs): Only two Union Territories participate in Rajya Sabha elections, not all of them.
    • Conditional Polling: Polling occurs only if the number of candidates exceeds the available vacancies.
    • Independent Members: Independent candidates can also be elected to Rajya Sabha.

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

    Attend Now

  • Citizenship and Related Issues

    CAA Implementation within a Week

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

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: CAA

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    Introduction

    Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019: Key Provisions

    • Basic idea: CAA, 2019, aims to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to grant Indian citizenship to specific categories of illegal migrants.
    • Eligible Religions: CAA targets Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian illegal migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, making them eligible for Indian citizenship.
    • Objective: The primary objective is to facilitate citizenship for non-Muslim immigrants from India’s three Muslim-majority neighboring countries.
    • Residence Requirement: The Citizenship Act, 1955, normally requires 11 of the previous 14 years of residence in India as a condition for naturalization.
    • Amendment: CAA reduces this requirement to 6 years for applicants belonging to the specified religions and countries.
    • Exemption from Criminal Cases: Members of the designated communities are exempted from criminal cases under the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Passport Act, 1920, if they entered India before December 31, 2014.

    Defining Illegal Migrants

    • Status Under Present Laws: Existing laws prohibit illegal migrants from acquiring Indian citizenship.
    • CAA’s Definition: CAA classifies an illegal migrant as a foreigner who enters India without valid travel documents (passport and visa) or overstays beyond the allowed period.
    • Penalties: Illegal migrants can face imprisonment or deportation under the Foreigners Act, 1946, and The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920.

    Exceptions under CAA

    • Conditions for Exemption: CAA outlines four conditions that, if met, exempt certain individuals from being treated as illegal migrants:
      1. They belong to the specified religions (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian).
      2. They hail from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Pakistan.
      3. They entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
      4. They are not in certain tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, or Tripura (Sixth Schedule) or “Inner Line” permit areas (Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland).

    Controversies Surrounding CAA

    • Country of Origin: CAA categorizes migrants based on their country of origin, specifically Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
    • Religious Exclusivity: It raises questions about why only six specified religious minorities have been considered in the Act.
    • Omission of Rohingya: The Act doesn’t address the Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, who have faced persecution.
    • Entry Date Differentiation: The differential treatment of migrants based on their entry date, i.e., before or after December 31, 2014, has generated debate.
    • Secularism Concerns: Critics argue that granting citizenship based on religion contradicts the secular principles of India’s Constitution, considered part of the unalterable basic structure.

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

    Attend Now

  • Judicial Reforms

    Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Supreme Court

    Prelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Executive & Judiciary

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Supreme Court of India

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    Introduction

    • The Prime Minister inaugurated the diamond jubilee year celebrations of the Supreme Court, marking an important milestone in India’s judicial history.

    About Supreme Court of India

    • Apex Judicial Body: The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial authority as per the Constitution of India.
    • Constitutional Mandate: Article 124 of the Constitution stipulates the establishment of the Supreme Court.
    • Birth of the Supreme Court: The Supreme Court came into being on January 26, 1950, coinciding with the commencement of the Indian Constitution.
    • Inauguration: Two days after India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic, the Supreme Court was officially inaugurated on January 28, 1950.
    • Initial Location: Initially, the Supreme Court operated from the old Parliament House until it relocated to its present site on Tilak Marg, New Delhi, in 1958.
    • Inaugural Event: The inaugural ceremony of the current Supreme Court building was presided over by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, on August 4, 1958.

    Evolution of Judicial Bench Strength

    • Changing Dynamics: The original 1950 Constitution envisioned a Supreme Court comprising a Chief Justice and 7 puisne Judges, allowing Parliament to alter this number.
    • Progressive Growth: Over the years, the number of Judges increased to accommodate the growing workload: 8 in 1950, 11 in 1956, 14 in 1960, 18 in 1978, 26 in 1986, 31 in 2009, and the current strength of 34 Judges.
    • Judicial Structure: Judges sit in panels of two or three and convene in larger benches of 5 or more, known as Constitution Benches, to resolve conflicting decisions between different Supreme Court benches or address significant constitutional interpretations.
    • Official Language: Proceedings in the Supreme Court are conducted exclusively in English.

    Powers and Jurisdiction

    • Multifaceted Jurisdiction: The Supreme Court possesses original, appellate, and advisory jurisdiction.
    • Final Arbiter: It serves as the ultimate court of appeal and the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution.
    • Original Jurisdiction: The Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction extends to disputes involving the Government of India and one or more States, inter-State disputes, and issues related to Fundamental Rights.
    • Writ Jurisdiction: Article 32 of the Constitution empowers the Supreme Court with extensive original jurisdiction to enforce Fundamental Rights by issuing writs like habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, and certiorari.
    • Inter-High Court Cases: The Supreme Court can direct the transfer of civil or criminal cases between High Courts.
    • International Commercial Arbitration: Under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, the Supreme Court can initiate International Commercial Arbitration.
    • Appellate Authority: High Courts can grant certificates for appeals to the Supreme Court under Article 132(1), 133(1), or 134 in cases with substantial questions of constitutional interpretation.
    • Certified Appeals: In civil cases, High Courts may certify that a case involves a significant question of general importance, warranting Supreme Court adjudication.
    • Criminal Appeals: In criminal cases, appeals lie to the Supreme Court if the High Court has reversed an acquittal, sentenced an accused to death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for over 10 years, or if the High Court certifies the case’s suitability for Supreme Court appeal.
    • Parliamentary Empowerment: Parliament can confer additional powers on the Supreme Court to hear appeals from High Courts in criminal proceedings.
    • Special Leave to Appeal: Under Article 136, the Supreme Court may, at its discretion, grant special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, or order passed by any Court or Tribunal in India.
    • Advisory Role: The Supreme Court exercises advisory jurisdiction under Article 143, wherein the President of India can refer specific matters to the Court.
    • Election Petitions: Part III of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, allows direct filing of election petitions in the Supreme Court.
    • Contempt Powers: Articles 129 and 142 empower the Supreme Court to punish for contempt of Court, including self-contempt.
    • Curative Petitions: After dismissing a review petition, the Supreme Court can reconsider its final judgment through a curative petition on limited grounds.
    • Binding Authority: As India’s highest court, its judgments are binding on all other courts in the country.

    Location of the Supreme Court

    • Article 130: Article 130 of the Constitution grants the Chief Justice of India the authority to choose the location of the Supreme Court, which can be in Delhi or any other place.
    • CJI’s Discretion: The Article vests exclusive discretionary powers with the Chief Justice of India regarding the Supreme Court’s location.
    • No External Compulsion: No external authority can compel the Chief Justice to act in a particular manner under this Article.

    Advocating for Circuit Benches

    • Law Commission Recommendation: The Law Commission’s 229th Report suggested establishing a Constitution Bench in New Delhi and four other benches in different regions of India.
    • Diverging Views: However, this proposal did not garner favor among Supreme Court Judges.

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

    Attend Now

  • Terrorism and Challenges Related To It

    Kerala Governor gets Z+ Security Cover

    Prelims Only | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Various Security Forces, Agencies & Their Mandates

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: VIP Security

    Mains level: NA

    Introduction

    • The Union Home Ministry has provided a Z+ category security cordon manned by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers around Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan.

    VIP Security Provisions in India

    • In India, security is provided to high-risk individuals by the police and local government.
    • The level of security needed by any individual is decided by the Ministry of Home Affairs, based on inputs received from intelligence agencies which include the IB and R&AW.
    • Individuals such as PM, home minister, and other officials such as the National Security Advisor generally get security cover because of the positions they occupy.
    • In addition to this, persons who are believed to be under threat also receive security cover.

    What is Z+ Category Security?

    In India, the category covers are X, Y, Y-plus, Z, Z-plus, and SPG (Special Protection Group).

    • X Category: The protectee gets one gunman. Protectees in the Y category have one gunman for mobile security and one (plus four on rotation) for static security.
    • Y Plus category: It receives the cover of two gunmen (plus four on rotation) for mobile security, and one (plus four on rotation) for residence security,
    • Z Category: It has six gunmen for mobile security and two (plus 8) for residence security. They get 10 security personnel for mobile security, and two (plus 8) for residence security.
    • Z Plus Category: It is provided by National Security Guard commandos whereas the other category of security is provided by the Delhi police or the ITBP or CRPF personnel.

    What about Special Protection Group (SPG) Cover?

    • The SPG cover is meant only for the PM and his immediate family.
    • After Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own security guards in 1984, the Rajiv Gandhi government decided to create a special cadre of security personnel for the PM.
    • In March 1985, following the recommendations of a committee set up by the Home Ministry, a special unit was created for this purpose under the Cabinet Secretariat.
    • This unit, initially called the Special Protection Unit, was renamed as Special Protection Group in April 1985.

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

    Attend Now

  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-Africa

    Burkina, Mali, Niger quit West African bloc ECOWAS

    Prelims Only | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: ECOWAS

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    ecowas

    Introduction

    • The military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their immediate withdrawal from the West African bloc ECOWAS.

    Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

    Details
    Establishment Regional intergovernmental organization established in 1975.
    Objectives Aims to foster economic integration, cooperation, and development among West African nations.
    Headquarters Secretariat headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria.
    Member States 15 member states: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote dā€™ Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Togo.
    Primary Goals & Objectives
    • Promoting economic integration among member states.
    • Facilitating the free movement of people, goods, and services.
    • Enhancing regional cooperation in various sectors.
    • Fostering a borderless region governed by democratic principles and good governance.
    • Addressing security and political challenges through collaboration and conflict resolution.
    Achievements & Initiatives
    • Establishment of ECOMOG peacekeeping force for conflict resolution.
    • Launching the ECOWAS Single Currency Initiative for economic integration.
    • Supporting efforts to combat terrorism, human trafficking, and organized crime.

    Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

    Attend Now