Latest news with #JSKhehar
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mains answer practice — GS 2: Questions on India–Canada educational diplomacy and Election Commission (Week 111)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today's answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-2 to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Discuss the potential clash between Election Commission discretion and the basic structure laid under Article 14 of the Constitution. Discuss the implications for India–Canada educational diplomacy and for Indian students seeking global educational opportunities. Introduction — The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction. — It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts. Body — It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content. — The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points. — Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse. — Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer. — Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required. Way forward/ conclusion — The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction. — You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers. Self Evaluation — It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers. QUESTION 1: Discuss the potential clash between Election Commission discretion and the basic structure laid under Article 14 of the Constitution. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — Four previous Chief Justices of India spoke before the Joint Committee of Parliament on the 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) Bill, highlighting the Election Commission's broad powers under the proposed law to organise simultaneous polls. — Former Chief Justices J S Khehar and D Y Chandrachud questioned whether the EC's power to decide whether simultaneous polls can be delayed for a state is constitutionally permissible. They stressed that holding simultaneous polls is legitimate and would not undermine the Constitution's fundamental framework. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — Ranjan Gogoi, a Rajya Sabha MP and former CJI, pointed out in March that the EC had been given broad powers to decide on the timing of simultaneous polls. — The 129th Constitution Amendment Bill, which proposes to implement simultaneous polls, specifies that the EC will determine whether they are possible. — The proposed amendment to Article 82 of the Constitution provides that… 'if the Election Commission is of the opinion that the elections to any Legislative Assembly cannot be conducted along with the general election to the House of the People, it may make a recommendation to the President, to declare by an order, that the election to that Legislative Assembly may be conducted at a later date.' — Former CJIs have suggested amending the law to include parliamentary oversight over the EC's power to decide the schedule and also narrowing down the EC's powers to delay the schedule only on the grounds of 'public order or national security' to ensure that the power is not used arbitrarily. Conclusion: — Broad powers in legislation without sufficient safeguards could be deemed arbitrary by courts and be held violative of the right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution. — Article 14 of the Constitution of India states that 'The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India'. (Source: Four ex-CJIs raise red flag: EC power to delay simultaneous elections may not pass muster) Points to Ponder Read about Article 14 Read about appointment and removal process of CJI Read about Election Commission Related Previous Year Questions Examine the need for electoral reforms as suggested by various committees, with particular reference to the ''One Nation–One Election'' principle. (2024) Discuss the role of the Election Commission of India in the light of the evolution of the Model Code of Conduct. (2022) QUESTION 2: Discuss the implications for India–Canada educational diplomacy and for Indian students seeking global educational opportunities. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — In recent months, Canada has given significantly fewer student visas. In the first quarter of 2025, the government issued only 96,015 study permits, down from 1,21,070 in the same time last year, according to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data. — Several students have blamed their rejections on the employment of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, claiming that AI-driven visa processing processes result in rejections without sufficient human assessment. While experts believe that AI could be the culprit, they point to a very different issue. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — According to experts, the underlying issue is that hopefuls submit inadequately prepared AI-generated applications and fail to compile necessary documents and ensure academic coherence. — They claim that many students and even study abroad consultants have become unduly reliant on AI to prepare visa-related documents, particularly Statements of Purpose (SOPs). — While there are no clear instructions not to use AI for applications, experts say the technology produces similar, templated text, preventing candidates from differentiating out or seeming authentic. — AI-generated SOPs, for example, frequently seem robotic, impersonal, and repetitious, raising red flags among visa officers who review these documents. Such SOPs also lack personal understanding or fail to make a clear connection between an applicant's past and future ambitions. Furthermore, relying on AI indicates a lack of seriousness and effort, which can jeopardise visa clearance chances. Conclusion: — In addition to a strong SOP, there is importance of detailed proof of funds with credible financial documents, as well as honest and accurate paperwork. Any mismatched or exaggerated claims, he warned, can lead to outright rejection. (Source: How AI may be behind drop in student visas issued by Canada to Indians) Points to Ponder Read about India-Canada Relations Read about trade between India and Canada Recent developments between India and Canada Related Previous Year Questions The Indian diaspora has scaled new heights in the West. Describe its economic and political benefits for India. (2023) 'Indian diaspora has a decisive role to play in the politics and economy of America and European Countries'. Comment with examples. (2020) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 110) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 111) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 110) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 109) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 110) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 109) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: One Nation One Election, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and Kailash-Mansarovar yatra
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for July 12, 2025. If you missed the July 11, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here. Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. What's the ongoing story: Former Chief Justices of India Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud, who appeared Friday before the Joint Committee of Parliament on the 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) Bill, are learnt to have said that the Bill does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) Bill? • What are the challenges related to the simultaneous elections? • What is the process of passing the Constitutional Amendment Bill? • What is the role of the Election Commission of India in conducting simultaneous elections? • What are the arguments in favour of conducting ONOE? • The High-level Committee on Simultaneous Elections was constituted under whose chairmanship? • What were the recommendations of the High-Level Committee? • Know about the role and functions of the Election Commission of India • What are the Parliamentary Committees? What is their role? • What are asynchronous elections? • What is the significance of no-confidence motion in a parliamentary democracy? Key Takeaways: • However, they were said to have underlined that the Bill in its present form may not pass the Constitution muster, especially with regard to the sweeping powers given to the Election Commission of India. • It is learnt that on Friday former CJIs J S Khehar and D Y Chandrachud expressed doubts whether the power of EC to decide if simultaneous polls can be delayed for a state is constitutionally permissible. Both are learnt to have underlined that holding simultaneous polls itself is constitutional and would not violate the basic structure of the Constitution • Earlier, former CJIs UU Lalit and Ranjan Gogoi, who too appeared before the panel, had raised the issue of possible legal challenges to the Bill. • Parliamentary committee proceedings are privileged, and details of exchanges between members during meetings are not made public. • In the context of the powers given to the ECI and the Bill being silent on many electoral situations, Justice Chandrachud flagged legal challenges and proposed some redrafting of the Bill. • He was said to have told the committee that asynchronous (non-simultaneous) elections were not held as a criteria of a free and fair election and were not part of the basic structure. In fact, the constitutional scheme early in the history of the republic was to hold simultaneous elections, he pointed out. • In Justice Chandrachud's view, the Constitution only provides for a maximum term, that is five years, and there is no minimum guaranteed term. He was said to have pointed out that in a parliamentary democracy, there was no guaranteed term at all, and a government had to prove its mandate throughout the five years, through the check of the no-confidence motion. • The 129th Constitution Amendment Bill, which seeks to introduce simultaneous polls, states that the EC will decide whether simultaneous polls are feasible. • The proposed amendment to Article 82 of the Constitution stipulates that the 'if the Election Commission is of the opinion that the elections to any Legislative Assembly cannot be conducted along with the general election to the House of the People, it may make a recommendation to the President, to declare by an order, that the election to that Legislative Assembly may be conducted at a later date.' Do You Know: • Simultaneous elections, popularly referred to as 'One Nation, One Election', means holding elections to Lok Sabha, all state Legislative Assemblies, and urban and rural local bodies (municipalities and panchayats) at the same time. • Currently, all these elections are held independently of one another, following timelines dictated by the terms of every individual elected body. Former President Ram Nath Kovind was the Chairman of the High-Level Committee (HLC) constituted on 'One Nation, One Election'. • The constitution has not provided any special provisions on the composition, tenure, or functioning of the Parliamentary Committees. Parliamentary Committees draw their authority from Article 105, which deals with the privileges of MPs, and Article 118, which gives Parliament authority to make rules to regulate its procedure and conduct of business. • Broadly, Parliamentary Committees can be classified into Financial Committees, Departmentally Related Standing Committees, Other Parliamentary Standing Committees, and Ad hoc Committees. • The Financial Committees include the Estimates Committee, Public Accounts Committee, and the Committee on Public Undertakings. These committees were constituted in 1950. • Seventeen Departmentally Related Standing Committees came into being in 1993, when Shivraj Patil was Speaker of Lok Sabha, to examine budgetary proposals and crucial government policies. • Ad hoc Committees are appointed for a specific purpose. They cease to exist after they have completed the task assigned to them, and have submitted a report to the House. • Parliament can also constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) with a special purpose, with members from both Houses, for detailed scrutiny of a subject or Bill. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Four ex-CJIs raise red flag: EC power to delay simultaneous elections may not pass muster 📍Knowledge Nugget: Why is Parliamentary Estimates Committee important for your UPSC exam? Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: (1) Which one of the following is the largest Committee of the Parliament? (UPSC CSE 2014) (a) The Committee on Public Accounts (b) The Committee on Estimates (c) The Committee on Public Undertakings (d) The Committee on Petition (2) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2017) 1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body. 2. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections. 3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 3 only Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. What's the ongoing story: With an agitation pushing for ending reservations for 'backward tribes' on one side and a demand to increase the quantum of this quota on the other, Nagaland's nearly five-decade old reservation policy has become the centre of a debate in the state. Key Points to Ponder: • When was Nagaland formed as a state? • Know about the Naga tribes- their culture and history • Know about the major tribes residing in Nagaland • What is the purpose of a reservation? • What are the arguments in favour and against the reservation? • What is the basis of reservation in India? • What is the Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CORRP) of Nagaland? • Who are the backward tribes in Nagaland? Key Takeaways: • This week, the Committee on Review of Reservation Policy (CORRP), a grouping of five tribes in Nagaland, resumed its protest to push for a review of the reservation policy. • It provides for an internal quota within the broader ST category for 'Indigenous Scheduled Tribes of Nagaland' in government jobs and reserves 37% of posts for tribes identified as 'backward tribes'. • The CORRP comprises representatives from the apex bodies of five groups that have come to be called 'advanced tribes': Ao, Angami, Sumi, Lotha and Rengma. • In response to pressure from the CORRP, which has been building up since September last year, the Nagaland government had in March convened a meeting with different stakeholders. Following this, Cabinet minister Neiba Kronu said the government has decided to review the policy. • There are 14 recognized Naga tribes in Nagaland, and the Scheduled Tribes in the state also include 'Indigenous' Garo, Mikir, Kuki and Kachari groups. • The Nagaland government had first introduced reservation for STs of the state in the Nagaland State Services in 1967. The quantum for this was fixed at 80% of vacancies in the Nagaland State Services and 100% of non-technical Grade-III and IV posts. • The element of internal reservations within this reservation was introduced in 1977. Through an order then, 25% of these reserved vacancies were reserved for seven tribes – Konyak, Chakhesang, Sangtam, Phom, Chang, Yimchunger and Khiamunuingan – citing economic backwardness and 'insignificant representation in the services'. • The 1977 order had laid down a timeline of 10 years for these additional reservations. However, in 1989, through another order, the Nagaland government directed that the reservation policy would continue 'until further orders'. • Now, the other tribes are saying that the reservation policy for backward tribes be entirely scrapped or that the remaining posts be reserved exclusively for them. • There is also a demand from another quarter: organisations representing tribes from Eastern Nagaland, which have for years been demanding that the backward tribes reservation for the seven tribes from the region be increased to 45%. Do You Know: • The British annexed Assam in 1826, and in 1881, the Naga Hills too became part of British India. The first sign of Naga resistance was seen in the formation of the Naga Club in 1918, which told the Simon Commission in 1929 'to leave us alone to determine for ourselves as in ancient times'. • In 1946 came the Naga National Council (NNC), which, under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo, declared Nagaland an independent state on August 14, 1947. The NNC resolved to establish a 'sovereign Naga state' and conducted a 'referendum' in 1951, in which '99 per cent' supported an 'independent' Nagaland. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: Everything you need to know about Nagaland insurgency Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions General Studies-III: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life What's the ongoing story: Ruchi Gupta: As the US and China drive a new era of AI competition, and the EU asserts leadership on AI regulation, India has articulated its ambition to lead in technology and shape global AI governance. With its democratic legitimacy and digital capacity, India is positioned to represent the Global South in AI forums. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the role of India in shaping global AI governance? • What are the initiatives taken by India to ensure AI governance? • What is the IndiaAI Mission? • What is the share of India's GDP on R&D? • What is the significance of investing in R & D for a growing nation like India? • What are the issues with the government AI policies? What are the recommendations suggested by the author? • Learn about the application of AI in governance, health, education, judiciary and other sectors Key Takeaways: • The IndiaAI Mission, approved last year with a budget of over Rs 10,000 crore, is a welcome step. But it is a mission without a mandate. Housed as a division of a Section 8 company under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, it is led by a bureaucrat. Operating without a Cabinet-endorsed national strategy. • The US, China, the UK and the EU anchor their AI efforts in formal, Cabinet-endorsed national strategies with clear roadmaps and timelines. • This governance gap is critical because India faces structural deficits that impede its AI ecosystem, which cannot be overcome through incremental approaches. The Indian R&D base remains relatively shallow. • In the private sector, India's IT industry remains oriented toward services. Research investments are modest relative to international companies, and to the extent that the Indian IT industry has engaged with AI, it has been largely in deployment — downstream of frontier innovation. • India lacks AI-first national champions and the deep-tech industrial ecosystem seen in global leaders. • Venture capital majors are frank: They see India as a consumer market, not a deep-tech innovator. Funding remains skewed towards consumer tech, not foundational research. • India needs a Cabinet-endorsed National AI Strategy — presented to Parliament — that sets out a vision, an actionable roadmap, and mechanisms for democratic accountability. This strategy must establish an empowered coordinating authority with a whole-of-government mandate; align R&D, industrial policy, and security strategy, and create frameworks for public engagement and parliamentary oversight. Do You Know: • Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the field of computer science which aims to make computer systems think, reason, learn, and act to solve a complex system like humans. • The term artificial intelligence was coined by McCarthy. 'McCarthy later admitted that no one really liked the name — after all, the goal was genuine, not 'artificial', intelligence — but 'I had to call it something, so I called it 'Artificial Intelligence','' wrote Melanie Mitchell in her book, 'Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans'. • AI can be classified into two types: Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) also known as weak AI and Artificial General • Intelligence (AGI) also referred to as strong AI. • ANI is designed for specific tasks and excels within a narrow domain. Examples include virtual assistants like Siri, recommendation systems on platforms like Netflix, and image recognition software. ANI systems are highly specialised and cannot transfer their expertise to unrelated tasks. • In contrast, AGI aims to replicate human cognitive abilities, enabling it to perform any intellectual task a human can do. AGI would possess general reasoning skills, understand context, and adapt to new situations across various domains. It would be capable of autonomous learning and problem-solving without requiring task-specific programming. • Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) are subsets of AI but differ in complexity and capabilities. ML involves training algorithms to learn from data and make predictions and often requires manual feature extraction. • DL, a subset of ML, uses neural networks with many layers (hence 'deep') to automatically learn features from large datasets. While ML works well with smaller datasets, DL requires vast amounts of data and computational power. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍AI basics: What are artificial intelligence and machine learning? 📍What is Artificial Intelligence, how is it revolutionising healthcare Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (3) With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (UPSC CSE 2020) 1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units 2. Create meaningful short stories and songs 3. Disease diagnosis 4. Text-to-Speech Conversion 5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate. What's the ongoing story: K J Alphons writes: Experts will propose dramatic changes in defence strategy, just as the art of war changed with the invention of gunpowder, machine guns, fighter planes, rockets, nuclear bombs, missiles etc. In light of recent developments, I have the following observations on future planning. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the Operation Spider's Web? • What are the US B-2 stealth bombers? • What are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)? How has it become significant in modern warfare? • What are stealth fighters? • Role of the private sector in the production of defense equipment • How have wars evolved over time? • What are the recommendations of the author for India's defence sector? Key Takeaways: • First, fighter planes are flying ducks, and horribly expensive, too. Earlier, fighters were lost in dogfights; now, they can be shot down in one's own air space from enemy territory. It is foolish to use them when a Rs 50,000 drone can do the job much better at a fraction of the cost. • In any case, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be designed to carry payloads of any size. Besides, for precision delivery of large payloads, missiles are the best. Our Agni missiles can hit almost anywhere in the world accurately. • Even stealth fighters have no place in future warfare — sooner rather than later, better radar technology or satellite-based observation techniques will be developed to detect them. The DRDO and HAL should stop wasting resources on fighters. • Second, aircraft carriers are sitting ducks for UAVs. A torpedo can also sink even the most protected carrier. And protecting one requires a lot of paraphernalia — it's like an emperor who needs to be closely guarded. • Third, tanks are expensive. They can be immobilised with drones, and there are a variety of shells that can destroy any battle tank. They can easily be replaced with more effective and less expensive equipment — don't waste money on them. • Fourth, future wars will be satellite/UAV-driven conflicts. Not only will these track everything, they will deliver the munitions as well, including nuclear warheads. Spend lots of money on these. • All over the world, the best defence equipment is manufactured by the private sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has focused on the development and production of defence equipment locally. • The DRDO's wings should be clipped drastically and it should stick to its areas of core competence, such as missile technology. Let the private sector do the rest, without any supervision by the DRDO. They will produce world-class products. Give them a free hand and have a large PLI for the sector. Do You Know: • The nature of warfare has undergone an irreversible shift. From boots on the ground and dogfights in the air to remote strikes from unmanned platforms and AI-driven decision cycles, war is now a contest of networks, autonomy, and lethality at machine speed. Nations that adapt to this shift will dominate; those that lag will perish in obsolescence. • Manoj K Channan writes: In this evolving paradigm, four key assertions emerge. One, artillery (rockets/missiles) will dominate offensive operations. Two, air defence (AD) will become the primary defensive shield. • Three, sappers will rise in operational relevance beyond mobility and countermobility. And four, the infantry and the armoured corps will execute decisive manoeuvres, shaped by strategic fires and autonomous systems. • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are military aircraft that is guided autonomously, by remote control, or both and that carries sensors, target designators, offensive ordnance, or electronic transmitters designed to interfere with or destroy enemy targets. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Warfare is going autonomous — India must catch up Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by our adversaries across the borders. to ferry arms / ammunitions, drugs, etc., is a serious threat to the internal security. Comment on the measures being taken to tackle this threat. (UPSC CSE 2023) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies III: Linkages between development and spread of extremism. What's the ongoing story: The stringent Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Bill, which seeks 'to provide for effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of left wing extremist organisations or similar organisations', was passed by the state Assembly by a voice vote on Thursday. Key Points to Ponder: • What do you understand by Maoism? • Know about Naxalites and Left-wing Extremism, also understand the difference between them • Know about the history of Naxalism in India • What are cognizable offences? • What are the concerns related to the Bill? • What is the status of Naxalism in India? • What are the steps taken by the government to curb Naxalism? • What is Urban Maoism? • Why is it a concern for internal security? Key Takeaways: • The Bill will now be introduced in the Legislative Council where it is expected to pass as well. It will then be sent to the Governor for his assent, following which it will become law. • The statement of objects and reasons of the Bill says the 'menace of Naxalism is not only limited to remote areas of the Naxal affected states, but its presence is increasing in the urban areas also through the Naxal front organisations'. • According to the government, these 'frontal organisations' provide logistics and safe refuge to armed Naxal cadres, and 'existing laws are ineffective and inadequate to tackle this menace of Naxalism'. • To address this situation, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha have enacted Public Security Acts and banned 48 Naxal frontal organisations, the Bill says. • The Bill gives the government the power to declare any suspect 'organisation' as an 'unlawful organisation'. It prescribes four offences for which an individual can be punished: (i) for being a member of an unlawful organisation, (ii) when not a member, for raising funds for an unlawful organisation, (iii) for managing or assisting in managing an unlawful organisation and, (iv) for committing an 'unlawful activity'. • These offences carry jail terms of two years to seven years, along with fines ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The offence relating to committing an unlawful activity carries the toughest punishment: imprisonment of seven years and a fine of Rs 5 lakh. • Offences under the proposed law are cognizable, which means arrests can be made without a warrant, and are non-bailable. • The Bill was first brought at the fag end of the 2024 Monsoon Session of the Assembly. The day after the Bill was tabled, the Assembly was prorogued and the Bill was not passed. Do You Know: • While often conflated, Maoism, Naxalism, and Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) have distinct origins. Maoism is based on Mao Zedong's doctrine of agrarian revolution and guerrilla warfare. Its Indian variant emerged with the 1967 Naxalbari uprising, leading to the broader Naxalite movement. • Over decades, this transformed itself into factions, with the CPI (Maoist) becoming the dominant group in 2004 through the merger of the People's War Group (PWG) and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC). LWE is the term used by the Indian state to categorise such insurgencies within a national security framework. • By contrast, 'Urban Naxal' is often used to refer to supporters of Naxalism, including intellectual and financial support. • The Maoist insurgency traces its roots to the CPI(Marxist-Leninist) founded by Charu Mazumdar and Kanu Sanyal. The movement fractured during the 1970s–90s into numerous groups, many of which operated in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍What lies ahead as Centre mounts offensive against Maoists 📍This Word Means: Maoist UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in the Eastern part of India? What strategy should the Government of India, civil administration and security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas? (UPSC CSE 2020) 📍The persisting drives of the government for development of large industries in backward areas have resulted in isolating the tribal population and the farmers who face multiple displacements. With Malkangiri and Naxalbari foci, discuss the corrective strategies needed to win the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) doctrine that affected citizens back into the mainstream of social and economic growth. (UPSC CSE 2015) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Salient features of the world's physical geography. General Studies-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations. What's the ongoing story: After a five-year hiatus triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic and extended due to tensions between India and China, the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra has resumed in 2025. Key Points to Ponder: • Where is Nathu La pass located? • Map work: Mount Kailash, Dirapuk, Dolma La, and Zutul Puk • What is the cultural significance of the Kailash Mansarovar yatra? • What is the significance of initiatives like the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in improving bilateral ties between India and China? • How does cultural diplomacy complement traditional diplomatic mechanisms? Key Takeaways: • This year, the Ministry of External Affairs chose 750 pilgrims who would be making the storied pilgrimage. • With an elevation of 6,638 metres, Mount Kailash (Gang Rinpoche in Tibetan) is located in the Ngari Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, near the tri-junction of India, Tibet and Nepal. • To its south on the Tibetan plateau are two lakes: the freshwater Manasarovar (Mapam Yumtso) and saltwater Rakshastal (Lhanag Tso). • Both lakes and the towering mountain in their background are significant in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Tibetan Bon traditions. • Four major rivers — the Yarlung Tsangpo (which later becomes the Brahmaputra), the Indus, the Sutlej, and the Karnali (later known as Ghaghra, a major tributary of the Ganga) — trace their to origins 'the watershed of this iconic mass of rock,' Alice Albinia wrote in her award-winning book Empires of the Indus: The Story of a River (2008). • Despite its age-old sacredness, however, the Kailash-Mansarovar complex was not a popular pilgrimage site till 'as recently as the early 1900s…,' wrote Tibetologist Alex McKay in his book Kailas Histories: Renunciate Traditions and the Construction of Himalayan Sacred Geography (2015). • Pilgrims typically travel to and circumambulate Mansarovar, a 90-km walk that takes between three to five days to complete. Some then circumambulate Mount Kailash, a much more arduous 52-km trek that takes around three days to complete. • The Kailash trek began on the southern side of the mountain, at Tarchen. Pilgrims typically travel clockwise around the mountain, always keeping Kailash to their right. The trek passes through Dirapuk, Dolma La, Zutul Puk, and finally culminates in Tarchen. • On the Nathu La pass route, which first opened in 2015, the journey is even easier: pilgrims travel the entire 1,500 km from Nathu La to Mansarovar by car or bus. Do You Know: • There are two primary routes to reach Lake Mansarovar from India. • LIPULEKH PASS ROUTE: Lipulekh pass lies at an altitude of 5,115 metres, on the border between Uttarakhand and TAR, near the trijunction with Nepal. It is an ancient passageway between the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan Plateau, frequented by traders and pilgrims alike. • While the Lipulekh pass route is the most direct way to get to Mansarovar from India — as the crow flies, the lake is roughly 50 km from the border — the terrain makes the journey very challenging. Currently, this route entails roughly 200 km of hard trekking. Before 2020, it had been operational since 1981. • NATHU LA PASS ROUTE: Nathu La pass lies at an altitude of 4,310 metres on the border between Sikkim and TAR. It is one of two mountain passes in the region — the other being Jelep La — that have connected Sikkim and Tibet since ancient times. • The route to Mansarovar from Nathu La is much longer in terms of distance — close to 1,500 km. But it is fully motorable, meaning pilgrims can make it all the way to the lake without any trekking. (They would only need to trekk 35-40 km for the circumambulation of Mount Kailash). This route became operational in 2015. • NEPAL ROUTE: No private operators function on the two official routes. There is, however, a third route through Nepal in which private companies do operate. In theory, this route has been accessible to Indians since 2023, when China reopened its border with Nepal. But visa and permit requirements, as well as high costs due to China-imposed fees, have meant that few have likely availed this option. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to resume soon: Everything you need to know 📍India, China move to normalise ties, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to resume in June after 5 years Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (4) Consider the following pairs : Which of the above pairs are correctly matched? (a) l and 3 only (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 One, it uses a quick, easy-to-use tool, which helps a doctor determine whether a patient is severely ill and needs to be hospitalised soon after being diagnosed with TB. The tool does not require any laboratory-based investigations. Two, the initiative follows a differentiated care model which offers a patient-centred approach instead of a one-size-fits-all treatment. Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Ex CJIs Khehar, Chandrachud appear before ONOE panel
Former chief justices of India, J S Khehar and D Y Chandrachud, are interacting on Friday with the parliamentary committee scrutinising the simultaneous election bill as it held its eighth sitting. Sources said both jurists are of the view that the concept of 'one nation one election' is not violative of the basic structure of the Constitution but have questioned the extent of power vested with the Election Commission in the proposed law. They have also made certain suggestions while throwing light on the journey of parliamentary system of democracy in the country. The Joint Committee of Parliament headed by BJP MP P P Chaudhary has been speaking to jurists and legal experts as it prepares its recommendation on the bill. Two other former chief justices of India, U U Lalit and Ranjan Gogoi, have appeared before the committee in past. While both of them did not question the constitutionality of simultaneous elections, they have questioned some aspects of the bill and offered suggestions.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Four ex-CJIs raise red flag: EC power to delay simultaneous elections may not pass muster
Appearing before the Joint Committee of Parliament on 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) Bill, four former Chief Justices of India have red-flagged the vast powers that the Election Commission holds in the proposed law for holding simultaneous polls. It is learnt that on Friday former CJIs J S Khehar and D Y Chandrachud expressed doubts whether the power of EC to decide if simultaneous polls can be delayed for a state is constitutionally permissible. Both are learnt to have underlined that holding simultaneous polls itself is constitutional and would not violate the basic structure of the Constitution. However, it is learnt that Justice Chandrachud told the committee that the EC's powers might suffer from constitutional infirmities. In March, Rajya Sabha MP and former CJI Ranjan Gogoi had also pointed out that the EC had been given unrestricted powers to decide the schedule of simultaneous polls. In February, former CJI UU Lalit had also given some suggestions on various aspects, including on the power of the EC. Parliamentary committee proceedings are privileged, and details of exchanges between members during meetings are not made public. The 129th Constitution Amendment Bill, which seeks to introduce simultaneous polls, states that the EC will decide whether simultaneous polls are feasible. The proposed amendment to Article 82 of the Constitution stipulates that the 'if the Election Commission is of the opinion that the elections to any Legislative Assembly cannot be conducted along with the general election to the House of the People, it may make a recommendation to the President, to declare by an order, that the election to that Legislative Assembly may be conducted at a later date.' At least two former CJIs, it is learnt, have suggested amending the law to include parliamentary oversight over the EC's power to decide the schedule. Justice Chandrachud, it is learnt, also suggested narrowing down the EC's powers to delay the schedule only on the grounds of 'public order or national security' to ensure that the power is not used arbitrarily. Broad powers in legislation without sufficient safeguards could be deemed arbitrary by courts and be held violative of the right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution. Apurva Vishwanath is the National Legal Editor of The Indian Express in New Delhi. She graduated with a B.A., LL. B (Hons) from Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow. She joined the newspaper in 2019 and in her current role, oversees the newspapers coverage of legal issues. She also closely tracks judicial appointments. Prior to her role at the Indian Express, she has worked with ThePrint and Mint. ... Read More
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Golden opportunity for the committee for nation-building...": JPC chief PP Chaudhary on One Nation One Election Bill deliberations
New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the One Nation One Election Bill met here today and interacted with legal experts, including former Chief Justices of India (CJI) JS Khehar and DY Chandrachud. Chairman of the committee, PP Chaudhary, later stated that it is a golden opportunity for the committee to contribute to nation-building, and all members of the panel are focused on preparing good legislation. 'Today a meeting was held for the 'One Nation, One Election'... Former CJIs Justice Khehar and Justice present before us, and we had an interaction. This is a golden opportunity for this committee for nation-building... All the members of the committee are above the party politics and are focused on preparing a good 'One Nation, One Election' Bill,' Chaudhary told ANI. He said members of the committee realised and the experts also agreed that it is a golden opportunity for the panel for nation-building. He said such an opportunity will not come again. After hearing the views of former CJIs JS Khehar and DY Chandrachud, the panel also heard the views of former MP and former chairman of the parliamentary panel on Law and Justice, EMS Natchiappan. The members who attended the meeting today included Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Manish Tewari, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Saket Gokhale, Shambhavi Choudhary and Bhartruhari Mahtab. Answering a query, PP Chaudhary said that the panel is hearing views of judges as they are experts in the Constitution. He said they are not inclined towards any political party and are only concerned with the law and are unbiased. PP Chaudhary, a BJP MP, said that the committee is keen to suggest amendments so that the bill can stand judicial scrutiny and the vision of One Nation One Election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be implemented. The JPC chief also talked about the panel's visit to five states and a union territory and said they got valuable inputs. He said that many political leaders, civil society members, and officials backed the proposal. The JPC is examining the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposes simultaneous elections, aligning the election cycles of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. The Union Cabinet had in September 2024 accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections under the chairmanship of former President Ram Nath Kovind. The Committee had recommended a two-step approach to lead to simultaneous elections. It said that as the first step, simultaneous elections will be held for Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. It said that in the second step, elections to the Municipalities and the Panchayats will be synchronised with Lok Sabha and assemblies in such a way that these are held within a hundred days of holding elections to the House of the People and the state legislative assemblies. The Committee had also recommended that there should be a single electoral roll and Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) for use in elections to all three tiers of government. The Committee had said that its recommendations will significantly enhance transparency, inclusivity, ease and confidence of the voters. (ANI)
