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- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Kudavolai system, Cheetah in India and US-EU trade deal
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for July 28, 2025. If you missed the July 27, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE Bihar special roll revision: Volunteers will help electors get govt documents, says EC Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Salient features of the Representation of People's Act. What's the ongoing story: Volunteers will be deployed to help electors get the documents required from government departments to meet the submission deadline of September 1 as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Election Commission said on Sunday. Key Points to Ponder: • What you know about Special Intensive Revision (SIR)? • What is the controversy about Special Intensive Revision (SIR)? • Under which provision does the Election Commission of India (ECI) conduct a 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) of electoral rolls? • What is the primary objective of the 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) of electoral rolls? • How does Special Intensive Revision (SIR) impacts the credibility of elections? • What challenges are associated with maintaining accurate and inclusive electoral rolls in India? • How the SIR of electoral rolls can affect marginalized and migrant populations in Bihar? • What is the role of the Supreme Court in overseeing election matters and its response to petitions against the SIR? Key Takeaways: • The EC's statement comes a day before the Supreme Court is set to hear a clutch of petitions challenging the SIR with opposition parties and civil society groups raising concerns over the potential disenfranchisement of existing electors. The court heard the matter first on July 10. • According to the EC, the first phase of the drive, which started on June 25, came to an end on July 26 with the enumeration forms of 7.23 crore out of 7.89 crore registered electors of the state having been received within the deadline. Around 65 lakh names would be removed from the rolls as the electors were found to have either died or migrated permanently or registered in more than one place or untraceable, the EC said. • Currently, under the Bihar SIR, those who were on the 2003 electoral rolls need only submit an extract from it as proof, while others (enrolled after 2003) must provide one or more documents from a list of 11 (along with a pre-filled enumeration form for existing electors) to establish their date and/or place of birth – which, in turn, is used to determine citizenship. • In fact, in 1993, when the poll watchdog tried venturing into the question of citizenship at the stage of preparation of the draft roll, the Gauhati High Court held in the case of H.R.A. Chaudhury vs. Election Commission and Others (supra) (upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India) that 'the draft rolls are to be prepared on the basis of the statements submitted by the heads of the households in a constituency in Form 4 under Rule 8 of Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.' Do You Know: • The nomenclature 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) indicates that the ECI is exercising its discretionary powers under Section 21(3) of the 1950 law, which permits it to revise electoral rolls 'in such manner as it thinks fit'. For this exercise, the ECI has adopted a hybrid approach — combining door-to-door field verification that is characteristic of an intensive revision with elements of a summary revision, such as the reliance on existing electoral rolls to distribute enumeration forms. • According to the EC's June 24 order, all electors of Bihar had to submit enumeration forms by July 25 to make it to the draft roll to be published on August 1. From August 1 to September 1, the electors would have to submit documents, from a list of 11 specified by the EC in its order, to establish their eligibility. These documents would then be scrutinised and the final roll published on September 30, as per the schedule. • For those on the 2003 electoral roll, when the last intensive revision was done, the EC order says the extract of the roll would do. The 11 documents include caste certificate, matriculation/ educational certificate, passport and birth certificate, but not the widely held Aadhaar, Voter ID and ration card. • The EC said that no name can be deleted from the draft roll without notice to the elector and the relevant order passed by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant ERO. 'Any elector aggrieved by any decision of the ERO may appeal to the District Magistrate and the Chief Electoral Officer thereafter under Section 24 of the RP Act, 1950. Volunteers are also being trained in helping people to file appeals against any decision of ERO. A standard format for filing appeals is also being devised and will be widely circulated to allow people to file appeals easily,' the EC said. • The EC said 22 lakh electors were found to be deceased, 36 lakh had permanently shifted or were not found by the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and 7 lakh were enrolled in multiple places. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Bihar special roll revision | BLOs' refrain: Many still not able to file one of 11 documents needed Previous year UPSC Main Question Covering similar theme: 📍Examine the need for electoral reforms as suggested by various committees with particular reference to 'one nation – one election' principle. (2024) SC-named panel proposes 'power corridors' through Bustard habitats Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization. Main Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment What's the ongoing story: Giving relief to renewable energy companies from blanket restrictions on existing overhead power lines in habitats of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), a Supreme Court appointed expert committee has proposed designated 'power corridors' for transmission lines in Gujarat and Rajasthan, The Indian Express has learnt. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the Great Indian Bustard? • Great Indian Bustards and their habitats-Mark on Map • Why is the Great Indian Bustard endangered? • Why is the Great Indian Bustard is on the brink of extinction? • Great Indian Bustard-Know the Conservation efforts • How to balance the effectiveness and risks of allowing limited renewable energy infrastructure versus maintaining blanket restrictions in critical habitats? • What you understand by 'flagship species' in conservation? • How does the Great Indian Bustard serve as an indicator for grassland ecosystem health across India? Key Takeaways: • The committee has also revised the boundaries of GIB conservation zones. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, it has proposed a 'revised priority area' of 14,013 sq km (up from 13,163 sq km) and 740 sq km (up from 500 sq km), respectively. These priority areas are meant for focused conservation and protection of the GIB. • The corridors proposed by the seven-member committee will be 5 km wide in Rajasthan and between 1 and 2 km wide across two separate zones in Gujarat. One member of the committee, however, is learnt to have submitted a dissent note, raising objections to exempting several power lines from mitigation. • The committee has proposed a set of mitigation measures and restrictions based on zonal priorities: —Existing power lines in Bustard habitats to be dealt with based on voltage. —Immediate burying of certain lines identified by the Supreme Court in key GIB habitats. —Lines of 220 kV and above be assessed individually for possible mitigation. —In some cases, rerouting lines outside proposed power corridors to reduce risk of GIB collisions. For instance, in Gujarat, 79 km of lines have been identified for burial or rerouting outside the revised priority area. —No new overhead power lines, wind turbines, solar plants over 2 MW, or expansion of existing plants in priority areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Only power lines of 11 kV (kilovolt) and lower capacities will be permitted — and strictly through designated power corridors. —No restrictions on laying new power lines outside the priority areas. • Sources said the idea behind creating power corridors is to ensure that birds, especially in high-risk habitats like Jaisalmer and Kutch, aren't forced to repeatedly navigate through a maze of criss-crossing power lines. These areas are densely dotted with transmission and distribution lines, which pose fatal risks to all birds, including the critically endangered GIB. Do You Know: • The estimated population of the large bird — once considered a candidate for national bird — is below 150. Owing to its poor vision, the GIB is at high risk of injury and death due to collisions with power lines. In addition to these collisions, GIB populations have plummeted over the years due to hunting, poaching for eggs, predation and habitat loss. • In March 2024, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud had recalled a 2021 Supreme Court order that required all power lines in GIB habitats to be buried underground, following concerns about the technical and economic feasibility of such a move. It then tasked the expert committee with prescribing measures to mitigate GIB deaths from power lines while balancing conservation goals with mushrooming renewable energy development in these two states. • In April 2021, the Supreme Court had ordered that all power lines in the GIB habitat be buried underground. However, earlier this year, the apex court said it would review its 2021 order after the central government found that it would be 'practically impossible to implement' over long distances. • The Great Indian Bustard is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world and has disappeared from 90% of its habitat except in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has categorised the species as 'critically endangered'. • According to the government, there are fewer than 150 GIB – birds that are found only in India. Most of these are found in Rajasthan. • Increased human activity in their habitat, predators preying on their eggs, and deaths due to overhead power lines are seen as being among the causes of the bird's population decline. • In 2020, a study carried out by WII in the 4,200-sq-km of the great Indian bustard (GIB) habitat in and around Desert National Park in Rajasthan estimated that power lines had killed around 84,000 birds of multiple species every year. This included the endangered GIB, which are particularly vulnerable because of their narrow frontal vision and large size. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: Critically endangered Great Indian Bustards' recovery program, and what lies ahead 📍The Great Indian Bustards of Kutch: Their habitats, existential threat Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: 1. With reference to India's Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct? (2020) 1. It is spread over two districts. 2. There is no human habitation inside the Park. 3. It is one of the natural habitats of Great Indian Bustard. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 EXPRESS NETWORK Before Magna Carta, Cholas had 'ballot pots': What is the ancient voting system PM lauded? Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: History of India Mains Examination: General Studies I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. What's the ongoing story: Village councils in the Chola empire were not just symbolic but elected bodies with real powers over revenue, irrigation, temple management and even justice. Key Points to Ponder: • Know about Rajendra Chola I and the Chola empire • Rajendra Chola assumed the title 'Gangaikonda Chola' meaning what? • Know about Chola administrative, architectural, and trade systems under Rajendra I • In what ways did the Cholas integrate self-governance institutions like Sabha/Ur and variyams into state administration and resource management? • What is Kudavolai system? • The Kudavolai system as an early form of participatory democratic governance in the Chola Empire- What elements resemble modern electoral processes? • How the combination of qualifications, ballot by lot (via palm leaves), tenure limits, and recall powers in Kudavolai reflects checks and balances in local self-governance? • What were the limitations of the Kudavolai system? Key Takeaways: • Standing before the thousand-year-old stone temple built by Rajendra Chola I, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Chola empire carried forward India's ancient democratic traditions. 'Historians talk about Britain's Magna Carta in the name of democracy,' he said, referring to the 1215 English charter. 'But many centuries ago, elections were held in the Chola Empire through a democratic method.' • Long before the Enlightenment in Europe birthed the ideals of representative governance, the Cholas had etched out rules for local self-rule, literally inscribed into stone. The inscriptions of Uttaramerur, a village in present-day Kanchipuram district, offer some of the world's earliest surviving evidence of a formal electoral system. • However, the Chola system was far from egalitarian in the modern sense. It excluded women, labourers, and landless groups. But as historian Tansen Sen wrote in The Military Campaigns of Rajendra Chola, the Cholas were masters of strategic signalling, not just through naval conquests but in governance structures that prefigured electoral thought Do You Know: • The Gangaikonda Cholapuram Shiva temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is often considered the pinnacle of Chola architecture, a triumphant declaration of the might and magnificence of an empire that at its peak stretched from near the banks of the Ganga in north India to parts of Sumatra, Malaysia, and Myanmar. • Rajendra Chola I, who reigned for 30 years (1014 to 1044 AD), built Gangaikonda Cholapuram as his capital after his Army marched right up to the Ganga river, defeating the Pala kingdom of Bengal, and returned victorious. In this new town, he built a grand water tank and a grander temple. The tank, Cholagangam, was meant to be a 'Ganga-jalamayam jayasthambham', or 'a liquid pillar of victory'. • As chronicled by K A Nilakanta Sastri in The Cholas (1935), the Chola administrative framework was built on two foundational units: the Sabha for Brahmin settlements and the Ur for non-Brahmin villages. These were not symbolic councils but elected bodies with real powers over revenue, irrigation, temple management, and even justice. 'It was democracy at the grassroots — built into the fabric of Tamil civic life,' Sastri wrote in Chapter VIII, 'Local Self-Government'. • But what made the system particularly striking was the method of voting, a process called the Kudavolai system or 'ballot pot' election. Under this method, as detailed in the Uttaramerur Inscriptions documented in Epigraphia Indica Vol. XXII (1933–34), the names of eligible candidates were inscribed on palm leaves and placed inside a pot. A young boy, typically chosen for his impartiality, would draw the lot in full public view. This randomised draw was not a game of chance but a civic ritual rooted in transparency, fairness, and collective consent. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍PM Modi at Gangaikonda Cholapuram: How this grand temple's history is linked to present-day politics Previous year UPSC Main Question Covering similar theme: 📍Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss. (2013) As India seeks more cheetahs, a flurry of diplomacy in Africa Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change Mains Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What's the ongoing story: Over the past two years, India has been working its diplomatic channels with Botswana, South Africa and Kenya as it navigates a complex set of negotiations to replenish its African cheetah population. Key Points to Ponder: • Cheetah in India- Background • Extinction of Cheetah from Indian Landscape-know the reasons • Supreme Court of India on Translocating Animals-know in detail • Trans-continental translocation of Animals-know the Issues and Challenges • How Reintroduction of the cheetah in India was executed? • Map Work World-South Africa, Kenya, Namibia and Botswana • Map Work India-Kuno Palpur National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary • Why relocation of some of the cheetahs from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary? • What are the concerns about the relocation of some of the cheetahs from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary? • Cheetah Project Steering Committee—Know its role, vision and powers • National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Cheetah Project Steering Committee—Is there any difference between the two bodies? If yes, what are they? • India's translocation diplomacy in engaging South Africa, Botswana, and Kenya to reintroduce African cheetahs-Comment • Know the ecological rationale and challenges of reintroducing Southeast African cheetahs at Kuno National Park. Key Takeaways: • Senior members of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) have said that talks with South Africa, a key source country, have slowed down following the formation of a new political coalition after general elections there last year. • At the same time, Botswana has formally committed to sending four cheetahs, and discussions are underway to finalise timelines. In Kenya, negotiations remain broad, centred on long-term collaboration rather than immediate translocation. • As many as 20 cheetahs have already been brought to India as part of the country's ambitious translocation plans. Of these, eight were brought from Namibia in 2022 and 12 from South Africa in early 2023. They were all brought to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. • In April this year, the Madhya Pradesh government announced that eight new cheetahs would be brought from Botswana and that the first four would arrive by May. That is yet to happen. • A senior official from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) said, 'We have sought an engagement to work out the logistics. Our High Commission is coordinating to arrive at dates of mutual convenience. The Union Minister concerned has been working on speeding up negotiations with the other countries.' • Records of Cheetah Project Steering Committee meetings show that as early as December 13, 2023, the committee was apprised that 'steps have been taken for bringing further cheetahs from Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, and other range countries as well.' However, the NTCA has clarified that as of now, there is 'no arrangement with Sudan or Tanzania'. Do You Know: • As for South Africa, with the translocation of 12 cheetahs having already taken place in 2023, experts from the country have been closely associated with India's Cheetah Project. However, the changes in government in the country have led to delays in further discussions to bring more cheetahs to India, officials said. • Project Cheetah kickstarted in 2022 with the translocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa to Kuno National Park. The project has faced setbacks with the deaths of eight of these cheetahs and five cubs born in Kuno. • The Cheetah Project Steering Committee was constituted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in May 2023 to review and monitor the project, and also act as an advisory body. • Cheetahs are among the oldest of the big cat species, with its ancestors going back about 8.5 million years. It is listed as 'vulnerable' by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Two subspecies, the Asiatic cheetah and the Northwest African cheetah, are listed as 'critically endangered'. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: How cheetahs went extinct in India, and the plan to reintroduce them into the wild Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: 2. Consider the following: (2012) 1. Black-necked crane 2. Cheetah 3. Flying squirrel 4. Snow leopard Which of the above are naturally found in India? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 India's 1st hydrogen-powered train nears reality as Railways successfully tests coach Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. What's the ongoing story: Indian Railways successfully tested the first hydrogen-powered coach or driving power car earlier this week at its Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. This marks a key milestone in the national transporter's quest to build India's first hydrogen-powered train, something only a few railways in the world have tried, with a bulk of the projects still in the trial phase. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the project? • How will it work? • What is the significance of India's first hydrogen powered coach test? • What were the technical and operational challenges of retrofitting diesel power cars into hydrogen fuel cell units? • Know the economic viability of hydrogen powered trains in India. • What are the institutional framework behind the projects like Northern Railway's RDSO, ICF and Medha Servo Drives? • Why there is a need for public private and international collaboration in the projects like hydrogen-powered coach or driving power car? • Compare hydrogen‐fuel cell propulsion with battery‐electric and diesel technologies. Key Takeaways: • The ICF project is significant for the Railways as it is one of the key players in India's mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix. An increased use of hydrogen, which is a cleaner fuel, will further reduce dependence on fossil fuels. • Officials said that the project has reached the final stage, wherein testing of various equipment is being done before hydrogen-powered trains are pressed into commercial service. • The 3,000-kg hydrogen fuelling facility at Jind will provide the required hydrogen for the operation of the hydrogen-powered train. The storage capacity has been divided into two separate storage spaces — 2320 kg at low pressure and 680 kg at high pressure. • The facility will be operated and maintained in accordance with the standards and specification of Petroleum Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), a nodal agency under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). • Officials said that Northern Railway is undertaking the associated infrastructure works such as power supply, road construction, firefighting tank, etc, to make the facility operational. Do You Know: • Indian Railways' Northern Railway zone has undertaken this project which began in 2020-21. The project has two major components. First, the conversion of two conventional 1600 HorsePower (HP) diesel power cars into hydrogen fuel cell-powered traction system, and second, setting up a hydrogen storage and fuelling facility at Jind in Haryana. • The total cost of the project is approximately Rs. 136 crore. The primary design, validation, and testing is being undertaken by Indian Railways' Research Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO). • A senior official of the Ministry of Railways said that the hydrogen train project was conceptualised for conversion of a 10-coach diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) into a hydrogen-powered multiple unit, with two 1600 HP Power cars. With a train length of 10 coaches, it will have a capacity to carry more than 2,600 passengers. • It has been planned to operate the hydrogen train between Jind and Sonepat stations of Northern Railway in Haryana, two round-trips of 356 km. The hydrogen storage and fueling facility at Jind will have a storage capacity of 3,000 kg of Hydrogen. • Hydrogen fuel technology is still an emerging field in Railways. There are many challenges and safety concerns, too, as hydrogen is a highly flammable gas. As the project involves the retro-fitment of two diesel-powered cars into Hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars, each power car will carry 220 kg of hydrogen, stored in specially designed cylinders at 350 bar pressure. The mounting structure of hydrogen cylinders and fuel cells is critical and for that, multiple rounds of testing are on. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Railways plans hydrogen-powered engine for passenger trains by end of 2021 THE WORLD Trump, EU chief strike trade deal: 15% tariffs on all imports to US Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests What's the ongoing story: US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States and the European Union have reached a basic agreement on a new trade deal, following talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland. The agreement includes a 15% tariff on most goods imported from the EU to the US, according to the BBC. Key Points to Ponder: • 'Biggest ever' US-EU trade deal-What are the key takeaways? • Know the context and rationale behind the U.S.-EU trade agreement. • What baseline tariff rate did the U.S. agree to impose on most EU imports under the new trade deal? • 'All EU goods will face a baseline tariff of 15%'-What you understand by the given statement? • What can be the economic implications of a 15% tariff regime on EU imports? • What is the zero-for-zero tariff clauses on strategic goods? • Compare the 2025 EU trade outcome with earlier Trump deals with Japan and others. Key Takeaways: • Speaking at his Turnberry golf resort, Trump said, 'The European Union is going to agree to purchase from the United States $750 billion worth of energy. They are going to agree to invest into the United States $600 billion more than they're investing already.' • The deal came just before a US deadline to impose a 30% tariff on European imports starting August 1, which Trump had warned about in a letter sent to EU officials earlier this month. • The new 15% tariff, which will take effect on Friday, is higher than the 10% rate previously applied to British goods. It is, however, the same as the rate recently agreed in the US-Japan trade deal, CNN reported. • The talks also touched on pharmaceutical exports, one of Europe's biggest exports to the US. Last month, the Trump administration had threatened a 200% tariff on European medicines, which would have severely affected the industry. Trump said on Sunday that pharmaceuticals were 'very special' and 'need to be made in the United States,' but acknowledged the country would 'still import a lot' of medicine from Europe. Do You Know: • Germany, Europe's biggest economy, had pushed for lower tariffs on its car exports to the US, which have been hit by a 27.5% duty since April. European carmakers exported nearly €39 billion worth of vehicles to the US last year. •The EU had been preparing countermeasures in case no deal was reached. Some member states believed having a retaliation plan ready was essential to maintain leverage. • The agreement, is expected to set a baseline tariff rate of 15% on most European imports into the US. Earlier this month, Trump had threatened to increase this rate to 30%, effective August 1, if a trade deal was not realised. The two have been in talks for nearly four months. Since April, the US has charged an additional 10% 'reciprocal' tariff on top of the pre-existing 4.8% average duty on imports from the EU. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Tariff Tracker, July 27 | What to expect from prospective EU-US deal ahead of deadline 📍 'Biggest ever' US-EU trade deal: 5 takeaways EXPLAINED China's mega dam on Brahmaputra, and concerns in India Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests What's the ongoing story: China formally began construction of a massive dam on the Brahmaputra river close to the border with Arunachal Pradesh at a ceremony that was attended by Premier Li Qiang last week, Xinhua reported. Key Points to Ponder: • Map Work-Yarlung Zangbo • What is the estimated capacity of the mega-dam China has begun constructing on the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra)? • What is Brahmaputra in China called? • What is special about the Three Gorges Dam? • What are the geostrategic implications of China building a mega-dam on the Brahmaputra's Great Bend vis-à-vis India's upstream water security? • What are India's concern on a massive hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo? • Which term did Arunachal Pradesh's Chief Minister Pema Khandu use to describe the dam's threat? • 'The dam is the biggest issue facing India, second only to the 'military threat', and could be used as a 'water bomb'-Analyse • 'The risks highlighted by Indian stakeholders, such as 'water bomb' threats and lack of data-sharing'-To what extent are they grounded in hydrological reality? Key Takeaways: • The $167.8 billion hydropower project, which will be the world's largest when it is completed, has been talked about for long, and has raised concerns in India and Bangladesh about the impact it may have on the flow of the river. • The dam on the Yarlung Zangbo (or Tsangpo), as the Brahmaputra is known in Tibet, is being built at the 'Great Bend', where the river makes a U-turn in Medog county before entering India at Gelling in Arunachal Pradesh. The river is called Siang in Arunachal Pradesh. • The dam, which China announced in 2021, will have a generation capacity of 60,000 MW, three times that of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze, which is currently the world's biggest hydropower station. • In an interview given to PTI about a week before the dam's groundbreaking ceremony on July 19, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, described it as a potential 'water bomb' and an 'existential threat'. Do You Know: • The Brahmaputra is the lifeline of Assam, fundamental to its economy, and central to its history, culture, and ecology. Any significant disruption in the flow of the river in the state will have far-reaching consequences. • On July 21, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sought to alleviate concerns, pointing out that the Brahmaputra grows into a mighty stream only in Assam, fed by numerous tributaries and bountiful monsoon rain. • India is currently engaged with China in a series of confidence-building measures after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced last October that the two sides had reached an agreement 'on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control, leading to disengagement and a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020'. • At the heart of India's concerns, as articulated by Chief Minister Khandu, lies the fear that China may seek to weaponise the dam project at some stage, perhaps to build pressure on behalf of Pakistan after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam in April. • Water experts Naresh K Mathur and Debarshee Dasgupta had written in The Indian Express earlier that as a mitigation strategy, India could plan storage on rivers of the Brahmaputra system to absorb potential variations in flows (periods of flooding and reduced flows). • The Upper Siang project in Arunachal Pradesh, with its 300-metre-high dam, is seen as important not just for its formidable hydropower potential, but also as a strategic imperative in view of the Chinese projects in Tibet. The dam's storage can serve as a buffer against variations in the flow of the river. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India, China and the Brahmaputra front PRELIMS ANSWER KEY 1.(c) 2. (b) For any queries and feedback, contact 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. Priya Kumari Shukla is a Senior Copy Editor in the Indian Express (digital). She contributes to the UPSC Section of Indian Express (digital) and started niche initiatives such as UPSC Key, UPSC Ethics Simplified, and The 360° UPSC Debate. The UPSC Key aims to assist students and aspirants in their preparation for the Civil Services and other competitive examinations. It provides valuable guidance on effective strategies for reading and comprehending newspaper content. The 360° UPSC Debate tackles a topic from all perspectives after sorting through various publications. The chosen framework for the discussion is structured in a manner that encompasses both the arguments in favour and against the topic, ensuring comprehensive coverage of many perspectives. Prior to her involvement with the Indian Express, she had affiliations with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as several coaching and edutech enterprises. In her prior professional experience, she was responsible for creating and refining material in various domains, including article composition and voiceover video production. She has written in-house books on many subjects, including modern India, ancient Indian history, internal security, international relations, and the Indian economy. She has more than eight years of expertise in the field of content writing. Priya holds a Master's degree in Electronic Science from the University of Pune as well as an Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, widely recognised as one of the most prestigious business schools in India. She is also an alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia University Residential Coaching Academy (RCA). Priya has made diligent efforts to engage in research endeavours, acquiring the necessary skills to effectively examine and synthesise facts and empirical evidence prior to presenting their perspective. Priya demonstrates a strong passion for reading, particularly in the genres of classical Hindi, English, Maithili, and Marathi novels and novellas. Additionally, she possessed the distinction of being a cricket player at the national level. Qualification, Degrees / other achievements: Master's degree in Electronic Science from University of Pune and Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta ... Read More
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Hyderabad court issues non-bailable warrant against Bandi Sanjay for absence in model code of conduct violation case
Hyderabad: A special court in Hyderabad on Thursday issued a non-bailable warrant against Union minister of state for home affairs, Bandi Sanjay, for failing to appear before the court in connection with a case registered against him at Huzurabad, in Karimnagar district in 2021. 'Accused is absent. Issue NBWs,' recorded the special judicial first class magistrate for excise cases in Hyderabad. The case was posted to July 30 for further hearing. The case was registered against Bandi Sanjay in Oct 2021 for alleged violation of the model code of conduct during the by-election to the Huzurabad assembly constituency. He was booked under various sections of the IPC and the Representation of People's Act, for allegedly making remarks against the opponent party. The Union minister alleged that the party had given Rs 20,000 to be distributed to every voter in exchange of their support, but the party leaders allegedly distributed only Rs 5,000 to the voters and pocketed the balance amount. After the police filed a chargesheet in the case in 2023, the case was transferred to the special JFCM's court. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, Sanjay's counsel informed the court that he could not be present because of the ongoing Parliament session in Delhi. However, in view of multiple earlier opportunities directing his appearance and his subsequent disobedience to the orders, the magistrate took a serious view and issued the NBW.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
CMRL-Exalogic case: Kerala High Court issues notice to Veena, 12 others
The Kerala High Court has issued notice to Veena T., the daughter of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, her IT firm Exalogic Solutions Pvt. Ltd., and 11 others who had been arraigned as respondents in the case pertaining to the allegations regarding the financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. (CMRL) and Exalogic. The notice was issued on a petition filed by BJP leader Shone George, seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the allegations. The 11 other respondents include Sasidharan Kartha, the MD of CMRL. In the petition, Mr. George said that the contents of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) probe report on the alleged financial transactions between the two companies had referred to corporate fraud. But the SFIO had limited the scope of its probe to offences under the Companies Act and did not investigate the motive behind the alleged illegal payments. He thus sought further probe in coordination with the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Election Commission, since the findings involved offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Representation of People's Act. Veena's stance Ms. Veena had in an affidavit before the High Court in June refuted the allegation that her company is a 'benami' firm, and said it is operated independently of her father. In response to a PIL filed seeking a CBI probe into the allegations pertaining to the financial transactions between the two companies, she had said that the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs had ordered a probe by the SFIO into certain affairs of the CMRL, including its transactions with Exalogic, under the Companies Act. As the SFIO was currently seized of the matter, all other agencies are precluded from probing it, she had contended then.
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Urban Maoism, USAID funding and Namami Gange Programme
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for July 11, 2025. If you missed the July 10, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE SC lets EC revision continue, suggests adding Aadhaar, ration, voter card to list of documents Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Salient features of the Representation of People's Act. What's the ongoing story: Declining to restrain the Election Commission of India from proceeding with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, the Supreme Court Thursday suggested to the poll panel to also consider Aadhaar, voter ID and ration cards for the purpose of updating the rolls. Key Points to Ponder: • What Supreme Court of India said about special intensive revision? • What is an 'intensive' revision? • How does 'intensive' revision differ from other revisions? • Why is the ongoing exercise in Bihar called a special intensive revision? • Why has the ECI undertaken this exercise at the present moment — and why has Bihar been chosen for it? • How often has the ECI revised electoral rolls intensively, and what were the circumstances of those earlier exercises? • How electoral roll revision ensures free and fair elections in India? • How can the inclusion of Aadhaar, Voter ID, and Ration Cards aid this process? • How does the Supreme Court's intervention in electoral roll revision reflect the balance between electoral integrity and individual rights? • Compare India's approach to electoral roll management with other democratic countries. Key Takeaways: • The vacation bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi said it was leaving it to the EC to consider its suggestion on the inclusion of these three documents and 'if you have good reasons to discard it, discard it' but 'give reasons'. • It directed that the matter be listed for hearing again on July 28, before publication of the draft electoral roll. • The bench's suggestion to consider Aadhaar, voter ID and ration cards for updating the rolls, came after Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the ECI, submitted that the list of 11 documents to be considered for the revision exercise was not exhaustive. • Intensive revision refers to the de novo preparation of the electoral roll from scratch through personal, house-to-house field verification by electoral registration officers. Do You Know: • The nomenclature 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) indicates that the ECI is exercising its discretionary powers under Section 21(3) of the 1950 law, which permits it to revise electoral rolls 'in such manner as it thinks fit'. • For this exercise, the ECI has adopted a hybrid approach — combining door-to-door field verification that is characteristic of an intensive revision with elements of a summary revision, such as the reliance on existing electoral rolls to distribute enumeration forms. What has set the ongoing SIR apart, however, is the introduction of a new step — the requirement of documentary proof at the enumeration stage itself. This is a striking departure from past practice. The 'special' in this intensive revision in effect signals its methodological flexibility. • The SIR is not limited to Bihar. On June 24, the ECI announced that it would carry out an intensive verification of electoral rolls across the country. This would be the first such exercise in more than two decades, and the process has begun with Bihar, where Assembly elections are due before November. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Why three documents SC suggests widen net, dial down panic 📍Timing, due process & PART 8 citizenship: SC flags key issues for poll panel 📍The revision of electoral rolls 📍EC must listen 📍As hearing starts, recalling key case from 1977 Fadnavis warns of 'urban Maoism', Bill to tackle 'extremist Left ideology' passed 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. What's the ongoing story: The stringent Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, which seeks 'to provide for effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of Left Wing Extremist organizations or similar organizations and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto', was passed by the state Assembly Thursday via a voice vote amid Opposition concern over the definition and interpretation of some of the terms and clauses in the Bill. Key Points to Ponder: • Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill-Know its key features • What makes Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill stringent? • What is Urban Maoism? • How the term Urban Naxal came in to the picture? • Know the rationale and implications of Maharashtra's Special Public Security Bill in addressing 'urban Maoism.' • What are the key challenges in tackling urban ideological radicalisation as opposed to rural insurgency? • How legislative efforts like the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill align with national strategies against Left Wing Extremism? • To what extent does urban Maoism pose a challenge to India's internal security? Key Takeaways: • Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who tabled the Bill in the House and assured members that the Bill would not be misused against political protesters and activists, said Maoists had lost ground in the state and were 'trying to brainwash the youth of urban areas and make them stand up against the democratic system'. He warned of the rise of 'urban Maoism' and said the Bill would 'control them'. • Underlining the difference between dissent and extremism, Fadnavis said every citizen has the right to protest, and in case of violence, relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) would apply, not the new law. Do You Know: • The statement of objects and reasons of The Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPC) Bill, 2024, 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'. • The Bill, which provides for punishment ranging from two to seven years in prison, defines 'unlawful activity' as 'any action taken by an individual or organization whether by committing an act or by words either spoken or written or by sign or by visible representation or otherwise, (i) which constitute a danger or menace to public order, peace and tranquility; or (ii) which interferes or tends to interfere with maintenance of public order; or (iii) which interferes or tends to interfere with the administration of law or its established institutions and personnel' – the Bill defines four other actions that constitute 'unlawful activity'. • Maharashtra becomes the fifth state to pass such a Bill. It will now be tabled in the upper house for further deliberations. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Maharashtra Public Security Bill: Vague and dangerous for civil liberties 📍What is Maharashtra's proposed law against 'urban Naxalism'? With USAID shut, Norman Borlaug's institute knocks on India's doors Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests What's the ongoing story: Six decades ago, the legendary agricultural scientist Norman Borlaug ushered in India's Green Revolution through his high-yielding, semi-dwarf wheat varieties such as Lerma Rojo 64A, Sonora 63, Sonora 64 and Mayo 64. Key Points to Ponder: • What is CIMMYT International research Centre for? • Know about USAID funding. • How USAID funding helped India? • The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT)-what you know about the same? • What is the historical role of Norman Borlaug and CIMMYT in shaping India's agricultural landscape and food security? • Know the significance of the USAID shutdown on CIMMYT's R&D operations and its repercussions for Indian agriculture. Key Takeaways: • Today, his organisation – the Mexico-headquartered International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center or CIMMYT – is reaching out to the Indian government and the private sector, seeking financial support for its breeding research and development programme in the two cereals that cover over a quarter of the world's cropped area. • The reason: A funding crunch brought about by global factors, including the shutting down of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by the Donald Trump administration, officially from July 1. • The agency, which administered civilian foreign aid and development assistance for the US government, accounted for about $83 million out of CIMMYT's total grant revenue of $211 million in 2024. That made it CIMMYT's largest funder, followed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (now Gates Foundation), which gave $42 million. • CIMMYT's current research and field trials are aimed at raising yields as much as breeding varieties with improved heat tolerance, disease resistance and biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) traits. • Wheat is increasingly prone to yield losses from mercury spikes in March, at the crop's final grain formation and filling stage. Studies show that every one-degree Celsius rise in night temperatures lowers yields by an average of 6%. By identifying traits in wheat plants that promote heat tolerance, scientists are able to develop varieties better adapted to hotter days as well as warmer nights. Do You Know: • CIMMYT's advanced breeding lines are present as parent or grandparent in wheat varieties planted on more than 60 million hectares (mh) globally. The early Green Revolution blockbuster varieties that Indian scientists developed were all through selections from CIMMYT materials. That included Kalyan Sona (released in 1967), Sonalika (1968) and PBW 343 (1995), which, at their peak, were grown on 5-6 mh, 14 mh and 7-8 mh respectively. • In October 2011, CIMMYT established the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) as a joint venture with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). BISA has three research stations at Ludhiana (Punjab), Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) and Samastipur (Bihar). • CIMMYT has also opened a 'doubled haploid' facility for maize at Kunigal (Karnataka), jointly with the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. This first-of-its-kind facility in Asia produces genetically pure inbred lines of maize that can be used as parents for further crossing and breeding of hybrids by both public sector institutions and private seed companies. • CIMMYT's India office has 19 international and 144 national staff. Besides, some 25 scientists from India work at CIMMYT offices all over the world. 'A tenth of our 1,800-plus global staff are Indians,' Govaerts noted. • India's contribution to CIMMYT's budget was just $0.8 million in 2024. While CIMMYT began as a pilot programme of the Mexican government and the Rockefeller Foundation in the 1940s and 50s, over time it became more reliant on funding from USAID and newer non-profits like the Gates Foundation. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍USAID has been dismantled. CSR funds should be used in research and innovation THE IDEAS PAGE Global South, building BRICS Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: Pankaj Saran Writes: Don't blame BRICS for the curse of multipolarity. BRICS is not the reason for the relative decline of the US as a global power. The folly lies at the doorstep of a multi-decadal US policy, with active abetment by its Western allies, to outsource manufacturing to China and make it the manufacturing capital of the world. Key Points to Ponder: • Know the influence of BRICS in enhancing the agency of the Global South. • What is the symbolism and practical impact of BRICS countries trading in local currencies and building alternative financial systems? • 'BRICS Pay and the New Development Bank represent an alternative architecture to the Western financial order'-Discuss • Know the India's position on cross border terrorism in the BRICS Rio Declaration. • Compare India's multilateral outreach in BRICS with its efforts in G20, SCO, and other Global South groupings. • Where does BRICS stand? Key Takeaways: Pankaj Saran Writes: • To make matters worse, the US-led West handed over the fate of a devastated global economy to China in the wake of the collapse of capitalism and the financial crisis of 2008. China was happy to play saviour. Neither BRICS nor India can be blamed for the rapid rise of a power that today believes it is poised to challenge US global hegemony. • In fact, India is at the receiving end of policies pursued by its Western partners. The lessons have not been learnt even now. Europe and the US are divided about whether and how much to shake off their interdependence with China. In fact, we are told there may not be any good solutions. • China continues to ride the wave of the American and European economies. Its integration with them is far greater than with any BRICS member. • Unlike his predecessors, the current US President has launched a frontal attack on BRICS, with the threat of punitive tariffs. Some truths need to be told here. • The Global South is a reality, whichever way we define it. The question is how India sees itself in the larger comity of nations. For years, China relished being referred to as the 'G77 plus China' in diplomatic jargon. India is embedded in the South in real terms as well as in philosophical terms. It would be delusional to think otherwise. • At the same time, India can barely be faulted for believing in itself and having a sense of its destiny in the long run. Its accretion of power is an inexorable process, unless we reconcile ourselves to a forever status of a post-colonial emerging nation and perpetual aspirant. Do You Know: Pankaj Saran Writes: • A scenario where India walks out of BRICS is possible, because nothing is impossible. It has been made clear that in today's world, democracy has lost its premium. It is no longer the glue that attracts the like-minded. Military-ruled Pakistan is considered as great a nation as India, and as indispensable a partner for the US. Russia, on the other hand, must be shunned for being authoritarian. If the world has to be rebuilt using the alliance template of the last century, India should also be walking out of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) and the RIC (Russia-India-China) and IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) groupings, which variously represent systemic challengers and the Global South. • India needs to be in as many thematic and geographical coalitions and groupings as necessary till it is made a genuine participant in the governance of international institutions. This is the essence of India's case. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍What PM Modi's recent visit says about the tenets of India's Global South outreach BRICS is China's playground Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: Surupa Gupta Writes: As an emerging power, India's interests are arguably served best by aligning with multiple major powers, which according to conventional wisdom allows Delhi to limit its dependence on any one power and instead work with each on specific issues of common interest. Key Points to Ponder: • How the BRICS grouping has evolved from its original purpose to its present state, particularly in the context of India–China dynamics? • Know the implications of China's economic dominance within BRICS for India's strategic autonomy. • What are the limitations faced by India in leveraging BRICS to pursue its foreign policy objectives? • The article calls for India to 'revaluate BRICS's utility'—do you agree? Substantiate with arguments. • How has China used BRICS to advance its global economic strategy, such as de-dollarisation and influence in global governance? Key Takeaways: Surupa Gupta Writes: • India's membership of multilateral institutions such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has been justified along the lines that these provide platforms to push for a more multipolar world order that limits the dominance of Western powers and West-led institutions. • Indeed, BRICS emerged as a group focused on challenging the norms that shaped multilateral economic institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. • BRICS offered another avenue for India's aspirations for global leadership as it, along with Brazil, China and Russia, negotiated a larger proportion of quotas and votes at these institutions. In recent years, as BRICS has expanded its membership, it has arguably provided India another platform to develop ties with countries in the Global South. One could argue that as the US under the Donald Trump administration pursues an unpredictable and more volatile foreign policy, it might be even more imperative for India to build ties with such institutions. Do You Know: Surupa Gupta Writes: • China's GDP, at $17.79 trillion, is nearly five times the size of India's at $3.56 trillion. This economic might, along with China's extensive trade and investment ties with other BRICS countries, allow it to exert greater political influence. At the BRICS summits, Beijing has used its leverage to promote goals such as de-dollarisation and expansion of the organisation's membership. • It has also used the venue to advocate for a larger role in global governance for itself. While India seeks to pursue some of these goals, it has not been able to further its interests through BRICS. The redistribution of IMF quotas in 2015 may have been the only exception. Even then, as BRICS countries banded together to reform global governance, China emerged as the clear winner as it was able to secure a deputy managing director position at the IMF. • While India seeks to expand its ties with countries in the Global South and portray itself as their leader, given the deep economic ties China enjoys with other BRICS countries, it is difficult for New Delhi to claim the leadership mantle while operating within the organisation. It might be easier for India to create a leadership narrative through its bilateral ties and in blocs where China is not present. • In the early years of the forum, BRICS membership likely gave India a larger profile in global governance by providing a mechanism for policy coordination by emerging economies. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍As Trump warns BRICS, China, Russia say group doesn't target anyone Let the rivers talk to each other 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. What's the ongoing story: Srinivas Chokkakula and Debarshee Dasgupta writes: Cleaning the Yamuna is among the top priorities of the newly elected BJP government in Delhi. The keen interest from the central government, also led by the BJP, favours the project. The project also has the advantage of the Yamuna being part of the Namami Gange Programme (NGP). Key Points to Ponder: • How Delhi's Yamuna cleanup can inform the design and implementation of the broader Namami Gange Programme? • What is the role of flagship programmes, like Namami Gange, in ecological restoration and river rejuvenation in India? • What is the significance of keystone species such as the Ganges dolphin in assessing the success of river-cleaning initiatives? • Know the governance structure of Namami Gange (Centre State synergy, institutional setup) and identify key challenges and opportunities. • How inter-state and inter-river coordination enhances the effectiveness of river conservation efforts in India? Key Takeaways: Srinivas Chokkakula and Debarshee Dasgupta writes: • Delhi's state-driven effort to clean the Yamuna carries the prospect of valuable reciprocal learning, which can help shape a comprehensive policy ecosystem for rejuvenating India's rivers. • The NGP, launched in 2014 as the Government of India's flagship programme, can boast of a discernible impact in improving the water quality and ecological status of the Ganga. • Besides the recent cleaner Maha Kumbh, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) offers the rising populations of keystone species such as the Ganges dolphin as evidence of the improved ecological status of the river. In over a decade of its implementation, the NGP's responsive policy and institutional experiments stand out as a departure from the earlier Ganga Action Plan. • Implemented in mission mode, the NGP has interesting legal and institutional innovations to its credit. The foremost among these is that it has shifted from the regulatory framing of what was the Ministry of Environment and Forests to an executive approach, in the Ministry of Jal Shakti (earlier the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation). • The programme also marks a shift from pollution abatement to improving the ecological condition of the river. The NGP has pursued a river basin approach informed by a plan produced by a consortium of the Indian Institutes of Technology. In celebrated river restoration programmes, like those in Europe, such shifts took decades. The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR), established in 1950 to restore the River Rhine, made these shifts only after the Sandoz disaster in 1986. Do You Know: Srinivas Chokkakula and Debarshee Dasgupta writes: • The NMCG was accorded the status of an authority soon after it was launched through the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order of 2016. The National Ganga River Basin Authority, constituted earlier, was dissolved through this order and was replaced with a National Ganga Council (NGC). There are other institutional innovations that show an unusual agility in policymaking. • The NGC is headed by the Prime Minister with the chief ministers of the riparian states and 10 Union ministers as members. The NGC guides an empowered task force headed by the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, and an executive council headed by NMCG's director general with extensive financial and regulatory powers. • The most striking feature of the 2016 order is the recognition of the subnational governments as important partners. It mandates a layered structure of state Ganga committees and district Ganga committees — accommodating the important roles of governments at different levels. Despite this deliberate effort, the subnational participation in Namami Gange has not been very encouraging. The absence of ownership of the programme — the basin states' legal, institutional and budgetary responses — raises questions about its enduring impact. • Delhi's Yamuna project is a particularly complex one and can therefore make a useful contribution. The Yamuna, like all other major Indian rivers, is an interstate river. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Namami Gange: In The Name of Ganga ECONOMY India gears up for trade policy review as EU chief calls for an alternate to WTO Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Mains Examination: General Studies II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. What's the ongoing story: At a time when multilateralism is taking a back seat — with an ineffective UN Security Council and a dysfunctional dispute settlement body at the World Trade Organization (WTO) — India appears committed to key WTO processes and has begun preparations for its eighth trade policy review after five years. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the significance of the WTO Trade Policy Review (TPR) mechanism for India in light of recent global trade developments? • What are the reasons behind the European Union's call for an alternative to the World Trade Organization as reported recently? • Know India's approach and challenges as it prepares for its upcoming WTO Trade Policy Review. • Why there is the need for WTO reforms? • What are India's key concerns and proposals in WTO reforms? • How does India's classification as a developing country within the WTO framework affect its trade policy and negotiations? Key Takeaways: • The preparations in the Ministry of Commerce come at a time when the US has all but abandoned the forum for resolving trade disputes and is instead striking bilateral trade deals, which experts fear are often not WTO-compliant. This poses significant risk for the rules-based system and for developing countries such as India, experts have warned. • While the US continues to block the appointment of judges to the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), the European Union has called for wide-ranging reforms. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last week proposed to EU leaders the launch of a Europe-led initiative to establish structured trade cooperation with Asian countries — potentially pitching for an alternative to the WTO. Do You Know: • The Financial Times reported earlier this week that von der Leyen suggested Brussels team up with the 11 other global economies of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to form an institution to replace the WTO, which is struggling to contain global trade tensions. • This is of particular importance for India, since New Delhi has been filing several disputes against the US even while negotiating a bilateral trade agreement. • India revised its proposal to impose retaliatory duties under WTO norms against the US over American tariffs on steel and aluminium, in view of the Trump administration's further hike in duties. • The US first imposed 25 per cent tariffs on imports of aluminium, steel, and derivative articles on March 12. On June 3, these tariffs were further raised to 50 per cent. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India-US trade pact: 'Deal with India close,' says Trump; slaps 25–40% reciprocal tariffs on 14 nations largely ASEAN For any queries and feedback, contact 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. Priya Kumari Shukla is a Senior Copy Editor in the Indian Express (digital). She contributes to the UPSC Section of Indian Express (digital) and started niche initiatives such as UPSC Key, UPSC Ethics Simplified, and The 360° UPSC Debate. The UPSC Key aims to assist students and aspirants in their preparation for the Civil Services and other competitive examinations. It provides valuable guidance on effective strategies for reading and comprehending newspaper content. The 360° UPSC Debate tackles a topic from all perspectives after sorting through various publications. The chosen framework for the discussion is structured in a manner that encompasses both the arguments in favour and against the topic, ensuring comprehensive coverage of many perspectives. Prior to her involvement with the Indian Express, she had affiliations with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as several coaching and edutech enterprises. In her prior professional experience, she was responsible for creating and refining material in various domains, including article composition and voiceover video production. She has written in-house books on many subjects, including modern India, ancient Indian history, internal security, international relations, and the Indian economy. She has more than eight years of expertise in the field of content writing. Priya holds a Master's degree in Electronic Science from the University of Pune as well as an Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, widely recognised as one of the most prestigious business schools in India. She is also an alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia University Residential Coaching Academy (RCA). Priya has made diligent efforts to engage in research endeavours, acquiring the necessary skills to effectively examine and synthesise facts and empirical evidence prior to presenting their perspective. Priya demonstrates a strong passion for reading, particularly in the genres of classical Hindi, English, Maithili, and Marathi novels and novellas. Additionally, she possessed the distinction of being a cricket player at the national level. Qualification, Degrees / other achievements: Master's degree in Electronic Science from University of Pune and Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta ... Read More
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Citizenship, due process, timing: SC marks out three key issues for the commission
Even as the Supreme Court allowed the Election Commission (EC) to continue its Special Intensive Revision of the electoral list in Bihar, a two-judge bench Thursday flagged three key issues that the commission will have to factor in as it formulates its response. These include: the EC's power to check the citizenship of voters; the importance of due process and procedure to be followed during the revision and the timing of the revision itself. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi said that 'there is no question that this issue is an important one and goes to the very root of democracy and the right to vote.' The bench, in the three-hour-long hearing, acknowledged that the EC, as a constitutional body, has powers well beyond the Representation of People's Act, 1951 (RPA) and that the Court will not stop the EC. However, the SC also made it clear that the process would be subject to judicial intervention. On the citizenship issue, the bench observed that it is the remit of the Ministry of Home Affairs to determine whether an individual is a citizen. '…citizenship is an issue to be determined not by the Election Commission of India, but by the Ministry of Home Affairs,' the bench said when EC's counsel, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, defended the Commission's decision to exclude Aadhaar as a valid document. EC's lawyers cited Article 326 of the Constitution, which mandates voting based on adult suffrage. 'The precondition for adult suffrage is citizenship,' Dwivedi argued. However, the bench then observed that if the EC wanted to ensure that only citizens are on the electoral rolls, then it 'should have started the process much earlier.' Essentially, the Court raised questions about the timing of the exercise and inquired whether it could be delinked from the Bihar elections. 'Your decision, to disenfranchise the person who is already there on the electoral roll in 2025, would compel this individual to appeal against (the) decision and go through this entire rigmarole and thereby be denied of his right to vote in the ensuing election. There is nothing wrong in you purging electoral rolls through an intensive exercise to see that non-citizens do not remain on the rolls. But if you decide only a couple of months before a proposed election…' Justice Bagchi said. 'If you ask for these documents immediately, even I will not be able to produce it now, look at the practicality, look at the timeline,' Justice Dhulia added. The judges also asked the EC questions on the process it would follow, in case of disenfranchisement of a voter. 'If a 'summary revision' under the Representation of People's Act calls for a verbal hearing before deletion of a voter from the electoral roll, can it be said that the 'intensive' revision cannot have that process?' Justice Dhulia asked. According to the rules in the RPA, in all cases of proposed voter deletions, except for confirmed deaths, a notice is served to the voter, providing them with a reasonable opportunity for a hearing. The SC also, in its order, asked the EC to explain why Aadhaar, Electoral Photo Identity Card (voter card issued by the EC) and ration card cannot be accepted as valid documents in the SIR process. This potentially increases the ambit of the 11-document list that has set off widespread panic and confusion on the ground. 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
