Articles on 1 August 2025

by Vajiram & Ravi - 1 August 2025

Vajiram & Ravi provides Daily articles for 1 August 2025, tailored for aspirants. We cover all relevant news and events crucial for the exam, ensuring you stay updated & well-prepared.

Article 82 of Indian Constitution, Interpretation, Landmark Cases

August 1, 2025
Article 82 of Indian Constitution

Article 82 under Part V of the Constitution of India provides a guarantee of fair and proportional representation in the Parliament in order to uphold the spirit of democracy. Article 82 of the Indian Constitution plays an important role in representing democratic fairness. It makes it necessary that the readjustment of Lok Sabha seats and the division of states into territorial constituencies after each Census reflect changing population patterns. This process, known as delimitation, ensures that representation keeps pace with demographic shifts, thereby reinforcing the principle of “one person, one vote.” In this article, we are going to cover all about Article 82, its interpretation and its significance in the Constitution of India. 

Article 82 of the Constitution of India Interpretation

Article 82 of the Constitution of India provides the framework for providing equal representation in the Lok Sabha through periodic readjustment of seats. It is necessary that after every Census, the allocation of seats and the division of states into territorial constituencies must be revised to reflect population changes.

  • Census-Based Readjustment: Lok Sabha seat allocation and constituency division are to be revised after each Census.
  • Parliamentary Oversight: Parliament determines the process and authority for delimitation through a Delimitation Act.
  • Delimitation Commission: An independent body tasked with redrawing constituency boundaries using census data.
  • Proportional Representation: Ensures each state's Lok Sabha representation aligns with its population.
  • Frozen Seat Allocation: To promote population control, seat allocation has been frozen based on the 1971 Census.
  • Boundary Adjustments: Though seat numbers remain static, boundaries and SC/ST reservations were redrawn using the 2001 Census and are due for revision post-2026.

Article 82 of Indian Constitution Landmark Cases

Judicial interpretations have played a key role in shaping the understanding and application of Article 82 of the Indian Constitution, particularly in the context of electoral fairness and delimitation. While not always directly focused on Article 82, several landmark cases have clarified its significance within India's constitutional and legal framework:

  1. Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006):
     Though not directly centered on Article 82, the Supreme Court reaffirmed Parliament's authority to regulate electoral processes, indirectly reinforcing its power under Article 82(1) to oversee delimitation through legislation.

  2. Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975):
     This pivotal case emphasized the constitutional limits on electoral laws, underlining how periodic delimitation—as mandated by Article 82—upholds the principle of equitable and representative democracy.
  3. Union of India v. Association for Democratic Reforms (2002):
     The Court’s emphasis on transparency in electoral processes aligned with the broader goals of Article 82 in strengthening democratic participation, even though delimitation was not the core issue in the case.
  4. Ashok Kumar v. Election Commission of India (2000):
     The judgment highlighted the Election Commission's responsibility to ensure free and fair elections, which includes implementing delimitation exercises as per Article 82(2).
Also Check Related Post
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Article 39 of Indian Constitution Article 191 of Indian Constitution
Article 20 of Indian Constitution Article 16 of Indian Constitution
Article 67 of Indian Constitution Article 40 of Indian Constitution
Article 78 of Indian Constitution

Article 82 of Indian Constitution FAQs

Q1: What is the Article 82 of the Constitution?

Ans: Article 82 provides for the readjustment of Lok Sabha seats and the division of states into territorial constituencies after each census.

Q2: What is Article 81 and 82 of the Constitution of India?

Ans: Article 81 deals with the composition of the Lok Sabha, while Article 82 provides for the delimitation of constituencies based on census data.

Q3: What is the Article 82 of the Delimitation Commission?

Ans: Article 82 empowers Parliament to enact a law establishing a Delimitation Commission for adjusting Lok Sabha seats post-census.

Q4: What is Part V of the Constitution of India?

Ans: Part V outlines the structure, powers, and functions of the Union Government, including the President, Parliament, and Union Judiciary.

Q5: How many seats are there in the Lok Sabha?

Ans: The Lok Sabha currently has 545 seats—543 elected members and 2 nominated members.

Article 62 of Indian Constitution, Interpretation, Importance

August 1, 2025
Article 62 of Indian Constitution

Article 62 of the Constitution of India talks about the timings of Presidential elections to make sure that the office does not stay vacant for a long period of time. The article says that the elections for the ongoing President should be completed before the term ends. In case of death, resignation or removal, elections should be held within six months and the new appointed President will serve a full five year term after taking up office. In this article, we are going to cover all about Article 62 of the Indian Constitution, its interpretation and significance. 

Article 62 of the Constitution of India Interpretation

Article 62 of the Constitution of India makes sure that the office of President is never empty for a long period of time whether the vacancy is planned or sudden. This marks the difference between regular succession and unforeseen vacancies. This helps keep up the principle of a full five-year term for every new elected President. 

  • Article 62 says that the elections of the President must be conducted before the term gets over. 
  • If the present President suddenly dies, resigns or gets removed for some reason, the elections have to be held within six months. 

Article 62 of the Constitution of India Importance

Article 62 comes under part V of the Constitution of India is extremely important as it helps in maintaining stability and continuity of the constitutional framework of India. The Article 62 is important because: 

  • Saved the office of President from becoming vacant. 
  • Make sure governance runs smoothly. 
  • Provides outlines for both scheduled and unforeseen vacancies. 
  • Helps conduct fair and regular electoral processes.

Article 62 of Indian Constitution Landmark Case

In the Presidential Election case, the Supreme Court clarified that under Articles 54, 55, and 62 of the Indian Constitution, the election to the office of the President must be completed before the incumbent's term expires. The Court further interpreted Article 56(1)(c) to apply only in exceptional cases where the newly elected President is unable to assume office immediately, thereby permitting the outgoing President to continue temporarily until the successor takes charge.

Also Check Related Post
Article 295 of Indian Constitution Article 194 of Indian Constitution
Article 39 of Indian Constitution Article 191 of Indian Constitution
Article 20 of Indian Constitution Article 16 of Indian Constitution
Article 67 of Indian Constitution Article 40 of Indian Constitution
Article 78 of Indian Constitution

Article 62 of Indian Constitution FAQs

Q1: Under which Part of the Constitution Article 62 of Indian Constitution is mentioned?

Ans: Article 62 is mentioned under Part V of the Indian Constitution.

Q2: What is Article 62 of the Indian Constitution?

Ans: Article 62 deals with the time of holding elections to fill the vacancy in the office of the President and term of the elected President.

Q3: When must elections be conducted to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of the President as per Article 62 of Indian Constitution?

Ans: Elections must be held before the expiry of the incumbent President’s term.

Q4: What happens if the office of the President becomes vacant due to reasons like death, resignation or removal?

Ans: The election must be held within six months, and the Vice-President discharges the duties in the interim.

Q5: What is Article 55 of the Indian Constitution?

Ans: Article 55 of the Indian Constitution lays down the manner of election of the President, ensuring proportional representation through a single transferable vote system.

UPSC Daily Quiz 1 August 2025

August 1, 2025
UPSC Daily Quiz

The Daily UPSC Quiz by Vajiram & Ravi is a thoughtfully curated initiative designed to support UPSC aspirants in strengthening their current affairs knowledge and core conceptual understanding. Aligned with the UPSC Syllabus 2025, this daily quiz serves as a revision resource, helping candidates assess their preparation, revise key topics, and stay updated with relevant issues. Whether you are preparing for Prelims or sharpening your revision for Mains, consistent practice with these Daily UPSC Quiz can significantly enhance accuracy, speed, and confidence in solving exam-level questions.

[WpProQuiz 37]

 

 

UPSC Daily Quiz FAQs

Q1: What is the Daily UPSC Quiz?

Ans: The Daily UPSC Quiz is a set of practice questions based on current affairs, static subjects, and PYQs that help aspirants enhance retention and test conceptual clarity regularly.

Q2: How is the Daily Quiz useful for UPSC preparation?

Ans: Daily quizzes support learning, help in revision, improve time management, and boost accuracy for both UPSC Prelims and Mains through consistent practice.

Q3: Are the quiz questions based on the UPSC syllabus?

Ans: Yes, all questions are aligned with the UPSC Syllabus 2025, covering key areas like Polity, Economy, Environment, History, Geography, and Current Affairs.

Q4: Are solutions and explanations provided with the quiz?

Ans: Yes, each quiz includes detailed explanations and source references to enhance conceptual understanding and enable self-assessment.

Q5: Is the Daily UPSC Quiz suitable for both Prelims and Mains?

Ans: Primarily focused on Prelims (MCQ format), but it also indirectly helps in Mains by strengthening subject knowledge and factual clarity.

Daily Editorial Analysis 1 August 2025

August 1, 2025
Daily Editorial Analysis

Nudges From the Court, Silence from the Commission

Context

  • The Supreme Court of India has recently raised urgent and uncomfortable questions regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
  • While the ECI claims this is a routine technical update, the process and its potential consequences suggest a deeper, more troubling shift, one that risks undermining the democratic foundation of India’s electoral system.

The Problematic Aspect of Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

  • From Inclusion to Exclusion

    • Traditionally, India’s electoral system has operated on the presumption of inclusion. Citizens were presumed eligible to vote unless proven otherwise.
    • However, the Bihar SIR represents a stark reversal of this principle.
    • Now, every voter must prove citizenship through fresh documentation, including rare documents like birth certificates and passports, within an unreasonably short one-month window. Failure to comply risks disenfranchisement.
    • The stated goal of accuracy conceals a deeper ideological transformation.
    • This policy marks a shift from administrative facilitation to bureaucratic obstruction, where access to the franchise is no longer a guaranteed right but a privilege contingent on documentation.
    • For millions of marginalised Indians, the poor, the illiterate, those living in remote or disaster-prone areas, meeting such demands is nearly impossible.
    • Aadhaar cards and ration cards, commonly held by the poor, are not accepted. In Bihar alone, over 6.5 million people may be disenfranchised.

  • A Betrayal of Constitutional Promises

    • India’s founding vision, as articulated by B.R. Ambedkar and implemented by the first Chief Election Commissioner Sukumar Sen, was bold and revolutionary: universal adult suffrage regardless of caste, gender, literacy, or wealth.
    • Despite massive logistical challenges and a largely illiterate population, India’s first elections were inclusive and empowering.
    • Today’s ECI, under the leadership of its 26th Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, appears to have abandoned this legacy.
    • By demanding documents that most Indians lack, it raises the bar for participation. What was once a right has become an obstacle course.

Historical Parallels: Legal Facades, Political Motives

  • The disenfranchisement underway in India echoes the Jim Crow era in the United States, where African-Americans were systematically denied the vote through literacy tests, poll taxes, and bureaucratic roadblocks.
  • Though cloaked in legality, these mechanisms served to suppress vulnerable communities.
  • India has robust constitutional and legal protections: Supreme Court judgments like Rahim Ali vs State of Assam (2024) and Lal Babu Hussein vs Electoral Registration Officer (1995) underscore the illegality of arbitrary disenfranchisement.
  • Yet, bureaucratic processes today often ignore the spirit of these rulings. The ECI insists on technical compliance, while ignoring the social, logistical, and ethical ramifications.

Broader Implication of SIR: A Constitutional Crisis in Slow Motion

  • What is happening is not simply administrative malpractice and it appears to be the creeping onset of a quiet Emergency.
  • No tanks roll through the streets, but millions are silently removed from voter rolls.
  • The state, through omission and commission, is making the right to vote conditional, not on citizenship per se, but on an ability to navigate complex documentation and deadlines.
  • This erosion of democratic rights calls for resistance from all quarters, the judiciary, civil society, and the general public.
  • The Supreme Court’s pointed questioning of the ECI is a step in the right direction, but subtle nudges are no longer enough.
  • Assertive judicial intervention is needed to protect the core values of the Constitution.

The Way Ahead: Reclaiming the Republic

  • Historian Ornit Shani reminds us that India’s commitment to universal franchise was not an administrative convenience, but an audacious moral and political decision.
  • That achievement must not be undone under the guise of vigilance or technical rigor because elections are not competitive exams.
  • The vote is not a license granted by a bureaucrat. It is a declaration of belonging, that every citizen, regardless of background, is an equal participant in the republic.
  • The shift from presumed inclusion to presumptive exclusion fundamentally alters the nature of that belonging.
  • In a country as diverse and unequal as India, democratic participation is one of the few instruments of empowerment available to the marginalised.
  • If the right to vote becomes conditional on inaccessible documents, it becomes a privilege for the documented elite, the urban, salaried, tech-savvy class, while the poor and displaced are locked out.

Conclusion

  • At its core, this is not just about voter lists. It is about power: who has it, who gets to claim it, and who is excluded from it.
  • If disenfranchisement continues unchecked, India risks becoming a democracy in name only, where only the counted are heard, and the uncounted are forgotten.
  • The ECI must be reminded of its constitutional duty: to facilitate, not frustrate, the democratic process.
  • The Supreme Court must act decisively, not just cautiously and citizens must reclaim the right to vote as a birthright, not a privilege proven through paperwork.

Nudges From the Court, Silence from the Commission FAQs

Q1. What is the main concern with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar?
Ans. The main concern is that it requires fresh proof of citizenship, which could disenfranchise millions who lack rare documents.

Q2. How does the current policy differ from India's founding vision of voting rights?
Ans. The current policy shifts from presumed inclusion to presumptive exclusion, undermining the principle of universal adult franchise.

Q3. Why are Aadhaar and ration cards not sufficient for voter verification in Bihar's SIR?

Ans. Aadhaar and ration cards are not accepted, despite being widely held by the poor, making the documentation requirement unfair and exclusionary.

Q4. What historical parallel is drawn to highlight the risk of disenfranchisement?
Ans. There appears to be a parallel with the Jim Crow era in the U.S., where legal tools were used to suppress Black voters.

Q5. What is the essay's central message about the right to vote?
Ans. Voting is a right of citizenship guaranteed by the Constitution, not something that should depend on difficult paperwork.

Source: The Hindu

Transforming Early Childhood Care and Education

Context

  • The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 marks a paradigm shift in India's educational landscape, particularly in the domain of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
  • For decades, early education in India has been marred by disparities, primarily due to the limited reach of the public sector.
  • By institutionalising ECCE within government schools, the NEP has initiated a structural transformation towards greater equity and quality in foundational learning.

The Ambitious Vision of NEP 2020: Addressing Historical Inequities

  • Historically, government schools enrolled children only from Class 1, leaving children aged 3–6 in the care of Anganwadi centres, which, although critical for early nutrition and care, lacked a formal educational focus.
  • In contrast, private schools long offered structured nursery education, creating a gap in preparedness and perpetuating early disadvantages for children from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
  • The NEP seeks to bridge this gap by integrating preschool classes (Balvatika 1, 2, and 3) into government schools, a move that not only promises universalisation of ECCE by 2030 but also aims to level the playing field.

Structural Shifts in ECCE: Expansion, Migration, and Reorientation

  • Expansion of ECCE Infrastructure

    • The first shift is the planned expansion of the ECCE infrastructure.
    • The stagnation of ECCE services around the 14 lakh Anganwadi centres is now giving way to a growing network of preschool classes in public schools.
    • With the Ministry of Education channeling resources through the Samagra Shiksha scheme, many States and Union Territories have begun setting up preschool classes.
    • However, utilisation is uneven, with some states lagging in initiating or fully implementing these provisions.
    • This expansion demands robust planning for recruitment, training, and deployment of skilled ECCE educators.
    • Without a competent and well-supported workforce, the expansion risks becoming a superficial change.

  • Migration from Anganwadis to Schools

    • The second shift pertains to a growing preference among parents for preschool education in government schools over Anganwadis.
    • This trend, already evident in regions like Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, is largely driven by the perception that schools offer superior learning environments.
    • Consequently, 4–6-year-old children are migrating from Anganwadis to schools, threatening the relevance of Anganwadis for this age group.
    • To remain relevant, the Anganwadi system must reimagine its role within the ECCE framework.
    • Initiatives such as the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi underscore a renewed emphasis on integrating education with care and nutrition.
    • However, the real challenge lies in ground-level execution, ensuring that Anganwadi workers are not only trained but also adequately supported to deliver age-appropriate educational activities.
    • Simultaneously, schools must resist the temptation to schoolify preschool education, instead centring it around play-based, holistic learning rather than rote reading and writing.

  • Reorientation Towards the 0–3 Age Group

    • Perhaps the most transformative shift is the potential reorientation of the Anganwadi system to focus on the 0–3-year age group through structured home visits.
    • Research from both Indian and global contexts, including the Perry Preschool Project and a Yale-Pratham study in Odisha, highlights the profound developmental impact of early interventions in the first three years of life.
    • Yet, implementation gaps remain, largely because Anganwadi workers are overburdened and often prioritise children who are physically present (3–6 years) over those requiring home-based care.
    • If government schools begin taking full responsibility for 3–6 year-olds, this opens up a critical opportunity for Anganwadis to refocus their mission.
    • By reallocating resources and responsibilities, Anganwadi workers could dedicate time to home-based interventions for infants and toddlers, and to supporting pregnant and lactating mothers, thereby strengthening the developmental foundations laid in the first 1,000 days of life.
    • This potential division of labor between schools and Anganwadis, though ambitious, could radically improve India’s ECCE outcomes if pursued with clarity and commitment.

Conclusion

  • The NEP 2020 lays a visionary and equity-driven blueprint for transforming early childhood education in India.
  • However, this transformation is far from automatic. Each structural shift, expansion, migration, and reorientation, brings its own set of challenges related to infrastructure, training, parental perceptions, and policy coherence.
  • The success of this reimagined ECCE ecosystem will ultimately depend on the inter-sectoral collaboration between education, health, and nutrition departments, the empowerment of frontline workers, and responsive governance at the state and district levels.
  • If implemented with thoughtfulness and equity at its core, the NEP’s ECCE reforms could not only reduce foundational disparities but also lay the groundwork for a healthier, more capable, and more just India.

Transforming Early Childhood Care and Education FAQs

Q1. What major issue in early childhood education does the NEP 2020 aim to address?
Ans. NEP 2020 aims to reduce inequity by introducing preschool classes in government schools, bridging the gap between private nursery education and public Anganwadi-based care.

Q2. What are the three major structural shifts in ECCE introduced by NEP 2020?
Ans. The three shifts are expansion of ECCE infrastructure in government schools, migration of children from Anganwadis to schools and reorientation of Anganwadis to focus on 0–3-year-olds through home visits.

Q3. Why are parents preferring government preschool classes over Anganwadis?
Ans. Parents perceive schools as offering better educational opportunities compared to Anganwadis, prompting a shift in enrolment.

Q4. What is the risk of “schoolification” in preschool education?
Ans. The risk is that schools might overly focus on formal reading and writing, neglecting play-based, holistic development essential for early learners.

Q5. How can Anganwadi centres play a transformative role under the NEP framework?
Ans. By focusing on the care and development of 0–3-year-olds and pregnant/lactating mothers through home visits, Anganwadis can strengthen early childhood outcomes significantly.

Source: The Hindu

Daily Editorial Analysis 1 August 2025 FAQs

Q1: What is editorial analysis?

Ans: Editorial analysis is the critical examination and interpretation of newspaper editorials to extract key insights, arguments, and perspectives relevant to UPSC preparation.

Q2: What is an editorial analyst?

Ans: An editorial analyst is someone who studies and breaks down editorials to highlight their relevance, structure, and usefulness for competitive exams like the UPSC.

Q3: What is an editorial for UPSC?

Ans: For UPSC, an editorial refers to opinion-based articles in reputed newspapers that provide analysis on current affairs, governance, policy, and socio-economic issues.

Q4: What are the sources of UPSC Editorial Analysis?

Ans: Key sources include editorials from The Hindu and Indian Express.

Q5: Can Editorial Analysis help in Mains Answer Writing?

Ans: Yes, editorial analysis enhances content quality, analytical depth, and structure in Mains answer writing.

Grant in Aid to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) Scheme

August 1, 2025
Grant in Aid to NCDC Scheme

Grant in Aid to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) Scheme Latest News

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, recently approved the Central Sector Scheme “Grant in Aid to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)”

About Grant in Aid to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) Scheme

  • It is a Central Sector Scheme with an outlay of  ₹2, 000 crore for a period of four years from 2025-26 to 2028-29 (₹500 crore each year from FY 2025-26).
  • The grant of ₹2,000 crore will be sourced through budgetary support from the Government of India. 
  • The approved grant will enable NCDC to raise ₹20,000 crore from the open market over the next four years. 
  • These funds will be utilised by NCDC for granting loans to Cooperatives for setting up new projects/expansion of plants, and loans for meeting the working capital requirements.
  • Benefits: Approximately 2.9 crore members of 13,288 Cooperative societies of various sectors like Dairy, Livestock, Fisheries, Sugar, Textile, Food Processing, Storage and Cold Storage; Labour and Women led cooperatives. across the country are likely to get benefitted.
  • Implementation Strategy and Targets:
    • NCDC will be the executing agency for this scheme for the purpose of disbursement, follow-up, monitoring of implementation of the project, and recovery of loans disbursed out of the fund.
    • NCDC will provide loans to cooperatives either through state government or directly, as per NCDC guidelines. Cooperatives that meet the criteria of direct funding guidelines of NCDC would be considered for financial assistance directly against admissible security or a state government guarantee.
    • NCDC will provide loans to cooperatives, long-term credit for setting up/ modernization/ technology upgradation/ expansion of project facilities for various sectors, and working capital to run their businesses efficiently and profitably.

Source: PMI

Grant in Aid to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) Scheme FAQs

Q1: What is the total outlay of the Grant-in-Aid to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) Scheme?

Ans: It has an outlay of ₹2, 000 crore for a period of four years from 2025-26 to 2028-29.

Q2: How much grant is allocated annually under Grant in Aid to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) Scheme starting FY 2025–26?

Ans: ₹500 crore

Q3: What kind of assistance will NCDC provide to cooperatives under Grant in Aid to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) Scheme?

Ans: Loans to Cooperatives for setting up new projects/expansion of plants, and loans for meeting the working capital requirements.

Ambedkar Jayanti 2025, Biography, Contributions, Birth Anniversary

August 1, 2025
Default Image

Ambedkar Jayanti 2025 is observed on 14 April, as an honour to pay tribute to Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and his efforts to improve the conditions of people in India. The day is celebrated to spread awareness about him and his contributions by the central and state government. In this article, we are going to cover the life of Dr. Ambedkar, his biography and most importantly his contributions. 

Ambedkar Jayanti 2025

Dr. B.R.Ambedkar Remembrance Day 2025 is celebrated every year on 14 April to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar, the man who wrote the Constitution of India. Remembered as a social reformer, jurist and social reformer, Dr. Ambedkar spent his life fighting against caste discrimination and promote social justice. 

B.R. Ambedkar Birth Anniversary 2025 

The 135th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, popularly known as Bhim Jayanti, will be observed through official ceremonies and public events across the country. In keeping with tradition, the President, Prime Minister, and other dignitaries are expected to pay tribute at his statue in the Parliament complex.

Educational institutions will conduct debates, essay competitions, and seminars to highlight his pivotal role in drafting the Constitution and advocating for social justice. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will lead awareness campaigns focused on Dr. Ambedkar’s enduring contributions to constitutional development, education reform, and economic empowerment.

B.R. Ambedkar Biography 

Dr. Ambedkar was born in Mhow on 14 April, 1891. He belonged to the Mahar community and faced discrimination from his very early life. He completed his education from Columbia University and London School of Economics. A lawyer, economist and social reformer by profession, he fought for the rights of marginalised communities. 

B.R. Ambedkar Biography

Ambedkar's Date of Birth

April 14, 1891

Birthplace

Mhow, Central India Agency, British India (now in Madhya Pradesh).

Title

The Father of the Indian Constitution, Babasaheb

Family

14th child of Subedar Ramji Maloji Sakpal and Bhimabai Sakpal.

Education

M.A., Ph.D., LL.D., D. Litt., D. Sc., Barrister-at-Law.

Career

Jurist, economist, social reformer, and politician.

Key Positions
  • Minister of Labour in Viceroy's Executive Council (1942-1946)
  • Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee (1947-1950)
  • First Minister of Law and Justice in independent India (1947-1951)

Political Parties
  • Independent Labour Party (founded in 1936)
  • Scheduled Castes Federation (formed in 1942)
  • Republican Party of India (announced in 1956)

Notable Works
  • Drafting of the Indian Constitution.
  • Advocacy for Dalit rights and social reforms.

Literary Works

The Annihilation of Caste, The Buddha and His Dhamma, Waiting for A Visa, Ancient Indian Commerce: Commercial Relations of India in the Middle East, The Untouchables: Who Were They and Why They Became Untouchables?

Awards

Bharat Ratna in 1990

Death

December 6, 1956.

Dr. Ambedkar adopted Buddhism with an aim of spreading the message of dignity and equality. His works in the areas of social issues, law and economics, influenced policies on employment, education and affirmative action. 

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Contributions

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar made foundational contributions to the shaping of modern India across legal, economic, and social domains. His major achievements include:

  • Architect of the Indian Constitution: As Chairman of the Drafting Committee, he played a pivotal role in framing a Constitution that enshrined democratic governance, fundamental rights, and social justice.
     
  • Abolition of Untouchability: He was instrumental in the enactment of the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955, which outlawed caste-based discrimination and advanced the cause of social equality.
     
  • Advocate of Affirmative Action: Dr. Ambedkar championed reservations in education, employment, and political representation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, laying the foundation for India’s affirmative action framework.
     
  • Pioneer of Labour Reforms: During his tenure as Labour Member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council (1942–1946), he introduced progressive labour laws related to working hours, minimum wages, and maternity benefits.
     
  • Economic Thought Leader: His seminal work The Problem of the Rupee had a lasting influence on India's monetary policy, emphasizing the need for currency stability and sound economic planning.
     
  • Champion of Women’s Rights: Through his work on the Hindu Code Bill, he sought to secure equal rights for women in marriage, divorce, and inheritance, marking a bold step toward gender justice.
     
  • Social and Spiritual Reformer: In 1956, Dr. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism, initiating the Dalit Buddhist movement. This historic act inspired millions to pursue dignity and liberation beyond caste oppression.

Dr. Ambedkar’s vision continues to inspire movements for equality, justice, and inclusive development in India and beyond

Ambedkar Jayanti 2025 FAQs

Q1: Which is the No. 1 biggest Jayanti in the world?

Ans: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti is considered the largest Jayanti celebration in the world.

Q2: How many years is Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti?

Ans: In 2025, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti marks his 135th birth anniversary.

Q3: When was Ambedkar born and died?

Ans: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891, and passed away on December 6, 1956.

Q4: When was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's death anniversary?

Ans: His death anniversary is observed on December 6 every year.

Q5: What is the original name of Ambedkar?

Ans: His original name was Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.

Supply and Use Table

August 1, 2025
Supply and Use Tables

Supply and Use Table Latest News

Recently, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the ‘Supply and Use Tables of 2020-21 and 2021-22’.

About Supply and Use Table

  • It represents a detailed snapshot of all economic activities taking place in the economy.
  • They are powerful analytical tools that present the structure of an economy as well as interlinkages among the various economic actors.

Purpose of Supply and Use Tables

  • They serve multiple purposes and have gained prominence due to their statistical robustness and analytical flexibility.
  • They offer a comprehensive framework that integrates the three approaches to measuring Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—production, income, and expenditure within a unified structure.
  • SUT is a very powerful tool for comparing and reconciling data from diverse sources, thereby improving the coherence and consistency between production and expenditure estimates.
  • Supply and Use Tables (SUT) are presented as two interlinked matrices: the Supply Table and the Use Table, structured in a product-by-industry matrix.
  • The Supply Table captures the total supply of goods and services, both from domestic production by industry and from imports.
  • In contrast, the Use Table records the utilization of these products across various components—intermediate consumption by industries, final consumption, gross capital formation, and exports.

Source: PIB

Supply and Use Table FAQs

Q1: What is the use table?

Ans: The use table describes the destination of goods and services by type of use, distinguishing between intermediate consumption (use of a product as an input into a production process) and various categories of final demand such as consumption, investment and exports.

Q2: What is the supply use product classification?

Ans: Supply-use product classification (SUPC) The SUPC is the detailed level product classification, organised according to the industry to which each product is primary.

INS Himgiri

August 1, 2025
INS Himgiri

INS Himgiri Latest News

Recently, INS Himgiri (Yard 3022) was delivered to the Indian Navy at GRSE, Kolkata.

About INS Himgiri 

  • It is the third ship of Nilgiri Class (Project 17A) and the first of the class built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), 
  • It is a reincarnation of the erstwhile INS Himgiri, a Leander-class frigate,that was decommissioned on 06 May 2005 after 30 years of glorious service to the nation.
  • It is designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team (Kolkata).

Features of INS Himgiri 

  • P17A ships are fitted with an advanced weapon and sensor suite compared to the P17 (Shivalik) class.
  • These ships are configured with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plants, comprising a diesel engine and gas turbine, that drives a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft, and a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).
  • The weapon suite comprises supersonic Surface-to-Surface missile system, Medium-Range Surface to Air Missile system, rapid-fire Close-in Weapon Systems.
  • It has indigenous content of 75%, which has involved over 200 MSMEs at GRSE.
  • P17A frigates reflect a generational leap in indigenous ship design, stealth, survivability, and combat capability.
  • Significance: Delivery of Himgiri showcases the design, ship construction and engineering prowess of the nation, and reflects Indian Navy’s unrelenting focus on Aatmanirbharta in both ship design and shipbuilding.

Source: PIB

INS Himgiri FAQs

Q1: What are the ships under Project 17A?

Ans: Nilgiri, Himgiri, Taragiri, Udaygiri, Dunagiri, and Vindhyagiri

Q2: Which is India's first AI enabled warship?

Ans: INS Surat

UN Women

August 1, 2025
UN Women

UN Women Latest News

Recently, the UN Women celebrated its 15th anniversary.

About UN Women

  • It is the United Nations (UN) entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
  • It was created in July 2010 by the UN General Assembly.
  • The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact.
  • The main roles of UN Women are:
    • To support inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in their formulation of policies, global standards, and norms.
    • To help member states implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it, and to forge effective partnerships with civil society.
    • To lead and coordinate the UN system’s work on gender equality as well as promote accountability, including through regular monitoring of system-wide progress.
  • It works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) a reality for women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life.
  • Within countries that request its assistance, UN Women works with government and non-governmental partners to help them put in place the policies, laws, services, and resources that women require to move towards equality.
  • Grant-making Funds: UN Women provides grants to fuel innovative, high-impact programmes by government agencies and civil society groups through two funds—the Fund for Gender Equality and the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.
  • Commission on the Status of Women (CSW): A global policy-making body, the CSW is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the advancement of women.
  • Aside from the CSW, UN Women offers regular information on women’s rights issues to the General Assembly, the ECOSOC, and the Security Council.
  • It maintains the UN Secretary-General’s database on violence against women, which tracks measures to end violence taken by UN Member States and UN organizations.

Source: UN

UN Women FAQs

Q1: What is UN Women ?

Ans: It is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women

Q2: What is SDG and its goals?

Ans: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Sabarmati River

August 1, 2025
Sabarmati River

Sabarmati River Latest News

Thirteen stretches of rivers in Gujarat have been officially classified as polluted, with the Sabarmati emerging as the most contaminated, according to data tabled by the Union govt in the Lok Sabha recently.

About Sabarmati River

  • It is a monsoon-fed, west-flowing river.
  • Course:
    • It originates in the Aravalli Mountain Range in the Udaipur district of the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. 
    • The river is also called Wakal in its initial course. 
    • The river flows in a southwesterly direction across Rajasthan and Gujarat.
    • It finally empties into the Gulf of Khambhat of the Arabian Sea.
  • It is about 371 km in length. In Gujarat, the river extends to a length of about 323 km, while in Rajasthan the river has a length of about 48 km.
  • The Sabarmati basin extends over an area of 21,674 sq.km with a maximum length and width of 300 km and 150 km.
  • The basin is bounded by Aravalli hills on the north and north-east, by the Rann of Kutch on the west, and by the Gulf of Khambhat on the south.
  • The major part of the basin is covered with agriculture, accounting for 74.68% of the total area. 
  • The banks of the Sabarmati River have Indian cities like Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.
  • It flows north-south through Ahmedabad, bisecting the city into its western and eastern halves.
  • Major Tributaries: Wakal River, Harnav River, Hathmati River, Watrak River, and Madhumati River.

Source: TOI

Sabarmati River FAQs

Q1: Where does the Sabarmati River originate?

Ans: Aravalli Hills, Rajasthan

Q2: What is the total length of the Sabarmati River?

Ans: 371 km

Q3: Into which water body does the Sabarmati River empty?

Ans: Arabian Sea – Gulf of Khambhat

Q4: Which two Indian cities are located on the banks of the Sabarmati River?

Ans: Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar

Darwin’s Frog

August 1, 2025
Darwin's Frog

Darwin's Frog Latest News

Recently, Chile has launched a new effort to save the endangered Darwin's frog.

About Darwin's Frog

  • Darwin's frog (Rhinoderma darwinii ), also called the southern Darwin's frog.
  • Features of Darwin's Frog
    • It is unique among amphibians for its brooding habits.
    • It is a tiny amphibian with leaf-like skin whose males carry tadpoles within pouches in their mouths.
    • It is a diurnal creature, meaning it sleeps at night and is mostly active during daytime.
    • When threatened by predators, the frog plays dead. It lays very still on the forest floor or floating in a stream.
    • It measures 3 cm (1.18 inches), was discovered in Chile's southern Chiloe islands by Charles Darwin during his 1834 trip around the world.
  • Distribution: It is a rhinodermatid frog native to the forest streams of Chile and Argentina.
  • Habitat: It is found in a variety of vegetation types and it appears that a mixture of grassland, mossy areas, coarse woody debris, and young trees and bushes in a mature native forest provides its optimum habitat requirements.
  • Diet: Darwin's frog feeds on insects and other arthropods.
  • It actually comprises two: the endangered Rhinoderma darwinii (Southern Darwin's frog) and the Rhinoderma rufum (Northern Darwin's frog), which is categorized as "critically endangered" and has already virtually disappeared.
  • Threats: Forest fires, climate change, invasive species and urbanization have hurt the humid forests of southern Chile and Argentina where Darwin's frog typically lives.

Source: TH

Darwin's Frog FAQs

Q1: Why is it called Darwin's frog?

Ans: Darwin's frogs were named after the father of evolution, who discovered them in 1834 in Chile during his voyage around the world on the ship HMS Beagle.

Q2: What is a Darwin's frog mouth brooding?

Ans: Mouth-brooding frogs carry their litters, or broods, of young in their mouths, particularly in the males' vocal sacs.

Ganga Action Plan, Launch Date, Objectives, Phases, Achievements

August 1, 2025
Ganga Action Plan

Former Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi launched Ganga Action Plan on January 14th, 1986 as a centrally sponsored scheme to reduce pollution and improve water quality by intercepting, diverting, and treating domestic sewage as well as current toxic and industrial chemical waste which was entering the river through polluting units. Ganga Action Plan has two phases out of which the first one was initiated by the Ministry of Environment and Forest in states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.

Ganga Action Plan

The Ganga Action Plan was the First Government Led River Clean Up Mission in India, initiated in 1985 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The program aimed to reduce pollution levels in the Ganga by treating wastewater, improving sanitation infrastructure, and addressing industrial discharge into the river. To strengthen this initiative, the National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA) was established, and the Ganga was officially designated as a National River of India.

Ganga Action Plan Need

By the late 1970s, rapid industrial growth and expanding cities led to a sharp rise in untreated sewage being dumped into rivers and other water bodies. The increased pollution led to rise in the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid. The Ganga, already burdened by widespread open defecation and unchecked industrial waste, saw its contamination levels increasing. The major cause of the problem was a lack of public awareness and the absence of clear regulations to manage waste and industrial runoff effectively.

Ganga Action Plan Objectives

The Ganga Action Plan was a two phase project with the major aim of reducing the pollution and untreated industrial waste from the fifth largest pollulated river. Below the list of Ganga Action Plan Objectives is discussed:

  1. Focus on intercepting and diverting untreated sewage and industrial effluents before they reach the Ganga, followed by proper treatment.
  2. Tackle pollution from dispersed sources like farm runoff, open defecation, and the disposal of partially burnt or unburnt human remains.
  3. Promote research aimed at preserving the ecological balance and biological diversity of the Ganga ecosystem.
  4. Introduce modern technologies like Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) for wastewater treatment.
  5. Use species such as soft-shelled turtles, known for their scavenging abilities, to naturally aid in cleaning up the river.
  6. Develop the Ganga clean-up plan as a reference framework that can be replicated for restoring polluted stretches of other rivers across India.
  7. Restore aquatic life and ecosystem balance both within the river and along its banks, ensuring long-term ecological sustainability.

Ganga Action Plan Phases

The Ganga Action Plan was carried out in two major phases, each designed to address rising pollution levels through targeted measures and long-term strategies:

Ganga Action Plan Phases
Ganga Action Plan Phases 1 Ganga Action Plan - Phase 2
  • Three states were covered in the first phase.
  • Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal are the three states that make up Uttar Pradesh.
  • Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand, Delhi, and Haryana were included in Phase 2.
  • The Yamuna, Gomti, Mahananda, and Damodar tributaries of the Ganga were included in Phase 2.
  • GAP's first phase began in January 1986 and ended in March 2000.
  • This phase was a completely government-funded project aimed at preventing pollution of the Ganga.
  • The Ganga Action Plan Phase-1 cost a total of Rs.452 crores to complete.
  • This strategy was developed based on a study conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 1984.
  • In 1985, the total sewage generated from 25 Class 1 municipalities was projected to be roughly 1340 million litres per day, according to the CPCB survey.
  • A total of 261 pollution abatement projects covering 25 towns in three states, namely Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Bihar, were sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 462 crore to complete this mission.
  • On March 31, 2000, the GAP-1 was declared closed. A sewage treatment capacity of 865 million liters per day was established as part of this proposal.
  • Phase 1 of the Ganga Action Plan did not address the whole extent of the river's pollution, GAP Phase 2, which included plans for the Yamuna, Damodar, and Gomti in addition to the Ganga, was approved in stages between 1993 and 1996.
  • Under two different programmes, the Ganga Action Plan Phase – II and the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) as its parent body, the initiative was extended to other major rivers in India (from the year 2014).
  • The Yamuna and Gomti Action Plans were adopted as part of GAP Phase II in April 1993.
  • Following that, in 1995, the NRCP approved projects for several major rivers.
  • Following the establishment of the NRCP in 1995, the Ganga Action Plan-2 was merged with the NRCP.

Ganga Action Plan Achievement

  • Noticeable Water Quality Improvement: Compared to pre-1985 levels, there was a measurable enhancement in the river's water quality in several stretches.
  • Project Completion Progress: Out of 764 projects approved under GAP Phase II, 652 were completed by the year 2014, showing substantial on-ground implementation.
  • Expansion of Treatment Infrastructure: Plans were made to set up 35 sewage treatment plants across five key states along the Ganga’s course, aiming to curb pollution at the source.
  • A Shift in National Mindset: Perhaps the most significant milestone was the official recognition of the Ganga's pollution crisis and the government’s commitment to cleaning it, a critical first step toward long-term river conservation.

Role of JICA in Ganga Action Plan

  • The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) partnered with India to offer technical expertise for a Development Study focused on managing the Ganga’s water quality.
  • Between 2003 and 2005, JICA carried out extensive studies in four major cities of Uttar Pradesh-Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Allahabad.
  • The goal was to prepare detailed Master Plans and Feasibility Reports covering both sewer networks and non-sewer interventions to improve sanitation infrastructure in these urban areas.
  • Following the study, JICA entered into a loan agreement with the Indian government, committing around ₹1,640 crore to support pollution control efforts in the selected cities.

Ganga Action Plan Reason for Failures

  • Weak Sewage Infrastructure: One of the biggest setbacks was the failure to build and upgrade sewage treatment systems. Limited funding and poor coordination among central, state, and local authorities left much of the plan incomplete.
  • Lack of Public Engagement: The plan struggled to gain traction on the ground. Without enough community participation or awareness, efforts to clean the river lacked the grassroots support needed for lasting impact.
  • Persistent Industrial Waste: Many industries continued releasing untreated waste into the Ganga. Despite the presence of environmental rules, enforcement was weak, and compliance was patchy at best.
  • Poor Regulation and Oversight: Governance gaps, like lax monitoring and lenient penalties allowed polluters to continue unchecked. The absence of strict accountability mechanisms undermined the plan’s credibility.
  • Scale of the Problem: The Ganga flows through multiple states, covering thousands of kilometers. The sheer size of the river system made it hard to identify and manage every pollution source effectively.

Short-Term Fixes Over Long-Term Strategy: While the plan led to some visible improvements, it lacked a sustainable vision. Once short-term measures faded, pollution levels returned exposing the failure to build enduring solutions.

Ganga Action Plan FAQs

Q1: What is the Ganga Action Plan?

Ans: Launched in 1986, it’s a government initiative to reduce pollution and improve the water quality of the Ganga River.

Q2: Who launched the Ganga Action Plan?

Ans: It was launched by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1986 under the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Q3: What was the objective of the Ganga Action Plan?

Ans: To control pollution, improve water quality, and conserve the Ganga’s biodiversity through sewage treatment and public awareness.

Q4: What are the key components of the GAP?

Ans: Sewage treatment plants (STPs), river surface cleaning, public participation, crematoria construction, and industrial waste management.

Q5: What is Ganga Action Plan Phase I?

Ans: Phase I started in 1986 and focused on pollution control in 25 class-I cities along the Ganga.

Green Technologies – Why the World Needs It For a Sustainable Future

August 1, 2025
Green Technologies

Green Technologies Latest News

  • Amid rising energy demands and climate concerns, experts are calling for a shift toward more efficient and scalable green technologies beyond conventional silicon photovoltaics and green hydrogen.

Introduction

  • The world is racing to meet its climate commitments amid the growing urgency of energy self-sufficiency, carbon emission reduction, and geopolitical uncertainty. 
  • While green technologies like silicon photovoltaics and green hydrogen have catalysed a global energy transition, they are no longer sufficient in their current forms. 
  • The future demands not just more renewable deployment, but smarter, more efficient, diverse, and scalable green technologies that better serve a resource-constrained world.

Limitations of Current Green Technologies

  • Silicon Photovoltaics: Dominant Yet Inefficient
    • Invented in 1954 by Bell Labs, silicon photovoltaics (PV) have become the backbone of renewable energy worldwide. However, their limitations are becoming apparent:
      • Typical efficiencies range from 15% to 21%, with lower actual field performance.
      • Land-use intensity is high due to low energy conversion rates; a doubling of efficiency could halve the land required.
      • Over 80% of silicon solar panels come from China, raising strategic and supply chain concerns.
      • India, with ~6 GW of production capacity, is expanding its silicon PV output, but must also prepare to leapfrog toward next-generation solar technologies like gallium arsenide thin-film cells, which have demonstrated up to 47% efficiency in labs.
  • The “Green” in Green Hydrogen is Relative
    • Green hydrogen, produced by electrolysis using renewable energy, is a promising clean fuel. However, it suffers from key drawbacks:
      • Energy inefficiency: Electrolysis consumes more energy than the energy value of the hydrogen it produces.
      • Storage and transportation challenges due to hydrogen’s low density and leakage issues.
      • Conversion losses in creating and later separating hydrogen from green ammonia or methanol.
    • Therefore, while green hydrogen is technically clean, its overall lifecycle efficiency is poor, especially when powered by low-efficiency PV systems.

Rethinking Fuel Production and CO₂ Utilisation

  • To overcome these hurdles, researchers are exploring Artificial Photosynthesis (APS), mimicking plant-based CO₂ recycling to produce fuels like green methanol and green ammonia directly from sunlight, water, and atmospheric gases. 
  • While APS is currently confined to lab research, it represents a breakthrough pathway for truly sustainable fuel production.
  • Meanwhile, Europe is pushing ahead with Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBOs), which avoid biomass and use pure renewable inputs. 
  • India, too, must pivot toward such futuristic innovations to reduce its 85% dependence on imported energy, which includes oil, coal, and natural gas.

Land Scarcity and the Efficiency Imperative

  • Land scarcity is becoming a significant constraint:
    • Urbanisation and biodiversity conservation limit the availability of large tracts for solar installations.
    • With rising CO₂ concentrations (from 350 ppm in 1990 to 425 ppm in 2025), current green technologies are not scaling fast enough to reverse climate trends.
  • Thus, doubling down on high-efficiency technologies becomes essential, not just to generate more power per square metre, but also to enable complementary decarbonisation solutions like green hydrogen and RFNBOs to succeed.

Policy and Investment Implications

  • Governments must now shift from deployment to diversified innovation. India’s energy roadmap should include:
    • Increased R&D spending on next-gen energy systems
    • Public-private partnerships to accelerate commercialisation
    • Strategic support for deep-tech innovations like APS and RFNBO
    • Redesign of subsidies and incentives to favour higher efficiency, land-saving, and lifecycle-optimised technologies
  • As geopolitical instability threatens global supply chains, energy independence through innovation is no longer optional; it is urgent and essential.

Source : TH

Green Technologies FAQs

Q1: Why are silicon photovoltaics considered insufficient for future energy needs?

Ans: They have low efficiency (15–21%) and require large land areas, limiting scalability and environmental viability.

Q2: What makes green hydrogen currently inefficient?

Ans: Green hydrogen production consumes more energy than it delivers and is difficult to store and transport.

Q3: What is Artificial Photosynthesis (APS)?

Ans: APS is a lab-stage technology that mimics plant photosynthesis to convert sunlight, water, and CO₂ into green fuels.

Q4: What are RFNBOs in the context of green fuels?

Ans: Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBOs) are fuels made using renewable energy without biomass, ensuring lower emissions.

Q5: Why should India invest in next-generation green technologies?

Ans: India imports 85% of its energy needs, and investing in efficient technologies ensures energy independence and climate resilience.

India-U.S. Strategic Partnership under Strain: Causes and Future Outlook

August 1, 2025
India-U.S. Strategic Partnership

India-U.S. Strategic Partnership Latest News

  • Despite being hailed as a defining partnership of the 21st century, the India-U.S. relationship is currently facing turbulence. 
  • While the U.S. administration insists that ties remain strong and a top priority—citing cooperation across space, defence, energy, trade, and technology—there is growing concern that recent tensions may reflect deeper, structural issues rather than just short-term political shifts under President Trump. 
  • Notwithstanding high-level engagements and initiatives like the COMPACT, doubts have emerged over the long-term trajectory of the partnership.

Turbulence in India-U.S. Ties Amid Trump's Sharp Turn

  • The Indian government was left reeling after U.S. President Donald Trump launched a scathing 12-hour tirade targeting India’s trade policies and strategic choices. 
  • Trump announced a 25% tariff hike and an additional “penalty” for India’s trade with Russia, effective August 1.
  • American experts now question India’s global ambitions, calling them delusional and hinting at strategic asymmetry in the partnership. 
  • This shift reflects a broader ideological divide, where nationalism in both countries fuels suspicion and unpredictability. 
  • America’s internal split between ‘America First’ sceptics and India optimists mirrors the larger tension: India’s assertive global image clashes with the U.S.’s traditional discomfort with power projection by rising nations, even allies. 
  • As India transitions from a developmental narrative to a power-seeking one, the bilateral relationship faces a critical test of resilience and mutual understanding.

Growing Skepticism and Structural Tensions in India-U.S. Relations

  • A rising group of U.S. sceptics has begun to question India’s trajectory, pointing to concerns over its perceived illiberal turn and assertive foreign policy under PM Modi. 
  • India’s “India First” approach maintains strategic autonomy and includes assertive military responses to terrorism—something that makes the U.S., especially under Trump, uneasy due to fears of nuclear escalation. 
  • The U.S. prides itself on managing relationships with rival nations independently, but it is less comfortable when partners like India do the same. 
  • Washington remains critical of India’s strong ties with Russia and Iran, while expecting Delhi not to challenge its engagement with Pakistan. 
  • India’s broader global engagement strategy—balancing relations across geopolitical divides like Russia-Ukraine and BRICS-QUAD—should be an asset, yet it has become a source of friction. 
  • Additionally, protectionist policies aimed at boosting India’s domestic manufacturing have strained economic ties, with the U.S. frustrated by limited access to Indian markets. 
  • This complex mix of strategic divergence, geopolitical mistrust, and unmet trade expectations is gradually eroding the sheen of the once-optimistic India-U.S. partnership.

Trump-Pakistan Bonhomie Deepens India’s Worries

  • What further irked New Delhi was Trump’s announcement of a new trade deal with Pakistan, including collaboration on developing the country’s supposed oil reserves. 
  • The U.S.-Pakistan reset, culminating in Trump hosting Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House, has deeply unsettled Indian officials.
    • This came on the heels of U.S. strikes on Iran and increased defence cooperation between Washington and Islamabad.

India Suspects Underlying Motives

  • Indian analysts believe Trump’s outburst may be driven by two factors. 
  • First, his negotiating style—known for aggressive tariff impositions to gain leverage—mirrors past tactics with China. 
  • Second, India’s public rebuttal of Trump’s claim that he could broker peace between India and Pakistan likely embarrassed him. 
  • This includes PM Modi’s firm clarification and repeated denials by Indian officials.

Strategic Gains at Risk

  • Indian diplomats fear that Trump’s rhetoric could reverse two decades of strategic progress in India-U.S. ties. 
  • From sanctions post-Pokhran tests to the historic Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, and the elevation of defence cooperation and the Quad, both countries have come a long way. 
  • Trump himself had extended strong support to India in past crises like Pulwama and the China standoff.
  • However, India suspects that its ties with Russia and Iran, combined with Pakistan’s recent outreach to Trump’s inner circle—particularly in the cryptocurrency sector—have soured relations.

Conclusion

  • India is cautiously assessing Trump’s statements and their implications. Experts advise a restrained, calculated diplomatic response. 
  • The challenge lies in three areas: maintaining strategic autonomy while balancing U.S. pressure, rebuilding access to Trump’s close advisors, and repairing long-term trust damaged by recent events. 
  • As the geopolitical landscape shifts, India must re-evaluate its engagement strategy with a volatile yet important partner.

Source: TH | IE

India-U.S. Strategic Partnership FAQs

Q1: What triggered the latest strain in India-U.S. ties?

Ans: Trump’s tariff hike, criticism of India-Russia trade, and bonhomie with Pakistan.

Q2: Why is the U.S. skeptical of India’s foreign policy?

Ans: India’s strategic autonomy and ties with Russia and Iran concern Washington.

Q3: How does Trump’s Pakistan outreach affect India?

Ans: India fears renewed U.S.-Pakistan defense and trade ties weaken India’s position.

Q4: Are these tensions short-term or structural?

Ans: Experts believe the issues reflect long-term strategic divergence, not just political shifts.

Q5: What should India do moving forward?

Ans: Maintain strategic autonomy, rebuild U.S. access, and diplomatically recalibrate ties amid volatility.

Linguistic Reorganisation of States in India: Unity through Diversity

August 1, 2025
Linguistic Reorganisation of States

Linguistic Reorganisation of States Latest News

  • Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi recently sparked controversy by claiming that the linguistic reorganisation of Indian states turned large sections of people into “second-class citizens”. 
  • Speaking at an event in Gandhinagar, he suggested that the reorganisation, which began within a decade of Independence, undermined national unity.

India’s Political Geography Before Linguistic Reorganisation

  • At the time of Independence in 1947, India inherited a complex administrative setup shaped by British colonial rule. 
  • The British governed India through two parallel systems — direct control in provinces and indirect control over 565 princely states. 
  • The boundaries drawn were dictated largely by administrative convenience rather than cultural or linguistic coherence.

Four-Part Division under the 1950 Constitution

  • When the Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950, India was described as a “Union of States,” comprising 28 states grouped into four categories:
    • Part A States: These included nine former British governor’s provinces like Bombay, Madras, and Uttar Pradesh, each with an elected legislature and a governor.
    • Part B States: Comprising eight former princely states or their groupings, these were governed by an elected legislature and a rajpramukh (a governor-like figure), and included states like Hyderabad, Jammu & Kashmir, and Rajasthan.
    • Part C States: Ten territories including both former Chief Commissioners’ provinces and some princely states were placed under the direct control of the President through a Chief Commissioner. Examples: Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Manipur.
    • Part D State: The sole territory under this category was the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, administered by a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the President.

Linguistic Reorganisation of States in 1956

  • In 1949, the JVP Committee — comprising Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Congress president Pattabhi Sitaramayya — warned that reorganising states based on language might have disintegrative effects on national unity.

Catalyst: Potti Sriramulu’s Martyrdom

  • The turning point came when Potti Sriramulu, a Telugu-speaking Gandhian and former railway engineer, died in December 1952, after a 58-day hunger strike demanding a separate state for Telugu speakers. 
  • His death triggered widespread protests, forcing PM Nehru to announce the creation of Andhra on December 17, 1952. 
  • The state was officially formed on October 1, 1953.

Formation of the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC)

  • The formation of Andhra Pradesh unleashed a wave of demands for linguistic statehood across India. 
  • Recognising the complexity of the issue, the Centre established the SRC in December 1953, under the chairmanship of Justice Fazl Ali, to comprehensively examine the matter.

The 1956 Reorganisation

  • In its report submitted on September 30, 1955, the SRC acknowledged that the growing importance of regional languages and political awareness made linguistic reorganisation inevitable.
  • Following the SRC’s recommendations, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 was enacted. 
  • It redrew India’s political map, reducing the existing divisions and reorganising the country into 14 states and six Union Territories, primarily along linguistic lines — marking a turning point in India's federal structure.

Language Was Not the Sole Criterion for State Reorganisation

  • In its December 1953 resolution in Parliament while setting up the SRC, the Centre emphasized that although language and culture reflect a shared way of life in a region, factors such as national unity, security, and administrative, financial, and economic viability were equally critical. 
  • The final SRC report echoed this balanced approach, stating that relying solely on language or culture was neither possible nor desirable for state reorganisation.
    • Despite strong movements for Marathi- and Gujarati-speaking states, the SRC recommended a bilingual Bombay state covering vast linguistic diversity.
    • Similarly, it advised against dividing Punjab’s Punjabi- and Hindi-speaking areas.
  • During the 1956 debate on the State Reorganisation Bill, Nehru rejected the idea of “unilingualism” as the foundation of India’s federal structure. 
    • He argued that cooperation among different linguistic groups was essential for India’s survival and progress, urging unity in diversity rather than linguistic separatism.

Linguistic Reorganisation: A Story of Unity, Not Division

  • When India undertook the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines, several Western observers predicted it would lead to fragmentation and eventual collapse. 
  • Many thought this "profusion of tongues" would fuel secessionist impulses and create internal disunity. 
  • However, India’s experience defied these fears — linguistic states, rather than dividing the country, became tools for integration and administrative efficiency.

Pluralism That Prevented Secessionism

  • India’s decision to embrace linguistic pluralism “tamed and domesticated secessionist tendencies.” 
  • This approach stands in stark contrast to nations like Pakistan and Sri Lanka, where the imposition of a single official language sparked deep divisions and violent conflicts. 

ARC Recognised Linguistic Reorganisation as a Milestone

  • The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) in its 2008 report hailed the successful resolution of linguistic conflicts as a major post-independence achievement. 
  • It observed that linguistic states helped ensure administrative unity and effectiveness. 
  • Notably, the few major secessionist movements in India — in Nagaland, Punjab, and Kashmir — were based on issues of ethnicity, religion, or territory, not language. 
  • This demonstrates how linguistic federalism contributed to national cohesion instead of undermining it.

Source: IE

Linguistic Reorganisation of States FAQs

Q1: Why was the linguistic reorganisation of states implemented in India?

Ans: To address growing linguistic demands and ensure administrative coherence after Potti Sriramulu's death.

Q2: What was the outcome of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956?

Ans: It created 14 states and 6 UTs, mostly on linguistic lines, improving federal cohesion.

Q3: Was language the sole factor in state reorganisation?

Ans: No. National unity, economic viability, and administrative efficiency were also considered.

Q4: What did critics fear about linguistic states?

Ans: Critics feared secessionism and disintegration, but India’s experience disproved this.

Q5: What role did linguistic pluralism play in India’s unity?

Ans: It helped tame secessionist tendencies and ensured deeper democratic integration across regions.

SC Reserves Verdict on Age Cap for Surrogacy

August 1, 2025
Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021

Surrogacy in India Latest News

  • The Supreme Court of India has reserved its verdict on multiple petitions challenging the age restrictions imposed by the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 and Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, especially where the surrogacy process was initiated before the enactment of these laws.

Background - Legal Framework Governing Surrogacy in India

  • The Surrogacy and ART Regulation Acts (2021):
    • Objective: Ban commercial surrogacy and promote altruistic surrogacy only.
  • Key provisions: 
    • Age limit for intending couples -
      • Woman: 23–50 years
      • Man: 26–55 years
    • For single women: Only widows/divorcees aged 35–45 eligible.
    • Requirement of certificate of essentiality, including proof of infertility, parentage order, surrogate insurance.
  • Purpose of the law:
    • To prevent commodification of reproductive services.
    • Ensure surrogacy is used only when medically necessary.
    • Based on expert medical advice to safeguard child and mother’s health.

The Case Before the Supreme Court

  • Petitioners’ arguments:
    • Couples began fertility procedures before law came into force (Jan 2022).
    • The age bar retroactively disqualifies them mid-process. For example, a couple aged 62 and 56 lost their child in 2018; failed embryo transfer in 2022; disqualified due to a new age cap.
    • Violation of Article 14 (Right to Equality) – arbitrary classification.
    • Violation of Article 21 – infringement on reproductive autonomy and personal liberty.
    • No grandfather clause for transitional protection in law.
  • Broader issues raised:
    • Exclusion of unmarried single women from eligibility is arbitrary.
    • The law’s narrow definition of “single women” is under constitutional challenge, though not part of current petitions.

Supreme Court’s Observations and Government’s Stand

  • Government's defence:
    • Age limits based on natural reproductive timelines and medical safety.
    • Advanced parental age poses risks to child's health and parenting longevity.
    • Aligns with international best practices.
  • Court's counterpoints:
    • “Why bar surrogacy when natural geriatric pregnancies are allowed?” (Justice Nagarathna)
    • The court -
      • Questioned the rational nexus of age cap with the intent of the Act.
      • Emphasised lack of compassion in the law - “Stop, no children! Look how harsh it is.”
      • Stressed that the law aims to regulate commercial surrogacy, not to deny genuine parenthood.

Key Constitutional and Ethical Dimensions Involved in the Case

  • Article 14: Right to Equality — challenge to arbitrary age-based discrimination.
  • Article 21: Right to Life and Personal Liberty — includes reproductive rights.
  • State vs. individual autonomy: Balancing medical regulation and individual choice.
  • Judicial activism: SC’s proactive role in interpreting personal liberty and family rights.
  • Lack of grandfather clause: Raises concerns on legislative foresight and transitional justice.

Conclusion

  • The Supreme Court's forthcoming verdict will be crucial in determining how laws regulating assisted reproduction balance medical ethics, legislative intent, and individual reproductive rights. 
  • It may also set a precedent for future legal treatment of transitional scenarios and personal autonomy in health-related legislation.

Source: IE

Surrogacy in India FAQs

Q1: Do the age limits in the Surrogacy Act violate Articles 14 and 21?

Ans: Yes, they are alleged to be arbitrary and infringe on reproductive autonomy.

Q2: Why is the absence of a grandfather clause in the Surrogacy Act problematic?

Ans: It denies protection to couples who began treatment before the law came into effect.

Q3: What are the key features of the Surrogacy and ART Acts, 2021?

Ans: They ban commercial surrogacy, allow only altruistic surrogacy, and impose strict eligibility norms.

Q4: Does the Act unfairly exclude unmarried single women from surrogacy?

Ans: Yes, it limits eligibility to widows and divorcees, raising Article 14 concerns.

Q5: How is the judiciary balancing reproductive rights and statutory restrictions?

Ans: By questioning the rationality of age caps and defending individual liberty under Article 21.

Desertification in India, Causes, Impact, Preventive Measures

August 1, 2025
Desertification

Desertification is the gradual loss of vegetation in dryland areas (arid and semi-arid), like grasslands and shrublands. It doesn’t mean deserts are expanding; it means productive land is degrading to a state where it can no longer sustain its previous ecosystem. The main cause of Desertification is human actions which includes clearing forests, overusing groundwater, and mismanaging land to weaken soil health. Climate change increases the damage through more frequent and severe droughts, fires, and other extremes, speeding up the decline.

Desertification

Desertification refers to the process where once-productive land gradually loses its vegetation, wildlife, and fertility, eventually turning barren like a desert. This transformation can result from a mix of natural and human-driven factors such as prolonged drought, deforestation, over-farming, and the impacts of climate change. At its core, Desertification is a form of land degradation where ecosystems especially in arid and semi-arid regions are pushed beyond recovery, often due to poor land use practices and rising environmental stress.

Desertification Causes

Desertification happens when once-productive land slowly loses its ability to support life and turns barren. It’s not just about deserts expanding, it’s about healthy land breaking down, often due to a mix of human activity and shifts in climate. Below mentioned are the actual Desertification Causes:

  • Climate Change: Extended droughts, shifting rainfall patterns, and rising temperatures dry out the soil and reduce water availability, pushing fertile land toward desert conditions.
  • Deforestation: Cutting down trees without restoring them strips the land of its protective cover. That leads to soil erosion, loss of nutrients, and reduced local rainfall, all of which speed up Desertification.
  • Overgrazing: When too many animals feed on limited land, the vegetation doesn’t get time to recover. This weakens the soil and makes it more vulnerable to erosion.
  • Bad Farming Habits: Practices like growing the same crop year after year or using poor irrigation methods drain nutrients from the soil, leaving it degraded and unfit for crops.
  • Urban Sprawl & Development: Expanding cities, roads, and infrastructure often wipe out natural ecosystems and green cover, exposing the land to degradation.
  • Soil Erosion: Wind and water naturally wear down soil, but without vegetation or sustainable land use, this erosion happens faster, especially the top layer that's key for growing anything.
  • Water Misuse: Drawing too much groundwater or poorly managing irrigation systems can lower the water table and dry up surrounding land.
  • Salinization: Over-irrigation or improper drainage can cause salt to build up in the soil, making it toxic for plants and gradually destroying the land’s productivity.
  • Mining & Industry: These activities often strip the land bare and pollute soil and water sources, leaving the land too damaged for natural recovery.

Desertification Impact

Desertification Impacts more than just the dry soil, it decreases the fertility of the soil. Below mentioned are some of the major known impacts:

  • Loss of Productive Land and Food Insecurity: As productive land turns barren, farming becomes harder, harvests shrink, and food prices increase. This directly hits rural livelihoods and can trigger food shortages, especially in areas already vulnerable to hunger.
  • Social Disruption: When land no longer supports life, people are forced to move. Desertification increases rural-urban migration, displaces communities, and can escalate social tensions over dwindling resources like water and arable land.
  • Political Consequences: Resource scarcity often leads to unrest. In areas where land degradation is severe, conflicts over water, grazing rights, or fertile plots become more common. 
  • Climate Change Feedback Loop: Healthy land absorbs carbon dioxide. But when it degrades, that ability vanishes. Worse, degraded land releases stored carbon back into the atmosphere, speeding up global warming.
  • Water Scarcity: Desertification affects both surface water and underground aquifers. As vegetation disappears and the soil loses structure, rainwater runs off instead of seeping in. Rivers dry up, water tables drop, and clean water becomes harder to find.
  • Ecological Collapse: Biodiversity takes a major hit. Plants die out, animal habitats vanish, and entire ecosystems unravel. This loss of flora and fauna disrupts the natural balance, often permanently.
  • Health Hazards: With less food and clean water, malnutrition becomes more widespread. Dust from degraded land worsens air quality, increasing respiratory problems. Contaminated water and poor sanitation raise the risk of disease outbreaks.

Measures to Prevent Desertification 

Tackling Desertification isn’t just about saving the land, it’s about protecting livelihoods, biodiversity, and future food security. The key is using land wisely and making choices that restore, not exhaust, the earth. That means planting more trees, conserving soil, managing water better, and bringing communities into the process. Below are some Measures to Prevent Desertification:

  • Manage land and water together so soil doesn’t erode, turn salty, or lose its fertility.
  • Preserving plant cover, grasses, trees, shrubs all of it helps hold soil in place and shields it from harsh winds and rains.
  • Mix farming with grazing in areas that support both. This lets nutrients circulate naturally and reduces the pressure on any one patch of land.
  • Blend old and new methods, combine time-tested local techniques with modern tools that suit the region.
  • Put local communities in charge, give them the tools and authority to manage drylands sustainably.
  • Create jobs in nearby towns and urban areas so people aren’t forced to overuse fragile lands just to survive.
  • Explore new livelihoods that don’t rely heavily on farming, like handicrafts, solar energy, or tourism to reduce pressure on soil-based economies.

Desertification In India

India has a wide range of ecosystems from dry sub-humid zones to arid and semi-arid regions. Together, these cover nearly 69% of the country’s total land area. Naturally, this makes India highly vulnerable to Desertification. 

Based on data from ISRO’s Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas, around 97.85 million hectares close to 29.3% of India’s total geographical area is currently facing land degradation or Desertification.

The states hit the hardest include Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. In many of these areas, rapid population growth, poor land-use practices, deforestation, and relentless farming without breaks are turning once-productive landscapes into barren stretches.

Desertification FAQs

Q1: What is desertification?

Ans: Desertification is the process of land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas due to climatic changes and unsustainable human activities.

Q2: What causes desertification?

Ans: Major causes include deforestation, overgrazing, over-cultivation, water scarcity, and climate change, which strip soil of nutrients and reduce its productivity.

Q3: How does desertification affect the environment?

Ans: It leads to loss of arable land, biodiversity decline, dust storms, reduced water quality, and disruption of local ecosystems.

Q4: What are the economic impacts of desertification?

Ans: Desertification reduces agricultural productivity, increases poverty, and forces migration due to the loss of livelihoods in affected areas.

Q5: Which regions in India are prone to desertification?

Ans: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana show high vulnerability to desertification.

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