UPSC Mains Current Affairs for 20 May 2026

Maritime Chokepoints in the Indian Ocean – Explained

May 20, 2026

Maritime Chokepoints Latest News

Escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia have renewed attention on critical maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Malacca Strait.

Strategic Maritime Chokepoints in the Indian Ocean

Maritime chokepoints are narrow sea routes through which a substantial volume of global trade and energy supplies pass.
Any disruption in these routes can significantly affect global shipping, oil prices, supply chains, and energy security.
The Indian Ocean region hosts some of the world’s most important chokepoints, particularly for oil and container trade.

Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
It is one of the most critical energy chokepoints in the world because:
- Around 20-25% of the global oil trade passes through it.
- Major Gulf oil exporters such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, and Qatar depend on this route.
- India, China, Japan, and European countries rely heavily on oil shipments passing through the strait.
Any blockade or military disruption in the Strait of Hormuz can trigger sharp increases in global crude oil prices and disrupt international trade.

Bab-el-Mandeb Strait

The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait lies between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti/Eritrea in Africa. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, ultimately linking maritime traffic to the Suez Canal.
Its importance lies in the fact that:
- It serves as a key route for Europe-Asia trade.
- Nearly 10% of the global seaborne oil trade passes through this route.
- It is essential for container shipping between Asia and Europe.
Recent attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea region have increased security concerns and disrupted shipping routes, forcing vessels to take longer alternate routes.

Malacca Strait

The Malacca Strait, located between Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, connects the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.
It is one of the busiest shipping routes globally because:
- Nearly one-fourth of global trade passes through it.
- Around 80% of China’s oil imports transit through this route.
- It is vital for energy imports of India, China, Japan, and South Korea.
Due to its strategic significance, the Malacca Strait is often viewed as a potential geopolitical vulnerability, especially in the context of Indo-Pacific competition.

News Summary

While global attention remains focused on the Strait of Hormuz, two additional chokepoints in the Indian Ocean, Bab-el-Mandeb and the Malacca Strait, are equally critical for global commerce and energy movement.
Concerns Over Strait of Hormuz
- Amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel/US, concerns have emerged regarding possible disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Strait handles nearly one-fifth of global oil supply, making it indispensable for global energy markets. Even temporary disruptions can raise freight costs, fuel inflation, and affect energy-importing countries like India.

Red Sea Crisis and Bab-el-Mandeb Risks

Shipping through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait has already faced disruptions due to attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea region. As a result:
- Several shipping companies diverted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.
- Shipping time increased significantly.
- Freight and insurance costs rose sharply.
This demonstrates how instability in one chokepoint can disrupt global supply chains.

Limited Alternatives to Chokepoints

Experts underline that there are few practical alternatives to these narrow maritime passages. For example:
- Ships bypassing Bab-el-Mandeb through the Cape of Good Hope face higher transport costs and delays.
- Alternative pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz have limited capacity.
Thus, uninterrupted functioning of these chokepoints remains essential for global economic stability.

Source: TH

Maritime Chokepoints FAQs

Q1: What are maritime chokepoints?

Ans: They are narrow sea routes through which a large volume of global trade and energy passes.

Q2: Why is the Strait of Hormuz important?

Ans: It carries nearly 20–25% of global oil trade.

Q3: Why is the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait strategically significant?

Ans: It connects the Red Sea to global shipping routes through the Suez Canal.

Q4: Why is the Malacca Strait important for Asia?

Ans: It is a major trade and energy route for India, China, Japan, and South Korea.

Q5: What happens if these chokepoints are disrupted?

Ans: Global trade slows, shipping costs rise, and oil prices may increase sharply.

SC Pulls Up States Over Stray Dog Menace and Public Safety Concerns

May 20, 2026

Stray Dog Menace Latest News

The Supreme Court has dismissed all challenges related to stray dog management and strongly criticised states for remaining passive while citizens face increasing dog attack risks in public spaces.
The Court observed that India’s stray dog crisis has reached alarming levels due to poor implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) framework, introduced in 2001. It noted a serious lack of infrastructure, irregular sterilisation and vaccination drives, and weak institutional mechanisms.
Linking the issue to Article 21, the Court held that the right to life includes the right to move freely in public spaces without fear of attack, stressing that children and elderly citizens cannot be left vulnerable.
It also warned authorities that failure to follow court directions and Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) guidelines could invite contempt proceedings and disciplinary action.

What Triggered the Supreme Court’s Intervention

The Supreme Court took up the stray dog issue suo motu in July 2025 after reports of a 6-year-old girl in New Delhi dying from a dog bite and suspected rabies infection.
The Court described the rise in dog attacks and rabies-related deaths as a serious public safety concern.

Initial Directions by the Court

The case was first heard by a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, which in August 2025 directed civic authorities in Delhi-NCR to:
- Remove stray dogs from public spaces
- Shift them to shelters
- Avoid releasing them back onto the streets
The Court emphasised that citizens should be able to move freely without fear of dog attacks.
The order triggered protests from animal welfare organisations and dog feeders, who argued that the directions violated the ABC Rules, 2023. Under these rules:
- Stray dogs must be sterilised and vaccinated
- They should then be released back into the same area from where they were picked up
Following petitions seeking recall of the order, the matter was referred to a three-judge bench led by Justice Vikram Nath.

Modified Position of the Court

The Supreme Court later softened its earlier stance and:
- Restored the existing sterilisation-and-release policy under the ABC Rules
- Allowed authorities to keep rabid or aggressive dogs in shelters
- Prohibited feeding stray dogs in public places outside designated feeding zones

Key Arguments in Previous Supreme Court Hearings

Resident welfare groups and families of dog bite victims argued that authorities had failed to control the rising stray dog menace.
Animal welfare organisations opposed large-scale removal of stray dogs, arguing that such a strategy would be ineffective and unsustainable.

Expansion of the Court’s Review and Interim Direction

Over time, the hearings expanded beyond immediate dog attack incidents into a broader review of how states and municipal bodies were implementing sterilisation, vaccination, and shelter management policies.
In November 2025, the Supreme Court issued an interim order directing:
- States and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to remove stray animals from highways
- Removal of stray animals from schools, hospitals, and other institutional premises
- Fencing of such sensitive premises to improve public safety

Supreme Court’s Directions on Stray Dog Management

The Supreme Court directed every district in India to establish at least one fully functional ABC centre.
States and Union Territories have been asked to further expand this infrastructure based on population density and local needs.
The Court ordered authorities to:
- Ensure adequate availability of anti-rabies medicines
- Strengthen veterinary services
- Improve vaccination infrastructure for effective stray animal management
The Court directed the NHAI and state governments to develop a coordinated mechanism for handling stray animals on highways and expressways.
This should include: Transport vehicles for animal relocation; Shelter facilities; Coordination with animal welfare organisations.

Action Against Dangerous Animals

The Court clarified that authorities may take legally permitted action, including euthanasia, in cases involving:
- Rabid dogs
- Incurably ill animals
- Demonstrably dangerous or aggressive dogs posing a threat to human life
Such measures must strictly comply with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the ABC Rules.
To ensure implementation, the Supreme Court directed all High Courts to initiate suo motu continuing proceedings for regular monitoring of compliance with these directions.

What the ABC Rules Provide

The Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, identify sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination as the primary methods for controlling stray dog populations.
The Rules require that stray dogs, after sterilisation and vaccination, be released back into the same area from where they were picked up, based on the understanding that stray dogs are territorial animals.
The ABC Rules prohibit: Indiscriminate killing of stray dogs; Arbitrary relocation of stray dogs.
Euthanasia is permitted only in specific cases involving: Rabid dogs; Terminally ill animals; Fatally injured animals.

Constitutional Dimensions of the Debate

Animal Welfare Perspective - Animal welfare groups relied on Article 51A(g) of the Constitution, which places a fundamental duty on citizens to show compassion towards living creatures.
Public Safety Perspective - Unchecked stray dog populations violate citizens’ rights under: Article 19 (Right to move freely) and Article 21 (Right to life and personal safety).

Source: IE | IE

Stray Dog Menace FAQ

Q1: Why did the Supreme Court intervene in the stray dog issue?

Ans: The Supreme Court acted after rising dog attacks and rabies deaths, holding that public safety and citizens’ right to move freely cannot be compromised.

Q2: What do the ABC Rules, 2023 provide for stray dog management?

Ans: The rules emphasise sterilisation, anti-rabies vaccination, and release of dogs into the same locality, allowing euthanasia only in limited exceptional circumstances.

Q3: What directions did the Supreme Court issue to states?

Ans: The Court ordered every district to establish ABC centres, strengthen veterinary infrastructure, ensure anti-rabies medicine availability, and improve stray animal management on highways.

Q4: What constitutional issues were involved in this case?

Ans: The case balanced Article 21 public safety rights with Article 51A(g), which imposes a duty on citizens to show compassion towards living creatures.

Q5: Why did animal welfare groups oppose mass removal of stray dogs?

Ans: They argued stray dogs are territorial; removing sterilised dogs creates vacant spaces for unsterilised dogs, potentially worsening the stray dog population problem.

Empowering Local Governments for Growth and Innovation in India

May 20, 2026

Empowering Local Governments Latest News

India’s local bodies continue to suffer from poor performance and limited effectiveness. Quoting Jawaharlal Nehru’s 1925 criticism of municipal governance, analysts suggest that little has changed over time.
They highlight that the third tier of government—rural and urban local bodies—remains largely ignored in debates on Indian federalism, which focus mainly on the Centre and states.
They describe local governments as the “stepchild” of Indian federalism, with state governments acting as controlling intermediaries that restrict their autonomy and functioning.

Dependence of Local Governments on States

Weak Administrative Capacity - India’s urban local bodies (ULBs) suffer from severe neglect in terms of manpower and institutional capacity.
Low Share of Government Employees - In countries such as the United States and China, nearly two-thirds of government employees work under local governments, enabling them to deliver most public services directly.
- In contrast, in India, just over 10% of government employees work for local governments, significantly weakening their service delivery capacity.
Poor Financial Autonomy - Financial independence is essential for effective governance, but India’s urban local bodies remain heavily constrained.

Stagnant Revenue Generation

While the Centre and states have significantly increased their self-generated revenues over the past six decades:
- Centre: around 2 times increase
- States: around 2.5 times increase
The urban third tier’s own tax revenue has stagnated at just 0.3% of GDP.
Due to weak revenue generation, expenditure by local governments remains extremely low.
- ULB expenditure is less than 1% of GDP
- State governments spend roughly 15 times more
- The Centre spends nearly 20 times more

Dependence on State Governments

Because local bodies generate very little of their own revenue, even their limited spending depends heavily on external transfers, primarily from state governments.
This dependence undermines their autonomy, decision-making power, and governance effectiveness.

Missed Opportunity Despite Constitutional Status

This continued weakness is particularly striking given:
- Rapid urbanisation in India
- The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1993), which granted constitutional status to local governments with the aim of strengthening decentralised governance.

Land Monetisation and the Weakness of Local Governments

The weaknesses of India’s local governments are linked to a deeper structural issue: the inability to effectively monetise land, despite rapid economic growth increasing land and property values.
In land-scarce economies, rising land values can become a major source of public revenue.

India vs China: A Sharp Contrast

China successfully converted rising land values into public revenue, largely through land sales and taxation.
- Land revenue rose from less than 1% of GDP to over 10% at its peak
- Per urban resident, China’s land revenue was:
- 15 times higher than India’s in 1999
- 225 times higher at its 2020 peak
This significantly expanded China’s fiscal capacity for urban development.
India’s land-related revenues remained stagnant at around 1% of GDP, despite similar economic growth and rising urban land values.

Reasons for India’s Failure

Legacy of Socialist Policies - Socialist-era laws such as the Urban Land Ceiling Act, 1976 fragmented land ownership without meaningfully enabling public land acquisition or monetisation.
Failure to Monetise Public Land - Large tracts of land held by: Public sector enterprises; Ports; Defence establishments; State-managed temples. It remained vacant, encroached upon, or underutilised, without being monetised.
Distorted Land Markets and Black Money - Restrictive land use regulations, building by-laws, and flawed policies created severe distortions in land and rental markets. This contributed to - Rent-seeking; Informal transactions; Massive generation of black money, especially in the real estate sector.

Low-Equilibrium Trap for Urban Local Bodies

Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are stuck in a weak political economy cycle:
- Higher tiers (Centre and states) control fiscal devolution
- Local bodies lack independent revenue sources
- They are reluctant or unable to tax local citizens
- This creates chronic resource shortages and dependency

Administrative Dependence on States

The problem is worsened by weak institutional autonomy.
City governments often lack authority over:
- Appointment of municipal commissioners
- Senior administrative staff
- Promotions, transfers, and disciplinary control
Even when functions are formally transferred to local bodies, the personnel remain accountable to state governments, severely limiting local autonomy and governance effectiveness.

The Way Forward for Empowering Local Governments

Beyond competitive federalism between Centre and states, competition among cities and local governments (competitive sub-federalism) could become a major driver of reform, efficiency, and innovation.
Growing urban populations may strengthen local governance politically.
The upcoming Census and intra-state delimitation could increase the electoral weight of urban voters, creating stronger incentives for better urban governance.

Conclusion

Debates on Indian federalism must move beyond Centre-state relations to include the third tier of governance.
Empowering cities with greater autonomy, accountability, and resources is essential for India’s future growth, innovation, and livability—as reflected in chronic urban crises such as Delhi’s pollution and Bengaluru’s congestion.

Source: IE | PIB

Empowering Local Governments FAQs

Q1: Why are local governments considered weak in India?

Ans: India’s local governments suffer from weak finances, limited manpower, poor administrative autonomy, and excessive dependence on state governments for decision-making and service delivery.

Q2: How do Indian urban local bodies compare globally?

Ans: Unlike countries such as China and the US, where local governments deliver most services, Indian urban local bodies have limited staff, powers, and revenue capacity.

Q3: Why is land monetisation important for urban local bodies?

Ans: Land monetisation can generate significant public revenue for urban development, but India has failed to capture rising land values due to policy distortions and weak governance.

Q4: What is competitive sub-federalism?

Ans: Competitive sub-federalism refers to competition among cities and local governments to attract investment, improve governance, and drive innovation, similar to successful Chinese urban growth models.

Q5: Why should federalism debates include local governments?

Ans: Since cities are engines of growth and innovation, excluding local governments from federalism debates weakens governance, slows urban development, and limits India’s economic potential.