UPSC Mains Current Affairs for 21 May 2026

Warm Nights: India’s Hidden Summer Health Threat Explained

May 21, 2026

Warm Nights Latest News

Warmer nights may pose a greater health risk than daytime heatwaves during Indian summers, especially for people living in low- and middle-income housing.
While daytime heat receives most attention, nighttime temperatures in India are rising even faster, increasing the danger of prolonged heat exposure.
Normally, cooler nights allow the human body to recover from daytime heat, but persistently high night temperatures prevent this recovery, leading to continuous physiological stress.
The risk is particularly severe in poorly ventilated homes without air-conditioning, where people remain trapped in hot indoor conditions for hours.
A recent Climate Trends study in Chennai found many households experiencing indoor nighttime temperatures above 32°C, sometimes even crossing 35°C, comparable to peak daytime heat.
Though research in India is limited, global studies suggest that warmer nights could significantly increase heat-related deaths, making indoor heat exposure an emerging public health concern.

Rising Night-Time Temperatures: An Emerging Heat Risk

India’s average temperature increased by about 0.7°C between 1901 and 2018, according to the 2020 climate assessment for the Indian region.
While both daytime and nighttime temperatures have risen, their rates differ.
By the end of the century:
- Warmest day temperatures may rise by 4.7°C
- Coldest night temperatures may rise by 5.5°C
This indicates that nighttime temperatures are likely to rise faster than daytime temperatures, a trend already visible in recent IMD data.

Urban Heat Island Effect

The rise in nighttime temperatures is particularly severe in cities due to the urban heat island effect.
Causes - Urban materials such as: Concrete; Roads; Bricks; Metal structures, absorb heat during the day and release it at night.
This effect is intensified by: Lack of vegetation and green spaces; Loss of water bodies; Dense clusters of high-rise buildings; Growing use of air-conditioners that release hot air outdoors.
As a result, nighttime temperatures in dense urban areas can be 4–6°C higher than in city outskirts.

Impact on Urban Residents

The problem is especially acute in urban India, where many people live in: Small houses; Poorly designed structures; Homes with inadequate ventilation.
This leaves residents with little nighttime relief from heat.
Persistently warm nights can lead to: Sleep discomfort; Restlessness; Physical exhaustion; Reduced energy levels; Lower productivity the following day.
Experts warn that the full scale of health impacts is still being studied, but the risks are likely to be significant.

Heat Beyond Heatwaves: The Hidden Danger of Warm Nights

Evidence suggests that high night-time temperatures may significantly increase mortality.
Public health experts highlighted that when daytime temperatures exceeded 45°C but night temperatures stayed below 28°C, daily deaths remained close to the normal average of 100.
However, when nighttime temperatures rose to 28–30°C, daily deaths increased to around 165, and when they crossed 30°C, mortality surged to nearly 265 deaths per day.
This indicates a strong correlation between warmer nights and increased health risks.

Limitations of Current Heat Action Plans

India has heat action plans in at least 23 states and over 200 cities, but these largely focus on managing heatwave events, which occur only when specific temperature thresholds are met and may happen only a few times a month.
However, extreme summer heat and rising night-time temperatures are a persistent reality, suggesting that existing responses may be too narrowly focused on episodic heatwaves rather than continuous heat exposure.

Need for Long-Term Structural Measures

Experts stress the need to strengthen the long-term components of heat action plans, including:
- Improved urban infrastructure
- Better low-cost, heat-resilient housing
- Expansion of green spaces
- Better urban planning to reduce heat stress

Immediate Relief Measures

For vulnerable households, especially those in cramped living conditions, simple low-cost solutions can offer quick relief.
The Climate Trends Chennai study suggests measures such as:
- Reflective roof coatings
- Whitewashed roofs and walls
- Improved natural ventilation
These passive cooling interventions can help reduce indoor heat exposure and lessen health risks from increasingly warmer nights.

Source: IE

Warm Nights FAQs

Q1: Why are warm nights considered a major health threat?

Ans: Warm nights prevent the human body from recovering from daytime heat, causing prolonged thermal stress, sleep disruption, exhaustion, and potentially increasing heat-related mortality.

Q2: Why are urban areas more vulnerable to warmer nights?

Ans: Urban areas experience the heat island effect, where concrete structures trap daytime heat and release it at night, keeping temperatures significantly higher than surrounding areas.

Q3: What evidence links warm nights to mortality?

Ans: Ahmedabad data showed that when nighttime temperatures rose above 30°C, daily all-cause mortality increased sharply, indicating a strong connection between warmer nights and health risks.

Q4: Why are current heat action plans inadequate?

Ans: Most heat action plans focus mainly on heatwaves, whereas rising nighttime temperatures and continuous heat exposure pose a persistent and often overlooked public health challenge.

Q5: What measures can reduce indoor heat stress?

Ans: Low-cost solutions like reflective roof coatings, whitewashed walls, better ventilation, greener urban spaces, and heat-resilient housing can significantly reduce indoor heat exposure.

How States Are Tackling Peak Summer Power Demand in India

May 21, 2026

Peak Summer Power Demand Latest News

India’s summer electricity demand has surged earlier than expected, with peak power demand reaching a record 256.1 GW on April 25, followed by even higher peaks on May 19 and 20.
Nearly one-third of this peak demand was met through renewable energy sources, helping the national grid remain stable during daylight hours.
However, during non-solar hours, when renewable generation declined, the grid faced a 2% power deficit (4,243 MW), highlighting the growing challenge of meeting rising evening and night-time electricity demand.

Understanding Peak Power Demand

Peak demand refers to the highest level of electricity consumption on a power grid during a specific period, usually measured over a 15-minute interval.
Although it represents a single point in time, peak demand generally occurs during a 2–4 hour period of unusually high electricity use.

Why Peak Demand Matters

The power grid must be able to instantly meet peak electricity demand, even if it lasts only for a short duration.
This means the entire electricity infrastructure—generation, transmission, and distribution systems—must be designed with peak demand in mind.
Managing peak demand is difficult because:
- Building enough infrastructure to meet the highest demand at all times can be: Expensive; Inefficient. Much of the capacity would remain underutilised during normal or off-peak hours.
- If adequate capacity is unavailable during peak periods, it can lead to: Load shedding; Power shortages.
Thus, balancing reliability and economic efficiency remains a key challenge for the power sector.

How States Manage Power Demand

States manage electricity demand through contractual supply and power exchange purchases.
The primary mechanism is long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) signed by State distribution companies (DISCOMs) with power generators, ensuring a stable electricity supply over several years.
When contractual supply falls short due to sudden spikes in demand, power plant outages, or transmission failures, DISCOMs turn to the second mechanism—purchasing electricity from power exchanges.
These short-term market purchases help address real-time supply-demand mismatches.
- Currently, about 10–15% of electricity in India is traded through power exchanges.

Demand-Side Management During Peak Hours

Some states are using more advanced tools. Delhi, for example, has increasingly adopted time-of-day tariffs, where electricity prices vary according to the time of use, encouraging consumers to shift usage away from peak periods.
The use of smart meters is also helping flatten evening demand peaks, particularly those caused by heavy cooling loads during summer.

Challenges Faced by States Amid Rising Power Demand

India’s electricity demand has risen sharply. Over the last five years, the country’s peak demand has increased by 37%, rising from 183 GW in December 2020 to over 250 GW in April 2026, making it increasingly difficult for states to meet demand reliably.
State DISCOMs largely depend on long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with fixed capacity and pricing.
However, when demand exceeds contracted supply, they must purchase electricity from short-term power exchanges, where prices rise sharply during peak period, increasing the financial burden on states.

Weak Distribution Infrastructure

While India has significantly expanded generation and transmission capacity, distribution infrastructure has not kept pace.
Over the last decade:
- Generation capacity increased by 76% (303 GW to 532 GW)
- Transmission network expanded by 47%
- Transformation capacity increased by 115%
However, distribution systems remain under severe stress, affecting last-mile electricity delivery.

Frequent Equipment Failures

The distribution network faces major operational challenges:
- Nearly 13 lakh distribution transformers fail annually
- Several northern states experience failure rates as high as 20%
Key reasons include:
- Overloaded transformers and feeders
- Ageing equipment
- Poor maintenance
- Infrastructure operating near capacity limits
This often leads to local outages during peak demand periods.

Financial Constraints of States

The problem is particularly severe for financially weak states, which struggle to:
- Buy expensive short-term electricity
- Upgrade ageing distribution infrastructure
States such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar continue to face high distribution losses, overloaded transformers, and outdated infrastructure, making them especially vulnerable during demand surges.

Role of Renewable Energy in Managing Power Demand

Renewable energy (RE) has become crucial in meeting rising summer electricity demand, especially because solar and wind power have low operating costs, reducing DISCOMs’ power purchase burden.
States like Gujarat and Karnataka effectively meet daytime peak demand through solar power, while Tamil Nadu benefits from strong wind generation during monsoon months.
RE’s variable nature limits round-the-clock reliability:
- Solar generation drops after sunset, just when evening demand rises
- Wind power is seasonal and weather-dependent
States with low RE capacity, such as Punjab, rely more on hydro imports and costly market purchases.

The Way Forward

To manage rising peak demand efficiently, states need:
- Energy storage systems such as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS)
- Smarter transmission and distribution networks
- Energy efficiency measures
- Demand-side tools like time-of-day tariffs and agricultural load scheduling
India’s power challenge is shifting from merely generating more electricity to managing supply efficiently across time and regions, requiring major investments in storage and grid flexibility.

Source: TH | ToI

Peak Summer Power Demand FAQs

Q1: What is peak summer power demand?

Ans: Peak summer power demand refers to the highest electricity consumption during hot months, driven mainly by cooling loads such as air conditioners, coolers, and agricultural demand.

Q2: How do states manage sudden electricity demand spikes?

Ans: States rely on long-term power purchase agreements, short-term market purchases through power exchanges, and demand-side measures like advisories, smart meters, and time-of-day tariffs.

Q3: What challenges do states face in meeting rising power demand?

Ans: States face expensive short-term electricity purchases, weak distribution infrastructure, transformer failures, overloaded feeders, and financial stress, especially in high-loss states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Q4: How does renewable energy help manage electricity demand?

Ans: Renewable energy helps meet daytime demand at lower costs, especially through solar and wind power, but its intermittent nature creates challenges during evening peak hours.

Q5: Why are energy storage systems important for India’s power sector?

Ans: Battery storage and pumped hydro systems help store renewable power and supply electricity during peak hours, improving grid reliability and reducing dependence on costly short-term purchases.

Judicial Oral Remarks and Institutional Limits of Courts in India

May 21, 2026

Judicial Oral Remarks Latest News

Recent remarks by the Chief Justice of India from the Bench have reignited debate on the limits of judicial oral observations and the standards of judicial conduct.

Judicial Oral Remarks and Institutional Limits of Courts

Courts frequently make oral observations during hearings to test arguments, clarify legal positions, and engage lawyers in meaningful debate.
However, when such remarks become controversial or appear excessive, questions arise about the institutional limits of judicial speech and the distinction between a judge’s oral comments and a court’s final judgment.
The recent controversy over remarks made by the Chief Justice of India has revived an important constitutional question: How far can judges go in their oral observations from the Bench?

About Judicial Oral Remarks

Judicial oral remarks are comments, questions, or observations made by judges during court proceedings. These remarks help judges:
- Test the strength of legal arguments.
- Clarify facts and legal principles.
- Examine possible implications of a legal position.
- Understand competing viewpoints before delivering a judgment.
Importantly, oral observations are not legally binding. The official position of a court is reflected only in its written judgments and formal orders.
This distinction was strongly emphasised by the Supreme Court in the Chief Election Commissioner vs M.R. Vijayabhaskar (2021) case.

The Vijayabhaskar Judgment and Judicial Standards

The issue gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, when the Madras High Court criticised the Election Commission for permitting political rallies during elections and orally remarked that officials should perhaps face “murder charges”.
The Election Commission approached the Supreme Court seeking restrictions on media reporting of such oral remarks.
However, the Supreme Court rejected this demand and upheld the importance of courtroom openness.
At the same time, the Court clarified an important principle:
- The formal opinion of a judicial institution is expressed through judgments and orders, not oral observations made during hearings.
- The judgment also warned judges against using “scathing” or “inappropriate” language directed at individuals or institutions.
Thus, the Supreme Court recognised two dimensions of oral remarks:
- The bench question that tests arguments.
- The remark that wounds or unnecessarily harms.

The Role of Bench Questions

Judges often ask difficult or provocative questions to evaluate legal arguments. These questions may not necessarily reflect the final opinion of the court.
For example, during hearings on same-sex marriage in Supriyo vs Union of India (2023), oral observations of the Bench suggested openness to broader recognition of gender identity. However, the final judgment adopted a different legal position.
This demonstrates that courtroom questioning is often a method of legal testing rather than judicial endorsement.
In constitutional democracies, judges are expected to challenge lawyers rigorously before arriving at a considered conclusion.

Institutional Limits on Judicial Speech

While judges enjoy freedom to ask searching questions, judicial conduct is constrained by constitutional morality, institutional discipline, and public trust.
India’s Restatement of Values of Judicial Life (1997), adopted by the Supreme Court, provides ethical guidance for judges.
It cautions judges against entering public controversies or expressing opinions in ways that may compromise judicial neutrality.
Similarly, legal scholar and judge Benjamin Cardozo argued that judicial discretion must be guided by tradition, legal reasoning, and institutional order rather than impulsive emotion.
The concern becomes serious when judges use language that may appear:
- Dehumanising or offensive.
- Politically charged.
- Excessively personal or emotional.
- Capable of undermining institutional dignity.
Because courts derive legitimacy from public confidence, judicial speech must remain measured and restrained.

The Recent Controversy and Institutional Concerns

The recent controversy arose when the Chief Justice reportedly referred to some individuals using strong expressions while hearing matters related to senior advocate designations. A later clarification attempted to limit the scope of the criticism.
- Hearing applications relating to the designation of senior advocates, the Chief Justice remarked that “there are youngsters like cockroaches” and that some advocates were “parasites of society.”
- The clarification confined the criticism to fake-degree-holding designees.
However, the episode revived concerns over whether controversial oral remarks, particularly when amplified instantly through media and social platforms, can weaken institutional credibility.
Unlike earlier decades, oral observations today spread rapidly into the public sphere even before formal judgments are delivered. This creates a tension between:
- The need for free and spontaneous courtroom discussion.
- The obligation to maintain judicial restraint and institutional dignity.
Many legal experts argue that clarifications alone may not fully address concerns if the original remarks appear inconsistent with established judicial standards.

Source: TH

Judicial Oral Remarks FAQs

Q1: Are judicial oral remarks legally binding?

Ans: No. Only written judgments and formal court orders are legally binding.

Q2: What did the Vijayabhaskar judgment clarify?

Ans: It held that courts speak officially through judgments, not oral observations during hearings.

Q3: What is the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life (1997)?

Ans: It is an ethical framework adopted by the Supreme Court to guide judicial conduct.

Q4: Why are judicial oral remarks controversial?

Ans: They can influence public perception and sometimes appear harsh or prejudicial.

Q5: Why are institutional limits important for judges?

Ans: They preserve judicial neutrality, public trust, and institutional credibility.

India-Italy Relations Enter a New Phase – From Strategic Partnership to Special Strategic Partnership

May 21, 2026

India-Itlay Relations Latest News

During the Indian PM’s visit to Italy, India and Italy elevated bilateral ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership”, signalling a qualitative transformation in relations.
The Italian PM (Giorgia Meloni) and the Indian PM agreed on a broad-based cooperation agenda spanning trade, defence, technology, connectivity, energy security and geopolitics.
The visit concluded the Indian PM’s wider Europe tour, which started with UAE, and included visits to Norway, Sweden and Netherlands.

Elevation to “Special Strategic Partnership”

The upgradation of ties reflects growing convergence between India and Italy on global governance, economic resilience and strategic autonomy.
The partnership is anchored in the Joint Strategic Plan of Action 2025–29, which provides an operational roadmap for deeper engagement.
Italy increasingly views India not merely as a large market but as a major geopolitical and economic power essential for Europe’s future engagement with the Indo-Pacific and Global South.
Both leaders highlighted shared commitments towards international stability, rule-based order, economic security, resilient supply chains, peaceful conflict resolution, and inclusive development.

Expanding Economic and Trade Partnership

India and Italy set an ambitious target to raise bilateral trade from €14 billion to €20 billion by 2029.
Both sides also underlined the importance of the proposed India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in accelerating trade and investment flows.
Key areas of economic cooperation: Advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, green energy, agribusiness, tourism and culture, maritime logistics, space economy, AI and quantum technology.
The Indian PM described the partnership as a blend of Italy’s design and precision with India’s scale, talent and affordable innovation, summarised in the principle: “Design and Develop in India and Italy, Deliver for the World.”
Italy’s industrial expertise and India’s digital infrastructure were identified as complementary strengths capable of generating high-quality industrial collaboration and employment.

Defence and Strategic Cooperation

A major outcome was the agreement on a Defence Industrial Roadmap, opening avenues for co-development, co-production, technology transfer, and industrial partnerships.
Priority defence sectors:
- Helicopters (renewed momentum after cooperation between India’s Adani Defence and Italy’s Leonardo S.p.A),
- Naval platforms,
- Marine armaments,
- Electronic warfare systems, and
- MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facilities.
The roadmap assumes significance because defence ties had slowed after the AgustaWestland corruption controversy.
Both countries also agreed to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure and supply chains, reflecting emerging concerns over strategic vulnerabilities.

IMEEC and Maritime Connectivity

Italy reiterated strong support for the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), where it sees itself as Europe’s western anchor.
IMEEC aims to enhance trade connectivity, supply chain resilience, energy security, and maritime integration.
The two countries agreed to hold the first IMEEC ministerial meeting in 2026.

Other Areas of Cooperation

Maritime cooperation: As two important maritime powers located in the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific, both countries recognised the strategic necessity of strengthening inter-regional connectivity through -
- Maritime transport,
- Port modernisation,
- Logistics, and
- Blue economy cooperation
Critical minerals, technology and innovation:
- An India–Italy Innovation Centre is proposed to connect industries, research institutions and start-ups.
- Emerging technology sectors (like space cooperation, civil nuclear energy) identified for collaboration to align with India’s goals of technological self-reliance and supply-chain diversification.
Mobility, education and social cooperation:
- Agreements include mobility of Indian nurses to Italy, roadmap on higher education and research, cooperation in agriculture, export of Indian seafood, etc.
- The two sides also discussed a future Social Security Agreement, which would benefit Indian professionals working in Italy.
Convergence on global and regional issues: India and Italy expressed broad alignment on major geopolitical crises (Ukraine conflict, West Asia tensions, Iran crisis, and Indo-Pacific stability).

India-Italy Relations

Diplomatic relations between India and Italy were established in 1947. After some years of tensions (due to the 2012 case of the two Italian marines), the two countries revived normal relations.
The visit of the Italian PM Gentiloni to India in 2017 marked a "new beginning" and a great opportunity for both countries.
At the 50th G7 Summit (held in Italy in 2024), the Italian PM Giorgia Meloni gave a new height to the relations with the caption of "Melodi".
Italy is India's 3rd largest trading partner in export in EU, after Germany and Netherland and 4th largest trading partner in import after Germany, Belgium and France.
The Indian community in Italy (estimated at 2.5 lakh including PIOs) is the third largest community of Indians in Europe after the UK and the Netherlands.

Conclusion

The India–Italy Special Strategic Partnership marks a significant expansion of India’s engagement with Europe beyond traditional partners such as France and Germany.
At a broader level, the partnership reflects India’s growing role as a balancing power in the Indo-Pacific and a trusted partner in shaping an emerging multipolar world order.

Source: IE | DH

India-Italy Relations FAQs

Q1: How does the India–Italy Special Strategic Partnership strengthen India’s Indo-Pacific outreach?

Ans: It enhances connectivity, maritime cooperation and strategic coordination through initiatives like IMEEC.

Q2: Why is the India–Italy Defence Industrial Roadmap strategically important for India?

Ans: It promotes co-development, co-production and technology transfer, supporting India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat objectives.

Q3: What is the significance of IMEEC in India–Italy relations?

Ans: IMEEC can improve trade connectivity, energy security and supply-chain resilience linking India, the Middle East and Europe.

Q4: How do India and Italy complement each other economically?

Ans: India’s scale, digital infrastructure and innovation complement Italy’s manufacturing excellence.

Q5: What emerging sectors have become key pillars of India–Italy cooperation?

Ans: AI, quantum technology, critical minerals, space cooperation, maritime logistics and green energy.