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G.S II - Bilateral/International Relations

Multilateralism and International law


Why is in News?

Recently the Disengaging Entirely from the United Nations Debacle (DEFUND) Act  was introduced in US congress  to enable the President to terminate U.S. membership in the United Nations (U.N.) and all affiliated bodies.

Why has the USA been withdrawing from international organizations?

  • Protective nationalism - "America First" Policy  doctrine prioritizes U.S. interests, leading to a perception that international organizations are ineffective or biased against American values and allies, particularly Israel.
  • This perspective has driven decisions to exit organizations like the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
  • Criticism of international organizations - The U.S. has criticized the WHO for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing it of being overly deferential to China and mishandling information during the crisis.
  • Perceived bias against allies - The UNHRC's perceived bias against Israel has also been a significant factor in U.S. withdrawals.
  • Economic self-interest - Concerns over financial contributions have led to a reevaluation of U.S. participation in international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord, which was seen as economically burdensome for American industries.

What are the implications on multilateralism and international law?

  • Weakens global governance - The U.S. has historically played a crucial role in global governance.
  • Its withdrawal from key institutions undermines their effectiveness, leading to reduced coordination on critical issues such as health, human rights, and climate change.
  • Affects international order - Attack on multilateral political cooperation, weakening the rules-based international order.
  • Threat to the UN’s legitimacy - The DEFUND Act threatens the UN’s role as a key institution of post-World War II international cooperation and revokes immunity of UN officials in the U.S., making their work difficult.

The headquarters of United Nations itself, is located in New York, USA.

  • Weakens international justice system - Despite not being an International Criminal Court (ICC) member, the U.S. played a key role in setting up post-WWII tribunals like Nuremberg and undermining the ICC’s mission of accountability and justice.
  • Rise of alternative powers -  With the U.S. stepping back, countries like China have sought to fill leadership vacuums in these organizations, positioning themselves as champions of global governance despite their own human rights records.
  • Affect global funding – It will affect the significant funding from US for  global issues such as poverty, health, migration.
  • Affects global peace – Withdrawal of U.S. participation from UN peacekeeping operations, will affect global military operation against terrorism.
  • Undermines rules-based global trading order - The WTO faces an existential crisis due to U.S. blockade on Appellate Body appointments in the WTO Dispute Settlement system.

What are the significances of multilateralism and international order?

  • Strengthening global governance - Multilateralism helps maintain order in international relations by providing guidelines that promote accountability and transparency among nations
  • Collective problem-solving - Multilateralism enables countries to collaboratively address global challenges that transcend national borders, such as climate change, terrorism, and pandemics.
  • Efficient solutions - By pooling resources and expertise, nations can achieve more effective solutions than they could individually.
  • Promotion of peace and security - Multilateral frameworks, such as the United Nations, provide platforms for diplomacy and collective security measures, reinforcing a commitment to peaceful resolutions.
  • Inclusivity and equality - Multilateralism fosters inclusivity by giving smaller or less powerful nations a voice in international affairs.
  • Economic cooperation - Through multilateral trade agreements and economic partnerships, countries can enhance their economic prospects.
  • Global growth - These arrangements often lead to increased trade flows and investment opportunities, benefiting all participating nations.

What lies ahead?

  • Both multilateralism and international law are essential for fostering a cooperative international environment.
  • They enable countries to work together effectively to tackle shared challenges while promoting peace, security, and justice globally.
  • Their significance is increasingly relevant in an interconnected world where global issues require collective action and adherence to established norms.

Reference

The Hindu | The assault on multilateralism and international law

G.S II - Social Justice

Educational Schemes of Waqf and Madrassa


Why in news?

Recently, the Centre had revealed that the budgetary allocations for madrasa and Waqf educational schemes had been lashed almost to nil.

What is the educational status of Muslims?

  • Lower literacy rates of Muslims – It stands at 79.5% which is below the national average 80.9%, as per recent Minority Affairs Ministry report.

1

  • Decline in Muslim Higher Education Enrolment – All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-21 reported an 8% decline in Muslim enrolment compared to 2019-20.
  • The drop was greater than that of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).

2

‘State of Muslim Education in India’ Report
  • Reduction in female enrolment during 2020-21.
  • High dropout rates in states like Assam and West Bengal.
  • On an average 18.64% Muslim students drop out at the secondary level, compared to the national average of 12.6%.
  • Enrolment declines from Class 6 onwards, reaching the lowest in Classes 11 and 12.

What are the waqf educational schemes?

Waqf Board
  • It is a statutory body.
  • Role - They manage waqf properties, which are endowments for religious or charitable purposes in Islam.
  • They oversee assets like mosques, madrasas, graveyards, and welfare institutions.
  • The Ministry of Minority Affairs oversees 2 key waqf schemes.
  • Quami Waqf Board Taraqqiati Scheme (QWBTS) – It aims to develop and modernize waqf properties.
  • Shahari Waqf Sampatti Vikas Yojana (SWSVY) – It aims to support urban waqf properties for community welfare and educational purposes.
  • Implementing agency – Both the above two schemes are implemented by Central Waqf Council (CWC).

Central Waqf Council is a statutory body under the Ministry of Minority Affairs was set up in 1964 to advice the Central Government on matters concerning the working of the Waqf Boards.

What is the Scheme for Providing Education to Madrassas and Minorities (SPEMM)?

Madrassas have been centers of Islamic education, dating back to the 8th-9th century during the Abbasid Caliphate.

  • Launched in – 2014-15.
  • Nodal agency – Ministry of Minority Affairs.
  • Objectives – To restructure existing education schemes for Muslims and to include more minority communities.
  • To provide modern education in madrassas by
    • Improving teacher training
    • Strengthen madrassa boards
    • Enhance infrastructure in minority institutions
    • Raise awareness about education programs.
  • Funding mechanism

Regions

Centre

State

North-Eastern states & Himalayan states

90%

10%

Union Territories without legislature

100%

-

Other states

60%

40%
  • Eligibility – Madrassas affiliated with recognized school education boards and mapped on the Geographical Information System (GIS) were eligible for financial assistance.
  • Financial assistance – For teachers and madrassa boards for administration.

What are the concerns associated with Muslims education?

  • Decline in education funding – The allocation and expenditure for QWBTS and SWSVY have steadily decreased between 2021 and 2025, with little to no spending in recent years.
  • Nil Funding for SPEMM – While it started at Rs. 194 crore in 2014-15 and dropped to zero in 2024-25.

  • Closing of Madrassas – In 2021, the Assam government repealed 2 madrassa-related Acts (1995, 2018), closing all government and government-funded private madrassas.
  • They were later converted into general schools in 2023.
  • Issues in Madrassa education – The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) told the Supreme Court that madrassas are unsuitable for proper education with following concerns
    • Islamic supremacy in textbooks.
    • Violating the right against forced participation in religious instruction or worship of non-Muslim students in madrassas.
    • Lack of curriculum standards and teacher eligibility issues.
    • Opaque funding and land law violations.
    • Failure to provide a holistic educational environment.
  • Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 – If the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is passed in present form, it will
    • Increase Central regulation over waqf properties.
    • Allow non-Muslim members in waqf boards.
  • Since waqf boards manage most madrassas, this move will reduce the influence of Islamic trusts and bring madrassas under greater government control.

What lies ahead?

  • Steps can be taken to identify and enrol out-of-school children in age-appropriate classes.
  • Coverage of financial aid to Muslim students can be increased.
  • Provision of scholarships, grants for the community can be increased.

Reference

The Hindu | Drop in Funding for Waqf Educational Schemes

 

G.S II - Governance

United Nations Convention against Torture


Why in the news?

Recently High Court of Justice in London ruled against the extradition of  Sanjay Bhandari.

What is United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT)?

  • UNCAT - The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the “Torture Convention”) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1984 and entered into force in 1987.
  • Definition of Torture - The convention defines "torture" as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for purposes such as obtaining information or a confession, punishing an act, or intimidating or coercing a person.
  • Prohibition of torture - States are obligated to criminalize and prosecute torture under their domestic law and to ensure that evidence obtained through torture is inadmissible in legal proceedings.
  • Non-Refoulement - States are prohibited from returning (refouler) or extraditing a person to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing that they would be in danger of being subjected to torture.
  • Monitoring mechanism - The UN Committee against Torture (CAT) monitors the implementation of the convention by its State parties.
  • Obligations of States Parties - States are required to prevent torture within their jurisdiction, investigate and prosecute alleged acts of torture, and provide redress to victims
  • India's Status - India signed the UNCAT in October 1997 but has not yet ratified it.

What are the implications of not ratifying the convention?

  • Hindrance in extradition cases - Courts in foreign countries may continue to deny extradition requests citing India’s poor record on torture.
  • Erosion of democratic and constitutional values - Failure to criminalize torture contradicts India’s commitment to human rights and justice.
  • Damage to India’s global reputation - Non-ratification of UNCAT places India among authoritarian regimes like Sudan and North Korea.
  • International criticism - Non-ratification exposes India to criticism from international human rights organizations and the United Nations, which may affect its diplomatic relations and credibility on human rights issues.
  • Weakens legal framework - Despite constitutional protections and Supreme Court rulings against torture, the absence of a specific anti-torture law has weakened India’s legal framework.
  • Domestic accountability issues - The absence of a binding commitment to prevent torture limits avenues for accountability within India, allowing impunity for law enforcement and public officials involved in torture practices.
  • Impact on victims - Victims of torture and custodial violence lack legal recourse, which can perpetuate cycles of abuse and discourage reporting of such incidents due to fear of reprisals

What are the challenges in enacting an anti-torture law?

  • Legislative Hurdles -India requires the enactment of national legislation, specifically the Prevention of Torture Bill, before ratifying international treaties.
  • Political and bureaucratic apathy - Despite multiple judicial and expert recommendations, no concrete action has been taken.
  • Police brutality and lack of accountability - Widespread use of torture in interrogations continues due to weak enforcement of existing laws.
  • Weak institutional mechanisms - The lack of independent oversight of custodial violence contributes to impunity.
  • Fear of international scrutiny - Ratifying the UNCAT would require India to submit to international human rights monitoring, which some policymakers resist.

What are the constitutional and legal framework against torture in India?

  • Article 21 - Protects the right to life and personal liberty, which includes freedom from torture.
  • Article 20(3) - Provides protection against self-incrimination, indirectly discouraging forced confessions obtained through torture.
  • Article 22 – It safeguards against arbitrary arrest and detention, ensuring that individuals are informed of the grounds for arrest, have the right to consult a lawyer, and are produced before a magistrate within 24 hours.
  • Article 32 – It guarantees the "Right to Constitutional Remedies," empowering citizens to approach the Supreme Court for enforcement of their fundamental rights if they are violated.
  • Judicial enquiry - In custodial deaths, Magistrate is empowered to hold inquiry under Section 196 of the Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 202313.

India has ratified several other international treaties against torture, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976).

What are the judicial rulings against custodial violence ?

  • D.K. Basu vs. State of West Bengal (1997) – The Supreme Court of India laid down guidelines to prevent custodial violence and ensure the rights of arrested individuals, including the right to legal representation and medical assistance.
  • The guidelines laid down in the case have been incorporated in the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 by the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008
  • Puttaswamy Judgment (2017) -  Reinforced the idea that human dignity and privacy are fundamental rights.
  • Nambi Narayanan (2018) - In 2018, the Supreme Court exonerated Nambi Narayanan, a former ISRO scientist, in the ISRO espionage case, awarding him ₹50 lakh in compensation for the mental cruelty he endured.
  • Sunil Batra v. State (UT of Delhi) -  The Supreme Court of India struck down the provisions of separate confinement in the Prisoners Act on the grounds of arbitrary and violative of prisoners right to life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
  • People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. State of Maharashtra(2014) - The Supreme Court held that the inquiry in the cases of death by police torture must be invariably conducted by Judicial Magistrate.

In Ashwani Kumar Case (2019), despite recognizing the need for an anti-torture law, the Supreme Court has declined to direct the legislature to enact the act.

What lies ahead?

  • Torture in State custody irretrievably dents democracy’s soft power.
  • National Human Rights Commission has been requesting the Government of India to ratify the Convention Against Torture
  • The Law Commission of India in its 273rd report Commission submitted a draft Prevention of Torture Bill, 2017 which defines acts that should constitute torture and prescribed punishments for such acts.
  • Enactment of a strong anti-torture law and ratification of UNCAT would strengthen India’s global credibility and commitment to human rights.
  • It will ensure better oversight and strict enforcement of laws against custodial violence.
  • Special monitoring bodies can be setup  to investigate and prosecute cases of custodial torture.

References

The Hindu | Torture shadows India’s justice system

Prelim Bits

National Innovation Challenge for Drone Research (NIDAR)


Why in news?

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Drone Federation India has recently launched NIDAR to boost Talent, R&D and Skill Development in Drone Ecosystem.

  • Aim – NIDAR is India’s largest national drone innovation initiative that motivates students and researchers from academia to build collaborative autonomous drones across 2 critical domains:

  • Launched under – The SwaYaan Initiative.
  • Benefits – It offers a total prize pool of INR 40 Lakhs along with opportunities for startup incubation, cloud credits, software support, and internships with India’s leading drone companies.

SwaYaan Initiative
  • SwaYaan is a National Initiative to develop and strengthen India’s UAS/Drone ecosystem, aligning with the Government’s vision to make India a global drone hub by 2030.
  • Aim – The program empowers learners from undergraduates to faculty and open learners across five key technical areas through 1,500+ academic, research, and knowledge-sharing activities.
  • Ministry – Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
  • Implementation – Through a network of 30 Premier Academic and R&D institutions, including IIT, IISc, IIIT, NITs, IIITDM, C-DAC, and NIELIT Centres.

Drone Federation India (DFI)
  • A non-government, non-profit, industry-led body representing 550+ drone companies and 5500+ drone pilots across the country.
  • Vision – To make India a global drone hub by 2030, and it promotes the design, development, manufacturing, adoption and export of Indian drone and counter-drone technology worldwide.
  • Significance – A premier industry will support participating students in NIDAR by providing mentorship and industry exposure.
  • DFI enables ease of doing business, promotes the adoption of drone technology, and hosts several programs like Bharat Drone Mahotsav.

References

  1. PIB | NIDAR
  2. Swayaan website | Swayaan
  3. Nidar website | NIDAR

Prelim Bits

New IT Rules for Removal of Harmful Online Content


Why is in News?

The government is strengthening laws to fight cybercrimes, especially obscene and child abuse content, ensuring better online safety.

Key Provisions for Digital Content Regulation

IT Act, 2000

  • Punishes publishing/transmitting obscene or sexually explicit material online.
  • Stricter penalties for content involving children in sexually explicit acts.

IT Rules, 2021 (Intermediary Guidelines & Digital Media Ethics Code)

  • Intermediaries (including social media platforms) must follow due diligence, or they lose legal protection from third-party content.
  • Messaging platforms must identify the first originator of content in cases related to rape, sexually explicit material, or child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
  • Intermediaries must remove explicit content within 24 hours if it exposes private areas, nudity, or sexual acts.
  • Grievance Appellate Committees established to hear user appeals against social media decisions.

Film & OTT Content Regulation

  • CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) regulates film content under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and Cinematograph (Certification) Rules 1983.
  • Films unsuitable for minors are certified for adult audiences only.
  • OTT Platforms must follow a code of ethics under IT Rules, 2021:
    • Classify content into age-appropriate categories.
    • Restrict access for children to inappropriate content.
    • Implement age verification for adult content.

Government Measures to Strengthen Cybercrime Prevention

  • National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal - Allows citizens to report all types of cybercrimes, with a special focus on crimes against children.
  • Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) - Established to handle cybercrimes in a coordinated manner.
    • Financial assistance provided to States/UTs under the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children Scheme for:
    • Setting up cyber forensic-cum-training labs.
  • Training law enforcement personnel, public prosecutors, and judicial officers.
  • Websites containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) blocked based on Interpol lists received through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
  • Internet Service Providers (ISPs) directed to implement the Internet Watch Foundation (UK) & Project Arachnid (Canada) lists to block CSAM websites dynamically.
  • Department of Telecommunications (DoT) instructed ISPs to
    • Spread awareness on parental control filters.
    • Block certain websites containing CSAM.
  • Cybercrime awareness initiatives by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
    • Twitter handle (@cyberDost) for spreading awareness.
    • Radio campaigns.
    • Handbook for Adolescents/Students on cyber safety.
  • MoU signed between National Crime Records Bureau (India) & National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (USA) to share Tipline reports on child sexual exploitation and explicit online content with States/UTs for further action.

Reference

PIB - Government of India Taking Measures against Online Pornography

Prelim Bits

Centre Government Guidelines


Why in News?

A Bill for regulating coaching centres was tabled in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly recently.

  • New coaching centre bill of Rajasthan - Aim – It would curb the commercialization of coaching institutes and ensure that they operate within a framework prioritizing the well-being and success of students.
  • It seeks to mandate minimum quality standards, the registration of coaching centres, and psychological counselling for students.

Central government’s January 2024 guidelines

Rajasthan Bill’s Key provisions
  • Only students who are 16 years of age or have completed secondary school examinations can be enrolled in coaching centres.
  • It has no mention of the age criteria.

 
  • It mandated biometric attendance through face recognition technology.
  • The Bill has no such provision for attendance.
  • Coaching centres shall abide by the orders issued by the state government regarding national holidays, local holidays as declared by the District Collector and festivals.
  • Centres should try to customize leaves to coincide with festivals, it omits mention of national and local holidays.
  • Coaching centres shall not discriminate against any applicant/ student on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, descent etc. during the admission and teaching process.
  • No mention of such provision.
  • Centres may also make special provisions to encourage greater representation of students from vulnerable communities, including female students and differently abled students.
  • The centre’s building and surrounding premises should comply with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
  • No mention of such provision.
  • It regulated the coaching centres by proposing
    • A penalty of Rs.25,000 for the first violation of provisions and
    • Rs.1 lakh for a second violation, followed by cancellation of registration for subsequent violation(s).
  • It sets the first fine at Rs.2 lakh and Rs.5 lakh for the second offence, followed by cancellation of the centre’s registration.

Reference

The Indian Express - Rajasthan’s new coaching centre bill

Prelim Bits

Dog-faced Water Snake (Cerberus Rynchops)


Why in News?

Herpetologists recently sighted the dog-faced water snake for the first time in the floodplains at Garemara in western Assam’s Nalbari district.

  • It is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous, and semi-aquatic snake.
  • It is also known as the South Asian bockadam.
  • Appearance – Mottled grey and black colour.
  • It is well adapted to brackish water, due to their aquatic habitat they have nostrils placed higher upon their snout giving them a dog-like appearance.
  • They have salt glands below upper lip that discard excess salt acquired from the brackish water they consume.
  • Size – Grow up to one metre.
  • Diet – It is known to hunt for fish and crustaceans in shallow waters, using a sit-and-wait predatory strategy.
  • Habitat – Predominantly associated with coastal ecosystems, inhabiting mangroves, coastal mudflats, and estuarine habitats, Inland records of the species are rare.
  • Distribution - Across South, Southeast Asia, and parts of Australia002E
    • Indian coastal regions in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • Breeding – Viviparous – Give birth to young ones.
  • Conservation Status
    • IUCN – Least Concern.
  • Threats
    • Loss of Mangrove Habitats
    • Entanglement in fishing nets.

References

  1. The Hindu - Dog-faced snake
  2. Round Glass Sustain - Dog-faced water snake

Prelim Bits

A Recent Study on Inflation in India


Why in News?

A recent report of SBI shows that the migration of labour from low-income states to high income states in search of employment opportunities is resulting in higher inflation in high income States in the South such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

  • State-wise analysis – High-inflation states - Among all 35 states/UTs during the period FY13 and FY25 Tamil Nadu inflation is higher than all India inflation for 9 years out of the last 13 years.
  • Among the States, Kerala clocked the highest inflation rate of 7.3% in Feb, followed by Chhattisgarh 4.9%.
  • Low-inflation states- Gujarat and Punjab has lower inflation than all India inflation for 9 years from the last 13 years.
  • Northeast and Western regions have had lowest inflation against higher inflationary trends displayed by Southern and Eastern region.
  • The region wise analysis of retail prices shows that southern states display a higher trend in prices for items like vegetables, cereals and most of the pulses.
  • Primary trends suggest higher taxes levied on petrol/diesel, liquor, as also registration charges for automobiles and flats by the Southern states could be the driver of higher inflations.
  • Going by the share of sales tax collection by states, Southern states hold the highest share, followed by Northern region.
  • India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation moderated to 7-month low in Feb’25 due to easing in food and vegetable prices, inflation in bigger states continued to outstrip the all-India inflation rate of the same month.
  • Higher Rural inflation - There are 9 States among major states, where inflation in rural areas is higher than the all-India rural inflation. Similarly, there are 8 States where urban inflation is higher than all India urban inflation.
    • Reason- Higher food prices and the rural basket of food items weight is higher than the urban weights.
  • Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) - High income states have an average food inflation CAGR% of 5.26%, above national level CAGR% of 5.18 from FY14.
  • Middle income group have an average CAGR% of 5.03% - and lower-income group’s average CAGR is at 4.95% during the same period.
  • This shows the purchasing power of higher income groups has higher inflation.

Reference

The Hindu - SBI study on Inflation

Prelim Bits

SC’s Recent Question on Food Security


Why is in News?

The Supreme Court recently said states showed a high per capita growth when asked to highlight the development index but claimed 75% of their population was below poverty line when it came to subsidies.

The Indian government uses Below Poverty Line (BPL) to identify and target assistance to those with incomes below a specific threshold, considered to be living in poverty.

  • Questions of Supreme Court - The SC asked about the contradicting behavior of states claiming high per capita income while having a significant population below the poverty line.
  • The apex court asked whether the subsidized ration system, meant to provide food security to the deserving poor, was merely a ploy by governments to garner popularity.
  • The court said corruption and mismanagement of the Public Distribution System must not be a ground to discourage its implementation.
  • The court was hearing petitions seeking ration cards for migrant workers to ensure food security.
  • Legal provisions - The court said the poor have a right to access at least 2 square meals a day in terms of their fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
  • Central government’s clarification - Union government was duty-bound under the National Food Security Act to provide food grains.
  • She said the coverage under the Act was 81.35%. There was additional coverage for 11 crore people under the Anganwadi scheme, and further coverage for another 22-crore people.
  • Challenges - The Supreme Court, in an earlier hearing, had taken strong exception to the delays in the implementation of its April 2023 order to provide ration cards to about 8 crore migrant workers registered on the e-Shram portal but not covered under the National Food Security Act.
  • The court was then informed that the portal had 28.6 crore registrants. Of this, 20.63 crore were registered on ration card data.
  • SC had argued that there could be more than 10 crore workers left outside the protective umbrella of the Food Safety Act as the statistics were based on the 2011 census.
  • The population would have increased since then. The court had underscored the duty of a welfare state to include each and every migrant worker on the ration card roll expeditiously.

Reference

The Hindu - Supreme Court Question on High Per capita income

Prelim Bits

UPSC Daily Current Affairs| Prelim Bits 22-03-2025


National Innovation Challenge for Drone Research (NIDAR)

Why in news?

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Drone Federation India has recently launched NIDAR to boost Talent, R&D and Skill Development in Drone Ecosystem.

  • Aim – NIDAR is India’s largest national drone innovation initiative that motivates students and researchers from academia to build collaborative autonomous drones across 2 critical domains:

  • Launched under – The SwaYaan Initiative.
  • Benefits – It offers a total prize pool of INR 40 Lakhs along with opportunities for startup incubation, cloud credits, software support, and internships with India’s leading drone companies.

SwaYaan Initiative
  • SwaYaan is a National Initiative to develop and strengthen India’s UAS/Drone ecosystem, aligning with the Government’s vision to make India a global drone hub by 2030.
  • Aim – The program empowers learners from undergraduates to faculty and open learners across five key technical areas through 1,500+ academic, research, and knowledge-sharing activities.
  • Ministry – Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
  • Implementation – Through a network of 30 Premier Academic and R&D institutions, including IIT, IISc, IIIT, NITs, IIITDM, C-DAC, and NIELIT Centres.

Drone Federation India (DFI)
  • A non-government, non-profit, industry-led body representing 550+ drone companies and 5500+ drone pilots across the country.
  • Vision – To make India a global drone hub by 2030, and it promotes the design, development, manufacturing, adoption and export of Indian drone and counter-drone technology worldwide.
  • Significance – A premier industry will support participating students in NIDAR by providing mentorship and industry exposure.
  • DFI enables ease of doing business, promotes the adoption of drone technology, and hosts several programs like Bharat Drone Mahotsav.

References

  1. PIB | NIDAR
  2. Swayaan website | Swayaan
  3. Nidar website | NIDAR

 

New IT Rules for Removal of Harmful Online Content

Why is in News?

The government is strengthening laws to fight cybercrimes, especially obscene and child abuse content, ensuring better online safety.

Key Provisions for Digital Content Regulation

IT Act, 2000

  • Punishes publishing/transmitting obscene or sexually explicit material online.
  • Stricter penalties for content involving children in sexually explicit acts.

IT Rules, 2021 (Intermediary Guidelines & Digital Media Ethics Code)

  • Intermediaries (including social media platforms) must follow due diligence, or they lose legal protection from third-party content.
  • Messaging platforms must identify the first originator of content in cases related to rape, sexually explicit material, or child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
  • Intermediaries must remove explicit content within 24 hours if it exposes private areas, nudity, or sexual acts.
  • Grievance Appellate Committees established to hear user appeals against social media decisions.

Film & OTT Content Regulation

  • CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) regulates film content under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and Cinematograph (Certification) Rules 1983.
  • Films unsuitable for minors are certified for adult audiences only.
  • OTT Platforms must follow a code of ethics under IT Rules, 2021:
    • Classify content into age-appropriate categories.
    • Restrict access for children to inappropriate content.
    • Implement age verification for adult content.

Government Measures to Strengthen Cybercrime Prevention

  • National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal - Allows citizens to report all types of cybercrimes, with a special focus on crimes against children.
  • Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) - Established to handle cybercrimes in a coordinated manner.
    • Financial assistance provided to States/UTs under the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children Scheme for:
    • Setting up cyber forensic-cum-training labs.
  • Training law enforcement personnel, public prosecutors, and judicial officers.
  • Websites containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) blocked based on Interpol lists received through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
  • Internet Service Providers (ISPs) directed to implement the Internet Watch Foundation (UK) & Project Arachnid (Canada) lists to block CSAM websites dynamically.
  • Department of Telecommunications (DoT) instructed ISPs to
    • Spread awareness on parental control filters.
    • Block certain websites containing CSAM.
  • Cybercrime awareness initiatives by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
    • Twitter handle (@cyberDost) for spreading awareness.
    • Radio campaigns.
    • Handbook for Adolescents/Students on cyber safety.
  • MoU signed between National Crime Records Bureau (India) & National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (USA) to share Tipline reports on child sexual exploitation and explicit online content with States/UTs for further action.

Reference

PIB - Government of India Taking Measures against Online Pornography

 

Centre Government Guidelines

Why in News?

A Bill for regulating coaching centres was tabled in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly recently.

  • New coaching centre bill of Rajasthan - Aim – It would curb the commercialization of coaching institutes and ensure that they operate within a framework prioritizing the well-being and success of students.
  • It seeks to mandate minimum quality standards, the registration of coaching centres, and psychological counselling for students.

Central government’s January 2024 guidelines

Rajasthan Bill’s Key provisions
  • Only students who are 16 years of age or have completed secondary school examinations can be enrolled in coaching centres.
  • It has no mention of the age criteria.

 
  • It mandated biometric attendance through face recognition technology.
  • The Bill has no such provision for attendance.
  • Coaching centres shall abide by the orders issued by the state government regarding national holidays, local holidays as declared by the District Collector and festivals.
  • Centres should try to customize leaves to coincide with festivals, it omits mention of national and local holidays.
  • Coaching centres shall not discriminate against any applicant/ student on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, descent etc. during the admission and teaching process.
  • No mention of such provision.
  • Centres may also make special provisions to encourage greater representation of students from vulnerable communities, including female students and differently abled students.
  • The centre’s building and surrounding premises should comply with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
  • No mention of such provision.
  • It regulated the coaching centres by proposing
    • A penalty of Rs.25,000 for the first violation of provisions and
    • Rs.1 lakh for a second violation, followed by cancellation of registration for subsequent violation(s).
  • It sets the first fine at Rs.2 lakh and Rs.5 lakh for the second offence, followed by cancellation of the centre’s registration.

Reference

The Indian Express - Rajasthan’s new coaching centre bill

 

Dog-faced Water Snake (Cerberus Rynchops)

Why in News?

Herpetologists recently sighted the dog-faced water snake for the first time in the floodplains at Garemara in western Assam’s Nalbari district.

  • It is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous, and semi-aquatic snake.
  • It is also known as the South Asian bockadam.
  • Appearance – Mottled grey and black colour.
  • It is well adapted to brackish water, due to their aquatic habitat they have nostrils placed higher upon their snout giving them a dog-like appearance.
  • They have salt glands below upper lip that discard excess salt acquired from the brackish water they consume.
  • Size – Grow up to one metre.
  • Diet – It is known to hunt for fish and crustaceans in shallow waters, using a sit-and-wait predatory strategy.
  • Habitat – Predominantly associated with coastal ecosystems, inhabiting mangroves, coastal mudflats, and estuarine habitats, Inland records of the species are rare.
  • Distribution - Across South, Southeast Asia, and parts of Australia002E
    • Indian coastal regions in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • Breeding – Viviparous – Give birth to young ones.
  • Conservation Status
    • IUCN – Least Concern.
  • Threats
    • Loss of Mangrove Habitats
    • Entanglement in fishing nets.

References

  1. The Hindu - Dog-faced snake
  2. Round Glass Sustain - Dog-faced water snake

 

A Recent Study on Inflation in India

Why in News?

A recent report of SBI shows that the migration of labour from low-income states to high income states in search of employment opportunities is resulting in higher inflation in high income States in the South such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

  • State-wise analysis – High-inflation states - Among all 35 states/UTs during the period FY13 and FY25 Tamil Nadu inflation is higher than all India inflation for 9 years out of the last 13 years.
  • Among the States, Kerala clocked the highest inflation rate of 7.3% in Feb, followed by Chhattisgarh 4.9%.
  • Low-inflation states- Gujarat and Punjab has lower inflation than all India inflation for 9 years from the last 13 years.
  • Northeast and Western regions have had lowest inflation against higher inflationary trends displayed by Southern and Eastern region.
  • The region wise analysis of retail prices shows that southern states display a higher trend in prices for items like vegetables, cereals and most of the pulses.
  • Primary trends suggest higher taxes levied on petrol/diesel, liquor, as also registration charges for automobiles and flats by the Southern states could be the driver of higher inflations.
  • Going by the share of sales tax collection by states, Southern states hold the highest share, followed by Northern region.
  • India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation moderated to 7-month low in Feb’25 due to easing in food and vegetable prices, inflation in bigger states continued to outstrip the all-India inflation rate of the same month.
  • Higher Rural inflation - There are 9 States among major states, where inflation in rural areas is higher than the all-India rural inflation. Similarly, there are 8 States where urban inflation is higher than all India urban inflation.
    • Reason- Higher food prices and the rural basket of food items weight is higher than the urban weights.
  • Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) - High income states have an average food inflation CAGR% of 5.26%, above national level CAGR% of 5.18 from FY14.
  • Middle income group have an average CAGR% of 5.03% - and lower-income group’s average CAGR is at 4.95% during the same period.
  • This shows the purchasing power of higher income groups has higher inflation.

Reference

The Hindu - SBI study on Inflation

 

SC’s Recent Question on Food Security

Why is in News?

The Supreme Court recently said states showed a high per capita growth when asked to highlight the development index but claimed 75% of their population was below poverty line when it came to subsidies.

The Indian government uses Below Poverty Line (BPL) to identify and target assistance to those with incomes below a specific threshold, considered to be living in poverty.

  • Questions of Supreme Court - The SC asked about the contradicting behavior of states claiming high per capita income while having a significant population below the poverty line.
  • The apex court asked whether the subsidized ration system, meant to provide food security to the deserving poor, was merely a ploy by governments to garner popularity.
  • The court said corruption and mismanagement of the Public Distribution System must not be a ground to discourage its implementation.
  • The court was hearing petitions seeking ration cards for migrant workers to ensure food security.
  • Legal provisions - The court said the poor have a right to access at least 2 square meals a day in terms of their fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
  • Central government’s clarification - Union government was duty-bound under the National Food Security Act to provide food grains.
  • She said the coverage under the Act was 81.35%. There was additional coverage for 11 crore people under the Anganwadi scheme, and further coverage for another 22-crore people.
  • Challenges - The Supreme Court, in an earlier hearing, had taken strong exception to the delays in the implementation of its April 2023 order to provide ration cards to about 8 crore migrant workers registered on the e-Shram portal but not covered under the National Food Security Act.
  • The court was then informed that the portal had 28.6 crore registrants. Of this, 20.63 crore were registered on ration card data.
  • SC had argued that there could be more than 10 crore workers left outside the protective umbrella of the Food Safety Act as the statistics were based on the 2011 census.
  • The population would have increased since then. The court had underscored the duty of a welfare state to include each and every migrant worker on the ration card roll expeditiously.

Reference

The Hindu - Supreme Court Question on High Per capita income

 

One Liners 22-03-2025

History, Art and Culture

Indo-U.S. Cultural Property Agreement

  • Signed in – 2024.
  • Aim – To prevent smuggling of Indian antiquities to USA.
  • Features – It has provision for fostering cooperation and mutual understanding in the matters of technical assistance, illicit trade and pillage of cultural property.
  • Agreement, being preventive in nature has no timelines or target numbers.
  • Repatriation of antiquities – So far, 588 antiquities have been repatriated from USA, out of which 297 received in 2024.

Economy

Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme

  • Launched in – 2021.
  • Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
  • Objectives – To make India a global hub for high-tech production and attract multinational chip manufacturers.
  • To generate 85,000 industry-ready manpower at B.Tech, M.Tech, and PhD levels specialized in semiconductor chip design.
  • Activity – It provides the students a complete hands-on experience in chip design, fabrication, and testing.
  • Participating Institutions – Academic institutions/R&D organizations, Start-ups and MSMEs.

Oeko Tex Certification

  • It is a worldwide certification for textiles such as yarns, fabrics, buttons, linens, terry cloth, thread, and other accessory materials.
  • It tests for harmful substances in raw, semi-finished and finished textile materials and products.
  • In India – The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC) under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, has obtained Oeko-Tex certification for eri silk from Germany.
  • Significance – Certification ensures that the final product is safe for human use.

Eri silk

  • It is one of the most durable and strong fibres.
  • Properties – It provides cooling effect in the summer and warming effect in the winter.
  • World’s only vegan silk – It distinguishes itself through an ethical production process where the silk moth is allowed to naturally emerge from its cocoon, leaving the silk intact.
  • In India – It is mostly cultivated in tribal areas of Assam.

Agriculture

Radiation based Food Preservation

  • Radiation processing of food – It involves controlled application of energy from ionizing radiations such as gamma rays, electrons and X-rays for food preservation.
  • Working – It disrupts the biological processes that lead to decay.
  • The interaction of radiation and radiolytic products of water with DNA impair reproducing capacity of microorganism and insects.
  • In India – Presently, 37 Gamma Radiation Processing Plants are in private, cooperative, semi government and government sector.
  • 21 plants out of 37 are capable of carrying out radiation processing of agricultural/ food products.

Environment

International Day of Forests 2025

  • Celebrated on – March 21st every year.
  • Declared by – United Nations in 2021.
  • Aim – To celebrate and raise awareness about the vital role of all types of forests.
  • To recognize the importance of trees and forests, and take action to protect them.
  • 2025 theme – ‘Forests and Food’, which emphasizes the deep connection between forests and global food security.

Science

Technology Adoption Fund (TAF) scheme

  • It is for promoting the Indian industry especially start-ups towards commercialization of early-stage space technologies.
  • Launched by – Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), Department of Space.
  • Objectives – Upgradation of the existing space technologies and development of innovative products.
  • Import substitution of components whose technologies have not matured in the Indian industry.

Criteria for Funding support to Space Technology Startups

  • The startup should be under Indian management and control.
  • The proposal of the startup shall have potential commercial value.
  • The startup shall not source any funding from any other central & state government departments and/or ministries for the project forming the subject of their proposal(s).

National Cancer Grid (NCG)

  • Established in – 2012.
  • Established and managed by – Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), with the support of Department of Space, Ministry of Science and Technology.
  • Objectives – To involve and implement uniform standard of cancer care across India.
  • To offer state-of-the-art services for patients and to create human resources to tackle the rising need for cancer care.
  • To run epidemiological intervention studies to prevent cancer.
  • To direct cancer research in clinic and laboratory to offer cost effective solution to cancer in India.
  • Network – There are 362-member organizations in the NCG.

Nuclear Energy Mission