President of India issued Proclamation imposing President’s rule in Manipur
This marks the 11th instance of President’s Rule being imposed in the state, with the last time being in 2001-02, putting the State Assembly under suspended animation.
Constitutional Basis: Article 356 of the Constitution allows for the imposition of President’s Rule in a state. This happens when the President, acting on a report from the State Governor, is convinced that the state government can no longer function according to the Constitution.
Duration and Approval:
Initial Period: President’s Rule is initially in effect for two months.
Parliamentary Approval: To extend beyond two months, both houses of Parliament must approve it by a simple majority.
Extension Limits: If approved, President’s Rule can be extended for a maximum of three years, with parliamentary approval required every six months.
Revocation: The President can end President’s Rule at any time through a subsequent proclamation.
Consequences of President’s Rule:
- The President assumes control of the State Government’s functions and the Governor’s powers.
- The President can transfer the powers of the State Legislature to Parliament.
- The High Court continues to operate as usual.
S R Bommai Vs Union of India (1994)
- Supreme Court held that the proclamation under Article 356 was subject to judicial review.
- The President can only dissolve a state legislative assembly after Parliament’sapproval of the proclamation, and until then, the assembly remains suspended.
Q: To extend President’s Rule beyond the initial period, what is required?
a) Approval from the State Assembly
b) Approval from the President
c) Approval from both houses of Parliament
d) A referendum in the state
Correct Answer: c) Approval from both houses of Parliament
Marital Rape in India
Legal Ambiguity and Ongoing Debate: The core reason the topic is in the news is the ongoing legal debate and lack of clarity regarding marital rape in India.
Chhattisgarh High Court Ruling: The Gorakhnath Sharma case highlights the existing legal framework that protects husbands from rape charges for sex with wives over 15. This underscores the current legal immunity.
Supreme Court Petitions: The news mentions that the Supreme Court is actively hearing petitions to criminalize marital rape. This directly reflects the push for legal reform and the desire to challenge the existing status quo.
Contrasting Legal Stances: The news emphasizes the conflict between different legal perspectives:
Existing Law: The Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) currently offer immunity to husbands in cases of marital rape (with the exception of those involving wives under 18).
Judicial Rulings: While the law grants immunity, various court rulings (e.g., Independent Thought and KS Puttaswamy) have affirmed the importance of consent, sexual autonomy, and the rights of women. These rulings create a tension with the existing law.
Government’s Stance: The Ministry of Home Affairs’ statement shows reluctance to criminalize marital rape fully, highlighting a differing view from women’s rights advocates and potentially some within the judiciary.
Impact and Relevance of the Law:
A fundamental Human Rights Issue: The criminalization of marital rape directly impacts women’s rights to personal autonomy, equality, and freedom from violence.
Comparison to Global Standards: The article highlights that marital rape is criminalized in a majority of countries around the world, and the news of the SC hearing petitions to criminalize marital rape is an indicator of the desire to align with these international standards.
Recent Judicial Pronouncements: the text highlights that the text highlights that in 2023, the Bombay HC ruled that consensual sex with a minor wife is rape, rejecting the defense of consent in such cases. In 2024, the Madhya Pradesh HC ruled that unnatural sex with a wife is not rape and that a wife’s consent is irrelevant in such matters. These rulings create a tension with the existing law.
Potential Solutions and Reforms: The article outlines possible actions, such as raising the marriage age, legislative amendments, alternative legal frameworks and reviewing global best practices. These underscore the recognition that changes are needed and highlight the importance of the debate.
In essence, the news is centered on the ongoing legal and social debate in India about whether or not to criminalize marital rape. The differing legal stances, judicial pronouncements, and the desire for reform are all major factors as to why this issue has gained prominence in the news cycle.
Q: What potential solutions are outlined in the article to address the issue of marital rape?
- Raising the marriage age, legislative amendments, alternative legal frameworks, and reviewing global best practices
- Only raising the marriage age
- Only legislative amendments
- Only alternative legal frameworks
Correct Answer: a)Raising the marriage age, legislative amendments, alternative legal frameworks, and reviewing global best practices
Issue of Pendency of Cases in Indian Judiciary
This is a concise summary of the problem of case backlogs in the Indian judiciary and the Supreme Court’s efforts to address it.
About : The Supreme Court first endorsed the appointment of ad-hoc judges in its 2021 ruling in Lok Prahari v. Union of India. These judges were authorised to hear only criminal appeals as part of a bench led by a sitting judge.
Backlog: As of January 2025, High Courts were hampered with a disgusting backlog of 62 lakh cases.
Legal Basis:
Article 224A: This constitutional provision allows the Chief Justice of a High Court to appoint retired judges with the President’s permission.
Lok Prahari v. Union of India (2021): The Supreme Court case that established the conditions for appointing ad-hoc judges, including the requirement that the High Court has a significant number of vacancies.
Background and Context: The Supreme Court has previously allowed ad-hoc judges but has identified a lack of use of the provision.
Why the Backlog? Causes: The article lists several contributing factors to the massive backlog of cases:
Insufficient Judges: A low judge-to-population ratio.
Increased Litigation: More cases are being filed due to a growing population and complex socio-economic issues.
Delays in the Justice System: Procedural inefficiencies, adjournments, and delays in evidence.
Lack of Infrastructure: Under-equipped and under-staffed courts.
Bureaucratic Challenges: Administrative inefficiencies and lack of modernization.
Impact of the Backlog: Consequences: The backlog has several negative consequences:
Delay in Justice: Cases take years to resolve.
Increased Number of Undertrials: More people are waiting in prison for their trials.
Increased Costs: Financial strain on litigants and the government.
Overburdened Judges: Burnout and further delays.
Erosion of Public Confidence: Reduced trust in the judicial system.
Efforts to Address the Issue: Solutions and Reforms: The article highlights various initiatives to tackle the backlog:
Judicial Reforms: Increasing the number of judges, improving infrastructure, and using technology (e-courts).
Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR): Promoting arbitration, mediation, and conciliation.
E-Courts and Technology: Digitizing court proceedings for online hearings and streamlined case management.
Fast Track Courts: Establishing special courts for specific types of cases to expedite proceedings.
Q: What is one of the initiatives being taken to address the backlog?
a) Reducing the number of judges
b) Discouraging the use of technology
c) Promoting Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)
d) Decreasing the number of fast-track courts
Correct Answer: c) Promoting Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Concerns Related To China’s Dam Project
A Massive Hydropower Dam: China plans to build a 60 GW hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Tsangpo) in Tibet. This project is the central focus of the news.
Scale and Context:
Capacity: 60 GW, three times the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam.
Location: Great Bend of the Brahmaputra in Medog County,Tibetan Autonomous Region.
China’s Goal: Reduce reliance on fossil fuels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
Previous Projects: China has experience with large dam projects, including the Three
Gorges Dam and Zangmu Dam.
The River: Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra.
Origin: Tibet.
Flows Through: Arunachal Pradesh (India, as Siang), Assam (India, as Brahmaputra), Bangladesh.
Basin: Extends to Bhutan (96% of its area).
Implications of the Mega-Dam Project: Environmental and Ecological Concerns:
Altered Water Flow and Sediment Reduction: Dams trap sediment, reducing soil fertility for downstream agriculture in India and Bangladesh.
Increased Risk of Flash Floods: Sudden water releases could cause devastating floods. The article emphasizes past incidents.
Biodiversity Loss and Habitat Destruction: Threat to aquatic species, including the Gangetic dolphin.
Glacial Melt and Climate Change Effects: The Tibetan Plateau is a critical region for the Earth’s cryosphere and global climate, and this project can influence climate patterns.
Seismic Risks: The dam’s location in a seismically active region raises concerns about earthquakes, landslides, and environmental degradation.
Implications of the Mega-Dam Project: Geopolitical Ramifications:
India’s Vulnerability: India fears China could use its control over the river for strategic purposes, controlling water flow.
Legal and Diplomatic Challenges:
China is not a signatory to the UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses.
The India-China Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) exists for data sharing but lacks a comprehensive treaty.
Conflict with Southeast Asian Nations: Similar concerns exist regarding the Mekong River (shared with several countries in the region).
Economic and Social Impact: Forced relocation of communities and disruption to irrigation and fishing, threatening food security.
India’s Response and Possible Strategies:
Developing its Own Water Infrastructure: Building dams and hydropower projects in Arunachal Pradesh (e.g., Siang Upper Multipurpose Project).
Strengthening Diplomacy: Engaging with Bangladesh and other regional stakeholders for a united front on water management.
Enhancing Satellite Monitoring and Early Warning Systems: Improving surveillance and flood prediction.
Exploring Legal Avenues: Seeking regional agreements or international arbitration.
In conclusion, the article highlights the significant concerns surrounding China’s ambitious hydropower project on the Brahmaputra River. These concerns span environmental, ecological, geopolitical, and economic realms, primarily impacting India and Bangladesh.
Q: What is a significant risk associated with the dam’s location in a seismically active region?
- Earthquakes and landslides
- Floods and droughts
- Tsunamis and storms
- Volcanic eruptions and wildfires
Correct Answer: a) Earthquakes and landslides
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)
The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Project
• The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project represents a groundbreaking endeavor in the field of fusion energy.
• The recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the ITER facility in France, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, underscores the project’s significance and progress.
• ITER’s mission is to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion power as a clean, sustainable, and virtually limitless energy source.
What is ITER?
• ITER is a collaborative international project initiated in 1985, aiming to construct the world’s largest magnetic fusion device.
• This ambitious undertaking seeks to harness the same principles that power the sun, leveraging the energy released from the fusion of atoms to generate electricity.
• Thousands of scientists and engineers have contributed to ITER’s design, making it a landmark effort in the pursuit of alternative energy sources.
The Tokamak: A Fusion Device
• At the heart of ITER lies the tokamak, a device designed to confine and stabilize plasma using magnetic fields. Within the tokamak, the fusion of atoms releases energy, which is then absorbed by the walls and converted into heat.
• This heat can be used to produce steam, driving turbines to generate electricity, similar to conventional power plants.
• ITER’s tokamak is slated to commence deuterium-tritium fusion reactions by 2039, marking a critical milestone in the project.
Significance of ITER
The ITER project holds immense potential for addressing global energy challenges. Fusion energy offers several compelling advantages, including:
- Abundant Energy Source: Fusion reactions can produce vast amounts of energy from minimal raw materials, such as deuterium and tritium.
- Zero Emissions: Fusion energy generates no greenhouse gas emissions, making it an attractive solution for mitigating climate change.
- Practical Application: ITER’s success is expected to pave the way for the development of practical fusion power plants, providing a clean and sustainable energy source for future generations.
How Will ITER Work?
• ITER’s primary objective is to demonstrate the concept of burning plasmas, where the energy produced by fusion reactions can sustain the plasma’s temperature.
• The project will also explore essential technologies for future fusion reactors, including tritium breeding concepts.
• By achieving this goal, ITER will take a significant step towards commercializing fusion energy.
Global Collaboration
• The ITER project is a testament to international cooperation, involving 33 nations, including seven key member states:
- China, the European Union, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States. These countries have been working together for decades to develop and operate the ITER experimental device, with the collective aim of advancing fusion technology to the point of designing a demonstration reactor.
India’s Role in ITER
• India has been a contributor to the ITER project for over two decades, with approximately 200 Indian scientists and various industry players, including major companies like L&T and TCS, actively involved.
• Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the ITER facility marks a historic moment, being the first by a Head of State to the site.
• This visit underscores India’s commitment to the project and its potential to revolutionize the global energy landscape.
Q: What is the primary goal of the ITER project?
a. To build the world’s largest solar power plant.
b. To demonstrate the feasibility of fusion power as a clean energy source.
c. To research the effects of climate change on the environment.
d. To develop new methods of fossil fuel extraction.
Correct Answer: b) To demonstrate the feasibility of fusion power as a clean energy source.
