President’s Rule in Manipur, Yalta Conference and Human-Animal Conflict

President’s rule in Manipur, Assembly under suspended animation: Centre

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure

What’s the ongoing story: Four days after N Biren Singh resigned as Chief Minister, the Centre Thursday announced that President’s rule had been imposed in Manipur and the state assembly placed under suspended animation.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Why is the president’s rule in Manipur imposed?

• During President’s Rule, which body assumes the power to legislate on state matters?

• How does Article 356 of the Constitution maintain a balance between the unitary and federal features of the Constitution?

• Analyse the political and security-related challenges that led to the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur.

Key Takeaways:

• President Droupadi Murmu’s decision, announced hours after the two Houses of Parliament adjourned to meet again on March 10 for the remainder of the Budget session, followed a report from Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.

• Before President’s rule was imposed, a security plan was prepared and the state police and intelligence agencies were monitoring movements of certain individuals to prevent any untoward incident.

• The BJP-led government in the state collapsed on February 9 when Chief Minister Biren Singh resigned, shortly after returning to Imphal from New Delhi where he held talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda.

• Accepting Singh’s resignation, the Governor issued a notification nixing the Assembly session by declaring the January order summoning the House on February 10 “null and void”.

• Earlier, the Congress had threatened to bring a no-confidence motion against Singh and his government during the Assembly session.

• In the Manipur House of 60 – Assembly elections in the state are not due until 2027 – the current strength was 59 following the death of NPP MLA N Kayisii last month.

• Of the 59 legislators, 37 were from BJP, 6 from NPP, 5 from NPF, 5 from Congress, 2 from Kuki People’s Alliance, one from JDU and three independents. Both KPA and NPP, which were part of the government, had withdrawn support after the violence. At least 2 NPP MLAs continued to back Biren Singh even after the party formally withdrew its support.

Do You Know:

• The imposition of President’s Rule under Article 356 effectively transfers all the functions of the state government to the Centre and the function of the state legislature to Parliament during the period when it is in force. The only exception to this is the functioning of High Courts, which remains unchanged.

• The process begins if the President, on receiving a report from the Governor, is “satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the Government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”.

• In this situation, the President will issue a ‘Proclamation’, which can remain in force for up to two months. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha must approve it through a resolution before this period expires for it to remain operative further. If approved, the proclamation of President’s Rule can be extended to six months and Parliament can approve further six-month extensions for up to three years.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍President’s rule imposed in Manipur: What is the provision, its history

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
1. Which of the following conditions can lead to the imposition of President’s Rule in a state?
(a) The state government is unable to function according to constitutional provisions.
(b) A state fails to comply with central directives.
(c) The Governor recommends it due to a breakdown of law and order.
(d) All of the above

US reach-out can reshape global order, open a window for India

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets President Donald Trump at the White House early on Friday (February 14) India time, a narrow focus on tariffs and immigration may obscure the broader transformations that the American president is initiating, and at a furious pace.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Examine the key agreements of the Yalta Conference (1945) and their impact on global geopolitics.

• How did the Cold War emerge as an outcome of the agreements made at the Yalta Conference?

• Compare the Yalta Conference with other major summits in history that have shaped international relations.

• Discuss the major areas of conflict and cooperation in US-Russia relations in the 21st century.

• How Trump’s outreach to Putin could reshape US foreign policy and global geopolitics.

• What role does Russia play in shaping global geopolitics today? Analyse its relationship with the US, China, and the European Union

• How does the evolving US-Russia relationship impact India’s strategic interests?

Key Takeaways:

• Locating the PM’s conversation with Trump in the context of a shifting global landscape is crucial not only for bilateral ties with the United States but also for India’s evolving role in an increasingly turbulent international order.

• Prime Minister Modi arrives at the White House at a pivotal moment, when Trump is reshaping great power relations. Of course, with Trump, one sweeping statement always runs the risk of being brushed aside by the next, and the walk-back is as predictable as the push forward.

• But if Trump does walk the talk — invoking World War II with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine — this restructuring can potentially be as significant as the Yalta summit held 80 years ago. That’s where US President Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin established a framework for the post-World War II global order.

• In his Wednesday phone call with Putin, Trump has effectively ended over a decade of treating Russia as a pariah by the West. In his social media post, Trump noted that he and Putin “reflected on the Great History of our Nations” and highlighted their successful collaboration during World War II, emphasising the need for renewed cooperation for global benefit.

Do You Know:

• This is not the first instance of Washington and Moscow seeking mutual understanding in recent years. President Joe Biden met President Putin in Geneva in June 2021, but those talks faltered due to Putin’s extensive demands, including a rollback of NATO expansion since 1997. Putin judged Biden as too weak, which led him to invade Ukraine.

• Currently, it remains unclear what Putin’s terms for peace are. However, it is reasonable to assume that Moscow is in a weaker position today than in 2021, following three years of conflict, potentially making it more receptive to a settlement.

• If circumstances align favourably — a significant “if” — Trump may travel to Moscow to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Russia’s victory day in May, basking in the joint achievement of restoring peace to Europe.

• For Putin, a “New Yalta” symbolises the US recognition of Russia as a great power and its role in shaping the international system. Trump has done just that by acknowledging Russia’s contributions during World War II.

• Putin’s war in Ukraine appears less about territorial expansion and more about asserting influence in establishing a new security order in Europe that favours Moscow over the post-Soviet arrangements of 1991.

• According to Britannica, Yalta Conference, (February 4–11, 1945), major World War II conference of the three chief Allied leaders—Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, Prime Minister Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom, and Premier Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union—which met at Yalta in Crimea to plan the final defeat and occupation of Nazi Germany.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders not ‘realistic’, says US defence chief

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
2. Which of the following was a major outcome of the Yalta Conference?
(a) The formation of the European Union
(b) The establishment of the United Nations
(c) The partition of Germany and Berlin
(d) Both (b) and (c)

Waqf Bill report: Opp protests redaction of dissent, corrigendum restores its noting’s

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

What’s the ongoing story: The tabling of the report of the Joint Committee on The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, led to disruptions and chaos in both Houses of Parliament Thursday with the Opposition alleging that its dissent notes had been deleted, and the government rejecting the charge.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is the meaning of ‘Waqf’?

• What are Waqf properties, and why do they hold importance in India’s socio-political landscape?

• What are the key legislative changes and developments in the administration of Waqf properties in India through Waqf Act?

• What are the issues concerned with Waqf Board?

• How are Hindu and Sikh endowments administered? Are their adherents non-Hindu and non-Sikh?

• Why the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 has been referred to the Joint Committee of Parliament?

• What Joint Committee on The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 said?

Key Takeaways:

• Amid the ruckus, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking in Lok Sabha, said some members of the Opposition had said that their “disputes” had not been fully included in the report. He said his party had no objection to whatever the Opposition wanted to include if the Speaker felt it appropriate as per Parliamentary procedure.

• In Rajya Sabha, BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni, who had tabled the report in the House in the morning, placed a corrigendum to Appendix 5 of the report in the post-lunch sitting. The chapter is said to contain the notes that were redacted in the report tabled earlier. As she tabled the corrigendum, an Opposition MP said it proved the House had been misled earlier.

• Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said the dissent remarks had been deleted from the report on the Bill. Calling it condemnable and anti-democratic, Kharge urged Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to reject the report and send it back. He said statements of non-stakeholders were not included in the report.

Do You Know:

• According to PIB, Waqf refers to properties dedicated exclusively for religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law, and any other use or sale of the property is prohibited.
—Waqf means that the ownership of the property is now taken away from the person making Waqf and transferred and detained by Allah.
— ‘Waqif’ is a person who creates a waqf for the beneficiary.
—As Waqf properties are bestowed upon Allah, in the absence of a physically tangible entity, a ‘mutawalli’ is appointed by the waqif, or by a competent authority, to manage or administer a Waqf. —Once designated as waqf, the ownership is transferred from the person making the waqf (waqif) to Allah, making it irrevocable.

• The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 changes the composition of the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards to include non-Muslim members.
—The Survey Commissioner has been replaced by the Collector, granting him powers to conduct surveys of waqf properties.
—Government property identified as waqf will cease to be waqf. Collector will determine ownership of such properties.
—Finality of the Tribunal’s decisions has been revoked. The Bill provides for direct appeal to the High Court.

• Waqf properties in India are governed by the Waqf Act, 1995. However, India has had a legal regime for the governance of Waqfs since 1913, when the Muslim Waqf Validating Act came into force. The Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923 followed. After Independence, the Central Waqf Act, 1954, was enacted, which was ultimately replaced by the Waqf Act, 1995.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Explained: The proposed changes to Waqf law

UPSC Previous Year Mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍How is the Indian concept of secularism different from the western model of secularism? Discuss. (2018)

UP, Maharashtra & Bengal lead Rlys push for station makeovers

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: 

• General Studies III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

• General Studies III: Investment models.

What’s the ongoing story: An ambitious plan to turn railway stations across the country into city centres has got an impetus in the recent Union Budget, with the Centre setting aside over Rs 12,000 crore towards it in the financial year 2025-26.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Investment Models-Know about them

• Types of Investment Models-know in detail

• Public Investment Model, Private investment model and public-private partnership model-Compare and contrast

• Models of Public Private Partnership (PPP)-What are they?

• Evaluate the success and limitations of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in the redevelopment of railway stations in India.

• Discuss the role of railway station redevelopment in India’s infrastructure growth and economic development.

• Compare India’s railway station modernization initiatives with similar global projects. What lessons can India learn?

Key Takeaways:

• Of the 1,337 stations identified for a makeover, Uttar Pradesh has the most (157), officials told The Indian Express, followed by Maharashtra (132), West Bengal (101), Bihar (98), Gujarat (87), Rajasthan (85), Madhya Pradesh (80), Tamil Nadu (77), Andhra Pradesh (73), Karnataka (61), Odisha (59), Jharkhand (57) and Assam (50).

• Work is finished on six – Madhya Pradesh’s Rani Kamlapati Station, Gujarat’s Gandhinagar Capital Station, Karnataka’s Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal Station, Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya Dham Railway Station, the first phase of Gomti Nagar Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh, and the second entry of Odisha’s Cuttack Railway Station.

• Apart from air-conditioning and modern amenities, the intent is to give each station a local touch. For instance, the three-storeyed Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station — renamed after it was redeveloped at a cost of more than Rs 240 crore and inaugurated in 2021– boasts of a temple-like façade, depictions from the Ramayana and other motifs in the halls and railway platforms.

Do You Know:

• The Indian Railways spent Rs 8,000 crore on the project in FY 2023-24 and allocated Rs 12,993 crore in FY 2024-45.

• Estimated to cost the government Rs 1 lakh crore, the project envisions airport-like facilities such as executive lounges and business centres, food plazas and retail shops, and free WiFi, peppered with local art and culture, to come up at these select railway stations.

• According to officials, most stations are being redeveloped through the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model, under which a contractor handles a project from start to finish. However, 20 projects — such as Pune, Delhi junction, Vijayawada, and Chennai Central — are being implemented in a Public Private Partnership Mode, an arrangement between government and private entities for public assets or services.

• The scheme was designed after taking “learnings from earlier schemes that could not achieve its objective”, a senior official from the Railways Ministry said.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Why Railways Amendment Bill 2024 was introduced, how MPs reacted to it

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
3. The station redevelopment program in India is being implemented under which model?
(a) Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
(b) Direct government funding
(c) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
(d) CSR Initiatives

THE EDITORIAL PAGE

The heat of the moment

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies I: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

What’s the ongoing story: Syed Ata Hasnain Writes: A common understanding among most people in India is that disasters and accidents are meant for their neighbours and the many unknown people “out there”.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is a heat wave?

• Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) criteria for Heat Waves?

• What is the present situation of Heat Waves in India?

• What is the reason behind prolonged heat wave in India?

• What is the Impact of Heat Waves?

• India Meteorological Department (IMD)-About, Role and Objectives

• What role does the India Meteorological Department (IMD) play in heatwave preparedness? Suggest how technological advancements can improve early warning systems.

Key Takeaways:

Syed Ata Hasnain Writes:

• Climate change has enhanced the frequency of disasters and, among them, a silent killer is the heatwave, particularly for our country. India is experiencing more frequent, prolonged and severe heatwaves.

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which manages public policy on disasters, has classified heatwaves as a serious hazard and taken it upon itself to enhance public awareness in this sphere.

• The Paris Summit’s goal of keeping global temperature rise below 2 degrees Centigrade above pre-industrial levels is now almost impossible to achieve, according to an analysis by Professor James Hansen. January 2025 was the 18th month in the last 19 when the global average surface air temperature breached the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold.

• The impact of these extreme weather events is multifaceted, affecting public health, agriculture, energy supply, and overall economic stability. Ninety per cent of Indians are vulnerable to heat-related health issues. The strain on healthcare systems is overburdening facilities, particularly in rural areas.

• The economy faces productivity losses as the majority of the workforce works outdoors. The World Bank estimates that India could account for 34 million job losses due to heat-stress-related productivity declines by 2030.

• Elevated temperatures accelerate evaporation and increase water demand, straining already limited water resources. Fifty-four per cent of India’s land is experiencing high-to-extreme-high water stress, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI).

• The use of groundwater has led to a decline in water levels. Demand for water is increasing, while supply is not keeping pace. India has 18 per cent of the world population and only 4 per cent of its fresh water.

• Heatwaves can significantly affect the power industry in India in several ways including increased demand: Cooling needs – air conditioners and other cooling systems — during heatwaves lead to a surge in demand. This has an impact on the availability of power for industries and poses a challenge for the manufacturing sector.

• Recognising all of the above, the NDMA, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, has played an active role in helping states, districts and cities develop Heat Action Plans (HAPs) — a structured approach to mitigating heatwave impacts.

Do You Know:

• According to the National Disaster Management Authority, a Heat Wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the North-Western parts of India. Heat Waves typically occur between March and June, and in some rare cases even extend till July. The extreme temperatures and resultant atmospheric conditions adversely affect people living in these regions as they cause physiological stress, sometimes resulting in death.

• The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has given the following criteria for Heat Waves :
—Heat Wave need not be considered till maximum temperature of a station reaches atleast 40°C for Plains and atleast 30°C for Hilly regions
—When normal maximum temperature of a station is less than or equal to 40°C Heat Wave Departure from normal is 5°C to 6°C Severe Heat Wave Departure from normal is 7°C or more
—When normal maximum temperature of a station is more than 40°C Heat Wave Departure from normal is 4°C to 5°C Severe Heat Wave Departure from normal is 6°C or more
—When actual maximum temperature remains 45°C or more irrespective of normal maximum temperature, heat waves should be declared.
—Higher daily peak temperatures and longer, more intense heat waves are becomingly increasingly frequent globally due to climate change.

• India too is feeling the impact of climate change in terms of increased instances of heat waves which are more intense in nature with each passing year, and have a devastating impact on human health thereby increasing the number of heat wave casualties.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍How the climate crisis has intensified marine heatwaves across the world

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
4. Which of the following is NOT a direct consequence of heatwaves?
(a) Increased mortality and heat-related illnesses
(b) Decline in agricultural productivity
(c) Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
(d) Increased energy demand for cooling

EXPRESS NETWORK

Space cameras to paint: A slice of ISRO mission tech in daily lives

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

What’s the ongoing story: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), an independent body under the Department of Space to regulate and promote private space industry in India, has identified at least 166 technologies developed for various ISRO missions that can be shared with industry to be utilised for other purposes.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss how ISRO’s space technologies have been successfully transferred to civilian applications in sectors such as transport, healthcare, and agriculture.

• How do technologies developed for Chandrayaan and other space missions contribute to innovations in industries such as automotive safety and materials engineering?

• Examine the role of the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) in facilitating the commercial application of ISRO’s technologies.

• What are the challenges associated with technology transfer from ISRO to private industries?

• Suggest policy measures to enhance collaboration between the space sector and private enterprises.

Key Takeaways:

• While some materials and sensors are already being utilised by space start-ups in their own launch vehicles or satellites, several technologies have been offered to industries like automotive and construction.

• “All these technologies have been developed by ISRO for its own utilisation, whether in launch vehicles or satellites. Now, they can be used in other fields. For example, the camera, software and algorithms used for Chandrayaan-3 landing can be used by the automotive industry to prevent collisions. Or the pressure sensors that are used to keep a check on propellants during a launch can be used to determine when airbags should open,” Rajeev Jyoti, director, technical directorate, IN-SPACe, tells The Indian Express.

• So far, 79 memorandums of understanding — all non-exclusive — have been signed with private companies for transfer of such technology. Since all these agreements are non-exclusive, this technology can be shared with multiple companies, though ISRO continues to hold the intellectual property rights.

Do You Know:

• Over the years, space exploration has led to the development of technologies that have improved daily lives. Daily-use items like cell phone cameras, air purifiers, memory foam mattresses or reflective blankets used in emergencies all came from research by the United States-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for its own missions.

• While IN-SPACe recently showcased its technologies to the automotive industry, director Jyoti says several other industries, like construction, logistics and electrical, could benefit from their use too.

• One of the technologies on offer is the 3D LiDAR (Light Imaging Detection and Ranging) camera, developed by the Space Application Centre for navigation in space. The camera generates a 3D image with information on the depth of various objects in the frame. The camera provides this information by correlating the light reflected from these objects. This technology could have multiple uses, including detection and counting of people in heavily crowded places like markets, measurement of parcels before they are posted, near-terrain flight assistance for helicopters and hazard or pedestrian detection to avoid collisions.

• In the field of healthcare, body measurements, like waist and hip size, done using the 3D LiDAR camera could be used to predict the risk of lifestyle diseases. This technology may also have an impact in the field of home devices, including gesture recognition in mobile phones, televisions or gaming platforms.

• The space agency will also transfer its technology on developing cost-effective lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries. It will help in greening the transportation systems as li-ion batteries are essential for upcoming sectors like electric vehicles.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Story of NavIC: crucial indigenous SatNav system, a few hurdles in development path

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
5. Which of the following ISRO-derived technologies is used in water purification?
(a) Polymer-based water filters
(b) Zeolite-based filtration
(c) UV-based disinfection systems
(d) Reverse osmosis membranes

Draft amendment to Advocates Act proposes court boycotts’ ban, Centre’s nominees in BCI

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

What’s the ongoing story: The Union government proposed an amendment to the Advocates Act, 1961, which, among other things, would prohibit advocates from boycotting and abstaining from courts’ work, and have three members nominated by the central government in the Bar Council of India.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the role of the Advocates Act, 1961 in regulating legal practice in India. How do the proposed amendments seek to change this framework?

• What are the challenges associated with the self-regulation of the legal profession in India?

• Do you think government-nominated members in the Bar Council of India will help in addressing these challenges?

• Examine the role of the Bar Council of India in maintaining professional ethics and regulating legal education in India. What reforms are necessary to enhance its effectiveness?

• Analyse the proposal to ban lawyer strikes in the context of judicial efficiency and fundamental rights.

• What are the reasons behind frequent strikes by lawyers in India? Suggest alternative mechanisms to address their grievances while ensuring the smooth functioning of courts.

Key Takeaways:

• The draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was published by the Law and Justice Ministry Thursday to seek comments until February 28.

• The draft amendment introduces a new Section 35A: “No association of advocates or any member of the association or any advocate, either individually or collectively, shall give a call for boycott or abstinence from courts’ work or boycott or abstain from courts’ work or cause obstruction in any form in courts’ functioning or in court premises.”

• Any violation of this would be treated as misconduct and will be liable for disciplinary action under the Act and regulations, it says. However, the draft does provide for an exception. “Provided advocates may participate in a strike only when it does not impede the administration of justice such as strikes intended to bring attention to legitimate concerns about professional conduct, working conditions, or administrative matters and may include symbolic or one-day token strikes, as long as they are conducted in a way that does not disrupt court proceedings or violate clients’ rights,” it says.

• Another new Section, 49B, that is proposed to be added pertains to the “power of Central government to give directions”, which says that
“the Central Government may give such directions to Bar Council of India as may appear to the Central Government to be necessary for carrying into execution any of the provisions of this Act or of any rule or order made thereunder.”

Do You Know:

• The draft amendment also expands the definition of a law graduate and a legal practitioner. So far, a law graduate is defined as anyone who obtains a Bachelor’s law degree from any university established by law in India.

• According to the proposed amendment, a law graduate means a person who has obtained a “Bachelor’s degree in law of three or five years or such other duration as prescribed, from any Center of Legal Education or University established by Law or a college affiliated to any university and recognized by Bar Council of India.”

• The definition of a legal practitioner is proposed to be changed to include corporate lawyers as well as those working with foreign law firms.

• The draft amendment increases the punishment for illegally practising in any court, that is anyone other than an advocate, from the existing six months’ imprisonment to one year imprisonment and/or a fine of up to `2 lakh.

• In its notice inviting comments, the Law Ministry said the draft amendment was a part of the government’s ongoing reform agenda.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Why Parliament passed the Advocates Amendment Bill, which aims to weed out ‘touts’

Human-wildlife conflict claimed 460 lives in Kerala in 5 years, RS told

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change

Main Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story: As Kerala’s Wayanad district grapples with the deaths of four people in 48 hours due to elephant attacks, the Union environment ministry has informed the Rajya Sabha that the state recorded 460 deaths and 4,527 injuries due to human-wildlife conflict in the 2020-2024 period.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is human-animal conflict in India?

• What are the major causes of human-animal conflict in India?

• Rising human-animal conflict in Kerala-Know in brief

• What present data on Elephants in India says?

• Human-animal conflict is the biggest challenge in India and Animal adoption scheme will be icebreaker-discuss

• Have you heard of Project Elephant?

• Map Work-Elephant reserves in India

Key Takeaways:

• Palakkad district, with 101 deaths, had the highest mortality rate in the state due to conflicts with animals, followed by Thrissur with 56, Malappuram with 45 and Wayanad with 26.

• The ministry’s written response came in reply to a question from the Indian Union Muslim League’s P V Abdul Wahab, who enquired about mortalities and injuries linked to animal attacks in Kerala.

• Kerala recorded 82 such deaths in 2024, 100 each in 2023 and 2022, and 104 and 74 in 2021 and 2020, respectively. In 2024 alone, 926 people were injured in conflicts with animals. Last week, the ministry said that 102 people had died due to elephant attacks in the state.

• The issue of human-wildlife conflict has been raised in the Rajya Sabha by members of Kerala’s Opposition Congress as well as the ruling CPM. Both parties are advocating amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 to prioritise human safety.

Do You Know:

• The human-wildlife management issue has also been discussed by the National Board for Wildlife, India’s premier body on wildlife conservation. In the board’s last meeting on December 21, 2024, Kerala’s chief wildlife warden and top wildlife officials from other states suggested that a national policy should be developed for managing human-wildlife conflict.

• A 2018 study by Dehradun’s Wildlife Institute of India and the Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation in Kerala,held to form a strategy to reduce human-animal conflict, has found two major drivers of human-animal conflict in the state.

• First is the decline in the quality of forest habitats, largely due to the cultivation of alien plants — mainly acacia, mangium and eucalyptus — in forest tracts for commercial purposes. With 30,000 hectares of forest land in Kerala being used for cultivation of these species, animals are deprived of their natural habitat and food sources. Moreover, these water-guzzling species also strain the forest’s natural water resources. Elephants are among the worst-affected species due to this. Invasive species such as lantana, mikania and senna, planted by forest department over decades, have also hindered growth of natural vegitation in forests.

• While the Kerala forest department banned the cultivation of acacia and eucalyptus in forest tracts in 2018, the process of regenerating natural forests, such that animals do not face shortage of food and water, will take time. So far only 1115 hectors of forest could be reconverted into natural habitats through eco-restoration process.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Death in Wayanad: What is behind Kerala’s rising human-animal conflict

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
6. With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:
1. The leader of an elephant group is female.
2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.
3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.
4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 4 only
c) 3 only
d) 1, 3 and 4 only

EXPLAINED

What’s new in I-T Bill, 2025

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

Main Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

What’s the ongoing story: The Income-tax Bill, 2025, which was introduced in Lok Sabha on Thursday, intends to simplify India’s six-decade-old structure of direct taxation by streamlining provisions, removing obsolete references, and creating a crisper and simpler legal framework.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the key features of the Income Tax Bill, 2025. How does it differ from the Income Tax Act, 1961?

• Examine the rationale behind the introduction of the ‘tax year’ concept in the Income Tax Bill, 2025. How can it improve tax compliance in India?

• How does the Income Tax Bill, 2025 aim to simplify tax structures in India? What are its potential advantages and challenges?

• Analyse the impact of the proposed changes in the Income Tax Bill, 2025 on individual taxpayers and corporate entities.

• How will the rationalization of exemptions and deductions affect different income groups in India?

• Examine the expected impact of the new Income Tax Bill, 2025 on India’s Ease of Doing Business ranking.

Key Takeaways:

• In FAQs released on Thursday, the Income Tax Department said the Bill is straightforward, clear, and easier to understand, with more than 57 tables compared to 18 in The Income-tax Act, 1961. Details that are of direct interest to taxpayers, including deductions, TDS/ TCS rates, and exemptions have been provided in tabular form.

• It is shorter — all provisos (about 1,200) and explanations (about 900) have been removed, the word count almost halved to 2.60 lakh from 5.12 lakh, and all redundant provisions, including those for capital gains, deductions, and dispute resolution that have seen amendments over the years, omitted.

• There is no major change in the direct taxation structure, ensuring continuity and stability. The Bill differs from the existing Act in one significant way: while it specifies deductions for rent paid, life and health insurance premia, contribution to provident fund, and home loan among others, it does not provide a table for the tax rates for the old tax regime. Tax slabs in the new tax regime are provided in tabular format.

Do You Know:

• The Bill is 622 pages long, about 24% shorter than the 823-page Income-tax Act (updated until 2024). There is a focus on simpler language.

• There are 23 chapters, fewer than half the 47 chapters in The Income-tax Act. There are 16 schedules, two more than in the Act.

• The Bill introduces the concept of “tax year”, which has been defined as the 12-month period beginning April 1.

• In case of a business or a newly-set-up profession, the tax year will begin from the date it was set up, and will end with the said financial year. Income tax will be levied on the basis of the economic activity and income earned in a tax year.

• At present, income tax has the concept of “assessment year” (AY), which assesses tax on income earned in the “previous (financial) year”. For instance, income earned in the financial year (FY) 2024-25 (April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025) is assessed in AY 2025-26 (beginning April 1, 2025).

• Prior to 1989, the concepts of “previous year” and “assessment year” were there because taxpayers could have different 12-month previous years for each source of income.
From April 1, 1989, the previous year was aligned to the FY in all cases. However, AY continued to be used for various proceedings under the Act. Thus, a taxpayer had to track two different periods, the previous year and the AY, the FAQs say.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍How the new I-T Bill is different: Shorter, simplified, brings in concept of ‘tax year’

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
7. Which of the following is a new concept introduced in the Income Tax Bill, 2025?
(a) Tax year concept
(b) New Goods and Services Tax (GST) provisions
(c) Double taxation on corporate income
(d) Mandatory wealth tax on all income groups

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