THE CONTEXT: The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019’s implementation before elections raises concerns of political exploitation and legal challenges.The CAA’s timing, discriminatory norms, and political messaging have sparked controversy and debates on constitutional principles and equality.

ISSUES:

• Timing of Implementation: The decision to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019 just before the general election raises concerns about potential political exploitation.
• Legal Challenge: The CAA faces legal challenges before the Supreme Court of India, questioning its constitutionality and timing of implementation. It is argued that the CAA violates Article 14 of the Constitution by using religion as a criterion for citizenship eligibility, raising questions about equality and secularism.
• Discriminatory Norms: Criticism surrounds the CAA for its discriminatory nature, favoring specific religious communities for citizenship eligibility, potentially excluding others.
• Link to National Register of Citizens (NRC): There are fears that the CAA, coupled with the NRC, could lead to targeting Muslims and create uncertainties about citizenship status.
• Political Messaging: The CAA is being used for political messaging by the ruling party, emphasizing a religious underpinning in policies, which has sparked controversy and opposition. While the CAA aims to expedite citizenship for minorities from neighboring countries, concerns remain about its impact on minority rights and the exclusion of certain groups.
• Implementation Process: The rules unveiled for implementing the CAA introduce stringent processes that limit State interference, potentially impacting how the law is enforced across different regions.

THE WAY FORWARD:

• Addressing Discriminatory Norms: To mitigate concerns about discrimination, amendments to the CAA could be considered to remove the religious criteria for citizenship eligibility, ensuring a more inclusive approach.
• Ensuring Equality: Emphasizing equality before the law and protecting the rights of all individuals, regardless of religion, is crucial. Any modifications to the CAA should align with constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination.
• Separating CAA from NRC: Clarifying and separating the Citizenship (Amendment) Act from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) could help alleviate fears of targeting specific religious groups and ensure a more transparent and fair process.
• Consultation and Dialogue: Engaging in meaningful consultations with stakeholders, including minority communities, legal experts, and civil society organizations, can help in understanding diverse perspectives and formulating solutions that address concerns effectively.
• Legal Reforms: Considering legal reforms to ensure that the CAA upholds constitutional values, respects human rights, and does not infringe on the rights of any community is essential for building a more inclusive and just citizenship framework.
• Transparency in Implementation: Ensuring transparency in the implementation of the CAA, including clear guidelines, oversight mechanisms, and safeguards against misuse or discrimination, can enhance trust in the process and alleviate apprehensions.

THE CONCLUSION:

Addressing discrimination, ensuring equality, and separating the CAA from the NRC are crucial steps forward. Consultation, legal reforms, transparency in implementation, and a humanitarian approach can help navigate the challenges posed by the CAA. By upholding constitutional values, fostering dialogue, and promoting accountability, India can move towards a more inclusive and just citizenship framework.

UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTION:

Q.1 Two parallel run schemes of the Government viz. the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and litigations. On merits, discuss whether both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve developmental benefits and equitable growth. (2014)

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:

Q.1 Discuss the key issues surrounding the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, highlighting concerns related to its discriminatory norms, legal challenges, and political implications.

SOURCE:

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/wrong-messaging-on-the-citizenship-amendment-act-2019/article67947078.ece

THE CONTEXT: India’s traditional social protection is not in line with one of the fastest growing economies in the world. India’s social protection needs to be reshaped to address increased poverty vulnerability and increased uneven playing field.

ISSUES:

• Outdated social protections system: India’s social protection system was founded in the 1970s, when half of the population was chronically poor. The country suffered from aggregate food deficit, minimal rural infrastructure penetration, rudimentary technologies for programme administration, and only around a fifth of the population lived in urban areas. The country has undergone vast changes in the last three decades, becoming the fastest urbanising country in the world, and the fastest growing major economy in the world. However, social protection system became outdated to tackle the needs of a highly mobile population, and a large group of people that is likely to continue to grow as economic growth and urbanisation accelerate.
• Not addressing urban poverty: Although India has reduced poverty, new sources of poverty and vulnerability have emerged. The share of rural poor has reduced, but the share of urban poor has increased. Urban poverty is a rising concern due to the combination of a fast pace of urbanisation and slower rates of urban poverty decline. The urban poor work in the unorganised sector in cities, without social protection, and face a greater risk of falling into poverty. Unfortunately, the current social protection priorities remain heavily focused on reducing poverty in the rural areas and ignores the urban areas.
• Unavailability of insurance: Insurance-based interventions remain in their infancy in terms of coverage in the unorganised sector. Despite attempts to introduce new programmes for unorganised sector workers, insurance against life’s major shocks such as health, old age, disability, and death has not been available to the vast majority of the population.
• Low return on spending: While India spends significant resources close to 4 per cent of GDP on its core safety net programmes, the return on spending in terms of poverty reduction has been low.
• Lack of coordination: Lack of coordination and overlap in delivery of programmes both within and across levels of government adds to reduced impact of social programmes on poverty.
• Lack of resources: Lack of financial and human resource capacity at the Block and Gram Panchayat levels worsens the challenge of service delivery.
  

THE WAY FORWARD:

• Match the pace of change: The social protection system needs to be reshaped to match the fast pace of change and the expectations of people. India needs second-generation social protection instruments to deal with economic modernisation and the new risks and vulnerabilities it brings.
• Address urban poverty: There is a need to address the urban poverty. It can be achieved by three-pronged approach:

a) enhancement of productive employment and income for the poor

b) improvement in general health and welfare services

c) improvement in infrastructure and the built environment for urban poor neighbourhoods.

• Shift from traditional to modern: There is a need to move from the traditional system, based on growth vs equity trade-offs, into a modern system that both promotes growth and reduces poverty. It is time to reflect on where it is headed in the coming decade and reform it so that it can cope better with the new and emerging trends in poverty, inequality, and vulnerability in India.
• Deepen ongoing policy orientation: There is a need to deepen the ongoing policy reorientation of the social protection system to meet the changing and increasingly diverse needs of its population. It can be done by increasing the emphasis on preventive programmes and social insurance instrument and shift away from loan waivers and administratively driven subsidised credit better suited to the labour market conditions.
• India needs a new social contract: Modernising social protection can help make social assistance more adaptable and resilient. India’s economic growth and the pandemic have changed the needs of its social protection system and risk groups. Social protection systems can help protect the most vulnerable from economic shocks. Social safety nets and social insurance schemes can reduce inequality and poverty by providing income support and consumption smoothing.
• Rationalisation of social protection: The number of social protection programmes need to be reduced, as India has too many of these schemes there are nearly 440 schemes under direct benefit transfer at present. There is a need to devise strategy on how these different schemes can be consolidated in a way that preserves fiscal balance is urgently needed.
• Public private partnerships (PPP): India is a rapidly developing middle-income country now, and there is a huge potential for using public private partnerships (PPP) to maximise finance for social safety nets. ‘Build and operate’ is increasingly common in social infrastructure programmes. Healthcare facilities, prisons, and public housing can be constructed under PPPs. The PPP model can also stretch into the operation of the facilities, which enables the private sector in charge not just to construct social infrastructure but also to operate the services afterwards, encouraging operational innovation.

THE CONCLUSION:

The goals of social protection and social policies are guarantee that the poor have a minimally acceptable standard of living and to prepare them for a constructive role in economic, social, and political life. If the social protection system is modernised, the benefits for the poor could be substantial, creating more jobs and making growth significantly more inclusive. India’s social protection system needs to modernise to serve the risks and needs emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic, rapid urbanisation, structural transformations in the labour market, and climate change.

UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1 Does the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 ensure effective mechanism for empowerment and inclusion of the intended beneficiaries in the society? Discuss. (2017)

Q.2 In countries like India, social security in its modern form has been a response to many issues arising out of the development process. Discuss. (2019)

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.1 India needs to move on from the traditional system, based on growth vs equity trade-offs, into a modern system that both promotes growth and reduces poverty. Critically analyse the statement.

SOURCE: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/reshaping-social-protection-in-india-2935604

• Even after seven decades of Independence, the gendered writing of our history and popular narratives present only men as the architects of our Constitution.
• It has to be noted that among the 299-member Constituent Assembly, there were 15 women from diverse backgrounds who argued over a range of topics from reservations, minority rights, legislative finances to the Uniform Civil Code.
• For example, during the debate around the Hindu Code Bill, members like Durgabai Deshmukh and Hansa Kumari made strong arguments for a Uniform Civil Code, which they believed would ensure more equality for women.
• Dakshayani Velayudhan and Begum Aziaz Rasul argued against reservations and separate electorates for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. They believed that reservations would maintain an unbridgeable gap between minorities and the majority.

ANNIE MASCARENE

• Annie Mascarene was born in 1902 and worked as a lawyer and politician in Travancore.
• She fought to integrate the princely state of Travancore into the newly independent India and became the first woman to hold a ministerial and legislative assembly position in Travancore.
• In the Constituent Assembly debates she firmly believed in the centralisation of power for a smooth functioning of a democracy.
• She also warned against complete centralisation which would negatively affect the nature of democratic institutions.

HANSA JIVRAJ MEHTA

• She was a staunch freedom fighter, women’s rights activist and member of the Constituent Assembly.
• On August 15, 1947 as the country celebrated its Independence she presented the country’s first national flag on behalf of the women of India.
• Mehta remained committed to women’s issues throughout her life and, in the Constituent Assembly, made strong arguments against reservations for women.
• She stated “What we have asked for is social justice, economic justice and political justice, not reserved seats for quotas and separate electorates,”.
• She had also served on the board of UNESCO and became the first Vice Chancellor of MS University in Baroda.

DAKSHAYANI VELAYUDHAN

• Dakshayani Velayudhan was born into the Pulaya community of Kerala and faced acute discrimination from the upper caste communities in Cochin and Travancore.
• She affirmed that the Constituent Assembly does not just “provide a new framework for the country but also grants the people a new framework of life”.
• She was a Gandhian and opposed untouchability. She supported Article 17 of the Constitution which abolishes untouchability.
• She did not pursue electoral politics but was actively involved in social work in Delhi.

AMRIT KAUR

• Amrit Kaur played an important role both during the freedom struggle and in shaping independent India.
• She joined Gandhi in the Civil Disobedience movement in 1930 and was passionate about the political participation of women.
• She advocated for universal adult franchise and did not believe in reservations for women. She believed that true equality would only be gained when women made it to the legislature through ordinary elections rather than through reservations.
• She advocated for the Uniform Civil Code along with Hansa Mehta and wanted to replace “free practice of religion” with “freedom of religious worship” in the draft Constitution.
• She carried with her a spinning wheel, the Bhagwad Gita and the Bible when she was jailed after the Quit India Movement.
• She had also served as the first women Health Minister and founded renowned institutions like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

AMMU SWAMINATHAN

• Ammu Swaminathan was a social worker, politician and anti-caste activist. Despite being born into an upper caste family, Swaminathan actively fought to erase caste-based discrimination in India.
• She started becoming politically involved in 1917 when she formed the Women’s India Association along with Annie Besant to address the social and economic problems of women workers.
• In the Constituent Assembly, she supported the adult franchise and the removal of untouchability.
• She advocated for the Child Marriage Restraint Act and Age of Consent Act and the various Hindu Code Bills that pushed for reform in Hindu religious laws.

DURGABAI DESHMUKH

• Durgabai Deshmukh was remembered as the ‘Mother of Social Work’ and one of the drivers of rigorous nation-building and social reform.
• She was born in 1909 in Andhra Pradesh and noticed cruel customs and poor treatment of women around herself.
• When she was jailed during the Salt Satyagraha, she observed that several women were imprisoned for crimes they did not even commit.
• She decided to become a lawyer and pioneered the Andhra Mahila Sabha in 1937, which became an institution of education and social welfare.
• In the Constituent Assembly, she weighed in on judicial matters and advocated lowering the age from 35 to 30 to hold a seat in the Council of Ministers.
• After Independence, she also served in the Planning Commission as a leader of social services and became the chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB).

BEGUM AIZAZ RASUL

• Begum Aizaz Rasul was born into a princely family in Punjab and was introduced to politics early on.
• She was the only Muslim woman member in the Constituent Assembly and advocated for minority rights in a secular state.
• However, she opposed reservations and separate electorates on communal lines.

She stated in the Constituent Assembly in 1948 “Reservation is a self-destructive weapon which separates the minorities from the majority for all time,”.

• She was also the President of the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation and established the All India Women’s Hockey Association for 20 years.

VIJAYA LAXMI PANDIT

• Vijaya Laxmi Pandit was a diplomat and revolutionary and was the first woman cabinet minister in the British era.
• She was also one of the first leaders to call for an Indian constituent assembly to frame a Constitution.
• In the Assembly, Pandit emphasised the responsibilities of a free India towards its citizens and other countries.
• After independence, Pandit became the face of India on a global stage. She was the only woman delegate at the United Nations Organisation Conference.
• She was also the first woman President of the UN General Assembly in 1953.

CONCLUSION:

These women advocated for a kind of India that would bear that imprint of both men and women. Their foremost goal was economic, social and political equality for everyone in society. Despite being on the receiving end of distasteful comments from several Constituency Assembly members, these women spoke their minds and played a crucial role in scripting the sovereign and secular republic of India.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/research/the-women-who-wrote-the-constitution-of-india-9198311/

TAG: GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s launch of the ‘Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan and Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan’ (PM-SURAJ) national portal marks a significant step towards empowering marginalized communities in India.

EXPLANATION:

• This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to prioritizing the welfare and inclusion of underprivileged sections of society.
• Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to prioritizing the underprivileged during the launch of the PM-SURAJ portal.
• He emphasized the importance of reaching out to marginalized communities and ensuring their active participation in the nation’s development process.
• His emotional connection to these communities underscores the government’s dedication to their upliftment.

Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan (PM-SURAJ) portal:

• Launched by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
• Aim: The Portal is aimed at offering credit support to the marginalized segments of society.
• People from disadvantaged sections like SCs, STs and OBCs are the biggest beneficiaries of this welfare scheme.
• The national portal aims to provide credit support to eligible individuals across the country, including Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, and sanitation workers.
• This initiative is set to facilitate financial empowerment and enable entrepreneurship opportunities for the most disadvantaged sections of society.
• The credit support will be provided to eligible persons across the country, facilitated through banks, NBFC-MFIs, and other organisations.

Direct Financial Assistance:

• The significance of initiatives like PM-SURAJ, which provide direct financial assistance to beneficiaries, eliminating intermediaries and ensuring transparency in welfare delivery has been highlighted.
• This approach aims to empower individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing them with the means to improve their socio-economic status.

Welfare Measures for Marginalized Sectors:

• The Prime Minister outlined various initiatives aimed at empowering marginalized sectors, including:
  • Doubling assistance to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
  • Increasing scholarships for youth from marginalized communities.
  • Promoting entrepreneurship through schemes like Mudra Yojna and Standup India Scheme.
  • Ensuring essential amenities like gas connections, bank accounts, and toilets for marginalized communities.

Financial Commitment and Accountability:

• The government’s substantial financial commitment to the welfare of SC communities, amounting to nearly Rs. 1.60 lakh crore in the current year alone.
• The administration’s focus is on accountability and transparency in utilizing funds, signaling a departure from previous allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

Education and Employment Opportunities:

• The government is committed to education by citing increased scholarships and opportunities for marginalized youth.
• Measures such as reservation in medical seats, support for overseas education, and enhanced funding for academic fellowships has been taken.

SOURCE: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-launches-pm-suraj-portal-to-benefit-marginalised-sector-101710337290902.html

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The initiation of ‘core loading’ at India’s first indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, represents a significant milestone in the country’s ambitious three-stage nuclear power program.

EXPLANATION:

• This achievement underscores India’s commitment to developing comprehensive nuclear capabilities and securing its energy future.
• Core loading involves the placement of nuclear fuel assemblies inside the reactor core, marking the initial step towards achieving ‘criticality’ — the self-sustaining nuclear fission reaction necessary for power generation.
• Prime Minister’s presence at the commencement of this process highlights the government’s support for nuclear energy development.

Evolution of India’s FBR Program:

• India’s FBR program dates back two decades, with the establishment of the Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (BHAVINI) under the leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• The program aims to complement the existing nuclear power infrastructure and pave the way for utilizing thorium reserves in subsequent stages.

Three-Stage Nuclear Power Program:

• India’s nuclear power strategy consists of three stages:
  • PHWR Development: Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) utilizing natural uranium as fuel are the cornerstone of the first stage, with 22 commercial reactors operated by NPCIL.
  • FBR Implementation: The second stage focuses on deploying Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) to multiply fissile material inventory, crucial for advancing to the third stage.
  • Thorium Utilization: The third stage involves harnessing thorium reserves to produce U233 through Advanced Heavy Water Reactors (AHWRs), ensuring long-term energy security.

Conversion of Fertile to Fissile Material:

• FBRs play a pivotal role in converting ‘fertile material’ (e.g., U238 and Th232) into fissile material (e.g., Pu239 and U233).
• This conversion process is essential for sustaining nuclear fission reactions and generating power efficiently.

Transmutation and Fuel Cycle:

• The use of Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel in FBRs facilitates nuclear transmutation, wherein U238 in the ‘blanket’ surrounding the fuel core undergoes conversion to Pu239.
• Additionally, thorium blankets are envisaged to produce U233 through transmutation, enabling its utilization in the third stage.

Technological Advancements and Cost Considerations:

• Despite the advanced technology involved, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) asserts that the capital and operational costs of FBRs are comparable to other nuclear and conventional power plants.
• This cost-effectiveness is crucial for ensuring the viability of nuclear energy as a sustainable energy source.

Future Prospects and Energy Security:

• India’s nuclear program aims to increase nuclear power’s share in the energy mix, with plans to generate 22,400 MWe by 2032.
• The construction of new PHWRs in ‘fleet mode’ and collaborations such as the India-US civil nuclear deal further bolster India’s nuclear ambitions and energy security.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-first-indigenous-fast-breeder-reactor-kalpakkam-nuclear-9212492/

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Methane Tracker 2024 reveals that methane emissions from fossil fuel use in 2023 were alarmingly high, nearing record levels at 120 million tonnes (Mt).

EXPLANATION:

• Despite minor fluctuations compared to 2022, the persistent emission of methane poses a significant challenge to global climate goals.

Top Emitters and Regional Trends:

• Of the total methane emissions, approximately 80 Mt were contributed by the top 10 emitter countries, with the United States and Russia leading the list.
• While certain regions show signs of emission reduction, the overall trend remains troubling, highlighting the inadequacy of current efforts to combat methane emissions effectively.

Impact and Consequences:

• Methane, responsible for about 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the preindustrial era, exacerbates climate change.
• The energy sector, comprising oil, natural gas, coal, and bioenergy, accounts for over one-third of human-induced methane emissions.
• The continued emission of methane jeopardizes efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.

Importance of Mitigation Efforts:

• The urgency to mitigate methane emissions is underscored by the need to achieve the Paris Agreement’s temperature goals.
• The IEA estimates that reducing methane emissions from fossil fuels by 75% by 2030 is imperative to meet these objectives.
• However, achieving this target requires concerted efforts and substantial investments, estimated at around $170 billion.

Cost-Effective Solutions:

• Despite the substantial investment required, cutting methane emissions is deemed achievable and cost-effective.
• The IEA suggests that nearly 40% of emissions from fossil fuels in 2023 could have been avoided at no net cost.
• Furthermore, implementing existing methane policies and pledges could potentially reduce methane emissions from fossil fuels by 50% by 2030.

Challenges and Limitations of Pledges:

• While pledges and initiatives such as the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter demonstrate industry recognition of the issue, they face criticism for their lack of specificity and comprehensive approach.
• The focus on methane intensity targets, without considering absolute emission levels, raises concerns about the effectiveness of these initiatives in addressing the full scope of the problem.

Need for Action and Collaboration:

• The outcome of the Global Stocktake at COP28 emphasizes the imperative for countries to accelerate methane emission reductions.
• While voluntary pledges and industry initiatives are steps in the right direction, they must be complemented by robust regulatory frameworks and international collaboration to achieve meaningful and lasting reductions in methane emissions from fossil fuels.

Methane:

• Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) primarily emitted by human activities.
• It has an atmospheric lifetime of around 12 years.
• Methane severely exacerbates climate change, but also has a number of indirect effects on human health, crop yields and the health of vegetation through its role as a precursor to the formation of tropospheric ozone.
• While it has a much shorter lifetime than carbon dioxide (CO2), methane is much more efficient at trapping radiation.
• Per unit of mass, methane has a warming effect 86 times stronger than CO2 over 20 years. Over a 100-year period methane is 28 times stronger.
• Methane’s relatively short atmospheric lifetime and its strong warming potential means that actions to reduce emissions can slow the rate of warming and provide many other societal and environmental benefits within a matter of decades.
• Maximum possible reductions in methane emissions are essential to limiting atmospheric warming to 1.5°C.

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/energy/methane-emissions-from-fossil-fuels-remain-high-despite-progress-us-tops-list-of-emitters-iea-94991

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 is poised to be an extraordinary event, captivating skywatchers around the world.

EXPLANATION:

• Scheduled for April 8, 2024, this eclipse promises to be the longest in over half a century, offering a rare opportunity to witness a celestial phenomenon of grand proportions.

The Phenomenon of Total Solar Eclipse:

• A Total Solar Eclipse occurs when the Moon positions itself directly between the Earth and the Sun, obstructing the Sun’s light and casting a shadow on a portion of the Earth’s surface.
• This alignment leads to a brief period of darkness in the middle of the day as the Moon covers the entire solar disk.

Key Features of the 2024 Eclipse:

• Duration: The Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 is anticipated to be exceptionally long, lasting for an impressive duration.
• Proximity of the Moon: The celestial event gains further significance due to the moon’s close approach to Earth, placing it merely 3,60,000 kilometers away. This proximity promises a unique celestial display, with the moon appearing slightly larger in the sky than usual.
• Prolonged Period of Totality: The alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun during this eclipse results in a prolonged period of totality. Totality refers to the phase when the Sun is entirely obscured by the Moon. In the case of the 2024 eclipse, totality is expected to last for an astounding 7.5 minutes, making it a rare occurrence.
• Rare Cosmic Alignment: The alignment of the Earth and moon, maintaining their average distance from the sun, adds another layer to this cosmic dance, contributing to the prolonged period of totality.

Historical Context:

• The last time such an extended period of totality graced the skies was in 1973, casting its shadow over the African continent.
• The rarity of such occurrences adds to the significance and excitement surrounding the Total Solar Eclipse of 2024.

Opportunity for Skywatchers:

• For enthusiasts passionate about celestial events, the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse presents a remarkable opportunity to witness an astronomical rarity.
• The prolonged period of totality, resulting from a rare cosmic alignment, promises an awe-inspiring celestial spectacle that is sure to leave a lasting impression on observers.

Solar Eclipse:

• Solar eclipses occur when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth line up, either fully or partially. Depending on how they align, eclipses provide a unique, exciting view of either the Sun or the Moon.
• A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth that either fully or partially blocks the Sun’s light in some areas.
• This only happens occasionally, because the Moon doesn’t orbit in the exact same plane as the Sun and Earth do.
• The time when they are aligned is known as eclipse season, which happens twice a year.

SOURCE: https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/total-solar-eclipse-2024-it-will-be-the-longest-in-over-half-a-century-2514187-2024-03-13

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Assam, is renowned for its significant rhinoceros population, making it a crucial conservation area within the country.

EXPLANATION:

• Established through a notification issued by the State Forest Department in 1998, the sanctuary has served as a vital habitat for various wildlife species.
• The Assam Cabinet made a controversial decision on March 10 to withdraw the nearly 26-year-old notification that established the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The rationale behind this move was the alleged unilateral issuance of the notification by the Forest Department without consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the Revenue department and the Chief Minister.
• The government cited the need to address the rights of marginalized communities residing in villages within the sanctuary area, such as Thengabhanga, Murkata, and Mayong, whose land rights had not been adequately addressed since pre-Independence times.

Supreme Court Intervention:

• The Supreme Court intervened swiftly, freezing the Assam government’s attempt to revoke the sanctuary’s notification.
• The Supreme Court emphasized that the state’s decision to withdraw the notification was erroneous.
• They directed the government to cease any further action regarding the withdrawal of the 1998 notification, asserting the importance of protecting the sanctuary.

Legal Perspective:

• Senior advocate representing the Assam government, defended the withdrawal, arguing that the original notification lacked proper consultation and was thus flawed.
• However, the court, along with amicus curiae advocate deemed the withdrawal as “ex facie illegal.”
• They emphasized that the unilateral nature of the notification did not justify its revocation after more than two decades.

Judicial Scrutiny:

• The Supreme Court questioned the government’s attempt to disown the 1998 notification, highlighting it as an act of the government that should not be reversed arbitrarily.
• The court expressed skepticism regarding the timing of the government’s decision, questioning why the issue of consultation surfaced only after 25 years.
• While staying the withdrawal of the sanctuary’s notification, the court clarified that its order did not hinder the state’s efforts to protect the rights of forest dwellers.
• It instructed the state to file a detailed counter affidavit for the next hearing, indicating a further legal examination of the matter.

Pobitora wildlife sanctuary:

• Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the flood plains of River Brahmaputra in the district of Morigaon in the state of Assam.
• It harbors the highest density of Rhino in the world and the second highest concentration of Rhino in Assam after Kaziranga National Park.
• It is often called ‘Mini Kaziranga’ because of the similar landscape and the sizeable population of the one-horned rhino.
• Leopard, Leopard cat, Fishing cat, Jungle cat, Feral Buffalo, Wild pigs, Chinese pangolins, etc are the fauna of the sanctuary.
• Flora: Its maximum consists of the wet savannah of Arundo donax and Saccharum. The remaining area is covered by water bodies.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sc-stops-assams-move-to-withdraw-notification-of-pobitora-wildlife-sanctuary/article67947555.ece/amp/