Gs Paper 1
Environment – Environmental pollution and degradation
The aviation sector is among the top global emitters of greenhouse gases, with private jets having a significantly higher per-passenger carbon footprint.
- India’s growing private aviation sector reflects its rising wealth, but sustainable solutions like SAFs, hydrogen, and electrification face cost and feasibility challenges.
Aviation Sector and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- If considered a country, the aviation sector would rank among the top 10 global greenhouse gas emitters.
- Air travel is one of the most polluting transportation modes due to high carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, as well as the effects of vapour trails and atmospheric gases.
Private Jets and Their High Carbon Footprint
- Private jets are 5–14 times more polluting per passenger than commercial flights and 50 times more than trains, according to a 2021 European Federation for Transport and Environment report.
- A Nature study highlights that private aviation emissions rose by 46% between 2019 and 2023.
- Private jets contributed an average of 3.6 tonnes of CO₂ per flight during this period.
Private Aircraft in India
- India had 112 private planes as of March 2024, with a ratio of 0.01 private aircraft per lakh population.
- While this ratio is lower than countries like the U.S. (5.45) and Switzerland (3.76), India ranks among the top 20 nations in private aircraft ownership and leads among low-middle-income countries.
- This trend is driven by India’s rapid economic growth and its ranking as the third-largest country in terms of billionaires.
Private Jet Usage and Global Trends
- Researchers analyzed private jet usage at events like the World Economic Forum and FIFA World Cup, finding 47% of flights were for distances under 500 km.
- About 19% of flights were shorter than 200 km, including empty flights or those delivering goods.
- Leisure travel via private jets peaks during summer months, particularly to destinations like Ibiza and Nice.
Decarbonizing Aviation
- India launched initiatives like UDAN and NABH to enhance connectivity and airport capacity.
- Efforts to use sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) include trials by SpiceJet in 2018 and Air Asia in 2023. However, SAF commercialization faces challenges like high costs and limited availability.
Future Solutions
- Hydrogen and electrification are being explored, but implementation faces challenges like infrastructure redesign and battery dependency.
- Alcohol-to-jet fuel is a promising medium-term solution, especially using surplus sugar for ethanol production, which could meet 15–20% of India’s aviation fuel demand by 2050 without negative agricultural impacts.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Ques : Analyze the environmental challenges posed by the aviation industry, particularly private aviation, and discuss the potential of alternative fuels and technologies in reducing its carbon footprint. (150 Words /10 marks)
GS Paper 2
Indian Polity
Minority rights safeguard cultural diversity and equality in democratic societies.
- Recognized globally on December 18, Minority Rights Day highlights their significance, underscored by constitutional provisions like Articles 29 and 30 in India.
- Judicial interpretations, including recent cases, emphasize minority rights as integral to the Constitution’s basic structure, ensuring dignity and inclusivity.
Introduction to Minority Rights
- Minority rights are critical for democracy, emphasizing equality and the preservation of diversity.
- The UN adopted the ‘Declaration on the Rights of Minorities’ on December 18, 1992, celebrated globally as Minority Rights Day.
- Franklin Roosevelt emphasized that democracy cannot survive without recognizing minority rights.
Historical Origin of Minority Rights
- 19th Century Developments:
- Article 19 of Austria’s Constitutional Law (1867) and Hungary’s Act XLIV (1868) recognized the rights of ethnic minorities.
- The Swiss Constitution (1874) granted equal rights to its three national languages.
- Post-World War I Treaties:
- Peace treaties included minority protections for nations like Poland, Romania, and Yugoslavia.
- Nations such as Albania and Finland voluntarily pledged to protect their minorities.
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948):
- Article 27 affirms every individual’s right to community and cultural participation.
Minority Rights in India’s Constitution
- Constituent Assembly Debate : Pandit G.B. Pant highlighted the importance of minority satisfaction for peace and progress.Articles 25-30 were incorporated to safeguard minority rights, emphasizing multiculturalism and equality.
- Key Provisions : Article 29(1): Grants minorities the right to conserve their culture, language, and script.
- Article 30: Guarantees minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions.
- Articles 350A and 350B: Mandate primary education in the mother tongue and the appointment of a linguistic minorities officer.
Judicial Interpretation of Minority Rights
- Aligarh Muslim University Case (2024): Article 30 was upheld as a ‘facet of equality.’
- Xavier’s College Case (1974): Affirmed equality between majority and minority through Article 30.
- Keshavananda Bharati Case (1973): Declared minority rights as part of the Constitution’s basic structure.
- Courts have consistently ruled that minority institutions, including pre-Constitution entities, deserve protection.
Defining a Minority
- Supreme Court’s View:Minorities are determined at the state level.Hindus qualify as minorities in states like Punjab and Kashmir.
- Criteria for Minority Institutions (TMA Pai Foundation, 2002 & AMU, 2024):Institutions must be ideated by minorities and predominantly serve their community.Administration need not rest exclusively with minorities, but intent and effort must align with minority upliftment.
Rationale for Minority Rights
- Focuses on the preservation of diversity and the dignity of individuals through community viability.
- Rights under Articles 14-18, 19, and 25 are insufficient without additional protections under Articles 29 and 30.
- The Supreme Court permits regulations to prevent maladministration and uphold institutional excellence.
Conclusion
- Minority rights are integral to democratic functioning, fostering equality and ensuring cultural preservation.
- These provisions reinforce India’s multicultural ethos while maintaining balance through judicial oversight.
UPSC Mains PYQ : 2018
Ques : Whether National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSCJ) can enforce the implementation of constitutional reservation for the Scheduled Castes in the religious minority institutions? Examine. (150 words/10m)
GS PAPER 3
Prelims Fact
Cyclone Chido, the worst in nearly a century, devastated Mayotte, France’s poorest territory.
- The storm caused widespread destruction, leaving thousands affected and authorities fearing significant casualties.
Cyclone Chido:
- Formed in early December 2024 in the South-West Indian Ocean.
- Peaked as a Category 4-equivalent intense tropical cyclone.
- Made landfall in Agaléga (Mauritius) on December 11th.
- Brought devastating winds exceeding 155 mph and heavy rainfall.
- Struck Mayotte on December 14th, causing widespread damage and casualties.
- Considered the worst storm to hit Mayotte in 90 years.
- Also impacted Mozambique and Malawi with heavy rains and flooding.
- Dissipated near Zimbabwe on December 17th.
- Left thousands displaced and hundreds feared dead in Mayotte.
- Caused significant infrastructural damage in the affected regions.
In News : Persistent Organic Pollutants
The scientists have found in the orcas’ blubbers (fat layer under the skin) high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)—toxic chemicals used in industrial and agricultural processes.
About Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs):
- They are organic chemical substances (carbon-based), widely used throughout the supply chain, in all kinds of products including pesticides, industry processes, etc.
- These POPs do not break down easily and remain in the environment for decades, travel over great distances through water and wind and eventually remain in the food chains through bioaccumulation.
- They are toxic to both humans and wildlife.
A global treaty on POPs:
- The Stockholm Convention on POPs calls for reduction or elimination of releases of POPs globally.
- It was entered into force in 2004.
- Parties to the Convention commit to not produce or use the chemicals listed in its annexes.
- To date, 185 countries have ratified the Stockholm Convention and 34 POPs are listed as 17 pesticides, 15 industrial chemicals, 7 unintentional by-products.
UPSC Mains PYQ : 2013
Ques : “What are the key features of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)? What are the benefits of this convention for India?” (250 Words /15 marks)
In News : Doubling the income of farmers
The article discusses the Government of India’s efforts in the agricultural sector through various schemes aimed at increasing production and providing income support.
- It highlights the budgetary allocations, key programs, and initiatives like the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) to address infrastructure gaps.
- These efforts are designed to improve farmers’ livelihoods and sustainable agricultural practices.
Government Support for Agricultural Development
- Agriculture is a State Subject, but the Government of India supports state-level efforts through policy measures, budgetary allocation, and various schemes.
- These initiatives aim to increase crop production, ensure remunerative returns, and provide income support to farmers.
Key Strategies for Farmer Welfare
- To increase farmer incomes, strategies focus on improving crop productivity, reducing production costs, promoting agricultural diversification, adapting to climate change, and compensating for losses.
- These strategies are essential for sustainable agriculture and enhanced farmer livelihoods.
Budgetary Support
- The Government of India has significantly increased the budget for the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) from Rs. 21,933.50 crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 1,22,528.77 crore in 2024-25.
Major Schemes and Programs
- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN): Financial support to farmers.
- Pradhan Mantri Kisan MaanDhan Yojana (PM-KMY): Pension scheme for farmers.
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): Crop insurance for farmers.
- Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF): Financial support for agriculture infrastructure projects, including warehouses and cold storage units.
- Formation of Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs): Promoting collective farming.
- Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): Focus on horticulture development.
- Soil Health Card (SHC): Providing soil health monitoring to farmers.
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
- Launched to address infrastructure gaps, AIF provides debt financing for post-harvest management and farming assets.
- The fund includes interest subvention and credit guarantees.
- Key projects funded include Custom Hiring Centres, primary processing units, sorting and grading units, and cold storage facilities.
Success Stories
- The Indian Council on Agricultural Research (ICAR) has documented success stories of 75,000 farmers who have doubled their incomes through the convergence of schemes operated by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
UPSC Mains PYQ: 2016
Ques : Given the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to vagaries of nature, discuss the need for crop insurance and bring out the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). (200 words/12.5m)
GS PAPER 4
Editorial Analysis
Context :
- India’s growing AI-powered surveillance infrastructure, including facial recognition systems and AI satellites, raises significant privacy and constitutional concerns.
- The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023, while addressing some issues, grants broad government exemptions, creating a regulatory imbalance.
- Comparisons with the EU highlight India’s lack of robust safeguards for protecting civil liberties.
India’s Growing AI-Powered Surveillance Infrastructure
- In 2019, India announced its ambition to create the world’s largest facial recognition system for policing.
- Over five years, AI-powered surveillance systems have been deployed in railway stations, and the Delhi Police is using AI for crime patrols.
- Plans to launch 50 AI-powered satellites further expand India’s surveillance infrastructure.
Legal and Constitutional Concerns in AI Surveillance
- AI-driven surveillance raises questions about potential overreach and infringement on citizens’ rights.
- Global parallels, such as the U.S. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), highlight risks of “dragnet surveillance,” where data is collected indiscriminately.
Privacy Concerns and Data Breaches
- The Telangana Police data breach revealed misuse of social welfare databases like “Samagra Vedika” by law enforcement.
- This incident highlighted the lack of transparency and safeguards in data collection practices.
Lack of Proportional Safeguards
- Privacy, recognized as a fundamental right under Article 21 in the K.S. Puttaswamy vs Union of India (2017) judgment is undermined by India’s surveillance practices.
- Current surveillance lacks proportional safeguards, creating challenges for “informational privacy.”
- While the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023 was introduced to address privacy concerns, it has significant flaws.
Issues with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023
- The DPDPA provides broad government exemptions for data processing without consent:
- Section 7(g) allows consent waiver for medical treatment during epidemics.
- Section 7(i) exempts government data processing for employment purposes.
- Citizens face obligations under Section 15(c) to ensure data accuracy, risking punitive measures for minor errors.
- The framework disproportionately favors state surveillance over individual rights.
Contrasting Approaches in the West
- The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act categorizes AI activities by risk, banning high-risk practices like real-time biometric identification in most cases.
- In contrast, India deploys AI-powered facial recognition and surveillance without legislative debate or risk assessments.
- Promises to regulate AI under the Digital India Act remain unfulfilled, leaving a regulatory vacuum.
Constitutional Questions and Civil Liberties
- India’s surveillance practices challenge constitutional principles like the right to privacy and proportionality.
- AI surveillance requires robust laws to ensure legitimacy, necessity, and proportionality.
Recommendations for a Balanced Approach
- A comprehensive regulatory framework is needed to balance AI integration with citizens’ rights:
- Transparent data collection practices with public disclosure of purpose and duration.
- Narrow, specific exemptions with independent judicial oversight.
- Adoption of a risk-based regulatory approach, similar to the EU model, to classify AI activities by risk levels.
- Transparent consent mechanisms, judicial oversight, and regular transparency reports can safeguard privacy.
- Policy decisions must embed privacy protections at the design stage to avoid costly retrofits.
Need for Proactive Regulation
- The DPDPA addresses some concerns but remains incomplete without accompanying rules.
- Regulating high-risk AI activities through strict oversight of data processing and sharing is critical.
- A proactive approach can ensure AI serves public interest without compromising civil liberties.