GS PAPER 1

Prelims Fact

China’s creation of counties in disputed Aksai Chin and its mega-dam on Yarlung Tsangpo escalates tensions with India.

Places in Focus

• Hotan Prefecture (Xinjiang, China)
  • Located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.
  • Includes parts of Aksai Chin, a disputed area claimed by India.
  • Strategically important due to its location along the ancient Silk Road.
  • Known for its jade production and historical significance in trade routes.
• Aksai Chin (Ladakh, India)
  • A high-altitude plateau in the northeastern part of the Indian Union Territory of Ladakh.
  • Administered by China but claimed by India as part of Ladakh.
  • A significant flashpoint in India-China territorial disputes, including during the 1962 war.
  • Sparsely populated due to its harsh, arid climate.
• Yarlung Tsangpo (Tibet, China)
  • The upper course of the Brahmaputra River, originating in Tibet.
  • Flows through deep gorges in the Himalayas before entering India and Bangladesh.
  • Site of China’s proposed $137 billion mega dam project.
  • Critical for regional hydrology and ecosystems in downstream areas.

GS PAPER 2

Prelims Fact

India monitors China’s surge in Human Metapneumovirus cases, a respiratory virus affecting children and elderly, with no cases reported domestically.

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) Overview:

• Discovery: Identified in 2001; belongs to the Pneumoviridae family, related to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
• Affected Groups: Common among young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
• Symptoms: Causes cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath. Severe cases may lead to bronchitis or pneumonia.
• Transmission: Spreads via respiratory secretions (coughing/sneezing), close personal contact, or contaminated surfaces.
• Incubation: Period of 3–6 days; illness duration varies based on severity.
• Seasonality: Active during winter and spring.
• Treatment: No specific antiviral drugs; supportive care is recommended.

GS PAPER 3

 Prelims Fact

The article explores Konda Reddi tribal traditions, focusing on live-in relationships, their cultural practices, and societal changes.

Location and Population of the Konda Reddi Tribe:

• The Konda Reddi Tribe primarily resides in the hilly and forested regions of Andhra Pradesh.
• The tribe is primarily concentrated in the districts of East Godavari, West Godavari, Khammam, and Srikakulam.

Economic Activities:

• The tribe primarily practices shifting cultivation.
• Key commercial crop: Annatto, used in lipstick-making.
• Red soil from the region is used for constructing traditional mud-walled houses.

Marriage Traditions:

• Live-in Relationships: Increasingly preferred due to the financial burden of traditional weddings.
• Traditional Weddings: Ritualistic ceremonies lasting four days, involving feasts with mandatory chicken and mutton dishes.
• Laagudu Tradition: The bride is “abducted” by the groom’s family, followed by wedding negotiations.

Community and Cultural Changes:

• The tribe is experiencing gradual cultural shifts, such as intermarriage with non-tribals.
• Disputes within the community are traditionally resolved by village elders.

In News : Data Localisation Returns: Draft Rules Aim to Tighten Digital Privacy and Sovereignty

The draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, reintroduce data localisation requirements, impacting tech companies and strengthening data sovereignty in India.

Analysis of the news:

• Data Localisation Reintroduced

  • The draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, reintroduce data localisation requirements, mandating significant data fiduciaries to store and process specific personal and traffic data within India.
  • This marks a shift from the 2023 Act, which allowed cross-border data transfer with notified restrictions.

• Significant Data Fiduciaries: Defined and Regulated

  • Entities handling vast or sensitive data with implications for sovereignty, security, or public order, like Big Tech companies, are categorized as significant data fiduciaries.
  • They will be subject to stringent data localisation norms and compliance requirements.

• Safeguards for Government Data Processing

  • The draft rules propose “lawful” data processing by government entities but face scrutiny due to exemptions granted under the 2023 Act for national security and public order. Safeguards are expected to address these broad exemptions.

• Parental Consent Mechanism for Children’s Data

  • Tech companies must devise verifiable mechanisms for parental consent when processing children’s data, though this remains challenging.
  • Exceptions are made for health, education, and childcare-related establishments.

• Data Breach Notification and Penalties

  • Data fiduciaries must notify users promptly about breaches, detailing their nature, impact, and mitigation measures.
  • Non-compliance with safeguards can result in penalties of up to ₹250 crore.

• Enhanced User Consent Requirements

  • The draft mandates clear, specific, and standalone notices for data collection, ensuring transparency about the type of data collected and its intended purpose.

• Implications for Big Tech

  • While promoting data sovereignty, the reintroduction of localisation may increase operational costs for companies like Meta and Google, potentially impacting their services.
  • Industry resistance to localisation persists due to its broad implications for global operations.

GS PAPER 5

Editorial Analysis

Context :

• The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has proposed the ONOE framework to synchronize Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.

Historical Context of Simultaneous Elections

• Simultaneous elections were common in India post-Independence but disrupted by the imposition of Article 356 (President’s Rule).
• The first misuse of Article 356 occurred in Kerala in 1959, reflecting federal overreach and disrupting Union-State relations.
• R. Ambedkar termed Article 356 a “dead letter,” but it has been invoked over 130 times, leading to the dismissal of several State governments.

Impact of Defection and Anti-Defection Law

• Defections destabilize State governments, leading to unconstitutional regime changes.
• The Anti-Defection Law, introduced through the 52nd Amendment in 1985, penalizes defectors but has loopholes, such as delays in Speaker decisions and allowance for group defections.

Challenges with ONOE Framework

• Constitutional and Governance Implications
  • ONOE requires amendments to Articles 83 and 172, which guarantee five-year terms for Parliament and State Assemblies.
  • Aligning State election cycles with national elections could curtail or extend State government tenures, undermining State autonomy.
• Democratic Concerns
  • Voters may struggle to evaluate State and national governments independently due to simultaneous elections.
  • Abbreviated terms for State governments in midterm ONOE cycles dilute the principle of “one person, one vote, one value.”
  • Past political turbulence in the mid-1990s highlights that ONOE could lead to frequent elections in short periods, negating cost-efficiency arguments.
• Logistical and Administrative Challenges
  • Managing elections for over 900 million voters across Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and local bodies would strain resources and institutions.
  • Voter fatigue and confusion could arise, diminishing electoral effectiveness.

Systemic Issues Requiring Attention

• Misuse of Article 356
  • The misuse of Article 356 continues despite judicial efforts like the S.R. Bommai case judgment to restore State autonomy.
• Anti-Defection Law Reforms
  • Loopholes in the anti-defection framework need addressing to ensure stability in State governments.
• Strengthening Federalism
  • The federal structure recognizes India’s diversity and plurality, requiring State autonomy to remain intact.
  • ONOE, without systemic reforms, risks centralizing power and eroding the federal character of governance.

Conclusion

• ONOE, while promising fiscal and administrative efficiencies, poses significant risks to India’s federal and democratic framework.
• Democratic governance must prioritize the principles of federalism and equitable partnership between the Centre and States to preserve the Constitution’s essence.