27 March | Daily Current Affairs : SC stays HC’s ‘inhuman’ remarks on rape bid And More

GS PAPER 1

Polity and social justice

The Supreme Court of India has stayed an order passed by the Allahabad High Court on March 17, 2024. The High Court had concluded that mere physical assault and an attempt to remove a minor’s lower garment were insufficient to constitute an “attempt to rape” under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

• This decision by the High Court was widely criticized for its insensitive and legally flawed reasoning, leading the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of the matter.

Key Issues Highlighted by the Supreme Court:

1. Insensitivity in Judicial Interpretation:
   • Justice B.R. Gavai, heading the Supreme Court Bench, strongly criticized the Allahabad High Court’s reasoning, calling it “totally insensitive and inhuman.”
   • The graphic description of the minor victim’s ordeal followed by a conclusion that there was no intent to rape was deemed highly inappropriate.

2. Judicial Delay and Thoughtful Consideration:

• The High Court had reserved its judgment in November 2024 but passed the order in March 2025 after “thoughtful consideration.”
• The Supreme Court noted that this was not an impulsive error, but a deliberate interpretation, raising serious concerns about judicial sensitivity and understanding of sexual violence laws.

3. Flawed Legal Reasoning:
   • The Allahabad High Court ruled that there was no prima facie case for charges under:
   • Section 376 IPC (Rape)
     • Section 511 IPC (Attempt to commit offences punishable with life imprisonment)
     • Section 18 of the POCSO Act (Attempt to commit an offence under POCSO)
     • Instead, the High Court reduced the charges to Section 354(b) IPC (assault with intent to disrobe a woman) and Section 9 of POCSO (aggravated sexual assault on a child).
     • The Supreme Court found this legal interpretation problematic, as attempt to rape does not require completed penetration but a clear intent to commit the offence.

Legal and Constitutional Implications:

1. Definition of Attempt to Rape under Indian Law:

• The Indian Penal Code (IPC) and POCSO Act define “attempt to rape” as any act that demonstrates a clear intent to commit rape, even if the act remains incomplete.
• The breaking of the victim’s clothing, touching inappropriately, and dragging her to a secluded place clearly indicate intent.
• The High Court’s conclusion contradicts Supreme Court precedents that emphasize a broad and victim-centric interpretation of sexual violence laws.

2. Judicial Responsibility in Handling Sexual Assault Cases:

• The judiciary plays a crucial role in upholding victims’ rights, especially in sexual violence cases involving minors.
• Insensitive judicial remarks can create secondary victimization, discouraging survivors from seeking justice.

3. Suo Motu Cognizance: A Rare Step by the Supreme Court:

• The Supreme Court’s suo motu action (taking up a case on its own) indicates the seriousness of the issue.
• This intervention safeguards the credibility of the judiciary and ensures a victim-centric approach in sexual violence cases.

Broader Implications :

1. Importance of Gender Justice in Judiciary:

• This case highlights the critical need for gender sensitivity in judicial interpretation.

2. Strengthening POCSO and IPC Provisions:

• This case reinforces the importance of strict enforcement of POCSO and IPC provisions to protect child victims.
• The Supreme Court’s stance aligns with global best practices in handling sexual offences.

3. The Role of Media in Judicial Accountability:

• The Supreme Court’s refusal to restrict media reporting underscores the role of press freedom in judicial accountability.

Conclusion:

• The Supreme Court’s intervention in this case underscores the importance of a sensitive, victim-centric, and legally sound approach in sexual violence cases. It reinforces the judiciary’s responsibility to protect survivors, uphold constitutional values, and prevent misinterpretation of laws meant to safeguard vulnerable individuals.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Ques :Discuss the importance of judicial sensitivity in handling cases related to sexual violence, especially against minors. How can the judiciary ensure a victim-centric approach in such cases? (250 words)

GS PAPER 2

Science & Technology

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its 2025 Annual Report, recommending that India be designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to alleged religious intolerance and misuse of laws against minorities. The Indian government has rejected the report as biased, politically motivated, and an attempt to misrepresent isolated incidents.

Key Issues Highlighted in the Report:

• Allegations of Religious Discrimination:
  • The report claims that the Indian government has used laws such as Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to target religious minorities and civil society organizations.
  • It criticizes Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly using “hateful rhetoric” to gain political support.
• Call for Sanctions on Indian Officials:
  • For the first time, the USCIRF has recommended sanctions on India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and a specific individual, Vikas Yadav, for their alleged role in transnational repression (referring to the Pannun case).
  • It has urged the U.S. to review arms sales to India, particularly the sale of MQ-9B Predator drones, citing concerns over their potential misuse in human rights violations.
• USCIRF’s Persistent Recommendation for CPC Status:
  • India has been recommended for CPC designation six times in recent years, but the U.S. State Department has consistently ignored this recommendation.
  • Other countries included in the CPC list are China, Pakistan, Iran, Myanmar, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

India’s Response:

• Rejection of the Report:
  • The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed the report as biased, politically motivated, and misleading.
  • MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal accused USCIRF of following a deliberate agenda rather than expressing genuine concerns about religious freedom.
• Accusations Against USCIRF:
  • India argues that USCIRF itself should be designated as an “entity of concern” due to its repeated misrepresentation of India’s democratic and multicultural society.
  • The Indian government has also refused USCIRF visits to India, except in 2016.

Key Takeaways

• India-U.S. Relations and Foreign Policy
  • The U.S. government has not acted on the USCIRF’s recommendations, showing that India-U.S. ties remain strong despite such reports.
  • India has strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific, QUAD, and global trade, which outweighs human rights concerns in U.S. foreign policy decisions.
  • The recommendation to review arms sales (Predator drones) could affect defense cooperation.
• Internal Security and Religious Freedom Laws
  • The UAPA and FCRA have been criticized for curbing dissent, but the Indian government justifies them as essential for national security.
  • The CAA debate continues, with opponents claiming it targets minorities, while the government asserts it offers refuge to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries.
• Geopolitical Significance of the Report
  • The USCIRF is a non-governmental body, and its reports do not reflect official U.S. policy.
  • India is often clubbed with Pakistan and China, which dilutes the credibility of the report.
  • The U.S. administration’s rejection of USCIRF’s recommendations shows that economic and strategic interests shape U.S.-India relations more than human rights concerns.

Conclusion:

• The USCIRF report lacks diplomatic weight, as the U.S. government has repeatedly ignored its recommendations. However, it raises questions about India’s international image on religious freedom and human rights. India must effectively counter such reports through strong diplomatic engagement and a transparent legal framework while ensuring national security and constitutional values.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Ques :   Critically analyze the role of international organizations and commissions in assessing human rights and religious freedom in sovereign nations. Should India engage with these reports or dismiss them? (250 words)

GS PAPER 3

Science & Technology

• GE Aerospace has delivered the first of 99 F404-IN20 jet engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, marking a significant milestone in India’s indigenous fighter jet programme. This comes amid the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) urgent need to expand its fighter fleet to address its squadron shortages.

Key Highlights of the News

1. Jet Engine Delivery & HAL’s Production Schedule

• The first F404-IN20 engine for Tejas LCA Mk1A has been shipped from GE Aerospace and will arrive in India by April 2024.
• GE Aerospace is expected to deliver 12 engines this year as part of the 99-engine order signed in 2021.
• HAL has committed to producing 24 Tejas Mk1A jets per year, with 11 aircraft expected to be manufactured by the end of 2024.

2. IAF’s Urgent Need for Fighter Jets

• IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh has stated that the IAF needs 35-40 new fighter jets annually to meet its operational requirements.
• The IAF’s fighter strength has dropped to 31 squadrons, well below the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons needed to counter threats from China and Pakistan.
• The existing 83-unit LCA Mk1A order will be completed in 3.5 years, and the additional 97-unit order will be fulfilled by FY 2031-32.

3. Defence Ministry’s High-Level Report on IAF Capability Enhancement

• A high-level empowered committee led by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has submitted a report on IAF capability enhancement to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
• The report outlines short, medium, and long-term plans to boost IAF’s combat capabilities.

Significance of the Development for India’s Defence Sector

1. Strengthening India’s Indigenous Defence Capabilities

• The LCA Tejas programme is a key initiative under Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and Make in India in defence manufacturing.
• The timely production of Tejas Mk1A is crucial for reducing India’s dependence on foreign fighter jets like Rafale and Sukhoi.

2. Addressing IAF’s Fighter Jet Shortfall

• IAF is facing a severe shortage of fighter aircraft due to the phasing out of MiG-21 jets and delays in acquiring Rafale and Su-30MKI replacements.
• HAL’s commitment to ramp up production to 24 jets per year will help bridge this gap.

3. Strengthening India’s Air Power Against China & Pakistan

• China has deployed J-20 stealth fighters and is expanding air bases near India’s borders.
• Pakistan continues to enhance its fleet with JF-17 fighters co-developed with China.
• The timely induction of Tejas Mk1A will be crucial in maintaining air superiority in the region.

4. Importance of Reliable Engine Supply

• India has long relied on foreign jet engines due to the lack of an indigenous engine.
• The delays in the Kaveri engine project forced India to continue using foreign engines like GE’s F404-IN20.
• This underlines the need for India to accelerate the development of indigenous jet engines for future fighters like the LCA Mk2 and AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft).

Challenges & Way Forward

• Overcoming HAL’s Past Production Delays
  • HAL has faced challenges in meeting past production targets (e.g., delays in LCA Mk1 deliveries).
  • Ensuring timely production of Tejas Mk1A is critical for IAF’s modernization plans.
• Reducing Dependence on Foreign Engines
  • India must accelerate the Kaveri jet engine development or collaborate with global firms (e.g., GE, Safran) to develop a 100% indigenous fighter engine.
• Scaling Up Manufacturing Capacity
  • HAL is setting up a new production line in Nasik to increase output, but achieving 24 jets per year remains a challenging target.
  • Increased private sector participation in defence production (as seen with Tata, L&T) could boost efficiency.

Conclusion

• The delivery of GE F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas Mk1A is a major milestone in India’s indigenous fighter jet programme. However, challenges related to engine dependence, production delays, and fleet modernization remain. Moving forward, India must prioritize indigenous jet engine development, scale up defence production, and fast-track fighter jet acquisitions to ensure IAF’s combat readiness in an evolving regional security environment.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Ques :What are the major challenges India faces in developing an indigenous jet engine for fighter aircraft? What steps should be taken to overcome these challenges? (250 words)

GS PAPER 4

Enviroment and Ecology

On World Water Day (March 22, 2025), Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized collective action for water conservation. The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2025, focusing on community participation in water management.

Key Issues in Water Conservation Policy

• Need for Community Participation & Indigenous Knowledge
  • Rural and indigenous communities have traditional water conservation techniques that are often ignored in modern water policies.
  • While Water User Associations (WUAs) exist, they lack decision-making powers, limiting their impact on water governance.
  • Example: Orans (sacred forests in western India) promote rainwater harvesting and ecosystem conservation.
• Vulnerability of Marginalized Groups
  • Socially & economically marginalized communities are most affected by water scarcity.
  • Policies must recognize their agency in water management and ensure their participation in decision-making.
• Fragmentation of Water Governance
  • Water management is divided between different departments & policies, leading to inefficiencies.
  • Example of Integrated Approach: Orans in Rajasthan help conserve water through forest cover and biodiversity conservation.
• Need for a More-than-Human Perspective
  • Current policies focus only on human water needs; they ignore the intrinsic value of water for the ecosystem.
  • Example: Some rural communities allocate water for wildlife before irrigation.
  • Judiciary recognizes “Rights of Nature” in some cases, but water policies lack this approach.
• Climate Change Impact on Water Resources
  • A Nature journal report warns that climate change will widen India’s water gap as global temperatures rise.
  • Water policies should ensure climate-resilient infrastructure and ecosystem-based adaptation strategies.

Way Forward

• Shift from top-down to community-driven water governance.
• Recognize & integrate traditional water conservation practices.
• Empower marginalized communities in water decision-making.
• Adopt ecosystem-based approaches in water policies.
• Integrate climate adaptation measures into water governance.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Ques :Community participation is key to effective water conservation in India. Critically analyze the role of local communities in managing water resources.(250 words)

 In News :Financial Action Task Force

India will host the FATF Private Sector Collaborative Forum 2025 in Mumbai, addressing global priorities such as payment transparency, financial inclusion, and digital financial system transformation.

About Financial Action Task Force

• FATF is an intergovernmental policy-making and standard-setting body dedicated to combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
• Objective: To establish international standards and to develop and promote policies, both at national and international levels, to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
• FATF develops and promotes policies across various countries and jurisdictions.
• Origin:
  • It was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris in response to a growing concern about money laundering.
  • In 2001, its mandate expanded to include terrorism financing.
• Headquarters: Paris, France.
• Members:
  • To become a member, a country must be considered strategically important (large population, large GDP, developed banking and insurance sector, etc.), must adhere to globally accepted financial standards, and be a participant in other important international organizations.
  • FATF members include 39 countries, including the United States, India, China, Saudi Arabia, Britain, Germany, France, and the EU as such.
  • In addition, more than 180 countries worldwide are affiliated with the FATF through a network of FATF-style regional bodies (FSRBs).
  • India became a member of FATF in 2010. India is also a member of two FATF Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs)-Asia Pacific Group (APG) and Eurasian Group of Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG).
• The FATF researches how money is laundered and terrorism is funded, promotes global standards to mitigate the risks, and assesses whether countries are taking effective action.
• FATF regularly publishes reports that raise awareness about the latest money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing techniques so that countries and the private sector can take the necessary steps to mitigate these risks.
• The FATF Recommendations are recognised as the global anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) standard.
• Once a member, a country or organization must endorse and support the most recent FATF recommendations,commit to being evaluated by (and evaluating) other members.
• The FATF holds countries to account that do not comply with the FATF Standards.
• If a country repeatedly fails to implement FATF Standards, then it can be named a Jurisdiction under Increased Monitoring or a High-Risk Jurisdiction. These are often externally referred to as “the grey and black lists”.

What are FATF ‘grey list’ and ‘blacklist’?

• Black List: Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put on the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities. The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.
• Grey List: Countries that are considered a safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put on the FATF grey list. This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.
• Three countries-North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar, are currently on FATF’s blacklist.

Consequences of being on the FATF blacklist:

• No financial aid is given to them by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the European Union (EU).
• They also face a number of international economic and financial restrictions and sanctions.

GS PAPER 5

Editorial Analysis

Context :

• On National Science Day (February 2025), the Union Minister for Science and Technology claimed that India would overtake the U.S. in scientific publications by 2029. However, concerns have been raised regarding the quality of India’s research output, even if the quantity increases.

Key Issues in India’s Research Quality

• Low Research Investment Compared to Global Standards
  • India’s expenditure on civilian research as a percentage of GDP is 0.67%, far lower than countries such as:
    • Israel (6.30%), South Korea (4.9%), Japan (3.3%), U.S. (3.46%), Germany (3.13%), and China (2.4%).
    • High-quality research requires substantial investment in education, training, and infrastructure, which India currently lacks.
  • India’s Research Output Lags in Quality Indicators
    • According to Clarivate Analytics (2024):
      • India’s CNCI (Category Normalized Citation Impact) score is 0.879, compared to China (1.12) and U.S. (1.25).
      • India ranks 28th out of 30 countries in terms of research impact.
    • The Misleading Use of Rankings & Metrics
      • The Minister highlighted 5,351 Indian scientists in the world’s top 2% scientists list (2023).
      • However, their rankings range from 163 to 68,55,948, showing a large quality gap.
      • In contrast, Japan (5,608 scientists) and Germany (10,420 scientists) have higher quality representation.
    • Indian Research in High-Impact Journals
      • Research productivity in top chemistry journals (2017-2024) shows:
        • S., China, and India contributions:
          • Angewandte Chemie (Impact Factor 16.60): 4,554 (U.S.), 10,305 (China), 501 (India)
          • JACS (Impact Factor 16.38): 8,503 (U.S.), 5,521 (China), 305 (India)
          • Chemical Communications (Impact Factor 6.22): 2,553 (U.S.), 9,820 (China), 1,347 (India)
          • India’s contribution increases as journal quality decreases, showing a focus on quantity rather than impact.
        • Poor Institutional Performance Compared to China
          • In JACS (2017-2024):
            • Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) alone published 444 papers, 15 times more than CSIR (29 papers) in India.
            • Second-tier Chinese universities (Tsinghua, Fudan, Nanjing, Nankai) outperform all IITs combined (68 papers).
            • India lacks well-funded and structured academic research programs, unlike China’s long-term investments.
          • Unethical Practices & Fake Publications in India
            • Rampant fraud and unethical research practices have led to:
              • Retractions, fake journals, and predatory publications.
              • S. Ninth Circuit Court (2019) fined Hyderabad-based Omics Group $50 million for publishing 69,000 fake articles.
              • 2018 study: 62% of fake journals worldwide are based in India, and 10% of India’s total research may be fraudulent.
            • These issues damage India’s global scientific reputation and dilute genuine research contributions.

Way Forward

• Increase Research Investment: Raise R&D expenditure to at least 2% of GDP to improve quality.
• Strengthen University Research: Invest in higher education institutions (HEIs) to improve global rankings.
• Focus on High-Impact Publications: Encourage researchers to publish in top-tier journals.
• Improve Ethics & Peer Review: Crackdown on predatory journals and ensure strict research integrity.
• Industry-Academia Collaboration: Foster corporate funding and innovation-driven research.