Prelims-Pinpointer-for-14-11-2025

Prelim Oriented

Anti-Defection Law

Context: Calcutta High Court disqualified Mukul Roy from West Bengal Assembly under anti-defection law for switching from BJP to TMC after 2021 election victory.

Anti-Defection Law

• Background and Evolution
  • Frequent political defections in the 1950s–60s created instability, symbolised by the phrase “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram.”
  • To address this, the Anti-Defection Law was introduced through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment, 1985, adding the Tenth Schedule.
  • It aimed to curb defections motivated by personal gain, applying to Parliament and State Assemblies.
  • The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 removed the one-third split provision, permitted mergers only with two-thirds support, and barred defectors from holding ministerial or paid political posts until re-elected.
• Grounds for Disqualification
  • A member is disqualified for voluntarily giving up party membership, inferred from conduct.
  • Voting or abstaining against the party whip invites disqualification.
  • An independent member joining a political party faces disqualification.
  • A nominated member joining a party after six months also faces disqualification.
• Role of the Presiding Officer
  • Disqualification cases are decided by the Speaker or Chairman, whose neutrality has been frequently questioned.
• Exceptions
  • No disqualification if two-thirds members support a merger with another party.
  • Speaker/Chairman/Deputy Chairman may resign from their party to remain neutral without disqualification.

Criticisms of the Anti-Defection Law

• Democratic and Institutional Concerns
  • The law imposes a curb on dissent, preventing lawmakers from voting by conscience.
  • Party leadership uses the whip to suppress internal debate.
  • Speaker’s bias and delays undermine neutrality since there is no fixed time limit for decisions.
• Structural Weaknesses
  • The two-thirds merger provision encourages horse-trading and unethical political bargaining.
  • Opaque communication of party whips leads to disputes on whether legislators received due notice.

Supreme Court’s Stance

• Ensuring Timeliness and Neutrality
  • In Keisham Meghachandra Singh (2020), the SC directed that defection cases be decided within three months, and suggested an independent tribunal for neutrality.
  • In Ravi S. Naik (1994), the SC held that the Speaker must act as a neutral adjudicator, and defections may be inferred without a formal resignation.
  • In Kihoto Hollohan (1992), the SC allowed judicial review of the Speaker’s decisions for mala fides or constitutional violations.
  • In Padi Kaushik Reddy (2025), the SC urged Parliament to reform the law and reconsider the Speaker’s role.

Way Forward

• Restrict disqualification to votes affecting government stability, such as confidence motions or budget votes.
• Transfer adjudication power to an independent body like the Election Commission, as suggested by ARC.
• Establish a clear statutory time limit to prevent strategic delays.
• Improve intra-party democracy, as recommended by the 170th Law Commission Report.
• Ensure transparency in whips by mandating public and digital notification.
• Strengthen enforcement through time-bound, transparent procedures, as proposed by several committees, including Dinesh Goswami (1990) and Halim Committee (1994).

PM-SHRI

PM-SHRI Scheme

• Centrally Sponsored Scheme (2022) establishing 14,500+ PM SHRI Schools by upgrading existing schools to showcase NEP 2020 implementation.
• Objective
  • Create inclusive, nurturing environment promoting student well-being and safety, offering diverse learning experiences and quality infrastructure/resources.
• Funding Pattern
  • 60:40 (Centre:State/UTs with legislature, except J&K).
  • 90:10 (NE, Himalayan States, J&K UT).
  • 100% Central (UTs without legislature).
  • States must sign MoU with Education Ministry for participation.
• Duration
  • 2022-23 to 2026-27; thereafter States/UTs maintain benchmarks.

• Key Features
  • Pedagogy
    • Focus on holistic development: Communication, collaboration, critical thinking.
    • Experiential, inquiry-driven, learner-centered teaching.
    • Competency-based assessments applying knowledge to real-life situations.
  • Infrastructure
    • Modern facilities: Smart Classrooms, Computer Labs, Integrated Science Labs, Vocational/Skill Labs, Atal Tinkering Labs, libraries, art rooms.
    • Green initiatives: Water conservation, waste recycling.
  • Eligibility
    • Schools managed by Central/State/UT Governments, local bodies.
    • All Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas (non-project, permanent buildings).
  • Monitoring
    • School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF): Standards and best practices for excellence; regular evaluations ensure high standards.
• Selection Process (Challenge Mode – 3 Stages)
  • Stage-1: Sign MoU with Centre.
  • Stage-2: Identify eligible schools using UDISE+ data.
  • Stage-3: Challenge method where eligible schools compete on criteria; States/UTs/KVS/JNV verify and recommend; Expert committee (headed by Secretary) makes final selection.

State Election Commissions (SECs)

About SECs

• State Election Commissions (SECs) conduct free, fair, and impartial elections to local bodies within a State.
• Appointment: The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor.
• Article 243K(1): Grants SECs superintendence, direction, and control over electoral rolls and elections to Panchayats; similar powers for Municipalities under Article 243ZA.
• Article 243K(2): SEC tenure and appointment conditions are determined by State Legislature laws.
• Removal: SEC enjoys the status and protection of a High Court Judge and can be removed only through an equivalent process.

Issues with SECs

• Election Violence: SECs often blamed for poor oversight, e.g., violence during West Bengal panchayat polls.
• State Interference: Despite constitutional mandate, State governments interfere with SEC functioning.
• Lack of Impartiality: SECs sometimes work in alignment with ruling governments, raising accountability concerns.
• Serving Bureaucrats as SECs: SC observed that appointing serving officers is a “mockery of the Constitution.”
• Threat to Independence: Tenure and appointment controlled by State legislatures reduce autonomy.
• Conflicts with State Government: Example: Maharashtra SEC Nand Lal arrested (2008) in a jurisdictional dispute.

Reform Suggestions

• Supreme Court (2021): Serving bureaucrats must not be appointed as SECs to protect independence.
• 2nd ARC
  • Appointment by Governor on recommendation of a collegium including CM, Speaker, and Leader of Opposition.
  • Calls for institutional coordination between ECI and SECs for shared resources and best practices.
• Law Commission 255th Report: Proposes a permanent Secretariat for ECI under Article 324; similar structures recommended for SECs to ensure autonomy.
  

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in India

Syllabus: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context

• WHO’s GLASS 2025 report notes AMR in India as a serious and escalating threat, with one in three infections resistant to commonly used antibiotics.
• India shows highest resistance rates globally, particularly across South-East Asia.

Key Findings of GLASS 2025

• High resistance in E.coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus, especially in hospital ICUs.
• Major drivers include OTC antibiotic access, self-medication, incomplete courses, and environmental contamination from pharma units and hospital waste.
• Surveillance gaps persist as data predominantly originate from tertiary-care hospitals, excluding primary and secondary levels.
• India joined GLASS in 2017, but nationwide representation remains incomplete.

Limitations in India’s AMR Surveillance

• ICMR’s AMRSN/i-AMRSS and NCDC’s NARS-Net overrepresent high-end tertiary hospitals, inflating national resistance estimates.
• Lack of data diversity across rural and community settings creates skewed susceptibility profiles.
• Experts stress the need for nationwide lab networks, including 500+ NABL labs and peripheral microbiology strengthening.

Policy Gaps and State-Level Actions

• Slow implementation of the National Action Plan on AMR (2017); few states operationalised State Action Plans.
• Kerala remains the only significant performer, launching KARSAP (2018), AMRITH (2024), and moving toward full antibiotic literacy by 2025.
• Kerala’s antibiogram shows slight reduction in AMR trends after OTC restrictions.

Public Awareness and Stewardship

• Experts emphasise AMR literacy, early education on bacterial roles, and humanising the AMR crisis for public engagement.
• AMR remains “abstract” to the public; awareness campaigns must make it relatable.

Recent Interventions

• 2019 colistin ban in animal husbandry expected to reduce resistance, though long-term data are needed.
• Strengthening policy implementation, surveillance quality, and reporting networks is essential.

Developing New Antibiotics

• India approved four new antibiotics, while six candidates gained global approval.
• WHO reports 97 drug candidates (2023), up from 80 (2021), though true innovation remains limited.
• Only 12 of 32 traditional antibiotics meet WHO innovation criteria; only four target critical MDR pathogens.

Global and National Efforts

• The AMR Industry Alliance supports discovery, equitable access, and responsible manufacturing.
• India faces severe funding shortages, with sporadic innovation grants and limited policy support.
• Sustained investment, industry engagement, and multi-sector stewardship are essential to curb AMR.

Conclusion

• AMR threatens to make routine infections untreatable in India.
• Comprehensive action—surveillance expansion, rational antibiotic use, awareness, innovation, and funding—must be prioritised.
• Kerala’s example shows that State-led, multisectoral stewardship can reverse AMR trends.

Carbon Emission

Context

• The Global Carbon Project reports a slower rise in India’s carbon emissions in 2025, increasing by 1.4%, compared to 4% in 2024.

India’s Emission Trends

• India’s slower emission growth is attributed to a favourable monsoon, which reduced cooling demand.
• A strong rise in renewable energy use also limited coal consumption.
• India remains the third-largest CO₂ emitter, releasing 3.2 billion tonnes annually in 2024.
• India’s per capita emission is 2.2 tonnes, the second lowest among the world’s 20 largest economies.
• Coal remains the primary source of India’s fossil CO₂ emissions.

Global Emissions Scenario

• Global CO₂ emissions are expected to rise to 38 billion tonnes in 2025, increasing by 1.1%.
• China’s emissions are projected to grow by 0.4%, due to moderate energy demand and rapid renewable expansion.
• The U.S. (+1.9%) and the EU (+0.4%) are also projected to record emission increases.

Fossil Fuel and Land-Use Trends

• Global fossil CO₂ emissions in 2025 are driven by coal (+0.8%), oil (+1%), and natural gas (+1.3%).
• Emissions from permanent deforestation remain high at 4 billion tonnes annually, while reafforestation offsets only half.

Carbon Budget and Warming Limit

• Total CO₂ emissions have grown slower in the past decade (0.3% annually) compared to 1.9% earlier.
• The remaining carbon budget for 1.5°C warming is 170 billion tonnes, equal to four years of emissions at 2025 levels.
• Scientists warn that keeping warming below 1.5°C is now implausible.

PPV&FRA Act, 2001

About the PPV&FRA (Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights) Act, 2001

• India’s first sui generis law protecting farmers’ and breeders’ rights, enacted in 2001.
• Implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare; Authority functional since 2005.
• Aims to balance innovation in plant breeding with farmers’ seed sovereignty and equitable benefit-sharing.

Key Features

• Farmers’ Rights (Section 39): Farmers may save, use, resow, exchange, and share seeds of registered varieties. Compensation available for non-performing varieties.
• Breeders’ Rights: Exclusive rights to produce, sell, market, and license registered varieties.
• Registration (DUS Criteria): Varieties must satisfy Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability; 57 crop species notified.
• National Gene Fund: Supports benefit-sharing, conservation, and farmer rewards.
• Researchers’ Exemption: Registered varieties can be used for research, ensuring scientific access.
• Protection Measures: Safeguards community knowledge through National Register of Plant Varieties (NRPV) and provides legal remedy for biopiracy.

Plant Genome Saviour Awards

• A national award under PPV&FRA to honour farmers and communities conserving traditional plant varieties.
• Instituted under Section 39(1)(iii) to reward grassroots plant genetic resource conservation.
• Awardees (2025)
  • Community Seed Bank (Telangana).
  • Mithilanchal Makhana Producers’ Association (Bihar).
  • CRS–Na Dihing Tenga Unyan Committee (Assam), among others.

ARISE Program

About ARISE

• New global program launched at COP30, Belém by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF).
• Aims to strengthen economic and institutional resilience in developing countries facing climate shocks.
• Initial funding announced by Germany and Spain.

Objectives

• Integrate climate resilience into national planning.
• Mobilise catalytic adaptation finance for vulnerable economies.
• Enable communities to withstand and recover from floods, droughts, storms, and other climate risks.

Climate Investment Funds (CIF)

• A multilateral climate finance mechanism providing concessional funds to developing countries.
• Established in 2008; hosted within the World Bank.
• Implemented through six Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).

• Two Core Funds:
  • Clean Technology Fund (CTF): Renewable energy, clean transport, energy efficiency.
  • Strategic Climate Fund (SCF): Includes PPCR, Forest Investment Program, and Smart Cities initiatives.
• Blended Finance Model: Uses concessional capital to attract private and MDB investments for transformational climate action.

Mekedatu Project

Context: Supreme Court termed Tamil Nadu’s challenge to Karnataka’s Mekedatu reservoir project as “premature”, stating DPR being considered by CWMA and CWRC experts currently.

About the Project

• The Mekedatu Project is a proposed multi-purpose drinking water and power project by Karnataka.
• It aims to build a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district, about 90 km from Bengaluru.
• The project site is located 4 km from the Tamil Nadu border, at the confluence of the Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers.
• Project Features
  • Karnataka proposes a 99-metre-high and 735-metre-long concrete gravity dam.
  • It includes an underground powerhouse and a water conductor system.
  • The dam is expected to store 66,000 TMC of water, supporting both drinking and hydropower needs.
  • It aims to supply over 4 TMC of drinking water to Bengaluru city.
  • The project cost is estimated at ₹14,000 crore, covering over 5,000 hectares of land.