UPSC Prelims
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Prelims Pinpointer
Prelims Pinpointer — September 9, 2026
Ladakh L-G gets additional charge of J&K, orangutans rescued in Odisha, FRA Gram Sabha consent under threat, and Houthis strike Saudi oil facilities
🏛️
President Grants Additional Charge of J&K to Ladakh L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena
News Context
- President Droupadi Murmu gave Ladakh L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena additional charge of J&K’s L-G duties, since J&K L-G Manoj Sinha is on leave — just ahead of Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati’s oath as J&K/Ladakh HC Chief Justice.
Key Facts for Prelims
- An L-G is the UT administrative head, appointed by the President; holds office during the President’s pleasure — no fixed term or special procedure needed for transfer/additional charge.
- Governed mainly by Article 239 (and Article 239A/239AA for certain UTs); a State Governor operates under Article 153-162 instead.
- J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 split J&K into two UTs: J&K (with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature).
| Feature | Governor (State) | Lieutenant Governor (UT) |
|---|---|---|
| Article | 153 | 239 |
| Powers | Bound by Council of Ministers’ advice | Often wider discretionary powers |
| Legislature | Every state has one | Only some UTs (Delhi, Puducherry, J&K) |
Source: The Hindu
🦧
Five Young Orangutans Rescued in Odisha’s Balasore District
News Context
- Odisha Forest Dept rescued five young orangutans from a casuarina plantation in Balasore — since orangutans aren’t native to India, officials suspect illegal wildlife trafficking; shifted to Nandankanan Zoological Park.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Orangutans are found naturally only in the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia (Borneo and Sumatra) — never in the wild in India.
- Three species — Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli (discovered 2017, the newest great ape species) — all Critically Endangered and listed under CITES Appendix I.
- Governed by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Exotic Live Species Advisory, 2020.
Source: The Hindu
🌳
Perilous Retreat: Gram Sabha Consent Under Threat in the Forest Rights Act
News Context
- The Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) has suggested forest land diversion need consent from only 70–75% of affected Gram Sabhas instead of all — raising concerns for stalled projects like Teesta-IV.
Key Facts for Prelims
- FRA, 2006 (Ministry of Tribal Affairs) recognises Individual Forest Rights (IFR) and Community Forest Rights (CFR) for forest-dwelling STs/OTFDs. The Gram Sabha initiates, verifies and approves claims.
- FRA doesn’t explicitly require consent from every Gram Sabha, but doesn’t allow it to be ignored either — the 70-75% rule would create a new, weaker standard.
- PESA Act, 1996 mandates Gram Sabha consent before land acquisition/mining licences in Scheduled Areas; LARR, 2013 requires Social Impact Assessment and affected-family consent.
Exam-trap: FRA, PESA and LARR together form the legal architecture protecting tribal land rights — the COPU proposal would dilute, not strengthen, this framework.
Source: The Hindu
🛢️
Houthis Strike Saudi Oil Facilities as West Asia War Expands
News Context
- Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck four Saudi cities, targeting an airbase and Saudi Aramco facilities — a major escalation. Separately, Iran’s IRGC claimed to capture a US unmanned submersible near the Strait of Hormuz.
Key Facts for Prelims
- The Houthis (Ansar Allah) are a Zaidi Shia group controlling Sanaa and northern Yemen since 2014, widely described as Iran-backed (“Axis of Resistance”).
- The wider 2026 Iran War began 28 Feb 2026 with US-Israel strikes on Iran; Houthis had paused Red Sea attacks after the Oct 2025 Gaza peace plan, now drawn back in.
- Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman — a critical oil chokepoint directly affecting India’s energy security.
Source: Indian Express
