Prelims-Pinpointer-for-23-oct-2025

Prelims Oriented

Article 371 and 6th Schedule

Context: MHA offered Article 371 provisions for Ladakh but the civil society groups rejected this, demanding Sixth Schedule inclusion, Statehood, and detained protesters’ release.

Article 371: Special Provisions for States

• Constitutional Framework
  • Location: Part XXI of Indian Constitution dealing with temporary, transitional and special powers.
  • Original Provision: Article 371 exists since January 26, 1950 in original Constitution.
  • Subsequent Additions: Articles 371A to 371J inserted through constitutional amendments under Article 368.
• State-Wise Special Provisions
  • Article 371 (Maharashtra and Gujarat)
    • Maharashtra: Governor establishes separate development boards for Vidarbha, Marathwada and remaining state areas.
    • Gujarat: Governor creates development boards for Saurashtra, Kutch and rest of Gujarat.
  • Article 371A (Nagaland)
    • Parliamentary Limitation: No central law applies on Naga religious, social practices, customary law without Assembly resolution.
    • Justice System: Covers civil and criminal justice, land ownership and resource transfer matters.
    • Law and Order: Governor holds special responsibility for maintaining state law and order.
  • Article 371B (Assam – 1969)
    • Tribal Committee: President manages Constitution and functioning of Legislative Assembly committee representing tribal areas.
  • Article 371C (Manipur – 1972)
    • Hill Areas: Provides for committee of legislators from Manipur’s Hill Areas.
    • Annual Report: Governor submits yearly report to President on Hill Areas administration.
  • Articles 371D and E (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana)
    • Equitable Opportunities: President orders ensure equal opportunities in public employment and education facilities.
    • Regional Balance: Provisions benefit people from different parts of both states equally.
  • Article 371F (Sikkim)
    • Assembly Size: State Legislative Assembly must have minimum 30 elected members.
    • Governor’s Role: Special responsibility for peace maintenance and equitable socio-economic advancement arrangements.
  • Article 371G (Mizoram)
    • Cultural Protection: Preserves Mizo religious, social practices, customary law and legal procedures.
    • Justice and Land: Covers criminal, civil justice administration and land ownership transfers.
  • Article 371H (Arunachal Pradesh)
    • Law and Order: Confers special responsibility on Governor for state law and order.
  • Article 371I (Goa)
    • Minimum Strength: Legislative Assembly must comprise at least 30 elected members.
  • Article 371J (Karnataka)
    • Regional Focus: Accords special status to Hyderabad-Karnataka Region known as Kalyana Karnataka.
    • Development Board: Establishes separate board for the region’s developmental activities.

Sixth Schedule of Indian Constitution

• Objectives
  • Tribal Administration: Provides framework for administering tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
  • Land Protection: Protects tribal land and resources, prohibiting transfer to non-tribal individuals or communities.
  • Cultural Preservation: Prevents exploitation of tribal communities and promotes their cultural and social identities.
• Key Provisions
  • Autonomous Districts and Regions (Article 244(2))
    • Coverage: Sixth Schedule applies to tribal areas in four northeastern states exclusively.
    • Administrative Units: Tribal areas organized as Autonomous Districts with possible subdivision into Autonomous Regions.
    • Governor’s Powers: Can organize, reorganize districts, alter boundaries, change names of autonomous districts.
  • District and Regional Councils
    • District Council: Each autonomous district has council with maximum 30 members elected through adult suffrage.
    • Nomination: Governor nominates maximum four members; remaining members elected by tribal population.
    • Regional Council: Separate council constituted for each autonomous region within the district.
  • Legislative Powers
    • Law-Making Authority: Councils make laws on lands, forest management (excluding Reserved Forests), and property inheritance.
    • Money-Lending Control: Empowered to regulate money-lending and trading by non-Scheduled Tribe residents.
    • Governor’s Assent: All laws require mandatory approval from State Governor before implementation.
  • Judicial Administration
    • Council Courts: District and Regional Councils establish Village and District Courts for tribal disputes.
    • Jurisdictional Limits: Courts cannot try cases with death penalty or five-plus years imprisonment.
    • High Court Role: Exercises jurisdiction over suits specified by the Governor.
  • Financial and Administrative Powers
    • Revenue Collection: Councils assess land revenue and impose taxes on professions, trades, animals, vehicles.
    • Resource Management: Grant licenses for mineral extraction within their territorial jurisdiction.
    • Development Functions: Establish primary schools, dispensaries, markets, roads, fisheries and manage road transport.
  • Parliamentary and State Laws
    • Limited Application: Central and state laws apply with modifications or exceptions to autonomous areas.
    • Commission Appointment: Governor appoints commission to investigate autonomous district management issues.
• Current Coverage
  • Assam: North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong, Bodoland Territorial Areas Districts.
  • Meghalaya: Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, Garo Hills Districts.
  • Tripura: Tripura Tribal Areas District.
  • Mizoram: Chakma, Mara, Lai Districts.

AI-Generated Content Labelling and Social Media Rules

Context: Government addresses deepfake menace through mandatory AI content labelling on social media while strengthening accountability mechanisms for content takedown notices.

Mandatory AI Content Disclosure

• Ministry proposed changes to IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
• User Declaration: Social media platforms must enable users to self-declare if uploaded content is AI-generated.
• Platform Responsibility: When users fail to declare, platforms must proactively detect and label synthetic content.
• Labelling Requirement: Declaration must cover minimum 10% of content’s display area across all formats.
• Content Coverage: Applies to text, video, audio and all synthetic content types beyond photorealistic material.

Rationale Behind

• Deepfake Concerns: Parliamentary and public forums demanded action against deepfakes harming society and individuals.
• Misuse Impact: Prominent persons’ images used creating deepfakes affecting personal lives, privacy and spreading misconceptions.
• User Empowerment: Mandatory labelling ensures users distinguish between synthetic and real content before decision-making.
• Policy Shift: Ministry previously relied on impersonation penalties; now introduces proactive synthetic content regulation.

Content Notice Accountability Reforms

• IT Rules, 2021 Rule 3(1)(d) Amendment : Officers sending content notices to platforms made more accountable through stricter procedures.
  • Central government orders require Joint Secretary approval; states need Deputy Inspector-General level approval.
• Notice Clarity: Communications must explicitly warn that safe harbour protection doesn’t apply to flagged content.
  • Safe Harbour Impact: Such notices force platforms defending content as publishers, not mere intermediaries.

IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021

• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued rules in February 2021.
• Coverage: Provides due diligence norms for intermediaries, grievance redressal mechanism and digital media ethics code.
• Due Diligence Requirements
  • Publication Mandate: Intermediaries must prominently display rules, privacy policy and user agreement on website or app.
  • Content Restrictions: Modified categories of content users cannot upload or share on platforms.
  • Annual Updates: Inform users at least once yearly about rules, privacy policy changes or user agreement modifications.
• Grievance Redressal Mechanism
  • Officer Details: Prominently publish Grievance Officer’s name and contact details on website or mobile application.
  • Complaint Mechanism: Provide system for users or victims to report rule violations or computer resource issues.
  • Timeline: Acknowledge complaints within 24 hours; resolve within 15 days from receipt date.
• Significant Social Media Intermediaries (SSMIs)
  • Intermediaries primarily enabling online interaction between two or more users above notified threshold.
  • Chief Compliance Officer: SSMI must appoint officer responsible for ensuring Act compliance.
  • Nodal Contact Person: Designated for 24×7 coordination with law enforcement agencies for order compliance.
  • First Originator Identification: Messaging service SSMIs must enable identification of first information originator within India.
• User Safety Provisions
  • 24-Hour Removal: Intermediaries must remove content exposing private areas, nudity, sexual acts or morphed impersonation images.
  • Complaint Filing: Individual or any person on their behalf can file such complaints.

Farm Fires

Context: Punjab recorded 415 farm fires between September-October 2025, down fourfold from 1,510 last year due to monitoring and awareness campaigns.

Farm Fires

• Definition: Deliberate fires set on agricultural fields after harvest to clear crop residue, particularly stubble.
• Purpose: Burning leftover straw and stubble prepares fields quickly for next planting season.
• Accidental Fires: Can also occur unintentionally due to machinery malfunctions or other unforeseen causes.

Concerns with Farm Fires

• Economic Advantage: Cost-effective and time-saving method for farmers clearing fields rapidly.
• Air Pollution: Significantly contributes by emitting smoke, particulate matter and greenhouse gases into atmosphere.
• Soil Health Loss: Burning destroys essential nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur vital for fertility.

Crop Residue Management (CRM) Options

• In-Situ Management (Field-Based)
  • Mulching: Leaves residue on soil surface protecting from erosion, retaining moisture and suppressing weeds.
  • No-Till Farming: Seeds planted directly without disturbing residue, conserving moisture and reducing soil erosion.
  • Strip-Till Farming: Tills narrow strips for planting while leaving residue on surface, reducing disturbance.
  • Crop Rotation: Alternates crops seasonally reducing soil depletion and improving overall soil health.
• Ex-Situ Management (Off-Field Uses)
  • Biomass Power Generation: Burning residues produces electricity or heat, reducing dependency on conventional fuels.
  • Animal Feed: Cereal crop residues baled and used as nutritious animal fodder.
  • Composting: Residues mixed with organic materials creating nutrient-rich compost improving soil quality.
  • Industrial Applications: Converted into paper, textiles and building materials for commercial use.

 Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple

Context: President Droupadi Murmu became first woman President to visit Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, offering prayers under unprecedented security with traditional arrangements and formal reception.

Sabarimala Temple

• Geographic Location: Ancient Ayyappan temple situated atop Sabarimala Hill in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala.
• Located at 1260 meters above sea level amidst eighteen hills.
• Natural Surroundings: Temple surrounded by mountains and dense forests forming part of Periyar Tiger Reserve.
• Deity: Dedicated to Ayyappan, also called Dharma Shasta, worshipped as Brahmachari (celibate) deity.
• Pilgrimage Season and Traditions
  • Unique Tradition: Pilgrimage includes offering prayers at Vavar mosque honoring Ayyappan’s Muslim devotee.
  • Sacred Steps: Pilgrims without “Irumudikkettu” cannot ascend the 18 sacred steps per customary rules.
  • Vratham: 41-Day Austerity Period
    • Mala Wearing: Devotees wear special chain made of Rudraksha or Tulasi beads before pilgrimage.
    • Dietary Rules: Strict lacto-vegetarian diet must be followed throughout the austerity period.
    • Behavioral Restrictions: Celibacy, teetotalism, no profanity, anger control required during entire Vratham period.
    • Physical Requirements: Hair and nails must grow without cutting during 41-day observance period.
• Temple Architecture
  • Reconstruction: Temple rebuilt after 1950 arson and vandalism; original stone image replaced with panchaloha.
  • Structural Features: Sanctum sanctorum has gold-plated roof with four golden finials at top.
  • Components: Includes two mandapams and balikalpura housing the altar for worship rituals.
  • Main Stairway: Pathinettu thripadikal consisting of 18 sacred steps leads to temple entrance.

Tapioca Crops

Context: ICAR-NBAIR scientists successfully controlled cassava mealybug infestation devastating South India’s tapioca crops by releasing parasitic wasp Anagyrus lopezi. By 2024, natural biological control restored yields across 1.43 lakh hectares, eliminating chemical spray requirements completely.

Tapioca 

• Cultivation and Production
  • Major Crop: Cultivated on approximately 3 lakh hectares in Tamil Nadu producing 60 lakh tonnes annually.
  • Global Significance: Grown throughout tropical world for tuberous roots used in multiple products.
  • Products Derived: Cassava flour, breads, tapioca, laundry starch and alcoholic beverages produced from roots.
• Climatic and Soil Requirements
  • Soil Type: Thrives in any well-drained soil, preferably red lateritic loamy soil conditions.
  • Climate Preference: Best growth occurs in tropical, warm and humid climate conditions.
  • Rainfall Need: Requires well-distributed rainfall exceeding 100 cm annually for optimal growth.
  • Elevation Tolerance: Can be cultivated up to 1000 meters above sea level successfully.
• Toxicity and Safety Concerns
  • Cyanogenic Glucosides (CNGs): All plant parts such as leaves, stem, tuber, rind contains toxic compounds linamarin and lotaustralin.
  • Enzymatic Breakdown: CNGs hydrolysed by enzyme linamarase releasing acetone cyanohydrin, spontaneously liberating hydrogen cyanide.
  • Toxicity: Both acetone cyanohydrin and free cyanide are highly toxic to humans and animals.
  • Leaf Concentration: Leaves contain approximately 10 times higher CNG amounts compared to roots.
  • Age Factor: CNG content in cassava leaves decreases progressively with increasing leaf age.
  • Rind Danger: Rind contains 10-30 times higher cyanoglucoside content than edible plant parts.
  • Animal Poisoning Risk: Feeding crushed peels or leaves without proper drying poses high cyanide poisoning risk.

C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)

• Early Life
  • Birth: Born on December 10, 1878 in Thorapalli village, Tamil Nadu state.
  • Popular Name: Widely known and referred to as Rajaji throughout India.
• Role in Independence Movement
  • Gandhi’s Influence: Personal interaction with Mahatma Gandhi in 1919 inspired him to abandon legal profession.
  • Full Commitment: Dedicated himself completely to India’s independence struggle following Gandhi’s call.
  • Major Agitations: Participated in Rowlett Act protests, Non-Cooperation Movement, Vaikom Satyagraha and Civil Disobedience Movement.
  • Imprisonment: Jailed five times between 1912 and 1941 for his nationalist activities.
• Constitutional Contribution
  • Constituent Assembly: Elected from Madras constituency on Congress party ticket to Constituent Assembly.
  • Key Interventions: Contributed significantly on issues of religious freedom and citizenship during Assembly debates.
• Recognition and Literary Work
  • Bharat Ratna: Conferred with India’s highest civilian honor in 1954 for political and literary contributions.
  • Prolific Writer: Authored numerous works contributing to Indian literature and cultural preservation.
  • Popular Works: English retellings of Mahabharata and Ramayana; Tamil work “Ramayana – Chakravarti Thirumagan.”

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

Context: NHRC issued notices to Kerala, Tripura, Manipur over three separate journalist attacks during August-September, seeking police reports within two weeks.

NHRC

• Headquarters: Located in New Delhi as India’s primary human rights institution.
• Legal Status: Statutory body established under Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
• Human Rights Definition: Rights relating to life, liberty, equality, dignity guaranteed by Constitution or International Covenants.
• Composition
  • Chairperson: Retired Chief Justice of India or retired Supreme Court judge.
  • Five Full-Time Members: Retired or serving Supreme Court judge, High Court Chief Justice, three with human rights experience including one woman.
  • Seven Deemed Members: Chairpersons of National Commissions for
    • Minorities, 
    • Backward Classes, 
    • Disabilities, 
    • Scheduled Castes, 
    • Scheduled Tribes, 
    • Child Rights, 
    • Women.
• Appointment and Tenure
  • Selection Committee: Prime Minister (head), Lok Sabha Speaker, Home Minister, Opposition Leaders, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman.
  • Tenure Period: Three years or until 70 years age, whichever earlier; eligible for reappointment.
  • Removal: President can remove for proved misbehaviour or incapacity after Supreme Court consultation.
• Functions and Powers
  • Inquiry: Investigate human rights violations suo motu or on victim’s petition.
  • Court Intervention: Intervene in proceedings with court approval; visit jails studying inmates’ conditions.
  • Review Powers: Review laws, procedures and terrorism-related factors inhibiting human rights.
  • Civil Court Powers: Summon witnesses, receive evidence, requisition records, issue commissions under Civil Procedure Code.

Issues and Criticisms

• Time Limitation: Cannot consider complaints filed after one year or subjudice matters.
• Lack of Diversity: Only 95 of 393 staff positions held by women.
• Selection Bias: Committee dominated by ruling party curbing opposition dissent.
• Government Interference: Civil servants as Secretary General may compromise independence violating Paris Principles.
• Investigation Weakness: Reliance on deputed officials lacks accountability and oversight mechanisms.

Way Forward

• Independence: Amend Protection of Human Rights Act allowing independent appointment of qualified investigators following Paris Principles.
  • Paris Principles
    • United Nations General Assembly adopted Paris Principles in 1993.
    • Purpose: Set out internationally agreed minimum standards that National Human Rights Institutions must meet.
    • Credibility Standard: NHRIs must meet these principles to be considered credible and effective.
  • Five Core Standards
    • Mandate and Competence: NHRIs must have broad mandate covering all human rights issues.
    • Autonomy from Government: Independence from government interference in functioning and decision-making processes.
    • Independence by Law: Independence guaranteed through Statute or Constitution providing legal protection.
    • Pluralism: Composition should reflect diversity with adequate resources for effective functioning.
    • Adequate Investigation Powers: Must possess sufficient powers to conduct independent investigations into human rights violations.
• Investigation Wing: Establish independent police complaint commission; develop NHRC investigation capacity.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Regular constructive engagement with civil society essential for fulfilling mandates effectively.
• Reforms: Ensure diversity in composition, relax one-year time limit, utilize Section 17 statutory powers.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

• Principal judicial organ of United Nations established in 1945, began functioning in 1946.
• Location: The Hague, Netherlands; only principal UN organ not located in New York.
• Official Languages: English and French used for all court proceedings and judgments.
• Composition and Structure
  • Judges: Fifteen independent judges elected for nine-year terms by UN General Assembly and Security Council.
    • Regional Distribution: Africa (3), Latin America-Caribbean (2), Asia (3), Western Europe (5), Eastern Europe (2).
  • Election Process: Candidates nominated by national groups in Permanent Court of Arbitration; elections every three years.
  • Re-election: Retiring judges eligible for re-election; one-third seats filled every three years.
  • Nationality Rule: Maximum one judge per nationality ensuring geographical and legal system diversity.
• Jurisdiction
  • Contentious Cases: Settles legal disputes between states consenting to ICJ authority; rulings binding on parties.
  • Advisory Jurisdiction: Provides non-binding opinions on legal questions from UN organs and specialized agencies.
  • Law Sources: International treaties, conventions, customs and general principles guide court decisions.
  • Finality: ICJ rulings final and unappealable; non-compliance addressed through UN Security Council.
• India’s Engagement
  • Membership: India member since ICJ’s inception; actively participated in developing international law.
  • Indian Judges:
    • Benegal Narsing Rau (1952-53), 
    • Nagendra Singh (1973-88), 
    • Raghunath Bhandare (1991-96), 
    • Dalveer Bhandari (2012-current).