Prelims Pinpointer 14-12-2025 Current Affairs Notes

Prelims Pinpointer

1.Parliamentary Privileges in India

Meaning of Parliamentary Privileges

• Parliamentary privileges are special rights and immunities enabling MPs to perform duties without intimidation.
• They ensure free, disciplined, and uninterrupted functioning of parliamentary proceedings.
• Privileges are co-terminus with membership, ceasing once a person is no longer an MP.
• These privileges are not absolute and must be exercised responsibly.
• Abuse of privileges for personal or political gain is constitutionally discouraged.

Sources of Parliamentary Privileges

• Derived from the Constitution of India, parliamentary conventions, and statutory laws.
• Also flow from Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
• Further shaped by judicial interpretations and established legislative practices.

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 105: Guarantees freedom of speech in Parliament; protects MPs from court proceedings.
• Article 122: Bars courts from questioning parliamentary proceedings on procedural irregularities.
• Article 194: Grants similar speech freedom to State Legislature members.
• Article 212: Restricts judicial scrutiny of State Legislature proceedings.

Classification of Parliamentary Privileges

• Individual Privileges

• • Members enjoy freedom of speech inside Parliament without legal liability.
  • MPs cannot be arrested during sessions, and 40 days before and after sessions.
  • Members are exempt from jury service during parliamentary sittings.
  • No MP can be arrested without presiding officer’s permission in session periods.

• Collective Privileges

• • Parliament can publish debates, reports, and proceedings independently.
  • Houses have power to exclude strangers from proceedings.
  • Parliament can frame its own procedural rules.
  • Authority to punish members or outsiders for breach of privilege.
  • Courts are prohibited from inquiring into parliamentary proceedings.

Significance of Parliamentary Privileges

• Protects legislative independence and institutional integrity.
• Enables MPs to function without fear of arrest or legal harassment.
• Facilitates access to confidential and sensitive information.
• Strengthens checks and balances within democratic governance.

Challenges and Issues

• Ambiguous scope may shield lawmakers from accountability.
• Possible conflict with equality before law under the Constitution.
• Instances of misuse through inflammatory or baseless statements.
• Opaque enforcement mechanisms reduce public trust.
• Lack of adequate oversight weakens accountability.

Important Judicial Pronouncements

• K. Anandan Nambiar (1951): MPs have no status above ordinary citizens.
• State of Kerala vs K. Ajith (2021): Privileges do not override criminal law.
• Supreme Court on Vandalism: Criminal acts cannot be protected as free speech.

Global Best Practices

• Australia: Privileges codified under Parliamentary Privileges Act, 1987 with judicial review.
• New Zealand: Parliamentary Privilege Act, 2014 allows legislative self-review and reform.

Effective Use of Parliamentary Privileges

• Parliamentary privileges safeguard the independence and integrity of the legislative process in a democratic system.
• Members must use privileges responsibly, avoiding personal, political, or partisan misuse at all times.
• Privileges should not be invoked to make inflammatory, offensive, or unsubstantiated allegations inside Parliament.
• Lawmakers must respect the rights of others, ensuring privileges do not enable harassment or intimidation.
• Privileges should never justify discriminatory or exclusionary conduct against individuals or groups.
• Transparency is essential; MPs should clearly justify the reasons for invoking parliamentary privileges.
• Members must remain open and accountable for actions taken under the cover of privileges.
• Strict adherence to parliamentary rules, procedures, and standing orders is mandatory while exercising privileges.
• Impartiality and fairness must guide the enforcement of privileges in all circumstances.
• Responsible use of privileges ensures a transparent, accountable, and effective legislature, serving public interest.

2.Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

Context: Ponduru Khadi from Andhra Pradesh received Geographical Indication tag from Union Commerce Ministry; fabric appreciated by Mahatma Gandhi 100 years ago located 20 km from Srikakulam.

New GI Certificates Distributed:

• Kannadippaya bamboo mat (Kerala)
• Apatani textile (Arunachal Pradesh)
• Marthandam honey (Tamil Nadu)
• Lepcha Tungbuk (Sikkim)
• Bodo Aronai (Assam)
• Ambaji white marble (Gujarat)
• Bedu and Badri cow ghee (Uttarakhand)

Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

• Definition

• • • A Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products that originate from a specific geographical location.
    • The product must possess distinct qualities, characteristics, or reputation attributable to that origin.

• Application

• • GI tags apply to agricultural, natural, and manufactured goods.
  • They also cover handicraft, industrial goods, and food items.
  • GI protection ensures recognition of local heritage and traditional skills.

• Protection

• • GI tagging offers legal protection to genuine producers.
  • It prevents unauthorized entities from using the product’s name without permission.
  • This safeguards producers from misuse, duplication, and unfair competition.

• Global Framework

• • GI is covered under the Paris Convention (1883) for industrial property protection.
  • It is also protected under the TRIPS Agreement (Trade-Related Aspects of IPR) of the WTO.

Indian Framework

• Governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, enforced in 2003.
• Duration of registration is 10 years, and it is renewable.
• The GI Registry is located in Chennai.
• The Registrar of GI is the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.
• Nodal department: DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Current Status in India

• First GI tag: Darjeeling Tea (2004–05).
• Total GI tags as of July 2024: 605.
• Uttar Pradesh has the highest number, followed by Tamil Nadu.

Key Challenges of GI Tags in India

• Low Registration Rate

• • • India lags behind major countries in GI registrations, with far fewer tags than China (9,785), Germany (7,586), and Hungary (7,290).

• Regional Disparity

• States such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh dominate GI registrations, while Jharkhand and Tripura remain underrepresented.

• GI Violations and Imitations

• Many products face imitation issues, such as Banarasi silk being copied in Surat with power looms to produce cheaper replicas.

• Low Awareness Among Producers

• Many rural producers lack knowledge of GI benefits.

• Example: Kagga Rice, a salt-tolerant crop from coastal Karnataka, remains under-recognized.

• Geographical Disputes

• Several GI products face multi-state claims, such as Basmati rice, with multiple regions asserting ownership.

• Post-Registration Challenges

• • Producers struggle with understanding the definition of a GI producer and the process of obtaining authorised user status.
  • Many farmers with GI products remain unaware of required procedures.

Key Initiatives to Strengthen GI Ecosystem

• GI Logo and Tagline

• Tagline “Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India” promotes GI identity.

• Promoting GI Exports

• APEDA facilitates export of GI products like Naga Mircha, Black Rice, and Assam Lemon.

• One District One Product (ODOP)

• Supports district-level products, including GI-tagged items, under Districts as Export Hubs.

• ONDC Integration

• Connects GI products with nationwide and global buyers through Open Network for Digital Commerce.

Way Forward

• Increasing Awareness

• Government must explicitly promote GI-certified goods to help artisans understand their value.

• Strengthening Post-Registration Mechanisms

• Clear criteria are needed for defining producers and validating authorised user status.

• Supporting Poor Producers

• Provide export subsidies to small producers and artisans to improve global competitiveness.

• Resolving State Disputes

• States should pursue collaborative claims, as seen in the joint GI tag for Kolhapuri Chappals.

• Conservation-Centric Approach

• Climate-sensitive products like Kanniyakumari Matti banana and Kashmir saffron need adaptive strategies for long-term protection.

3.Pax Silica Initiative

Context: India has been excluded from the US-led Pax Silica initiative, focused on critical mineral diversification. The move has implications for India’s role in global AI and semiconductor supply chains.

About Pax Silica

• Pax Silica is a US-led strategic initiative to secure a resilient, innovation-driven silicon supply chain.
• It focuses on critical minerals essential for artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.
• The initiative aims to reduce coercive dependencies and protect foundational AI materials.
• It seeks to enable aligned nations to deploy transformative technologies at scale.

Participating Countries

• Founding partners include Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, UK, Israel, UAE, Australia.
• These countries host key companies, investors, and capabilities powering the global AI ecosystem.
• The inaugural Pax Silica Summit brings together these strategic technology stakeholders.

Objectives of Pax Silica

• Secure strategic stacks of the global technology supply chain.
• Cover software platforms, applications, materials, and processing capabilities.
• Strengthen cooperation in AI, semiconductors, and critical mineral security.
• Ensure trusted supply chains among politically aligned economies.

Critical Minerals

• • Critical minerals are essential elements underpinning modern technologies and clean transitions.
  • They face high supply risk due to geographic concentration of extraction or processing.
  • Disruptions may cause severe supply-chain vulnerabilities and strategic dependence.

• Applications of Critical Minerals

• • Clean technologies: Electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels, zero-emission systems.
  • Batteries: Cadmium, cobalt, vanadium used in energy storage solutions.
  • Semiconductors: Gallium and indium critical for chips and electronics.
  • Solar panels: Selenium-based photovoltaic components.
  • Advanced manufacturing: Permanent magnets, ceramics, aerospace materials.
  • Defence equipment: Beryllium, titanium, tungsten, tantalum in electronics and weapons.
  • Platinum Group Metals (PGMs): Medical devices, cancer treatment drugs, dental materials.

• India’s List of Critical Minerals

• • India has identified 30 critical minerals based on domestic priorities and vulnerabilities.
  • Key minerals include Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, REEs, Silicon, Gallium, Germanium.
  • Others include Antimony, Beryllium, Graphite, Tungsten, Vanadium, Titanium, PGE.
  • The list reflects needs across energy transition, defence, electronics, and manufacturing.

4.Cotton Production in India

Context: Textile industry demands removal of import duty on cotton to help MSMEs get affordable raw material and reduce divergence between domestic and global prices amid production decline.

More in News:

• Committee on Cotton Production estimated cotton production at 292.15 lakh bales this year, nearly five lakh bales less than previous season ending September 30, 2025; demand expected at 337 lakh bales versus 340 lakh bales last season.
• Average cotton productivity in India is 440 kg per hectare against 1,900-2,000 kg per hectare in Brazil.
• Industry emphasizes India needs to focus on seed quality and productivity so that cotton production doesn’t decline; fibre quality expected to deteriorate due to unseasonal rains affecting crop quality and yield nationwide.

About Cotton

• • Cotton, known as “White Gold”, is India’s most important commercial crop globally.
  • India contributes nearly 24% of global cotton output, reflecting its strategic agricultural importance.
  • Around 67% cotton area is rain-fed, making production highly dependent on monsoon behaviour.
  • Only 33% area is irrigated, exposing farmers to rainfall variability and climate uncertainty.
  • Cotton cultivation dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization, with world-renowned textile traditions.
  • During colonial rule, India was reduced to a raw cotton supplier for British textile mills.

• Growing Conditions

• • Cotton requires a warm, sunny, frost-free climate with moderate humidity.
  • It thrives in deep alluvial soils of northern India.
  • Black cotton soils dominate central India, ensuring moisture retention.
  • Red and mixed black soils support cultivation in southern regions.
  • The crop tolerates slight salinity but is highly vulnerable to waterlogging.
  • Proper drainage is therefore critical for healthy plant growth.
  • Cotton is primarily a Kharif crop, requiring 6–8 months to mature.
  • Sowing starts in April–May in northern India and during monsoon in southern zones.

• Cotton Varieties in India

• • India uniquely grows all four cultivated cotton species globally.
  • G. arboreum and G. herbaceum are Asian cotton varieties.
  • G. barbadense represents Egyptian cotton with extra-long staples.
  • G. hirsutum, American upland cotton, dominates commercial production.
  • Hybrid cotton arises from crossing parent varieties to improve traits.
  • Bt cotton, introduced in 2002, provides resistance against bollworms.

India’s Cotton Scenario & Significance

• • India is the second-largest producer and consumer of cotton after China.
  • Despite largest acreage, India ranks 36th in productivity globally.
  • Cotton exports reached 30 lakh bales in 2022–23, about 6% global share.
  • The sector sustains 6 million farmers and 40–50 million workers.
  • Cotton textiles form the second-largest employer after agriculture.

• Key Challenges

• • Cotton is highly climate-sensitive, affected by erratic rainfall and temperature rise.
  • Productivity remains low at 480 kg/ha, compared to 800 kg/ha globally.
  • Pink Bollworm and fungal diseases severely reduce yields.
  • Production declined to a 15-year low of 25 million bales.
  • Rising input costs and cheap imports reduce farm profitability.
  • Farmers often sell below MSP due to market access constraints.

Government Initiatives

• Cotton Corporation of India (1970) ensures MSP procurement and price stability.
• Technology Mission on Cotton (2000) focused on productivity and quality improvement.
• Cotton Development Programme under NFSM covers 15 major cotton states.
• National Technical Textiles Mission (2020) promotes cotton-based value addition.
• MITRA Parks aim to boost textile infrastructure and global competitiveness.
• Cott-Ally App provides MSP, procurement, and advisory services digitally.
• TAG and COCPC coordinate policy, productivity, and industry supply needs.

Measures to Boost the Sector

• Promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and pest-resistant GM hybrids.
• Bridge yield gaps through HDPS and Mission for Cotton Productivity.
• Modernise ginning and spinning using TUFS and MITRA infrastructure.
• Strengthen extension via KVKs, CCI, and digital advisory platforms.
• Expand “Kasturi Cotton” branding with QR traceability for global markets.

Conclusion

• Cotton anchors India’s agriculture–industry–trade nexus, yet faces structural challenges.
• Sustainable practices, infrastructure upgrades, strong MSP enforcement, and branding are essential.
• A holistic approach can ensure farmer welfare, export competitiveness, and textile growth.

5.115 Years of Savarkar’s Poem ‘Sagara Pran Talamalala’

About the Poem

• A Marathi patriotic poem expressing exile, anguish and longing for the motherland.
• Written by Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883–1966).
• Personifies the sea as a messenger between the revolutionary and India.

Historical Context

• Composed around 1909 at Brighton, England, during Savarkar’s India House phase.
• Written amid surveillance, repression and revolutionary turmoil in London.
• Reflects conflict between armed struggle abroad and yearning for Matru-bhoomi.

Cultural Legacy

• Later immortalised in song by Lata Mangeshkar, music by Hridaynath Mangeshkar.
• Became a symbol of exile, sacrifice and nationalist emotion during the freedom movement.

Other Literary Contributions of Savarkar

• The Indian War of Independence 1857 redefined the revolt as a national struggle.
• Hindutva: Who is a Hindu? articulated cultural–civilisational nationalism.
• My Transportation for Life (Mazi Janmathep) documented Cellular Jail imprisonment.
• Six Glorious Epochs of Indian History highlighted resistance-driven historical phases.
• Authored patriotic poems and plays blending liberty, sacrifice and rationalism.

6.Tapanuli Orangutans

Background

• The Tapanuli orangutan is a critically endangered great ape, formally recognised as a distinct species in 2017.
• It is considered the rarest great ape globally, with fewer than ~800 individuals remaining in the wild.

Habitat and Distribution

• Endemic to the Batang Toru Ecosystem across three Tapanuli districts in North Sumatra, Indonesia.
• Confined to fragmented upland and sub-montane rainforests south of Lake Toba.
• Currently occupies less than 3% of its historical range, indicating severe habitat contraction.
• Evidence suggests earlier adaptation to lower-altitude forest habitats.

Conservation Status

• Listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List.
• Recent floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Senyar may have killed 6–11% of the remaining population.

Physical and Behavioural Traits

• Similar body size to other orangutans but with distinct skull morphology and flatter facial structure.
• Possess thicker, frizzier orange fur, with flanged males showing beards and flattened cheek pads.
• Highly arboreal and solitary, spending most time in forest canopies.
• Demonstrate advanced intelligence, tool use, imitation, and socially transmitted behaviours.

Unique Biological Features

• Represents the most ancient orangutan lineage, despite being the most recently described species.
• Exhibits unique dietary preferences, including caterpillars and pinecones, besides fruits and insects.
• Displays extremely slow reproductive rates, with strong mother–offspring bonds lasting 7–11 years.

Geminid Meteor Shower

Overview

• The Geminids are an annual meteor shower occurring every December.
• Known for high meteor counts, bright fireballs, and slow-moving streaks.

Origin and Cause

• Originates from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, unlike comet-based meteor showers.
• Extreme solar heating causes Phaethon to shed debris, forming a meteoroid stream.
• Earth intersects this debris annually between mid-November and late December.

Visibility and Characteristics

• Radiant point lies in the Gemini constellation, rising higher after midnight.
• Peak activity occurs between December 13–15, with up to 120 meteors per hour.
• Meteors appear yellow or white, travelling at ~35 km/s, slower than Perseids.
• Best observed post-midnight to pre-dawn, without optical instruments.

Significance

• Provides insights into asteroid-derived meteoroid streams and near-Earth objects.
• Enhances planetary defence research through better understanding of Phaethon.
• Encourages public engagement and citizen science in astronomy.