Prelims-Pinpointer-for-04-12-2025 current affairs notes

Prelim Oriented

State Election Commissions (SECs)

About SECs

• SECs conduct free, fair, and impartial elections to Panchayats and Municipalities.
• Appointed by the Governor under constitutional mandate.

Constitutional Powers

• Article 243K(1)

• • Grants superintendence, direction and control over electoral rolls and elections to Panchayats.
  • Municipal elections are governed similarly under Article 243ZA.
  • Headed by a State Election Commissioner, appointed by the Governor.

• Article 243K(2) – Tenure

• • • Tenure and service conditions are determined by the state legislature through law.

• Removal

• • SEC has status, salary and allowances of a High Court Judge.
  • Removal follows the same process and grounds as for a High Court Judge.

Issues with SECs

• Election-related violence; e.g., West Bengal panchayat polls witnessing violence blamed on SEC.
• State interference despite constitutional mandate requiring non-interference.
• Lack of impartiality and accountability, with some SECs acting aligned with ruling governments.
• Appointment of serving bureaucrats, criticised by Supreme Court as a “mockery of the Constitution.”
• Weak independence due to legislature-controlled tenure and appointment.
• Conflicts with state governments, e.g., Maharashtra (2008) where SEC Nand Lal was jailed after breach-of-privilege proceedings.

Reform Suggestions

• Supreme Court (2021)

• • • Serving bureaucrats must not be appointed as SECs to ensure independence.

• 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC)

• • • Appointment through a collegium: CM + Speaker + Leader of Opposition.
    • Calls for an institutional mechanism for coordination between ECI and SECs.

• Law Commission 255th Report

• • Recommend a constitutional amendment creating a separate, independent, permanent Secretariat for the ECI.
  • Similar secretariats suggested for SECs to ensure autonomy and fair local elections.

National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)

Context: NCBC recommended excluding 35 communities from West Bengal’s Central OBC list, mostly Muslim communities, following scrutiny initiated after 2014 inclusions ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

NCBC

• Background and Evolution

• • • NCBC was originally created in 1993 under the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
    • It functioned under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
    • It received constitutional status through the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018.
    • The amendment inserted Article 338B, Article 342A, and Clause 26C in Article 366, redefining the framework for SEBC/OBC identification.

• Composition

• • The Commission consists of:
    • Chairperson,
    • Vice-Chairperson,
    • Three Members (in rank and pay of Secretary to Government of India).
  • All members are appointed by the President through a warrant under his hand and seal.

• Key Functions (Article 338B)

• • • Investigate and monitor all matters relating to safeguards for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) under the Constitution, law, or government orders.
    • Inquire into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of SEBCs.
    • Advise and participate in socio-economic development programmes for SEBCs and evaluate progress across Union and States.
    • Submit annual and periodic reports to the President on implementation of safeguards.
    • Recommend measures for protection, welfare, and socio-economic advancement of SEBCs.
    • Perform additional functions assigned by the President, subject to Parliamentary law.

• Reporting Requirement

• • The President lays NCBC reports before both Houses of Parliament.
  • A memorandum explaining action taken or reasons for non-acceptance of recommendations must accompany the report.

• Powers of the Commission

• • While conducting inquiries, NCBC enjoys civil court powers, including:
    • Summoning persons,
    • Enforcing document production,
    • Receiving evidence on affidavits.
  • The Union and all State governments must consult the Commission on major policy matters affecting SEBCs.
  • NCBC has authority to regulate its own procedures.

Article 342A

• Inserted by the 102nd Amendment Act, 2018.
• Empowers the President to notify the Central List of SEBCs for each State/UT.
• Any modification to this central list can be made only by Parliament.

De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

Who are DNTs?

• De-Notified Tribes (DNTs) refer to communities once listed under the Criminal Tribes Acts (1871–1947) imposed by the British.
• These Acts branded several communities as “born criminals.”
• After Independence, the Acts were repealed in 1952, and listed communities were officially “de-notified.”
• Many DNT communities were nomadic, relying on seasonal movement for livelihood.
• Semi-nomadic groups moved shorter distances and at lower frequency compared to fully nomadic tribes.

Status of DNTs in India

• Over 10 crore people across 1,400+ communities fall under DNT, nomadic or semi-nomadic categories.
• DNTs are spread across various States, with many still practicing mobility-based livelihoods.
• A large number remain outside the reach of mainstream welfare systems due to lack of identification and documentation.

Commissions on DNTs

• Idate Commission (2014)

• • • Tasked to:
      • Compile a State-wise list of DNT and nomadic communities.
      • Recommend suitable measures for their welfare to Centre and States.

• Renke Commission (2008)

• Earlier effort to identify and list DNT communities nationwide.

• Development and Welfare Board for DNTs (DWBDNCs)

• • Renke and Idate Commissions suggested a permanent commission.
  • Government rejected this because duties would overlap with NCSC, NCST and NCBC, as most DNTs appear under SC/ST/OBC categories.
  • Instead, DWBDNCs was created in 2019 (under Societies Registration Act, 1860) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
  • Mandate: Implement welfare schemes and support programmes for DNTs.

SEED Scheme (Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs)

• Launch: February 2022 • Allocation: ₹200 crore (2021–22 to 2025–26).

• Implementing agency: DWBDNCs.

• Key Components

• • • Education: Free coaching for competitive exams.
    • Health: Insurance cover via PM Jan Arogya Yojana.
    • Livelihoods: Support through NRLM and SRLMs.
    • Housing/Land: Financial aid for home construction under PM Awas Yojana.

• Eligibility

• • Families with annual income ≤ ₹2.5 lakh.
    • Beneficiaries not availing similar benefits under any other central/state scheme.

International IDEA

Context

• The Chief Election Commissioner of India will assume charge as Chairperson of International IDEA in 2026.

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA)

• • Inter-governmental organisation formed in 1995 to support global democratic strengthening.
  • Granted UN Observer Status, enabling participation in UN deliberations.
  • Works globally to improve electoral systems, democratic institutions and political participation.

• Objectives

• • Promote stronger, more legitimate, and sustainable democracies.
  • Support reforms that enhance institutional integrity, effective governance, and public trust.

• Membership

• • Comprises 35 member countries.
  • India is a founding member of the organisation.
  • The United States and Japan participate as observer countries.

• Governance Structure

• • Governance includes:
    • Council of Member States
    • Steering Committee
    • Finance and Audit Committee
    • Board of Advisers
    • Secretariat led by the Secretary-General
  • The Council elects a Chair and two Vice-Chairs annually from member states.

• Core Functions

• International IDEA operates through four key modalities:

• • • • Knowledge Production: research, comparative studies, policy analysis.
      • Capacity Development: technical assistance and institutional strengthening.
      • Advocacy: promoting democratic norms and reforms.
      • Dialogues and Convening: platforms for stakeholder engagement.

• Key Workstreams

• • • Electoral Processes: improving electoral integrity and management.
    • Constitution-Building: supporting drafting, reform, and implementation.
    • Democracy Assessment: evaluating performance of democratic systems.
    • Political Participation & Representation: enhancing inclusion and fairness.
    • Climate Change & Democracy: examining governance responses to climate risks.
    • Digitalisation & Democracy: addressing digital impacts on democratic systems.

• The Secretariat is located in Stockholm, Sweden.

Devaluation & Depreciation of Rupee

Meaning of Devaluation

• Devaluation is a deliberate downward adjustment of a country’s currency value by the central bank.
• It aims to boost export competitiveness, reduce trade deficits, and correct external imbalances.
• However, it increases import costs and can create additional domestic inflation.

Meaning of Depreciation

• Depreciation of the rupee occurs when its value falls due to market forces, not policy.
• Influenced by supply–demand shifts, global conditions, capital flows and investor sentiment.
• Reflects market-based weakening, unlike policy-driven devaluation.

Reasons for Recent Rupee Decline

• Internal Factors

• • High inflation erodes purchasing power and weakens rupee value.
  • Widening trade deficit increases demand for foreign currency, especially due to oil imports.
  • Fiscal deficit pressures reduce macroeconomic stability.
  • Unclear policy direction from RBI creates uncertainty in currency markets.

• External Factors

• • Capital outflows as foreign investors exit during global uncertainty.
  • Geopolitical tensions, including Russia–Ukraine, raise commodity prices.
  • Global economic slowdown reduces export demand.
  • Stronger US dollar following aggressive Fed rate hikes.

Consequences of a Falling Rupee

• Higher import costs for crude, electronics and raw materials.
• Imported inflation as firms pass on increased costs.
• Short-term export advantage erodes due to inflation-driven production costs.
• Capital flight weakens market confidence.
• Costlier external borrowing increases repayment burdens.

Measures to Stabilise the Rupee

• Monetary Tools

• • RBI forex intervention to stabilise supply-demand.
  • Interest rate hikes to attract foreign inflows.
  • Currency swap agreements to diversify forex sources.

• Fiscal Tools

• • Reduce import dependence through domestic production.
  • Support exporters via incentives to boost foreign exchange.
  • Invest in infrastructure to lower production costs.
  • Attract long-term FDI for stability.

Way Ahead

• Create a stable exchange rate framework to reduce volatility.
• Strengthen domestic manufacturing under initiatives like Make in India.
• Maintain price stability through coordinated policy actions.
• Diversify forex reserves to reduce dollar reliance.

Solar Flares

What They Are

• Solar flares are sudden, powerful eruptions of energy from the Sun’s surface.
• They arise when magnetic energy stored around sunspots is rapidly released.
• Flares emit radiation across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, including radio waves, UV, X-rays and gamma rays.

How They Form

• Twisted magnetic fields around sunspots accumulate stress due to solar rotation and plasma movement.
• Magnetic reconnection causes these stressed field lines to snap and reconnect, releasing enormous energy.
• The event superheats solar plasma to millions of degrees and accelerates charged particles outward.
• Flares may occur independently or alongside coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that expel massive solar plasma clouds.

Key Features

• X-ray classification ranks flares from A, B, C, M to X class, with each class ten times stronger than the previous.
• X-class flares are the most intense and can trigger radio blackouts, disrupt navigation and expose satellites to harmful radiation.
• They emit multi-wavelength radiation that instantly alters space-weather conditions.
• Flares emerge mainly from large, magnetically complex sunspots, making prediction difficult.
• They develop in minutes and release immense, unpredictable bursts of energy.

Implications

• Communication impact: High-frequency radio failures affecting aviation, maritime and defence networks.
• Satellite hazards: Can disable electronics, sensors and pose radiation risks to astronauts.
• Geomagnetic storms: If accompanied by Earth-directed CMEs, can distort Earth’s magnetic field and potentially damage power grids.

INS Aridaman

What It Is

• INS Aridaman is India’s third indigenously developed SSBN under the Arihant-class nuclear submarine programme.
• It strengthens India’s assured nuclear second-strike capability under the no-first-use doctrine.
• Constructed under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) Project with >90% indigenous components.

Background

• India launched its nuclear submarine programme in the late 1980s to secure a credible underwater deterrent.
• INS Arihant (commissioned 2016) made India the sixth country with operational SSBN capability.
• INS Arighat followed in 2024; Aridaman makes India capable of continuous at-sea deterrence.

Key Features

• Displacement: ~6,000 tonnes (surface), ~7,000 tonnes (submerged).
• Propulsion: 83 MW pressurised water reactor (BARC), offering near-unlimited endurance.
• Weapons:
  • Four vertical launch tubes.
  • Can carry 24 K-15 Sagarika SLBMs (750 km) or K-4 missiles (3,500 km).
• Stealth Enhancements: Anechoic tiles, advanced sonar (bow, flank, towed array).

Significance

• Completes the nuclear triad, ensuring survivable nuclear capability at sea.
• Extends India’s maritime deterrence across the Indo-Pacific amid regional power shifts.
• Major achievement for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, demonstrating mastery in nuclear propulsion and indigenous shipbuilding.

INS Taragiri

What It Is

• INS Taragiri is the fourth Nilgiri-class stealth frigate under Project 17A.
• Designed as a multi-role combat vessel with enhanced stealth, firepower, automation and survivability.
• Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., Mumbai.

Project 17A Ships

• INS Nilgiri
• INS Himgiri
• INS Udaygiri
• INS Taragiri
• INS Dunagiri (upcoming)

Key Features

• Stealth Design: Reduced radar, acoustic and infrared signatures.
• Propulsion: CODOG system with diesel engines + gas turbines; controllable pitch propellers.
• Sensors & Weapons:
  • BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
  • MF-STAR multifunction radar.
  • MRSAM air defence missile system.
  • 76 mm SRGM, CIWS (30 mm and 12.7 mm).
  • Torpedoes and rockets for anti-submarine warfare.
• Automation: Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for machinery and damage-control functions.
• Indigenisation: ~75% indigenous content with contributions from 200+ MSMEs.

Significance

• Boosts India’s multi-mission naval capability, including air defence, anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare.
• Accelerates India’s progress in indigenous warship construction within compressed timelines.
• Strengthens maritime security and supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat with high domestic technological participation.