Prelims Pinpointer 12-01-2026

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Prelims pinpointer

Delimitation Exercise in India

What is Delimitation?

  • Delimitation is the process of fixing or re-drawing boundaries of parliamentary and state legislative constituencies based on changes in population, to ensure equal representation.
  • It is carried out by an independent Delimitation Commission (also called Boundary Commission).

Constitutional Basis

Article Provision
Article 82 Parliament shall enact a Delimitation Act after every Census to readjust Lok Sabha constituencies
Article 170 Provides for re-division of State Assembly constituencies after every Census
Delimitation Act Gives absolute legal authority to the Commission; its orders cannot be challenged in any court
  • Once Commission’s orders are laid before Parliament or State Assemblies, they cannot be modified.

Composition of Delimitation Commission

Post Member
Chairperson Retired Supreme Court Judge
Ex-officio Member Chief Election Commissioner of India
Members State Election Commissioners of concerned states
  • Appointed by the President of India and works in coordination with the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Historical Timeline

  • First Delimitation Commission (1953)
    • Based on 1951 Census.
    • Headed by Justice N. Chandrasekhara Aiyar.
    • Lok Sabha seats fixed at 494.
  • Second Delimitation Commission (1963)
    • Based on 1961 Census.
    • Lok Sabha seats increased to 522.
  • Third Delimitation Commission (1973)
    • Based on 1971 Census.
    • Headed by Justice J. L. Kapur.
    • Lok Sabha seats increased from 522 to 543.
    • State Assembly seats increased from 3,771 to 3,997.
  • Freeze Period (Post-1971 Census)
    • No delimitation exercise after 1981 and 1991 Censuses.
    • 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 froze delimitation of constituencies till the 2001 Census.
    • 84th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002 froze increase in seats in Parliament and Assemblies till 2026.
  • Fourth Delimitation Commission (2002)
    • Based on 2001 Census.
    • Headed by Justice Kuldip Singh.
    • Only constituency boundaries were redrawn.
    • No increase in Lok Sabha or Assembly seats due to 84th Constitutional Amendment.

Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996

Nature and Purpose

Key Features

  • Establishes a two-track ADR system covering arbitration and conciliation procedures.
  • Allows party autonomy in selecting arbitrators and procedural rules.
  • Mandates confidentiality of arbitral and conciliation proceedings.
  • Arbitral awards are final, binding, and legally enforceable by courts.
  • Courts can intervene only for appointment, interim relief, and enforcement.
  • Aligns Indian arbitration law with global arbitration standards.

Major Provisions

  • Arbitration agreement must be a written commitment to resolve disputes through arbitration.
  • Arbitrators are appointed by parties, or by courts if parties fail to agree.
  • Courts may grant interim measures before or during arbitral proceedings.
  • Parties may decide procedures or adopt institutional arbitration rules.
  • Arbitral award must be written, signed, dated, and reasoned, unless waived by parties.
  • Awards can be set aside only for reasons like incapacity or invalid agreement.
  • Appeals are allowed on limited statutory grounds, ensuring finality of awards.

Major Amendments

  • Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2015
    • Introduced a 12-month time limit for completion of arbitral proceedings.
    • Reduced judicial interference to strengthen arbitration finality.
    • Introduced cost regulation to make arbitration affordable.
  • Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2019
    • Established the Arbitration Council of India (ACI).
    • Made disclosure of conflict of interest by arbitrators mandatory.
    • Restricted automatic stay of arbitral awards.
  • Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2021
    • Removed automatic stay on arbitral awards in cases of fraud or corruption.
    • Strengthened pro-enforcement orientation of arbitration in India.

Arbitration Council of India (ACI)

  • ACI is an autonomous statutory body created under the 2019 Amendment Act.
  • Responsible for grading arbitral institutions and accrediting arbitrators.
  • Promotes institutional arbitration and professional standards in India.
  • Chairperson is a former Supreme Court or High Court judge or arbitration expert.
  • Appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India.

PANKHUDI Portal

What it is?

  • PANKHUDI is an integrated digital platform launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD).
  • It strengthens corporate partnerships, voluntary contributions and stakeholder engagement for women and child welfare.

Platform design

  • It operates as a single-window centralised portal for individuals, NRIs, NGOs, CSR entities, corporates and government agencies.
  • It enables participation, collaboration and contribution to women- and child-centric development programmes.

Thematic coverage

  • The portal covers nutrition, health, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), child protection and rehabilitation, and women’s safety and empowerment.

Mission integration

  • It supports and tracks flagship schemes such as:
    • Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0
    • Mission Vatsalya
    • Mission Shakti

Operational features

  • Contributors can register, select projects, submit proposals and track progress through defined digital workflows.
  • All contributions are non-cash, traceable and transparent, ensuring financial accountability and real-time monitoring.

Orinoco Belt & Guiana Shield

 

Orinoco Belt (Venezuela)

Guiana Shield (Northeast South America)

  • The Guiana Shield is a 1.7–2-billion-year-old Precambrian craton, among the oldest stable geological formations on Earth.
  • It underlies Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, southern Venezuela, NE Brazil (Roraima, Pará, Amapá) and S.E. Colombia (Guainía, Vaupés).
  • The Guiana Highlands host tepuis (table-top mountains) including Mount Roraima, Pico da Neblina (2,995 m) and Angel Falls (Auyán-tepui).
  • It contains ~20% of global freshwater and ~18% of tropical-forest carbon, earning the tag “greenhouse of the world.”
  • The shield is mineral-rich in gold, diamonds, bauxite and iron ore, driving both development and environmental pressures.

PSLV-C62 Mission

Mission Overview

Primary Payload – EOS-N1 (Anvesha)

  • EOS-N1 (Anvesha) is an Earth-observation hyperspectral imaging satellite developed mainly for DRDO.
  • Hyperspectral imaging allows material and object identification using hundreds of spectral wavelengths.
  • Provides high-precision data for border surveillance, strategic monitoring and national security.
  • Also supports civilian uses such as agriculture planning, urban mapping, mineral detection and environment monitoring.

European Payload – Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID)

  • KID is a small experimental re-entry capsule developed with a Spanish startup.
  • The capsule will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and splash down in the South Pacific Ocean.

Commercial and Academic Payloads

  • Seventeen commercial payloads from India, Mauritius, Luxembourg, UAE, Singapore, Europe and the United States are onboard.
  • Indian payloads include AayulSAT, CGUSAT-1, DA-1, SR-2, Lachit-1, Solaras-S4 and DSAT-1.

Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary

Location and Extent

  • Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary is located in Kerala.
  • It shares boundaries with Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka), Kottiyoor Wildlife Sanctuary, and North Wayanad Forest Division.

Physical and Ecological Setting

  • The sanctuary consists mainly of evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.
  • Cheenkanni River, originating from the Brahmagiri ranges, flows through its dense forest landscape.

Butterfly Diversity

  • The sanctuary supports over 266 butterfly species, forming more than 80% of Kerala’s butterfly diversity.
  • Several species are endemic and endangered, making the area a major butterfly hotspot.

Unique Ecological Features

  • The region is famous for large-scale butterfly migration and mud-puddling behaviour.
  • It is also a special habitat of the Schedule-I Slender Loris, giving it high conservation value.

Fauna and Conservation Activities

  • Apart from butterflies, it hosts elephants, leopards, giant squirrels, and many bird species.
  • A Butterfly Migration Study is conducted every January–February to monitor and understand this seasonal phenomenon.

Kathputli

What it is

  • Kathputli is a traditional string-puppet theatre of Rajasthan and among the oldest folk art forms of the state.
  • The term comes from “kath” (wood) and “putli” (doll), indicating wooden puppets used for performances.

Material and Construction

  • A kathputli is made of wood, cloth, thread and metal wire.
  • Upper body is wooden, while the lower part is made of cotton and fabric.
  • Legs are absent and puppets are covered with long flowing skirts.

Control and Performance

  • Puppets are controlled by the puppeteer using 2–5 strings tied to the fingers.
  • Performances are accompanied by folk music on dholak and harmonium.

Physical Features

  • Puppets have large eyes, oval faces, thick lips and arched eyebrows.
  • Colourful costumes reflect royal courts and desert traditions of Rajasthan.

Themes and Cultural Role

  • Traditionally used to narrate stories of Rajput kings, warriors, folk heroes and moral tales.
  • Performances combine humour, music, satire and social messages through folk narratives.

Cervical Cancer

What is Cervical Cancer?

    • Cervical cancer is a disease where cells in the cervix grow uncontrollably.
    • The cervix connects the vagina to the uterus.
    • It is the fourth most common cancer in women globally.
    • It is the second most common cancer among women in India.
    • Most cases occur in women above 30 years of age.
    • Main Cause
  • Caused mainly by persistent infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

  • HPV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) affecting skin, genital area and throat.
  • HPV includes more than 200 related viruses.
  • Two categories:
    • Low-risk HPV – rarely causes cancer.
    • High-risk HPV – causes cancers.
  • High-risk HPV Types
    • There are 12 high-risk HPV types.
    • HPV-16 and HPV-18 cause most HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer.
  • HPV-Related Cancers
    • Cervical
    • Anal
    • Oropharyngeal
    • Penile
    • Vaginal and Vulvar
    • In most people, the immune system clears HPV naturally.
    • Persistent infection may lead to abnormal cell growth and cancer.
    • There is no treatment for HPV infection itself.
  • HPV Vaccination
      • Six HPV vaccines are available globally.
      • All protect against HPV-16 and HPV-18.
      • Recommended age: 9–14 years (1 or 2 doses).
      • CERVAVAC is India’s first indigenous cervical cancer vaccine, developed and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.
  • Screening & Prevention
    • Screening every 5–10 years from age 30.
    • From 25 years for women living with HIV.
    • Early detection and treatment prevents cervical cancer.

WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative (90-70-90 by 2030)

  • 90% of girls vaccinated by age 15.
  • 70% of women screened by 35 and 45 years.
  • 90% of women with pre-cancer treated and 90% with invasive cancer managed.

India’s Initiative

  • HPV vaccination programme announced in Interim Budget 2024–25.
  • Targets girls aged 9–14 years to prevent cervical cancer.

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