1. A delimitation red flag — the lessons from J&K, Assam

2. Torture shadows India’s justice system

3. Is the APAAR ID for students mandatory?

4. A regional divide in blue-collar worker migration from India

5. ‘U.S., U.K. replace Gulf nations as top source of remittances’

6. What are the different risks and rewards of using UAVs?

7. Past as a prelude

8. El Nino or La Nina? Murky Pattern of temperature keeps confusion alive

9. Cabinet approves ₹1,500-crore UPI incentive to banks

10. NASA’s astronauts stranded in space for 9 months returned to earth by SpaceX SHIP

11. IndiaAI Mission and Gates Foundation to sign pact on AI.

• GS-II: Indian Constitution – Historical Underpinnings, Amendments, Federal Structure, Representation of People’s Act, Issues Related to Governance.

 

• Delimitation refers to the redrawing of electoral constituency boundaries based on population data to ensure fair representation.

• The 2026 delimitation exercise is expected to increase parliamentary seats for states with high population growth.

• This has raised concerns among southern states, which have successfully controlled population growth but may lose political representation.

• The recent delimitation exercises in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Assam have also sparked concerns regarding electoral balance, regional representation, and governance implications.

• Governed by: The Delimitation Commission Act and the Representation of People’s Act.

• Previous exercises: 1952, 1963, 1973, 2002 at the national level.

• 42nd Amendment (1976): Delimitation frozen until 2001 to encourage population control measures.

• 84th Amendment (2002): Extended the freeze on delimitation until 2026.

• Recent Exceptions:

   o J&K (2022): Conducted post Article 370 abrogation.

   o Assam (2023): Carried out to redefine political representation in the state.

• Increase in Assembly seats: Jammu +6, Kashmir +1, despite Kashmir having a higher population.

• This led to concerns over regional balance in electoral representation.

• Several new constituencies were created, altering the existing demographic mix.

• Poonch and Rajouri (Jammu) were merged into Anantnag (Kashmir), causing administrative and electoral complexities.

• The changes could alter traditional voting patterns and redefine political influence.

• The delimitation exercise has been perceived as reshaping political representation in the region.

• Revocation of Article 370 and delimitation exercise seen as part of larger governance restructuring in J&K.

• District boundaries were redrawn before delimitation, altering constituency compositions.

• Reduction of districts from 35 to 31, affecting political representation in certain regions.

• Redrawing of constituencies led to changes in electoral representation of different communities.

• Constituencies were merged or restructured, impacting electoral strength in some areas.

• Southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, have successfully controlled their population growth.

• Since parliamentary seats are allocated based on population, these states may lose seats compared to states with higher population growth (e.g., Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh).

• Southern states followed family planning measures as encouraged by the government.

• The delimitation process based solely on population would unfairly penalize these states for their demographic stability.

• Northern states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, etc.) have recorded higher population growth rates.

• The 2026 delimitation could lead to an increase in their parliamentary representation, shifting political influence northward.

• This could marginalize the voice of southern states in national decision-making.

• Southern states contribute significantly to India’s GDP and tax revenue.

• A reduction in their political representation could lead to less influence over fiscal policies, potentially affecting resource allocation from the central government.

• Southern states have higher literacy rates, better healthcare, and human development indices compared to many northern states.

• A dilution of their representation could mean less focus on policies that prioritize sustainable development.

• Reduced representation in Parliament could weaken the federal balance and reduce bargaining power of southern states.

• The perception of disempowerment could fuel regional tensions and demand for greater autonomy.

• Some experts suggest that delimitation should consider factors beyond population, such as:

   o Economic contribution of a state.

   o Human development indicators.

   o Governance efficiency and infrastructure development.

• A multi-parameter approach could ensure fair representation without penalizing progressive states.

 

1. Ensures Fair Representation – Adjusts constituencies according to population changes, preventing overrepresentation of sparsely populated areas and ensuring proportional representation.

2. Strengthens Democracy – Reinforces the principle of electoral equality by ensuring that every vote carries equal weight in decision-making.

3. Reflects Changing Demographics – Accounts for migration, urbanization, and socio-economic shifts, ensuring that governance structures evolve with population changes.

4. Increases Political Accountability – Prevents the creation of "safe seats" and encourages representatives to stay responsive to evolving voter expectations.

5. Encourages Political Competition – Creates new electoral dynamics, reducing dominance of entrenched political parties and allowing for emerging political voices.

1. Regional Imbalance in Representation – States with slower population growth may lose seats, affecting their influence in national policymaking (e.g., concerns of Southern states).

2. Political Power Shift – Disproportionate seat allocation could lead to centralization of power, marginalizing certain regions in governance.

3. Risk of Gerrymandering – Political parties may manipulate constituency boundaries to favor specific electoral outcomes, undermining electoral integrity.

4. Communal and Ethnic Polarization – Redrawing of constituencies may alter demographic compositions, leading to political and social unrest.

5. Governance and Fiscal Disparities – Representation based solely on population might neglect economic contributions and development indicators, disadvantaging well-governed regions.

• Delimitation Commission must function independently, free from political influence.

• A clear and equitable seat allocation formula is needed.

• Future delimitation should reward states that have managed population control, rather than penalizing them.

• Consider economic contribution and governance efficiency as additional factors.

• Southern and Northern states must engage in dialogue to reach a fair consensus on representation.

   o Judiciary – Independence, Accountability, Legal Framework.

   o Governance – Human Rights, Extradition Laws, International Agreements.

   o Constitution – Fundamental Rights (Article 21), Legal Safeguards against Torture.

   o Ethical Issues in Justice Delivery.

   o Human Rights Violations and Government Responsibility.

• Recent extradition cases, such as Sanjay Bhandari (UK) and Tahawwur Rana (US), have highlighted concerns over custodial torture and human rights violations in India’s criminal justice system.

• Foreign courts have cited India’s lack of a comprehensive anti-torture law as a key reason for denying extradition requests, raising diplomatic and legal challenges.

• India has not ratified the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT), placing it in the company of authoritarian regimes.

• Despite constitutional safeguards and Supreme Court rulings, custodial violence remains a systemic issue due to weak enforcement, political reluctance, and institutional apathy.

• The issue raises critical ethical, legal, and governance concerns about the balance between national security and human rights protection.

• Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) – Supreme Court has ruled that torture violates human dignity and is unconstitutional.

• Article 20(3) (Right Against Self-Incrimination) – Prevents the use of forced confessions.

• Judicial Precedents:

   o D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997) – Issued guidelines to prevent custodial torture.

   o Puttaswamy Case (2017) – Recognized privacy as a fundamental right, strengthening protection against custodial violence.

• India signed the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) in 1997 but has not ratified it.

• Other global frameworks:

   o Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

   o International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR, 1976)

• Non-ratification affects India’s credibility in extradition cases and human rights advocacy.

• Law Commission (273rd Report, 2017) – Proposed a comprehensive anti-torture law.

• Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha (2010) – Recommended standalone anti-torture legislation.

• Human Rights Commission of India – Advocated for strict legal frameworks against custodial violence.

• Foreign courts reject India’s extradition requests due to concerns over inhumane treatment in Indian prisons.

• Cases like Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Sanjay Bhandari, and Tahawwur Rana expose legal and diplomatic shortcomings.

• National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows recurring cases of custodial deaths and police brutality.

• Low conviction rates indicate weak enforcement and lack of accountability.

• Despite judicial recommendations, governments have failed to enact a standalone anti-torture law.

• Concerns over police autonomy and intelligence gathering slow legislative action.

• Law enforcement argues that interrogation techniques are necessary for counterterrorism.

• Human Rights Commissions lack enforcement powers.

• Judiciary often fails to hold law enforcement accountable for custodial violence.

• Ethical Principle: Human dignity is a fundamental moral and legal right.

• Issue: Custodial torture disregards dignity, violating Article 21 and Supreme Court rulings.

• Ethical Dilemma: Quick convictions vs. ensuring fair trials.

• Impact: Torture-based confessions lead to false convictions, undermining justice.

• Ethical Responsibility: Police and judiciary must uphold constitutional values.

• Issue: Officers engaging in custodial torture violate professional integrity.

• Challenge: Balancing counterterrorism efforts with due process and human rights.

• Case Example: Guantanamo Bay Detention Center debate on interrogation methods vs. legal protections.

• Ethical Concern: Political reluctance to legislate anti-torture laws undermines justice.

• Reform Needed: Stronger governance commitment to human rights-based policing.

• Adopt recommendations from the Law Commission and Rajya Sabha Committee.

• Define clear legal consequences for custodial violence.

• Align India’s laws with international human rights norms.

• Strengthen India's position in extradition cases and global human rights advocacy.

• Establish independent oversight bodies for police accountability.

• Strengthen National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and state commissions.

• Include ethics and human rights education in law enforcement training.

• Implement strict protocols for interrogation methods.

• Encourage internal reporting mechanisms for custodial abuse.

• Provide legal safeguards for police officers and officials reporting misconduct.

• ENSO is a climate phenomenon affecting global weather patterns, driven by temperature

changes in the Pacific Ocean.

• It has two main phases:

   o El Niño – Warming of eastern Pacific Ocean → Weak monsoon in India.

   o La Niña – Cooling of eastern Pacific Ocean → Strong monsoon in India.

• Definition: Warming of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the central & eastern Pacific Ocean.

• Effects on India:

   o Weaker monsoon, drought-like conditions.

   o Higher temperatures, increased heatwaves.

   o Deficit in Kharif crop production (rice, pulses, cotton).

   o Reduced hydropower generation.

• Recent Example: 2023 was an El Niño year, yet monsoon remained near normal, defying expectations.

• Definition: Cooling of SSTs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, strengthening trade winds.

• Effects on India:

   o Stronger-than-usual monsoon, leading to excess rainfall.

   o Risk of floods, landslides in India.

   o Colder winters in Northern India.

   o Boosts agricultural production.

• Recent Example: 2020-2022 La Niña led to above-normal monsoon rainfall in India.

• Definition: Temperature difference between the western and eastern Indian Ocean.

• Types:

   o Positive IOD: Warmer western Indian Ocean → Enhances Indian monsoon.

   o Negative IOD: Warmer eastern Indian Ocean → Weakens monsoon.

• Impact:

   o A positive IOD in 2023 helped counterbalance El Niño’s weakening effect on the monsoon.

• Unusual SST anomalies in 2023-24 have made ENSO predictions difficult.

• Mixed signals:

   o Cold SST anomalies shifted westward.

   o Warm SST anomalies emerged in the eastern Pacific.

• 2025 Monsoon Forecast:

   o Some forecasts predict La Niña emergence → Above-normal rainfall.

   o Others predict neutral ENSO conditions → Normal monsoon.

1. El Niño is associated with stronger monsoons in India.

2. La Niña leads to increased rainfall in India.

3. ENSO is completely predictable with modern climate models.

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 only

C) 2 and 3 only

D) 1, 2, and 3

Correct Answer: B) 2 only