SHOULD WATER BE USED AS A WEAPON?
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
India has paused its cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam. This has raised questions on whether water can be used as a tool in strategic conflicts.
Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)
- The IWT was signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan with the World Bank as a mediator.
- The treaty divided rivers:
- Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India.
- Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan.
- India can use western rivers for non-consumptive purposes like hydropower, but with strict rules.
Durability of the Treaty
- It has survived three wars (1965, 1971, 1999) and many political tensions.
- Regular meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission have continued even during conflicts.
- The treaty’s technical structure and neutral dispute resolution helped maintain .
India’s Hydropower Projects and Disputes
- Projects like Kishanganga (Jhelum) and Ratle (Chenab) have caused friction.
- Pakistan claims these give India too much control during dry seasons.
- Disputes were addressed through:
- Court of Arbitration (Kishanganga): Allowed India’s project with downstream flow condition.
- Neutral Expert and Court of Arbitration (Ratle): Both processes are currently underway.
Risks of Using Water as a Weapon
- Cutting water supply may damage India’s global image as a responsible power.
- IWT is a legally binding agreement; there’s no exit clause.
- Misusing water may violate humanitarian and environmental ethics.
- Downstream regions in Pakistan could suffer agriculture and drinking water crises.
Global Examples of River Disputes
- Hungary-Slovakia (Danube River): ICJ pushed for cooperative resolution.
- Mekong River (Southeast Asia): Disputes managed through a joint river commission.
Conclusion & Way Forward
India should make full use of its rights under the IWT within the legal framework. Withdrawing from the treaty would hurt India’s credibility and regional water diplomacy. The IWT is a symbol of cooperation despite hostility, and India should protect this legacy.
VEERASWAMI CASE AND THE ISSUE OF FILING FIRS AGAINST SITTING JUDGES
TOPIC: (GS2) INDIAN POLITY: THE HINDU
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar questioned the legality of the in-house inquiry into Justice Yashwant Varma after unaccounted cash was found at his residence. He also called for a review of the Supreme Court’s 1991 K Veeraswami judgment, which deals with when an FIR can be registered against a sitting judge.
Background of the Veeraswami Case
- Justice K Veeraswami was the Chief Justice of Madras High Court between 1969–1976.
- Allegations surfaced about his possession of assets beyond his known income.
- The CBI filed an FIR accusing him under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
- Justice Veeraswami challenged the FIR in court, which raised constitutional questions.
Supreme Court’s 1991 Verdict
- The Supreme Court ruled that High Court and Supreme Court judges are public servants under the anti-corruption law.
- However, to protect judicial independence, the Court said the Chief Justice of India (CJI) must approve any investigation or prosecution.
- This judgment limited the executive’s ability to target judges and upheld the judiciary’s autonomy.
Purpose of the Rule
- The rule protects judges from false or politically motivated cases.
- Ensures judges can make decisions without fear of criminal charges.
- Maintains the balance between judicial accountability and independence.
In-House Inquiry System
- The Supreme Court developed an internal mechanism to handle complaints against judges.
- A panel of senior judges conducts a preliminary inquiry.
- The panel’s findings can lead to a recommendation for impeachment, but the final decision lies with Parliament.
Limitations of Impeachment Process
- Impeachment is a complex, political process under Article 124 of the Constitution.
- No judge in India has ever been successfully impeached.
- Critics argue it lacks effectiveness in ensuring accountability.
Calls for Reform
- Dhankhar said the 1991 judgment creates a shield of immunity for judges.
- He demanded the law be updated to allow criminal investigations in serious cases like that of Justice Varma.
Recent Example
- In 2019, for the first time, CJI Ranjan Gogoi allowed the CBI to file an FIR against Justice S N Shukla for alleged corruption in a medical college case.
RELEVANT CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
Article 124 – Appointment and Removal of Supreme Court Judges
- Deals with the appointment, tenure, and removal of judges of the Supreme Court.
- A judge of the Supreme Court can only be removed by the President after an impeachment process in Parliament.
- Grounds for removal: Proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
- The impeachment motion must be supported by:
- A special majority in both Houses of Parliament.
- Requires a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
Article 217 – Appointment and Removal of High Court Judges
- Similar to Article 124, this deals with the appointment and removal of High Court judges.
- Judges can be removed only through the same impeachment process mentioned under Article 124.
Article 121 – Judicial Conduct Cannot Be Discussed in Parliament
- Parliament is not allowed to discuss the conduct of any judge except when an impeachment motion is under consideration.
- Ensures judicial independence and protects judges from political pressure.
Article 53 – Executive Power of the Union
- States that executive power is vested in the President.
- However, for judges, the President does not act as the employer.
- Therefore, sanction for prosecution of judges cannot come from the President — it must come from the Chief Justice of India, as clarified in the Veeraswami judgment.
No Express Provision for FIR Against Judges
- The Constitution does not mention FIRs or criminal proceedings against sitting judges.
- The Veeraswami judgment (1991) filled this gap by allowing FIRs only with prior permission from the CJI, thereby: Protecting judicial independence. Preventing executive misuse of investigative agencies.
Conclusion
The Veeraswami case remains central to the debate on judicial accountability. While it guards against executive interference, calls are growing to strike a better balance between judicial independence and criminal accountability.
ANALYSING POVERTY LEVELS IN INDIA BY COMPARING VARIOUS SURVEYS
TOPIC: (GS1) INDIAN SOCIETY: THE HINDU
A new study by Himanshu (JNU) and researchers from Vrije University has estimated that poverty reduction in India has slowed significantly after 2011-12.
Different Approaches to Estimate Poverty
- The analysis uses a new method to fill data gaps and compares poverty estimates across multiple surveys. India has not released official poverty figures since 2011-12.
- In the absence of new official data, various experts have tried to estimate current poverty levels using different methods.
- The latest research highlights a slower pace of poverty reduction over the last decade.
Use of NSSO and PLFS Surveys
- Uses Usual Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (UMPCE) from NSSO surveys post-2014.
- Based on a single-question format lacking detail, hence not comparable with older data.
- Estimates show poverty at 26–30% in 2019-20.
National Accounts-Based Estimation
- Used by Surjit Bhalla et al. (2022).
- Applies growth in Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) from national accounts to scale up 2011-12 data.
- Projects changes in poverty through macro-level consumption growth.
Survey-to-Survey Imputation Method
- Used in the recent paper.
- Fills data gaps by linking two related surveys, using one to predict the missing data in the other.
- Used Tendulkar Committee’s poverty line and NSSO’s employment surveys for better comparability.
- Poverty is estimated to have fallen from 22% in 2011-12 to 18% in 2022-23.
Key Findings
- Poverty reduction slowed after 2011-12 compared to the faster drop from 2004-05 to 2011-12.
- Number of poor people declined slightly from 250 million to 225 million in a decade.
- State-level trends differ: Uttar Pradesh showed strong reduction. Jharkhand, Bihar saw slow progress. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh showed stagnation.
Supporting Evidence
- GDP growth declined from 6.9% (2004-12) to 5.7% (2012-23).
- Rural wages grew slower (from 4.1% annually to 2.3%).
- Agricultural workforce increased after 2017-18, reversing earlier trends and lowering productivity.
Conclusion
While the new method adds valuable insight, official poverty data is needed to resolve ongoing debates. The findings clearly show a need to speed up efforts to reduce poverty, especially in lagging States.
MAOISTS IN INDIA
TOPIC: (GS3) SEQURITY: THE HINDU
Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju, the General Secretary of CPI (Maoist), was killed along with 27 other Maoists in an encounter in Abujhmad forest, Chhattisgarh on May 21, 2025.
- This comes as the government intensifies its efforts to eliminate the Maoist insurgency by March 2026, as announced by the Union Home Minister.
Who are Maoists?
- Maoists are members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), a banned group in India.
- They follow the ideology of Mao Zedong, the Chinese communist leader.
- Their goal is to overthrow the Indian government through armed revolution or people’s war.
Origins of Maoist Movement
- The movement began in 1967 in Naxalbari village, West Bengal — hence the term “Naxalites”.
- It started as a peasant uprising demanding land redistribution.
- Over time, it evolved into a wider armed insurgency against the Indian state.
Objectives of CPI (Maoist)
- Establish a New Democratic Revolution by removing: Imperialism, Feudalism, Bureaucratic capitalism
- Ultimate aim: Achieve a communist society through prolonged guerrilla warfare.
- Operates with its armed wing — the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA).
Why Maoism Appeals to Some Communities
- Maoists draw support from Adivasis and poor rural populations.
- These communities often face: Land displacement, Lack of access to basic services, State neglect
- Maoists exploit these grievances to recruit fighters.
Current Status of the Insurgency
- At its peak in the mid-2000s, the insurgency affected 180+ districts in 7-8 states.
- Today, Maoist influence is limited to remote forest areas of south Chhattisgarh, parts of Jharkhand, and Odisha.
- Strength and reach have reduced due to effective counter-insurgency operations.
Government Measures and Successes
- Security operations under the Ministry of Home Affairs have increased coordination among state police and central forces (CRPF, CoBRA).
- SAMADHAN Strategy was launched focusing on: Smart leadership, Aggressive operations, Better infrastructure, Capacity building
- The number of Maoist-affected districts reduced from 96 (2010) to 45 (2023).
- Casualties and violent incidents have also declined significantly in recent years.
Conclusion
Maoist insurgency, rooted in socio-economic injustice, has lost much of its strength due to strong state action and development initiatives. However, addressing the root causes like land rights and tribal welfare is essential for long-term peace in these regions.
A GROWING THREAT TO OCEAN WEALTH AND LIVELIHOODS
TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU
On the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, experts have raised concerns over the harmful effects of overfishing in India’s oceans, calling for urgent reforms to protect marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.
Concerns
- Unequal Distribution of Benefits: 90% of Indian fishers are small-scale but they contribute only 10% of total catch. Large mechanised vessels dominate the sector, leaving many traditional fishing communities poor — with 75% of them living below the poverty line.
- High Bycatch and Waste: Shrimp trawling produces over 10 kg of unwanted bycatch for every 1 kg of shrimp caught. Most of the discarded fish are juveniles and non-target species, leading to marine biodiversity loss.
- Damage to Marine Ecosystems: Use of small mesh nets (<25mm) catches juvenile fish, reducing future breeding stocks. Continuous trawling disrupts ocean habitats and food chains.
- Weak Regulation and Evasion: Each coastal State has its own Marine Fisheries Regulation Act (MFRA), creating confusion. Fishers avoid rules by landing catches in neighbouring States where laws are less strict.
Proposed Solutions
- Adopt a National Fisheries Policy: Harmonise State laws into a single, science-based framework. Set uniform MLS, gear limits, and seasonal bans across the country.
- Learn from Global Best Practices: New Zealand’s Quota Management System links fishing limits to stock health. India could pilot similar quota-based fishing, especially for mechanised fleets.
- Promote Local Success Stories: Kerala saw a 41% increase in threadfin bream catch after enforcing MLS. Letting fish mature before harvest improves both income and sustainability.
- Reform Fish Meal Industry: Over 50% of trawl catches are low-value bycatch used for fish meal exports. Regulate and reduce this industry; direct bycatch toward local aquaculture instead.
- Empower Communities and Strengthen Enforcement: Involve village councils and fisher cooperatives in managing marine reserves. Improve patrolling and use real-time tools to check illegal fishing.
Importance of the Sector
India is the 3rd largest fish-producing country in the world. The fisheries sector contributes 1.24% to India’s GDP and 7.28% to agricultural GDP (as of 2022-23).
- It provides livelihoods to over 28 million people, especially in coastal and rural areas.
Types of Fisheries in India
- Marine Fisheries: Carried out along India’s 11,098 km long coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.02 million sq. km.
- Inland Fisheries: Carried out in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, and wetlands — contributes more than 65% of total fish production.
- Aquaculture: Includes brackish water and freshwater farming, especially shrimp and carp farming.
Key Species and Exports
- Major marine species: Sardines, mackerels, shrimp, tuna, and pomfret.
- India is the largest exporter of shrimp globally.
- Marine products export revenue for 2022-23 was over USD 8 billion, mainly to the U.S., China, and EU.
Conclusion
India must act now to prevent long-term damage to its marine ecosystems. Through better laws, community participation, and science-based planning, the country can ensure both food security and sustainable livelihoods for coastal populations.
NARRATING THE NATION ABROAD: INDIA’S GLOBAL IMAGE AMID CONFLICT
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
India recently sent diplomatic teams to various countries to explain its stance on the recent India-Pakistan clashes and terror attacks. This move reflects India’s concern over global perception and the need to clarify its actions on the international stage.
India’s Diplomatic Outreach: Strength or Vulnerability?
- India’s outreach can be seen as an act of strategic confidence — to share its side of the story and avoid international misjudgment.
- But the very need to explain actions abroad also shows a sense of doubt or fear of misunderstanding, especially in a world influenced by biased or false narratives.
Crisis of Credibility in the Information Age
- In today’s world, misinformation spreads faster than facts, especially during conflicts.
- In the India-Pakistan scenario, fake videos, AI-generated images, and game footage were widely shared as real war evidence.
- Public trust in news has weakened, as people often believe what supports their opinions, not what is verified.
The Battle Between Truth and Illusion
- The challenge is not just in telling the truth, but in making sure it is believed.
- Philosopher Jean Baudrillard once said, “The Gulf War did not take place,” implying that wars are now experienced more as media spectacles than reality.
- Similarly, real events are often overshadowed by online performances and manipulated content.
India’s Goal: More than Public Relations
- India’s diplomacy is not only about justifying military actions, but also about restoring the value of truth and meaningful dialogue.
- The concern is whether the world still listens with fairness, or simply sees every claim as another biased version of the truth.
Questions and Concerns
- Can India shape international opinion in a way that supports its moral and strategic stand?
- Does the global audience still have the framework to identify truth amid media noise?
- If not, India — and the world — may lose the ability to engage in real, fact-based diplomacy.
Conclusion
India’s diplomatic effort is a response to a deeper global crisis: the loss of trust in verified information. Beyond managing perception, the real challenge is to rebuild a shared space for truth, without which international dialogue may become meaningless.
NASA–WEBB–KECK OBSERVATION OF TITAN
TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: THE HINDU
NASA, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Keck Observatory, has observed cloud activity on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, confirming convective weather patterns in its northern hemisphere.
About Titan:
- Titan is Saturn’s largest moon and second-largest in the solar system after Ganymede.
- It is the only known moon with a dense atmosphere and liquid bodies on its surface.
- Titan’s atmosphere is rich in methane and ethane, forming seas, lakes, and clouds.
- Weather on Titan includes cloud formations, rainfall, and seasonal shifts, similar to Earth but driven by hydrocarbons.
Key Discoveries:
- Scientists found clouds in the mid- and high-northern latitudes, which rose over time, proving convection-driven cloud formation.
- This is the first confirmed detection of convective clouds in Titan’s northern hemisphere.
- These regions include Titan’s major seas like Kraken Mare and Ligeia Mare.
- The findings support the existence of an active methane cycle, much like Earth’s hydrological cycle but based on methane instead of water.
- Such studies can help us understand early chemical evolution and climate processes on icy worlds.
About Keck Observatory:
- Located on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, at a height of 4,200 meters, ideal for observing the sky.
- It has two 10-meter telescopes (Keck I and II), making it one of the most powerful optical/infrared systems in the world.
- The telescopes use 36 hexagonal mirror segments, controlled by actuators for precise focusing.
- Developed using stressed mirror polishing, an advanced technique for shaping asymmetrical segments.
JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE (JWST)
What is JWST?
The James Webb Space Telescope is a next-generation space observatory launched in December 2021 to succeed the Hubble Space Telescope, designed to study the universe in infrared light.
Key Features:
JWST has a large segmented primary mirror (6.5 meters in diameter) and advanced infrared instruments that enable it to see distant galaxies, star formation, and planetary atmospheres with unprecedented clarity.
Scientific Goals:
It aims to explore the early universe, study the formation of stars and planets, and analyze the atmospheres of exoplanets to search for signs of habitability or life.
Significance for India and Global Science:
JWST is a collaboration involving NASA, ESA, and CSA, with global scientists—including Indian researchers—using its data to deepen understanding of space, which supports India’s growing space science ambitions.
Conclusion:
This joint observation of Titan marks a breakthrough in understanding the moon’s weather systems and contributes to our broader knowledge of planetary climates and potential habitability beyond Earth.
IRULA TRIBE
TOPIC: (GS1) CULTURE: THE HINDU
In Tamil Nadu’s Kunnapattu region, many Irula families face the risk of eviction as nearly half of them lack formal legal ownership or recognition of their lands, raising concerns over their rights and survival.
About the Irula Tribe
Who are the Irulas?
The Irula tribe is one of India’s oldest indigenous groups, belonging to the Dravidian ethnic community. They mainly inhabit the Nilgiri Hills across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
- Population & Classification: They are Tamil Nadu’s second largest tribal group and are listed under the “Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups” (PVTG) category, which highlights their socio-economic vulnerability.
- Language and Names: They speak the Irula language, related to Tamil and Kannada. Locally, they are also known by names such as Erlar, Poosari, Eralollu, Shikari, and Pujari.
Culture and Lifestyle
- Religious Beliefs: The Irulas practice pantheism, believing in spirits in humans and nature. Their main deity is Kanniamma, a virgin goddess closely linked to the cobra.
- Settlement Pattern: They live in small clustered villages called mottas, usually located on hill edges surrounded by fields, forests, or plantations.
- Traditional Occupations: The community is renowned for its traditional healing practices and expertise in snake-catching, particularly venomous snakes.
Unique Contribution and Economy
- Snake Venom Expertise: The Irulas have exceptional skills to track and safely capture snakes by recognizing their marks, smell, and droppings. They extract venom without harming the snakes and then release them back into the wild.
- Anti-Snake Venom Production: The Irula Snake Catchers’ Industrial Cooperative Society plays a vital role in India’s healthcare by producing nearly 80% of the venom used for anti-snake venom production in the country.
- Other Livelihoods: They also engage in cattle rearing and collect forest resources like honey, frankincense, and firewood for income.
Challenges Faced
- Despite their cultural and economic importance, many Irulas lack legal land rights and face eviction threats, impacting their traditional lifestyle and survival.
The post Daily Current Affairs 22-May-2025 first appeared on Ekam IAS Academy.