A fresh Nipah case in Kerala's Palakkad district, resulting in the death of a 58-year-old man, has triggered fears about the virus's continued presence and prompted an alert in six districts. Health authorities in Palakkad and Malappuram swiftly initiated contact tracing for 46 individuals who interacted with the victim. This incident marks the sixth Nipah case in Kerala within a year. Districts like Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kannur, and Wayanad have also been put on alert, with 543 persons across Kerala currently under observation. The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, confirmed the case, highlighting the ongoing public health challenge.
A recent Nipah case in Palakkad, Kerala, led to a death and subsequent health alert in six districts.
Health authorities initiated rapid contact tracing for individuals who had interacted with the deceased.
This is the sixth Nipah case reported in Kerala within the last year, indicating a recurring public health challenge.
Exam Points
The latest Nipah case occurred in Palakkad district, Kerala.
The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, confirmed the case.
This is the sixth Nipah case in Kerala within a year.
The article argues that India's secularism was inherent in its foundational principles, influenced by leaders like Nehru and Ashoka the Great, long before the term was explicitly added to the Constitution in 1976. It highlights that the Motilal Nehru Committee's constitution (1928) and the Karachi Resolution (1931) already advocated for no state religion and state neutrality. The author emphasizes that secularism protects religions from state interference and ensures their autonomy, contrasting it with theocratic states. The piece also discusses various models of secularism from other democracies and asserts that India's secularism promotes civility and equal respect for all religions, making its explicit inclusion in 1976 a formal recognition of an existing ideal.
India's secular ethos was present from its inception, rooted in historical figures like Ashoka and pre-independence constitutional drafts.
Secularism, though explicitly added in 1976, was considered part of the basic structure of the Constitution even before.
The author argues that secularism safeguards religious autonomy and prevents state domination over religious matters.
Exam Points
The term "secular" was explicitly added to the Indian Constitution in 1976 by the 42nd Amendment.
The Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) held secularism as part of the basic structure of the Constitution.
The Motilal Nehru Committee's constitution (1928) and the Karachi Resolution (1931) advocated for no state religion.
The Environment Ministry has exempted the majority of India's coal-fired power plants from mandatory Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems, which are designed to reduce sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions. This decision undermines a 2015 mandate requiring all 180 coal plants (600 units) to install FGDs by 2017. Currently, only about 8% of units have installed FGDs. Official reasons include limited vendors, high costs, and COVID-19 disruptions. An expert committee cited low sulphur content in Indian coal and negligible difference in SO2 levels near plants with and without FGDs. Concerns are also raised about sulphates' beneficial side-effect in suppressing warming, implying that reducing them could worsen climate goals and public health commitments.
India's Environment Ministry has exempted most coal-fired power plants from mandatory Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems.
The original 2015 mandate required all coal plants to install FGDs by 2017, but only 8% have complied.
Reasons for the exemption include low sulphur content in Indian coal, high installation costs, and the potential impact of sulphate reduction on climate warming.
Exam Points
The Environment Ministry's 2015 mandate required Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems for coal-fired plants.
Only about 8% of the 600 coal units have installed FGDs.
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is a gas monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The Indian government announced greenhouse gas emissions intensity targets for eight heavy industrial sectors under its Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). The article argues that the ambition of these targets should be assessed at an aggregate economy-wide level rather than individual entity or sector levels, drawing parallels with the successful Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme. While industry-specific CCTS targets cannot be directly compared with economy-wide Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets, modelling suggests that the manufacturing sector's emissions intensity is projected to decline at a slower pace (2.53% annually) than the energy sector (3.44%) between 2025-2030. The current combined average annual EIVA reduction for the eight sectors under CCTS is estimated at 1.68% for 2023-27, suggesting the industrial targets might not be ambitious enough.
India has set greenhouse gas emissions intensity targets for eight heavy industrial sectors under its Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS).
The article advocates for assessing the ambition of these targets at an aggregate economy-wide level, similar to the PAT scheme's success.
Current projections indicate that India's manufacturing sector may decarbonise at a slower rate compared to the power sector.
The Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme is India's flagship energy efficiency programme.
India's 2030 NDC-aligned emissions reduction scenario projects a 3.44% average annual decline in CO2 emissions intensity for the energy sector (2025-2030).
India faces significant challenges in its employment landscape, with lakhs of graduates struggling to find meaningful jobs. The India Employment Report 2024 highlights that youth account for 83% of the unemployed population, and the share of educated unemployed has nearly doubled in two decades. A major issue is the skill gap, as many graduates lack the digital and professional skills demanded by employers, with AI posing a further threat to traditional job roles. The report also notes that nearly 90% of employment is informal. Urgent structural reforms are needed, including stronger industry-academia collaboration, outcome-based accreditation for institutions, mandatory idea labs, and integrating soft skills, alongside exploring international employment opportunities.
India's employment sector is characterized by high youth unemployment and a significant skill gap among graduates.
The majority of India's workforce remains informal, with declining salaried jobs and unresolved concerns about job security.
Digital and professional skill deficiencies are widespread among young people, exacerbated by the looming impact of AI on traditional jobs.
Exam Points
The India Employment Report 2024 states youth account for 83% of India's unemployed population.
The report indicates nearly 90% of employment in India is informal.
The Economic Survey 2023-24 states only about half of India's youth are job-ready after graduation.
Dr. Ratan Chandra Kar, a physician involved in healthcare for the Jarawa tribe, believes that conducting the 2027 Census among the six indigenous tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will not be difficult. He attributes this to the Central government's successful efforts in establishing meaningful contact and trust with the tribes, especially the Jarawas, since 1998. Proactive medical care has significantly increased the Jarawa population from an estimated 260 in 1998 to 647 today, successfully countering diseases without interfering with their traditional medicinal practices. The article also touches upon the impact of the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) and emphasizes minimal intervention for the tribe's survival, highlighting the importance of respecting their way of life.
The 2027 Census is expected to successfully include indigenous tribes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including the Jarawas, due to established government contact and trust.
Proactive medical interventions since 1998 have significantly increased the Jarawa population by countering diseases while respecting traditional practices.
The Jarawas, one of the world's oldest surviving tribes, are primarily hunter-gatherers living in nomadic bands.
Exam Points
The 16th Census will take place in two phases, with reference dates of October 1, 2026 (snow-bound areas) and March 1, 2027 (rest of country).
The Jarawa population has increased from an estimated 260 in 1998 to 647 today.
The 2011 Census recorded 380 Jarawa individuals out of 28,530 Scheduled Tribe individuals in Andaman and Nicobar.
The Election Commission of India (EC) has initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, sparking a debate on the term 'ordinarily resident'. According to the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (RP Act), a person must be 'ordinarily resident' in a constituency to be included in its electoral roll. The Gauhati High Court defined it as a "habitual resident" with the intention to dwell permanently, not temporarily. The article highlights the vulnerability of migrant labourers, who often move for work but maintain ties with their original residence. It suggests that strict interpretation could disenfranchise them and proposes amending the RP Act or RER to preserve their choice of retaining votes in their original constituency.
The term 'ordinarily resident' is crucial for inclusion in India's electoral rolls, as defined by the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Judicial interpretations emphasize that 'ordinarily resident' implies habitual and permanent residency, not temporary stays.
Migrant labourers face challenges, as their temporary work locations conflict with the strict definition, potentially leading to disenfranchisement.
Exam Points
Section 19 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (RP Act) requires a person to be 'ordinarily resident' for electoral roll inclusion.
Section 20 of the RP Act defines 'ordinarily resident'.
The Gauhati High Court in the Manmohan Singh case (1999) defined 'ordinarily resident' as a habitual resident with permanent intention to dwell.
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