India's declaration as Maoist-free shifts focus to integrating Bastar's Adivasis by 2031, emphasizing democratic values and development. However, the article stresses the critical need for genuine implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act, 1996. PESA empowers Gram Sabhas to safeguard Adivasi identity and manage resources, but its state-level implementation has been dismal, with attempts to dilute Gram Sabha's veto power. Building Adivasi trust requires addressing deeper structural issues related to water, forest, and land (jal, jungle, zameen) and upholding constitutional guarantees through truly participatory governance. This approach is essential for sustainable peace beyond mere absence of violence.
The post-Maoist era focuses on integrating Bastar's Adivasis into the mainstream by 2031.
Effective implementation of the PESA Act, 1996, is crucial for Adivasi empowerment and trust, granting Gram Sabhas decisive powers.
PESA implementation has been poor, with states often undermining its spirit and diluting Gram Sabha authority.
Exam Points
India was declared Maoist-free on March 31, 2026.
The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act was enacted in 1996.
The target for Adivasi integration in Bastar is 2031.
The article explores the conflict between the 'right to be forgotten' (informational privacy) and open justice, particularly concerning digital court records. While the Supreme Court recognized the right to privacy in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (2017), a Delhi High Court order highlighted the persistence of digital information. The core issue isn't discoverability but incompleteness, as records often fail to reflect subsequent decisions like acquittal. The article argues that judicial records, as official state acts, must be wholly public, accurately updated to reflect all major actions, and presented with proper context by platforms. This approach protects fundamental rights, ensures digital accuracy, and addresses the root cause of the problem.
The article addresses the tension between the 'right to be forgotten' and the principle of open justice regarding digital court records.
The Supreme Court recognized the right to informational privacy in the Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (2017) case.
The primary problem is the incompleteness of digital records, which often don't reflect subsequent judicial decisions like acquittals.
Exam Points
Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (2017) case recognized the right to informational privacy.
A Delhi High Court order on May 29 concerned the 'right to be forgotten'.
The Indian Kanoon matter (2024) is a related case on digital records.
This article analyzes "Operation Langda," a policing method in Uttar Pradesh involving shooting suspects in the leg to disable them, rather than kill. These "half-encounters" have become routine since 2017, characterized by targeted leg injury, standardized reporting, and official endorsement. While presented as a pragmatic crime-control model and legally defensible due to suspects surviving, it raises concerns about due process and the rule of law. The system is self-sustaining, driven by political endorsement, professional incentives like promotions, and uncritical media. Despite Supreme Court guidelines (People's Union for Civil Liberties v. State of Maharashtra, 2014) for independent inquiries, these are not systematically applied, making fundamental reform challenging without dismantling the interlocking incentives.
"Operation Langda" is a routine policing practice in Uttar Pradesh involving shooting suspects in the leg to disable them.
This "half-encounter" method is considered legally defensible as suspects survive, allowing for arrest.
The practice is sustained by political endorsement, professional incentives, and uncritical media reporting.
Exam Points
"Operation Langda" has been a policing methodology in Uttar Pradesh since 2017.
Over 16,000 encounter operations were recorded in UP between 2017 and 2025.
The Supreme Court's People's Union for Civil Liberties v. State of Maharashtra (2014) case set guidelines for encounter inquiries.
A Mega Science Vision-2035 report on Climate Research highlights India's critical deficiency in indigenous scientific instrumentation. The report states that India has lost the capacity to build quality scientific instruments, leading to heavy reliance on expensive imported equipment. These imported instruments are often used without proper understanding or calibration, resulting in questionable data and hindering credible research. While prototypes are developed, they rarely transition into industrial products. The report advocates for a pan-India Climate and Health Observatory and emphasizes indigenous instrument manufacturing, supported by assured procurement. It also calls for studies on renewable energy's long-term effects, social cost of carbon estimation, and addressing the shortage of trained manpower.
India's climate research is significantly hindered by its inability to produce indigenous scientific instruments.
Reliance on imported instruments, often uncalibrated and poorly understood, leads to unreliable data and impacts research credibility.
Despite successful prototype development, there's a failure to translate these into industrial products.
Exam Points
The Mega Science Vision-2035 report on Climate Research was prepared with IISc, Bengaluru, as the nodal institution.
The report was submitted to the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA).
India has pledged 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030.
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