Society 

We owe this to the youth - Indian Express

It is painful to hear that a vice-chancellor, officials of the National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC), professors of prestigious institutions and office-bearers of an apparently “high-ranking” university were arrested recently for bribes allegedly given and taken in exchange for better rankings.

Reforms in Accreditation System

• Transparency & digitization: Introduced 13 years ago.
• End-to-end digital process: For applications, approvals, and deficiency reports.
• Interaction: Minimal direct interaction between institutions and regulators.
• Online system: Expert visits replaced with online data updates, offline visits only for complaints.

Challenges in Regulation

• Corruption: Regulators prone to corruption due to discretionary powers and lack of transparency.
• Systemic corruption: Conflicting incentives, and impunity in AICTE before reforms .
• Checks on the system: E-governance system introduced with checks and balances.
• Corruption Beyond Government
  • Private sector also indulges in corruption.
  • Lack of values in both public and private institutions.

Strategies for Reform

• Recognizing corruption as a systemic issue.
• Understanding political economy: Institutes benefit financially from high rankings.
• Addressing accreditation loopholes: Binary accreditation (NAAC) oversimplifies quality assessment.
• Strengthening verification: Can be done through real-time data checks & third-party validation.
• Mandating DigiLocker for institutes: To upload academic and administrative documents.

Combating Corruption in Education

• Inculcating integrity and transparency.
• Collective action needed instead of individual efforts.
• Efforts should aim to minimize impact of corruption and protect the vulnerable.
• Keeping education free of corruption.
• Leadership in institutions.

Polity 

Should convicted persons contest elections? - The Hindu

The Supreme Court is hearing petitions filed by Ashwin Upadhyay and others, seeking a life time ban on convicted persons from contesting elections.

Legal Provisions - Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RP Act, 1951)

• Section 8(3): Disqualifies a person convicted and sentenced to at least two years of imprisonment from contesting elections for six years after release.
• Section 8(1): Disqualifies a person convicted under laws for heinous crimes (rape, UAPA, Prevention of Corruption Act, untouchability, etc.), irrespective of the sentence duration, plus six years after release.
• Section 11: Election Commission (EC) can remove or reduce the disqualification period.

Key Supreme Court Judgments

• ADR Case (2002): Mandated disclosure of criminal records of candidates.
• CEC vs Jan Chaukidar (2013): Held that undertrial prisoners are not ‘electors’ and hence cannot contest elections. Overturned by Parliament in 2013.
• Lily Thomas (2013): Struck down Section 8(4) of RP Act, disqualifying a convicted legislator immediately after sentencing, even if an appeal is filed.
• Prem Singh Tamang Case (2019): EC reduced disqualification from six years to 13 months, allowing him to contest elections, despite conviction under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Way Forward

• Recommendations by Law Commission (1999, 2014) & EC:
  • Candidates charged with offences punishable for 5+ years should be barred from contesting.
  • No consensus among political parties due to potential misuse.
• Possible Reforms:
  • Heinous crimes & corruption convictions may warrant lifetime disqualification.
  • Review EC’s power to reduce disqualification for constitutional validity.

 

Ranveer Allahbadia row: What does law say about obscenity? - Indian Express 

Ranveer Allahbadia, founder of the popular YouTube channel ‘Beer Biceps’, has become the subject of a Mumbai police probe for the allegedly obscene comments he made during a guest appearance on the YouTube show ‘India’s Got Latent’.

Laws Governing Obscenity in Online Content

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 294
  • Provision: Punishes sale, import, export, advertisement, or profit from obscene material (books, paintings, figures, electronic content).
  • Definition: Material that is lascivious, excessively sexual, or corrupts moral values.
  • Penalty: Up to 2 years imprisonment and ₹5,000 fine for first-time offenders.
• Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, Section 67
  • Provision: Punishes publishing or transmitting obscene content online.
  • Definition: Same as BNS Section 294.
  • Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment and ₹5 lakh fine for first-time offenders.

Evolution of Court’s Understanding of Obscenity

• Early Ruling – Hicklin Test (1868)
  • Ranjit D. Udeshi v. State of Maharashtra (1964) – SC held ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ obscene under IPC Section 292.
  • Borrowed the Hicklin test from Queen v. Hicklin (1868):
    • If material tends to "deprave and corrupt" susceptible minds, it is obscene.
    • Judged from the perspective of children or weak-minded individuals.
• Shift in International Standards
  • UK Obscene Publications Act, 1959 – Work must be assessed as a whole.
  • US Supreme Court (Roth v. United States, 1957):
    • Obscenity judged by "contemporary community standards".
    • Must appeal to prurient interest when taken as a whole.
• India’s Shift – Community Standards Test (2014)
  • Aveek Sarkar v. State of West Bengal (2014) – SC adopted "community standards" test.
  • Quashed obscenity charges against magazines for publishing Boris Becker’s nude image with his fiancée.
  • Rejected Hicklin test, stating obscenity must be judged in context, not isolated passages.

Obscenity in Online Content – Court Rulings

• Supreme Court on "College Romance" (March 2024)
  • Charges quashed under IPC Section 292 and IT Act Section 67.
  • Prosecution’s claim: Show contained vulgar language and depicted college students discussing and engaging in sexual activities.
• Court's Observations
  • Distinction: Foul or indecent language is not necessarily obscene.
  • Obscenity: Material that "arouses sexual and lustful thoughts", which was not the effect of the language used in the show.
  • Applied the community standards test: Words used did not arouse sexual feelings but rather expressed emotions.

 

World Affairs

IMEC project gains traction as PM holds talks with Macron - The Hindu

India and France recently announced that they would continue to work closely to implement the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) project.

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

• About: Connectivity project for ports, railways, roads, sea lines, and pipelines.
• Aim: To enhance trade between India, Arabian Peninsula, Mediterranean, and Europe.
• Declaration: Announced in 2023 during the G20 Summit in New Delhi.
• Participants: MoU signed between European Union and seven countries India, US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, Germany, Italy.
• Corridors:
  • Eastern Corridor – India to Arabian Gulf.
  • Northern Corridor – Gulf to Europe.
• Route Details
  • Shipping route: Mumbai & Mundra (Gujarat) → UAE.
  • Rail network: UAE → Saudi Arabia → Jordan → Haifa (Israel).
  • Sea link: Haifa → Piraeus (Greece) → Europe.
• Infrastructure: Electricity grids, optical fiber cables, and hydrogen gas pipelines.
• Benefits:
  • Cost-effective, reliable cross-border transport.
  • Boosts trade, regional supply chains, and economic cooperation.
  • Generates jobs, reduces costs, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions.
• Funding: Backed by Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), a US-led initiative for infrastructure development in developing nations.

 

Rather than withdraw from WTO, India should strengthen trade multilateralism - Indian Express

A recurring demand from a section of Indian farmers is that India should exit the World Trade Organisation (WTO). They believe WTO rules hinder their ability to secure a legal guarantee for a minimum support price (MSP). Under the WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), MSP is categorised as a trade-distorting subsidy. The rationale is that if countries are permitted to provide such subsidies to their farmers, it would give them an unfair advantage in the global market.

Policy Leeway within WTO

• Peace Clause allows India to exceed subsidy limits for wheat and rice without facing legal action.

• Alternative support mechanisms:

• Income support (e.g., PM-KISAN) is non-trade-distorting under WTO rules.
• Budget 2025 missed an opportunity to expand direct income support.

Why WTO Exit is Not Feasible

• Beyond Agriculture: WTO governs global trade laws, ensuring non-discrimination for exports.

Leaving WTO risks:

• Loss of National Treatment – Indian exports may face discrimination.
• Loss of Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) status – Harder access to foreign markets.
• Need for multiple FTAs, increasing bureaucratic costs and stricter trade terms.

Trade Dispute Resolution

• WTO provides a structured dispute resolution system.
• India has successfully challenged violations of trade obligations.
• Exiting WTO would eliminate this legal recourse.

Geopolitical Considerations

• WTO is weakened due to U.S. disengagement, increasing trade protectionism.
• India should strengthen WTO, not exit, to maintain multilateral trade checks.
• Trade multilateralism benefits developing nations, ensuring fair market access.

Way Forward

• Clear communication with farmers about WTO’s role.
• Enhance non-trade-distorting support instead of pushing for WTO exit.

 

Economy 

What is contributing to the downturn in Indian markets? - The Hindu

For the sixth consecutive day, BSE Sensex closed lower reflective of a major sell-off among foreign institutional investors and portfolio investors (FIIs/FPIs), mixed earnings and apprehensions about the tightening of the (imports’) tariff regime in the U.S. Trump reinstated tariffs on steel (25%) and aluminium (10%) to protect U.S. industries from unfair trade practices.

Impact of US’ Trade Policies on Markets

• Market Reaction: Indian markets reacted negatively due to fears of dumping of Asian exports, leading to price declines & increased competition.

• FIIs & FPIs shifting to U.S. bonds, seeking safer returns amid:
  • Tepid domestic earnings growth.
  • High valuations in mid & small caps.
  • Inflation exceeding RBI’s 4% threshold.
  • Uncertainty in trade and tariffs.
• Inverse relationship between bond yields & stock markets: Rising U.S. bond yields attract investors away from Indian equities.
• Impact on Rupee: Outflow of funds strengthens the dollar, weakens the rupee.

Near-Term Market Outlook

• Other factors: Trade war concerns, geopolitical tensions, and slowing global growth may impact markets.
• FII return to India uncertain, dependent on:
  • Growth & earnings recovery in India.
  • Weakening of the dollar.
• Investor stance: Likely to remain defensive amid tariff policy uncertainties.
• SIP flows: Expected to remain strong, helping absorb FII outflows.

 

Tobin tax - The Hindu

• Definition: Proposed by James Tobin (1972) on short-term currency transactions.
• Aim: To reduce market volatility by discouraging speculation.
• Mechanism:
  • Applied on currency conversions at a low rate (e.g., 0.1% or less).
  • Designed to curb excessive speculation and stabilize currency markets.
• Objectives:
  • Reduce currency market volatility.
  • Discourage short-term speculative trading.
  • Generate revenue for global economic development.
• Advantages:
  • Stabilizes financial markets by limiting speculation.
  • Provides revenue for development and poverty reduction.
  • Deters harmful short-term trading.
• Criticisms:
  • Difficult to enforce globally; may shift trading to untaxed regions.
  • Reduces market liquidity, affecting asset transactions.
  • May negatively impact legitimate financial activities and global trade.
• Implementation: Not adopted globally, but some financial transaction taxes exist (e.g., EU’s proposed Financial Transaction Tax).

 

Sci and Tech 

AI can make drug-testing precise, and relevant to human biology - The Hindu

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed draft guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to assess the safety and effectiveness of drugs.

Pitfalls of Conventional Drug Development

• Time & Cost: Takes 10 years and over $1 billion to develop a drug.

• Low Success Rate: Only 14% of drugs succeed in clinical trials.

• Animal Testing Limitations:
  • Metabolism differences between animals and humans lead to data adjustments.
  • Human variability (age, sex, genetics) cannot be accurately predicted from lab-bred animals.

AI in Drug Development

• Discovery Phase: AI scans databases to shortlist promising compounds.
• Preclinical Phase: AI predicts drug effects, reducing reliance on animal testing.
• Clinical Trials & Market Approval: AI models assess safety and efficacy before human trials.
• Post-Marketing: AI helps monitor adverse effects.

AI Enhancements in Drug Safety

• Predicts side effects using computational models.
• December 2024 study: UK researchers developed a "safety toolbox" to predict drug toxicity.
• Integrates multiple data types: Drug exposure, structure, and chemical properties.

Challenges in AI-Based Drug Development

• Data Quality: AI’s accuracy depends on high-quality, unbiased data.
• Lack of Transparency: Most AI models are not open to scrutiny.
• Risk Assessment: Incorrect predictions can have life-threatening implications.

FDA Guidelines on AI in Drug Development

• Stepwise framework for assessing AI models’ credibility.
• Risk Evaluation: AI-generated results must be continuously monitored.
• Regulatory Engagement: Encourages collaboration between FDA and industry.

Global and Indian Policy Initiatives

• EU & ICH issued AI guidelines for drug development.

India’s New Drugs & Clinical Trials (Amendment) Rules, 2023:

• Allows AI-based assessments for drug safety and efficacy.
• Reduces dependence on animal trials.

Way Forward

• Regulatory harmonization to balance policy, compliance, research, and consumer safety.
• AI frameworks as anchors for structured decision-making in a dynamic landscape.

 

Einstein Ring - Indian Express

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid space telescope has discovered a rare ring of light, known as an Einstein ring, around a galaxy nearly 590 million light-years away from Earth.

Einstein Ring

• Definition: A ring of light around a dark matter, galaxy, or galaxy cluster.
• Role: Example of gravitational lensing, where a massive celestial body distorts and amplifies light from a distant galaxy.
• Mechanism:
  • Gravitational lens (e.g., NGC 6505) bends light from a distant galaxy 4.42 billion light-years away.
  • First predicted by Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
• Discovery: First Einstein Ring discovered in 1987.
• Extremely rare: Found in less than 1% of galaxies.
• Detection: Not visible to the naked eye, detected using space telescopes like Euclid.
• Scientific Significance
  • Dark Matter Detection:
    • Dark matter, making up 85% of the universe, does not interact with light but affects gravity.
    • Gravitational lensing helps indirectly detect dark matter.
  • Studying Distant Galaxies: Makes otherwise invisible galaxies observable.
  • Understanding Universe Expansion: Helps track stretching of space between Earth and other galaxies.

 

Defence 

Navy eyes fleet of 400 planes to boost maritime security - The Hindu

Charting a future course to strengthen its air capability, the Indian Navy has outlined plans for a fleet of 400 aircraft to bolster maritime security and enhance its capability in both combat and civilian roles. Over the next two decades, the Navy aims to induct a range of indigenously developed light, medium, and heavy-lift aircraft into its Naval Air Arm.

Atmanirbhar Indian Naval Aviation Technology Road map, 2047

• Vision: Modernized fleet with a fifth-generation twin-engine deck-based fighter aircraft to replace the current fighter fleet.
• Planned Inductions:
  • Long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft for Indian Ocean Region monitoring.
  • Medium & short-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
  • Aircraft carrier-borne airborne early warning & control aircraft.
  • Amphibious aircraft for enhanced naval operations.
• Helicopter Development:
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) developing a twin-engine chopper under Utility Helicopter Maritime (UHM) program.
  • Navy exploring joint ventures or independent development by OEMs.
  • Focus areas: Multi-role helicopters, heavy-lift helicopters, and UAV platforms.
• Indigenous Manufacturing:
  • Medium-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft (C-295) to be built by TATA Advanced Systems Ltd.
• Security & Technology Considerations:
  • Growing maritime threats from non-state actors in recent years.
  • Need for advanced naval capabilities to address evolving security challenges.

 

India may revive plan to procure six more P-8I aircraft from U.S. - The Hindu

India is looking to revive the proposal to procure six more P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft from the U.S. and the matter is expected to figure in the talks between Indian PM and U.S. President Donald Trump.

India-U.S. Defence Deals in the Pipeline

• Major Defence Projects: 
  • Co-production of General Electric F414 jet engines and Stryker infantry combat vehicles in India under technology transfer.
• P-8I Maritime Surveillance Aircraft
  • India plans to procure six additional P-8Is, with preliminary pricing discussions underway.
  • P-8Is: Critical for anti-submarine warfare and long-range surveillance, especially with increasing Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean.
  • Previous P-8I procurements:
    • 2009: 8 aircraft for $2.2 billion.
    • 2016: 4 more under an optional clause for $1 billion.
    • 2021: U.S. approved the sale of six additional P-8Is worth $2.42 billion.
• MQ-9B Sea Guardian UAVs
  • India signed a $3.5-billion deal in October 2023 for 31 MQ-9B drones under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
  • Deliveries to begin from January 2029.