Geography 

What is an earthquake swarm? - The Hindu 

A state of emergency has been declared on Greece’s Santorini and the nearby islands of Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi after a swarm of undersea earthquakes this month, sometimes every few minutes, prompted thousands of people to move to the mainland.

Earthquake Swarm

• Definition: Series of multiple seismic events of similar intensity in a small area.
• Feature: Lacks a main shock and can last for weeks in active geothermal regions.
• Cause: Gradual seismic energy release from specific points.
• Causes:
  • Fluid Movement
    • Occurs in volcanic zones due to fluids from deep magma or geothermal activity.
    • Fluids trigger earthquakes by causing fault slip in cracks.
  • Active Volcanism
    • Magma movement creates swarms by pushing cracks in the Earth’s crust.
    • Earthquakes occur near or alongside these cracks.
  • Slow-Slip Events
    • Slow-motion earthquakes with movement over weeks to years.
    • Common in subduction zones like Hikurangi, occurring 1–2 times per year.

Polity

What is the ‘rarest of rare’ doctrine? - The Hindu

Recently, two separate murder convictions resulted in sharply contrasting verdicts, highlighting how the Indian courts apply the death penalty. While one case led to capital punishment, the other saw the accused sentenced to life imprisonment, reigniting questions about the judiciary’s approach to the ‘rarest of rare’ doctrine, which till now does not have a statutory definition.

Notable Cases

• R.G. Kar Case (2024): A female postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered & the accused, Sanjay Roy, was sentenced to life imprisonment, as the court ruled it was not a "rarest of rare" case.
• Sharon Raj Case (2022): Sharon Raj was poisoned by his partner, Greeshma. The court awarded the death penalty, classifying it as "rarest of rare."

Origin of the Doctrine

• Jagmohan Singh v. State of U.P. (1972):
  • Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty under Article 21 & rejected arguments that it violated Articles 14 & 19.
  • No clear guidelines on when to impose the death penalty, leaving judges with broad discretion.
• Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab (1980):
  • Introduced the "rarest of rare" doctrine, restricting the death penalty to exceptional cases.
  • Lacked a precise definition of "rarest of rare."
• Machhi Singh v. State of Punjab (1983):
  • Established five criteria for the death penalty:
    • Manner of murder – Brutal, shocking execution.
    • Motive – Depravity-driven killing.
    • Social abhorrence – Targeting vulnerable groups.
    • Magnitude – Mass killings or extreme gravity.
    • Victim's vulnerability – Children, women, elderly, or disabled persons.

• Mithu v. State of Punjab (1983): Struck down Section 303 IPC (mandatory death penalty for life convicts committing murder) as unconstitutional.
• Supreme Court Reference (2022):
  • Referred the issue of mitigating circumstances in death penalty cases to a Constitution Bench.
  • Aimed at establishing a uniform approach for determining "rarest of rare" at the trial stage.
• Current Status: The definition of "rarest of rare" remains subjective, leaving scope for judicial discretion.

 

New CEC, under new law - Indian Express

Recently, former IAS officer Gyanesh Kumar was appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner of India. The appointment marked the first time a selection panel has been set up to appoint the head of the country’s election watchdog.

Earlier Appointment Process of Chief Election Commissioners (CEC)

• Structure: The Election Commission consists of a Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners (ECs). 
• No Legislative Framework: No law governed the appointment of CEC and ECs; the President appointed them based on the Prime Minister’s advice.
• Seniority Convention: The senior-most Election Commissioner was traditionally appointed as CEC. Seniority was determined by the date of appointment to the Commission.

Example:

• Rajiv Kumar was CEC, while Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu were ECs.
• Both were appointed on March 14, 2024, but Gyanesh Kumar was considered senior as his name appeared first in the appointment notification.

New Appointment Process of CEC

• Legal Basis: Appointed under the Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service And Term of Office) Act, 2023.

Selection Process:

• Search Committee: Headed by the Law Minister, with two senior bureaucrats, shortlists five candidates.
• Selection Committee: Includes the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, and a Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM.
• Final Decision: The Selection Committee can consider names beyond the shortlist.

Eligibility & Term Conditions

• Eligibility: Candidates must have held a post equivalent to Secretary, Government of India, with experience in election management.

Term:

• No re-appointment allowed.
• Total tenure as EC and CEC cannot exceed six years.

Reason for Changing the Appointment Process

• Supreme Court’s Concern (2015-2022): Challenged exclusive Executive control over appointments.
• SC Judgment (March 2, 2023): Recommended a Selection Committee with PM, LoP, and CJI.

Parliament’s Act (December 2023):

• Replaced CJI with a Cabinet Minister nominated by PM.
• Effectively gave the government final authority.

 

World Affairs

India, Qatar elevate ties to strategic partnership - The Hindu

Qatar, a major energy supplier to India, recently signed an agreement to elevate India - Qatar relationship to the level of a strategic partnership.

Bilateral Trade & Economic Cooperation

• Trade Target: Both sides aim to double trade to $28 billion.
• Business Forum: Included 38 Qatari entities from retail, finance, and energy sectors.

Security & Legal Issues

• Security Component: Partnership includes security cooperation, but no timeline specified.

Indian Nationals in Qatar:

• Commander Purnendu Tiwary: Still in Qatari custody; legal proceedings ongoing.
• Indian Prisoners: Around 600 Indians in Qatari prisons; 85 pardoned in 2024.

West Asia & Israel-Palestine Issue

• Official Talks: Both sides exchanged views on Israel- Hamas conflict.
• India’s Stand: Supports two-state solution and welcomed the ceasefire before President Trump’s inauguration.
• MEA Response: No official comment on Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians.

Regional Context & Diplomatic Engagement

• GCC Engagement: India has strategic partnerships with Kuwait, Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
• Arab States Summit: Qatar’s visit precedes the five-nation Arab summit in Riyadh discussing US proposals.

 

Economy 

What is deposit insurance cover, and how will raising it help you? - Indian Express

The government is considering increasing the insurance cover for bank deposits from the current limit of Rs 5 lakh. The deposit insurance cover is offered by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), a specialised division of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Deposit Insurance

• Government’s Stand: Proposal to increase deposit insurance under active consideration.
• RBI’s Actions on New India Co-operative Bank: Board of Directors superseded for 12 months due to poor governance.
• Restrictions imposed: No new loans, investments, borrowings, or deposits without RBI approval.

Deposit Insurance Coverage by DICGC

• Coverage: Small depositors up to ₹5 lakh per depositor.
• Insurance: Insures commercial banks, regional rural banks, and cooperative banks.
• Exclusions: Primary cooperative societies and government/inter-bank deposits.
• Premium: Paid by insured banks based on risk profile.

Claim Process for Depositors

• Claims processing: Under Section 18A of the DICGC Act, 1961.
• Mandate: Depositors to submit identity proof, “willingness declaration,” and second account details.

DICGC Insurance Coverage Limit

• Interim payment: Possible under RBI-imposed restrictions.
• Insurance coverage: Covers both principal and interest, up to ₹5 lakh.
• Limit: If total deposit exceeds ₹5 lakh, interest is not covered.
• In case of liquidation: Claims settled within two months.

Evolution of Deposit Insurance Ceiling

• Increase: Increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh on February 4, 2020.
• Introduction:  1962 with ₹1,500 coverage.
• Need for Increasing Deposit Insurance:
  • Economic growth, rising deposits, and inflation necessitate periodic revision.
  • Higher coverage to enhance depositor confidence and banking system stability.

Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC)

• Establishment: 1978 by merging Deposit Insurance Corporation (DIC) & Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd. (CGCI).
• Act: Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961.
• Ownership: Wholly owned by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Deposit Insurance Coverage:
  • Savings, current, recurring, and fixed deposits up to ₹5 lakh per account holder.
  • If deposits exceed ₹5 lakh in a single bank, only ₹5 lakh (including principal & interest) is insured.
• Applicability: Public & private sector banks, local area banks, small finance banks, regional rural banks, cooperative banks, Indian branches of foreign banks, and payments banks.
• Funds Maintained by DICGC
  • Deposit Insurance Fund – Funded by insurance premiums, used for claim settlements.
  • Credit Guarantee Fund – Funded by guarantee fees, used for credit guarantee claims.
  • General Fund – Used for administrative & operational expenses.

Meta announces Project Waterworth to enhance global connectivity with AI-driven subsea cable infrastructure - Indian Express 

Meta today announced its most ambitious subsea cable endeavour ever – Project Waterworth.

Project Waterworth

• Overview: 50,000 km subsea cable connecting India, US, Brazil, South Africa, and key regions.
• Depth: Up to 7,000 meters in deep waters.
• Mechanism: Uses AI to enhance subsea cable infrastructure for global connectivity.
• Focus: Efficient cable deployment, maintenance, and reliability.
• Technology: Uses advanced burial techniques in high-risk coastal areas to prevent damage.
• Objectives:
  • Using machine learning to predict and mitigate disruptions in subsea networks.
  • Enhancing connectivity across five continents, supporting economic cooperation and digital inclusion.
  • Facilitating technological development and supports AI projects.

 

Pilot project "National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations" (NAKSHA) - PIB 

Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare recently inaugurated the National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA) in 152 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across 26 States and 3 Union Territories (UTs) at Raisen, Madhya Pradesh.

NAKSHA Programme

• Overview: It aims to create and update urban land records.
• Significance: Enhances land ownership documentation, urban planning, and dispute resolution.
• IT-based system: Improves transparency, efficiency, and sustainable development.
• Implementation
  • Survey of India: Conducts aerial surveys and provides orthorectified imagery.
  • MPSEDC: Develops end-to-end web-GIS platform.
  • NICSI: Provides storage facilities.
  • State/UT Governments: Conduct field surveys and ground truthing for final land records.

 

Defence 

Javelin anti-tank guided missiles - Indian Express 

In a joint statement after Indian Prime Minister's interaction with US President, India and the US announced plans to pursue new procurements and co-production arrangements for Javelin anti-tank guided missiles.

Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile

• Overview: Man-portable, fire-and-forget anti-tank missile.
• Development: Jointly developed by Raytheon & Lockheed Martin (USA).
• Role: Designed to destroy heavily armored vehicles, including main battle tanks.
• Use: Effective against fortifications, bunkers, and helicopters.
• Range: 2.5 km.
• Guidance: Infrared-based, lock-on before launch, automatic self-guidance.
• Attack Mode:
  • Top attack – Targets tanks from above (weakest armor).
  • Direct attack – Effective against fortifications.