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May 28th Current Affair

Home / UPSC / Current affairs / UPSC Current Affairs – May 28

Table of Contents

Supreme Court Upholds SIR Exercise of Electoral Rolls

The Supreme Court has upheld the legality of the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, calling it constitutionally valid and necessary for ensuring free and fair elections. The judgment is significant for Indian democracy, electoral reforms, and constitutional governance.

What is SIR?

Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a comprehensive verification and updating exercise of electoral rolls conducted by the ECI to:

  • Remove duplicate, fake, shifted, or deceased voters
  • Verify voter eligibility and citizenship status for electoral purposes
  • Improve the accuracy and purity of voter lists

The exercise was first implemented in states like Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and later expanded to other states.

Key Highlights of the Supreme Court Verdict

  1. ECI Has Constitutional Power

The Court ruled that the ECI has authority under:

  • Article 324 of the Constitution
  • Representation of the People Act, 1950
  • Registration of Electors Rules, 1960

to conduct Special Intensive Revision exercises.

  1. SIR Linked to Free and Fair Elections

The Court observed that democracy depends on:

  • Integrity of electoral rolls
  • Accuracy of voter lists
  • Credible elections

Hence, SIR directly supports the constitutional goal of free and fair elections.

  1. Verification Does Not Mean Citizenship Cancellation

The Court clarified:              

  • ECI can examine citizenship only for electoral inclusion
  • It cannot finally decide citizenship status
  • Final citizenship determination lies with authorities under the Citizenship Act

If doubts arise, names may be referred to competent authorities.

  1. Procedural Safeguards Must Be Followed

The Court stressed:

  • Notice and hearing before deletion
  • Transparency in voter deletion
  • Publication of district-wise deleted voter lists

This protects voters from arbitrary exclusion.

  1. Aadhaar Accepted as Indicative Document

The Court allowed Aadhaar as one of the acceptable supporting documents during verification.

Arguments Against SIR

  • Opposition parties and petitioners argued that:

    • SIR could disenfranchise genuine voters
    • It may target migrants and marginalized groups
    • It resembled a “backdoor citizenship screening”
    • Existing voter IDs should have been sufficient

    However, the Court rejected these arguments and upheld the ECI’s exercise as legally valid.

Significance

Importance

  • Strengthens electoral integrity
  • Reinforces autonomy of ECI
  • Emphasizes free and fair elections as part of the Basic Structure
  • Balances electoral purity with individual rights

Concerns               

  • Risk of exclusion of vulnerable populations
  • Documentation burden on migrants and poor citizens
  • Need for procedural fairness and transparency

From Tariffs to Carbon: EU’s Green Trade Rules Raise Concerns for India

A major global trade shift is underway where countries are moving from traditional tariff barriers to carbon-based trade barriers. The issue is in news because the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has started impacting global trade, especially India’s exports of steel, aluminium, cement, and other carbon-intensive goods.

What is the Issue?

Traditionally, countries protected domestic industries through:

  • Import duties
  • Tariffs
  • Quotas

Now, developed countries are increasingly using:

  • Carbon taxes
  • Green standards
  • Carbon border levies

This shift is often described as:              

“From Tariffs to Carbon”

It means climate policy is becoming a new tool of international trade policy.

What is CBAM?

The most important development is the European Union’s:

European Union Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

CBAM is essentially a carbon tariff imposed on imports produced using carbon-intensive processes.

Products Covered Initially

  • Steel
  • Aluminium
  • Cement
  • Fertilisers
  • Hydrogen
  • Electricity

Objective of CBAM

  • The EU says CBAM aims to prevent:

    “Carbon Leakage”

    This happens when industries shift production to countries with weaker climate regulations to avoid environmental costs.

    The EU wants imported goods to face the same carbon cost as European products.

Why is it Important for India?

India is one of the major exporters of:

  • Steel
  • Aluminium
  • Engineering goods

Indian industries largely depend on:                                                                   

  • Coal-based energy
  • Carbon-intensive manufacturing

Hence, Indian exports may become more expensive in European markets due to carbon taxes.

Major Concerns for India

  1. Green Protectionism

India and other developing nations argue that CBAM acts as:

  • A hidden trade barrier
  • “Green protectionism”

instead of genuine climate action.

  1. Burden on MSMEs

Smaller Indian exporters may struggle with:

  • Carbon accounting
  • Compliance costs
  • Emission reporting requirements
  1. Violation of Climate Equity

India emphasizes the principle of:

Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)

Developed countries historically caused most emissions, while developing countries

India’s Response

India is:        

  • Raising concerns at WTO forums
  • Negotiating during India-EU FTA talks
  • Promoting Green Steel and renewable energy
  • Working on domestic carbon markets

India also argues that climate measures should not become discriminatory trade barriers.   

Economic Impact

Reports suggest:

  • Iron and steel form nearly 90% of India’s CBAM-exposed exports to the EU.
  • Indian exporters may face additional costs ranging from 20–35% under full implementation.

This could reduce India’s competitiveness in European markets.        

WTO Dimension

A major debate is whether CBAM:

  • Supports climate goals
    or
  • Violates WTO’s non-discrimination principles

Many developing countries including India, China, Brazil, and South Africa have raised objections.

Supreme Court Leaves VVPAT Time-Stamp Decision to Election Commission

What is VVPAT?

VVPAT stands for:

Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail

It is a machine attached to the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) that allows voters to verify whether their vote has been correctly recorded.

When a voter presses the button on the EVM:                  

  • A paper slip is generated
  • It displays:
    • Candidate name
    • Party symbol
  • The slip remains visible for a few seconds before dropping into a sealed box

This enhances transparency and trust in the electoral process.

What Was the PIL About?

  • The petition demanded:

    • Printing the exact voting time on each VVPAT slip

    Objective

    To improve:

    • Electoral transparency
    • Auditability
    • Traceability during disputes or recounts

    The petitioner argued that time-stamped slips could help in:

    • Better verification
    • Detecting irregularities

    Strengthening electoral integrity

Supreme Court’s Observation

    • The Court held that:             

      • Electoral transparency is important
      • But deciding feasibility of time-stamping is a technical and administrative matter

      Hence, the issue should be examined by the:

      Election Commission of India

      The Court directed its registry to forward the plea to the ECI for consideration.               

Constitutional Provisions Involved

    • Article 324

      Provides powers to the:

      • Election Commission of India
        to conduct free and fair elections.

      The judgment reinforces:

      • Institutional autonomy of ECI
      • Judicial restraint in technical electoral matters

Importance of VVPAT in Indian Elections

    • Introduced to:

      • Increase voter confidence
      • Ensure transparency in EVM-based voting

      Significance                            

      • Provides physical verification of votes
      • Helps during audits and recounts
      • Acts as a safeguard against allegations of EVM tampering

Challenges Related to VVPAT

      1. Delay in Counting

      Cross-verification of VVPAT slips can slow down counting.

      1. Technical and Logistical Issues

      Large-scale implementation across India is complex.

      1. Debate on Full VVPAT Verification

      Opposition parties have demanded:

      • 100% VVPAT slip counting

      Currently, the ECI verifies VVPAT slips from a limited number of polling stations per constituency.

AI Misinformation Becomes Major Governance and Election Challenge

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated misinformation, especially deepfakes, has emerged as a major concern globally and in India. The issue is in news due to growing concerns over AI-generated fake videos, audio clips, and images influencing elections, damaging reputations, and spreading disinformation at unprecedented speed. Governments and regulators are now moving toward stricter AI-content regulation.

What is AI Misinformation?

AI misinformation refers to:

  • False or manipulated content created using Artificial Intelligence tools
  • AI-generated fake videos, images, voices, or texts intended to deceive people

The most dangerous form is:

Deepfake Technology

Deepfakes use AI and machine learning to create highly realistic but fake:

  • Videos
  • Audio recordings
  • Images

These can make people appear to say or do things they never actually did.

Why is it in News?

Recent developments include:

  • Governments introducing stricter rules for AI-generated content
  • Concerns over AI-driven election propaganda
  • Rise in celebrity and political deepfake cases
  • Debate over balancing regulation and free speech

India has also proposed:                              

  • Mandatory AI-content labeling
  • Faster removal of harmful deepfake content

Greater accountability for digital platforms

Major Threats of AI Misinformation

      1. Threat to Democracy

      AI-generated fake speeches and videos can:

      • Manipulate voters
      • Spread political propaganda
      • Influence elections

      The Election Commission has warned political parties against misuse of AI-generated campaign content.

      1. Erosion of Public Trust

      Deepfakes create confusion between truth and falsehood.

      Experts warn that society may reach a stage where:

      “Seeing is no longer believing.”

      1. Cybercrime and Harassment

      AI-generated fake images are increasingly being used for:

      • Identity theft
      • Financial fraud
      • Cyberbullying
      • Non-consensual explicit content

      Recent deepfake controversies involving public personalities have highlighted privacy concerns.

      1. National Security Risks

      AI misinformation during conflicts or emergencies can:

      • Spread panic
      • Trigger communal tensions
      • Manipulate public opinion

      AI-generated war videos and fake conflict visuals have already been seen globally.

India’s Regulatory Response

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has proposed amendments to IT Rules to regulate AI-generated misinformation.

Key Features of Proposed Rules

  • Mandatory labeling of AI-generated content
  • 3-hour takedown rule for harmful deepfakes
  • Platform accountability
  • Metadata tracing for synthetic content

The Election Commission has also directed political parties to clearly label AI-generated campaign content.

Challenges in Controlling AI Misinformation

    1. Rapid Technological Advancement

    AI tools are evolving faster than regulations.

    1. Free Speech Concerns

    Strict regulation may lead to:

    • Censorship
    • Suppression of legitimate expression
    1. Difficulty in Detection

    Advanced deepfakes are becoming increasingly difficult to identify.

    1. Lack of Digital Literacy

    Many users cannot distinguish between:

    • Authentic information
    • AI-generated manipulation

Global Responses

  • European Union

    The EU AI Act requires:

    • Watermarking
    • Transparency for AI-generated content

    United States

    Debates are ongoing regarding:

    • Election-related AI regulation
    • Deepfake disclosure laws

    Social Media Platforms

    Platforms like X, Meta, and YouTube are under pressure to:

    • Remove harmful AI misinformation quickly
    • Improve content moderation

Rare Boghawker Dragonflies Discovered in Northeast India

Three rare dragonfly species belonging to the Boghawker genus (Sarasaeschna) have been discovered in the Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh and Karimganj district of Assam by researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). The discovery is important for biodiversity conservation and ecology, making it relevant for UPSC Environment and Ecology.

Why is it in News?

    • Scientists discovered three new rare dragonfly species:

      • Clouded Boghawker (Sarasaeschna nuboides)
      • Siang Boghawker (Sarasaeschna sigotaayo)
      • Long-tailed Boghawker (Sarasaeschna dosdewaensis)

      These belong to the rare Sarasaeschna genus, which is very limited in distribution.

About Dragonflies

Dragonflies belong to the order:

Odonata

This group also includes damselflies.

Key Features             

  • Ancient insects often called:

“Living Fossils”

  • Existed even before dinosaurs
  • Excellent fliers
  • Predatory insects feeding on mosquitoes and flies

Found near freshwater ecosystems

Ecological Importance

  1. 1.Bio-indicators

    Dragonflies are considered important bio-indicators because their larvae are highly sensitive to:

    • Water pollution
    • Chemical contamination
    • Habitat degradation

    Thus, their presence indicates:

    • Healthy freshwater ecosystems
    1. Natural Pest Controllers

    Dragonflies consume:      

    • Mosquitoes
    • Flies
    • Other insects

    They help naturally control vector-borne diseases like:

    • Malaria
    Dengue

Habitat of Newly Discovered Species

The newly discovered species were found in:

  • Shallow forest ponds
  • Remote valleys
  • Wetland ecosystems
  • Forest trails of Northeast India

These habitats are part of biodiversity-rich ecosystems of the Eastern Himalayas and Northeast India.

Threats to Dragonflies

  • Major Threats

    • Wetland destruction
    • Deforestation
    • Pollution
    • Climate change
    • Habitat fragmentation

    Rapid ecological degradation in Northeast India poses risks to such rare species.

Importance for India

The discovery highlights:

  • Rich biodiversity of Northeast India
  • Importance of freshwater ecosystem conservation
  • Need for protecting wetlands and forest habitats

India is one of the world’s megadiverse countries and discoveries like these indicate that many species remain undocumented.

Challenges

  • Delays in fund utilisation
  • Implementation gaps at state level
  • Need for better awareness among beneficiaries

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