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July11th Current Affairs

Home / UPSC / Current affairs / UPSC Current Affairs – July 11th

Table of Contents

Election Petitions in Focus: Madras High Court Stays Byelections Pending Judicial Review

Why in News?

The Madras High Court has restrained the Election Commission of India (ECI) from notifying byelections to five vacant Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu until July 31, as election petitions challenging the validity of the earlier elections are still pending before the Court. The Court observed that conducting byelections before deciding these petitions could create legal inconsistencies and affect the integrity of the electoral process.

What is an Election Petition?

An Election Petition is the exclusive judicial remedy available to challenge the validity of an election after the declaration of results. It enables courts to examine allegations of electoral malpractices, corrupt practices, improper acceptance or rejection of nominations, or other violations affecting the election outcome.

It serves as an important safeguard to ensure free, fair and credible elections, which form the foundation of India’s democratic system.

Constitutional and Legal Framework

Article 329(b)

  • Bars judicial interference in elections except through an Election Petition.
  • Once the election process begins, courts generally cannot interfere until the results are declared.
  • After declaration of results, challenges can be made only through an Election Petition.

Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA)

The Act governs election petitions relating to:

  • Lok Sabha
  • Rajya Sabha
  • State Legislative Assemblies

Election disputes relating to Panchayats and Municipalities are governed by the respective State laws enacted under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.

Article 71

Disputes relating to the election of the President and Vice-President are decided directly by the Supreme Court.

Who Can File an Election Petition?

An Election Petition may be filed by:

  • Any contesting candidate, or
  • Any elector (voter) of the concerned constituency.

The petition must be filed within 45 days from the date of declaration of election results before the High Court having jurisdiction.

Significance of Election Petitions

  • Ensures accountability of elected representatives.
  • Protects the purity and fairness of elections.
  • Upholds constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
  • Provides judicial oversight over the electoral process.
  • Strengthens public confidence in democratic institutions.

Issues Associated with Election Petitions

  • Delay in disposal: Many petitions remain pending for years, often beyond the tenure of the elected representative.
  • Judicial backlog: High Courts face heavy caseloads, delaying election-related cases.
  • Reduced deterrence: Delayed judgments weaken accountability for electoral malpractices.

Way Forward

  • Establish special benches in High Courts for speedy disposal of election petitions.
  • Prescribe time-bound adjudication through legislative reforms.
  • Increase the use of technology and digital evidence in election trials.
  • Strengthen coordination between the Election Commission and the judiciary.

Ken–Betwa River Linking Project Faces Fresh Protests Over Rehabilitation Concerns

Why in News?

Tribal villagers in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, intensified their protest against the Ken–Betwa River Linking Project (KBLP) after discussions with government officials failed to resolve concerns over rehabilitation and compensation. Protesters have demanded enhanced compensation and inclusion of all affected families in the rehabilitation package.

What is the Ken–Betwa Link Project (KBLP)?

The Ken–Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is India’s first river interlinking project implemented under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) for interlinking rivers.

The project aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh to the water-deficit Betwa River basin in Uttar Pradesh to address chronic water scarcity in the Bundelkhand region.

National Perspective Plan (NPP)

  • Formulated in 1980.
  • Prepared by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the National Water Development Agency (NWDA).
  • Envisages 30 river interlinking projects across India.
  • Aims to optimize water resources by transferring water from surplus to deficit river basins.

Objectives of the Project

  • Provide irrigation to drought-prone Bundelkhand.
  • Ensure drinking water supply to villages and towns.
  • Generate hydroelectric power.
  • Reduce regional disparities in water availability.
  • Improve agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.

About the Rivers

Ken River                        

  • Originates near Ahirgawan village, Madhya Pradesh.
  • Flows through Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Joins the Yamuna River near Chilla village in Uttar Pradesh.
  • Known for the Sajhar Stone.
  • Major tributaries: Bawas, Dewar, Kaith, Baink, Kopra and Bearma.

Betwa River                                      

  • Originates in the Vindhya Range of Madhya Pradesh.
  • Flows through the Bundelkhand region.
  • Meets the Yamuna River at Hamirpur (Uttar Pradesh).
  • Ancient name: Vetrawati.
  • Major tributaries: Newan, Orr and Dhasan.

Key Components of the Project

  • Daudhan Dam on the Ken River.
  • Link Canal connecting the Ken and Betwa rivers.
  • Hydropower generation facilities.
  • Irrigation infrastructure.

Benefits of the Project

Water Security

  • Supplies water to drought-prone Bundelkhand.

Irrigation                      

  • Expands irrigation over lakhs of hectares of agricultural land.

Drinking Water

  • Ensures drinking water supply to several districts in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Renewable Energy

  • Generates hydropower, contributing to clean energy.

Regional Development

    • Enhances agricultural productivity, employment, and rural development.

Environmental and Social Concerns

Impact on Panna Tiger Reserve

  • Submergence of forest land within the reserve.
  • Potential habitat loss for tigers and other wildlife.

Biodiversity Loss

  • Threat to endangered flora and fauna.
  • Fragmentation of wildlife habitats.

Rehabilitation Issues                                                  

  • Displacement of tribal communities.
  • Allegations of inadequate compensation and exclusion of affected families from rehabilitation benefits.

Hydrological Concerns

    • Questions over the long-term availability of “surplus” water under changing climate conditions.

Government's Perspective

The Government considers the project a flagship water resource initiative that will:

  • Improve drought resilience.
  • Promote balanced regional development.
  • Enhance water-use efficiency.
  • Support climate adaptation in Bundelkhand.

CAMPA Approves Four Major Wildlife Conservation Projects

Why is it in News?

The Governing Body of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) has approved four new wildlife conservation projects focusing on the protection and recovery of the Ganga River Dolphin, Snow Leopard, Indian Rhinoceros, and Wild Water Buffalo. The projects aim to strengthen species conservation, scientific monitoring, and habitat restoration across India.

What is CAMPA?

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) is a statutory authority established under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016 to manage funds collected for compensatory afforestation when forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes.

Its primary objective is to ensure that forest loss due to developmental activities is compensated through afforestation, ecological restoration, and wildlife conservation.

Background

  • In T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union of India (2002), the Supreme Court directed the creation of CAMPA to monitor the utilisation of compensatory afforestation funds.
  • Before the enactment of the CAF Act, 2016, large amounts of afforestation funds remained unutilised due to the absence of a proper institutional mechanism.
  • The CAF Act came into force in 2018, along with the CAF Rules, 2018, institutionalising the management of these funds.

Objectives of CAMPA

  • Ensure compensatory afforestation for diverted forest land.
  • Restore degraded forest ecosystems.
  • Promote biodiversity conservation.
  • Support wildlife habitat improvement.
  • Strengthen ecological security and climate resilience.

Legal Framework

Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980

When forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes, the user agency must:

  • Provide equivalent non-forest land for afforestation.
  • Bear the entire cost of afforestation.
  • If suitable non-forest land is unavailable, undertake afforestation on twice the area of degraded forest land.

Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016

    • Establishes the statutory framework for CAMPA.
    • Creates dedicated funds for afforestation and ecological restoration.
    • Provides transparent management and utilisation of compensatory afforestation funds.

CAMPA Fund Structure

 

                      Fund                        

Managed By

National Compensatory Afforestation Fund (NCAF)

National CAMPA under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)

State Compensatory Afforestation Fund (SCAF)

State CAMPA Authorities

Distribution of Funds

    • 90% of funds are transferred to States/UTs.
    • 10% is retained by the Central Government for monitoring, capacity building, and national-level activities.
    • Both funds are non-lapsable and interest-bearing.
    • The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) conducts annual audits.

Wildlife Conservation Projects Approved

1. Ganga River Dolphin

  • India’s National Aquatic Animal (declared in 2009).
  • Indicator species for healthy freshwater ecosystems.
  • Commonly known as ‘Susu’.
  • Uses echolocation because of its poor eyesight.

Conservation Status

  • IUCN: Endangered
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • CMS: Appendix I

2. Snow Leopard

  • Known as the “Ghost of the Mountains.”
  • Found in the Himalayan and trans-Himalayan regions.
  • India’s first scientific survey estimated 718 snow leopards, with the highest population in Ladakh.

Conservation Status

  • IUCN: Vulnerable
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
  • CITES: Appendix I

3. Indian Rhinoceros

  • Primarily found in Kaziranga National Park (Assam) and a few other protected areas.
  • The approved conservation action plan aims to strengthen habitat management and population recovery.

4. Wild Water Buffalo

  • Native to the grasslands and wetlands of northeast and central India.
  • Faces threats from habitat loss, hybridisation with domestic buffalo, and poaching.
  • CAMPA has approved a pan-India conservation strategy.

Importance of CAMPA

  • Restores degraded forests and wildlife habitats.
  • Supports biodiversity conservation.
  • Helps India achieve its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
  • Promotes sustainable development by balancing environmental protection with infrastructure growth.
  • Strengthens ecological security through scientific conservation programmes.

Challenges

  • Delays in utilisation of CAMPA funds.
  • Poor quality of compensatory plantations in some regions.
  • Limited community participation.
  • Difficulty in replacing natural forests with artificial plantations.
  • Monitoring and transparency concerns.

Rethinking Social Media Regulation: Beyond Blanket Bans to Safer Digital Spaces for Children

Why in News?

An editorial titled “Fix the House” in examines whether blanket age-based bans on social media are an effective solution to protect children from online harm. The article argues that while excessive social media use is associated with mental health concerns, there is limited evidence that outright bans improve outcomes. Instead, it advocates for stronger platform accountability, digital literacy, parental involvement, and safer online environments.

Background

With the rapid expansion of smartphones and social media, concerns have grown over their impact on:

  • Mental health
  • Cyberbullying
  • Online addiction
  • Privacy violations
  • Exposure to harmful content
  • Sleep disorders among adolescents

Several countries are considering or implementing age-based restrictions on social media access. However, experts argue that regulation should focus on making digital platforms safer rather than relying solely on access bans

Key Highlights of the Editorial

1. Evidence on Social Media and Mental Health is Mixed

Research indicates that:

  • Social media use is associated with mental health issues, particularly among adolescent girls.
  • However, a direct cause-and-effect relationship has not been conclusively established.
  • The nature of online engagement matters more than the amount of time spent online.

2. Blanket Age-Based Bans May Not Be Effective

Experts note that:

  • Many children continue to access social media despite restrictions.
  • Bans alone cannot eliminate online risks.
  • They may push children towards unregulated or hidden digital spaces.

The article suggests that regulatory efforts should prioritise safer digital ecosystems rather than complete prohibition.

3. Risks Associated with Social Media

Excessive or unsafe use may lead to:

  • Cyberbullying
  • Sleep deprivation
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Exposure to self-harm and eating disorder content
  • Online exploitation
  • Privacy breaches
  • Addictive recommendation algorithms

4. Positive Aspects of Social Media

When used responsibly, social media can:

  • Maintain friendships and social connections.
  • Provide educational opportunities.
  • Offer peer support.
  • Help young people explore their identity.
  • Improve access to mental health information and support communities.

Recommendations Suggested by Experts

Instead of blanket bans, the editorial recommends:

    • Digital literacy programmes in schools.
    • Stronger duty of care for social media platforms.
    • Better content moderation.
    • Privacy protection for minors.
    • Chronological feeds instead of addictive algorithm-driven recommendations.
    • Effective parental control tools.
    • Age-appropriate online safety standards.

Indian Initiatives

Information Technology Act, 2000          

Provides the legal framework for regulating online activities.

Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021

Require social media intermediaries to:

  • Remove unlawful content.
  • Exercise due diligence.
  • Strengthen grievance redressal mechanisms.

Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023

    • Protects children’s personal data.
    • Requires parental consent for processing children’s data below the prescribed age.

Challenges

  1. Balancing child safety with freedom of expression.
  2. Rapid evolution of digital technologies.
  3. Limited digital awareness among parents.
  4. Weak enforcement across international platforms.
  5. Online anonymity and cross-border jurisdiction issues.
  6. Trade imbalance in favour of ASEAN.
  7. Delay in connectivity projects.
  8. Myanmar political crisis affecting regional cooperation.
  9. South China Sea tensions.
  10. Increasing strategic competition between major powers.

Way Forward

  • Promote responsible digital citizenship through education.
  • Strengthen regulation of algorithms targeting children.
  • Improve cooperation between governments, technology companies, schools, and parents.
  • Encourage age-appropriate digital experiences while safeguarding children’s rights.

JPC Recommends Changes to Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill on Removal of Ministers in Judicial Custody

Why in News?

A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025 has recommended replacing the provision for automatic “removal” of a Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or Minister after 30 consecutive days of judicial custody with “suspension.” Although both provisions require the public functionary to demit office, the recommendation seeks to balance constitutional accountability with the principle of presumption of innocence.

What is the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill?

The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks to amend the Constitution to provide a mechanism for the temporary removal/suspension of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and Ministers if they remain in judicial custody for 30 consecutive days for offences punishable with five years or more of imprisonment.

Constitutional Provisions Proposed to be Amended

The Bill proposes amendments to:             

    • Article 75 – Council of Ministers at the Union level.
    • Article 164 – Council of Ministers in the States.
    • Article 239AA – Council of Ministers in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Key Provisions of the Bill

1. Judicial Custody for 30 Days

If a Minister remains in judicial custody for 30 consecutive days for an offence punishable with five years or more, action would be initiated.

2. Advice by the Prime Minister/Chief Minister

  • At the Union level, the Prime Minister advises the President.
  • At the State level, the Chief Minister advises the Governor.
  • In Delhi, the Chief Minister advises the President.

3. Prime Minister or Chief Minister in Custody

If the Prime Minister or Chief Minister remains in custody for 30 consecutive days, they must resign by the 31st day or cease to hold office as provided under the Bill.

4. JPC Recommendation

The JPC has recommended replacing “removal” with “suspension”, allowing reinstatement after release while preserving the principle that guilt is not established merely by arrest.

Existing Legal Position

At present:                                        

    • There is no constitutional provision for automatic removal of a Minister upon arrest.
    • Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, disqualification generally arises only after conviction, not merely upon arrest.
    • A legislator convicted and sentenced to two years or more is disqualified under Section 8 of the Act.
    • The presumption of innocence remains a cornerstone of criminal jurisprudence until conviction.

Significance of the Bill

  • Strengthens Accountability

    Ensures that persons facing prolonged judicial custody in serious criminal cases do not continue to exercise executive authority.

    Promotes Public Trust

    Enhances citizens’ confidence in the integrity of constitutional offices.

    Improves Ethical Governance

    Reinforces standards of constitutional morality and responsible public administration.

Concerns

  • Presumption of Innocence: Arrest is not proof of guilt.
  • Political Misuse: Possibility of motivated arrests to unseat elected governments.
  • Judicial Delays: Prolonged custody may not necessarily indicate culpability.
  • Federal Concerns: The provision could affect Centre–State political relations.

Way Forward

  • Ensure strong judicial safeguards against arbitrary arrests.
  • Provide time-bound judicial review of prolonged detention.
  • Balance public accountability with constitutional rights.
  • Strengthen ethical standards in public life while protecting democratic mandates.

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