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September 29th Current Affairs

Home / UPSC / Current affairs / UPSC Current Affairs – September 29th

Table of Contents

Delhi University students march for women’s safety as police step up school, college audits

Why is it in the news?

Around 3,000 women students from Delhi University marched through North Campus on September 28, demanding safer public and institutional spaces. The protest followed the alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park, where three men allegedly posed as police officers.

The issue has also triggered police safety audits of schools and colleges across Delhi. The audits examine security arrangements, lighting, CCTV coverage, boundary walls, staff verification, dark spots and transport facilities. More than 5,000 schools and 30 universities are expected to be covered.

What did the students demand?

The students raised several concerns:

  • Functional Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in educational institutions.
  • Better street lighting and removal of dark spots.
  • Improved and reliable public transport.
  • Greater accountability in dealing with sexual-harassment complaints.
  • Protection of women’s freedom of movement.
  • Opposition to victim/survivor blaming and moral policing.

The broader concern is that women’s safety should not be addressed merely by restricting women’s movement; instead, public spaces and institutions need to be made safer.

Police response: Safety Audits

Delhi Police has started audits of educational institutions based on 16 parameters, including:

  1. Security at main and other gates
  2. Boundary walls and fencing
  3. Verification of staff and workers
  4. Adequate lighting
  5. Identification of dark spots
  6. CCTV coverage
  7. Abandoned structures around institutions
  8. Unauthorised vendors selling liquor/tobacco
  9. Safe transportation facilities

These inspections are being conducted by senior police officers, and deficiencies identified earlier are being followed up.

Why is this important?

The case highlights that women’s safety is not only a law-and-order issue, but also a question of:

Urban planning + policing + transport + institutional accountability + gender equality.

UPSC Linkages

  1. Constitutional provisions

Women’s safety is connected with:

  • Article 14 – Equality before law.
  • Article 15(1) – Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of sex.
  • Article 15(3) – State can make special provisions for women and children.
  • Article 21 – Protection of life and personal liberty.
  • Article 19(1)(d) – Right to move freely throughout India.

Therefore, safety measures should facilitate women’s equal and meaningful access to public spaces, while protecting their fundamental rights.

  1. Important laws

Relevant legal framework includes:

  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 – criminal offences including sexual offences.
  • Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 – protection of children from sexual offences.
  • Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 – prevention and redressal of sexual harassment at workplaces.
  • Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
  • Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

The POCSO Act becomes particularly relevant when the survivor is below 18 years of age.

  1. Institutional mechanism — ICC

Internal Complaints Committee (ICC)

Under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, workplaces are required to have mechanisms for dealing with sexual-harassment complaints.

For UPSC, remember the distinction:

ICC → institutional mechanism for prevention and redressal of sexual harassment.

The effectiveness of such committees depends on:

  • Accessibility
  • Independence
  • Awareness among students/employees
  • Timely investigation
  • Confidentiality
  • Protection against retaliation
  1. Gender-sensitive urban planning

The issue also connects with gender-responsive urban planning.

Important factors include:

Lighting → Safe transport → CCTV → Walkable streets → Police presence → Safe public spaces → Emergency response

Women may experience public spaces differently because of concerns regarding harassment and violence.

Thus, urban infrastructure itself can become an important component of women’s empowerment and inclusive development.

  1. Governance perspective

The incident demonstrates the importance of preventive policing rather than only responding after a crime occurs.

Preventive approach:

  • Identify vulnerable locations.
  • Conduct safety audits.
  • Repair non-functional streetlights.
  • Improve CCTV coverage.
  • Increase patrolling.
  • Improve public transport.
  • Ensure functioning complaint mechanisms.
  • Use crime data to identify hotspots.

This represents a shift from reactive policing → preventive and data-driven policing.

The Supreme Court has also taken suo motu cognisance of recent crimes against women and minors in Delhi-NCR, bringing greater attention to systemic public-safety measures.

Way Forward

Solutions can be organised under 5S:

  1. Safe infrastructure
    Better lighting, CCTV, transport and pedestrian infrastructure.
  2. Sensitive policing
    Gender-sensitive police personnel, rapid response and regular patrolling.
  3. Strong institutions
    Effective ICCs, Women Help Desks and accessible complaint mechanisms.
  4. Social awareness
    Gender sensitisation, consent education and elimination of victim blaming.
  5. Smart governance
    Use of crime mapping, safety audits and data-driven identification of vulnerable locations.

Shah to chair meeting to resolve Mahanadi water-sharing dispute

Why is it in the news?

The Mahanadi water-sharing dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh is again in focus. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to chair a meeting on October 1, with the Chief Ministers, Chief Secretaries and senior Water Resources officials of both States expected to participate. The objective is to build consensus on the long-running dispute.

The issue is important for UPSC because it involves inter-State river-water sharing, federalism, water governance and the constitutional mechanism for resolving river disputes.

Mahanadi River: Important Facts

Origin

  • The Mahanadi originates in Chhattisgarh, near Pharsiya village in the Dhamtari district, in the region of the Sihawa hills.
  • It flows mainly through Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
  • It ultimately drains into the Bay of Bengal.
  • Its total length is about 851 km.
  • Around 494 km of its course lies in Odisha.

Important tributaries

Major tributaries include:

  • Seonath
  • Hasdeo
  • Mand
  • Ib
  • Ong
  • Tel
  • Jonk

Important project

Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi near Sambalpur, Odisha.

It is important for:

  • Irrigation
  • Flood control
  • Hydroelectric power generation
  • Water storage

What is the Mahanadi Water Dispute?

The dispute is primarily between:

Upstream State → Chhattisgarh
⬇️
Downstream State → Odisha

The disagreement intensified over the construction of barrages, dams and anicuts by Chhattisgarh on the upper reaches of the Mahanadi.

Odisha’s concerns

Odisha has argued that upstream construction can:

  • Reduce water availability downstream.
  • Affect irrigation.
  • Affect the functioning of Hirakud reservoir.
  • Increase uncertainty during dry seasons.
  • Affect communities and agriculture dependent on the river.

According to the Odisha government’s position, Chhattisgarh constructed numerous anicuts and barrages after 2010.

Chhattisgarh’s position

Chhattisgarh has argued that it is an upper-riparian State and therefore has rights to utilise water within its territory.

It has also pointed to the fact that a substantial part of the Mahanadi’s catchment lies within Chhattisgarh.

Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal

Because negotiations between the two States did not resolve the dispute, the Union Government constituted the:

Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT)

It was constituted under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.

UPSC point

The Act provides a mechanism for adjudicating disputes between States concerning:

  • Use
  • Distribution
  • Control of waters of an inter-State river or river valley.

Therefore:

Negotiation → Failure → Tribunal mechanism

is an important framework to remember.

Constitutional Provision

Article 262

Article 262 deals with adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers or river valleys.

Parliament can provide by law for:

  1. Adjudication of such disputes.
  2. Exclusion of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and other courts over such disputes, subject to the law made by Parliament.

This led to legislation such as the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.

Why is the issue difficult?

  1. Upstream–downstream conflict

The upstream State wants to use water for:

  • Irrigation
  • Drinking water
  • Industry
  • Hydropower

while the downstream State requires adequate flows for:

  • Irrigation
  • Agriculture
  • Ecosystems
  • Delta and coastal regions.
  1. Seasonal variation

Water availability varies significantly between:

Monsoon → High flows
Summer → Low flows

Therefore, the dispute is not simply about the total quantity of water but also about timing and seasonal availability.

  1. Climate change

Increasingly variable rainfall and extreme rainfall events can complicate river-basin management.

Recent heavy rainfall in the Upper Mahanadi basin has also resulted in large inflows into the Hirakud reservoir, requiring controlled release of water downstream.

Current flood connection

The Mahanadi is also important from the disaster-management perspective.

Recent high inflows into the Hirakud reservoir have required opening of multiple gates. Water released downstream can increase flows through the Mahanadi system and affect the delta region of Odisha.

The Mundali gauge near Cuttack is an important monitoring point for downstream flows. Officials have described around 8 lakh cusecs at Mundali as a minor-flood level, while flows exceeding 10 lakh cusecs are considered a major flood.

U.S. and Iran explore mediated talks to end conflict; Strait of Hormuz remains central

Why is it in the news?

Iran and the United States are again engaging indirectly through mediators, amid efforts to end the ongoing conflict and restore maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been communicating through Qatari mediators, while U.S. officials have also been in contact with mediators.

The issue is important for UPSC because it connects West Asian geopolitics, nuclear diplomacy, energy security, maritime security, sanctions and India’s strategic interests.

What is the current issue?

Iran has proposed a seven-day framework linked to ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s demands include:

  • A cessation of hostilities.
  • Lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil.
  • Unfreezing of Iranian assets.
  • Ending the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
  • Restoration of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Resumption of negotiations concerning Iran’s nuclear programme.

The United States, meanwhile, has indicated that Iran’s nuclear programme remains a central issue in any potential agreement.

Therefore, the negotiations involve several interconnected issues:

Ceasefire → Sanctions → Nuclear programme → Maritime security → Strait of Hormuz

Strait of Hormuz — Why is it important?

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the:

Persian Gulf → Gulf of Oman → Arabian Sea → Indian Ocean

It lies between:

  • Iran to the north
  • Oman and the UAE to the south

Strategic importance

It is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.

Before the present conflict, about one-fifth of global oil and LNG flows passed through the Strait. Current disruptions have significantly reduced flows.

Why is a chokepoint important?

A chokepoint is a narrow geographical passage through which a large volume of trade or energy supplies must pass.

Examples:

  • Strait of Hormuz → Persian Gulf
  • Strait of Malacca → Indian Ocean–Pacific Ocean
  • Bab-el-Mandeb → Red Sea–Gulf of Aden
  • Suez Canal → Mediterranean–Red Sea

Iran's Nuclear Programme

The nuclear issue is one of the major sources of tension between Iran and the U.S.

JCPOA

JCPOA = Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

It was concluded in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1:

P5:

  • United States
  • Russia
  • China
  • United Kingdom
  • France

+1: Germany

The agreement placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief.

Key concern

The central international concern is whether Iran’s nuclear programme remains exclusively peaceful or could provide a pathway toward nuclear weapons capability.

The present negotiations again link sanctions relief with nuclear-related commitments and verification.

Role of Qatar

Why is Qatar important?

Qatar is acting as a mediator between Iran and the United States.

This is an example of third-party diplomacy, where a country facilitates communication between parties that do not have direct or effective diplomatic engagement.

Qatar has previously played a mediation role in several Middle Eastern conflicts.

UPSC concept:

Middle-power diplomacy / mediation

Smaller regional States can acquire considerable diplomatic importance because of:

  • Geographic location
  • Relations with multiple conflicting parties
  • Diplomatic credibility
  • Economic resources

Ability to host negotiations

Impact on Global Energy Security

The Strait of Hormuz is crucial for energy markets.

Disruption can result in:

Reduced oil supply → Supply concerns → Higher energy prices → Inflationary pressure → Global economic impact

The conflict has already affected global energy flows, with oil transported through Hormuz falling sharply compared with pre-war levels.

Why does this matter to India?

India is highly dependent on imported crude oil.

Therefore, prolonged instability around the Strait can affect:

  • India’s crude oil import bill
  • Inflation
  • Current Account Deficit
  • Fiscal position
  • Transport costs
  • Fertiliser and petrochemical costs
  • Overall economic growth

Impact on India

  1. Energy security

India imports a substantial share of its crude oil requirement.

Any disruption in West Asian oil supplies can increase India’s vulnerability to:

Price shocks + supply disruptions

  1. Indian diaspora

Millions of Indians live and work in the Gulf region.

Therefore, prolonged conflict creates concerns regarding:

  • Safety of Indian citizens
  • Evacuation
  • Remittances
  • Employment
  1. Maritime security

India has major interests in:

  • Arabian Sea
  • Persian Gulf
  • Gulf of Oman
  • Red Sea

Any disruption of commercial shipping affects India’s trade routes.

  1. Strategic autonomy

India has traditionally attempted to maintain working relationships with different countries in West Asia, including Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the United States.

This highlights India’s approach of strategic autonomy and issue-based engagement.

Light on truth: Why transparency is essential for the Right to Information

The issue concerns the Right to Information (RTI) and the importance of maintaining transparency in government functioning. The The Hindu has highlighted concerns around a recent Tamil Nadu government order relating to the exemption of the Public (Law and Order) Department from the RTI Act. The order was subsequently revoked after criticism

Why is it important for UPSC?

The RTI is an important instrument of transparency, accountability and participatory democracy. It enables citizens to obtain information held by public authorities and scrutinise government functioning.

The RTI Act, 2005 gives citizens access to records, documents, reports, contracts, electronic data and other information held by or under the control of public authorities.

What is the Right to Information?

The Right to Information Act, 2005 provides a legal mechanism through which citizens can obtain information from public authorities.

Information includes:

  • Records and documents
  • Memos and e-mails
  • Orders and circulars
  • Reports
  • Contracts
  • Logbooks
  • Electronic data
  • Certified copies and samples
  • Inspection of government works and records

Simple understanding:

RTI = Citizen’s right to know how public authorities function and use public resources.

Constitutional Basis of RTI

The RTI Act is a statutory law, but the underlying right has been linked by the Supreme Court to Article 19(1)(a) — the freedom of speech and expression.

Why?

For citizens to meaningfully express themselves and participate in democracy, they need access to relevant information.

Therefore:

Freedom of speech and expression → Right to know → Transparency → Accountable governance

Important provisions of the RTI Act, 2005

Section 3 — Right to information

All citizens have the right to information, subject to the provisions of the Act.

Section 4 — Suo motu disclosure

Public authorities are expected to proactively disclose important information so that citizens do not have to file RTI applications for information that should already be publicly available.

This is extremely important for UPSC.

Section 6 — Request for information

A citizen can submit a request for information to the concerned Public Information Officer (PIO).

Section 7 — Disposal of request

Normally, information should be provided within 30 days.

Where the information concerns the life or liberty of a person, the response is required within 48 hours.

Section 8 — Exemptions

Certain categories of information are exempt from disclosure.

Examples include information relating to:

  • Sovereignty and integrity of India
  • Security and strategic interests
  • Information forbidden by a court
  • Commercial confidence and trade secrets in specified circumstances
  • Personal information in specified circumstances
  • Information that could impede investigation

Therefore, RTI is not an absolute right to every piece of information held by the government.

Public Information Officer — PIO

Every public authority designates Public Information Officers to deal with RTI requests.

The PIO:

Receives application → Identifies information → Provides information / gives lawful reason for rejection

If the applicant is dissatisfied, the Act provides an appeal mechanism.

Appeal Mechanism

First Appeal

If the applicant does not receive information or is dissatisfied with the response, they can approach the First Appellate Authority within the concerned public authority.

Second Appeal

A further appeal can be made to:

  • Central Information Commission (CIC) — for central public authorities
  • State Information Commission (SIC) — for state public authorities

The RTI Online portal also provides online filing facilities for Central Government public authorities.

Central Information Commission

The Central Information Commission (CIC) is the apex statutory body for RTI matters concerning Central Government public authorities.

Important point:

CIC is a statutory body, not a constitutional body.

Similarly:

State Information Commission = statutory body

RTI and Good Governance

RTI strengthens several principles of good governance:

Transparency

Government decisions and expenditure can be scrutinised.

Accountability

Officials and public authorities can be questioned about their actions.

Participation

Citizens can participate more meaningfully in governance when they have information.

Anti-corruption

Access to official records can expose irregularities and misuse of public resources.

Empowerment

Ordinary citizens can obtain information without depending exclusively on political or administrative intermediaries.

RTI vs Privacy

A major challenge is balancing:

Right to Information ↔ Right to Privacy

Government information may sometimes contain personal information.

Therefore, the RTI framework attempts to balance transparency with legitimate confidentiality and privacy interests.

UPSC perspective:

Transparency should not mean that every personal or sensitive piece of information becomes automatically public.

RTI and Section 24

This is particularly relevant to the current issue.

Section 24

Certain intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule are generally excluded from the RTI Act.

However, information relating to:

  • allegations of corruption, and
  • human rights violations

receives special treatment under the Act.

Important distinction

A government department cannot simply be treated as exempt merely because its work involves law and order or sensitive functions. The statutory conditions for exemption have to be satisfied.

The recent Tamil Nadu episode illustrates the importance of carefully applying these exemption provisions. The State government eventually revoked its order exempting the Public (Law and Order) Department.

Why Proactive Disclosure is Important

Instead of making citizens file RTIs repeatedly, governments can disclose information voluntarily.

Examples:

  • Government expenditure
  • Beneficiary lists
  • Public procurement
  • Recruitment information
  • Tender details
  • Government schemes
  • Departmental rules
  • Decision-making procedures

This is called suo motu disclosure under Section 4.

Benefits:

Less RTI burden + Greater transparency + Faster access + Better accountability

Challenges to RTI in India

  1. Pendency of appeals

Large numbers of cases can remain pending before information commissions.

  1. Vacancies

Vacancies in Information Commissions can delay disposal.

  1. Poor record management

If government records are poorly maintained, providing information becomes difficult.

  1. Proactive disclosure remains inadequate

Citizens often have to file RTIs for information that could potentially be disclosed voluntarily.

  1. Threats to RTI activists

Individuals seeking information concerning powerful interests can sometimes face intimidation.

  1. Misuse of exemptions

Broad interpretation of exemptions can reduce transparency.

Supreme Court Collegium recommends three High Court Chief Justices for elevation to the Supreme Court

Why is it in the news?

The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, has recommended three High Court Chief Justices for appointment as judges of the Supreme Court:

  • Justice Sunita Agarwal — Chief Justice, Gujarat High Court
  • Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya — Chief Justice, Delhi High Court
  • Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh — Chief Justice, Telangana High Court

The recommendation was made on September 28, 2026. The Supreme Court’s official Collegium resolutions confirm the recommendation.

If appointed, the Supreme Court’s working strength would rise from 34 to 37 judges, against a sanctioned strength of 38.

What is the Collegium System?

The Collegium System is the mechanism through which judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts recommend names for appointment and transfer of judges.

Important point for Prelims:

The Collegium System is NOT mentioned in the Constitution.

It has evolved through Supreme Court judgments, particularly the Three Judges Cases.

Composition of Supreme Court Collegium

For appointments to the Supreme Court, the Collegium consists of:

Chief Justice of India + four senior-most Supreme Court judges

The present Collegium therefore consists of CJI Surya Kant and four senior judges.

Evolution of the Collegium System

  1. First Judges Case — 1981

S.P. Gupta v. Union of India

The Supreme Court gave greater weight to the executive’s role in judicial appointments.

The word “consultation” in the Constitution was not interpreted as requiring the government’s concurrence with the CJI’s recommendation.

Result:

Executive had greater say.

  1. Second Judges Case — 1993

Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India

This judgment reversed the approach of the First Judges Case.

The Supreme Court held that the CJI’s opinion should have primacy in judicial appointments, provided it was formed through consultation with senior judges.

This judgment effectively established the Collegium System.

Key principle:

Judicial appointments → Primacy of judiciary

  1. Third Judges Case — 1998

President K.R. Narayanan sought the Supreme Court’s advisory opinion under Article 143.

The Court clarified the Collegium’s composition and functioning.

For Supreme Court appointments:

CJI + 4 senior-most SC judges

For High Court appointments, the process involves the CJI + two senior-most SC judges, along with the High Court Collegium at the initial stage.

How are High Court Judges Appointed?

The constitutional framework is found primarily in Articles 217 and 224.

The process broadly involves:

High Court Collegium
↓
State Government / Governor
↓
Union Government
↓
Supreme Court Collegium
↓
President
↓
Appointment

The process involves consultation and background verification at multiple stages.

Constitutional Provisions

Article 124

Deals with appointment of Supreme Court judges.

The President appoints Supreme Court judges.

Article 217

Deals with appointment and conditions of office of High Court judges.

Article 222

Deals with transfer of High Court judges.

Article 224

Deals with appointment of Additional and Acting Judges of High Courts.

Article 143

Deals with the President’s power to seek the advisory opinion of the Supreme Court.

Why was the Collegium System created?

The central objective was to protect:

Judicial Independence

If the executive alone controlled judicial appointments, there could potentially be concerns about political influence over the judiciary.

The Collegium system therefore seeks to give the judiciary a decisive role in selecting judges.

But what are the concerns?

The Collegium system has also been debated because of concerns regarding:

  1. Lack of transparency

The decision-making process can be difficult for the public to understand.

  1. Accountability

Since judges recommend judges, questions have been raised about the extent of institutional accountability.

  1. Delay in appointments

Recommendations can sometimes remain pending at different stages of the appointment process.

  1. Representation

Questions arise regarding adequate representation of:

  • Women
  • Different regions
  • Different social backgrounds
  • Different sections of the legal profession
  1. Absence of a detailed constitutional framework

The Collegium evolved primarily through judicial decisions rather than through an explicit constitutional provision.

Collegium vs NJAC

This is an extremely important UPSC topic.

In 2014, Parliament passed the:

99th Constitutional Amendment Act

It created the:

National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC)

The NJAC was intended to replace the Collegium System.

Its proposed composition included:

  • CJI
  • Two senior-most Supreme Court judges
  • Union Law Minister
  • Two eminent persons

However, in 2015, the Supreme Court struck down the 99th Constitutional Amendment and NJAC Act in the Fourth Judges Case.

The Court held that the NJAC violated the basic structure of the Constitution, particularly judicial independence.

Therefore:

Current Issue: Transparency and Collegium

The current debate is not simply about who appoints judges, but also about how transparent the appointment process should be.

The Supreme Court had begun publishing Collegium resolutions with reasons in 2017. However, a recent analysis notes that resolutions uploaded since November 28, 2024 have generally not included the names of Collegium members or the reasoning behind recommendations in the earlier detailed format.

This creates an important governance question:

How can judicial independence be protected while also ensuring transparency and accountability?

Collegium and Judicial Independence

Advantages often associated with the Collegium

  • Protects judicial independence.
  • Reduces direct political influence over appointments.
  • Allows judges to assess professional competence of candidates.
  • Provides continuity within the judiciary.

Concerns often raised

  • Limited external accountability.
  • Lack of complete transparency.
  • Possibility of institutional bias.
  • Delays in processing recommendations.
  • Need for greater diversity and representation.

These are institutional arguments on both sides, rather than a simple question of choosing one system.

 

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