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VAIKOM-TWO STATES, TWO LEADERS AND A TALE OF REFORM, PG8

Relevance for UPSC: GS Paper 1 (History): Social Broader Reform Movements in South India
reform movements, Vaikom Satyagraha's significance.  Subsequent reforms in the Travancore princely state
GS Paper 2 (Governance): Role of the State in religious included: The Temple Entry Proclamation (1936)
aff airs, constitutional provisions for socialequality. GS allowing temple entry for all castes.
Paper 4 (Ethics): Ethical considerations in balancing  The Madras Temple Entry Authorization Act (1947)
religious practices and constitutional mandates. which extended similar rights across temples inthe
Potential UPSC Mains Question: Madras Presidency.
"Discuss the significance of the Vaikom Satyagraha in  These movements reflected a gradual dismantling of
the context of social reform movements in India. How orthodox caste barriers within religious spaces.
doesthe State balance its role in regulating religious Constitutional Basis for Religious Reforms
practices while upholding constitutional principles of  Dr. B.R. Ambedkar included the clause subject to
equalityand secularism?" public order, morality, and health” in
Vaikom Satyagraha: A Landmark Social Reform theconstitutional right to freedom of religion during
 The Vaikom Satyagraha in the 1920s protested the Constituent Assembly debates in 1948.
caste-based discrimination that prohibited  This clause empowered the State to regulate
backwardcaste Hindus from accessing streets near religious practices in cases where public morality
the Vaikom Mahadeva temple. orequality was at stake.
 Leaders like Periyar and the Kerala State Congress,  Legal interpretations, such as the Shirur Mutt case
along with other social activists, mobilized (1954) , have upheld the State's authority tomanage
peopleagainst these restrictions. the secular aspects of temple administration.
 The movement gained traction in 1924 and Contemporary Challenges
culminated in lift ing the prohibitions by November  States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu have enacted
1925. laws appointing backward caste Hindus as archakas
 The success of this movement laid the foundation for (priests), challenging orthodox norms.
broader temple entry movements in other partsof
India.

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 These reforms have faced resistance from Centenary Celebrations
entrenched religious groups but symbolize an  The governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala are
ongoing pushfor inclusivity in religious practices. commemorating the centenary of the
 Over the last 75 years, such reforms have paved the VaikomSatyagraha, showcasing its historical
way for greater representation and equality significance in social reform.
withintemple governance.  The event serves as a reminder of the State's role in
addressing systemic inequalities rooted inreligious
and social practices.

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THE LONG AND COMPLEX ROAD TO ASSISTED DYING, PG8

Relevance for UPSC: GS Paper 2 (Governance and assisteddying for terminally ill adults with less than
Ethics): Role of the State in protecting human dignity six months to live.
and autonomy. Legal and ethical dimensions of  The bill requires approval from two doctors and a
euthanasia and assisted dying. GS Paper 4 (Ethics): high court judge for the patient's request to
Ethical dilemmas surrounding the right to die versus beprocessed.
societal obligations to preserve life. Compassionate  The vote passed with a majority (330 MPs voted in
governance and upholding fundamental rights. favor, 275 against), reflecting intense debates
Potential UPSC Mains Question: overethics, autonomy, and potential misuse.
"Discuss the ethical, legal, and social implications of The Case of Kim Leadbeater's Speech:
assisted dying laws. How do they balance  A Member of Parliament narrated the ordeal of a
individualautonomy with societal ethics? Examine in terminally ill patient who faced immense suff
light of India's position on passive euthanasia." ering,illustrating the need for assisted dying
Introduction to the Assisted Dying Law in the UK: legislation.
 The "Terminally Ill Adults End of Life Bill 2024-  This emotional appeal highlighted the importance of
25" introduced in the UK Parliament proposes autonomy and dignity for terminally ill patients.

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Opposition and Concerns: those with non-terminal but grievous and
 Critics argue the law could lead to a "slippery irremediableconditions.
slope," potentially pressuring vulnerable groups like  In contrast, the UK's proposed legislation remains
theelderly or disabled into assisted dying. limited to terminal illness.
Ethical concerns revolve around: Indian Context:
 Preservation of life.  In India, the Supreme Court recognized passive
 Possible abuse of such legislation. euthanasia in the 2018 judgment (Common Cause
 Undermining palliative care options. vs.Union of India).
Provisions of the Law:  The right to refuse treatment was upheld as part of
 The law is narrowly tailored to apply to terminally ill the "right to die with dignity."
individuals with six months or less to live. Broader Implications:
Safeguards include:  The debate reflects tensions between individual
 Independent medical verification. autonomy and societal ethics.
 A reflection period before final approval.  Proponents emphasize compassion, dignity, and
Comparative Perspective: alleviation of suff ering.
 Canada implemented assisted dying laws aft er a  Opponents stress the sanctity of life and risks of
2015 Supreme Court judgment. abuse in implementing such laws.
Judicialinterpretation has since expanded its scope to

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BENCH AND BIGOTRY, PG8

Relevance for UPSC: GS Paper 2 (Polity and

Governance) : Independence of the judiciary and
challenges in maintaining its impartiality.
Potential UPSC Mains Question:
"Discuss the importance of judicial impartiality in
maintaining public trust in the judiciary. Analyze how
ethicallapses by judges impact the rule of law and
suggest measures to address such challenges."
Judicial Controversy:
 Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High
Court made controversial remarks against theMuslim
community at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)
event.
 His comments included a statement that "India will
be run as per the wishes of its majority," implyinga
majoritarian perspective inconsistent with
constitutional principles.
 He also criticized Muslims for cultural practices and
made divisive statements, including remarksabout
animal slaughter.
Concerns about Judicial Impartiality:
 Such remarks cast doubts on the impartiality of the
judiciary and highlight instances of bigotry withinthe
system.
 The Supreme Court has sought details on Justice
Yadav's comments, signaling the possibility
offurther inquiry into his conduct.
Ethical Concerns in Judiciary:
 Judges are bound by the "Restatement of Values of
Judicial Life" (1997), which mandates that
theirbehavior should uphold the integrity and
impartiality of the judiciary.
 Participation in events organized by groups with
controversial histories, such as the VHP,
underminesthe judiciary's independence and
neutrality.
Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Discussion:
 The judge's remarks were made during a discussion
on the Uniform Civil Code, which is a
contentiousissue in India.
 The VHP, known for its aggressive majoritarian
stance, provided a platform that was not ideal for
abalanced debate on civil law reforms.
Implications:
 Justice Yadav's behavior exemplifies lapses in
adherence to judicial ethics and raises concerns
aboutmaintaining public faith in the judiciary.
 Calls for judicial accountability and scrutiny of such
actions have gained momentum.
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CHIEF JUSTICES NEED LONGER TENURES, PG9

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Relevance for UPSC: GS Paper 2 (Polity and Historical Perspective
Governance): Importance of judicial reforms to enhance  During British rule, Chief Justices had much longer
institutional efficiency. tenures. For instance: The Madras High Court had
Potential UPSC Mains Question: only 24 Chief Justices in 150 years (average tenure
"Examine the challenges posed by short tenures of Chief of over 6 years).
Justices in Indian High Courts. Suggest measures  Post-independence, the average tenure dropped
toensure greater stability and eff iciency in the judiciary's drastically, with 22 Chief Justices in just 45 years
leadership." inthe same court.
Issue of Short Tenures:  Justice Nageswara Rao of the Supreme Court noted
 The recent appointment of Chief Justices in High that a Chief Justice needs a minimum of 7–8 yearsto
Courts across India highlights the issue of their eff ectively manage and reform the court.
shorttenures. Challenges with Short Tenures:
 For instance, Justice Rajiv Shakdher served as Chief  Chief Justices oft en retire or are transferred before
Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court for only24 they can fully understand the complexities of
days, and Justice Tashi Rabstan will serve as Chief theircourts.
Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir  The lack of continuity hinders long-term planning,
andLadakh for only six months. institutional improvements, and implementation
 Many Chief Justices have tenures ranging from a ofreforms.
few months to about two years, limiting their Need for Reform:
abilityto bring meaningful changes or implement  The current system needs urgent review to ensure
reforms. longer tenures for Chief Justices, enabling them
Significance of Chief Justices: toaddress administrative and judicial challenges
 Chief Justices oversee the administrative and judicial effectively.
functioning of High Courts, recommend judgesfor  Stakeholders, including the Bar and judiciary, must
appointments, and handle disciplinary actions. deliberate on solutions.
 They manage complex institutions that require
sustained attention, which short tenures do not allow.

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HAS THE GOVERNMENT CLARIFIED ITS STANCE ON ONOS? PG10

Relevance for UPSC: GS Paper 2: Government Purpose of ONOS:

policies and interventions for the development of the  ONOS aims to provide universal access to over
education and researchsectors. Role of open-access 13,000 journals published by 30 major
publishing in improving equity in research access. GS internationalpublishers.
Paper 3 Science and technology: The role of research  Institutes can consolidate subscriptions through a
and development in national development. Challenges in single platform, allowing government-
domestic publishing and research funding. fundedinstitutions to access research publications.
Potential UPSC Mains Question: Criticism of ONOS:
"Discuss the significance of the 'One Nation, One  The plan was criticized for prioritizing expensive
Subscription' (ONOS) policy in addressing barriers to foreign subscriptions over supporting
researchaccessibility in India. Critically analyze its domesticpublishing initiatives.
potential impact on domestic publishing and open-access  Concerns were raised about whether ONOS would
models." assist researchers in publishing in open-access
Context and Announcement: (OA)journals and cover article processing charges
 The Indian government launched the "One Nation, (APCs).
One Subscription" (ONOS) plan on November Key Revelations at the December 11 Press
25,aiming to improve access to research journals for Conference:
public education and research institutes in India.  The ONOS plan will be implemented in three
 The announcement was criticized for its high cost phases:
(6,000 crore for three years) and lack of clarity 1. Merging consortia and granting public institutions
onimplementation, journal selection, and promotion journal access.
of open-access publishing. 2. Expanding to private institutions.
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3. Creating universal access at public libraries. Features and Scope:
 A pilot initiative will allocate ฀ 150 crore annually  Negotiations are ongoing to bring more journals into
to support APC payments for transformative the ONOS framework.
OAmodels.  Currently, 65% of Indian research output is
 The government acknowledged the need for published in subscription-based journals.
promoting domestic journals, creating repositories,  The plan aims to address systemic issues like over-
andevaluating researchers' work based on merit reliance on foreign journals and enhance thevisibility
rather than journal impact factors. of Indian research.

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INDIA ACCOUNTS FOR HALF OF MALARIA CASES
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA IN 2023, PG14

Relevance for UPSC: GS Paper 2: Health sector Reduction in Malaria Cases and Deaths:
initiatives and international cooperation in disease  Estimated malaria deaths in the region reduced by
control. Role of WHO and global eff orts in combating 82.9%, from 35,000 in 2000 to 6,000 in 2023.
malaria.  Malaria cases in the region fell by 82.4%, from 22.8
Potential UPSC Mains Question: million in 2000 to 4 million in 2023.
"Discuss the progress and challenges in malaria control Country-wise Trends :
in Southeast Asia with a focus on India's  Countries that reduced malaria cases significantly
contribution.Analyze the global initiatives and policies (2022-2023): Bangladesh (-9.2%), India (-9.6%),
required to achieve a malaria-free world." Indonesia (-5.7%), and Nepal (-58.3%).
Malaria Burden in Southeast Asia: Countries with increased malaria cases:
 The WHO Southeast Asia region accounts for 1.5%  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (+47.9%),
of global malaria cases. Thailand (+46.4%), and Myanmar (+45.1%).
 India contributed to nearly half of the malaria cases Elimination Progress:
in Southeast Asia in 2023, followed by  Bhutan and Timor-Leste reported zero indigenous
Indonesia,which accounted for one-third. malaria cases in 2023.
 India and Indonesia together represented 88% of  As of November 2024, 44 countries and one territory
malaria deaths in the region. were certified malaria-free.
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Global Data:  Globally, 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million
 WHO estimated 263 million malaria cases and deaths have been prevented since 2000.
5,97,000 malaria deaths globally in 2023. Current Challenges:
 Since 2000, there has been a 93% reduction in  Malaria remains a significant global health concern,
malaria case incidence in Southeast Asia and particularly in the WHO African region.
averted17.7 million cases.

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CLIMATE IMPACT OF EXPLORING SPACE PASSING
BELOW THE RADAR, PG20

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Relevance for UPSC: GS Paper 3: Environmental Energy and Resource Use:
impacts of technological advancements. Role of  Manufacturing satellites involves intensive energy
international cooperation in space exploration and use, composite materials, and resource extraction.
environmental sustainability.  Emerging technologies like asteroid mining for rare
Potential UPSC Mains Question: metals could expand space activities’environmental
"Space exploration contributes to technological progress footprint.
but poses significant environmental challenges. Orbital Debris Management
Discussthe impacts of space activities on the  Organizations like the Committee on the Peaceful
environment and suggest measures for achieving Use of Outer Space (COPUOS) advocate for
sustainability in spacemissions." stricterregulations to minimize space debris.
Environmental Impact of Space Exploration:  Advanced methods, such as biodegradable materials
 Satellite launches release carbon dioxide, black and autonomous debris removal (ADR), areproposed
carbon, and water vapor into the but remain expensive.
atmosphere,contributing to global warming. Barriers to Sustainability:
 Black carbon absorbs sunlight 500 times more eff  Cost constraints, lack of international agreements,
ectively than carbon dioxide, amplifying warmingeff and regulatory challenges hinder sustainablespace
ects. practices.
 Rocket propellants using chlorine-based chemicals  Space-faring nations need policies to balance
deplete the ozone layer and disrupt exploration and environmental concerns.
atmosphericcirculation. Achieving Sustainability:
Debris in Orbit:  Innovations like reusable rockets (e.g., SpaceX’s
 Space activities have left 13,000 tonnes of debris in Falcon 9) reduce resource consumption
orbit, including fragments from collisions andemissions.
andsatellite breakdowns.  Hydrogen-based fuels and global monitoring
 Even small debris (traveling at 29 km/h) can damage agreements can further sustainability goals.
operational satellites, increasing risks for  A traff ic system to optimize satellite launches and
futuremissions. debris management is critical for
 Over 36,000 space objects are being tracked, raising reducingenvironmental impacts.
concerns about interference with climate-monitoring
systems and satellite operations.

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