हे mantra 01 Apr 2025

DAILY DISPATCH By Hemant sir (Ex-CISF)

Students CORNER:

Quote of the Day

"Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as
those who are."
— Benjamin Franklin
Beyond Population
Paper - II : Essay writing
The debate on delimitation and financial devolution
has raised concerns about India's federal structure,
particularly regarding political representation
disparities between northern and southern states.
Historically, Lok Sabha seats increased with
population growth until 1971 when they were frozen at
543, a limit set to last until 2026. With India's projected
population, the number of seats could rise to 753,
disproportionately benefiting high-growth states like
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar while disadvantaging
southern states that controlled their population. The
15th Finance Commission attempted to balance this by
including demographic performance in financial
devolution. A better approach to delimitation could
involve considering population density rather than
absolute population size to ensure fair representation.
Beyond mere numbers, demographic attributes like
gender, caste, and socio-economic factors must also
be accounted for in representation and resource
allocation.

Delimitation and Financial Devolution Debate

There is an ongoing debate in Parliament and State Assemblies about how political
representation and financial resources should be distributed across states.
This debate is significant because it affects the federal structure of India, meaning how
power and resources are shared between the central government and states.
Some states are concerned that the changes in political representation may reduce
their influence in national decision-making.
The development divide (difference in economic progress) among states is closely
linked to the demographic divide (difference in population growth rates).
This means that states that have controlled their population growth may end up with
fewer seats in Parliament compared to states with higher population growth.

Historical Context of Delimitation

In India’s early years (1951-1971), as the population increased, the number of Lok Sabha
seats also increased to maintain a fair representation.
Population per Lok Sabha seat:
1951: 7.3 lakh people per seat
1971: 10.1 lakh people per seat
Number of seats was capped at 543 in 1971.
Constitutional Freeze:
Since 1971, the number of seats has remained frozen and will remain so until 2026.
This was done to avoid penalizing states that controlled their population growth.
Future Projections (2026):
If the trend of increasing seats continues, India’s Lok Sabha could have 753 seats.
The population per seat would rise to around 20 lakh people.

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 हे mantra
01 Apr 2025
By Hemant sir (Ex-CISF)

This is a key concern because states with slower population growth (mainly in South
Students CORNER:
India) may end up with fewer seats compared to northern states where population
growth is higher.

Political Representation Concerns

Southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh have
successfully controlled their population growth. However, if seats are allocated purely
based on population size, they may lose representation in the Lok Sabha.
Northern states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, which have experienced
higher population growth, may gain more seats.
The 15th Finance Commission (which decides how financial resources are distributed
among states) addressed this issue in financial devolution (distribution of central funds).
Earlier (before 15th Finance Commission): Funds were distributed using 1971
population data.
Now: The formula is based on 2011 population data, meaning states with higher
population growth get more weightage.
To balance this, the Commission introduced "demographic performance" as a factor,
meaning states that controlled their population would still get some financial benefit.
The weight for population factor increased from 0.15 to 0.27, ensuring some balance
between states.

Alternative Approaches to Representation

The problem: If seats are increased purely based on total population, it will unfairly
disadvantage states that controlled their population growth.
One possible solution: Instead of using absolute population size, use population density
(people per square kilometer).
Why? Some areas may have a small total population but a high population density,
meaning they still need proper representation.
Example: In the Northeast, states like Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland have fewer
people but already get representation based on different considerations.
Another solution: Maintain the current number of seats but redistribute them in a way
that balances both population size and density.
The biggest challenge is ensuring fair regional distribution while also expanding the total
number of Lok Sabha seats.

Need for a Demographic Perspective

Population size alone is not a fair measure for determining representation and financial
resource distribution.
The government must also consider other factors like gender, caste-based reservations,
and regional disparities in seat allocation.
Over-reliance on per capita measures (like GDP per capita) can sometimes lead to
misleading policy decisions.
The characteristics and composition of the population (such as literacy rates, economic
status, and social diversity) should also be factored in.
A better approach: Instead of just counting heads, policymakers should analyze who
these people are, where they live, and what their needs are before making decisions
about delimitation and financial devolution.

Practice Question:

“Delimitation and Representation: Balancing Democracy in a Changing India”

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 हे mantra 01 Apr 2025
By Hemant sir (Ex-CISF)

Students CORNER:
Strategic trade controls
Paper - I : General Ability and Intelligence
In News:
The Ministry rejected a New York Times (NYT)
report claiming that Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
(HAL) supplied items sourced from a British
company, Techtest (part of H.R. Smith Group),
to Russia. The Ministry called the report
“factually incorrect and misleading”.
The Indian government stated that HAL
followed all international obligations on
strategic trade controls and end-user
commitments.

Strategic trade controls (STC) refer to a set of regulations and measures put in place by
governments to control and monitor the transfer of sensitive goods, technologies, and
services that could have military, dual-use (civilian and military), or other strategic
applications.
These controls are designed to prevent the proliferation of weapons, weapons
technology, and related materials that could be used for military purposes, including
nuclear, chemical, biological weapons, and conventional weapons.

Example:
The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 : This is the primary
legislation governing India’s foreign trade policies. Under this Act, the Directorate
General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is responsible for regulating the export and import
of goods and services, including those related to dual-use technologies (goods with
both civilian and military applications).

The Export Control List :India maintains an Export Control List (similar to the
Wassenaar Arrangement and other international non-proliferation regimes) which
includes goods and technologies subject to strict controls.

End-User Certificates (EUC) : India’s Export Control System includes the requirement
for an End-User Certificate (EUC), which ensures that the end-user of sensitive
materials or technologies will not misuse them for unauthorized purposes, including
military use in restricted countries.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) : India is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers
Group (NSG), which regulates the export of materials, equipment, and technologies
that could be used in the development of nuclear weapons.

The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) : India is a member of the Missile
Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which aims to limit the proliferation of missile
systems and related technologies capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction.

Practice Question:
Q. Which of the following frameworks regulates the export of missile-related technologies
and aims to prevent the proliferation of missile systems capable of carrying weapons of
mass destruction?
A) The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
B) The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
C) The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
D) The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

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 हे mantra 01 Apr 2025
By Hemant sir (Ex-CISF)

Students CORNER:
El Nino
Paper - I : General Ability and Intelligence
In News:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has
ruled out the possibility of an El Nino for the
upcoming southwest monsoon season.
The IMD predicts that the monsoon will most
likely experience neutral El Nino conditions.
El Nino is associated with reduced monsoon
rainfall in India, caused by the warming of the
central equatorial Pacific Ocean.

El Niño is a weather phenomenon that happens when ocean surface waters along the coast
of Ecuador and Peru become unusually warm.
During an El Niño year:
Air pressure drops over large areas in the central Pacific and along Peru’s coast.
A regular low-pressure system is replaced by a weak high-pressure system in the
western Pacific, known as the southern oscillation.
This shift in pressure weakens the trade winds, causing a weaker Walker Cell or
sometimes reversing it.
As a result, warm ocean water builds up along the coasts of Peru and Ecuador, replacing
the cool Peruvian current.
This buildup of warm water causes the ocean’s thermocline (boundary between warm and
cold water) to drop in the eastern Pacific, which stops the upwelling of cold deep ocean
water along Peru's coast.

El Niño leads to:

Droughts in the western Pacific (like in Indonesia and Northern Australia),
Rains and floods along the equatorial coast of South America,
Strong storms and hurricanes in the central Pacific.
El Niño usually happens around Christmas and lasts from a few weeks to several months. In
some cases, like in the 1990s, it can last much longer, as it did from 1991 to 1995.

Practice Question:
Q. What is a primary effect of the El Niño phenomenon?
A) Increased rainfall in the western Pacific (Indonesia and Northern Australia)
B) Warm ocean waters accumulate along the coastlines of Peru and Ecuador
C) Stronger trade winds in the central Pacific
D) Cold upwelling of ocean water along the coast of Peru

Dhruva Space
Paper - I : General Ability and Intelligence
In News:
Dhruva Space (Hyderabad-based) and Infostellar (Japan-
based) have announced a collaboration to integrate Dhruva
Space’s 3.8m S&X-band ground station antenna into
Infostellar’s StellarStation platform.
The integration aims to expand Infostellar’s global ground
station network and improve satellite communications
interoperability.
Dhruva Space is India’s only commercial ground station
solutions provider.
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 हे mantra 01 Apr 2025
By Hemant sir (Ex-CISF)

Students CORNER:
Practice Question:
Q. Which company is India’s only commercial ground station solutions provider?
A) Infostellar
B) Tata Communications
C) Dhruva Space
D) SpaceX

Private Secretary to PM
Paper - I : General Ability and Intelligence
In News:
Appointment:
Nidhi Tewari, an IFS officer, has been appointed as
the private secretary to Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.
Background:
Ms. Tewari is a 2014-batch Indian Foreign Service
(IFS) officer.
She is currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Approval:
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has
approved her appointment on a co-terminus basis.

Practice Question:
Q. Who has been appointed as the private secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
a) Nidhi Tewari
b) Smriti Irani
c) Nirmala Sitharaman
d) Rina Tiwari

"Tat Prahari" cycle expedition

Paper - I : General Ability and Intelligence
In News:
CISF personnel completed a cycle expedition along
India's coastline, covering a distance of 6,553 km.
Purpose : The expedition aimed to connect and
empower local communities, recognizing their role in
safeguarding the nation's maritime interests.
The expedition started on March 7 and concluded on
Monday at the Swami Vivekananda Kendra in
Kanyakumari.

Practice Question:
Q. What was the main objective of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) cycle
expedition that covered 6,553 km along India's coastline?
A) To raise awareness about security forces' role
B) To celebrate and recognize the contributions of local communities as "Tat Praharis"
C) To explore India's coastline for geographical research
D) To conduct a fitness challenge for CISF personnel
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 हे mantra 01 Apr 2025
By Hemant sir (Ex-CISF)

Students CORNER:
Tiger Triumph
Paper - I : General Ability and Intelligence
In News:
Fourth iteration of the India-U.S. tri-service Humanitarian
Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise, named Tiger
Triumph.
Objective: Enhance interoperability for HADR operations and
formulate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for
establishing a Combined Coordination Centre (CCC) to
facilitate rapid coordination between Indian and U.S. Joint Task
Forces.
Harbour Phase: Scheduled at Visakhapatnam from April 1 to 7.

Practice Question:
Q. What is the objective of the India-U.S. tri-service Humanitarian Assistance and
Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise, named Tiger Triumph?
A) To enhance trade relations between India and the U.S.
B) To enhance interoperability for conducting HADR operations and formulate Standard
Operating Procedures (SOPs) for a Combined Coordination Centre (CCC).
C) To conduct joint military operations in the Indo-Pacific region.
D) To train military personnel for combat scenarios.

Date : 31 March 2025 (MCQs)

Practice Question:
Q. What is the name of India's humanitarian operation launched to assist Myanmar after
the recent earthquake?
A) Operation Maitri
B) Operation Brahma
C) Operation Samudra Setu
D) Operation Karuna

Practice Question:
Q. Recently, PM Modi announced the theme for the International Day of Yoga 2025. What
is the theme?
A) Yoga for Global Wellness
B) Yoga for Harmony and Peace
C) Yoga for One Earth, One Health
D) Yoga for a Better Tomorrow

Practice Question:
Q. Who recently improved India's National record in the 10,000m race?
A) Avinash Sable
B) Gulveer Singh
C) Neeraj Chopra
D) Murali Sreeshankar

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