11 April 2023

• Polity: The Supreme Court formulated a public interest immunity test replacing sealed cover jurisprudence, while allowing a MediaOne broadcast ban challenge.
• Elections: ECI recognised AAP as a national party and revoked the national party status of AITC, NCP and CPI.
• Tiger census: Coverage of the April 9 announcement continued. The Nilgiri cluster's status as the world's largest contiguous tiger population was highlighted.
• Economy: India's blue economy development via Sagarmala's Innovation and Start-up Policy was discussed in Parliament.
• Infrastructure: Indus Waters Treaty grievances from J&K residents were placed before the government; only 19.8 per cent of hydropower potential has been utilised.

GS area: Polity (Judiciary, Fundamental rights)

The Supreme Court in the MediaOne broadcast ban case formulated a procedure for "public interest immunity claims" as an alternative to sealed cover jurisprudence.

• Sealed cover jurisprudence: A practice where the government submits evidence to the court in sealed envelopes that the petitioner cannot see, citing national security. The Court decides the case based on material the other side has not examined.
• The critique: Courts allowing sealed cover evidence without giving the other party a chance to respond violates principles of natural justice, specifically the right to hear the other side (audi alteram partem). It effectively creates a system where the government acts as judge of its own evidence.
• The new public interest immunity test: The Court said that before accepting sealed cover material it must be satisfied that: (a) disclosure would genuinely harm national security or public interest, (b) a reasonably prudent person would agree, and (c) the action taken against the petitioner is proportionate. The court itself must examine the material.
• MediaOne case: The government had banned the Malayalam news channel MediaOne's broadcast licence citing national security. The channel was not told the reasons. The Court set aside the ban, finding the process violated due process.
• Constitutional anchor: Article 21 protects the right to life and personal liberty. Fair procedure is an ingredient of Article 21. A ban imposed without disclosure to the affected party fails this test.

Static linkage: Judiciary, fundamental rights, natural justice.

GS area: Polity (Elections)

The Election Commission of India recognised the Aam Aadmi Party as a national party on 11 April 2023. Simultaneously it revoked the national party status of the All India Trinamool Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Communist Party of India.

• Criteria for national party recognition: A party qualifies as a national party if it meets any one of three conditions: recognised as a state party in four or more states; wins 6 per cent or more of valid votes in general elections in four or more states and returns at least four MPs; or wins 2 per cent or more of total Lok Sabha seats from at least three different states.
• AAP's basis: AAP's 2022 Punjab assembly election victory (77 seats, 42 per cent vote share) and its Goa and Gujarat performances crossed the threshold.
• AITC loss: The Trinamool Congress, despite governing West Bengal, lost national party status because its performance outside West Bengal fell below the threshold after the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
• NCP loss: The Nationalist Congress Party's base remained concentrated in Maharashtra and it did not meet the state-spread requirement.
• CPI loss: The Communist Party of India, once a significant national force, has steadily declined in seat share and vote share.
• Benefits of national party status: Exclusive use of a reserved electoral symbol across India, up to 40 star campaigners per election (vs. 20 for state parties), broadcast time on Doordarshan and All India Radio, and free plot/office facilities.

Static linkage: Elections, political parties, ECI.

GS area: International Relations (Water disputes), Geography

J&K residents and local governments have long expressed resentment over the Indus Waters Treaty, arguing it restricts their ability to develop the Indus river system's hydropower and agricultural potential.

• The IWT 1960: Signed by India and Pakistan under World Bank mediation. It divides the six Indus rivers: the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) are allocated to Pakistan; the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) are allocated to India.
• J&K's constraint: Most of J&K's river basin is the western rivers (allocated to Pakistan). India is permitted only limited non-consumptive uses on these rivers, primarily run-of-river hydropower and small irrigation storage. No significant storage dams are permitted.
• Hydropower potential: J&K has an estimated 20,000 MW of hydropower potential. Only 3,263 MW is operational. The IWT constraint on storage dams is a key reason for the shortfall.
• India's notification: India in January 2023 issued a notice to Pakistan seeking modification of the IWT, arguing that Pakistan's repeated references to the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the Ratle and Kishenganga projects violates the treaty's dispute resolution sequence.
• Why the treaty persists: The IWT has survived three wars between India and Pakistan. Both countries have strong incentives to maintain it: India can develop its eastern rivers freely; Pakistan needs the western river flows for agriculture.

Static linkage: India-Pakistan relations, water treaties, Indian geography.

GS area: Environment (Wildlife)

The April 9 tiger census announcement prompted deeper examination of regional tiger population dynamics.

• Periyar Tiger Reserve: Kerala's Periyar was ranked the best-maintained tiger reserve in the management effectiveness evaluation released alongside the census. Periyar is also famous for its lake ecosystem and boat-based wildlife tourism.
• Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve: The Nilgiri landscape (including Bandipur, Nagarhole, Mudumalai, Wayanad, Anamalai, Parambikulam) holds the largest contiguous tiger population globally. Connectivity between these protected areas through wildlife corridors is essential for genetic exchange.
• Simlipal: Simlipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha was highlighted for genetic uniqueness. The resident tiger population carries a distinctive melanistic (black coat) mutation rare in wild tigers globally. NTCA flagged Simlipal as a priority for conservation attention.
• Western Ghats decline: While the Nilgiri landscape thrived, some pockets in the Western Ghats showed declining tiger presence, linked to habitat fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict.
• International Big Cat Alliance commitment: The $100 million India pledge for IBCA over five years will fund transboundary corridors, anti-poaching technology and range country capacity building.

Static linkage: Wildlife corridors, tiger reserves, Western Ghats biodiversity.

GS area: Economy (Ports, Maritime, Innovation)

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways' Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy aims to bring private innovation into India's port and maritime sector.

• MVP grants: Minimum Viable Product grants for early-stage maritime start-ups to pilot innovations at major ports.
• Maritime Innovation Hubs: Co-working and incubation spaces at major ports to bring together start-ups, port officials and shipping companies.
• 12 Major Ports: India's major ports are under the Major Port Authorities Act 2021, which replaced the Major Port Trusts Act 1963. Each major port authority is now governed by a board of directors on a corporate model.
• Sagarmala numbers: Since 2015, Sagarmala has identified over 800 projects worth Rs 5 lakh crore. About 250 projects have been completed.
• The maritime cluster model: Countries like Singapore, Denmark and Netherlands have maritime cluster ecosystems where shipping companies, ports, logistics firms, insurers and regulators co-locate. India's innovation policy borrows from this model.

Static linkage: Blue economy, port policy, India's maritime infrastructure.

• Exercise Kavach: A joint military exercise involving the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It tested joint amphibious operations and inter-service coordination.
• Raman spectroscopy: India's scientific community marked C.V. Raman's technique contribution: Raman Spectroscopy uses laser light scattering to identify chemical composition and is used in pollution detection, forensics and pharmaceutical quality control. C.V. Raman won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.
• UN Democracy Fund: Established in 2005, India is among the largest contributors. It supports civil society projects that strengthen democratic governance in developing countries.