Indian Polity and Governance: May 2025 Current Affairs | Current Affairs & General Knowledge - CLAT PDF Download

Punjab-Haryana Water Sharing Dispute

Why in News?

Amid escalating tensions over water sharing, all political parties in Punjab have come together to oppose the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s decision to allocate an additional 4,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. The dispute was ignited by Haryana's demand for increased water supply, which Punjab has contested vigorously.

Key Takeaways

• The dispute escalated on April 23, 2025, when Haryana requested an additional 4,500 cusecs of water from the Bhakra-Nangal project.
• The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMP) voted in favor of Haryana's request, leading to Punjab's firm opposition.
• Both states are now considering legal action to secure their respective claims over water rights.

Additional Details

• Trigger for the Standoff: Haryana's demand for 8,500 cusecs of water initiated the conflict, while Punjab referred the matter to BBMP.
• BBMP Voting Outcome: During a BBMP meeting, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi supported the extra water allocation, while Punjab opposed it and refused to open additional sluice gates.
• Historical Background: The Bhakra-Nangal project, initiated in the 1910s, was a significant post-Independence development project aimed at managing river resources.
• BBMP's Role: BBMP oversees the distribution of water from the Satluj and Beas rivers to the respective states and allocates water shares annually based on availability and predictions.
• Current Year’s Water Allocation: For this year, BBMP allocated 5.512 million acre-feet (MAF) to Punjab and 2.987 MAF to Haryana.
• Punjab claims Haryana has already exceeded its quota by 104%, raising concerns over its own declining groundwater levels.
• Haryana's Chief Minister has accused Punjab of political maneuvering and stressed the urgent need for water in drought-affected areas.
• Experts suggest temporary sharing of water for drinking needs but emphasize that state quotas should remain intact for fairness.
• As tensions continue to rise, both states are preparing for potential legal battles while the BBMP's decision remains a focal point of contention in the ongoing water dispute.

Panchayat Advancement Index

Why in News?

The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Portal has been recently launched to enhance the assessment of panchayati raj institutions across India. This initiative aims to promote the holistic development, performance, and progress of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs).

Key Takeaways

• Developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) in collaboration with NITI Aayog and various UN agencies.
• Aligns with the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) to ensure grassroots implementation.

Additional Details

• Panchayat Advancement Index: A multi-domain index designed to assess and advance the development of panchayats.
• This initiative provides a data-driven framework for evaluating the performance of panchayats, categorizing them based on their PAI scores.
• Performance Categories:Panchayats are classified into five categories based on their PAI scores:
  • Achiever: Score of 90 and above
  • Front Runner: Score of 75 to below 90
  • Performer: Score of 60 to below 75
  • Aspirant: Score of 40 to below 60
  • Beginner: Score below 40
• Reasons for Introduction:
  • To localize SDGs and ensure grassroots-level implementation aligned with the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
  • Facilitates evidence-based planning to identify development gaps and formulate targeted rural development strategies.
  • Strengthens governance by promoting transparency and accountability in panchayat activities.
  • Acts as a policy tool to fast-track SDG localization.
• Features of PAI 2.0 Portal:
  • Reduced indicators from 516 to 147, enhancing focus and data quality.
  • Streamlined data points from 794 to 227 for improved efficiency.
  • Auto-integration of data from national portals to lessen manual reporting burdens.
  • Enhanced dashboards for better visualization and usability.
  • Robust data validation mechanisms to ensure accuracy.
  • User-friendly interface simplifying data entry and tracking.

The PAI Portal not only strengthens decentralized governance but also aligns rural development with sustainable goals, enhancing India's capacity for global reporting. This initiative fosters healthy competition among panchayats and promotes transparency through public scorecard displays, ultimately driving equitable and holistic rural growth.

Debate Over Judicial Activism

Why in News?

India is currently experiencing an escalating debate regarding the judiciary's increasing influence. Concerns have been raised about 'judicial despotism,' which clashes with the perspective that interventions by the Supreme Court are vital for upholding constitutional values. Recent judgments have sparked discussions about the separation of powers and whether the judiciary has exceeded its constitutional authority.

Key Takeaways

• The debate centers on the balance between judicial activism and judicial restraint.
• Judicial despotism refers to the judiciary overstepping its boundaries, undermining other branches of government.
• Recent Supreme Court rulings have ignited concerns regarding the separation of powers.

Additional Details

• Judicial Despotism: This term describes a scenario where the judiciary, particularly higher courts, exercises excessive or unchecked power, often exceeding its constitutional mandate and undermining the roles of the legislature and executive.
• Key Features:
  • Overreach into Other Organs: Courts making laws or intervening in administrative decisions beyond constitutional limits.
  • Frequent Use of Extraordinary Powers: For instance, the frequent invocation of Article 142 without clear legal backing.
  • Supersession of Democratic Will: When unelected judges override decisions made by democratically elected governments.
  • Lack of Accountability: The higher judiciary possesses extensive powers with minimal external accountability, which can lead to authoritarianism if misused.
• Judicial Activism Instances:
  • The Supreme Court has issued wide-ranging directives in cases such as mob lynching and the Babri Masjid.
  • Directed states to distance liquor shops from national highways to prevent road accidents.
  • Provided compensation for victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy (1989).

Conclusion

The balance between judicial activism and judicial restraint is crucial in maintaining the integrity of India's constitutional framework. The judiciary must ensure it operates within its designated limits while promoting accountability and transparency.

State of School Education in India

Why in News?

The education system in India is a critical driver of national progress, shaping individuals and fostering economic and social development. School education lays the foundation for learning, equipping students with essential skills and knowledge. Despite significant advancements, the sector faces challenges that require targeted solutions to ensure quality and inclusivity.

Structure of School Education

• Primary Education (Grades 1–5): Focuses on building foundational skills like reading, writing, and basic mathematics to prepare young learners for further education.
• Upper Primary (Grades 6–8): Introduces subjects such as science, social studies, and advanced mathematics to deepen knowledge and critical thinking.
• Secondary Education (Grades 9–10): Prepares students for board exams, emphasizing specialized subjects to build a strong academic base.
• Senior Secondary (Grades 11–12): Offers streams like arts, commerce, and science, guiding students toward higher education or vocational paths.

Government Efforts to Strengthen School Education

• Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009: Guarantees free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14, aiming to ensure universal access to schooling.
• Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: Combines schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan to improve school infrastructure, teacher training, and learning outcomes.
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Provides free meals to students in government schools to boost attendance and address malnutrition, benefiting millions of children daily.

Challenges in School Education

• Poor Learning Outcomes: Despite higher enrollment, many students struggle with basic literacy and numeracy. For example, surveys show that a significant percentage of Grade 5 students cannot read Grade 2 texts.
• Inadequate Infrastructure: Many schools lack basic facilities like classrooms, clean toilets, and safe drinking water, especially in rural areas, impacting student attendance and learning.
• High Dropout Rates: Economic pressures, early marriages, and lack of awareness lead to dropouts, particularly among girls. For instance, rural girls often leave school to support household chores.

Higher Education in India

Higher education in India prepares students for professional careers and contributes to research and innovation. While the sector has expanded, issues like accessibility and quality persist, requiring reforms to meet global standards.

Structure of Higher Education

• Universities: Include central, state, private, and deemed universities, offering diverse academic programs. For example, institutions like Delhi University cater to thousands of students annually.
• Colleges: Affiliated with universities, these institutions provide undergraduate and postgraduate courses in fields like arts, science, and commerce.
• Technical and Professional Institutes: Regulated by bodies like AICTE (engineering) and MCI (medical), institutes like IITs and AIIMS produce skilled professionals.

Key Developments in Higher Education

• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Promotes multidisciplinary learning, aims to increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio, and encourages research. For example, NEP allows students to pursue flexible degree combinations.
• Digital Platforms: Initiatives like SWAYAM offer online courses, and the National Digital Library provides free access to educational resources, benefiting students in remote areas.
• Skill Development: Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics train students in vocational skills, bridging the gap between education and job opportunities.

Challenges in Higher Education

• Limited Access: Rural and low-income students struggle to afford or access higher education due to high costs and limited institutions in remote areas.
• Quality Issues: Many institutions lack qualified faculty and proper accreditation, affecting the credibility of degrees.
• Research Constraints: Insufficient funding and infrastructure hinder cutting-edge research, limiting India’s global academic contributions.

Education and Human Development

Education is a key pillar of human development, empowering individuals, reducing inequalities, and driving economic growth. It aligns with global goals like SDG 4 (Quality Education) and supports India’s progress in multiple areas.

Role of Education in Human Development

• Economic Progress: Educated individuals contribute to a skilled workforce, boosting productivity. For example, IT professionals have driven India’s tech industry growth.
• Social Equity: Education empowers marginalized groups, reducing caste and gender disparities. Programs like scholarships for SC/ST students promote inclusivity.
• Health Awareness: Educated individuals make informed health choices, improving life expectancy and reducing diseases like malnutrition.

India’s Achievements in Education

• Human Development Index (HDI): Education improvements have boosted India’s HDI ranking, reflecting better literacy and school enrollment rates.
• Gender Equality: Schemes like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao encourage girls’ education, narrowing the gender gap in schools.
• Adult Literacy: Programs like Saakshar Bharat have increased adult literacy rates, empowering older populations to participate in economic activities.

Solutions for Educational Improvement

• Infrastructure Investment: Build modern schools and colleges with facilities like labs and libraries, especially in rural areas.
• Teacher Development: Regular training programs to enhance teaching skills, ensuring educators are equipped to deliver quality education.
• Technology Integration: Expand digital classrooms and platforms like EduRev to provide accessible learning resources for all students.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborate with private organizations to improve infrastructure and teaching quality.
• Lifelong Learning: Promote vocational training and skill development to support continuous education for all age groups.

Caste Census in India

Why in News?

A caste census collects data on caste identities to understand their socio-economic and educational status, aiding equitable policymaking. While it offers significant benefits, it also poses challenges that require careful implementation.

Understanding Caste Census and Surveys

• Census: A national exercise conducted every 10 years to collect demographic, economic, and social data, governed by the Census Act, 1948.
• Caste Census: Involves recording caste identities during the census to analyze the distribution and status of various caste groups. Historically included until 1931, it now covers only SCs and STs.
• Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC): Conducted in 2011 to collect caste data but not released due to accuracy concerns.
• Caste Survey: State-led initiatives (e.g., Bihar, Karnataka) to gather caste data for local policymaking, as states cannot conduct a census.

Differences Between Census, Caste Census, and Caste Survey

• Legal Authority: Census is backed by the Census Act, 1948; caste census lacks specific laws; caste surveys have no statutory backing.
• Caste Data Collection: Census includes SC/ST data; SECC collected OBC data in 2011 (unreleased); surveys collect state-specific caste data.
• Data Confidentiality: Census data is confidential; SECC data is used for welfare schemes; survey data informs state policies.

Benefits of a Caste Census

• Data-Driven Policies: Provides detailed insights into caste-based disparities, enabling targeted interventions. For example, identifying education gaps among specific castes.
• Reservation Reforms: Updates outdated 1931 data to adjust reservation policies, ensuring benefits reach truly disadvantaged groups.
• Effective Welfare Schemes: Helps allocate resources to marginalized castes, as seen in Bihar’s caste survey revealing 22.6 million people missing food subsidies.
• Social Relevance: Captures caste’s role in Indian society, aiding policies to address inequalities.
• Constitutional Support: Aligns with Article 340, empowering investigations into backward classes’ conditions.
• Commission Objectives: Supports bodies like the NCBC and Justice Rohini Commission for OBC sub-categorization.
• Intersectionality: Highlights overlaps of caste with gender and region for nuanced policies.
• Breaking Myths: Clarifies misconceptions, like claims about caste populations in Karnataka, promoting accurate data.
• Empowering Communities: Encourages new political identities, strengthening democracy through inclusive representation.

Challenges of a Caste Census

• Political Manipulation: Data may fuel caste-based politics, as parties could exploit it for electoral gains.
• Caste Identity Reinforcement: May deepen caste divisions, hindering national unity.
• Reservation Demands: Could spark demands for expanded quotas, challenging the 50% reservation cap.
• Logistical Issues: Complex caste classifications and regional variations complicate data collection.
• Lack of Uniformity: Varying caste definitions across states create inconsistencies.
• Stigmatization Risks: Public disclosure of caste may lead to discrimination, discouraging honest responses.

Way Forward for Caste Census

• Standardized Categories: Create a unified caste list with expert input to address regional naming differences.
• Enumerator Training: Train staff to handle caste data sensitively, ensuring voluntary participation.
• Data Accuracy: Involve communities and verify data to ensure reliability.
• Public Awareness: Educate citizens on the census’s purpose to reduce privacy concerns and boost participation.
• Data Protection: Enforce strict laws to safeguard caste data from misuse.
• Prevent Political Misuse: Set legal safeguards to ensure data supports inclusive development, not division.

Reviving Private Members’ Bills (PMBs)

Why in News?

Private Members’ Bills (PMBs) allow non-minister MPs to propose legislation, reflecting diverse perspectives. Their decline in parliamentary discussions highlights the need for reforms to strengthen democratic participation.

Understanding Private Members’ Bills

• Definition: Bills introduced by MPs who are not ministers, reflecting personal or constituency-driven ideas.
• Procedure: Introduced on Fridays, following the same legislative process as government bills—reading, discussion, voting, and Presidential assent.
• Current Status: Only 14 PMBs passed since 1947; none since 1970. In 2024, 64 PMBs were introduced, but none discussed.

Importance of PMBs

• Democratic Voice: Allows MPs to address unique issues, like Supriya Sule’s “Right to Disconnect” Bill for work-life balance.
• Policy Innovation: Inspires government laws, e.g., Tiruchi Siva’s Transgender Rights Bill led to the 2019 Act.
• Ruling Party Freedom: Enables ruling MPs to propose independent ideas, like healthcare for seniors.
• Parliamentary Oversight: Encourages debate beyond party lines, strengthening democracy.

Reasons for PMB Decline

• Government Dominance: Government business overshadows PMB time, e.g., budget discussions in 2024.
• Session Disruptions: Adjournments reduce PMB discussion time, with two Fridays lost in 2024.
• Anti-Defection Law: Discourages MPs from proposing bills against party lines.
• Low MP Engagement: Many MPs skip Friday sessions for constituency visits.
• Speaker’s Control: Arbitrary scheduling limits PMB discussions despite available session time.

Reforms to Revive PMBs

• Protected PMB Time: Make Friday slots non-negotiable except in emergencies.
• Midweek Scheduling: Move PMB discussions to Wednesdays for better attendance.
• Priority Committee: Form a panel to prioritize impactful PMBs for discussion.
• Extended Hours: Allow longer parliamentary sessions to accommodate PMBs.
• Digital Tracking: Create online dashboards to monitor PMB progress, enhancing transparency.

Digital Access as a Fundamental Right

Why in News?

The Supreme Court has recognized digital access as part of the right to life and liberty under Article 21, emphasizing the need for inclusive digital systems to ensure equitable access to services for all, especially marginalized groups.

Supreme Court’s Ruling on Digital Access

• Constitutional Mandate: The court ruled that the state must ensure inclusive digital access to e-governance and welfare services, vital for a dignified life.
• KYC Directives: Issued 20 guidelines to make KYC processes accessible, particularly for people with disabilities and marginalized groups.
• Context: The ruling responded to petitions from acid attack survivors and visually impaired individuals facing barriers in digital KYC, like facial recognition.

Challenges for Marginalized Groups

• Digital Barriers: People with disabilities struggle with inaccessible digital tools, e.g., facial recognition systems excluding acid attack survivors.
• Exclusion from Services: Inability to complete digital KYC prevents access to banking and welfare, deepening social exclusion.
• Digital Divide: Rural populations, seniors, and linguistic minorities face issues like poor internet and lack of regional language content.

Addressing the Digital Divide

• Constitutional Duty: The court redefined Article 21 to include digital access as essential for education, healthcare, and governance.
• Substantive Equality: Emphasized inclusive digital transformation to ensure fairness for all citizens.
• Specific Barriers: Inaccessible websites and apps hinder people with disabilities, while rural areas lack reliable internet connectivity.

Need for Inclusive Digital Systems

• Government Responsibility: The state must ensure universal digital access, especially for vulnerable groups, under constitutional mandates.
• Impact on Equity: Inclusive digital systems reduce disparities, enabling access to essential services like education on platforms like EduRev.
• Systemic Inclusion: Addressing the digital divide ensures marginalized groups participate fully in governance and welfare programs.

By addressing these challenges through targeted reforms, India can build an inclusive education system, leverage caste data for equitable policies, revive PMBs for democratic participation, and ensure digital access as a fundamental right, paving the way for a more equitable and prosperous future.