Science & Technology – Biotechnology/Neuroscience (Brain networks, neurodegenerative diseases)
News Context
A recent study (published in Nature) has identified a new brain network—Somatic Cognitive Action Network (SCAN)—linked to Parkinson’s disease, with implications for targeted therapies like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
Key Findings & Facts
What is SCAN?
SCAN in Parkinson’s Disease
Therapeutic Implications
Important Keywords
UPSC-Oriented Analysis
Polity & Governance – Union Territories, Administrative divisions, J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019
News Context
A Private Member’s Bill in the J&K Assembly seeks divisional status for Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley, along with creation of 16 new districts, highlighting issues of decentralisation and regional imbalance.
Pir Panjal & Chenab Valley
Relevant Prelims Keywords
Polity – Constitutional Amendments, Reservation in legislatures, Delimitation Commission
The Union government is reconsidering the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, which provides 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies. It was earlier linked to delimitation post-Census, delaying implementation.
Key Proposals Under Discussion
Early Implementation
Increase in Lok Sabha Seats
Delimitation Changes
Constitutional & Legal Aspects
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/bjp-govt-rethink-womens-quota-what-comes-next-10610347/
UPSC Prelims Syllabus Coverage:
Economy & Environment – Energy security, Electric Vehicles (EVs), Clean mobility initiatives
News Context
The ongoing West Asia conflict (impacting oil supply) has highlighted India’s vulnerability to crude price shocks and exposed a significant EV adoption gap compared to countries like China.
Key Data & Facts
Policy & Schemes
Important Keywords
UPSC-Oriented Analysis
Environment & Ecology – Wildlife conservation, Protected Areas, Human–wildlife conflict, Animal tracking technologies
News Context
A sloth bear was captured by the Karnataka Forest Department after it strayed into villages near Shivamogga airport. The incident highlights rising human–wildlife interactions and use of monitoring tools like GPS collars.
Key Facts & Developments
About Sloth Bear
Use of GPS Radio Collar
Important Keywords
UPSC-Oriented Analysis
UPSC Mains Subject: GS Paper II – Polity & Governance (Parliament; Federalism)
Sub-topic: Delimitation; Constitutional Provisions; Centre-State Relations
Introduction
Article 81 of the Indian Constitution mandates that Lok Sabha seats be distributed among States based on population. The 84th Constitutional Amendment Act froze this distribution until after 2026 to encourage population control.
With delimitation approaching, the challenge is balancing democratic equality (one person, one vote) with federal fairness (protecting States that controlled population growth). The way forward is a model that rewards demographic performance while preserving federal balance.
Main Body
Constitutional Framework: Article 81 & the Freeze
| Provision | Key Feature |
|---|---|
| Article 81 | Seats allocated to States based on population; ratio between seats and population to be uniform across States |
| 42nd Amendment (1976) | Froze seats until 2001 Census—tied to family planning efforts |
| 84th Amendment (2002) | Extended freeze to first Census after 2026; rationale: “motivational measure” for population stabilization |
| Timeline | Census 2026 results by October 2028 → Delimitation Commission → 2029 Lok Sabha elections |
Demographic Reality: Convergence & Persistent Gaps
| Period | TFR Achievement |
|---|---|
| NFHS-3 (2005–06) | 9 States achieved replacement-level TFR (2.1 or less): Himachal, Punjab, Delhi, Goa, Andhra, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu |
| NFHS-5 (2019–21) | Most major States achieved TFR 2.1 except 5: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Manipur |
Key Finding: States above national TFR mean are still 45% higher in fertility rates than early achievers. The freeze achieved partial success—but not uniform convergence.
The Federal Dilemma: Rewarding or Penalizing Performance?
| Scenario | Implication |
|---|---|
| Pure Population-Based Delimitation | High-fertility States gain seats; low-fertility States (south, west, parts of north) lose political voice—despite having stabilized population |
| Federal Risk | Economically prosperous, demographically responsible States become politically marginalized—repeating USSR/Yugoslavia pattern |
| Constitutional Intent | 2002 amendment linked seat allocation to population stabilization efforts; pure population-based allocation would negate that intent |
Proposed Solution: Demographic Performance (DemPer) Principle
Drawing from the Finance Commission’s approach (which uses multiple criteria beyond population), the Delimitation Commission could apply DemPer to additional seats beyond the existing 543:
| Component | Weight | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Early Achievement (TFR ≤ 2.1 before 2005) | 10% | Recognizes States that led population stabilization |
| Rate of Decline in TFR (2005–2021) | 90% | Rewards sustained efforts, not just starting point |
Outcome:
Ideal Lok Sabha Size: Capacity & Deliberative Quality
| Consideration | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 1971 Benchmark | 10–11.1 lakh population per seat; total population 541 million |
| Current Reality | 1.4 billion population; pure population-based allocation would increase seats dramatically |
| Suggested Cap | 700 seats—ensures time for debate, prevents unwieldy legislature, maintains democratic quality |
Rationale: Democracy is about fair voice, not just raw numbers. Deliberative capacity matters as much as arithmetic representation.
Beyond North-South: A National Issue
| Region | States with TFR Achievement |
|---|---|
| North | Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi |
| West | Goa |
| South | Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra, Telangana |
Key Insight: Delimitation is not a north-south binary. Multiple states across regions adopted population stabilization goals. Framing it as regional conflict undermines national unity.
Way Forward: Principles for Fair Federal Delimitation
Critical Analysis: Strengths & Gaps
| Strengths | Gaps |
|---|---|
| Grounded in constitutional intent (84th Amendment) | Political feasibility of DemPer uncertain |
| Draws from Finance Commission precedent—institutional familiarity | Formula complexity may invite litigation |
| Recognizes federalism as equal to democratic arithmetic | Does not fully address urban-rural disparities within States |
| Proposes concrete, operationalizable formula | Seats cap at 700—basis for number could be elaborated |
Conclusion
Delimitation after Census 2026 is a test of India’s federal balance. While population-based seat allocation ensures equality, it risks penalizing States that controlled population growth—contrary to the intent of the 84th Constitutional Amendment Act.
A balanced approach is to allocate additional seats using the Demographic Performance principle, rewarding States with early and sustained TFR decline. This ensures democratic equality without undermining federal fairness.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/ensuring-federalism-within-delimitation/article70804377.ece
UPSC Mains Subject: GS Paper I – Society (Social Justice) | GS Paper II – Polity (Vulnerable Sections)
Sub-topic: Marginalized Communities; Census; Constitutional Safeguards; Social Exclusion
Introduction
Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs/NTs), numbering an estimated 8–14 crore, remain among India’s most marginalized communities. Branded under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 and “denotified” in 1952, they were never fully rehabilitated. Fragmented across SC, ST, OBC lists—or excluded entirely—their lack of clear recognition persists. With Census 2027 approaching, their continued exclusion risks perpetuating a historic injustice.
Main Body
Who Are Denotified & Nomadic Tribes?
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Denotified Tribes (DNTs) | Communities earlier branded as “criminal tribes” under the Colonial Criminal Tribes Act, 1871; “denotified” in 1952 after repeal |
| Nomadic Tribes (NTs) | Communities with traditional livelihoods requiring seasonal or perpetual movement |
| Semi-Nomadic Tribes | Partially settled communities transitioning to sedentary life |
Examples: Banjara, Gadiya Lohar, Gujjar (Van Gujjar), Sapera, Kalbelia, Jogi, Behrupia, Birhor, Fakir, Kolhati, Lambada, Maldhari, Perna, Saansi, Yerukala.
The Triple Injustice: Cognisance, Categorisation, Counting
| Demand | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Cognisance (Acknowledgment) | Indian state has refused systematic acknowledgment across governments and parties |
| Categorisation (Constitutional Schedule) | No separate schedule; communities fragmented across SC/ST/OBC lists; many unclassified |
| Counting (Census enumeration) | No official population estimate; estimates vary between 8–14 crore |
Activist’s poignant remark: “Freedom came to you in 1947; to us it came in 1952.”
The Colonial Legacy: Criminal Tribes Act, 1871
| Provision | Impact |
|---|---|
| Branding | Entire communities labelled “criminal by birth” |
| Surveillance | Mandatory regular police reporting |
| Movement Restrictions | Routine round-ups; humiliating conditions |
| Repeal (1952) | Communities “denotified” but stigma and institutional neglect persisted |
Institutional Continuity: The colonial frame of mind—viewing these communities with suspicion—has never been fully denotified.
Why DNT/NT Remain Invisible Today
| Factor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Economic Marginalization | Traditional livelihoods (herding, crafting, healing, performing arts) destroyed by modernity; knowledge delegitimized; skills devalued |
| Social Stigma | Simultaneously invisibilised and stigmatized—suffer discrimination like Dalits, marginalization like Adivasis, and invisibility like LGBTQ communities |
| Linguistic Erasure | Custodians of hundreds of languages downgraded to “Unscheduled Languages” and demeaned as dialects |
| Institutional Fragmentation | Same community listed differently across states (SC/ST/OBC) or not listed at all |
Available Data & Reports: Government Knows but Does Not Act
| Report | Key Findings |
|---|---|
| Renke Commission (2008) | First population estimate: 10.74 crore DNT/NT; documented plight |
| Idate Commission (2017) | Identified 1,200 communities from SC/ST/OBC lists; listed 269 unclassified communities; recommended counting in Census |
| Anthropological Survey of India & Tribal Research Institutes (2023) | Filled information gap on unclassified communities |
Key Point: The government has everything it needs—policy decision on caste census, exhaustive list, and formal recommendations. Only political will is missing.
The Supreme Court Setback
| Event | Implication |
|---|---|
| Petition Dismissed | SC dismissed plea by DNT/NT activists for inclusion in caste census |
| Gratuitous Remarks | Court made insensitive observations—compounding the community’s sense of abandonment |
Way Forward: The Three Cs
Institutional Actions:
Critical Analysis: Strengths & Gaps
| Strengths | Gaps |
|---|---|
| Exposes deep institutional neglect across governments | Does not fully quantify economic deprivation |
| Documents colonial continuity in state mindset | Limited discussion on inter-state variation in DNT/NT inclusion |
| Highlights rich cultural and knowledge contributions | Could elaborate on specific welfare measures needed |
| Provides clear actionable framework (three Cs) | Political feasibility of new constitutional schedule uncertain |
Conclusion
Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs/NTs)—long victims of colonial stigma and post-colonial neglect—remain among India’s most invisible citizens. With Census 2027 approaching, the state has a chance to act on the roadmap laid by the Renke Commission and Idate Commission—cognisance, categorisation, and counting. The framework exists; what is lacking is political will. Failure now would betray the Constitution’s promise of justice, liberty, and equality—leaving real vimukti still unrealised.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
