Content :
Closing argument
Drinking to death
The new normal after Pahalgam, India’s response
The ingredient to turn around nutrition outcomes
Closing argument
Background Context:
On April 8, 2025, the Supreme Court declared the withholding of 10 State Bills by Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi as “illegal” and “erroneous.”
The judgment provided clarity on the constitutional position of the Governor and President regarding assent to State legislation.
Relevance : GS 2(Polity ,Constitution ,Judiciary )
Practice Question :The Supreme Court’s ruling on the Governor’s delay in granting assent to State Bills reaffirms federal principles. Critically examine the implications of the Centre’s decision to seek a Presidential Reference under Article 143 in this context.(250 Words)
Judicial Stand:
The Supreme Court asserted that Governors/President cannot arbitrarily or indefinitely delay assent to Bills passed by elected State Assemblies.
The judgment relied on previous rulings, committee reports, and Constituent Assembly debates, strengthening the federal structure.
Centre’s Response:
Instead of accepting the clarity offered, the Union Government initiated a Presidential Reference under Article 143.
This move reopens settled issues and indicates a reluctance to curb the discretionary powers of Governors.
What is Article 143 Doing Here?
Under Article 143(1), the President can seek the Supreme Court’s advice on a matter of public importance.
This is known as a Presidential Reference.
But the Supreme Court’s April 8 verdict was a full judgment, not an advisory opinion. So asking for advice again is unnecessary.
Why is This a Problem?
The Centre might using Article 143 to delay or dilute a binding judgment.
It gives an impression that the Centre wants to preserve the discretionary powers of Governors, even when those powers were declared illegal.
This weakens the authority of the judiciary and violates the principle of cooperative federalism.
Democratic Concerns:
Governors are unelected appointees of the Centre and should not undermine elected State Assemblies.
The practice of withholding Bills without reason or time limit challenges democratic norms and erodes federalism.
Procedural Critique:
The Centre could have filed a review petition if clarity was genuinely needed.
A Presidential Reference is an unusual and unnecessary step, possibly aimed at retaining control through Governors.
Constitutional Implications:
The move appears to dilute the authority of a clear and binding Supreme Court judgment.
It raises concerns about the executive’s intentions to centralize power, contradicting the spirit of cooperative federalism.
Conclusion :
The Centre’s decision to invoke a Presidential Reference despite a landmark Supreme Court ruling signals an unsettling trend of executive overreach. By reopening a legally settled matter, it undermines the authority of the judiciary and risks weakening India’s federal framework.
Drinking to death
Context : Recurring Tragedy:
Illicit liquor deaths, such as the recent Amritsar tragedy (23+ deaths), are part of a long-standing, repeated crisis across India.
The pattern involves poverty-stricken victims, cheap toxic liquor, and regulatory collapse.
Relevance : GS 2(Health , Social Issues , Governance)
Practice Question : Illicit liquor deaths are not isolated mishaps but a reflection of deep-rooted socio-economic and governance failures in India. Examine the causes behind recurring hooch tragedies and suggest a multi-pronged strategy to prevent them.(250 Words)
Socio-Economic Vulnerability:
Victims are usually poor daily wage earners, driven by economic desperation to seek cheap alcohol.
These consumers are easy targets for bootleggers offering spurious liquor at low prices.
Toxic Composition & Source:
Illicit liquor often contains methanol, a toxic industrial chemical, misused as a cheap substitute for ethanol.
Methanol is not illegal per se but is misappropriated from authorised industrial supply chains.
Bootleggers use hazardous shortcuts (e.g., dead scorpions, poor dilution) to maximize profit.
Systemic Nexus & Corruption:
A deep-rooted nexus exists between bootleggers, corrupt local politicians, and complicit police forces.
Bootleggers are merely the last mile, while larger players involved in industrial methanol theft remain protected.
Legal & Regulatory Gaps:
Despite stringent charges (murder, Poison Act, prohibition laws), convictions are rare (e.g., 2015 Malvani case acquittals).
Enforcement under the Poison Act is weak; methanol handling lacks strict central oversight.
There is an urgent need for a central regulatory framework for methanol transport to prevent inter-State pilferage.
Governance & Enforcement Failure:
State-level enforcement remains lax, often reactive (e.g., suspensions after deaths).
A non-corrupt lawmaker–law enforcer framework is essential to dismantle the illicit methanol network.
Structural Root Causes:
At the heart of the crisis is persistent poverty, social inequality, and lack of education.
These structural issues sustain the demand for cheap, toxic alcohol and enable unscrupulous profiteering.
Conclusion :
Illicit liquor tragedies are not isolated mishaps but systemic failures fueled by poverty, corruption, and regulatory indifference.Ensuring accountability, central coordination, and genuine socio-economic upliftment is the only sustainable antidote to this lethal problem.
The new normal after Pahalgam, India’s response
Context: The Pahalgam Attack and Operation Sindoor
The Pahalgam attack (April 22, 2025) triggered a determined Indian response.
Operation Sindoor, a kinetic military strike, was launched on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure.
It took 88 hours post-operation to reach a ceasefire, highlighting intense escalation and de-escalation diplomacy.
Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security) , GS 2(International Relations)
Practice Question : “India’s evolving ‘quid pro quo plus’ doctrine represents a calibrated shift in its counter-terrorism strategy against cross-border threats.”Critically examine this approach in light of Operation Sindoor and its implications for deterrence, diplomacy, and regional stability.(250 Words)
The Nature of India’s Response
India took non-military steps initially: reducing diplomatic ties, suspending trade, cancelling visas, freezing the Indus Waters Treaty.
Final response included precision strikes on 9 terrorist targets across Pakistan, involving Scalp, BrahMos, Hammer, Crystal Maze missiles.
India clearly distinguished between targeting terrorists vs. the Pakistani military or public.
Pakistan’s retaliatory drone and missile intrusions were met with a “quid pro quo plus” policy by India, escalating the conflict.
quid pro quo plus : India’s strategic retaliation policy where any hostile act by Pakistan is met with a proportionate response — plus something extra to raise the cost of aggression
Diplomacy and De-escalation
India undertook intense diplomatic outreach to key global capitals to frame the narrative and justify its right to self-defence.
The U.S. initially took a hands-off stance, but shifted gears when signs of nuclear escalation emerged.
U.S. intervention helped de-escalate the conflict, repeating a pattern seen in Kargil (1999), Parliament attack (2001), Mumbai (2008), Balakot (2019).
The May 10 ceasefire followed backchannel diplomacy and DGMO-level dialogue.
Expanding the ‘New Normal’
Previous benchmarks:
2016: Surgical strikes post-Uri – cross-LoC action normalized.
2019: Balakot airstrikes post-Pulwama – air power introduced.
2025 Operation Sindoor: broadened the doctrine to include strikes anywhere in Pakistan.
Strategic Shift in Doctrine
Government outlined a hardened doctrinal shift:
India will no longer be deterred by nuclear threats.
The response will not spare the masterminds and state sponsors of terrorism.
Signals possible future strikes on Pakistan military assets if necessary.
Implications for Deterrence
The new approach aims to nullify Pakistan’s nuclear deterrence bluff.
Introduces “full-spectrum retaliation” within the conventional-nuclear grey zone.
This calls for enhancing India’s conventional capabilities:
Integrated network-centric warfare.
Unmanned systems, AI-assisted surveillance, satellite-backed targeting.
Better counter-air defence strategies.
Operational and Strategic Gaps
Intelligence and security lapses that led to the Pahalgam attack must be addressed.
Need for proactive counter-terrorism intelligence and better border security.
Without internal reforms, the expanded doctrine risks being rhetorical, not credible.
Way Ahead
India must:
Maintain military superiority to ensure credible deterrence.
Keep independent communication channels open with Pakistan to avoid international mediation.
Invest in rapid response infrastructure for kinetic and cyber domains.
Sustain diplomatic narratives to manage global perception post-strike.
The ingredient to turn around nutrition outcomes
Core Argument
Malnutrition in India remains widespread despite welfare programmes.
Women and girls are the most overlooked victims of nutritional inequality.
POSHAN Abhiyaan has not yielded proportionate results, especially for women, due to deeper structural and socio-economic issues.
Relevance : GS 2(Health ,Nutrition ,Social Issues)
Practice Question : “Nutrition is not merely a biomedical issue, but a question of gender justice and economic empowerment.”Critically analyze this statement in the context of India’s efforts to combat malnutrition among women. (250 Words)
Persistent Structural Failures
NFHS-5 data:
57% of women (15–49 years) are anaemic vs 26% of men.
Nearly 1 in 5 women are underweight.
Indicates that nutrition schemes like POSHAN have not adequately addressed gender disparities.
Despite₹24,000 crore allocation (2022–23), only 69% fund utilisation by Dec 2022.
Anaemia prevalence increased from 53% to 57% between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5.
Social Norms and Injustice
Cultural norms lead to women eating last and least in households.
Nutrition is not only a biomedical issue; it is deeply tied to social justice.
49% of women lack decision-making power over how their income is spent — affecting dietary choices and health outcomes.
Economic Empowerment is Key
Empowered women with independent income more likely to spend on food and child well-being.
Research (e.g., by Esther Duflo) confirms direct link between women’s earnings and improved household nutrition.
Study findings: Women with modest financial control showed lower undernutrition.
Women in the Workforce: Quantity vs Quality
Female labour force participation rose from 23% (2017–18) to 33% (2021–22).
But:
Only 5% hold regular salaried jobs.
20% are self-employed, mostly in low-paying informal roles.
Self-employed women earn 53% less than men for similar work.
Hence, employment hasn’t translated into empowerment or better nutrition.
Missing Piece: Integrated Approach
Nutrition efforts like POSHAN 2.0 will have limited impact without economic and social empowerment of women.
Creating awareness is insufficient if basic food security is lacking.
Need for Convergence
Recommendations for POSHAN 2.0:
Set measurable targets for women’s economic and decision-making empowerment.
Ensure inter-departmental coordination — nutrition, health, livelihoods.
Leverage Anganwadi centres as multi-purpose hubs:
Food distribution
Antenatal care
Skill training
Financial literacy
Credit/job linkages