Content
How Are Courts Protecting Personality Rights?
EC Launches e-Sign Feature for Voter Roll Management
Will AI Fix India’s Energy Demand or Exacerbate It?
Obesity in India: A Silent Family Emergency
Time Poverty and Gender Inequality: Women’s Unpaid Care Work
Ladakh Agitation: Youth Unrest, Statehood, and Sixth Schedule Aspirations
How are courts protecting personality rights?
What is the issue?
Delhi High Court recently protected Bollywood celebrities (Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Karan Johar, Jackie Shroff, Arijit Singh) from unauthorised AI-generated use of their image, voice, likeness.
Growing misuse of deepfakes, AI cloning, and unlicensed merchandise.
Wider push for recognition of personality rights in India’s digital age.
Relevance
GS II (Polity & Governance): Article 21 (privacy & dignity), Article 19(1)(a) (freedom of expression), judicial protection of individual rights.
GS III (Science & Technology): AI, deepfakes, digital law, regulation of emerging technologies.
Concept of Personality Rights
Protects an individual’s name, likeness, image, voice, signature, catchphrases, and persona from unauthorised commercial exploitation.
Rooted in:
Article 21 (right to privacy & dignity).
Common law doctrines: privacy, defamation, publicity rights.
IP laws:
Copyright Act, 1957 (Sections 38A & 38B → performers’ rights & moral rights).
Trade Marks Act, 1999 (names/signatures can be registered).
Tort of passing off (Section 27, TM Act).
Judicial Evolution
R. Rajagopal v. State of Tamil Nadu (1994): Right to control identity linked to privacy; prior restraint discouraged.
Rajinikanth case (Madras HC, 2015): Unauthorised commercial use of name/style restrained.
Anil Kapoor case (Delhi HC, 2023): Catchphrase “jhakaas” protected; parody allowed but not commercial exploitation.
Jackie Shroff case (Delhi HC, 2024): E-commerce & AI chatbots barred from misusing persona.
Arijit Singh case (Bombay HC, 2024): Voice cloning via AI recognised as infringement.
DM Entertainment v. Baby Gift House (2010): Daler Mehndi’s rights upheld; but satire/parody exempted.
Digital Collectibles v. Galactus (2023): Reaffirmed that free speech (satire, art, news) cannot be curtailed.
Conflict with Free Expression
Article 19(1)(a): Protects criticism, parody, satire, scholarship.
Courts: Balance needed → protection valid against commercial exploitation, not genuine creative expression.
Risk: Overbroad personality rights may chill free speech, censor creativity.
Contemporary Concerns
AI & Deepfakes: New threats like voice cloning, AI-generated videos, fake endorsements.
Fragmented legal protection: No single codified law; courts act case-by-case.
Women & ordinary citizens: Increasing victims of deepfakes, revenge porn, impersonation.
Enforcement challenge: Blocking URLs/reactive takedowns insufficient.
Expert Views
Need for comprehensive legislative framework beyond piecemeal judgments.
Clear exceptions must be defined (satire, art, parody) to avoid misuse as censorship.
Protection not just for celebrities → extends to ordinary citizens’ privacy and dignity.
Broader Implications
Digital Economy: Celebrities’ brand value linked to endorsements → misuse dilutes goodwill.
Technology & Law: AI advances outpacing legal safeguards.
Global Context: U.S. & EU have clearer publicity rights frameworks; India lags.
Social Justice: Women more vulnerable to identity misuse in online spaces.
Way Forward
Enact a dedicated Personality Rights & AI Misuse law.
Mandate platform accountability (intermediary liability for deepfake/impersonation content).
Introduce fast-track remedies: takedown within 24–48 hrs.
Awareness & digital literacy to help individuals detect & report misuse.
Balance: Protect dignity & commercial interests while preserving free speech.
Conclusion
Personality rights in India are evolving through judicial precedents, but lack a codified framework.
AI and digital manipulation have amplified risks of identity theft and misuse.
A balanced legal architecture is essential — protecting individuals’ dignity and autonomy under Article 21, while ensuring freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a).
Without legislative clarity, India risks sliding into fragmented, ad hoc enforcement.
EC launches e-sign feature for addition, deletion, and correction of voter names
Why in News
The Election Commission (EC) launched a new e-sign feature on its ECINet portal and app for voter registration, deletion, and correction forms (Forms 6, 7, 8).
Purpose: To curb fraudulent additions and deletions in electoral rolls, highlighted by recent reports of manipulated voter lists in Karnataka (Aland constituency) and Maharashtra (Rajura constituency).
Feature rolled out in second week of September 2025; ECINet itself went live in June 2025 during bye-elections in Kerala, Gujarat, Punjab, West Bengal.
Relevance
GS II (Polity & Governance): Electoral reforms, Representation of the People Act, voter rights, transparency.
GS III (Governance & Technology): Digital governance, e-authentication, cybersecurity, service delivery.
Context
ECINet: A one-stop digital platform integrating 40+ EC mobile and web applications.
Target users: Individuals seeking:
Registration as new voters (Form 6)
Deletion from electoral rolls (Form 7)
Corrections in voter details (Form 8)
Old process: Submission possible after linking phone with EPIC number without Aadhaar verification.
New process:
Applicant fills form → redirected to CDAC-hosted portal.
Enter Aadhaar number → OTP sent to Aadhaar-linked phone.
Consent for Aadhaar-based authentication.
Only after verification, redirected back to ECINet to complete form submission.
Why the Feature Was Needed
Allegations of fraudulent deletion/addition of names in voter lists:
Karnataka: 5,994 names allegedly removed ahead of elections.
Aland (Kalaburagi): Forged Form 7 submissions reported.
Rajura (Maharashtra): Fraudulent additions cited by Opposition.
Ensures authenticity of applicant identity, linking EPIC and Aadhaar via OTP.
Prevents unauthorised manipulation of electoral rolls and strengthens electoral integrity.
Technical & Administrative Details
Hosted by CDAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing).
Integrates with Aadhaar authentication system → secure e-sign for voter forms.
Applicable to addition, deletion, and correction of voter data.
Provides digital audit trail for applications → reduces disputes in elections.
Broader Implications
Electoral Integrity: Reduces scope of tampering, ensures free and fair elections.
Digital Governance: Shows EC’s shift towards technology-driven citizen services.
Citizen Convenience: Applicants can complete verification remotely via OTP.
Legal & Policy Alignment: Supports EC’s mandate under Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950 & 1951.
Political Relevance: Opposition cites past fraudulent cases to highlight need; ruling parties can point to tech adoption as reform measure.
Challenges & Considerations
Digital Divide: Not all voters may have Aadhaar-linked phones; rural/elderly population may face difficulties.
Data Privacy: Linking voter rolls with Aadhaar raises concerns on personal data security.
Implementation: Requires smooth integration across states and robust grievance redressal.
Exclusions: Voters without Aadhaar may need alternative verification mechanisms.
Will AI fix India’s energy demand or will its own needs snowball?
Why in News
A surge in AI adoption globally and in India is creating significant new energy demands, particularly from data centres.
Reports from IEA (2024) and McKinsey project data centre power demand could more than double by 2030, with AI as the primary driver.
Raises the dilemma: Will AI improve energy efficiency or exacerbate energy stress?
Relevance
GS III (Energy): Data centre electricity demand, renewable integration, energy efficiency.
GS III (Science & Technology): AI applications, smart grids, green infrastructure.
GS III (Environment & Sustainability): Carbon footprint, resource use, sustainable development.
Context
AI systems and data centres require massive computational power → high electricity consumption.
Global context:
Data centres currently use ~1–2% of global electricity, expected to rise to 3–4% by 2030.
Annual data centre capacity demand may increase 19–22% from 2023 to 2030 (from 60 GW to 171–219 GW).
India context:
Data centre demand: 1.2 GW in 2024 → 4.5 GW by 2030 (driven by AI and digital adoption).
Additional projected electricity consumption: 40–50 TWh annually by 2030.
Major hubs: Mumbai (41%), Chennai (23%), NCR (14%).
Cooling requirements: Increased demand for freshwater for server cooling.
Potential Benefits of AI for Energy
Smarter energy management: AI optimises grid operations, renewable integration, and load forecasting.
Renewable energy utilisation: AI predicts and manages solar, wind, and hybrid plants, ensuring 24/7 access.
Energy efficiency in real estate: AI-driven solutions (smart lighting, predictive HVAC, automated controls) can reduce energy consumption up to 25%.
Green infrastructure:
Nearly 25% of India’s data centre capacity is green-certified.
~67% of Grade A office stock in top cities is green-certified.
Policy alignment: AI aids Energy Conservation Building Code, Roadmap of Sustainable and Holistic Approach to National Energy Efficiency, and smart grid missions.
Challenges & Risks
Rising energy demand: Data centres’ increasing electricity consumption may strain India’s energy systems, adding to demand from coal, oil, and gas.
Carbon emissions: AI expansion could increase emissions despite efficiency gains.
Resource intensity: High freshwater use for cooling; reliance on imported critical minerals for AI infrastructure.
Cybersecurity risks: AI could intensify energy security strains, e.g., sophisticated cyberattacks on utilities.
AI Mitigation Potential
Optimisation: AI can forecast load, detect faults, and “heal” grid sections (e.g., BESCOM in Karnataka).
Renewables integration: AI enables solar-wind-battery hybrid systems, predictive energy management.
Sustainable AI development: Using recycled water, improving power efficiency in AI operations.
Digital energy grid approach: Unified, interoperable power infrastructure can amplify AI benefits.
Quantitative Insights
Global TWh demand (IEA): 945 TWh for data centres by 2030; AI-optimised centres → 4× increase.
India’s electricity impact: Additional 40–50 TWh/year for AI-driven data centres.
Capacity growth: India must expand data centre capacity ~3.75× by 2030 to meet AI and digital demands.
Policy & Strategic Implications
Energy transition: AI can accelerate adoption of renewables and energy-efficient technologies.
Investment planning: Critical for energy infrastructure, green data centres, and smart grids.
Sustainability focus: Balancing AI growth with emissions reduction and water use efficiency.
Regulatory support: Governments may need to “nudge” AI adoption toward sustainable practices.
Obesity is India’s Silent Family Emergency
Why in News
India is facing a rapid rise in obesity, especially childhood obesity, posing a “silent family emergency.”
Obesity is linked to diabetes, hypertension, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, highlighting a growing public health crisis.
Early screening and intervention are emphasized to prevent long-term complications.
Relevance
GS II (Health & Governance): Non-communicable diseases, public health policy, preventive healthcare.
GS III (Science & Technology): Nutrition, lifestyle management, health interventions.
Context
Obesity: Chronic condition caused by excess body fat, not just poor willpower or lifestyle choice.
Causes:
Genetic and hormonal factors.
High-calorie diets and sedentary lifestyles.
Environmental and societal influences.
Impacted population:
Adults struggling with overweight/obesity.
Rising childhood obesity, leading to early onset of metabolic and cardiovascular issues.
Key Insights
Misconceptions:
Obesity is often wrongly seen as lack of self-control or laziness.
Crash diets or extreme lifestyle changes rarely succeed long-term.
Medical perspective:
Obesity is a chronic medical condition, similar to hypertension or diabetes.
Requires supportive, structured, and sustained care rather than just willpower.
Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is increasing at an alarming rate.
Health risks:
Early diabetes, fatty liver, heart problems.
Preventive measures:
Parents should protect children’s sleep, diet, and activity.
Early interventions can reduce long-term health risks.
Treatment & Management
Goal: Focus on health, not appearance.
Steps for adults:
Screen and treat overweight/obesity early.
Maintain healthy BMI and waist-to-height ratio (waist < half your height).
Follow structured plans including diet, activity, behavioral support, and medical supervision if needed.
Steps for children:
Encourage physical activity, proper sleep, balanced diet.
Avoid weight stigma; focus on healthy habits.
Lifestyle & Behavioural Recommendations
Diet: Balanced meals, avoid extreme restrictions.
Activity: Daily physical exercise, reduce sedentary time.
Sleep: Ensure adequate sleep, as it affects metabolism and appetite.
Behavioral Support: Counseling or structured programs for weight management.
Key Statistics & Observations
Families often underestimate the complexity of obesity care.
Obesity recovery is more difficult and slower than commonly assumed.
Waist circumference: A simple measure of health—waist < half height indicates healthy fat distribution.
Policy & Public Health Implications
Obesity is a growing non-communicable disease (NCD) concern in India.
Early screening, awareness campaigns, and structured intervention programs are critical.
Reducing stigma and normalizing treatment can improve public adherence and health outcomes.
Clinician Advice
Do not wait for extreme BMI or complications before seeking help.
Consult doctors for evidence-based, comprehensive treatment plans.
Focus on sustainable lifestyle modifications rather than quick fixes.
Time Poverty and Gender Inequality: Spotlight on Women’s Unpaid Care Work in India
Why It’s in the News
Experts have urged the Indian government to undertake a dedicated survey on women’s unpaid care work.
The call came at a consultative meeting hosted by MoSPI and the UN Time-Use Survey committee on September 24, 2025.
Aim: Measure women’s economic contribution through unpaid caregiving and domestic work, which remains largely invisible in official statistics.
Relevance
GS I (Social Issues): Gender inequality, time poverty, social empowerment.
GS II (Governance & Policy): Labour surveys, gender-responsive policymaking, economic planning.
GS III (Economy & Labour): Female workforce participation, economic contribution of unpaid work.
Understanding Unpaid Care Work
Definition: Activities performed without pay, including:
Childcare and instruction.
Elderly care and care for dependent adults.
Household chores: cooking, fetching water, gathering firewood.
Help to non-dependents, travel related to care, and other household services.
Key problem: Unpaid care work contributes to “time poverty”, limiting women’s access to paid employment, skill development, and economic independence.
Data & Statistics (2024)
Time Spent on Unpaid Care Daily:
Women: 299 minutes (≈5 hours)
Men: 75 minutes (≈1 hour 15 minutes)
Difference: 224 minutes daily
Labour Force Participation (PLFS 2023):
Women aged 15+ : 32%
Men aged 15+ : 77%
Women aged 15–29: 21.4%
Men aged 15–29: 53%
Trends:
Women’s time on unpaid work increased over five years: 299 minutes vs 164 minutes for men in 2024.
Male unpaid work increased only marginally (from 154 minutes in 2019 to 164 minutes in 2024).
Overall, almost 84% of women engaged in unpaid work in 2024, vs 45% of men.
Key Observations from Experts
Time poverty trap: Women spend long hours on unpaid tasks → fewer skills, less paid work access.
Economic cost: Low female workforce participation affects not just women but wider economic growth.
Cross-country evidence: A 2-hour increase in unpaid work reduces women’s paid work participation by 33% for ages 15+ compared to 77% for males.
Policy & Research Suggestions
New Survey on Unpaid Work:
Collect data between households on unpaid labour and caregiving, distinguishing shared vs exclusive patterns.
Capture time use patterns titled “Changing Patterns of Time Use, 2024–25”.
Build on prior exercises: NSSO 1998–99, studies from JNU, Ashoka University, and Thiruvananthapuram Development Studies.
Integration with Gender Policy:
Recognize unpaid care work in GDP contribution and economic planning.
Target interventions to reduce women’s time poverty and increase workforce participation.
Significance
Social: Highlights gender inequality in division of labor and domestic responsibilities.
Economic: Improving female participation in paid work can boost India’s economic output.
Policy Relevance: Supports data-driven policymaking on caregiving, gender budgets, and labour laws.
Global Context: Aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals on gender equality and decent work.
Key Takeaways
Women disproportionately bear unpaid care work (~84% vs 45% of men).
Daily time burden: ~5 hours for women vs ~1 hour for men.
Time poverty restricts skills, employment opportunities, and economic empowerment.
Expert recommendation: Dedicated, nationwide survey to guide policies for equitable distribution of care work.
Ladakh Agitation: Youth Unrest, Statehood, and Sixth Schedule Aspirations
Why It’s in the News
Protests in Leh, Ladakh, have turned violent during demonstrations demanding:
Full statehood for Ladakh.
Inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Protests coincided with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 35-day fast pressing for these demands.
Violence has spilled over into a fourth day, with property damage, including a police vehicle set on fire.
The issue has drawn national attention due to its political, constitutional, and developmental implications.
Relevance
GS II (Polity & Governance): Sixth Schedule, Union Territory administration, autonomy, land and job rights.
GS I (Geography & Society): Regional identity, demographic composition, cultural diversity.
Background of the Issue
Ladakh’s administrative status:
Became a Union Territory in 2019 after bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir.
Comprises two districts: Leh (majority Buddhist) and Kargil (majority Muslim).
Sixth Schedule of the Constitution:
Provides autonomous district councils with legislative, judicial, and administrative powers.
Currently applicable only to Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura.
Current demands:
Inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule to safeguard land, jobs, and local culture.
Full statehood to increase administrative and fiscal autonomy.
Key People & Stakeholders
Sonam Wangchuk: Climate activist, fasting to press for Ladakh’s demands; excluded from official delegation.
Leh Apex Body: Local coordinating body supporting Wangchuk.
Thupstan Chhewang: Former MP (last elected 2004), appointed delegation chair as compromise.
Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA): Supporting protests, highlighting Union Territory model failures.
Union Home Ministry: Engaged in talks since May 2025; examining constitutional safeguards.
Recent Developments
Delegation talks: Scheduled for October, postponed to align with Wangchuk’s fast.
Land allotment dispute: 1,000 kanals of land for Wangchuk’s Himalayan Institute of Alternatives stayed by administration, citing irregularities; viewed by Wangchuk as retribution for opposing corporate land allotments.
Protest escalation:
Youth unemployment and lack of regional protections cited as triggers.
Calls for peaceful resolution, though violence occurred.
Solidarity bandh planned in Kargil.
Underlying Causes
Administrative grievances:
Perceived failure of Union Territory governance to address local issues.
Economic concerns:
High youth unemployment, lack of job reservation and local protections.
Cultural & land rights:
Fear of land alienation and erosion of traditional rights.
Political representation:
Exclusion of key activist (Wangchuk) reflects tensions in negotiation processes.
Constitutional & Policy Dimensions
Sixth Schedule inclusion:
Would provide autonomous legislative and administrative powers over land, culture, and local resources.
Ensures domicile-based job reservations and protection of local languages.
Statehood demand:
Would give Ladakh full representation in Parliament and greater fiscal autonomy.
Centre’s position:
Examining demands cautiously due to constitutional complexities.
Balancing local aspirations with national governance frameworks.
Significance
Political: Test case for UT governance vs statehood aspirations.
Social: Highlights regional identity concerns, ethnic and religious diversity (Leh vs Kargil).
Economic: Youth unemployment and land issues underline developmental neglect.
Constitutional: Raises questions about expansion of Sixth Schedule protections beyond North-East states.
Key Takeaways
Violence in Leh underscores tensions between local demands and administrative processes.
Sixth Schedule inclusion is central to land, jobs, and cultural protections for Ladakhis.
Statehood would provide greater political and fiscal autonomy, strengthening regional governance.
Ongoing dialogue between Centre and local bodies is critical to prevent escalation.
The protests reflect broader debates on autonomy, identity, and development in newly formed Union Territories.