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All High Courts must disclose time taken by judges to deliver verdicts: Supreme Court
Three out of four Indians believe climate change is affecting them: Pew Survey
Why India’s road safety system keeps failing: Supreme Court flags structural flaws
Union Cabinet clears new royalty rates for critical minerals
India ranks 9th worst-affected by extreme weather in Climate Risk Index 2026
India’s TB incidence falls by 21%: WHO Global TB Report 2025
India–Botswana sign cheetah translocation pact under Project Cheetah
All HCs should upload details of time taken by judges to deliver verdicts: SC
Why in News?
The Supreme Court directed all High Courts to publicly disclose data on how long judges take to pronounce verdicts after hearings are reserved.
The order arose during a plea by four life convicts (ST/OBC) whose appeals were pending before the Jharkhand High Court for over 2–3 years after being reserved for judgment.
Relevance
GS 2 – Polity & Governance
Separation of powers, judicial accountability, transparency in institutions.
Right to speedy trial and constitutional morality.
GS 4 – Ethics
Ethical governance, accountability of public functionaries, performance integrity in institutions.
Judicial Delays in Pronouncing Verdicts
No statutory timeline:
Neither the Constitution nor procedural laws fix a specific deadline for delivering judgments.
Conventionally, judgments should be pronounced within 2–6 months after being reserved.
Ground reality:
Many High Courts and even the Supreme Court often delay judgments beyond a year.
Reasons include heavy caseload, complexity of cases, or judicial transfers/retirements.
Supreme Court’s Observations (Bench: Justices Surya Kant & Joymalya Bagchi)
Judicial transparency must extend beyond case listings and hearings to the timeliness of judgments.
Directed High Courts to:
Publish data on:
Number of reserved judgments.
Average time taken to pronounce them.
Date of pronouncement and upload on court websites.
Purpose: Ensure accountability, efficiency, and public confidence in judicial functioning.
Justice Surya Kant (CJI-designate) emphasised:
“Let everybody know how many judgments have been reserved and pronounced by each judge.”
Legal and Institutional Context
Article 21 – Right to Speedy Justice:
Delay in judgment delivery violates the constitutional guarantee of a fair and timely trial.
Supreme Court in Anil Rai v. State of Bihar (2001) held that judgments must ordinarily be delivered within six months of being reserved.
Judicial Accountability:
A critical element of judicial ethics and transparency, central to good governance and public trust.
Article 235:
Empowers High Courts to oversee judicial administration — including discipline, efficiency, and performance of subordinate judges.
Causes Behind Delay in Verdict Pronouncements
Caseload Pressure: India’s courts handle over 4.5 crore pending cases (as of 2025).
Limited Bench Strength: Chronic vacancies in High Courts (~25–30% unfilled).
Complexity of Cases: Constitutional and commercial matters demand extensive reasoning.
Administrative Burdens: Judges also manage non-judicial tasks (rosters, transfers, committees).
Lack of Monitoring Mechanisms: No uniform data tracking on reserved or pending judgments.
Implications of the Supreme Court’s Direction
Transparency Boost:
Public access to judgment timelines enhances judicial credibility.
Enables performance assessment of judges.
Institutional Accountability:
Encourages High Courts to streamline case management and reduce pendency.
Public Trust:
Citizens gain visibility into how efficiently justice is being delivered.
Systemic Reform Precedent:
May lead to formal judicial performance metrics and National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) integration.
Challenges Ahead
Implementation:
Courts need standardised reporting formats and regular updating of websites.
Resource Gaps:
IT infrastructure and manpower in smaller High Courts remain limited.
Judicial Independence Concerns:
Performance tracking must not compromise judicial autonomy or create “league tables” of judges.
Data Accuracy:
Risk of inconsistent reporting unless centrally monitored (e.g., by e-Committee of Supreme Court).
Way Forward
Codify Timelines: Institutionalise a maximum 6-month limit post-reservation, as per Anil Rai guidelines.
Integrate with NJDG: Real-time data on reserved and pronounced judgments.
Judicial Training: Capacity building in case management and judgment writing.
Periodic Audits: Conduct performance audits via High Court registries.
Balance Transparency with Independence: Ensure accountability without public shaming of individual judges.
Significance
Reinforces Article 21’s guarantee of speedy justice.
Advances judicial reform through transparency — a step toward citizen-centric governance.
Strengthens public confidence in the judiciary, making it more accountable and data-driven.
Three out of four Indians believe climate change is affecting them
Why in News?
A Pew Research Center survey (Jan–Apr 2025) covering nine middle-income countries found that Indians show the highest willingness globally to make lifestyle changes to counter climate change, with consistently high concern across age groups and strong faith in international climate action.
Relevance
GS 3 – Environment & Climate Change
Public participation in climate action; behavioural adaptation to environmental challenges; LiFE Mission.
GS 2 – Governance / International Relations
Role of public perception in policy success; global cooperation on sustainable development.
Survey Overview
Countries surveyed: Argentina, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Turkey.
Objective: To gauge public perception of climate change, willingness for behavioural change, and trust in global action.
Period: January 8 – April 21, 2025.
Key Findings for India
Uniform Willingness Across Age Groups:
Over 75% of Indians across all age groups (18–34, 35–49, 50+) were ready to make “a lot” or “some” lifestyle changes.
Contrasts with other nations where older groups showed much lower willingness.
Perception vs. Action Gap Narrow:
Even among those who said their area isn’t affected by climate change, ~35% were willing to make major changes — 2nd highest globally.
Indicates moral and preventive motivation, not just reactive concern.
Optimism About Global Action:
Over 70% of Indians believe international measures will significantly reduce climate impacts.
Reflects trust in multilateral frameworks like UNFCCC, COP processes, and global technology transfer.
Top Environmental Concerns (2025):
Drought – Most cited (over 40%), though declining since 2015.
Heatwaves – Rising sharply to 26%, showing growing awareness of temperature anomalies.
Other concerns: erratic rainfall, flooding, crop losses.
Comparative Global Insights
Other middle-income countries show age and perception divides:
Older populations in Brazil, Turkey, and South Africa are less willing to alter habits.
Those not directly affected by climate change are less motivated to act.
India thus stands out for broad-based climate consciousness, across age, geography, and experience.
Reasons Behind India’s High Willingness
Lived Experience of Climate Stress:
Recurring droughts, erratic monsoons, and heatwaves make climate impacts visible.
Cultural and Community Ethics:
Traditions of “sustainable living” and “collective responsibility”.
Media & Government Campaigns:
Initiatives like LiFE Mission (Lifestyle for Environment), Swachh Bharat, and Mission Amrit Dharohar promoting behavioural change.
Public Trust in Collective Solutions:
India’s leadership role in ISA, COP30 commitments, and green tech diplomacy enhances faith in global cooperation.
Implications
Policy Leverage:
Strong domestic willingness can accelerate adoption of energy-efficient technologies, public transport, and renewables.
Behavioural Economics Perspective:
Public readiness opens pathways for incentive-driven environmental policies.
Global Soft Power:
India’s proactive citizen response enhances its credibility in global climate negotiations.
Concerns and Gaps
Awareness ≠ Action: Translating intent into sustained behavioural change remains a challenge.
Socioeconomic Divide: Willingness may not translate into practice among low-income groups due to cost barriers.
Data Reliability: Self-reported willingness may not fully reflect ground-level behavioural adaptation.
Way Forward
Policy Integration: Embed LiFE mission outcomes in education, urban planning, and industry codes.
Behavioural Nudges: Use choice architecture — subsidies, rewards, carbon points — to sustain eco-friendly habits.
Community-Based Adaptation: Strengthen local resilience projects (water harvesting, agroforestry).
Public-Private Collaboration: Scale up citizen-led sustainability initiatives.
Significance
Demonstrates India’s citizen-level climate consciousness, crucial for meeting Net Zero 2070 targets.
Shows that climate action is becoming democratised — beyond government policy to everyday life.
Reinforces India’s moral leadership in climate negotiations — linking personal responsibility to planetary outcomes.
Why does India’s road safety system keep failing?
Why in News?
On November 10, 2025, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of two major road accidents in Phalodi (Rajasthan) and NH-163 (Telangana), killing 33 people.
The Court highlighted India’s recurrent road safety failures, despite years of policy efforts.
India recorded over 1.7 lakh road deaths in 2023, reaffirming its status as the world’s deadliest road network.
The Magnitude of the Problem
1.7 lakh fatalities and 4.4 lakh injuries (2023) – among the highest globally (NCRB 2024).
India accounts for ~10% of global road deaths, though it has only 1% of the world’s vehicles.
Crashes kill more Indians annually than major diseases like TB or AIDS.
Licensing & Training Failures
Systemic Weakness:
Licensing treated as an administrative formality, not a safety filter.
Untrained drivers can easily obtain licences through brokers or corrupt channels.
No standardised driver training:
Commercial drivers lack structured, scientific instruction in vehicle control, fatigue management, or hazard perception.
Post-licence negligence:
No periodic skill or health reassessment.
Fatigued, visually impaired, or ill drivers operate heavy vehicles unchecked.
Reform Imperative:
Implement mandatory simulator-based and certified driver training.
Create a national digital licence registry linking training history and penalties.
Enforcement Deficit
Core causes: Speeding, overloading, lane indiscipline, drunk driving.
Policing weaknesses:
Manual enforcement—inconsistent, corrupt, and resource-poor.
Limited use of automated systems (ANPR, speed cameras, e-challans).
Weak data integration—violations rarely result in penalty recovery.
Judicial push:
Supreme Court has directed States to adopt electronic enforcement standards, but compliance is patchy.
Way Forward:
Full deployment of ITMS (Integrated Traffic Management Systems).
AI-based monitoring of speeding and lane behaviour.
Infrastructure Deficiencies
Unsafe road design:
Outdated engineering prioritised speed over safety.
Poorly banked curves, missing barriers, blind intersections, and poor illumination are common.
Unforgiving roads:
Even minor driver errors result in fatalities due to hazardous road conditions.
Maintenance & planning failures:
Broken medians, unmarked construction zones, and encroachments increase risk.
Pedestrian neglect:
13% of all fatalities are pedestrians; sidewalks and crossings are rare or encroached.
Best-practice model:
Zero Fatality Corridor (ZFC) – Mumbai–Pune Expressway:
Data-driven design + enforcement + trauma response cut crash deaths by 50%.
Post-Crash Trauma Care
Golden Hour Problem:
Survival often depends on care in the first hour, not the impact.
Ambulance disparity:
Rural India faces delays >1 hour; even cities lack trained paramedics.
Facility gaps:
Local hospitals often lack trauma specialists, blood banks, and resuscitation gear.
Legal proposal:
A Right to Trauma Care Law could mandate:
Time-bound emergency response standards,
Coordinated trauma networks,
Accountability for delay or denial of care.
Model Initiatives:
SaveLIFE Foundation’s Emergency Response Model, Tamil Nadu’s 108 Ambulance Network.
Structural Problem – Siloed Governance
Fragmentation:
Licensing (Transport Ministry), infrastructure (MoRTH/NHAI), trauma care (Health Ministry) operate separately.
Lack of coordination:
Road safety needs a unified command—linking engineering, enforcement, and emergency care.
Institutional reform:
Empower National Road Safety Board (NRSB) as an apex body for integrated policy and monitoring.
Root Causes
Administrative apathy and fragmented accountability.
Weak data culture — poor crash investigation and absence of real-time analytics.
Over-prioritisation of speed and throughput over human life.
Low civic discipline and lack of public awareness on road ethics.
Way Forward
Systemic Integration: Unified command for transport, police, and health.
Design Safety First: Adopt global Safe System Approach — roads built to absorb human error.
Evidence-based Engineering: Replicate Zero Fatality Corridor model nationwide.
Professional Training: Mandatory driver certification; AI-based licensing tests.
Right to Trauma Care: Legal framework for emergency response time.
Public Awareness: National behaviour-change campaigns under Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan.
Significance
Road safety is both a public health and governance challenge.
Preventing crashes aligns with SDG 3.6 (reduce road injuries and deaths by 50% by 2030).
A transparent, accountable safety ecosystem enhances India’s human capital productivity and global road safety ranking.
Rationalisation of Royalty Rates for Critical Minerals
Why in News ?
The Union Cabinet approved new royalty rates for critical minerals — graphite, caesium, rubidium, and zirconium — to promote auction and domestic mining of these strategically vital resources essential for EVs, semiconductors, and renewable energy technologies.
Relevance : GS 3 – Economy / Science & Tech / Environment
Critical Mineral Security and Supply Chains
Government Policies for Mineral Development
Sustainable Mining and Resource Efficiency
Background
Critical minerals are those essential for economic and national security but with high supply chain vulnerability due to import dependence.
India currently imports many such minerals, especially from China and Africa, leading to strategic risks.
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowers the government to fix royalty rates.
New Royalty Structure (Approved by Cabinet, Nov 2025)
Mineral
Previous Royalty Basis
New Royalty Rate
Rationale
Graphite (<80% carbon)
Per tonne basis
4% of Average Sale Price (Ad valorem)
Encourages transparency and revenue alignment with market price
Graphite (≥80% carbon)
Per tonne basis
2% of Average Sale Price
Supports high-quality domestic production
Caesium
Not previously specified
2% of Average Sale Price (based on contained metal)
Promotes exploration; essential for atomic clocks, oil drilling fluids
Rubidium
Not previously specified
2% of Average Sale Price (contained metal)
Used in electronics, photoelectric cells
Zirconium
Not previously specified
1% of Average Sale Price
Used in nuclear reactors, ceramics, alloys
Significance
Facilitates Auctions: Enables transparent and predictable bidding for new mineral blocks under the auction regime.
Promotes Domestic Production: Reduces import dependency in critical sectors like electronics, defence, clean energy.
Boosts ‘Critical Mineral Mission’: Supports India’s efforts under the National Critical Minerals Strategy (2023).
Investor Confidence: Ad valorem basis ensures royalty linked to actual market value, not fixed rates, improving fairness.
Challenges
Limited Exploration: Geological Survey of India (GSI) data indicates India’s limited reserves for rubidium and caesium.
Environmental Clearances: Mining of rare minerals often faces regulatory and ecological hurdles.
Supply Chain Integration: Domestic extraction must be matched by refining and processing capacity.
Global Context
India is aligning with global efforts by countries like Australia, the U.S., and Japan, which are building critical mineral supply alliances to reduce dependence on China.
The India-Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership (2023) aims to secure key inputs for energy transition technologies.
Way Forward
Expand exploration under NMET (National Mineral Exploration Trust).
Encourage public–private partnerships in critical mineral value chains.
Integrate with PLI schemes for EV batteries and electronics to create end-use demand.
Strengthen recycling and circular economy for rare minerals.
India Ranks 9th Worst-Affected by Extreme Weather — Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026
Why in News:
The Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026 by Germanwatch (released at COP30, Belém, Brazil) ranked India 9th among countries most affected by extreme weather events between 1995–2024, highlighting the rising human and economic toll of climate change.
Relevance : GS 3 – Environment, Disaster Management, Climate Change
Climate Change Impacts on India
Global Climate Reports (Germanwatch CRI)
Adaptation & Resilience Strategies
Loss and Damage Fund at COP30
Key Findings (Global)
Period Covered: 1995–2024
Extreme Events: 9,700+ globally
Deaths: 832,000+ people
Affected Population: ~5.7 billion
Economic Losses: $4.5 trillion (inflation-adjusted)
Top Affected Countries: Haiti, Philippines, Pakistan, Myanmar, Mozambique, Puerto Rico, Bangladesh, Thailand, India (9th)
India-Specific Impacts
Recurring Disasters: Floods, cyclones, droughts, and increasingly severe heatwaves.
Regional Concentration:
Floods & Cyclones: East Coast (Odisha, WB, Andhra Pradesh)
Droughts: Central and Western India
Heatwaves: Indo-Gangetic Plains, Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra
Economic Cost: Crop losses, infrastructure damage, energy demand spikes, and displacement.
Recovery Gap: Frequent events occur before full recovery, especially in vulnerable regions.
About Germanwatch & CRI
Germanwatch: Bonn-based NGO advocating global equity and climate justice.
CRI Objective:
Quantifies the impact of extreme weather using mortality, GDP loss, and affected population.
Highlights loss and damage suffered by developing countries to push for climate finance and adaptation support.
Significance
Reinforces that developing nations, though least responsible for emissions, bear the highest adaptation burden.
Strengthens the case for Loss and Damage Fund operationalisation at COP30.
India’s ranking signals urgent need for climate-resilient infrastructure and early warning systems.
Challenges for India
Inadequate adaptation financing and local resilience mechanisms.
Urban heat islands intensifying heatwaves.
Agricultural vulnerability — monsoon variability impacting yields.
Poor coordination in disaster risk management and relocation.
Policy & Institutional Response
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC, 2008) – Mission-mode approach (Solar, Water, Green India, Sustainable Agriculture).
State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs) – local adaptation.
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) – India-led global initiative.
Loss and Damage Fund (COP28–COP30) – under operationalisation; India a key voice for developing countries.
Way Forward
Integrate climate risk assessment into planning and budgeting.
Enhance heatwave and flood early-warning systems.
Expand climate insurance for farmers and coastal communities.
Prioritise resilient urban design and nature-based solutions.
India’s TB Incidence Falls by 21% — WHO Global TB Report 2025
Why in News:
The WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 highlighted that India’s TB incidence declined by 21% (2015–2024) — from 237 cases per lakh to 187 per lakh, nearly double the global rate of decline (12%). This marks one of the steepest reductions globally among high-burden nations.
Relevance : GS 2 – Health, Governance, Social Justice
Government Schemes (TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan)
Public Health Infrastructure & Disease Control
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
Role of WHO Reports in Policy Evaluation
Key Data & Achievements
TB Incidence:
2015 → 237 per lakh
2024 → 187 per lakh (↓21%)
Global Decline: 12% (India nearly double).
Treatment Coverage:
2015 → 53%
2024 → 92%, with 26.18 lakh patients diagnosed (of estimated 27 lakh).
“Missing Cases” Reduced:
2015 → ~15 lakh
2024 → <1 lakh (remarkable detection efficiency).
TB Mortality:
2015 → 28 per lakh
2024 → 21 per lakh (↓25%).
Treatment Success Rate:
India: 90%
Global Average: 88%.
MDR-TB: No significant rise reported.
India’s Interventions & Innovations
TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (launched Dec 2024):
Screened 19 crore vulnerable individuals.
Detected 24.5 lakh TB cases, including 8.6 lakh asymptomatic.
Innovative Measures:
Digital surveillance (Ni-kshay portal) for real-time case tracking.
Decentralised diagnostics: Expanded use of GeneXpert, TrueNat, and AI-driven X-ray screening.
Community-based screening & awareness drives through NGOs and ASHA networks.
Nutrition support under Nikshay Poshan Yojana.
Private sector engagement for early reporting and adherence.
Global & Domestic Context
Global TB Scenario (WHO):
Still one of world’s top infectious killers (~10 million new cases annually).
COVID-19 had reversed earlier gains; India’s recovery outpaced global trends post-2021.
India’s Goal:
Eliminate TB by 2025 (five years ahead of global SDG target of 2030).
Supported by National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) under MoHFW.
Challenges Ahead
Rural & marginalised populations — under-detection and undernutrition-linked vulnerability.
MDR-TB management — high treatment cost and adherence issues.
Stigma and delayed health-seeking behaviour.
Sustainability of screening and nutritional support schemes.
Significance
Demonstrates India’s public health success through technology, decentralisation, and mass mobilisation.
Strengthens India’s case as a global model for community-driven infectious disease control.
Highlights importance of synergising health, nutrition, and digital governance.
Way Forward
Consolidate TB Mukt Bharat gains with stronger primary healthcare integration.
Scale up preventive therapy for household contacts.
Intensify research on TB vaccines (e.g., BCG replacement candidates).
Strengthen nutrition and social protection for TB-prone groups.
India–Botswana Cheetah Translocation Pact
Why in News:
On November 12, 2025, India and Botswana formally announced a cheetah translocation pact, under which eight cheetahs will be relocated from Botswana to India as part of Project Cheetah. The agreement was finalised during President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to Botswana, marking a significant milestone in India–Africa conservation diplomacy.
Relevance
GS 3 – Environment & Biodiversity
Project Cheetah and Wildlife Conservation
Biodiversity Diplomacy and International Cooperation
India–Africa Partnership in Sustainable Development
GS 2 – International Relations
India–Botswana Bilateral Relations
South–South Cooperation and Global South Leadership
Key Highlights
Agreement Signed: Between India and Botswana to translocate eight cheetahs to India.
Symbolic Handover: Botswana President Mokgweetsi Duma Boko symbolically handed over the big cats to President Murmu in Gaborone, the capital.
Timeline: The cheetahs will arrive in India after undergoing quarantine procedures, likely within a few months.
Destination: To be relocated to an Indian wildlife reserve under Project Cheetah, expanding the genetic diversity of India’s cheetah population.
Significance for Botswana
Biodiversity Diplomacy: Enhances Botswana’s role as a key conservation partner in Africa.
Legacy of Success: Botswana hosts one of the world’s largest wild cheetah populations (~2,000–2,500), known for robust conservation policies.
Strategic Soft Power: By partnering with India, Botswana strengthens its global image in wildlife management, eco-tourism, and sustainable conservation.
Economic Angle: India is a major trading partner, especially in diamonds, with potential expansion in renewable energy and digital cooperation.
Political Context: Reaffirms Botswana’s commitment to South–South cooperation and India–Africa strategic ties beyond trade.
India–Botswana Cooperation
Focus Areas:
Agriculture & renewable energy
Health, education & digital development
Defence & affordable housing
Climate and biodiversity action
Diplomatic Milestone: The pact follows the signing of a Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations to institutionalise dialogue.
Upcoming Plans: Establishment of Indian diplomatic mission in Botswana by 2026.
Project Cheetah Context
Objective: Reintroduce the Asiatic cheetah’s ecological role using African cheetahs.
Launched: 2022, under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Current Source Countries: Namibia (2022), South Africa (2023), now Botswana (2025) — expanding the African cooperation network.
Previous Success: 20 cheetahs already relocated to Kuno National Park (Madhya Pradesh); births of cubs mark early success.
Challenge: Mortality due to adaptation stress and prey limitation; new genetic stock aims to stabilise the population.
Strategic and Diplomatic Relevance
India’s Broader Africa Policy:
Strengthens India–Africa partnership in line with the India–Africa Forum Summit objectives.
Positions India as a conservation leader in the Global South.
Promotes science-led ecological diplomacy.
Soft Power & Development Diplomacy: Symbolic of India’s model of cooperative sustainability, not extractive engagement.
Way Forward
Ensure ecological suitability and prey base in release sites.
Strengthen India–Botswana scientific collaboration on wildlife genetics and disease control.
Build joint eco-tourism and conservation technology platforms.
Establish long-term monitoring using radio collars and satellite data.