Content :
More Good News Than Bad in Delhi’s Fertility Rate Dip
A Tragedy Recorded for Posterity: Inscription Near Temple in Karnataka Lists Drought Deaths in 1539
Progress Should Not Just Be Fast but Future-Proof
3-Year Rule: A Setback to Judiciary Aspirants
M.R. Srinivasan, a Key Architect of India’s Nuclear Programme, No More
Kurma Mela: The Science of the Mass Nesting of Olive Ridley Turtles
More good news than bad in Delhi’s fertility rate dip
Context : Delhi has recorded the lowest Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India at 1.4 in 2021, marking a 26.3% decline since 2011. This shift reflects changing social dynamics, economic pressures, and lifestyle factors in the urban population.
Relevance : GS 1(Society) ,GS 2(Social Issues)
Key Data Highlights
Delhi’s TFR in 2021: 1.4 (lowest in India).
Delhi’s TFR in 2011: 1.9 → a 26.3% decline over a decade.
National average TFR: 2.0.
Highest TFR: Bihar at 3.0.
Positive Factors Behind the Decline
Women’s Empowerment:
More women are financially independent and making individual reproductive choices.
Better education and workforce participation among women delaying childbirth.
Delayed Fertility Trends:
Fertility has shifted to ages 30–44, with declining births in 15–29 age group.
Couples now prioritize careers and financial stability before family planning.
Urban Living Constraints:
Migrant couples lack family support (e.g., grandparents), deterring multiple children.
High cost of living: childcare, education, and nanny expenses discourage large families.
Health Awareness & Access:
Improved maternal and infant health services influencing reproductive decisions.
Access to family planning services through ASHAs and public hospitals.
Challenges & Concerns
Infertility & Lifestyle Diseases:
Rise in PCOS and infertility linked to sedentary lifestyles, poor diet, and stress.
Long working hours and pollution contribute to health-related reproductive challenges.
Economic Pressures:
Inflation makes child-rearing costly, leading couples to opt for a single child.
Families prefer quality upbringing over quantity due to limited income.
Changing Social Norms:
Increasing number of couples voluntarily choosing not to have children.
Sociological Insights
Reflects a transitioning urban society where individual choice, career goals, and economic rationality shape reproductive behavior.
Marks a shift from family-driven to woman-driven fertility decisions.
A tragedy recorded for posterity: inscription near temple in Karnataka lists drought deaths in 1539
Key Highlights of the Discovery
A 16th-century Kannada inscription was discovered near Chandrashekara temple, Guttala (Haveri district, Karnataka).
Dated August 18, 1539 CE, it records 6,307 deaths due to drought (bara) — India’s first known epigraphic record of a humanitarian disaster.
The deceased were buried by Marulaih Odeya, depicted in a stone sculpture carrying bodies in a basket.
Relevance : GS 1(History , Inscriptions) ,GS 3(Disaster Management)
Historical and Cultural Significance
The inscription is unique and rare, documenting the exact human toll of a natural calamity — a detail often absent in traditional literature.
It enriches India’s epigraphic heritage and contributes to historical memory of socio-environmental crises.
Socio-Economic and Humanitarian Insight
Reflects the devastating impact of drought on medieval agrarian society.
Shows evidence of community action and ritualistic piety in disaster response — burials were performed for religious merit.
Offers a glimpse into the social role of individuals and rulers (e.g., Timmarasa Svami and god Basaveshwara) during crises.
Research and Analytical Value
Opens avenues for comparative studies on climatic disasters and community resilience in Indian history.
May assist scholars in reconstructing climatic patterns, demographic changes, and administrative responses over time.
Adds depth to environmental history and disaster anthropology.
Broader Context
Part of over 1,000 inscriptions documented by ASI in 2024–25 across India.
Over 100 new inscriptions discovered this year alone, showing the continued importance of field epigraphy.
Conclusion
A landmark inscription blending history, art, environment, and society.
It bridges the gap between archaeology and environmental history, marking a forgotten tragedy in stone for posterity.
Progress should not just be fast but future-proof
Context and Urgency
India faces escalating climate risks: rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, floods, droughts, and crop failures threaten millions.
Over 80% of India’s population lives in climate disaster-prone districts (World Bank data).
These climate physical risks (CPRs) pose systemic threats to economic stability, public health, and national security.
Relevance : GS3(Climate Change)
Nature of Climate Physical Risks (CPRs)
CPRs include acute shocks (floods, heatwaves) and chronic stresses (shifting monsoons, prolonged droughts).
Climate projections (long-term) differ from weather forecasts (short-term) and are vital for proactive adaptation.
Effective management of CPRs requires long-term planning rather than reactive measures.
Global Climate Action: Mitigation vs Adaptation
Global efforts are split between mitigation (emission reduction) and adaptation (building resilience).
Adaptation is increasingly necessary worldwide due to intensifying climate impacts, not just in the Global South.
Despite its importance, funding is disproportionately allocated to mitigation, overlooking adaptation measures like resilient infrastructure.
Investing $1 in adaptation yields a $4 return by reducing economic losses and disaster recovery costs (UNEP).
Framework for Assessing CPRs
CPR risk = function of hazard (climate events), exposure (who/what is at risk), and vulnerability (capacity to withstand/recover).
This framework underscores that climate risk is multifaceted, involving environmental and socio-economic dimensions.
Regulatory and Reporting Developments
Financial regulators worldwide are moving from voluntary to mandatory climate risk disclosures.
India’s Reserve Bank is integrating climate risks into its regulatory framework.
The IFRS ISSB S2 standard sets global expectations for climate risk disclosure, linking CPR assessments to business continuity.
India’s Current Challenges
India’s climate risk assessments are fragmented across multiple agencies and methodologies, lacking standardization.
Existing tools and studies (e.g., flood maps, vulnerability atlases) are valuable but not unified or centrally accessible.
Global climate models often fail to capture India’s hyper-local climate realities, limiting accuracy.
This fragmentation hinders informed policymaking and business decision-making.
Initiatives and Way Forward
India has initiated a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) aligned with the Paris Agreement, with an Adaptation Communication submitted in 2023.
The upcoming NAP report aims for district-level granularity across nine thematic sectors.
A robust, India-specific CPR assessment tool is urgently needed to unify data and methodologies.
Such a tool should combine:
Localized climate modelling,
Granular risk assessment,
Centralized climate risk data repository,
Transparent, science-based iterative processes.
This will enable:
Public sector to design resilient policies and infrastructure,
Private sector to assess value chain risks and meet investor demands.
3-year rule: a setback to judiciary aspirants
Background & Supreme Court Judgment
On May 20, 2025, a three-judge Bench led by CJI B.R. Gavai reinstated the mandatory 3 years of legal practice to be eligible for the subordinate judicial services examination.
The Court relied largely on the majority opinion of High Courts favoring the three-year rule but did not present empirical data proving the ‘lower quality’ of fresh law graduates.
The decision marks a return to a previously contested rule, reversing the 2002 Supreme Court ruling that had scrapped this requirement.
Relevance : GS 2(Judiciary)
Historical Context
1958 Law Commission Report (14th LCI):
Recommended 3-5 years of practice for state judicial service eligibility.
For All India Judicial Service (AIJS), no prior experience was required; practical skills to be developed through training.
1992 All India Judges’ Association case:
Supported AIJS recommendations; allowed fresh graduates for central-level judicial services.
1993 Review:
Emphasized 3 years’ practice essential for lower judiciary due to judicial responsibilities involving life, liberty, and property.
1996 Justice Shetty Commission:
Found States mostly complied with the 3-year rule, some with even longer experience requirements.
Highlighted delay in recruitment ages (27-30 years) because of the rule.
2002 Supreme Court decision:
Abolished the 3-year rule citing failure to attract the best talent; bright graduates found judicial service unattractive after 3 years of practice.
Rationale for the Rule
Supreme Court believes:
Practical experience helps judges handle courtroom decorum, complex procedures, and diverse stakeholder perspectives.
Maturity, empathy, and patience improve with experience.
Concerns about lack of training or real-world practice in fresh graduates entering judicial services directly.
Challenges & Criticism of the 3-Year Rule
Talent Drain
NLU graduates prefer high-paying corporate jobs over low-paid, slow judicial services.
High education costs (₹12-40 lakh) and loans deter candidates from waiting for judicial entry
Economic & Social Barriers
Financially weaker groups (SC/ST/OBC) need early income, can’t afford delayed careers.
Junior lawyers earn low stipends (~₹15,000-20,000), making 3 years’ practice financially tough.
Impact on Women
Experience requirements hinder women facing maternity/career breaks.
Women constitute 38% of district judiciary and excel in exams (e.g., Bihar).
Age & Eligibility Mismatch
Exams require 5-6 years education + 3 years practice, making candidates older and vulnerable.
Irregular exam schedules cause delays and uncertainty.
Practical Disconnection
Candidates want judicial service but don’t see legal practice as viable.
States struggle to fill higher judiciary posts due to poor exam results.
Alternative Proposals & Recommendations
Enhance Training, Don’t Restrict Entry
Recruit fresh graduates with extended training/probation (2+ years).
Attach trainees to senior judges/lawyers for practical experience.
Examination Reform
Replacerotelearning with scenario-based questions.
Emphasize judgment writing and practical skills.
Attract Young Talent
Offer better career prospects and financial incentives.
Hold frequent judicial exams to shorten waiting times.
Balanced Approach
Blend academic excellence with rigorous on-the-job training instead of mandatory prior experience.
M.R. Srinivasan, a key architect of India’s nuclear programme, no more
Personal and Professional Background
M.R. Srinivasan (1930–2025) passed away at age 95 in Udhagamandalam.
Joined the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1955, beginning a distinguished career spanning over six decades.
Relevance : GS 4(Ethics and Personalities)
Early Career and Contributions
Worked closely with Dr. Homi J. Bhabha on India’s first nuclear research reactor, Apsara, which achieved criticality in August 1956.
Appointed Principal Project Engineer in 1959 for the construction of India’s first atomic power station.
Became Chief Project Engineer of the Madras Atomic Power Station in 1967, playing a key role in its development.
Leadership Roles
Director of the Power Projects Engineering Division, DAE in 1974, overseeing nuclear power projects nationwide.
Chairman of the Nuclear Power Board in 1984, responsible for planning, execution, and operation of nuclear power plants.
Appointed Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy in 1987.
Founder-Chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) in 1987.
Achievements in Nuclear Power Development
Under his leadership, 18 nuclear power units were developed:
7 operational
7 under construction
4 in planning
Instrumental in expanding India’s nuclear energy capacity and infrastructure.
Recognition
Awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 for his pivotal role in India’s nuclear programme.
Overall Impact
M.R. Srinivasan is regarded as a key architect of India’s nuclear energy programme.
His contributions significantly advanced India’s scientific and technological capabilities in nuclear energy.
Mentored generations of scientists, leaving a lasting legacy on India’s nuclear landscape.
Kurma mela: the science of the mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles
Overview of Olive Ridley Turtles and Mass Nesting (Arribada)
Olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) are a vulnerable sea turtle species known for synchronized mass nesting events calledarribada (Spanish for “arrival”).
Odisha’s Rushikulya beach witnessed a record-breaking seven lakh turtles nesting in March, highlighting its ecological importance.
Despite some local population growth, IUCN estimates a 30-50% global decline in Olive Ridley numbers since 1960.
Primary nesting sites are along the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America; Odisha hosts three major nesting beaches — Gahirmatha, Devi, and Rushikulya.
Relevance : GS 3(Environment)
Ecological and Biological Factors Behind Nesting
Hatchlings imprint on the local geomagnetic field of their birth site, enabling them to return decades later with remarkable precision — a behavior known as philopatry.
Other ecological cues influencing nesting site choice include:
Cold-core eddies that enrich nearby waters with nutrients.
Salinity, land slope, rainfall, and predation risks.
Nesting sites tend to be preferred if many turtles have nested there previously, reinforcing site fidelity across generations.
Challenges and Conflicts at Nesting Sites
As turtle populations grow but nesting beach sizes remain limited, competition arises — later arrivals may dig up and destroy existing nests.
Broken or disturbed eggs emit olfactory cues that attract predators, increasing nest vulnerability.
This survival strategy (mass nesting and synchronized arrivals) paradoxically increases risks of egg predation.
Impact of Temperature and Sex Ratio
In sea turtles, temperature determines hatchling sex (warmer beaches produce more females).
Rising global temperatures may skew sex ratios toward females, potentially reinforcing the multiplier effect in arribada events.
Similar research on Olive Ridley turtles is ongoing.
How Mass Nesting Originates and Evolves
Initial arribadas are irregular, as female turtles choose nesting sites without fixed patterns.
Females unable to reach their natal beach may create new nesting sites, imprinting hatchlings on these locations.
The species’ survival depends on such wanderers who establish new arribada beaches, preventing extinction from overcrowding.
Conservation and Genetic Concerns
Modern conservation efforts include artificial incubation and beach protection, aiding population recovery.
However, protecting weaker individuals who might not survive naturally may reduce the population’s genetic resilience over time.
Role of Human Communities and Tourism
Local fisherfolk and villagers in Odisha play a crucial role in guarding nests and preventing egg poaching.
However, turtle tourism poses risks: crowds with bright lights, selfies, and physical disturbance (e.g., sand scooping, sitting on turtles) disrupt nesting behavior and could affect turtles’ long-term memory and site fidelity.
Scientists are beginning to recognize turtles’ cognitive and emotional sensitivity, emphasizing the need for ethical tourism practices.
Ethical and Conservation Imperatives
The priority is balancing conservation, ecological balance, and ethical responsibility, rather than focusing solely on population numbers or rescue operations.
Olive Ridley turtles’ resilience is extraordinary but not limitless.
Humans must safeguard ecological conditions and allow turtles privacy and minimal disturbance during nesting.
