Content :

1. Law of the land
2. Enabling legislation
3. Tackle heatwaves with short- and long-term measures

 Law of the land

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 has triggered significant constitutional debate for altering the governance structure of waqf properties. The Supreme Court’s intervention reflects growing concerns over religious autonomy, minority rights, and secularism in India.

Relevance : GS 2(Polity and Governance)

Practice Question : “The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 raises critical questions about the balance between state oversight and religious autonomy.” Critically examine the constitutional and governance implications of the amendments, with reference to Article 26. (250 Words)

• Removal of “Waqf by User”:
  • Ends recognition of waqf properties established by long-standing usage without formal documentation.
  • Could render undocumented mosques, graveyards, and religious sites vulnerable to de-notification and encroachment.

• Eligibility Clause:
  • Requires that a waqf can be created only by a person who has demonstrably practised Islam for 5 years.
  • Challenges the freedom of religion under Article 25, and restricts voluntary donations based on intent and belief.

• Inclusion of Non-Muslims in Waqf Boards:
  • Permits appointment of non-Muslims to State Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council.
  • Contested as a violation of Article 26(b) – the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs in matters of religion.

Supreme Court Intervention (April 2025)

• Court raised constitutional concerns and recorded the Centre’s assurance not to act on new provisions until May 5.
• Effectively put a temporary freeze on key operational clauses of the new law, avoiding pre-emptive damage.
• Over 100 petitions have been filed, indicating widespread resistance from civil society, legal experts, and religious groups.

Constitutional Issues Involved

Article 26 (Freedom to manage religious affairs):

• Right to manage institutions and properties for religious and charitable purposes.
  • Amendments risk violating group autonomy and secular functioning of religious trusts.

Article 25 (Freedom of conscience and religion):

• Imposing a 5-year faith practice clause infringes on individual freedom and voluntarism in religious acts.

Principle of Secularism:

• State’s proactive role in controlling waqf affairs may violate the doctrine of non-interference in religious institutions.

Potential Impacts on Ground

• Legal Uncertainty:
  • Older religious structures without land records may be challenged or derecognized.
  • Could lead to property disputes, social unrest, and administrative delays in real estate transactions involving waqf land.

• Transparency vs Autonomy Debate:
  • Proponents argue reforms promote transparency, prevent misuse, and bring uniform standards.
  • Critics say such objectives can be achieved without compromising religious rights or excluding community participation.

Key Questions Before the Supreme Court

• Does the exclusion of “waqf by user” violate customary law recognition under Indian jurisprudence?
• Can non–adherents govern religious institutions without violating denominational rights?

Broader Ramifications

• For India’s Secular Framework:
  • Judgment may redefine the limits of state intervention in religious endowments.
  • Sets precedent for handling of Hindu, Christian, Sikh religious trusts and charitable boards.

• For Minorities and Pluralism:
  • Signals the judiciary’s role in safeguarding minority rights and institutional autonomy.

Key Takeaways

• The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 represents a clash between state-led governance reform and constitutionally protected religious autonomy.
• Any law reforming religious endowments must balance transparency with community trust and constitutional fidelity.
• The outcome of the judicial review could become a landmark case on secularism, religious rights, and administrative reform in India.

Enabling legislation

Context and Significance

• First-of-its-kind legislation in India to guarantee direct representation of PwDs in grassroots democratic institutions.
• Reflects Tamil Nadu’s continued commitment to inclusive governance and affirmative action.

Relevance : GS 2 (Governance,  Social Justice )

Practice Question : “Representation is the foundation of empowerment.” In light of this statement, critically examine Tamil Nadu’s move to nominate persons with disabilities to local bodies as a model of inclusive governance.(250 words)

Legislative Provisions

• Two Bills introduced to amend:
  • Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act – nominations to town panchayats, municipalities, and corporations.
  • Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act – nominations to village panchayats, panchayat unions, and district panchayats.

• Total proposed representation:
  • Urban Local Bodies: ~650 PwDs
  • Village Panchayats: ~12,913
  • Panchayat Unions: ~388
  • District Panchayats: ~37
• Current Representation: Only 35 PwDs in urban local bodies – reveals massive underrepresentation.

Constitutional & Policy Backing

• Aligned with:
  • Article 41 – Right to work, education, and public assistance for disabled persons.
  • 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments – grassroots decentralisation and social justice.
  • UNCRPD (ratified by India) – ensures PwD participation in political and public life.
  • RPwD Act, 2016 – recognizes full and effective participation of PwDs in society.

Socio-Political Impact

• Dismantles stigma: Moves beyond tokenism to enable leadership roles for a historically marginalised community.
• Empowerment through decision-making: Inclusion in local governance allows PwDs to influence resource allocation, infrastructure, accessibility, and welfare schemes.
• Encourages societal acceptance and normalization of PwDs in public life.

Challenges and Implementation Caveats

• Risk of proxy leadership: Learning from women’s reservation where husbands acted as de facto sarpanches.
• Need for capacity building:
  • Training in local governance, accounting, e-governance.
  • Ensuring physical and communication accessibility in gram sabhas and council meetings.
• Monitoring mechanism needed to ensure genuine participation and representation.

Broader Democratic Ethos

• Deepens deliberative democracy by ensuring diversity of lived experiences in policy formulation at the grassroots.
• A step towards inclusive citizenship – recognising the political agency of PwDs.
• Could serve as a model for other states, spurring nationwide legislative reform for PwD political inclusion.

Tackle heatwaves with short- and long-term measures

Context and Urgency

• Early onset of heatwaves (2025): March 15 recorded severe heatwaves — 20 days earlier than 2024, showing acceleration in climate anomalies.
• Global warming context:
  • 2024 was the hottest year ever (~1.55°C above pre-industrial levels).
  • India’s December 2022 was the warmest since 1901, showing year-round warming trends.
• India’s growing vulnerability:
  • Increased frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves.
  • India is already among the top five most climate-vulnerable nations (ND-GAIN Index).

Relevance : GS 3(Disaster management )

Practice Question :Heatwaves are no longer rare events but regular crises that demand structural resilience, not just reactive measures. Discuss India’s preparedness and suggest a people-centric heatwave mitigation strategy.(250 words)

Health Impacts of Heat Stress

• Physiological risk:
  • Body’s cooling mechanism fails when external temperature nears 37°C.
  • Leads to multi-organ stress — kidneys, liver, brain.
• Increased morbidity & mortality:
  • Can cause heat exhaustion, heatstroke, dehydration, and death.
• Data gap: Most cities underestimate heat-related deaths due to poor surveillance systems.

Socio-Economic & Equity Dimensions

• Labour productivity:
  • 75% of Indian workforce (~380 million) is heat-exposed.
  • Sectors: Agriculture, construction, informal markets.
  • Estimated 6% of work hours lost in 2023 due to heat.
  • GDP loss: 3–5% annually due to heat stress.

• Agricultural stress:
  • Lower crop yields, reduced livestock productivity, animal deaths.
  • Greater impact on subsistence farmers and marginal landholders.

• Energy demand:
  • Increased power usage → load shedding → industrial losses.

• Gendered impact:
  • Women face cultural constraints — clothing, cooking heat, limited mobility.

• Urban heat inequality:
  • Poor neighbourhoods, especially slums near concrete clusters, experience worse heat.
  • Not all can follow “stay indoors” advice — thermal discomfort indoors > outdoors.

Policy Response: Heat Action Plans (HAPs)

• Early efforts:
  • Ahmedabad (2013) was Asia’s first city with a structured HAP.
  • Now: 23 States and 140 cities have some form of HAP.
  • Supported by National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) & NDMA.

• Core components of HAPs:
  • Early prediction systems (temperature, humidity, heat index).
  • Public awareness campaigns (hydration, cooling methods).
  • Health system preparedness (heat stroke wards, emergency response).
  • Long-term urban interventions (green cover, white rooftops, cool shelters).
  • Heat-related data collection (for targeting & policy refinement).

• Implementation gap:
  • HAPs effective only where multi-stakeholder collaboration exists.
  • Need clear accountability, pre-March activation, and localised vulnerability assessments.

Short-Term Measures Needed

• Immediate action strategies:
  • Hydration points, ORS sachets, electrolyte kits in public spaces.
  • Flexible work timings: early morning/evening shifts for outdoor workers.
  • Cooling shelters: akin to winter shelters, with basic cooling infrastructure.
  • Thermal comfort forecasting: real-time systems to guide school/office schedules.
  • Advisories tailored by geography and income group (not one-size-fits-all).

Long-Term Measures & Structural Reforms

• Urban design:
  • Promote cool roofs, reflective paint, better ventilation.
  • Urban planning to include green infrastructure, heat-mitigating materials.

• Social protection for informal workers:
  • Financial compensation during heat-induced work loss.
  • Explore insurance schemes for climate-linked income disruptions.

• Enhanced data systems:
  • Geotagged mortality data, heat illness records, GIS-based vulnerability mapping.
  • Learn from UK’s Heat Health Alert system — includes night/day max temperature.

• Institutional coordination:
  • Ministries (Health, Labour, Urban Development) + NDMA + local bodies → integrated approach.
  • Community-based orgs + NGOs → critical in last-mile delivery.

Way Forward: Equity, Science, People-Centric Planning

• Equity lens:
  • Heatwaves are not just climate events, but development challenges.
  • Poor, elderly, women, and outdoor workers must be at the core of planning.

• Science-driven policy:
  • Use climate models, epidemiology, urban heat mapping.
  • Need to shift from reaction to resilience.

• Cost-effectiveness:
  • Every ₹1 invested in HAP can save multiple ₹s in emergency care, lost productivity.