THE RTI’S SHIFT TOWARDS A ‘RIGHT TO DENY INFORMATION
TOPIC: (GS2) INDIAN POLITY: THE HINDU
The amendment of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act through the Digital Personal Data Protection Act has sparked concerns, as experts fear it may dilute transparency and restrict access to information.
Background of RTI
- The RTI Act (2005) is based on the principle that government-held information belongs to the citizens.
- The government acts as a trustee of this information and must disclose it unless exempted under specific provisions.
- Section 8 of the Act provides exemptions to protect national security, sovereignty, and individual privacy.
Original Section 8(1)(j)
- Allowed denial of “personal information” only if: It had no relation to public activity, or It was an unjustified invasion of privacy.
- Contained a safeguard: information that cannot be denied to Parliament or State Legislatures cannot be denied to citizens.
- This provision ensured a balance between transparency and privacy.
Amendment by DPDP Act
- Section 8(1)(j) has now been shortened drastically.
- The definition of “personal information” is left unclear. Two interpretations exist: Narrow view: limited to natural persons (individuals). Broad view under DPDP: includes individuals, families, companies, associations, and even the State.
- If the broader view is applied, most government records could be classified as “personal information”.
- DPDP law also overrides other laws in case of conflict and imposes heavy penalties (up to ₹250 crore) on wrongful disclosure, making officers hesitant to share data.
Implications of the Change
- Weakening Public Oversight: Citizens are the best monitors against corruption. Denial of data curtails their ability to question governance.
- Denial of Vital Records: Even basic documents like corrected mark sheets, pension beneficiary lists, or signed official orders may be refused as “personal information”.
- Encouraging Corruption: Information on ghost employees, fake cards, or misuse of funds can be hidden, creating space for unchecked corruption.
- Failure of Larger Public Interest: Though Section 8(2) allows disclosure in larger public interest, in practice it is rarely invoked.
Call for Action:
- Spread awareness through public debates and media.
- Demand political commitments to restore RTI provisions.
- Recognize this as a core democratic issue, not just a technical legal change.
RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT, 2005
Right to information (RTI) Came into force on 12th October 2005. To promote transparency and accountability in government functioning by giving citizens the right to access information held by public authorities.
- RTI is considered a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) (Freedom of Speech and Expression).
Important Features
Right to Seek Information
- Citizens can request information from any public authority (government body, institution, or organization substantially funded by the government).
- Information must be provided within 30 days (48 hours if it concerns life or liberty).
Public Information Officers (PIOs):
- Each public authority must appoint PIOs to handle RTI requests.
Exemptions (Section 8 & 9):
- Certain information cannot be disclosed if it affects national security, sovereignty, foreign relations, trade secrets, or individual privacy.
Appeals Mechanism:
- If information is denied, citizens can appeal to:
- First Appellate Authority (within the department).
- Central/State Information Commissions as the final authority.
- If information is denied, citizens can appeal to:
Penalties:
- PIOs can be fined ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) for unjustified refusal or delay in providing information.
Oversight Body:
- Central Information Commission (CIC) and State Information Commissions (SICs) monitor implementation.
Conclusion
The RTI Act empowered citizens to question governance and curb corruption. Diluting it through broad “personal information” exemptions risks transforming it into a “Right to Deny Information”. Safeguarding transparency is essential for protecting democracy and accountability in India.
PROPERTY RIGHTS, TRIBALS AND THE GENDER PARITY GAP
TOPIC: (GS1) SOCIAL ISSUES: THE HINDU
The Supreme Court in Ram Charan & Ors. vs Sukhram & Ors. (July 17, 2025) ruled that excluding daughters from ancestral property violates their fundamental right to equality.
Background
- Tribal communities in India are largely governed by customary laws in matters of marriage, inheritance, and adoption.
- Unlike Hindu or Christian women, most tribal women (except in matrilineal tribes of the northeast) lack statutory rights to inherit ancestral land.
- The issue links directly to gender inequality, economic empowerment, and land rights in Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities.
Key Case: Ram Charan vs Sukhram (2025)
- Concerned a Gond tribal family in Chhattisgarh where a daughter’s heirs sought partition of ancestral land.
- Trial Court & First Appellate Court: Rejected claim, citing tribal custom excluding women.
- Chhattisgarh High Court: Upheld daughters’ right, saying denial worsens discrimination.
- Supreme Court: Affirmed that excluding daughters is unconstitutional and against gender equality.
Earlier Judicial Positions
- Madhu Kishwar vs State of Bihar (1996): Court upheld customary laws, saying striking them down could cause chaos, thus denying equal inheritance to women.
- Prabha Minz vs Martha Ekka (2022): Jharkhand High Court recognized Oraon women’s property rights as defendants failed to prove existence of a binding custom.
- Kamala Neti vs Land Acquisition Officer (2022): Supreme Court supported women’s rights in tribal property compensation cases, showing a progressive shift.
Challenges
- Customary Laws: In Scheduled Five Area States (Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha), customs deny women inheritance rights.
- Low Ownership: Only 16.7% of ST women own land compared to 83.3% of ST men (Agriculture Census 2015-16).
- Communitarian Property Argument: Often used to deny women rights, but in practice, land sale money rarely benefits the community.
- Fear of Land Alienation: Anxiety that women marrying outside the tribe will lead to loss of tribal land.
- Customs vs Law: Customs must pass tests of continuity, reasonableness, and alignment with public policy—many fail these criteria.
Way Forward
- Separate Tribal Succession Act: Since Hindu Succession Act excludes STs, a codified law tailored for tribal communities is necessary.
- Codification of Tribal Laws: Standardized legal framework can balance gender justice with tribal traditions.
- Strengthening Judicial Oversight: Courts must continue testing discriminatory customs against constitutional guarantees of equality.
- Awareness and Advocacy: Empowering tribal women legally and socially is crucial for narrowing the gender gap.
Conclusion
The recent Supreme Court judgment is a landmark for gender justice among tribal communities. However, without legal codification and policy reforms, tribal women will continue to face exclusion from property rights.
SCAM SPACE AND THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: THE HINDU
A recent deepfake scam in Hyderabad deceived a retired doctor through a fake social media video of the finance minister, highlighting the growing danger of AI-enabled frauds.
Background
- Social media is increasingly being used to promote fraudulent investment schemes.
- Deepfake technology now makes scams more convincing by showing public figures endorsing them.
- Cryptocurrency platforms are often used, exploiting weak regulations and cross-border loopholes.
Factors Behind Rising Scams
- AI-Generated Deepfakes: Fake videos of leaders or celebrities create false trust. Hard for ordinary users to detect manipulation.
- Low Digital Literacy: Despite wide smartphone use, many people cannot identify online fraud. Users are lured by promises of quick profits.
- Regulatory Gaps in Cryptocurrency: Crypto is not clearly regulated like securities in India and many other countries. Fraudsters use global wallets and vanish easily.
- Weak Platform Response: Social media companies publish advisories but act slowly in removing harmful content.
Challenges
- Police units have developed cybercrime capacity but face limits once scams cross national borders.
- Complaints usually surface only when people cannot withdraw fake returns.
- Awareness campaigns are sporadic and not targeted enough.
initiatives to avoid online scams:
- Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning Centre):Launched by CERT-In to detect and clean malware infections in computers and mobile devices.
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: A government portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) where citizens can report cyber frauds, financial scams, and online abuse.
- Digital India Awareness Campaigns: Programs like Cyber Surakshit Bharat and RBI’s RBI Kehta Hai campaign educate people on safe digital practices and fraud prevention.
Way Forward
- Regulatory Standards: Governments must set clear rules for registration, disclosure, and international cooperation to curb fraud.
- Digital Awareness: Promote technical literacy through continuous programs in schools, colleges, and communities.
- Proactive Role of Platforms: Social media firms should detect and remove fraudulent content before it spreads. Stronger accountability is needed since platforms profit from user engagement.
DEEPFAKES
Deepfakes are artificially generated or manipulated videos, images, or audio created using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.
- They replace or alter a person’s face, voice, or expressions to make it look real, even though it is fake.
- They are made using deep learning techniques, especially generative adversarial networks (GANs).
- Common uses include creating fake videos of public figures, false endorsements, impersonation scams, or misleading content.
- While they have some positive uses in films, education, and entertainment, they are often misused for frauds, misinformation, defamation, and cybercrimes.
Conclusion
Deepfake and crypto-based scams are a new-age challenge that combine technology misuse with regulatory loopholes. Unless governments, citizens, and social media platforms work together, such scams will continue to cause heavy financial and social losses.
FIVE YEARS OF BLUE REVOLUTION THROUGH PMMSY
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has completed five years since its launch in 2020.
Background
- The Blue Revolution (2015) was started to improve fish production and modernize the fisheries value chain.
- It achieved progress in productivity and infrastructure but left gaps in post-harvest handling, traceability, welfare, and market access.
- To overcome these, the government launched PMMSY in 2020, adopting a more integrated and comprehensive strategy.
About PMMSY
- Announced in the Union Budget 2019–20 and formally launched in September 2020.
- Objective: Drive a new Blue Revolution with a focus on sustainability, technology, and welfare.
- Focus Areas:
- Increase production and productivity.
- Promote sustainable use of resources.
- Strengthen the fisheries value chain with better storage, transport, and quality control.
- Improve incomes of fishers and create employment opportunities.
- Boost contribution to Agriculture GVA and exports.
- Provide social and economic security to fishers and fish farmers.
Key Achievements in 5 Years
- Fish Production: Increased to 195 lakh tonnes in 2024–25 (up from 141.64 lakh tonnes in 2019–20).
- Global Standing: India became the 2nd largest fish producer in the world, contributing ~8% of global output.
- Exports: Grew from ₹46,662 crore (2019–20) to ₹60,525 crore (2023–24).
- Employment: Generated about 58 lakh livelihoods in the sector.
- Women Empowerment: Provided up to 60% subsidy (₹1.5 crore per project) under beneficiary-oriented activities, empowering 99,000+ women.
- Climate-smart practices: Promoted eco-friendly aquaculture and sustainable fisheries management.
Challenges
- Climate Change: Rising sea temperatures and extreme weather threaten coastal ecosystems.
- Infrastructure Gaps: Cold storage and transport remain insufficient, especially in remote areas.
- Overfishing & Resource Stress: Excessive exploitation risks long-term sustainability.
- Limited Awareness: Many small fishers are still outside formal government schemes.
Conclusion:
The scheme has turned fisheries into a growth engine of the rural economy, making it a key driver of India’s “Blue Economy” vision.
RISING DEATHS FROM NCDS IN INDIA
TOPIC: (GS2) SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HEALTH: THE HINDU
A Lancet study (2025) reported that deaths due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India have increased between 2010–2019.
Key Findings of the Study
- Higher mortality risk: From 2010–2019, NCD-related deaths increased by 2.1% in women and 0.1% in men compared to the 2000–2010 period.
- Probability of dying from NCDs before 80 years of age:
- Women – 46.7% (2001), 46.6% (2010), 48.7% (2019).
- Men – 56% (2001), 57.8% (2010), 57.9% (2019).
- The figures show a slow but steady rise in the NCD burden, especially among women.
What are Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)?
- Definition: Chronic illnesses that are not spread from one person to another.
- Examples: Heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases.
Causes of Rising NCDs in India
- Lifestyle factors: Poor diet, low physical activity, tobacco and alcohol consumption.
- Environmental issues: Urbanization, air pollution (indoor and outdoor), and ageing population.
- Social and economic conditions: Poverty, chronic stress, and changing food habits.
National Initiatives to Tackle NCDs
- National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD): Started in 2010, expanded in 2023; focuses on screening, early diagnosis, treatment, and referral for major NCDs.
- 75/25 Initiative: Launched in 2023 to provide standardized care to 75 million people with hypertension and diabetes by 2025.
- Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: Offers financial coverage for tertiary treatment of NCDs and upgrades PHCs into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs for preventive care.
- Eat Right India Movement: Led by FSSAI; promotes safe, nutritious, and balanced diets and reduces harmful ingredients like trans fats.
- Fit India Movement: Encourages regular exercise, healthy lifestyle choices, and physical activity to prevent NCDs.
Way Forward
- Rising NCD deaths highlight a serious public health challenge for India.
- Strengthening preventive healthcare, lifestyle awareness, and affordable treatment will be crucial.
- Collaboration between government, civil society, and individuals is essential to reduce the NCD burden and achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Conclusion:
This issue shows the urgent need to shift India’s health policy from disease-treatment to disease-prevention and lifestyle improvement.
INDIA’S SPECIAL ECONOMIC PACKAGE FOR MAURITIUS
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
India has announced a Special Economic Package of USD 680 million for Mauritius during the visit of Mauritian PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam to Varanasi in 2025.
Highlights of the Special Package
- Total Value: USD 680 million to support at least 10 major projects.
- Infrastructure Focus: Includes upgrades in ports, airports, roads, and building of new schools and hospitals.
- Key Allocations:
- Around USD 440 million (grant + Line of Credit) for large-scale projects.
- Construction of a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower at SSR International Airport.
- Expansion of Motorway M4 for connectivity.
- Maritime Cooperation: Joint redevelopment of Port Louis port to make it a regional maritime hub.
- Financial Linkages: Both sides to enable local currency trade after the successful launch of UPI and RuPay cards in Mauritius.
- Cultural Aspect: Package highlights people-to-people ties, as nearly 70% of Mauritians are of Indian origin.
India–Mauritius relations in 4 simple points:
- Strong Historical & Cultural Ties – Diplomatic relations began in 1948, strengthened by shared culture, diaspora, and historical bonds.
- Trade & Investment – Bilateral trade in 2022–23 was USD 554 million; Mauritius is a major FDI source for India and signed CECPA (2021), India’s first trade pact with Africa.
- Defence Partnership – India is Mauritius’ key defence partner, supporting with patrols, aircraft, helicopters, and a USD 100 million Line of Credit for defence needs.
- Space & Technology Cooperation – A 2023 MoU enables joint satellite development, showing growing collaboration in high-tech areas.
Strategic Importance of Mauritius for India
- Location: Situated in the Indian Ocean, key for maritime security and sea-lane safety.
- Agaléga Island: Strategically located 1,100 km north of Mauritius; India helped build an airstrip and jetty in 2024.
- Countering China: China’s FTA with Mauritius (2021) enhances its presence in Africa; India uses deeper ties to balance this.
- Blue Economy: Vital partner for fisheries, offshore energy, and maritime resources.
- Regional Role: Active member of IORA, contributing to regional cooperation.
Concerns in the Relationship
- Tax Treaty Misuse: Earlier loopholes in DTAA allowed round-tripping and money laundering.
- Security Challenges: Evolving geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific require constant vigilance.
- China’s Growing Footprint: China’s Belt and Road projects in Mauritius increase strategic competition.
Way Forward
- Expand defence and security cooperation, including joint training and counter-terrorism.
- Strengthen maritime security and regional connectivity.
- Enhance economic ties through digital payments, local currency trade, and infrastructure development.
- Deepen people-to-people linkages to build long-term goodwill.
Conclusion:
In essence, Mauritius remains a cornerstone of India’s Indian Ocean strategy, where development cooperation blends with strategic partnership to counter regional challenges.
OPPORTUNITY COST OF EXCESSIVE MILITARISATION
TOPIC: (GS3) DEFENCE: THE HINDU
The United Nations has warned that rising global defence spending could be redirected to end poverty, hunger, and support climate adaptation, underlining the trade-offs of excessive militarisation.
Global Militarisation Trends
- Concentration of Spending – The US, China, Russia, India, and Germany account for nearly 60% of worldwide defence budgets, creating an uneven global security order.
- Nuclear Stockpile – Nine nuclear-armed states collectively hold around 12,241 warheads (2025), deepening the risk of escalation.
- Regional Build-ups
- Europe: Sharpest growth, up by 17% in 2024, mainly due to the Ukraine war.
- Asia-Pacific: Arms race driven by the US-China rivalry and India’s strategic commitments.
- Middle East: Among the highest per-capita defence spenders, fuelled by prolonged conflicts.
Opportunity Costs of Militarisation
- Developmental Trade-offs : Just 4% of global defence budgets could wipe out hunger by 2030. 10% could ensure universal healthcare and primary education.
- Redirecting 15% ($387 billion) could fully cover climate adaptation needs of vulnerable nations.
- Arms Race and Insecurity – One nation’s defence build-up triggers rival spending, creating a security dilemma without ensuring real peace.
- Humanitarian Concerns – Military funding reduces resources for poverty alleviation, nutrition, and essential services, prolonging suffering.
- Environmental Impact: Military industries contribute nearly 5% of global CO₂ emissions, more than civil aviation. Developed countries spend 30 times more on defence than on climate finance, undermining collective climate security
Case Studies of Conflict Impact
- Ukraine-Russia War – Since 2022, emissions from warfare and reconstruction have released 175 million tonnes of CO₂.
- Gaza Reconstruction – Rebuilding efforts may emit around 60 million tonnes of CO₂, equal to the annual output of nations like Portugal or Sweden.
Way Forward
- Rebalance Budgets – Allocate part of defence cuts (peace dividend) towards education, healthcare, renewable energy, and disaster preparedness.
- Strengthen Global Commitments – Developed nations must scale up ODA and climate funds to help poorer countries.
- Prioritise Diplomacy – Investing in dialogue, conflict prevention, and mediation reduces the need for costly militarisation.
DECENTRALISED FINANCE (DEFI)
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU
Recently, concerns have been raised that Decentralised Finance (DeFi) platforms are being misused by terrorist organisations to raise funds, build infrastructure, and expand their networks.
What is DeFi?
- Definition – A financial system based on blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies that allows direct transactions between individuals and businesses.
- No Intermediaries – Unlike banks or brokers, DeFi eliminates middlemen, reducing costs and speeding up processes.
- Key Components – Operates through blockchains, stablecoins, smart contracts, decentralised applications (D-Apps), and digital wallets.
Features of DeFi
- Direct Peer-to-Peer Transactions – Money can be sent or received instantly using smart contracts.
- No Account Requirement – Users can access services with just a password, without address, phone, or email verification.
- Multiple Wallets – Individuals can create and use several crypto wallets without restrictions.
- Wide Range of Services – Provides savings, investments, lending, borrowing, insurance, and remittance facilities.
- Unrestricted Access – Anyone with internet access can use DeFi platforms without censorship.
- Full Control of Assets – Funds are stored in digital wallets, accessible anytime without reliance on banks.
Significance
- Empowers users with greater financial independence.
- Encourages faster, cheaper, and borderless transactions.
- Raises regulatory concerns due to anonymity and potential misuse.
Conclusion:
DeFi holds promise for financial innovation and inclusion but also poses serious security and regulatory risks if left unchecked.