AI USE IN INDIAN COURTS, NEED FOR GUARDRAILS
TOPIC: (GS2) GOVERNANCE: THE HINDU
In July 2025, the Kerala High Court released India’s first policy on AI use in the district judiciary, laying down safeguards. This comes at a time when courts across India are experimenting with AI tools for transcription, translation, and research, raising questions of ethics, accuracy, and accountability.
Benefits of AI Use in Judiciary
- Improved efficiency – AI tools can help in translation of documents, transcription of hearings, and identification of defects in filings.
- Time-saving – Important in a system burdened with nearly 5 crore pending cases.
- Pilot projects – Some courts already use AI-based transcription and documentation tools on a trial basis.
Concerns and Risks
- Translation and transcription errors: Example: “Leave granted” wrongly translated as “holiday approved.” AI often “hallucinates,” adding words or phrases not spoken.
- Bias in legal research: Search engine bias may hide relevant precedents. Some legal LLMs have generated fake case laws.
- Over-reliance on AI: Judicial reasoning may get reduced to rule-based outputs, ignoring human judgment and context.
- Data and infrastructure issues: Lack of clarity on how sensitive data is stored, accessed, or shared. Courts still function largely on paper; digitisation gaps remain.
- Vendor dependence: Courts may become dependent on private AI firms without strong evaluation frameworks.
Suggested Guardrails for Safe AI Adoption
AI Literacy and Training
- Judges, lawyers, and court staff must be trained not only to use AI tools but also to understand their limitations.
- Judicial academies and bar associations should collaborate with AI experts for training.
Transparency and Consent
- Litigants must be informed if AI is being used in their case.
- Option to opt out of AI-driven processes should be considered.
Procurement Guidelines
- Standardised frameworks to evaluate AI systems before adoption.
- Criteria should include reliability, data safety, explainability, and risk mitigation.
Institutional Support
- The eCourts Project (Phase III) already suggests setting up technology offices.
- Dedicated experts can guide courts in evaluating and monitoring AI use.
Conclusion
AI can be a powerful tool to make justice delivery faster and more efficient. However, without ethical safeguards, transparency, and strong oversight, it risks undermining fairness and human judgment. Courts must remember that technology is only a means — the ultimate purpose is justice, which cannot be compromised.
FOREST RIGHTS CONCERNS IN GREAT NICOBAR PROJECT
TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU
The Nicobarese Tribal Council has alleged that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (A&NI) administration falsely claimed that tribal forest rights were settled under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, for granting clearance to the ₹72,000-crore Great Nicobar infrastructure project.
Background of the Project
- The Great Nicobar Project includes:
- A transshipment port
- An international airport
- A power plant
- A township
- Requires diversion of nearly 13,075 hectares of forest land.
- Project has raised concerns about impact on vulnerable tribal groups and fragile ecosystems.
Key Issues Raised
- Disputed Forest Rights Settlement: The administration issued a 2022 certificate stating that FRA rights were identified and settled. Tribal Council claims the process under FRA has not even started.
- Gram Sabha consent was shown as obtained, but Nicobarese members were not part of the meeting.
Conflict Between FRA 2006 and PAT56
- FRA, 2006: Requires identification of rights and Gram Sabha consent before forest diversion.
- Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act (PAT56): Allows the administrator to divert land directly.
- Administration has argued that FRA implementation is not needed since PAT56 already protects forests.
Concerns of the Tribal Community
- Loss of traditional rights and access to forests.
- Disruption of their culture, livelihood, and relationship with the land.
- Lack of free, prior, and informed consent before project approval.
Government’s Position
- The Centre maintains that due procedure was followed.
- Cites a Gram Sabha meeting of August 2022 as evidence of consent.
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs has said the issue is “being examined.”
Broader Implications
- Legal and Governance Issues: Raises doubts about proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Highlights conflict between development priorities and tribal rights.
- Environmental Concerns: Massive diversion of forest land threatens biodiversity in a fragile island ecosystem.
- Tribal Rights Protection: Reflects challenges in safeguarding the rights of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Shows gaps in consultation and representation of local communities.
FOREST RIGHTS ACT (FRA), 2006:
- Recognition of Rights – Gives legal rights to forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes (FDST) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD) over land and forest resources.
- Types of Rights – Includes individual rights (like land for cultivation) and community rights (like grazing, fishing, and minor forest produce).
- Gram Sabha Role – Empowers Gram Sabha (village assembly) as the authority to decide claims and manage forest resources.
- Conservation with Livelihood – Aims to balance forest conservation with the livelihood and cultural rights of forest-dependent communities.
Conclusion
The Great Nicobar project represents a clash between economic development and tribal rights. While the Centre claims due process, tribal representatives contest the legitimacy of consent under FRA. The case underscores the urgent need for transparent procedures, genuine community participation, and balancing infrastructure goals with tribal and ecological protection.
UN DECLARES FAMINE IN GAZA
TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE HINDU
The United Nations has declared a famine in Gaza, affecting nearly 500,000 people, blaming Israel for “systematic obstruction of humanitarian aid.” Israel has rejected the UN-backed findings, calling them biased.
Background
- Gaza has been under intense conflict for nearly two years between Israel and Hamas.
- Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report confirms famine conditions in Gaza governorate.
- Aid agencies had repeatedly warned of a looming humanitarian crisis due to restricted supplies of food, medicine, water, and fuel.
Scale of the Crisis
- Extent of famine: Affects 500,000 people in Gaza governorate (~one-fifth of the territory).
- Displacement: Nearly 1 million people live in the governorate, most displaced at least once.
- Projected spread: IPC warns famine could extend to Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis by September, covering almost two-thirds of Gaza.
- Blockade impact: Israel blocked aid completely for two months in early 2025, worsening shortages.
UN and International Reactions
- UN Aid Chief: Called the famine “entirely preventable” and blamed Israel for blocking aid access.
- UN Human Rights Chief (Volker Turk): Said using starvation as a weapon is a war crime and could amount to wilful killing.
- UN Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres): Urged a ceasefire, stressing that starvation and death on such a scale cannot be ignored.
Israel’s Response
- Israel dismissed the IPC findings as “based on Hamas propaganda.”
- Defence Minister Israel Katz warned of destroying Gaza City if Hamas does not disarm and release hostages.
- Israel maintains the offensive is key to defeating Hamas and ensuring its own security.
Broader Implications
- Humanitarian angle: Severe food insecurity, mass displacement, and preventable deaths highlight failures in international humanitarian access.
- Legal aspect: Raises questions of war crimes under international humanitarian law.
- Geopolitical concern: Adds pressure on global powers and the UN Security Council to push for ceasefire and aid access.
Conclusion
The famine in Gaza is not just a humanitarian tragedy but also a test of global governance and international law. While Israel defends its security concerns, the UN stresses that starvation as a war tactic violates international norms. Sustainable peace and humanitarian access remain the urgent needs.
STREET DOGS AND SUPREME COURT’S ORDER
TOPIC: (GS2) INDIAN POLITY: THE HINDU
The Supreme Court (August 11, 2025) directed all street dogs in Delhi to be captured and kept in shelters. This raised strong criticism for being unscientific, inhumane, and legally questionable. The Court later stayed its order (August 22, 2025), but the issue has sparked debate on humane and effective solutions.
Problems with the Court’s Order
Unscientific Approach
- Large-scale dog shelters have failed even in developed countries.
- Research shows long-term confinement causes aggression, stress, and spread of diseases.
- Example: U.S. “pound system” led to mass killings and health risks.
Health and Ecological Risks
- Crowded shelters can spread rabies and leptospirosis.
- Disposal of dead animals poses environmental hazards.
- Removal of dogs creates an “ecological vacuum” — dogs from neighbouring States would move in.
- Reduction in scavenger dogs may increase rats and monkeys, worsening public health issues.
Social Concerns
- Street dogs often support the homeless by offering companionship and security.
- The narrative of “dog-lovers vs. poor victims” is misleading; urban poor also benefit from coexistence with dogs.
Governance Diversion
- The focus on dogs hides deeper urban problems such as poor infrastructure, corruption, flooding, inflation, and allegations of electoral malpractice.
- Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has failed to run effective sterilisation programmes.
Humane and Scientific Solutions
Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme
- Proven effective in cities like Jaipur and Jodhpur where sterilisation and vaccination reduced stray dog numbers.
- Supported by WHO and India’s National Action Plan for Rabies Elimination (NAPRE).
- Delhi’s poor results are due to low funding, poor planning, and weak accountability by MCD.
Legal and Constitutional Aspects
- Earlier SC ruling (2024) upheld ABC Rules, 2023 that promote humane management.
- Article 51A(g) of the Constitution directs citizens to show compassion towards living beings.
- State-backed cruelty violates constitutional morality.
Balanced Approach
- Dangerous dogs may be isolated and observed, but mass capture is neither practical nor ethical.
- Evidence-based and targeted interventions are required.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s initial order was a mistake that ignored science and compassion. The real responsibility lies with governance failures, particularly the MCD’s neglect. Humane sterilisation and vaccination, not mass shelters, are the sustainable way to manage stray dog populations and ensure public safety.
INDIA’S VOCATIONAL TRAINING SYSTEM & EMPLOYABILITY
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: INDIAN EXPRESS
India’s vocational training system, one of the largest in the world, continues to face structural and quality challenges despite several government reforms. A new report by the Institute for Competitiveness (2025) highlights the urgent need for demand-driven and market-aligned skill training.
India’s Vocational Training Landscape
- Oversight: Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
- Regulation: National Council for Vocational Education & Training (NCVET).
- Scale:
- 14,000+ Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
- 127+ awarding bodies & 68 assessment agencies.
- Modes: Both formal (ITI, apprenticeships) and informal (on-the-job training, self-learning, hereditary skills).
Key Statistics
- Formal training (age 15–59): Only 4.1% in 2023, up from 1.8% in 2017.
- No training: 65.3% in 2023, though improved from 92.6% in 2011.
- Informal learning rise:
- Hereditary skills: 11.6% (2023).
- On-the-job training: 9.3% (2023).
- Self-learning: 7.1% (2023).
Core Challenges
- Late exposure: Vocational courses start only after school, unlike global practice.
- Dead-end pathways: Limited link to higher education, reducing attractiveness.
- Low enrolment & employability: In 2022, only 48% ITI seats filled; placement rate ~63% (far below Germany/Singapore ~85–90%).
- Quality deficits: Outdated curricula, vacant instructor posts, poor monitoring.
- Social stigma: Vocational careers seen as inferior to white-collar jobs.
- Infrastructure gaps: Lack of modern labs, tools, and skilled trainers.
Current Policy Measures
- PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) – short-term skill courses.
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY) – rural youth skilling.
- National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) – encourages on-the-job learning.
- National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 – integrates vocational education from early schooling; partnerships with industries/ITIs for hands-on training.
- Skill labs & incubation hubs – under Hub-and-Spoke model.
- Employment Linked Incentives (ELI) & ITI Upgradation – focus on infrastructure and employability.
Way Forward
- Early Integration: Skill exposure at school level.
- Seamless Pathways: Implement National Credit Framework to enable mobility between vocational and academic streams.
- Industry-driven model: Courses aligned with local labour market needs; greater role for MSMEs & CSR.
- Public–Private Partnerships: Reduce state-dependence of ITIs.
- Higher investment: Raise expenditure from 3% to 10–13% of education budget, as in advanced economies.
- Outcome monitoring: Employability index to track effectiveness.
- Recognition of informal skills: Validate self-learning and hereditary knowledge.
Conclusion
India’s vocational system has expanded in numbers but struggles with quality, credibility, and industry relevance. A shift from supply-driven to demand-driven skilling, backed by early integration, industry partnerships, and higher investments, is essential to harness India’s demographic dividend.
PIPRAHWA RELICS
TOPIC: (GS1) ANCIENT HISTORY: THE HINDU
Recently, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath announced that the Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha, which returned to India after 127 years, will be restored to their original place in Siddharthnagar district. The state government also plans to redevelop the site into a Buddhist theme park to attract global pilgrims and tourists.
About Piprahwa Relics
- Excavated in 1898 by British archaeologist W.C. Peppé at Piprahwa village in Uttar Pradesh.
- Relics include: ashes of Lord Buddha, bone fragments, gold ornaments, and gemstones.
- These remains were preserved abroad for over a century before their repatriation.
Location and Significance
- Piprahwa village lies in Siddharthnagar district, near Lumbini (Nepal), the birthplace of Buddha.
- Identified with Kapilvastu, the capital of the Shakya clan, linked to Buddha’s childhood.
- The Piprahwa stupa, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), is one of the earliest Buddhist stupas.
Government’s Restoration Plan
- A 20-hectare Buddhist theme park to be developed.
- Features: replica stupa to enshrine relics, meditation zones, and exhibits on Buddha’s early life.
- Aims to integrate Piprahwa into India’s Buddhist tourism circuit.
Importance
- Enhances India’s cultural diplomacy and heritage tourism.
- Reinforces India’s role as the land of Buddha for global followers.
- Promotes conservation of ancient Buddhist traditions.
Conclusion:
The repatriation and restoration of Piprahwa relics not only strengthen India’s cultural identity but also create opportunities for heritage-based tourism and global Buddhist engagement.
COAL GASIFICATION
TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: INDIAN EXPRESS
The Union Minister of Coal and Mines highlighted that although coal is still crucial for India’s energy security, the government is promoting coal gasification as a cleaner alternative to reduce environmental challenges from conventional burning.
What is Coal Gasification?
- Coal gasification is a technology that changes coal into synthesis gas (syngas), made up of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and hydrocarbons.
- Syngas can be used to:
- Generate electricity
- Produce liquid fuels
- Manufacture chemicals and fertilizers
- Unlike direct coal burning, this method leads to lower emissions of particulate matter and pollutants, making it comparatively eco-friendlier.
Government Measures to Boost Coal Gasification
- Auction Reforms: In commercial coal block auctions, firms committing to a set level of gasification receive a 50% rebate in revenue share.
- Target for 2030: India plans to achieve 100 million tonnes (MT) coal gasification by 2030, aiming to diversify coal use and reduce pollution.
- Financial Incentive Scheme (2024): Announced with a budget of ₹8,500 crore. Seeks participation of both public and private players to set up gasification plants across India.
Significance
- Reduces dependence on imported natural gas and crude oil.
- Provides cleaner fuel options while ensuring energy security.
- Encourages industrial growth through fertilizers, methanol, and chemical production.
Conclusion:
Coal gasification is being positioned as a bridge between India’s dependence on coal and its commitment to cleaner energy, supporting both environmental sustainability and economic growth.
NASA DISCOVERS 29TH MOON OF URANUS
TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: INDIAN EXPRESS
NASA, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), has detected a new natural satellite of Uranus. This 29th moon, temporarily named S/2025 U1, adds to the growing knowledge of Uranus’s system.
Key Features of S/2025 U1
- Size: Estimated diameter of only ~10 km, making it one of the smallest moons in the system.
- Orbit: Circles Uranus at a distance of around 56,000 km.
- Naming: The International Astronomical Union (IAU) will assign its permanent name later.
Uranus – Quick Facts
- Position in Solar System: Seventh planet from the Sun; third-largest in size.
- Discovery: Identified as a planet in 1781 by Sir William Herschel, previously mistaken for a star.
- Composition: Classified as an ice giant, mainly made of hydrogen, helium, water, methane, and ammonia.
- Moons: Now has 29 known moons. Among them, five are major moons – Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon.
- Exploration: Only spacecraft visit so far was Voyager 2 in 1986, which provided the first close-up data.
Significance of the Discovery
- Enhances understanding of Uranus’s formation and evolution.
- Adds to scientific knowledge of small celestial bodies in the outer Solar System.
- Demonstrates the capability of JWST in deep space exploration beyond its primary mission of studying galaxies and exoplanets.
Conclusion:
This discovery highlights how advanced telescopes are helping to uncover even tiny objects in distant planetary systems, enriching our knowledge of space science.