08 March 2025 : Daily Current Affairs

1. Plight of prisoners with disabilities needs attention: SC

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 4)

Legal Framework Gaps

• The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, does not include specific provisions to protect disabled prisoners.
• The petition argued that there is no legal framework ensuring reasonable accommodation for inmates with disabilities.

Harsh Prison Conditions

• Disabled prisoners are housed in the same facilities as non-disabled inmates without necessary support.
• Many prison manuals do not mandate ramps, mobility aids, or other accessibility features, violating disability rights laws.

Supreme Court’s Response

• The court acknowledged that this issue has not been previously adjudicated.
• A formal notice was issued to the Union government, signaling the need for reforms in prison facilities.

2. Boost value addition in spices to achieve $10-bn export target by 2030: WSO

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 11)

Spice Export and Value Addition

• India exports 1.5 million tonnes of spices worth $4.5 billion, covering 25% of the $20 billion global spice market.
• Only 48% of Indian spice exports are value-added products, while the rest are whole spices.
• To meet the $10 billion export target by 2030, value-added spice exports should increase to 70%.

Exploring New Opportunities

• India must expand into the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors, as spices are already used in Ayurveda and other medicinal fields.
• Other major spice-producing countries include Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, and China, with Africa emerging as a new player.

Increasing Domestic Production

• Apart from traditional spice-growing states, Odisha, Jharkhand, and the Northeast are becoming key spice producers.
• India’s 15 agro-climatic zones support the cultivation of various spices across different states.

Improving Production and Quality

• Increasing production, reducing costs, and improving quality are essential to boost exports.
• Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) are being trained in pesticide management, water conservation, and hygiene.
• Research organisations are developing high-yielding and climate-resistant spice varieties to enhance productivity.

3. US Supreme Court Rejects Tahawwur Rana’s Plea, Clears Path for Extradition to India

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained)

Analysis of the news:

Rana’s Role in the 26/11 Attacks

• Rana was arrested in 2009 for aiding David Coleman Headley in reconnaissance for the Mumbai attacks and plotting an attack on a Danish newspaper. 
• While acquitted of charges related to India, he was convicted for supporting terrorism in Denmark and Lashkar-e-Taiba, leading to a 168-month prison sentence. 
• Released on compassionate grounds in 2020, his extradition was sought by India under the 1997 India-US Extradition Treaty.

Extradition Treaty and Legal Grounds

• The India-US Extradition Treaty facilitates the extradition of individuals for crimes punishable by over a year in both nations. 
• While political offences are generally excluded, terrorism-related crimes do not fall under this exemption. 
• The US court determined that dual criminality was met for the remaining charges, rejecting Rana’s “double jeopardy” claim.

Limited History of US Extraditions to India

• Only two terror-related extraditions from the US to India have taken place—Charanjeet Singh Cheema (2005) and Kulbeer Singh Kulbeera (2006). 
• The US has historically rejected several requests, including for Rana’s associate David Headley and Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson. 
• Currently, 65 Indian extradition requests remain pending with the US government.

Implications of Rana’s Extradition

• Rana’s extradition marks a rare success in India’s efforts to bring perpetrators of cross-border terrorism to justice. 
• It sets a precedent for future cases and underscores US-India cooperation on counterterrorism. 
• However, challenges remain in securing extraditions of key figures involved in crimes against India.

Conclusion

• The US Supreme Court’s rejection of Tahawwur Rana’s plea clears the way for his extradition to India, marking a significant step in Indo-US legal cooperation on counterterrorism. 
• This case underscores the importance of bilateral extradition treaties in ensuring justice while highlighting the challenges India faces in securing fugitives from foreign jurisdictions. 
• Strengthening diplomatic efforts and closing legal loopholes remain crucial for effective extradition in the future.

4. A Holistic Approach for Cleanliness of River Ganga

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2109078 )

Introduction

• The Namami Gange Programme was launched in 2014-15 as an integrated conservation mission for the rejuvenation of River Ganga and its tributaries.
• The programme initially had a budget of ₹20,000 crore for five years (till March 2021) and was later extended to March 2026 with an increased budget of ₹22,500 crore.
• For 2025-26, the National Ganga Plan has an outlay of ₹3,400 crore to improve sewage treatment, water quality, and industrial waste management.

Ganga: India’s Lifeline

• The Ganga River is a cultural and economic lifeline but faces severe pollution and excessive water usage.
• The Ganga River Basin covers 27% of India’s landmass and supports 47% of its population across 11 states.
• Despite receiving 35.5% of India’s total precipitation, it is the second most water-stressed basin after the Sabarmati Basin.

Vision for Ganga Rejuvenation

• The mission focuses on:
  • “Aviral Dhara” – Ensuring continuous flow.
  • “Nirmal Dhara” – Achieving pollution-free water.
  • Maintaining the geological and ecological balance.
• A Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP) was developed by a consortium of seven IITs, promoting an Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) approach.

Key Interventions

1. Pollution Control (Nirmal Ganga) – Reducing sources of pollution.
2. Improving Flow (Aviral Ganga) – Enhancing ecological health and continuous water flow.
3. Community Engagement (Jan Ganga) – Strengthening public involvement.
4. Research & Policy Support (Gyan Ganga) – Encouraging scientific studies and evidence-based policy-making.

Conservation and Biodiversity Efforts

• Seven biodiversity parks in seven districts of Uttar Pradesh and five priority wetlands in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand have been sanctioned.
• Forestry projects covering 33,024 hectares implemented with an expenditure of ₹398 crore.
• 143.8 lakh Indian Major Carp (IMC) fingerlings released into the Ganga to improve fish biodiversity and dolphin conservation.

Sewerage & Industrial Pollution Control

• 203 sewerage infrastructure projects worth ₹32,613 crore taken up, with 6,255 MLD treatment capacity.
• 127 STPs completed, adding 3,446 MLD capacity.
• Three Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) sanctioned for Jajmau (20 MLD), Banther (4.5 MLD), and Mathura (6.25 MLD), with two completed.

Conclusion

• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) continues to make significant progress in restoring the river’s ecological balance.
• The use of global expertise, sustainable projects, and community engagement is helping to achieve the goal of a clean and thriving Ganga for future generations 

5. “Sarpanch Pati” Culture Under Spotlight in New Digital Campaign

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2109041 )

What is ‘Sarpanch Pati’ Culture?

• ‘Sarpanch Pati’ refers to the unofficial representation of elected women leaders by their male relatives (husbands, fathers, or brothers) in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
• It undermines the constitutional mandate of women’s reservation in PRIs, making them nominal leaders while men wield actual power.
• This practice dilutes women’s political empowerment, preventing them from actively participating in governance and decision-making.

Implications of ‘Sarpanch Pati’ Culture

• Weakens Democratic Representation: Elected women remain passive while male relatives take charge, reducing meaningful participation.
• Hinders Women’s Leadership Growth: Women remain dependent on male family members, preventing leadership skill development.
• Undermines Policy Implementation: Policies addressing women’s issues, healthcare, education, and social welfare are often neglected.
• Reduces Accountability: Since men act as proxies, genuine responsibility and accountability are compromised in governance.

How to Empower Women in Panchayati Raj?

• Capacity Building: Conduct leadership training programs for women representatives to boost confidence and governance skills.
• Legal and Institutional Safeguards: Implement stricter laws to penalize proxy governance and ensure women actively exercise their powers.
• Digital & Technological Interventions: Use technology to promote transparency, ensuring direct participation of women in decision-making.
• Financial Independence: Strengthen financial training and budgetary control for women representatives to promote self-reliance in governance.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Educate communities to challenge gender biases and promote genuine women-led governance. 

Prelims Facts

1. Study Reveals 22% Decline in U.S. Butterflies

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained)

Analysis of the news:

Severe Long-Term Impacts

• Many butterfly species have seen a population drop of over 40%, with monarch butterflies nearing an all-time low. 
• Scientists warn that if the trend continues, half of the butterfly population—and likely other insects—could be lost within a few decades.

An Indicator of Ecological Health

• Butterflies play a crucial role as pollinators and serve as indicators of ecosystem health. 
• Their decline signals broader environmental problems that may impact human survival, agriculture, and biodiversity.

Primary Causes: Climate, Habitat Loss, and Pesticides

• The Southwest U.S. has experienced the steepest decline, with numbers halving in 20 years. 
• Rising temperatures, shrinking habitats, and widespread insecticide use are the leading contributors, with pesticides emerging as the most significant factor.

Potential for Recovery

• Despite the grim findings, experts suggest that butterfly populations can be revived through habitat restoration efforts at local, state, and national levels. 
• Simple actions, such as planting native plants and reducing pesticide use, could aid in reversing the decline.

2. Vanuatu island

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained- Page No. – 16)

Analysis of the news:

About Vanuatu:

• Location: Vanuatu is located in the South Pacific Ocean.
  • East of Australia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands.
• Capital: Port Vila, situated on the island of Efate.
• Geographic Features: The nation comprises 13 principal volcanic islands and many smaller islands, with active volcanoes like Yasur, Manaro, and Garet.
• Colonization: Originally inhabited by Melanesians, it became a joint Anglo-French colony known as the New Hebrides, achieving independence in 1980.
• Climate Change Vulnerability: Vanuatu faces rising sea levels at twice the global average, making it the most at-risk country globally under the UN’s World Risk Index.

Vanuatu’s Citizenship by Investment Program

• Vanuatu offers a “golden passport” scheme that allows individuals to acquire citizenship by making financial contributions to the country. 
• The process is swift, with minimal documentation, and does not require the applicant to visit the nation. 
• The program has become a significant source of revenue, contributing up to 30% of the country’s income.

Advantages of Vanuatu Citizenship

• A Vanuatu passport provides visa-free access to 113 countries and offers tax benefits, including no personal income tax, capital gains tax, or inheritance tax. 
• Additionally, Vanuatu’s loose financial regulations and offshore banking system make it a strategic jurisdiction for wealth management. 
• However, its EU visa-free access was revoked in 2023 due to security concerns.

Vanuatu’s Reputation and Scandals

• Despite its economic incentives, Vanuatu’s golden passport program has been linked to criminal syndicates, money laundering, and questionable applicants, including individuals with alleged ties to organized crime, sanctioned entities, and financial frauds. 
• This has led to increased global scrutiny of its citizenship scheme.

Implications of Lalit Modi’s Decision

• Lalit Modi’s move to Vanuatu raises concerns regarding legal accountability, as the country’s financial secrecy laws and lack of extradition agreements could shield him from legal proceedings in India. 
• His decision highlights the broader issue of economic citizenship being used as an escape route by high-profile individuals facing legal scrutiny.
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check more – 07 March 2025 : Daily Current Affairs