The Assembly polls in Karnataka witnessed a voter turnout of 72.68%.

Topic: GS2.

Context:

• • • The Karnataka Assembly election was conducted peacefully and witnessed a turnout of 72.68%, higher than the 72.36% recorded in 2018, surprising many.

History of voter turnouts in Lok Sabha elections in India:

It is important to note that voter turnout can vary significantly across different states, constituencies, and demographic groups within India

• • • Early Elections (1952-1962): In the first few general elections held after India’s independence, the voter turnout was generally high, with an average of around 45-55%. These elections witnessed significant enthusiasm and participation as people exercised their newly gained right to vote.

• • • High Turnouts (1967-1980): During this period, voter turnouts notably increased, often surpassing 60%. This rise in participation can be attributed to several factors, including increased political awareness and the emergence of regional parties.
    • Emergency Period (1975-1977): The period of the Emergency declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977 saw a decline in voter turnout. The restrictions on civil liberties and the suspension of democratic processes resulted in disillusionment among the public. However, the subsequent elections held in 1977 witnessed a surge in turnout as people expressed their discontent.
    • Period of Fluctuations (1980-1998): The voter turnout during this period varied across elections. Factors such as political circumstances, regional dynamics, and leaders’ charisma influenced the participation levels.
    • Increased Turnouts (1999-2014): In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was a gradual increase in voter turnout. Efforts by the Election Commission of India to enhance voter awareness and participation, along with the growing significance of regional parties, contributed to the rise in turnouts.
    • Recent Elections (2014 onwards): The Lok Sabha elections held in 2014 and 2019 witnessed record-breaking voter turnouts. In 2014, the overall turnout reached around 66.4%; in 2019, it increased to approximately 67.4%. Factors such as increased political mobilisation, extensive campaigning, and the participation of youth and first-time voters played a role in these high turnouts.

What are the reasons for increasing voter turnout?

• • • Awareness and Education: There has been a greater emphasis on voter education and awareness campaigns by the Election Commission of India and other organisations. These initiatives aim to educate citizens about the importance of voting and their rights and responsibilities as voters.
    • Expansion of Democratic Institutions: As India’s democratic institutions have matured, citizens have recognised the value of their vote in shaping the political landscape. The perception that voting can bring about positive change and hold elected representatives accountable has motivated more people to participate in the electoral process.
    • Accessible Registration Processes: Online registration facilities, voter helplines, and mobile voter registration vans have improved the accessibility and convenience of registering as a voter.
    • Political Mobilisation: Extensive campaigns, door-to-door canvassing, public rallies, and social media platforms have played a significant role in encouraging people to vote.
    • Youth Participation: Youth-led initiatives, such as voter registration drives, awareness campaigns, and youth-oriented political discourse, have helped engage and motivate young voters to exercise their franchise.
    • Electoral Reforms: The implementation of electoral reforms, such as the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs), has improved the efficiency and integrity of the voting process. The use of technology has minimised electoral malpractices, increased confidence in the electoral system, and encouraged more people to vote.
    • Rise of Regional Parties: The emergence of regional parties with strong regional identities and agendas has led to increased political engagement among specific communities or regions. These parties have mobilised their support base, leading to higher voter turnouts in their respective strongholds.
    • Social Media and Information Accessibility: The widespread availability of information through the internet and social media platforms has made it easier for voters to access political news, candidate profiles, and party manifestos. This increased accessibility to information has empowered voters and made them more informed about the electoral process.

Conclusion: These factors, combined with the continuous efforts of election authorities and civil society organisations, have contributed to the increased voter turnout in Lok Sabha elections in India.

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HC orders discoms to take steps to prevent the death of an elephant

Topic: GS3.

Context:

• • • The Orissa High Court has directed power distribution companies in Odisha to conduct a survey of villages that have witnessed movement, attacks, or crop destruction by wild animals, as well as those where wild animals have died due to electrocution.
    • Recently, four elephants were electrocuted after coming into contact with live power lines.
    • The court expressed concern over the deaths of 18 elephants and 20 people in man-elephant conflicts over the past two months.

Issue:

• • • The power distribution companies are required to identify instances of illegal hooking of electricity transmission lines and discontinue the practice.
    • The court observed that not enough steps have been taken to prevent elephant deaths due to electrocution in Odisha, despite a Comprehensive Action Plan being available to the distribution companies for nearly two months.
    • Officials from the power distribution companies must hold sensitisation meetings with villagers in coordination with forest officials.
    • The comprehensive action plan includes measures such as barricading transformers, fixing interposing poles, converting bare conductors to aerial bundled cable, maintaining substations, and fitting spikes in electric poles.
      

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      The troubles of India’s aviation industry.

Topic: GS3.

Context:

• • • GoFirst, a low-cost carrier, filed for insolvency, and the aviation safety regulator DGCA directed the airline to stop selling air tickets and issued a show cause notice for its failure to operate safely and efficiently.
    • GoFirst’s fleet was grounded partly due to engine failures by Pratt & Whitney and financial challenges. Other airlines, such as SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Air India, also have grounded aircraft due to various reasons, including engine and spare part issues.
    • The Indian aviation sector has been recovering from the pandemic, with domestic air traffic in March 2023 surpassing pre-pandemic levels. India is projected to have over 140 million passengers in FY2024 and is the third-largest domestic market in terms of seat capacity.
    • Despite this, aviation section is witnessing failures.

Issue:

• • • Financial viability is a challenge for airlines in India. Even before the pandemic, most airlines were facing losses. In addition, consolidation among major players, such as Air India and Vistara under the Tatas, makes it tougher for smaller airlines to compete.
    • High taxes on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) contribute to the significant expenses of airlines, accounting for 40-50% of operational expenses. Provincial taxes imposed by some states further increase costs, making shorter flight routes unsustainable for smaller airlines.
    • Regulatory bottlenecks: Indian aviation policy, such as the 0/20 rule (requiring airlines to have five years of domestic experience and a fleet of 20 aircraft to fly internationally), posed barriers to entry and growth.
    • Cost of Lease: leasing aircraft adds high costs to operations, as leases are denominated in US dollars, and about 80% of India’s total commercial fleet is leased.
    • High Operational Costs: Airlines also bear costs for airport fees, training of airline crew, and inadequate infrastructure, such as Flight Training Organisations and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities.

Conclusion: Supply chain troubles and complex policies affect airlines’ viability and competitiveness in the market. The failure of GoFirst cannot be seen in isolation and it might need some regulatory and policy improvements.

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The uprising of 1857 and Meerut’s role in the first war for India’s Independence.

Topic: GS1.

Issue:

• • • Alamgirpur in Meerut district is the easternmost settlement of the Harappa civilisation and was excavated by YD. Sharma.
    • The pottery found in Alamgirpur is comparable to that of other Harappan sites like Lothal, Ropar, and Rangpur.
    • Meerut is famous for being the starting point of India’s First War of Independence on May 10, 1857.
    • The rebellion was sparked by the introduction of the Enfield rifle and the belief that the cartridges were greased with a mixture of cow and pig fat, which offended both Hindu and Muslim soldiers.
    • The rebellion began when Colonel Smyth ordered cartridges to be distributed to soldiers, and 85 soldiers, including 49 Muslims and 36 Hindus, refused to accept them.
    • The rebels were punished by being stripped of their uniforms and fettered.
    • Placards were seen in the Meerut bazaar calling on Muslims to rise up and slaughter Christians.
    • The native troops revolted, and the rebellion spread quickly.
    • The sepoys from Meerut marched southeast throughout the night and reached Delhi, where they were joined by locals.
    • In Delhi, the working class joined the sepoys in the uprising while the elite weighed their options.
    • The rebellion in Meerut marked the beginning of the Indian Mutiny or Revolt, which VD Savarkar later dubbed the First War of Independence.
    • The name “Meerut” may derive from Maharashtra, the capital of the kingdom of Mayasura, Ravana’s father-in-law.
    • Archaeological excavations at Vidura-ka-tila, located northeast of Meerut, concluded that it was the ancient Hastinapur, the capital of the Kauravas and Pandavas in the Mahabharata.
    • Meerut was ruled by the Scindias before being ceded to the British in 1803.
      

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• Shantiniketan may be added to World Heritage List.

Topic: GS1.

Issue:

• • • Santiniketan, located in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, has been recommended for inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
    • The recommendation was made by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the advisory body of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
    • Santiniketan is associated with Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and is home to the Visva-Bharati University, established by Tagore.
    • The nomination will be formally announced at the World Heritage Committee meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in September 2023.
    • If selected, Santiniketan would be the second cultural symbol from West Bengal to be included on the UNESCO list, following the inclusion of ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.
      

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• A study on sludge finds a high potential for use as fertiliser after treatment.

Topic: GS3.

Issue:

• • • An analysis of sludge from Indian sewage treatment plants (STPs) designed to treat water from the Ganga River found that most of it had high potential for use as fertiliser.
    • However, the sludge requires treatment before it can be safely used on farms or as a potential biofuel due to the presence of heavy metals, industrial effluents, and bacterial contaminants.
    • The National Mission for Clean Ganga, a government initiative, aims to derive livelihood opportunities from the river rejuvenation program through the “Arth Ganga” initiative.
    • The goal is to monetise and reuse treated wastewater and sludge by converting it into usable products such as manure and bricks.
    • Currently, India does not have specific standards classifying sludge as class A or B, as per the United States Environment Protection Agency’s standards.
    • A study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, found that most of the analysed sludge fell into the class B category, which has restricted agricultural applications.
    • Nitrogen and phosphorous levels in the sludge exceeded India’s fertiliser standards, while potassium levels in some samples were lower than recommended.
    • The sludge also exhibited higher levels of total organic carbon, pathogens, and heavy metal contamination compared to recommended standards.
    • The analysis provides essential data for the development of practices for the treatment and safe disposal of sludge in India.