Need for Early Warning Systems in the Himalayas

Source: TH 

Why in News?

The rising frequency of disasters in the Himalayan region has underscored the urgent need for robust Early Warning Systems (EWS) to predict and mitigate such events. 

What is an Early Warning System (EWS)?

• About: An Early Warning System (EWS) is a framework designed to detect, predict, and communicate the risk of hazards in advance, allowing timely action to reduce loss of life and property. 
• Multi-Hazard Early Warning System: Multi-hazard early warning systems address several hazards that may occur alone or simultaneously. 
  • Increasing the availability of multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information is one of seven global targets set by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. 
• Key Components: 
  • Risk Knowledge: Understanding hazard-prone areas. 
  • Monitoring & Forecasting: Using sensors, satellites, and AI for real-time data. 
  • Dissemination: Rapid communication of warnings to authorities and communities. 
  • Response Capability: Local preparedness and evacuation measures. 

What is the Need for EWS in the Himalayas? 

• Rising Disaster Vulnerability: A Down To Earth report notes that of 687 disasters recorded in India (1900–2022), about 240 occurred in the Himalayas - up from just five between 1902 and 1962. 
  • The region frequently faces landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, earthquakes, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), affecting millions across 12 Himalayan states and UTs. 
• Impact of Climate Change: There is a rapid glacial retreat and permafrost melt, which increases flood and slope instability. 
  • A 2024 Climate Change Journal study warns that 90% of the Himalayas could face year-long droughts if global warming reaches 3°C. 
• Tectonic and Geological Fragility: The Himalayas remain tectonically active as the Indian and Eurasian plates continue to collide. 
  • Major fault lines (Dhaulagiri, Indus-Ganga) in Seismic Zones IV and V trigger frequent earthquakes, landslides, and avalanches like the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. 
• Glacial, Hydrological, and Rainfall Hazards: Thousands of glaciers and glacial lakes pose risks of GLOFs, as seen in the 2023 South Lhonak Lake disaster in Sikkim. 
  • Cloudbursts and extreme rainfall events cause flash floods, e.g., Chamoli and Uttarkashi (2021). 
  • Deforestation, hydropower projects, and unregulated construction (e.g., Joshimath subsidence, Char Dham project) further weaken slope stability.

What are the Challenges in Implementing EWS in the Himalayas?

• Complex Terrain: The rugged and glaciated landscape of the Himalayas makes it extremely challenging to deploy and maintain technologies such as drones, radars, and sensors for effective early warning coverage. 
• Limited Data Infrastructure: There is a scarcity of ground-based observation stations, and many existing monitoring systems are outdated, leading to data gaps. 
• High Costs: Setting up and operating satellite-based communication systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven forecasting tools require significant financial investment, which often limits large-scale implementation. 
• Institutional Silos: Poor coordination among key agencies such as the NDMA, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and respective State governments hampers integrated disaster management efforts. 
• Community Awareness Gaps: Local communities often lack adequate understanding of early warning alerts and response protocols, reducing the effectiveness of the systems in preventing casualties. 
• Funding Constraints: Preventive and preparedness measures like EWS often receive less financial priority compared to post-disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts. 
• Cross-Border Data Sharing Issues: Limited cooperation with neighboring countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, and China hinders real-time sharing of transboundary hazard data, affecting timely regional warnings. 

Way Forward 

• Integrated National Mission and Research Support: Establish a National Mission for Himalayan Early Warning Systems under the NDMA with dedicated funding and a research institute. 
• Leverage Technology: Utilise AI and machine learning to analyse real-time satellite data and set up automatic weather stations across valleys and glacial basins. 
• Community-Based EWS: Involve local volunteers and panchayats to ensure quick dissemination and understanding of alerts. 
• Cross-Border Cooperation: Create regional data-sharing mechanisms with Nepal, Bhutan, and China to monitor transboundary hazards, like the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) created for tsunamis.  
• Hazard Mapping: Develop district-level hazard zonation maps for scientific land-use planning. 
• Recommendations: The government can restrict construction in geologically unstable zones and prioritise vegetation conservation in landslide-prone areas, as recommended by the Mishra Committee in 1976. 
  • Disaster Management can be integrated into the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution as recommended by the J.C. Pant Committee.  
• Global Case Study: Successful mountain EWS initiatives like Cirenmaco Lake in the Central Himalayas (China), where unmanned boats monitor lake levels and ice collapses through satellite data, and Blatten Village in the Swiss Alps, where early alerts prevented glacier-collapse fatalities can offer valuable insights.  
  • Likewise, global examples such as Japan’s Earthquake EWS, Indonesia’s Tsunami EWS, and Switzerland’s Alpine Radar Network show that combining robust infrastructure with community participation can make the Himalayas safer and more resilient. 

Conclusion 

An effective Early Warning System (EWS) can save lives, safeguard livelihoods, and support India’s commitment to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action). The future of the Himalayan ecosystem, often called the “Third Pole,” relies on proactive, science-driven, and collaborative disaster management efforts.

Drishti Mains Question Discuss the increasing vulnerability of the Himalayan region to climate-induced disasters. How can Early Warning Systems (EWS) strengthen India’s disaster preparedness?

Contempt of Court in India

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

The recent controversy over derogatory remarks made against the Chief Justice of India and the Supreme Court(SC) has sparked a debate about the limits of free speech and the administration of justice in India.  

• The demand to initiate contempt proceedings against those responsible has brought the issue of contempt of contempt to the forefront.

What Amounts to Contempt of Court in India, & What are the Landmark Judgments Related to It? 

• Contempt of Court Act, 1971: In India, contempt of court is defined in the Contempt of Court Act, 1971 (enacted based on the recommendations of the HN Sanyal Committee 1963), which divides contempt into two categories: 
  • Civil Contempt: Defined as willful disobedience of any court order, decree, or judgment, or breach of an undertaking given to the court. 
  • Criminal Contempt: Defined as actions that scandalize or lower the authority of any court, or interfere with judicial proceedings.  
    • This includes the publication of materials (in any form—written, spoken, or visual) that can damage the court’s reputation or hinder the administration of justice. 
• Constitutional Basis: The SC and High Courts(HC) are designated as courts of record under Articles 129 and 215, respectively.  
  • A court of record maintains its decisions for future reference and possesses the inherent power to punish for contempt, as outlined in the Contempt of Court Act, 1971. 
• Objective: To uphold the authority, dignity, and effective functioning of the judiciary by preventing acts that disrespect, obstruct, or undermine the courts, thereby ensuring their independent and fair operation without interference. 
• Initiation of Contempt Proceedings: The process for starting contempt action is specifically defined in the Contempt of Court Act, 1971. 
  • Suo Motu Power: The HC or SC can initiate proceedings on its own motion (suo moto) if it believes a contempt has been committed. 
  • Third-Party Petition: A third party can also file a petition, but it requires the prior consent of the Attorney General (for the Supreme Court) or the Advocate General (for a High Court). 
• Punishment: The Act provides that a person found guilty of contempt of court may face simple imprisonment up to six months, a fine up to Rs 2,000, or both.  
  • However, the court may exempt the accused if a satisfactory apology is offered. 
• Landmark Judgments Related to Fair Criticism vs. Contemptuous Criticism: It is generally recognized that fair criticism of a court’s judgment does not constitute contempt. However, when such criticism crosses the limits of fairness and undermines judicial authority, it may be treated as contemptuous.  
  • In Ashwini Kumar Ghosh v. Arabinda Bose (1952), the SC held that fair criticism is permissible, but any attempt to erode the court’s authority is punishable.  
  • This view was reaffirmed in Anil Ratan Sarkar v. Hirak Ghosh (2002), where the court emphasized that the power to punish for contempt must be exercised with restraint and only in cases of clear and serious violations. 
  • In M.V. Jayarajan vs. High Court of Kerala (2015), the SC held that using abusive language in public speeches while criticizing a court amounts to criminal contempt.  
  • Similarly, in Shanmugam @ Lakshminarayanan vs. High Court of Madras (2025), the Court emphasized that the purpose of contempt punishment is to uphold the administration of justice. 
• Relevance for Democracy: The judiciary upholds state priorities and the sanctity of justice. While citizens and media can critique courts, misrepresentation or abusive criticism that undermines authority, interferes with justice, or harms democracy is prohibited.

How Can Free Speech and the Contempt of Court Be Balanced in India? 

• Protecting Robust Criticism: The balance can be maintained by permitting strong criticism of the judiciary’s functioning to promote accountability, while restricting malicious or baseless allegations of corruption or bias that erode public confidence. 
• Preserving Judicial Authority: Fair criticism of a judgment’s reasoning or outcome is protected, but personal attacks on a judge’s character or integrity are not, as judges need protection from vilification to ensure impartial functioning. 
• "Truth" Defense as a Shield for Public Good: Section 13 of the Contempt of Courts Act protects truthful, public interest criticism, allowing evidence-based scrutiny of the judiciary. However, the burden of proof lies on the accuser, making it a strong but limited defense. 
• Using Contempt Power as a Last Resort: Courts should treat contempt powers as a weapon of last resort, exercising them with caution and restraint, while ensuring order compliance and preventing obstruction of justice. 

Conclusion 

Contempt of court protects the authority, dignity, and independence of the judiciary. While fair criticism is allowed, actions that undermine or obstruct justice are punishable, balancing expression and judicial integrity. 

Drishti Mains Question: Examine the constitutional and statutory provisions governing contempt of court in India.

150th Anniversary of India’s National Song

Source: PIB 

Why in News? 

The Prime Minister inaugurated year-long celebrations marking 150 years of Vande Mataram on 7^th November 2025. The national song “Vande Mataram” composed by Bankimchandra Chatterji, is believed to have been written on Akshaya Navami on 7th November 1875. 

What are the Key Facts About Vande Mataram? 

• Vande Mataram: Also pronounced “Bande Mataram,” It is composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Vande Mataram was first published in the literary journal Bangadarshan on 7th November 1875 and later included in his immortal novel Anandamath (1882).  
  • Set to music by Rabindranath Tagore, it became a powerful symbol of India’s cultural and political identity, embodying unity, sacrifice, and devotion. 
• National Song Status: First two verses were adopted in 1937 as India’s National Song by the Congress Working Committee. 
  • On 24^th January 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, announced that while Jana Gana Mana would be the  National Anthem, Vande Mataram, for its key role in the freedom movement, would be honoured equally as the National Song. 
  • India’s Constitution does not explicitly mention a national song. However, Article 51A(a) asks citizens to respect the Constitution, National Flag and National Anthem. 

Vande Mataram - Song of Resistance & Collective Consciousness 

• Vande Mataram became the battle cry of resurgent nationalism, symbolising devotion to the motherland and resistance against colonial rule. 
  • The British recognised its ability to unite people, and in many places, banned its public singing or display. 
• Adoption by Congress: In 1896, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore sang Vande Mataram at the Kolkata session of the Indian National Congress. Soon, its first two stanzas became a routine part of Congress gatherings. 
  • It was also sung during the proclamation of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind. 
  • At the Varanasi session of the Indian National Congress (1905), the song 'Vande Mataram' was adopted for all-India occasions. 
• Bande Mataram Sampradaya: Formed in October 1905 in North Calcutta to promote devotion to the Motherland. 
  • Members held Prabhat Pheris every Sunday, singing Vande Mataram and collecting voluntary donations. 
• Bande Mataram-A English Daily: In August 1906, the English daily Bande Mataram was started under Bipin Chandra Pal, with Sri Aurobindo later joining as joint editor, it became a major nationalist voice, spreading ideas of self-reliance, unity, and resistance to colonial rule. 
  • Thinkers like Sri Aurobindo believed Vande Mataram carried spiritual force and awakened collective consciousness, making its recitation both a political and spiritual act. 
• Vande Mataram During Partition of Bengal: Vande Mataram was first used as a political slogan on 7th August 1905 during student processions in Calcutta’s Town Hall, sparking the swadeshi and anti-partition movement in Bengal. 
  • In 1905, during the anti-partition movement in Bengal, nearly 40,000 people gathered at Calcutta Town Hall and sang Vande Mataram in protest.  
  • Its influence was so strong that Lord Curzon ordered police to arrest anyone who sang it, highlighting its political impact. 
• Vande Mataram Movement of Gulbarga: It was a major student-led protest in the Hyderabad–Karnataka region.  
  • After the British banned the song in November, 1938 students from colleges such as Osmania University and Gulbarga University defiantly sang it, leading to house arrests and expulsions.  
  • The British deployed police across campuses to contain the movement. 
• Influence on Indian Revolutionaries Abroad:  In 1907, Madam Bhikaji Cama raised the tricolour flag for the first-time outside India in Stuttgart, Berlin. The words Vande Mataram were written on the flag. 
  • In August 1909, when Madan Lal Dhignra was hanged in England, his last words before he went to the gallows were “Bande Mataram.” 
  • In 1909, Indian patriots in Paris undertook the publication of a magazine called Bande Mataram from Geneva. 
  • In October 1912, Gopal Krishna Gokhale was welcomed in Cape Town with a grand procession chanting “Vande Mataram.”

India Celebrates 100 Years of Hockey

Source: PIB 

Why in News?  

Hockey India celebrates 100 years of Indian Hockey (1925–2025) with nationwide events on 7th November, led by a major ceremony at New Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. 

How has Indian Hockey Evolved Over the Last 100 Years? 

• Origins of Hockey: Hockey dates back nearly 4,000 years, with early references in Iran, Egypt, and Greece, while the modern game emerged in the UK, where formal rules were drafted in 1876. 
  • The two major forms of Hockey are field hockey and ice hockey. Field hockey is played on an artificial pitch, while ice hockey is played by teams of skaters on an ice rink. 
• Arrival in India: Hockey arrived in India in the 1850s under British rule and quickly grew popular, leading to the first Hockey club in Calcutta (1855).  
  • Domestic tournaments like the Beighton Cup (Calcutta) and Aga Khan Tournament (Bombay) further popularised the sport. 
  • The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), the country’s first governing body for the sport was founded on 7th November 1925, one year after the formation of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). 
• Apex Governing Body: Hockey India (HI) formed in 2009 after merging the IHF (mens) and Indian Women’s Hockey Federation, and act as an apex governing body for hockey in India.  
  • HI was recognised as a National Sports Federation in 2014.  
  • It is affiliated to FIH, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) and runs long-term development programmes to strengthen national teams. 

India’s Hockey Achievements 

• Golden Era (1928–1956): India became the world’s most successful hockey nation, winning six consecutive Olympic golds (Amsterdam 1928, Los Angeles 1932, Berlin 1936, London 1948, Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956). 
  • As of 2025, India went on to become the world’s most successful hockey nation with haul of 13 Olympic medals (8 Gold, 1 Silver, and 4 Bronze).  
• World Cup Glory (1975): India has won the Hockey World Cup once, in 1975 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  
• Regional Dominance (1980s–Present): India have won four Men’s Asia Cup hockey titles, second only to South Korea, with their most recent victory coming in the 2025 edition held in Bihar, India. 
  • India holds all three continental titles (the Asian Games, Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) and the Asia Cup) becoming the first men’s team to achieve this. 
• Dhyan Chand & Legacy: India’s 1926 New Zealand tour revealed Dhyan Chand (the “Wizard of Hockey” and widely regarded as the greatest ever). The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna now honours his legacy as India’s highest sporting award. 
  • National Sports Day is observed annually on 29^th August to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dhyan Chand. 
• Icons: India’s hockey legacy shines through icons like Balbir Singh Sr, Mohammad Shahid, Dhanraj Pillay, PR Sreejesh, Harmanpreet Singh, and Savita Punia, whose skill and leadership shaped the sport across eras. 
• Contemporary Performance: The women’s team achieved a notable 4^th-place finish at the 2020 Olympics 
  • In current FIH rankings, as of July  2025 the India men’s team is ranked 5^th and the women’s team 9^th.

Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary: India’s Third Cheetah Site

Source: IE 

Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary (NWS) in Madhya Pradesh is being prepared as India’s third cheetah site.  

• Unlike Kuno and Gandhi Sagar, where cheetahs were introduced into predator-free landscapes, Nauradehi already has about 25 tigers along with wolves, wild dogs, panthers, and crocodiles, making it the first site where cheetahs must share space with apex predators. 

Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary 

• Location: It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, declared in 1975. The entire Sanctuary is situated on the upper Vindhyan plateau within the Deccan Peninsula biogeographic region. 
• Connectivity: NWS acts as a corridor for Panna Tiger Reserve and Satpura Tiger Reserve while indirectly connecting Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve via Rani Durgawati Wildlife Sanctuary. 
• Habitat & Forests: The area is dominated by Tropical Dry Deciduous forests of the central Indian monsoon zone. 
• Flora: Teak is the main species, along with Saja, Dhaora, Bhirra, Mahua, Tendu, Ber, Bel, Gunja, and Amla.  
• Fauna: It hosts tiger, leopard, wild dog, sloth bear, and Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes), alongside nilgai, chinkara, spotted deer, sambar, and blackbuck.  
  • The Indian wolf is recognised as the sanctuary’s keystone species, reflecting its strong canid presence. 
  • Birdlife exceeds 170 species, and crocodiles occur in the Bamner river. 
• Rivers & Drainage: Three fourth of Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary falls in the Yamuna (Ganges) basin and one fourth of the sanctuary falls in the Narmada basin. 
  • The Kopra River, Bamner River, Bearma River, which are tributaries of the Ken River, are the major rivers of this protected area 
• Geology & Soils: Vindhyan sandstone dominates NWS, alongside Lameta and Deccan Trap formations.  
  • Soils range from red and black to alluvial, shaping varied dry forest and grassland vegetation.

Read more: Project Cheetah and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary

Sudan Civil War

Source: IE 

Sudan is gripped by a devastating civil war that has derailed its democratic transition and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. 

• Roots of the Conflict: The war stems from a power struggle between two rival military factions — the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti).  
  • The 2019 ouster of dictator Omar al-Bashir raised hopes for civilian rule, but the 2021 military coup dissolved the transitional government, restoring power to rival security factions 
  • After the 2021 military coup, the conflict spread from Khartoum to Darfur, Kordofan, El Fasher and Gezira, erupting in 2023 into Sudan’s worst crisis in decades as the SAF and RSF clashed violently. 
• Causes of Conflict:  
  • Ethnic Rivalries: The RSF originated from the Janjaweed militias of the 2000s Darfur conflict, which targeted non-Arab groups such as the Massalit, Fur, and Zaghawa, fueling ethnic mistrust and displacement. 
  • Competition for Resources: Sudan’s vast geography (Sahel to the Red Sea) and competition for land, water, gold, and Red Sea trade routes have further intensified the conflict. 
• Catastrophic Humanitarian Impact: The conflict has left over 1,50,000 dead, 13 million displaced, and triggered a famine in Darfur’s Zamzam IDP camp, worsening malnutrition and disease across the region.

Read More: Civil War in Sudan

Speciality Fertilisers

Source: TH 

India is bracing for higher fertiliser prices ahead of the crucial Rabi crop season due to China's suspension of Urea and Speciality Fertiliser exports. 

Speciality Fertilisers 

• About: Speciality fertilisers are advanced formulations beyond basic NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulphur), including water-soluble, slow or controlled-release, and micronutrient-based products that enhance nutrient efficiency and crop-specific performance. 
• Examples: Chelated micronutrients (Fe-EDTA, Zn-EDTA, Fe-EDDHA), water-soluble fertilisers (WSFs) such as monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and potassium nitrate (KNO₃); and stabilised nitrogen fertilisers with urease inhibitors (NBPT). 
• Uses: 
  • For high‐value crops (fruits, vegetables, flowers) and horticulture. 
  • For soils with specific deficiencies or in micro‐nutrient‐deficient zones (zinc, boron, etc).  
  • For precision agriculture and improved nutrient-use efficiency. 
• India & Speciality Fertilisers:  
  • India currently imports about 95% of its speciality fertilisers-mainly water-soluble and advanced formulations, due to limited domestic R&D, raw material shortages, and China’s market dominance. 
  • India has recently initiated its first indigenous water-soluble fertiliser production and secured supply contracts with Russia, Jordan, Israel, and Morocco to curb excessive dependence on China. 
• Market Size: The global speciality fertilisers market is projected to reach $63 billion by 2035, while India’s market is expected to grow to $5–6 billion by 2030, backed by sustainable agricultural practices. 

Read More: Fertiliser Sector in India