Reforming Subordinate Judiciary

Source: LM  

Why in News? 

The subordinate judiciary, which handles 87.5% of India’s cases, forms the backbone of our legal system but suffers from vacancies, case backlogs, and outdated processes hampering India’s economic growth.  

• Reforms in this vital pillar can spur faster socio-economic growth, as seen in Singapore and Kenya, where judicial efficiency has driven economic progress. 

What is the Economic Impacts of Judicial Backlog at Subordinate Judiciary? 

• Macroeconomic Impact: India’s district courts are burdened with 45 million pending cases, causing a silent economic drain of about 0.5% of GDP annually (roughly Rs 1.5 trillion). 
  • According to the World Bank, reducing judicial vacancies from 25% to 15% could boost investment and business confidence, while the IMF estimates that efficient courts could raise GDP per capita growth by 0.28 percentage points. 
• Stifled Business Growth & Investment: Land lease disputes hinder business growth and discourage MSMEs by increasing operational risks and weakening investor confidence. 
  • Judicial vacancy fuels case backlogs, deterring investors and contributing to its 163rd rank in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business 2020. 
• Fiscal Drain & Opportunity Costs: Pending cases lock land, capital, and labor in unproductive litigation (such as property disputes).  
  • Inefficient dispute resolution weakens tax compliance, while slow contract enforcement drives businesses to avoid formal agreements, fueling the shadow economy. 

What are the Challenges in India’s Subordinate Judiciary? 

• Judicial Vacancies and Overburdened Judges: There are 5,388 vacancies in the lower courts, where judges handle 746 cases annually, far exceeding the global best practice of 200–300 cases. 
  • This vacancy crisis burdens judges, causes delays in justice delivery, and weakens confidence among small businesses and entrepreneurs, adding to case pendency. 
• Outdated Systems and Inadequate Digitisation: Lack of integrated digital platforms and fragmented digitisation hinders the potential of e-Courts, AI, and analytics, while hybrid systems (digital filing and manual tracking) create barriers for small businesses and rural litigants. 
  • Moreover, with only 6.7% of district courts being women-friendly, the participation of women litigants and professionals remains limited. 
• Flawed Recruitment Policies: The 3-year practice requirement for district judge appointments limits diversity, as only 15% of practising lawyers are women, reducing the talent pool. 
  • Decentralised recruitment causes uneven judicial service quality across states, and the lack of an All India Judicial Service (AIJS) hinders standardised appointments and delays filling vacancies with qualified candidates. 
• Inefficient Case Management: The lack of robust case management systems and dominance of manual processes, with underused digital tools, contribute to prolonged delays. 
  • The absence of a unified platform linking police, forensics, and courts has stalled progress under e-Courts reforms. 
• Risk of Exclusion & Digital Divide: Digital reforms risk creating a digital divide, excluding rural and less-educated litigants as rapid digitalisation without support leaves behind those lacking technological access or literacy. 
  • India’s linguistic and educational diversity requires careful implementation of tech reforms to ensure inclusivity for all. 

What Steps can be Taken to Strengthen India’s Subordinate Judiciary? 

• Fill Judicial Vacancies: An AIJS would provide centralized, merit-based recruitment (like the IAS) to attract top talent, enhance diversity, and enable fast-track promotions for judges. 
  • Replacing the 3-year practice rule with competency-based hiring (as in South Africa and the UK) can boost gender diversity and create clear promotion paths from district judges to High Courts. 
  • E.g., Kenya reduced commercial case timelines from 465 to 346 days by judicial reforms. 
• Digitization & AI-Driven Case Management: A Unified Digital Platform integrating police, forensics, and courts, along with AI-powered analytics to prioritise backlogged cases and 100% paperless courts, can greatly enhance efficiency. 
  • Global models like Thailand’s digital case management and Brazil’s e-process system highlight the benefits of such reforms. 
• Expand Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Mandatory pre-litigation mediation (like Singapore, resolving 80% of cases out of court) and scaling up Lok Adalats can strengthen community-based dispute resolution, while special commercial courts (as in Kenya) can fast-track business cases. 
• Optimize Court Infrastructure & Working Hours: Night courts and double shifts (as in Ghana) can optimize infrastructure and improve case disposal rates, while AI-based scheduling (like Malaysia) helps reduce idle time. 
  • Ensuring women-friendly courts with safety measures, lactation rooms, and childcare facilities can enhance inclusivity and support for women in the judiciary. 
• Ensure Last-Mile Access: Village Legal Kiosks, similar to Common Service Centres, can enable assisted e-filing in rural areas. Multilingual AI interfaces will help non-English speakers navigate the court system effectively. 

Conclusion 

India’s subordinate judiciary, burdened by vacancies, delays, and outdated systems, stifles economic growth. Reforms like AIJS, digitization, mediation expansion, and optimized court hours—inspired by global models—can transform courts into growth accelerators. Swift justice delivery will boost GDP, business confidence, and social equity, realizing Viksit Bharat’s potential. 

Drishti Mains Question: India’s subordinate judiciary forms the backbone of justice delivery, yet suffers from systemic challenges. Discuss key reforms required to strengthen subordinate courts.

Revised Green India Mission

Source: IE 

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released the revised Green India Mission (GIM) plan for 2021–2030 on World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, observed on 17th June 2025. 

What is the Green India Mission (GIM)? 

• About: The Green India Mission (GIM) is one of the 8 missions under India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), launched in February 2014.  
  • It aims to respond to climate change through a combination of mitigation and adaptation strategies, primarily focusing on forest-based ecosystem restoration. 
• Progress & Challenges: 
  • As of 2023, India’s forest cover is gradually increasing, with 11.22 million ha brought under plantations between 2015–16 and 2020–21 through GIM and related initiatives. 
  • However, challenges include funding gaps, invasive species plantations, and inadequate protection of old-growth forests. 
  • GIM's effective implementation is crucial for achieving 33% forest cover, as per national policy, and meeting India’s 2030 climate commitments. 

Aspect	Green India Mission (GIM) 2014	Revised GIM Plan (2021–2030)
Vision & Objectives	Aimed to protect, restore and enhance forest cover and respond to climate change via adaptation and mitigation.	Retains core objectives, now aligned with India’s NDC targets under the Paris Agreement, aiming to create a 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes CO₂-equivalent carbon sink by 2030.  It focuses on a micro-ecosystem approach targeting vulnerable landscapes such as Aravallis, Western Ghats, Indian Himalayan Region, Mangroves, Arid regions of Northwest India.
Targets	Afforestation on 5 million ha of non-forest land.  Improve forest quality on another 5 million ha.  CO₂ sequestration of 50–60 million tonnes annually.	Afforestation/restoration over 24–25 million ha (via GIM and convergence).  GIM to directly treat 1 mha by 2030.  Estimated carbon sink: up to 3.39 billion tonnes CO₂.
Sub-Missions	5 components:  Forest cover improvement  Ecosystem restoration  Urban greening  Agro/social forestry  Wetland restoration	3 components:  Forest quality & ecosystem services  Afforestation & ecosystem restoration  Livelihood enhancement for forest-dependent communities
Monitoring & Evaluation	Ground-level surveys  Remote sensing via Forest Survey of India (FSI)  Social audits planned	5-tier monitoring system including:  National-level monitoring via a dedicated cell using GIS and the National Afforestation Dashboard to track all plantation activities (Govt, private, NGOs).  Self-monitoring by implementing agencies.  Social audits by Gram Sabhas.  Satellite-based monitoring by Forest Survey of India (FSI) and expert agencies.  Third-party evaluations of intervention sites for accountability and transparency.

What are the Government Initiatives to Enhance Forest Cover? 

• National Afforestation Programme (NAP), launched in 2000 by MoEFCC to regenerate degraded forests and adjoining areas, has now been merged with the Green India Mission for unified implementation. 
• Nagar Van Yojana (NVY), launched in 2020, the scheme targets the creation of 600 Nagar Vans and 400 Nagar Vatikas in urban and peri-urban areas by 2024–25. 
• Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA has been implemented to offset the diversion of forest land for development projects. 
  • Under the CAMPA mechanism, 90% of the funds are allocated to the States/UTs, while 10% is retained by the Centre.  
• Multi-Departmental and Convergent Approaches for afforestation is also undertaken through convergence with other schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, National Bamboo Mission, and Sub-Mission on Agroforestry. 
  • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) 
  • National Bamboo Mission 
  • Sub-Mission on Agroforestry 
  • Contributions by State Governments, NGOs, civil society, and corporate entities under CSR. 

PM-WANI Scheme

Source: BL

Why in News?  

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has prescribed a cap on tariffs charged to Public Data Offices (PDOs) under the PM-WANI scheme, in order to keep public Wi-Fi affordable, while also providing reasonable compensation for the broadband connection to service providers. 

• TRAI has mandated that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) cannot charge PDOs more than twice the retail broadband tariff for plans up to 200 Mbps.

What is the PM-WANI Scheme? 

• About: The Prime Minister's Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI), launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in 2020, aims to expand the availability of public Wi-Fi hotspots across India, with a focus on strengthening digital communication infrastructure in rural and underserved areas. 
  • The scheme is designed to provide affordable internet access to the urban poor and rural population while boosting employment for small and micro-entrepreneurs through the establishment of Wi-Fi service outlets, supporting the goals of the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018. 
• Access Mechanism: Users can access PM-WANI services by downloading the PM Wani application in the mobile phone, selecting a listed hotspot, and making a digital payment to use the internet. 
• PM-WANI Ecosystem: The scheme comprises 4 key stakeholders: 
  • Public Data Office (PDO): Sets up Wi-Fi hotspots and provides internet services to users. 
  • Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA): Facilitates authentication, accounting, and aggregation of multiple PDOs. 
  • App Provider: Develops and manages mobile applications that show accessible Wi-Fi hotspots. 
  • Central Registry: Maintained by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), it holds records of all PDOs, PDOAs, and App Providers. 
    • Established in 1984, C-DoT is an autonomous telecom R&D centre under the DoT. It functions as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. 

 

• Key Features: 
  • No licence or registration fee required for Public Data Offices (PDOs), promoting participation by small vendors and entrepreneurs. 
  • Utilises local infrastructure (e.g., shops, kirana stores, tea stalls) to enable last-mile internet connectivity. 
• Key Benefits: 
  • Enhances digital inclusion and narrows the urban-rural digital divide. 
  • Facilitates affordable internet access and supports the Digital India mission. 
  • Stimulates employment generation in the informal sector through entrepreneurship. 
  • Improved internet access can contribute to GDP growth by enabling digital services in education, health, governance, and commerce. 

What are the Government Initiatives for Enhancing Broadband Connectivity? 

• National Broadband Mission (NBM): It is a flagship initiative to expand and strengthen digital infrastructure across India.  
  • National Broadband Mission (NBM 1.0) launched in 2019 focused on expanding broadband access to all villages by 2022 and fiberizing existing telecom towers to enhance connectivity. 
  • National Broadband Mission 2.0 (2025-30) builds on the achievements of NBM 1.0 and aims to accelerate India’s digital transformation, strengthen digital infrastructure, and enhance global competitiveness. 
• Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal: Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal was launched in 2022 to streamline the approval process for laying Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) and installing telecom infrastructure.  
• Telecommunications Act, 2023 & Right of Way Rules, 2024: Telecommunications Act, 2023 & Right of Way Rules, 2024 aims to simplify and expedite the deployment of broadband infrastructure across the country. 
• Amended BharatNet Program (2023): Amended BharatNet Program aims to provide optical fiber (OF) connectivity to 2.64 lakh GPs in ring topology (a network design where connected devices form a circular data channel) and OF connectivity to non-GP villages on demand.  
  • It focuses on remote and underserved areas, including the North-East, Islands, LWE-affected regions, Aspirational Districts, and border villages. 
• Submarine OFC Connectivity: High-speed connectivity has been extended to island territories through the laying of submarine optical fiber cables between Chennai–Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Kochi–Lakshadweep, enhancing digital access in coastal and remote regions. 
  • As of May 2025, the Submarine OFC project connecting Chennai to Port Blair and other islands of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is fully operational, with current bandwidth utilization at 243.31 Gbps.

Tea Board of India

Source: BL 

The Tea Board of India has amended the pan-India auction rules under the Bharat Auction model, based on key recommendations of the Ramaseshan Committee, aiming to enhance price discovery and protect seller interests in the tea sector. 

• Ramaseshan Committee report pertains to improving price discovery and market structure in the tea industry. 
• Bharat Auction model is a pan-India electronic auction system introduced by the Tea Board of India in which bids are placed prior to the lots going live. 
• About Tea Board of India:  
  • Establishment: It was established in 1953 and is headquartered in Kolkata. It has 17 offices across India. 
    • It also has overseas offices like in London, Moscow and Dubai. 
  • Statutory Body: It was set up under Section 4 of the Tea Act, 1953. 
  • Regulatory Authority: It regulates various entities including tea producers, manufacturers, exporters, tea brokers, auction organisers, and warehouse keepers. 
  • Functions: It conducts market surveys, analyses, identifies, tracks consumer behaviour, and provides relevant and accurate information to importers and exporters.

Key Agricultural Boards in India:  

Board	Constituted Under	Headquarters
Tea Board	Tea Act, 1953	Kolkata
Coffee Board	Coffee Act, 1942	Bangalore
Rubber Board	Rubber Act, 1947	Kottayam, Kerala
Spices Board	Spices Board Act, 1986	Kochi, Kerala
Tobacco Board	Tobacco Board Act, 1975	Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
National Turmeric Board	Not a statutory body	Nizamabad, Telangana
Makhana Board	-	Bihar (Proposed)

Read More: Need of Reforms in Tea Industry

8th Edition of Exercise Shakti

Source: TH 

The 8^th edition of Exercise Shakti, a joint military exercise between India and France, is scheduled from 18th June to 1st July 2025 at La Cavalerie, France. 

• It is a biennial training engagement between the Indian and French Armies, aimed at enhancing interoperability, operational coordination, and military-to-military connect. 
• This edition will focus on joint operations in a sub-conventional environment under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, with training being conducted in semi-urban terrain. 
  • UN Chapter VII authorizes military/non-military actions (sanctions, blockades, troop deployment) for international peace enforcement. 
• Other joint exercises between France and India: Exercise Varuna (Navy), Exercise Garuda (Air), and Exercise Desert Knight (India, France, and UAE). 

Read More: 7th Edition of Exercise Shakti

NISAR and Synthetic Aperture Radar

Source: TH 

The NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) satellite has arrived at ISRO’s spaceport in Sriharikota for launch and will scan nearly all land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, delivering unprecedented data on Earth’s environment. 

• About NISAR Mission: It is a collaborative Earth-observation mission between NASA (US) and ISRO (India), aimed at studying Earth’s land and ice surfaces in unprecedented detail. 
  • It integrates two advanced radar systems—NASA’s  L-band radar and ISRO's S-band radar—marking it as the first satellite to carry both. 
• About Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): SAR is an active remote sensing technology that transmits microwave pulses and records echoes to create images. 
  • Unlike optical cameras (which rely on sunlight), SAR works day and night and in all weather conditions, as microwaves penetrate clouds, smoke, and light rain. 
• Working of SAR: SAR sends microwave pulses and records echoes from Earth’s surface, using platform movement  (e.g., satellite or aircraft) to simulate a large antenna and produce high-resolution images. 
• Applications of SAR: 
  • Environmental monitoring: Mapping wetlands, tracking oil spills in marshes. 
  • Cryosphere studies: Monitoring icebergs and ice sheets (e.g., Antarctica). 
  • Disaster management: Detecting floods, landslides, and changes in terrain. 
  • Agriculture & forestry: Assessing soil moisture, vegetation health, and deforestation. 

Read More: NISAR Satellite