• 17 May 2025

HC Allows Third Party Claims Without Policy Details

Why in News? 

In the Reliance General Insurance Co. Ltd. vs. Hemlata Sinha case (2025), the Jharkhand High Court highlighted that after the death of a family’s breadwinner, dependents often lack policy details, but this alone cannot be grounds for denying a third-party insurance claim. 

• The ruling aligns with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)'s consumer protection framework and its aim to achieve ‘Insurance for All’ by 2047. 

Key Points 

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) 

• IRDAI was established in 1999 under the IRDA Act 1999. 
• It is a regulatory body and created with the aim of protecting the interests of insurance customers. 
• It comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance. 
• It regulates and sees to the development of the insurance industry while monitoring insurance-related activities. 
• The powers and functions of the Authority are laid down in the IRDAI Act, 1999 and Insurance Act, 1938. 

Insurance for All by 2047  

• About: IRDAI aims to achieve ‘Insurance for All’ by 2047, ensuring that every citizen has comprehensive life, health, and property insurance coverage, and enterprises are supported with appropriate insurance solutions.  
• 3 Pillars: Insurance customers (Policyholders), Insurance providers (insurers) and Insurance distributors (intermediaries)  

 Third-Party Insurance 

• Third-party insurance is a type of liability coverage where the insured (first party) buys protection from an insurer (second party) against claims made by another individual (third party).  
• It covers the legal liability of the first party for damages or losses caused to the third party, even if the first party is at fault. 
  • It covers compensation to accident victims or their families. 
• It is mandatory for all motor vehicles in India under the Motor Vehicles Act, 2019. 

Pushkar Kumbh 2025

Why in News 

The Pushkar Kumbh has commenced at Keshav Prayag in Mana village (Chamoli district) after 12 years, attracting large numbers of pilgrims. 

Key Points 

• About Pushkar Kumbh: 
  • Held at Keshav Prayag, the confluence of the Alaknanda and Saraswati rivers in Mana village, Uttarakhand’s last village on the Indo-China border. 
  • The Pushkar Kumbh, observed when Jupiter enters Gemini, is a significant event in Hindu tradition, attracting Vaishnavite devotees, particularly from southern India. 
    • As per Hindu religious beliefs, Maharishi Ved Vyas composed the epic Mahabharata while meditating at Keshav Prayag.  
    • It is also believed that Ramanujacharya and Madhvacharya received divine wisdom from Goddess Saraswati at this sacred site. 
• Significance: 
  • The Pushkar Kumbh in Mana, though smaller than the traditional Kumbh Melas in cities like Prayagraj and Haridwar, creates a meaningful spiritual and cultural connection between northern and southern India.  
  • It highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage while also deepening the nation’s spiritual unity. 

CAQM's Action Plan to Combat Stubble Burning

Why in News 

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to establish a ‘Parali Protection Force’ at the district and block levels to curb the annual menace of stubble burning, which significantly contributes to air pollution in Delhi-NCR. 

Key Points 

Steps to Curb Stubble Burning 

• Parali Protection Force: 
  • It will be set up at district/block level in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. 
  • It will include police officers, agricultural officers, and local officials. 
  • Tasked with monitoring and preventing paddy stubble burning incidents. 
• Enhanced Surveillance Measures: 
  • Intensified patrolling, especially during late evening hours when farmers may attempt to bypass satellite tracking. 
  • Dedicated nodal officers are to be assigned to every group of 50 farmers for effective monitoring and assistance. 
• Strict Penalties for Violations: 
  • Red entries are to be made in land records of violating farmers. 
  • Environmental compensation fines are to be imposed for stubble burning. 
• Technology and Farm Mapping: 
  • All farms in villages to be mapped to assess suitable stubble management methods like in-situ management, crop diversification and use as fodder. 
• Online Monitoring System:  
  • A real-time online platform to be developed for tracking generation, storage, and usage of paddy residue. 
• Machinery Review and Support: 
  • States to review existing Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines. 
  • Phase out non-functional machines and evaluate current equipment gaps analysis, and procure new ones by August 2025. 
  • Free rental of machines through Custom Hiring Centres for small and marginal farmers. 
• Infrastructure for Straw Storage: 
  • States to create storage facilities using Panchayat or government land. 
  • Develop a district-level supply chain for collection, storage, and utilization of paddy straw in bioenergy and composting. 

Stubble Burning  

• It is a method of removing paddy crop residue from the field, used for sowing wheat from the last week of September to November, coinciding with the withdrawal of the south-west monsoon. 
• It emits large amounts of toxic pollutants into the atmosphere which include harmful gases like methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. 

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) 

• Background: 
  • Formed initially through an ordinance in 2021, later replaced by the CAQM Act, 2021. 
  • The Act also dissolved the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) set up in 1998. 
• Objectives: 
  • Ensure coordination, research, and policy execution to improve air quality. 
  • Identify and resolve issues affecting the Air Quality Index (AQI). 
• Scope: 
  • Applicable to NCR and adjoining areas of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, where pollution affects NCR air quality. 
• Composition: 
  • Chairperson: A retired Government of India Secretary or State Chief Secretary, for 3 years or up to 70 years of age. 
  • Members included from: 
    • Central ministries 
    • Stakeholder states 
    • Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), ISRO, Civil Society 
• Key Functions: 
  • Coordinate with states on air quality control actions. 
  • Develop and implement pollution control plans. 
  • Identify key air pollutants. 
  • Support research, training, and capacity building. 
  • Address specific issues like stubble burning, afforestation, and public awareness. 

Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Concluded in Bihar

Why in News? 

The 7^th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games 2025, a flagship event under the government’s Khelo India initiative, was held in Bihar from 4^th May to 15^th May. 

Key Points 

• About Khelo India Youth Games 2025: 
  • It was organised in five districts of Bihar (Patna, Rajgir, Begusarai, Gaya and Bhagalpur). While, the three major events – gymnastics, shooting and cycling – were held in New Delhi. 
  • Gajasimha was the mascot of this year's game. 
  • The 12-day event took place across 27 sports, with a total of 285 gold medals awarded. 
• Top Performing States: 
  • Maharashtra finished first in the medal tally by winning a total of 158 medals (58 gold, 47 silver, 53 bronze). 
    • The state has topped the total medal tally five times so far (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025). 
  • Haryana secured second place with 117 medals, including 39 gold, while Rajasthan finished third with 60 medals, including 24 gold. 
• Performance of Bihar: 
  • Host state Bihar won a total of 36 medals (7 gold, 11 silver, 18 bronze).  
  • Bihar, which was ranked 21st in the sixth edition of the Games, jumped six places this year to secure the 15^th position.  
  • This is the first time Bihar has achieved its highest-ever medal count. 
• Top 10 States/UTs: 

Position	States/Union Territories	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total Medals
1	Maharashtra	58	47	53	158
2	Haryana	39	27	51	117
3	Rajasthan	24	12	24	60
4	Karnataka	17	26	15	58
5	Delhi	16	20	32	68
6	Tamil Nadu	15	21	29	65
7	Uttar Pradesh	14	20	18	52
8	Kerala	12	5	8	25
9	Manipur	11	8	11	30
10	Madhya Pradesh	10	9	13	32

  

Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG)  

• About:  
  • KIYG is a national-level multi-disciplinary sports competition for school and college students in India. 
  • The Prime Minister launched the first edition of the Khelo India School Games at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi in the year 2018. 
  • In the year 2019, its name was changed to Khelo India Youth Games.  
    • These are part of the Khelo India initiative of the Government of India. 
• Objective: 
  • It aims to promote sports culture and recognise sporting talent at the grassroots level. 
• Categories: 
  • These games are organized in two categories:   
    • School students under the age of 17. 
    • College students under the age of 21. 
• Khelo India App:  
  • In the year 2019, the Prime Minister launched the Khelo India App to promote sports and fitness.  
  • This app helps people to stay updated about sports events and promotes a healthy lifestyle.

Development of Green Cities in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News? 

The Madhya Pradesh government has launched a scheme to develop major historical, religious and tourist cities of the state as  “Green Cities”. 

Key Points 

• About the Scheme:  
  • This scheme has been brought under the guidelines of Renewable Energy Policy 2025. 
  • The Department of Renewable Energy, State Government and the concerned municipal bodies will be responsible for its implementation. 
  • The aim of the scheme is to develop 10 major cities of Madhya Pradesh as model green cities for environmental protection and clean energy in the next two years. 
  • Historical and religious cities like Maheshwar, Chanderi, Mandu, Orchha, Amarkantak, Bhimbetka, Omkareshwar and Chitrakoot will be included in the scheme. 
  • The government has started this initiative as a pilot project from Sanchi and Khajuraho. 
• Use of Green Energy: 
  • 75% of the electricity in these cities will be supplied from solar and other renewable energy sources. 
  • Green energy will be used in religious places, schools, Anganwadis, health centres and government institutions. 
• Key Features: 
  • All street lights will be solar powered. 
  • Solar lanterns will be provided to hawkers and vendors. 
  • Incentives and assistance for large consumers (above 6 kW) to adopt solar energy. 
  • Solar rooftop will be mandatory in multi-storey buildings. 
  • Electric vehicles will be promoted and 50% of the energy in their charging stations will be derived from renewable sources. 
  • Promotion of biogas plants and community solar farming. 
• Importance: 
  • This scheme will reduce pollution and carbon emissions will decrease due to the use of green energy. 
  • Increasing use of renewable energy will strengthen the energy security of the state. 
  • These places will become clean and energy efficient, which will increase the attraction of tourists. 
  • This scheme will strengthen the sustainable development and clean energy goals of Madhya Pradesh. 
    

 Renewable Energy 

• This is the energy that depends on natural sources. It includes various types of solar energy, geothermal energy, wind, tides, water and biomass. 
• It is noteworthy that it can never end and is constantly renewed. 
• Renewable energy resources are spread over a much wider area than conventional sources of energy (which are present in a very limited area of the world) and can be easily available to all countries. 
• These are not only environmental friendly but also have many economic benefits associated with them. 

Electric Vehicles (EVs) 

• Introduction: Electric vehicles are vehicles that use one or more electric motors for propulsion instead of a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) powered by petrol or diesel . 
  • Although the concept of electric vehicles has existed for a long time, there has been widespread interest in them in the last decade due to the increasing carbon emissions and other environmental impacts of fuel-based vehicles. 
• Type: 
  • Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs): These rely entirely on battery power for propulsion and produce zero tailpipe emissions. 
  • Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) : These have a gasoline engine along with an electric motor. They can be charged externally and run on battery power for a limited distance, while the gasoline engine can be used for longer trips. 
  • Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs): These use both an electric motor and a gasoline engine, but the battery cannot be directly plugged in and charged. 
    • The battery is charged through the gasoline engine or regenerative braking.