Content:
- India repels Pak. strikes for second day
- It is not a court’s duty to tell media to delete or take down content, says SC
- India a part of wider trend of eroding press freedom: report
- Single-use food, beverage packaging forms 84% of Himalayan plastic waste’
- Banks ready with anti-DDoS to thwart cyberattacks, FM told
India repels Pak. strikes for second day
Context : Escalation of Hostilities
- Cross-border aggression: Pakistan violated Indian airspace for the second day, prompting heightened Indian defensive actions.
- Armed drones & missiles: Multiple aerial intrusions using drones—many suspected to be armed—were reported across strategic zones.
Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security)
Indian Response & Security Measures
- Repulsion of attacks: Indian armed forces effectively repelled drone/missile attacks using air defence systems.
- Infiltration thwarted: BSF neutralised seven terrorists attempting to infiltrate through Samba (J&K).
- High-level meeting: PM Modi chaired a top-level security meeting involving key defence and intelligence leaders to assess the situation.
Civilian Protection and Displacement
- Blackouts and sirens: Implemented in J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan to reduce visibility for aerial threats and to alert citizens.
- Evacuations: Civilians from areas like Uri’s Razarwani were moved to safer locations.
- Advisories issued: Public instructed to remain indoors and follow safety protocols.
Civilian Casualties & Damage
- Fatalities: Three civilians killed—including two students and one woman—in mortar shelling in Baramulla and Poonch.
- Injuries: Armed drone strike injured a family in Ferozpur, Punjab.
- Structural damage: Shell landed behind Christ School in Poonch, highlighting danger to civilian and religious infrastructure.
Strategic Targets Under Threat
- Drone attempts near critical zones: Jammu airport, military bases in Pathankot, Nagrota, and others were targeted.
- Multiple regions affected: Aerial objects were spotted in 26+ locations from J&K to Gujarat (e.g., Bhuj, Barmer, Fazilka).
Political and Administrative Involvement
- Statements by leadership: J&K CM Omar Abdullah and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri acknowledged civilian toll and urged calm.
- Government preparedness: Nationwide coordination evident through multi-agency response and national-level security discussions.
Implications
- Security readiness: Highlights growing threat from low-cost, high-impact drone warfare and the need for robust counter-drone capabilities.
- Border vulnerability: Reemphasizes the strategic sensitivity of border regions in Punjab, J&K, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
- Civil-military synergy: Civilian safety and communication systems (blackouts, sirens, evacuation) have been swiftly activated.
It is not a court’s duty to tell media to delete or take down content, says SC
Background of the Case
- The case stemmed from a Delhi High Court order directing Wikimedia Foundation to delete a Wikipedia page on Asian News International (ANI).
- The content was allegedly defamatory and sub-judice, prompting the HC Division Bench to give a 36-hour takedown directive.
- The order was challenged in the Supreme Court, which delivered its verdict through Justices A.S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan.
Relevance : GS 2(Judiciary ,Governance)
Key Supreme Court Verdict Highlights
- Courts must not direct media to take down content — such directions are not within judicial duties.
- The HC order was deemed “disproportionate” and was set aside.
- Justice Bhuyan emphasized that courts and media are foundational pillars of democracy, and both should strengthen each other.
Upholding Free Speech
- The Court asserted that freedom of speech and expression is vital in a liberal democracy.
- Courts must not be seen as stifling debate or criticism, even if related to themselves.
- Constructive criticism and public debate are essential for the improvement of institutions, including the judiciary.
Media’s Role in Democracy
- The judgment acknowledged the media’s right to debate sub judice matters, provided criticism remains objective and fair.
- Courts should not be overly sensitive; judges cannot publicly respond to criticism, but that does not justify silencing the press.
Contempt and Exceptions
- Contempt of court is valid only if the content scandalizes the court or impairs justice.
- Courts may issue preventive injunctions against the press only when:
- There is a real, imminent threat to a fair trial.
- The publication would seriously impair the administration of justice.
Use of Postponement Orders
- Courts may postpone publication in exceptional cases to prevent prejudice to ongoing judicial proceedings.
- Such orders must pass the twin tests of:
- Necessity (real threat to justice)
- Proportionality (minimal and temporary restriction)
- Postponement orders should be time-bound, non-intrusive, and open to judicial challenge.
Broader Significance
- Reinforces constitutional values of free expression over reactionary censorship.
- Sends a clear message: Judicial integrity is not harmed by scrutiny or debate, but rather bolstered by transparency and accountability.
India a part of wider trend of eroding press freedom: report
General Observations
- Title of the report: “Frontline Democracy: Media and Political Churn”.
- Covers India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Maldives.
- Identifies a wider South Asian trend of declining press freedom and rising impunity for crimes against journalists.
Relevance : GS 2(Polity and Governance)
Alarming Trends in India
- Indian media has been “shackled” by a systemic strategy to cripple press freedom.
- Rising trust deficit in traditional media.
- Independent websites are being choked through state pressure and legal actions.
- Freelancers and gig journalists face job insecurity, worsened by AI-led disruptions.
Legal and Institutional Framework
- Existing legal provisions such as defamation laws, sedition, UAPA, and PMLA are sometimes invoked in matters involving media content.
- While these laws aim to uphold national security and public order, their frequent application in media-related cases has raised concerns about the scope of their use.
- Regulatory actions including tax investigations, legal notices, and policy decisions on advertisement allocation can impact the operational environment of media outlets.
- These developments may lead to increased caution or self-regulation among journalists and organisations, potentially affecting editorial freedom.
Political Disinformation Machinery
- IT cells of political parties flagged as major drivers of:
- Disinformation
- Hate speech
- Contributes to erosion of public trust in the media and fuels propaganda.
Press Freedom Threats in Broader South Asia
- Pakistan saw its most violent year for journalists in 20 years – 8 killed.
- Failure across the region to check impunity in crimes against journalists.
- Example: Mukesh Chandrakar’s murder in India shows extreme risk to local journalists.
Structural and Economic Challenges
- Shrinking job market for journalists in India and across South Asia.
- Decline in ad revenues, corporate mergers, and labour code changes promoting contract work.
- Rise of AI in content creation threatens employment and editorial autonomy.
Positive Developments
- Digital transition has enabled the growth of alternative and independent media.
- These platforms provide a counterbalance to stagnating legacy media, despite threats.
Global Context
- References Global Risks Report 2024: identifies manipulated/fake information as the top short-term global risk.
- Ties India’s challenges to broader global concerns about democracy, transparency, and media integrity.
‘Single-use food, beverage packaging forms 84% of Himalayan plastic waste’
Context : Core Finding
- 84% of plastic waste in the Himalayan region comes from single-use food and beverage packaging.
- 70% of this plastic is non–recyclable, highlighting the severity of pollution in an eco-sensitive zone.
Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)
Geographical Coverage
- Plastic waste audit spans the Himalayan belt from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
- Major data insights from Sikkim, Darjeeling (West Bengal), and other nine Himalayan states.
- Sikkim recorded the highest waste generation, followed by Darjeeling with over 36,000 items audited across 37 sites.
Organisational Framework
- Led by:
- Zero Waste Himalaya (Gangtok, Sikkim)
- Integrated Mountain Initiative (Dehradun, Uttarakhand)
- Together they organise The Himalayan Cleanup (THC), an annual plastic audit since 2018.
Systemic Nature of the Crisis
- The issue is not just consumer behavior, but a production and systems-level problem.
- Emphasis on:
- Shifting away from extractive, centralised waste systems
- Need for systemic policy interventions, not just individual change
Policy and Structural Implications
- Calls for:
- Paradigm shift in waste management policies
- Reduction in production of non-recyclable plastics
- Promotion of extended producer responsibility (EPR) and eco-friendly packaging
- Urges decentralised and regenerative waste management models tailored to the Himalayan ecosystem.
Environmental Impact
- The Himalayas’ fragile ecology is under serious threat from plastic accumulation.
- Persistence of non-recyclable packaging adds long-term burden to already vulnerable environments.
Banks ready with anti-DDoS to thwart cyberattacks, FM told
Context and Urgency
- Triggered by heightened border tensions with Pakistan, raising concerns over cybersecurity threats.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a high-level review meeting on cyber preparedness in the financial sector.
Relevance : GS 3(Banking ,Internal Security)
Key Directives Issued
- All banks must:
- Coordinate with RBI and CERT-In for quick cyberattack responses.
- Appoint two senior officials at headquarters:
- One for cyber incident reporting
- One for operational continuity (branches, ATMs)
- Ensure real-time reporting to CERT-In, DFS, and other relevant agencies.
Preparedness Measures in Place
- Banks reported:
- Deployment of anti-DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) systems to counter large-scale cyberattacks.
- Mock drills conducted for cybersecurity and disaster recovery.
- Security Operations Centres (SOCs) and Network Operations Centres (NOCs) are:
- Fully operational
- On high alert
- Coordinating with CERT-In and NCIIPC (National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre).
Focus on Uninterrupted Banking Services
- FM emphasized:
- Seamless cash availability in ATMs
- Uninterrupted UPI and internet banking
- Continued access to essential financial services, especially in border areas
Insurance Sector Instructions
- Insurance companies directed to:
- Ensure timely claim settlements
- Maintain customer support during potential crises
Support to Rural Banking
- Sponsor banks instructed to:
- Actively support Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to ensure financial stability and inclusion at the grassroots.
