Content :
- Violent crimes by juveniles have increased in India
- A different approach to the caste census
- Constitution does not avert its gaze from caste, poverty, injustice: CJI
- Preparing the electoral rolls is one of world’s most transparent exercises: CEC
- India unlikely to ratify ‘High Seas Treaty’ at U.N. Ocean Conference
- Union govt. to wield quality control ‘stick’ to drive exports
Violent crimes by juveniles have increased in India
Key Facts and Data Trends
- Rising share of violent juvenile crime: In 2022, 49.5% of juveniles apprehended in India were booked for violent crimes — up from 32.5% in 2016.
- Total juvenile offenders decreasing: Overall juvenile crimes have dropped from 37,402 (2017) to 33,261 (2022) — but violent offences have become more proportionally dominant.
- Definition of violent crimes includes: murder, rape, sexual assault, dacoity, robbery, arson, grievous injury.
- Excluded: non-violent crimes like theft, fraud, rash driving, pickpocketing.
Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues)
State-wise Patterns
- Top 5 States in absolute numbers (2017–2022):
- Madhya Pradesh – 21.8% of all violent juvenile crimes.
- Maharashtra – 18%
- Rajasthan – 9.6%
- Chhattisgarh – 8.4%
- Tamil Nadu – 5.8%
- Delhi – Despite smaller size, 6.8% share, possibly due to better reporting and policing.
- Highest proportion of violent juvenile crimes among total juvenile offences:
- Jharkhand – 67%
- Tripura, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh – over 60%
- Exception: Odisha – Only 10% of juvenile crimes are violent despite being in a high-crime region.
Possible Causes & Context
- Cultural & psychological factors:
- Adolescence marked by identity crises, aggression, lack of impulse control.
- Exposure to online misogyny, cyberbullying, incel subcultures, glorification of violence.
- Socioeconomic triggers:
- Broken family structures, substance abuse, peer pressure, unemployment.
- Systemic gaps:
- Weak implementation of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
- Inadequate rehabilitation, counselling, and community reintegration.
Implications for Governance
- Policy paradox: Fewer total juvenile cases, but increasingly violent nature suggests deeper sociopsychological issues.
- Need for:
- Early intervention programs in schools.
- Gender-sensitisation and digital literacy campaigns.
- Better child mental health infrastructure.
- Juvenile justice boards need support with trained counsellors, not just legal officers.
A different approach to the caste census
Context & Recent Developments
- Union Cabinet (2025) has approved caste enumeration in the upcoming Census under Article 246 (Union list).
- First national caste enumeration since 1931 — overdue despite growing demand for data-driven policies.
- Bihar (2023) and Telangana (2025) have already conducted caste surveys — showing OBC/BC majorities and deep marginalisation.
Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues)
Key Findings from State Caste Surveys
- Bihar (2023):
- OBC + EBC = 63% of population.
- SC = 19.65%, ST = 1.68%, General = 15.52%.
- 34% of families live on less than ₹200/day.
- 44% of SC households below that line — highlights economic-caste overlap.
- Telangana (2025):
- BC = 56.33%, including BC Muslims (10.08%).
- Underrepresentation:
- Only 4% professors and 6% associate professors in 45 Central Universities are OBCs.
- General category holds 85% of these posts — despite legal reservation framework (2019 Teachers’ Cadre Act).
What is a Social Management Approach?
- Bottom-up model starting with granular, caste-disaggregated data.
- Contrasts with top-down welfare that assumes uniform solutions for all.
- Sees caste as a developmental determinant, not a stigma — enabling tailored policy design.
- Used effectively by Tamil Nadu & Karnataka to refine reservation, scholarships, and governance models.
Why a National Caste Census Matters
- Enables targeted budgeting and better allocation of welfare resources.
- Helps conduct diversity audits in government, education, and private sectors.
- Enhances transparency and civil society’s ability to track policy outcomes across caste lines.
- Could assess effectiveness of schemes like PM Awas Yojana, Skill India, etc., across social groups.
Counterarguments & Rebuttals
- Criticism: Caste census may deepen divisions and undermine unity.
- Rebuttal:
- Caste already shapes access to opportunity, wealth, and power.
- Ignoring caste does not erase inequalities — it obscures them.
- Like U.S. (race), Brazil (race/language), South Africa (ethnicity), India too needs identity-based data for equity.
- Census would help expose elite capture within caste groups and empower truly disadvantaged subgroups.
Democratic Accountability & Social Justice
- Caste census = tool for transparent governance and citizen empowerment.
- Can lead to:
- More accurate affirmative action.
- Addressing intra-caste inequalities.
- Enhancing land rights, housing, labour protections, and justice for marginalised communities.
- A step towards constitutional literacy and participatory democracy.
Constitution does not avert its gaze from caste, poverty, injustice: CJI
Key Message by CJI B.R. Gavai
- The Indian Constitution is a transformative, social document that boldly recognises structural injustices like caste, poverty, and exclusion.
- It does not assume equality exists, but intervenes to restructure power and restore dignity.
- Described the Constitution as a “quiet revolution etched in ink” — not just law, but lifeline for the oppressed.
Relevance : GS 2(Judiciary )
Personal Testimony & Symbolism
- CJI Gavai, Chief Justice of India, highlighted his journey from a municipal school to the apex judicial office — made possible by constitutional safeguards.
- Emphasised that the Constitution enabled representation of those historically silenced and excluded.
- “To be seen in the Constitution is to be seen by the nation… to be included in its text is to be included in its future.”
Constitution as an Instrument of Social Justice
- Not a neutral or passive document, but one that recalibrates power relations in society.
- Aims to correct centuries of exclusion with recognition, dignity, and protection for vulnerable groups.
- Affirmative action and fundamental rights are framed not as charity, but as instruments of reparation and rightful inclusion.
Framing Process: Role of the Marginalised
- The CJI reminded that vulnerable groups were not just beneficiaries but active participants in drafting the Constitution.
- Constitution-making was a participatory and democratic act, not elite imposition.
Implications for Governance and Judiciary
- Constitutional interpretation should be sensitive to lived realities of marginalised groups.
- Policy and legal frameworks must actively reflect the constitutional promise of inclusion and justice.
- Reinforces the need for empathy-driven governance, not technocratic neutrality.
Preparing the electoral rolls is one of world’s most transparent exercises: CEC
Key Assertions by CEC Gyanesh Kumar
- India’s electoral roll preparation is one of the most rigorous and transparent exercises globally.
- Elections in India are conducted under the continuous scrutiny of:
- Political parties
- Candidates
- Voters
- Police
- Media
- These stakeholders act as “concurrent auditors” throughout the process.
Relevance : GS 2(Electoral Reforms)
Mechanism of Electoral Roll Preparation
- Since 1960, electoral rolls have been:
- Annually shared with all recognised political parties
- Open to claims, objections, and appeals
- This transparency ensures accuracy and integrity in voter lists and reduces scope for manipulation.
Response to Allegations
- The CEC’s comments come after allegations of “industrial-scale rigging” by opposition leaders regarding the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly election.
- While not naming the political leader, the address serves as an institutional rebuttal, asserting procedural robustness.
India’s Electoral Machinery: Scale and Strength
- Conducting elections in India is a massive logistical and administrative task:
- Over 20 million personnel involved: polling staff, security forces, observers, party agents.
- Bigger than the combined workforce of many governments and multinational corporations.
- Ensures that nearly 1 billion electors can freely vote.
Global Electoral Leadership
- India’s Election Commission showcased as a model for electoral integrity at the Stockholm International Conference on Electoral Integrity.
- Over 100 participants from ~50 countries attended the event — positioning India as a benchmark in democratic process management.
Significance for Democracy
- Reinforces the institutional credibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
- Highlights the importance of transparency and inclusiveness in maintaining public trust in electoral democracy.
- Underscores India’s commitment to free, fair, and robust elections amid rising global concerns of electoral manipulation.
India unlikely to ratify ‘High Seas Treaty’ at U.N. Ocean Conference
What is the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement)?
- Officially: Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty.
- Informally: High Seas Treaty.
- Aim: To regulate the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (i.e., the high seas).
- Finalised under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) framework.
- Key feature: Equitable benefit sharing of marine genetic resources and creation of marine protected areas on the high seas.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)
India’s Status and Position
- Signed the treaty in September 2024 but has not ratified it yet.
- Requires amendments to domestic laws, particularly the Biological Diversity Act, before ratification.
- Sources indicate India is unlikely to ratify the treaty at the 2025 U.N. Ocean Conference (Nice, France).
Procedural and Legal Challenges
- Ratification involves a Parliamentary process.
- Expected only after the Monsoon Session (July–August 2025).
- Domestic legal and institutional reforms must align with treaty obligations, especially in benefit-sharing frameworks.
- India is cautious due to unresolved global disputes over:
- Access to marine genetic resources
- Technology transfer
- Distribution of economic benefits
Global Progress
- As of June 10, 2025:
- 49 countries have ratified the treaty.
- 60 ratifications required for it to come into legal force.
India’s Marine Strategy Highlights at Conference
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized:
- India is in the process of ratifying the treaty (signaling commitment).
- Ongoing marine initiatives:
- Samudrayaan Mission: India’s first manned submersible to reach 6,000 metres depth; trial planned for 2026.
- Ban on single-use plastics (national scale).
- Over $80 billion investment in Blue Economy sectors.
- Launch of ‘SAHAV’ Digital Ocean Data Portal for improved marine data access.
India’s Broader Marine Diplomacy
- Advocated for a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty.
- Seeks to balance:
- National interest (marine resource access)
- Global responsibility (conservation leadership).
- Position suggests India supports marine biodiversity conservation, but on equitable and just terms.
Union govt. to wield quality control ‘stick’ to drive exports
Government’s Shift in Strategy for Export Promotion
- The Union Government is moving away from subsidies as the primary tool to boost exports.
- Focus now is on a “carrot-and-stick” approach, emphasizing Quality Control Orders (QCOs) to push industries towards global competitiveness.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance) , GS 3(Economy ,Export)
Quality Control Orders (QCOs): The ‘Stick’
- QCOs mandate that products (domestic/export/import) must meet minimum standards as defined by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
- Intended to enhance product quality, thus improving export credibility and reducing sub-standard imports.
Rationale Behind the Policy Shift
- Government officials admit that past subsidies haven’t significantly boosted exports.
- Acknowledgement of product quality issues in Indian manufacturing.
- Focus on regulatory facilitation like land acquisition and compliance ease, instead of financial subsidies.
Subsidy Exceptions Still Being Considered
- Despite overall reluctance, subsidies for rare earth batteries are under discussion:
- Triggered by China’s export ban on these critical components.
- Highlights strategic sectors may still get selective support.
Industry Reactions and Sector Demands
- Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) has demanded:
- Subsidy of ₹10,000–15,000 per kWh for alternate fuel HEMM in mining.
- Industries continue to seek direct support, despite policy shift.
Debate Around QCOs
- Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal: QCOs are essential for export competitiveness.
- NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery: Labels QCOs a “malign intervention” that could:
- Hurt MSMEs and discourage imports needed for production.
- Especially problematic for units relying on imported inputs.
Government’s Balancing Act
- Exemptions from QCOs are allowed under:
- Advance Authorisation Scheme
- Export Oriented Units (EOUs)
- Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
- Objective: To not obstruct export-linked production that depends on imported inputs.
Policy Implications
- Indicates a strategic industrial push — India wants to compete globally on quality, not on subsidies.
- Reflects WTO-compliant policy orientation, reducing subsidy-related trade disputes.
- Potential compliance burden for MSMEs and informal sector players.
- Aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India, but needs institutional and quality infrastructure support.
