Current Affairs 21 May 2025

Content :

1. More Good News Than Bad in Delhi’s Fertility Rate Dip
2. A Tragedy Recorded for Posterity: Inscription Near Temple in Karnataka Lists Drought Deaths in 1539
3. Progress Should Not Just Be Fast but Future-Proof
4. 3-Year Rule: A Setback to Judiciary Aspirants
5. M.R. Srinivasan, a Key Architect of India’s Nuclear Programme, No More
6. Kurma Mela: The Science of the Mass Nesting of Olive Ridley Turtles

More good news than bad in Delhi’s fertility rate dip

Context : Delhi has recorded the lowest Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India at 1.4 in 2021, marking a 26.3% decline since 2011. This shift reflects changing social dynamics, economic pressures, and lifestyle factors in the urban population.

Relevance : GS 1(Society) ,GS 2(Social Issues)

Key Data Highlights

• Delhi’s TFR in 2021: 1.4 (lowest in India).
• Delhi’s TFR in 2011: 1.9 → a 26.3% decline over a decade.
• National average TFR: 2.0.
• Highest TFR: Bihar at 3.0.

Positive Factors Behind the Decline

• Women’s Empowerment:
  • More women are financially independent and making individual reproductive choices.
  • Better education and workforce participation among women delaying childbirth.

• Delayed Fertility Trends:
  • Fertility has shifted to ages 30–44, with declining births in 15–29 age group.
  • Couples now prioritize careers and financial stability before family planning.

• Urban Living Constraints:
  • Migrant couples lack family support (e.g., grandparents), deterring multiple children.
  • High cost of living: childcare, education, and nanny expenses discourage large families.

• Health Awareness & Access:
  • Improved maternal and infant health services influencing reproductive decisions.
  • Access to family planning services through ASHAs and public hospitals.

Challenges & Concerns

• Infertility & Lifestyle Diseases:
  • Rise in PCOS and infertility linked to sedentary lifestyles, poor diet, and stress.
  • Long working hours and pollution contribute to health-related reproductive challenges.

• Economic Pressures:
  • Inflation makes child-rearing costly, leading couples to opt for a single child.
  • Families prefer quality upbringing over quantity due to limited income.

• Changing Social Norms:
  • Increasing number of couples voluntarily choosing not to have children.

Sociological Insights

• Reflects a transitioning urban society where individual choice, career goals, and economic rationality shape reproductive behavior.
• Marks a shift from family-driven to woman-driven fertility decisions.

A tragedy recorded for posterity: inscription near temple in Karnataka lists drought deaths in 1539

Key Highlights of the Discovery

• A 16th-century Kannada inscription was discovered near Chandrashekara temple, Guttala (Haveri district, Karnataka).
• Dated August 18, 1539 CE, it records 6,307 deaths due to drought (bara) — India’s first known epigraphic record of a humanitarian disaster.
• The deceased were buried by Marulaih Odeya, depicted in a stone sculpture carrying bodies in a basket.

Relevance : GS 1(History , Inscriptions) ,GS 3(Disaster Management)

Historical and Cultural Significance

• The inscription is unique and rare, documenting the exact human toll of a natural calamity — a detail often absent in traditional literature.
• It enriches India’s epigraphic heritage and contributes to historical memory of socio-environmental crises.

Socio-Economic and Humanitarian Insight

• Reflects the devastating impact of drought on medieval agrarian society.
• Shows evidence of community action and ritualistic piety in disaster response — burials were performed for religious merit.
• Offers a glimpse into the social role of individuals and rulers (e.g., Timmarasa Svami and god Basaveshwara) during crises.

Research and Analytical Value

• Opens avenues for comparative studies on climatic disasters and community resilience in Indian history.
• May assist scholars in reconstructing climatic patterns, demographic changes, and administrative responses over time.
• Adds depth to environmental history and disaster anthropology.

Broader Context

• Part of over 1,000 inscriptions documented by ASI in 2024–25 across India.
• Over 100 new inscriptions discovered this year alone, showing the continued importance of field epigraphy.

Conclusion

• A landmark inscription blending history, art, environment, and society.
• It bridges the gap between archaeology and environmental history, marking a forgotten tragedy in stone for posterity.

Progress should not just be fast but future-proof

Context and Urgency

• India faces escalating climate risks: rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, floods, droughts, and crop failures threaten millions.
• Over 80% of India’s population lives in climate disaster-prone districts (World Bank data).
• These climate physical risks (CPRs) pose systemic threats to economic stability, public health, and national security.

Relevance : GS3(Climate Change)

Nature of Climate Physical Risks (CPRs)

• CPRs include acute shocks (floods, heatwaves) and chronic stresses (shifting monsoons, prolonged droughts).
• Climate projections (long-term) differ from weather forecasts (short-term) and are vital for proactive adaptation.
• Effective management of CPRs requires long-term planning rather than reactive measures.

Global Climate Action: Mitigation vs Adaptation

• Global efforts are split between mitigation (emission reduction) and adaptation (building resilience).
• Adaptation is increasingly necessary worldwide due to intensifying climate impacts, not just in the Global South.
• Despite its importance, funding is disproportionately allocated to mitigation, overlooking adaptation measures like resilient infrastructure.
• Investing $1 in adaptation yields a $4 return by reducing economic losses and disaster recovery costs (UNEP).

Framework for Assessing CPRs

• CPR risk = function of hazard (climate events), exposure (who/what is at risk), and vulnerability (capacity to withstand/recover).
• This framework underscores that climate risk is multifaceted, involving environmental and socio-economic dimensions.

Regulatory and Reporting Developments

• Financial regulators worldwide are moving from voluntary to mandatory climate risk disclosures.
• India’s Reserve Bank is integrating climate risks into its regulatory framework.
• The IFRS ISSB S2 standard sets global expectations for climate risk disclosure, linking CPR assessments to business continuity.

India’s Current Challenges

• India’s climate risk assessments are fragmented across multiple agencies and methodologies, lacking standardization.
• Existing tools and studies (e.g., flood maps, vulnerability atlases) are valuable but not unified or centrally accessible.
• Global climate models often fail to capture India’s hyper-local climate realities, limiting accuracy.
• This fragmentation hinders informed policymaking and business decision-making.

Initiatives and Way Forward

• India has initiated a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) aligned with the Paris Agreement, with an Adaptation Communication submitted in 2023.
• The upcoming NAP report aims for district-level granularity across nine thematic sectors.
• A robust, India-specific CPR assessment tool is urgently needed to unify data and methodologies.
• Such a tool should combine:
  • Localized climate modelling,
  • Granular risk assessment,
  • Centralized climate risk data repository,
  • Transparent, science-based iterative processes.
• This will enable:
  • Public sector to design resilient policies and infrastructure,
  • Private sector to assess value chain risks and meet investor demands.

3-year rule: a setback to judiciary aspirants

Background & Supreme Court Judgment

• On May 20, 2025, a three-judge Bench led by CJI B.R. Gavai reinstated the mandatory 3 years of legal practice to be eligible for the subordinate judicial services examination.
• The Court relied largely on the majority opinion of High Courts favoring the three-year rule but did not present empirical data proving the ‘lower quality’ of fresh law graduates.
• The decision marks a return to a previously contested rule, reversing the 2002 Supreme Court ruling that had scrapped this requirement.

Relevance : GS 2(Judiciary)

Historical Context

• 1958 Law Commission Report (14th LCI):
  • Recommended 3-5 years of practice for state judicial service eligibility.
  • For All India Judicial Service (AIJS), no prior experience was required; practical skills to be developed through training.

• 1992 All India Judges’ Association case:
  • Supported AIJS recommendations; allowed fresh graduates for central-level judicial services.

• 1993 Review:
  • Emphasized 3 years’ practice essential for lower judiciary due to judicial responsibilities involving life, liberty, and property.

• 1996 Justice Shetty Commission:
  • Found States mostly complied with the 3-year rule, some with even longer experience requirements.
  • Highlighted delay in recruitment ages (27-30 years) because of the rule.

• 2002 Supreme Court decision:
  • Abolished the 3-year rule citing failure to attract the best talent; bright graduates found judicial service unattractive after 3 years of practice.

Rationale for the Rule

• Supreme Court believes:
  • Practical experience helps judges handle courtroom decorum, complex procedures, and diverse stakeholder perspectives.
  • Maturity, empathy, and patience improve with experience.
• Concerns about lack of training or real-world practice in fresh graduates entering judicial services directly.

Challenges & Criticism of the 3-Year Rule

Talent Drain

• NLU graduates prefer high-paying corporate jobs over low-paid, slow judicial services.
• High education costs (₹12-40 lakh) and loans deter candidates from waiting for judicial entry

Economic & Social Barriers

• Financially weaker groups (SC/ST/OBC) need early income, can’t afford delayed careers.
• Junior lawyers earn low stipends (~₹15,000-20,000), making 3 years’ practice financially tough.

Impact on Women

• Experience requirements hinder women facing maternity/career breaks.
• Women constitute 38% of district judiciary and excel in exams (e.g., Bihar).

Age & Eligibility Mismatch

• Exams require 5-6 years education + 3 years practice, making candidates older and vulnerable.
• Irregular exam schedules cause delays and uncertainty.

Practical Disconnection

• Candidates want judicial service but don’t see legal practice as viable.
• States struggle to fill higher judiciary posts due to poor exam results.

Alternative Proposals & Recommendations

Enhance Training, Don’t Restrict Entry

• Recruit fresh graduates with extended training/probation (2+ years).
• Attach trainees to senior judges/lawyers for practical experience.

Examination Reform

• Replacerotelearning with scenario-based questions.
• Emphasize judgment writing and practical skills.

Attract Young Talent

• Offer better career prospects and financial incentives.
• Hold frequent judicial exams to shorten waiting times.

Balanced Approach

• Blend academic excellence with rigorous on-the-job training instead of mandatory prior experience.

M.R. Srinivasan, a key architect of India’s nuclear programme, no more

Personal and Professional Background

• M.R. Srinivasan (1930–2025) passed away at age 95 in Udhagamandalam.
• Joined the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1955, beginning a distinguished career spanning over six decades.

Relevance : GS 4(Ethics and Personalities)

Early Career and Contributions

• Worked closely with Dr. Homi J. Bhabha on India’s first nuclear research reactor, Apsara, which achieved criticality in August 1956.
• Appointed Principal Project Engineer in 1959 for the construction of India’s first atomic power station.
• Became Chief Project Engineer of the Madras Atomic Power Station in 1967, playing a key role in its development.

Leadership Roles

• Director of the Power Projects Engineering Division, DAE in 1974, overseeing nuclear power projects nationwide.
• Chairman of the Nuclear Power Board in 1984, responsible for planning, execution, and operation of nuclear power plants.
• Appointed Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy in 1987.
• Founder-Chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) in 1987.

Achievements in Nuclear Power Development

• Under his leadership, 18 nuclear power units were developed:
  • 7 operational
  • 7 under construction
  • 4 in planning
• Instrumental in expanding India’s nuclear energy capacity and infrastructure.

Recognition

• Awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 for his pivotal role in India’s nuclear programme.

Overall Impact

• M.R. Srinivasan is regarded as a key architect of India’s nuclear energy programme.
• His contributions significantly advanced India’s scientific and technological capabilities in nuclear energy.
• Mentored generations of scientists, leaving a lasting legacy on India’s nuclear landscape.

Kurma mela: the science of the mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles

Overview of Olive Ridley Turtles and Mass Nesting (Arribada)

• Olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) are a vulnerable sea turtle species known for synchronized mass nesting events calledarribada (Spanish for “arrival”).
• Odisha’s Rushikulya beach witnessed a record-breaking seven lakh turtles nesting in March, highlighting its ecological importance.
• Despite some local population growth, IUCN estimates a 30-50% global decline in Olive Ridley numbers since 1960.
• Primary nesting sites are along the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America; Odisha hosts three major nesting beaches — Gahirmatha, Devi, and Rushikulya.

Relevance : GS 3(Environment)

Ecological and Biological Factors Behind Nesting

• Hatchlings imprint on the local geomagnetic field of their birth site, enabling them to return decades later with remarkable precision — a behavior known as philopatry.
• Other ecological cues influencing nesting site choice include:
  • Cold-core eddies that enrich nearby waters with nutrients.
  • Salinity, land slope, rainfall, and predation risks.
• Nesting sites tend to be preferred if many turtles have nested there previously, reinforcing site fidelity across generations.

Challenges and Conflicts at Nesting Sites

• As turtle populations grow but nesting beach sizes remain limited, competition arises — later arrivals may dig up and destroy existing nests.
• Broken or disturbed eggs emit olfactory cues that attract predators, increasing nest vulnerability.
• This survival strategy (mass nesting and synchronized arrivals) paradoxically increases risks of egg predation.

Impact of Temperature and Sex Ratio

• In sea turtles, temperature determines hatchling sex (warmer beaches produce more females).
• Rising global temperatures may skew sex ratios toward females, potentially reinforcing the multiplier effect in arribada events.
• Similar research on Olive Ridley turtles is ongoing.

How Mass Nesting Originates and Evolves

• Initial arribadas are irregular, as female turtles choose nesting sites without fixed patterns.
• Females unable to reach their natal beach may create new nesting sites, imprinting hatchlings on these locations.
• The species’ survival depends on such wanderers who establish new arribada beaches, preventing extinction from overcrowding.

Conservation and Genetic Concerns

• Modern conservation efforts include artificial incubation and beach protection, aiding population recovery.
• However, protecting weaker individuals who might not survive naturally may reduce the population’s genetic resilience over time.

Role of Human Communities and Tourism

• Local fisherfolk and villagers in Odisha play a crucial role in guarding nests and preventing egg poaching.
• However, turtle tourism poses risks: crowds with bright lights, selfies, and physical disturbance (e.g., sand scooping, sitting on turtles) disrupt nesting behavior and could affect turtles’ long-term memory and site fidelity.
• Scientists are beginning to recognize turtles’ cognitive and emotional sensitivity, emphasizing the need for ethical tourism practices.

Ethical and Conservation Imperatives

• The priority is balancing conservation, ecological balance, and ethical responsibility, rather than focusing solely on population numbers or rescue operations.
• Olive Ridley turtles’ resilience is extraordinary but not limitless.
• Humans must safeguard ecological conditions and allow turtles privacy and minimal disturbance during nesting.