Category: ENVIRONMENT
Context: The Supreme Court has ruled that Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) have the authority to impose and collect restitutionary and compensatory damages to restore polluted air and waterbodies to their original state.
This power is derived from Sections 33A and 31A of the Water and Air Acts, respectively.
The Court directed that such powers must be exercised only after appropriate subordinate legislation (rules and regulations) is framed, ensuring the principles of natural justice are followed.
The ruling came in response to a Delhi Pollution Control Committee appeal, where the Delhi High Court had earlier ruled that it lacked authority to impose such damages.
Justice P.S. Narasimha emphasized the “polluter pays” principle, noting that restoration should closely resemble the damaged ecosystem. Justice Manoj Misra added that PCBs hold broad statutory powers and responsibilities under the Water and Air Acts, including the ability to regulate or shut down polluting industries and services.
The judgment strengthens PCBs’ role in environmental protection and enforcement actions.
Learning Corner:
Pollution Control Boards (PCBs):
Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) are statutory bodies established under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 to prevent, control, and abate pollution in India. There are two main types:
Key Functions:
Source: THE HINDU
Category: ECONOMICS
Context : Lenskart, a major eyewear unicorn, is preparing for a ₹2,150 crore IPO after becoming profitable in FY25
Key Trends:
Optometrist Shortage:
Eyewear Access Gaps:
Learning Corner:
IPO (Initial Public Offering):
The process by which a private company offers its shares to the public for the first time and becomes a publicly listed company on a stock exchange.
DRHP (Draft Red Herring Prospectus):
A preliminary document submitted to SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) containing details about the company’s business, financials, risks, and purpose of the IPO. It invites public feedback before the final prospectus.
Red Herring Prospectus (RHP):
The final version of the DRHP that includes the issue price and other final details. It is filed before the IPO opens for subscription.
Fresh Issue:
New shares issued by the company to raise capital. The money goes directly to the company and is often used for expansion, debt repayment, etc.
Offer for Sale (OFS):
Shares sold by existing shareholders (e.g. promoters, venture capitalists) as part of the IPO. The proceeds go to the selling shareholders, not the company.
Book Building:
A price discovery mechanism where investors bid within a price band, and the final issue price is decided based on demand.
Price Band:
The range within which investors can place their bids. The upper and lower limits are set by the issuer.
Lot Size:
The minimum number of shares that can be applied for in an IPO. Investors must bid in multiples of the lot size.
Underwriters:
Financial institutions that manage the IPO process, ensure regulatory compliance, and often guarantee the sale of a certain number of shares.
Listing:
The process of getting the company’s shares admitted to trade on a stock exchange (like NSE or BSE in India) after the IPO is complete.
Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS
Category: POLITY
Context: August 5, 2025, marks six years since the abrogation of Article 370.
Key Themes:
Politics: Limited Representation
Security: Mixed Outcomes
Investment and Development
Tourism: Growth and Setback
Learning Corner:
Article 370:
Article 370 of the Indian Constitution granted special autonomous status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). It was a temporary provision inserted in Part XXI of the Constitution under “Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions.”
Key Features:
Abrogation (August 5, 2019):
Implications:
Special Status of Different States in the Indian Constitution
The Indian Constitution provides for special status or special provisions for certain states to address their unique historical, cultural, economic, or geographical conditions. These provisions are primarily covered under Articles 371 to 371J in Part XXI of the Constitution.
Key Articles and Special Provisions:
Article 370 (Now abrogated)
Article 371
Article 371A
Article 371B
Article 371C
Article 371D & 371E
Article 371F
Article 371G
Article 371H
Article 371I
Article 371J
Purpose of Special Status:
Category: ENVIRONMENT
Context: Attempt to Save Rhinos by Giving Them Radioactive Horns
To combat rhino poaching, scientists in South Africa have begun injecting radioactive isotopes into rhino horns as part of the Rhisotope Project. Developed by the University of the Witwatersrand and supported by the IAEA, this method makes horns detectable at borders and toxic for human use without harming the animals.
Key Points:
This innovative approach represents a scientific and security-based strategy to protect endangered rhinos by reducing the commercial value of their horns.
Learning Corner:
Rhinos
Rhinoceroses (Rhinos) are large, herbivorous mammals known for their thick skin and prominent horns. They are native to parts of Africa and Asia and are among the world’s most endangered animals due to habitat loss and poaching for their horns, which are falsely believed to have medicinal value.
Key Species:
Conservation Status:
Threats:
Rhinos play a crucial ecological role by maintaining grassland and forest balance, and their protection is vital for broader biodiversity conservation.
Radioisotopes
Radioisotopes, or radioactive isotopes, are atoms that have unstable nuclei and emit radiation as they decay into more stable forms. These isotopes can be naturally occurring or artificially produced in reactors or particle accelerators.
Key Features:
Major Applications:
Safety & Regulation:
Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS
Category: ENVIRONMENT
Context: Over 190 countries are meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, for the 5th round of talks (INC-5) under the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to finalize a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty.
Learning corner:
Global Plastics Treaty
The Global Plastics Treaty is a proposed legally binding international agreement under negotiation by the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to address the full lifecycle of plastics—from production to disposal.
Background:
Objectives:
Global Significance:
Challenges:
Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS
Introduction (Context)
India, with its focus on decarbonisation, has witnessed rapid electrification, particularly in the realm of electric vehicle (EV) adoption. There are projections that India’s EV lithium battery demand may skyrocket to nearly 139 gigawatt-hours (GWh) by 2035 from 4 GWh in 2023. India’s expanding renewable energy sector is also catalysing demand for lithium batteries.
But the absence of a robust battery recycling ecosystem, particularly fair EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) floor pricing, threatens both environmental safety and economic sustainability.
In 2022, Lithium batteries alone accounting for 7,00,000 of the 1.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste generated
Recognising these risks, the government notified the Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR) in 2022 to ensure sustainable management and recycling.
Salient provisions of Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR) in 2022 are:
Without fair EPR floor pricing, India faces severe environmental degradation from improper battery recycling or dumping.
The financial repercussions are equally alarming. Experts estimate that by 2030, inadequate battery recycling could cost India over $1 billion in foreign exchange losses.
Battery waste is a growing environmental and economic challenge for India. A weak recycling structure, low EPR pricing, and unregulated informal practices pose significant threats. What’s needed is a fair pricing framework, digitised enforcement, and formalisation of recyclers to transform battery waste from a liability into a strategic asset. India cannot afford to miss this opportunity on its path to Net Zero.
Q Discuss the challenges in managing battery waste in India in the context of EV adoption and renewable energy growth. What reforms are needed to ensure sustainable recycling under the Extended Producer Responsibility framework? (250 words, 15 marks)
Source: The missing link in India’s battery waste management – The Hindu
Experts have flagged the persistent gap between breastfeeding awareness and its sustained practice in India. Despite good initiation rates, only 63.7% of infants are exclusively breastfed for six months (NFHS-5). Hence, this year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme, is ‘Prioritise Breastfeeding: Build Sustainable Support Systems’, highlighting the need for systemic reforms and science-backed support systems.
Despite campaigns and awareness drives, exclusive breastfeeding in India still drops sharply after the first few months.
Experts argue that this isn’t a failure of mothers—it’s a failure of the system.
Breastfeeding is not just a behavioural act it is a biological process requiring scientific, emotional, and structural support. Mere awareness campaigns are insufficient.
India needs integrated, evidence-backed interventions embedded into maternal and child healthcare delivery. Protecting breastfeeding is protecting national health and human capital.
Q Discuss the systemic and structural challenges that hinder exclusive breastfeeding in India. What policy and programmatic reforms are necessary to improve breastfeeding rates and maternal health outcomes? (250 words, 15 marks)