UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS — 13 OCTOBER 2026
Liberty vs Order on Delhi’s Streets: Mass Detentions, the Supreme Court, and the End of Jantar Mantar as a Protest Venue
(POLITY AND GOVERNANCE) (TH) (TH) Protests in New Delhi against the Chief Election Commissioner led to large-scale detentions of students, activists, lawyers and journalists. The Supreme Court stepped in with directions to protect peaceful assembly, while the Delhi Police de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. Together, the episodes test how far the State may restrict the right to protest.
What happened, in sequence
- Detentions: Police relied on preventive powers under Sections 170 and 172 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 to pick up protesters before and during demonstrations.
- International concern: The UN Human Rights Office called for the release of those “arbitrarily detained”; India rejected the remarks as misplaced interference in domestic matters.
- Court directions: In a special sitting on 11 October, the Court directed that no person be detained except in accordance with the procedure established by law, that lawyers and journalists not be impeded, that barricades be reviewed and that internet services stay undisturbed. The matter is listed again on 15 October.
- New venue rules: A Delhi Police standing order dated 11 October 2026 replaced Jantar Mantar with Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground (East Delhi) as designated protest venues, modifying an April 2022 order.
Who controls public order in Delhi?
“Public order” and “police” are State List subjects (Entries 1 and 2, List II). Delhi is an exception: under Article 239AA, public order, police and land are kept outside the Delhi Assembly’s law-making power. Hence the Delhi Police reports to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, which is why venue decisions flow from the Centre (see Union Territories).
Detention vs arrest: the key differences
| Feature | Preventive detention | Arrest (punitive) |
| Purpose | Prevents a likely future act prejudicial to public order or security | Secures a person accused of a past offence |
| Trigger | Executive satisfaction, intelligence inputs | FIR or credible complaint of a cognizable offence |
| Right to counsel | Excluded by Article 22(3) | Guaranteed by Article 22(1) |
| Production before Magistrate | Not required within 24 hours; Advisory Board review | Within 24 hours under Article 22(2) |
| Key laws | National Security Act, 1980, COFEPOSA, J&K PSA; BNSS Sections 170/172 (short-term) | BNSS, read with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita |
The framework rests on Article 22, while every deprivation of liberty must also satisfy the “just, fair and reasonable” test laid down in Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978).
How the courts have drawn the line
| Case | Principle |
| Ram Manohar Lohia v. State of Bihar (1966) | “Law and order”, “public order” and “security of the State” are concentric circles; not every breach of peace disturbs public order |
| Babulal Parate (1961) | Upheld anticipatory prohibitory orders as a reasonable restriction, subject to judicial review |
| Re: Ramlila Maidan Incident (2012) | Restrictions must rest on a real, imminent threat; force used must be the minimum necessary |
| Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan v. Union of India (2018) | Struck down a blanket ban on protests in central Delhi; directed regulated protest spaces |
| Anuradha Bhasin (2020) | Repetitive prohibitory orders are an abuse of power; restrictions must pass the proportionality test |
| Amit Sahni (Shaheen Bagh, 2020) | Public ways cannot be occupied indefinitely; protests belong at designated sites |
Article 19(1)(a) & (b) ➜ Reasonable restrictions: Art 19(2)–(3) ➜ Proportionality test ➜ Judicial review
Jantar Mantar: from observatory to “speakers’ corner”
- Heritage: Built in 1724 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the Delhi observatory has 13 masonry instruments, including the giant Samrat Yantra sundial. It is protected by the ASI; its Jaipur counterpart is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2010).
- Protest history: After rallies at the Boat Club lawns were barred in the 1990s, Jantar Mantar became Delhi’s main protest venue, hosting the 2011 anti-corruption movement and the 2023 wrestlers’ protest.
- Legal tussle: The National Green Tribunal banned protests there in 2017 over noise and sanitation; the Supreme Court set aside the blanket ban in 2018 and asked for regulated use.
Way forward
- Designated, accessible sites: Protest zones should be reachable by public transport and not pushed to the city’s fringe.
- Least-restrictive measures: Prohibitory orders must be specific in area and time, published, and reasoned.
- Procedural safeguards: Arrest memos, intimation to relatives and production before a Magistrate must follow every detention.
- Differentiation: Police should separate violent individuals from peaceful crowds instead of resorting to mass dispersal.
📖 Read More: Right to Freedom • Maneka Gandhi Case (1978) • Union Territories • Post-Independence Social Movements • Legal Architecture of Internal Security
The Engine Room of Elections: A New Deputy Election Commissioner Takes Charge
(POLITY AND GOVERNANCE) (TH) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has named Prakash Rajpurohit, a 2010-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, as Deputy Election Commissioner (DEC), with tenure up to 8 April 2030. He replaces Sanjay Kumar. The appointment is a reminder that India’s poll body runs on a permanent Secretariat beneath its three-member Commission.
Who are Deputy Election Commissioners?
The Election Commission of India (Article 324) is headed by a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. DECs are senior civil servants — usually of Joint Secretary or Additional Secretary rank — who head functional divisions of the Secretariat and turn the Commission’s decisions into field action.
| Function | What it covers |
| Electoral rolls | Supervision of roll revision, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) |
| IT and data | Voter-service platforms and election software systems |
| Poll management | Planning of State and national polls, Model Code of Conduct enforcement, training of poll staff |
| Liaison | Coordination with Chief Electoral Officers, Union Ministries and security agencies |
| Administration and law | Personnel, finance and litigation of the Secretariat |
How a DEC is appointed
State cadre offers officer ➜ Central Staffing Scheme (DoPT) ➜ Civil Services Board panel ➜ ACC approval
Postings at Joint Secretary level and above under the Central Staffing Scheme are screened by the Civil Services Board and cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister (see Cabinet Committees).
Why it matters now
- Workload: The Commission is conducting roll revisions while facing legal and political scrutiny over the SIR exercise.
- Legal backdrop: The Commission’s top tier is appointed under the CEC and Other ECs Act, 2023; a fresh petition challenging its Section 16 (immunity for acts done in official duty) is now before the Supreme Court.
- Institutional continuity: Experienced DECs keep election machinery stable regardless of changes at the top.
📖 Read More: Election Commission of India • Elections • Civil Services Board
Six Raj Bhavans, New Occupants: Understanding the Governor’s Office
(POLITY AND GOVERNANCE) (TOI) President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Governors for six States — moving two serving Governors and naming four new ones. The reshuffle is a good occasion to revise the constitutional design of an office that links the Union and the States.
The new line-up
| State | Governor | Note |
| Tamil Nadu | Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar | Moved from Keralam; was also holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu |
| Keralam | Om Prakash Mathur | Moved from Sikkim |
| Sikkim | Dushyant Gautam | New appointment |
| Odisha | Braj Mohan Ram | New appointment |
| Karnataka | Dr Sudha Yadav | New appointment; former Lok Sabha MP from Mahendragarh |
| Uttarakhand | Dhal Singh Bisen | New appointment |
Constitutional framework
| Article | Provision |
| 153 | A Governor for each State; the 7th Amendment (1956) allows one person for two or more States |
| 155 | Appointed by the President by warrant under hand and seal |
| 156 | Holds office during the pleasure of the President; normal term of five years |
| 157–158 | Must be a citizen, at least 35 years old; cannot hold any other office of profit |
| 163 | Acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, except where discretion is required |
| 200–201 | Assents to, withholds assent from, returns or reserves State Bills for the President |
| 213 | Promulgates ordinances when the Legislature is not in session |
Recurring debates
- Removal at pleasure: In B.P. Singhal (2010), the Supreme Court held that a Governor cannot be removed arbitrarily or merely for political mismatch with the Union.
- Delay on Bills: Prolonged sitting on State Bills has repeatedly reached the courts, raising questions of time-bound action under Article 200.
- Reform ideas: The Sarkaria and Punchhi Commissions advised appointing detached, eminent persons after consulting the Chief Minister.
📖 Read More: The Governor • Powers and Functions of the Governor • Constitutional Position of the Governor
33 Years of a Human Rights Watchdog: NHRC Marks Its Foundation Day
(POLITY AND GOVERNANCE) (ANI) The National Human Rights Commission marked its 33rd Foundation Day in New Delhi with a conference on water as a human right. Chief Justice Surya Kant described access to safe water as a precondition for other constitutional rights and called the Commission a “keeper” of the Constitution’s promises for those who struggle to reach courts.
Key takeaways from the event
- Workload: The Commission has registered over 24 lakh cases and disposed of over 23 lakh in 33 years — a disposal rate above 98%.
- Water as a right: A tap connection is not the same as access; contamination (arsenic, fluoride) and dry pipes deny the substance of the right to life.
- Vulnerable groups flagged: Undertrial prisoners, migrant workers, the elderly, persons with disabilities and women.
NHRC at a glance
| Aspect | Details |
| Nature | Statutory body under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993; set up on 12 October 1993 |
| International standard | Modelled on the UN’s Paris Principles (1993) |
| Chairperson | A former Chief Justice of India or a former Supreme Court judge (eligibility widened by the 2019 amendment) |
| Members | One serving/former SC judge, one serving/former HC Chief Justice, three experts (at least one woman) |
| Ex-officio members | Chairpersons of the national commissions for SCs, STs, Minorities, Women, BCs, Child Rights, and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities |
| Appointment | By the President on the recommendation of a committee headed by the Prime Minister |
Powers — and their limits
Complaint or suo motu cognisance ➜ Inquiry with civil court powers ➜ Recommendation ➜ Government action report
- Strengths: Civil-court powers during inquiry, jail visits, intervention in court proceedings, and the ability to recommend compensation.
- Limits: Recommendations are not binding; it cannot take up matters older than one year, and its oversight of the armed forces is restricted to seeking a report.
📖 Read More: National Human Rights Commission • State Human Rights Commission
Five Years of PM GatiShakti: From a Digital Map to a Planning Ecosystem
(ECONOMICS) (PIB) The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, launched on 13 October 2021, has completed five years. A GIS-based platform that began by mapping assets now covers 58 Central Ministries/Departments and all 36 States and UTs, and is being complemented by a new Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA).
The core idea
Roads, railways, ports, airports and utilities often cross the same land but were planned in silos. GatiShakti places all these layers — plus forests, settlements and economic zones — on one digital map, so projects can be aligned, cleared and sequenced together rather than dug up repeatedly.
Data from Ministries & States ➜ Common GIS platform (BISAG-N) ➜ Network Planning Group appraisal ➜ Integrated, faster execution
Key features and numbers
| Component | Details |
| Seven engines | Roads, Railways, Ports, Waterways, Airports, Mass Transport, Logistics Infrastructure |
| Six principles | Integrated development, multimodal infrastructure, last-mile connectivity, expedited land acquisition, minimised clearances, reduced ecological impact |
| Data layers | Over 23,493 layers as of 12 October 2026 |
| Institutions | Empowered Group of Secretaries (chaired by Cabinet Secretary) → Network Planning Group → Technical Support Unit |
| Projects appraised | 396 projects worth about ₹18.66 lakh crore (256 sanctioned; 198 under implementation) |
| ULIP | Links 46 government systems across 12 Ministries through 142 APIs |
| Capacity building | Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (2022) has trained over 2.4 lakh officers |
| Private access | Since October 2025, regulated query-based access to 230 non-sensitive datasets |
ITLA: the new long-range planner
- Mandate: Prepare a National Transport Master Plan with a horizon of ten years or more.
- Appraisal: Technical appraisal of transport projects costing ₹500 crore or more, and monitoring of their execution.
- Data: Build a National Transport Data Repository using FASTag, Vahan and GSTN e-way bill data.
GatiShakti in action
| Project | Outcome of integrated planning |
| Pune–Bengaluru Expressway (699 km) | Alignment revised to cut forest-land overlap by 19%; expected to save ~16 crore litres of fuel a year |
| Jogighopa Multimodal Logistics Park, Assam | Road–rail–waterway cargo hub on the Brahmaputra; Dhubri–Phulbari bridge to cut travel time from ~7 hours to 30 minutes |
| Ladakh–Haryana Green Energy Corridor | 480-km HVDC line (Pang to Kaithal) to evacuate 13 GW of renewable energy |
Unfinished agenda
- Land records: Outdated cadastral maps create gaps between digital alignments and ground reality.
- Sub-national uptake: Municipal and district data are often updated late, causing avoidable re-excavation.
- Last-mile focus: Rural link roads and mandi connectivity need the same attention as expressways.
- Logistics costs: Lasting gains will be judged by lower freight costs and faster turnaround, not just assets built — the goal of the infrastructure push.
📖 Read More: PM GatiShakti • Infrastructure Sector of Indian Economy • Road Transport in India • Water Transport in India
Expectations Matter: Economics Nobel 2026 for the Micro Foundations of Macro Policy
(ECONOMICS) (IE) (NDTV) The 2026 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel has gone to Robert E. Hall (Stanford University) and Michael Woodford (Columbia University) “for microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilisation”. Their models now underpin how central banks and governments respond to shocks.
The problem they solved
Keynesian models relied on stable statistical links, such as between inflation and unemployment. In the 1970s oil shocks these links broke down, producing stagflation. The lesson: people adapt to policy. Models had to be rebuilt from how households and firms actually decide — the “microfoundations”.
1970s stagflation ➜ Keynesian rules fail ➜ Forward-looking micro models ➜ Credible, communicated policy
Who contributed what
| Laureate | Key idea | Why it matters |
| Robert E. Hall | Consumption follows a “random walk” (1978): households change spending only when new, unexpected information arrives | Temporary, anticipated stimulus may do little unless it changes expectations of lifetime income |
| Michael Woodford | New Keynesian models with sticky prices and forward-looking firms | Central banks steer the economy through interest-rate rules and expectations, not just money supply |
| Both | Policy works through the expected future path | Basis for forward guidance and inflation targeting |
Relevance for India
- Inflation targeting: The RBI’s flexible inflation-targeting framework and the Monetary Policy Committee rely on anchoring expectations — a direct application (see Foundation of Monetary Policy).
- Communication: Clear policy statements and guidance shape bond yields and borrowing before rates actually move.
- Fiscal design: Credible medium-term fiscal policy paths matter as much as one-off stimulus.
Quick facts
- Instituted: 1968 by Sveriges Riksbank; first awarded in 1969 (Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen).
- Prize: 12 million Swedish kronor, shared equally; awarded on 10 December.
- Indian-origin laureates: Amartya Sen (1998) and Abhijit Banerjee (2019).
📖 Read More: Foundation of Monetary Policy • Inflation • Business Cycle • Fiscal Policy
Listening to Lived Experience: World Mental Health Day, Tele-MANAS and the Push for Community Care
(SOCIAL JUSTICE) (TOI) World Mental Health Day (10 October) was observed on the theme “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change”. India’s Tele-MANAS helpline has received nearly 47.75 lakh calls since 2022, while a new WHO guide urges countries to move care out of psychiatric institutions and into communities.
Tele-MANAS by the numbers
| Indicator | Value |
| Launch | 10 October 2022, under the National Tele Mental Health Programme |
| Helpline | 14416 — free, 24×7, multilingual |
| Calls received | 4,775,644 (about 47.75 lakh) |
| Network | 53 Tele-MANAS centres serving all 36 States/UTs |
| Age profile | 73.2% of analysed callers were aged 18–45 |
| Common concerns | Emotional distress, exam and workplace stress, relationship issues, anxiety, sleep problems |
What the WHO is saying
- Slow reform: Only 9% of reporting countries have fully shifted to community-based care; 53% are at an early stage.
- Long stays: About 28% of psychiatric hospital admissions last more than six months.
- Involuntary care: Nearly half of people in psychiatric hospitals and social-care institutions are held involuntarily.
India’s policy journey
NMHP (1982) ➜ DMHP (1996) ➜ National Mental Health Policy (2014) ➜ Mental Healthcare Act (2017) ➜ Tele-MANAS (2022)
- Rights-based law: The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 recognises a right to access mental healthcare, allows advance directives and, under Section 115, presumes severe stress in an attempt to die by suicide.
- Primary care link: Mental health services are being integrated into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs under the National Health Mission.
Persisting gaps
- Treatment gap: The National Mental Health Survey (2015–16) found a treatment gap of about 83% for mental disorders.
- Workforce: Psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and psychiatric social workers remain scarce outside cities.
- Stigma: Distress is often treated as weakness, delaying help until a crisis.
- Youth and digital stress: Adolescents face exam pressure and compulsive social-media use (see children and youth).
Way forward
- Community first: Day-care, rehabilitation and follow-up close to home, with psychiatric hospitals as a last resort.
- Frontline capacity: Train ASHAs and ANMs in psychological first aid and screening.
- Schools and colleges: Trained counsellors and emotional-skills curricula.
- Lived-experience voices: Involve people who have recovered in designing services — the essence of this year’s theme.
📖 Read More: Health: A Social Perspective • Schemes under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare • National Health Mission
Medicine at the Roof of India: First High-Altitude Health Research Centre Comes Up at Keylong
(SOCIAL JUSTICE) (NOA) Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda laid the foundation stone of the Indian Council of Medical Research’s first High-Altitude Health Research Centre (ICMR-CHAMP) at Keylong in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. It is a joint effort with the Armed Forces Medical Services.
Why a dedicated centre?
Life above about 2,500 metres means low oxygen, extreme cold and limited access to care. These conditions affect soldiers posted on high passes as well as Himalayan tribal communities who live there year-round — yet research on their health has been thin and seasonal.
Research focus
| Area | Examples |
| High-altitude physiology | Acclimatisation, altitude sickness, early detection and treatment protocols |
| Community health | Maternal and newborn health, child growth and nutrition, disease patterns among Himalayan communities |
| Armed forces | Health of personnel deployed in extreme terrain |
| Health technology | Digital health, telemedicine and drone-enabled delivery of medicines to remote areas |
Field station at Keylong ➜ Year-round research centre ➜ ICMR + AFMS collaboration ➜ Protocols for soldiers & communities
Significance
- Equity: Brings specialised research to a remote, tribal region that is often cut off in winter.
- Security: Better acclimatisation science supports forces along the Himalayan frontier.
- Climate lens: Helps track how warming and changing weather affect health in mountain ecosystems.
📖 Read More: Health and Nutrition • Tribes of the Himalayan Region • Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
Green Cards on Hold: The PERM Freeze and the “Indentured Servants” Row
(INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) (TH) The US Department of Labor has suspended PERM filings for eight technology majors — TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe — citing ongoing investigations. India’s MEA called US Vice President J.D. Vance’s description of H-1B workers as “indentured servants” unwarranted and deeply offensive.
PERM and H-1B: know the difference
| Feature | H-1B | PERM labour certification |
| Nature | Temporary (non-immigrant) work visa | First step to employment-based permanent residence (Green Card) |
| Categories | Specialty occupations | EB-2 (advanced degree / exceptional ability) and EB-3 (skilled workers, professionals) |
| Test | Employer sponsorship, annual cap | Labour-market test: no qualified US worker available; wages not depressed |
| Effect of freeze | Not directly affected | New filings barred and pending cases halted for the eight firms |
Why the word “indentured” stung
Under the indenture system introduced after slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1833, Indians were shipped under five-year contracts (girmit) to plantations in Fiji, Mauritius, the Caribbean and South Africa. Equating today’s highly paid professionals with that bondage revived a painful chapter of diaspora history.
Pressure points in India–US ties
- Mobility of talent: Movement of professionals — “Mode 4” services trade under the WTO’s GATS — is a core Indian strength now facing curbs.
- Costlier visas: A US$100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions has raised the cost of onsite deployment.
- Strategic anchor: Cooperation through the Quad and technology and defence frameworks continues, cushioning the economic friction (see India–US relations).
Way forward
- Negotiate mobility: Seek a totalisation agreement and predictable visa rules in trade talks.
- Local hiring and onshore delivery: Indian IT firms are already raising US hiring; Wipro says ~80% of its US staff are locally hired.
- Diversify markets: Expand services exports to Europe, the Gulf and East Asia.
📖 Read More: India–United States Relations • The Indian Diaspora • Internal and External Migration
Two Decades at Sea Together: INS Trishul Sails into KONKAN-26 off Plymouth
(INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) (NOA) (PIB) The guided-missile stealth frigate INS Trishul has reached Plymouth, United Kingdom, for KONKAN-26, the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy, held from 8 to 15 October 2026.
Structure of the exercise
| Phase | Activities |
| Harbour phase | Professional interactions, cross-deck visits, sports and cultural engagements, ship open to visitors |
| Sea phase | Drills across air, surface and sub-surface domains — cross-deck helicopter landings, firing serials, air-defence and anti-submarine exercises, seamanship evolutions |
Harbour phase at Plymouth ➜ Sea phase off southern UK ➜ Interoperability ➜ Secure, open and free seas
Why it matters
- Strategic framework: The exercise reflects the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under the India–UK Vision 2035 (see India–UK relations).
- Interoperability: Over two decades, KONKAN has grown in scale and complexity, building trust for joint maritime operations.
- Blue-water reach: Deployment to European waters showcases the Navy’s long-range presence and protection of sea lanes (see Naval Defence).
India–UK defence exercises at a glance
| Exercise | Service |
| KONKAN | Navy |
| Ajeya Warrior | Army |
| Indradhanush | Air Force |
📖 Read More: India–United Kingdom Relations • Naval Defence • Coastal and Maritime Security
A Record El Niño — and Why Tamil Nadu May Get More Rain, Not Less
(GEOGRAPHY) (TH) The World Meteorological Organization forecasts the Niño 3.4 sea-surface temperature anomaly to reach about +3.7°C in October–December 2026 — the highest since observations began and above the previous record of +2.6°C (Nov 2015–Jan 2016). While El Niño usually weakens India’s south-west monsoon, Tamil Nadu may instead face heavier north-east monsoon rain.
El Niño in brief
El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. Trade winds weaken, warm water piles up towards the eastern Pacific, and cold upwelling off Peru is suppressed. It is declared when the Niño 3.4 anomaly stays at or above +0.5°C over successive three-month periods; “super El Niño” is an informal label for very strong events.
Weak trade winds ➜ Warm water shifts east ➜ Walker circulation shifts ➜ Sinking dry air over India
What modifies El Niño’s impact on India
| Factor | Effect |
| Indian Ocean Dipole | A positive IOD (warmer western Indian Ocean) can offset El Niño — as in 1997–98, when India received normal monsoon rain |
| Type of El Niño | Eastern-Pacific (canonical) events tend to hurt the monsoon more than central-Pacific (Modoki) events |
| Madden–Julian Oscillation | An eastward-moving band of clouds that can trigger active rainy spells even in El Niño years |
| Current season | WMO expects a positive IOD to peak in October and then decline |
The Tamil Nadu exception
- Different monsoon: Lying in the rain-shadow of the Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu gets nearly half its annual rain from the north-east monsoon (October–December).
- Warmer Bay of Bengal: Clearer skies during El Niño heat the southern Bay, adding moisture to depressions and cyclones that reach the coast.
- Ocean currents: The seasonal reversal of the East India Coastal Current alters coastal sea temperatures and can aid storm intensification (see Indian Ocean Currents).
- Precedent: The strong 2015–16 El Niño coincided with the December 2015 Chennai floods.
Lessons from history
| Event | Impact on India |
| 1876–78 | Severe drought and the Great Famine across southern and western India |
| 1997–98 | Normal monsoon, cushioned by a strong positive IOD |
| 2015–16 | Drought in the interior; record floods in Chennai during the north-east monsoon |
Preparedness
- Dual risk planning: Drought contingency plans for rain-fed interiors alongside flood readiness for the Coromandel coast.
- Urban drainage: Desilting and restoring lakes and channels in Chennai before November–December.
- Impact-based forecasting: Translate IMD forecasts into district-level crop and reservoir advisories (see Drought).
📖 Read More: Walker Circulation and ENSO • Influencing Factors of Indian Monsoon • Characteristics of the Indian Monsoon • Distribution of Tropical Cyclones
Guarding North Karnataka’s Green Hills: Quarries Near Kappatagudda Turned Down
(ENVIRONMENT) (TOI) The standing committee of the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife rejected four stone-quarrying proposals located within 1 km of the Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gadag district, noting that the Centre’s notification and Supreme Court orders bar new quarries within 1 km of the sanctuary boundary.
About the sanctuary
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Gadag district, spanning Gadag, Mundargi and Shirahatti taluks |
| Area | 244.15 sq km; declared a wildlife sanctuary in May 2019 |
| Landscape | Hill range on the semi-arid Deccan; dry deciduous forest, scrub and grasslands; often called the “Sahyadri of North Karnataka” |
| Flora | Rich in medicinal plants; teak, Butea monosperma and acacia scrub |
| Fauna | Indian grey wolf, striped hyena, leopard, blackbuck, chinkara, four-horned antelope; over 180 bird species |
| Pressures | Iron-rich and mineral-bearing rocks attract mining and quarrying interest |
Eco-Sensitive Zones: the legal shield
Protected area ➜ Eco-Sensitive Zone (buffer) ➜ Prohibited: mining, quarrying, polluting units ➜ Regulated: other development
- Basis: Eco-Sensitive Zones are notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 around wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
- Judicial push: The Supreme Court has required a minimum ESZ around protected areas where none is notified, and barred mining close to their boundaries.
- Why it matters here: For drought-prone North Karnataka, the hills recharge groundwater and feed the Tungabhadra basin; quarry dust and blasting would degrade both habitat and water.
📖 Read More: Wildlife Sanctuaries in India • Mining • Environmental Governance • Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
Back After a Century: Wild Buffaloes Return to Kanha
(ENVIRONMENT) (NOA) Madhya Pradesh has moved eight wild buffaloes (six females, two males) brought from Kaziranga National Park into a 17-hectare enclosure in Kanha Tiger Reserve — the species’ return to the State’s forests after nearly 100 years. The goal is a population of 50 within three years.
The reintroduction pathway
Translocation from Kaziranga (~2,200 km) ➜ 1-ha quarantine enclosure, Supkhar range ➜ 17-ha acclimatisation enclosure ➜ Release into the wild
The animals arrived in two phases on 28 April and 9 May. Supkhar was chosen because records show wild buffaloes once lived there. Release into the open forest is planned after the animals settle.
Species profile: Wild water buffalo
| Aspect | Details |
| Scientific name | Bubalus arnee |
| Habitat | Grasslands, swamps, marshes and river valleys; historically across central India’s sal forests |
| Present stronghold | Assam (Kaziranga, Manas); small populations in Chhattisgarh |
| IUCN status | Endangered |
| Legal protection | Schedule I, Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 |
| State animal | Chhattisgarh |
Why reintroductions matter
- Restoring ecology: Large grazers shape grasslands and wetlands, benefiting other herbivores and predators.
- Genetic safety: A second population outside Assam reduces the risk of a single disaster wiping out the species.
- Track record: Kanha’s earlier success with the hard-ground barasingha shows how captive breeding and enclosures can revive a species (see Species of Conservation Concern: Mammals).
📖 Read More: Species of Conservation Concern: Mammals • National Parks in India • Big Cat Conservation in India
Forests as Classrooms: Assam Launches the “Nameri Wild Classroom”
(ENVIRONMENT) (DD) Assam’s Forest Department has launched the Nameri Wild Classroom, offering two- and three-day residential learning camps inside Nameri Tiger Reserve for students of Class 8 and above, including college students.
What students will do
- Field learning: Birdwatching, guided forest walks, wildlife tracking and modules on river ecology.
- River experience: Rafting on the Jia-Bharali river to study freshwater habitats.
- Community knowledge: Exposure to the traditions and conservation practices of local communities.
- Documentation: Field journals maintained under naturalists and forest staff; certificates on completion.
About Nameri
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Nameri, Sonitpur district, at the Himalayan foothills on the north bank of the Brahmaputra |
| Status | National Park and Tiger Reserve; contiguous with Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh |
| River | Jia-Bharali, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, known for the golden mahseer |
| Notable species | Tiger, elephant, white-winged wood duck, great hornbill |
Significance
- Experiential education: Turns textbook ecology into first-hand observation, building scientific temper.
- Future conservationists: Can steer young people towards careers in wildlife research and forestry.
- People and parks: Links conservation with local communities — a core theme of biodiversity conservation in India.
📖 Read More: Big Cat Conservation in India • National Parks in India • Biodiversity Conservation