1) SC Directive on Sacred Groves: Implications and Challenges

GS 2: Polity and Governance: SC on Sacred Groves

Why is it in the news?

• On December 18, 2024, the Supreme Court directed the Rajasthan Forest Department to map all sacred groves using satellite imagery and ground surveys. These groves were to be identified based on their cultural and ecological significance, regardless of size.
• The court ordered their classification as ‘forests’ and notification as ‘community reserves’ under the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) 1972. This move effectively shifts control of sacred groves from community management to the Forest Department.
• However, this decision conflicts with the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, which aims to restore traditional rights over forest lands to local communities.

Sacred Groves in Rajasthan

• Rajasthan has around 25,000 sacred groves, locally known as ‘orans’, ‘malvan’, ‘deo ghat’, and ‘baugh’, covering approximately six lakh hectares.
• These community-managed forests hold religious and ecological significance and are traditionally protected through local customs and beliefs.

T.N. Godavarman Case and Definition of Forest Land

• In the case of N. Godavarman v. Union of India, the Supreme Court expanded the definition of ‘forest land’ under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The court ruled that ‘forest land’ includes areas recorded as forests in government records, regardless of ownership.
• Following this, Rajasthan’s expert committee (2004) classified only groves covering five hectares with 200+ trees per hectare as ‘deemed forests’. However, the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) disagreed and directed the state to implement broader protections in 2018.
• In early 2024, Rajasthan informed the SC that sacred groves were being classified as ‘forest lands’. However, its Forest Policy 2023 removed the detailed sacred grove protections included in the 2010 policy, raising concerns about the dilution of community rights. The current SC order stems from a challenge to these positions.

Traditional Conservation of Sacred Groves

• Sacred groves are community-regulated forests deeply tied to cultural identity and religious beliefs. Customary laws prohibit resource extraction, except for medicinal plants.
• These groves serve as biodiversity hotspots, supporting rare flora and fauna, and play a crucial role in stabilizing ecosystems by mitigating floods, landslides, and soil erosion.
• India has an estimated 1-10 lakh sacred groves, the highest in the world. They are known by various names across states, such as ‘devara kadu’ (Karnataka), ‘kavu’ (Kerala), ‘sarna’ (Chota Nagpur Plateau), and ‘devbani’ (Chhattisgarh).

What are Community Reserves?

• The WLPA 2002 introduced ‘community reserves’ as a new category of Protected Areas, in addition to national parks and sanctuaries. These reserves are created on community or private lands where locals voluntarily conserve habitats.
• However, the Forest Department oversees their management, limiting local autonomy. Activities like tree felling, littering, and setting fires are prohibited.
• A ‘Community Reserve Management Committee’, comprising gram panchayat members and Forest Department representatives, is formed for oversight, with an ‘Honorary Wildlife Warden’ appointed as chairperson.

Conflict with the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006

• The FRA defines sacred groves as ‘community forest resources’, traditionally managed by gram sabhas. These sabhas have legal authority to protect and manage forests, ensuring that conservation aligns with local customs.
• Under the FRA, gram sabhas form their own management committees, while state governments support their plans. Since sacred groves are subsets of community forest resources, they should remain under community control.
• The SC’s decision to transfer them to the Forest Department could disrupt traditional conservation practices and community rights, contradicting the FRA’s objectives.

Conclusion

• The Supreme Court’s directive to classify sacred groves as community reserves could lead to conflicts with the FRA’s provisions, which prioritize local governance. While conservation is crucial, overriding traditional rights could alienate communities from their sacred lands.
• A balanced approach, integrating ecological protection with community-led management, is necessary to preserve both biodiversity and cultural heritage.

2) Deporting Declared Foreigners: The Assam Challenge

GS 2: Polity and Governance: SC on foreigner’s deportation

Why is it in the news?

• The Supreme Court is questioning the status of 63 individuals declared as foreigners and placed in Assam’s Matia detention camp. This scrutiny follows a December order asking the state government to explain the detention of 270 individuals and steps taken for their deportation.
• Recently, the court reprimanded the Assam government for not initiating deportation, citing that the addresses of these 63 individuals remain unknown.

Composition of the Matia Camp

• The Matia “transit camp” houses two categories of foreigners. Among the 270 inmates, 103 are Rohingya, 32 are Chin nationals, and one is from Senegal. These individuals were convicted under the Foreigners Act, Citizenship Act, or Passports Act and are awaiting deportation after serving their sentences.
• The remaining 133 have been declared foreigners by Assam’s Foreigners Tribunals, quasi-judicial bodies that determine citizenship status based on referrals from border police or cases of “doubtful” voters in electoral rolls.
• Of these, 70 have admitted to being Bangladeshi nationals and provided addresses, while 63 have not disclosed any address, making their deportation uncertain.

Diplomatic and Legal Complexities

• Deportation is primarily a diplomatic issue handled by the central government. The Assam government can only forward nationality verification requests to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which then coordinates with the respective embassies.
• If confirmed, deportation follows through the Border Security Force (BSF) and the counterpart paramilitary force of the recipient country. However, in these 63 cases, without a declared address, Bangladesh’s confirmation remains uncertain.
• To address the Supreme Court’s concerns, Assam officials are considering listing “Bangladesh” as the address for these individuals in their MEA submission.

Legal Challenges and Tribunal Limitations

• Legal experts highlight that Foreigners Tribunals only determine if an individual is not an Indian citizen, but they do not establish their actual nationality. Many of the 63 individuals can still appeal the tribunal’s decision in the High Court and Supreme Court.
• Past cases, such as that of Rahim Ali—who was declared a foreigner in 2010 but posthumously recognized as an Indian citizen by the Supreme Court in 2022—demonstrate the flaws in this system.
• Without clear proof of nationality, deportation remains uncertain, as Bangladesh is unlikely to accept individuals without verification, and Myanmar refuses to recognize Rohingya refugees as citizens.

Conclusion

• The Supreme Court has now directed the Union government to clarify how it plans to handle cases where individuals are neither confirmed Indian nationals nor have recognized citizenship elsewhere.
• Experts argue that unless their nationality is verified and accepted by another country, deportation remains legally and diplomatically challenging. The situation underscores the need for a more structured approach to handling stateless individuals in India’s legal framework.

3) NAAC Bribery Case: Issues and Proposed Reforms

GS 2: Society: Controversy involving NAAC accreditation

Why is it in the news?

• The recent bribery case involving NAAC accreditation has once again raised concerns about the credibility of the process. This is not the first controversy surrounding NAAC.
• In 2023, its chairman resigned, citing malpractices in the grading system. The accreditation process has long faced criticism for alleged vested interests and manipulation of outcomes.

What is NAAC and Why is Accreditation Important?

• National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), established in 1994 under the University Grants Commission (UGC), evaluates and accredits higher education institutions (HEIs).
• Its grading is widely considered a benchmark for institutional quality, influencing funding eligibility, student admissions, and autonomy applications.
• Since 2012, UGC regulations have mandated accreditation for institutions after six years of functioning or two graduating batches. Institutions are assessed on infrastructure, teaching, governance, and research, with the final accreditation determining their credibility and funding prospects.

The NAAC Accreditation Process

The assessment process involves multiple steps:

• Self-study report submitted by the institution.
• Student satisfaction survey conducted by NAAC.
• Peer team visit comprising experts selected through a computerized system. The system is designed to prevent state-based experts from assessing local institutions. However, the bribery case reveals that some institutions have manipulated this selection process.

Impact of NAAC Accreditation

• The accreditation results in a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) on an eight-point scale from A++ (highest) to D (lowest). Institutions rated A++ to C are accredited, while D indicates non-accreditation. Accreditation is granted for five to seven years, after which institutions must reapply.

Proposed Changes to NAAC Grading System

• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommends shifting to a binary accreditation system— ‘accredited,’ ‘awaiting accreditation,’ or ‘not accredited.’ A committee led by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan proposed this shift, aiming to reduce institutional pressure to obtain high grades.
• Additionally, a five-level hierarchy for accredited institutions has been proposed:

1. I) Level 1 to 4: Institutions of National Excellence.
2. II) Level 5: Institutions of Global Excellence for Multi-Disciplinary Research and Education.

Implementation of the New System

• In 2024, NAAC announced reforms aligning with these recommendations, replacing the grading system with binary accreditation and a maturity-based level system.
• The changes aim to reduce corruption by eliminating competition for high grades. Workshops with stakeholders are ongoing, and the transition is expected soon.
• To minimize dependence on expert visits, the committee suggested a stakeholder-crowdsourcing model, incorporating feedback from faculty, students, alumni, and parents. This approach aims to enhance transparency and reduce opportunities for manipulation.

Conclusion

• The NAAC bribery scandal underscores the urgent need for reform in the accreditation process. The proposed transition to binary accreditation and stakeholder-based assessment aims to restore credibility.
• If implemented effectively, these changes could make accreditation more transparent and reliable, ensuring that institutions are evaluated fairly based on merit rather than influence.

4) NavIC: India’s Indigenous Navigation System – Challenges and Future Prospects

GS 3: Science and Technology: NavIC

Why is it in the news?

• On February 2, ISRO reported the partial failure of its NVS-02 navigation satellite due to the non-firing of its engines in space.
• This marks another setback for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), known as the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC). Despite its strategic importance, the system has faced multiple challenges since its inception.

Origins of the NavIC System

• NavIC was conceptualized in 1999 after the Kargil War when India was unable to access the US-owned Global Positioning System (GPS) in the conflict zone. The need for an indigenous satellite navigation system led to the proposal of a seven-satellite constellation serving both defence and civilian applications, with a target completion by 2016.
• The first satellite, IRNSS-1A, was launched on July 1, 2013. However, 11 years later, only five out of the 11 satellites launched under the ₹2,250 crore NavIC program are fully operational, according to ISRO.
• Between 2013 and 2025, ISRO launched 11 IRNSS satellites: 1A (2013), 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I, 1J, and 1K (2025). Following the successful launch of IRNSS-1G in April 2016, ISRO declared the IRNSS constellation complete. However, subsequent failures affected the system’s reliability.

Technical Challenges and Failures

• Since mid-2016, several IRNSS satellites suffered failures due to malfunctioning rubidium atomic clocks, a problem also reported in Europe’s Galileo GNSS system. Each IRNSS satellite carries three atomic clocks, but in July 2016, ISRO confirmed that all clocks on IRNSS-1A had stopped working.
• While ISRO maintained that the system remained functional, it announced plans to launch a replacement satellite, IRNSS-1H, in 2017.
• Issues with rubidium atomic clocks were later detected in four more satellites—IRNSS-1C, 1D, 1E, and 1G. Additionally, the launch of IRNSS-1H on August 31, 2017, failed due to the non-separation of its heat shield during the PSLV-C39 mission.
• More recently, the engine failure of IRNSS-1K (NVS-02) in 2025 left it in a sub-optimal orbit, further impacting the system’s effectiveness.

Current Operational Status of NavIC Satellites

• Currently, only four satellites—IRNSS-1B, 1F, 1I, and 1J—are fully operational. The 2023-24 ISRO annual report listed five operational satellites, including IRNSS-1C and NVS-01 (IRNSS-1J). However, some estimates suggest that IRNSS-1C may only be partially functional due to aging atomic clocks.
• The first-generation IRNSS satellites launched after July 2016, such as 1H and 1I, carried modified versions of atomic clocks under a €4 million contract with a European supplier.
• The next-generation satellites, NVS-01 (IRNSS-1J) and NVS-02 (IRNSS-1K), incorporate a mix of indigenous and foreign atomic clocks to address earlier failures.

Strategic Importance of NavIC

• NavIC provides two key services: a Standard Positioning Service for commercial and general users and a Restricted Service for defence applications. The system ensures positioning accuracy better than 20 meters across India and a 1,500 km surrounding region, using dual frequencies in the L5 and S bands.
• Despite the availability of global systems like GPS (US), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (Europe), Beidou (China), and QZSS (Japan), India developed NavIC to maintain strategic autonomy, particularly for defence operations.
• GPS offers encrypted Precise Positioning Service (PPS) only to the US military and allies, making an indigenous system essential for India’s security needs.
• To make NavIC widely accessible, ISRO is working with positioning service providers such as mobile phone and vehicle manufacturers. In December 2023, Qualcomm signed an agreement to integrate NavIC support into some of its chipsets, a significant step toward commercial adoption.

Future of NavIC and Planned Launches

• Despite the partial failure of NVS-02, ISRO remains committed to expanding the NavIC system. Plans are in place to launch three additional second-generation satellites—NVS-03, 04, and 05—to strengthen the constellation with improved capabilities.
• These enhancements aim to ensure uninterrupted services and address past technical shortcomings.

Conclusion

• NavIC remains a crucial step toward India’s self-reliance in satellite navigation. While setbacks like atomic clock failures and launch mishaps have hindered progress, ISRO continues to refine the system.
• The upcoming launches and commercial collaborations indicate a promising future for NavIC, reinforcing India’s position in space-based navigation.

5) Arctic Temperatures Soar 20°C Above Average

GS 1: Geography: Temperature rise at North pole

Why is it in the news?

• On February 2, temperatures at the North Pole rose over 20°C above average, reaching the melting threshold for ice. A day earlier, temperatures in northern Svalbard, Norway, were already 18°C above the 1991–2020 average. By the next day, the anomaly surpassed 20°C.
• A scientist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, described this as an “extreme winter warming event,” highlighting its rarity and intensity.

The Arctic’s Role in Global Climate

• Since 1979, the Arctic has warmed four times faster than the global average. This is alarming because the region acts as the Earth’s natural cooling system. If Arctic temperatures continue to rise at this rate, the consequences could be severe, including accelerated sea-level rise and disrupted weather patterns worldwide.
• The unusual winter warmth was primarily caused by a deep low-pressure system over Iceland. This system allowed warm air from lower latitudes to flow into the Arctic, bringing significant heat to the region.
• Additionally, unusually high sea surface temperatures in the northeast Atlantic further intensified the wind-driven warming. As a result, on February 2, daily average temperatures at the North Pole were more than 20°C above normal, with absolute temperatures exceeding -1°C.

Why the Arctic Warms Faster than the Global Average

• While global temperatures have increased by approximately 1.3°C since the pre-industrial era (1850–1900), the Arctic has warmed nearly 3.8 times faster since the late 1970s.
• One major reason is the albedo effect—the ability of a surface to reflect sunlight. Ice reflects more sunlight than liquid water, but as Arctic ice melts, darker land and ocean surfaces absorb more heat, further increasing temperatures.
• Another contributing factor is weak convection in high latitudes. In tropical regions, strong convection causes warm air to rise and distribute heat throughout the atmosphere. However, in the Arctic, weak convection prevents heat from mixing vertically, causing warming to concentrate near the surface.

Conclusion

• The rapid Arctic warming underscores the need for urgent global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Without immediate intervention, the loss of ice and rising temperatures will continue to accelerate climate disruptions worldwide.

6) Furlough vs. Parole: Delhi HC Examines Prison Rule on Conditional Release

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Examining Prison Rules

Why is it in the news?

• Convicts of the Hashimpura massacre have moved the Delhi High Court against a Delhi prison rule that grants the power to approve furlough to the court where the appeal against conviction is pending.
• This is unusual as, generally, the executive branch holds the power to grant furloughs. The Delhi-specific rule raises questions about its legal basis and constitutional validity, leading to its challenge before the Delhi HC.

Difference Between Parole and Furlough

• Both parole and furlough are forms of conditional release granted under prison rules, subject to good behaviour. However, there are key differences:

Furlough: The convict remains sentenced, and the jail term continues to run despite temporary release. For example, a 10-year sentence with a 30-day furlough still counts as a full 10-year term. It is granted in long-term imprisonment to allow prisoners to reconnect with family and maintain social ties.

Parole: The sentence is suspended, meaning the period of imprisonment remains intact. Parole is granted in specific exigencies like illness, agricultural work, or pursuing an appeal in the Supreme Court.

Authorities Granting Release:

• Parole is granted by the Divisional Commissioner, requiring a specific reason.
• Furlough is granted by the Deputy Inspector General of Prisons and is meant to break the monotony of imprisonment.

Frequency and Restrictions:

• Parole can be granted multiple times.
• Furlough is limited and can be denied in the interest of society.

The Delhi Prison Rule Under Challenge

• Under Chapter XIX of the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018, Note 2 of Rule 1224 states that if an appeal is pending before the High Court, or the time to appeal has not expired, furlough cannot be granted by the executive. Instead, the convict must seek permission from the appellate court.
• This rule has been challenged before the Delhi HC since 2022. The Delhi government has defended it, stating it aligns with the Parole/Furlough Guidelines, 2010, approved by the then Lieutenant Governor.

Delhi HC’s Interpretation and Constitutional Test

• A single-judge bench of the Delhi HC has ruled that ‘High Court’ in Rule 1224 refers to the appellate court, meaning furlough applications must be filed before the Delhi HC or the Supreme Court if the appeal is pending there.
• A division bench is now examining whether:

1. I) A convict must approach the Supreme Court if the appeal is pending there or whether the Delhi HC can entertain furlough applications.
2. II) The rule violates Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 21 (Right to Life and Liberty).

III) Denying furlough despite good conduct contradicts reformative justice principles.

1. IV) The legal distinction between parole and furlough affects the validity of the rule.

Who Decides on Suspension of Sentence?

• The 1959 KM Nanavati case set a precedent. Nanavati, a Navy officer, was convicted of murder by the Bombay HC after a retrial. Before he could appeal to the Supreme Court, Governor Vijayalakshmi Pandit suspended his sentence under Article 161 of the Constitution.
• In 1960, the Supreme Court ruled that a Governor cannot suspend a sentence when the case is sub judice before the SC, as it interferes with appellate court powers. This principle continues to influence furlough and parole policies today.

Is It Common to Deny Furlough Pending Appeal?

• Yes, several states deny furlough when a convict’s appeal is pending in High Court. In a Supreme Court case related to a dowry death convict, Senior Advocate (representing NALSA) noted that many states restrict furlough and parole during pending appeals, requiring convicts to seek High Court orders instead.
• The SC, in April 2023, observed that this issue needs urgent attention and added eight states—Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh—as parties to the case. The matter remains under consideration before the SC.