About Great Nicobar Island:

• It is the largest and southernmost island of the Nicobar group in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It is separated from the Andaman Islands by the Ten Degree Channel.
• Geographically, the island is closer to Sumatra, Indonesia, than to mainland India, emphasizing its remote and strategic location.
• It is also home to Indira Point, India’s southernmost point, located less than 150 km from Indonesia.
• Mount Thullier is the highest peak.
• Galathea, Alexandra, and Dagmar are the major rivers.
• It remains sparsely populated, with dense tropical rainforests covering more than 85% of its area.
• The major tribes in Great Nicobar Island are the Shompens and the Nicobarese.
• It is home to the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated site.
• Flora and Fauna:
  • It houses species of angiosperms, ferns, gymnosperms, bryophytes, and lichens, among others.
  • The tract is rich in plant diversity and fosters a number of rare and endemic species, including Cyathea albosetacea (tree fern) and Phalaenopsis speciosa (orchid).
  • The well-known Crab-eating Macaque, Nicobar Tree Shrew, Dugong, Nicobar Megapode, Serpent Eagle, saltwater crocodile, marine turtles and Reticulated Python are endemic and/or endangered.

About White-Bellied Heron:

• The white-bellied heron (Ardea insignis ) is the second largest living species of heron.
• Other Names: It is also known as the imperial heron or great white-bellied heron.
• Habitat: It inhabits the wetlands of tropical and subtropical forests in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas.
• Distribution: It is mainly living in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in northeast India and Bhutan to northern Myanmar.
• Diet: It prefers free-flowing riverine habitats with low disturbance, and predominantly depends on fish found in the river rapids.
• Biological Role: Its presence in our ecosystem indicates the health of the rivers, the environment, the fish population, and water quality.
• Threats: It is threatened by habitat loss, increasing disturbance and habitat degradation due to conversion of wetlands for agriculture and expansion of settlements.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule-I.

About Geocell:

• It is a three-dimensional cellular confinement system used in geotechnical engineering to improve soil stability and load-bearing capacity.
• It consists of a network of interconnected honeycomb-like cells made from geosynthetic materials such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyester.
• These cells are expanded on site to form a mattress-like layer and are filled with infill materials such as soil, sand, aggregate, or clay.
• Once filled and compacted, the geocell layer integrates with the underlying soil to create a stable, reinforced structure.
• Applications:
  • Pavement Load Support: By reinforcing the soil in the subgrade-based interface or within the base course.
  • Steep Soil Slope and Channel Protection: Three-dimensional lateral confinement of Geocell along with anchoring techniques ensures the long-term stability of slopes using vegetated topsoil, aggregate or concrete surfacing.
  • Earth Retention: These can be used for constructing steep vertical mechanically stabilized earth structures.

About Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme:

• It is a central sector scheme launched in in 2008.
• It is a credit-linked subsidy scheme administered by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME). 
• It aims to create self-employment opportunities for first-generation entrepreneurs and promote sustainable livelihoods in the manufacturing and services sectors, especially in rural areas.
• Implemented By: The scheme is implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission
• Eligibility for Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme:
  • Any individual above 18 years of age is eligible.
  • There will be no income ceiling for assistance for setting up projects under PMEGP.
  • Beneficiaries should possess at least VIII standard pass educational qualification for setting up of projects costing above Rs.10 lakh in the manufacturing sector and above Rs. 5 lakh in the business/service sector.
  • Self Help Groups(including those belonging to BPL provided that they have not availed benefits under any other Scheme), institutions registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, Production Co-operative Societies, and, Charitable Trusts are also eligible for assistance under PMEGP.
  • Existing units that have already availed government subsidy under any other scheme of the Government of India or State Government are not eligible.

About Cyphostemma annamalaii:

• It is a new plant species of Vitaceae Juss, commonly known as the grape family.
• Discovered in: It was found in the southern Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu.
• It is described and illustrated from the tropical dry forests of southern Eastern Ghats.
• Morphological Features of Cyphostemma annamalaii:
  • It is a climber with a round fruit that is yellow.
  • The petals of the flowers are white or yellow. It starts with three leaves and ends with three leaves. 
  • Habitat: It is found in open, scrubby vegetation.
  • It had a tuberous root and climbed by utilising surrounding vegetation for support.

What is Cyphostemma Genus?

• It is the second largest genus, consisting of nearly 250 species.
• It is found in tropical and subtropical regions.

About JANANI Platform:

• It is a service-oriented digital platform designed to comprehensively monitor and maintain digital health records of women during their reproductive age.
• It is developed as an upgraded version of the existing RCH portal.
• Objective: The platform aims to ensure seamless tracking of maternal and child health services, covering antenatal care, delivery preparedness, delivery, postnatal care, newborn care, home-based newborn and young child care, and family planning.
• Key feature of JANANI Platform:
  • It introduces QR-enabled digital Mother and Child Health (MCH) Cards, enabling portability and easy access to health records.
  • Smart Tracking & Alerts: It incorporates automated alerts for high-risk pregnancies, real-time dashboards for supervisory review, and due-list generation, enabling timely tracking, monitoring, and targeted interventions.
  • Interoperability: It has interoperability features, enabling integration with national platforms such as U-WIN and POSHAN.
  • Beneficiary Registration: The platform enables registration of beneficiaries using unique identifiers such as ABHA, Aadhaar (OTP and biometric), and mobile number, along with pan-India search functionality.
    • It also provides self-registration facilities through web and mobile platforms, empowering beneficiaries to actively engage with their healthcare journey.
    • It supports citizens by enabling timely scheduling and monitoring of antenatal care visits and immunizations, along with alerts and reminders to ensure that no critical health milestone is missed.

Why in news?

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that medical negligence cases do not automatically end with the death of the accused doctor.

A bench comprising Justices J. K. Maheshwari and Atul S. Chandurkar held that legal heirs of the deceased doctor can be made parties to the case, and proceedings may continue for claims involving financial loss recoverable from the doctor’s estate. However, personal claims such as pain, suffering, or reputational damage will lapse upon the doctor’s death.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Background of the Medical Negligence Case
• Legal Principles Governing Continuation of Medical Negligence Cases
• What the Supreme Court Held in the Medical Negligence Case
• Reactions to the Supreme Court Judgment

Background of the Medical Negligence Case

• The case originated from an eye surgery performed in Bihar in 1990. Suresh Chandra Roy approached Dr. P. B. Lall after his wife experienced severe pain in her right eye.
• Although surgery was conducted, her condition worsened, eventually affecting vision in both eyes and requiring another surgery in 1994.
• The family filed a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, seeking compensation for medical expenses, loss of vision, travel costs, and mental agony.
• District Forum and State Commission Decisions
  • In 2003, the district consumer forum held Dr. Lall negligent and awarded compensation.
  • However, the Bihar State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission later overturned the decision, ruling that glaucoma — not negligence — caused the vision loss.
  • The matter was appealed before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).
  • During the proceedings, Dr. Lall died in 2009, after which his wife and son were impleaded as legal heirs.
• Dispute Over Continuation of the Case
  • The legal heirs argued that medical negligence claims are personal in nature and should end with the doctor’s death.
  • However, the NCDRC rejected this argument, leading the matter to reach the Supreme Court of India.

Legal Principles Governing Continuation of Medical Negligence Cases

• The Supreme Court of India examined the traditional legal maxim actio personalis moritur cum persona, which means a personal legal action ends with the death of the person involved.
• Historically, this principle caused personal injury claims to lapse after death.
• Evolution of Indian Law
  • Indian statutes gradually modified this rule:
    • The Legal Representatives Suits Act, 1855 allowed claims involving financial loss to continue against legal representatives.
    • The Fatal Accidents Act, 1855 created rights to sue for deaths caused by wrongful acts.
    • These principles were later consolidated in Section 306 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925.
• Section 306 of the Indian Succession Act
• Section 306 states that legal rights to prosecute or defend actions survive against legal representatives except in cases involving defamation, assault, or personal injuries not causing death.
• This means claims involving pecuniary or financial loss may continue even after a party’s death.
• Role of Order XXII of the CPC
  • Order XXII of the Civil Procedure Code deals with substitution of parties after death.
  • If the right to sue survives, legal heirs can be brought on record within the prescribed limitation period; otherwise, the suit abates.
  • Section 13(7) of the Consumer Protection Act extends these procedural rules to consumer disputes, including medical negligence cases.
• Court’s Interpretation
  • The Court clarified that:
    • Purely personal claims such as pain, suffering, or reputational harm end with death.
    • Claims involving financial loss can continue against legal heirs, limited to the value of the inherited estate.
• Substantive vs Procedural Law
  • The judgment distinguished between:
    • Procedural law (Order XXII CPC), which explains how to continue proceedings after death; and
    • Substantive law (Section 306), which determines whether the legal claim itself survives

What the Supreme Court Held in the Medical Negligence Case?

• The Supreme Court of India ruled that purely personal claims, such as pain, suffering, or reputational harm, end with the death of the accused person.
• However, claims involving pecuniary or financial loss can survive against the deceased person’s estate.
• Interpreting Section 306 of the Indian Succession Act, the Court held that exceptions relating to personal injuries must be interpreted narrowly and cannot extinguish all claims arising from personal injury disputes.
• Difference Between Personal and Proprietary Rights
  • The Court distinguished between:
    • Personal rights — linked to an individual’s dignity, reputation, or emotional suffering, which abate upon death; and
    • Proprietary rights — involving financial losses or economic interests connected to the estate, which survive and can be pursued against legal heirs.
  • The Court rejected the argument that all claims automatically continue under the Consumer Protection Act.
  • It clarified that procedural provisions under the Act apply only if substantive law recognises survival of the claim.

Reactions to the Supreme Court Judgment

• Legal experts said the judgment attempts to balance personal liability and financial accountability by allowing compensation claims to continue only against the deceased doctor’s estate, not against legal heirs personally.
• However, questions remain about situations where:
  • the legal heirs inherit no estate, or
  • multiple heirs are involved and liability must be apportioned.
• Some experts believe that while the ruling protects consumer interests, imposing financial liability on heirs may still appear unfair in certain circumstances.
• Many doctors may view the ruling as increasing pressures already associated with medical practice and litigation.
• Experts warned that fear of extended legal liability may encourage doctors to refer critical or high-risk patients to larger hospitals with stronger legal support systems, potentially affecting patient care dynamics.

Why in news?

Scientists have raised fresh concerns over the weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a crucial ocean current system that helps regulate global climate.

Recent research suggests the AMOC could slow by as much as 59% by 2100, potentially triggering severe disruptions in weather patterns worldwide.

The development is particularly significant for India, as changes in the AMOC could affect the summer monsoon, threatening agriculture, water security, and the livelihoods of millions dependent on monsoon rainfall.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)
• Why Scientists Fear an AMOC Tipping Point?
• AMOC and the El Niño Connection
• Why a Weakening AMOC Matters for India?

Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)

• The AMOC is a vast system of ocean currents in the Atlantic Ocean that functions like a global conveyor belt, circulating heat and water across the planet.
• Warm and salty surface water flows from tropical regions towards Greenland. In the cold Arctic region, the water cools, becomes denser, and sinks deep into the ocean.
• This cold water then travels southward through deep ocean currents before gradually rising again and warming up, restarting the cycle.
• Role in Global Climate
  • The AMOC transports enormous amounts of heat around the world, helping regulate climate patterns.
  • It contributes to Europe’s relatively mild climate and strongly influences rainfall and weather systems across Africa, the Americas, and Asia.
  • The circulation process is extremely slow, with a single cubic metre of water taking nearly 1,000 years to complete the full cycle.
  • Despite its slow pace, the AMOC plays a critical role in maintaining global climate stability.

Why Scientists Fear an AMOC Tipping Point?

• The AMOC depends on a delicate balance of temperature and salinity in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Rapid melting of Arctic ice due to climate change is releasing large volumes of freshwater into the North Atlantic.
• Freshwater is lighter and less salty than seawater, making it harder to sink into deep ocean layers. This disrupts the circulation process and slows the AMOC system, which relies on dense cold water sinking in the Arctic region.
• While earlier studies estimated the AMOC had slowed by around 15% over the past five decades, recent research using real-time ocean data suggests the weakening could reach nearly 59% by 2100.
• What is a Climate Tipping Point?
  • Scientists describe the AMOC as a climate “tipping point” because once it weakens beyond a certain threshold, the system could collapse into a permanently sluggish state that may be impossible to reverse.
  • A major slowdown or collapse of the AMOC could trigger severe climate disruptions worldwide, including extreme sea-level rise along North America’s coast and major disturbances in global weather and rainfall patterns.
  • 

AMOC and the El Niño Connection

• El Niño is a periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean that disrupts weather patterns across the world, influencing rainfall, droughts, storms, and temperatures.
• Although the AMOC exists in the Atlantic Ocean, its weakening can significantly affect climate systems in the Pacific due to the interconnected nature of global ocean currents and atmospheric circulation.
• A slowdown in the AMOC can trap more heat in the southern hemisphere while cooling parts of the North Pacific. This disturbs the temperature balance that helps drive El Niño events.
• Studies suggest that a weaker AMOC could make El Niño episodes more intense and less predictable.
• Strong El Niño events in 2015–16 and 2023–24 caused major global disruptions, including droughts in the Americas and reduced monsoon rainfall in South Asia.

Why a Weakening AMOC Matters for India?

• A slowdown or collapse of the AMOC could seriously disrupt the Indian summer monsoon, which is crucial for agriculture, water supply, and the broader economy.
• The AMOC helps transport heat towards the northern hemisphere. If it weakens, global heat patterns shift, causing the tropical rain belt to move southward and away from the Indian subcontinent.
• Research suggests that a weaker AMOC could reduce the strength of winds carrying moisture from the Arabian Sea into India, leading to weaker monsoon rainfall.
• The likely outcomes include:
  • shorter monsoon seasons,
  • longer dry periods, and
  • an overall drying trend across parts of India.
• An increasingly unpredictable and intense El Niño, amplified by AMOC weakening, could further increase climate instability, exposing India to both severe droughts and destructive floods.

Why in News?

• The decision of the Governor of Tamil Nadu (Rajendra Arlekar) to delay the swearing-in of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader (Vijay) as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has revived the constitutional debate over the extent of a Governor’s discretionary powers vis-à-vis the democratic mandate.
• The controversy centres on the Governor reportedly asking TVK leader to furnish proof of support from at least 118 MLAs — the majority mark in the 234-member Assembly — before inviting him to form the government.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Political Background
• Constitutional Position on the Governor’s Powers
• Conventional Procedure in Government Formation
• Supreme Court’s Position on Floor Tests
• Core Constitutional Debate - Governor’s Discretion vs Democratic Mandate
• Key Constitutional and Governance Issues
• Way Forward
• Conclusion

Political Background:

• TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 MLAs in the recently held Tamil Nadu assembly elections.
• The support from the Congress raises the tally to 113, which is still short of the majority mark.
• Traditionally, the Governor invites the single largest party or coalition claiming majority to form the government and prove its strength through a floor test in the Assembly.
• The Governor’s insistence on prior proof of majority has sparked criticism from opposition parties and constitutional experts.

Constitutional Position on the Governor’s Powers:

• Article 164 of the Constitution: Under this provision,
  • The Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor.
  • Other ministers are appointed on the advice of the Chief Minister.
  • Ministers hold office during the “pleasure of the Governor”.
• Interpretation: However, in a parliamentary democracy, this “pleasure” is not personal discretion but is generally exercised according to constitutional conventions and democratic norms.

Conventional Procedure in Government Formation:

• Role of the Governor: The Governor usually,
  • Invites the party/alliance staking claim to form government.
  • Administers oath to the Chief Minister-designate.
  • Appoints a pro-tem Speaker.
  • Directs the government to prove majority through a floor test.
• Importance of floor test: The floor of the Assembly is considered the only legitimate forum to determine majority support.

Supreme Court’s Position on Floor Tests:

• The judiciary has repeatedly emphasised that legislative majority must be tested on the Assembly floor and not decided subjectively by the Governor.
• Karnataka crisis (2018):
  • The BJP emerged as the single largest party.
  • Congress and JD(S) formed a post-poll alliance and approached the SC after the then Governor (Vajubhai Vala) invited B. S. Yediyurappa to form the government.
  • The Governor granted BJP 15 days for a floor test.
  • SC intervention: A Bench headed by the then CJI (Dipak Misra) refused to stay the swearing-in. However, the Court advanced the floor test to within 36 hours amid allegations of horse-trading.
  • Outcome: The BJP failed to prove majority, after which the Congress–JD(S) alliance formed the government.
• Uttarakhand crisis (2016): The SC reiterated that the floor test is the “ultimate” constitutional mechanism to establish majority and directed then Congress CM (Harish Rawat) to prove majority on the floor of the house.

Core Constitutional Debate - Governor’s Discretion vs Democratic Mandate:

• Arguments supporting the Governor:
  • The Governor must ensure a stable government.
  • Preventing opportunistic defections and political instability is part of the constitutional responsibility of the Governor.
  • Seeking proof of support may be viewed as a safeguard against uncertainty.
• Arguments against the Governor’s move:
  • The Governor cannot impose subjective political standards beyond constitutional convention.
  • Delaying swearing-in undermines the democratic verdict.
  • The Governor’s role is largely ceremonial and constitutional, not political.
  • Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar described the move as a “graceless stratagem”, “a political outrage”, and “a constitutional heresy”.

Key Constitutional and Governance Issues:

• Ambiguity in Governor’s discretion: The Constitution does not clearly define the precise limits of gubernatorial discretion in a hung Assembly.
• Allegations of political bias: Governors are often accused of acting in favour of the Union government or a particular political party.
• Delay in government formation: Unnecessary delays may create political instability, governance vacuum, and scope for horse-trading.
• Weakening of federal principles: Frequent disputes involving Governors raise concerns regarding cooperative federalism, autonomy of States, and misuse of constitutional offices.

Way Forward:

• Establish clear constitutional conventions: A codified order of preference for inviting parties to form government can reduce ambiguity.
• Mandatory time-bound floor tests: The Supreme Court’s emphasis on quick floor tests should become a standard constitutional practice.
• Political neutrality of Governors: Governors must function as impartial constitutional heads, guardians of democratic values, not political actors.
• Implement recommendations: For example, Sarkaria and Punchhi commissions recommended non-partisan appointment of Governors, limited discretionary powers, and respect for federal balance.
• Judicial oversight: Courts should continue to ensure that constitutional morality prevails over partisan considerations.

Conclusion:

• The Tamil Nadu episode once again highlights the recurring tension between constitutional discretion and democratic legitimacy in India’s parliamentary system.
• While the Governor possesses certain constitutional powers, these must operate within the framework of constitutional morality, federalism, and democratic conventions.
• The Supreme Court’s consistent emphasis on floor tests underlines a fundamental principle: the true test of majority lies not in Raj Bhavan, but on the floor of the legislature.