Why in the News?

• The Government of India has announced a major revival plan for the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), including the purchase of over 200 merchant ships through joint ventures with other PSUs.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Shipping Corporation of India (Evolution, Role in National Interest & Strategic Missions, Decline During Liberalisation, Global Trends, Govt’s Revival Plan)

Evolution of the Shipping Corporation of India

• For decades, the SCI stood as one of the world’s leading national carriers, operating over 120 ships across categories such as oil tankers, gas carriers, chemical tankers, passenger vessels, liners and offshore vessels.
• SCI symbolised India’s maritime pride, combining national service with commercial capability.
• SCI also led technological upgrades, introducing the latest German marine engines, operating India’s first LNG carrier, and building vessels in Indian shipyards despite delays and cost overruns.
• Its diverse fleet and national obligations made it central to India’s maritime economy.

Role in National Interest and Strategic Missions

• Energy Security: Historically, SCI had first rights on transporting India’s oil, making tankers the backbone of its fleet.
• National Service: It transported civilian workers at concessional rates to the Andaman Islands and supported defence logistics during crises.
• Risk Operations: During the Iran-Iraq war, SCI tankers bore the word INDIA in large white letters to signal non-hostility and ensure safe passage.
• Skill Development: SCI’s Mumbai-based training institute in Powai trained thousands of marine professionals who went on to earn significant foreign exchange for India.

Decline During Liberalisation

• The 1990s ushered in the era of Liberalisation-Privatisation-Globalisation (LPG), and Indian maritime policy moved in line with global trade norms.
• Under WTO rules, India had to dilute preferential treatment for its national carrier in EXIM cargo.
• Key consequences included:

• Loss of “right of refusal” over oil cargo, a major revenue source for SCI.
• Neglect in fleet modernisation, only two ships were ordered in 10 years before the recent purchases.
• Shrinking tanker capacity and rising average fleet age (18 years, nearing scrapping levels).
• Collapse of Indian presence in container shipping after cabotage relaxation.

• India’s share of EXIM cargo carried by Indian vessels fell from 27% earlier to just 7%, illustrating a precipitous decline.

COVID-19 and the Reassessment of Strategic Shipping Capacity

• The pandemic became a turning point. Global freight rates skyrocketed, up to 10 times pre-pandemic levels, as port delays and geopolitical bottlenecks grew.
• Many global carriers skipped developing country ports, disrupting India’s key exports such as rice and shrimp and affecting essential imports such as rubber.
• India’s lack of national container capacity left it vulnerable to:

• Supply chain disruptions
• High freight costs
• Loss of export competitiveness

• This renewed recognition of maritime self-reliance prompted the shift away from privatisation and toward rebuilding SCI.

Global Trends Supporting Public Ownership

• The revival of SCI is not an isolated move. Across the world, governments have increased intervention in strategic sectors:

• United States: The Biden administration invested billions in semiconductors, while the Trump administration acquired stakes in companies including Intel and U.S. Steel, abandoning earlier reluctance toward industrial ownership.
• Rare Earth Sector: U.S. government investment has grown due to supply chain vulnerabilities.

• This global shift toward strategic state-driven industrial capacity strengthens the logic behind reviving SCI.

Government’s New Revival Plan for SCI

• Large-Scale Ship Acquisition Through PSU Joint Ventures
  • The government plans to purchase 200+ merchant vessels for SCI through joint ventures with other PSUs using funds from the Maritime Development Fund.
  • PSU partners, such as oil companies, the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) and others, will provide long-term assured cargo contracts, enabling SCI to finance new ships sustainably.
• Rebuilding Container Shipping Capacity
  • One major initiative includes the creation of Bharat Shipping Line, a joint venture of SCI and CONCOR, to buy 20 new container ships, reviving India’s long-neglected container fleet.
• Balancing Newbuilds and Market Realities
  • While the revival is ambitious, experts note that global ship prices are currently extremely high due to a prolonged post-pandemic shipping boom.
  • Therefore, expansion will be gradual, balancing strategic needs with market conditions.

Need to Support Private Indian Shipping

• Industry experts emphasise that revival efforts should not remain limited to SCI.
• India’s broader merchant shipping capacity can grow only if private operators also receive:

• Long-term cargo contracts
• Support for capital investment
• A competitive taxation and regulatory environment

• A holistic approach would build India’s overall flag tonnage, enhancing supply chain resilience and global trade competitiveness.

Why in News?

• At the inauguration of the International Mooting Academy at O.P. Jindal University, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with other Supreme Court judges, reflected on the constitutional legacy.
• He highlighted the 1973 Kesavananda Bharati judgment, the centrality of the Basic Structure Doctrine, and the evolving idea of ‘Indianisation’ of the legal system.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Significance of Kesavananda Bharati Judgment
• Judicial Perspectives on Basic Structure
• Kesavananda as a Moral Milestone (CJI)
• Indianisation of the Legal System
• Technological Modernisation of Justice System
• Key Challenges
• Way Forward
• Conclusion

Significance of Kesavananda Bharati Judgment:

• Basic Structure doctrine: It is a legal principle, established by the SC in the landmark 1973 case of Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, that states the fundamental features of the Constitution cannot be amended by Parliament.
• Basic Structure as constitutional conscience:
  • CJI described the Basic Structure Doctrine as “the conscience that keeps our democracy from drifting into absolutism.”
  • The doctrine is not a mere precedent but a foundational affirmation of constitutionalism and rule of law.
• An act of constitutional archaeology:
  • The CJI said the doctrine was not “judicial fancy” but an uncovering of principles embedded within the Constitution.
  • Judges “unearthed” its inherent moral core: liberty, equality, fraternity, human dignity.
• The living constitution:
  • The Constitution's strength lies not in rigidity but its ability to adapt without losing moral compass.
  • Each generation must interpret it as a “living charge”, not a frozen document.

Judicial Perspectives on Basic Structure:

• Judicial independence and rule of law (Justice B.V. Nagarathna):
  • The doctrine flows from judicial independence, immune from political pressure.
  • It resulted in the protection of the core features (supremacy of Constitution, separation of powers, fundamental rights, judicial review) of the Constitution.
• Constitutional supremacy (Justice P.S. Narasimha): Basic Structure is not judicial supremacy but affirmation of constitutional supremacy.
• Natural rights foundation (Justice M.M. Sundresh): Basic Structure was never defined because it existed as a natural right embedded in justice, liberty, and equality.

Kesavananda as a Moral Milestone (CJI):

• Resilience of Indian democracy:
  • The judgment proved that a young republic could assert a moral conscience comparable to older democracies.
  • It showcased India’s constitutional culture that bends without breaking.
• Symbolism - The constitutional khaat:
  • The constitution is like a khaat (text = frame; institutions = legs).
  • Restraint, balance, moral discipline are interlaced ropes that hold everything together.

Indianisation of the Legal System:

• Swadeshi jurisprudence:
  • The SC noted that despite influences from UK and US, Indian interpretation has developed a distinct ‘swadeshi’ colour.
  • The government also endorsed building a unique Indian jurisprudence.
• Earlier calls for indianisation:
  • Justice P.N. Bhagwati (1986): India must not rely on “crutches of foreign legal order”.
  • Justice N.V. Ramana: Indianisation needed for easy access to justice, especially for rural litigants.
  • Justice S.A. Bobde: Indian texts already reflected concepts such as privacy.
  • Cases citing Indian tradition: Decriminalising adultery and Sabarimala temple entry to women of a certain age quoted heavily from the Manusmriti.
• Decolonising Indian legal thought: Justice S. Abdul Nazeer criticized over-reliance on colonial jurisprudence and urged recognition of ancient Indian legal thinkers: Manu, Kautilya, Yajnavalkya, Brihaspati, Narada, etc.

Technological Modernisation of Justice System:

• PM (Narendra Modi): Called for “ease of justice” even for the poorest. Highlighted virtual hearings, translated judgments for greater accessibility.
• Union Law Minister (Arjun Ram Meghwal): Judicial competence now requires e-courts, AI-enabled systems. Invoked B.R. Ambedkar’s warning: “Freedom is not a licence to do whatever we want.”

Key Challenges:

• Balancing amendability with constitutional stability: Reconciling Parliament’s power to amend with preservation of Basic Structure.
• Avoiding judicial overreach vs. ensuring constitutional supremacy: Maintaining legitimacy of judicial review without perceptions of activism.
• Indianisation vs. universal constitutional values: Integrating indigenous traditions while upholding modern democratic principles.
• Bridging the accessibility gap: Ensuring that technology-driven reforms reach rural and marginalised populations.

Way Forward:

• Strengthening constitutional culture: Promote civics education and constitutional awareness at all levels.
• Continued modernisation: Expand e-courts, digital filing, translation tools, and AI-based case management.
• Developing native jurisprudence: Encourage academic engagement with ancient Indian legal principles while retaining universal constitutional ethics.
• Preserving institutional independence: Protect judiciary from political interference to uphold rule of law.
• Harmonising tradition with modernity: Draw from Indian intellectual heritage without compromising rights-based democratic framework.

Conclusion:

• The enduring centrality of the Basic Structure Doctrine is not merely as a judicial creation but as the moral anchor of Indian democracy.
• The Kesavananda Bharati judgment remains a guiding force as India navigates modernisation, institutional reforms and debates on Indianising its legal system.
• The call is for a justice system that is technologically advanced, socially accessible, constitutionally rooted, and culturally resonant, ensuring that the Republic continues to uphold liberty, equality, fraternity, and human dignity.

Why in news?

The Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has advised the Goa government to create a tiger reserve in the State.

It suggested doing this in a phased manner, indicating a gradual approach to setting up the reserve.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Why the CEC Recommended a Tiger Reserve in Goa?
• How the Goa Government Responded to the Tiger Reserve Order?
• CEC Recommendation for Goa’s Tiger Reserve
• Why the Tiger Reserve Designation Matters?
• How a Tiger Reserve Is Declared in India?

Why the CEC Recommended a Tiger Reserve in Goa?

• The CEC’s recommendation is rooted in earlier judicial and conservation actions.
• In July 2023, the Bombay High Court directed the Goa government to declare five protected areas as a tiger reserve within three months.
• These five protected areas were:
  • Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary,
  • Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary,
  • Bhagwan Mahavir National Park,
  • Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, and
  • Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The order followed a petition by the Goa Foundation after a tigress and her three cubs were allegedly poisoned in the Mhadei Sanctuary in 2020.
• The Court also asked the State to prepare a Tiger Conservation Plan and settle the rights of Scheduled Tribes and forest dwellers.
• Notably, the National Tiger Conservation Authority had already recommended these areas for tiger reserve status in 2016.

How the Goa Government Responded to the Tiger Reserve Order?

• The Goa government challenged the High Court’s directive by filing a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court, claiming that declaring the areas as a tiger reserve would affect nearly one lakh people.
  • However, its own affidavit later revealed a much smaller number — roughly 1,274 households across 33 villages, amounting to 5,000–6,000 people.
• The State also argued that Goa had no “resident” tigers and that those seen in its forests were merely “transient.”
  • This stance contradicted its 2018 submission before the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal, where it had asserted evidence of a resident tiger population.
  • It had, then, described Goa’s forests as part of a contiguous tiger landscape linked to Karnataka’s Kali Tiger Reserve and Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Due to these conflicting claims, the Supreme Court asked the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to conduct a site visit and examine the matter.

CEC Recommendation for Goa’s Tiger Reserve

• The CEC’s report acknowledged fears among local residents about displacement and stressed that the Goa government must reassure affected communities.
• It proposed creating the tiger reserve in phases, beginning with areas that are ecologically sensitive, least inhabited, and directly connected to Karnataka’s Kali Tiger Reserve, which has a permanent tiger presence.
• Core Zone (Phase 1)
  • Include protected areas contiguous with Kali’s core area
  • Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary — 50 households
  • Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary — 41 households
  • Total core area recommended: 296.7 sq km
• Buffer Zone (Phase 1)
  • Include areas adjoining the buffer zone of Kali Tiger Reserve with minimal habitation
  • Northern Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary — 9 households
  • Bhagwan Mahavir National Park — 2 households
• The CEC said this phased approach would minimise community disturbance while strengthening landscape connectivity and ecological functionality across the Goa–Karnataka tiger habitat network.

Why the Tiger Reserve Designation Matters?

• Declaring an area a tiger reserve brings in greater funding for conservation, research, and habitat management compared to existing wildlife sanctuaries.
• It also requires dividing the landscape into core and buffer zones.
  • Core zones must remain inviolate, meaning human presence is discouraged. Residents cannot be forced out, but they may be offered incentives to voluntarily relocate.
  • Buffer zones allow regulated human activities and do not need to be free of habitation.
• This zoning helps strengthen tiger protection while balancing community interests.

How a Tiger Reserve Is Declared in India?

• To create a tiger reserve, the state government first identifies a suitable area and submits a detailed proposal to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
• The NTCA evaluates the site’s ecological suitability and tiger habitat potential, then forwards its recommendation to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Following this, the state issues a preliminary notification, invites and addresses objections, and finally issues a formal notification under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, officially designating the area as a tiger reserve.

Why in news?

Airlines worldwide are rushing to apply a mandatory Airbus fix for a software vulnerability affecting thousands of A320-family aircraft.

Airbus found that intense solar radiation could corrupt flight-control data in the aircraft’s elevator aileron computer (ELAC), posing a potential safety risk. Of the more than 11,000 A320-series jets in service globally, over half may be impacted—making this the largest recall in Airbus’s history.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• How the Airbus A320 Software Vulnerability Came to Light?
• How Airlines Implemented Airbus’s Fix for the A320 ELAC Vulnerability?

How the Airbus A320 Software Vulnerability Came to Light?

• Airbus revealed that a major software vulnerability had been discovered after an incident involving an A320-family aircraft.
• This prompted an urgent requirement for software updates—and in some cases hardware changes—across thousands of aircraft globally, including over 300 in India.
• Solar Radiation Identified as Root Cause
  • Airbus stated that analysis of a recent event showed intense solar radiation could corrupt critical flight-control data in the Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC).
    • Solar radiation is the radiant energy emitted by the sun, traveling through space as electromagnetic waves.
    • This energy includes visible light, infrared radiation (heat), and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. 
  • This malware-like corruption risk made a large portion of the in-service fleet vulnerable.
• Immediate Regulatory Intervention
  • Soon after Airbus issued an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) released an Emergency Airworthiness Directive requiring airlines to implement the fixes “before next flight.”
  • EASA confirmed that the vulnerability was detected after an A320 experienced an uncommanded, brief pitch-down, causing a momentary loss of altitude without any pilot input.
• Why ELAC Was at the Center of the Issue?
  • The ELAC is a key computer that helps the pilots control the plane. It takes the pilots’ joystick (sidestick) movements and moves the parts on the wings and tail — which make the plane go up, down, or turn.
    • Basically, ELAC is a primary flight-control computer.
  • A specific combination of ELAC hardware and software was found to be susceptible to radiation-induced data corruption, creating a risk of uncommanded elevator movement that could, in the worst case, exceed the aircraft’s structural capability.
• The Incident That Exposed the Flaw
  • While EASA did not name the aircraft, industry insiders report that the event involved a JetBlue flight from Cancun to Newark on October 30.
  • The aircraft suffered an unexpected altitude drop, injuring some passengers. This incident triggered the technical investigation that uncovered the ELAC vulnerability.

How Airlines Implemented Airbus’s Fix for the A320 ELAC Vulnerability?

• Airbus prescribed an immediate rectification for affected A320-family aircraft.
• For most jets, the solution was a quick software rollback—reverting to an earlier version of the ELAC software.
• Experts note this update takes around two hours.
• However, a smaller group of older A320 variants may require complete ELAC hardware replacement, which takes longer and depends on unit availability.
• Progress in India: Majority Fixed by Saturday Evening
  • According to the DGCA, nearly 80% of affected Indian aircraft had already undergone the software change.
  • Out of 338 A320-family aircraft identified across IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express:
    • 270 aircraft were fully rectified by 5:30 pm
    • 68 aircraft were expected to be completed later the same day
• Impact on Airline Operations
  • Despite concerns of large-scale disruption, the fix caused only minor delays and rescheduling, not widespread cancellations.
  • Officials reiterated that passengers need not panic, as operational impact remained modest.
  • A320-family jets operate multiple rotations per day, meaning even brief ground time for updates can cause cascading delays.
  • Still, airlines managed to avoid significant cancellations.

About Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC):

• CBIC, formerly known as the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), is one of the Boards constituted under the statute the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963.
• It is the apex body under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, responsible for administering indirect taxes in India.
• It deals with the tasks of
  • Formulation of policy concerning levy and collection of Customs, Central Excise duties, Central Goods & Services Tax and IGST.
  • Prevention of smuggling and administration of matters relating to Customs, Central Excise, Central Goods & Services Tax, IGST, and Narcotics to the extent under CBIC's purview.
• The Board is the administrative authority for its subordinate organizations, including Custom Houses, Central Excise and Central GST Commissionerates, and the Central Revenues Control Laboratory.
• The CBIC is headed by a Chairman and has 6 members in addition to the Chairman.

About National Productivity Council (NPC):

• NPC, established in 1958, is an autonomous organization under the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• It is a non-profit organization with equal representation from employers’ & workers’ organizations and the Government, apart from technical & professional institutions and other interests.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Objectives:
  • To increase awareness of productivity in general, especially of the concepts and techniques aimed at strengthening the microeconomic foundations of economic development, rooted in operating practices and strategies of the organizations.
  • To function as a think tank of the Government on measures needed to enhance focus on productivity
  • To be among the premier productivity consultancy and training organizations of the country in the first phase and of the South & Southeast Asian region in the long run.
  • To raise financial resources to sustain its operations on its own on a self-generating and continuing basis.
• Functions:
  • Consultancy to organizations on productivity improvement.
  • Training of personnel at different levels.
  • Dissemination of productivity information through seminars, workshops, conferences, etc.
  • Productivity Research and Database.
  • Productivity Publications.
  • Productivity Awards.
• It is a constituent of the Tokyo-based Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an Inter-Governmental Body of which the Government of India is a founding member.

About Rustic Bunting:

• It is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae.
• Scientific Name: Emberiza rustica
• Distribution:
  • Its breeding range extends from the Nordic regions to eastern Siberia.
  • It migrates to southeast Asia and parts of East Asia, including Japan, Korea, and eastern China, during the winter months.
  • There are only a handful of records of it being seen across India – predominantly in the northeast and across the Himalayan belt.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

About Syntactic Foam:

• A syntactic foam is a composite material that is produced by filling a metal, polymer, or ceramic with pre-formed inorganic hollow spheres known as micro balloons.
• Properties:
  • Lightweight with high strength: The use of hollow microspheres allows foam to maintain a low weight while offering excellent compressive strength.
  • Superior buoyancy: Its inherent low density makes it ideal for subsea applications where buoyancy is critical.
  • Thermal and acoustic insulation: It reduces thermal conductivity and dampens noise, improving performance in marine and aerospace environments.
  • Corrosion and water resistance: The closed-cell structure prevents water absorption, enhancing its longevity in saltwater and chemically aggressive environments.

• Applications:
  • Subsea and offshore: Ideal for Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), and pipeline insulation.
  • Aerospace: Used in satellite components and structural parts where weight reduction is essential without sacrificing strength.
  • Defense and Military: Employed in sonar domes, buoyancy modules, and lightweight armor due to its impact resistance.
  • Automotive and Sports: Increasingly adopted for lightweight, high-impact applications such as crash protection and performance gear.

What is the Samudrayaan Project?

• It is India’s first manned mission to explore the deep ocean.
• It is aimed to develop a self-propelled manned submersible to carry three human beings to a water depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean with a suite of scientific sensors and tools for deep ocean exploration.
• It is designed to study the deep ocean resources and conduct biodiversity assessments as well.
• The project is part of the larger Deep Ocean Mission, which supports the Central Government’s Blue Economy policy.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

What is MATSYA 6000?

• It is a manned submersible vehicle developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai.
• It was developed under the Samudrayaan mission to facilitate humans in the deep ocean in exploring mineral resources.