About Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project:

• It is a 1,856-MW hydropower plant on the Chenab River in the Udhampur and Ramban districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
• It has been designed as a run-of-the-river scheme located between the Baglihar project upstream and the Salal project downstream, making it part of a continuous chain of hydropower installations on the Chenab.
• It will be the largest hydroelectric project in the Union Territory and one of the biggest in North India.
• It is being built by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
• It will comprise nine turbines and an underground power station.
• It will produce around 8000 million units of electricity every year.
• By regulating the flow of the Chenab River, the Sawalkote project could contribute to flood mitigation downstream, while also ensuring better water management for agriculture and domestic use.
• It is a key part of India’s plan to fully utilise its share of water from the western rivers under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
• It is the first major hydropower project on the Indus river to be accorded environmental clearance following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack.

About Psammophaga holzmannae and Psammophaga sinhai:

• They are two new species of microscopic marine organisms that selectively pick up and swallow specific mineral grains from the seafloor.
• They were found at Rajapuri Creek in Raigad district along Maharashtra’s Konkan coast.
• Psammophaga is a type of foraminifera, a group of microscopic organisms commonly found in oceans.
• The name comes from Greek words meaning 'sand eater'.
• Unlike many foraminifera that have hard, multi-chambered shells, these organisms have just one chamber and a soft wall made mainly of very fine clay particles.
• The most interesting discovery was what the organisms choose to eat.
  • Both species selectively take in heavy minerals containing titanium and iron. These include ilmenite and magnetite.
  • This is important because these minerals occur only in small amounts in the surrounding sediment.
• How do they do it?
  • Psammophaga uses thin, temporary hair-like extensions called granuloreticulopodia.
  • These extend from the aperture and help the organism interact with the surrounding sediment.
  • Scientists believe these extensions may help the organism detect differences between mineral grains, although the exact mechanism is still not known.

About Methamphetamine:

• It is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system.
• It is also known as meth, chalk, ice, and crystal.
• It was developed early in the 20th century from its parent drug, amphetamine, and was used originally in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers.
• Properties of Methamphetamine:
  • It is a member of the class of amphetamines.
  • It takes the form of a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol.
  • It has a role as a neurotoxin, a psychotropic drug, a central nervous system stimulant, a xenobiotic and an environmental contaminant.
• Impact of Methamphetamine on Humans:
  • It causes increased activity and talkativeness, decreased appetite, and a pleasurable sense of well-being or euphoria. 
  • The use of methamphetamine in higher doses can induce psychosis, bleeding in the brain, skeletal muscle breakdown, and seizures.

About Glyphosate:

• It is a widely used herbicide that can kill certain weeds and grasses.
• It is considered a broad-spectrum herbicide, meaning it can effectively control a wide variety of plants, including grasses, broadleaf plants, and woody plants.
• Impact of Glyphosate:
  • Herbicidal Action: It works by inhibiting an enzyme called EPSP synthase, which is essential for the synthesis of certain amino acids that plants need for growth.
    • It disrupts this enzyme; glyphosate interferes with the plant’s ability to produce proteins, leading to the eventual death of the plant.
  • Broad-Spectrum: It is effective only on plants that grow above the water.
    • It will not be effective on plants that are submerged or have most of their foliage underwater, nor will it control regrowth from seed.
  • It is degraded in soil and water by microbes and binds tightly to soil particles, which prevents the leaching of glyphosate into groundwater.
  • It does not degrade quickly in plants. As a result, it is possible that glyphosate residues can occur in food products.

About Friends of MY Bharat’ Initiative:

• It is an initiative of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• It strengthens engagement with Indian-origin youth living across the world and provides them opportunities to participate in India’s nation-building and youth-led programmes.
• It is developed through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform.
• Features of Friends of MY Bharat’ Initiative:
  • Global Youth Engagement: It will enable Indian-origin students, young professionals and other youth residing outside India to access information about nation-building activities, volunteering opportunities and youth programmes hosted on the MY Bharat platform.
  • Volunteering opportunities: It will also provide information on volunteering opportunities in areas such as education, environmental protection, health awareness, disaster relief and cultural preservation. 
  • A dedicated ‘Know Your India’ section will offer curated information on India’s culture, heritage, history, tourism, travel and prominent leaders. 
  • The initiative seeks to channel the ideas, skills, experiences and aspirations of global Indian youth towards India’s development journey.

What is MY Bharat Platform?

• MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat) was launched in  2023 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• The initiative aims to place youth at the centre of nation-building by providing opportunities for volunteering, skill development, leadership and civic participation.
• It serves as a digital platform that connects the Government, educational institutions, non-profit organisations and industry to create meaningful youth engagement.

About Impatiens Nimspurjai:

• It is a new plant species of the touch-me-not family.
• It is endemic to western Nepal.
• It was named in honour of the celebrated Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja.
• Its botanical name combines "Nims Purja" with "jai", the Nepali word for jasmine.
• Habitat: It grows on moist, humus rich slopes in temperate forest and forest-edge habitats.
• It is closely related to Impatiens radiata, I. harae, and I. wallichii, other balsams native to the Himalayan region.
• Characteristics of Impatiens Nimspurjai:
  • It has sessile oblong-lanceolate leaves.
  • It is an annual herb reaching up to nearly a metre in height.
  • It is distinguished by its sessile, oblong to lanceolate leaves and small clusters of flowers flushed with yellow and tinged purple.

About Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It is located in the West Bengal.
• It is one of the oldest sanctuaries in India, having been established in 1915.
• It is nestled in the biogeographic zone of Gangetic plain.
• It is actually the south east extension of the Singalila National Park.
• Vegetation: It mainly consists of Temperate and alpine forest.
• Flora: The forest has different kinds of trees and plantation including oak, pines and birch.
• Fauna: It provides habitat for barking deer, wild boar, Himalayan black bear, Indian leopard, jungle cat, rhesus monkey, Assam macaque, Himalayan flying squirrel.

What is Melanism?

• It is the advanced version of the dark-coloured pigment called melanin found in the skin, hair, fur or feathers of various organisms.
• It is supposedly the outcome of a genetic mutation, but can also occur due to peculiar temperature changes during gestation.
  • Melanistic Leopard is simply a leopard with a unique genetic trait which makes its coat appear almost completely black.

Why in news?

A recent Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs report, "India's Role and Presence in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions," has highlighted a widening gap between India's Arctic ambitions and its actual capabilities — coming close on the heels of India's Arctic Policy, 2022.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• India's Arctic Credentials
• Why India Needs an Arctic Narrative: Climate Security?
• Geopolitical Stakes
• Institutional and Capability Gaps

India's Arctic Credentials

• India's Arctic engagement dates back over a century: as part of the British Dominion, it was among the original 14 signatories of the 1920 Svalbard Treaty, which entitles Indians to visit the Svalbard archipelago without a visa and undertake commercial activities there.
• Today, India remains one of only two developing countries with a permanent scientific presence in the Arctic, through its Himadri research station in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard.
• However, engagement has largely stayed confined to scientific research, even as the Arctic evolves into a convergence point for climate change and geopolitics.

Why India Needs an Arctic Narrative: Climate Security

• Monsoon linkage: Agriculture contributes about 18% of India's GDP and supports over half its population, with nearly 70% of annual rainfall coming from the southwest monsoon.
  • Emerging research points to an Arctic-Indian monsoon teleconnection, where Arctic warming and shrinking sea ice alter atmospheric circulation patterns affecting South Asian rainfall.
• Sea-level rise: The Arctic is a major driver of global sea-level rise, threatening low-lying nations like the Maldives and large parts of Bangladesh and India's coastline.
  • Estimates suggest over 250 million people in vulnerable South Asian coastal regions could be affected by mid-century — a challenge with direct implications for migration, humanitarian response, and national security.

Geopolitical Stakes

• Two of India's closest strategic partners, the US and Russia, are Arctic nations, while China — despite being a non-Arctic state — has invested heavily in Arctic infrastructure, research, and shipping.
• The Arctic is emerging as a zone of great-power competition over maritime access, energy security, and critical mineral supply chains.
• India enjoys goodwill with all eight Arctic states, reinforced by the recent India-Nordic Summit (covering Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland) and improving ties with Canada — a diplomatic advantage few other countries possess.

Institutional and Capability Gaps

• No Dedicated Polar Ambassador
  • Arctic affairs responsibility is fragmented across four different divisions within the Ministry of External Affairs, hampering coherent policy-making.
  • All Arctic states, and even non-Arctic states like Singapore, have dedicated Arctic envoys — India does not, despite having a formal Arctic Policy.
• Absence of a Polar Research Vessel (PRV)
  • Without an ice-class research vessel, India's Arctic research remains confined largely to Svalbard, dependent on foreign collaboration or chartered vessels — limiting research continuity and scheduling flexibility.
  • Though a PRV was sanctioned by the Union Cabinet in 2014, it remains undelivered, with current plans pushing completion to the end of this decade.
  • In contrast, China acquired a second-hand Ukrainian icebreaker (Xuelong/"Snow Dragon") as an interim measure and now operates multiple polar vessels, including a nuclear icebreaker under construction — a model India could emulate.
• Inadequate Funding
  • India spent just Rs 17.53 crore on Arctic activities in 2024-25 — less than one-tenth of its Antarctic spending, and less than the cost of building a single kilometre of flyover.
  • This is seen as disproportionately low for a region influencing sea-level rise along India's 11,098-km coastline and holding major climate and geopolitical significance.

Conclusion

India possesses historic legitimacy, scientific presence, and diplomatic goodwill in the Arctic, but its institutional structures and budgetary commitments do not match its strategic interests.

With the 2022 Arctic Policy providing the framework and the Parliamentary Committee identifying the gaps, the urgent task now is to convert policy intent into concrete capability — through a Polar Ambassador, a dedicated research vessel, and adequate funding — to secure India's long-term climate and geopolitical interests in the region.

Why in news?

Recently, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of hanging as a mode of executing a death sentence, dismissing a PIL that argued the method violates the right to a dignified death under Article 21.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• The Ruling
• How Hanging Is Designed to Work
• Grounds of the Challenge
• Constitutional and Legal Framework
• The Law Commission's Recommendation
• Why the Court Upheld Hanging
• Modern Execution Methods: A Global Snapshot

The Ruling

• A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed the petition challenging hanging.
• The Court held the challenge faced two key hurdles:
  • the 1983 precedent in Deena vs UOI (where a three-judge bench upheld hanging), and
  • Parliament's decision to retain hanging while enacting the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
• The Court affirmed that constitutional protections continue for prisoners on death row, stating: "this constitutional protection does not cease to exist at the gallows."

How Hanging Is Designed to Work?

• Hanging uses a calculated "drop" based on the convict's height and weight, intended to cause a fracture-dislocation at the C2-C3 vertebrae, producing near-instant unconsciousness.
• In Deena vs UOI, the Court had earlier examined medical evidence, expert opinion, and comparative execution methods, concluding that properly administered hanging is quick, causes no greater pain than other methods, and avoids barbarity, torture and degradation.

Grounds of the Challenge

• The petitioners argued that scientific understanding and constitutional doctrine have evolved since 1983.
• They sought a declaration that hanging is unconstitutional, arguing Article 21 includes a right to a dignified death procedure.
• They cited a 1992 study of 34 people hanged in England (1882–1945): while C2-C3 fractures were common, the "hangman's fracture" causing near-instant death occurred in only 3 of 34 cases, while 6 died of asphyxiation.
• Based on this, they argued hanging is unpredictable — too short a drop causes death by strangulation, too long a drop can cause decapitation — making it neither quick nor controllable.
• Government's Counter: Since 2003, India has conducted only eight executions, with no botched hanging on record — unlike lethal injection in the US, which has a well-documented history of failures.

Constitutional and Legal Framework

• The right to die with dignity flows from Article 21 (Right to Life). In Gian Kaur v. State of Punjab (1996), the Supreme Court held that the right to life includes the right to live and die with dignity.
• Section 393(5) of the BNSS mandates that a person sentenced to death "shall be hanged by the neck till he is dead" — a provision largely unchanged since it first appeared in the CrPC in 1861.

The Law Commission's Recommendation

• The 187th Law Commission Report (2003), chaired by Justice M. Jagannadha Rao, had recommended amending the law to provide lethal injection as an alternative method of execution.
• It also noted that military courts-martial permit execution by shooting, which petitioners cited to argue hanging need not be the sole legal method.
• The Supreme Court, however, noted that Law Commission reports are only recommendatory, and Parliament's choice to retain hanging while enacting the BNSS amounted to a legislative reaffirmation of the existing framework.

Why the Court Upheld Hanging?

• The bench found no reason to revisit Deena, holding that the new scientific material did not displace its original basis, nor did it show that lethal injection, electrocution, lethal gas, or shooting offered any advantage over hanging.
• It reaffirmed that the long-drop hanging method satisfies the State's obligation to execute death sentences with "decency and decorum," without "degradation or brutality."
• Importantly, the Court did not close the issue permanently — it noted that constitutional law evolves, and future challenges could succeed if new scientific or empirical material fundamentally alters the assumptions behind Deena.
• It also left it open for the Union government to examine alternative execution methods if it wishes.

Modern Execution Methods: A Global Snapshot

• Global Trend: Over two-thirds of nations (113) have ended the death penalty in law or practice, though executions rose 12% in 2025 (Amnesty International).
• Prevalent Methods
  • Hanging: Widely used in Common Law countries (India, Singapore, Japan); authorised in 60 nations per a 2012 Cornell study.
  • Lethal Injection: Primary method in several US states and China; uses anaesthetic, paralytic, and potassium chloride, but prone to botched venous access.
  • Shooting: Used in China, North Korea, Somalia, and parts of West Asia; visually violent despite claims of near-instant death.
  • Beheading: Practised in Saudi Arabia, dependent on executioner precision.
  • Nitrogen Hypoxia: A new US method causing asphyxiation without panic response, though criticised as unvetted and experimental.

Conclusion

The verdict reaffirms judicial continuity by upholding a nearly century-old precedent, while balancing it against Article 21's evolving dignity jurisprudence.

By keeping the door open for future scientific evidence and legislative reform, the Court has struck a careful balance between constitutional stability and the possibility of humane progress in India's execution methods.