Context

• The cancellation of NEET-UG following a paper leak and the subsequent re-examination of more than 22 lakh candidates exposed significant weaknesses in India's medical entrance examination system.
• While the government's response focused on criminal investigation, re-examination, and fee refunds, the incident revealed a deeper structural problem.
• A single security breach was able to disrupt the academic future of millions of students, highlighting concerns regarding institutional accountability, systemic resilience, and educational equity.
• The issue extends beyond identifying those responsible for the leak and raises questions about the design of the examination system itself.

Institutional Accountability and the NTA

• A major concern is the limited accountability of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
• Established as a registered society rather than through parliamentary legislation, the NTA operates without a clearly defined statutory liability framework toward candidates.
• In cases of examination failure, its obligations are largely restricted to carrying forward registrations and refunding examination fees.
• This creates a significant accountability gap, as the broader academic, financial, and psychological costs borne by candidates remain unrecognised.
• Students invest years of preparation and substantial resources, yet institutional failures impose consequences primarily on aspirants rather than the examining authority.

Structural Vulnerability of NEET

• The design of NEET itself amplifies the consequences of any security breach.
• Conducted nationwide in a single sitting with one question paper, it functions as a highly centralised examination system.
• Such a structure creates a single point of failure, where one compromised paper can affect the entire country.
• The absence of alternative examination windows or distributed safeguards means that even a limited breach can lead to nationwide cancellation.
• As a result, delays in examination schedules create uncertainty in admissions and disrupt the educational trajectory of millions of students.

Social and Economic Impact on Candidates

• The burden of examination cancellation extends far beyond the refunded application fee.
• With approximately 1.26 lakh MBBS seats available for over 22 lakh aspirants, competition is extremely intense.
• Many candidates spend years preparing for the examination and invest heavily in coaching institutes, accommodation, study materials, and living expenses.
• The impact is particularly severe for students from economically weaker sections.
• Existing disparities in educational access and learning outcomes reduce their ability to absorb additional costs and uncertainty.
• Consequently, institutional failures often reinforce existing inequalities and disproportionately affect vulnerable groups. 

Limitations of the Legal Response

• The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 strengthens penalties against organised cheating networks through stringent punishments and financial penalties.
• While these measures enhance deterrence, they do little to protect candidates who suffer from examination cancellations.
• The law does not provide a compensation mechanism, guarantee an automatic re-examination, or establish clear standards of institutional liability.
• Consequently, the legal framework prioritises punishment of offenders while offering limited relief to affected students.

Why Technology Alone Is Not Enough?

• The proposed transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) is often viewed as a solution to examination malpractice.
• However, technological change alone cannot address the underlying structural problem. Security breaches can occur in both paper-based and digital systems.
• The cancellation of UGC-NET, despite being conducted through CBT, demonstrated that digitisation does not eliminate vulnerabilities when the examination remains dependent on a single high-stakes session.
• The core issue lies in risk concentration rather than the mode of examination delivery.

Constitutional and Ethical Concerns

• The issue also has important constitutional dimensions.
• Article 14 guarantees equality before the law and protection against arbitrary state action, while Articles 41 and 46 of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) emphasise educational opportunity and protection of disadvantaged groups.
• A system that shifts the costs of institutional failure onto students, particularly those with fewer resources, undermines these principles.
• True equality requires not only uniform rules but also fair distribution of risks, responsibilities, and opportunities. 

The Way Forward

• Statutory Status for the NTA
  • The NTA should be granted a clear statutory basis with defined obligations toward candidates and enforceable consequences for institutional failures.
• Candidate Compensation Mechanism
  • A dedicated compensation framework should automatically provide relief when examinations are cancelled due to administrative lapses or security breaches.
• Multiple Examination Windows
  • Introducing multiple examination windows each year would reduce dependence on a single test and prevent one compromised session from affecting the entire candidate pool.

Conclusion

• The NEET-UG controversy demonstrates that the central issue is not merely the existence of a paper leak but the fragility of an examination system that can be disrupted by a single breach.
• Strengthening accountability, improving institutional responsibility, ensuring candidate welfare, and creating a more resilient examination architecture are essential for restoring public trust.
• A fair and effective system must not only punish wrongdoing but also protect students from the consequences of institutional failure.

Context

• The rapid growth of Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs) and High Fat, Sugar and Sodium (HFSS) products has become a major public health concern in India.
• Despite policy commitments to regulate unhealthy food marketing, advertisements for chips, noodles, biscuits, breakfast cereals, chocolates, and sweetened beverages remain widespread across television, social media, newspapers, and digital platforms.
• Such advertising often portrays unhealthy products as nutritious, influencing consumer behaviour, particularly among children and adolescents.
• Given the rising burden of obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), stronger regulation of food advertising is increasingly necessary.

The Problem of Misleading Food Advertising

• Selective Disclosure of Information
  • Food companies frequently market products using terms such as baked, multigrain, and no maida while failing to disclose high levels of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and refined carbohydrates.
  • Such selective presentation creates a false perception of healthfulness and prevents consumers from making informed choices.
• Role of Celebrity Endorsements
  • Celebrities and influencers often promote breakfast cereals, biscuits, and snacks that are high in sugar, fat, or salt.
  • These endorsements enhance consumer trust and increase the appeal of products, especially among young audiences, despite their questionable nutritional value.

Impact of Advertising on Consumption Patterns

• Creation of Consumer Demand
  • Advertising does not merely reflect consumer demand; it actively shapes and creates it.
  • Food corporations invest heavily in marketing because it influences purchasing decisions and consumption habits.
  • In India, over two lakh junk-food advertisements in a month were supported by expenditure of around ₹170 crore, demonstrating the enormous reach of commercial promotion.
• Influence on Children and Adolescents
  • Children are particularly vulnerable to persuasive marketing techniques.
  • Continuous exposure to advertisements through television, social media, sports broadcasts, schools, and public spaces encourages brand loyalty and normalises unhealthy dietary habits.
  • These patterns often persist into adulthood, contributing to long-term health risks.

Health Risks Associated with UPFs

• Scientific Evidence
  • Growing scientific evidence links UPF consumption to poor diet quality and the displacement of traditional and minimally processed foods.
  • Research published in The Lancet associates UPFs with increased risks of obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.
• Addictive Consumption Patterns
  • Many UPFs are engineered to be highly palatable through the use of additives, flavourings, emulsifiers, and sweeteners.
  • Such formulations encourage overconsumption and may trigger behavioural responses similar to those observed in addiction science, increasing the likelihood of excessive intake.

Policy and Legal Gaps in India

• Existing Commitments
  • India’s National Multisectoral Action Plan (NMAP) for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases proposed restrictions on HFSS food advertising.
  • However, implementation has remained limited, allowing unhealthy food marketing to continue largely unchecked.
• Emerging Policy Recognition
  • Recent developments indicate growing awareness of the issue.
  • Calls for front-of-pack warning labels, restrictions on child-targeted advertising, and stronger food regulations have gained momentum.
  • Judicial observations have also emphasised the right to health and the need to protect consumers from misleading advertisements.

The Path Forward: Need for Stronger Regulation

• Protecting Public Health
  • When health risks are foreseeable and vulnerable populations are affected, the state has a responsibility to intervene.
  • Nutrition education alone cannot succeed in an environment saturated with aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods.
  • Effective regulation is therefore essential to create healthier food environments.
• Learning from International Experience
  • Countries such as Chile, Mexico, and Brazil have implemented warning labels and restrictions on unhealthy food advertising.
  • Their experiences suggest that legally enforceable measures are often more effective than voluntary self-regulation by industry.
• Promoting Healthier Food Systems
  • Restricting the advertising of UPFs should not be viewed as anti-industry.
  • Reduced spending on aggressive marketing could encourage companies to invest in healthier and minimally processed food products.
  • Such a shift would support more sustainable and nutrition-oriented food systems.

Conclusion

• The widespread advertising of UPFs and HFSS foods poses significant challenges to public health in India.
• Misleading marketing practices, extensive exposure among children, and strong scientific evidence linking these products to chronic diseases justify stronger government intervention.
• Measures such as advertising restrictions, warning labels, and stricter regulatory frameworks can help protect consumers, promote healthier dietary habits, and uphold the constitutional right to health.
• Creating a healthier food environment is essential for reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases and ensuring the well-being of future generations.

Why in the News?

• Police across several Indian states have begun collecting DNA records of suspects under the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022, with over one lakh DNA profiles generated and stored in a central database operated by the National Crime Records Bureau.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About CrPI Act (Background, Key Provisions, etc.)
• News Summary (Collection of DNA Records, Benefits, Concerns, Way Forward)

About the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 (CrPI Act)

• It is a significant piece of legislation passed by Parliament in 2022 to modernise India's criminal investigation framework.
• It replaced the colonial-era Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920, which had limited provisions for collecting only fingerprints and footprints.
• Background
  • The 1920 Act was considered outdated in the era of advanced forensic technology. The new law was enacted to:
    • Modernise identification techniques in line with global standards
    • Strengthen the criminal justice system through scientific evidence
    • Improve conviction rates by enabling accurate identification
    • Solve interstate crimes through a unified national database

• Key Provisions
  • The CrPI Act empowers police and prison officers to collect a wide range of identification data from:
    • Convicted persons
    • Arrested persons for offences punishable with imprisonment of seven years or more
    • Persons detained under preventive detention laws

Types of Measurements Collected

• The Act allows the collection of:

• Fingerprints and palm prints
• Footprints and photographs
• Iris and retina scans
• Physical and biological samples, including blood and saliva for DNA profiling
• Behavioural attributes, including signatures and handwriting

Data Retention

• Records can be retained for up to 75 years from the date of collection.
• Data is stored in a central database maintained by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
• Records are deleted when a person is acquitted or discharged in all proceedings.

Authorised Agencies

• The CrPI system is accessible to:

• State police forces across the country
• Central agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency (NIA), and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
• Prison authorities for record collection

Concerns and Criticisms

• The Act has faced criticism on several grounds:

• Privacy concerns regarding mass collection of biometric and biological data
• Potential misuse by authorities
• Vague definitions of who can be subjected to collection
• Lack of judicial oversight for collection from arrested persons
• Long retention period of 75 years raises proportionality questions

• The Supreme Court's Puttaswamy judgment (2017) recognised privacy as a fundamental right, making it essential to balance security needs with individual rights.

News Summary: Implementation of the CrPI Act

• Over the past five months, the DNA records of more than one lakh suspects have been stored in a central database operated by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Union Home Ministry.
• The contours of the CrPI system were showcased on June 19 at an NCRB event presided over by Home Minister Amit Shah.

Infrastructure for Implementation

• The implementation has involved significant infrastructure development:

• More than 2,600 measurement collection units have been established across the country
• The CrPI system is now available in police districts and prisons
• It is accessible to Central agencies, including CBI, NIA, and NCB
• Integration with forensic laboratories for processing biological samples

Sample Collection Process

• Samples are currently being collected by police in cases punishable by seven years or more.
• DNA samples are primarily drawn from blood, with saliva used in some cases.
• Samples are sent to a forensic laboratory, which generates a unique number.
• The NCRB preserves the code in its records.
• The sanctity of the samples depends on the police maintaining proper protocols.

National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS)

• To support the CrPI system, the NCRB had launched the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) in 2022:

• Fully automates the fingerprint matching process
• Currently holds more than 1.27 crore fingerprint records
• Has played a significant role in solving old inter-state criminal cases
• Provides instant matching capabilities across the country

Advanced Features of the CrPI System

• Unified national database integrating face, iris, and biological samples.
• Searchable database enabling accurate scientific identification within moments.
• Photo matching, a photo from a crime scene can be instantly matched with records across the country.
• Video analytics allowing investigating officers to upload CCTV footage to identify suspicious persons.
• Standardised storage of measurements for 75 years.
• Disguise-resistant identification, photos are taken ensuring clarity of eyes to prevent identification being hindered by disguises.

Crime-Solving Capabilities

• The system enables several important crime-solving functions:

• Direct matching of biological samples recovered from crime scenes with existing records.
• Identification of habitual offenders through scientific methods.
• Inter-state criminal tracking with instant cross-state record matching.
• Quick identification from CCTV footage that earlier took hours of manual investigation.

• The NCRB stated: "What earlier took hours of manual investigation is now possible in just a few minutes."

Concerns and Way Forward

• Privacy and Civil Liberties

• Proportionality of data collection and retention
• Safeguards against misuse of sensitive biological data
• Independent oversight of database access
• Data security to prevent breaches
• Compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023

• Implementation Challenges

• Standardising procedures across states
• Training law enforcement on proper collection techniques
• Maintaining the sanctity of samples and the chain of custody
• Integration with state databases

• Need for Safeguards

• Judicial oversight for sensitive data collection
• Clear protocols for data deletion upon acquittal
• Regular audits of database access and use
• Transparency in operational procedures
• Periodic legislative review of the framework

Context:

• India's justice delivery system has transformed over the past decade through legislative reforms, digital innovation, institutional strengthening, and improved access to justice.
• These reforms are taken within the broader vision of Ease of Justice and the goal of achieving Viksit Bharat 2047.

Justice as a Pillar of Good Governance:

• Justice forms the foundation of a civilized society by fostering trust, inclusion, and social stability.
• A robust justice ecosystem must not only guarantee access to justice but also contribute to citizens' ease of living.
• The government's reform agenda seeks to achieve this through a three-dimensional framework:
  • Ease of engagement for litigants
  • Ease of working for judges and advocates
  • Ease of understanding for citizens

Enhancing Access to Justice for Citizens:

• Expanding legal aid and pre-litigation support: Several initiatives have made legal services more affordable and accessible, especially in rural and remote regions.
• For example,
  • Tele-Law provides free pre-litigation legal consultations through digital platforms. Over 11.2 million beneficiaries have availed legal assistance under the scheme.
  • Nyaya Bandhu promotes pro bono legal services under the Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA) framework.
  • E-filing services and e-Seva Kendras have simplified interactions between litigants and courts.
• These initiatives aim to reduce procedural barriers and democratize access to justice.

Strengthening Judicial Infrastructure:

• Improving the working environment of courts:
  • Recognizing that subordinate courts are the first point of contact for most citizens, significant investments have been made in judicial infrastructure.
  • For example, court halls increased from 15,818 (2014) to 22,712. More than ₹9,400 crore has been released since 2014 for integrated court complexes.
• Digital transformation through e-Courts:
  • The e-Courts Phase-III Project seeks to establish end-to-end digital courts, paperless judicial processes, and AI-enabled justice delivery systems.
  • Supporting innovations include video conferencing facilities, virtual courts, and live-streaming of court proceedings
  • These measures enhance transparency, efficiency, and public accessibility.

Making Justice Understandable and Inclusive:

• Leveraging technology for linguistic accessibility:
  • In a multilingual country like India, ease of understanding is critical. Key initiatives include:
    • Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software (SUVAS) for translation of judgments.
    • Bhashini, an AI-powered language technology platform.
    • Translation of Supreme Court judgments into 18 Indian languages.
  • Data transparency: The National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) provides public access to information on more than 340 million court orders, enhancing transparency and evidence-based judicial administration.

Modernisation of Criminal Justice:

• Integration of digital criminal justice platforms: The newly enacted criminal laws have been supported by technological integration among e-Courts, e-Prosecution, e-Prisons, e-Forensics, and CCTNS.
• Nyaya Shruti platform:
  • The platform enables virtual appearances, digital recording of witness testimonies, and instant transmission of digital bail orders to prisons
  • This reduces delays in prisoner release and improves procedural efficiency.

Expanding Judicial Capacity:

• Increase in judicial strength, to address pendency and improve case disposal.
• For instance,
  • The High Court sanctioned strength increased from 906 to 1,122 judges.
  • Supreme Court strength rose from 31 to 34 judges in 2019, and subsequently to 38 judges.
  • During the last 12 years, 1,175 High Court judges and 77 Supreme Court judges were appointed.
• The appointments reflect efforts to strengthen judicial capacity and representation.

Improving Business Environment and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR):

• Legal simplification:
  • The government has reduced more than 40,000 compliances, and repealed 1,725 obsolete colonial-era laws.
  • These measures support the ease of doing business and reduce regulatory burdens.
• Promoting ADR:
  • India is increasingly positioning itself as a global ADR hub through:
    • Strengthened arbitration laws.
    • Establishment of the India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC).
    • Enactment of the Mediation Act, 2023.
  • At the 2026 BRICS Justice Ministers' Meeting, India played a key role in the adoption of the Gandhinagar Declaration, which promotes cooperation in mediation and arbitration.

Conclusion:

• A modern justice system must combine constitutional values with technological innovation, ensuring that justice remains accessible, affordable, and citizen-centric.
• As India moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047, sustained judicial reforms will be essential for strengthening the rule of law, improving governance outcomes, and deepening public trust in democratic institutions.

Why in news?

The Indian Navy commissioned three indigenously built warships—INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, and INS Agray, in Kolkata.

The significance of this "tri-commissioning" lies in the fact that each ship performs a distinct strategic role, collectively enhancing India's blue-water capability, maritime domain awareness, and coastal security.

More than 75% of the components are indigenous, reflecting the growing success of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence manufacturing.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• The Three Ships at a Glance
• Strategic Significance
• Conclusion

The Three Ships at a Glance

INS Dunagiri — The Blue-Water Warrior

• Dunagiri is a stealth guided-missile frigate under Project 17A. It is the largest of the three (149 m, 6,670 tonnes).
  • 'Stealth' here means reduced radar and sensor visibility — not complete invisibility.
• Key weapons and systems: BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system, MFSTAR radar, sonar, electronic warfare systems, and anti-submarine weapons.
• Its role is blue-water operations — fighting far out at sea against both conventional and non-conventional threats.
• Sister ships in Project 17A include INS Nigiri, Himgiri, Taragiri, Udaygiri, and Vindhyagiri.

INS Sanshodhak — The Eye Beneath the Sea

• Sanshodhak is a Survey Vessel — Large (SVL). Its job is to measure and map the sea: water depth, seabed features, navigational routes, port approach channels, and oceanographic data.
• It is equipped with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and multi-beam echo sounders.
• It is the last ship of the Sandhayak-class SVLs (contract signed October 2018).
  • The other three are INS Sandhayak (Feb 2024), INS Nirdeshak (Dec 2024), and INS Ikshak (Nov 2025).
• Why it matters: Submarines and warships don't operate in empty water. Knowing the underwater terrain — depths, currents, seabed clutter — is essential for safe navigation, submarine route planning, port management, disaster relief, and coastal development.

INS Agray — The Coastal Submarine-Hunter

• Agray is the smallest (77 m, 900 tonnes) but most specialised of the three. It is an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) of the Arnala-class.
• Its weapons: lightweight torpedoes, indigenous anti-submarine rocket launchers, and sonar systems.
• Its role is to detect and destroy submarines in littoral waters — shallow coastal zones near ports, naval bases, and sea approaches.
• Coastal waters are especially tricky for sub-detection because fishing boats, merchant vessels, and seabed clutter create a noisy, cluttered acoustic environment. That is precisely where Agray operates.

Strategic Significance

• Layered Naval Capability
  • The triple-commissioning is significant because it adds three distinct capabilities in one ceremony: blue-water strike power, maritime domain awareness, and coastal anti-submarine defence.
  • This reflects a layered approach to naval capability-building.
• Geopolitical Context
  • The Indian Ocean is increasingly contested. China and Pakistan are expanding their naval presence.
  • India's maritime responsibilities now span the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, island territories (Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep), and the broader Indo-Pacific.
  • The Navy is therefore developing capabilities at multiple layers:
    • Deep-sea combat platforms.
    • Maritime surveillance assets.
    • Coastal defence systems.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence
  • All three ships were built domestically by GRSE, Kolkata.
  • Three technologically distinct vessels — a stealth frigate, a survey ship, and an ASW craft — being built and commissioned together signals the maturing of India's naval shipbuilding ecosystem.
  • The involvement of 200+ MSMEs underlines the depth of the domestic defence-industrial base.

Conclusion

The simultaneous induction of INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, and INS Agray marks a significant milestone in India's naval modernisation. Together, they strengthen combat capability, maritime awareness, and coastal defence while showcasing the growing maturity of India's indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem.

Why in news?

The Supreme Court of India, in its judgment in Maniyar Iliyaz @ Shaik Riyaz vs. P. Ayyappan, declared the right to walk on safe, demarcated footpaths as a fundamental right — one that takes priority over the movement of motor vehicles.

The immediate trigger was the death of a 5-year-old boy, struck by a tanker while walking to school with his father. But the court used the occasion to address a much larger civilisational failure.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• The Crisis on the Ground: Data That Demands Attention
• What the Court Said: Beyond Accident Law
• Constitutional and Legal Foundations
• Who Are the Duty-Bearers?
• The Court's Key Directions and Recommendations

The Crisis on the Ground: Data That Demands Attention

• India's pedestrian death figures are alarming.
• Between 2015 and 2024, while total road fatalities rose by 21.24%, pedestrian deaths surged by nearly 163% — from 13,894 in 2015 to 36,526 in 2024.
• Their share in total road deaths more than doubled, from 9.5% to 20.61%.
• Pedestrians now account for the second-highest share of road fatalities, after two-wheeler users.
• Deaths rose even during the Covid-19 pandemic years — a telling sign of structural failure.
• The cause is not just speed or recklessness. It is the systematic denial of pedestrian space.
• Footpaths across Indian cities are routinely encroached by two-wheelers, vendors, parked vehicles, and garbage. In many places, they simply do not exist.

What the Court Said: Beyond Accident Law

• The judgment makes a sharp conceptual break. It divorces the footpath from the narrow lens of motor accident law.
• A footpath is not merely a safety buffer to prevent accidents. It has an identity and purpose of its own.
• The court held that the right to walk is the most fundamental of human activities — predating motorised transport by millennia.
• Road infrastructure built overwhelmingly for vehicles has effectively pushed walkers to the margins, treating them, in the court's words, as a "nuisance for drivers."
• This, the court said, was elitism encoded in infrastructure. Motorised vehicles were once the preserve of the rich.
• As they became cheaper and widespread, the entire road design paradigm shifted to serve them — at the cost of the walker.

Constitutional and Legal Foundations

• Article 21 — Right to Life: The court grounded the right to walk in Article 21. A safe, unobstructed footpath is essential to the dignified exercise of the right to life and personal liberty.
• Article 39(b) — Directive Principle: Footpaths are material resources of the community. Article 39(b) mandates that such resources must be distributed to serve the common good — not monopolised by the motorised class. Urban land allocated for roads must balance the needs of both pedestrians and vehicle users.
• Tragedy of the Commons: The court invoked this concept from environmental law. Footpaths — like other shared public resources — degrade when they are encroached upon by many without accountability. Safe footpaths have become a scarce resource in Indian cities.
• Walking and Constitutional Freedoms: The court went further, linking walking to freedom of speech, peaceful protest, and the right to form associations. From Gandhi's Dandi March to modern political rallies, walking has been a form of democratic expression in India.

The Problem with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988

• The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is the primary legislation governing roads in India. The court was scathing in its assessment: the Act treats "vehicle" as its subject and human interests as incidental.
  • Pedestrians appear in the law only as entities that drivers must avoid hitting — nothing more.
• The 2017 MoRTH regulations on driving do ask drivers to take precautions around vulnerable road users.
• But the court held that these are merely guiding principles — they do not recognise any fundamental right to walk, nor do they give pedestrians priority over vehicles.
• The Supreme Court noted that since 2012, it has been trying to squeeze pedestrian rights into the Motor Vehicles Act — with limited success.

Who Are the Duty-Bearers?

• The court identified the primary duty-bearers for footpath protection as urban local bodies — urban development authorities, municipal corporations, municipalities, and panchayats.
• Footpaths are held in trust by these bodies for public benefit. Their failure to maintain, protect, and enforce footpath space is a constitutional failure, not merely an administrative lapse.

The Court's Key Directions and Recommendations

• Statutory Law: The court was not satisfied with just declaring a right. It recommended that Parliament and State legislatures enact a dedicated statutory law — similar to the Right to Education Act — to give this fundamental right legal teeth on the ground.
• A Dedicated Regulator: The court called for establishing a full-time regulatory body to plan, enforce, and implement pedestrian rights. Such a body would embed expertise, ensure accountability, and provide a forum for aggrieved pedestrians — much like the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights does for children's rights.
• On Compensation: In the original case, the Supreme Court reversed the High Court's reduction of compensation and recalculated it upward to Rs. 11.44 lakh, to be paid within two months. It held that violation of the right to walk on demarcated footpaths entitles citizens to invoke constitutional and legal remedies beyond what the Motor Vehicles Act provides.

Conclusion

This judgment marks a decisive reversal of the hierarchy on Indian roads. For decades, road design, urban planning, and legislation privileged the motorised user. The Supreme Court has now established that the pedestrian's right is not subordinate — it takes priority.

For municipal bodies and road agencies, maintaining safe, unobstructed footpaths is no longer a discretionary good practice. It is now a constitutional duty wherever a motorised road exists.

About Indian Coast Guard:

• It is a maritime armed force operating under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
• It is a multi-mission organization, conducting round-the-year real-life operations at sea. 
• It was formally established in 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 as an independent Armed force of India.
• Headquarters: The Headquarters of the ICG is located in New Delhi, and is under the command of the Director General Indian Coast Guard.
• Moto: “VAYAM RAKSHAMAH” – WE PROTECT
• Mission:
  • To protect our ocean and offshore wealth, including oil, fish, and minerals.
  • To assist mariners in distress and safeguard life and property at sea.
  • To enforce maritime laws with respect to the sea, poaching, smuggling, and narcotics.
  • To preserve the marine environment and ecology and protect rare species.
  • To collect scientific data and back up the Navy during war.

About Non-Methane Hydrocarbons:

• These are trace atmospheric constituents which includes ethane, ethene, propane, propene, and isoprene.
• These are a group of reactive gases emitted from fuel use, vehicles, and other human activities that play a key role in forming ozone and secondary aerosols.
• Production:
  • They are primarily produced from terrestrial sources, with some contribution from marine environments, and exhibit distinct production processes influenced by environmental factors.
• They play a significant role in controlling ozone concentrations and serving as a sink for hydroxyl radicals.
• They are vital precursors for the photochemical formation of tropospheric ozone and secondary organic aerosols (SOA).
• Impact: It is important to trace them and evaluate their implications for regional air quality and potential impacts on human health.

About Bitumen:

• It is a dense, highly viscous, petroleum-based hydrocarbon.
• It is found in deposits such as oil sands and pitch lakes (natural bitumen) or is obtained as a residue of the distillation of crude oil.
• Bitumen is primarily used for paving roads and is known as black gold in the pavement industry.
• Properties:
  • It is known for its waterproofing and adhesive properties.
  • It has adhesive properties, and is soluble in carbon disulphide.
  • It is composed of complex hydrocarbons and contains elements like calcium, iron, sulfur, and oxygen.
  • The quality of material and ease of production depends on the source and type of crude oil from which it is derived. 
• Applications:
  • Bitumen is versatile and widely used.
  • It is commonly used in the construction industry, notably for roads and highways.