UPSC Key: India-Spain Dual Year, Cable newsification, and PITA

Key Points to Ponder:

— C295 aircraft: Know its key features.

— How will C295 aircraft enhance the India Airforce fleet?

— How India-Spain diplomatic relations have evolved since their establishment in 1956. How have historical factors influenced these relations?

— What are the key areas of cooperation between India and Spain? How do these align with India’s foreign policy objectives?

— What is the role of defense and security cooperation in India-Spain relations?

— What is the scope for future collaboration between India and Spain in emerging sectors like renewable energy, AI, and smart cities?

Key Takeaways:

— The Airbus C295 (previously CASA C-295) is a medium-range twin-engine turboprop tactical transport aircraft that was designed and initially manufactured by the Spanish aerospace company CASA, which is now part of the European multinational Airbus Defence and Space division.

— “Airbus–Tata C-295 Final Assembly Line in Vadodara was jointly inaugurated by our leaders in October 2024. We are expecting the first ‘Made in India’ C-295 aircraft to roll out of the factory before September this year. It reflects the growing depth of our defence industrial collaboration and our commitment to build resilient manufacturing capabilities,” he said.

— The Spanish Foreign minister said they reviewed bilateral relations and key international issues and they also agreed to work together to elevate the relationship to a strategic partnership in the near future.

— Jaishankar said India and Spain enjoy warm and friendly relations, rooted in shared democratic values and “respect for multilateralism and a rule-based order”. “Our political engagement has grown steadily, marked by regular high-level exchanges,” he said.

— Underlining that “economic partnership is an important pillar of our relationship”, the EAM said, “Spain is among India’s important trade partners in the EU, and our bilateral trade in goods has crossed USD 8 billion in recent years.”

— India and Spain will celebrate this year the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as well as the Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence. “This initiative reflects our shared commitment to combining our rich cultural heritage with future-oriented cooperation,” Jaishankar said.

Do You Know:

— In 2021, India signed a Rs 21,935 crore deal with Airbus Defence and Space to procure 56 C295 aircraft. Under the agreement, Airbus was to deliver the first 16 aircraft in ‘fly-away’ condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain, within four years and the subsequent 40 aircraft were to be manufactured by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd in India.

— The Vadodara facility is India’s first private military transport aircraft production plant, a partnership between Tata Advanced System Limited (TASL) and Airbus Defence and Space (Airbus DS). 

— According to the MEA Website, relations between India and Spain have been cordial since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1956. The first resident Ambassador of India was appointed in 1965.

— The Indian community forms a small percentage of the immigrant population of Spain. Among the Asian communities, the Indian Diaspora is the third largest group. The earliest Indian settlers were Sindhis who came from the subcontinent at the end of the 19th century and settled in the Canary Islands. Many others travelled to Spain from Africa in the 1950´s and 1960´s, while others came directly from India.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍All about the C295 aircraft assembly plant, inaugurated by PM Modi in Vadodara

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:

(1) Besides diplomatic relations, what else is being celebrated as part of the India-Spain Dual Year in 2026?

(a) Defence and Aerospace Manufacturing

(b) Trade and Economic Partnership

(c) Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence

(d) Democratic Values and Multilateralism

 

FRONT 

Trump rules out force but wants immediate talks on Greenland

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. 

Mains Examination: Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

What’s the ongoing story: US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would not take over Greenland by force, but stuck firmly to his demand for control of the Danish territory during a speech in Davos and hinted at consequences if his ambitions were thwarted. 

Key Points to Ponder:

— Know in detail about Greenland.

— What is the geopolitical significance of Greenland in the context of Arctic politics?

— Why does Greenland matter to the US?

— Know the history of the US quest to acquire Greenland.

— The Arctic region is often described as a “global commons.”-Why?

— What is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

— What is “Golden Dome”?

— What was the rationale behind the creation of NATO, who forms part of it, and where does it stand today? 

— Map Work: Locate Greenland on map.

Key Takeaways:

— “People thought I would use force, but I don’t have to use force,” Trump said at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in the Swiss Alpine resort. “I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” he added, without mentioning his threat of tariffs.

— Trump said he wanted immediate negotiations on a US acquisition of Greenland, which is a Danish territory, and warned: “They have a choice. You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative, or you can so no, and we will remember.” 

— He chastised Europeans on issues ranging from wind power and the environment to immigration and geopolitics, while casting himself as a defender of Western values. And while he took the threat of force off the table for Greenland, Trump bragged about US military might, citing recent operations such as the shock ousting of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.

— Calling Denmark “ungrateful,” the Republican US President played down the territorial dispute as a “small ask” over a “piece of ice” and said an acquisition would be no threat to the NATO alliance, which includes Denmark and the United States. 

— Trump said Greenland is crucial to the “Golden Dome” missile-defense system and urged immediate negotiations. “No nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States,”said Trump,who on four occasions mistakenly referred to Greenland as Iceland, another NATO member state. 

— NATO leaders have warned that Trump’s Greenland strategy could upend the alliance, while the leaders of Denmark and Greenland have offered a wide array of ways for a greater US presence on the strategic island territory of 57,000 people.

From the Explained Page- At Davos, leaders of Canada, EU echo each other: ‘Old order’ is over

— At the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos — a gleaming symbol of the West-led summit-driven multilateralism that US President Donald Trump appears intent on steamrolling — voices opposing his tactics have been raised from within the Western hemisphere, including by Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

— While Canada is America’s neighbour and old ally, Europe with the US shaped the post World War II liberal world order. An examination of their speeches shows common themes, but also key divergences, which are worth examining.

— Both the leaders firmly stated that the old world order had disappeared, and no amount of wishing would bring it back. “We know the old order is not coming back. We shouldn’t mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy…,” Carney said.

— von der Leyen, meanwhile, said, “…nostalgia is part of our human story. But nostalgia will not bring back the old order. And playing for time – and hoping for things to revert soon – will not fix the structural dependencies we have.”

— The ‘old order’, where decisions were supposed to be made through institutions in which all countries had a voice and followed the same rulebook, had been less than ideal, as the Global South has long known, and which Carney also mentioned in his speech. But the EU and Canada had been major beneficiaries and upholders of the order, and their pulling the curtains on it has a message for the world.

— On the issue currently hanging fire and ice over the Atlantic, both leaders opposed Trump’s actions over Greenland. Carney said, “On Arctic sovereignty, we stand firmly with Greenland and Denmark, and fully support their unique right to determine Greenland’s future…Canada strongly opposes tariffs over Greenland.”

— von der Leyen spoke about Greenland longer, saying, “First principle: full solidarity with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark… Second, we are working on a massive European investment surge in Greenland…”

Do You Know:

— Greenland is known as the world’s largest island, characterised by its extreme geographical conditions. While approximately 80 per cent of Greenland is covered by a massive ice sheet, its ice-free coastal areas are comparable in size to Germany.

— During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, at the height of its colonial power, Denmark maintained a presence in India (1620–1845), Africa (1659–1850), the Caribbean (1672–1917), and the North Atlantic, including Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. 

— Greenland’s colonial phase began in 1721 when Danish-Norwegian priest Hans Egede established a mission and started trading activities near what is now the capital, Nuuk.

— While Denmark was under German occupation during the Second World War, Greenland’s administration was overseen by Danish officials based in the United States and Greenland itself.

— Initially, the United States adopted a cautious approach toward Greenland. Secretly, it discouraged Britain and Canada from occupying the island to safeguard its cryolite mine in Ivittuut, a resource critical for wartime production. 

— However, the US refrained from direct involvement, maintaining its connection to Greenland through the Danish legation in Washington. For the Danes, securing American goodwill was vital — the US was a key ally in the fight against Germany.

— In early 1941, mounting pressure from Britain and Canada to establish a military base in Greenland compelled the United States to act. This resulted in an agreement between Denmark and the US, signed on April 9, 1941, which authorised America to construct bases deemed essential for Greenland’s defence. 

— While the agreement reaffirmed Danish sovereignty over both Greenland and the bases, the United States retained jurisdiction over the bases it operated.

— By the end of the war, the United States had established 17 stations across Greenland, including four air bases. These developments ended Greenland’s long-standing isolation and marked its emergence as a pivotal player in global geopolitics.

— In the pursuit of asserting its growing identity, Greenland adopted its own national flag on June 21, 1985 — the sun flag. While the Danish flag is still occasionally used, the sun flag is symbolic of the island’s cultural autonomy.

— In 2009, following a referendum, Greenland achieved a new level of autonomy under the Self-Government Act. This act expanded upon the limited sovereignty established in 1979, granting Greenland control over additional policy areas. Despite these gains, Denmark retains authority over foreign policy and security and continues to provide substantial financial grants.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍What US annexation of Greenland could mean for NATO, Russia

📍Knowledge Nugget: Greenland and Geopolitics – What all you need to know for UPSC Exam?

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:

(2) With reference to the Greenland, consider the following statements:

1. It was once a Danish colony and is now an autonomous province of Denmark.

2. It is located in the South Atlantic Ocean.

3. Its strategic importance rose during the Cold War, and the US had a large air base in Greenland.

4. It is rich in rare earth minerals.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

EC power to hold SIR not unlimited, must be transparent, says SC

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance, Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act, Constitution of India — features, significant provisions and basic structure.

What’s the ongoing story: The Supreme Court said Wednesday that the power of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to carry out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls though “unique” is “not unlimited”, and that the exercise of the power must be “in conformity with principles of natural justice” and “transparent”. 

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is SIR?

— What is the significance of SIR?

— What are the constitutional provisions related to the SIR?

— Know about ECI role, power, functions, jurisdiction, and constitutional provisions

— What is the Form 6 of the Election Commission?

— What are the challenges to the SIR?

— What is the issue regarding citizenship in conducting SIR?

Key Takeaways:

— Hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the SIR exercise being carried out across the country, the bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made these remarks after Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the ECI, underlined its power to carry out revision of electoral rolls.

— Dwivedi referred to Section 21 of The Representation of the People Act, 1950, dealing with the preparation and revision of electoral rolls. He said clause 3 states that the ECI “may at any time, for reasons to be recorded, direct a special revision of the electoral roll for any constituency or part of a constituency in such manner as it may think fit”.

— He said this allowed the poll body to deviate from the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, if so required.

— “Because there cannot be any debate that it is not untrammelled. But it is unique to the Election Commission. The Election Commission in this respect has the widest discretion. However the intensive revisions also have a guideline, that is Rule 4 to Rule 20,” he said.

— Justice Bagchi said the question is “how far can you deviate (from the Rules)… No power can be untrammelled. No power can be completely unregulated.”

— The CJI said, “While the power should not be diluted, it should not be left like an unruly horse. It should be regulated.”

— Dwivedi said, “My submission is that my SIR is sustainable under Article 324 (which says the superintendence, direction and control of elections shall vest with the Election Commission) read with Section 21 (3)… I am saying the scope under Section 21 (2) is limited, under 21 (3) wider.”

— “But not unlimited,” Justice Bagchi said. Dwivedi agreed: “It can’t be unlimited.”

Do You Know:

— Article 324(1) of the Constitution gives the ECI the power of “superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls for, and the conduct of” elections to Parliament and state legislatures.

— Under Section 21(3) of The Representation of the People Act, 1950, the ECI “may at any time…  direct a special revision of the electoral roll for any constituency or part of a constituency in such manner as it may think fit”.

— The Registration of Electors’ Rules, 1960, says the revision of rolls can be carried out “either intensively or summarily or partly intensively and partly summarily, as the [ECI] may direct”. In an intensive revision, the electoral roll is prepared afresh; in a summary revision, the roll is amended.

— Special summary revisions take place every year, and the electoral roll is updated before each Lok Sabha and state Assembly election. Intensive revisions have been carried out in 1952-56, 1957, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1983-84, 1987-89, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Day after SC’s SIR directive, EC deploys 10 more roll observers in Bengal

📍Supreme Court on SIR pleas: Can EC inquire into citizenship status in dubious entries

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(3) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2017)

1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body.

2. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.

3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 3 only

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful? (UPSC CSE 2017)

 

EXPLAINED

‘Goldilocks’ situation has kept food inflation at bay

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment.

What’s the ongoing story: The past year was not only a surplus monsoon year, with India receiving above-normal rainfall right from May through October. It was also a year of relatively moderate temperatures.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What do you understand about the Goldilocks situation?

— Understand the impact of a good monsoon on food price inflation?

— How does  El Niño impact the monsoon?

— What are the favourable conditions for the growth of paddy, wheat, and mustard?

— How important is maintaining a buffer stock of grains?

— What are the policies of the government in maintaining buffer stock?

— How vulnerable are the agricultural sectors due to climate change?

Key Takeaways:

— The annual mean land surface air temperature over the country in 2025 was 0.28°C above the average for 1991-2020. Also, the above-normal mean temperature departures were high (between 0.8°C and 1.4°C) only during January-April.

— Compare this with 2024, which was the warmest year on record since 1901, with an annual mean temperature anomaly of 0.65°C. The previous year, too, saw very high temperatures that was coupled with a strong El Niño-induced monsoon failure. 

— The redeeming feature in 2024 was a good monsoon, which significantly offset the impact of the mercury hovering at 0.5°C or more above-normal for eight out of the 12 months.

— The year 2025, on the other hand, presented a near-Goldilocks situation (an optimal mix of various factors, the term is from the fairy tale) of both the monsoon rain and temperatures being “just right”

— In end-October, before the peak sowing period, water levels in India’s 161 major reservoirs were at 90.8% of their full storage capacity. The surplus rains also filled up farm ponds and other small water bodies, besides recharging groundwater tables.

— The wheat crop sown during November is in tillering (shoot development) and stem elongation stage. This stage matters because the more the shoots that grow from the base of the main stem, the more the potential spikes or grain-bearing ‘ears’.

— The wheat crop comes to heading (i.e. for the ears to fully emerge from the tillers) 80-95 days after sowing. This is followed by flowering, pollination and seed setting, before the final grain development stage from mid/late-February.

— Maximum temperatures should be in the early-thirty °C range during the 35-40 days of grain formation, filling and ripening. Any surge in March temperatures – like in 2002, when the mean temperature departure above normal was 1.61°C for all-India and 3.22°C for the wheat belt of Northwest India – could cause premature ripening and drying of grains, translating into lower yields.

— The only crop of concern is mustard, with damage from Orobanche aegyptiaca, a root parasitic weed, being reported many growing areas of Haryana and Rajasthan. The extent of overall yield and production loss from it – in an otherwise extremely favourable agroclimatic environment for the oilseed crop – is not clear though.

— Potato is currently wholesaling in the mandis of Uttar Pradesh at Rs 600-700 per quintal, as compared to Rs 1,200-1,300 a year ago.

— But it’s not the tuber alone. Retail inflation in all vegetables, as per the consumer price index, was minus 18.5% year-on-year in December, while minus 15.1% for pulses.

— The reason for this isn’t only the Goldilocks combination of munificent rains and moderate temperatures yielding bumper harvests. Equally important is the domestic stocks and international supply position.

— Unlike in 2021 and 2022, there are no supply shocks – whether from pandemic, war, weather or export controls – exerting upward pressure on world prices today. The disturbances in Iran and Venezuela have caused minimal disruptions to the global agri-commodities trade, which was not the case just after the war in Ukraine broke out.

Do You Know:

— El Nino, as is commonly known, refers to an abnormal warming of surface waters in equatorial Pacific Ocean. It is known to suppress monsoon rainfall. The opposite phase, La Nina, which is the abnormal cooling of sea surface waters in the same region, is known to aid rainfall over India. 

— There is a third, neutral phase, as well in which the sea surface temperatures remain roughly in line with long-term averages. Together, these three phases in the Pacific Ocean are referred to as El Nino Southern Oscillation, or ENSO.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Explained: Why food inflation may remain low

📍India has surpassed China in rice production. But this love for paddy is not without pitfalls

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(4) With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2018)

1. The families coming under the category of ‘below poverty line (BPL)’ only are eligible to receive subsidised food grains.

2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.

3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a ‘take-home ration’ of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 3 only

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

How has the emphasis on certain crops brought about changes in cropping patterns in recent past? Elaborate the emphasis on millets production and consumption. (UPSC CSE 2018)

Why HC ordered release of trafficking victim from protective home

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

What’s the ongoing story: Protective homes under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, (PITA) are meant to function as a measure of rehabilitation, not confinement. Clarifying this, the Bombay High Court last week (January 16) set aside orders that had placed an adult trafficking survivor in a protective home for one year, holding that such custody, in the absence of legal justification, violates constitutional liberty.

Key Points to Ponder:

— Read about the PITA. 

— Know about Article 19 of the Indian Constitution.

— What is the purpose of protective homes under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956?

— How does Article 19 protect the rights of adult trafficking survivors under PITA?

— What is the difference between a protective home and a corrective institution under PITA?

— Does PITA criminalize prostitution? 

Key Takeaways:

— Justice N J Jamadar said that where a victim is a major, placing her in a protective home should “have been determined on the touchstone of the constitutional rights of personal liberty and fundamental freedom”. These rights under Article 19 stand on a higher footing than statutory powers under PITA. They do not stand suspended merely because a person has been trafficked.

— The matter pertained to five women who were rescued during a police raid from a lodge in Yeola, Maharashtra, followed by the arrest of two men under PITA. While other women were allowed to leave with their family members, the magistrate ordered that the petitioner be placed in the detention home as she had no family or steady source of income. It was assumed that, considering her circumstances, she was likely to return to commercial sex work and therefore required institutional “care and protection” under the PITA.

— PITA provides a framework for custody after a rescue under Section 17. Immediately after a raid, a person may be kept safe in custody for a short period if they cannot be produced before the appropriate magistrate. This initial custody is capped at 10 days.

— Once the person is produced before the magistrate, the law mandates an inquiry. During this period, interim custody can continue but only up to 3 weeks. A longer placement, anywhere between 1-3 years, can only be ordered after the magistrate records a finding that the person is “in need of care and protection”.

— The Bombay HC noted that these timelines are not procedural formalities but a reflection of the legislative intent to ensure that rescue does not turn into confinement. For adults, any extension of this custody beyond these narrow limitations must pass constitutional scrutiny.

— The Act draws a statutory distinction between protective homes and corrective institutions. While Section 2(g) deals with “protective homes” meant for victims requiring care and rehabilitation, Section 2(b) defines a “corrective institution” as one where persons “in need of correction” may be detained. Detention in a corrective institution is specifically governed by Section 10A, which applies to offenders found guilty of certain offences under the Act.

— For children, the law permits wider intervention, with the State stepping in as a guardian. For adults, Article 19 — to move freely, reside where one chooses and pursue a livelihood — does not stand suspended merely because a person has been trafficked.

— As a result, “care” for an adult might be voluntary. Once an adult expresses a clear wish to leave a protective home, continuing to confine them ceases to be care and becomes a detention. — In the present case, the woman repeatedly stated that she did not wish to remain in the institution; the HC held that her consent was not optional but central.

— The distinction, the court said, lies not in labels but in effect. Care involves support measures that respect autonomy, counselling, shelter offered with consent and assistance in rebuilding life outside exploitative settings.

— Detention, on the other hand, is marked by compulsion. When an adult is kept in a protective home against her wishes with restrictions on movement and choice, the state must justify the restraint on liberty with concrete reasons.

— Under the Act, it is the magistrate who must determine, after conducting an inquiry, whether a rescued person requires care and protection. Only upon such satisfaction can a magistrate pass an order directing placement in a protective home, subject to the safeguards built into the provision.

— Detention may be justified where there is evidence that the person suffers from a condition that impairs decision-making, or where release would pose a demonstrable danger to society. Another situation is where the person is also an accused in a criminal case.

— In this case, none of these elements were present. There was no medical material suggesting incapacity. There was no finding that her release would endanger others. She was not accused of any offence under PITA. The court rejected speculative fears, including the possibility that she might return to sex work, as insufficient to justify detention.

— PITA does not criminalise prostitution. What it targets is the commercial exploitation that surrounds it. Although the Act defines prostitution as sexual exploitation for commercial purposes, judges have clarified that this does not mean every person found in sex work is committing an offence, controlling or profiting from that exploitation. The focus of the law is the trade, not the individual caught within it.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 We need data-driven policymaking to counter human trafficking and bonded labour

📍‘Unreasonable restriction’: Bombay High Court quashes one-year detention of adult trafficking victim

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

India’s proximity to two of the world’s biggest illicit opium-growing states has enhanced her internal security concerns. Explain the linkages between drug trafficking and other illicit activities such as gunrunning, money laundering and human trafficking. What counter-measures should be taken to prevent the same? (UPSC CSE 2018)

 

THE EDITORIAL PAGE

Amid cable newsification, journalism must reclaim its role as check on power

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

What’s the ongoing story: Shashi Tharoor writes: In a recent Financial Times article, James Murdoch, scion of media baron Rupert Murdoch, lamented what he called “the cable newsification of everything”. His phrase captures a global malaise that has spread far beyond the studios of Fox, CNN, or MSNBC. 

Key Points to Ponder:

— What do you understand about cable newsification?

— What is the state of Indian media today?

— What is the significance of the media in promoting democracy?
— What are the challenges facing Indian media today?

— What is TRP?

— What are the sources of revenue for the media houses?

— What is the role and function of the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA)?

Key Takeaways:

— “The incentives of cable news — conflict, outrage, and spectacle — have colonised the wider information ecosystem,” Murdoch wrote, warning that this dynamic erodes trust and rewards polarisation. It is a diagnosis that applies, sadly, particularly to India, where television debates have become nightly gladiatorial contests…

— Murdoch’s central point is that cable news has become less about informing and more about inflaming. This is so true in India. The endless churn of “breaking news” banners, the performative anger of anchors claiming “the nation wants to know”, the reduction of complex issues into shouting matches — all of this has seeped into politics, business, and culture.

— In India, this model has been embraced with gusto. Our primetime debates are less Socratic inquiry than verbal wrestling matches, where decibel levels matter more than facts, and the anchor’s role is closer to that of a ringmaster than a moderator.

— The contagion does not stop at television. Social media platforms amplify these spectacles, slicing them into shareable clips that ricochet across WhatsApp groups and Twitter feeds. The result is a feedback loop: Television produces outrage, social media magnifies it, and politicians respond to it, further feeding the cycle. 

— What is particularly worrying is that even mainstream print media, once the bastion of sobriety and fact-checking, has begun to feel the pressure. Editors know that by the time their morning paper reaches readers, the public has already been exposed to the television version of events the previous evening. 

— For some years, India’s print media prided itself on being the antidote to television’s superficiality. Newspapers offered context, depth, and a measure of restraint. They were the place where readers could turn for sober reflection after the noise of the nightly news. 

— But as Murdoch warns, “when everything is framed as urgent and adversarial, audiences grow cynical and disengaged”. If print, too, succumbs to this framing, the public will be left with little refuge from the cacophony.

— The consequences are serious. First, trust in journalism erodes. When every story is presented as a crisis, when every headline screams for attention, readers begin to doubt the credibility of the messenger. 

— Second, polarisation deepens. Outrage-driven journalism rewards extremes, marginalises moderation, and leaves little room for compromise. 

— Third, democracy suffers. A public fed on spectacle rather than substance, triviality and titillation rather than investigation or introspection, cannot engage meaningfully with policy, governance, or civic responsibility.

— In India, where institutions are already under strain, the erosion of trust in journalism is particularly dangerous. A democracy needs a press that informs, not inflames; that challenges power, not parrots it; that seeks truth, not just “clicks”.

— What, then, is to be done? The answer is not to abandon television or social media, but to reclaim journalism’s core values on screen. We need anchors who moderate rather than hector, debates that illuminate rather than obfuscate, and newspapers that resist the temptation to echo last night’s shouting match. We need editors who prioritise verification over virality, and reporters who pursue context over conflict.

— The tools of modern communication — television, social media, digital platforms — are here to stay. But they must be harnessed to serve the public interest, not the outrage economy. Indian telecasters must resist the nightly temptation to turn every issue into a shouting match, and instead invest in investigative reporting, explanatory journalism, and thoughtful commentary.

— From the nationalist press that defied colonial censorship under the Raj to the newspapers that resisted the Emergency and flowered after it, our media has often risen to the occasion, as this newspaper exemplifies. That spirit seems dormant today, and must be rekindled. 

— Journalism must reclaim its role as a check on power and a source of truth. It must prioritise depth over decibels, objectivity over outrage, context over conflict. The public deserves better, and our democracy demands it.

— In India, where democracy is noisy enough, we need journalism that rises above the din. We need a press that informs, enlightens and empowers, not shouts or distracts. We need, in short, better journalism.

From the front page: In 3 years, nearly 60% orders by TV & digital news regulator cite communal code breach

— Nearly 60 per cent of orders passed in the past three years by an independent self-regulatory body for private TV and digital news broadcasters were against programmes that violated its ethics code on communal harmony, according to records reviewed by The Indian Express.

— These orders were issued by the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) established by the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA), which represents private TV and digital news and current affairs broadcasters.

— Records show that of the 54 orders issued by NBDSA from January 1, 2023, till December 31, 2025, it handed down penalties in 32 cases that flagged religious stereotypes — such as use of the word “jihad” as a prefix to highlight issues of land encroachment, women’s safety, food hygiene and demographic change.

— They also show that the self-regulator’s dominant enforcement tool was partial or complete content removal, with minimal use of its powers to impose fines upto Rs 25 lakh — and significant procedural delays, averaging 11-12 months from the initial complaint to the final order, leaving the offending content in the public domain till adjudication.

— In essence, an analysis of NBDSA’s orders from 2023 (see chart) points to a self-regulatory framework that acknowledges ethical breaches in the broadcast and digital space but rarely imposes strong penalties as a deterrent, with the long lag defeating its very purpose.

— The NBDSA penalised broadcasters for violations of its Code of Ethics and broadcasting guidelines in 43 of the 54 complaints overall, including 32 of 39 linked to communal harmony. The remaining 11 orders imposed no penal action due to various reasons: no violation was found, breach was not grave enough, corrective steps had already been taken, matter was pending before a court.

Do You Know:

— The NBDSA is an independent body set up by the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA), which serves as a representative of private television news, current affairs and digital broadcasters. It describes itself as “the collective voice of the news, current affairs and digital broadcasters in India.”

— The body includes a Chairperson who is to be an eminent jurist, and other members such as news editors, and those experienced in the field of law, education, literature, public administration, etc. nominated by a majority of the Board. 

— The Authority is currently chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri with eight other members, including four independent members who are retired IAS or IFS officers and four “editor members” from TV news channels. It meets at least once every two months, with all decisions taken by consensus.

— The NBDSA has a two-tier grievance mechanism: complaints must first be filed with the broadcaster within 15 days, and may be escalated to the Authority within the next 15 days if unresolved. While empowered to act suo motu, all orders in the past three years have arisen from individual complaints, with case volume per meeting varying by pendency and complexity.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍What is the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority, which has fined a TV channel over the Hijab issue coverage?

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

What do you understand by the concept of “freedom of speech and expression”? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of expression? Discuss. (UPSC CSE 2014)

ALSO IN NEWS
Nation’s future starts with child’s early learning	Amitabh Kant writes: India’s growth, competitiveness, and demographic dividend hinge on a powerful yet often overlooked investment — learning early and learning well. With 250 million children under 10, India stands at a critical demographic moment; 137 million of today’s youth will join the workforce by 2047, shaping our future. Longitudinal research (Vellore, 2024) shows that quality early learning boosts cognition by 1.9 points. Yet Early Childhood Education (ECE) is only the beginning. The real test comes when children enter classrooms. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) — the ability to read, comprehend, and use numbers — are the building blocks that determine how well children can engage with all future learning. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recognises this and prioritises universal quality ECE and FLN by Grade 3 — two cornerstones of India’s human capital strategy, delivered through strengthened Anganwadis, Balvatikas, and early primary grades. India stands at the cusp of a historic opportunity. A seamless continuum of strong Anganwadis, Balvatikas with dedicated ECE educators, and foundational learning is not just an education strategy — it is the engine of productivity, innovation, and inclusive growth central to Viksit Bharat.
Cause of democracy needs new champions, India’s leadership welcome: Global body chief	Highlighting the challenges before democracies across the world, the head of an intergovernmental organisation of 35 member countries said Wednesday that the cause of democracy needed new champions as those who led the charge in the past 80 years were no longer doing so. Speaking at the Election Commission’s (EC) International Conference on Democracy and Election Management in Delhi, Kevin Casas-Zamora, the secretary-general of International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), said India’s leadership on the issue was welcome. India, represented by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, is the chair of International IDEA for 2026. India is a founding member of the Stockholm-based organisation.
Water bankruptcy calls for water accounting	Over the past two decades, a growing body of scholarly research has documented the risks to water security posed by pollution and unsustainable patterns of use. According to a UN report, released earlier this week, climate change has exacerbated the crisis. Rising temperatures disrupt rainfall patterns, and the water cycle and retreating glaciers make river flows erratic, creating “whiplashes” between floods and extremely dry weather. Droughts, shortages, and pollution episodes that once looked like temporary shocks are becoming chronic in many places, signalling a crisis described by the report as “water bankruptcy”. The study, also titled Global Water Bankruptcy, points out that not all basins and countries are equally affected. But it rightly underlines that “basins are interconnected through trade, migration, weather, and other key elements of nature. Water bankruptcy in one area will put more pressure on others and can increase local and international tensions.” The UN report makes a case for transparent water accounting, protection of aquifers, and enforceable limits on extraction, along with ensuring equity in water distribution.
Why Punjab farmers want security fence moved closer to border with Pakistan	Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said the Union government had agreed, in principle, to shift the security fence in the state closer to the International Border (IB) with Pakistan. The shift, if it does take place, would be a major relief for farmers in the state’s border belt — it would clear the way for unhindered cultivation of thousands of acres of farmland currently beyond the fence. But this is hardly the first time such a proposal has come up. Punjab shares a 532-km border with Pakistan which is secured by a barbed wire fence. Due to the uneven terrain, the distance between the fence and the IB varies from a few feet at some places to nearly 2 km at others. Between the fence and the border lie 21,500 acres belonging to Punjab’s farmers and around 10,000 acres belonging to the government. The farmers who till that land have had to face restrictions for years. Gates that currently grant access to the restricted land are opened for farmers for a few hours on designated days of the week. However, there are restrictions on the number of people who can work close to the border and the number of tractors they can take to till their land. Notably, the Kapoor Committee, led by the then Punjab Chief Secretary S L Kapoor, was set up in 1986 to address the hardships faced by the agrarian border communities owing to the fence. It recommended compensation for farmers whose land fell beyond the fence.

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.

🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for January 2026. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨