UPSC Key: Resignation of a Chief Minister, Artificial Intelligence Action Summit and Restructuring of railway zones

Chorus growing, Manipur CM finally quits; Assembly on hold

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure

What’s the ongoing story: Twenty-one months since the start of the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, the state’s embattled Chief Minister N Biren Singh submitted his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla in Imphal on Sunday evening.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Which article of the Indian Constitution deal with the Chief Minister and the State Government?

• Examine the constitutional provisions related to the resignation of a Chief Minister?

• Discuss the resignation of a Chief Minister’s impact on governance.

• What is the role of the Governor in the resignation and appointment of a Chief Minister in Indian states?

• Discuss the impact of frequent political instability and President’s Rule on governance and development in Manipur.

Key Takeaways:

• Singh had left Imphal for Delhi – the second such trip to the national capital this week – on Saturday evening. He made this trip without any of his cabinet colleagues.

• According to sources, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held an almost two-hour meeting on Sunday, where BJP national president J P Nadda was also present. Singh flew back to Imphal on Sunday afternoon along with the BJP’s Northeast Coordinator Sambit Patra.

• On Sunday evening, Singh, Patra and other senior Manipur BJP leaders, including cabinet ministers Th Biswajit Singh, Sapam Ranjan Singh, Govindas Konthoujam and Th Basanta Singh, met Governor Ajau Kumar Bhalla, where Singh submitted his resignation.

• His resignation comes amidst a renewed political churn in Manipur ahead of the assembly session, which is scheduled to begin on Monday.

• The Indian Express had reported that several BJP MLAs from Manipur, who had been upset with Biren’s leadership and the party-led Centre’s management of the Manipur crisis, had again started putting pressure on the party leadership.

• In his resignation letter, Singh emphasised five points as “a request” to the Central Government through the Governor. These include maintaining the “territorial integrity” of the state; a crackdown on “illegal immigrants”; continuing “the fight against drugs and narco terrorism”; the continuation of the revised Free Movement Regime with the application of biometric checks; and the construction of the Indo-Myanmar border. All are issues which he pressed on through the course of his Chief Ministership.

Do You Know:

• Sources said that while putting in his papers, Singh recommended that the Assembly be kept in suspended animation making it possible for the MLAs to reach a consensus on his replacement. However, since there is no leader yet who enjoys the support of a majority of party MLAs, the Centre may have to impose President’s Rule.

• According to Article 356 of the Constitution, the proclamation of President’s Rule shall be laid before each house of Parliament within two months. If not, then President’s Rule shall cease to expire.

• Kuki-Zo groups and 10 MLAs from the community – these include seven BJP MLAs, two of them ministers – have held Singh responsible for the ethnic conflict in the state which began on May 3, 2023.

• The turning point appeared to be the Budget session of the Manipur Assembly that was set to begin Monday. With their appeals for a leadership change going unheard, dissident MLAs prepared to take an “unprecedented and drastic move” during the session and back a no-confidence motion that the Congress said it was likely to move.

• On 3 May 2023, ethnic violence erupted in Manipur between the Meitei a majority that lives in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki-Zo tribal community from the surrounding hills.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍The rise and fall of Biren Singh: Almost 2 years after Manipur conflict began, CM steps down

📍Why Biren Singh finally resigned as Manipur CM: How the dominoes fell

📍President’s Rule next in Manipur? With N Biren Singh out as CM, a likely option

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
1. Which of the following are not necessarily the consequences of the proclamation of the President’s rule in a State? (2017)
1. Dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly
2. Removal of the Council of Ministers in the State
3. Dissolution of the local bodies
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

EXPRESS NETWORK

PM heads to France today, announcement on civil nuclear cooperation on the cards

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination:

• General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

• General Studies III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

What’s the ongoing story: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is headed to Paris on Monday to co-chair the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit along with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Artificial Intelligence Action Summit-Know in detail

• The Bletchley Park Declaration-What were the key takeaways?

• Discuss the significance of the summit in shaping international AI regulations and ensuring ethical AI development.

• How can international cooperation help mitigate the challenges posed by artificial intelligence?

• Discuss the role of international organizations like UNESCO and the United Nations in setting global AI governance frameworks.

• How can India position itself as a leader in ethical AI development?

• Discuss the geopolitical and strategic implications of India’s civil nuclear cooperation with France, particularly in the context of India’s broader foreign policy objectives and relations with global powers.

Key Takeaways:

• The summit is expected to announce a key outcome — a foundation that will look at AI in the public interest to cater to the needs of the Global South.

• India and France will likely make announcements on small modular reactors, boosting civil nuclear cooperation. An India-France Triangular Development Cooperation initiative is also likely to be launched. The two countries will declare that 2026 will be celebrated as India-France Innovation year, and launch a logo.

• On Wednesday, Macron and Modi will visit the city of Marseille and inaugurate an Indian consulate there.

• Marseille is also a strategic telecommunications connection hub. Its location at the heart of the Mediterranean makes it the gateway for submarine cables linking Europe to Africa, West Asia and Asia. Submarine cables carry 99% of the world’s data traffic (internet and telephony).

• Macron’s invitation to Modi to co-chair the AI Summit is a significant gesture — a recognition of India’s expanding role in the domain of new and emerging technologies.

• The AI Summit will likely be attended by leaders including US Vice President J D Vance, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Do You Know:

• According to AI Action Summit website, on 10 and 11 February 2025, France will host the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, gathering at the Grand Palais, Heads of State and Government, leaders of international organizations, CEOs of small and large companies, representatives of academia, non-governmental organizations, artists and members of civil society.

• The Summit will focus on five major themes, including public service AI, future of work, innovation and culture, trust in AI, and global governance of AI.
—Public interest AI-The Summit’s work aims to seize opportunities while containing risks and fostering working tools that enhance productivity, safety and wellbeing at work. The ambition of the members involved in the Summit’s Future of Work track is to promote socially responsible use of artificial intelligence through sustained social dialogue.
—Future of work-To share the information beyond the Summit itself, work has begun on an initiative to build measurement capabilities regarding the impact of artificial intelligence and algorithmic management of labour.
—Innovation and culture-The development of infrastructures and databases will also be a focus of the summit, as an essential driver of AI development.
—Trust in AI-The approach of the AI Action Summit is focused on three types of public goods: science, solutions and standards. The Bletchley Park Summit sparked an effort to establish the first public good in this field: a solid scientific consensus on artificial intelligence.
—Global Governance of AI- Echoing the vision for more inclusive and effective governance of artificial intelligence promoted by the Global Digital Compact, which now needs to be established tangibly, the primary aim of the Summit in this area is to clarify and design a shared and effective governance framework with all relevant actors so that science, solutions and standards are better shared.

• The logo of 2026 being celebrated as India-France Innovation year will be launched during the visit.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Paris AI Summit kicks off with PM Modi as co-chair: What to expect

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

2. With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (2020)
1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units
2. Create meaningful short stories and songs
3. Disease diagnosis
4. Text-to-Speech Conversion
5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

3. Consider the following statements: (2016)
1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.
2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

MP dam project can submerge critical tiger corridor: NTCA

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination:

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

• General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

What’s the ongoing story: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) warned the construction of the Morand-Ganjal Irrigation Project in Madhya Pradesh would destroy tiger habitats and disrupt ecological connectivity between the Satpura and Melghat Tiger Reserves.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Map Work- Satpura and Melghat Tiger Reserves

• What National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) says about Morand-Ganjal Irrigation Project?

• How Morand-Ganjal Irrigation Project in MP will affect Tiger present in the region?

• What is India’s tiger population?

• What are tiger corridors, and why are they critical for wildlife conservation in India?

• Evaluate the effectiveness of India’s EIA framework in preventing ecological damage from infrastructure projects.

Key Takeaways:

• According to NTCA’s analysis, based on the National Tiger Estimation 2022, the proposed project site is a vital tiger-occupied habitat. The project, which will involve the construction of dams on the Morand and Ganjal rivers, is expected to submerge forested areas crucial for tiger movement between reserves. The NTCA has cautioned that this could affect “genetic exchange and population stability.”

• “Any disruption to this ecological connectivity will likely have long-term detrimental impacts on the viability of tiger populations and the broader wildlife community within this landscape,” the NTCA stated. The authority also noted that both the Satpura and Melghat Tiger Reserves are in a recovery phase, with tiger populations increasing due to voluntary village relocations. It warned that losing this corridor could reverse those gains.

• The Environment Ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) discussed a proposal to divert 2,250.05 hectares of forest land for the project in a meeting on January 27. The project involves building two dams on the Morand and Ganjal rivers to improve irrigation in Hoshangabad, Betul, Harda, and Khandwa districts of the state.

Do You Know:

• The Morand-Ganjal Irrigation Project, originally proposed in 1972, received approval from the Madhya Pradesh government in 2017. It aims to provide irrigation facilities to 211 villages across the districts of Hoshangabad, Betul, Harda, and Khandwa, covering over 52,000 hectares of land.

• According to the project proposal, the construction of the dams and related infrastructure will displace 644 families, including 604 tribal families, who rely on the forest for their livelihood. Over seven lakh trees will be affected at full reservoir level, with 5.75 lakh trees marked for felling.

• The region is home to Endangered species such as leopards, wolves, wild dogs, hyenas, and several herbivores. The habitat loss could have severe ecological consequences, the FAC noted.

• It has recommended that a sub-committee conduct a site inspection before making a decision. The sub-committee will include representatives from the environment ministry, NTCA, and soil conservation experts.

•The NTCA’s analysis, based on the National Tiger Estimation 2022, shows that the project site is part of a critical tiger-occupied habitat.

• The authority also said that both Satpura and Melghat reserves are in a recovery phase, with tiger populations increasing after voluntary village relocations. It warned that losing this corridor could reverse those gains. The NTCA has strongly recommended exploring alternative sites to minimise environmental damage.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Relocating villages from tiger reserves: Why it is needed, issues plaguing the process

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
4. Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”? (2020)
a) Corbett
b) Ranthambore
c) Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam
d) Sunderbans

EXPRESS NETWORK

Tirupati laddu adulteration: CBI arrests 4

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Issues relating to intellectual property rights.

What’s the ongoing story: The CBI has arrested four people in connection with the Tirupati laddu adulteration case.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What was the controversy over the Tirupati temple laddoo?

• ‘Tirupati laddoo’ offered to devotees at the Lord Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh has been awarded geographical indication tag-
What is GI Tag?

• Why Tirupati laddoo was awarded geographical indication tag?

• Importance of GI Tag-Know in detail

• What is the benefit of registration of geographical indications?

Key Takeaways:

• The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government had claimed last year that Tirupati’s Lord Venkateswara Temple’s prasadam, which is offered to believers in the form of laddu, was adulterated with animal fat, creating a countrywide uproar. A five-member team, including two officers from the CBI, two from the Andhra Pradesh government and one from the Food Safety Standards Authority of India, has been probing the case.

• Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the temple, uses 15,000 litres of ghee for the preparation of laddus. AR Foods from Tamil Nadu secured a tender to supply the ghee at Rs 320 per kg. When eight tankers carrying the ghee arrived at TTD, four were sent to labs for testing adulteration.

Do You Know:

• Geographical Indications of goods refer to the place of origin of a product. Such tags are accorded as they convey an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, attributable to the fact of its origin in a specific geographical locality, region or country. In India, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, awards GIs.

• A GI registration is given to an area, not a trader, but once a product gets the registration, traders dealing in the product can apply to sell it with the GI logo. Authorised traders are each assigned a unique GI number. If any unauthorised trader tries selling the product under that name, they can be prosecuted under The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

• A marker of authentic products, the GI tags also help protect the interests of the local growers and artisans by preventing duplicity of the products and sale from unauthorised traders. Consumers, through the tags, can know which goods are certified.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Tirupati laddu controversy: How India’s temples are run

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
5. Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication’ status? (2015)
1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees
2. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma
3. Tirupathi Laddu
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

ECONOMY

Bifurcating one of the highest revenue-generating zones of Railways: What will change?

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

What’s the ongoing story: Around a month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the headquarters of South Coast Railway in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, the Union Cabinet Friday gave the ex-post facto approval for the plan to create South Coast Railway Zone.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Discuss the rationale behind the bifurcation of a major revenue-generating railway zone.

• How does the restructuring of railway zones impact operational efficiency and economic development in India?

• Examine the impact of railway zone bifurcation on freight logistics and industrial supply chains.

• Discuss the role of Indian Railways in regional economic development

• How can administrative reforms, such as bifurcation of zones, enhance connectivity and efficiency?

• Railway zone bifurcation is often influenced by political, economic, and administrative factors—Critically analyze

Key Takeaways:

• The new railway zone has been created as per Andhra Reorganization Act. It will be the 18th zone of the Indian Railways, whose jurisdiction has been carved out from parts of the East Coast Railway and South Central Railway zones.

• The Cabinet also divided Waltair Railway Division, which was till now in East Coast Railway, into two parts and renamed it as Visakhapatnam Railway Division under new South Coast Railway, citing that Waltair was a colonial name.

• The other part of the Waltair division will be converted into a new division with headquarters at Rayagada under East Coast Railway. The Waltair division is among the highest revenue-generating areas of the Indian Railways.

Do You Know:

• As per item 8 of Schedule 13 (Infrastructure) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, Indian Railways was required to examine establishing a new railway zone in the successor State of Andhra Pradesh.

• It was announced on February 27, 2019 that the central government has decided to create a new railway division, which will be one of the strategic hubs for operations in Andhra Pradesh. The decision was taken to improve operational efficiency and provide focused service to
the growing passenger and freight demands in the region.

• Now around six years later, it is being implemented with some modifications of a cabinet decision dated 28.02.2019. The jurisdiction of South Coast Railway will cover a significant portion of Andhra Pradesh, including parts of Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Its key divisions include Vijayawada Division (from South Central Railway), Guntur Division (from South Central Railway) and parts of Waltair Division (from East Coast Railway) i.e Visakhapatnam.

• Waltair division is among the highest revenue-generating areas of the Indian Railways, primarily because of its freight traffic, which is linked to the mining and steel industries. These lines run through the mineral-rich regions of Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

• According to the data released by the Ministry of Railways, East Coast Railway (ECoR) surpassed all records of Indian Railways in Freight Loading in the Financial Year 2023-24. From April 1, 2023 to March 25, 2024, ECoR loaded 250 million tons of freight, surpassing the earlier record of highest Freight Loading of 2022-23 fiscal.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Why Union Cabinet approved bifurcating one of the railways’ biggest revenue-generating zones

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
6. What is the primary reason for the bifurcation of one of the Indian Railways’ biggest revenue-generating zones?
(a) To improve administrative efficiency and ease of management
(b) To increase ticket prices and revenue collection
(c) To privatize railway operations
(d) To reduce railway employment in the region

THE WORLD

Baltic states switch to European power grid, ending Russia ties

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

What’s the ongoing story: The three Baltic states disconnected their electricity systems from Russia’s power grid on Saturday, the region’s operators said, part of a plan designed to integrate the countries more closely with the European Union and boost security.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Map Work- Mark Baltic countries and Baltic Sea

• What are the Baltic countries?

• The Baltic nations were historically part of which power grid system before deciding to join the EU grid?

• The integration of the Baltic nations into the EU power grid will primarily be facilitated through which project?

• Is Poland a Baltic nation?

• What is the potential geopolitical impact of the Baltic nations severing ties with the Russian power grid?

• How do energy policies shape international relations? Discuss with reference to the ongoing shifts in European energy networks and the role of Russia in global energy supply.

Key Takeaways:

• Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania disconnected from the IPS/UPS joint network and, subject to last-minute tests, they will synchronise with the EU’s grid at 1200 GMT on Sunday after operating on their own in the meantime.

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will speak at a ceremony on Sunday to mark the switch to the EU system, her office said on Friday.

• “We’ve reached the goal we strived for, for so long. We are now in control,” Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas told a press conference.

• The operators successfully undertook frequency management trials on Saturday, testing the Baltic grid’s stability during interruptions, such as sudden shutdowns of power plants, Lithuanian grid operator Litgrid said on Saturday evening.

• Further trials on Sunday will test the Baltic grid’s ability to manage current.
Immediately after disconnecting, Latvian workers used a crane to reach the high-voltage wires in Vilaka, 100 metres from the Russian border, and cut them. They handed out chopped wire as keepsakes to cheering observers.

Do You Know:

• Plans for the Baltics to decouple from the grid of their former Soviet imperial overlord, debated for decades, gained momentum following Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

• The grid was the final remaining link to Russia for the three countries, which reemerged as independent nations in the early 1990s at the fall of the Soviet Union, and joined the European Union and NATO in 2004.

• The three staunch supporters of Kyiv stopped purchases of power from Russia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but have relied on the Russian grid to control frequencies and stabilise networks to avoid outages.

• The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after power cable, telecom links and gas pipeline outages between the Baltics and Sweden or Finland. All were believed to have been caused by ships dragging anchors along the seabed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia has denied any involvement.

• For Russia, the decoupling means its Kaliningrad exclave, located between Lithuania, Poland and the Baltic Sea, is cut off from Russia’s main grid, leaving it to maintain its power system alone.

• The Baltic countries spent nearly 1.6 billion euros ($1.66 billion) since 2018 to upgrade grids to prepare, while Moscow has spent 100 billion roubles ($1 billion), including on the building of several gas-fired power plants in Kaliningrad.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Baltic Sea nations react warily to reported Russian proposal to revise maritime border

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
7. The European Union’s push for greater energy independence from Russia was intensified after which major geopolitical event?
(a) The Syrian Civil War
(b) The annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014
(c) The Brexit referendum in 2016
(d) The signing of the Paris Climate Agreement

EXPLAINED

What is South Africa’s new land law that Trump finds ‘immoral’?

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

What’s the ongoing story: United States President Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order ending financial assistance to South Africa for its alleged “unjust and immoral practices” that include the enactment of a new domestic land law, and taking “aggressive positions” against the US and Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and “reinvigorating its relations with Iran”.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is the key argument made by critics, including U.S. President Donald Trump, against South Africa’s new land law?

• Discuss the historical background and rationale behind South Africa’s new land reform law.

• How South Africa’s new land reform law seek to address past injustices?

• Analyse the economic, social, and political implications of land expropriation without compensation in South Africa.

• Examine the impact of land expropriation policies on foreign investment and economic growth. What are the possible risks and benefits for South Africa?

• Compare the land redistribution policies of South Africa and Zimbabwe. How have these policies impacted the agricultural sector and overall economic stability?

• “Land ownership is not just an economic issue but a question of historical justice.” In light of this statement, evaluate the merits and demerits of land expropriation without compensation.

• What lessons can India learn from South Africa’s land reform policies in terms of agrarian reforms and equitable land distribution?

Key Takeaways:

• On February 5, two days before Trump signed the Order titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa”, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had declared he would not attend the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Johannesburg on February 20-21 because South Africa was “doing very bad things”

• On February 2, in a post on Truth Social, Trump had accused South Africa of “confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY”. This, he alleged, was a “massive Human Rights VIOLATION”, and promised to “cut off all future funding to South Africa” until the matter had been investigated.

• The President’s close aide, “Special Government Employee” and the billionaire owner of Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk has attacked South Africa for its allegedly “openly racist ownership laws”, and had earlier accused the government of President Cyril Ramaphosa of inaction in the killings of white farmers.

• A day after Trump’s social media post, President Ramaphosa clarified on X that the “Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the constitution”.

Do You Know:

• On January 24, South Africa implemented the new Expropriation Act, which allows the state to seize land without compensation for public
purposes or in the public interest in certain circumstances.

• The law, which was discussed for five years, including public consultations, provides a legal framework for expropriation by the state in accordance with Section 25(2) of the South African constitution.

• In most cases, the expropriating authority is required to negotiate with the property owner to reach an agreement on acquiring the property before resorting to expropriation.

• The need for the new law, which repealed and replaced the apartheid-era Expropriation Act of 1975, arose from the highly skewed pattern of land ownership in South Africa.

• According to research by Edward Lahiff, an expert on southern Africa at the University of Cork in Ireland, when racist minority rule over South Africa ended in 1994, about 86% of agricultural land was controlled by white people, who constituted 10.9% of the population. (‘‘Willing Buyer, Willing Seller’: South Africa’s failed experiment in market-led agrarian reform’, Third World Quarterly, 2007)

• The needle has not moved much in the three decades since then – a land audit from 2017, the most recent available, showed that white people still owned 72% of agricultural landholdings. Today, whites are only about 7% of South Africa’s 62 million population.

• Under the 1975 Act, the state was obligated to pay owners to seize their lands under the principle of “willing seller, willing buyer” (WSWB), which delayed the process of land redistribution. The WSWB principle allowed owners to sell to the highest bidder on the open market, effectively protecting their racial preferences, Lahiff wrote in a 2005 policy brief.

• Land reforms to address this situation, including the new Expropriation Act, is part of the South Africa National Development Plan 2030, which aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by uniting South Africans.

• The new law has faced resistance from the white-dominated Democratic Alliance (DA) party, the second largest in the ruling coalition. The DA has accused Ramaphosa’s African National Congress of not consulting its coalition partners on the law, and has criticised it as being unconstitutional.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Private property and the state’s right to acquire according to law

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:
8. What is the primary provision of South Africa’s new land law?
(a) Nationalization of all agricultural lands
(b) Land redistribution without compensation in certain cases
(c) Increased foreign investment in land ownership
(d) Privatization of communal lands

For any queries and feedback, contact priya.shukla@indianexpress.com

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PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

1. (b)  2. (b) 3. (a) 4.(c) 5.(c) 6.(a) 7.(b) 8.(b)