Current Affairs – September 16, 2025

{GS2 – MEITY – Laws} Draft National Data Centre Policy **

• Context (BS): The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) published the Draft National Data Centre Policy, suggesting incentives to increase India’s data centre capacity.

Recommended Measures

• Tax Incentives: A 20-year tax holiday was proposed for developers who meet specified capacity and employment targets.
• GST Relief: It recommends allowing input tax credit on capital assets under GST, easing upfront expenditure for data centre developers.
• Foreign Investment: ‘Permanent Establishment’ status to be granted to foreign firms operating ≥100 MW capacity to ensure regulatory certainty and stability.
• Land Allocation: States are encouraged to earmark land near industrial corridors for simplified acquisition and accelerated project rollout.
• Power Coordination: MeitY will coordinate with power authorities, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply for energy-intensive data centres.
• Green Nudge: Uniform renewable energy storage guidelines are introduced, steering the sector toward sustainable and low-carbon operations.

About Data Centres

• Data Centres are specialised facilities housing networked servers and storage systems for centralised data processing and management.
• Function: They enable cloud computing, AI services, and e-governance by processing, storing, and distributing vast volumes of digital information.
• Importance: By localising data, they safeguard sovereignty, enhance cybersecurity, and ensure reliable delivery of digital public services.
• Limitations: High capital costs, protracted land acquisition, and massive, uninterrupted power needs impede rapid and sustainable growth.
• Global Distribution: Global capacity concentrates in countries like the US and Singapore, while India remains an emerging market.
• India’s Growth: India’s data centre industry has grown at a 24% CAGR since 2019 and is expected to add 795 MW by 2027, highlighting strong digital demand.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Judiciary} Judicial Pendency in India

• Context (TH): The Supreme Court’s pendency has surged to an unprecedented 88,417 cases, highlighting structural inefficiencies and an urgent need for judicial reforms.

Drivers of Case Backlog

• Lower Ratio: India’s judge-population ratio at 21 per million remains critically low against the Law Commission’s 50/million benchmark, severely constraining judicial throughput.
• Special Leave Petitions: Article 136’s unchecked use floods the Court with routine appeals, diverting focus from core constitutional interpretation to error-correction.
• Govt. Litigation: As the largest litigant (~50% of cases), the government adds avoidable burden — often contesting even when liability or precedent is clear.
• Procedural Inertia: Frequent adjournments, no statutory timelines, and paper-based workflows slow resolution across all court levels, compounding backlog.
• Vacancy Burden: Over 5,600 judicial vacancies, including 30% in High Courts, escalate unresolved cases upward, & increase the Supreme Court’s burden.

Impacts of Case Pendency

• Delayed Justice: Prolonged trials deny timely relief to victims, weakening deterrence and eroding public trust in judicial credibility.
• Constitutional Erosion: The Supreme Court’s constitutional role has declined, with five-judge benches hearing only 0.12% of cases today, compared to 15.5% in the 1950s.
• Prison Crisis: Overcrowding is exacerbated as 76% of prisoners are undertrials, violating their fundamental right to a speedy trial under Article 21.
• Economic Burden: Delayed contract enforcement heightens business uncertainty, increases litigation costs, and adversely impacts India’s investment climate.
• Regional Inequity: Growing pendency increases prohibitive costs, discourages appeals from distant states and reinforces unequal geographic access to justice.

Way Forward

• Cassation Benches: Implement Law Commission’s 229^th Report by creating four Cassation Benches in metro cities to decentralise justice and reduce the Supreme Court’s appellate burden.
• Judge Strength: Raise judge strength to 50 per million and urgently fill over 5,600 vacancies to enhance lower court efficiency and reduce appeal inflow.
• AIJS Reform: Introduce the All-India Judicial Service to ensure transparent, merit-based recruitment and address subordinate judiciary vacancies across states.
• Digital Courts: Scale up e-Courts Mission Mode Project with AI-driven platforms like SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency) for efficient case tracking, listing, and disposal.
• Case Filters: Emulates global practices like U.S. certiorari, Canada’s leave to appeal, or South Africa’s bifurcated apex system to prioritise Supreme Court hearings for nationally significant matters.

Read More> Judicial Pendency in India

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Judiciary} SC Calls for Nationwide Firecracker Policy

• Context (TH | IT): The Supreme Court held that firecracker bans must extend beyond Delhi-NCR, framing pollution as a national issue.

Key Observations

• The CJI questioned why pollution control policies should single out Delhi-NCR, noting that other cities like Amritsar face equal or worse pollution.
• The Court emphasised that the right to clean air under Article 21 must apply uniformly across India.
• Vulnerable groups, including daily wage earners and street labourers, are the most affected by hazardous air quality.
• The Court dismissed the manufacturer’s claims of 90% emission reduction for green crackers, citing independent studies showing only about 30% reduction.

Key Issues Involved

• Equity and Justice: Current restrictions are limited to NCR, creating an unequal enforcement of the right to clean air.
• Enforcement Challenges: Seasonal and partial bans encourage hoarding & illegal sales of firecrackers.
• Livelihood Concerns: The firecracker industry, concentrated in Tamil Nadu (Sivakasi), employs lakhs and is vulnerable to blanket bans without alternative livelihood plans.
• Technology Gap: “Green crackers” remain largely untested at scale, and lack widespread scientific certification mechanisms.

Way Forward

• Phased Transition: Shift gradually from conventional firecrackers to certified green alternatives with clearly defined emission benchmarks.
• Industry Support: Provide re-skilling, financial incentives, and subsidies to manufacturers for adopting cleaner technologies and diversifying into other sectors.
• Time & Zone Regulation: Implement regulated hours and designated zones for firecracker use instead of blanket bans.
• Integrated Pollution Control: Firecracker regulation should be part of a comprehensive air quality strategy, addressing stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and construction dust.
• Scientific Oversight: Mandate continuous monitoring and review of firecracker formulations under the guidance of CSIR-NEERI to ensure compliance and safety.

{GS2 – Polity – Laws} SC Interim Order on Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 **

• Context (IE | TOI): Recently, the Supreme Court delivered an interim order on the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, staying contentious clauses but upholding key reforms.

Provisions Stayed by the Supreme Court

Collector’s powers over Waqf properties

• SC stayed Section 3C provisions empowering collectors to declare Waqf land as government property and alter records, terming them prima facie arbitrary.
• Disputed properties will retain Waqf status until the Tribunal’s final decision; no third-party rights can be created.

Inclusion of Non-Muslims in Waqf bodies

• The Act allowed increased non-Muslim representation.
• SC capped membership, maximum 4 non-Muslims in Central Waqf Council (22 members) and 3 in State Waqf Boards (11 members).

Five Years of Practising Islam Requirement

• The Act restricted the creation of Waqf to individuals practising Islam for at least 5 years.
• The Court stayed this clause until the government frames a clear mechanism to verify such practice.

Provisions Upheld by the Supreme Court

• Abolition of ‘Waqf by use’: The earlier principle allowed land used for religious/charitable purposes to be deemed Waqf even without formal registration.
  • The SC did not stay its removal, citing misuse for encroachment on government land.
• Application of Limitation Act: SC upheld applying limitation periods to Waqf property disputes (earlier exempted), holding that it removes discrimination and ensures parity with other property laws.

Read in Detail About > Waqf Amendment Act, 2025

{GS3 – IE – Industry} Production-Linked Incentive for White Goods

• Context (TH): The government has reopened applications for the production-linked incentive scheme for white goods, citing industry growth and renewed market confidence.

Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme

• The PLI scheme, initiated in 2020, aims to boost domestic manufacturing, self-reliance, and global competitiveness, in line with the Make in India initiative.
• The scheme was expanded to include white goods (ACs and LED lights) in April 2021 for seven years.
• Coverage: It spans 14 sectors, including electronics, autos, textiles, drones, and white goods.
• Approach: The scheme is performance-driven, offering time-bound incentives on sales and investments to attract investors, promote technology adoption, and enable economies of scale.
• Achievements: It enabled a domestic shift in AC and LED component manufacturing, attracting ₹1.76 lakh crore investment and creating nearly 12 lakh jobs.

{GS3 – IE – Securities} SEBI Board Approves Ease of Doing Business Measures **

• Context (IE): SEBI introduced regulatory reforms to ease foreign investment, streamline market access, and strengthen investor protection in India’s capital markets.

• SWAFAT-FI: Single Window Automatic & Generalised Access for Trusted Foreign Investors framework was approved to streamline access for eligible Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) and FVCIs.
  • Eligibility: Sovereign investors and regulated Public Retail Funds (e.g., mutual funds, pension funds).
• India Market Access Portal: SEBI launched the portal as a digital single-window for seamless FPI registration, compliance, and market entry approvals.
• Asset Reclassification: REITs reclassified as “equity” and InvITs retained as “hybrid” under SEBI norms, enabling mutual funds to invest in real estate and infrastructure assets.
• Reduced MPO: Firms with ₹1–5 lakh crore market cap are now allowed a 2.75% minimum public offer in IPOs, reduced from 5%, to enable quicker listings and easier fundraising.
• New AIF Category: SEBI approved a new category of Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) schemes exclusively for accredited investors, with lighter compliance and greater regulatory flexibility.
• Reduced Exit Load: The maximum permissible mutual fund exit load (redemption fee) has been reduced from 5% to 3%, to strengthen investor protection and increase redemption flexibility.

{GS3 – Agri – Crops} Regulation of Opium Cultivation

• Context (PIB): The Union Government announced the 2025-26 Opium Cultivation Licensing Policy, which will include new cultivators, marking a 23.5% rise in licences over the previous year.

About Opium

• Opium poppy is a licensed narcotic crop cultivated for extracting opium gum, which contains key alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and thebaine.
• These alkaloids are vital for pain management, cancer treatment, cough syrups, and spasm relief.
• India is the only country in the world permitted under the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs to cultivate and produce gum opium.

Opium Cultivation in India

• Opium cultivation in India is regulated under the NDPS Act, 1985, under the Ministry of Finance, and supervised by the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), Gwalior.
  • Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985: It is the principal law regulating narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and related penalties in India.
• Cultivation Zones: Legal opium cultivation confined to notified tracts in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Processing Infrastructure: Government Opium & Alkaloid Factories at Ghazipur (UP) and Neemuch (MP, WHO-GMP certified in 2025).

{GS3 – Envi – RE} India Launches First National Policy on Geothermal Energy *

• Context (TH): The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) unveiled India’s first national policy on geothermal energy to diversify India’s renewable energy basket.

Key Features of the Policy

• 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) is permitted in geothermal projects.
• Fiscal incentives include tax holidays, import duty exemptions, concessional loans, & viability gap funding.
• Project support is provided for up to 30 years, extendable based on resource availability.
• The policy encourages joint ventures with oil, gas, and mineral companies for resource utilisation.
• It promotes repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal use and deploying ground source heat pumps for heating and cooling.

Significance for India

• Geothermal power emits about 99% less carbon dioxide than fossil fuel-based power.
• Global capacity stood at 15.4 GW (2024), led by the US, Indonesia, and the Philippines; India seeks a share in this expanding market.
• Supports India’s commitment to net-zero by 2070 and reduces over-reliance on solar and wind.
• Provides stable power for industries, urban centres, & even emerging sectors like AI-driven data centres.

Challenges Ahead

• High Initial Costs: Deep drilling and exploration remain capital-intensive.
• Resource Risks: Uncertainty in geothermal reservoirs until exploration is complete.
• Policy Execution: Effective coordination among MNRE, state govt., & private investors will be essential.
• coordination between MNRE, state governments, & private investors will be crucial.

Way Forward

• Pilot projects in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Gujarat to demonstrate feasibility.
• Integration with district heating and industrial cooling systems for faster adoption.
• International partnerships with Big Tech and renewable majors to scale investment.

Read More > Clean Energy Transition in India

{GS3 – Envi – Species} Chlamydia Vaccine for Koalas *

• Context (TH): Australia has approved the world’s first single-dose vaccine to protect koalas from chlamydia, which lowers mortality in wild populations by 65%.

About Chlamydia

• Chlamydia is a contagious bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in humans and by Chlamydia pecorum in animals like koalas.
• Transmission: Through sexual contact in humans; in animals, passes through direct contact and from mother to offspring via feeding.
• Symptoms: Urinary tract diseases, eye issues, infertility, and even blindness in both humans and animals.
• Treatment Challenge: In koalas, antibiotics for chlamydia disrupt gut bacteria crucial for eucalyptus digestion, leading to starvation and death.

About Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

• Koalas are arboreal (tree-dwelling) marsupials native to Australia and are closely related to wombats.
• Diet: Feeds mainly on eucalyptus leaves, which are low in nutrients and toxic, but their specialised gut bacteria help them neutralise toxins.
• Adaptations: Possesses two opposable thumbs and sharp claws for climbing and sleeps up to 20 hours daily due to their low-energy diet.
• Habitat Range: Forests of eastern and southeastern Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory.

Credit: IUCN

• Threats: Habitat destruction, wildfires, climate change, road accidents, and widespread chlamydia infections (affecting up to 70% in some koala groups).
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable

{GS3 – Envi – Degradation} Ebony Forests Collapse Due to Ivory Poaching *

• Context (DTE): A recent study confirmed ivory poaching drove an 86% elephant decline in Cameroon, reducing ebony regeneration by 68% through lost seed dispersal.

Role of Elephants in Forest Ecology

• Megafaunal Dispersal: Elephants carry large seeds far from parent trees, enabling colonisation and regeneration across tropical forests.
• Habitat Shapers: Their trampling and grazing create canopy gaps that allow light-demanding tree species to regenerate effectively.
• Digestive Aid: The digestive process removes fruit pulp, enhancing seed survival against pathogens and pests. Dung-dispersed seeds germinate at nearly three times the rate of intact seeds.
• Genetic Bridges: Elephants connect fragmented tree populations through seed movement, which preserves genetic diversity and long-term forest resilience.
• Seed Shielding: Dung-coated seeds sharply reduce predation risk from rodents and ground foragers, making them 8.5 times less likely to be eaten.

{Prelims – Envi – Degradation} Grey Rhino Events *

• Context (DTE): A recently published report, ‘The Sliding Earth, Scattered Lives’, identified Wayanad’s landslide in 2024 as a “grey rhino” disaster, reflecting ignored ecological warnings.

• A ‘grey rhino event’ is a highly probable, high-impact crisis that is clearly foreseen yet deliberately ignored by policymakers.
  • E.g., 2008 Global Financial Crisis, 2023 sinking of Joshimath, 2018 Kerala floods, etc.
• This term distinguishes predictable disasters from ‘black swan’ events, which are exceptionally rare and unpredictable with severe impact.
  • E.g., 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, COVID-19 pandemic, 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 etc.

{Prelims – Bio – Diseases} Chagas Disease

• Context (TH): A study published in the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal warned that Chagas disease may now be endemic in the United States.

• Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is an infectious inflammatory disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.
• Global Spread: Endemic in 21 Latin American countries, affecting over 7 million people worldwide.
• WHO Classification: It has been classified as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) since 2005.
• Symptoms: The acute phase shows mild or no symptoms, while the chronic phase causes severe cardiac, digestive, or neurological issues.
• Transmission: Mainly through triatomine (‘kissing bugs’ or ‘vampire bugs’) faeces left by the insects near biting wounds.
  • It also spreads via contaminated food, mother-to-child transmission, or organ transplantation.
• Treatment & Prevention: Antiparasitic drugs like benznidazole and nifurtimox are most effective when used early; vector control, blood screening, and awareness campaigns help reduce transmission.

{Prelims} One Liners

• Military Exercises – Pacific Reach (PIB): INS Nistar made its maiden port call at Changi, Singapore, for Exercise Pacific Reach 2025, hosted by Singapore with participation from over 40 nations.
• In News – Combined Commanders’ Conference (PIB): The 16^th Combined Commanders’ Conference, the Armed Forces’ biennial apex-level forum, was inaugurated in Kolkata. Theme: ‘Year of Reforms – Transformation for the Future’.
• In News – Rabi Abhiyan 2025 (PIB): National Agriculture Conference ‘Rabi Abhiyan 2025’ was organised by the Agriculture Ministry in New Delhi, with the theme of ‘One Nation-One Agriculture-One Team’.