✅ Top UPSC Current Affairs – 20 May 2025 | GeM, Kandha Tribe, Yala Glacier & More

Indian Polity 

  🏛️ Presidential Reference under Article 143

Source:TH

📰 Why is it in News?

1. The President of India has used Article 143 to ask the Supreme Court (SC) for legal advice on 14 big constitutional questions.

2. This came after a Supreme Court judgment in State of Tamil Nadu v The Governor (2023) that gave deadlines to Governors and President for passing state bills, using Article 142.

3. The questions are mostly about Articles 200 and 201, related to how Governors handle Bills from the state legislature.

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🧾 What is Article 143?

1. Advisory Power of President

• Article 143 gives the President the right to ask the Supreme Court for legal advice on important legal or constitutional matters.

• This is called "Advisory Jurisdiction".

2. Types of Questions Asked

• Article 143(1): For any legal or factual question of public importance, the SC may give advice or refuse.

  • 🧠 Example: In 1993, the SC refused to give opinion on the Ram Janmabhoomi case.

• Article 143(2): Related to pre-Constitution treaties, the SC must give advice.

3. Is It Binding?

• The SC’s advice under Article 143 is not binding on the President.

• But it helps the Government to understand the law in a better and legal way.

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📌 What is the Background of This Provision?

4. Historical Origin

• This concept comes from the Government of India Act, 1935, where the Governor-General could ask for advice.

• Similar system exists in Canada, but not in the USA (their SC doesn’t give such advisory opinions due to strict separation of powers).

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🔎 Key Facts About Current Presidential Reference

5. Who Referred?

• The President, on advice of the Union Council of Ministers, referred the issue to the Supreme Court.

6. Who Will Hear the Case?

• Under Article 145(3), a Constitution Bench (at least 5 judges) will hear it.

7. What's the Issue?

• Whether the SC can force President and Governors to act within a time limit on State Bills, when Constitution itself is silent on such deadlines (see Articles 200 & 201).

• Also, is SC's power under Article 142 (complete justice) going too far?

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⚖️ Some Past Presidential References (Important for Prelims)

8. Previous Important Cases

• Delhi Laws Act (1951) – Defined delegated legislation.

• Kerala Education Bill (1958) – Balanced Fundamental Rights & Directive Principles.

• Berubari Case (1960) – Said land transfer needs Constitutional Amendment.

• Keshav Singh Case (1965) – Defined legislative privilege.

• Presidential Poll Case (1974) – Elections can happen even with vacant assemblies.

• Third Judges Case (1998) – Formed the Collegium System for judge appointments.

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💡 Why Article 143 Matters?

9. Clarifies Constitutional Roles

• Can help explain the real power and role of the President and Governors.

10. Balance Between Judiciary & Executive

• Can reduce tension between courts and government.

• Helps maintain the balance of powers – like a peacekeeper in our democracy.

11. Promotes Smooth Centre-State Relations

• Can give legal clarity and help maintain cooperative federalism.

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⚠️ Challenges of Presidential Reference System

12. Not Legally Binding

• SC’s advice under Article 143 is just an opinion, not a final judgment.

13. Political Misuse Risk

• Sometimes, government may misuse this to validate controversial decisions, which can drag judiciary into politics.

14. No Clear Rules for What is ‘Important’

• Constitution doesn't say what exactly is a "public importance" matter, so government can refer anything, even not-so-important.

15. No Deadline for SC

• Constitution doesn’t give time limit for SC to respond, so it can cause delays, even in urgent cases.

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🧠 Bonus Knowledge for Smart Students

16. Can Article 143 Be Used to Reverse a SC Judgement?

• No, according to the 1991 Cauvery Water case, it cannot be used to reverse or review a final SC verdict.

• But govt can still use a review or curative petition (like appeal).

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🧾 Conclusion (in Human Style)

Under Article 143, this Presidential Reference is a significant constitutional event. It’s not about politics only, but about the Constitution itself—how power should be used, who should act when, and how to keep the system running smooth.

Governance

Gendered Malnutrition in India

Source:TH

📌 For UPSC Prelims: POSHAN Abhiyaan, NFHS, Anaemia, ICDS
📌 For UPSC Mains: Women & Child Nutrition, Gender Inequality in Health

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📰 Why in News?

Even though India is running the world's largest free foodgrain programme (covering around 800 million people), still malnutrition and hunger are big issues — especially among women and girls.

India launched big schemes like POSHAN Abhiyaan, but nutritional gaps between men and women are still there, and that too very clear.

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🚺 What is Gendered Malnutrition?

Malnutrition that affects women and girls more due to social, economic, and cultural reasons.

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🔍 Main Causes of Gendered Malnutrition in India

1. More Anaemia & Underweight in Women

• As per NFHS-5, 57% of women (15–49 yrs) are anaemic 😔
  But in men, only 26% are anaemic.

• 1 in every 5 women in India is underweight.

• Women go through menstruation, pregnancy, lactation — their bodies need more nutrients. If they don’t get it, they become weak and their babies also suffer.

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2. Less Education Means Less Awareness

• Female literacy rate (Census 2011): only 64.6%
  While male literacy: 80.9%

• If a woman is not educated, she may not know what kind of food is nutritious, or when to take supplements, or why iron tablets are important.

• Also, they may not understand how to access health services or government schemes.

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3. Unfair Food Distribution at Home

• In many poor families, women and girls eat last — after feeding the men.

• Sometimes, quantity and quality of food is not equal.

• This is not just a nutrition issue, it’s a social injustice. 😠
  Even if there is food, it’s not divided fairly.

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4. Lack of Financial Freedom

• Around 49% of Indian women don't have control over their own money.

• If a woman can't decide what to buy, she may not choose healthy food.

• They are also stuck in low-paid, insecure jobs — earning 53% less than men!

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5. Policy & Scheme Problems

• India is spending a lot — ₹24,000 crore in 2022-23 for nutrition schemes.

• But only 69% funds used by Dec 2022. 😞

• POSHAN Abhiyaan has raised awareness, but actual problems like anaemia and underweight are still there.

• Also, POSHAN 2.0 is not linked properly with women empowerment schemes like skill training or job schemes.

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🏥 What is POSHAN Abhiyaan?

Launched: 2018
Aim: To improve nutrition in:

• Children (0–6 years)

• Adolescent girls

• Pregnant women

• Lactating mothers

🎯 Targets per year:

• Reduce stunting by 2%

• Reduce under-nutrition by 2%

• Reduce anaemia by 3%

• Reduce low birth weight by 2%

🔑 Main Features (Pillars):

1. Access to Services through ICDS, NHM, and PMMVY.

2. Cross-Ministry Coordination – link water, sanitation, health, etc.

3. Technology Use – POSHAN Tracker app for real-time monitoring.

4. Jan Andolan – Public movement to spread awareness.

5. Poshan Vatikas – Nutri-Gardens to promote local nutrition.

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🔄 POSHAN 2.0 (From 2021)

It combines:

• Anganwadi Services

• Supplementary Nutrition Programme

• Scheme for Adolescent Girls

• National Crèche Scheme

• POSHAN Abhiyaan itself

✅ Now part of:

Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0

💰 Funding Type:

Centrally Sponsored Scheme

• 60:40 split between Centre and States

📈 Reach (as per recent data):

• 8.9 crore children (0-6 yrs)

• 69.42 lakh pregnant women

• 42.54 lakh lactating mothers

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✅ What Can Be Done? (Suggested Solutions)

1. Give Women Financial Power

• As per Esther Duflo’s research, when women control money, they spend more on nutrition and children’s welfare.

• Even though female workforce participation increased to 47.6% in 2023-24, most women are in unsafe, badly-paid jobs.

• Women must be trained in skills, money handling, and how to get loans.

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2. Link Nutrition to Jobs

• POSHAN 2.0 should be connected with employment schemes like:

  • Skill India

  • PM Mudra Yojana

  • Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana

• Health workers should help women get into schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana, Stand Up India, etc.

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3. Use Anganwadi Centres Smartly

• Make Anganwadi centres like multi-purpose centres — give nutrition, health advice, and also:

  • Teach skills

  • Teach financial planning

  • Help women access govt schemes

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4. Measure Properly

• Govt must set clear goals:

  • Reduce anaemia

  • Increase women’s income

  • Improve decision-making power of women

• There should be transparent audits of how money is used.

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5. Break Old Social Beliefs

• Start community campaigns to tell people that:

  • Women need more food during pregnancy

  • Girls should not eat last

  • Health of women = Health of future generation

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✍️ Conclusion:

We can’t solve malnutrition just by giving food. Women also need education, job, money, and respect at home.

If a woman is strong, her whole family will be healthier. India needs to fix not only the stomach but also the mindset — otherwise, POSHAN Abhiyaan will stay just on paper.

Social Issue

🌾 Global Report on Food Crises 2025 – Simplified for UPSC Aspirants

Source:DTE

🌍 Why in News?

1. The Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2025 says that 295 million people in 53 countries faced acute hunger in 2024.

2. This is 13.7 million more people than in 2023. 😟

3. This hunger crisis is getting worse due to conflicts, climate change, economic issues, and displacement of people.

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🧾 What is Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC)?

1. The GRFC is published every year by:

   • Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC)

   • In collaboration with Food Security Information Network (FSIN)

2. It gives details about:

   • Acute food insecurity (sudden lack of food affecting lives and jobs)

   • Malnutrition in children (especially between 6–59 months age)

3. It helps governments and agencies know where help is needed most.

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🔍 What is Acute Food Insecurity?

1. Happens when people suddenly can't get enough food to stay healthy or earn a living.

2. Reasons can be:

   • War or violence

   • Climate disasters (like floods or droughts)

   • Loss of job or income

   • Poor healthcare

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💣 Main Reasons Behind Food Insecurity (GRFC 2025 Findings)

1. 🪖 Conflict & Displacement

1. Conflict is the biggest reason for food crisis in 20 countries.

2. It affected around 140 million people.

3. Worst hit countries: Nigeria, Sudan, Myanmar

4. In places like Gaza and Sudan, acute malnutrition in children increased a lot.

💥 Conflict destroys farming, blocks markets, and forces people to leave homes.

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2. 🌧️ Climate Change & Natural Disasters

1. El Nino, floods, heatwaves damaged crops and reduced food.

2. This caused food problems in 18 countries, affecting 96 million people.

3. Around 95 million people are now displaced — 75% of them within their own country.

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3. 💸 Economic Shocks

1. Economic crisis made food unaffordable in 15 countries, including South Sudan.

2. 59.4 million people suffered due to:

   • Job losses

   • Low income

   • High food prices

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4. 🚫 Funding Cuts

1. In 2025, USAID stopped funding for humanitarian food programs.

2. This hit poor countries like Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Haiti etc.

3. Because of this, 14 million children are now at risk of severe malnutrition or death.

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5. 🏚️ Weak Governance

1. Fragile governments can't manage health, economy, and food systems.

2. Poor data and weak monitoring make things worse.

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🔎 Socio-Economic Effects of Food Crises

1. 🧺 Poverty Gets Worse

• Farmers suffer the most.

• Food price increase leads to inflation.

• Poor families can’t afford healthy food anymore.

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2. 🧒 Human Capital Loss

• Over 735 million people are chronically undernourished.

• Nearly 45% of deaths in children under 5 are due to malnutrition.

• Pregnant women and kids are most affected.

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3. 😠 Social Instability

• Hunger causes anger and protests.

• People start migrating to survive.

• UNHCR reports 23.5 million climate-displaced people due to food crisis.

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4. 🚺 Gender Inequality

• Women and girls are 60% of the world's hungry population.

• Women eat less during food shortages.

• They also have less access to help, land, or money.

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5. 🎒 Drop in Education

• Many children drop out of school due to hunger or to work.

• Number of out-of-school children increased by 6 million after 2021.

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✅ What Can Be Done to Solve Food Crisis?

1. 🛰️ Early Warning System

• Use data to predict hunger problems early.

• Like in Somalia, early action in 2022-23 helped avoid a famine.

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2. 🌱 Build Food Security Systems

• Collect agriculture & livelihood data to know which areas need help.

• Use this data to send right kind of food and aid on time.

• Increase agricultural emergency funding, which is now only 3% of food aid!

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3. 🌾 Climate-Resilient Farming

• Adopt climate-smart farming to face floods, droughts, etc.

• Build safe food supply chains even during conflicts.

• Support farmers and local markets.

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4. 🚜 Agrifood System Reform

• Invest in local farming.

• Encourage diet diversity, fortify food (add nutrients).

• Set up nutrition centers for kids and mothers.

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🧠 Conclusion

• The 2025 GRFC Report shows that hunger crisis is growing faster due to war, climate change, and economic shocks.

• With 295 million people hungry, and aid cuts worsening the issue…

• It's time for urgent global action:

  • Make farming climate-friendly

  • Boost nutrition programs

  • Support poor countries with funds and aid

Hunger is not just lack of food… it’s a failure of system, economy, and empathy. 🌾🌎💔

🛍️ GeM’s 8th Incorporation Day (Govt e-Marketplace)

Source:-PIB

Why in News?
GeM (Government e-Marketplace) completed 8 years since it was registered on 17th May 2017. It showed how digital tools are helping India grow fairly and transparently.

🌐 What is GeM?

1. Meaning: It's a website/platform where government departments and PSUs buy goods and services online.

2. Launched on: 9th August 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

3. Objective: To make government buying simple, transparent, and corruption-free.

4. Cost-Saving: World Bank said GeM saved around 10% money in government purchases.

5. Fee-Free Transactions: Around 97% deals happen without fees.

6. User Base: Central, State govts, PSUs, and many departments use it now.

7. Product Range: Offers 10,000+ goods, 330+ services. Includes e-bidding, reverse auction, and bulk buying.

8. Finance Rule: As per General Financial Rules 2017, govts must use GeM for purchases.

9. Ownership: GeM is fully owned by the government. It's a non-profit company under Ministry of Commerce.

10. Inclusivity: Helps MSEs, startups, women entrepreneurs, artisans & weavers grow.

    • 10+ lakh MSEs

    • 1.84 lakh women entrepreneurs

    • 1.3 lakh artisans & weavers

    • 31,000+ startups

11. Wider Reach: Now active in all 36 States/UTs.

    • UP leads the way.

    • 8 states (like Maharashtra, Assam) made it compulsory.

12. New Tech: Emerging Technology: GeM introduced GeMAI, the first AI chatbot for government platforms in India.

    • Understands 10 Indian languages

    • Supports voice + text, makes support easier for users.

🗣️ So basically, GeM is like Amazon for Govt – but with purpose of honesty, saving money, and supporting small Indian sellers.

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⚖️ SC Strikes Down Ex-Post Facto Environmental Clearances

Source:IE

Why in News?
Supreme Court (SC) said it's illegal to start a project without environmental clearance and later apply for permission.

🚫 What Happened?

1. Ex-post facto ECs mean taking permission after a project has started. SC says this is not legal.

2. The Environment Ministry's 2021 Memorandum and 2017 Notification that permitted this were revoked by the SC.

3. Violates Constitution:

   • Article 21 – Right to life 

   • Article 14 – Equality before law.

4. Big Loophole: Projects were started knowingly without clearance.

5. Allowed Past Projects: SC said projects already given clearance won’t be affected to avoid chaos.

6. Past Judgments Cited:

   • Common Cause v. Union of India (2017)

   • Alembic Pharmaceuticals v. Rohit Prajapati (2020)

7. Violation of EIA Rules: Clearance must be taken before starting, as per EIA Notification 2006.

8. Nature Comes First: SC said development is good, but not at the cost of nature.

9. Article 51A(g): Reminded that citizens and govts have duty to protect environment.

🌱 In short, SC said “no shortcuts” in environment protection. Start a project only after checking its environmental impact.

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🕊️ India’s Commitment to UN Peacekeeping

Source:TH

Why in News?
At the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meet 2025 in Berlin, India made big promises to strengthen peacekeeping globally.

🇮🇳 India's Contributions

1. India promised to send:

   • A Quick Reaction Force (QRF)

   • A male armed police unit (likely CRPF)

   • A women-led police unit

2. Current Ranking: India is the 4th largest contributor to UN peacekeeping troops.

   • Has sent 5,375 personnel

   • Ahead are Nepal, Rwanda, and Bangladesh

3. Highest Sacrifices: Of all the nations, 180 Indian peacekeepers lost their lives in combat.

4. First All-Female Unit: India sent it to Liberia in 2007. A proud moment!

🌐 About UN Peacekeeping

5. First Mission: UNTSO (1948) in the Middle East to monitor Israel-Arab conflict.

6. Why Called Blue Helmets? – Because of the blue colour on their caps, matching the UN flag for peace.

7. Current Status: Over 61,000 troops, 7,000 civilians, from 119 countries, are part of 11 missions today.

✌️ India is serious about peace. We not only send troops but also show leadership in global peace missions.

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👩‍🦱 Kandha Tribe of Odisha – Fading Tattoo Culture

Source:TH

Why in News?

The facial tattoo culture of Kandha women in Odisha is slowly disappearing – it tells stories of struggle, pain, and identity.

🧬 What’s the Tattoo Story?

1. From age 10, girls used to get tattoos in geometric designs on their face.

2. Not fashion – It was protection from exploitation by landlords and Britishers.

3. Today, many young girls avoid this painful practice, but respect the tradition.

👣 About Kandha Tribe

4. They are the largest tribe in Odisha – 17.13% of state’s tribal population.

5. Speak Kui or Kuvi – Dravidian languages. Call themselves ‘Kui loku’ or ‘Kuinga’.

6. Nuclear families are common – unlike joint families.

7. Location: Mostly in Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Kalahandi.

8. Two groups are PVTGs:

   • Dongria Kandha – Renowned for opposing mining in the Niyamgiri Hills is Dongria Kandha.

   • Kutia Kandha –residents reside in homes with less floors than the street.

9. There are 75 PVTGs in India. Of all the states, Odisha has the most—13.

👣 Even though tattoos are becoming less common, the Kandha tribe's pride and culture endure. 

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❄️ Nepal's Yala Glacier Declared "Dead"

Source:DTE

Why in News?

Yala Glacier in Nepal has been officially declared dead. The Himalayas are a stark reminder of climate change.

❄️ What is a Dead Glacier?

1. A glacier is called “dead” when it no longer moves or flows.

2. Yala Glacier has shrunk 66% since the 1970s!

3. Experts say it might vanish by 2040 completely.

4. It received the first climate memorial plaque in Asia, which was written in Tibetan, Nepali, and English.

📍 About Yala Glacier & HKH Region

5. Located in Langtang Valley, Nepal, part of the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH).

6. This is part of Nepal’s Sagarmatha Sambad 2025 and UN Glaciers Preservation Year.

🌊 Global Glaciers – Alarming Facts

7. Glaciers are found mostly in:

   • Antarctica (91%)

   • Greenland (8%)

8. Glaciers lost 6,542 billion tons of ice between 2000 and 2023..

   • Caused 18 mm sea level rise 🌊

   • Increased the risk of floods by 2–3 lakh persons for every mm of elevation.

9. Glacier melt is 2nd biggest reason for sea-level rise after ocean warming.

 🌍 Glaciers represent life, not just ice.. If they melt, millions are at risk.