Letters to The Editor — July 22, 2025
The monsoon session of Parliament shows signs of it being a stormy affair, with the Opposition prepared to raise pressing issues related to national security, electoral transparency and foreign affairs. The list of concerns is long and serious. Matters affecting the dignity of our armed forces, questions of sovereignty, and continuing instability in border States demand clarity from the highest office. Avoiding direct engagement only fuels speculation and public distrust.
However, responsibility does not rest solely with the ruling party. The Opposition must ensure that discussions remain focused, informed and respectful. National interest must prevail over political point-scoring. The days ahead will be watched to see whether this session moves forward or sinks into yet another cycle of unproductive confrontation.
Rukma Sharma,
Jalandhar, Punjab
Justice Varma should speak
Right from the time stacks of money were unearthed from the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma, mystery shrouds the case. The unusual confidence exhibited by Justice Varma, stoutly challenging his indictment and now seeking to quash the impeachment recommendation, has baffled the public. Is there more to it than meets the eye? Was the money kept at the judge's residence for safe keeping? If Justice Varma is innocent, he should make an indisputable statement about who the real owner is. At stake is the credibility and the sanctity of the judiciary.
Tharcius S. Fernando,
Chennai
V.S. Achuthanandan
V.S. Achuthanandan was a true Marxist idealogue and lived as a proletariat leader till the end. He was one of the rarest leaders to have struggled for the downtrodden. With his clean image, his political life was written in golden letters. His passing has created a void in the political spectrum of great leaders.
J. Radhakrishna Kurup,
Ettumanoor, Kottayam, Kerala
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Indian Express
41 minutes ago
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UPSC Key: Impeachment of High court Judge, International Court of Justice and Paika Rebellion
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for July 24, 2025. If you missed the July 23, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE Justice Varma's removal: Process to begin, Speaker to name probe panel Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. What's the ongoing story: The process of removal of Justice Yashwant Varma will be set in motion in the Lok Sabha soon with Speaker Om Birla expected to soon announce the constitution of a statutory committee to investigate the grounds on which the removal of the judge is sought, The Indian Express has learned. Key Points to Ponder: • Who is Justice Yashwant Varma? • How a Sitting Judge Can Be Removed From Office • What is the Procedure for Removal of a Judge in India? • What is Impeachment? • What are the constitutional provisions and procedures governing the impeachment of High court judges? • The process of impeachment of a judge of the Supreme Court is laid down in Article 124(4) of the Constitution of India-True or false? • What Article 218 of the Constitution of India says? • What are the Grounds of Impeachment? • What role do parliamentary Houses and presiding officers play in the impeachment of High court judges? Key Takeaways: • Birla and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh met Wednesday with Secretaries General of both the Houses and the officials discussed the modalities to finalise the procedure. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also joined the meeting later. • The discussions took place on a day the Supreme Court said it will set up a bench to hear Justice Varma's plea challenging the legal validity of the in-house inquiry committee which confirmed charges of recovery of unaccounted cash from his official residence in Delhi. • This comes in the shadow of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's surprise resignation Monday evening and, as The Indian Express reported Tuesday, hours after his decision to accept the Opposition's notice on Justice Varma had rubbed the government the wrong way. • This had created 'confusion,' government sources said, because Birla had received a similar notice from Lok Sabha MPs with 145 signatures around 12.30 pm Monday, hours before Dhankhar made the reference to the Opposition notice in the Rajya Sabha. Do You Know: • Former Lok Sabha Secretary PDT Achary said that when the Speaker received the notice from Lok Sabha MPs, the process of removal was set in motion. 'The Speaker has to admit it. Then the Speaker will appoint a statutory committee, the Speaker does not have to bring it before the House. Because the House has no role at that stage,' Achary said. • Sources said the statutory committee – with one judge of the Supreme Court, one from the High Courts, and a distinguished jurist – will be announced soon. The committee will probe the charges against Justice Varma and submit a report to the Lok Sabha Speaker. If the committee finds him guilty, a motion will be taken up in the Lok Sabha and it will be discussed in detail. The motion will be put to vote and it requires a two-third majority to be passed. Once the process is over the same, will be repeated in the Rajya Sabha. • Justice Varma challenged the conclusions of the report by the three-member in-house judicial panel. The three-judge panel, headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, conducted the inquiry for 10 days, examined 55 witnesses and visited the scene of the fire that started at around 11.35 pm on March 14 at the official residence of Justice Varma, then a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court and now in the Allahabad High Court. • Acting on the report, then CJI Khanna wrote to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi recommending the judge's impeachment. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Impeachment of judges After 5-yr gap, India resumes tourist visas for Chinese; border meeting held too Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighbourhood- relations. What's the ongoing story: India and China on Wednesday reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and prepared the ground for the next round of Special Representatives' talks to be held in India later this year. Key Points to Ponder: • The 34th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs in New Delhi-What are the key takeaways? • Why resuming tourist visas to China in context of India-China bilateral relations is important? • What are the risks and opportunities of increased Chinese tourist flow to India amid ongoing strategic rivalry? • What is the importance of Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra? • 'The India-China border dispute remains a major challenge in bilateral relations'-Discuss • What is Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs)? • How Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) can be effective in India-China relations? • Discuss the cultural, economic, and strategic implications of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and Nathula border trade • Evaluate the progress of India and China diplomatic ties. Key Takeaways: • In a related development, as part of the ongoing efforts to repair bilateral ties, India said it would resume issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals from Thursday, after a gap of five years. This comes almost a month after resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra on June 30. • The two sides reviewed the situation at the 34th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs in New Delhi, four months after the last such meeting was held in Beijing. • 'The two sides reviewed the situation in the India-China border areas. They expressed satisfaction with the general prevalence of peace and tranquility in the border areas, leading to gradual normalisation of bilateral relations,' the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, adding that India and China agreed to maintain regular exchanges and contacts on boundary affairs at the diplomatic and military levels through established mechanisms. • The Indian delegation was led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia), and the Chinese delegation was led by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it said. • The two sides prepared for the next round of Special Representatives' talks to be held in India later this year, between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Do You Know: • The latest move is part of a series of confidence-building measures that the two countries have been taking in recent months. Besides resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the two sides have also said that direct flights will restart soon. The de-escalation of troops on the LAC remains on the agenda. • India had suspended issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals in 2020, in the wake of the Covid pandemic, but the restrictions continued in view of the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh that began in May 2020. • The developments come just over a week after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to China for the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) meet earlier this month. In the meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Jaishankar had said that while India and China had made good progress in the past nine months towards the normalisation of bilateral relations, they should work to address de-escalation on the border. • Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 23 last year, days after a border patrolling arrangement was announced on October 21, leading to disengagement on the ground. An estimated 50,000-60,000 troops are still stationed at the border. Since then, Doval has travelled to China twice; Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Misri have also gone there for meetings. • The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which began on June 30 and will continue till the end of August, was on top of India's wishlist since the talks to normalise ties began last year. The two sides have also said that they will resume direct flights soon. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Jaishankar's visit to China reflects a thaw in ties — there will be challenges THE IDEAS PAGE The critical minerals contest Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: General Studies III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. What's the ongoing story: Amitabh Kant and Adil Rana Chhina Writes: India cannot afford to anchor its tech aspirations on supply chains that remain opaque, concentrated and subject to political risk. Key Points to Ponder: • What are critical minerals? • Why critical minerals are significant for India's economic and strategic security? • What is India's position on critical minerals? • Where are these critical mineral blocks, and what rights are being auctioned? • What are the other clearances that will be required before operations begin? • What are the estimated reserves of key critical minerals in these blocks? • How does India currently get its supplies of these minerals? • Know the objectives and key features of the newly approved National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM). • What are the role of critical minerals in India's transition to renewable energy, electric mobility, and high-tech manufacturing? • How the global supply chain dynamics of critical minerals works? • How does the Critical Minerals Mission align with India's broader industrial policies such as 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'? Key Takeaways: Amitabh Kant and Adil Rana Chhina Writes: • Critical minerals are emerging as the defining geoeconomics axis of the 21st century. These are no longer peripheral to industrial development but lie at the heart of advanced manufacturing, clean energy systems, strategic technologies and national security. • Energy transition, digitalisation and the pursuit of supply chain resilience are rapidly amplifying the demand for minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and rare earth elements. Their availability and accessibility will determine the pace and quality of growth for all major economies. • Unlike fossil fuels, critical minerals are characterised by high geographical concentration, limited transparency and complex value chains. China dominates the midstream processing stage for most key minerals, accounting for over 90 per cent of rare earth refining, 70 per cent of cobalt processing and close to 60 per cent of lithium conversion capacity. • In 2022, the Ministry of Mines identified 30 critical minerals based on their strategic importance to clean energy and future technologies, high import dependence, domestic resource constraints and relevance for agricultural and industrial needs. • In January, the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) was announced to secure critical mineral supply chains by ensuring mineral availability. Its success will rest on how effectively it translates intent into action. Do You Know: • Critical minerals are minerals that are essential for economic development and national security, and the lack of availability of these minerals or the concentration of extraction or processing in a few geographical locations could potentially lead to 'supply chain vulnerabilities and even disruption of supplies'. This is true for minerals such as lithium, graphite, cobalt, titanium, and rare earth elements, which are essential for the advancement of many sectors, including hightech electronics, telecommunications, transport, and defence. • One of the definitions cited in the report characterises a mineral as critical when the risk of supply shortage and associated impact on the economy is (relatively) higher than other raw materials. This definition of a critical mineral was first adopted in the US and the subsequent legislation that resulted from the analysis, the report said. The European Union also carried out a similar exercise and categorised critical minerals on the basis of two prerequisites: supply risk and economic importance. • Currently, India is 100 per cent import dependent for lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements and silicon. At the same time, India's domestic resource base for critical minerals is underdeveloped. • The Geological Survey of India has ramped up exploration, with 195 projects underway over the past year and another 227 approved for the upcoming year. In response to the inclusion of critical minerals in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, the government launched four tranches of auctions for critical mineral blocks last year, and a fifth was concluded in January 2025. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Centre identifies 30 critical minerals: Why, how, and importance of the exercise The silent epidemic Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. What's the ongoing story: Shalini Singh and Prashant Kumar Singh Writes: Nearly 20 per cent of Indian households now have all adult members classified as overweight, while 10 per cent have all adults classified as obese. India's obesity crisis is not a distant threat — it's a present reality Key Points to Ponder: • What is obesity? • How is obesity defined? • What causes obesity among children? • What are the reasons for the increase in obesity among Indians? • How obesity clusters within Indian households? • 'The dual burden of undernutrition and overnutrition in India'-What you understand by the statement? • Establish the linkages between obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in India's public health context. Key Takeaways: • Recent national data paint a disturbing picture of India's nutritional transition. Nearly 20 per cent of Indian households now have all adult members classified as overweight, while 10 per cent have all adults classified as obese. This suggests shared environmental and behavioural factors. In states like Tamil Nadu and Punjab, two out of every five households have all adults classified as obese. • Urban areas show clustering rates which are double those of rural areas, conveying a clear picture of how prosperity and urbanisation are transforming India's health landscape. • What makes this particularly concerning is its transgenerational nature. When obesity clusters within households, children grow up in environments that normalise unhealthy dietary patterns and sedentary lifestyles, creating cycles of risk that transcend generations. • The evidence linking obesity to cancer is overwhelming. The WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified excess body weight as a significant risk for cancer. • An IARC study, published in 2023, the largest of its kind, showed that having a high body mass index increases cancer risk by 17 per cent for people who also have cardiovascular diseases. The American Cancer Society estimates that excess body weight accounts for about 11 per cent of cancers in women and 5 per cent in men in the US. Do You Know: • The standard method of determining obesity across the world has thus far employed BMI cut-offs as the sole determinant. A person with a BMI of less than 18.5 is considered to be underweight, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered to be normal, those with BMI between 25 and 29.9 are considered to be overweight, while those with BMI over 30 are considered to be obese. • India's situation is particularly precarious because we face this obesity epidemic alongside existing healthcare challenges. The economic implications for patients are staggering, too. Cancer treatment can devastate families financially, and when obesity-related cancers strike multiple household members — as clustering patterns suggest they might — the economic burden can be catastrophic. Prevention, therefore, isn't just a health imperative; it's an economic necessity. • The household clustering of obesity presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Rather than treating obesity as an individual's problem, we must recognise it as a health problem that requires targeting the family as a unit for intervention. • The government's recent commitment to establishing Day Care Cancer Centres in all district hospitals over the next three years, with 200 centres planned for 2025-26, provides a crucial foundation. • Obesity prevention programmes should target entire households, teaching families to shop for healthier ingredients; prepare meals at home consisting of fresh vegetables, leafy greens, whole grains and fruits; and engage in physical activities as a unit. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍New definition for obesity? What a new Lancet commission has proposed to replace BMI THE WORLD The Hague: Countries obliged to take climate action, liable for compensation if they don't Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. What's the ongoing story: The ICJ ruling is not binding on the countries, but sets an important precedent for the thousands of climate lawsuits that have been filed in recent years across the world. Key Points to Ponder: • What exactly the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has ruled? • What are the legal significance of the ICJ's advisory opinion on climate obligations? • What is the concept of 'internationally wrongful act' in the context of climate change? • How declaring a healthy environment a human right could influence domestic climate litigation and policy-making? • How can the ICJ opinion reshape geopolitics of climate finance, liability, and responsibility in forums like COP30? • What is International Court of Justice? • Does the International Court of Justice have the power to prosecute Israel? • International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice-Compare and Contrast Key Takeaways: • In a landmark decision, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the main judicial arm of the United Nations, has ruled that countries were obligated under international law to take actions to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, and the failure to do so would constitute an 'internationally wrongful act'. • The court, based in The Hague, said countries which do not fulfil their climate obligations could be held liable to pay compensations to other countries, particularly the small island nations, which bear the brunt of climate disasters. Do You Know: • The ICJ ruling came in a case that arose out of a request from the UN General Assembly that sought its 'advisory opinion' on the obligations of countries on climate change under existing international laws, and the legal consequences of those obligations. • The court, in a unanimous ruling, said that countries that were party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 2015 Paris Agreement had an obligation to adopt measures that were aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and adapting to climate change. It said that the rich countries had an additional obligation to take the lead on climate actions. • The court examined the responsibilities of the countries under a wider set of environmental laws that have a bearing on the climate system. These include the UN Convention on the Laws of the Seas, the Montreal Protocol for protecting Ozone, the Convention on Biodiversity and the Convention to Combat Desertification. • The ICJ ruling is not binding on the countries, but sets an important precedent for the thousands of climate lawsuits that have been filed in recent years across the world, seeking accountability from governments and corporates. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍ICJ begins hearing on landmark climate change case: Why is this significant? ECONOMY Indian economy remains largely resilient despite global uncertainties: RBI article Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. What's the ongoing story: Amid geopolitical tensions and tariff policy uncertainties, the Indian economy has remained resilient, aided by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, according to an article in the Reserve Bank of India's July monthly bulletin. Key Points to Ponder: • What exactly 'State of the Economy' article in RBI's July bulletin said? • What the RBI article said about tariff risks? • What the RBI article said inflation? • What is the role of forex reserves in mitigating global trade uncertainties and external debt obligations? • The RBI's caution on 'underpricing of macroeconomic risks'-what does this imply for future policymaking? Key Takeaways: • 'Domestic economic activity held up in June, with high-frequency indicators pointing to improving prospects of the kharif agricultural season and continuation of strong momentum in the services sector,' according to the 'State of the Economy' article in RBI's July bulletin. • The article has been prepared by central bank officials. The RBI said views published in the article are of the authors and not of the institution. • It said that the growth in rural demand remained resilient and was accompanied by a recovery in urban economic activity. The all-India unemployment rate remained unchanged from the previous month at 5.6 per cent with rural areas faring better as compared to their urban counterparts. • During April-May 2025, total expenditure grew by 19.7 per cent on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, accounting for 14.7 per cent of the Budget Estimates for FY26. Capital expenditure recorded robust growth during the first two months of the current fiscal and was at 19.7 per cent of the budgeted capital expenditure vis-à-vis 12.9 per cent during the same period a year ago, indicative of front-loading of capital spending by the Central government. • India's merchandise trade deficit narrowed in June 2025, due to contraction in both oil and non-oil trade deficit. • De-escalating geo-political tensions in the Middle East, optimism on trade deals and the easing of norms for infrastructure financing by the Reserve Bank buoyed up domestic financial market sentiments in the second half of June, the article said. Do You Know: • Headline inflation, as measured by y-o-y changes in the all-India consumer price index (CPI), declined to 2.1 per cent in June 2025 — the lowest since January 2019 — from 2.8 per cent in May. The retail inflation remained below the 4 per cent target for the fifth consecutive month in June. • The article said that easing inflation, front-loading of government expenditure, targeted fiscal measures and congenial financial conditions for faster transmission of rate reductions should support aggregate demand in the economy, going forward. • On the trade front, the article stated that as intense negotiations are underway for closing trade deals before the new import tariff rates kick in from August 1, 2025, the focus is back on US trade policies and their spillover effects globally. • Financial markets, however, seem to have taken trade policy uncertainties in their stride, possibly reflecting optimism on reaching trade deals that are less disruptive to the global economy. Even so, underpricing of macroeconomic risk by financial markets remains a concern. • According to the article, the average trade tariff rates are set to touch levels unseen since the 1930s. Moreover, the risk of imposition of new high tariffs looms large for additional sectors. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍RBI repo rate cut transmission: Public sector banks ahead of private lenders in lowering rates EXPLAINED Vaccine hope in malaria fight Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. What's the ongoing story: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced a promising candidate vaccine for malaria, which it will now further develop, test and manufacture for commercial purposes in partnership with private companies. Key Points to Ponder: • Why is this development significant? • How does AdFalciVax work? • What are the advantages of AdFalciVax? • What conditions has ICMR set for private players? • How the dual-target mechanism (CSP + Pro6C) of AdFalciVax could enhance both individual protection and community-level transmission control. • Compare and contrast AdFalciVax with RTS,S and R21/Matrix-M in terms of antigen design, adjuvants, durability, and administration challenges. • What is the significance of targeting mosquito-stage transmission with Pro6C, vis-à-vis global malaria elimination strategies? Key Takeaways: • Known as AdFalciVax, the vaccine mainly targets two parts of Plasmodium falciparum, a pathogen that is the most common source of malaria in humans. In India, however, the disease is caused by Plasmodium vivax against which AdFalciVax is ineffective. • Unlike AdFalciVax, RTS,S and R21 only use the CSP protein, and can prevent infection only in vaccinated persons. • Unlike AdFalciVax, RTS,S and R21 vaccines also do not use full-length CSP proteins. This is why the ICMR's candidate vaccine is 'likely to produce a stronger immune response and better protect against infection,' according to Singh. • Researchers have found that AdFalciVax provided more than 90% protection against infection in mice. The candidate vaccine has yet to undergo rigorous human trials, and the preliminary results have been obtained only through testing on animals. • AdFalciVax also contains an adjuvant — a substance used in vaccines to boost the body's immune response against the targeted disease — called alum. Singh says the use of alum is beneficial as it does not pose a risk of causing chronic inflammation, unlike adjuvants such as AS01 and Matrix M, which are used in RTS,S and R21. Alum is also known to be reliable, and has been used in numerous vaccines used in childhood immunisation programs over the years. Do You Know: • Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes, typically causing symptoms such as fever, chills, night sweats, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. In some cases, it can lead to severe complications such as seizures, fluid in the lungs, organ damage, and death. • Malaria is most endemic in Africa — Nigeria, Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique, Niger, and Burkina Faso together account for more than half the yearly deaths. The disease is also present in India, although malaria deaths have sharply reduced in the country in recent years. According to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), reported malaria deaths stood at 1,151in 1995, and came down to only 93 in 2020 and 83 in 2022. • The organisation's 'World Malaria Report' says there were 5,511 deaths due to the disease in India in 2022. This discrepancy is due to WHO providing estimates and NVBDCP providing only the number of confirmed deaths, which may not have been officially reported. • To combat malaria, scientists have been working to develop a vaccine for decades but with limited success. Recently, two vaccines—RTS,S and R21—were approved for use, but their efficacy, at 75%, is quite low. • AdFalciVax is a chimeric recombinant vaccine — a type of vaccine that uses different parts of the genes of a pathogen (in this case, Plasmodium) to create target proteins that trigger an immune response after being injected. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍ICMR invites partners to launch and sell its new malaria vaccine Paikas and the uprising against British Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance and History of India and Indian National Movement Mains Examination: General Studies I: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues. What's the ongoing story: Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday (July 22) expressed concern over the 'omission' of the Paika Rebellion from the latest Class VIII history textbook of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), calling it a 'huge dishonour' to the brave Paikas. Key Points to Ponder: • Who were the Paikas? • Why did they rebel against the British? • How is the alleged omission of the rebellion from history textbooks a politically sensitive issue in Odisha? • Know the historical significance of the Paika Rebellion in Odisha's and India's broader struggle against colonialism. • What were the socioeconomic causes that led to mobilization of the Paikas in 1817? • Do you think that the inclusion of movements like Paika, Khurda, and Kuka in curriculum could foster critical historical thinking or regional fragmentation? Key Takeaways: • The NCERT has clarified that the 1817 rebellion will be included in the second volume of the textbook, set to be released in September-October. • Throughout the 19th century, rural India was alive with discontent that periodically manifested itself in the form of armed resistance against old inequities and new hardships alike. The latter was primarily the result of military expansion of the British East India Company, which disrupted existing social relations in peasant and tribal communities. • The Paika Rebellion, also known as the Paika Bidroha, was one such uprising. • The Paikas (pronounced 'paiko', literally 'foot soldiers') were a class of military retainers who had been recruited from various social groups by the Gajapati rulers of Odisha since the 16th century. They would render martial services to the king in return for hereditary rent-free land (nish-kar jagirs) which they would cultivate during peacetime. Do You Know: • In 1803, Colonel Harcourt marched virtually unchallenged from Madras to Puri, and faced only feeble Maratha opposition onward to Cuttack. Harcourt had made an agreement with Mukunda Deva II, for free passage through Khurda in return for compensation of Rs 1 lakh and four parganas — Lembai, Rahanga, Surai and Chabiskud — which had been under Maratha control since 1760. • When the Company did not fulfil these conditions, Jayee Rajguru, the custodian of the king marched to Cuttack with around 2,000 armed Paikas in order to pressurise the British. Although Harcourt paid a sum of Rs 40,000, he refused to give Khurda the four parganas. Rajguru subsequently conspired to overthrow the British, but was caught before the revolt could materialise. • The Company subsequently took away the king's lands, dethroned him, razed the fort at Barunei, and arrested Rajguru, who was convicted for waging war against the British government and executed on December 6, 1806. The king was banished to Puri. • The end of native rule in Odisha marked the beginning of the decline of the Paikas' power and prestige. Apart from losing political patronage, the Paikas, who previously enjoyed rent-free land, suffered due to new land revenue settlements introduced by the Company which drove Odia proprietors to ruin. Many were forced to transfer land to Bengali absentee landlords, often for a pittance. • In March 1817, some 400 Kondhs equipped with traditional arms marched from Ghumusar towards Khurda. They were joined by an army of Paikas led by Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mahapatra Bhramarabar Ray, the former commander-in-chief of the king of Khurda and the erstwhile holder of the lucrative Rodanga estate. • The Paikas and their rebellion have long been used to invoke Odia sub-nationalism. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: Who were the Paikas of Odisha, and what will the Paika Memorial celebrate? For any queries and feedback, contact 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. Priya Kumari Shukla is a Senior Copy Editor in the Indian Express (digital). She contributes to the UPSC Section of Indian Express (digital) and started niche initiatives such as UPSC Key, UPSC Ethics Simplified, and The 360° UPSC Debate. The UPSC Key aims to assist students and aspirants in their preparation for the Civil Services and other competitive examinations. It provides valuable guidance on effective strategies for reading and comprehending newspaper content. The 360° UPSC Debate tackles a topic from all perspectives after sorting through various publications. The chosen framework for the discussion is structured in a manner that encompasses both the arguments in favour and against the topic, ensuring comprehensive coverage of many perspectives. Prior to her involvement with the Indian Express, she had affiliations with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as several coaching and edutech enterprises. In her prior professional experience, she was responsible for creating and refining material in various domains, including article composition and voiceover video production. She has written in-house books on many subjects, including modern India, ancient Indian history, internal security, international relations, and the Indian economy. She has more than eight years of expertise in the field of content writing. Priya holds a Master's degree in Electronic Science from the University of Pune as well as an Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, widely recognised as one of the most prestigious business schools in India. She is also an alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia University Residential Coaching Academy (RCA). Priya has made diligent efforts to engage in research endeavours, acquiring the necessary skills to effectively examine and synthesise facts and empirical evidence prior to presenting their perspective. Priya demonstrates a strong passion for reading, particularly in the genres of classical Hindi, English, Maithili, and Marathi novels and novellas. Additionally, she possessed the distinction of being a cricket player at the national level. Qualification, Degrees / other achievements: Master's degree in Electronic Science from University of Pune and Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta ... Read More
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What is 'Russian influence' in Ukraine's corruption that Zelensky is talking about?
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy pledged a new anti-corruption bill amid EU criticism and protests over a controversial law weakening watchdogs. The move comes as Russia intensifies attacks and Kyiv faces mounting pressure on reforms and foreign aid read more Thousands of people protest against a law targeting anti-corruption institutions near the President's Office in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared on Thursday that he will present a new anti-corruption bill to Ukraine's Parliament, in an additional effort to soothe tensions after approving modifications to graft legislation that sparked a public uproar and severe condemnation from the European Union. Opponents of the contentious law enacted by the lawmakers and signed by Zelenskyy earlier this week said that it deprived Ukraine's anti-corruption watchdogs of their independence by giving the government more control over their work. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Zelenskyy stated that it was necessary to speed up investigations, assure more convictions, and remove 'Russian influence' from the battle against corruption, although he did not cite specific examples of Russian intervention. On Thursday, Zelenskyy abruptly announced that he had drafted a new anti-corruption measure that 'guarantees the real strengthening of the law and order system in Ukraine.' In a Telegram post, Zelenskyy said, 'The most important thing is real tools, no Russian connections, and the independence of the (watchdogs).' After almost three years of fending off Russia's full-scale invasion, the declaration seemed to give in to recent pressure that threatened to erode public confidence in Ukraine's leaders. The protests have not demanded Zelenskyy's removal, but they are the first significant anti-government demonstrations since the conflict began. 'It is important that we maintain unity,' Zelenskyy stated in his Telegram post. The announcement also left some questions unanswered. Zelenskyy had said Wednesday that he met with the heads of Ukraine's key anti-corruption and security agencies and gave them two weeks to make recommendations on how the graft law could be improved before he presented another bill to Parliament. Despite that assurance, further street protests were scheduled for Thursday evening. The new pronouncement also left unclear whether Zelenskyy intended to revoke the law that he approved earlier in the week after Parliament had passed it. He didn't publicize details about the proposed new law. The unrest has come at a difficult time in the all-out war, which began on Feb. 24, 2022. Russia's bigger army is accelerating its efforts to pierce Ukraine's front-line defenses and is escalating its bombardment of Ukrainian cities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ukraine is also facing a question mark over whether the United States will provide more military aid and whether European commitments can take up the slack, with no end in sight to the war. Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul for a third round of talks in as many months Wednesday. But once again, the talks were brief and delivered no major breakthrough. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid in the war. It's also an effort that enjoys broad public support. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern Wednesday over the new law, calling it 'a serious step back.' The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticized parliament's decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and damages trust with international partners. Meanwhile, Russian planes dropped two powerful glide bombs on the center of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, on Thursday morning, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. At least 37 people were wounded, including a 28-day-old baby, a 10-year-old girl and two 17 year olds, authorities said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The southern city of Odesa, and Cherkasy in central Ukraine, were also hit overnight, authorities said. The drone and missile strikes on the cities wounded 11 people, including a 9-year-old, and damaged historic landmarks and residential buildings, officials said. Ukraine has sought to step up its own long-range drone attacks on Russia, using domestic technology and manufacturing. An overnight Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi killed two women and wounded 11 other people, local authorities said Thursday. An oil depot was hit, officials said, without offering details.
