Article 142: The Supreme Power or Judicial Overreach?
Syllabus: GS2/Indian Polity & Governance
Context
- Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s recent remarks on the Supreme Court’s powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, along with his accusation that the judiciary is acting like a ‘Super Parliament,’ sparked sharp criticism from opposition parties and legal experts.
About the Article 142 of Indian Constitution
- It empowers the Supreme Court to ‘pass any decree or make any order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it’.
- The intent was to allow judicial intervention in extraordinary cases where strict adherence to statute might result in injustice.
- However, ‘complete justice’ is not defined, making the clause inherently discretionary and potent.
- Originally envisioned as an extraordinary remedy, it was meant to fill gaps where laws were silent, or justice would otherwise be denied.
Landmark Uses and Emerging Controversies
- Tamil Nadu Governor vs. State Government (2025): The Tamil Nadu Government passed 10 bills that were either withheld or not assented to by the Governor under Article 200.
- The Supreme Court, invoking Article 142, ‘deemed the bills passed’ — effectively bypassing the constitutional process that involves the Governor/President.
- Collegium Conflict and Judicial Appointments (2015): Supreme Court of India struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), reinstating the collegium system.
- When the Centre delayed collegium-recommended appointments, the Court threatened to use Article 142 to enforce compliance.
- It undermines the President’s role as the constitutional appointer of judges under Article 124.
- Earlier, the Supreme Court has invoked Article 142 in cases like the Bhopal Gas Tragedy settlement, and Ayodhya verdict.
Key Concerns: Federalism at Risk?
- India’s democracy rests on a balance — Centre, States, Judiciary, and the President all play defined roles.
- But if Article 142 becomes the norm, the judiciary starts to dominate:
- Interpreting laws;
- Enforcing its own judgments;
- Bypassing executive and legislative will
- It transforms the Supreme Court from an interpreter of the Constitution into a de facto super-government.
Judicial Activism vs. Judicial Overreach
- While there’s no denying the judiciary’s role as the guardian of the Constitution, its expanded use of Article 142 could amount to institutional overreach.
Balancing Judicial Authority and Governance
- Need for Clear Guidelines: Establishing defined limits on Article 142’s application can prevent excessive judicial intervention.
- Strengthening Executive Accountability: While judicial oversight is necessary, governance decisions should remain within the constitutional framework.
- Judicial Review vs. Judicial Enforcement: Courts must ensure justice without legislating from the bench or bypassing executive authority.
Conclusion
- Article 142 remains a powerful tool for delivering justice, but its increasing use in governance matters raises concerns about judicial overreach.
- Striking a balance between judicial independence and executive authority is essential to uphold democratic principles.
Steering the Decarbonisation of India’s Logistics Sector
Syllabus :GS3/Economy/Environment
In News
- India’s logistics sector is one of the most carbon-heavy in the world and it needs to undergo a sustainable transformation.
India’s logistics sector
- It is crucial for the country’s economic growth, facilitating the efficient movement of goods and services across its vast territory.
- As India aims to achieve a GDP of US$ 5.5 trillion by 2027, transforming its logistics sector becomes essential.
- This sector supports industries like manufacturing, agriculture, and e-commerce but faces numerous challenges and offers significant opportunities.
Issue and Concerns
- India’s logistics sector is a major contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for 13.5% of the country’s total greenhouse gases, with road transport responsible for over 88% of these emissions.
- Trucks alone contribute 38% of CO₂ output. While aviation and shipping contribute less, their impact is still notable. The warehousing sector also adds significantly to emissions.
- As freight and passenger movement are set to grow, particularly through inland waterways and coastal shipping by 2030, the challenge lies in balancing this growth with environmental sustainability.
| Do you know ? – Global examples, like China and the United States, show the benefits of shifting freight from road to rail, which significantly reduces emissions. – Rail is a more sustainable, nearly zero-carbon option, and India should increase its use of rail for freight transport. |
Suggestions
- India should increase rail’s share in freight transport and electrify road freight, as seen in the Delhi-Jaipur corridor pilot project.
- Coastal shipping and inland waterways also offer significant decarbonisation potential by adopting cleaner fuels like LNG and biofuels.
- While air transport is harder to decarbonise, sustainable aviation fuels and efficiency improvements in other sectors can help offset emissions.
- The warehousing sector can reduce its carbon footprint by transitioning to renewable energy sources.
Conclusion and Way Forward
- As the country works towards its net zero target by 2070, a green transformation of logistics — including transportation, warehousing, and supply chains — is essential for building a resilient and sustainable future.
- By scaling rail freight, electrifying road transport, adopting cleaner maritime fuels, and improving warehouse energy efficiency, India can create a high-performing, green logistics network.
15th meeting of BRICS Agriculture Ministers
Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture
Context
- India reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive, equitable and sustainable agriculture at the 15th meeting of BRICS Agriculture Ministers in Brasilia, Brazil.
Key Highlights
- BRICS Agriculture Ministers launched the BRICS Land Restoration Partnership to address land degradation, desertification, and the loss of soil fertility.
- In the Joint Declaration, BRICS nations collectively reiterated their resolve to make the global agri-food system fair, inclusive, innovative, and sustainable.
- India’s Stand: Empowering the Backbone of Agriculture
- India highlighted the need to socially, economically and politically empower small and marginal farmers, especially women, at the center of global agricultural strategies.
- The world’s 510 million smallholder farmers are the backbone of the global food system and are also the most vulnerable in the face of climate change, price volatility, and resource scarcity.
What is Sustainable Agriculture?
- Sustainable agriculture refers to farming practices that meet today’s food needs while preserving resources for future generations.
- This means adopting methods that protect the environment, reduce reliance on chemical inputs, and use water and land efficiently.
- This approach is designed to maintain a balance between productivity, environmental health, and socio-economic equity.
Need of Sustainable Agriculture
- Over-dependence on Rainfall: Indian agriculture is largely rain-fed, with around 60% of the cultivated area depending on monsoon rains.
- Agricultural Price Volatility: Price volatility forces farmers to sell their produce at low prices during peak harvest seasons.
- Limited agricultural processing capacity and low levels of mechanization leads to post-harvest losses. Farmers are also unable to add value to their produce, leading to lower returns.
- Access to Finance: Small farmers face difficulties in accessing credit and financial services.
Initiatives taken for sustainable agriculture
- Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs): FPOs have emerged as a key tool to support small and marginal farmers by aggregating their produce, providing access to technology, and improving their market presence.
- Warehouse Receipt Financing: Warehouse receipt financing allows farmers to store their produce and sell it later when prices are more favorable.
- National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) focuses on promoting climate-resilient farming, efficient water use, and soil health management.
- National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) strengthens agricultural resilience through climate-focused research, technology demonstration, and capacity building.
- Bio-fertilizers are promoted to reduce chemical usage and enhance soil microbial health.
Concluding remarks
- The 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting marks a collective step towards redefining the global food system—making it more just, resilient, and farmer-centric.
- For India, the summit reaffirmed the vision of an agriculture-led inclusive growth model, placing smallholder farmers and sustainability at the heart of policymaking.
| What is BRICS? – It is an acronym that refers to a group of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. – Origin: The term BRIC was coined by British economist Jim O’Neill in 2001 to represent emerging economies. 1. The group began holding annual meetings starting in 2006 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), and its success led to formal summits. 2. BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits since 2009. – South Africa was inducted in 2010. – Expansion of BRICS: Argentina, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are the six new additions to the BRICS. |
Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
Context
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla outlined a comprehensive roadmap for achieving the national vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.
About
- India’s vision for 2047, known as ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India), aims to transform the nation into a developed economy by the time it celebrates its 100th anniversary of its independence.
- The four pillars of Viksit Bharat are Yuva (Youth), Garib (Poor), Mahila (Women) and Kisan (Framers).
- It requires comprehensive efforts across various sectors, including economic growth, social equity, global competitiveness, environmental sustainability, industrial modernization and good governance.
Major Highlights
- Economic Growth Trajectory: Growth rate increased from 2.9% (1951–52) to 7.6% (2023–24).
- GDP to surpass USD 7 trillion by 2030 and projected to reach USD 34.7 trillion by 2047, as per the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI).
- Per Capita Income: Estimated to reach USD 4,667 by 2030 and USD 21,000 by 2047.
- Sectoral Contributions to GDP (By 2047):
- Agriculture: From 20% (FY23) to 12%.
- Industrial Sector: To reach 34%.
- Manufacturing Sector: To reach 25%.
- Services Sector: Stable at around 54%.
- Key Enablers:
- Ease of doing business.
- Global scalability of promising sectors to become MNCs.
- Development of the semiconductor industry.
- Support for the startup ecosystem.
- Export capacity building.
- Reforms in agriculture and food processing.
- Filling vacant positions in government (National and State levels).
- Digital transformation acceleration.
- Boost to the renewable energy sector.
- Investment in physical infrastructure.
- Global Standing Goals: 2nd largest Economy in Asia-Pacific by 2030.
- 3rd largest economy globally by 2030.
- Renewable Energy Goals: India ranks 4th globally in renewable energy.
- Government target: 500 GW of installed renewable capacity by 2030.
- PHDCCI projections: 900 GW by 2040 and 1500 GW by 2047.
- Digital & AI Adoption: Internet usage rose from 8% in 2010 to 52% in 2024, projected to reach 82% by 2047.
- Projected to rank among the top 5 globally in AI readiness by 2047.
- India’s Innovation-Driven Growth: Global Innovation Index rank improved from 52nd in 2019 to 39th in 2024.
- PHDCCI projects India will be among the top 5 innovation leaders by 2047.
- The semiconductor industry is projected to reach USD 750 billion by 2047.
Government Initiatives
- Impact of Government Initiatives: Make in India, Digital India, Gati Shakti, Bharatmala, Udaan Yojana, and electronic manufacturing clusters are reshaping infrastructure and commerce.
- Policy Reforms:
- Simplification of industrial policies.
- Transparent tax regime.
- Single-window clearance system.
- All contributing to a more business-friendly environment.
Conclusion
- India is progressing steadily toward economic prosperity and innovation leadership.
- Marked by resilience, adaptability, and focus on inclusive growth.
- Positioned to become a key global economic player by 2047.
Artificial General Intelligence
Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology
Context
- According to researchers at DeepMind, Google’s AI research lab, it is “plausible that powerful AI systems will be developed by 2030.”
- It reflects growing confidence in the pace of AI advancement, particularly toward Artificial General Intelligence.
What is Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)?
- It refers to the hypothetical intelligenceof a machine that possesses the ability to understand or learn any intellectual task that a human being can.
- It is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that aims to mimic the cognitive abilities of the human brain.
- In a paper published in 2023, DeepMind researchers identified five ascending levels of AGI:
- Emerging, “equal to or somewhat better than an unskilled human”;
- Competent, “at least 50th percentile of skilled adults”;
- Expert, at “least 90th percentile of skilled adults”;
- Virtuoso, “at least 99th percentile of skilled adults”;
- and Superhuman, which “outperforms 100% of humans.
Difference Between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI):
| Aspect | Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Solves specific tasks with human-level performance. | Replicates human-level cognitive abilities across various domains. |
| Learning Capability | Requires substantial training for tasks within the same domain. | Can self-learn, adapt, and solve tasks without prior training. |
| Scope | Limited to predefined or narrow scope (domain-specific). | Operates beyond domain-specific limitations. |
| Alternate Name | Weak AI or Narrow AI. | Strong AI. |
| Cognitive Abilities | Lacks general reasoning and emotional understanding. | Capable of independent reasoning and emotional understanding. |
| Status | Actively used and developed today. | Still theoretical and not yet achieved. |
Technologies Driving AGI Research
- Deep Learning: Trains models with many layers to understand complex patterns in data. Enables multi-modal understanding (text, image, audio, etc.).
- Generative AI: Can produce original content (text, images, audio). It trains on large datasets to mimic human creativity.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): Allows machines to understand and generate human language.
- Computer Vision: Empowers machines to see, interpret, and react to visual information.
- Used in autonomous vehicles, surveillance, and image recognition.
- Robotics: Enables physical interaction with the environment. Crucial for AGI to develop sensory perception and motor functions.
What are the potential uses of artificial general intelligence?
- Advanced Problem-Solving: Can tackle complex challenges beyond human capability (e.g., climate change, scientific research).
- Boost in Productivity: Automates and optimizes tasks across industries, increasing efficiency.
- More Creative Human Roles: Frees up human time for creative, strategic, and emotionally fulfilling work.
- Healthcare Revolution: Enhances diagnosis, treatment planning, and drug discovery, improving health outcomes.
- Personalized Education: Delivers tailored learning experiences, making education more effective and accessible.
- Improved Transportation Safety: AGI in self-driving vehicles can reduce accidents and improve public safety.
- 24/7 Assistance: Virtual assistants and chatbots provide continuous support and convenience.
- Innovation & Creativity: Accelerates technological advancements and drives societal progress through new ideas.
Challenges in AGI Research
- Cross-Domain Learning: Current AI lacks the ability to transfer knowledge across different domains.
- AGI needs to make abstract connections like humans do.
- Emotional Intelligence: Human creativity and emotional response are hard to replicate.
- Neural networks can’t currently mimic true emotional reasoning.
- Sensory Perception: Machines struggle to process and interpret sensory data like sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
- AGI needs more advanced sensory and motor capabilities.
Concerns with Development of Artificial general intelligence (AGI)
- Loss of Control: AGI could act independently and unpredictably.
- Job Displacement: Automation of cognitive tasks could cause mass unemployment.
- Security Risks: Potential misuse in cyberattacks, warfare, or surveillance.
- Ethical Issues: Questions about rights, consciousness, and machine autonomy.
- There are concerns around privacy, autonomy, and decision-making authority.
- Lack of Regulation: No unified global standards or oversight.
- Existential Threat: AGI could pose risks to human survival if misused or misaligned.
Way Ahead
- There should be international laws and ethical guidelines to govern AGI research and use.
- Prioritizing safety, alignment with human values, and ethical decision-making in AGI systems is crucial.
- Build real-time tracking and auditing systems to monitor AGI behavior and prevent misuse.
- Developing the AGI capabilities step by step with ensuring safety at each stage will eliminate many risks.
