PM IAS MAY 05 UPSC CURRENT EVENTS

President Stresses On Mediation To Resolve Conflicts

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance

In News

• Speaking at the launch of the first national mediation conference organised by the Mediation Association of India (MIA), the President  stressed on mediation to resolve disputes and lower the burden of courts across the country.

What is Mediation?

• Mediation is a voluntary, confidential, and non-adversarial process where a neutral third party helps disputing parties reach a mutually acceptable solution. 
• It is one of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms alongside arbitration, negotiation, and conciliation.

Judicial Backlog in India

• India’s judiciary is overburdened with a massive backlog of pending cases, causing delays in justice and eroding public trust.
• As of 2024, over 5.1 crore cases are pending across Indian courts. This includes approximately 71,000 cases in the Supreme Court, around 60 lakh cases in the High Courts, and nearly 4.5 crore cases in District and Subordinate Courts.
• Out of a sanctioned strength of nearly 25,000 judges, only about 20,000 are in position, indicating a vacancy rate of around 20%.
• India’s judge-to-population ratio stands at just 21 judges per million population, which is far below the Law Commission’s recommended ratio of 50 judges per million.

Importance of Mediation 

• Reduces pendency: Frees up court dockets by resolving minor civil, matrimonial, and commercial cases early.
• Faster resolution: Most cases are settled within a few sittings.
• Cost-effective: Saves both court costs and lawyer fees.
• Preserves relationships: Especially useful in family and business disputes.
• Empowers parties: Solution is based on mutual agreement, not judicial imposition.

Legal Provisions and Institutional Support

• Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987: Establishes Lok Adalats which use mediation-like processes. Statutory backing for free legal aid and ADR.
• Section 89 of CPC (Civil Procedure Code), 1908: Mandates courts to refer disputes for ADR, including mediation.
• Mediation Act, 2023: Aims to institutionalize mediation in India.
  • Key provisions: Mandatory pre-litigation mediation for civil and commercial cases.
    • Establishment of a Mediation Council of India to institutionalize and regulate mediation across the country. A major function of MCI will be to oversee training, assessment, and certification of mediators. 

Current Commercial Dispute Resolution in India

• Commercial Courts, set up under the 2015 Act, fast-track disputes above ₹3 lakh and promote pre-litigation mediation to ease court burden.
• Arbitration, governed by the 1996 Act (amended in 2015, 2019, 2021), offers binding decisions by neutral arbitrators. It can be ad hoc or institutional (e.g., Indian Council of Arbitration, IIAC).
• The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, emphasizes mediation as a swift, cost-effective, and amicable method for resolving consumer disputes.
• Internationally, India signed the Singapore Convention on Mediation.

Challenges

Challenges	Description
Lack of awareness	Many people and lawyers are unaware of mediation’s benefits.
Resistance from legal professionals	Lawyers may prefer lengthy trials for financial reasons.
Inadequate training	Not enough trained mediators, especially in rural areas.
Low public trust	Preference for court judgments over negotiated settlements.

Global Best Practices – Singapore and Italy: Pre-litigation mediation is mandatory for many disputes. – UK and Australia: Well-funded public mediation centres with high success rates. – USA: Over 90% of civil disputes settled through ADR. Recent Government and Judicial Initiatives – e-Courts Mission Mode Project: Digitalization to reduce pendency. – Tele-law and Nyaya Bandhu schemes: Legal aid using tech platforms. – Supreme Court’s Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC): Promotes mediation in all courts. – Fast Track Courts and Gram Nyayalayas: Additional dispute resolution mechanisms.

Way Forward

• Strengthen legal framework: Ensure uniform implementation of the Mediation Act, 2023.
• Awareness campaigns: Promote mediation literacy among citizens.
• Capacity building: Train more mediators and accredit them under a national body.
• Judicial support: Encourage judges to refer more cases to mediation.
• Digital mediation platforms: Use of ODR (Online Dispute Resolution) for faster outcomes.
• Monitoring outcomes: Create databases to assess mediation success and backlog impact.

India’s Growing Engagement in Arctic Region

Syllabus :GS 2/IR

In News

• At the Arctic Circle India Forum 2025, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar emphasized the global significance of the Arctic and India’s growing involvement in the region. 

Arctic Region 

• It is a vast, diverse region spanning 24 time zones, eight countries, and three continents, with varying climatic conditions, development levels, and cultural landscapes. 
• It includes both ice-free areas, like parts of Norway and Northwest Russia, and ice-covered regions, such as Alaska and Canada. 
• It was once a zone of scientific cooperation and environmental protection, and is becoming a site of military and geopolitical competition due to growing global interest.

India’s Arctic strategy 

• It began with a scientific focus, and has evolved since the early 2020s to incorporate broader geopolitical considerations.
• India has maintained a presence in the Arctic since 2008, with the establishment of the Himadri research station in Svalbard. 
• In 2022, it formalized its ambitions through the release of an Arctic Policy. 
  • This shift was driven by changes in the global security environment, including deteriorating relations between Russia and the West and China’s growing Arctic cooperation with Russia.
  • India’s 2022 Arctic Policy focuses on climate science, environmental protection, and sustainable development, emphasizing the Arctic’s influence on South Asia’s water security and monsoon cycles.

Why is India interested in the Arctic?

• India’s interests in the Arctic include supporting infrastructure development along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) to gain access to Arctic resources, such as gas and critical minerals, which are crucial for its growing economy. 
• India also seeks to secure Russia’s commitment to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which could connect India with Russia and the Nordic-Baltic region, enhancing trade and providing an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Suggestions and Way Forward 

• India’s role in the Arctic is evolving as it navigates complex geopolitical dynamics.
• India’s involvement can strengthen its global positioning and improve relations with Nordic countries.
• India should balance its Arctic interests with its position on Russia’s ongoing war efforts in Europe.
  • India should strengthen ties with Europe, especially Nordic states, focusing on joint initiatives in infrastructure, digitalization, and environmental protection. 
• India should adopt a more strategic Arctic approach, focusing on engagement beyond science, strengthening ties with like-minded Arctic states, and seeking a role in emerging Arctic governance forums.

Genome-Edited Seeds to Mark Beginning of Second Green Revolution

Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture, Science and Technology

Context

• The Union Agriculture Minister announced the development of two genome-edited rice varieties and said the technological advancement would lead to a second green revolution in the country.

What is Genome Editing?

• Genome editing refers to a group of technologies that enable scientists to precisely modify the DNA of an organism.
• One of the most advanced tools is CRISPR-Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-associated protein 9), which acts like molecular scissors to cut specific sections of DNA.
  • It allows for precise corrections or modifications without introducing foreign DNA, which distinguishes it from traditional genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
• In India, Site-directed nuclease (SDN)-1 and SDN-2 genome-editing techniques are permitted under biosafety regulations for general crops.

ICAR’s Genome-Edited Rice

• ICAR has developed India’s first genome-edited rice varieties – DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1. 
• In 2018, ICAR initiated genome-editing research to improve two major rice varieties – Samba Mahsuri and MTU 1010 – under the National Agricultural Science Fund. 
• These new varieties were developed using genome-editing technology based on CRISPR-Cas.
• The outcome of this research is the two advanced varieties that offer the following benefits:
  • A 19% increase in yield,
  • A 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,
  • A saving of 7,500 million cubic meters of irrigation water,
  • Improved tolerance to drought, salinity, and climate stresses.

What are CRISPR-based technologies? – The CRISPR-Cas system is a tool to cut, delete, or add DNA sequences at precise locations, opening different windows to treat genetic disorders, develop drought-resistant plants, and modify food crops. – CRISPR occurs naturally in some bacteria, as a part of their immune system that limits infections by recognising and destroying viral DNA.

Path towards Second Green Revolution

• Higher Yields: Genome-edited varieties offer higher yields, similar to how high-yielding varieties boosted food production during the first Green Revolution. 
• Stronger Climate Resilience: Unlike earlier Green Revolution crops, these varieties are tolerant to drought, salinity, and heat. This makes them more suitable for present and future climate conditions.
• Efficient Use of Resources: These new crops use less water and cut greenhouse gas emissions, correcting the overuse of water and chemicals seen during the first Green Revolution.
• Lower Chemical Dependency: By being more resistant to pests and diseases, genome-edited crops reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers, lowering costs and environmental harm.

Concerns

• Global Regulatory Consensus: Although genome editing using SDN-1 and SDN-2 techniques is allowed in India, many countries have not yet finalized their stance on such technologies.
  • This limits the export potential of genome-edited agricultural products.
• Corporate Control: If private companies hold patents or exclusive rights to genome-editing tools and the seeds developed through them, farmers may become dependent on expensive, proprietary technologies.
• Threat to Genetic Biodiversity: Overreliance on a few high-performing genome-edited varieties might reduce the diversity of crops cultivated across regions.

Way Ahead

• The development of the varieties is a significant step toward India’s goal of becoming a developed nation and promoting sustainable agriculture. 
• In the 2023-24 budget, the Government of India allocated ₹500 crores for genome editing in agricultural crops. 
• ICAR has also initiated genome-editing research for several crops, including oilseeds and pulses.
• The government is focusing on promoting public-private partnerships, streamlining regulations, and building capacity among scientists and farmers to ensure responsible use of the technology.

Agriphotovoltaics: Integrating Solar Energy with Agriculture

Syllabus: GS3/Renewable Energy

Context

• World Solar Day, as observed on 3rd May, highlighted the transformative potential of solar energy, particularly in agriculture.

About the Agriphotovoltaics

• Agriphotovoltaics (APVs) offer a dual solution for food and energy production by integrating solar panels with farming.
• It maximizes land-use efficiency, allowing crops to grow beneath elevated solar panels while generating electricity.
• Origins of Agriphotovoltaics:
  • It was first proposed by German scientists Adolf Goetzberger and Armin Zastrow in 1981.
  • The concept involves elevating solar modules to allow sunlight to reach crops while harnessing solar power.

Solar Energy in India: Key Achievements – 100 GW Solar Capacity Milestone: India’s solar sector has grown 3450% over the past decade, rising from 2.82 GW in 2014 to 100.33 GW on January 31, 2025. – Record-Breaking Solar Installations: In 2024, India added 24.5 GW of solar capacity, more than double the installations of 2023. 1. Utility-scale solar capacity saw a 2.8x increase, with 18.5 GW installed in 2024.

Benefits for Farmers

• APVs create microclimatic conditions that reduce water evaporation and protect crops from extreme heat, improving agricultural resilience.
• Farmers can sell excess solar power back to the grid at a predetermined feed-in tariff, ensuring stable revenue streams.

APV Success Stories in India

• Najafgarh, Delhi Pilot Project: A farmer leased his land to a solar company for ₹1 lakh per acre annually, securing stable income.
  • If farmers cultivate shade-loving crops like potatoes, tomatoes, and turmeric, their income could rise to ₹1.5 lakh per acre, a sixfold increase over traditional farming.

Scaling Agriphotovoltaics Through Policy Support

• Incorporating APVs in PM-KUSUM: India currently lacks a designated agrivoltaics policy, but revising the PM-KUSUM agricultural solarisation program to include APVs could accelerate adoption.
  • Grid-connected solar power plants under PM-KUSUM should implement dual-use models, allowing simultaneous crop cultivation and solar generation.
• Financial Incentives for Farmers: Expanding credit guarantees and subsidies for APV installations will help smallholder farmers (own less than 2 hectares of land) adopt solar farming.
  • Increasing feed-in tariffs (FiTs) for solar power generated on agricultural land could improve investment viability.
• Capacity-Building and Technical Training: Government-backed programs should train farmers in APV management, helping them integrate solar energy into traditional farming practices.

Challenges and Future Prospects

• Limited To Pilot Projects: APVs are limited to pilot projects by research institutes and private developers.
  • Expanding APVs requires policy support, financial incentives, and awareness campaigns to encourage adoption.
• Infrastructure and Investment Needs: Farmers need access to financing for APV installations.
  • Government subsidies and public-private partnerships could accelerate adoption.
• Policy Support for APVs: India’s solar energy policies should integrate APVs into national agricultural strategies.
  • Expanding research and pilot programs will help refine APV models for different climates and crops.

New Rules for Access and Benefit Sharing of Biodiversity 

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment and Ecology

Context

• The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has notified the Biological Diversity (Access to Biological Resources and Knowledge Associated thereto and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits) Regulation, 2025.
• The rules are notified to streamline and regulate benefit sharing from the use of biological resources and associated knowledge.

What is Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)?

• ABS refers to the framework through which benefits arising from the use of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge are shared fairly and equitably with the communities that have conserved these resources.
• It is a principle under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• India operationalizes ABS through the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and its recent amendment the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023.

Key Features of the 2025 Regulation

• Turnover-Based Benefit Sharing:
  • Below ₹5 crore: Exempt from benefit sharing.
  • ₹5 crore–₹50 crore: 0.2% of annual gross ex-factory sale price (excluding taxes).
  • ₹50 crore–₹250 crore: 0.4% of annual turnover.
  • Above ₹250 crore: 0.6% of annual turnover.
  • Entities with turnover above ₹1 crore must file annual statements on resource usage.
• Inclusion of Digital Sequence Information (DSI): DSI now considered part of genetic resources, closing earlier loopholes where only physical materials were covered.
  • It aligns with the outcomes from COP16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Cali, Colombia.
• Cultivated medicinal plants are exempted, provided they are notified by the Ministry of Environment in consultation with the AYUSH Ministry.
• High-Value Resources: For resources of high conservation/economic value (red sanders, sandalwood, agarwood and threatened species), minimum 5% of proceeds from auction/sale must be shared.
  • This can go up to 20% in case of commercial exploitation.
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): Applicants for IPR involving biodiversity must disclose the use of biological resources and share benefits accordingly.
• Distribution of Benefits: 10–15% retained by the National Biodiversity Authority.
  • Remaining benefits directed to local communities and claimants through Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs).

Significance of the New Regulation

• Addresses regulatory gaps: It includes DSI which was previously excluded under the 2014 guidelines.
• Transparency: Clear slabs promote predictability for industries like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biotechnology.
• Supports cultivation: Encourages cultivation of medicinal plants over extraction from wild sources.

Nagoya Protocol – The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). – It provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of one of the three objectives of the CBD: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. – It was adopted in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan and entered into force in 2014.