Scheduled Castes & Religion - The Supreme Court's Ruling

Why in News?

The Supreme Court ruled in Chinthada Anand vs State of Andhra Pradesh that a pastor from the Madiga community in Andhra Pradesh could not claim to be a member of a Scheduled Caste (SC) as he had converted to Christianity.

What is the case background & Supreme Court’s ruling?

• Bench & its ruling – The bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan upheld the Andhra Pradesh HC’s order & said that other than Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism, a person cannot simultaneously profess and practice a religion and claim membership of a Scheduled Caste at the same time.
• The judgement holds that this bar on religion imposed by the Constitution (SC) Order was “absolute” without exceptions.
• Case Background
  • Complainant – Pastor Chintada Anand Paul, originally from the Madiga community (a recognized SC).
  • Incident – He alleged caste-based abuse, threats, and assaults in 2021.
  • Legal Action – Case registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 including the criminal provisions of wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, and hurt under the IPC provisions.
  • Defense Argument – Since he had converted to Christianity and was functioning as a pastor, he could not claim SC status or invoke the SC/ST Act.
  • Complainant’s Counter – Caste is linked to birth and persists despite conversion; he relied on his caste certificate identifying him as a Hindu-Madiga, a recognised Scheduled Caste.
• Andhra Pradesh High Court (April 2025) – Held that “caste system is alien to Christianity” & the SC/ST Act is protective legislation meant only for SC/ST members as defined by law.
• The court held that there were inconsistencies and a lack of corroborating evidence in the witness statements & continuing the proceedings would serve no purpose and would amount to subjecting the accused to an unnecessary trial.
• The Supreme Court of India has upheld this view.
• Supreme Court’s Reasoning
  • Religion as determinant – SC identity is inseparable from the religion professed.
  • Christianity’s theological foundation – The Court noted Christianity does not recognize caste as an institution.
  • Consequences of conversion – The moment one ceases to be a member of a SC by converting faith, loss of SC status will lead to automatic termination of all statutory benefits, protections, reservations, and entitlements, includes protections under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
  • Certificates insufficient – Mere possession of a caste certificate cannot override the fact of conversion that the appellant is a practising Christian.
  • Reconversions – No evidence of reconversion or community acceptance was shown in this case, so SC status could not be restored.
• 2 Competing Ideas
  • Constitutional design – SC status is both a social identity and a legal recognition defined by the Constitution (SC Order, 1950).
  • Social reality – Caste-based discrimination persists even after conversion, especially among Dalit Christians.

What are the Constitutional & legal mandate related to the SCs & religion?

• The Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order, 1950 – It was issued under Article 341.
• Paragraph 3 of the Order states that, “no person who professes a religion different from the Hindu, the Sikh or the Buddhist religion shall be deemed to be member of a Scheduled Caste.”
• The law thus treats conversion to Christianity as a point at which the Scheduled Caste status ends.
• Article 366(24) – It defines Scheduled Castes as those groups notified by the President under Article 341.
• This makes SC identity a legal construct, not just a social one.
• SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 – It adopts the same definitions of SC/ST as in the Constitution.
• The legal protections under the Act apply only to those recognized as SC/ST under Articles 341/342.
• The result is that the legal identity of a person as a Scheduled Caste is inseparable from the religion they profess.
• Once their social membership to the community ends, the legal protections tied to it end as well.

Is this question new? What is the Centre’s position on this?

• Is this Question New? – No, the Court has addressed the question of SC status for people from Dalit communities who have converted to Islam or Christianity.
• A petition to accord SC status for Dalit Christians and Muslims was filed in 2004 and continues to be heard today.
• Petitioners’ Argument
  • Several communities had historically belonged to SC groups but had, over time, converted to faiths such as Christianity and Islam.
  • Despite conversion, caste discrimination persisted within these faiths.
  • Petitioners cited government reports from the early 2000s supporting their position that Dalit Muslims and Christians should be accorded SC status.
  • They argued that the Constitution (SC) Order, 1950, had been amended to include Sikhism (1956) & Buddhism (1990), following Ambedkar’s mass conversions.
• Centre’s Position – The Union Government relies on the Constitution (SC) Order, 1950, which restricts SC recognition to Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists.
• The Centre has consistently opposed extending SC status to Dalit Christians and Muslims because Christianity and Islam are of “foreign origin”.
• Current Developments – In October 2022, the Centre constituted a Commission of Inquiry headed by former Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan to examine the issue of whether SC status can be accorded to SC converts to Islam and Christianity.
• The Commission’s deadline is set for April this year.

What about people who have “reconverted” to Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism?

• Court’s Threshold for Reconversion – On March 24, 2026, the Judges clarified what counts as valid reconversion for regaining Scheduled Caste (SC) status, what is the burden of proof for this, and who this burden must fall upon.
• Three Conditions – If a person of SC origin claimed that they had “reconverted” to any of the faiths mentioned in the 1950 order, all conditions must be met “cumulatively and conclusively” -
  • Proof of Origin – The person must be able to prove that they “originally belonged” to an SC group.
  • Evidence of Reconversion – There must be “credible and unimpeachable evidence of bona fide reconversion to the original religion”.
  • Community Acceptance – There must be evidence of “acceptance and assimilation by members of the original caste and concerned community.”
• Burden of Proof – The Court said that the “burden of proving reconversion lies entirely on the claimant, to be proven through unimpeachable evidence.”
• What Counts as Proof of Reconversion?  - The Supreme Court said that this should be accompanied by
  • Complete & unequivocal renunciation of the religion previously adopted
  • Total dissociation from that faith.
  • Actual adoption and observance of the customs, usages, practices, rituals, and religious obligations of the original caste.”

What about Scheduled Tribes (STs)?

• No Religion-Based Bar – For STs, there was no such religion-based exclusion prescribed in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.
• The determination of ST status is tied to tribal attributes including customary practices, social organisation, community life, etc, not the faith professed alone.
• Court’s Reasoning
  • If a person’s conversion or later actions completely break their connection with the tribal way of life and they lose recognition within the community, their ST status is weakened.
  • Conversely, if the tribal attributes remain or are re-established and accepted by the community, the claim cannot be automatically rejected.
  • Such cases must be evaluated on a fact-specific basis by the competent authority in accordance with constitutional principles.
• Social Context – Hundreds of ST communities profess Christianity, Islam, and indigenous faiths, such as Sarnaism.
• In Nagaland, entire ST groups have converted to Christianity or Islam.
• In Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, some Adivasi movements argue that ST converts to non-indigenous faiths should lose statutory benefits.
• This shows the regional diversity and ongoing debates around tribal identity and benefits.

References

1. The Hindu | What did the SC’s rule on Scheduled Castes and religion?
2. Indian Express | Ruling on Scheduled Castes and religion

India’s Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)

Why in News?

Recently, India’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), approved by the Union Cabinet on March 25, 2026, marks a significant step in its climate policy framework under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

What are Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)?

• NDCs – Under the Paris Agreement, all signatory countries are required to periodically submit NDCs.
• These are voluntary pledges outlining how each country plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
• While submission is mandatory, targets themselves are not legally binding, relying instead on transparency, peer pressure, and global cooperation.
• This voluntary nature has led to mixed outcomes globally, raising concerns about their adequacy in limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
• India’s New NDC & Key Targets – India’s updated NDC sets the following goals:
  • 60% of installed electric capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035
  • 47% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP (from 2005 levels)
  • Carbon sink of 3.5–4 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent
• These targets will be formally communicated to the UNFCCC and represent an upward revision of India’s earlier commitments.
• Comparison with Previous Commitments (2022 NDC) – India’s earlier NDC, submitted in August 2022, included:
  • 50% non-fossil installed capacity by 2030
  • 45% reduction in emissions intensity
  • Carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent

What are the key differences?

• Higher ambition – Each target has been increased, reflecting greater confidence in India’s clean energy trajectory.
• Extended timeline – The shift to 2035 aligns India with global timelines, as most major economies have set 2035 targets.
• Early achievement – India has already reached about 52% non-fossil installed capacity by early 2026, surpassing its 2030 target ahead of schedule.
• This demonstrates that India’s renewable energy expansion has outpaced policy expectations.

Do NDCs actually drive climate action?

• Report – The United Nations Environment Programme Emissions Gap Report 2025 (“Off Target”) found that:
  • Current NDCs are insufficient to meet the 1.5°C goal
  • They close less than 14% of the emissions gap
  • Projected warming still ranges between 2.3°C and 2.5°C
• Similarly, assessments by organizations such as World Resources Institute and E3G highlight that:
  • Most countries include partial energy transition goals
  • None provide comprehensive fossil fuel phase-out plans
  • Fossil fuel subsidy reforms are largely absent
• Even the UAE Consensus (2023), which called for tripling renewable capacity and transitioning away from fossil fuels, has not been fully integrated into national commitments.
• The effectiveness of NDCs globally remains contested.
• Key Insight – NDCs often document ongoing progress rather than drive it.
• The rapid global growth in renewables—driven by falling costs and industrial competition (especially from China)—has occurred largely independent of NDC mandates.

What the data shows about India’s emissions trends?

• Data – Recent emissions data provides encouraging signals.
• A 2025 analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (published by Carbon Brief) found:
  • India’s CO₂ emissions grew by just 0.7% in 2025
  • This is the slowest growth rate since 2001 (excluding 2020 pandemic year)
  • Growth had previously ranged between 4% and 11% during 2021–24
• Power Sector (Key Driver of Deceleration)
  • Emissions declined by 3.8%
  • Coal-fired generation fell for the first time outside a crisis year since 1973
• Clean energy additions in 2025 included:
  • 47 GW solar
  • 6.3 GW wind
  • 4 GW hydro
  • 0.6 GW nuclear
• These additions were sufficient to meet most of the increase in electricity demand.
• Heavy Industry (Rising Emissions)
  • Steel emissions increased by 8%
  • Cement emissions rose by 10%
  • These sectors remain difficult to decarbonize and continue to drive emissions growth.
• Inflection Point for India – There is growing evidence that India’s power sector may soon reach a structural turning point.
• The Central Electricity Authority projects:
  • 786 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2035–36
  • Around 70% of total installed capacity
  • Solar alone exceeding 500 GW
• If clean energy additions consistently match or exceed demand growth, India could enter a phase where power sector emissions plateau or decline structurally.
• Warranted caution – 2025 experienced mild weather and weak industrial demand.
• Sustained trends need confirmation over multiple years.

What are the Key Contradictions in India’s Climate Strategy?

• Continued Expansion of Fossil Fuels
  • Plans for 100 GW of new coal-fired capacity.
  • $1 trillion investment in petrochemicals by 2040.
  • 50% increase in coal-based steel capacity by 2031.
  • These investments risk locking in carbon-intensive infrastructure.
• Emissions Intensity vs Absolute Emissions – India’s NDC focuses on emissions intensity (emissions per unit of GDP) rather than absolute emissions.
• This allows total emissions to continue rising.
• Justified on equity grounds, given India’s low per-capita emissions.
• However, this approach complicates alignment with global carbon budgets.
• Renewable Energy vs Grid Constraints – Over 37 GW of renewable capacity remains stranded.
• Due to transmission and grid integration challenges.
• This highlights the gap between capacity creation and actual utilization.
• Carbon Sink Commitments – India aims to create a carbon sink of 3.5–4 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent, primarily through forest cover.
• Challenges include:
  • Forest cover remains around 24%, below the 33% target.
  • Reliance on “trees outside forests,” which may be less reliable.
  • Competing land-use pressures from urbanization and industry.
• Broader Implications for Climate Policy – India’s updated NDC reflects both progress and pragmatism:
• Positives
  • Demonstrates rising ambition.
  • Aligns with global timelines.
  • Builds on strong renewable energy momentum.
  • Signals leadership among developing countries.
• Limitations
  • Does not commit to fossil fuel phase-out.
  • Relies heavily on intensity-based metrics.
  • Faces implementation bottlenecks (grid, finance, land use).

What lies ahead?

• India’s updated NDC represents a significant escalation in climate ambition, particularly in renewable energy and emissions intensity reduction.
• The country’s recent emissions data—especially the slowdown in 2025—suggests that structural changes may already be underway, driven largely by the rapid expansion of clean energy.
• However, the effectiveness of NDCs as policy instruments remains limited. Globally and domestically, they tend to reflect existing trends rather than initiate transformative change.
• India’s continued investments in coal, industrial expansion, and infrastructure gaps underscore the tension between development imperatives and climate goals.
• The coming decade will be Whether India can reconcile these contradictions—by accelerating grid reforms, curbing fossil expansion, and strengthening institutional capacity—will determine if its NDC becomes a driver of deep decarbonization or merely a record of incremental progress.

Reference

The Hindu| India’s New NDC

India’s Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)

Why in News?

Recently, India’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), approved by the Union Cabinet on March 25, 2026, marks a significant step in its climate policy framework under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

What are Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)?

• NDCs – Under the Paris Agreement, all signatory countries are required to periodically submit NDCs.
• These are voluntary pledges outlining how each country plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
• While submission is mandatory, targets themselves are not legally binding, relying instead on transparency, peer pressure, and global cooperation.
• This voluntary nature has led to mixed outcomes globally, raising concerns about their adequacy in limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
• India’s New NDC & Key Targets – India’s updated NDC sets the following goals:
  • 60% of installed electric capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035
  • 47% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP (from 2005 levels)
  • Carbon sink of 3.5–4 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent
• These targets will be formally communicated to the UNFCCC and represent an upward revision of India’s earlier commitments.
• Comparison with Previous Commitments (2022 NDC) – India’s earlier NDC, submitted in August 2022, included:
  • 50% non-fossil installed capacity by 2030
  • 45% reduction in emissions intensity
  • Carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent

What are the key differences?

• Higher ambition – Each target has been increased, reflecting greater confidence in India’s clean energy trajectory.
• Extended timeline – The shift to 2035 aligns India with global timelines, as most major economies have set 2035 targets.
• Early achievement – India has already reached about 52% non-fossil installed capacity by early 2026, surpassing its 2030 target ahead of schedule.
• This demonstrates that India’s renewable energy expansion has outpaced policy expectations.

Do NDCs actually drive climate action?

• Report – The United Nations Environment Programme Emissions Gap Report 2025 (“Off Target”) found that:
  • Current NDCs are insufficient to meet the 1.5°C goal
  • They close less than 14% of the emissions gap
  • Projected warming still ranges between 2.3°C and 2.5°C
• Similarly, assessments by organizations such as World Resources Institute and E3G highlight that:
  • Most countries include partial energy transition goals
  • None provide comprehensive fossil fuel phase-out plans
  • Fossil fuel subsidy reforms are largely absent
• Even the UAE Consensus (2023), which called for tripling renewable capacity and transitioning away from fossil fuels, has not been fully integrated into national commitments.
• The effectiveness of NDCs globally remains contested.
• Key Insight – NDCs often document ongoing progress rather than drive it.
• The rapid global growth in renewables—driven by falling costs and industrial competition (especially from China)—has occurred largely independent of NDC mandates.

What the data shows about India’s emissions trends?

• Data – Recent emissions data provides encouraging signals.
• A 2025 analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (published by Carbon Brief) found:
  • India’s CO₂ emissions grew by just 0.7% in 2025
  • This is the slowest growth rate since 2001 (excluding 2020 pandemic year)
  • Growth had previously ranged between 4% and 11% during 2021–24
• Power Sector (Key Driver of Deceleration)
  • Emissions declined by 3.8%
  • Coal-fired generation fell for the first time outside a crisis year since 1973
• Clean energy additions in 2025 included:
  • 47 GW solar
  • 6.3 GW wind
  • 4 GW hydro
  • 0.6 GW nuclear
• These additions were sufficient to meet most of the increase in electricity demand.
• Heavy Industry (Rising Emissions)
  • Steel emissions increased by 8%
  • Cement emissions rose by 10%
  • These sectors remain difficult to decarbonize and continue to drive emissions growth.
• Inflection Point for India – There is growing evidence that India’s power sector may soon reach a structural turning point.
• The Central Electricity Authority projects:
  • 786 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2035–36
  • Around 70% of total installed capacity
  • Solar alone exceeding 500 GW
• If clean energy additions consistently match or exceed demand growth, India could enter a phase where power sector emissions plateau or decline structurally.
• Warranted caution – 2025 experienced mild weather and weak industrial demand.
• Sustained trends need confirmation over multiple years.

What are the Key Contradictions in India’s Climate Strategy?

• Continued Expansion of Fossil Fuels
  • Plans for 100 GW of new coal-fired capacity.
  • $1 trillion investment in petrochemicals by 2040.
  • 50% increase in coal-based steel capacity by 2031.
  • These investments risk locking in carbon-intensive infrastructure.
• Emissions Intensity vs Absolute Emissions – India’s NDC focuses on emissions intensity (emissions per unit of GDP) rather than absolute emissions.
• This allows total emissions to continue rising.
• Justified on equity grounds, given India’s low per-capita emissions.
• However, this approach complicates alignment with global carbon budgets.
• Renewable Energy vs Grid Constraints – Over 37 GW of renewable capacity remains stranded.
• Due to transmission and grid integration challenges.
• This highlights the gap between capacity creation and actual utilization.
• Carbon Sink Commitments – India aims to create a carbon sink of 3.5–4 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent, primarily through forest cover.
• Challenges include:
  • Forest cover remains around 24%, below the 33% target.
  • Reliance on “trees outside forests,” which may be less reliable.
  • Competing land-use pressures from urbanization and industry.
• Broader Implications for Climate Policy – India’s updated NDC reflects both progress and pragmatism:
• Positives
  • Demonstrates rising ambition.
  • Aligns with global timelines.
  • Builds on strong renewable energy momentum.
  • Signals leadership among developing countries.
• Limitations
  • Does not commit to fossil fuel phase-out.
  • Relies heavily on intensity-based metrics.
  • Faces implementation bottlenecks (grid, finance, land use).

What lies ahead?

• India’s updated NDC represents a significant escalation in climate ambition, particularly in renewable energy and emissions intensity reduction.
• The country’s recent emissions data—especially the slowdown in 2025—suggests that structural changes may already be underway, driven largely by the rapid expansion of clean energy.
• However, the effectiveness of NDCs as policy instruments remains limited. Globally and domestically, they tend to reflect existing trends rather than initiate transformative change.
• India’s continued investments in coal, industrial expansion, and infrastructure gaps underscore the tension between development imperatives and climate goals.
• The coming decade will be Whether India can reconcile these contradictions—by accelerating grid reforms, curbing fossil expansion, and strengthening institutional capacity—will determine if its NDC becomes a driver of deep decarbonization or merely a record of incremental progress.

Reference

The Hindu| India’s New NDC

Shigellosis

Why in News?

An outbreak of shigellosis, or shigella infection, has been reported in Kerala, with one death and 15 cases across the State this month.

• Shigellosis – It is a highly contagious intestinal infection that causes acute diarrhoea.
• Caused by the – Shigella bacteria, one of the leading bacterial causes of diarrhoea worldwide.
• Humans are the only natural reservoir of the Shigella bacteria.
• Transmission – It is transmitted through direct, close contact with infected individuals, through the faecal-oral route and through sexual contact.
• It can also spread through contaminated food and water or contact with faeces of an infected person, for instance, while changing a diaper.
• Risk factors 
  • Children under the age of five,
  • having a weakened immune system,
  • travelling to an area with unsafe food or water,
  • living in crowded areas or in long-term care facilities or group settings/homes and experiencing homelessness.
• Symptoms
  • Incubation period – Generally 1–4 days
  • Common symptoms – Diarrhoea, which can be bloody or with mucus, lasting 3 days or more.
  • Other symptoms – Includes stomach cramps, vomiting, fever, tenesmus (feeling of needing to pass stool even when bowels are empty)
  • Symptoms usually last for five to seven days.
• Global Status – The estimated annual incidence of shigellosis is 188 million cases & approximately 164,000 cases result in death, a significant number of these being children under five.
• Treatment
  • Mild cases – It is typically self-limiting (means symptoms resolve themselves), supportive care at home (hydration, rest, ORS for children)
  • Severe cases – Diagnosis would involve a physical examination and testing of stool samples to check for the infection.
• Medicines, including antibiotics, may be prescribed for a serious infection.
• No Vaccine – There is currently no approved vaccine for shigellosis, though several candidates are undergoing clinical trials.
• Important – It is important to consult a doctor before taking any medicine, as some diarrhoea medicines are not recommended for a shigella infection and for children.
• Complications – Dehydration is one major complication, especially with children, and in severe loss of fluids can be dangerous, even leading to death.
• Some children may experience seizures, though it is unclear if it is the infection or the fever that causes the seizures.
• Less common complications – Include the infection entering the bloodstream, reactive arthritis (inflammation of the joints), rectal prolapse, and haemolytic uremic syndrome.

Reference

The Hindu | Shigellosis

Sloth Bear

Why in News?

Karnataka Forest Department officials captured a sloth bear that had been roaming in villages around Shivamogga airport, the animal had a GPS radio collar around its neck.

• Scientific Name – Melursus ursinus
• It is also known as the Indian bear, a myrmecophagous (feeds on ants or termites) bear species native to the Indian subcontinent.
• Distribution – India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
• Habitat – They inhabit the tropical lowland forests and are sometimes found in tall grasslands that provide dense cover.
• Appearance – They have long, thick, shaggy black or dark brown fur with a prominent white or cream-colored chest patch and light-colored snout.
• The few hairs on the nose can close nostrils to block insects, and lack top front teeth (incisors), which act as a "vacuum" to help them suck up insects.
• Its footprints are very similar to humans.

• Size – Adults typically grow 5 to 6 feet long and weigh between 55 and 145 kg, with males being significantly larger than females.
• Behaviour – Mostly nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), they do not hibernate.
• They are the only bear species that routinely carry their young on their backs.
• Diet – They primarily eat termites and ants (up to 95% of their diet during non-fruiting seasons), also enjoy honey, sugarcane, flowers, eggs, fruits like mangoes and figs, and flowers like Mahua.
• Conservation Status 
  • IUCN – Vulnerable.
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 – Schedule I.
  • CITES – Appendix I.
• Threats – Habitat encroachment, poaching injure more people annually than other bears, largely due to proximity to dense populations (human conflict), cubs captured for entertainment (dancing bears), though less common today.

References

1. The Hindu | Sloth Bear
2. National Zoo | Sloth Bear

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026

Why in News?

The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, which seeks to decriminalise minor offences and promote “Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living”.

• Purpose – It seeks to rationalise more than 1000 offences, removing outdated and redundant provisions, thereby improving the overall regulatory environment.
• Launched in – March 2026.
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Objectives
  • To promote Ease of Doing Business.
  • Facilitate Ease of Living.
  • Reduce litigation burden on courts.
  • Ensure time‑bound enforcement with natural justice.
• Background –  Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, which decriminalised 183 provisions in 42 Acts (19 Ministries).
• Jan Vishwas Bill, 2025 - Proposed 355 amendments in 16 Acts (10 Ministries); referred to the Select Committee.

Key Features

• Various Key Proposals – Includes amendment of 784 provisions of 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries;
• Decriminalisation of 717 provisions to promote Ease of Doing Business;
• Amendment of 67 provisions to facilitate Ease of Living;
• 67 amendments under the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994 & Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
• Shift to civil enforcement – It envisages a shift from criminal penalties for minor, technical, or procedural defaults to civil and administrative enforcement mechanisms.
• Key measures include:
  • Replacement of imprisonment provisions with monetary penalties or warnings
  • Graded enforcement mechanisms, including warnings for first-time contraventions
  • Rationalisation of fines and penalties in proportion to the nature of the offence
• Trust-Based Governance – It reflects the Government’s commitment to fostering a trust-based legal and compliance environment, where citizens and businesses are not subjected to criminal sanctions for minor non-compliance.
• Enhance Compliance – By reducing the burden of criminal liability and simplifying regulatory processes, the Bill is expected to enhance compliance, promote investment, and strengthen economic growth.
• Significance – The Bill is expected to contribute significantly to improving the ease of doing business and ease of living in the country, and aligning it with globally accepted principles of proportionate, risk-based regulation.

Reference

PIB | Jan Vishwas

Nagoya Protocol

Why in News?

India emerges as a global leader in issuing Compliance Certificates under the Nagoya Protocol.

• Nagoya Protocol – It is a legally binding international agreement as a Supplementary agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).  
• Aim – To ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
  • Unlike the Cartagena Protocol (biosafety/GMOs), the Nagoya Protocol focuses on benefit sharing and compliance.
• Adopted & Enforced – Adopted in October 2010, Nagoya, Japan, and enforced on 12 October 2014.
• Objectives
  • Ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources.
  • Contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
  • Provide legal certainty and transparency for providers and users of genetic resources.
• 3 core Pillars
  • Access - Prior Informed Consent (PIC) from the provider country.
  • Benefit‑Sharing - Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT) for sharing benefits.
  • Compliance - Ensure resources are accessed legally in line with PIC and MAT.
• Ratified Members – As of August 2025, the protocol has been ratified by 142 parties, including the European Union and most UN member states.
• Major non-parties include the USA, Canada, and Russia.
• Coverage – It covers genetic resources, traditional knowledge and benefits from utilisation.

India & Nagoya Protocol

• India ratified this protocol in 2012.
• Implementation – National Biodiversity Authority at the central level, State Biodiversity Boards/ Union territory Biodiversity Councils at the state level and Biodiversity Management Committees at the local level under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Recent achievement

• Global leader in issuing IRCCs – India has emerged as the global leader in issuing Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs), accounting for over 56% of all certificates issued worldwide.
• IRCCs – These are official proof that Prior Informed Consent (PIC) has been obtained & Mutually Agreed Terms (MATs) are established between users and providers of genetic resources.
• The details are then uploaded to the ABS Clearing-House.
• Access & Benefit Sharing (ABS) Clearing-House – India has issued 3,561 IRCCs out of a global total of 6,311, placing it far ahead of all other countries in implementing the protocol.
• Global comparison – France (964), Spain (320), Argentina (257), Panama (156), Kenya (144).
• Latest Development (2026) – India submitted its 1^st national implementation report, reaffirmed as a global leader in ABS compliance certificates.

References

1. PIB | Nagoya Protocol
2. CBD | Nagoya Protocol