UPSC Daily Current Affairs| Prelim Bits 05-04-2025

Disclosure of Assets

Prelims – Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Mains (GS II) – Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance.

Why in news?

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) decided in a full court meeting that its judges will soon make their assets public to enhance transparency within the judiciary.

• Unlike government officials and politicians, judges are currently not bound to make this information public.
• Supreme Court Judges – In 1997, a resolution was adopted for the Judges of the SC to disclose their assets only to the Chief Justice.
• The disclosure includes all assets in the form of real estate or investments held in their names, in the name of their spouses, or any dependent person.
• In 2009, the full Bench of the SC resolved to declare the assets of judges on the court's website "purely on a voluntary basis."
• The apex court itself held in 2019 that the assets and liabilities of judges are not "personal information."
• In its latest resolution, the SC has collectively decided to make asset disclosures publicly accessible, reinforcing its commitment to accountability.
• High Court Judges – Out of the 770 judges in all High Courts, only 97 (13%) of these judges have publicly declared their assets and liabilities.
• Most High Courts in the country have been against the public disclosure of their judges’ assets and liabilities.
• In 2012, the Uttarakhand High Court passed a resolution stating that it “strongly objects to bring disclosure of assets by Judges under the purview of Right to Information Act”.

In 2023, Parliament's Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, and Law and Justice stated that legislation would be introduced to ensure mandatory disclosure of assets and liabilities by judges of the SC and High Courts.

• Challenges – Declarations by current judges are not available.
• The website only gives a list of 28 judges of the court (out of 33) “who have submitted their declarations of assets” to the CJI.
• Declarations by former judges have also been removed from the website.

Measures taken for disclosure of Assets

• For Public servants – Are often mandated to declare their assets, and this information is often easily accessible to ordinary citizens.
• Right to Information Act, 2005 requires government officials to annually declare their assets to their respective cadre-controlling authorities.
• For state Bureaucrats – Several states such as Gujarat, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh, have provisions to ensure state-level bureaucrats declare their assets.
• For Ministers – Since UPA-2 government (2009-14), it has become a norm for Union Ministers, including the Prime Minister to submit their declarations to the PM’s Office.
  • Many state governments have followed this suit.
• For elected members – Members of Parliament submit their declarations of Assets to the Speaker (for Lok Sabha MPs) and the Chairperson of the House (for Rajya Sabha MPs).
• They can generally be accessed through RTI applications and this is similar for most states.
• For election contestants – Anyone contesting an election to Parliament or any state Assembly or Council must publicly declare their assets and liabilities as a part of the nomination process.
• This provision was mandated by the Supreme Court in 2002.

Reference

The Indian express | Disclosure of Assets to public

Fiscal Health Index (FHI)

Prelims – Economic and Social Development.

Mains (GS II & III) – GS I (Government Policies & Interventions NITI Aayog) |GS III (Inclusive Growth Growth & Development)

Why in News?

Niti Aayog’s Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2025 has ranked Odisha as the top-performing state in terms of fiscal stability.

• Initiative by - NITI Aayog.
• Aim - To evolve an understanding of the fiscal health of states in India.
• The FHI analysis covers 18 major states that drive the Indian economy in terms of their contribution to India’s GDP, demography, total public expenditure, revenues, and overall fiscal stability.
• Objectives - To provide a comparative analysis of fiscal health across Indian states through standardized metrics.
• To identify areas of strength and concern in states' fiscal management practices.
• To promote transparency, accountability, and prudent fiscal management through empirical assessment.
• To assist policymakers in making informed decisions aimed at enhancing fiscal sustainability and resilience.
• Indicators - Revenue Generation and Mobilization - Assessment of states' own revenue receipts, tax buoyancy, and non-tax revenue generation.
• Expenditure Management and Prioritization - Evaluation of efficiency in expenditure allocation, prioritization of capital expenditure, and adherence to fiscal discipline.
• Debt Management - Analysis of states’ debt-to-GSDP ratios, interest payment burdens, and overall sustainability of debt portfolios.
• Fiscal Deficit Management - Measurement of states’ fiscal deficit as a percentage of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and adherence to statutory limits.
• Overall Fiscal Sustainability - Composite analysis of revenue, expenditure, deficit, and debt indicators to gauge long-term fiscal health

Key Findings

• Top Performers - Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Goa excel in Debt Index, Debt Sustainability, and Revenue Mobilization.
• Revenue Mobilization - Odisha, Jharkhand, Goa, and Chhattisgarh effectively mobilize non-tax revenue (average 21% of Total Revenue).
• Aspirational States - Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Kerala face fiscal challenges like poor debt sustainability and high deficits.
• Capital Expenditure - High allocation (27%) by Odisha, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh; Low allocation (10%) by West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan.
• Debt Concerns - West Bengal and Punjab face growing debt burdens and increasing debt-to-GSDP ratios.

Reference

PIB | Fiscal Health Index 2025

New Pamban Bridge

Prelims – Current Events of National Importance.

Mains (GS III) – Infrastructure.

Why in News?

PM Modi to inaugurate New Pamban Rail Bridge on Ram Navami.

Old Bridge

• Pamban Bridge was a railway bridge that connected the town of Rameswaram on Pamban Island with Mandapam in mainland India.
• Built in – 1914 by British government.
• It is India’s first sea bridge, built for trade.
• It remained India’s longest sea link until the Bandra-Worli sea link opened in 2010.
• Bascule Mechanism - It had a double-leaf bascule section with a Scherzer rolling-type lift span that used to be raised to let ships pass.
• It is considered a technical marvel as the bridge was constructed with lesser availability and the corrosive environment it withstood.
• Life span – 108 years until 2022.

New Bridge

• Built by - Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).

• The new bridge is India’s first vertical lift sea bridge, which will replace the century-old original Pamban Bridge.
• It is a state-of-the-art infrastructure project, ensuring faster rail movement and seamless maritime navigation.
• Expected lifespan - 58 years.
• Key Features
• The bridge features a vertical lift span that can be raised in just 5 minutes to allow ships to pass.
• Built with stainless steel reinforcements and Polysiloxane Paint, the bridge is designed to withstand harsh marine conditions.
• Trains can now travel at speeds of up to 75 kmph, a much higher speed from the previous 10 kmph limit.
• With a clearance of 22 meters above sea level, surpasses the old bridge’s 1.5-meter clearance, allowing larger vessels to pass.
• Designed to support future railway electrification, the bridge ensures seamless upgrades to modern rail systems.

References

1. The Indian Express | New Pamban Bridge
2. Tamil Nadu Tourism | Pamban Bridge

Euphaea Wayanadensis

Prelims – Bio-diversity.

Mains (GS III) – Conservation.

Why in News?

A group of researchers have discovered a new species of damselfly in the Wayanad landscape of the Western Ghats, Kerala.

• It is Kerala’s 191^st recorded odonate species.
• Family – Euphaeidae.
• The team first observed the distinct morphotype of Euphaea wayanadensis at the Kalindi River, Thirunelli, in Wayanad district in 2013.
• Morphology - A longer black hind wing patch, broader and uninterrupted humeral and ante humeral stripes in males, and unique structural traits in the male genital vesicle.
• Genetic analysis also played a crucial role in confirming the species’ status.
• Habitat - The species preferred fast-flowing streams with rocks and aquatic vegetation with evergreen and semi-evergreen tree growth on the banks to thrive.

Reference

The Hindu | Euphaea wayanadensis

Arctic Council

Prelims – Current events of International Importance.

Mains (GS II) – Global Groupings.

Why in News?

International observers have recently raised concerns about escalating tensions in the Arctic.

• It is an intergovernmental forum for cooperation and coordination on Arctic issues, including scientific research.
• Formed in - 1996 through the Ottawa Declaration.
• It promotes cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic Indigenous peoples and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues.
• Members (8) – Canada, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Russia, Sweden and the USA.
• These nations exercise sovereignty over the Arctic land and can also exploit resources within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).
• Permanent Participants - 6 organizations representing the indigenous people of the Arctic region.
• Observer states (38) - Other countries or national groups.
• India is currently an Observer member on the Arctic Council.
• All decision-making happens through consensus between the 6 members, and in consultation with the permanent participants.
• The 6 Working Groups carry out the Council's activities 

1. Arctic Contaminants Action Program
2. Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme
3. Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna
4. Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response
5. Protection of the Arctic Marine
6. Environment Sustainable Development Working Group

• Northeast Passage – It is a maritime route through the Arctic along the northern coast of Eurasia, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, primarily off the coast of northern Siberia (Russia).
• It's also known as the Northern Sea Route.
• Strategic importance of Arctic Region – Natural Resources - The region holds 13% of the world's undiscovered oil reserves and 30% of its untapped natural gas reserves.
• Beneath the frozen landscape lie untapped reserves of natural resources such as fossil fuels, rare earth elements, phosphates, and copper as well as lucrative fishing grounds.
• Alternative sea routes - The melting of Arctic sea ice has also prompted interest into the alternate trade routes like Northeast Passage and Northwest passage by passing suez canal.
• Geopolitical interests - Unlike Antarctic, Russia, the United States (Alaska), Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Iceland, Finland, and Sweden have their military bases in the Arctic.
• Lacks legal safeguards - Unlike the Antarctic, which is environmentally protected by a dedicated international treaty, the Arctic lacks similar legal safeguards and is primarily governed by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Reference

The Hindu | Why are tensions high in the Arctic?

Gantenerumab, drug on early-onset Alzheimer’s disease

Prelims – General Science.

Mains (GS III) – Achievements of Indians in science & technology.

Why in News?

A recent study found that gantenerumab, experimental drug reduced the build-up of amyloid plaques one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease in the brain.

Alzheimer's disease

• It is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects memory and thinking skills, eventually leading to a loss of the ability to perform simple tasks.
• It is the most common cause of dementia, and is characterized by the abnormal buildup of proteins in the brain, forming plaques and tangles that disrupt brain cell function.
• Alzheimer’s disease is usually associated with old age. But around 5%-10% of all Alzheimer’s cases occur in people under the age of 65.
• Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease – It progresses more rapidly and often strikes people in the prime of their lives.
• Early-onset Alzheimer’s is often linked to genetic mutations in 3 specific genes.
• These mutations cause the brain to produce excessive amounts of amyloid beta, a protein that clumps together to form plaques.
• These plaques disrupt brain function, leading to memory loss.

Gantenerumab

• Recent Trial - Gantenerumab is an experimental drug, initially discontinued but has now shown promise in new clinical trials.
• The recent clinical trial was a randomised, placebo-controlled study to evaluate gantenerumab’s effects on people with early-onset Alzheimer’s.
• Researchers monitored changes in the participants’ cognitive abilities, and also used brain imaging and blood biomarkers.
• Gantenerumab – It is a type of antibody called a monoclonal antibody, designed to target and remove amyloid plaques in the brain through a subcutaneous administration.
• Developed by - Hoffmann-La Roche.
• It works by binding to amyloid plaques, promoting their clearance through a process called phagocytosis, where microglia (brain's immune cells) engulf and remove the plaques.
• The drug works by engaging microglial cells. Microglia constantly monitor the brain for damage and remove harmful substances, including amyloid beta.
• However, in people with Alzheimer’s disease, microglia often fail to clear plaques efficiently.
• Gantenerumab enhances this natural defense mechanism by tagging amyloid plaques, making them easier for the microglia to recognize and break down.

Reference

The Indian Express | Early-onset Alzheimer’s drug