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20 Nov, 2025

Tribunal Reforms Act UPSC | SC Strikes Down Provisions Over Executive Control

November 20, 2025
Sourse: The Hindu, Tags: , ,

Context
The Supreme Court invalidated key parts of the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021 for violating judicial independence by giving the Union government excessive control over tribunals’ appointments, tenure, salaries, and administration. The Court called it a “repackaged” version of the 2021 Ordinance earlier struck down.

Provisions Struck Down

  1. Executive-dominated appointments: Gave Centre a dominant role in selecting tribunal chairpersons and members.
  2. Short 4-year tenure: Arbitrary, insecure tenure enabling executive pressure.
  3. Government control over salaries & service conditions: Direct interference with judicial autonomy.
  4. Executive control weakening institutional autonomy: Provisions that curtailed independence, impartiality, and effective
    adjudication.

Direction by SC
Centre must set up the National Tribunal Commission within 4 months to ensure transparent and independent tribunal administration.

Russian Oil Imports UPSC | India Reduced Imports Even Before U.S. Tariffs

November 20, 2025
Sourse: The Hindu, Tags: , ,

Context
India’s official data show that the country had already been cutting Russian oil imports months before the U.S. imposed its 25% tariff on August 27, 2025. The decline is part of India’s own long-term strategy, not a reaction to U.S. pressure.

Why India Is Reducing Russian Oil Imports:

  • Overdependence too high — government felt reliance on Russia had become excessive.
  • Diversification strategy — India is rebalancing its crude basket.
  • Market & price risks — volatility, shipping, and sanctions-related challenges.
  • Strategic autonomy — avoiding geopolitical overexposure to one supplier.
  • Internal policy decision — cuts occurred in 8 of 10 months before the U.S. tariff.

India Saudi Relations UPSC | U.S. De-Hyphenates Riyadh From Israel

November 20, 2025
Sourse: The Hindu, Tags: , ,

Context

Saudi Crown Prince MBS’s White House visit marks a renewed phase in U.S.–Saudi relations, after the strain caused by the Khashoggi killing.

Key Observations

  1. Earlier chill after Khashoggi’s murder.
  2. Biden attempted to restore ties in 2022 (fist bump, defence commitments).
  3. U.S. offered Saudi weapons despite Israel’s displeasure.
  4. MBS aims to turn Saudi Arabia into a global tech hub with data centres.
  5. Human rights concerns have never fundamentally shaped U.S.–Saudi relations.
  6. Israel remains a complication due to absence of diplomatic ties.
  7. U.S. pushed Saudi normalisation with Israel pre-Gaza conflict.
  8. Talks were advanced but halted after Oct 7 events.
  9. Saudi insists on a credible two-state timetable.
  10. Trump now seeks deeper ties without requiring recognition of Israel.
  11. U.S. has effectively de-hyphenated Saudi Arabia from the Abraham Accords.
    Source: Page 4

Childcare Workers UPSC | Undervalued Role in Early Development Highlighted

November 20, 2025
Sourse: The Hindu, Tags: ,
  1. Why Childcare Workers Matter
    • Essential for early childhood care, nutrition, health, and school readiness.
    • Enable women’s economic participation by reducing unpaid care burden.
    • Critical in urban poor and migrant communities where formal care is limited.
    • Increasingly important in climate-affected areas due to disruptions in family livelihoods.
  2. Current Problems
    • Underpaid & undervalued despite heavy workload.
    • Treated as volunteers, not professionals → low wages (₹8,000–₹15,000).
    • Poor working conditions: inadequate facilities, unsafe environments, heavy documentation workload.
    • Lack of representation & weak collective voice.
    • Persistent feminisation of care labour → gendered undervaluation.
    • Migration & urbanisation worsen care gaps; only 10% Anganwadis function in urban areas.
  3. Climate Change Link
    • Climate shocks (heat, floods, drought) increase burden on women & children.
    • Raises demand for quality childcare services in rural and urban poor areas.
    • Women forced to migrate for work → need safe, affordable childcare systems.
  4. Evidence from India (Data)
    • 2024 Time Use Survey: women spend 4.5 hours/day on unpaid care vs. 1 hour for men.
    • Anganwadis cover 23 million children; 2.4 million workers/helpers involved.
  5. Needed Reforms (Recommendations)
    • Professionalise childcare workers: formal recognition, training, status.
    • Increase wages to reflect skilled care work.
    • Ensure safe working conditions & adequate infrastructure.
    • Expand urban childcare services, especially for migrants.
    • Align India with Scandinavian standards: well-paid, respected, professional care workforce.

    TDF
    “Despite being central to early childhood development and women’s economic participation, childcare workers in India remain underpaid and undervalued. Analyse the structural reasons behind this neglect.”(150 words)

Natural Farming UPSC | PM Says India to Become Global Hub Led by Science & Tradition

November 20, 2025
Sourse: The Hindu, Tags: , ,

What PM Modi Said:

  1. Natural farming is the need of 21st-century agriculture.
  2. India should become a global hub of natural farming, led by traditional knowledge, scientific strength, and government support.
  3. The goal is to make natural farming a fully sciencebacked movement to restore soil health damaged by chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
  4. States should use their Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to promote natural farming, especially minor millets.
  5. Natural farming must be included in education curriculums, with farmers treated as “living laboratories.”

What is Natural Farming?
Natural farming is a chemical-free, low-cost, sustainable farming method that works with natural ecological processes instead of using synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or external inputs.

Key Elements
• Restores soil health through organic matter and microorganisms
• Uses traditional knowledge + scientific validation
• Encourages multi-crop systems instead of monoculture
• Reduces dependency on chemicals and high-cost inputs

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