Established as ‘antidote’ to ‘linguistic hostility and bitterness’: what are zonal councils?

•  Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 27th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Pune on Saturday (February 22). We look at the formation of these bodies in the 1950s as an ‘antidote’ for the linguistic hostilities and bitterness from the re-organisation of the states on a linguistic basis, and what their functions are.

Idea mooted by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru

• The idea of creation of Zonal Councils was mooted by the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956 when during the course of debate on the report of the States Reorganisation Commission, he suggested that the states proposed to be reorganised may be grouped into four or five zones having an Advisory Council “to develop the habit of cooperative working” among these states, say the records of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• “This suggestion was made by Pandit Nehru at a time when linguistic hostilities and bitterness as a result of re-organisation of the states on linguistic patterns were threatening the very fabric of our nation.
• As an antidote to this situation, it was suggested that a high-level advisory forum should be set up to minimise the impact of these hostilities and to create healthy inter-state and Centre-State environment with a view to solving inter-state problems and fostering balanced socio economic development of the respective zones.
• In the light of the vision of Pandit Nehru, five Zonal Councils were set up as per the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the MHA records say.

Members of the Zonal Councils

• The present composition of the Zonal Councils is as follows:
• The Northern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Union Territory of Chandigarh.
• The Central Zonal Council, comprising the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• The Eastern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, and West Bengal.
• The Western Zonal Council, comprising the States of Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
• The Southern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
• North Eastern Council was set up under the North Eastern Council Act, 1972 with Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland as its members. The state of Sikkim which was earlier in the Eastern Zonal Council was included in the North Eastern Council in 2002.

Composition of Zonal Councils

• Each Zonal Council has a Standing Committee consisting of Chief Secretaries of the member states. These Standing Committees meet from time to time to resolve the issues or to do necessary groundwork for further meetings of the Zonal Councils. Senior officers of the Planning Commission and other Central Ministries are also associated with the meetings depending upon necessity.
• The composition of each council is as follows:
• The Union Home Minister is the chairman of each of these council.
• The Chief Ministers of the states included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone by rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time.
• Chief Minister and two other ministers as nominated by the Governor from each of the states and two members from Union Territories included in the zone
• . One person nominated by the planning commission for each of the Zonal Councils, Chief Secretaries and another officer nominated by each of the states included in the Zone.
• In 2018, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the nomination of the Union Home Minister as ex-officio chairman of North Eastern Council and the Minister Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) to serve as Vice Chairman of the Council.

Role of Zonal Councils

• The MHA has said that the Zonal Councils provide an excellent forum where irritants between Centre and States and among states can be resolved through free and frank discussions and consultations.
• The councils act as regional forums of cooperative endeavour for states linked with each other economically, politically and culturally.
• The zonal councils can discuss matters of common interest in the field of economic and social planning, matters concerning border disputes, linguistic minorities or inter-state transport and matters connected with the reorganization of the states under the States Reorganisation Act.

India remains cornerstone of UN peacekeeping, its women peacekeepers indispensable: UN peacekeeping chief

• India remains a cornerstone of UN peacekeeping and its women peacekeepers have demonstrated that missions with greater female representation improve operational outcomes and contribute to lasting peace, the United Nations peacekeeping chief has said.
• UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix will visit New Delhi this week to attend the conference ‘Enhancing the Role of Women in Peacekeeping: A Global South Experience’ being organised by India on February 24-25.

More women in peacekeeping

• “More women in peacekeeping means a more effective peacekeeping. India has long been a leader in advancing women, peace and security in peacekeeping missions —not only as a top troop and police contributor but also as a pioneer in advancing gender parity, its leadership in training and capacity building and its commitment to increasing women’s participation in missions,”
• India’s women peacekeepers
•  “India’s women peacekeepers have proven to be indispensable in UN peacekeeping, forging trust between our uniformed personnel and local communities in some of the world’s most challenging conflict zones. 
• “Their presence contributes to the success of peacekeeping efforts. Through community engagement, they build crucial connections with local women, build trust, contribute to early warning and protection efforts, improve humanitarian outreach and act as role models for women and girls in the communities they serve,” he said.
• In Abyei, Indian women peacekeepers have adapted patrol routes and provided targeted support to marginalised groups, ensuring safer environments for women and children.
• Their ability to navigate cultural sensitivities and build genuine relationships enhances both mission success and community healing, he said.
• Beyond their on-the-ground contributions, Indian women peacekeepers are “pioneers" in gender-inclusive peacekeeping.
• “Their deployment across various missions highlights how diverse teams lead to stronger, more effective operations. Their courage and commitment inspire not only their fellow peacekeepers but also the local populations they serve,”

India in UN peacekeeping missions

• India ranks among the top contributors to UN peacekeeping missions with 5,384 personnel, including 153 women, across 10 missions as of September 2024.
• India deployed the first all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU) to Liberia in 2007. Today, 20.45% of its deployed military observers and staff officers are women. Additionally, India’s Engagement Platoons in the United Nations Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) “exemplify” the impact of women in peacekeeping.  He noted that Deputy Commander of the Female Engagement Team at UNISFA Captain Seema Gowdar’s team in Abyei has strengthened civilian protection and community trust.
• Another “prime example” of women leadership in peacekeeping is Major Radhika Sen, whose "outstanding work” in MONUSCO earned her the 2023 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
• “Her dedication exemplifies how gender-inclusive leadership strengthens peacekeeping and sets the stage for future generations of women in uniform,” he said.
• Beyond its deployments, India leads in training through the Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in Delhi, which sets "global standards" for pre-deployment and specialized courses. India actively supports efforts to counter misinformation and hate speech, collaborating with the UN to refine policies, command structures, and training. 
• “India’s impact goes beyond personnel—it is shaping training, leadership, inclusion, accountability, and strategic communications. As peacekeeping evolves, India’s contributions remain essential to mission success, civilian protection, and lasting peace,” he said.
• Lacroix said that in 2007, when India deployed the first all-female FPU to Liberia, it set a “global precedent” and today the country continues this legacy.
• He said that the conference, which is being organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and CUNPK, serves as a platform to reinforce that commitment while fostering collaboration, peer support, and professional development among women peacekeepers.

Challenges peacekeeping faces

• It also has a special resonance for UN Peacekeeping as it will be an opportunity to reflect on the challenges peacekeeping faces and how best to address them at the peacekeeping Ministerial level meeting in Berlin in May.
• Against the backdrop of increased attacks on UN peacekeepers who are working in increasingly hostile environments, Lacroix underscored that peacekeeper safety is a shared responsibility.
• “Troop- and police-contributing countries must hold attackers accountable and strengthen multilateral efforts to protect personnel.” "As conflicts grow more complex, attacks on peacekeepers have increased, making decisive action essential to protect those who serve global peace and security,” he said.  Furthermore, he said that investing in advanced technology and training is key to adapting to modern threats.
• “AI-driven systems, data analytics, and cyber tools can enhance intelligence gathering, improve mission performance, and strengthen protection in hostile environments.” He however stressed that safety is not just about equipment but relies on coordination and trust. "Stronger intelligence-sharing and deeper engagement with local communities can provide early warnings and reduce risks,” he said.
• He added that women peacekeepers play a vital role in this, fostering trust and gathering critical insights that enhance mission security. “Increasing their leadership and operational roles will further strengthen peacekeeping. By breaking barriers, building partnerships, and equipping peacekeepers with the right tools and support, we can create forces that not only protect but lead the way to a safer, more just world. Their safety is not just about preserving lives—it upholds the very principles of peace and security,” he said.
• The UN peacekeeping chief called on UN Member States to increase efforts to nominate women candidates for senior uniformed leadership positions, especially in the military.
• Currently, of the 11 peacekeeping operations, only one is led by a uniformed woman: Major General Anita Asmah of Ghana recently deployed as Head of Mission and Force Commander of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
• “We need more trailblazing uniformed women like her and we need women nominated at all roles, including in operations and leadership, where they are currently underrepresented.

 Decoded: Why Tamil Nadu is engaged in a tussle with Centre over NEP

• Tamil Nadu has once again opposed the Centre''s National Education Policy (NEP), accusing the BJP-led government of pushing Hindi onto the state. The latest row erupted after the Centre withheld Rs 2,150 crore meant for Tamil Nadu after the MK Stalin-led government refused to implement the NEP in the state
• According to Chief Minister MK Stalin, the opposition to the NEP was not merely due to the "attempt to impose Hindi" but also because of factors that would have serious consequences for the future of students and the social justice system.

Here''s explaining why Tamil Nadu is opposed to NEP:

Core concerns

• 1. Three-language formula:The NEP 2020 recommends a three-language formula, suggesting that students learn three languages, with at least two being native to India. Tamil Nadu has historically adhered to a two-language policy, teaching only Tamil and English in schools. The state perceives the introduction of a third language as an attempt to impose Hindi, which has been a sensitive issue since the anti-Hindi agitations of the 20th century. 
• Both the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK have expressed strong reservations against this aspect of the NEP, emphasising the importance of preserving Tamil linguistic heritage and opposing any form of Hindi imposition.
• 2. Centralisation and state autonomy:Tamil Nadu argues that the NEP''s framework undermines the state''s autonomy over its educational policies. Education in India is a concurrent subject, allowing both the state and central governments to legislate on it. The state contends that the NEP imposes a uniform national policy that doesn''t account for regional socio-economic and cultural differences, thereby infringing upon the state''s rights to tailor education to its unique context. 
• 3. Four-year undergraduate programme:The NEP proposes restructuring undergraduate programmes into a four-year course with multiple exit options, allowing students to leave with a certificate after one year, a diploma after two years, or a degree after completing the full program. 
• Critics in Tamil Nadu fear that this structure may lead to increased dropout rates, as students might opt for early exit points, thereby affecting the quality and depth of higher education. Also, there are concerns about the state''s readiness in terms of infrastructure and faculty to implement such a system effectively.
• 4. Common entrance exams:Tamil Nadu strongly opposes the entrance exam policies under NEP 2020, particularly CUET and NEET, arguing that they disadvantage state-board students and undermine social justice. The state rejects CUET for university admissions, claiming it favours CBSE students and increases reliance on coaching centres. 

 Why did Centre withhold funds for Tamil Nadu?

• The Centre''s decision to link the release of funds under schemes like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to the implementation of the NEP has intensified the controversy. Tamil Nadu alleges that over Rs 2,150 crore in SSA funds have been withheld because of its refusal to adopt the NEP and the three-language policy.

What is the Centre''s stand?

• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan called out the DMK government''s stand, saying that Stalin’s letter to the PM goes against the idea of cooperative federalism.
• “Tamil Nadu has always been a torchbearer of social and educational progress, pioneering some of the most transformative reforms in India. However, the continued opposition to the NEP 2020 for political reasons deprives students, teachers, and educational institutions in Tamil Nadu of the immense opportunities and resources that this policy offers. The policy is designed to be flexible, allowing states to customise its implementation to suit their unique educational needs.

Only the second animal to find its way by polarised moonlight found

• Many nocturnal animals, including insects like ants and bees, follow the moon’s position to find their way when they go foraging.
• But the moon waxes and wanes in a cycle and can be obscured by clouds or overhanging tree canopies, so the animals can’t always directly track its position.
• Now, for the first time, scientists at Macquarie University, Sydney, have found that two nocturnal bull ant species (Myrmecia pyriformis and Myrmecia midas) make their way at night with the help of polarised moonlight, which, while being dimmer even than moonlight, contains unusual patterns that can point the way.
• This is also only the second instance of an animal being found to use polarised moonlight to orient itself.

 Returning late

• Seen from the ground, both sunlight and moonlight contain characteristic polarisation patterns. The way these patterns are oriented in the sky, rather than the location of the light source alone, allows animals to use it as a compass.
• The study found the nocturnal bull ants were able to detect and use polarised moonlight throughout the lunar cycle for foraging, even under a crescent moon when moonlight is 80% less intense.
• The polarisation patterns in moonlight are also a million-times dimmer than in sunlight. So while many animals are known to use the latter, very few use the former. The first animal found to use polarised moonlight was the dung beetle.
• Scientists already knew M. pyriformis and M. midas ants used polarised sunlight to navigate, but this light fades as the sun sets. The study’s researchers were also aware most of the foraging M. midas ants returned overnight while the night-time activity of M. pyriformis ants increased on full-moon nights.
• The e-vector pattern
• The sun and the moon both emit unpolarised light. Light is an electromagnetic wave, with the electric field oscillating perpendicular to the magnetic field, and both fields oscillating perpendicular to the wave’s direction of motion.
• When the light moves through the earth’s atmosphere, it is scattered by particles in the air and becomes polarised. Polarisation denotes a specific orientation of the electric field.
• Both sunlight and moonlight scattered in the atmosphere become linearly polarised, meaning the electric field oscillates in a single, fixed plane perpendicular to the wave’s motion. The scattered light is also oriented 90º to the incident light.
• As numerous light waves are scattered in this way, an unusual pattern emerges in the sky when seen through a filter that can detect polarised light. This is called the e-vector pattern.
• “[W]hen the sun/moon is near the horizon, the pattern of polarised skylight is particularly simple, with uniform direction of polarisation approximately parallel to the north-south axes,”.

What is Polarised Light?

• Polarized light is light that travels in a specific direction & it is scattered after hitting particles in the atmosphere.
• Normally, light travels in all directions, but when it contacts dust or water droplets, it becomes polarized. That means it vibrates in a specific direction.
• Moonlight behaves in a similar way to sunlight. Even moonlight is also sunlight reflecting off the moon. But it also becomes polarized like sunlight when it passes through Earth''s atmosphere.
• Some animals can detect these polarized light patterns. This is known as e-vector patterns

Under the moon

• The researchers created linearly polarised light and cast it on a population of nocturnal bull ants in the wild, then tracked the ants’ ability to orient themselves relative to their two nests, located more than 50 metres apart.
• Under full, waxing, and waning moon conditions, the researchers rotated their polariser clockwise by 45° and later counterclockwise by 45°. In each instance, the e-vector of the light falling on the ants changed.
• The ants responded by adjusting their path to the left and later to the right. Once the foragers crossed the area where the researchers’ light was being cast, they adjusted once more to reorient themselves according to the e-vector pattern in the sky.
• The researchers used paired tests to compare the magnitude of these shifts between the initial orientation and the filter exit and again between the filter exit and the reorientation. The paired tests are a statistical tool with which researchers can determine whether paired observations — shift magnitudes in this case — differ between two samples.
• While the nocturnal bull ants were found to use polarised moonlight throughout the lunar cycle, their heading shift magnitudes dropped during the waning phases. The researchers called this finding “unexpected”.
• Likewise, foraging ants had substantially higher shift magnitudes during the waxing full moon and waxing quarter moon phases compared to the waning phases.
• Under the new moon, when the ambient moonlight e-vector disappeared, the paths of the foraging ants didn’t change significantly when the polarisation filter was rotated in either direction. The ants also didn’t reorient their paths to a meaningful degree once they exited the filter.
• The researchers used another statistical test to compare the differences in shift magnitudes when the filter was rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise across lunar phases.

 How big a health hazard is Sangam water with high level of faecal coliform

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has raised concerns over high faecal coliform bacteria levels  and unsafe BOD Levels in the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in Prayagraj as millions are taking a dip at the Sangam during the Maha Kumbh.
• This came after a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), filed on February 3, indicated high levels of faecal bacteria at various points along both the rivers near Prayagraj''s Sangam, especially on Shahi Snan days. 

But what does high levels of faecal bacteria in water mean, and how big a health hazard is it?

• Levels of faecal coliform, which get in water due to the mixing of human or livestock excreta, indicate water quality and help in monitoring the presence of disease-causing bacteria in any water sample.

What is BOD?

• According to a PTI report, BOD refers to the amount of oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to break down organic material in a water body. A higher BOD level indicates more organic content in the water.
• Giving a more detailed description, the United States Geological Survey says, “Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) represents the amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria and other microorganisms while they decompose organic matter under aerobic (oxygen is present) conditions at a specified temperature.”
• This means that a higher BOD level indicates the presence of more organic matter in a water body.
• A small amount of dissolved oxygen, up to about ten molecules of oxygen per million of water, is crucial to maintain aquatic life and aesthetic quality of water bodies such as lakes and streams, says the USGS.
• For river water, if the BOD level is less than 3 milligrams a litre, it is considered safe for bathing.

WHAT IS FAECAL COLIFORM, AND WHAT ARE SAFE LEVELS?

• "The strength of faecal matter in sewage is monitored by coliform counts, a water quality parameter that acts as an indicator of pathogens that most commonly cause diarrhoea, as well as typhoid and a whole host of enteric diseases
• A 2004 committee formed by the Ministry of Urban Development recommended that the desirable limit of faecal coliform should be at 500 MPN/100ml and said that the maximum permissible limit should be capped at 2,500 MPN/100ml for discharge into the river.
• MPN/100ml denotes the most probable number per 100 millilitre of water sample.
• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change''s CPCB, in its Maha Kumbh 2025 dashboard on the water quality at the various spots along the Ganga and the Yamuna also notes that the faecal coliform in the water should be less than or equal to 2,500 MPN/100ml.
• In the last recorded data on faecal coliform from February 4, the CPCB reported its levels in the Ganga at 11,000 MPN/100ml before Shastri Bridge and 7,900 MPN/100ml at Sangam.

 HOW DANGEROUS IS FAECAL COLIFORM?

• Though coliform bacteria itself isn''t a cause of illness, it indicates the presence of pathogenic organisms of faecal origin like bacteria, viruses, or protozoa, in water samples, the CSE report explains.
• Dr Atul Kakar, Senior Consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine at New Delhi''s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said that "the level of sanitisation and preparedness required is not up to the mark, and the bacteria from our stool are entering the water".
• "Therefore, it is not safe for consumption or even for bathing. This is what the report has indicated," .
• "Whenever there is infected water, it can lead to various waterborne diseases, including skin diseases, and ailments like loose motions, diarrhoea, vomiting, typhoid, and cholera," .
• Contamination of water with faecal coliform bacteria in drinking-water, according to a paper in the World Health Organisation, "has been implicated in the spread of important infectious and parasitic diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis, giardiasis, guinea worm and schistosomiasis.
• Such bacterial contamination on "the surface of water bodies poses a health risk in its reuse, be it for a variety of domestic purposes including safe drinking water, as well as exposing farmers who often use raw sewage or polluted streams to meet their irrigation needs.
• Bathing in waters with high levels of fecal coliform bacteria "increases the chance of developing illness (fever, nausea, or stomach cramps) from pathogens entering the body through the mouth, nose, ears, or cuts in the skin", according to KnowYourH2O, a US-based programme working on promoting the use of safe drinking water.
• Typhoid fever, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, dysentery, and ear infections, could also result from bathing or swimming in water with high fecal coliform, it adds.
• So, bathing in waters with levels of fecal bacteria above 2,500 MPN/100ml has health risks involved..

 RBI $10 bn buy-sell swap: how it could boost liquidity, curb volatility, beef up dollar reserves

• After conducting a $5 billion dollar-rupee swap less than a month ago, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday (February 21) decided to inject rupee liquidity for longer duration through another $10 billion dollar-rupee buy-sell swap arrangement.
• The central bank’s initiative is designed to provide a durable solution to the system’s liquidity requirements, while also stabilising the value of the rupee and bolstering the nation’s foreign exchange kitty.

Why is it being done?

• Dilip Parmar, Research Analyst, HDFC Securities, said the swap mechanism can help stabilize the currency by providing immediate liquidity support, thereby mitigating the pressure on the rupee during periods of foreign fund outflows.
•  This temporary relief can bolster market confidence and prevent excessive volatility in the exchange rate. It will also beef up the dollar reserves of the RBI at a time when it’s intervening in the forex market to prevent a slide in the rupee.
• The central bank will be conducting the $10 billion swap auction for a tenor of 3 years next week.

How serious is the liquidity problem?

• The Indian banking system encountered its worst liquidity crunch in more than a decade in January 2025. The liquidity deficit peaked at Rs 3.15 lakh crore on January 23, its lowest level in nearly 15 years.
•  As was the case in the preceding month, tax outflows, GST payments and the RBI’s forex interventions to stabilize the rupee and currency in circulation (CIC) outflows significantly impacted cash flows in the banking system.
•  The deficit led to increased dependence by banks on market borrowing, thereby keeping interbank call money rates — rate at which banks lend to each other — consistently above the policy repo rate of 6.50 per cent, according to Crisil.
• The RBI has been selling dollars to stabilise the rupee, thereby sucking out an equivalent amount in rupee from the system. RBI’s outstanding net forward sales of the dollar surged to $67.93 billion as of December 31, 2024, as the central bank intensified its efforts to stabilize the rupee. In the spot market, the RBI’s dollar sales stood at $45 billion in the third quarter — $15.15 billion in December 2024, $20.22 billion in November and $ 9.27 billion in October

How does swap work?

• The swap is in the nature of a simple buy-sell foreign exchange swap from the Reserve Bank side. A bank will sell US dollars to the Reserve Bank and simultaneously agrees to buy the same amount of US dollars at the end of the swap period.
• In the first leg of the transaction, the bank will sell dollars to the Reserve Bank at FBIL Reference Rate of the auction date.
• The settlement of the first leg of the swap will take place on spot basis from the date of transaction and the Reserve Bank will credit the rupee funds to the current account of the successful bidder and the bidder needs to deliver dollars into the RBI’s nostro account.
•  In the reverse leg of the swap transaction, rupee funds will have to be returned to the Reserve Bank along with the swap premium to get the dollars back.

What were the RBI measures to meet liquidity so far?

• The RBI had infused over Rs 3.6 lakh crore of durable liquidity into the banking system in the last five weeks through debt purchases, forex swaps and longer-duration repos.
• The central bank resorted to several measures during the course of January to inject liquidity into the system, including several variable rate repo (VRR) auctions of varying tenors and a series of daily VRR auctions conducted between January 16 and January 23.
• The RBI also announced additional measures, such as a $5 billion dollar-rupee swap on January 31, as well as open market operations (OMO) purchase auctions of government securities aggregating Rs 60,000 crore and a 56-day VRR auction scheduled in February, to help overcome the tightness in liquidity.

 Ajit Singh, Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement

• Farmers protesting at the Punjab and Haryana borders are observing February 23 as Pagri Sambhal Diwas, in honour of Ajit Singh, paternal uncle of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

What was the ‘Pagri Sambhal Jatta’ movement? 

•  In 1907, Ajit Singh started the Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement in protest against three agricultural laws imposed by the British. ‘Pagri Sambhal Jatta’ literally translates to ‘take care of your turban, o farmer’, and invokes self respect and honour.
• The three laws were: The Punjab Land Alienation Act, 1900; The Punjab Land Colonisation Act, 1906; and The Doab Bari Act, 1907.
• The Punjab Land Alienation Act restricted the rights of farmers to sell or mortgage their land freely. It favored moneylenders and landlords, making it difficult for peasants to escape debt. The Punjab Land Colonisation Act gave the British control over land ownership in the newly developed Chenab Colony (now in Pakistan). Farmers had to transfer their land to the British government upon death instead of passing it to their heirs. The Doab Bari Act, 1907, too, took away farmers’ ownership rights over their lands, effectively reducing them to contract workers.
• Along with this, the British raised taxes on agricultural land and water for irrigation, increasing the financial burden on farmers. Many small farmers and peasants were forced into debt and land loss.
• Soon, farmers started protests against these laws, demanding their repeal. Ajit Singh and Kishan Singh (Bhagat Singh’s father) formed the Bharat Mata Society, a revolutionary group for farmers. Lala Lajpat Rai and other leaders also supported the movement. The slogan “Pagri Sambhal Jatta” was coined by Banke Dayal, a nationalist poet, and became a symbol of resistance.

Who was Ajit Singh?

• Born on February 23, 1881 at Khatkar Kalan village in Punjab (it is now part of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district), Ajit Singh was a prominent freedom fighter, revolutionary, and nationalist leader. He played a significant role in inspiring his nephew Bhagat Singh.
• Ajit was the elder brother of Kishan Singh, Bhagat Singh’s father. From 1909 to 1947 he remained in exile, as he was targeted by the British for his role in the Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement. He came to India in March 1947 but died in Dalhousie due to ill health on August 15, 1947, the day India got independence

 Impact of the movement

• Pagri Sambhal Jatta was one of the first major farmer movements against British rule, laying the foundation for future resistance in Punjab. The agitation led to mass protests and civil disobedience. Due to intense pressure, the British government withdrew some of the oppressive clauses of the laws.
• The movement inspired future protests, including the Ghadar Movement and Bhagat Singh’s revolutionary activities.
• Both Ajit Singh and Lala Lajpat Rai were arrested in May 1907 and exiled to Burma (now Myanmar), but due to public pressure, were released in November 1907. Ajit Singh, however, escaped to Persia, then Turkey, Brazil, Germany, and later settled in Italy. He worked closely with revolutionaries in Europe and was associated with Lala Hardayal and Madame Cama.

Pagri Sambhal Diwas

• From 2021 onwards, February 23 has been observed as Pagri Sambhal Diwas. In 2021, farmers were protesting at the Delhi borders seeking repeal of the now-scrapped three farm laws, and hence had observed Ajit Singh’s birth anniversary as Pagri Sambhal Diwas. At present, farmers have been protesting at Punjab and Haryana borders since February 13, 2024, seeking MSP as a legal guarantee among other demands.
• “Rich tributes are paid to him. Pagri Sambhal Jatta has been a slogan of resistance since 1907,”.

India and Argentina sign agreement for lithium resource development: Ministry of mines

• India and Argentina on Wednesday signed an agreement for deeper collaboration in exploration and resource development of critical minerals, particularly lithium, an official statement said.
• The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy, Governor of Catamarca, Argentina, Ral Alejandro Jalil, here.
• Both sides discussed expanding cooperation in the mining sector, particularly in lithium exploration and investment opportunities, the Ministry of Mines said in a statement.
• "A key highlight of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL), a PSU under the Ministry of Mines, and the Provincial Government of Catamarca, Argentina, which will pave the way for deeper collaboration in exploration and resource development of critical minerals
• Argentina, known for its vast lithium reserves as part of the ''Lithium Triangle,'' is a crucial partner for India in securing essential minerals required for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage.
• The discussions covered ongoing lithium exploration efforts by Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) & Greenko in Catamarca and the possibilities of increasing participation of Indian companies in mining projects of Argentina.
• Both sides explored avenues for investment, long-term supply agreements, and joint ventures that would help strengthen India''s access to this critical mineral.

SC stays Lokpal order giving itself jurisdiction over HC judges

• The Supreme Court on Thursday (February 20, 2025) stayed a Lokpal order bringing High Court judges under its jurisdiction while terming the top anti-corruption ombudsman’s interpretation “very disturbing”.
• Taking suo motu cognisance of the January 27 Lokpal order, a Special Bench of Justices B.R. Gavai, Surya Kant and A.S. Oka, who are three senior judges of the Supreme Court and Collegium members, said it impacted the independence of the judiciary.
• The Bench, in a brief hearing, was offered assistance by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and B.H. Marlapalle even as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the Union government.
• The Bench issued notice to the Centre, the Registrar of Lokpal and the complainant on whose plea the January 27 order was passed. The court listed the case on March 18. It injuncted the complainant from disclosing the name of the High Court judge in question and ordered the former to keep the contents of the complaint confidential.
• Mr. Sibal said the apex court sorely needed to lay down the law on this issue. Mr. Mehta categorically submitted that High Court judges would never fall within the ambit of the Lokpal.
• The order of the Lokpal, chaired by former Supreme Court judge, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, was based on a complaint that an Additional High Court judge had influenced an Additional District Judge, and later another High Court judge, to decide in favour of a private company. It was alleged that the company had been a client of the judge during the latter’s earlier years as an advocate.

 Background: Lokpal’s Order

• The Lokpal, chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, ruled that High Court judges are “public servants” under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, which place them within its investigative ambit.
• The decision derived from two complaints against a sitting High Court judge accused of influencing lower-court decisions to favor a private company, allegedly a former client from his advocacy days. 

The Lokpal argued:

• High Courts were established by pre-Independence British Acts (e.g., Indian High Courts Act, 1861) and Letters Patent, predating the Constitution.
• Article 214 of the Constitution simply “recognized” High Courts but did not establish them, unlike the Supreme Court (Article 124).
• Clause (f) of Section 14(1) of the 2013 Act grants Lokpal jurisdiction over “any person” in bodies established by Parliament, which includes High Court judges.
• Supreme Court’s Intervention
• The SC took suo motu cognisance (initiated proceedings on its own) of the Lokpal’s order, forming a Special Bench of Justices B.R. Gavai, Surya Kant, and A.S. Oka (all Collegium members).
• Solicitor General Tushar Mehta (representing the Union government) argued High Court judges are constitutional appointees, not statutory functionaries, and thus outside Lokpal’s scope.
• In a 13-page order, the Lokpal concluded that High Court judges were ‘public servants’ and came within the ambit of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act of 2013.
• The anti-corruption body assumed jurisdiction to inquire or investigate complaints about High Court judges on the ground that, unlike the Supreme Court, the High Courts in India were constituted by British Parliamentary Acts — Indian High Courts Act, 1861 and Government of India Act 1935 — and Letters Patent of the British Monarch. In fact, the High Courts pre-dated the Constitution, the Lokpal reasoned.
• Article 214 of the Constitution, which said “there shall be a High Court for each State”, had only “intrinsically recognised” the existence of the High Courts. The Constitution did not establish the High Courts, the Lokpal argued in the January 27 order.
• On the other hand, the Supreme Court was completely a child of the Constitution, the ombudsman noted. Article 124 of the Constitution had established the Supreme Court, which had not been in existence till then.
• A few days before the January 27 order, the Lokpal, in a decision on January 3, had declared that it had no power over Supreme Court judges, including the Chief Justice of India.
• In the January 3 order, the Lokpal had explained that the Supreme Court was not a “body” established by an Act of Parliament or financed or controlled by the Central government. It had observed that Supreme Court judges, including the Chief Justice of India, even though ‘public servants’ in terms of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988, were not amenable to the jurisdiction of the Lokpal.
• But, the Lokpal, in its January 27 order, found the argument that a High Court judge was outside the ombudsman’s jurisdiction, “too naive”.
• The Lokpal said a High Court judge came within the ambit of clause (f) of Section 14(1) of the 2013 Act.
• A clause of Section 14 notes the Lokpal has jurisdiction over “any person who is or has been a chairperson or member or officer or employee in any body or Board or corporation or authority or company or society or trust or autonomous body (by whatever name called) established by an Act of Parliament or wholly or partly financed by the Central government or controlled by it”
• The term ‘any person’ in the clause would include a judge of a High Court established by an Act of Parliament. “The 2013 Act does not provide for an explicit exception for the judges of the court established by an Act of the Parliament,” the Lokpal order read.
• In this case the judge in question was serving in the High Court of a State reorganised by an Act of the Parliament, it pointed out.
• The order had caught the attention of the Supreme Court as the Lokpal had forwarded the complaint to the Chief Justice of India for his consultation before launching a preliminary enquiry.
• “All judges have been appointed under the Constitution.

SC Order

• Stayed the Lokpal’s order, blocking its implementation.
• Issued notices to the Union government, Lokpal Registrar, and the complainant, scheduling the next hearing for March 18, 2025.
• Denied the complainant from disclosing the judge’s name or complaint details, mentioning confidentiality.