BNSS Section 163: Preventive Powers and the Right to Protest

GS II: Polity

Why in News?

Delhi Police invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, ahead of planned demonstrations, bringing attention to the balance between maintaining public order and protecting citizens’ fundamental rights.

What Is Section 163?

• Section 163 of the BNSS empowers an Executive Magistrate to issue urgent orders to prevent or address potential dangers to human life, health, safety, public tranquillity or public order.
• It replaces Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973.

Aim

To prevent imminent threats and maintain public tranquillity through legally justified, urgent and preventive directions.

Key Features

• Preventive powers: An empowered Executive Magistrate may direct individuals to abstain from specified acts or regulate the use of property where statutory conditions are satisfied.
• Urgency: The order must be based on sufficient grounds and the need for immediate prevention or a speedy remedy.
• Ex parte orders: In emergencies, an order may be issued without prior notice to the affected person, subject to statutory conditions.
• Duration: An order ordinarily remains in force for up to two months. The State Government may extend it for a further period not exceeding six months from the date the order would otherwise expire, where legally justified.
• Modification or cancellation: An affected person may apply to the issuing authority or its successor to rescind or modify the order, as provided by law.
• Judicial safeguards: Orders remain subject to constitutional scrutiny, including requirements of legality, necessity and proportionality.

Notes

• Section 163: Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
• Predecessor: Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
• Authority: District Magistrate, Subdivisional Magistrate or another Executive Magistrate specially empowered by the State Government.
• Ordinary duration: Up to two months; a qualifying State Government extension may last up to a further six months.
• Article 19(1)(a): Freedom of speech and expression.
• Article 19(1)(b): Right to assemble peacefully and without arms.
• Article 19(3): Permits reasonable restrictions on peaceful assembly in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India and public order.

INS Mangrol: Indigenous Anti Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

GS III Defence Technology

Why in News?

INS Mangrol has been described in the supplied material as the Indian Navy’s third indigenous AntiSubmarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASWSWC) scheduled for commissioning. The development highlights India’s efforts to strengthen coastal defence and indigenous naval shipbuilding.

Aim

To detect, track and counter hostile submarines in shallow coastal waters, ports and littoral environments, while strengthening maritime security near critical coastal infrastructure.

Key Features

• Shallow water operations: Designed for antisubmarine warfare in coastal environments where limited depth and complex underwater acoustics create operational challenges.
• Antisubmarine capability: Intended to support the detection and tracking of underwater threats using specialised sensors and weapons systems.
• Coastal security: Can contribute to protecting naval bases, ports and strategically important coastal areas.
• Indigenous shipbuilding: Domestic construction supports technology development, local manufacturing and reduced dependence on foreign suppliers.

 Technical Features

• Indigenous content: More than 80% indigenous content, supporting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• Propulsion: Diesel engines coupled with waterjets, enabling manoeuvrability in coastal waters.
• Sensors and weapons: Equipped with shallow water sonars, torpedoes, antisubmarine rockets and advanced radar systems.
• Additional missions: Supports underwater surveillance, mine warfare, search and rescue, and LowIntensity Maritime Operations (LIMO).
• Project: Part of an eightvessel ASWSWC programme undertaken by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi.

Living Planet Report 2026: Global Wildlife Population Decline

GS  III  Biodiversity· |International Reports

Why in News?

The supplied material states that WWF''s Living Planet Report 2026, released in October 2026, reported a 73% average decline in monitored wildlife population sizes between 1970 and 2022.

What Is the Living Planet Report?

The Living Planet Report is a biennial assessment published by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), drawing on the Living Planet Index (LPI), developed in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), to track changes in monitored vertebrate wildlife populations.

Aim: To assess biodiversity trends, identify major pressures on nature and guide conservation policies.

Key Findings

• Global trend: The reported average size of monitored vertebrate populations declined by 73% between 1970 and 2022.
• Freshwater ecosystems: Recorded the steepest average decline at 85%.
• Terrestrial ecosystems: Recorded a 69% decline.
• Marine ecosystems: Recorded a 59% decline.
• Regional trends: Latin America and the Caribbean recorded a 95% decline, Africa 80% and Asia Pacific 49%.
• Monitoring base: The supplied figures cite 35,803 population trends covering 5,790 vertebrate species.

Important Conceptual Distinction

• The 73% decline is an index based measure of the average change in monitored population sizes. It does not mean that 73% of all wild animals have disappeared or that 73% of species have become extinct.
• Individual monitored populations may increase, remain stable or decline. The aggregate index reflects the overall trend across the monitored dataset.

 Major Drivers of Biodiversity Loss

• Habitat loss and degradation: Deforestation, wetland destruction, landuse change and infrastructure expansion reduce suitable habitats.
• Overexploitation: Unsustainable hunting, fishing and wildlife trade put pressure on vulnerable populations.
• Climate change: Rising temperatures, altered rainfall and ocean warming disrupt habitats and species distribution.
• Pollution: Pesticides, plastics, industrial effluents and nutrient runoff damage terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
• Invasive alien species and diseases: Introduced species and emerging pathogens can disrupt native ecological communities.

Monopolies in India: Evolution of Competition Laws and Emerging Challenges

GS  III  Indian Economy

Why in News?

Debates surrounding Starlink’s entry into India’s satellite communications market have renewed attention to market access, competition, infrastructure bottlenecks and the regulation of dominant firms.

What Is a Monopoly?

• A monopoly is a market structure in which a single seller supplies a product or service with no close substitutes and faces limited competitive constraints.
• Key distinction: Holding a dominant market position is not illegal by itself. Under the Competition Act, 2002, the abuse of a dominant position is prohibited.

Evolution of India''s Competition Framework

• Colonial period: Chartered privileges and colonial commercial arrangements restricted competition in several sectors.
• 1950s–1980s: State led industrialisation and licensing sought to regulate economic concentration but sometimes created entry barriers.
• MRTP Act, 1969: The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act focused on monopolistic, restrictive and unfair trade practices.
• Post1991 liberalisation: Economic reforms shifted the emphasis from controlling the size of large firms towards promoting competition and market efficiency.
• Competition Act, 2002: Prohibits anticompetitive agreements, abuse of dominant position and combinations that cause or are likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition.
• Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023: Introduced deal value thresholds for certain mergers and acquisitions, alongside settlement and commitment mechanisms.

Emerging Challenges

• Digital gatekeepers: Network effects, proprietary ecosystems and control over data can create entry barriers and lock consumers into particular platforms.
• High entry costs: Spectrum allocation, satellite infrastructure, network deployment and capital requirements may limit the number of competitors.
• Exclusionary practices: Predatory pricing, tying, bundling and discriminatory access can weaken competitors when they breach competition law.
• Regulatory overlap: Coordination between the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and sectoral regulators is necessary to address complex market conduct.
• Conglomerate power: Firms operating across interconnected markets may leverage advantages in one market to strengthen their position in another.
• Innovation versus regulation: Excessive intervention may discourage investment, while inadequate oversight may allow entrenched market power to persist.

Notes

Nameri Tiger Reserve: CA|TS Recognition and Tiger Conservation

GS  III Environment

Why in News?

Nameri Tiger Reserve in Assam reportedly received approved status under Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS), highlighting the importance of internationally recognised standards for effective tiger reserve management.

What Is CA|TS?

CA|TS is a voluntary accreditation framework that assesses whether tiger conservation areas meet defined standards for effective management, protection and longterm conservation.

Aim: To improve the quality of tiger conservation through systematic assessment, monitoring and the adoption of good management practices.

Key Features

• Assessment framework: Evaluates protected area management, anti poaching measures, habitat quality and tiger population monitoring.
• Seven pillars: Importance and status; management; community; tourism, where applicable; protection; habitat management; and tiger populations.
• National implementation: India''s implementation is supported by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• International cooperation: Encourages knowledge sharing and consistent management practices among tiger range countries.
• Voluntary recognition: Accreditation indicates conformity with specified management standards; it does not independently establish that tiger populations are increasing.

About Nameri Tiger Reserve

• Location: Sonitpur district, Assam, in the Eastern Himalayan foothills.
• River system: The Jia Bhoroli flows through the landscape; it is known as the Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh and belongs to the Brahmaputra river system.
• Vegetation: Tropical evergreen and semi evergreen forests, grasslands and cane brakes.
• Wildlife: Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, clouded leopard, gaur and dhole.
• Conservation importance: Provides habitat for the endangered white winged wood duck, a forest wetland bird.

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR): Himalayan Ecology and Landslide Risks

GS III Environment

Why in News?

The supplied report states that a 2026 decadal monitoring campaign found a substantial increase in landslide prone zones within the strictly protected core of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.

What Is Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve?

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve is a high altitude protected landscape in Uttarakhand''s Garhwal Himalaya, established to conserve Himalayan biodiversity, ecological processes and fragile mountain habitats.

Key Features

• Core landscapes: Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park.
• UNESCO World Heritage: Nanda Devi was inscribed in 1988; the Valley of Flowers was added in 2005.
• Biosphere network: Included in UNESCO''s World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2004.
• Ecosystems: Includes alpine meadows, temperate forests, glaciers and high altitude river valleys.
• Wildlife: Provides habitat for species such as the snow leopard and Himalayan musk deer.
• River system: The landscape is associated with the upper Alaknanda basin, including the Rishi Ganga valley.

Key Features

Nobel Peace Prize 2026: Navi Pillay and International Justice

GS II:  international institutions

Why in News?

The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, a South African jurist of Indian Tamil origin, on 9 October 2026, for her efforts to promote peace and international law. The award recognises her contribution to human rights, international criminal justice and accountability for grave international crimes.

Major Contributions

• Antiapartheid struggle: Challenged racial discrimination in South Africa and defended activists opposing apartheid, including Nelson Mandela.
• International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR): Served as a judge and President of the tribunal. Her judicial work contributed to recognising rape and sexual violence as acts that can constitute crimes against humanity and genocide under applicable legal conditions.
• International Criminal Court (ICC): Served as a judge, contributing to international criminal justice.
• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Served from 2008 to 2014, promoting human rights protection and accountability.
• International accountability: Contributed to legal efforts to investigate and prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

 Notes

• Award announcement: 9 October 2026.
• Laureate: Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, South Africa.
• Awarding body: Norwegian Nobel Committee.
• Appointment of committee: Its five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament (Storting), broadly reflecting parliamentary representation.
• Award ceremony: Held in Oslo, Norway, on 10 December.
• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Navi Pillay served from 2008 to 2014.

Persistence of Child Marriage

GS I  Society

Why in News?

Despite a decline in reported prevalence, Telangana intercepted more than 2,000 child marriages between 2025 and mid2026. School dropouts and household poverty remain major risk factors, highlighting the gap between legal prohibition and social change.

What is child marriage?

A marriage or union in which at least one party is below the legally prescribed minimum age. In India, the minimum age is 21 years for males and 18 years for females under the existing legal framework.

Underlying Causes

• Economic insecurity: Poverty, indebtedness and the illness of a breadwinner can encourage families to arrange early marriages to reduce financial burdens.
• Patriarchal social norms: Concerns about family honour, control over female sexuality and restrictions on girls'' mobility reinforce the practice.
• Educational exclusion: School dropouts, inadequate access to secondary education and unsafe travel to schools increase girls'' vulnerability.
• Weak social protection: Delayed financial assistance, inadequate counselling and limited rehabilitation support leave vulnerable families without alternatives.
• Social acceptance: Community traditions and weak reporting mechanisms can normalise child marriage and undermine enforcement.

Government Measures

• Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006: Prohibits child marriages and provides penalties for persons facilitating or promoting them, subject to statutory provisions.
• POCSO Act, 2012: Protects children from sexual offences; sexual activity involving a person below 18 can attract criminal liability irrespective of purported marital status.
• Child Helpline 1098: Provides a channel for reporting children in distress and seeking protection.
• Education and social protection: Residential schooling, scholarships, school retention programmes and financial assistance can reduce the economic and educational drivers of early marriage.
• District level child protection mechanisms: Child Marriage Prohibition Officers and relevant district authorities support prevention, intervention and legal enforcement.
• Constitutional provisions: Article 14 (equality), Article 15(3) (special provisions for women and children), Article 21 (life and personal liberty), Article 21A (education for children aged 6–14) and Article 39(f) (protection of children''s development and dignity).

Project Seabird: Expansion of India''s Naval Infrastructure

GS III: Defence infrastructure

Why in News?

The Chief of Defence Staff inaugurated residential accommodation and critical utility infrastructure associated with Phase IIA of Project Seabird at the Karwar naval base in Karnataka.

What Is Project Seabird?

Project Seabird is the Indian Navy''s major navalbase development programme at Karwar, Karnataka, centred on INS Kadamba. It aims to develop a modern naval facility capable of supporting fleet basing, maintenance and operational deployment.

Aim

To strengthen India''s western seaboard defence infrastructure, improve operational readiness and reduce congestion at Mumbai''s naval facilities.

Key Features

• Strategic location: Situated on the Karnataka coast along the Arabian Sea.
• Phased development: Expansion includes berthing facilities, operational infrastructure, residential accommodation and supporting utilities.
• Fleet support: Designed to accommodate and support frontline warships and associated naval operations.
• Logistics and maintenance: Enhances facilities for ship maintenance, personnel support and naval logistics.
• Operational capacity: Supports the Navy''s ability to deploy and sustain forces along India''s western maritime approaches.

 Key Features

Recent Recommendations: 57th GST Council Meeting

• Decriminalisation: Recommended removal of specified arrest provisions under GST and raising the prosecution threshold from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore.
• Lower penalties: Recommended reducing the general penalty from ₹25,000 to ₹10,000.
• Faster refunds: Proposed measures to improve refund processing and working capital availability.
• Input Tax Credit (ITC): Recommended widening refund eligibility in specified cases and improving the flow of eligible credits.
• Simplified registration: Proposed easier registration and compliance procedures, including for small sellers on ecommerce platforms.
• Taxpayer safeguards: Recommended common standards for notices and proceedings, alongside intelligence based and authorised interception of goods.
• Implementation timeline: Certain measures are scheduled for implementation from 1 April 2027, subject to the applicable legal and procedural requirements.
• Important distinction: GST Council decisions are recommendations. Changes requiring amendments to legislation, rules or notifications must follow the applicable legal process before taking effect.