{"id":2960,"date":"2025-11-08T10:12:13","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T10:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/?p=2960"},"modified":"2025-11-10T12:05:01","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T12:05:01","slug":"current-affairs-08th-november-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/2025\/11\/08\/current-affairs-08th-november-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Affairs 08th November 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. Wildlife Board Panel Clears 12 Key Defence Projects in Ladakh<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Context<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)<\/strong> has approved 12 strategic defence infrastructure projects<\/strong> in Ladakh<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  • Projects lie in\/around Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary<\/strong> and Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  • Purpose: Border infrastructure strengthening<\/strong>, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)<\/strong> with China.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    LOCATION & ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Sanctuary<\/strong><\/td>\nKey Features<\/strong><\/td>\nImportant Species<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary<\/strong><\/td>\nHigh-altitude plateau, cold desert ecosystem (3,000\u20135,500m)<\/td>\nSnow Leopard, Kiang (Tibetan wild ass), Black-necked Crane, Tibetan Gazelle, Pashmina Goat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary<\/strong><\/td>\nGlacial landscapes near Siachen & Karakoram Range<\/td>\nSnow Leopard, Argali, Ibex, Himalayan Wolf<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong>Why ecologically fragile?<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Low vegetation \u2192 slow regeneration\"\"<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Harsh climate \u2192 ecosystem recovery extremely slow<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Glacial melt & permafrost impact<\/strong> exacerbated by construction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      PROJECTS CLEARED<\/strong><\/p>\n

      (Not all project names released; nature of works includes:)<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Military road expansion<\/strong> for troop mobility<\/li>\n
      • Logistics hubs<\/strong><\/li>\n
      • Forward post strengthening<\/strong><\/li>\n
      • Airfield upgrade and surveillance support<\/strong><\/li>\n
      • Strategic connectivity corridors<\/strong> near LAC<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        LEGAL BASIS<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Clearances processed under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
        • NBWL Standing Committee can permit diversion \/ construction<\/strong> in protected areas for:\n
            \n
          • National Security<\/strong><\/li>\n
          • Public Safety<\/strong><\/li>\n
          • Strategic Importance<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            This falls under \u201cnational security exemption\u201d<\/strong> fast-track approval.<\/p>\n

            WHY NOW?<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            • Post 2020 LAC standoff<\/strong>, India is accelerating:\n
                \n
              • Road & air connectivity<\/strong> to forward areas<\/li>\n
              • All-weather supply chains<\/strong><\/li>\n
              • Rapid military mobilization capacity<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Strengthening infrastructure is central to deterrence strategy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

                CONCERNS (Mains Perspective)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                Issue<\/strong><\/td>\nImpact<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                Habitat Fragmentation<\/strong><\/td>\nInterrupted movement of Kiang & Gazelle; wildlife corridor disruption<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                Disturbance to Breeding Grounds<\/strong><\/td>\nBlack-necked Crane is highly sensitive to noise & human presence<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                Ecosystem Fragility<\/strong><\/td>\nConstruction scars persist for decades due to slow recovery in cold deserts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                Lack of Cumulative Impact Assessment<\/strong><\/td>\nApprovals are project-wise<\/strong>, not landscape-level<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                Also, Ladakh has no elected legislature<\/strong>, reducing public participation in ecological decision-making.<\/p>\n

                STRATEGIC NEED VS ECOLOGY \u2013 BALANCING MEASURES<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  \n
                • Wildlife movement corridors<\/strong> must be demarcated.<\/li>\n
                • Low-impact engineering<\/strong> (rope bridges, tunnels, raised road sections).<\/li>\n
                • Time-bound ecological impact monitoring<\/strong> by independent agencies.<\/li>\n
                • Local community (Changpa pastoralists) consultation & compensation<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                • Mandatory environmental data disclosure<\/strong> under Section 4, RTI Act.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  PRELIMS POINTERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • NBWL<\/strong> chaired by: Prime Minister<\/strong><\/li>\n
                  • Standing Committee<\/strong> chaired by: Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change<\/strong><\/li>\n
                  • Changthang Sanctuary<\/strong>: Part of Trans-Himalayan cold desert biome<\/strong><\/li>\n
                  • Black-necked Crane breeding in India<\/strong>: Only in Ladakh<\/strong><\/li>\n
                  • Snow Leopard<\/strong> conservation program: Project Snow Leopard (2009)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    MAINS READY STATEMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

                    Ladakh\u2019s border infrastructure expansion reflects the strategic reality of a contested frontier. However, the region\u2019s rare cold desert ecology is slow to heal and ecologically irreplaceable. Strategic preparedness must therefore be complemented by scientific ecological safeguards, cumulative impact assessments and local community involvement.<\/p>\n

                     <\/p>\n

                    2. SC Pushes for Reform of Colonial-Era Property Laws<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

                    Context<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • The Supreme Court<\/strong> recently observed the need to reform several colonial-era property laws<\/strong> that continue to govern land ownership, tenancy, adverse possession and property disputes<\/strong> in India.<\/li>\n
                    • These laws often burden citizens<\/strong>, enable litigation delays<\/strong>, and continue to reflect colonial priorities<\/strong> rather than citizen-centric governance<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      Why the Court Intervened?\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

                        \n
                      • Property disputes form ~66% of all civil cases<\/strong> in India.<\/li>\n
                      • Many laws date back to the 19th and early 20th centuries<\/strong>, framed for colonial revenue extraction<\/strong>, not welfare.<\/li>\n
                      • Existing legal framework leads to:\n
                          \n
                        • Unclear titles<\/strong><\/li>\n
                        • Encroachment disputes<\/strong><\/li>\n
                        • Endless civil suits<\/strong><\/li>\n
                        • Misuse by land mafia<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          The Court stated that legal clarity is essential for economic development, investment, and social justice.<\/strong><\/p>\n

                          Key Colonial-Era Laws Under Scrutiny<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                          Law<\/strong><\/td>\nYear<\/strong><\/td>\nIssue<\/strong><\/td>\nSC Concern<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          Indian Easements Act<\/strong><\/td>\n1882<\/td>\nUnclear rights of light, way, water<\/td>\nCauses boundary disputes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          Transfer of Property Act<\/strong><\/td>\n1882<\/td>\nOutdated tenancy norms<\/td>\nFails to reflect modern land realities<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          Registration Act<\/strong><\/td>\n1908<\/td>\nMultiple intermediaries<\/td>\nEnables fraud and duplicate land sales<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          Land Acquisition laws (pre-2013)<\/strong><\/td>\n1894 (replaced)<\/td>\nForceful acquisition<\/td>\nEarlier law prioritized state over citizens<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                          Doctrine of Adverse Possession<\/strong><\/td>\nCommon Law<\/td>\nAllows trespasser to claim land after 12 yrs<\/td>\nSC: Violates constitutional right to property<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                          Major SC Observation (2024\u201325)<\/strong><\/p>\n

                          The Doctrines like Adverse Possession<\/strong> treating the State or trespasser as the eventual landowner are unjust and need reconsideration.<\/strong>
                          \nProperty rights are not feudal privileges<\/strong>, but constitutional entitlements<\/strong> under Article 300A<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

                          Why Reform is Needed Now? (Mains Angle)<\/strong><\/p>\n

                            \n
                          1. Economic Efficiency<\/strong>\n
                              \n
                            • Clear land titles are essential for infrastructure, housing, agriculture, and private investment<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                            • Reducing Litigation Load<\/strong>\n
                                \n
                              • Property disputes clog courts \u2192 HR & judicial time<\/strong> wasted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                              • Preventing Land Mafia & Encroachment<\/strong>\n
                                  \n
                                • Ambiguous laws create space for corruption & criminal networks<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                • Urbanisation and Digital Governance<\/strong>\n
                                    \n
                                  • Smart cities require digitized land records<\/strong>, not colonial paper deeds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                    Current Government Initiatives<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                      \n
                                    • SVAMITVA Scheme<\/strong>: Drone-based property mapping in rural areas.<\/li>\n
                                    • DILRMP (Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme)<\/strong>: Computerization of land records.<\/li>\n
                                    • National Land Titling Law (Proposed)<\/strong>: To move from presumptive titles \u2192 conclusive titles<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                      Challenges in Reform<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                        \n
                                      • Federal nature of land \u2192 States must cooperate<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                      • Resistance from local elites \/ intermediaries<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                      • Legacy disputes<\/strong> difficult to resolve suddenly.<\/li>\n
                                      • Tribal and customary land rights<\/strong> need sensitive handling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                        Way Forward<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                          \n
                                        • Replace<\/strong> outdated statutes with citizen-centric, modern land laws<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                        • Introduce conclusive land titling<\/strong> (like Torrens system).<\/li>\n
                                        • Implement independent land valuation authorities<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                        • Strengthen legal aid for property disputes<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                        • Make digitized records mandatory & tamper-proof<\/strong> (blockchain pilot in Karnataka & Telangana).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                          Mains-Ready Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                          Colonial property laws were designed to protect State power and facilitate revenue collection, not to safeguard citizens\u2019 rights. The Supreme Court\u2019s push signals a shift toward modern, transparent and citizen-centric land governance<\/strong>. Reforming these laws is essential for economic development, judicial efficiency, and social justice<\/strong>. Clear property rights are not only a legal necessity but a foundation of trust in the rule of law<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

                                           <\/p>\n

                                          3. The Return of Welfarism and the Challenge of Making it Sustainable<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

                                          Context<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                            \n
                                          • Rising inequality and \u201cexclusive growth\u201d have brought welfarism back to centre stage<\/strong> in global politics.<\/li>\n
                                          • Example: New York City\u2019s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani<\/strong> has proposed free public buses, rent freezes, and universal childcare<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                                          • Similar trends seen with Lula (Brazil), Keir Starmer (UK)<\/strong> and welfare-focused State governments in India<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                            Why Welfarism Appeals<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                              \n
                                            1. \"\"Quick, visible improvements in well-being<\/strong>\n