Relevance for CBSE Classes 10, 11, and 12 (All Subjects)
This topic is relevant for Political Science, Economics, and Geography. It helps students understand international relations, trade sanctions, energy security, India's foreign policy, and how global politics affects domestic economic planning. It also highlights the role of legal and constitutional institutions in ensuring democratic processes (e.g., voter rights) and socio-economic policy decisions related to youth and population development.
Vocabulary:
Tariff – A tax on imports or exports.
Sanctions – Penalties imposed by one country on another, often to force a change in policy.
Disenfranchise – To deny someone the right to vote.
Energy Security – A country's ability to ensure a stable and affordable energy supply.
Population Momentum – Continued population growth despite falling birth rates.
Pro-Natalist Policy – Government efforts to encourage people to have more children.
Marginalised – Pushed to the edge of society; given less power or access.
"Widen the Net"
🏛️ Supreme Court’s Intervention in Bihar's Voter List Review
The Supreme Court has made strong remarks on Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to consider adding Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration card as valid identity documents.
This aims to make voter registration more inclusive.
The Supreme Court has made strong remarks on Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to consider adding Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration card as valid identity documents.
This aims to make voter registration more inclusive.
📑 Current Problem with SIR
The SIR lists only 11 documents for voter verification.
The Court said these documents are too limited and create unnecessary barriers.
The Court clarified that SIR is about identity, not citizenship.
It questioned why Aadhaar, widely used for other documents, is excluded while dependent documents like caste certificates are accepted.
The SIR lists only 11 documents for voter verification.
The Court said these documents are too limited and create unnecessary barriers.
The Court clarified that SIR is about identity, not citizenship.
It questioned why Aadhaar, widely used for other documents, is excluded while dependent documents like caste certificates are accepted.
🔍 Aadhaar and Identity Issues in Bihar
ECI claims Aadhaar shows residence, not citizenship.
But this view ignores ground reality in Bihar:
87% of people have Aadhaar.
Only 45–50% are matriculates.
Only 2% have passports.
Excluding Aadhaar disadvantages most people, especially the poor.
ECI claims Aadhaar shows residence, not citizenship.
But this view ignores ground reality in Bihar:
87% of people have Aadhaar.
Only 45–50% are matriculates.
Only 2% have passports.
Excluding Aadhaar disadvantages most people, especially the poor.
⚖️ Legal Precedents and Citizenship
The Court’s earlier judgments made it clear:
The burden of proving citizenship should not be on existing voters.
The current SIR treats every voter as a suspect, which may lead to disenfranchising genuine voters.
This approach contradicts the right to vote in a democracy.
The Court’s earlier judgments made it clear:
The burden of proving citizenship should not be on existing voters.
The current SIR treats every voter as a suspect, which may lead to disenfranchising genuine voters.
This approach contradicts the right to vote in a democracy.
📜 Constitutional Responsibility of the ECI
Under Article 324, the ECI must enable voting, not make it harder.
The Chief Electoral Officer had interpreted SIR rules more liberally.
But this was overruled by the Chief Election Commissioner, adding to confusion.
Under Article 324, the ECI must enable voting, not make it harder.
The Chief Electoral Officer had interpreted SIR rules more liberally.
But this was overruled by the Chief Election Commissioner, adding to confusion.
✅ Court's Way Forward
The Court did not stop the SIR process but said it will review it.
The review includes timing, method, and its impact on democracy.
The Court’s suggestion to expand the list of documents gives the ECI a chance to:
Correct course
Avoid exclusion of marginalised citizens
Make the process fair and inclusive
The Court did not stop the SIR process but said it will review it.
The review includes timing, method, and its impact on democracy.
The Court’s suggestion to expand the list of documents gives the ECI a chance to:
Correct course
Avoid exclusion of marginalised citizens
Make the process fair and inclusive
"Aiding India’s Progress with Choice, Control and Capital"
🌍 Focus Beyond Numbers: People Matter Too
The world’s population has crossed 8 billion.
Focus shouldn't only be on big data (macro) but also on vulnerable people, especially those on the margins.
We must fulfil the promise of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD):
Every person should have the right to make informed choices about sexual and reproductive health.
These rights must be free from force, discrimination, or violence.
The world’s population has crossed 8 billion.
Focus shouldn't only be on big data (macro) but also on vulnerable people, especially those on the margins.
We must fulfil the promise of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD):
Every person should have the right to make informed choices about sexual and reproductive health.
These rights must be free from force, discrimination, or violence.
📅 World Population Day 2024 Theme
UN Theme: “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world.”
Focuses on:
Youth empowerment
Their right to information, education, and services
Freedom of choice and equal opportunities
UN Theme: “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world.”
Focuses on:
Youth empowerment
Their right to information, education, and services
Freedom of choice and equal opportunities
🇮🇳 India’s Youth Power
India has 371 million youth (ages 15–29) — the largest in the world (UNICEF).
This stretches existing systems, but with proper investment, youth can:
Boost India’s GDP by $1 trillion by 2030 (World Bank, NITI Aayog)
Lower unemployment
Improve social outcomes
India has 371 million youth (ages 15–29) — the largest in the world (UNICEF).
This stretches existing systems, but with proper investment, youth can:
Boost India’s GDP by $1 trillion by 2030 (World Bank, NITI Aayog)
Lower unemployment
Improve social outcomes
✅ Government Efforts and Gaps
Successes:
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
National Adolescent Health Programme
Reduced child marriage and teen fertility
Challenges:
Limited control over reproduction
Cultural barriers
Gender inequality
Successes:
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
National Adolescent Health Programme
Reduced child marriage and teen fertility
Challenges:
Limited control over reproduction
Cultural barriers
Gender inequality
📊 Data from NFHS-5 (2019–21)
Child marriage is now 23.3% (down from 2006).
Teen pregnancy (15–19 age) is 7% nationally; higher in some states.
UNFPA’s State of World Population 2025:
36% adults had unintended pregnancies
30% couldn’t meet their reproductive goals
23% faced both issues
Child marriage is now 23.3% (down from 2006).
Teen pregnancy (15–19 age) is 7% nationally; higher in some states.
UNFPA’s State of World Population 2025:
36% adults had unintended pregnancies
30% couldn’t meet their reproductive goals
23% faced both issues
👧 Why a Broader Strategy is Needed
Real change needs:
Education
Contraceptive access
Nutrition
Mental health
Community support
UNICEF: Each extra year of secondary school reduces child marriage risk by 6%.
Real change needs:
Education
Contraceptive access
Nutrition
Mental health
Community support
UNICEF: Each extra year of secondary school reduces child marriage risk by 6%.
📘 Project Udaan (Rajasthan, 2017–22)
Focus: Prevent child marriages and teenage pregnancy
Method:
Kept girls in secondary school using scholarships
Gave them health awareness and contraceptive access
Results:
30,000 child marriages prevented
15,000 teen pregnancies avoided
Improved girls' confidence and future
Focus: Prevent child marriages and teenage pregnancy
Method:
Kept girls in secondary school using scholarships
Gave them health awareness and contraceptive access
Results:
30,000 child marriages prevented
15,000 teen pregnancies avoided
Improved girls' confidence and future
📘 Advika Programme (Odisha, 2019–20)
Partners: Govt. of Odisha + UNICEF–UNFPA
Focused on:
Child protection systems
Adolescent awareness, leadership and skill development
Results:
11,000 villages declared child marriage-free
950 child marriages stopped (2022)
Partners: Govt. of Odisha + UNICEF–UNFPA
Focused on:
Child protection systems
Adolescent awareness, leadership and skill development
Results:
11,000 villages declared child marriage-free
950 child marriages stopped (2022)
💼 Project Manzil (Rajasthan, 2019–25)
Aim: Women’s economic empowerment
Method:
Trained women based on their career aspirations
Ensured gender-friendly workplaces
Tackled social norms
Results:
28,000 young women trained
16,000 employed (first in their families to enter skilled work)
Financial independence helped them delay or choose marriage
Aim: Women’s economic empowerment
Method:
Trained women based on their career aspirations
Ensured gender-friendly workplaces
Tackled social norms
Results:
28,000 young women trained
16,000 employed (first in their families to enter skilled work)
Financial independence helped them delay or choose marriage
🚀 Accelerating Youth Empowerment
UNFPA’s 2025 report says progress needs:
Universal access to:
Contraception, safe abortion, maternal and infertility care
Removing barriers like:
Education gaps, lack of housing, childcare, and flexible jobs
Investing in:
Girls’ education
Life-skills training
Cash incentives, community action, and healthcare
Projects like Udaan, Advika, Manzil prove it works.
🗣️ Final Message: Power of Young People
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said:
Youth must be celebrated, not controlled.
They should decide on:
Health, family, career, marriage, and life choices
India’s development depends on:
Listening to youth
Empowering young women
Unlocking full opportunities
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said:
Youth must be celebrated, not controlled.
They should decide on:
Health, family, career, marriage, and life choices
India’s development depends on:
Listening to youth
Empowering young women
Unlocking full opportunities
"Population Decline and an Ill-Informed Chorus"
Changing Population Concerns
Earlier fear: Overpopulation causing environmental strain.
Current fear: Declining birth rates and population shrinkage.
Both views are often misunderstood or exaggerated.
Earlier fear: Overpopulation causing environmental strain.
Current fear: Declining birth rates and population shrinkage.
Both views are often misunderstood or exaggerated.
Fear of Population Decline
Many voices now warn of a civilisation collapse due to fewer births.
Examples:
Elon Musk predicts "population collapse" within 20 years.
Donated $10 million to promote awareness of declining fertility.
Many voices now warn of a civilisation collapse due to fewer births.
Examples:
Elon Musk predicts "population collapse" within 20 years.
Donated $10 million to promote awareness of declining fertility.
Reality from UN Data
UN World Population Prospects 2024 shows:
World population will rise to 10.3 billion by 2080s.
Will slowly decline after 2100, not rapidly.
Even in 2100, population would be just 6% less than older projections.
UN World Population Prospects 2024 shows:
World population will rise to 10.3 billion by 2080s.
Will slowly decline after 2100, not rapidly.
Even in 2100, population would be just 6% less than older projections.
Why Population Doesn’t Drop Suddenly
Projections are not predictions:
Based on current trends and assumptions.
May change as policies and behaviors change.
Population Momentum:
Even with fewer children per family (below 2.1), population can still grow for decades.
Because many people are still of childbearing age.
Projections are not predictions:
Based on current trends and assumptions.
May change as policies and behaviors change.
Population Momentum:
Even with fewer children per family (below 2.1), population can still grow for decades.
Because many people are still of childbearing age.
Real Fertility Crisis: UNFPA 2025
Survey across 14 countries:
1 in 5 people could not have the number of children they wanted.
23% missed having children at the preferred time.
40% gave up their dream of parenthood.
Survey across 14 countries:
1 in 5 people could not have the number of children they wanted.
23% missed having children at the preferred time.
40% gave up their dream of parenthood.
Common Barriers in India:
Financial constraints (38%)
Housing problems (22%)
Unemployment (21%)
Lack of good childcare (18%)
Infertility (13%)
Financial constraints (38%)
Housing problems (22%)
Unemployment (21%)
Lack of good childcare (18%)
Infertility (13%)
South Korea Case Study
Invested over $200 billion in 20 years to boost births.
2025 data: 7.3% rise in births (first increase in 9 years).
Linked to:
Rise in marriages
Positive view of family
Still faces big issues:
Financial concerns (58%)
Housing shortage (31%)
Invested over $200 billion in 20 years to boost births.
2025 data: 7.3% rise in births (first increase in 9 years).
Linked to:
Rise in marriages
Positive view of family
Still faces big issues:
Financial concerns (58%)
Housing shortage (31%)
Wrong Focus on Women
Panic about falling births often targets women unfairly.
Restricts abortion and contraceptive rights.
Treats women as if their only role is childbearing.
Reality:
Most people want around 2 children.
But many can’t due to real-life challenges.
Panic about falling births often targets women unfairly.
Restricts abortion and contraceptive rights.
Treats women as if their only role is childbearing.
Reality:
Most people want around 2 children.
But many can’t due to real-life challenges.
Problems with Pro-Natalist Schemes
Cash bonuses and rewards for babies often:
Reinforce traditional gender roles.
Ignore men’s responsibility.
Are not effective long-term.
Cash bonuses and rewards for babies often:
Reinforce traditional gender roles.
Ignore men’s responsibility.
Are not effective long-term.
What Really Helps
Countries should stop blaming women or forcing childbirth.
Instead, they should:
Hire more women in paid jobs.
Ensure equal work rights for mothers.
Support women who want children but face challenges.
Countries should stop blaming women or forcing childbirth.
Instead, they should:
Hire more women in paid jobs.
Ensure equal work rights for mothers.
Support women who want children but face challenges.
Trump Threatens 500% Tariff on Countries Importing Oil from Russia
1. Trump’s Tariff Threat
U.S. President Donald Trump supports a Bill proposing a 500% tariff on countries buying oil from Russia.
This move may disrupt India’s crude oil supply.
U.S. President Donald Trump supports a Bill proposing a 500% tariff on countries buying oil from Russia.
This move may disrupt India’s crude oil supply.
2. India’s Oil Imports from Russia
In 2022, India imported less than 2% of its oil from Russia.
Now, imports have risen to about 40%.
In FY25, Russia made up 35% of India’s total crude oil imports.
In 2022, India imported less than 2% of its oil from Russia.
Now, imports have risen to about 40%.
In FY25, Russia made up 35% of India’s total crude oil imports.
3. Oil Minister’s Response
Hardeep Singh Puri said:
Russian oil is not under global sanctions.
India buys discounted oil under a price cap.
India is helping global markets by maintaining supply.
He explained:
Russia produces over 9 million barrels/day (about 10% of global oil).
If this supply stops, prices could rise to $120–130 per barrel.
This would force global consumption to fall and cause market chaos.
Hardeep Singh Puri said:
Russian oil is not under global sanctions.
India buys discounted oil under a price cap.
India is helping global markets by maintaining supply.
He explained:
Russia produces over 9 million barrels/day (about 10% of global oil).
If this supply stops, prices could rise to $120–130 per barrel.
This would force global consumption to fall and cause market chaos.
4. Risks for India
Any break in Russian oil trade may:
Jeopardize India’s energy security.
Raise India’s oil import bill.
Worsen India’s current account deficit (CAD).
Any break in Russian oil trade may:
Jeopardize India’s energy security.
Raise India’s oil import bill.
Worsen India’s current account deficit (CAD).
5. Trump’s Statement on the Bill
Trump said the Bill is optional and under his control.
“They pass it totally at my option and terminate it totally at my option.”
“I’m looking at it very strongly.”
Trump said the Bill is optional and under his control.
“They pass it totally at my option and terminate it totally at my option.”
“I’m looking at it very strongly.”
6. India Raises Concerns
On July 2, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington, DC.
He shared India’s concerns about energy security and the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025.
On July 2, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington, DC.
He shared India’s concerns about energy security and the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025.
7. About the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
Introduced in April 2025 by:
Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican)
Senator Richard Blumenthal (Democrat)
Supported by 50 U.S. Senators (equal number from both parties).
It proposes:
Primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and supporters.
Sanctions will apply if Russia:
Refuses peace talks with Ukraine, or
Starts another military invasion after peace is negotiated.
Introduced in April 2025 by:
Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican)
Senator Richard Blumenthal (Democrat)
Supported by 50 U.S. Senators (equal number from both parties).
It proposes:
Primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and supporters.
Sanctions will apply if Russia:
Refuses peace talks with Ukraine, or
Starts another military invasion after peace is negotiated.
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