Why in news?

An American military takeover of Greenland, which increasingly looks possible, would involve multiple contradictions.

It would undermine U.S. commitments to sovereignty and international law, strain NATO unity, alarm Canada and Europe, and hand Russia a propaganda victory in the Arctic.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• NATO at Risk: The Greenland Contradiction
• The Backers Behind the Greenland Push

NATO at Risk: The Greenland Contradiction

• Any American military move into Greenland would strike at the heart of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
• NATO’s credibility rests on Article 5 — collective defence — which assumes external aggression, not one member violating another’s territorial integrity.
• A U.S. action against Denmark, which administers Greenland, would create an unprecedented crisis the alliance was never designed to handle.
• Denmark’s Sacrifice and the Irony of Article 5
  • The contradiction is stark. Denmark was among the first to invoke Article 5 after the 9/11 attacks, standing firmly with the United States.
  • Danish troops fought alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan, suffering heavy losses.
  • A U.S. incursion into Greenland would nullify this shared history and hollow out NATO’s moral foundation.
• A Gift to Russia and China
  • Such a move would directly benefit Vladimir Putin, who has long sought to fracture NATO unity and divert Western focus from Ukraine.
  • Ironically, an action justified as countering Russian influence in the Arctic would weaken the very alliance designed to contain Moscow.
• The Strategic Argument Falls Apart
  • Strategically, the move makes little sense.
  • The U.S. already has extensive rights in Greenland under a 1951 treaty and once operated 17 bases there, most of which were voluntarily shut down by Washington itself.
  • These facilities could be reactivated without violating sovereignty.
• The Real Arctic Pressure Point
  • While Donald Trump has pointed to rising Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic, U.S. defence assessments show the real pressure point lies near Alaska, not Greenland.
  • Pentagon briefings and the 2024 Arctic Strategy highlight infrastructure degradation and increased China–Russia cooperation in waters off Alaska.
  • In effect, a Greenland misadventure would weaken NATO, empower adversaries, distract from Ukraine, and undermine U.S. credibility — all while addressing the wrong Arctic problem in the wrong place.

The Backers Behind the Greenland Push

• The idea of acquiring Greenland has moved beyond speculation. The White House has not ruled out a military option, while officials have spoken of discussions with European officials about a possible purchase.
• However, Denmark, which administers Greenland, has made it clear the territory is not for sale.
• The issue is now so politically sensitive in Copenhagen and Nuuk that any attempt at a commercial deal could bring down the Danish government.
• Trump’s Domestic Constituencies
  • Support for the Greenland idea appears to come from several figures close to Donald Trump.
  • Tech investor Peter Thiel has floated the idea of a libertarian, post-nation settlement in a place like Greenland.
  • Elon Musk has shown interest in the territory’s rare earth resources.
  • Billionaire Ronald Lauder is reported to have first raised the Greenland idea with Trump.
  • Trump himself is said to view the move through a real-estate lens, consistent with his business instincts.
• Canada’s Security Anxiety
  • The country most alarmed by a potential annexation is Canada.
  • U.S. control of Greenland would effectively hem Canada in, intensifying security concerns.
  • This has triggered a debate within Canada about revisiting its non-nuclear stance, with experts urging the country to confront difficult questions about national defence.
• Nuclear Domino Effect
  • The implications could extend far beyond North America.
  • If NATO were to fracture over Greenland, countries such as Germany and Poland might reconsider nuclear options, as could South Korea and Japan.
  • A Greenland takeover could thus spark a wider nuclear arms race, reshaping global security in unpredictable ways.

Why in news?

The Kerala High Court has set aside consumer proceedings against actor Mohanlal, holding that a brand ambassador cannot be held liable for a company’s alleged unfair trade practices unless there is a clear, direct link between the endorsement and the consumer’s transaction.

The ruling arose from complaints against Manappuram Finance, where borrowers claimed they were charged higher interest rates than advertised.

The court clarified the boundary between promotional activity and transactional responsibility, emphasizing that mere appearance in advertisements does not create consumer liability for endorsers.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Background: The Gold Loan Dispute
• Legal Provisions on Endorsements Examined by the Court
• What the Kerala High Court Held?

Background: The Gold Loan Dispute

• The case arose from gold loans taken by two borrowers in Thiruvananthapuram. They had initially pledged gold with Catholic Syrian Bank at 15% interest.
• In 2018, Manappuram Finance took over the loans after a bank manager allegedly promised a lower interest rate.
• The borrowers claimed they were influenced by advertisements featuring actor Mohanlal, who was Manappuram Finance’s brand ambassador at the time.
• They alleged that the advertised interest rate was lower than what was eventually charged.
• Consumer Complaint and Claims
  • When the borrowers tried to close the loan and retrieve their gold, Manappuram allegedly demanded a higher interest rate.
  • They approached the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, alleging deficiency in service and unfair trade practices.
  • They sought a refund of excess interest and compensation of ₹25 lakh.
• Mohanlal Made a Party to the Case
  • Along with Manappuram Finance and its manager, Mohanlal was named as an opposite party solely because of his appearance in the advertisements.
  • Mohanlal raised a preliminary objection, arguing that he had no role in the loan transaction, no interaction with the borrowers, and no control over interest rates.
• Consumer Fora’s Initial View
  • Mohanlal contended that being a brand ambassador did not make him a service provider.
  • However, relying on the definition of “endorsement” under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the District Commission rejected his objection and held the complaint maintainable.
  • The State Consumer Commission later declined to rule on this issue at the revision stage.

Legal Provisions on Endorsements Examined by the Court

• The court examined Section 2(18) of the Consumer Protection Act, which gives a broad meaning to “endorsement”.
• It covers any message or depiction that may lead consumers to believe an advertisement reflects the opinion or experience of the person featured.
• Section 2(47) similarly defines “unfair trade practice” widely, including false representations about price or quality.
• Where Endorsers Are Specifically Mentioned
  • The term “endorser” appears explicitly only in Section 21 of the Act.
  • This provision deals with false or misleading advertisements and empowers the Central Consumer Protection Authority to impose penalties on manufacturers and endorsers, including fines and temporary bans on endorsements.
  • Section 21(5) provides a safeguard for endorsers.
  • It protects them from liability if they have exercised due diligence to verify the truthfulness of the claims made in the advertisement.
• Limits of Endorser Liability in Consumer Disputes
  • Crucially, the Act does not refer to endorsers in provisions dealing with consumer complaints on deficiency of service or unfair trade practices before consumer commissions.
  • The Kerala High Court held that this omission was deliberate, noting that endorser liability is confined to proceedings under Section 21 alone.
• Role of the 2022 Misleading Advertisement Guidelines
  • The court also considered the 2022 guidelines issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority.
  • While these define endorsers and require due diligence, the court clarified that they operate within the scope of Section 21 and do not expand endorser liability to all consumer disputes.

What the Kerala High Court Held?

• Kerala HC noted that Mohanlal’s role was confined to appearing in advertisements as a brand ambassador.
• No Direct Link to the Transaction
  • The court examined the consumer complaint to identify any direct connection between the actor and the borrowers’ gold loan transaction.
  • It found only two references to Mohanlal: his status as brand ambassador and an assurance allegedly given by the company’s manager referring to advertisements featuring him. This, the court held, was insufficient.
• Liability Cannot Be Presumed
  • The pleadings did not show that Mohanlal persuaded the borrowers, participated in the loan transaction, or made any assurance to them.
  • The assurance, as pleaded, came solely from the company’s manager.
  • Therefore, the court ruled that no liability for unfair trade practice or deficiency of service could be fixed on the actor.
  • The court clarified that merely falling within the definition of an “endorser” does not attract liability.
  • A direct and specific link between the endorser and the consumer transaction must be established to fasten responsibility.
• Company, Not Endorser, Answerable
  • Even if advertisements formed part of the background facts, an unfair trade practice arises when the service provider fails to deliver what was advertised.
  • On the pleadings, that failure could only be attributed to Manappuram Finance, not the endorser.

Context:

• India’s decision to host the European Union’s institutional leadership as chief guests at the 2026 Republic Day parade signals a shift beyond symbolism toward bloc-level engagement.
• As bilateral diplomacy grows more complex—marked by persistent neighbourhood challenges and friction with major powers like the US and China—India’s strategic openings may lie elsewhere.
• The coming year presents “diplomatic white spaces”: global issues that demand coordination but lack credible leadership.
• By building coalitions and focusing on priorities it can sustain, India can help shape rules and deliver global public goods in these leadership gaps.

Europe as India’s First Diplomatic Test

• The presence of Ursula von der Leyen and António Luís Santos da Costa at the 2026 Republic Day parade signals renewed momentum in India–EU ties.
  • Ursula von der Leyen currently serves as the President of the European Commission.
  • António Luís Santos da Costa currently serves as the President of the European Council.
• The focus is the long-pending India–EU Free Trade Agreement, where engagement must be with the European Union as a whole, not just individual capitals.
• This partnership goes beyond tariffs. It involves rules on market access, data protection, competition, and sustainability.
• If India treats the deal as a way to reduce risks, it gains better access to European markets, a place in new global value chains, and some protection from US trade pressures.
• However, stricter compliance costs for Indian firms are inevitable. The opportunity exists because Europe wants to cut dependence on China and manage uncertainty from the US. India must act fast, as such diplomatic windows do not stay open for long.

BRICS: A Political Test for India

• BRICS in 2026 is larger but less focused. New members want different outcomes at different speeds.
• This raises a basic question: what should BRICS do, and can India help give it direction?
• Many members seek a stronger Global South voice and fairer development finance. But the group’s purpose is contested.
• As chair in 2026, India can push BRICS toward practical results by using New Development Bank guarantees and tools that turn statements into action.
• India must also manage risks. U.S. tariff threats against countries seen as aligning with BRICS raise costs.
• India gains little from anti-West rhetoric or de-dollarisation drives that could deter Western capital and technology. Reform, not rejection, should be India’s line.

The Quad: Turning Capability into Public Goods

• The Quad is another diplomatic white space. If India hosts a Quad leaders’ summit, it could welcome Donald Trump, adding political weight and higher expectations.
• The Quad’s work on maritime awareness and resilient ports matters to Indian Ocean countries that want help without being pulled into rivalries. India can add value by turning Quad capabilities into shared services others can use.
  • India’s rapid response during Operation Sagar Bandhu after Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka showed how flexible assets can deliver help without drama.
• Success will depend on the U.S. managing trade disputes without harming wider cooperation.

Limits of Big Forums

• Large global forums face strain. The United Nations remains vital for legitimacy but is weak at delivery when major powers disagree. Real outcomes are shifting to smaller coalitions that can act.
• The G20 shows similar stress. Political disputes and agenda narrowing risk sidelining Global South priorities and reducing inclusiveness.

The Big Picture for 2026

• India’s momentum in 2026 will come from filling leadership gaps.
• Europe is about standards, BRICS about practical delivery, and the Quad about public goods.
• Turning these white spaces into working arrangements is India’s real opportunity.

India’s Strategic Choice in a Fragmented World

• The AI Impact Summit in Delhi in February 2026 offers India a chance to bring governments, companies, and researchers together where interests overlap.
• As the US experiments with new forums, including a proposed “Board of Peace,” India will need to be selective about where it invests diplomatic energy.
• An invitation for India to join Pax Silica, a US-led group focused on AI and semiconductor supply chains, shows how quickly new platforms are emerging.
• In a divided world, influence will not come from the biggest forums but from smaller, workable coalitions. India’s strength in 2026 will lie in choosing the right tables—and making them deliver results.

Why in News?

• Against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions in the West Asia/Gulf region—including conflicts in Gaza, Yemen, and unrest in Iran—India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have further deepened their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• During the brief visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) to New Delhi, the two countries signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for a bilateral Strategic Defence Partnership.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Key Outcomes and Agreements
• Geopolitical Backdrop and What the Visit of UAE President Signify
• India-UAE Relations
• Challenges for India and Way Ahead
• Conclusion

Key Outcomes and Agreements:

• Strategic defence partnership:
  • Letter of Intent signed to work towards a framework agreement, which builds on regular bilateral military exercises, exchange of Service Chiefs, and defence-industrial cooperation.
  • India clarified that the partnership is a natural evolution, not a response to any specific conflict, and it does not imply Indian military involvement in Gulf conflicts.
• Trade and economic cooperation: Target to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, which stands at $100 billion (FY 2024–25), due to momentum driven by India–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA, 2022).
• Energy cooperation:
  • 10-year LNG Supply Agreement between HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Company Ltd) and ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Gas) will allow the purchase of 0.5 MMPTA LNG by HPCL from ADNOC over 10 years starting from 2028.
  • The agreement makes the UAE India’s second-largest LNG supplier, reinforcing India’s energy security.
• Civil nuclear cooperation:
  • Exploration of partnership in large nuclear reactors, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), nuclear safety, and operations and maintenance.
  • This will be enabled by India’s SHANTI Act (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India).
• Space cooperation: LoI between IN-SPACe (India) and UAE Space Agency to integrate space ecosystem, joint missions, commercial space services, and promote Start-ups and high-skilled employment.
• Digital and financial cooperation:
  • Proposal for Digital/Data Embassies to protect sovereign data, plan to interlink national payment platforms for faster cross-border payments.
  • Support for initiatives like Bharat Mart, Virtual Trade Corridor, and Bharat–Africa Setu.
• Counter-terrorism and financial security: Reaffirmed zero tolerance for terrorism, including cross-border terrorism. Commitment to cooperation under FATF counter-terror financing, and anti-money laundering.
• Investment and institutional cooperation: Establishment of House of India in Abu Dhabi, UAE companies (FAB, DP World) offices at GIFT City. LoI between Gujarat and UAE for Dholera Special Investment Region.

Geopolitical Backdrop and What the Visit of UAE President Signify:

• West Asia churn:
  • Growing US–Israel–Iran tensions,
  • Saudi Arabia–UAE divergence over Yemen,
  • Enhanced Saudi–Pakistan defence cooperation (2025 defence pact), and
  • Gaza conflict and US-led peace initiatives (India being invited to the ‘Board of Peace for Gaza’ by the US).
• Significance of the visit:
  • It signals India’s strategic autonomy and balanced diplomacy in West Asia, reinforcing India’s multi-alignment approach amid rivalries among Gulf partners.
  • It highlights UAE’s importance as a key energy supplier, investment partner and host of the Indian diaspora.

India-UAE Relations:

• Background: Diplomatic ties began in the 1970s, but relations transformed into a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" after the Indian PM's 2015 visit, accelerating cooperation in trade, investment, and strategic areas.
• Key pillars:
  • Economic and trade: UAE is India's 3rd largest trading partner and 2nd largest export destination. The CEPA aims to boost non-oil trade to $100 billion by 2030. UAE is a major investor in India (infrastructure, energy, AI, fintech).
  • Strategic and defense: Both are part of I2U2 Group, and have deep defense cooperation with joint exercises (Desert Eagle, Gulf Star-1).
  • People-to-people and cultural:
    • Indians are the largest expatriate community (3.5-4.3 million) in the UAE.
    • Cultural milestones like the BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi and expanding Indian educational presence (IIM Ahmedabad, IIFT campuses).
• Energy security: UAE provides strategic oil reserves for India.

Challenges for India and Way Ahead:

• Risk of perception of alignment: Maintain strategic autonomy and issue-based partnerships. For example, actively leveraging CEPA and Gulf capital for Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Managing relations simultaneously: With UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, US. Deepen geo-economic engagement (trade, energy, digital, space).
• Challenges of defence cooperation: Ensuring defence cooperation does not dilute India’s non-entanglement policy. Institutionalise defence cooperation without operational entanglements.
• Regional instability and maritime insecurity: Continue diplomatic engagement to support de-escalation in West Asia.

Conclusion:

• The India–UAE Strategic Defence Partnership marks a maturation of bilateral ties from transactional engagement to a multi-dimensional strategic relationship.
• Amid volatility in West Asia, India has carefully balanced its interests by strengthening cooperation with the UAE while reaffirming its commitment to peace, stability, and strategic autonomy.
• The outcomes underscore India’s evolving role as a credible, non-aligned yet influential stakeholder in the Gulf region—an approach crucial for safeguarding its energy security, diaspora interests, and geopolitical relevance.

Why in the News?

• The Union government has notified detailed rules governing the utilisation of the Environmental (Protection) Fund, created from penalties imposed under key environmental laws.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Environmental Protection Fund (Background, Objectives, Fund Utilisation, Administrative Structure, Accountability & Audit Mechanism, Significance, etc.)

Background of the Environmental (Protection) Fund

• The Environmental (Protection) Fund has been created to ensure that penalties imposed for violations of environmental laws are channelled back into environmental restoration, pollution control, and sustainability-related activities.
• The legal basis for the fund was laid under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, which decriminalised several minor environmental offences while retaining monetary penalties to ensure regulatory compliance.
• The fund draws resources from penalties levied under major environmental legislations, including laws related to air pollution, water pollution, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• The notified rules provide clarity on how this fund will be credited, administered, audited, and utilised for specific environmental purposes, addressing long-standing concerns regarding the effective use of environmental penalties.

Objectives of the Environmental (Protection) Fund

• The primary objective of the Environmental (Protection) Fund is to convert regulatory penalties into tangible environmental outcomes. The rules seek to:

• Strengthen pollution prevention, control, and mitigation mechanisms
• Support remediation of environmentally contaminated sites
• Promote research and adoption of clean and green technologies
• Enhance the institutional capacity of environmental regulatory bodies

• By doing so, the fund aligns with the broader principle of “polluter pays,” ensuring that environmental damage leads to corrective and restorative action rather than remaining a purely punitive measure.

Permitted Areas of Fund Utilisation

• The notified rules specify 11 broad categories of activities for which the Environmental (Protection) Fund can be used. These include:

• Prevention, control, and mitigation of air, water, and soil pollution
• Remediation and restoration of contaminated and degraded environmental sites
• Installation, operation, and maintenance of environmental monitoring equipment
• Development of laboratory infrastructure for environmental testing and compliance
• Capacity building of regulatory institutions and technical personnel
• Research and innovation in clean technologies and sustainable practices
• Development of Information Technology (IT)-enabled systems for environmental monitoring

• These provisions aim to ensure that fund utilisation directly contributes to improving environmental quality and regulatory effectiveness rather than being diverted for unrelated purposes.

Administrative Structure and Fund Management

• The rules clearly outline the institutional framework for administering the Environmental (Protection) Fund.
• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will be the primary authority for administering the fund, or it may notify any other competent body for this purpose.
• To ensure decentralised yet coordinated implementation:

• Dedicated Project Management Units (PMUs) will be created at both central and state levels
• Penalties collected will be credited to the fund following a standardised procedure
• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will develop and maintain an online portal for managing fund-related processes

• This digital interface will serve as a common platform for coordination among central ministries, state governments, pollution control boards, and other stakeholders.

Distribution of Funds Between Centre and States

• A significant feature of the rules is the transparent sharing mechanism between the Centre and States. According to the notified provisions:

• 75% of the penalty amount collected will be transferred to the Consolidated Fund of the concerned State
• 25% of the amount will be retained by the Centre for national-level environmental initiatives

• This arrangement recognises that most environmental violations and remediation activities are local in nature, while also enabling the Centre to fund large-scale or cross-cutting environmental projects.

Accountability and Audit Mechanisms

• To strengthen transparency and public accountability, the rules mandate robust oversight mechanisms.
• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) will audit the Environmental (Protection) Fund periodically.
• This audit requirement is crucial to prevent misuse, underutilisation, or diversion of environmental penalty funds.
• Further, the online portal managed by the CPCB will act as a monitoring tool, enabling real-time tracking of fund allocation, utilisation, and project outcomes.
• Together, these measures aim to enhance public trust in environmental governance.

Significance for Environmental Governance in India

• The notification of these rules marks an important shift in India’s environmental regulatory approach.
• Instead of treating penalties merely as revenue, the framework institutionalises their use for environmental improvement.
• It also complements the decriminalisation approach adopted under the Jan Vishwas Act by ensuring that monetary penalties have a corrective and restorative purpose.
• For India, which faces persistent challenges related to pollution, waste management, and ecological degradation, the Environmental (Protection) Fund can serve as a critical financial instrument to bridge regulatory gaps and support sustainable development goals.

Context

• The episode involving film-producer Akash Bhaskaran and the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in 2024–25 illustrates a conflict between investigative power and judicial scrutiny.
• Raids on Bhaskaran’s home were accompanied by leaks, allegations of a ₹1000-crore scam, and media spectacle built around seized devices and purported messages.
• Hashtags and memes amplified accusations long before any formal establishment of wrongdoing.
• When challenged in court, the raids were deemed illegal, all proceedings were stayed, and the ED issued an unconditional apology.
• The Supreme Court later halted broader action, warning that the ED was violating federal principles and crossing all limits

The Inversion of Legal Process

• The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) mandates that offenses be derivative, requiring an identifiable predicate crime that generates illicit proceeds.
• Recent enforcement patterns reveal a reversed sequence: accusations of money laundering arise first, followed by attempts to locate an underlying offense to justify prior action.
• This inversion expands discretionary power and collapses the distinction between suspicion and proof.
• The PMLA equips the ED with sweeping authority. Under its provisions, individuals may be summoned without knowing whether they are witnesses or accused; properties may be attached provisionally; and arrests may occur without warrant under subjective reason to believe.
• Bail restrictions invert the presumption of innocence, compelling the accused to demonstrate non-culpability.
• These powers were originally justified in contexts such as terror financing, drug trafficking, and organised crime, yet their increasing use against political actors, state ministers, and private citizens has altered their institutional character.

Media Performance and the Construction of Guilt

• Media outlets frequently act as accelerants, amplifying raids and leaks into spectacles of pre-judgment.
• In the Bhaskaran case, visuals of seized devices, WhatsApp chats, and alleged luxury goods circulated widely.
• Private news channels and online creators produced an environment in which allegations gained the status of fact without verification.
• Sensational reporting, particularly when derived from leaks, transforms investigatory acts into public indictments.
• This pattern contributes to media trials, reputational punishment, and political pressure irrespective of judicial outcome. Retractions rarely follow and exonerations seldom receive equal coverage.
• Citizens are left consuming narratives that blend investigation, accusation, and entertainment in ways that weaken the rule of law and degrade standards of verification.

Institutional Misuse, Selectivity, and Credibility Crisis

• Multiple ED officers have been arrested on charges of extortion and bribery, including cases in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Mumbai, and Odisha.
• Suspension orders and brief press releases have followed, but no structural reform has emerged.
• Such incidents erode claims of moral authority and enable judicial doubt regarding whether the PMLA is used to secure convictions or to prolong incarceration.
• Political selectivity further fuels distrust. High-profile raids on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, I-PAC offices, and Tamil Nadu Minister K.N. Nehru coincided with electoral or political tensions.
• Letters alleging scams were leaked to the press before adjudication, shaping public opinion and inducing reputational damage. Critics argue that such tactics convert anti-corruption enforcement into political theatre, stressing optics over evidence.
• The agency’s invocation of Article 32 in the Supreme Court, even as it is accused of arbitrary conduct, underscores a double standard.

Democratic Stakes and Constitutional Guardrails

• Robust anti-corruption enforcement remains essential to the integrity of financial markets.
• However, when coercive power becomes arbitrary, it threatens democratic norms. The ED’s trajectory shows how extraordinary powers, if unchecked, can mutate into a form of state overreach.
• Each baseless case normalises weakened procedural safeguards; each media spectacle corrodes public trust in institutions; each selective investigation invites retaliation rather than reform.
• Courts currently represent the primary check on excess. The Supreme Court’s review of the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary judgment will determine whether PMLA powers require recalibration.
• Yet episodic interventions cannot replace durable institutional guardrails.

Conclusion

• An effective framework for combating financial crime must balance investigative authority with constitutional restraint.
• When agencies exercise extraordinary powers without transparency, judicial oversight becomes the last defence against arbitrary state action.
• Media sensationalism and political selectivity further erode public confidence, weakening both institutions and democratic culture.
• Restoring equilibrium requires reforms that defend accountability without sacrificing the rule of law.

About Bor Tiger Reserve:

• It is located in the Wardha District of Maharashtra.
• It is the smallest tiger reserve in India by area.
• It is centrally located among several other Bengal tiger habitats.
  • Towards the northeast lies the Pench Tiger Reserve, towards the east is the Nagzira Navegaon Tiger Reserve, and to the southeast is the Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is located to the southeast, the Melghat Tiger Reserve stands to the west, and the Satpura Tiger Reserve lies to the northwest.
• Vegetation: The area is populated by the Dry Deciduous Forest type.
• Flora: Teak, tendu, bamboo, tarot, and gokhru are some of the abundant species.
• Fauna:
  • Apart from tigers, the reserve is home to several other mammals like leopards, sloth bears, sambar deer, Indian bison (gaur), chital, wild boars, and more.
  • It has recorded diversity of just under 200 avian species, with migratory waterfowl such as the tufted duck, northern shovelers, as well as the elegant fish specialist, the osprey.
  • Commonly seen resident species include the Indian peafowl, black-hooded oriole, and Indian paradise flycatcher.

About Brandt’s Hedgehog:

• It is a species of desert hedgehog.
• Scientific Name: Paraechinus hypomelas
• Distribution: It is native to parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, with a range that includes Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of Turkmenistan.
• Habitat:
  • It inhabits arid and semi-arid regions, including rocky deserts, scrublands, and dry mountain slopes.
  • The species is adapted to environments with sparse vegetation, loose or stony soils, and extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night.
  • It is often associated with areas that provide natural shelter, such as rock crevices, abandoned burrows, or dense shrubs.
  • It is still capable of digging dens when absolutely needed. It hibernates during colder weather.
• Features:
  • It has a black brownish face with a few white hairs interspersed on the forehead.
  • They have large ears with a narrow base.
  • Both the dorsal and ventral surfaces as well as the limbs are usually blackish brown.
  • It has five short-nailed toes on each of its two front paws.
  • Its back paws have four toes each with nails that constantly grow long.
  • It is a faster runner due to lighter needle protection.
  • It is predominantly nocturnal.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least concern.