Why in the News?

• The Independence of the Election Commission has come under debate following allegations of irregularities in electoral roll revisions and a proposed motion to remove the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Elections (Importance of Free & Fair Elections, Election Commission, Appointments, Safeguards, Concerns, etc.)

Importance of Free and Fair Elections

• Free and fair elections form part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution, as recognised by the Supreme Court in Indira Gandhi vs. Raj Narain (1975).
• Adult franchise under Article 326 guarantees the right to vote to every citizen above 18 years of age, subject to reasonable restrictions.
• Recent controversies have revolved around alleged “vote theft” and manipulation of electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
• It has been claimed that lakhs of names were deleted from voter lists in certain States, raising concerns about procedural fairness and the sanctity of electoral democracy.
• Any perceived dilution in the electoral process directly impacts public trust in democratic institutions.

Constitutional Status of the Election Commission

• Article 324 of the Constitution provides for a permanent Election Commission of India (ECI) with powers of superintendence, direction, and control over elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President.
• This constitutional status ensures:

• Institutional permanence
• Autonomy from routine executive interference
• Wide discretionary powers in conducting elections

• The Election Commission may consist of a Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. Since 1993, it has functioned as a multi-member body, a structure upheld by the Supreme Court in T. N. Seshan vs. Union of India (1995).
• The CEC acts as the Chairperson of the Commission, and decisions are generally taken collectively.

Appointment of the Election Commissioners

• The appointment process became controversial after the enactment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Office and Terms of Office) Act, 2023.
• Under the 2023 Act:

• The CEC and Election Commissioners are appointed by the President.
• A Selection Committee comprising the Prime Minister, a Union Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition recommends names.

• Critics argue that the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from the Selection Committee weakens institutional independence.
• This change followed the Supreme Court’s 2023 judgment in Anoop Baranwal vs. Union of India, which had temporarily mandated the inclusion of the CJI in the selection panel until Parliament enacted a law.
• The validity of the 2023 Act is currently under judicial scrutiny.

Safeguards for Independence

• The Constitution incorporates strong safeguards to protect the Election Commission from executive pressure.
• Removal of the CEC
  • Article 324(5) provides that the CEC can be removed only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge under Article 124(4). The grounds are:
    • Proved misbehaviour, Incapacity
  • The removal process is rigorous and quasi-judicial:

• A motion must be signed by at least 100 Lok Sabha members or 50 Rajya Sabha members.
• The Speaker or Chairman may admit the motion.
• A three-member inquiry committee is constituted, comprising:
• A Supreme Court judge
• A Chief Justice of a High Court
• A distinguished jurist
• The CEC is given the opportunity to defend themselves, ensuring adherence to principles of natural justice.
• Both Houses of Parliament must pass the motion by a special majority.

• Removal of Other Election Commissioners
  • Other Election Commissioners can be removed by the President on the recommendation of the CEC. However, the Supreme Court in Vineet Narain vs. Union of India (1997) clarified that such advice should not be arbitrary.
  • These mechanisms create a balance between executive oversight and institutional independence.

Special Intensive Revision and Electoral Concerns

• The recent controversy relates to the SIR of electoral rolls. Allegations include:

• Large-scale deletion of names from voter lists
• Targeting of specific demographic groups
• Rushed revision processes

• Since electoral rolls form the foundation of democratic participation, any irregularity in revision exercises can undermine public confidence.
• Challenges to such revisions have reached the Supreme Court.
• The issue highlights the delicate balance between administrative efficiency and constitutional guarantees of universal adult suffrage.

Context

• At India Energy Week (IEW) 2026, investment opportunities worth nearly $500 billion were announced in the energy sector, reflecting a transition from energy security to energy independence.
• The long-term success of this shift depends on affordable clean fuels, particularly green hydrogen and its derivative green ammonia.
• Owing to its practicality and scalability, green ammonia is emerging as a central component of India’s clean-energy pathway and a potential influence on global energy markets.

Understanding Green Ammonia

• What is Green Ammonia?
  • Green ammonia is produced by combining nitrogen with hydrogen generated using renewable electricity.
  • Unlike grey ammonia, which depends on fossil fuels, it is largely carbon-free and aligns with decarbonisation goals.
• Why It Matters and Its Application
  • Hydrogen faces challenges of storage and transport. Green ammonia resolves these constraints because it can be liquefied, stored, and shipped using existing infrastructure.
  • It therefore acts as a practical carrier of hydrogen energy. Green ammonia has multiple uses:
    • Fertiliser production
    • Marine fuel for shipping
    • Power generation
    • Industrial processes
  • Its versatility enables large-scale adoption of clean fuel systems.

Creating a Market: The Role of Procurement Mechanisms

• Energy transitions require functioning markets. Governments have introduced aggregated procurement systems to guarantee demand and reduce investor uncertainty.
• Major initiatives include the European Union’s H2Global programme, South Korea’s Clean Hydrogen Portfolio Standard, and India’s SIGHT (Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition) programme under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• These mechanisms encourage private participation by ensuring predictable demand and revenue streams.

India’s Green Ammonia Auction Model

• The SECI Tender
  • The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) issued a tender in 2024 to procure 724,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually for 13 fertiliser plants.
  • Successful bidders received 10-year offtake agreements and initial production subsidies, creating strong investment certainty.
• Participation and Outcomes
  • Fifteen companies participated and seven secured thirteen contracts, including a large allocation of 370,000 tonnes annually to a single bidder.
  • Revisions to the tender addressed risk allocation, payment security, and pricing clarity, producing a balanced framework acceptable to both producers and buyers.

Economic Viability and Price Competitiveness

• Price Discovery
  • Prices ranged from ₹49.75–₹64.74 per kg (about $572–$744 per tonne). Conventional grey ammonia costs roughly $515 per tonne.
  • The gap narrowed significantly due to subsidies and long-term contracts, improving commercial feasibility.
• Global Significance
  • Auction prices were about 40–50% lower than some international benchmarks, establishing strong price competitiveness and demonstrating the economic practicality of clean fuels.

Logistics, Infrastructure, and Strategic Benefits

• Delivery and Transportation
  • Pre-identified delivery points were located near coastal fertiliser plants, enabling efficient shipping logistics and reduced transport costs.
• Economic and Strategic Impact
  • The contracted supply could replace nearly 30% of imports, lowering exposure to gas price volatility, currency fluctuations, and geopolitical risks.
  • In regions with higher production costs, green ammonia becomes particularly attractive for scaling.

India’s Global Leadership Potential

• India combines low renewable costs, a large domestic fertiliser market, effective contract design, and targeted incentives.
• Many countries seeking clean fuels for industry, power generation, and transport may rely on imports, positioning India as a major exporter and potential architect of a new clean-fuel trade network.

Challenges and Policy Requirements

• Responsibilities of Developers
  • Project developers must ensure technical due diligence, integrate hybrid renewable systems with storage, and maintain transparent monitoring for long-term reliability.
• Responsibilities of Policymakers
  • Authorities need stable regulatory frameworks, reliable grid access, clear energy banking rules, strengthened safety standards, and internationally aligned certification systems.
• Financial Support
  • Expansion requires blended finance, extended contracts, and risk-mitigation instruments to improve project bankability and attract private capital.

Conclusion

• India’s green ammonia initiative demonstrates that environmental sustainability and economic growth can progress together.
• By combining incentives, assured demand, and infrastructure planning, clean fuels are approaching commercial viability.
• Continued regulatory stability and financial support can help achieve energy independence while fostering a global clean-fuel market, positioning India as a significant leader in the twenty-first-century energy economy.

Context

• The deaths of three adolescent girls in Ghaziabad reveal a deeper structural problem rather than an isolated tragedy.
• India is confronting a growing crisis in child mental health and adolescent wellbeing, shaped by early psychological vulnerability, social stigma, academic pressure, and an increasingly unregulated digital environment.
• This convergence has created a public health emergency insufficiently addressed by families, schools, healthcare systems, and policy frameworks.

Early Vulnerability and Misunderstanding of Childhood Mental Health

• Mental illness is often perceived as an adult issue, yet emotional and behavioural disorders appear in early childhood, sometimes as early as four or five years.
• Anxiety, depression, and behavioural disorders emerge during critical developmental stages.
• Early trauma, neglect, and chronic stress interfere with emotional and cognitive growth, often resurfacing with greater intensity during adolescence.
• Childhood experiences accumulate rather than disappear. When early distress remains unrecognised, it later manifests in more severe psychological difficulties.
• Disorders have also become more complex. Increasingly, children experience comorbidity: ADHD accompanied by anxiety, depression linked with compulsive screen use, and learning disorders associated with emotional distress.
• Early warning signs, withdrawal, impulsivity, or sudden behavioural change, are frequently dismissed as misbehaviour, allowing long-term emotional harm to develop.

The Structural Gap: Data, Resources, and Access to Care

• Survey data suggests that 7–10% of Indian adolescents have diagnosable mental health conditions, while 5–7% of school-aged children show symptoms of ADHD.
• Yet institutional capacity remains inadequate. India has fewer than 10,000 psychiatrists for over 1.4 billion people, and only a small proportion specialise in child psychiatry.
• The shortage of clinical psychologists, child specialists, and psychiatric social workers forces families to navigate fragmented care systems alone.
• This imbalance between demand and infrastructure leads to delayed diagnosis, untreated distress, and crisis-driven intervention.
• The issue therefore represents a wider public health failure rather than merely a clinical challenge.

The Digital Environment as an Intensifying Factor

• The expansion of smartphones and affordable internet access has transformed childhood.
• Hundreds of millions of children now interact daily with connected devices, a trend accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Education, communication, and entertainment occur on the same screen, blurring behavioural boundaries.
• Excessive exposure does not directly cause neurodevelopmental disorders, but it intensifies vulnerabilities.
• Internet addiction, marked by sleep disruption, irritability, and social withdrawal, has become common.
• Prolonged screen exposure weakens attention, emotional regulation, and sleep patterns while displacing essential human interaction during periods of neuroplasticity.
• Reduced real-world engagement undermines emotional development and delays recognition of underlying problems. 

Families, Schools, and Social Institutions

• Families function as the first protective layer. Trauma-informed parenting, attentive listening, and early help-seeking significantly improve outcomes.
• Parent and peer support groups reduce isolation and encourage resilience.
• Schools, however, remain a major weakness. Educational systems prioritise academic performance, examinations, and rankings over emotional wellbeing.
• Without emotional regulation and stress management, academic achievement becomes fragile.
• Teachers often lack training to identify warning signs, and healthcare consultations focus mainly on physical growth rather than psychological health.

Policy and Social Response

• Recent policy discussions acknowledge rising youth mental health concerns, and some regions are considering limits on adolescent social media exposure.
• Effective action requires prevention, education, and support rather than punishment.
• Key measures include school-based screening, teacher training, stronger referral networks, community counselling, and expansion of tele-mental health
• Clear digital-use guidelines and accessible care for low-income families are essential. Cultural barriers remain significant; fear of labelling discourages families from seeking help.
• Normalising conversations about mental wellbeing is therefore a national priority.

Reframing Childhood: A Cultural Argument

• Modern childhood has become intensely competitive. Success is increasingly measured by grades rather than wellbeing.
• Healthy development requires resilience, emotional security, and social connection alongside achievement.
• Neglecting psychological health produces long-term social and economic consequences, including reduced productivity and strained relationships.

Conclusion

• The Ghaziabad incident underscores interconnected causes: early vulnerability, institutional neglect, inadequate resources, digital overexposure, and social pressure.
• Families, schools, healthcare providers, and policymakers share responsibility. Early detection, supportive parenting, school reform, responsible technology use, and stigma reduction are essential.
• Protecting childhood wellbeing is not peripheral; it is central to national development and long-term societal stability.

About PRASHAD Scheme:

• The PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) was launched in the year 2014-2015 under the Ministry of Tourism.
• It is a Central Sector Scheme with the objective of integrated development of identified pilgrimage destinations.
• The primary objective of the scheme is to develop tourism infrastructure at pilgrimage and heritage sites, ensuring a more enriching experience for pilgrims and heritage enthusiasts.
• Under the scheme, the ministry provides financial assistance to state governments and Union Territory administrations for the development of tourism infrastructure at these sites.
• The Central Government provides 100% funding for the project components undertaken for public funding.
• It also welcomes voluntary contributions made through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) AND Public Private Partnership (PPP).
• The Ministry of Tourism has set up a Mission Directorate for implementing the PRASAD scheme.
  • The Mission Directorate identifies projects in the identified cities and coordinates with the states/UTs and other stakeholders to implement this scheme.
• The scheme contributes to employment generation while also enhancing awareness and fostering skill and capacity development of the local communities.

About Vaan Island:

• Vaan is located in the Gulf of Mannar, which was declared a marine biodiversity park in 1986.
• It is part of the Tuticorin group of islands.
• It had suffered severe erosion.
• To arrest the decline, scientists deployed a specially designed artificial reef modules around the island beginning in 2015.
• The reef modules also facilitated rapid biological colonisation, supporting coral colonies per module.

Key Facts about Gulf of Mannar:

• It is an inlet of the Indian Ocean, between southeastern India and western Sri Lanka.
• It is bounded to the northeast by Rameswaram (island), Adam’s (Rama’s) Bridge (a chain of shoals), and Mannar Island.
• It receives several rivers, including the Tambraparni (India) and the Aruvi (Sri Lanka).
• The port of Tuticorin is on the Indian coast.
• The gulf is noted for its pearl banks and sacred chank (a gastropod mollusk).

About Sayyad-3G Missile:

• It is a naval surface-to-air defense missile developed by Iran.
• Derived from the land-based Sayyad-3 missile, the Sayyad-3G has been adapted for maritime use, providing medium-range air defense for warships and naval vessels.
• It is launched from ships via a Vertical Launch System (VLS), offering 360-degree coverage and rapid response against aerial threats.
• The missile is capable of intercepting multiple airborne targets, including warplanes, maritime patrol aircraft, and high-altitude UAVs.
• It can operate both independently and as part of an integrated naval command-and-control network, using the ship’s onboard radar while retaining autonomous tracking and targeting capability.
• Its operational range is reported to be approximately 150 kilometers.