The Indian Judiciary: Guardian of Constitution and Catalyst for Change
India’s judiciary plays a pivotal role in its democratic setup. The Supreme Court, at the apex, wields significant powers and enjoys a unique position compared to other nations.

Powers of the Supreme Court:

Guardian of the Constitution: The Supreme Court acts as the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution, ensuring all laws and government actions comply with it. It can declare laws unconstitutional through the power of judicial review.
Protector of Fundamental Rights: The Court safeguards the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution, upholding individual liberties against potential infringement by the government.
Dispute Resolution: The Court adjudicates disputes between the center and states, and between citizens and the government.
Public Interest Litigation (PIL): A unique feature, PIL allows individuals or groups to approach the Court on behalf of the public interest.
Comparison with Other Nations:

US vs. India: A key difference lies in judicial review. The US Supreme Court can overturn legislation deemed unconstitutional, influencing future laws. In India, the Court can strike down laws, but the legislature can enact new ones to circumvent the ruling.
Common Law vs. Civil Law Systems: Unlike common law countries (e.g., UK) where judge-made precedents hold significant weight, India’s civil law system primarily relies on codified laws. However, the Supreme Court’s interpretations set precedents with considerable influence.
Debates on Judicial Activism:

Boundaries of Judicial Review: Concerns arise when the Court appears to overstep its boundaries by striking down elected representatives’ laws. Critics argue this undermines the democratic process.
Social Change vs. Judicial Overreach: The Court has played a proactive role in enacting social reforms, particularly regarding women’s rights and environmental protection. Supporters view this as necessary when the legislature fails to act.
Finding the Right Balance:

The Indian judiciary enjoys a position of immense power. Here’s how to ensure it functions effectively:

Judicial Restraint vs. Activism: Finding a balance between respecting the legislature’s role and proactively addressing societal issues.
Clearer Separation of Powers: Defining clearer boundaries for judicial review to avoid friction with the legislative and executive branches.
Improving Judicial Infrastructure: Investing in faster resolution times and reducing case backlogs to ensure timely access to justice.
Conclusion:

India’s judiciary stands as a crucial pillar of its democracy. The Supreme Court’s power and activism have been instrumental in safeguarding rights and driving social change. However, ongoing debates highlight the need for a well-defined balance between judicial power and the other branches of government. By fostering an environment of cooperation and clear boundaries, India’s judiciary can continue to be a force for justice and progress.

The Union government in India has significant responsibilities in the realm of election management, including the oversight of the Election Commission and the regulation of political parties and electoral processes.

Oversight of the Election Commission:
The Election Commission of India (EC) is an independent constitutional body responsible for administering elections in the country. However, the Union government plays a crucial role in the functioning of the EC:

1. Appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners: The President of India, on the advice of the Union cabinet, appoints the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. This gives the Union government a degree of influence over the composition of the EC.
2. Providing resources and logistical support: The Union government is responsible for allocating the necessary financial and administrative resources to the EC to enable it to conduct free and fair elections across the country.

Legislative changes: The Union government can introduce or amend laws related to elections, such as the Representation of the People Act, which governs the conduct of elections. These legislative changes impact the EC’s functioning and the electoral process.
Regulation of Political Parties and Electoral Processes:
The Union government also plays a significant role in regulating political parties and the overall electoral process:

1. Registration and recognition of political parties: The Election Commission is responsible for the registration and recognition of political parties, but the Union government can introduce laws and policies that govern the criteria for party registration and recognition.
2. Regulation of campaign financing: The Union government can enact laws and policies to regulate campaign financing by political parties and candidates, such as limits on donations and expenditures.
3. Enforcement of election laws: The Union government, through various law enforcement agencies, is responsible for ensuring the enforcement of election laws and addressing any violations or malpractices during the electoral process.
4. Delimitation of constituencies: The Union government can initiate the process of delimitation, which involves redrawing the boundaries of parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on population changes and other factors.
5. Regulation of media and information: The Union government can introduce laws and policies that govern the media’s role during elections, such as regulations on political advertising and the dissemination of information.

In summary, the Union government in India plays a crucial role in the management of elections, both through its oversight of the Election Commission and its direct regulation of political parties and electoral processes. This involvement aims to ensure the integrity and fairness of the electoral system, but it also raises concerns about the potential for political influence and the need for strong safeguards to preserve the independence of the electoral institutions.

The Chauri Chaura incident occurred in the last phase of the Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM). On February 5, 1922, the police had opened fire on the protestors who were protesting against liquor sale and high food prices. In retaliation, the agitated crowd torched the police station with policemen inside resulting in the death of 22 policemen.

The Chauri Chaura incident slowed down the momentum of Indian freedom struggle for a while due to the following reasons:

• The NCM came to an end as Gandhiji called it off unilaterally. Thereafter, the Congress Working Committee also resolved to roll it back. It was decided to take the Movement to the passive phase and focus on constructive work like popularization of khadi, construction of national schools, and campaigning for temperance, for Hindu-Muslim unity and against untouchability.
• The arrest of Gandhiji and his sentencing to jail for six years also slowed down the momentum of the NCM.
• Many nationalist leaders including C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru etc. expressed bewilderment at the sudden withdrawal of the Movement. This led to disintegration, disorganization and demoralization among the nationalist ranks and two factions were created within the Congress – Swarajists and No-Changers.

However, the NCM still remains a watershed in the history of Indian freedom struggle because:

• It inculcated fearlessness among the masses. According to Subhash Chandra Bose, the Movement led to a peak of boiling public enthusiasm and the masses had started taking initiatives. Eventually, there was dissatisfaction amongst the masses, which germinated the seeds of extremism, as the goals of the NCM were not reached.
• With the Non-Cooperation Movement, nationalist sentiments reached every nook and corner of the country and politicized every stratum of the population-the artisans, peasants, students, urban poor, women, traders, etc.
• Colonial rule was based on two myths-one, that such a rule was in the interest of Indians and two, that it was invincible. The second myth of being invincible had been challenged by Satyagraha through mass struggle.
• It shook the British government, which was stumped by the extent of the Movement and forced the British government to take demands of protesters seriously in the future.
• The Movement established the popularity of the Congress Party among the people and established Gandhiji as a leader of the masses.

Moreover, the Non-Cooperation Movement established a strong base for future endeavours of the nationalists as seen in the Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Movement where people participated in large numbers. This paved the path for uprooting the British government from India in 1947.

Noise pollution is an unwanted sound that can affect animal and human behaviour. The WHO classifies noise above 65 dB as pollution. Noise is detrimental at 75 dB and agonizing at 120 dB. In 2018, the WHO limited traffic noise to 53 dB for health reasons.
Urbanization and Noise pollution in India

• As urbanization increases, the population density in cities and towns also increases, leading to a rise in the number of vehicles, industries, and construction activities, which are major sources of noise pollution.
• According to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2022, out of 13 most noise polluted cities in south Asia, 5 are in India. The city of Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh is the second-most noise polluted city globally.
• In India, Noise pollution has two sources i.e. industrial and non-industrial.
  • The industrial source includes the noise from various industries and big machines working at a very high speed and high noise intensity.
  • Non-industrial source of noise includes the noise created by transport/vehicular traffic and the neighbourhood noise generated by various noise pollutants can also be divided into categories, namely, natural and man-made.
  • Road noise and city traffic noise pollute the most. Car horns are 90 dB, and bus horns are 100 dB. Construction activities like drilling emit 110 dB.
• As the Indian cities are growing rapidly due to influx of rural to urban migration, the demand for construction and use of vehicles is increasing. Thus, the level of noise pollution in many Indian cities has exceeded the limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Impact of noise pollution on human health:

• Impact on central nervous system (CNS): Noise pollution increases the risk of hypertension which has been related with many other cardiovascular (and) cerebrovascular diseases like heart attacks and stroke.
• Impact on pregnant women and children: Exposure to noise pollution during pregnancy has been linked to developmental problems in infants. Studies have shown that noise pollution can affect cognitive function, including memory, attention, and problem-solving.
• Hearing loss: Mechanics, locomotive drivers, telephone operators are susceptible to high noise pollution and they tend to suffer from hearing impairment.
• Mental Health: Exposure to loud noise can cause stress, leading to an increase in cortisol levels, which can have a range of negative health effects, including anxiety and depression.

To address the issue various legislative measures have been undertaken. Acts like the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the Industries Act, Specific Relief Act for redresses against health hazards, Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 contain provisions for noise abatement. Under the Noise Rules, 2000, separate ambient levels are fixed for industrial, commercial and residential areas and silence zones.

Natural gas is a multipurpose fuel that can be used for power generation, industrial processes, transportation, and domestic use. India’s natural gas demand has been growing steadily and is expected to nearly double by 2030. Therefore, through the National Gas Grid, the government is trying to ensure its availability in all parts of the country as a reliable and cleaner source of energy. Its adequate availability and equitable distribution can stimulate economic activities, improve productivity, and enhance the overall standard of living in following ways:

• Adherence to the climate goal commitments: Being a cleaner fuel it will help the country in achieving SDG and Paris Agreement commitments to reduce its carbon footprint in a phased manner.
• Meet the rising demand: While the Automobile companies are gradually moving away from diesel vehicles to meet the BS VI norms, the next in line alternatives for automobile fuel are LNG and CNG.
• Positive trade balance: Shifting towards a Gas based economy will reduce our crude oil bills and make the balance of trade favourable for India.
• Improve accessibility: At present, for every million population only about 12.3 km of natural gas pipeline exists in India. National grid can address the accessibility issue as well as existing regional disparities.
• Economical & uninterrupted delivery of fuel: Establishment of a pipeline ensures safe, economical and uninterrupted supply of Natural gas, CNG and PNG to various end users.

Despite the potential benefits, there are several challenges India faces in this regard:

• Capacity utilisation of pipelines: The existing natural gas pipelines are currently operating only at 10% to 20% level of utilisation. Further, pipelines operating for over 10 years have been constrained by limited availability of domestic gas.
• Functioning of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB): The regulatory body is marred with several key position vacancies, even the position of Chairperson stands vacant thereby reducing the body’s efficiency.
• Delays in project execution: There are various delays in laying the pipelines due to land acquisition, issue of right of use and multiplicity of agencies.
• Skewed coverage of PNG: The PNG connections are not able to reach every household even when that particular area has been marked as covered as penetration level is not marked as a criterion.
• Infrastructure and financing gaps: Building an extensive gas pipeline network requires significant investment in infrastructure. Attracting long-term investments and financing mechanisms that ensure economic viability and sustainability of the grid is a crucial challenge.

Nevertheless, expansion of the natural gas infrastructure and market will bring along several benefits like socio-economic empowerment, import-substitution, emission reduction, and green energy solutions at affordable prices. Further, natural gas shall address India’s energy security concerns to a greater extent.