APPSC Daily Current Affairs - 18th November 2025
Source: The Hindu
Relevance: GS Paper II – Education, Governance; GS Paper I – Social Issues; Essay
Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
- UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education)
- NEP 2020 – School restructuring model
- RTE Act, 2009 – Neighbourhood school norms (1 km for Classes 1–5)
- Amma Vodi / Thalliki Vandanam (AP welfare scheme)
- Model Primary School – AP Government’s classification
For Mains:
- School mergers & rationalisation: impact on access and equity
- Public vs Private education trends
- NEP-linked school restructuring
- Role of welfare schemes in school choice
- Challenges in rural schooling & teacher deployment
Why in News?
- Recent school restructuring and mergers in Andhra Pradesh (AP) have disrupted schooling for rural children, with some missing up to six months of classes.
- The issue came to light after several villages protested the long-distance shifting of Classes 3–5 students to “model schools”.
- Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) data shows a 4% decline in government schools (2014–2024) and a 7% rise in private schools in the same period.
Background
- AP has undergone multiple rounds of restructuring under both YSRCP (2019–2024) and the present NDA–TDP government.
- Shifts were done under the NEP 2020 framework, reducing standalone primary schools.
- This resulted in many rural schools becoming only Class 1–2 institutions, forcing children to walk 2–3 km for Classes 3–5—violating RTE neighbourhood norms (1 km).
What Led to School Mergers in AP?
YSRCP (Previous Govt)
- Adopted School Rationalisation Policy (2023).
- Primary schools: Only Classes 1–2.
- Classes 3–5 merged with nearby high schools.
NDA–TDP (Current Govt)
- Reversed earlier structure but still followed an NEP-aligned merger model.
- Created Model Primary Schools (one per panchayat) to house Classes 3–5.
- Other schools downgraded to Classes 1–2.
Impact on Students & Communities
a) Long-distance travel for young children
- Example: Bangaramma Kandriga village – students asked to walk 2.5 km, violating RTE norms.
b) Months of lost schooling
- Many children did not attend school for nearly 6 months due to distance and unsafe paths.
c) Temporary & informal teaching arrangements
- One teacher unofficially deputed back, but students still marked absent in official rolls.
d) Emotional impact
- Children like Durga (Kakinada) now sit alone in near-empty classrooms due to low enrollment.
Data Insights (UDISE)
- Government schools in AP decreased by 4% (2014–24)
- Private schools increased by 7% (2014–24)
- Many schools dropped from 60+ students to 2–10 students’ post-merger.
Issues with Model Primary Schools
- Many do not meet promised standards:
- Only 1 usable classroom
- Only 3 teachers instead of 5
- Only 1 washroom for boys and girls together
- Inadequate infrastructure
Private School Migration & Welfare Schemes
- Amma Vodi (YSRCP) and Thalliki Vandanam (TDP) give mothers ₹13,000/year per child for schooling.
- Private schools collect this amount directly from parents and offer:
- Transport
- Admission facilitation
- Many families shift to private schools due to convenience + perceived better quality.
Key Challenges
- Violation of RTE norms (1 km limit for primary classes)
- Sharp fall in government school enrollment
- Teacher shortages
- Poor infrastructure in model schools
- Compulsory mergers without community consultation
- Dependence on welfare schemes pushing families to private schools
- Risk of closure of century-old schools
Way Forward
- Strengthen neighbourhood schools up to Class 5 in rural areas.
- Conduct social impact assessment before mergers.
- Improve transport infrastructure for distant schools.
- Ensure adequate teacher deployment (1 per class).
- Upgrade model school infrastructure.
- Prevent misuse of welfare schemes for private admissions.
- Allow flexibility to reopen merged schools where enrollment exists.
Conclusion
- School mergers in Andhra Pradesh highlight the tension between NEP-driven rationalisation and ground realities of rural education.
- Without adequate infrastructure, teacher supply, and community engagement, restructuring risks disrupting schooling, accelerating private migration, and weakening public education.
- A child-centric, RTE-compliant approach is critical to protect access, equity and continuity in rural schooling.
CARE MCQ
Q. Under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, what is the maximum permissible walking distance for a child in Classes 1–5 to attend a neighbourhood school?
(a) 500 metres
(b) 1 kilometre
(c) 2 kilometres
(d) 3 kilometres
Answer: (b) 1 kilometre
Explanation:
The RTE Act, 2009 mandates that primary students (Classes 1–5) must have access to a neighbourhood school within 1 km. The AP school mergers violated this norm by requiring children to walk 2–2.5 km.
Source: The Hindu
Relevance: UPSC GS-I Modern Indian History – Revolutionary Nationalism, HSRA
Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
- Batukeshwar Dutt (1910–1965)
- Central Assembly Bombing (1929)
- Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA)
- Inquilab Zindabad slogan
- Delhi Assembly Bomb Case
- Quit India Movement (1942)
For Mains:
- Role of lesser-known freedom fighters
- Historical erasure and post-independence neglect
- Political prisoner conditions in British India
- Bhagat Singh–Dutt ideological partnership
- Debate on public commemoration and portraits in Parliament
Why in News?
November 18 marks the birth anniversary of Batukeshwar Dutt (1910–1965), the revolutionary who played a crucial role in the 1929 Central Assembly Bombing alongside Bhagat Singh. Despite his courage, long imprisonment, and sacrifices, Dutt remains largely absent from national memory, highlighting how India selectively remembers its revolutionaries.
Background: The Assembly Bombing and the Revolutionary Moment
On April 8, 1929, two young revolutionaries shook British rule by throwing harmless bombs into the Central Assembly Hall in Delhi, shouting “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Down with Imperialism.” Newspapers rushed to report the incident, and the world learned the names Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt. While Singh became legendary, Dutt slowly vanished from public consciousness, despite equal bravery.
A Revolutionary’s Journey
- Born in Burdwan, Bengal in 1910.
- Convicted in the Delhi Assembly Bomb Case on June 12, 1929.
- Spent nine years in harsh prisons: Multan, Jhelum, Trichinopoly, Salem, Andamans.
- Undertook repeated hunger strikes, twice fasting for over one month.
- Was in Salem Jail when Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev were executed on March 23, 1931.
- Released in 1938, rearrested during Quit India Movement (1942); jailed for four more years.
- Married Anjali, settled in Patna, daughter Bharti.
- Post-independence life marked by economic hardship.
- Coal depot allotted by Bihar govt failed; received only a symbolic six-month nomination to the Legislative Council.
Final Years: Illness, Neglect, and a Revolutionary’s Death
- Developed bone cancer in the mid-1960s.
- Spent eight months in AIIMS, New Delhi under Dr. Vig, who said only a “painless death” was possible.
- Plans to send him abroad dropped; Delhi care deemed equivalent.
- Died on July 20, 1965.
- As per his last wish, cremated at Hussainiwala beside Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev.
- Funeral attended by President, PM, ministers, but remembrance faded soon after.
Neglect and the Politics of Memory
- Parliament building still lacks portraits of Bhagat Singh and Dutt.
- Yet V. D. Savarkar’s portrait occupies a prominent place.
- In 2014, MPs Dharamvira Gandhi and Sitaram Yechury demanded inclusion of Bhagat Singh’s portrait; the demand was ignored.
- Dutt’s erasure documented by Chaman Lal Azad in Bhagat Singh aur Dutt ki Amar Kahani (1966).
- Book contains Bhagat Singh’s letters, Gandhi’s letter to Dutt, rare photos, eyewitness accounts.
- Remains out of print due to copyright issues.
- Dutt shared memories of comrades like Hari Kishan Talwar and Ehsan Ilahi.
- Criticised early films on Bhagat Singh; approved Manoj Kumar’s Shaheed (1965).
A Bond Beyond Martyrdom
- Mata Vidyawati, Bhagat Singh’s mother, lived with Dutt during his final days.
- She sold a gifted epic poem to fund his treatment.
- Comrades Shiv Verma, Sadashiv Malkapurkar, Kiran Das regularly visited him.
- Senior leaders, including Gulzari Lal Nanda, Y. B. Chavan, Jagjivan Ram, Swaran Singh, and Dr. Sushila Nayyar, visited him in hospital.
- Respect and sympathy rarely translated into material support during his life.
Legacy: A Revolutionary Forgotten
- Dutt admired Bhagat Singh’s intellectual depth and socialist ideals.
- Noted Singh was “far-sighted, always with a book in hand.”
- Yet national memory celebrated Bhagat Singh while Dutt slipped into obscurity.
- Works like Justice Anil Verma’s Bhagat Singh ke Sahyogi: Batukeshwar Dutt and Bhairav Lal Das’s Viplvi Batukeshwar Dutt attempt to revive his legacy.
- His life reflects how many revolutionaries were briefly honoured, rarely remembered, and largely neglected despite immense sacrifices.
Conclusion
Batukeshwar Dutt’s life reflects the courage of a revolutionary and the tragedy of a nation that forgot one of its own heroes. Despite his sacrifices, he remained marginalised in independent India’s memory. Remembering Dutt is essential not only to honour his contribution but also to correct historical neglect and ensure that the legacy of all freedom fighters is preserved with dignity.
UPSC PYQ
Assertion–Reason (CDS-I/2002)
Assertion (A): Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs in the Legislative Assembly in 1929.
Reason (R): They wanted to kill some members of the Legislative Assembly as revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.
Options
- Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
- Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
- A is true but R is false
- A is false but R is true
Correct Answer: (3) A is true but R is false
CARE MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements about Batukeshwar Dutt:
- He was a member of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha.
- The 1929 Assembly bombing was intended as a symbolic protest, not to cause casualties.
- He came in contact with Bhagat Singh during his college days in Kanpur.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Correct Answer: (c) All three
Source: The Indian Express
Relevance: GS Paper II (Polity & Governance — Laws, Rights), Prelims (NDPS Act definitions & punishments), GS Paper IV / Ethics (legal-ethical tensions)
Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
- NDPS Act, 1985
- Definition of cannabis (charas, ganja)
- Legal status of bhang (not covered under NDPS)
- Section 8(b)
- Kerala High Court ruling (2025)
- Punishment for cultivation
For Mains:
- Cannabis plant vs bhang: legal contradiction
- Right to culture vs NDPS restrictions
- Federal structure: Centre (NDPS) vs States (bhang rules)
Why in News?
- Kerala High Court (Nov 4, 2025) dismissed a petition by a man caught with five cannabis plants on the terrace.
- He argued:
- Plants had no flowering or fruiting tops → So they are not “ganja”.
- Court held:
- NDPS Act makes cultivation of any cannabis plant illegal, regardless of flowering or not.
- The law separates “cannabis plant” from products like ganja or charas.
What Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 Defines Cannabis (Section 2)
- NDPS Act (1985) was enacted due to international pressure, mainly USA, to criminalise cannabis.
- It does not ban all parts of cannabis.
Legal Definitions
Charas
- Resin extracted from cannabis plant.
- Includes hashish oil, any form of separated resin.
Ganja
- Flowering or fruiting tops of cannabis plant.
- Contains the psychoactive component (THC).
Excluded parts
- Leaves and seeds not accompanied by flowering tops.
Therefore, not considered cannabis under NDPS Act.
The Bhang Loophole
- Bhang is made from leaves, which are not illegal under NDPS Act.
- Thus:
- Bhang is NOT a narcotic drug.
- Its consumption is legal under central law.
But Bhang Is Not Completely Free
- NDPS National Policy states:
- States can regulate, permit or ban bhhang.
- Examples:
- Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan → licensed bhang shops
- Assam → bhang banned under local law
This creates a unique situation:
You can drink bhang legally at Holi, but cannot grow the plant whose leaves make bhang.
Why Growing Cannabis Is a Crime
Main legal reason
- Section 8(b) NDPS Act:
- Prohibits cultivation of ANY cannabis plant unless government-approved.
Definition under Section 2(iv)
- “Cannabis plant” = ANY plant of genus cannabis, irrespective of:
- Age
- Flowering
- Fruiting
Kerala High Court Clarification
- Act does not distinguish between:
- A mature plant vs a small sapling
- A plant in the ground vs a pot
- “Cultivation” includes:
- Growing
- Raising
- Gardening
- Even keeping in pots
Conclusion:
🔹 You can legally buy bhang, but legally you CANNOT grow the cannabis plant.Difference Between Bhang and Cannabis
| Category | Bhang | Cannabis (Ganja/Charas) |
| Part of Plant Used | Leaves | Flowering tops (Ganja) and Resin (Charas) |
| Legal Status (NDPS Act) | Legal (Leaves are excluded from NDPS definition) | Illegal (Flowers/resin included in NDPS definition) |
| Cultivation | Cannot grow the plant; but bhang consumption is allowed | Growing ANY cannabis plant is illegal |
| Psychoactive Strength | Mild (Low THC) | Strong (High THC) |
| Form of Use | Drinks (bhang thandai), sweets | Smoked, vaped, resin consumed |
| Regulation | Controlled by state laws (licensed shops in some states) | Controlled strictly under NDPS Act |
| Cultural Use | Used in festivals (Holi, Maha Shivaratri) | No cultural sanction under law |
| Purpose | Traditional/religious consumption | Recreational or intoxicant use |
| Legal Reason | Leaves are not considered “cannabis” under law | Flowers/resin are officially defined as cannabis |
Punishments Under NDPS Act
Quantity-Based Punishments
For Ganja
- Small quantity → up to 1 kg
- Jail up to 1 year
- Fine up to ₹10,000
- Commercial quantity → 20 kg or more
- Jail 10–20 years
- Fine ₹1–2 lakh
For Charas
- Small quantity → up to 100 g
- Commercial quantity → 1 kg or more
Punishment for Cultivation
- Growing even one cannabis plant can result in:
- Up to 10 years rigorous imprisonment
- Up to ₹1 lakh fine
Important:
The offence is punishable even if no flowers or Ganja are produced.
Legal Exceptions — Industrial Hemp & Medical Use
Permitted under Section 14
Government may allow cultivation for:
- Industrial use (hemp fibre, seeds)
- Horticultural use
- Medical and scientific research
States that Allow Industrial Hemp
- Uttarakhand — first to issue licences in 2018
- Uttar Pradesh
- Himachal Pradesh
- Madhya Pradesh
Medical Cannabis
- CSIR and other research bodies licensed for:
- Medical trials
- Research on cannabis-based medicines
- India’s first medical cannabis clinic opened in Bengaluru in 2020.
International level: Commission on Narcotic Drugs
- It is the UN agency mandated to decide on the scope of control of substances by placing them in the schedules of global drug control conventions.
- It was founded in 1946
- Headquartered in Vienna.
- Global attitudes towards cannabis have changed dramatically since the commencement of the 1961 Convention, with many jurisdictions permitting cannabis use for recreation, medication or both.
- Currently, over 50 countries allow medicinal cannabis programmes, and its recreational use has been legalised in Canada, Uruguay and 15 states of the USA.
Ongoing Legal Challenge to Ban
- Delhi High Court is hearing a petition by:
- Great Legalisation Movement India Trust
- Petition argues:
- Ban on cannabis is arbitrary, unscientific, and violates personal liberty.
- Case is still ongoing.
CARE MCQ
The Kerala High Court (2025) ruled that cultivation of cannabis is illegal even if:
(a) The plant is dried
(b) Only three plants are grown
(c) The plant has no flowering tops
(d) The leaves are not harvested
Answer: (c)
Source: The Indian Express
Relevance: GS Paper II (Polity & Governance — Laws, Rights), Prelims (NDPS Act definitions & punishments), GS Paper IV / Ethics (legal-ethical tensions)
Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
- NDPS Act, 1985
- Definition of cannabis (charas, ganja)
- Legal status of bhang (not covered under NDPS)
- Section 8(b)
- Kerala High Court ruling (2025)
- Punishment for cultivation
For Mains:
- Cannabis plant vs bhang: legal contradiction
- Right to culture vs NDPS restrictions
- Federal structure: Centre (NDPS) vs States (bhang rules)
Why in News?
- Kerala High Court (Nov 4, 2025) dismissed a petition by a man caught with five cannabis plants on the terrace.
- He argued:
- Plants had no flowering or fruiting tops → So they are not “ganja”.
- Court held:
- NDPS Act makes cultivation of any cannabis plant illegal, regardless of flowering or not.
- The law separates “cannabis plant” from products like ganja or charas.
What Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 Defines Cannabis (Section 2)
- NDPS Act (1985) was enacted due to international pressure, mainly USA, to criminalise cannabis.
- It does not ban all parts of cannabis.
Legal Definitions
Charas
- Resin extracted from cannabis plant.
- Includes hashish oil, any form of separated resin.
Ganja
- Flowering or fruiting tops of cannabis plant.
- Contains the psychoactive component (THC).
Excluded parts
- Leaves and seeds not accompanied by flowering tops.
Therefore, not considered cannabis under NDPS Act.
The Bhang Loophole
- Bhang is made from leaves, which are not illegal under NDPS Act.
- Thus:
- Bhang is NOT a narcotic drug.
- Its consumption is legal under central law.
But Bhang Is Not Completely Free
- NDPS National Policy states:
- States can regulate, permit or ban bhhang.
- Examples:
- Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan → licensed bhang shops
- Assam → bhang banned under local law
This creates a unique situation:
You can drink bhang legally at Holi, but cannot grow the plant whose leaves make bhang.
Why Growing Cannabis Is a Crime
Main legal reason
- Section 8(b) NDPS Act:
- Prohibits cultivation of ANY cannabis plant unless government-approved.
Definition under Section 2(iv)
- “Cannabis plant” = ANY plant of genus cannabis, irrespective of:
- Age
- Flowering
- Fruiting
Kerala High Court Clarification
- Act does not distinguish between:
- A mature plant vs a small sapling
- A plant in the ground vs a pot
- “Cultivation” includes:
- Growing
- Raising
- Gardening
- Even keeping in pots
Conclusion:
🔹 You can legally buy bhang, but legally you CANNOT grow the cannabis plant.Difference Between Bhang and Cannabis
| Category | Bhang | Cannabis (Ganja/Charas) |
| Part of Plant Used | Leaves | Flowering tops (Ganja) and Resin (Charas) |
| Legal Status (NDPS Act) | Legal (Leaves are excluded from NDPS definition) | Illegal (Flowers/resin included in NDPS definition) |
| Cultivation | Cannot grow the plant; but bhang consumption is allowed | Growing ANY cannabis plant is illegal |
| Psychoactive Strength | Mild (Low THC) | Strong (High THC) |
| Form of Use | Drinks (bhang thandai), sweets | Smoked, vaped, resin consumed |
| Regulation | Controlled by state laws (licensed shops in some states) | Controlled strictly under NDPS Act |
| Cultural Use | Used in festivals (Holi, Maha Shivaratri) | No cultural sanction under law |
| Purpose | Traditional/religious consumption | Recreational or intoxicant use |
| Legal Reason | Leaves are not considered “cannabis” under law | Flowers/resin are officially defined as cannabis |
Punishments Under NDPS Act
Quantity-Based Punishments
For Ganja
- Small quantity → up to 1 kg
- Jail up to 1 year
- Fine up to ₹10,000
- Commercial quantity → 20 kg or more
- Jail 10–20 years
- Fine ₹1–2 lakh
For Charas
- Small quantity → up to 100 g
- Commercial quantity → 1 kg or more
Punishment for Cultivation
- Growing even one cannabis plant can result in:
- Up to 10 years rigorous imprisonment
- Up to ₹1 lakh fine
Important:
The offence is punishable even if no flowers or Ganja are produced.
Legal Exceptions — Industrial Hemp & Medical Use
Permitted under Section 14
Government may allow cultivation for:
- Industrial use (hemp fibre, seeds)
- Horticultural use
- Medical and scientific research
States that Allow Industrial Hemp
- Uttarakhand — first to issue licences in 2018
- Uttar Pradesh
- Himachal Pradesh
- Madhya Pradesh
Medical Cannabis
- CSIR and other research bodies licensed for:
- Medical trials
- Research on cannabis-based medicines
- India’s first medical cannabis clinic opened in Bengaluru in 2020.
International level: Commission on Narcotic Drugs
- It is the UN agency mandated to decide on the scope of control of substances by placing them in the schedules of global drug control conventions.
- It was founded in 1946
- Headquartered in Vienna.
- Global attitudes towards cannabis have changed dramatically since the commencement of the 1961 Convention, with many jurisdictions permitting cannabis use for recreation, medication or both.
- Currently, over 50 countries allow medicinal cannabis programmes, and its recreational use has been legalised in Canada, Uruguay and 15 states of the USA.
Ongoing Legal Challenge to Ban
- Delhi High Court is hearing a petition by:
- Great Legalisation Movement India Trust
- Petition argues:
- Ban on cannabis is arbitrary, unscientific, and violates personal liberty.
- Case is still ongoing.
CARE MCQ
The Kerala High Court (2025) ruled that cultivation of cannabis is illegal even if:
(a) The plant is dried
(b) Only three plants are grown
(c) The plant has no flowering tops
(d) The leaves are not harvested
Answer: (c)
