UPSC CARE Mains Practice 18th November 2025

Mains Practice Questions for the Day

1Q. The Draft Seed Bill 2025 appears to be designed more for corporations than cultivators.” Critically examine this statement in the context of key provisions of the Bill and the concerns raised by farmer groups and seed conservers. (GS-II – Governance; Role of State; Rights of farmers; Issues with corporatisation of agriculture)

(GS Paper 2 – Health, Governance)

Introduction:

Cannabis regulation in India is governed by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. While the Act strictly prohibits the cultivation of any cannabis plant, it excludes cannabis leaves (bhang) from its definition, creating a legal distinction between growing the plant and consuming leaf-based preparations.

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Legal Framework

Section 2(iii), NDPS Act: Defines cannabis as charas (resin) and ganja (flowering/fruiting tops); excludes leaves and seeds.
Bhang: Since leaves are excluded, bhang is not treated as a narcotic drug.
Section 8(b): Prohibits cultivation of “any plant of the genus cannabis” except for medical or scientific use.
State Powers: States regulate the sale and distribution of bhang through licensing.

Judicial Clarification

Kerala High Court (Nov 2025):
- Growing any cannabis plant—flowering or not—constitutes illegal cultivation.
- Cultivation includes growing in pots, terraces, or gardens.
- Offence lies in act of cultivation, not in whether the plant contains narcotic parts.

Reason for Legal Distinction

NDPS Act targets intoxicating components — resin and flowering tops.
Bhang (leaves) historically used in cultural and religious contexts; hence exempted.
Cultivation ban prevents easy access to intoxicating parts that develop later.
Policy approach aims to control drug misuse while allowing traditional uses.

Policy Challenges

Confusion due to complex definitions (leaves legal, plant illegal).
State variations: Some license bhang; others ban it completely.
Industrial hemp potential remains underutilised.
Strict NDPS penalties impact small cultivators and users disproportionately.
Debate on reform: Balancing cultural practices, economic potential, and public health concerns.

Conclusion:

The legality of bhang alongside the prohibition on cannabis cultivation reflects India’s attempt to balance cultural traditions with stringent narcotics control. However, evolving judicial clarity and ongoing debates on medicinal, industrial, and harm-reduction approaches indicate the need for a more coherent and updated regulatory framework.

2Q. Batukeshwar Dutt’s life reflects not only the courage of a revolutionary but also the tragedy of a nation’s selective memory.” Discuss. (Relevance: UPSC GS-I Modern Indian History)

Relevance: GS Paper-3(Environment),

Introduction:

Batukeshwar Dutt, born on 18 November 1910, was a key revolutionary of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) and the co-actor in the iconic Central Assembly bombing of 1929 alongside Bhagat Singh. While his act shook the British Empire and remains central to revolutionary nationalism, independent India relegated him to the margins of historical memory. His life embodies both immense sacrifice and the deep neglect of lesser-known freedom fighters.

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1. Revolutionary Contribution of Batukeshwar Dutt

Dutt emerged as a committed revolutionary in his youth after meeting Bhagat Singh in Kanpur.

He played a decisive role in the Central Assembly bombing (8 April 1929) meant as a symbolic protest against repressive colonial laws.
He courted arrest willingly, raised slogans of “Inquilab Zindabad,” and helped popularise the HSRA’s ideology through leaflets titled “To Make the Deaf Hear.”
Dutt endured harsh imprisonment in Multan, Jhelum, Trichinopoly, Salem and the Andamans, observing multiple hunger strikes demanding humane treatment for political prisoners.
He rejoined the freedom movement after release and was again jailed during the Quit India Movement.

These contributions place him among the most steadfast revolutionaries of the era.

2. Life After Independence: A Story of Neglect

Despite profound sacrifices, Dutt received little support in independent India.

The coal depot allotted by the Bihar government proved unviable, leaving him in deep economic distress.
The intervention of President Rajendra Prasad resulted only in a token six-month nomination to the Legislative Council.
His long illness in the 1960s was met with sympathy but limited institutional support.
Even though his state funeral was attended by the highest constitutional authorities, the recognition did not translate into sustained national memory.

3. Erasure from Public Memory and Selective Commemoration

Dutt’s diminishing visibility reflects how India selectively honours its revolutionaries.

The Parliament building — where Dutt and Bhagat Singh staged their historic protest — does not display their portraits, though others such as V. D. Savarkar are prominently placed.
Parliamentary protests in 2014 demanding their inclusion were ignored.
His life survives largely through the writings of fellow revolutionary Chaman Lal Azad in Bhagat Singh aur Dutt ki Amar Kahani (1966), now out of print.
Lack of representation in textbooks, museums, and public monuments further deepens his invisibility.

4. Human Bonds and Emotional Legacy

Dutt shared a close emotional and ideological bond with Bhagat Singh’s family.

Bhagat Singh’s mother, Mata Vidyawati, stayed with Dutt during his final days, even selling a gifted poem to fund his treatment.
Revolutionary comrades like Shiv Verma and Kiran Das remained by his side.
However, such camaraderie could not compensate for the absence of state support, symbolising the personal tragedy behind national neglect.

5. Larger Lessons: How India Remembers Its Revolutionaries

Dutt’s story reveals deeper issues in India’s historical memory:

Overemphasis on a few iconic figures while many equally significant revolutionaries remain forgotten.
Weak archival, educational, and memorialisation practices.
Post-independence politics influencing which historical narratives are foregrounded.

Recognising Dutt restores the broader, diverse spectrum of revolutionary nationalism that shaped India’s freedom struggle.

Conclusion:

Batukeshwar Dutt’s life epitomises the courage, commitment, and sacrifice of India’s revolutionary movement — yet also highlights the painful reality of selective remembrance in post-independence India. Honouring his legacy requires not merely ceremonial gestures but integrating such forgotten revolutionaries into national memory, educational curricula, and public consciousness. Remembering Dutt is therefore not only about the past but also about fulfilling the moral responsibility of the nation he helped liberate.