Mains Practice Questions for the Day
- Q. The Supreme Court verdict on Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls attempts to balance electoral integrity with protection against voter disenfranchisement. Discuss.
- Q. Participatory water budgeting can transform rural water governance in India from a supply-driven system to a demand-based and sustainable model. Discuss.
Q. The Supreme Court verdict on Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls attempts to balance electoral integrity with protection against voter disenfranchisement. Discuss.
(GS Paper II: Indian Polity, Election Commission of India, Electoral Reforms)
Introduction:
The Supreme Court’s verdict in Association for Democratic Reforms v. Election Commission of India is significant for India’s electoral democracy. The Court upheld the Election Commission’s power to conduct Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, while clarifying that the Commission cannot finally decide citizenship. This judgment is important because India needs both clean voter lists and protection of genuine voters from wrongful exclusion.
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Significance of the Verdict
- Strengthens electoral integrity:
The verdict confirms the Election Commission’s power to revise electoral rolls and remove duplicate, dead, shifted or ineligible voters. - Supports free and fair elections:
Accurate electoral rolls are necessary to protect the value of every genuine vote. - Clarifies ECI’s limited power:
The Court held that the Election Commission can examine citizenship only for electoral purposes. It cannot finally declare a person as a non-citizen. - Protects legal procedure:
If citizenship is doubtful, the matter must be referred to the competent authority under the Citizenship Act, 1955. - Ensures transparency:
The Court’s safeguards such as publication of deleted names, reasons for deletion and opportunity of hearing make the process more accountable.
Concerns
- Risk of disenfranchisement:
Genuine voters may lose their right to vote because of spelling mistakes, mismatch in documents or lack of old records. - Impact on vulnerable groups:
Poor people, migrants, elderly citizens and marginalised communities may find it difficult to prove documentary links. - Burden on citizens:
Once a name is deleted, the practical burden shifts to the individual to prove eligibility. - Citizenship uncertainty:
If many cases are referred for citizenship determination, people may remain in uncertainty for years, as seen in Assam’s D-Voter experience. - Possible welfare impact:
Though voter deletion does not mean loss of citizenship, it may indirectly affect access to welfare if governments link benefits with electoral roll status.
Way Forward
- The Election Commission should adopt a citizen-friendly and transparent approach.
- Minor clerical errors should not lead to deletion without proper verification.
- Special assistance must be provided to elderly, migrant, poor and rural voters.
- Deleted voters must receive clear reasons and enough time to appeal.
- Citizenship-related cases should be referred only where there is genuine doubt.
- Competent authorities must decide such cases quickly and fairly.
- Welfare benefits should not be denied merely because a person’s name is removed from the electoral roll.
Conclusion:
The verdict tries to balance electoral purity with democratic inclusion. Clean electoral rolls are essential for free and fair elections, but genuine citizens should not be excluded due to technical errors or lack of documents. The success of the SIR process will depend on fairness, transparency and protection of constitutional values.
Q. Participatory water budgeting can transform rural water governance in India from a supply-driven system to a demand-based and sustainable model. Discuss.
(GS Paper II – Governance, Government Policies and Local Self-Governance)
Introduction:
Water governance in rural India is becoming increasingly important due to rising demand, groundwater depletion, climate variability and unequal water distribution. Agriculture consumes a major share of rural water, while domestic and livestock demand is also increasing. In this context, participatory water budgeting has emerged as a practical tool for sustainable water management.
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Meaning of Water Budgeting
Water budgeting is the systematic assessment of water availability and water demand in a defined area such as a village, watershed, block or district. It compares rainfall, surface water, groundwater recharge and stored water with demand from drinking water, agriculture, livestock and other uses.
Importance in Rural Governance
- Evidence-based planning: It helps communities understand whether they have water surplus or water deficit.
- Agricultural sustainability: Farmers can choose crops according to local water availability.
- Groundwater protection: It encourages recharge, conservation and regulated extraction.
- Climate resilience: Villages can prepare for droughts, floods and rainfall uncertainty.
- Community participation: Gram Sabhas, farmers and women’s groups become active participants in water governance.
- Livelihood security: Better water planning supports agriculture, livestock and rural incomes.
Government Support
The Atal Bhujal Yojana promotes community-led groundwater management and water budgeting at the Gram Panchayat level. The National Water Mission recognises water budgeting as part of Integrated Water Resources Management. State examples such as Hiware Bazar, Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan and Rajasthan’s Mukhya Mantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan show the success of community-led water conservation.
The Varuni Web Application further strengthens the process by using data on rainfall, land use, cropping patterns, population and water resources to generate block-level water budgets.
Challenges
Water governance still faces fragmented institutional control, poor data, excessive groundwater extraction, unsuitable cropping patterns and limited local capacity. Climate change has made rainfall more uncertain, increasing the need for scientific and participatory planning.
Way Forward
India should institutionalise water budgeting in Gram Panchayat development plans. Digital tools must be expanded, and local communities should be trained in water accounting. Crop planning must be linked with local water availability. Women’s groups and farmers should be included in decision-making.
Conclusion:
Participatory water budgeting can make rural water governance more democratic, scientific and sustainable. By combining community participation, technology and policy support, India can strengthen water security, agricultural sustainability and climate resilience.
