1. Why the Supreme Court Must Move Beyond a Chief Justice-Centric Model

Context: In a powerful statement echoing growing concerns within India’s legal fraternity, former Supreme Court judge, Justice A.S. Oka, has called for a transformation in the Supreme Court’s power structure, urging a shift away from the current Chief Justice-dominated framework to a more institutional and democratic model. His remarks have rekindled an essential debate on judicial accountability, decentralisation, and transparency at the apex level of the Indian judiciary.

Understanding the CJI’s Overarching Control:

At present, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) wields enormous power, both in judicial and administrative affairs. While the office is meant to function with the principle of being “first among equals,” in reality, it holds near-exclusive control over vital court functions.

1. Master of the Roster Doctrine: As reaffirmed in the landmark case Shanti Bhushan v. Supreme Court of India (2018), the CJI unilaterally decides:

• Which bench hears which case
• Which judges are assigned to benches
• When a case is scheduled for hearing

This leaves little scope for collaborative decision-making or institutional checks.

2. Constitution Bench Formation: While the Constitution mandates a minimum of five judges for such benches, it is still the CJI alone who decides:

• When these benches are constituted
• Which judges preside over or participate in them

3. Administrative Command:

The decision in State of Rajasthan v. Prakash Chand (1998) outlined the CJI’s administrative supremacy. It includes:

• Control over the registry
• Work allocation across judges
• Implementation of policy decisions without mandatory consultation

The Need to Strengthen the Judiciary’s Foundations:

• Justice Oka rightly highlighted the often-overlooked role of the district judiciary, which he referred to as the “backbone” of India’s justice delivery system. These courts handle over 80% of India’s pending cases, yet lack autonomy, infrastructure, and timely support from higher judiciary.

Systemic Issues with the Current Structure:

The over centralization of authority has led to significant systemic challenges:

Lack of Transparency:

• Even senior judges are often unaware of how cases are allocated, or why certain cases are delayed, raising concerns about fairness and internal clarity.

Delays in Critical Hearings:

Cases of national and constitutional importance, such as those involving electoral bonds, Article 370, and CAA, have faced unexplained delays, often attributed to the CJI’s discretionary power in listing matters.

Weakening of Collegiality:

• A structure that overly empowers one individual can erode the principle of judicial equality and discourage collective responsibility within the Court.

Steps Towards Transparency: Progress and Gaps

• While there have been notable reforms, they remain partial and insufficient.

Public Roster System (2018):

• Introduced to provide transparency on which judges handle what kind of cases, but exceptions and loopholes remain.

CJI’s Office Under RTI (2019):

• In Subhash Chandra Agarwal v. Supreme Court, the Court held that the CJI’s office falls under the RTI Act, making it a pivotal moment for judicial transparency.

Publication of Judicial Appointments:

• The Supreme Court now uploads reasons for judicial appointments, helping to demystify the collegium system for the public.
• Still, many key decisions—especially those related to bench composition and urgent listings—remain opaque and vulnerable to misuse.

What Reforms Are Truly Needed?

• To modernise the judiciary and align it with democratic ideals, systemic changes are required:

Committee-Based Decision-Making:

Instead of individual discretion, internal committees should handle:

• Bench compositions
• Case listings
• Administrative planning

This would reduce bias and encourage collective responsibility.

Transparent, Automated Listing Mechanism:

• An algorithm-based system—with minimal human intervention—could ensure neutrality and consistency in listing cases.

Shared Authority in Constitution Bench Creation:

• The timing and composition of Constitution Benches should be determined by a panel of senior judges, not solely the CJI. This would foster collegiality and reduce arbitrary delays.

Concluding Thoughts: Time for a Structural EvolutionThe Supreme Court of India, as the guardian of constitutional values, must embody not just independence but also institutional fairness, inclusiveness, and resilience. Moving away from a CJI-centric approach will not dilute the institution’s strength; instead, it will deepen its legitimacy, distribute responsibility, and fortify public trust. As India’s judiciary enters an era of digital transformation and increasing public scrutiny, the need to democratise internal court functioning is not just desirable—it is urgently essential.

2. Microfinance Loan Defaults Soar by 163% in FY2025: Sector Faces Alarming Stress

Context: India’s microfinance sector has been hit hard in FY2025, with loan delinquencies skyrocketing by 163% to reach 43,075 crore, signaling deep-rooted stress in a segment that supports millions of low-income borrowers. This alarming trend reflects growing financial vulnerabilities among India’s bottom-of-the-pyramid borrowers and challenges in credit discipline.

What Is Microfinance?

Microfinance provides financial services—including microloans, savings, insurance, and remittances—to low-income households traditionally excluded from formal banking. In India, these services are primarily offered by NBFC-MFIs, Small Finance Banks (SFBs), and mainstream banks.

As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), a microfinance loan is a collateral-free loan extended to a household with an annual income of up to 3,00,000.

Current Trends Reshaping the Microfinance Landscape:

• The gross loan portfolio of the microfinance industry contracted by 13.9%, falling from 4.42 lakh crore in March 2024 to 3.81 lakh crore in March 2025.
• A notable shift from small-ticket to large-ticket loans was observed. Loans above 1 lakh increased by 38.5%, while those under 30,000 declined by 35.9%.
• The number of active microfinance loans dropped from 16.1 crore to 14 crore, indicating both a decline in borrower base and possible lender caution.
• The proportion of borrowers linked to five or more lenders has nearly halved—from 9.7% to 4.9%, hinting at a tightening of credit norms.

Why Are Loan Defaults Rising?

The sharp increase in defaults is a result of multiple converging factors:

• Overleveraging: Many borrowers have taken loans from multiple institutions, leading to unsustainable debt burdens, especially in rural areas.
• Weak Credit Appraisal Systems: Under pressure to meet targets, some smaller MFIs and banks have compromised on due diligence.
• Economic Instability: Post-pandemic income disruption, rising inflation, and rural distress have dented borrowers’ ability to repay.
• Collection Inefficiencies: Field operations and recovery mechanisms were weakened post-COVID, with digital-only engagement proving inadequate.
• Improper Loan Utilisation: A significant portion of loans is being diverted towards consumption or social expenses such as weddings and festivals, instead of income-generating activities.

Government Initiatives to Support Microfinance:

India has launched several initiatives to bolster the microfinance ecosystem:

• Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY): Initiated in 2015, it offers loans of up to 10 lakh to non-corporate small businesses, without collateral, via MFIs and banks, backed by MUDRA Ltd.
• Udyam Assist Platform (UAP): Helps informal micro-entrepreneurs register as MSMEs and access benefits like priority sector lending, subsidies, and credit guarantees.
• Credit Information Mandate: RBI has made it mandatory for lenders to report borrower data to credit bureaus like CIBIL and CRIF High Mark, facilitating informed credit decisions.
• 2022 RBI Regulatory Framework: Aims to ensure uniform regulations across all types of lenders, enhancing borrower protection and promoting responsible lending practices.

The Road Ahead: Strengthening India’s Microfinance Backbone

To safeguard the future of the microfinance sector, a multi-pronged approach is essential:

• Enhanced Credit Assessment: Adoption of robust tools and algorithms to identify creditworthy borrowers and reduce over-indebtedness.
• Empowering Credit Bureaus: Wider integration and real-time data usage from agencies like CRIF High Mark to flag early warning signs.
• Stronger Regulatory Oversight: RBI and state governments must tighten monitoring and ensure ethical collection practices.
• Financial Literacy and Inclusion: A push toward educating borrowers about their rights, obligations, and financial planning can reduce misuse of loans.
• Support for Livelihood-Linked Lending: Encouraging loans for productive assets—like dairy, tailoring, or agri-processing—can improve repayment capacity.

Did You Know?

• Globally, Bangladesh’s Grameen Bank, founded by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, pioneered microfinance. Its model of group lending with social collateral inspired India’s early MFIs.
• India’s microfinance penetration is highest in states like Bihar, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, which also show high default risks.

Conclusion:The rise in delinquencies is a wake-up call for the entire ecosystem—from policymakers to lenders. The solution lies not just in tighter regulation but in empowering borrowers, ensuring responsible lending, and building resilient rural economies. As microfinance serves the country’s most vulnerable, preserving its integrity is critical for inclusive growth.

3. Unlocking Pea Genetics: How Mendel’s Legacy is Powering Modern Sustainable Agriculture

Context: A global team of scientists has made significant progress in decoding the genetic blueprint of pea plants, shedding new light on the classic traits studied by Gregor Mendel, the pioneer of genetics. This international collaboration, involving the John Innes Centre (UK), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and research groups from the USA, France, and China, has successfully mapped over 70 agronomic traits to specific regions in the pea genome.

Revisiting Mendel Through Modern Genomics:

More than 150 years ago, Mendel conducted experiments on pea plants, observing how traits like seed shape, flower color, and plant height were inherited. Now, through advanced genomic sequencing, scientists have connected these observable traits to specific genetic markers, enabling faster and more accurate plant breeding strategies.

This research, published in the journal Nature, not only honors Mendel’s legacy but also deepens our understanding of the genetic diversity within pea plants—diversity that was largely hidden until now.

Why This Study Matters Today:

• Peas and legumes are vital to sustainable agriculture as they naturally fix atmospheric nitrogen, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.
• With rising demand for plant-based protein, improving legume crops like peas is essential to support food security and environmental sustainability.
• The study enhances predictive breeding methods by integrating AI technologies that can analyze genomic data and forecast ideal gene combinations for traits like high yield, disease resistance, and climate adaptability.

Did you know? Peas were one of the first crops to be genetically analyzed in agriculture, and they continue to lead innovation in legume breeding programs around the world.

Mendel’s Experiments: The Foundation of Modern Genetics

Gregor Mendel, often called the Father of Genetics, laid down the principles of heredity based on meticulous experiments with pea plants in the 19th century. He selected peas because they grow quickly, show clear trait variations, and allow controlled cross- or self-pollination.

Mendel studied seven specific traits:

• Seed shape (round or wrinkled)
• Seed color (green or yellow)
• Pod shape (constricted or inflated)
• Pod color (green or yellow)

• Flower color (purple or white)
• Plant height (tall or dwarf)
• Flower position (axial or terminal)

By cross-breeding thousands of plants, Mendel formulated three fundamental laws:

Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance – Simplified:

1. Law of Segregation : Every organism carries two alleles for each trait, but only one allele is passed on to offspring during gamete formation. This explains how traits remain discrete and don’t blend.
2. Law of Independent Assortment: Genes for different traits are inherited independently, meaning the inheritance of one trait (like seed color) doesn’t affect another (like pod shape)—as long as the genes are on different chromosomes.
3. Law of Dominance: When two different alleles are present, the dominant allele masks the recessive allele. For example, in a hybrid plant with tall (T) and dwarf (t) genes (Tt), the plant appears tall.

Fun Fact: Mendel’s research, though conducted in the mid-1800s, was largely ignored until rediscovered in 1900 by three independent scientists—Hugo de Vries, Carl Correns, and Erich von Tschermak—who confirmed his findings.

From Monastery to Modern Labs: The Legacy Continues

• What began in a quiet monastery garden in Austria has today become the cornerstone of genetic science. Mendel’s insights not only revolutionized biology but now fuel innovations in agriculture, biotechnology, and personalized medicine.

With this latest advancement in pea genetics, researchers are poised to make crop improvement faster, more sustainable, and more efficient—just as Mendel might have envisioned if he had access to today’s technology.

Conclusion: A Legacy Reinvented for the Future

Gregor Mendel’s pioneering spirit lives on, not just in classrooms and textbooks, but in the DNA of the crops we grow. This new genomic research bridges the gap between classical genetics and cutting-edge technology, ensuring that the lessons of the past continue to nurture a more resilient and sustainable future.

4. Mozambique in Focus: A Nation Caught in Crisis Amid Strategic Geopolitical Importance

5. New Dinosaur Discovery in China: Meet Jinchuanloong niedu

Context: A new species and genus of eusauropod dinosaur, named Jinchuanloong niedu, has been uncovered in Gansu Province, China. This discovery is based on a fossilized partial skeleton, including a nearly complete skull, found near Jinchang City in the Xinhe Formation—an area rich in Middle Jurassic fossils.

Who Was Jinchuanloong niedu?

This newly identified species represents an early-diverging eusauropod, a subgroup of the iconic sauropod dinosaurs known for their long necks, immense size, and plant-based diet.

• Jinchuanloong niedu lived approximately 165 million years ago, during the Middle Jurassic period.
• It walked on four sturdy legs, had a long neck and tail, and thrived as a strict herbivore in lush, prehistoric environments.

The Importance of the Discovery:

This find is paleontologically significant, as it enhances our understanding of early sauropod evolution and diversification during the Jurassic era. The well-preserved skull provides rare and valuable data for studying the anatomy and feeding mechanisms of early eusauropods.

Sauropods: The Giants of Prehistoric Earth

Sauropods were the largest land animals to ever walk the Earth. These gentle giants:

• Had elongated necks and tails, helping them reach high foliage and maintain balance.
• Lived across a vast timespan—from the Early Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous.
• Were global in distribution, with fossils discovered on all continents, including Antarctica.

Eusauropods, the group to which Jinchuanloong niedu belongs, were among the most successful and widespread sauropods after a major global warming event in the late Early Jurassic, which led to the extinction of other sauropod lineages.

Famous members of the eusauropod lineage include:

• Shunosaurus – known for its clubbed tail.
• Omeisaurus – a long-necked herbivore from China.
• Mamenchisaurus-like taxa – characterized by extraordinarily long necks.

A Glimpse Into Earth’s Distant Past:

The discovery of Jinchuanloong niedu not only adds a new name to the dinosaur family tree, but also offers insight into how ancient ecosystems functioned during the Middle Jurassic period.

It also underscores the importance of Gansu Province as a rich site for fossil exploration and expands our understanding of dinosaur evolution in Asia.

Conclusion: A New Star in the Dinosaur Kingdom

With its impressive features and well-preserved fossil, Jinchuanloong niedu now stands alongside other legendary sauropods, reminding us of the immense biodiversity that once ruled the planet. This discovery reinforces China’s growing reputation as a hotspot for groundbreaking dinosaur research, and highlights how much more there is to learn from the mysteries buried beneath our feet.

6. Why the Monsoon Arrived Early in India This Year: Unpacking the Key Climatic Drivers

Context: In a rare but significant event, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) announced the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala on May 24, eight days ahead of the usual June 1 timeline. This early arrival marks only the second such instance in over a decade—the last one being in 2009 (May 23).

The monsoon’s early onset plays a crucial role in India’s agriculture, economy, and water resources, as it brings nearly 70% of the country’s annual rainfall between June and September.

How Does IMD Declare Monsoon Onset?

The IMD uses a scientific set of criteria to declare the arrival of the southwest monsoon after May 10 every year. These include:

1. Rainfall Distribution: At least 60% of 14 designated meteorological stations across southern India (including Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Mangaluru) must record 2.5 mm or more rainfall for two consecutive days.
2. Wind Patterns:

• Westerly winds must prevail up to an altitude corresponding to 600 hPa.
• Wind speeds at 925 hPa level should range between 15–20 knots (approx. 27–37 km/h).

3. Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR): OLR, which is infrared radiation emitted by Earth back into space, must fall below 200 W/m². Lower OLR values indicate higher cloud cover and atmospheric moisture, both favorable for monsoon conditions.

Once all these conditions are satisfied for two consecutive days, the IMD officially declares monsoon onset.

Regions That Witnessed Early Onset This Year:

This year, monsoon arrived not only in Kerala but also extended into:

• Lakshadweep
• Mahe (Puducherry)
• Southern parts of Karnataka
• Mizoram
• Parts of the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea

Why Did the Monsoon Arrive Early in 2024?

Several atmospheric and oceanic phenomena aligned to speed up the monsoon’s arrival. Here’s a breakdown of the key contributing factors:

1. Low-Pressure System over the Arabian Sea: A developing low-pressure area off India’s western coast boosted moisture inflow and atmospheric convection, fast-tracking the monsoon’s progress.

2. Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO): The MJO, a moving atmospheric disturbance originating in the Indian Ocean, played a major role. Its favorable phase led to:

• Enhanced cloud formation
• Increased wind convergence
• Boosted rainfall over Indian subcontinent

3. Mascarene High: The Mascarene High, a high-pressure zone in the south Indian Ocean, intensified and pushed moist winds toward India’s west coast. Its variability is linked to the strength of monsoon currents and coastal rains.
4. Convective Activity and Atmospheric Heating: Rising convective currents—caused by heat and moisture moving vertically—also played a role. This phenomenon increases cloud formation and rainfall, and was observed recently even over Delhi, following a convective system from Haryana.
5. Strengthened Somali Jet: The Somali Jet, a strong low-level wind system, crossed from the African coast into the Arabian Sea, transporting vast amounts of moisture-laden air to India. A robust Somali jet is often a harbinger of an active and early monsoon.
6. Formation of Heat-Low Zones: As the Sun shifts northward during summer, a low-pressure zone (known as a heat-low) forms over regions like Pakistan and northwest India. This creates a suction effect, pulling moisture from the sea and amplifying monsoon rainfall.
7. Monsoon Trough Dynamics: The monsoon trough—an extended low-pressure belt from northwest India to the Bay of Bengal—oscillates during the season, causing widespread rainfall across India. The presence of a monsoon vortex in the Arabian Sea also added to the system’s strength.

Conclusion: A Climate Puzzle with Global Pieces

The early arrival of the monsoon in 2024 showcases how interconnected atmospheric, oceanic, and regional factors determine monsoon dynamics. With climate variability on the rise, such early or erratic monsoon behavior may become more frequent in the future.