September 1, 2025

Current Affairs

India-Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism

Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has signed an Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the government of Japan on Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Article 6.2 of Paris Agreement, National Designated Authority.

Mains: Significance of India-Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism.

The MoC was unveiled as part of the broader Indo-Japan cooperation framework titled Green Energy Focus for a Better Future.

Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement

Under Article 6.2 countries can trade emissions reductions bilaterally. It enables a host country to sell units to a buyer country, in exchange for investments, support for capacity building, and access to technologies not available through domestic resources.
The buyer country purchases these units known as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) to address any gaps in meeting its own climate goals.

About the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)

The JCM is a Japanese initiative designed to promote global climate action. Under this mechanism, Japan implements and invests in low-carbon technologies in developing countries.
The resulting emission reductions are credited to both Japan and the host country, and Japan uses its share to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Unlike the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) established under Kyoto Protocol, host countries under JCM act as joint implementers, not just passive participants.
A Joint Committee manages the mechanism including rules, methodologies, project registration, and credit sharing.
India has established a National Designated Authority (NDA) to approve JCM projects and oversee the functioning of the domestic carbon market.

Significance for India’s Climate Commitments:

India has made ambitious NDC commitments under the Paris Agreement for 2030. These include:

Reducing the emission intensity of GDP by 45% from 2005 levels.
Achieving 50% cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.
Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through afforestation.

JCM will support India in meeting these targets by providing foreign investment, advanced technology, and access to international carbon markets.

It will also enable the international trading of carbon credits generated from such projects under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement with Japan and other countries on similar lines without adversely impacting India’s NDC commitments.

Bail Provisions in USA and India

Context: The US President recently signed an executive order cutting federal funding for jurisdictions that allow cashless bail claiming that it leads to a rise in crime.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Concept of Bail, Cashless Bail, Bail Provisions in India.

Mains: Issues in India’s Bail Provisions and the Urgent Need for Reforms.

What is Bail?

Bail is the conditional release of an accused person from custody while awaiting trial. It is based on the principle of presumption of innocence ensuring that a person is not punished before conviction.
The court’s concern in granting bail is that the accused:
- does not abscond or evade trial,
- does not tamper with evidence or influence witnesses, and
- remains available to face justice.
Hence, courts require a monetary deposit or surety as a guarantee of compliance. If the accused fails to appear, the money is forfeited. This makes bail both a safeguard of liberty and a mechanism of accountability.

What is Cashless Bail?

Cashless bail refers to the release of an accused without depositing cash upfront. Instead, the accused may sign a personal recognisance (PR) bond, be placed under community supervision, or offer other non-monetary assurances.
The rationale is to ensure that liberty before conviction does not depend on financial capacity.

Bail Provisions in the USA:

In the US, bail traditionally required cash deposits. Failure to pay meant remaining in custody, regardless of the seriousness of the offence. Later many US states introduced cashless bail for relatively minor non-violent offences.

Bail Provisions in India:

Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 which replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 lays down the process for releasing a person on bail. Among the conditions for bail is the furnishing of a bond or a bail bond.

Bond:

By signing a bond an accused agrees to their bail terms and assures the court they will remain present for the trial. This is usually accompanied by a cash deposit, with the amount depending on the nature of the crime and the economic condition of the accused.
This deposit can be forfeited if bail conditions are violated, and is refunded at the conclusion of the trial regardless of the outcome.
If an accused does not have the means to furnish cash, courts may consider releasing them on a personal recognisance bond (PR bond). This requires the accused to arrange for the cash within a specific time after being released on bail.

Bail bond:

A bail bond is a guarantee given by another person (family member, friend, or employer) to ensure that the accused complies with bail conditions and appears for trial. The surety may also be required to deposit a specified sum, which can be forfeited if the accused absconds.
Courts conduct verification of the surety’s documents, financial standing, and personal background to establish credibility.
Certain courts insist that the surety must possess financial assets, permanent residence, or be a local resident of the district.
In cities like Mumbai, a solvency certificate issued by a revenue officer is mandatory, often causing delays of several days or even weeks in the grant of bail.

Issues in Bail Provisions in India:

Economic Discrimination: 268th Law Commission Report (2017) held that financial surety-based bail is contrary to constitutional ethos, as it discriminates against the poor.
Undertrial Overcrowding: National Crime Records Bureau (2022) shows that over 75% of India’s prison population are undertrials, many detained only due to inability to furnish bail.
Procedural Delays: Mulla Committee on Prison Reforms (1983) flagged that cumbersome verification processes, such as solvency certificates, prolong custody even after bail is granted.
Judicial Hesitancy on PR Bonds: Despite the Supreme Court in Hussainara Khatoon (1979) emphasising bail as a right, trial courts remain reluctant to release accused on personal recognisance bonds.
Constitutional Concerns: The Supreme Court in Satender Kumar Antil vs CBI (2022) observed that denial of bail for inability to pay surety violates Article 21 (Right to Liberty).

Need for Bail Reforms in India:

Risk-Based Assessment: The Law Commission (268th Report) recommended shifting from monetary sureties to risk-based evaluation of absconding or tampering.
Greater Use of PR Bonds: Justice Krishna Iyer Committee on Prison Reforms (1987) stressed non-monetary bail to avoid criminalising poverty.
Strengthened Legal Aid: NALSA Report (2023) revealed 5000 undertrials in jail despite bail orders, highlighting the need for proactive legal services intervention.
Prison Decongestion: Supreme Court (2023) directed that undertrials not released within a week of bail must be reported to District Legal Services Authorities.
Systemic Reform: National Police Commission (1977-81) called for liberalised bail policies to ensure speedy justice and reduce undertrial population.

The principle that “bail is the rule, jail the exception” must guide criminal justice in spirit and practice. Without systemic reforms like wider PR bonds, simplified procedures and robust legal aid, bail will remain a privilege of the rich rather than a right of all.

King Prithu of Kamrup: Assam’s Forgotten Hero

Context: Recently, the Assam Cabinet decided to name a new Guwahati flyover after Prithu, a 13th-century Kamrup ruler, as a symbol of Assam’s historic resistance to foreign invasions.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Prithu: 13th-century Kamrup ruler.

King Prithu of Kamrup

King Prithu, also referred to as Raja Prithu Rae, was a 13th-century king of the Kamarupa kingdom, which corresponds to modern-day Assam.
He belonged to the Khen dynasty, who drew their lineage from Narakasura. They worshipped Kamteswari, an incarnation of Hindu Goddess Durga. Khen were probably local chieftains who rose to power after the fall of the Pala Dynasty.
He has not been featured prominently in mainstream historiography, but local lore, inscriptions, and regional narratives elevate him as a heroic defender of the region.
He is remembered for defeating the invading army of Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1206 CE.
- Prithu has gained renewed recognition in recent decades, largely due to the efforts of historian Raktim Patar who wrote Maharaja Prithu: The Unsung Warrior King Who Annihilated Bakhtiyar Khalji in 2021.
He also defeated Hisan Uddin Iwaz (Delhi Sultan Ghiassuddin), noted British civil servant Wolseley Haig in The Cambridge History of India, Volume III.

Prithu and Bakhtiyar Khilji’s Invasion:

Bakhtiyar Khilji, a general under Muhammad of Ghor, was one of the earliest Turko-Afghan commanders who attempted to expand Islamic rule into eastern India.
In 1205-1206, following his destructive raid on Nalanda and Bengal, Bakhtiyar Khilji aimed to expand his conquests into Tibet through Kamrupa.
The campaign ended in disaster, Khilji’s forces were completely routed in Kamrup, with local accounts suggesting that he was fatally wounded.
This marked the first successful repulsion of Turko-Afghan incursions into the Northeast frontier. The Kanai Varasi rock inscription (Assam) is proof of the destruction of the Turks who invaded Kamrupa in 1206 CE.

The identity of the local ruler who inflicted this defeat has remained uncertain due to the absence of direct contemporary evidence, but modern scholars often associate the victory with King Prithu of Kamrup.

India’s Demographic Dividend as a Time Bomb

Context: India’s vast youth population promises a demographic dividend. However, without education and skills aligned to the AI-driven future, it risks becoming a demographic time bomb.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Issues in India’s education system & challenges of AI-driven transformations in the job market.

Rabindranath Tagore once remarked, “Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for she was born in another time.” India’s education system is preparing students for the jobs of yesterday while the future of work is being rapidly shaped by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other disruptive technologies.

With 800 million people below the age of 35, India’s youth population is considered its biggest asset. However, without appropriate reforms in education and skill development, this demographic dividend risks turning into a demographic liability.

Core Issues

The Indian education system remains outdated and examination-centric, with limited focus on employability and career readiness.
Curriculum update cycles run on three-year timelines, while technology and industry demands change at a much faster pace.
Increasing disconnect between degrees and job skills is leading to high underemployment and unemployability among graduates.
Despite multiple government skill-development initiatives, outcomes remain fragmented and insufficient.

Causes of the Crisis:

Curriculum Lag: Educational curricula do not adapt quickly enough to changing industry needs.
Narrow Career Awareness: Surveys show that 93% of high school students are aware of only seven career options, while the economy offers more than 20,000.
Examination-Centric Pedagogy: Schools prioritise rote learning and marks over creativity, problem-solving, and practical skills.
Ineffective Skill Missions: Programs like Skill India Mission, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra, Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana and SANKALP (Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion) etc. function in silos with weak industry integration.
Digital Tools but Analog Mindsets : Despite smartphones and EdTech platforms, most tools are used for test preparation, not job-ready skill development.

Consequences of Inaction:

Rising Unemployment and Underemployment: Only 43% of Indian graduates are considered job-ready (Graduate Skills Index 2025). Even engineering graduates face high unemployment, with 40-50% not securing placements.
Youth Disillusionment and Social Instability: The mismatch between expectations and opportunities risks creating frustration and unrest. Historical episodes like the 1990 Mandal protests show how youth frustration can spill into violence and instability.
Global Competitiveness at Risk: Without reskilling, India’s workforce may fall behind as AI and automation reshape global labour markets.
Demographic Time Bomb: Education without employability can worsen inequality and destabilise society.

Way Forward

Curriculum Reform: Shift from rote-based teaching to competency-driven learning that fosters creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving.
Early Career Guidance: Institutionalise career counselling in schools to widen awareness of diverse opportunities.
Industry-Education Linkages: Establish national skill councils to ensure curricula are updated in real-time with industry demands.
Focus on Reskilling and Upskilling: Encourage lifelong learning through flexible programs in emerging fields like AI, robotics, renewable energy, and healthcare.
Unified Skilling Mission: Consolidate fragmented schemes under a single, outcome-driven national framework.
Public-Private Partnerships: Foster collaboration between government, private sector, and universities to create a robust skill development ecosystem.

India stands at a decisive juncture: its demographic dividend could either power economic growth or explode as a demographic time bomb. Hence, we must not confine students to outdated learning models; instead, we must equip them for a rapidly transforming future.