Daily Current Affairs

September 17, 2025

Current Affairs

What is Kolhan’s Manki-Munda System?

Context: Adivasis from the Ho tribe staged a protest in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district against the Deputy Commissioner (DC) accusing him of interfering with their traditional self-governance system known as Manki-Munda system.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About the Manki-Munda system. 

What is the Manki-Munda system?

  • Traditional self-governance mechanism of the Ho tribe in the Kolhan region of Jharkhand. 
  • It is a decentralised system that has existed for centuries, and continues to function alongside the formal administrative apparatus of the state.
  • The Manki-Munda system involves:
    • Hereditary village heads (Mundas) who resolve social and political disputes at a village level. 
    • Higher-level chief (Manki): A cluster of 8-15 villages (called a pir) is headed by a Manki who deals with cases which were unresolved by Mundas.
  • Before colonial times, the Manki and Munda had no responsibilities for revenue or land-related issues. 

British Intervention: 

  • After the Permanent Settlement Act of 1793, zamindars began seizing Ho lands to meet revenue demands. 
  • This led to major tribal uprisings such as the Ho revolt (1821-22) and the Kol revolt (1831-32).
  • Unable to suppress the Ho people militarily, the British decided to co-opt their system of governance.

Wilkinson’s Rules (1833):  

  • The British appointed Captain Thomas Wilkinson as their Political Agent in the Kolhan Government Estate (KGE), an administrative unit created in 1837 to control the Ho-dominated region.
  • Wilkinson codified the Manki-Munda system into 31 rules, which became known as Wilkinson’s Rules. This was the first formal codification of any tribal self-governance system in India.
  • The rules recognised Mundas and Mankis as community leaders but turned them into agents of colonial administration.This codification facilitated the integration of Kolhan into British India and allowed the entry of non-tribal settlers (dikkus).
  • It also introduced private property, pattas, and the designation of Ho people as raiyats (tenants).

Post Independence developments:  

  • After 1947, the Kolhan Government Estate was dissolved, but Wilkinson’s Rules continued to operate. Indian courts recognised these rules as customs, even though they were not treated as formal law.
  • In 2021, the Jharkhand government recognised the traditional judicial system known as the Nyaya Panch to work on revenue related activities such as tax collection and reporting of land purchase and sale, maintaining law & order and settlement of disputes.

Issues with the Manki-Munda System

  • Hereditary Succession: The posts of Munda and Manki are hereditary, usually passed from father to son. This restricts opportunities for capable individuals.
  • Lack of Formal Education: Many traditional leaders lack literacy and training needed to manage land records, documents, and modern governance tasks.
  • Absentee Leadership: In several cases, Mundas stay away from villages for long periods, preventing villagers from accessing basic services.
  • Tensions with Non-Tribal Communities: Non-tribal groups such as Scheduled Castes and OBCs residing in Ho-dominated villages have complained of discrimination and restrictions on their livelihoods.
  • Vacant Posts: Out of around 1,850 sanctioned posts of Mankis and Mundas in West Singhbhum, nearly 200 are vacant, which hampers effective governance at the grassroots level.
  • Limited Understanding of Rules: Most leaders do not fully understand Wilkinson’s Rules or the 1837 Hukuknama, which complicates dispute resolution.
  • Dependence on state officials: Villagers often bypass Mankis and Mundas and approach the Deputy Commissioner, reducing the authority of the system.

There is a section of the Ho community, especially the youth, who want reforms to the Manki-Munda system.

The current conflict

  • In response to the complaints against Mundas and Manki, the district administration issued a nine-point directive reminding Mundas of their duties under the 1837 Hukuknama.
  • However, this was misinterpreted as interference which sparked rumours and protests. The officials have clarified that customary laws remain untouched.

Erra Matti Dibbalu

Context: Erra Matti Dibbalu or red sand dunes in Visakhapatnam have been included in the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About Erra Matti Dibbalu. 

image 47

Erra Matti Dibbalu: 

  • Erra Matti Dibbalu, also called Red Sand Hills, are unique red sand formations near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
  • The formations belong to the late Quaternary period (50,000-20,000 years ago). They preserve records of ancient climate changes, monsoon patterns, and sea-level rise and fall.
  • The dunes stand 10-30 feet high and have a bright rusty-red colour due to ferrous minerals oxidising (rusting) over time.
  • Such red sand dunes are very rare and found only in three places in the world: Visakhapatnam, Tamil Nadu, and Sri Lanka.
  • Stone tools and pottery from microlithic, mesolithic, and paleolithic periods have been found here, showing that early humans lived in this region.
  • It was declared as a Geo-Heritage site in 2014 by the Geological Survey of India.

Erra Matti Dibbalu qualifies under UNESCO Criterion (viii) for representing exceptional records of Earth’s geomorphological and environmental history.

What do SC guidelines say on DNA?

Context: The Supreme Court has issued uniform guidelines to ensure the integrity of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) samples in criminal cases. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about SC guidelines say on DNA; Applications of DNA profiling. 

Importance of DNA evidence in criminal cases: 

  • DNA is a molecule that encodes the genetic information in all living organisms. It can be obtained from biological materials, such as bone, blood, semen, saliva, hair, or skin.
  • Generally, when the DNA profile of a sample found at a crime scene matches the DNA profile of a suspect, it can be concluded that both samples have the same biological origin. However, it is not substantive evidence in criminal cases. 
image 46

What do SC guidelines say on DNA?

The SC in Kattavellai @ Devakar v. State of Tamil Nadu has issued four guidelines for cases where DNA evidence is involved. 

  • Collection and documentation: DNA samples must be collected with due care, appropriately packed and labelled (FIR number and date, sections and statutes involved, details of the investigating officer, police station). The document must include the signatures and designations of the medical professional present, investigating officer, and independent witnesses.
  • Transportation: The investigating officer must ensure that the samples reach the concerned Forensic Science Lab within 48 hours of collection. The reasons for delay (if any) must be recorded, and samples should be preserved.
  • Storage: No package shall be opened, altered, or resealed without express authorisation from the trial court.
  • Chain of Custody Register (logbook that tracks DNA sample till the case ends) must be maintained. The investigating officer is responsible for explaining any lapses in compliance.

Need to issue the directions:

  • Though some guidelines have been issued by various bodies, there is neither uniformity nor a common procedure to be followed by all investigating authorities.  
  • ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are subjects mentioned in the State List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, but the SC deemed it necessary to issue these guidelines to have uniformity of procedure.
  • Past rulings show that lapses in handling have led to DNA reports being rejected, making both proper collection and quality control essential. 
  • Unexplained delays in sending DNA samples to the Forensic Laboratory (FSL) can risk the possibility of sample contamination.  

Associated Court rulings: 

  • In Anil v. State of Maharashtra (2014): The SC observed that a DNA profile is valid and reliable, but this depends on quality control and procedure in the laboratory. 
  • Manoj v. State of Madhya Pradesh (2022): The SC rejected a DNA report on the ground that recovery was made from an open area and the likelihood of its contamination cannot be ruled out. The blood stains found on the articles were disintegrated, and the quantity was insufficient to run any classification test.
  • Rahul v. State of Delhi (2022): The DNA evidence was rejected because it remained in the Police Malkhana for two months and during such time, the possibility of tampering could not be ruled out.
  • Kattavellai @ Devakar v. State of Tamil Nadu (2025): The SC  stated that DNA evidence is in the nature of opinion evidence as envisaged under Section 45 of the Evidence Act. Like any other opinion evidence, its probative value varies from case to case. Therefore, DNA evidence must be proved scientifically and legally. 

The investigating agency needs to ensure that samples are collected properly, without contamination, and sent to the FSL without delay. 

Also Read: DNA Profling 

What is the Scarborough Shoal and what is China planning there?

Context: China has approved the creation of a national reserve at Scarborough shoal - one of Asia’s most contested maritime features and a diplomatic flashpoint between China and the Philippines.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About Scarborough Shoal. 

Recent Developments: 

  • China has approved creation of a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal that it says is to preserve 3,524-hectare area of the coral reef ecosystem. It would cover the entire north-eastern side of the triangle-shaped atoll, with close proximity to the sole entrance for larger vessels.
  • The Philippines has urged China to respect the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Philippines over Scarborough Shoal, and any Chinese construction at Scarborough would be a red line.
image 45

What is Scarborough Shoal? 

  • Chain of reefs in the South China Sea forming a triangular atoll with a central lagoon. It is a disputed atoll in South China Sea claimed by both China and the Philippines.
  • Located about 200 km west of Luzon, Philippines, it lies well within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under UNCLOS.
  • Coveted for its rich fish stocks, potential hydrocarbon reserves, and safe haven for vessels during storms. 
  • It is named Huangyan Island by China, while the Philippines calls it the Panatag Shoal, or Bajo de Masinloc. 

Who does the atoll belong to? 

  • The Philippines and China both lay claim to the Scarborough Shoal, but sovereignty has never been legally established.
  • The shoal is effectively under Beijing’s control, with Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels maintaining constant presence.
  • China seized the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with the Philippines and has held it since then. Filipino boats continue to operate there, but they are dwarfed by China’s larger deployment and face restrictions.
  • The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 2016 ruled in favour of the Philippines on various South China Sea issues, but establishing sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal was not within its scope, leaving ownership unresolved. The ruling affirmed that the China blockade violated international law as it is a traditional fishing ground for multiple countries, including the Philippines, China, and Vietnam.

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