Daily Current Affairs | March 10 2025 |

1) Women & Higher Judiciary

• Women in law have seen great progress in last 100 years.

• The first woman lawyer, Cornelia Sorabji, was entitled to practice in 1924. Since then, the number of women lawyers has increased, several women have become Senior Advocates.

• However, there remains a glass ceiling for women in Higher Judiciary.

State of Affairs

• Women account for only 14.27% of judges (109 out of 764) in Indian High Courts. With some High Courts having no women judges.

• Out of 25 High Courts, only Gujarat High Court has a woman Chief Justice.

• In Supreme Court, there are just 2 women judges, out of sanctioned strength of 34.

• Women judges are appointed at an average age of 53, while men are appointed at an average age of 51.

Reasons for Gender Imbalance

• Lack of Transparency in Collegium System : The collegium lacks clear eligibility criteria for judges and thus creates scope for gender bias in recommendations.

• Gender Bias - Over 75 years, only one woman has been elevated directly from the Bar to the Supreme Court, whereas nine men have been elevated via this route.

• Less Social Capital with Women - Women lawyers face fewer networking opportunities, insufficient mentorship, and limited access to senior roles, reinforcing exclusion from higher judicial positions.

2) Climate Change’s Impact on Wheat Production

• Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has raised an alarm that the month of March will experience above normal temperatures & more than usual number heat waves days.

• The period coincides with the beginning of India’s wheat harvest season, and extreme heat poses a grave threat for the country’s second-most consumed crop, after rice.

About Wheat

• In India, Wheat is primarily grown in northwestern part of Indo-Gangetic Plains (Punjab, Haryana, Western UP & MP).

• Wheat needs cooler weather to grow and hence it is sown in Oct-Dec period.

• It is harvested in Feb-April period in the Rabi crop season.

• Impact of Climate Change on Wheat :

  • Yield - Rising temperatures cause early ripening and shorter grain filling period, thereby reducing yield.

  • Quality - Heat stress reduces starch content, producing harder grains with lower milling value and lower quality of grains.

  • Food Security - This Impacts food security and food inflation.

Way Forward

• Heat-Resilient Crop Varieties: Developing wheat varieties with shorter growth cycles reduces exposure to peak heat periods.

• Early Sowing Practices: Encouraging earlier sowing in heat-vulnerable regions can prevent crops from maturing during extreme temperatures.

• Enhanced Weather Monitoring: Strengthening real-time advisory systems helps farmers make informed decisions on sowing and irrigation.

• Precision Farming Techniques: Such as drip irrigation, soil sensors, and controlled fertiliser use improve efficiency.

• Policy Support: Expanding compensation schemes, climate-specific insurance, and credit facilities for farmers.

3) India-USA Extradition Treaty

• Justice Elena Kagan of the US Supreme Court on Thursday (March 6) rejected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) member Tahawwur Rana’s plea to stay his extradition to India.

• Donald Trump on February 14 announced that his administration had approved Rana’s extradition to India.

• Tahawwur Rana was a plotter of 26/11 Mumbai Attacks.

Extradition

• An extradition treaty is a formal agreement between two countries to transfer individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes.

• India has extradition treaties with 48 countries, that included the likes of USA, UK, Canada, Australia etc.

• India also has extradition arrangements with 12 additional countries, allowing case-specific extradition.

• Extradition procedures in India are governed by Extradition Act of 1962.

Extradition Procedure in India

• India initiates extradition through diplomatic channels after verifying legal requirements.

• The request is forwarded to the foreign country’s legal system for approval.

• If approved, law enforcement agencies coordinate the fugitive’s transfer to India.

• Authorities Involved in Extradition :

  • Ministry of External Affairs for processing extradition requests from foreign governments.

  • Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for handling extradition-related investigations.

  • NIA for cases related to terrorism and national security.

Key Features of Extradition Act 1962

• Dual Criminality - The offence must be a crime in both India and the requesting country.

• Bar on Political Crime - Individuals cannot be extradited for political offences.

• The fugitive can only be tried for the crime they were extradited for.

• Human Rights Considerations - No extradition if there is a risk of torture or an unfair trial.

4) Vanuatu Revokes Lalit Modi’s Citizenship

• Prime Minister of Pacific island nation Vanuatu, Jotham Napat, ordered cancellation of the passport that his government had issued to fugitive billionaire Lalit Modi.

• He stated that acquiring Vanuatu’s passport should not be a means to avoid extradition.

• This issue has raised a debate over Vanuatu’s controversial Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI).

About Vanuatu

• It is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, situated 1,750 km east of Australia.

• It consists of 83 volcanic islands, covering a total land area of 12,189 sq. km, with capital city at Port Vila.

• It has tropical climate with frequent earthquake and volcanic eruptions due to its location at Pacific Ring of Fire.

• It is rich in coral reefs, deep-sea fisheries, and marine biodiversity.

Citizenship by Investment Program

• Allows foreign nationals to acquire citizenship through investment or financial contributions.

• Often used by individuals seeking visa-free travel or tax advantages.

• Lalit Modi :

  • Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi’s Vanuatu citizenship was revoked by Prime Minister Jotham Napat on March 10, 2025.

  • Authorities cited concerns over using citizenship to evade extradition.