Daily Current Affairs 27 March 2026: Doctrine of Necessity, UDAN Scheme & Kaveri River

Today's current affairs delve into crucial judicial principles, national development schemes, environmental concerns, and advancements in fundamental physics. We will explore the Doctrine of Necessity in the context of judicial appointments, understand the evolution and objectives of the Modified UDAN Scheme for regional air travel, examine the water challenges facing the Kaveri River, and uncover the mysteries of the anti-proton and its cosmological implications.

Doctrine of Necessity

The Doctrine of Necessity is a fundamental legal principle ensuring that justice is not paralyzed even when potential conflicts of interest arise. Its recent relevance stems from the challenge to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Appointment Act 2023.

Context of CEC Appointment

Before 2023, an interim committee including the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India (CJI) recommended CEC names. The CEC Appointment Act 2023 replaced the CJI with a Cabinet Minister, raising concerns about impartiality and neutrality. When this matter reached the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice noted a potential conflict of interest as the case directly pertained to the CJI's role.

Definition and Principle

The Doctrine of Necessity states that if no alternative forum exists to ensure justice, judges must proceed with hearing a case even with a perceived conflict of interest. Its core principle is that justice cannot be denied due to the absence of an unbiased adjudicator.

Comparison with Natural Justice

While Natural Justice typically prohibits a person from judging their own cause (nemo judex in causa sua), the Doctrine of Necessity acts as an exception. It applies when adhering to the natural justice rule would impede justice or lead to systemic paralysis, particularly if all potential adjudicators face a similar conflict. This concept originates from Common Law Principles.

Example of Application

The doctrine was invoked during the Supreme Court's hearing on the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) case. In this instance, judges were tasked with deciding the constitutionality of a law impacting judicial appointments, presenting a conflict. The doctrine allowed the court to proceed, preventing systemic paralysis.

Conditions and Limitation

This doctrine primarily applies when most or all adjudicators are disqualified due to conflict of interest. However, it is not applicable if an alternative, impartial method or authority for adjudication is available, in which case judges should recuse themselves. In essence, it is a judicial responsibility to ensure justice when no impartial alternative exists.

Modified UDAN Scheme

The Government of India has approved the Modified UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme, a significant revamp of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), aimed at enhancing air connectivity across the nation.

Overview and Objectives

The modified scheme extends the subsidy period for routes from 3 years to 5 years. Its key objectives are sustainability of routes, further infrastructure expansion, and rerouting/restarting defunct air routes from previous UDAN phases. The scheme is slated for the period 2026 to 2036, with a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore.

Evolving Funding Mechanisms

The Original UDAN scheme was funded through an Air Fare Levy on tickets for flights between major metro cities. This revenue then formed a Regional Connectivity Fund to provide Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for regional routes. In contrast, the Modified UDAN will be directly funded by the government, eliminating the Air Fare Levy. This change aims to make metro-to-metro air travel more affordable and reduce regional airfares.

Infrastructure Targets

The scheme targets the development of 100 airports and the construction of 200 helipads, specifically focusing on helicopter operations for last-mile connectivity in remote and hilly regions. It also supports airline operators to maintain routes even in low-demand areas.

UDAN Scheme Background

Launched under the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016, the UDAN scheme's primary goal is to make air travel affordable and expand connectivity to unserved and underserved regions. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) serves as its nodal agency. The first flight operated between Shimla and Delhi on April 27, 2017. Previous phases focused on developing airports, promoting tourism, and enhancing connectivity, with Phase 5 specifically addressing helicopter services and small aircraft for last-mile connectivity.

Key Features and Significance

Key features include an airfare cap for affordability, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to support airlines on commercially unviable routes, and tax concessions on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) provided by state governments. The scheme exemplifies cooperative federalism, demonstrating collaboration between central and state governments.

Its significance lies in promoting regional connectivity and development, boosting tourism, trade, and economic growth in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, ensuring accessibility to remote and strategic areas, generating employment, and facilitating infrastructure development and national integration.

Kaveri River

The Kaveri River, a vital lifeline for Southern India, faces increasing environmental challenges, as highlighted by a recent study.

Water Flow Decline

A study by IIT Gandhinagar projects a 2-3.5% decline in the Kaveri River's water flow over the next 25 years, starting from 2026. This trend continues a historical decline, with the river having already experienced a 28% reduction in water flow between 1951 and 2012. Unlike some North Indian perennial rivers which might benefit from glacial melt, the Kaveri is projected to face reduced water flow, making this decline particularly concerning.

Geographical Context

The Kaveri originates in the Brahmagiri Hills (Talakaveri) in the Western Ghats, Karnataka. It flows for approximately 800 km before draining into the Bay of Bengal. Its riparian states and Union Territories include Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry.

Water Sharing Dispute

The Kaveri is central to a long-standing inter-state water dispute. The Supreme Court's 2018 verdict allocated water as follows:

• Tamil Nadu: 404.25 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet)

• Karnataka: 284 TMC

• Kerala: 30 TMC

• Puducherry: 7 TMC

Monsoon Influence and Importance

The Kaveri is fed by both the Southwest Monsoon and the Northeast Monsoon, making it a perennial river in Southern India. It is crucial for irrigation, drinking water, and hydroelectric power generation, with significant dams like the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam and Mettur Dam.

Tributaries and Delta

Its major tributaries include:

• Left Bank: Harangi, Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavathy

• Right Bank: Laxmana Tirtha, Kabini, Bhavani, Noyyal, Amaravathi

The Kaveri forms a delta after Tiruchirappalli, known as the "Garden of Southern India," and important cities like Mysuru, Erode, and Thanjavur are located on its banks.

Anti-Proton

Recent news from CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) regarding the successful road transport of anti-protons brings renewed attention to this fundamental particle.

Matter and Anti-matter

All celestial bodies and substances are composed of matter. Anti-matter, conversely, consists of particles identical in mass to their matter counterparts but possessing opposite electrical charge and other quantum properties.

Definition and Annihilation

An anti-proton is the anti-particle of a proton, sharing the same mass but carrying a negative electrical charge (whereas a proton has a positive charge). When a proton and an anti-proton collide, they annihilate each other, converting their entire mass into energy, primarily in the form of gamma rays.

Cosmological Significance

According to the Big Bang theory, equal amounts of matter and anti-matter should have been created. However, the universe is overwhelmingly dominated by matter, posing the profound question: "Where did all the anti-matter go?" The study of anti-protons is crucial for investigating this matter-antimatter asymmetry and understanding why the universe evolved with such an imbalance. Protons and anti-protons have similar magnitudes of spin but exhibit opposite behaviors.

Discovery and Production

The existence of the anti-proton was first theoretically predicted by Paul Dirac. It was experimentally confirmed in 1955 by Emilio Segrè and Owen Chamberlain. Anti-protons occur naturally in cosmic rays and can be artificially produced in particle accelerators like those at CERN.

Importance and Applications

Anti-protons are essential for studying and validating the Standard Model of particle physics and help explain the dominance of matter in the universe. In applied research, anti-proton therapy is being explored for its potential in cancer treatment.

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions - 27 March 2026

Q1. With reference to the Doctrine of Necessity, consider the following statements:

1. It allows a judge to hear a case despite conflict of interest.

2. It is an exception to the principle of Natural Justice.

3. It applies even when alternative impartial authorities are available.

Which of the statements are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

Q2. Consider the following features of the Modified UDAN Scheme:

1. Funded through Air Fare Levy

2. Focus on developing helipads in remote areas

3. Extension of subsidy period to 5 years

Which of the above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B

Q3. The Kaveri River originates from:
A. Nilgiri Hills
B. Brahmagiri Hills
C. Aravalli Hills
D. Satpura Range

Answer: B

Q4. Anti-protons differ from protons in which of the following?

1. Charge

2. Mass

3. Spin

Select the correct answer:
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

Q5. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the UDAN scheme?
A. It is related to railways connectivity
B. It aims to promote regional air connectivity
C. It is implemented by NITI Aayog
D. It focuses only on metro cities

Answer: B

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