Live in Relationship Not Illegal: Allahabad High Court | Child Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation | Government to Increase Reservation for Agniveers in CAPFs to 50% | ‘Support to Poor Prisoners’ Scheme | GI-Tagged Indi Lime from Karnataka Enters Oman Market | Tundra Biome | Bureau of Port Security (BoPS)

Live in Relationship Not Illegal: Allahabad High Court

Health & Society

In News

• Allahabad High Court categorically held that live-in relationships are not illegal and that consenting adults have the constitutional right to live together with dignity and safety, irrespective of marital status.

Key Observations of the Allahabad High Court

• Live-in relationship is not an offence: Living together without marriage does not violate any law in India if both partners are adults and give free consent.
• Right to life and personal liberty: The Court emphasized that Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees the right to life, dignity, and personal freedom to all individuals, including those in live-in relationships.
• State’s duty to protect: Once adults choose to live together, the State is duty-bound to ensure their safety, even against threats from family or society.
• Social Morality vs Constitutional Morality: The Court clearly prioritised constitutional morality over social morality.
• Evidentiary Presumption of Marriage: The Court referred to Section 114 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and Section 119(1) of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.
• These provisions state that if a man and woman cohabit for a significant period in the nature of husband and wife, the law may presume them to be married.

Key Supreme Court Judgments on Live-in Relationships

• Tulsa v. Durghatiya (2008): Children born from prolonged live-in relationships cannot be treated as illegitimat It ensures inheritance and dignity of children.
• Velusamy v. D. Patchaiammal (2010): The Court clarified the concept of “relationship in the nature of marriage” under the Domestic Violence Act.
• Conditions laid down like a couple must hold themselves out as husband and wife, must be of legal age & must be otherwise qualified to marry.
• Indra Sarma v. V.K.V. Sarma (2013): Recognised that live-in relationships may be morally debated, but courts must deal with social realities.
• Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. (2018): The Court held that the right to marry a person of one’s choice is an integral part of Article 21.

Child Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Polity and Governance

Context

• The Supreme Court laid down guidelines on how courts must sensitively appreciate the evidence of minor victims of trafficking and prostitution.

Constitutional Safeguards in India

• Article 23: Prohibits trafficking in human beings and forced labor.
• Article 21: Ensures the right to life and personal liberty, which has been interpreted to include the right to live with dignity.
• Article 39(e): The state should ensure that the health and strength of workers and children are not abused, and that citizens are not forced to take jobs that are not suitable for their age or strength.

Laws governing anti-trafficking crimes

• The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 is targeted at stopping immoral trafficking and sex work. It went through two amendments, in 1978 and 1986.
• The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, prevents children from partaking in certain employments and regulates the conditions of work for children in other fields.
• The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, prohibits systems of labour where people, including children, work under conditions of servitude to pay off debt, and also provides a framework for rehabilitating released labourers.
• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, which governs laws relating to children alleged and found to be in conflict with law.
• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, which seeks to prevent commercial sexual exploitation of children.
• India set up Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in 2007.

Government to Increase Reservation for Agniveers in CAPFs to 50%

Defence

Context

• The Union Home Ministry has decided to enhance reservation for ex-Agniveers in the Group C posts of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) from the existing 10% to 50%.

Agnipath Scheme

• Objective – It allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years.

Features of the scheme

• Agniveer – Under this scheme, the youth joining the army will be called Agniveer. Youth will be able to be recruited into the army for a short duration.
• Recruitment for Short term – Under the new scheme, around 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers will be recruited annually, and most will leave the service in just four years.
• However, after four years, only 25% of the batch will be recruited back into their respective services, for a period of 15 years.

Eligibility Criteria

• It is only for personnel below officer ranks (those who do not join the forces as commissioned officers).
• Aspirants between the ages of 17.5 years and 23 years will be eligible to apply.

Benefits for Agniveers

• Seva Nidhi package – Upon the completion of the 4-years of service, a one-time ‘Seva Nidhi’ package of Rs 11.71 lakhs will be paid to the Agniveers.
• Life Insurance – They will also get a Rs 48 lakh life insurance cover for the four years. In case of death, the payout will be over Rs 1 crore, including pay for the unserved tenure.
• Rehabilitation – The government will help rehabilitate soldiers who leave the services after four years. They will be provided with skill certificates and bridge courses.

Related Concerns

• Difficult to Find Another Job – The ‘Agnipath’ scheme opens the way for recruitment of soldiers for a short-term contract of four years. After the completion of the contract, 25% of them will be retained and the rest will leave the forces.
• No Pension Benefit – Those hired under the ‘Agnipath’ scheme will be given a one-time lump sum of Rs 11 lakh. However, they do not receive any pension benefits.
• Training May Remain Unutilized – Forces will lose experienced soldiers. The jawans joining the Army, Navy and Air Force will be given technical training so that they are able to support the ongoing operations. But these men and women will leave after four years, which could create a void.

Significance of Such Step for the Country

• Future Ready Soldiers – It will create “future-ready” soldiers.
• More Employment Opportunities – It will increase employment opportunities and because of the skills and experience acquired during the four-year service such soldiers will get employment in various fields.

‘Support to Poor Prisoners’ Scheme

Polity & Governance

In News

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) revised the guidelines of the ‘Support to Poor Prisoners’ scheme due to sub-optimal implementation by several States and Union Territorie

‘Support to Poor Prisoners’ Scheme

• Objective – to provide financial assistance to States/UTs for extending relief to poor prisoners who are unable to secure bail or release from prison due to non-payment of fine, on account of financial constraints.

GI-Tagged Indi Lime from Karnataka Enters Oman Market

Economy

In News

• India’s agricultural exports received a boost with the export of 3 metric tonnes of GI-tagged Indi Lime from Vijayapura, Karnataka, to Oman.

Indi Lime

• Indi Lime is known for its distinctive aroma, high juice content and longer shelf life.
• It represents the agricultural heritage of northern Karnataka.
• The GI status of Indi Lime has played a crucial role in positioning the fruit competitively in global markets.
• The export of GI-tagged Indi Lime to Oman gains significance under the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) / Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which aims to strengthen economic ties and expand market access for Indian products.

Tundra Biome

Environment

In News

• A recent scientific study from Arctic Alaska reveals that wildfires in the tundra biome have become more frequent in the last century than at any time in the past 3,000 years.

Tundra Biome

• The tundra is a cold, treeless biome found in high-latitude (Arctic) and high-altitude (Alpine) regions. The word tundra comes from a Finnish term meaning “treeless plain.”

Types of Tundra:

• Arctic Tundra: Found in northern Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Siberia
• Alpine Tundra: Found at high altitudes on mountains (Himalayas, Andes, Rockies). No permafrost, but very cold conditions

Climatic Characteristics:

• Temperature: Extremely low; winters can reach −30°C to −50°C
• Precipitation: Very low (150–250 mm/year).

Bureau of Port Security (BoPS)

Defense

In News

• The Union Home Minister convened a high-level meeting to initiate the constitution of a dedicated Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) to enhance the security of vessels and port facilities across the country.
• Under the revamped security framework, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been designated as a Recognised Security Organisation for ports.

Bureau of Port Security (BoPS)

• It will be established as a statutory body under Section 13 of the newly promulgated Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
• It will function under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
• It will be headed by a Director General of the rank of an IPS officer.
• Function – It will be responsible for regulatory oversight and coordination related to the security of ships and port infrastructure.