Current Affairs for 01 May 2026

Easter Island's mysterious script: Did it develop its own writing system before Europe?

Easter Island's ancient rongorongo script likely developed independently and may predate the arrival of Europeans, according to a new study.

About Easter Island

• It is a Chilean island located in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
• Locals call it Rapa Nui and it is one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world.
• In 1722, Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen discovered it on Easter Sunday, hence the name "Easter Island."
• It has a tropical climate.
• The island has three dormant volcanoes – Terevaka, Poike, and Rano Kau.
• There is no permanent river, but there are three crater lakes – Rano Aroi, Rano Raraku, and Rano Kau.
• It is known for its famous Moai statues.
• UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site.

What are Moai statues ?

• These are colossal stone statues created by the Rapa Nui people.
• They resemble large human heads and are erected on stone platforms.
• Some statues have a hat-like structure (pukao) made of red stone.
• They are believed to have been created between the 13th and 16th centuries and symbolize ancestors.

What is Rongorongo ?

• It is an ancient script, consisting of symbols carved on wooden tablets.
• The script has not yet been fully deciphered.
• It was first observed by Europeans in 1864.
• Its style is different from European writing, so it is believed to have developed locally.

Mission SAKSHAM (Urban Co-operative Bank Capacity Building)

• Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched Mission SAKSHAM. 
• It is a comprehensive capacity-building program for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) aimed at strengthening their efficiency, transparency, and stability. 

What is Mission SAKSHAM ?

Mission SAKSHAM (Sahakari Bank Kshamta Nirman) is an all-India, mission-mode capacity-building and certification framework designed specifically for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs).

It focuses on improving :

• Managerial capability 
• Operational efficiency 
• Regulatory compliance culture 
• Institutional resilience 

Key Objectives of the Mission

1. Enhancing managerial and operational capacity 
   • Develop professional efficiency in banking operations 
2. Strengthening compliance culture 
   • Ensure better adherence to RBI norms and regulations 
3. Improving institutional resilience 
   • Enable banks to remain stable during crises 
4. Enhancing financial health 
   • Strengthen the financial position of co-operative banks 
5. Ensuring sustainable growth 
   • Promote long-term development of the UCB sector 

Key Features of Mission SAKSHAM

1. Target Groups

The program targets :

• Board of Directors 
• Senior Management 
• Risk Management heads 
• Compliance & Audit officers 
• IT and other key function staff 

2. Training Model

• Blended Learning Approach 
  • Offline (in-person) + Online (digital) training 
• Available in regional languages for wider reach 

3. Collaboration

The mission is implemented with support from :

• Umbrella Organisation for UCBs 
• State and National Co-operative Federations 

4. Mission Mode Implementation

• Large-scale training programs across the country 
• Aim to bring uniform improvement nationwide 

5. Certification Framework

• Participants receive certification after training 
• Ensures standardization of skills and competencies 

Importance of Mission SAKSHAM

1. Strengthening the co-operative banking sector 
   • UCBs are vital for small businesses and the middle class 
2. Improved risk management 
   • Better training enhances risk-handling capacity 
3. Transparency and trust 
   • Improved compliance increases public confidence 
   • Reduces chances of banking frauds 
4. Boost to digital banking 
   • IT training strengthens digital services 

Challenges

• Uneven development of co-operative banks across states 
• Effective implementation of training programs 
• Transition from traditional to modern systems 

Co-operative Banks

• Co-operative banks are a part of India’s financial system based on the principle of co-operation. 
• Their primary objective is community service rather than profit maximization. 
• They are registered under State Co-operative Acts or the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 and engage in banking activities. 

Classification

Co-operative banks in India are mainly divided into :

• Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) 
• Rural Co-operative Banks (RCBs) 

Ownership and Functioning

• Owned and operated by their members 
• Members are also customers 
• Follow the principle of “one person, one vote” 

Objectives

• Provide rural and micro-finance 
• Support the agriculture sector 
• Promote small and cottage industries 
• Assist self-employed individuals 

Regulation and Supervision

• UCBs are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 
• Rural co-operative banks are supervised mainly by NABARD and state governments 
• Governed under : 
  • Banking Regulation Act, 1949 
  • Banking Laws (Application to Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965 

License Cancellation

RBI may cancel the license of a co-operative bank if :

• It ceases banking operations, or 
• Fails to comply with RBI regulations 

Importance

• UCBs meet financial needs of small businesses and individuals 
• Promote economic development in urban and semi-urban areas

Judicial Recusal in the Delhi High Court Controversy: Impartiality vs Judicial Discretion

• Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court declined to recuse herself from hearing the Delhi excise policy case on April 20, 2026.
• The case pertains to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) vs Kuldeep Singh and others.
• It involves several accused, including former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
• Arvind Kejriwal personally appeared before the High Court as a party and requested that the judge recuse herself from the case.
• The petition before the High Court was filed by the CBI challenging the acquittal of the accused by a lower court, and objections were raised regarding the hearing of this very petition.

Key Grounds for Judicial Recusal

• Adverse observations in prior proceedings:
  • The judge had made certain adverse findings/remarks during earlier hearings, raising concerns about possible bias.
• Allegations of ideological inclination:
  • It was alleged that the judge participated in events organized by Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad (ABAP), which is perceived by some as being aligned with the ruling ideology.
• Conflict of interest (family connections):
  • The judge’s children are serving as panel advocates under the Central Government.
  • They have been assigned cases by the Solicitor General.
  • Coincidentally, the Solicitor General is representing the opposing party in this case.
• Political statement:
  • A statement by Amit Shah (Union Home Minister) was cited, which allegedly indicated that Arvind Kejriwal might lose the case this was interpreted as suggesting a preconceived outcome in the High Court.

Main Argument

Apprehension of Bias:

• Based on the above factors, it was argued that there exists a reasonable apprehension of bias, which raises doubts about the possibility of a fair trial.

Judicial Recusal: Introduction and Core Concept

• Judicial recusal refers to a judge voluntarily withdrawing from hearing a case.
• It is a key principle of judicial impartiality, invoked when a judge believes that their involvement may give rise to doubts of bias or conflict of interest.
• In the Indian judicial system, this principle is essential to uphold fairness, transparency, and public confidence in the administration of justice.
• Judicial recusal is not only meant to prevent actual bias but also to preserve the credibility and integrity of the judiciary.

Legal Position and Nature in India

• In India, there is no specific codified law governing judicial recusal, making it largely dependent on judicial discretion and ethical standards.
• Judges themselves decide whether they should recuse from a case.
• As a result, recusal is more of an ethical issue than a purely technical or legal one.
• Over time, a rich body of jurisprudence has evolved through judicial precedents, incorporating international principles and best practices.
• While this provides flexibility and independence to judges, it also creates ambiguity, sometimes leading to controversies.

Judicial Principles and International Standards

• The principle of judicial recusal has been reinforced through several landmark judicial decisions:
• In R v Sussex Justices, it was established that “justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.”
• In Leeson v General Council of Medical Education, it was emphasized that a judge must be “above suspicion, like Caesar’s wife.”
• Additionally, the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct lay down seven core values for judges: independence, impartiality, integrity, propriety, equality, competence, and diligence.
• According to these principles, a judge must avoid not only actual impropriety but even the appearance of impropriety, ensuring that public trust in the judiciary remains intact.

Indian Judicial Precedents on Recusal

• Ranjit Thakur v Union of India
  • The test of bias is not based on the judge’s own perception, but on the reasonable apprehension of the litigant.
• P.K. Ghosh v J.G. Rajput
  • If a party has a reasonable apprehension of bias, it is उचित (appropriate) for the judge to recuse themselves from the case.
• State of Punjab v Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar
  • Even the mere apprehension of bias can be sufficient to invalidate a judicial decision.
• Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association v Union of India
  • Reaffirmed the “reasonable observer test,” which examines whether a fair-minded and informed observer would perceive a likelihood of bias.

Core Challenge Before a Judge: Impartiality vs Subjectivity

• The central challenge in judicial recusal is that the decision-maker is the judge themselves.
• According to legal scholar James Sample, “the real tests of disqualification occur in the courtroom itself.”
• This implies that a judge must not only be impartial but must also appear to be impartial.
• The practical difficulty arises when the same judge, whose impartiality is being questioned, decides whether to step aside.
• This situation increases the risk of subjectivity and may affect the credibility of the judicial process.

Philosophical Basis: Limits of Human Perception

• The noted American jurist Benjamin N. Cardozo observed that “we may try to see things objectively, but ultimately we see them through our own perspective.”
• This reinforces the idea that no individual can be a completely impartial judge in their own cause.
• Hence, the well-established legal maxim Nemo judex in causa sua—no one should be a judge in their own case.
• The doctrine of recusal is rooted in this philosophical and ethical foundation, aiming to minimize the influence of personal bias in judicial decision-making.