{"id":3651,"date":"2026-02-13T04:31:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T04:31:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/?p=3651"},"modified":"2026-02-13T04:31:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T04:31:41","slug":"religious-freedom-vs-constitutional-morality-indias-net-zero-emissions-target-by-2070","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/religious-freedom-vs-constitutional-morality-indias-net-zero-emissions-target-by-2070\/","title":{"rendered":"Religious freedom vs constitutional morality &amp; India\u2019s net-zero emissions target by 2070"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-1\" style=\"color:#fd0000\"><strong>1. <em>\u201cReligious freedom in India is not absolute but subject to constitutional morality.\u201d<\/em> Discuss in the context of judicial intervention in temple practices<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#40eddf75\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Syllabus:<\/strong> <br><strong>General Studies \u2013 IV: Strengthening of Ethical and Moral Values in Governance<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>IN NEWS:<\/strong> The Constitution enters the sanctum<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3 wp-block-paragraph\">India\u2019s Constitution guarantees religious freedom under Articles 25 and 26 as part of its secular framework. However, these freedoms are not absolute and are subject to public order, morality, health, and other fundamental rights. The judiciary has increasingly invoked the doctrine of constitutional morality to examine religious practices, especially in temple entry, administration, and social reform issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Constitutional Framework Governing Religious Freedom<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-5\">\n<li>Article 25: Freedom of conscience and right to profess, practice and propagate religion; subject to public order, morality, health and other fundamental rights.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Article 26: Rights of religious denominations to manage religious affairs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Article 14 &amp; 15: Equality before law and prohibition of discrimination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Article 17: Abolition of untouchability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Article 25(2)(b): Allows State intervention for social welfare and reform, including opening temples to all classes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6 wp-block-paragraph\">Thus, religious freedom exists within a constitutional framework promoting equality and social justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Concept of Constitutional Morality<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-8\">\n<li>Rooted in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar\u2019s constitutional vision.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Implies adherence to core constitutional values:<ul><li>Equality and non-discrimination<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Individual dignity<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Liberty and fraternity<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Social reform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Courts use this principle to ensure religious practices align with constitutional ideals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Judicial Intervention in Temple Practices: Key Cases<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-10 wp-block-paragraph\">1. Sabarimala Temple Case (Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala, 2018)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-11\">\n<li>Ban on entry of women aged 10\u201350 declared unconstitutional.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Violated Articles 14, 15, and 25.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Court held constitutional morality prevails over discriminatory customs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-12 wp-block-paragraph\">2. Sri Venkataramana Devaru v. State of Mysore (1958)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-13\">\n<li>Upheld temple entry rights of lower castes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Denominational autonomy subject to social reform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-14 wp-block-paragraph\">3. N. Adithayan v. Travancore Devaswom Board (2002)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-15\">\n<li>Appointment of non-Brahmin priest allowed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Court rejected caste-based exclusion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-16 wp-block-paragraph\">4. Padmanabhaswamy Temple Case (2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-17\">\n<li>Balanced religious tradition with administrative transparency and accountability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-18 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Essential Religious Practices Doctrine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-19\">\n<li>Originated in Shirur Mutt Case (1954).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Courts distinguish essential religious practices from secular aspects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Only essential practices receive strong constitutional protection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-20 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Rationale for Judicial Intervention<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-21\">\n<li>Protection of fundamental rights and dignity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Removal of caste and gender discrimination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensuring secular management of temple administration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promoting social reform under constitutional mandate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-22 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Criticisms and Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-23\">\n<li>Concerns about judicial overreach into faith.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Difficulty in courts determining theological matters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tension between religious autonomy and individual rights.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Need for consistent application across religions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-24 wp-block-paragraph\">Religious freedom in India is expansive but constitutionally regulated. Judicial intervention in temple practices demonstrates the transformative nature of the Constitution, ensuring that traditions evolve in harmony with equality, dignity, and constitutional morality while maintaining respect for religious diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#40eddf75\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE<\/strong> <br>Q. \u201cConstitutional morality is not a natural sentiment but a product of civil education and maturity of sense of rule of law.\u201d Examine this statement in the light of the role of civil servants in upholding constitutional morality, promoting good governance and ensuring accountability in public administration. (2025)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-25 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#001eff\"><strong>Source:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/the-constitution-enters-the-sanctum\/article70618867.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/the-constitution-enters-the-sanctum\/article70618867.ece<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-26\" style=\"color:#ff0000\"><a><\/a><strong>2. Examine the pathways available for India to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2070 in the power sector. Highlight the role of storage technologies and clean baseload power.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#f7b86591\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Syllabus:<\/strong> <br><strong>General Studies \u2013 III: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-27 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>IN NEWS:<\/strong> Renewables to dominate India\u2019s grid by 2070, but \u2018structural challenges\u2019 are slowing the pace<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-28 wp-block-paragraph\">India has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, recognizing the power sector as a key driver of decarbonisation due to its significant share in greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning from coal-dominated electricity generation to low-carbon sources requires a multi-dimensional strategy combining renewable expansion, clean baseload power, energy storage and grid modernization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-29 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pathways for Achieving Net-Zero in the Power Sector<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-30 wp-block-paragraph\">1. Rapid Expansion of Renewable Energy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-31\">\n<li>Scaling solar, wind, hydro and bioenergy capacity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Renewable energy is expected to form the backbone of future electricity generation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helps reduce carbon intensity and dependence on fossil fuels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-32 wp-block-paragraph\">2. Gradual Phase-down of Coal<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-33\">\n<li>Coal remains crucial for near-term energy security and base-load power.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transition involves:<ul><li>Reducing new coal additions.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Improving efficiency of existing plants.<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Deploying cleaner technologies like supercritical plants.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-34 wp-block-paragraph\">3. Electrification and Demand Management<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-35\">\n<li>Electrification of transport and industry increases electricity demand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smart grids and demand response mechanisms to optimize energy use.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-36 wp-block-paragraph\">4. Deployment of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-37\">\n<li>Enables decarbonisation of residual fossil fuel-based power.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Important fallback option if renewable or nuclear expansion slows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-38 wp-block-paragraph\">5. Grid Modernisation and Transmission Expansion<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-39\">\n<li>Integrating large-scale renewable energy requires strong transmission infrastructure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Digital grid management to handle variability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-40 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Role of Energy Storage Technologies:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-41 wp-block-paragraph\">Energy storage is central to managing intermittency of renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-42 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-43\">\n<li>Store surplus renewable power and supply during peak demand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve grid flexibility and reliability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expected to scale massively to support high renewable penetration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-44 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pumped Storage Hydropower<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-45\">\n<li>Provides long-duration storage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stabilises grid frequency and balances supply-demand fluctuations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-46 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hydrogen and Other Emerging Storage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-47\">\n<li>Green hydrogen as seasonal storage and industrial fuel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supports deep decarbonisation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-48 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Role of Clean Baseload Power<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-49 wp-block-paragraph\">Baseload power provides continuous electricity independent of weather conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-50 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Nuclear Energy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-51\">\n<li>Carbon-free and reliable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provides firm baseload power to complement intermittent renewables.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advanced reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) can enhance deployment flexibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-52 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hydropower<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-53\">\n<li>Flexible generation and balancing capability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supports peak demand management.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-54 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Decarbonised Thermal Power<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-55\">\n<li>Coal plants with CCUS may act as backup during transition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-56 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-57\">\n<li>High capital costs for nuclear and storage technologies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Land acquisition and environmental clearances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grid integration complexities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Financing and technological barriers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Balancing affordability with sustainability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-58 wp-block-paragraph\">Achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 requires a balanced approach combining renewable expansion, clean baseload power such as nuclear energy, and large-scale storage deployment. By strengthening grid infrastructure and investing in emerging technologies, India can ensure energy security while transitioning to a low-carbon power system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#f7b86591\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE<\/strong> <br>Q. Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective? Explain. (2022)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-59 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0400ff\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-economics\/renewables-to-dominate-indias-grid-by-2070-but-structural-challenges-are-slowing-the-pace-10527462\/?ref=explained_pg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-economics\/renewables-to-dominate-indias-grid-by-2070-but-structural-challenges-are-slowing-the-pace-10527462\/?ref=explained_pg<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cReligious freedom in India is not absolute but subject to constitutional morality.\u201d Discuss in the context of judicial intervention [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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