The Lokur Commission, officially known as the Advisory Committee on the Revision of Lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, played a significant role in shaping the landscape of tribal communities in India. Established in 1965 by the Government of India. Chaired by Justice N.N. Lokur, a former Chief Justice of India. Tasked with revising the lists of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in a rational and scientific manner.

Criteria for Scheduled Tribes:

• The Commission established five key criteria for identifying a community as an ST:
  • Primitive Traits and Distinctive Culture
  • Geographical Isolation
  • Shyness of Contact with the Community at Large
  • Backwardness
  • Pre-dominantly Tribal Population

Impact on Tribal Communities

• The Lokur Commission's recommendations led to the addition of several new communities to the ST list, granting them access to educational and economic benefits reserved for STs.
• However, the criteria employed, particularly the emphasis on "primitive traits," have been criticized for being outdated, stereotypical, and potentially hindering social progress for tribal communities.

Criticisms and Debates

• The Commission's classification of certain communities as "primitive" has been challenged for being derogatory and inaccurate.
• The criteria used have been accused of being subjective and open to misinterpretation, leading to inconsistencies and exclusion of deserving communities.
• Debates continue regarding the need for revising or even abolishing the existing criteria altogether, with calls for a more nuanced approach based on social, economic, and cultural factors.

Legacy

• Despite the criticisms, the Lokur Commission's work remains influential in the administration of tribal affairs in India.
• Its report and recommendations form the basis for the current ST list and continue to be referenced in discussions about tribal inclusion and development.
• The Commission's legacy highlights the importance of ongoing discussions about the definition of "tribal" identity and the need for criteria that are fair, inclusive, and responsive to the evolving realities of tribal communities in India.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ

• The Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) is one of the most important atmospheric phenomena in the tropical region of the Earth. It is a large-scale pattern of atmospheric circulation characterized by alternating periods of enhanced and suppressed rainfall that travels eastward around the equator.
• Unlike cyclones, which are localized weather systems, or seasonal climate phenomena such as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the MJO is an atmospheric disturbance that continuously moves across the tropical oceans, influencing weather conditions over vast geographical areas.
• The phenomenon was first identified in 1971 by meteorologists Roland Madden and Paul Julian, after whom it is named. Their research showed that tropical rainfall and atmospheric pressure exhibit a recurring pattern that moves eastward around the globe over a period of about one to two months.
• The MJO originates most frequently over the tropical Indian Ocean, where warm ocean waters provide the energy necessary for the development of deep convection.
• The system then moves eastward across the maritime continent, including Indonesia, into the tropical Pacific Ocean and, on some occasions, continues into the Atlantic Ocean before gradually weakening. The entire cycle generally takes between 30 and 60 days, although it may sometimes extend to nearly 90 days.
• The MJO consists of two distinct phases: the active (enhanced) phase and the suppressed phase. During the active phase, warm, moist air rises from the Earth's surface, leading to the formation of extensive cloud cover, heavy rainfall, and intense thunderstorm activity.
• This upward movement of air releases large amounts of latent heat, strengthening atmospheric circulation. In contrast, the suppressed phase is characterized by sinking air, which inhibits cloud formation and results in clear skies, reduced rainfall, and relatively dry weather conditions.
• As the MJO moves eastward, these two phases travel together, causing alternating wet and dry periods in tropical regions.
• One of the reasons the MJO is scientifically important is that it serves as a bridge between short-term weather events and long-term climate variability.
• While ordinary weather systems usually last for only a few days, and climate phenomena like ENSO persist for several months or even years, the MJO operates on an intra-seasonal timescale, making it highly valuable for forecasting weather several weeks in advance.
• The MJO has a profound influence on the Indian monsoon. When its active phase is located over the tropical Indian Ocean and surrounding regions, convection increases significantly, leading to enhanced monsoon rainfall over India.
• This often results in active monsoon spells with widespread precipitation. Conversely, when the suppressed phase dominates the region, rainfall decreases, leading to weak or break monsoon conditions.
• Therefore, meteorologists closely monitor the MJO to improve monsoon forecasts and assess the likelihood of heavy rainfall or prolonged dry spells.
• The influence of the MJO is not limited to the Indian monsoon. It also plays a major role in the formation and intensification of tropical cyclones over the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and even parts of the Atlantic Ocean.
• During its active phase, the atmosphere becomes more unstable, humidity increases, and vertical wind conditions become more favourable for cyclone development. As a result, periods of increased cyclone activity often coincide with the passage of the active MJO phase.
• Apart from affecting tropical weather, the MJO also influences atmospheric circulation in higher latitudes through a process known as teleconnection.
• Changes in tropical convection caused by the MJO can alter jet stream patterns, influencing winter storms, cold waves, heat waves, and heavy rainfall events in regions far away from the tropics, including North America, Europe, and East Asia. Thus, despite being a tropical phenomenon, its impacts extend across the globe.
• The MJO is often confused with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, but the two are fundamentally different.
• The MJO is a moving atmospheric disturbance that travels continuously around the globe and lasts only a few weeks to a couple of months. ENSO, on the other hand, is a coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon centred over the equatorial Pacific Ocean and typically persists for several months to two years or more.
• While ENSO changes sea surface temperatures significantly, the MJO primarily affects atmospheric circulation and rainfall without producing major long-term changes in ocean temperatures.
• An easy way to understand the MJO is to imagine the tropical atmosphere as a giant circular race track. The active phase of the MJO resembles a moving cluster of rain-bearing clouds that travels steadily around this track, bringing heavy rainfall and thunderstorms wherever it passes.
• Behind this active phase follows the suppressed phase, which brings relatively dry and clear weather. This continuous movement creates alternating periods of wet and dry conditions across tropical regions

• The Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) has a significant influence on India's weather, particularly the Southwest Monsoon, tropical cyclones, and extreme rainfall events.
• Since the MJO is a moving region of enhanced and suppressed convection (thunderstorm activity), its position relative to India determines whether the country experiences increased rainfall or dry conditions.
• The MJO usually originates over the tropical Indian Ocean and moves eastward across the maritime continent and the Pacific Ocean. When the active phase of the MJO is located over the Indian Ocean and the region surrounding India, it strengthens the upward movement of warm, moist air.
• This leads to increased cloud formation, widespread thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall over many parts of the country. As a result, the southwest monsoon becomes more vigorous, producing active monsoon conditions and above-normal rainfall.
• On the other hand, when the suppressed phase of the MJO moves over the Indian Ocean, the atmosphere experiences downward movement of air, reducing cloud formation and rainfall.
• During this period, India often witnesses breaks in the monsoon, where rainfall decreases significantly for several days despite the monsoon season being in progress. Such breaks can affect agricultural activities by reducing soil moisture and delaying crop growth.
• The MJO also influences the onset and progress of the southwest monsoon. A strong active MJO phase over the Indian Ocean during late May or early June can support the timely onset and rapid advancement of the monsoon across the Indian subcontinent.
• Conversely, if the active phase is located far away over the Pacific Ocean during this period, the onset may be delayed or the monsoon may initially remain weak.
• Another important impact of the MJO is on extreme rainfall events. When its active phase coincides with other favourable weather systems such as low-pressure areas or monsoon depressions over the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea, rainfall intensity can increase dramatically.
• This may result in widespread flooding, landslides in mountainous regions, and urban flooding in major cities. Many episodes of exceptionally heavy monsoon rainfall in India have been linked to a strong active phase of the MJO.
• The MJO also plays a crucial role in the formation and intensification of tropical cyclones over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. During its active phase, the atmosphere becomes more unstable, humidity increases, and vertical wind conditions become more favourable for cyclone development.
• Consequently, the probability of cyclogenesis and cyclone intensification rises when the active MJO is present over the northern Indian Ocean. In contrast, the suppressed phase generally inhibits cyclone formation by creating less favourable atmospheric conditions.
• India's agricultural sector is particularly sensitive to the MJO because agriculture depends heavily on the distribution of monsoon rainfall.
• An active MJO phase can provide beneficial rainfall for crops such as rice, cotton, sugarcane, and pulses. However, if the rainfall becomes excessive, it may damage standing crops through flooding and waterlogging. Similarly, an extended suppressed phase can reduce rainfall, leading to moisture stress and lower agricultural productivity.
• The MJO also affects temperature patterns across India. During the active phase, increased cloud cover and rainfall generally reduce daytime temperatures and provide relief from heat. During the suppressed phase, clear skies allow greater solar heating, often resulting in hotter daytime conditions and, in some seasons, the development of heat waves.
• Meteorologists in India, especially at the India Meteorological Department, closely monitor the MJO because it is one of the most reliable indicators for extended-range weather forecasting.
• Since the MJO evolves over several weeks, it helps forecasters predict active and weak phases of the monsoon, the likelihood of heavy rainfall, and the potential for tropical cyclone formation about two to four weeks in advance.
• This information is valuable for agriculture, water resource management, disaster preparedness, and reservoir operations.