Alpine IAS

Governor’s Role in a Hung Assembly
What is a Hung Assembly?
• A Hung Assembly arises when no single party or pre-poll alliance gets an absolute majority in the State Legislative Assembly.
• In such a situation, the Governor plays a crucial constitutional role in government formation.
Constitutional Basis
Article 164(1)
• Governor appoints the Chief Minister.
• Normally acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
• But in a hung Assembly, the Governor uses discretionary powers to decide whom to invite first.
Main Objective of Governor
• Ensure formation of a stable government.
• Identify the leader most likely to command majority support in the Assembly.
• Maintain constitutional continuity and avoid administrative vacuum.
• Role should remain constitutional, not political.
Order of Preference (Sarkaria + Punchhi Commission)
1. Pre-poll Alliance
• Coalition formed before elections.
• Gets first preference if it has majority support.
2. Single Largest Party
• Largest party may be invited if it can prove majority support with allies/independents.
3. Post-poll Coalition
• Parties joining together after elections and participating in government.
4. Outside Support Arrangement
• Government formed with support from outside parties or independents.
Key Constitutional Procedures
Floor Test
• Majority must be tested on the floor of the House.
• Governor cannot decide majority subjectively.
• Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized floor test as the best method.
Time Limit
• Newly appointed CM generally asked to prove majority within a reasonable time (usually within 30 days).
Importance of Governor’s Role
• Prevents constitutional crisis.
• Ensures continuity of governance.
• Protects democratic legitimacy through floor test.
• Helps establish a government enjoying Assembly confidence.
Important Commissions
Sarkaria Commission (1983)
• Suggested order of preference for inviting parties to form government.
• Recommended neutrality of Governor.
Punchhi Commission (2007)
• Reaffirmed Sarkaria guidelines.
• Favoured quick floor tests to avoid political manipulation.
Important Supreme Court Judgments
S.R. Bom

The Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus), one of the world’s smallest wild cats, has recently been photographed with a kitten in the Aravalli Range near Delhi-NCR, providing the first confirmed evidence of breeding in the region. Researchers from Indira Gandhi University documented the mother and offspring in Kot village, Faridabad, during field surveys conducted in 2025. The finding confirms that a resident breeding population exists in the Aravalli landscape despite increasing urbanisation and habitat disturbance.
The rusty-spotted cat is native to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It is known for its tiny size, reddish-grey fur and rusty coloured spots. The species is highly elusive, nocturnal and generally found in dry deciduous forests, scrublands and rocky habitats. Due to its secretive behaviour and low population density, sightings are extremely rare.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the species is classified as “Near Threatened”, while in India it receives the highest legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Nearly 75% of its habitat is believed to be threatened due to urban expansion, agriculture, quarrying and land-use changes.
The discovery is ecologically significant because it demonstrates that even fragmented green spaces around highly urbanised regions can support rare and sensitive wildlife. Researchers observed the cat surviving close to human settlements, challenging the earlier assumption that it avoids human presence entirely. The study also underlines the importance of the Aravallis, which act as an ecological barrier against desertification and provide critical biodiversity support for the NCR region.
The findings highlight the need for conservation strategies extending beyond protected forests to include non-protected landscapes, urban green spaces and wildlife corridors. They also strengthen the argument for sustainable urban planning and long-term conservation of the Aravalli ecosystem.

Hantavirus
A rodent-borne viral infection transmitted to humans.
Caused by viruses belonging to the Hantavirus group.
Known for causing severe respiratory or renal diseases with high fatality rates.
Transmission
Spread through inhalation of aerosolized particles from:
Rodent droppings
Urine
Saliva
Infection occurs when contaminated dust becomes airborne and is inhaled.
Human-to-human transmission is rare (important point)
Types of Diseases Caused
1. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
Affects lungs
Symptoms:
Fever, fatigue → later cough & breathlessness
Fluid accumulation in lungs
Fatality rate ~40%
More common in Americas
2. Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS)
Affects kidneys
Symptoms:
Low blood pressure
Internal bleeding
Acute kidney failure
More common in Europe & Asia
Symptoms (Progression Pattern)
Early stage (1–8 weeks after exposure):
Fever
Fatigue
Muscle aches
Late stage (after 4–10 days):
Coughing
Shortness of breath
Fluid in lungs (in HPS)
Key point: Starts like flu but rapidly worsens
Treatment
No specific antiviral treatment
No widely available vaccine
Supportive care only:
Oxygen therapy
Fluid management
Intensive care support
Prevention
Avoid exposure to rodent-infested areas
Use:
Masks
Gloves while cleaning
Proper sanitation & rodent control
Recent News (Value Addition)
Suspected outbreak on a Netherlands-based cruise ship
Cases included deaths and infections, highlighting outbreak potential in closed environments
Exam-Traps / Key Takeaways
Rodent-borne virus (not mosquito-borne)
Airborne via droppings, not direct bite necessarily
Causes two syndromes: HPS & HFRS
High fatality + no specific cure
Often confused with:
COVID-19 (human-to-human spread dominant)
Dengue (vector-borne

To Be Read From The Hindu and Indian Express Newspaper Today (27 April)