From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Significance of the self-respect movement;
Why in the News?
This year marks the beginning of the centenary of the “Self-Respect Movement”, a transformative movement with a unique mission to empower individuals and communities to challenge and dismantle the oppressive hierarchical structures that had subjugated them.
What is the significance of the Self-Respect Movement?
Empowerment Against Hierarchical Structures: The Self-Respect Movement, founded by Periyar in 1925, aimed to dismantle the caste-based hierarchy that oppressed lower castes, especially in the Madras Presidency.
Social Reform Beyond Political Representation: The movement went beyond advocating for communal representation, focusing on equal rights for women, caste abolition, and the upliftment of the depressed classes.
It introduced radical reforms like self-respecting marriages and supported women’s rights such as property ownership, divorce, and widow remarriage.
Kudi Arasu’s Role: The Tamil weekly, Kudi Arasu (The Republic), served as a platform to spread Periyar’s critiques of Brahminism and the caste hierarchy, expanding the reach of the Self-Respect Movement.
Federalism and Political Autonomy: Periyar and the movement contributed to the evolution of federalism in India by advocating for regional autonomy and opposing the dominance of elite caste groups in politics.
How can the principles of the self-respect movement be sustained and promoted?
Adaptation to Contemporary Issues: The movement must address modern complexities like the intersectionality of caste with class, religion, gender, and sexuality. Expanding the movement’s scope to include LGBTQIA+ rights and evolving gender norms will keep it relevant.
Counter-fack news on social media: Active communication with younger generations, particularly in countering right-wing narratives and caste biases on social media, is vital for promoting the movement’s ideals of equality and rationalism.
Reframing Social Justice in a Global Context: Sustaining the Self-Respect Movement’s legacy requires integrating its principles with global discussions on social justice, identity politics, and human rights.
Advocacy for Policy Reforms: Continuous advocacy for policies that address caste and gender inequalities, such as reservations and legal protection for self-respect marriages, can strengthen the movement’s impact.
What challenges does the self-respect movement face in the current socio-political climate?
Cultural Homogenisation: The rise of Hindutva and right-wing ideologies seeks to homogenise India’s diverse cultures, underminingregional, linguistic, caste, and gender identities that the movement has historically sought to protect.
Evolving Caste Dynamics: While traditional caste practices may have declined in some areas, caste-based discrimination persists subtly in other forms, which the movement must continue to confront.
Digital Misinformation: The rise of social media has led to the spread of falsehoods that reinforce caste and group prejudices. The movement must actively engage in digital spaces to counter these narratives.
Caste-based politics: In states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, many regional political parties engage in caste-based politics, which indirectly obstructs the principles and application of the Self-Respect Movement.
Way forward:
Promote Inclusive Policy Reforms: The Indian government should enhance policies that target caste and gender inequalities, such as expanding legal protections for self-respect marriages and enforcing anti-discrimination laws, while ensuring marginalized communities have equitable access to resources and opportunities.
Strengthen Digital Literacy and Anti-Misinformation Efforts: The government should initiate programs to combat digital misinformation, particularly caste-based narratives, by promoting digital literacy, fact-checking, and inclusive content on social media platforms to foster equality and social harmony.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Challenges related to land reform;
Why in the News?
India’s land governance system is a tangled web of laws that have significantly impeded the nation’s economic and social progress for many years.
What are the limitations of digitisation in land law reform?
Failure to Address Legal Complexities: Digitisation alone does not resolve the underlying conflicts in land laws, such as unclear titles, insecure tenure, and legal ambiguities around land ownership and transfers.
Outdated Records: Even digitised land records may remain outdated or inaccurate, undermining the reliability of property titles and failing to improve access to formal credit.
Ineffectiveness in Fragmented Land Markets: Digitisation does not solve the issue of land fragmentation, which reduces agricultural productivity and hampers investment.
Limited Impact on Tenancy and Leasing Laws: Digitisation does not address restrictions on land leasing or tenancy, leaving land markets inefficient and informal.
Overreliance on Administrative Procedures: The complexities of legal and administrative frameworks still hinder land ownership, transfers, and use, despite digitisation efforts.
Political Exemptions from Judicial Review: The exclusion of land laws from judicial scrutiny through the Ninth Schedule limits accountability and the ability to challenge unjust political or administrative actions.
How do socio-political factors influence the effectiveness of digitisation efforts?
Political Resistance: Local and state-level political interests may resist changes to land laws that could undermine entrenched power structures or vested interests, impeding the effectiveness of digitisation efforts.
Rent-Seeking Behavior: Complex land laws and administrative procedures encourage rent-seeking, making digitisation ineffective without legal reforms that simplify regulations.
Cultural Norms and Gender Disparities: Socio-political dynamics, especially regarding gender and caste, influence land ownership patterns, limiting the impact of digitisation in addressing social inequalities.
State Variability: Differences in state capacity, resources, and political will lead to uneven adoption and success of digitisation efforts across India.
Lack of Integration in Subsidy Targeting: Social and political factors, such as inefficient targeting of subsidies (e.g., fertiliser subsidies not linked to land records), limit the impact of digitisation on equitable resource distribution.
Exclusion from Judicial Review: The Ninth Schedule’s protection of land laws from judicial review allows political decisions to go unchallenged, reducing the long-term effectiveness of digitisation reforms.
What additional measures are necessary for effective land law reform? (Way forward)
Comprehensive Legal Reforms: Overhaul conflicting land laws to ensure clarity, secure property titles, and strengthen property rights.
Tenancy and Leasing Reforms: Modernise and liberalise tenancy laws to formalise leasing arrangements and reduce the risk of expropriation.
Land Use Flexibility: Reforms allowing easier conversion of land use between agricultural, industrial, and residential sectors to ensure optimal land utilisation.
Land Consolidation Policies: Facilitate land consolidation to improve agricultural productivity and attract investment by reducing fragmentation.
Gender Equality in Land Ownership: Strengthen laws ensuring equal land and property rights for women, addressing gender-based inequalities in land ownership.
Judicial Oversight: Allow land laws to be subject to judicial review, ensuring fairness and protecting against arbitrary political and administrative decisions.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: UNSC, Permanent Membership
Why in the News?
UK PM Keir Starmer has expressed strong support for India’s bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
About United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
Details
Establishment
By the UN Charter in 1945 as one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
Other UN Organs
General Assembly, Trusteeship Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat
Primary Responsibility
Maintaining international peace and security
Headquarters
New York City, USA
Members
15 members: 5 permanent members (US, UK, Russia, China, France) and 10 non-permanent members (elected for two-year terms)
Permanent Members
US, UK, Russia, China, France
Non-permanent Members
10 elected members; require two-thirds majority in the General Assembly to be elected
Presidency Rotation
Every month among the 15 members
Voting and Veto Power
Permanent members have veto power; non-permanent members have no veto but resolutions require at least 7 non-permanent members’ votes for approval, even with unanimous permanent support
India’s Participation
India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC eight times: 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92, 2011-12, 2021-22
Responsibilities & Powers
Mediation, dispatching UN missions, appointing envoys, issuing ceasefire directives, peacekeeping, sanctions, arms embargo, and issuing binding resolutions
UNSC Reforms Process
Stage 1: Requires a two-thirds majority (128 votes) in the General Assembly (193 member states) for approval. Stage 2: Amended Charter must be ratified by at least two-thirds of member states, including all five permanent members, who may exercise veto power. Their national parliaments also influence the ratification process.
PYQ:
[2009] The Security Council of UN consists of 5 permanent members, and the remaining 10 members are elected by the General Assembly for a term of:
(a) 1 year
(b) 2 years
(c) 3 years
(d) 5 years
[2015] Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Param Rudra Supercomputer
Why in the News?
PM has dedicated three “PARAM Rudra” Supercomputers along with High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems, ‘Arka’ and ‘Arunika’, to the nation.
What areHigh-Performance Computing (HPC) Systems?
HPC systems are powerful computational systems that perform large-scale and complex computations at incredibly high speeds.
HPC Arka system at IITM has 11.77 Peta Flop capacity and will, for the first time, help improve the country’s horizontal resolution of its global weather prediction models to 6 km from the existing 12 km.
HPC Arunika comes with 8.24 Peta Flop capacity. This HPC will prove beneficial in upgrading weather forecast resolution at block levels.
What is PARAM Rudra?
PARAM Rudra is a high-performance computing (HPC) system and part of India’s PARAM series of supercomputers.
It is developed indigenously by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).
Applications of PARAM Rudra
Astronomy: Used by the Giant Metre Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune to study Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) and other astronomical phenomena.
Atomic Physics and Material Science: The Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in Delhi uses PARAM Rudra for research in these areas.
Physics, Cosmology, and Earth Sciences: The supercomputer at the SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences in Kolkata supports advanced studies in these domains.
Weather Forecasting and Agriculture: The supercomputers enhance weather forecasting, benefiting industries like agriculture, where improved predictions help farmers make informed decisions.
To enhance India’s research capacities by creating a Supercomputing grid supported by the National Knowledge Network (NKN)
To position India as a global leader in supercomputing technology by boosting research, development, and innovation
Nodal Agency
Department of Science and Technology (DST);
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
Implementation Agencies
C-DAC, Pune and IISc, Bengaluru
Phases
1. Phase I: Assembling supercomputers
2. Phase II: Manufacturing components in India
3. Phase III: Designing an indigenous supercomputer
Historical Context
India’s supercomputer program began after the USA’s technology embargo in the late 1980s, leading to the creation of C-DAC and the unveiling of PARAM 800 in 1991 (second-fastest globally at the time)
Notable Supercomputers
AI Supercomputer’ AIRAWAT’ and PARAM Siddhi – AI are currently the fastest supercomputers in India.
AIRAWAT has been ranked 75th in the world as of June 2023.
Global Context
Frontier (USA) is the world’s fastest supercomputer since December 2023.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Nanjangud Rasabale Banana
Why in the News?
The “Nanjangud Rasabale banana” has been revived after a drastic decline in cultivation, despite receiving Geographical Indication (GI) certification in 2006 for its unique taste and aroma.
About Nanjangud Rasabale Banana
Details
Origin
Devarasanahalli village near Nanjangud, Mysore district, Karnataka
Unique Features
Unique taste, aroma, small size, buttery soft texture
5-8 cm in length, 2-3 cm in diameter
Cultivation
In 2006-07, 180 farmers cultivated on 100 hectares; dropped to 15 farmers on 10 hectares by 2019-20.
By the end of 2023-24, 200 farmers cultivating on 75 hectares.
Soil
Black saline alluvial soil along the banks of the Kapila River
Significance
Popular in traditional festivals, religious ceremonies, and Kannada literature
Cultural Reference
Mentioned in Kayyar Kinhanna Rai’s poem, a notable Kannada literary work
Challenges
Decline in quality due to heavy use of chemical fertilizers
Economic Impact
Significant for local farmers, high demand due to limited availability
PYQ:
[2016] Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange coloured fruit pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered?
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: CAQM
Why in the News?
The Supreme Court has criticized the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for its lack of concrete action to curb stubble burning in states neighboring Delhi.
Key issues as per SC:
Non-Compliance and Ineffectiveness: The Supreme Court criticized the CAQM for failing to enforce the CAQM Act, highlighting a lack of concrete measures against stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.
Lack of Accountability: The Court questioned the CAQM’s accountability, emphasizing the need for concrete actions and consequences for officials who fail to enforce anti-pollution laws.
Staffing and Representation Issues: The Court expressed concerns over staffing shortages in pollution control boards and inadequate representation in CAQM sub-committees, hindering effective operation.
Scepticism on Pollution Reduction Claims: Despite claims of improved air quality and reduced stubble burning, the Court remained doubtful, citing ongoing instances of stubble burning and demanding detailed explanations from the CAQM.
AbouttheCommission for Air Quality Management (CAQM):
Details
Formation
Established in 2021;
Statutory body under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021
Objective
To manage air quality in the NCR and adjoining areas comprehensively
Composition
Headed by a full-time chairperson, with members from various states, ministries, and sectors like agriculture, industry, transport, and construction
Powers
Authority to issue directions, inspect industries, entertain complaints, restrict industries, and shut down non-compliant units
Jurisdiction
National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan
Functions
Coordinates and monitors air quality, sets pollution control parameters, identifies violators, monitors industries, and can overrule state directives
PYQ:
[2018] How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)?
1. The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government.
2. The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells and aims to improve the quality of air in the country.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[2022]The most significant achievement of modern law in India is the constitutionalization of environmental problems by the Supreme Court.” Discuss this statement with the help of relevant case laws.
[2015] Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three Mega cities of the country but the air pollution is much more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the other two. Why is this so?
