SHOULD THE SEDITION LAW BE SCRAPPED?
Why in news? On March 2, a 43-year-old man was charged with sedition after he allegedly chanted pro-Pakistan slogans before the mini Vidhan Soudha at Kundapur in Karnataka’s Udupi district. Last month, the police arrested a school principal and a parent in Bidar, Karnataka, for an allegedly seditious and inflammatory play against the Citizenship (Amendment) […]
CAUGHT IN A BUREAUCRATIC WEB
Why in news? The Gauhati High Court declared Sahijuddin a foreigner on November 13, 2015. He had appealed to the High Court against an ex-parte order of the Foreigners Tribunal in Kokrajhar declaring him a foreigner. Mr. Sahijuddin was too poor to afford the services of a lawyer and was not represented before the Tribunal. […]
THE CURRENT STATE OF COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM IN INDIA
Why in news? Amid the growing rhetoric of strengthening cooperative federalism in India, it is useful to pause from time to time and review the actual progress. The ongoing budget season is the right time to carry out a realistic assessment. Details about budget picture: In her budget speech, Union finance minister highlighted the need […]
A BLOW AGAINST SOCIAL JUSTICE
Why in news? The recent verdict of a two-judge Supreme Court Bench on reservations and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes promotions — “that no individual could claim reservation in promotions and that the court could not issue a mandamus directing State governments to provide reservation”. Details: This judgement has mainly raised four constitutional questions: Whether […]
A BIG, BAD DEAL
Why in news? The deal signed between the U.S. and the Taliban in Doha on 29th February 2020 sets the stage for America to wind down the longest war in its history. The Afghan war is estimated to have cost $2-trillion, with more than 3,500 American and coalition soldiers killed. Afghanistan lost hundreds of thousands of people, […]
A PLURAL LEGACY MORE VITAL THAN EVER
To ensure good health by 2023, focus on agriculture, sanitation, women education: Why in news? President Donald Trump applauded India’s achievements in his February 24. These achievements ranged from religious freedom to reducing poverty to becoming an emerging giant economy. Facts about Poverty reduction: The World Bank’s estimates of extreme poverty — measured as $1.9/per […]
NPR 2020 SKIDS
Why in news? On February 25 2020, the Bihar Assembly passed a unanimous resolution stating that there is no need for a National Register of Citizens in the State and that the implementation of the National Population Register (NPR) would be done strictly according to the 2010 format. What is the National Population Register (NPR)? […]
CEASE THE DISTRACTIONS, SEIZE THE MOMENT
Why in news? The government has issued two ordinances, Parliament has modified its rules to reduce the salary and allowances of Members of Parliament and Ministers, and the Union Cabinet has decided to cancel the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for two years. These measures are purportedly to save costs as the […]
END THE HARASSMENT OF FARMERS NOW
Why in news? An order dated March 28 said all agricultural, horticultural activities and those relating to harvesting, transportation, procurement, mandis, farming operations and the like are exempted from the lockdown. The order was made so that “harvesting would continue uninterrupted”. The exempted categories included “agencies engaged in procurement of agriculture products, including MSP operations; […]
AMBEDKAR AND THE POONA PACT
Introduction to Poona Pact In late September 1932, B.R. Ambedkar negotiated the Poona Pact with Mahatma Gandhi. The background to the Poona Pact was the Communal Award of August 1932, which, among other things, reserved 71 seats in the central legislature for the depressed classes. Gandhi, who was opposed to the Communal Award, saw it […]