The gender technology gap has to end
Context: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has swept South Asia in recent months, existing inequalities have come to light. One aspect stands out: access to technology has never been so crucial to ensuring public health and safety. Around the world, information and access to health care have largely moved online, and those […]
Looking beyond the binary to a spectrum on same sex marriage
Context: Recently, when the cases surrounding the question of same-sex marriages came up before the High Court of Delhi, the Union Government had the matter adjourned and overlooked the basic notion that the plight of persons in same-sex and queer relationships looking after each other — without the legal protection of marital relationships — was […]
NGT notice for rehabilitating displaced Brus
Context: The Eastern Zonal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought response from the Tripura Forest Department and the North Tripura district administration on a public complaint regarding the state government’s move to resettle over 40,000 displaced Brus of western Mizoram in the reserved forest. The NGT asked the state to submit the […]
Dowry deaths: SC widens scope of Section 304-B
Context: The Supreme Court indicated in a judgment that a straitjacket and literal interpretation of a penal provision on dowry death may have blunted the battle against the “long-standing social evil”. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice (Issues related to women, Government Policies and Initiatives) Dimensions of the Article: Dowry system in India Defining Dowry Dowry Prohibition […]
Social Justice Ministry: Financial aid to transgender people
Context: The Social Justice Ministry would give transgender persons a one-time financial assistance of ₹1,500 at a time that livelihoods have been affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Immediate subsistence assistance to trans persons would be given through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), for which beneficiaries can register with the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD). […]
Covid-19: Vulnerable tribes infected
Context: Many members of eight different Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) got infected in the second wave of Covid-19 in Odisha. The infected PVTGs include the Bonda tribe of Malkangiri hills and Dongaria Kondh tribe of Niyamgiri hills. Relevance: GS-I: Indian Society, GS-II: Social Justice (Health related issues) Dimensions of the Article: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal […]
Activists in Karnataka on Child Marriages in Lockdown
Context: Some activists and organisations of Karnataka have raised the issue of increased child marriages in Lockdown with the Ministry of Women and Child Development. According to a report published in December 2020 by ChildLine India, the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have proved to be new drivers of child marriages in rural Madhya Pradesh. […]
China’s population growth lowest rate in decades
Context: The seventh census released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Beijing, noted 12 million babies were born in 2020, the lowest number since 1961. Relevance: GS-I: Indian Society (Population and Associated Issues) Dimensions of the Article: About the recent census and trend in China’s Population About the Problem of China’s dropping Population […]
Maharashtra’s 2-child norm for govt. employees
Context: A circular issued by the Maharashtra Home Department recently stated that an internal inquiry had revealed that an officer suppressed the information that she had three children prior to her joining the department in 2012. The Maharashtra Civil Services (Declaration of Small Family) Rule of 2005 defines a small family as wife, husband and […]
Indian ads further gender stereotypes
Context: “Gender Bias and Inclusion In Advertising In India” report was recently released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media (GDI). Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice (Issues Related to Women), GS-I: Indian Society Dimensions of the Article: Gender Equality in India Highlights of the report Way forwards […]