Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

 

KANISHKBIOSCIENCE E -LEARNING PLATFORM - Help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event.  Also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically.

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Pratihara style of architecture:

Context:

A rare late ninth century stone statue of Lord Shiva, which was stolen from a temple in Rajasthan and smuggled to the UK, will be returned to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

 Key facts:

  1  The stone Nataraj/Natesha murti, in “chatura pose with jatamakuta and trinetra” and almost four-feet-tall, is a rare depiction of Lord Shiva in the Prathihara style.
  2  It is a rare sandstone idol.
  3  It is originally from the Ghateswara Temple at Baroli, Rajasthan.

Pratihara empire:

The Gurjara-Pratiharas, also known as the Pratihara Empire, ruled much of Northern India from the mid-7th to the 11th century.

They were instrumental in containing Arab armies moving east of the Indus River.

Nagabhata I defeated the Arab army under Junaid and Tamin during the Caliphate campaigns in India.

Architecture:

Gurjara-Pratihara are known for their sculptures, carved panels and open pavilion style temples.

The greatest development of their style of temple building was at Khajuraho, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Prelims Link:

 1   About Pratiharas- timeline, regions they ruled and important rulers.
 2   Pratihara architecture- key features.
 3   About Archaeological Survey of India.
 4   Khajuraho temples.
 5    What is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Sources: the Hindu.

1. Population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

2. Effects of globalization on Indian society.

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons:

Celebrated on July 30.

Designated by UN in 2013.

This year’s theme focuses on first responders to human trafficking.

Who are first responders?

These are the people who work in different sectors – identifying, supporting, counselling and seeking justice for victims of trafficking, and challenging the impunity of the traffickers.

1    During the COVID-19 crisis, the essential role of first responders has become even more important, particularly as the restrictions imposed by the pandemic have made their work even more difficult. Still, their contribution is often overlooked and unrecognized.

Key facts:

1    People are trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour, forced begging, forced marriage; for selling children and as child soldiers, as well as for removal of organs;
2    Women make up 49% and girls 23% of all victims of trafficking;
    Sexual exploitation is the most common form of exploitation (59% share) followed by forced labour (34% share);
3    Most victims are trafficked within their countries’ borders – those trafficked abroad are moved to the richest countries.

Blue Heart Campaign of UN:

 It has been initiated by the UN  to raise global awareness to fight human trafficking and its impact on society.

It aims to encourage the involvement of the governments, civil society, the corporate sector and individuals to inspire action and help prevent this heinous crime.

It allows people to show their solidarity with the victims of human traffickingand increasing their visibility by wearing the Blue Heart.

What are the constitutional & legislative provisions related to Trafficking in India?

1    Trafficking in Human Beings or Persons is prohibited under the Constitution of India under Article 23 (1).
2    The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA)is the premier legislation for prevention of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.
3    Criminal Law (amendment) Act 2013 has come into force wherein Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code has been substituted with Section 370 and 370A IPC which provide for comprehensive measures to counter the menace of human trafficking.
4    Protection of Children from Sexual offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 is a special law to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.



Prelims Link:

1    Section 370 and 370A of the IPC are related to?
2    Article 23(1) of the constitution.
3    Blue Heart campaign of the UN is related to?
4    Who are first responders?
5    About World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

Mains Link:

What are the constitutional & legislative provisions related to Trafficking in India? Discuss.

Sources: UN.

Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

Merger of political parties under 10th schedule:

Context:

The Rajasthan High Court has issued notices to the speaker and secretary of the state legislative assembly and six MLAs, who contested elections on BSP tickets and then defected to the Congress.

What’s the issue?

The BSP won six seats in Rajasthan but all its MLAs joined the Congress in September last year.

But, now at the national level, BSP is arguing that a state unit of a national party cannot be merged without the party being merged at the national level.

Besides, BSP national secretary has also issued a whip to 6 MLAs telling them to vote against the Congress in case there is a floor test.

On what grounds is BSP’s case based?

BSP’s contention is that the merger is illegal and unconstitutional because for a national party, such merger has to take place at the national level.

Supporting Supreme Court judgments:

    2006 ruling in Jagjit Singh v State of Haryana:

In this case, the Court upheld the Speaker’s decisions disqualifying 4 MLAs from single- member parties who had joined the congress.

    2007 ruling in Rajendra Singh Rana And Ors vs Swami Prasad Maurya:

37 MLAs — one-third of the BSP strength — “split” from the party after its government fell, to support SP. The SC ruled that the split cannot be recognised primarily because not all these MLAs split at once.

But, why these judgments cannot be relevant today?

The key aspect is that these cases deal with splits where when one-third of the members of a legislative party splits; they could not attract disqualification as per Paragraph 3 of the Tenth Schedule.

    However, in 2003, through the 91st Constitutional Amendment, Paragraph 3 was deleted from the Tenth Schedule.
    The amendment was made as the one-third split rule was grossly misused by parties to engineer divisions and indulge in horse-trading.
    One-third was regarded as an easy target to achieve and the law now exempts defection only when it is at two-thirds (in a merger).

Firstly, is “merger” allowed under the constitution?

The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution prohibits defection to protect the stability of governments but does not prohibit mergers.

    Paragraph 4(2) of the Tenth Schedule, dealing with mergers, says that only when two-thirds of the members agree to “merge” the party would they be exempt from disqualification.

The “merger” referred to in Paragraph 4(2) is seen as legal fiction, where members are deemed to have merged for the purposes of being exempt from disqualification, rather than a merger in the true sense.

Can a state unit of a national party be merged without the party being merged at the national level?

Tenth Schedule identifies this dichotomy between state units and national units.

As per Paragraph 4(2), “merger” of a party means merger of a legislative party of that House.

    In Rajasthan’s case, it would be the Rajasthan Legislative unit of the BSP and not the BSP at the national level.

What about the whip?

The whip issued by BSP national general secretary to the six MLAs would have no impact because such a direction has to necessarily be issued for voting on the floor of the House.

    A national leader’s direction cannot be considered a whip in the context of the anti-defection law.

Insta Concepts:

Anti-defection law lists situations for disqualification on the ground of defection:

    If an MP or an MLA “has voluntarily given up his membership of such political party” [clause 2(1)(a)], or
    If he/she votes or abstains from voting in the house contrary to any direction issued by his party, that is if he violates the party whip in the house [clause 2(1)(b)].
    If an independent candidate joins a political party after the election.
    If a nominated member joins a party six months after he becomes a member of the legislature.
Prelims Link:

    Decision of presiding officer vs Judicial review.
    Merger vs Split of political parties.
    Is anti- defection law applicable to the presiding officer?
    Relevant Supreme Court cases and verdicts.
    Disqualification on the ground of defection.

Mains Link:

Examine the provisions of Anti- defection law. Has this law largely failed to meet its objective? Discuss.

 Prelims Link:

1    Decision of presiding officer vs Judicial review.
2    Merger vs Split of political parties.
3    Is anti- defection law applicable to the presiding officer?
4    Relevant Supreme Court cases and verdicts.
5    Disqualification on the ground of defection.

Mains Link:

Examine the provisions of Anti- defection law. Has this law largely failed to meet its objective? Discuss.

Sources: Indian Express.

 Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.

Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI):

A report on slavery was recently released by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) and an international anti-slavery organisation Walk Free on the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

Key findings:

1    Commonwealth countries account for about 40% of people living in conditions of modern slavery in the world.
2    Commonwealth nations are lacking in actions to eradicate modern slavery by 2030.
    There is an estimated one in every 150 people in the Commonwealth living in conditions of modern slavery.
3    One-third of the Commonwealth countries had criminalised forced marriage, while 23 had not criminalised commercial sexual exploitation of children.
4    Out of 54 countries, only four engage with business to investigate supply chains, and all countries report gaps in victim assistance programs.

India- specific findings:

1    India has fared the worst in terms of coordination, “with no national coordinating body or National Action Plan in place”.
2    India had not ratified the International Labour Organisation’s 2011 Domestic Workers Convention or the 2014 Forced Labour Protocol.
3    India accounted for one-third of all child brides in the world.
4    Despite being the largest country in the region, India has the weakest response on national coordination, with no national coordinating body or National Action Plan in place.

About the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI):

1, It is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, international non-governmental organisation working in the area of human rights.

2, In 1987, several Commonwealth professional associations founded CHRI, since there was little focus on human rights within the association of 53 nations although the Commonwealth provided member countries the basis of shared common legal system.

    Roles and functions: CHRI promotes adherence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Commonwealth Harare Principles and other internationally recognised human rights instruments, including domestic legislation supporting human rights in Commonwealth countries.
    It is headquartered in New Delhi, India.

 Prelims Link:

 1    Commonwealth- composition and objectives.
 2    About CHRI- establishment and objectives.
 3    Headquarters of CHRI.
 4   About forced labour convention.

Mains Link:

What is modern slavery? How the countries worldwide are fighting it? Discuss.

Sources: the Hindu.

{ With input from news agency language)

 

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