Prelim Bits 12-02-2024 | UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Polygamy in India

Recently, Uttarakhand government has passed Uniform Civil Code bill and bans polygamy.

• Polygamy – It is the practice of having more than one married spouse (wife or husband).

The last major Indian government study on polygamy was conducted in 1974, which had found that Buddhists, Jains and Hindus had higher rates of polygamy than Muslims.

• Census 2011 – There are 28.65 crore married men in India, compared to 29.3 crore married women whose difference can be either due to incidence of polygamy or by men going abroad.
• In absolute value, it is high among Hindus followed by Muslims while in % of population to the total population, Muslims lead followed by Christians.
• NFHS – It asks women a more direct question regarding polygamy and found to be highest among Christians followed by Muslims.
• Overall, Scheduled Tribes reported the highest incidence at 2.4%.
• IIPS Study – International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS) analysed data from the NFHS-3, NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 in 2022.
• It showed that polygynous marriages (1 man married to more than 1 woman at a time) have decreased from NFHS-3 to NFHS-5, among the whole population.
• The sharpest dip is among Buddhists.

• Limitations – Census does not directly collect data, and the most recent census was held in 2011, more than a decade back.
• Unlike the census, NFHS does not look at the whole population, NFHS-5 (2019-21) sampled approximately 6.1 lakh households, less than 1% of the total number of households in India.

The State of Goa has its own Uniform Civil Code which allows bigamy of Hindu man under specific circumstances mentioned in their code.

References

The Indian Express| Uttarakhand bans Polygamy

Contributions of Charan Singh

Former Indian Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh (1902-87) has been conferred the Bharat Ratna in 2024.

Charan Singh was Uttar Pradesh’s 1^st non-Congress chief minister, and went on to become Prime Minister of India in 1979. He remains 1 of only 2 CMs of UP, alongside V P Singh, who became PM.

• A Jat leader - Today, the politically powerful Jats have nearly 40 Lok Sabha seats and around 160 Assembly seats, spread across UP, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.
• He remains UP’s only Jat CM ever.
• Champion of peasants – Even before independence, he was building up a political position against the exploitation of peasants by big landlords.
• As a Minister in Uttar Pradesh 1^st Cabinet after independence, he was instrumental in the implementation of historic legislation for zamindari abolition and land ceiling.
• He not only proposed 60% reservations for farmers’ children in public employment.
• Thus championed for North Indian farmer communities such as Jats, Yadavs, Gujjars, and Kurmis, as well as Muslims.
• Boosted village economy – He was pivotal in 3 major legislation that transformed the agricultural economy of UP.
  • UP Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 (ZALR)
  • UP Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953.
  • UP Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1960
• It helped in creating a socially and politically empowered middle peasantry who saw their economic fortunes rise as well with the Green Revolution.

Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian Award in India was instituted in 1954, in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.

References

1. The Indian Express| Bharat Ratna to Charan Singh
2. The Indian Express| Contributions of Charan Singh

Kokborok Language

The recent announcement of Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) President that ‘students taking the Kokborok exam will be permitted to use the Bengali script alone’ sparked controversy in the state.

• Native Speakers – Borok people or Tripuris.
• It is spoken by 9 sub-tribe or clan of Borok community namely Debbarma, Reang, Jamatias, Tripura, Noatia, Kalai, Murasing, Rupini, Uchai.

According to 2011 census the total population of Kokborok is 8, 80,537 (23.97% of total population).

• Lingua franca – For Tripura’s 19 tribal communities.
• Language family – Tibeto-Burman, also has close affinity with other language family like Bodo, Garo, Dimasa etc.
• Written form – It started in 1897 as Doulot  Ahammad  a muslim scholar wrote the 1^st Kokborok Grammar ‘Kokboroma And Tripura – Vyakaran Grammer’.
• Recognition – As the state language of Tripura in 1979.

Kokborok Grammar book “KOKBOROKMA” written by Radha Mohan Thakur in 1900 was recognized and observed by the state as 1^st ever Kokborok publication.

• The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) has declared the Kokborok as official language in 1999.
• Language of instruction – In 1981, it was introduced as a medium of instruction at primary level.
• Presently, it is being taught as language subject in schools.
  • In 1244 elementary schools, 114 Madhyamik schools and in 59 Higher Secondary (+2stage) schools.
• As elective subject for UG degree in 2012 and in post graduate degree at Tripura (central) University in 2015.

References

1. The Indian Express| Kokborok Language Controversy in Tripura
2. Tripura.Gov.In| Kokborok Language
3. TTAADC| The Borok or Tripuris

Foreign law firms in India

Recently, Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Bar Council of India (BCI) and Law Ministry to respond to petition filed against BCI notification allowing foreign lawyers and firms to practice in India.

• Case Basis – The petition was filed questioning the authority of BCI in changing the rules pertaining to Advocates Act and overriding 2018 Supreme Court order.

In the case of Bar Council of India vs A.K. Balaji in 2018, Supreme Court judgment forbade foreign law firms or foreign lawyers from practising in litigation or non-litigation in India.

• 2023 BCI Rules – It allows foreign lawyers and law firms to register with BCI to practice in India if they are entitled to practice law in their home countries.

According to the Advocates Act 1961, advocates enrolled with the Bar Council alone are entitled to practise law in India.

• They shall be allowed to practice only non-litigious practice.
• Foreign Lawyers – Lawyers who are registered outside India for practising law in that country and not registered with Indian Bar.
• Foreign Law firms – The firms that are based outside India.

References

1. The Hindu| Delhi HC notice to BCI
2. Bar Council of India| Background of BCI

World Peace Summit

The 2024 World Peace Summit to be held in February 10 and 11 in Thiruvananthapuram as part of the United Nations Religious Harmony Week.

World Interfaith Harmony Week is celebrated on February 1-7 each year as designated by the United Nations (UN). It was launched in 2011 to promote inter-faith harmony among people at a time when interreligious conflict is claiming lives and livelihoods all over the world.

• It is a 2-day event.
• Aim – To promote interfaith harmony and world peace and to discuss about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
• Theme – Unity, Power of Peace and Redefining Sustainable Development of Humanity.
• Organised under
  • United Religious Initiative (URI) South India Region
  • World Yoga Community New York
  • Interfaith Dialogue for Sustainable Development Goals (IRD4SDG)
  • Santhigiri Ashram
  • University of Madras and Cosmic Community Centre.
• Activities – Presentations, panel discussions and various cultural programs will be held.

The International Day of Peace is celebrated annually on 21^st September. Established by the United Nations, this day epitomises our joint aspiration for a world devoid of discord and turmoil.

Reference

The Hindu| World Peace Summit 2024