- Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s 125th birth anniversary
- Same Sex Marriage
- The High Cost of Cheap Water
- UNICEF’s Passport to Earning Initiative
- Sugar Industry in India
- White Phosphorus Bomb
- Sinking Islands of India
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s 125th birth anniversary
Context:
- As we commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a prominent figure in India’s history, it is important to delve into his multifaceted legacy.
- Sir Syed Ahmed Khan is renowned for his pioneering efforts in the realm of educational reform among Muslims, but his stance on women’s education remains a subject of debate, especially in light of the recent passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The Complex Legacy of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
- Sir Syed’s Conflicting Views:
- Although Sir Syed demonstrated a clear affinity for liberal values and rationality, notably through the establishment of the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh in 1875, his perspectives on women’s education leaned more toward conservatism.
- He advocated for a model of education centered around home tutoring for women, emphasizing their familial roles, and was concerned that formal education might hinder their primary purpose, which he saw as marriage.
- Endorsement of Gender Segregation:
- It is worth noting that Sir Syed supported gender segregation in education and resisted British government initiatives to establish co-educational schools and girls’ exclusive institutions.
- He even considered coeducation a significant source of public unrest during colonial rule, reflecting the prevailing societal disapproval of women’s education.
Sir Syed’s Advocacy for Women’s Empowerment
- Championing Against Regressive Practices:
- Sir Syed was an active advocate against various regressive practices that adversely affected the lives of Indian women.
- He utilized platforms such as the Aligarh Institute Gazette to address issues like female infanticide, polygamy, child marriage, sati (the practice of widow self-immolation), the segregation of widows, and poverty-induced marriages of young girls to older men.
- Support for Mary Carpenter’s Initiatives:
- Sir Syed warmly welcomed and admired the efforts of Mary Carpenter, a British philanthropist dedicated to promoting female education.
- Carpenter’s commitment to providing modern education to Indian women left a positive impression on him.
- This support showcased Sir Syed’s acknowledgment of the significance of education in empowering women and enabling their fuller participation in public life.
Reevaluation Through a European Lens
- Sir Syed’s journey to England in 1869-70 had a transformative impact on his views regarding women’s education.
- His interactions with European women and his observations about their roles in society prompted him to partially revise his stance.
- He began to appreciate the principles of gender equality and the indispensable role of women in societal progress.
- He admired the freedoms enjoyed by women in Europe and believed that the rejection of women’s education among Muslims had played a part in the community’s decline.
Conclusion
- While Sir Syed Ahmed Khan never completely abandoned his initial preference for home-based education for women, his exposure to Western ideals undeniably influenced a notable shift in his perspective.
As we reflect on his contributions, it is imperative to consider him as a reformer caught in the intricate interplay between tradition and modernity.
Same Sex Marriage
Context:
- The recent decision by the Supreme Court of India not to sanction same-sex marriages represents a significant setback for LGBTQ rights.
- The Chief Justice of India (CJI) asserted that it falls beyond the court’s purview to rule on this matter and suggested that the responsibility of shaping marriage laws rests with the parliament.
- Demand for Same-Sex Marriage Advocates are calling for a reinterpretation of the Special Marriage Act (SMA) from 1954, proposing the replacement of “man and woman” with “spouses” to include LGBTQIA+ couples.
- Such marriage equality not only signifies the principle of fairness but also grants access to various legal benefits, encompassing insurance, adoption, and inheritance.
- Petitioners’ Requests Summary of Arguments Constitutional Foundation Advocates contend that the right to marry for non-heterosexual couples is implicit in multiple constitutional provisions, including Articles 14, 15, 16, 19, and 21.
- Precedent from Past Landmark Cases They cited key Supreme Court judgments such as ‘Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union of India’ (2018) and ‘KS Puttaswamy vs. Union of India’ (2017) to support their case.
Benefits and Rights
- They emphasises the significance of equal access to marriage-related benefits and rights, such as pensions and provident funds.
- Minimum Marriageable Age They suggested varying minimum marriageable ages for lesbian, gay, and transgender couples based on gender identity.
- Recognition of Fundamental Rights They referenced the Transgender Persons Protection Act, 2019, as a precedent acknowledging the right to marry for all queer identities.
Counterarguments from Respondents Summary of Arguments
- Maintainability and Jurisdiction: Opponents raised questions about the court’s authority to adjudicate the case and expressed concerns about the suitability of the petitions.
- Impact on Existing Laws: They argued that introducing marriage equality would affect 160 existing laws, making it the prerogative of Parliament to enact such changes.
- SMA Character and Intent: They stressed that the Special Marriage Act (SMA) was deliberately formulated for heterosexual marriages, and altering its essence and intent would necessitate legislative action.
- Legitimate State Interest: They contended that the State has a legitimate interest in regulating marriages, addressing aspects such as age of consent, bigamy, and prohibited degrees of marriage.
- Welfare of Children They advocated prioritizing the welfare of children born to heterosexual parents, resulting in differential treatment between heterosexual and homosexual couples.
- Public Perception They voiced concerns about societal acceptance and the potential unintended consequences for various legal provisions if same-sex marriage were declared a fundamental right.
- Responses from Various States Rajasthan, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh opposed the plea for legal recognition of same-sex marriages. Sikkim, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Manipur requested additional time to formulate their responses.
- Additionally, several fundamentalist religious organizations are against such marriages.
Conclusion
It is worth noting that in Asia, only Taiwan and Nepal currently permit same-sex unions. These regions still largely adhere to conservative values, which play a crucial role in politics and society.
The Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality in India is expected to have a profound impact on the LGBTQIA+ rights landscape in the country.
The High Cost of Cheap Water
Context:
In the context of the World Food Day, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) released a report titled “The High Cost of Cheap Water” on October 16.
This report unveiled several key findings:
- The global water crisis presents a significant threat, estimated at $58 trillion, equivalent to 60% of the global GDP.
- Water and freshwater ecosystems provide substantial economic benefits, with additional, unquantified advantages estimated at approximately $50 trillion annually.
- The degradation of rivers, lakes, wetlands, and aquifers jeopardizes their economic value and their crucial roles in supporting food security and human health.
- Unsustainable agricultural practices, including excessive water usage and encroachment on floodplains, are the primary threats to water resources.
- Agriculture is responsible for over 70% of the world’s freshwater consumption.
- The loss of wetlands and an 83% decline in freshwater wildlife populations contribute to water shortages and food insecurity.
- Protecting and restoring rivers and floodplains, adopting sustainable land use practices, and embracing sustainability in the food industry are essential for ensuring food security.
- Healthy water ecosystems play a crucial role in climate adaptation by mitigating floods, enhancing resilience to droughts, and sustaining deltas.
The report also highlights a Groundwater Crisis in India:
- In November 2020, 33% of wells monitored by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) experienced water level declines of 0-2 meters compared to the previous decade’s average (2010-2019).
2.Several major metropolitan cities have witnessed significant declines in their water tables over the years, including
- Kolkata (7 to 20 meters drop since 2000),
- Ghaziabad (12 meters decrease since 2016),
- Gurgaon (5 meters reduction since 2018), Noida (17 meters decline since 2016),
- Greater Noida (6 meters decrease since 2016), and
- Delhi (annual water table decline of 0.5 to 2 meters).
- India is the largest global user of groundwater, accounting for a quarter of worldwide groundwater extraction.
- Approximately 48% of the water supply in Indian cities relies on groundwater.
- India’s urban population, currently around 400 million, is expected to grow by up to 300 million by 2050.
- Unregulated groundwater usage and population growth may result in seasonal water shortages for 3.1 billion people and ongoing water scarcities for nearly a billion individuals by 2050.
- This situation could threaten both water and food security and contribute to urban poverty, even with ongoing infrastructure development.
Regarding the WWF:
- The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), originally known as the World Wildlife Fund and retaining that name in Canada and the United States, was established in 1961.
- WWF is a prominent international non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to preserving wilderness and reducing human impact on the environment.
- As the world’s largest conservation organization, WWF has a vast global support base, with over five million individuals.
- Operating in more than 100 countries, WWF actively supports approximately 3,000 environmental and conservation projects worldwide.
- WWF demonstrates its commitment to conservation through substantial investments, having allocated over $1 billion to support 12,000 conservation initiatives since 1995.
6. In 2020, WWF’s funding sources included 65% from individuals and bequests, 17% from government entities such as the World Bank, DFID, and USAID, and 8% from corporate contributions.
UNICEF’s Passport to Earning Initiative
Context:
- In an event held on October 11, 2023, the Department of School Education & Literacy organized an online program to celebrate a significant achievement in the Passport to Earning (P2E) Program.
- This initiative, under UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited Partnership program, operates as a digital platform.
- It is dedicated to providing free, certified, high-quality skills training tailored for individuals aged 15 to 24, preparing them for job opportunities.
About UNICEF’s Passport to Earning (P2E) Initiative
- The P2E Program leverages the Microsoft Community Training platform and offers digitized content sourced from various public and private sector collaborators.
- This platform caters to online and offline digital curricula and supplementary materials curated at the national level.
- During its initial three years, the P2E initiative seeks to equip 10 million young individuals with skills and facilitate job placements for 10,000 young people, with a special focus on engaging at least 50% young women in these endeavors.
- The certifications obtained through this platform can be invaluable in supporting future employment and entrepreneurial pursuits.
- The P2E mission is geared towards maximizing its impact on young people, particularly those who are most disadvantaged.
- This involves bolstering government capabilities to provide sustainable skilling and employment pathways in the digital economy, granting access to job-relevant skilling platforms, state-of-the-art curriculum, certifications, and ultimately employment opportunities.
Indian Context:
- In the Indian context, the P2E initiative provides free access to certificate courses in areas such as digital productivity, financial literacy, employability skills, and other in-demand job-ready skills.
- It also accommodates various learning models, including online, hybrid, and offline options.
- The P2E’s ambitious goal in India is to deliver long-term, sustainable skilling to 5 million youths aged 14 to 29 by the year 2024, subsequently connecting them to opportunities in jobs, self-employment, and entrepreneurship, thereby fostering financial independence.
- Remarkably, the Passport to Earning initiative in India has successfully equipped and certified over one million young individuals in the domains of financial literacy and digital productivity.
It is worth noting that 62% of the beneficiaries of P2E courses in India are adolescent girls and young women, indicating substantial contributions towards gender equity.
Sugar Industry in India
Context:
- In the current situation, there is a possibility that the government may consider imposing restrictions on the trading of sugar stocks if there is a failure to disclose inventory.
Sugar Industry in India
- The sugar industry in India relies heavily on sugarcane as its primary raw material, which is both bulky, of relatively low value, prone to weight loss, and perishable.
- India holds the second position globally in sugar production but takes the lead in gur and khandsari production.
- It’s important to note that sugarcane cannot be preserved indefinitely due to sucrose content degradation.
- In the 2017/2018 season, India, a significant player in the global sugar market, produced a whopping 33 million metric tonnes of sugar.
- Currently, India is experiencing a record-high sugar production and is poised to surpass Brazil as the world’s leading sugar producer.
Sugarcane
- Sugarcane thrives within an ideal temperature range of 21-27°C, in hot and humid climates.
- It requires approximately 75-100 cm of annual precipitation in terms of rainfall.
- Sugarcane prospers in deep, nutrient-rich loamy soil and is primarily grown in the top sugarcane-producing states, such as Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.
- Sugarcane cultivation is feasible on various soil types, including sandy loam and clay loam, provided they have proper drainage.
Sugarcane serves as the primary source for the production of sugar, Gur (jaggery), khandsari, and molasses.
White Phosphorus Bomb
Context
- In recent reports, allegations have surfaced accusing the Israeli military of utilizing white phosphorus bombs against the civilian population in Gaza.
- These munitions, which are a blend of white phosphorus and rubber, possess distinctive properties.
- White phosphorus appears as a wax-like substance, typically pale yellow or colorless, and is known for emitting a noxious odor resembling that of rotting garlic.
About:
- These bombs attain a high temperature of 800 °C and can spontaneously ignite when exposed to oxygen, reaching temperatures of up to 1,300 °C.
- Their extremely flammable nature causes them to ignite rapidly upon contact with air.
Extinguishing white phosphorus once it’s ignited proves challenging due to its adhesive nature, making it cling to various surfaces, including skin and clothing. In fact, attempts to remove it often result in reignition.
- White phosphorus munitions find application in armed forces worldwide, serving multiple purposes such as illuminating targets at night and causing harm to adversaries.
- Although international law does not explicitly prohibit their use, strict regulations govern their deployment due to the incendiary effects they produce.
Sinking Islands of India
News: NGT’s Call for Integrating Expert Panel Recommendations into Island Management Plans
Context: In this context, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) takes a significant step to address the challenges faced by Indian islands, urging the Coastal Zone Management Authorities (CZMAs) to incorporate expert panel recommendations into Integrated Island Management Plans (IIMPs).
NGT’s Directive on Expert Panel Recommendations
- The Principal Bench of the tribunal issues a directive to consider and implement the suggestions provided in the expert panel’s report in the preparation and amendment of IIMPs, emphasizing island-specific sustainable development and climate-resilient tourism policies.
Island Vulnerabilities in India
This section delves into the specific challenges faced by various Indian islands, highlighting the threats posed by unseasonal cyclonic storms, coastal erosion, and development projects.
Key examples include:
- Lakshadweep: An Island at Risk
An overview of the fragility of Lakshadweep, with a focus on its land area, population, and concerns related to the water villa project and sea level rise.
- Vaan Island: A Tale of Erosion
Examining the near-disappearance of Vaan Island from the map and the efforts to reverse the damage caused by coral mining.
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Geological Challenges
Discussing geological changes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including the sinking of the Indira Point lighthouse and the loss of mangrove cover.
- Ghoramara: Battling Coastal Erosion
An exploration of Ghoramara Island in West Bengal, where betel leaf cultivation and land loss due to cyclones are prominent concerns.
- Majuli Island: Shrinking Geographical Area
An analysis of Majuli’s reduction in geographical area, primarily caused by riverine erosion and embankments on the Brahmaputra River’s southern bank, impacting agriculture and fishing.
- Munroe Thuruthu: Steady Deterioration
A look at the challenges faced by Munroe Thuruthu Island in Kerala, including tidal flooding, ground subsidence, and environmental factors affecting soil fertility and groundwater quality.
