UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 27th November 2022 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Context

Odisha’s Kutia Kondh tribe worship and exchange millet seeds in a celebration during Burlang Yatra festival.

About Kutia Kondh Tribe/ Tribes of Kalahandi:

• Kutia Kondha is one of the primitive sections of Kondha tribe.
• The Kondha’s who live in hill top and valleys are known as Kutia Kondha.
  • Whereas those who live in high land and near the streams are called Dongria Kondha and kondhas who are residing in plain area are known as Desia kondh.
• Kutia kondh are mostly dependent on shifting cultivation, cultivation of minor agriculture products and collection of NTFP.
• The Kutia kondhs are residing mostly in Langigarh,Th.rampur,M.Rampur and Bhawanipatna block of Kalahandi.
• They practice shifting cultivation, cultivating varieties of crop and during lean period collecting food stuffs from the forest.
  • Minor forest products also fetch them cash income.
• The social organization is very strong and unified. The family is mostly nuclear and patriarchal in character. Social unity and co-operation is remarkable. Women play a bigger role in the family economy.
• They are mostly nature worshipper.
• Jani is the fulltime magic religious specialist of the village.
• In the pre-independence era, they were practicing human sacrifice but now a day as substitute buffalo and sheep sacrifice.
• The practice of youth dormitory are though gradually losing its importance but still prevalent among Kutia kondh villages.
• Dhap, Salap Baja are the important musical instruments of Kutia Kondhs.

About Burlang Yatra Movement:

• A movement built around the Burlang Yatra, a traditional festival of the ‘Kutia Kondh tribe’ of Odisha, has involved traditional millet crops in reviving their ancient food palate.
• In collaboration with Millet Network of India (MINI), a forum founded for the promotion of millet, NIRMAN started celebrating the Burlang Yatra on a large scale to increase awareness about millet.
• In the past, millet used to be the staple food for tribals in Odisha. When paddy and other foods reached their doorstep through the public distribution system and the expanding consumer market, tribals started treating millets as subsistence crops that they grew to use or eat for themselves rather than to sell.
• Some millet started to disappear from the tribal food basket.
• In 2017, the Odisha government realized the importance of highly nutritious and climate-resilient millets in tribal society.
  • The Odisha government has also started celebrating ‘Mandia Dibas’ (Millet Day) on November 10 to popularise the crop.

Source: The Hindu

Sangeet Natak Akademi

Context

The Sangeet Natak Akademi has bestowed special one-time awards commemorating 75 years of India’s independence on 86 artistes, apart from selecting 128 performing artistes from various fields for its regular annual awards for the years 2019-21.

About Sangeet Natak Akademi:

• Sangeet Natak Akademi, the apex body in the field of performing arts in the country, was set up in 1953 for the preservation and promotion of the vast intangible heritage of India’s diverse culture expressed in forms of music, dance and drama.
• The management of the Akademi vests in its General Council. The Chairman of the Akademi is appointed by the President of India for a term of five years.
• The functions of the Akademi are set down in the Akademi’s Memorandum of Association, adopted at its registration as a society on 11 September 1961.
• The registered office of the Akademi is at Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi.
• Sangeet Natak Akademi is an autonomous body of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• Sangeet Natak Akademi now has three constituent units, two of these being dance-teaching institutions: the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA) at Imphal, and Kathak Kendra in Delhi.
  • JNMDA has its origin in the Manipur Dance College established by the Government of India in April 1954.
  • Funded by the Akademi since its inception, it became a constituent unit of the Akademi in 1957.
  • Similarly, Kathak Kendra is one of the leading teaching institutions in Kathak dance. Located in Delhi, it offers courses at various levels in Kathak dance and in vocal music and Pakhawaj.
• Besides the constituent units, the Akademi presently has five centres:
  • Kutiyattam Kendra, Thiruvananthapuram for preserving and promoting the age-old Sanskrit theatre of Kerala, Kutiyattam.
  • Sattriya Kendra, Guwahati for promoting the Sattriya traditions of Assam.
  • North-East Centre, Guwahati for preserving the traditional and folk performing art traditions of north-eastern India.
  • North-East Documentation Centre, Agartala for festival and field documentation in the North-east.
  • Chhau Kendra, Chandankiyari for promoting the Chhau Dances of eastern India,
• The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards are the highest national recognition conferred on practising artists.
• The Akademi also confers Fellowships on eminent artists and scholars of music, dance and drama; and has in 2006 instituted annual awards to young artists – the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar.
• The Akademi’s archive, comprising audio and video tapes, photographs, and films is one of the largest in the country and is extensively drawn upon for research in the performing arts.
• Tagore Ratna and Tagore Puraskar: On the occasion of the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna and Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Puraskar were conferred.

The Sangeet Natak Akademi confers classical status on nine Indian dance forms:

• Bharatanatyam: Tamil Nadu
• Kathak: Northern India
• Kathakali: Kerala
• Kuchipudi: Andhra Pradesh
• Manipuri: Manipur
• Mohiniaattam: Kerala
• Odissi: Odisha
• Sattriya: Assam
• Chhau: Odisha

Source: The Hindu

GS-II

Same-sex Marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954

Context

Recently, the Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre and the Attorney General for India on a plea by two gay couples seeking recognition of same-sex marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.

• As a result of several petitions, a two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud issued the notice.
• The non-recognition of same-sex marriage amounted to discrimination that struck at the root of dignity and self-fulfillment of LGBTQ+ couples.

What are the Arguments of the Petitioners?

• The Act is ultra vires the Constitution to the extent it discriminates between same-sex couples and opposite sex couples, denying same-sex couples both legal rights as well as the social recognition and status that flows from marriage.
• The Special Marriage Act of 1954 ought to apply to a marriage between any two persons, regardless of their gender identity and sexual orientation.
• If not, the Act, in its present form should be declared violative of the fundamental rights to a dignified life and equality as “it does not provide for solemnisation of marriage between same sex couple”.
• The Act should grant same sex couple the same protection it allowed inter-caste and inter-faith couples who want to marry.
• There has been insufficient progress by simply decriminalizing homosexuality; equality must extend to all spheres of life, including the home, the workplace, and public places, for LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Current population of LGBTQ+ are 7% to 8% of the population of the country.

What is the Legality of Same-Sex Marriages in India?

• The right to marry is not expressly recognized either as a fundamental or constitutional right under the Indian Constitution.
• Though marriage is regulated through various statutory enactments, its recognition as a fundamental right has only developed through judicial decisions of India’s Supreme Court. Such declaration of law is binding on all courts throughout India under Article 141 of the Constitution.

What are the Views of Supreme Court on Same Sex Marriages?

• Marriage as a Fundamental Right (Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. and others 2018):
  • While referring to Article 16 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Puttaswamy case, the SC held that the right to marry a person of one’s choice is integral to Article 21 of the Constitution.
  • Article 16 (2) in the Indian constitution provides that there cannot be any discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them.
  • The right to marry is intrinsic to the liberty which the Constitution guarantees as a fundamental right, is the ability of each individual to take decisions on matters central to the pursuit of happiness. Matters of belief and faith, including whether to believe are at the core of constitutional liberty.
• LGBTQ Community Entitled to all Constitutional Rights (Navjet Singh Johar and others v. Union of India 2018):
  • The SC held that members of the LGBTQ community “are entitled, as all other citizens, to the full range of constitutional rights including the liberties protected by the Constitution” and are entitled to equal citizenship and “equal protection of law

What is the Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954?

• About:
  • Marriages in India can be registered under the respective personal laws Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, Muslim Marriage Act, 1954, or under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
  • It is the duty of the Judiciary to ensure that the rights of both the husband and wife are protected.
  • The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is an Act of the Parliament of India with provision for civil marriage for people of India and all Indian nationals in foreign countries, irrespective of religion or faith followed by either party.
  • When a person solemnises marriage under this law, then the marriage is not governed by personal laws but by the Special Marriage Act.
• Features:
  • Allows people from two different religious backgrounds to come together in the bond of marriage.
  • Lays down the procedure for both solemnization and registration of marriage, where either of the husband or wife or both are not Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, or Sikhs.
  • Being a secular Act, it plays a key role in liberating individuals from traditional requirements of marriage.

Way Forward

• The LGTBQ community needs an anti-discrimination law that empowers them to build productive lives and relationships irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation and place the onus to change on state and society and not the individual.
• Once members of the LGBTQ community “are entitled to the full range of constitutional rights”, it is beyond doubt that the fundamental right to marry a person of one’s own choice has to be conferred on same sex couples intending to marry. More than two dozen countries have legalized same-sex marriage.

Source: Indian Express

Context

Recently, the Tamil Nadu government has defended Jallikattu in the Supreme Court stating that the Jallikattu has both religious and cultural significance for the people of Tamil Nadu and its influence is beyond the confines of caste and creed. The State protested that the ban on Jallikattu was perceived as an onslaught against the cultural identity of the people of Tamil Nadu. 

About Jallikattu:

• Jallikattu is a bull taming competitive sport and a tradition over 2,000 years old in part of Tamil Nādu.
• The word ‘Jallikattu’ has evolved from the words ‘Calli’ (coins) and ‘Kattu’ (tie), which denote a bundle of coins tied to the bull’s horns.
• There are references of Jallikattu in Silappatikaram, the great epics of Tamil classical period.
• It is celebrated in the second week of January, during the Tamil harvest festival, Pongal.
• It is popular in Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Theni, Pudukkottai and Dindigul districts of Tamil Nadu known as the Jallikattu belt.
• The most popular Jallikattu is the one celebrated at Alanganallur near Madurai.

History of the event:

• Jallikattu has been known to be practiced during the Tamil classical period (400-100 BC).
• It was common among the Ayyar people who lived in the ‘Mullai’ geographical division of the ancient Tamil country.
• Later, it became a platform for display of bravery and prize money was introduced for participation encouragemen
• A seal from the Indus Valley Civilization depicting the practice is preserved in the National Museum, New Delhi.
• A cave painting in white kaolin discovered near Madurai depicting a lone man trying to control a bull is estimated to be about 1,500 years old.

Timeline of Legal issues of Jallikattu:

• Jallikattu first came under legal scrutiny in early 2000s when the Animal Welfare Board of India and the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) moved petitions in the Supreme Court against Jallikattu as well as bullock cart races.
• In 2011, the Environment Ministry at the Centre issued a notification specifically mentioning ‘bulls’.
• The Jallikattu practice continued to be held because of the Tamil Nadu Regulation Act No. 27 of 2009 even after the 2011 notice.
• The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and PETA filed a petition in the Supreme Court again and contested that –
• The regulations were not being followed and that bulls were indeed being subjected to cruelty as defined under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
• The Supreme Court in its 2014 verdict banned Jallikattu and struck down the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009.
• In January 2016, in what could be seen as a clearly political move, the union environment ministry revoked the ban by issuing a notification months before the elections in Tamil Nadu were due to be held.
  • The Supreme Court stayed this 2016 Union Government notification, as it was challenged by the AWBI and PETA.
• In January 2017, several hundreds of protesters conducted a rally at Chennai Marina opposing the ban on Jallikattu.
  • Tamil Nadu passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act of 2017 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules of 2017.
  • The statutes had re-opened the gates for the conduct of the popular bull-taming sport in the name of culture and tradition despite the 2014 ban by the Supreme Court.
• In the aftermath of Jallikattu comeback due to Tamil Nādu legislation the Supreme Court had referred a bunch of petitions to the Constitution Bench in February 2018.

Arguments against the Jallikattu:

• Ethical issues: An investigation by the Animal Welfare Board of India concluded that “Jallikattu is inherently cruel to animals”.
• Human deaths: The event has caused several human deaths and injuries and there are several instances of fatalities to the bulls.
• Cruelty to animal: A report submitted by the AWBI before the Supreme Court in this case highlighted unimaginable torture inflicted- tails twisted and fractured, chemicals poured into eyes, ears mutilated, sharp edged weapons used to poke the animal.
• Manhandling of animals: Animal welfare concerns are related to the handling of the bulls before they are released and also during the competitor’s attempts to subdue the bull.

Arguments in favour of Jallikattu:

• Cultural Representation: There exists tangible evidence to show that this battle between man and beast is a cultural representation.
• Agrarian Economy: The political economy of such games is about showcasing the quality of cattle, the breeding skills of cattle rearers, the centrality of cattle in an agrarian economy, and the power and pride they bring to farmers.
• Agrarian Culture: Such games are a cultural manifestation of this political economy. As a tradition, it links an agrarian people to the elemental aspect of their vocation.
• Symbol of Tamil Culture: Jallikattu’s linkages with Pongal has lifted it above its regional and community origins and transformed it into a symbol of Tamil culture and pride.
• Shapes Political Discourse: Pride in Tamil culture is central to Dravidian nationalism, which continues to shape the political discourse in Tamil Nadu.

Way Forward:

Although there are systems in place to check treatment of the bulls and ensure safety of participants and spectators, animal cruelty still continues and people continue to lose their lives. There needs to be a comprehensive regulatory framework in place with zero implementation gaps to check treatment of animals and ensure safety of participants and spectators.

Source: The Hindu

Context

Department of Water Resources organised the concluding event of the Young Water Professional Programme in collaboration with Western Sydney University, Australia and the Indian Institute of Technology.

About India Young Water Professional Programme:

• The National Hydrology Project, Department of Water Resources initiated this innovative 11-month-long programme with the objective to build the capacity of Young Water Professionals and provide them with the required knowledge, skills, attitude, and aptitude to offer their best in the country’s water sector by accepting leadership roles and responsibilities.
• This programme focuses on gender equality and diversity.
• The first phase of this Programme selected 20 young officers from the National Hydrology Project’s central and state implementing agencies.
• Progress and Relevance: the Australia India Water Centre brought together eight universities and one state government department from Australia and 16 IITs and key universities of India.
• India and Australia are natural partners and this collaboration to train young water professionals is an important step in the right direction.

Source: NewsOnAir

GS-III

Context

According to sources, the work on India’s first-ever night sky sanctuary in Ladakh will be completed in a month. 

About the Sanctuary:

• It is being set up by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research under Union Ministry of Science & Technology.
• The proposed Dark Sky Reserve will be located at Hanle in Ladakh as a part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary is a high altitude wildlife sanctuary located in the Ladakh adjunct of the Changthang plateau.
• It will boost Astro tourism in India and will be one of the world’s highest-located sites for optical, infra-red, and gamma-ray telescopes.
• Hanle is located in Ladakh’s cold desert region, away from any form of human disturbance with clear sky conditions and dry weather conditions that exist throughout the year.

Source: The Hindu

Context

 In a step forward towards conservation, two Indian turtle species — the red-crowned roofed turtles (Batagur kachuga) and Leith’s soft-shell turtle (Nilssonia leithii) — have made it to the Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

• The decision was made at the ongoing 19th Conference of Parties (COP19) of CITES in Panama City.
• The species were moved from Appendix II to Appendix I which means the species is threatened with extinction.
• Appendix II lists species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction, according to CITES.
• Earlier in 2019 during the 18th CITES plenary meeting in Geneva, Indian star tortoises were added to the Appendix I.

About the Red crowned roofed turtle:

• Red-crowned roofed turtle is native to India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
• It is known to be widely found in the Ganga and Brahmaputra River basins.
• At present in India, the National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary is the only geographic area where the species is found in substantial numbers.

About Leith’s soft shell turtle:

• Leith’s soft-shell turtle inhabits rivers and reservoirs mainly in southern peninsular India, in states like Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
• Its presence is substantial in the Cauvery, Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha, Bhavani, Godavari and Moyar drainages.

Major Threats:

• Major threats for these turtles and other species are increasing loss of habitat due to pollution and unchecked urbanisation.
• Other reasons for habitat loss include water extraction and irrigation, leading to irregular flow of upstream dams and reservoirs.
• Sand mining and agriculture activities along the Ganga are significantly affecting the sandbars, which are safe nesting areas for the species.
• Drowning due to illegal fishing nets, poaching and illegal trade further threaten their existence.

Source: DownToEarth