Author: Explains

GS2 (Constitution)

The 42nd and 44th Constitutional Amendments introduced many changes in our Constitution. What are some of their lasting effects?

References: Standard books such as Laxmikanth, DD Basu, Indian Express

GS1 (Ancient India)

India has witnessed many attempts historically to break down the caste system. Discuss some of these movements from ancient and medieval times.

GS4 (Ethics)

What are honour killings? What attitudes, emotions and social factors are responsible for this problem?

Youth Ki Awaaz

GS3 (Indian Economy)

What is poverty line? Describe how the concept of poverty line has become more sophisticated, beginning from Dadabhai Naoroji’s initial idea.

Civilsdaily – Poverty Estimation Link 1, Link 2

GS2 (Polity and Governance)

Police in India are often in the news, and are frequently criticised for not being able to prevent crime. There is a view that police/public order should be brought under the Concurrent List to improve the law and order situation and prevent misuse of police. Why are such proposals being mooted? What are the other problems with our police forces?

Indian Express, Niti Aayog, Timeline of Police Reforms – Satyamev Jayate

GS1 (Indian Society)

What do you understand by the term ‘Drain of Wealth’? How was wealth drained under the British, and did the process stop after independence?

Modernisation and Westernisation are not the same.

Instructions: Write the following essay in 1000-1200 words.

GS4 (Ethics)

What do you understand by aptitude? What kind of aptitude is important for civil services? What measures would you take to make yourself fit for being a civil servant?

GS3 (Environment)

Although most news focuses on solar and wind energy, however the biggest impact in terms of carbon emissions can come from energy efficiency. What does energy efficiency mean? What are the measures being taken by the govt in India to promote it?

GS2 (Polity)

How does Parliament control the Union Executive? How effective is its control?

GS1 (India after Independence)

Was Jawaharlal Nehru justified in adopting the principle of non-alignment as the corner-stone of India’s foreign policy?

GS4 (Ethics)

Rapidly growing globalisation has raised many ethical concerns. Discuss with examples.

GS3 (Indian Economy)

Has the role of the private sector in India increased since the 1992 reforms? How has the role of the public sector changed in the post-reform period?

GS2 (Polity and Governance)

Every elections there are numerous incidents of politicians bribing voters. At the same time India’s democracy is often blamed for slow development. On the surface it seems that poverty and democracy are ill-suited for each other. Should India have chosen a more authoritative system of govt than democracy? What are the benefits of democracy?

GS1 (Indian Society)

Globalisation has brought about a class divide in Indian society, in addition to the existing caste divide and has made India more divided. Do you agree with this statement?

GS1 (Geography)

Examine the role of the Himalayas in shaping India’s climate. How would the climate be different without the Himalayas?

Similar Previous Year Question – Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent. [2014]

GS2 (Indian Constitution)

What is the significance of the Directive Principles of State Policy in our Constitution? Discuss while giving examples of how the govt has implemented them, and how the Supreme Court has used them in interpreting the Constitution.

GS3 (Indian Economy)

Although India’s GDP has grown, so has inequality. What are the reasons for the unequal distribution of wealth? What steps can be taken to achieve more equitable distribution?

Mint, Credit Suisse Report, Mint

Similar Previous Year Question – The nature of economic growth in India in recent times is often described as a jobless growth. Do you agree with this view? Give arguments in favour of your answer. [2015]

GS4 (Ethics)

Were nuclear weapons the reason the Cold War stayed Cold? Discuss whether nuclear weapons have actually prevented war in many circumstances. Also discuss in the context of India-Pakistan relations.

Major Highlights of the Bill (2016)

source

The Bill defines a transgender person as one who is partly female or male; or a combination of female and male; or neither female nor male.

In addition, the person’s gender must not match the gender assigned at birth, and includes trans-men, trans-women, persons with intersex variations and gender-queers.

A transgender person must obtain a certificate of identity as proof of recognition of identity as a transgender person and to invoke rights under the Bill. 

Such a certificate would be granted by the District Magistrate on the recommendation of a Screening Committee. 

The Bill prohibits discrimination against a transgender person in areas such as education, employment, and healthcare.  It directs the central and state governments to provide welfare schemes in these areas.

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Key Issues and Analysis

A still from a TV series on the sensitive topic of Transgender recognition

#1. The Supreme Court has held that the right to self-identification of gender is part of the right to dignity and autonomy under Article 21 of the Constitution.

However, objective criteria may be required to determine one’s gender in order to be eligible for entitlements.

#2. The Bill states that a person recognised as ‘transgender’ would have the right to ‘self-perceived’ gender identity. 

However, it does not provide for the enforcement of such a right.  A District Screening Committee would issue a certificate of identity to recognise transgender persons.

#3. The definition of ‘transgender persons’ in the Bill is at variance with the definitions recognised by international bodies and experts in India. 

The former version of the transgender bill (per NALSA case) honoured a better understanding through a broad definition that included those who identified themselves by a gender other than the one assigned to them at birth. That definition affirmed the right of a transgender person to have the option of choosing to identify themselves either as a “man”, “woman” or “transgender”. The definition in the latest bill is narrower.

#4. Ill defined terms: The Bill includes terms like ‘trans-men’, ‘trans-women’, persons with ‘intersex variations’ and ‘gender-queers’ in its definition of transgender persons. However, these terms have not been defined.

#5. Certain criminal and personal laws that are currently in force only recognise the genders of ‘man’ and ‘woman’.  It is unclear how such laws would apply to transgender persons who may not identify with either of the two genders.

#6. The government’s bill has also dropped the provision for reservation in education and employment to transgender persons, which was directed by the Supreme Court

#7. Avoids discussing major issues including on personal law like the right to marriage, inheritance and adoption etc.

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Backgrounder: Transgender communities in India

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According to the 2011 Census, India has 6 lac people belonging to the transgender community. Transgender individuals in India are broadly called Hijras, Kinnars, and Aravanis in different parts of the country.

Odisha became the first state in the country to provide food grains, pension, health, education and housing benefits to the transgender community, including them in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.

Kerala came up with a ‘Transgender policy’ last year in december aiming to end the social stigma attached to the community.

Tamil Nadu has constituted the Aravanis Welfare Board in 2008, providing pensions for the community and creating awareness in schools on gender-variant people.

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Milestone: National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) v. Union of India and others judgement

source

The SC recognised them as 3rd gender.

This judgement gave broad directives to the Central and state governments on affirmative action, public health, social welfare and other services to be made available for transgender people.

The Supreme Court noted that Section 377 of the IPC, though associated with specific sexual acts, targeted certain identities, including Hijras, and was used as an instrument of harassment and physical abuse against transgender persons.

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Way forward

#1. Tamil Nadu has been the pioneering state in bringing positive change in the lives of transgender people by granting ration cards, voters’ identity cards, housing, medical insurance and free gender reassignment surgery. Several other states have followed the Tamil Nadu model.

#2. The implementation has been unfortunately slow. Many states have not even done the ground work. The Prime Minister should intervene in this and direct the states to take action. The majority of the transgender people in our country are sex workers and beggars, and their lives need a desperate change, they need to live in dignity.

#3. If there are transgenders today begging on the streets or doing sex work for a livelihood, it is because their families rejected them. The root cause of their pathetic lives is the rejection and stigma from their families. This needs to be addressed.

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