Syllabus: Indian Society: Salient features, Unity in Diversity; Family, Marriage, Kinship, Caste, Tribe, Religion, Language; Rural – Urban continuum; multi-culturalism.
Number of Questions- Mains: 2, Prelims: 10
Mains Questions of the day-
1.The proposed legislation to raise the legal marriage age for girls to 21 years can curb child marriage, comment.
Introduction:
Write briefly about the bill.
Body:
Mention the reason for prevalence of child marriages.
Recommend some measures to reduce the child marriages.
Conclusion:
- Laws cannot be used as shortcuts to achieve social reform and good intentions alone don’t guarantee favourable results.
- A law to raise the legal age of marriage needs wide societal support and should be accompanied by measures to improve access to healthcare.
Content:
- The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which seeks to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21, is built on the assumption that raising the age of marriage will eradicate the practice of child marriage.
- However, this does not have any prior evidence to support it, because even when the legal age was set at 18, child marriages continued to take place without any fear of the law.
Reason for prevalence of Child marriage:
- It is a consequence of deep-rooted socio-cultural norms and gender inequalities, which end up impacting girls.
- In a patriarchal society, girls are often raised with the ultimate goal of marriage.
- They are confined to the household and not educated or expected to enter the workforce.
- Thus, until they are married, they are seen as a financial burden by the families, and marrying them off early is not only consistent with tradition but also more economically feasible.
- This is evident from the recently released fifth round of the National Family Health Survey, according to which nearly one-fourth of women aged between 20 and 24 were reported to have been married before 18.
- While there was an impressive drop in child marriages between 2005-’06 and 2015-’16, this might be attribute to better educational opportunities and other factors rather than the law.
Concerns about legislation
The proposed legislation to raise the legal marriage age for girls to 21 years can have several harmful consequences:
- Possible misuse of the law:
- According to a survey, 65% of the cases under the existing child marriage law were in response to elopement and cases were filed against the couple by parents or families who were disapproving.
- These cases would be wrongfully filed to harass the couple, their age or legality of the marriage notwithstanding.
- Increasing the age to 21 will bring more such cases. The new law could curtail the freedom of choice of adults.
- Disempowerment of women:
- A 2008 Law Commission report on reforming family law recommended a uniform age of marriage for boys and girls at 18 years and not at 21.
- The reason for it is, if all citizens can vote, enter contracts, be guardians, tried as adults for crimes they commit at 18, then why should not they be allowed to get married, regardless of age.
- Possible increase in sex-selective practices:
- The current socio-economic system makes people want to marry their daughters as soon as they can or choose not to have a daughter at all.
- Increasing the legal marriage age without changing patriarchal social norms can result in parents feeling even more “burdened” which in turn could lead to an increase in sex-selective practices.
Recommendations:
There are several strategies that have worked globally in reducing the incidence of child marriages. Some solutions that might work in the Indian context are discussed below:
- Bringing about parity in the legal age of marriage
- Endorse the recommendation of the 2008 Law Commission to make the legal age of marriage for boys and girls uniform at 18 years and not 21.
- When individuals can vote at 18, they should also be allowed to choose their partners at this age.
- Investing in girls’ education. There is clear evidence that allowing girls to complete their education delays marriage and provides them with the opportunity of being financially independent.
- Education enables them to fulfil their aspirations and live a life of dignity and affords them the agency to uphold their sexual and reproductive rights in their choice to marry.
- Child marriages are closely tied to low levels of education, poverty, and rural residence.
- The National Family Health Survey-4 reveals that girls living in rural areas with little or no education and belonging to the lowest wealth are more likely to be married before they turn 18.
- The government must address the barriers to girls’ education by providing a safe environment, improving the quality of education, and making girls’ education a more useful investment for parents.
- Economic and social empowerment of girls. Investing in the capacity and skill-building of adolescent girls is critical for them to realise their economic potential.
- Financial empowerment often gives individuals a greater say in their households and their own future.
- It can give girls the ability to say no to early marriage.
- Greater attention to creating safe opportunities for paid work among women is also required.
- Targeted social and behaviour change communication campaigns
- To end child marriage, we must make investments in targeted social and behaviour change communication.
- Social norms that exclude girls and boys from marriage-related decision-making need to change.
- We need more comprehensive social and behaviour change communication initiatives that are supported by local leadership including elected representatives, community and religious leaders to transform gender stereotypes of submissiveness and institutional discrimination that denies women agency.
- Policies and programmes that reach the most marginalised
- Marginalised communities are more vulnerable to early marriages.
- We need more policies and programmes that connect girls and young women, and their families, especially from marginalised communities, to financial institutions, education, information, health (including sexual, reproductive, and mental health), and nutrition services.
- Ensuring registration of marriages
- Despite a Supreme Court ruling making registration of marriages mandatory, state governments have done little to implement the verdict.
- The governments must develop a mechanism to ensure that all marriages (including civil, religious, and customary unions), births, and deaths are mandatorily registered through a system, as a means to track marriages and the age of marriage.
- Moreover, action should be taken against those authorising and facilitating child marriages in rural areas.
- We have to think beyond punitive measures and legislations and transform the patriarchal socio-economic system that fosters child marriages.
2. “Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, the caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment.
Introduction:
Discuss the structure of the caste system in India.
Body:
Mention few new identities and associational forms evolved in Indian caste system
Conclusion:
Constitution and Government providing special provisions and policies for the upliftment of lower caste groups in order to eradicate caste system in India
These policies offer solidarity and psychological strength to various marginalized groups, even if the caste-based discrimination is diffused in the society.
Despite the new identities and government initiatives, it has become very difficult to eradicate caste system in India.
Content:
The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shudras. Many believe that the groups originated from Brahma, the Hindu God of creation.
Caste system has been prevalent in one or the other form in India from thousands of years. Various changes in social, economic and political events has made it to tighten its grip over Indian society like never before. Still there are chances that it can be eradicated through constructive measures.
New identities in Caste system:
- In the past, each caste had its own fixed position in the hierarchy and accordingly they followed their own way of life. But now the low caste people by following the way of life of the high caste people are trying to change their position.
- Brahmins were considered as the supreme power and they were given utmost importance in the society. But, now even in rural India, the dominant caste is getting high respect and if a dominant caste is from a lower caste group, it has power to command over Brahmins.
- No longer one can deduce a person’s caste by looking at his occupation. A person who is working in a salon may not be a barber.
- There is improvement in the socio-economic conditions of lower caste people. They are protected by the different policies of the government.
- now Indian society is more tolerant of inter-caste marriage. The number of inter-caste marriages is increasing day by day because of urbanised and educated group of each caste.
New associational forms:
- Formation of caste-based associations like- Jaat sabha, Goswami Sammelam.
- Casteism on internet like- jai bheem, jai parsuram etc.
- Casteism in economic sector like- formation of Dalit Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Prelims of the day:
1. Which of the following is the largest minority in India as per 2011 census?
- Muslims
- Christians
- Sikhs
- Jains
Answer: A
Explanation:
- As per the Census 2011, the percentage of minorities in the country is about 19.3% of the total population of the country.
- The population of Muslims are 14.2%; Christians 2.3%; Sikhs 1.7%, Buddhists 0.7%, Jain 0.4% and Parsis 0.006%.
2.Which one of the following languages is known as “the language of the common people” was used by the earliest ordinary people?
- Hindi
- Prakrit
- Sanskrit
- Urdu
Answer: B
Explanation:
- Basically, the early manuscripts were written in either Sanskrit or Prakrit language and till that time no other language had been explored.
- The common or ordinary of the time could understand the Prakrit language and use of this language was at large, this is language is also known as the language of the common people.
3.Which of the following is the largest tribal community in India as per 2011 census?
- Bhil
- Gond
- Santhal
- Chenchus
Answer: A
Explanation:
- Bhil is the largest tribal group in India as per 2011 Census.
- They constitute approximately 38% of the total scheduled tribal population of India.
- Bhil tribes are found in the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, as well as in Tripura.
4.Which of the following is related to Nai Udaan scheme?
- Electricity
- Renewable Energy
- Employment scheme
- UPSC
Answer: D
Explanation:
- Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India implemented this scheme, ‘Nai Udaan’ which will provide support to the candidates of Minority who have cleared the prelims examination in Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, or State Public Service Commission in preparing for Mains examination.
- The scheme aims at providing financial aid to the Minority students who clear the Prelims examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, and State Public Selection Commission to help them in the appointment of Civil Services either in the Union or the State Governments to increase the representation of the Minority in the Civil Services.
- The prime objective of the scheme is to provide financial support/ aid to the candidates of the Minority group who have cleared the Preliminary examinations conducted by the Union Public Selection Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), and State Public Selection Commission (SPSC) to provide complete support in the appointment procedure at various Union and State level Civil Services by providing direct financial aid to the candidates to support the further procedure.
5.Which of the following act recognizes the marriage between an Indian and a foreigner?
- The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
- The Special Marriage Act, 1954
- Foreign Marriage Act, 1969
- Registration of Marriages Act, 2009
Answer: B
Explanation:
Currently, there are two legislations framed to solve the challenge of Marriage Registration Laws in diverse cultures, they are –
- The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
- The Special Marriage Act, 1954
Marriage between an Indian and a foreigner:
- There is no law in India that prohibits an Indian marrying with a foreigner in India.
- Certainly, both must be legally of sound mind and competent enough to marry. The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is applicable where an Indian and a foreigner intent to marry in India.
- On the other hand, when an Indian intends to marry in any other country, the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969 is applicable.
- Thus, it can be implied that a marriage performed between an Indian and a foreigner is a civil marriage in nature.
- In such a case, firstly a No Impediment Certificate/NOC from concerned Embassy and valid VISA is required.
- All other documents and the procedures to comply with are the same as any other civil marriage performed under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
6.According to Registration of Marriage Act, within how many days’ marriage should be registered?
- Within one year
- Within one month
- Within six month
- Within three month
Answer: B
Explanation:
Registration of marriages:
- According to the Commission, linking registration of marriages with Aadhaar would ensure universal tracking of records.
- The Commission has suggested that the time limit to register marriages should be restricted to 30 days after which a penalty of Rs.5 per day should be imposed.
- It also suggested that given the social context in which marriages take place, the maximum penalty should not exceed Rs. 100.
7.How much of percentage of people using the scheduled language?
- 81%
- 97%
- 75%
- 89%
Answer: B
Explanation:
- Of the total population of India, 96.71% have one of the scheduled languages as their mother tongue, the remaining 3.29 per cent is accounted for other languages.
- The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution consists of the following 22 languages –Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri.
- Of these languages, 14 were initially included in the Constitution. Sindhi language was added in 1967.
- Thereafter three more languages viz., Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were included in 1992.
Subsequently, Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali were added in 2004.
8.Which of the following state is implementing the Shaadi Mubarak Scheme?
- Telangana
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Kerala
Answer: A
Explanation:
- One more special scheme by the ministry is the Shaadi Mubarak Scheme.
- It is, in fact, a scheme of the Telangana Government and the ministry provides its assistance in running it smoothly.
- Under the Shaadi Mubarak Scheme, financial assistance of Rs. 51,000 is provided to each unmarried Muslim girl at the time of marriage.
- The scheme is applicable to those residing in Telangana only.
9.Which of the following act is applicable when an Indian intends to marry in any other country?
- The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
- The Special Marriage Act, 1954
- Foreign Marriage Act, 1969
- Registration of Marriages Act, 2009
Answer: B
Explanation:
Currently, there are two legislation framed to solve the challenge of Marriage Registration Laws in diverse cultures, they are –
- The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
- The Special Marriage Act, 1954
Marriage between an Indian and a foreigner:
- There is no law in India that prohibits an Indian marrying with a foreigner in India.
- Certainly, both must be legally of sound mind and competent enough to marry. The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is applicable where an Indian and a foreigner intent to marry in India.
- On the other hand, when an Indian intends to marry in any other country, the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969 is applicable.
- Thus, it can be implied that a marriage performed between an Indian and a foreigner is a civil marriage in nature.
- In such a case, firstly a No Impediment Certificate/NOC from concerned Embassy and valid VISA is required.
- All other documents and the procedures to comply with are the same as any other civil marriage performed under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
10.Which of the following language is used by Chenchu tribe?
- Sanskrit language
- Prakrit language
- Dravidian language
- Pali language
Answer: C
Explanation:
- The Chenchus are a Dravidian tribe, a designated Scheduled Tribe in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Odisha.
- Most Chenchu live in the state of Andhra Pradesh. They speak variants of Telugu, the Dravidian language of the region.