Hattis of Himachal Pradesh
Context: The Centre is set to consider the Himachal Pradesh government’s request for inclusion of the Hatti community in the list of Scheduled Tribes in the state. Relevance: GS II- Polity and Governance Dimensions of the Article: Who are the Hattis? Hattis societal norms Who are the Hattis? The Hattis are a close-knit community who […]
Historical Background of Sedition laws
Context: The Supreme Court has fixed May 5 for final hearing of the petitions challenging the constitutionality of the sedition law and made it clear that it will not brook any delay in the form of requests for adjournment. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Constitutional Provisions, Fundamental Rights), GS-II: Governance (Government Policies and Initiatives) Dimensions […]
India, Europe and the Russian Complication
Context The re-election of Emmanuel Macron as the president of France on Sunday has sent a sigh of relief across Europe and North America. Delhi too is pleased with the return of Macron, who laid a strong foundation for India’s strategic partnership with France. Relevance GS-II: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing […]
Anti-Defection Law
Context: Recently, the Vice-President has said that the time has come to amend the anti-defection legislation in the country to plug existing loopholes. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Constitutional Provisions, Legislature and Elections, Executive, Separation of Powers) Dimensions of the Article: What is Defection? 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution (Anti-Defection Law) When do the Legislators face risk of disqualification? Issues […]
Arunachal Pradesh and Assam Border Dispute
Context: Recently, the Governments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have decided to form district-level committees for resolving boundary disputes. The district committees will undertake joint surveys in the disputed areas to find tangible solutions to the long-pending issue based on historical perspective, ethnicity, contiguity, peoples’ will and administrative convenience of both states. Relevance: GS II- Polity and Governance (Inter State Relations) Dimensions of the Article: Assam’s […]
Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)
Context: A committee constituted by the Union Home Ministry in December to study the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, from Nagaland, slated to submit a report within 45 days as claimed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, is yet to conclude its findings. The panel was formed in the wake of […]
Meghalaya Council Opposes Border Deal
Context: A tribal council in Meghalaya has joined the list of individuals and organisations in opposing the State government’s deal with Assam to resolve a 50-year-old boundary dispute. The Assam and Meghalaya governments had on March 29 finalised the pact to divide 36.79 sq. km of disputed areas. The two governments had taken up six […]
The Functioning of the Enforcement Directorate
Context: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is in the news now and often. It goes back to May 1, 1956, when an ‘Enforcement Unit’ was formed in the Department of Economic Affairs, for handling Exchange Control Laws violations under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA). Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution, Governance Dimensions of the Article: Enforcement Directorate Functions […]
The Process of Electing India President
Context: The tenure of the current President of India Ram Nath Kovind is set to end in July this year, which is also when the 16th Indian Presidential election will be held to elect his successor. The Assembly elections held in five States this year, and the changes in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), are expected to […]
The languages India Speaks
Context: Recently, Home Minister suggested that states should communicate with each other in Hindi rather than English, while stressing that Hindi should not be an alternative to local languages. Relevance: GS II- Polity and Governance Dimensions of the Article: How widely is Hindi spoken in India? Has it always been this widespread? And how widely is […]