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Understanding India’s Mental Healthcare Act, 2017
Central idea: The article discusses the challenges faced in implementing India’s Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and the need for better mental healthcare services in the country.

Mental Healthcare Act, 2017

The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 is a comprehensive legislation that provides for the protection and promotion of the rights of people with mental illness. Some of the key features of the Act are:
- Decriminalization of suicide: The Act decriminalizes suicide and prohibits the use of inhuman and degrading treatment towards those who attempt suicide.
- Advance directives: The Act allows individuals to make advance directives, specifying the type of treatment they would like to receive in the event of a mental health issue.
- Informed consent: The Act mandates that patients have the right to give or refuse consent to treatment, and to be informed about the benefits, side effects, and alternatives of the treatment.
- Mental health review boards: The Act establishes Mental Health Review Boards at the national and state levels to oversee the implementation of the Act and protect the rights of people with mental illness.
- Prohibition of inhuman treatment: The Act prohibits the use of inhuman treatment methods, including chaining, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) without anaesthesia, and solitary confinement.
- Right to access mental healthcare: The Act guarantees the right to access mental healthcare services, and mandates the establishment of mental health services in every district.
- Protection of rights and dignity: The Act aims to protect the rights and dignity of people with mental illness, and prohibits discrimination and stigmatization on the basis of mental illness.
- Establishment of a Central Mental Health Authority: The Act establishes a Central Mental Health Authority to regulate mental health services in the country.
NHRC flags alert
- Pity over healthcare institution: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in a report flagged the “inhuman and deplorable” condition of all 46 government-run mental healthcare institutions across the country.
- Prolonged hospitalization: The report notes that the facilities are “illegally” keeping patients long after their recovery, in what is an “infringement of the human rights of mentally ill patients”.
- Need for Assessment: These observations were made after visits to all operational government facilities, to assess the implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 (MHA).
Major issue: Lack of implementation
- Despite the act’s provisions, mental health institutions in India have been plagued by a lack of adequate infrastructure, staff, and training.
- Patients have reported human rights violations, including abuse, neglect, and violence.
Need for effective implementation
- The Mental Healthcare Act needs effective implementation and oversight to ensure that patients receive the care and treatment they need with dignity and respect.
- This requires increased investment in mental health infrastructure, including facilities, staff, and training.
Way forward
- Ensuring proper implementation of the Act: There is a need for proper implementation of this act across the country, with a focus on ensuring the rights and dignity of patients in mental healthcare institutions.
- Increasing awareness: Awareness needs to be raised about the Act, and the rights of mental healthcare patients among the general public, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement agencies.
- Providing training and capacity building: Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and caregivers, need to be trained and equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide quality care and support to mental healthcare patients.
- Strengthening mental healthcare infrastructure: There is a need to strengthen the infrastructure and facilities in mental healthcare institutions, including better staffing, improved physical facilities, and access to quality medication.
- Encouraging community-based care: Community-based care for mental health patients can help reduce the burden on mental healthcare institutions and provide a more supportive environment for patients.
- Promoting human rights: There is a need for greater emphasis on the human rights of mental healthcare patients, including the right to dignity, privacy, and freedom from discrimination and abuse.
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February 16, 2023

[EPW] Can Canada and India reset their Bilateral Relations?

Context

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly was on a two-day visit to New Delhi, and both sides hope to cast a reset in their bilateral relations.
These have been rather lukewarm despite many enduring linkages of their past histories, politics and people.

India-Canada Relations: A quick recap

India established diplomatic relations with Canada in 1947.
In recent years, both countries have been working to enhance bilateral cooperation in a number of areas of mutual importance.

History of migration

The history of Indian migration to Canada has a long, complex history, beginning in the mid-19th century and continuing to the present day.

Indentured labour: The first recorded Indian migrants to Canada were indentured labourers brought to British Columbia in the late 1860s to work in the rapidly expanding lumber industry.
Population measures: These workers were largely from Punjab, India, and they were part of a larger wave of Indian migration spurred by the British government’s encouragement of emigration in the hope of relieving population pressures in India.
Less restrictive immigration: In the mid-20th century, the number of Indians migrating to Canada increased dramatically due to the Canadian government’s introduction of less restrictive immigration laws.

Today, the community includes people from all regions of India, as well as second and third-generation Canadians of Indian descent.

Indo-Canadian’s contribution in Freedom Struggle

[A] Ghadr Party

The Ghadr party, also known as the Hindustan Ghadr Revolutionary Party nationalist revolutionary organization founded in May 1913 in San Francisco, California, with the aim of securing India’s freedom from British rule.
The party drew its membership mainly from Punjabi Sikh immigrants in the United States and Canada, but also included Hindu and Muslim immigrants from other parts of India.

[B] Support to INC

Canada was one of the first countries to recognize the Indian National Congress and its aims.
Canadian political leaders and public figures publicly expressed their support for the Indian struggle and advocated for India’s independence.
In the 1940s, Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King publicly voiced his support for India’s independence and called for a peaceful transition to self-government.

[C] Open support for freedom

Canada also provided moral support to the Indian struggle. In 1947, the Canadian Parliament unanimously passed a motion expressing support for India’s independence.
This motion was a strong statement of solidarity with the Indian people and their struggle for freedom.
Canada was an important supplier of resources to India during World War II, providing critical material such as food, clothing, and ammunition.
Canada also provided financial aid to India’s independence movement, and Canadian citizens raised funds to support the cause.

Komagatamaru Incident: The Komagata Maru incident was an incident in 1914 involving the Japanese steamship Komagata Maru, carrying 376 Indian passengers who were denied entry to Canada. They had sailed from Hong Kong, intending to immigrate to Canada, but were refused entry at the port of Vancouver due to the Canadian government’s continuous journey regulation. The passengers, mostly Sikhs from Punjab, were forced to return to India, where they were met with violence and harassment by British colonial authorities. The incident has become a symbol of Canada’s history of racist immigration policies aimed at excluding Asians.

Significant collaborations

Trade: Canada is India’s second largest export destination and is the third largest source of imports for India. It is a major source of FDI for India, with total investments of nearly USD 5.5 billion.
Investment: India and Canada have strong bilateral relations which have been further strengthened by the India–Canada Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), signed in 2009.
Collaboration on STEM: India and Canada are also engaged in several joint development projects in the areas of science and technology, health, education, and climate change.
Energy: India and Canada have recently signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation in the Field of Renewable Energy.
Security: India and Canada are also cooperating in the field of defence, with joint military exercises and training programs.
Global institutional reforms: India and Canada are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the G20, and cooperate on several international issues.

Recent souring of ties

[A] Racist Policies

Canada’s perceived shift away from its traditional stance of neutrality has put at odds with India’s traditional non-alignment policy.
Additionally, Canada’s criticism of India’s human rights record has been seen as offensive by many in India, leading to strained diplomatic relations.
Additionally, Canada’s failure to exempt India from visa requirements has also been seen as a sign of disrespect.

[B] Open support of Khalistan movement

Over 100,000 Canadians recently took part in voting for the Khalistan Referendum in Brampton, Ontario on 19 September which was organised by pro-Khalistani.
Visuals on social media showed a huge number of men, women queueing up to vote in for Khalistan Referendum.
Indian government had warned Canadian govt against the anti-India forces growing in the country.
However, the Canadian government refused to stop them from expressing their views by holding the Khalistan Referendum and linking it with a “peaceful and democratic” process.

[C] Other Impediments

Trade decline: India-Canada bilateral trade has been declining since 2013 and currently stands at around $7 billion. There is room to increase this trade and investments in both directions.
Illegal immigration: Canada has been increasingly concerned about illegal immigration from India, as well as the backlog in processing applications for legal immigration, both of which have caused tension between the two countries.
No security consensus: India and Canada have been working to enhance their defense and security ties, but the two countries have yet to sign a formal security agreement.
Under-utilized agriculture: Canada and India have been in negotiations to open up the agricultural sector to more trade, but disagreements over import restrictions and subsidies continue to be a major obstacle.
Human rights allegations on India: India and Canada have also clashed over human rights issues, with Canada criticizing India’s policies on religious minorities, freedom of speech, and other human rights issues.

Why is Canada suddenly recognizing India’s importance?

[A] Indo-Pacific Strategy

First is Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy that was issued last November. While it calls China “an increasingly disruptive global power,” it describes India as Canada’s “critical partner” for its regional and global objectives. This is music to Indian ears.
Indeed, this 23-page report mentions India 27 times, underlining their “shared tradition of democracy and pluralism, a common commitment to a rules-based international system.”

[B] Merchandise trade

Canada and India have strong economic ties, with two-way merchandise trade between the two countries reaching $9.5 billion in 2019.
Canada is also India’s second-largest source of foreign direct investment, and Indian investments in Canada have grown significantly in recent years.

[C] Cultural ties

Canada and India also have strong people-to-people ties, with the Indian diaspora in Canada estimated to be more than one million strong.
Sikhs constitute a significant proportion of the Indian diaspora, they make up less than one percent (a little over 500,000) of Canada’s total population.
Cultural tourism is boosting between the two countries.

[D] Newfound enthusiasm

This newfound enthusiasm was visible in the press release issued in Canberra on the eve of the Canadian foreign minister’s visit to India.
India’s growing strategic, economic and demographic importance makes it a critical partner for Canada in the Indo-Pacific.
In turn, Canada can be a reliable supplier of critical minerals, a stronger partner in the green transition, as well as a major investor.

Why is Canada important for India?

Destination for Indian students: Canada is one of the top sources for foreign students for Indian universities. India is the second largest source of immigrants to Canada.
2^nd largest trade partner: Canada is India’s second-largest trading partner, and trade between the two countries has been growing steadily.
Vibrant diaspora: Canada is home to a large and vibrant Indian diaspora, and the two countries enjoy strong people-to-people ties.
Source of FDI: Canada is also an important source of foreign direct investment for India, and provides an important source of capital to Indian businesses.
Liberal visas and citizenship: Canada is also an important source of skilled immigrants for India and is a popular destination for students and professionals from India.
Trade partnership: Both nations look forward to their proposed Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) before they finalize their CEPA.

Way forward

Strengthening diplomatic ties: India and Canada should work towards strengthening their diplomatic ties, by engaging in more frequent diplomatic exchanges and dialogue. This could include increasing the number of high-level visits between both countries, and exploring opportunities for collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, and education.
Enhancing trade relations: India and Canada should focus on enhancing their bilateral trade relations, by exploring the potential for increased exports and investment. This could involve investing in joint initiatives that promote economic growth, as well as taking steps to reduce barriers to trade and investment.
Nurturing people-to-people ties: India and Canada should aim to encourage more people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. This could include increasing the number of students and scholars studying and teaching in each other’s countries, as well as promoting cultural exchanges and tourism.
Enhancing security cooperation: India and Canada should work together to enhance their security cooperation, by increasing information sharing and collaboration on countering terrorism, cyber-security, and other common security threats.
Technology collaboration: India and Canada should explore new areas of collaboration, such as in the fields of renewable energy, space exploration, and artificial intelligence. This could involve engaging in joint research and development initiatives, as well as exploring opportunities for joint ventures.

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February 16, 2023

Industry pushes separate Ministry for Microenterprises
Central Idea: The Consortium of Indian Associations (CIA) has suggested the formation of an independent ministry for the self-employed and microenterprises to address specific issues concerning the sector.

Why demand for new Ministry?
- Micro entrepreneurs continue to be governed by complicated and outdated laws and dispensable compliance burdens.
- Despite the government’s efforts, MSMEs in India face several challenges such as access to finance, lack of skilled labor, and inadequate infrastructure.
- New ministry might help in providing different types of support and benefits from the government, such as access to credit, subsidies, and tax exemptions.
What are Microenterprises?
- Microenterprises are small businesses that typically have a small number of employees, limited assets, and low levels of annual turnover or revenue.
- The term “microenterprise” is often used interchangeably with “microbusiness” or “micro firm.”
- Microenterprises can be found in a wide range of sectors, including retail, manufacturing, and services.
- Examples of microenterprises include small retail shops, food stalls, street vendors, small manufacturing units, and service providers such as plumbers, electricians, and small-scale service providers.
Features of Microenterprises
- In general, microenterprises are considered the smallest type of business.
- They are typically characterized by their low capital investment and simple production processes.
- These businesses are often started by entrepreneurs who are seeking self-employment and a means to earn a livelihood.
Why are they important?
- Employability: Microenterprises are an important part of many economies, especially in developing countries, where they can provide vital employment opportunities and contribute to economic growth.
- Scale of business: Such enterprises have huge potential of business penetration at household and domestic level by providing a range of services.
Microenterprises in India
- According to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), there are approximately 6.3 crore (63 million) MSMEs in India, which employ around 11 crore (110 million) people.
- In India, MSMEs are classified based on their investment in plant and machinery or equipment, as well as their annual turnover.
- The classification of MSMEs is as follows:
1. Micro Enterprises: Micro enterprises are the smallest type of enterprises and have a lower investment limit than the other two categories. For manufacturing enterprises, the investment limit is up to Rs. 1 crore in plant and machinery, while for service enterprises, the investment limit is up to Rs. 50 lakh. The turnover limit for both types of enterprises is up to Rs. 5 crore.
2. Small Enterprises: Small enterprises are those that have an investment in plant and machinery or equipment between Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 10 crore. For service enterprises, the investment limit is between Rs. 50 lakh to Rs. 2 crore. The turnover limit for both types of enterprises is between Rs. 5 crore to Rs. 50 crore.
3. Medium Enterprises: Medium enterprises have a higher investment limit than small enterprises. For manufacturing enterprises, the investment limit is between Rs. 10 crore to Rs. 50 crore, while for service enterprises, the investment limit is between Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 5 crore. The turnover limit for both types of enterprises is between Rs. 50 crore to Rs. 250 crore.
Various initiatives

The government of India has taken several initiatives to support the growth of MSMEs in the country, such as:
- Udyam Portal: The government has introduced a new registration process called Udyam Registration to make it easier for MSMEs to register and avail of various government schemes and benefits.
- Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme: The Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme provides collateral-free loans to MSMEs from banks and other financial institutions.
- Cluster Development Programme: The government has launched the Cluster Development Programme to enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs by providing support for infrastructure, technology, and marketing.
- National SC-ST Hub: The National SC-ST Hub aims to promote entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by providing support for capacity building, market linkages, and access to finance.
- Technology Upgradation: The government provides financial support to MSMEs for technology upgradation through various schemes such as the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme and the Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme.
Way forward

If the govt. is to consider creating a separate ministry for microenterprises, there are several steps that could be taken to ensure its effectiveness:
- Defining clear objectives: This should be based on a thorough understanding of the challenges faced by microenterprises and the opportunities available to them.
- Coordination with other ministries: The new ministry should coordinate with other ministries to ensure that the policies and initiatives developed are aligned with the broader economic and social objectives of the government.
- Developing policies and initiatives: The ministry should develop policies and initiatives that address the specific needs of microenterprises in India such as access to finance, technology, and markets.
- Strengthening institutional capacity: The ministry should have a strong institutional capacity to implement policies and initiatives effectively. This could involve recruiting experts in the field of microenterprises and strengthening the capacity of existing institutions.
- Creating awareness: The ministry should create awareness among microenterprises about the support and services available to them. This could involve organizing workshops and training programs, as well as leveraging digital platforms to disseminate information.
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February 16, 2023

Ladakh and the Sixth Schedule

ladakh

A Ladakhi innovator and engineer completed his five-day “climate fast”, in an effort to draw the attention of leaders to the region’s fragile ecology and to secure its protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Fast for Ladakh’s Fragile Ecology

The fast highlights that Ladakh’s ecology is highly sensitive to climate change, with melting glaciers posing significant risks to the region’s flora, fauna, and people.
As a cold desert, Ladakh relies on glaciers to fulfil water needs.
However, melting glaciers cause the loss of potable water, threaten agriculture practices, erode sustainable practices, and force locals to migrate.

About Ladakh

Ladakh is a region in the northernmost part of India, bordering China and Pakistan.
The region is home to several ethnic groups, including the Ladakhi people, who are predominantly Buddhist.

Demand for Sixth Schedule in Ladakh

There has been a demand from the local tribal communities in Ladakh to extend the provisions of the Sixth Schedule to the region.
The demand has been primarily driven by concerns over the protection of tribal rights and the preservation of the unique cultural identity of the local communities.

Current administration in Ladakh

Ladakh was granted Union Territory status in 2019, following the bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two separate Union Territories.
The administration of Ladakh is currently governed by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh and an elected Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC).

Benefits of Sixth Schedule in Ladakh

Meeting tribal aspiration: The Parliamentary standing committee recommended including of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule because its tribal communities account for 79.61% of its total population.
Autonomy and self-governance: The extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh could provide greater autonomy and self-governance to the local tribal communities.
Cultural preservation: It could also help to protect the unique cultural identity of the local communities and preserve their traditional practices and customs.

Challenges to this demand

No further fragmentation: The demand to extend the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh has faced some opposition from certain quarters, who argue that it could lead to further fragmentation of the region and create new administrative challenges.
Losing political capital: There are also concerns over the potential impact of the demand on the political and administrative structure of the region.

Conclusion

Overall, the demand to extend the provisions of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh is a complex issue that requires careful consideration of the needs and aspirations of the local tribal communities, as well as the broader political and administrative context of the region.

Back2Basics: Sixth Schedule of Indian Constitution

The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution provides for the administration of tribal areas in the northeastern states of India.
These provisions were added to the Constitution in order to protect the rights and interests of the tribal communities in these areas and to promote their social, cultural, and economic development.

Here’s a summary of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution:

Areas covered

The Sixth Schedule covers the tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
These areas are known as “tribal areas” and are home to a large number of indigenous tribal communities.

Autonomous district councils

The Sixth Schedule provides for the establishment of autonomous district councils in the tribal areas.
These councils have the power to make laws and regulations for the governance of their respective areas.
They are also responsible for the administration of the local institutions of self-government, such as village councils and traditional councils.

Composition of district councils

The members of the district councils are elected by the people of the respective districts.
The councils are headed by a chairman, who is also elected by the members of the council.
The district councils have the power to appoint their own staff and to manage their own finances.

Powers of district councils

The district councils have the power to make laws on a range of subjects, including land, forests, water, and fisheries.
They also have the power to regulate local markets and to levy taxes and fees on a range of activities.
The district councils can also establish and manage schools, hospitals, and other institutions for the benefit of the local communities.

Protection of tribal rights

The Sixth Schedule provides for the protection of the rights of the tribal communities in the areas covered by the schedule.
It ensures that the traditional rights and customs of the tribal communities are respected and protected.
It also provides for the reservation of seats in the district councils and other local bodies for members of the tribal communities.

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February 16, 2023

Thwaites glacier at mercy of sea warmth increase
The new research suggests that even low amounts of melting can potentially push Thwaites glacier further along the path toward eventual disappearance.

Thwaites Glacier
- Called the Thwaites Glacier, it is 120 km wide at its broadest, fast-moving, and melting fast over the years.
- Because of its size (1.9 lakh square km), it contains enough water to raise the world sea level by more than half a meter.
- Studies have found the amount of ice flowing out of it has nearly doubled over the past 30 years.
- Thwaites’s melting already contributes 4% to global sea-level rise each year. It is estimated that it would collapse into the sea in 200-900 years.
- Thwaites is important for Antarctica as it slows the ice behind it from freely flowing into the ocean. Because of the risk it faces — and poses — Thwaites is often called the Doomsday Glacier.
How is Thwaites glacier melting?
- Thwaites Glacier is melting due to a combination of warming ocean currents and a weakening of the ice shelf that acts as a barrier between the glacier and the ocean.
- The cause of the melting is thought to be the influx of relatively warm bottom water drawn in from the wider ocean.
- In the 1990s it was losing just over 10 billion tonnes of ice a year. Today, it’s more like 80 billion tonnes.
Why is this glacier so important?
- Huge size: Flowing off the west of the Antarctic continent, Thwaites is almost as big as Great Britain. It is one of the largest and most important glaciers in Antarctica, as it acts as a gateway to a vast area of the continent.
- Melting faster: It’s a majestic sight, with its buoyant front, or “ice shelf”, pushing far out to sea and kicking off huge icebergs. But satellite monitoring indicates this glacier is melting at an accelerating rate.
- Seal level rise: Thwaites’ ice loss contributes approximately 4% to the annual rise in global sea-levels, with the potential to add 65cm in total should the whole glacier collapse. Its melting could also destabilize the entire West Antarctic Ice Sheet, leading to a further rise in sea levels.
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February 16, 2023
Ring around a dwarf planet lies in Roche Limit: What it means, why it matters
Central idea: A new study shows that a dwarf planet, named Quaoar, has a ring system that exists within its Roche limit.

What is the news?
- Astronomers have found a ring around a dwarf planet, located in the Kuiper Belt at the solar system’s edge, called Quaoar, according to a new study.
- The ring, however, is positioned much further away from the planet than is usual and defies theoretical explanations.
About Quaoar
- With an estimated radius of 555 km, Quaoar is roughly half the size of Pluto and orbits beyond Neptune.
- It also has a moon of its own, which is known as Weywot.
- As the dwarf planet is too small and too distant to be observed directly, the researchers detected the ring with the help of a phenomenon called stellar occultation.
How was the ring discovered?
- A stellar occultation occurs when, as seen from Earth, a bright star passes behind a planet.
- This allows astronomers or anybody on Earth to observe the sharp silhouette of the planet for a brief period of time.
- The phenomenon, which rarely occurs, is used by researchers to analyze a planet’s atmosphere and determine if it has a ring around it — in 1977, scientists discovered the Uranian ring system with the help of stellar occultation.
What is the Roche limit?
- The most intriguing part of the findings is the distance between Quaoar and its ring.
- Located 2,500 miles away from the dwarf planet, the ring is around 1,400 miles further away from the Roche limit, as per the calculations of the scientists.
- It suggests that at such a distance, the particles of the ring should have come together to form a moon.
- For a further understanding of the Roche limit, let’s look at the Earth and the moon. The Earth’s gravity pulls on the moon.
- However, one side of the moon is closer to the planet and hence, the pull is stronger on the side facing the Earth.
- The result is the so-called tidal force, which either stretches or compresses the moon from all sides.
What is the reason behind Quaoar’s far-out ring?
- As of now, nobody exactly knows how Quaoar’s ring has managed to remain stable at such a distance from the Roche limit.
- The researchers said that there can be a variety of possible explanations but they aren’t sure about any one of them.
- It might be possible that Quaoar’s moon, Weywot, or some other unseen moon contributes gravity that somehow holds the ring stable.
- Another potential explanation can be that the particles of the ring are colliding with each other in such a way that they are avoiding to coalesce into a moon.
Try this MCQ:

Q.What is the Roche limit?

A) The distance from a planet where its gravity is balanced by the gravitational force of another celestial body

B) The minimum distance from a planet that a moon can orbit without being pulled apart by tidal forces

C) The distance from the sun at which a planet can have a stable orbit

D) The distance from the earth where meteoroids burn up upon entering the atmosphere

[wpdiscuz-feedback id=”xg9sjvh66m” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

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February 16, 2023
Folk dance in news: Lavani
Central idea: The article is based on the controversy surrounding the Maharashtra folk dance form, Lavani, which has come under criticism for being ‘vulgar’ and ‘obscene’.

What is the Lavani folk art form?
- The word Lavani comes from ‘lavanya’ or beauty.
- Lavani is a traditional folk art form in which women dancers wearing nine-yard-long sarees in bright colours, make-up, and ghunghroos perform on dholak beats on a stage before a live audience.
- As an indigenous art form, Lavani has a history going back several centuries, and it attained particular popularity in the Peshwa era in the 18th century.
- Traditionally, performances were held in front of kings or lords, and for the entertainment of tired soldiers resting during breaks in fighting.
Genres of Lavani
- There are several types of Lavani, of which the most popular is the Shringarik (erotic) kind, in which the lyrics are often teasing, with sensuous dance steps and delicate gestures employed to convey erotic meaning.
- Over the years, Lavani has gained more acceptability among the people, even though certain taboos around it continue.
- The audience has historically been all-male, but in recent years, some women too have begun to attend performances.
Why is it under fire these days?
- Lost its original form: Some also argue that the commercialization of Lavani has led to a loss of authenticity and cultural significance.
- Objectifying women: The criticism of Lavani dance centres on the traditional dance form’s alleged objectification and commodification of women’s bodies.
- Public obscenity: It has been accused of promoting obscenity and vulgarity and reinforcing patriarchal attitudes towards women.
- Communalizing/Stereotyping: Critics have also argued that the dance form perpetuates negative stereotypes of women from marginalized communities, such as the notion that Dalit women are “loose” or sexually promiscuous.
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February 16, 2023
(WATCH Live: Zoom link inside) Fill Critical Gaps🚨in UPSC Prelims 2023 Prep | Last 100 days strategy for 120+ score | 1-1 sessions with Santosh sir | Register to get Smash Prelims 3 Mocks, 100 most Imp* topics [PDF] Notes & 1-1 Mentorship
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4. Sticking to the bare minimum for the most optimum UPSC pre-2023 preparation.
Day 1 with Prabhat sir: Studying what’s important and ignoring the rest. Optimizing preparation like a Topper.

Prabhat sir will discuss how he approached the last 3 months of his preparation for Prelims. He will discuss basically two things:
1. Sticking to the bare minimum wrt current affairs and GS subjects.
2. Following the 80/20 rule, there are 20% of the themes from which you can actually take your success rate up by 80%
3. The art of attempting mocks for UPSC Prelims
4. Avoiding 5 mistakes in assessing UPSC Mock tests.
Date: 15th Feb || Time: 7:30 pm || Mode: Online

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3. Smash Prelims 3 Mock Tests
4. One-to-one mentorship session with senior mentors from Civilsdaily
Tavishi failed thrice in the Prelims before but after joining Santosh sir’s mentorship cleared Prelim 2022 on her 4th attempt.

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February 15, 2023
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- Date: 19th Feb 2023
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February 15, 2023
Japan-India Combat Exercise and the Chinese Concerns
Central Idea
- Japan and India have launched their second Joint Air Defense Exercise called “Veer Guardian 2023” to conduct multi-domain air combat operations in a complex environment and deepen their mutual operational understanding while fostering closer defence cooperation. This increased military collaboration between Japan and India under US guidance in the Indo-Pacific is causing subdued panic among Chinese commentators.
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All you need to know about Veer Guardian 2023
- Bilateral exercise: Veer Guardian is a bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).
- Fourth edition: The exercise took place at Hyakuri Air Base, near Tokyo in Japan in January 2023 and was the fourth edition of the Veer Guardian series.
- Participation: The IAF participated with six Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighters and two C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft, while the JASDF deployed six Mitsubishi F-2 fighters.
- The primary objectives of the exercise: To enhance interoperability between the two air forces, exchange best practices and operational experiences, and improve understanding of each other’s tactics and procedures.
- Drills: The exercise included various aerial manoeuvres, air combat scenarios, air-to-ground strikes, and close air support operations. The Indian side also participated in a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) drill, which involved the C-17 aircraft dropping relief supplies to a simulated disaster-hit area.
Japan-India collusion against China
- Japan’s Pursuit of Allies: Japan has been actively seeking allies to counterbalance China’s rise in the Indo-Pacific region. It has formed alliances with several countries, including the US, Germany, the UK, Australia, and India.
- Japan-India Security Cooperation: Japan and India have a reciprocal access agreement in place since 2020. They have regularly been conducting joint military exercises in naval, ground and air domains.
- Opportunities for India to gain experience: India, having faced a three-year-long border standoff with China, sees the joint air exercises with Japan as a rare opportunity to gain experience over the East China Sea. Therefore, the joint drill with Japan can become a stepping stone to future quadrilateral air exercises.
Why China is concerned about the increasing collaboration between Japan and India?
- Japan’s National Security Strategy: The NSS sees China as Japan’s biggest challenge ever seen and recommends a counter-strike capability by 2027.
- Japan’s strategy to counter China’s increasing influence in the Indo-Pacific region: The Chinese government believes that Japan is exaggerating the China Threat Theory as evidenced by Japan’s recently published National Security Strategy (NSS).
- Limiting Strategic manoeuvrability: A stronger India poses a major threat to China’s west while Japan in the east remains a major threat. As both India and Japan are significant players in the Asia-Pacific region, their collaboration could potentially limit China’s strategic maneuverability.
- Balance of power: Together, India and Japan can bring a paradigmatic shift in the region’s security. The increasing collaboration with India is one of the ways in which Japan is seeking to balance its power with China.
- Concern for national security: Moreover, China sees Japan’s recent efforts to court allies and introduce NATO forces in the Asia-Pacific region as potentially leading to a resurgence of Japan’s militarist past, which is a concern for China’s national security.
Conclusion
- In sum, the Japan-India joint air drill will impart crucial combat experience to both air forces. It will also further Japan’s approach to involve India deeper in the East Asian security architecture. However, for China, the air drill comes as an ominous portent for the future.
Mains question

Q. What is the significance of the Veer Guardian 2023 joint air exercise between India and Japan, and why is China concerned about the increasing collaboration between these two countries? Discuss

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February 15, 2023