The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is set to procure the Very Short Range Air Defence System or VSHORAD (IR Homing) missile system.
VSHORAD Missile System
Meant to kill low altitude aerial threats at short ranges, VSHORADS is a man portable Air Defence System (MANPAD).
It is designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
The missile is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor—incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which were successfully proven during the tests conducted last year.
The DRDO has designed the missile and its launcher in a way to ensure easy portability.
Unique features
Being man portable and lightweight compared to the other missile systems in the Army’s armoury, it can be deployed in the mountains close to the LAC at a short notice.
Others like the Akash Short Range Surface to Air Missile System are heavier with a theatre air defence umbrella.
They are perceived to be the best option for mountain warfare since they can be deployed quickly in rugged terrain.
Significance of the missile
The development comes amid the ongoing military standoff with China at the LAC in eastern Ladakh and reports of air violations by China along the LAC last year.
India has been in talks with Russia since 2018 to procure the Igla-S air defence missiles at a cost of $1.5 billion under the VSHORAD programme in a bid to replace the Russian Igla-M systems.
12th January (Thursday) at 7 PM | Game-changing masterclass by Santosh sir | 90% of questions in UPSC prelims 2023 will come from these 50 broad themes.
Have you ever asked yourself why UPSC conducts Prelims? To know how many books you’ve read or how many revisions have you made?
None of the above.
The Prelims exam is the first stage to measure how objective you are. How aware you are of your surroundings. Apart from that how you are able to take risks.
It is strictly an aptitude test based on your knowledge and awareness.
Clearing the UPSC Prelims exam can be even tougher task to tackle for those who are stuck in some kind of blind revisions of NCERTs as well as Advanced books. It’s sometimes found that 99% of Prelims candidates remain engrossed in revising Test series, Yellow books of current affairs, and Notes just before D-day.
But is there any guarantee that the above things will definitely sail every aspirant through the first and the most deadly hurdle of UPSC, the Prelims? NOPE
So, if you’re aspiring to crack the UPSC Prelims exam 2023 in less than 5 months, the road ahead might appear intimidating but it is not impossible.
Santosh Gupta (the UPSC Prelims Guru) will share the 50 most important topics for UPSC prelims 2023 and 5 techniques that you can use to maximize your chances of clearing the exam with 95% accuracy – so never ever miss such a crucial LIVE session!
Post-webinar Civilsdaily strategy pack will be shared with you via email
Recording of the webinar can be requested by filling up the same registration form
The awesome masterclass is an opportunity to grasp the outstanding tips on the 50 Most Important Topics & 5 Techniques To Ace UPSC Prelims 2023 With 95% Accuracy
Whether it is your 1st attempt, 2nd attempt, or 3rd, this webinar will help you immensely to clear UPSC Prelims 2023 with ease.
Tavishi failed thrice in the Prelims before but after joining Santosh sir’s mentorship cleared Prelim 2022 on her 4th attempt.
Key takeaways discussed in the webinar:
50 Most Important Topics after a comprehensive trend analysis of the past 5 yrs’ UPSC Prelims GS 1 paper. So, how to change your preparation methods right now?
To beat the uncertainty, which 5 techniques are essential to attempt UPSC Prelims 2023 paper with 95% Accuracy?
How to solve unexpected questions or bouncer questions? These are questions you’ve never anticipated while preparing for the Prelims.
Strategy for the next 4.5 months and how to utilize remaining time to the fullest.
Significance of Current Affairs. Is it really declining in Prelims? How to cover current affairs?
How to cover GS static syllabus and connect it with current affairs for UPSC prelims 2023?
What is logic based questions solving in prelims? Solving MCQs even when you don’t know the exact answer.
Using Time-Tested Elimination Techniques. How to use these techniques in sample questions? only generalized preparation is not enough. You have to be ready for the worst. Besides usual ordinary questions, you have to solve more or less offbeat questions. Remember, Offbeat questions require an offbeat approach and it gets 125+ in prelims for you. So, how to apply ‘Intelligent guessing’, ‘the way of thinking, and ‘Core common sense.
How to stay alert at the 5 worst mistakes areas, like unknown extremely factual questions, Random questions such as from sports in 2021, Questions from old current affairs, Ques. that are not directly from current affairs but inspired by current affairs, and Questions based on common sense such as questions in prelims-2021 and 2022.
Learn time management in the exam hall. Most of the time, twisted questions force you to take more time to answer. So, How to filter out and attempt easy questions in the first round quickly and move on to the next with which moderate to difficult questions? will be discussed thoroughly.
How to avoid silly mistakes by using common sense to the plausibility of statements given. Usually, low-confident aspirants do not attempt these types of questions and overconfident ones make mistakes by overthinking.
What The Hindu mentioned about Civilsdaily Mentorship
Webinar masterclass on 12th Jan (Monday), 7 pm
12th January (Thursday) at 7 PM | Ultimate Guide for UPSC Prelims 2023 by Santosh Sir | 50 Most Important Topics & 5 Techniques To Ace UPSC Prelims 2023 With 95% Accuracy
12th January (Thursday) 5 to 6 PM | 20 Best Practices of Answer Writing to Score like Topper in MPSC Mains | 1-1 LIVE session by Soham Mandhare IRS officer & Vaibhav Sanas Senior Faculty, Civilsdaily Pune | Register and receive CD’s mains Notes and PDF post webinar session
Broadly speaking, two types of skills are required for creating excellent, rule-of-thumb answers in MPSC mains- execution of facts and integration of an administrator-like opinion.
And it’s true that almost 100 out of 100 toppers develop these 2 must-have skills. And these must-have skills completely depend on the 20 best practices of MPSC mains answer writing.
Besides, an aspirant should understand the bare minimum requirements needed for effective answer writing. Because these 1750 marks of the Mains exam will decide your IAS destiny.
Though MPSC has given a very detailed and crisp syllabus, it can’t resist the urge of adding surprising elements in questions every year to keep candidates on their toes and to test their mettle.
To boost your Mains score by more than 100 marks. And that is enough to make the difference where a single mark can decide success and failure.
Acknowledging the need to ensure the removal of difficulties, the students face, Soham Mandhare IRS officer & Vaibhav Sanas Senior Faculty, Civilsdaily Pune are conducting an on-demand MASTERCLASS on What the 20 Best Practices of Answer Writing to Score like Topper in Mains & How to boost your mains Score in 2023, sticking to the basic sources, and practicing answer writing in expert-prescribed ways, even after many things are pending.
This is the right time to focus on the principles that Soham sir & Vaibhav sir will discuss in the FREE MASTERCLASS. (details below)
Masterclass details:
Topic: 20 best practices of answer writing to score like toppers in MPSC/UPSC 2023 Mains
Date:12th January (Thursday).
Time: 5 to 7 PM
Mode: Online, Zoom link will be emailed to you
Post-webinar Civilsdaily strategy pack will be shared with you via email
Recording of the webinar can be requested by filling up the same registration form
The awesome masterclass is an opportunity to grasp the outstanding tips on the MPSC Rajyseva 2023: 20 best practices of answer writing to score like toppers in Mains.
So, whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, this masterclass is going to be a game-changer.
“*The 20 best answer writing practices are divided into 3 sections:- 5 basics, 5 intermediate, and 10 advanced”
1. Identifying and tackling directive words and tail words in the Mains Question. There are more than 30 directives and you must answer according to that only. We will discuss how to approach an answer wrt to these directives
2. When, where, and how to use diagrams, flowcharts, tables, etc?
It is a common notion that more diagrams = more marks, but this is not true. You must draw diagrams/flowcharts to address certain parts of the question only.
3. Understanding the core and non-core parts of the questions.
There is one part of the Mains question that is directly asked and is an obvious question. The non-core part at times might not be obvious but you must address that.
4. How to use anecdotes, facts, data, examples, and case studies? – even using the most common ones in the most impactful manner, in such a manner that it fetches you more marks
5. How to answer a question with limited content or knowledge? Basically – Bouncer/googly questions. Keywords in question: Pravin sir will thoroughly explain what each keyword means. Analyzing critically is different from explaining or elaborating. So, how to read the question carefully and then start answering?
6. How to complete the paper in 3hours? And what should be the correct sequence of answering sections in the Mains paper?
This is very essential to maintain your speed as well as consistency in your thinking process.
7. Make a trade-off between quality and quantity in your answers. You might now be able to recall every piece of info for all the answers.
8. When to write answers in Paragraph form and when to write in heading, subheading, and points? What should be the ideal length of a sentence, paragraph, and number of points?
9. What should be your strategy for the last week before Mains 2022?
10. How to go about the Final Revision before Mains 2022? Focus on making more revisions: If you can’t remember any points, how to put things in your notes during the exam? What are the exact ways to revise at least 10 times before the exam? Things must be your tips.
What The Hindu opined about Civilsdaily Mentorship
12th January (Thursday) 5 to 6 PM | 20 Best Practices of Answer Writing to Score like Topper in MPSC Mains | 1-1 LIVE session by Soham Mandhare IRS officer & Vaibhav Sanas Senior Faculty, Civilsdaily Pune
Japan’s National Security Strategy released in December is a remarkable document. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s assertive rise, and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK-North Korea) provocations are listed as key developments creating for Japan the most severe and complex security environment since the end of the Second World War.
Chinese increasing military power: Unconstrained by bilateral or multilateral agreements, Chinese military power is noted as growing exponentially. In less than a decade, the Chinese nuclear arsenal would match numbers currently held by the US and Russia. Expectations are low that the US would have the will or the capacity to bring China to the arms control table.
DPRK is riding a runaway proliferation train: Having shaken off all the limits to its nuclear programme it pretended to accept during the Trump Administration, its nuclear programme is perhaps now unstoppable.
The inadequacy of its current defence posture and its military alliance with the US: As underlined by the document, extended deterrence including nuclear weapons is the cornerstone of the US-Japan alliance. Its success until now allowed Japan the luxury of its three nuclear no’s policy no production, possession, or introduction of nuclear weapons on its territory.
What worries Japan in its future adequacy and the options
The stated option: The National Security Strategy calls for Japan to strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of its alliance with the US, including extended deterrence by the US, backed by its full range of capabilities, including nuclear.
Possibility trends of nuclear-sharing by Japan: The unstated part is the possibility of nuclear-sharing by Japan. If implemented, this may be new to Asia but is a long-standing US practice with its key NATO allies in Europe. US willingness to share nuclear-powered submarines with Australia as part of AUKUS is an indicator of possible trends.
Possibility of Japan itself acquiring nuclear weapons: The document makes no reference to this. But there are references to the US – in Japan’s view the world’s greatest comprehensive power finding it increasingly difficult to maintain a free and open international order. Behind Japanese politeness, the message is clear.
Strategic autonomy in Japanese style: Significantly, the document adds that Japan would seek to strengthen its defence capabilities to the point at which Japan is able to take primary responsibility for its defence, without excluding support from the US.
If Japan goes nuclear, India should welcome the decision: In our separate ways, India and Japan privileged nuclear disarmament as a priority. But there comes a time when this national preference must be subordinated to the demands of national security.
Understanding the reason: India reached this conclusion reluctantly but with good reason in 1998. If Japan were to reach the same conclusion, it too would have good reason to do so.
Ensuring self-defence capabilities and Upholding the sovereignty: Its technological capabilities are not in doubt. It is for Japan to exercise its inherent and inalienable right of ensuring the necessary means of self-defence. Thinking the unthinkable in terms of changing policy is an attribute of sovereignty, not its negation.
Way ahead
Japan’s turn towards an explicit nuclear option will come, if at all, not out of choice but out of necessity.
Its strategic predicament, laid bare by the document, is compounded by the lack of easy answers, a predicament that India should view with sympathy and understanding of a fellow Asian country.
Japan is also a strong supporter of the NPT, and its derivative non-proliferation regime but it is also painfully aware that the NPT does precious little to constrain China, nor for that matter DPRK.
The gap between Japan’s security needs in a nuclearized world and its non-nuclear public sentiment was papered over in the past by US extended deterrence. It looks less likely that will be the case in the future.
Conclusion
A multipolar Indo-Pacific can be truly multipolar only if Japan is assured of national defence through the means of its choosing. As a strategic partner and friend, we must keep faith that Japan will make the right decision at the right time.
Mains question
Q. Recently Japan released its National security strategy. In this backdrop discuss what concerns Japan and how India should view this development?
GS-2 Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Governor of Tamil Nadu left the assembly session of house while chief minister was point out that governor skip the certain portion of the speech which he was suppose to read. This has again raised the questions over powers and functions of governor.
History about powers of governor and assembly address
Non-interference of Governors under British: A good governor must stay above politics and manifestly be seen as impartial and fair. In 1937, when the Congress won elections in seven provinces, it took office on the condition that the British governors would not interfere in the functioning of its ministries and refrain from exercising “discretion and special powers”.
Special powers under the constitution: However, after Independence, India conferred the same special powers on governors.
Yogender Singh Handa v. State of Rajasthan (1967): In 1967, Rajasthan Governor Sampuranand skip a part the speech. In Yogender Singh Handa v. State of Rajasthan (1967), the Rajasthan High Court held that some portion read by the governor was good enough to deem the whole address as read.
Governor Padmaja Naidu case: On February 8, 1965, when her request for “silence, silence, permit me to address” was ignored, West Bengal Governor Padmaja Naidu left the assembly without delivering the ceremonial address. The Speaker took the chair and announced that the governor had been pleased to make her speech and lay a copy of her speech on the table of the House.
Integral part of assembly: The governor is an integral part of the legislative assembly. He calls its sessions and he dissolves the House.
Right to address first session of the house: Under Article 176(2(b), he has the right to address the first session of the House. This address is an integral part of constitutional symbolism and has huge significance.
Powers of cabinet, not Governor’s: The Constitution gives no discretion to governors in the matter of convening the session of the assembly. Parliamentary democracy being the basic structure of our Constitution, this is the prerogative of the Cabinet though Article 174 does say that the governor from time to time summons the assembly to meet at such time and place “he thinks fit”.
Nabam Rebia (2016) case: Governors have no business to question the purpose of convening the sessions of the House. A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court in Nabam Rebia (2016) had observed that the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, J P Rajkhowa, who advanced the session of the assembly without the advice of the chief minister, had exceeded his jurisdiction as he had no discretion in convening the assembly session.
Legality of governor skipping the mandatory speech to assembly
Governor cannot decline to give a speech: Justice B N Banerjee of the Calcutta High Court in Andul Gafoor Habibullah v. Speaker, West Bengal Assembly (1966) held that the governor cannot decline to deliver his address and refuse to fulfil his constitutional duty.
Failure to address is irregularity not legality: The address under Article 176 is mandatory. However, the HC held that when the governor fails to deliver his address under Article 176 and walks out of the House after laying down the address on the table of the House, this is mere irregularity, not illegality.
Non-judiciable in court: It cannot be questioned under Article 212, wherein the validity of the House proceedings cannot be challenged on the ground of mere irregularity in the procedure. The petitioner’s claim, in this case, was that since the House did not start its proceedings with the customary address by the governor, it has vitiated the proceedings of the House.
Implications: If governor refuses/fails to deliver assembly address?
Possibility of constitutional crisis: Governors editing/deleting the speech may indeed create a constitutional crisis. The chief minister may refuse to defend the address in his response at the end of the debate on the governor’s address and with the chief minister commanding a majority, the House may reject the resolution on the governor’s speech.
CM may need to resign: When the governor’s/president’s address faces such a defeat, it is considered a no-confidence motion and the chief minister or the prime minister as the case may be, needs to resign.
Resignation over irregularity: Such a resignation for something that the government did not include in the ceremonial address but the governor had said on its own would not only be grossly unjust and unethical but absolutely undemocratic.
Past precedence of resignation: Chief Minister Gurnam Singh of Punjab in 1967 had resigned when the governor’s address was defeated on the floor of the House. UP CM C B Gupta too had to resign in similar circumstances when a resolution thanking the governor was defeated in the UP assembly. Thus, the governor has no discretion in editing the address.
Conclusion
Governor is neither a decorative emblem nor a glorified cipher. His powers are limited but he has an important constitutional role to play in the governance of the state and in strengthening federalism. He is the head of the state and all chief ministers, including the Tamil Nadu chief minister, must remember it. All governors too must remain true to their oath of preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution.
Mains Question
Q. What are the functions of the Governor with respect to addressing the assembly of the state? What may be the implications of the Governor skipping the address to assembly?
FHS)-4 (2015–16) and the fifth round (2019–2020), there has been a considerable increase in the number of malnourished children in India, and the progress made during the first half of the decade appears to have been undone. Malnutrition in the North-eastern states of India is worse than the country average.
Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients.
For a child’s motor, sensory, cognitive, social, and emotional development, malnutrition has substantial long-term effects. It impedes productivity and academic progress.
The term malnutrition covers two broad groups of conditions
Undernutrition: Undernutrition includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals).
Overnutition: The other is overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer).
Did you know?
Stunting, or low height for age, is a recognized risk factor for children’s delayed development.
According to a study, a 1% reduction in adult height as a result of childhood stunting is linked to a 1.4% reduction in economic productivity.
Children who are stunted, earn 20% less as adults.
Upsurge in stunting: Four states in the Northeast Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura have seen an upsurge in stunting among children under the age of five. Stunting is highest in Meghalaya at 46.8 %, followed by Nagaland (32.7%), Tripura (32.3 %), and Mizoram (28.9%). In Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura, the percentage of kids who are stunted, wasting, underweight, or overweight has increased
Levels of stunting decreased in Assam: The NFHS-5 shows Assam, Manipur and Sikkim have shown a drop in stunting levels. In Assam, stunting has decreased by almost one percentage point, although rates of overweight (2.3% to 4.9%), underweight (29.8% to 32.8%), and stunting (17% to 21.7%) have all increased, whereas that of wasting and underweight have decreased by more than 2% in each instance.
Sikkim performs better than other NE states: As the number of stunted, wasting, and underweight children has dropped, Sikkim has done considerably better than other NE states so has Manipur, with a decrease in wasting from 6.8% to 9.9% in under-five children.
Increase in no of overweight people in every NE state: Every state in the Northeast saw an increase in the number of overweight people, which amplifies the growing double burden of malnutrition in the states.
Appropriate foods and feeding practices show Higher immunity
Feeding practices adequate only in Meghalaya and Tripura: The percentages of breastfeeding children receiving adequate complementary foods have improved only in Meghalaya and Tripura. Early initiation of breastfeeding is on the decline in six out of the eight northeastern states, with highest levels in Sikkim (33.5%) and Assam (15.3%).
Reduction in exclusive breastfeeding rates (EBF): Sikkim, Tripura, and Manipur all exhibit a notable reduction in exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates. EBF in Sikkim is the lowest at 28.3 percent, far lower than the national average of 63.7 percent. Tripura demonstrated a gain of 39.5 percentage points in the practice of timely introduction of semi-solid food, whereas Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh showed a slight fall.
All NE states except Assam performed well on diet adequacy: Minimum Adequate Diet (or diet adequacy) is a combined indicator of feeding frequency and diet variety. From 8% to 29.8%, there is a significant range throughout the northeastern states. All states, with the exception of Assam, have performed better on this measure than the nation as a whole.
The situation with obesity is more complicated: Only Meghalaya and Nagaland have seen decreases, while the other six states have seen increases. It is heartening to see a declining trend in underweight women (BMI < 18.5) in all eight northeastern states.
Anaemia is increased: In six of the eight northeastern states, anaemia among women of reproductive age has increased, with Tripura worst at 67.2%, and Assam at 65.9%.
How malnutrition can be tackled in NE?
Finding out the causes: Stunting among children in the Northeast is caused by a number of factors, including poor maternal health, a lack of antenatal care, inadequate infrastructure and healthcare facilities, inadequate feeding and nutrition for women, and limited access to education, clean drinking water, and sanitary facilities.
For instance: Lack of toilets, drinking water and cooking fuels in the home environment have an impact on child malnutrition, according to a 2015 study on indigenous peoples in the Northeast.
Improving the maternal nutrition: Manipur, Mizoram, and Sikkim fare better than the national average in most measures. Newborns’ chances of being stunted are decreased by better maternal nutrition prior to conception, throughout pregnancy, and after delivery. According to data for Sikkim, Manipur, and Mizoram, the risk of stunting decreases as the number of underweight mothers decreases.
Upgrading the service availability: In the northeastern states, the use of supplementary food at the anganwadi centres (ANC) varies greatly, from about 35% in Arunachal Pradesh to 70% in Tripura. A low of 20.7% in Nagaland and a high of 79.4% in Manipur is the ANC coverage across the Northeast.
Improving the required intake of Iron and Folic acid: All states have lower percentages of iron and folic acid (IFA) intake than the national average of 26%, with the exception of Manipur where 30.3% of pregnant women completed the full 180-day course of IFA tablets. Nagaland has the lowest rate, at just 4.1%. Overall, the NE states show a wide variation in service availability and uptake.
Note it down: The innovative programmes to enhance mother and child health
Nutrition gardens: For example, the Assam government encouraged women in rural communities to develop “nutrition gardens” where they could grow vegetables.
My school my Farm: “Kan Sikul, Kan Huan (My School, My Farm)” programme in the most impoverished and disaster-prone area in Mizoram-Lawngtlai.
Lunchbox exchange: The “dibbi adaan pradaan (lunchbox exchange)” initiative in Hailakandi district of Assam for promoting better nutrition and variety in menu.
Conclusion
Malnutrition in the Northeast has to be addressed holistically through the scaling up of direct nutrition interventions and the coupling of them with nutrition-sensitive measures to close the nutrition gap. In the long run, it could be beneficial to improve the monitoring and evaluation of current interventions by building on the POSHAN Abhiyaan and health projects.
Mains question
Q. What is Malnutrition? Malnutrition in the North-eastern states of India is worse than the country average. Discuss.
The Parliamentary Committee on Education has suggested in its report that textbooks should inculcate constitutional values in children and promote national integration.
The committee believes that books should be free from prejudice.
This report has been presented in the Parliament on 19 December 2022.
Key observations and recommendations of the Committee include:
(1) Quality of textbooks
Multidisciplinary approach: The Committee recommended that while creating content for textbooks, inputs by experts from multiple disciplines should be sought.
Imbibe pedagogy: Further, mandatory standards for content, graphics and layout, and pedagogical approaches should be developed.
Interactive learning: The Committee noted the need to have more child-friendly textbooks. It recommended the use of pictures, graphics, and audio-visual material.
Local language curriculum: The Committee recommended that textbooks should be published in all the languages mentioned in the eighth schedule of the Constitution. Further, efforts should be made to develop textbooks in local languages.
(2) Updating syllabus
Internal committee to review: The Committee recommended to set up an internal committee to examine suggestions received from teachers, students, and institutions for updating syllabus of NCERT textbooks.
Nationwide common syllabus: Further, it recommended the Ministry to explore the possibility to develop a core class-wise common syllabus for various subjects for implementation.
Reducing number of textbooks: Ex. Maharashtra’s Ekatmik Pathya Pustak- a single book for several subjects for class one students in order to lighten the school bag. The Committee recommended that other states should also follow a similar approach.
(3) Representation of women in textbooks
No stereotyping: Women are underrepresented in school textbooks and are depicted in traditional and voluntary roles.
Recognition of women’s contribution: NCERT should undertake efforts to (i) make textbooks gender inclusive, (ii) portray women in emerging professions, and (iii) adequately represent role of women in the Indian freedom movement.
(4) Depiction of history
No distortions: The Committee noted that many historical figures and freedom fighters in history textbooks have been portrayed in an incorrect manner as offenders.
No undue dynastic glorification: Further, it noted that there is unequal representation of various periods and dynasties in history textbooks.
Focus on national issues: Ideas of ‘national history’, or conflating the ancient and medieval periods of Indian history as indigenous and foreign respectively, are some examples of this.
Focus on nation-building aspects: The Committee recommended: (i) updating history textbooks to include certain details (such as post 1947 history and world history), (ii) reviewing depiction of freedom fighters from various regions and communities.
(5) Others
Information on drug and internet addiction: The Committee noted that drug addiction is cutting across class divide and has adverse effects on the socio-economic structure of the country.
Higher ethical standards: via character-building and good citizenship values.
Broader Issue: Attempts to re-write History
The Home Minister has pitched for decolonizing history textbooks of India.
Why did he say this? Here is the answer-
Disproportionate allocation of spaces in history: It is observed that school textbooks (at present) do not give adequate coverage to some of the great Indian empires like that of Cholas, Chalukyas, Vijayanagar, Gondwana or that of Travancore and Ahoms of the northeastern region but glorifies Mughal history.
Glorification of selective leaders and events: Leaders like Motilal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu and Abul Kalam Azad find elaborate mentions — and nothing objectionable about that — other great leaders like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Gopinath Bordoloi or revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh are either ignored or at times are mentioned as offenders.
Depiction of Women: Notable women in all fields, and their contributions, like that of Ahilyabai Holkar, Abala Bose, Anandi Gopal Joshi, Rani Ma Gaidinliu, Captain Prem Mathur, Cornelia Sorabji, Durgavati Devi, Janaki Ammal, Mahasweta Devi, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Kittur Chennamma, Savitribai Phule and many others have not found adequate mention in NCERT textbooks.
Way forward
School textbooks need to reflect historical scholarship that is methodologically rigorous and based on primary research, while also keeping in mind pedagogical considerations.
There is a constant need to question, revisit and revise our understanding of the past through rigorous examination of historical and archaeological sources.
Equally important for us is to be cautious about the use of present-day ideas to construct and bolster history and historical consciousness.
School textbooks need to reflect historical scholarship that is methodologically rigorous and based on primary research, while also keeping in mind pedagogical considerations.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has come up with draft guidelines on the preliminary assessment of whether certain minors are to be tried under law as adults in particular cases, under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and Adults
The JJ Act, 2015 replaced the Indian juvenile delinquency law, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.
It allows for juveniles in conflict with Law in the age group of 16–18, involved in Heinous Offences, to be tried as adults.
The Act also sought to create a universally accessible adoption law for India.
It came into force from 15 January 2016.
Preliminary assessment as per the JJ Act
Assessment of the offender child: The Act directs that the Board shall consider the mental and physical capacity of the child for committing the alleged offence, the ability to understand the consequences of the offence, and the circumstances in which the offence was committed.
Psychological ‘trial’: It states that the Board can take the assistance of experienced psychologists or psychosocial workers or other experts. The Act also gives a disclaimer that the assessment is not a trial, but is only to assess the capacity of the child to commit and understand the consequences of the alleged offence.
Arriving at conclusion: After the assessment, the Board can pass an order saying there is a need to try the said child as an adult and transfer the case to a children’s court with the relevant jurisdiction.
Penalty: If tried as a minor, the child could be sent to a special home for a maximum of three years. If tried as an adult, the child can be sentenced to a jail term, except being sentenced to death or life imprisonment without the possibility of release.
Why has the NCPCR come up with draft guidelines now?
The Supreme Court is hearing a case related to the murder of a Class 2 student in Haryana, allegedly by a 16-year-old.
The task of preliminary assessment under the JJ Act is a ‘delicate task’, concluded SC.
It said that the consequences of the assessment on whether the child is to be tried as an adult or a minor are “serious in nature and have a lasting effect for the entire life of the child”.
It said that the assessment requires expertise and directed that appropriate and specific guidelines be put in place.
It had left it open to the Central government and the National and State Commissions for the Protection of Child Rights to consider issuing the guidelines.
Major draft guidelines by NCPCR
The draft relying on already existing provisions in the Act says that the preliminary assessment has to determine following aspects:
Physical capacity of the child: To determine the child’s ‘locomotor’ abilities and capacities, particularly with regard to gross motor functions such as walking, running, lifting, throwing…such abilities as would be required to engage in most antisocial activities.
Mental capacity: To determine the child’s ability to make social decisions and judgments. It also directs assessments pertaining to mental health disorders, substance abuse, and life skills deficits.
Circumstances in which the offence was allegedly committed: Psychosocial vulnerabilities of the child. This is to include life events, any trauma, abuse, and mental health problems, stating that the offence behaviour is a cumulative consequence of a lot of other circumstances.
Ability to understand the consequences of the alleged offence: To determine the child’s knowledge or understanding of the alleged offence’s social, interpersonal and legal consequences. These include what others will say or perceive him, how it might affect his personal relationships and the knowledge of relevant laws, respectively.
Building a rapport: It also states that the experts must be given an optimal opportunity to interact with the child to build a rapport. Experts can be from the field of child psychology and psychiatry. It also states they must undergo regular training.
Others: Other reports that the Board is to rely on include the Social Investigation Report, Social Background Report an Individual Care Plan, statements of witnesses and interaction with parents, guardians, school staff, peer groups and neighbours.
Way forward
Government should amend JJ Act 2015.
Such an amendment would go a long way in providing the requisite balance between the rationales underlying the juvenile justice system and the criminal justice system and realizing the objectives professed by both.
