Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
2. Critically analyse the various issues in criminalising marital rape in India? What is your view in regards to this issue? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday delivered a split verdict on decriminalising marital rape in the country. While Justice Rajiv Shakdher struck down Exception 2 of the Indian Penal Code’s Section 375 that decriminalised rape within marriage, Justice C. Hari Shankar upheld its validity.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about obstacles in criminalising marital rape in India.
Directive word:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a balanced judgment on the topic.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context regarding petition against marital rape.
Body:
First, mention the need to criminalise marital rape – against right to dignity under Article 21, Gender violence, against article 14, marital rape has adverse and long-term consequences on women’s health and well-being etc.
Next, write about the factors which creates obstacles for criminalisation of marital rape – lack of consensus, investigation process, fake cases etc.
Suggest reforms to overcome the above issues.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a balanced way forward and with your view on the criminalisation of marital rape.
