UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 6 February 2024

GS1/ GS2 Paper 

 Syllabus: Indian Society/ Indian Constitution

Source: TH

 Context: Controversy arose during the new Parliament’s inaugural session when Members received copies of the Indian Constitution without the terms ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ in the Preamble. The article discusses controversies over the Indian Constitution’s preamble and emphasizes the importance of “We the People” in popular sovereignty.

About the Indian Preamble:

The Indian Preamble serves as an introductory statement to the Constitution, outlining its objectives and guiding principles. It declares India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, committed to justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all citizens. The Preamble reflects the aspirations of the Indian people towards building a just and inclusive society.

Background of Preamble:

The Indian Preamble, based on the Objectives Resolution, was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Constituent Assembly on 13 December 1946 and adopted on 26 November 1949. It came into force on 26 January 1950, Republic Day. During the Indian emergency, Indira Gandhi amended it to include the words “socialist,” “secular,” and “integrity.” (42nd Amendment Act of 1976)

Meaning of the phrase ‘We the People’ in the Preamble:

It signifies the principle of popular sovereignty, emphasizing that power resides with the citizens, not just the government. It forms the foundation of the Constitution’s goals of justice, liberty, and equality for all citizens. ‘We the People’ supports non-elite movements, such as farmers’ protests, highlighting marginalized groups’ assertions of rights in democracy. It contrasts elite dominance in public discourse, advocating for inclusive participation from all social segments.

Meaning of the words Socialist, Secular and Plural:

India, a land of myriad cultures, religions, and traditions, is often described as a vibrant tapestry of secularism and plurality. The constitutional principles of secularism embedded in the nation’s foundation affirm the equality of all religions, advocating for a harmonious coexistence of diverse faiths.

Secularism and plurality being implicit in Indian society:

1. Ancient past: India has been a pluralistic society for centuries with diverse religions, languages, and ethnicities co-existing mostly peacefully. This plural ethos is ingrained in Indian society.
2. Multiple religions: India is home to a multitude of religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and more. This diversity is exemplified by religious sites coexisting in close proximity.
   • For instance, in Delhi, the Lotus Temple (Bahá’í Faith), Jama Masjid (Islam), and Akshardham Temple (Hinduism) stand as symbols of India’s acceptance and respect for different faiths.
3. Ideals of tolerance, respect and peaceful existence between different communities date back historically in Indian civilization.
   • Pluralism is an established feature of life in India and we have intense pride in Ajanta caves, the Kashi temple, the Taj Mahal, Gommatesvara of Shravanabelagola and the Golden Temple of Amritsar.
   • Though they represent different faiths there is a sense of emotional experience of being Indian in all these.
4. India legally adopted secularism, whereby the state is separate from religion, upon independence in 1947. This was aligned with the prevailing plural fabric.
   • g. India’s Constitution, encompassing articles 14, 15, 19, 25, 29, and 30, safeguards the rights of minority communities.

Issues with Indian Secularism and Plurality:

1. Sectarian divide: While the Indian constitution upholds secularism, the societal structure continues to be along religious, caste and other community identities that often lead to tensions between groups over access to resources and power.
   1. g. Ongoing conflict in Manipur between Kuki and Meiteis.
2. Vote bank politics: Politics in India has often been enmeshed in employing religious symbolism and sentiments for electoral gains, violating principles of secularism. This threatens inter-community relations.
   1. E.g. Increased instances of communal violence during election.
3. Incidents of communal violence, prejudice, discrimination against religious minorities violate secular traditions and undermine plurality in society.
   1. g. incidents of discriminations against minority and socially disadvantaged communities
4. Issues with imitating western system:g., Japanese historians, influenced by Western Orientalism, created a distorted view of Asia, portraying themselves as superior during the 1^st half of 20^th century (during World Wars). This mindset justified their aggression and exploitation.

Measures to Make Indian Society Secular and Plural: 

1. Promote Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding: “Religion must mainly be a matter of principles only. It cannot be a matter of rules.” – Mahatma Gandhi
2. Education on Pluralism and Secularism: Integrate lessons on secularism and pluralism into educational curricula to promote tolerance and acceptance of diversity from a young age.
3. Empower Marginalized Communities: Implement policies and programs that uplift marginalized communities, ensuring their equal participation and representation in all aspects of society.
4. Ensure Equality Before Law: Uphold the principle of equality before the law, regardless of caste, creed, religion, or gender, to promote a sense of justice and fairness in society.
5. Combat Discrimination and Prejudice: Take proactive measures to address discrimination and prejudice in all forms, including legislative reforms and awareness campaigns.
6. Encourage Grassroots Movements: Support grassroots movements and community initiatives that promote secularism, pluralism, and social justice, empowering ordinary citizens to drive positive change.
7. Political and Social Reforms: Advocate for political and social reforms that dismantle hierarchical structures and promote inclusivity, ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all members of society.

Conclusion

The path forward is to cultivate a pluralistic and secular society, engaging all communities, especially marginalized ones. This entails promoting dialogue and solidarity across social divisions and acknowledging grassroots movements as integral to democracy. Such an approach resonates with Ambedkar’s call for constitutional morality and Gandhi’s vision of Swaraj, aiming for a fairer and more inclusive democracy.

Prelims Links:

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

 Context: The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for Maa Kamakhya Divya Lok Pariyojana, which aims to enhance access and amenities for pilgrims visiting the Kamakhya temple (under the PM-DevINE scheme)

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

Context: The Union Minister of Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs, inaugurated the C-CARES web portal of the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organization (CMPFO).

• Developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), the portal marks a significant step in digitizing CMPFO’s records and processes.
• CMPFO administers the Provident Fund and Pension schemes for coal sector workers.
• The portal enables online processing and settlement of PF and pension claims, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and record management.
• C-CARES allows subscribers to access their details and subscription status, while coal management can submit contributions, subscriber particulars, and claims for online settlement.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: NewsOnAir

Context: India formally launched the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the Republic Day reception.

• It is a significant step towards taking UPI global and fostering stronger ties.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

 Context: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH launched two digital modules, the Maritime Single Window (MSW) and the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), within the SagarSetu (NLP-Marine) platform.

• These initiatives align with the Maritime Vision 2030, focusing on operational efficiency, technology integration, and improved ease of doing business in India’s maritime sector.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE 

Context: NASA has completed the first phase of its project to develop a nuclear fission reactor for the Moon, aiming to create a small electricity-generating reactor for future lunar missions and outposts.

• The project involves designing a reactor, power conversion systems, heat rejection mechanisms, and power distribution systems.
• This initiative supports NASA’s goal of establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon for at least a decade.

Nuclear power is seen as a reliable option for lunar exploration, especially during extended lunar nights, as it operates independently of solar conditions.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

 Context: The Dusted Apollo (Parnassius stenosemus), a rare high-altitude butterfly, has been sighted and photographed for the first time in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district.

• Discovered in 1890, this species is extremely rare and has never been photographed in the region before.

Its distribution range extends from Ladakh to West Nepal, flying between 3,500 to 4,800 meters in the inner Himalayas.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Context: Scientists theorize that extracting matter and energy from the Ergosphere, the region between the event horizon and the stationary limit of a rotating black hole, is possible.

What is Ergosphere?

The ergosphere is a region surrounding a rotating black hole, located between the event horizon and the stationary limit. In this area, space-time itself is dragged along with the rotation of the black hole. Objects within the ergosphere are forced to rotate along with the black hole’s spin due to the distortion of spacetime caused by its immense gravitational pull.

The event horizon, on the other hand, is a theoretical boundary around a black hole beyond which no radiation can escape.