TOP 5 TAKKAR NEWS OF THE DAY (1st SEPTEMBER 2023)

1. THE PARDONING POWER OF PRESIDENT

TAG: GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: A death-row convict whose mercy petition has been disposed of by the president will have no right to appeal in a court against the decision when the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill (BNSS), 2023 becomes law.

WHAT IS BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA (BNSS) BILL, 2023?

  • 3 New Bills have been brought up by the parliament to repeal Indian Penal Code, 1860, Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 and Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
  • The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 will be replaced by the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023.

WHAT DOES BNSS BILL PROPOSES?

  • Article 72 of the Constitution empowers the president to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of anyone convicted of any offence.
  • According to section 473, an addition to the BNSS Bill, no appeal shall lie in any court against the order of the president made under Article 72 of the constitution and it shall be final, and any question as to the arriving of the decision by the President shall not be enquired into in any court.
  • Section 473 of the BNSS Bill also seeks to rule out delays on account of separate pleas filed by multiple death-row convicts in the same case. E.g., In the Nirbhaya case, the four convicts had filed their mercy pleas at separate times, forcing a delay until the last plea was rejected.
  • It proposes that a jail superintendent shall ensure that every convict, in case there are more than one in a case, submits the mercy plea within 60 days.
  • If no such petition is received from the other convicts, he shall himself send the names, addresses, copies of the case records and all other details to the Centre or the state government, along with the original mercy petition.
  • However, no time-limit has been specified for the president for disposing of the mercy petitions.
  • Section 473 of the BNSS Bill also seeks to give the Union 60 days’ time from the date of receipt of the state government’s comments on the pleas to send its recommendation to the president.
  • Although there is no deadline for the president to decide on mercy petitions, the Union requests that the president’s decision be conveyed to the state home department and jail superintendent involved within 48 hours of the decision being made.

RULING OF SUPREME COURT:

  • There have been several instances in the past where death row convicts approached the court at the eleventh hour, seeking a review of the president’s rejection of their mercy petitions.
  • In Shatrughan Chauhan & Anr vs Union Of India , 1947 case, the Supreme Court has ruled in the past that the exercise of prerogative powers, such as clemency and pardons, by the president or the governor is justiciable and may be challenged on grounds like an “undue and unexplained” delay, solitary confinement etc.
  • For e.g., 1991 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon in 2015 and the four Nirbhaya case convicts in 2020.

SOURCE: https://m.thewire.in/article/rights/new-bill-proposes-to-make-presidents-call-on-mercy-plea-final-to-reduce-judicial-delays/amp

2. THE INDUS WATERS TREATY (IWT)

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: Pakistan ‘unilaterally’ initiated arbitration at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) to address the interpretation and application of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in Jan 2023. But today, India and Pakistan must recognise their common interest in the optimum development of the Indus rivers system.

INDUS WATER TREATY:

WHAT IS THE ISSUE OVER IWT?

  • The Kishanganga and Rattle hydroelectric power projects in Jammu and Kashmir are at the centre of the current conflict between India and Pakistan.
  • Pakistan has objected, citing treaty violations and potential harm to its water supply, which is against the terms contained in the treaty’s Annexure D.
  • Pakistan first raised its concerns over the Kishanganga project in 2006 and the Rattle project on the Chenab in 2012. In 2010, the dispute on the Kishanganga project was taken to the Court of Arbitration (CoA).
  • Pakistan contended that India’s plan is not in line with Article III, Article IV (6) and Paragraph 15(iii) of Annexure D of the IWT.
  • In 2013, the CoA delivered the final judgment, ruling that the Kishanganga hydroelectric project is a run-of-river dam.
  • India, under the IWT, can divert water from the river Kishanganga/Neelum for power generation.
  • India has to maintain a minimum flow of water in the Kishanganga/Neelum river to nine cusecs (cubic metre of water per second).
  • The two countries reached an amicable resolution on only one out of four issues that were expected to be resolved.
  • In 2016, Pakistan requested the World Bank to form a CoA:
  • India requested a neutral expert be appointed to deal with the dispute. At that time, the World Bank paused the works on the Kishanganga and Rattle projects “to allow the two countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements”.

STANCE OF INDIA:

  • In 2023, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) unanimously rejected India’s objections and confirmed its competence to consider and resolve the disputes raised by Pakistan.
  • The PCA, based on its interpretation of paragraph 1 of Annexure G and Article IX of, unanimously said that it is competent to “consider and determine the disputes set forth in Pakistan’s Request for Arbitration”.
  • India said: It cannot be “compelled to recognize or participate in illegal and parallel proceedings not envisaged by the Treaty”.
  • India has been participating in the neutral expert’s proceedings whose first meeting was held at The Hague on February 27-28.

WAY FORWARD:

  • Revisiting the Indus Water Treaty will be helpful rather than the Court action. The need is to incorporate equitable and reasonable utilisation and the no harm rule in the IWT.
  • It requires better ties and enduring trust between India and Pakistan.
  • There is a remote chance that Pakistan will agree to India’s request to renegotiate to modify parts of the IWT’s clauses because of a wide trust gap between the two nations.
  • There is a need to involve local stakeholders in any negotiation process between India and Pakistan on shared water issues.
  • A Joint group comprising technocrats, climate experts, water management professionals, and scientists from both countries can be set up to look at the core of the problem.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/cross-the-boulders-in-the-indus-waters-treaty/article67253004.ece

3. THE GOODS AND SERVICES TAX

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: India’s goods and services tax collections grew 11 per cent to Rs 1.60 lakh crore on an annual basis in August 2023.

EXPLANATION:

  • The collection from Goods and Services Tax (GST) was Rs 1,43,612 crore in August 2022.
  • in July 2023, the central and state governments collected ₹1.65 trillion in GST revenue, an improvement of 11 percent from the year-ago period.
  • Among large state economies, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu reported double-digit revenue growth.
  • While Delhi witnessed a 25% annual improvement in GST revenue in July at ₹5405 crore.
  • Uttar Pradesh had reported a 24 percent jump in revenue at ₹8802 crore.
  • In June 2023, the gross GST revenue collected was ₹1,61,497 crore of which CGST was ₹31,013 crore, SGST was ₹38,292 crore, IGST was ₹80,292 crore and cess is ₹11,900 crore.
  • GST collections have grown by more than nominal GDP, despite being no increase in tax rates.
  • This is because of better compliance and improved tax collection efficiency. Tax evasion and avoidance is low.
  • With the onset of festival season, the increased consumer spending for homes, cars, vacations, and other consumer items may also ensure higher monthly GST collections.

Goods and Services Tax (GST):

  • It is an indirect tax (not directly paid by customers to the government) that came into effect on July 1, 2017, as a result of the 101st Amendment to the Indian Constitution.
  • It is imposed on both manufacturers and sellers of goods, as well as suppliers of services.
  • For tax collection, it is divided into five tax slabs – 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%.

GST Council:

  • It is an apex committee to modify, reconciles or make recommendations to the Union and the States on GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected or exempted from GST, model GST laws, etc.
  • Article 279A of the Indian Constitution empowers the President of India to constitute a joint forum of the Centre and States called the GST Council.

SOURCE: https://www.livemint.com/economy/gst-revenues-grow-11-to-about-rs-1-6-lakh-crore-in-august-govt/amp-11693556117569.html

4. Red Sand Boa

TAG: GS 3: Ecology and Environment

Context: A report by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)-India has pointed out 172 incidents of seizures of red sand boa (Eryx johnii) between the years 2016-2021. The report, compiled by the Counter Wildlife Trafficking unit of WCS-India, and titled ‘Illegal Trade of Red Sand Boa in India 2016-2021 ‘ collates information from media reports on the seizures.

EXPLANATION:

Red Sand Boa:

  • The red sand boa is a non-venomous snake found in Iran, Pakistan, and India. It is a primarily reddish-brown and thick-set snake that grows to an average length of 75 cm. Unlike most snakes, the tail is almost as thick as the body and gives the reptile the appearance of being “double-headed”.
  • The red sand boa is found in dry, semi-desert scrub plains and rocky dry foothills. It is a burrowing snake that spends most of its time underground. It feeds on small mammals, lizards, and birds.
  • The red sand boa is a popular pet snake in India. However, it is also a highly sought-after species in the illegal wildlife trade. The snake is believed to have medicinal and supernatural properties, and its price can be very high.
  • The red sand boa is listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The main threats to the snake are habitat loss and illegal trade.
  • The scientific name of the red sand boa, Eryx johnii, is in honor of the English naturalist John John Smith.
  • The red sand boa is the largest of the sand boas in the world.
  • The red sand boa is listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/172-incidents-of-seizures-of-red-sand-boa-recorded-from-2016-to-2021-wcs-india-report/article67249299.ece

5. THE LASER-INDUCED BREAKDOWN SPECTROSCOPY (LIBS)

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument onboard Chandrayaan-3 Rover has made the first-ever in-situ measurements on the elemental composition of the lunar surface near the south pole. These in-situ measurements confirm the presence of Sulphur in the region unambiguously, something that was not feasible by the instruments onboard the orbiters.

EXPLANATION:

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS):

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a rapid, non-destructive analytical technique that uses a laser to ablate a small amount of material from the surface of a sample and then analyzes the light emitted from the resulting plasma. The light emitted from the plasma contains information about the elemental composition of the sample.

  • LIBS is a scientific technique that analyzes the composition of materials by exposing them to intense laser pulses.
  • It a high-energy laser pulse is focused onto the surface of a material, such as a rock or soil.
  • The laser pulse generates an extremely hot and localized plasma.
  • The collected plasma light is spectrally resolved and detected by detectors such as Charge Coupled Devices.
  • Preliminary analyses, graphically represented, have unveiled the presence of Aluminum (Al), Sulphur (S), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Chromium (Cr), and Titanium (Ti) on the lunar surface.
  • That measurement has revealed the presence of manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O). Thorough investigation regarding the presence of Hydrogen is underway.
  • LIBS payload is developed at the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS)/ISRO, Bengaluru.

THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF A LIBS SYSTEM ARE:

  • A laser: The laser is used to ablate the sample material. The most common lasers used for LIBS are Nd:YAG lasers, which operate at a wavelength of 1064 nm.
  • A spectrometer: The spectrometer is used to collect and analyze the light emitted from the plasma.
  • A detection system: The detection system is used to convert the light signal into an electrical signal that can be processed by a computer.

LIBS can be used to analyze a wide variety of materials, including metals, minerals, rocks, and biological materials. It is a versatile technique that can be used for a variety of applications, including:

  • Quality control: LIBS can be used to quickly and easily analyze the elemental composition of materials for quality control purposes.
  • Forensic analysis: LIBS can be used to identify materials and trace the origin of materials.
  • Environmental monitoring: LIBS can be used to measure the elemental composition of air, water, and soil for environmental monitoring purposes.
  • Cultural heritage: LIBS can be used to analyze archaeological and cultural heritage objects to learn more about their composition and history.

The advantages of LIBS:

  • It is a non-destructive technique, meaning that the sample is not damaged during analysis.
  • It is a rapid technique, with analysis times typically taking a few seconds.
  • It is a versatile technique, capable of analyzing a wide variety of materials.
  • It is a sensitive technique, capable of detecting even trace amounts of elements.

Limitations of LIBS:

  • It can be difficult to obtain accurate results for samples with high concentrations of refractory elements.
  • The results can be affected by the surface condition of the sample.
  • The technique can be affected by atmospheric conditions.

Source: https://www.isro.gov.in/LIBSResults.html#:~:text=LIBS%20is%20a%20scientific%20technique,extremely%20hot%20and%20localized%20plasma

https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=LIBS-confirms-presence-of-Sulphur-(S)-on-lunar-surface-through-unambiguous-in-situ-measurements&id=466926



Day-487 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | HISTORY

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  1. Question 1 of 5
    1. Question
    2 points

    1. With reference to the constitutional history of India, which of the following statements is correct?

    Correct

    Answer: B
    Explanation:
    ● The Charter Act of 1793 renewed the charter of the Company for twenty years, giving it possession of all territories in India during that period. In Indian administration, the Governor General’s power over the council was extended and the Governors of Bombay and Madras were brought more decisively under his control. A regular code of all regulations that could be enacted for the internal government of the British territories in Bengal was framed. The regulation applied to all rights, person and property of the Indian people and it bound the courts to regulate their decisions by the rules and directives contained therein. All laws were to be printed with translations in Indian languages, so that people could know of their rights, privileges and immunities. The Act thus introduced in India the concept of a civil law, enacted by a secular human agency and applied universally. Hence, option B is correct.
    ● It was the Regulating Act of 1773, that raised the status of the governor of Bengal to that of governor general, to be assisted by a council of four members. Under the Pitt’s India Act of 1784, the government of India was placed under the governor general and a council of three, thus giving greater power to the former. The presidencies of Madras and Bombay were subordinated to the governor general, whose power over them was now enlarged and more clearly defined. The governor general in council in his turn was subordinated to the Court of Directors and the Board of Control. Thus, a clear hierarchy of command and more direct parliamentary control over Indian administration was established. Hence, option A is incorrect.
    ● Under the Charter Act of 1833 a fourth member, known as the Law Member, was added to the Executive Council of the Governor-General. He was entitled to sit and vote in the Council of the Governor-General only when it met for legislative purposes. Thus for the first time a separation was introduced between the Executive and legislative functions of the Central Government. Another change introduced by this Act was that the Presidency Governments were deprived of their independent legislative power. Hence, option C is incorrect.
    ● It was the Indian Councils Act of 1892, which besides providing the provisions for discussing legislative proposals, the members were allowed to discuss the Annual Financial Statement presented by the Government. However, the Financial Statement was presented as an unalterable document. Members could only present their observations which could have influence on the budget in subsequent years, not on the budget of the year under consideration. In the case of provinces the discussion was limited to those branches of revenue and expenditure which were under the control of Provincial Governments. The members were also allowed to put questions on internal matters. Supplementary questions were not allowed. Hence, option D is incorrect.

    Incorrect

    Answer: B
    Explanation:
    ● The Charter Act of 1793 renewed the charter of the Company for twenty years, giving it possession of all territories in India during that period. In Indian administration, the Governor General’s power over the council was extended and the Governors of Bombay and Madras were brought more decisively under his control. A regular code of all regulations that could be enacted for the internal government of the British territories in Bengal was framed. The regulation applied to all rights, person and property of the Indian people and it bound the courts to regulate their decisions by the rules and directives contained therein. All laws were to be printed with translations in Indian languages, so that people could know of their rights, privileges and immunities. The Act thus introduced in India the concept of a civil law, enacted by a secular human agency and applied universally. Hence, option B is correct.
    ● It was the Regulating Act of 1773, that raised the status of the governor of Bengal to that of governor general, to be assisted by a council of four members. Under the Pitt’s India Act of 1784, the government of India was placed under the governor general and a council of three, thus giving greater power to the former. The presidencies of Madras and Bombay were subordinated to the governor general, whose power over them was now enlarged and more clearly defined. The governor general in council in his turn was subordinated to the Court of Directors and the Board of Control. Thus, a clear hierarchy of command and more direct parliamentary control over Indian administration was established. Hence, option A is incorrect.
    ● Under the Charter Act of 1833 a fourth member, known as the Law Member, was added to the Executive Council of the Governor-General. He was entitled to sit and vote in the Council of the Governor-General only when it met for legislative purposes. Thus for the first time a separation was introduced between the Executive and legislative functions of the Central Government. Another change introduced by this Act was that the Presidency Governments were deprived of their independent legislative power. Hence, option C is incorrect.
    ● It was the Indian Councils Act of 1892, which besides providing the provisions for discussing legislative proposals, the members were allowed to discuss the Annual Financial Statement presented by the Government. However, the Financial Statement was presented as an unalterable document. Members could only present their observations which could have influence on the budget in subsequent years, not on the budget of the year under consideration. In the case of provinces the discussion was limited to those branches of revenue and expenditure which were under the control of Provincial Governments. The members were also allowed to put questions on internal matters. Supplementary questions were not allowed. Hence, option D is incorrect.

  2. Question 2 of 5
    2. Question
    2 points

    2. Consider the following features:
    1. Presence of Hindu-Muslim unity
    2. Major labour participation
    3. Minimum participation of Intelligentsia
    4. Massive business class support
    Which of the above mentioned features are exclusive to the Civil Disobedience Movement and not to be found in the previous Gandhian movements?

    Correct

    Answer: C
    Explanation:
    ● On 31 January 1930 Gandhi announced an eleven point ultimatum for Lord Irwin; if these demands were met by 11 March, he declared, there would be no Civil Disobedience and the Congress would participate in any conference.
    ● Irwin was in no mood to compromise, and hence on 12 March began Gandhi’s historic Dandi March to the Gujarat seashore where on 6 April he publicly violated the salt law.
    ● The wholesale illegal manufacture and sale of salt, accompanied by boycott of foreign cloth and liquor, nonpayment of revenue in the ryotwari areas, non-payment of chaukidari taxes in the zamindari areas and violation of forest laws in the Central Provinces, encouraged in nearly all parts of India a mass movement that did not merely involve non-cooperation with a foreign government, but actual violation of its laws to achieve complete independence.
    ● But at the same time, it was not an unqualified success. There was a discernible absence of Hindu-Muslim unity, no major labour participation and the intelligentsia was not as involved as in the past. On the other hand, a new feature of the Civil Disobedience Movement was massive business support. The other most important feature of the Civil Disobedience Movement was largescale women’s participation.
    Hence, option C is the correct answer.

    Incorrect

    Answer: C
    Explanation:
    ● On 31 January 1930 Gandhi announced an eleven point ultimatum for Lord Irwin; if these demands were met by 11 March, he declared, there would be no Civil Disobedience and the Congress would participate in any conference.
    ● Irwin was in no mood to compromise, and hence on 12 March began Gandhi’s historic Dandi March to the Gujarat seashore where on 6 April he publicly violated the salt law.
    ● The wholesale illegal manufacture and sale of salt, accompanied by boycott of foreign cloth and liquor, nonpayment of revenue in the ryotwari areas, non-payment of chaukidari taxes in the zamindari areas and violation of forest laws in the Central Provinces, encouraged in nearly all parts of India a mass movement that did not merely involve non-cooperation with a foreign government, but actual violation of its laws to achieve complete independence.
    ● But at the same time, it was not an unqualified success. There was a discernible absence of Hindu-Muslim unity, no major labour participation and the intelligentsia was not as involved as in the past. On the other hand, a new feature of the Civil Disobedience Movement was massive business support. The other most important feature of the Civil Disobedience Movement was largescale women’s participation.
    Hence, option C is the correct answer.

  3. Question 3 of 5
    3. Question
    2 points

    3. Consider the following pairs:
    Women’s Organisations – Associated Personalities
    1. Women’s Indian Association – Margaret Cousins
    2. National Council of Women in India – Sarala Devi Chaudhurani
    3. All India Women’s Conference – Lady Mehribai Tata
    4. Bharat Stree Mahamandal – Annie Besant
    How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

    Correct

    Answer: A
    Explanation:
    In the early twentieth century, there came into existence a number of women’s organisations, which operated more actively in the public arena and focused more directly on women’s political and legal rights.
    ● At the all-India level, the first to appear in Madras in 1917 was the Women’s Indian Association, started by enlightened European and Indian ladies, the most important of them being Margaret Cousins, an Irish feminist, and Annie Besant.
    ● In 1925 the National Council of Women in India was formed as a branch of the International Council of Women, and Lady Mehribai Tata remained its main spirit during the early years.
    ● Then in 1927 the most important of these organisations, the All India Women’s Conference came into existence, initially as a non-political body to promote women’s education, with Margaret Cousins as the main inspirational figure.
    ● At the provincial level too, various organisations started functioning around this time for a multitude of women’s issues. Sarala Devi Chaudhurani’s Bharat Stree Mahamandal, which had its first meeting in Allahabad in 1910, opened branches all over India to promote women’s education.

    Incorrect

    Answer: A
    Explanation:
    In the early twentieth century, there came into existence a number of women’s organisations, which operated more actively in the public arena and focused more directly on women’s political and legal rights.
    ● At the all-India level, the first to appear in Madras in 1917 was the Women’s Indian Association, started by enlightened European and Indian ladies, the most important of them being Margaret Cousins, an Irish feminist, and Annie Besant.
    ● In 1925 the National Council of Women in India was formed as a branch of the International Council of Women, and Lady Mehribai Tata remained its main spirit during the early years.
    ● Then in 1927 the most important of these organisations, the All India Women’s Conference came into existence, initially as a non-political body to promote women’s education, with Margaret Cousins as the main inspirational figure.
    ● At the provincial level too, various organisations started functioning around this time for a multitude of women’s issues. Sarala Devi Chaudhurani’s Bharat Stree Mahamandal, which had its first meeting in Allahabad in 1910, opened branches all over India to promote women’s education.

  4. Question 4 of 5
    4. Question
    2 points

    4. With reference to the history of Peasant uprisings during the colonial rule, consider the following statements:
    1. The introduction of new land reforms by the Company’s government became the prime factor for the Peasant uprisings.
    2. One of the important features of these uprisings was the absence of religious ideas in mobilizing the protest.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    Correct

    Answer: A
    Explanation:
    In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries the revenue reforms of the Company’s government had fundamentally affected and altered the Indian rural society.
    ● Not that peasant revolts were unknown in Mughal India; indeed, they became endemic in the first half of the eighteenth century as the rising revenue demands breached the Mughal compromise and affected the subsistence provisions of the peasants, and the Mughal provincial bureaucracy became ever more oppressive and rigorous in collecting it.
    ● The tendency became even more pervasive as the colonial regime established itself, enhanced its power and introduced a series of revenue experiments, the sole purpose of which was to maximize its revenue income. The land reforms and the high revenue demands of the Company’s government had so severely affected the entire rural population that all sections of the peasantry in different parts of the country participated in a series of violent protests. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
    ● In many of the peasant movements during colonial rule, religion played an important role in providing a discursive field within which the peasants understood colonial rule and conceptualised resistance. In other words, their religion defined their ideology of protest. The earliest of these was the Sanyasi and Fakir rebellion, which rocked northern Bengal and adjacent areas of Bihar between 1763 and 1800. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

    Incorrect

    Answer: A
    Explanation:
    In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries the revenue reforms of the Company’s government had fundamentally affected and altered the Indian rural society.
    ● Not that peasant revolts were unknown in Mughal India; indeed, they became endemic in the first half of the eighteenth century as the rising revenue demands breached the Mughal compromise and affected the subsistence provisions of the peasants, and the Mughal provincial bureaucracy became ever more oppressive and rigorous in collecting it.
    ● The tendency became even more pervasive as the colonial regime established itself, enhanced its power and introduced a series of revenue experiments, the sole purpose of which was to maximize its revenue income. The land reforms and the high revenue demands of the Company’s government had so severely affected the entire rural population that all sections of the peasantry in different parts of the country participated in a series of violent protests. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
    ● In many of the peasant movements during colonial rule, religion played an important role in providing a discursive field within which the peasants understood colonial rule and conceptualised resistance. In other words, their religion defined their ideology of protest. The earliest of these was the Sanyasi and Fakir rebellion, which rocked northern Bengal and adjacent areas of Bihar between 1763 and 1800. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

  5. Question 5 of 5
    5. Question
    2 points

    5. With reference to the history of India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
    1. The colonial rule gave a new lease of life to the caste system by redefining and revitalising it with new policies.
    2. The Government of India Act of 1919 provided for special representation of depressed classes through nomination in the legislative councils.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    Correct

    Answer: C
    Explanation:
    ● Colonial rule disengaged the caste system from its pre-colonial political contexts, but gave it a new lease of life by redefining and revitalising it within its new structures of knowledge, institutions and policies. First of all, during its non-interventionist phase, it created opportunities, which were “in theory caste-free”. Land became a marketable commodity; equality before law became an established principle of judicial administration; educational institutions and public employment were thrown open to talent, irrespective of caste and creed. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
    ● Yet the very principle of non-intervention helped maintain the pre-existing social order and reinforced the position of the privileged groups. Only the higher castes with previous literate traditions and surplus resources, could go for English education and new professions, and could take advantage of the new judicial system.
    ● Initially, it was some princely states like Mysore or Kolhapur which in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries introduced the system of caste based reservation of certain proportions of public employment for people of non-Brahman birth, in order to compensate them for their past losses.
    ● Gradually, the colonial administration too discovered the gap between the high caste Hindus and others, particularly the untouchables, now described as the “depressed classes”. It took on the latter as its special ward and initiated a policy of “protective discrimination” in their favour. It meant provision of special schools for their education and reservation of a share of public employment for such candidates and finally, provision for special representation of these classes in the legislative councils. This provision was initially through nomination in the Act of 1919, and then through the announcement of a separate electorate in the Communal Award of 1932. What all these measures resulted in was a relatively greater dispersal of wealth and power across caste lines. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

    Incorrect

    Answer: C
    Explanation:
    ● Colonial rule disengaged the caste system from its pre-colonial political contexts, but gave it a new lease of life by redefining and revitalising it within its new structures of knowledge, institutions and policies. First of all, during its non-interventionist phase, it created opportunities, which were “in theory caste-free”. Land became a marketable commodity; equality before law became an established principle of judicial administration; educational institutions and public employment were thrown open to talent, irrespective of caste and creed. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
    ● Yet the very principle of non-intervention helped maintain the pre-existing social order and reinforced the position of the privileged groups. Only the higher castes with previous literate traditions and surplus resources, could go for English education and new professions, and could take advantage of the new judicial system.
    ● Initially, it was some princely states like Mysore or Kolhapur which in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries introduced the system of caste based reservation of certain proportions of public employment for people of non-Brahman birth, in order to compensate them for their past losses.
    ● Gradually, the colonial administration too discovered the gap between the high caste Hindus and others, particularly the untouchables, now described as the “depressed classes”. It took on the latter as its special ward and initiated a policy of “protective discrimination” in their favour. It meant provision of special schools for their education and reservation of a share of public employment for such candidates and finally, provision for special representation of these classes in the legislative councils. This provision was initially through nomination in the Act of 1919, and then through the announcement of a separate electorate in the Communal Award of 1932. What all these measures resulted in was a relatively greater dispersal of wealth and power across caste lines. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

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