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Current Affairs- January 27, 2024

GS Paper 2- Indian Polity, Fundamental Rights, Issue related to Minority, Indian Judiciary.

1. Aligarh Muslim University minority status

GS Paper 1- Indian Art, Culture, and Heritage, Government Plan and Policies

2. ASI report on Gyanvapi mosque

GS Paper 2- Important international institution

3. South Africa’s genocide case against Israel

Prelims Booster:-

4. All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)

5. PM YASASVI

6. BrahMos supersonic missile

7. Synchronous vulture survey

AMU’s minority status

GS Paper 2- Indian Polity, Fundamental Rights, Issue related to Minority, Indian Judiciary.

Context-:
A seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court (SC) led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud is currently hearing the 57-year-long dispute over the minority character of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

About Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)-:
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in 1877 to address Muslim educational backwardness and protect Islamic values.
The Aligarh Muslim University Act, of 1920, incorporated the college and the Muslim University Association into AMU.
In 1951, the AMU Act was amended to remove compulsory religious education for Muslims and exclusive Muslim representation in the University Court.
Further amendments in 1965 redistributed the Court's powers among other bodies, with the President of India nominating members to the governing body.

Legal Battle on AMU-:
The legal dispute over the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) began in 1967 when the Supreme Court upheld the 1951 and 1965 amendments, stating that the university was not established or administered by the Muslim minority.
This led to nationwide protests, and the AMU Act was amended in 1981, affirming the university's minority status.
In 2005, the Allahabad High Court struck down the university's 50% reservation for Muslim, policy for postgraduate medical seats, which was later appealed by the University and the Union of India to the Supreme Court.
However, in 2016, the Union of India withdrew from the appeal, and the University is now pursuing the case alone.

Question Before Supreme Court-:
The apex court is addressing two issues — the criteria for determining the minority status of an educational institution and whether an institution established under a statute can enjoy such status.
The judgment in this case will set a precedent impacting the rights and legal recognition of all minority institutions.

Constitution and minority character-:
Article 30(1) of the Constitution allows religious and linguistic minorities in India to establish and manage educational institutions of their choice.
These institutions receive equal treatment in granting state aid, and they have the right to reserve up to 50% of seats for their community and greater control over employees.
They are also exempted from implementing SC, ST, and OBC reservations.
The definition of 'minority' is based on the state's demographics, not the national population, as clarified in the T.M.A Pai Foundation case.

Related Search-:
Indian Constitution and Education.
Minority Rights in India.
Education Policies in India

Prelims Specific-:
Constitution and minority character
Articles 25 to 30
About AMU and its Legal Battle
National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.

ASI report on Gyanvapi mosque

GS Paper 1- Indian Art, Culture, and Heritage, Government Plan and Policies

Context-:

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in its scientific survey report on the Gyanvapi mosque complex has concluded that “there existed a Hindu temple before the construction of the existing structure” at the site.

Details-:
The report was submitted to the court last month in a sealed cover.
Its copies were given on Thursday (January 25) by the court to Hindu and Muslim litigants in matters related to the dispute over the site.
The ASI was tasked by the Varanasi district court in July 2023 to conduct a scientific survey of the mosque and ascertain if it was “constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple”.

Background-:

  • The legal dispute over the Gyanvapi land in Varanasi began in 1991, seeking the restoration of the land to Kashi Vishwanath temple, alleging that the mosque was constructed under Aurangzeb's orders after tearing down a part of the temple.
  • In 2019, the Varanasi district court directed the ASI to conduct a scientific survey, leading to various legal actions.
  • The Allahabad HC halted the proceedings in 2021, citing the Places of Worship Act 1991.
  • In July 2023, the Varanasi district court instructed the ASI to survey the mosque to determine whether it was built over a pre-existing temple structure.
  • The survey was temporarily paused by the SC but resumed in August 2023.

Key Highlight of Report-:
1. Pre-existing structure-:
The report mentions the discovery of a loose stone with an inscription dating the construction of a mosque during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1676-77, which was repaired in 1792-93.
However, the lines relating to the mosque's construction and expansion were scratched out.
It was found that the pre-existing structure was destroyed in 1669 under Aurangzeb's orders to demolish the temples of infidels.

2. Inscriptions with deity names-:
The survey recorded 34 inscriptions found on the stones of pre-existing Hindu temples that were reused during the construction or repair of existing structures.
The inscriptions contained names of deities such as Janardhana, Rudra, and Umesvara.
Three inscriptions mentioned the significant term "Maha-muktimandapa," which refers to a platform for freedom.

3. Pre-existing temple-:
A survey found that pillars and pilasters in a corridor were part of a pre-existing temple.
Vyala figures on either side of a lotus medallion were mutilated to reuse them in the existing structure.
The space was decorated with floral design after removing the stone mass from the corners.

4. Sculptural remains-:
During the construction of a platform, pillars from a pre-existing temple were utilized to create cellars in the eastern section to accommodate more people for prayer.
Hindu sculptures and carved architectural pieces were discovered beneath the soil in one of the cellars.

5. Main entrance and central chamber-:
The pre-existing temple had a central chamber and at least one chamber to each cardinal direction.
The central chamber is now the central hall of the current structure, but the main entrance from the west is blocked by stone masonry.
The entrance used to be adorned with carvings of animals and birds and an ornamental gateway.

Related Search-:
Places of Worship Act 1991
About ASI

Prelims Specific-:
Gyanvapi Mosque Dispute.
Places of Worship Act 1991

South Africa’s genocide case against Israel

GS Paper 2- Important international institution

Context-:
The International Court of Justice gave its interim ruling on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel on January 26.

Background of the current verdict-:
Earlier, South Africa brought a case to the ICJ accusing Israel of committing genocide in its military response to the 7 October Hamas attack.
The South African case included references to the Israeli use of blanket bombing and the cutting of food, water and medicine supplies to Gaza.

Details-:

    • A 15:2 majority of the court said that Israel must take all steps in its power to prevent the commission of all acts under Article 2 of the United Nation’s 1948 Genocide Convention.
    • The World Court also said that Israel must prevent its military from committing any genocidal acts “with immediate effect”.
    • The court also directed Israel to provide humanitarian assistance and other basic services to the Palestinians in Gaza, referring to Palestinians as a protected group under the Genocide Convention
    • The court also asked Israel to submit its report to the ICJ on measures taken to implement the ruling within one month.

Genocide Convention-:
The Genocide Convention, formally known as the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, is an international treaty that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9, 1948.
The convention came into force on January 12, 1951.
Its primary purpose is to prevent and punish the crime of genocide.

What is Genocide-:
Article 2 defines “genocide” as “acts committed with intent to destroy, wholly or partly, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group”.
This not only includes killing and causing bodily and mental harm, but also preventing births within a group and inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about a group’s physical destruction.

About the International Court of Justice-:
The ICJ is the main judicial organ of the UN, established in 1945 to settle legal disputes between states and provide advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by the UN General Assembly, Security Council, and other UN specialized agencies.
It consists of 15 judges elected for nine-year terms, ensuring representation of various legal systems and regions.
The ICJ has two types of jurisdiction: contentious and advisory.

Related Search-:
Israel-Palestine conflict.
Houthi’s Attack in Red Sea

Prelims Specific-:
Genocide and Genocide Convention.
International Court of Justice.
Composition and Jurisdictions.

All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)

Context-:
All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), released by the Ministry of Education points out that the overall female enrolment has increased to 2.07 crore in 2021-22 from 2.01 crore in 2020-21.

About AISHE Report-:
The All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) has been conducted by the Ministry of Education since 2011.
It gathers comprehensive information on various parameters, including student enrollment, teachers' data, infrastructure, and financial information, from all higher education institutions in India.

Key Highlights-:
The AISHE report 2021-22 was conducted with 1,168 universities, 45,473 colleges, and 12,002 standalone institutions.
Out of them, 1,162 universities, 42,825 colleges, and 10,576 standalone institutions responded to the survey.
According to the AISHE report, total enrolment in higher education increased to around 4.33 crore in 2021-22 from 4.14 crore in 2020-21, with a 91 lakh increase since 2014-15.

Female Enrolment-:
Female enrolment also rose to 2.07 crore in 2021-22 from 2.01 crore in 2020-21, with an increase of around 50 lakh since 2014-15.
According to a report, female PhD enrolment has doubled from 0.48 lakh in 2014-15 to 0.99 lakh in 2021-22, and the annual increase for the period is 10.4%.
In 2021-22, 57.2 lakh students are enrolled in the science stream, with 29.8 lakh females outnumbering male students.
Female Minority Student enrolment has increased to 15.2 lakh in 2021-22 from 10.7 lakh in 2014-15 (42.3% increase)

SC, OBC and Minority-:
The enrolment of ST students has increased to 27.1 lakh in 2021-22 from 16.41 lakh in 2014-15, representing an increase of 65.2%.
The survey reported an increase of 45% in OBC student enrolment in 2021-22 (1.63 crore) from 2014-15 (1.13 crore).
The Minority Student enrolment has increased to 30.1 lakh in 2021-22 from 21.8 lakh in 2014-15 (an increase of 38%).

Number of Institutions-:
There are 1168 registered universities in India, out of which 685 are government-managed, 10 are private deemed, and 473 are private unaided.
There are also 17 universities exclusively for women. Since 2014-15, 341 universities have been established, and in 2021-22, there are 18 open universities.

State-wise enrolment-:
The top six Indian states in terms of student enrollment are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Rajasthan. Together, they make up 53.3% of total student enrollment.

Teaching Staff in Higher Education-:
In 2021-22, there are 15 million faculty/teachers, with 56.6% male and 43.4% female. The number of teachers has increased by 46,618 from 2020-21. Female faculty has increased 22% since 2014-15 to 6.94 lakh in 2021-22 from 5.69 lakh.

Foreign students-:
In higher education, the total number of foreign students is 46,878. The highest percentage of foreign students in the 2021-22 academic year is from Nepal (28%), followed by Afghanistan (6.7%), the United States (6.2%), Bangladesh (5.6%), the UAE (4.9%), and Bhutan (3.3%).

PM YASASVI Scheme

Context-:
Under the PM YASASVI scheme, ₹32.44 Crore has been released for Pre-matric Scholarships and ₹387.27 Crore for Post-Matric Scholarships to States/Union Territories (UTs) in 2023.

About PM YASASVI-:

    • The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, implements a scholarship for OBCs, EBC, and DNT students permanently settled in India.
    • The scholarship covers tuition and hostel fees for studies within India, with up to Rs. 75,000 per year available for Class 9/10 and up to Rs. 1,25,000 per year for Class 11/12.
    • It includes Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships, as well as scholarships for top schools and colleges for exceptional students.
    • Hostel facilities are also provided for OBC students through a construction scheme.

Eligibility:-
    • The eligibility criteria for the scholarship are students from OBC, EBC, and DNT categories with parents or guardians having an annual income of up to Rs. 2.50 Lakhs.
    • They should be studying in Class 9 or 11 in a top-class school.

BrahMos supersonic missile

Context-:
The DRDO chairman said the first set of BrahMos missile systems is expected to reach the Philippines by the end of March.

    • The venture, valued at USD 375 million, marks DRDO's largest-ever defence contract with a foreign nation.

About BrahMos-:
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a joint venture between India and Russia, is highly successful and recognized as the fastest precision-guided weapon globally.
It is named after the rivers Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia).
It has played a crucial role in strengthening India's deterrence capabilities, with multiple BrahMos regiments integrated into the Indian Army since 2007.

Key Details-:

The missile is a two-stage weapon with a solid propellant booster engine as its first stage and a liquid ramjet as its second stage.

It can reach a speed of Mach 2.8 and has a launch weight of 2,200-3,000 kg.

It operates on the "Fire and Forgets" principle, with a range of 400 to 500 kilometres and a cruising altitude of up to 15 km.

Its terminal altitude is as low as 10 meters, and it carries a conventional warhead weighing 200 to 300 kg.

The missile is equipped with stealth technology to make it less detectable by radar and other detection methods.

Synchronous vulture survey

Context-:
More than 300 vultures were recorded in the recently completed synchronous vulture survey in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR).

Details-:
A total of 217 critically endangered white-rumped vultures (Gyps bengalensis), 47 long-billed vultures (Gyps indicus), 50 Asian king vultures (Sarcogyps calvus), four endangered Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) and two “near threatened” Himalayan griffon vultures (Gyps himalayensis) were recorded during the survey.
The NBR is home to three resident species: the white-rumped, long-billed and Asian king vultures.
It is also home to the last viable populations of the three species south of the Vindhya Range.

About Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR):-

    • The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is India's first biosphere reserve established in 1986, located in the Nilgiri Mountains of the Western Ghats.
    • It covers parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, with a total area of 5,520 sq. km, making it the largest protected forest area in India.
    • The reserve encompasses a wide range of ecosystem types, such as tropical evergreen forests, Montane sholas and grasslands, semi-evergreen forests, and deciduous forests.
    • The annual rainfall ranges from 500 mm to 7000 mm, and the reserve is home to various tribal groups.
    • The protected areas present within this reserve include Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Wyanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park, and Silent Valley.
    • It is India's first biosphere reserve under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program.