Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from July 16, 2022

Perspectives on Indian freedom struggle

Intro: The Indian Independence Movement was a series of historic events with the ultimate aim of ending the British rule in India.  Radical Humanist perspective: was advocated by MN Roy. He published his thoughts in New Humanism-A manifesto. He said radical humanism was called radical because it rejected many traditional political and philosophical assumptions and humanism   as its focus was entirely on the needs and conditions of human beings. Roy was an advocate of “party-less democracy.’ Hence he held critical views regarding role of Congress and Gandhi in INM. For Roy, Congress wanted to end the British rule and establish congress rule over India. Roy called Gandhi a “weak and watery man who was always on a lookout for appointments with the Viceroy.” MN Roy and his followers quit the congress and dissolved their “League of Radical Congressmen” to create “Radical democratic Party” in 1939. They were opposed to the congress regarding World War II. They favored Indian...

Ethnicity in Indian Politics

Intro: Ethnicity refers to  a social group that shares a common and distinctive culture, religion, language. Political sociology approach of comparative politics studies interface of politics with societal factors like ethnicity,caste,religion,etc Donald Horowitz-His book - ethnic groups and conflict said ethnicity was in the backwaters of social sciences. But now it is coming in forefront of democracy and politics. It is difficult to determine Ethnicity in the Indian context as it constitutes four dimensions – caste, religion, language and race. This reflects the multilayered or overlapping identities in the ethnicity of India. management of ‘ethnic’ conflicts has been possible due to a certain kind of political culture which exists in India, that is, a fluid sense of identity. Its implication being that no conflict can accumulate to the extent of completely damaging the democratic fabric Paul brass in his book “ethnic groups and the state” mentions about the struggle of ethnic gr...

Judicial Activism

Intro:Lord Bryce: Therese is no better test of excellence of the govt than the performance of its judicial system. Phases of judiciary- 1950-1967 : positivist reading(literal reading) of the constitution (legal positivism) 1967-77: Challenger to executive overreach Judicial activism particularly after KIeshwananda Bharati Judiciary as an institution: Admirer- Prof Upendra Baxi- says it has done chemotherapy of carcinogenic indian politics. From SC of India to SC of Indians. Says SC is essentially acting as the institution of governance and not merely settling disputes Critic P B Mehta- calls it a paradoxical institution( want others to be accountable but khud nahi). Called judiciary’s use of powers of contempt as “judicial barbarism.” Calls it promise of uncertainty, ie it keeps changing its views in subsequent judgments  India is an example of judicial sovereignty. Mentions "post democracy" ie strengthening of non elected institutions. Lavanya Rajamani of Centre for polic...

16 July 2022: IMPORTANT News for UPSC

Current Affairs Important Newspaper highlights for UPSC 16 July 2022 The HINDU   ☘️FRONTPAGE: IIM M ranked country's top higher education institute  (Page 1) ☘️ STATES: Assam, Arunachal CMs agree to border realignment based on 1960 (Page 4) ☘️ STATES: 🐒 Monkeypox: Karela on high alert (Page 5) 🔆 Editorial: The UKRAINE war and the return to Europe centrism (Page 6) ☘️ NEWS: Bangladesh on path of modernisation: Rajnath (Page 9) ☘️ NEWS: 36 RAFAEL jets delivered to India: France (Page 9) ☘️ NEWS: Rise in unvaccinated children in India (Page 10)  ☘️ WORLD: IRAN, BELARUS to newest SCO members  (Page 11)  ☘️ BUSINESS: PUBLIC copex plan key to long-term growth: FM (Page 10)  The Indian EXPRESS   🌾 FRONT PAGE :US House votes for sanctions waiver to India over S-400s(Page 5) 🌾 FRONT PAGE :NIRF: IITs sweep rankings, IISc tops universities, Delhi colleges shine(Page 5) 🌾 FRONT PAGE : Basic pay, wages: Govt open to relook labour code proposals(Page 5) 🌾 GOVT...