UPSC Articles
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom downgrades India’s position in 2020 list
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations
In News:
- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has downgraded India to the lowest ranking.
- The report was released in Washington recently by the federal government commission that functions as an advisory body.
Key takeaways:
- It has put India amongst “countries of particular concern” (CPC) in its 2020 report.
- The report placed India alongside countries like China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
- India was categorised as a “Tier 2 country” in last year’s report.
- This is the first time since 2004 that India has been placed in this category.
- It included specific concerns about the Citizenship Amendment Act, the proposed National Register for Citizens, anti-conversion laws and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
- The commission also recommended that the U.S. government take stringent action against India under the “International Religious Freedom Act” (IRFA).
- It recommended the administration to impose targeted sanctions on Indian government agencies and officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom.
Important value additions:
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)
- It is a U.S. federal government commission created by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998.
- Responsibilities:
- To review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally
- To make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and the Congress.
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
- Functions: USCIRF researches and monitors international religious freedom issues.
- It issues an annual report after its evaluation of the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations worldwide.
