U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom downgrades India’s position in 2020 list

  • IASbaba
  • April 29, 2020
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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.

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