Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – HISTORY

Context: Sarojini Naidu’s enduring legacy as a champion of women’s rights is honoured by celebrating her birth anniversary on February 13 as National Women’s Day in India.

Background: –

• Born to Bengali parents in Hyderabad in 1879, Naidu was a woman of many talents. 

Key takeaways

• Sarojini Naidu (1879–1949) was an Indian independence activist, poet, and the first woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress. 
• She played a crucial role in India’s struggle for independence and was known as the Nightingale of India due to her literary contributions.

Key Contributions:

• Role in the Freedom Movement:
  • Joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1905 during the Bengal Partition movement.
  • Advocated for women’s rights, education, and social reforms.
  • Played an active role in the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) and Civil Disobedience Movement (1930).
  • Participated in the Salt Satyagraha (1930) and was arrested for her involvement.
• Political Achievements:
  • First Woman President of INC (1925) – Advocated for self-rule and equality.
  • First Indian Woman Governor (1947) – Became the Governor of the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) post-independence.
  • Member of the Constituent Assembly
• Literary Contributions:
  • Famous works: The Golden Threshold (1905), The Bird of Time (1912), The Broken Wing (1917).

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – POLITY

Context: The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, is likely to be introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the ongoing Budget session of Parliament.

Background: –

• The proposed legislation will replace the existing laws — the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920; the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; the Foreigners Act, 1946; and the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000.
• The acts, namely the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, and the Foreigners Act, 1946, are not only of the pre-Constitution period but also, they were brought into extraordinary times of first and second world wars. While there is an underlying continuity and commonality of objectives among the four Acts, there are some overlapping provisions among the said laws.

Key takeaways

• The Bill will specify the matters relating to foreigners and their registration, the provisions relating to the obligation of universities and educational institutions admitting any foreigner, the obligation of hospitals, nursing homes or any other medical institution admitting foreigners.
• The bill specifies the role of “every person occupying or having under his control any residential premises” to submit to the registration officer information in respect to any foreigners accommodated in such premises.
• It mandates every university and educational institution admitting any foreigner to furnish information to the registration officer. 
• Similarly, it specifies the role of “every hospital, nursing home or any other such medical institution providing medical, lodging or sleeping facility in their premises” to inform the authority (registration officer) about “any foreigner taking indoor medical treatment or their attendant for whom such lodging or sleeping facility has been provided”.
• The Bill obligates the carriers such as airlines and vessels to remove a passenger denied entry by the immigration officer and provide passenger and crew data to the authorities in advance. The bill carries a provision of up to ₹5 lakh in fine for violating carriers.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The government has written to states inviting proposals to establish ‘Nari Adalats’, Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi said.

Background:

• The ministry intends to extend the  scheme, already  running on a pilot basis in Assam and J&K, to other states.

Key takeaways

• Nari Adalats are women-led alternative dispute resolution forums established under the “Sambal” sub-scheme of Mission Shakti by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. 
• These forums aim to provide women with an accessible grievance redressal mechanism at the gram panchayat level, addressing cases of petty nature such as harassment, subversion, or curtailment of rights.

Key Features:

• Structure: Each Nari Adalat comprises 7 to 11 members, known as ‘Nyaya Sakhis,’ who are nominated by the gram panchayat. 
• Functioning: These forums resolve disputes through negotiation, mediation, and reconciliation, ensuring speedy, accessible, and affordable justice for women. 
• Implementation: Initially launched on a pilot basis in 2023 in 50 gram panchayats each in Assam and Jammu & Kashmir, the program has seen success, prompting the Ministry to invite proposals from other states and Union Territories for expansion. 

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – POLITY

Context: A significant temperature drop has been observed across North India due to a western disturbance currently positioned over North Pakistan, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported.

Background: –

• After N Biren Singh resigned as Manipur’s Chief Minister, the BJP leadership is exploring its options. If the party fails to find a consensus CM candidate, the state may have to be put under President’s rule.

Key takeaways

• The imposition of President’s Rule under Article 356 effectively transfers all the functions of the state government to the Centre and the function of the state legislature to Parliament during the period when it is in force.
• The process begins if the President, on receiving a report from the Governor, is “satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the Government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”.
• President will issue a ‘Proclamation’, which can remain in force for up to two months. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha must approve it through a resolution before this period expires for it to remain operative further. If approved, the proclamation of President’s Rule can be extended to six months and Parliament can approve further six-month extensions for up to three years.
• Certain conditions must be met before a proclamation can be renewed by Parliament beyond a year since it was first issued. Further extensions can only be approved if an Emergency has been declared in the country or that particular state, or if the Election Commission certifies that President’s Rule is necessary due to difficulties in conducting state elections.
• Since 1950, when the Constitution first came into force, President’s Rule has been imposed a total of 134 times across 29 states and UTs. 
• It has been imposed most frequently in Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, at 10 times each. However, these are not the states (including UTs) that have spent the most time under central control. That distinction is held by Jammu & Kashmir, followed by Punjab and Puducherry. 
• Since 1950, Jammu and Kashmir has spent over 12 years (4,668 days) under President’s Rule and Punjab has been under Central control for over 10 years (3,878 days) in the same period. In both states, this is largely owed to recurring spells of militant and separatist activity, and unstable law and order situations.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims – HISTORY

Context: 12th February marked the 201st birth anniversary of Dayanand Saraswati.

Background: –

• In 2023, to commemorate his 200th birth anniversary, a year-long celebration was held across India.
• Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India’s second President, called Dayanand Saraswati ‘a maker of modern India.’

Key takeaways

• Dayanand Saraswati was born on February 12, 1824, in Morbi, Kathiawar, Gujarat. 
• In 1875, he founded the Arya Samaj. Arya Samaj played a crucial role in social awakening through its emphasis on social reforms and education. This was a monotheistic Hindu order that rejected the ritualistic excesses and social dogmas of orthodox Hinduism and promoted a united Hindu society on the basis of Vedic teachings.
• Among his various beliefs included a rejection of idolatry and the overly ritualistic traditions of Hinduism, support for women’s education, denunciation of child marriage, and an opposition to untouchability. 
• His magnum opus, Satyarth Prakash (1875), emphasised the “return to Vedic principles” that Dayanand Saraswati believed “had been lost” over time. The book uses the language of religious revivalism. 
• He advocated for worshipping of one Supreme God and followed simple rituals and recitation of Vedic mantras. All other religions were rejected by him and he wanted Hindus who had converted to other religions to return to Hinduism based on the Vedas.
• He also emerged as an early proponent of cow protection, who first published Gokarun·aˉnidhi , a pamphlet in 1881, which circulated his concerns against cattle slaughter. He later on went to establish a committee for the protection of cows called Gaurakshini Sabha in 1882.
• After he died in 1883 his followers established a school in Punjab in his name – Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) School to educate children in modern subjects and at the same time keep them in touch with their religion and culture. 

Philosophy of Dayanand Saraswati

• Crucial among his “ten founding principles of Arya Samaj” is the idea that all activities must be done for the benefit of humankind as a whole, rather than individuals or even idols and religious symbols.
• This universalism was directly antithetical to the caste system. While Dayanand did not fully oppose the institution of caste itself, he advocated for significant reform within it. 
• Citing the Vedas, he claimed that caste is not supposed to be hereditary but rather based on an individual’s talents and disposition.
• Furthermore, he was against the practice of untouchability, which he believed was an outcome of centuries of Brahmanical domination. Crucially, he advocated Vedic education for all castes.
• He campaigned for the education of women as well as against ‘regressive practices’ such as child marriage.

Source: Indian Express

Q1.) Consider the following statements regarding Dayanand Saraswati:

1. He founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 to promote Vedic principles.
2. He strongly supported idol worship and ritualistic traditions of Hinduism.
3. He advocated for the education of women and opposed child marriage.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q2.) With reference to President’s Rule in India, consider the following statements:

1. It is imposed under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution.
2. The initial duration of President’s Rule is two months, extendable up to ten years with parliamentary approval.
3. The Election Commission plays no role in the extension of President’s Rule beyond one year.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q3.) Which of the following statements about Sarojini Naidu is NOT correct?

(a) She was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress.
(b) She actively participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement and Salt Satyagraha.
(c) She was the first Indian woman to be appointed as the Governor of a state post-independence.
(d) She was awarded the Bharat Ratna for her contributions to India’s freedom struggle.

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

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Q.1) – a

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