MK ACADEMY

Weekly Current Affairs

13 December to 19 December, 2022
Polity

● Issue of minimum age of marriage for Muslim women

● Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2022
● The President expressed concern over the pathetic condition
of the prisoners

Science & Technology

● Mission 'SWOT'
● Agni-5 ballistic missile
● Ancient Environmental DNA search

I.R.

● 17th Asia Pacific Regional Meeting of ILO

● border tension between india and china
● Bangladesh Liberation War

Ecology & Environment

● world bank report on air pollution

Economy

● Advocacy to end trade relations with China

Social Justice

● manual scavenging

One Liner Facts

 Issue of minimum age of marriage for Muslim women

Why in discussion?

Recently, a public interest litigation was filed in the Supreme Court,

in which the minimum age of marriage for women of the Muslim
community has been urged to be 18 years. In this context, the
Supreme Court has asked the National Commission for Women to
present its case in the court.

what is the current status

At present, there is no clear provision regarding the minimum age of

marriage of women in the Muslim community. According to Islamic
law (religious belief), a girl is considered eligible for marriage as
soon as her first menstruation comes.

Current status in non-Muslim communities

● On the other hand, according to the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955,

the minimum age of marriage for boy and girl has been fixed
at 21 years and 18 years respectively. This Hindu Marriage
Act applies to Hindus as well as Sikh, Jain and Buddhist
communities.
● This means that in a way, except for the Muslim community,
the minimum age of marriage of girls is legally clear in the
context of almost all other communities.

What are the problems

Actually, different types of Acts are applicable in India regarding the

age of marriage of boys and girls.
Various Marriage Acts in India

● Sharda Act, 1929 → Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 →

Child Marriage Prohibition Act, 2006
● Special Marriage Act, 1954
● Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
● Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006

The above laws refer to dual purposes. While on the one hand the
purpose of these laws is to fix the minimum age of marriage for
boys and girls, on the other hand the purpose of these laws is also
to prevent child marriage.

At the same time, there is no clear law for the Muslim community
regarding the determination of the minimum age of marriage like
non-Muslim communities. One of the main reasons for this is the
non-implementation of Uniform Civil Code in the country.

Also another problem

● In fact, the basic problem regarding the minimum age of

marriage in India is based on two points.
● First, there is no universal law regarding the minimum age of
marriage in India, which means that there is a gap between
Muslims and non-Muslims.
● The second problem is that laws prohibiting child marriage
apply equally to both Muslim and non-Muslim communities.
● But when a case is filed in the court in this regard, a situation
of contradiction arises.
● Because the minimum age of marriage is not clearly
mentioned in the Islamic law whereas the minimum age of
 marriage for boy and girl is clearly prescribed in various laws
prohibiting child marriage.

Delhi High Court's decision

● Apart from the above, there is also a problem regarding the

judgment given by the Delhi High Court in the year 2012.
● In fact, while hearing a case in the year 2012, the Delhi High
Court had considered the marriage of a 15-year-old girl from
the Muslim community valid.
● The Delhi High Court while narrating its judgment had said
that according to Islamic law, a girl becomes marriageable
when menstruation starts. In the present case the girl has
voluntarily married, hence this marriage is legally valid.
● Apart from this, the Gujarat High Court, while hearing a case
in the year 2015, said that the Muslim community is also
included under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

Delhi High Court's decision

Apart from the above, there is also a problem regarding the

judgment given by the Delhi High Court in the year 2012.

Analysis

● It is clear from the above analysis that although there is a

religious belief in the Muslim community regarding the
marriageable age of girls.
● But the relation of marriage is not only related to religious or
recognition but also to the complete physical and mental
development of the girl.
 ● In the current 21st century era, such beliefs cannot be
patronized on religious grounds, especially when the concept
of women empowerment is being emphasized globally.
● Therefore, the Muslim religious leaders should increase the
minimum age as a progressive step to improve the status of
women and after due deliberation.
● At the same time, governments should accept women as
human beings instead of looking at them from a communal
point of view by adopting a concrete and clear law in this
context.

Bangladesh Liberation War

Why in discussion?

Recently on 16 December Vijay Diwas was organized by Indian and

Bangladeshi military forces. It is noteworthy that on December 16,
1971, India played an important role in the formation of Bangladesh
by winning the war with Pakistan.

Background

● On August 14, 1947, the independent country of Pakistan was

formed based on religion, the then Pakistan had two parts –
East and West Pakistan (original Pakistan).
● There was no social, economic and educational equality in
both the parts. Resource wise East Pakistan was more
prosperous, but politically West Pakistan was more intense.
● In this way, the social and economic disparities found in two
parts of the same country and the tendency to control over
 power became the reason for the formation of Bangladesh in
1971.
● As a result, the people of East Pakistan had a feeling of
resentment towards the original Pakistan i.e. West Pakistan
government.
● A large section of the people of East Pakistan started the
movement for independence under the leadership of Sheikh
Mujib-ur-Rehman. Pakistan's army took the support of the
army to crush this movement.
● But India supported the people of East Pakistan on the basis
of human rights and right to self-determination. As a result, on
December 16, 1971, on the strength of the Indian Army, East
Pakistan separated from the original Pakistan and became
independent as Bangladesh.

Note

The Mukti Bahini was formed in protest against the atrocities of the
Pakistan Army during the freedom struggle of Bangladesh. The
Mukti Bahini was supported by the Indian Army.

❖ Why in discussion?
❖ India-Bangladesh Relations: The Positive Side
❖ India-Bangladesh Relations: The Downside
❖ What needs to be done / Suggestions
❖ What should be India's strategy
❖ TEAM MKLIVE analysis
 World bank report on air pollution

Why in discussion?

Recently, a report has been released by the World Bank in the

context of air pollution, whose formal name is 'Struggle for Clean
Air: Air Pollution and Public Health in South Asia'.

key points of the report

● Currently more than 60% of South Asians are exposed to

PM2.5 on average 35 µg/m3 annually.
● Large industries, power plants and vehicles are the main
sources of air pollution, but in South Asia many other such
sources also contribute substantially to pollution.
● These include the combustion of solid fuels for cooking and
heating, emissions from small industries such as brick kilns,
the burning of municipal and agricultural waste, and
cremation.
● About 12 lakh deaths occur every year due to air pollution in
India. If there is no prevention on a large scale, it will cross the
figure of 36 lakhs by 2050.
❖ Why in discussion?
❖ Key points of the report with reference to India
❖ causes of air pollution in india
❖ suggestion
❖ TEAM MKLIVE analysis

17th Asia Pacific Regional Meeting of ILO

Why in discussion?
Recently, the 17th Asia Pacific Regional Meeting of the International
Labor Organization was held in Singapore.

Key points of the meeting

In this meeting, the problems faced by workers in Asia-Pacific and

Arab countries such as decreasing wages, inflation, unemployment
and other issues were discussed.

Problems faced by workers

● lack of job security

● minimum wage
● indefinite working hours
● labor exploitation
● inhospitable work environment
● gender gap
● lack of skilled human resources
● insecurity of rights of migrant workers

The Singapore Declaration was also adopted during this meeting,

which focuses on strengthening labor-based institutions for
inclusive growth and recognition of collective bargaining rights to
labor unions.

Social dialogue is the key to building trust and resilient labor market
institutions are essential for continuous improvement, inclusive and
sustainable development and need to be strengthened across
regions.

Singapore declaration

Key points of singapore declaration

 ● bridging the gender gap
● Effective implementation of international labor standards
● Revival of Productivity Enhancement and Skill Development
● expanding social security to all workers
● Strengthening of Labor Inspection System
● occupational safety and health
● eliminate all forms of child labor
● Strengthening the legal framework to protect the rights of
migrant workers

● Established by the Treaty of Versailles in the year 1919

● UN specialized agency since 1946
● Headquarters: Geneva (Switzerland)
● Members : 186
● Objective: Social justice + promotion of internationally
recognized human rights and labor rights
● occupational safety and health
● The only tripartite organization of the United Nations =
Government + Employer + Labor
● Nobel Prize for World Peace in the year 1969

8 Conventions of the International Labor Organization

● forced labor
● forced labor abolition
● equal pay
● Discrimination (Employment and Business) Prohibition
● minimum age
 ● worst forms of child labor
● Freedom of association (not confirmed)
● right to collective bargaining (not ratified)

Conventions of the International Labor Organization

● Convention 138: To ensure availability of minimum basic

education to children
● Convention 182: Global commitment to end the worst forms of
child labor
● India ratified both the major conventions on child labor at the
Geneva Conference of the International Labor Organization in
the year 2017.

Border tension between india and china

Why in discussion?

Recently, border tensions have again arisen between Indian and

Chinese troops near the Yangtse River in the Tawang region of
Arunachal Pradesh.

key points

This is the latest case of border tension between the two countries
after the 2020 Galvan Valley.

India-China Border Tension: Historical Background

● International affairs experts believe that the root cause of

border disputes between Asian countries is the colonial rule
over them.
● Most of China's border disputes are the product of this colonial
period. In the 19th century and early 20th century, China was
 forced to enter into various treaties with Britain, France,
Germany, America, Russia and Japan.
● In most of these treaties, the Chinese government provided
protection to the colonists, gave them privileges to trade, and
even assigned some territories to them.

Strategic importance of Arunachal Pradesh

● Arunachal Pradesh was known by that name till the year 1972.
Apart from being the largest state in the Northeast, Arunachal
Pradesh is situated as a protective shield in the context of
Northeast India.
● While China claims Arunachal Pradesh as a part of Tibet,
India accepts it as its integral state.
● Although there is no dispute between the two countries for the
whole of Arunachal Pradesh, rather its claim has been
presented only on the border part of Arunachal Pradesh with
Tibet.

McMahon Line

● In fact, the McMahon Line is a boundary line between India

and Tibet. This line was determined in the year 1914 through
the Shimla Agreement between the then British Government
of India and Tibet.
● The boundary line is named after Sir Henry McMahon, who
was the Foreign Secretary in the then British Government and
was instrumental in the settlement.
● Since 1950, China does not recognize this McMahon Line as
the India-China boundary line. China argues that Tibet has
 been a part of China since ancient times while India officially
recognizes the McMahon Line.
● China says that the British government and Tibet were not
authorized to discuss the border. The McMahon Line was
discussed between the British and the Tibetans in the
absence of China.
● The area south of Tibet was declared in British India. With this
the Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh became a part of
India. Historically this part was known as South Tibet.
● In 1950, Tibet lost its status as an independent territory and
the region came under the control of India. In response to
China's claim to the region, India argues that China did not
have sovereignty over Tibet when the McMahon Line was
drawn.
● Moreover, historically also China does not have any claim on
Arunachal Pradesh. China started asserting its claim on
Arunachal Pradesh only after occupying Tibet.
● Anyway, the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh considered the south
closer to them, because contact with Tibet was extremely
difficult due to 14,000 to 18,000 feet high passes.
● China's interest in the Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh is
for strategic reasons, as it provides strategic entry into India's
Northeast region. Along with this, the Tawang region is also
connected to the border of Bhutan.

Line of actual control

 ● The Line of Actual Control (LAC) is a demarcation line that
separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled
territory.
● This 4,057 kilometer long border line separates the
India-occupied territory in Jammu and Kashmir and the
Chinese-occupied territory of Aksai Chin. This line passes
through Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal
Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
● This is also a kind of cease-fire line because after the
Indo-China war of 1962, where the armies of both the
countries were stationed, it was considered as the Line of
Actual Control.
● While India believes that the length of the Line of Actual
Control (LAC) is about 3,440 km, China considers this line to
be about 2,000 km long.

What should India do?

● India needs to adopt such a strategic approach to resolve the

current points of tension with China that not only deepens ties
between the two countries but also establishes South Asia as
the focal point of determining global diplomacy. can do.
● India and China should try to resolve their border tensions
through mutual bilateral meetings and try to avoid this type of
war-like situation.
● China has historical, cultural, economic and diplomatic
significance for India. Being a neighboring country, it becomes
 even more important for India to strengthen relations with
China.
● In such a situation, adopting sensitivity at the diplomatic level,
India should try to end mutual differences through talks with
China.
● China should also try to understand that the path of
development in the 21st century does not depend on
expansion of territory but on expansion of economic activities.
● India should hold high-level talks with China in this regard and
try to make mutual relations closer through economic and
cultural means.
● Apart from this, both the countries should resolve such border
disputes through mutual reconciliation and should try to avoid
the role of a third party.

India and China relations in the 21st century

Help

economic relations;

cultural ties based on Buddhism;

BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization…

Tension

range; India's permanent membership in the United Nations

Security Council and the Nuclear Suppliers Group; China's support
to Pakistan; India's inclination towards America

Isolation
Disputes in the South China Sea with countries such as Japan; US
accuses China of spreading corona virus

Q. Points of tension between the two emerging epicentres in the

region of South-East Asia may prove to be unfavorable not only for
regional stability but also for the long-term global interests of both.
Explain?

Q. What is the reason that tensions have been increasing with

India's border countries, especially China, for some time now?
According to you, what diplomatic approach should India adopt in
this regard?

CONTENT TEAM MKLIVE Possible Questions

Advocacy to end trade relations with China

Why in discussion?

● After the military confrontation between India and China in the

border area of Arunachal Pradesh, once again so-called
intellectuals and news channels are advocating ending
bilateral trade with China.
● In this context, some intellectuals are of the opinion that India
should completely boycott Chinese goods so that the
economic condition of China can be weakened.

India-China Bilateral Trade

● Total bilateral trade ⇒ around $87 billion

● Annual growth of 5.6 percent in bilateral trade
● India's exports to China ⇒ $20 billion
● Imports made by India from China ⇒ 67 billion dollars
 ● 16% annual growth in India's exports to China
● 11% annual reduction in India's imports from China
● India's trade deficit: around $47 billion
● India's trade deficit (2021): around $57 billion

Trade between India and China has grown rapidly in the last two
decades. While India's total trade with China in the year 2000 was
just $3 billion, the total bilateral trade between the two countries last
year stood at $88 billion.

In this context, the biggest concern for India is its ever increasing
trade deficit with China. India's largest trade deficit is also with
China.

What should India do?

● India should not substitute imported products from China with

any other country.
● Instead of adopting a policy of boycott of Chinese goods, India
should see China as a market, because in this era of
globalization, it is neither appropriate nor possible to ignore a
country like China.
● Therefore, the Government of India should try to make its
trade policy with China more relevant in the short term and
long term.
● India should also understand that complete boycott of Chinese
goods is not possible, instead India should strengthen its
domestic industries as well as turn to countries like America
where India's trade is relatively balanced.
 ● The Indian government should try to make its trade policy with
China more relevant in the short term and long term. For this,
India should increase indigenous as well as domestic
production, especially in those areas where more quantity is
being imported from China.
● As another major factor, the government should also regulate
the media so that it does not present relations with China in an
overly provocative manner.

Q. “India can change its friends, but not its neighbors.” Discuss this
statement in the light of bilateral trade relations between India and
China?

CONTENT TEAM MKLIVE Possible Questions

Mission 'SWOT'

Why in discussion?

Recently NASA and the French space agency Center National

d'Etudes Spatiales have jointly launched the Surface Water and
Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission to track almost all the water on
the Earth's surface.

key points

● According to NASA, SWOT will cover the entire Earth's

surface between 78 degrees south and 78 degrees north
latitude at least once every 21 days.
● It will provide data on more than 95 percent of the world's
lakes larger than 15 acres (62,500 m²) and rivers wider than
330 feet (100 m).
 ● In addition, the satellite will measure the height of water in
fresh water bodies and oceans over 90 percent of the Earth's
surface.

Agni-5 ballistic missile

Why in discussion?

Recently, India successfully conducted night trials of Agni-5

nuclear-capable ballistic missile which has a strike range of 7,000
km. The missile was test-fired from Abdul Kalam Island off the
Odisha coast.

key points

● However, there has been no official statement on the test of

the missile. The test-firing of the missile is part of the process
of inducting it into the three services.
● Agni-5 is an advanced surface-to-surface ballistic missile
developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development
Program (IGMDP).
● Agni-5 ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads
simultaneously. It is equipped with Multiple Independently
Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV). That is, it can be launched
for multiple targets simultaneously.
● This missile can carry nuclear weapons up to one and a half
tons. Its speed is Mach 24, ie 24 times more than the speed of
sound.

Integrated Guided Missile Development Program

● Establishment idea by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

 ● approved in the year 1983
● completed in 2012
● 5 missiles (P-A-T-N-A) developed under the program
● Earth: surface-to-surface, short distance
● Fire: Surface-to-surface, medium range
● Trishul: Surface-to-sky, short range
● Nag: Third Generation Anti-Tank Missile
● Akash: Surface-to-air, intermediate-range missile

Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)

● Defense Research and Development Organization

● Under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defense,
Government of India
● Establishment: 1958 = Defense Science Organization +
Technical Development Establishment + Directorate of
Technical Development & Production
● Other functions : Medicines, Bio toilet, leucoderma (Leuskin
Herbal)
● Chairman: Dr. Sameer Kamat

Ancient Environmental DNA search

Why in discussion?

Recently, geologists discovered ancient environmental DNA at

Peary Land in Greenland. (Environmental DNA: eDNA) which is
about two million years old.

key points
 ● This discovery has revealed the most ancient ecosystem of
the earth. This broke the record for the oldest DNA ever
discovered, which belonged to a million-year-old sequenced
DNA obtained from the bone of a Siberian mammoth.
● The discovery of this DNA revealed the presence of a rich
plant and animal population in Greenland, which is currently a
polar cold desert.
● Environmental DAN is the genetic material that organisms
release into their environment. These materials include hair,
waste, spit or rotting carcasses.
● Studying eDNA is a challenging task because genetic material
tends to fragment over time, leaving scientists with only small
fragments.

Manual scavenging

Why in discussion?

Recently, the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment

while answering a question in the Lok Sabha said that no person
has died due to manual scavenging during the years 2019 to 2022.

❖ Why in discussion?
❖ Enumeration of manual scavengers
❖ purpose of central government
❖ Unofficial statistics on manual scavenging
❖ Laws Related to Manual Scavenging in India
❖ Reasons for manual scavenging in the 21st century
❖ Suggestions to stop the problem of manual scavenging
 ❖ Efforts being made by the Central Government in this
direction
❖ TEAM MKLIVE Tips & Analysis

Q. Mentioning the main reasons for the problem of manual

scavenging, mention the efforts made by the government to
eradicate it?

Q. “The practice of manual scavenging not only exposes the reality

of Indian scientific progress and social irony, but also hurts human
dignity.” discuss?

Q. Regarding the practice of manual scavenging, where the legal

side is proving ineffective in eradicating this problem, the social
system is responsible for the existence of this system.

CONTENT TEAM MKLIVE Possible Questions

The President expressed concern over the pathetic condition

of the prisoners

Why in discussion?

Recently, the President of India expressed concern over the

pathetic condition of undertrial prisoners in Indian jails and called
upon the government to improve the situation.

❖ Why in discussion?
❖ situation of prisoners in jails
❖ Need for prison reforms in India
❖ Efforts at government level to improve the condition of
jails
❖ What needs to be done / Suggestions
❖ TEAM MKLIVE analysis

❖ Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud inaugurated 10

District Court Digitization Hub (DCDH) in which state? Odisha
❖ 'SURYA KIRAN' is a joint training exercise conducted between
India and which country? Nepal
❖ Which state/UT has proposed to introduce a unique
alpha-numeric identification number for all households?
Jammu and Kashmir
❖ Airbnb signed MoU with which state government to promote
inclusive tourism? Goa
❖ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the All India
Institute of Ayurveda in which state? Goa
❖ Which state recently passed a bill to remove the governor
from the post of chancellor of the state's universities? Kerala