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Classic Example of Dynastic Politics.

🔵 Are crimes against women on the rise? | Explained - The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/are-crimes-against-women-on-the-rise-explained/article67622430.ece

What was the nature of the majority of crimes against women?

The majority of crimes against women were of cruelty by husband or his relatives (31.4%), kidnapping and abduction of women (19.2%), assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty (18.7%) and rape (7.1%). Further, 13,479 cases were registered under the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Activists and lawyers attribute this to a PATRIARCHAL society. “Despite high levels of education, male mindsets and societal attitude remain unchanged,” says Supreme Court lawyer Shilpi Jain. According to women’s rights activist Mariam Dhawale, India over the last few years has witnessed a strengthening of regressive value systems which women’s movements had struggled to overcome for decades. “

There is a glorification of anti-women practices

,” she points out. According to Jayashree Velankar, director of women’s organisation, Jagori, “

dowry or bride price both connote commodity status of women who are traded between families for their productive and reproductive labour. What we need is a strong political will, and not mere rhetoric, to bring in policies and programmes that will focus on creating conditions to elevate women’s status.

”

#Crime #Women

🔵 Majority of Kerala youths seeking foreign education come from families earning below Rs 5 lakh, Says CPPR Study - Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR)

https://www.cppr.in/innews/kerala-youth-migration

Many students see education as a way to migrate, and financial barriers are not a significant issue due to available loans and travel agency support. However, post-migration life brings challenges like cultural adaptation and finding appropriate job opportunities.From the study we undertook, a diverse spectrum of student migrants becomes apparent. These range from individuals aspiring to secure positions at top-tier universities to those opting for shorter courses focusing on obtaining permanent residency.It is noteworthy that 59 per cent of the respondents in the study are aged between 23 and 25, predominantly originating from central Kerala.Under the methodical approach of SNOWBALL SAMPLING, the survey delves deep into the socio-economic and academic backgrounds of the respondents.It further seeks to understand their present situations and the circumstances that led them there, while also probing into their future aspirations and considerations. This comprehensive survey offers a panoramic view of the many facets of student migration.

The 2018 Kerala Migration Survey reported women’s participation in migration at 15.8 per cent. Yet, in the study, females represented 32 per cent of the respondents, aligning with data showing nearly half of over 7200 students securing Canadian visas from one facilitator being female. Therefore, the findings suggest that more women from Kerala are pursuing overseas education.The study also showcased the distribution of migrant students predominantly between general and other backward caste (OBC) categories, with the representation of both Scheduled Castes (SC/ST) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) being minimal.The low migration trends of students hailing from the SC/ST category are also supported by the Kerala Migration Survey, illuminating that

at present, youth migrating for education is still dominated more by youth from general and OBC categories.

The study found diversity among migrants based on their academic and financial backgrounds. It revealed that 38 per cent of student migrants scored below 75 per cent in their previous degree course.

#Education #Migration

Empowering Women Through Childcare Support

#Women #Employment

Transwoman's Libraries Are Changing How Villages See Queer People

#Queer #Breaking_Barriers

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🔵 Can Bihar increase its reservation pool? | Explained - The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/can-bihar-increase-its-reservation-pool-explained/article67628656.ece

The story so far: On November 17, the Governor of Bihar approved two laws increasing the quantum of reservations in jobs and education in the State to 75%, including 20% for Scheduled Castes, 2% for Scheduled Tribes, 18% for Other Backward Classes, and 25% for Extremely Backward Classes, and 10% for economically weaker sections (EWS). The two laws have once again sparked debate around the permissible limits of reservations in India, particularly in view of the “50%” limit prescribed by the Supreme Court of India in the Mandal Commission case (Indra Sawhney, 1992), as well as the court’s emphasis on “adequate” representation of the oppressed classes as opposed to “proportionate representation”.

What is the 50% rule?

The Supreme Court has historically maintained that reservations, whether in jobs or education, should not exceed 50% of the total seats/posts. In 1963, a seven judge bench in M.R. Balaji explained that reservations were in the nature of an “exception“ or “special provision“ under our constitutional scheme. Therefore, they cannot be provided for more than 50% of the posts or seats. Though this understanding of reservations changed in 1976 — with it being recognised that reservations are a facet of EQUALITY rather than an exception to it — the 50% limit has remained unaltered.

A nine judge bench in the Mandal commission case in 1990 reaffirmed the 50% limit and held that it is a BINDING rule, and not merely a matter of prudence. However, it is not a rule without exceptions.

A State can exceed the limit in exceptional circumstances, that is, to provide reservations to communities which hail from far flung areas of the country and have been kept out of the mainstream of the society. This is not a geographical test but a social one.

Besides, last year, the Supreme Court upheld the 103rd Constitutional Amendment which provides for 10% additional reservations to the EWS. This means, for the time being, that

the 50% limit applies only to non-EWS reservations, and States are permitted to reserve a total of 60% of the seats/posts including EWS reservations.

#Reservation

🔵 Cases of human trafficking victims being forced to commit cybercrimes on the rise - The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cyber-frauds-manned-by-human-trafficking-victims-expanding-beyond-southeast-asia-according-to-joint-interpol-operation/article67624356.ece

The first Interpol operation against fraud schemes fuelled by victims of human trafficking has unearthed further evidence that the trend is expanding beyond the southeast Asian region. Indian enforcement agencies also participated in the exercise.
The fraud schemes included fake cryptocurrency investments, fraudulent work-from-home offers, and lottery and online gambling scams.

Known as “Operation Storm Makers II”, the Interpol exercise resulted in the arrest of 281 persons in different countries, on charges such as human trafficking, passport forgery, corruption, telecommunications fraud, and sexual exploitation. While 149 human trafficking victims were rescued, over 360 investigations were opened, several of which are still being pursued by law enforcement agencies.

#Crime #Human_Trafficking #Cybercrime

Came across this “Dowry Rates Article by Dainik Bhaskar Bihar.”

How do you think dowry system will end in India ?

Key DAF Suggestion: (because lots of queries regarding this)

Don't leave any State/Cadre preference unfilled/ put 99 into it. The cadre allocation process is quite complex/confusing especially for newbies.

Filling all cadres and all zones is most rational choice as of now in almost all practical circumstances. So don't get confused or innovate, follow CONVENTIONAL WISDOM. (Same for Service Preference unless very solid reasons, based on rationality and consulting with seniors in THOSE services !)

If anyyy confusion, just follow the GENERAL TRENDS in past year allocation pdf available on DOPT website!

#Janhit_mein_jaari

#सावधानी_हटी_दुर्घटना_घटी


Credits: Vijay Wardhan IAS

🔆 Swim Against the Current 🔆
@DecipherCivils

🔵 Transgender Identity Certificate

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1985435

The National Portal for Transgender Persons provides a platform for transgender person to apply online for transgender identity Certificate and Identity card. The most important feature of this Portal is that it helps the transgender person to get the I- Card without any physical interface and without having to visit any office. Through the Portal, applicant can monitor the status of their application and can download their certificate of identity, thereby ensuring transparency in the process.

Hello Everyone, I am Truly Stubborn, a fellow aspirant. I have cleared four consecutive UPSC CSE Prelims and three UPSC IFoS Prelims. Here, I am sharing my Prelims GS strategy and observations which have served me quite well despite all the changes in the Prelims exam pattern in the last few years.

I have divided this post in 5 parts.

1. Sources: This is highly discussed and debated part of this whole journey. I started my preparation back in 2017 and back then, there was not as much abundance of the resources. Hence, I stuck to basics and since then, the same have been serving me quite well. For better clarity, let me tell you, I have never referred to any Mrunal or PMF material. This is not to deny the importance of these materials but to explain that you don’t have to chase everything mainstream just because others are doing it.

A few sources which I have referred and still refer to are:
- Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth
- Spectrum for Modern History
- Tamil Nadu Board Book for Ancient and Medieval History
- Class 11 and Class 12 NCERTs for Geography
- Bare Acts for Constitution (This may sound different but this has helped me develop immense clarity in Polity for Both Prelims as well as Mains)

You can refer to any of the above or any different source but avoid picking up multiple sources.

2. Current Affairs: (Daily + Monthly+ Annual)
- Daily: Regular newspaper reading provides impeccable level of clarity that no coaching compilation can provide. You can choose The Hindu or Indian express for the same.
- Monthly: Any one monthly magazine for revision, specially if this is going to be your first or second attempt.
- Annual: Towards the end, you can also refer the annual compilation by any coaching if time permits. I used PT 365.
- Economic Survey and Budget are to be covered separately.

3. Test Series: This is a debatable issue these days as its direct relevance is decreasing in the exam. However, I still believe test series provides some benefits like:
- Time management: Helps us increase our paper completion speed.
- Learning from our mistakes. E.g. Not focusing on the “Not correct” (Which of the following is “not correct” about) directive. This can cost us 2-3 dear questions in the actual exam.
- Knowledge: Yes, Test series provides us with the content apart from the conventional sources which can be useful many a times.

Limitations of Test Series:
- No test series match upto the standards of UPSC.
- Elimination doesn’t work in the test series the same way as it does it with UPSC.
- Often irrelevant or difficult questions are asked which does more harm than good to our confidence and overall preparation.

4. PYQs: One of the most important and indispensable part of this preparation.
PYQs can be bifurcated in two parts. I. Pre 2013 and II. Post 2023.

I. Pre 2013: You can start form 1990s onwards if you have time at your disposal. No need to read detailed solutions for these. Just read a question, know the right answer and move forward. This helps us know the priority areas of UPSC which have more or less been the same. We tend to put special emphasis on such areas during revision and thus it acts as a positive reinforcement mechanism. Don't devote too much time to this exercise.

II. Post 2013: These are to be used for knowing the priority areas as well as for developing the elimination abilities. There are certain patterns in the questions which are repetitive and deciphering them can help us dealing with less familiar and at time even unfamiliar questions also. I have also done PYQ analysis for year 2019, 2020 and 2021. You can use the same as a reference for PYQ analysis. However, nothing will benefit you more than your own analysis. Just do it.

The 2023 Prelims paper was quite unconventional but the observations developed from PYQs were working quite well in individual sentences of the questions.

5. Do’s and Don’ts and Other Observations
- Avoid picking multiple sources for a single section. Your emphasis should rather be on more revision of limited sources.
- Avoid using test series guided elimination in the exam. Use the elimination learned from PYQ analysis in the actual exam.
- When the exam is nearing, we tend to place disproportionate emphasis on current affairs. Don’t neglect static portion. Its much more rewarding in terms of the efforts put.
- Don’t expect the questions from test series to repeat in the exam. It will only yield disappointment.
- Don’t believe the claims of the institutes like ‘nn’ number of questions were directly from our test series. All such claims are exaggerated and sometimes misleading.
- Avoid developing any FOMO with respect to any new content or course in trend. Trust your preparation and focus on consolidation of limited sources.
- Don’t just read PYQs and solutions. Try to identify the repetitive topics and the repetitive patterns.
- Actual UPSC paper is quite time consuming as the questions asked are often analytical. Test series questions are more knowledge oriented which you either know or you don’t know. So, try to complete a FLT faster, ideally, in less than 90 minutes. This will help you develop an appropriate speed for the actual exam.
- Try to attempt as many questions in the exam as you can. My advice would be to go for 85+ questions.
- There is a hoax being perpetrated recently that this exam can be cleared with minimum knowledge, solely based on elimination tricks. This is misleading. Elimination works only with knowledge or let’s say, it compliments your knowledge. Thus, knowledge should be given precedence.

Know that it is MY strategy and need not necessarily be yours. I have just put forth my observations. Feel free to agree partially or disagree completely.

In case of any doubts or for clarification you can reach out to me at @trulystubborn

Harming women's mental health is "cruelty" under new criminal
Read more at: https://dbrief.news/d/DdnHZ

#Women #Mental_Health