Rajasthan

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Constitution Amendments ​

  • General Context:
    • Constitution amendments are outlined in Part 20, Article 368 of the Constitution, adopted from South Africa.
    • 106 Constitution Amendment Acts have been passed to date.
    • The 129th Constitution Amendment Bill, related to 'One Nation One Election', was recently introduced.
  • Key Amendments:
    • 1st Amendment (1951): Added Schedule 9, related to Land Reforms.
    • 7th Amendment (1956): Related to the State Reorganisation Commission.
    • 21st Amendment (1967): Added Sindhi as the 15th language to Schedule 8.
    • 26th Amendment (1971): Abolished Privy Purses for erstwhile princely states.
    • 36th Amendment (1975): Granted full statehood to Sikkim.
    • 42nd Amendment (1976 - "Mini Constitution"):
      • Amended the Preamble, adding 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity'.
      • Added Part IVA (Article 51A) for Fundamental Duties, based on the Sardar Swaran Singh Committee recommendations.
      • Added Article 39A for Free Legal Aid.
      • Added Article 48A for Environmental Protection and Forest Conservation.
      • Added Part XIVA (Articles 323A, 323B) for Tribunals.
      • Transferred five subjects (Education, Forests, Wild animals/birds, Weights & Measures, Administration of Justice) from the State List to the Concurrent List.
    • 44th Amendment (1978): Removed the Right to Property from Fundamental Rights, making it a legal right under Article 300A.
    • 52nd Amendment (1985): Added Schedule 10 (Anti-Defection Law) to prevent defection by elected members.
    • 61st Amendment (1989): Reduced the voting age from 21 years to 18 years.
    • 69th Amendment (1991): Granted special status to Delhi, designating it as the National Capital Region (NCR) and allowing for a legislative assembly with a cabinet size limited to 10% of the total members.
    • 70th Amendment (1992): Included elected Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) from Delhi and Puducherry in the Electoral College for Presidential elections.
    • 71st Amendment (1992): Added Nepali, Manipuri, and Konkani as three new languages to Schedule 8, increasing the total to 18.
    • 73rd Amendment (1992): Granted constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions. Added Part IX, Articles 243-243O, and Schedule 11 (with 29 subjects). Implemented on April 24, 1993.
    • 74th Amendment (1992): Granted constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities). Added Part IXA and Schedule 12.
    • 86th Amendment (2002):
      • Introduced Article 21A, making Right to Education a Fundamental Right (for children aged 6-14).
      • Added the 11th Fundamental Duty (Article 51A(k)) related to providing educational opportunities.
    • 89th Amendment (2003): Created a separate National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) under Article 338A, bifurcating it from the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) (Article 338).
    • 91st Amendment (2003): Limited the size of the Council of Ministers at the Centre and in States to 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha/Legislative Assembly, respectively.
    • 92nd Amendment (2003): Added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali as four new languages to Schedule 8, increasing the total to 22.
    • 97th Amendment (2011): Added Part IXB related to Co-operative Societies and introduced Article 43B.
    • 99th Amendment (2014): Established the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC). This amendment was subsequently declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
    • 100th Amendment (2015): Implemented the Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh, resolving boundary disputes and exchanging enclaves (Tin Bigha Corridor).
    • 101st Amendment (2016): Introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST), implemented on July 1, 2017.
    • 102nd Amendment (2018): Granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) under Article 338B.
    • 103rd Amendment (2019): Provided 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in education and public employment, introducing Articles 15(6) and 16(6).
    • 104th Amendment (2020): Extended the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies by 10 years and discontinued the reservation for Anglo-Indian nominated members.
    • 105th Amendment (2021): Restored the power of state governments to identify and specify Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs).
    • 106th Amendment (2023): Enacted the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' (Women's Reservation Bill), providing 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, to be implemented after delimitation and census.

Current Affairs ​

  • Global Forest Resources Assessment Report (FAO):
    • India ranked 9th globally in total forest area (improved from 10th).
    • Russia is 1st, Brazil 2nd in total forest area.
    • India ranked 3rd in forest growth/net gain. China is 1st in growth.
    • India's forest area is 72.7 million hectares, accounting for 2% of the world's forest area.
    • Globally, 32% of land area is covered by forests.
    • Report is released every 5 years.
  • India-Afghanistan Relations:
    • India elevated its Indian Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of an Embassy.
    • This follows the closure of the Indian embassy in Kabul in August 2021 after the Taliban takeover.
    • Afghanistan's foreign minister, Amir Khan, recently visited India.
    • India has previously built Afghanistan's Parliament building and Salma Dam (Friendship Dam).
    • Afghanistan's capital is Kabul and its currency is Afghani.
  • Kafala System Abolition (Saudi Arabia):
    • Saudi Arabia abolished the Kafala system, a sponsorship system criticized for modern exploitation of migrant workers.
    • The system involved practices like confiscating workers' passports and restricting their ability to change jobs or leave the country.
    • The abolition aims to enhance freedom, liberty, and respect for migrant workers.
    • Article 23 of the Indian Constitution prohibits human trafficking, forced labor, and prostitution.
    • Saudi Arabia's capital is Riyadh. Notable deserts include Al-Nefud and Rub' al Khali (world's largest sandy desert).
  • WIPO Advisory Board Appointment:
    • Justice Pratibha Singh, a judge of the Delhi High Court, was appointed as the first Indian to chair the Advisory Board of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for 2025-2027.
    • WIPO is headquartered in Geneva, established in 1967, and India joined in 1975.
    • World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated on April 26.
  • JIMEX 25 Naval Exercise:
    • The JIMEX (Japan India Maritime Exercise) 25 maritime exercise was held between the navies of India and Japan in Yokosuka, Japan.
    • Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri participated from India.
    • Other India-Japan exercises include Veer Guardian (air force), Dharma Guardian (army), and Malabar (with Australia and USA – Quad countries).
    • Japan's capital is Tokyo, its currency is Yen, and its parliament is called the Diet. Honshu is its largest island.
  • First Extreme Poverty Free State (Kerala):
    • Kerala is set to become India's first state to be declared 'extreme poverty free' on November 1, 2025.
    • The announcement will be made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram.
    • The initiative, which started in 2021, targeted 64,000 families lacking basic amenities like ration cards, Aadhar cards, or voter IDs.
    • The state achieved this through inclusive development and targeted welfare schemes.
    • International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed on October 17. Sustainable Development Goal 1 aims for 'No Poverty'.
  • U20 FIFA Football World Cup 2025:
    • Hosted by Chile.
    • Morocco won the title for the first time, defeating Argentina in the final.
    • Golden Ball award went to Othman Mama (Morocco).
    • Golden Boot award went to Benjamin (USA).
    • Morocco's capital is Rabat, and it is home to Mount Toubkal (highest peak of Atlas Mountains). Ibn Battuta, the historical traveler, was from Morocco (book "Rehla").
    • Chile's capital is Santiago, and Argentina's capital is Buenos Aires.
  • State Mining Readiness Index:
    • The Ministry of Mines released India's first State Mining Readiness Index for non-coal mineral resources.
    • The index aims to promote efficient and sustainable management and increase transparency in the mining sector.
    • In the mineral-rich states category:
      • Madhya Pradesh ranked 1st due to aggressive bidding in auctions.
      • Rajasthan ranked 2nd for exploration activities.
      • Gujarat ranked 3rd for efficiency.
    • Uttar Pradesh was in the medium category.
    • The 'Kapas Kranti Mission' (Cotton Revolution Mission) has been allocated ₹600 crore.
  • V-Rise Initiative:
    • NITI Aayog, through its Women Entrepreneurship Platform, launched the 'V-Rise' initiative.
    • The initiative aims to empower women entrepreneurs by promoting 100 women-centric Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
    • NITI Aayog was established on January 1, 2015, chaired by the Prime Minister. Suman Bery is the current Vice-Chairman, and B.V.R. Subrahmanyam is the CEO.
  • Ningol Chakouba Festival:
    • This festival, similar to Bhai Dooj, is celebrated in Manipur to foster love between married women and their brothers.
  • Other Current Affairs Snippets:
    • The French royal crown jewels, valued at $102 million, were stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris.
    • The 11th India International Science Festival is scheduled for December.
    • Jyothi Surekha Vennam became the first Indian woman archer to win a medal at the Archery World Cup Final.
    • The 79th Independence Day will be celebrated on August 15, 2025.
    • 'No Kings' protests against the Trump administration were held across the USA, including in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York.