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14/02/2025 FRIDAY SEED IAS DAILY UPDATES, ON EXAM POINT OF VIEW “Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.” - Peter Ustinov Shankari Prasad Case and the First Amendment...

14/02/2025 FRIDAY SEED IAS DAILY UPDATES, ON EXAM POINT OF VIEW “Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.” - Peter Ustinov Shankari Prasad Case and the First Amendment Act Why in News? The Shankari Prasad Singh Deo v. Union of India, 1951 case was a key moment in Indian constitutional law, challenging the First Amendment Act, 1951, which curtailed the Right to Property. First Amendment Act, 1951 Shankari Prasad Singh Deo Key Provisions: v. Union of India Case, 1951 Ninth Schedule: The Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, was introduced by the First Amendment Act, 1951, lists laws that cannot be challenged in courts, protecting them from judicial review, especially land reform laws. Initially, 13 laws were added to the schedule. Protection of Land Reforms: Articles 31A and 31B were inserted into the Constitution, which shielded land reform laws from judicial review, particularly laws aimed Case Background: The case arose at the acquisition of estates. when Sankari Prasad Singh Deo, a Article 31A: Stated that any law related to land reforms zamindar (landowner) from West could not be struck down for violating fundamental Bengal, challenged the First rights, particularly right to property (Article 31). Amendment Act, 1951, which had Article 31B: Ensures that the laws specified in the Ninth curtailed the Right to Property. Schedule, even if they conflict with fundamental rights, The first amendment sought to will remain valid and enforceable. give the government power to Other Changes: Restricted free speech under Article 19. acquire land from zamindars Strengthened caste-based reservations by allowing laws without compensation, which was for social and educational upliftment. contrary to the fundamental rights Need for Amendment: This was crucial in the context of (Article 19(1)(f) and Article 31) India's post-independence land reform efforts aimed at granted in the original reducing the power of large landowners (zamindars) and Constitution. redistributing land to the peasants. ഈ പത്രം ദിവസേന ലഭിക്കാൻ, Join our WhatsApp Group. WhatsApp ഗ്രൂപ്പിൽ ചേരുന്നതിനുള്ള ലിങ്ക് ക്ലിക്ക് ചെയ്യുക, വാർത്തകളും രസകരമായ ക്വിസുകളും ഒരിക്കലും നഷ്ടമാക്കരുത്.  Supreme Court Judgment: A five-judge Bench Zamindari System of the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the government, upholding the First Amendment. The Court distinguished between Ordinary law (which cannot violate fundamental rights) and Constitutional amendments (which can alter fundamental rights). Article 13(2) states that no “law” can take away fundamental rights. The Court ruled that constitutional amendments are not ordinary “laws”, so they are exempt from this restriction. About: The Zamindari System, Significance: The SC decision removed legal institutionalized under British rule by Lord barriers to land reforms, allowing states to Cornwallis in 1793 through the Permanent proceed with zamindari abolition. Settlement, gave zamindars control over Implications land and allowed them to collect rent from Continued Legal Challenges: In Sajjan Singh v. peasants. State of Rajasthan, 1964, the Court upheld By statutory backing, the British made judgement of Sankari Prasad Case but two Zamindari an exploitative institution judges questioned whether fundamental through provisions like rack-renting rights should be amendable. (excessive rent), causing economic In I.C. Golaknath v. State of Punjab, 1967 the inequality. Supreme Court reversed its stance, ruling that Land revenue was split, with the Parliament cannot amend fundamental rights. government getting 10/11th and zamindars In Keshavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, the rest, leaving farmers in poverty. 1973 a larger Bench overruled Sankari Prasad Reasons for Abolishing: The system led to and introduced the Basic Structure Doctrine. land concentration in a few hands, leaving The ruling held that while Parliament can millions of peasants landless. The abolition amend the Constitution, it cannot alter its aimed to redistribute land to cultivators and "basic structure", including fundamental reduce feudal exploitation. rights. Article 39(b) and (c) of the Constitution However, the right to property was not emphasized equitable distribution of considered part of the basic structure, resources. The abolition was in line with allowing land reforms to continue. India’s goal of creating a socialist-leaning Right to Property as Legal Right: The 44th economy. Amendment Act of 1978 removed the Right to Breaking large estates into smaller Property from the list of Fundamental Rights landholdings was expected to improve by repealing Article 19(1)(f) and Article 31. productivity. Right to Property was then made a legal right Partial Success: Except in a few states like under Article 300A (no one can be deprived of West Bengal and Kerala, Zamindari abolition their property without the authority of law) of failed to break the feudal land monopoly the Constitution. due to loopholes allowing benami transactions. Mains Q. Discuss the role of land reforms in agriculture development. Identify the factors that were responsible for the success of land reforms in India. (2016) Rising Online Child Abuse Why in News? A study published in The Lancet, based on a comprehensive analysis of 123 studies from various regions, has highlighted the growing concern of online sexual abuse faced by children worldwide. Key Findings of the Study on Online Child Abuse Reasons for Rising Online Child Abuse Prevalence of Abuse: It highlights that one in 1. Increased Internet Access: Widespread 12 children globally (approximately 8.3%) has internet access has significantly increased experienced online sexual abuse in the last children's online presence (1/3 of internet decade. users) rendering them vulnerable to Types of Exploitation: The study identified exploitation, especially in unsupervised several subtypes of online sexual abuse, social media and gaming. including online solicitation involving sexual 2. Pandemic-Related Factors: Increased online inquiries/conversations (12.5%), non- activity during Covid-19 pandemic enabled consensual image sharing (12.6%), online offenders to exploit children, leading to a sexual exploitation (4.7%), and sexual surge in abuse cases, including a threefold extortion (3.5%). rise in sextortion since March 2020. Gender Dynamics: There is no significant 3. Advancements in Technology: The large difference in online abuse rates between number of artificial intelligence (AI) tools boys and girls, challenging earlier beliefs that and digital platforms has made it easier for girls are more vulnerable. offenders to create and distribute child This suggests changing online environments sexual abuse material (CSAM) that is and behaviors, with increasing risks for boys. difficult to detect and trace. Mental Health Implications: The report links 4. Lack of Digital Literacy: Limited awareness online sexual exploitation to severe mental of online safety makes users vulnerable; and physical health consequences for only 38% of Indian households are digitally victims, including lower life expectancy and literate. reduced employment prospects. 5. Inadequate Monitoring and Enforcement: Law enforcement and technology companies face challenges in keeping up with rapidly evolving online platforms, leaving gaps in monitoring and enforcement. India’s Initiatives Related to Online Child Abuse Legislative and Policy Measures: Institutional Mechanisms: 1. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences 1. National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: (POCSO) Act, 2012 provides a legal framework Enables reporting of online child abuse to combat child sexual abuse, including online cases. exploitation. 2. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre 2. Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 (I4C) strengthens law enforcement contains provisions related to cybercrimes efforts against cybercrimes, including against children. child exploitation. 3. Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 addresses child protection issues, including online abuse. Einstein Ring Why in News? The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid space telescope discovered a rare Einstein ring around the galaxy NGC 6505, nearly 590 million light-years away from Earth. About: An Einstein ring is a ring of light that Discovery: First discovered in 1987, Einstein appears around a celestial object, such as a rings are extremely rare, found in less than 1% dark matter, galaxy or cluster of galaxies. of galaxies. A full Einstein ring appears only if the The Einstein ring around NGC 6505 is formed observer (Euclid telescope), lensing object, by light from an unnamed galaxy 4.42 billion and background galaxy are nearly perfectly light-years away, distorted by the gravitational aligned. pull of NGC 6505, creating the striking ring-like Gravitational Lensing: It is a phenomenon appearance observed around it. caused by gravitational lensing, where a Nomenclature: Albert Einstein’s General Theory massive celestial body (like a galaxy) of Relativity predicted that light could bend creates a gravitational field that bends and and brighten (warp space-time and curve the amplifies the light from a more distant path of light) around massive objects due to object behind it forming a complete ring their gravitational pull, hence the name around the foreground object, known as an "Einstein ring." Einstein ring. Observation: Not visible to the naked eye, can The object causing the light bending is only be observed through powerful space called a gravitational lens. telescopes like Euclid. Scientific Importance: revealing details of distant galaxies that would otherwise be invisible. help scientists investigate dark matter and study dark energy Birth Anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidas The Prime Minister paid tribute to Sant Guru Ravidas on his 648th birth anniversary, celebrated on Purnima Tithi of Magha Month (which falls on 12th February in 2025). About Sant Guru Ravidas: Bhakti Movement: Born in 1377 CE in Seer Goverdhanpur It was a spiritual and social reform (UP), he was a Bhakti movement saint, movement between the 7th and 17th poet, and social reformer. century, emphasizing devotion (bhakti) to a Also known as Raidas, Rohidas, and personal god, rejecting rituals and caste Ruhidas, he belonged to a marginalized hierarchies. community but emphasized human rights, It spread across India, influencing Hinduism, equality, and spiritual enlightenment. Sikhism, and Sufism. His verses are included in Guru Granth Notable Bhakti saints include Kabir, Guru Sahib, and he was revered by Meera Bai as Nanak and Meera Bai in North India, and her spiritual guide. Alvars, Nayanars, Ramanuja, and Basava in The day is widely celebrated in Punjab, South India. Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana. The Doaba region of Punjab is home to a significant Ravidassia Dalit community that adheres to the teachings of Sant Ravidas. Death Anniversary of Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya About Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya: Born on 25th of September 1916, he was an Indian politician, philosopher, and ideologue of the RSS and Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) (the predecessor of the Bharatiya Janata Party). Contributions: He focused on Antyodaya i.e., uplifting the last person and addressing the needs of the most disadvantaged. His philosophy of “Integral Humanism” emphasized welfare, social justice, economic equality, and self-reliance. Recognition: Since 25th September 2014, his birth anniversary is observed as Antyodaya Diwas to honor his contributions to the nation. In 2015, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) was renamed Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-NRLM. In 2018, Mughalsarai Junction in Uttar Pradesh was renamed after him.  14/02/2025 FRIDAY SSC PULSE DAILY UPDATES, ON EXAM POINT OF VIEW Exercise Winged Raider The Indian Army and the Indian Air Force jointly conducted a comprehensive training exercise named EX Winged Raiders in the Eastern Theater. Interoperability - Indian Army personnel will gain expertise in operating the Indian Air Force weapons systems and vice versa. The exercise focused on special airborne operations and was conducted in the Eastern Theater of the Indian Army (headquartered in Vijay Durg (formerly known as Fort William) in Kolkata, West Bengal) Morand-Ganjal Irrigation Project in Madhya Project What it is: A dam-based irrigation project aimed at improving agricultural productivity in Madhya Pradesh. Rivers Involved: Morand and Ganjal Rivers (major tributaries of the Narmada River) Location: Covers Hoshangabad, Betul, Harda, and Khandwa districts in Madhya Pradesh The Morand-Ganjal Irrigation Project, originally proposed in 1972, received approval from the Madhya Pradesh government in 2017. It aims to provide irrigation facilities to 211 villages across the districts of Hoshangabad, Betul, Harda, and Khandwa, covering over 52,000 hectares of land. The NTCA has strongly recommended exploring alternative sites to minimise environmental damage. Lam Research Announces Rs 10,000 Crore Investment in India: Ashwini Vaishnaw Lam Research, the US-based semiconductor services company, will invest Rs 10,000 crore in India, said Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw. Lam Research has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Karnataka government to lease and eventually purchase a land parcel at Whitefield in Bengaluru, India Semiconductor Mission (ISM): Launched in 2021. The mission's goal is to develop a robust semiconductor ecosystem in India. The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) has approved five semiconductor units that will all receive central and state government subsidies under the programme for the development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India with a total outlay of Rs 76,000 crore. India’s first commercial semiconductor fabrication facility is being set up by Tata Electronics in partnership with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) in Dholera, Gujarat. UDAN 5.5 Launched The Centre has launched the next phase of its flagship UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme to enhance regional air connectivity. Accordingly, the UDAN 5.5 intends to promote last-mile connectivity in remote regions, hilly areas, and island territories. The latest UDAN version is expected to increase the number of seaplanes, choppers, and small aircraft in the country. At present, there are no seaplane services in India, while small aircraft in the A1 category number less than 20 The latest phase of the scheme will award routes that will be serviced exclusively with seaplanes, choppers, and small aircraft with a seating capacity of less than 20 passengers. Besides, around 400 helipads are also included in the scheme for operators to map out chopper routes. India Ranked 96 in Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024 India ranked 96 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2024 as its overall score dropped a point to 38, according to a Transparency International report released. The index, which ranks countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people, uses a scale of zero to 100, where "zero" is highly corrupt and "100" is very clean. In 2024, India's overall score was 38 while it was 39 in 2023 and 40 in 2022. India's rank in 2023 was 93. Denmark topped the list of being the least-corrupt nation, followed by Finland and Singapore. India, 57 others sign Paris joint statement on inclusive, sustainable AI AI Action Summit held on February 10 and 11, 2025, in Paris, bringing global leaders for pivotal discussions on the future of AI. 58 countries, including India, China, Brazil, France and Australia, signed a joint statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet at the AI Action Summit in Paris. The statement was not signed by the United States and the United Kingdom. India and France co-chaired the summit. Kyrian Jacquet Clinches 2025 Chennai Open Title France’s Kyrian Jacquet won the Chennai Open 2025 tennis men’s singles title. Beating Sweden’s Elias Ymer in the final. At the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Tamil Nadu. Carlos Alcaraz Claims his First Indoor Hardcourt Title at Rotterdam Open Carlos Alcaraz beat Alex de Minaur in the final of the Rotterdam Open.