Current Affair

Back
[DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS, 11 MAY 2023]

CYCLONES

 
 
1. Context
A cyclone, which is most likely to swerve away from the Indian coast, is all set to develop over the southeast Bay of Bengal , the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said . Once intensified, it is to be identified as Cyclone Mocha (pronounced as Mokha), a name suggested by Yemen.
2. What is a Cyclone
  • A cyclone is a low-pressure system that forms over warm waters. Essentially, it is a system of high-speed winds rotating around a low-pressure area, with the winds blowing counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • According to the World Meteorological Organization, “Tropical cyclones are one of the biggest threats to life and property even in the formative stages of their development.
  • Cyclonic winds move across nearly all regions of the Earth except the equatorial belt and are generally associated with rain or snow
  • They include several different hazards that can individually cause significant impacts on life and property, such as storm surge, flooding, extreme winds, tornadoes and lighting.
  • Combined, these hazards interact with one another and substantially increase the potential for loss of life and material damage.”
  • Cyclones occur chiefly in the middle and high latitude belts of both hemispheres. In the Southern Hemisphere, where most of the terrestrial surface is covered by the oceans, cyclones are distributed in a relatively uniform manner through various longitudes
  • Characteristically, they form in latitudes 30° to 40° S and move in a generally southeasterly direction, reaching maturity in latitudes around 60°. 
  • Cyclones that form closer to the Equator (i.e., at latitudes 10° to 25° north and south over the oceans) differ somewhat in character from the extratropical variety. Such wind systems, known as tropical cyclones, are much smaller in diameter. 
  • Whereas extratropical cyclones range from nearly 1,000 to 4,000 km (620 to 2,500 miles) across, tropical cyclones typically measure only about 100 to over 1,000 km in diameter.
PC: Brittanica
 
3. Types of cyclones

3.1.Tropical Cyclones

Cyclones developed in the tropics region (the majority confined to 100– 300 N and S of the equator) are called tropical cyclones.

  • tropical cyclones have a thermal origin, and they develop over tropical seas during certain seasons. Pre-existing low pressure, large sea surface with a temperature higher than 27° C, and the presence of the Coriolis force are a must for tropical cyclone formation.

  • At these locations, the local convectional currents acquire a whirling motion because of the Coriolis force generated by the earth’s rotation. After developing, these cyclones advance till they find a weak spot in the trade wind belt.

  • Tropical cyclones always originate in large water bodies.
3.2.Temperate Cyclone

Temperate cyclones (Mid-Latitude cyclones), also known as Extratropical cyclones, are active over the mid-latitudinal regions between 35° latitude and 65° latitude in both hemispheres.

  • They have a dynamic origin and cyclone formation is due to frontogenesis (interaction of cold and warm fronts). When the warm-humid air masses from the tropics meet the dry-cold air masses from the poles and thus a polar front is formed as a surface of discontinuity. The cold air pushes the warm air upwards from underneath. Thus, a void is created because of the lessening of pressure. The surrounding air rushed in to occupy this void and coupled with the earth’s rotation, a temperate cyclone is formed. 
  • Temperate cyclones can originate on both landmass or water.

4. How are cyclones named?

Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs). There are six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and five TCWCs.

As an RSMC, the IMD names the cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, after following a standard procedure. The IMD is also mandated to issue advisories to 12 other countries in the region on the development of cyclones and storms.

 

 

For Prelims: Cycles, types of cyclones, reasons for cyclones

For Mains:

1. Compare the origin and whether conditions of temperate and tropical cyclones (250 Words)
 
Source: indianexpress
 

ASIAN CLEARING UNION

1. Introduction

  • Asian Clearing Union (ACU) is a payment arrangement whereby the participants settle payments for intra-regional transactions among the participating central banks on a net multilateral basis.
  • The ACU was established in December 1974 when the region's countries faced settlement difficulties, mainly due to resource constraints.
  • The ACU started its operations a year later in November 1975. Over the years, the ACU has displayed a sense of true commitment, consolidated and nurtured throughout its operations.
  • By applying sound strategies, it achieved pre-determined objectives to facilitate settlement on a multilateral basis, to promote the use of participants’ currencies, to improve monetary and banking cooperation, and to expand trade and economic activity among the countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) region.

2. Objectives of the Asian Clearing Union

  • To provide a facility to settle payments, on a multilateral basis, for current international transactions among the territories of participants;
  • To promote the use of participant's currencies in current transactions between their respective territories and thereby affect economies in the use of the participant's exchange reserves;
  • To promote monetary cooperation among the participants and closer relations among the banking systems in their territories and thereby contribute to the expansion of trade and economic activity among the countries of the ESCAP region; and 
  • To provide for currency SWAP arrangements among the participants to make Asian Monetary Units (AMUs) available to them temporarily.

3. Asain Clearing Union Organisation

  • Each participant appoints one director and one alternate director. The Board elects a chairman and vice-chairman from among its members.
  • The Board meets at least once a year. All decisions of the Board of Directors are taken by a majority of the votes of all Directors unless a special majority is required by the Agreement.
  • The Board of Directors appoints a secretary General to conduct the business of the ACU. The Secretary-General acts as the representative of the Board of Directors.
  • The Board of Directors may make arrangements with a central Bank or monetary authority of a participant to provide the necessary services and facilities for the operation of the clearing facility.
  • The Board has accepted the offer of the Central Bank of Iran to act as an agent for the union.

4. Membership Quota

Membership in the ACU does not impose a financial burden (quota) on members as all expenses associated with running the ACU Secretariat are borne by the Central Bank of Iran the Agent Bank of the Union since the inception of the ACU.

5. Asian Clearing Union Measures and Achievements

The results of long-term initiatives to raise the Union's achievements are evident from the following facts:

  • The rapid expansion of trade: Since the inception of the ACU, transactions have experienced remarkable growth. In 2020, the volume of transactions (one way plus accrued interest) amounted to USD 9,302.22 million. Every month, the average transactions stood at USD 775.19 million.
  • Timely settlement: Under the ACU Procedure Rules, the debtor members should pay up their dues in convertible currencies within four working days of the receipt of the notice of payment from the Secretary-General. There has been no default by any member so far in meeting its obligation for the settlement of its net position within the stipulated time.
  • Establishment of multi-currency settlement system: Based on the approval of the ACU Board of Directors at the 37th Meeting in Myanmar (June 2008), the accounts of the ACU are held in “Asian Monetary Units” (AMUs), comprising ACU dollar and ACU euro with effect from January 1, 2009. Since then, the participants are authorized to settle transactions either in US Dollars or Euro within the ACU mechanism. In July 2019, according to the Board of Directors' approval at the 48th Meeting in Bhutan, the accounts of the ACU were held in AMUs comprising of ACU dollar, ACU euro, and ACU yen with effect from January 1, 2020. As a result, the participants were permitted to commence settlement of Japanese Yen in addition to US Dollar and Euro transactions through the ACU mechanism.
  • Revision of the Agreement Establishing the ACU and Procedure Rules: In tandem with developments and challenges ahead, the ACU Board of Directors amended the Agreement Establishing the ACU and Procedure Rules.
  • Quality management and information technology: Believing in the fact that developing online access to information would be a worldwide requirement; the ACU has developed both the quality and quantity of the system. To accelerate the process of presenting services and to make the dispersion of information smoother, the participants were enabled to access their ACU accounts daily through the Internet.
  • Expansion of the ACU: Based on a decision made at the 36th Board of Directors Meeting in Bangladesh (May 2006), the expansion of the Union was put at the top of its agenda. Eligibility to participate in the ACU shall be open to the central bank or monetary authority of each regional member or associate member of ESCAP. However, according to "ACU Membership Application Policy and Procedure" which was approved by the ACU Board of Directors at the 39th Meeting in Bhutan (June 11, 2010), a central bank or monetary authority that is eligible to participate and is not an original participant may apply to the Board of Directors to become a participant and be admitted as a participant if the Board so decides by a two-thirds vote of all the Directors for each regional member or associate member of ESCAP and by unanimous vote of all the Directors for each non-ESCAP members and upon such central bank or monetary authority signing this Agreement and accepting the rules, regulations, and decisions of the Board of Directors.

Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go. The ACU challenges are strengthening, smoothening, and streamlining the mechanism to cope with fast-paced developments in the international markets.

For Prelims: Asian Clearing Union (ACU), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Currency SWAP arrangements, Asian Monetary Units (AMUs).

For Mains: 1. What is Asian Clearing Union? Discuss the objectives and measures of the Asian Clearing Union.

Source: asianclearonion.org

MARITIME RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE

1. Context

India and Sri Lanka have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Indian public sector Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) to set up a state-of-the-art Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Colombo.
The MoU was signed on March 28, 2023, during the visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Colombo.

2. Key points

  • The agreement is significant as it enhances cooperation on maritime security between the two countries in a part of the Indian Ocean region where the India-China rivalry has taken centre stage over the last decade.
  • India also provided a naval floating dock to the Sri Lankan Navy, and two Dornier aircraft to the Sri Lankan Air Force.
  • Indian Navy team has been training the Sri Lankan Air Force and Navy in helicopter operations.
  • During the training, the Sri Lankan pilots are familiarised with India's Advanced Light Helicopter.
  • The two navies conducted a joint exercise in the seas off Colombo. Indian Navy ship Sharda was part of the exercise, along with Sri Lankan OPV Sayurala.
  • The engagement between the forces of the two countries will augment interoperability and seamless maritime actions like carrying out anti-smuggling operations in the Indian Ocean Region.

3. Enhancing Sri Lanka's Capacity

  • MRCCs are part of an international network under the UN's International Maritime Organisation to monitor the sea lanes with the objective of swift response to emergencies, such as vessels in distress, rescue and evacuation of people and prevention of and containing environmental disasters such as oil spills.
  • Each country is responsible for its Search and Rescue Region. 
  • The work of MRCCs is coordinated by the Navy or Coast Guard in each country.
  • In India, the Coast Guard is the coordinating agency. In Sri Lanka, it is the Navy.
  • The Bengaluru-based BEL has proposed enhancing Sri Lanka's small MRCC by setting up advanced software systems that will increase Sri Lank's capacities for communication and Coordination in its SRR in the Indian Ocean, where it is the first responder.
  • The MRCC will be established with a grant of $6 million from India.
  • The enhanced MRCC will work out of the Sri Lankan Navy headquarters at Colombo, with a sub-centre at Hambantota, where a Chinese state-owned company runs a deep water port that it helped to bill and which was controversially leased to it by Sri Lanka in 2016.
  • The proposed new network will comprise seven other sub-units along Sri Lanka's coastline.
  • In situations in which regional assistance has to be mobilised, as happened with the two recent ship fires in Sri Lankan waters, this MRCC will be able to share information with its Indian Counterparts.

4. SAGAR push

  • Sri Lanka's SRR is a wide swathe of 1, 778, 062.24 sq km of the Indian Ocean and nearly 200 ships pass through these waters every day.
  • The agreement appears to be part of India's SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region) initiative in the Indian Ocean, which has also seen India, Sri Lanka and Maldives give a new push to their 2011 Colombo Security Conclave that now includes Mauritius.
  • The recent meeting of the CSC National Security Advisers identified "five pillars" of cooperation:
  1. Maritime safety and security
  2. Countering terrorism and radicalisation
  3. Combating trafficking and transnational organised crime
  4. Cyber security, protection of critical infrastructure and technology and
  5. Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

5. Sri Lanka Clarification

  • The MRCC has been controversial in Sri Lanka. Parts of the agreement were leaked to the Sri Lankan press last week after it received cabinet approval.
  • Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry issued a clarification on the MRCC, as well as on recent agreements with India for a naval floating dock and Dornier aircraft.
  • The clarification has provided more details about the agreements that have been in the public domain so far.

6. Excerpts from the clarification

  • The recently signed maritime security pacts with the Government of India will neither result in hindrance nor a threat to the national security of Sri Lanka, as misinterpreted by several print and electronic media.
  • The receipt of the Floating Dock Facility from the Government of India at no cost has been projected to reduce the annual outlay of Rs 600 million for outsourced docking repairs and this proposal has been in the pipeline since year 2015.
  • The Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft is deployed for maritime surveillance, search and rescue operations and delivery of information to various required platforms.
  • The unavailability of this capability was the motive for bilateral dialogues between the Governments of India and Sri Lanka during the last couple of years and it was agreed upon to provide one Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft to Sri Lanka free of charge.
  • Accordingly, during the period earmarked for the manufacturing process of the said aircraft, the Government of India will lend a similar aircraft which will be piloted by Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) pilots.
  • An Indian Training team will also arrive and stay on the island until the SLAF gains the required expertise.
  • Thus, SLAF aircrew will receive an added qualification enabling the country to further, strengthen its maritime security while cutting a large cost as a result of the pacts.
  • Further, about the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Colombo (MRCC), the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal to establish MRCC with a US $6 million grant from the Government of India.
  • The establishment of MRCC is highly essential to instantly respond to the search and rescue services of vessels in distress operating in the region and ensure the safety of vessels in compliance with various international conventions.
  • Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) is the authority responsible for conducting Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) operations for commercial ships around the island's SAR region.
  • Before the signing of the aforementioned three pacts, the Ministry of Defence followed the Standard criteria and procedures while channelling it through the other mandatory state establishments including the Attorney General's Department.
  • Except for economic and security gains embedded with infrastructure and personnel development, the Defence Ministry assures there won't be any kind of risk to the national security of Sri Lanka it is a sovereign nation.
For Prelims: India-Sri Lanka, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, naval floating dock, Dornier aircraft, Advanced Light Helicopter, SAGAR, Hambantota port, Colombo Security Conclave, Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft 
For Mains: 
1. What is the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative? Discuss the significance of India's Pact with Sri Lanka on a maritime rescue Centre. (250 Words)
 

Previous Year Questions 
 
For Prelims:
 
1. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2020)
1. The value of Indo-Sri Lanka trade has consistently increased in the last decade.
2. "Textile and textile articles" constitute an important item of trade between India and Bangladesh.
3. In the last five years, Nepal has been the largest trading partner of India in South Asia. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only                      B. 2 only                        C.  3 only                  D. 1, 2 and 3
 
Answer: B
 
2. Elephant Pass, sometimes seen in the news, is mentioned in the context of the affairs of which one of the following? (UPSC 2009)

A. Bangladesh            B. India            C. Nepal                        D. Sri Lanka

Answer: D

3. Under waterways infrastructure, a/an _________ is a long excavated chamber, having side walls, a semi-circular end wall and a floor. (DSSSB AE 2021) 
A. graving dock
B. marine railway
C. floating dock
D. lift dock
 
Answer: A
 
4. Where is Hambantota Port located?  (CDS 2018)  (KSP Civil SI 2020)
A. Iran
B. Sri Lanka
C. Japan
D. Pakistan
 
Answer: B
 
5. Consider the following in respect of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): (2017)
1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only               (b) 2 only                   (c) Both 1 and 2            (d) Neither 1 nor 2
 
Answer: B
 
For Mains
 
1. In respect of India-Sri Lanka relations, discuss how domestic factors influence foreign policy. (250 Words) (UPSC 2013)
2. . ‘India is an age-old friend of Sri Lanka.’ Discuss India's role in the recent crisis in Sri Lanka in the light of the preceding statement. (250 Words) (UPSC 2022)
Source: The Indian Express

GLOBAL WARMING

 

1. Context

The annual mean temperature of the world is known to have increased by 1.1 degree Celsius from the average of the 1850-1900 period. But this increase, as can be expected, is not uniform. It varies in different regions and also at different times of the year. This single number denoting global temperature increase, very effective for communicating the dangers of climate change, is built on top of several layers of averages.

2. The difference in Temperature rise

  • Temperature rises over land is much higher than over oceans. Overland the annual mean temperatures have risen by as much as 1.59 degree Celsius since preindustrial times, according to the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
  • Oceans, in contrast, have warmed by about 0.88 degree Celsius. The warming trends over the Indian region are very different.
  • An assessment of climate change over the Indian subcontinent, published by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in 2020, said annual mean temperatures had risen by 0.7 degree Celsius from 1900.
  • This is significantly lower than the 1.59 degree Celsius rise for land temperatures across the world. It could give the impression that the problem of climate change in India was not as acute as in other parts of the world. But that is not entirely accurate. 

3. Why is warming over India is lower?

  • The relatively lower rise in temperatures over India is not a surprise. Also, India is not a special case. The increase in temperatures is known to be more prominent in the higher altitudes, near the polar regions, than near the equator.
  • This is attributable to a complex set of atmospheric phenomena, including heat transfers from the tropics to the poles through prevailing systems of air circulation. India happens to be in the tropical region, quite close to the equator.
  • A substantial part of the difference between the temperature rise over India and that over the entire world can be explained by understanding what the different numbers represent. 
  • The planet as a whole has warmed by 1.1 degree Celsius compared with preindustrial times.
  • But, as mentioned earlier, this is just the average. Different regions have seen very different levels of warming.
  • The polar regions, particularly the Arctic, have seen significantly greater warming. The IPCC report says the Arctic region has warmed at least twice as much as the world average.
  • Its current annual mean temperatures are about 2 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial times. Some other studies suggest the Arctic could be warming even faster.
  • Again, this happens because of a variety of reasons, including the processes mentioned earlier. Another prominent cause is what is known as the albedo effect, or how much sunlight a surface reflects. The ice cover in the Arctic is melting, because of which more land or water is getting exposed to the Sun.
  • Ice traps the least amount of heat and reflects most of the solar radiation when compared with land or water.
  • More recent research suggests that the higher warming in the polar region could be attributed to a host of factors, including the albedo effect, changes in clouds, water vapour, and atmospheric temperatures.
  • The warming in the polar regions accounts for a substantial part of the 1.1-degree Celsius temperature rise over the entire globe. 

4. Higher warming over land than oceans

  • However, the 0.7 degree Celsius temperature rise over India has to be compared with the warming seen over land areas, not the entire planet.
  • As mentioned, land areas have become warmer by 1.59 degree Celsius. Land areas tend to get heated faster and by a larger amount, than oceans.
  • Daily and seasonal variations in heating over land and oceans are usually explained in terms of their different heat capacities. Oceans have a higher capacity to cool themselves down through the process of evaporation.
  • The warmer water evaporates, leaving the rest of the ocean relatively cooler. However, longer-term enhanced heating trends over land have to be attributed to other, more complicated, physical processes involving land-ocean-atmospheric interactions.

5. Impact of Aerosols

  • Aerosols refer to all kinds of particles suspended in the atmosphere. These particles have the potential to affect the local temperature in multiple ways.
  • Many of these scatter sunlight back, so that lesser heat is absorbed by the land. Aerosols also affect cloud formation.
  • Clouds, in turn, have an impact on how much sunlight is reflected or absorbed.
    Aerosol concentration in the Indian region is quite high, due to natural as well as man-made reasons.
  • Due to its location in the tropics and the arid climate, India is no stranger to dust. But it also happens to be experiencing heavy pollution right now.
  • Emissions from vehicles, industries, construction, and other activities add a lot of aerosols to the Indian region. A reduction in warming could be an unintended but positive side effect.
For Prelims: Global Warming, Intercontinental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Aerosols, Albedo, Climate change, and land-ocean-atmospheric interactions.

Previous year Questions

1. In the context of mitigating the impending global warming due to anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide, which of the following can be the potential sites for carbon sequestration? (UPSC 2017)
1. Abandoned and uneconomic coal seams
2. Depleted oil and gas reservoirs
3. Subterranean deep saline formations
Select the correct answer using the code given below: 
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, and 3 only
Answer: D
 
2. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2017)
1. Climatic and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants is a unique initiative of the G20 group of countries.
2. The CCAC focuses on methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D.Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
Source: The Indian Express

LAWS ON POLYGAMY

1. Context 

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the state government will move to ban the practice of polygamy through "legislative action" and an "expert committee" would be formed to examine the issue.

2. Practice of Polygamy

  • Polygamy is the practice of having more than one married spouse wife or husband. The issue is governed both by personal laws and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
  • Traditionally, polygamy mainly the situation of a man having more than one wife was practised widely in India. The Hindu Marriage Act, of 1955 outlawed the practice.
IPC Section 494 (Marrying again during the lifetime of husband or wife) penalises bigamy or polygamy. The section reads: "Whoever, having a husband or wife living marries in any case in which such marriage is void because of its taking place during the life of such husband or wife, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine". 
 
  • This provision does not apply to a marriage which has been declared void by a court, for example, a child marriage that has been declared void.
  • The law also does not apply if a spouse has been "continually absent" for the "space of seven years".
  • This means a spouse who has deserted the marriage or when his or her whereabouts are not known for seven years, will not bind the other spouse from remarrying.

3. The Second marriage

  • Generally, the first wife files a complaint that her husband has remarried.
  • The Court will have to look into whether the husband has entered into a legally valid second marriage.
  • This means that the second marriage would have to be performed as per prescribed customs and the penal provision will not apply to adulterous relationships that do not qualify as valid marriages under the law.
  • In Kanwal Ram and  Ors v The Himachal Pradesh Administration (1965), the Supreme Court reiterated the legal position that the standard of proof must be of marriage performed as per customs.
  • In a bigamy case, the second marriage is a fact, that is to say, the ceremonies constituting it must be proved.
Section 495 of the IPC protects the rights of the second wife in case of a bigamous marriage. It reads: "Whoever commits the offence defined in the last preceding section (i.e. Section 494) having concealed from the person with whom the subsequent marriage is contracted, the fact of the former marriage, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine.

4. Under Hindu Law

  • After Independence, anti-bigamy laws were adopted by provincial legislatures including Bombay and Madras.
  • The Special Marriage Act, of 1954, was a radical legislation that proposed the requirement of monogamy subsection (a) of Section 4 of the SMA (Conditions relating to solemnization of special marriages) requires that "at the time of marriage.. neither party has a spouse living".
  • Parliament passed the Hindu Marriage Act in 1955, outlawing the concept of having more than one spouse at a time.
  • Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs are also included under the Hindu Marriage code.
  • The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act 1936 had already outlawed bigamy.
  • Section 5 (Conditions for a Hindu Marriage) of the Hindu Marriage Act lays down that "a marriage may be solemnized between any two Hindus. if.. ⟨among other conditions⟩ neither party has a spouse living at the time of the marriage".
  • Under Section 17 of the HMA bigamy is an offence, and the provisions of sections 494 and 495 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, shall apply accordingly.
  • However, despite bigamy being an offence, the child born from the bigamous marriage would acquire the same rights as a child from the first marriage under the law.
  • A crucial exception to the bigamy law for Hindus is Goa, which follows its code for personal laws.
  • So, a Hindu man in the state has the right to bigamy under specific circumstances mentioned in the codes of Usages and Customs of Gentile Hindus of Goa.
  • These circumstances include a case where the wife fails to conceive by the age of 25 or if she fails to deliver a male child by the age of 30.
  • However, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that the provision for Hindus is virtually "redundant" and that no one has been given the benefit of it since 1910.

5. Under Muslim law

  • Marriage in Islam is governed by the Shariat Act of 1937.
  • Personal law allows a Muslim man to have four wives. To benefit from the Muslim personal law, many men from other religions would convert to Islam to have a second wife.
  • In a landmark ruling in 1995, the Supreme Court in Sarla Mudgal v Union of India held that religious conversion for the sole purpose of committing bigamy is unconstitutional.
  • This position was subsequently reiterated in the 2000 judgment in Lily Thomas v Union of India.
  • Any move to outlaw polygamy for Muslims would have to be special legislation which overrides personal law protections like in the case of triple talaq.

6. Prevalence of polygamy

  • The National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-20) showed the prevalence of polygamy was 2.1 per cent among Christians, 1.9 per cent among Muslims, 1.3 per cent among Hindus and 1.6 per cent among other religious groups.
  • The data showed that the highest prevalence of polygynous marriages was in the Northeastern states with tribal populations.
  • A list of 40 districts with the highest polygyny rates was dominated by those with high tribal populations.
For Prelims: Polygamy, Indian Penal Code, The Hindu Marriage Act, of 1955, IPC Section 494, bigamy case, Special Marriage Act, of 1954, Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act 1936, National Family Health Survey-5, 
For Mains: 
1.  What is Polygamy? Discuss the various laws associated with it. (250 Words)
 
Previous Year Questions
 
1. National Family Health Survey (NFHS) – 5 does not include - (UPPSC 2019)
A.  High blood-pressure
B. Diabetes
C. HIV Test
D. Registration of death
 
Answer: C
 
2. Which of the following does the Special Marriage Act 1954 NOT support? (SSC CHSL 2021)
A. Communal harmony
B. Inter-faith marriage
C. Strict endogamy
D. Inter-caste marriage
 
Answer: C
 
Source: The Indian Express
 
Share to Social
View All Current affairs

More Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS, 29 AUGUST 2023...

29-Aug-2023
Read more

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS, 14 JUNE 2023...

14-Jun-2023
Read more

[DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS, 04 MARCH 2023]...

04-Mar-2023
Read more

[DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS, 24 APRIL 2023]...

24-Apr-2023
Read more