• 09 Apr 2024

UP Government Revokes Licenses for Madrasas

Why in News?

Recently, the Uttar Pradesh government revoked the licences of all 16,000 Madrasas across the state. This decision entails that students enrolled in Madarsas will now be required to seek admission in government-run schools.

Key Points

• On 22 March 2024, the Allahabad High Court declared the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act 2004, unconstitutional.
  • While calling the act violative of the principles of secularism, the Court said that Madarsa education is against the principle of secularism, and the State must make sure that students taking part in religious teachings should be accommodated in the formal education system.
  • However, the Supreme Court stayed the order of the Allahabad High Court.
• The cancellation of Madrasa licences marks a significant shift in the state’s approach towards religious education institutions.
  • The move aims to streamline the education system in Uttar Pradesh and ensure uniformity in the curriculum and standards across all educational institutions.
• It is noteworthy that Uttar Pradesh is home to over 25,000 madrasas, of which approximately 16,500 are officially recognised by the UP Board of Madarsa Education.

Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004

• The Act aimed to regulate and govern the functioning of madrasas (Islamic educational institutions) in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
• It provided a framework for the establishment, recognition, curriculum, and administration of madrasas across Uttar Pradesh.
• Under this Act, the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education was established to oversee and supervise the activities of madrasas in the state.

Uttarakhand Licensing Authority on Misleading Patanjali Ads

Why in News?

Recently, the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority (SLA) has been reprimanded by the Supreme Court for its failure to address complaints regarding misleading advertisements by Patanjali, which had persisted for over two years.

• The Supreme Court rejected the SLA's latest justification for its inaction.

Key Points

• The Ayush ministry filed an affidavit in court which showed that the SLA had not taken any action on a complaint filed in February 2022, beyond giving a warning and asking the company to stop advertisements, though the company continued to advertise throughout the two years.
• The petition against Patanjali stated that it was for violation of section 3 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act (DMRA), which prohibits advertising drugs for 54 diseases and conditions.
  • The Act prohibits advertisements of drugs and remedies that claim to have magical properties, and makes doing so an offence.
    • The Act defines "magic remedy" to include talismans, mantras, kavachas (amulets), and any other similar items that claim supernatural or magical properties for curing ailments.

Meaning of 'Ayush'

• Traditional and Non-Conventional systems of Health care and healing which include Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy etc.
• The Indian systems of medicine exhibit significant strengths, including diversity and flexibility.
• These systems are highly accessible and affordable for a broad section of the population.
• Compared to conventional healthcare, these systems incur relatively lower costs.
• They demonstrate growing economic value, highlighting their potential to serve as vital healthcare providers for a substantial portion of the populace.

Right Against Adverse Effects of Climate Change Part of Rights to Life, and Equality: SC

Why in News?

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court (SC) has expanded the scope of Articles 14 and 21 to include the “right against the adverse effects of climate change”.

Key Points

• The bench was hearing a plea to protect the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) from losing its habitat due to power transmission lines.
  • The April 2021 order of the SC imposed restrictions on setting up of overhead transmission lines in certain areas of Rajasthan for conservation of GIB.
• Article 21 recognises the right to life and personal liberty while Article 14 indicates that all persons shall have equality before law and the equal protection of laws.
  • These Articles are important sources of the right to a clean environment and the right against the adverse effects of climate change.
• Despite governmental policy and rules and regulations recognising the adverse effects of climate change and seeking to combat it, there is no single or umbrella legislation in India which relates to climate change and the attendant concerns.
• Important SC Judgements of Constitutionalising Environmental Problems:
  • MC Mehta v. Kamal Nath, 1996: The Supreme Court made it clear that any disturbance of basic environmental elements namely air, water and soil which are necessary for life would be hazardous to life and can’t be polluted.
  • Virendra Gaur vs State Haryana (1995): The Supreme Court emphasized that Article 21 protects the right to life, extending it to sanitation for the enjoyment of life with dignity.

Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

• The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), the State bird of Rajasthan, is considered India’s most critically endangered bird.
• It is considered the flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology.
• Its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small populations occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
  • The bird is under constant threats due to collision/electrocution with power transmission lines, hunting (still prevalent in Pakistan), habitat loss and alteration as a result of widespread agricultural expansion, etc.
• Protection Status:
  • IUCN red List: Critically Endangered
  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix1
  • Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

Constitutional Provisions Related to Environment

• Article 48A of the Constitution provides that the State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
• Clause (g) of Article 51A stipulates that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.

Patwa Toli: The Village of IITians in Bihar

Why in News?

In Bihar, a village named Patwa Toli has gained recognition as the 'IIT factory' for consistently giving over a dozen IITians annually.

• The village, located in Gaya, boasts a high number of IIT qualifiers, with almost every household having an engineer.

Key Points

• Vriksha is an organisation, which has been providing free coaching for the JEE Main exam since 2013.
  • This initiative, funded by IIT graduates, equips students with engineering books and online classes conducted by prominent educators.
  • To support financially disadvantaged students, Vriksh Veda Chain established a library model offering free education through online classes conducted by volunteer teachers from Delhi and Mumbai.
• The success story of IIT qualifiers from Patwa Toli traces back to 1991 which ignited a wave of aspirations in the village.
• Initially known as the 'Manchester of Bihar' due to its history of cloth weaving, Patwa Toli has now earned the name 'village of IITians' for its remarkable educational achievements.
  • With a rich legacy of producing engineers and medical professionals, Patwa Toli stands as a testament to the transformative power of education and community support.

Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in News?

Recently, Rejecting the proposal of the Haryana government to delineate an area of 1,000 metres around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary on the Haryana side as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued a draft notification, demarcating an area of 1 km up to 2.035 km around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary on the Haryana side as an ESZ.

Key Points

• The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over 25.98 square km (about 6420 acres), is under the administrative control of the Union territory of Chandigarh and shares its boundaries with Haryana and Punjab.
• The sanctuary is located in the Shivalik foothills, which are considered ecologically sensitive and geologically unstable.
• It is home to at least seven Schedule 1 animal species of the Wildlife Act, 1972, including leopard, Indian pangolin, sambar, golden jackal, king cobra, python, and monitor lizard.
  • The Schedule 1 species are considered endangered and in need of immediate protection.
• Besides, there are Schedule 2 animal species like reptiles, butterflies, trees, shrubs, climbers, herbs, and 250 bird species that inhabit the sanctuary.

Aravalli Regeneration Plan

Why in News?

Recently, the Delhi forest department has initiated the establishment of a tissue culture laboratory at the Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary to conserve rare native trees of Aravalli.

Key Points

• Tissue Culture Laboratory: The lab will be able to extract plant tissue from an in-vitro fully grown plant, generating multiple trees from the same tree.
  • The forest department will take assistance from botanists and scientists from the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and the Forest Research Institute (FRI).
• The primary goal of the laboratory is to grow endangered native trees in a controlled environment and regenerate saplings of species facing regeneration challenges due to invasive species.
• Tissue culture has proven highly effective in agriculture, particularly with crops such as bananas, apples, pomegranates, and jatropha, offering higher yields compared to traditional farming methods.
• The Aravalli Plan:
  • The regeneration of ridge species like Kulu (ghost tree), palash, doodhi, and dhau is hindered by invasive species, resulting in poor survival rates, with large-scale multiplication achievable only through tissue culture, particularly shoot culture.
  • The lab will also be useful in culturing endangered medicinal plants.

Asola Wildlife Sanctuary

• Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary is located at the end of an important wildlife corridor that starts from Sariska National Park in Alwar and passes through Mewat, Faridabad and Gurugram districts of Haryana.
• The region has a semiarid climate with notable diurnal temperature variations.
• The vegetation in the Wildlife Sanctuary is predominantly an open canopied thorny scrub. The native plants exhibit xerophytic adaptations such as thorny appendages, and wax-coated, succulent, and tomentose leaves.
• Major wildlife species include Peafowl, Common Woodshrike, Sirkeer Malkoha, Nilgai, Golden Jackals, Spotted deer, etc.