Uttar Pradesh State PCS

• 19 Jun 2024

PM Modi's visit to Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Why in News?

• The Prime Minister of India recently visited Varanasi, marking his first trip to the holy city since he assumed office for the third time.

Key Points

• He inaugurated the first phase of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple corridor project.
• The corridor connects the temple to the banks of the river Ganga and is a symbol of India’s Sanatan culture.
• After the inauguration, PM Modi addressed the audience, emphasizing the historical significance of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. He also highlighted the resilience of the city against past invasions and attempts to tarnish its image.
• Before the inauguration, PM Modi offered prayers at the Kaal Bhairav Temple in Varanasi.
• In the evening, PM Modi witnessed the Ganga Aarti. This visit holds immense cultural and historical significance, celebrating the spirit of Varanasi and its iconic temple.

Kashi Vishwanath Corridor

• Kashi Vishwanath Corridor connects the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple and the ghats along the river Ganga.
• Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• The temple stands on the western bank of the holy river Ganga and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest of Shiva temples.
• Kashi Vishwanath Dham has become one of the top pilgrimage spots in India as a record 12.9 crore devotees visited the shrine in two years.

National Commission for Women

Why in News?

According to the sources, the highest number of complaints received by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in 2024 has been from Uttar Pradesh followed by Delhi and Maharashtra.

Key Points

• Out of the 12,648 complaints filed with the NCW in 2024, Uttar Pradesh led with 6,492 complaints, followed by Delhi with 1,119 complaints, and Maharashtra with 764 complaints.
  • Other states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and West Bengal also reported varying numbers of complaints.
• The most complaints, totaling 3,567, were reported in the category related to "right to dignity," encompassing harassment apart from domestic violence.
• This was followed by 3,213 complaints of domestic violence, 1,963 complaints of dowry harassment, 821 of molestation, 524 of police apathy towards women complaints, and 658 of rape or attempted rape.
• Manipur, which has seen large-scale ethnic violence as well as crimes against women, recorded only six complaints with the NCW in 2023.

National Commission for Women (NCW)

• The NCW is the statutory body of the Government of India, generally concerned with advising the government on all policy matters affecting women.
• It was established in January 1992 under the provisions of the Indian Constitution, as defined in the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
• The objective of the NCW is to represent the rights of women in India and to provide a voice for their issues and concerns.
• The subjects of their campaigns have included dowry, politics, religion, equal representation for women in jobs, and the exploitation of women for labour.
• The NCW also receives and investigates complaints from women who are victims of violence, discrimination, harassment, or deprivation of their rights.