Indian Panorama (UPSC) Part-I

• Shedding light on marginalised people of history is important and many incredible women are unfortunately a part of that. While some of these women with their actions are by no means role models, they show us the rise of women in a society where patriarchy was rife, and oppression was the norm. Phoolan Devi’s story is one without doubt worth sharing. Phoolan Devi was an infamous woman in India who was widely known as the ‘Bandit Queen’. In her short life, despite terrible and horrifying actions done on her, she achieved unbelievable feats such as becoming a politician in India who had derived from the low-caste.

• Phoolan Devi’s life demonstrates how the struggles of women are continuous, especially in parts of the world such as India where equality between men and women is not prevalent, as well as the caste system that hinders equality for all. This is not a happy story, but a story worth sharing for Devi was a woman who represents many others in India of being a low caste woman who seem powerless. Devi was different because she fought outside the law in order to enact what she saw as justice. The legend of the Bandit Queen lives on.

The Nobel Prize, established by Swedish inventor and philanthropist Alfred Nobel, is the world’s most prestigious recognition of excellence in fields that advance human progress, which are Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. Instituted through Nobel’s will in 1895, the awards honour individuals and organisations whose work has made the “greatest benefit to humankind.”

First presented in 1901, the Nobel Prizes symbolise intellectual achievement, humanitarian service, and the pursuit of global peace. From Albert Einstein’s breakthroughs in physics to Mother Teresa’s humanitarian mission, these laureates represent the spirit of innovation and compassion that the Nobel envisioned. Over the decades, the Nobel Prizes have not only celebrated outstanding contributions but have also inspired generations toward knowledge, peace, and the betterment of humanity.

Uniform Civil Code (UCC) refers to a single law applicable to all citizens of a country in personal matters such as marriage, divorce, custody, adoption, and inheritance. In India, the purpose of a uniform civil code is to replace personal laws based on religions and their scriptures and customs with a common set of civil laws governing every citizen that are in line with criminal laws.

Article 44, enshrined in Part IV of the Indian Constitution, recognises the need for a UCC, but it is not mandatory and is left to the government’s discretion. The demand for a uniform civil code in India is contentious; supporters argue it promotes equality and secularism, while opponents believe it undermines minority rights and religious practices.

• Naqqua: A traditional theatre form from Jammu & Kashmir, not Bihar.

• Tamasha: A traditional folk theatre from Maharashtra, not Orissa.

• Baha: A spring festival celebrated in Assam, not a play from Punjab.

Features of Mohiniyattam:
• It is conventionally a solo dance performed by female artists.
• It adheres to the Lasya type that showcases a more graceful, gentle and feminine form of dancing.
• Theme: The dance form Mohiniyattam has love and devotion to God as its major themes, with usually Lord Vishnu or his incarnation Lord Krishna as the lead character.
• It creates a play through dance and singing, where the song is customarily in Manipravala, which is a mix of Sanskrit and Malayalam language.
• The recitation may be performed by the dancer or a vocalist, with the music style being Carnatic.
• The dance is characterized by its graceful swaying body movements with no abrupt jerks or sudden leaps.
• More than the footwork, emphasis is given to hand gestures and Mukhabhinaya or subtle facial expressions.
• The hand gestures, 24 in number, are mainly adopted from ‘Hasta Lakshana Deepika’, a text followed by Kathakali.
• Costumes in Mohiniyattam include plain white or ivory cream traditional sari embroidered with bright gold-laced brocade.
• Instruments used: Mridangam, Maddalam, Idakka, flute, Veena and Kuzhitalam(cymbals).

1. The Government of India has instituted a scheme for labeling environment-friendly products to be known as ECO Mark. Eco-mark is issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as a certification mark for the products which are ecologically safe conforming to the standards prescribed by the BIS.
2. The Eco-mark scheme falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The scheme first saw its application in 1991.
3. Eco-Marks helps in identifying eco-friendly products in the market. The mark is being issued in around 16 categories like food, medicines, chemicals, electronic goods, paper, lubricating oils, packing materials, etc.

Objectives of ECO MARK Label Scheme

1. To offer an incentive to producers and importers to reduce the adverse impact of their products on the environment.
2. To reward good initiatives companies take in order to reduce the adverse environmental impact of their products.
3. To encourage consumers to be more environmentally aware in their day-to-day lives and urge them to take into account environmental factors also before making a purchase decision.
4. To promote environmentally-safe products among citizens.
5. To improve environmental quality and promote sustainable management of resources.