UGC-NET (NTA) Human Rights and Duties, SEPTEMBER-2024

The 105th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2021 restored the power of State Governments to identify and notify Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs). This amendment was necessary after the Supreme Court's judgment in Maratha reservation case (May 2021), where it was held that after the 102nd Amendment (2018), only the President could notify SEBCs.
The 105th Amendment clarified:
• States and Union Territories have the power to prepare and maintain their own list of SEBCS.
• It amended Articles 338B and 342A of the Constitution.
This ensured the continuation of federal structure and state autonomy in matters of backward class identification.

Classical Liberalism is a political and economic philosophy that emphasizes individual liberty, limited government, and a free market economy.
It seeks to maximize the market by:
• Advocating laissez-faire policies
• Minimizing state intervention in economic affairs
• Protecting private property, free trade, and competitive markets
Thinkers like Adam Smith and John Locke are foundational figures in classical liberalism.
The central belief is that individual freedom and economic prosperity are best achieved through market mechanisms, not government control.

(*) The European Court of Human Rights came into force on Sept 3, 1959:
• The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) was established under the European Convention on Human Rights, which was adopted in 1950.
• The ECHR formally began functioning on 3 September 1959, not 1958 or 1998 as given in the options.
• It is located in Strasbourg, France, and is responsible for enforcing the European Convention on Human Rights.
• The Protocol 11, which restructured the Court into a full-time institution, came into force in 1998, but the original court began in 1959.

Mooknayak (The Leader of the Dumb) was started by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on 31 January 1920 in Mumbai. It was a Marathi fortnightly newspaper aimed at voicing the issues and struggles of the Dalit and oppressed communities.
Ambedkar used this platform to:
• Challenge caste discrimination
• Advocate for social reform and education
• Promote the rights and dignity of untouchables
It marked the beginning of Ambedkar's public activism and intellectual leadership in the social reform movement.

This statement is NOT true. The InterAmerican Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) was created in 1979, not 1999
The American Convention on Human Rights, also called the Pact of San José, was adopted in 1969, but the Court itself was established in 1979 and began functioning in San José, Costa Rica. Correct facts about IACtHR:
• It promotes and enforces human rights across the Americas.
• It works alongside the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
• It can issue binding judgments and provisional (emergency) measures to protect individuals in danger.
Therefore, the statement that it was established in 1969 is factually incorrect.

Mahatma Gandhi strongly criticised materialism, which he believed led to moral decay, greed, and spiritual emptiness.
• Gandhi advocated for a simple lifestyle, rooted in truth (satya) and non-violence (ahimsa).
• He opposed the idea of excessive consumption and attachment to wealth, emphasizing "Plain living and high thinking".
• In his works like "Hind Swaraj", Gandhi condemned Western materialistic civilization and called for a return to spiritual and ethical values.
• He believed that true progress lies in inner development, not in accumulating material goods.

The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (AfCHPR) is headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania.
It was established by the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights adopted in 1998, and came into effect in 2004. The court became operational in 2006. It complements the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. The court is empowered to:
• Hear cases and disputes concerning the interpretation and application of the African Charter.
• Provide advisory opinions.
• Issue binding judgments and provisional measures.

Butterfly India is a non-governmental organization that works primarily in the field of children's rights and education, especially for street and vulnerable children. Its main objectives include:
• Providing non-formal and formal education
• Promoting life skills and child protection
• Fostering child participation in decisionmaking
Butterfly India follows a child-centered approach, helping children access their right to education, health care, and protection. It also focuses on capacity-building among children to become leaders in their communities.

The Banjul Charter is the popular name for the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, adopted in 1981 in Banjul, The Gambia, and came into force in 1986. It is a regional human rights instrument that promotes and protects human rights and freedoms in the African continent. Key features of the charter:
• Emphasis on collective or peoples' rights, in addition to individual rights.
• Recognition of duties along with rights.
• Establishment of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
It reflects the African socio-cultural and political context, distinguishing it from other regional charters like the European Convention.