THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 09 March 2020 (‘Stree shakti’ is an integral part of our ‘rashtra shakti’(Indian Express))

‘Stree shakti’ is an integral part of our ‘rashtra shakti’(Indian Express)

Mains Paper 1: Society
Prelims level:International Women’s Day
Mains level: Challenges towards empowering women

Context:

International Women’s Day is celebrated across the globe on March 8 every year to recognise the achievements of women, across divides, national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.
It provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made, to call for change and celebrate acts of courage and determination by those women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and with regard to communities.
The theme of International Women’s Day 2020 is, “I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights”.

Evolution of women empowerment in India:

We are a nation in which women’s empowerment has been imbibed in our culture for centuries.
In the modern day context, it demands strengthening women’s positions in the social, economic, political and security architectures.
The targeted outcome of such empowerment is the creation of an atmosphere where women feel safe and secure to pursue a profession or vocation of their choice.
Women should play decisive roles in the family and society equally, so that any question of discrimination or deprivation does not arise.

Components of security:

When it comes to women, security is typically conceived of in terms of physical safety and security — and not beyond. However, our government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has added .....................................................

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Empowerment of women in the armed forces:

Empowerment of women in the armed forces has been a major focus area of our government over the past five years and many interventions are first-time initiatives.
In 2019, 3.89 per cent of the Army personnel comprised women, while 6.7 per cent of the Navy and 13.28 per cent of the Air Force personnel respectively were women.
Before 2016, women made up just 2.5 per cent of lndia’s armed forces.
The proposal for induction of women in the corps of military police in the Indian Army as soldiers was approved last year to recruit a total of 1,700 women military personnel.
Steps like increasing the tenure of women officers in SSC from 10 to 14 years and improving their promotional prospects in the Army have been taken.

Admission of girl students in Sainik School:

The government has thrown open the doors of Sainik Schools for girls.
Admission of girl students started in Sainik School, Chhingchhip (Mizoram) in academic year 2018-19 as a pilot project.
The admission process for another five Sainik Schools — Kalikiri (Andhra Pradesh), Kodagu and Bijapur (Karnataka), Ghorakhal (Uttarakhand), Chandrapur (Maharashtra) — has already started.
All the Sainik schools will extend admission to girl students from the academic session 2021-22 onwards.

Increase the number of girl cadets in NCC:

There has been a substantial increase in enrolment and representation of girl cadets in NCC to 33.72 per cent in 2019 from 25.4 per cent in 2014.
The total enrolment .....................................

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Empowerment of women in enhancement of skills:

The DRDO has been according equal opportunities for enhancement of women’s skills and fulfilment of their potential.
Some of the leading missile scientists today are women. The year 2018 saw the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe, Navika Sagar Parikrama, by an all-women crew.
The INSV Tarini success was the completion of the first Indian all-women circumnavigation of the globe, depicting “nari shakti” on the world platform.
Women in our armed forces are marching ahead to conquer new frontiers and my best wishes to them.

Empowerment of women in economic and social sector:

The economic and social empowerment of women is another significant step which our government has taken in the past 70 months.
The Mudra Yojana is one of schemes which has laid the foundation of economic empowerment of Indian women.
Women entrepreneurs have cornered about 75 per cent of the total disbursals under the Yojana.

Way ahead:

The government is moving in the right direction, but it’s really required is far more awareness and creation of new opportunities.
Programmes like “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” have not only helped improve the sex ratio but also created awareness among the people.
We need to keep reminding ourselves about the contributions of women, about their strengths. India has come a long way in empowering women but many milestones are yet to be crossed.
“Stree Shakti” is an integral part of our “Rashtra Shakti” and without strengthening our “Shakti” we cannot aspire to be “Shaktishali Bharat”.
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General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the National Lalit Kala Akademi Awards, consider the following statements:
1. Lalit Kala Akademi, National Academy of Art, New Delhi was set up by the Government of India as an autonomous body, in 1954.
2. The Akademi was given statutory authority in 1957, under the Societies Registration Act 1860.

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