THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 09 January 2020 (Undoing harms (The Hindu))

Undoing harms (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: Polity
Prelims level: Citizenship Amendment Act
Mains level: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

Context:

• There is a country wide protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 which was passed recently.

What could be done?

• The government must pay attention to bring out meaningful changes that would dispel fears gripping the country, especially minorities.

Further amend the Act: Drop its religion specific wording

• There is a need to further amend the Act, even by an ordinance, to drop its religion specific wording, and make it explicit that the benefit would be open to all undocumented migrants who can prove persecution in their home countries.
• There is no need to bar Muslims for allowing a Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Jain, Buddhist or Parsi to apply for citizenship after staying in the country for six years from making a similar claim.

Relaxation of minimum residency requirement:

• General enabling provision to allow a relaxation of the minimum residency requirement will serve the purpose of considering citizenship to any persecuted people.
• This would be non-discriminatory, without obligation to grant citizenship.

Enact a refugee law:

• India should enact a refugee law wherein the right to live a life without fear or confinement can be protected.
• If the fear is that people may seek permanent asylum, the UNHCR can work with them officially for their voluntary repatriation, and without rendering longterm refugees ineligible for applying for citizenship.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the first ‘Antarrashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman’, consider the following statements:
1. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had instituted the first Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman (AYDMS) in June, 2019 to mark the contribution of media in spreading the message of Yoga.
2. The International Day of Yoga is being celebrated annually on 21 of June every year, since 2015.

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

Answer: C
Mains Questions:
Q.1) What are the major challenges for the government to implement Citizenship Amendment Act?