The Supreme Court of India has issued a landmark ruling suggesting that an affinity test is not an infallible or comprehensive means of determining caste or tribe claims. This decision highlights that an affinity test, which demands that authorities assemble a report on these claims based on unique anthropological and ethnological characteristics, deities, rituals, customs, marital traditions, death ceremonies, and burial practices of the specific caste or tribe in question, may not be definitive.
An applicant’s familiarity with these details forms the basis for the affinity test. Ultimately, this judgment challenges the belief that such tests can definitively settle caste or tribe verifications or disputes in India.
Finance Bill, 2023: An Overview
The Indian government recently concluded the budgetary process for the fiscal year 2023-24, with both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha sanctioning the Finance Bill, 2023. The Bill received approval along with a novel amendment introduced by the Finance Minister to rectify a discrepancy in the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) rates applicable to options contracts present in the original draft of the Bill.
This bill includes provisions regarding government expenditure financing along with an Appropriation Bill that enumerates the quantity and purpose for money withdrawal. Both bills, crucially classified as money bills, are exempt from Rajya Sabha’s explicit authorization. The Rajya Sabha can only discuss these bills and return them once approved. Its power is restricted to delaying the bill by up to 14 days or proposing amendments, acceptance of which is contingent on the discretion of the Lok Sabha.
Revamping the NCERT Textbooks and the Panchaadi Way
For the first time in nearly two decades, students across all levels will study from revised textbooks developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). These new textbooks, planned to be introduced in the 2024-25 academic year, represent compliance with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) released in August 2022.
These textbooks will be offered in 22 different languages. At present, the NCF for pre-school to Class 2, meant for children aged between three and eight years, has been made available by the government. The framework for other classes is scheduled for subsequent release.
Importantly, the NCF guidelines emphasize that educational planning for students should consider Indian roots as a foundational aspect and propose a five-step learning process or panchaadi for preschool or initial level students. This process includes aditi, bodh, abhyas, prayog, and prasar phases, encompassing topics’ introduction, conceptual understanding, practice, application, and expansion respectively.