Vaikom Satyagrah
Syllabus: GS1/Modern History
Context
- The year 2024 marked the centenary year of Vaikom Satyagraha (1924).
About Vaikom Satyagraha
- Cause: The movement was initiated against the practice of untouchability.
- In Vaikom in the erstwhile Travancore princely State, members of the lower castes, particularly Dalits, were denied the right to walk on roads leading to the Vaikom Shiva Temple.
- Leadership: It was led by T.K. Madhavan, K. Kelappan, and other prominent leaders.
- Mahatma Gandhi also supported the cause, sending his advice, although he did not physically participate in the protests initially.
- E.V. Ramasamy Periyar, a prominent social reformer and leader of the Self-Respect Movement, also lent support to the movement.
- Protest: Participants in the Satyagraha (non-violent resistance) demanded the right of Dalits to use public roads and approach the temple like other castes.
- They engaged in peaceful marches and acts of civil disobedience, despite facing violent opposition from upper-caste groups.
- Outcome: After over a year of protest and negotiations, the Government eventually allowed Dalits to use the public roads leading to the temple, marking a victory for social equality and the end of caste-based discrimination in the region.
- Significance: The Vaikom Satyagraha played a vital role in the social reform movement in Kerala and was an important part of the broader struggle against untouchability and caste oppression in India.
- It also marked the first major organized movement against untouchability in the Indian independence movement.
Source: TH
SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme
Syllabus: GS2/ International Relation
In News
- The Indian government has announced that Pakistan nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES).
About SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme
- It was launched in 1992 and it was decided that certain categories of dignitaries from SAARC countries should be entitled to a Special Travel document that would exempt them from visas within the region.
- The Visa Stickers are issued by the respective Member states to the entitled categories of that particular country.
- The validity of the Visa Sticker is generally for one year. The implementation is reviewed regularly by the Immigration Authorities of SAAR Member states.
- The SAARC visa stickers were to ensure that their travel is not limited to any specific cities and would save them from the hassles like police reporting and filling of extra forms on entry in any of the eight SAARC countries.
About SAARC
- The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on December 8, 1985.
- At present, SAARC comprises eight Member states: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Source: TH
World Malaria Day 2025
Syllabus: GS2/ Health
Context
- Every year, 25th April is observed as ‘World Malaria Day’.
About
- It is a global initiative organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness about malaria and promote actions to control, prevent, and ultimately eliminate the disease.
- Theme: “Malaria ends with us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”.
What is Malaria?
- Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries.
- Transmission: It is caused by plasmodium protozoa.The plasmodium parasites spread through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.Blood transfusion and contaminated needles may also transmit malaria.
- Types of parasites: There are 5 Plasmodium parasite species that cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species – P. falciparum and P. vivax – pose the greatest threat. The other malaria species which can infect humans are P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi.
- P. falciparum is the deadliest malaria parasite and the most prevalent on the African continent. P. vivax is the dominant malaria parasite in most countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa.
- Symptoms: Fever and flu-like illness, including chills, headache, muscle ache and fatigue.
Source: AIR
SC to Examine Concerns on POCSO Clause
Syllabus :GS 2/Governance
In News
- The Supreme Court will examine concerns raised by Indira Jaising that mandatory reporting under Section 19 of POCSO is criminalising consensual adolescent sexual activity and threatening girls’ right to health.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act
- The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, 2012, was enacted by the Government of India to protect children under 18 from sexual abuse and offences.
- The Act includes punishments based on the severity of the crime and was amended in 2019 to introduce harsher penalties, including the death penalty, for child sexual crimes, aiming to deter perpetrators.
- In addition, the POCSO Rules, 2020, were notified, which include Rule-9 allowing Special Courts to order interim compensation for the child’s relief or rehabilitation after the registration of the First Information Report (FIR).
- This interim compensation can be adjusted against the final compensation, if applicable.
Source :TH
Tax Collected at Source
Syllabus :GS 3/Economy
In News
- Luxury goods priced above ₹10 lakh, such as handbags, watches, and sportswear are now subject to a 1% Tax Collected at Source (TCS) .
Tax Collected at Source (TCS)
- It is an advance tax collected at the time of transactions, such as the sale of goods or foreign remittances.
- It is mentioned in section 206C of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
- Under Budget 2025, TCS on goods sales will be phased out, but it will still apply to foreign remittances.
- If the remittance exceeds a threshold, the remitter must pay the advance tax to the bank facilitating the transaction.
- This is not an extra tax but can be adjusted against the tax liability when filing the return.
- If the tax liability exceeds the TCS, the taxpayer must pay the balance;
- if it’s less, they are eligible for a refund. The threshold for TCS on remittances has been raised from ₹7 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
| Do you know ? – The TCS provision for luxury goods was introduced via the Finance Act, 2024, as part of the Budget presented in July, 2024. – It aims to monitor high-value spending, expand the tax base, and improve financial transparency. |
Source :TH
Chlorpyrifos Pesticide
Syllabus: GS2/Health
Context
- Indian experts have called for an immediate ban on chlorpyrifos, a toxic pesticide.
About
- Chlorpyrifos, a pesticide classified as ‘moderately hazardous’ by the World Health Organization, continues to be used in India.
- It is used on a variety of crops, posing a serious threat to farmers, consumers, future generations and ecosystems.
- It is linked to the irreversible brain damage in children and is banned in over 40 nations.
The Stockholm Convention
- World’s leading policymakers and scientists will convene in Geneva for the 2025 Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS COP).
- The Stockholm Convention, adopted in 2001, aims to eliminate or restrict persistent organic pollutants — chemicals that cause long-term ecological and health damage.
- In addition to chlorpyrifos, delegates at the BRS COPs were expected to consider adding other pesticides to Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention.
- This step would strengthen transparency and accountability in the global trade of pesticides.
- India ratified the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention in 2006.
- Both the conventions are legally binding.
The Rotterdam Convention
- The Rotterdam Convention is a multilateral treaty to promote shared responsibilities in relation to importation of hazardous chemicals.
- The convention promotes open exchange of information and calls on exporters of hazardous chemicals to use proper labeling, include directions on safe handling, and inform purchasers of any known restrictions or bans.
- Signatory Nations can decide whether to allow or ban the importation of chemicals listed in the treaty, and exporting countries are obliged to make sure that producers within their jurisdiction comply.
Source: DTE
Palmyra
Syllabus: GS1/ Places in news
Context
- The Syrian civil war in 2011, turned Palmyra’s strategic location into a conflict zone, leading to widespread destruction of its ancient monuments.
About
- Location: Palmyra is an ancient city in central Syria, nestled in an oasis surrounded by palms and flanked by the northern and southern Palmyrene mountain ranges.
- Historical Significance: It has been a site of human settlement since the Neolithic period. Historical documents first mention the city in the early second millennium BCE.
- In the 1st century AD it was integrated into the Roman Empire.
- Situated at a key junction on the Silk Road, Palmyra became a major trade and cultural hub, linking the Roman Empire with Persia, India, and China.
- Architectural Significance: The site is a fusion of Graeco-Roman, local, and Persian architectural styles. Key features include;
- Grand colonnaded street (1100 metres)
- Temple of Ba’al
- Theatre, Agora, Diocletian’s Camp
- Funerary monuments and necropolis (Valley of the Tombs)
- Roman aqueduct.
- Palmyra was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.
Source: IE
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