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Caste Discrimination, National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)

Table of Contents

Caste Discrimination

(General Studies-I – Society Section – Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. History Section – Modern Indian History from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.)

  • A recent Supreme Court ruling to remove caste details from prison registries marks a crucial step in ending caste-based discrimination in Indian prisons.
  • The judgment also highlights the unconstitutional practice of assigning menial tasks to marginalized prisoners based on caste, violating Article 15, which prohibits caste discrimination.
  • It is quite remarkable that prison authorities and State governments have done so little about these aspects since independence. It is as if the prison system has been out of the reach of the core philosophy of the Constitution.

History of the Caste System –

  • India’s caste system, rooted in the ancient “varna” system, dates back around 3,000 years.
  • Caste in India is traced through three main theories:
    • Guna theory, which links caste to innate qualities (gunas) like virtue, passion, and ignorance;
    • Occupational theory, which associates caste with hereditary professions; and
    • Divine theory, attributing caste divisions to divine will or cosmic order.
  • It divided society into four main classes: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (traders), and Shudras (labourers).
  • Those outside the system, like Dalits (formerly “untouchables”) and tribal communities, were socially excluded.
  • Over centuries, this system evolved into a rigid hierarchy, with inter-caste marriages forbidden and lower castes subjected to discrimination.
  • Though officially abolished, caste-based discrimination persists in many areas, including prisons

Debate on Caste Between Gandhi and Ambedkar –

AspectMahatma GandhiDr. B.R. Ambedkar
View on Caste SystemGandhi believed in reforming the caste system but upheld the varna system. He did not call for the complete abolition of caste distinctions.Ambedkar in Annihilation of Caste, strongly opposed the caste system and called for its complete eradication. .
UntouchabilityGandhi condemned untouchability and worked for the upliftment of Harijans (whom he referred to as “children of God”).Ambedkar rejected the term Harijan. He argued that untouchability is inseparable from the caste system, and only by abolishing the caste system can untouchability end.
EndogamyGandhi did not challenge endogamy (marriage within one’s caste) and focused on social harmony rather than eliminating caste-based marriage norms.Ambedkar identified endogamy as the foundation of caste discrimination. He argued that caste persists because of strict endogamy, and inter-caste marriage is necessary to break caste barriers.
Role of ShastrasGandhi did not blame the Hindu shastras (scriptures) for perpetuating caste discrimination..Ambedkar considered the Hindu shastras as the root of caste oppression, unless these texts are rejected, true caste reform is impossible.
Approach to ReformGandhi advocated for moral reform within the Hindu social framework, aiming for caste harmony through upliftment and social unity rather than dismantling the system.Ambedkar favored legal and structural reforms, including constitutional measures and affirmative action, to abolish caste. He emphasized education and political activism for Dalit empowerment.
Religion and CasteGandhi saw Hinduism as capable of reform and did not see a need to abandon it for caste abolition.Ambedkar viewed Hinduism as fundamentally tied to the caste system and believed conversion was necessary to escape its discriminatory structures.
Legal and Political ReformsGandhi focused on social and moral reform through non-violence and persuasion, with limited use of legal means to address caste discrimination.Ambedkar championed legal and constitutional reforms, including reservations and anti-discrimination laws, as essential to dismantling the caste system and promoting social equality.

Reasons for Persistence of Caste based discriminations –

  1. Mandal Commission (1980):
  1. Socio-economic Inequalities: Caste remains linked to economic disparities and unequal access to resources.
  2. Endogamy: Marriage within one’s caste perpetuates caste boundaries.
  3. Caste-based Occupations: Occupational roles tied to caste identities persist despite modernization.
  4. Sachar Committee (2006):
  1. Social Exclusion: Dalits and lower castes face systemic exclusion, reinforcing caste hierarchies.
  2. Education and Employment Disparities: Unequal access to education and jobs sustains caste divisions.
  3. Kaka Kalelkar Commission (1955):
  1. Cultural and Religious Factors: Beliefs in varna and jati legitimize caste divisions.
  2. Purity and Pollution Practices: These practices maintain social distance and caste segregation.
  3. National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC):
  1. Caste Discrimination: Discrimination and violence against Dalits further entrench caste divisions.
  2. Caste-based Politics: Political competition along caste lines reinforces caste identities.
  3. Justice Rohini Commission (2017): The creation of sub-castes, especially within OBCs, adds complexity to the caste system and intensifies competition for resources.
  4. Gore Committee (1973): Caste identities are more entrenched in rural areas, where social and economic interactions are heavily influenced by caste.
Indian Constitution and laws aimed at eradicating caste discrimination Article 15: Prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.Article 17: Abolishes “untouchability” and forbids its practice in any form.Article 46: Directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and other weaker sections.Article 330 and 332: Provide for the reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Parliament and State Assemblies.The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Aims to prevent atrocities against SCs and STs, providing for stringent punishments.Article 338: Establishes the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to investigate and monitor matters related to their safeguards.Reservation Policies: Mandate affirmative action in education and public employment for SCs, STs, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to address caste-based inequalities.

Thus, to eradicate caste discrimination, both societal mindset and structural frameworks must undergo transformation. Legal reforms alone are insufficient; dismantling deep-rooted prejudices and fostering equality through education, social awareness, and progressive policies are crucial for lasting change.

Five languages get classical language status

  • Recently, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister of India, has approved the Classical Language status for Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali languages.
  • The recognition of a language as classical is based on the following criteria established by a Linguistic Experts Committee.

Criteria For Classical Language

  • Other Recognised Classical Languages: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014).

Dig Deeper: Classical Dance forms of India

National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

  • Its objective is to enhance domestic edible oil production, particularly from oil palm, to reduce dependency on imports and meet national demand.
  • Currently,India imports around 9 million tonnes (MT) of palm oil annually, worth approximately ₹40,000 crore, which constitutes about 56% of the total edible oil imports.
    • The target is to increase the oil palm cultivation area from 3.5 lakh hectares (2019-20) to 10 lakh hectares by 2025-26, including 3.22 lakh hectares in general states and 3.28 lakh hectares in the North Eastern states.
    • Aims to increase crude palm oil production from 0.27 lakh tonnes (2019-20) to 11.20 lakh tonnes by 2025-26.
  • Maintain edible oil consumption at 19.00 kg/person/year until 2025-26.
  • Implementation Strategy includes establishing seed gardens, nurseries, increasing drip irrigation coverage, and promoting inter-cropping during the non-productive gestation period of 4 years.
  • Stakeholders involves State Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, ICAR Institutions, Central Agencies, KVKs, Oil Palm Processors, and Media Outlets.
About Palm tree
Palm trees belong to the Arecaceae family and are primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions across the world.
Indonesia and Malaysia are the leading producers of palm oil, contributing over 85% of the global supply.
Palm trees are cultivated mainly in regions with humid tropical climates, including parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
The expansion of palm oil plantations has led to concerns about deforestation and habitat loss, particularly in Southeast Asia.
Palm oil is a key agricultural commodity, used extensively in food products, cosmetics, biofuels, and industrial applications.

Dig Deeper: Soyabean and its nativity

UK hands sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

  • The recent agreement between the UK and Mauritius allows Mauritius to implement a resettlement program on Chagos (except Diego Garcia).
  • The Chagos Archipelago comprises 58 islands located approximately 500 km south of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.
  • Originally uninhabited, the islands were populated in the late 18th century by slave labor brought by the French for coconut plantations.
  • In 1814, the Chagos Islands were ceded by France to Britain.
  • In 1965, the UK established the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), with Chagos as a central part.
  • When Mauritius gained independence in 1968, Chagos remained under British control
  • Diego Garcia, the largest island in Chagos, was leased to the U.S. in 1966 for defense purposes, becoming a fully operational military base by 1986.
  • International Court of Justice (ICJ) supported Mauritius’ sovereignty over the Chagos islands.
  • Diego Garcia remains under UK control for 99 years, continuing to serve as a U.S.-UK military base critical for regional security.

Dig Deeper: Nine Dash Line and Islands around it

Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)

In 2019 The US government has withdrawn its GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) benefits to India.
The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), initiated in 1971 by UNCTAD, aims to create favorable trade conditions for developing countries. Key points include:
15 countries, including the U.S., EU, UK, Japan, Canada, and others, offer GSP preferences to developing nations.
Many developing countries struggle to fully utilize GSP benefits due to issues like meeting rules of origin requirements.

Dig Deeper: India and USA trade relations and Indian diaspora in USA

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