Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Female foeticide.

• The role of women in society cannot be undermined than men in any form.
• They are storming all the male bastions and proving themselves to be equally good, if not superior, in all walks of life. Women in India today are also poised to take off.
• But in spite of this in a country where women are put on a pedestal and worshipped as Mother Goddess, it is ironical that crimes against women are on the rise.
• One of such crimes is the crime of  female foeticide (Practice of selective elimination of the female foetus after prenatal sex determination or sex pre-selection)  which is increasing more speedily as compared to female infanticide (elimination of a baby girl). Behind such a pathetic situation, society as a whole is responsible. 

Key Points

• Some of the causes behind female foeticide may be as follows:
  • Inequality or Gender Bias;
  • Dowry Tradition;
  • Male as the Bread Winner of Family;
  • Offering of Pinda;
  • Continuity of Lineage;
  • Old Age Security;
  • Two Child or One Child Norm;
  • Easily available means of Sex Determination. 
• Hence, we conclude that the practice of selective elimination of the female foetus after prenatal sex determination or sex pre-selection is called ​Female foeticide.

Confusion Points

• Female foeticide is the abortion of a female foetus outside of illegal methods.
• Female infanticide is the killing of newborn girl child. 

The correct answer is 12.

Key Points 

• The Ordinance amends the IPC, 1860 to increase the minimum punishment for rape of women from seven years to ten years.
• Rape and gang rape of girls below the age of 12 years will carry minimum imprisonment of twenty years and is extendable to life imprisonment or death.
• Rape of girls below the age of 16 years is punishable with imprisonment of twenty years or life imprisonment.

Additional Information 

• 376DB: Punishment for gang rape on women under twelve years of age.
  • Where a woman under twelve years of age is raped by one or more persons constituting a group or acting in furtherance of a common intention, each of those persons shall be deemed to have committed the offence of rape and shall be punished with imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life, and with fine, or with death.
  • Such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim: 
    • Any fine imposed under this section shall be paid to the victim.

The correct answer is Protection of Children from Sexual Offences.

Key Points

• POCSO stands for Protection of Children from Sexual Offences 
• To deal with child sexual abuse cases, the Government has brought in a special law, namely, The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
• The Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) was passed by both houses of Parliament on May 22, 2012.  
• The Act has come into force with effect from 14th November 2012 along with the Rules framed thereunder. 
• The POCSO Act, 2012 is a comprehensive law to provide for the protection of children from the offences of
  • Sexual assault
  • Sexual harassment
  • Pornography
• While safeguarding the interests of the child at every stage of the judicial process by incorporating child-friendly mechanisms for reporting, recording of evidence, investigation and speedy trial of offences through designated Special Courts.
• Salient Feature of POCSO- 
  • It is gender-neutral.
  • It makes the reporting of abuse mandatory.
  • It makes the recording of sexual abuse mandatory.
  • It lists all known types of sexual offences towards minors.
  • It provides for the protection of minors during the judicial process.

The correct answer is 1987.

• Sati (Prevention) Act:
  • An act to provide for more effective prevention of the commission of Sati.
  • Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 is the law enacted by the  Government of Rajasthan in 1987 for the prevention of the Sati System in India.
  • It became an act of the Parliament of India with the enactment of The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 in 1988.
  • It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
  • At present, there are only three laws in force:
    • Rajasthan Sati (Prevention) Act,1987.
    • Bengal Sati Regulation, 1829 ( Bengal Regulation XVII of 1829).
    • Tamil Nadu Sati Regulation, 1830 (Tamil Nadu Regulation I of 1830).
  • The abetment of Sati will be punishable with death or imprisonment for life and also liable to fine.
  • It is punishable with a minimum imprisonment of one year which may extend to seven years and with a minimum fine of 5000 rupees which extend to 30,000 rupees.

​ Additional Information

• Meaning of Sati is the Burning or Burying alive of Widows or Women whose Husband got died.
• This comes under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

The correct answer is Rajasthan.

• Policy framed to focus on the prevention of sex determination and female foeticides.
• The state is the first in the country to make this kind of move.

​ Important Points

•  Ensuring survival and providing an appropriate environment for the development of a girl child.
• The role and responsibilities of each stakeholder have been identified and defined.
• A task force has been constituted under the chairmanship of the chief secretary, Government of Rajasthan for the effective monitoring of the policy.
• The policy is being implemented in the state as per the directions of this task force.​