Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

• The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 consolidated the anti-dowry laws which had been passed on certain states.
• This Act may be called the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
• It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint.

Key Points

• This legislation provides for a penalty in section 3 if any person gives, takes or abets giving or receiving of dowry.
• The punishment could be imprisonment for minimum 5 years and a fine more than ₹15,000 or the value of the dowry received, whichever is higher.

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 Civil Court.

Key Points 

• Sexual harassment at a workplace is considered a violation of women's right to equality, life, and liberty.
• It creates an insecure and hostile work environment, which discourages women's participation in work, thereby adversely affecting their social and economic empowerment and the goal of inclusive growth.
• With this idea, the legislature formulated the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013.
• 'Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace', Civil court has been empowered to collect evidence to complaints committees set up under this Act.
• The Complaints Committees have the powers of civil courts for gathering evidence.

Additional Information 

• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
  • The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 is a legislative act in India that seeks to protect women from sexual harassment at their place of work.
  • It was passed by the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Indian Parliament) on 3 September 2012.
  • It was passed by the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the Indian Parliament) on 26 February 2013.
  • The Bill got the assent of the President on 23 April 2013.
  • The Act came into force on 9 December 2013.
  • This statute superseded the Vishaka Guidelines for Prevention Of Sexual Harassment (POSH) introduced by the Supreme Court (SC) of India.
  • It was reported by the International Labour Organization that very few Indian employers were compliant with this statute.

The correct answer is 1993.

• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) was established by the Government of India in March, 1993 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Women & Child Development.
  • It was registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860.

Additional Information

• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) is a  national  level  organization  as an  autonomous  body  under the  aegis of  the  Ministry of  Women and Child Development, for socio-economic empowerment  of  women. 
• The  operating  model  currently followed by  RMK is that  of a  facilitating agency  wherein  RMK  provides loans to  NGO-MFIs termed as Intermediary Organizations (IMO) which on-lend to Self Help Groups (SHGs)  of women. 
• RMK extends micro-credit to the women in the informal sector through a client-friendly, without collateral and in a hassle-free manner for income generation activities.
• RMK has taken a number of promotional measures to popularize the concept of micro-financing, enterprise development, thrift and credit, formation and strengthening of  Women-SHGs through intermediary organizations.

IPC Section 375 is NOT correct.

• Section 375 in the Indian Penal Code (Rape):
  • A man is said to commit “rape” who, except in the case hereinafter excepted, has sexual intercourse with a woman under circumstances falling under any of the six following de­scriptions:
    • (i) Against her will.
    • (ii) Without her consent.
    • (iii) With her consent, when her consent has been obtained by putting her or any person in whom she is interested in fear of death or of hurt.
    • (iv) With her consent, when the man knows that he is not her husband and that her consent is given because she believes that he is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be law­fully married.
    • (v) With her consent, when, at the time of giving such consent, by reason of unsoundness of mind or intoxication or the administration by him personally or through another of any stupe­fying or unwholesome substance, she is unable to understand the nature and consequences of that to which she gives consent.
    • (vi) With or without her consent, when she is under sixteen years of age.

Additional Information

• Section 370: Amendments and advocacy to prevent the conflation of trafficking and sex work.
• Section 372: Selling minor for purposes of prostitution, etc.
• Section 373: Buying minor for purposes of prostitution, etc.