Thursday, March 17, 2022

Geography introduction and concepts

Geography introduction and concepts

perspectives in human geography: Areal differentiation; regional synthesis; Dichotomy and dualism; Environmentalism; Quantitative revolution and locational analysis; radical, behavioural, human and welfare approaches; Languages, religions and secularisation; Cultural regions of the world; Human development index.
osmanianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/018058981898398590890 2011-01-02T21:22:27.324-08:00 environmental geography 5. Environmental Geography: Principle of ecology; Human ecological adaptations; Influence of man on ecology and environment; Global and regional ecological changes and imbalances; Ecosystem their management and conservation; Environmental degradation, management and conservation; Biodiversity and sustainable development; Environmental policy; Environmental hazards and remedial measures; Environmental education and legislation.

Human ecological adaptations

1. Introduction and Meaning

2. Types and levels of adaptations

3. Biological adaptations

4. Cultural adaptations

1. Introduction and Meaning: Human being like any other species on the earth are exposed to changes in environmental conditions, many of which are natural and other are man made like other animals survival and success depends upon the ability of humans to tolerate and tide over new conditions and changes. Such ability of the human to tolerate and tide over new conditions and to adjust to the shifting conditions in their environment is called adaptation. Human beings are different from all other species by the fact that they are spread over most part of the land surface i.e. from the equatorial to the polar regions and they have also learnt to tolerate ? conditions such as the high pressure of the deep sea and the zone gravity of the space. Surprisingly humans are not the ideal species to study in order to understand the range of biological adaptations despite their ? success as dominant species of the earth. This is attributed to their higher intellectual capacity which enables them to adjust their behavior over the environmental conditions. Thus they tend to exhibit more cultural adjustments than biological adaptations. Nevertheless there are instance of physical and biological variations in human population exposed to different climatic conditions in various geographic locations.

All organisms encounter new environment which provide newer challenges. Survival of populations may depend upon their ability to occupy new environment and humans have proved to be very successful in it. Any new environment brings in a number of new stresses related to environment to which the organism is exposed. For instance, lack of oxygen in an environmental stress at high attitudes while a desert may produce water and heat stress. Each of these environmental stress in turn will produce physiological heat stress. Each of these environmental stresses will produce physiological chain in the organism. For example the environmental ? high attitude will produce strain in the respiratory circulate system of the organism. Every strain prompts tho body to adopt in multiple ways. Thus, adaptations are brought about by strains on the organism which in turn are called by the environmental stress.

A few organisms including humans uses a strategy which minimizes the need for adaptation. The alternative for adaptation is the creation of a micro environment in which the environmental stress itself is minimized on eliminated. Here the organism creates around itself a layer of protective micro environment. These micro environment may be communal like the Beavers Log house or it can be individual like the Eskimos suite creating a micro environment is usually achieved by changing the natural behavior of the organism and is also referred to as cultural adaptations.

2. Levels of adaptations: Adaptation appears at various levels ranging from genetic to cultural levels.

i. Genetic level: Adaptation at this level involves the process of natural selection. No two organisms of the same species are alike since almost every characteristics like size, colour, personality show some variation. These variations may help some of the individuals to adapt better to suit the environment.

ii. Physiological level: Changes occurring at this level are either short or long term modifications resulting in what are called as upclimatasation responses of the body such as sweating to effect cooling. However, many of the physiological responses are long term responses such as an increase in RBC and hemoglobin at high attitude and the development of improved heat tolerance under desert conditions.

iii. Growth and development level: These changes are referred to as ontogenetic modification as they take place during the physical growth and development of the organism. Example of ontogenetic modification is the increase in body size and changing cranial morphology of migrants to North America.

iv. Cultural Level: This includes changes in the process of cultural behavior of the individual or ? and in the case of human includes the pattern of clothing, housing, food habits and technology. Example – behavioral adjustment to cold may include change in the use of shelter, dress, fire etc.

3. Biological Adaptations: Human exhibit a variety of ? adaptations to the quest for survival in a new environment biological adaptations are often irreversible since they have a genetic have and are inherited from one generation to the other. These, ? adaptations have played a crucial ride in the indutionary history and is visible from the anthropological account. Notwithstanding the evolutionary incidence of biological adaptation it is evident that cultural modifications are more dominant than biological adaptations. There are many regions where biological adaptations are less human.

a. Human are rather homogeneous species i.e. they are too generated. This feature is due to the fact that they have greater mobility and tend to spread very fast. Intermixing of population due to mobility eliminates the chances of isolation and encourages more homogeneity.

b. Humans are not restricted to any particular environment unlike many other species. This may be partly due to the fact that humans are warm blooded and can withstand fluctuations in the environmental temperature while maintaining a constant body temperature.


4. Biogeography: Genesis of soils; Classification and distribution of soils; Soil profile; Soil erosion, Degradation and conservation; Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals; Problems of deforestation and conservation measures; Social forestry; agro-forestry; Wild life; Major gene pool centres.


Genesis of Soils

Soil is the upper thin layer of loose material on the earth’s crust. It has which is rich in nutrients and support life. Below it is the sub soil which contains weathered materials of parent rocks. Soil is the heart of the life layer i.e. biosphere it provides the nutrients to the plant life which in turn sustain animal. It is a great biological factory because it acts as a medium for various biological cycles, produces and transforms various compounds, provides nutrients and home for various plants and micro organisms.

- It is a dynamic medium where various physical, chemical and biological activities continuously takes place

- The soil in a given region is the result of

- Soil forming processes

- Factors influencing the process

Soil forming Process:

The processes – physical, chemical or biological through which soil is formed is known as pedogenesis.

It is an open system phenomenon involving gains and losses, movement of material from one part of profile to another, and various transformations within. Based on specific conditions and activities, various processes of soil genesis may be identified

1. Transolation: It involves various kinds of movement material, predominatly in downward direction due to mainly the agent of water

a. Leaching: It is the downward movement of material in solution or colloidal form. It is move dominant in humid areas than dry areas

b. Evaluation: the downward washing of clay and fine particles leaving behind deprived layer (out washing)

c. Illuviation: Reverse of eluviations. It is the deposition of material from upper layers due to illuviation leading to an enriched lower layer (inwashing).

d. Classification: Conc of calcium in layers. This occurs in dry areas, where potential evapo transpiration exceeds precipitation. The movement of soil solution is upward due to capillary action. The ineffectiveness of leaching and other solutes remain in soil. Further in grasslands the grasses use calcium drawing from lower layers and leave behind in soil after they die.

e. Salinisation / Alkanisation: it is the accumulation of calcium / sodium salts in the form of a thin whitish crust at soil surface, which is harmful to plant growth. It happens when there is excess of water and intense evaporation. The capillary rise of water from high water table and consequent evaporation leaves behind salts. It is observed in well irrigated but poor drainages areas. Ex: Punjab

2. Organic Changes: Organic material accumulates at ground surface due to decay of plant material. Degradation – Humification – Mineralization (human releases compounds) The dead plant material is degraded by microorganisms. The matter is further decomposed or humified into a dark amorphous mass. Conditions of extreme wetness may lead to formation of peaty soils. Over a long period, the humus is decomposed into nitrogenous compounds through the process of mineralization.

3. Podzolisation (cheluviation): Process through which upper horizons become rich in silica, while lower horizons are rich in iron, often forming an iron pan (this but tough horizon of iron oxides). This is due to the different solubility’s of minerals. The translocation is caused by leaching action of certain organic compounds called ? agents. These agents are rich in soils where acids are formed due to decomposition of say, health plants and conifer needless. But not in gross or deciduous areas where in soil is rich in bases.

Ex: Coniferous forests – health vegetation

4. Claying: It occurs in water logged conditions where a special type of bacteria flourishes due to an aerobic conditions, which uses up organic matter. They reduce ferric iron to a soluble ferrous state resulting in the creation of a gley horizon. Some times soil may dry up in certain patches leading to formation of ferric iron, giving a patchy red colour. Claying takes place in soil areas of permanent ground water saturation.

5. Desilication: Latersation in hot wet climate. It is opposite of podsolisution where iron / Al oxides are mobile. Here, silica is more mobile and is removed from top soil. Desilication leads to surface with oxides of Fe / Ai – called feral sols. Organic content is also low due to rapid decomposition by micro organ. The ground water movement will lead to conc. Of oxides near surface – forming hard laterilic horizons. Normally, infertile

Factors influencing soil formation:

Soil can be the product of interaction of combination of various factors, though locally one factor might have dominant influence.

1. Parent Material: It influences texture and fertility

Ex: Sandstone gives coarser soil

Shale gives finer soil

Parent material gives various initial nutrients, though they may be redistributed by soil processes.

Ex: Calcareous rocks give base rich soil. Non calcareous soils are liable to podzolisation leading to acid rich soil.



3. Oceanography: Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans; Temperature and salinity of the oceans; Heat and salt budgets, Ocean deposits; Waves, currents and tides; Marine resources: biotic, mineral and energy resources; Coral reefs, coral bleaching; sea-level changes; law of the sea and marine pollution.


BOTTOM TOPOGRAPHY OF PACIFIC OCEAN

§ 11/3rd of earth area Asia – w. of America

Bering st – Cape Adare (Antarctica)

§ Average depth 500m (a major part)

Descent from coast to sea plains is steeper

Oceanic surface is fairly uniform

§ Most unique - Broad triangular shape

Folded mountains are found parallel to it

Completely blocked in the North – except for a narrow passage

A variety of islands

Many marginal seas are found

§ Johnstone - Divides into 4 parts

i. Northern Pacific : Deepest part, most deeps are found along island

Areas

ii. Central Pacific : Islands – Coral and Volcanic including Hawaiian

Swell

iii. SU Pacific : Variety of islands, marginal seas, continental shelf,

submarine trenches

iv. SE Pacific : Broad submarine ridge and plateau conspicuous

absence of marginal seas

1. Continental Shelf: Broad along – E. Australia, E. Indies, Asia. Various islands and marginal seas are situated here.

On W. Coast of Americas it is narrow – 50 miles

Varies according to nature of coast.

4. Deeps: 32 deeps. Mostly in the form of trenches parallel to island – arc or the mountain chain, mostly in western part

i. Aleutian trench : Arc like along Aleutian islands

ii. Kurile trench and Japan trench : Parallel to Japanese is vityez deep. Ramapo

deep

iii. Philippines trench : E Coast of Philippines

iv. Nero deep : Arc along Mariana Is. Also called Mariana

trench

v. Tonga Kermadic trench : Trough like depression along. Tonga and

Kermadec Is

vi. Peru Chile trench : In the form of broken trenches

5. Marginal Seas: Mostly on western part narrow, longitudinal

a) Bering sea

b) Aleutian sea

c) Okhotsk sea

d) Sea of Japan

e) Yellow sea

f) China sea ( E & S)

g) Celebes sea

h) Banda sea

On East – only GO California

Only Yellow sea is shallow

Other seas around Australia - GO Carpentaria

Arafura Sea

Bass Strait

6. Islands: 20,000 variety continental islands (belonging structurally to main land formed by submergence) – Aleutian, Chilean

Island Arcs (part of folded ranges with volcanic peaks) – Kurile, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia

Smaller scattered islands (two sub types) based on racial grouping

Melanesia – Solomon’s, Fiji

Micronesia – Marshal, Caroline’s, Gilbert

Polynesia – Cook, Tuamotu

Based on Formation

Volcanic islands - Hawaii

Coral islands – Fiji etc

Eastern Part – Galapagos, Easter Island, Juan Fernandez


2. Climatology: Temperature and pressure belts of the world; Heat budget of the earth; Atmospheric circulation; atmospheric stability and instability. Planetary and local winds; Monsoons and jet streams; Air masses and fronto genesis, Temperate and tropical cyclones; Types and distribution of precipitation; Weather and Climate; Koppen’s, Thornthwaite’s and Trewartha’s classification of world climates; Hydrological cycle; Global climatic change and role and response of man in climatic changes, Applied climatology and Urban climate. osmanianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/018058981898398590890 2010-12-31T06:46:23.039-08:00 geomorphology  

1. Geomorphology: Factors controlling landform development; endogenetic and exogenetic forces; Origin and evolution of the earth’s crust; Fundamentals of geomagnetism; Physical conditions of the earth’s interior; Geosynclines; Continental drift; Isostasy; Plate tectonics; Recent views on mountain building; Vulcanicity; Earthquakes and Tsunamis; Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Landscape development ; Denudation chronology; Channel morphology; Erosion surfaces; Slope development ; Applied Geomorphology : Geohydrology, economic geology and environment.

Political Science Study material in English

Political Science Study material in English - polity
1.  Historical Back ground of Indian Constitution Design Read
2. Making of the Constitution Read
3. Union and Its territory Read 
4. Citizenship Read 
5. Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties  Read
6. Directive Principles of State Policy Read
7. Procedure for Amendment of Indian Constitution Read 
8. Vice President of India Read
9. Administration of Union Territories & Acquired Territories Read 
10. Administration of Scheduled areas and Tribal areas Read
11. Oragnisation of the Indian judiciary in general Read 
12. UNION GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION IN INDIA Read
13.   Attorney General Read
14. Governor Read
15. The State of Jammu and Kashmir Read  



Constitution Amendments Read

Indian constitution amendments 90 to 93

Indian constitution amendments 90 to 93
90. The Constitution (Ninetieth Amendment) Act, 2003-In Article 332 of the Consitution, in clause (6), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely : ‘‘Provided that for elections to the Legislative Assembly of the State of Assam, the representation of the Scheduled Tribes and non-Scheduled Tribes in the constituencies included in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District, so notified, and existing prior to the constitution of the Bodoland Territorial Areas District, shall be maintained’’.
91. The Constitution (Ninety-first Amendment), Act, 2003 - In Article 75 of the Constitution, after clause (1), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely :
‘‘(1A) The total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed fifteen per cent of the total number of members of the House of the People. (1B) A member of either House of Parliament belonging to any political party who is disqualified for being a member of that House under paragraph 2 of the Tenth Schedule shall also be disqualified to be appointed as a Minister under clause (1) for duration of the period commencing from the date of his disqualification till the date on which the term of his office as such member would expire or where he contests any election to either House of Parliament before the expiry of such period till the date on which he is declared elected, whichever is earlier" In Article 164 of the Constitution, after clause (i), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely: "(1A) the total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in a State sall not exceed fifteen per cent of the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of that State : Provided that the number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in a State shall not be less than twelve: Provided further that where the total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in any State at the commencement of the Constitution (Ninety-first Amendment) Act, 2003 exceeds the said fifteen per cent or the number specified in the first proviso, as the case may be, then, the total number of Ministers in that State shall be brought in conformity with the provisions of this clause within six months from such date as the President may by public notification appoint.
(1B) A member of the Legislative Assembly of a State or either House of the Legislature of a State having Legislative Council beloging to any poitical party who is disqualified for being a member of that House under paragraph 2 of the Tenth Schedule shall also be disqualified to be appointed as a Minister under clause (1) for duration of the period commencing from the date of his disqualification till the date on which the term of his office as such member would expire or where he contests any election to the Legislative Assembly of a State or either House of the Legislature of a State having Legislative Council, as the case may be, before the expiry of such period, till the date on which he is declared elected, whichever is earlier" After Article 361A of the Constitution, the following article shall be inserted, namely :
316B. A member of a House belonging to any political party who is disqualified for being a member of the House under paragraph 2 of the Tenth Schedule shall also be disqualified to hold any remunerative political post for duration of the period commencing from the date of his disqualification till the date on which the term of his office as such member would expire or till the date on which he contests an election to a House and is declared elected, whichever is earlier.
Explanation : For the purposes of this Article,—
(a) the expression "House" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (a) of paragraph 1 of the Tenth Schedule : (b) the expression "remunerative political post" means any office—(i) under the Government of India or the Government of a State where the salary or remuneration for such office is paid out ofthe public revenue of the Government of India or the Government of the State, as the case may be, or (ii) under a body, whether incorporated or not, which is wholly or partially owned by the Government of India or the Government of a State and the salary or remuneration for such office is paid by such body, except where such salary or remuneration paid is compensatory in nature'. In the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution,—(a) in paragraph, 1, in clause (b), the words and figure "paragraph 3 or, as the case may be," shall be omitted; (b) in paragraph 2, in sub-paragraph (1), for the words and figures "paragraphs 3, 4 and 5", the words and figures "paragraphs 4 and 5" shall be substituted; (c) paragraph 3 shall be omitted.
92. The Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003—In the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution,—(a) existing entry 3 shall be re-numbered as entry 5, and before entry 5 as so re-numbered, the following entries shall be inserted, namely:
"3. Bodo;
4. Dogri".
(b) existing 4 to 7 shall respectively be re-numbered as entries 6 to 9; (c) existing entry 8 shall be re-numbered as entry 11 and before entry 11 as so renumbered, the following entry shall be inserted, namely:" 10. Maithili". (d) existing entries 9 to 14 shall respectively be re-numbered as entries 12 to 17; (e) existing entry 15 shall be re-numbered as entry 19 and before entry 19 as so re-numbered, the following entry shall be inserted, namely :"18. Santhali". (f) existing entries 16 to 18 shall respectively be re-numbered as entries 20 to 22.
93. The Constitution (Ninety-third amendment) Act, 2006 - Greater access to higher education including professional education, is of great importance to a large number of students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and other socially and educationally backward classes of citizens. The reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes of citizens in admission to educational institution is derived from the provisions of clause (4) of articles 15 of the constitution. At present, the number of seats available in aided or State maintained institutions, particularly in respect of professional education, is limited, in comparison to those in private unaided institutions. Clause (i) of article 30 of the Constitution provides the right to all minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. It is essential that the rights available to minorities are protected in regard to institutions established and administered by them. Accordingly, institutions declared by the State to be minority institutions under clause (1) of article 30 are excluded from the operation of this enactment. To promote the educational advancement of the socially and educationally backward classes of citizens, i.e., the Other Backward Classes or of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in matters of admission of students belonging to these categories in unaided educational institutions, other than the minority educational institutions referred to in clause (1) of article 30, the provisions of article 15 were amplified. The new clause (5) of said article 15 shall enable the Parliament as well as the State Legislatures to make appropriate laws for the above mentioned purpose.

Indian constitution amendments 85 to 89

Indian constitution amendments 85 to 89
85. The Constitution (Eighty-fifth Amendment) Act, 2001—This Act amended article 16(4A) of the Constitution to provide for consequential seniority in the case of promotion by virtue of rule of reservation for the Government servants belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. It also provides retrospective effect from 17th day of June 1995.
86. The Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002—The Act deals with insertion of a new article 21A after article 21. The new article 21A deals with Right to Education—“The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine”. Substitution of new Article for Article 45. For Article 45 of the Constitution, the following article shall be substituted, namely, Provision for early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years. Article 45: “The State shall endeavour to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years.”
Article 51A of the Constitution was amended and a new clause (k) was added after clause (j),
namely, “(k) who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.”
87. The Constitution (Eighty-seventh Amendment) Act, 2003 - In Article 81 of the Constitution, in clause (3), in the proviso, in clause (ii), for the figures ‘‘1991’’, the figures ‘‘2001’’ shall be substituted.
In Article 82 of the Constitution, in the third proviso, in clause (ii), for the figures ‘‘1991’’, the figures ‘‘2001’’ shall be substituted. In Article 170 of the Constitution, - (i) in clause (2), in the Explanation, in the proviso, for the figures ‘‘1991’’, the figures ‘‘2001’’ shall be substituted; (ii) in clause (3), in the Explanation, in the third proviso, for the figures ‘‘1991’’, the figures ‘‘2001’’ shall be substituted. In Article 330 of the Constitution, in the Explanation, in the proviso, for the figures "1991", the figures "2001" shall be substituted.
88. The Constitution (Eighty-eighth Amendment) Act, 2003 - It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
After Article 268 of the Constitution, the following article shall be inserted, namely : ‘‘268A. (1) Taxes on services shall be levied by the Government of India and such tax shall be collected and appropriated by the Government of India and the States in the manner provided in clause (2).
(2) The proceeds in any financial year of any such tax levied in accordance with the provisions of clause (1) shall be - (a) collected by the Government of India and the States; (b) appropriated by theGovernment of India and the States, in accordance with such principles of collection and appropriation as may be formulated by Parliament by law’’. In Article 270 of the constitution, in clause(1), for the words and figures "Article 268 and 269", the words, figures and letter "Articles 268, 268A and 269" shall be substituted. In the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution, in List I-Union List, after entry 9.2B, the following entry shall be inserted, namely : ‘‘92C. Taxes on services’’.
89 The Constitution (Eighty-ninth Amendment) Act, 2003-It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint. In Article 338 of the Constitution, -
(a) for the marginal heading, the following marginal heading shall be substituted, namely : ‘‘National Commission for : Scheduled Castes’’;
(b) for clauses (1) and (2), the following clauses shall be substituted, namely:
‘‘(1) There shall be a Commission for the Scheduled Castes to be known as the National Commission for the Scheduled Castes.
(2) Subject to the provisions of any law made in this behalf by Parliament, the Commission shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members and the conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members so appointed shall be such as the President may by rule determine’’;
(c) in clauses (5), (9) and (10), the words ‘‘and Scheduled Tribes’’, wherever they occur, shall be omitted. After Article 338 of the Constitution, the following article shall be inserted, namely: ‘‘338A.
(1) There shall be a Commission for the Scheduled Tribes to be known as the National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes.
(2) Subject to the provisions of any law made in this behalf by Parliament, the Commission shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members and the conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members so appointed shall be such as the President may by rule determine.
(3) The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
(4) The Commission shall have the power to regulate its own procedure.
(5) It shall be the duty of the Commission –
(a) to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Tribes under this Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;
(b) to inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Tribes;
(c) to participate and advise on the planning process of socioeconomic development of the Scheduled Tribes and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State; (d) to present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;
(e) to make in such reports recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes; and
(f) to discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the Scheduled Tribes as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify.
(6) The President shall cause all such reports to be laid before each House of Parliament along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the Union and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations.
(7) Where any such report, or any part thereof, relates to any matter with which any State Government is concerned, a copy of such report shall be forwarded to the Governor of the State who shall cause it to be laid before the Legislature of the State along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the State and reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations. (8) The Commission shall, while investigating any matter referred to in sub-clause(a) or inquiring into any complaint referred to in sub-clause (b) of clause (5), have all the powers of a civilcourt trying a suit and in particular in respect of the following matters, namely:
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath;
(b) requiring the discovery and production of any document;
(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; (e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents;
(f) any other matter which the President may, by rule, determine.
(9) The Union and every State Government shall consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting Scheduled Tribes’’.

Indian constitution amendments 76 to 84

Indian constitution amendments 76 to 84
76. The Constitution (Seventy-sixth Amendment) Act, 1994—The policy of reservation of seats in educational institutions and reservation of appointments or posts in public services for Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has had a long history in Tamilnadu dating back to the year 1921. The extent of reservation has been increased by the State Government from time to time, consistent with the needs of the majority of the people and it has now reached the level of 69 per cent (18 per cent Scheduled Castes, one per cent Scheduled Tribes and 50 per cent Other Backward Classes). The Supreme Court in Indira Sawhney and others vs. Union of India and others (AIR, 1993 SC 477) on 16th November 1992 ruled that the total reservations under Article 16(4) should not exceed 50 per cent. The Tamilnadu Government enacted a legislation, namely, Tamilnadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institution and of appointments or posts in the Services under the State) Bill, 1993 and forwarded it to the Government of India for consideration of the President of India in terms of Article 31-C of the Constitution. The Government of India supported the provision of the State legislation by giving the President’s assent to the Tamilnadu Bill. As a corollary to this decision, it was necessary that the Tamilnadu Act 45 of 1994 was brought within the purview of the Ninth Schedule to the Constitution so that it could get protection under Article 31B of the Constitution with regard to the judicial review77. The Constitution (Seventy-seventh Amendment) Act, 1995—The Schedule Castes and the scheduled tribes have been enjoying the facility of reservation in promotion since 1955. The Supreme Court in its judgment dated 16th November 1992 in the case of Indira Sawhney and others vs. Union of India and others, however, observed that reservation of appointments or posts under Article 16(4) of the Constitution is confined to initial appointment and cannot extend to reservation in the matter of promotion. This ruling of the Supreme Court will adversely affect the interests of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Since the representation of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in services in the States have not reached the required level, it is necessary to continue the existing dispensation of providing reservation in promotion in the case of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. In view of the commitment of the Government to protect the interests of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, the Government have decided to continue the existing policy of reservation in promotion for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. To carry out this, it was necessary to amend Article 16 of the Constitution by inserting a new clause (4A) in the said Article to provide for reservation in promotion for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
78. The Constitution (Seventy-eighth Amendment) Act, 1995—Article 31B of the Constitution confers on the enactments included in the Ninth Schedule to the Constitution immunity from legal challenge on the ground that they violate the fundamental rights enshrined in Part III of the Constitution. The Schedule consists of list of laws enacted by various State Governments and Central Government which inter alia affect rights and interest in property including land. In the past, whenever, it was found that progressive legislation conceived in the interest of the public was imperilled by litigation, recourse was taken to the Ninth Schedule. Accordingly, several State enactments relating to land reforms and ceiling on agricultural land holdings have already been included in the Ninth Schedule. Since, the Government is committed to give importance to land reforms, it was decided to include land reform laws in the Ninth Schedule so that they are not challenged before the courts. The State Governments of Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu and West Bengal had suggested the inclusion of some of their Acts relating to land reforms in the Ninth Schedule. Since the amendment to Acts which are already placed in the Ninth Schedule are not automatically immunised from legal challenge, a number of amending Acts along with a few principal Acts have been included in the Ninth Schedule so as to ensure that implementation of these Acts is not adversely affected by litigation.
79. The Constitution (Seventy-ninth Amendment) Act, 1999—By this Act the Government has extended the reservations of seats for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes as well as for the Anglo-Indians in the House of the People and in the Legislative Assemblies of the States for another ten years.
80. The Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) Act, 2000—Based on the recommendations of the Tenth Finance Commission, an alternative scheme for sharing taxes between the Union and the States has been enacted by the Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) Act 2000. Under the new scheme of devolution of revenue between Union and the States, 26 per cent out of gross proceeds of Union taxes and duties is to be assigned to the States in lieu of their existing share in the income-tax, excise duties, special excise duties and grants in lieu of tax on railway passenger fares.
81. The Constitution (Eighty-first Amendment) Act, 2000—By this amendment the unfilled vacancies of a year which were reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes for being filled up in that year in accordance with any provision for reservations made under Article 16 of the Constitution, shall be considered as a separate class of vacancies to be filled up in any succeeding year or years, and such class of vacancies shall not be considered together with the vacancies of the year in which they were filled up for determining the ceiling of fifty per cent reservation against total number of vacancies of that year.
82. The Constitution (Eighty-second Amendment) Act, 2000—The amendment provides that nothing in Article 335 shall prevent the State from making any provision in favour of the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes for relaxation in qualifying marks in any examination orlowering the standards of evaluation for reservation in matters of promotion to any class or classes of services or posts in connection with affairs of the Union or of a State.
83. The Constitution (Eighty-third Amendment) Act, 2000—The Act amended Acticle 243M of the Constitution to provide that no reservation in Panchayats need be made in favour of the Scheduled Castes in Arunachal Pradesh wholly inhabited by tribal population.
84. The Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001—The Act amended provisos to articles 82 and 170(3) of the Constitution to readjust and rationalise the territorial constitutencies in the States, without altering the number of seats allotted to each State in House of People and Legislative Assemblies of the States, including the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constituencies, on the basis of the population ascertained at the census for the year 1991 so as to remove the imbalance caused due to uneven growth of population/electorate in different constituencies. It is also to refix the number of seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies of the States on the basis of the population ascertained at the census for the year 1991 so as to remove the imbalance caused due to uneven growth of population/electorate in different constituencies. It is also to refix the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies of the States on the basis of the population ascertained at the census for the year 1991.

Indian constitution amendments 66 to 75

Indian constitution amendments 66 to 75
66. The Constitution (Sixty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1990—The Act protects 55 State Acts relating to land reforms and ceiling on agricultural land holdings enacted by States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan,Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and administration of the Union Territory of Puducherry, from challenge in courts, by including them in the Ninth Schedule to the Constitution.
67. The Constitution (Sixty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1990—The three year period in the case of proclamation issued on 11th May 1987 with respect to the State of Punjab was extended to three years and six months by the Constitution (Sixty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1990. This Act further amends clause (4) of Article 356 so as to further extend the period upto a total period of four years.
68. The Constitution (Sixty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1991—The three year period in the case of proclamation issued on 17th May 1987 with respect to the State of Punjab was earlier extended to four years by the Constitution (sixty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1990. This Act further amends clause (4) of Article 356 so as to further extend the period upto a total period of five years.
69. The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991—The Government of India appointed on 24th December 1987 a Committee to go into various issues connected with the administration of Delhi and to recommend measures, inter alia for the streamlining of the administrative set up. After detailed inquiry and examination, it recommended that Delhi should continue to be a union territory and may be provided with a Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers responsible to such assembly with appropriate powers to deal with matters of concern to the common man. The Committee also recommended that with a view to ensuring stability and permanence, arrangements should be incorporated in the constitution to give the national capital a special status among the union territories. This act has been passed to give effect to the above recommendations.
70. The Constitution (Seventieth Amendment) Act, 1992—While considering the (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Bill, 1991 and the Government of National Capital Territory Bill, 1991 views were expressed in both the Houses of Parliament in favour of including also the elected members of the legislative assemblies of union territories in the electoral college for the election of the President under Article 54 of the Constitution. At present Article 54 relating to the election of the President provides for an electoral college consisting of only the elected Members of Parliament as well as the legislative assemblies of the states (not of union territories). Similarly, Article 55 providing for the manner of such election also speaks of legislative assemblies of states. Accordingly, an Explanation was inserted in Article 54 to provide that reference to ‘State’ in Article 54 and 55 would include the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry for constituting the electoral college for election of the President. This would enable the elected members of the Legislative Assembly created for the Union Territory of Puducherry under the provisions of Article 239A and of the proposed Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi under Article 239AA to be included in the electoral college.
71. The Constitution (Seventy-first Amendment) Act, 1992—There have been demands for inclusion of certain languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. This Act amends the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution to include Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.
72. The Constitution (Seventy-second Amendment) Act, 1992—For restoring peace and harmony in the areas of the State of Tripura where disturbed conditions prevailed, a Memorandum of Settlement was signed by the Government of India with Tripura National Volunteers on 12 August 1988. In order to implement the said Memorandum, Article 332 of the Constitution has been amended by the Constitution (Seventy-second Amendment) Act, 1992 for making a temporaryprovision for the determination of the number of seats reserved for the Scheduled Tribes in the State Assembly of Tripura, until the re-adjustment of seats is made on the basis of the first Census after the year 2000 under Article 170 of the Constitution.
73. The Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1993—Article 40 of the Constitution which enshrines one of the Directive Principles of State Policy lays down that the State shall take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. In the light of the above, a new Part IX relating to the Panchayats has been inserted in the Constitution to provide for among other things, Gram Sabha in a village or group of villages; constitution of Panchayats at village and other level or levels; direct elections to all seats in Panchayats at the village and intermediate level, if any and to the offices of Chairpersons of Panchayats at such levels; reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their population for membership of Panchayats and office of Chairpersons in Panchayats at each level; reservation of not less than one-third of the seats for women; fixing tenure of five years for Panchayats and holding elections within a period of six months in the event of supersession of any Panchayat.
74. The Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1993—In many states local bodies have become weak and ineffective on account of a variety of reasons, including the failure to hold regular elections, prolonged supersession and inadequate devolutions of powers and functions. As a result, Urban Local Bodies are not able to perform effectively as vibrant democratic units of self-government. Having regard to these inadequacies a new part IX-A relating to the Municipalities has been incorporated in the Constitution to provide for among other things, constitution of three types of Municipalities, i.e., Nagar Panchayats for areas in transition from a rural area to urban area, Municipal Councils for smaller urban areas and Municipal Corporations for larger urban areas.
75. The Constitution (Seventy-fifth Amendment) Act, 1994—The operation of the Rent Control Legislations, as are today in various states, suffers from major weaknesses and has led to various unintended consequences. Some of the deleterious legal consequences include mounting and mending litigation, inability of the courts to provide timely justice, evolution of practices and systems to bypass the operations of rent legislations and steady shrinkage of rental housing market. The Supreme Court taking note of the precarious state of rent litigation in the country in case of Prabhakaran Nair and others vs. State of Tamilnadu (Civil Writ Petition 506 of 1986) and other writs observed that the Supreme Court and the High Courts should be relieved of the heavy burden of rent litigation. Tiers of appeals should be curtailed. Laws should be simple, rational and clear, litigations must come to end quickly.
Therefore, this Act amends Article 323B in Part XIVA of the Constitution so as to give timely relief to the rent litigants by providing for setting up of state-level Rent Tribunals in order to reduce the tiers of appeals and to exclude the jurisdiction of all courts, except that of the Supreme Court, under Article 136 of the Constitution.

Indian constitution amendments 57 to 65

Indian constitution amendments 57 to 65
57. The Constitution (Fifty-seventh amendment) Act, 1987—The Constitution (Fifty-first Amendment) Act, 1984 was enacted to provide for reservation of seats in the house of the people for scheduled tribes in Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh and also for reservation of seats for scheduled tribes in the legislative assemblies of Nagaland and Meghalaya by suitably amending articles 330 and 332. Even though these states are predominantly tribal, the underlying objective of the aforesaid act was to ensure that the members of scheduled tribes in these areas do not fail to secure a minimal representation because of their inability to compete with the advanced sections of the people. The Constitution (fifty-first amendment) act, though formally enforced, could not be fully implemented unless parallel action is taken to determine the seats which are to be reserved for Scheduled tribes in these areas. The number of seats reserved for Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of any State under article 332 of the constitution will have to be determined having regard to the provisions of article 332 (3) of the Constitution. However, in view of the historical background with respect to the areas comprised in north-eastern states, the circumstances obtaining in these areas in the State of development of Scheduled Tribes and other relevant considerations, it was considered necessary to provide for special arrangements with regard to the reservation for Scheduled Tribes in these areas for a temporary period so as to facilitate easy transition of these areas to the normal arrangements as envisaged in the Constitution. Article 332 of the Constitution was further amended for making a temporary provision, until the readjustment of seats on the basis of first census after the year 2000 under article 170 of the Constitution for these states, for the determination of the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes. This amendment seeks to provide that if all the seats in the Legislative Assembly of such States in existence on the date of coming into force of this constitution amendment act are held by the members of Scheduled Tribes, all the seats except one shall be reserved for scheduled tribes and in any other case such number of seats as bears to the total number of seats a proportion not less than the number of members belonging to Scheduled Tribes in the existing assembly bears to the total number of seats in the existing assembly. The act achieves these objectives. 58. The Constitution (Fifty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1987—There has been general demand for the publication of authoritative text of the Constitution in Hindi. It is imperative to have an authoritative text of the Constitution for facilitating its use in the legal process. Any Hindi version of the Constitution should not only conform to the Hindi translation published by the Constituent Assembly, but should be in conformity, with the language style and terminology adopted in the authoritative texts of Central Acts in Hindi. The Constitution has been amended to empower President of India to publish under his authority the translation of the Constitution in Hindi signed by the Members of the Constituent Assembly with such modification as may be necessary to bring it in conformity with the language, style and terminology adopted in the authoritative texts of Central Acts in Hindi language. President has also been authorised to publish the translation in Hindi of every amendment of the Constitution made in English.


59. The Constitution (Fifty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1988—The Act amends Article 365 (5) of the Constitution so as to facilitate the extension of a Presidential Proclamation issued under clause (1) of Article 356 beyond a period of one year, if necessary upto a period of three years, as permissible under clause (4) of Article 356 with respect to the State of Punjab because of the continued disturbed situation there. The Act also amends Article 352 of the Constitution pertaining to the Proclamation of Emergency in its application to the State of Punjab and includes internal disturbance as one of the grounds for making a Proclamation in respect of the State of Punjab only. As a consequence of amendment in Article 352, Articles 358 and 359 in relation to the State of Punjab will be operative only for a period of two years from 30 March 1988, which is the date of commencement of the amendment.


60. The Constitution (Sixtieth Amendment) Act, 1988—The Act amends clause (2) of Article 276 of the Constitution so as to increase the ceiling of taxes on professions, trades, callings and employment from Rs 250 per annum to Rs 2,500 per annum. The upward revision of this tax will help state governments in raising additional resources. The proviso to clause (2) has been omitted.


61. The Constitution (Sixty-first Amendment) Act, 1989—The Act provides for reducing voting age from 21 to 18 years by amending Article 326 of the Constitution to provide to the unrepresented youth of the country an opportunity to give vent to their feelings and help them become a part of political process.


62. The Constitution (Sixty-second Amendment) Act, 1989—Article 334 of the Constitution lays down that the provisions of the Constitution relating to the reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the representation of the Anglo-Indian community by nomination in the Lok Sabha and in the Legislative Assemblies of the States shall cease to have effect on the expiry of a period of 40 years from the commencement of the Constitution. Although the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes have made considerable progress in the last 40 years, the reasons which weighed with the Constituent Assembly in making provisions with regard to the aforesaid reservation of seats and nomination of members, have not ceased to exist. The Act amends Article 334 of the Constitution to continue the reservation for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled
Tribes and the representation of the Anglo-Indians by nomination for a further period of 10 years.


63. The Constitution (Sixty-third Amendment) Act, 1989—The Constitution (Fifty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1988 was enacted in March 1988 making certain changes in regard to making a Proclamation of Emergency in Punjab and to the duration of President’s rule in State. On reconsideration, the Government decided that the special powers in regard to the Proclamation of Emergency in Punjab as envisaged in the said amendment is no longer required. Accordingly the provision to clause (5) of Article 356 and Article 359A of the Constitution have been omitted.


64. The Constitution (Sixty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1990—This Act amends clauses (4) and (5) of Article 356 of the Constitution with a view to facilitate the extension of the proclamation issued under clause (1) of Article 356 of the Constitution on 11th May 1987 upto a total period of three years and six months in relation to the State of Punjab.


65. The Constitution (Sixty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1990—Article 338 of the Constitution provides for a Special Officer for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the Constitution and to report to the President on their working. The Article has been amended for the constitution of a National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes consisting of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and five other Members who shall be appointed by the President bywarrant under his hand and seal. The amended Article elaborates the duties of the said Commission and covers measures that should be taken by the Union or any state for the effective implementation of the reports presented by the Commission. It also provides that the Commission shall, while investigating any matter or inquiring into any complaint have all the powers of a Civil Court trying a suit and the reports of the said Commission shall be laid before Parliament and the Legislature of the states.

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