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The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has carried out a survey on the trend in the prescription of antibiotic use in India.

Usage Trends at 20 NAC-NET Sites and Addressing Critical Data Gaps about Antibiotics Use

• It is the first multicentric point prevalence survey of antibiotic use at 20 NAC-NET sites. 
  • NAC-NET or National Antimicrobial Consumption Network, is a network comprising 35 state medical colleges across India.
• Present Data: Currently, there is no data related to the usage of antibiotic use in food, animals and crops. This survey fills that gap. 
• As of 2019, the WHO placed AMR in the top 10 public health hazards. 

Methodology of Survey:  Understanding Access, Watch, and Reserve Categories in Prescriptions

• The antibiotic prescriptions were classified based on AWaRe categories developed in 2017 by the World Health Organization (WHO)  
• Access, Watch and Reserve (AWaRe) takes into account the impact of different antibiotics and antibiotic classes on antimicrobial resistance.
• The categories are 
  • Access: These are antibiotic drugs with a lower potential for misuse that are widely available and are used to treat a wide range of infections.
  • Watch: This group has a higher potential for misuse and a higher potential to develop antibiotic resistance.
  • Reserve: This group is used to treat severe infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens however, their use should be restricted and as last resort. 

Key Findings of the Survey: 

• Classification: 

  • 57 % of antibiotic drugs belong to the “watch” group. 
  • 38 % of prescriptions belonged to the “access”  group. 
  • About 2 % of antibiotic drugs prescribed belonged to the “reserve” group 

• Average: The average antibiotic prescription per patient was 1.8. 

  • The overall antibiotic use was recorded maximum in the Intensive Care Units and surgical wards. 

• Most commonly prescribed antibiotics Use: 

  • Third-generation cephalosporins was the most commonly prescribed class of antibiotics (33.1 per cent)  
  • Aminoglycosides was the second most prescribed antibiotic (12.1 per cent) in the survey. The commonly prescribed antibiotic use identified in this class was amikacin. 

• Use of Critically Important Antimicrobials (CIAs) in food-producing animals in India: 

  • Ceftriaxone was found to be used in the Indian dairy sector. 
  • Aminoglycosides, including amikacin, were reported in the Indian poultry sector. 
  • These antibiotics were being used to prevent, control, or treat diseases in animals. 
• Antibiotic Policy: Only eight out of 20 institutes have an antibiotic policy in place

Major Concerns Raised by Survey: 

• Prescription for Prevention: Over 55% of the patients were prescribed antibiotics for preventive purposes rather than to treat existing infections. 
  • This raises growing concerns regarding the increasing risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Over Prescription: There is a rampant polypharmacy, the practice of handing out five or more medications to treat infections. 
  • This increases the risk of adverse effects and drug interactions. 
• Overuse: Overall, 53 % of the patients on antibiotics were on more than one antibiotic. About 4.6 percent of patients got four or more antibiotics.  
• There is a trend of increasing resistance towards CIAs, including third-generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides. 

• Recommendations: 

  • Institutions are suggested to adopt standard treatment guidelines.
  • The hospitals should adopt standard treatment guidelines and have well-defined antibiotic policies in place. 
  • Timely review of the antibiotic prescription should be undertaken to reduce risk of polypharmacy. 

Additional Reading: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Source: DTE

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Chinese startup Orienspace successfully launched the Gravity-1 rocket  from a mobile sea platform, increasing the number of potential launch sites.

Orienspace’s Gravity-1 Launch Marks Milestone in China’s Private Space Exploration 

• Orienspace joins Exclusive Group to Launch Carrier Rocket: Launch of Gravity-1 made Orienspace the fifth private Chinese firm to operate its own carrier rocket, following i-Space, Galactic Energy, Space Pioneer and LandSpace.
• Significance: Its successful launch will facilitate an increased frequency of commercial satellite launches into low- and mid-altitude orbits within the emerging private sector. 

Gravity-1: Orienspace’s Solid-Fueled Marvel Revolutionising Satellite Deployment: 

• About: It is a solid-fueled launcher that effectively placed three Yunyao-1 commercial weather satellites into orbit.
• Launch capability: According to Orienspace, the Gravity-1 rocket can deploy up to 30 satellites in a single launch. 
  • It can carry payloads weighing up to 6,500 kg (14,330 lb) into low earth orbit.

• Flexibility of Sea Launches: It can be launched from a mobile sea platform.

  • Sea launches would reduce the risk of rocket stages endangering inhabited areas as they fall back to Earth.

News Source: Reuters

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During the Annual Clean City Award 2023, Surat in Gujarat and Indore in Madhya Pradesh were announced as the cleanest cities in the nation. 

Surat Surges to First-Time Victory in 2023-2024 Cleanliness Survey

• Clean City Award 2023 is  hosted by the Union Urban Affairs Ministry.

• Indore has been recognized as the cleanest city for the seventh consecutive time.
• Surat has been declared the cleanest city for the first time.

What is Swachh Survekshan? 

• It is an annual survey of cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation in villages, cities and towns across India.
• It is a part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, specifically under SBA-Urban.

• It was Launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), with the Quality Council of India (QCI) as its implementation partner.The inaugural survey in 2016 covered 73 cities, expanding to 4,477 cities by the 2023 survey.
• The methodology for cleanliness assessment relies on two primary criteria: citizen feedback and field assessment.

Promoting Clean Living: Assessing, Inspiring, and Celebrating Cities in the Pursuit of Sanitation Excellence

• Evaluate and rank cities and towns based on cleanliness and sanitation practices.
• Encourage behavioral change for adopting cleaner and healthier practices.
• Identify and showcase best practices and innovations in sanitation and waste management.

Conclusion: Swachh Survekshan is a vital tool in assessing and promoting cleanliness and sanitation across cities and towns in India. However, there is a need to sort out all the problems associated with it. 

News Source: The Hindu

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Recently, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as Atal Setu, the longest sea bridge in India, has been inaugurated by the Prime Minister.

Atal Setu: Engineering Marvel Connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai with Advanced Features

• The Atal Setu bridge which is  India’s longest sea bridge spans 22 km and includes a six-lane sea bridge of 16.5 km and a 5.5 km-long elevated road on land.
• Origin: India’s longest sea bridge originates from Sewri in Mumbai and ends at Nhava Sheva in Uran taluka in Raigad district.

• It is the 12th longest sea bridge in the world.

• Benefits:

  • MTHL is able to reduce the two-hour journey between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to a swift 20-minute ride.
  • It will provide faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport.   

Atal Setu: Balancing Progress and Environmental Concerns in Mumbai’s Coastal Landscape

• Impact on Fishing Communities: The implementation of the project poses significant challenges to local livelihoods, particularly those of fishing communities.
  • Disruption of Fishing Grounds: Construction activities disturb fish breeding grounds and migration routes, which in turn affect the overall fish populations.
  • Loss of Access: Traditional fishing areas may become inaccessible, compelling fishermen to travel longer distances or resort to less productive fishing zones.
  • Damage to Fishing Gear: Increased boat traffic and construction activities bring the risk of damage to fishing gear, which further impacts the sustainability of fishing practices.

• Environmental Concerns: 

  • Habitat Destruction: Crucial ecosystems, such as mangroves and coral reefs, face destruction, which negatively impacts the biodiversity essential for fish populations.
  • Pollution Risks: Dredging and construction activities pose pollution risks, potentially harming marine life and compromising water quality.
  • Coastal Processes Alteration: The bridge’s presence can alter natural coastal processes, leading to degradation and loss of shoreline.

News Source: The Hindu

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National Youth Day (12th January) is held every year to observe the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Swami Vivekananda’s 161st Birth Anniversary: Inspiring Generations in 2024

• 2024 marks 161st anniversary of Swami Vivekanand.

Swami Vivekananda: Birth, Transformation, and Legacy

• Born: Swami Vivekananda was born as  Narendra Nath Datta, to father  Vishwanath Datta and mother Bhuvaneshwari Devi.
• Guru / Teacher: Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
• New name: In 1893, he took the name ‘Vivekananda ’ at the request of Maharaja Ajit Singh of the Khetri State.
• Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had called Vivekananda the “maker of modern India.”

Swami Vivekananda’s Revolutionary Vision of Religion and Spirituality

• New Understanding of Religion: 

• • Swami Vivekanand’s Religion was an amalgamation of Sri Ramakrishna’s spiritual teachings of Divine manifestation and his personal internalization of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
  • Religion as ‘science of consciousness’: He  interprets religion as a universal experience of transcendent Reality, common to all humanity. 
  • Universal conception of Religion: It frees religion from the hold of superstitions, dogmatism, priestcraft and intolerance, and making it  the highest and noblest pursuit ie. of supreme Freedom, supreme Knowledge, supreme Happiness.
  • Path: He embarked on a path  to achieve divinity of soul by undertaking selfless work, worship and mental discipline. 

• Bridge Between East and West: 

  • He introduced the philosophies of Yoga and Vedanta to the West and  thus became popular as the ‘messenger of Indian wisdom to the Western world’.
  • Western teachings: Swamiji has taught Indians to master Western science and technology and at the same time adapt to the new age values of Western humanism (especially the ideas of individual freedom, social equality and justice and respect for women) to Indian ethos.

• Ethical values and life lessons: 

  • New theory of ethics based on intrinsic purity and oneness of the Atman: Swamiji believes to strive for purity as the ultimate goal because PURITY is the True attribute of the real human nature, our true divine Self or Atman. 
  • Morality based on love and service: He believed in the oneness of all  therefore everyone should be treated with love and respect because we are all one in the Supreme Spirit known as Paramatman or Brahman.
  • Importance of Education: He emphasised on gaining knowledge, secular ( to improve one’s economic condition) and spiritual (to infuse faith in oneself and to strengthen one’s moral sense).
  • Idea of Antyodaya ie Until the upliftment of the last poor person in the country is ensured, development is meaningless.

Swami Vivekananda’s Impact: Founding Ramakrishna Mission, Chicago Speech, and Literary Legacy

• Ramakrishna Mission: 

  • Founded: Swami Vivekanand founded the Ramakrishna Mission on May 1, 1897 at Belur Math near Calcutta.

• World’s Parliament of Religions Chicago 1893: 

  • He  describes the principles of Vedanta and their spiritual significance, putting Hinduism and Sanatan Dharma on the map of World Religions.
  • Themes of the speech: Vishwabandhutva (universal brotherhood), tolerance, cooperativeness, participation, religion, culture, nation, nationalism and the collective India-Indianness.
• He founded the Vedanta Society of New York in 1894.
• Literary works: Raja Yoga’, ‘Jnana Yoga’, ‘Karma Yoga’ 

Swami Vivekananda: Nationalism Rooted in Humanism and Karma Yoga

• Swami Vivekananda’s nationalism: His nationalism is based on Humanism, Universalism and spiritualism, cardinal features of Indian culture. 
• Principle of Karma Yoga: Freedom for Swami Vivekanand is both political and spiritual to be attained through selfless service and harbouring deep concern for masses. He was a torchbearer for the values of  freedom and equality through which one expresses self, and attains spiritual upliftment.

News Source: PIB

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Serbian farmers and officials rescued dozens of starving horses and cattle stranded on the island of Krcedinska Ada in the Danube River.

About Island of Krcedinska Ada:

• Krcedinska Ada, also known as the Island of Krčedin, is a river island in Serbia. 
• It’s a deserted island of 10km longshore in the middle of the river Danube.
• It is home to many animals brought there to spend the summer by villagers living around.

News Source: Reuters

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Russia has begun to evacuate residents from the border region of Belgorod following a surge in Ukrainian strikes.

About Belgorod:

• The Belgorod region lies in western Russia, on the border with Ukraine.
• It lies chiefly in the basins of the upper Vorskla, Donets, and Oskol rivers.

News Source: The Hindu

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Recently, Scientists have detected a rare and extremely high-Energetic Particles cosmic ray  known as Amaterasu particles falling to Earth.

About Amaterasu: Cosmic Ray with Unprecedented Energy

• Amaterasu’s origin remains a mystery as it appears to come from an empty part of the universe, defying existing astronomical explanations.
• It is the second-highest-energy cosmic ray detected and was found by analyzing data collected between May 2008 and November 2021 by the Telescope Array Project in the U.S.
• The Amaterasu particle has an energy exceeding 240 exa-electron volts (EeV), millions of times more than particles produced in the Large Hadron Collider (the most powerful accelerator ever built).

What are Cosmic Rays?

• Cosmic rays are high energy particles that move through space at nearly the speed of light. 
• Most cosmic rays are atomic nuclei stripped of their atoms with protons (hydrogen nuclei) being the most abundant type but nuclei of elements as heavy as lead have been measured.
• Cosmic rays provide direct samples of matter from outside the solar system. 

News Source: The Hindu

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The Uttar Pradesh Government has recently built India’s First Cow Sanctuary, a Centrally funded at Muzaffarnagar district under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM).

About the First Cow Sanctuary: Under Rashtriya Gokul Mission

• The sanctuary is situated at the Tuglakpur-Kamhera village under the Purkaji block of the Muzaffarnagar district.
• The sanctuary can shelter up to 5,000 stray cattle.

Uttar Pradesh’s First Cow Sanctuary to Tackle Stray Cattle Menace

• Stray cattle have become a big problem in Uttar Pradesh, as they damage crops and attack people.
• As per the 20th Livestock Census of 2019, the state has 11.84 lakh stray cattle.

Read More: Rashtriya Gokul Mission

Additional Reading: Indigenous Cattle Breeds of India: Why They Are Preferred to Exotic Breeds?

News source: Indian Express

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Recently, Karnataka, Punjab, and West Bengal tableaux proposals were rejected by the Ministry of Defence for the Republic Day Parade.

Republic Day 2024 Theme: ‘Developed India’ and ‘India: Mother of Democracy

• The Theme of Republic Day 2024 is-  “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) and “Bharat: Loktantra ki Matrika” (India: the Mother of Democracy).

Selection Process for Republic Day Parade Tableaux: Expert Committee Evaluates Diverse Artistic Proposals

• The tableaux proposals received are evaluated by a committee of experts appointed by the Ministry of Defence which comprises prominent persons in art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, choreography, etc.

Criteria for Republic Day Parade Tableaux Selection

• The selection depends upon a combination of factors including visual appeal, impact on the masses, idea/theme of the tableaux, degree of detail involved in the tableaux, music accompanying the tableaux, local artists used, etc.

Guidelines of The Defence Ministry Regarding Tableaux:

• Engagement of Young Qualified Designers: The participating entities must engage “young qualified designers from renowned institutions.”
• Distinctiveness: The tableaux of two different states/ UTs must not be too similar, and eco-friendly materials must be used for their construction.

News source: Indian Express

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The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has been entrusted with powers to permit the discharge of treated sewage and effluents into the river, canals or water bodies.

NMCG Amends Ganga Authorities Order 2016: Environmental Regulation Reinforced

• NMCG  issued a new notification  to amend the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016.

NMCG Notification Permits Treated Sewage Discharge into Water Bodies

• Notification  issued by NMCG  allows discharge of treated sewage, conforming to the norms prescribed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, into rivers or any other water bodies  after exploring the option of its direct reuse for purposes such as agricultural use, industrial use, etc.

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG): Safeguarding the Holy River’s Ecological Health

• About: It is a  registered society under the Societies Registration Act 1860.
• Nodal Agency: Ministry of Jal Shakti
• Objective: To maintain minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga to ensure water quality and environmentally sustainable development.
• Enforcement: It is the implementation arm of the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga (National Ganga Council) under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA),1986
• Headed by: The Executive Committee and Governing Council of NMCG  is chaired by  Director General (DG) who is an  Additional Secretary in Government of India
• Vision: To  restore the wholesomeness of the river by ensuring “Aviral Dhara” (Continuous Flow”), “Nirmal Dhara”(“Unpolluted Flow”) and  Geologic and ecological integrity.

News Source: The Indian Express

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has placed the Aditya-L1 spacecraft in a halo orbit around the Lagrange Point (L1).

ISRO’s Aditya-L1: Uninterrupted Solar Observation in Halo Orbit at Lagrangian Point

• According to the ISRO, the satellite will spend its whole mission life orbiting around Lagrange Point 1 in an irregularly shaped orbit in a plane roughly perpendicular to the line joining the earth and the sun.
• The Aditya-L1 satellite will be continuously viewing the sun without any occultation or eclipse and provides a greater advantage of observing the solar activities without obstruction.

Lagrange Points: Celestial Parking Spots for Uninterrupted Space Observation

• They have been named after Italian-French mathematician Joseph-Louis Lagrange.
• There are five Lagrange points, L1 to L5, between any two-celestial body system. 
• At these positions, the gravitational pull of the celestial bodies equals the centripetal force, thus the forces acting on the third body cancel each other out.
• The Lagrange Point 1 point of the Earth-Sun system provides an uninterrupted view of the sun and is currently home to the Solar and Helio spheric Observatory Satellite SOHO. 
• According to NASA, the points can be used as ‘parking spots’ for spacecraft in space to remain in a fixed position with minimal fuel consumption.

Additional Information: Aditya-L1 Mission

News Source: The Hindu

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Recently, the West Bengal Chief Minister asked the central government to officially list Bengali as a “classical language”.

• Bengali is the 2nd most spoken language in India (after Hindi, as per the 2011 Census) and the 7th most spoken language globally.

Classical Language Recognition: Guidelines and Benefits for Preserving Linguistic Heritage

• Origin: The idea of Classical Languages of India was initially introduced in 2004.

• Guidelines for declaring a language as “Classical”: The Ministry of Culture provides the guidelines regarding Classical languages which include:
  • An Ancient Record: High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years.
  • A Valuable Heritage: A body of ancient literature/texts that is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers.
  • Original Tradition: The literary tradition needs to be original and not borrowed from another speech community.
  • Distinct from Modern: Classical language and literature are distinct from modern, but there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or offshoots.

• Classical Languages in India: A Journey through Recognition, Significance, and Linguistic Heritage

• • Currently six languages enjoy the ‘Classical’ status in India:
    • Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada, Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014).
  • All the Classical Languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
    • The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists the official languages of India. Part XVII of the Indian constitution deals with the official languages in Articles 343 to 351.
• Significance: Classical languages are made up of various alterations that have evolved over time and diverged over centuries and the golden age of Indian literature is characterized by the languages of this time.

News Source: The Hindu

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Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially unveiled the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 11), Traditional Medicine Module 2. 

Ministry of AYUSH Collaborates with WHO to Classify Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani Diseases in ICD 11 TM-2 Module

• The Ministry of AYUSH in collaboration with WHO has prepared a classification of diseases used in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems under the TM-2 module of the ICD 11 series.

What is ICD?

• ICD provides a common language that allows health professionals to share standardized information across the world.
• Developed by: WHO

ICD 11: Digital Evolution with 17,000 Codes, Inclusive Coding for Traditional Medicines”

• The eleventh revision contains around 17000 unique codes, more than 120000 codable terms and is now entirely digital.
• Under ICD 11, an international coding of terminology and the names and data of prevalent diseases of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani Medicine will be notified in the code internationally through the TM 2 module. 
• Inclusion of Various Diseases: This international coding covers diseases like Malaria, insomnia, and Vertigo Guidance Disorder.

ICD 11 Significance: Strengthening Global Healthcare, Recognition, and Uniformity in Traditional Medicine

• Strengthening of the Healthcare System: It strengthens India’s healthcare delivery system, research, AYUSH insurance coverage, research and development, and policy-making systems. 
• Global Recognition: It forms a link between traditional medicine and global standards and can be seen as a movement along with the global recognition of traditional medicine. 
  • The strategy for this was prepared from 2014 to 2023 and the first draft of the WHO strategy for Traditional Medicine for 2025 to 2034 has been prepared.
• Maintenance of Uniformity: It will lead to global uniformity in ASU (Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha) medicine as a code of vocabulary defining diseases. 
• Global Tradition: The indexing of disease terminology related to traditional medicine in ICD 11 proves to be a milestone in building a unified global tradition. 
  • Many member countries of the WHO have expressed interest in adopting a similar format to include traditional medical disease terminology in the ICD 11.

News Source: PIB

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Context: A seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court started hearing the matter of Aligarh Muslim University’s minority character. 

• The dispute dates back almost 57 years and has been adjudicated upon multiple times by different courts.

Aligarh Muslim University’s Minority Character: Constitutional Debates and the 2016 Controversy

• The questions of law that are being argued in this case are:
  • Whether an educational institution can be granted minority status under Article 30 of the Indian Constitution?
  • Whether a centrally-funded university established by parliamentary statute can be designated as a minority institution?
• The Supreme Court is yet to pronounce its verdict on the minority character status. .
• Defending 2016 Decision: The government justified its 2016 decision to withdraw the appeal against the Allahabad High Court’s 2006 ruling on the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University, citing factual and constitutional considerations as the basis for the decision.

Significance of Article 30(1) in Defining ‘Minority Character’ in Educational Institutions

• Article 30(1) of the Constitution empowers all religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions. 
• This provision reinforces the Union government’s commitment to foster the growth and development of minority communities by guaranteeing that it will not discriminate in giving aid based on their being ‘minority’ institutions.

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU): A Historical Journey from MAO College to Constitutional Challenges

• Establishment: Aligarh Muslim University was established in 1875 as the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. 
• In 1920, the British government in India passed the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Act, 1920  a central legislation which enabled MOA and a few other colleges to be affiliated with it.
• Amendments to the Act: The central government passed two amendments to the law in 1951 and 1965. The amendment changed the structure of the university’s governing body and gave powers to the president of India to nominate its members. 
  • These amendments were challenged in the Supreme Court by an individual named Azeez Basha.

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU): A Timeline of Minority Status Disputes

• S Azeez Basha versus Union of India case in 1967: A five-judge bench of the apex court upheld the amendments and ruled that the AMU was not a minority institution as there was central legislation governing the same. 
  • The court held that AMU was neither established nor administered by the Muslim minority and that the protection of minority institutions under Article 30 of the constitution of India does not apply to the university.
• Amendments Restoring Minority Status: In 1981, the government brought in a law that restored the minority status of the university, thereby permitting it to make reservations for the Muslim community in India. 
  • Under the 1981 amendment, the word ‘University’ in the 1920 Act was defined as an “educational institution of their choice established by the Muslims of India, which originated as the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College, Aligarh.” 
  • The Act was further amended stating that the university shall have the power to promote the educational and cultural advancement of India’s Muslims.
• Challenge of Minority Status: In 2005, the minority status of the institution was challenged in the Allahabad High Court by the government, after it reserved 50 percent of postgraduate seats to Muslim minorities. 
  • The Allahabad HC ruled against its minority status.
• Withdrawal of Appeal: In 2016, the government withdrew from the appeal, arguing that it does not recognize the minority status of the university.
• In 2019, the issue was referred to a seven-judge bench, initiating hearings on 9 Jan 2023.

Championing Minority Identity: Arguments Upholding Aligarh Muslim University’s minority Character Status

• Status Quo Order of 1981 Amendment: Aligarh Muslim University continues to be a minority institution due to the status quo order on the 1981 amendment.
• Minority Administered Institution: All vice-chancellors of Aligarh Muslim University since its inception have been Muslims and the minority community de facto administers it.
  • Merely because the state has a say in administration, it does not take away the minority character of the varsity, which Muslims established for the educational uplift of Muslims.
  • The role of the state in administration does not diminish the minority identity of the university, which Muslims founded to advance the educational well-being of the Muslim community.
• Women’s Education: The minority status is significant for women’s education as a change in the status may hinder the higher education of Muslim women as a Muslim community, particularly women, opts for Aligarh Muslim University due to its minority status. 
  • The minority status of Aligarh Muslim University and the education of Muslim women have been closely intertwined.
• Sachar Committee Report: The Report establishes the extent of educational deprivation experienced by the Muslim community. 
  • Muslims are at a double disadvantage with low levels of education combined with low-quality education.

Arguments Against minority Character Status of Aligarh Muslim University:

• Institute of National Character: According to the government, Aligarh Muslim University is given a special status by including it in the Constitution of India, which is deemed an “institution of national importance.” 
  • The Constitution does not treat it as a minority institution and the institution has consistently maintained its stature as a nationally significant entity. 
  • Unlike its name suggests, it is not a university dominantly functioning as a Muslim university as it is not established and administered by the minority.
• Reservation for Backward Classes: It is ranked 9th across universities and autonomous institutions in India by the Ministry of Education’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2023. 
  • Hence, if declared a minority institution it will not be required to implement the reservation policy under Section 3 of the Central Educational Institute (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 (as amended in 2012).
  • Section 3 of the act mandates reserving  seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, other backward classes (OBC), and economically weaker sections (EWS).
• Listed Under Union List: The Aligarh Muslim University and Banaras Hindu University have been placed in the Union List in the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Any institution mentioned in the Union list can never be a minority institution.
• T.M.A Pai Foundation v State of Karnataka: In this case, the SC held that the minority institutions may have distinct admission processes that are fair, transparent, and based on merit. 

Observations of Supreme Court in the Current Hearing of Minority Character of Aligarh Muslim University:

• Ghettoisation of Minorities, not the Objective: The Supreme Court asserted that the right granted to religious and linguistic minorities under Article 30 (1) of the Constitution to establish and administer their educational institutions was not intended to isolate them.
• Non Minority Governing Council: The court questioned why Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was considered a minority institution as only 37 Muslim members are in the 180-member governing council.
• Minority status Independent of Administrators: The panel addressed a reference concerning the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University and that the minority character of an educational institution is not lost even if its founders choose administrators from a majority group.

Conclusion: Lack of education among the minorities section, especially muslims is  a reason for their backwardness. Thus, there is a need to balance the rights of minorities and the educational rights of other backward Sections.

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