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UPSC GS Paper-1: Q.8 Do you think marriage as a sacrament is loosing its value in Modern India?

Ashutosh Bansal September 30, 2023 02:29 10931 0

Daily Answer Writing DAILY UPSC ANSWER WRITTING 2023 General Studies-I Issue of Women and Evolution of Women Movement

Do you think marriage as a sacrament is loosing its value in Modern India?  

UPSC GS Paper-1: Q.8 Do you think marriage as a sacrament is loosing its value in Modern India?

Q.8 Do you think marriage as a sacrament is loosing its value in Modern India?

 

How to approach the question

Introduction

●      Write about “marriage as a sacrament” briefly

Body

●      Write how marriage as a sacrament is loosing its value in Modern India

●      Write various counter arguments given against this view

●      Write suitable way ahead

Conclusion

●      Give appropriate conclusion in this regard

Introduction

In India, marriage is traditionally seen as a sacrament, a sacred institution steeped in religious and cultural significance. This understanding of marriage holds it as an unbreakable bond forged not just between two individuals but also their families.

Body

Reduced sacramental value of marriage in modern India

  • Increasing divorce rates: According to the 2011 census,6 lakh individuals were divorced, equivalent to 0.24% of the married population and 0.11% of the total population.
  • Delayed marriages: As per the NFHS-5, the median age of first marriage (among women 20–49 years of age) has increased by 2.0 years during the last decade and a half, from a level of 17.2 years in 2005–06 to 19.2 years in 2019–21. For men (age 25-29), this increased from 22.6 to 24.9 during the same period.
  • Growing acceptance of live-in relationships: They are cohabitation agreements where unmarried couples live together without legal or religious sanction. It challenges the sanctity and exclusivity of marriage as a sacrament.
  • Growing Consumerism and materialism: It has created a culture of competition, comparison, and dissatisfaction among many Indians who seek happiness and status through money. It has affected the expectations and demands of marriage partners, leading to conflicts and dissatisfaction.
  • Casual Approach towards Commitment: The rising popularity of dating apps like Tinder and Bumble indicates a change in the youth’s approach towards relationships, fostering a more casual attitude towards dating and commitments.
  • Individualism: The shift is reflective of a broader acceptance of individual autonomy and personal preferences taking precedence in marital decisions, illustrating a transition towards a society where personal choices are valued more than age-old traditions.

Counter Arguments

  • Traditional Values: Many influential families, still hold grand and traditional wedding ceremonies, indicating a continued reverence for traditional matrimonial norms that have been the backbone of Indian marriages.
  • Religious Beliefs: Places of religious importance like Tirumala are still sought-after destinations for weddings, underscoring the enduring significance and respect for sacred ceremonies and rituals in Indian marriages, depicting a strong adherence to the sanctity enclosed in religious rites.
  • Community Pressure: In various parts of India, community assemblies and Panchayats play a vital role in emphasizing the conventional pathway of traditional marriages, reinstating the society’s faith in the age-old practices and encouraging adherence to the same.
  • Government Policies: Government initiatives like Kanya Vivah Yojana stand testimony to the fact that marriages are encouraged at the policy level, asserting the government’s role in fostering traditional matrimonial norms.
  • Economic Considerations: In several rural areas, families and communities often view marriages from an economic lens, wherein the institution serves as a means to forge economic stability and alliances, emphasizing the necessity of sacramental marriages for creating economically viable units.
  • Arranged Marriages: Many families underline the ongoing prominence of arranged marriages, signalling the sustained preference for alliances fostered through familial networks, and thereby, acknowledging the weighted presence of tradition in matrimonial matters.

Way Ahead

  • Counselling and Support Groups: The engagement of professional services like counselling and therapy, seen in successful initiatives like “Parivarthan” in Bangalore, can be a cornerstone in fostering healthy marriages.
  • Education: Incorporating relationship education into university curricula might be a significant step in India. It can foster a generation that understands the complexities of relationships and respects the sanctity of marriage, armed with knowledge and understanding.
  • Media Representation: Encouraging the production of content that portrays both modern and traditional marriages with a balanced view can offer a realistic representation, thus nurturing a comprehensive understanding and respect for diverse marital dynamics.
  • Community Dialogues: Setting up platforms for community dialogues to provide a space where changing marital norms can be discussed openly and constructively, thereby cultivating a society that understands and accepts the evolving dynamics in marital relationships.
  • Legal Reforms: Encouraging legal reforms that safeguard individual rights within the marriage spectrum, including serious considerations and discussions around sensitive topics like marital rape, can foster a safer and respectful environment within marriages.
  • Skill Development: Conducting workshops that hone essential skills such as communication, financial planning, etc., can aid couples in navigating the complexities of marital life smoothly, helping in building a strong foundation for marriages.
  • Encouraging Open Conversations: Encouraging educational institutions to foster open discussions around the evolving dynamics of marriage can pave the way for a generation that is understanding and empathetic towards the changing nuances of marital relationships.
  • Work-Life Balance: Encouraging corporate policies that foster work-life balance, as seen in companies like Google and Infosys, can aid individuals in managing their personal and professional lives efficiently, thus nurturing healthier marital relationships.
  • Respect for Individual Choices: Platforms like “Humans of Bombay” which celebrate individual stories should be promoted to foster a society that respects and celebrates individual choices in marital decisions, encouraging empathy and understanding.
  • Spiritual Guidance: Facilitating platforms offering spiritual guidance to help maintain the sanctity of marriage can be a pillar in nurturing marital bonds grounded in mutual respect and understanding, enriching the marital experience.

Conclusion

While marriage as a sacrament is undergoing changes in modern India, with varying degrees of adherence to traditional norms, it is essential to create a balanced approach. Leveraging the above measures can offer a way forward that respects individual choices while retaining the sanctity and significance of marriage, thus carving a path that respects the old while embracing the new.

For a Detailed explanation of the UPSC GS-01 Mains question 2023, click here.

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For a Detailed explanation of the UPSC GS-03 Mains question 2023, click here.

For a Detailed explanation of the UPSC GS-04 Mains question 2023, click here.

 
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