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રાજ્યવ્યવસ્થા અને શાસનGS2
GS2

States Concerned Over Demography Panel Request for Religious Data

Source:The Hindu ↗

આ શા માટે મહત્વનું છે

It highlights critical concerns in public administration regarding the parameters of data collection, state surveillance, secular ethics, and the administrative feasibility of segregating non-demographic public infrastructure on religious lines.

સારાંશ

State governments in India have expressed surprise and concern over a demography panel's unusual request for religion-wise data spanning diverse sectors like vehicles, schools, and voters, sparking debates on data governance, privacy, and administrative overreach.

મુખ્ય મુદ્દા

  • State governments have been left stumped by a demography panel's directive requesting granular, religion-wise data on diverse infrastructure and administrative metrics such as vehicles, schools, and voters.
  • The collection of such micro-level socio-religious data across non-traditional sectors raises vital policy, governance, and ethical questions regarding privacy, secularism, and administrative feasibility.
  • Concerns are raised regarding the utility and potential communal profiling implications of mapping everyday socio-economic assets on religious lines.

મહત્વપૂર્ણ શબ્દો

demography panel

A high-level committee formed by the central government to study demographic shifts and abnormal population changes attributed to illegal immigration and other factors.

UPSC context

Relevant for GS Paper II (Polity and Governance, Federalism, Administrative Overreach) and GS Paper III (Internal Security).

Source
State governments

Constitutional entities that form the federated units of India, responsible for state administration, law and order, and maintaining various socio-economic records.

UPSC context

Crucial for GS Paper II (Indian Constitution, Federal Structure, Centre-State Relations).

Source

સંલગ્ન સ્થિર ખ્યાલો

Polity and Governance

What are the constitutional provisions regarding religious freedom and secularism in India?

  • Article 15: Prohibits the state from discriminating against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
  • Article 25: Guarantees freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice, and propagate religion.
  • Article 26: Ensures freedom to manage religious affairs, subject to public order, morality, and health.

આંતર-વિષય પેટર્ન

  • Demographic Data vs. Right to Privacy

    Demographic studies intersecting with governance must align with statutory data protection rules and constitutional non-discrimination guarantees under Article 15.

High-level committee directives intersecting with religious categorization will likely feature in Mains GS-2 on data privacy and federalism.

સંલગ્ન PYQ · 2

સંલગ્ન PYQ · 2

  • 2024MainsGS2

    Discuss India as a secular state and compare with the secular principles of the US constitution.

  • 2025MainsGS2

    e-governance projects have a built-in bias towards technology and back-end integration than user-centric designs. Examine.