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Everything You Need To Know About Indian Parliament

April 4, 2024 Mitali k

What Is A Parliament?

A Parliament is an important aspect of any democratic country. Parliament is the lawmaking body of a government. The Indian Parliament is responsible for making laws, overseeing the administration, passing the budget, and discussing issues of national and international importance. The members of the Indian Parliament are either elected or appointed.

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The Indian Parliament

The Indian Parliament is the highest legislative body of India.

The President Of India

The head of the Indian Parliament

The Two Houses

Rajya Sabha – 250 seats (Current = 245)
Lok Sabha – 550 seats (Current = 545)

What Is Rajya Sabha?

According to the Constitution of India, the Rajya Sabha or the Upper House of the Indian Parliament consists of the representatives of the States and the Union Territories and persons nominated by the President of India. Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and cannot be dissolved. However, one third of the members retire every second year, and are replaced by newly elected members. Each member is elected for a term of six years.

What Is Lok Sabha?

Universal Adult Suffrage. According to the Constitution of India, Lok Sabha can have a maximum of 550 members in the House. However, presently the Lok Sabha consists of 545 seats out of which 543 seats are filled by elected representatives. The remaining two seats are filled by nomination of representatives of the Anglo-Indian Community if the President feels that this community has not been represented adequately.

Term Of The Lok Sabha

The term of the Lok Sabha, unless dissolved earlier, is five years from the date: appointed for its first meeting. But in case of any emergency, this period may be extended by Parliament in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India.

Who Can Contest The Lok Sabha Polls?

The contestant must be a citizen of India.
Must be 25 years of age.
Should be enrolled as a current voter in any parliamentary constituency of India.
Must possess other qualifications as prescribed by or under any law made by the Parliament of India.

Who Can Vote?

The Universal Adult Suffrage means that all Indian citizens above the age of 18 have the right to vote, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, gender or ethnicity.

How Is The Government Of India Formed?

For a political party to form the government in India, it should have at least half the number of the Lok Sabha members or more i.e. 272 (50% of 543). When a political party wins 272 seats or more in the Lok Sabha elections, it is called winning with an absolute majority.

If no single party wins with an absolute majority, the leading parties will try to form a coalition with smaller parties. These alliances and coalitions between political parties could be formed either before or after the Lok Sabha elections.

After the election results are declared, the President of India will ask the party with an absolute majority or the party with maximum number of seats or any coalition of parties (in case no single party has absolute majority) to form the government.

The party with absolute majority or the coalition of political parties will nominate one of its members to be the Prime Minister. In turn, the Prime Minister will select the council of Ministers to assume the responsibilities of the different departments in the cabinet.

Interesting Facts About The Lok Sabha Elections

The total elective membership of the Lok Sabha is distributed among the Indian states in such a way that the ratio between the number of seats allotted to each State and population of the State is, as far as practicable, the same for all states.

For the first time in the history of India, certain people can vote from home in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Senior citizens who are above 85 years and persons with disabilities can opt for postal ballots and cast their votes from homes.

The first general elections in India were held in 1951-1952.

NOTA, short for None of the Above, was introduced in 2013 to allow voters to declare that they reject all the candidates fielded by every contesting party.

The Election Commission of India enforces the Model Code of Conduct once the elections are announced. This code of conduct is implemented to ensure free and fair elections. It is a set of guidelines for the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections.

The Following States Have The Most Number Of Lok Sabha Seats:

Uttar Pradesh – 80
Maharashtra – 48
West Bengal – 42
Bihar – 40
Tamil Nadu – 39

Watch full video on, Interesting Facts About The Drafting of the Constitution of India | History of Indian Constitution

Reliance Foundation Rescues Thousands Of Animals : Vantara

March 18, 2024 Mitali k

Vantara programme, conceptualised by Anant Ambani. This initiative is first of its kind in India and aims to rescue, care for, treat and rehabilitate injured, abused, and threatened animals in India and abroad. The Vantara facility is spread over 3,000 acres and is located within Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery complex, Gujarat. Vantara aims to lead conservation efforts in a forest-like environment that has been created for rescued animals.

Also read, One In Five Migratory Species Are Threatened With Extinction

More than 200 elephants and other animals like reptiles and birds have been rescued and are a part of this facility. Animals like rhinos, leopards, and crocodiles have also been rehabilitated. The Vanatara facility also includes a conservation centre with modern medical facilities like state-of-the-art healthcare and hospitals. Recently, Vantara has also taken part in foreign rescue missions in countries like Mexico, Venezuela etc. Reliance Industries. Limited is a large private sector corporation in India.

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Historic Gold In Badminton Asia Team Championship

March 2, 2024 Mitali k

The Indian women’s team won a historic gold medal at the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024 after beating Thailand 3-2 in the final in Shah Alam, Malaysia on February 18.

Also Read, Origins Of International Women’s Day : March 8

This was India’s maiden title in the history of the continental competition. The men’s Indian badminton team had previously won two medals in 2016 and 2020, but both were bronze. The winning team comprised PV Sindhu, Gayatri Gopichand, Treesa Jolly, and teenager Anmol Kharb.

Watch full video on, Women Power On Display This Republic Day

Origins Of International Women’s Day : March 8

March 2, 2024 Mitali k

International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women in politics, science, sports, and economics etc.

The origins of International Women’s Day can be traced back to 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote. The first National Woman’s Day was observed in the US on February 28, 1909.

Also read, Let The Games Begin The History Of Olympic Day

Clara Zetkin, communist activist and advocate for women’s rights, was the first to suggest the idea that this day should be made inter- national. She suggested this in 1910 at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. There were 100 women there, from 17 countries, and they agreed to her suggestion unanimously. Pursuant to the decision taken at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women’s Day was first celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19.

The UN commemorated the first International Women’s Day on March 8, 1975. In 1977, the UN General Assembly declared March 8 as Inter- national Women’s Day in support of women’s rights and global peace.

Do you know why International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th? On February 23, 1917, women in St. Petersburg, Russia, staged a strike to protest against food shortages, poor living conditions, and World War I. This strike for “Bread and Peace” helped give rise to the Russian Revolution of 1917, which led to the abdication of Nicholas II. In 1921, the date of the International Women’s Day was officially changed to March 8. The date when the women’s strike commenced on the Julian calendar, which was then in use in Russia, was February 23. This day in the Gregorian calendar was March 8- and that’s when it’s celebrated today.

Did You Know?

International Men’s Day is celebrated on November 19. It has only been marked since the 1990s and isn’t recognised by the UN. People celebrate it in more than 80 countries worldwide, including the UK.

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The History Of Olympic Day

March 1, 2024 Mitali k

Olympic Day is celebrated all around the world on June 23, every year. Thousands of people get together to participate in cultural and sporting activities, such as runs, musical performances, and exhibitions.

Also read, The Iconic Journey Of The Olympic Torch

The Origin Of The Olympic Games

The first known Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C in the summer at Olympia, in southern Greece. The games were created to honour Ancient Greek god Zeus. Athletes prayed to Zeus for victory and left gifts to thank him for their victories.

When Rome conquered Greece, they banned the Olympics in 393 A.D. After over 1,500 years the modern version of the Olympic Games was revived in 1896 in Athens, Greece, by Baron Pierre de Coubertin and has been celebrated every four years since then. In 1924, Winter Olympics were added to incorporate winter sports such as cross-country skiing, ice hockey, snowboarding, figure skating. and ski jumping.

Who Is Baron Pierre De Coubertin?

Baron Pierre de Coubertin is considered the founder of the modern Olympic Games. Born in Paris, France, he was a keen sportsman himself, who enjoyed boxing, fencing, horse-riding, and rowing. He believed that sports were an important part of developing the mental energy of a person.

In 1894, Pierre founded the International Olympic Committee (“IOC”) to help build a better world by educating young people about the importance of sports. He is responsible for the creation of the five-ring Olympic symbol in 1913, the Olympic Charter, and the protocol of the games, including the opening and closing ceremonies. He believed, “The important thing in life is not the triumph but the fight; the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well”.

He was the IOC President between 1896 and 1925.

The First Olympic Day

During the 41st Session of the IOC in 1947, Dr. Gruss, a member from Czechoslovakia, presented a report on the concept of World Olympic Day. This day would be dedicated to promoting the Olympic values and ideals. The idea was officially adopted at the 42nd IOC Session in St Moritz, Switzerland in January 1948.

The first-ever Olympic Day was celebrated on June 23, 1948. Since then, Olympic Day has been celebrated annually to encourage participation in sports, promote the Olympic movement, and spread the spirit worldwide. It serves as an opportunity to engage individuals of all ages and backgrounds in sports activities, promoting the values of friendship, fair play, and peace.

Some Interesting Facts About The Olympics

The first Olympic Games had just 14 participating countries, and now over 200 countries participate in the Olympics.

The Olympic symbol was designed to include everyone. The five different coloured rings and the white background are the colours found on the flags of all participating countries.

Hot-air ballooning, tug of war, and motorboat sailing used to be Olympic sports but eventually got voted out and games like rugby and golf got voted in.

From 1921 to 1948, artists, writers, and musicians also took part in the Olympics. They competed for medals by creating their works of art based on the sporting successes of the games.

Fencing, football, judo, archery, sailing, handball, trampoline, and water polo are some of the sports included in the Olympic Games.

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