Anti-Defection Law

The Anti-Defection Law (ADL) in India is a legal framework that seeks to curb the practice of political defection by members of the legislature, with the goal of promoting political stability and maintaining party discipline. Its primary aim is to deter the Members of Parliament and Members of State Legislatures from switching parties or voting against their party’s directives by imposing the threat of disqualification.

• The Anti-Defection Law (ADL) in India was introduced through the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985.
• It added the Tenth Schedule to the Indian Constitution, which contains the provisions related to the Anti-Defection Law.
• Later, the 91st Amendment Act of 2003made some changes to certain provisions of the Anti-Defection Law 

Grounds for Defection:

• Voluntary Give Up:If an elected member voluntarily gives up his membership of a political party.
• Violation of Instructions:If he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by his political party or anyone authorized to do so, without obtaining prior permission.
• Elected Member:If any independently elected member joins any political party.
• Nominated Member: If any nominated member joins any political party after the expiry of six months.

Judicial observations regarding defection in India

• Viswanathan vs. Hon''ble Speaker, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (1995): In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that the Speaker of a legislative assembly has the power to decide on cases of defection and that the decision of the Speaker is final and cannot be challenged in a court of law.
• Kihoto Hollohan vs. Zachillhu and Others (1992): In this case, the Supreme Court of India upheld the constitutionality of the law and ruled that the provisions were necessary to prevent the destabilization of governments and to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
• Ravi S. Naik vs. Union of India (1994):In this case, the Speaker or Chairman of the relevant legislative body can disqualify an elected representative for defection.

Advantages of Anti-Defection Law

• It prevents political defections motivated by the lure of some benefits.
• It provides for greater stability in the body politic by checking the propensity of legislators to change parties.
• It facilitates the democratic realignment of parties in the legislature by way of the merger of parties.
• It reduces corruption at the political level as well as non-developmental expenditure incurred on irregular elections.
• It gives a clear-cut constitutional recognition of the existence of political parties.

Criticism of Anti-Defection Law

• It bans individual defection but allows group defection through a merger. This distinction seems irrational.
• It does not provide for the expulsion of a legislator from his/her party for his/her activities outside the legislature.
• Its discrimination between an independent member and a nominated member is illogical. If the former joins a party, he/she is disqualified while the latter is allowed to do the same.

Onam Festival

Onam is a major harvest festival in Kerala and is celebrated to honour the home-coming of Asura king Mahabali who brought about peace and prosperity in Kerala. It is one of the three major festivals of Kerala, celebrated during the month of Chingam, the first month in the Malayalam calendar, Kollavarsham.

• Onam involves crafting Pookkalam, intricate flower rangolis. Alongside, a variety of rituals enrich the festivities, including Vallam Kali (boat races), Pulikali (tiger dances), Kummattikali (mask dances), and Onathallu (martial arts), among other captivating traditions.

God vs Demon Story:

• Battles between demons and gods are familiar to people everywhere. Gods emerging victorious over evil is an inseparable part of these battles.
• In India, too, these victories are celebrated in different parts of the country over the years. E.g. Rama is good, Ravana is evil. Durga is good, Mahishasur is evil.
• However, an exception to this has been the battle between Mahabali (Asura or demon) and Vamana (avatar of Vishnu),where Mahabali is revered as the unchallenged King of Malayalis.
• There are a few isolated places in India where demons are worshiped. E.g. There are some areas in Bihar and Bengal whereMahishasur is king of Asur tribes.
• Historians see these fights between god and demon in the context of fights between brahmins and non-brahmins and tribals in the past.

Aranmula Uthrattathi Boat Race

• It is staged as a mix of revelry and ritualistic tradition. This eventmarks the anniversary of the idol installation at the Sree Parthasarathy temple.
• It is the oldest river boat race in Kerala held during Onam (August–September).
• It takes place at Aranmula Parthasarathytemple (dedicated to Lord Krishna and Arjuna) in the river Pampa.
• Palliyodams: These are Aranmula’s unique snake boats (‘’Chundan Vallam’’).
• Vanchipattu (song):The oarsmen sing traditional boat songs known as Vanchipattu while rowing the boat.
• The oarsmen on board each palliyodam are selected from the village which owns the respective vessel. 
• During the race, they are also dressed identically in white dhoti and melmundu.

Aranmula Parthasarathy temple

• Sri Parthasarathy Temple is dedicated to Lord Sri Krishna. It is one of the 108 Divyadesams dedicated to Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, who is worshipped as Parthasarathi.
• Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple houses the Thiruvabharanam (the sacred jewels) of Lord Ayyappa, which are taken in procession to the Sabarimala temple every year.
• The Aranmula Parthasarathi temple is a simple structure in Kerala style of architectureand the idol of Parthasarathi is six feet high. The walls of the temple are beautifully adorned with fine murals of the 18th century. The temple has four gopurams (towers) on four sides of its outer wall.  

Humayun’s Tomb 

Humayun’s tomb under Mughal Architecture was built in 1570. After Humayun''s death in 1556, his wife Bega Begum began construction on Humayun''s Tomb. It is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. 

• The tomb features a charbagh garden, a high-terraced platform,and a marble-clad dome. The mausoleum, known as the ''dormitory of the Mughals,'' houses over 150 Mughal family members. 
• The tomb is centred around the Shrine of the 14th century Sufi Saint, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.Due to the belief that it is fortunate to be buried near a saint''s grave. 
• It was designated as a World Heritage Siteby the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1993.
• The ASI and Aga Khan Trust for Culture manage the site, ensuring its preservation and protection under various legislations.

Neutrino

• A neutrino is a subatomic particle that resembles an electron in many ways but differs in that it lacks an electrical charge and has a very small mass that might potentially be zero.
• One of the most prevalent particles in the universe is the neutrino.
• They barely interact with matter; they are exceedingly hard to find.
• Both electrons and neutrinos are treated similarly by nuclear forces; neither participates in the strong nuclear force, but both do so equally in the weak nuclear force. Leptons are particles with this characteristic.
• The muon, which has a mass 200 times more than that of the electron, and the tau, which has a mass 3,500 times greater than that of the electron, are two further charged leptons in addition to the electron (and its antiparticle, the positron).

India-based neutrinos observatory

• It is planned to establish the India-based Neutrino Observatory in Tamil Nadu’s Theni area.
• A particle physics research project is being built in a cave beneath a mountain that is 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) deep with the main goal of studying atmospheric neutrinos.
• The Iron-Calorimeter Detector is the primary experiment that INO has put forth.