Today in History (February 06th,1911)
The former US President and popular figure in India, Ronald Reagan, was born on February 6, 1911. He was the only actor to become President.
Summary of Today’s News
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Officially Established
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is now an official international organization, fully recognized as a treaty-based, intergovernmental entity.
About IBCA:
• Headquarters: Located in India.
• Members: The IBCA is a coalition of 95 countries that are home to big cats, as well as countries that are interested in protecting them.
• Creation: The IBCA was launched in 2023 by India’s Prime Minister during the “Commemorating 50 Years of Project Tiger” event.
Purpose:
The main goal of the IBCA is to conserve seven big cats: the Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
Main Objective:
IBCA aims to bring together countries, organizations, and experts to work together and share knowledge to protect these big cats worldwide.
Administrative Details:
• Framework Agreement: Managed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India.
• Members: Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia, and Liberia have officially signed the Framework Agreement to become members.
IUCN Status of the 7 Big Cats:
• Lion: Vulnerable
• Tiger: Endangered
• Leopard: Vulnerable
• Snow Leopard: Vulnerable
• Cheetah: Vulnerable
• Jaguar: Near Threatened
• Puma: Least Concern
Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) celebrated World Wetlands Day 2025 at the Parvati Arga Ramsar Site.
About World Wetlands Day (WWD):
WWD is observed every year to mark the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in 1971.
Theme for 2025:
The theme is “Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future.” India has been a part of this Convention since 1982.
Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary:
• Location: Tarabganj Tehsil, Uttar Pradesh.
• Habitat: It features two oxbow lakes, which are permanent freshwater wetlands. An oxbow lake is a crescent-shaped lake that forms when a meander of a river is cut off from the main flow, creating a separate body of water.
Rules for Registering Live-in Relationships Under the UCC
Context:
• The newly introduced Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand has created specific rules for registering live-in relationships. The goal is to regulate these relationships and ensure they are legally recognized.
• However, these rules have sparked debates and concerns about privacy and state surveillance.
Live-in Relationships in India:
• Over the past two decades, live-in relationships, where couples live together without formal marriage, have gained more legal and social acceptance in India.
• Historically: Traditional Indian society only recognized marriage as a committed relationship, and live-in relationships were often looked down upon.
• However, with globalization and exposure to Western culture, the acceptance of live-in relationships has grown.
Legal Recognition of Live-in Relationships in India:
• Indian courts have recognized live-in relationships through various judgments, especially under the Right to Life and Personal Liberty (Article 21) of the Constitution.
Key Judgments:
• S. Khushboo v. Kanniammal (2010): Recognized live-in relationships as part of personal liberty.
• Indra Sarma v. V.K.V. Sarma (2013): Defined different types of live-in relationships, including those similar to marriage, under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA).
• The Chief Justice of India has stated that choosing a partner and forming intimate relationships is part of the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(c) of the Constitution.
• Protection Against Domestic Violence Act: Live-in relationships are included under “relationships in the nature of marriage,” offering protection for women facing domestic violence.
• D. Velusamy v. D. Patchaiammal (2010): Clarified that only relationships resembling marriage are eligible for protection under domestic violence laws.
• Inheritance and Maintenance Rights: The Supreme Court ruled that children born in live-in relationships have the same inheritance rights as children born to married couples.
Rules for Registering Live-in Relationships Under the UCC:
• The UCC in Uttarakhand requires live-in relationships to be registered, applicable to both residents of Uttarakhand and people from other parts of India.
• Registration Process: Couples must register their live-in relationship when it begins and when it ends. Documents needed for registration include Aadhaar-linked OTPs, a registration fee, and a certificate from a religious leader confirming the couple’s eligibility for marriage if they choose to formalize their relationship.
• Prohibited Relationships: The UCC lists 74 prohibited relationships (37 for men and 37 for women). Couples in such relationships need approval from religious or community leaders, and the registrar can reject the registration if it goes against public morality or customs.
Key Concerns and Impacts:
• Privacy: Some argue that these rules violate the right to privacy guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. There are concerns about increased state surveillance over personal lives.
• Interfaith and Inter-caste Relationships: The new rules may create challenges for people in interfaith or inter-caste relationships.
• Women and Children’s Rights: Women in live-in relationships can claim maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the PWDVA, 2005, but these rights are not guaranteed.
• Protection Against Abuse: People may enter live-in relationships without long-term commitment and later seek legal rights, causing potential legal disputes.
• Social and Cultural Challenges: The rules challenge traditional views on family and marriage and raise moral and ethical concerns, especially in conservative communities.
Conclusion and Way Forward:
• The UCC in Uttarakhand aims to give legal recognition and protection to live-in relationships, but it also brings up concerns about privacy and state intervention.
• Finding a balance between regulating relationships and respecting individual freedom will be key to ensuring the rules are applied in a way that promotes social harmony and protects individual rights.
• If the UCC replaces personal laws, it is important to focus on:
• Ensuring equal rights for women in live-in relationships.
• Providing inheritance and maintenance rights similar to those in marriage.
• Clarifying the legal status of children born from live-in relationships, especially regarding their legitimacy and inheritance rights.
