Coalition Government in India
Why in News: Recently, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a historic third consecutive term at the Center, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fell short of the majority threshold of 272, suggesting that a coalition government will be necessary.
About Coalition Government:
A coalition government involves multiple political parties collaborating to share power, often reducing the dominance of the party with the most seats.
- History: India experienced coalition politics for 32 of its 71 years, with a 10-year hiatus. Now, coalition politics has returned, along with the concept of ‘coalition dharma,’ coined by BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
- Coalition Dharma: This term signifies the importance of respecting coalition partners.
- Characteristics: A coalition government involves at least two partners. The nature of coalition politics is dynamic, with coalitions forming and dissolving as political players shift.
- Purpose: Coalitions are often formed to gain some form of benefit, whether material or symbolic.
- Feature: Pragmatism, rather than ideology, guides coalition politics.
Nata Pratha
Why in News: Recently, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sent notices to the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development and the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat regarding the practice known as ‘Nata Pratha’.
About Nata Pratha
- About Nata Pratha: It involves the practice of “sale on a stamp paper” or marriage of underage girls within certain communities. These transactions are often arranged by their own families.
- About the Bhils: The Bhil tribe, one of the largest in South Asia, lives in several Indian states, including Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The name “Bhil” is derived from “billu,” meaning bow, and they are renowned archers.
- Traditional Practice: Traditionally, Nata Pratha involves a man and a woman who are either married or widowed entering into a relationship. However, the practice has expanded to include single individuals as well.
- Prevalence: Nata Pratha is mainly practiced in certain parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, particularly by the Bhil tribe.
- Provision: The custom allows a man to live with a married woman as her partner. This practice does not require a formal marriage ceremony, and the couple can fulfill all the obligations of marriage without an official ceremony.
- Payment: As part of the tradition, the man must pay a set amount of money to the married woman. This payment, often referred to as a “bride price,” is determined by the community or middlemen, who may take a commission. The payment can range from a few thousand rupees to several lakhs, depending on the paying capacity of the individual involved.
Mount Kanlaon
Why in News: Recently, Mount Kanlaon volcano erupted in the central Philippines, leading hundreds of people to take shelter in evacuation centers.
- About: Mount Kanlaon is a stratovolcano located in the north-central part of Negros Island, Philippines. It is the tallest mountain on the island and ranks as the 42nd highest peak globally.
- Geological Characteristics: The summit features a broad, elongated caldera with a crater lake and a smaller, more active crater to the south. The volcano consists of tropical volcanic materials like lava flows, lahar deposits, tephra, and pyroclastic deposits. Its slopes serve as headwater catchments for major river systems on Negros Island.
- Fauna and Flora: Various wildlife, such as the Blue Whale, Palm Civet, and Spotted Deer, inhabit the area. Additionally, tree species like Tangili, Dao, Red Lauan, and Pometia Pinnata can be found.
- Eruptions: Kanlaon is known for small to moderate-sized phreatic eruptions, leading to minor ash falls near the volcano.
- Phreatic Eruption: This type of eruption occurs when volcanic activity heats water underground or on the surface, causing steam-driven explosions. The water begins to boil or instantly turn into steam, resulting in an explosion. Phreatic eruptions may occur before, during, or after a conventional volcanic eruption. The proximity of groundwater to volcanic vents allows magma to heat the water, causing these eruptions.
Atlas V Rocket
Why in News: The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is ready to launch Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on its first crewed mission for NASA.
About the Atlas V Rocket:
- Description: The Atlas V is a single-use rocket from the Atlas family, specifically the fifth main version.
- Operation: Managed by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a partnership between Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Previously handled by Lockheed Martin alone.
- Purpose: It serves various purposes, including launching payloads for the Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, and commercial clients. It holds the record for being the longest-serving operational rocket in America.
About the Boeing Starliner:
- Description: The Boeing Starliner is a crewed spacecraft with a crew capsule and a service module.
Objectives:
- Transporting Astronauts to the ISS: The main goal is to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS).
- Commercial Crew Transportation: Alongside SpaceX’s Dragon crew capsule, the Starliner offers NASA alternatives for transporting crew to and from the ISS, reducing dependence on Russia’s Soyuz rocket and capsule.
Supporting ISS Operations: After the retirement of NASA’s Space Shuttle program in 2011 and until commercial crew spacecraft were available, reliance on Russia’s Soyuz was the only means for astronauts to reach the ISS. The introduction of Starliner aims to continue operations at the ISS and provide transportation alternatives.
