Week 3 – Quiz “All about Article 370”
Type of Activity – In classroom, Quiz Competition
Contents
Week 3 – Quiz “All about Article 370” ................................................................................................... 1
Type of Activity – In classroom, Quiz Competition ........................................................................... 1
Introduction – ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Process of making law in parliament ................................................................................................. 1
Steps for the activity – ....................................................................................................................... 1
Reading material .................................................................................................................................... 2
Change of status of Jammu and Kashmir .......................................................................................... 2
Article 370 removed ........................................................................................................................... 2
Bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir ................................................................................................... 2
J&K becomes UT ................................................................................................................................. 2
Ladakh becomes UT ........................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction –
We know that India is the world’s largest democracy. But what does this mean? It means that citizens
of the country choose their own representatives, who form the government. These representatives
form a legislative body known as the parliament.
The Parliament of India is the absolute legislative authority. And it consists of the two main houses—
the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha represents the house of the people and the Rajya
Sabha represents the council of the states. Both these houses are presided over by the President of
India.
Process of making law in parliament
The parliament’s main function, as the absolute legislative authority, is to build fair and strong laws
relating to all main union matters or matters enumerated in the union list. The members of either
house bring proposals for new bills and laws before the parliament. The members of the parliament
then deliberate and debate on the proposal. The parliament of India passes the bill or law when both
houses agree, and the president gives his/her consent.
Recently Government has passed a historic bill on Article 370, we all watch in news, read in
newspapers about all the process, debates, discussion in the parliamentary sessions. Let us analyse
and understand the bill in more detail.
Steps for the activity –
1. Distribute the handouts to groups and give 1 weeks’ time to read and discuss the recent bill
passed by parliament on Article 370, with parents and elders at home.
2. Divide the students into groups and select 2-3 members as participants, other students will
act as audience.
3. Arrange tables and chairs for the quiz and make teams, only 3 representatives from each
team can participate. Others can sit in the audience and can take part in’ Audience Round.
Reading material
Government of India revoked Article 370 and the special status of Kashmir. Union Home Minister Amit
Shah announced government’s decision in the Rajya Sabha. Now Jammu & Kashmir will be a Union
Territory with a legislature while Ladakh will be a Union Territory without legislature. To understand
the entire scenario let’s see 5 key decisions taken by the government today.
Change of status of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019
On 5 August 2019, the Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation
Bill, 2019 in the Rajya Sabha to convert Jammu and Kashmir's status of a state to two separate union
territories, namely Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh.
The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is proposed to have a legislature under the bill whereas the
union territory of Ladakh is proposed to not have one. By the end of the day, the bill was passed by
Rajya Sabha with 125 votes in its favour and 61 against (67%). The next day, the bill was passed by the
Lok Sabha with 370 votes in its favour and 70 against it (84%). The bill became an Act after it was
signed by the president.
The two union territories will come into existence on 31 October 2019, which is the birthday of Sardar
Patel, who unified all the princely states except Jammu and Kashmir (then a princely state) in
independent India.
Article 370 removed
The government has decided to repeal Article 370 of the Constitution which grants special status to
Jammu and Kashmir. Now, Jammu and Kashmir will not be a state; it will be a Union Territory now.
Special features like a separate constitution, separate flag and separate status will exist no more after
repealing Article 370.
Bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir will be "reorganized" and will no longer be a state. Ladakh will be a Union
Territory without an assembly and Jammu and Kashmir will be a Union Territory with an assembly,
under recommendation. There will be two Lieutenant Governors when this provision will come into
the force.
J&K becomes UT
Jammu & Kashmir has become a Union Territory now and union laws would apply in this area.
According to the notification released by government of India, “Keeping in view the prevailing internal
security situation, fuelled by cross-border terrorism in the existing state of Jammu & Kashmir, a
separate Union Territory is being created.”
Ladakh becomes UT
The Ladakh region has been given the status of a Union Territory (UT), without legislature. "The Ladakh
division has a large area, but is sparsely populated with a very difficult terrain. There has been a long-
pending demand of people of Ladakh to give it a Union Territory status to enable them to realise their
aspiration", said a notification released by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Key Changes
Then
Now
Jammu & Kashmir was a state with special
status.
Now Jammu & Kashmir will be a Union
Territory.
Only citizens of Jammu and Kashmir could buy
land in the state.
People from anywhere in India will be
able to buy property.
No ‘outsider’ could settle in the state.
Now any citizen of the country can
settle in J&K.
RTI could not be filed
No restriction on filing RTI
Period of Legislative assembly was 6 years.
Now, it will not be for six years.
Jammu & Kashmir had a separate flag.
Only the Indian National Flag will be the
flag there.
J&K had a separate constitution.
No separate constitution, law & order
will be under central government.
Ladakh was a part of Jammu & Kashmir
Ladakh will be a separate Union
Territory without a legislature.
The constitutional head was a Governor
Now, state head will be the Lieutenant
Governor.
***Read and discuss with your friends and parents in advance to be prepare for the quiz.
