Public Section Preview
Glossary Terms
| Term (EN) | Definition | Exam Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Dowry | Property/cash given by bride's family to groom's family at marriage | Dowry topic |
| Stridhan | Property belonging exclusively to a woman (original concept) | Historical context |
| Dowry Death | Unnatural death of wife within 7 years of marriage linked to dowry harassment (IPC 304B) | IPC 304B question |
| Triple Talaq | Instant divorce by Muslim husband — criminalised 2019 | Divorce question |
| Khula | Divorce initiated by a Muslim wife | Muslim divorce types |
| Corruption | Abuse of entrusted power for private gain | Corruption definition |
| Bribery | Payment to secure an illegal benefit from an official | Corruption forms |
| Nepotism | Favouring relatives in appointments/decisions | Corruption forms |
| Lokpal | National-level anti-corruption ombudsman (established 2013) | Institutional framework |
| Lokayukta | State-level ombudsman; Rajasthan — first in India (1973) | Rajasthan link |
| CPI (Corruption Perceptions Index) | Annual ranking by Transparency International (0–100; higher = less corrupt) | Corruption data |
| Absolute Poverty | Unable to meet basic survival needs; fixed monetary threshold | Poverty types |
| Multidimensional Poverty | Poverty measured across health, education, living standards (MPI) | NITI Aayog report |
| Tendulkar Line | Consumption-based poverty line (2009); current official methodology | Poverty measurement |
| Culture of Poverty | Oscar Lewis' theory — poor develop fatalism/low aspirations perpetuating poverty | PYQ 2023 |
| Unemployment Rate (UR) | Percentage of labour force that is unemployed and actively seeking work | PLFS data |
| Disguised Unemployment | More workers than needed; marginal productivity ≈ zero; common in agriculture | Unemployment types |
| PLFS | Periodic Labour Force Survey — India's official employment measurement | Unemployment data |
| MGNREGS | Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme; 100 days guaranteed work | Employment scheme |
| NDPS Act | Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — primary drug control law | Drug law |
| Drug Addiction | Compulsive drug-seeking despite harm; chronic brain disease (WHO/ICD-11) | Drug topic |
| ITPA | Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 — governs prostitution (brothels banned) | Prostitution law |
| Human Trafficking | Recruitment/transportation of persons by force or deception for exploitation | Trafficking context |
| Hypergamy | Practice of women marrying into higher social/economic status — drives dowry | Dowry sociology |
| Femicide | Killing of women based on gender — includes dowry deaths, honour killings | Gender violence |
Sources: NCRB Annual Reports 2022; NITI Aayog National MPI Report 2023; PLFS Annual Report 2022-23; NDDTC National Drug Use Survey 2019; Transparency International CPI 2023; RPSC Mains PYQ 2021, 2023; Ministry of Labour & Employment PLFS data; NCERT Sociology (Class 12); Oscar Lewis, Five Families (1959).