India Tops The Index On Social Hostilities Relating To Religion (UPSC Current Affairs)

Relevance: GS 2 - The role of NGOs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.

(Source: The Hindu,12/05/22)

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Why in the news?

• India has been ranked first in the Social Hostilities Index (SHI), which measures acts of religious hostility by private individuals, organizations, or groups in society, according to a report titled "How COVID-19 restrictions affected religious groups around the world in 2020" compiled by the Pew Research Center.
• India was one of only four nations in the world to experience pandemic-related societal hostilities involving physical violence or vandalism against religious groups by private persons or organisations. The other three were the US, Argentina, and Italy.

Highlights

• It is the 13th edition of the Pew survey, which started in 2007.
• The SHI uses 13 indicators to calculate social hostility. The higher the rank, the higher the hostility.
• This index covers many forms of religious intimidation or abuse, such as war or terrorism motivated by religion, mob or sectarian violence, harassment for wearing specific clothing, etc.
• The Government Restrictions Index (GRI), which evaluates laws, policies, and government acts that impose restrictions on religious beliefs and practises, gave India a relatively low ranking (33 out of 198 nations).
• The restrictions increase in degree with rank.
• The GRI consists of 20 limitations, including attempts by the government to outlaw some religions, forbid conversions, restrict preaching, or favor one or more religious groups. Top in this category was China.
• While the SHI in nations like Afghanistan and Bangladesh decreased between 2007 and 2019, it rose during the epidemic year. Between 2007 and 2019, it rose in the Philippines, and it dropped during the pandemic year. In Pakistan, it constantly fell during the time periods under consideration.

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Some Important FAQs

MCQs

Question: Social Hostilities Index was in news recently,it is published by

(a) U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom

(b) Pew Research

(c) Human Rights Watch

(d) Amnesty International