{"id":118127,"date":"2026-08-09T10:24:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T04:54:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=118127"},"modified":"2026-08-09T12:30:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T07:00:13","slug":"jantar-mantar-heritage-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/jantar-mantar-heritage-site\/","title":{"rendered":"Jantar Mantar &#8211; Astronomical Heritage and the Debate Over Its Role as Delhi&#8217;s Protest Site"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Jantar Mantar Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Delhi High Court has questioned the continued use of Jantar Mantar Road as Delhi&#8217;s designated protest venue, reviving the debate over balancing the right to protest with public order.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Jantar Mantar: An Architectural and Scientific Heritage<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Jantar Mantar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an 18<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> century astronomical observatory built by <\/span><b>Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, one of medieval India&#8217;s foremost astronomers and patrons of science.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It reflects India&#8217;s rich tradition of astronomy, mathematics, and scientific observation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Historical Background<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II constructed five astronomical observatories between <\/span><b>1724 and 1735<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at Delhi, Jaipur , Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura (now demolished).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The observatory at Delhi was the <\/span><b>first Jantar Mantar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be built and later served as the model for the larger observatory at Jaipur.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The term <\/span><b>&#8220;Jantar Mantar&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit words:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Yantra<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Instrument\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Mantra<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Formula or calculation\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Together, the name refers to instruments used for astronomical observations and calculations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Architectural Features<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike modern observatories that rely on optical instruments, Jantar Mantar consists of <\/span><b>large masonry structures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> designed for naked-eye astronomical observations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These instruments were constructed with remarkable geometric precision to measure celestial movements and improve the accuracy of astronomical calculations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some important instruments include:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Samrat Yantra<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A giant sundial used to measure time and the Sun&#8217;s declination\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Jai Prakash Yantra<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Used to determine the position of celestial bodies\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Ram Yantra<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Measures the altitude and azimuth of celestial objects\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Misra Yantra<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Used to determine the shortest and longest days of the year and compare local time with other locations\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Cultural and Scientific Significance<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jantar Mantar represents the fusion of:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indian astronomical traditions\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">European scientific developments available during the 18<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> century\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The observatories demonstrate India&#8217;s advanced understanding of astronomy before the widespread use of telescopes in the subcontinent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among the five observatories, the <\/span><b>Jantar Mantar at Jaipur<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has been designated a <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/unesco-world-heritage-sites-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\">UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/a> (2010)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> due to its outstanding scientific and architectural significance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Delhi Jantar Mantar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is protected by the <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/archaeological-survey-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\">Archaeological Survey of India<\/a> (ASI)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a monument of national importance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>News Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On 7<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> August, while hearing a petition seeking permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar, the Delhi High Court expressed concern over the continued use of the site for demonstrations.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Court observed that Delhi should not be &#8220;put to ransom unnecessarily&#8221; through repeated protests.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The hearing followed a recent Supreme Court direction asking the Centre to consider a plea seeking the removal of Jantar Mantar as Delhi&#8217;s designated protest site and to instead make Ramlila Maidan the principal venue for demonstrations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is important to note that protests are not held inside the historic Jantar Mantar monument.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The designated protest site is located on the road opposite the monument, at the intersection of Jantar Mantar Road and Sansad Marg, allowing demonstrators to remain close to Parliament while staying outside the high-security zone.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Evolution of Jantar Mantar as Delhi&#8217;s Protest Site<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the first few decades after Independence, <\/span><b>Boat Club lawns<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (now along <\/span><b>Kartavya Path<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) served as Delhi&#8217;s principal venue for political rallies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A turning point came in <\/span><b>1988<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, when a massive farmers&#8217; rally led by <\/span><b>Mahendra Singh Tikait<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> attracted lakhs of protesters. Along with heightened security concerns during the <\/span><b>Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid movement<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, this prompted the Delhi administration to discontinue large demonstrations at the Boat Club.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By <\/span><b>1993<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Delhi Police had begun directing protests towards <\/span><b>Jantar Mantar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, primarily to improve traffic management and crowd control.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initially, there was <\/span><b>no statutory notification<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> declaring Jantar Mantar the official protest site. Instead, it gradually acquired this status through administrative practice before being formally recognised through Delhi Police Standing Orders.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Regulatory Framework for Protests<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The protest site was formally regulated through Delhi Police Standing Order 309 (2003).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The order prescribed different venues based on the expected size of the gathering:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Up to 5,000 participants: Jantar Mantar\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5,000 to 50,000 participants: Ramlila Maidan\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Above 50,000 participants: Burari Grounds\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Larger gatherings: Narela\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order in 2017 and the Supreme Court judgment in 2018, Delhi Police issued Standing Order 10 (2018).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the revised framework:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jantar Mantar can accommodate protests of up to 1,000 people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Larger demonstrations are permitted only at Ramlila Maidan.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organisers must comply with conditions relating to crowd size, duration, loudspeakers, and security arrangements.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Why Has the Site Become Contentious?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jantar Mantar has become synonymous with several major public movements, including:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anna Hazare&#8217;s anti-corruption movement\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nirbhaya protests\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One Rank One Pension (OROP) protests\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Demonstrations by farmers, students, women, persons with disabilities, and civil society organisations\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, its central location has also generated concerns regarding Traffic congestion, Noise pollution, Security near key government institutions and Inconvenience to nearby residents.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>2017<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/national-green-tribunal\/\" target=\"_blank\">National Green Tribunal<\/a> (NGT)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> directed that protests be stopped at Jantar Mantar, citing three reasons:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No executive order formally declaring it a protest site.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The area is being designated as <\/span><b>residential<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under the Delhi Master Plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Noise pollution caused by prolonged demonstrations.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The order was criticised by activists, who argued that it curtailed the constitutional right to peaceful protest.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>2018<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the <\/span><b>Supreme Court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> held that protests could not be completely prohibited at either Jantar Mantar or Boat Club.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, it directed authorities to frame guidelines that balance the <\/span><b>right to peaceful protest<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with the rights of local residents and the need to maintain public order.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, <\/span><b>Jantar Mantar remains Delhi&#8217;s primary protest venue<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, while <\/span><b>Ramlila Maidan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> continues to serve as the preferred location for larger demonstrations.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike Jantar Mantar, however, Ramlila Maidan is a paid venue, with charges of approximately <\/span><b>Rs. 50,000 per day<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/cities\/Delhi\/how-jantar-mantar-became-delhis-designated-protest-site-explained\/article71304708.ece#google_vignette\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jantar Mantar is an 18th-century astronomical observatory and a UNESCO World Heritage-linked monument.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":118130,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[8736,60,22,59],"class_list":["post-118127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","tag-jantar-mantar","tag-mains-articles","tag-upsc-current-affairs","tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs-tag","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118127"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118127\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":118131,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118127\/revisions\/118131"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}