Human rights are fundamental to the stability and development of countries all around the world. In mapping out the field of human rights for those studying and researching within both humanities and social science disciplines, the handbook of Understanding Human Rights' not only provides a solid foundation for the reader who wants to learn the basic parameters of the field, but also fosters new thinking and frameworks for the study of human rights in the 21st century. In this book an effort has been made to understand the meaning and nature of human rights with special reference to the prevailing human rights situation in India.The overview is designed to provide an insight into the various controversies and political debate occupying the discourse of human rights today. The book comprises 34 chapters and covered various dimensions concerning the issues related to the theory and practice of human rights. It is expected that this comprehensive volume will be of immense importance to researchers, planners and policy makers.