UPSC CSE GS (MAINS) 2019 · 2020. 5. 15. · • Wahabi Movement (1830-61) The Wahabi Movement was an Islamic revivalist movement founded by Syed Ahmed of Rai Bareilly who condemned

GS PAPER-I LUKMAAN IAS

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UPSC CSE GS (MAINS) 2019 PAPER-I

Q.1. Highlight the Central Asian and Greco -Bactrian elements in Gandhara art.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about the Gandhara art

THE BODY

• Briefly discuss how its geographical location facilitated interaction of various artistic components.

• Discuss about the influence of Greece- Bactrian, Roman and Iranian on the Gandhara art

CONCLUSION: Conclude with how Gandhara School of Art can be said as an influence and culmination of both the Indian as well as foreign traditions

The best of the Gandhara sculpture was produced during the first and second centuries A.D. It originated during the reign of Indo-Greek rulers but the real patrons of this school of art were the Sakas and the Kushans, particularly Kanishka. Gandhara art was a blend of Indian and Graeco-Roman elements.

Central Asian

• The Kushan period is considered the Golden Period of Gandhara. Peshawar Valley and Taxila are littered with ruins of stupas and monasteries of this period.

• Like the Bactrians and the Gandharans, the Central Asians excelled at modelling figures showing various human emotions.

• Under the Kushans new Buddhists stupas were built and old ones were enlarged. Huge statues of the Buddha were erected in monasteries and carved into the hillsides.

• The earliest Buddha image was depicted on the coins of Kanishka. These coins portray Kanishka on the obverse and a Buddha figure with the legend ‘Boddo’ in Greek letters on the reverse. Of these, one type shows a standing Buddha, while the other a seated Buddha.

• The folds of the Sanghati and the way of showing Buddha’s usnisa snail shell curls, achieved by alternate nail-shaped incisions are Hellenistic in nature.

Greek Influence on Gandhara Art

• Gandharan sculptures show strong Greek influences in the depiction of a ‘man-god’ and of wavy hair, sandals and extensive drapery. The depiction of Buddha as a ‘man-god’ in Gandharan sculpture is believed to be inspired from Greek mythology. Some examples of Gandharan art depict both Buddha and the Greek god, Hercules.

• Stucco plaster, which was commonly observed in Greek art, was widely used in Gandharan artwork for the decoration of monastic and cult buildings.

• Greek god as protector: In many images of Buddha in Gandhara, he is seen under the protection of Greek god Hercules.


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• Vajrapani: Vajrapani found in the right hand of future Buddha is told as transformed symbol of Hercules who is seen as protector of Buddha.

• Greek architectural influence: Some images of Buddha in Gandhara are presented in Greek architectural environment bearing the affinity of Corinthian.

• Artistic beauty: The Apollo like face of Buddha; natural realism; wavy hair as seen in images of Buddha in Gandhara resembles to Hellenistic tradition.

• Intellectual affinity: The hello and bun of Gandhara Buddha signifies intellectual imbibitions of Buddha from Greek However, Gandharan sculpture owes as much to Roman art as it does to Grecian art.

• Even though the iconography of Gandharan sculpture was Indian in nature, it also incorporated motifs and techniques from Classical Roman art.

CONCLUSION: Thus, Gandhara School of Art can be said as an influence and culmination of both the Indian as well as foreign traditions due to its strategic location.

Q.2. The 1857 Uprising was the culmination of the recurrent big and small local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British rule. Elucidate.

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about 1857 revolt and rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British rule.

THE BODY

• Discuss separately about each type of revolts occurred in the last 100 years from 1857.

CONCLUSION: Conclude by writing about the limitations and importance of these rebellions and how they were instrumental in the revolt of 1857.

The revolt of 1857 was a product of the character and policies of colonial rule after 1757. The period between 1757 and 1857 saw a series of periodic outbursts in the form of religio-political violence, tribal movements, peasant uprisings and agrarian riots, and civil rebellions.

Civil rebellions Tribal movements Sepoy movements

Causes • Colonial land revenue settlements

• Exploitation in rural society

• Devastation of Indian handloom and handicraft industries.

• A common cause was the resentment against the imposition of laws by the ‘foreign government’ that was seen as an effort at destroying the tribals’ traditional socioeconomic framework.

• Over the years, the upper caste sepoys had found their religious beliefs in conflict with their service conditions.

Examples • Sanyasi Revolt (1763-1800): The disastrous famine of 1770 and the harsh economic order

• Pahariyas’ Rebellion by the martial Pahariyas (1778- Raj Mahal Hills):

The most important mutinies which broke out during the pre-


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of the British compelled a group of sanyasis in Eastern India to fight the British.

• Revolt in Midnapore and Dhalbhum (1766-74): Due to downfall of the Zamindari system following the new land revenue system brought by the English in 1772.

• Poligars’ Revolt (1795-1805): Due to resentment among the poligars due to transfer of administrative powers by the Nawab of Arcot to the East India Company.

• Kutch or Cutch Rebellion (1816-1832): Due to the power struggle between the maharaja and a group of chieftains followed by the treaty between the British and Maharaja Bharamal II of Kutch in 1816, by which power was vested in the throne.

• Paika Rebellion (1817): The English Company’s conquest of Odisha in 1803 downgraded the freedom of land use. Common masses were affected by the rise in prices of salt due to taxes imposed on it, abolition of cowrie currency and the requirement of payment of taxes in silver, etc.

• Wahabi Movement (1830-61) The Wahabi Movement was an Islamic revivalist movement founded by Syed Ahmed of Rai Bareilly who condemned the western influence on Islam and advocated a return to pure Islam and society as it was in the Arabia of the Prophet’s time.

against the British expansion on their lands.

• Chuar Uprisings by the Chuar aboriginal tribesmen (1776): against rise in demands and economic privation by the British.

• Kol Uprisings by the Kols of Chottanagpur led by Buddho Bhagat (1831): against expansion of British rule on their lands and transfer of their lands to outsiders; the revolt was suppressed.

• Ho and Munda Uprisings: against occupation of Singhbhum by British, the newly introduced farming revenue policy, against introduction of feudal, zamindari tenures and exploitation by moneylenders and forest contractors.

• Santhal Rebellion by the Santhals led by Sido and Kanhu (1855-56; Bihar): against the practices of zamindars and moneylenders.

• Ahoms’ Revolt (1828-33- Assam): against the non-fulfilment of the pledges of the Company after the Burmese War

• Khasis’ Revolt (1830s-hilly region between Jaintia and Garo Hills): led by the Nunklow ruler, Tirath Singh; against the occupation of the hilly region.

1857 period are the following:

• The mutiny of the sepoys in Bengal in 1764.

• The Vellore mutiny of 1806 when the sepoys protested against interference in their social and religious practices and raised a banner of revolt unfurling the flag of the ruler of Mysore.

• The mutiny of the sepoys of the 47th Native Infantry Unit in 1824.

• The revolt of the Grenadier Company in Assam in 1825.

• The mutiny of an Indian regiment at Sholapur in 1838.

CONCLUSION: Thus, it can be said that almost from the very early days of the East India Company’s rule, rebellions and uprisings occurred for various causes in different regions. The causes of the revolt of 1857, like those of earlier uprisings, emerged from all aspects like socio-cultural, economic and political.


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Although, the immediate cause of the revolt of 1857 was the discontent amongst the sepoys at Meerut, the fact that the background for revolt was already evident in the past can’t be neglected altogether. Thus, it can be said that the 1857 Uprising was the culmination of the recurrent big and small local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British rule.

Q.3. Examine the linkages between 19th centuries ‘Indian Renaissance’ and the emergence of national identity.

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about the 'Indian renaissance' (mainly socio- religious reform movements) of the 19th century.

THE BODY

• Discuss about the impact of socio religious reforms on each strata of society to establish linkages with the emergence of national identity in India.

CONCLUSION: Conclude by writing that Indian Renaissance played a vital role in igniting the nationalist identity within the Indian Society.

Most of the earlier invaders, who had come to India were either absorbed by its superior culture or interacted positively with it and had become part of the land and its people. However, the impact of British rule on Indian society and culture was widely different from what India had known before. In the wake of this, the rise of the Indian Renaissance intensified the nationalist ideology to a great extent amongst Indians.

Ground for Renaissance:

• Religious and Social Ills: Indian society in the nineteenth century was caught in a vicious web created by religious superstitions and social obscurantism.

• Depressing Position of Women: The most distressing was the position of women. Attempts to kill female infants at birth were not unusual. Child marriage was another bane of society. Raja Rammohun Roy described sati as “murder according to every shastra”.

• The Caste Problem: Another debilitating factor was caste. This entailed a system of segregation, hierarchically ordained on the basis of ritual status. At the bottom of the ladder came the untouchables or scheduled castes.

• Opposition to Western Culture: The establishment of colonial rule in India was followed by a systematic attempt to disseminate colonial culture and ideology as the dominant cultural current.

Faced with the challenge of the intrusion of colonial culture and ideology, an attempt to reinvigorate traditional institutions and to realise the potential of traditional culture developed during the nineteenth century.


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Emergence of national identity:

• The social reform movements also strove to undermine caste-based exploitation. From the mid-19th

century onwards, numerous organizations and groups such as the Brahmo Samaj, Prarthana Samaj,

Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, the Theosophists and individuals worked to spread education

among the untouchables and remove restrictions imposed on them from entering temples or using

ponds, tanks, etc.

• Raja Rammohun Roy (Brahmo Samaj, Atmiya Sabha): He is often called the father of Indian

Renaissance and the maker of Modern India His ideas and activities were aimed at political uplift of

the masses through social reform and to instill a nationalist feeling. He demanded the Indianization

of superior services and separation of the executive from the judiciary. He demanded judicial equality

between Indians and Europeans and that trial be held by jury.

• The national movement took inspiration from the principles of liberty and equality against the forces

which tended to divide the society. The national leaders and organizations opposed caste privileges,

fought for equal civic rights and free development of the individual. For example: The Congress

governments in various provinces after 1937 did some useful work for the upliftment of the

depressed classes; for instance, free education for Harijans (‘untouchables’) was introduced in some

provinces.

• With increasing opportunities of education and general awakening, there were stirrings among the

lower castes themselves. This awakening gradually developed into a powerful movement in defence

of their rights and against upper caste oppression. In Maharashtra, Jyotiba Phule, born in a low caste

Mali family, led a movement against the brahminical domination of Hindu society.

• The historical researches by Indian scholars such as R.G. Bhandarkar, R.L. Mitra and later Swami

Vivekananda, created an entirely new picture of India’s past. The self-respect and confidence so

gained helped the nationalists to demolish colonial myths that India had a long history of servility to

foreign rulers.

CONCLUSION:

Thus, it can be said that the Indian Renaissance played a vital role in igniting the nationalist identity

within the Indian Society.

Degraded situation of

Indian society(Caste

discrimination, Sati, etc.)

The Indian Renaissance

(Social and Political Reforms, Thinkers, Flow of Education

and Rational Thinking)

New Stream of National Identity

(The idea of nationalism

emerged even after British stronghold)


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Q.4. Assess the impact of global warming on coral life system with examples.

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction on the destruction of the coral reef system.

THE BODY

• Discuss the impact of global warming on the coral life system

CONCLUSION: Write about the importance of saving the coral reef system

Coral organisms, called polyps are primarily associated with the spectacularly diverse limestone communities, or reefs, they construct in marine ecosystem. Coral reefs only occupy 0.1% of the area of the ocean but they support 25% of all marine species on the planet. In fact, the variety of life associated with coral reefs rivals that of the tropical forests of the Amazon or New Guinea.

Distribution of Coral Reefs

Necessary conditions for Ideal Coral growth:

• Corals thrive in tropical waters (30°N and 30°S latitudes, the temperature of water is around 20°C) where diurnal and annual temperature ranges are very narrow.

• Coral require fairly good amount of sunlight to survive. The ideal depths for coral growth are 45 m to 55 m below sea surface, where there is abundant sunlight available.

• Clear salt water is suitable for coral growth, while both fresh water and highly saline water are harmful.

• Adequate supply of oxygen and microscopic marine food (phytoplankton) is essential for growth. There exists a symbiotic relation between the two. As the plankton is more abundant on the seaward side, corals grow rapidly on the seaward side.

Effects of Climate Change on coral growth:

Corals are highly fragile and are vulnerable to climate change and pollution and even a minute

increase in marine pollution can be catastrophic.


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Climate Change Effect Short-term Impact Long-term Impact

Warming Ocean Thermal Stress Coral Bleaching

Sea level rise Sedimentation Smothering of corals

Changes in storm surges Stronger more frequent storms Destruction of Reef Structure

Changes in Precipitation Increased runoff of freshwater,

sediment, and land-based

pollutants

Algal blooms and cause murky water

conditions that reduce light

Altered ocean currents Changes in connectivity and

temperature regimes

Lack of food for corals and hampers

dispersal of coral larvae

Ocean acidification Reduction in pH levels Decreases coral growth and structural

integrity

CONCLUSION: About half the world’s shallow water coral reefs are already gone, and without urgent

action to address climate change, pollution, overfishing and destructive coastal development, these life-

sustaining natural wonders could all but disappear.

Negative impacts Positive impacts

• Impacts due to increase in temperature,

frequent cyclonic storms, rising sea levels,

changing patterns of precipitation and

ocean currents, etc.

• Also, Global Warming can provide ideal

coral conducive environment beyond the

tropics.

•

1. Great Barrier Reef: Thirty percent of the

coral perished in 2016, another 20 percent

in 2017.

2. Miami terrace reef: The US National Marine

Fisheries Service says live coral is down 50-

80% in the last decade

1. Extended regions of the bay of Japan’s

Tsushima Island in the Korea Strait.


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Extra Information

Q.5. Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology.

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about the mangrove ecosystem

THE BODY

• Give reasons for mangroves depletion: both natural and man-made

CONCLUSION Show why equatorial region is unable to make pre conditions for bombogenesis.

Mangroves are salt-tolerant vegetation that grows in intertidal regions of rivers and estuaries. Mangroves are trees and shrub species that grow at the interface between land and sea in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. These are extremely important bio-resources which are crucial to coastal environment.

Reasons for mangroves depletion:

Natural Causes Man- Made Causes

• Cyclones

• Tidal Surges

• Tsunami

• Deforestation (commercial use of Mangroves) (e.g. Mangrove trees are used for firewood, construction wood, wood chip and pulp production, charcoal production, and


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• The intensive force generated by these calamities tend to uproot and destruct the natural setting of the mangrove ecosystem, thus leading to their destruction in the long run.

• India having about 7500 Km of coasts is also highly susceptible to these natural calamities thus, posing a huge threat to the coastal ecosystem.

• For example, the tsunami that occurred in 2004 caused extensive damage of mangroves in the south coast of India and Andaman and Nicobar Islands

animal fodder. Also, the rapidly expanding shrimp farming industry possesses the crucial

• cause for deteriorating the mangrove forests).

• Construction at the coasts (e.g. clearing for tourist developments, shrimp aquaculture, and salt farms has also taken place).

• Changes in Temperature and salinity due to Human induced Climate Change (e.g. Mangrove forests require stable sea levels for long-term survival. They are therefore extremely sensitive to current rising sea levels caused by global warming and climate change).

• Pollution (e.g. Fertilizers, pesticides, and other toxic man-made chemicals carried by river systems can kill animals living in mangrove forests, while oil pollution can smother mangrove roots and suffocate the trees).

Importance of Mangroves in maintaining the Coastal Ecosystems:

• Prevents Soil Erosion: The dense root systems of mangrove forests trap sediments flowing down rivers and off the land.

• Saving the already endangered Mangrove biodiversity: Mangrove forests are home to a large variety of fish, crab, shrimp, and mollusk species. Also, its home to some important species like Royal Bengal Tigers, the conservation of which is inevitable.

• Shock Absorbers: The dense root systems of mangrove forests forms a natural defence against cyclones and tidal surges to a great extent.

• Prevents ingression of salt water into land: Mangroves are essential to maintaining water quality. With their dense network of roots and surrounding vegetation, they filter and trap sediments, heavy metals, and other pollutants.

CONCLUSION: Widespread destruction of mangroves along the coasts results in economic damages of $6 – 42 billion every year, says a report titled “The Importance of Mangroves: A Call to Action”, released by the United Nations Environment Programme

Q.6. Can the strategy of regional-resource based manufacturing help in promoting employment in India?

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Discuss about numerous pockets of diverse resource rich regions in India

THE BODY

• Briefly discuss about the reasons for opting local resource-based technologies. • Provide an overview about how this approach can help in promoting employment in India. • Highlight the benefits of local resource-based approach.


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CONCLUSION: Show that Cluster Development approach is considered as an effective approach for inducing competitiveness in the industry.

India has numerous pockets of diverse resource rich regions within its geographical extent. These resource rich clusters can provide unprecedented employment opportunities to the local populace. Some examples of regional-resource based manufacturing include:

Region Name of cluster GOI initiatives

Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu

Cotton textiles and Khadi Industry

• The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

• ‘Mission Solar Charkha’

• Khadi Reform Development Programme (KRDP)

Punjab, West Bengal, Bihar

Beekeeping/ Honey production

• National Honey Mission

• Development of the beekeeping Industry by KVIC - Directorate of Beekeeping

• Modern Honey Processing Plant with moisture reduction unit have been developed.

Kerala Coir industry • Coir Board (Under Coir Industry Act, 1953)

• Domestic Market Promotion- This scheme is for enhanced sale of coir products through Board’s showrooms and sales outlets, and also popularizing coir and coir products.

• Mahila Coir Yojana – This scheme envisages distribution of motorized ratts for spinning coir yarn to women artisans after being trained

West Bengal, Assam Jute industries • National jute policy

• Minimum Support Price (MSP) for procurement of raw jute by Jute Corporation of India (JCI)

• Jute-ICARE (Jute: Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise)

Merits of promoting cluster based regional manufacturing:

• The social objective of providing employment. • The wider objective of creating self-reliance amongst the poor and building up of a strong rural

community spirit. • The economic objective of producing saleable articles. • Helps overcome disadvantages of economies of scale and weak capital base • Better cost effectiveness due to distribution of many common costs wider public appropriation of

benefits

CONCLUSION: The Cluster Development approach is considered as an effective approach for inducing competitiveness in the industry by ensuring inter-firm cooperation based on networking and trust. The approach also aims for sustainability in long run. Hence, the strategy of regional-resource based manufacturing can certainly help in promoting employment in India by means of diversifying sources of income for the local populace.


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Q.7. Discuss the factors for localization of Agro-based food processing industries of North-West India.

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about the agro-based food processing industry.

THE BODY

• Briefly discuss about the various factor affecting location of Agro-based food processing Industry in North-west India.

• Highlight the challenges faced by the agro -based industry.

CONCLUSION: Show the importance of Agro-based food processing industries in India

Food Processing includes process under which any raw product of agriculture, dairy, animal husbandry, meat, poultry or fishing is transformed in such a way that its original physical properties undergo a change and the transformed product has a renewed commercial value. It also includes methods such as preservation, addition of food additives, drying etc. with a view to preserve food substances in an effective manner, enhance their shelf life and quality.

General Factors for localization of Agro-based food processing industries in North-West India:

• Raw material availability: The region of north west India is largely agrarian thus, abundant source of agricultural raw materials (High milk production in States like Gujrat and Haryana).

• Irrigation facilities: The north-western states being the source of Green revolution, provides ample irrigation infrastructure throughout the year.

• Technology diffusion: Farm mechanization and availability of High Yield Variety (HYV) seeds is more in the north western region as compared to the other regions.

• Capital availability: The business community linkages with Government schemes provides ample and perennial flow of capital to the agricultural sector (e.g. Punjab Government has formed a separate department of food processing industries).

• Climate and topography: The Malwa plain and the surrounding regions in North-west India are quite fertile for large scale production. Also, the climatic conditions provide ample support for agriculture. No wonder, the region is termed as the ‘wheat bowl’ of India.

Challenges to Agro-based food processing industries in North-West India:

• Rigid cropping pattern: Over-reliance on the traditional wheat-paddy cropping pattern has been primarily affecting the small and marginal farmers.

• Soil pollution: Government estimates reveal that at least seven districts in Punjab have shown soil degradation due to rigid cropping pattern. The soil is alkaline and high in potassium, and unsuitable for paddy cultivation in some places.

• Ground water stress: The states in north western India are facing potential ground water stress due to over exploitation over the years. A recent draft report of the Central Ground Water Board suggests that Punjab’s existing groundwater resources, till a depth of 300 meters, are likely to be exhausted within the next three decades.

• Operational challenges: The food processing industry faces multiple operational challenges like absence of contract farming, varied NAM implementation, stringent FASSAI regulations and so on.

CONCLUSION: India is largest producer of Pulses, Mangoes, Banana, Milk, ginger, Buffalo meat and 2nd largest producer of rice, wheat, potato, garlic, cashew nut, groundnut, dry onion, green peas, pumpkin,


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gourds, cauliflowers, sugarcane, and tea in the world. However, the food Processing industries hasn’t yet shown the desired results. The Food Processing Industry (FPI) is of enormous significance as it provides vital linkages and synergies that it promotes between the two pillars of the economy, i.e. agriculture and industry, and hence must be nurtured in times to come. The recently launched Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters) is aimed to provide much-required fillip to the Agro-based food processing industries in India.

Q.8. What makes Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss.

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Introduce with continuity of Indian culture from ancient time

THE BODY

• Give reasons for continuity of Indian culture from ancient time • Also features of Indian society contributing to the sustainability of its culture.

CONCLUSION: Conclude with continuity as well as change

From Vedic period to contemporary period the concept of culture and Indian-ness can be found in almost every smallest corner of India. Indian Identity can be termed as "Salad Bowl" where all cultures are 'Salad' and Identity is 'Bowl'.

Since time immemorial, many features of Indian society can be seen contemporarily the reason for are listed below:

• Joint families: Families, as a cultural unit always, pass the precepts of culture from one generation to another. Moreover, till very recently he family system in India was that of a joint family which over the year became an institution in itself and reserved culture.

• Religion: in the absence of centralizing authority like church or a single scripture, various sects in India developed which interpreted religion in its own essence, thus accommodating various social and geographical realities in its tradition.

• Cultural: it had some in-built resilience and adaptability, precisely because it was non-dogmatic, non-exclusivist, dependent on no central authority, and apparently “unorganized” in its nature. This gave rise to many of subculture which was subsequently included in main culture.

• Historical: Many kings, from Ashoka to Akbar, in India promoted the use of secularism as basic tenants for governance thus giving equal respect to much religion. This inclusive nature of governance sustained the prevailing cultural practice.

• Geographical: A intermixed and intertwined culture developed due to continuous migration from outside and within India. This acclimatization of culture adopted the feature of other culture which was mutually beneficial to each other.

• Political: To ward off the impact of other cultural superiority, a decentralized medium of protest was adopted in India, which was essentially based on culture. For example, temples were erected to counter radical Islam in medieval India, or religion was used as a modicum of protest in colonial India, exemplified by Durga Puja of Bengal or Ganesh Puja of Maharashtra.

• Legal: With the advent of Indian constitution, premise was laid in such a way that every religion develops in its own merit, thus preserving it by means of social morality by the mechanism of personal laws and changing it at the same time with the help of constitutional morality.


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CONCLUSION: Over the years the core Indian culture has shown continuity as well as change. The

continuity can be seen at the level of personal preference and change can be gauged at the level of greater

good which is beneficial to society.

Q.9. “Empowering women is the key to control population growth”. Discuss.

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about the status of women and idea of empowerment.

THE BODY

• Give reasons for larger share of burden regarding the family on the women

CONCLUSION: Show how behavioural change in the society would serve as a bedrock for such level of

women empowerment.

Historically, and even today, the status of women in the society is still under question. Family planning

programs in India started in 1952, however they have met only limited success in the absence of

empowered women. Women have to bear major chunk of responsibilities of children at home due to the

following factors:

• Limited development of girl child: Due to prevalence of limited educational and health

opportunities, there is limited access to knowledge of contraceptives and birth control during

adolescence.

• Patriarchal Society: Even today, especially in the rural regions, women have limited scope of

individual freedom as compared to their male counterparts. This leads to evils like ‘Child

marriage’.

• Lack of Family planning: There is lack of knowledge about the benefits of small families.

Further, limited individual freedom gives minimal scope for regulated pregnancy.

• Gender inequality: Desire of male child (son meta preference, Economic Survey 2018) is

further hampering the scope for women empowerment.

• Maternity loss: Due to the long process before and after the maternity cycle, women get

limited scope in formal employment.


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Empowerment of women is prerequisite for Population control because:

• An empowered woman can have better access to birth control kits. She can take more informed decisions regarding how to avoid pregnancies.

• Women empowerment will also lead to less craze for male child.

• Health of mother directly impacts health of child. Emotionally, psychologically and Healthwise, stronger women can raise healthier babies, thus reducing child death rate, which in long turn reduces the birth rate according to demographic transition theory.

• Statistically also, it has been observed that states having better records of women development like Kerala, also happen to have stabilized their populations.

CONCLUSION: Thus, family planning programs need to be accompanied with a focus on empowering women educationally, psychologically, economically, Healthwise and socially, for Population control to turn into a success at a national level.

However, the behavioural change in the society would serve as a bedrock for such level of women empowerment. The historic change brought in the way of BBBP (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao) to BADLAV (Beti Aapki Dhan Lakshmi Aur Vijay Lakshmi) as quoted by the Economic Survey (2018-19) serves as the best path on which India needs to move on in future.

Cycle of Women Empowerment

Better education and Health of Girl

child

Higher human resource

development will lead to

better employment and

standard of living

Independent way of living

will give diverse options of

living - Delay in Marriages

More freedom in decision making will lead to more

gap of years

between successive

pregnancies.

Better use of contraception, Birth control

kits will lead to effective

Family planning


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Q.10. What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism?

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• The concept of secularism and its evolution.

THE BODY

• How it is challenging the culture

CONCLUSION: conclude with universal values of humanism

The concept of state secularism is a defining principle of the Indian republic, right up there with the national motto of liberty, equality and fraternity. Developed with the advent of Indian constitution, which not only targeted the superstition but also protected multiple faith from majoritarianism secularism governs the public life of a nation that sharply delineates the realms of governance and religion.

This very nature of secularism helped in eradicating many anomalies in India manifested by the proliferation and sustenance of different faith, and at the same time eradicating many practices like caste disability and the constraining nature of Streetayata.

However, in doing so secularism created and manufactured a community based on silos approach, where every community developed in a compartmentalized way without appreciating others culture, and as it is well manifested that for any culture to survive, the idea of shared notion is must.

Moreover, this problem was further aggravated by the perceived notion that government is propagating one culture to the exclusion of other. Thus, a narrative was created in such way that apprehensions about other culture creped in interpersonal relation between different religion. The increasing demand around anti-conversion bill manifests this apprehension.

Further, the decision like Sabrimala, Triple Talaq, Made Snana in Coastal belt of Karnataka and challenging the appointment of priests on the basis of Agamas are perceived as secular affront to the notion of culture.

CONCLUSION: But what is to be noted that in the debate between religious morality and constitutional tradition, the paramountcy has to be given to the principle which are more human in nature and based on the universal values. In this premise Indian secularism has been justifying many ends.

Q.11. Many voices had strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase. Elaborate.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about the nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase

THE BODY

• Discuss about the various voices that strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase.

CONCLUSION Show that indeed the freedom struggle had been strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement.


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The Gandhian phase of freedom struggle witnessed many different ideologies parallel to Gandhian ideology. These ideologies strengthened and enriched the national movement.

• SOCIALIST IDEA 1920-1997 o In this phase the idea of socialism emerges after the Russian Revolution. The leaders like JL Nehru

and SC Bose inclined towards socialist ideology. INC supported the idea of Socialism in their work. INC supported the concept called Planning committee. The first attempt to develop a national plan for India came up in 1938 in Haripur session of INC.

• COMMUNIST IDEA o Russian Revolution also brings the idea of the Communist. This led to foundation of Communist

Party of India in 1925. Prominent leaders like M N Roy supported the communist idea from international level.

• NATIONALIST o Hindu Mahasabha (1915) and RSS (1925) established themselves with nationalist idea. They

supported the extreme idea of communal nationalism.

• LIBERALS o Liberals were fought for the civic rights and supports liberal ideas of people. They support the

idea of liberty, Fundamental Rights and national economic programme.

• REVOLUTIONARY PHASE 1920-1929 o Revolutionary phase brings the idea of revolt against the British India. They were inspired by

Russian Revolution. The revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh were influenced by socialist ideas which were reflected in changing of HRA to HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association).

CONCLUSION: In this way, the freedom struggle had been strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase and it led to the Independence of Nation called India.

Q.12. Assess the role of British imperial power in complicating the process of transfer of power during the 1940s.

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Introduce the concept of Transfer of power under the Indian Independence Act (1947)

THE BODY

• Give a Background for the popular voice of independence

• List and analyse The British attempts at Transfer of Power

CONCLUSION: Show that to a great extent, the British imperial power complicated the process of transfer of power during the 1940s.

On July 5, 1947 the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act which was based on the Mountbatten Plan, and the Act got royal assent on June 18, 1947. However, the process of transfer of power was not simple to achieve. The period of 1940s saw myriad attempts made by the British in the line of transfer of power. However, not much progress was due to complicated nature of attempts made until the enactment of Indian Independence Act.


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Background for the popular voice of independence:

• The 2nd World War: The 2nd world war led to diverse opinions not only within the INC but throughout the Indian political scene.

• Formation of Constituent Assembly: The INC offered support to Britain in war on the condition that after the war, a constituent assembly should be convened to determine political structure of a free India. The structure of such a constituent Assembly further widened the chasm between INC and ML.

• Resolution of INC and ML: The INC made it clear in the Wardha session that if Britain was fighting for democracy and freedom, it should be proved by ending imperialism in its colonies and establishing full democracy in India. ML with the Pakistan Resolution in Lahore (March 1940) asked for the new Pakistan which was to comprise Muslim dominated provinces in east as well as western India.

The British attempts at Transfer of Power:

Event Complications/ Solutions Outcome

August Offer (August 1940)

• Only dominion status was provided against the popular demand of ‘Purna Swaraj’

• The constituent assembly was to comprise ‘mainly’ Indians which was again not acceptable.

• INC: The Congress rejected the August Offer

• ML: The Muslim League welcomed the veto assurance given to the League, however their stand for partition was strong as ever.

Cripps Mission (March 1942)

(Due to pressure on

Britain from the Allies (USA,

USSR, China) to seek Indian

cooperation in War)

• The making of the constitution was to be solely in Indian hands now (and not ‘mainly’ in Indian hands as contained in the August Offer)

• Provinces could now have a separate constitution. This provision was seen as a blueprint for India’s partition.

• After war, a constituent assembly elected by provincial assemblies to frame the constitution.

• No provision for immediate transfer of power

• INC: INC objected to offer of dominion status instead of a provision for complete independence. Also, the right to provinces to secede as this went against the principle of national unity.

• ML: ML had criticised the idea of a single Indian Union. It felt that the aspects of self-determination and the creation of Pakistan were left out.

• Other groups also objected to the provinces’ right to secede. For example, the Liberals considered the secession proposals to be against the unity and security of India.

Wavell Plan

(June 1945)

(primarily due to the Japanese

threat that prevailed even after the war)

• With the exception of the governor-general and the commander-in-chief, all members of the executive council were to be Indians.

• Caste Hindus and Muslims were to have equal representation.

• The governor-general was to exercise his veto on the advice of ministers, thus giving upper hand to the British.

• INC: The Congress objected to the plan as “an attempt to reduce the Congress to the status of a purely caste Hindu party

• ML: The League wanted all Muslim members to be League Nominees as it feared that goals of other depressed classes, Sikhs,


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• Representatives of different parties were to submit a joint list to the viceroy for nominations to the executive council. If a joint list was not possible, then separate lists were to be submitted.

• Possibilities were to be kept open for negotiations on a new constitution once the war was finally won.

Christians, etc. were the same as those of the INC.

The Cabinet Mission

(February 1946)

• Rejection of the demand for a full-fledged Pakistan. Grouping of existing provincial assemblies into three sections:

• Section-A: Madras, Bombay, Central Provinces, United Provinces, Bihar and Orissa (Hindu-majority provinces)

• Section-B: Punjab, North-West Frontier Province and Sindh (Muslim-majority provinces)

• Section-C: Bengal and Assam (Muslim-majority provinces).

• Three-tier executive and legislature at provincial, section and union levels.

• A constituent assembly was to be elected by provincial

• A common centre would control defence, communication and external affairs. A federal structure was envisaged for India.

• INC: Provinces should not have to wait till the first general elections to come out of a group. They should have the option of not joining a group in the first place. Compulsory grouping contradicts the oft-repeated insistence on provincial autonomy.

• ML: Grouping should be compulsory with sections B and C developing into solid entities with a view to future secession into Pakistan.

• The Muslim League on June 6 and the Congress on June 24, 1946 accepted the long-term plan put forward by the Cabinet Mission.

Mountbatten Plan (June

1947)

• Punjab and Bengal Legislative Assemblies would meet in two groups, Hindus and Muslims, to vote for Independence with partition.

• In case of partition, two dominions and two constituent assemblies would be created.

• Referendums in NWFP and Sylhet district of Bengal would decide the fate of these areas.

• INC: Accepted the plan as it would ensure peaceful and quick transfer of power

• Thus, the League’s demand was conceded to the extent that Pakistan would be created and the Congress’ position on unity was taken into account to make Pakistan as small as possible. Mountbatten’s formula was to divide India but retain maximum unity.

CONCLUSION: Finally, on July 5, 1947 the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act which was based on the Mountbatten Plan, which created two independent dominions of India and Pakistan with effect from August 15, 1947. Thus, it can be said that to a great extent, the British imperial power complicated the process of transfer of power during the 1940s.


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Extra Information

Wavell’s “Breakdown Plan”

Wavell presented his plan to the Cabinet Mission in May 1946. It visualized a middle course between “repression” and “scuttle”. This plan envisaged the withdrawal of the British Army and officials to the Muslim provinces of North-West and North-East and handing over the rest of the country to the Congress. Though superseded by the Cabinet Mission Plan, Wavell’s plan was an evidence of:

● British recognition of the impossibility of suppressing any future Congress-led rebellion.

● Desire in some high official circles to make a “Northern Ireland” of Pakistan.

Individual attempts at resolving the constitutional crisis:

Event Important Provisions Outcome

Rajagopalachari Formula

(1944)

• Muslim League to endorse Congress demand for independence.

• After the end of the war, the entire population of Muslim majority areas in the North-West and North-East India to decide by a plebiscite, whether or not to form a separate sovereign state.

ML: Jinnah wanted the Congress to accept the two-nation theory. He wanted only the Muslims of North-West and North-East to vote in the plebiscite and not the entire population. He also opposed the idea of a common centre.

Desai-Liaqat Pact • Congress and League nominees to have equal representation in Central Executive.

• 20% of seats reserved for minorities

No settlement could be reached between the Congress and the League.

Q.13. Explain how the foundations of the modern world were laid by the American and French revolution.

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about the French revolution, and the American Revolution.

THE BODY

• Discuss about how American, and French revolution laid the foundation of the modern world. CONCLUSION: Show that it can be claimed that both American and French revolutions were instrumental in constructing the bedrock for the modern world.

While the Industrial Revolution is said to have changed the economic patterns of the world, the American and French revolutions are considered to be watershed events in laying the foundation of the modern world.


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Reasons for outbreak of the revolutions:

AMERICAN REVOLUTION FRENCH REVOLUTION

Economic Causes

• America was completely under the control of England which led to economic exploitation of Americans which hampered growth and development.

• Navigation Law of 1651 - Compulsory for American ships to attend British ports before leaving for other ports of the world.

• Exim Policy - Britain had a trading monopoly in crucial products of America like Potato, Tobacco, Cotton etc.

• Industrial Policy - Americans were not allowed to establish big production units.

• Disastrous policies of Louis XVI. Participation of French forces in the American war of Independence had completely ruined the French economy.

• Irresponsible expenditure of royal households worsened the situation. The government resorted to borrowing from public and defaulted on its debt.

• The Queen Marie Antoinette lived in luxury and did not care for the plight of the masses.

• To meet expenditure Louis XVI tried to impose new taxes on people which met wide resistance.

• Church owned 20% of land in France and enjoyed its revenues.

• Peasants paid close to 86% of their income in the form of taxes.

Political Causes

• Increase in control established by the British, creation of discriminatory laws such as the Proclamation or the Stamp Act.

• Stamp Act of 1765 which taxed all kinds of printed paper from wills, licenses, newspapers, diplomas, even playing cards.

• Proclamation of 1763 which forbade the colonists to move westward past the Appalachian Mountains.

• Weakening administration led to anarchy in the country.

• No representation of Third Estate in the governance of the country. The upper middle resented being left out of the civilian and military administration.

• The first two estates i.e. nobility and clergy did not have to pay any taxes.

• The king enjoyed power over life by issuing the notorious letter de catchet by which persons were imprisoned without any trial.

Social Causes

• Creation of new social structure which was different from Europe. It became melting pot of all sorts of people, ideas, religion and tradition. This led to a liberal attitude in society.

• The large part of the population consisted of rebels, refugees, convicts who were in search for the future. Large scale migration took place. e.g. Pilgrim Fathers - Protestant groups

• Differences between privileged and non-privileged class (Clergy, Nobles and Common man).

• The Church formed the 1st estate and enjoyed all the privileges, the nobles the second state and the common man the third estate.


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which had escaped to save itself from operation of catholic saints

• Dissatisfaction - Fruits of American labour were snatched away by Britain.

• A majority of bishops lived a life of luxury.

Importance in the

foundation of the

modern world

• Modern democratic set up was promoted. Promotion to modern political ideology like liberty, equality.

• Beginning of demand of rights from common people.

• Dominance of common man in administration and politics. Slogan of government of the people, by the people and for the people

• Inspiration to other colonies. Soon colonies in South America revolted against Spain and got independence. It served as an Inspiration for French Revolution

• It is said that while Industrial Revolution was an economic revolution, the American Revolution was a political revolution.

• It was an attempt to build a new society on the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity.

• It rejected tyranny, divine right and feudalism.

• It wished to establish an egalitarian society.

• Total separation of religion from the state was brought about. It laid the foundation of modern secular state. The education system was built on secular foundations.

• It ushered in the era of nationalism and liberalism and paved the way for revolutions in other parts of Europe.

CONCLUSION: Thus, it can be claimed that both American and French revolutions were instrumental in constructing the bedrock for the modern world. While the American Revolution promoted a modern democratic state based on the idea of rights of the people, the French Revolution mooted an egalitarian and secular state.

Q.14. What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India?

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about the concept of water stress.

THE BODY

• Briefly discuss about the regional differences related to water use. • Discuss about the reasons for regional differences causing water stress.

CONCLUSION: Show that a rapidly urbanizing and developing India needs to drought-proof its cities and rationalize its farming.

Water stress is in general scarcity of water. Such scarcity or shortage of water can be linked with drinking water, water for irrigation and ground water resources. India is among the 17 countries, which are a home to a quarter of the world’s population, facing "extremely high" water stress, close to "Day Zero" conditions when the taps run dry, according to The World Resources Institute's Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas. The report ranked water stress, drought risk, and riverine flood risk across 189 countries and their sub-national regions.

Also, according to NITI Aayog, 21 Indian cities will run out of groundwater by next year, including the capital New Delhi and the information technology hub of Bengaluru. Two hundred thousand Indians


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already die every year because they don’t have a safe water supply. A shocking 600 million people face “high to extreme” water stress.

Reasons how Rainfall patterns result in regional diversity of water stress exists:

• The Marathwada region falls in the rain shadow zone for the South-West monsoon winds, which leaves the region prone to perennial droughts.

• The Meghalaya region, although receives high rainfall, but due to mountainous topography, the runoff rate is quite high.

• The western Rajasthan region receives minimal rainfall as the Aravalli range is parallel to the South-West monsoon winds, leaving no chance for orographic rainfall in the region.

• The phenomenon of Climate Change has unfortunately intensified this issue of water stress further, in many regions of the country.

Man-made causes of water stress:

• Increased concretization: The ever-increasing population has raised huge demands for urbanization as well as agricultural lands, ultimately leading to large scale deforestation.

• Degrading natural aquifers: The major cities like Chennai and Bengaluru are facing unprecedented water stress. Exploitation of lakes and wetlands has been a prime cause of such water stress.

• Political reasons: The recent water stress in the state of Tamil Nadu can be attributed to a great extent to the neighboring state of Karnataka for holding onto water that it should have allowed to flow down to the Cauvery delta.

• Ground water exploitation: The over exploitation of ground water resources in regions like north-western India has been swiftly depleting the ground water resources.

• Faulty cropping patterns: Still in India, the concept of diverse cropping patterns is a misnomer. The major food producing areas still prefer water intensive crops like rice and sugarcane, further intensifying the water stress.


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CONCLUSION: A rapidly urbanizing and developing India needs to drought-proof its cities and rationalize its farming. Water-harvesting must be a priority, alongside mechanisms for groundwater replenishment. As it is, every summer is hotter and less bearable. The recent India-Israel water partnership along with the newly formed Jal Shakti Ministry is a step in right direction for countering water stress.

Q.15. How can the mountain ecosystem be restored from the negative impact of development initiatives and tourism?

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about the importance of mountain ecosystem.

THE BODY

• Briefly discuss about the development initiatives and the impact of tourism on the mountains. • Discuss about the steps taken to regarding the restoration of mountainous ecosystem.

CONCLUSION: Show that the mountain ecosystem is home to unique biodiversity and culture that has global significance hence it must be preserved.

The mountain ecosystems encompass a large portion of global biodiversity as well as cultural diversity. Situated upstream from other habitats by virtue of their altitude, these rugged landscapes contribute numerous essential ecological services.

Mountains are home to a diverse range of populations such Bhutias of Sikkim, Nyishi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, Garo-Khasi-Jaintia of Meghalaya and so on. Isolation created by rugged topography has helped in maintaining their distinct cultures, which have remained relatively intact. Unfortunately,


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the stability of mountain populations is at present threatened by various developmental and tourism activities among others like climate change. These challenges are as follows:

Impact of Developmental activities Impact of tourism

• Infrastructure like roadways, dams, military infrastructure, etc. is taking a toll on the natural and cultural setting of mountain ecosystems. This has resulted into increased number of calamities like earthquakes and landslides.

• Tourism in recent times has been quite unregulated and unplanned, the consequence of which is being borne by the Mountain ecosystem and all the biotic and abiotic aspects of it.

Example:

• Public protests against the construction of dams in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh in North East India have been going on from many years primarily under the leadership of anti-hydropower movement leader Lama Lobsang Gytaso, a Buddhist monk.

• Due to habitat loss in the Himalayan region, over 75% of the original Himalayan habitat has been destroyed or degraded. Fuelwood and fodder collection have damaged forests and grasslands. No wonder, survival of many Himalayan species is under unprecedented stress.

Example:

• Glaciers are vulnerable to rising temperatures and changes in precipitation. Mass accumulation of plastic waste is resulting in a rising debris-cover on glaciers and resulting in the formation of more glacial lakes. In 2018, one of the largest clean up drive across 12 Himalayan states of the country conducted by 15,000 volunteers suggests that 95 per cent of the trash was of plastic.

• The recent incident of Nepal Himalayas, where several mountaineers lost their lives due to congestion at the top, exemplified the crisis through which the Himalayan ecosystem is going through.

Measures to revive the mountain Ecosystem:

Sustainable Developmental activities Sustainable Tourism

• The practice of organic farming along with environmentally sustainable infrastructure as flowed in states like Sikkim, is the way to go.

• Scrutiny of construction of dams should be more stringent while the dams already built should be assessed periodically (initiatives like DRIP should be implemented well).

• To avoid possible man-animal conflict due to developmental activities, the concept of ‘eco-bridges’ could be brought in.

• The present diesel/petrol based mobility should be substituted with electric or other eco-friendly alternatives, focusing more on local engagements.

• Eco-Tourism practices should be followed with immediate effect, not only to contain exploitative tourism but also to counter the adverse impacts of climate change.

• A new model of ‘Home stays’ is getting popular in tourist attractions which is instrumental in reducing additional infrastructure as well as providing economic opportunities to the local populace.

• For the Kashmir valley, which is already under myriad geopolitical crisis, ecotourism can be a possible game changer. The government should strive to preserve the cultural traditions like "Golden Zest" production and nurturing commercial floating markets (like on Dal Lake).


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• Certain traditional practices of tourism like that in Silent Valley, etc. can be flowed in the mountainous regions.

• The recent case where the Uttarakhand HC put several river systems along with complete animal kingdom under the definition of Article 21 of the Constitution, is certainly the way to go. Similarly, there should be stringent implementation of the provisions like Polluter Pays Principle and Ban on Plastics, especially in the mountain ecosystems.

CONCLUSION: The mountain ecosystem is home to unique biodiversity and culture that has global significance. It harbors and sustains for a large number of remote and agro-pastoral communities. For example: The Himalayan ecosystem provides a number of essential ecosystem services like, source of freshwater, maintains hydrological functions, reduces erosion and sedimentation downstream, provides food security and maintains land races of food crops grown in much of northern India.

Thus, conservation of the mountainous ecosystems is an inevitable. Projects like The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) and SECURE Himalayas could be a game changer in conserving the mountainous ecosystems in the country.

Q.16.How is efficient and affordable urban mass transport key to the rapid economic development of India?

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about efficient and affordable urban mass transport.

THE BODY

• Discuss about the need of efficient and affordable urban mass transport. • Discuss about how efficient and affordable urban mass transport is a key to the rapid economic

development of India

CONCLUSION Mention that an efficient and affordable urban mass transport is vital for nation's progress and India needs much faster and efficient transportation systems.

According to Amitabh Kant, CEO, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), "Domestic transportation is a key factor for economic growth." Effective transport is undoubtedly the 'lifeline' of a nation. It has been proven by so many instances how transport infrastructure has added speed and efficiency to a country's progress. Good physical connectivity in the urban and rural areas is essential for economic growth.

Components of effective and affordable Urban Mass Transport:

• In metro cities, public transport modes are metro, commuter rail, high capacity bus, bus rapid transit, bus transport system (intra/intercity) along with LRT (Light Rail Transit) and monorail. Metro provides urban services and commuter rail serves mainly suburban traffic.

• Improved integration among various modes of mass transport helps people to move around easily and reduces the cost and inconvenience of travel. Thus, it brings reduced congestion on the road, convenience to commuters, efficiency and cost effectiveness.


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Efficient Affordable

• Minimal Traffic congestion: This will ensure swift transit of the populace.

• Competent maintenance of the network: For efficient 24*7 availability of the network.

• Sustainable mass transport by means of cleaner energy: Provisions like BS VI and electric mobility under FAME would make urban transport sustainable.

• Easy access to the network: Nearby connectivity and comprehensive coverage over the city/agglomeration would increase efficiency manifold.

• Divyang friendly transport: The urban mass transport must be Divyang friendly to attain the objective of Sugamya Bharat.

• Capable of increasing working hours of the network: Periodic checks coupled with efficient management will increase overall productive hours of the network.

• Economic for the individual’s pocket: Only if the urban mass transport is affordable, will the individual choose it over other alternatives.

• Adequately remunerative to the implementation authorities: The state government/ private entities should devise sustainable revenue models (e.g. Hybrid annuity model, build-operate-transfer, etc.).

• Time saving output- Capable of increasing working hours of the individual: Minimal traffic congestion coupled with swift mobility will increase working hours for the individual.

• Less prone to accidents: Such Urban Mass transport must have enough safety mechanisms in place to avoid accidents.

Challenges to urban

mass transport

Land Acquisition

Higher cost of transport for the individual

Limited penetration, accessibility

and less swift

Environmental Clearences

Increased Private

alternatives


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Overcoming Challenges:

• Use of Technology: A well-developed multimodal transportation system uses applications of

intelligent transport system. Smart card tickets in Delhi metro; car taxi using wireless system in Delhi,

Chennai; vehicle tracking and monitoring system using GPS/GIS in Bangalore; automatic vehicle

tracking system using GPS technology by DTC in Delhi; etc. are good examples of ITS applications. The

new shift towards ‘One Nation One Card’ is a step to make efficient use of technology in urban

transport.

• Learning from past experiences: The Government of NCT of Delhi (2006) had developed an Integrated

Multi Modal Public Transport Network for NCTD using modes such as Bus Rapid Transit, Light Rail and

Monorail in addition to the metro rail and the present DTC bus services duly integrated through

multimodal interchange points.

CONCLUSION: Public transport should be more reliable and attractive so that the commuter willingly

abandons the use of personalized vehicle and take to public transport. It should also meet the needs of

the weaker sections of the society. Further, public transport should available from origin to destination

with minimum interchanges involving least time loss and stations are easy and safe to access.

Hence, we can say that transportation issues and infrastructural delays affect a nation's progress

and India needs much faster and efficient transportation systems.

Q.17.How do ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts on

marine life and the coastal environment? Give suitable examples?

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Discuss the concept of water mass and ocean currents

THE BODY

• Discuss and explain with examples about how ocean currents and water masses differ in their impact

on marine life and the coastal environment.

CONCLUSION Conclude by saying that both ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts on

marine life and the coastal environment

Water mass is a body of water which has physical properties like temperature, salinity, density, etc.

distinct from surrounding water. Ocean currents are generally surface water phenomenon which flow in

a well-defined path under the influence of wind, coastal features and Coriolis force.


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Ocean currents of the world

Upwelling of water mass

Impact Ocean Currents Water Mass

Large-scale surface ocean currents are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the sun. These currents transfer heat from the tropics to the polar regions, influencing local and global climate.

Water mass, body of ocean water with a distinctive narrow range of temperature and salinity and a particular density resulting from these two parameters. Water masses are formed as the result of climatic effects in specific regions.

On Marine Life Fishing Ground: The meeting point of warm and cold currents like that near Japan coast (warm Kuroshio and the cold Oyashio current)

Fishing Ground: Upwelling currents bring cold nutrient-rich waters from the ocean bottom to the surface, supporting many of the most


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provide ideal conditions for commercial fishing.

important fisheries and ecosystems in the world. These currents support the growth of phytoplankton and seaweed which provide the energy base for consumers higher in the food chain, including fish, marine mammals, and humans.

On Coastal Ecosystem Ease of Navigation: The warm Norwegian current is instrumental in providing navigation opportunities during winters in the North Sea which would have been viable otherwise.

Desert ecosystem: Generally, most of the deserts in the world are formed on the western side of the continental landmass. The cold currents along the western coasts play a vital role in desert formation (e.g. Benguela current- Western Sahara, Peruvian current- Atacama Desert, etc.).

Other examples: The warm Gulf Stream originating in the tropical Caribbean, moves along the U.S. East Coast across the Atlantic Ocean towards Europe. The heat from the Gulf Stream keeps much of Northern Europe significantly warmer than other places equally as far north.

The warm water mass: It plays an important role in the nurturing of corals along the continental shelf.

The cold-water mass: Unlike shallow-water corals, the deep-sea corals don’t need sunlight. They obtain the energy and nutrients they need to survive by trapping tiny organisms that grow in the deepest water mass.

Coastal climate: Water masses impact the humidity and pressure of air above its surface, which in turn impacts the circulation of winds affecting coastal environment (E.g. Land breeze and Sea breeze).

Other examples: Mediterranean water is a good example of a water mass. Excessive evaporation, low rainfall, and high temperatures continually generate large volumes of warm and salty water. Its high density causes it to sink to the bottom of the Mediterranean and overflow across the submarine sill at the Strait of Gibraltar, where it sinks and spreads at a depth of about 1,000 metres in the Atlantic.

CONCLUSION: Thus, we can say that both ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts on marine life and the coastal environment.


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Q.18. We have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with examples.

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Start with definition of cultural pockets and its prevalence in India.

THE BODY

• Show the different dynamics of cultural pockets in India

CONCLUSION: conclude with cosmopolitan nature of culture

Culture pockets refer to phenomena where within an overarching culture many subcultures develop and can be sustained. Historically Indian culture was based on collectivity, holism transcendence but with the onset of modernization the cultural pockets incorporated the above elements as well as the elements of modernity manifested in the form of individualism, this worldly goal.

Moreover, tradition and continuity coexist along with unity and diversity in India. This gave rise to many subcultures along with culture in India. For example, even in the highly modernized society of Mumbai the anomalies like honor killing and the disabilities on schedule caste still exist.

Furthermore, there is development in terms of individuality in terms of marital choice, manifested in terms of marriage choice by the females but this is constraint by the factors of caste endogamy.

Other cultural pockets in India can be seen at:

• Tribal diversity present across India have different culture compared to mainstream culture. Example: Gonds Tribes. Bhils Tribes, Great Andamanese Tribes, Khasi Tribes, Garo Tribes.

• Linguistic diversity in India – 22 official languages in VIII schedule of the Constitution

• Diversity with regard to cuisine, dressing, festivals celebrated and customs observed varies from one region of India to another region.

CONCLUSION: But what is maintained in these cultural pockets are consonance in terms of the characterization of India and its feature like holism, collectivities and traditions, along with tolerance and mutual respect for other culture which turning the Indian cultural in cosmopolitan outlook.

Q.19. What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space?

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• introduce with challenges faced at different level.

THE BODY

• Show challenges faced at different level

• Give examples of different cultures in India

CONCLUSION: how it can be improved

Women in India historically has faced many socio cultural, economic and political challenges. These challenges can be classified as against time and space


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Challenges against time

• Of Choice: Most of the decision taken by women are guided by the controlled limitation of patriarchy. The scope of patriarch has increased so much so that if women has become a carrier of it.

• Of agency: In most of the parts of India, a woman has no agency in any dimension of her life. For example, women cannot make decision on childbirth. This agency of women is ignored by law itself. For example, there is no law on martial law in India till now.

• Of Democratization of family relation: even a working woman is seen inferior to that of men. It is expected by her family members that she does her household chores with her outside responsibility.

• Of social empowerment: In most of the cases social empowerment remains limited to only verbalization. For example, most of the cases of PRI empowerment of women gave rise to Panchyat- Pati.

Challenges against space

• Of violence: the number of violence is increasing against women across India. This is not only perpetuated not only outside but also within the boundaries of home.

• Of health: social gradient to health particular in case of women is severe. Average age of women in India is around 60 years and this varies across state.

• Of perception: in most of the economic dimension women are considered women are generally involved in care economics. They are considered inferior in working capacities and in most of the organization glass ceiling exist.

• Of objectification: women are considered as an object not only in economic market but also in the societal context. The severity of problem can be gauged from the fact that only very recently the adultery law in India has been done away with.

CONCLUSION: Though society in India is changing largely yet there are some inconsistencies which remained and the notion of streetayta still remains. Economic empowerment along with behavioral change can mitigate the challenges of time and space for women in India.

Q.20. Are we losing our local identity for the global identity? Discuss.

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: show the flow of global identity.

THE BODY:

• show different strands in which both local and global coexist and clashes

CONCLUSION: conclude with convergence of identity.

With the advent of modernity, we are living in a flat world where any geographical separation becomes irrelevant. Under global forces, societies are on the way to transform to be closer together and to share many things in common. Any events in one part of world make resonance in other part of world in no time, changing the shared characteristics of culture.

Western civilization is sweeping over developing countries, affecting the surface of culture and leading to remarkable changes in the behavior and thinking of a certain number of people. Does the globalization results in the loss of cultural identity?


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The impact of globalization on identity can be gauged on two strands

• The rise of populism across the globe may be an inevitable result of relentless globalization. Hyper-globalization leads to increasing fissures in society as it picks winners and losers. Globalization drives wedges in society, sometimes between capital and labour, between skilled and unskilled labour, between regions, etc. When the majority starts to feel insecure due to continued globalization, its ire could either be directed against the elites or against minorities. The former leads to left-wing populism, as witnessed in Latin America, Spain and Greece, while the latter leads to right-wing populism as India any other European countries.

• A form of neo-traditionalization thus proceeds along with modernization”. The adaptive capacity of micro-structures like caste, family and village community has shown the unexpected elasticity and latent potential of Indian social institutions. Consequently, many structural inconsistencies are arising out of the process of globalization in India. Some of these inconsistencies are:

o Democratization without spread of civic culture (education),

o Bureaucratization without commitment to universalistic norms

o Rise in media participation and aspirations without proportionate increase in resources and distributive justice,

o Verbalization of a welfare ideology without its diffusion in social structure and its implementation as a social policy,

o Over-urbanization without industrialization and sustainability

o Modernization without meaningful changes in the stratification system

CONCLUSION: From above it is clear that, globalization is bringing convergence in identity, leaving some aspect of outside influence. But what is to be noted is that core identity is still left untouched by the process of globalization.

GS PAPER-II MATTER LUKMAAN IAS

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UPSC CSE GS (MAINS) 2019 PAPER-II MATTER

Q.1. Do you think that constitution of India does not accept principle of strict separation of powers rather it is based on the principle of ‘checks and balance’? Explain.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Introduce with concept of Separation of Power in Indian Constitution.

THE BODY

• Give detail about the importance of separation of power.

• Explain about the conflict between the three bodies and their overriding power.

• Explain positive points of Checks and balance between three bodies.

CONCLUSION: Conclude with the positive view on the strict separation of power.

Separation of powers is a doctrine of constitutional law under which the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) are kept separate. This is also known as the system of checks and balances, because each branch is given certain powers so as to check and balance the other branches.

Checks and balances, the principle of government under which separate branches are empowered to prevent actions by other branches and are induced to share power. Checks and balances are applied primarily in Constitutional Governments. They are of fundamental importance in tripartite governments, such as that of the United States, which separate powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

The theory of separation of powers signifies three formulations of structural classification of governmental powers:

• The same person should not form part of more than one of the three organs of the government.

• One organ of the government should not interfere with any other organ of the government.

• One organ of the government should not exercise the functions assigned to any other organ.

How much it is true that our constitution does not accept strict separation of power.

• Members of executive should be part of legislature

• The Supreme Court in Keshvananda Bharti v Union of India was of the view that amending power was subject to the basic features of the Constitution. And hence, any amendment tampering these essential features will be struck down as unconstitutional and added that separation of powers is a part of the basic structure of the constitution. None of the three separate organs of the republic can take over the functions assigned to the other. Hence this further confirmed the opinion of the court in relation to the doctrine of separation of power.

• Similarly, judiciary through judicial activism gets into the domain of legislature and executive through framing policies and guidelines like Vishaka guidelines, suggesting changes in policies.

• Ordinance making power of Executive is its legislative power.


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• Indian Constitution adopted procedure established by law and it gives supremacy to parliamentary role.

• Article 13 (2) and Article 32 of Indian constitution gives power to Judiciary to declare any law null and void if it infringes with Fundamental rights guaranteed by Indian Constitution. Even administrative function of Supreme Court is controlled by Supreme Court.

On the other hand, Indian Constitution makes strong checks and balances between the three organ

• Executive checks over Judiciary • Through the appointment.

• Judicial checks over Executive • By judicial review.

• Parliaments Checks over Executive

• Member of Parliament through debate and discussion, question hours etc.

CONCLUSION: Hence it is certainly the principle of checks and balances which is the base of our constitution and not strict separation of powers like in USA.

Q.2. “The Central Administration Tribunal which was established for redressal of grievances and complaints by or against central government employees, nowadays is exercising its powers as an independent judicial authority.” Explain.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Introduce with the Central Administrative Tribunal and constitutional power.

THE BODY

• CAT’s power and independence.

• CAT’s power from Quasi-judicial to independent judicial authority.

CONCLUSION: Conclude with optimistic view for reform in CAT.

The Central Administrative Tribunal had been established under Article 323 - A of the Constitution by 42nd constitution amendment act 1976 for adjudication of disputes and complaints with respect to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or other authorities under the control of the Government. Under the provisions of this article, administrative tribunals act, 1985 was enacted.

The Tribunal is guided by the principles of natural justice in deciding cases and is not bound by the procedure, prescribed by the Civil Procedure Code.

The Central Administrative Tribunal is empowered to frame its own rules of procedure and practice. Under the said provision of the Act, the Central Administrative Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 1987 and Central Administrative Tribunal Rules of Practice, 1993 have been notified to ensure smooth functioning if the Tribunal.

Power & Independence:

• The Administrative Tribunal is distinguishable from the ordinary courts with regard to its

jurisdiction and procedure.

• It exercises jurisdiction only in relation to the service matters of the parties covered by the

Act.

• It acts as the quasi-judicial authority where half of the members are retired judges.

• It has the selection committee for the appointment of the members.

• The procedural simplicity of the Act can be appreciated from the fact that an aggrieved

government employee can also appear personally before the Tribunal.


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Is CAT exercising its powers as an independent judicial authority?

• The power of judicial review by Tribunals was examined and decided by the Supreme Court

in S.P. Sampath Kumar v. Union of India and in the subsequent case of L. Chandra Kumar v.

Union of India. After the decision in Sampath Kumar case divergent views were taken by

various benches of the Supreme Court. The matter was therefore referred to a seven-judge

bench of the Supreme Court in L. Chandra Kumar.

o It was finally held that the tribunals are not substitution to High Courts rather it is

supplement to the judiciary.

• Delhi High Court has said it does not have the jurisdiction to entertain criminal contempt

reference received from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and remitted back the

matter to the tribunal. It said the CAT has exclusive jurisdiction to entertain such contempt

proceedings.

• CAT is acting against the decisions of the constitutional bodies like state public service

commission. Example: CAT reversed the decision of Karnataka Public Services Commission

• CAT exercises original jurisdiction in relation to recruitment and conditions of service of

persons appointed to public services.

Conclusion: CAT is considered as one of the most important administrative tribunal which also enjoy

its special stature due to its independent functioning and it has dealt with matter of civil servants

grievances effectively.

Q.3. What are the methods used by the Farmers organizations to influence the policy-makers in India and how effective are these methods?

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Introduce with the Farmers organization as pressure group.

THE BODY

• Give the techniques used by pressure group.

• Methods used by the Farmers organizations to influence the policy-makers

CONCLUSION: Conclude with the farmers organization need to be more pressure group for policy formation.

Farmers organizations are acts as pressure group of rural producers, coming together based on the principle of membership, to pursue specific common interests. Earlier, Farmers movement were led by communist leadership, but later Farmers organizations such as Bhartiya Kisan Union led by Mahendra Singh Tickait in Northern India and Shetkari Sanghthan led by Sharad Joshi group in Maharashtra used to provide leadership in their respective regions.

Techniques Used by Pressure Groups:

• Lobbying: Persuading public officers to adopt and enforce policies of their interest.

• Propagandizing: Influencing the public opinion.

• Protests and rallies: here they mobilise huge number of farmers and conduct rallies on a large scale to let the people understand their demands.

• Satyagraha’s and fast unto death protests: farmers normally resort to these protests when their moderate protests didn't satisfy their demands.

• Pressure groups may sometimes make use of media for dispersing their views in public and winning support. They may publish statistics in favour of their claims.


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Methods used by the Farmers organizations to influence the policy- makers:

• It depends on a lot of factors like the genuineness of the problem, Impact of market on their livelihood, financial implications on satisfying their demands, unity within these organisations etc. For instance, in case of protests by Tamil Nadu farmers their demands were not met as central government wanted state governments to settle their grievances.

• Demands by farmers across the country to implement MS Swaminathan committee recommendations are not yet implemented. For example: protests by farmers in Maharashtra last year in 2018 to increase MSP rates, pension schemes for farmers, implement Swaminathan committee recommendations etc.

• Demands for loan waiver will be accepted especially during election times as it is a popular issue. It happened in case of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra etc.

• In some cases, farmers’ demands were met very quickly.

• For example: Protests by farmers in Gujrat against case filed by PEPSICO on patent related issues was quickly withdrawn by the company.

Though these farmers pressure group is pressurising the Government for their right but still there is lack of knowledge they have. Some of the problems of farmers organization while act as pressure group:

• Lobbying: The farmers lobby is not strong enough on their common interest. Most od the organization are fragmented and not in the contact of farmers.

• Grievances: Farmers have grievances regarding to their own demands. Most of the demands are not uniform rather they are based on their seasonal importance.

• Farmers organization divided in itself, there common goals are not uniform.

• Farmers are not enough aware of their educational knowledge rights, importance of IPR, GM crops etc.

• There is highly pollicisation of farmers lobby.

For this reason, most of the farmers organization failed to achieve its objective.

CONCLUSION: Farmers organizations certainly play a huge role in acting as true representative of farmer’s problems to the policy makers. However unfortunately, their effectiveness has been limited. To deal with the above issues Indian farmers needs stronger farmers organization which not only focuses upon raising farmers voice but can also assist farmers in providing technical knowledge and facilitate access to markets etc.

Q.4. From the resolution of contentious issues regarding distribution of legislative powers by the courts, ‘Principle of Federal Supremacy’ and ‘Harmonious Construction’ have emerged. Explain.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: It should give basic information on distribution of legislative powers in Indian Constitution.

THE BODY

• Explain the principle of federal supremacy

• Explain the principle of harmonious construction

• Give examples of cases where SC used these principles.

CONCLUSION: The rule of Federal Supremacy and harmonious constitution are techniques to avoid such absurdity, resolve conflicts and ensure harmony between the Union and State laws and different provisions of constitution.


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The distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States is the most important characteristic of a federal constitution. The Constitution of India also adopts a three-fold distribution of the subjects of legislative power by placing them in any one of the three Lists, namely, I (Union List), II (State List) and III (Concurrent List).

Federal Supremacy:

In every Constitutional system having two levels of government with demarcated jurisdiction, contents respecting power are inevitable. A law passed by a State legislature on a matter assigned to it under the Constitution though otherwise valid, may impinge upon the competence of the Union or vice- versa. Simultaneous operation side-by-side of two inconsistent laws, each of equal validity, will be an absurdity.

Both Parliament and the State Legislature have concurrent powers of legislation with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List III. The words “notwithstanding anything contained in clauses (2) and (3)” in Article 246(1) and the words “subject to clauses (1) and (2)” in Article 246(3) lay down the principle of federal supremacy viz. that in case of inevitable conflict between the Union and State powers, the Union power as enumerated in List I shall prevail over the State power as enumerated in Lists II and III and in case of an overlapping between Lists II and III, the latter shall prevail.

The principle of Federal Supremacy laid down in Art. 246 cannot be resorted to unless there is an 'irreconcilable' conflict between the Entries in the Union and State Lists. The non-obstante clause in cl. (I) of Art. 246 must operate only if reconciliation should prove impossible.

Article 246: Subject matter of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States

1. Notwithstanding anything in clauses (2) and (3), Parliament has exclusive power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List I in the Seventh Schedule (in this Constitution referred to as the Union List).

2. Notwithstanding anything in clause (3), Parliament, and, subject to clause (1), the Legislature of any State also, have power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List III in the Seventh Schedule (in this Constitution referred to as the Concurrent List).

3. Subject to clauses (1) and (2), the Legislature of any State has exclusive power to make laws for such State or any part thereof with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List II in the Seventh Schedule (in this Constitution referred to as the "State List").

4. 4. Parliament has power to make laws with respect to any matter for any part of the territory of India not included (in a State) notwithstanding that such matter is a matter enumerated in the State List.

Principle of Harmonious Construction:

When there is a conflict between two or more statues or two or more parts of a statute then the rule of harmonious construction needs to be adopted. The rule follows a very simple premise that every statute has a purpose and intent as per law and should be read as a whole. The interpretation consistent of all the provisions of the statute should be adopted. In the case in which it shall be impossible to harmonize both the provisions, the court’s decision regarding the provision shall prevail.

The rule of harmonious construction is the thumb rule to interpretation of any statute. An interpretation, which makes the enactment a consistent whole, should be the aim of the Courts and a construction, which avoids inconsistency, or repugnancy between the various sections or parts of the statute should be adopted.

Supreme Court suggests that the Courts should avoid “a head on clash”, between the different parts of an enactment and conflict between the various provisions should be sought to be harmonized.


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According to Supreme Court of India, “When there are, in an enactment two provisions which cannot be reconciled with each other, they should be so interpreted, that if possible, effect should be given to both.”

Examples of cases where SC applied these principles:

Principle of Federal Supremacy Principle of Harmonious Construction

• Supreme Court judgement (2016) in the conflict between Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 and Section 187 of the Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 (land acquisition issue).

• In recent Sabarimala judgement (Indian Young Lawyers' Association v. State of Kerala), SC adapted the principle of harmonious construction in the propagation of a religion and the equality of genders (both fundamental rights under Indian Constitution).

Supreme Court in S.R. Bomai vs. Union of India (1994):

The fact that under the scheme of our Constitution, greater power is conferred upon the Centre vis-a-vis the States does not mean that States are mere appendages of the Centre. Within the sphere allotted to them, States are supreme. The Centre cannot tamper with their powers. More particularly, the courts should not adopt an approach, an interpretation, which has the effect of or tends to have the effect of whittling down the powers reserved to the States.

CONCLUSION: The rule of Federal Supremacy and harmonious constitution are techniques to avoid such absurdity, resolve conflicts and ensure harmony between the Union and State laws and different provisions of constitution. These principles, therefore, are indispensable for the successful functioning of any federal or quasi-federal Constitution.

The Supreme Court laid down five principles of rule of Harmonious Construction in the landmark case of CIT v Hindustan Bulk Carriers, 2002 (Additional Information):

1) The courts must avoid a head on clash of seemingly contradicting provisions and they must construe the contradictory provisions so as to harmonize them.

2) The provision of one section cannot be used to defeat the provision contained in another unless the court, despite all its effort, is unable to find a way to reconcile their differences.

3) When it is impossible to completely reconcile the differences in contradictory provisions, the courts must interpret them in such as way so that effect is given to both the provisions as much as possible.

4) Courts must also keep in mind that interpretation that reduces one provision to a useless number or dead is not harmonious construction.

5) To harmonize is not to destroy any statutory provision or to render it fruitless.

Q.5. What can France learn from the Indian Constitution's approach towards to secularism?

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Start with the concept of Secularism.

THE BODY

• Give the brief account on Indian concept of secularism and French concept of Secularism.

• What can French learn from Indian secularism.

CONCLUSION: Conclude with optimistic vales on value of secularism.


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The idea of secularism is coming from the western world. The Western political thinkers develop this idea for the sake of state. Religion and state cannot be coming together, rather they needs to separate from each other. Specially this was advocated to church.

Secularism means state should not have any religion. State keeps away its affairs from religious sphere. When secularism adopted in west it should have state is not comes under religion. State should independent from the church.

How state should remain separate from religion?

1. Whether state remain neutral. 2. Whether State should not allow the manifestation of religion in public office. 3. Whether State should support all religion and does not discriminate against any religion.

➢ France went for second option i.e. state not allow any religion in public office. ➢ French society largely in stayed homogenous even after the world of globalization comes.

This can be seen in the banning of Islamic clothing, kosher or halal meals and “Burkha’s” in France. France has not yet found a middle way between secularism and state religion that combines national and religious identity, and where ethnic and religious minority groups can co-exist within a state’s institutions. But other countries’ experiences can perhaps shine a light.

➢ On the other side multicultural society deepen in Indian society. In this way Indian secularism comes in light in front of world.

What France learn from the Indian Constitution's approach towards to secularism

• Secularism in France does not allow religion into public space, Indian secularism on the other hand is based on equal treatment to all religions and maintaining principle distance from all religious.

• Indian Secularism deals not only with religious freedom of individuals but also with religious freedom of minority communities

• Only separation of state and religion isn’t sufficient for the existence of a secular state. On this line Indian model of secularism is different, the idea of inter religious equality is crucial to the Indian conception. It equally opposed oppression of Dalits and women within Hinduism, discrimination against women within Islam or Christianity.

• The Supreme Court of India progressively elaborated the “Essential practice of religion” doctrine to ascertain which elements are fundamental for a religious practice.

• Article 25 provides for freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagates religion; Article 25(2) of Indian constitution creates a further exception to the right. It accords to the state a power to make legislation in the interests of social welfare and reform, throwing up Hindu religious institutions of public character to all classes and sections of Hindus.

• A good example here would be of recent Sabarimala case where the verdict allowed women of all ages in the Ayyappan temple and declared the banning of entry of women as gender discrimination.

CONCLUSION: Principled Distance Model is a new model of secularism given by Rajeev Bhargava. This shows that separation of government institutions and persons mandated to represent the state from religious institutions and religious dignitaries.


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Q.6. Despite consistent experience of high growth, India still goes with the lowest indicators of human development. Examine the issues that make balanced and inclusive development elusive.

Ans.

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a tool developed by the United Nations to measure

and rank countries' levels of social and economic development. The HDI was created to emphasize that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone. The primary indicators of the HDI include, a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and access to a decent standard of living. Thus, HDI assess the qualitative aspect of development.

Until recently, India had emerged as the fastest growing major economy in the world experiencing sustained economic growth of the past few years. However, terming such growth as balanced and inclusive could be a misnomer. India climbed one spot to 130 among 189 countries in the latest human development index (2018). However, this performance isn’t on par with other nations having similar growth trajectories like India.

India’s HDI trend

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Discuss the growth story of India in recent years. Also mention the paradox of declining HDI with some facts.

THE BODY

• Discuss the challenges to balanced and inclusive development:

CONCLUSION: Show that the nature of future policy implementation must be one that is balanced and inclusive


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After assessing India’s performance in the last about thirty years or so, we can say that India’s progress in HDI has been quite slow, although we have achieved unprecedented economic growth levels in the past. In the 1992 report entitled “Governance and Development”, the World Bank set out its definition of good governance. This term is defined as “the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country's economic and social resources for development.” One major cause for slow social growth can be the issue like corruption, which is still prevalent in India. Some other pressing issues that hamper sustained social growth are:

Challenges to balanced and inclusive development:

• Economic Inequality: According to the recent Oxfam inequality report, India's top 1% bag 73% of the country's wealth. In addition to this, unskilled workers who form the major chunk of the total workforce, are paid very low in spite of hard work they put daily.

• Poverty: According to the World Bank estimates, in 2011, 21.2% of the total population in India was estimated to be living below this poverty line.

• Hunger: According to the Global Hunger Index Report 2018 by the International Food Research Institute, India ranks 103 in the Global Hunger Index (GHI). Though there is no shortage of food production in India, our nation still has 35.8% of children under five in the underweight category.

• Suppression of women: According to an investigation by the medical journal The Lancet, 44.5% of girls are still married in India before they are of legal age. Further, there is high dropout rate of adolescent girls from schools, either due to absence of menstrual infrastructure or patriarchal stronghold.

• Trifling health situation: India is among the countries having considerable share of global disease burden. For example, 1.4 million children die each year in India before their fifth birthday (High IMR). India remains to be the highest TB burden country according to WHO.

Conclusion:

Although we can say that there are considerable challenges to HDI in India, the nature of future policy implementation must be one that is balanced and inclusive. Government initiatives like BBBP, MUDRA, SAUBHAGYA, AAYUSHMAAN BHARAT, etc. are steps in right direction to reach the desired levels of Human Development.

Add to your Knowledge

HDI comparison of BRICS Nations


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Q.7. There is a growing divergence in the relationship between poverty and hunger

in India. The shrinking of social expenditure by the government is forcing the

poor to spend more on non-food essential items squeezing their food-

budget. Elucidate.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Discuss the nature of poverty and hunger in India.

THE BODY

• Show that Government expenditure in key sectors is dismal

• Also show some positives that India has done considerably well in bringing people out of

poverty

CONCLUSION: show how hunger and poverty elevation is inevitable in India for achieving the SDGs.

The population structure of any nation provides it with a window of opportunity to reap

economic and social dividends. Although, India is at the cusp of enjoying this dividend, the complex

nature of poverty and hunger in India, is acting as a deterrent. India is among those countries

which spend least on social sector services such as health and education.

Government expenditure in key sectors:

Education: A review of budgetary data of the last 10 years suggests that primary education

expenditure has never crossed 7 percent of the total budget between the fiscal years 2009 and

2019.In education, India’s public investment in education is around 2.7% of GDP, while it is 3.4% in

Sri Lanka and 7.4% in Bhutan. A report by UNICEF and the International Labour Organization found

that 30.3% children are extremely poor in India. It noted that across India girls suffer systematic

discrimination.

Health: India spends 1.02% of the gross domestic product on public healthcare, while Maldives

spends 9.4%, Sri Lanka 1.6%, Bhutan 2.5%, and Thailand about 2.9%. Sri Lanka spends about four

times as much as India per capita on health and Indonesia more than twice, according to National

Health Profile 2018.

Poverty Hunger

• Poverty is a state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living.

• There are two basic types of poverty, one which is perceived and other which is actual.

• Although the absolute poverty has been adequately decreased in India, but relative poverty still exists to some extent. This is due to reduced budgetary spending in social sectors by the GOI.

• These include important sectors like Health, Housing, Education, etc. among others. Further, there has been increased privatisation post liberalisation which has increased cost of sectoral products like transport and infrastructure. This has been indirectly affecting the savings of the poor.

• No wonder, the out of the pocket expenditure in more than

• Hunger is merely absence of food that may be due to lack of access.

• The GOI, post Green Revolution has worked successfully in the direction of food security in India.

• Targeted Schemes and policies like National Food Security Act, Public Distribution System, Mid-Day Meal, ICDS, etc.


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about 60% in India.

• This accentuates the gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘haves not’, as shown by the latest Oxfam report on income inequality.

have successfully ensured diminished rates of hunger in India.

Cycle of shrinking social expenditure

In addition to health and education, we should also focus on the special allocations to vulnerable

sections like elderly, divanjans, and so on. The World Bank maintains that there exists declining

female labour force participation in India, which at 27 percent is among the lowest in the world

despite overcoming gender gaps in education.

Although the above analysis claims that India’s performance is dismal in improving the

poverty and health scenario, one cannot deny the fact that consistent government efforts have

resulted in reduced number of people in the poverty bracket, improvement in health.

For example, according to the World Bank, India has halved its poverty rate since the 1990s

and achieved a seven plus growth rate over the last 15 years. Further, India’s PDS system is one of

the largest in the world in its league which ensures effective redistribution of food grains. Recently, a

UN report named 'State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2019', claimed that in India, the

number of undernourished people declined from 253.9 million in 2004-06 to 194.4 million in 2016-

18.

CONCLUSION: Hunger and Poverty eradication should be an important aspect of policy formulation

as they form important pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals. Also, the GOI can look upon

the Kerala model of public expenditure which has shown positive results in the ‘qualitative’ aspect of

growth. India must adopt a balanced, inclusive and comprehensive approach for policy

implementation.

Shift of focus in Budgetary Allocation

(e.g. Defence)

Shrinking social expenditure (e.g. on education, health)

Increased Out of the Pocket Expenditure (like on health and

education)

Shrinking personal food budget of the

poor

Reduced prospects of Demographic

Dividend


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Q.8. Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based projects/programmes usually suffers in terms of certain vital factors. Identify these factors and suggest measures for their effective implementation.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Discuss the concept of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

THE BODY

• Give some challenges to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based projects/programmes

CONCLUSION: We should give adequate focus on the 3A’s, Availability, Affordability and Accessibility while developing the ICT governance platforms

E-Governance or electronic governance implies the application of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to government functioning. Such innovative use of ICT has the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government. Certain benefits of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based projects/programmes are:

Challenges to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based projects/programmes:

Challenges Solutions

• Inadequate Digital literacy: Digital Empowerment Foundation indicates that 30% of our population lags on basic literacy and thrice that for digital literacy.

• Immediate provisions for mass level digital literacy.

• Need to implement in letter and spirit Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) that envisages making one individual digitally literate in every rural household

• Limited Digital Penetration: Unavailability of telecommunication and internet services also hinders the accessibility of ICT based

• Provide last mile digital connectivity

• E-Kranti scheme: This is project for linking the internet with remote villages in the country. This scheme will broaden the reach of internet services to the rural areas in the

Benefits of ICT in

governance

Smart Data management

Improved Customer

Service

Accountability

Responsive Decision Making

Better service

Delivery

Transparency


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platforms in remote areas. country.

• Digital India Programme: The Digital India would ensure that Government services are available to citizens electronically.

• Bharat Net project: Aim is to provide Optical Fibre connectivity to every nook and corner of the country.

• Operational difficulties: For example, due to errors in biometric detection, many beneficiaries are denied ration under the Public Distribution System (PDS).

• Simplify implementation process the increasing community awareness.

• Although Aadhaar has certain loopholes, it is a strategic policy tool for social and financial inclusion, public sector delivery reforms, managing fiscal budgets, increase convenience and promote hassle-free people-centric governance. It is unique and robust enough to eliminate duplicate or fake identities and may be used as a basis/primary identifier.

• Banking and finance: The lack of banking correspondents and poor implementation of Common services centres hamper the overall financial penetration.

• Spread the word for benefits of digital banking and how it is instrumental in reducing black money.

• Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM): An app that makes payment transactions simple, easy and quick using Unified Payments Interface (UPI). It enables direct bank to bank payments instantly and collect money using a Mobile number or Payment address.

• Direct Cash transfer: To facilitate disbursements of Government entitlements like NREGA, Social Security pension, Handicapped Old Age Pension etc. of any Central or State Government bodies, using Aadhaar and authentication thereof as supported by UIDAI.

• Rising Cyber-crimes: India ranked third in the list of countries where the highest number of cyber threats were detected, and second in terms of targeted attacks in 2017, according to security software firm Symantec.

• Ensure robust ICT network with adequate and timely scrutiny.

• CERT-In was formed with an aim to secure Indian cyber space. CERT-In provides Incident Prevention and Response services as well as Security Quality Management Services.

• Behavioral reluctance: Due to prolonged use of cash transactions, especially in the middle class.

• Motivate and persuade people to move towards ‘Digital India’ in literal sense.

• Nudge Policy to motivate common populace for use of the information and communication technology (ICT) mechanisms. Example: incentives for digital transactions.


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CONCLUSION: India is in the midst of an ICT revolution. Considering how ICT based deliverables help in reducing leakages, weeding out ghost beneficiaries and directly benefiting the intended, it is imperative to include ICT in governance. However, need is to ensure that there is adequate focus on the 3A’s, Availability, Affordability and Accessibility while developing the ICT governance platforms.

Q.9. ‘The time has come for India and Japan to build a strong contemporary relationship, one involving global and strategic partnership that will have a great significance for Asia and the world as a whole.’ Comment.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Short note on India-Japan present relations.

THE BODY

• Why India and Japan need to enhance their relations?

• How healthy relations between both countries can influence the Asia and world as a whole.

CONCLUSION: How India and Japan can enhance their relations.

India is concerned for a free Indo-Pacific area and China influence in Africa. Although, United States is countering China influence by its approach but due to the Aggressive behaviour of US’s government and trade war between USA and China, India is facing a dilemma and India needs new partner in Asia. The relations between India and Japan are at new height and they are achieving new height day by day. Japan has become India's most reliable partner in the new century as both countries have started many joint initiatives like Asia-Africa growth corridor, Quad and Malabar naval exercise. But the relations between both countries are limited to the Annual summit and specific areas only.

Why India and Japan need to enhance their bilateral relations?

• The Indo-Japan relations is focus to countering China Influence in Indian Ocean and South China Sea but now both countries should go beyond countering China.

• At the time of trade war when Trump is regularly attacking India, its relationship with Japan should be focused on the coalition.

• The Africa is next battle field for world powers and the healthy relations between both countries together can save their interests from this influence.

• Although, India and Japan is the members of many multi-country level ventures. But both counties should focus on their own security setup in their respective regions.

• Both countries are demanding for permanent seat for in UNSC and it can only happen with better coalition between them.

How India-Japan together can influence Asia and the world?

• Japan wants to revive the Trans Pacific Partnership. This can be an opportunity for India in the boosting of its relations with Indo-Pacific countries.

• India as a significant naval power with a dominant peninsular location astride shipping-lanes plays a major role in ensuring maritime security in the Indian Ocean and its environs.

• Close cooperation with a democratic India, located mid-way along trade-routes connecting East Asia with the Middle East and Africa, would be advantageous to Japan.

• India and Japan together pressure United Nation for the improving of Security Council.

No doubt, India and Japan are among the most reliable partners in bilateral relations but, there are many scopes for the improving of these relations and boosting of trade is the best to go ahead.


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Q.10. ‘Too little cash, too much politics, leaves UNESCO fighting for life.’ Discuss the

statement in the light of US’ withdrawal and its accusation of the cultural

body as being ‘anti-Israel bias’.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Introduce with the recent development.

THE BODY

• Write the background of the issue.

• How Agency is facing money crisis?

• How internal politics is affecting the image the reputation of agency?

WAY FORWARD: Suggestion for the improvement of present scenario.

In January, 2019 the United States and Israel have officially withdrawn from the U.N.’s educational,

scientific and cultural agency (UNESCO) as US accused it of "anti-Israel biased".

The US's government filed its notice to withdraw in October 2017 and Israeli followed suit.

The background of the issue

The issue was started in 2011, when the agency recognised the Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem,

naming ancient Jewish sites as Palestinian heritage sites and granting full membership to Palestine.

The United States and Israel were among just 14 of 194 members to vote against Palestine’s

membership.

Why the agency is facing cash crisis?

After the 2011 development, USA the largest tributary to the agency has not paid its share, which is

nearly $80 million (20% of total budget) per year. As a result the agency is facing cash crisis.

Too much politics in the agency and fighting for life

After the 2017 development, the agency is facing too much inside politics. The first labelled on it as

anti-Israel bias and delayed it dues after that other major contributors such as Japan, Britain, and

Brazil have delayed in their shares. The fact is that UNESCO was all about solidarity and creating a

climate for peace between countries, but nations now use their dues to influence programmes, as a

result fighting for life the agency and is not performing well. For Example, there are around 2,000

people worldwide are working for UNESCO, has been forced to cut programmes, freeze hiring and fill

gaps with voluntary contributions. The budget of the agency in 2017 was about $326 million, almost

half its 2012 budget.

WAY FORWARD: After the quitting of USA and Israel, the other member countries should take more

responsibility and share increase their aid to the agency. Some countries like Saudi Arabia, Norway,

China, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, Qatar and Algeria have done it already. Apart from it, All

the candidates running to UNESCO have vowed grassroots reforms and efforts to de-politicise the

institution.


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Q.11. On what grounds a people’s representative can be disqualified under the

Representation of People Act, 1951? Also mention the remedies available to

such person against his disqualification.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Introduce the PRA 1951.

THE BODY

• What are the provisions for the disqualification of any legislators?

• What are the remedies available for them against their disqualification?

CONCLUSION: Conclude with the suggestion.

Article 324 to 329 of Part XV of the Constitution deals with the electoral system in our country.

Constitution allows Parliament to make provisions in all matters relating to elections to the

Parliament and State Legislatures. In exercise of this power, the Parliament has enacted laws like

Representation of the People Act 1950 (RPA Act 1950), Representation of the People Act 1951 (RPA

Act 1951).

A person can be disqualified on below grounds:

• Disqualification on conviction for certain election offences and corrupt practices in the

election.

• A person convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two

years.

• Disqualification on the ground of poiltical defections.

• Disqualification on ground of corrupt practices.

• Disqualification for dismissal for corruption or disloyalty.

• Disqualification for office under Government Company.

• Disqualification for failure to lodge account of election expenses.

• Disqualification for promoting enmity between different groups or for the offence of

bribery.

The remedies available for to disqualified person against his disqualification:

• The disqualification can be challenged in high court.

• When disqualified on political defection which decided by preciding officer of house, MP or

MLA can appeal in HC.

• When disqualified on the ground of crimianl actions then ECI recommend disqualification to

President or Governor. In this case, MPs or MLAs can appraoch HS or SC.

• The disqualified representative can also challenge the high court order in Supreme Court.

• In Lily Thomas vs GOI case supreme allowed three month window to disqualified candidate

for appeal against his disqualification.

• Debarring police custody for the contesting election.

Way Forward:

Thus, the RPA has many provisions regarding disqualification and subsequent remedies. However,

we need even more stringent provisions as the criminalisation of politics is on the rise.


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Q.12. “Parliament’s power to amend the constitution is limited power and it cannot be enlarged into absolute power”. In light of this statement explain whether parliament under article 368 of the constitution can destroy the Basic structure of the constitution by expanding its amending power?

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: It should briefly explain about basic structure of the constitution and give its elements.

THE BODY

• Mention recent cases of arbitrary legislation.

• Explain in the context of scrapping of Article 370 by the government, Federalism is part if Basic Structure.

CONCLUSION: In the broader sense, the Government Of India must respect the Basic Structure.

The Supreme Court on 24th April 1973 in Keshavananda Bharati case to put a limitation on the amending powers of the Parliament so that the ‘basic structure of the basic law of the land’ cannot be amended in exercise of its ‘constituent power’ under the Constitution. There is no exclusive definition of basic structure given by the judiciary. It forms the very core of the Constitution. Some of the elements of basic structures are:

• The rule of law

• Secularism

• Federalism

• Independence of judiciary

Article 368 provides for following two types of amendment to Constitution:

1. Amendment by special majority of the Parliament 2. Amendment by special majority of the Parliament and the ratification of half of the state

legislatures.

Recent cases of arbitrary legislation

Abrogation of Art. 370 Local elected state government not taken in confidence

Illicit use of money bill provision

Passing of multiple legislations under the money bill with otherwise do not fit in the definition (e.g. Aadhaar bill)

Defection under the 10th Schedule

Prominence of party politics over the constitutional values leading to misinterpretations

EWS reservation Exceeding the SC’s limit of 50% reservations in India

The Parliament passed 42nd Amendment Act in 1976 as a reaction to judicially innovated doctrine of ‘basic structure’. This Act amended Article 368 and declared that there is no limit on constituent power of Parliament and no amendment can be questioned in any court on any ground including that of contravention of any fundamental right.

However, in Minerva Mills case 1980, SC invalidated this provision as it excluded judicial review, which is a basic feature of a constitution.

SC in Minerva Mills Case, “Since the Constitution had conferred a limited amending power on the Parliament, the Parliament cannot under the existence of that limited power enlarge that very power into an absolute power. Indeed, a limited amending power is one of the basic features of the constitution and therefore, limitations of that amending power cannot be destroyed. The donee of a limited power cannot by exercise of that power convert limited power into an unlimited one.”


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The issue of constituent power of parliament was in debate recently due to scrapping of Article 370. Although the abolition of Article 370 protects the unity of India and makes the union strong, it isn’t in tandem with the federal character of the Indian Constitution in the sense that the order was passed without adequate discussions and deliberation.

More importantly, the elected government wasn’t taken into confidence before this colossal step was taken. The order was passed on the governor’s report considering him as state government, which is antithetical to constitutionalism. In fact, federalism is one such basic structure.

WAY FORWARD: Therefore, in the broader sense, the Government Of India must respect the Basic Structure . India adopted a written constitution, which is also an organic document. The core of the constitution represents the constitutional morality of the framers of the constitution otherwise we couldn’t have such a beautiful constitution.

Q.13. “The reservation of seats for women in the institutions of local self- government has had a limited impact on the patriarchal character of the Indian Political Process.” Comment.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Start with Parliamentary Amendment Act 73rd and 74th and reservation for women.

THE BODY

• What patriarchal values are in the women’s work force in PRI.

• Also explain about success of local self- government and women’s social development.

Way Forward: Give some solution and examples.

After Twenty-Seven years of Parliament passed the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in December 1992, introducing one-third reservation in panchayats for women, the grassroots women leadership continues to face hurdles at every level to make it big in politics.

Patriarchal character is still prevalent:

• The violent nature of politics also has negative impact on women’s political participation and makes it difficult for them to exercise their power and decisions in today’s politics and continues to pose big challenges for them.

• The women from ST SC categories have to face double burden of caste and gender discrimination due to which they mush more pushed towards the outskirts of mainstream Indian politics. The women from minorities also face the ill effects of patriarchy.

• The panchayats were supposed to be nurseries for grooming women leaders who could take a leadership role in the future. But the dominant patriarchal political system has ensured that the majority of women contesting from reserved seats don’t return to the political arena at any level.

• Elected women representatives continue to work as a Rubber stamp for their family members. Sometimes they are called as “Pati panchayat.” Burden of household responsibilities, etc affects their performance.

• The majority of over 13.45 lakh elected women representatives in Panchayati Raj institutions, which constitutes 46.14 per cent of total elected members at a grassroots level, perform and perish without getting a chance even to knock the doors of Parliament or state assemblies.

• This was thought to have transcendental effect on the overall nature of Indian politics. However, it’s impact has been limited. Even today number of women representatives in parliament is around 12%


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• According to ‘The women in politics’ map released by UN Women last year in 2018, India ranks 148th among 190 countries.

The success stories are outnumbering these challenges

• Taking up development works, For Example: Women sarpanch of Dhani Miyan Khan GP in Haryana built a training center for women and ensured that every village child went to school.

• Education leading to (social, political, economic) empowerment of women. Ex: MBA Chhavi Rajawat graduate who quit her job to ensure clean water, solar power, paved roads, etc in Soda GP in Rajasthan.

• A lot of them have been part of mother committees to effectively implement mid-day meals scheme, Anganwadi programs.

• They have also taken part in sanitation drives and prohibition campaigns.

WAY FORWARD:

• The women representatives like Chhavi Rajawat is becoming role model in the PRI and rural women are now becoming pioneer in bringing about long-awaited changes in their villages.

• In order to see effective results of all the efforts of constitutional and Governmental efforts towards women empowerment, Government should initiate schemes such as Mahila Sashakti Karan Abhiyan should be implemented in letter and spirit.

• Article 243D can be amended to increase the percentage of women in Panchayat. For example, in states like Maharashtra and Bihar women reservation is around 50%.

• Innovative initiatives like Mahila Gram Sabhas can also be organized to focus on women specific issues.

Q.14. "The Attorney-General is the chief legal adviser and lawyer of the Government of India." Discuss.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Give a brief introduction about The Attorney general of India.

THE BODY

• Briefly discuss about the Attorney General as the chief legal adviser.

• Discuss about the Attorney General as the lawyer for the Government of India

CONCLUSION: Give a balanced conclusion about role of the Attorney-General

The Constitution (Article 76) has provided for the office of the Attorney General for India. He is the highest law officer in the country.

Appointment and term

➢ Appointment conditions: The Attorney General (AG) is appointed by the president. He must be a person who is qualified to be appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. In other words, he must be a citizen of India and he must have been a judge of some high court for five years or an advocate of some high court for ten years or an eminent jurist, in the opinion of the president.

➢ The term of Office: The term of office of the AG is not fixed by the Constitution. Further, the Constitution does not contain the procedure and grounds for his removal. He holds office during the pleasure of the president. This means that he may be removed by the president at any time. He may also quit his office by submitting his resignation to the president. Conventionally, he resigns when the government (council of ministers) resigns or is replaced, as he is appointed on its advice.

➢ Remuneration: The remuneration of the AG is not fixed by the Constitution. He receives such remuneration as the president may determine.


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Duties and functions:

As the chief law officer of the Government of India

Duties assigned by the president

➢ To give advice to the Government of India upon such legal matters, which are referred to him by the president.

➢ To perform such other duties of a legal character that are assigned to him by the president.

➢ To discharge the functions conferred on him by the Constitution or any other law.

➢ To appear on behalf of the Government of India in all cases in the Supreme Court in which the Government of India is concerned.

➢ To represent the Government of India in any reference made by the president to the Supreme Court under Article 143 of the Constitution.

➢ To appear (when required by the Government of India) in any high court in any case in which the Government of India is concerned.

CONCLUSION: It should be noted that the AG is not debarred from private legal practice. He is not a government servant as he is not paid fixed salary and his remuneration is decided by the president. The Attorney General is the chief law officer of the Executive Council. The responsibilities stemming from this role are unlike those of any other Cabinet member. The role has been referred to as “judicial-like” and as the “guardian of the public interest”.

Hence, we can say that the Attorney General (AG) plays an important role in the democratic politics of India.

Extra Knowledge SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA

In addition to the AG, there are other law officers of the Government of India. They are the solicitor general of India and additional solicitor general of India. They assist the AG in the fulfilment of his official responsibilities.

It should be noted here that only the office of the AG is created by the Constitution. In other words, Article 76 does not mention about the solicitor general and additional solicitor general.

The AG is not a member of the Central cabinet. There is a separate law minister in the Central cabinet to look after legal matters at the government level.

Q.15. Individual parliamentarian’s role as the national lawmaker is on a decline, which in turn, has adversely impacted the quality of debates and their outcome. Discuss.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: It should briefly mention the context with the help of some facts, data.

THE BODY

• Discuss the causes of declining role of Parliamentarian’s role as the national lawmaker.

WAY FORWARD: Give some measures that should be taken to reverse this trend

Parliamentary debates, which once focused on national and critical issues, are now more about local problems, viewed from a parochial angle. With niggardly attendance by our Members of Parliament (MPs), poor quality of debates and pandemonium marking the proceedings, there is seemingly little value that a parliamentary representative can add to the policy discourse.

Important data related to productivity of parliamentary sessions and debates and discussions (first session of 17th Lok Sabha): • 25 Bills (66%) were discussed within five working days from their introduction. Two bills in

Rajya Sabha and one in Lok Sabha were introduced, discussed and passed in the same session.


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• The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill was discussed for just under 7.4 hours in both Houses put together.

• Not even one bill has been sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committees including key bills such as triple talaq bill, Unlawful Activities (Prevention), National Investigation Agency (Amendment), Right to Information and National Medical Commission Bills.

Voters authorise representatives to speak and act on their behalf. Notably, the representative does not speak for individuals; her duty is to ensure that the opinions, interests and needs of constituents are adequately, competently and effectively represented in forums of decision-making. Representatives are obliged to perform the functions that they have been charged with, notably to assist in the production of appropriate policies. Finally, the representative is accountable to her constituency for all acts of omission and commission. In theory, citizens have command over who they want to be represented by, and what issues representatives, normally members of political parties, should represent.

Representatives are expected to ‘stand in’ for their constituents, even as they keep in mind that they are in Parliament to promote the public good, and not for advancing petty, grasping projects. This is the job of representatives, the reason for which they have been elected, the source of their power and privilege, the rationale for their very existence.

According to Plato’s Republic, the deliberative aspect of Parliament is no small matter, nor is it just another function of the body. Deliberation, by way of representation of different points of view, is an indispensable component of how we, as a collective, should live. WAY FORWARD:

• Currently, the Anti-Defection Act punishes MPs who deviate from their parties’ stated position, with the risk of losing their seats. The Anti-Defection Act needs to be amended, and used only in the most exceptional circumstances, while allowing MPs free rein on their self-expression. The U.K., for example, has the concept of a free vote allowing MPs to vote as they wish on particular legislative items.

• We need a systematic approach to legislative engineering and prioritization. Parliamentary standing committees can assume institutional importance in the process. For MPs, such committees offer a place to raise issues in the general public interest and conduct advocacy amidst legislative engineering.

• As highlighted by the Law Ministry, we require a constitution committee. Instead of constitutional amendments being presented to Parliament like ordinary pieces of legislation in the form of Bills, often at short notice, it would be desirable to have the committee conduct an appropriate priori scrutiny before the actual drafting of the proposal for constitutional reform.


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• If India wishes to hold on to her democratic credentials, parliamentarians must recognise that the task of representing the opinions, interests and needs of citizens is their paramount responsibility.

Additional Information Jawaharlal Nehru, in a famous speech he made in the Lok Sabha on March 28, 1957, had

said that historians will not pay much attention to the time expended on speeches, or the number of questions asked and answered in Parliament. They will be interested in the deeper things that go into the making of a nation. There is no higher responsibility than to be a member of this sovereign body responsible for the fate of vast numbers of human beings.

Q.16. ‘In the context of the neo-liberal paradigm of developmental planning, multi-level planning is expected to make operations cost-effective and remove many implementation blockages.’ Discuss.

Ans. APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Discuss the neoliberalist needs of developmental planning in India. THE BODY

• Show some Benefits of multi-level planning

• Also try to mention certain challenges to Multi-level planning. CONCLUSION show that, for a diverse geopolitical space like that of India, the neo-liberal paradigm of developmental planning demands effective multi-level planning

Neoliberalism is a policy model that talks about bridging politics, social studies, and economics that seeks to transfer control of economic factors to the private sector from the public sector. The Indian notion of policy implementation is a product of the federal nature of India’s Constitution and pluralistic socio-economic environment. Thus, what fits in the Indian scenario is multi-level planning extending well beyond the regular union and State framework.


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Such model of multi-level planning was primarily inwards looking based on FYPs (Five Year Plans). Here, major chunk of implementation authority was with the central government.

However, there are certain challenges that needs to be addressed.

• Uncertain Financial autonomy: As evident from the dismal implementation of the 73rd and the 74th Constitutional amendments in some states, absence of perennial financial support may hamper the overall process of policy implementation. In addition, there also exists the fear of possible fund diversion at the lower levels.

• Lack of Productive implementation plan: Lack of effective co-ordination at the district/block level between various agencies involved in the planning exercises, leads to unproductive implementation. At times, there is planning without a clear and full understanding of the realities of resource constraints. Further, lack of expertise in the lower levels have led to failure of many Municipal corporations in the past.

• Accessibility issues: Local level institutions must have access to resources, infrastructure, technology and expertise for effective implementation. Further, even in the neo-liberal paradigm of developmental planning, rural India is marred with poverty, illiteracy, patriarchy, etc. which hampers the overall working ability of ground level institutions.

CONCLUSION:

Finally, we can say that even if there is uncertainty or lack of expertise for MLP, still we should follow MLP model. Due to extensive diversity in India, and a 3-tier devolution process, only a Multi-level planning model can fit in perfectly. The GOI can look upon how the 73rd and the 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts were implemented in southern states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, etc for better outcomes of planning.

Further, the governance and monetary devolution models like those in Indore, Pune can serve as role models for meeting the neo-liberal paradigm of developmental planning demands. Autonomy is an important aspect which can ensure better planning and governance.

Benefits of multi-level planning

Financial inclusion due to responsibility

sharingEquitable resource

sharing

Freedom to fix priority areas for

policy formulation

Reduced friction in policy

implementation

Effective Bottom-up approach

Improved transparency and

accountability

Bridges regional disparities


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Q.17. The need for cooperation among various service sectors has been an inherent component of development discourse. Partnership bridges the gap among the sectors. It also sets in motion a culture of ‘collaboration’ and ‘team spirit’. In the light of statements above examine India’s development process.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: It should briefly explain the cooperation among service sectors as important component of development discourse.

THE BODY

• Examine the phases of India’s development process.

• Explain about the present developmental discourse involving collaboration and team spirit with the example of Aspirational district programme.

WAY FORWARD: The present government has philosophy of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’, which focus on collaboration and team spirit in developmental discourse.

The need for cooperation among various service sectors has been an inherent component of development discourse over past few decades. It gained increasing impetus due to welfare reforms being undertaken by governments and dual movement of declining state intervention and growing influence of NGOs in development process.

Many a times, government, private sector as well as civil society organizations provide similar kind of services. However, they have their own strengths and weaknesses. This calls for effective cooperation between different service providers.

Such cooperation can be in the form of following models:

• Public-Private-NGOs-People

• Public-NGOs-People

• Public-Private-People

• Public-Public-People

Example: Azim Premji Foundation (APF) -Partnership with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Karnataka

• APF has developed e-learning material (education software) on CDs in different languages including English, Kannada, Hindi and Telugu.

• The foundation is using solar panels for running of computers in areas without electricity.

• Rooms and computer hardwares have been made available through SSA funds.

• The Foundation has a computer facilitation scheme, namely, ‘Young India Fellow’ for innovative use of the computer facilities after/before schools hours for payment of wages to the facilitator.

Public

NGOsPrivate


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India’s developmental process:

Case study of Transformation of aspirational districts (launched in January 2018):

• The Aspirational Districts Programme ranks districts on the basis of a composite index

comprising of health, nutrition, education, basic infrastructure and poverty.

• The core strategy of this programme is based on following three aspects:

1. Convergence of central and state schemes and policies

2. Collaboration of central, state and district level officers

3. Competition among the districts

1947-90

•Inward looking development model

•Hindu rate of economic growth (3.5%)

1991-2014

•Indicative planning from 8th FYP

•Decentralised planning (73rd and 74th Amendment Acts)

•Average economic growth of 7%

2014 onwards

•More cooperative and colloboration approach in planning

•NITI Aayog and Team India

Core strategy

Convergence

CollaborationCompetition


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Institutional framework:

Funding: The programme relies on convergence of existing schemes for its funding. In addition,

funds and other resources made available by the private sector under Corporate Social

Responsibility, and some local funds like the District Mineral Funds are to be utilised for critical gap

funding.

CONCLUSION: The present government has philosophy of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’,

which focus on collaboration and team spirit in developmental discourse.

Aspirational Districts

Institutional framework

NITI Aayog

30 districts

Central ministries

50 districts

Central Prabhari Officer of eahc

district

Officers at joint secretray level

Home ministry35 LWE affected

districts

Prabhari officer

Officers of State government

An empowered Committee

headed by CEO of NITI Aayog

Help in convergence of government schemes

TISS (Research and training)Reasearch Assistant

in district

Assistance from local funds and

CSR funds

State government

schemes

Central Government

schemes


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Q.18. Performance of welfare schemes that are implemented for vulnerable sections is not so effective due to the absence of their awareness and active involvement at all stages of the policy process. Discuss.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Discuss the notion of vulnerable sections in brief.

THE BODY

• Analyze few welfare schemes for vulnerable sections in India.

CONCLUSION: Give some innovative solutions to uplift the conditions of the vulnerable sections.

Certain group of people who face discrimination or face disability like Women, SCs, STs, Elderly, Divyangs and so on are termed to be vulnerable sections amongst the total populace. Although many welfare schemes are in place for the vulnerable sections, there have been few limitations in overall outcomes. One primary reason being the lack of awareness and active involvement at all stages of the policy process.

Stages of policy process

Analysis of certain welfare schemes:

Vulnerable section

Scheme/Policy/Law Assessment

Manual Scavengers

Central Sector Scheme, ‘Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers’ (SRMS) under which identified manual scavengers and their dependents

• The number of deaths of sanitation workers while cleaning septic tanks and sewers has risen, despite a ban on manual scavenging, with 620 cases reported since 1993, of which 88 occurred in the past three years, according to the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry.

• Between 2016 and 2018, up to 123 manual scavengers have died on the job, as per the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK).

Women/ Girl child

The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme (BBBPS) is a flagship programme run by the central government to ensure the survival, protection and education of the girl child.

• Children in India 2018: report released by ministry of Statistics and Program implementation claimed that over 30% of girl students drop out of schools by the time they get to class IX and the number rises to 57% in class XI, according to the report.

Policy Formulation

Policy Implementation

Policy evaluation


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Elderly Senior Citizens Saving Scheme (SCSS): This is a government-backed savings instrument offered to Indian residents above the age of 60.

Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY): The scheme is managed by the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).Under this scheme the beneficiary is assured of 8 per cent per annum return on the deposit.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY):Launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment of Government of India. This scheme is only available to those senior citizens who are below poverty line cardholders.

• In India, the elderly population is estimated to reach 30 crores by 2050.

• Living conditions for the elderly haven’t improved in the past 15 years in India despite well-intentioned government schemes and policies, found a survey by Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) (a UN agency) and Agewell Foundation.

• Almost every 10th elderly person claimed to have been mistreated at home as well as public places. Over 46.82% of elderly people complained that there was no strong and effective mechanism to protect the human rights of older people in India.

Thus, we can say that although there are multiple efforts in place to enhance the living condition of the vulnerable sections, we need to push further to effectively cut them out of the vulnerable bracket. WAY FORWARD:

• As the Economic Survey of 2018-19 suggested, we need to imbibe the policy of ‘nudge’, especially for the implementation of welfare schemes for the vulnerable sections. For example, we effectively transformed BBBP to BADLAV (Beti Aapki Dhan Lakshmi Aur Vijay Lakshmi) in certain core areas which were primary focus of the scheme.

• The Assam Employees Parents Responsibility and Norms for Accountability and Monitoring (PRANAM) Bill (2017), makes it mandatory for state government employees to look after their aged and dependent parents and physically challenged siblings who do not have a source of income.

• Policies in this direction only, can make the vulnerable sections aware and have their active participation in the policies designed for their welfare.

• Only in such case will we implement the provisions of the Directive Principles of State Policy that puts certain obligations on the state to provide social welfare schemes for the vulnerable sections of the society in letter and spirit.

Q.19. “The long-sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed and marginalised Nations has disappeared on account of its new found role in the emerging global order” Elaborate.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: India as a representative of oppressed and marginalised Nations.

THE BODY

• The transition in India foreign policy.

• Reasons for this transition.

• How India found new role in emerging global order.

CONCLUSION: Conclude with the future perspective.


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Since 1947, India always represented the oppressed and marginalised countries at world level. Since 1947, there are three phases of India's foreign policy:

Phase 1: 1947 to 1990

After independence, India’s strategic outlook was shaped by Jawaharlal Nehru, who had a rosy view of socialist ideals. This led to foreign policy that was built on three key pillars: nonalignment in the international arena; preservation of autonomy in domestic affairs; and solidarity among developing nations, particularly those that had recently gained independence from colonial powers. To support this policy India started many Initiatives like NAM and SAARC. India sent its troop in many UN"S peace mission. India always supported the Human right movement and gave its support to the Nelson Mandela Movement against the racism in South Africa.

Phase 2: 1990 to 2014

This was the era of transition in India's foreign policy. India opened its economy through careful economic liberalization. After that a newfound pragmatism began to emerge and by the late 1990s India was willing to place its own national interest both economic and security ahead of broader ideas of global justice and equity. The high rates of economic growth ushered through domestic reforms attracted international investors and India’s strategic thinkers quickly captured this opportunity.

Phase 3: 2014 to onwards

In the last five years under present government, India has sought to play a greater role in solving global challenges and shaping the rules, norms, and processes that guide these efforts. India has become the first responder. Now, India is using hard power to resolve the issue as seen when India performed surgical strike after URI and Pulwama terror attack.

The changing image of India

Recent developments show that India foreign policy is shifting from as a representative of vulnerable to as a stockholder in world order.

• Three emerging shifts in the international order have played a key role in catalyzing India’s rising stature in the international order: terrorism, climate change, and the rise of China.

• In 2016, India announced that all countries should make legally binding commitments to meet key climate change goals a major shift in policy and then quickly ratified the Paris Agreement, drawing worldwide accolades for its goal of installing clean energy capacity that would equal 40 percent of the country’s total energy capacity by 2030.

• India refused to participate in SAARC summit.

• Vote against Sri Lanka on UN resolution.

• Security agreement with USA (LEMOA, BECA AND CAMCASA).

• G20agenda set by India.

• Invitation to India in G7 summit.

• In June, 2019 India voted in favour of Israel against Palestine in UN.

The above developments show that India is no longer a representative of vulnerable countries and want a respectful position in new world order. Economic attractiveness gave the country space to engage the rest of the world on its own terms. This meant that India would not give in easily on strategic issues, but it would at the same time be flexible and engage with the rest of a world to achieve win-win outcomes.


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Q.20. “What introduces friction into the ties between India and the United States is that Washington is still unable to find for India a position in its global strategy, which would satisfy India’s National self- esteem and ambitions” Explain with suitable examples.

Ans.

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION: Start with the India-USA relations with present era.

THE BODY

• How USA is still unable to find for India a position in its global strategy.

• What are the frictions between the relations of two countries?

• Give examples.

CONCLUSION: Conclude with the suggestions.

The relation between India and USA is uplifting year by year. After the signing of nuclear deal in 2006 the security ties between two countries has reached at the new height. Both countries are important partner in Indo-pacific region. The two countries have singed many security pacts Such as LEMOA, BECA and CAMSASA. In 2018, USA declared India as a major defence partner. Recently both countries have signed for a 2+2 dialogue. Apart from these, both countries actively cooperating in various security forums including in the newly formed Quad. The frictions between two countries' relations Although, the relations of the both countries is uplifting but the USA still is not able to find India as strategic partner in its global strategy and never looked India as an investment destination in defence and pass on state of art of technology as it did for Japan, South Korea and Israel. What are the reasons for

• Strategic Autonomy: As India is seeing itself as a Global power in 21st century and wants its strategy on its own terms.

• The Russia Factor: Since independence to 1990, Russia was the most important strategic partner for India and in present it is largest arms supplies. Recently India has signed S400 deal with Russia while USA was threatening India for sanctions.

• The Iran Factor: The hostility between USA and Iran is increasing day by day. India is among those countries which are the largest importer of Iranian oil and want to continue it. Apart from it, India is developing the Iranian port Chabahar.

• The China factor: The tussle between USA and China is on the floor under the trump presidency and India wants the healthy relations with both countries. It is creating dilemma for USA.

• America First policy: Present Government want to re-establish the American world order again and for that USA has take decisions like tariff hike, Sanctions and withdrawal from the multilateral initiative, which are hurting India also.

• Others: There are many other issues between two countries such as US withdrawn from Paris climate agreement, Subsidy issue in WTO and permanent seat in UNSC.

Although, USA is still unable to find for India a position in its global strategy and there are many frictions between them but the progress of relations between countries is satisfactory and in the changing scenario of world politics India's needs to develop to have its own strategic autonomy.


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UPSC GS PAPER III MATTER LUKMAAN IAS

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UPSC CSE GS (MAINS) 2019 PAPER-III

Q1. Enumerate the indirect taxes which have been subsumed in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. Also, comment on the revenue implications of the GST introduced in India since July 2017. Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about the GST in India

THE BODY

• List down the indirect taxes subsumed in the goods and services tax.

• Mention the impacts on revenue post GST

CONCLUSION: Show how proper implementation of GST is vital for the economy in times to come.

The introduction of the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill in December, 2014, made way for nationwide implementation of GST.GST is a destination based indirect tax which is considered to be on the biggest tax reform India has ever implemented. A number of direct and indirect taxes were subsumed with the implementation GST:

At the State level At the Centre Level

1. State Value Added Tax/Sales Tax 2. Entertainment Tax (Other than the

tax levied by the local bodies) 3. Octroi and Entry Tax 4. Purchase Tax 5. Luxury Tax 6. Taxes on lottery, betting, and

gambling.

1. Central Excise Duty 2. Additional Excise Duty 3. Service Tax 4. Additional Customs Duty (Countervailing

Duty) 5. Special Additional Duty of Custom

Revenue implications of GST Implementation:

• Tax buoyancy: As various technological and operational measures (like GSTN) are in place for GST implementation, tax evasion is nearly impossible. Hence, there is greater tax compliance and in turn greater revenue for the government. However, the growth of indirect taxes slowed to 5.80 per cent in 2017-18 compared to a growth of 21.33 per cent in 2016-17 according to CAG Report on GST.

• Story of revenue collection: The government's revenue collection has gone up. The average revenue collection per month in the eight months of 2017-18 was Rs 89,700 crore per month. This propelled the annual revenue collection by about 12 per cent.

• Fiscal federalism: It has been seen that after more than 2 years of GST implementation, the share of central revenues has overwhelmed the revenues of individual states. This enhances the


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dependability of States on Centre. Thus, the states are approaching the 15th Finance Commission for increased financial devolution.

• Distress to small-scale manufacturers and traders: The compliance to GST reforms has been cumbersome especially for the small-scale manufacturers and traders. For example, the inclusion of e-way was initially marked with operational friction. However, now the online system of compliance has made the process easier for the traders, thus more renumeration at the end.

Share of CGST and SGST

Conclusion: The triumph of GST lies in the fact that while it has successfully subsumed several state and central indirect taxes, reduced cascading and credit blockages, created a common market and brought uniformity of indirect tax law and rates across the country. However, if the implementation efficiency is not upto the mark, the final aim could not be achieved.

Q2. Do you agree with the view that steady GDP growth and low inflation have left the Indian economy in good shape? Give reasons in support of your arguments. Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Discuss India’s growth story in past few years

THE BODY

• Show how major financials reforms like Demonetization and GST have somewhat left the overall stability of the economy in question

CONCLUSION show some way outs by collaborations at various levels to revive the economy.

The economic survey (2018-19) quotes that India, continues to remain the fastest growing major economy in the world in 2018-19, despite a slight moderation in its GDP growth from 7.2 per cent in 2017-18 to 6.8 per cent in 2018-19. The past decade saw steady GDP growth and inflation rate following the global financial recession. However, the succeeding years of major financials reforms like Demonetization and GST have somewhat left the overall stability of the economy in question.


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• Jobless growth: The recent Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) (by NSSO) showed that unemployment rate in the country in FY18 was at 5.3% in rural India and 7.8% in urban India, resulting in overall unemployment rate of 6.1%. This is said to be an unprecedented rate of unemployment taking into consideration the last 4o years.

• Fiscal challenges: Although the GST promised reduced taxes to the end users, the corresponding outcomes haven’t been achieved in the broader sense. The government is still unable to address the issue of fiscal deficit. In fact, even the fiscal federalism seems to be under question with reduced income shares to the states post GST.

• Banking sector crisis: The crisis in banking and NBFC sector is evident from the recent cases like that of IL&FS and PMC bank. Since banking and finance are considered to be a core aspect of any economy, we can’t take an absolute stand that Indian economy is in a good shape.

• Fiscal stimulus: The government in the period of August-September 2019, has announced a series of fiscal stimulus measures, which shows that the economic slowdown is for real.

• Monetary policy: Although the RBI has reduced the repo rate by an unprecedented 1.35 per cent to 5.15 per cent, the end result isn’t coming out effectively in terms of reduced lending rates for common people. This follows an up to 8 per cent reduction in the corporate tax by the government and a withdrawal of the controversial enhanced surcharge on foreign portfolio investors (FPIs).

• Automobile and infrastructure: The primary reason for the recent fiscal stimulus is said to be the slowdown of the automobile industries. Further, even the infrastructure sector hasn’t shown significant growth in the past 3-4 years.

• Low inflation: Low inflation is a sign of a weak demand in the economy. Moderately high inflation signals growing consumption and spurs investment.

Conclusion: Thus, we can say that, although post subprime crisis, India had enjoyed a stable GDP growth coupled with an efficiently regulated inflation bracket, the current situation of the economy can’t be referred to as ‘in good shape’ in the literal sense. However, it can be said that various direct and indirect measures undertaken by the RBI and the government will be instrumental in bringing back the economy in good shape.

Q3. How far is the Integrated Farming System (IFS) helpful in sustaining agricultural production? Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Discuss in short, the concept of Integrated Farming System (IFS)

THE BODY

• give some examples of IFSs and their impact

CONCLUSION show how this could help in improving the on-farm income of small holders

Integrated Farming means to integrate crop production with livestock management which in a way complement each other with a nice symbiotic relationship and at the time is economically viable and profitable, environmentally suitable, and benefit giver of diversification of production. Sustainable agriculture means an integrated approach to increasing farm yield and managing resources in order to address all three critical aspects of sustainability: economic, environmental and social.

The IFS approach has multiple objectives of sustainability, food security, farmer security and poverty reduction. It involves output of one enterprise component as inputs for other related


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enterprises wherever feasible, for example, cattle dung mixed with crop residues and farm waste can be converted into nutrient-rich vermi-compost.

Small farm agriculture (up to 2 ha) holds the key to ensuring food and nutritional security of India

and nurturing them in right perspective with sustainable farming systems are essential for rural

prosperity. Holistic and innovative approaches of Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) provides ample

opportunities for the farmers which are as follows-

• Productivity enhancement: Increase yield and economic time by virtue of intensification of crop

and allied enterprise.

• Income enhancement: IFS as a whole provide opportunity to make use of recyclable waste

material of one component as input for other at the least or not cost at farm level. Thus, there is

a possibility for reduction of production cost of enterprises from one to another. Recycling also

reduces market dependency on inputs.

• On farm employment generation: Integration of other components with cropping increases the

labour requirement and thus provides scope of employ family labour round the year without

much lean and peak demand for labour.


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• Soil health improvement through recycling: Residue recycling is an integral part of the farming

systems. Considerable quantity of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium besides micro nutrients

can be generated within farm through recycling.

• Multiple uses of resources: Multiple uses of water for household, irrigation, dairy, poultry etc. is

best example. Small and medium sized water bodies can be brought under multi-component

production systems using in and around areas which will ultimately lead to improved income,

nutrition and livelihood and livelihood of small farm holdings.

• Risk reduction: IFS helps to reduce risk involved in farming especially due to market price crash

as well as natural calamities.

• Effective Self-reliance: The IFS model helps a farm-based household in becoming self-reliant in

6F’s- Food, Fodder, Feed, Fuel, Fibre and Fertilizer.

However, there are certain challenges too, associated with the IFS model. As majority of the

farmers in India are small and marginal, the financial crunch for effective IFS implementation will be

felt, at least in the short run. Religious perceptions, especially in the hinterland, may hinder poultry

our fisheries due to social norms. Further the present farming sector lacks adequate skill sets to

harness extension services required in IFS.

Conclusion: Diversification of existing farming systems with change in crops, cropping systems,

addition and improvement of livestock components, inclusion of horticulture, kitchen garden,

primary and secondary processing, boundary plantations are essential to improve the on-farm

income of small holders in India. This could well be a game changer in actualizing the goal of

doubling the Farm Income by 2022. This also paves way for meeting the household demand of

balanced food, improved recycling of nutrients and water besides increasing the on-farm

employment for family. Hence it can be said that it will provide a better path to sustainable

agriculture.


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Q4. Elaborate on the impact of the National Watershed Project in increasing agricultural production from water-stressed areas.

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Discuss the concept of Watershed management in short.

THE BODY

• Explain the National Watershed Management Project and show its impacts in the agricultural sector.

CONCLUSION show how this could become a learning for universal use of clean energies.

Watershed management is the process of guiding and organizing the use of land and other resources in a watershed to provide desired goods and services without adversely affecting soil and water resources. The process includes the storage and recharge of ground water by methods like percolation tanks, recharge wells, and artificial ponds. Timeline of National Watershed Project:

About the NWP:

• To be implemented by the World Bank assisted (50%) National Watershed Management Project ‘Neeranchal’.

• To be implemented at the National level as well as in the nine States of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana which are primarily drought prone states.

• It will create watershed assets for the PMKSY by ensuring access to irrigation to every farm (Har Khet KoPani) and efficient use of water (Per Drop More Crop).

• The watershed ‘plus’ approach which includes local participation, skilling and employment opportunities.

• Scientific planning of the projects by using IT, remote sensing techniques, GIS facilities for planning and monitoring & evaluation

Impact of the National Watershed Project (NWP):

• Demand crunch: While India houses about 18 per cent of world’s total population, it inhibits only about 4 per cent of total fresh water resources. Thus, Indian agriculture is largely rainfed.

• Fluctuations in rainfall: Considering the erratic climatic patterns coupled with Climate change, there couldn’t be complete dependence on rainfall for sustaining agriculture. No

1970s:

Drought Prone Areas Program (DPAP)

Dessert Development Program (DDP)

1990s:

Integrated Watershed Management Programme

(IWMP)

National Watershed Development Program for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA)

2015 Onwards:

IWMP to be implemented as component of

PMKSY-'Neeranchal' NWP


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wonder, our agricultural growth isn’t reaching double digit growth, water scarcity being one of the prime concerns.

Components of Watershed Management

How NWP will boost agricultural production:

• It will bring about institutional changes in watershed and rainfed agricultural management practices in India.

• It will build systems that ensure watershed programmes and rainfed irrigation management practices are better focused, and more coordinated, and have quantifiable results.

• By devising strategies for the sustainability of improved watershed management practices in programme areas, even after the withdrawal of project support.

• Through the watershed plus approach, support improved equity, livelihoods, and incomes through forward linkages, on a platform of inclusiveness and local participation.

• It is said to convert about 12% of wasteland into arable land. Thus, it could be a game changer for regions facing deficit of large dams or irrigation systems.

• Further, there would convergence of other schemes like KUSUM solar-irrigation pumps for better and multiple cropping opportunities over the year.

Conclusion:

There should be enhanced community participation like that showed by the local populace towards efforts like ‘Paani Foundation’. Even international experiences like that of Israel could be taken as role model for future implementation of NWP. Only then, the NWP can be instrumental in achieving multiple sustainable development goals along with enhanced agricultural productivity in India.

Watershed Management

Reduced surface runoff of rainwater

Increased Groundwater

levels

Improve the livelihood and

incomes

Community awareness to

global best practices

Integrated soil and water

conservation

Better irrigation management


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Q5. How was India benefitted from the contributions of Sir M.Visvesvaraya and Dr. M. S. Swaminathan in the fields of water engineering and agricultural science respectively?

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about both Sir M. Visvesvaraya and Dr. M. S. Swaminathan.

THE BODY

• Discuss their roles in their respective field and the how they have left a huge impact in India.

CONCLUSION: Show how their efforts has helped India in becoming self-sufficient in various sectors.

Sir M. Visvesvaraya and Dr. M. S. Swaminathan are two prominent personalities which are remembered in India due to the revolutionary efforts they have put in their respective fields.

Sir M Visvesvaraya Dr. M S Swaminathan

• Every year, India celebrates Engineer’s Day on the birth anniversary of M Visvesvaraya, considered to be the engineering pioneer of India.

• He played a major role in revolutionizing water availability in India. He spearheaded the invention of ‘automatic sluice gates’ and ‘block irrigation system’ which proved to be crucial in future. These are considered to be important inventions in providing regulated irrigation along with effective flood control.

• He played an instrumental role in the construction of the Krishna Raja Sagara Lake and dam in 1924. This dam not only became the main source of water for irrigation for the nearby areas, but was also the main source of drinking water for several cities. This model became the bedrock in construction of other dams in the future.

• Thus, he was awarded the prestigious ‘Bharat Ratna’ award in 1955 for his unmatched efforts in water engineering in India.

• Dr. M S Swaminathan is considered to be a pioneer in maneuvering India to sustainable development, especially using environmentally sustainable agriculture, sustainable food security and the preservation of biodiversity, which he calls to be ‘evergreen revolution’.

• MS Swaminathan along with Norman Borlaug, came up with the revolutionary ‘High Yield Variety’ (HYV) seeds when India was grappling with acute food crisis during the 1960s. These HYV seeds of rice and wheat were then introduced to farmers under the historic ‘Green Revolution’.

• Thus, he played a crucial role in making India self-sufficient in food grain production. No wonder, he is called as the “Father of Green Revolution in India”.

• Further, as the head of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), he also guided aspiring young scientists, thus expanding the extent of Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

• For his unprecedented efforts in the field of agriculture, he was conferred with the ‘Padma Vibhushan’ award in 1989.

Conclusion: Today, India is self-sufficient in food grains. In fact, India also exports food grains to drought prone nations as a goodwill gesture. Although still, the aspect of food grain diversification and ‘per drop more crop’ is a work under process, the contributions of Dr. MS Swaminathan have formed the bed rock for such unprecedented growth in food grain production. Similarly, India has taken long strides in attaining world class Dam infrastructure (like run of the river, hydropower, etc.) over the years. This development in providing perennial irrigation couldn’t have been achieved without the valuable contributions of M Visvesvaraya.


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Q6. What is India’s plan to have its own space station and how will it benefit our space programme?

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Discuss about ISRO’s plan to have its own space station

THE BODY

• Show some benefits of space station

CONCLUSION show how this could become a bedrock for future of space research in India.

A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting crew members, designed to remain in space for an extended period of time and for other spacecraft to dock.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chief Dr Sivan, recently said that ISRO plans to set up its own space station. The announcement comes as an intent to sustain the capabilities and the capacity being built in the country as a part of the Gaganyaan mission, the indigenous human spaceflight programme.

Benefits of space station:

• Ground for future missions: ISRO's Gaganyaan programme will establish mature capabilities in India, like having a human-rated rocket, the ability to train crew and the capacity to sustain life and safety of the crew on orbit and return them. The Indian Space Station could be gamechanger for such projects in coming future.

• Continued human presence and research: A space station can make it possible for people to have an ongoing presence in space. Further, space station's laboratories allow crew members to do research that could not be done anywhere else. This scientific research benefits people on Earth.

SPACE STATION

Large man-made

spacecraft

Comprehensive science lab

Crucial in future space research of other planetary

bodies

Crucial to sustain Manned space missions

Where astronauts live


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• Studying the Space: Scientists can also study what happens to the body when people live in

microgravity for a long time. This can be instrumental in future ambitions like ‘space

tourism’.

Conclusion: ISRO’s vision is to harness space technology for national development, while pursuing

space science research and planetary exploration. India’s own Space Station would certainly provide

the building blocks to successfully actualize future endeavors of ISRO.

Q7. Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats

to our environment. Analyze the impact of sand mining along the Indians

coasts, citing specific examples.

APPROACH

Introduction: Introduce sand mining.

The Body

• How sand mining is a threat to environment.

• The impact of the sand mining with examples.

Conclusion: Conclude with the suggestions.

India’s beaches are being mined for sand for a variety of uses (aggregate in concrete, fill, beach re-

nourishment). The practice is often very destructive and poorly managed (or unmanaged).

In India, the theft of beach and dune sand is a direct cause of erosion along many shorelines.

• It is very damaging to the beach fauna and flora, ruinous to beach aesthetics, and frequently

causes environmental damage to other coastal ecosystems associated with the beach such

as wetlands.

• This has caused major habitat disruptions that favoured some species over others and

caused overall declines in biological diversity and productivity.

• Another major impact of beach sand mining is the loss of protection from storms surges

associated with tropical cyclones and tsunamis. In 2004, T-sunami in the Indian Ocean had

higher storm surges probably due to beach sand mining resulting in fatalities. Sometimes it is

difficult to tell that a beach has been mined.

• Sand extraction becomes difficult to recognize as the beach readjusts to a new profile after a

few storms.

• Depletion of sand in the streambed and along coastal areas causes the deepening of rivers

and estuaries, and the enlargement of river mouths and coastal. Any volume of sand

exported from the streambeds and coastal areas is a very big loss to the system.

• It affects the adjourning ground water system and the uses that local people make from the

river.

• Factors that increase or decrease sediment supplies often destabilize bed and banks and result in dramatic channel readjustments.

• Apart from it, sand mining transforms the riverbeds in large and deep pits as a result the groundwater table drops leaving the drinking water wells on the embankments of these dry rivers.


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Mining is particularly senseless in a time of rising sea level when sand is sorely needed as a storm

energy buffer. At the time of Sand mining there are many factors like, its impact on environment and

vulnerability of areas should be considered.

Q8. Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and its

threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be

characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to

disasters.

APPROACH

Introduction: What is disaster vulnerability?

The Body

• Characteristics of disaster vulnerability.

• Different types of disaster vulnerability with reference to disasters.

Conclusion: End with a note.

Vulnerability describes the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that

make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard. There are many aspects of vulnerability,

arising from various physical, social, economic, and environmental factors.

Characteristics of vulnerability to disaster:

• Poor design and construction of buildings,

• Inadequate protection of assets,

• Lack of public information and awareness,

• Limited official recognition of risks and preparedness measures, and

• Disregard for wise environmental management.

There are mainly four types of vulnerability with reference to disaster:

1. Physical Vulnerability may be determined by aspects such as population density levels, remoteness of a settlement, the site, design and materials used for critical infrastructure and for housing. For Example: Wooden homes are less likely to collapse in an earthquake, but are more vulnerable to fire.

2. Social Vulnerability refers to the inability of people, organizations and societies to withstand adverse impacts to hazards due to characteristics inherent in social interactions, institutions and systems of cultural values. For example, when flood occurs some citizens, such as children, elderly and differently-able, may be unable to protect themselves.

3. Economic Vulnerability: The poor are usually more vulnerable to disasters because they lack the resources to build sturdy structures and put other engineering measures in place to protect themselves from being negatively impacted by disasters.

4. Environmental Vulnerability. Natural resource depletion and resource degradation are key aspects of environmental vulnerability. For Example, Wetlands are sensitive to increasing salinity from sea water.

Disaster vulnerability is like a torch bearer for better disaster preparedness and at the time of disaster preparedness such think should be considered with scientific manner.


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Q9. The banning of ‘Jammat-e-Islami’ in Jammu and Kashmir brought into focus the role of over-ground workers (OGWs) in assisting terrorist organizations. Examine the role played by OGWs in assisting terrorist organizations in insurgency affected areas. Discuss measures to neutralize influence of OGWs.

APPROACH

Introduction: Start with the ban on Jammat-e-Islami.

THE BODY

• What are over-ground workers?

• How they assist the terror organisations.

• Measures to neutralize their influence.

Conclusion: Conclude with the future perspective.

In March 2019, the central government banned Jammat-e-Islami for five years due to its alleged pro

separatist activities and support to terrorist organisation. It was alleged that the organisation is

helping terror organisation through its network of over ground workers. After this development, the

issues of over-ground workers came into the focus.

The over-ground workers:

Over ground workers do not the active members of terror organisations but their supporters. They

organisations use them for proxy. They work as a informer, funder and organizer for terror activities.

In case of Jammu and Kashmir the issue is more serious.

Role played by OGWs in assisting of terror organisations

1. Financial support

• They provide the financial support for terror activities and in case of Jammu and Kashmir

they terrorists need monetary support to carry out their activities. This is provided through

various sympathizers including the groups which function in the guise of social organisations.

2. Political support

• Many groups have strong political base and they use it to influence official authorities They

also provide immunity against arrest.

3. Social sympathy

• They organises meeting and try to create social sympathy for terror organizations.

4. Logistic support:

• Provides logistic support for terror activities.

4. Recruitment for terrorists: They recruit the youth for terror organizations.

5. Mobilizing stone pelters: They mobilize the stone pelters.

Measures to neutralize their influence:

• Awareness

• Strong local intelligence

• Active involvement of local police for better coordination.

• Stoppage of terror funding, which is the mains cause of such activities.

• To avoid such activities, need to cleanness in Institutions.


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In the fight against terrorism, the issue of over-ground workers has become very serious and to stop

such activities in future, government needs to tackle the issue very carefully otherwise, it can spread

more radicalization in sensitive areas.

Q10. What is Cyber Dome Project? Explain how it can be useful in controlling internet crimes in India.

APPROACH

Introduction: Start with the recent development in Kerala.

THE BODY

• What is Cyber Dome project.

• How this project is helpful in controlling the internet crime.

Conclusion: End with the suggestions.

The Cyber Dome is a Centre of Excellence for Kerala Police, to meet the long term security challenges in the digital arena of the modern world, by bridging the gap between the latest changes and innovations in the cyber space and the skill set development of Kerala Police, in combating the emerging cyber threats. It is envisaged as a collaboration Centre for both the public and private fraternity to converge and share information, as well as resources, which will escalate the safety of our cyber space.

Objectives and aims

• The primary objective of Cyberdome is to prevent cyber crimes and ensure that our cyber resources are secured.

• It is to prevent cybercrimes through developing a cyber threat resilient ecosystem in the state to defend against the growing threat of cyber attacks by synergizing with other departments and nodal agencies of the state.

THE PROJECT CAN BE HELPFUL IN FOLLOWING MANNERS:

• It has developed cyber-surveillance tools to detect and convict those responsible for industrial espionage.

• It has used social engineering as the lynchpin of its policing strategy to snoop on radical groups that use the net for extremist activities.

• It has also launched a covert cyber-surveillance and infiltration programme to crack down on child pornography.

o The entities have cobbled together an international alliance that entails transfer and development of the latest artificial intelligence-powered cyber tools to crack down on a wide range of crimes.

o The Interpol has granted the State police access to its latest cyber investigation tool, the Internet Crimes Against Children and Child Online Protective Services (ICACCOPS) programme.

▪ It helps law enforcers conduct targeted surveillance of persons who share and trade child pornography on peer-to-peer user networks.

• In 2017, Cyberdome notched up a remarkable victory when it forewarned the Kerala government of a possible ransomware attack.

• It got praise from the state government for its successful propaganda war against online games such as Blue Whale, which encourages youngsters to engage in death-defying daredevilry, which had caused a few deaths in the country and spawned concern among parents.


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Cyber crimes have become the most challenging task in present era. The project like Cyber Dome can control/minimize such activities. So, the project like Cyber Dome should be implemented at pan Indian level.

Q11. It is argued that the strategy of inclusive growth is intended to meet the objectives of inclusiveness and sustainability together. Comment on this statement. Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Discuss the concept of Inclusive growth.

THE BODY

• Show with the help of some facts the story of inclusive growth in India

• Also show some positives in the end show some measure to be undertaken

CONCLUSION show how inclusive growth complemented by the SDG’s are essential for India.

Inclusive growth emphasizes that the economic opportunities created by growth are

available to all particularly the poor, to the maximum possible extent. We may thus define inclusive

growth as growth that not only creates new economic opportunities, but also ensures equal access

to the opportunities created for all segments of society, particularly for the poor. The UN’s

Brundtland Report defined Sustainable Development as the development that meets the needs of

the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

India and inclusive growth:

• Inclusive employment opportunities: The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) of the National

Sample Survey Office (NSSO) released on Friday showed the unemployment rate in the country

in FY18 was at 5.3% in rural India and 7.8% in urban India, resulting in overall unemployment

rate of 6.1%. Thus, although India has achieved sustained economic growth over past few years,

it would be termed as a ‘jobless growth’.

• Increased inequality: According to the recent Oxfam inequality report, India's top 1% bag 73% of

the country's wealth. Thus, although we can say that although there is a private boom over the

years in India, the desired income equality isn’t visible.

• Gender inequality: India has a dismal performance in terms of global gender equality indexes.

Whether it be inequality in wage or the society as a whole, inequality with women is still

present. For example, India performed poorly in the overall gender gap ranking by the World

Economic Forum (WEF) in 2018 (India scored a low 108 out of the 149 countries). However,

given that women in India are now part of important domains like defence, entrepreneurs, etc.

we can say that things are changing.

• Environmental degradation: Although India has undertaken enormous infrastructural projects

ranging from bullet trains to multi-modal transport corridors, the forest cover has been

constantly under stress. This can’t be termed as a sustainable development. However, India’s

commitment in the INDCs establishes the fact that India is working to compensate the damages

it is currently inflicting on the environment.


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In wake of securing inclusive growth, various measures can be implemented:

Job growth • Integrated Farming System to be devised for alternative source of

income.

• Need to focus on labour intensive industries like apparel and textiles

(like Khadi, handloom) as they are sustainable and environmentally safe.

Sustainable

use of

resources

• The NITI Aayog had mentioned the concept of ‘Circular Economy’ which

promotes efficient use of raw materials coupled with sustainable reuse.

• Use of Agricultural waste in biofuel is a good example.

• Similarly, waste can be recycled or used like plastic used in road making,

promotion of community awareness like ‘Garbage Festival’ in

Chhattisgarh.

Sustainable

mobility

• The conventional energy sources are increasing Climate Change impacts

on earth. Further, we need to move towards sustainable green mobility

before we exhaust all the conventional resources. Thus, alternatives like

water and electric mobility is the way to go.

• Even the aspect of accessibility to ‘Divyang’ can be included like present

in the Delhi Metro.

Improved skill

India

• Especially to the rural populace which can provide alternative job

opportunities.

SDGs associated with inclusive growth

Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth

• Over the past 25 years the number of workers living in extreme poverty has declined dramatically, despite the lasting impact of the 2008 economic crisis and global recession. In developing countries, the middle class now makes up more than 34 percent of total employment – a number that has almost tripled between 1991 and 2015.

Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities

• More than half of us live in cities. By 2050, two-thirds of all humanity—6.5 billion people—will be urban. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without significantly transforming the way we build and manage our urban spaces.

• Making cities sustainable means creating career and business opportunities, safe and affordable housing, and building resilient societies and economies. It involves investment in public transport, creating green public spaces, and improving urban planning and management in participatory and inclusive ways.

Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

• Achieving economic growth and sustainable development requires that we urgently reduce our ecological footprint by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources. Agriculture is the biggest user of water worldwide, and irrigation now claims close to 70 percent of all freshwater for human use.

• A large share of the world population is still consuming far too little to meet even their basic needs. Halving the per capita of global food waste at the retailer and consumer levels is also important for creating more efficient production and supply chains. This can help with food security, and shift us towards a more resource efficient economy.

Conclusion: Providing equal opportunity to disadvantageous section of society, in growth story of India will not only help achieve welfare state as enshrined in economic philosophy of constitution


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but also, will be impetus to growth. It will improve human indicators which will help convergence of developmental goal to Economic growth one.

Q12. The public expenditure management is a challenge to the government of India in the context of budget-making during the post-liberalization period. Clarify it. Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Discuss the concept of Public expenditure management

THE BODY

• Show some challenges in Public expenditure management

• Discuss why the budgetary allocations always face the dilemma between entitlement and empowerment

CONCLUSION: Show how Budget plays an important role in fulfilling the aspirations of people in India. Thus the allocations must be planned carefully.

Public expenditure management includes allocation of government’s economic resources into channels like administration, economic growth and welfare schemes. In the aftermath of the LPG reforms of 1991, the management of public expenditure is facing challenges.

Public expenditure challenges:

• Awareness of Rights: Right to education, right to food, right to work (MGNREGA), etc. have become legal rights. Globalization led to increased intensity of demands like 24/7 electricity, clean water, internet and so on.

• Defence stronghold: India’s Defence expenditure stands at a whopping $ 61.96 billion in 2019.

• Agrarian inclination: Major budgetary allocations are concentrated towards poverty and food/agriculture sector.

• Legal turbulence: The concepts of ‘economic slowdown’ and FRBM act have forced governments allocations towards fiscal stimulus rather than welfare schemes.

• Private boom: Difficult for government to keep stronghold on PSUs (e.g. Formation of DIPAM to secure disinvestments). Government amongst the largest employers (e.g. Indian Railways). However, jobs not multiplying. So, Indian railways moving towards privatization.

Other challenges:

The budgetary allocations always face the dilemma between entitlement and empowerment because:

• Fiscal constraints: The government faces fiscal burden every year on account of both entitlements as well as empowerment. however, empowerment related welfare measures lead to reduction in entitlements in near future. therefore, the government with agenda of 'Minimum government and maximum governance' (such as present government) faces dilemma between entitlement and empowerment.

• Populist policies: The government tries to adopt entitlement approach whenever the elections are to be held in near time. e.g. present government announced PM-KISAN scheme, in interim budget in February 2019, just before general elections 2019. While, in general the focus of the government is on empowerment approach.

• Antodaya approach: Though the government may largely focus on empowerment approach in welfare schemes, it has to protect the vulnerable and marginal sections of society. for them, government has to adopt Antodaya approach based on entitlements.


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Way forward: Empowerment over entitlement

• Sensible rationalization requires a coherent strategic framework; one that aligns schemes with welfare goals and specific developmental needs of states.

• The World Bank calls for developing a national social protection strategy with a core basket of welfare schemes that states can adapt to their needs.

• Women experts have pointed out that in terms of gender budgeting for women and children budgets allocated by the central government for the implementation of laws and schemes benefiting women and children continue to be low and inadequate. This needs to change in coming times.

Conclusion: Budget plays an important role in fulfilling the aspirations of people in India. After the representatives of the people form required laws and policies for public welfare, it is the budget that provides the monetary fuel to the concerned ministries for implementation of these schemes. Instead of farm loan waivers, focus should be on making the farmers capable enough to generate sustainable growth in income and productivity

Q13. What are the reformative steps taken by the government to make food grain distribution system more effective? Ans:

APPROACH INTRODUCTION • Discuss the process of food distribution in India.

THE BODY • Give some reformative steps taken by the government to make food grain distribution system more effective CONCLUSION show the need for effective food distribution in India.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution along with its statutory arm, Food Corporation of India (FCI) are responsible for food grain distribution in India. Ever since the independence, there have been perennial challenges in Food grain distribution.

Challenges in public food distribution

Spillover effects of fluctuations

in the Minimum Support Price

Hoarding of food stock by local traders

Problem of Ghost cards

Technological contraints after

advent of Aahaar

Variable implementatio

n intensity especially in rural areas

Enormous costs of storage and transportation


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Reformative steps taken by the government to make food grain distribution system more effective:

• Automation of Fair Price Shops: Department of Food & Public Distribution prescribed the guidelines and specifications for use of PoS at FPS.

• Direct Benefit Transfer (Cash): “Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rules, 2015” under which food subsidy is directly credited to the account of the beneficiaries. At present Chandigarh, Puducherry and Dadra & Nagar Haveli are implementing this scheme.

• Aadhaar Seeding in PDS: To weed out duplicate/in-eligible/bogus ration cards and to enable rightful targeting, about 77 per cent ration cards have been Aadhaar seeded.

• Deletion of ration cards: As an outcome of digitization of Ration Cards/beneficiary records, de-duplication due to Aadhaar seeding, transfer/migration/deaths, change in economic status of beneficiaries and during the run-up to and implementation of NFSA a total of 2.33 crore ration cards have been deleted/cancelled. Based on this the Government has been able to achieve Rightful Targeting of Food Subsidies of about Rs 14,000 Crore per annum.

• Digital/Cashless/Less-cash Payments in PDS: To promote the use of less-cash/digital payment mechanisms, the government has issued detailed guidelines for use of UPI, USSD, Debit/Rupay Cards and e-Wallets.

• Use of web-based citizens' portal publicises grievance redressal machinery, such as toll-free number for call centres to register complaints or suggestions like the one implemented in Chhattisgarh

• Integrated management of PDS (IM-PDS)/ One Nation One Ration Card to connect all ration cards to a centralized server. This will be especially useful for migrant workers.

FCI Reforms

• Use of modern technology in storage and Depot Online System: To bring all operations of FCI Godowns online and to check leakages and automate operations at depot level.

• Use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to track movement of trucks carrying food grains from state depots to FPS.

CONCLUSION: Given that India ranks at a dismal position in the Global Hunger Index, as close to 21 per cent Indians live below poverty line, the Public Distribution System remains the most credible source to ensure food security and human development. These steps by the government should be implemented in letter and spirit for securing the SDG goal number 2 of eradicating Hunger by 2030.

Q14. Elaborate on the policy taken by the government of India to meet the challenges of the food processing sector. Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief introduction about the concept of Food processing

THE BODY

• Enumerate some GOI policies to revive food processing

CONCLUSION show that food processing sector in inevitable if GOI has to reach the ambitious target of doubling farm income by2022.

Food processing is the transformation of agricultural raw materials into food through chemical and mechanical processes. In India, food processing is considered to be a ‘sunrise sector’ considering the enormous prospects it has in India. However, due to several infrastructural and supply chain problems, the desired results haven’t been achieved yet in this sector.


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GOI policies to revive food processing:

➢ Mega Food Parks: The Scheme of Mega Food Park aims at providing a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market by bringing together farmers, processors and retailers so as to ensure maximizing value addition, minimizing wastage, increasing farmers income and creating employment opportunities particularly in rural sector.

➢ Including all processing sector under one scheme ‘SAMPADA’:PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana is a comprehensive package which will result in creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet. It will not only provide a big boost to the growth of food processing sector in the country but also help in providing better returns to farmers and is a big step towards doubling of farmers income, creating huge employment opportunities especially in the rural areas, reducing wastage of agricultural produce, increasing the processing level and enhancing the export of the processed foods.

➢ Operation Greens:

• Enhancing value realisation of TOP farmers by targeted interventions to strengthen TOP production clusters and their FPOs, and linking/connecting them with the market.

• Price stabilisation for producers and consumers by proper production planning in the TOP clusters and introduction of dual use varieties.

• Reduction in post-harvest losses by creation of farm gate infrastructure, development of suitable agro-logistics, creation of appropriate storage capacity linking consumption centres.

• Increase in food processing capacities and value addition in TOP value chain with firm linkages with production clusters.

• Setting up of a market intelligence network to collect and collate real time data on demand and supply and price of TOP crops

➢ Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Vigyan Gram Sankul Pariyojana: Local resources and locally available skill sets will be utilised using S&T under the scheme for substantial value addition for local produce and services which can sustain rural population. The areas selected under these clusters will process and add value to milk, honey, horticulture and local crops, herbal tea, mushroom, forest produce, medicinal & aromatic plants and traditional craft and handloom.

➢ Agriculture Export Policy: It aims to double the agricultural produce by 2022 by a holistic approach to boost exports which includes development of forward and backward linkages and value addition through processing. It aims to boost investment in food processing sector.

Challenges to food

processing

Restraint to contract

farming

Inconsistent APMC laws

Low quality & transportation

loss of food grains

Inadequate infrastructure

Limited last mile

connectivity


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➢ APEDA: It assures quality of the processed agricultural produce to make it export oriented. Along with it FASSAI, ICAR, etc. are investing in R&D to achieve better fortification and quality.

CONCLUSION: To conclude, if GOI has to reach the ambitious target of doubling farm income by2022, tapping full potential of food processing industry remains an imperative.

Q15. How is the government of India protecting traditional knowledge of medicine from patenting by pharmaceutical companies? Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Discuss the concept of Traditional knowledge

THE BODY

• Enumerate initiatives taken by government to prevent use of its traditional knowledge base from patenting

CONCLUSION show the importance of protecting traditional knowledge

Traditional knowledge refers to the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities developed from experience gained over the centuries and adapted to the local culture and environment. Rapid bio-prospecting in modern era as led to unethical patenting of various drugs (Bio-Piracy) by large pharmaceutical companies.

Initiatives taken by government to prevent use of its traditional knowledge base from patenting:

Legislative Administrative

• National Biological Diversity Act o Regulates access by a

foreigner/ NRI/ body corporate having foreign participation

o Prior permission required by any entity seeking IPRs “based on knowledge/resource

• TKDL: Digitalization of the traditional medicinal knowledge- available in public domain in the form of existing literature related to codified systems of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Yoga.

o Objective - protect the ancient and traditional knowledge of the country from exploitation through bio-piracy and unethical patents.

Institutions and initiatives

promoting Traditional Knowledge

Traditional Knowledge Digital

Library (TKDL)

Intellectual Property Rights-TRIPS

Ministry of Ayush

Patent Regulation

Council of Scientific and

Industrial Research

(CSIR)


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obtained from India.”

• State Biodiversity Board (SBB) o Regulates access by Indian

citizen/ body corporate controlled by Indian citizens

• Biodiversity Management Committees (at local level)

o Preparation of Peoples’ Biodiversity Registers

o Respond to requests from NBA and SBB

• Patents Act (Section 3(p))

• Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act

• Geographical Indications Act

• Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006

o Access to around 3,30,044 Traditional Medicinal Formulations is available to 10 Patent Offices in patent compatible format in five international languages under TKDL Access Agreement. (EPO, USPTO, JPO, CIPO, UKPTO, IP Australia, IPO, DPMA-German, Chile and Malaysia).

To date the TKDL has enabled the cancellation or withdrawal of a large number of patent applications attempting to claim rights over the use of various medicinal plants. Example, Neem Case, Turmeric Case, Basmati Case, etc. all won by India against other countries.

• TKRC (Traditional Knowledge Resource Classification)

• Community level databases- PBRs (People's Biodiversity Registers)

Other initiatives:

o Besides setting up of TKDL, Yoga has since been inscribed in UNESCO’s representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

o Indian Patent Office has also brought out Guidelines for processing Patent Applications relating to Traditional Knowledge and Biological Material to help Patent examiner to analyze what constitutes novelty and inventive step in Traditional Knowledge (TK) related invention.

Conclusion: India’s medical tourism industry is ever increasing. Thus, the ancient and indigenous ‘traditional knowledge’ needs to be preserved, so as to maneuver India’s role in curing the world with traditional remedies.

Q16. How can biotechnology improve the living standards of farmers?

Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Discuss the concept of biotechnology and its role in agriculture.

THE BODY

• Give Steps of Genetic Modification

• Applications of Biotechnology in agriculture

CONCLUSION give a futuristic conclusion about use of biotechnology.

The practice of converting living organisms into more efficient products and processes by means of ‘genetic modification’ for specific use can be termed as Biotechnology. Such modification in genes is possible by altering the chemistry of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), which is pivotal in development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms. Biotechnology has widespread applications in diverse fields like agriculture, human health, food processing, waste treatment and so on.


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Steps of Genetic Modification:

Applications of Biotechnology in agriculture:

The DNA of plants used in agriculture are modified using genetic engineering techniques. Plants, bacteria, fungi and animals whose genes have been altered by manipulation are called Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).

In recent times, the impacts of genetic engineering have been largely felt and discussed in the field of agriculture:

IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE

Positives impacts:

• We could get enhanced nutritional value of food, e.g., increased Vitamins, proteins, etc.

• Made crops more to various conditions (cold, drought, salt, heat).

• It could help in reduced use of chemical pesticides (pest-resistant crops) and longer plant life.

• Increased food production for perennial food security (e.g. GM Mustard).

• Helps in reducing carbon footprint indirectly by producing plants capable of climate resilience.

• Can help in producing disease resistant livestock breed. For example, transgenic cattle breeds can provide fortified and more nutritious milk.

Negative impacts:

• Cross pollination could lead to ‘super weeds’

• May have negative impact on biodiversity of local area due to increased competition amongst local species.

• Psychological fear among people for use of GM Crops.

Prospects of Biotechnology in Indian agriculture:

• Farming of water intensive crops such as sugarcane in drought prone regions such as Marathwada and paddy in Punjab often leads to water scarcity and soil salinity respectively.

• Thus, biotechnology can help in producing climate resilient crops.

• Although India has the largest population of cattle and livestock, still there is scope for increasing overall productivity of dairy products, given the ever-increasing population.

• This could also provide a big boost to the prospects of Integrated Farming System (IFS).

Further, India has dedicated department named Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under the Ministry of Science and Technology which looks after different types of genetic modification which can be helpful in farming practices.

Conclusion: Thus, although India has a huge scope for integrating biotechnology with agriculture, there exists certain challenges. However, given that India has the world’s second largest population to be fed, along with various regional aspirations like doubling farm income, there is a need to look upon biotechnology as an opportunity rather than a challenge.


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Q17. Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region.

APPROACH

Introduction: What is carrying capacity of an ecosystem.

THE BODY

• How Carrying capacity is relevant to an environment.

• Why the concept is helpful in the sustainable development in any region.

Conclusion: End with the suggestions.

Carrying capacity describes the maximum number of individuals or species an specific environment's resources can sustain for an indefinite period of time without degrading it. The concept is very important to the providing of food, water and other necessities to the species in a particular ecosystem. For example, Earth is an ecosystem which has its own carrying capacity and beyond that capacity it will not be able to sustain human population.

The concept of carrying capacity is very helpful in the sustainable development in many terms:

1. For Food Availability

Food and water availability in any habitat is paramount to survival of a species. If there is balance between the availability of food/water and population of species, they usually do not suffer from food stress. If the food stress occurred due to the unsustainable planning, the wildlife will come out from that area and there will be the condition like Human-wildlife conflict.

2. To save the Ecological Conditions

Conditions within or adjacent to an environment affects its carrying capacity. For example, if the environment is located close to a human population, this may affect its carrying capacity. The other example is hilly areas, which have their own ecological conditions but unsustainable tourism in recent time is affecting them. The flood in Kashmir or disaster in Uttrakhand was the result of this unsustainable planning.

3. Needed Space for species

Animals need a place to shelter from poor conditions, and to provide a place for reproduction. Sufficient space within a habitat allows the animals that inhabit it better opportunities to find adequate food and water. Without sufficient space, animals can become stressed and it impacts their health.

So the concept of carrying capacity should be kept in mind while there is planning for sustainable development of any ecological area otherwise it will be the result of ecological/environmental disaster.

Q18. Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help disaster mitigation in the case of landslides.

APPROACH

Introduction: Define the term Disaster preparedness

THE BODY

• Why disaster is first step in disaster management.

• What is Hazard zonation mapping?

• How zonation mapping is helpful in the mitigation of landslide disaster?

Way forward: How zonation mapping can be better.


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Disaster preparedness refers to measures taken to prepare for and reduce the effects of disasters. That is, to predict and, where possible, prevent disasters, mitigate their impact on vulnerable populations, and respond to and effectively cope with their consequences.

Its provides a platform to design effective, realistic and coordinated planning, reduces duplication of efforts and increase the overall effectiveness of National Societies, household and community members disaster preparedness and response efforts. Disaster preparedness activities embedded with risk reduction measures can prevent disaster situations and also result in saving maximum lives and livelihoods during any disaster situation, enabling the affected population to get back to normalcy within a short time period.

Hazard zonation mapping?

• Landslide hazard zonation is an important step in landslide investigation and landslide risk management. Landslides are natural events, but may turn into hazard and cause loss of lives and damage to man-made and natural structures. It is very difficult to predict the landslide but based on the past experience with the factors like geology, slope, land use and human activities we can divide the landslide prone areas that is called Hazard zonation mapping. So, hazard zonation mapping at regional level of a large area provides a broad trend of landslide potential zones.

How zonation mapping is helpful in the mitigation of landslide disaster?

• With the help of zonation mapping ewe can identify the high to very high vulnerable areas.

• Areas of intense human activities such as construction of road, dams high rainfalls regions with steep slopes.

• We can prepare the landslides zones for individual areas, districts for special attention.

• We can use the information in rainy season, which is very prone to the landslides, in many terms such as:

➢ Better management of traffic. ➢ Spread awareness. ➢ Ban on construction and new projects. ➢ Sifting the people in safe zones ➢ Keeping NDRF and SDRF personnel on standby

Hazard zonation mapping is very helpful to minimize the human lives loss and better disaster preparedness. For the enhancement of zonation mapping, the disaster management agencies should take the help of different organizations such as for mapping it can seek the help from ISRO.

Q19. Indian government has recently strengthened the anti-terrorism laws by amending the unlawful activities (Prevention) act (UAPA), 1967 and the NIA Act. Analyze the changes in the context of prevailing security environment while discussing the scope and reasons for opposing the UAPA by human rights organizations. Ans:

APPROACH

INTRODUCTION

• Give a brief idea about both the acts

THE BODY

• list the provisions of NIA and UAPA acts

• comment on the credibility of both the amendments

CONCLUSION show that although preserving national/internal security is of prime importance for India, it should be ensured that the law doesn't punish innocent people.


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Recently, the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha. The Act provides for a national-level agency to investigate and prosecute offences listed in a schedule (scheduled offences).

Also, on the sidelines, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019 (UAPA) was introduced in Lok Sabha. The Act provides special procedures to deal with terrorist activities, among other things. Some prominent provisions of both the acts are as follows:

National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill

Scheduled offences: The NIA would be having investigating and prosecuting powers regarding offences related to the following Acts/Provisions:

• Explosive Substances Act, 1908

• Human trafficking

• Counterfeit currency or bank notes

• Manufacture or sale of prohibited arms

• Cyber-terrorism

Jurisdiction and Powers of the NIA: Additional authority to investigate scheduled offences committed outside India in accordance with international treaties and domestic laws of other countries. Power to Central Government to direct certain cases to the NIA which have been committed in India.

Who is a terrorist?

The central government can now designate individuals as terrorist on similar grounds by means of the 'Fourth Schedule' to the original Act, which will include such names.

Who will give approval for seizure of property?

Investigating officer (of NIA) is required to obtain the prior approval of the Director General of NIA to seize properties that may be connected with terrorism.

Who can investigate?

Officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above

Issues with the amendments:

Issues with the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill

Issues with the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill

➢ Possible encroachment of Constitutional Provisions:

• Schedule VII: Maintenance of public order and police forces are matters upon which state governments could legislate, and not the Union.

• Criminal law and procedure are matters, which may be legislated upon by both the Union as well as state governments.

• For ordinary criminal investigations and prosecutions, the state governments have the authority to prosecute such crimes.

➢ Threat to Cooperative Federalism: National Investigation Agency (NIA) empowered to seize property as part of investigations into terror cases, with prior approval of the Director General of NIA.

➢ Alterations in power structure: Earlier, officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police or above could conduct investigations. However, the proposed

➢ Rights Issue: Opposition outrage regarding misuse of act on certain individuals. Possible restriction of rights to social activists. Constitution of India provides for fundamental rights to the individual, which may be misused.

➢ The Basic Structure: Possible impact on the ideal of cooperative federalism due provision of seizure of property by lower rank NIA officials.

➢ Empowering the Empowered: Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment act already quite powerful (e.g. allowing up to 180 days’ custody without filing charge sheets and incarceration during trial).

➢ Conflict of interests: The United Nations Special Rapporteur, to which India is party is itself not in tandem with the proposed law. It holds that to call an offense a 'terrorist act', three elements must be cumulatively present: ➢ The means used must be deadly


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amendment additionally empowers the officers of the NIA of the rank of Inspector or above with the same powers.

➢ More power to the Central Government: NIA already being a completely central government appointed body, is entitled with numerous powers. Further adding up to the authority of NIA could lead to arbitrations.

➢ Expansion of Schedule: Section 66F of the Information Technology Act which deals with cyber terrorism has been put in the schedule. However, in absence of Data Protection law in India, this could lead to encroachment of privacy of individuals.

➢ Vague Provisions: The term “affecting the interest of India” which provides additional powers to the NIA is undefined. Further, even the laws/offences added in the schedule don't mention “affecting the interest of India” as an offence to be punished. There could be possible attempts to curb freedom of speech and expression.

➢ The intent behind the act must be to cause fear among population or to compel a government or international organisation to do or refrain from doing something;

➢ The aim must be to further an ideological goal.

➢ No right to legal remedy: The amendments do not provide any legal consequence in case an individual is designated a terrorist. Mere designation will not lead to any conviction, imprisonment, fine, disqualifications or any sort of civil penalties. Thus, experts have termed this act as mere instrument of ‘defaming’ an individual which even overrides the ideals of natural justice.

Thus, the human rights organizations have enough reasons for opposing the UAPA amendment bill as introduced by the GOI.

Conclusion:

• GOI claims that the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019 are introduced to send a strong message to various organizations/individuals associated with terrorism, that India will no longer apply a 'soft power' approach towards terrorism.

• However, in the process, the GOI must not encroach upon Constitutional provisions like the Fundamental Rights or the cooperative federalism as administered by the VIIth Schedule.

• Although preserving national/internal security is of prime importance for India, it should be ensured that the law doesn't punish innocent people.

Q20. Cross-Border movement of insurgents is only one of the several security challenges facing the policing of the border in North-East India. Examine the various challenges currently emanating across the India-Myanmar border. Also, discuss the steps to counter the challenges.

APPROACH

Introduction: Present scenario of India-Myanmar border.

THE BODY

• The challenges on India-Myanmar border

• Step to counter these challenges.

Conclusion: End with the future perspective.

North-East border is very challenging task for Indian security forces. The management on this side has remained a crucial and complex issue. In an age of increasing interdependence, threats from unconventional sources pose a greater challenge to the country's security. An unmanaged border accentuates such threats by providing easy points of ingress and egress.


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The challenges on India-Myanmar border:

1. The normality of crossing the border

• Since the inception of insurgency in the Northeast in the 1950s, the Naga, Mizo, Meitei, and Assamese insurgents have been crossing over into Myanmar to set up bases, especially in the Chin state. The shelter and support that the Indian insurgent groups receive from across the border have been one of the most important factors which has helped them in sustaining their rebellion even when faced with the superior might of the Indian security forces.

2. Gun running and drug trafficking across the India-Myanmar border

• Rampant gun running and drug trafficking are other significant security challenges. The Indian insurgent groups have been procuring arms from the black markets of Southeast Asia as well as from Myanmar-based rebel groups such as the United Wa State Army (UWSA).

3. Narcotics and the ‘Golden Triangle’

• India-Myanmar border is vulnerable to trafficking of heroin and amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) produced in Myanmar. These narcotics are trafficked into India through the states of Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland

4. Free Movement Regime (FRM)under the 1967 boundary agreement

• The FMR permits the tribes residing along the border to travel 16-km across the boundary without visa restrictions to continue maintain their age old ties but its provisions are exploited by the Indian insurgents to cross over to Myanmar unrestricted and establish safe havens. It also been misused to smuggle in drugs, weapons and other contraband.

5. The terrain of the India-Myanmar border

• The terrain of the India-Myanmar border adds to its vulnerability. High mountains, deep river channels together with lush forest characterise the borderland. Such a terrain does not lend itself easily to the construction of means of transportation and communication, and as a result, the border area remains sparsely populated with depressed economic development. Absence of roads, communication links and other border guarding infrastructure also adversely affect policing as they hamper the easy and rapid movement of the border guarding forces along the border.

6. Inadequate attention by Indian government

• Attention accorded to the India-Myanmar border by the Indian government has been woefully inadequate. Efforts to build a 10 km fence to prevent cross-border movement of insurgents have also been stalled because of protests by local residents. More importantly, the Indian government’s efforts to garner Myanmar’s help in addressing the insurgency issue by jointly managing the India-Myanmar border have not produced desired results in the past.

Step to counter these challenges

it is imperative that India strengthens security of the border and redoubles its efforts to meaningfully engage Myanmar to effectively manage this border. To begin with,

• Needs to give the Assam Rifles the sole responsibility of guarding the India-Myanmar border and strengthen it with adequate manpower and equipment.

• Through sustained community interaction programmes, the border community should be sensitised to participate in the nation building project.

• International borders are best managed when neighbours cooperate to secure their mutual borders. For such cooperation to materialise, a political and diplomatic initiative requires to be carefully crafted.


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India has been constructively engaging Myanmar so that it remains sensitive to India’s security concerns. In fact, the latest crack down on Indian insurgent groups by the Tatmadaw is a successful outcome of such engagements. India should maintain this momentum of cooperation with Myanmar for better managing their shared border.

UPSC GS PAPER IV MATTER LUKMAAN IAS

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UPSC CSE GS (MAINS) 2019 PAPER-IV

Q1.a). What are the basic principles of public life? Illustrate any three of these with suitable examples.

APPROACH

➢ Introduction should briefly explain meaning of public life.

➢ Mention seven principles of public life as given by Nolan Committee

➢ Explain with examples any three of these principles

➢ Conclusion: To promote probity in public life these principles are sine-quo-non-for Public/Civil servants.

The public life refers to life of public/civil servants in relation to their job, towards seniors and other public/civil servant and towards people. Public life involves many challenges, ethical concerns and dilemmas, which are faced by public/civil servants in discharging their duties in day-to-day life.

The Committee on Standards in Public Life in the United Kingdom, popularly known as the Nolan Committee, outlined the following seven principles of public life:

1. Selflessness: Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of public interest.

They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.

2. Integrity: Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organizations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.

Basic Principles of

Public life

Selflessness

Integrity

Objectivity

AccountabilityOpenness

Honesty

Leadership


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3. Objectivity: In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.

4. Accountability: Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

5. Openness: Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.

6. Honesty: Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.

7. Leadership: Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

Conclusion: To promote probity in public life these principles are sine-quo-non-for Public/Civil servants.

Q1 b). What do you understand by the term ‘public servant’? Reflect on the expected role of a public servant.

APPROACH

➢ Introduction should briefly explain meaning of public servant and how it is different from civil servant

➢ Mention the expected role of a public servant

➢ Briefly mention the challenges in playing that expected role

➢ Conclusion: Social justice and rule of law in society can be observed only when public servants fulfill their expected role.

Public servant is a person appointed by state or central government to run its administration. He can be selected through a competitive examination or personal interview based on his/her qualifications required for the job. Public servants in India include judges, employees of PSUs, teachers in government schools, doctors in government hospitals etc.

Public servant is different from civil servant in India though they are synonymously used many a times. Public servant is broader term than civil servant. Civil servants in India enjoy more Constitutional protection as compared to public servants.

Expected role of a public servant:

• To serve people & ensure work in public interest.

• Strengthen rule of law & foundation of democracy.

• Be compassionate to people.

Public servants

Civil servants


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• Promote good governance.

• Be selfless, dutiful, responsive and responsible.

However, We do not observe this expected role played by all public servants. This is because of lack of strong character, human nature being inherently selfish (Thomas Hobbes, Kautilya), nexus and corruption etc. Therefore, there are many accountability mechanisms (conditions of service) in place for public servants like conduct rules, prevention of corruption Act etc. so that public servants play above expected role.

Conclusion: Public servants are an essential part of administration and governance as they look after policy implementation part of government. Social justice and rule of law in society can be observed only when public servants fulfill their expected role.

Q2.a) Effective utilisation of public funds is crucial to meet development goals. Critically examine the reasons for under-utilization and misutilization of public funds and their implications.

APPROACH

➢ Introduction should briefly explain about the public fund and its utilisation in India

➢ Examine the reasons for under-utilisation and mis-utisation of public fund

➢ Mention the implications of under-utilisation and mis-utisation of public fund

➢ Conclusion: Effective utilization of funds is possible when there is Efficiency, Honesty and sincerity, Transparency, Accountability and Responsibility, Public interest.

Public Fund utilization is related with utilization of tax-payers money which are allocated in a formal eco, democratic state in many different ways such as:

➢ Administration expenditure. ➢ Development expenditure. ➢ Expenditure for welfare activities. ➢ Some special purposes.

Funds

Consolidated Fund of India

Public Accounts of IndiaContingency

Fund of India


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Why effective utilization of public funds is crucial to meet development goals?

• Government is already having less funds with it to meet huge developmental targets especially in providing health, education and other basic services.

• Effective utilization of funds will bring efficiency in delivery of services by government.

• India being a developing country and moving towards ‘minimum government, maximum governance’ has limited resource base which needs effective utilization to meet developmental needs of millions of people especially those who are marginal and vulnerable sections of society.

Reasons:

• Right-based approach resulted into too much separationof funds & targeted beneficiaries. There are manytargeted beneficiaries, which create an implementation problem. E. g. show me the person, I'll show you the scheme.

• It has also resulted into passivity among people that they don't want to earn by hard work rather they want to remain passive as government give lots of benefits which also create lots of problems like availability of labour.

• Those who utilize fund - lack accountability, transparency, responsibility, as there are nexus, corruption, delay in audit report & follow up action is almost non- existent.

• Actionable accountability is lacking simply because accountability mechanisms aren't fixed. Such as: ➢ Police modernization fund wasn't properly utilized in past. ➢ Loan waiver scheme - benefits goes to wrong person. ➢ MPLAD scheme - SC ordered two times to discontinue. CAG says it is one of the most

corrupt scheme in country still scheme continues.

Implications:

• There will be lack of funds available for development purpose.

• Leakage and divergence of funds causes corruption and wastage of taxpayer’s hard earned money.

• It reduces efficiency and effectiveness of policy implementation, delivery of services.

• Goal of redistribution of wealth and socio-economic justice will not be achieved, as rich-poor divide will increase.

• Poor quality of governance.

Utilization for

Expenditure type(through budget)

Tax payers moneyConsolidated Fund of India

Development

Infrastucture, Basic goods and services

Subsidies

Administrative

Salaries of government employees


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How to improve Public fund utilization (Additional Information):

1. Enhancing government financial management system based on expertise & professionalism that government should have concern for getting return of every coin it spent & not in outcome, which requires structural, procedural & behaviour changes.

2. Leadership in government from top to down from PM—CM—local bodies for outcome oriented governance.

3. Ministry of Finance should have policy of not allocating funds unless it has objective assessment of past fund utilization. Therefore, it needs to restructure itself and get more finance expertise & managerial skills.

4. Also there should be provision of penalty if funds are not utilized properly rather than discount of funds.

5. There should be people participation in process of financial management through Social Audit, which should be empowered by bringing actionable accountability. Let there be local district level lokpal where the complaints can be filed about all sort of financial irregularities & corrupt practices.

6. Government should minimize number of schemes & funds & it should universalize free public health & education.

Conclusion: Effective utilization of funds is possible when there is Efficiency, Honesty and sincerity, Transparency, Accountability and Responsibility, Public interest.

Q2. b). “Non-performance of duty by a public servant is a form of corruption” Do you agree with this view? Justify your answer.

APPROACH

➢ Introduction should define corruption

➢ Provide arguments in support of the statement

➢ Conclusion: Ethics is about applying wisdom and human intellect while taking best possible decision.

The word corruption is derived from ‘corruptus’ means ‘to destroy’. Although corruption is seen in terms of bribe, corruption, misuse of power in favour or disfavor, it has not been defined properly and comprehensively.

Non-performance of duty means lack of output, status-quo attitude. It means more input and less output. Non-performance can be considered as corruption when it is due to leakage, diversion of resources and lack of probity. E.g. Delay in disbursement of salaries of MGNREGA workers, Non-disbursement of information under RTI. Therefore, such human behaviour can be considered as corrupt in its wider interpretation.

Corruption is generally defined in legal terms such as misuse of power, which results in tangible or intangible loss to government. Thus it considers only quantitative aspect. But in terms of qualitative aspect, corruption is also when public servant is not performing his/her duty but being paid by taxpayer’s money i.e. paid without work. It is not only loss to exchequer but also has serious implications on life of people. Therefore, non-performance of duty is kind of moral corruption by public servant.

Human being has some skills, intellect. If he/she does not apply it in situation for public good/social good, then it can be considered as corruption. E.g. H.C. Gupta case- he had integrity but lacked wisdom in decision making.

The civil services conduct rule also suggests that civil servants should apply their conscience whenever the laws and rules are silent to take best possible decisions.


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CONCLUSUION: Ethics is about applying wisdom and human intellect while taking best possible decision.

Q3.a). What is meant by constitutional morality? How does one uphold constitutional morality?

APPROACH

➢ Introduction should define constitutional morality

➢ Explain the concept of constitutional morality with the help of Sabarimala case judgement of SC

➢ Give different ways through which one can uphold constitutional morality

➢ Conclusion: Principle of Constitutional Morality basically requires one to bow down to the norms of the Constitution and not act in a manner, which would become violative of the rule of law or reflectible of action in an arbitrary manner.

It is about morality of those who run the Constitution i.e. government. It is the commitment to follow constitution in letter and spirit. Only having a good constitution is not important, it is also important that how it is being followed such as the Rule of Law or quality of governance or ethics in governance.

Constitutional morality means adherence to the core principles of the constitutional democracy. It is based on liberal and rational values such as liberty, equality, freedom, dignity and respect, scientific temper. These values are universal and can be found in Indian Constitution (Preamble, FR, DPSPs).

The scope of constitutional morality is not limited only to following the constitutional provisions literally but it is so broad that it includes commitment to inclusive and democratic political process in which both individual and collective interests are satisfied.

The concept of "Constitutional Morality" has been deemed to mean constructing and interpreting legislations in consonance with the ever-changing character of the Constitution. The Constitution is perceived to be a living, breathing document which molds itself according to the sands of time, and the morality propagated by this document must adapt and overcome the challenges that are regurgitated by society over a period of time.

Example- Sabarimala case judgement: The Supreme Court's juxtaposition of freedom to practice religion with gender equality has been rendered through the prism of Constitutional Morality. The mere aspect of "custom and usage" cannot be cited in order to allow a certain discriminatory practice to continue. The deity being a "Naishtik Brahmachari" cannot be the reason a woman is restrained from exercising her right to practice a religion under Article 25 of the Constitution.

One upholds Constitutional morality by following way:

• By following fundamental duties enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

• By respecting and following the ideals enshrined in the preamble such as secularism, unity and integrity, equality, fraternity (brotherhood) etc.

• By following the laws and rules in their day-to-day life.

• Respecting the fundamental rights of other people and fellow citizens and not encroaching upon their rights such as right to life, right to freedom of religion etc.

Conclusion: Principle of Constitutional Morality basically requires one to bow down to the norms of

the Constitution and not act in a manner, which would become violative of the rule of law or

reflectible of action in an arbitrary manner.


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Q3. b). What is meant by crisis of conscience? How does it manifest it into public domain?

APPROACH

➢ Introduction should define crisis of conscience

➢ Mention the causes of such crisis

➢ Explain how does it manifest into public domain

➢ Conclusion: Crisis of conscience can be minimized by bringing coherence in thoughts and actions

A situation or state of mind wherein there is extreme level of tension or emotional turmoil that may happen due to either of the following:

• Person is in state of shock.

• His/her core values/identity may be at stake or have been questioned.

• May have extreme level of guilt feeling, remorse.

• May face a situation where in he/she has to take a decision, which may result into compromise of some strong values.

• Person may have taken a decision & after decision he/she feels that some grave mistake has happened.

Crises of conscience are related with both before taking the decision as well as after decision. People feel such crises in their everyday life whenever there is compromise of strong value preferred by that person.

It manifests into public domain in following way:

• Public/Civil servant while doing his duty has discretionary power, which he/she exercises whenever it is demand of situation to take best possible decision. However, sometimes such decisions do not yield good results rather there can be some unforeseen and unintended outcome of such decisions. In such situations, they have feeling of guilt and remorse.

• Public/Civil servants while discharging their duty in every day life come across many moral and ethical dilemmas such as Law Vs Ethics, Lack of clarity policies, rules, procedures, and laws. They face crisis of conscience while taking decision in those dilemma like situations.

• Also, in situations involving dilemmas, they take decision based on their own conscience and when such decisions result into negative outcome, then they may feel crisis of conscience.

Conclusion: Crisis of conscience can be minimized by bringing coherence in thoughts and actions. Civil servants with strong character and Emotional Intelligence can minimize such crisis of conscience in their public life.

Q4.a). Explain the basic principles of citizens’ charter movement and bring out its importance.

APPROACH

➢ Introduction should briefly mention the main philosophy of citizen’s charter

➢ Explain the basic principles of citizen’s charter movement

➢ Explain the importance of citizen’s charter

➢ Conclusion: More of culture of friendly behaviour emerging such as ‘May I help you’, ‘counseling & Reception desk’, ‘Act of greeting as Namaste, good morning’ etc. in administration.


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Citizens are masters in democracy. Master has right to know about servant i.e. Government that how its money (tax payers money) has been utilized. It means servant is morally obliged to serve citizen.

Citizens have right to get Quality of Service not by being passive recipient rather active Stakeholder. They have Right to get services & public servants should thank them rather than feeling thankful themselves. The basic objective of the Citizen’s Charter is to empower the citizen in relation to public service delivery.

The concept was first articulated and implemented in the United Kingdom by the Conservative Government of John Major in 1991 as a national programme with a simple aim to continuously improve the quality of public services for the people of the country so that these services respond to the needs and wishes of the users. The programme was re-launched in 1998 by the Labour Government of Tony Blair, which rechristened it “Services First”.

Basic principles of citizen’s charter:

The six principles of the Citizen’s Charter movement as originally framed were:

1. Quality: Improving the quality of services; 2. Choice: Wherever possible; 3. Standards: Specifying what to expect and how to act if standards are not met; 4. Value: For the taxpayers’ money; 5. Accountability: Individuals and Organisations; and 6. Transparency: Rules/Procedures/Schemes/Grievances.

These were later elaborated by the Labour Government (U.K.) as the nine principles of Service Delivery (1998), which are as follows:-

1. Set standards of service; 2. Be open and provide full information; 3. Consult and involve; 4. Encourage access and the promotion of choice; 5. Treat all fairly;

Citizen's Charter

Quality

Transparency

Accountability

Standards

Choice

Value

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in Government of India (DARPG) initiated the task of coordinating, formulating and operationalizing Citizen’s Charters.


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6. Put things right when they go wrong; 7. Use resources effectively; 8. Innovate and improve; 9. Work with other providers.

Importance of Citizen’s Charter:

➢ Bench marking Quality of service: It is helping to improve quality of service delivered by government departments as Citizen Charter has written bench mark of quality standards that to be met by service provider.

➢ Giving voice to citizen: As an active participant in receiving service from the government, citizen’s demands and requirements are given voice in Citizen Charter.

➢ Redressing their grievances: Grievance redressal mechanism is an important component of any Citizen Charter.

➢ Promoting participatory democracy: Citizen Charter is tool to promote participatory democracy, as people are active participant in availing services.

➢ It may not have transformative Effect but its bringing transformation in society. It's very successful in UK & in India also there're some successful stories such as:

• Citizen Report Cards (Karnataka)

• Jana seva kendra, Ahmedabad

Conclusion: Some basic services in Rural & urban area which citizen needs on daily basis are gradually improved. More of culture of friendly behaviour emerging such as ‘May I help you’, ‘counseling & Reception desk’, ‘Act of greeting as Namaste, good morning’ etc. in administration.

Q4.b). There is a view that the Official Secrets Act is an obstacle to the implementation of the Rights to Information Act. Do you agree with the view?

APPROACH

➢ Introduction should briefly mention about OSA

➢ Explain why OSA is considered as an obstacle to the implementation of RTI Act

➢ Explain which provision of RTI Act overrides OSA

➢ Way Forward: ARC-II suggested that the Act should be substituted by a chapter in the National Security Act

The Official Secrets Act was first enacted in 1923 and was retained after Independence. The law, applicable to government servants and citizens, provides the framework for dealing with espionage, sedition, and other potential threats to the integrity of the nation.

OSA as an obstacle to the implementation of RTI Act:

• In the Clause 6 of the Official Secrets Act, information from any government office is considered official information. Hence, it can be used to override RTI requests.

• The OSA does not define “secret” or “official secrets”. Public servants could deny any information terming it a “secret” when asked under the RTI Act.

But RTI overrides OSA:

• Section 8(2) of RTI Act states that notwithstanding anything in Official Secrets Act, 1923, nor any exemptions permissible in accordance with sub section (1), a public authority may allow access to information, if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests.


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Way Forward:

➢ The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (SARC) Report, 2006 (‘Right to Information: Master Key to Good Governance’), suggested that the Act should be substituted by a chapter in the National Security Act that incorporates the necessary provisions.

➢ ARC report stated that as the OSA’s background is the colonial climate of mistrust of people and the primacy of public officials in dealing with the citizens, it created a culture of secrecy. “Confidentiality became the norm and disclosure the exception,” it said. This tendency was challenged when the Right to Information Act came into existence.

Q5.a). What do you understand by probity in governance? Based on your understanding of the term, suggest measures for ensuring probity in government.

APPROACH

➢ Introduction should define probity in governance

➢ Discuss the measures to ensure probity

➢ Conclusion: Probity is important in administration for efficient utilization of public funds and minimizes corruption and improves quality of public service delivery.

Probity is considered as an act of vigilance, public scrutiny in public office. It is about uprightness, integrity, uncorruptiveness and rectitude i.e. straight forwardness. Civil servant with probity does not compromise any indiscipline, values of civil services and he is not only himself but also ensure that work culture has practice of probity.

Probity has two important aspect i.e. internal (moral check) and external (legal check).

Probity can be promoted in administration in following ways:

1. Seven principles of Nolan Committee on probity in public life:

Principles of Nolan

Committee

Selflessness

Honesty

Integrity

AccountabilityObjectivity

Openess

Leadership


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2. Moral Check: Conscience of person provide moral command to act in right manner (Kant). Therefore, it is the most effective way to promote probity in administration. Moral development of conscience is important in this aspect.

3. Social accountability: Tools like RTI, Citizen’s Charter, Social Audit, e-Governance help in promoting probity in administration as people’s participation through these tools act as social check on administration.

4. Legal Accountability: Laws, rules and Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics acts as legal check on administration and thus promotes probity.

5. Promoting transparency and openness in administration: Use of ICT in administration such as centralised biometric system.

6. Role modelling: Civil servants heading the departments should act as role model and promote probity in administration.

Conclusion: Probity is important in administration for efficient utilization of public funds and minimizes corruption and improves quality of public service delivery.

Q5.b). “Emotional Intelligence is the ability to make your emotions work for you instead of against you.” Do you agree with this view? Discuss.

APPROACH

➢ Introduction should define Emotional Intelligence and give its components

➢ Explain with examples, how EI helps in making one’s emotions work for him/her instead of against him/her

➢ Conclusion: According to research done by Daniel Goleman, 80% of success at work depends on EI while 20% on IQ.

"Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive emotions, to access and generate emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions and emotional knowledge, and to reflectively regulate emotions so as to promote emotional and intellectual growth." - Mayer & Salovey, 1997

Components of EI

Social Management

Self Awareness

Self Management

Social Awareness


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Self-awareness is knowing and understanding one’s own emotions. This helps in analyzing the situations, causes of particular emotions such as anger, love, gratitude, and happiness. In this way, person comes to know his own emotional setup.

Self-Management is managing one’s own emotions so as to behave in a socially desirable manner. This helps in venting out the emotions in such a manner that results into positive results or effects rather than negative effect.

➢ Example-1: When the manager comes to know that project report is not submitted yet and the deadline is within two days, he/she may feel angry and frustrated towards his team members. However, if he/she talks to team with anger about project report that may act against his benefit/objectives, rather he/she should channel his/her emotions by asking reasons for delay in project report, listening to team members (whether they are lacking any resource?) and motivating them to work an extra mile to complete the project in time.

➢ Example-2: A Public servant heading the rescue mission on a disaster site. He may be facing protests by the people who are obstructing the rescue work. The grieving people may even heckle him or team members in anger. In such situation, Public servant should remain calm and polite instead of becoming angry towards people. (It requires self-awareness, self-management, social awareness as well as social management).

Significance in administration and governance:

• EI improves administrator’s social, emotional & ethical competence.

• EI teaches them their self-accountability i.e. responsibility. People with high EI have understanding about their duty, responsibility, commitment. e.g. scientists, doctors, IIT professors. No one needs to tell them their duty and they are proactive in delivering their duty.

• Today policy objectives need soft skills including leadership, empathy, innovation. Such as Government has objective of effective Governance 'Pro-people, pro-active Govt.’

Conclusion: According to research done by Daniel Goleman, 80% of success at work depends on EI while 20% on IQ. The civil servants should have high EI along with aptitude and skills to tackle the difficult situations they face in day-to-day administration. The present government is emphasizing on innovation, sensitive training and work-life balance among civil servants.

Q6. a). “An unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates

APPROACH

➢ Introduction should briefly mention about Socrates and his philosophy behind given statement

➢ Explain the statement with examples

➢ Conclusion: The life is worth living when person is not living like any other animal rather lives by applying his ability to think, logic and reason.

Self-awareness Self-ManagementDesirable behaviour


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Ethics is born out of inquisitiveness of Socrates. According to him, an unexamined life isn't worth living. Human should question each & everything in his surrounding on basis of reasoning & rationality that is they should have art of questioning. This art will cultivate rational thinking. In this way ethics was born.

His foundation is rational thinking & questioning which was further propagated by Plato & Aristotle. It's also known as geek philosophy/Greek ethics. In fact the term ethics was derived from 'Ethos/ethics'-Greek word meaning character/conduct. Therefore, field of ethics is based on human reasoning, rationality & analysis of situations.

Life is not worth living if a person fails to seek wisdom and knowledge on how to live a good life. Both wisdom and knowledge help people know and understand life and find value in it. Socrates, a philosopher, educates people on the need to examine life and decide how to live in it.

Example-1: Superstitions in the society are being followed by people blindly. They do not think or question these superstitions rationally. These superstitions are based on false belief and harmful for society, as they tend to suppress the truth. When people start questioning such beliefs they arrive at truth. Such questioning in life leads to wisdom, which is also the ultimate purpose of human life according to Aristotle.

Example-2: The mob lynching of people due to rumours and fake news in recent times is also result of lack of critical questioning in life. People start blindly believing these rumours, which leads to chaos in society. The person with ability to critically question will not blindly believe such fake news rather he/she will check its validity before believing and forwarding such message.

Conclusion:

The life is worth living when person is not living like any other animal rather lives by applying his ability to think, logic and reason. When people do not question the wrong things in life, fools in the society multiply and will lead them.

Q6.b). “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.” – M.K.Gandhi

APPROACH

➢ Introduction should briefly explain the essence of given statement

➢ Explain the statement with examples from life of Gandhiji as well as other examples

➢ Conclusion: The process of socialization plays an important role to shape thinking process of child. In this process, parents and teachers play an important role.

According to the given statement of Gandhiji, every person has thought process where he/she tries to look within himself/herself to find the meaning of life. Person internalizes this thought process and start pursuing it with courage and dedication.

This can be seen when we look at Gandhiji’s own life. In his autobiography ‘my experiments with truth’, we can observe that Gandhiji had negative thoughts at some time of life, which resulted into taking wrong actions such as lying to his own father.

Gandhiji had evolved his thinking process by learning form his own experiences. It included values of truth and non-violence. He internalized this thought process so deeply that his every

Critical Questioning Wisdom Happiness


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action reflected this thought process such as Satyagraha, Calling off Non-Cooperation Movement because of violence in Chauri Chaura etc.

A person is generally described by his/her thoughts. They can be either positive or negative, either good or bad, either happy or sad. Since that person thinks about it, he/she attracts it into his/her life. People start to visualize what they think in their mind. This makes them to work or take action so that the visualization to become reality in their life.

Example-1: When a teenager boy thinks of becoming a cricketer in future, he visualizes himself in that position in future. He starts internalizing his thoughts as he grows. He will take efforts/actions to realize his dream to become cricketer.

Example-2: Parents giving negative values to their son in socialization process such as promoting religious hatred, disrespect to women. The boy internalizes this thinking process and soon starts to apply in his life. He starts to disrespect his female colleague at workplace. He may get involved in domestic violence towards wife.

Conclusion:

“If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.” – Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

The process of socialization plays an important role to shape thinking process of child. In this process, parents and teachers play an important role.

Q6.c). “Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.” – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

APPROACH

➢ Introduction should briefly give context and meaning of the statement

➢ Explain the ways in which righteousness can be inculcated in every person

➢ Conclusion: The process of socialization plays an important role to shape thinking process of child. In this process, parents and teachers play an important role.

In 2007, former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam had addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, during the golden jubilee of the European Union. The given statement is from this famous speech.

When we need peace in the world, we need order in the nation; we need harmony in the home, whether in Europe or in India or in any part of the world, the origin is righteousness in the heart.

How do we evolve righteousness, in the hearts of every citizen of the world? (a methodology for evolving a happy, prosperous and peaceful society in our planet)

Righteousness in heart

Good character

Good personal relations

Order in country

Peace in the world


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1. Education with value system: Education with value system has to be so designed that the righteousness in the heart is developed in young minds. That should be the mission of education. Parents and teachers must inculcate moral leadership amongst children. It requires the ability to have insights into the uniqueness and universality of human consciousness. True education is the acquisition of enlightened feelings and enlightened powers to understand daily events and to understand the permanent truth linking man, to his environment, human and planetary.

2. Religion Transforming into Spirituality (Universal Mind): Religion has two components, theology and spirituality. Even though theology is unique to every religion, the spiritual component spreads the value to be inculcated by human beings for promoting a good human life and welfare of the society, while pursuing the material life. Religions can be bridged through spiritual component.

3. Economic development for societal transformation: Even though the GDP growth indicates our economic growth, people's participation is essential for achieving the required targets. It is essential to ensure that the citizens are empowered with good quality of life encompassing nutritious food, good habitat, clean environment, affordable healthcare, quality education and productive employment, integrated with our value system drawn from civilizational heritage leading to the comprehensive development of the nation that will bring smiles in one billion people. These are indicators for the growth of the National Prosperity Index.

Conclusion: This integrated three-dimensional methodology of evolution of enlightened society, will pave the way for peaceful, prosperous, happy nations and thereby a world, free from extremisms and further seeds of extremism.

Q7.

Ethical Mapping/Decision Premises

• Emotional Intelligence

• Exemplary behaviour

• Leadership skills

• Strong character (wisdom, courage)

Response:

In such trying situation, people behave in extreme manner. As it is human nature where people panic in disaster like situation. In such situation, the response should be to use crowd management skills and techniques.

Response Details

1. Tender an apology • Tendering an apology to people on behalf of administration.

• Message should be conveyed to people through effective channel of communication.

2. Convince other members

• As they are feeling threat to their life, they are pleading to abort the rescue operations.

• They need to be convinced that they should not be fearful of threat to their life rather have courage and face challenge.

• They should have compassion towards people and should feel sorry about the situation that people are facing.

• Calling off rescue operations will result into continuation of vicious environment among the people (hatred of people towards administration).

• It is also against the civil services values.


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3. Assessing the situation • Team should try to reach out some influential, educated people from the locality and seek their cooperation and support.

• Explaining them operational problems and convey that team will do best and need to forget about what happened focus on present situation and save life of people.

4. Polite behavior by team members towards people, protesters

• Team members need to remain polite towards people even though people heckle them.

• If team member behaves in arrogant manner in such situation it may worsen and people will further create blockade for rescue operations. Therefore, Team members should remain calm, polite and kind to people.

5. Appeal government for reinforcement

• As it is disaster situation, the resources at hand may be exhausted within less time and thus there may be need to have more resources including rescue workers.

• The government can be appealed for more reinforcement so that rescue operations continue till each and every person’s life is saved and rescue them at safe place.

Qualities of a public servant, which will be required to manage the situation, are as follows:

1. Courage • In trying situation, virtue of courage decides the character of public servant. According to Aristotle, courage is one of the four cardinal virtues for strong character.

2. Wisdom • Knowing and understanding what is right and what is wrong and taking right action in such situation is very important.

• Public servant with wisdom will take the right action in such situation.

3. Leadership • For effective rescue operation, public servant requires to lead the team with example.

• When he himself leads the rescue operation without fear, then team members will follow him.

• For effective mobilization of resources in trying situations, leadership quality is very important among public servants.

4. Exemplary behaviour

• As it is challenging situation, it demands exceptional actions.

• Public servant should not be fearful of death.

• Disaster situations like Rescue of football team from cave in Thailand (2018), Uttarakhand flash floods (2013) were handled effectively by exemplary behavior of officials heading rescue operations.


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5. Emotional Intelligence

In such situation, self-awareness (understanding own emotions), social awareness (understanding of emotions of protestors and team members), self-management and social management (managing those emotions so as to have illicit desirable behavior from team members).

Way forward: In disaster situation, delay in rescue operation can happen due to many factors such as heavy rainfall. People should be communicated effectively that once rescue team reaches at place of disaster, it is trained to deal with those situations. At the same time, minimizing response time has remained a challenge and people in such situation should not be left in lurch. Quick response gives message to the people that government cares for them and their life matters to the government.

Civil servant should show some fortitude in such difficult situations. Even if they get injured, duty calls for exemplary behavior. If injured civil servants continues to serve people, it sends different message i.e. message of sincerity and dedication.

Q8.

Ethical Mapping/ Decision Premises

• Conduct rules Vs Civil services values

• Wisdom Vs Integrity

• Bonafide error Vs Malafide Error

• Professionalism in civil services

The stated trend in case study affects the functioning of civil services in following way:

• It affects morale of civil servants.

• It makes them more cautious and reluctant to take any action in future when they have feeling of being prosecuted in future even on bonafide error.

• It makes them risk aversive which reduces the innovative decision making by civil servants.

• It creates unnecessary delay in decision making by civil servants.

• It may lead to lack of commitment and responsibility, which in turn affect speed and efficiency.

Measures:

➢ Legal reforms: Recently government amended Prevention of Corruption Act (1988) such as

• Section 13 (1) (d)(iii) was deleted and now civil servants do not have liability to prove their innocence in case.

• At the same time, the element of ‘criminal intent’ now will be required to initiate prosecution against civil servants therefore bonafide decisions will not be treated same as malafide decisions.

• New Section 17A (except when a public official caught ‘redhanded’, the police cannot begin a probe, without the approval of the relevant authority) made universal inclusion of all public officials in protecting honest officials irrespective of their ranks and levels.

➢ Protection by political parties: Political leaders should back the honest civil servants. E.g. PM Modi encouraging civil servants to take risk while taking decisions and protecting them through various amendments to laws like Whistle blowers Act, RTI Act, and Prevention of Corruption Act.

➢ Professional work culture: Work culture and management practices should have professionalism. Administration should be able to distinguish between bonafide and malafide errors especially among the investigating agencies. There should be culture of fact


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finding rather than faultfinding. There should be culture of promoting innovative decision-making.

➢ Developing professionalism in civil services: Civil servants should be given training with modules designed to inculcate values of efficiency, expertise integrity, wisdom, probity to enhance quality of decision making.

➢ Rewards and recognition: The innovative decisions of civil servants should be recognized and rewarded. E.g. present government awards DMs for Excellence in Implementation of Priority Programmes on civil service day every year.

Way forward:

Now the government has been creating conducive environment by demarcation of line between bonafide and malafide errors by civil servants. At the same time, accountability institutions should also be reformed so that professional environment is created. In the era of Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), present society and civil services have to match also in terms of speed, efficiency and not only honesty and uprightness but latter should not be crucified at the alter of the former.

Those civil servants, which have honesty and uprightness, should be nurtured and protected rather than punished for bonafide error. This culture will destroy civil services as backbone of state.

Q9.

Ethical Mapping/ Decision Premises

➢ Dignity and respect ➢ Honesty and truthfulness ➢ Personal Integrity ➢ Justice and equality ➢ Work culture

Ethical issues:

• Patriarchal society

• Stereotyping attitude

• Lack of dignity and respect

• Women considered as an object to be exploited

• People at higher position/rank in organization think that they are beyond law and misuse their position and authority.

Available Options:

a) Woman employee can take money and withdraw the complaint. b) Woman employee can take money and demand an undertaking from the male employee

that he will involve in no further harassment. c) Woman employee can reject money and proceed with the complain d) Woman employee can withdraw complain with conditions of:

• Marketing engineer should tender written apology to woman employee or apology before company representatives.

• He should accept that he has done mistake and he feels guilty of this and assure that he will not do it in future.

• Organization should take measures to ensure safety and security of women.


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Options Pros Cons

a) • Benefit and profit to company

• Protect image of the company

• Woman employee suffers at personal level

• She faces the dilemma of organizational interest Vs Personal interest

b) • Win-win situation as responsibility is shared by both parties in case

• It will act as deterrence

• Short term and narrow solution as it does not cover other women employees in the company

c) • Woman employee may feel satisfied by taking right legal path to seek justice

• Against the patriarchal society

• Extreme action without any chances of arbitration and mediation

• Justice may be delayed

d) • Holistic and long term solution

• Upholds dignity of women

• Male employee may not agree

Social-psychological factors responsible for such attitude by male employee:

• Men take such mindset, attitude as part and parcel of society.

• They have grown up somehow exploiting women (faulty socialization).

• There are many manifestation of such exploitation and they think that they can’t be proved.

• For women it is difficult to come out and speak. There is also weak legal and institutions.

• Men think that women will not speak because of fear of social stigma.

Conclusion: Sexual harassment of women at workplace is a blatant example of lack of dignity and respect towards women. The kind of psychological trauma faced by women after such incident is sometimes so high that may even result into suicide by many victims.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of company and its management to promote women friendly work culture, adequate security provisions and safeguards for women employees at work premises and strict implementation of Vishakha guidelines (given by honourable Supreme Court of India) and Provisions of Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2013.

Q10.


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Concept of neutrality:

• Neutrality means acting as per rules & laws, procedures, conduct rules etc.

• Neutrality encourages mind shouldn't be applied in decision-making.

• It has some negative consequences as it discourages application of wisdom, and innovation, quality in decision-making. However, neutrality as a civil service values is very important to uphold rule of law.

• All India services rules, 2014 especially mentions neutrality as important principle because if civil servants are allowed to work as per their emotions then there can be chaos in administration.

Consequence of politicization of bureaucracy:

Consequences Details

Leads to inefficiency

• Speed and efficiency suffers as politisation of bureaucracy promotes status quo attitude, red tapism, nexus etc.

Affects impartiality

• Impartiality suffers due to prejudiced attitude by civil servants leading to discrimination on the basis of caste, gender.

• This results into social unrest e.g. Koregaon Bhima unrest, tribal unrest

Nexus and corruption

• Politicians- Bureaucrats- Businessmen-Criminals

• It leads to criminalization of politics and politicization of criminals as suggested by Vohra Committee report.

Affect truth • It affects investigating and leading to impartial investigation, institutional conflict (CBI dispute).

• When truth suffers, there is chaos in society.

Effect on quality of policy and governance

• It affects long-term policy and quality of policy and governance.

Positive consequences: There is also positive response by bureaucracy in such trend e.g. civil servants actively involved in implementation of flagship programmes of government such as PM Jan Dhan Yojana, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jangal Mahal (West Bengal- team work of civil servants and political executives for effective rehabilitation of naxals). But bureaucrats generally give such positive response only when there is single party majority rule.

Conclusion: Politicisation of bureaucracy is threat to the survival of state. Indian constitutional values are very different and to uphold these values, India needs neutral bureaucracy rather than politicized bureaucracy.

Q11.

Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat

• Prior skills to handle such situations

• Departmental resources

• Nexus of senior police officers with drug mafia

• System on verge of collapse

• To bring back normalcy in system (rule of law)

• Bring positive change in jurisdiction area

• Threat to own life as well as family members from drug mafia


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Different dimensions of the crisis:

• International Dimension: Border with neighbouring country, arms smuggling, money laundering.

• Nexus and corruption: Nexus between local politicians, senior police officers and drug mafia.

• Centre-state cooperation: For border management, money laundering

• Legal enforcement: law and order issue, lack of effective implementation of legal provisions such as Money Laundering Act, Narcotics Act.

• Inter-departmental cooperation: Lack of coordination among government departments like police, civil administration, drugs and narcotics department, health department, Enforcement Directorate etc.

Problem of drug trafficking, arms smuggling, money laundering has increased in border districts of Punjab state. The strategy to overcome this menace should revolve around cutting of supply of drugs in society and de-addiction programmes through active community participation on one hand and on the other hand, legal actions against drug mafia and those involved in nexus with them.

Measures:

Measures Details

1. Enforcement • Developing an area specific strategy tailored to requirement of area/locality falling in the jurisdiction of SP.

• Involving local people in the strategy as an active stakeholder and seek their cooperation and help to deal with problem of drug menace.

• Tracing the entire chain of drug supply by systematically working out forward and backward linkages in this supply chain through proper investigation in each case of recovery of illicit drugs.

• Solicit information from public while ensuring their anonymity and safety and rewarding them.

• Taking strict legal action on those officials (civil and police) having nexus with drug and arms smugglers.

2. De-addiction and Rehabilitation

• Providing de-addiction services at grass root level at affordable cost to patients.

• Providing long term support to patient during and after de-addiction treatment through family and peer support groups.

3. Prevention • Generating mass movement among people about bad effects of drugs and launch campaigns through community partnership.

• It includes massive public awareness campaign.

• Drug Abuse Prevention Officers programme by mobilizing willing members of society to work towards prevention of drug abuse.

• Buddy programme where group of five students volunteers will be trained to help in spreading knowledge and skills to protect themselves as well as others from falling prey to drug abuse.

4. Effective Publicity on media platforms

• Public education and awareness programmes and media campaigns on drug abuse, its ill effects and details of de-addiction programme.

• Launching special help line for helping drug addicts in distress.

5. Institutionalization of inter-agency coordination

• Coordination among different central and state agencies including police, investigating agencies, narcotics department, Enforcement Directorate etc.


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6. Effective fencing and monitoring on border by border forces

• Border forces should be provided with enough resources and new technologies to monitor and detect trans-border movement of counterfeit currency, arms, drugs etc.

Conclusion: In such situation, a civil servant needs to have qualities like leadership, wisdom, courage of conviction, strong character, exemplary behaviour and Emotional Intelligence.

Q12.

Three specific areas

Explanation Institutional Measures

1. Anticipating specific threats to ethical standards and integrity in the civil services

• Civil servants face many challenges while adhering to integrity and ethical standards but there is no mechanism to ensure how they will be able to face these challenges effectively.

• At the same time, there is no assessment of level of risk faced by civil servants when they take risky decisions

• There is no mechanism to distinguish between bonafide and malafide decisions of civil servants.

• At present, vigilance institutions like CVC, IB looks negatively towards civil servants while carrying out their vigilance process.

• New institution can be created with following role:

• Risk assessment of decisions taken by civil servants

• Prior vigilance

• Tendering advice to civil servants on how to overcome dilemmas

• Code of conduct should include experience based explanation rather than only dos and don’ts. E.g. if civil servant is serving in state where there is different ruling political party than at central government. He/she faces challenges and dilemmas which may affects his integrity and ethical standards

• Kautilya had given detailed elaboration on vigilance and intelligence form the development and welfare perspective and not with negative or narrow perspective.

2. Strengthening the ethical competence of civil servant

• Ethical competence is required in tackling challenges faced by civil servants. Ethical competence in this sense is based on underlying knowledge and skills, as well as the ability to mobilise appropriate values and attitudes.

• High values + High Skills =Holistic Competence

• Kiran Agarwal committee (2013)

• Training modules should be designed to improve both skills as well as value inculcation. (At present more focus is on skills than values)

• Sensitive training can be given to civil servants so as to have soft skills, effective communication and behavioural competence.


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also recommended development of holistic competence, which consists of 4Es- Ethos, Ethics, Equity and Efficiency.

• Mentoring during can be continued even after period of training (At present it is only during field training).

• Compulsory course/workshop on meditation and yoga for civil servants with appropriate time intervals (3 to 4 years).

3.Developing administrative processes and practices which promote ethical values and integrity in civil services

• The present processes and practices are:

• Cumbersome

• Conflictual and overlapping

• Loopholes

• Too old and rigid

• They result in status quo, red tape, poor quality of service delivery etc. by civil servants.

• Increasing transparency in administration through e-governance

• Team orientation in working e.g. PRAGATI platform, which collaborates efforts of central, and state civil servants and work as team.

Way Forward:

NATIONAL

INTEGRITY

SYSTEM

Legislature

Executive

Judiciary

Public Sector

Law enforcement agency

Electoral management body

Supreme Audit Institution

Political Parties

Media

Civil Society

Business

Foundation: politics-society-economics-culture


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All the above-mentioned challenges can be addressed effectively by creating ethical ecosystem ethical ecosystem refers to ethical standards for everything such as health, education, society etc. People become aware about it as well as follow it. It also involves set of good people with good ethical standards to address the ethical dilemmas

It consists of following:

1. Institutional mechanisms

1. Legal mechanisms 2. Ethical framework

Documents

UPSC CSE GS (MAINS) 2019 · 2020. 5. 15. · • Wahabi Movement (1830-61) The Wahabi Movement was an Islamic revivalist movement founded by Syed Ahmed of Rai Bareilly who condemned