NOTE: Please remember that following ‘answers’ are NOT ‘model answers’. They are NOT synopsis too if we go by definition of the term. What we are providing is content that both meets demand of the question and at the same time gives you extra points in the form of background information.
General Studies – 1
Topic : Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article brings to us insight on the idea of exclusive belonging and its application to Indian societal setup.
Key Demand of the question:
One has to discuss the idea of exclusive belonging and suggest how far it can be applied to Indian context.
Directive:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
The idea that each human being belongs to only one religious or linguistic community, a single culture or a unique civilization appears to be ubiquitous.
Body:
Start by highlighting the diversity factor of Indian culture; the diversity definition refers to the existence of variations of different characteristics in a group of people. These characteristics could be everything that makes us unique, such as our cognitive skills and personality traits, along with the things that shape our identity (e.g. race, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, cultural background).
Explain the importance of diversity in India and various aspects associated with it.
Conclusion:
Problem is not of diversity per se, but the handling of diversity in India society. The problems of regionalism, communalism, ethnic conflicts etc. have arisen because the fruits of development haven’t been distributed equally or the cultures of some groups haven’t been accorded due recognition
Introduction:
The idea that each human being belongs to only one religious or linguistic community, a single culture or a unique civilization appears to be ubiquitous. Many have begun to believe that our identity is defined by membership to only mutually exclusive groups.
This idea of exclusivity is relatively recent. Multiple belonging is common because we imbibe it from other cultures when we go to them. And because ideas and values, energetic and nimble- footed, come to us as they seek uncharted territories. This fluidity in understanding who we are is ineradicable, infinitely better than a condition in which we are confined to a fixed, categorical idea of identity.
Body:
India is one of the most diverse lands found anywhere else in the world. These characteristics could be everything that makes us unique, such as our cognitive skills and personality traits, along with the things that shape our identity. E.g. race, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, cultural background.
Diversity of India is visible through:
- Religion
- India is also known by the name of land of many religions.
- Dances
- There are close to 111 various dance forms in the country.
- Languages
- According to 2011 census of India, there were close to 1,635 languages being spoken across the length and breadth of the country. Majority of these languages can be identified as dialects.
- Ethnicity
- The Indian sub-continent is not inhabited by people from single ethnicity, but has seen a series of migrations from all across the globe. There are many different ethnic groups who have migrated to India over the course of centuries.
- Geographical diversity
- India can be divided into five physiographic regions.
- Caste diversity
- India is a country of castes with more than 3,000 Jatis in India.
- Festivals
- So many festivals each with its unique identity and history, no country in the world would be celebrating so many festivals and that too together.
Reasons that led to the diversity:
- India has seen many kingdoms and Empires in the past. These include the Rajputs, Mauryas, Dravids, Bengalis, Marathas, Mughals and many more. Each of those have some culture imbibed in today’s India.
- Intermingling of different religions, their customs, traditions culture which happened as a result of coming of different invaders to India especially from west Asia.
- The infusion of different values from the east and the west which later got impetus from the establishment of British rule in India.
- The message and different sermons preached by social reformers and messengers of peace from different religions helped in the development of composite culture in India and the development of a feeling of oneness.
Issues remain:
- Biggest of these is the problem of communalism- Communal riots
- Sectarianism- threat for national integration
- For example, there is a tussle and strife between Sunnis and Shias of Muslim community on the one hand and Kabir-panth and Gorakhpanth or Nirankaris and the Alkali Sikhs of the Sikh community on the other hand.
- Casteism issues
- Linguism
- Controversy over ‘official language’ had triggered off serious law and order problems in southern belts.
- Regionalism
- Corruption and Illiteracy
- Lack of Urbanization in Some states
Conclusion:
The idea of exclusive belonging or allegiance is a pernicious intrusion into world cultures. Equally dangerous is a political project that foists a singularity or homogeneity and calls for the obliteration of multiplicity and fluidity – so that we become purely one or the other. The demand to ‘purify’ ourselves, rid ourselves of anything ‘foreign’ that contaminates is not only hard to meet but, if we are to lead better, richer lives, not worth compliance.
Despite the diversity in terms of race, religion, Language, caste and culture India is still a strong nation tied together with integration and unity in both politico-geographic and cultural backgrounds. Along with diversity and various such aspects, India is on its way of growth and development and it is worth mentioning that it has one of the string and stable economies in the world.
General Studies – 2
Topic : Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
2. Why are parliamentary standing committees necessary? Explain with recent examples. (250 words)
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The farmer protests over the enactment of Farm Acts and also the opposition’s criticism have highlighted the need to have greater consultation and deliberation before coming up with laws such as these that have an impact across the country. Thus the question context.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain the importance and necessity of parliamentary standing committees with examples.
Directive:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by explaining what Parliamentary committees are.
Body:
In the answer body explain their significance –
The functions of the Parliament are varied, complex and voluminous. Time and expertise to make a detailed scrutiny of all legislative measures and other matters are not available.
Parliamentary committees assist in the discharge of the duties of parliament.
The Standing and Select committees help the lawmakers to source expertise, diverse opinions from outside of the parliament.
It also provides a platform to overcome rigid party stance and adopt a more flexible, acceptable way to go forward.
Parliamentary committees work away from the public gaze; hence there are no incentives in ‘playing to the gallery’. Give examples such as that of GST bill, farm bills etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance.
Introduction:
In the Indian Parliament, a Parliamentary Standing committee is a committee consisting of Members of Parliament. It is a permanent and regular committee which is constituted from time to time according to the provisions of an Act of Parliament or Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. Both houses of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha have similar Committee structures with a few exceptions. Parliamentary committees draw their authority from Article 105 (on privileges of Parliament members) and Article 118 (on Parliament’s authority to make rules for regulating its procedure and conduct of business).
Body:
Role of Parliamentary Standing committee:
- Support Parliament’s work.
- Examine ministerial budgets, consider Demands for Grants, analyse legislation and scrutinise the government’s working.
- Examine Bills referred to by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha.
- Consideration of Annual Reports.
- Consideration of national basic long term policy documents presented to the House and referred to the Committee by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha.
Significance of Parliamentary Standing Committees in ensuring financial accountability of the executive:
- Financial control is a critical tool for Parliament’s authority over the executive; hence finance committees are considered to be particularly powerful.
- Parliamentary committees are the most important instruments of the legislature. Broadly, there are two types of committees relevant to the budgetary process – Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) and Financial Committees.
- While DRSCs are responsible for pre-approval scrutiny of the proposed Demands for Grants, the Financial Committees are involved in the post-facto examination of the usage of the allocated funds.
- Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)
- These committees scrutinise Demands for Grants of ministries and table the reports for discussion in the Lok Sabha.
- However, the committees cannot suggest cut motions.
- Financial Committees:
- They scrutinise and exercise parliamentary control over the finances of the executive and table the findings in the Parliament.
- This elicits a response from the government highlighting the recommendations of the committee. Based on this, the committee prepares an Action Taken Report (ATR) and lays it on the table of the House.
- The three financial committees are the Public Accounts Committee, the Estimates Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings.
- While the PAC ensures that the government is spending money for the purpose for which Parliament voted upon, the Estimates Committee examines that whether the money allocated conforms to and is well within the limits of the policy implied in the estimates.
- Similarly, the Committee on Public Undertakings examines the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on public undertakings.
Following are some of the measures that can be implemented to strengthen the financial oversight by the Parliament over the executive:
- Linking Financial Outlays to Outcomes:
- At present, there is no direct linkage between the amount allocated for a ministry or department and the outcomes.
- This tendency has been resulting in the wastage of precious financial resources and the efforts of the administration.
- Hence, in order to bring the principle of – Authority should Commensurate with Responsibility – in to practice, adequate measures should be taken to link allocation in the Budget to actual outcomes.
- Establishing Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO):
- Typically, a Parliamentary Budget Office is a specialised body involved in budget-related and financial research for the Parliament.
- These kinds of offices are already existing in the developed countries such as the US, the UK and Australia.
- Strengthening Public Accounts Committee:
- Reports of the PAC must be discussed in the Lok Sabha through a formal motion moved by the Finance Minister.
- This measure is expected to ensure that reports of the committee are debated and discussed in the House in detail.
- Further, steps should be taken to increase the number of reports tabled by the PAC. For instance, the average number of reports submitted by the PAC has fallen to 10-20 reports per year since the 6th Lok Sabha.
- Strengthening Estimates Committee:
- The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) recommended that the Estimates Committee should start examining a strategy paper detailing the objectives of the Budget. This initiative is expected to better inform the general debate.
- Scrutiny of Supplementary Demands for Grants:
- At present, the Supplementary Demands are not scrutinised by the DRSCs.
- Hence, an appropriate system should be evolved by which these grants are discussed by DRSCs, and consequently, the Parliamentary oversight is strengthened.
- Besides, the Estimates Committee should also examine why there was a need for Supplementary Demands, and why these could not be anticipated in the initial Demands itself.
Conclusion:
India is confronted by a range of serious issues, from the pandemic to economic distress, from the security threat from China to rapidly changing global geopolitics. All of them require careful examination. MPs have a role in providing inputs, scrutinizing the executive’s approach, involving domain experts in the discussion, and ensuring accountability. Thus, the PSC act as check and balance which must be constituted at the earliest.
Topic : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article explains in what way it is crucial to define the outcomes we are expecting from population-level vaccination plans for COVID-19, thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the various challenges that a vaccine poses to qualify as a ‘public health’ intervention in India.
Directive:
Analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly discuss the context and background of the question.
Body:
While the whole world waits for a COVID-19 vaccine as the last resort to control the pandemic, it is important to examine the challenges it poses to qualify as a ‘public health’ intervention in India.
Before discussing the challenges, explain first the purpose of a vaccine in general.
Discuss the concerns related to vaccination; Safe immunization, Economic concern, vaccine fraud, lack of infrastructure, cost, credibility etc.
Present the case study of current covid-19.
Conclusion:
Suggest what should be the way forward to address these challenges.
Introduction:
The whole world awaits a COVID-19 vaccine as the last resort to control the pandemic. In this context, it is important to examine the challenges vaccination poses to quality as a ‘public health intervention’ in India.
Body:
Purpose of vaccination:
- Individual prevention- – The ability to develop immunity by producing antibodies among those individuals who have taken a vaccine shot.
- It builds an adaptive immune system
- To achieve herd immunity– It is a concept used for vaccination, in which a population can be protected from a certain virus if a threshold of vaccination is reached.
- Herd immunity refers to community protection.
- The threshold coverage is estimated to be around 60% for COVID-19 vaccine to achieve population-level immunity.
- The idea of herd community is to protect the vulnerable.
Concerns related to vaccination
- Safe immunization– There are three major elements of immunization safety.
- Health care providers must be concerned with the safety of vaccines themselves (their composition),
- Administration of the vaccination (handling, scheduling, and injections),
- And surveillance and evaluation of the immunization program, including documentation of vaccine efficacy and the probability of adverse events.
- Economic concern-The huge economic resources will be needed to make the vaccine available for a large population.
- Lack of infrastructure– Vaccines require cold chain infrastructure for storage. Logistical and Infrastructural issues in storage of vaccines hampering its penetrability in the rural hinterland.
- Cost-If open market forces determine the cost of the vaccine and affordability then, the section of society most vulnerable to the disease would get left out.
- Credibility-ears regarding safety and credibility can be almost impossible obstacles to overcome and must be addressed head-on.
Challenges related to population based vaccination
- Priority-Within the country, it is certainly not clear who should be treated first or it should be determined by need, affordability, vulnerability or some other criterion or a combination of all.
- The outcome is the clear– If this process target only specific population group then its very purpose will be defeated as the pandemic can infect all groups similarly.
Case with India:
- Not clear what outcome is expected of a population-based vaccination program for COVID-19
- The most dominant argument is that health workers need to be covered on a priority basis, and then the elderly.
- One of the arguments posed for targeting health workers is that it would protect the health system from collapsing due toCOVID-19.
- If this is so, the health system cannot be confined to only health workers.
- A majority of stakeholders, even in terms of mere numbers, are always the patients and their caregivers
- The most crucial, is the goal of population- level immunity.
- The very purpose of it will be defeated if only a specific population group is targeted, when the pandemic can infect all groups similarly.
- In New Zealand, preparations are on for a countrywide immunisation program with a goal of covering the whole population with a threshold coverage
Way forward:
- It is safe to demonstrate the success of vaccination as a public health intervention in a small population, like a block or a district, before scaling it up for the national level.
- However, if herd immunity is not the focus, then the key purpose of COVID-19 vaccines will be to ensure individual immunity.
- Protect the vulnerable– Use the first limited supplies of vaccines to protect those most in need, without worrying about the more robust members of the “herd”.
Conclusion:
Having nothing less than vaccines and life-saving medicines being treated as a public good must definitely be the long-term goal.
Topic : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Reference: Down to Earth
Why the question:
WHO has declared that AMR is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain in what way AMR is a global health and development threat and that it requires urgent multi-sectorial action in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Directive:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with the definition of AMR.
Body:
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change in ways that render the medications used to cure the infections they cause ineffective. When the microorganisms become resistant to most antimicrobials they are often referred to as “superbugs”.
Discuss what makes it a global threat; A growing list of infections – such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, blood poisoning, gonorrhoea, and foodborne diseases – are becoming tougher, and at times impossible, to treat as antibiotics become less productive, emergence and spread of resistance is made worse because of procurement of antibiotics for animal and human consumption without a doctor’s supervision or a prescription etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by suggesting way forward.
Introduction:
Anti-microbial resistance (AMR) is the resistance acquired by any microorganism like bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasite, etc. against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarial, and anthelmintic) that are used to treat infections and is regarded as a major threat to public health across the globe. Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and may spread to others.
Body:
A growing list of infections – such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, blood poisoning, gonorrhoea, and foodborne diseases – are becoming tougher, and at times impossible, to treat as antibiotics become less productive, emergence and spread of resistance is made worse because of procurement of antibiotics for animal and human consumption without a doctor’s supervision or a prescription etc.
Reasons for the spread of AMR:
- Antibiotic consumption in humans
- Unnecessary and injudicious use of antibiotic fixed dose combinations could lead to emergence of bacterial strains resistant to multiple antibiotics.
- Social factors
- Self-medication.
- Access to antibiotics without prescription.
- Lack of knowledge about when to use antibiotics.
- Cultural Activities
- Mass bathing in rivers as part of religious mass gathering occasions.
- Antibiotic Consumption in Food Animals
- Antibiotics which are critical to human health are commonly used for growth promotion in poultry.
- Pharmaceutical Industry Pollution
- The wastewater effluents from the antibiotic manufacturing units contain a substantial amount of antibiotics, leading to contamination of rivers and lakes.
- Environmental Sanitation
- Untreated disposal of sewage water bodies – leading to contamination of rivers with antibiotic residues and antibiotic-resistant organisms.
- Infection Control Practices in Healthcare Settings
- A report on hand-washing practices of nurses and doctors found that only 31.8% of them washed hands after contact with patients.
Impact:
- A threatto prevention and treatment of infections – medical procedures such as organ transplantation, cancer chemotherapy, diabetes management and major surgery (for example, caesarean sections or hip replacements) become very risky.
- Failure to treat infections caused by resistant bacteria also poses a greater risk of death.
- Increases the costof health care with lengthier stays in hospitals, additional tests and use of more expensive drugs.
- Without effective antibiotics for prevention and treatment of infections, the achievements of modern medicine are put at a risk.
- Antibiotic apocalypse– a future without antibiotics, with bacteria becoming completely resistant to treatment and when common infections and minor injuries could once again kill.
- Putting the gains of the Millennium Development Goals at risk and endangersachievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
AMR in India:
- Burden of infectious disease (Bacterial infections) is high and healthcare spending is low.
- The National Health Policy 2017 highlights the problem of antimicrobial resistance and calls for effective action to address it.
- The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) identified AMR as one of the top 10 priorities for the ministry’s collaborative work with WHO.
- In 2012, India’s medical societies adopted the Chennai Declaration, a set of national recommendations to promote antibiotic stewardship.
- India’s Red Line campaign demands that prescription-only antibiotics be marked with a red line, to discourage the over-the-counter sale of antibiotics.
- National Policy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance 2011.
- National Action Plan on AMR resistance 2017-2021.
- India has instituted surveillance of the emergence of drug resistance in disease causing microbes in programmes on Tuberculosis, Vector Borne diseases, AIDS, etc.
- Since March 2014 a separate Schedule H-1 has been incorporated in Drug and Cosmetic rules to regulate the sale of antimicrobials in the country.
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned the use of antibiotics and several pharmacologically active substances in fisheries.
- The government has also capped the maximum levels of drugs that can be used for growth promotion in meat and meat products.
Steps to fight AMR:
- Infection control in healthcare facilities.
- Creating awareness about the use and abuse of antibiotics.
- Vaccination can combat drug resistance by reducing the cases of infection and as a result reducing the need for antibiotics.
- Strengthening resistance tracking so that data on antimicrobial resistant infections and causes of infection can be gathered to enable formulation of specific strategies to prevent the spread of the resistant bacteria.
- Self-medication should be shunned and antibiotics should be used only when prescribed by the doctor.
- Invest in the search for new antibiotics to keep up with resistant bacteria as well as in new diagnostic tests to track the development of resistance.
Way forward:
- AMR has the potential to return the world to a pre-antibiotic era when medicines could not treat even simple infections.
- Therefore, to contain AMR, there is need for a One Health Approachthrough coherent, integrated, multi sectoral cooperation and actions, as human, animal and environmental health are integrated.
- Development of antibiotic resistance breakers (ARBs) to restore effectiveness of older classes of antibiotics.
General Studies – 3
Topic : Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
5. Agriculture in India needs state support to thrive.do you agree? Critically analyse. (250 words)
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The article explains in what way without some support from the state, the smallest of Indian peasants would be even more vulnerable.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain in detail the need for State support for Indian agriculture to thrive.
Directive:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly discuss the state of agriculture in India.
Body:
Analyse why Agriculture in India needs state support to thrive.
Talk about the recent happenings such as the coming of farm bills – The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 (FAPAFS), the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 (FPTC) and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 (EC).
The COVID-related economic crisis in rural India calls for serious structural reforms in agriculture. In this context, evaluate the liberalisation and the need for state intervention in agriculture in India.
Explain why all of it suggests role of State. Take hints from the article and explain.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions.
Introduction:
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 (FAPAFS), the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 (FPTC) and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 (EC) were recently passed. The bills have been touted as a watershed moment for Indian agriculture it claims that the reforms would remove the shackles from the agriculture sector and free farmers from the stranglehold of middlemen by creating one market.
Body:
Essentially changing the rules around sale, storage and pricing of farm produce, the bills will permit private buyers to hoard essential commodities for future sales, which only government-authorised agents could do earlier, along with changing the rules for contract farming.
Intended benefits of liberalisation:
- Aim to do away with government interference in agricultural trade by creating trading areas free of middlemen and government taxes outside the structure of Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs).
- It will allow farmers an option to sell their produce directly to these new zones, without going through the middlemen and paying levies such as mandi fees.
- It sought to remove stock holding limits as well as curbs on inter-State and intra-State trade, and create a framework forcontract farming.
- Also, these bills promote the creation of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) on a large scale and will help in creating a farmer-friendly environment for contract farming where small players can benefit.
- These bills may enable private players to invest in warehousing, grading and other marketing infrastructure.
- A combined effect of these bills will help in creating a‘One Nation, One Market’ for agricultural produce.
Concerned raised:
- Farmers’ unions and groups have concerns about two major issues:
- Since the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is not mentioned in the bills, they fear that they will lose the assured option of selling to the APMC mandis and that this will lead to corporate exploitation.
- They apprehend a process of corporatisation of agriculture in the absence of regulation, as agribusiness firms might well be able to dictate both the market conditions (including prices) and the terms of contract farming as small farmers do not have the same bargaining power.
- Federal Angle:The provisions in the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, provides for unfettered commerce in designated trade areas outside APMC jurisdictions.
- Apart from this, the bill empowers the Centre government to issue orders to States in furtherance of the law’s objectives.
- However, matters of trade and agriculture being the part of subjects on the State list, have caused resentment in States.
- Lack of Consultation:First the ordinance route and now the hastily attempt to pass the Bills without proper consultation adds to the mistrust among various stakeholders including farmers.
- Also, by allowing ‘trade zones’ to come up outside the APMC area, farmers have become apprehensive that the new system would lead to eventual exit from the minimum support price.
- Absence of any regulation in non-APMC mandis:Another issue that is raised by the farmers is that the proposed bills give the preference for corporate interests at the cost of farmers’ interests.
- In absence of any regulation in non-APMC mandis, the farmers may find it difficult to deal with Corporates, as they solely operate on the motive of profit seeking.
- Non-Favourable Market Conditions:While retail prices have remained high, data from the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) suggest a deceleration in farm gate prices for most agricultural produce.
- With rising input costs, farmers do not see the free market based framework providing them remunerative prices.
- These fears gain strength with the experience of States such as Bihar which abolished APMCs in 2006. After the abolition of mandis, farmers in Bihar on average received lower prices compared to the MSP for most crops.
Way forward:
- Improve Agricultural Infrastructure to Strengthen Competition:Government should massively fund the expansion of the APMC market system, make efforts to remove trade cartels, and provide farmers good roads, logistics of scale and real time information.
- Empowering State Farmers Commissions:Rather than opting for heavy centralisation, the emphasis should be on empowering farmers through State Farmers Commissions recommended by the National Commission for Farmers, to bring about a speedy government response to issues.
- Consensus Building:The Centre should reach out to those opposing the Bills, including farmers, explain to them the need for reform, and get them on board.
Conclusion:
Without strong institutional arrangements, the free market may harm lakhs of unorganised small farmers, who have been remarkably productive and shored up the economy even during a pandemic.
Thus MSP has been very helpful in keeping agriculture in our country alive and we have been able to become self-sufficient in food grains due to it. It becomes crucial for government to provide some solid assurance to farmers that it won’t be allowed to die down.
Topic : Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: Times of India
Why the question:
The article explains how India can be a ‘Plus One’ destination, while reducing dependence on China.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss some reforms that can be made to improve manufacturing in India and thus leading to making India a ‘Plus One’ destination
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Global companies have stepped up efforts to implement the ‘China plus One’ strategy, of diversifying their supply chains in the wake of the Covid-19-induced disruptions and US-China trade tensions.
Body:
Discuss the status of manufacturing in India.
Explain what reforms are needed to make India a better place of manufacturing.
Explain the challenges associated with it; suggest solutions to address the same. Take cues from the article and expand.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions.
Introduction:
Global companies have stepped up efforts to implement the ‘China plus One’ strategy, of diversifying their supply chains in the wake of the Covid-19-induced disruptions and US-China trade tensions.
Body:
This provides a second chance for India to emerge as a global manufacturing hub. While India has managed to capture the services outsourcing wave to become quite the back office of the world, the ability to expand the manufacturing sector – with its trickle-down effect – will be critical to job creation and balanced growth.
Reforms needed:
- Hasten structural reforms that foster competitive ecosystems
- India’s manufacturing sector’s share of GDP has stagnated at ~15% for the past three decades, reducing the contribution of merchandise exports to GDP to barely 12%. The comparable numbers for China are ~30%
- To seize the opportunity, CRISIL Research has analysed India’s competitive strengths and weaknesses and identified gaps that must be plugged – and the sectors that must be targeted.
- India remains uncompetitive on labour, infrastructure and logistics. Logistics efficiency is poor with ~70% of freight moving by road.
- Implement immediate reforms to boost competitiveness
- While reforms such as the recent amalgamation of 44 labour laws into four codes are welcome, some immediate-term measures could help expand the manufacturing base and attract investments.
- Increasing the number of working hours – around five Indian states have adopted this so far – and ensuring the ability to fire workers could help enhance competitiveness on labour.
- Land reforms are also crucial. The government could borrow a leaf from Vietnam’s playbook and redistribute large parcels on lease along with the right to rent, sub-contract and mortgage.
- Improve contract enforcement and dispute resolution timelines
- India takes almost 1,440 days to implement a contract versus 150 days
- CRISIL Research’s look at various public domain documents shows India at 63 on this parameter, well below China’s 31 and South Korea’s 3.
- The Economic Survey 2019 said delays in contract enforcement and disposal resolution are “the single biggest hurdle to the ease of doing business in India.”
- Quicken out-of-court dispute resolution, thereby reducing costs.
- Adopt multi-pronged approach to boost sectoral level manufacturing
- Take a long-term view and provide tax and other incentives to build manufacturing ecosystems in new-age sectors such as mobile phones, defence equipment and lithium ion batteries.
- Capitalise on established strengths in sectors like textiles, leather, auto components and pharmaceuticals to spawn scale-ups.
Conclusion:
Both the States and the Central government needs to work in tandem to boost the manufacturing in India and transform the economic landscape of India.
General Studies – 4
Topic : Citizen’s Charter.
Reference: Ethics, Integrity and aptitude
Why the question:
The question is based on the context of Citizen’s charter.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the core principles of a citizen’s charter and evaluate the success of it in India so far.
Directive:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define what citizen charter is.
Body:
A Citizens’ Charter represents the commitment of the Organisation towards standard, quality and time frame of service delivery, grievance redress mechanism, transparency and accountability.
Discuss the core principles of a citizen’s charter; Awareness: About citizen’s entitlements; time, period and quality of service delivery, Simple to understand, Moral backing, Accountability: Individual and of organization, Transparency: Rules/ Procedures/ Schemes/Grievances, Empowerment: Citizens especially weaker sections.
Then account for the reasons for failure of citizen’s charter.
Conclusion:
Suggest what needs to be done and conclude with solutions.
Introduction:
A Citizens’ Charter represents the commitment of the Organization towards standard, quality and time frame of service delivery, grievance redress mechanism, transparency and accountability. The concept of Citizens Charter enshrines the trust between the service provider and its users.
Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in Government of India (DARPG) initiated the task of coordinating, formulating and operationalizing Citizen’s Charters
Body:
The basic objective of the Citizens Charter is to empower the citizen in relation to public service delivery.
The core principles of a Citizen’s Charter in India are:
- Vision and Mission Statement
- Details of business transacted by the organization
- Details of clients
- Details of services provided to each client group
- Details of grievance redress mechanism and how to access it
- Expectations from the clients.
Challenges faced in implementation of Citizen’s charter:
- One size fits all: Tendency to have a uniform CC for all offices under the parent organization. CC have still not been adopted by all Ministries/Departments. This overlooks local issues.
- Silo operations: Devoid of participative mechanisms in a majority of cases, not formulated through a consultative process with cutting edge staff who will finally implement it.
- Non-Dynamic: Charters are rarely updated making it a one-time exercise, frozen in time.
- Poor design and content: lack of meaningful and succinct CC, absence of critical information that end-users need to hold agencies accountable.
- Lack of public awareness: only a small percentage of end-users are aware of the commitments made in the CC since effective efforts of communicating and educating the public about the standards of delivery promise have not been undertaken.
- Stakeholders not consulted: End-users, Civil society organizations and NGOs are not consulted when CCs are drafted. Since a CC’s primary purpose is to make public service delivery more citizen-centric, consultation with stakeholders is a must.
- Measurable standards of delivery are rarely defined: making it difficult to assess whether the desired level of service has been achieved or not.
- Poor adherence: Little interest shown by the organizations in adhering to their CC. since there is no citizen friendly mechanism to compensate the citizen if the organization defaults.
Way forward:
- Wide consultation process: CC be formulated after extensive consultations within the organization followed by a meaningful dialogue with civil society.
- Participatory process: Include Civil Society in the process: to assist in improvement in the contents of the Charter, its adherence as well as educating the citizens about the importance of this vital mechanism.
- Firm commitments to be made: CC must be precise and make firm commitments of service delivery standards to the citizens/consumers in quantifiable terms wherever possible.
- Redressal mechanism in case of default: clearly lay down the relief which the organization is bound to provide if it has defaulted on the promised standards of delivery.
- One size does not fit all: formulation of CC should be a decentralized activity with the head office providing only broad guidelines.
- Periodic updation of CC: preferably through an external agency.
- Fix responsibility: Hold officers accountable for results: fix specific responsibility in cases where there is a default in adhering to the CC.
Conclusion:
Thus, it is imperative to develop citizen’s charter which is citizen-centric, people-participative for them to be successful. This will ensure that the guidelines are set for better service delivery by the government.
