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: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Reference: Modern Indian History by Bipin Chandra
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain in detail the nature of Peasant uprisings in 19th Century India with appropriate examples in the above context.
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:
In the 19th century and early 20th century, there were hundreds of peasants and tribal movements, revolts or uprisings in India. Most of these revolts were suppressed by ruthless use of power by the British yet; they played a very significant role in the freedom struggle of the country.
Body:
Start by discussing the factors responsible for peasant revolts in the country in 19th century.
Highlight the non-religious factors, the occurrence of recurrent famines etc. then move onto explain how religion did play a key role; Religious Movements aimed for liberation of region or ethnic groups under new form of government or religious conflicts. During British era, the revolts belonging to this category include Kuka Revolt; Moplah Rebellion, etc. Explain these examples and justify.
Conclusion:
Conclude by highlighting the importance of such peasant uprisings in the freedom struggle of the country.
Introduction:
Indian peasants have a long tradition of armed uprisings, reaching back at least to the initial British conquest and the last decades of Mughal government. For more than 200 years’ peasants in all the major regions have risen repeatedly against landlords, revenue agents and other bureaucrats, money- lenders, police and military force etc.
Body:
Causes of peasant revolts:
- The major cause of all these civil rebellions taken as a whole was the rapid changes the British introduced in the economy, administration and land revenue system. These changes led to the disruption of the agrarian society, causing prolonged and widespread suffering among its constituents.
- Above all, the colonial policy of intensifying demands for land revenue and extracting as large an amount as possible produced a veritable upheaval in Indian villages. In Bengal, for example, in less than thirty years’ land revenue collection was raised to nearly double the amount collected under Mughals. The pattern was repeated in other parts of the country as British rule spread and aggravating the unhappiness of the farmers was the fact that not even a part of the enhanced revenue was spent on the development of agriculture or the welfare of the cultivators.
- Thousands of zamindars and poligars lost control over their land and its revenue either due to the extinction of their rights by the colonial state or by the forced sale of their rights over the land because of their inability to meet the exorbitant land revenue demanded. The proud zamindars and poligars resented this loss even more when they were displaced by rank outsiders-government officials and the new men of money merchants and money lenders. Thus they, as also the old chiefs, who had lost their principalities, had personal scores to settle with the new rulers.
- Peasants and artisans, as indicated earlier, had their own reasons to rise up in arms and side with the traditional elite. Increasing demands for land revenue were forcing large numbers of peasants into growing indebtedness or into selling their lands. The new landlords, bereft of any traditional paternalism towards their tenants, pushed up rents to ruinous heights and evicted them in case of non- payment. The economic decline of the peasantry was reflected in twelve major and numerous minor famines from 1770 to 1857.
- The new courts and legal system gave a further fillip to the dispossessors of land and encouraged the rich to oppress the poor. Flogging, torture and jailing of the cultivators for arrears of rent or land revenue or interest on debt were quite common. The ordinary people were also hard hit by the prevalence of corruption at the lower levels of the police, judiciary and general administration. The petty officials enriched themselves freely at the cost of the poor. The police looted, oppressed and tortured the common people at will. William Edwards, a British official, wrote in 1859 that the police were ‘a scourge to the people’ and that ‘their oppression and exaction form one of the chief grounds of dissatisfaction with our governments.
- The ruins of Indian handicraft industries, as a result of the imposition of free trade in India and levy of discriminatory tariffs against Indian goods in Britain, pauperized millions of artisans. The misery of the artisans was further compounded by the disappearance of their traditional patrons and buyers, the princes, chieftains and zamindars.
- The scholarly and priestly were also active in inciting hatred and rebellion against foreign rule. The traditional rulers and ruling elite had financially supported scholars, religious preachers, priests, pundits and maulvis and men of arts and literature.
Religious Nature of peasant movements in 19th century:
- Peasant rebels mobilized themselves in to bandit troops, engaged in insurrections under their own committees or local popular leaders, or else took part in movements for local liberation under charismatic religious leaders.
- In this sense, a number of religion inspired peasant movements have arisen among Hindus, Muslims and tribal peoples in India in the 19th
- The purposed of the religion was to mobilize, unite and inspire peopleand did not have any communal undertones. Such movements were collective as they looked forward to a reign of bliss on this earth; the transformation from the present evil age is to be total; it is imminent and it will come about by supernatural means.
- All had divine or prophetic leaders who were believed to possess supernatural powers and looked forward to a terrestrial state of righteousness and justice in which their enemies would be removed or defeated. Most were transformative rather than reformative in their expectation of a sudden, total change, and most believed the Golden Age to be imminent and subject to some kind of supernatural intervention.
- These movements included the early movement of Moplah tenantsin the 1830s to 1850s led by the Mambram Tangal. The Muslim Moplah tenants, suffering from rack-renting, evictions and famine with the spread of cash crop farming and the disruption of their formerly stable tenancies,56 were taught by the Tangal that if they would give up cultivating, pray diligently, and organise for battle, a ship bearing arms and modem equipment for 40,000 men would miraculously appear on the horizon and the British would be driven out of Malabar.
- The Naikda tribal movementin Gujarat under the Hindu religious leader Joria Bhagat in 1867-70
- The Munda tribal movementunder Birsa in the 1890s,54 and the Bhil tribal movement under Govindgiri, a tribal convert to Hinduism, in 1900- 1912, following a severe famine in 1900. The Bhil groups of the Panch Mahals and the Naikdas, both of whom probably number fewer than 10,000, came to believe that their leader was himself an incarnation of the supreme deity (Parameswar or Siva among the Naikdas and Vishnu among the Bhils). Both groups thought that their divine leader could deliver them from British.
Overall Nature of peasant movements in 19th century:
- Between 1765 and 1857 a large pro- portion of revolts were led by Hindu or Muslim petty rulers, former revenue agents under the Moghuls, tribal chiefs in hill regions and local landed military officers (poligars) in south India. They were supported by masses of peasants.
- The revolts were either against the conquest itself and the imposition of heavy revenueson existing nobles, or retaliatory attempts to drive out the British after they had dispossessed a zamindar or a raja for failing to pay the revenues and had replaced him with some other claimant to the estate.
- The peasants were not blind loyalists. Their own grievances were bitter, for in their efforts squeeze out the revenue the Company’s officers often completely pauperised the peasants or had them starved, flogged or jailed.
- Example: the famous Santhal tribal revolt of 1855-56, involving a peasant army of between 30 and 50 thousand.
- Some struggles were that of legal resistance. There was very little violence but peasant used prayer, petitions, legal and constitutional methods.
- Example: Tabna Agrarian Leagues of 1870’s and 1880’s
- In some case, peasants used social boycott movement. It was organised by the ryots against the “outsider” like moneylenders, planters etc.
- Example Deccan Riots
Conclusion:
Peasant movement is a very important part of social movements. Social movements happen because of the social exploitation of the lower sections of the society. Peasant movements in India happened because of many reasons like the exploitation by the colonial government, exploitation by landlords and zamindars and other elite sections of the society. Peasant movements have also the same nature and ideology which the social movements have. Peasant movements have also some concepts like collective mobilization, organization, leadership, ideology, nature etc.
Topic: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Reference: Modern Indian History by Bipin Chandra
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key demand of the question:
One must elucidate upon the various ideas and ideologies of INC and discuss the pluralistic tendencies and in what way it shaped India.
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:
Mention the diverse composition of Congress and the ideas and ideologies they stood for.
Body:
Start by clearly outlining various ideologies and groups within Congress.
It should highlight how these individuals/groups were in contradiction to each other. Examples such a moderates vs. extremists, pro changers vs no changers, landlords vs. peasants’ right wing, capitalists, Socialists etc must included with examples. Even individual ideological clashes like Gandhi vs Bose will add value to answer.
Then one should provide justification that it was a mark of pularilism. Examples should be provided as how Congress was pluralistic.
Final part of body should be how these diverse ideas have impacted India. Links should be developed to current affairs to make answer holistic.
Conclusion:
Conclude by emphasizing pluralism of Indian National Congress clearly.
Introduction:
Indian National Congress, byname Congress Party, broadly based political party of India. Formed in 1885, the Indian National Congress dominated the Indian movement for independence from Great Britain. INC was indeed a mark of pluralism as seen through the shift in its ideas and ideologies over years from its inception to Indian independence.
Body:
The basic objectives of the early nationalist leaders were to lay the foundations of a secular and democratic national movement, to polticize and politically educate the people, to form the headquarters of the movement that is to form an all-India leadership group, and to develop and propagate an anti- colonial nationalist ideology.
In the first stage of its existence (1885-1905), the vision of the Indian National Congress was dim, vague and confused. It may be referred as the period of Moderate politics. The movement was confined to a handful of the educated middle class intelligentsia who drew inspirations from western Liberal and Radical Thought.
The second state (1905-18) witnessed the emergence of a new and younger group within the Indian National Congress which was sharply critical of the ideology and methods of the old leadership. They advocated the adoption of Swaraj as the goal of the Congress to be achieved by more self-reliant and independent methods.
The differences between the Moderates & the Extremists:
- The moderates were against the idea of boycott as a general political weapon, though they welcomed swadeshi.
- K. Gokhale recommended the use of the word swadeshi to describe the anti-partition movement.
- These differences centred round two main points, namely the political goal and the method to achieve it.
- As regards the goal, Tilak summed up his idea in one sentence ‘Swaraj is my birth right and I will have it’.
- The Extremists interpreted Swaraj to mean complete autonomy without any dependence on the British rule.
- But G.K. Gokhale, did not expect that. He said that there was no alternative to British rule, for a long time to come
Gandhian Phase (1918-1947): Mahatma Gandhi’s entry and meteoric rise in the Indian political scenario following his return from South Africa in 1918, has been variously equated with the emergence of a guiding light to a breath of fresh air. In the 1920s and ’30s the Congress Party, led by Gandhi, began advocating nonviolent non-cooperation. They were conducted on the lines of Satyagraha, Gandhi’s personal mode of non-violent resistance.
Ideological differences during Gandhian Phase:
- The Home Rule movement under Tilak and Annie Besant were far from successful, and Gandhi knew that no mode of armed revolution could make India free from the clutches of the British rule.
- There was rise of socialism and communism which was seen in the form of Congress Socialist Party started by JP Narayan.
- The power vacuum led to formation of no-changers and pro-changers group. The latter fought elections and used the legislative way to fight the British.
- The former-students from Britain became prominent within the party such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose.
- Congress was transformed from an assembly dominated by Western-educated elites to a mass organization that appealed to diverse sections of the Indian public in these decades.
- Representatives of Congress met with British politicians in the 1930s and 1940s to negotiate the terms of independence, often at odds with the British.
- They also found it hard to appease their many constituents and their rivals, the Muslim League.
The ideological differences helped in shaping India in the following way:
- Promoting the diversity of India
- Presence of various ideologies which are in use even today.
- The image of the modern Indian nation and the values that shape and continue inform it today, were cast in the crucible of our struggle for independence from colonial rule.
- Much of the gain from the movement is enshrined in our Constitution and continues to enlighten the political and judicial discourse in India
Conclusion:
Our national movement was more than a struggle for independence – it was an exercise in building a nation. It was not just a movement to replace a colonial regime and deliver political power to Indians but was aimed at using that power to secure social and economic justice, and dignity, for every Indian, he pointed out. The movement is perhaps one of the best examples of the creation of an extremely wide movement with a common aim in which diverse political and ideological currents could co-exist and work, and simultaneously continue to contend for overall ideological and political hegemony over it.
General Studies – 2
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Reference: The Hindu , The Hindu
Why the question:
On Monday, hours before the new Parliament was to convene, the Generals moved into action. They detained State Counsellor Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other top leaders of the NLD. They declared a state of emergency for a year, and took power in their hands.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the impact of recent military coup in Myanmar and suggest India’s response to that.
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:
Begin by giving context of the recent Coup of overthrowing democratically elected Parliament and establishing military dictatorship.
Body:
In the first part, trace the historic developments in Nepal. The New constitutuion of 2008, subsequent release of Aung San Suu Kyi, subsequent elections and a fragile balance between the civilian and military leadership in Myanmar.
Next, write about the impact of the recent coup. Declared state of an emergency, threat of sanctions from the U.S, role of China and the benefits it can accrue from this, India’s security relationship with the Myanmar military, further stalemate on Rohingya issue etc.
Finally, write about what should be the possible India’s response to this. Considering the new geopolitical realities, emphasis on restoring the democratically parliament and popular leadership, maintaining its existing strategic interests despite the turmoil and denying China a monopoly on Myanmar’s infrastructure and resources etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction:
The Myanmar military seized power yet again after the military coups of 1962, 1988 and 1990, turning a partial democracy into a full-fledged military rule. The swift operation has wiped out a decade of the country’s democratisation process. The drastic actions taken by the Army Generals’ overthrows a democratic government and has derailed people’s expressed preferences. India expressed “deep concern” over the reports of an unfolding military coup in Myanmar.
Body:
Immediate reasons for the coup:
- Between March 2016 and January 2021, the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi shared power with the military. This was a bold experiment to govern an intensely complex nation in Southeast Asia. Myanmar thus became a car driven by two drivers.
- The newly elected National Assembly was due to meet in Naypyidaw on Monday, despite the Tatmadaw’s (Army’s) claims that the November general elections had several irregularities, and its contestation of the NLD’s landslide victory.
- Suu Kyi had refused to bow to Gen. Hlaing’s demand that the results, which also saw the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party with a reduced strength in Parliament, be set aside.
- the Army, which still nominates a fourth of the parliamentary seats and retains the important Defence, Borders and Interior portfolios, felt it was better to dismiss the NLD government before it increased its clout.
Other reasons:
- The Coup was also helped to some extent by Ms. Suu Kyi, who came to office in 2015, but has lost opportunities to put her country more firmly on the road to democracy.
- She has accepted a dual power system in the state. Daw Suu, as she is known, has also failed to bring democracy to her party, and been criticised for her autocratic style.
- Her refusal to rein in the Generals when the Tatmadaw unleashed a pogrom on the Rohingya between 2016-17, had lost the Nobel Peace laureate much international support.
- The divide between the Burmans, the majority group, and the ethnic minorities remains wide. The latter are generally opposed to a strong Central government. The military leadership has time and again encashed on this.
Global Impacts of the move:
- The step is a setback for the international community’s efforts to engage with Myanmar, after a strict sanctions regime.
- While not a fully globalized nation, the political crisis in Myanmar does threaten to impact a number of companies around the world, ranging from rare-earth miners in China to global oil and gas majors.
- Under the military government, it will be very difficult for investors to know, in the short term, whether they plan to revert to protectionist policies that had worked so well for the elite, even while promising to maintain some form of democracy
Impact on India:
- Strategic interests of the North East will be affected, leading to increased insurgency in the Myanmar border areas.
- The dream of North East India to be benefitted from the ‘Act East Policy’ may be a shattered dream
- India has all set for penetrating its market to the South East Asia by implementing the Act East Asia. India as of now is no member of the RCEP. Even though India managed to promote better relationship with Myanmar without being a member of RCEP, change of Military regime in Myanmar perhaps may be a hurdle.
- The geographically strategic location of Myanmar makes it a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia, and India needs a good working relationship with the Myanmar government for its diplomatic and strategic initiatives. This is especially due to China’s nefarious designs in Myanmar, which wants to develop it as a geopolitical base against India.
- China has its own designs and wants to use Myanmar as another base in its ‘string of pearl’ strategy against India. Through the string of pearls approach, China intends to encircle India by developing military bases in India’s neighbouring countries and Myanmar has long been on China’s radar.
- The Myanmar Military is corrupt, it is quite possible that the Military junta Government may take loans from China, siphon it off, just like the Pakistan army and would push Myanmar to a Chinese debt trap.
- New Delhi will have to deal with the fallout of crackdowns on pro-democracy activists as well as these could prompt a flight of refugees into India.
- While its foreign policy concerns will direct New Delhi to avoid ruffling the feathers of Myanmar’s generals, there are humanitarian concerns and democratic commitments that India must not ignore.
Response of India:
- India has shown commitment to build robust relationship with Myanmar over the past two decades which intensified after the democratic process began in 2011.
- Whenever democracy suffers, India feels concerned, even anguished.
- However, India is committed to the policy of non-interference in another state’s internal affairs. It is also guided by the national interest.
- Therefore, in managing relations with Myanmar, India will astutely balance its principles, values, interests and geopolitical realities.
Conclusion:
The military coup in Myanmar is a devastating setback to the country’s efforts to build an inclusive democracy. The Indian government will need to craft its response taking into consideration the new geopolitical realities of the U.S. and China as well as its own standing as a South Asian power, and as a member of the UN Security Council. India must push for the restoration of democracy at the earliest.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Government Budgeting.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Presenting the Union Budget for 2021-22, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Budget proposals for this financial year rest on six pillars — health and well-being, physical and financial capital and infrastructure, inclusive development for aspirational India, reinvigorating human capital, innovation and R&D, and ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’.
Key Demand of the question:
To determine if the Budget 2021 marks a sharp departure from macroeconomic stability.
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 by defining macroeconomic stability.
Body:
In the first part, further elaborate up on the various components of macroeconomic stability. Its role in inclusive growth, poverty reduction, reduction of inequalities etc.
In detail, write about the various features of Budget which portrays departure from macroeconomic stability and the reasons behind the departure. The findings of Medium Term Fiscal Policy cum Fiscal Strategy Statement.
Bring out the concerns associated with it and stress on the need to come to broad contours of macroeconomic stability.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction:
Macroeconomic stability has been a key tenet of the Washington Consensus. The term “Macroeconomic Stability” describes a national economy that has minimized vulnerability to external shocks, which in turn increases its prospects for sustained growth. It also describes a policy prescription that prepares an economy for growth by buffering it against external shocks.
Macroeconomic stability exists when key economic relationships are in balance—for example, between domestic demand and output, the balance of payments, fiscal revenues and expenditure, and savings and investment.
Body:
Importance of Macroeconomic stability:
- Macroeconomic stability acts as a buffer against currency and interest fluctuations in the global market.
- Exposure to currency fluctuations, large debt burdens, and unmanaged inflation can cause economic crises and collapse in GDP.
- Macroeconomic instability has generally been associated with poor growth performance. It is a necessary, but insufficient requirement for growth.
- Without macroeconomic stability, domestic and foreign investors will stay away and resources will be diverted elsewhere.
- In addition to low (and sometimes even negative) growth rates, other aspects of macroeconomic instability can place a heavy burden on the poor.
- Inflation, for example, is a regressive and arbitrary tax, the burden of which is typically borne disproportionately by those in lower income brackets.
- Both the IMF and the EU place an emphasis on macroeconomic stability.
Budget 2021 and Macroeconomic stability:
Measures that indicate move away from Fiscal orthodoxy:
- Budget for 2021-22 seems to move away from the fiscal orthodoxy to signal with its fiscal deficit at 9.5% of GDP for FY21 and 6.8% in FY22.
- The change in fiscal stance is part of a selective departure from market orthodoxy that has marked the government’s economic policy in the last few years.
- The government has increased duties on some imports in order to protect and foster domestic industry.
- It has introduced performance-linked incentives for designated sectors, something that goes counter to market economics.
- The moves for privatisation and a greater role for foreign direct investment (FDI) also indicates the Government’s adherence to other elements of market orthodoxy.
Challenges posed:
- A large fiscal deficit can fuel a rise in inflation. It is more than likely that a change in the fiscal consolidation targets will require a change in the inflation target of 4% set for the Reserve Bank of India. The Budget makes no mention of such a possibility.
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, both flag-bearers of the Washington Consensus, have been urging a departure from fiscal orthodoxy in the wake of the pandemic. Both these institutions used to be wary of any increase in the public debt to GDP ratio beyond 100%.
- Today, they are urging the advanced economies to spend more by running up deficits even when the debt to GDP ratio is poised to rise to 125% by the end of 2021.
- The other concern is that, with the tax to GDP ratio not rising as expected, the sale of public assets has become crucial to reduction in fiscal deficits in the years ahead. This is a high-risk strategy. For years now, revenues from disinvestment have fallen short of targets. The sale of Air India, which was begun in 2018, is still dragging on.
- Privatisation of banks raises concerns about financial stability. Job losses from privatisation are bound to evoke a backlash.
Conclusion:
Macroeconomic stability depends not only on the macroeconomic management of an economy, but also on the structure of key markets and sectors. To enhance macroeconomic stability, countries need to support macroeconomic policy with structural reforms that strengthen and improve the functioning of these markets and sectors.
Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
Lawmakers are generally slow to move, taking their time to consider all the consequences of their decisions before enacting regulations. In comparison, technology is always changing—transforming itself, sometimes in a matter of months.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the quick pace of evolution of technology which makes the law redundant and the need for the tech policy to acknowledge it in order to solve it.
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:
To write about the quick pace of evolution of technology which makes the law redundant or play catch up with technology.
Body:
Write about the impact in regulation of fast evolving technology. From economists, social scientists and technologists, or anyone with the requisite experience to give them inputs so that they can apply an appropriate level of nuance to their regulations.
Write about the how tech policies can be made more organic and responsive to the present times. Parameters for regulation and design-thinking to formulate policymaking tools, principles-based regulation that allows for regulatory discretion, improve enforcement and build transparency etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Technology is changing faster than regulators can keep up. Given how frequently technology products transform themselves, regulators find themselves always having to play catch up. As emerging technologies drive new business and service models, governments must rapidly create, modify, and enforce regulations. The preeminent issue is how to protect citizens and ensure fair markets while letting innovation and businesses flourish.
Body
Technology and regulation issues
- Law-abiding individuals and corporations spend inordinate amounts of time and money in search of legal loopholes in order to achieve technical compliance only, while others abuse the legal framework so that their criminal activities can remain undetected.
- The examples of social media and electronic cigarettes demonstrate this point.
- There are interesting similarities between them; both use advanced technology in innovative and fast-changing environments, and are therefore almost impossible to define with enough specificity to allow the lengthy regulatory process to run its course.
- By the time that a regulation is finally approved, the product or service has changed.
- g.: Since its launch in 2004, Facebook has been continuously embroiled in data privacy issues. The most current example is the case involving Cambridge Analytica and the 2016 presidential election in the United States.
- With advent of Artificial intelligence, machine learning, new technology is on the unveil.
- Eg: With rise of Bitcoins, there was the issue of undetected dark web activities (drug peddling) and also to reign in price volatility of the bitcoins.
- Countries were confronted with no legal law to regulate bitcoins, which made it even more popular.
Overcoming Fast evolving technology and regulatory challenges
- The Economic Survey recommends that we should look to develop principles-based regulation that allows for regulatory discretion, while also ensuring transparency in decision-making, and put in place effective post-facto enforcement measures.
- If we move to principle-based regulation, we will need to let regulators exercise discretion in applying these principles—without fear of ex-post facto sanction.
- It recommends borrowing the Best Judgment Rule from corporate law and applying it to regulators—suggesting that we should presume that regulatory actions have been taken in good faith unless proven otherwise.
- This, it argues, will provide us the tools to deal with the complexity of the modern world.
- Focus on developing principles that can be applied regardless of changes in technology or the sector’s business models.
Way Forward
Five principles to guide the future of regulation:
- Adaptive regulation: Shift from “regulate and forget” to a responsive, iterative approach.
- Regulatory sandboxes: Prototype and test new approaches by creating sandboxes and accelerators.
- Outcome-based regulation: Focus on results and performance rather than form.
- Risk-weighted regulation: Move from one-size-fits-all regulation to a data-driven, segmented approach.
- Collaborative regulation: Align regulation nationally and internationally by engaging a broader set of players across the ecosystem.
Conclusion:
For technological innovation, regulation can be catalytic—or a hindrance. As emerging technologies evolve, regulators from around the world are rethinking their approaches, adopting models that are agile, iterative, and collaborative to face the challenges posed by emerging technologies and the fourth Industrial Revolution. Taken together, these principles establish a de facto regulatory structure that sidesteps the traditional process for promulgating new rules in favor of a system of co-regulation and multi-stakeholder engagements.
General Studies – 1
Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators.
6. What do you understand by the quote?
“Education which does not mound character is absolutely worthless” –Mahatma Gandhi (150 words)
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by explaining the quote.
Body:
Start by mentioning that there exists a difference between being literate and being educated. The education without values is like body without soul. Mention the ramifications of the same. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Suggest way to inculcate values for character building.
Introduction
“To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.” aptly captures the above quote. Education promotes the metamorphosis of a child to become a full-fledged adult. Mere learning without promotion and development of values even discards the definition of education. Education of values and principles shapes and moulds a soul
Body
Achieving academic excellence for all students is at the very core of any school’s purpose, and will inform much of what they do. Character education is not a new thing, extending as it does back to the work of Aristotle. Yet it could be argued that the pursuit of success in schools in more recent years has sought to put the cart before the horse. In driving students to think of success solely in terms of exam grades and university places, pressure is created that can often be counter intuitive to student well- being and academic progress.
It does not matter how educated or wealthy one is, if the inherent character or personality lacks morals. Infact, such personalities can be threat to a peaceful society. Mussolini, Hitler are all examples of education devoid of morality leading mankind to their destruction.
In contemporary times it is equally relevant. An educated man taking dowry will be a death spell for gender equality and gender justice. The seven sins of Gandhiji will materialise when we are educated without morality like Science without humanity as is the case with nuclear weapons today.
Thus, Education without values as useful as it seems makes a man, a clever devil.
Conclusion
Education without morals is like a ship without a compass, merely wandering nowhere. It is not enough to have the power of concentration, but we must have worthy objectives upon which to concentrate. It is not enough to know truth, but we must love truth and sacrifice for it.
Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
7. Write a short note on the teleological ethical theories of the following moral thinkers:
(150 words)
Reference: Ethics by Lexicon publications.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing in brief about teleological ethics.
Body:
- Jeremy Bentham:
Write about the contributions of Bentham to Teleological. He emphasizes utility, The British utilitarian movement, human’s action, felicific calculus, seven factors of moral action etc. Write a few limitations.- John Stuart Mill:
Greatest Happiness Principle, human desire, utility principle with the notion of justice and representative of social utilitarianism. Write a few limitations.Conclusion:
Write about the importance of their contributions.
Introduction
Bentham was the father of utilitarianism who gave the maxim of “Greater happiness of the greater number”, while JS Mill was pupil of Bentham and revived utilitarianism, which came under heavy criticism. J. S Mill’s importance lies not only in his criticism of utilitarianism but also in his rich contribution to liberalism by his memorable defence of freedom of speech and individuality and in his defence of a liberal society as a necessary precondition for a liberal state.
Body
Teleological ethical theories
Teleology is referred to as results-oriented ethics. It focuses on the purpose of each action and whether there is an intention or meaning for the action. It deals with the consequences of an action (consequentialism). It involves examining past experiences in order to figure out the results of present actions.
Bentham’s utilitarianism
- Bentham utilitarianism rejected the dogma of natural rights. He regarded the natural rights as ‘rhetorical nonsense upon stilt’. Rights are created not by nature, but by law (men made law). Need not the contract, is the basis of state. People obey law because it aims at four ends, viz., security, substance, abundance and equality. Government exists because they promote happiness of the people, but not because of any social contract.
- The greatest good of the greatest number: This is the most important formula of Bentham Utilitarianism. Each government is obliged to adopt such policies which could give the greatest good of the greatest number. A government which works for the good of a few numbers is not at all a good government. It is tyranny and unjustifiable government. Thus, the principle of ‘the greatest good of the greatest number’ is benevolent and universalistic shape.
- However, this came under criticism as denial of right to one or few to achieve greater good, would be injustice. And denial of justice anywhere is an injustice everywhere.
Mill’s theory
- Though Mill is strong supporter of Utilitarianism he himself declared that he is the reformist of the utilitarianism and proposed several modifications.
- Mill considerably modified Bentham’s thesis of pleasure versus pain by admitting and emphasizing the qualitative aspect of pleasure.
- Pleasure is satisfaction of appetite while happiness is satisfaction of soul, according to Mill. According to Bentham utilitarianism there is a gulf between individual interest and general happiness. But Mill narrowed down the gulf between individual interest and general happiness.
- Bentham utilitarianism supports the greatest good of the greatest number. But here there is a chance for suppression of minorities’ rights. So, Mill supported individualism.
- Mill also gave importance to complete freedom of speech. He said, denying the right of speech is like dwarfing a man. Like how tyranny of one man is not justified on many, similarly, tyranny of all on one is also not justified. Everyone must have the right to speech, even if it is a mad person.
Mill regarded individual liberty as the supreme possession of man and declared the government is the best which governs the least (laissez – fair theory). According to Mill liberty included with the freedom of thought, expression, freedom of conscience, association etc.
Conclusion
Bentham and Mill’s utilitarianism placed the individual before the State. It is altruistic, but not egoistic. At present the concept of Utilitarian became the core concept of all legislations. In fact, the present democratic government based on the principle the greatest happiness to the greatest member. Though the concept is not free from lacunas they can be reduced in implementation of the principle.
