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General Studies – 1
Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Reference: Indian art and culture by Nitin Singhania.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the contributions of Rukmini Devi Arundale toward reviving and achieving global recognition to Bharatanatyam.
Directive:
Elaborate – Give 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:
Write a brief introduction about Rukmini Devi Arundale – as a person and a performer of Bharatanatyam.
Body:
Mention about the status of Bharatanatyam in its original ‘sadhir’ style prevalent amongst the temple dancers, the Devadasis and was considered a vulgar art.
Write about the role that Rukmini Devi Arundale played in popularizing the movement – Rukmini Devi Arundale was also instrumental in modifying mainly the Pandanallur style of Bharata Natyam and bringing it to the attention of the West. Rukmini Devi raised Bharata Natyam to a puritan art form, by removing certain emotional elements evocative of the erotic, such as hip, neck, lip and chest movements) from the Pandanallur style.
Conclusion:
Write about Bharatanatyam in the present day and need to preserve it.
Introduction:
Rukmini Devi, founder of Kalakshetra, is credited with giving Bharatanatyam makeover from sensuous art form to more spiritual & devotional character. Her charismatic personality and contribution to the renaissance of Indian Classical music attained her niche in the arena of Indian culture. Rukmini Devi was also known for her efforts towards the protection of animal rights and their welfare.
Body:
Her contribution to the performing arts industry is unmatchable and one cannot ignore the shackles of caste and community she broke with it. The institute she founded, Kalakshetra, has gained international recognition and become synonymous with all things “classical” in India.
Role of Rukmini Devi Arundale in Reviving Bharatanatyam:
- Honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1956, Rukmini is best known for her visionary work in the fields of dance, culture, and education that catalysed a renaissance in Indian classical dance forms.
- Often Rukmini Devi is described as the one who saved the art of Bharatanatyam dance from extinction. Some scholars also like to think that she appropriated the dance from the hereditary dance community.
- She is the person who is credited for the renaissance of Bharatnatyam dance form and more significantly making the dance which was primarily a forte of Devdasis, main stream and respectable in the society.
- She was the first woman performer other than devadasi to perform bharatanatyam on stage.
- The fact remains that a deep love for dance inspired her to go to its roots and study it with diligence with gurus at a time when crucial changes were taking place in our society with regard to temple dancers.
- Originally the dance form Bharatnatyam was known as Sadhir, practiced only by Devdasis who with the advent of British Raj very widely maligned in the society. Thus, she not only revived and resurrected the ancient dance form but also went on to reverse the negative stereotypes associated with the female practitioners of Sadhir.
- By adopting a puritan approach, she eliminated the dance form of its shringaaror erotic leanings and magnified the bhakti or devotional aspect, thereby making it more acceptable to the mainstream of the society.
- She also introduced modern costumes, temple jewellery, set designs, lighting etc which we know of the trademarks of the modern Bharatnatyam performances.
- Her unique contribution was to destroy what was crude and vulgar in the inherited traditions of dance and to replace them with sophisticated and refined taste. In this, the dance form received a new lease of life, going on to earn international approval.
- Other than conceiving and choreographing numerous bharatanatyam pieces, Rukmini developed a unique curriculum to broaden the dance’s appeal, that included aesthetically designed jewellery, costumes and stage scenarios.
- She indeed succeeded in giving dance and Bharatnatyam a place of pride in India’s national narrative.
- Rukmini Devi “retained the positive aspects of the system and persuaded outstanding musicians and dance gurus to join the faculty and created for them an ambiance devoid of commercial considerations”.
Conclusion:
Rukmini played an instrumental role in transforming the dance form, giving it a new name, and popularizing it all over the world as a respectable art form. While Kalakshetra was a major landmark in her career as a dancer, her years as an MP were just as fruitful as she made sure Article 51 (G) of the Constitution of India was included under Part IV, making it the fundamental duty of every citizen to show kindness and compassion to all living beings.
Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Reference: Indian art and culture by Nitin Singhania.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about origin of folk dances.
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:
Write about the diverse folk dances across India.
Body:
Write about the folk dance forms are generally spontaneous, crude and performed by the masses without any formal training. This simplicity gives the art form an inherent beauty. They are inspired by a mix of folklore, legends and myths. Give examples from various folk dances across India to substantiate your point.
In the next part, write about the contemporary significance of folk dances of India. Cultural heritage, Unique identity, expressions of local arts, from of livelihood to artists, promote harmony, historical significance and fusion with other dances etc.
Conclusion:
Write about the need to preserve the livelihood of the artists in the times of pandemic.
Introduction:
Dance in India has a rich and vital tradition dating back to ancient times. Excavations, inscriptions, chronicles, genealogies of kings and artists, literary sources, sculpture and painting of different periods provide extensive evidence on dance. Myths and legends also support the view that dance had a significant place in the religious and social life of the Indian people. Excavations have brought to light a bronze statuette from Mohenjodaro and a broken torso from Harappa (dating back to 2500-1500 B.C.E.) are suggestive of dance poses.
Body:
Sangeet Natak Academy confers “classical” status on 8 dances – Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Mohiniattam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi and Sattriya. The earliest treatise on dance available to us is Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra. Dance and music are an inextricable part of drama.
Folk dances are regional variations, the dances of rural and tribal areas, which range from simple, joyous celebrations of the seasons, harvest or birth of a child to dances for the propitiation of demons or for invoking spirits.
Characteristics of Folk-dances:
- Every state and its regions have different dance styles and folk music; with which they express the nature of their community.
- Every part of India has its unique folk dance, which isn’t as complex as the classical form of dance but, in its simplicity, it reflects the deep-sited beliefs of their people.
- They are extremely simple with minimum of steps or movement.
- Some dances are performed separately by men and women while in some performances men and women dance together.
- On most occasions, the dancers sing themselves, accompanied by artists with instruments.
- Each form of folk dance has a specific costume and rhythm.
- Most of the costumes, worn for folk dances, are colourful with extensive jewels and designs.
- Bhangra of Punjab; Rasa Lila; Jhumar; Kaksar of Bastar; Chhau in Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal; Bihu of Assam; Theyyam in the Malabar region of kerala; Dollu of Karnataka are few of the many folk dance forms.
- Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala; Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan and Chhau dance are included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Linkages of folkdances with culture:
- Seeking divine intervention:
- The dance is performed in groups to celebrate the nine days Hindu festival of Navratri.
- It is performed in rings and concentric circles representing the cycle of birth and death in Hinduism, leaving only one constant which is the divinity of God symbolized by the idol of the Goddess or the Garba Deep.
- Depiction of good over evil:
- Ex: Bardo Chham is performed by the Sherdukpen tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. The dancers wear masks of 12 different animals and perform to the beats of many percussion instruments. Sherdukpen tribe believes that there are 12 different evil forces and they all appear in different months to mar the happiness of the community. The masks represent evil forces and the main objective of this art form is to ward off these evil forces.
- Performed before harvesting crops:
- Bhangra and Giddha are folk dances of from the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, mostly performed during the harvest festival of Baisakhi.
- Pulikali is a colorful recreational folk art from, performed on the occasion of annual harvest festival of Onam.
- Ponung is one of the most important folk dances of Arunachal Pradesh. Performed before the harvest of staple crops, it has women dancers.
- Performed during various festivals:
- Raslila is the most popular form of folk dance of India, especially during the festivals of Krishna Janmashtami and Holi in the regions of Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh.
- Bihu forms the most important part of the Bihu festival celebration. The dance is performed by young men and women, accompanied by the playing of pipes & drums.
- Buiya dance performed by the Digaru Mishmis of Arunachal Pradesh, is the main attraction of many tribal festivals.
- Celebration of nature:
- Bagurumba is believed to have been inspired from nature, it can be further classified into different dance forms – each inspired from elements of nature like animals, plants, birds, insects, water, air and so on.
- To relax and rejuvenate:
- Jhumur is the dance is performed by the tribal people who work in tea estates of Assam. It is often their only recreational activity and this certainly rejuvenates them after a long and tiring day.
- Showcase of rich tradition and culture:
- Ojapali dance of Assam.
- Cheraw Dance of Mizoram.
- Paying respects to the deity worshipped by the tribe:
- Nongkram Dance of Meghalya.
- Celebration of victory over an enemy:
- Chang Lo dance of Nagaland.
- To celebrate weddings:
- Matki Folk Dance of Madhya Pradesh is considered as an important dance art from the state, performed usually on wedding occasions.
- Maruni is the main attraction of Sikkim weddings.
Conclusion:
Nurtured for centuries, dance in India has evolved in different parts of the country its own distinct style taking on the culture of that particular region, each acquiring its own flavour. The tribal and folk dances of India draw the most fascinating canvas shaded with vivacity and the deep-rooted culture. These dances are not merely a form of dance rather a way of life for Indian people. Each of them has enfolded an entrenched history and culture within itself.
Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
3. Trace the various developments of chemistry and chemical science in ancient India. (250 words)
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Following Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray (1861-1944), the eminent Indian chemist of the last century and a historian of chemistry, five stages in its development in India can be recognized. This article explains the same.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the development of chemistry in ancient India beginning from Harappan civilization.
Directive:
Trace – find or describe the origin or development of policy/scheme/process. Follow or mark the course or position of something.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving a brief overview of development of chemistry in ancient India.
Body:
Write about the development of chemistry in various phases. (i) the pre-Vedic stage upto 1500 BCE, including the Harappan period, (ii) the Vedic and the Ayurvedic period up to 700 CE, (iii) the transitional period from 700 CE to 1100 CE, (iv) the Tantric period from 700 CE to 1300 CE, and (v) the ‘Iatro-Chemical period’ from 1300 CE to 1600 CE.
Mention the new techniques, developments and achievements on Indians in the above phases.
Conclusion:
Summarize the achievements and importance to having scientific temper in present day.
Introduction:
In Ancient India, an important role in the development of chemistry was made by Ayurveda which used a variety of minerals. Chemistry in Ancient India was called Rasayan Shastra, Rasatantra, Rasa Kriya or Rasa Vidya roughly translating to ‘Science of Liquids’. Science and technology in ancient and medieval India covered all the major branches of human knowledge and activities, including mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, medical science and surgery etc. Ancient India was a land of sages, saints and seers as well as a land of scholars and scientists. Ancient India’s contribution to science and technology include principles of chemistry did not remain abstract but also found expression in practical activities like distillation of perfumes, aromatic liquids, manufacturing of dyes and pigments and extraction of sugar.
Body:
Various developments through ages:
Indus Valley Civilization (2600-1900 BC)
- The Indus valley civilization was the earliest society, which had developed an elaborate urban system depicted in terms of streets, public baths, temples and granaries etc. They also had the means of mass production of pottery, houses of backed bricks and a script of their own. So we can say that the story of early chemistry in India begins from here.
- Pottery: It could be regarded as the earliest chemical process in which materials were mixed, moulded and fired to achieve desirable qualities. Thousands of pieces of pottery were found in the Rajasthan desert, varied in shape, size and colour. They show that prehistoric people knew the art of making pottery by using burnt clay.
- Bricks: Burnt bricks were manufactured on a large scale for making houses, drains, boundary walls, public bath etc.
- Cement: Gypsum cement had been used in the construction of a well in Mohenjodaro. It was light grey and contained sand, clay, traces of calcium carbonate and lime.
- Minerals: The Indus valley people used a number of minerals for a variety of useful products such as medicinal preparations, plasters, hair washes etc. Faience, which is a sort of proto-glass, was quite popular with the Harappans and was used for ornaments. They also smelted and forged a variety of objects from lead, silver, gold, and copper; and also used tin and arsenic to improve the hardness of copper for making artefacts.
The Historic Period
- According to Rigveda, tanning of leather and dyeing of cotton was practised during this period.
- During the period c.1000-400 BC they made a particular kind of polished grey pottery known as Painted Grey Ware.
- Other varieties of pottery, for example, red or Northern Black-Polished (N.B.P.) Ware (600-200 BC), were also made later.
- These Wares indicate their mastery of control of kiln temperatures as also of the reducing atmosphere.
- The golden gloss of the NBP Ware is still a chemical mystery and could not be replicated.
- After the Vedas, came the classical texts like Brahmanas, Upanishadas and Puranas, which also give valuable information about the chemical activities of this period.
- Kautilya’s Arthashastra (KA) was a scientific landmark of this period. KA described the production of salt from the sea and collection of shells, diamonds, pearls and corals.
- Charaka Samhita and Susruta Samhita were two celebrated Ayurvedic treatises on medicine and surgery. Chemical knowledge of the times especially that related to medicine was compiled in them.
Chemical Arts and Crafts in Later Periods:
- Glass: A number of such glass objects were found at Maski in south India (1000-900BC) , Hastinapur and Taxila (1000-200BC). In this period glass and glazes were coloured by the addition of colouring agents like metal oxides. Ramayana, Brhatsamhita, Kautilya’s Arthashastra and Sukranitisara mention the use of glass. There is ample evidence to suggest that ancient India glass making was quite widespread and a high degree of perfection was achieved in this craft. There was a traditional glass factory at Kopia in Basti district of Uttar Pradesh.
- Paper: From the Chinese traveller I-tsing’s account it appears that paper was known to India in the seventh century AD. In the beginning the process of papermaking was simple and more or less similar in all parts of the country. The main centers of paper making in medieval India were Sialkot, Zafarbad, Murshidabad, Ahmedabad, Mysore etc.
- Soap: For washing clothes ancient Indians used certain plants and their fruits like the soap nuts of Ritha and Sikakai. Fruits like Sriphala and Sarsapa (Brassica compestris) were also used to wash different kinds of clothes. Indians definitely began to make proper soaps in the eighteenth century AD. In Gujarat, the oil of Eranda (Ricinus communis), seeds of plant Mahua (Madhuca indica) and impure calcium carbonate were used by them. These were used for washing but gradually soft soaps for bathing were made.
- Dyeing: Plants and their products like madder, turmeric and safflower were the principal dyeing materials. Orpiment and some insects like lac, cochineal and kermes were the other materials used for dyeing. Some other substances having tinting properties were Kampillaka (Mallotus phillippinesis), Pattanga (Cesalpinia sappan) and Jatuka (a species of Oldenlandia). A large number of other materials were also used for dyeing. Synthetic dyes were made by mid-nineteenth century.
- Cosmetics and Perfumes: A large number of references to cosmetics and perfumes in Sanskrit literature were found like in Brhatsamhita of Varahamihira. Cosmetics and perfumes making were mainly practised for the purpose of worship, sale and sensual enjoyment. The manufacture of rose water began perhaps in the nineteenth century AD.
- Ink: An inkpot was unearthed during the excavations at Taxila, which suggests that ink was known and used in India from fourth century BC. The Ajanta caves displayed some inscriptions that were written with coloured ink, made from chalk, red lead and minium.
- Alcoholic liquors: Somarasa, which was mentioned in the Vedas, was probably the earliest evidence of the use of intoxicants in India. Kautilya’s Arthasastra listed a variety of liquors such as Medaka, Prasanna, Asava, Arista, Maireya and Madhu. Caraka Samhita also mentioned sources for making various Asavas: cereals, fruits, roots, woods, flowers, stems, leaves, barks of plants and sugar cane. About 60 Tamil names were found in Sangam literature, which suggest that liquors were brewed in south India since the ancient times. Medieval alchemical texts also mentioned fermented liquors and their methods of preparation.
Conclusion:
Ancient India′s development was found in a variety of practical activities. Metallurgical science was for more advanced in India during Gupta period. The wonderful iron pillar looks like polished stone of this period has not got rusted through centuries as of time, though exposed to rains and atmosphere. Modern metallurgists have not been able to produce iron of comparable quality. This pillar stands at mute testimony to the highly advanced scientific knowledge of metallurgy that was known in ancient India. Nataraja, the god of dance is made of five metals; Panch-Dhatu was evidence of the advances made by smelting technology in ancient India. The list of inventions and discoveries of the Indus Valley Civilization refers to the technological and civilization and civilization achievements of this period. High level of chemical science has also been found in painting on walls of Ajanta and Ellora. Armour and cutlery made of Indian iron were used by Ancient Romans Ceaseless encouragement and understanding of the ancient chemistry of India will encourage people for further progress in field of chemistry.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
eSanjeevani, the government’s telemedicine platform, has achieved 1 million cumulative tele-consultations till December 2020.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the eSanjeevani, initiative of the government, its successes, its limitations and suggest steps for its improvement.
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:
Begin by giving context of launch of eSanjeevini initiative and its usage till date.
Body:
In the first part, write about the positives of eSanjeevini. The large scale consultations, specialized healthcare services to masses in both rural areas and isolated communities, and surveillance and containment activities etc.
In the next part, write about limitations of the eSanjeevini, Availability of Doctors, Abuse of doctors -especially female doctors, limited specialized services, Access, Language barriers etc.
Suggest steps to overcome the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction:
The telemedicine service platform eSanjeevani’ and ‘eSanjeevaniOPD’ have completed more than 10 lakh tele-consultations. The eSanjeevani OPD services have enabled patient-to-doctor telemedicine in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Body
e-Sanjeevani Telemedicine system:
- It is a doctor-to-doctor telemedicine system, being implemented under the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre (AB-HWCs) programme.
- AB-HWCs are envisaged to be the platform for delivery of an expanded range of primary health care services closer to the communities.
- It seeks to connect all 1,50,000 HWCs using the hub-and-spoke model by December 2022.
- Under the model, a network will be established comprising an anchor establishment, or hub, which offers a full array of services,
- This will be complemented by secondary establishments, or spokes, which offer limited services, routing patients needing more intensive services to the hub for treatment.
- Presently, telemedicine is being provided through more than 3,000 HWCs in 10 States.
eSanjeevaniOPD: It was launched amid the Covid-19 pandemic to enable patient-to-doctor tele-consultations.
- Offered at no cost, this e-health service has made it convenient for the people to avail of the health services without having to travel.
- It enables two-way interaction and even generates a prescription slip.
- It is hosting over 40 online Out Patient Department (OPD) services, more than half of these are speciality OPDs which include Gynaecology, Psychiatry, Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) etc.
Shortcomings of e-Sanjeevani:
- Availability: eSanjeevani already struggles with a shortage of doctors, which is evident in the time it takes for a patient to receive relevant advice after a request is put in.
- Patients recount experiences of doctors not being readily available, resulting in long waits.
- Some say that it sometimes takes over an hour to consult a doctor, with no indication of the time it would take for one to become available.
- Access: This requires the patient to have a smartphone or a laptop with an internet connection.
- However, this does not solve the problem of access faced by half our population that remains digitally excluded.
- These are people who either have feature phones or no device with which to log onto the internet.
- Moreover, knowledge of the English language is necessary for people to make use of eSanjeevani, as its registration forms and instructions are available only in English.
- Abuse: Many private telemedicine platforms in India have seen incidents of sexual harassment of women doctors, with abusers making lewd remarks or flashing themselves on the pretext of seeking advice.
- The patient verification process of registration for eSanjeevani is similar to that of private platforms, which makes it susceptible to similar abuse.
- To simplify registration, no proof of identity is requested while signing up and a simple OTP verification process is employed.
Way Forward:
- To ensure that such services are accessible to all, governments should set up functional teleconsultation helplines, auto-diallers, text messages, and other asynchronous channels.
- To enhance access, the government can also use community-based local centres equipped with mobile devices or tablets, such as panchayat offices (i.e., the offices of village-level governments) and self-help groups.
- Governments that do not make adequate investments in these channels risk excluding large segments of their population, thereby depriving them of online access to healthcare.
- We do not want a situation where the most vulnerable populations are left out of this programme.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money laundering and its prevention.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The freedom of speech and the freedom of expression are protected rights in most democracies. Balancing the rights of speech with the dangers of disinformation is a challenge for policymakers and regulators.
Key Demand of the question:
To explain the cognitive hacking, the impact of disinformation and ways to prevent it.
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 defining the term cognitive hacking.
Body:
In the first part, well-coordinated disinformation campaign fills broadcast and social channels with so much false information and noise, thus taking out the system’s oxygen and drowning the truth. Cite relevant statistics from the article.
Next, mention about the impact of the cognitive hacking and misinformation. Societal disharmony, clashes and riots, targeting of minorities, ethnic cleansing and boosting prejudices etc.
Finally, write about the steps that are needed to prevent it it by tackling misinformation. Defense-in-depth, consistent policies and coordinated efforts etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction:
In a world where “fake news” consistently dominates the conversation and “post-truth” was Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2016, the accuracy and authenticity of information is paramount. Yet attackers are finding more and more ways to produce and exploit misinformation. On an individual level, social engineering uses misinformation to trick single targets into revealing vital security information. On a larger scale, cognitive hacking weaponizes misinformation against the target through multiple users.
Body:
Cognitive hacking is a cyberattack that seeks to manipulate the perception of people by exploiting their psychological vulnerabilities. Cognitive hacking attack attempts to change the target audience’s thoughts and actions, galvanise societies and disrupt harmony using disinformation. The purpose of the attack is changes in behavior, usually resulting from exposure to misinformation. As such, cognitive hacking is a form of social engineering although it may target a broad audience rather than specific individuals.
There are three main types of cognitive hacking: misinformation, defacing, and spoofing. Cognitive hacking may be overt or covert, can take various forms and may be launched through a variety of attack vectors. The attack is usually information-based and non-technical, however. In most cases, cognitive hacking does not involve corruption of hardware or software or even unauthorized access to systems or data.
The most common tool used in a cognitive hack is weaponized information: messages or content that is designed to affect the user’s perceptions and beliefs in a way that will harm a target. The active “attack” is carried out by the people affected by those messages.
Examples of disinformation attacks:
- Disinformation about a political candidate might go viral and convince large numbers of people to vote for someone else.
- QAnon spread false information about the U.S. 2020 presidential election.
- COVID-19 disinformation campaigns leading to infodemics.
Impacts:
- Rioting in the nation as seen recently in US Capitol hill.
- Conspiracy theorists (in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ireland, Cyprus and Belgium) burned down 5G towers because they believed it caused the novel coronavirus pandemic.
- Disinformation campaigns against COVID-19 have prevented people from wearing masks, using potentially dangerous alternative cures, and not getting vaccinated, making it even more challenging to contain the virus.
- In the enterprise, cognitive hacks may take the form of weaponized information that enters through automated channels.
- On a business network, cognitive hacking can impact security without ever being seen by a human.
Measures needed:
- By treating disinformation as a cybersecurity threat we can find effective countermeasures to cognitive hacking.
- Legislation:
- Governments’ primary tool against cognitive hackers is legislation.
- Need to have well-defined laws and regulations for cybersecurity criminals.
- There is a need to balance the rights of speech and the freedom of expression with the dangers of disinformation.
- Education:
- On an individual level, the best way to resist the influence cognitive hacking is maintaining a skeptical attitude and cultivating critical thinking.
- People should also be responsible in terms of social media. Before reacting to or sharing any doubtful or surprising information, it’s always wise to fact check the content.
- The industry with public-private partnerships must also invest in media literacy efforts to reach out to the discerning public. Intervention with media education can make a big difference in understanding context, motivations, and challenging disinformation to reduce damage.
- Technological measures:
- To mitigate that risk, security experts are exploring the potential of cognitive security technologies to automatically detect and deal with cognitive hacks.
- ISAC (Information sharing and analysis centers) like mechanism to share the identity, content, context, actions, and behaviours of actors and disinformation across platforms is needed. Information sharing will help disinformation countermeasures to scale better and respond quickly.
- Defense-in-depth strategy for disinformation:
- The defence-in-depth model identifies disinformation actors and removes them. Authenticity solutions can intervene before disinformation gets posted online.
- If the disinformation still gets by, detection solutions using humans and artificial intelligence, internal and external fact-checking can label or remove the content.
- Ethical measures:
- Responsible and ethical journalism: news organizations must independently verify stories before reporting on them themselves.
Conclusion:
Cognitive hacking at its core is an extension of the physical world of computer systems security into the behavioural world, where humans themselves become the tools of attackers. As such, it can be difficult to fight. There is a need to defend, protect and respond, and find effective and practical solutions to counter and intervene against infodemics. The disinformation infodemic requires a concerted and coordinated effort by governments, businesses, non-governmental organisations, and other entities to face the threat posed by disinformation attacks.
General Studies – 4
Topic: laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance;
6. Critically Analyze religion as a source of ethical guidance. (150 words)
Reference: Ethics by Lexicon publications.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about religion where it can serve as a source of ethical guidance and its limitations.
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:
Write about how various religions across the world lead to developmental of religious ethics.
Body:
Ethics is a general idea or belief that influences people’s behavior and attitudes as well as their views about what is right or wrong. Religion is driven by the various belief systems and this commands what an individual does. Many individuals and communities have been and continue to be led or influenced by the statutes and precepts of their religious groups to act in a certain way, decision or course of life. Cite examples from major religions across the world.
Religion does have a role to play in developing a sense of ethics, but it is rather limited. This is because religions tend not to emphasize the role of critical and independent thinking which is important in developing a sense of ethical responsibility. What religions tend to do is to give a list of ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ that the faithful’s need to follow. But it does not provide much explanation as to why these rules should be followed. Cite examples from major religions across the world.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced view of religion as the source of ethical guidance.
Introduction:
The question of whether or not morality requires religion is both topical and ancient. In the Euthyphro, Socrates famously asked whether goodness is loved by the gods because it is good, or whether goodness is good because it is loved by the gods.
Body:
Ethics deals with what is right and wrong, or good and evil. Between ethics and religion, there is an overlap in determining these questions. Our society is structured on the basis on religion. And every religion has a system of beliefs and what it considers right or wrong.
Often, religion and ethics are treated as the same thing, with various religions making claims about their belief systems being the best way for people to live, actively proselytizing and trying to convert unbelievers, trying to legislate public behaviours based around isolated religious passages, etc. Of course, not all religions are the same, some are more liberal than others and some more conservative, but in general, all religious traditions believe that their faith represents a path to enlightenment and salvation.
Religion as a source of ethical guidance:
Gandhiji said, Religion should pervade every one of our actions. Here religion does not mean sectarianism. It means a belief in ordered moral government of the universe. It is not less real because it is unseen. This religion transcends Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, etc. It does not supersede them. It harmonises them and gives them reality.
Religion is to morality what water is to the seed that is sown in the soil. Just as the seed is choked under the earth when it is not duly watered, so too the morality which is devoid of the fertilising influence of religion gets thin and dry and is ultimately destroyed. In other words, morality divorced from religion would be an empty thing.
There is no religion higher than Truth and Righteousness. If we commit sins with the name of God on our lips, can we hope to win the grace of God? Suppose one man admits the existence of God, but lives a life of falsehood and immorality, while another knows not the name of God but lives a life of truth and virtue, can there be any doubt as to which should be regarded truly religious as well as moral?
Conclusion:
True knowledge of religion breaks down the barriers between Faith and Faith. Cultivation of tolerance for other Faiths will impart to us a true understanding of our own. Tolerance obviously does not disturb the distinction between right and wrong, or good and evil. This way religion becomes source of ethics.
Topic: Utilization of public funds
7. Examine the ethical principles that should govern the Utilization of public funds. (150 words)
Reference: Ethics by Lexicon publications.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4.
Key Demand of the question:
A straightforward question to enumerate the principles that should govern utilization of public funds.
Directive:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by highlighting the importance off the effective utilization of public funds.
Body:
In the body, mention the key principles that should govern the utilization of the public funds. Lawfulness, Accountability, Transparency, Value for money, Fairness, Sustainability and integrity etc. Explain these principles in detail with relevant examples.
Conclusion:
Stress on the need to that proper utilization of public funds is very essential to meet the developmental aspirations of the country.
Introduction:
Effective utilization of funds for welfare services is one of the key tenets to ensure social and economic justice and meet developmental goals. India is a nation where even today 379 million people live under multi-dimensional poverty. Since public funds create welfare and alleviates the livelihood of the poor, efficient utilisation is of utmost importance for inclusive development.
Body:
Ethical principles underpinning Utilization of public funds:
- Transparency: To keep the public trust, fund utilisation including contracts and tender must be done in transparent manner. All the information must be kept in the public domain and accessible through RTI.
- Accountability: All the functionaries and decision makers must be accountable for their actions and their performance and outcome of the project where funds are allocated must be examined carefully.
- Objectivity: Any decision on policy or funds usage must be based on scientific evidence and thorough analysis/investigation.
- Efficiency: Care must be taken to ensure no cost overruns occur or delays which must be accounted for well in advance to remove such obstacles. The success of a project is determined by the time taken to finish and within the allocated budget.
Implication of wrong utilisation of funds:
- Masses, especially the lower strata need welfare expenditure which will be harmed. It leads to widening of inequality, illiteracy, poor health and sanitation.
- Misallocation and underutilization has led to unequal development in the country, increased corruption and inequality within different states. This has created the problems of regionalism, naxalism, and separatism.
- India’s continuous struggle with poverty and inability to build on its demographic dividend has been the major impact. In spite of having a potential of double-digit growth, our growth story still revolves around 7%, along with inadequate improvement in infrastructure, human indices, employment etc.
- ‘Doctrine of Public Trust’ is breached which lays responsibility on public servant for judicious use for the benefits of the masses.
Conclusion:
To realise the goal of national development, allocation of funds and usage of funds must both be transparent and judicious. It must ensure well-being of people of India, creating public trust in the government functions and functionaries. Not only will it add legitimacy to governance system, also lead to overall development of the country.
