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 – 2
Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article explains in what way POCSO Act needs reforms to account for the reporting of historical child sexual abuse.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the need for reforms in the POCSO Act.
Directive:
Critically comment – 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 ‘comment’ is prefixed, we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Over the last nine years, India has sought to “protect children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography” through the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). But POCSO has not been without controversy or deficiency.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Explain first what you understand by Historical child sexual abuse; it refers to incidents that are reported late. Historical abuse is not just confined to institutions but also includes intra-familial abuse where it is difficult for the child to report the offence or offender at the earliest point in time.
Discuss the causative factors of it. Institutional hurdles in accepting Historical Child Abuse.
Suggest challenges associated with the Act and recommend reforms that are necessary to overcome it.
Conclusion:
Conclude that there is an urgent need to reform and revise our laws to account for various developments such as historical reporting of child sexual abuse. The Union government must frame guidelines to direct effective and purposeful prosecution in cases that are not covered by the POCSO.
E.g. the U.K. issued detailed Guidelines on Prosecuting Cases of Child Sexual Abuse under Sexual Offences Act of 2003, provides guidelines for prosecution of historical case.
Introduction
Over the last nine years, India has sought to “protect children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography” through the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). But POCSO has not been without controversy or deficiency. Recently, the Supreme Court had to injunct an interpretation of ‘skin-to-skin contact’ given by the Bombay High Court. Another fundamental defect of POCSO is its inability to deal with historical cases. This calls for reform in the POCSO Act.
Body
Issues with historical child sexual abuse
- Historical child sexual abuse refers to incidents that are reported late. Historical abuse is not just confined to institutions but also includes intra-familial abuse where it is difficult for the child to report the offence or offender at the earliest point in time.
- It often takes time for the child to recognise and comprehend the gravity of what transpired and become confident to report the offence.
- At first glance, this may seem to run counter to the established principle of criminal law: that every act of crime must be reported at the earliest and any delay in filing the complaint dilutes the efficacy of the prosecution’s case.
- Provisions in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) prohibit judicial magistrates from taking cognisance of cases beyond a specific time period.
- Cases involving child sexual abuse not amounting to rape as defined under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and prior to the enactment of POCSO in 2012, would presumably be classified under the lesser, and somewhat frivolous, offence of outraging the modesty of a woman (Section 354 of the IPC).
- As such, any reporting of an offence, under Section 354 of the IPC, more than three years after the date of incident would be barred by the CrPC.
- Such a scenario renders historical reporting of child sexual offences which took place before 2012 legally implausible.
- This presents an insurmountable legal barrier against the registration of historical child sexual offences which took place before 2012.
Reforming POCSO Act
- There is an urgent need to reform and revise our laws to account for various developments such as historical reporting of child sexual abuse.
- One of the major drawbacks of delayed reporting is the lack of evidence to advance prosecution.
- It is believed that there would be less than 5% chance for gathering direct physical and medical evidence in such cases.
- India, in particular, suffers from a lack of procedural guidance as to how to prosecute historical cases of child sexual abuse.
- In contrast, the U.K. has issued detailed Guidelines on Prosecuting Cases of Child Sexual Abuse under the Sexual Offences Act of 2003 to assist the police in such cases.
- Also, in 2018, an online petition based on the plea of a child sexual abuse survivor gathered tremendous support. The survivor-petitioner, Purnima Govindarajulu, had unsuccessfully tried to register a complaint against her abuser after a delay of more than 40 years.
- After having failed to get traction with the police, she had launched an online campaign to raise awareness.
- Consequently, the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, at the request of the then Minister for Women and Child Development, clarified that no time limit shall apply for POCSO cases.
- Though this was a welcome clarification and would help strengthen the POCSO jurisprudence, it still fails to address the plight of children who were victims of sexual abuse before 2012.
Conclusion
At the very least, the Union government must frame guidelines to direct effective and purposeful prosecution in cases which are not covered by the POCSO. It is found that children have accommodation syndrome where the child keeps the abuse as a secret because of the fear that no one will believe the abuse, which leads to accommodative behaviour. There is an urgent need to protect children from such sexual predation where it becomes natural to the child until comprehension dawns.
Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The article explains as to what is going wrong with India’s Act East policy.
Key Demand of the question:
Critically examine prospects and challenges of India’s Act East Policy. Also suggest some measures to strengthen India’s relationship with South East Asian countries.
Directive:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to 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. 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:
Start with a brief on India’s Act East policy in general.
Body:
India’s Look East policy is an effort to cultivate extensive economic and strategic relations with the nations of Southeast Asia to bolster its standing as a regional power and a counterweight to the strategic influence of the People’s Republic of China.
Present the pros and cons of the policy.
Suggest some measures to strengthen India’s relationship with South East Asian countries.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of it.
Introduction
Recently, Delhi Chief Minister’s comment on Singapore and third wave stirred up a storm that attracted official statements from Singapore government. These incidents can dampen relations with nations, especially with China’s strong hold in ASEAN region.
Body
Challenges for India’s Act East policy
- Three developments over the past five years are, however, testing Indian diplomacy in the region.
- First, the rising profile of China combined with growing China-India tensions.
- Second, disappointment in the region with India’s economic under-performance.
- Third, rising concern in the region with India’s approach towards its minorities, especially Muslims and Christians.
- There is also the fact that India did not join RCEP Free trade agreement.
- Taken together, all these developments weakened the business-to-business (B2B) and people-to-people (P2P) connect between India and ASEAN despite the best efforts of hard-pressed diplomats to maintain good government-to-government (G2G) relations.
- While a lot of foreign policy analysis focuses on G2G relations and official policy statements, and a lot of this can be cited to claim that all is well with India-ASEAN relations, few are paying attention to how trends in civil society and domestic politics are being shaped.
- The bottom line is that despite the best intentions of an Act East Policy, India’s standing and image in Southeast Asia have suffered.
Need for recalibration of India’s Act East Policy
- Act East Policy seeks economic integration of India’s economy with global supply chains which are concentrated in Southeast Asia and East Asia.
- In order to become a manufacturing hub, India should do holistic reforms to make its manufacturing competitive (India hasn’t witnessed major reforms since 1991).
- India must compensate for not joining RCEP through stepping up support to nations against Chinese aggression.
- Just like China is showing its assertiveness in the Indian Ocean, India must increase its engagement in the South China Sea.
- In this context, India’s engagement with Quad and ASEAN countries is a step in the right direction.
- India and Vietnam, are collaborating in oil exploration in the South China Sea (where China has its claims of sovereignty).
- Similar to China developing ports in the Indian Ocean, India with Indonesia is developing a port called Sabang (near the Strait of Malacca).
- Recently, the Indian prime minister proposed an “Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative” for the safe, secure and stable maritime domain. It focuses on creating partnerships among interested states in enhancing maritime security, sustainably using marine resources, disaster prevention & management.
Conclusion
What these trends suggest is that Indian diplomacy must take a fresh look at its Act East policy and the constraints being imposed on it by unsatisfactory economic performance and sectarian and communal politics at home. India’s cultural relations with ASEAN nations have been strong since the longest time and India must leverage this thoroughly.
Topic: Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The article explains why community efforts are essential for real change.
Key Demand of the question:
One is expected to explain the significance of community actions in overcoming the failure of the state and market
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:
The pandemic has highlighted those solutions to any social problem call for an effective collective action that coordinates the aspirations of several groups of stakeholders.
Body:
Explain that during the second wave of Covid infections, communities emerged as resilient entities across the country. India’s ethos, value systems and cultural strengths have automatically generated new energies and scores of new groups. Community actions enabled society to overcome the failure of the state and market.
Discuss how for active engagement of civil society in coping with the pandemic assumes great significance.
Give examples/case studies highlighting the role of communities in overcoming the failure of the state and market amidst the pandemic situation.
Conclusion:
Suggest way forward and conclude.
Introduction
During the second wave of Covid infections, communities emerged as resilient entities across the country. India’s ethos, value systems and cultural strengths have automatically generated new energies and scores of new groups. Community actions enabled society to overcome the failure of the state and market.
Body
Community involvement could play a key role in planning local-level actions in collaboration with local bodies to identify vulnerable households, provide support to the elderly and those in quarantine, develop better communication strategies and help in contact tracing.
Significance of community actions amidst pandemic
- Breathe India and HelpNow represent an array of options that have come up from IITians.
- These apps have facilitated access to oxygen concentrators, hospitals and ambulances.
- BreatheIndia could get nearly 200 concentrators and raise an amount of Rs 2.41 crore.
- HelpNow, launched by an undergrad from IIT Bombay, has a mission to save lives by providing timely and quality medical help with neat and sanitised ambulances.
- We also have to realise that the state or the market cannot be the only provider for what citizens need. Effective social interactions and community participation can play an important role in scaling up some of the actions that have been found useful.
- he community kitchens of Kerala, conceived, organised and run by the people, lend one such example.
- States such as West Bengal and Karnataka also ran such initiatives as a possible solution to the local food security crisis during the lockdown.
- In Maharashtra, farmers formed a cooperative with the help of block officials to supply their produce to urban households directly
Conclusion
The pandemic has placed before us ways in which community actions have contributed to resilience. Solutions to any social problem call for an effective collective action that coordinates the aspirations of several groups of stakeholders. The present situation underlines the necessity of combined efforts to face this challenge.
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.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The high-powered selection committee headed by the Prime Minister has finalized some names for the post of CBI director. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the inherent challenges associated with CBI and explain in detail why it is often blamed to be a caged parrot speaking in its master’s voice.
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:
Start with brief background of the question.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
First briefly talk about the Central Bureau of Investigation. The CBI is the premier investigating agency of India operating under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
Discuss its composition and then explain the challenges associated; It has often been used by the government of the day to cover up wrongdoing, keep coalition allies in line and political opponents at bay. It has been accused of enormous delays in concluding investigations, Loss of Credibility, lack of accountability, acute shortage of personnel, limited powers etc.
Explain the concerns around political interference in detail.
Conclusion:
Suggest way forward to address the issues.
Introduction
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the premier investigating agency of India. Operating under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the CBI is headed by the Director.
Body
Why CBI was called as caged parrot?
- Politicisation of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)has been a work in progress for years.
- Corruption and politically biased: This was highlighted in Supreme Court criticism for being a caged parrot speaking in its master’s voice.
- CBI has been accused of becoming ‘handmaiden’ to the party in power, as a result high profile cases are not treated seriously.
- Since CBI is run by central police officials on deputation hence chances of getting influenced by government was visible in the hope of better future postings.
Criticism against CBI
- The agency is dependent on the home ministry for staffing, since many of its investigators come from the Indian Police Service.
- The agency depends on the law ministry for lawyers and also lacks functional autonomy to some extent.
- The CBI, run by IPS officers on deputation, is also susceptible to the government’s ability to manipulate the senior officers, because they are dependent on the Central government for future postings.
- Another great constraint on the CBI is its dependence on State governments for invoking its authority to investigate cases in a State, even when such investigation targets a Central government employee.
- Since police is a State subject under the Constitution, and the CBI acts as per the procedure prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which makes it a police agency, the CBI needs the consent of the State government in question before it can make its presence in that State. This is a cumbersome procedure and has led to some ridiculous situations.
Reforms needed
- Ensure that CBI operates under a formal, modern legal framework that has been written for a contemporary investigative agency.
- The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2007) suggested that a new law should be enacted to govern the working of the CBI.
- Parliamentary standing committee (2007) recommended that a separate act should be promulgated in tune with requirement with time to ensure credibility and impartiality.
- The 19th and 24th reports of the parliamentary standing committees (2007 and 2008) recommended that the need of the hour is to strengthen the CBI in terms of legal mandate, infrastructure and resources.
- It is high time that the CBI is vested with the required legal mandate and is given pan-India jurisdiction. It must have inherent powers to investigate corruption cases against officers of All India Services irrespective of the assignments they are holding or the state they are serving in.
- Besides appointing the head of the CBI through a collegium, as recommended by the Lokpal Act, the government must ensure financial autonomy for the outfit.
- It is also possible to consider granting the CBI and other federal investigation agencies the kind of autonomy that the Comptroller and Auditor General enjoys as he is only accountable to Parliament.
- A new CBI Act should be promulgated that ensures the autonomy of CBI while at the same time improving the quality of supervision. The new Act must specify criminal culpability for government interference.
- One of the demands that has been before Supreme Court, and in line with international best practices, is for the CBI to develop its own dedicated cadre of officers who are not bothered about deputation and abrupt transfers.
- A more efficient parliamentary oversight over the federal criminal and intelligence agencies could be a way forward to ensure better accountability, despite concerns regarding political misuse of the oversight.
Conclusion
Delink the CBI from the administrative control of the government – As long as the government of the day has the power to transfer and post officials of its choice in the CBI, the investigating agency will not enjoy autonomy and will be unable to investigate cases freely. Providing statutory status through legislation equivalent to that provided to the Comptroller & Auditor General and the Election Commission wil help maintain the independence of the institution.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article explains how improving lives of poorest must be the measure of India’s progress, rather than ease of doing business for global investors.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in detail with suitable justifications as to how improving lives of poorest must be the measure of India’s progress, rather than ease of doing business for global investors.
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 some data related to the context of the question.
Body:
Explain that economic policies must be radically changed to make life easier for migrant labour than for migrant capital. The ease of living of India’s poorest people must be the principal measure of India’s progress, rather than the ease of doing business for international investors.
India must build public health and education systems ground up, in preference to world class universities and world-class tertiary care hospitals.
Policies must support the informal sector, and nurture small enterprises across the country that generates more employment with less capital investment.
Suggest solutions.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Introduction
It should be a matter of great concern to policymakers that 75 years after India’s independence, many millions of its citizens’ lives are so fragile, and that the country must depend so much on other countries for basic needs. To be ‘atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) is a good thing. India must become more self-reliant, not less.
Body
Issues in India’s economic policies
- Two eminent trade economists, Jagdish Bhagwati and Arvind Panagariya, insisted that India must grow its GDP faster, for which it must open its trade further and reduce regulations for investors.
- With this ideology, the private sector was promoted as the solution for public services also.
- The poor were compelled to turn to it at great cost, often driven into penury when health crises struck, because India did not have a universal social safety net — a very ‘socialist’ idea, untenable in the “minimum government” paradigm of the Washington Consensus.
- Life for those on lower rungs of the economic ladder became even harder when good jobs, with adequate wages and security, became harder to come by with policies to promote ‘flexibility’ in labour markets to improve ease of doing business.
Improving lives of the poor rather than global business groups
- India must reform its economic policies and strengthen its institutions to improve the ease of living of its citizens, especially the poorer ones.
- Their numbers have increased by several millions during the Covid crisis, according to economists, when millions, who were clinging onto some jobs and incomes without any social security before the crisis, fell again.
- When Covid shook up the world in 2020, it became starkly clear that the world cannot carry on with the economic policy frameworks that have prevailed with the Washington Consensus.
- Economic policies must be radically changed to make life easier for migrant labour than for migrant capital.
- The ease of living of India’s poorest people must be the principal measure of India’s progress, rather than the ease of doing business for international investors.
- India must build public health and education systems ground up, in preference to world class universities and world-class tertiary care hospitals.
- Large factories plugged into global supply chains will not contribute much to the type of growth India needs post-Covid.
- Policies must support the informal sector, and nurture small enterprises across the country that generate more employment with less capital investment.
Conclusion
While the Covid virus recognised no national boundaries, it has forced nations to pull up their drawbridges against movement across their borders. As nations try to save their own citizens from the virus’ wrath, they are fighting each other even for vaccines and medicines. Such situations do not bode well for any nation as seen by various waves continuing in one country or another. Global cooperation and welfarist model is the need of the hour.
Topic: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
The question is based on the theme of future of cryptocurrency.
Key Demand of the question:
One is expected to discuss the positives of the cryptocurrency and the advantages of it.
Directive:
Elucidate – 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:
Start with what Cryptocurrencies are.
Body:
The future of cryptocurrency is bright as a lot of developments have led to the growth of the cryptocurrency industry. Big banks, companies, and institutional investors such as JP Morgan, MicroStrategy, Tesla, and PayPal have entered the space. There are over 9,000 Cryptocurrencies in existence today.
Emerging cryptocurrency regulations by governments across the world, formalizing the industry, lowering risks associated with crypto investments.
There is increasing adoption as governments across the world have started regulating the cryptocurrency industry and India too is embracing regulations in the crypto space.
Conclusion:
Suggest challenges if any, conclude with way forward.
Introduction
Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency and verify the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank. It is based on the blockchain technology.
Tesla’s decision to invest in bitcoin and accept it as payment for its electronic vehicles significantly boosted investor interest and saw the global cryptocurrency market increase by over $150 billion in just one day.
Body
About cryptocurrencies
- The age of cryptocurrencies dawned in 2008. In October that year, Satoshi Nakamoto wrote his famous proposal for a new form of peer-to-peer payments that would bypass the traditional financial system: Bitcoin.
- The use of blockchain technology for a payment system is without doubt one of the most exciting new developments in finance.
- Crypto entrepreneurs believe continued global adoption makes a strong case for acceptance in the country, where the Indian blockchain ecosystem could become a burgeoning focal point for innovation in decentralized finance, driven by some of the key projects already established in this rapidly expanding space.
Potential of cryptocurrencies
- As per the research data of CREBACO, the crypto industry is huge in India already with a potential market size of 15 Billion USD, over 10 million active users, and 5 major exchanges are already in operation for a few years.
- The industry has the potential to generate tax revenue for thousands of crores, generate employment opportunities for over 25,000 young and educated professionals, bring foreign direct investments in the country, and provide a livelihood to lakhs of crypto traders, majorly young in age.
- The industry is currently fragmented and lacks a strong representative body to engage in a dialogue with the Government.
- Most of the players working in the crypto ecosystem today are Indian start-ups, which have been created by young skilled Indian entrepreneurs. The products developed in India treat crypto as an asset rather than a parallel currency.
- India is strategically positioned between China and the US Economy and can have a great opportunity if capitalized in the right manner.
Challenges with Crypto currencies
- Cryptocurrencies are a poor unit of account, as demonstrated by their frequent and high fluctuation in value.
- They pose several risks, including anti-money laundering and terrorism financing concerns (AML/CFT) for the state and liquidity, credit, and operational risks for users.
- On the perspective of consumers, issues linked to cryptocurrencies are heightened by the striking paucity of information on their design, use and operation and indications of market manipulation.
- It is possible that the business models of commercial banks may be seriously disrupted.
Conclusion
No doubt, there are many challenges ahead. However, with Indian projects now so prominent in the global ecosystem, and cryptocurrency startups and entrepreneurs establishing a campaign to lobby for greater recognition of the potential that the digital asset space can bring to the country, there is good reason to believe that India will still be at the forefront of blockchain innovation in the years to come.
Topic: basics of cyber security
Reference: tribuneindia.com
Why the question:
National Crime Records Bureau 2018 data: About 6030 cybercrimes were registered by women. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in detail the issue of rising gender-based cybercrime.
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:
Start with what you understand by cybercrime or present some key facts with respect to the context of the question.
Body:
Explain the Issue of rising gender-based cybercrime – Anonymous in nature: VAWG has percolated to the digital realm, and in its anonymous non-confrontational, it must be viewed as an impeding factor to gender justice in the 21st century. Skewed power dynamics: Often between men and women is another example of what sustains digital attacks on women and girls. Symptomatic of societal mentality etc. Absence of protective legislation.
Suggest what needs to be done. One can as well present the case of India.
Conclusion:
Suggest solutions to address the issue.
Introduction
The irony of growing digital footprint is that, on one hand women are at disadvantage due to the growing digital divide and on the other hand they are victims of cybercrime with grave threats. If we look closely at cases of cyber-crime faced by women, the language of power cuts across the variables of age, religion, caste and class. The only constant parameter is gender. Cyber harassment, rape and death threats clutter the already overburdened headspace of the average 21st-century woman’s emotional bandwidth.
Body
Background: Gender based cyber-crime
- Violence is all-pervasive, it erodes at the already porous wall between online and offline, real and reel.
- This is why VAWG has percolated to the digital realm. It is this anonymous non-confrontational form of VAWG, devoid of physical contact, that must be viewed as an impeding factor to gender justice in the 21st century.
- Essentially, if women are at the receiving end of systemic gender-based violence, then the same will translate into an inequitable cyberspace.
- Terming cyber harassment as passive detracts from the trouble it perpetuates.
- For far too long, issues of gender-based cyber-crime have been labelled elite or “first world” problems.
Violence against Women and Girls in cyber-realm
- Cyber harassment, rape and death threats clutter the already overburdened headspace of the average 21st-century woman’s emotional bandwidth.
- Being routinely subjected to objectification and fetishisation has resulted in a lack of self-worth among the many women.
- Not so long ago, social media was awash with the ‘Bois locker room’ incident that circulated obscene images of under-age girls via leaked chats from an exclusive group.
- With this as our frame of reference, it is time we pause and acknowledge that ‘Bois locker room’ is not an isolated incident of young boys enabling rape culture, but instead is symptomatic of our societal mentality.
- Reports of increased cyber bullying and cyber harassment have escalated over the past few years with the NCRB data showing 6,030 cyber crimes registered by women in the year 2018.
- The bitter backlash received by women and girls when reporting cyber crime is also of mythic proportions.
- We need to understand that the digital space is no different from the offline/real world.
- In other words, those toxic nurturing practices, based on myopic gender stereotypes that operate offline are reinforced online via social networking websites.
Way Forward
- The answer, on the surface, seems simple but given the evolving terrain of digital technology will require subsequent modifications and an active approach to work within the international human rights framework.
- To conclude, we need a targeted legislation that criminalises cyber VAWG. In the absence of any special legislation, both the IT Act and the IPC are interim solutions inadequate to contain the magnitude of problems.
- The reason for this is that the IPC predates the digital era while the IT Act was formulated to enhance e-commerce as opposed to sensitising a hitherto unequal space.
- Hence, devising a statute that exclusively addresses cyber abuse, harassment and violence faced by women will go a long way in changing the existing discourse on safety and equality.
