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.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Chapter 6 – A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum Publishers)
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 impact of commercialisation of agriculture.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining commercialisation of agriculture in the context of colonial India. Mention few crops that were grown.
Body:
First, write about the impact of the commercialisation of agriculture on Indian Peasants – Indebtedness, Impoverishment and Instability in agriculture, oppression leading to resistance etc.
Next, write about the impact of commercialisation of agriculture on markets – shortage of grains, planters’ profits, changing patterns of land ownership, import of raw materials etc.
Conclusion:
Summarise the impact of commercialisation of agriculture as a potent tool of economic exploitation of Indian peasants.
Introduction
The commercialization of agriculture means production of agricultural crops for sale in the market, rather than for family consumption. For marketization of agricultural products thus ‘surplus’ of production over consumption is required. The process of commercial revolution resulted in the substitution of commercial crops for food crops. However, Indian agriculture at that time was merely of the subsistence type. It had not been a consequence of conscious response of peasants to the market forces.
Body
Commercial crops like cotton, jute, groundnut, oilseeds, sugarcane, tobacco, etc., were more remunerative than foodgrains. Again, the cultivation of crops like condiments, spices, fruits and vegetables could cater to a wider market. Perhaps, the commercialisation trend reached the highest level of development in the plantation sector, i.e., in tea, coffee, rubber, indigo, etc., which was mostly owned by Europeans and the produce was for sale in a wider market
The impact of commercialisation of agriculture:
on Indian peasants:
- For the Indian peasant, commercialisation seemed a forced process.
- There was hardly any surplus for him to invest in commercial crops, given the subsistence level at which he lived.
- Result was the low productivity of land even in the midst of commercialization of
- The sale of cash crops (except indigo and opium) by their growers is an ample evidence that the peasants did not necessarily produce them for their creditors and hand over to them all their produce.
- Commercialisation linked Indian agriculture with international market trends and their fluctuations.
- The farmer, in fact, was made to bear repeatedly the burden of instability in prices.
- Information about high market prices of agricultural produce did not percolate down to the poor
- Consequently, rising prices could not benefit the small farmer.
- He was reduced to a mere sharecropper or sub-tenant.
- The misery was further enhanced became the population of India was increasing every year, fragmentation of land was taking place because of the increasing pressure on land and modern techniques of agricultural production were not introduced in India.
on Indian markets:
- The growth of commercial agriculture was aided and abetted by its twin brother —the usurious capital.
- A chain of intermediaries—who were by nature ‘parasitic’ in relation to agriculture—gained control over production.
- Agricultural development suffered due to the paucity of resources which the farmer required for technological
- With the spread of commercialization, agricultural production began to get localized in different regions endowed with different geographical
- For instance, the dark-coloured volcanic soil (or the regur soil) of the North-West Deccan of Bombay Presidency, presently Maharashtra, was good for cotton cultivation.
- Wherever the road to commerce was open, regional specialisation crept This means that farmers were no longer sellers only, they were converted to buyers also.
- The changeover to cash crops discouraged the cultivation of poor men’s food crops like jowar, bajra or pulses.
- Price movements and business fluctuations in the world markets began to affect the fortunes of the Indian farmer to a degree that it had never done before.
- The farmer in his choice of crops attached greater importance to market demand and price than his home needs.
- The peasant class got adversely affected owing to imbalances in market condition.
Conclusion
Indian agriculture lacked responsiveness to these forces of trade and commerce. Agriculture became the hand-maiden of trade. The dreadful impacts of commercialisation was the oppression of Indian peasants at hands of European. This found expression in the famous Indigo revolt in 1859. Moreover, commercialisation of Indian agriculture got manifested in series of famines which took a heavy toll of life.
Topic: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Chapter 5 + Appendix – A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum Publishers)
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To examine the role of Wellesley in transforming British from major power to paramount power in India.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate 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:
Start the answer by writing about Wellesley and his imperialist ambitions.
Body:
First, write about how the supreme power in India, to add to its territories and to reduce all the Indian states to a position of dependence on the Company.
Next, Wellesley gave up the policy of peace and non-intervention and inaugurated the policy of war and further wars. Bring in the Subsidiary Alliance System and examine how it impacted India political setup.
Next, write about major wars and battles that were fought as well as steps taken by him to counter the threat of Napoleon.
Conclusion:
Summarise that by end of Wellesley’s tenure British went from one of the political powers in India to become the supreme power in India.
Introduction
The appointment of Richard Colley Wellesley as Governor- General marks an epoch in the history of British India. He was a great imperialist and called himself ‘a Bengal tiger’. Wellesley came to India with a determination to launch a forward policy in order to make ‘the British Empire in India’ into ‘the British Empire of India’.
Body
Political condition of India preceding Wellesley’s arrival
- In the north-western India, the danger of Zaman Shah’s aggression posed a serious threat to the British power in India.
- In the north and central India, the Marathas remained a formidable political power. The Nizam of Hyderabad employed the Frenchmen to train his army.
- The political unrest in the Karnataka region continued and Tipu Sultan had remained the uncompromising enemy of the British.
- Moreover, the policy of neutrality adopted by Sir John Shore, the successor of Cornwallis, created a kind of political unrest in India and greatly affected the prestige of the English.
- His non-intervention policy contributed much to the growth of anti-British feelings.
- Further, Napoleon’s move for an Eastern invasion created a fear among English statesmen. It was in this light that Wellesley moulded his policy. Preservation of British prestige and removal of French danger from India were Wellesley’s twin aims.
Policies of Wellesley in India
- Subsidiary Alliance: Any Indian ruler who entered into the subsidiary alliance with the British had to maintain a contingent of British troops in his territory. It was commanded by a British officer. The Indian state was called ‘the protected state’ and the British hereinafter were referred to as ‘the paramount power’.
- The protected state should cut off its connection with European powers other than the English and with the French in particular.
- The state was also forbidden to have any political contact even with other Indian powers without the permission of the British.
- The ruler of the protected state should keep a British Resident at his court and disband his own army.
- Impact of Subsidiary Alliance: Wellesley’s Subsidiary System is regarded as one of the master- strokes of British imperialism.
- It increased the military strength of the Company in India at the expense of the protected states.
- The territories of the Company were free from the ravages of war thereby establishing the stability of the British power in India.
- The position of the British was strengthened against its Indian and non-Indian enemies. Under the system, expansion of British power became easy.
- Thus Wellesley’s diplomacy made the British the paramount power in India.
- The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799): As a part of his strategy, Wellesley tried to revive the Triple Alliance of 1790 with the Marathas. Though his proposal was not accepted by the Marathas, they promised to remain neutral including the Nizam of Hyderabad.
- The war was an easy success for the English. Mysore was attacked from two sides and Tipu was forced to take shelter in his capital, Srirangapatna where he finally died fighting.
- Some territory of Mysore was handed over to the Nizam, larger part of it was annexed by the English and the rest of it was restored to the minor son of the previous Hindu ruler of Mysore who became a dependent ally of the English.
- Second Maratha war: The internal quarrels among the Marathas provided Lord Wellesley a good opportunity to weaken the power of the Marathas. Peshwa Baji Rao was incompetent and failed to keep Maratha chiefs under his control (Holkars and Scindias).
- Baji Rao signed the Treaty of Bassein with the British in 1802. It was a subsidiary treaty and the Peshwa was recognized as the head of the Maratha kingdom.
- Mediatisation: Another means by which Wellesley extended the territory of the Company has been called mediatisation. He took over the territories of Tanjore, Surat and Karnataka on the plea of maladministration by their rulers and the territory of Farrukhabad, because its ruler was a minor. The rulers of these states were, however, awarded pensions by the Company.
- The treaty is considered the crowning triumph of Wellesley’s Subsidiary System.
- In accordance with this document, the foreign policy of the Marathas came under British control and therefore any action of the Maratha chiefs against the British was successfully prevented.
Conclusion
Thus, Lord Wellesley pursued an aggressive policy with native rulers and largely succeeded in achieving his aim of making the Company the supreme power in India. British imperialism was to a large extent indebted to Wellesley.
Value Addition
Estimate of Wellesley
- An unscrupulous annexationist and an advocate of forward policy, Wellesley was one of the greatest empire-builders that England had ever produced.
- Wellesley converted the British Empire in India to the British Empire of India. The establishment of British paramountcy in India was his supreme task.
- He located the weak spots of the Indian powers and applied his political technique (namely Subsidiary Alliance).
- By the annexation of Karnataka and Tanjore he paved the way for the formation of the Madras Presidency.
- He rightly deserves to be called the maker of the erstwhile Madras Presidency and the creator of the Province of Agra.
- In this manner a great part of the Indian subcontinent was brought under Company protection. “He turned the East India Company from a trading corporation into an imperial power”.
Topic: Role of women and women’s organization,
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The Centre on September 8 gave the Supreme Court the “good news” that it had taken a decision to allow women entry into the National Defence Academy (NDA), so far a male bastion for recruitment into the Armed Forces.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the attempts at achieving gender parity in Indian armed forces and suggest further steps that are needed.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context of recent decision aimed attempt at introducing gender parity in the armed forces.
Body:
Mention that the position of women in the armed forces, offers a limited window for any kind of change in the role of women in occupational and bureaucratic structures. However, there are changes being witnessed but at a slow pace.
Next, write about as to how the attempts at reform have been through litigation and by the orders of the SC. Mention the Babita Puniya case and the observations of the court in that regard.
Write about the reluctance of policy makers in this situation and their preference to maintain the status quo and their reasons, thereof.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced way forward.
Introduction
The Centre on September 8 told the Supreme Court that it had taken a decision to allow women entry into the National Defence Academy (NDA), so far, a male bastion for recruitment into the Armed Forces. When this decision comes through formally on paper, women can prepare for a career in the Armed Forces immediately after Class 12.
Recently, PM announcement to allow girls for admission in Sainik School is a welcome move that will prepare girls for equal roles & life in the military.
Body
Background
- The apex court had ordered on March 17 last year that women officers be given the same option of converting their short service commission to permanent commission as male officers.
- Several untenable reasons have been touted for years to deny women parity in the forces. These range from protecting women’s honour and lack of gender sensitivity among male soldiers to needing to lower standards for women officers.
- All of this was called as hogwash by the Supreme Court. Women in the forces have repeatedly proved themselves to be equally capable as their male colleagues when given same opportunities.
- Plus, a woman officer or cadet is fully aware of the risks involved in her profession. Only a patriarchal mindset feels the need to shield her.
- Therefore, the Centre and the services’ decision is a welcome change in attitude towards women in the armed forces who have long been at the receiving end of patriarchal mores.
Achieving gender parity in armed forces:Timeline
- The first batch of women officers was given commission in the Navy in 1992. It has taken close to 30 years for women to be given direct permanent commission.
- The Army, Air Force and Navy began inducting women as short-service commission (SSC) officers in 1992.
- This was the first time when women were allowed to join the military outside the medical stream.
- They were commissioned for a period of five years in certain chosen streams such as Army Education Corps, Corps of Signals, Intelligence Corps, and Corps of Engineers.
- Recruits under the Women Special Entry Scheme (WSES) had a shorter pre-commission training period than their male counterparts who were commissioned under the Short Service Commission (SSC) scheme.
- In 2006, the WSES scheme was replaced with the SSC scheme, which was extended to women officers. They were commissioned for a period of 10 years, extendable up to 14 years.
- Serving WSES officers were given the option to move to the new SSC scheme or to continue under the erstwhile WSES.
- They were to be, however, restricted to roles in streams specified earlier, which excluded combat arms such as infantry and armoured corps.
- One of the turning points for women in the military came in 2015 when Indian Air Force (IAF) decided to induct them into the fighter stream.
- In Secretary, Ministry of Defence vs Babita Puniya & Ors: the Court pointed out the “significant role” played by women since their induction in the army in 1992.
- So extending permanent positions to women SSC officers is a step forward in bringing equality of opportunity in the army.
- In early 2021, the Indian Navy deployed four women officers on warships after a gap of almost 25 years.
- India’s only aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and fleet tanker INS Shakti are the warships that have been assigned their first women crews since the late 1990s.
- In May 2021, the Army inducted the first batch of women into the Corps of Military Police, the first time that women joined the military in the non-officer cadre.
- In the recent judgement, SC allowed women to sit for National Defence Academy (NDA) exam as the current policy is based on “gender discrimination”.
Conclusion
SC upheld the right to equality in the Constitution for the spirit of the order is the principle of non-discrimination. Gender cannot serve as the basis for inequitable and unequal treatment in any sphere, including in defence forces. There is a bigger need in shift to take place in the culture, norms, and values of the rank and file of the Army, which will be the responsibility of the senior military and political leadership.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
India has just concluded its presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for August.
Key Demand of the question: To write
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate 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 giving context about India’s recent presidency of the UNSC for the month of August.
Body:
First, mention the key resolutions and activities that were undertaken during India’s presidency with a special emphasis on Afghanistan.
Next, talk about how India can advocate for reforms in the coming months with respect to archaic membership structure of the UNSC, expansion of the UNSC’s permanent membership, structural inequality in the security grouping etc.
Next, talk about India as proponent of international law with respect to Afghan crisis, Israel-Palestine issue and efforts to maintain the rules based international order.
Conclusion:
Summarise that it is an opportunity for India to display leadership skills, establish itself is a responsible stakeholder, and indicate its commitment to global governance.
Introduction
India has just concluded its presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for August. During India’s presidency, there were 14 ‘outcome documents’, five of which were UNSC resolutions. Three signature events held by India had a clear focus on the priority issues, namely maritime security, UN peacekeeping and counter-terrorism. These topics found resonance with the larger UN membership.
Body
Opportunity for India to be an advocate of reforms and a proponent of international law
- Changing reality: The PM has highlighted at UN that the international community must ask if the UN is still relevant 75 years after its founding.
- He also noted that despite the Organization’s achievements, including the avoidance of a Third World War, there have since been many conflicts (Yemen war, Syrian war, Taliban crisis), and today’s challenges are vastly different from those of the past.
- Pressing for Regional representation: India must push for equal regional representation in the UNSC and bring consensus to start the talk on reforms.
- There is a huge European bias in P-5 due to the presence of the United Kingdom and France including Russia.
- While regions like Latin America, Caribbean group, Arabs and Africa do not have a single permanent member.
- Similarly, there is a western bias in UNSC. As China is the only Asian country among the five permanent members of UNSC.
- Convincing the superpowers of removing veto power: The victors of World War II shaped the United Nations Charter in their national interests, dividing the permanent seats, and associated veto power, among themselves.
- The P-5 is largely divided into P3 and P2 wherein decision making has been paralysed.
- India must play a role to ensure this dichotomy is altogether removed.
- Transparency and Working Methods: While the expansion of the Security Council has been hotly debated across the world, debate on the working methods of the Council, an equally important aspect of reform to many member states, has attracted less attention.
- It is true that UNSC has been functioning in the most non-transparent and non-consultative way.
- Decision making must happen in a deliberative manner.
- International law: India can spear head peace and cooperation by ensuring no humanitarian crisis occurs in Afghanistan, post-Taliban. It can also bring Israel-Palestine issue on the UNSC table to ensure two-state solution gets traction.
Way Forward
- India’s claim for permanent membership is a genuine demand in the changed geo politics of 21st century. India is possibly the most obvious and least controversial option to add as a permanent member, and probably long overdue for a seat.
- UNSC is mandated to keep international peace and security. However, it is under constant criticism for its plans and actions. It is said to be performing in unilateral way with unquestioned authority, working only for vested interests and not making non-permanent members inclusive in their decision making.
- In this context, we can see that India’s demand is not illegitimate as India does wield a certain influence in world affairs today due to its impressive economic growth and strong military base.
- South Asia being a victim of various repercussions of war, terrorism, and extremism India gains more say on its and neighbour’s problems and will have power to challenge the ethos and working style of permanent members of UNSC.
- Hence, India must make a headway as member of UNSC to bring about these reforms through the forum.
Value addition:
Leadership of India as UNSC President
- Maritime Security: The world witnessed the first Presidential Statement issued on the holistic concept of maritime security. In spite of differences and nuances in the understanding of what this security entails, India worked closely with all Security Council (SC) members to ensure the statement’s adoption by consensus. This document promises to set the template of future discussions on maritime security, an area of high important for India.
- UN Peacekeeping: A resolution on Protecting the Protectors was adopted, which seeks to safeguard UN Peacekeepers. It was the first SC resolution piloted by India in over four decades, and it had the co-sponsorship of all 15 members.
- Counter terrorism: The outcome was broadly in line with India’s own thinking on this matter, including its focus on Afghan soil not being used for terrorism, especially by UN-proscribed terrorists, the departure of Afghan and foreign nationals, human rights, especially of women and minorities, and other humanitarian issues.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
The government is expected to come out with a comprehensive relief package to support the ailing telecom sector soon and clear adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the objectives and features of National Digital Communications Policy and to suggest measures to keep the telecom sector viable and affordable.
Directive word:
Comment– here we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start the answer by writing about National Digital Communications Policy 2018 and its objectives.
Body:
In the first part, write about major features of National Digital Communications Policy 2018.
Next, analyse the major issues prevailing in the telecom sector – Low profitability, AGR dues, consumer welfare, competition, possibility of Duopoly and financial stability.
Suggest steps that government can take to address this issue.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
With a view to cater to the modern needs of the digital communications sector of India, the Union Cabinet has approved the National Digital Communications Policy-2018 (NDCP-2018). The new telecom policy has been formulated in place of the existing National Telecom Policy-2012 and aims to facilitate India’s effective participation in the global digital economy. The policy aims to ensure digital sovereignty and the objectives are to be achieved by 2022.
Body:
Major Objectives of NDCP 2018:
- Broadband for all;
- Creating four million additional jobs in the Digital Communications sector;
- Enhancing the contribution of the Digital Communications sector to 8% of India’s GDP from ~ 6% in 2017;
- Propelling India to the Top 50 Nations in the ICT Development Index of ITU from 134 in 2017;
- Enhancing India’s contribution to Global Value Chains; and
- Ensuring Digital Sovereignty.
These objectives are to be achieved by 2022.
Features of NDCP 2018:
- Provide universal broadband connectivity at 50 Mbps to every citizen;
- Provide 1 Gbps connectivity to all Gram Panchayats by 2020 and 10 Gbps by 2022;
- Ensure connectivity to all uncovered areas;
- Attract investments of USD 100 billion in the Digital Communications Sector;
- Train one million manpower for building New Age Skill;
- Expand IoT ecosystem to 5 billion connected devices;
- Establish a comprehensive data protection regime for digital communications that safeguards the privacy, autonomy and choice of individuals;
- Facilitate India’s effective participation in the global digital economy;
- Enforce accountability through appropriate institutional mechanisms to assure citizens of safe and
- Secure digital communications infrastructure and services.
Government intervention has become an absolute necessity to keep the telecom sector viable for the operators and affordable for common man:
- The industry is going through a financial crisis as a result of which as many as five operators have shut shop.
- The Supreme Court instructed telecom companies to share not just their core telecom revenues with the government, but also to take into account promotional offers to consumers, income from the sale of assets, bad debts that were written off, and dealer commissions.
- Analysts estimate that the extra annual payments by all telecom firms could be around ₹22,000 crore a year.
- Overall debt burden of the remaining players has burgeoned to alarming levels due to expensive spectrum auctions and huge reduction in cash flows.
- Telecom consumers are no better today than they were two decades ago when it comes to quality of services. Call drops, unwanted telemarketing calls, patchy data networks and unfair practices to get users pay more are rampant.
- To make matters worse, consumers do not have access to a reliable and neutral complaint redressal mechanism.
- India is faced with the prospect of a telecom monopoly or duopoly.
- Public sector companies in this sector continue to languish under high manpower costs and red tape.
- There is a big worry over the huge imports of telecom equipment and devices at a time when India’s trade deficit is ballooning.
Way forward:
- Ease of payment of AGR:
- The administration should accept special zero-coupon bonds worth the entire amount due from telecom companies that have AGR funding issues, at a discount to face value, based on the comparable sovereign bond yield at the time of issue.
- The zero-coupon structure would mean that telecom companies will have no immediate interest costs, thus easing pressures on cash flows without tariff increases.
- The government should also set up an independent committee of experts, chaired by a retired judge of the Supreme Court, to calculate the excess AGR dues to be paid based on a transparent formula.
- Government’s Role:
- The government needs to act, just like it did in 1999. They could offer the operators payment of principal in instalments and waive off interest and penalties.
- The government should increase the network area through optical fibre instead of copper which is expensive. This is necessary to ensure last mile connectivity.
- The government needs to prepare a ground for easy right-of-way permissions and lower cost of rights-of-way
- The government should spend large on R&D and create an environment that makes India capable of manufacturing and even exporting hardware components like mobile handsets, CCTV Cameras, touch screen monitors etc.
- Judicious use of the Universal Service Obligation Fund:
- USOF was established with an aim to fund projects to boost connectivity in rural areas.
- The fund must be disbursed fairly to ensure that affordable communication services are available to most citizens.
- Infrastructure Sharing:
- Since telecom business is heavy on capex and as much as 40%– 60% of the Capex is utilized for setting up and managing the Telecom infrastructure. By sharing infrastructure, operators can optimize their capex, and focus on providing new and innovative services to their subscribers.
- Curb on predatory pricing:
- government should fix a minimum price to save the industry from price war
- Lower License fee:
- The license fee of eight per cent of the Adjusted Gross Revenue including five per cent as Universal Service Levy (USL) is one of the highest in the world.
Conclusion:
A vibrant telecom sector is central to economic growth, and the past decade has seen investors suffer because of an unstable regulatory regime. The NDCP aims to prepare the country and its citizens for the future. Achieving these goals would require various key stakeholders come together to forge a coalition to deliver this national policy and missions. NDCP seeks to unlock the transformative power of digital communications networks to achieve the goal of digital empowerment and well-being of the people of India; and towards this end, attempts to outline a set of goals, initiatives, strategies and intended policy outcomes.
Value addition:
Missions
In pursuit of accomplishing these objectives by year 2022, the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 envisages three Missions
- Connect India : Creating Robust Digital Communications Infrastructure To promote Broadband for All as a tool for socio-economic development, while ensuring service quality and environmental sustainability.
- Propel India : Enabling Next Generation Technologies and Services through Investments, Innovation and IPR generation To harness the power of emerging digital technologies, including 5G, AI, IoT, Cloud and Big Data to enable provision of future ready products and services; and to catalyse the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) by promoting Investments, Innovation and IPR.
- Secure India :Ensuring Sovereignty, Safety and Security of Digital Communications To secure the interests of citizens and safeguard the digital sovereignty of India with a focus on ensuring individual autonomy and choice, data ownership, privacy and security; while recognizing data as a crucial economic resource.
Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The Centre has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat for the upcoming rabi season by 2% hike. Oilseeds and pulses such as mustard, safflower and masoor dal saw higher MSP increases of up to 8% in a bid to encourage crop diversification.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about additional measures that are required for price realisation after increment in MSP price.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by writing about MSP, its aims and objectives.
Body:
Give the context about recent hike in MSP for certain Rabi crops.
Next, mention the limitations of the hike in MSP. Non-realisation of Price, Lack of procurement, only beneficial for selected crops, Lack of quality control and payment immediacy etc.
Next, write about the systemic measures that are needed for farmers to get remunerative prices. Increasing procurement efficacy, increasing awareness level of farmer and considering price deficiency payments etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Introduction
MSP is the rate at which the government buys grains from farmers. Currently, it fixes MSPs for 23 crops grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons. The government recently hiked the MSP for wheat by Rs. 40 to Rs. 2,015 per quintal and for mustard seed by Rs. 400 to Rs. 5,050 per quintal for the current crop year in order to boost crop area as well as income of farmers.
Body
MSP and higher price realisation are not congruent
The trouble with MSP is that while it is touted as an all-important factor for farmers promising an instant rise in their income and stability, it also has many drawbacks in implementation. This affects the price realisation of farmers, in reality for several reasons.
- Methodology: MSP covers numerous costs such as the cost of sowing (A2) and labour (FL). These considerations are controversial with suggestions that it should be based on comprehensive costs (C2), which also include land rent costs.
- Inflation: Too much of a hike on MSP either paves way for inflationary effects on the economy, with a rise in prices of food grains and vegetables, or loss to government treasury if it decides to sell at a lower price as compared to the higher MSP it bought at.
- Diverse factors: MSP is a nationwide single price policy. However, the actual costing for production varies from place to place, more severely so in areas lacking irrigation facilities and infrastructure. Thus, not all farmers have equal benefits.
- Procurement at MSP is flawed: First, procurement of wheat and paddy for meeting the requirement of the public distribution system (PDS) is undertaken largely by state governments.
- Of the total procurement of wheat and paddy from farmers, the Food Corporation of India’s (FCI’s) share is less than 10%.
- In the north-east and many other states, procurement operations are almost non-existent and farmers are forced to sell below MSP.
- As the experiences of these schemes show, the benefit of higher MSPs for kharif crops or rabi, is unlikely to be available to most farmers as the states lack adequate storage capacity, working capital and manpower for undertaking large-scale procurement of all commodities.
- The MSP-based procurement system is also dependent on middlemen, commission agents and APMC officials, which smaller farmers find difficult to get access to.
- Agri-Infrastructure: Hiking the MSP without investing in infrastructure is just a short-term play. While it does deliver immediate results, long-term developments to back-it up are also important.
Conclusion
The government should shift its focus from providing only price support to farmers and focus on building better infrastructure, minimizing the gap between farmers and the market, land reforms, policy reforms to increase flow of credit to farmers, establishing food-processing industries for perishable goods, providing better irrigation facilities etc so, that agriculture emerges as a viable means of sustenance.
Value addition
- The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs announces MSP for various crops at the beginning of each sowing season based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). The CACP takes into account demand and supply, the cost of production and price trends in the market among other things when fixing MSPs.
- Factors taken into consideration for fixing MSP include:
-
- Demand and supply;
- Cost of production;
- Price trends in the market, both domestic and international;
- Inter-crop price parity;
- Terms of trade between agriculture and non-agriculture;
- A minimum of 50% as the margin over cost of production; and
- Likely implications of MSP on consumers of that product.
- The CACP considers both ‘A2+FL’ and ‘C2’ costs while recommending MSP.
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- A2 costs cover all paid-out expenses, both in cash and kind, incurred by farmers on seeds, fertilisers, chemicals, hired labour, fuel and irrigation, among others.
- A2+FL covers actual paid-out costs plus an imputed value of unpaid family labour.
- The C2 costs account for the rentals and interest forgone on owned land and fixed capital assets respectively, on top of A2+FL.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics;
Difficulty level: Moderate
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Abstract Thursdays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.
Key Demand of the question:
To debate upon the ethicality of abortion.
Directive word:
Debate – Weigh up to what extent something is true. Persuade the reader of your argument by citing relevant research but also remember to point out any flaws and counter- arguments as well. Conclude by stating clearly how far you agree with the original proposition.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context and mentioning the ethical dilemmas associated with the act of abortion.
Body:
First, argue on the how abortion is unethical on the basis of abortion is deliberate killing of an innocent human being, A foetus as Moral personhood, Rights of the foetus and Causing pain.
Next, argue on the side of ethicality of abortion. foetus is not necessarily a ‘person’, rights of the mother’s bodily autonomy, dangers to mothers’ health etc.
Conclusion:
Pass a balanced judgement on the ethicality of the act of abortion.
Introduction
Termination of pregnancy (TOP) or foeticide is ethically and morally challenging and maybe considered illegal in countries with restrictive abortion laws. Ethical dilemmas such as women’s autonomy rights may conflict with foetus’ right to personhood, and doctor’s moral obligations to society. In liberal jurisdictions, previable foetuses may not have legal rights of personhood; therefore, appropriate action would be to respect pregnant women’s decisions regarding TOP.
Body:
Pro-choice versus Pro-life:
Pro Choice:
- If a pregnancy puts the life of the mother at risk, then we should consider the value of the foetus compared to the value of the life of the mother.
- An unwanted child does not have a good life. If a mother has a child that she does not want, then both she and the child may be greatly harmed; forcing the mother to continue with the pregnancy might produce a child with little chance of a happy life for itself and cause the mother much suffering as:
- Mother should have a right to control her own life, at least to the extent that in doing so she does minimal harm to herself.
- The right to abortion is vital for gender equality. The right to abortion is vital for individual women to achieve their full potential.
- Banning abortion puts women at risk by forcing them to use illegal methods that may be more harmful.
- But on the other hand the right to life should always outweigh the right of an individual to equality or to control their own. It can be misused.
Pro Life:
- Foetus has the right to life because it is a ‘potential human being’.
- The ‘potential human being’ argument gives the right to life to the unborn from the very earliest stage of development – the moment when the egg is fertilised.
- This argument renders irrelevant any concerns about what sort of being the foetus is at any particular stage of its development.
The new-born argument
- One of the strongest arguments for giving the full rights of person to the foetus because it is a potential person flows from the status of a new born baby.
- At birth a new born baby possesses so few of the characteristics required for ‘moral personhood’ that its right to life can’t be based on it being a ‘moral person’.
- Nonetheless, everyone does accept that it has a right to life – even those who follow the ‘moral person’ line of thought.
- This right to life seems to flow from the potential that the new-born has to become a ‘moral person’, and this in turn seems to support the argument that a potential ‘moral person’ has the right to life.
Conclusion:
The right to life underlies all other human rights – if we protect those rights, we should protect the right to life as well. Abortion is a civil rights issue in that some of those who support abortion do as a way of controlling the growth of certain population groups. Abortion is sometimes forced on women by exploiting partners or families. Abortion is sometimes forced on women because society fails to supply their needs. Parents have an obligation to their unborn children – it is wrong for them to escape it. Abortion brutalises those who carry it out, or who are involved in the process.
Value addition:
Views of religion:
All the religions have taken strong positions on abortion; they believe that the issue encompasses profound issues of life and death, right and wrong, human relationships and the nature of society, that make it a major religious concern.
People involved in an abortion are usually affected very deeply not just emotionally, but often spiritually, as well. They often turn to their faith for advice and comfort, for explanation of their feelings, and to seek atonement and a way to deal with their feelings of guilt.
As per Stanley Hauwer was “For no amount of ethical reflection will ever change the basic fact that tragedy is a reality of our lives. A point is reached where we must have the wisdom to cease ethical reflection and affirm that certain issues indicate a reality more profound than the ethical.”
Pro-Choice:
These are the proponents who support choice of child bearer and hence support the cause of abortion at will.
Pregnant woman has moral rights too
- Under some circumstances these may override the foetus’s right to live
- These moral rights include:
- The right to ownership of her own body
- The right to decide her own future
- The right to take decisions without moral or legal intervention by others
- The pregnant woman has the right to life – where not aborting the foetus would put the mother’s life or health in danger, she has the moral right to abort the foetus
Pro Life:
These are proponents who support life in consideration i.e. the foetus which is considered life from the women’s womb itself.
Killing people is wrong
- Killing innocent human beings is wrong
- Human life begins at conception
- Therefore, the foetus is an innocent human being
- Therefore, killing the foetus is wrong
- Therefore, abortion is always wrong
Killing potential people is wrong
- It is wrong to destroy potential human life
- From conception onwards the foetus is a potential human being
- Therefore, it is wrong to destroy the foetus
- Therefore, abortion is always wrong
Increasing tolerance of killing is wrong
- Allowing abortion is legalising killing
- Legalising killing reduces people’s respect for life
- Reducing society’s respect for life is a bad thing – it may lead to euthanasia, genocide and increased murder rates
- Therefore, abortion is always wrong
Philosopher Ted Lockhart has come up with a practical solution for dealing with moral problems that can be used to decide whether or not to abort a foetus. Lockhart suggests that we should “perform actions that we are maximally confident are morally permissible”. Where we have to make a moral choice, we should take the course of action that we are most confident is morally correct.
