NOTE: Please remember that following ‘answers’ are NOT ‘model answers’. They are NOT synopsis too if we go by definition of the term. What we are providing is content that both meets demand of the question and at the same time gives you extra points in the form of background information.
General Studies – 1
Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.
1. Seismic waves helps us to unravel the mysteries of the Earth’s interior. Explain. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: NCERT fundamentals of physical Geography for Class-XI
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about how we can understand the interior of earth by using Seismic waves.
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving 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 mentioning that the structure of Earth’s deep interior cannot be studied directly but geologists use seismic (earthquake) waves to understand the interior structure of earth.
Body:
First, define what are seismic waves and their types.
Explain, how the difference in their properties helps us to understand the earth’s interior. Also, draw a neat labelled diagram for better presentation of your answer.
Conclusion:
Mention the significance of understanding the interior of the earth.
Introduction
Seismic waves are caused by the sudden movement of materials within the Earth, such as slip along a fault during an earthquake. Volcanic eruptions, explosions, landslides, avalanches, and even rushing rivers can also cause seismic waves. Seismic waves travel through and around the Earth and can be recorded with seismometers.
Body:
Understanding the structure of the earth’s interior (crust, mantle, core) and various forces (heat, seismic waves) emanating from it is essential to understand the evolution of the earth’s surface, its current shape and its future, the geophysical phenomenon like volcanism, earthquakes, earth’s magnetic field, the internal structure of various solar system objects, the evolution and present composition of the atmosphere for mineral exploration.
Earthquake waves and interior of the earth:
- They are the most important source available to understand the layered structure of the earth.
- All natural earthquakes take place in the lithosphere. Earthquake waves are basically of two types — body waves and surface waves.
- Body waves are generated due to the release of energy at the focus and move in all directions travelling through the body of the earth. Hence, the name body waves.
- The body waves interact with the surface rocks and generate new set of waves called surface waves. These waves move along the surface.
- The velocity of waves changes as they travel through materials with different densities. The denser the material, the higher is the velocity. Their direction also changes as they reflect or refract when coming across materials with different densities.
- There are two types of body waves. They are called P and S-waves. P-waves move faster and are the first to arrive at the surface. These are also called ‘primary waves’.
- The P-waves are similar to sound waves. They travel through gaseous, liquid and solid materials.
- S-waves arrive at the surface with some time lag. These are called secondary waves. An important fact about S-waves is that they can travel only through solid materials. This characteristic of the S-waves is quite important.
- It has helped scientists to understand the structure of the interior of the earth. Reflection causes waves to rebound whereas refraction makes waves move in different directions.
- The variations in the direction of waves are inferred with the help of their record on seismograph. The surface waves are the last to report on seismograph. These waves are more destructive. They cause displacement of rocks, and hence, the collapse of structures occurs.
- Earthquake waves get recorded in seismographs located at far off locations. However, there exist some specific areas where the waves are not reported. Such a zone is called the ‘shadow zone’. The study of different events reveals that for each earthquake, there exists an altogether different shadow zone.
Conclusion:
The velocity of seismic waves changes as they travel through materials with different elasticity and density. The more elastic and denser the material is, the higher is the velocity. They also undergo refection or refraction when they come across materials with different densities. Earth’s internal structure can be understood by analyzing the patterns of reflection, refraction and change in velocity of the seismic waves when they travel through it.
Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the evolution of earth as per geological time scale and its importance of studying it.
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 defining geologic time scale (GTS).
Body:
First, in brief explain the various components of GTS. Write how the earth evolved in to current life forms through various phases of GTS.
Next, write about the importance of studying GTS – information about the formation of earth, information about sequential evolution of organisms etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning that GTS helps understanding time relationships and how life on Earth changed through time.
Introduction
The geological time scale (GTS) is a system of chronological measurement that relates stratigraphy to time, and is used by geologists, palaeontologists, and other Earth scientists to describe the timing and relationships between events that have occurred throughout Earth’s history.
Evidence from radiometric dating indicates that Earth is about 4.54 billion years old. The geology or deep time of Earth’s past has been organized into various units according to events which took place in each period.
Body
Importance of studying geologic time scale (GTS)
- The geologic time scaleis an important tool used to portray the history of the Earth—a standard timeline used to describe the age of rocks and fossils, and the events that formed them.
- The geologic time scale, the “calendar” for events in Earth history, is a system of chronological measurement that relates stratigraphy (study of rock layers and layering) to time, and is used by geologists, palaeontologists, and other Earth scientists to describe the timing and relationships between events that have occurred throughout Earth’s history.
- It subdivides all time into named units of abstract time called – in descending order of duration—eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages.
- Particular kinds of organisms are characteristic of particular parts of the geologic record.
- By correlating the strata in which certain types of fossils are found, the geologic history of various regions—and of Earth as a whole—can be reconstructed.
- GTS has allowed us to reconstruct the geological history of Earth by comparing rocks and fossils from place to place. This is critically important because no single place on Earth preserves a complete geological history, or even a small fraction of it.
- The fossil forms that occur in the rocks, however, provide the chief means of establishing a geologic time scale, with the timing of the emergence and disappearance of widespread species from the fossil record being used to delineate the beginnings and endings of ages, epochs, periods, and other intervals.
- It could help predict possible or probable changes in or on our planet , mostly for future needs of human survival.
- It gives a better predictability of cause and effects of current changes due to global warming and Teutonic Plate shifts and Earth Tilt shifts .
Conclusion
Thus, Geologic time is, in effect, that segment of Earth history that is represented by and recorded in the planet’s rock strata. The geological time scale provides a global summary of countless small-scale temporal correlations of rock layers made at local and regional scales.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Times of India
Why the question:
Continuing its drive against potholes, NGO Janmanch has lodged over 200 complaints with various helplines launched by traffic police.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the role of civil society in holding the government accountable and upholding rule of law.
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:
Begin by mentioning how civil society is considered as the 5ht Pillar of democracy.
Body:
First, write about how NGOs and humanitarian aid organizations make it their business to demand accountability from governments, employers, and community members.
Next, mention few successful incidents of civil society participation in bringing about accountability and uphold rule of law.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stating that good governance can be achieved through the active participation of all the stakeholders and the civil society being the lynchpin in this.
Introduction
Civil Society Organizations can be defined to include all non-market and non-state organizations outside of the family in which people organize themselves to pursue shared interests in the public domain”.
Examples include community-based organizations and village associations, environmental groups, women’s rights groups, farmers’ associations, faith-based organizations, labour unions, co-operatives, professional associations, chambers of commerce, independent research institutes and the not-for-profit media.
Body
Need for an active civil society:
- Citizens have the right to scrutinise the work of their representatives.
- To publicise acts such as infringement of civil liberties and failure of governments to provide a reasonable standard of life for the citizens.
- Article 19 of the constitution provides for the democratic right to protest as part of the freedom of expression.
- The right to participate in an activity should not be restricted to politics and elections alone.
- Without this right, democracy becomes an illusion.
- So civil society cannot be conceptualised independent of the state.
Civil society’s functional contribution to good governance
- Watchdog: against violation of human rights and governing deficiencies.
- Advocate: of the weaker sections’ point of view.
- Agitator: on behalf of aggrieved citizens.
- Educator: of citizens on their rights, entitlements and responsibilities and the government about the pulse of the people.
- Service provider: to areas and people not reached by official efforts or as government’s agent.
- Mobilizer: of public opinion for or against a programme or policy.
- The ways include: Right to Information Act, Consumer Protection Act, Citizens Charters, Whistle-blower protection, e-governance, Democratic Decentralisation, Public Interest Litigation, etc
Role of Civil Society:
- In a large developing country like India, there are numerous gaps left by the government in the development process. These are the gaps that civil societies try to fill in modern India.
- Supplementing the government effort to provide health care to citizens, and by raising awareness in society about issues like child and maternal malnutrition
- A number of NGO’s like Childline India Foundation, World Vision, Arambh India have played important role in raising awareness on child sexual abuse.
- In the last 20 years, a very large number of NGOs in India have been active in the area of environmental protection.
- The NGOs have often been helped by the judiciary whenever the government of the day has proved unresponsive.
- The engagement of civil society and the media in educating citizens about the evils of corruption, raising their awareness levels and securing their participation by giving them a ‘voice’.
- Civil society can influence policy and project formulation through membership of committees and submission of memoranda.
Conclusion
Pressure groups, NGOs and CSOs form the backbone of democracy. The state must respect the articulation of the politics of voice and not just the politics of the vote. The promises of democracy can only be realised through collective action in civil society. A democratic state needs a democratic civil society and a democratic civil society also needs a democratic state. They mutually reinforce each other.
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:
RBI sets up advisory group to assist regulatory review authority
Key Demand of the question:
To understand the role and scope of working of RRA.
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 mentioning about the numerous regulations to be followed by the banking institution and the inherent compliance burden.
Body:
First, mention the impact of overburdening of compliance in the baking sector.
Mention about the various areas of focus of RRA such as Mandatory fund raising via bonds, Rethink poorly drafted guidelines, Priority-sector lending etc and probable means to achieve the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude by saying that the focus of RRA must be to streamline various regulations harmoniously without ambiguity to ensure easy compliance.
Introduction
The Reserve Bank of India has set up a Regulations Review Authority (RRA 2.0), initially for a period of one year from May 01, 2021. The RRA will review the regulatory prescriptions internally as well as by seeking suggestions from the RBI regulated entities and other stakeholders on their simplification and ease of implementation.
Body
Role and Area of focus of RRA 2.0
- The RRA 2.0 will focus on streamlining regulatory instructions and reducing the compliance burden of regulated entities by simplifying procedures and reducing reporting requirements, wherever possible.
- It shall intend to make regulatory and supervisory instructions more effective by removing redundancies and duplication, if any.
- It will look to reduce the compliance burden on regulated entities by streamlining the reporting mechanism, revoking obsolete instructions if necessary and obviating paper-based submission of returns wherever possible.
- It will also be tasked with obtaining feedback from regulated entities on simplification of procedures and enhancement of ease of compliance.
- It will examine and suggest the changes required in the dissemination process of RBI circulars and instructions.
Challenges faced due to compliance burden of banking sector
- Mandatory fund raising via bonds:Recent data from the central bank and Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) corroborates the fact that the country’s overall bank lending pie has reduced for creamy well-rated companies.
- Corporate current account closures: This decision adversely affected customers who lost out on the superior services of smaller but more efficient private and foreign banks, while lenders lost good business. Even public sector banks (PSBs) were affected, as they would be required to surrender accounts of government entities if no RBI relaxation is forthcoming.
- Priority Sector Lending: Being obliged to lend ₹40 of every ₹100 to lower yielding and ever riskier priority-sector assets, commercial banks have lost market share to nimbler fintech and non-bank financial firms.
Way forward
- The RRA and regulators need to extend the bond market fund-sourcing benefit to all investment-grade companies and also consider progressive relaxation of the stipulated 25% reservation mandate to ensure a level playing field for all participants.
- The RRA could suggest better digital information sharing and monitoring mechanisms among banks to enforce credit discipline, even if businesses are allowed to operate multiple current accounts.
- The RRA could revisit the priority-sector lending norms to reduce directed sub-targets and overall targets for banks and/or lower the credit-risk weightages on specific short tenor, self-liquidating bank facilities.
- For instance, reduced risk weights on MSME bill-financing through TReDS exchanges can lower capital consumption for banks and also enhance credit flows across the priority manufacturing ecosystem.
- The RRA should tackle evolving technology and market challenges by drawing up regulatory templates that encompass:
- a digital banking framework for universal and wholesale bank licences;
- a blueprint for a central bank digital currency as fiat money;
- a special dispensation, put in place jointly with the Centre after a feasibility study, that would allow profit-oriented crude-oil-price hedging by oil companies, which along with tax cuts could help cool fuel prices in India;
- a policy of light regulation for the launch of prescribed banking services by neo-banks, fintech firms and other technology companies.
Topic: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
According to the Economic Survey of 2020-21, the Indian pharmaceuticals sector is expected to expand multi fold and become a $ 130 billion industry by 2030
Key Demand of the question:
To have a good understanding of the shortfalls in the present regulatory system in the pharmaceutical industry and to suggest adequate measures to address the issues.
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 highlighting the great potential of pharmaceutical industry in the generic medicine category for India.
Body:
First, mention the shortfalls in the current regulatory mechanism in the pharmaceutical industry.
Next, give a point by point analysis of major areas of reforms needed such as revising the age old The New Drugs, Cosmetics and Medical Devices Act, need to bring in a regulatory structure in the context of e pharmacy and teleconsultations, better clarity in the issue of Licenses as per Drugs and Cosmetics Act (DCA) of 1940 etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by saying that India should focus on a comprehensive, clear and concise regulatory structure meeting the needs of the new age pharmaceutical industry.
Introduction
The Indian pharmaceutical industry is one of the major contributors to the Indian economy and it is the world’s third-largest industry by volume. The Indian pharmaceutical industry’s success can be credited to its world-class capabilities in formulation development, entrepreneurial abilities of its people, and the vision of its business leaders to establish India’s footprint in the United States and other large international markets.
Body
According to the Economic Survey of 2020-21, the Indian pharmaceuticals sector is expected to expand multifold and become a $ 130 billion industry by 2030, while medicine spending is projected to grow rapidly too, leading India to become one of the top 10 countries in terms of such expenditure.
Regulations governing the Pharma industry:
- The Drugs and Cosmetics Act (DCA) of 1940, read together with the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules of 1945, are the primary legislations governing the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs and cosmetics in India.
- In addition, there are other industry-specific rules and regulations around medical devices, prices of essential notified drugs, narcotic and psychotropic drugs and substances, development of new drugs and undertaking clinical trials.
- However, with the advancement of research and development, innovation and technology, as well as challenges such as the covid pandemic, the pre-independence era DCA and regulatory framework governing the sector in general need to keep pace, so as to provide a conducive and business-friendly environment for further growth and foreign investment in the sector.
Reforms needed:
- The New Drugs, Cosmetics and Medical Devices Act
- This development is a good move forward, the task at hand is of great significance for India as well as the rest of the world, given the country’s importance in the global pharmaceutical industry, and the new committee has its work cut out in a relatively short time frame.
- The aspects which needs to be looked into are as follows
- Digital health:
- New-age technologies and internet-based business models such as e-pharmacies are major drivers of growth.
- However, specific regulations for such business models are necessary to provide a clear and predictable regulatory framework that would aid further investment in this segment.
- Medical devices:
- While the Medical Devices Rules of 2017 govern medical devices, there is still dependence on the DCA and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) regulates both drugs and medical devices.
- There have been efforts in the past to enact a separate legislation governing medical devices and the newly set-up committee could consider adopting a similar approach in the proposed legislation.
- Licensing issues:
- One of the conditions under various licences issued under the DCA is a requirement for fresh licences if there is a change in the constitution of the firm operating under earlier issuances.
- However, what constitutes a change in constitution is not explained, often leading to contradictory interpretations by regulators in different states.
- Such ambiguity impacts merger and acquisition modalities and timelines in this sector, and so clarity on this aspect may be provided in the proposed bill.
- Sandbox regime:
- Regulators across the globe are considering novel ways in which the startup ecosystem can be encouraged, and regulators in this sector could also adopt the approach of providing a ‘sandbox’ for innovation that’s backed by a suitable regulatory regime around it.
- Foreign direct investment:
- FDI inflows continue to be of utmost importance for the growth of the sector and India’s economy at large.
- Our regulatory regime for FDI in this sector limits overseas investment in brownfield pharmaceutical ventures to 74% of equity under the automatic route and also features sector-specific conditions such as no ‘non-compete’ restrictions that are likely to have a knock-on impact on FDI inflows.
- While FDI-norm reforms may not squarely fall within the purview of the proposed bill, it is another area that the committee may consider with a view to pushing for further relaxations in this area to boost investment.
Conclusion:
The affordability of healthcare is an issue of concern even in India, and people here would welcome some clarity on the principles of fair pricing vis-à-vis medical products. It is important that the accused companies are given a good hearing. The Government of India has taken up a number of initiatives to create an ecosystem that fosters manufacturing in pharma industries.
Value addition:
India’s potential to be the “pharmacy of the world”
- Potential of Pharma sector: The Indian pharmaceutical industry, valued at $41 billion, is expected to grow to $65 billion by 2024 and $120-130 billion by 2030, noted the new Economic survey.
- Rise in exports: During April-October 2020, India’s pharmaceutical exports of $ 11.1 billion witnessed a growth of 18 percent against $ 9.4 billion in the year-ago period.
- Positive growth: Drug formulations, biologicals have consistently registered positive growth and the highest increase in absolute terms in recent months.
- This led to a rise in its share to 7.1 percent in April-November 2020 from 5 percent in April-November 2019, making it the second-largest exported commodity among the top 10 export commodities.
- This shows that India has the potential to be the ‘pharmacy of the world’”, the survey said.
- In 1969, Indian pharmaceuticals had a 5 per cent share of the market in India, and global pharma had a 95 per cent share. By 2020, it was the reverse, with Indian pharma having an almost 85 per cent share and global, 15 per cent.
- Significant advantage: The availability of a significant raw material base and skilled workforce have enabled India to emerge as an international manufacturing hub for generic medicines.
- Further, India is the only country with the largest number of USFDA compliant pharma plants (more than 262 including APIs) outside of the US.
- Capacity: The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that India can not only innovate but also rapidly distribute time-critical drugs to every part of the globe that needs it.
- Global leader: Presently, over 80% of the antiretroviral drugs used globally to combat AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) are supplied by Indian pharmaceutical firms.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The Environment Ministry has issued draft rules that mandate producers of plastic packaging material to collect all of their produce by 2024 and ensure that a minimum percentage of it be recycled as well as used in subsequent supply.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the need to tackle plastic pollution by regulating its manufacturing as well as managing plastic waste.
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 a statistic regarding the extent of plastic pollution in India and the world.
Body:
First, mention the various sources of plastic pollution and its impact.
Next, write about the steps that have been taken to regulated the manufacture of plastic in India.
Next, enumerate policy measures and other initiative to tackle plastic waste management in India. Examine the performance the above measures.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward to holistically tackle the issue of plastic pollution.
Introduction
In 2019, the Union government in a bid to free India of single-use plastics by 2022, had laid out a multi-ministerial plan to discourage the use of single-use plastics across the country. In this direction, the Environment Ministry recently issued draft rules that mandate producers of plastic packaging material to collect all of their produce by 2024 and ensure that a minimum percentage of it be recycled as well as used in subsequent supply.
Body
Plastic waste scenario in India
- As of 2019, about 660,787.85 tonnes of plastic waste is produced in India annually, of which around 60% is reportedly recycled. Nearly 43% is packaging material and most are single use plastic.
- Per capita consumption of plastic is projected to go up from 11 kg in 2014-15 to 20 kg by 2022 (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry data); about 43% is single use packaging with poor rates of recovery.
- In spite of the notification of the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016, and amendments made two years later, most cities and towns are not prepared to implement its provisions.
- Even the biggest Municipal Corporations shouldering a staggering waste burden have failed to implement segregation of waste: collecting recyclable plastic, non-recyclable plastic and other waste separately for processing by material recovery facilities.
Steps taken so far to tackle plastic pollution
- In 2019, the Union government in a bid to free India of single-use plastics by 2022, had laid out a multi-ministerial plan to discourage the use of single-use plastics across the country.
- Currently, the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags and plastic sheets less than 50 microns in thickness in the country.
- The Environment Ministry has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.
- These rules prohibit specific single-use plastic items which have “low utility and high littering potential” by 2022.
- The permitted thickness of the plastic bags, currently 50 microns, will be increased to 75 microns from 30th September, 2021, and to 120 microns from the 31st December, 2022.
- At the policy level, the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), already mentioned under the 2016 Rules, has to be promoted.
- The Central Pollution Control Board, along with state pollution bodies, will monitor the ban,identify violations, and impose penalties already prescribed under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986.
- The Central Pollution Control Board has reported that 22 States have, in the past, announced a ban on single-use plastic, but this has had little impact on the crisis of waste choking wetlands and waterways and being transported to the oceans to turn into microplastic.
- So far, 22 States and Union Territories have joined the fight to beat the plastic pollution, announcing a ban on single-use plastics such as carry bags, cups, plates, cutlery, straws and thermocol products.
- India has also won global acclaim for its “Beat Plastic Pollution” resolve declared on World Environment Day last year, under which it pledged to eliminate single-use plastic by 2022.
Way forward
- As consumers, we should ensure that all plastic waste leaving our homes is segregated and is not contaminated with food waste.
- Managing plastic waste requires effective knowledge, not only among those who produce the plastic but also among those who handle it.
- The brand owner and manufacturer should try and understand the fates a plastic packaging material would meet after its purpose of packaging has been served.
- Citizens have to bring behavioural change and contribute by not littering and helping in waste segregation and waste management.
- To encourage innovation in development of alternatives to identified single use plastic items and digital solutions to plastic waste management, the India Plastic Challenge – Hackathon 2021, has been organized for students of Higher Educational Institutions and start-ups recognized under Start-up India Initiative.
Conclusion
Packaging is projected to grow into a $72.6 billion industry in India by 2020 from about $31 billion in 2015, with a proportionate rise in waste volumes. The pressure on producers to streamline the collection, recycling and processing of all forms of plastic is bound to grow. Individuals and organizations should now actively remove plastic waste from their surroundings and municipal bodies must arrange to collect these articles. Startups and industries should think of newer ways of recycling.
