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: Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent)
Difficulty level: Easy
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:
Explain the factors that determine the location of Silk industries in India and as well trace the change in these locations from 19th century till the present times.
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:
Briefly first bring out the current locations of silk industries in the country.
Body:
Explain the factors that determine the location of silk industry. Comment on the key factors – labor, raw material and market. Use the map of India to highlight the factors and respective locations – Karnataka, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir etc. Then move onto trace the changes in the location; discuss the factors such as technology, advancement in science etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with importance of the industry in the country.
Introduction
India’s Silk Industry is world’s second largest after China. The total production of silk in India stood at around 23,000 tons in the year 2011-12. India produces four varieties of silk produced, viz. Mulberry, Eri, Tasar and Muga. About 80% of silk produced in country is of mulberry silk, majority of which is produced in the three southern States of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Sericulture Provides gainful occupation to around 63 Lakh persons in rural and semi-urban areas in India. About 97% of raw silk in India is produced in five Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir.
Body
Factors that determine the location of Silk industries in India
- Raw Material: Mulberry plants can be grown in any type of soil even in forest fringes, hill slopes. They can withstand draught and grows well in non-green revolution, non-irrigated areas of East and NE India.
- Labour: Sericulture does not involve hard labor. Silkworms can be reared by women and old people. In Eastern States, Farmers earlier used to grow Jute but Jute demand declined so they shifted to Sericulture.
- Capital: works on simple technology, no sophisticated equipment needed and can be done by small and marginal farmers, tribals.
- Market: There is still good demand for Silk Saris in India. With rise in the e-commerce, the demand has now spread across the globe.
- Technology: Technology has enabled faster processing of the silkworms leading to variety of products in large scale.
Changes in the location of these industries from 19th century till the present times
- Technology: Central Silk board located in Bangalore. Further, technical knowledge sharing by Japan Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
- Machinery /devices: Machinery / devices used for drying, cooking, reeling and re-reeling processes. Move from handlooms to machine looms has helped in mass production of silk sarees.
- Government Policy: Sericulture done via cooperatives, SHGs which are more efficient and standard production compared to individual farmer.
- Extension services: Government provides extension service, training to farmers which act as secondary source of income.
- Export policies which has helped the spread of market to countries across world.
- Market: The sale of silk sarees through e-Commerce websites.
Conclusion
High Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) with potential to generate huge employment involving women, augmenting income of farmers, eco-friendly options which help in preserving the biodiversity makes Sericulture a viable option in India.
Topic: factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
Difficulty level: Moderate
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:
Explain the non- geographical factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world in detail with suitable examples.
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:
Explain that Industrial locations are complex in nature. These are influenced by the availability of many factors. Some of them are: raw material, land, water, labor, capital, power, transport, and market. However there are many non-geographical factors too.
Body:
Discuss the non-geographical factors in detail – Capital investment, Availability of loans, Investment climate, Government policies/regulations, Influence of pressure groups etc. manufacturing activity tends to locate at the most appropriate place where all the factors of industrial location are either available or can be arranged at lower cost. In general, it should also be noted that both lower production cost and lower distribution cost are the two major factors while considering the location of an industry. Sometimes, the government provides incentives like subsidized power, lower transport cost, and other infrastructure so that industries may be located in backward areas.
One should quote relevant examples from India and across the world to justify the answer.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising the importance of above.
Introduction
Industry refers to an economic activity that is concerned with production of goods, extraction of minerals or the provision of services.
Body
Many important geographical factors involved in the location of individual industries are of relative significance. But besides such purely geographical factors influencing industrial location, there are factors of historical, human, political and economic nature which are now tending to surpass the force of geographical advantages. Consequently, the factors influencing the location of industry can be divided into two broad categories – Geographical and Non- Geographical factors.
- Capital:
- Modem industries are capital-intensive and require huge investments.
- Capitalists are available in urban centers.
- Big cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Chennai are big industrial centers, because the big capitalists live in these cities.
- Government Policies:
- Government activity in planning the future distribution of industries, for reducing regional disparities, elimination of pollution of air and water and for avoiding their heavy clustering in big cities, has become no less an important locational factor.
- Industrial Inertia:
- Industries tend to develop at the place of their original establishment, though the original cause may have disappeared.
- This phenomenon is referred to as inertia, sometimes as geographical inertia and sometimes industrial inertia.
- The lock industry at Aligarh is such an example.
- Efficient Organization:
- Efficient and enterprising organization and management is essential for running modem industry successfully.
- Bad management sometimes squanders away the capital and puts the industry in financial trouble leading to industrial ruin.
- Banking Facilities:
- Establishment of industries involves daily exchange of crores of rupees which is possible through banking facilities only.
- So the areas with better banking facilities are better suited to the establishment of industries.
- Insurance:
- There is a constant fear of damage to machine and man in industries for which insurance facilities are badly needed.
- Political and economic situation:
- Political harmony and peace in a particular region encourage the establishment of industrial units.
- On the other hand, disturbed political and economic set up discourages the growth of industries in the region.
- On account of Naxalites movement in West Bengal, Industries started moving out of West Bengal.
- Similarly, is the case in certain other states where, on account of political disturbances, manufacturers have started thinking to settle elsewhere and further industrial expansion has been greatly affected.
- Availability of research facilities:
- The main aim of any industrial undertaking is to have maximum production with minimum cost.
- Constant research and experimentation is undertaken to develop products and improved methods of production.
- Possibilities of future expansion:
- The area for location should be such as to provide all possible opportunities for future development and expansion of the industrial unit without involving extra cost.
- Every industrial undertaking is established with the aim to expand in future.
Conclusion
Thus, the location of industries is dependent on a combination of geographical and non-geographical factors.
Topic: urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint , The Hindu
Why the question:
Recent incidents of fire hazards in urban spaces.
Key Demand of the question:
To understand the shortcomings of existing codes and byelaws on fire safety in cities.
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 stating causes of fire hazards in urban areas.
Body:
First, mention the features of National Building Code of India, 2016 on fire prevention, life safety in relation to fire and fire protection of buildings etc
Next, discuss the shortcomings of the code such as lack of fire risk assessment of buildings, lack of comprehensive fire safety plan synchronizing with the dynamics of urban cities etc
Conclusion:
Conclude by stating that risk needs to be assessed before any construction and adequate safety protocols to be followed along with rigorous checks and balances.
Introduction
Fires breaking out in buildings, big and small across India is not a new phenomenon. The Uphaar tragedy that’s in news after 24 years was once expected to serve India a wake-up call on safety lapses.
The National Crime Records Bureau states that 330 people died in commercial building fires in 2019, while fatalities for residential or dwelling buildings were at much higher rate of 6,329.
Body
Major Causes of Fires
- Electric faultsare quoted as the foremost cause of fires but State governments are widely criticised for being negligent with building safety laws and for failing to equip public buildings with modern technology.
- Hospital ICUs are at pronounced fire risk because they are oxygen-suffused, and are required to meet high standards.
Fire Safety Regulations in India
- Fire service is a state subjectand is included as a municipal function in the XII schedule of the Constitution.
- National building code of India deals with fire safety regulations in India.
- Part 4 of the Code deals with Fire and Life
- It recommends the location of buildings by type of use in definite zones to guarantee that industrial and hazardous structures do not coexist with residential, institutional, office and business buildings.
- The code broadlyincludes the following areas:
- Fire deterrence: Covers aspects of fire prevention relating to the design and construction of buildings. It provides specifications and guidelines for design and materials that decrease the threat of destructive fires
- Life Security: This covers life safety provisions in the occurrence of a fire and related emergencies, also addressing construction and occupancy features that are essential to limit danger to life from fire, smoke, fumes or panic.
- Fire Defence: Includes significant accessories and their associated components and guidelines for choosing the right type of equipment and installations intended for fire protection of the building, depending upon the classifications and type of building.
Laws and Regulations of State Government
- Maharashtra: that has been hit by a series of fires, has a Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act since 2008. Section 3 of the Act makes the provisions of the NBC mandatory.
- Kerala: Need to obtain a NOC from the fire department for hospitals that are between 15 metres and 24 metres high, requires furnishing exhaustive information on design and infrastructure.
- Tamil Nadu: A form for a fire licence is required under the Fire Service Act read with municipal law, and no reference is found for compliance with the NBC Code.
NDMA guidelines
- NDMA has postulated requirements for fire safety in public buildings, including hospitals, which include elements of the NBC, further design guidelines on upholding minimum open safety space, protected exit mechanisms, dedicated staircases, and crucial drills to carry out evacuations.
Model Building Bye-Laws, 2016
- The Ministry of Urban Development has developed a circular named “Model Building By-Laws 2016” which states the regulatory mechanism and engineering parameters to keep in mind before beginning any construction project in India.
Need for Revamp
- Rules and regulation are neglected: Fire incidents are usual across India owing to the country’s poor recordfor workplace safety standards and negligence in the enforcement of building regulations
- The dense residential development, entangled wires and lack of implementation of fire safety norms are a few reasons for fire hazard related devastation in the country.
- Lack of Knowledge: There are many buildings/structures with firefighting equipment’s installed but hardly anyone has the knowledgeof using them
- Lack of maintenance: Making the equipment dysfunctional.
- No unified fire services: Unified fire services offer all the essential guidelines and instruction in firefighting but lacks in most of the states
- Funding issues: Adequate funding is not available, inhibiting the technological progression for firefighting.
Way Forward
- The Supreme Court in December 2020 directed all the States to carry out firesafety audits of devoted COVID-19 hospitals.
- Fire Safety Auditseems to be an effective tool to evaluate fire safety standards of an organisation. Hence, once in a year a fire safety audit by independent agencies should be made mandatory across India.
- It is evident that State forces lack the manpower to examine and ensure compliance with the safety codes,including the NBC, where it is obligatory.
- Another option is to make heavy fire liabilityinsurance obligatory for all public buildings, which would offer protection to occupants and visitors and bring about the external inspection of safety.
- We need to have guidelines/frameworkto conduct a comprehensive risk assessment.
- Government should continue to deliver financial supportand assistance in supplementing and modernising the fire departments
- Building awarenessamong citizens regarding fire prevention and protection measures is also of supreme importance.
Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes;
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved restoration and continuation of the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), which was suspended in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Demand of the question:
To understand the functioning of MPLADS in creating community assets.
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 stating the purpose of MPLAD scheme.
Body:
Mention the instances of creation of community assets using MPLAD scheme with various examples.
Also mention the allocation of funds to each MP and the criteria of use for such funds towards developing their respective constituencies.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stating that the MPLAD scheme helps in the MPs looking into the local needs and demands of their constituencies and facilitate quick attention towards such projects.
Introduction
The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) was launched in December, 1993, to provide a mechanism for the Members of Parliament to recommend works of developmental nature for creation of durable community assets and for provision of basic facilities including community infrastructure, based on locally felt needs. The MPLADS is a Central Sector Scheme which is fully funded by Government of India. The annual MPLADS fund entitlement per MP constituency is Rs. 5 crore.
Citing economic recovery, the Union Cabinet has restored the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) that was suspended in April 2020 subsuming the funds for the scheme in the consolidated fund of India. However, the MPs will get ₹2 crore instead of the annual approved ₹5 crore.
Body
Objectives:
- To enable MPs to recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets based on the locally felt needs to be taken up in their Constituencies.
- Lok Sabha Members can recommend works within their constituencies and elected Members of Rajya Sabha can recommend works within the State they are elected from.
- Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country.
- To create durable assets of national priorities viz. drinking water, primary education, public health, sanitation and roads, etc.
Features for effective development of each constituency
- An MP knows the developmental and welfare issues of his constituency better than anyone else.
- The MPLADS has enabled MPs to play a leadership role in the developmental process of his constituency and sort out its day-to-day problems.
- It is one of the ways government funds are transferred to the grassroots with precision.
- Local MPs can channel fund for specific needs of local communities, whether it is to tar a road, install streetlights or water pumps, or bolster local school and healthcare infrastructure.
- Besides capacity building in the local economy, these works also offer jobs to local people.
- The pork barrel policy of State and Union Governments often leads to skewed development and regional imbalance. The ruling party channels public money to particular constituencies based on political considerations, at the expense of broader public interests. The elected opposition legislators of those constituencies fall victim to this pork barrel politics.
- MPLADS has been an antidote to the above favouritism. The Scheme provided opposition MPs some chance to cater to the developmental needs of their constituency.
- Of the MPLADS corpus, 15% has been earmarked for the development of Scheduled Castes and 5% for the Scheduled Tribes. Around ₹20 lakh of the MPLADS fund per annum has been allotted for the welfare of differently abled people.
Challenges in MPLADS
- Since its inception in 1993, MPLADS has attracted increasing scholarly and media attention focusing on the various ways in which its politicised nature leads to the underutilisation of funds or the misallocation of funds over space and time.
- MPs in the run-up to an election allocate significantly more funds than at other times to projects that eventually end up incomplete.
- TheComptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) has time and again flagged instances of financial mismanagement and artificial inflation of amounts spent.
- Within MPLADS, the automatic ‘rollover’ of unspent MPLADS funds from one year to the next enables politicians to concentrate their project recommendations before anticipated election dates, which is associated with higher project failure rates.
- MPLADS is not governed by any statutory law and is subject to the whims and fancies of the government of the day.
- MPLADS encroaches upon the domain of local self-governing institutions and thereby violates Part IX and IX-A of the Constitution.
- The scheme faces conflict with Doctrine of Separation of Powers as MPs are involved in executive functions.
Way forward
- There is a need to eliminate the automatic rollover provision.
- In addition, providing information to voters on the efforts of incumbents, or lack thereof, with regard to the progress of specific public works projects could incentivize newly elected MPs to follow through on the proposals made by their predecessors.
- Political parties could also help by encouraging competent incumbents to stand for election again in the same constituency which could have beneficial effects on any future discretionary spending programmes.
- More broadly, policies that minimise discretion and that require more stringent and standardised criteria for the approval of project proposals could also reduce the negative effect of democratic elections on public service provision.
- This could also reduce negative effects of demands by the public for greater accountability and transparency from lawmakers to design programmes to benefit the public instead of supporting the interests of incumbent politicians.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The observations on the performance of multilateral institutions have highlighted the dominance of China during the Covid pandemic and also the failure of such forums to address the changing security issues.
Key Demand of the question:
To analyse lacunae in the existing multilateral institutions and the need for a course correction.
Directive word:
Critically comment – 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. When ‘comment’ is prefixed, we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Highlight key objectives of demonetization.
Body:
Discuss the rationale given that suggests that demonetization has been moderately successful in tackling black money – increasing tax base, formalization of economy etc
Discuss why demonetization was an abject failure in tackling black money. Highlight reasons such as logistical difficulty in penalising all those who converted unaccounted money into legal tender, demonetisation worked as an unintended amnesty scheme etc
Examine if it was a self-inflicted shock– slowdown in GDP, loss of jobs, hit the informal sector etc
Conclusion:
Give a fair and balanced view on demonetization.
Introduction
Demonetization in modest terms is the withdrawal of a particular form of currency (Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes in Indian context) from circulation. It is the action of stripping a currency unit of its status as legal tender. In this, the existing form or forms of money is drawn from circulation and retired, often to be replaced with new notes or coins.
Body
The Government of India had withdrawn Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 from circulation on November 2016. This move of the government was fundamentally to curtail the black money that is running a shadow economy. Apart from black money the purpose was also to counter terror funding, check counterfeit currencies in circulation etc.
Achievements of Demonetization:
- Demonetisation had certain positive impact on the economy which reflected through increase in Assets under Management (AUM) of mutual fund industry.
- As per RBI, 7 specific accounts, like Basic Saving Bank Deposit Accounts, PMJDY Accounts, KCC, dormant or inoperative accounts, co-operative banks’ accounts with scheduled commercial banks, bullion trader/jewellers’ accounts, and loan accounts, saw a steep rise in deposits. These deposits further helped banks’ capacity to lend to small businesses.
- One of the principal achievements of demonetization was seen in the drastic curb of terrorist activities as it stopped the funding to terrorism that used to get a boost owing to the inflow of unaccounted cash and fake currency in large volume.
- Demonetization connected with various Acts and Rules aided to some extent in curbing black practices. It has unveiled numerous unaccounted property in abroad, led to improved tax base by the collection of more taxes, led to undisclosed income detection by the IT department etc.
- Demonetization has compelled the country towards a cashless society and promoted digitalization. Lakhs of the people even in remote rural areas have begun using cashless transactions. This move has promoted banking activities. Now even the minor transactions have begun going through banking channels and the small savings have turned into a huge national asset.
- Measures like IDS and PMGKY imparted fear in the minds of unscrupulous businessmen that resulted in the declaration of Rs 70,250 crore undeclared income. This income was taxed at upwards of 45 per cent, increasing the government’s revenue.
Limitations of Demonetization
- Demonetization was intended to recover about 10 lakh crore of high value notes in circulation out of about 16 lakh crore. The pre-assumption of the government was that about 6 lakh crore rupees was under black money. But the concluding disclosure by the RBI in August 2018 stated that it has recovered 15.31 lakh crore and only Rs. 16,000 crore was not returned to the RBI. This showed that much of the money in circulation or either under black deposits was able to get into the banking system making them legal. And hence, in essence, demonetisation had not encountered the government’s goal of wiping out black money from the Indian economy.
- The move decreased the RBI’s profit as central bank spent Rs. 21,000 crore in the management of the mechanics of demonetisation, including printing of notes. This resulted into RBI paying lesser dividend to the central government.
- The immediate withdrawal had made adverse effect on business and economy. Instead of increasing economy India has become a standstill and no growth economy.
- India is an agriculture based economy. Owing to the cash crunch, the farmers specially small and marginal who mostly depend on cash to buy seeds, fertilizers and to pay for sowing, borrowing water for irrigation and for other associated agriculture equipments remained worst affected and could not complete the crop related activity.
- Since minor branches of the banks were also not provided with adequate cash within time of sowing season of the crop, farmers could not get their crop loans disbursed. This added to the distresses of the farmers leading to weak agriculture production the upcoming year.
- Real Estate sector came to a standstill and is still winded for buyers of the constructed and half constructed inventory without buyers. This resulted in poor cash flow leading to a poor demand.
- Demonetization made the situation chaotic. Tempers were running high amongst the masses as there was an interruption in the circulation of new currency.
- Due to the incapability to pay cash to poor daily wage workers, the small employers had stopped their business activity.
- Absence of Rs. 100 and Rs. 500 notes in circulation (less available) added more to the anguishes of the common people with low incomes as they were unable to get changes of Rs. 2000 in return.
Conclusion:
In a nutshell, the demonetization related with other acts, rules and regulations was to some extent successful, however, the unplanned unexpected implementation had led to chaos in market for some time. The move has definitely benefitted the economy in terms of increased tax base, bringing many under tax net, disclosure of income etc. at the same time impacting slow growth of national income.
Topic: economics of animal-rearing.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Down to Earth
Why the question:
A review report by the United Nations anticipated an increase in the worldwide meat consumption of 76 percent by mid-century.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the link between meat consumption and climate change.
Directive word:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyze, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them 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 balanced judgment on the topic.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start the answer with facts related to meat consumption in the present context.
Body:
First, write about the impact of increased meat consumption such as increased grazing land, emission of methane by cows, deforestation for conversion to meat factories, effluents from meat industries polluting water bodies etc.
Then mention the climate impact of the new trend.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stating the need to watch one’s diet in terms of its carbon footprint as well.
Introduction
The global food system is currently responsible for about a quarter of all human made greenhouse gases. The increase in food system emissions alone threatens warming above 1.5℃. Governments at COP26 have pledged to halt deforestation and cut methane emissions 30% by 2030. Eating lots of meat is a big driver of both, but so far no reduction targets have been announced. The pledge to protect nature signed by 45 governments didn’t mention meat consumption at all.
Body
Major reasons to go vegetarian
Livestock have high carbon footprints
- Even though cows, sheep and goats can eat grass, they still need lots of land for grazing which could otherwise store more carbon dioxide as natural forests, grasslands or bogs, or in some cases be used to grow plant crops for human consumption.
- These animals also produce substantial amounts of methane in their digestive systems, which is a powerful greenhouse gas.
- The carbon footprint of beef and lamb is roughly three times higher than that of pork, poultry or farmed fish per 100g of protein, and 24 times higher than pulses such as beans and lentils.
- Livestock produces just 18% of global calories and 37% of protein, but is responsible for more than half of food’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Reducing livestock production would protect nature
- Farmland takes up 50%of Earth’s habitable land, and the vast majority of that farmland is used for livestock and their feed.
- Farming is the leading cause of natural habitat loss, which is the biggest threat to wildlife.
- Beef productionis the top driver of tropical forest loss.
- Eating more meat means that more natural habitat needs to be cleared and deforested, and the diets of people in high- and middle-income countries can be key drivers of global deforestation.
- reducing meat consumption would free up land which could be restored to benefit people and wildlife, and store carbon
- oily fish benefits health but the fuel used by fishing boats means it generally has higher greenhouse gas emissions than plant-based proteins, while many fish populations are overfished.
- Just as richer countries tend to have higher greenhouse gas emissions, they also tend to eat more meat. For example, the average US citizen is supplied with 124kg of meat a year, whereas in China, Nigeria and India it’s 61kg, 7kg and 4kg respectively.
Way Forward
- Feed Quality and Digestibility improvement:Measures should be taken for improved grassland management, better pasture species, altering forage mix and bigger use of feed supplements. These measures can improve nutrient uptake, increase animal productivity and fertility, and therefore lower emissions per unit of product.
- Animal health and husbandry improvement: There exist a direct link between greenhouse gas emission intensities and animal efficiency- greater productive the animal; lesser the environmental impact. Hence, it is important to improve the same.
- Agroforestry:Agroforestry should be practiced to maintain the balance in livestock production, environmental protection and carbon sequestration to counterbalance emissions from the sector.
- Management of manure: It becomes important to adopt comprehensive manure management to alleviate GHG emissions, decrease nutrient losses from livestock production systems and diminish other detrimental environmental impacts of livestock production such as air and water pollution
- Management of grassland: To improve grazing and grassland management to improve feed quality and carbon sequestration. Further, overgrazing should be heaved to combat land degradation and desertification.
- Shift in Diets: Shifting dietary tendencies in high income regions, -decrease in meat consumption and food waste would help refute the detrimental effects of livestock farming to a large extent.
- Fiscal Measures: It is important to implement fiscal measures like polluter’s pay mechanism to govern emissions from livestock farming. Further, fiscal incentives be provided to facilitate adoption of mitigation/ adaptation strategies by farmers.
- Generating Awareness:Raising awareness about influence of livestock/meat consumption on climate is vital.
- Policy measures:Countries should improve sectorial mitigation policies that assimilate other development objectives, and strive for international support towards their implementation.
- Large part of land use is secured to human diet, from pastures for grazing of meat animals to agriculture. Consequently, the IPCC report states that plants-based diet will be kinder on the planet than a meat-based one.
- It recommends that governments, specially the nations where meat consumption is high, to work on reducing this.
Conclusion
The earth has touched its tipping point and we can’t endure to live with our unsustainable means. Food is a powerful lever, and one with which we can enhance human health and environmental sustainability on this earth. We’re a miniature of this huge structure and each one of us has the power to impact it and try for a sustainable future- a future which ensures the well-being of all: humans, planet and animals.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and nonpartisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Quotes Wednesdays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.
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:
Begin by giving a definition of Integrity.
Body:
Write about the various dimensions of Integrity and mention how it is important to uphold the value for the purpose of the value in itself as promoting truth and not as an aspect of one’s belief with few examples.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the aspects stressed in body of the answer and conclude Integrity as a core aspect of truth.
Introduction
Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, or moral uprightness. It is a personal choice to hold one’s self to consistent standards. One can describe a person as having ethical integrity to the extent that the individual’s actions, beliefs, methods, measures and principles all derive from a single core group of values. An individual must therefore be flexible and willing to adjust these values to maintain consistency when these values are challenged such as when an expected test result is not congruent with all observed outcomes.
Body
Integrity can be described as the strength of someone’s honesty and ethical standing. A person with strong integrity is less likely to be influenced by those of a lesser moral value. You can have honesty without integrity, but you cannot have integrity without honesty.
For instance, a person finds a wallet on the side of the road pick it up and takes it for himself. When questioned by a family member as to who the wallet belongs the person states his intention that he found it and intends to keep it. The person is exhibiting the trait of honesty but not integrity as he makes no effort to return the wallet to the rightful owner. He is stealing essentially even if he is been honest.
Honesty is about telling the truth, both in word and deed. Integrity goes a bit further. It means being true to who you are, what you say, and what you believe. And doing so even when no one is around to see.
For instance, before students enter the taekwondo training floor, they bow to the national flags kept there as a sign of respect. But even when no one is around a person of integrity bows. Integrity demands that you make that sign of respect, that bow, even if no one in the world is around to see you do it.
Thus, integrity is not just being in sync with your beliefs only, but it is all about being in line with Truth, even when none is watching you.
Conclusion
Integrity is a personal choice, an uncompromising and consistent commitment to honour moral, ethical, spiritual and artistic values and principles. Integrity compels us to be socially conscious and to welcome both personal and professional responsibility. Its values encourage us to be honest in all our dealings and committed to a lifelong search for truth and justice. It requires self-discipline and will power capable of resisting temptation. Its priceless reward is peace of mind and true dignity. There’s one proviso, no one can guarantee that his or her particular version of integrity is actually sound and true, and not misguided
