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: History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society.
1. What was Apartheid? How did South Africa overcome the Apartheid? Discuss. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who has died aged 90. A contemporary of Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu was one of the driving forces behind the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about Apartheid and how south Africa overcame it.
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 writing a defining Apartheid.
Body:
First, discuss the various discriminatory features of Apartheid against the Africans.
Next, discuss contributions and the struggle of Nelson Mandela in decolonization and fight against Apartheid in South Africa. Highlight how Mandela was influenced by Gandhiji’s principles of Non-violence.
Next, mention the role of foreign support in ending Apartheid.
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning the lessons for present day from Africa’s struggle against Apartheid.
Introduction
Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation that existed in South Africa from 1948s to early 1990s for Imperial gains. It was characterized by authoritarian political culture based on baasskap (white supremacy). The economic legacy and social effects of apartheid continue to the present day.
Body
South Africa overcame apartheid in the following way
- Embracing violent means
- In the earlier phase, the movement used violent means and methods. E.g. Bombing and gunning down officials
- Non-violent movements by Nelson Mandela
- Mandela was inspired by Gandhiji and the freedom struggle of India.
- He kept the struggle in South Africa Non Violent
- Civil Disobedience and Non Cooperationwere some of the methods used to promote the nonviolent freedom struggle.
- His determination and resolve dint weaken even after spending 27 years in jail.
- Role of other leaders
- The other big names, apart from Nelson Mandela, that dominated the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, each from a distinct part of that diverse country — Albert John Luthuli, foremost of Zulu leaders in the African National Congress (ANC) from the Natal, Oliver Tambo of the Pondo people from the country’s western flank, Walter Sisulu from a mixed Black and White African heritage, and Desmond Tutuof mixed Xhosa and Motswana descent.
- The other three other phenomenal figures who fought against Apartheid were— Joe Slovo (1926-1995), the White communist leader; Chris Hani, born in 1942 and assassinated in 1993; and Steve Biko, born in 1946 and brutally murdered in prison in 1977.
- Institutionalized Revolt
- The creation of ‘African National Congress’played to be major institutional vehicles of resistance.
- The revolt was carried out in a phased , planned manner by the efforts of ANC.
- Series of Protests
- The African National Congress in 1955 adopted a “Freedom Charter”, which asserted that South Africa, belongs to all those who live in it.
- In 1963, police arrested popular leader, Nelson Mandela and put him in prison where he remained till 1990.
- During 1970s ,the Black students raised their voices at the world stage , resulting which UN General Assembly denounced Apartheid in 1976
- Under International pressure, the national party government in South Africa agreed to take back racial acts & by 1994, a new Constitution free of racial discrimination was enacted and implemented.
- International influence & support
- The Decolonization process throughout the world had a great effect.
- The UNGA resolution put an immediate end to so called “Racial Discrimination”
- The independence of Mozambique and Angola lead to the final realization of the suppressive rule.
- Non Aligned movement supported the South African struggle
Peaceful Transition to democracy
- On the eve of South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, few observers thought that the day would pass without bloodshed.
- A smooth transition toward democracy seemed very unlikely. Having been in a state of emergency from 1985 to 1990, the country had suffered from years of civil war–like conditions.
- In the early 1990s, the police force of the apartheid regime, white supremacists, and secessionist Zulus had massacred members of the African National Congress.
- The elections were marked by the enthusiasm surrounding the universal right to vote for the first time and there were no major incidents that would have marred the momentous event.
- The ANC won with 62 percent of the votes, and Nelson Mandela, freed four years before after twenty-seven years of imprisonment, became the first president of a democratic South Africa
Conclusion
The political and moral lesson to be drawn from Nelson Mandela is thus his determination to fight against oppression and injustice, his refusal to renounce his principles and values, and his unfailing courage to make difficult decisions and to speak the truth—a valuable lesson for the contemporary world.
Valued Addition
Impacts of Apartheid
- Under apartheid, non-white South Africans (a majority of the population) would be forced to live in separate areas from whites and use separate public facilities.
- Contact between the two groups would be limited.
- Despite strong and consistent opposition to apartheid within and outside of South Africa, its laws remained in effect for the better part of 50 years.
- Social impact: By 1950, the government had banned marriages between whites and people of other races. In some cases, the legislation split families; parents could be classified as white, while their children were classified as coloured.
- A series of Land Acts set aside more than 80 percent of the country’s land for the white minority, and “pass laws” required non-whites to carry documents authorizing their presence in restricted areas.
- While non-whites were confined to squalid ghettoes with few decent educational and employment opportunities, whites were afforded the basic privileges of life in a democracy.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about salient features of Indian constitution and the nature of federalism in India.
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 various views of significance of Preamble for the constitution.
Body:
In the first part, write about the all the core constitutional features of the Preamble.
Next, Mention about the significance of the constitution like how it tells the nature of Indian state, objective of constitution, how it is useful to judiciary.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising that the preamble represents the soul and spirit of the Indian constitution.
Introduction
Preamble to a constitution is the window to what is there inside the constitution. It is a resolution of Indian people to establish a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic. In this republic, people will have justice – social, economic and political; liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; and equality of status and opportunity; this will promote fraternity among them and assure the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.
Body:
Background:
- The preamble was written after the Constituent Assembly had written the whole constitution.
- It emerged from the Objectives Resolution which was introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru on the fifth day of the inaugural session of the Constituent Assembly debates.
- In the Keshavananda Bharati Case in 1973, Preamble was held as an integral part of the Constitution.
- The original Preamble did not mention “Secular”, “Socialistic”, and “and Integrity”. They were inserted in it through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment.
Significance of Preamble
- The Preamble embodies the basic philosophy and fundamental values—political, moral and religious —on which the Constitution is based.
- It contains the grand and noble vision of the Constituent Assembly, and reflects the dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers of the Constitution.
- In the Berubari Union 16 case (1960), the Supreme Court said that the Preamble shows the general purposes behind the several provisions in the Constitution, and is thus a key to the minds of the makers of the Constitution.
- Further, where the terms used in any article are ambiguous or capable of more than one meaning, some assistance at interpretation may be taken from the objectives enshrined in the Preamble.
- The Preamble contains the fundamentals of constitution. It serves several important purposes, as for example
- It contains the enacting clause which brings the Constitution into force.
- It declares the basic type of government and polity which is sought to be established in the country.
- It declares the great rights and freedom which the people of India intended to secure to its entire citizen.
- It throws light on the source of the Constitution, viz., the People of India.
- The Preamble can also be used to shed light on and clarify obscurity in the language of a statutory or, constitutional provision.
- The preamble acts as the preface of the constitution of India and lays down the philosophical ideas.
- It also states the objects which the constitution seeks to establish and promote.
- Preamble as Projector of ‘Desired Established State’
- The Preamble proclaims the solemn resolution of the people of India to constitute India into a ‘Sovereign socialist secular democratic republic’.
- Preamble as Interpreter of Legislation and statutes:
- The Constitution of India starts with a preamble which contains the spirit of the constitution. Every legislation framed is in conformity with the spirit of the preamble and thus the constitutionality and objects of the statutes are tested.
Views of stalwarts about the Preamble
- In the words of Sir Alladi Krishnaswami Iyer, a member of the Constituent Assembly who played a significant role in making the Constitution, ‘The Preamble to our Constitution expresses what we had thought or dreamt so long’.
- According to K M Munshi, a member of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, the Preamble is the ‘horoscope of our sovereign democratic republic’.
- Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava, another member of the Constituent Assembly, summed up the importance of the Preamble in the following words: ‘The Preamble is the most precious part of the Constitution. It is the soul of the Constitution. It is a key to the Constitution. It is a jewel set in the Constitution. It is a proper yardstick with which one can measure the worth of the Constitution’
Conclusion
Preamble shows the vision of India and strives for the values enumerated in it, for the people of India. Both in ideas and expression it is a unique one. It embodies the spirit of the constitution to build up an independent nation which will ensure the triumph of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. However, it is non-justiciable and is neither a source of authority or prohibition on powers of Parliament. Yet it epitomises the very idea of India as an Independent nation.
Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
3. Compare and contrast the major features of constitutions of India and Britain. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about salient features of Indian constitution and the nature of federalism in India.
Compare and contrast – provide for a detailed comparison of the two types, their features that are similar as well as different. One must provide for detailed assessment of the two.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by mentioning the legacy of British on the Indian constitution
Body:
In the first part, write about the major differences between Indian and British constitution. Written constitution, Nature of federation, Citizenship, Sovereign power, Judicial review etc.
Next, write about similarities between Indian and British constitution – Rule of Law, Independence of Judiciary, Parliamentary system etc,
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising the major observations.
Introduction
Indian Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 and became effective on 26 January 1950. The constitution replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the country’s fundamental governing document, and the Dominion of India became the Republic of India. Indian Constitution was made after referring many Constitutions of the world by the drafting committee headed by Ambedkar.
Body
Contrasting features of Britain and Indian Constitution
- Unwritten vs Written: One of the most important features of the British constitution is its unwritten character. The main reason for this is that it is based on conventions and political traditions, which have not been laid down in any document, unlike a written constitution, which is usually a product of a constituent assembly.
- Indian Constitution, in comparison, is the lengthiest written constitution in the world.
- Amendability: Britain Constitution is flexible and can be amended by 50% of the members present and voting. In India it is a hybrid of Rigid and flexible.
- Federalism: The British constitution has a unitary character as opposed to a federal one. All powers of the government are vested in the British Parliament, which is a sovereign body.
- The Indian Constitution, on the other hand, is federal.
- Nature of state: Britain is a Constitutional monarchy as Queen is the head of the state while India is a republic which means that India has an elected head of state.
- Sovereignty of Parliament: A very important feature of the British Constitution is sovereignty of the British Parliament (a written constitution being absent). The British Parliament is the only legislative body in the country with unfettered power of legislation.
- It can make, amend or repeal any law.
- Indian Parliament is not sovereign as Judiciary has the power to review the laws made by legislators.
- DPSP and Duties: They are present in India while they are absent in Britain.
- Prime Minister:M. will always be a member of the Lower House in Britain where it he can be in either houses in India.
Similarities between India and Britain
- Independence of Judiciary: The Rule of Law in Britain is safeguarded by the provision that judges can only be removed from office for serious misbehavior and according to a procedure requiring the consent of both the Houses of Parliament. Same is the case in India
- British Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers: Britain has a Cabinet form of government.
- The power doesn’t lie in one person, but the entire Council of Ministers.
- The principle is, “all Ministers sink and swim together”. It is based on collective responsibility towards the Lower House.
- Bureaucracy: Indian bureaucracy is modelled on the British bureaucracy.
Conclusion
There is a natural tendency to compare the Parliament of India with the British Parliament. But our Parliament and Parliamentary Institutions and procedures are not a copy of the Westminster system. There are fundamental differences between their system and ours. British Parliament has grown through some three hundred years of history. In Britain, the Parliament can said to be the only institution, which exercises sovereign powers and on which there are no limits because there is no written constitution. India, on the other hand, has a written constitution. Powers and authorities of every organ of the Government and every functionary are only as defined and delimited by the constitutional document.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday (December 2) passed the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Act unanimously. With the passage of the Bill, it became the second state in India after Andhra Pradesh to approve death penalty for heinous offences of rape and gangrape.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the importance of wetland ecosystem.
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context.
Body:
First, write about the Problems with death penalty. Emphasises on the fact that punishing rape with death may actually be counterproductive to women’s safety. Substantiate with facts and reports.
Next, Arguments supporting for Death Penalty and how it acts as deterrent. Cite examples from all over the world.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a fair and balanced opinion about death penalty.
Introduction
The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women defines “violence against women” as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.”
The Maharashtra Assembly passed the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Act unanimously. With the passage of the Bill, it became the second state in India after Andhra Pradesh to approve death penalty for heinous offences of rape and gangrape.
Body
Violence against women:
- The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) suggests that 30 percent women in India in the age group of 15-49 have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.
- The report further reveals that 6 percent women in the same age group have experienced sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.
- About 31 percent of married women have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence by their spouses.
- India’s average rate of reported rape cases is about 6.3 per 100,000 of the population. However, this differs in places like Sikkim and Delhi, which have rates of 30.3 and 22.5, respectively, while Tamil Nadu has a rate of less than one.
Rationale behind death penalty
- The punishment is not arbitrarybecause, it comes out of a judicial process. To call it arbitrary, one has to necessarily prove the process as flawed.
- It is being implemented in the “rarest of the rare” casesand the fact is during the last 13 years, only four people have been executed.
- The hanging of Ajmal Kasab and Yakub Memon strongly affirms India’s commitment to the protection of life.
- People criticise it on arbitrariness, irreversibility and human rightsand these are not valid arguments.
- Its constitutionality is upheld, even in liberal democracies like U.S. It is not reflection of uncivilised society.
- India’s neighbourhood is not peaceful, unlike Scandinavia. It is not in a group of countries, like European Union.
- India has got troubled borders. Several forces are trying to destabilise the very idea of our Nation from across the Border.
- The sacredness of life can only be seen to be protected, if those who take it away are proportionately punished.
Efficiency of death penalty
- A study by the Centre of Death Penalty – at the National Law University Delhi (NLUD) — in 2015 analyzed data of 15 years to conclude that less than 5 per cent death penalties awarded by trial courts were confirmed by the time the cases passed the tests in high courts and the Supreme Court.
- Another NLU Delhi study found that 162 death sentences were awarded across the country in 2018. Only 23 were confirmed by the high courts.
- The Supreme Court heard 12 death penalty cases in 2018 but confirmed death penalty in only one case – of Nirbhaya gangrape and murder.
- The Justice JS Verma committee, appointed after the Nirbhaya case, too had examined the efficiency of death penalty for rape. In its report, Justice Verma did not prescribe death penalty for rape for the lack of correlation in preventing the crime of rape or gangrape.
Death Penalty is not the panacea
- It unfairly targets poor and marginalised, that means, those without money & power.
- Executions occurred in around five cases for every 1 lakh murdersand it looks quite arbitrary. It depends on judges personal beliefs.
- India’s murder rate has declinedcontinuously since 1991 and at present the lowest, except for 1963.
- Punishment should not imitate crime.
- As per the recent Death Penalty India Report by the National Law University, Delhi, the structural flaws in our criminal procedure and criminal justice system are most pronounced in death penalty cases.
- Most of the civilised world abolished it. Death penalty has not deterred terrorism, murder or even theft.
- From 200-2015, Supreme Court imposed 60 death sentencesand subsequently admitted that it had erred in 15 of them. So, it clearly admitted that it has arbitrarily imposed the most extreme punishment.
- The Police is not known for its probity or efficiencyin our Country.
- Delays in the Criminal Justice Systemdisproportionately affects those, who suffer the tyranny of the uncertainty of their life.
Measures needed
- Law Commission in its 262nd report submitted recently recommended the abolition of capital punishment for all crimes in India, except the crime of waging war against the nation or for terrorism-related offences.
- It cited several factors to justify abolishing the death penalty, including its abolition by 140 other nations, its arbitrary and flawed application and its lack of any proven deterring effect on criminals.
Way forward
- Addressing the deeply entrenched patriarchal attitudes of the police, lawyer and other judicial officers that continues to contribute to low reporting and conviction rates.
- Bridging the gap between GBV laws and its correlated areas such as legal rights to property, land, inheritance, employment and income that allows a woman to walk out of an abusive relationship and specific emphasis on political and economic participation of women.
- Systematic intervention for multisectoral linkages between Health sector (medical and psychosocial support), Social Welfare sector (Shelters, counselling and economic support/skill), Legal (legal aid)
- Not just engage with “men and boys” as change agents but also acknowledge the expectations linked to masculinity, their position as victim of violence especially for young boys to address the perpetuation of cycle of GBV.
- Recognize sexual and reproductive health and rights by promotion and protection of women’s right to have control and decide freely over matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health, family-planning choices and access to comprehensive sexuality education.
- Reclaiming the spaces for women to increase their presence in visibility through political and economic participation and diversifying their engagement in nontraditional sectors.
- Use of technology and emerging concepts such as Smart City in urban policy for ensuring safer and gender friendly infrastructures and spaces that prevents GBV.
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: Indian Express
Why the question:
India is pioneering the concept of digital public goods that enhance the ease, transparency and speed with which individuals, markets and governments interact with each other.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the benefits and potential Digital Public Goods in India.
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 Digital Public Goods with examples.
Body:
First, further elaborate on the concept of Digital Public Goods and how India is pioneering with it.
Next, write about various benefits in order to achieve developmental ambitions from Digital Public Goods. Economic, Governance, Social etc.
Next, suggest various impediments to realising the full potential of Digital Public Goods. Digital divide, digital literacy etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Digital Public Goods (DPG) are non-excludable and non-rivalrous. The UN defines DPGs as “Open-source software, open data, open AI models, open standards and open content that adhere to privacy and other applicable international and domestic laws, standards and best practices, and do no harm, and help attain the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals].” DPGs are aimed at achieving the SDGs.
Body
Digital Public goods and India’s progress
- India is pioneering the concept of digital public goods that enhance the ease, transparency and speed with which individuals, markets and governments interact with each other.
- Built on the foundation of Aadhaar and India Stack, modular applications, big and small, are transforming the way we make payments (UPI revolution), withdraw our PF, get our passport and driving licence and check land records, to name just a few activities.
- Children have access to QR-coded textbooks across state boards and languages, the economically disadvantaged have access to the public distribution system and beneficiaries of government schemes have money transferred directly into their bank accounts.
- There is an opportunity for India to embark on digital diplomacy — to take its made-in-India digital public goods to hundreds of emerging economies across the world.
- This could be a strategic and effective counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative(BRI). But India needs to bring transformation in its technological, startup and innovation ecosystem.
Benefits and significance
- Cost-Benefit ratio is high: The cost of setting up an open source-based high school online educational infrastructure, to supplement the physical infrastructure, for an entire country is less than laying two kilometres of high-quality road.
- Less resources major reward: The investments required for transporting digital public goods are minuscule in comparison and there is no chance of a debt trap. Also, the code(platform) is highly reusable.
- Instant Visible Outcomes: Unlike physical infrastructure such as ports and roads, digital public goods have short gestation periods and immediate, and visible impact and benefits.
- Processes get streamlined and wait times for any service come down dramatically.
- Issuances of passports, PAN cards and driving licences are such examples.
- Plugs the Leakage: It eliminates ghost beneficiaries of government services, removes touts collecting rent, creates an audit trail, makes the individual-government-market interface transparent and provides efficiencies that help recoup the investments quickly.
- Productivity goes up and services can be scaled quickly. Benefits can be rapidly extended to cover a much larger portion of the population.
- The digital public goods infrastructure compounds while physical infrastructure depreciates. Compounding happens for two reasons.
- One is the growth of technology itself. Chips keep becoming faster, engines more powerful, and technology keeps improving.
- The second reason is the network effect. As more and more people use the same technology, the number of “transactions” using that technology increases exponentially — be it Facebook posts or UPI transactions.
Impediments to realise full potential of Digital Public goods
- Privacy Issues: Potential violations of privacy and possible weaponization of data is a primary issue related to such digital initiatives.
- Digital Divide: Success in the digital provision of services is dependent on many underlying factors, including digital literacy, education and access to stable and fast telecommunication services.
- In this setting, undertaking large-scale digitisation of services without bridging these digital divides could result in increasing existing inequalities.
- Security Issues: There is a cybersecurity challenge in ensuring end-to-end protection of data throughout the whole ecosystem.
- While channels and databases used by the Government for transmission and storage are usually secure, other players in the ecosystem may not possess the requisite expertise or security to prevent and respond to breaches.
- The alleged breach of the Aadhar database is a case in point.
- Unserved Remote Areas: With digital services not being uniformly distributed, communities in remote areas often require on-ground staff to deploy and supplement digital tools.
Conclusion
India’s digital diplomacy can be beneficial to and welcomed by, all emerging economies from Peru to Polynesia, from Uruguay to Uganda, and from Kenya to Kazakhstan. It can take made-in-India digital public goods across the world and boost India’s brand positioning as a leading technology player in the digital age. It will also enable quick, visible and compounding benefits for India’s partner countries and earn India immense goodwill. And it will help create a strong foothold for India globally to counter the extravagantly expensive, brick-and-mortar led Belt and Road Initiative of China.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Difficulty level: Moderate.
Reference: Down to Earth
Why the question:
Ken-Betwa Link Project is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers. It envisages transferring water from the Ken river to the Betwa river, both tributaries of the Yamuna. The Ken-Betwa Link Canal will be 221 km long, including a 2-km long tunnel.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the challenges in the Ken-Betwa River Interlinking project.
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 giving context and reasons for the approval of the Ken-Betwa River Interlinking project.
Body:
First, write about the threats to wildlife sanctuaries and national parks from habitat loss. Loss of tree cover, increased man animal conflict etc. Substantiate with examples. For e.g: Clearance of core zone of Panna national park
Next, write the need of an effective Environmental Impact assessment to anticipate and mitigate the issues arising from Ken-Betwa River Interlinking project.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The Union Cabinet has approved the funding and implementation of the Ken-Betwa River interlinking project at a cost of ₹44,605 crore at the 2020-21 price level. The Centre would fund ₹39,317 crore for the project, with ₹36,290 crore as a grant and ₹3,027 crore as a loan.
Body
About Ken-Betwa river water linking project
- It envisages transferring water from the Ken River to the Betwa river, both tributaries of the Yamuna. The Ken-Betwa Link Canal will be 221 km long, including a 2-km long tunnel.
- The project has two phases, with mainly four components.
- Phase-I will involve one of the components — Daudhan Dam complex and its subsidiary units such as Low Level Tunnel, High Level Tunnel, Ken-Betwa Link Canal and power houses.
- Phase-II will involve three components — Lower Orr Dam, Bina Complex Project and Kotha Barrage.
- Benefits: According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, the project is expected to provide annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh hectares, supply drinking water to about 62 lakh people, and generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.
Ecological challenges associated with Ken-Betwa river linking
- Submergence of Panna Tiger Reserve: According to the National Water Development Agency, the reservoir of Daudhan dam will involve “a submergence of 9000 ha area, out of which 5803 ha comes under Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR).
- To mitigate this, three WildLife Sanctuaries (WLS), viz Nauradehi, Rani Durgawati of MP and Ranipur WLS of UP are planned to be integrated with PTR.
- Displacement: The project is also expected to consume nearly 6,000 hectares of non-forest land, with approximately 5,000 homes being submerged as per the National Water Development Authority feasibility report.
- Unexpected ecosystem changes: The concerns about sediment management, especially on the Himalayan system loom large.
- When the idea is to transfer water from the ‘surplus’ Himalayan river systems to ‘deficit’ basins of the southern part of India, the differential sediment regime defining the flow regimes need to be plugged into the equation.
- This will entail changes in ecosystem structures in both parts.
- Damming India’s east-coast rivers to take their water westwards will curtail downstream flooding and thereby, the supply of sediment—a natural nutrient—destroying fragile coastal ecosystems and causing coastal and delta erosion.
- States’ dissent: The spirit of federalism is ignored in the river interlinking project. There is dissent on the part of the state governments (Kerala)
- The top-down model presumes of near-unanimity of every state.
Way forward and conclusion
- Pan India hydrological studies are required to understand the river flow patterns and also the availability of water throughout the year before water linking project is taken up.
- Local solutions (like better irrigation practice) and watershed management, should be focused on.
- The government should alternatively consider the National Waterways Project (NWP) which “eliminates” friction between states over the sharing of river waters since it uses only the excess flood water that goes into the sea unutilized
- The necessity and feasibility of river-interlinking should be seen on case-to-case basis, with adequate emphasis on easing out federal issues.
Value Addition
- The National River Linking Project (NRLP) formally known as the National Perspective Plan, envisages the transfer of water from water ‘surplus’ basins where there is flooding, to water ‘deficit’ basins where there is drought/scarcity, through inter-basin water transfer projects.
- Under the National Perspective Plan (NPP), the National Water Development Agency (NWDA), has identified 30 links (16 under the Peninsular Component and 14 under the Himalayan Component) for the preparation of feasibility reports (FRs).
- The NPP for transferring water from water-surplus basins to water-deficit basins was prepared in August 1980.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
7. What does this quote means to you? (150 words)
“What wisdom can you find greater than kindness.” ― Jean Jacques Rousseau
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.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by explaining the literal meaning of the quote.
Body:
Bring out the link between wisdom and kindness. Mention that kindness is the virtue of wise men. Substantiate using examples how people with true wisdom understand the importance of being kind.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of the quote in the present day.
Introduction
Kindness is a behavior marked by ethical characteristics, a pleasant disposition, and concern and consideration for others. It is considered a virtue, and is recognized as a value in many cultures and religions. It is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Affection, gentleness, warmth, concern, and care are words that are associated with kindness.
Body
Kindness is greatest wisdom
- Everyone is fighting their own inner battle: although life brings us so many joys and victories, it is undeniable that we each face our own individual struggles within our own minds that nobody knows about. Make every effort to find compassion for others – even when you can’t relate. Be kind.
- Human connection is paramount: In a world where we are looking down at our phones more than we are looking up at the people around us, we need to revisit this idea of truly connecting with another human being and what that looks like for us. Be kind.
- We are losing ourselves: Sometimes we get so caught up in making sure that everyone around us is well and that other people’s perceptions of us are as we wish them to be, that we forgot ourselves in the mix. Practice self- kindness and know that your feelings and your thoughts matter. Be kind.
- You make a difference: Our words, our energy and our light have the potential to impact another human being’s life in so many ways. Don’t take that power lightly. Be kind.
- It feels good to be kind: Robert Ingersoll’s famous quote that states “We rise by lifting others”. Supporting others gives us a natural high. Unfortunately, we all get so caught up in the “busy-ness” of our own lives that we forget to take the time to practice acts of kindness. Take a moment and step outside of yourself and raise somebody up who needs your support. Be kind.
- Kindness is contagious: When people are in the presence of kindness, they can’t help but feel joyful. Expand your reach and watch all of those around you enliven in the presence of your warmth. Be kind.
- Small actions can have far-reaching consequences: There is no doubt that the human race is connected in more ways than we can quantify. When you do good, you cause a ripple effect on our planet that reaches the masses. Be kind.
- You can be a voice for someone who doesn’t have one: Acts of altruism speak volumes for those whose voices have been silenced. Speak up for someone who needs it and you will give them to opportunity to learn how to speak on their own behalf. Be kind.
- Somebody is watching you: We are so much more influential than we realize. The next generation is observing and picking up our cues and how to treat others. Set a good example by being an ambassador for thoughtfulness and mindfulness. Be kind.
- Judgement hurts: We need to elevate the consciousness of the planet by seeking to understand rather than to judge. When we judge another, we are essentially judging ourselves and creating separation between ourselves and those around us. The healing of the world begins with each of us. Be kind.
- Kindness is in our nature: Human beings are intuitively geared to be good and do good. Fear is a learned emotion. Reconnect to the part of you that is love and allow that to guide your everyday interactions. Be kind.
- Spread love: We have the same power to spread good as those who wish to spread hate do. Find a way to share your unique light. A simple smile or a positive thought on social media goes a long way. Be kind.
Conclusion
It seems that kindness is steadily fading from modern society. The lack of generosity and friendliness that is evident today is shocking. It’s important to realize the positivity that kindness can produce in our lives. Kindness is ultimately a key contributor to happiness. Acting with kindness is a win-win. Not only can it provide someone with a sense of pride by acting kindly towards others, but it also has the potential to boost the confidence and provoke bliss in those around us.
