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: Role of women and women organization, population and associated issues.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
In the recent session of Parliament, the government introduced the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, to raise the age of marriage for women from 18 years to 21 years.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the need for raising the age for marriage of women and the challenges that it will create
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with some key data on child marriages in India and their prevalence as of today.
Body:
Start with the problem of child marriage in India which is rooted in a complex matrix of religious traditions, social practices, economic factors, and deeply rooted prejudices.
Then, give the need for the introduction of the bill e.g. it aims to reduce maternal mortality rates, improve nutrition indicators and ensure access to education and jobs for women.
Then, highlight the challenges that will be faced in rural and urban areas.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a relevant suggestion.
Introduction
The Union Cabinet on December 15 took the decision to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. The legal age of marriage for men is 21 years. With this decision, the government will be bringing the age of marriage for both men and women at par. The proposal to raise the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 was based on the recommendations of a task force headed by Jaya Jaitley.
Body
Background
- In June 2020, the Ministry for Women and Child Development set up a task force to look into the correlation between the age of marriage with issues of women’s nutrition, prevalence of anaemia, IMR, MMR and other social indices.
- The committee, headed by former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitly, also had on board NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul and secretaries of several ministries.
- The committee has recommended the age of marriage be increased to 21 years, on the basis of feedback they received from young adults from 16 universities across the country. Over 15 NGOs were also engaged to reach out to young adults in far-flung areas and marginalised communities.
Rationale behind raising marriageable age for women
- Nutrition levels and wellbeing: The government decided to re-examine the age of marriage for women for a number of reasons, including gender-neutrality. An early age of marriage, and consequent early pregnancies, also have impacts on nutritional levels of mothers and their children, and their overall health and mental wellbeing.
- Mortality rate: It also has an impact on Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate, and the empowerment of women who are cut off from access to education and livelihood after an early marriage.
- To reduce child marriage: The recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS) revealed that child marriage has come down marginally from 27 per cent in 2015-16 to 23 per cent in 2019-20 in the country, but the government has been pushing to bring this down further.
- Gender neutrality: Women Labour force participation is only 25% in India whereas the global average is 60%, to become world power, we cannot afford women to be out of service.
- There is a need to bring in gender-neutrality.
- Removing stereotypes: In a consultation paper of reform in family law in 2018, the Law Commission argued that having different legal standards “contributes to the stereotype that wives must be younger than their husbands”.
- Women’s rights activists too have argued that the law perpetuates the stereotype that women are more mature than men of the same age and therefore can be allowed to marry sooner.
Possible challenges that would be posed to urban and rural women
- Child and women’s rights activists, as well as population and family planning experts have not been in favour of increasing the age of marriage for women on the basis that such a legislation would push a large portion of the population into illegal marriages.
- They have contended that even with the legal age of marriage for women being kept at 18 years, child marriages continue in India and a decrease in such marriages has not been because of the existing law but because of increase in girl’s education and employment opportunities.
- They have said the law would end up being coercive, and in particular negatively impact marginalised communities, such as the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, making them law-breakers.
- According to the State of the World Report 2020 by UNFPA, in India, 51% of young women with no education and 47% of those with only a primary education had married by age 18.
- Hence lack of education is a bigger problem.
- Further, a study by the International Centre for Research on Women has found that girls out of school are 3.4 times more likely to be married or have their marriage already fixed than girls who are still in school.
Way forward and conclusion
- For any society to make sustainable progress it is necessary to empower women and for that two most important weapons are quality of education and skills and for this they should not be under any pressure to get married early.
- Early pregnancy is associated with increased child mortality rates and affects the health of the mother. Thus, there is a need to focus on a mother’s health and readiness to carry a child.
- Government needs to emphasize upon economic and social empowerment of women and girls, as well as targeted social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) campaigns. Increasing the minimum age of marriage of women will also lead to gender-neutrality.
- Extending the scope of the Right to Education for girls up to vocational studies.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Indian Constitution– historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Reference: Polity by M. Laxmikanth
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:
The importance of Directive Principles of State Policy, and their utility
Directive word:
Critically analyse – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Brief on Directive Principles of State Policy, Articles related and Schedule
Body:
First, mention the significance of DPSPs highlighting their characteristics.
Further, mention their utility and sanctions, as a part of Indian Constitution
Then, mention the criticism to address the demand of the question
Conclusion:
A relevant closing statement
Introduction
The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs) are enumerated in Part IV of the Constitution from Articles 36 to 51. Dr B R Ambedkar described these principles as ‘novel features’ of the Indian Constitution. The Directive Principles along with the Fundamental Rights contain the philosophy of the Constitution and is the soul of the Constitution.
Body
DPSPs are an unnecessary appendage to Indian Constitution
- No legal force: They were described as ‘pious superfluities’ and was compared to a blank cheque, new year’s resolutions, manifestation of aims and aspirations.
- Without the force of enforcement like Article 32 in case of Fundamental rights, DPSP remained mere instructions whose implementation was elusive.
- Illogically arranged: DPSP have been criticized for being arranged in an illogical manner and without any consistent philosophy
- Conservative and orthodox: Some provisions are outdated and are not consistent with 21stcentury philosophies. Ex: Banning intoxicating drinks
- Might lead to confusion and conflicts
- Can cause conflicts between centre and states during implementation of DPSP
- Constitutional cases were high during the initial stages concerning the conflicts between FRs and DPSP
- Conflicts between President and the cabinet, centre and state could also occur. Ex: States could be dismissed in case of non-compliance, President might not give assent if laws made to give effect to DPSP are violative of FRs
Directive Principles are not mere appendages
- The Constitution itself declares that they are fundamental to the governance of the country. According to L M Singhvi, an eminent jurist and diplomat, ‘the Directives are the life giving provisions of the Constitution.
- Dr B R Ambedkar had pointed out that the Directives have great value because they lay down that the goal of Indian polity is ‘economic democracy’ as distinguished from ‘political democracy’.
- They are like an ‘Instrument of Instructions’ or general recommendations addressed to all authorities in the Indian Union. They remind them of the basic principles of the new social and economic order, which the Constitution aims at building.
- They have served as useful beacon-lights to the courts. They have helped the courts in exercising their power of judicial review, that is, the power to determine the constitutional validity of a law.
- They form the dominating background to all State action, legislative or executive and also a guide to the courts in some respects.
- They amplify the Preamble, which solemnly resolves to secure to all citizens of India justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
- They are supplementary to the fundamental rights of the citizens. They are intended to fill in the vacuum in Part III by providing for social and economic rights.
Significance of DPSP’s as upheld by Supreme court
- The 25th Amendment Act inserted a new Article 31C which contained the following two provisions: 1. No law which seeks to implement the socialistic Directive Principles specified in Article 39 (b) and (c) shall be void on the ground of contravention of the Fundamental Rights conferred by Article 14 or Article 19.
- In the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), the Supreme Court declared the above first provision of Article 31C was held to be constitutional and valid.
- In the Minerva Mills case (1980), the Supreme Court also held that ‘the Indian Constitution is founded on the bedrock of the balance between the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles.
- They together constitute the core of commitment to social revolution. They are like two wheels of a chariot, one no less than the other.
- To give absolute primacy to one over the other is to disturb the harmony of the Constitution.
- This harmony and balance between the two is an essential feature of the basic structure of the Constitution. The goals set out by the Directive Principles have to be achieved without the abrogation of the means provided by the Fundamental Rights’.
Conclusion
Therefore, the present position is that the Fundamental Rights enjoy supremacy over the Directive Principles. Yet, this does not mean that the Directive Principles cannot be implemented. The Parliament can amend the Fundamental Rights for implementing the Directive Principles, so long as the amendment does not damage or destroy the basic structure of the Constitution.
Topic: Indian Constitution– historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Reference: Polity by M. Laxmikanth
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:
The importance of DPSPs, and their relation to Fundamental Rights.
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:
Brief on the nature of Fundamental rights and Directive Principles that have led to conflict between the two
Body:
First, begin chronologically as to when the conflict between the two Began
Then, take up each instance, and mention the facts, judgments related to it and final stance established at that instant
Finally, mention the present stance relating to the conflict between the two
Conclusion:
A relevant closing statement
Introduction
Fundamental rights(FRs) are the basic rights of human that ensure dignified wellbeing in civil society. They are negative rights which impose negative obligation on state not to encroach on individual liberty. Whereas Directive principles of State Policy (DPSP) are the principles that act as instruments of instruction for government . Thus are positive rights and impose positive moral obligation on state
Body
This nature of justiciability of fundamental rights and non-justiciability of Directive principles has often created conflict between them since commencement of the constitution.
Champakam Dorairajan case (1951)
- Supreme court ruled that in case of any conflict between fundamental rights and directive principles, the former would prevail, it also said directive principles have to conform to and run as subsidiary to fundamental rights .
- But it said FRs can be amended by parliament through constitutional amendment acts(CAA) to give effect to Directive principles
- There by parliament made 1st CAA making changes in art 31( right to property ) , to implement land reforms and added Art 31A and 31B ,and made special provisions for advancement of socially and economic backward classes
- Similarly 4th CAA and 7th CAA added to implement some of the directives thus making DPSP above FRs
Golaknath case (1967)
- Supreme court ruled that parliament cannot take away or abridge any of FRs (sacrosanct) for the implementation of DPSP
- But parliament enacted 24th and 25th Constitutional Amendment Acts and inserted Art 31C
- Where to implement DPs under 39b and 39c fundamental rights can be amended and cannot termed void on contravention to art14 and Art19 and not part of judicial review thus kept DPs on upper pedestal over FRs
Keshavananda Bharti vs State of Kerala
- SC said FRs and DPs constitute concise of the constitution and one supplements the other
- However it was in 42nd CAA (1976) accorded legal primacy and supremacy to DPs( through Art 39b and 39c) over fundamental rights conferred (by art 14,19and 31).
- Though was nullified by Minerva mills case but art 14 and Art 19 were accepted subordinate to 39b and 39c
Minerva mills case (1980)
- Supreme court propounded that Indian constitution founded on bedrock of FRs And DPs and they act as two wheels of chariot no one is less than other .
- Their harmony and balance is essential feature o basic structure of constitution
- Coelho vs state of T.N
- Supreme court said that it’s is the responsibility of government to adopt a middle path between individual liberty ( FRs ) and public good (DPs). ex – Right to education as both FR and DP
- Parliament can amend FRs for implementation of DPs as long as it does not damage basic structure of constitution
Conclusion :
For country like India where socioeconomic upliftment of weaker sections is challenge, India should adopt of Theory of harmonious relation, as propounded by supreme court in N.M Thomas vs state of Kerala, that FRs and DPs should be construed in harmony with each other and every attempt should be made by court to resolve any inconsistency between them to ensure larger dream of sabka sath sab ka vikas .
General Studies – 3
Topic: Mobilization of resources, growth, development, Liberalization
Difficulty level: Difficult
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
India has been facing a slew of issues with its Old BIT and even its new model BIT 2016 is not very consistent. This may have an impact on India’s attractiveness to foreign Investment.
Key Demand of the question:
Highlight the issues with India’s BIT and suggest way forward
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining what is BIT and give a brief background of it.
Body:
First, specify the issue that India had with the Old BIT which led it to form a model BIT 2016 e.g. India lost the cases in International tribunal for retrospective taxes, cancellation and revocation of spectrum and telecom licences, etc.
Then, highlight the issues with New BIT (e.g. India shifted from Investor friendly approach to overly protectionist one, thus impacting its image)
Suggest few steps that India can take to correct the issues.
You may refer to following article The Diplomat, InsightsonIndia
Conclusion:
Conclude by highlighting that India needs to take a balanced approach towards BITs with an effective ISDS provision.
Introduction
A Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) is an agreement between two countries that sets up “rules of the road” for foreign investment in each other’s countries. BITs typically serve to protect investments made by investors on a reciprocal basis, specifying conditions on regulatory oversight of the host state and limiting interference with the rights of foreign investors.
Body
India’s approach to BIT and challenges
- Since signing the first BIT in 1994 with the UK, India has inked 86 such bilateral treaties, the latest being with Brazil in 2020.
- BITs have been one the major drivers of FDI inflows into India.
- A 2016 study suggests that by providing substantive protection and commitment to foreign investors, BITs indeed contributed to rising FDIs in the 2001-2012 period.
- The Indian model of BIT, 2003 contained close semblance with the India-UK BIT. From 1994 to 2011, India had signed more than 80 BITs and ratified over 70.
- However, there have been many cases of the penalty awarded by an International Dispute Settlement (ISDS) tribunal served against India.
- For example in cases involving regulatory measures such as the imposition of retrospective taxes, cancellation and revocation of spectrum and telecom licences.
- This led to a review of the BITs. and in 2016 India launched the Model BIT. It aims to act as a base for negotiating new BITs with other States, as well as for re-negotiation of the existing ones.
- Since its adoption, India has unilaterally terminated 66-odd BITs between 2016 to 2019. It had sent negative signals to the global investor community on the grounds of being protectionist.
- This is evident as no country has shown an inclination to re-negotiate based on the Model BIT. Since 2016, India has signed just three treaties, none of which is in force yet.
- Model BIT narrowed the definition of investment that needed to qualify for BIT protection.
- the definition of investment in the Model BIT also contains a negative list, which precludes portfolio investments, interest in debt- securities, intangible rights, etc. from the definition of investment.
- Thus, the new definition does not take into account the increased scope of foreign investments in the modern era of globalization and liberalization.
- Model BIT contains a clause mandating exhaustion of domestic remedy prior to initiating international arbitration proceedings.
- Model BIT included a ‘Treatment of Investments’ clause with a broadly-worded undertaking that neither party shall subject investments to measures that are manifestly abusive and in violation of due process.
A new approach to BIT
- There is a need to revise the definition of investment in the form of a hybrid between an asset-based and enterprise-based definition, given averseness of Foreign investors.
- India may explore the option to revise the standard of treatment clause to align it with international practices and include the traditional standard of protection of fair and equitable treatment.
- India must give clarification regarding the open-ended terms in the Model BIT. This could result in India facing fewer disputes and BIT claims.
Way forward
- In the post-COVID-19 world, regulatory riskswill further exacerbate, subjecting foreign investment to arbitrary and whimsical behaviour of countries.
- India may explore the option to revise the standard of treatment clauseto align it with international practices and include the traditional standard of protection of fair and equitable treatment.
- Also, must give clarification regarding the open-ended terms in the Model BIT.
- India needs to adopt a balanced approachtowards BITs with an effective ISDS provision.
- This will facilitate Indian investors in defending their investment under international law should a country, like Sri Lanka, renege on an agreement.
Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference : Down to Earth
Why this question:
Gene sequencing has been in News as Pandemic has still not subsided.
Key demand of the question:
The question is straightforward; one must explain the concept of what is genome sequencing and Government measures in this regard.
Directive:
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:
In brief explain the concept of Gene Sequencing
Body:
If possible, try to draw diagram/flowchart to make your explanation clear.
Enumerate the various efforts taken by the Government of India in this regard and their impact.
Also, explain the challenges involved.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of such a project.
Introduction
Genome Sequencing refers to the method through which the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome, the order of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts that make up an organism’s DNA are figured. The human genome is made up of over 3 billion of these genetic letters
Body
About Genome sequencing
- A Genome is the complete genetic material of an organism. It is like an instruction manual which contains information about the make-up of the organism.
- While human genomes are made of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), a virus genome can be made of either DNA or RNA (Ribonucleic acid).
- DNA and RNA provide genetic instructions for growth and functioning of organisms.
- Coronavirus is made of RNA. Genome sequencing is a technique that reads and interprets genetic information found within DNA or RNA.
Various initiatives by India
Genome India Project
- Taking inspiration from the Human Genome Project, this year, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) initiated the ambitious “Genome India Project” (GIP) on 3rd January 2020.
- The GIP aims to collect 10,000 genetic samples from citizens across India, to build a reference genome.
- This project is led by the Centre for Brain Research at Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Science, which acts as the central coordinator between a collaboration of 20 leading institutions, each collecting samples and conducting its own research.
- Institutes involved include the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru as well as several Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
- For conducting the project, investigators in hospitals will lead the data collection through a simple blood test from participants and the information will be added to biobanks.
Indigen Project
- The IndiGen initiative was undertaken by CSIR in April 2019, which was implemented by the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi and CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad.
- The objective is to enable genetic epidemiology and develop public health technologies applications using population genome data.
- This has enabled benchmarking the scalability of genome sequencing and computational analysis at population scale in a defined timeline.
- The ability to decode the genetic blueprint of humans through whole genome sequencing will be a major driver for biomedical science.
- IndiGen programme aims to undertake whole genome sequencing of thousands of individuals representing diverse ethnic groups from India.
INSACOG
- It is a multi-laboratory, multi-agency, Pan-India network to monitor genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 by a sentinel sequencing effort which is facilitated by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi involving the Central Surveillance Unit (CSU) under Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
- Selected private laboratories will join the Indian SARS CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (Insacog), a network of 28 government laboratories established for genomic surveillance in the country
Evaluation of Genome Sequencing projects
- Genome sequencing helps researchers understand the arrangement of the make up of DNA or RNA. Sequencing the genome will help us understand where the certain virus for instance of SARS-CoV-2 came from and how it spread
- Participants of genome-sample collections represent diversity of the country’s population. It will help in following ways:
- The first obvious use would be in personalised medicine, anticipating diseases and modulating treatment according to the genome of patients. Several diseases develop through the interplay of the environment with multiple genes, which differ across populations.
- Human genome sequencing is important to establish a link between diseases and the unique genetic make-up of each individual. For instance, cardiovascular disease generally leads to heart attacks in South Asians. If such propensities can be mapped to variations across genomes, it is believed public health interventions can be targeted better.
- While genes may render some insensitive to certain drugs, genome sequencing has shown that cancer too can be understood from the viewpoint of genetics, rather than being seen as a disease of certain organs.
- Another advantage of genome sequencing is that information regarding drug efficacy or adverse effects of drug use can be obtained. Drugs developed in the Western world and sold in India are pricey and may not be effective on the Indian gene. Mapping of India’s genetic landscape is critical for next generation medicine.
- It will enhance India’s scientific capabilities. Next step would be genome sequencing of crops that would help in better understanding of the genetic basis of susceptibility of crops to blights, rusts and pests. It may become possible to deter them genetically, and reduce dependence on chemicals.
- Global science would also benefit from genome sequencing, which would provide data useful for the mapping of the spread and migration of a range of life forms in the old World and thus would help in better understanding of human evolution.
Conclusion
WHO asserted that more the virus spreads, higher are chances of mutations and new strains to come up, so it is important to vaccinate a critical mass of people to break the chain of transmission at soon as possible and till then it is essential to follow preventive measures like social distancing, hand hygiene, wearing masks and taking the vaccine to avoid infections.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Human values: Role of the society, educational institutions, and a family in implanting values.
In this scenario, what steps will you take? Briefly discuss
Why this question?
Effect of rising rationalism in the society and its impact on religious beliefs of individuals in the society.
Structure of the question
Introduction
Briefly highlight the role religion plays in an individual’s life or summarize the case study in a brief manner
Body
- Identify the stakeholders in the society and the challenges associated with each one of them
- Highlight the options available for you in this situation. You can briefly talk about their pros and cons
- You can select your course of action but you have to provide ethical justification for your action.
Conclusion
Underscore the importance of elders in growth of younger generation in the society.
Introduction
Superstitions are followed everywhere. No country, no matter its scientific prowess, has conquered superstition. Superstitions are harmful and harmless for instance harmful acts like sati, tradition of tantra followed by godmen affects the lives of innocent girls show that with proper empowerment, science, and strengthening of values these can be eradicated.
Body
Social persuasion and ethics can remove it:
- By talking to them and trying to persuade them about how their wrong beliefs will affect the mental growth of
- I will try to show them some educational videos and awareness videos by actors/actresses whom they admire.
- I would also use the help of priests, my relatives to stir their conscience and give them a scientific outreach.
- Awareness campaigns against dangerous superstitions along with better education and scientific outreach may have some impact but will be a slow process.
- People are generally better persuaded by the reasons which they have themselves discovered than by those which have come into the mind of others. Such a strategy may be more successful.
- When making decisions, rely on common sense and a sound pattern of reasoning
However social persuasion alone would not suffice as seen below:
- Larger efforts by the State or humongous social movements are required to eradicate superstitious practices.
- For example, practices such as sati were not eradicated by ‘persuasion’ but due to the enormous efforts put in by social reformers and ultimately by legislation.
- Persuasion’ is an excellent tool, but is limited in its scope and reach. Finally, educationists and governments must ensure that people are suitably educated to develop scientific temper and rational thinking.
Conclusion
Thus, I would persuade them and try to change their attitudes to give up the wrong beliefs they are immersed in.
