NOTE: Please remember that following ‘answers’ are NOT ‘model answers’. They are NOT synopsis too if we go by definition of the term. What we are providing is content that both meets demand of the question and at the same time gives you extra points in the form of background information.
General Studies – 1
Topic: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The NHRC has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Arunachal Pradesh government to submit an action taken report against the racial profiling and relocation of the Chakma and Hajong communities in the northeastern State.
Key Demand of the question:
To write issues faced by the tribal communities of north east and steps taken to address them.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing about the extent of tribal population in the north east with examples of few major tribal groups.
Body:
First, in detail, mention the issues faced by the tribal communities of north east – Historical discrimination, violence, lack of rights, lack of accessibility, poverty, crime, tribal insurgency etc. Substantiate with facts and examples
Next, mention the various political, economic and social measures that have been formulated to achieve development of tribals in India. Mention their achievements and limitations.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward to overcome the limitations.
Introduction
The North-East is a melting pot of races and home to almost 238 indigenous tribes. While large sections of the people of the North-East are of Tibeto-Burman origin, the Khasi-Jaintia group is Austro-Asiatic, and the Mon-Khmer group is more akin to their brethren from Cambodia in habits and language.
Body
Issues faced by tribes of the north east:
- Tribal land alienation and dispossession are at the crux of the crisis tribal communities face across the north east: Encroachment of tribal land by non-tribal people is often the cause for tribal unrest.
- Insurgency and armed conflict resulting in forced migration and eviction from homelands
- AFSPA: The prolonged deployment of the armed forces and its lack of transparency in dealing with human rights violations has made the AFSPA a symbol of oppression.”
- There are questions related to the routinisation of arbitrary arrest, illegal detention and torture in custody of tribal people living in conflict areas.
- Added to this is criminal neglect and violent corruption that has systematically obstructed the delivery of public goods and services.
- Bureaucratic apathy, lack political will, lack of awareness with respect to rights and entitlements, lack of credible data to make policy
- Racism: Trust deficit with the mainland in the wake of violence especially during COVID crises
- Poor connectivity and mountainous terrain make it difficult for the greater integration with mainland India.
Measures taken by Government for their development:
- Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER): It is responsible for the matters relating to the planning, execution and monitoring of development schemes and projects in the North Eastern Region, to accelerate the pace of socio-economic development of the region.
- In pursuance of the provisions of 5th and 6th schedule, the various autonomous district has been created to contain the demands of various ethnic groups like Karbi Anglong, Khasi hill district, Chakma district etc.
- Inner Line Permit (ILP): Restrictions are imposed on the entry of outsiders to maintain the original identity of indigenous people of Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh entry of outsiders are not allowed without ILP.
- special attention under Hill Area Development Program, North Eastern Region Vision 2020
- Vocational training in tribal areas to develop the skills of the ST youth for a variety of jobs as well as self-employment and to improve their socio-economic condition by enhancing their income,
- Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) and Tribal Festivals to preserve north eastern tribal art and culture.
Conclusion
It is important to acknowledge the multihued diversity among tribals of north east especially in matters of citizenship, so that any future balkanisation tendencies can be addressed by not just through geographical integration but also through emotional integration to the mainland India.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: The Hindu , Indian Express
Why the question:
India is celebrating its 73rd republic day.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about meaning of Republic as envisaged by the constitution.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining Republican form of government.
Body:
Write the essential features of republicanism in India – Its inspiration, the historical linkages with freedom struggle, nature, its relation with liberty and democracy.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing about the importance of being a republic in the present day.
Introduction
The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system, completing the country’s transition towards becoming an independent republic. 26 January was chosen as the date for Republic Day because it was on this day in 1930 when the Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj) was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress in lieu of the Realm status as a Dominion later instated by the departing British Regime.
Body
Indian Republic: Events leading to forming the Constitution
- India achieved independence from British Raj on 15 August 1947 following the Indian independence movement.
- The independence came through the Indian Independence Act 1947, an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that partitioned British India into the two new independent Dominions of the British Commonwealth (later Commonwealth of Nations).
- India obtained its independence on 15 August 1947 as a constitutional monarchy with George VI as head of state and the Earl Mountbatten as governor-general.
- The country, though, did not yet have a permanent constitution; instead, its laws were based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935.
- On 29 August 1947, a resolution was moved for the appointment of Drafting Committee, which was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Dr B R Ambedkar as chairman.
- While India’s Independence Day celebrates its freedom from British Rule, the Republic Day celebrates the coming into force of its constitution.
- A draft constitution was prepared by the committee and submitted to the Constituent Assembly on 4 November 1947.
- The Assembly met for 166 days in public sessions spanning two years, 11 months, and 18 days before adopting the Constitution.
- The 308 members of the Assembly signed two handwritten copies of the document (one in Hindi and one in English) on 24 January 1950, after much deliberation and some changes.
- Two days later which was on 26 January 1950, it came into effect throughout the whole nation.
- On that day, Rajendra Prasad’s began his first term of office as President of the Indian Union.
- The Constituent Assembly became the Parliament of India under the transitional provisions of the new Constitution. On the eve of Republic Day, the President addresses the nation.
Meaning of republic in Indian context
- A democratic polity can be classified into two categories–monarchy and republic.
- In a monarchy, the head of the state (usually king or queen) enjoys a hereditary position, that is, he comes into office through succession, e.g., Britain.
- In a republic, on the other hand, the head of the state is always elected directly or indirectly for a fixed period, e.g., USA.
- Therefore, the term ‘republic’ in our Preamble indicates that India has an elected head called the president.
- He is elected indirectly for a fixed period of five years.
- A republic also means two more things: one, vesting of political sovereignty in the people and not in a single individual like a king; second, the absence of any privileged class and hence all public offices being opened to every citizen without any discrimination.
Conclusion
Nations such as North Korea, Brunei etc still have an authoritarian regime. As Indians we must appreciate that we are a sovereign republic, we have our own Constitution, and our own laws to govern us. No man is above the law and all men are treated equal in the eyes of the law. People of this country have the power to choose their own representatives and that is how a democracy like India has flourished for 75 years.
Topic: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein
Difficulty level: Tough
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 Doctrine of Pith and Substance and the Doctrine of Colourable legislation.
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining Doctrine of Pith and Substance and the Doctrine of Colourable legislation.
Body:
In the first part, give context about the how Doctrine of Pith and Substance and the Doctrine of Colourable legislation are relevant to centre-state relations to India.
Next, taking various supreme court judgements as example explain the importance of the doctrines in sharing of legislative powers between the centre and the state.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising the major observations.
Introduction
A sacrosanct federal system which India has evolved over a period of time starting from the late 18th Century is different from the accepted notion of federation. The evolved Indian federalism is very unique in character and the Union – State relationship has also become extremely complex over the years.
Judicial doctrines are basically set of principles, procedural steps, or test for determining judgements in a certain legal matter, which is commonly formed by precedent in the common law.
Body
Doctrine of Pith and Substance
The Doctrine of Pith and Substance holds that the union and the state legislatures should not encroach upon each other’s spheres. This doctrine helps in examining the true nature of a legislation and deciding which list it belongs to, central or state.
- When a law is challenged on the grounds that one level of authority (whether it provincial or federal) has encroached on the exclusive jurisdiction of another level of government, the concept is used.
- According to this doctrine, it is examined to check its “true nature and character” in order to ascertain in what list it falls.
- It provides a degree of flexibility. It is widely used in determining whether the state is within its power to make a statute that involves a subject mentioned in the union list of the constitution.
- Apart from its application in situations involving the legislature’s competence (Article 246), the Doctrine of Pith and Substance is also used in matters involving repugnancy in laws passed by Parliament and state legislatures (Article 254).
- In such circumstances, the theory is used to resolve inconsistencies between legislation passed by the federal government and those passed by state legislatures.
- In Prafulla v. Bank of Commerce (1946), the SC held that a State law, dealing with money lending (a State subject), is not invalid, merely because it incidentally affects promissory notes.
Doctrine of colourable legislation
The idea of power separation underpins it. Separation of powers requires striking a balance of power between various state components.
- It’s founded on the principle that “what can’t be done directly can’t be done indirectly.”
- This notion of colourable legislation is used when a legislature does not have the authority to pass legislation on a certain subject but does so indirectly.
- The Court has laid down certain tests for discovering whether any particular Act constitutes colourable legislation.
- The court must examine the substance of the law, not its form or title, as enacted by the legislature.
- The court must consider both the object and the law’s effect.
- If the legislature follows a legislative plan, the court must study all of the acts that make up the plan and establish the cumulative effect.
- In S Joshi v. Ajit Mills (1977), the SC observed that “In the statute of force, the colourable exercise of or extortion on administrative force or misrepresentation on the constitution, are articulations which only imply that the assembly is clumsy to authorise a specific law, albeit the mark of competency is struck on it, and afterwards it is colourable enactment.”
Various judicial pronouncements
- In Krishna v. State of Madras (1957), SC has held that, “In order to ascertain the true character of the legislation, one must have regard to”-
- Whole enactment
- Underlying objective
- Scope and effect of its provision
- In C.G. Narayan Dev vs State of Orissa (1953) judgement, the SC explained the meaning, scope of this doctrine as “when anything is prohibited directly, it is also prohibited indirectly”.
- The SC in different judicial pronouncements has laid down the certain tests in order to determine the true nature of the legislation impeached as colourable :-
- The court must look to the substance of the impugned law, as distinguished from its form or the label which the legislature has given it. For the purpose of determining the substance of an enactment, the court will examine two things: – Effect of the legislature and 2. Object and the purpose of the act.
- The doctrine of colourable legislation has nothing to do with the motive of the legislation, it is in the essence a question of vires or power of the legislature to enact the law in question.
- The doctrine is also not applicable to Subordinate Legislation.
Conclusion
Though in normal times the distribution of powers must be strictly maintained and neither the State nor the Centre can encroach upon the sphere allotted to the other by the Constitution, yet in certain exceptional circumstances the above system of distribution is either suspended or the powers of the Union Parliament are extended over the subjects mentioned in the State List. Those circumstances are emergencies, to implement international agreements, with due consent of state and so on. Maintaining the balance in federalism is key to successful governance of the nation and its citizens.
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:
Article 16 provides for equality of opportunity and equal pay for equal work to all in matters of public employment. But our laws have never seriously improved the unequal terms of male entitlement over women’s labour and/or their bodies.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the steps that must be taken for empowering women in a true sense.
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 defining women empowerment in India.
Body:
First, write about unequal pay – its various manifestations and its impact.
Next, write about inferior work – the notions that women agency is not as developed as men, its impact.
Next, denial of rights for women and not involving them in matters that affect them. Write about its impact.
Next, write about the steps required to bridge the above to achieve empowerment in a true sense.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2020 says men and women will have pay equality in 257 years. Of the 153 countries studied for the report, India ranks 112th on the overall Global Gender Gap Index. The economic gender gap runs particularly deep and has gotten significantly wider.
Body
Gender inequality in India
- India scores quite low in when it comes to gender inequality, according to latest UNDP Human development report, India is ranked 125 of 159 countries in the Gender Inequality Index (GII).
- Labour participation: In terms of labour participation only 23.3% of women (79.1% men) above 15 years are part of India’s labour force.
- Wage gap: Research from India’ leading diversity and inclusion consulting firm Avtar Group shows that women are paid 34% less than men for performing the same job with the same qualifications.
- Lack of Economic Empowerment: Women are underrepresented in senior managerial position and overrepresented in low paying jobs. Oxford Survey shows that globally only 19% firms have a female senior manager.
- Access to productive capital: It is harder for women to access funds and capital for farming, starting a business or for other developmental works.
- Secondary Education for women is lower than man in majority of countries while this stands at less than 80% in India.
- Social norms and stereotypes: Classifying men as “bread winners” and women pursuing jobs as “career women” was reported by Oxford University Survey. It also highlighted that most of the unpaid work is seen as a women’s job.
Measures needed to bridge the gap and empower women
- Behavioral Nudge: For instance, by using taxes to incentivize fairly sharing child-care responsibilities, or by encouraging women and girls to enter traditionally male-dominated sectors such as the armed forces and information technology. Eg Supreme Court in India declared that women could now hold commanding positions in Army.
- Paternity leaves for men, to share the responsibility of child rearing.
- Incentivizing companies to employ women, and reach 50% target.
- Strong laws and policies wrt equal pay for equal work, maternity benefits are needed to promote women’s representation in economy.
- Maternity and paternity: An amendment to the Act in 2017 increased paid maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks. Though well-meaning, this unfortunately fortifies notions of care-giving being primarily the onus of the woman, and thus reinforces and raises the risk of women being subject to the motherhood penalty.
- An explicit law for mandatory paternity benefits will go a long way towards equalizing gender roles and reducing employer bias
- Better work conditions: The provision and strengthening of childcare facilities for working mothers are very important.
- The Maternity Benefit Act mandates the setting up of creche facilities for organizations with over 50 employees.
- A better policy measure would be to provide mothers in need of childcare with a monthly allowance. This will also help mothers working from home.
- Political Representation: India has provided 33% reservation for women in the Panchayats and Local Bodies. Capacity Building and training can increase their capabilities further.
Conclusion
Gender equality is a human right which entitles all persons irrespective of their gender to live with dignity and with freedom. Gender equality is also a precondition for development and reducing of poverty. Gender shouldn’t be an unreasonable determining factor curbing the potential of women.
General Studies – 3
Topic: changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
For climate and development’s sake, India needs to bring back a different industrial policy.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the benefits and potential Digital Public Goods in India.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context to India’s net zero declaration at cop-26.
Body:
First, in brief, mention India’s needed to balance both its development as well as its climate goals. Bring out the link between the two.
Next, write about the changes required to India’s industrial policy in this regard – A green industrialisation strategy in the with short-, medium- and long-terms. Write about the various components that need to included in this.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Climate change is one of the defining challenges of this century. Without a global effort to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, average global temperatures are very likely to exceed 2°C even with current policies in place. While many developing countries made net-zero pledges at COP26 in Glasgow, they face enormous developmental challenges in their attempts to grow in a climate-constrained world.
In Glasgow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will strive to reach net-zero emissions by 2070.
Body
Existing challenges for India: Balancing climate goals and development
- For India, the national context is shaped by high youth unemployment, millions more entering the workforce each year, and a country hungry for substantial investments in hard infrastructure to industrialise and urbanise.
- Unlike the energy-intensive growth trajectories of the industrialised world, and rapidly industrialising economies like China, India’s economic growth in the last three decades, led by growth in the services sector, has come at a significantly lower emissions
- But in the coming decades, India will have to move to an investment-led and manufacturing-intensive growth model to help lift hundreds of millions more out of poverty.
- India needs to create job opportunities for another 300 million expected to enter the workforce by mid-century, and create entirely new cities and infrastructure to accommodate and connect an increasingly urban population. All of this requires a lot of energy.
- Amidst this, India’s challenge is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. With the mammoth task of industrialisation that is needed, the climate goal can be challenging.
Strategy India needs with respect to Industrialisation
- Comprehensive strategy: What India needs is an overarching green industrialisation strategy that combines laws, policy instruments, and new or reformed implementing institutions to steer its decentralised economic activities to become climate-friendly and resilient.
- Private investment: A market-steering approach rather than a hands-off approach would encourage patient private sector investments in technologies needed to industrialise under climate constraints.
- Nurture private green entrepreneurship: India also needs to nurture private entrepreneurship and experimentation in clean energy technologies rather than be indifferent to it as we are today or stifle it as we did in the License Raj era.
- Green transport: Technologies needed to decarbonise the transport and industry sectors provide a significant opportunity. However, India’s R&D investments in these emerging green technologies are non-existent. The production-linked incentives (PLIs) under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ are a step in the right direction for localising clean energy manufacturing activities.
- Quantum jump: Aligning existing RD&D investments with the technologies needed for green industrialisation is crucial for realising quantum jumps.
Way forward and conclusion
- There should be no doubt that India’s energy transition should be squarely development-focused and aim to extract economic and employment rents from decarbonisation.
- The government should neither succumb to international pressure to decarbonise soon nor should it postpone its investment in decarbonisation technologies and lose its long-term competitiveness in a global low-carbon economy.
- Instead, India should set its pace based on its ability to capitalise on the opportunities to create wealth through green industrialisation.
- India should follow a path where it can negotiate carbon space to grow, buying time for the hard-to-abate sectors; push against counterproductive WTO trade litigations on decarbonisation technologies; all while making R&D investments in those technologies to ensure that it can gain economic value in the transition.
- This will not only make India a responsible power but also make its economy competitive in a climate-constrained world.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
6. What does this quote means to you? (150 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
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:
First, mention how some ethical thinkers think happiness as the end goal.
Next, Bring the importance of compassion in life and helping others and substantiate the examples from the past and present. Write how living a compassionate life is a life lived well.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of the quote in the present day.
Introduction
A question that intrigues all human beings as they grow is what is the purpose of our life. Most of us believe that being happy ultimately is the only purpose. But happiness is not a goal in itself. The author here says that happiness is a by–product of being useful. It is not the length of life, but the depth that matters.
Body
Happiness is a very subjective concept. What makes us happy today, may not make us happy tomorrow, or even the next moment. We may think that a good vacation, a good home etc brings us happiness. But they are momentary and are not durable or long-term.
What really makes us happy is when we are useful. When we create something that others can use. One doesn’t have to change the world or anything. Just make it a little bit better than you were born.
Life is an experiment. The more experiments we do the better. It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried.
Being compassionate to fellow human suffering motivates us to be useful. Mother Teresa took care of so many Indians that she is revered even today. To be so self-less requires a different kind of courage. Compassion invokes empathy and empathy spurs us into doing good for the welfare of the larger community. This is the single most reason why Gandhiji, Ambedkar, Nelson Mandela are some of the greatest humans that walked the earth.
Conclusion
Be not the slave of your own past. Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting some on yourself.
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)
“He who has truth at his heart need never fear the want of persuasion on his tongue.” ― John Ruskin.
Difficulty level: Tough
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:
First, bring out the link as to how truthful and honest person enjoy high credibility.
Next, in brief talk about the role of credibility in persuasion and with examples explain how truth enhances credibility in itself. Substantiate with examples how people who are firm on truth, are the most influential persuaders.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of the quote in the present day.
Introduction
Credibility is a characteristic of a person who is perceived by others to be a trusted advisor, believable, and confident by exhibiting a high level of expertise in a certain subject. A person who truly knows and believes what he is saying need not through his words try to convince others of the legitimacy of his words.
Body
A truthful person is always credible. Credibility is your best currency; with it you are solvent without you are bankrupt. He need not prove his credentials by boasting about himself or blowing his own trumpet. Such behaviour shows insecurity or sometimes tell us that the person doing so is not trustworthy.
Credibility is one of the most important features of humans and at the same time the foundation of social life. It is the bases upon which relationships between individuals, groups, organizations and even states are built. As a result of credibility various sides can be mutually trusting. It plays an important role not only in politics but also in the economy and culture. It is hard to overestimate the importance of credibility in the acquisition and transfer of scientific knowledge. Without credibility in action and as a way of life there would be no moral authority or personal models to imitate.
Being credible means fostering a set of very specific qualities–no matter what your role, your organization, or your industry. One must be an expert in the chosen field, someone with the ability to analyse a situation and develop several potential solutions.
Conclusion
Reliability is, therefore, a perceived quality that people assign to you, basing on several elements, which include integrity, competence, connection with others, good judgment, and being likeable. And if one is truly genuine without being pretentious, then he need not convince others of his worthiness. Such a trust is always earned and cannot be demanded.
