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General Studies – 1
Topic: The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question: The Punjab government’s decision to display a likeness of Bhagat Singh — based on a painting by one Amar Singh — rather than any of the revolutionary’s four available authentic photographs at its offices is illustrative of the approach taken over the years by India’s governments towards the hero who was hanged by the British on this day, March 23, ninety years ago.
Key Demand of the question: To write about how the philosophy and nature of revolution evolved under Bhagat Singh and its essential dimensions.
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:
Give a brief about the ideology of Bhagat Singh.
Body:
Mention how the ideology evolved. From the belief in violence and heroic action towards national liberation and then the building of a new socialist society.
Mention the features of the new revolution they believed in. Preventing exploitation of all forms, Freedom, justice, ending communalism, scientific temper etc. Mention the various approaches taken by him to achieve the above goals.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing about the legacy of Bhagat Singh.
Introduction
Bhagat Singh, an iconic revolutionary, thinker, voracious reader and one of the well-read of political leaders at that time, was a giant of an intellectual. He pursued his passion for reading and writing relentlessly, despite fighting violently against Britishers. He studied to arm himself with arguments in favour of his cult of patriotism and enabled himself to face the arguments advanced by opposition.
Body:
Bhagat Singh: a hero of the masses:
- He was revered by the youth, loathed by British Raj and opposed by none other than Mahatma Gandhi, like other revolutionaries he dreamt of freedom for motherland.
- As much as he was involved in violence against the government, he exercised his conscience and used non-violence and fasting as a tool to break the hegemony of British power.
- He always vouched for human dignity and rights beyond sectarian divide.
A new idea and interpretation of revolution:
- Revolution was no longer equated with militancy and violence.
- Its objective was to be national liberation—imperialism was to be overthrown but beyond that a new socialist order was to be achieved, ending “exploitation of man by man”.
- As Bhagat Singh said in the court, “Revolution does not necessarily involve sanguinary strife, nor is there a place in it for personal vendetta. It is not the cult of bomb and pistol. By revolution we mean the present order of things, which is based on manifest injustice, must change.”
- Bhagat fully accepted Marxism and the class approach to society—”Peasants have to free themselves not only from the foreign yoke, but also from the yoke of landlords and capitalists.”
- He also said, “The struggle in India will continue, so long as a handful of exploiters continue to exploit labour of common people to further their own interests.
- It matters little whether these exploiters are British capitalists, British and Indian capitalists in alliance, or even purely Indians.”
- He defined socialism scientifically as abolition of capitalism and class domination.
- Bhagat was fully and consciously secular—two of the six rules drafted by Bhagat for the Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha were that its members would have nothing to do with communal bodies and that they would propagate a general feeling of tolerance among people, considering religion to be a matter of personal belief.
- Bhagat Singh also saw the importance of freeing people from the mental bondage of religion and superstition—”to be a revolutionary, one required immense moral strength, but one also required criticism and independent thinking”
Conclusion:
Bhagat Singh and his comrades made an abiding contribution to the national freedom movement. Their deep patriotism, courage and determination, and sense of sacrifice stirred the Indian people. They helped spread nationalist consciousness in the land.
Value addition:
Vision of Bhagat Singh:
At tender age he realised the larger goals of life rather than being circumscribed to accomplishing personal goals. He transformed the revolution ‘terrorism’ movement to a socialist one. He was a great innovator in two areas of politics
- Raised the serious issues and threats of communalism
- Raised the conscience of people in freeing them from mental bondage of religion and superstition.
Revolutionary ideology and goals of revolution:
- A real breakthrough was made by Bhagat Singh and his comrades in terms of revolutionary ideology, forms of revolutionary struggle and the goals of revolution.
- The Hindustan republican association’s (HRA) Manifesto (1925) declared that the it stood for abolition of all systems which made exploitation of man by man possible. Its founding council had decided to preach social revolutionary and communistic principles.
- The HRA had also decided to start labour and peasant organizations and to work for an organized and armed revolution.
- Emphasizing the role of ideas in the making of revolution, Bhagat Singh declared that the sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting-stone of ideas. This atmosphere of wide reading and deep thinking pervaded the ranks of the HSRA leadership.
- Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha:
- Singh had turned to Marxism and had come to believe that popular broad-based mass movements alone could lead to a successful revolution.
- That is why Bhagat Singh helped establish the Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha in 1926 as the open wing of the revolutionaries.
- The Sabha was to carry out open political work among the youth, peasants and workers.
- Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev also organized the Lahore Students Union for open, legal work among the students.
- Patient intellectual and political work appealed to be too slow and too akin to the Congress style of politics which the revolutionaries wanted to transcend.
- Effective acquisition of new ideology is a prolonged and historical process whereas the need of the time was a quick change in the way of thinking.
- These young intellectuals faced the classic dilemma of how to mobilise people and recruit them. Here, they decided to opt for propaganda by deed, i.e., through individual heroic action and by using courts as a forum for revolutionary propaganda.
Topic: Role of women and women’s organization
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question: On March 8, International Women’s Day, a Commissioner of Police in Tamil Nadu appointed women police officers as “heads” of police stations for a day. These officers held the posts for precisely 24 hours.
Key Demand of the question: To write about the need to improve role of women in the police and give them actual powers and responsibilities in order to achieve women empowerment.
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:
Start by giving a statistic about the number of women in the police force.
Body:
First, highlight the increasing role of women police with examples from across the forces. Write about the challenges associated – provide meaningful roles and equal opportunities to women police in the investigation of crime, law and order, traffic and patrolling duties.
Next, mention the role police women can play in empowerment process – A gender-diverse force is necessary to create a safe and secure environment for women and to achieve the larger national development goals. Women are more sensitive to the sufferings of others and have greater concern for the well-being of others. They often approach and solve problems from a different perspective than their male counterparts. It is widely recognised that women cops play a crucial role in responding to and preventing gender violence and crime against women and children.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
In India, most people view the police as a male preserve. The role of women in the police has been steadily increasing, though at a slow pace. Women police personnel, apart from performing their professional obligations, have also been championing the cause of women’s empowerment, thereby gradually sowing the seeds of modernity and positive change in society. The India Justice Report 2019 compiled by a group of sectoral experts, ranging from human rights groups to legal policy groups, show that women account for seven per cent of India’s 2.4 million police personnel.
Body
Women in police in India
- As per the Bureau of Police Research and Development, we have only around 10 per cent women in the police.
- There are around 25 per cent women in the Bihar police, the highest among all states.
- It is followed by Himachal Pradesh with around 19 per cent and Tamil Nadu at 18 per cent. Delhi certainly needs to improve on its ratio of 12 per cent women.
- Among Union territories, Chandigarh and Ladakh are doing well with above 18 per cent women.
- Jammu and Kashmir, among the lowest with about 3 per cent women in the police.
- The numbers are expected to rise, with many States and Union Territories providing for 30% (and more) reservation for women in the police in specific ranks.
- Current data reveal that most women in the police are concentrated in the lower ranks.
The barriers that hinder the growth of women in Police services are:
- Gender Apathy:
- The police department suffers from gender apathy as evident through the absence of separate toilets, changing rooms for women, and separate accommodation for women, and other facilities and child-care support, in addition to persistent and widespread gender bias.
- Gender stereotyping:
- Decisions on deployment of women are not free of gender stereotyping restricting women from leading operational positions. This biasness is not limited only from male colleague sometimes female superiors too consider them weak, less willing to work and less tough.
- Lower priority tasks allotted:
- There appears to be a tendency to sideline women, or give them policing tasks that are physically less demanding, or relegate them to desk duty, or make them work on crimes against women alone.
- Allocated only Women related cases:
- Women police persons are relegated to dealing with crimes against women and accompanying women prisoners the concept works against the interests of women as it segregates them.
- Women recruited at lower levels:
- Current data reveal that most women in the police are concentrated in the lower ranks reflecting the dearth of females at key operational positions.
Measures needed to overcome:
- Increased Recruitment:
- There is a need to have more women in the field in executive postings – from constables to inspectors and higher ranks.
- Departments should undertake special recruitment drives in every district to ensure geographical diversity.
- Better Training:
- Women in the constabulary must get the training, support and confidence needed to put them on a par in every sense with their male counterparts.
- Resource centres for mentoring, creating awareness about opportunities and prospects, and helping with career planning and training and coping with workplace challenges are essential.
- Safe workspace:
- Police departments must also ensure safe working spaces for women and adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination and harassment, in order to make policing a viable career option for women.
- Departments must operationalise the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013.
- Gender sensitivity:
- A common gender-neutral cadre needs to be created for all ranks so that promotional opportunities are evenly available.
- Women do have some special needs, like during and post pregnancies, which need to be catered to. They shouldn’t be shunted to non-executive postings. The force needs to encourage more women to be in the field.
- Higher funding:
- Most State police departments have received funds under the Modernisation of State Police Forces Scheme for providing separate toilets and changing rooms for women, and for constructing separate accommodation for women with attached toilets in all police stations and units. Police departments must ensure the best use of this fund.
- Spreading awareness and sensitization:
- The police should reach out to the media and educational institutions to spread awareness about opportunities for women in the police.
- While women have a role in making up for the lack of training and sensitization of the force in general in dealing with crimes against women they should not be ghettoised into dealing only with such crimes.
Conclusion:
The discourse on mainstreaming women in the police by making policing inclusive, non-discriminatory and efficient in India is missing in policy circles. Leading to the vicious cycle of non-reporting and non-action, perpetuating the culture of silence. Desk work too must be allocated evenly among men and women. For women in police to perform to their full potential, it would take sustained increase in their strength, meaningful networking within themselves and an institutionalized support system in the current social realities. Then, they will be the women that they are, the police officers that they are. It will allow them to be their authentic selves, agents of change. To achieve. To lead. To serve the people.
Value addition
Women in numbers in police force- The Case study of Himachal Pradesh:
- In 1975, the first regular batch of 28 lady constable recruits was inducted and since then, our women personnel have gone on to become an integral part of our police force with a strength of 15 IPS officers, eight HPS officers and 2,352 non-gazetted officers.
- Today, women account for 13 per cent of Himachal Pradesh police force.
- Himachal Pradesh is one of the seven states — the others being Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand — where the percentage of women cops is higher than 10.
- In 2009, the Union Home Ministry set a target of 33 per cent for women in the police force and Himachal Pradesh hopes to get there fast enough, if not be the first.
- The state already has 20 per cent reservation for women at the constable level.
Rationale behind increasing the women power in Policing:
- A gender-diverse force is necessary to create a safe and secure environment for women and to achieve the larger national development goals.
- Women are more sensitive to the sufferings of others and have greater concern for the well-being of others.
- They often approach and solve problems from a different perspective than their male counterparts.
- It is widely recognized that women cops play a crucial role in responding to and preventing gender violence and crime against women and children.
- The induction of women and their increased representation in the force have not only helped women at large feel empowered, but also helped reduce crime against them, especially the ones committed on women who had come to accept them as their fate.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: the Hindu
Why the question: Till date, the Ministry of Ayush has supported 59,350 farmers for cultivation of 84 medicinal plant species out of 140 prioritised medicinal plants, and covered 56,305 hectare area throughout the country from 2015-16 to 2020-21
Key Demand of the question: To write about National AYUSH Mission (NAM) and its various achievements especially in regards to cultivation of medicinal species.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by stating the aims and objectives of The National AYUSH Mission (NAM).
Body:
First, write about the various features of The National AYUSH Mission (NAM) and steps taken towards promotion and mainstreaming of AYUSH services.
Next, about the how NAM is playing a part in the promotion of cultivations of medicinal species as part of medicinal plants component of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM). Write its various components and the its advantages.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
AYUSH is the acronym of the medical systems that are being practiced in India such as Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. The basic approach of all these systems on health, disease and treatment are holistic. The National AYUSH Mission (NAM) was launched during 12th Plan with the basic objective of promoting AYUSH medical systems through cost effective AYUSH services, strengthening of educational systems, facilitate the enforcement of quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani & Homoeopathy (ASU &H) drugs and sustainable availability of ASU & H raw-materials.
Body
Various features of The National AYUSH Mission (NAM)
- Co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs).
- Supply of essential drugs to AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries.
- Up gradation of exclusive State Government AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries.
- Setting up of up to 50 bedded integrated AYUSH Hospital.
- Upgradation of State Government Educational Institutions.
- Setting up of new State Government AYUSH Educational Institutions including Yoga and Naturopathy in the State where it is not available.
- Strengthening of State Government/ Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) Pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories (DTL).
- Cultivation and Promotion of Medicinal Plants.
Steps taken towards promotion and mainstreaming of AYUSH services (data from NAM website)
- Total 104 upto 50 bedded Integrated AYUSH hospitals in different States/UTs have been supported.
- Total 296 AYUSH Hospitals and 4717 AYUSH dispensaries have been supported for the Upgradation of infrastructure and other facilities.
- Total 2878 PHCs, 840 CHCs and 350 DHs have been supported under co-location for recurring assistance of medicines and contingency on an average in each year.
- 1965 Yoga Wellness Centres and 512 AYUSH Gram units supported.
- Grant in aid has been provided for the establishment of 11 New AYUSH Educational Institutions.
- Total 72 Under-Graduate and 33 Post-Graduate, AYUSH educational Institutes have been supported for Upgradation of infrastructure, Library and other things.
- 36 ASU & H Pharmacies and 29 Drug Testing Laboratories have been supported for strengthening.
- 4448 units of Ayush Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs) have been approved. 1041 HWCs are progressive functional.
Role of NAM in the promotion of cultivations of medicinal species
- Till date, the Ministry of Ayush has supported 59,350 farmers for cultivation of 84 medicinal plant species out of 140 prioritised medicinal plants, and covered 56,305 hectare area throughout the country from 2015-16 to 2020-21
- Under medicinal plants component of NAM, the Ministry had provided financial assistance in form of subsidy to encourage the farmers for cultivation of medicinal plants throughout the country from the 2015-16 to 2020-21.
- Under the scheme, a subsidy was provided to farmers at 30%, 50% and 75% of cost of cultivation.
Way forward
- It is important to gather scientific evidence for the safety and efficacy of AYUSH medicines and practices.
- Work towards capacity building and developing a critical mass of competent professionals in the AYUSH sector through quality education and training at national and international levels.
- True integration of traditional and modern systems is the need of the hour. This would require a concerted strategy for facilitating meaningful cross-learning and collaboration between the modern and traditional systems on equal terms.
- There is a need to ensure substantial groundwork with respect to the prerequisites of an effective integration.
- Building a strong traditional medicine evidence corpus.
- Standardizing and regulating AYUSH practices and qualifications.
- Delineating the relative strengths, weaknesses, and role of each system in an integrated framework.
- Negotiating the philosophical and conceptual divergences between systems.
- Accordingly, a medium- and long-term plan for seamless integration should be developed expeditiously in view of the massive drive for achieving universal health care already underway in the country and considering the vast potential of AYUSH to contribute to this cause.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: InstaPedia
Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question: To write about the role played by FDI in the emerging economies.
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 defining Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Body:
Write the various aspects of FDI in emerging economies – First, international flows of capital, diversification of lending and investment, global integration of capital markets, allows the transfer of technology and can also promote competition in the domestic input market etc. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
FDI is the process whereby residents of one country (the home country) acquire ownership of assets for the purpose of controlling the production, distribution and other activities of a firm in another country (the host country).
Foreign Direct Investment or FDI is a major driver of economic growth and is largely a matter of private business decisions. FDI inflows depend on a number of factors sub as availability of natural resources, infrastructure, market size, general investment climate etc. Govt of India has put in place a liberal and transparent policy for FDI with most sectors open to FDI under the automatic route.
Body
Various aspects of FDI in emerging economies
- Economic benefits: FDI acts as a bridge by filling up budgetary gap, stabilize rupee and improves Balance of Payment situation.
- Capital inflows create higher output and jobs.
- Capital inflows can help finance a current account deficit.
- Long-term capital inflows are more sustainable than short-term portfolio inflows.
- For e.g., in a credit crunch, banks can easily withdraw portfolio investment, but capital investment is less prone to sudden withdrawals.
- Knowledge economy: Recipient country can benefit from improved knowledge and expertise of foreign multinational.
- Employment generation: FDI creates employment opportunity mainly in service sector and ITEC.
- Investment from abroad could lead to higher wages and improved working conditions, especially if the MNCs are conscious of their public image of working conditions in developing economies.
- Infrastructure development: FDI in construction, railways except operation help in developing projects like high-speed train, Freight corridor, etc
- Strengthen financial services: FDIs can enhance financial services of a country by not only entering its banking industry but also by extending other activities like merchant banking, portfolio investment etc.
- This, in turn, can result in the promotion of more companies.
- It has also helped the capital market within the country.
Government Measures to increase FDI
- In 2020, schemes like production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for electronics manufacturing, have been notified to attract foreign investments.
- In 2019, the Central Government amended FDI Policy 2017, to permit 100% FDI under automatic route in coal mining activities.
- Further, the government permitted 26% FDI in digital sectors. The sector has particularly high return capabilities in India as favourable demographics, substantial mobile and internet penetration, massive consumption along with technology uptake provides great market opportunity for a foreign investor.
- FDI in manufacturing was already under the 100% automatic route, however in 2019, the government clarified that investments in Indian entities engaged in contract manufacturing is also permitted under the 100% automatic route provided it is undertaken through a legitimate contract.
- Contract Manufacturing: Production of goods by one firm, under the label or brand of another firm.
- Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal (FIFP) is the online single point interface of the Government of India with investors to facilitate FDI. It is administered by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Conclusion
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a major driver of economic growth and an important source of non-debt finance for the economic development of India. A robust and easily accessible FDI regime, thus, should be ensured. Economic growth in the post-pandemic period and India’s large market shall continue to attract market-seeking investments to the country.
Value addition
FDI in India
FDI is an important monetary source for India’s economic development. Economic liberalisation started in India in the wake of the 1991 crisis and since then, FDI has steadily increased in the country. India, today is a part of top 100-club on Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and globally ranks number 1 in the greenfield FDI ranking.
Routes through which India gets FDI
- Automatic route: The non-resident or Indian company does not require prior nod of the RBI or government of India for FDI.
- Govt route:The government’s approval is mandatory. The company will have to file an application through Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal, which facilitates single-window clearance. The application is then forwarded to the respective ministry, which will approve/reject the application in consultation with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce. DPIIT will issue the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for processing of applications under the existing FDI policy.
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: InstaPedia
Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question: To understand the present-day challenges in formulating a Foreign trade policy, as the focus has shifted to digitisation.
Directive word:
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 mentioning how the trade dynamics across borders have changed in the past one decade.
Body:
First, mention the roles and responsibilities of DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade) to take confidence of various stakeholders such as Industry chambers, trade associations, commodity boards etc.
Next, highlight the various factors of digitisation that brought a paradigm shift – such as changing needs of a digital economy, role of GST, balancing the export and import industry, alignment of the FTP with the macro economic vision of the nation etc.
Next, analyse trade policy in the backdrop of restrictive trade policy tools such as tariffs, export restrictions, anti dumping duties etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by saying that India needs to take a fine policy balance of promotion of Foreign trade alongside the Aatmanirbhar mission.
Introduction
In 2022, the Government of India is set to introduce the new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) that will provide direction to the country’s broader trade policy regime in the succeeding five years. This FTP will be more difficult to draft than the previous ones, for various reasons including the increased global pressure to address trade policy uncertainties, the need for alignment with the self-reliance mission, Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, and the tenuous global economic environment.
In India, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is in the process of formulating the new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), expected to be rolled out in 2022 and applicable for the succeeding five years.
Body
Roles of Responsibilities of DGFT
- The drafting process requires tremendous effort in terms of collating and analysing a diverse range of inputs—from export promotion councils, trade associations, industry chambers, commodity boards, and trade policy specialists.
- Using the results of these consultations, the DGFT must then draft a coherent FTP that takes into account both domestic and international complexities.
- Moreover, the outcome of the previous FTP must be evaluated to address any gaps and shortcomings in its stated goals.
- Those included providing a stable and sustainable policy environment and regime; linking rules, procedures and incentives for exports and imports with other initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India, and Skill India; diversifying India’s exports; strengthening the governance architecture for India’s global trade engagements; and correcting the trade imbalance in India’s external engagements.
Digitisation and paradigm shift
- The rapid digitisation of global production, trade and consumption of goods and services has had a profound impact on the trade competitiveness of countries, fuelling the need for robust digital skills, infrastructure and capabilities.
- This is one of the key areas where India is lagging behind other developing countries such as China and South Africa, g. India’s exports of technological goods and services.
- The government must work on building its digital capabilities and infrastructure in key export sectors through a ‘Digitally Informed Foreign Trade Policy’, with a focus on enhancing India’s trade competitiveness by developing digital infrastructure for trade;
- Building digital skills in tradeable sectors; increasing the share of technology content in exports; and leveraging advanced technologies (Big Data Analytics, IoT, and Blockchain) for evidence-based and informed trade policy decisions are need of the hour.
- Further, these efforts must be aligned with the country’s domestic and multilateral trade negotiations.
- To that end, it is critical to preserve the policy space in its regional and multilateral trade negotiations, in key areas such as data localisation and cross-border data flows.
India’s trade policy considerations
- Focus on FTA: The new FTP must provide policy guidance and a direction for future trade agreements. The benefits of FTAs must be strongly communicated to the industry, so that it can prepare itself for future trade deals
- Centre-State synergy: Finally, achieving superlative growth in foreign trade requires target policy action both at Central and state levels, to develop upstream industries (low-cost steel, API & Excipient, Chemical Hubs), skilled personnel, and world-class logistics infrastructure to address the associated redundancies.
- On basis of global demand: Furthermore, India’s domestic policy action for promoting export must be based on external requirements.
- For example, India’s “One District–One Product” (ODOP) Scheme can be used to develop and scale up the industries around some of these key importable products in the world market.
- Revamp SEZ: There is a need for policy rationalisation to level the playing field under each type of manufacturing.
- One way of reducing import-dependence and facilitating enhanced export can be to allow Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) sales to SEZ units in select areas where India has higher import-dependence, subject to the payment of taxes and duties on such sales.
- Neutralise duty on exports: India’s policymakers have always insisted that goods should be exported, not the taxes.
- However, effective duty neutralisation in policy as well as in practice requires making Indian goods competitive in international markets.
- There are three levels of taxes in India: Central, state, and local, of which only Central had been neutralised in the export chain so far.
Conclusion
In drafting the new Foreign Trade Policy, the office of the DGFT must ensure alignment with globally acceptable policy norms, introduce policy measures for addressing the operational problems faced by the trade community, fine-tune the existing policies to match contemporary business requirements, and take into account India’s macroeconomic policy framework. At the same time, policy initiatives must be aimed at creating synergy within the overall policy framework as well as with the prevailing global economic and trade landscape.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: DownToEarth
Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question: To understand the present-day challenges in formulating a Foreign trade policy, as the focus has shifted to digitisation.
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 giving context about the Minamata convention and the nature of the treaty.
Body:
First, mention the various sources of mercury emissions – mercury mining, chemical and petrochemical industries and also in household products like compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and thermometers, coal-fired power plants and industrial effluents etc.
Next, highlight the consequences of mercury pollution – Minamata disease, bio-magnifies up in the food chain, and easily enters the human body and impacts the nervous system etc.
Next, explain the various methods and objectives of Minamata convention in dealing with above issues.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward for India to deal with mercury pollution.
Introduction
Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil. Exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life. Mercury is easily transported worldwide through the environment and so the hazardous effects can reach even remote places.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international environmental treaty that aims to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of mercury and its compounds.
Body
Causes of Mercury pollution
- The largest source of emissions to the atmosphere is currently coal fired power stations, however, the widespread use of mercury in dental amalgam means that in the future, crematoria could become the most significant source.
- Hospitals with medical waste incinerators are also a major contributor to the mercury
- Household items such as fluorescent light bulbs and batteries and various temperature and moisture measurement and sensing devices (barometers, hydrometers, flame sensors).
- The chlor-alkali industry, production of zinc, steel and other metals; cement production, mining and product recycling has released many tonnes of mercury to the aquatic environment over the years, and contributed to fish contamination.
- It is also released into the environment through natural phenomena (volcanoes, degradation of minerals or evaporation from soils) and manmade processes.
Consequences
- According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mercury is one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern.
- The inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal.
- The inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.
- Neurological and behavioural disorders may be observed after inhalation, ingestion or dermal exposure of different mercury compounds.
- Symptoms include tremors, insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular effects, headaches and cognitive and motor dysfunction.
- Mild, subclinical signs of central nervous system toxicity can be seen in workers exposed to an elemental mercury level in the air of 20 μg/m3 or more for several years.
- Kidney effects have been reported, ranging from increased protein in the urine to kidney failure.
- Minamata Disease
- In Minamata in Japan, methylmercury was released as part of the industrial wastewater from a chemical factory. This went on for a few decades from 1932 to 1968.
- Methylmercury is a highly toxic chemical, and it was bio-accumulated and biomagnified in the fish and shellfish in the Minamata Bay.
- The local population, which ate this seafood, suffered from mercury poisoning as a result of this.
- It is a UN treaty.
- The convention was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland 2013.
- Controlling the anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycleis one of the key obligations under the Convention.
- The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercuryand its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.
- The Convention covers all aspects of the life cycle of mercury, controlling and reducing mercuryacross a range of products, processes and industries.
- Convention includes controls on:
- mercury mining
- the manufacture and trade of mercury and products containing mercury
- disposal of mercury waste
- emissions of mercury from industrial facilities.
- Countries that have ratified the Convention are bound by international law to put these controls in place. India ratified the Convention in 2018.
- The Minamata Convention is a powerful tool in our collective effort to rid the planet of toxic substances. It is essential to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
Way forward
- Promote the use of clean energy sources that do not burn coal.
- Eliminate mercury mining, and use of mercury in gold extraction and other industrial processes.
- Phase out use of non-essential mercury-containing products and implement safe handling, use and disposal of remaining mercury-containing products.
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)
“We are like chameleons, we take our hue and the colour of our moral character, from those who are around us.”
― John Locke
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 the answer by explaining the quote in your own words.
Body:
Explain the role of influence from the family, teachers and friends in the shaping of our attitudes. Elaborate upon as to how these various factors leads to formation of moral attitudes and thereby governing our behaviour. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing about need of cultivating the right attitude via positive influence.
Introduction
This quote relates to our time because many people today have to try to fit in everyday life to get anywhere in it. We notice others and automatically look up to them and they become the standard for us. Sometimes, the benchmarks we set for ourselves also is based on other people’s lives. While this may sometimes work in our favour when our role models are inspiring people but at the same time, it may be detrimental if we choose to surround ourselves with wrong people.
Body
The best example is the Nazi Germany, where millions of jews were killed in holocaust based on Hitler’s dictum to exterminated the Jews. During the Nuremburg trials, it was found that many Nazi Generals blindly followed the authority without questioning the moral judgement of Hitler.
Even people who were against such incarceration got co-opted eventually seeing their neighbours and fellow countrymen and accepted the Nazi superiority as blind truth.
More than sixty years ago Gustav Gilbert, a US Intelligence Officer, wrote ‘Nuremberg Diary’ about his experience at the Nuremberg prison. Nuremberg Diary contains detailed conversations with politicians, generals, businessmen, architects and engineers. Most senior Nazis were “normal” intelligent people who contributed to an organization that did extraordinarily evil things. This shows that not just ordinary people but those who were well educated also became privy to the most heinous genocide in history of the world.
In everyday life, it means you become the people you surround yourself with. If one surrounds himself with drug users, they will eventually see it as morally acceptable to behave in the same way. Contradictory to that, if one surrounds himself around athletes and people in healthy relationships, they will find themselves becoming fit and surrounded by people who are committed supporting us.
Conclusion
When one considers a personal worldview, one can see that there is always 4 elements. There is Origins, Purpose, Morality, and Destiny. Since Morality is one of the facets of worldview, it will be built in the same way as the other three elements; that is, by the lived experience of the holder of it. Our worldview is constructed through our experiences, our education, our up brings and family, our friends and our enemies. Through the collected experiences of our lives, we have unintentionally created a lens through which we make sense of the world.
