[Mission 2022] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 31 March 2022

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General Studies – 1

Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

 

1. Gandhara School encapsulates foreign techniques and Hellenistic spirit of realism which is evident in its art. Elucidate. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: Indian Express

Why the question: The Bamiya Buddha statues, hewn from sandstone cliffs, are said to have dated back to the 5th century AD, and were once the tallest standing Buddhas in the world. As the Taliban talk of preserving the site of Mes Aynak, recalling the Bamiyan Buddhas and their destruction.

Key Demand of the question: To write about the various influences on Gandhara school of art.

Directive word: 

Elucidate – 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 mentioning about the development of sculpture and the emergence of Gandhara school of art.

Body:

Write in detail about the features of Gandhara school of art – The regions they covered, the patronage, the important characteristics of their sculpture, the material they used and type of images produced.

Next, in detail write about the various Greek and Roman influences on them. Substantiate with examples the various nature of influences.

Conclusion:

Conclude by Summarising.

Introduction

Gandhara art, style of Buddhist visual art that developed in what is now northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan between the 1st century BCE and the 7th century CE. The style, of Greco-Roman origin, seems to have flourished largely during the Kushana dynasty and was contemporaneous with an important but dissimilar school of Kushana art at Mathura.

Body

The Gandharan craftsmen made a lasting contribution to Buddhist art in their composition of the events of the Buddha’s life into set scenes.

Gandhara art encapsulates foreign techniques and Hellenistic spirit of realism

• In its interpretation of Buddhist legends, the Gandhara school incorporated many motifs and techniques from Classical Roman art, including vine scrolls, cherubs bearing garlands, tritons, and centaurs. The basic iconography, however, remained Indian.
• The materials used for Gandhara sculpture were green phyllite and gray-blue mica schist which in general, belong to an earlier phase, and stucco, which was used increasingly after the 3rd century CE. The sculptures were originally painted and gilded.
• The Hellenistic influence was nowhere more dramatic than in Gandhara, a term now used to describe the school of semi-classical sculptures of Pakistan and Afghanistan in the early centuries of our era.
• In contrast with Mathura School, the Gandhara School images are known for their anatomical accuracy, spatial depth, and foreshortening.
• The Gandhara school drew upon the anthropomorphic traditions of Roman religion and represented the Buddha with a youthful Apollo-like face, dressed in garments resembling those seen on Roman imperial statues.
• This style of art was closely associated with Mahayana Buddhism and hence the main theme of this art was Lord Buddha and Bodhisattvas.
• The Buddha and Bodhisattva figures resemble the Greek God Apollo with broad shoulders, a halo around the head. The physical features such as muscles, nails, hair have been done with great detail.
• All early Bodhisattvas are shown in wearing turbans, jewelry, and muslin skirts, a costume that was an adaptation of the actual dress of Kushan and Indian nobles.
• Thus, it can be conjectured that in idea and conception this style was Indian and in execution it was foreign. One example of the Gandhara style of art is the Bamiyan Buddha statues.
• The Gandhara depiction of the seated Buddha was less successful.

Conclusion

The schools of Gandhara and Mathura influenced each other, and the general trend was away from a naturalistic conception and toward a more idealized, abstract image. Gandhara School of Art can be said as an influence and culmination of both the Indian as well as foreign traditions due to its strategic location.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

2.  What do you understand by the ‘one health approach’? Examine its role in preventing outbreak of various infections. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: DownToEarth

Why the question: T A draft recommendation on ‘biodiversity and health’ was released during the Convention on Biological Diversity concluded March 29, 2022. It will be the key focus area of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, according to the subsidiary body on scientific, technical and technological advice

Key Demand of the question: To write about the one health approach and its significance .

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 defining “One health Approach”.

Body:

One Health is a collaborative, multispectral, and trans disciplinary approach — working at the local, regional, national, and global levels — with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.

Studies indicate that more than two-thirds of existing and emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, or can be transferred between animals and humans, and vice versa, when the pathogen in question originates in any life form but circumvents the species barrier.

Examine its significance in handling zoonotic diseases.

Conclusion:

Conclude with way forward.

Introduction

The term ‘One Health’ was first used in 2003– 2004, in association with the emergence of severe acute respiratory disease (SARS) in early 2003 and subsequently by the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, and by the series of strategic goals known as the ‘Manhattan Principles’.

Body

One Health Approach

• It is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach — working at the local, regional, national, and global levels — with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.
• Successful public health interventions require the cooperation of Professionals in human health (doctors, nurses, public health practitioners, epidemiologists), animal health (veterinarians, paraprofessionals, agricultural workers), environment (ecologists, wildlife experts) along with other relevant players including law enforcement agencies, policymakers, agriculture, communities, and even pet owners.
• One Health issues include zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and food security, vector-borne diseases, environmental contamination, and other health threats shared by people, animals, and the environment.

Relevance of One Health Approach

In recent times, many factors have changed interactions between people, animals, plants, and our environment and have led to the spread of existing or known (endemic) and new or emerging zoonotic diseases:

• Climate and land use change: The earth has experienced changes in climate and land use, such as deforestation and intensive farming practices.
• Disruptions in environmental conditions and habitats can provide new opportunities for diseases to pass to animals.
• Animals also share our susceptibility to some diseases and environmental hazards. Because of this, they can sometimes serve as early warning signs of potential human illness.
• For example,birds often die of West Nile virus before people in the same area get sick with West Nile virus infection.
• Geographic expansion of human habitats:Human populations are growing and expanding into new geographic areas. As a result, more people live in close contact with wild and domestic animals, both livestock and pets.
• Role of animals: Animals play an important role in our lives, whether for food, fiber, livelihoods, travel, sport, education, or companionship.
  • Close contact with animals and their environments provides more opportunities for diseases to pass between animals and people.
  • As per the studies, 60% of known human infectious diseases have their source in animals (whether domestic or wild).
• Increased global interactions: International travel and trade has led to the unprecedented flow of commodities, people and animals. This gives pathogens of all kinds of opportunities to spread and multiply around the world.

Way Forward

• Scientists have observed that there are more than 1.7 million viruses circulating in wildlife, and many of them are likely to be zoonotic, which implies that unless there is timely detection, India risks facing many more pandemics in times to come.
• To achieve targets under the ‘One Health’ vision, efforts are ongoing to address challenges pertaining to veterinary manpower shortages, the lack of information sharing between human and animal health institutions, and inadequate coordination on food safety at slaughter, distribution, and retail facilities.
• These issues can be remedied by consolidating existing animal health and disease surveillance systems — e.g., the Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health, and the National Animal Disease Reporting System — developing best-practice guidelines for informal market and slaughterhouse operation (e.g., inspections, disease prevalence assessments), and creating mechanisms to operationalise ‘One Health’ at every stage down to the village level.
• Now, as we battle yet another wave of a deadly zoonotic disease (COVID-19), awareness generation, and increased investments toward meeting ‘One Health’ targets is the need of the hour.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.

3. A carefully curated and sensitively regulated gig economy with well-defined rights of workers and social security benefits is the need of the hour. Analyse. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: the Hindu

Why the question: The recent announcement by Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal of its plans to deliver food to customers in 10 minutes has raised a small twitter storm, forcing the CEO to put out a clarification. This raises several questions on the nature of delivery platforms, and the impact on delivery workers.

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 gig workers.

Body:

In the first talk about the ambiguity in gig economy which results in the exploitation of gig workers – lack of formal employer-employee relationship, remuneration, rigidity of working hours and the working conditions etc.

Next, talk about the immediate measures that are needed to address it – proper regulation, Giving effect to The Code on Social Security, 2020, considering right to social security as a fundamental right etc.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

A gig economy is a free market system in which temporary positions are common and organizations contract with independent workers for short-term engagements. Examples of gig employees in the workforce could include freelancers, independent contractors, project-based workers and temporary or part-time hires.

The recent announcement by Zomato CEO of its plans to deliver food to customers in 10 minutes has raised a small twitter storm, forcing the CEO to put out a clarification. This raises several questions on the nature of delivery platforms, and the impact on delivery workers.

Body

Current Scenario:

• An estimated 56% of new employment in India is being generated by the gig economy companies across both the blue-collar and white-collar workforce.
• According to the Oxford Internet Institute’s ‘Online Labor Index’, India leads the global gig economy with a 24% share of the online labor market, with demand for software developers, creative and marketing professionals.
• Industry bodies have been conducting several studies on this parallel economy and just before the advent of the pandemic had predicted India’s gig economy to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 17 per cent to touch $455 billion in the next three years.
• India at present has around 15 million freelance workers engaged in projects in sectors like IT, HR, and designing. In comparison, there are almost 53 million independent workers in the US.
• The present Covid-19 scenario would push more of the conventional workforces towards the gig economy in India.
• India’s workforce is adding almost four million people every year, this would have a big impact on the gig economy in the near future.
• Even in India, firms are shrinking in size, giving rise to a large number of start-ups specialized in taking up non-core activities on contractual basis.

‘Gig’ economy is creating lakhs of jobs, but workers don’t see a future:

• The recent Periodic Labour Force Survey from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation shows unemployment rate at a 45-year high, at 6.1%; the highest levels of joblessness is among urban youth.
• Other reports show that over the past two years’ domestic consumption has reduced, industrial growth has flatlined, private investments are lower, and market volatility has hit drivers of employment.
• And so, not surprisingly, many, including undergraduates and diploma holders, now look at the gig economy as a stop-gap solution until the market turns.
• Human resources firm Team Lease estimates that 13 lakh Indians joined the gig economy in the last half of 2018-19, registering a 30% growth compared to the first half of the fiscal year.
• Better Place, a digital platform that does background verification and skill development in the informal sector, estimates that of the 21 lakh jobs that will be created in the metros in 2019-20, 14 lakhs will be in the gig economy.
• Food and e-commerce delivery will account for 8 lakh positions and drivers will account for nearly 6 lakh positions, says the report, based on 11 lakh profiles in over 1,000 companies.
• Delhi, Bengaluru and other metros are expected to be the biggest drivers of this sector. And two-thirds of this workforce will be under the age of 40.

Key Challenges:

• This workforce has limited employment rights like minimum wages, health benefits, sick leaves or even retirement benefits to fall back on.
• Also, the payment is assured only on the completion of the project giving a sense of financial insecurity.
• The lack of any kind of protection was also deterring several talented workers against participating in the economy
• The Central government recently passed the social security code which could cover gig worker as well.
• One of the key proposals includes the creation of a social security fund which is around 1 per cent of the aggregators’ annual turnover.
• This fund would be used primarily for the welfare of the unorganized and the gig workforce

Way Forward

• The government needs to come out with some more regulations to protect the workforce of the gig economy.
• Also, at present, there is no mechanism to address the issue of redress of disputes.
• It could also mean countries coming together to set up a platform to extend their labour protection to the workforce who are working part-time in their country.
• Companies employing the workforce on a temporary basis should also be made responsible to contribute to their insurance and social obligation other than just their tax commitment.

Conclusion

The scope of the gig economy in a country like India is enormous. The government needs to come out with a comprehensive legislation to empower and motivate many to take this path. The gig economy and its workforce cannot be overlooked when we talk about the future of employment.

Topic: economics of animal-rearing.

4. Dairy development and livestock provides an opportunity for diversifying farmers’ incomes. Discuss in the light of recent measures undertaken for dairy development in India. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

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 role dairy development can play in poor people.

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: 

Start by citing a statistic regarding the dairy and livestock sector in India and extent of involvement of small and landless farmers in it.

Body:

First, mention the advantages of dairy development for poor and landless labourers – increasing scope, better incomes, subsistence food, buffer against shocks etc.

Next, mention the various initiatives taken to promote dairy and livestock in India – New Vibrant Villages Programme, Rashtriya Gokul Mission,  The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), National Livestock Mission and Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) etc

Conclusion:

Conclude with way forward to achieve maximum potential of diary and livestock sector in India.

Introduction

The huge increase in milk supply through concerted efforts on a cooperative level is known as the White Revolution. Forty-eight years after Operation Flood – that made India the world’s largest milk producer – India continues to be on the lookout for the next breakthrough in agricultural produce and productivity. White Revolution 2.0 has effectuated dairy firms’ marketing strategy for milk and milk products, resuscitating the outlook of product-market mix.

Body

Milk production in India:

• India emerged as the largest milk producer and consumer in 2019.
• Niti Aayog estimates that the country is expected to increase its milk production to 330 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2033–34 from the current level of 176 mt.
• Currently India has 17% of world output of dairy products, surpassing USA in 1998 as world’s largest producer of dairy. All this was achieved by operation Flood which was launched in 1970’s.
• According to market research company IMARC, the milk and dairy products industry reached Rs7.9 lakh crore in 2017.
• In 2016, the milk sector alone was valued at Rs3 lakh crore and is projected to scale Rs7.3 lakh crore by 2021.
• The per capita milk availability in India has gone up from 126 gm per day in 1960 to 359 gm per day in 2015.

Government initiatives for the diary sector:

• National Programme for Bovine Breeding
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission
• National Bovine Genetic Centre
• Quality Mark
• National Kamdhenu Breeding Centres
• E-Pashuhaat portal
• National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD)
• Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS)
• National Dairy Plan-I (NDP-I)
• Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF)
• Supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organizations engaged in dairy activities (SDCFPO)

Challenges faced:

• Indian cattle and buffaloes have among the lowest productivity.
• Similarly, there is a shortage of organized dairy farms and there is a need of high degree of investment to take dairy industry to global standards.
• Improving productivity of farm animals is one of the major challenges
• Crossbreeding of indigenous species with exotic stocks to enhance genetic potential of different species has been successful only to a limited extent.
• The sector will also come under significant adjustment pressure to the emerging market forces. Though globalization will create avenues for increased participation in international trade, stringent food safety and quality norms would be required.
• Access to markets is critical to speed up commercialization. Lack of access to markets may act as a disincentive to farmers to adopt improved technologies and quality inputs.

Measures needed:

• Increase in the market share depends on how dairy firms’ capabilities and their resources are utilised given the opportunities and threats emanating from emerging markets economies.
• Contract/corporate dairying and emerging global dairy trade are required to rope in dairy supply chains stakeholders in order to expand their outreach and “on-the-go” product positioning into the target segment.
• Digital technology-enabled dairy firms need to identify their compatible partners and competitors for co-creation through product-process innovation via relationship/value-based marketing.
• Freshness in milk, and convenience to store milk or milk products can be a technology innovation brought in by large dairy firms in association start-ups.

• Education and Training at Panchayat level for small and medium size farmers
• Subsidizing cattle production and encouraging cattle markets
• Facility of logistics for produced milk
• Improved Veterinary facility specially in artificial insemination of cattle
• Encouraging private sector firm to procure dairy produced at rural level
• Low interest loans for small and medium scale farmers for cattle purchase
• Encouraging rural women to take up animal husbandry
• Insurance of cattle against diseases like Anthrax, Foot and Mouth, Peste des Ruminantes, etc.
• Nurture dairy entrepreneurs through effective training of youth at the village level coupled with dedicated leadership and professional management of farmers’ institutions.
• Agricultural practices, sanitation, quality of drinking water & fodder, type and quality of pipelines – all of these need to be aligned to the goal of healthy milk

Conclusion

The Government initiatives can ensure sustainable growth of the dairy sector as well as boost incomes of millions of small and marginal dairy farmers. Linking the animal husbandry with food processing industry, agriculture, researches & patents has all the possible potential to make India a nutritional power house of the world. Animal husbandry is the imperative hope, definite desire and urgent panacea for India as well as the world.

Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices.

5. How is the minimum price of sugarcane determined in India? Examine the issues with respect to fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane with special emphasis on profitability of sugar mills. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: insightsonindia

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 mention the various way in which minimum price for sugarcane is determine and write about issues in FRP.

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: 

Mention the scenario about the Sugarcane and Sugar industry.

Body:

Write in detail about the two mechanisms for determination of minimum price of sugarcane in India – Fair and remunerative price (FRP) and State Advised Prices (SAP).

Write about issues in regards to Fair and remunerative price (FRP). Explain how rise FRP without rise in sugar prices have negatively impacted the sugar Industry.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

The Fair and Remunerative Pricing (FRP) is used in sugarcane industry to replace the MSP, it is based on the Rangarajan Committee report of reorganizing the sugarcane industry. The committee found that in the production of sugar, 70% of the input cost is sugarcane. This FRP method is useful in times when the sugar prices are high but the FRP method ask the sugar companies to pay the farmer the MSP for sugar when the sugar and hence sugarcane price is low.

Body

Determination of FRP:

• The pricing of sugarcane is governed by the statutory provisions of the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 issued under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955.
• Prior to 2009-10 sugar season, the Central Government was fixing the Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) of sugarcane and farmers were entitled to share profits of a sugar mill on 50:50 basis.
• As this sharing of profits remained virtually unimplemented, the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 was amended in October, 2009 and the concept of SMP was replaced by the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane.
• A new clause ‘reasonable margins for growers of sugarcane on account of risk and profits’ was inserted as an additional factor for working out FRP and this was made effective from the 2009-10 sugar season.
• The Federal/Central Government announces Fair and Remunerative Prices which are determined on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and are announced by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, which is chaired by Prime Minister.
• The FRP, the minimum price that mills have to pay to cane growers, every year before start of the sugarcane crushing season.

Issues with respect to fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane:

• FRPs would adversely affect the financial health of the sugar factories in times of low sugar prices where the companies has to pay the MSP even though the sugar prices are low.
• The FRPs are not market-based and are priced at artificially inflated levels by governments.
• This, in turn, puts pressure on the sugar mills who have to purchase the crop from the farmers at these inflated FRPs.
• And while the government has raised ethanol prices dramatically to help sugar mills find an alternative source of demand to pay for the excessively priced sugarcane, once oil prices fall to reasonable levels, oil PSUs won’t be able to afford the ethanol.

Way forward

• Rangarajan committee (2012) proposed decontrol of sugar industry and linking sugarcane prices with market price of sugar to account for this structural imbalance.
• Based on the report, Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommended a hybrid approach of fixing sugarcane prices, which involved fair and remunerative price (FRP) or floor price and revenue sharing formula (RSF). Under this approach farmers’ revenue from sugarcane would be higher if the price of sugar and by-products is high.
• This is similar to many other committees formed by the government to recommend the sugar industry decontrol. Committees under Mahajan (1998), Tuteja (2004), Thorat (2009) and Nandakumar (2010) had similar recommendations.
• Ease the market control of government on export and import. The move is to help India (17% of world production) to enable its exports (only 4% of world export), but leaving it all to the market is risky.
• Do away with minimum distance between mills to enable competition.
• The new national policy on biofuels 2018, expands the scope of raw material for ethanol production by allowing use of Sugarcane Juice.
• Policy modifications to increase the ethanol blending vis-à-vis the foreign countries like Australia which has 85% blending. Better prices for ethanol can also help in export of the same.
• To diversify crops and ensure that sugarcane production falls. This requires long-term investment, and the government will have to encourage farmers to cultivate crops like pulses and oilseeds.
• Better irrigation techniques to reduce the water usage.
• Reducing the information asymmetry to improve farmer’s knowledge about the possible output in a year using Bigdata technique.

Value Addition:

Background:

• The fair & remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane has been increased to ₹290 per quintal for 2021-22, which will be based on 10% recovery. If recovery is less than 9.5%, then farmers will be given ₹275 per quintile. 
• In FRP, the farmer is paid 70% of the total turnover of the company if only the sugar turnover is considered and 75% of the total turnover if other products like bagasse and molasses etc are also considered.
• The approval is the highest ever FRP, approved for sugarcane farmers and the decision will benefit 5 crore sugarcane farmers & their dependents, as well as 5 lakh workers employed in sugar mills and related ancillary activities
• The CACP is required to pay due regard to the statutory factors listed in the Control Order, which are
  • the cost of production of sugarcane;
  • the return to the grower from alternative crops and the general trend of prices of agricultural commodities;
  • the availability of sugar to the consumers at a fair price;
  • the price of sugar;
  • the recovery rate of sugar from sugarcane;
  • the realization made from sale of by-products viz. molasses, bagasse and press mud or their imputed value (inserted in December, 2008) and;
  • reasonable margins for growers of sugarcane on account of risk and profits (inserted in October, 2009).
  • States also announce a price called the State Advisory Price (SAP), which is usually higher than the SMP.

General Studies – 4

Topic: Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity;

6. What is probity? Discuss the importance of probity in the public sphere. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: Ethics by Lexicon publications.

Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Abstract Thursdays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.

Key Demand of the question:

Directive word: 

Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by defining what is Probity.

Body:

Argue on the lines that for a moral society, it is necessary for all the stakeholders- the government, the corporate and the civil society must express the highest levels of probity in public life. Congruence and alignment of morality among the stakeholders is a major prerequisite to ensure a harmonious and ethic al existence of all the players promoting a just society. Illustrate the same with suitable examples.

Conclusion:

Conclude by saying that Probity is one of the main pillars for a just society.

Introduction

Probity is “the quality or condition of having strong moral principles, integrity, good character, honesty, decency”. It is the act of adhering to the highest principles and ideals rather than avoiding corrupt or dishonest conduct. It balances service to the community against the self-interest of individuals.

Body

Importance of Probity in Public sphere

In a democracy, probity espouses the principles of equality before law and a respect for the rights and duties of leaders towards their citizens. Conversely, probity is a societal expectation which citizens demand from decision makers and all those who function as a part of the state’s apparatus

• Legitimacy of the system:Foremost, it helps build up the legitimacy of the system, i.e. the state. It builds trusts in the institutions of the state and a belief that the actions of the state will be for welfare of the beneficiaries.
• Objectivity: It provides for an objective and independent view on the fairness of the process.
• Checks and balances: It helps in checking the abuse and misuse of power by various organs of government such as magistracy, police and all other providers of public service e.g. PWD, health, education, etc.
• Equitable and sustainable development: It is an essential and vital requirement for an efficient and effective system of governance and for socio-economic development.
• To serve the constitutional cause:Probity in Governance is required to serve the motto of Constitution. i.e. to provide Social, Political and economic justice to all. It enhances faith in the governance.
• Reduced politicization of bureaucracy:It helps address nepotism, Favouritism, Political partisanship. Public reposes more trust in governance and therefore it facilitates participatory governance. It leads to avoidance of sub-optimal outcomes, corruption and poor perception

Conclusion

It is a shared belief that the adoption of standards like “accountability”, “transparency” and “responsiveness” will lead to clean and efficient governance. However, standards do not, by themselves, ensure ethical behaviour: which requires a robust culture of integrity and probity in public life. The crux of ethical behaviour does not lie only in standards, but in their adoption in action and in issuing sanctions against their violation.

Value addition

Concept of Probity

• Probity is confirmed integrity. It is usually regarded as being incorruptible.
• It is the quality of having strong moral principles and strictly following them, such as honesty, uprightness, transparency and incorruptibility.
• Probity in Governance is concerned with the propriety and character of various organs of the government as to whether these uphold the procedural uprightness, regardless of the individuals manning these institutions.
• It involves adopting an ethical and transparent approach, allowing the process to withstand scrutiny.
• Probity goes further than the avoidance of being dishonest because it is determined by intangibles like personal and societal values.
• Probity has been described as a risk management approach ensuring procedural integrity.
• It is concerned with procedures, processes and systems rather than outcomes. The principles of probity, ethics and good governance operate on many levels – from, the individual, to the organization and on to the ‘watch-dog’.

Probity principles

There are several generally accepted probity concepts that serve to preserve the integrity of a system. These are:

• Transparency:It is sizeable that the procedure is transparent to the most volume feasible so that each one stakeholder can have faith within the consequences. Transparent, open techniques additionally decline the possibility for, and the threat of, corruption, and fraud.
• Accountability: Itis the responsibility with a view to give an explanation for or account for the manner duties were achieved. The government has to have appropriate mechanisms in the area to expose that they may be liable for their practices and decisions.
• Confidentiality: Being employed, all public servants or other employees under a general responsibility of confidentiality to their corporation. Accordingly, it is not vital for participants of the Government Project Team who are public servants to execute a confidentiality project in terms of the mission. Moreover, all Government advisors, servants, members and some other third party that is aware of commercially sensitive statistics ought to ensure a proper venture to Government that they’ll preserve this information confidential.
• Conflict of interest:This is wherein the general public responsibility and private interests of a Board or staff member can be in conflict which results in their personal interest unreliably influencing their duties and needs. Stakeholders have the authority to count on that Board and staff contributors will best make selections in the best interest of the organization.
• Impartiality:People and companies interacting with an employer are predicted to be independent at every level of the method. If they do no longer trust the process is accurate or fair or unbiased, it may harm the popularity of the enterprise.

 

Topic:  ethics – in private and public relationships;

7. In public service, what are the ways in which one can overcome conflict of interest? (150 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘abstract Thursdays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.

Key Demand of the question: To write about the ways to overcome conflict of interest.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Write about how there is a conflict between private and public relationships during day-to-day administrative work.

Body:

Bring out the various facets of integrity, impartiality and nonpartisan ship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections that an administrator must consider before taking any actions in case of conflict.

Mention certain principles, theories and benchmarks one can take the right decision especially when faced with a conflict or dilemma.

Conclusion:

Complete by summarizing the need for doing the right thing especially for those who are in power.

Introduction

A “conflict  of  interest”  involves  a  conflict  between  the  public  duty  and  private  interests  of  a  public  official,  in  which  the  public  official  has  private-capacity  interests which could improperly influence the performance of their official duties and responsibilities.

Body

In such a situation, judgement of an individual could be impaired. A conflict of interest can exist in many different situations. Conflict of interest is seen  as a moral issue and not strictly a legal one accompanied by criminal culpability in India so it is hardly surprising that blatant violations are virtually seen every day.

Example: a public official whose personal interests conflict with his/her professional position. Instances of the largest shareholder appointing himself as CEO, deciding his salary and then appointing his son to a key post and higher royalties to the parent company are some of the serious conflict of interest issues in India which don’t  receive necessary attention.

A judge giving judgement in a case involving his own family member is a case of conflict of interest.

Public servants faces Conflict of Interest due to the nature of their work-

• Personal vs Professional
  • This is the most common type of conflict of interest arising due to the conflict between personal and professional life.
  • Say, if a public servant is in charge of giving out contracts for a certain project and one of the applicant is relative or friend.
• Conflicting Responsibility
  • Sometimes public servants are given additional charge, which might sometimes create a conflict of interest with the original line of duty.
• Conflicting Organisations
  • Sometimes public servants are part of two separate organisations with apparently conflicting objectives and this might put them in certain conflict of interest.
  • Many public servants also volunteer for NGOs during their service. NGOs and governmental organisation sometimes come at odds with each other.

Getting into a situation of conflict of interest is sometimes unavoidable and not a crime in itself if properly handled:

• Transparency
  • Declaring one’s conflict of interest to the concerned authorities is the best way.
  • It helps civil servant to come clean and concerned authorities can decide further.
• Assure integrity
  • The concerned authority should be assured of integrity and willingness to serve no matter what the decision is made on the declaration.
• Maintain objectivity
  • If given the chance to continue working on that case, work with objectivity.
• Reduce discretion and codify procedure
  • There is a need for legislation to make non-disclosure of a conflict of interest punishable.
  • A private member’s bill (The Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest Bill, introduced in 2012), the legislation ought to cover all arms of governance, including the judiciary, the legislature and the executive.
  • The recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Department of Personnel and Training, calling for early retirement if interested in post-retirement private service is established, needs to be implemented, besides increasing the mandatory cooling period to five years so that no undue influence can be exerted by the retired bureaucrat.
  • Also, the reasons for declining their requests for joining such firms need to be laid out clearly, to limit political concerns.
  • An open, public data platform enlisting all post-retirement appointments of civil servants will increase transparency

Conclusion

The priority must be to frame a modern law relating to conflict of interest, along the lines of what exists in the statute of the other countries like the United States and also ensure them to their work ensures ethical governance.

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