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: population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: the Hindu
Why the question: Only two years ago, in the wake of a nationwide lockdown, India was left shocked by the plight of migrant workers walking hundreds of kilometres, facing hunger, exhaustion and violence, to get to the safety of their home villages.
Key Demand of the question: To write about the need to have social security for migrant workers based on inter-state coordination.
Directive word:
Comment- here we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context regarding the issues faced by migrant workers during the lockdown.
Body:
First, elaborate upon the issues faced by migrant workers – Distress migration: due to non-existent social security and unilateral decisions. Loss of livelihoods, Paradox of hunger despite having plenty, Devastating impact on women and children’s nutrition etc. Account the reasons for the same.
Next, discuss the policies and initiatives of the government in this direction to have a social security and inter-state coordination.
Next, suggest what needs to be done further to alleviate the issues of migrant workers.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The migrants’ crisis left India shocked by their plight of walking hundreds of kilometres, facing hunger, exhaustion and violence, to get to the safety of their home villages. After the two covid waves, the crisis compelled policy-makers to make certain provisions for them in the schemes announced for the assistance of the poor.
Body
Govt efforts
The Government ramped up the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) project, announced the Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) scheme, set up the e-Shram portal and began to draft a migration policy.
Challenges despite Govt efforts
- Repeated surveys have found that the incomes of migrant households continue to be lower than pre-pandemic levels, even after returning to cities.
- Migrants are finding less work and their children eating less.
- The post-1991 poverty alleviation of almost 300 million Indians, driven by migration out of farm work, is being undone.
- Despite this, a cohesive migration policy guidance remains elusive.
Advantages of providing social protection
- Investment in social protection is not charity, it is an investment in workers’ productivityand in equitable growth.
- Providing social protection is, as the UN mooted in 2009 when it spelt out the social protection floor (SPF)initiative after the global financial crisis, the surest way out of a crisis by boosting demand at the bottom of the pyramid.
- The report of the Advisory Committee of the ILO, in which India was represented by its labour secretary, provides a strong rationale for institutinga universal SPF during economic crises.
- As a result, all constituents of the ILO adoptedRecommendation 202 on social protection floors at the International Labour Conference in 2012.
Inadequate provisions by government
- The Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act,was approved by Parliament in December 2008.
- But it lacks the mandatory elements of the NCEUS’s proposals and included neither a National Minimum Social Security Package, nor the provision for mandatory registration.
- Estimates show that the central government’s expenditure on all major social protection programmes declined from 1.96 per cent of GDP in 2008-09 to 1.6 per cent in 2013-14and to only 1.28 per cent in 2019-20.
Way forward
- Role of Centre: migrants would be well served if the Centre played a proactive role by offering strategic policy guidance and a platform for inter-State coordination. State-level political economy constraints make the Centre’s role particularly crucial in addressing issues of inter-State migrant workers at ‘destination States’.
- The National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector had pointed out that the circular migrant workers were a disadvantaged segment among informal workers.
- Comprehensive law:The NCEUS had advocated a comprehensive law for the protection of the rights of all informal workers, including migrants, home workers, and domestic workers.
- Universal registration:NCEUS had also recommended a universal registration mechanism based on self-declaration, with the issuance of a smart social security card, and a National Minimum Social Security Package.
- Guaranteed social security/social protection:We need the provision of a minimum level of guaranteed social security/social protection for all informal workers and their households within a definite time frame.
- More public spending:Guaranteed social protection would involve a clear framework and a commitment to greater public resources being spent on social protection as a large class of workers in India do not have an identifiable employer and a contributory social insurance framework will not work for them.
- Recommendation 202:Government should embrace ILO’s Recommendation 202 and work towards these in a time-bound manner.
- The NITI Aayog’s Draft Policy on Migrant Workers is a positive step forward in articulating policy priorities and indicating suitable institutional frameworks, and deserves a speedy release.
Conclusion
To end the silent, painful, and enduring crisis for the workers, as well as the crisis for the economy, the government must urgently recognise the right to social security, embedded both in the Indian Constitution and international covenants. Strategic initiatives to provide migrants safety nets regardless of location as well as bolster their ability to migrate safely and affordably must keep up the momentum towards migrant-supportive policy.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question: On March 28, Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra introduced The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 in Lok Sabha. If passed, it will allow police and prison authorities to collect, store and analyse physical and biological samples including retina and iris scans of convicted, arrested and detained persons. At the introduction stage, Opposition members opposed the Bill terming it “unconstitutional” and an attack on privacy.
Key Demand of the question: To analyse the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022, its positives and concerns associated with it.
Directive word:
Critically analyze – 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. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a balanced judgment on the topic.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing about the aims and objectives of Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022
Body:
First write about the important features of the bill which to repeal The Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920 – it would define ‘‘measurements’’ to include “signature, handwriting, iris and retina scan, physical, biological samples and their analysis, etc, empowers the National Crime Records Bureau of India (NCRB), under the Union Home Ministry, to collect, store and preserve the record of measurements for at least 75 years etc.
Next, write about how this will assist in making investigation of crime more efficient and expeditious – higher convictions rate, easy of data access, coordination among agencies etc.
Next, write about the various concerns with respect to the bills – unfettered powers to law enforcement agencies to interpret the law as per their convenience, ambiguous wording, scope for misuse etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward to address the above concerns.
Introduction
The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 was introduced in the Lok Sabha. It seeks to replace the Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920 which regulates how the police can gather data from convicted or suspected criminals. The objective of the bill is to ensure more efficient and expeditious investigation of crime by the use of modern technology.
Body
Key Provisions of Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022
- It seeks to repeal the Identification of Prisoners Act 1920. The said Act, in its present form, provides access to a limited category of persons whose body measurements can be taken.
- It authorises law enforcement agencies to collect, store and analyse physical and biological samples of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation in criminal matters.
- The Bill also authorises police to record signatures, handwriting or other behavioural attributes referred to in section 53 or section 53A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973,for the purposes of analysis.
- As per the Bill, any person convicted, arrested or held under any preventive detention law will be required to provide “measurements”to a police officer or a prison official.
- Any state government of Union Territory administration may notify an appropriate agency tocollect, preserve and share the measurements of a person of interest in their respective jurisdictions.
- Resistance to or refusal to allow the taking of measurements under this Act shall be deemed to be an offence under section 186 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Need for and significance of the Bill:
- The bill makes provisions for the use of modern techniquesto capture and record appropriate body measurements.
- The Bill states that it is necessary to expand the “ambit of persons” whose measurements can be taken as this will help investigating agencies gather sufficient legally admissible evidence and establish the crime of the accused person.
- The Bill will not only help investigation agencies but also increase prosecution. There is also a chance of an increase in conviction rates in courts through this.
- It is expected to minimise the threat from organised crime, cybercriminals and terrorists who are proficient in identity thefts and identity frauds.
- The bill will help to check serious national and global threats posed by them.
Shortcomings of the bill
- The proposed law considerably expands its scope and reach.
- It violates Article 20 (3) of the Constitutionthat safeguards the rights of citizens by providing that “no person accused of an offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself”.
- The Bill implied use of force in collection of biological information, could also lead to narco analysis and brain mapping.
- The proposed law, that also provides for retaining the people’s measurements for 75 years from the date of collection, was in “violation of the Right to be Forgottenenshrined in the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution”.
- The phrase ‘biological samples’ is not described further, hence, it could involve bodily invasions such as drawing of blood and hair, collection of DNA samples. These are acts that currently require the written sanction of a magistrate.
- The Bill proposes to collect samples even from protestors engaged in political protests. It infringes upon the right to privacy.
Way forward
- The need of the hour is a strong data protection law,with stringent punishment for breaches, should be in place.
- The bill must be referred to a Standing Committee for deeper scrutinybefore it is enacted into law, as now pre-legislative consultation was done.
- Measures need to be taken for better implementation of the lawas well.
- There is a need to have more experts to collect measurementsfrom the scene of crime, more forensic labs, and equipment to analyse them to identify possible accused involved in a criminal case.
- Thetraining of the investigation officers, prosecutors, judicial officers and collaboration with doctors and forensic experts need to be prioritised too.
Topic: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
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 various constraints affecting the growth rate of MSMEs and suggest measures to overcome 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:
measures to overcome them.
Introduction:
Begin by giving factual status of proportion of MSME vis-à-vis the population dependent on it.
Body:
Elaborate upon the importance of MSMEs in socio-economic development of the country. GDP growth, Job creation, exports and entrepreneurship etc.
Mention about the challenges of the MSMEs such as Technological backwardness, High cost of credit, Procurement of raw materials, Inadequate infrastructure facilities, Lack of skilled manpower and Lack of skilled manpower etc.
Mention the steps that are needed to address the above issues.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward and summarising the overall impact of MSMEs in socio-economic development of India.
Introduction
Micro, Small & Medium enterprises (MSME) termed as “engine of growth “for India, has played a prominent role in the development of the country in terms of creating employment opportunities. The Covid-19 pandemic has left its impact on all sectors of the economy but nowhere is the hurt as much as the Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) of India.
The government, in conjunction with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has now launched a series of measures to alleviate their distress.
Body:
Potential of India’s MSME sector:
- Contribution to GDP: The share of MSMEs in the country’s gross value added is estimated to be about 32%.
- Leveraging Exports: It also contributes about 40% to total exports and 45% to manufacturing output.
- Employment Opportunities: It employs 60 million people, creates 1.3 million jobs every year and produces more than 8000 quality products for the Indian and international markets.
- Diversity: There are approximately 30 million MSME Units in India and is quite diverse in terms of its size, level of technology employed, range of products and services provided and target markets.
- Fostering Inclusive Growth: MSME is constructing inclusive growth in numerous ways through promoting non- agricultural livelihood at least cost, unbiased regional development, large female participation, and providing a protection against deflation.
The challenges and concerns associated with the growth of MSME sector:
- Access to Credit:
- According to Economic Survey (2017-18), MSME sector faces a major problem in terms of getting adequate credit for expansion of business activities.
- The Survey had pointed out that the MSME received only 17.4 per cent of the total credit outstanding.
- Most banks are reluctant to lend to MSMEs because from the perspective of bankers, inexperience of these enterprises, poor financials, lack of collaterals and infrastructure.
- According to a 2018 report by the International Finance Corporation, the formal banking system supplies less than one-third (or about Rs 11 lakh crore) of the credit MSME credit need that it can potentially fund
- most of the MSME funding comes from informal sources and this fact is crucial because it explains why the Reserve Bank of India’s efforts to push more liquidity towards the MSMEs have had a limited impact.
- Poor Infrastructure:
- With poor infrastructure, MSMEs’ production capacity is very low while production cost is very high.
- Access to modern Technology:
- The lack of technological know-how and financial constraints limits the access to modern technology and consequently the technological adoption remains low.
- Access to markets:
- MSMEs have poor access to markets. Their advertisement and sales promotion are comparatively weaker than that of the multinational companies and other big companies.
- The ineffective advertisement and poor marketing channels makes it difficult for them to compete with large companies.
- Legal hurdles:
- Getting statutory clearances related to power, environment, labour are major hurdles.
- Laws related to the all aspects of manufacturing and service concern are very complex and compliance with these laws are difficult.
- Lack of skilled manpower:
- The training and development programs in respect of MSME`S development has been. Thus, there has been a constant crunch of skilled manpower in MSMEs
Other issues:
- Low ICT usage.
- Low market penetration.
- Quality assurance/certification.
- IPR related issues.
- Quality assurance/certification.
- Standardization of products and proper marketing channels to penetrate new markets.
Measures needed:
- Recently, The Union Cabinet approved a USD 808 million or Rs 6,062.45 crore, World Bank assisted programme on “Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance” (RAMP).
- Government of India and banks should design plans and measures to widen easy, hassle-free access to credit.
- The RBI should bring stringent norms for Non-Performing Assets (NPA) and it will help curbing loan defaulters and motivate potential good debts. Further, according to critics, the Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSME (CGTMSE) run by SIDBI is a growing contingent liability and needs to be examined with urgency
- Government should provide enhanced development and upgradation of existing rail & road network and other infrastructure facilities in less developed and rural areas to boost growth and development of MSMEs
- There should proper research and development in respect of innovative method of production and service rendering. Further, the government should promote and subsidise the technical know-how to Micro and small enterprises.
- Government should encourage procurement programme, credit and performance ratings and extensive marketing support to revive the growth of sick units.
- Skill development and imparting training to MSME workers is a crucial step to increase the productivity of the sector. The government should emphasise predominantly on skill development and training programs
- With Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the Centre has taken several steps redefining MSMEs, credit access, subordinate debt, preference in government tenders towards ‘energising the MSME sector’.
- It has also launched the MSME Udyam portal for registration, though this is not mandatory. Information asymmetry on government schemes and incentives on registration must be addressed.
- MSMEs need to be better integrated into the digital economy to expand their market access, diversify their customer base and solidify their supply chain.
- Industry and the Indian economy along with MSMEs would reap the benefits of leveraging technology, that will have positive ripple effects on the nation’s GDP and the creation of more jobs.
Way forward:
- The traditional concept of apprenticeship, which involves part-time work and is a widely accepted skilling practice, especially in weaving, handicraft and manufacturing units, does not find mention in India’s wage-protection rule-books. This oversight can be fixed via coverage by either the wage code or social security code rules, or perhaps the Shops and Establishments Act rules, as deemed appropriate
- Efforts need to focus on quality manufacturing, with the use of automation to enhance operations, and the exploration of new markets through e-commerce.
- This would require a holistic approach of hand-holding existing manufacturers in the sector, equipping both managers and their workforces with appropriate skills, and educating them on new technologies and standardization norms, even as we expose them to new market avenues and instil confidence in them that the country’s ecosystem would assist them in their expansion plans.
- New MSMEs, especially, should be encouraged to start off with this advantage.
- Skilling plans in accordance with sector-wise requirements will enable us to create appropriate job opportunities not just in India but also across the globe, as various developed economies need skilled manpower in a swathe of industries that cover manufacturing, software and healthcare.
- Indian policies need to be revisited so that discrepancies are removed and we encourage small units to take advantage of e-com platforms.
Conclusion:
Thus, Indian MSME sector is the backbone of the national economic structure and acts as a bulwark for Indian economy, providing resilience to ward off global economic shocks and adversities. Given the important role played by the sector in the economy, issues faced by it must be addressed on an urgent basis to revive the economy battered by the pandemic. Apart from the fiscal stimulus, the sector requires a political-economy approach that prioritizes MSME interests. India needs to ease the regulatory burden of small units and aid their survival through fiscal support. Above all, they need a level-playing field vis-à-vis big businesses.
Value addition
Impact of COVID on MSME sector:
- A recently conducted survey finds that production in SMEs has fallen from an average of 75% to 13%.
- With 110 million employed by Indian SMEs, it is crucial to ensure adequate institutional support, failing which we might see an even larger impact on livelihoods.
- SMEs also account for a third of India’s GDP, 45% of manufacturing output and 48% of exports and hence are crucial to manufacturing and export competitiveness.
- With SMEs’ operational challenges exacerbated by Covid-19, it is all the more important to focus on this sector.
- SMEs will be vital in absorbing a significant proportion of the 600 million entrants to the labour market in EMEs by 2030.
- With a large proportion of these entrants bound to be from India, it is imperative that the Union and state governments ensure financial and institutional support for SMEs.
- In terms of location, SMEs are relatively evenly distributed in comparison to larger organisations.
- Rural areas account for 45%, while the remaining are in urban areas. Hence, SMEs are well-poised to address poverty in both the cities and villages.
- Although the proportion of urban poverty has declined over the years, it has increased in absolute terms.
- In 2018, Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai had anywhere between 42-55% of their population living in slums. This number is certain to have increased in the pandemic.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment
Difficulty level: Moderate
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 write about improvements needed in the skill India mission.
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:
Start by mentioning the aims and objectives of skill India mission.
Body:
First, write about various improvements seen in the skilling ecosystem and vocational training after the launch of Skill India. Substantiate with statistics.
Next, write about the various bottlenecks in the skill India mission – low employability and employment rates like – Shortage of well-trained and skilled personnel, low Female participation in workforce, Skill Deficit in Rural Areas etc.
Suggest steps as to how to overcome them to make India the skill capital of the world.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Skill India mission was launched in 2015 with a target of training and skill development to 400 million by 2022, covering each and every village. The main goal is to create opportunities, space and scope for the development of the talents of the Indian youth. To identify new sectors for skill development. Various schemes are also proposed to achieve this objective.
Body
Since the inception of Skill India mission, there are many measures taken under it
- Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
- Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)
- Director General of Training – Modular Employable Skills (DGT-MES)
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana
- National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF)
- National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)
- National Skill Development Agency
- Aajeevika – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM)
- Atal Innovation Mission
- Startup India
The impacts of the above schemes are:
- NSQF recognises prior learning, through which an estimated 20 million school dropouts can get a second chance.
- There is a substantial increase in the number of people who were skilled in FY17 and FY18. Notably, the rise is phenomenal, it has risen more than four times, from over 3.5 lakh people in FY17 to nearly 16 lakh people in FY18.
- About 30% of the skilled persons have found jobs under the mission in FY2018.
- With nearly 55 percent successful placements, the Short-Term Training Program (STT) under PMKVY (2016-20) has successfully trained over 13 lakh candidates.
- Approximately 76 percent of the candidates have been placed in wage employment and 24 percent placed in self-employment/ entrepreneurship.
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is designed for those who already have a job or are self- employed and require up-skilling and certification for better prospects. Till date, more than 4.5 lakh candidates have been certified under this component of PMKVY (2016-20).
Challenges in Skill India
- The targets allocated are very high and without regard to any sectoral requirement. Everybody was chasing numbers without providing employment to the youth or meeting sectoral industry needs.
- The focus of PMKVY has been largely on the short-term skill courses, resulting in low placements. There has been an over emphasis on this scheme and hence it is seen as the answer to all skill-related issues.
- TheNational Skill Development Agency (NSDA), created in 2013 for resolving the inter-ministerial and inter-departmental issues and eliminating duplicates of efforts of the Centre. However, it has been now subsumed as part of the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT). This reflects not only discontinuity in the policy process, but also some obfuscation among policy makers.
- India’s joblessness issue is not only a skills problem, it is representative of the lack of appetite of industrialists and SMEs for recruiting. Due to limited access to credit because of Banks’ NPAs, investment rate has declined and thus has a negative impact on job creation.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pointed out flaws in the design and operations of the NSDC and National Skill Development Fund which has resulted in falling short of skill development goals. Majority of them also could not achieve the placement targets for the trained persons.
- The Sharada Prasad Committee, held the NSDC responsible for poor implementation of the Standard Training Assessment and Reward (STAR) programme. It highlighted that only 8.5 per cent of the persons trained were able to get employment. That is what has been claimed by NSDC.
- The Report also cites “serious conflict of interests” in the functioning of the National Skill Development Corporation. NSDC has not been able to discharge its responsibilities for setting up sector skill councils (SSCs) owing to lots of instances of serious conflict of interest and unethical practices.
- The skilling courses are not in line with the Industrial Revolution 4.0 which is round the corner.
Measures needed
- A distinct disadvantage with India’s approach towards skilling has been to ignore the demands of the market.
- For the most part, skills have been provided in a top-down fashion.
- Thus, most skilling efforts focus almost solely on providing certain skills but fail to “match” them with the needs of the market.
- Experts argue that for skilling schemes to yield lasting results, even matching is not enough.
- Given the way market demands fluctuate — for instance, look at how Covid pandemic has upended supply chains, skilling efforts must try to anticipate the needs of the market.
- There is a need to end the artificial separation of the education system into formal and vocational shall end with such enabling frameworks allowing seamless integration.
Way forward
- “Learning should not stop with earning. Only a skilled person will grow in today’s world. This is applicable to both people and countries,” while exhorting the stakeholders to continuously skill, re-skill and up-skill.
- This needs to be expedited as there is going to be a huge demand for re-skilling due to fast changing technology.
- The skilled workforce has helped India in fighting an effective battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
- India providing smart and skilled manpower solutions to the world should be at the core of our strategy of skilling youth.
- India needs to learn from technical and vocational training/education models in China, Germany, Japan, Brazil, and Singapore, who had similar challenges in the past, along with learning from its own experiences to adopt a comprehensive model that can bridge the skill gaps and ensure employability of youths.
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question: The ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine have led to the prices of crude oil shooting to $130/barrel, the highest the world has witnessed in over a decade. The rise in prices of oil, natural gas and fertilisers highlights India’s vulnerability to geopolitical sanctions. Green hydrogen is an emerging option that will help reduce India’s vulnerability to such price shocks. This was reiterated by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari when he drove to Parliament in a hydrogen-powered car.
Key Demand of the question: To write about the potential of green Hydrogen as an eco-friendly fuel and to meet India’s energy demands
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 mentioning green hydrogen and its properties that make it a favourable alternative to present day fossil fuels.
Body:
First, write about the concerns regarding India’s energy security and how green hydrogen can play part in this aspect. Also, mention how it will reduce India’s carbon footprint.
Next, mention the steps to promote hydrogen use instead of fossil fuels such as the National Hydrogen Mission being launched to promote Green Hydrogen and the pilot mode of blending hydrogen with CNG for buses in Delhi, various public and private sector initiative etc.
Next, Mention various obstacles to overcome in terms of technology, storage, transportation, new materials research, safety standards etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward to maximise the benefits of the green hydrogen fuel technology.
Introduction
Green hydrogen — also referred to as ‘clean hydrogen’ — is produced by using electricity from renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, to split water into two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom through a process called electrolysis. The Union Government recently notified the green hydrogen and green ammonia policy aimed at boosting the domestic production of green hydrogen to 5 million tonnes by 2030 and making India an export hub for the clean fuel.
Green hydrogen is an emerging option that will help reduce India’s vulnerability to such price shocks. This was reiterated by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari when he drove to Parliament in a hydrogen-powered car.
Body
Significance of Green Hydrogen in tackling energy challenges
- It is a clean-burning molecule, which can decarbonize a range of sectors including iron and steel, chemicals, and transportation.
- Renewable energy that cannot be stored or used by the grid can be channelled to produce hydrogen.
- India is the world’s fourth largest energy consuming country (behind China, the United States and the European Union), according to the IEA’s forecast, and will overtake the European Union to become the world’s third energy consumer by the year 2030.
- Realising the impending threats to economies, the Summit will see several innovative proposals from all over the world in order to reduce dependence on use of fossil fuels.
- The scale of interest for ‘plucking the low hanging fruit’ can be gauged by the fact that even oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia where the day temperature soars to over 50° C in summer, is prioritising plans to manufacture this source of energy by utilising ‘idle-land-banks’ for solar and wind energy generation.
- It is working to establish a mega $5 billion ‘Green hydrogen’ manufacturing unit covering a land-size as large as that of Belgium, in the northern-western part of the country.
- India is also gradually unveiling its plans. The Indian Railways have announced the country’s first experiment of a hydrogen-fuel cell technology-based train by retrofitting an existing diesel engine; this will run under Northern Railway on the 89 km stretch between Sonepat and Jind.
- The project will not only ensure diesel savings to the tune of several lakhs annually but will also prevent the emission of 0.72 kilo tons of particulate matter and 11.12 kilo tons of carbon per annum.
Challenges
- The ‘production cost’ of ‘Green hydrogen’ has been considered to be a prime obstacle.
- According to studies by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IREA), the production cost of this ‘green source of energy’ is expected to be around $1.5 per kilogram (for nations having perpetual sunshine and vast unused land), by the year 2030; by adopting various conservative measures.
- The global population is growing at a rate of 1.1%, adding about 83 million human heads every year on the planet.
- As a result, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts the additional power demand to be to the tune of 25%-30% by the year 2040.
- Thus, power generation by ‘net-zero’ emission will be the best solution to achieve the target of expert guidelines on global warming to remain under 1.5° C.
- This will also be a leap forward in minimising our dependence on conventional fossil fuel; in 2018, 8.7 million people died prematurely as result of air pollution from fossil fuels.
- India has made good progress in decarbonization growing the share of renewable energy, energy efficiency & fuel transition.
- There is growing interest and hype for using hydrogen in multiple applications such as Hydrogen-based Agro vehicles, Hydrogen-powered passenger trains, Hydrogen in aviation etc.
Way forward
- As India is scaling up to the target of having 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030, aligning hydrogen production needs with broader electricity demand in the economy would be critical.
- The industrial sectors like steel, refining, fertilizer & methanol sectors are attractive for Green Hydrogen adoption as Hydrogen is already being generated & consumed either as a chemical feedstock or a process input.
- The public funding will have to lead the way in the development of green hydrogen, but the private sector has significant gains too to be made by securing its energy future.
- India requires a manufacturing strategy that can leverage the existing strengths and mitigate threats by integrating with the global value chain.
- The green hydrogen has been anointed the flag-bearer of India’s low-carbon transition as Hydrogen may be lighter than air, but it will take some heavy lifting to get the ecosystem in place.
- Enforcing time-bound mid- and long-term policies would inspire the private sector to invest more in green hydrogen.
- India should aim to produce 4-6 million tonnes of green hydrogen per annum by the end of the decade and export at least 2 million tonnes per annum.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: the Hindu
Why the question: A February report commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme on the environmental challenges posed by noise, wildfires and the disruption of biological rhythms of plants, animals and ecological cycles became controversial on account of the mention of a single city, Moradabad.
Key Demand of the question: To write about the impact of noise pollution and steps needed to combat it.
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 noise pollution.
Body:
First, write about the impact of noise pollution on human health.
Next, write about the impact of noise pollution on environment.
Next, write about the various steps that are in place to tackle noise pollution – Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) (Amendment) Rules, 2010 etc. Suggest measures to deal with rising instances of noise pollution – Expand network for monitoring of noise, Installation of noise barriers for hospitals and other sensitive buildings, Demarcation of no-honking zones and behavioural change.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Noise pollution is generally defined as regular exposure to elevated sound levels that may lead to adverse effects in humans or other living organisms. According to the World Health Organization, noise above 65 decibels (dB) is defined as noise pollution. To be precise, noise becomes harmful when it exceeds 75 decibels (dB) and is painful above 120 dB.
A recent report commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme shows that a subset of 61 cities and the range of dB (decibel) levels that have been measured. Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Asansol and Moradabad are the five Indian cities mentioned in this list and Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh was shown as having a dB range from 29 to 114. At a maximum value of 114, it was the second-most-noisiest city in the list.
Body
Impact on Human health
- Hypertensionis, in this case, a direct result of noise pollution caused elevated blood levels for a longer period of time.
- Hearing losscan be directly caused by noise pollution, whether listening to loud music in your headphones or being exposed to loud drilling noises at work, heavy air or land traffic, or separate incidents in which noise levels reach dangerous intervals, such as around140 dB for adult or 120 dB for children.
- Sleep disturbancesare usually caused by constant air or land traffic at night, and they are a serious condition in that they can affect everyday performance and lead to serious diseases.
- Child development. Children appear to be more sensitive to noise pollution, and a number of noise-pollution-related diseases and dysfunctions are known to affect children, from hearing impairment to psychological and physical effects. Also, children who regularly use music players at high volumes are at risk of developing hearing dysfunctions. In 2001, it was estimated that 12.5% of American children between the ages of 6 to 19 years had impaired hearing in one or both ears
- Various cardiovascular dysfunctions. Elevated blood pressure caused by noise pollution, especially during the night, can lead to various cardiovascular diseases.
- Dementiaisn’t necessarily caused by noise pollution, but its onset can be favored or compounded by noise pollution.
- Psychological dysfunctionsand noise annoyance. Noise annoyance is, in fact, a recognized name for an emotional reaction that can have an immediate impact.
Impact on Environment
- Our oceans are no longer quiet. Thousands of oil drills, sonars, seismic survey devices, coastal recreational watercraft and shipping vessels are now populating our waters, and that is a serious cause of noise pollution for marine life.
- Whales are among the most affected, as their hearing helps them orient themselves, feed and communicate.
- Noise pollution thus interferes with cetaceans’ (whales and dolphins) feeding habits, reproductive patterns and migration routes, and can even cause hemorrhage and death.
- Other than marine life, land animals are also affected by noise pollution in the form of traffic, firecrackers etc., and birds are especially affected by the increased air traffic.
Steps to check noise pollution
- International bodies like the WHO agree that awareness of noise pollution is essential to beat this invisible enemy.
- For example: avoid very noisy leisure activities, opt for alternatives means of transport such as bicycles or electric vehicles over taking the car, do your housework at recommended times, insulate homes with noise-absorbing materials, etc.
- Educating the younger generation is also an essential aspect of environmental education.
- Governments can also take measures to ensure correct noise managementand reduce noise pollution.
- For example: protecting certain areas — parts of the countryside, areas of natural interest, city parks, etc. — from noise, establishing regulations that include preventive and corrective measures —
- mandatory separation between residential zones and sources of noise like airports, fines for exceeding noise limits, etc.,
- installing noise insulation in new buildings, creating pedestrian areas where traffic is only allowed to enter to offload goods at certain times.
- replacing traditional asphalt with more efficient options that can reduce traffic noise by up to 3 dB, among others.
Conclusion
Although noise pollution may seem harmless, it, in fact, has far-reaching consequences. The adverse effects on the health of the environment are quite severe. Not only is the local wildlife affected by pollution but humans also face a number of problems due to it.
