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: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Chapter 1- India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes for the failure of revolt of 1857 and impact created by the revolt of 1857.
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:
Start by briefly mentioning how the 1857 uprising was successfully quelled by the British.
Body:
First, write about the various causes for the defeat of the rebels.
Next, Mention the various re-alignment policies in administration such a British crown taking over control from EIC, Military strengthening, Transfer of Power, Divide and Rule, New Policy Towards the Princess, Search for New allies etc brought by the British as a way to avoid any such future uprising.
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning that although the British succeeded in overpowering the Uprising, it proved to be the beginning of resistance from the people of India.
Introduction
The cumulative effect of British expansionist policies, economic exploitation, and administrative innovations over the years had adversely affected the positions of all—rulers of Indian states, sepoys, zamindars, peasants, traders, artisans, pundits, maulvis, etc. The simmering discontent burst in the form of a violent storm in 1857, which shook the British empire in India to its very foundations.
Body
Various causes for the defeat of the rebel
- All-India participation was absent: Limited territorial spread was one factor; there was no all-India veneer about the revolt. The eastern, southern, and western parts of India remained more or less
- All classes did not join: Certain classes and groups did not join and, in fact, worked against the revolt.
- Big zamindars acted as ‘break-waters to storm’; even Awadh talukdars backed off once promises of land restitution were spelt out.
- Moneylenders and merchants suffered the wrath of the mutineers badly and, anyway, saw their class interests better protected under British patronage.
- Poor Arms and Equipment: The Indian soldiers were poorly equipped materially, fighting generally with swords and spears and very few guns and muskets.
- On the other hand, the European soldiers were equipped with the latest weapons of war like the Enfield rifle. The electric telegraph kept the commander-in-chief informed about the movements and strategy of the
- Uncoordinated and Poorly Organised: The revolt was poorly organised with no coordination or central leadership.
- The principal rebel leaders—Nana Saheb, Tantia Tope, Kunwar Singh, Laxmibai—were no match to their British opponents in general ship.
- No Unified Ideology: The mutineers lacked a clear understanding of colonial rule; nor did they have a forward-looking programme, a coherent ideology, a political perspective, or a societal alternative. The rebels represented diverse elements with differing grievances and concepts of current politics.
Re-alignment policies in administration by British post 1857
The revolt of 1857 marks a turning point in the history of India. It led to far-reaching changes in the system of administration and the policies of the British government.
- Direct Governance of Queen: Even before the revolt could be suppressed fully, the British Parliament, on August 2, 1858, passed an act for the Better Government of India. The act declared Queen Victoria as the sovereign of British India and provided for the appointment of a Secretary of State for India (a member of the British cabinet).
- The direct responsibility for the administration of the country was assumed by the British Crown and Company rule was abolished.
- The assumption of the Government of India by the sovereign of Great Britain was announced by Lord Canning at a durbar at Allahabad in the ‘Queen’s Proclamation’ issued on November 1, 1858.
- Princely states and paramountcy: As per the Queen’s proclamation, the era of annexations and expansion had ended and the British promised to respect the dignity and rights of the native princes. The Indian states were henceforth to recognise the paramountcy of the British Crown and were to be treated as parts of a single charge.
- The people of India were promised freedom of religion without interference from British officials.
- Rule of law: The proclamation also promised equal and impartial protection under law to all Indians, besides equal opportunities in government services irrespective of race or creed. It was also promised that old Indian rights, customs, and practices would be given due regard while framing and administering the law.
- Army reforms: The army, which was at the forefront of the outbreak, was thoroughly reorganised and British military policy came to be dominated by the idea of “division and counterpoise”.
- The British could no longer depend on Indian loyalty, so the number of Indian soldiers was drastically reduced even as the number of European soldiers was increased.
- The concept of divide and rule was adopted, with separate units being created on the basis of caste/community/region.
- Recruits were to be drawn from the ‘martial’ races of Punjab, Nepal, and north-western frontier who had proved loyal to the British during the revolt. Effort was made to keep the army away from civilian population.
- Divide and Rule: The policy of divide and rule started in earnest after the Revolt of 1857. The British used one class/community against another unscrupulously.
- Thus, socially, there was irremediable deterioration. While British territorial conquest was at an end, a period of systematic economic loot by the British began.
Conclusion
For the British, the Revolt of 1857 proved useful in that it showed up the glaring shortcomings in the Company’s administration and its army, which they rectified promptly. These defects would never have been revealed to the world if the Revolt had not happened.
For the Indians, the 1857 Revolt had a major influence View In conceptual terms, the British who had started their rule as ‘outsiders’, became ‘insiders’ by vesting in their monarch the sovereignty of India. Bernard Cohn (in context of the Queen’s Proclamation) on the course of the struggle for freedom. It brought out in the open grievances of people and the sepoys, which were seen to be genuine. The Revolt of 1857 did establish local traditions of resistance to British rule which were to be of help in the course of the national struggle for freedom.
Topic: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,
2. What are twin cyclones? Explain the mechanism behind their formation. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Recent satellite images have shown a pair of cyclones in the Indian Ocean region, one in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern hemisphere. Named cyclone Asani and cyclone Karim respectively, these are twin cyclones originating in the same longitude and now drifting apart.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about twin cyclones and their process of formation.
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:
Start by defining twin cyclones.
Body:
First, write about the various factors leading to the formation of twin cyclones – interplay of the wind and the monsoon system, role of equatorial Rossby waves, latent heat of evaporation and general conditions conducive for the formation of the cyclones.
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning the impact of twin cyclones as conclusion.
Introduction
Twin tropical cyclones are group of two cyclones, one on either side of the equator, at nearly the same longitude, at nearly the same time—basically, as twins. Twin tropical cyclones involve a certain set of ingredients. In general, twin cyclones are preceded by areas of thunderstorms that straddle the equator and which are associated with strong westerly winds (winds blowing west to east).
Body
Background
- A pair of tropical cyclones, Asani& Karim one on each side of the equator, have been formed.
- These are cyclones originating in the same longitude and now drifting apart.
- Cyclone Asani was formed in the Bay of Bengal.
- Cyclone Karim has created a path in the open seas west of Australia
Mechanism of formation of twin cyclones
- The interplay of the wind and the monsoon system combined with the Earth system produces these synchronous cyclones.
- Twin tropical cyclones are caused by what are called equatorial Rossby waves..
- When the vorticity is positive in both Northern and Southern hemispheres, as is the case with Rossby waves, the air in the boundary layer, which is moist, is lifted slightly. That is enough to set off a feedback process.
- When the air is lifted slightly, the water vapour condenses to make clouds. As it condenses, it lets out the latent heat of evaporation.
- The atmosphere warms, this parcel of air rises, and a positive feedback is set off by this process.
- The warmer parcel of air can rise further because it is lighter than the surrounding air, and it can form deeper clouds.
- Meanwhile, moisture comes in from both sides. This leads to the formation of a cyclone if certain conditions are present.
Conclusion
In the wake of increasing incidences of cyclones, which are fueled up climate change, India must adopt effective cyclone management strategies to reduce the effects of cyclones.
Value addition
Rossby waves
- Rossby wavesare named for famous meteorologist Carl-Gustaf Rossby who was the first to explain that these waves arose due to the rotation of the Earth.
- They are huge waves in the oceanwith wavelengths of around 4,000–5,000 kilometres.
- This system has a vortex in the northern hemisphere and another in the southern hemisphere,and each of these is a mirror image of the other.
- The vortex in the north spins counterclockwise and has a positive spin,while the one in the southern hemisphere spins in the clockwise direction and therefore has a negative spin.
- Both have a positivevalue of the vorticity which is a measure of the rotation.
Madden-Julian Oscillation or MJO:
- Karim and Asani are “twin” cyclones not only because they formed at the same time in the same general area but also because they were formed primarily from the same “parent” circulation: the Madden-Julian Oscillation or MJO.
- The MJO is alarge cluster of clouds and convection, around 5000-10,000 kilometres in size.
- It is composed of a Rossby wave and a Kelvin wave,which is a type of wave structure that we see in the ocean.
- On the eastern side of the MJO is the Kelvin wave, while on the western, trailing edge of the MJO, is the Rossby wave, once again with two vortices on either side of the equator.
- However, not all tropical cyclones are born from the MJO. Sometimes it is a mere Rossby wave with two vortices on either side.
Topic: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the functioning of Tribes Advisory Councils (TAC).
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 giving a brief about the aims and objectives of fifth schedule of Indian constitution.
Body:
First, write about the of Tribes Advisory Councils (TAC), its composition and functioning.
Next, write about performance of these councils to uphold their stated objectives. The positives – prohibit or restrict the transfer of land, regulate the allotment of land, regulate the carrying on of business as money-lender etc.
Next, write about the limitations in the performance of these councils – The functioning of the TAC has been unsatisfactory, the rehabilitation and settlement is inadequate, the meetings of Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) have been irregular, the Governor’s report has been insufficient and also there has been unsatisfactory implementation of development programmes.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The Fifth Schedule of the Indian constitution outlines the provisions for administration of Scheduled areas. To take care of the welfare of the scheduled tribes, a Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) is constituted in each state with a scheduled area. This Tribal Advisory Council will be made of maximum 20 members out of which the three-fourth will be Scheduled Tribes MLAs in the state. The duty of the TAC is to advise on matters pertaining to the “welfare and advancement” of the Scheduled Tribes “as may be referred to them by the Governor”.
Body
TAC
- Article 244 confers plenary power on the Governor to bring independent legislations in respect of tribal affairs in consultation with the TAC.
- Due to this, the role of TAC is very crucial in the governance of Scheduled Areas.
- The number of members of these councils, mode of their appointment, appointment of the chairman, officers and servants of these councils, conduct of its meeting and general business are controlled by the Governor of the state in question.
- Tribes Advisory Councils (TAC) have been constituted in Scheduled Area States of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Though Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and West Bengal do not have any scheduled area, they have also constituted TAC.
- TACs are primarily representative bodies and they have got the power of law-making’ in certain specified fields such as management of a forest other than a reserved forest, inheritance of property, marriage and social customs, and the Governor mar also confer upon these Councils the power to try certain suits or offences.
- TACs also have the power to assess and collect land revenue and to impose certain specified taxes.
- TACs shall also possess judicial power, civil and criminal, subject to the jurisdiction of the High Court as the Governor may from time to time specify
Shortcomings of TAC
- The TACs can only discuss and make recommendations on those issues which are referred to it by the Governor.
- It functions only in an advisory capacity and has no power of implementation.
- The Councils are not accountable to the tribal population given that they are appointed by the Governor or the State Government.
- The negligence to constitute the TAC is equal to negating the rights of tribals and stalling the process of governance.
- Governor usually is bound by the advice of Council of Ministers as against TAC, despite TAC being authorised to advice with respect to matters pertaining to 5th Scheduled areas.
- The laws made by the Councils shall have, however, no effect unless assented to by the Governor.
- Fifth Schedule accorded far greater autonomy to tribal areas, but Tribes Advisory Council remained a mere consultancy body rather than an autonomous decision-making body.
- Unlike the Sixth Schedule wherein Autonomous District Councils have been given significant legislative, judicial and executive powers on several important matters, the Fifth Schedule places the governance of tribal areas in ‘mainland’ India largely in the hands of the Governor.
- It is the State Governments rather than the Governor which have framed the rules regarding TAC functioning which has led to the near complete usurpation of these bodies by the political parties in power.
- There is minimal representation of women and minorities in the council.
Way forward
- The Tribes Advisory Council is an integral part of the administrative structure of the Fifth Schedule.
- There needs to be a radical restructuring of the composition of the
- Instead of two-thirds elected members from the State Legislature, this should be restricted to half the members of the
- Moreover, these elected representatives must come from different political parties, rather than only from the ruling
- The scope and responsibilities of TAC should be widened to transform it into the Tribes Advisory, Protective and Developmental
- Constitutional provisions, laws, policies, and administrative matters pertaining to the Scheduled Tribes must come under its ambit.
- The tribal development plan of a State and its outlay should be approved by the TAC before it is placed before the Legislative Assembly.
- In view of the serious responsibility placed on the TAC, it should be made compulsory for the Council to meet at least four times a year.
- The Tribal Welfare Department should be made accountable to the TAC. It should present its annual plan, budget and performance report to the TAC and receive its approval for the next year.
- The agenda for the TAC meetings should be prepared through due consultation with the members.
- The Governor should be made responsible for the overall functioning of the TAC.
Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The way Prime Minister Narendra Modi collected endorsements for the long-pending demand for India being made a permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) during his recent tour of Europe is heartening.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about various factors that show India is ready to take up role in the UNSC as the permanent member.
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 giving a brief about India’s growing stature internationally.
Body:
Write about the reasons that lend credibility to India’s claims – Represents one-sixth of the global population, among the founding members of the U.N, upheld its principles and credentials while some other countries consider the organisation as merely a talk shop, impressive contribution towards the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF) and economic power etc.
Next, write about the various limitations that hinder the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward to overcome the above limitations.
Introduction
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. Like the UN as a whole, the Security Council was created following World War II to address the failings of a previous international organization, the League of Nations, in maintaining world peace.
France has reiterated its commitment to support India’s bid for permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council and New Delhi’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group. The demand has been supported by four out of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council have bilaterally expressed support for India’s candidature.
Body
Role and Significance of UNSC:
- The Security Council is the United Nations’ most powerful body, with “primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
- Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions.
- It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.
- Under the UN Charter, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council s decisions.
Need for reforms in UNSC:
- Regional representation
- Supporters of UNSC reform claim that there is a huge European bias in P-5 due to the presence of the United Kingdom and France including Russia.
- While regions like Latin America, Caribbean group, Arabs and Africa do not have a single permanent member. Similarly, there is a western bias in UNSC. As China is the only Asian country among the five permanent members of UNSC.
- Thus, a large chunk of the population and many different regions of the world remain unrepresented in the permanent membership of UNSC.
- It seems highly unfair that the whole continent of Africa does not have a single member in P-5 despite the fact that most of the affairs of the body concern this part of the globe only.
- So, regions like Africa and Latin America and others will have to be accommodated in the reformed UNSC.
- Changing geopolitics:
- The victors of World War II shaped the United Nations Charter in their national interests, dividing the permanent seats, and associated veto power, among themselves.
- It has been 72 years since the foundation of UNSC.
- During this period, the geopolitical realities have changed drastically, but the Council has changed very little.
- Question of Veto:
- All five permanent members of UNSC enjoy a veto power .
- Veto is a kind of negative vote by a permanent member that prevents the adoption of a proposal, even if it has received the required overall votes by the members.
- Sadly, veto power is grossly misused by the permanent members in their own national interest.
- g., out of 24 vetoes over the last 20 years, 15 have been used by the United States to protect Israel.
- This also badly affects the conduct of the business of UNSC as many important proposals involving substantive issues get blocked due to use of veto by any of the five permanent members.
- G-4 and India s quest for a permanent seat:
- In recent decades, India has been very vocal in demanding for a permanent seat in UNSC. It is also part of G-4, a group of 4 nations (India, Brazil, Germany and Japan) to lobby for permanent positions on the UNSC or at least to make the council more representative.
- Many member-states have been pledging support for our aspiration for permanent membership. Several P-5 countries have also announced their support. At present, China is the only P-5 member opposing India s bid.
- G-4 wants to expand the permanent seats in the UNSC to 10 to include 6 new members G-4 nations apart from one seat to Africa and one seat to Arabs
- Transparency and Working Methods:
- While the expansion of the Security Council has been hotly debated across the world, debate on the working methods of the Council, an equally important aspect of reform to many member states, has attracted less attention.
- It is true that UNSC has been functioning in the most non-transparent and non-consultative way.
- The undemocratic nature of UNSC within the supposedly democratic UN has compromised the overall credibility of the United Nations.
India should be given a permanent seat in the council due to:
- India in many ways is a sui generis country. It’s a country of a billion-plus, it’s a country which is a democracy, perhaps the only example in history of a billion-plus people working together in a democratic framework.
- India is the 2nd most populous nation, the 3rd largest economy in PPP terms, a responsible nuclear power and the largest democracy in the world.
- We will bring to it those values and strengths of being able to work cohesively among disparate entities.
- India is a founding member of the UN, and it has been the temporary member of the UNSC for 7 terms.
- India has provided the 2nd largest number of troops in peacekeeping missions. In Africa alone 6000 of our troops have been stationed under UN peacekeeping missions. India has argued in UN that troops contributing nations should have greater say in UNSC.
- One of the biggest issues that will confront all multilateral organisations and certainly the security council will be issues which are beyond borders.
- Issues of the global commons, whether it is in cases of public health as we are now seeing in the current pandemic, but other issues, for example, cyber [issues]. There are no regulatory mechanisms or no rules on that, and that’s another.
- A third one is issues of high seas. Again, beyond your exclusive economic zone, there is very limited understanding of what states can do and what states can’t do.
- Ungoverned spaces lead to opportunities for those who are inimical to global governance to breed, whether it is in states or it is beyond state boundaries, this has been the experience, and therefore, we as a country would like to focus on these things.
- Another area of interest would obviously be technology with a human touch. Increasingly, resilience of human beings is an important factor that all of us have been confronted with where there are disasters, can we have a more humane approach to these, etc.
Challenges:
- The US administration under Biden has continued to remain non-committal on support for India’s UNSC bid.
- The U.S. has offered qualified support for building a consensus for enlargement of the UNSC — in terms of permanent and non-permanent members. However, it said it would not support an expansion of the veto — given to the P-5, the current five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the U.K and the U.S.
- The Uniting for Consensus (UFC) group — Pakistan, South Korea, Italy and Argentina — opposes the G4 plan.
- China also opposes the bids of India and Japan.
Conclusion:
In this context, the challenges before India are many. The Security Council is one of the most important multilateral decision-making bodies where the contours of global geopolitics are often drawn. India should avoid the temptation of taking sides at a time when the Security Council is getting more and more polarised.
To serve its interests and push for its agenda of multilateralism and reforms, India should adopt value-based positions that are not transactional, aspire for the leadership of the non-permanent members of the Council and be the voice of the weaker nations.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
In the last financial year, 90 lakh beneficiaries of Narendra Modi government’s flagship welfare scheme Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana did not refill their cylinders.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing about aims and objectives of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
Body:
In the first part, write about the achievements of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
Next, write about statistic which highlight the shift from traditional forms of fuel to LPG.
Next, write about the various impediments like affordability, administrative issues, low value for women’s labour etc poor face while accessing LPG which causes them to continue to use firewood and cow dung as fuel.
Write the measures that need to be taken to enhance and promote the usage of LPG. Mention the aspect of integrating other forms clean energy apart from LPG which is accessible and affordable.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
The sustained rise in the price of LPG cylinders has been burning a hole in many a household budget for more than a year now. The price of LPG refills has risen by more than 50% to over ₹900 per cylinder in November 2021 compared to around ₹600 over the past year.
With no refill subsidies in place since May 2020, there is genuine concern about many households now slipping back to using polluting solid fuels for cooking, such as firewood and dung cakes.
Body
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: Key features
- Ujjwala 1.0: Under Ujjwala 1.0, the target was to provide LPG connections to 50 million women from the below poverty line (BPL) households, by March 2020. However, in August 2018, women from seven other categories were brought under the purview of the scheme.
- In the first phase of the PMUY, 8 crore poor families, including from the Dalit and tribal communities, were given free cooking gas connections.
- The LPG infrastructure has expanded manifold in the country. In the last six years, more than 11,000 new LPG distribution centres have opened across the country.
- Ujjwala 2.0: Under Ujjwala 2.0, an additional 10 million LPG connections will be provided to the beneficiaries.
- Government has also fixed a target of providing piped gas to 21 lakh homes in 50 districts.
Performance of Ujjwala
- So far over 9 crore connections under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana has been released.
- PMUY beneficiaries have availed 14.17 crore free refills under the Scheme, across the country, as per the same reply filed by Union Petroleum Ministry in Lok Sabha.
- PMUY 2.0 was launched on August 10, 2021, and the target of one crore connections were provided within six months by January 2022.
- Per capita consumption of PMUY beneficiaries has increased from 01 refills in 2019-20 to 3.66 refills in current Financial Year (till February 2022).
- The release of 8 crores of LPG connections under the scheme has also helped in increasing the LPG coverage in the country from 62 per cent on May 1, 2016, to 99.8 per cent on April 1, 2021.
- The first independent impact assessment of the Ujjwala programme by IIT Kanpur researchers highlighted its benefits in terms of saving of lives and reduction in air pollution.
- Reduction in Death: Greater penetration and usage of LPG as a cooking fuel is estimated to have prevented at least 1.5 lakh pollution-related premature deaths in the year 2019 alone.
- Reduction in pollution: It also avoided at least 8 million tonnes of PM2.5 emissions in 2019 (13% reduction in air pollution deaths)
Structural impediments in Ujjwala Yojana
Cost issues:
- A RTI application revealed that in the last financial year, 90 lakh beneficiaries of government’s flagship welfare scheme Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana did not refill their cylinders. And over 1 crore beneficiaries refilled their cylinders only once.
- Consumers were paying market price for refills till the loan repayment for stove and first refill was made. This led to some consumers not going in for such refills.
- Around 30% of Indian households continue to rely on biomass as their primary cooking fuel, mainly due to high LPG prices.
- The practice of biomass usage is predominantly concentrated in rural areas, particularly among States such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
- Given the loss of incomes and livelihoods during the novel coronavirus pandemic, the ability of households to afford LPG on a regular basis has taken a further hit.
Administrative issues:
- laxity in identification of beneficiaries was noticed as 9,897 LPG connections were issued against Abridged Household List Temporary Identification Numbers (AHL TINs) where names of all family members and the beneficiary were blank in the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC)-2011 list.
- Lack of input validation check in the IOCL software allowed issue of 0.80 lakh connections to beneficiaries aged below 18 years.
- issuance of connections to unintended beneficiaries.
- inadequacies in the de-duplication process: Out of 3.78 crore LPG connections, 1.60 crore (42%) connections were issued only on the basis of beneficiary Aadhaar which remained a discouragement in de-duplication.
- 59 lakh connections were released to beneficiaries who were minor as per the SECC-2011 data, which was in violation of PMUY guidelines and LPG Control Order, 2000.
Logistic issues:
- Lack of LPG cylinder bottling plants near rural areas and connectivity issues especially in the tribal areas.
- Last-mile connectivity and delivery still poses a great challenge.
- Delay of more than 365 days was noticed in installation of 4.35 lakh connections against stipulated time period of seven days.
- Adequate efforts were not made in distributing the small 5-kg cylinders for encouraging usage.
Safety and Behavioural issues:
- Safety has been another concern about distribution of LPG connection, especially to BPL families. Lack of awareness and safety amenities in beneficiary households have increased the likelihood of accidents.
- Cow-dung cakes lying around the house all the time. Hence, LPG cylinders are used on special occasions or during some kind of emergency or when it’s entirely too hot to burn wood.
- The CRISIL report also noted that 37% of households in rural areas procure cooking fuel or free.
- Agency: Most rural women do not have a say in determining when a refill is ordered, even though the connection is in their name.
Conclusion and way forward
- The scheme should be extended to poor households in urban and semi-urban slum areas.
- Subsidy reinstatement: There is a need to reinstate the subsidies on LPG refill for low-income households.
- At the current refill prices, an average Indian household would have to spend around 10% of its monthly expense on LPG to meet all its cooking energy needs.
- Identifying true beneficiaries: The Government can also explore diverse approaches to identify beneficiaries.
- This may include limiting the subsidy provision to seven to eight LPG refills annually and excluding well-to-do households using robust indicators.
- For instance, lowering the income-based exclusion limit for LPG subsidy to ₹2,50,000 a year from ₹10 lakh a year or excluding families owning a non-commercial four-wheeler vehicle can significantly reduce the number of eligible beneficiaries.
- Home delivery of LPG: Only half the rural LPG users receive home delivery of LPG refills, while the rest have to travel about five kilometres one way to procure a cylinder.
- Gaps in the doorstep delivery of LPG cylinders are also present in urban pockets, particularly in slum areas. These need to be rectified.
Topic: indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The semiconductor ecosystem in India has been abuzz with energy ever since the government announced a ₹ 76,000 crore scheme to incentivise semiconductor and display system manufacturers to set up shop in India.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about applications of semi-conductors and how the government can create a thriving domestic semiconductor industry.
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 giving a statistic highlighting strategic significance of semiconductors in India.
Body:
In the first part, discuss the various applications of semiconductors – computers, phones, server farms, missiles and in their guidance systems, warplanes, submarines, aircraft carriers, satellites etc.
Next, write about the steps need to create a robust domestic industry for semiconductors – tackling R&D problems, funding, solving intellectual property issues. Mention various measures already initiated by the government in this regard.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Semiconductor chips are the basic building blocks that serve as the heart and brain of all modern electronics and information and communications technology products. These chips are now an integral part of contemporary automobiles, household gadgets and essential medical devices such as ECG machines.
Semiconductor shortage is turning into an acute issue. Due to it, the growth prospects of the auto industry are once again in jeopardy. This issue also offers immense opportunity for India to foray in to Integrated Circuits and Chip design.
Body
Background on Semiconductors and global shortage
- Semiconductors and displays are the foundation of modern electronics driving the next phase of digital transformation under Industry 4.0.
- The global $450 billion semiconductors industry got blindsided due to the global pandemic, after a massive demand for semiconductors.
- Semiconductors are typically silicon chips that perform control and memory functions in products ranging from computers and cell phones to vehicles and microwave ovens.
- It is the board on which various electronic components are mounted. As per the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), the current market size for PCBAs in India is $16 billion.
- It is expected to grow to $87 billion by 2025-26. ICEA says that with government support 99% of the PCBAs can be assembled in India.
- Hence, there is a huge incremental opportunity. Also, it will reduce the imports drastically, making Indian manufacturers more competitive.
- However, the industry requires heavy capital expansion.
- Before manufacturing semiconductor chips, India will need to be self-sufficient in manufacturing Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA).
Applications of semiconductor
- The modern economy needs all kinds of chips in great quantities, for everything from computers, telecommunication gear, robots, medical equipment, watches, industrial machines.
- Semiconductor chips go into computers, phones, server farms that store data. They are used to control the launch of missiles and in their guidance systems.
- Chips are embedded in warplanes, submarines, aircraft carriers. At present, all the silicon needed in these critical pieces of strategic equipment is imported. If we do not have fool proof access to all the silicon that our strategic capability needs, all the time, India can bid goodbye to its goal of strategic autonomy, to be a regional, if not a global power.
- India has its own nuclear energy programme, a space programme and, drawing on these two, a programme to build nuclear weapons and delivery mechanisms.
- India does not want to take shelter under another country’s nuclear umbrella when confronting a nuclear-armed hostile power.
- External dependence for vital semiconductors is the chink in India’s armour.
Government initiatives in this regard
The Union Cabinet’s decision to set aside ₹76,000 crore for supporting the development of a ‘semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem’ is a belated but welcome acknowledgment of the strategic significance of integrated circuits, or chips, to a modern economy.
- India Semiconductor Mission:
- In order to drive the long-term strategies for developing a sustainable semiconductors and display ecosystem, a specialised and independent India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) will be set up.
- ISM will be led by global experts in the semiconductor and display industry. It will act as the nodal agency for efficient and smooth implementation of the schemes on Semiconductors and Display ecosystem.
- Production Linked Incentives:
- Incentive support to the tune of Rs.55,392 crore (7.5 billion USD) has been approved under PLI for Largest Scale Electronics Manufacturing, PLI for IT Hardware, SPECS Scheme and Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme.
- In addition, PLI incentives to the quantum of Rs.98,000 crore (USD 13 billion) is approved for allied sectors comprising ACC battery, auto components, telecom & networking products, solar PV modules and white goods.
- Semiconductor Fabs and Display Fabs:
- It would provide fiscal support of up to 50% of the project cost for setting up semiconductor and display fabrication units.
- The Union government will work with the States to set up high-tech clusters with the required infrastructure such as land and semiconductor-grade water.
- Semi-conductor Laboratory (SCL):
- MeitY will take requisite steps for modernization and commercialization of Semi-conductor Laboratory (SCL).
- MeitY will explore the possibility for the Joint Venture of SCL with a commercial fab partner to modernise the brownfield fab facility.
- Compound Semiconductors:
- It will support fiscal support of 30% of capital expenditure to approved units.
- At Least 15 such units of Compound Semiconductors and Semiconductor Packaging are expected to be established with Government support under this scheme.
- Semiconductor Design Companies:
- The Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme shall extend product design linked incentive of up to 50% of eligible expenditure and product deployment linked incentive of 6% – 4% on net sales for five years.
- Support will be provided to 100 domestic companies of semiconductor design for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips (SoCs), Systems & IP Cores and semiconductor linked design
Conclusion
India will need to develop capabilities in the microprocessor core technology, chip design based on that core and in the machines needed to create a chip foundry. India has the largest workforce in tech, toiling away in India and the rest of the world, tackling R&D problems set by multinational companies and foreign governments. The point is to bring a large enough number of them together, to solve problems identified by the government, with funding from the government and the promise of owning the intellectual property they develop, diluted only to meet the government’s strategic needs.
Value addition
Global shortage of semiconductors
- The world saw an unprecedented demand for servers, internet connectivity and cloud usage as online collaboration grew massively during work from home.
- And according to the EY report, the semiconductors industry was already facing a demand-supply crisis and the delay in imports from China after the Indo-China clash at the Galwan Valley added fuel to the fire.
- The OEM’s faced massive supply chain issues after the government implemented curbs on imports from china.
- The crunch led to supply chain issues as the industry relied on a few giant players.
- Ford, Nissan, Volkswagen, Fiat Chrysler and Toyota were some of the top automakers that curtailed production amid a global semiconductor shortage.
- Operations of mobile manufacturers Lava and Micromax were almost stuttered to a halt after its chipset supplier, MediaTek, ran out of stock.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
Difficulty level: Easy
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about how Integrity is at the core of good character.
Directive word:
Substantiate – When you are asked to Substantiate, you must pass a sound judgement about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidence. You must appraise the worth of the statement in question using suitable case studies or/ and examples.
Introduction:
Begin by defining what is Integrity.
Body:
Mention how integrity boosts the moral values such as honesty, fairness, decency etc that boosts one’s moral character and contributes to an ethical system. Use examples to support the argument.
Also, write about how with having Integrity as foundational value, we can add more virtues for ethical development.
Conclusion:
Mention that it further boosts self-awareness of individuals and aids for a just society.
Introduction
“In looking for people to hire, look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.” (Warren Buffet)
Integrity is having a strong set of ethical principles, being able to tell the truth no matter the consequences, admitting to a wrong even if you could get away without doing it. Integrity is about doing the right thing; it is being incorruptible, honest, and above all, doing all these things when no one is around to see it.
Body
Integrity is a four-step process: keeping in mind the aim/ purpose of one’s action or inaction and acting consistently with that choice—even when it is inconvenient or unprofitable to do so; choosing the right course of conduct in conformity with moral principles; openly declaring one’s intentions or where one stands; and results of one’s actions.
In 1964, Mandela was sentenced to 27 years in prison at Robben Island. He accepted it with dignity. He knew that overthrowing apartheid called for struggle and sacrifice, and was prepared for the long walk to freedom.
Ten thousand days in prison failed to break Mandela and he refused to compromise on his beliefs or leave the struggle midway.
Integrity embraces all qualities
- The civil servants need to be people of absolute integrity because only then they can take the civil service as a ’vocation’. It strengthens the sense of mission which a civil servant is supposed to undertake to serve the public; perform duties and fulfil obligations.
- A similar doctrine of vocation was enunciated several thousand years ago by Lord Krishna in Bhagwad Gita. It has been mentioned there, that ‘’Securing” universal welfare by one’s action is the ultimate measure of a human being but more so of those who hold the public office”.
- Civil servants have to set out highest standards of integrity and morality. This requires self-sacrifice a concept that rises above individualism and ‘hedonism’ to create an environment of public duty among the civil servants. An exemplary civil servant is not simply one who obeys the laws and behaves within the confines of law but is also one who strives for a moral government.
- Integrity requires in a civil servant to incorporate the values of honesty, sympathy empathy, compassion, fairness, self-control and duty so that she/he will be able to uphold high personal and professional standards in all circumstances.
Conclusion
Honesty is telling truth to other people, but Integrity is about being truthful to oneself.
‘Civil Service Conduct Rules’ recommends ‘absolute integrity’ for civil servants, irrespective of their department. Also, every civil servant is supposed to take all possible steps to ensure the integrity of all government servants for the time being under his control and only be honest but should also have the reputation of being so. Integrity has been considerably widened by declaring that a civil servant must keep himself within bounds of administrative decency.
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