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: Moderate
Reference: A Brief History of Modern India by Spectrum Publishers.
Why this question:
The question is based on the theme of Morley Minto Reforms.
Key demand of the question:
One has to discuss that the Reforms of 1909, commonly known as the Morley Minto Reforms were introduced to placate the moderates and driving them away from the extremists. It was a part of the three-pronged approach of repression-conciliation -suppression. However, it failed to satisfy moderates.
Directive:
Elucidate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate them with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Body:
Explain the following aspects:
- Discuss what the demands of the moderates were – like the expansion of legislative council, responsible government etc.
- How these reforms were just a shadow of what was actually demanded. For example – Indians were allowed to participate in the election of the various legislative council but on the basis of class and community
- The number of elected members in legislative councils increased but the overall non-official majority was introduced in provincial councils.
- A separate electorate for Muslims was introduced
Conclusion:
Conclude that the reforms of 1909 instead of solving the political problems of the country created more chaos.
Introduction
The Morley-Minto reforms named after the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs Lord John Morley and the Viceroy Lord Minto was the alternative name given to Indian Councils Act 1909. It introduced for the first time the method of election, an attempt to widen the scope of legislative councils, placate the demands of moderates in Indian National Congress and to increase the participation of Indians in the governance. The Act amended the Indian Councils Acts of 1861 and 1892.
Body:
Background of the Act
- In October 1906, a group of Muslim elites called the Shimla Deputation, led by the Agha Khan, met Lord Minto and demanded separate electorates for the Muslims and representation in excess of their numerical strength in view of ‘the value of the contribution’ Muslims were making ‘to the defence of the empire’.
- The same group quickly took over the Muslim League, initially floated by Nawab Salimullah of Dacca along with Nawabs Mohsin-ul- Mulk and Waqar-ul-Mulk in December 1906.
- The Muslim League intended to preach loyalty to the empire and to keep the Muslim intelligentsia away from the Congress.
- John Morley, the Liberal Secretary of State for India, and the Conservative Viceroy of India, Minto, believed that cracking down on uprising in Bengal was necessary but not sufficient for restoring stability to the British Raj after Lord Curzon’s partitioning of Bengal.
- They believed that a dramatic step was required to put heart into loyal elements of the Indian upper classes and the growing Westernized section of the population.
Features of the Act
- It considerably increased the size of the legislative councils, both Central and provincial. The number of members in the Central Legislative Council was raised from 16 to 60. The number of members in the provincial legislative councils was not uniform.
- British retained official majority in the Central Legislative Council but allowed the provincial legislative councils to have non-official majority.
- The elected members were to be indirectly elected. The local bodies were to elect an electoral college, which in turn would elect members of provincial legislatures, who in turn would elect members of the central legislature.
- It enlarged the deliberative functions of the legislative councils at both the levels. For example, members were allowed to ask supplementary questions, move resolutions on the budget, and so on.
- It provided for the first time for the association of Indians with the executive Councils of the Viceroy and Governors. Satyendra Prasad Sinha became the first Indian to join the Viceroy’s Executive Council. He was appointed as the law member. Two Indians were nominated to the Council of the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs.
- It introduced a system of communal representation for Muslims by accepting the concept of ‘separate electorate’. Under this, the Muslim members were to be elected only by Muslim voters. Thus, the Act ‘legalized communalism’ and Lord Minto came to be known as the Father of Communal Electorate.
- It also provided for the separate representation of presidency corporations, chambers of commerce, universities and zamindars.
Evaluation of the Reforms:
- The reforms of 1909 afforded no answer and could afford no answer to the Indian political problem. Lord Morley made it clear that colonial self-government (as demanded by the Congress) was not suitable for India, and he was against introduction of parliamentary or responsible government in India.
- The position of the Governor- General remained unchanged and his veto power remained undiluted and the Act was successfully maintained relentless constitutional autocracy.
- The ‘constitutional’ reforms were, in fact, aimed at dividing the nationalist ranks by confusing the Moderates and at checking the growth of unity among Indians through the obnoxious instrument of separate electorates.
- The Government aimed at rallying the Moderates and the Muslims against the rising tide of nationalism.
- The officials and the Muslim leaders often talked of the entire community when they talked of the separate electorates, but in reality, it meant the appeasement of a small section of the Muslim elite only.
- Congress considered separate electorate to be undemocratic and hindering the development of a shared Hindu-Muslim Indian national feeling.
- Besides, system of election was too indirect and it gave the impression of infiltration of legislators through a number of sieves.
- And, while parliamentary forms were introduced, no responsibility was conceded, which sometimes led to thoughtless and irresponsible criticism of the Government.
- Only some members like Gokhale put to constructive use the opportunity to debate in the councils by demanding universal primary education, attacking repressive policies and drawing attention to the plight of indentured labour and Indian workers in South Africa.
- The reforms of 1909 gave to the people of the country a shadow rather than substance.
The Act of 1909 was important for the following reasons:
- It effectively allowed the election of Indians to the various legislative councils in India for the first time, though previously some Indians had been appointed to legislative councils.
- The introduction of the electoral principle laid the groundwork for a parliamentary system even though this was contrary to the intent of Morley.
- It also gave recognition to the elective principle as the basis of the composition of legislative council for the first time.
- It gave some further avenues to Indians to ventilate their grievances. They also got opportunity to criticize the executives and make suggestions for better administration.
- After Jinnah’s death in September 1948, Pakistan lurched towards Islamic orthodoxy and Dalits faced mounting attacks.
Conclusion:
Indian Council Act of 1909 was instituted to placate the moderates and appeasement to the disseminate Muslims from National Movement by granting them separate electorate. The people had demanded self-government but what they were given was ‘benevolent despotism’.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Reference: A Brief History of Modern India by Spectrum Publishers.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of the General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To explain the limitations of the Home Rule Movement, especially with regards to Home Rule leagues. Also, to explain the legacy of the movement.
Directive:
Analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In short, write about the Home Rule Movement, its leaders, inspiration and aims and objectives.
Body:
Elaborate further upon the Home Rule movement and its nature of functioning and spread.
Bring out the limitations of Home Rule, lack of cohesiveness between Tilak’s and Besant’s leagues, Skepticism of Congress, Lack of leadership post-1917 etc.
In the next part write in detail about the legacy of the movement. Giving impetus to national movement during the war period, facilitating the re-entry of extremists in Congress, Lucknow, creating a platform for upcoming leaders, and preparing India for the arrival of Gandhi and mass movements.
Conclusion:
Summarize the overall importance and the legacy of the Home rule movement.
Introduction
The home rule movement was the Indian response to the First World War in a less charged but in a more effective way. With people already feeling the burden of war time miseries caused by high taxation and a rise in prices, Tilak and Annie Besant ready to assume the leadership the movement started with great vigour. Two Indian Home Rule Leagues were organised on the lines of the Irish Home Rule Leagues and they represented the emergence of a new trend of aggressive politics. The League campaign aimed to convey to the common man the message of home rule as self-government.
Body:
Major contributions of Home Rule Movement to the freedom struggle of India:
- The leagues organised demonstrations and agitations.
- There were public meetings in which the leaders gave fiery speeches.
- They were able to create a stir within the country and alarm the British to such an extent that Annie Besant was arrested in June 1917.
- This move by the British created a nation-wide protest and now even moderate leaders joined the league. Besant was released in September 1917.
- The Home Rule League functioned throughout the year as opposed to the Congress Party whose activities were confined to once a year.
- The movement was able to garner huge support from a lot of educated Indians. In 1917, the two leagues combined had around 40,000 members.
- Many members of the Congress and the Muslim League joined the league. Many prominent leaders like Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Joseph Baptista, G S Kharpade and Sir S Subramanya Iyer were among its members.
- The moderates, extremists and the Muslim League were briefly united through this movement.
- The movement was able to spread political consciousness to more regions in the country.
- This movement led to the Montague Declaration of 1917 in which it was declared that there would be more Indians in the government leading to the development of self-governing institutions ultimately realising responsible governments in India.
- This Declaration, also known as August Declaration, implied that the demand for home rule would no longer be considered seditious. This was the biggest significance of the movement.
Reasons for movement to fade out:
- The movement was not a mass movement. It was restricted to educated people and college students.
- The leagues did not find a lot of support among Muslims, Anglo-Indians and non-Brahmins from Southern India as they thought home rule would mean a rule of the upper caste Hindu majority.
- Many of the moderates were satisfied with the government’s assurance of reforms (as preluded in the Montague Declaration). They did not take the movement further.
- Annie Besant kept oscillating between being satisfied with the government talk of reforms and pushing the home rule movement forward. She was not able to provide firm leadership to her followers. Although ultimately she did call the reforms ‘unworthy of Indian acceptance’.
- In September 1918, Tilak went to England to pursue a libel case against Sir Ignatius Valentine Chirol, British journalist and author of the book ‘Indian Unrest’. The book contained deprecatory comments and had called Tilak the ‘Father of Indian Unrest.’
- The Government made use of Defence of India Act, 1915 to curb the activities of the agitators.
- Students were prohibited from attending Home Rule meetings.
- Tilak was prosecuted and his entry in Punjab and Delhi was banned.
- Indian Press Act of 1910 was imposed on the press and restrictions were enforced.
- Tilak’s absence and Besant’s inability to lead the people led to the movement’s fizzing out.
- The movement was left leaderless with Tilak going abroad and Besant unable to give a positive lead.
- After the war, Mahatma Gandhi gained prominence as a leader of the masses and the Home Rule Leagues merged with the Congress Party in 1920.
Conclusion
The home rule movement lent a new dimension and a sense of urgency to the national movement. Although its role in the Indian independence movement had been modest, it did succeed in helping to sustain the movement’s impetus during the war years—as manifested in the signing of the Lucknow Pact in December 1916.
Value addition
Objectives of Home Rule Movement:
- To achieve self-government in India.
- To promote political education and discussion to set up agitation for self-government.
- To build confidence among Indians to speak against the government’s suppression.
- To demand a larger political representation for Indians from the British government.
- To revive political activity in India while maintaining the principles of the Congress Party.
General Studies – 2
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Indian Express
Why the question:
The term of office of Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu comes to an end on August 10. The election is scheduled for August 6, and July 19 is the last date for filing nominations.
Key demand of the question:
Give provisions from the constitution regarding Vice President and analyze how in certain situations his position has become redundant and at other times it has not.
Directive:
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 giving articles regarding provisions of the Vice President.
Body:
First, start with analyzing the role of the Vice President – how they hold dual responsibilities of being chairperson of Rajya Sabha and VP.
Second, with a few examples try to highlight at what instances his role has become redundant.Conclusion:
Give a positive way forward how his role is still quite important.
Introduction
Article 63 of the Indian Constitution states that “there shall be a Vice-President of India”. The term of office of incumbent Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu comes to an end on August 10, 2022. Article 68 of the Constitution of India states that an election to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of the outgoing Vice-President is required to be completed before the expiration of the term.
Body
Role of Vice president of India
- Under Article 64, the Vice-President “shall be ex officio Chairman of the Council of the States” (Rajya Sabha).
- Article 65 says that “in the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the President by reason of his death, resignation or removal, or otherwise, the Vice-President shall act as President until the date on which a new President…enters upon his office”.
- The Vice-President shall also discharge the functions of the President when the latter is unable to do so “owing to absence, illness or any other cause”.
- During this period, the Vice-President shall “have all the powers and immunities of the President and be entitled to emoluments, allowances and privileges” that are due to the President.
- The office of the Vice-President of India is the second-highest constitutional office after that of the President, and ranks second in the order of precedence.
- The election of a person as Vice-President cannot be challenged on the ground that the electoral college was incomplete (i.e., existence of any vacancy among the members of the electoral college).
- If the election of a person as Vice-President is declared void by the Supreme Court, acts done by him before the date of such declaration of the Supreme Court are not invalidated (i.e., they continue to remain in force).
- The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States. He may cast his vote when there is a tie.
- He represents the Council of States on ceremonial occasions.
- He protects the rights and privileges of the members of the Council of States.
- He visits foreign countries on goodwill missions.
The position of Vice President has become redundant now
- The position of VP has no specific relevance and only given dejure power.
- The role of VP becomes important only when the President is unable to execute his duties.
- VP has no power with respect to legislature work in normal days.
- The powers of VP is very limited.
- VP doesn’t preside over the joint session of legislature.
- The post is created only to maintain the political neutrality of the state.
Conclusion
However, the post of Vice-President is not superfluous. His position is one of honor, dignity, as well as of influence. He presides over the meetings of the Rajya Sabha. While acting as the President, the Vice-President has the same powers, privileges, and immunities as the President. As such he is the ‘No.2 Citizen’ of the country. But he has potential to be promoted to the position of No.1 Citizen of India.
Topic: Pressure Groups & Formal/informal Associations & Their Role in Polity.
Difficulty level: Moderate.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The report has highlighted that 60-70% of loans by SHG are used for personal purposes.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the role of SHGs in women empowerment and suggest innovative measures to improve their performance.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by defining SHGs and the origin and growth of the SHG movement in India.
Body:
First, write about the role played by the SHGs in women empowerment – breaking chains of poverty, collective action, self-employment and financial independence and credit disbursal etc.
Next, write about the various factors which have constrained SHGs from realising their full potential e.g. use of funds for personal use, lack of awareness, digital divide, and lack of financial literacy.
Suggest innovative measures to overcome these- e.g. establishing credit counselling centres in districts.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
A self-help group (SHG) is a village-based financial intermediary committee normally consist of 10–20 local women or men. When the formal financial system fails to help the needy, then small groups volunteer to cater to the needs of the financially weak by collecting, saving and lending the money on a micro scale. SHGs have gained wide recognition in most developing countries in Asia where their presence is quite pervasive
Body
Role of SHG’s in women empowerment
- Capital formation: Through micro-finance, many SHG’s have created valuable assets and capital in the rural areas and are sustaining livelihoods.
- Access to credit: SHGs provide better access to credit at acceptable and convenient terms. The members have been able to obtain loans for emergent productive and non-productive purposes on comparatively easy terms. This has reduced their dependence on local moneylenders to a large extent.
- Government initiative such as SHG-Bank linkage program is also increasing their financial inclusion and easy access to credit from formal institutions.
- Poverty Alleviation: The approach of poverty alleviation through SHG is the most effective means and suits the ongoing process of reforms based on the policy of decentralization.
- SHGs have given the poor the access to microfinance and consequently led to important changes in their access to productive resources such as land, water, knowledge, technology and credit.
- Employment generation: Self-employment activities such as collective farming, bee-keeping, horticulture, sericulture have been taken up by SHG’s.
- Social welfare: There are many successful cases where SHG women have come together to close liquor shops in their village.
- Rural infrastructure: Schemes such as Aajeevika express have helped SHG’s in creating transport in rural areas.
- Women empowerment: SHGs have been able to improve the skills of women to do various things by managing the available natural resources.
- It is estimated that more than 25 million rural women of India have been benefited by the Self Help Groups (SHG).
- As a group they can help each other to learn so many things along with the money management because most of the women in the rural areas have a very little knowledge for the management of money.
- g. Kudumbashree in Kerala has been a huge success. Kudumbashree café is an exemplary example of nurturing entrepreneurship through SHG’s.
- They also act as a delivery mechanism for various services like entrepreneurial training, livelihood promotion activity and community development programs.
Challenges faced
- There are issues like regional imbalance, less than ideal average loan size, lack of monitoring and training support by self-help group federations.
- Escalating non-performing assets of self-help group loans with banks.
- Several studies have also found issues related to governance, quality, transparency and irregularity in their functions.
- Low levels of literacy among the rural women.
- The study found that over time groups were disintegrating on account of coordination issues.
- Rural micro-enterprises run by SHG members suffer from critical bottlenecks, whether in raising funds for start-up, growth and working capital or accessing high-quality technical assistance.
Way Forward
- Government programs can be implemented through SHGs.
- This will not only improve the transparency and efficiency but also bring our society closer to Self-Governance as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi.
- Constant and enduring structural handholding support from the self-help group promoting institutions (SHPIs).
- Frequent awareness camps can be organised by the Rural Development department authorities to create awareness about different schemes.
- Periodic capacity-building of all members, to make the group the collective.
- With the Government’s focus on digital financial inclusion, investing in training of group members for transition towards technological platforms.
- It is important to invest in providing the right kind of support to maximize the impact these groups can have on livelihoods.
- Emphasising SHG movement on women’s entrepreneurship as an engine of growth in rural India.
- There should not be any discrimination among members based on caste, religion or political affiliations
Conclusion
SHG approach is an enabling, empowering, and bottom-up approach for rural development that has provided considerable economic and non-economic externalities to low-income households in developing countries. SHG approach is being hailed as a sustainable tool to combat poverty, combining a for-profit approach that is self-sustaining, and a poverty alleviation focus that empowers low-income households. It is increasingly becoming a tool to exercise developmental priorities for governments in developing countries.
Value addition
Evolution of SHGs
- The concept evolved over decades and was pioneered by Noble laureate Mohammad Yunus as Self Help Groups (SHGs) in 1970s.
- SHG movement in India gained momentum after 1992, when NABARD realized its potential and started promoting it.
- NABARD’s SHG-Bank Linkage Program (SBLP) connected group members to formal financial services.
- Over the last two decades, the SBLP has proven to be a great medium for social and economic empowerment for rural women.
- India has witnessed state-led promotion of SHGs through a three-tiered architecture of community institutions at group, village and cluster level.
- In 1999, Government of India, introduced Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarojgaar Yojana (SGSY) to promote self- employment in rural areas through formation and skilling of SHGs.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Inclusive growth and associated issues/challenges
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
It was six years ago that the Indian government launched its ambitious ‘Digital India’ programme to transform the country into a “digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.” Now the need to accelerate is further forward.
Key Demand of the question:
How the PPP model can help accelerate the vision of Digital India.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving a context of the Digital India Programme.
Body:
Give the status of its implementation, including its limitations e.g., not yet reached the grassroots level.
Then show how the PPP model can help Digital India reach far-off areas, thus helping the government’s vision of a ‘digital-first’ economy.
E.g., WhatsApp and India have introduced many India-first innovations on the platform and have helped common people join India’s digital ecosystem.
Conclusion:
Give a balanced viewpoint- digitization must be balanced with the need for privacy and access to digital rights.
Introduction
Indian government launched its ambitious ‘Digital India’ programme to transform the country into a “digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.” Since then, significant strides have been taken to build digital infrastructure, deliver tech-enabled citizen services and scale online payments to propel India to the forefront of a digital transformation.
In a country as socio-economically diverse as India, championing a digital revolution is only possible if the entire population has the resources and access to the internet. This can only happen with strategic public-private partnerships that can promote digital literacy and equity across rural and digital-first users.
Body
Digital India: Background
Digital India was launched with three clear objectives: –
- To transform citizens’ lives, governance and democracy;
- expand the digital economy, create jobs and attract investments;
- make India the leader in the realm of technology — a provider rather than a consumer of technology.
- The government’s increased focus to create a digitally empowered economy is forecast to benefit all sectors, wherein core digital sectors such as information technology & business process management, digital communication services and electronics manufacturing are likely to double their GDPs to US$ 355-435 billion by 2025.
- In another report, McKinsey highlighted that the ‘Digital India’ initiative is expected to boost the country’s digital economy to US$ 1 trillion by 2025, up from US$ 200 billion in 2018.
PPP model can help Digital India reach far-off areas
- Internet access and 4G in India: At the same time, private sector innovation has helped bring internet-enabled services to millions of consumers and made online usage more accessible.
- For example, Reliance Jio’s strategy of bundling virtually free smartphones with mobile-service subscriptions has spurred innovation and competitive pricing. Data costs have plummeted by more than 95 percent since 2013 and fixed-line download speeds quadrupled between 2014 and 2017.
- Technology and IT sector: In 2020, the Indian technology sector accounted for 8% of India’s gross domestic product (GDP).
- In addition, the sector remained a net employer with emphasis on digital upskilling. NASSCOM also estimated that the country’s digital talent pool is likely to exceed ~1.17 million employees in FY21, a 32% YoY surge.
- Aadhar: The government’s efforts to ramp up Aadhaar, the national biometric digital identity program, has played a major role. Aadhaar has enrolled 1.2 billion people since it was introduced in 2009, making it the single largest digital ID program in the world, hastening the spread of other digital services.
- From banking to post office banking has become easier than ever to rural people.
- Growth and employment: India has leapfrogged into a ‘mobile-first’ country and houses one of the largest mobile manufacturing factories in the world. Indian mobile plants servicing this new-age consumer have increased from two in 2014 to 127 in 2019.
- Annually, over 225 million mobile phones are domestically produced.
- This rapidly growing sector has created about 400,000 jobs during the last five years.
- Covid-response: Digital India played a significant role in India’s response to the pandemic. It ensured that the government could reach people in remote parts of the country.
- Health, education and other essential services migrated swiftly to the online mode. It would not be an aberration to say that post-Covid, India emerged as a preeminent nation in the use of technology for governance.
- Scaling payments and financial inclusion: Despite the devastation of the covid pandemic, the digital transformation induced by it is an example of how technology can help connect people and build an inclusive society. The adoption of digital payments on UPI has fast-forwarded the pace of financial literacy across the board, from urban enthusiasm to rural need.
Conclusion
Internet connectivity is critical for making the Digital India project inclusive, and widespread use of optical fibre in the remotest corners of the country is vital to ensure that no one is left behind in this endeavour.
General Studies – 4
Thursday: Abstract questions based on current events.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Current Affairs events
Why the question:
Rise in mental health issues, increase in social discord in the society etc.
Key Demand of the question:
To look at the happening in society from an ethical perspective and figure out the reason for this situation.
Directive:
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: Give any illustration to substantiate the question. Ex: Number of people now getting connected through social media and rise in hate speeches using social media in recent times or the lack of unity in the world to address issues such as Vaccine inequity, nuclear disarmament, climate change efforts etc.
Body:
- Give more illustrations (give brief statements) of the growing divide within ourselves and with others. Ex: Failure to resolve the refugee crisis, climate change actions etc. You can include growing fundamentalism amongst the people, civil wars, Russia-Ukraine etc.
- Identify the reason why this trend is increasing. Ex: Erosion of values in private and public relationships, change in family structure etc.
- Suggest suitable solutions for these reasons you have identified.
Conclusion:
Highlight any recent step taken by any government or a civil society organization to overcome this situation in recent times which could be replicated at a larger level by all other countries.
Introduction
Today we live in a global village as borders are becoming irrelevant due to internet and social media. The accessibility of people from all parts of the world connected through internet has become very easy. Yet the more borders are becoming invisible, the fault lines of races and societies is becoming prominent.
Eg: Regressive Taliban taking over all of Afghanistan and overthrowing a democratic government and installing a rule that is staunchly against women’s rights.
Body
There is hate speech, mob lynching, honour killing, communal riots in India despite there being a policy of tolerance and embracing diversity. The idea of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam was originated in India but is not being followed within Indians themselves.
On a global scale nation are closer than ever before. But issues that require global cooperation and efforts like climate change, refugee crisis, terrorism etc are not being resolved as nations think in terms of narrow self-interest. The rise of extremist politics in US as well as Europe is a good example. Russia-Ukraine war is a case in point as to how world is becoming more disintegrated than ever. The war has ravaged Ukraine and taken lives of more than 30000 Russian soldiers yet it is not being called off. Instead of initiating peace talks, nations aligning with either nation are providing arms and ammunitions to these countries. The world supply of oil, wheat etc is hampered yet nations have not stopped fighting each other.
The global order is really frayed – it’s disintegrating in front of our eyes. That’s a real threat to any attempt to sort things out. Take for instance COVID-19 pandemic. There were “catastrophic moral failures” in equitable delivery of COVID-19 vaccines. As rich nations snap up available doses, there is nothing left for poor African and small nations.
Conclusion
We need to build real solidarity across movements. Those pushing for environmental change, economic justice, gender and LGBTQ+ rights and more democratic governance would have to join forces. Despite globalization, things are not looking optimistic. But as humans who are civilized it is our duty to make this place a civilized place to live through cooperation. Ultimately each of us are connected through landmasses and water bodies and anything triggered in one place will take no time to reach another place.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Current Affairs events
Why the question:
Growing level of distrust amongst the public on journalism and other forms of media houses.
Key Demand of the question:
To analyze the growing distrust amongst the public on journalism from an ethical perspective.
Directive:
Comment: here we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction: Bring out the basic objective of journalism in your introduction.
Body:
- Substantiate how lack of courage and falling levels of integrity is manifesting themselves now. Ex: TRP wars, fake and biased news, paid news
- Quotes reasons for the above situation: fear of persecution, the politicization of media houses etc.
- Suggest measures to overcome this situation
Conclusion:
Highlight the importance of journalism in a democratic country like India and the cruciality of acting promptly on this issue.
Introduction
Journalistic ethics are the common values that guide reporters. They lay out both the aspirations and obligations that journalists, editors, and others working in the field should follow to execute their work responsibly.
While recognising that the newspaper is a great power”, Mahatma Gandhi- himself a great journalist and editor, was very clear about the objectives of journalism and why it shouldn’t be an unchained torrent of water.
Body
It is easy to agree on the principles of ethical journalism, but applying them in real life is harder. Because the goal to reveal the truth can sometimes clash with the duty to limit harm, it is up to journalists and editors to choose how to act.
For example, journalist Bob Woodward, famous for breaking the Watergate scandal in the 1970s, goes to great lengths to demonstrate he has no political affiliations. He does not even show partiality towards news networks, giving interviews to news media on both ends of the political spectrum. He doesn’t vote in presidential elections in order to send the message that he is “in the middle of the road.” This is how ethical journalism looks like.
Key features of ethical journalism
- Honesty: Journalists have an obligation to seek out the truth and report it as accurately as possible. This requires diligence: this means making every effort to seek out all the facts relevant to a story. Journalists should also corroborate any information with multiple sources.
- Independence: Journalists should avoid taking political sides and should not act on behalf of special interest groups. Any political affiliations or financial investments that might constitute a conflict of interest with the subject they are writing about should be declared to editors and readers. Some organizations characterize this principle as “objectivity,” while others, especially non-profit civic journalism projects, reject this term, as they position themselves explicitly on the side of public interest.
- Fairness: In addition to being independent, journalists should show impartiality and balance in their reporting. Most news stories have more than one side, and journalists should capture this. That said, they should not place two different perspectives on equal footing where one is unsupported by evidence. The exception to the impartiality rule is opinion writing, as well as “gonzo” journalism and creative nonfiction.
- Public accountability: News organizations should listen to their audience. To enable the public to hold them accountable, journalists should write under their own by-lines and accept responsibility for their words. When news outlets publish factual errors, they need to issue a correction.
- Harm minimization: Not every fact that can be published should be published. If the amount of harm that could come to private individuals—particularly children—as a result of disclosure exceeds the public good that would come of it, then news outlets might choose not to publish the story. This is less of a consideration when it comes to public figures. It is huge, however, in matters of national security, where lives could be on the line.
- Avoiding libel: This is a legal as well as a moral imperative for journalists. Journalists cannot print false statements that damage a person’s reputation. In most jurisdictions, true statements cannot be libellous, so journalists can protect themselves by rigorously checking facts.
- Proper attribution: Journalists must never plagiarise. If they use information from another media outlet or journalist, they need to attribute it to them.
Conclusion
Ethical journalism simply put, means that journalism must be socially responsible, serve the people with devotion, and educate them while avoiding sensationalism, distortion and manipulation of facts in the news reports, and not compromise with ethical standards of journalism for profit.
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