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: Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: India since Independence by Bipan Chandra.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the nature of emergency in 1975 and challenges it posed and lessons learnt from it.
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:
Narrate briefly the historical background and situation of emergency imposed in 1975.
Body:
In first part, write about the challenges posed by internal emergency which was proclaimed by then congress government including suspension of fundamental rights is considered one of the most traumatic periods for the fledgling democracy.
Next, write about the key lessons learnt and changes introduced due it – This time period is also seen as the coming of the age of the Indian democracy. But, later the Indian parliament passed amendments to the constitution, the 44th amendment, to ensure that the future governments will not find it easy to impose another emergency in the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
The Emergency was set in motion by the Indira Gandhi government on June 25, 1975 and was in place for 21 months till its withdrawal on March 21, 1977. The order gave Ms. Gandhi the authority to rule by decree wherein civil liberties were curbed. An external Emergency was already in place even before the imposition of the internal one.
Threat to national security and bad economic conditions were cited as reasons for the declaration. Considering it as a black chapter, a famous historian Coomi Kapoor noted “The number of those in Indira Gandhi’s prisons during the Emergency far exceeded the total number jailed during the 1942 Quit India”
Body
Background
- In 1975, the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi advised the president to proclaim emergency without consulting her cabinet.
- The cabinet was informed of the proclamation after it was made, fait accompli.
Challenges posed by emergency imposed
- Liberty curtailed: The union government misused its emergency powers and curbed democratic rights of the citizens, opposition parties and of the press.
- Electricity of the newspaper houses got disconnected, leaders of opposition parties were arrested.
- Free press was suppressed: Government curtailed the freedom of press via “Press censorship” and made it mandatory to get its approval before publishing it.
- Protests, strikes and public agitations were not allowed.
- Fundamental right of constitutional remedies to move the court for restoring their FRs got suspended.
- Banning organizations: Religious and cultural organization like RSS, Jamait-E-Islami was banned on the apprehension of disturbance to social and communal harmony.
- Misuse of power: Government misused the provision of preventive detention, arrested the political workers of opposition parties.
- Torture and custodial deaths occurred during Emergency, arbitrary relocation of poor people, imposition of compulsory sterilization to control population.
Changes introduced to keep power of government in check
The power misused came as a wakeup call for the entire nation and consequent steps were taken to amend the constitution (44th constitutional amendment) to take safeguards against misuse of powers:
- Ground for Emergency declaration: The word ‘internal disturbance’ was replaced by ‘armed rebellion’ in respect of national emergency.
- President reconsideration: Empowered the president to send back once, the advice of the cabinet for reconsideration.
- Made the president to declare a national emergency only on the written recommendation of the cabinet.
- Liberty restored: Provided that the fundamental rights guaranteed by article 20 and 21 cannot be suspended even during emergency.
- Gave constitutional protection to publication in newspaper of true reports of the proceedings of parliament and state legislatures.
- Approval by both houses: The proclamation of Emergency must be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within one month from the date of its issue.
- However, if the proclamation of emergency is issued at a time when the Lok Sabha has been dissolved or the dissolution of the Lok Sabha takes place during the period of one month without approving the proclamation, then the proclamation survives until 30 days from the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after its reconstitution, provided the Rajya Sabha has in the meantime approved it.
- Emergency cannot be indefinite: If approved by both the Houses of Parliament, the emergency continues for six months, and can be extended to an indefinite period with an approval of the Parliament for every six months. This provision for periodical parliamentary approval was also added by the 44th Amendment Act of 1978.
- Special majority: Every resolution approving the proclamation of emergency or its continuance must be passed by either House of Parliament by a special majority
Supreme courts intervention in placing checks and balances
- The 38th Amendment Act of 1975 made the declaration of a National Emergency immune from the judicial review. But this provision was subsequently deleted by the 44th Amendment Act of 1978.
- Further, in the Minerva Mills case , (1980), the Supreme Court held that the proclamation of a national emergency can be challenged in a court on the ground of malafide or that the declaration was based on wholly extraneous and irrelevant facts or is absurd or perverse.
- The Supreme Court has thereafter enlarged the concept and the application of Article 21 well beyond what was ever contemplated by the framers of the constitution
Conclusion
The Emergency declared in 1975 (internal emergency) proved to be the most controversial. There was widespread criticism of the misuse of Emergency powers. In the elections held to the Lok Sabha in 1977 after the Emergency, the Congress Party led by Indira Gandhi lost and the Janta Party came to power. This government appointed the Shah Commission to investigate the circumstances that warranted the declaration of an Emergency in 1975. The commission did not justify the declaration of the Emergency. Hence, the 44th Amendment Act was enacted in 1978 to introduce a number of safeguards against the misuse of Emergency provisions.
Value addition
Emergencies declared in India so-far
- This type of Emergency has been proclaimed three times so far–in 1962, 1971 and 1975. The first proclamation of National Emergency was issued in October 1962 on account of Chinese aggression in the NEFA (North-East Frontier Agency– now Arunachal Pradesh), and was in force till January 1968.
- Hence, a fresh proclamation was not needed at the time of war against Pakistan in 1965.
- The second proclamation of national emergency was made in December 1971 in the wake of attack by Pakistan.
- Even when this Emergency was in operation, a third proclamation of National Emergency was made in June 1975.
- Both the second and third proclamations were revoked in March 1977. The first two proclamations (1962 and 1971) were made on the ground of ‘external aggression’, while the third proclamation (1975) was made on the ground of ‘internal disturbance’, that is, certain persons have been inciting the police and the armed forces against the discharge of their duties and their normal functioning.
Topic: Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: India since Independence by Bipan Chandra.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes of LPG reforms and its impact.
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 context of BOP crisis of 1991.
Body:
First, write about the various factors that led to crisis of 1991.
Next, explain the Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation of the India economy and what it meant.
Next, write about the impact of LPG reforms of 1991 – write both positives and negatives for the reforms.
Conclusion:
Suggest a way forward on how to do with negatives.
Introduction
A severe balance of payments problem triggered an acute economic crisis in 1991. In response, India’s economic establishment launched a multipronged reforms agenda to repair India’s macroeconomic balance sheet and ignite growth.
1991 BoP crisis was one of the worst crises that India had to face. The then government was close to default, as RBI had refused new credit and foreign exchange reserves had been reduced to such a point that India could barely finance three weeks’ worth of imports. This necessitated the Indian government to keep national gold reserves as a pledge to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in exchange for a loan to cover balance of payment debts.
Body
Causes of Balance of Payment Crisis
- Widening of trade gap due to rise in imports against a small growth in exports and increased cost of imports. This was mainly due to license raj which has restricted India’s manufacturing capacity and exports.
- The sharp rise in crude prices due to the Gulf crisis.
- Deterioration in the Exchange Rate of Rupee.
- Rising Current Account Deficit: India’s current account deficit (CAD) had already touched 2.7% of the GDP in 1988-89. From mid-1990, financing the CAD became arduous. Traditional sources of financing started drying up.
- The main factor contributing to the rising current account deficit was decline in the growth of net invisible earnings.
- Decline in migrants’ remittance from abroad due to Gulf war.
- Non-resident deposits, which contributed significantly to bridge the CAD, had also started flowing out.
- By end-December 1990, foreign exchange reserves were enough for only three weeks of imports.
Measures taken: LPG reforms
- In order to get out of the macro-economic crisis in 1991, India launched a New Economic Policy, which was based on LPG or Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation model.
- Then Finance Minister, Manmohan Singh, was the prime architect of the historic 1991 liberalisation.
- Liberalising Industrial Policy: Abolition of industrial license permit raj, Reduction in import tariffs, etc.
- Import tariffs were lowered.
- Import restrictions were eased.
- Market determined exchange rate system was introduced.
- Foreign investment was encouraged.
- Beginning of Privatisation: Deregulation of markets, Banking reforms, etc.
- Globalisation: Exchange rate correction, liberalising foreign direct investment and trade policies, Removal of mandatory convertibility cause, etc.
- These reforms are credited and applauded for the high economic growth seen from 1991 to 2011 and substantial reduction of poverty from 2005 to 2015.
- The first decisive action of the new government was with respect to the exchange rate. In 1991, rupee was devaluated.
- The RBI shipped about 47 tonnes of gold to the Bank of England as security to raise foreign currency from England and Japan. The government also sold 20 tonnes of gold to a Swiss Bank for acquiring foreign currency, with the condition that it would be repurchased after six months.
- In the short run, to relieve the pressure of foreign exchange, imports were compressed through certain monetary measures.
Conclusion
The 1991 reforms helped the economy stave off a crisis and then bloom. It is time to outline a credible new reform agenda that will not just bring GDP back to pre-crisis levels, but also ensure growth rates higher than it had when it entered the pandemic.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The Department of Empowerment of Person with Disabilities (DoEPwD) recently released the draft of the national policy for persons with disabilities.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the barriers faced by people with disabilities and measures needed to overcome them.
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 writing about the aims and objectives of national policy for persons with disabilities.
Body:
First, mention the steps taken to achieve inclusivity for PwDs such as Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 etc.
Next, write about various shortcomings of the above steps.
Next, write about additional measures that are needed in this regard.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward to achieve inclusivity.
Introduction
The Department of Empowerment of Person with Disabilities (DoEPwD) recently released the draft of the national policy for persons with disabilities. The necessity for a new policy which replaces the 2006 policy was felt because of multiple factors such as India’s signing of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities; enactment of a new disability legislation (Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016) which increased the number of disabilities from seven conditions to 21 and being a party to the Incheon Strategy for Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022.
These commitments have changed the discourse around disability by shifting the focus from the individual to society, i.e., from a medical model of disability to a social or human rights model of disability.
Body
Steps taken to achieve inclusivity of PwD’s in India
- Rigths of PwD’s Act 2016: Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept.
- The types of disabilities have been increased from 7 to 21. The act added mental illness, autism, spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, chronic neurological conditions, speech and language disability, thalassemia, hemophilia, sickle cell disease, multiple disabilities including deaf blindness, acid attack victims and Parkinson’s disease which were largely ignored in earlier act.
- In addition, the Government has been authorized to notify any other category of specified disability.
- It increases the quantum of reservation for people suffering from disabilities from 3% to 4% in government jobs and from 3% to 5% in higher education institutes.
- Accessible India Campaign (AIC) is the nationwide flagship campaign of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- The aim of the Campaign is to make a barrier free and conducive environment for Divyangjans all over the country.
- Deen Dayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme: Under the scheme financial assistance is provided to NGOs for providing various services to Persons with Disabilities, like special schools, vocational training centres, community based rehabilitation, pre-school and early intervention etc
- Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase / fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP): The Scheme aims at helping the disabled persons by bringing suitable, durable, scientifically-manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances within their reach.
Shortcomings in the new draft policy
- A glaring omission is the absence of any commitment to the political uplift of persons with disabilities.
- Political empowerment and the inclusion of the disabled are an issue that has not found traction in India’s democratic discussion. India does not have any policy commitment that is aimed at enhancing the political participation of disabled people.
- The first visually disabled Member of Parliament in independent India, Sadhan Gupta, hardly finds mention in our political or disability discourse
- The exclusion of disabled people from the political space happens at all levels of the political process in the country, and in different ways.
- For instance, the inaccessibility of the voting process, barriers to participation in party politics or a lack of representation at the local, State or national levels have all aggravated the marginalisation of the disabled.
- Political parties in India still do not find the disabled as the large electorate to specifically address their needs.
- The lack of live aggregate data on the exact number of the disabled people in every constituency only furthers their marginalisation.
- The lack of accessible space for party meetings, inaccessible transport for campaigning or an attitudinal barrier among voters and party leaders can be termed as contributing factors.
- Thus, we seldom see disability being highlighted in the manifestos of parties.
Way forward
- A few States have begun the initiative at local levels to increase participation.
- For instance, Chhattisgarh started the initiative of nominating at least one disabled person in each panchayat.
- If a disabled person is not elected then they are nominated as a panchayat member as per changes in the law concerned.
- This is a step that has increased the participation of the disabled in the political space at local level.
Conclusion
The document lays emphasis on the point that central and State governments must work together with other stakeholders to “make the right real”. This right can be made real only when it includes political rights/political participation within it. This will only conform to the universal principle on disability, i.e., “Nothing about us. Without us.”
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
Andhra Pradesh has rejoined the crop insurance scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana after having opted out in 2019-20.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the performance of PMFBY, its successes and shortcomings.
Directive word:
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to 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. There is scope for forming an opinion here.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving a brief about aims and objectives of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Body:
First, write about the achievements of PMFBY in achieving insurance penetration, safeguarding the interests of the farmers.
Next, give the limitations of PMFBY and various issues which has resulted in some states opting out of it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward on how to overcome the limitations.
Introduction
The scheme was conceived as a milestone initiative to provide a comprehensive risk solution at the lowest uniform premium across the country for farmers. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (Prime Minister’s Crop Insurance Scheme) was launched in 2016. The scheme is aimed at reducing agricultural distress at instances of monsoon fluctuations induced price risks.It envisages a uniform premium of just 2% to be paid by farmers for Kharif crops and 1.5% for Rabi crops.
Body
About PMFBY
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY):
- It provides a comprehensive insurance cover against failure of the crop thus helping in stabilising the income of the farmers.
- The scheme was compulsory for loanee farmers availing Crop Loan/Kisan Credit Card (KCC) account for notified crops and voluntary for others.
- PMFBY 2.0:
- In order to ensure more efficient and effective implementation of the scheme, the central government had revamped PMFBY in the 2020 Kharif season.
- This overhauled PMFBY is often called PMFBY 2.0, it has the following features:
- Completely Voluntary: Enrolment 100% voluntary for all farmers from 2020 Kharif.
- Limit to Central Subsidy: The Cabinet has decided to cap the Centre’s premium subsidy under the scheme for premium rates up to 30% for unirrigated areas/crops and 25% for irrigated areas/crops.
- More Flexibility to States: The government has given the flexibility to states/UTs to implement PMFBY and given them the option to select any number of additional risk covers/features.
- Investing in ICE Activities: Insurance companies have to now spend 0.5% of the total premium collected on information, education and communication (IEC) activities.
Performance of PMFBY
- Crop Insurance App: Provides for easy enrolment of farmers.
- Facilitate easier reporting of crop loss within 72 hours of occurrence of any event.
- Latest Technological Tools: To assess crop losses, satellite imagery, remote-sensing technology, drones, artificial intelligence and machine learning are used.
- PMFBY Portal: For integration of land records.
- Performance of the Scheme: The Scheme covers over 5 crore farmer applications on average per year.
- Aadhar seeding (linking Aadhaar through Internet banking portals) has helped in speedy claim settlement directly into the farmer accounts.
- One notable example is mid-season adversity claims of nearly Rs. 30 crores in Rajasthan during Rabi 2019-20 Locust attack.
Way forward
- Rationalising waivers and service delivery: Loan waiver schemes announced by state governments along with mandatory Aadhar linkage should be rationalised to enable PMFBY of greater coverage.
- Enable Timely Compensation: There has been reports of delayed compensation by some of the states.
- Bringing Behavioural Change: Apart from this, a lot more needs to be done in bringing about a behavioural change regarding the cost of insurance being a necessary input and not a money-back investment.
- Streamlining with Similar Schemes: PMFBY needs to be streamlined with state crop insurance schemes and schemes like Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme to include more risk areas not covered under them.
- Proper Implementation: Successful implementation of PMFBY is an essential benchmark in agricultural reform in India to make farmers self-sufficient in times of crisis and support the creation of an Aatmanirbhar
Conclusion
The above issues need to be suitably addressed to prevent the PMFBY from meeting the same fate as its predecessors. The Indian farmers are typically heavily indebted small land holders. They need crop insurance to hedge their risks which are steadily mounting due to growing menace of pests and diseases and rapidly changing climate. The frequency of erratic and extreme weather events has already aggravated. Devastating cyclones, which used to be rare, have become a common feature in coastal areas. These developments have added to the woes of the cash-stressed farmers. It is, thus, crucial to provide reliable risk management avenues like conveniently accessible farm insurance to abate farmers’ distress.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
he latest edition of the Global Findex database, compiled from a survey of more than 125,000 adults in 123 economies, covering use of financial services throughout 2021. The survey found that 71% of adults in developing economies now have a formal financial account compared to 42% in the first edition a decade ago.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the role digital technology can play in financial inclusion.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving the current status of financial inclusion.
Body:
First, write about the various measures in the recent past taken to promote financial inclusion in the recent past.
Next, write about the shortcomings in the measures taken to promote financial inclusion.
Next, suggest measures as to how digital technology can play part overcome the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Financial inclusion may be defined as the process of ensuring access to financial services and timely and adequate credit where needed by vulnerable groups such as weaker sections and low-income groups at an affordable cost. Global Findex database found that 71% of adults in developing economies now have a formal financial account compared to 42% in the first edition a decade ago.
In a diverse country like India, financial inclusion is a critical part of the development process. Since independence, the combined efforts of successive governments, regulatory institutions, and the civil society have helped in increasing the financial-inclusion net in the country
Body
Background: Financial inclusion
- Mobile and Internet Banking Transactions: The mobile and Internet banking transactions have increased to 13,615 per 1,000 adults in 2020 from 183 in 2015.
- Bank Branches: The number of bank branches has reached up to7 per 1 lakh adults in 2020 from 13.6 in 2015 which is higher than in Germany, China and South Africa.
- No Frills Account: The number of no-frills bank accounts has significantly increased. Of these, almost two-thirds are operational in rural and semi-urban areas and more than 78% of these accounts are with state-owned banks.
Issues in achieving absolute financial inclusion
- The first challenge in making products broadly available is bridging the gap between supply and demand of capital.
- In a financially integrated world, capital is agile. Yet owing to a limited risk appetite, low or thin-file data on customers and challenging regulatory oversight, capital remains a constraint in designing bespoke products.
- For India to overcome these challenges, the existing infrastructure must be adapted to our new purpose, providing easy-to-use, customer-centric experiences.
- At present, only about 5% of India’s 6 lakh villages have bank branches. There are 296 under-banked districts in states with below-par banking services. Thus, bank reach is poor in rural areas leading to financial exclusion.
- Financial literacy and technology readiness are two critical issues. Financial education assists people in making sound financial decisions. These are not just challenges of the Indian market, but other economies too.
- The lack of infrastructure and cost-effective technology for facilitating transactions at the doorstep is a hindrance to financial inclusion.
Digital technology role in financial inclusion
- This digital transformation makes it easier, cheaper and safer for people to receive wages from employers, send remittances to family members, and pay for goods and services.
- Mobile money accounts can better handle high-volume, small-denomination transactions, which help users to access financial services and save in order to cope better with crises.
- Individual accounts also give women more privacy, security and control over their money.
- The share of adults in developing economies who make or receive digital payments grew from 35% in 2014 to 57% in 2021.
- The digital revolution also serves as a powerful anti-corruption tool, because it helps to increase transparency as money flows from a government’s budget to public agencies to citizens.
Way forward
- Governments and the private sector can help further this transformation. First, they need to create a favourable operating and policy environment. For example, enabling the interoperability of systems allows for payments across different types of financial institutions and between mobile money service providers.
- Improving access to finance depends much more on the mobile-phone system than on the physical banking system.
- Cheap and functional mobile phones and affordable internet access are prerequisites for expanding digital finance.
- Consumer protections and stable regulations are also needed to foster safe and fair practices that bolster trust in the financial system.
Conclusion
Expanding people’s access to finance, reducing the cost of digital transactions, and channelling wage payments and social transfers through financial accounts will be vital to mitigating development setbacks resulting from the ongoing turbulence.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had issued a draft notification on July 6, which demarcated large parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra and as eco-sensitive areas.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about role of ESZ in conservation of endangered species and threats to ESZ.
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 mentioning the aims of ESZs.
Body:
First, write about the role of ESZ in conservation of endangered species – minimise the impact of urbanisation and other developmental activities, Shock Absorber’ for the protected area, transition zone, minimise forest depletion and reduce man-animal conflict. Cite examples to substantiate.
Next, write about the various threats to ESZ – Developmental activities and construction, Introduction of exotic species: Exotic species, Climate change etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward to protect ESZs from the above threats.
Introduction
Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) or Ecologically Fragile Areas (EFAs) are areas notified by the MoEF&CC around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. Eco-Sensitive Zones are areas within 10 kms around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
ESZs are notified by MoEFCC, Government of India under Environment Protection Act 1986. In case of places with sensitive corridors, connectivity and ecologically important patches, crucial for landscape linkage, even area beyond 10 km width can also be included in the eco-sensitive zone.
The basic aim is to regulate certain activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries so as to minimise the negative impacts of such activities on the fragile ecosystem encompassing the protected areas.
Body
Role played in conservation of biodiversity
- ESZs minimise the impact of urbanisation and other developmental activities, areas adjacent to protected areas have been declared as Eco-Sensitive Zones.
- The purpose of declaring eco-sensitive zones around protected areas is for creating some kind of a ‘Shock Absorber ‘for the protected area.
- They also act as a transition zone from areas of high protection to areas involving lesser protection.
- ESZs help in in-situ conservation, which deals with conservation of an endangered species in its natural habitat, for example the conservation of the One-horned Rhino of Kaziranga National Park, Assam.
- Eco-Sensitive Zones minimise forest depletion and man-animal conflict.
- The protected areas are based on the core and buffer model of management, through which local area communities are also protected and benefitted.
Threats faced by ESZ
- Infrastructure development activities
- Activities such as construction of dams, roads, urban and rural infrastructures in the ESZ, create interference, negatively impact upon the environment and imbalance the ecological system.
- For example, construction of road would lead to cutting down of trees which would further impact upon, soil erosion thereby destroying the habitats of the species preserved under the ESZ.
- Legislations
- By failing to recognize the rights of forest communities and curbing poaching of animal, legislations like Environmental Protection Act 1986, and Wildlife Protection Act 1972, undermine the ESZs in favour of developmental activities.
- For example – the new draft notification for reducing the ESZs of Bannerghatta National Park.
- Unsustainable tourism
- As the pressure of tourism is rising, the government is developing new sites and gateways to the ESZ.
- To cater to the increasing demand for eco-tourism, land around parks and sanctuaries is being cleared through deforestation, displacement of local people etc.
- The tourists leave behind garbage such as plastic bags and bottles etc. which lead to environmental degradation.
- Invasive Alien Species
- Exotic species like Eucalyptus and Acacia auriculiformis etc., and their plantations create a competing demand on naturally occurring forests.
- Climate change
- Biodiversity and climate change are interconnected, for example, the rise in global temperature has generated land, water and ecological stress on the ESZs.
- For example, forest fires or the Assam floods which badly affected the Kaziranga National Park and its wildlife.
- Pressure of Local communities
- Slash and burn techniques used in agriculture, pressure of increasing population and the rising demand for firewood and forest produce, etc. exerts pressure on the protected areas.
Conclusion and Way forward
- Afforestation and reforestation of degraded forest, regeneration of lost habitats, reducing climate change impacts by promoting carbon footprints and through education, is needed.
- Conservation techniques, awareness about overexploitation of resources and its adverse impacts should be propagated among masses.
- Government, civil societies and stakeholders are largely required to collaborate with each other for balancing sustainable development with development.
Value addition
Activities allowed around ESZ
- Prohibited activities: Commercial mining, saw mills, industries causing pollution (air, water, soil, noise etc), establishment of major hydroelectric projects (HEP), commercial use of wood, Tourism activities like hot-air balloons over the National Park, discharge of effluents or any solid waste or production of hazardous substances.
- Regulated activities: Felling of trees, establishment of hotels and resorts, commercial use of natural water, erection of electrical cables, drastic change of agriculture system, e.g. adoption of heavy technology, pesticides etc, widening of roads.
- Permitted activities: Ongoing agricultural or horticultural practices, rainwater harvesting, organic farming, use of renewable energy sources, adoption of green technology for all activities.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Case Study
Which new approach will you adopt to bring the problem under control? (250 words) (UPSC 2018)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief, mention the facts of the case
Body:
Give the major ethical issues involved along with the stakeholders.
Write the new approach you will take. Evaluate its pros and cons.
Conclusion:
Stress on the importance of emotional intelligence in such cases.
Introduction
As evident, the issue of illicit distillation is not limited to law and order but expands to life and economy of the place. The problem of illicit liquor is directly linked with lack of social cohesion, poor economic opportunities and low awareness among people. Thus, in spite of all prohibition and ill effects, it is still in demand by the locals.
Besides taking more stringent steps of legal nature which will work as last resort, there is need to initiate actions based on bringing attitudinal change; social persuasion; followed by ground level action by civil society and people themselves.
Body
Steps and course of action
- My first focus will be to eradicate the socio-economic disadvantages of the region. Looking from humanistic angle, it is generally found that psychological aspects are also involved in the given ill practice, where people in hardship find refuge in intoxication.
- I will promote the agricultural, small scale, and cottage industries. Promoting more participation of people in agricultural activities will act as motivation for more positive engagement and investment at right places.
- I will promote SHGs to cooperate with government and police department.
- I will deploy police personnel (without uniform) and volunteer groups at grass root level.
- An app will be launched to report any illicit distillation, places of imminent dangers, violence, etc. The App is to be monitored by police for swift action.
Use of persuasion
- I will also organise education campaigns at local level to instil awareness among people incentivise opening of small works of handicrafts, agricultural credits, etc.
- Besides, awareness campaigns in schools will also be organised, where parents will be invited and educative lectures and dramas on ill effects of liquor, and its impact on social-economic lives will be shown.
- Street plays will be organized and community will be mobilized in support of liquor ban. By participating in street play, and listening to it, the consciousness of a person will be shaken and he can be reformed.
- I will encourage women to persuade their male family members against intoxication.
Conclusion
The prime motive is of total prohibition on illicit distillation but given the situation on ground, it is prudent to first pursue with socio-economic, psychological, and ethical considerations. Going by this, it will curb the demand of liquor by locals and would help in proper enforcement by taking legal recourse at last.
