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: Social empowerment
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
Reported violence against women is the proverbial tip of the iceberg; it conceals more than it reveals. But what it reveals can sometimes shock the collective conscience of a nation, especially a heinous crime that plays out in broad daylight as an assault on a young woman.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the reasons for unabated crimes against women and steps that are needed to tackle this chronic problem.
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 and mention the NCRB data on increasing cases of rape in India
Body:
In the first part, mention the reasons for this chronic issue. Legal loopholes, social conditioning, culture of violence, Caste dynamics etc.
Write the steps that are the need of the hour. Effective implementation of Laws, investigating agency and prosecution more proficient, awareness, gender sensitisation etc. Debate about provision of death penalty for Rape.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
The latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) paints a frightful picture of a steady rise in rape cases. According to National Crime Records Bureau statistics, a whopping 4,28,278 lakh crimes against women happened in 2021.
These horrific, unrelated crimes point to a common denominator: India remains unsafe for women. The Delhi gang rape of 2012, which led to stricter laws, is now a distant memory, as horrific cases of sexual violence continue to shock the country.
Body
Crimes against Women: Statistics
In 2019, 400,000 cases of crimes against women were reported, up from about 378,000 in 2018. These account for only 10% of the crimes against women. The conviction rate for rape cases is a dismal 30%.
Reason for crimes against women in India
- Entrenched Patriarchy: India is a deeply patriarchal society. Popular culture equates masculinity with sexual aggression and encourages men and boys to bully and harass women, even rape them, to “tame” them and teach them a lesson.
- Gender and caste violence: Raping Dalit women takes thismisogyny further. A Dalit woman is raped not just to punish and humiliate the woman but also her family and community. It is aimed at underscoring the powerlessness of Dalit men and the larger Dalit community to protect “their” women.
- Justice system: It is a social fact that the criminal legal system often merely re-arranges a system of illegalities. For example, rape survivors are routinely pressurized to “compromise” illegally and turn hostile in trials, failing which they may be threatened or even killed.
- Humiliation to victim:Victims, instead of getting justice, had to face several unnecessary humiliating questions.
- Crime in home:Most crimes still happen within the confines of homes & victims are raped by people they know well like relatives/friends/etc, most of these cases don’t even make it to the statistics.
- No preventive measures:In case of any crime committed against women, the discussion always goes towards punishment for the crime only, but never towards the prevention of crime.
Rethinking policies to make safer spaces for women
- Law enforcement must swiftly bring the perpetrators to book and state governments must ascertainareas of high crime rates and double safety protocols in those areas.
- Men and young boys must be brought into the conversation to dismantle patriarchy and power structures that destroy the lives of women.
- Plugging Gaps in Justice Delivery: The most severe gaps in the justice delivery system are reporting a police complaint. Therefore, the focus of the criminal justice system needs to shift from sentencing and punishment to the stages of reporting, investigation, and victim-support mechanisms. In this context, the following measures must be ensured:
- The victim reports a case without any fear.
- Police to conduct a sound investigation.
- Victim protection throughout the trial.
- Making testification as easy and as quick as possible.
- Allocation of resources and more robust implementation of the law than is currently evident.
- Sensitisation At a Broader Level:Despite the ever-increasing ambit of the death sentence, there has been little effort to address prejudices in society.
- Addressing the prejudicesin the society against sexual offences requires sensitisation of functionaries of the justice system & more importantly society.
- Victim protection: Adequate protection must be given to the victim until the case is closed to ensure they are not threatened.
Conclusion
Crimes against women are on the rise in recent times. Safety of women is of utmost important to ensure that the society will prosper. The extent of violence against women in India is shameful, and shows little sign of abating. While, as a community, it is possible to pass laws to criminalise the violence, law alone will not ask men to respect the opposite gender. What needs to be ingrained in the society is this “stronger people don’t put others down; they lift them up”. The year 2012 brought a drastic change in the way the State and society began viewing the epidemic of sexual violence; nine years later, India still has a long way to go.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
As many as 41.5 crore people exited poverty in India during the 15-year period between 2005-06 and 2019-21, out of which two-thirds exited in the first 10 years, and one-third in the next five years, according to the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) released on Monday.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the challenges associated with poverty and to evaluate the performance of various measures taken to alleviate poverty.
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:
Describe the giving statistic regarding the current status of poverty in India.
Body:
First, write about the various challenges associated with eradication of poverty in India and the progress made so far as mentioned in the above report.
Next, evaluate the pros and cons of the various poverty alleviation measures in India – Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), National Social Assistance Programme, Land Reforms, MGNREGA and various PDS initiatives etc.
Suggest measures to overcome the above the limitations of the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
According to World Bank, Poverty is pronounced deprivation in well-being, and comprises many dimensions. It includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic goods and services necessary for survival with dignity. Poverty also encompasses low levels of health and education, poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate physical security, lack of voice, and insufficient capacity and opportunity to better one’s life.
In India, 21.9% of the population lives below the national poverty line in 2011. In 2018, almost 8% of the world’s workers and their families lived on less than US$1.90 per person per day (international poverty line).
Body
Poverty : A massive challenge in India
- Population Explosion:India’s population has steadily increased through the years. During the past 45 years, it has risen at a rate of 2.2% per year, which means, on average, about 17 million people are added to the country’s population each year. This also increases the demand for consumption goods tremendously.
- Low Agricultural Productivity:A major reason for poverty in the low productivity in the agriculture sector. The reason for low productivity is manifold. Chiefly, it is because of fragmented and subdivided land holdings, lack of capital, illiteracy about new technologies in farming, the use of traditional methods of cultivation, wastage during storage, etc.
- Inefficient Resource utilisation:There is underemployment and disguised unemployment in the country, particularly in the farming sector. This has resulted in low agricultural output and also led to a dip in the standard of living.
- Low Rate of Economic Development:Economic development has been low in India especially in the first 40 years of independence before the LPG reforms in 1991.
- Price Rise:Price rise has been steady in the country and this has added to the burden the poor carry. Although a few people have benefited from this, the lower income groups have suffered because of it, and are not even able to satisfy their basic minimum wants.
- Unemployment:Unemployment is another factor causing poverty in India. The ever-increasing population has led to a higher number of job-seekers. However, there is not enough expansion in opportunities to match this demand for jobs.
Achievements in poverty alleviation over the years
- Decline in Extreme Poverty:Extreme poverty in India was 3% points lower in 2019 compared with 2011, as poverty headcount rate declined from 22.5% in 2011 to 10.2% in 2019, with a comparatively sharper decline in rural areas.
- Slight moderation in consumption inequality since 2011, but by a margin smaller than what is reported in the unreleased National Sample Survey -2017.
- The extent of poverty reduction during 2015-2019 is estimated to be notably lower than earlier projections based on growth in private final consumption expenditure reported in national account statistics.
- The World Bank defines “extreme poverty” as living on less than USD 1.90 per person per day.
- Rural vs Urban Poverty:Poverty reduction was higher in rural areas compared with urban India as rural poverty declined from 26.3% in 2011 to 11.6% in 2019, while in urban areas the decline was from 14.2% to 6.3% in the corresponding period.
- Rural and urban poverty dropped by 7 and 7.9% points during 2011-2019.
- Urban poverty in India rose by 2% in 2016, coinciding with the demonetisation, and rural poverty rose by 10% in 2019.
- Small Farmers:Smallholder farmers have experienced higher income growth. Real incomes for farmers with the smallest landholdings have grown by 10% in annualized terms between the two survey rounds (2013 and 2019) compared to a 2% growth for farmers with the largest landholding.
- The growth in incomes of smallest landholders in rural areas provides more evidence of moderation in income disparity in rural areas.
- Smallest landholders comprise a larger share of the poor population.This income includes wages, net receipt from crop production, net receipt from farming of animal farming and net receipt from non-farm business. Income from leasing out land has been exempted.
Measures needed
- Immediate support package will need to quickly reach both the existing and new poor.
- While existing safety net programs can be mobilized to get cash into the pockets of some of the existing poor relatively quickly, this is not the case for the new poor.
- In fact, the new poor are likely to look different from the existing poor, particularly in their location (mostly urban) and employment (mostly informal services, construction, and manufacturing).
- the identification of poor and vulnerable groups is need of the hour.
- India should consider fixing a universal basic income in the post-Covid period through a combination of cash transfers, expansion of MGNREGA, and introduction of an urban employment guarantee scheme
- Employment generation for the masses:
- A large fiscal stimulus along with intermediate informal employment insurgency through MGNREGA and other employment generation programmes are urgent to rein the adverse impact of covid-19 on the welfare of the masses.
- Multilateral global institutions must support the developing nations:
- Oxfam is calling on world leaders to agree on an Emergency Rescue Package of 2.5 trillion USD paid for through the immediate cancellation or postponement of 1 trillion in debt repayments, a 1 trillion increase in IMF Special Drawing Rights (international financial reserves), and an additional 500 billion in aid.
- An effective response in support of poor and vulnerable households will require significant additional fiscal resources.
- Providing all the existing and new extreme poor with a cash transfer of $1/day (about half the value of the international extreme poverty line) for a month would amount to $20 billion —or $665 million per day over 30 days.
- Given that impacts are likely to be felt by many non-poor households as well and that many households are likely to need support for much longer than a month, the sum needed for effective protection could be far higher.
- Decision-makers need timely and policy-relevant information on impacts and the effectiveness of policy responses.
- This can be done using existing, publicly available data to monitor the unfolding economic and social impacts of the crisis, including prices, service delivery, and economic activity, as well as social sentiment and behaviours.
- In addition, governments can use mobile technology to safely gather information from a representative sample of households or individuals.
- Phone surveys can collect information on health and employment status, food security, coping strategies, access to basic services and safety nets and other outcomes closely related to the risk of falling (further) into poverty.
Conclusion and way forward
- The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index-2018released by the UN noted that 271 million people moved out of poverty between 2005-06 and 2015-16 in India. The poverty rate in the country has nearly halved, falling from 55% to 28% over the ten-year period. Still a big part of the population in India is living Below the Poverty Line.
- Rapid economic growth and the use of technology for social sector programs have helped make a significant dent in extreme poverty in the country.
- Despite rapid growth and development, an unacceptably high proportion of our population continues to suffer from severe and multidimensional deprivation. Thus, a more comprehensive and inclusive approach is required to eradicate poverty in India.
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
On August 8, 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed in Bangkok. Its founding members were Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Philippines. Many commentators have pointed out that South Asia has important lessons to learn from ASEAN.
Key Demand of the question:
To understand the role of strategic partnership with ASEAN and its mutual benefits and limitations for both sides.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by mentioning the historic engagement of India-ASEAN relationship.
Body:
Bring out the importance of geographical proximity of the ASEAN countries and its strategic, security and economic implications to India. Also mention about the sociocultural dynamics, mobilisation of group level funds and promotion of domestic infrastructure projects based on few examples.
Next, write about the inter-link between India’s Indo-Pacific strategy works in tandem with its Act East Policy.
Next, write about the implications of the above on India.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stating that a good relation with ASEAN nations is crucial for India, in order for India to look beyond its neighbours, in its global diplomatic journey.
Introduction
Under the AEP, the India-Japan strategic partnership has been lifted to an entirely new level, underscoring the importance of Indo- Pacific cooperation. India believes in an Indo-Pacific that is free, open and inclusive, and one that is founded upon a cooperative and collaborative rules-based order. ASEAN’s centrality remains the abiding contemporary characteristic of the Indo-Pacific at the regional level.
India has placed the Indo-Pacific at the heart of its engagement with the countries of south, southeast and east Asia to counter China.
Body
India’s of strategic partnership with ASEAN
- India’s relationship with ASEAN is a key pillar of her foreign policy and the foundation of Act East Policy. India and ASEAN already have 25 years of Dialogue Partnership, 15 years of Summit Level interaction and 5 years of Strategic Partnership with ASEAN.
- Economic Cooperation: ASEAN is India’s fourth largest trading partner.India’s trade with ASEAN stands at approx. 10.6% of India’s overall trade.
- India’s export to ASEAN stands at 11.28% of our total exports. The ASEAN-India Free Trade Area has been completed.
- ASEAN India-Business Council (AIBC) was set up in 2003 to bring key private sector players from India and the ASEAN countries on a single platform.
- Socio-Cultural Cooperation:Programmes to boost People-to-People Interaction with ASEAN, such as inviting ASEAN students to India, Special Training Course for ASEAN diplomats, Exchange of Parliamentarians, etc.
- Delhi Declaration: To identify Cooperation in the Maritime Domain as the key area of cooperation under the ASEAN-India strategic partnership.
- Delhi Dialogue:Annual Track 1.5 event for discussing politico-security and economic issues between ASEAN and India.
- ASEAN-India Centre (AIC):To undertake policy research, advocacy and networking activities with organizations and think-tanks in India and ASEAN.
Linkages between India’s Indo-Pacific strategy and Act East Policy
- Political Security Cooperation:India places ASEAN at the centre of its Indo-Pacific vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region.
- Act East consequently represents the securitization of India’s eastward engagement, reflects a wider scope that encompasses the Indo-Pacific region, and heralds a greater urgency.
- It is meant to preserve a favourable balance of power by ensuring a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
- The Indo-Pacific region is also highly heterogeneousin terms of economic size and level of development.
- There are significant differences in security establishments and resources.
- More than tariff barriers, the non-tariff measures (NTMs) act as a major impediment to trade in this region.
- Strengthening of India’s relationship with ASEAN also implies strengthening of the foundation of Indo-Pacific.
- Indo-pacific was inherently a construct to counter Chinese aggressionin the region, aided by USA and other nations. Without ASEAN, it will fall short of its objectives as many ASEAN nations have disputes with China regarding South China sea and disputed islands.
- A greater cooperation with ASEAN under Act East and Indo-pacific can lead to rebalancing of relations in Asia.
Challenges remain
- The Quad does not inspire confidence because of its long history of differences and the slow development of its security orientation.
- Perhaps that was also one of the reasons for thecreation of AUKUS, a kind of supplementary arrangement to inspire more confidence and message the US intent of relying on a plethora of relationships that it enjoys.
- Asean is unable to understand the nature of the relationship between India and China which brings close economic cooperation between the two giants and yet amassive trust deficit.
- Sino-Indian relations remain a bugbear for Asean.
- Except for the Singapore think tanks which find a fair presence of Indian intelligentsia, the other Asean nations do not have the benefit of listening to and constantly appreciating the Indian standpoint on the relationship between India and China.
- Asean is not convinced by India’s exit from theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) after eight long years of negotiation.
- India was always convinced that its interests were not served because it would get swamped by Chinese exports and upset the already tenuous trade deficit.
Conclusion
ASEAN centrality would be a major driving force for speeding up cooperation within the Indo-Pacific. India will continue to play a key role in stabilising and fostering co-operation in the region. The Indo-Pacific would not only strengthen economic relations, but would, also enhance regional capacities while dealing with the region’s complex security challenges.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the successes and limitations of five-year plans and the limitations of planning commission.
Directive:
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 of the planning commission.
Body:
First, in detail write about the growth of Indian economy in the various FYPs from the first plan to the twelfth plan. Write about its successes and limitations.
Next, write about the major limitations of the planning commission – No structural mechanism, Ineffective forum, one size fits all etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning the genesis if NITI Aayog.
Introduction
The term economic planning is used to describe the long term plans of the government of India to develop and coordinate the economy with efficient utilization of resources. Economic planning in India started after independence in the year 1950 when it was deemed necessary for economic growth and development of the nation.
Body:
About 5-year plans:
- After independence, India launched a programme of Five Year Plans to make the optimum use of country’s available resources and to achieve rapid economic Development
- In India, development plans were formulated and carried out within the framework of the mixed economy
- In India, economic planning was adopted in the form of Five Year Plans and was seen as a development tool on account of various reasons.
- The need for social justice as experience of the past five and-a- half decades suggests that in a free enterprise economy, economic gains do not necessarily trickle down and
- Judicious mobilisation and allocation of resources in the context of overall development programme in the light of the resource constraint in India
- So far, 12th Five Year Plans have been formulated since the year 12th Five-year Plan (2012- 2017), came into force once it was approved by the NDC on 27th December, 2012.
Achievements of 5 year plans:
- Economic Growth:
- Economic planning in India has been successful in increasing the national income and the per capita income of the country resulting in economic growth.
- The net national income at factor cost increased from Rs. 4393.45 billion in 1966- 67 to Rs.45, 733 billion in 2011-12 (at 2004-05 prices). The per capita income increased from Rs.8876 to Rs.38, 048 during the same period (at 2004-05 prices).
- The average growth rate has increased from 3.5 percent during 1950 to 1970 to about 5.5 percent after 1990’s. The economy recorded a growth rate of 7.8 percent during the eleventh five- year plan.
- Progress in Agriculture:
- The first five-year plan focused on agricultural development. However, agricultural sector did not receive priority in the subsequent plans. Yet, with various initiatives implemented in the agricultural sector such as the green revolution and agricultural pricing policies, there has been a considerable increase in the output of the agricultural sector.
- The index of agricultural production increased from 85.9 in 1970-71 to 165.7 in 1999-2000 (Base year- 1981-82). The production of major food grains which includes rice, wheat, coarse cereals and pulses has increased from 77.14 million tons in 1958-59 to 252.22 tons in 2015-16. With the introduction of green revolution, the yield per hectare of food grains has increased from 662 kg in 1959-60 to 2056 kg in 2015-16.
- Similarly, the production of commercial crops has also recorded an increasing trend. Various reforms in the agricultural sector such as the Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana and Kisan credit cards during the ninth plan and National Food Security Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana during the eleventh plan have been quite successful in improving the performance of the agricultural sector.
- Industrial Growth:
- Economic planning has also contributed to the progress of the industrial sector. The index of industrial production increased from 54.8 in 1950-51 to 152.0 in 1965-66 (Base year- 1960-61) which is about 176 percent increase in production during the first three five-year plans.
- It went up from 109.3 in 1981-82 to 232.0 in 1993-94 (Base year- 1980-81). Taking 2004-05 as the base year, the index of industrial production recorded an increase from 108.6 in 2005-06 to 181.1 in 2015-16. The introduction of reforms in 1991 relieved the industrial sector from numerous bureaucratic restrictions that were prevalent earlier.
- This has led to the rapid growth of the industrial sector in India. India has made remarkable progress in cotton textiles, paper, medicines, food processing, consumer goods, light engineering goods etc.
- Public Sector:
- The public sector played a predominant role in the economy immediately after the independence. While there were only 5 industrial public sector enterprises in 1951, the number increased to 244 in 1990 with an investment of Rs.99, 330 cores. However, the number of public sector enterprises fell to 217 in March 2010.
- Very high profits were recorded by petroleum, telecommunication services, power generation, coal and lignite, financial services, transport services and minerals and metal industries. The government has eliminated a number of restrictions on the operational and financial powers of the Navaratnas, Miniratnas and several other profit making public sector enterprises.
- Infrastructure:
- Development of infrastructure such as transport and communication, power, irrigation etc., is a pre-requisite to rapid economic growth and development. Expansion of transport facilities enables easy movement of goods and services and also enlarges the market. Irrigation projects contribute significantly to rural development.
- Power projects help in meeting the growing demand for power by both industrial and household sector. The total road length increased from about 400,000 km in 1951 to about 4.7 million km in 2011.
- The route length of the Indian railway network has increased from about 53,596 km in 1951 to about 64,450 km in 2011. The investment in infrastructure as a percentage of GDP was about 5.9 percent during the tenth plan and increased to about 7.2 percent during the eleventh plan.
- Education and Health Care:
- Education and health care are considered as human capital as they contribute to increased productivity of human beings. Considerable progress was achieved in the education as well as health sector during the five-year plans. The number of universities increased from about 22 in 1950-51 to 254 in 2000-01.
- The number of institutions in higher education has increased to over 100 percent since 2008. With the growth in the number of institutions, the literacy rate in India has increased from 16.7 percent in 1950-51 to 74.04 percent in 2011. With improvements in the health infrastructure, India has been able to successfully control a number of life threatening diseases such as small pox, cholera, polio, TB etc.
- As a result, there has been a fall in the death rate from 27.4 per thousand persons in 1950-51 to 7.3 per thousand persons in 2016. The life expectancy has increased from about 32.1 years in 1951 to 68.01 years in 2014. The infant mortality rate has declined from 149 per thousand in 1966 to 37.42 per thousand in 2015.
- Growth of Service Sector:
- Service sector is the key contributor to the economic growth of India. The service sector contributed to about 53.2 percent of the gross value added growth in 2015-16. The contribution of the IT sector to India’s GDP increased from about 1.2 percent in 1998 to 9.5 percent in 2015. The service sector has recorded a growth rate of about 138.5 percent in the last decade.
- Financial services, insurance, real estate and business services are some of the leading services that have been recording a robust growth in the past few years. The rapid growth of the service sector in India could be attributed to the inflow of huge amount of FDI in this sector. India’s share of service exports in the world service exports has increased from 0.6 percent in 1990 to 3.3 percent in 2011.
- Savings and Investment:
- Savings and Investments are major driving forces of economic growth. The gross domestic savings in India as a proportion of GDP has increased from 8.6 percent in 1950-51 to about 30 percent in 2012-13. The gross capital formation has increased from 8.4 percent in 1950-51 to 34.70 in 2012-13. Capital accumulation is the key to economic development. It helps in achieving rapid economic growth and has the ability to break the vicious circle of poverty.
- Science and Technology:
- India is the third most preferred destination for technology investments. It is among the top most countries in scientific research and space exploration. India is also making rapid progress in nuclear technology. ISRO has made a record of launching 104 satellites in one go on a single rocket. India today has the third largest scientific manpower after U.S.A and Russia.
- The government has undertaken various measures such as setting up of new institutions for science education and research, launching the technology and innovation policy in 2013, strengthening the infrastructure for research and development in universities, and encouraging public- private partnership etc.
- Foreign Trade:
- On the eve of independence, India’s primary exports were agricultural commodities and UK and US were its major trading partners. India was largely dependent on other countries for various capital and consumer goods. However, with the development of heavy industries during the five-year plans, India has been able to reduce its dependence on other countries and was able to achieve self-reliance in a number of commodities.
- With the liberalisation of trade, India now exports about 7500 commodities to about 190 countries and it imports about 6000 commodities from about 140 countries. The exports of the country increased from Rs. 54.08 billion in 1977- 78 to Rs. 17,144.24 billion in 2015-16. And imports have increased from Rs. 60.20 billion in 1977-78 to Rs. 24, 859.27 billion in 2015-16.
Major Failures of Planning:
- Slow Growth:
- The planning process in India has been able to achieve considerable increase in the national income and per capita income. Yet, the rate of increase has been slow as compared to developing countries like China, which have been able to achieve more than 10 percent growth rate consistently. India was able to achieve a growth rate of only about 4 to 5 percent during the pre-reform period. It was only during the post reform period that is after 1991, that the country could experience a growth rate of over 7 percent.
- Neglect of Agriculture:
- The five year plans failed to pay attention to the agricultural sector except for the first five-year plan. As a result, the agricultural growth rate declined from 3.62 percent in 1991-92 to 0.81 percent during 2009-10. And the share of agriculture in GDP declined from about 50 percent during 1950-51 to about 16 percent of the GDP in 2015.
- Unemployment:
- The plans have failed to address the problem of unemployment which is a cause of many social evils. The unemployment rate has marginally reduced from 8.35 percent during 1972-73 to about 6.53 percent in 2009-10. It was about 4.19 percent in 2013. The growth rate of employment has recorded a decline from 2.61 percent in 1972-73 to 1.50 percent during 2009-10. The employment in primary sector recorded a negative growth rate of 0.13 percent in 2009-10.
- Widespread Poverty:
- Failure to address the problem of unemployment has resulted in widespread poverty in the country. The first four plans failed to address the problem of poverty. It was only during the fifth five-year plan that measures were taken to tackle poverty directly by introducing various poverty alleviation programmes. These programmes, however, have achieved only limited success. The poverty rate in India declined from about 26.1 percent in 2000 to 21.9 percent in 2011.
- Inflation:
- Poverty is aggravated under the situation of inflation. The five-year plans have not been able to stabilise the prices due to which there has been a steep rise in the general prices. The inflation rate was around 10 percent in 2012.
- Rising Inequality:
- With rapid economic growth, the country has been witnessing a rise in the level of inequality. It has been estimated that the richest 1 percent own about 58 percent of the country’s wealth. Poor performance of the agricultural sector and lack of investments in rural infrastructure are cited as the primary reason for such rising inequalities.
- Political Instability:
- Political instability and inefficient administration are the major hurdles in successful implementation of the plans. Though the plans are formulated after complete analysis of the economic situation, most of the plans fail to achieve the targets due to inefficient administration, corruption, vested interests and red tapism.
Conclusion:
The achievements and failures of the economic planning in India, thus, reveal the underlying gaps in the process of planning. It is an undeniable fact that the current level of growth and development that the country has achieved could not have been possible without planning. Yet, systematic and efficient implementation of the plans and strategic policies to tackle the problem of unemployment and poverty could take the country to greater heights. It is strongly believed that the NITI Aayog would address these gaps that existed in the planning process in India and would strive to build a vibrant economy over the years.
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the impact of LPG reforms on inclusive growth in the country.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context about the LPG reforms.
Body:
First, in detail write about the LPG and how they would play a part in the economic development of the country.
Next, write about the positive contributions of the LPG reforms on inclusive growth in the country. Cite statistic and examples to substantiate.
Next, write about the shortcomings of LPG reforms.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a balanced opinion on LPG reforms.
Introduction
The liberalization, privatization and globalization regime launched in 1991 completed its 30 years in 2021. The 1991 was a landmark moment in India’s post-independence history that changed the nature of the economy in fundamental ways.
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.
Body
India’s Post-1990 Economic Strategy
- It dismantled the vast network of controls and permits that dominated the economic system.
- It redefined the role of the state as a facilitator of economic transactions and as a neutral regulator rather than the primary provider of goods and services.
- It led to moving away from a regime of import substitution and to integrate fully with the global trading system.
Positive effects of LPG Reforms
- By the first decade of the 21st century, India began to be seen as one of the fastest growing emerging markets.
- India’s annual average growth rate from 1990 – 2010 has been 6.6 % which is
almost double than pre reforms era. GDP growth rate surpassed 5% mark in early 1980’s. - The 1991 reforms unleashed the energies of Indian entrepreneurs, gave untold choice to consumers and changed the face of the Indian economy.
- Far from poverty increasing, for the first time, there was a substantial reduction in it.
- 1991 reforms boosted services sector provided opportunities for individuals to develop their skills.
LPG reforms and inclusiveness
- During the reform period most Indian states experienced high average growth ratesin real unskilled informal wage and real unskilled agricultural wage. This explains the fall in poverty rates.
- Declining urban poverty and increasing income inequality were associated with growth in manufacturing exports and imports.
- Among manufacturing exports, during the 1990s, there was a phenomenal growth in exports of skill-intensive high-technology goods.
- This change in the skill composition of Indian manufacturing export basket offers a plausible explanation of the rise in income inequality during the 1990s.
- Three unskilled labour-intensivemanufacturing goods clothing, textiles, and leather still account for around 40% of manufacturing exports.
- Expectedly, their growth had a favourable impact on urban poverty through increase in the unskilled money wage.
- Growth in aggregate output both in per capita net state domestic product (PCNSDP) and gross domestic product (GDP) is another source of lower urban poverty and higher income inequality.
- Exports found to be causing GDP growth means that the growth impact of trade may be an important factor underlying the observed changes in poverty and inequality.
- Growth in exports of high-technology goods seems to be one major source of such trade growth nexus.
Increasing inequalities post liberalisation
- Post liberalisation, there was more focus on assuring investor confidencefor which the fiscal deficit ought to be well within limits and the climate for investment to be conducive.
- Socialist mind set thus far was to spontaneously change to pro-market.
- This saw an illustration of Karl Marx’s “Primitive Capital accumulation” wherein there was displacement of poor from their places which made them inevitablylose the opportunity to grow out of their livelihood option that they inherited.
- The job growth has seen only marginal increase of 0.2%in the period of great economic growth indicates this.
- If we go byGini index pertaining to consumption the inequality is starker as compared with that we obtain pertaining to income, another fact that reinforces the above claim.
- Thus, poverty has beenreduced in absolute terms but not in equitable terms making inequality much deeper. India has to rein in over the income disparity to begin with.
Way Forward
- For reducing inequality, some advocate measures such asredistribution of assets and wealth in favour of the poor via higher taxes for the rich.
- However, these may not be pragmatic solutions. The tax/GDP ratio has to be raisedwith a wider tax base.
- Fiscal instruments like public investment in physical andsocial infrastructure can be used to reduce inequality.
- The new generation wantsequality of opportunity rather than redistributive measures.
- Everyone irrespective of caste, class and gender should have equal opportunities in education, health, employment and entrepreneurship.
- Economic andemployment opportunities improve with education and skills.
- The new generation wants better quality in schools and higher education.
- Finally, economic reforms should focus more on efficient delivery systems of public services.
- Many reckon that poor governance is the biggest constraint in achieving the aspirations of a new generation and reduction in poverty and inequality.
- A major institutional challenge is the accountability of service providers, particularly the public sector.
- Recent literature also focused on eradication of corruption for reduction in inequalities.
- Issues like electoral reforms, crony capitalism, election funding and corruption should be part of thereform agenda to reduce inequalities.
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.
Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
Stem cell technology has witnessed advancement that open new hopes for the treatment of rare genetic disorders which otherwise are largely undetected and also untreated. Recent research has shown exciting possibilities of having a direct intervention method for effective treatment, said Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS) Director Rakesh Mishra.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about stem cells, its types and applications.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining stem cells.
Body:
First, in detail write about the various types of stem cells and their features – Embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells.
Next, write about the myriad of applications of the stem cell technology and various programmes and initiatives to boost research on stem cells.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
Stem cells are undifferentiated biological cells that can differentiate into specialized cells and can divide to produce more stem cells. They are the body’s raw materials — cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. Treatments or therapies are used stem cells to prevent or treat any disease are known as stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy promotes the reparative treatment of diseased, dead or injured tissue.
Body
Types of Stem Cells
- Embryonic Stem Cells:
- These are stem cells derived from the blastocyst stage of the embryo.
- The blastocyst is a pre-implantation stage, formed 4 to 5 days after fertilisation.
- They are pluripotent in nature and found in the inner cell mass.
- Totipotent: These stem cells can differentiate into all possible cell types. The first few cells that appear as the zygote starts to divide are totipotent.
- Pluripotent: These cells can turn into almost any cell. Cells from the early embryo are pluripotent.
- Multipotent: These cells can differentiate into a closely related family of cells. Adult hematopoietic stem cells, for example, can become red and white blood cells or platelets.
- Oligopotent: These can differentiate into a few different cell types. Adult lymphoid or myeloid stem cells can do this.
- Unipotent: These can only produce cells of one kind, which is their own type. However, they are still stem cells because they can renew themselves. Examples include adult muscle stem cells.
- Adult Stem Cells:
- Adult stem cells or somatic stem cells are found in both adult and juvenile animals, unlike embryonic stem cells.
- They have the ability to differentiate into any cell of the organ from which they originate.
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells:
- These are stem cells that are derived from somatic cells.
- It is a pluripotent stem cell generated by introducing ‘reprogramming factors’ called Yamanaka factorsinto mature cells.
Applications of stem cell technology
- Tissue regeneration
- Tissue regeneration is probably the most important use of stem cells.
- Until now, a person who needed a new kidney, for example, had to wait for a donor and then undergo a transplant.
- There is a shortage of donor organs but, by instructing stem cells to differentiate in a certain way, scientists could use them to grow a specific tissue type or organ.
- Cardiovascular disease treatment
- In 2013, a team of researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital reported in PNAS Early Editionthat they had created blood vessels in laboratory mice, using human stem cells.
- Within 2 weeks of implanting the stem cells, networks of blood-perfused vessels had formed. The quality of these new blood vessels was as good as the nearby natural ones.
- Brain disease treatment
- Doctors may one day be able to use replacement cells and tissues to treat brain diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
- In Parkinson’s, for example, damage to brain cells leads to uncontrolled muscle movements. Scientists could use stem cells to replenish the damaged brain tissue.
- This could bring back the specialized brain cells that stop the uncontrolled muscle movements.
- Cell deficiency therapy
- Scientists hope one day to be able to develop healthy heart cells in a laboratory that they can transplant into people with heart disease.
- These new cells could repair heart damage by repopulating the heart with healthy tissue.
- Similarly, people with type I diabetes could receive pancreatic cells to replace the insulin-producing cells that their own immune systems have lost or destroyed.
- Blood disease treatments
- Doctors now routinely use adult hematopoietic stem cells to treat diseases, such as leukemia, sickle cell anemia, and other immunodeficiency problems.
- Hematopoietic stem cells occur in blood and bone marrow and can produce all blood cell types, including red blood cells that carry oxygen and white blood cells that fight disease.
Way forward
- There is a need for implementation of the rules framed by the centre. Despite the existence of regulatory frameworks, scientists, clinics and doctors continue to work with stem cells without proper approval.
- There is a need to encourage reporting of the effects of stem cell therapies’ trials. Evidence-based progress is vital in a dynamic and much-hyped field like stem cell technology.
- There is a need to create awareness about the real benefits and limitations of stem cell therapies to protect patients from unproven therapies offered by profit-driven clinics.
- Regulation of IVF clinics is essential to break the image of India as an ‘embryo supplier’ for dubious research.
- Instead of depending on stem cells derived from embryos, adult stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells can be worked with to a greater extent.
- Certification of clinics approved for providing stem cell therapy.
- An internationally applicable guideline must be developed by organisations like WHO as this is not an issue to be solved by one country in isolation.
Conclusion
Though advancement in stem cell technology is making strides, there is a need to funnel it through appropriate testing and clinical trials before being used on the general public. For this, a well-functioning regulatory mechanism and responsible research and application are of vital importance.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Work culture, Quality of service delivery,
Difficulty level: Moderate.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Conceptual Tuesdays’ in Mission-2023 Secure.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about components of ethical workplace and ways to build it.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by describing the ethical work culture.
Body:
Write about the major components of ethical work culture – priority to employee rights, fair procedures, and equity in pay and promotion, and that promotes tolerance, compassion, loyalty and honesty in the treatment of customers and employees.
Next, write about ways to build ethical workplace culture and environment.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
Work Culture or Organization Culture is set of collective beliefs, values, rules and behaviour which organisation as whole conforms to. In a layman approach it is culture that a group as an organisation follows. Culture varies with family, region, social class and hence in work environment.
Body
Components of an ethical workplace culture and environment
- Priority to employee rights
- Fair procedures and treatment
- Equity in pay and promotion,
- Promotes tolerance, compassion, loyalty and honesty in the treatment of customers and employees.
Ways to build ethical culture at workplace
- A clear expectation for behaviour among all members of an organization is the first step towards a more ethical organizational culture.
- Organizational leaders must be mindful of their actions as others in the organization will likely follow their lead when it comes to ethical behaviour and attitudes.
- Offering opportunities for recognition, awards, and social reinforcements for desirable ethical behaviors’ can go a long way to promote the types of ethical culture desired in any organization.
- Workshops, easy to use reference materials, ongoing and readily available consultation from peers or mentors are just some of the many ways institutions can assist in training students and staff to best use the tools that are available to them to participate in better and more thoughtful ethical decision making.
- Ethical ambiguities can be reduced by creating and disseminating an organizational code of ethics. It should state the organization’s primary values and the ethical rules that employees are expected to follow.
- The organization needs to provide formal mechanisms so that employees can discuss ethical dilemmas and report unethical behaviour without fear of reprimand. This might include creation of ethical counsellors, ombudsmen, or ethical officers.
Measures I would take to make workplace more ethical
- Lead by example:a leader leads from the front. We should be able to do what we preach and is the best way to motivate our subordinates. e.g. SAM MANEKSHAW, valor of Alexander
- Persuasion:Senior can persuade the subordinates by making them informed about values and output they would create if they perform better. If subordinate understand what tangible their efforts would lead, they get motivated and work toward achieving that goal.
- Fairness:we should be fair in the task allocation and should treat all our subordinates in a fair manner irrespective of their background. e.g. without any differences of caste or creed
- Transparency:a public servant should be transparent in his working and should be open to suggestions.
- Flexibility:we should be flexible, open to suggestions and should hear suggestions from experienced subordinates. this would give them recognition and at the same time would be beneficial for the organization.
- Recognition:give recognition to the employees who have worked on the ground will motivate them to work even harder the next time. e.g. mayo hawthorne experiment
- Incentivization:Incentives whether financial or awards create an atmosphere of competitiveness among subordinates and therefore they get motivates and improve their performance.
- Employee engagement:in various constructive activities will help them to channelize their energies in the right direction. e.g. doing some activities with the employees
- Grievance redressal:keeping some part of the day especially for hearing and solving grievances will help them to be self-motivated. e.g in armed forces officers have daily some time for the grievance redressal of the jawans.
- Adopting physical fitness and healthy lifestyle culture, yoga-meditation so that people can be physically and emotionally fit to perform their duties. Making motivational courses intrinsic part of training.
Conclusion
A self-motivated worker will work his heart out for the betterment of the organizations and leaders should strive their best to achieve it.
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