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: History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
With the rise of the right in Europe, the escalation of ethnic tensions in the Middle East, and the increasing anonymity provided by social media platforms, anti-Semitism is once again a pressing matter of concern.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about anti-Semitism, its political, social and economic impact across the world.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by anti-Semitism.
Body:
First, write about the different ways anti-Semitism manifests across the world – racial, religious, social, economic and political.
Next, write about the impact of anti-Semitism and mention the various historical events that have resulted in grave tragedies such as holocaust due it.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing ways to end anti-Semitism.
Introduction
Anti-Semitism refers to any form of prejudice against the Jewish people. It can also describe prejudice against speakers of the Semitic languages including the likes of Arabs and Ethiopians. The term ‘anti-Semitism’ was coined in 1879 by the German agitator Wilhelm Marr to designate the anti-Jewish campaigns in central Europe at that time. The term itself is a misnomer as Semitic designates a language group, not a race.
Body
The ways in which Anti-Semitism manifests
- Racial anti-Semitism, most commonly associated with the Nazis, stems from a belief that Jews are a distinct, inferior race with inherent genetic traits. This form usually manifests in the belief that Jews need to be exterminated altogether.
- Religious anti-Semitismtraces its roots to the early days of Christianity and is accompanied by a notion that Jews should be converted to other faiths.
- Social anti-Semitismis a form of exclusion of Jews from social situations. An example of the practice was reported in in 1959 that claimed that Jews in America were routinely excluded from golf and sports clubs.
- Economic anti-Semitism, the most prevalent amongst the biases, posits that Jews have a disproportionate degree of control over global and national financial institutions, and that their stronghold over those institutions ought to be diminished.
- Political anti-Semitismis the attempt to keep Jews out of power. It is often conflated with anti-Zionism, a movement that denies the Jewish right to a national homeland.
Impacts
Antisemitism is a security issue for Jewish communities and individuals in regions across the world and the driving force of a range of violent extremist ideologies. Like all forms of intolerance and discrimination, antisemitism has a profound impact on the whole of society, undermining democratic values and human rights. In recent years, the changing geopolitical climate and media environment have led to a situation where open antisemitism is no longer confined to extremist circles and has become increasingly mainstreamed.
In the past
- Persecution of Jews
- From the Protestant reformer Martin Luther in 1543 to the French philosopher Edmund Burke in 1790, Jews were positioned as scapegoats for several societal ills.
- Jews have systematically been driven out of countries including England, Yemen, Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, and Egypt.
- Ban in Russia
- Until 1772, Jews were banned from living in the Russian Empire altogether.
- Between 1880 and 1910, 2.5 million Jews fled from Russia to the US after anti-Semitism became the official government policy under the rule of the Czars.
- Holocaust in Germany
- Völkisch nationalists believed that the German race was superior to all other races.
- They considered Jews to be alien people who belonged to a different race and blamed them for undermining the German way of life.
- The rise of the Nazi party culminated in the death of over 6 million Jews by the end of the Second World War.
In contemporary times
- The recent incidents of rising anti-Semitism include
- Far-right demonstrations in the US
- Attacks on synagogues in Sweden
- Arson attacks on kosher restaurants in France. Kosher cuisine is food that complies with strict dietary rules in Judaism.
- Increase in crimes against Jews in the UK
- The problem has also been exacerbated by social media.
Ways to tackle
- Addressing antisemitism through education is therefore both an immediate security imperative and a long-term educational investment to promote human rights and global citizenship.
- To recognize antisemitism as a problem to be addressed internationally;
- To develop education programmes that address antisemitism in a framework of human rights and global citizenship;
- To build the capacity of educational systems to address antisemitism, conspiracy theories and all other forms of hate speech;
- An increased investment in social cohesion.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Saturday (October 29) announced the formation of a committee to implement a uniform civil code (UCC) in the state. In May this year, Uttarakhand announced a committee led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai to carry out a similar exercise. Assam and Himachal Pradesh, also ruled by the BJP, too have supported the idea of a UCC.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about analyse the debate regarding introduction of the Uniform civil code.
Directive word:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a balanced judgment on the topic.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as per article 44.
Body:
First, explaining the aims and objectives behind UCC in India.
Next, discuss in detail the arguments for UCC in India – Mentioned in DPSP, uniformity of laws, achieving equality, simplification of law, progressive measure etc.
Next, discuss in detail the arguments against the UCC in India – Lack of consensus, against cultural diversity, right of minorities, tribal customs etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a balanced opinion regarding UCC.
Introduction
A Uniform Civil Code is one that would provide for one law for the entire country, applicable to all religious communities in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc. It proposes to replace the personal laws based on the scriptures and customs of each major religious community in the country with a common set of laws governing every citizen.
Article 44 of the Constitution lays down that the state shall endeavor to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India.
Body
Background
- Recently, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi announced the formation of a committee to implement a uniform civil code (UCC) in the state.
- In May 2022, Uttarakhand announced a committee led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai to carry out a similar exercise. Assam and Himachal Pradesh, also ruled by the BJP, too have supported the idea of a UCC.
UCC helps in achieving the following
- Promotion of secularism:One set of laws to govern the personal matters of all citizens irrespective of religion is the cornerstone of true secularism. A secular republic needs a common law for all citizens rather than differentiated rules based on religious practices. It would help end gender discrimination on religious grounds and strengthens the secular fabric of the nation.
- Protection of Vulnerable & Women’s Rights:It will protect the vulnerable sections of society. Women have been denied via personal laws in the name of socio cultural-religious traditions. Therefore, UCC could bring all communities together to ensure Women the Right to a dignified life and control over their life as well as body.
- Gender justice:The rights of women are usually limited under religious law, be it Hindu or Muslim. Many practices governed by religious tradition are at odds with the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Indian Constitution. Courts have also often said in their judgements that the government should move towards a uniform civil code including the judgement in the Shah Bano case.
- Prevents religion-based discrimination:Personal laws differentiate between people on grounds of religion. A unified law having the same provisions regarding marital affairs would provide justice to those who feel discriminated against.
- Ending unjust customs and traditions:A rational common and unified personal law will help eradicate many evil, unjust and irrational customs and traditions prevalent across the communities. For example, Law against Manual scavenging. It might have been a custom in the past but in a mature democracy like India, this custom cannot be justified.
- Indian laws do follow a uniform code in most civil matters –Indian Contract Act, Civil Procedure Code, Sale of Goods Act, Transfer of Property Act, Partnership Act, Evidence Act etc. States, however, have made hundreds of amendments and therefore in certain matters, there is diversity even under these secular civil laws.
- Justice Prathiba M Singh of Delhi HC stated that the modern Indian society was gradually becoming homogenous, the traditional barriers of religion, community and caste are slowly dissipating and thus UCC ought not to remain a mere hope.
- Eases Administration:UCC would make it easy to administer the huge population base of India.
Challenges facing the passage of UCC:
- Violation of fundamental rights: Religious bodies oppose uniform civil code on the ground that it would be interference into religious affairs which would violate fundamental rights guaranteed under article 25 of the constitution.
- Reduces diversity: It would reduce the diversity of the nation by painting everyone in one colour. Tribals have their unique customs and traditions as per their culture. Replacing their customs and traditions with a unified law may lead to the identity crisis of the tribals. This may further lead to social tension.
- Communal politics: It would be a tyranny to the minority and when implemented could bring a lot of unrest in the country.
- Threat to Multiculturalism: Indian society has a unique identity in the form of its being multiculturalism, and unified law might do away with these unique characteristics of this nation.
- Affects Majority as well: For example, even Hindus themselves have separate Hindu laws for themselves. Thus, it is not merely a question for minorities but it also affects the majority.
- Lacking Political Will: Bigger issues have been resolved by the BJP Government like Ayodhya Dispute, repeal of Article 370, so with adequate will from the political community, UCC could also be implemented
- Sensitive and tough task: Such a code, in its true spirit, must be brought about by borrowing freely from different personal laws, making gradual changes in each, issuing judicial pronouncements assuring gender equality, and adopting expansive interpretations on marriage, maintenance, adoption, and succession by acknowledging the benefits that one community secures from the others. This task will be very demanding time and human resource wise. The government should be sensitive and unbiased at each step while dealing with the majority and minority communities. Otherwise, it might turn out to be more disastrous in a form of communal violence.
- Time is not yet suitable for this reform: Considering a major opposition from Muslim community in India over this issue overlapping with controversies over beef, saffronization of school and college curriculum, love jihad, and the silence emanating from the top leadership on these controversies, there needs to be given sufficient time for instilling confidence in the community. Otherwise, these efforts towards common will be counterproductive leaving minority class particularly Muslims more insecure and vulnerable to get attracted towards fundamentalist and extremist ideologies.
Way forward
- Major sensitization efforts are needed to reform current personal law reforms which should first be initiated by the communities themselves.
- Current institutions need to be modernized, democratized and strengthened for this change. Sincere efforts towards women empowerment have to be taken for all women of all religions.
- UCC can only emerge through an evolutionary process, which preserves India’s rich legal heritage, of which all the personal laws are equal constituents.
- The social transformation from diverse civil code to uniformity shall be gradual and cannot happen in a day. Therefore, the government must adopt a piecemeal approach and no knee-jerk decisions.
- There is need for deliberations and discussions among members of various communities to reach a common ground.
Conclusion
The guiding principles of the Constitution itself visualize diversity and have tried to promote uniformity among peoples of different denominations. A uniform law, although highly desirable but may be counterproductive to the unity and integrity of the nation. Hence, only those elements of customs and traditions should be brought into a unified law that causes injustice to individuals. In a democracy and rule of law, a gradual progressive change and order must be brought about.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
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 importance of biodiversity conservation in light of the services it provides and how humans have shaped it.
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 biodiversity.
Body:
First, write about the reasons as to why Biodiversity is important to humans. Economic—biodiversity provides humans with raw materials for consumption and production, Ecological life support, Recreation—many recreational pursuits rely on our unique biodiversity, Cultural and scientific.
Next, bring out the link of biodiversity and many livelihoods – such as those of farmers, fishers and timber workers, are dependent on biodiversity. Give specific examples.
Next, writ about the impact of humans in shaping the biodiversity. Write both positive and negative impact.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stressing on the importance of biodiversity.
Introduction
In simple terms, biodiversity is the number and variety of living organisms present in a specific geographical region. It includes various plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they have and the ecosystems formed by them.
It relates to the diversity among living organisms on the earth, including the diversity within and between the species and that within and between the ecosystems they form.
Body
Importance of biodiversity
- Ecological role: Species of many kinds perform some of the other functions in an ecosystem. Every organism, besides fulfilling its own needs, also contributes something useful to different other organisms in the environment.
- Species capture, store and utilise energy, produce and decompose organic materials, are part of cycles of water and nutrients throughout the ecosystem, fix gases in the atmosphere and also help regulate the climate.
- Thus, they help in soil formation, reducing pollution, protection of land, water and air resources. These functions of biodiversity are important for ecosystem functions and stability.
- Ecosystem services:Biodiversity underpins the basis of all the ecosystem services on the planet.
- Provisioning Services: Various plants, animals and microorganisms which form the biodiversity, provide us with foods such as cereals, fishes etc., fibre for our clothes such as cotton, wool etc., fuelwood for survival as well as pharmaceutical products such as neem, tulsi etc.
- Regulating services: Biodiversity regulates the local as well as global climate, manages the global levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases, maintains freshwater quality by vegetation slowing runoff, absorbs carbon by acting as carbon sinks etc. Thus biodiversity regulates the life and life processes on the planet.
- Supporting services: Biodiversity helps in pollination, nutrient cycling as well as recycling, greenhouse gas reduction by sequestration.
- Social and cultural services:Biodiversity provides us with aesthetic pleasure. It provides recreational avenues and rich biological diversity encourages tourism in the region. Many communities and cultures have co-evolved with the surroundings and the resources provided by a biologically diverse environment. Hence, it performs an important social role as well. Important services which are provided by biodiversity are: Recreation and relaxation Tourism especially ecotourism, Art, Design and inspiration Spiritual experiences.
- Food web maintenance:Biodiversity helps in maintaining food webs as higher the diversity of an ecosystem, more complex is the food web because there are so many options to eat. Therefore, higher the chances of survival of every species. This results in more stable food chains and food webs.
- Scientific role:Biodiversity help in scientific research, education and monitoring. For example, research about new genetic materials with the help of gene pools. Biodiversity, thus, helps in understanding the functioning of life and the role that each species plays in sustaining ecosystems of which we humans are also a part.
Threat to biodiversity
- Habitat loss and fragmentation: The habitat loss and fragmentation have been through changes of land use, in particular, the conversion of natural ecosystems to cropland, development of infrastructure projects like rails and roadways, increasing urbanisation and mining activities.
- As per the Living Planet report, there has been about a 30% decline in wetlands in the last 40 years.
- Wetlands have been primarily reclaimed for agriculture and urbanisation.
- Also, about 50% of the tropical and subtropical forests and 45% of the temperate grasslands have been converted for human use.
- Degradation:Besides total loss, the degradation of many habitats by pollution also threatens the survival of many species.
- When large habitats are broken up into smaller fragments because of different human activities, mammals and birds which require large territories and certain animals with migratory habits are adversely affected, causing a decline in their population.
- Over-exploitation of species:Unsustainable use of ecosystems and over-exploitation of biodiversity are a major reason behind biodiversity loss.
- Over-hunting or poaching of species, overfishing and overharvesting of plant products can quickly lead to a decline in biodiversity.
- Changing consumption patterns of humans is often cited as the key reason for this unsustainable exploitation of natural resources.
- Many species which got extinct in the past 5 centuries, like Steller’s Sea cow, passenger pigeon, were subject to over-exploitation by humans.
- Introduction of alien species:Plants, animals and microorganisms transported deliberately or unintentionally from an outside geographical region can cause great damage to native species by competing with them for food and shelter, spreading diseases unknown to them, causing genetic changes through the process of interbreeding with native species, and disrupting various aspects of their food chains and the physical environment.
- For example, in India Water hyacinth was introduced by the Britishfor beautification. But over time, it has become an invasive species, clogging rivers, lakes and other water bodies, thus not allowing any aquatic life to grow and survive.
- Environmental pollution:The accumulation of Pollution such phosphorus and nitrogen largely from excess fertilizers running off farmland, harmful chemicals firm urban and suburban runoff, industrial effluents etc. which are discharged into the natural water bodies. For example, oil spill off the port of Ennore in Chennai in 2017.
- Similarly, plastic pollution causes the death of animals. Also, air pollution from industries and vehicles has resulted in the death of many bird species in urban areas.
- Global climate change:Climate change is projected to become a progressively more significant threat to biodiversity in the coming decades.
- Already, changes in the flowering and migration patterns as well as in the distribution of various species have been observed throughout the world.
- These changes have altered food chains and created mismatches within ecosystemswhere different species have evolved synchronised inter-dependence.
- Co-extinctions:When a particular species becomes extinct, the plants and animals associated with it in an obligatory way also come under the danger of becoming extinct.
- For example, when a host fish species becomes extinct, its unique assemblage of parasites also meets the same fate.
- Natural causes:Like floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters also cause loss of biodiversity.
Conservation of biodiversity: Nature-based solutions
- Biosphere reserves: Large areas of protected land for conservation of wildlife, plant and animal resourcesand traditional life of the tribals living in the area.
- May have one or more national parks or wildlife sanctuaries in it.
- Conserving the Sacred Groves:India’s ethnic people have played a vital role in preserving the biodiversity of several virgin forests and have conserved flora and fauna in sacred groves of tribals. Otherwise, these flora and fauna might have disappeared from the natural ecosystem.
- National Parks: These are small reserves maintained by the government. Its boundaries are well demarcated and human activities such as grazing, forestry, habitat and cultivation are prohibited.For eg., Kanha National Park, Bandipur National Park.
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: These are the regions where only wild animals are found. Human activities such as timber harvesting, cultivation, collection of woods and other forest products are allowed here as long as they do not interfere with the conservation project. Also, tourists visit these places for recreation.
- Effective Implementation of the FRA:The government must make an effort to build trust between its agencies in the area and the people who depend on these forests by treating them as equal citizens like everyone else in the country.
- The FRA’s loopholes have already been identified; all it needs is to work on amending it.
- Traditional Knowledge of the Tribal People for Conservation:The Biodiversity Act, 2002 mentions about the equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use and knowledge of biological resources with the local communities.
Way forward
- Integration of International Treaties: Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) implementation of Nagoya Protocolcannot work in isolation and thus must be commensurate with other international treaties. Therefore, integration between ABS and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) need to consider the legislative, administrative and policy measures that cross each other’s path.
- People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR):PBR should aim to document folk knowledge of status, uses, history, ongoing changes and forces driving changes in biodiversity resources, and people’s perceptions of how these resources should be managed. PBRs can be useful to preserve the rights of farmers or communities over the traditional knowledge they may hold over a particular variety. Additionally, PBRs provide geographical identity to the bioresources and can be useful in providing a tool for clarification when disputes over biopiracy and intellectual property rights arise.
- Engaging Industries: The integration of legislations such as corporate social responsibility with ABS can be beneficial to industries who wish to closely share benefits accrued from use of biological resources
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
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-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To explain the major causes for rising cases of man-animal conflict, limitations of present strategies and possible solutions for it.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with what you understand by Man-Animal conflicts.
Body:
Start by explaining what you understand by man-animal conflicts. Discuss what the main causes of man wildlife conflict are – The cause of human wildlife conflict was human settlement, agricultural expansion, illegal grass collection, over grazing by livestock and deforestation in national park. As a result, local communities disliked wildlife inhabiting in and around their surroundings. human population growth and expansion, habitat degradation and fragmentation, land use transformation and increasing densities of livestock grazing in protected areas are considered as major causes of man-carnivore conflicts.
Write about the various government policies and programmes in this direction and their limitations.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions to address the issue.
Introduction
According to data from the Union environment ministry, more than 1,608 humans were killed in human-wildlife conflict cases involving tigers, leopards, bears and elephants between 2013 and 2017. A deadly conflict is underway between India’s growing masses and its wildlife, confined to ever-shrinking forests and grasslands, with data showing that about one person has been killed every day for the past three years by roaming tigers or rampaging elephants.
Body
Reasons for rise in Man-Animal Conflicts
- Unbridled Development: The existing space for Tigers, Elephants and other big wild animals are shrinking due to encroachment of wildlife habitats. Unsustainable land use is the biggest problem in this regard.
- Animals are increasingly finding their usual corridors and pathways blocked by roads, rail tracks and industries.
- The Ken-Betwa river interlinking projectwill submerge 100 sq. km of Panna Tiger Reserve.
- Urbanization: Urbanization and growth agendas alter landscape dynamics, which has a cascading effect on the ecological dynamics of wildlife.
- Eg: In the area of Gwal Pahari on the Gurugram-Faridabad Road, for example, the district town and country planning department has issued change of land use permissions
- Recent relaxations in normsto allow for a widening of highway and railway networks near these protected areas are the new threats
- Primary reason for the increasing human-animal conflicts is the presence of a large number of animals and birds outside the notified protected areas.
- Wildlife experts estimate that 29 per cent of the tigers in India are outside the protected areas
- Poor Enforcement of laws: No buffer zone is maintained between critical wildlife habitats and human settlements.
- Climate Change and Biodiversity:With the food chain undergoing rapid changes and pool of species declining, the forage is decreasing for wild animals. Hence, they come in search of livestock in fringe areas of human settlements.
- Less Protected Area: Only 5% of India’s geographical area is in the protected area category. This space is not enough to have a full-fledged habitat for wild animals.
- A territorial animal like a male tiger needs an area of 60-100 sq km. But the area allocated to an entire tiger reserve, like the Bor Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, is around 140 sq km.
- The territorial animals do not have enough space within reserves and their prey does not have enough fodder to thrive on.
Government Initiatives to reduce Man-Animal conflict
- A network of Protected Areas namely viz., national park, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserving covering important wildlife habitat have been created all over the country under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals and their habitat.
- Wildlife corridors:Wildlife corridors have been developed in many parts of the country.
- For example: In 2017, to protect elephant habitats, the Odisha government had identified 14 corridors.
- Tiger corridor around Tadoba-AndhariTiger Reserves are built.
- “Plan Bee”: Indian Railwayslaunched ‘Plan Bee’ to prevent elephants getting hurt on rail tracks, thereby reducing the elephant death toll.
- Nearly 50 buzzing amplifiers have been deployed as part of “Plan Bee” at a dozen “elephant corridors” in the vast forests of Assam, home to nearly 6,000 elephants, 20% of the country’s total.
- State governments:
- Assistance to state government for construction of boundary walls and solar fences around the sensitive areas to prevent the wild animal attacks
- Supplementing the state government resources for payment of ex gratia to the people for injuries and loss of life in case of wild animal attacks.
- Encouraging state government for creation of a network of protected areas and wildlife corridors for conservation of wildlife.
- Provisions under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 empower concerned authorities take necessary steps to handle problematic wild animals.
- Standard Operating Procedures for the management of major problematic animals like tiger, elephant, leopard, rhino etc. are being used by the respective state governments
- Controlling population: In January 2018, the Environment Ministry has approved “immune-contraception” method to address man-animal conflicts.
- The immuno-contraception is non-hormonal form of contraception. It causes production of antibodies which in turn prevents conception in animals.
- Ministry sanctioned over Rs 10 crore for ‘immunology contraception’ of wild boars, Rhesus monkeys and elephants.
Way Forward
- Community Participation: Local volunteers should be trained to handle with human-wildlife conflicts and organize locals for immediate initial steps till the wildlife rescue team arrives
- Rescue Teams:Wild Life Rescue Teams equipped with adequate personnel, equipment and communication systems should be present in potential areas of human-animal conflict.
- Awareness campaign:
- Hunting of prey animals, such as deer and pig, needs to stop as they form the base for growth of tiger and other carnivore populations.
- Identifying regular movements corridors of large wildlife, and adequate publicity/awareness to avoid disturbances
- Compilation of data on conflicts, reasons for such conflicts, best practices of response. Identify hotspots of conflict and keep extra vigil in such areas.
- Insurance programs for damage due to wildlife.
- Crop insuranceshould be provided in the event of destruction by wild animals.
- Livestock insuranceand its scope must be explored.
- Help locals in constructing barriers, and develop scaring away methods.
Conclusion
Human life is vital and so is a thriving wildlife that sustains the ecosystem. Harmony between humans and wildlife can ensure protection of both. Conservation and Development must go hand in hand to combat man animal conflict, which in turn will lead to sustainable development.
Topic: Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
India’s decision to host the United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) is an important marker of the Government’s ongoing effort to highlight terrorism issues at a time the global body has been more focused on the Ukraine war.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the interlinkages between terror groups, its impact and need for collaboration to eliminate it.
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 the answer by citing the complexity of terror networks.
Body:
First, mention the various inter-links between terror groups and various organised crimes which has made a terrorism a global problem.
Next, write about the various government measures in this direction and the needs for greater global and national cooperation and collaboration in order to tackle this issue,
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions to address the issue.
Introduction
Crime and terrorism are critical issues for security officials and investigators all around the world. Earlier, the problems of organized crime and terrorism were considered as separate phenomena but after horrified incident of September 11th attacks, researchers have started linking these two as terrorized occurrences.
Body
Link between Organized crime and terrorism:
Though mostly both the phenomena are studied differently. Both have different ends. While the organize crime engages in various criminal activities for financial gains, terrorism engages in its violent activities for political gains. But recently, Scholars have stated that there is a strong link between the two. Terrorists are increasingly supporting them through terrorist activities.
- Terrorism and Drug Trafficking: According to UNDOC (2017), annual trade of illicit drugs is estimated in the range of $426-652 billion, and the proceeds of which generate 1/5thto 1/3rdof the global revenues of organized crime. Approximately 86% of the world’s Opium cultivation takes place in Afghanistan in the regions controlled by the Taliban. The Taliban’s association with the opium economy also indicates a correlation between the trade-in illicit drugs as a criminal activity and terrorism.
- Terrorism and Arms Trafficking: Terrorists are increasingly using automatic weapons to perpetrate attacks and there is a growing concern about arms trafficking groups supporting terrorism with the provision of advanced arms. The use of weapons by terrorists is evident in several recent attacks and attempted attacks across Europe. For example, in the ISIL inspired terrorist attacks carried out in Paris in November 2015, extremists opened fire with Kalashnikov and other types of assault rifles, which ended up in the criminal market as a result of cross-border trafficking
- Terrorism and smuggling: Terrorist groups seem to have increasingly taken up trafficking in illicit antiquities and cultural property to fund their operations, support recruits, and acquire weapons. Antiquities are not only a source of revenue generation for terrorists, but they also have symbolic value. By destroying and/or removing symbolic representations of culture, terrorist groups effectively undermine the State/nationalism and attack the morale of local populations/peoples through a type of “cultural cleansing”
- Terrorism and human trafficking: Trafficking in persons is a lucrative business for armed groups around the world (UNCTED, 2019). Recent actions by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), or Islamic State in the Levant (ISIL), also known as Daesh, and Boko Haram (Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jahad) in Nigeria have drawn attention to a growing nexus between terrorism and trafficking in persons
- Terrorism and kidnapping for ransom: From 1970-2010, kidnapping incidents represented a small portion of all terrorist attacks (6.9%), however, through 2016 the percentage of kidnappings has jumped significantly to 15.8% of all terrorist attacks (Global Terrorism Database, 2018)
Reasons for the increasing nexus between Terrorism and organized crime
- Both are realizing the complementary nature of each other in achieving their goals.
- They have a common enemy in national governments and the rule of law.
- Historically, the end of the cold war ended financial support to many terrorist organizations that led terrorist organizations to link themselves with organized crime for financial support.
- Increased sophistication in money laundering as corporates engage in tax evasion that helps in the continuous money supply.
- Issues of mis-governance and lack of governance.
- The inequalities existing in society are manipulated by these organizations to grow their base.
- Globalization has its side effects through the communication revolution and its anonymity. The cyberspace and dark web are increasingly being used to coordinate.
- The outstanding geopolitical issues that are sought to be solved by governments through immoral activities like terrorism and crime penetration.
Difficulties in tackling the nexus
- The legal complexities create duplicity of efforts and jurisdictional issues. These delays investigation and often gives unnecessary cooling-off period for groups to regather themselves.
- The higher echelons of organized crime are insulated from its foot soldiers. Hence it is difficult to dent the structure significantly. There is difficulty in obtaining proof.
- The main link between these two is network of financial transactions. The rising sophistication in money laundering and corporate greed resulting in tax evasion, unfortunately, helps the network of money laundering.
- There is a lack of coordination between police departments of different states that makes organized crime and terrorist nexus easy to operate.
- The criminal-political-bureaucratic nexus helps crime syndicates which indirectly helps in the spread of terrorism.
- The state support for terrorism and unorganized crime makes it difficult for any international cooperation and consensus-building.
- Dual criminality and the spread of nexus across the world make it difficult to track due to lack of international and bilateral coordination and cooperation.
Way forward
- The nexus that is thriving due to complementary nature must be broken down so that it will be easier to tackle them separately.
- There is a need for fine-tuning of the criminal investigation so as to find and establish links of a crime syndicate with terrorism.
- Improving coordination and establishing specialized units to investigate. The specialized unit must have competent human resources, finances, technical expertise and appropriate legal backing to work in an unhindered manner.
- The necessity of legal backing stems from the existence of numerous stakeholders such as state police, border security, financial sector, special units such as narcotics departments.
- The interstate coordination is necessary and an organization in the lines of the National Counter Terrorism Center to tackle the nexus. It will help in national and international coordination.
- India must continue to engage the international space for better policy, concerted actions against state-sponsored terrorism, and terrorist financing.
- The international cooperation can stem from UNSC resolutions and other institutional mechanisms such as FATF.
Conclusion
In many parts of the world, terrorists are exploiting local grievances and poor governance to regroup and assert their control. “Collective action and international cooperation are needed now more than ever.”
General Studies – 4
Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world to the concepts of morality;
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Reference: plato.stanford.edu
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Philosophical Mondays’ in Mission-2023 Secure.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the evaluative aspect of Kantian Categorical Imperative.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining Categorical Imperative of Emmanuel Kant.
Body:
Begin the body by explaining in detail about your understanding of Categorical Imperative with examples. You can use simple but effective examples to put forward your ideas regarding Universal Moral Law etc.
Next, mention how it provides a framework of judging moral right actions from the wrong ones.
Conclusion:
Give a concise summation of your views to conclude the answer.
Introduction
Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) argued that the supreme principle of morality is a standard of rationality that he dubbed the “Categorical Imperative” (CI). Kant characterized the CI as an objective, rationally necessary and unconditional principle that we must always follow despite any natural desires or inclinations we may have to the contrary.
Body:
The CI states that it is immoral to use another person merely as a means to an end and that people must under all circumstances be treated as ends in themselves. This is in contrast to some interpretations of the utilitarian view, which allow for use of individuals as means to benefit the many.
Kantian ethics refers to a deontological ethical theory ascribed to the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. The theory, developed as a result of Enlightenment rationalism, is based on the view that the only intrinsically good thing is a good will; an action can only be good if its maxim – the principle behind it – is duty to the moral law.
CI provide a way for us to evaluate moral actions and to make moral judgments
- Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
- It states that one should choose our ‘codes of conduct’ only if they serve perfect / imperfect duty and are good for all.
- Perfect duties are blameworthy if not met and are the basic requirements for a human being.
- An exampleof perfect duty is the avoidance of suicide.
- Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means to an end.
- This states that we should not use humanity of ourselves or others as a means to an end.
- An examplewould be that of slavery or prostitution.
- For Kant to treat people with dignitywas to treat them morally. This idea became a rallying point for those struggling against social hierarchies and for human rights. It represent what is called the moral conception of rights.
- Taking the example of forced labour and jajmani systemwhere human beings are treated as “means” for achieving the “ends” that is profit motive. Human intrinsic worth i.e. dignity is not respected and they are exploited for petty gains. This led to inequality in society where one section of people exploiting other section for self-motive.
- Every rational being must so act as if he were through his maxim always a legislating member in the universal kingdom of ends.
- This states that we should consider ourselves to be members in the universal realm of ends.
- We should consider our actions to be of consequence to everyone else in that our actions affect not only ourselves but that of others.
- :Eviction of tribes from forest land for construction of a dam and rendering them homeless.
Conclusion
Kant’s philosophy of human individuals as end in itself endorses the golden rule of “treating others as one’s self would wish to be treated”. As no one would wish to be used simply as a means, therefore one should not also use other human beings as means to achieve their ends. This philosophy can be of great help in resolving the ethical dilemmas where there is debate between relative importance of means and ends.
Value addition
Kant’s Categorical Imperative:
- Kant believed that there was a supreme principle of morality, and he referred to it as The Categorical Imperative.
- The CI determines what our moral duties are.Kant thought that all acts should be judged according to a rule he called the Categorical Imperative.
- A categorical imperative denotes an absolute, unconditional requirement that exerts its authority in all circumstances, both required and justified as an end in itself.
- He gives the highest honor for the categorical imperative because it became universal law that can be applied to any and every one.
- Kant is saying that simply willing that our moral rule become a universal law produces a logical contradiction.
- His categorical imperative ensures that we aren’t doing these acts in mimic of others but rather in line with one universal law.
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