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
General Studies – 1
Topic: geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India , Insights on India
Why the question:
A joint report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre (WHC) expressed concern about the status of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in Australia, recommending that it “be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.”
Key Demand of the question:
To write about characteristics of coral reefs, its distribution and threats they face and steps needed to prevent them.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining coral reefs.
Body:
First, in detail write about the salient features of coral reefs, its formation and types.
Next, with a help of a small representative map show their distribution across the planets.
Next, write about the major natural and anthropogenic threats to coral ecosystems across the world. Cite examples. Write about the steps that are needed to protect them.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups. Most reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny water.
Body
Coral Reefs: Rainforests of the ocean
They occupy less than 0.1% of the world’s ocean area, yet they provide a home for at least 25% of all marine species. And the variety of species living on coral reefs is greater than almost anywhere else in the world. Scientists estimate that more than one million species of plants and animals are associated with coral reef ecosystems.
Location and distribution
- Distribution of coral reefs around the world: The majority of reef building corals are found within tropical and subtropical waters. These typically occur between 300 north and 300 south latitudes.
- Estimated to cover 284300 km² (0.1% of ocean surface) .
- Indo-pacific region (Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia & Pacific Ocean) accounts for 91.1%.
- Southeast Asia accounts for 32.3% .
- Pacific including Australia accounts for 40.8% .
- Atlantic and Caribbean corals accounts for 6%.
- Geographical distribution: Great barrier reef-largest, comprising over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometers off Queensland, Australia.
- The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System—second largest, stretching 1,000 kilometers from Isla Contoy at the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula down to the Bay Islands of Honduras.
- The New Caledonia Barrier Reef—second longest double barrier reef, covering 1,500 kilometers.
- The Red Sea-includes 6000-year-old fringing reefs located around a 2,000 km coastline.
- The Florida Reef Tract is the largest continental US reef, extends from Soldier Key, located in Biscayne Bay, to the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Pulley Ridge-deepest photosynthetic coral reef, Florida.
- The Philippines coral reef area, the second largest in Southeast Asia, is estimated at 26,000 square kilometers and holds an extraordinary diversity of species.
- The Raja Ampat Islands in Indonesia’s West Papua province offer the highest known marine diversity.
- Coral reefs in India:
- Palk Bay
- The Gulf of Mannar
- Andaman and Nicobar Group of Islands
- The Gulf of Kutch
- The Lakshadweep Islands
Threats faced and deleterious effect
- Climate Change: This is believed to be the greatest threat to reefs, according to the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report. When severe weather events(eg. Heat waves) increase in frequency, this causes rise in both sea temperatures and sea levels. Corals cannot survive if the water temperature is too high. Sea temperature between 73 and 84 degrees Farenheit to sustain growth.
- Coral Bleaching: Between 2016 and 2017, half the corals at the Great Barrier Reef were killed by two ocean heat waves. Almost three- quarters of the world’s coral reefs were affected by those heat waves and experts say warmer oceans mean, die-offs will become much more common.
- Pollution: Urban and industrial waste, sewage, agrochemicals, and oil pollution are poisoning reefs. These toxins are dumped directly into the ocean or carried by river systems from sources upstream. Some pollutants, such as sewage and runoff from farming, increase the level of nitrogen in seawater, causing an overgrowth of algae, which ‘smothers’ reefs by cutting off their sunlight. In recent times, Plastic Pollution has posed a major threat.
- Destructive fishing practices : These include cyanide fishing, blast or dynamite fishing, bottom trawling, and muro-ami (banging on the reef with sticks). Bottom-trawling is one of the greatest threats to cold-water coral reefs.
- Coral mining: Live coral is removed from reefs for use as bricks, road-fill, or cement for new buildings. Corals are also sold as souvenirs to tourists and to exporters who don’t know or don’t care about the longer term damage done, and harvested for the live rock trade.
- Sedimentation: Erosion caused by construction (both along coasts and inland), mining, logging, and farming is leading to increased sediment in rivers. This ends up in the ocean, where it can ‘smother’ corals by depriving them of the light needed to survive. The destruction of mangrove forests, which normally trap large amounts of sediment, is exacerbating the problem.
- Disease Outbreaks : Coral reefs are susceptible to disease outbreaks caused by stress, which include the presence of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Other types of stress include physical and chemical changes, such as ultra-violet radiation, changes in water temperatures or pollutants.
- Human Intervention: The trawling machinery, the digging of canals and access into islands and bays are localized threats to coral ecosystems. Rock coral on seamounts across the ocean are under fire from bottom trawling. Reportedly up to 50% of the catch is rock coral, and the practice transforms coral structures to rubble. With it taking years to regrow, these coral communities are disappearing faster than they can sustain themselves.
- Other Factors: The ocean’s role as a carbon dioxide sink, atmospheric changes, ultraviolet light, ocean acidification, viruses, impacts of dust storms carrying agents to far-flung reefs, pollutants, algal blooms and others. Reefs are threatened well beyond coastal areas. Coral reefs with one type of zooxanthellae are more prone to bleaching than are reefs with another, more hardy species.
Conclusion
Monitoring, research, and restoration all are essential to safeguard coral reefs. However, to ultimately protect coral reefs, legal mechanisms are necessary. Legal mechanism involves the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs). Because MPAs have the added force of law behind them, a protected marine enclosure—such as a coral reef system—may stand a better chance for survival.
General Studies – 2
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
As Sri Lanka works hard to obtain financing assurances from its diverse creditors — a pre-requisite for the provisional $2.9 billion-IMF package — the loans obtained from China, the island nation’s largest bilateral lender, have come under sharp focus.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about implications of China’s debt trap diplomacy and measures needed against it.
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 defining debt trap diplomacy.
Body:
In the first part, write about how debt trap diplomacy and the country get financially trapped. Cite examples to substantiate.
Next, write about the implications of debt trap diplomacy on India – Proxy government, hostile neighbours, threats to India’s internal security.
Next, write about the implications of debt trap diplomacy on India – violations of sovereignty, neo-colonialism, loss of economic independence, crisis and instability. Cite examples to substantiate.
Next, write about the measures that India must take in order to offset the impact of the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Debt-trap diplomacy is a theory that describes a powerful lending country or institution seeking to saddle a borrowing nation with enormous debt so as to increase its leverage over it.
Body
China’s debt trap diplomacy
- To gain rapid political and economic ascendency across the globe, China is dispensing billions of dollars in the form of concessional loans to developing countries, mostly for their large-scale infrastructure projects.
- These developing nations, which are primarily low- or middle-income countries, are unable to keep up with the repayments, and Beijing then gets a chance to demand concessions or advantages in exchange for debt relief.
- Sri Lanka, for instance, was forced to hand over control of the Hambantota port project to China for 99 years, as it owed massive debt to Beijing. This allowed China control over a key port positioned at the doorstep of its regional rival India, and a strategic foothold along a key commercial and military waterway.
- In exchange for relief, China constructed its first military base in Djibouti. Whereas Angola is replaying multibillion-dollar debt to China with crude oil, creating major problems for its economy.
Implication of debt trap in India’s neighbourhood
- Most of India’s neighbours have fallen prey to China’s debt trap, and ceded to China’s $8 tn project – One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR) or BRI which seeks to improve connectivity among countries in Asia, Africa and Europe.
- Many nations have ceded control over strategic sea ports which can affect India’s regional security.
- China through OBOR can increase India’s political cost of dealing with its neighbours because Kashmir, which India considers its part is also used in OBOR by Pakistan.
- The CPEC corridor passes through the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
- Kautilya, the famous India theorist on statecraft, suggests it is important to monitor and contain the activities of the state’s “enemy” and its diplomacy through engagement and cooperation rather than war.
- Brahma Chellany, India’s leading China expert, writes in The Japan Times: “Indeed, by working to establish its dominance along the major trade arteries, while instigating territorial and maritime disputes with several neighbors, China is attempting to redraw Asia’s geopolitical map.”
- In The Times of Central Asia, James Dorsey informs that a leaked long-term plan for China’s massive $56-billion investment in Pakistan exposes the goals of Beijing’s One Belt, One Road initiative as a “ploy for economic domination, the creation of surveillance states, and allowing China to influence media landscapes.”
Conclusion and way forward
- Participatory Alternatives: Alternative projects must be launched by more advanced countries which are also participatory in nature taking into account the interests of the host/recipient countries.
- Alternate Funding Sources: Alternative sources of funding for these connectivity projects must be taken into account. The larger nations will have to come forward.
- Also, more professional financial institutions shall be invited to provide assistance in such issues.
- India’s Role: India will have to work with its partners in the region to offer alternative connectivity arrangements to its neighbours.
- Collaboration with Like-Minded Countries: India’s ability to act alone in South Asia and the larger Indian Ocean is limited.
- It must seek help from partners like Japan when necessary to build and upgrade its infrastructure and create an alternative to Chinese-led connectivity corridors and infrastructure projects.
Value addition
Chinese wolf-warrior diplomacy
- China’s dominance in the South China Sea and its policy of “Debt-Trap diplomacy”, “Island-encirclement” and “String of Pearls” show that there is no adherence to morality.
- India-China fault lines: At the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, China has violated the status quo intruding into territory that is clearly on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control, or LAC.
- Taiwan-China conflict: Island encirclement against Taiwan and forceful takeover are becoming more of a reality considering Chinese navy and air force activities in the region.
- Hong-Kong unrest: The ‘one country two systems’ in Hong Kong is dead and with it, the pretence that the same could be applied for the peaceful unification of Taiwan.
- Eg: Extension of national security law to Hong-Kong and recent warning to Taiwan on possibility of war if it shores up defence weapons.
- South China Sea: China claims 90% of south China sea as its sovereign territory, continuously terrorising Vietnam, Philippines wrt Paracel and Spratly islands.
- Belt and Road initiative: It is the 21st century Marshall Plan, through which China aims to dominate the world.
- String of Pearls: China has security and economic compulsions to develop its bases in India Ocean Region (IOR) to secure its communication lines. Its eagerness to establish China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is to develop strategic communication alternatives
- Salami Slicing: Continuously nibbling at neighbours’ land, at times even claiming an entire area on some dubious historicity, it successively builds up its military control over areas vital to its overall strategic designs. The annexation of Aksai Chin in the 1950s and repeated Chinese incursions into Indian territory are the executions of the same strategy.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The latest official GDP estimates show the economy’s expansion decelerated in the July-September period, dragged down by year-on-year and sequential contractions in manufacturing and mining and a broad slowdown in private consumption expenditure and government spending. Gross domestic product is projected to have grown by 6.3% from the year-earlier period, a sharp deceleration from the 13.5% expansion posted in the first quarter and July-September 2021’s 8.4% pace.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the factors affecting GDP growth post covid-19 and measures needed to tackle
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining GDP.
Body:
First, write about the various factors that drove the GDP growth and the economic recovery in the post-Covid period.
Next, give context about the potential global factors that may adversely affect India’s GDP – Ukraine crisis, Climate change, Predicted recession etc.
Next, suggest step that are needed to be taken in order to overcome the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The latest official GDP estimates show the economy’s expansion decelerated in the July-September period, dragged down by year-on-year and sequential contractions in manufacturing and mining and a broad slowdown in private consumption expenditure and government spending. Gross domestic product is projected to have grown by 6.3% from the year-earlier period, a sharp deceleration from the 13.5% expansion posted in the first quarter and July-September 2021’s 8.4% pace.
Body
Various factors that drove the GDP growth and the economic recovery post-covid
- For India, a good run in the agriculture sector plus no stagnation in the railways, freight revenue, power sectors have led to an increased 1% projection.
- Moreover, the GST collection for FY 2020-21 was record high at the value of ₹1.24 lac crore (₹1.24 trillion).
- The exports figures have also seen a huge jump standing at 31 billion dollar.
- It is a huge increment for the exports which have witnessed a decline for 7 months.
- The Ozone concentration levels, power consumption or labour participation rates have so far remained resilient to the decline in growth.
- India’s vaccination: Free and universal vaccination have stopped covid wreaking havoc in the Indian economy. India was not affected by a third wave and they were all mild cases with less mortality.
Global factors that may adversely affect india’s GDP
- Ukraine crisis: Ukraine grows enough food to feed 400 million people worldwide, which includes 50% of the world’s sunflower oil supply, 10% of the worldwide grain supply and 13% of global corn supply.
- As for now, up to 30% of crop areas in Ukraine will either not be planted or be unharvested this year because of the Russian attack.
- In addition to this, supply chains from Ukraine have been disrupted, because of the closure of the Black Sea ports and limited ability to transport commodities through the Western border.
- Energy challenges: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has the potential to accelerate the global shift to green energy in the long run, but as for the short-term it will have huge consequences on energy price and market structures.
- Firstly, countries are working on contingency plans as a response to the shortage of oil and gas.
- The United States, United Kingdom and Canada imposed an embargo on Russian oil and gas imports. The EU is working on plans to decrease dependence from Russian gas and oil by 2024, too.
- Slowing Exports and Rising Imports:
- The slowing growth of the manufacturing sector at 4.8% is an area of worry.
- Also, imports being higher than exports is a matter of concern.
- Unpredictable Weather:
- There is an uneven monsoon that is likely to weigh upon agriculture growth and rural demand.
- Rising Inflation:
- There has been continuous rise in inflation about 6% for seven straight months.
- The Indian economy faces headwinds from higher energy and commodity prices that are likely to weigh on consumer demand and companies’ investment plans.
- Several key central banks, especially the US Fed, have started tightening their monetary policy in light of the high inflation in the developed countries. This, in turn, will force India’s RBI to raise interest rates as well.
- There has been continuous rise in inflation about 6% for seven straight months.
- The slowing growth of the manufacturing sector at 4.8% is an area of worry.
Step that are needed to be taken
- The government must spend where necessary at this time to alleviate the pain in the most troubled areas of the economy.
- Announcing a credible target for the country’s consolidated debt over the next five years coupled with the setting up of an independent fiscal council to put forward on the quality of the budget would be very useful steps.
- Budgetary resources can be expanded through asset sales, including parts of government enterprises and surplus government land.
Conclusion
India as the fifth largest economy in the world has to focus on growth recovery that is more sustainable and by just drawing satisfaction from just the growth numbers would not do much.
India is slowly but surely on the path to economic recovery and investment is the way to sustain this growth momentum.
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday launched the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) — digital rupee or e-rupee (e₹) — for the common man.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the benefits of e-rupee and analyse its potential as a digital currency and future digital currencies.
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start the answer by giving context.
Body:
Write about the mechanism on which the e-rupee works and explain the with examples.
Next, write about the various types and e-rupee and their features.
Next, write about the advantages offered by e-rupee over traditional currency and other forms of payment.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
In what would mark a leap into the future, the country’s central bank – the Reserve Bank of India – on Tuesday stated it will launch the first pilot for retail digital rupee (e₹-R) on Thursday, December 1, 2022. The Central Bank Digital Currency Retail (e₹-R) Pilot will be launched in select locations and in closed user group (CUG) consisting of participating customers and merchants.
Body
Functioning of e-rupee
- A digital rupee will be the electronic version of the Indian currency. It will be called e₹-R.
- The RBI would issue e₹-R in the form of a digital token which would be legal tender.
- The central bank will issue e₹-R in the same denominations in which it currently issues paper currency notes and coins.
- In the first pilot of the retail digital rupee, four banks including the State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank and IDFC First Bank will participate.
- In the first pilot of the retail digital rupee, four banks including the State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank and IDFC First Bank will participate.
Mechanism and working
- Banks will issue and distribute digital rupee like physical cash.
- A user will be able to undertake a transaction using e₹-R through a digital wallet offered by participating banks. Such digital wallets would have to be stored on mobile phones/devices in the form of applications and similar platforms.
- The RBI will permit e₹-R transactions in both Person-to-Person (P2P) and Person-to-Merchant (P2M) modes.
- Users will also be able to use e₹-R to make payments to merchants via QR codes.
- Like physical cash, e₹-R will not earn any interest.
- e₹-R will offer the flexibility of real-time conversion to other forms of money, like deposits with banks etc.
Conclusion and wayforward
- The launch of CBDCs may not be a smooth affair and still requires more clarity in India. There are still a lot of misconceptions about the concept of digital currency in the country.
- The effectiveness of CBDCs will depend on aspects such as privacy design and programmability.
- There is a huge opportunity for India to take a lead globally via a large-scale rollout and adoption of digital currencies.
Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The impact of road safety goes a long way. In addition to ensuring an easier, comfortable, and more secure commute, safer roads also have a positive impact on the environment. In 2021, India reported 4,03,116 crashes, each of which adversely impacted the environment in various ways and in different degrees. Most vehicles contain toxic metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium or hexavalent chromium, which are detrimental to the environment.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the interlinks between road infrastructure and environmental sustainability, causes behind increasing road accidents and measures need to improve road safety.
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:
Start by giving statistic relate to road safety in the country.
Body:
Frist, write about the interlinks between road infrastructure and environmental sustainability
write about the various measures that have been taken in the recent past to improve the road infrastructure in the country.
Next, write reasons behind increasing road accidents – poor quality, lack of air bags, information deficit, overburdened roads etc.
Next, write about ways to reduce the road accidents and casualties due to it.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The impact of road safety goes a long way. In addition to ensuring an easier, comfortable, and more secure commute, safer roads also have a positive impact on the environment. In 2021, India reported 4,03,116 crashes, each of which adversely impacted the environment in various ways and in different degrees.
Body
Statistics on road safety
- In 2020 alone, speeding was responsible for 91,239 road crash fatalities, comprising 69.3% of all road crash deaths registered.
- Speeding has consistently been responsible for over 60% of all road crash fatalities in India in the last five years.
- Simulation exercises in Europe have demonstrated that cutting motorway speed limits even by 10 km/h can deliver 12% to 18% fuel savings for current technology passenger cars, along with a significant reduction in pollutant emissions, particularly Nitrogen Oxides and particulate matter (PM) output, from diesel vehicles.
Road safety and environmental sustainability linkage
- Most vehicles contain toxic metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium or hexavalent chromium, which are detrimental to the environment.
- Fuel and fluid leaks are seen at crash sites. Severe road crashes lead to automobile wreckage, which becomes a part of unusable end-of-life vehicles.
- This gives rise to scrappage. India is estimated to have about5 million end-of-life vehicles by 2025.
- Despite being one of the largest car and light commercial vehicle markets in the world, India’s National Automobile Scrappage Policy, launched in 2021, is still in its nascent stages.
- With the absence of widespread, systematic facilities dedicated to their proper recycling, vehicles after road crashes as well as old end-of-life automobiles are left to rot by the wayside.
- Some end up at landfills or at informal recycling facilities where rudimentary hand tools are utilised to unscientifically dismantle them.
- This leads to the leakage of hazardous constituents such as oils, coolants and glass wool.
- Vehicle landfills turn into automobile graveyards leading to wasteful and sub-optimal land usage and water and soil pollution for decades.
Causes of road accidents
- Many road accidents are the result of faulty road-design especially a single-lane one with a sharp curve.
- Eg: In Cyrus Mistry accident, a parapet wall was protruding dangerously.
- Infrastructural deficits: Pathetic conditions of roads and vehicles, poor visibility and poor road design and engineering – including quality of material and construction.
- Negligence and risks: Over speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, tiredness or riding without a helmet, driving without seatbelts.
- Distraction while driving like talking over mobile phones while driving has become a major cause of road accidents.
- Overloading to save cost of transportation.
- Weak Vehicle Safety Standards in India: In 2014, crash tests carried out by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) revealed that some of India’s top-selling car models have failed the UN’s frontal impact crash test.
- Lack of awareness among people regarding importance of safety features like airbags, Anti-lock Braking system etc. Moreover, Vehicle manufacturers do not provide them as standard fitment but only in higher class of vehicles reducing their reach.
Measures needed
- Implementation of Legislation: The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act of 2019 has provisions that aim to bring about change.
- Behavioural Changes: Increasing motorcycle helmet use, increasing seat-belt uses and increasing child restraint use. Awareness regarding influence of alcohol on driving.
- Safe Roads: Safety consideration during the planning, design, and operation of roads, can contribute to reducing road traffic deaths and injuries.
- Vehicular Safety Standards: Vehicle safety features such as electronic stability control, effective Car Crash Standards and advanced braking should be made mandatory.
- Awareness and Publicity: Mass media and social media should be used effectively for spreading awareness about road safety.
- Training and capacity building: Training courses and training workshops have been organized for building capacity in road safety audits and road safety engineering.
- Motor Vehicle Accident Fund is proposed to be created. It will provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India for certain types of accidents.
Way forward
- Zones of excellence in Road Safety Model: Union and state governments can earmark smaller areas in some cities as Zones of Excellence in Road Safety (ZoE).
- All roads in the ZoE should be properly lane-marked, zebra-marked, and signposted.
- Most markings and signage should, in addition to the pictorial image, define the instructions in words for easy understanding, and as a source of regular education of the road users.
- A dedicated corridor for emergency vehicles must be marked.
- Corrective action on the “black spots” should be completed on top priority in a ZoE.
- In the meantime, temporary measures can be put in place to slow down, and guide the traffic.
- It is also important to gradually provide enabling conditions such as improved, handicap-friendly footpaths, a safe lane for cyclists and pedestrians, more zebra paths with an inbuilt safety mechanism.
- Round-the-clock checks should be conducted to enforce adherence to traffic norms in the earmarked ZoE.
- All available tech devices should be deployed, and private IT agencies of repute roped in.
- Regular road safety awareness and education programmes should be conducted in residential areas, over the weekends, with the active assistance of the RWAs/local bodies/NGOs.
- A three-tier administrative structure can be put in place to run a ZoE in a smooth, war-zone like spirit.
Conclusion
Roads and the environment are inseparable spaces. They are not just our shared resources but also our joint responsibility. Therefore, safer roads and a sustainable environment can be ensured only through the joint efforts of road-owning agencies, enforcement officials and the public
General Studies – 4
Topic: ethics – in private and public relationships.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about ethical principles that should govern private relationships and their importance.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by giving context of private relationships.
Body:
First, write about the five ethical principles that should govern private relationships according to you – Care and Affection, Fidelity, Confidentiality, Truthfulness, Responsibility & Accountability, Tolerance and acceptance of minor imperfections etc.
Next, write about why the above mentioned principles are important.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
The distinction between ethics in private and public relationships is a dubious one because both in public and private lives, one has to live by some of the common ethical values. A person who is unethical in his public life can hardly be expected to be ethical in his private life and vice versa. For instance, A dishonest civil servant is least expected to show integrity in his personal relationship.
Body
Five ethical principles that should govern private relationships
- Care and Affection – Emotional bond of affection and care goes beyond limitations. This bond is not driven by legal rules or quid pro quo but by human emotions. For instance, In Mahabharata, King Dhritrashtra had unconditional affection for his sons despite of their misdeeds and always took their side while being the King of Hastinapur.
- Fidelity – This is key driver of marital relationship and essence of Ethics of marriage. It refers to being loyal to one’s life partner and avoid sensual distraction or committing adulterous act.
- Confidentiality – In order to maintain sanctity of private relationships, secrecy and privacy are of paramount importance. For example, we generally restrain ourselves to share secrets of our friend, colleague, life partner etc. without their permission else it would bring disharmony in such relationships.
- Truthfulness – Truthfulness is the key demand in private relationships. It amplifies the mutual trust and strengthens the emotional bonds in such relationships. For instance, being always truthful helps in avoiding unnecessary conflicts that may arise out of one’s alleged suspicious activities.
- Responsibility & Accountability – In private relationships, one is bestowed with various responsibilities such responsibility towards child, life partner, parents etc. This requires fulfilling the responsibility towards them and also being accountable to them, in case of non-fulfilment of responsibility.
- Tolerance and acceptance of minor imperfections – Human beings can never achieve perfection thus there is bound to be conflict in private relationships in absence of any prescribed rules and regulations. Therefore, one must accommodate the imperfections of others to bring peace and harmony in such relationships. For instance, your wife is quite introvert in public interactions, you being a civil servant doesn’t like this but tolerate it for peaceful marital life.
As we know, relationship is an inescapable necessity in our life since our personality is the mere manifestation of how we manages these relationships. For instance, personality of a crook is nothing but the troubled relationship, he shares at personal and societal level. Thus, there is a need to manage these relationships in proper manner by upholding concerned ethical principles as discussed above.
Generally, People think that personal and public relationships are diverging in nature and must have different standards to practice but we have the problem with separation. Even Mahatama Gandhi disagreed with this viewpoint. He held that, conducts of public servant should be open to public scrutiny since they are devoted to the profession of public service barring few intimate relationship such as Relationship with life partner. This doesn’t mean that his adulterous conduct is beyond public scrutiny
Conclusion
A harmony between private and public ethics has always existed. Prentious behaviour can only short lived and the true nature will be revealed with circumstances at play. A man with ethics in private and public sphere is a man of morality.
Topic: Case Study
-
- What are the ethical issues in the above case?
- Can we have ‘ethical AI’?
- Suggest measures that must be taken to prevent moral damage that can from AI.
Difficulty Level: Tough
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by giving the context.
Body:
In the body, Write about the various ethical issues in the above case study.
Next, write about your opinion on the ethicality of AI and how it can be ethical and how it is not possible it be ethical. Cite examples to substantiate.
Next, write about moral hazards that posed by AI and suggestions to prevent them from happening.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
New technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, big data, and networks are expected to revolutionize production processes, but they could also have a major impact on developing economies. More than the economic impact, the ethical concerns associated are bigger worry.
Body
Ethical issues involved
- Ethical concerns: With popularization of a new technology, its virtues are not guaranteed. For instance, the internet made it possible to connect with anyone and get information from anywhere, but also easier for misinformation to spread.
- There are real concerns about the potential negative consequences of AI, from deep fakes to nefarious uses of facial recognition technology.
- Data Management: As there is lack of clarity on data flow and data ownership which might result into data colonialism (data generated by developing countries yet not benefitting them).
- Further, data collection for feeding AI algorithms has its associated privacy concerns e.g. mass surveillance.
- AI could contribute to the forgery of documents, pictures, audio recordings, videos, and online identities which can and will occur with unprecedented ease.
- Biasedness: The algorithms used in artificial intelligence are discrete and, in most cases, trade secrets.
- They can be biased, for example, in the process of self-learning, they can absorb and adopt the stereotypes that exist in society or which are transferred to them by developers and make decisions based on them.
- Excessive Regulation: Since the AI is still in its preliminary stages, some critics believe that, excessively strict regulation is neither necessary nor desirable.
- Lack of consensus & Conflict of Interests among the countries over the mechanisms and tactics in regulation of AI.
- Absence of widespread expertise in Al technologies: This could lead to policy decisions being taken based on a narrow spectrum of opinions. There are large gaps in data collection, preparation, and benchmarking capabilities.
Ethical AI possibility
- Ethical AI is artificial intelligence that adheres to well-defined ethical guidelines regarding fundamental values, including such things as individual rights, privacy, non-discrimination, and non-manipulation.
- Ethical AI places fundamental importance on ethical considerations in determining legitimate and illegitimate uses of AI.
- Organizations that apply ethical AI have clearly stated policies and well-defined review processes to ensure adherence to these guidelines.
- Ethical AI is not limited to what is permissible by law. Legal limits pertaining to the use of AI set a minimum threshold of acceptability, while ethical AI sets policies that go beyond legal requirements to ensure respect for fundamental human values.
- For example, AI algorithms that effectively manipulate people – teens, in particular – to engage in self-destructive behavior may be legal, but they do not represent ethical AI.
Measures and way forward
- AI has the potential to be used for both good and evil purposes. The benefits from the ethical uses of AI are numerous and significant.
- The application of AI can help organizations operate more efficiently, produce cleaner products, reduce harmful environmental impacts, increase public safety, and improve human health.
- But if used unethically – e.g., for purposes such as disinformation, deception, human abuse, or political suppression – AI can cause severe deleterious effects for individuals, the environment, and society.
- Laws and regulations are generally insufficient to ensure the ethical use of AI.
- It is incumbent on individuals and organizations who use AI – as well as those who develop and provide AI tools and technology – to practice ethical AI. Users and purveyors of AI must take proactive steps to make sure they are using AI ethically.
- This obligation goes beyond issuing statements; there must be specific policies that are actively enforced.
Conclusion
Technology is inherently about humans, and it is perilous to ignore social and psychological impact while creating tech. As engineers we must be aware of the unintended consequences of the technology we create.
With the advent of automotive AI and recent impact of social media platforms on elections, Ethics in AI has become one of the major areas of research.
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