[Mission 2023] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 6 December 2022

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: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.

1. Discuss the contributions of B.R Ambedkar as a political leader and a social reformer. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India

Why the question:

December 6 is observed as the Mahaparinirvan Diwas, or the death anniversary, of Dr BR Ambedkar, the Father of the Indian Constitution.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the political, social and intellectual contributions of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

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 writing a few introductory lines regarding Dr B.R Ambedkar.

Body:

Discuss his role and contributions; His role as a social reformer, chairman of the draft committee of the Indian Constitution, and first law minister of the country is well-known. He was an educationist, economist, jurist, politician, journalist, sociologist and social reformer and worked in the fields of culture, religion and spirituality.

Highlight his efforts towards championing the causes of downtrodden and the vulnerable.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

Introduction

Dr B.R Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 in the town and military cantonment of Mhow in the Central Provinces (now in Madhya Pradesh). The nation is celebrating the 131^st birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar. He is one leader from the pre-independence times who has gained phenomenal after-life recognition, respect and popularity, not only as a messiah of the Dalits but also as one of the greatest Indians of the modern age. He was a nation-builder with a difference. Unlike Gandhi, Nehru, Subhas Bose and Bhagat Singh, he didn’t fight against British imperialism.

December 6 is observed as the Mahaparinirvan Diwas, or the death anniversary, of Dr BR Ambedkar, the Father of the Indian Constitution.

Body

Ambedkar’s role as a political leader and a social reformer

• His primary fight was against the evil of untouchability and casteism in the Hindu community.
• Ambedkar worked to embed the objectives of liberty, equality and fraternity and the concept of dignity of the individual at the heart of the Constitution.
• Babasaheb always advocated for providing equal rights to women. Women have been given the same fundamental right to Equality as men in the Constitution drafted by him.
• Ambedkar was the voice of the Depressed Classes on every platform. As their representative at the Round Table Conference, he championed the cause of labour improving the condition of peasants.
• During the Bombay Assembly’s Poona session in 1937, he introduced a Bill to abolish the Khoti system of land tenure in Konkan.
• He was the first legislator in the country to introduce a Bill for abolishing the serfdom of agricultural tenants.
• His essay titled ‘Small Holdings in India and their Remedies’ (1918) proposed industrialisation as the answer to India’s agricultural problem and is still relevant to contemporary debates.
• The Reserve Bank of India was conceptualised from the Hilton Young Commission’s recommendation, which considered Ambedkar’s guidelines laid out in The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution. 
• As a member of the Bombay Assembly, he opposedthe introduction of the Industrial Disputes Bill, 1937, as it removed workers’ right to strike. He advocated for “fair condition of life of labour” instead of securing “fair condition of work” and laid out the basic structure of the government’s labour policy.
• Ambedkar out rightly opposed the communist labour movements, their extraterritorial loyalties and their Marxian approach of controlling all means of production.
• As chairman of the Constitution’s drafting committee, he took meticulous measures to build a just society through liberty, equality and fraternity.
• Morality, Equality, Self-respect and Indianness were the four most important ideals of Babasaheb’s vision. 
• Lord Buddha’s message of compassion and harmony was the basis of his life and politics.
• Babasaheb stressed the need for politics based on the cultural values of morality and harmony.
• He was a severe critic of Mahatma Gandhi and the politics of the Indian National Congress for fighting only the external evil of foreign rule while ignoring the cancerous disease within the Hindu community.

Voice of the depressed classes

• Ambedkar was the voice of the Depressed Classes on every platform. As their representative at the Round Table Conference, he championed the cause of labour and improving the condition of peasants.
• During the Bombay Assembly’s Poona session in 1937, he introduced a Bill to abolish the Khoti system of land tenure in Konkan.
• In Bombay, the historic peasant march to the Council Hall in 1938 made him a popular leader of the peasants, workers, and the landless. He was the first legislator in the country to introduce a Bill for abolishing the serfdom of agricultural tenants.
• His essay titled ‘Small Holdings in India and their Remedies’ (1918) proposed industrialisation as the answer to India’s agricultural problem and is still relevant to contemporary debates.

Conclusion

Today our legal system is progressing on the path suggested by him on many issues like property rights for women. This shows that Babasaheb’s visionary thinking was far ahead of his time. Ambedkar’s thinking and legacy are reflected in the pro-people, pro-poor welfare policies and programmes of the government

General Studies – 2

Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

2. Examine the various issues in India’s fundamental right to religion. How can the issue of “forced” or “deceitful” conversions be addressed? (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question:

The Supreme Court is hearing a purported Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action to curb deceitful religious conversion in the country. Not wanting to be left behind, the Gujarat government is seeking the removal of a stay on a provision in its anti-conversion law that requires prior permission from the District Magistrate for any conversion done “directly or indirectly”.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the various issues in India’s fundamental right to religion and steps needed to tackle forceful conversions.

Directive word:

Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by mentioning about Article 25-28.

Body:

First, write about various issues in India’s fundamental right to religion – diverse country with respect to religion, every citizen has the right to choose, practice, propagate and even change his or her religion, certain restrictions provided by the constitution, forceful conversions, communal clashes, violating article 14 in the name of article 25.

Next, write the context regarding forceful or deceitful conversion in the country.

Next, write about the steps that are needed to overcome the above-mentioned issues.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward. 

Differentiate between an opinion poll and an exit poll. Do you think these polls can impact free and fair election by affecting voting patterns? Critically comment.

Introduction

Article 25(1) of the Constitution guarantees the “freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion”.

It is a right that guarantees a negative liberty — which means that the state shall ensure that there is no interference or obstacle to exercise this freedom. However, like all fundamental rights, the state can restrict the right for grounds of public order, decency, morality, health and other state interests.

Body

Article 25

• Freedom of conscience: Inner freedom of an individual to mould his relation with God or Creatures in whatever way he desires.
• Right to Profess: Declaration of one’s religious beliefs and faith openly and freely.
• Right to Practice: Performance of religious worship, rituals, ceremonies and exhibition of beliefs and ideas.
• Right to Propagate: Transmission and dissemination of one’s religious beliefs to others or exposition of the tenets of one’s religion.

Issues with fundamental right to religion

• Essential religious practices: In 1954, the SC held in the Shirur Mutt case that the term “religion” will cover all rituals and practises “integral” to a religion. The test to determine what is integral is termed the “essential religious practises” test.
  • The test, a judicial determination of religious practises, has often been criticised by legal experts as it pushes the court to delve into theological spaces.
  • Example, Sabarimala issue where women in menstruating age are banned from entering. The verdict created a furore.
• Banning of hijab: Recently, six students were banned from entering a college in Karnataka’s Udupi district for wearing a hijab (a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women).
  • The issue throws up legal questions on reading the freedom of religion and whether the right to wear a hijab is constitutionally protected.
• Issue of forced conversion: The Hadiya case is an example of one extreme where even voluntary conversion is disputed. At the other end there are forceful conversions through manipulation and deceit.
• Public display of religious practices: In several instances, the court has applied the essential practices test to keep certain practises out.
  • In a 2004 ruling, the SC held that the Ananda Marga sect had no fundamental right to perform Tandava dance in public streets, since it did not constitute an essential religious practice of the sect.
• While these issues are largely understood to be community-based, there are instances in which the court has applied the test to individual freedoms as well.
  • For example, in 2016, the SC upheld the discharge of a Muslim airman from the Indian Air Force for keeping a beard.
  • Armed Force Regulations, 1964, prohibits the growth of hair by Armed Forces personnel, except for “personnel whose religion prohibits the cutting of hair or shaving of face”.
  • The court essentially held that keeping a beard was not an essential part of Islamic practices.

Addressing forceful conversions

• About the regulation of Conversions in India: In 1954, Parliament took up for consideration the Indian Conversion (Regulation and Registration) Bill.
• Six years later, another law, the Backward Communities (Religious Protection) Bill, 1960, was proposed to stop conversion.
• Both were dropped for want of support.
• State Laws: There are a few states (Arunachal Pradesh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand) which have enacted upon anti-conversion law in India.
• There is a need for uniformity: Article 18 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights mentions everyone has the right to freedom of religion including changing their faith.
  • Since it is a state subject, the Centre can frame a model law like Model law on contract farming etc.
• States while enacting anti-conversion laws should not put any vague or ambiguous provisions for the person who wanted to convert of his own will.
• The anti-conversion laws also need to include a provision to mention the valid steps for conversion by minority community institutions.
• People also need to be educated about the provisions and ways of Forceful conversions, Inducement or allurement, etc.

Conclusion

Every person is the final judge of his/her choice of religion or who their life partner should be. Courts cannot sit in judgment of a person’s choice of religion or life partner. Religious faith is a part of the fundamental right to privacy. The Constitution Bench judgment has already upheld inviolability of the right to privacy, equating it with the rights to life, of dignity and liberty.

Topic: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.

3. Differentiate between an opinion poll and an exit poll. Do you think these polls can impact free and fair elections by affecting voting patterns? Critically comment. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Indian Express , Indian Express

Why the question:

As voting for Gujarat elections ends today, exit polls will be out by the evening. In India, results of exit polls for a particular election are not allowed to be published till the last vote has been cast.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the difference between exit and opinion poll and their impact on elections.

Directive word: 

Critically comment – 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 ‘comment’ is prefixed, we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by defining the concept of opinion polls and exit polls.

Body:

In the first part, write about the differences between opinion polls and exit polls.

Next, mention the various drawbacks of the above – Manipulations, Voter influencing, corruption, Propaganda, Consensus among political parties, Ban on exit polls etc.

Next, mention the need of the above– freedom of speech, a sample survey, not enough to influence voters etc.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward how to properly regulate opinion and exit polls without affecting the free and fair elections.

Introduction

Exit poll is a post-voting poll, which is conducted just after a voter walks out after casting his or her vote. Such polls aim at predicting the actual result on the basis of the information collected from voters. It assesses the support for political parties and their candidates. They are conducted by a number of organisations. The basic step to predict exit polls is sampling.

An opinion poll asks for whom the voter plans to vote, an exit poll asks for whom the voter actually voted.

Body

Differences between Exit and Opinion polls:

• One key difference between exit polls and opinion polls is the timing. Exit polls are conducted after an election or referendum and survey how people actually did vote. Opinion polls are conducted before elections and survey how people intend to vote.
• Moreover, opinion polls can ask a much broader range of questions to gauge the mood of the electorate. Examples of opinion poll questions include:
  • If the election were held today, who would you vote for?
  • Do you think the country is moving in the right or wrong direction?
  • Do you approve of the job the president is doing with regards to foreign policy?
• Another key difference is who does the polling and for what purpose the results are used. Exit polls are typically undertaken by news networks in order to analyse and predict the results of elections directly after voting closes.
• Opinion polls, on the other hand, are undertaken for analytical and predictive purposes by news networks. They are also regularly used by political parties as a strategic campaigning tool.

Can polls affect voting patterns

• Both kinds of polls can be controversial if the agency conducting them is perceived to be biased.
• The projections of these surveys can be influenced by the choice, wording and timing of the questions, and by the nature of the sample drawn.
• Political parties often allege that many opinion and exit polls are motivated and sponsored by their rivals, and could have a distorting effect on the choices voters make in a protracted election, rather than simply reflecting public sentiment or views.
• Critics and political parties say the agencies that conduct the exit polls could be biased in terms of the choice, words, timing of the questions, the methodology they use, and kind of sample they draw.
• The sample group’s demographic behaviour, its economic status and various other factors used in tabulating the survey are also questioned.
• Political parties also allege that exit polls are funded by their rivals and may not reflect the sentiment or views of the people accurately.
• Section 126A of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951, puts a ban on exit polls from the period between the commencements of the poll until half an hour after the closing of the final phase of the poll.
• Exit polls have often proved unreliable in India. In the past, there had been instances when exit polls had predicted the verdict of an election incorrectly. In 2004, the exit polls wrongly predicted the BJP-led NDA coalition winning again.

International practices:

• Sixteen European Union countries ban reporting of opinion polls, with ban timeframes ranging from a full month to just 24 hours before polling day.
• Italy, Slovakia and Luxembourg have a ban of more than 7 days.
• France – The French ban has been reduced to 24 hours ahead of voting day.
• UK – There are no restrictions on publishing results of opinion polls — however, results of exit polls can’t be published until the voting is over.
• US – Media coverage of opinion polls is regarded as an integral part of free speech in elections, and publication is allowed at any time.
• The only restriction that exists — not reporting likely outcomes from exit polls before voting is over on election day — is one that news organisations commissioning the polls voluntarily impose upon themselves.

Conclusion

Since these polls are an important part of freedom of speech and expression and play an important role in informing voters. The need is to establish an independent regulator to regulate the conduct of these polls in terms of sample space, sampling technique, type and timing of questions etc. Media needs to have proper accountability while conducting opinion & exit polls.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

4. What are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)? How do they impact the environment and human health? Evaluate the various measures taken by the government to combat Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: Down to Earth  , Insights on India

Why the question:

It was once regarded as a miracle chemical to protect against disease and improve global food production. The man who discovered its properties even won a Nobel Prize for medicine. But today, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is best known for its devastating effects on the environment, as well as on animal and human health.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about POP, their impact on environment and human health and evaluate the measure taken against them.

Directive word: 

Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidence.  You must appraise the worth of the statement in question. There is scope for forming an opinion here.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by defining POPs.

Body:

First, mention the harsh impact of the POPs on human health and environment – Exposure to POPs can lead to cancer, damage to central & peripheral nervous systems, diseases of immune system, reproductive disorders and interference with normal infant and child development.

Next, write about the various measures that have been taken to tackle POPs. Evaluate their successes and limitations.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward to overcome limitations.

Introduction

In 1995, the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) called for global action to be taken on POPs, which it defined as “chemical substances that persist in the environment, bio-accumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment”.

Body

Extra information about POPs

• Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are among the most dangerous chemicals that humans release into the environment. While POPs have been in use for decades, the world has only recently learned about their more deadly qualities. So there is a need to effectively curb their effects.
• POPs are organic chemical substances toxic to both humans and wildlife which once released into the environment remain intact for years on end
• They become widely distributed throughout the environment as a result of natural processes involving soil, water and air, and accumulate in the fatty tissues of living organisms including humans.
• Because of human activities, POPs are widely distributed over large regions of the world including areas where they were never used
• POPs are recognized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as Group 1 carcinogens or cancer-causing substances.
• The 12 initial POPs under the Stockholm Convention: Initially, twelve POPs have been recognized as causing adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem and these can be placed in 3 categories:
• Pesticides: aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, toxaphene;
• Industrial chemicals: hexachlorobenzene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); and
• By-products: hexachlorobenzene; polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF), and PCBs.

Impacts of POPs

• On wildlife
  • Reproductive impairment and malformations
  • Immune system is sensitive
  • Altered liver enzyme function
  • Increased risk of tumours
  • High levels of DDE (a metabolite of DDT) in certain birds of prey caused their eggshells to thin so dramatically they could not produce live offspring.
• On Humans
  • Contact may cause skin rashes, swelling of eyelids, hyper-pigmentation headaches, or vomiting.
  • Specific effects of POPs can include cancer, allergies and hypersensitivity, damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, reproductive disorders, and disruption of the immune system.
  • Extended high-level exposure has resulted in cases of chloracne. The worst incident of human exposure was the 1968 Yusho incident: 1200 people (in Japan) consumed rice oil heavily contaminated with PCBs over 20 to 190 days.
  • These people had reproductive dysfunction, visual disturbances and respiratory problems etc
  • Female victims tend to have disorders of the  reproductive organs, and also an increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.
  • Infants born to women who had been exposed to these exhibited neurobehavioural deficits and lower overall age-adjusted developmental scores were reported among the exposed children.
• On Environment
  • POPs work their way through the food chain by accumulating in the body fat of living organisms and becoming more concentrated as they move from one creature to another. This process is known as “biomagnification.”
  • They persist for long periods of time in the environment and can accumulate and pass from one species to the next through the food chain.
  • DDT is practically only being sprayed in the houses of the poor. But the risk of improper use of DDT is high and can have serious consequences for the agricultural sector.

Measures undertaken by Government to tackle POPs

• India ratified the Stockholm Convention in 2006 as per Article 25(4), which enabled it to keep itself in a default “opt-out” position such that amendments in various Annexes of the convention cannot be enforced on it unless an instrument of ratification/ acceptance/ approval or accession is explicitly deposited with UN depositary.
• The Union Cabinet, in 2021, approved the Ratification of seven chemicalslisted under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
• The Cabinet has also delegated its powers to ratify chemicals under the Stockholm Convention to the Union Ministers of External Affairs (MEA) and Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in respect of POPs already regulated under the domestic regulations.
• Considering its commitment towards providing a safe environment and addressing human health risks, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had notified the ‘Regulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants Rules, in 2018 under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Promotion of non-POP alternatives
• Insecticide Act, 1968 – Banning of use, manufacture and import of most of the listed POPs under Stockholm Convention into India Insecticide Act, 1968
• India submitted its National Implementation Plan (NIP) on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2011.

Conclusion

In the current scenario especially when the survival of the earth is on the brink efforts need to be made towards sustainable development and the new rules are step in the right direction.

Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

5. Protecting forests and grasslands can help slow climate change by promoting carbon storage in soil and plants. Elaborate. Throw light on the potential of 30×30 initiative in conserving and protecting at least 30 per cent of Earth’s surface, on land and at sea, by 2030. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: Down to Earth 

Why the question:

One ambitious proposal for stemming these losses is the international initiative known as 30×30: Conserving and protecting at least 30 per cent of Earth’s surface, on land and at sea, by 2030. Currently, 112 countries support this initiative, including the United States. More nations may announce their support at the international biodiversity conference that opens December 7, 2022, in Montreal.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the role of forests and grasslands in carbon storage and potential of 30×30 initiative.

Directive:

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 giving context.

Body:

First, write about role of forests and grasslands as carbon sink – Forests are an important carbon sink, as both trees and forest soil are able store large amount of carbon for a long time. Cite examples to substantiate.

Next, write the about aims and objectives of 30×30 initiative, its features and its potential in conserving and protecting earth’s land and sea.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

The 30×30 target implies protection of at least 30 % the of world’s land and ocean by 2030. The 30×30 target is a global target that aims to halt the accelerating loss of species and protect vital ecosystems that are the source of our economic security.

High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People was formed in 2021 to promote an international agreement on 30×30 target. India officially joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People in 2021.  India has proposed to establish Sustainable Coastal and Ocean Research Institute (SCORI) to meet the needs and aspirations of the Pacific Island Countries (PIC).

Body

Protecting forests and grasslands can help slow climate change by promoting carbon storage in soil and plants

• Grasslands, wetlands, forests and other ecosystems naturally absorb and store carbon.
• Studies have shown that protecting and preserving these features of the natural world could allow for the annual absorption of one-fifth of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions – the equivalent to emissions from all U.S. vehicles.
• Tall grasses and prairie plants, and these landscapes are well-known for their ability to absorb and store carbon in roots and soil.
• Maintaining grasslands near agricultural fields can boost crop production because grasslands promote biodiversity, support pollinators and host predators that can help suppress potential pests. They also help improve biodiversity, soil health and water quality.
• Forest not only have a role in maintaining biodiversity but also their ability to fix large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere and thereby mitigate climate change.
• Forest cover also alter hydrological cycles (reduce stream flow), decrease albedo (a measure of solar radiation reflected from the earth’s surface) which can contribute to warming, and lead to loss of unique biodiversity.

Potential of 30×30 initiative

• In order to address both the biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis, there is growing scientific research that half of the planet must be kept in a natural state. Some papers have suggested that the number should be even higher, and some have suggested slightly lower.
• Despite this, experts agree that a scientifically credible and necessary interim goal is to achieve a minimum of 30 per cent protection by 2030.
• There is a wealth of scientific data documenting the need for increased spatial targets in order to help achieve goals related to biodiversity conservation, which help justify the 30×30 target both at a global level and a regional level.
• When the Aichi Targets were established in 2010, roughly 13 per cent of the world’s terrestrial areas were protected while very few protections existed in the ocean.
• Currently, an estimated 15 per cent of the world’s land and 7 per cent of the ocean are protected. In order to achieve the goal of protecting at least 30 per cent by 2030, we will need to double the current land protections and more than quadruple current ocean protections.

Way forward

• First, protected areas should meet both conservation needs and human needs.
• Second, in creating newly protected areas, researchers and managers should consider how they will interact with adjacent areas.
• Third, researchers and officials should assess how newly protected areas will interact with areas far away — including in other countries.
• We should be guided by a metacoupling framework, which is an integrated way to study and manage human-nature interactions within and between different places.
• It recognizes that human and natural systems in a given place can be affected for better or worse by people, policies and markets both nearby and far away.

Value addition

30 X 30 target

• In the spirit of Stockholm+50, to build on 50 years of multilateral environmental action to achieve the urgent action needed to secure a healthy planet, the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People is taking concrete steps towards moving into a new phase to support implementation of the global goal to protect at least 30 per cent of the world’s land and at least 30 per cent of the world’s ocean by 2030.
• The 30×30 target is a global target, which aims to halt the accelerating loss of species, and protect vital ecosystems that are the source of our economic security. 
• The High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, which is now supported by nearly 100 countries, is evolving into a new phase to support implementation of the global goal.
• The High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People was officially launched in January 2021 at the One Planet Summit (OPS) on biodiversity. The coalition is currently co-chaired by France and Costa Rica, with the United Kingdom as ocean co-chair.

Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;

6. Schools and religious institutions also play a role in inculcating values. Elaborate. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

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 the importance of schools and religious institutions in inculcating values.

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 values.

Body:

In the first part, write about the role of schools in inculcating – individual values, relationship values, etc. Cite examples to substantiate.

Next, write about the role of religious institutions in inculcating – religious values, societal values etc. Cite examples to substantiate.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

Introduction

Values are beliefs that have an inherent worth in usefulness or importance to the holder,” or “principles, standards, or qualities reflected worthwhile or desirable.” Values institute an important characteristic of self-concept and serve as supervisory principles for person.

Body

Role of Religion & its institutions

• Religion today has taken a much-institutionalized form. ‘Religion is a system of sacred belief and practices both in the tangible and intangible form’. Religion can serve the dual role of ideology as well as institution.
• Religion plays a crucial role for a person in giving a cultural identity.
• Religion helps in creating an ethical framework and also a regulator for values in day to day life. This particular approach helps in character building of a person.
• In other words, Religion acts as an agency of socialization. Thus, religion helps in building values like love, empathy, respect, and harmony.
• Some religious institutions are useful in providing a platform or forum for sharing the “righteous” value system through discourses and publications for the modern mind. This helps the society collectively to develop, share and practice the right value system.
• This in turn helps in uplifting and improving the society and essentially in character and nation building efforts.
• All religions enjoins upon the individual to do good deeds, take care of others and practice right or ethical action.
• We have had a long tradition where individuals and industry in India encourage “caring for the society” as much as creating wealth for future expansion of the business and the economy.
• This has taken various forms like building and developing schools and colleges, hospitals as also various religious and charitable institutions, supporting a variety of religious and welfare activities on a continuing basis.
• Each and every religion promotes its philosophy and the crux of it has always been the welfare and wellness of the people. For example, in the Sanatana Dharma, there are ideas like Vasudaiva Kutumbakam (the whole world is a family), Sarve Sukhina Bhavantu (let everyone be happy) which nurture and cultivate love and compassion in the society.

Role of Schools & Educational institutions

• Education in its aims, curriculum and methods is linked with values. It is through education that society seeks to preserve and promote its cherished values.
• Whatever is learnt and imbibed will determine to how students will live out their lives in future.
• Educational institutions provide a structured environment where children learn values of cooperation, hard work
• Punctuality, Commitment, Sincerity, Sharing, Caring, Fairness, Helping, Independence, Responsibility, Humility, Pride need to be inculcated in a child.
• Lessons of Honesty, Social Justice, Sensitising children with empathy towards vulnerable sections of the society.
• Teaching Gender Equality, Respect for elders, Truthfulness, Tolerance, Peace, Love for nature & mankind, Positive Attitude, Spirituality, Nationalist feelings, Patriotism, Discipline

Conclusion

Several universal human values such as Truth, Righteous conduct, Peace, Love and Non- violence are directly associated to physical, intellectual, emotional psyche and spiritual facets of human personality. These are directly influenced by schools & religious institutions. There is need and urgency to reinforce these values for a better and humane society.

General Studies – 4

Topic: Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity;

7. Is it the lack of values or prevalence of greed, that leads to corruption in the country? State your opinion. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

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.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by defining corruption.

Body:

First, write about the factors that aid corruption – lack of values, absence of ethical training, pliable conscience etc.

Next, write about role of greed in corruption – opportunity costs, quid pro quo, acceptance of corruption etc. Write about its impact.

Conclusion:

Conclude by mention measures needed to tackle corruption.

Introduction

The Mahatma’s vision of a strong and prosperous India – Purna Swaraj – can never become a reality if we do not address the issue of the stranglehold of corruption on our polity, economy and society in general. Governance is admittedly the weak link in our quest for prosperity and equity. Elimination of corruption is not only a moral imperative but an economic necessity for a nation aspiring to catch up with the rest of the world.

Body

The paradox of India, however, is that in spite of a vigilant press and public opinion, the level of corruption is exceptionally high. This may be attributed to the utter insensitivity, lack of shame and the absence of any sense of public morality among the bribe-takers.

Unfortunately for India, discipline is disappearing fast from public life and without discipline, as the Scandinavian economist- sociologist, Gunnar Myrdal, has pointed out, no real progress is possible.  Discipline implies inter alia public and private morality and a sense of honesty.

While in the West a man who rises to positions of higher authority develops greater respect for laws, the opposite is true in our country. Here, the mark of a person holding high position is the ease with which he can ignore the laws and regulations. We are being swamped by a culture of indiscipline and untruth; morality, both public and private, is at a premium.

A disturbing aspect was that the society’s attitude to corruption too was changing. A few decades ago, a corrupt and unethical person was shunned. But now their presence was not just tolerated, but was regarded as normal. When corrupt persons to go to jail now, their followers make a display of immense sadness and when they come out of jail, it is celebrated and sweets are distributed.

Conclusion

Corruption has a disproportionate impact on the poor and most vulnerable, increasing costs and reducing access to services, including health, education and justice. Corruption erodes trust in government and undermines the social contract. This is cause for concern across the globe, but particularly in contexts of fragility and violence, as corruption fuels and perpetuates the inequalities and discontent that lead to fragility, violent extremism, and conflict. Hence it is imperative that all forms of corruption are rooted out for a “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.

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