[Mission 2023] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 8 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: Social empowerment

1. The substitution of caste by economic criteria will not only reverse the modest gains made in affirmative action so far but also deepen structural inequality. Critically examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: The Hindu

Why the question:

Early last month, the Supreme Court of India upheld the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, which had introduced 10% reservation for the economically weaker sections (EWS). The EWS quota and the Court judgment that followed have shifted the discussion on the legacy of affirmative action based on caste in India.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about impact of using income as a criterion for determining affirmative action.

Directive word: 

Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into 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. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving context.

Body:

In the first part, objective behind affirmative action/reservation in India – To rectify the past and historical injustice against the backward classes in India. To ensure that equal representation can be seen from people belonging to all castes in the services under the state and centre. To provide an equal platform for everyone irrespective of their caste etc.

Next, write about how introduction of economic criteria for reservation, instead of caste will affect the socially backward classes.

Next, give a counter dimension of the need of EWS reservation and the need to move away from caste-centric definition of backwardness.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a balanced opinion on the issue.

Introduction

The Constitution (103 Amendment) Act, 2019 was enacted which provides 10% reservation in jobs and educational institutions to the economically weaker sections in the general category.  Recently, the Supreme Court has upheld the validity of the 103^rd Constitutional Amendment which provides 10% reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among forward castes in government jobs and colleges across India. The SC said that EWS quota does not violate equality and the basic structure of the constitution. Reservation in addition to existing reservation does not violate provisions of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court of India’s recent decision, upholding the constitutional validity of the law granting 10% reservation to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of the upper castes, has ignited much debate. Some pundits have affirmed the judgment marks the death knell of caste as a factor in reservation, while others argue that it underscores its perpetual relevance.

Body

Reservation leads to casteless and classless society:

• The 10% quota law is a step towards a classless and casteless society, the Union government has indicated in the Supreme Court.
• The Centre referred to the court’s past decisions that called for the “attainment of economic equality as the final and only solution to the besetting problems” of the country. The Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019, was meant to benefit the economically weaker sections of society who were not covered by the existing schemes of reservation.
• It said the law was meant to benefit a large section of the population of 135 crore people, who are mostly lower middle class and below the poverty line.
• The government quoted the 2010 report of the Commission for Economically Backward Classes, chaired by Major General S.R. Sinho (retired), which said 18.2% of the general category came under the below poverty line (BPL).
• The Government took support of the 13-page affidavit quoted from a 1985 Constitution Bench judgment in K.C. Vasanth Kumar vs Karnataka, which quotes Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi to drive home the point that the economy of a family, and not its caste, should be the determining factor of social and educational backwardness.
• Article 15(6) and Article 16(6) are enabling provisions for advancement of the economically weaker sections and are, in fact, in conformity with the principle of reservation and affirmative action, It argued that a “mere amendment” to an Article would not violate the basic structure of the Constitution.
• Furthermore, the 50% ceiling applied to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. The new provision dealt with the economically weaker sections. “The limit of 50% is only applicable to reservation under Articles 15(4), 15(5) and 16(4) and does not apply to Article 15(6).”

The pros of the reservation Act are:

• Alleviation of Poverty: It is expected to help the needy among the higher castes.
• Reduces ghost beneficiaries: In some cases, it is expected to eliminate the desperation of those who, in the past, would resort to obtaining fake Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST)certificates that were used to seek entry into professional courses.
• Removes Prejudice: The reservation will prevent these higher castes from holding reservations responsible for national disintegration and perpetuation of casteism, as they widely believe.
• Reduces Unwanted Adoptions: The legislation is also expected to keep savarna-caste aspirants from seeking adoption into SC/ST families in order to procure SC/ST certificates.
• No deceptive self-characterisation:Ironically, the 10% quota can help these savarnas retain their authentic caste identity. In this way, they can now avoid facing humiliation in courts of law on account of being exposed as fake caste certificate holders.

The cons of the reservation are:

• Discredits the moral foundation of the principle of social justice:
  • The principle of social justicecalls for ‘equal treatment of equals’ and ‘affirmative action for less advantage sections’.
  • Constitution outlines special provisions for only four classes– SCs, STs, Backward Classes and Anglo Indians in the Articles 330-342 under Part 16.
  • The provision is clearly mentioned as reservation is explicitly for ‘social exclusion and discrimination’. Notably, the “socially and educationally backward classes” was the target group in quotas for OBCs.
  • Unfairness or an element of injusticeis rooted in the practice of untouchability, whereas pure economic backwardness is rooted in the systemic inability to provide jobs to the higher castes.
  • The lack of opportunities is not due to untouchability, but due to the inability of the state and the market to provide enough jobs for the qualified and the needy.
  • The new reservation policy has transformed from a policy meant to provide a level playing field for those suffering from historical discrimination and those who are weaker sections of the society to a policy meant as a dole for those sections of society who are poor and lack jobs.
  • The Indira Sawhney casehad further held that social backwardness cannot be determined only with reference to an economic criterion.
• Violation of DPSP:
  • The Article 46, which is a non-justiciable Directive Principle, says that the state shall promote educational and economic interests of “weaker sections”, in particular SCs and STs, and protect them from “social injustices” and “all forms of exploitation”.
  • While the 103rd Amendment mentions Article 46 in its statement and objects, it seems the government overlooked the fact that upper castes neither face social injustice nor are subjected to any form of exploitation.
  • Moreover, the Constitution makes provisions for commissions to look into matters relating to implementation of constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Castes (Article 338), Scheduled Tribes (338A) and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (339),but has not created any commission for the economically backward classes.
• Unavailability of Data:
  • The Union or state governments have no such data to prove that ‘upper’ caste individuals, who have less than Rs 8 lakh annual income, are not adequately represented in government jobs and higher educational institutions. There is a strong possibility that they are actually over-represented in these places.
• Arbitrary Criteria:
  • The criteria used by the government to decide the eligibility for this reservation is vague and is not based on any data or study.
  • Even the SC questioned the government whether they have checked the GDP per capita for every State while deciding the monetary limit for giving the EWS reservation.
  • Statistics show that the per capita income in states differs widely – Goa is the state having the highest per capita income of almost Rs. 4 lakhs whereas Bihar is at the bottom with Rs.40,000.
• Sincerity of the Government
  • Centre did not give enough time for discussion on it before it was tabled in Parliament for its final approval.
• Lack of objectivity
  • an objection is raised about the procedure that the government adopted in order to fix the criteria for educational and economic backwardness. The government arrived at the figure of 10%, without any proper and thorough documentation by a duly constituted commission.

Conclusion:

Thus, the quota for the economically poor among the upper castes has been seen essentially as a poverty alleviation move dressed up as reservation. It is high time now that the Indian political class overcame its tendency of continually expanding the scope of reservation in pursuit of electoral gains, and realised that it is not the panacea for problems.

Instead of giving reservation based on different criteria, the government should focus on quality of education and other effective social upliftment measures. It should create a spirit of entrepreneurship and make them job-givers instead of a job seeker.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

2. India has huge tourism potential. If capitalised properly it can emerge as one of the leading sectors to contribute to GDP. However, there is a pressing need to upgrade security systems specially to provide a flawless security blanket cover to foreign tourists. Examine.

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Hindu

Why the question:

Crimes against tourists and other foreign nationals appear to be on the rise in India. Consider several recent cases, and the lessons they suggest. A few days ago, a Kerala session court sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a Latvian tourist in 2018.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the potential of tourism in India and measures needed to enhance tourism and tourist security.

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 citing statistic regarding tourism in India.

Body:

In brief, write about the potential of tourism in India. With optimistic predictions of about 13.34 million foreign tourists arriving by 2024, Give facts and figures related to revenue and forex earnings, tourist footfalls. Also highlight the diverse nature of tourist circuits in the country.

Next, write about the various issues that hamper or hinder tourism in the country. security, infrastructure, connectivity etc.

Next, write about the measures that are needed to improve security aspects of the tourists.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

Crime against foreigners not only dents our image globally but could also adversely affect the inflow of foreign tourists, which is a vital source of income for our country. Tourism happens to be one of the biggest foreign exchange earners for India. Such cases may leave tourists moral down and they may lose sense of security.

Body

Tourism potential in India

• Employement generation: India has huge tourism potential. If capitalised properly it can emerge as one of the leading sectors to contribute to GDP and also has the potential to augment employment.
• The Pandemic cost and recovery: The pandemic has caused conspicuous losses for this sector but over the past few months, all the major tourism indices such as domestic air passenger traffic, hotel occupancy and tourist footfalls have shown signs of recovery and are going back to pre-pandemic levels.
• Short term estimate: By 2024, in short term the country is estimated to contribute USD 150 billion to the GDP from tourism, USD 30 billion in Foreign Exchange earnings and can get 15 million foreign tourist arrivals..
• Medium term by 2030: It is estimated to grow at seven to nine per cent Compound Annual Growth Rate in the coming decade. In the medium term, that is 2030, the tourism-related goals are USD 250 billion GDP contribution; 137 million jobs, 56 million foreign tourist arrivals and USD 56 billion in foreign exchange earnings.
• Visionary schemes: The visionary schemes like Swadesh Darshan or Dekho Apna Desh have the potential to increase tourism value while maintaining cultural integrity and ecological sustainability of the places.
• Dekho Apna Desh: Dekho apna desh rolled out in 2020 envisages encouraging domestic tourism, urging people to visit places in India. India is a land of rich cultural heritage

Cases of crime against foreign tourists

• As many as 29 foreigners were murdered in the last three years. While 14 foreigners fell victim to rape last year, 16 were raped in 2020 and 12 in 2019.
• As many as 15 cases of assault to outraging modesty of foreign women were registered last year across the country, apart from 14 complaints of cheating.
• While 142 cases of theft were lodged by foreigners in 2019, it declined to 52 in 2020 and further dipped to 23 in 2021.
• Women are more prone to sexual attacks by criminals on the prowl in tourist destinations.
• For every crime committed against foreigners, there would be several others that go unreported for multifarious reasons, with one of them being the fear instilled in them by the threats of these criminals.
• In the South Delhi incident, the British national was reluctant to lodge a formal complaint out of fear

Measures needed: Tourist Police Scheme

• Booklet on the tourist police scheme and tourist police stations: The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) has brought out a booklet on the tourist police scheme detailing the mode of setting up of tourist police stations and control rooms, outposts, uniforms, recruitment, qualifications, training and logistics requirements for tourist police stations.
• Identified tourist spots: As many as 25 popular tourist spots have been identified in the country where the tourist police necessarily need to be deployed to help foreigners. As an incentive, 30% deputation allowance has been recommended for the police personnel who joins the tourist police on deputation.
• Identified Criminals in and around tourists’ spots need to be kept on constant surveillance: While the setting up of tourist police stations is a commendable step to provide safety to foreigners, much needs to be done to instil a sense of security in them even before they leave their countries for India. With theft being the most common crime committed against foreigners, all criminals in and around tourist spots need to be identified and kept under constant surveillance.
• Fast track courts should be set immediately to try cases of crimes against tourists: Since foreigners come for short durations, the cases cannot be allowed to linger on in courts for long. Fast track courts should be set up immediately to try cases of crime against foreigners and the culprits punished speedily. It may be recalled that a rape convict, Bitihotra Mohanty, was tried for raping a German national in Alwar (Rajasthan) on March 21, 2006 and he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on April 12, that is, within 22 days.
• States that have tourist police: Though the concept of ‘tourist police’ has been in vogue for the past few years, it has not been given the kind of attention it deserves. The States that have tourist police are Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Rajasthan and Kerala.
• Delhi a neglected state is gearing up for tourist police wing: In view of the forthcoming G20 Summit, the Delhi police is gearing up its tourist police wing, which was hitherto in a neglected state and so are other States which will see a huge influx of foreigners.

Conclusion

With optimistic predictions of about 13.34 million foreign tourists arriving by 2024, there is a pressing need to upgrade our security systems specially to provide a flawless security blanket cover to foreign tourists. Safety assumes utmost importance to draw tourists in hordes.

Value Addition

Draft National Tourism Policy

• Framework: Draft on National Tourism Policy 2022 aims at improving the framework conditions for tourism development in the country.
  • Supporting tourism industries, strengthening tourism support functions and developing tourism sub-sectors.
  • Impetus to digitalisation, innovation and technology through the National Digital Tourism Mission and skilling through the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Mission.
  • The policy also gives a special impetus to private sector participation through public-private-partnerships (PPP)
• Guiding Principles : Promoting sustainable, responsible and inclusive tourism in line with our civilisational ethos From Gautama to Gandhi, India has always spoken about the inherent need to live harmoniously with nature and within our means.
  • The National Green Tourism Mission aims at institutionalising green approach.

Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

3. Ties between India and Germany have potential to work together on issues such as fighting climate change, inequality, poverty and the digital divide but they should overcome disagreements on global issues. Comment. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question:

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s visit to India and talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have set the stage for a more updated bilateral relationship. The two sides signed an agreement on mobility and migration that boosts travel for students, researchers and investors and businesses, and the meeting was preceded by Germany’s agreement to fund renewable energy projects worth a billion Euros.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about key aspects of Indo-German cooperation and mutual interest and how the two nations are natural partners making joint efforts for prosperity.

Directive word: 

Comment– here we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by writing about evolution of Indo-German relationship especially in the post-Merkel ere.

Body:

First, Discuss the commonalities between the two countries. E.g Both share common values and constitutional principles, and the bilateral relationship has always been based on great mutual respect and understanding. Today, India is one of the biggest and fastest-growing economies, and Germany is the biggest economy in Europe. Both are natural partners making a joint effort for prosperity, while ensuring that they safeguard the environment etc.

Next, write about the major differences and divergences between both the countries on the global issues.

Next, suggest areas where countries can further cooperate for mutual benefits – clean energy, trade, climate change etc.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing about taking forward Indo-German relations forward in post Merkel era.

Introduction

India was one of the first countries to grant diplomatic recognition to the Federal Republic of Germany; this March, the two countries celebrated 70 years of diplomatic relations.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s visit to India and talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have set the stage for a more updated bilateral relationship. The two sides signed an agreement on mobility and migration that boosts travel for students, researchers and investors and businesses, and the meeting was preceded by Germany’s agreement to fund renewable energy projects worth a billion Euros.

Body

Indo-German relations

• Bilateral Trade: Despite the pandemic, Indo-German trade increased by 19% in the first 11 months of 2021 over 2020. Germany is India’s 6th largest trade partner.
  • Among the significant Indian exports to Germany are chemicals, textiles, apparel and machinery.
  • Important German imports to India include machinery, vehicles and chemicals. Bilateral ties are on the upswing in almost every area.
  • Germany’s role in reviving the India-EU free trade talks i.e. Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) will be very crucial.
• Terrorism: India and Germany have shown their firm commitment to fight against the terrorism.
  • Germany supports India led movement for the adoption of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
• Connectivity projects: Germany is keen to implement connectivity projects, through the European Union, to counter China.
  • In this, the EU-India connectivity partnership announced at the EU-India leaders meeting in May 2021 is acknowledged.
• Green Tech partnership: There is much green content in the Indo-German engagement at present, including in the fields of solar power, transportation, smart cities, metros and the Namami Gange.

Untapped potential in Indo-German ties

• Trade relations
• IGCC believes that Germany will soon emerge among India’s top three trade partners.
• The exchange of know-how and talent, especially, is expected to deliver transformational change, propelling greater growth.
• Various programmes have been set up to facilitate business opportunities in India, such as the Fast-Track-System for German companies or the Make-in-India Mittelstand programme.

• Technology
• Technology expertise has always been the hallmark of German companies, with top brands like Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, Bosch and Siemens and more.
• Both countries are poised to drive further cutting-edge innovation.
• The High Technology Partnership Group plays a major role in developing international supply chains and boosting cyber security, both vital to growth.

• Cultural relations
• Indians are wowed by the open-air concerts, exhibitions, architecture and heritage walks of Germany, Bollywood is among India’s biggest cultural exports to the EU country.
• Traditional healing practices appeal to people in both countries. Germany and India have pacts to promote ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy (Ayush).
• According to a study by market research institute Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung, there are over 3 million yoga practitioners in Germany.

• Education
• German universities already attract the highest number of Indian students among European countries.
• Besides world-class education, Indian students have multiple work opportunities in an ecosystem that welcomes diversity and encourages critical thinking.

• Tourism
• Germany offers a host of activities for Indian travellers, more than 25,000 castles, assorted nature trails, harbour towns, and a wide range of culinary and hospitality experiences.
• Technology expertise has always been the hallmark of German companies, with top brands like Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, Bosch and Siemens and more. Both countries are poised to drive further cutting-edge innovation. The High Technology Partnership Group plays a major role in developing international supply chains and boosting cyber security, both vital to growth.

Measures to reinvigorate Indo-German ties

• India and Germany must realise the cooperative goals of the IP guidelines. These must involve businesses.
• German companies must be encouraged to use the liberalised PLI scheme to establish manufacturing hubs in India, which can export to ASEAN and Africa.
• The two nations may also initiate an Africa vaccine production facility. Germany has committed 250 million euro in loans to Africa for this.
  • If implemented with India, as in the Quad initiative, such a facility can be established in the underserved East African region.
• India and Germany must think afresh to engage more closely in areas of complementarity.

Conclusion

In multipolar world order, convergence of India and Germany will be a win-win situation for both the countries due to uncertainties created by US policies and increasing assertiveness of Sino-Russian political axis. Post Brexit, Germany will become a more important player in European Union. Therefore, engaging Germany is not just about India’s bilateral relations with it. It is about collaborating with the Germany led EU as a whole.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

4. Evaluate the performance of the monetary policy committee in achieving its stated objective of containing inflation in the prescribed bandwidth. How will the recent the move to increase the benchmark interest rate by 35 basis points affect the Indian economy? (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: Insights on India

Why the question:

On Wednesday, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled its latest review of the monetary policy. In it, the RBI cut India’s GDP (gross domestic product) growth forecast for the current financial year, maintained the inflation forecast, and raised the repo rate by 35 basis points.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the performance of RBI in containing inflation and how the changes in Repo rate will affect the economy.

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 the monetary policy.

Body:

First, in brief, write in brief about the various components of monetary policy.

Next, write about the monetary policy committee (MPC), its aims and objectives. By citing statistics, write the success and limitations of MPC in controlling inflation and in creating conducive atmosphere for growth.

Next, write about the impact of increasing repo rate in the economy.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward to overcome the above-mentioned limitations.

Introduction

The repo rate hike of 35 basis points (bps) was in line with market expectations, but the finer points in Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das’s speech were more hawkish. Controlling inflation within the RBI’s defined comfort level of 4%-6% continues to be the prime driver of decision making by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

With the December 7 move, the total increase in the repo rate has reached a level of 225 basis points in this financial year. One basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point. RBI’s decision was guided by retail inflation that is above the upper bound of 6% although the Consumer Price Index-based inflation moderated to 6.8 percent (Y-o-Y) in October 2022 from 7.4 percent in September 2022. The MPC said that it is banking on further calibrated monetary policy action to keep inflation anchored within its comfort zone.

Body

Performance of MPC

• Beginning in May 2022, when it held an unscheduled meeting, the MPC has raised interest rates in every meeting to tackle inflation.
  • MPC increased this rate from 4% in April 2022 to 4.4% in May 2022, to 4.9% in June 2022, to 5.4% in August 2022, and to 5.9% in September 2022.
  • Now in December, RBI raised the repo by 35 basis points.
• But since January this year, inflation has remained above the upper threshold of the RBI’s inflation targeting framework, as the RBI is mandated to keep inflation at 4 plus/minus 2 per cent.
• Inflation targeting has been successful till 2019 on the grounds that the inflation rate has remained within the band agreed to between the government and the RBI, and whether it has been achieved by “anchoring inflation expectations”.
  • However, Inflation in India entered the prescribed band of 2% to 6% two years before inflation targeting was adopted in 2016-17.
  • In fact, inflation had fallen steadily since 2011-12, halving by 2015-16.
• The MPC has mostly continued with the accommodative policy stance, where the balance of the growth-inflation dynamic has tilted more towards growth.
• Post-pandemic, the accommodative policy stance was needed given the rough ride because of the pandemic and is consistent with the overarching objective of the RBI to maintain price stability keeping in mind growth.
• Trend inflation had fallen from above 9% before flexible-inflation targeting (FIT) to a range of 3.8-4.3 % during FIT, indicating that 4% is the appropriate level of the inflation target.
• However, NPAs have grown since 2016, and the cases of IL&FS, PMC Bank, PNB, and YES Bank suggest that poor management and malfeasance in the financial sector could escape scrutiny when the central bank hunkers down to inflation targeting. 

Macroeconomic impact of raising the Repo Rate on economy

• Borrowing becomes costly: Expensive bank loans discourage the borrower from availing credit. This reduces the money supply in the market and thereby stabilizes the liquidity in the system.
  • Consumption, Expansion and production also take a downfall with the lesser money supply.
  • Expensive credit hinders economic development and GDP growth even though inflation rate comes under control.
• Growth and GDP reduced: Reduced borrowing results in lower consumption demand which will lead to economic slowdown that hinders the growth of GDP for the short term. As the consumption demand reduces, profitability of every sector in the economic system takes a hit.
• Low economic expansion by corporates: Corporate loan buyers get discouraged to avail credit with the hike in repo rate. As the availability of business capital becomes expensive, production and expansion plans of corporate take a
• Investments may reduce: Companies may not invest in India due to reduced demand and higher rate of borrowing.
• Higher rate of loans for customers: Low interest has been one of the major drivers behind home sales across the country since the pandemic began. The rise in interest rates will ultimately impact overall acquisition cost for homebuyers and may dampen residential sales to some extent.
  • After analysing the cost of funds and liquidity position, banks may begin to pass on their interest rate burden to its end customer in the form of elevated lending rates.
  • That means higher equated monthly instalment for existing borrowers and higher rate of credit for new borrowers.
• Reduced liquidity: Lower money supply will lead to reduced consumption and hence the market consumption in general will be reduced. This spells doom for an economy that is recovering from sluggish growth due to pandemic.

Conclusion

A looming economic recession in many parts of the world, geopolitical tensions, policy rate hikes across world to control unprecedented inflation, and commodity price fluctuations are bound to catch up at some stage and impact India. So far, we have navigated the external threats through smart fiscal and monetary policy moves.  The price of crude oil and currency depreciation are two added variables that India has to navigate.

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

5. What are the major announcements by India at COP 27? Critically analyse India’s efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. What course corrections are required to meet the targets?

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Indian Express

Why the question:

India’s official statement at the summit coasted on what Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav referred to as “a one-word mantra” set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with his penchant for anagrams, at COP26 in November 2021: “Lifestyle for Environment”, or “Mission LiFE”.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about India’s announcement at COP27, India’s performance with respect to SDG’s and changes required to achieve the target.

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 giving context about COP27.

Body:

First, write about the major announcements by India at COP27.

Next, mention the important SDGs in brief and write about the various measures taken in order to achieve them.

Next, evaluate India’s performance toward achieving various SDGs by 2030 and mention the shortfalls.

Next, write about the various course corrections that are required in order to ensure that SGDs are achieved by 2030.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

The COP27 is significant due to the agreement on loss and damage. All agendas, including the loss and damage fund and the Sharm El-Sheikh Implementation Plan, were adopted during the UNFCCC COP27 closing ceremony in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

Body

Major announcements by India at COP 27

• India announced a path-breaking announcement of a long-term strategy (LTS) for low carbon development. With this, India joins the coveted list of 56 countries that have submitted their LTS documents to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• India’s addition of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) in its LTS shows we are open to new technology and will pilot these for climate change. The country has a strong forest policy and will continue to protect its forest and expand tree cover to act as a carbon sink.
• India has welcomed the adoption of the agenda item ‘Loss and Damage’ at COP27. India also expected action from rich countries in terms of climate finance, technology transfer and strengthening the capacity of poor and developing countries to combat climate change.
• The 27th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP) to UNFCCC will also seek clarity on the definition of climate finance. The absence of a definition of climate finance allows developed countries to greenwash their finances and pass off loans as climate-related aid. India is very clear that the world needs a multilaterally agreed definition of climate finance.
• The key takeaways from Long-term strategy (LTS) for Low Carbon Development will guide India’s actions in the coming five decades.
• Prioritised six strategic sectors: electricity, transport, urban, industry, carbon dioxide removal and forests. Of these, electricity and industry sectors together account for over three-fourths of India’s CO2 emissions, while rapid changes are happening in the transport and urban systems.
• India has identified finance as a key enabler for its LTS vision. According to a Council on Energy, Environment and Water assessment, India will need $10 trillion to achieve the 2070 net-zero target. The LTS has moved beyond this high-level number and done a comprehensive assessment of the finance issue.
• LiFE is India’s call for citizens, communities, industry leaders, and policymakers of the world to adopt a lifestyle for the environment. The LTS nudges people to make simple yet effective sustainable choices, industries and markets to scale these, and government policies to support them. LiFE elevates the importance of individual contribution to the larger climate goal, giving it as much importance as industry and policy-level actions, an aspect largely missing from the climate discourse till now.
• India’s LTS notes the relevance of research and innovation and identifies multiple technologies in the energy and industry sectors that need to be explored and scaled up. While the emphasis on innovation is great, it only focuses on technology-related innovations. Innovations in business models are equally important to push low-carbon technologies.
• The LTS emphasises the need for strengthening basic infrastructure like irrigation systems and disaster-resilient buildings, institutional infrastructure for better disaster response, and raising incomes to bolster the capabilities of individuals and communities to adapt to the long-term impacts of climate change. This needs international cooperation, and multilateral initiatives and platforms.
• Responding to the call for increased ambition in our 2030 climate targets, India updated its Nationally Determined Contributions in August 2022. We have embarked on far-reaching new initiatives in renewable energy, e-mobility, ethanol blended fuels, and green hydrogen as an alternate energy source.
• We also seek to foster strong international cooperation through action and solutions-oriented coalitions like International Solar Alliance and Coalition of Disaster Resilience Infrastructure, both of which were launched and nurtured by India.

Progress of Indian States in achieving SGD Goals

• All the States managed to score above 50 points in SDG implementation, with 13 States featuring in the ‘Performer’ category and 15 in the ‘Front Runner’ category (the second-highest position) in NITI Aayog’s 2020-21 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) India Index.
• India stepped into the‘Front Runner’ category with a score of 66 points, though it dropped two ranks in the ordinal scale.
• However, our neighbouring countries performed better than us.
• The country’s overall SDG score improved by 6 points — from 60 in 2019 to 66 in 2020-21 — on accounts of improvement in performance in providing facilities including clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy among others.
• While Keralaretained its rank as the top with a score of 75, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu both took the second spot with a score of 74. Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam were the worst performing states in this year’s India index.
• Chandigarh maintained its top spot among the UTs with a score of 79, followed by Delhi (68).
• Mizoram, Haryana and Uttarakhand are the top gainers in 2020-21 in terms of improvement in score from 2019, with an increase of 12, 10 and 8 points, respectively.
• While in 2019, 10 states/UTs belonged to the category of front-runners (score in the range 65-99, including both), 12 more states/UTs find themselves in this category in 2020-21.
• Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Punjab, Haryana, Tripura, Delhi, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh graduated to the category of front-runners (scores between 65 and 99, including both).

Challenges persisting

• SDGs on eradication of poverty and hunger, measures related to the availability of affordable, clean energy in particular, showed improvementsacross several States and Union Territories.
  • The campaign to improve the access of households to electricity and clean cooking fuel has been shown to be an important factor.
• While this is cause for cheer, the Index reveals that there has been a major decline in the areas of industry, innovation and infrastructure besides decent work and economic growth, again made worse by the lockdowns imposed by the governments seeking to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
• But the stark differences between the southern and western States on the one hand and the north-central and eastern States on the other in their performance on the SDGs, point to persisting socio-economic and governance disparities.
• These, if left unaddressed, will exacerbate federal challenges and outcomes, as seen in the public health challenges during the second wave across some of the worse-off States.

Course corrections needed

• Many others, such as ‘no poverty’, ‘quality education’, ‘decent work and economic growth’, ‘industry, innovation and infrastructure’, and ‘climate action’, need a lot more work so that the country can be pulled up to the ‘Front Runner’ category from the ‘Performer’ category.
• Partnershipis the key to achieve this.
• The current level of collaboration with States, UTs, civil society organisations and businesses should be further enhanced by overlooking any differences in political ideologies.
• There is a need to aggressively implement SDG localisation efforts at the district,panchayat and village levels so that implementation feedback from the field is available, besides enabling true internalisation of the SDGs by the community.
• Only work at the community level can make SDGs truly achievable and deliverable.

Conclusion

India’s push in the right direction in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to clean energy, urban development and health has helped it improve its overall SDG score from 60 in 2019 to 66 in 2021. India must continue to aggressively take up the goals as a challenge for New India by 2030.

General Studies – 4

Topic: Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.

6. Attitudes are the building blocks of an individual’s character. Elaborate.

Difficulty level: Easy

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of Mission-2023 Secure.

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 attitude.

Body:

Through suitable illustrations, how attitudes lead to form an individuals character – Explain how behaviour and attitude affect us and the need to adopt behaviours which are of empathy, compassion, fortitude and integrity. Cite suitable examples to substantiate your points on how attitude can be change and that change in the resultant behaviour.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

Introduction

Attitude refers to a set of emotions, beliefs, and behaviors toward a particular object, person, thing, or event. Attitudes are often the result of experience or upbringing, and they can have a powerful influence over behavior.

Body:

Attitude guides an individual’s behavior

• Attitude is one of the main factors that trigger emotions, decision-making, thinking and behavior in an individual. Following are some examples of how attitude influence the behavior:
• A positive attitude can will lead to a positive behavior. Ex: A person who has positive attitudes towards work and co-workers (such as contentment, friendliness, etc.) can positively influence those around them.
• Similarly, negative attitude led to negative behavior. Ex: if a person has a negative attitude towards women, he will discriminate women in all fronts of life.
• A selfish attitude will guide individual’s action in same manner. Ex: A cricketer who put his self-interest and profit above the nation, will take money to lose the game.
• Logic or rational attitudes develop a rational behavior. Ex: a rational person will not act superstitiously and will always try to find rational behind any act.
• An egoistic attitude will result in a negative attitude and behavior. Ex: elder individuals control their younger siblings even if they are wrong to satisfy their ego of being elder.
• An attitude based on values and beliefs will act according to the values. Ex: in India touching feet of elders is guided by attitude of giving respect to them.

Conclusion:

Thus, it can be said that attitude guides one behavior. Therefore, a person’s attitude will define his/her actions. By training and persuading the people the attitude and behaviour can be changed in the right direction

Value addition:

Topic: social influence and persuasion.  

7. Differentiate between persuasion and influence. Do does persuasion results in changing decision-making patterns and ways? Substantiate with examples.

Difficulty level: Moderate

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of Mission-2023 Secure.

Key Demand of the question:

To distinguish between persuasion and influence and its role in decision making.

Directive word: 

Substantiate – When you are asked to Substantiate, you must 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 using suitable case studies or/ and examples.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Start by clearly defining Persuasion and Influence In your own words.

Body:

Through suitable illustrations, highlight the contrasting approaches of a Persuasion and Influence. Use examples to clearly outline the difference between the two.

Next, bring out how to it helps in changing decision making. Use examples to substantiate your argument.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a balanced opinion.

Introduction

Persuasion is symbolic process in which communicators try to convince other people through transmission of a message to change their attitudes or behaviours. While influence is the change in behaviour that one person causes in another, intentionally or unintentionally. It occurs when a person’s emotions, opinions, or behaviours are affected by others.

Body:

Persuasion vs Coercion:

• Persuasion is one form of social influence on attitude; in fact it represents the intersection of social thinking and social influence of everyday life.
• Persuasion can occur through appeals to reason or appeals to emotion. For example, school-based substance abuse prevention programs using the social influences model consistently produce better results than programs emphasizing only health information.
• The government has also utilized this tool of persuasion for the success of the initiatives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan- cleanliness drives; Ujjwala Yojana’s Give it up campaign; Disclosing excess income campaign; Beti Bachao Beti Padhao by making parents understand it is necessary to protect and educate a girl child.
• The “dark” side of persuasion is coercion – which is all about making other people do things they don’t want to do. It is forcing someone to do something against their will. It employs threat power so that one person feels they have no option but to surrender.
• Coercion at times could violate the rights of an individual. E.g., Compulsory sterilization for individuals, forced collection of private details/information from citizens.
• It causes resentment and grows distrust – meaning you might achieve your short-term goal but longer-term relationships are damaged.
• Although the process of persuasion may take more time, it is less likely to lead to a cycle of retaliation or revenge. By using persuasive means instead of coercive ones, the positive effects of a nonviolent action are much more durable. When bullied into submission, it is human nature to fight back at the earliest opportunity.
• For instance, Gandhiji’s non-violent Salt satyagraha persuading British to give in to his demands was successful in mobilising people vis-a-vis British coercion and suppression. It exposed the myth of British benevolence.
• With the right leverage, there is no doubt that coercion will get you what you want. In fact, it is sometimes necessary. For example, a dictator cannot be persuaded to simply give up his power.
• The line between persuasion and coercion is whether you’re acting within your authority and fulfilling your responsibility.

Conclusion

Persuasion can bring a lasting change in people’s behaviour and is highly effective in implementation of public policies provided the tools are used in a right way. It acts as a nudge to encourage people to act in a good manner and achieve certain goals or to remove certain social evils. Understanding these shortcuts and employing them in an ethical manner can significantly increase the chances that someone will be social influenced and persuaded by the public policy.

Value addition:

Civil servants and persuasion

• Effecting social change: To deal with issues like girl child education, inter caste marriage, temple entry for women, persuasion may be the only solution because change has to be brought keep intact the dignity and respect of all stake holders. E.g.: The advertisements for polio drops for children are a form of persuasion, the gudda-guddi board increased sex ratio in Maharashtra.
• Public policy formulation and implementation: Sometimes persuasion works better than coercion; success of the initiatives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan- cleanliness drives and Ujjwala give it up campaign can be attributed to persuasion.
• Following rules: It helps in making people follow rules which bring inconvenience to them, like District collector visiting houses in the morning to persuade people for waste segregation before disposal.
• Moral conditioning: Persuasion can bring change in attitude of people. In Delhi Metro various signboards on certain seats asks passengers to offer that seat to needy people. Similarly, regular announcements to keep the station clean persuade people to change their behaviour.
• Incentivising good behaviour: For instance, in income declaration scheme a window was open to declare black money with some fine and no legal action that incentivized people instead of penalizing them.

Join our Official Telegram Channel HERE

Please subscribe to Our podcast channel HERE

Subscribe to our YouTube ChannelHERE

Follow our Twitter Account HERE

Follow our Instagram ID HERE