[Mission 2023] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 12 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: Effects of globalization on Indian society.

1. Globalization disrupts ecosystems and impinges on environmental rights. Indigenous communities are the worst hit because of the biodiversity loss. Analyse.   (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: Down to Earth

Why the question:

Non-profits called out the negotiators of different countries present at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity in Montreal, Canada, about human rights being in brackets in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the impact on globalisation on biodiversity loss and indigenous communities.

Directive word: 

Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving context.

Body:

First, write about the impact of globalisation on loss of bio-diversity – reduced genetic diversity in agriculture (loss of crop varieties and livestock breeds), loss of wild species, spread of exotic species, pollution of air, water and soil, accelerated climatic change, exhaustion of resources etc.

Next, write about impact of globalisation in indigenous communities – disruption, displacement, loss of livelihood, clashes. Substantiate with examples.

Conclusion:

Conclude by suggesting solutions to the above-mentioned challenges.

Introduction

Tribal people constitute 8.6% of the nation’s total population, over 104 million people according to the 2011 census. The forest occupiers a central position in tribal culture and economy. The tribal way of life is very much dictated by the forest right from birth to death. Inspite of the protection given to the tribal population by the constitution of India, tribals still remain the most backward ethnic group in India. Globalization has various dimensions which sometimes affect tribal communities positively and sometimes negatively.

Body

Impact of Globalization on indigenous communities

• Resource exploitation:
  • The policy of liberalization and the new state perceptions of utilization of resources are diametrically opposed to the adivasi worldview of resource exploitation and this divide has only widened further with the intrusion of globalization’s market oriented philosophy of development.
  • The recent rapid technological advancement and unrivalled economic and political strength of world capitalism have created favourable conditions for the evasion and extraction of natural resources from the ecologically fragile territories of tribal people.
  • All available laws those relating to lands, forests, minor forest produce, water resources, etc. restrain people from using forests.
  • Primary resources such as fuel, fodder and minor forest produce which were available free to villagers are today either non-existent or have to be brought commercially.
  • For the Tribals, globalization is associated with rising prices, loss of job security and lack of health care.
• Displacement:
  • Since the emergence of liberalization, privatization and globalization (LPG), the areas inhabited by tribal population have been subject to various protests due to involuntary displacement.
  • Thus, forced evictions of tribals make way for mammoth capital-intensive development projects have become a distressing routine and ever-increasing phenomenon.
• Vested interests:
  • In the name of upgradation of lifestyle of poor indigenous tribal people, the market forces have created wealth for their interests at the cost of livelihood and security of these tribes in the areas.
• Unemployment:
  • There is a heavy concentration of industrial and mining activities in the central belt. Despite intense industrial activity in the central Indian tribal belt, the tribal employment in modern enterprises is negligible.
  • Apart from the provisions of Apprenticeship Act, there is no stipulation for private or joint sector enterprises to recruit certain percentage of dispossessed tribal workforce.
  • They are forced onto the ever-expanding low paid, insecure, transient and destitute labour market.
  • About 40 per cent of the tribals of central India supplement their income by participating in this distorted and over exploitative capitalist sector.
• Affecting social life:
  • Many more are slowly crushed into oblivion in their homeland or in urban slums. Their economic and cultural survival is at stake.
  • The globalization behemoth has added new dimensions to the vulnerability of India’s downtrodden by exacerbating their social exclusion, and making large segments of tribal groups also vulnerable and excluded.
• Leading to subnational movements:
  • Inadequate social and economic infrastructure in areas that have insufficient resources for participation in mainstream development also has been at the root of various “sub-national movements” such as the Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Bodoland.
• Tribal women:
  • Tribal forest economy is primarily a women’s economy, and it is women who are most directly affected by the corporate exploitation of their traditional lands.
  • In poverty stricken tribal areas large scale migration has revealed the increasing movement of young women towards urban centres in search of work.
  • Their living conditions are unhygienic, the salary is poor and tribal women are vulnerable to
  • exploitation by unscrupulous agents.
  • They have become the prime targets of sexual violation by managers, supervisors and even fellow male workers in the plantation industrial sectors.
• Informal jobs:
  • Construction sites, such as mines and quarries, and industrial complexes spelt doom for the local adivasi communities with the influx of immigrant labourers.
• Cultural Defacement:
  • Tribals are being forcefully integrated in to the society leading to them losing their unique cultural features and their habitat threatened.

Way forward:

• The High-Level Committee (Virginius Xaxa committee) has made numerous recommendations such as exclusive mining rights for tribals, greater freedom for tribals to make decisions on land acquisition and other common property resources and, strict implementation of the new land law, Forest Rights Act and strengthening of the PESA.
• It has also proposed a complete overhaul of the legal constitutional regime by recommending that laws and policies enacted by the Parliament and state legislatures shouldn’t be applied automatically in the Fifth Schedule areas.
• State government should be made to obtain permissions from owners and occupiers of land for major minerals, and consult with gram Sabha in 5th and 6th schedule areas for minor minerals.
• It should be mandated that all clearances (forest and environment) under forest conservation act and wildlife protection act should be taken before a lease was given.
• Tribal cooperatives should be made eligible for grant of license of minor minerals in 5th and 6th schedule areas.

Conclusion:

Although, these recommendations are progressive, the lack of political will to implement them, especially in the wake of greater push for industrialization by the present government, may become a major stumbling block. The government should ensure the distorted and over-exploitative capitalist sector doesn’t end up in committing ethnocide by putting their economic and cultural survival at stake.

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

2. Separate personal laws are a legacy of the British empire, which based its administrative strategies on the classical principle of divide and rule. Do you think introduction of Uniform Civil Code a good idea? Critically analyse. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India

Why the question:

BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena on Friday introduced a private member’s Bill in Rajya Sabha, seeking the constitution of a committee to prepare and implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country,

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the debate regarding introduction of the Uniform civil code.

Directive word: 

Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a balanced judgment on the topic.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by defining Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as per article 44.

Body:

First, write about how separate personal laws are a legacy of British rule.

Next, explaining the aims and objectives behind UCC in India.

Next, discuss in detail the arguments for UCC in India – Mentioned in DPSP, uniformity of laws, achieving equality, simplification of law, progressive measure etc.

Next, discuss in detail the arguments against the UCC in India – Lack of consensus, against cultural diversity, right of minorities, tribal customs etc.

Conclusion:

Conclude by giving a balanced opinion regarding UCC.

Introduction

A Uniform Civil Code is one that would provide for one law for the entire country, applicable to all religious communities in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc. It proposes to replace the personal laws based on the scriptures and customs of each major religious community in the country with a common set of laws governing every citizen.

Article 44 of the Constitution lays down that the state shall endeavor to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India.

Body

Background

• Recently, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi announced the formation of a committee to implement a uniform civil code (UCC) in the state.
• In May 2022, Uttarakhand announced a committee led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai to carry out a similar exercise. Assam and Himachal Pradesh, also ruled by the BJP, too have supported the idea of a UCC.

UCC helps in achieving the following

• Promotion of secularism: One set of laws to govern the personal matters of all citizens irrespective of religion is the cornerstone of true secularism. A secular republic needs a common law for all citizens rather than differentiated rules based on religious practices. It would help end gender discrimination on religious grounds and strengthens the secular fabric of the nation.
• Protection of Vulnerable & Women’s Rights: It will protect the vulnerable sections of society. Women have been denied via personal laws in the name of socio cultural-religious traditions. Therefore, UCC could bring all communities together to ensure Women the Right to a dignified life and control over their life as well as body.
• Gender justice:The rights of women are usually limited under religious law, be it Hindu or Muslim. Many practices governed by religious tradition are at odds with the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Indian Constitution. Courts have also often said in their judgements that the government should move towards a uniform civil code including the judgement in the Shah Bano case.
• Prevents religion-based discrimination: Personal laws differentiate between people on grounds of religion. A unified law having the same provisions regarding marital affairs would provide justice to those who feel discriminated against.
• Ending unjust customs and traditions: A rational common and unified personal law will help eradicate many evil, unjust and irrational customs and traditions prevalent across the communities. For example, Law against Manual scavenging. It might have been a custom in the past but in a mature democracy like India, this custom cannot be justified.
• Indian laws do follow a uniform code in most civil matters –Indian Contract Act, Civil Procedure Code, Sale of Goods Act, Transfer of Property Act, Partnership Act, Evidence Act etc. States, however, have made hundreds of amendments and therefore in certain matters, there is diversity even under these secular civil laws.
• Justice Prathiba M Singh of Delhi HC stated that the modern Indian society was gradually becoming homogenous, the traditional barriers of religion, community and caste are slowly dissipating and thus UCC ought not to remain a mere hope.
• Eases Administration: UCC would make it easy to administer the huge population base of India.

Challenges facing the passage of UCC:

• Violation of fundamental rights: Religious bodies oppose uniform civil code on the ground that it would be interference into religious affairs which would violate fundamental rights guaranteed under article 25 of the constitution.
• Reduces diversity: It would reduce the diversity of the nation by painting everyone in one colour. Tribals have their unique customs and traditions as per their culture. Replacing their customs and traditions with a unified law may lead to the identity crisis of the tribals. This may further lead to social tension.
• Communal politics: It would be a tyranny to the minority and when implemented could bring a lot of unrest in the country.
• Threat to Multiculturalism: Indian society has a unique identity in the form of its being multiculturalism, and unified law might do away with these unique characteristics of this nation.
• Affects Majority as well: For example, even Hindus themselves have separate Hindu laws for themselves. Thus, it is not merely a question for minorities but it also affects the majority.
• Lacking Political Will: Bigger issues have been resolved by the BJP Government like Ayodhya Dispute, repeal of Article 370, so with adequate will from the political community, UCC could also be implemented
• Sensitive and tough task: Such a code, in its true spirit, must be brought about by borrowing freely from different personal laws, making gradual changes in each, issuing judicial pronouncements assuring gender equality, and adopting expansive interpretations on marriage, maintenance, adoption, and succession by acknowledging the benefits that one community secures from the others. This task will be very demanding time and human resource wise. The government should be sensitive and unbiased at each step while dealing with the majority and minority communities. Otherwise, it might turn out to be more disastrous in a form of communal violence.
• Time is not yet suitable for this reform: Considering a major opposition from Muslim community in India over this issue overlapping with controversies over beef, saffronization of school and college curriculum, love jihad, and the silence emanating from the top leadership on these controversies, there needs to be given sufficient time for instilling confidence in the community. Otherwise, these efforts towards common will be counterproductive leaving minority class particularly Muslims more insecure and vulnerable to get attracted towards fundamentalist and extremist ideologies.

Way forward

• Major sensitization efforts are needed to reform current personal law reforms which should first be initiated by the communities themselves.
• Current institutions need to be modernized, democratized and strengthened for this change. Sincere efforts towards women empowerment have to be taken for all women of all religions.
• UCC can only emerge through an evolutionary process, which preserves India’s rich legal heritage, of which all the personal laws are equal constituents.
• The social transformation from diverse civil code to uniformity shall be gradual and cannot happen in a day. Therefore, the government must adopt a piecemeal approach and no knee-jerk decisions.
• There is need  for deliberations and discussions among  members of various communities to reach a common ground.

Conclusion

The guiding principles of the Constitution itself visualize diversity and have tried to promote uniformity among peoples of different denominations.  A uniform law, although highly desirable but may be counterproductive to the unity and integrity of the nation. Hence, only those elements of customs and traditions should be brought into a unified law that causes injustice to individuals. In a democracy and rule of law, a gradual progressive change and order must be brought about.

General Studies – 2

Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.

3. Smart balancing China in Southern Asia and beyond must form a key element in India’s grand strategic planning and diplomacy. Discuss. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question:

Today the Indo-China border is quiet, but the clashes are still reverberating in New Delhi and analysts say future clashes between the world’s two most populous countries cannot be ruled out.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the ways in which India has to deal with a rising China.

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 giving context regarding the Indo-China situation.

Body:

Present Background on recent India-China relations; Continuing stand-off: no signs of resolution, disengagement has stalled and talks been fruitless. Rupture bilateral relationship: Political relations are marked by hostility and distrust.

Strategic lessons for India: intensifying strategic competition with China, China more likely to be deterred with threat of political costs rather than material costs, Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is the key, rather than LAC.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

India-China relationship is dotted with competition, cooperation, and discord. China’s attempt to raise its economic and political profile in the subcontinent was seen as a challenge to India’s authority in the region. India’s military engagements with the U.S. and Japan (China’s main strategic rivals) were seen as a serious challenge to Chinese security.

Likewise, China increased its aggression towards India in recent times, reaching the peak with the Galwan Valley clash in 2020. The disengagement is still in the work and is ongoing. Today the Indo-China border is quiet, but the clashes are still reverberating in New Delhi and analysts say future clashes between the world’s two most populous countries cannot be ruled out.

 Body

India China border dispute

• The border between India and China is not clearly demarcated throughout and there is no mutually agreed Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• The LAC is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory. India considers the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while the Chinese consider it to be only around 2,000 km.
• India used the Johnson Line and claimed Aksai Chin as its own. China, however, do not recognise it and instead accepts McDonald Line which puts Aksai Chin under its control.
• The disputed boundary in the Eastern Sector (Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim) is over the McMahon Line (in Arunachal Pradesh) decided in 1914 in a meeting of Representatives of China, India, and Tibet in Shimla.
  • Though the Chinese representatives at the meeting initiated the agreement, they subsequently refused to accept it.
  • The Tawang tract claimed by China was taken over by India in 1951.

Chinese aggression in recent times

• Galwan Clash: Chinese soldiers crossed the LAC around the Galwan River valley during May 2020.
  • There were reports of Chinese soldiers having moved into Indian territory at multiple locations in eastern Ladakh across the LAC leading to high levels of tension between India and China.
  • In the events that followed at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese forces. It was the first deadly clash in the border area in at least 45 years.
• 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 21^st 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.

Diplomacy and military resolve to deter China

• Indo-pacific diplomacy: India is also stepping up its strategic partnership with like-minded Indo-Pacific partners like US, Japan, Australia etc.
  • Thus, we will see a far greater partnership between India and the United States on issues of mutual interest—which is likely to have a substantial China component. O
  • This is seen in India being vocal about recent QUAD meet.
• Quad-plus: India will also likely look to build greater cooperation through configurations such as the “Quad plus” (expanding the existing grouping of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States to include New Zealand, South Korea, and Vietnam).
• Indian ocean is the key: New Delhi must invest in and develop its strategic assets—like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, for instance—to project power across the Indian Ocean.
• To weather a potential People’s Liberation Army (PLA) attack, India has placed greater emphasis on infrastructure hardening; base resiliency; redundant command, control, and communications systems; and improved air defence.
• India has grown closer to the US military in recent years, with Washington calling India a “major defence partner” while increasing bi- and multilateral training.
  • In the event of an India-Chin war, US intelligence and surveillance could help New Delhi get a clearer picture of the battlefield

Conclusion and way forward

• The big picture is that China could no more afford to take India for granted and that ‘checks and balances’ were now recognised as a legitimate instrument for preventing ‘military’ conflicts in the post- Cold War era.
• Yet, the crisis unfolding along the LAC appears on one level to be a continuation of the trends witnessed in foregoing years.
• Also, even if the current tensions were to be resolved in the near term, India’s security perceptions about China are forcing India to undertake some force restructuring to maintain constant vigilance along the LAC, especially in the western sector.
• Thus, India must be proactive to resist any Chinese transgressions and at the same time utilise its diplomatic skills to tone down the tensions.

Value addition

Dispute settlement agreements

• A series of five agreements signed between India and China to address disputes arising over the LAC:
• 1993 Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the LAC
• 1996 Agreement on Confidence-Building Measures in the Military Field Along the LAC
• 2005 Protocol on Modalities for the Implementation of Confidence-Building Measures in the Military Field Along the LAC
• 2012 Agreement on the Establishment of a Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs
• 2013 Border Defense Cooperation Agreement.

These agreements provide a modus operandi for diplomatic engagement at the military and political levels, as well as a set of “status quo” commitments both sides can return to in case of escalation

General Studies – 3

Topic: Government Budgeting.

4. Examine the implications of a high fiscal deficit on the Indian economy. Write about the measures that are needed for India to bring down its fiscal deficit. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Easy.

Reference: Indian Express

Why the question:

India needs to bring down its fiscal deficit which is highest among G20 countries.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the impact of fiscal deficit and the steps to reduce it.

Directive:

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 fiscal deficit.

Body:

In the first part, reasons for increased fiscal deficit in India.

Next, write about the impact of fiscal deficit – price stability and inflation, push up overall demand in the economy, raising the cost of inputs, ‘crowding out’ effect etc.

Next, suggest policy measures to overcome the above.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

A fiscal deficit occurs when a government’s total expenditures exceed the revenue that it generates, excluding money from borrowings. India needs to bring down its fiscal deficit which is highest among G20 countries.

Body

Fiscal Deficit:

• The difference between total revenue and total expenditure of the government is termed as fiscal deficit.
• It is an indication of the total borrowings needed by the government.
• Generally fiscal deficit takes place either due to revenue deficit or a major hike in capital expenditure.
• Capital expenditure is incurred to create long-term assets such as factories, buildings and other development.

Impact of Fiscal Deficit on Economy

• It can mean that the Government is spending money on unproductive programmes which do not increase economic productivity. (For example MNREGA, most of the money is eaten midway by the Sarpanch and Local officers.)
• As government borrows from RBI which meets this demand by printing of more currency notes (called deficit financing), it results in circulation of more money. This may cause inflationary pressure in the economy.
• When Government keeps borrowing and borrowing to fill up the fiscal deficit pothole, then bond yield will increase. It is not good because more and more of taxpayers’ money (i.e. Government ‘s incoming money) will go in repaying that bond interest rate rather than going into education or healthcare.
• Government may be compelled to borrow to finance even interest payment leading to emergence of a vicious circle and debt trap.
• Fiscal deficit “Crowds out” investment from private sector as Government borrows most of the cash.
• Borrowing is in fact financial burden on future generation to pay loan and interest amount which retards growth of economy.

Strategies to Reduce Fiscal Deficit:

• A deficit is usually financed through borrowing from either the central bank of the country or raising money from capital markets by issuing different instruments like treasury bills and bonds.
• A drastic reduction in expenditure on major subsidies. Reduction in expenditure on bonus, LTC, leaves encashment, etc. Austerity steps to curtail non-plan expenditure.
• Tax base should be broadened and concessions and reduction in taxes should be curtailed. Tax evasion should be effectively checked. More emphasis on direct taxes to increase revenue. Restructuring and sale of shares in public sector units.
• Famous economist John Maynard Keynes opined that deficits actually assist nations in climbing out of economic recessions.
• However, fiscal conservatives believe that deficits should be avoided by the government which should be inclined towards a balanced budget policy.

Conclusion

Thus, all the three measures gives an indication of the health of the economy. It helps to guide the macro-economic policies of the Government for better usage of the public finances.

Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices;

5. What are the various types of subsidies offered in India? Evaluate the extent and effectiveness of subsidies. How can India reduce its subsidy bill? (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India

Why the question:

The Rs 532,446.79 crore spending on subsidy in 2022-23 would be the second highest after the Rs 706,006.53 crore of 2020-21. However, there’s a difference between the two years.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the types of subsides, their effectives and measures needed to reduce the subsidy bill.

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

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving statistic related to Subsidy bill of India and its extent.

Body:

First, write about the various types of subsidies that are present in India.

Next, give a brief history of subsidies as a concept that evolved in India since independence and that rationale behind subsidies. Give about the various success and limitations of subsidies. Cite statistics to substantiate.

Next, write about the ways that the government can reduce its subsidy bill.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward on overcoming the above shortcomings.

Introduction

A subsidy, often viewed as the converse of a tax, is an instrument of fiscal policy. It literally implies coming to assistance from behind. However, their beneficial potential is at its best when they are transparent, well targeted, and suitably designed for practical implementation. Subsidies are helpful for both economy and people as well. Subsidies have a long-term impact on the economy; the Green Revolution being one example. A welfare state without subsidies cannot be imagined. Governments have to extend subsidies to achieve objectives of socio- economic policy.

Body

Various types of subsidies

• Food Subsidy
  • The food subsidy’s main objective is to provide essential eatables to a large section of the population living below the poverty line in India.
• Export Subsidy
  • To make exports attractive and lend support to the companies, the government offer export subsidies. The export subsidies help make our products competitive in the international market and open new markets for domestic products.
• Fertilizer Subsidy
  • The government provides relief to farmers by providing the fertilizer at the discounted prices. The fertilizer is provided at a fixed MRP that is below the actual price; the government pays the difference between the actual coat and the MRP.
• Irrigation Subsidy
  • Indian government provides irrigation facilities at the lower rates as compared to the market rates. It is the difference between maintenance and operating cost of irrigation infrastructure in the state and irrigation charges recovered from farmers.
• Power Subsidy
  • The electricity subsidies suggest that the government charges low rates for the electricity supplied to the farmers. Power is mainly used by the farmers for irrigation objectives. It is the difference between the cost of distributing and generating electricity to farmers and the price received from farmers.
• Agriculture / Farm Infrastructure Subsidy

• Private efforts in several areas do not prove to be sufficient to improve agricultural production. Good roads, power, storage facilities, information about the market, transportation to the ports, etc. are vital for production and sale operations.

Extent and effectiveness of subsidies system in India:

• Misuse of subsidies: The subsidies that are provided by the government seldom reach the small farmers. They are mostly snatched by the large farmers or the manufacturers.
• Distortion of trade: Input subsidies distort trade by increasing net exports of input intensive commodities while decreasing net exports of commodities which require relatively few inputs. Many countries like Australia, US and UK have challenged the subsidies on wheat, sugarcane etc. which they claim are distorting trade.
• Increased financial burden: The expenditure on subsidies has doubled in the last decade leading to widening fiscal deficit of the country. It is driven primarily by subsidies in fertilizer and electricity. Most of the expenditure made on subsidies goes into the wrong hands and thus perpetuates their requirement as the position of farmers does not improve.
• Uneven distribution: Unevenness is rife across regions, crops and differing farm sizes. For example-it is alleged that subsidies have benefitted more to the north Indian states as compared to south and north eastern states.
• Flawed policies: Hostile policies have compounded the problems as no major fertilizer plants have come up in the last many years. A huge fraction of urea requirements is still met with imports.

Instances of misuse of subsidies:

• In case of food subsidy, PDS suffers from considerable leakage and apart from a low coverage of poor; the magnitude of benefit derived by the poor is very small.
• In case of electricity, the subsidy rates have been rising for both agriculture and domestic sectors because the unit cost has been rising faster than the relevant tariff-rate. Also, there is considerable variation in the level of per capita electricity subsidy indicates that, in the richer States, the per capita subsidy is substantially higher as compared to that in the poorer States.
• In case of public irrigation, water has a very high marginal productivity when used in conjunction with HYV of seeds, chemical fertilisers, power and other related inputs. It is the richer farmers who may derive relatively larger benefits because of their capacity to use these allied inputs.
• Subsidies to elementary education form about half of the total subsidies on general education. However, this is not true for all individual States: the share of elementary education is lowest in the high income States and the highest in the low income States (Goa, Punjab and West Bengal actually give higher subsidies to secondary education than primary education).A negative correlation between the level of per capita income and the share of subsidies to elementary education is thus discernible. Most subsidies to higher education accrue predominantly to the better-off sections of society as they have an overwhelming advantage in competing out prospective candidates from the poorer sections in getting admission to courses that are characterised by scarcity of seats.
• For subsidies of health, the greater emphasis on curative health care expenditure often reflects a bias towards the better-off people whereas preventive health care expenditure with much larger externalities would clearly be of greater help to the economically weaker sections of the society.

Way forward to reduce the subsidy bill

• Reducing the overall scale of subsidies
• Making subsidies as transparent as possible using JAM trinity
• Using subsidies for well-defined economic objectives
• Focusing subsidies to final goods and services with a view to maximising their impact on the target population at minimum cost
• Instituting systems for periodic review of subsidies
• Use of technology like Direct Benefit Transfer to the beneficiaries’ bank account, Aadhar Enable Payment System etc.

Conclusion

Subsidies are meant for poor people and they shall ensure equitable redistribution of resource. Subsidies extended to rich are regressive. They help in keeping poverty intact and create inefficiencies in economy which culminates in inflation and corruption. Rationalization of subsidy regime will improve markets in India which will then attract more investment. This in short, can turn the wheel of a virtuous economy which creates more employment and attacks poverty at its roots.

General Studies – 4

Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world to the concepts of morality;

6. Explain Kant’s Categorical Imperative with suitable examples. (150 Words)

Difficulty Level: Easy

Reference: plato.stanford.edu

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 put write about understanding and views about Kantian Categorical Imperative with examples.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Begin by defining Categorical Imperative of Emmanuel Kant.

Body:

Begin the body by explaining in detail about your understanding of Categorical Imperative with examples. You can use simple but effective examples to put forward your ideas regarding Universal Moral Law etc.

Conclusion:

Give a concise summation of your views to conclude the answer.

Introduction

Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) argued that the supreme principle of morality is a standard of rationality that he dubbed the “Categorical Imperative” (CI). Kant characterized the CI as an objective, rationally necessary and unconditional principle that we must always follow despite any natural desires or inclinations we may have to the contrary.

Body:

The CI states that it is immoral to use another person merely as a means to an end and that people must under all circumstances be treated as ends in themselves. This is in contrast to some interpretations of the utilitarian view, which allow for use of individuals as means to benefit the many.

Kantian ethics refers to a deontological ethical theory ascribed to the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. The theory, developed as a result of Enlightenment rationalism, is based on the view that the only intrinsically good thing is a good will; an action can only be good if its maxim – the principle behind it – is duty to the moral law.

CI provide a way for us to evaluate moral actions and to make moral judgments

• Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
  • It states that one should choose our ‘codes of conduct’ only if they serve perfect / imperfect duty and are good for all.
  • Perfect duties are blameworthy if not met and are the basic requirements for a human being.
  • An exampleof perfect duty is the avoidance of suicide.
• Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means to an end.
  • This states that we should not use humanity of ourselves or others as a means to an end.
  • An examplewould be that of slavery or prostitution.
• For Kant to treat people with dignitywas to treat them morally. This idea became a rallying point for those struggling against social hierarchies and for human rights. It represent what is called the moral conception of rights.
• Taking the example of forced labour and jajmani systemwhere human beings are treated as “means” for achieving the “ends” that is profit motive. Human intrinsic worth i.e. dignity is not respected and they are exploited for petty gains. This led to inequality in society where one section of people exploiting other section for self-motive.
• Every rational being must so act as if he were through his maxim always a legislating member in the universal kingdom of ends.
  • This states that we should consider ourselves to be members in the universal realm of ends.
  • We should consider our actions to be of consequence to everyone else in that our actions affect not only ourselves but that of others.
• :Eviction of tribes from forest land for construction of a dam and rendering them homeless.

Conclusion

Kant’s philosophy of human individuals as end in itself endorses the golden rule of “treating others as one’s self would wish to be treated”.  As no one would wish to be used simply as a means, therefore one should not also use other human beings as means to achieve their ends. This philosophy can be of great help in resolving the ethical dilemmas where there is debate between relative importance of means and ends.

Value addition

Kant’s Categorical Imperative:

• Kant believed that there was a supreme principle of morality, and he referred to it as The Categorical Imperative.
• The CI determines what our moral duties are.Kant thought that all acts should be judged according to a rule he called the Categorical Imperative.
• A categorical imperative denotes an absolute, unconditional requirement that exerts its authority in all circumstances, both required and justified as an end in itself.
• He gives the highest honor for the categorical imperative because it became universal law that can be applied to any and every one.
• Kant is saying that simply willing that our moral rule become a universal law produces a logical contradiction.
• His categorical imperative ensures that we aren’t doing these acts in mimic of others but rather in line with one universal law.

Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

7. J.S Mill defines utilitarianism as a theory based on the principle that “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.” Elaborate. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: plato.stanford.edu

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 philosophy of Utilitarianism.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by defining the philosophy of Utilitarianism in brief.

Body:

In your own words, explain that Utilitarianism is a theory of morality that advocates actions that foster happiness or pleasure and oppose actions that cause unhappiness or harm. When directed toward making social, economic, or political decisions, a utilitarian philosophy would aim for the betterment of society as a whole.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

Introduction

Utilitarianism is a theory of morality, which advocates actions that foster happiness or pleasure and opposes actions that cause unhappiness or harm. When directed toward making social, economic, or political decisions, a utilitarian philosophy would aim for the betterment of society as a whole. Utilitarianism would say that an action is right if it results in the happiness of the greatest number of people in a society or a group. The theory was propounded by John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham.

Body

The ethical theory of John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) is most extensively articulated in his classical text Utilitarianism (1861). Mill defines “utilitarianism” as the creed that considers a particular “theory of life” as the “foundation of morals”. Its goal is to justify the utilitarian principle as the foundation of morals. This principle says actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote overall human happiness. So, Mill focuses on consequences of actions and neither on rights nor ethical sentiments.

In contrast to a form of hedonism that conceives pleasure as a homogeneous matter, Mill was convinced that some types of pleasure are more valuable than others in virtue of their inherent qualities. For this reason, his position is often called “qualitative hedonism”.

An example for Utilitarianism:

For example, if I were to steal bread from a market for my poor family, even though a Kantian ethics would hold that stealing is absolutely wrong no matter what the consequences, utilitarianism might say it is justifiable, since that bread will make my family happier as they haven’t eaten for days, compared to the grocer selling it for a few measly pennies.

Key highlights of Mill’s theory on utilitarianism:

• Mill believed that human actions are motivated entirely by pleasure and pain.
• Mill propounded that the moral value of an act was determined by the pleasure it produced.

• Mill endorsed the “classical” or “hedonistic” forms of utilitarianism.
• Mill said that pain and pleasure can’t be measured arithmetically they differ in quality only.
• Mill narrowed down the gulf between individual interest and general happiness.
• Mill recognized not only external, but internal sanctions also which would constrain the individual to promote general happiness, because every individual possesses a feeling for the happiness of mankind.
• According to Mill saintliness should be the criterion of utility in any society whatsoever.
• Mill supported individualism.
• Mill supported monarchy for primitive man and democratic government for people who are able to understand value of democratic government. It means Mill supported democracy based on condition of man.
• Mill supported State control over the institution of private property by holding that it can well impose taxation on the socially-created values.

Conclusion

Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism because it rests on the idea that it is the consequences or results of actions, laws, policies, etc. that determine whether they are good or bad, right or wrong. In general, whatever is being evaluated, we ought to choose the one that will produce the best overall results. In the language of utilitarian’s, we should choose the option that “maximizes utility,” i.e. that action or policy that produces the largest amount of good.

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