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: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the Chola local self-governing villages.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by giving context of Uttaramerur inscription.
Body:
First, write in detail, the features of Chola local self-governing villages – various qualifications, disqualifications, committees and their natures of responsibilities.
Next, write about the level of autonomy enjoyed by these Chola local self-governing villages.
Next, write about the significance of Chola local self-governing villages.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
There were two types of villages at the local in the Chola empire. One type of village consisted of people from different caste and the assembly which ran this type of village was called ‘ur’. The second type of village was ‘agrahara’ types of village which were settled by Brahmins in which most of the land was rent-free.
The assembly of this agrahara type of village was a gathering of the adult men in brahmana villages called ‘Sabha’ or ‘mahasabha’. These villages enjoyed a large measure of autonomy. The affairs of the village were managed by an executive committees to which educated person owning property were elected by drawing lots or by rotation.
Uttarameruru inscription issued by Prantaka Chola gives details of election to these committees.
Body
The system of village autonomy with sabhas and their committees developed through the ages and reached its culmination during the Chola rule. Two inscriptions belonging to the period of Parantaka I found at Uttiramerur provide details of the formation and functions of village councils.
That village was divided into thirty wards and each was to nominate its members to the village council. The qualifications to become a ward member were:
- Ownership of at least one fourth veli of land.
- Own residence.
- Above thirty years and below seventy years of age.
- Knowledge of Vedas.
However, certain norms of disqualification were also mentioned in the inscriptions. They were:
- Those who had been members of the committees for the past three years.
- Those who had failed to submit accounts as committee members.
- Those who had committed sins.
- Those who had stolen the property of others.
From the persons duly nominated, one was to be chosen for each ward by kudavolai system for a year. The names of eligible persons were written on palm-leaves and put into a pot. A young boy or girl would take out thirty names each for one ward. They were divided into six variyams such as samvatsaravariyam, erivariyam, thotta variyam, pancha variyam, pon variyam and puravuvari variyam to take up six different functions of the village administration. The committee members were called variyapperumakkal. They usually met in the temple or under a tree and passed resolutions. The number of committees and ward members varied from village to village.
Conclusion
Hence Chola administration gave a lot of autonomy to village councils and committees. This local decentralization shows the acumen for good governance back in the ancient and medieval period which was indigenously developed.
Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes, short-term and long-term outcomes of the tri-partite struggle.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context and mentioning the participants in the tri-partite struggle.
Body:
First, write about the causes of the tri-partite struggle.
Next, write about the short-term impact of the tri-partite struggle – long drawn out, war of attrition, indecisive for long etc.
Next, write about the long-term impact of the tri-partite struggle – lack of central authority, pan India empire, mutual animosity.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a balanced judgement forward.
Introduction
The Tripartite Struggle was a three-way struggle between the Pratiharas, the Palas and the Rashtrakutas. It was also called Kannauj Triangle Wars and took place in the 8th and 9th centuries. The Tripartite struggle was for the control of Northern India and ultimately the Pratiharas emerged victorious.
Body
causes for the Kannauj Triangle Wars
- The Tripartite Struggle occurred over the possession of Kannuaj between the three great dynasties of the Palas, Pratiharas, and Rashtrakutas.
- Kannauj was regarded as a symbol of high status and authority during the early medieval period.
- Having control of Kannauj was also significant because it meant control of the central Gangetic Valley, which was rich in resources and thus useful from a commercial standpoint.
- Kannauj was ruled by three weak kings between the eighth and ninth centuries: Indrayudha, Vijrayudha, and Chakrayudha.
- Rashtrakutas were drawn to Kannauj because of their weakness.
- There is little known about the Kannauj kingdom after Emperor Harsha’s death in 647 AD, which caused great confusion due to the absence of his heirs.
- Kannauj briefly fell into the hands of Arunasva, who attacked Wang Hstian-tse, an ambassador from the Chinese emperor Tai-Tsung who had come to the court of King Harsha.
- However, Wang Hstian-tse was successful in capturing Arunasva, who was returned to China to spend his days in the company of the Tang Emperor.
Impact on political situation and stability
short-term outcomes
- During the rule of Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna III, there was successful campaign against the Cholas.
- The Rashtrakutas also formed a matrimonial relationship with other feudal kings.
- For the continuous war they had to maintain big armyand so that the tax was very high.
- Some rebellions against the rulers can thus be easily traced.
- Some scholars like R.S. Sharma identified the Kaibartya rebellions during the Pala period as a peasant revolt.
Long-term outcomes
- All the three powers became weak and then declined.
- All the contemporary powers became dependable on the samantas that was their weakness.
- After sometime the samanta kings became powerful and caused the downfall of the big powers.
- On the other hand the unnecessary war weakened the dynasties so that in North India we do not see any powerful empire in the later period.
- At the time of Muslim invasion North Indian powers became unable to protect themselves.
- The struggle resulted into the political disintegration of the country and benefited the Islamic invaders from Middle-East.
- So in conclusion we can say that tripartite struggle was a war without gain for the powers.
Conclusion
The three kingdoms were fighting amongst each other to have a control over the resource rich region around Kannauj in Gangetic valley. Each wanted to take the benefit of lack of strong ruler at Kannauj at that time. However, the struggle was mutually destructive for all of them. Nobody could emerge as a strong power. There was no stability and central rule in entire country. It led to political vacuum in north India and no attention to North West Frontier. Thus India became vulnerable to foreign invasion. Advantage of the situation was taken by Mahamud Ghazini and Mohammad Ghori.
Topic: population and associated issues
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
Early in December, two Members of Parliament of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Ravi Kishan and Nishikant Dubey, introduced in the Lok Sabha a private members’ Bill aimed at population control in India. Stating that population rise is the most significant reason for India’s slow rate of development, the Bill argues for an immediate need for population control.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the need of population control and feasibility of a population control law.
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 the population growth in India.
Body:
First, write about the need for population control – Social problems, Environment, Scarcity of resources and services, Inflation and Standard of living etc.
Next, write about the feasibility of a population control law. Write its pros and cons in detail.
Next, write about the measures such as strengthening public health infrastructure and raising awareness that are better suited to control population.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
India projected to become the most populous country in the world by 2027 (currently at 1.37 billion). In 2050, India’s population is projected to be 1.69 billion, which will be higher than that of China. Undoubtedly, India has a population problem, but any strategy to change fertility rates should be carefully thought out. India’s population concern is largely restricted to Bihar, UP, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and MP.
Members of Parliament, introduced a private members’ Bill aimed at population control in India. The Bill argues for an immediate need for population control.
Body
Need for population control
- It is indeed a fact that population of India is growing and will continue to grow for the next couple of decades.
- This is because, as compared to the past, there are a higher proportion of people in the marriageable age group who will produce children, and people are now living longer.
- In India, the global demand for water in 2050 is projected to be more than 50 per cent of what it was in 2000.
- The demand for food will double in the year 2050 and even if India manages to feed its expanding population, its growth may not be ecologically sustainable.
- Though China’s one-child policy has been criticized as against human dignity and rights, it has improved and controlled the nation’s population by a possible 400 million people as per the report of East India Forum.
- If Population control won’t happen, there will be no resources left, and the growing population’s demand will increase to the next level, resulting in increasing death rates increasing in the country.
- Changing social norms is one of the biggest challenges for India to address the needs of the next generation.
Forced population control is outdated ad regressive
- Skewed sex ratio: The number of missing girls at birth has increased from 35 lakh in 1987-96 to 55 lakh in 2007-16. Such laws penalizing birth of more than certain offspring might worsen the sex ratio in states where sex-selective abortion is still
- According to a study on the two-child norm (Nirmala Buch, Economic and Political Weekly, 2005) which was adopted by several Indian states like Rajasthan, Haryana and Bihar, the move led to a spike to sex-selective and unsafe abortions.
- Counter-productive measure: Through an affidavit filed in court, the central government argued that “international experience shows that any coercion to have a certain number of children iscounter-productive and leads to demographic distortions”.
- Against international obligations: India is committed to its obligations under international law, including the principles contained in the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action, 1994.
- Foremost in those principles was a pledge from nations that they wouldlook beyond demographic targets and focus instead on guaranteeing a right to reproductive freedom.
- Against right to reproductive freedom and privacy: In Suchita Srivastava & Anr vs Chandigarh Administration (2009), the Court found that a woman’s freedom to make reproductive decisions is an integral facet of the right to personal liberty guaranteed by Article 21.
- However, In Javed & Ors vs State of Haryana & Ors (2003), the Court upheld a law that disqualified persons with more than two children from contesting in local body elections.
- In Devika Biswas vs Union of India (2016), the Court pointed to how these camps invariably have a disparate impact on minorities and other vulnerable groups.
- Demographers like Srinivas Goli, a population studies professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, point out, citing the examples of Iran and China.
- Any large-scale “unnatural intervention”, even if purely incentive-based, can dramatically change the future age profile of a population.
- In Iran, in a short span between the late-1980s and early 2000s, the average number of children born to a woman in her lifetime plummeted from seven to less than three.
- While population growth rate fell steeply, the share of Iran’s population in the working age band also fell.
- Since the state-level laws linked the ability to contest Panchayat or local body elections with family size, the study found that men divorced their wives to run for elections and families put children up for adoption to avoid disqualification.
Way Ahead
- Simply put, for every 1,000 people, demographers suggest that at least 550 must be of working age, in order to educate the young (below 15) and take care of the old (above 60).
- The government’s Sample Registration System in 22 states shows that TFR for India declined to 2.2 in 2017 after being stable at 2.3 between 2013 and 2016.
- Further, the country’s annual population growth rate fell from 2.5% in 1971-81—a time when ‘population explosion’ was bandied around commonly, and when India infamously experimented with forced sterilisation—to 1.3% in 2011-16.
- Any intervention which doesn’t pay attention to this delicate age composition balance is “ignorant and foolish”
- Success stories from within India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh) and from Indonesia and Bangladesh (predominantly Muslim countries) also show the central importance of investing in education and healthcare access to advance population stabilization.
- India will also find it hard to announce a nationally mandated two-child policy since it is a signatory to the Cairo declaration in 1994, which gives couples the “right to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children”.
Conclusion
Experiences from other States in India show us that there are more efficacious and alternative measures available to control the growth of population, including processes aimed at improving public health and access to education. Incentivise later marriages and child births; make contraception easy for women and promote women’s labour force participation. This should be substantiated with better education and awareness rather than an iron hand policy to control the population. Government should improve the implementation of poverty alleviation measures which can also help control population.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Role of civil services in a democracy.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Taking into account Covid and global events, it is apparent that while policy intentions were excellent, their implementation has not yielded the intended results. Clearly, our implementation capabilities need to be more effective.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about civil services reforms which are needed in the country.
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 of civil services of the country and their role in India’s administration and economic development.
Body:
First, write about the various in the civil services ecosystem of the country.
Next, write about the reforms which are needed in the present times – rewarding good per romancing, improved accountability mechanisms and preventing abuse of power.
Next, cite suggestions of various committees in this regard.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
An analysis of the executive record (ER) sheets of thousands of IAS officers reveals that the frequent transfers in service are normal. But, frequent transfers have an adverse impact on their morale. This will lead to a decline in productivity and efficacy. Eg: IAS Ashok Khemka has been transferred more than 50 times. Pradeep Kasni has been transferred 65 times.
Body
Frequent transfer of civil servant: Background
- The Civil Services Survey reportnoted: frequent transfers has been a concern for most respondents as it adversely affected job satisfaction, children’s education, and family togetherness and placed officers at the mercy of corrupt influences.
- A Central government database on transfers of Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officers who sit atop the bureaucracy in the Centre and in states shows that the average duration of their posting in the last five years was 464 days.
- The good part about this reading is that over the last 20 years, this number has improved the most in the last five years, and this improvement has been both at the Centre and in states.
- The bad reading is that a bureaucrat is still averaging only about 15 monthsin a posting, which is a considerable distance away from the standard of three to five years that is commonly spoken of in organizational and human resource contexts.
- The analysis of the SUPREMO (Single User Platform Related to Employees Online) databaseof the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India, shows that the average posting spell of civil servants in India is only about 15 months.
- Job transfers are a huge matter for governments and their employees, a source of constant worry for employees and apparent satisfaction for governments.
Fixed tenure advantages to civil servants for good governance
- Many respondents suggested a fixed tenure of at least 2 to 3 yearsfor all civil servants (except officers of suspect integrity) to ensure accountability and maximise their impact on the job.
- Whilefixed tenures have not materialised, the reduction in the last five years in the number of transfers, and a corresponding increase in average tenures across both Centre and states, is a silver lining.
- But true, and lasting gains, calls for systemic reforms, and that is not visible at the moment. Theundermining of transfer guidelines has been a major shortcoming of personnel administration in India. The Second Administrative Reforms Commission has highlighted it.
- The Fifth Pay Commission had recommended that no premature transfer should be allowed and that there should be fixation of a minimum tenure for each post. This would ensure longevity in schemes and reforms and impact at grassroots levelin case of reforms taken.
- Less transfers also mean, moremotivation to show real progress by civil servants and thus working towards betterment and welfare of people.
Conclusion
Good governance and better administration of development is often offered as a plausible solution to conflict management. At the heart of this solution are public administrators. Civil servants, no matter how dedicated, innovative and efficient they may be, need a stability of tenure to govern well.
A healthy working relationship between Ministers, MPs, MLAs and civil servants is critical for good governance. Therefore, the state needs to take every stakeholder of governance in confidence.
General Studies – 3
Topic: changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
India’s goods exports rebounded from a nearly 17% dip in October to a mild 0.6% uptick in November. While the value of exports recovered to $32 billion from $29.8 billion in October, it is still significantly below the $39 billion averaged between April and September. Imports growth moderated to 5.4% with the value of shipments slipping to $55.9 billion — a level last seen in February 2022.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the reasons for declining India’s exports and suggest measures to improve it amidst uncertainty.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must 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.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin the answer by giving context to India’s export performance.
Body:
First, write about the reasons for the declining trends in Indian exports.
Next, write about the steps that are needed to overcome the above slump– emphasising on export competitiveness, focus on small and labour-intensive firms and removing supply chain bottlenecks etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
According to the Ministry of Commerce, India’s exports declined by about 16.7 (sixteen point seven) % in October compared with the year earlier. This is the first slide reported for any month since February 2021. The October imports rose at a much milder pace than earlier, most likely because of softening commodity prices worldwide, resulting in the widening of the trade deficit by 50%.
Body
Reasons for decline in exports
- Engineering goods (the backbone of India’s merchandise exports previously), fell by 21%. The Engineering Export Promotion Council of India attributed the slowdown to –
- High inflation in developed regions,
- Falling demand in China,
- The slowdown in the EU and the U.S. and
- The Russia-Ukraine war.
- In October, a decline of $2 billion worth of exports was seen in steel and allied products.
- Due to the export duty levied on these products to help increase local availability.
- The government has since removed this duty.
- The Diwali festive season prompted workers to take leave, thus impacting output.
- Inflation: Inflation has been driven up more by local factors, including higher food prices, than imported reasons and that those pressures are set to dampen thanks to easing international commodity prices and the arrival of Kharif crop.
- Retail inflation has been consistently above 7% these past few months, but stood at 6.8% for October, 2022.
- Fall in Oil and other Export:
- Oil export growth fell to -11.4% y-o-y from 43.0% in September 2022, partly reflecting lower global crude oil prices, while non-oil exports plunged -16.9% y-o-y, with the decline broad-based across iron ore, handicrafts, textiles, some agricultural goods, plastics, gems & jewellery, engineering goods, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and leather goods.
- Rising Global Trade Tension:
- Recent trade war between the US and China and other global trade wars has impacted growth all over the world.
- It has impacted manufacturing and exports in different parts of the world, including the Indian economy too.
- Weaker Global Demand:
- The global economic growth is decelerating sharply in the wake of persistently high inflation across developed countries and, as a result, as sharp tightening of monetary policy .
- With growth contraction across the board — UK and US are set to see recession while the euro area is likely to stall even as China struggles to grow — the demand for Indian goods has plummeted. That is why exports have contracted.
Way forward
- The weakness in India’s exports is likely to sustain because global growth is likely to remain weak. Weaker exports, in turn, will have a dampening effect on the growth of India’s gross domestic product (GDP).
- The government urgently needs to bring out a revised foreign policy to address both our historical trade imbalance, and the slowing of exports, rather than wait out the tumult as it intends to, having again deferred the new policy release till April next.
- The government should take appropriate measures to improve the credit cycle through investment and savings and promotion of foreign investment will bring the economy from slowdown in future.
Conclusion
Going forward, the weakness in India’s exports is likely to sustain because global growth is likely to remain weak. Weaker exports, in turn, will have a dampening effect on the growth of India’s gross domestic product (GDP). A revised foreign trade policy can give much needed impetus and boost to exports so that manufacturers in India try for export trade.
General Studies – 4
Topic: role of Family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
Difficulty level: Easy
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Abstract Thursdays’ in Mission-2023 Secure.
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 explaining the various objectives of education.
Body:
Write about how the primary aim of education should be producing good character and it will impact the society along with providing livelihood. Also, mention education devoid of good character can be a menace to the society. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of education in character building.
Introduction
“A bad character is like a flat tire; you can’t go anywhere until you change it” — Zig Ziglar
Education promotes the metamorphosis of a child to become a full-fledged adult. Mere learning without promotion and development of values even discards the definition of education. Education of values and principles shapes and moulds a soul
Body
Achieving academic excellence for all students is at the very core of any school’s purpose, and will inform much of what they do. Character education is not a new thing, extending as it does back to the work of Aristotle. Yet it could be argued that the pursuit of success in schools in more recent years has sought to put the cart before the horse. In driving students to think of success solely in terms of exam grades and university places, pressure is created that can often be counter intuitive to student well- being and academic progress.
It does not matter how educated or wealthy one is, if the inherent character or personality lacks morals. In fact, such personalities can be threat to a peaceful society. E.g.: Mussolini, Hitler are all examples of education devoid of morality leading mankind to their destruction.
In contemporary times it is equally relevant. For instance, An educated man taking dowry will be a death spell for gender equality and gender justice. The seven sins of Gandhiji will materialise when we are educated without morality like Science without humanity as is the case with nuclear weapons today.
Thus, Education without values as useful as it seems makes a man, a clever devil.
Conclusion
Education without morals is like a ship without a compass, merely wandering nowhere. It is not enough to have the power of concentration, but we must have worthy objectives upon which to concentrate. It is not enough to know truth, but we must love truth and sacrifice for it.
Topic: moral and political attitudes.
Difficulty level: Tough
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Abstract Thursdays’ in Mission-2023 Secure.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by elaborating on the concept of popular morality.
Body:
Write about aspects such as what is accepted within the realms of popular morality, is it static and based on cultural notions and dictums. Cite examples
Next, mention differing of popular morality from the theories of moral philosophers – both positive and negative impact – substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stating a balanced opinion.
Introduction
Popular morality refers to norms and values that are acceptable by majority of the populace in a particular place or region. There may be a significant number of people who may have different practices, yet the societal practice would be that of the majority. Eg: Wearing hijab by minority community leading to clashes in Karnataka.
Body
Popular morality and theories of philosophers
Sometimes popular morality may overshadow individual rights and even go against philosophies of equality and justice. For instance, entry into Sabarimala temple was upheld for women of all ages, but yet those women who tried to enter were assaulted and needed police protection. This Supreme Court judgement was not acceptable by the people. Moreover it did not matter that, those actions were against the notion of gender equality.
The very purpose of rights is to place the subject of an individual’s liberty and dignity beyond the reach of majoritarian governments. This is so that constitutional morality can assure the rights, among others, of “discrete and insular” minorities.
Popular morality sometimes aims to mainstream the majority culture. For example, the ban on LGBTQ and criminalisation of their relations for many hundred years is a case in point. No government would legalize such courtships as they lack gumption and fear losing vote banks. Hence Courts had to step up to protect rights of LGBTQ.
Even today the Dalit community is being segregated and discriminated against. This goes against everything that stands for equality. Cases of Dalit groom not allowed to ride a horse for baraat, Dalit women being raped shows the atrocities of majority over Dalits. Sometimes popular morality can lead to violence.
Conclusion
The government in power must balance the competing needs of legal development and the satisfaction of popular justice concerns. In a conservative society like that of India, behaviour nudge can lead to acceptance of minority norms and value. Live and Let Live must become a practice. As a society we must embrace popular morality while giving space for dissonance, so that we become a generally tolerant society.
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