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-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the characteristics of Stupa and its progress during ancient age.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining a Stupa.
Body:
First, draw a small representative diagram of a Stupa and mention the major features of that belong in a Stupa and their significance.
Next, mention the progress in the construction of Stupa during the ancient India with examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising regarding Stupa architecture.
Introduction
The stupa (“stupa” is Sanskrit for heap) is an important form of Buddhist architecture, though it predates Buddhism. It is generally considered to be a sepulchral monument—a place of burial or a receptacle for religious objects. At its simplest, a stupa is a relic-filled mound-like or hemispheric structure used for meditation. From the Vedic time onwards, stupas were used as burial mounds in India.
In Buddhism, the earliest stupas contained portions of the Buddha’s ashes, and as a result, the stupa began to be associated with the body of the Buddha. Adding the Buddha’s ashes to the mound of dirt activated it with the energy of the Buddha himself.
Body:
Stupa-art illustrates Buddhist ideals
- Sanchi, Sarnath, Amaravati and Bharhut stupas are the oldest examples of Early Buddhist stupa art. The Birth, Enlightenment, First Sermon and Great Departure are depicted using various motifs in these stupas.
- The Jataka stories were depicted on the torans of Stupas. The Jataka stories are a method of teaching Buddhists the lessons of karma, samsara and dharma. The overall structure of the Jataka Tales is about the cycle of samsara that the Buddha had to experience before reaching enlightenment.
- The main structure of the Great Stupa consisted of a flattened hemispherical dome, called an anda, placed atop a cylindrical base. Anda, represents the infinite dome of heaven and signifies the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
- The harmika, located at the summit of the anda, symbolized the zenith beyond life and death (nirvana). Its resemblance to a sacrificial altar was of particular significance for the attainment of nirvana required the sacrifice of the self and the world (what was below needed to be sacrificed to reach the top).
- The parasol was always a distinguishing feature that implied royalty and dignity; it symbolized the sacred Tree of Life or enlightenment.
- The three elements of the chattra at Sanchi represented the Three Jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dharma (the Law), and the Sangha (the community of monks).
- The chhatra is thought to be a tree as explained by Govinda in the Psychocosmic symbolism of the Buddhist stupas : “the spiritual birth of the world starts in the mind of man, and the Tree of Life grows out of his own heart, the center of his world, and spreads into ever new infinities, into ever higher and purer realms, until it has turned into a Tree of Enlightenment.”
- Vedikas were repeated around the stupa and on the terrace on which the anda rested (medhi level). They served to demarcate the boundary of the sacred precinct with the secular world.
Development of Stupa architecture during post-Mauryan age
- In the Post Mauryan period, stupas became larger and more decorative and wood and brickwork were replaced by stone.
- Stupas were cylindrical drum shaped and octagon shaped pillars behind stupas without any decorations were also found.
- Torans (gateways) was first used by the The torans were decorated with intricate figures and the patterns.
- With the elaborations in stupa design, architects and sculptors had plenty of room to plan elaborations and carve out images on the Torans.
- Jataka stories became part of stupa decoration. E.g.: In Bahrut, the tall images of Yakshaand Yakshini along with narratives are found. In one narrative relief, depicting Queen Mayadevi’s
- Stupa-I at Sanchi has upper as well as lower pradakshinapatha, four toranas depicting jatakas. Advanced carving technique is used in these stupas.
- With the rise in the construction of stupas in various parts of the country, regional stylistic variations also began to emerge.
Conclusion:
It is thus apparent that the stupa, which was conceived as a simple monument for the Buddha’s corporeal relics, has over time transformed in its form and nomenclature and resulted in various types of structures all over the world. In some regions, even supplementary structures like monasteries have come up alongside stupas, fuelling the inception of new Buddhist orders and sects. However, the core ideology of the stupa remains constant throughout each new development, as does its symbolism and several crucial architectural features. These characteristics must, therefore, be given due consideration and importance while designing any stupa project.
Value addition
Present Day Stupas:
- The core ideology of the stupa is retained in terms of architectural design across millennia, and even to this day. However, the difference lies in the material used in the modern-day stupa.
- For instance, the Sambodhi Chaithya is a stupa built with reinforced concrete on a platform supported by two interlocking arches.
- Apart from this, stupa is also having access via Elevators.
- Patliputra karuna Stupa is having glass facade, along with void stupa concept so people can see the holy relics along with ramp design for entrance instead of stairs which makes it barrier free for everyone.
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 nature of architecture under Sultans of Delhi, its evolution and influence of earlier India architecture on them.
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 mentioning the with arrival of Turks, new form of architecture got introduced in India.
Body:
First, mention the major religious and secular structures constructed under the various dynasties of the Sultanate with a special reference to Tughlaq dynasty.
Next, write about significant and new changes in construction technologies introduced by the Sultans. Give examples of few monuments.
Next, mention the influences of earlier Indian architecture which was adopted by Sultans of Delhi. Cite examples by substantiating.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
The Muslim invasions into India had ultimately resulted in the establishment of Delhi Sultanate which existed from A.D. 1206 to 1526. Five different dynasties – the Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyids and Lodis – ruled under the Delhi Sultanate. New architectural forms and styles were introduced in India during the medieval period. The synthesis of Indian and Islamic architectural features led to emergence of Indo-Saracenic or Indo-Islamic architecture.
Body
The Indo-Islamic architecture under the sultans of Delhi includes both religious and secular structures
- Both secular and religious buildings are influenced by Indo-Islamic architecture which exhibit Indian, Islamic, Persian, Central Asian, Arabic and Ottoman Turkish influences.
Religious buildings
- Earliest example of building activity by a Sultan of Delhi was the Quwat-ul-Islam mosques built by Qutub-ud-din Aibak.
- Another architectural specimen of this period was the mosques-Arhai Din ka Jhonpra, built at Ajmer.
- Other notable imperial monuments constructed by Iltutmish were Hauz-i-Shamshi, Shamsi-idgah, the Jami Masjid at Badaun and the Atarkin ka Darwaza at Nagpur.
- Alauddin Khilji built Jamait Khan Mosque at the shrine of Nizam -ud-din Auliya and the Alai Darwaza at the Qutub Minar.
- The Tombs of Mubarak Shah and Muhammad Shah of the Sayyid Dynasty and the Tomb of Sikandar Lodhi of the Lodhi Dynasty were noteworthy architectural specimens of the Sayyid and Lodhi rule.
Secular Buildings
- The most magnificent piece of architecture of this era was the Qutub Minar. Qutub-ud-din Aibak started the construction of the Qutub Minar at Delhi but could not complete it during his life time. It was completed by Iltutmish.
- Alauddin Khilji founded the city of Siri and built a palace of thousand pillar within it,
- Alauddin Khilji also constructed a magnificent tank known as the Hauz-i-Khas near the city of Siri.
- The city of Tughlaqabaad constructed by GhiyasuddinTughlaq was a notable construction of the Tughlaq rule.
- Mohammad bin Tughlaq constructed the new city of Jahanpanah near the City of old Delhi, the fort of Adilabaad and some other buildings in Daulatabaad.
- The city of Firozabaad, Firoz shah Kotla fort- palace were important imperial constructions of the time of Firoz Shah Tughlaq
The new structural changes introduced by the Sultanate rulers
- The Turks introduced arche and dome method, slab and beam method, lofty towers or minarets and decorations using the Arabic script. They used the skill of the Indian stone cutters.
- The use of lime-mortarin the construction of buildings and houses altered the building techniques
- They also added colour to their buildings by using marbles, red and yellow sand stones.
- Synthesis of indigenous motifsuch as ball motif, lotus etc.
- In the beginning, they converted temples and other structures demolished into mosques. For example, the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque near Qutub Minar in Delhi was built by using the materials obtained from destroying many Hindu and Jain temples.
- Later, they began to construct new structures. The most magnificent building of the 13th century was the Qutub Minar which was founded by Aibek and completed by Iltutmish.
- With the arrival of artisans from West Asia the arch and dome began to show up with precision and perfection. Gradually local artisans also acquired the skill. The tomb of Balban was adorned with the first true archand the Alai Darwaza built by Alaud-din Khalji as a gateway to the Quwwatul-Islam Mosque is adorned with the first true dome.
- Tughlaqs went for introduction of innovative features in architecture also, such as
- “batter” or sloping walls
- use of stone rubble as the principle building material
- a new type of arch called the four centred arch
- the emergence of the pointed dome
- the introduction of an octagonal plan of tomb building.
Conclusion
Later on, with the Mughals, the art of pietra dura, jali work became more prominent. They also built lofty forts, palaces and cities. The Mughals were also fond of laying gardens with running water, which is an extension of gardens introduced by Delhi Sultanate. Delhi Sultanate paved way for large scale construction of buildings in Indo-Islamic architecture.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
At the Constitution Day celebrations organised by the Supreme Court in November 2022, President Droupadi Murmu shared a snippet of her journey with the audience. She reflected on her visits to prisons across India and the circumstances of those incarcerated. She highlighted that these individuals were often unaware of their fundamental rights and had been incarcerated for prolonged periods for minor offences, while their families, struggling with poverty, were unable to bail them out.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about issues with Prisons in India and suggest prison reforms.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by citing a statistic regarding the undertrial prisoners in India.
Body:
First, write about the suggestions of various committees in regards to prison reforms.
Next, mention the impact of larger number of undertrial prisoners and its impact – overcrowding, impact of covid-19, slow place of justice, impact on mental health etc.
Next, suggest measures reforms that are needed to the criminal justice system and measures to reduce overcrowding of prisons.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The Prisons in India are more than a century-old system which are in dire need of repair. Prisons in India, and their administration, are a state subject covered by item 4 under the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. But they have been in general overlooked and ill maintained.
At the Constitution Day celebrations organised by the Supreme Court in November 2022, President Droupadi Murmu shared a snippet of her journey with the audience. She reflected on her visits to prisons across India and the circumstances of those incarcerated. She highlighted that these individuals were often unaware of their fundamental rights and had been incarcerated for prolonged periods for minor offences, while their families, struggling with poverty, were unable to bail them out.
Body
Key findings from prison statistics of 2020
- The prison statistics of 2020 show that more than 70 per cent of such undertrial prisoners are from marginalised classes, castes, religions and genders.
- It reveals that as compared to 2019, “the release of convicts has declined by 41.2 per cent and the release of undertrials has declined by 19.6 per cent” in 2020.
- As compared to 2019, the number of undertrial prisoners increased by 11.7 per cent and the number of detenues increased by 11.4 per cent in 2020.
- As prisons instituted a lockdown on public accountability, the rates of custodial deaths have increased by 7.0 per cent in 2020. So-called unnatural deaths, which include suicides, accidents, and murders in prisons, increased by 18.1 per cent.
Need for Prison reforms
- Prison reform is necessary to ensure that human rights of prisoners are protected and their prospects for social reintegration are increased.
- Prisons are not isolated from the society and prison health is public health. It is important to provide adequate health facilities.
- Overcrowding: During the pandemic, the mass incarceration of undertrials led to a humanitarian crisis in overcrowded prisons. Prison officials struggled to prevent mass contagion among inmates and staff, even as thousands fell ill and many died.
- According to experts, the main reason for “overcrowding” in our prisons is due to the mass incarceration of pre-trial prisoners. The penal policy of the state has not focussed on de-criminalisation.
- Instead, it has resulted in a shocking 31.8 per cent increase in the incarceration of the number of undertrial prisoners and increase in imprisonment of detenues by 40.1 per cent from 2015 to 2020 (as of December 31, 2020).
- Overcrowding of prisons, under trials, custodial violence all are the gross violations of human rights.
- Prisoners’ health conditions deteriorate in prisons which are overcrowded, where nutrition is poor, sanitation inadequate and access to fresh air and exercise often unavailable.
- Prison staff is also vulnerable to most of the diseases of which prisoners are at risk.
- According to the NCRB 1.2% of the prisoners have mental illness and they are being ill treated and discriminated and deprived of their right of good health.
- The UN’s Bangkok Rules which state that “non-custodial means should be preferred for pregnant women during the pre-trial phase” has been grossly violated.
- Public interest appeals to the committees to adopt a public health and gender-sensitive classification to decongest the most overcrowded prisons in the country were rejected.
- Poverty: Many prisoners are unable to execute bail bonds or provide sureties.
- Little public scrutiny in jails provides the possibility of violation of basic rights.
- Most of the installed CCTV cameras are not functioning in prisons.
Way forward
- Governments and courts adopt a public health and gender-sensitive approach to the question of mass incarceration of undertrial prisoners.
- The participation of prison watchdogs in bringing accountability to these dark custodial spaces must be restored.
- The decline in the rate of release of undertrials from prison and the increase in custodial deaths must be named as a humanitarian crisis.
- The bureaucratic approach of the HPCs should be reviewed.
- Courts must privilege prisoners’ experiences of “lockdown” prisons rather than pay lip service to dead letter reform.
- Qualified health professionals — independent of the prison administration — are essential to provide services to inmates.
- Prison and Jail Overcrowding Commission: Should meet regularly and dispose of any prison related issue.
- Ensuring Accountability of Police – any crime like custodial violence must be fast tracked within specified time period through Independent investigation Agency
Conclusion
It is time to end the law’s attachment to inflicting cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment on pre-trial prisoners. The mass incarceration of pre-trial prisoners must be abolished. Surely institutionalised indifference to the cruel and inhuman conditions of custody must be abhorrent to any society.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
India will have to navigate the choppy waters of a volatile petroleum market without straying off the “green” course towards clean energy.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the various obstacles to energy security in India and ways to ensure energy security while focussing on decarbonisation.
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 regarding the energy security in the country.
Body:
First, write about the various impediments to India’s energy security – coal shortages, volatility of crude oil, increasing demand, climate commitments and lack of diversification of resources.
Next, write about ways to balance between clean energy commitments while balancing energy security.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Climate sustainability is integral to India’s economic policy while energy security also is equally important in this transitional phase. The energy transition will also have far-reaching implications for energy security, and the ripple effects of unfolding events in Ukraine are a sobering reminder of its relevance.
Clean energy appears to be the future for the power needs of humanity across the globe as reliance of fossil fuels continues to diminish. However, the road to clean energy is not straight forward and here is where the government must rely on calculated measure to balance energy security and net-zero commitments.
Body
Obstacles to an energy secure India
- The country’s demand for energyis set to double by 2040, and its electricity demand may
- Indian oil consumption is expected to grow faster than that of any other major economy (including China). This makes further improving energy security a key priority for India’s economy.
- India’s oil demandis expected to reach 6 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2024 from 4.4 million bpd in 2017, but its domestic production is expected to rise only marginally, making the country more reliant on crude imports and more vulnerable to supply disruption in the Middle East.
- India’s oil refining capacity is expected to rise to 5.7 million bpd by 2024,making it a very attractive market for refinery investment.
- Petrol pricesdirectly affect retail inflation. Diesel prices account for 60-70% of India’s freight costs. High freight costs due to rise in diesel prices increase prices for products across the board.
- Increasing dependence on imported oil has placed India’s energy security under severe strain, and geopolitical disruptions have exacerbated the problem.
- Stockpiles at the coal-based thermal power plants fell short despite this increase in domestic coal production, as the utilities were not prepared for theunprecedented heat wave caused by climate change in the country and the sharp surge in demand, which touched 201 gigawatts in April 2022.
- The growing demand for coal was further exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict that resulted in diverting Europe’s attention to procure coal from Indonesia, Australia and South Africawhich so far had been major coal suppliers for China and India. This dependency on the common resource pool led to a spike in the price of coal in the international market from $70 per tonne to $421 per tonne in March.
- The burning of traditional energy fuels, including wood, dung, and crop residue,causes indoor air pollution, which is detrimental to human health. There are approximately 1 out of every 4 premature deaths caused by household air pollution (HAP) in India each year. 90% of them are women, who work close to these fuels in poorly ventilated kitchens.
Ensuring energy security while honouring its net zero commitments
- Focus on Energy Efficiency: Will need energy efficient buildings, lighting, appliances and industrial practicesto meet the net-zero goal.
- Increased usage of Biofuels: Can help reduce emissions from light commercial vehicles, tractors in agriculture.
- In aviation, the only practical solution for reducing emissions is greater use of biofuels, until hydrogen technology gains scale.
- Transition towards Electric vehicles: This will further help curb the carbon emissions and move towards cleaner fuel. Vehicular emissions are one of the biggest sources of GHG.
- Carbon Sequestration: India willhave to rely on natural and man-made carbon sinks to soak up those emissions. Trees can capture 0.9 billion tons; the country will need carbon capture technologies to sequester the rest.
- Carbon Pricing:
- India, which already taxes coal and petroleum fuels, should consider putting a tax on emissions to drive change.
- Deploying lower-carbon Energy: There are four main types of low-carbon energy: wind, solar, hydro or nuclear power. The first three are renewable, which means these are good for the environment – as natural resources are used (such as wind or sun) to produce electricity.
- Deploying lower carbon energy would help address both domestic and international climate challenges while simultaneously improving the economic well-being of India’s citizens.
- Mainstreaming Renewable energy: India’s energy mix is dominated by coal powered electric generation stations as of now.
- The need of the hour is increasing the share of renewable energy in this energy mix.
Conclusion and way forward
- Given the massive shifts underway in India’s energy system, we would benefit from taking stock of our actions and focusing on near-term transitions.
- This will allow us to meet and even over-comply with our 2030 target while also ensuring concomitant developmental benefits, such as developing a vibrant renewable industry.
- We can start putting in place the policies and institutions necessary to move us in the right direction for the longer-term and also better understand, through modelling and other studies, the implications of net-zero scenarios before making a net-zero pledge.
- It would also be in India’s interest to link any future pledge to the achievement of near-term action by industrialised countries.
- That would be fair and consistent with the principles of the UNFCCC and also enhance the feasibility of our own actions through, for example, increasing availability and reducing costs of new mitigation technologies.
- There appears to be no turning back on the path of decarbonized economic growth for India. The recent Union budget has made this sufficiently clear. The scale of the challenge is also balanced by an opportunity. It’s the execution that will now determine the pace at which we proceed along that path.
Value addition
India on path to achieve carbon neutrality
- Exceeding the NDC commitment: India is on track (as reports/documents show) to meet and exceed the NDC commitment to achieve 40% electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based sources by 2030.
- Reduction in emission intensity of GDP: Against the voluntary declaration for reducing the emission intensity of GDP by 20%-25% by 2020, India has reduced it by 24% between 2005-2016.
- More importantly, we achieved these targets with around 2% out of the S.$100 billion committed to developing nations in Copenhagen (2009), realised by 2015.
- Renewable energy expansion: India is implementing one of the most extensive renewable energy expansion programmes to achieve 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030.
- Investment in green measures: As part of the fiscal stimulus after the pandemic, the Government announced several green measures, including:
- a $26.5-billion investment in biogas and cleaner fuels,
- $3.5 billion in incentives for producing efficient solar photovoltaic (PV)
- and advanced chemistry cell battery, and $780 million towards an afforestation programme.
- India’s contribution to global emissions is well below its equitable share of the worldwide carbon budget by any equity criterion.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Scientists from South Korea have developed a new water purification system that can quickly and efficiently filter out microplastics. Crucially, the polymer used is relatively inexpensive with excellent adsorption performance and good photothermal properties.
Key Demand of the question:
To write threats posed by microplastics and steps needed to overcome it.
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 defining microplastics
Body:
First, write about the threats posed by microplastics – threat to aquatic life, migrate through the intestinal wall and travel to lymph nodes, carcinogenic, potential for both bioaccumulation and biomagnification etc.
Next, write about that are needed to combat threats posed by microplastics.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Microplastics are small plastic particles in the environment that are generally smaller than 1mm down to the micrometer range. The researchers found huge amounts of them in the Arctic snow; their study claims to be the first that contains data on contamination of snow by microplastics.
Scientists from South Korea have developed a new water purification system that can quickly and efficiently filter out microplastics. Crucially, the polymer used is relatively inexpensive with excellent adsorption performance and good photothermal properties.
Body
Microfibres from washing of textiles, microbeads used in cosmetics and even paint from land run-offs can dump microplastics in the ocean. Plastic bottles, bags, fishing nets, and food packaging are some examples of the larger pieces that break down into microplastics, eventually finding their way into the soil, water and the air we breathe. According to a 2017 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) report, microplastics are estimated to constitute up to 30% of marine litter polluting the oceans.
Threats posed by Microplastics:
- Microplastics escape the filtration and treatment processes for waste water and end up in sites of nature.
- This is resulting in significant global impacts on wildlife from marine environment pollution.
- Microplastics are killing the fish before they reach reproductive age, stunted growth and altering the behaviour in some fishes.
- Microplastics are found in the viscera of dead sea birds, reptiles like turtles, whales etc.
- World’s coastal countries currently do not have the concerned recycling policies or the technical capabilities, and so large quantities of plastic are not recycled and enter landfill.
- The durable properties of plastics make them persistent and slow to degrade in the environment entering the food chains.
- It holds the potential for both bioaccumulation and biomagnification.
- Once the microplastics enter foodchain, they carry synthetic chemical compounds such as PCBs and PAHs, which are carcinogenic.
- Unlike POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) or chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Plastic pollution has received little attention in terms of international agreements.
- Microplastics make up 94 percent of an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic in the patch. But that only amounts to eight percent of the total tonnage
Measures needed:
- Local actions are required for mitigating plastic pollution, using mechanisms such as bans on plastic bags, maximum daily limits for emissions into watersheds, and incentives for fishing gear retrieval.
- Microbeads in cosmetics, daily use items must be banned globally.
- Countries should come together to establish measurable reduction targets for plastic waste. A meaningful international agreement—one with clearly defined waste reduction targets is the need of the hour.
- Effective policies must take into account all stages of the lifecycle of plastic—connecting producers to users and ultimately to waste managers.
- Nonprofits like 5 Gyres are now pushing an agenda toward public awareness, corporate responsibility and the idea of a circular economy — an economy that focuses on keeping waste to a minimum while maximizing materials’ use.
- Fossil fuel subsidies incentivise the plastic market. Hence, Countries should end fossil fuel subsidies. Annually, 4–8% of oil is used to produce raw plastic.
- India has a major problem dealing with plastics, particularly single-use shopping bags that reach dumping sites, rivers and wetlands along with other waste.
- The most efficient way to deal with the pollution is to control the production and distribution of plastics.
- Banning single-use bags and making consumers pay a significant amount for the more durable ones is a feasible solution.
- Enforcing segregation of waste will retrieve materials and greatly reduce the burden on the environment.
- Waste separation can be achieved in partnership with the community, and presents a major employment opportunity.
- Eco-friendly substitutes (cloth/paper/jute bags, leaves/areca leaf plates, paper straws) should be developed. For this, scientific and financial support (soft loans and subsidies) is required.
Conclusion
Marine plastic pollution is a “planetary crisis,” and we should hope for a “Paris-style” global treaty aimed at tackling it. We cannot transform our world into a ‘plastic planet’. What is needed is collective public effort to stop plastic pollution and safeguard our ecosystem/biodiversity.
Topic: Security challenges and their management in border areas
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The Government of India is paying special attention to the development of border villages, especially from a security perspective. Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the challenges managing border areas and steps that are needed to do so.
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 giving context about extent of border areas in the country.
Body:
First, write about the various challenges pertaining to border areas in the country.
Next, write about a dynamic and sensitive approach to border management in the country – strengthen regional connectivity, thereby boosting economic linkages at a sub-regional level, improve overall relations with border countries.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
India has one of the longest and most varied of international borders. Historical and political reasons have left India with an artificial unnatural border. Border Management is an integral approach towards borders in which along with security enhancement, infrastructure & human development is undertaken. The challenge of coping with long-standing territorial and boundary disputes with China and Pakistan, combined with porous borders along some of the most difficult terrain in the world, has made effective and efficient border management a national priority.
Body
India has had to deal with numerous challenges with respect to border management such as:
- Porous borders: International borders with Pakistan and Bangladeshrun through diverse terrain including deserts, marshes, plains and mountains. This porosity of borders facilitates various illegal activities such as smuggling, trafficking of humans, drugs and arms and infiltration.
- Contested International borders: History of mistrustand constant border skirmishes with Pakistan along line of control (LOC) makes India highly susceptible to cross-border terrorism. Similarly, India’s border with Myanmar is threatened by several insurgent groups that have found sanctuaries in jungles along the border. Political boundary issues of “enclaves and adverse possessions” in Bangladesh have resulted in political sensitivity along the entire eastern border.
- Inefficiency in Border management: Indian borders continue to be guarded by military and police forces that report to different ministries in the Centre and states, making the border management task arduous and leading to duplication of efforts by the security forces.
- Lack of critical infrastructure: Critical infrastructure such as observation towers, bunkers, Border Flood Lights etc. are lacking in many border areas which also prevent deployment of hi-tech equipment.
- Poor intelligence and resource efficiency: Security forces are ill-equipped to handle border management given poor intelligence capabilities and severe resource deficiency.
- Ethnic conflicts and separatist movements: The situation has worsened due to the changed demographic profile of many Border States and shift in ethnic balance of communities as a result of illegal migration.
- Over-population in the border areas: Density of population in the border areas at some places is approximately 700-800 persons per square km on the Indian side and about 1,000 persons on the Bangladesh side.
- Political instability and disorder in its periphery impacts India’s security directly or indirectly. Proxy war between India and Pakistan adds to this security risk.
The implications on the internal security due to the above challenges of border management is marked by
- increased cross-border terrorism
- infiltration and ex-filtration of armed militants
- emergence of non-state actors
- nexus between narcotics traffickers and arms smugglers
- left-wing extremism
- fake Indian Currency network
- separatist movements aided and abetted by external powers
- illegal cattle trade
Diverse influences in borderlands and issues
- Economic support for insurgency: The Golden Triangle (comprising Myanmar, Laos and Thailand) has provided an economic boom for the insurgent groups to sustain themselves.
- Availability of weapons: Easy availability of small arms in neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar has been another factor behind the sustenance of insurgency in the region.
- Terrain of Border: Difficult terrain along border with different countries in north east make means of transportation and communication difficult and as a result, the border area remains sparsely populated with depressed economic development.
- Boundary issue: Even though the international boundary between countries like India and Myanmar had been formally delimited and demarcated following the boundary agreement in 1967, the boundary has not crystallised on the ground as lines separating two sovereign countries.
- Border with China is disputed, and Kashmir has been an ongoing issue with Pakistan since Independence without solution.
- Lack of critical infrastructure: Critical infrastructure such as observation towers, bunkers, Border Flood Lights etc. are lacking in many border areas which also prevent deployment of hi-tech equipment.
- Poor intelligence and resource efficiency: Security forces are ill-equipped to handle border management given poor intelligence capabilities and severe resource deficiency.
- Ethnic conflicts and separatist movements: The situation has worsened due to the changed demographic profile of many Border States and shift in ethnic balance of communities as a result of illegal migration.
- Over-population in the border areas: Density of population in the border areas at some places is approximately 700-800 persons per square km on the Indian side and about 1,000 persons on the Bangladesh side.
- Political instability and disorder in its periphery impacts India’s security directly or indirectly. Proxy war between India and Pakistan adds to this security risk.
Strategies for effective border management have been continuously evolving. Some of them are:
- 24x7x365 day surveillance along Indo-Pak border with 5-layer smart fence
- Agreement on basic guiding principles and standard operating procedures
- Increasing confidence building measures and communication linkages to avoid unnecessary confrontation and escalation
- Integrated border management by involving and enhancing cooperation with counterparts of neighbouring countries especially along open borders.
- Effective implementation of the recommendations of One Border One Force by the Task Force on Border Management to weeds out inter agency frictions.
- Community measures and awareness can be deployed along open borders to prevent illegal activities.
- Implementation of Border Area Development Programme and other developmental initiatives so that there is no feeling of being left out.
Way forward:
- Infrastructure along with border has to be improved – rail connectivity along with road connectivity has to be provided for quick mobilization.
- Building of additional checkpoints and Border posts along major and minor trade routes connected with borders
- Building of floating bridges, walls & electrical fences where there is high probability of infiltration.
- Taking up of joint Border management with Countries like Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal.
- Improving healthcare, physical infrastructure and digital connectivity in villages around borders thus making them stakeholder in Border Management.
- Madhav Godbole task force recommendations on border management need to be implemented.
- It had recommended that the CRPF should be designated as the primary national level counter-insurgency force. This would enable the other central paramilitary forces like the BSF and Indo-Tibetan Border Police to return to their primary role of better border management.
- It had also recommended that all paramilitary forces managing unsettled borders should operate directly under the control of the army and that there should be lateral induction from the army to the paramilitary forces so as to enhance their operational effectiveness.
- The principle of ‘single point control’ must be followed if the borders are to be effectively managed.
- The advances in surveillance technology, particularly satellite and aerial imagery, can help to maintain a constant vigil along the LAC and make it possible to reduce physical deployment.
Conclusion
Keeping a strong vigil on its border is very important for any nation to check any kind of illegal activities or intrusion through them. For India, the task becomes difficult where terrain and climate is very complex across some of its border areas. Focussing on improved technology will help in making the task easier for the security forces and make its borders more secure.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Conceptual Tuesdays’ in Mission-2022 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 defining emotional intelligence.
Body:
Next, mention the various components of emotional intelligence that help in reducing conflicts at the work place. Link it with proper examples real or hypothetical ones to substantiate your points.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stressing on training public servants to use emotional intelligence for conflict resolution.
Introduction
Conflict resolution can be defined as the informal or formal process that two or more parties use to find a peaceful solution to their dispute. Emotional intelligence or EI is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, and those of the people around you. EI helps in understanding the emotions, evaluating it and managing it which paves the way for conflict resolution.
Body:
Components of Emotional intelligence:
- Self-awareness: being aware of your reactions and tendencies
- Self-management: staying on top of, and managing your reactions
- Social awareness: being able to perceive what others are feeling and thinking and picking up on the emotions of others
- Relationship management: using your awareness of your emotions and those of others to manage interactions; this includes communicating clearly and handling conflict.
- Stress tolerance: To stay focused, stress should be managed and it involves own reactions to stress or the reactions of others to the stress. Employees with high EQs are more likely to listen, reflect, and respond to constructive criticism
- Impulse control: Independent people evaluate the alternatives and initiate the work by taking appropriate action by executing the right options. People who manage their impulses avoid being distracted and losing control of the situation. Emotionally intelligent employees are more likely to keep their cool under pressure
- Optimism: Optimistic people have a target that they’re aiming toward. These people are confident in their ability to carry out the required actions and meet the target by looking for successful solutions to problems.
- Negotiation: For being able to empathize and be creative in finding win-win solutions will consistently pay off to all the stakeholders involved.
How EI helps in Conflict resolution:
- Self-serving fairness interpretations: Rather than deciding what’s fair from a position of neutrality, we interpret what would be most fair to us, then justify this preference on the bases of fairness.
- For example, department heads are likely to each think they deserve the lion’s share of the annual budget. Disagreements about what’s fairlead to clashes.
- Overconfidence: We tend to be overconfident in our judgments, a tendency that leads us to unrealistic expectations. Disputants are likely to be overconfident about their odds of winning a lawsuit,
- For example, an error that can lead them to shun a negotiated settlement that would save them time and money.
- Escalation of commitment: Whether negotiators are dealing with a labor strike, a merger, or an argument with a colleague, they are likely to irrationally escalate their commitment to their chosen course of action, long after it has proven useful.
- We desperately try to recoup our past investments in a dispute (such as money spent on legal fees), failing to recognize that such “sunk costs” should play no role in our decisions about the future.
- Conflict avoidance: Because negative emotions cause us discomfort and distress, we may try to tamp them down, hoping that our feelings will dissipate with time.
- In fact, conflict tends to become more entrenched, and parties have a greater need for conflict resolution when they avoid dealing with their strong emotions.
Conclusion:
Governance in modern times is becoming increasing complex with affective components of behaviour having a major role to play. Intelligence quotient alone can’t solve majority of problems an administrator faces, use of emotional intelligence is a must for better public service delivery as well as redressal.
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