[Mission 2023] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 1 February 2023

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: Role of women and women’s organization

1. Self-Help Groups (SHGs) empower women and make them self-reliant by inculcating the habit of savings and proper use of financial resources. Analyse. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Down to Earth , Insights on India

Why the question:

The Economic Survey 2022-2023, presented by the Union finance minister to Parliament January 31, has a special mention of India’s little-known but high-impact banking operation: the women-led self-help groups (SHG) disbursing billions of rupees every year.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the role of SHGs in women empowerment and suggest innovative measures to improve their performance.

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: 

Start by defining SHGs and the origin and growth of the SHG movement in India.

Body:

First, write about the role played by the SHGs in women empowerment – breaking chains of poverty, collective action, self-employment and financial independence and credit disbursal etc.

Next, write about the various factors which have constrained SHGs from realising their full potential e.g. use of funds for personal use, lack of awareness, digital divide, and lack of financial literacy.

Suggest innovative measures to overcome these- e.g. establishing credit counselling centres in districts.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

A self-help group (SHG) is a village-based financial intermediary committee normally consist of 10–20 local women or men. When the formal financial system fails to help the needy, then small groups volunteer to cater to the needs of the financially weak by collecting, saving and lending the money on a micro scale. SHGs have gained wide recognition in most developing countries in Asia where their presence is quite pervasive

Body

Role of SHG’s in women empowerment

• Capital formation: Through micro-finance, many SHG’s have created valuable assets and capital in the rural areas and are sustaining livelihoods.
• Access to credit: SHGs provide better access to credit at acceptable and convenient terms. The members have been able to obtain loans for emergent productive and non-productive purposes on comparatively easy terms. This has reduced their dependence on local moneylenders to a large extent.
  • Government initiative such as SHG-Bank linkage program is also increasing their financial inclusion and easy access to credit from formal institutions.
• Poverty Alleviation: The approach of poverty alleviation through SHG is the most effective means and suits the ongoing process of reforms based on the policy of decentralization.
  • SHGs have given the poor the access to microfinance and consequently led to important changes in their access to productive resources such as land, water, knowledge, technology and credit.
• Employment generation: Self-employment activities such as collective farming, bee-keeping, horticulture, sericulture have been taken up by SHG’s.
• Social welfare: There are many successful cases where SHG women have come together to close liquor shops in their village.
• Rural infrastructure: Schemes such as Aajeevika express have helped SHG’s in creating transport in rural areas.
• Women empowerment: SHGs have been able to improve the skills of women to do various things by managing the available natural resources.
  • It is estimated that more than 25 million rural women of India have been benefited by the Self Help Groups (SHG).
  • As a group they can help each other to learn so many things along with the money management because most of the women in the rural areas have a very little knowledge for the management of money.
  • g. Kudumbashree in Kerala has been a huge success. Kudumbashree café is an exemplary example of nurturing entrepreneurship through SHG’s.
• They also act as a delivery mechanism for various services like entrepreneurial training, livelihood promotion activity and community development programs.

Challenges faced

• There are issues like regional imbalance, less than ideal average loan size, lack of monitoring and training support by self-help group federations.
• Escalating non-performing assets of self-help group loans with banks.
• Several studies have also found issues related to governance, quality, transparency and irregularity in their functions.
• Low levels of literacy among the rural women.
• The study found that over time groups were disintegrating on account of coordination issues.
• Rural micro-enterprises run by SHG members suffer from critical bottlenecks, whether in raising funds for start-up, growth and working capital or accessing high-quality technical assistance.

Way Forward

• Government programs can be implemented through SHGs.
• This will not only improve the transparency and efficiency but also bring our society closer to Self-Governance as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Constant and enduring structural handholding support from the self-help group promoting institutions (SHPIs).
• Frequent awareness camps can be organised by the Rural Development department authorities to create awareness about different schemes.
• Periodic capacity-building of all members, to make the group the collective.
• With the Government’s focus on digital financial inclusion, investing in training of group members for transition towards technological platforms.
• It is important to invest in providing the right kind of support to maximize the impact these groups can have on livelihoods.
• Emphasising SHG movement on women’s entrepreneurship as an engine of growth in rural India.
• There should not be any discrimination among members based on caste, religion or political affiliations

Conclusion

SHG approach is an enabling, empowering, and bottom-up approach for rural development that has provided considerable economic and non-economic externalities to low-income households in developing countries. SHG approach is being hailed as a sustainable tool to combat poverty, combining a for-profit approach that is self-sustaining, and a poverty alleviation focus that empowers low-income households. It is increasingly becoming a tool to exercise developmental priorities for governments in developing countries.

Value addition

Evolution of SHGs

• The concept evolved over decades and was pioneered by Noble laureate Mohammad Yunus as Self Help Groups (SHGs) in 1970s.
• SHG movement in India gained momentum after 1992, when NABARD realized its potential and started promoting it.
• NABARD’s SHG-Bank Linkage Program (SBLP) connected group members to formal financial services.
• Over the last two decades, the SBLP has proven to be a great medium for social and economic empowerment for rural women.
• India has witnessed state-led promotion of SHGs through a three-tiered architecture of community institutions at group, village and cluster level.

In 1999, Government of India, introduced Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarojgaar Yojana (SGSY) to promote self- employment in rural areas through formation and skilling of SHGs.

Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.

2. An earthquake is the sudden movement of Earth’s crust at a fault line. Elaborate. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: Insights on India

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about mechanism of natural earthquakes.

Directive word: 

Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by defining an Earthquake.

Body:

In first part, give a brief about the mechanism of an earthquake and how it occurs. Tectonic plates are constantly shifting as they drift around on the viscous, or slowly flowing, mantle layer below. Mention how this results in a earthquake. Draw a neat representative diagram to for better representation.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing about the importance of preparedness to deal with earthquakes.

Introduction

An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the Earth, resulting from the sudden release of energy in the Earth‘s lithosphere that creates seismic waves. It is a natural event. Earthquake is the form of energy of wave motion transmitted through the surface layer of the earth. The location below the earth’s surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter, and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the epicenter.

Body

Factors that cause earthquakes

• The Earth’s crust consists of seven large lithospheric plates and numerous smaller plates. These plates move towards each other (a convergent boundary), apart (a divergent boundary) or past each other (a transform boundary).
• Earthquakes are caused by a sudden release of stress along faults in the earth’s crust.
• The continuous motion of tectonic plates causes a steady build-up of pressure in the rock strata on both sides of a fault until the stress is sufficiently great that it is released in a sudden, jerky movement. Earthquakes caused by plate tectonics are called tectonic quakes.
• Induced quakes are caused by human activity, like tunnel construction, filling reservoirs and implementing geothermal or fracking projects. The earthquakes that occur in the areas of large reservoirs are referred to as reservoir induced earthquakes.
• Volcanic quakes are associated with active volcanism. They are generally not as powerful as tectonic quakes and often occur relatively near the surface. Consequently, they are usually only felt in the vicinity of the hypocenter.
• Collapse quakes can be triggered by such phenomena as cave-ins, mostly in karst areas or close to mining facilities, as a result of subsidence.
• Ground shaking may also occur due to the explosion of chemical or nuclear devices. Such tremors are called explosion earthquakes.

Conclusion

Unlike other disasters, the damages caused by earthquakes are more devastating. Since it also destroys most of the transport and communication links, providing timely relief to the victims becomes difficult. It is not possible to prevent the occurrence of an earthquake; hence, the next best option is to emphasis on disaster preparedness and mitigation rather than curative measures.

Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.

3. When the air in equatorial areas becomes warmer and less dense than the surrounding air, it rises to be replaced by air flowing in from other, cooler areas. Discuss the various factors responsible for the formation of global wind belts.  (250 words)

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 factors affecting horizontal movement of air, causes behind wind belts and their distribution.

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 wind belts.

Body:

First, draw a neat labelled diagram showing the global distribution of various wind belts and explain each belt in detail. The three major global wind belts are polar easterlies, westerlies, and trade winds.

Next, explain the factors that lead to the development of pressures belts – Atmospheric Pressure Gradient, Coriolis Effect, Frictional Force etc, Earth’s revolution, Seasonal variations.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

Introduction

The distribution of atmospheric pressure across the latitudes is termed global horizontal distribution of pressure. Its main feature is its zonal character known as pressure belts. All air movements have their roots in pressure differentials in the atmosphere, called pressure gradients. Systematic differences in the Earth’s land temperature affect air pressure, and significant patterns of pressure that persist over time are called pressure belts, or wind belts. Wind belts depend on temperature, so temperature changes can move the belts and also change wind patterns.

Body

The development of pressure belts:

• Thermal Factors
  • When air is heated, it expands and, hence, its density decreases. This naturally leads to low pressure.
  • On the contrary, cooling results in contraction. This increases the density and thus leads to high pressure.
  • Formation of equatorial low and polar highs are examples of thermal lows and thermal highs, respectively.
• Dynamic Factors
  • Apart from variations of temperature, the formation of pressure belts may be explained by dynamic controls arising out of pressure gradient forces and rotation of the earth (Coriolis force).

The horizontal distribution of air pressure across the latitudes is characterized by high or low-pressure belts. These pressure belts are:

• Equatorial Low-Pressure Belts
  • This low-pressure belt extends from 0 to 5° North and South of Equator.
  • Due to the vertical rays of the sun here, there is intense heating.
  • The air, therefore, expands and rises as convection current causing low pressure to develop here.
  • This low-pressure belt is also called as doldrums because it is a zone of total calm without any breeze.
• Subtropical High-Pressure Belts
  • At about 30°North and South of Equator lies the area where the ascending equatorial air currents descend.
  • This area is thus an area of high pressure. It is also called as the Horse latitude. Winds always blow from high pressure to low pressure.
  • So, the winds from subtropical region blow towards the Equator as Trade winds and another wind blow towards Sub-Polar Low-Pressure as Westerlies.
• Circum-Polar Low-Pressure Belts
  • These belts located between 60° and 70° in each hemisphere are known as Circum-Polar Low-Pressure Belts.
  • In the Subtropical region, the descending air gets divided into two parts.
  • One-part blows towards the Equatorial Low-Pressure Belt. The other part blows towards the Circum-Polar Low-Pressure Belt.
  • This zone is marked by the ascent of warm Subtropical air over cold polar air blowing from poles. Due to the earth’s rotation, the winds surrounding the Polar region blow towards the Equator.
  • Centrifugal forces operating in this region create the low-pressure belt appropriately called the Circumpolar Low-Pressure Belt.
  • This region is marked by violent storms in winter.
• Polar High-Pressure Areas
  • At the North and South Poles, between 70° to 90° North and South, the temperatures are always extremely low.
  • The cold descending air gives rise to high pressures over the Poles. These areas of Polar high pressure are known as the Polar Highs.
  • These regions are characterized by permanent Ice Caps.

Conclusion

The shifting of the pressure belts causes seasonal changes in the climate, especially between latitudes 30° and 40° in both hemispheres. The Monsoon climate is the result of the shifting of pressure and wind belts.

General Studies – 2

Topic: India and its neighbourhood- relations.

4. As the world’s largest democracy, India desires a stable and prosperous Myanmar where democracy flourishes. But India has to prioritise its own economic and strategic interests in Myanmar. Critically examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question:

Myanmar today remains pessimistic about its future. Exactly two years ago, the military staged yet another coup, snatching power from the elected leaders. It derailed the limited democracy of the previous decade, violating the 2008 constitution which the generals had given to the people.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the importance of Myanmar to India’s foreign policy and steps needed put Myanmar back on a democratic path.

Directive word: 

Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin giving context regarding Indo-Myanmar relations.

Body:

In the first part, mention about the importance of Myanmar to India’s foreign policy. Throw light on economic and strategic significance, act east policy of India etc.

Next, write the various options to ensure the return of democracy in Myanmar. Using U.N and ASEAN, Bilateral diplomacy etc.

Next, write about the other measures of outreach that must be explored by India for a successful Act east policy.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

Myanmar (formerly called Burma) military grabbed power in a coup, third time in the nation’s history since its independence from British rule in 1948. Military (also called Junta and Tatmadaw) has alleged that the general elections held in November 2020 were full of irregularities and that therefore, the results are not valid. This marked the end of Myanmar’s short-lived experience with democracy which began in 2011, when military implemented parliamentary elections and other reforms.

Myanmar today remains pessimistic about its future. Exactly two years ago, the military staged yet another coup, snatching power from the elected leaders. It derailed the limited democracy of the previous decade, violating the 2008 constitution which the generals had given to the people.

Body

Geo-strategic significance of Myanmar for India

• Geopolitical interests: Myanmar sits at the intersection of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policies, and therefore is an essential element in India’s practice of regional diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific, and serves as a land bridge to connect South Asia and Southeast Asia.
• Strategic location: It serves as a buffer between India and China. Myanmar has coastal access to the Bay of Bengal. It connects Bangladesh, China and the restive North-eastern states of India. It is also close to India’s Nicobar archipelago.
• National security: Myanmar-China border has become the epicentre of local armed separatist groups operating on Myanmar soil, and Indian groups, ranging from ULFA in Assam to the NSCN (IM) in Nagaland.
• Economic interests: India has interests in natural resources of Myanmar and also developing certain projects like India–Myanmar–Thailand trilateral highway and Kaladan multi-modal project which is to link India’s landlocked north-eastern States to the Myanmar Port of Sittwe, located in the Bay of Bengal. Instability in Myanmar will be a roadblock to these ambitions.
• Countering China: A weakened Myanmar falling into the clutches of China as a satellite state will pressurize India to do Beijing’s bidding in regional affairs.

Various options to ensure the return of democracy in Myanmar

• International efforts should provide strong incentives and support for critical democracies in the region such as India, Japan and Indonesia to increase dialogue with and assistance for pro-democracy political parties and non-state ethnic nationalities authorities in Myanmar.
• The United States should increase high-level diplomatic engagement with ASEAN to enhance that organization’s resilience to attempts by China to undermine the role the bloc may play in putting the country back on a path toward democracy.
• Despite the military’s best effort to quash it, civil society in Myanmar persists and serves an increasingly important role providing essential services to vulnerable communities and by organizing anti-coup activities.
• The United States and other democracies should continue to provide financial and technical support to civil society.
• Support political dialogues across Myanmar’s diverse, anti-coup movement. These include dialogues under the People’s Representative Committee for Federalism and the National Unity Consultative Council.
• Where possible, the United States should support solidarity and trust-building within the anti-coup movement.
• Dialogues should aim to sincerely address past discrimination and abuses, including those by the NLD and others who have held positions of power.

Approach to be taken by India

• India faces the most challenging dilemma on how to respond to the military coup in Myanmar. India supports the process of democratic transition in Myanmar.
• Though India has expressed deep concern over recent developments in Myanmar, cutting off from the Myanmar military is not a viable option as India has significant economic and strategic interests in Myanmar and its neighbourhood.
• The dual power centres of the military and the civilian government that existed in Naypyitaw until recently, suited India.
• While India’s national interests clearly lie in dealing with whoever is in power in Myanmar, India would find it difficult to openly support the junta given the strong western and American stance.
• On the other hand, it can ill-afford to offend the junta by actively seeking a restoration of democracy there.
• India should continue to engage with the present regime in Myanmar working towards mutual development of people of both the countries while it should support sharing experiences in constitutionalism and federalism to assist Myanmar in resolving the prevailing stalemate.

Conclusion

India is left with very few clear policy options. And yet, it must continue to maintain relations with the government in power in Myanmar while discreetly pushing for political reconciliation in the country. In the meantime, the focus must be on improving trade, connectivity, and security links between the two sides.

General Studies – 3

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

5. Throw light on key take aways from the Economic Survey 2022-23. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Hindu , The Hindu

Why the question:

Painting an exuberant picture of the Indian economy’s prospects thanks to “New Age” reforms undertaken since 2014, the Economic Survey tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament on Tuesday asserted that not only are the pandemic-induced blues over, but the outlook for the years ahead is also rosier than in the pre-COVID years.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the key takeaways from Economic Survey 2022-23.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving context.

Body:

Write about the major finding from the Economic Survey 2022-23 on the flowing aspects – State of economy, post pandemic recovery, inflation, deficits, External vulnerabilities and other various macro-economic parameters.

Next, write about the major concerns mentioned in the survey and measures that are needed to tackle them.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

Economic Survey is a detailed report of the state of the national economy (from agriculture to unemployment to infrastructure) for the year that is coming to a close (2022-23) with forecasts of the upcoming financial year (2023-24). It is prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, under the guidance of the chief economic adviser (CEA).

The Economic Survey 2023, presented by the Finance Minister in Parliament, painted an optimistic picture of the Indian economy’s prospects, claiming that the pandemic-induced blues are over.

Body

Key takeaways from Economic Survey 2022-23

Way forward & Conclusion

• Monetary and fiscal authorities will need to stay proactive and vigilant on inflation as well as the worsening CAD front, which is facing multiple risks due to slowing exports, rising import bills, etc.
• Though the fiscal policy has supported public investments for infrastructure projects, the time has probably come for the private sector to take on the baton of contributing to economic growth.
• Despite challenges, the Indian economy has almost “recouped” what it lost in 2022–2023 and has “renewed” and “re-energized” what had slowed down due to the pandemic.

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

7. What does this quote means to you? (150 words)

“Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.” ―  Montesquieu

Difficulty level: Tough

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Quotes Wednesdays’ in Mission-2023 Secure.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by explaining the literal meaning of the quote and highlighting its core meaning.

Body:

Write about the futility of enacting laws that are needed and how they weaken existing laws or the laws that are actually needed. Mention the impact of enacting laws that are not needed. Cite examples to substantiate.

Conclusion:

Summarise by highlighting the importance of the quote.

Introduction

The maxim conceptualised by French historian and philosopher Baron de Montesquieu describes the distinction between what is necessary and what is useless is trapped in a fog of perceived intent and perpetuation of fear. The fact is that when there are old and unrelated laws to current times, they delay the justice to the concerned citizens.

Body

In case of India, there are archaic and obsolete laws, which are seen by many as most burdensome legacy of colonial times. Among those which remain on the books are more than 300 dating from the colonial era, as well as rules to manage issues arising out of the Partition of India. There are more than a dozen laws imposing redundant taxes that yield little and cost a lot to collect, as well as outdated laws relating to former princely states and the nationalisation of industries and banks.

For Instance, The Bangalore Marriages Validating Act, 1934

Walter James McDonald Redwood, a priest in the southern city of Bangalore, solemnised many local marriages during his time, mistakenly believing that he was authorised to do so. The law was introduced to validate those marriages. However, It’s less clear what relevance it has these days.

Conclusion

Any country should be governed by a set of rules, that when broken yield severe consequences. The laws are modified and truth is twisted over the years of hearing resulting in the justice being denied. It is very important to make changes in the rule book and levy stringent punishment against the wrong doers. Otherwise, sooner or later, the common mass will lose all its faith in the Judiciary and retaliate against every wrong done without seeking justice from the third pillar of the democracy.

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