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: Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu , en.wikipedia.org
Why the question:
The Ministry of Earth Science’s listed the non-materialisation of tenders for constructing a research vessel for the Indian Ocean and chartering a vessel for surveying and exploring Hydrothermal deposits.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about hydrothermal mineral deposits, opportunities and concerns associated with it.
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 defining hydrothermal mineral deposits.
Body:
In the first part, write about the potential of hydrothermal mineral deposits – extraction of valuable minerals, economic benefits, technology development etc.
Next, write about the concerns associated with extraction of hydrothermal mineral deposits – environmental concerns and potential geopolitical tensions with neighbours.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward on the above issue.
Introduction
A hydrothermal mineral deposit is one in which the ore minerals were precipitated from aqueous high-temperature fluid solutions, where Aqueous implies that the solvent is water. The fluids are solutions, and can have salinities up to several times that of seawater. They are in some cases concentrated brines in which salts form more than half the solution by mass. Additionally the fluid may be a solution of water and dissolved gases (e.g. CO2). High temperature can be from normal rock temperatures at a few kilometres depth (≈ 100 °C) to magmatic temperatures (≈ 800 °C).
The Ministry of Earth Science’s listed the non-materialisation of tenders for constructing a research vessel for the Indian Ocean and chartering a vessel for surveying and exploring Hydrothermal deposits.
Body
Formation of Hydrothermal mineral deposits
- These are geological formations that occur when hot, mineral-rich fluids are forced up through cracks and fissures in the Earth’s crust.
- These fluids are typically heated by molten rock (magma) beneath the Earth’s surface and are known as hydrothermal fluids.
- As the fluids cool, minerals and metals precipitate out of the solution, forming hydrothermal mineral deposits.
- These deposits can contain valuable metals such as copper, zinc, gold, and silver.
Potential of Hydrothermal mineral deposits in Indian Ocean
- The Indian Ocean contains several hydrothermal mineral deposits, including massive sulfide deposits, cobalt-rich crusts, and manganese nodules.
- These deposits offer opportunities for valuable mineral extraction, which could potentially benefit the economies of countries in the region.
Challenges posed
- Environmental concerns arise because the extraction of minerals from hydrothermal deposits requires the use of heavy machinery and chemicals, which can have a significant impact on the surrounding marine ecosystem.
- The disturbance caused by the mining process can disrupt fragile deep-sea ecosystems and release toxic chemicals into the water, potentially harming marine life.
- Additionally, the removal of large amounts of minerals can alter the physical and chemical properties of the seafloor, potentially affecting deep-sea currents and ocean circulation.
- Potential geopolitical tensions arise because the exploitation of hydrothermal mineral deposits in the Indian Ocean could lead to disputes over territorial claims and resource rights.
- Several countries in the region, including India, China, and Japan, have expressed interest in exploring and mining these deposits.
- However, the exact extent of each country’s jurisdiction and resource rights in the Indian Ocean is still a matter of debate, leading to the potential for conflict.
Conclusion
Thus, the Hydrothermal mineral deposits in the Indian Ocean offer opportunities for valuable mineral extraction, but their exploitation also raises significant environmental concerns and potential geopolitical tensions. The need of the hour is to carefully manage the attempts to extract minerals from these deposits as well as to minimize environmental impact and avoid conflicts over resource rights.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
India concluded its eighth stint in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at the end of December 2022. And, by any yardstick, its two-year stint has been unprecedented.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the achievements and limitations of India in its stint as non-permanent member of UNSC and to comment on its credentials for a permanent membership.
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.
Body:
First, write about the major achievements of India in its two-year stint at UNSC.
Next, write about the limitation of India in the above.
Next, write about the reasons that lend credibility to India’s claims to permanent membership of UNSC.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced opinion.
Introduction
India concluded its eighth stint in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at the end of December 2022. And, by any yardstick, its two-year stint has been unprecedented. Moreover, in the UNSC, India has sought to prioritise the primacy of a political approach to resolve crises through dialogue and negotiation.
Body
Achievements of India at UNSC
- Maritime security: The Prime Minister of India chaired for the first time a UNSC meeting on maritime security. The Presidential Statement issued was the first holistic document on this issue which, for the first time, had a direct reference to UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as international law setting out the legal framework in the context of maritime activities.
- It also called for, inter alia, freedom of navigation, anti-piracy and combating terror and transnational crime at sea.
- Myanmar issue: There was a military takeover in Myanmar on February 1, 2021 soon after we came into the Council. The Permanent-5 (P-5) were pulling in opposing directions while the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) counselled caution.
- India shares a nearly 1,700 kilometre-long border with Myanmar and it was vital to stop violence, bring in stability and ensure democratic processes went forward. India ensured balanced and comprehensive Council pronouncements, which finally culminated in a resolution on Myanmar (adopted under our presidency) in December 2022.
- Taliban and cross-border terrorism: In August 2021, the Taliban forcefully seized power in Afghanistan. India was able to steer the negotiations which resulted in UNSC Resolution 2593 laying down benchmarks: on stopping cross-border terrorism from Afghan soil, including from proscribed UN terrorist entities in Pakistan.
- Russia-Ukraine war: It was during the Ukraine conflict that India’s independent stand calling for dialogue and peace struck a chord with many developing countries, since they themselves were affected by unilateral sanctions. All levers were being weaponised. India spoke out against such sanctions inter alia on oil, food and fertilizers. With this conflict spilling over into India’s G-20 Presidency, it is time for India, as a credible voice, to launch an initiative to convert its proactive position into action.
- Peacekeeping: In August 2021, India piloted the first UNSC resolution in more than five decades, calling for accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. India gifted two lakh vaccines to all UN peacekeepers.
- Climate Change: In December 2021, India thwarted a move by the West to wrest climate change from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change-led process and bring it under the ambit of the UNSC, where the P-5 are also major historical polluters. The draft resolution was defeated in the Council when India and Russia voted against.
Challenges faced
- While India’s attempt to list terrorists under UNSC Resolution 1267 sanctions (along with the U.S.) was thwarted, in a significant development, the proposal to list Abdul Rehman Makki, Deputy Amir/Chief of the Lashkar-e-Taiba was approved by the UNSC. This listing was the first, with India as a proposer.
- China factor: China is one of the five permanent members of the UNSC and has been using its veto power to block India’s efforts to become a permanent member of the body
- The opposition by China, could be further complimented by India’s assertion with China on Border issues and India’s opposition to China’s Belt & Road Initiative
- Further, India still heavily relies on weaponry imports from US and Russia for its military requirements; which questions its abilities to operate beyond the Indo-pacific region.
Conclusion
As an elected non-permanent member of the UNSC, India has always played an active role in discussions on all issues related to international peace and security. From its first membership in 1950–51 to its current term (2021– 22) in the UNSC, India has embraced certain principles: non-use of force; respect for sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of states; and peaceful settlement of disputes.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights in India
Why the question:
India is now one of the fastest-growing economies globally. However, this growth has not resulted in a corresponding increase in its Human Development Index (HDI).
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the how social inequality is worsened when economic inequalities are added to it and suggest measures to overcome them.
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 defining social inequalities in India.
Body:
First, giving statistic which gives a context about rising economic inequalities in India.
Next, write about how the social inequality and economic inequality are inextricably interlinked. Write about the impact of the above on the Indian society.
Next, suggest measures to overcome the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
There are different kinds of inequalities in India that are multidimensional and intersectional in nature. Economic growth in India has been associated with unequal outcomes that have created divides between regions, sectors and people. The west and south of the country have surged ahead, while the east and north have lagged behind, widening the gap between richer and poorer states.
Body
Reasons for growing inequality in India
- Health:
- Healthcare provisions in India is grossly inadequate and access to healthcare is highly inequitable. Lack of efficient public healthcare and burden of out-of-pocket health expenditures reduces people’s capacity or disables them from investing in the human capital of their children.
- ineffective functioning (corruption and leakages) of the public distribution system (PDS), growing economic inequalities and lack of nutritional awareness pose challenges in combating malnutrition
- Education:
- Basic literacy (the ability to read and write) in the overall population has progressed modestly. However, there is persistent gender differentials, and major differentials by caste and religion.
- The state of functional literacy and professional skills is poor. Indian graduates have low employability and does not meet changing economic structure or support global competitiveness.
- Rising Inequality:
- In India, a large portion of the population is below the poverty line, therefore, they do not have easy access to primary health and education.
- There is growing inequality across social groups and income groups which translates itself into poor socio-economic mobility.
- Lack of socioeconomic mobility hinders human capital development and traps a large section of population to be in the vicious circle of poverty.
- Lack of Skilling:
- According to the National Sample Survey, out of the 470 million people of working age in India, only 10% receive any kind of training or access to skilled employment opportunities.
- There’s a huge mismatch between demand and supply when it comes to skilled workforce and employment opportunities, which could place a strain on the economy in the long run
- Inadequate use of knowledge bases from technology developments:
- There is a disconnect between India’s rate of technological growth and ability to distribute the gains from it by adequately focusing on skilling and health.
- The use of technical advancements has been concentrated in few sectors and benefits accrued by a few elitist sections of the society.
- Jobless growth:
- India’s high growth rate phase (2004-05 to 2010-11) has created significantly fewer jobs as compared to previous decades of economic growth.
- Around 47 % of India’s population is still dependent on agriculture which is notorious for underemployment and disguised unemployment.
- Majority of the workforce is employed by the unorganized sector where workers are underpaid and lack any kind of social security.
- Falling female labour force participation:
- According to data from International Labour Organization and World Bank, India’s female labour force participation rates have fallen from 34.8 % in 1990 to 27 % in 2013.
- Socio-cultural factors and rising family incomes have been identified as the main reasons for this decline.
- Another appalling concern is that a significant proportion of qualified women drop out of the workforce for reasons ranging from no suitable jobs in the locality—particularly in rural areas—to family responsibilities and marriage.
Measures needed
- To engineer an inclusive and sustainable growth for India, the social infrastructure like education, health and social protection are being given utmost priority by the Government
- The gaps in the expenditure on social infrastructure like health and education should be closed by strengthening the delivery mechanisms of the government initiatives. Protecting and investing in people’s health, education, and skilling is vital for reducing income inequality, and sustained inclusive economic growth.
- India needs to increase its spending on health and education. As recommended by the National Health Policy 2017 and the NEP 2020, India needs to increase its spending on health and education to at least 2.5 % in 6 % of GDP respectively from its current levels. Enhancing policies to maintain and even increase health and longevity will therefore be necessary.
- The current situation calls for more and better schools, especially in rural areas. It also calls for better transportation links between rural areas and regional urban hubs.
- India has to invest more in human capital formation at all levels, from primary education to higher education, cutting-edge research and development as well as on vocational training to increase the skill sets of its growing working-age population.
- The flagship schemes such as Skill India, Make in India, and Digital India have to be implemented to achieve convergence between skill training and employment generation.
- Bridging the gender gaps in education, skill development, employment, earnings and reducing social inequalities prevalent in the society have been the underlying goals of the development strategy to enhance human capabilities.
- Improved infrastructure, skill development, access to easy finance, reducing barriers to entrepreneurship and forums for mentorship of emerging entrepreneurs in partnership with corporates are some of measures.
- Decentralized models of development: Social policies for each state must be differentiated to accommodate different rates of population growth. The populations in south and west India are growing at a much slower pace than in the central and eastern states.
Conclusion
As we celebrate the past 75 years, flying the national flag in every home, let us also think about our people for whom little has changed in their lives, with a resolve to ensure that poverty and illiteracy do not exist 25 years from now when we celebrate the first centenary of our independence from colonial rule.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes and consequences of land degradation
Directive:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving statistic related to degrading land.
Body:
First, write about the causes of land degradation – agricultural practices, deforestation, urbanization and industrialization, and climate change.
Next, write about the negative impact of Land degradation and how it impacts on human ecosystem and health.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward on overcoming the above shortcomings.
Introduction
Land degradation is defined as the temporary or permanent decline in the productive capacity of the land, and the diminution of the productive potential, including its major land uses (e.g., rain-fed arable, irrigation, forests), its farming systems (e.g., smallholder subsistence), and its value as an economic resource.
Body
Status of Land Degradation in India
- About 29.32% of the Total Geographical Area of the country is undergoing the process of desertification/land degradation.
- This equals nearly 94.6 million hectares in India.
- Approximately 6.35% of land in Uttar Pradesh is undergoing desertification/degradation.
- The State of India’s Environment report, 2017 calculates that nearly 30 per cent of India is degraded or facing desertification. This figure touches 40 to 70 percent in eight states—Rajasthan, Delhi, Goa, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Tripura and Himachal Pradesh.
- Various estimates put the economic costs of degradation in the country at 2.54% of its GDP.
Causes of Land Degradation
- Nearly 30% of India’s land area has been degraded through deforestation, over-cultivation, soil erosion and depletion of wetlands, as per a 2016 study by Space Applications Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
- Agricultural production systems made less resilient by the loss of biodiversity.
- Natural factors such as climate variability and extreme weather events.
- Overgrazing and over grafting, inappropriate irrigation, Urban sprawl and commercial development and Soil Pollution.
Steps taken to check growing land degradation in India
- To fight this menace, India will convert degraded land of nearly 50 lakh (5 million) hectares to fertile land in the next 10 years (between 2021 and 2030).
- A Centre for Excellence would be set up in Dehradun for land degradation neutrality.
- Bonn Challenge: “Bonn Challenge” is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.
- 5 million hectares are part of the Bonn Challenge
- At the UNFCCC (COP) 2015 in Paris, India joined the voluntary Bonn Challenge and pledged to bring into restoration 13 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2020, and an additional 8 million hectares by 2030.
- India’s pledge is one of the largest in Asia.
- Soil Health Card: Farmers will be provided with a scientific assessment card of their field soil. This will help in mixing right amount of fertiliser to ensure fertility of land.
- Micro-irrigation: This will prevent soil-erosion and land degardation by preserving top soil.
- Government has set up Micro-irrigation fund under NABARD to help states increasing land under drip irrigation.
- National Afforestation & Eco Development Board (NAEB) Division of the MoEFCC is implementing the “National Afforestation Programme (NAP)” for ecological restoration of degraded forest areas.
- Various other schemes like Green India Mission, fund accumulated under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), Nagar Van Yojana also help in checking degradation and restoration of forest landscape.
- MoEF&CC also promote tree outside forests realizing that the country has a huge potential for increasing its Trees Outside Forest (TOF) area primarily through expansion of agroforestry, optimum use of wastelands and vacant lands.
Conclusion
India must commit itself towards Land degradation neutrality. The impact can be reduced by proper management of mining process, using advanced technologies rather than conventional methods. Agricultural intensification needs to be managed properly to reduce the environmental effect. This can be done through education of the farmers. The government must take the warning on desertification seriously because land has synergistic benefits for biodiversity and creating carbon sink.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes and consequences of desertification in India.
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 desertification and present statistics regarding it.
Body:
First, write about its causes – It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. It occurs because dryland ecosystems, which cover over one third of the world ‘s land area, are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation and inappropriate land use.
Next, elaborate upon the socio-economic impact of desertification.
Next, stress on the measures needed to fight desertification.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. Desertification does not refer to the expansion of existing deserts. It occurs because dryland ecosystems, which cover over one-third of the world‘s land area, are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation and inappropriate land use. Poverty, political instability, deforestation, overgrazing and bad irrigation practices can all undermine the productivity of the land.
Body
Main reasons that cause desertification in India are:
- Water erosion (10.98 per cent).
- Wind erosion (5.55 per cent).
- Human-made/settlements (0.69 per cent).
- Vegetation degradation (8.91 per cent).
- Salinity (1.12 per cent).
- Others (2.07 per cent).
Need for sustainable land management for combating desertification and land degradation
- Drought:
- By 2025, 1.8 billion people will experience absolute water scarcity, and 2/3 of the world will be living under water-stressed conditions.
- A complex and slowly encroaching natural hazard with significant and pervasive socio-economic and environmental impacts to cause more deaths and displace more people than any other natural disaster.
- India has witnessed increase in the level of desertification in 26 of 29 states between 2003-05 and 2011-13, according to the State of India’s Environment (SoE) 2019 in Figures.
- More water is being drawn than it is being replenished. :The rate of water extraction in Punjab is 1.66 times against the rate of replenishment.
- Because of the adoption of a faulty cropping pattern. Paddy crop hampers water recharging because of the puddling method used to prepare fields for transplanting.
- Human Security:
- By 2045 some 135 million people may be displaced as a result of desertification.
- Achieving land degradation neutrality -by rehabilitating already degraded land, scaling up sustainable land management and accelerating restoration initiatives- is a pathway to greater resilience and security for all.
- Climate:
- Restoring the soils of degraded ecosystems has the potential to store up to 3 billion tons of carbon annually.
- The land use sector represents almost 25% of total global emissions. Its rehabilitation and sustainable management are critical to combating climate change.
Measures needed
- UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framework: It is the most comprehensive global commitment to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in order to restore the productivity of vast expanses of degraded land, improve the livelihoods of more than 1.3 billion people, and reduce the impacts of drought on vulnerable populations to build.
- Setting up of an Intergovernmental Panel on Land and Soil will be very helpful in speeding up efforts to check desertification.
- Farmers must be incentivised to choose cropping patterns that require less water, and go for drip irrigation or other water management mechanisms to save our only available deeper aquifers.
- Developing countries need to integrate their poverty eradication programmes with strategies to fight desertification.
- Lessons from the world:
- In Africa, several countries have come together to form a 12,000 sq.km “great green wall” extending from Senegal to Djibouti with the participation of local communities.
- People’s participation is crucial in reclaiming lands. China’s “great green wall” project is on a massive scale and is now starting to show results.
- The techniques include agro-forestry and farmer-managed natural regeneration. Small community initiatives like
- Closure of degraded lands for grazing
- Curtailing farming
- Growing fast-growing plants
- Raising tall trees that serve as a barrier against winds and sandstorms are very effective.
- National governments could consider building large green belts, prioritise forestry programmes and launch projects of fixing and stabilising sands.
Conclusion
Desertification is being accentuated by climate change. Thus, a comprehensive sustainable developmental approach is needed by the countries.
Topic: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Hindustan Time , Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
A group of pro-Khalistan protesters on Sunday attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, prompting sharp condemnation from Indian-Americans who demanded immediate action against those responsible for it.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the threats from the Khalistani separatist movements and steps needed to nip it in the bud.
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.
Body:
In the first part, write about the decline that was witnessed in the Khalistan insurgency in the recent years to due various steps of the government.
Next, write about recent developments and the Khalistan movement in India and abroad and threats to Indian internal security from it.
Next, write about the measures that are needed to tackle it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Amritpal Singh, a follower of the Sikh militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who has been preaching the Idea of Khalistan Separatist Movement in Punjab for a few months, has managed to escape. The Khalistan movement is a fight for a separate, sovereign Sikh state in present day Punjab (both India and Pakistan).
The movement was crushed in India following Operation Blue Star (1984) and Operation Black Thunder (1986 and 1988), but it continues to evoke sympathy and support among sections of the Sikh population, especially in the Sikh diaspora in countries such as Canada, the UK, and Australia.
Body
Khalistan movement: Background
- Its origins have been traced back to India’s independence and subsequent Partition along religious lines.
- The Punjab province, which was divided between India and Pakistan, witnessed communal violence and generated millions of refugees.
- The historic Sikh Empire’s capital, Lahore, as well as sacred Sikh sites like Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, went to Pakistan.
- While most Sikhs found themselves in India, they were a small minority (2% of the population) in the country.
- The political struggle for greater autonomy began with the Punjabi Suba Movement for the creation of a Punjabi-speaking state.
- The States Reorganisation Commission report (1955) rejected this demand, but the state of Punjab was reorganised (trifurcated into the Hindi-Hindu-majority HP and Haryana, and Punjabi-Sikh-majority Punjab) in 1966.
- The Punjabi Suba movement had galvanised the Akali Dal, which concluded the Anandpur Sahib Resolution (1973) demanding autonomy (not secession from India) for the state of Punjab.
- This demand had gone global by 1971 – when an advertisement in The New York Times proclaimed the birth of Khalistan.
- By the 1980s, the appeal of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale had started creating trouble for the government.
- He and his followers (mostly from the lower rungs of the social ladder) were getting increasingly violent.
- In 1982, with support from the Akali Dal’s leadership, he launched a civil disobedience movement called the Dharam Yudh Morcha and took up residence inside the Golden Temple, directing demonstrations and clashes with the police.
- The Khalistan movement was crushed in India following Operation Blue Star (by the Indian Army to flush out militants from the Golden Temple and neutralise Bhindranwale in 1984) and Operation Black Thunder (1986 and 1988).
- While the operations were ostensibly successful in their aims, they gravely wounded (by the desecration of the Golden Temple) the Sikh community around the world and also galvanised the demand for Khalistan.
Decline of support to khalistan movement
- The bulk of the population turned against the militants, and India headed towards economic liberalisation.
- Punjab has long been peaceful, but the movement lives among some Sikh communities overseas.
- The diaspora is composed predominantly of people who don’t want to live in India.
- These people include many who remember the bad old days of the 1980s, and thus the support for Khalistan remains stronger there.
- The deep-rooted anger over Operation Blue Star and the desecration of the Golden Temple continues to resonate with some in the newer generations of Sikhs. However, even as Bhindranwale is viewed as a martyr by many and the 1980s remembered as dark times, this has not manifested into tangible political support for the Khalistan cause.
- There is a small minority that is clinging to the past, and that small minority remains significant not because of popular support, but rather because they are trying to keep up their political influence with various political parties both from the left and the right.
Impact on India’s internal security
- Threat to national security and integrity: the resurgence of the Khalistan movement is a threat to national security similar to the Kashmir and NE insurgency.
- May darken Punjab’s future: a poor law and order situation may deter investors to invest in Punjab thus further deteriorating its economy and leading to spillover effects in social and political sectors.
- Involvement of diaspora: The idea of forming a separate state for Sikhs has died down in Punjab; however, it has attracted the attention of a large audience in the diaspora who now have settled in other nations for long and thus have lost their affinity with India as their homeland.
- Misuse of social media: which defies any international boundary, thus misused by separatists in Pakistan and other nations.
- Bilateral relations may be harmed: the Khalistan issue has already harmed Indo- Canada relations and now straining Indo-UK due to the conduction of Referendum 2020 in these countries despite the Indian Government’s objection.
Steps to be taken to nip Khalistan from the bud
- Recognising new challenges: Recognizing the challenge posed by traditional stakeholders and new social media recruits is necessary.
- Collaborate with foreign governments: The Indian security and intelligence forces need to collaborate with foreign governments to monitor anti-India activities carried out by the Khalistani forces and restrict their funding sources.
- Enhance security efforts: The Indian government must heighten security efforts to counteract the increase in Khalistani social media activity since the opening up of the Kartarpur Corridor.
- Promote economic and social development: At the domestic level, the Punjab and Union governments and security forces must collaborate to improve the economic condition of the state to again put the state on the path of development.
- Engage with the Sikh diaspora: Indian agencies, such as the missions established in those countries, must diplomatically engage with the Sikh diaspora to tackle the misinformation campaign being peddled by Khalistani organizations. Such engagements will facilitate a positive relationship between the Indian state and the Sikh diaspora.
- Beef up security: Indian security forces need to step up their preparedness to tackle the increase in drones used to deliver weapons and drugs to Punjab.
- Engage Pakistan: In addition to Western countries, India should not back away from exercising diplomacy with Pakistan and should work to extradite terrorists hiding in Pakistan.
Conclusion
The violent Khalistani movement has vanished; however, the idea of a separate Sikh nation i.e Khalistan is yet to disappear.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of Family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
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-2023 Secure.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about cognitive dissonance and ways to deal with it.
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 cognitive dissonance.
Body:
Next, mention the various reasons why cognitive dissonance occurs and the potential implications of it. Cite examples of substantiate.
Next, mention the ways to deal and adapt for cognitive dissonance.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stressing on the way to manage cognitive dissonance.
Introduction
Cognitive dissonance is a phenomenon in which a person experiences psychological distress due to conflicting thoughts or beliefs. It is the mental stress or uneasiness experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory views, ideas, or values at the same time, or is confronted by new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, ideas, or values. It means people prefer their attitude and behaviour to be aligned in the same direction.
In order to reduce this tension, people may change their attitudes to reflect their other beliefs or actual behaviours.
Body
Importance of addressing cognitive dissonance
- If we’re not self-aware, cognitive dissonance can leave you acting and feeling pretty out of character.
- For instance, we all like to think of ourselves in certain ways. We consider ourselves to be truthful, hard-working, health-conscious, and in control. But our actions don’t always line up with what we think of ourselves.
- This kind of incongruence can cause some serious mental discomfort.
- Cognitive dissonance threatens our identity and sense of self.
- That’s why it’s important to recognize what it is and what it feels like — if you don’t, then it will be that much harder to live an authentic life aligned with your personal values.
- Over time, living out of integrity with our values begins to take its toll on our psychological well-being and mental health.
Ways to eliminate Cognitive Dissonance:
- Denying and rejecting
- Rejection comes easy when a dissonant activity is oft-repeated.
- For instance, each time you eat meat while on a vegan diet creates more or less the same amount of cognitive dissonance, but the more often you do it, the easier it gets to handle the conflict
- People frequently reduce cognitive dissonance by discounting and dismissing information that contradicts their beliefs.
- They may cut off access to new information that refutes their pre-existing ideas and only remain open to data that support their beliefs. This is called “confirmation bias.”
- Convincing Self Or Others
- The easiest way for a person to reduce their cognitive dissonance is to convince oneself that there is no conflict.
- A person suffering from cognitive dissonance may reach out to and find support from other people who hold similar opinions or matching ideologies, and join their group.
- They may try persuading others that all fresh information is agenda-driven and fallacious.
- Rationalizing The Behaviour
- Rationalizing is the process of applying logic to a situation. To reduce cognitive dissonance, a person may rationalize their actions by inventing implausible (and sometimes ridiculous) excuses.
- Despite knowing that smoking causes cancer, a smoker may rationalize the habit by claiming they only smoke once or twice a day and only when they are stressed at work.
- Reconciling The Differences
- This involves resolving the differences causing mental discomfort. The person may accept the validity of pre-existing beliefs and change their behavior consistent with their views.
- Long-term goals to eliminate dissonance are more likely to necessitate the use of elaborate strategies like transcendence and attitude change.
- Alternatively, it could lead them to abandon their established beliefs and form new ones.
Conclusion
A civil servant should always follow the constitutional moral values, code of conduct of services and act within ethical framework of public service in any case of cognitive dissonance.
Join our Official Telegram Channel HERE
Please subscribe to Our podcast channel HERE
Subscribe to our YouTube ChannelHERE
Follow our Twitter Account HERE
Follow our Instagram ID HERE
Follow us on LinkedIn : HERE
