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; Social empowerment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article discusses the progress made towards gender equality on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the progress made towards achieving gender equality and further steps that are needed to achieve gender equality.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start the answer by giving context.
Body:
In the first part, mention the progress made towards achieving gender equality – advancements in education, workforce participation, and addressing gender-based violence.
Next, write about the shortcomings of the above and areas where still progress needs to be made – women still face discrimination and inequality in various areas, including political representation, access to healthcare, and pay.
Next, write about the steps that are needed to overcome the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
India ranks 135 among a total of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index, 2022, released by the World Economic Forum. The Global Gender Gap Report, 2022, says it will now take 132 years to reach gender parity, with the gap reducing only by four years since 2021 and the gender gap closed by 68. 1%. India ranks poorly among its neighbours and is behind Bangladesh (71), Nepal (96), Sri Lanka (110), Maldives (117) and Bhutan (126). Only the performance of Iran (143), Pakistan (145) and Afghanistan(146) was worse than India in South Asia. In 2021, India ranked 140 out of 156 nations.
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Causes for Gender inequality in the country
- High gender divide: The gender gap in the country has widened, with only 62.5% of it closed and especially low gender parity in political empowerment and economic participation and opportunity.
- Wage gap: Women are paid considerably less than men, with some research showing that the gender pay gap between women and men in the same jobs with equivalent qualifications can be as much as 34%.
- Labour force participation: India, as of 2020, has the lowest female labour force participation rate among South Asian nations, with four out of five women neither working nor looking for jobs.
- High Job loss: According to Oxfam, 17 million women in India lost their jobs in April 2020, with their unemployment rate rising far higher than that among men.
- Lesser opportunities for women: Women were found to be seven times more likely to lose their jobs during the lockdown phases, and if rendered unemployed, were 11 times more likely to remain jobless than their male counterparts.
- Uneven domestic responsibility: Potential reasons for this include the increased burden of domestic responsibilities that Indian women typically had to bear, in terms of not just household chores but extra time needed for elderly care and children’s studies, with schools shut.
- Even pre-pandemic, a Time Use Survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office showed that women spent nearly 4.5 hours on childcare and other care-giving responsibilities, in contrast with the meagre 0.88 hours for men.
Impact on society
- Pre-natal sex-selective Abortion:The most extreme expression of the preference for sons is female infanticide and sex selective abortion. A study in a Bombay hospital found that 96% of female were aborted.
- Sexual Harassment at work places: is a harassment of a sexual nature, typically in the work place. Sexual harassment is considered a form of illegal discrimination. Sexual harassment at work place is not an isolated phenomenon but a mainfestaion of the larger gender discrimination in society.
- Female are malnourished: India has exceptionally high rate of child malnutrition, because tradition in India requires that women eat last and least throughout their lives, even when pregnant.
- Women are uneducated: Families are far less likely to educate girls than boys and far more likely to pull them out of school, either to help out at home or from fear of violence. So women and girls receive far less education than men both due to social norms and fears of violence.
- Women are in Poor health: Females receive less health care than males. Many women die in childbirth. The practice of breast feeding female children for shorter periods of time reflects the strong desire for sons.
- Women are overworked: Women work longer hours and their work is more than the men (agricultural Work).
- Women are Unskilled: Women have unequal access to resources.
- Injustice Policy of Reservation in Public office: The women occupy 46% of the Indian population but reservation is given for only 33% where reserved.
- Women are mistreated: In recent year there has been an alarming rise in atrocities against women in India in term s of rapes, assaults and dowry related murders.
- Women are Powerless: While women are guaranteed equality under the constitution. But due to lack of power to decide who they will marry and are often married off as children.
Need of the hour
- Behavioral Nudge:For instance, by using taxes to incentivize fairly sharing child-care responsibilities, or by encouraging women and girls to enter traditionally male-dominated sectors such as the armed forces and information technology. Eg Supreme Court in India declared that women could now hold commanding positions in Army.
- Paternity leaves for men, to share the responsibility of child rearing.
- Incentivizing companies to employ women, and reach 50% target.
- Gender Justice at Work
- Bridging the wage gap for equal work.
- Making work places safer through strong laws. India has enacted Sexual Harassment at workplaces act.
- Promote diversity and anti-bias courses for all employees.
- Comprehensive leadership training for women to excel in their fields.
- Gender sensitization:Breaking the social barriers by gender sensitization and education at families, schools and workplaces. Eg : In the NCERT Books, gender roles, bias and prejudice inducing writings were removed.
- Social security and financial literacy: Formalization of jobs should be pushed to avail benefits to many women. Until then, social security benefits should be provided to women in unorganized sector.Eg : Self Help Group-Bank Linkage Programme in India
- Embedding financial literacy in programmes where women have significant representation could be a good starting point.
- Strong laws and policies wrt equal pay for equal work, maternity benefits are needed to promote women’s representation in economy.
- Political Representation:India has provided 33% reservation for women in the Panchayats and Local Bodies. Capacity Building and training can increase their capabilities further.
Way forward
- Learning from the Nordic region, noteworthy participation of women in politics, institutions and public life is the catalyst for transformational change.
- Women need to be equal participants in the labour force to pioneer the societal changes the world needs in this integral period of transition.
- Every effort must be directed towards achieving gender parallelism by facilitating women in leadership and decision-making positions.
- Social protection programmes should be gender-responsive and account for the differential needs of women and girls.
- Research and scientific literature also provide unequivocal evidence that countries led by women are dealing with the pandemic more effectively than many others.
Conclusion
Gender equality is a human right which entitles all persons irrespective of their gender to live with dignity and with freedom. Gender equality is also a precondition for development and reducing of poverty. Gender shouldn’t be an unreasonable determining factor curbing the potential of women.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
Despite tall claims and green lights, Govt yet to sign final MoUs with universities selected for Institution of Eminence (IOE), from Navi Mumbai to Odisha and TN.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about IOE, their potential and limitations.
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 by aims and objectives behind the Institutions of Eminence (IOE).
Body:
First, in brief, write about the features of Institutions of Eminence (IOE).
Next, write about the potential of Institutions of Eminence (IOE).
Next, write about the various shortcomings of Institutions of Eminence (IOE) – include lack of transparency in the selection process, favouritism in the selection of institutions, potential funding disparities, corporate influence in the selection process, and implementation challenges.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward to overcome the above issues.
Introduction
The status of ‘Institute of Eminence’ was launched to empower higher education institutions in India and help them implement world-class teaching systems to enhance affordable access to high-quality education. HRD Ministry of India grants the Institution of Eminence status to multiple universities. The University Grants Commission set the IoE scheme in 2017. Twenty institutions received the grant, and eleven among the selected ones got the Institutions of Eminence status in April 2021.
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The IoE universities have specific features that can help them stand out among the crowd. Only higher education institutions currently placed in the top 500 of global rankings or top 50 of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) are eligible to apply for the eminence tag.
The private Institutions of Eminence can also come up as greenfield ventures-provided the sponsoring organisation submits a convincing perspective plan for 15 years. The HRD Ministry is supposed to give Rs 1,000 crore, over five years, to each of the public educational institutes declared as ‘eminent’.
Benefits of the universities with the IoE status
- They have the option to admit merit-based overseas students to fill up to 30% of the number of admitted domestic students.
- They will get unrestricted flexibility to charge fees to international students.
- They have the authority to choose the domestic student cost, with the condition that no accepted student should be turned away for financial reasons.
- The process should be coupled with a reputable program of loans and scholarships to ensure that those in need can pursue higher education without facing financial difficulties.
- After receiving the approval of its Governing Council and generally adhering to the prevailing minimum standards communicated to the Commission or Professional Regulatory Councils, they would get the freedom to offer courses within a program and degrees in newer areas, including interdisciplinary ones.
- After getting approved by their Governing Council and broadly adhering to the minimal prevalent requirements, they would be allowed the freedom to choose their course structure concerning the number of credits and years to complete a degree.
- The institutions will have the flexibility to adjust the curriculum and syllabus without a UGC-mandated curriculum structure.
Challenges
- Despite tall claims and green lights, Govt yet to sign final MoUs with universities selected for Institution of Eminence (IOE), from Navi Mumbai to Odisha and TN.
- Some IOEs have flagged challenges in implementing their IoE plans on the grounds of inadequate and delayed funding by the government.
- It is opined that IoE selection process is faultyas the reputed institutes like Jawaharlal Nehru University, which has figured in international rankings and produced many well-known public intellectuals is not considered for the IoE award.
- Granting of IoE status to private institutions that are run with a commercial motive can encourage the commercialisation of education.
- Academics make statements saying the quality of higher education in the country is not of international standard and policy makers and bureaucrats justify saying that such rankings are not suited to the country.
Will IOE Status alone help in making our Universities world class?
- The answer to the question depends on two factors — academic freedom and administrative independence.
- It is said that the universities with the IoE status will be given academic and administrative freedom.
- Academic freedom is important for academic excellence.
- Administrative freedom is essential for smooth functioning.
- If IoEs want to be really competitive globally, they should internationalise higher education.
- It implies that these institutions should give importance to “enhanced international cooperation and capacity building”.
- It is also important for the institutions to have constant exposure to international standards.
- Research and innovation should be the focus of such institutions and funds should be utilised for these purposes.
- They should lead the way in all aspects including teaching, research and innovation and inspire other institutions of higher education.
Way forward
- There is no doubt that we need to improve the quality of our higher education and we should adapt and adopt the best practices followed by real ‘world-class’ institutions across the globe.
- It is the responsibility of top public universities which get government funding to do justice to the people of the nation by providing quality education on par with top universities in the world.
- The IoE status can help the select universities to achieve the goal, provided all stakeholders are committed to the cause and passionate about their institutions’ vision and mission.
Conclusion
India lacks world-class universities according to international rankings, and Indian academics, compared internationally, are rather poorly paid. Students also suffer an immense shortage of places in top academic institutions and throughout the higher education system. India today educates only half as many young people from the university age group as China and ranks well behind most Latin American and other middle-income countries.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched a satellite into orbit using the UK-based company OneWeb’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. This successful launch has boosted ISRO’s reputation in the commercial launch industry, as they are now able to provide launch services to other countries and private companies.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about growing reputation of IRSO in commercial launches and benefits from 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 giving context.
Body:
In the first part, write about the various commercial projects undertaken by ISRO successfully.
Next, write about advantages of the above – revenue, technology development, reputation, competition etc.
Next, write about the concerns associated with commercialisation of ISRO – potential impact of commercialization on ISRO’s core mission of space exploration and research.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
ISRO recently launched LVM-3. This was the second commercial launch of the Indian Space Research Organisation which saw 36 OneWeb satellites placed in orbit. This was also the second launch that ISRO performed for OneWeb, a UK-based company supported by the UK government and India’s Bharti Enterprises.
The launches not only established LVM3 as a commercial vehicle propelling ISRO’s entry into the commercial heavier launch market, it also earned the agency upwards of Rs 1,000 crore.
Body
ISRO’s commercialization efforts
- Till date, ISRO has launched 384 foreign satellites from at least 36 countries, with at least 10 dedicated commercial missions and several other Indian missions where they were carried as co-passenger satellites.
- India has been concentrating on increasing its share of the global commercial space market ever since the country decided to open the space sector to private players in 2020.
- It is one of the world’s major space-faring nations, but it only has 2% of the commercial market at the moment.
- With 36 OneWeb satellites launched in October 2022, the heavy launch vehicle entered the commercial market.
- The government plans to increase India’s 2% share in the commercial market to 10% by 2030 through commercial launches by ISRO and launches offered by private companies like Skyroot and Agnikul, which are in the process of developing their own launch vehicles.
- Keeping the commercial sector in mind, ISRO has also developed the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which is meant to provide on-demand launch services commercially.
- A report of the parliamentary standing committee on the budget of the space agency said that there has been an increase in the revenue generated by ISRO’s commercial arm New Space India Limited, created in 2019.
- As per the report, revenue generated by NSIL has increased from Rs 1,731 crores in 2021-22 to a projected Rs 3,509 crores in 2023-24.
- This is also suggestive of the fact that the Department of Space is transitioning from a research based institution to a more commercially oriented agency with buoyant internal revenues.
Way forward
- India should have national space activities legislation which takes on board all stakeholders.
- A public-private partnership (PPP) model can be looked into to realise ISRO’s workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), with a joint venture between ISRO and the private sector.
- In the UK, space ventures are treated as a complement to big organizations and not a competitor. This should be encouraged in India too.
- A supportive international partner and likeminded local partners helps to set up a space business.
- The idea should be to let the private industry build their own facilities after gaining enough expertise.
- ISRO has built a space technology park spread over 25 acres in Bengaluru where the entire range of facilities have been set up for use by the industry.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India , 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 criteria for Biodiversity Hotspot, threats faced by the hotspots and measures needed for conservation.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin defining Biodiversity Hotspot
Body:
First, write about the two criteria for declaration of a Biodiversity Hotspot and hotspots of India.
Next, write about the major threats faced by them – habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation of natural resources, climate change, and invasive species.
Next, suggest measures needed to overcome the above threats.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Biodiversity Hotspot is a region which is a prime location for the existence of rich biodiversity but also faces the threat of destruction. These are Earth’s most biologically rich—yet threatened—terrestrial regions. Biodiversity hotspots are home to thousands of irreplaceable species that are facing multiple, urgent threats.
There are currently 36 recognized biodiversity hotspots of which 4 are in India. The Himalayas, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma area, and Sundaland. Two of these, the Indo-Burma area and Sundaland, are distributed throughout South Asia and are not precisely contained within India’s formal borders.
Body
According to Conservation International, a region must fulfill the following two criteria to qualify as a hotspot:
- The region should have at least 1500 species of vascular plants i.e., it should have a high degree of endemism.
- It must contain 30% (or less) of its original habitat, i.e. it must be threatened.
major threats faced by the bio diversity hotspots of India
- Climate change and over increasing human disturbance are major causes for forest destruction and species extinction.
- Promoting both outside immigration and internal migration and leading to an exponential increase in the human population in some of the locations with the greatest biodiversity.
- Due to widespread legal and illegal logging, especially on steep slopes, as well as the substantial removal of forests and meadows for farming, there has been serious erosion.
- Logging, over-exploitation of natural resources, industrial agriculture, trade and consumption of wildlife, the building of massive infrastructures including dams, highways, and ports, and climate change are some of the major threats facing Indo-Burma BD hotspot
- During the summer, Himalayan area is frequently burned to make way for livestock, which provides an extra hazard to the forest because fires can occasionally go out of control.
- Rapid deforestation and habitat fragmentation were the results of the conversion of forests and grasslands for agriculture and settlements, mainly in Nepal and the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal (Darjeeling), and Assam.
- In Indo-Burma, commercial timber exploitation ranks second among the causes of deforestation.
- The loss of habitat has had an effect on other landforms, including wetlands and freshwater floodplain swamps.
- Large tracts of mangroves have been contained within aquacultural ponds, and many rivers have been dammed and altered.
- Additionally, certain forest ecosystems have been severely harmed by anthropogenic activities such as domestic cattle overgrazing, overharvesting plants for traditional medicine, collecting fuel wood, and extraction of non-timber forest products.
- Unplanned and poorly managed tourism operations exacerbate environmental damage.
- In the Himalayas, illegal poaching is a significant problem; tigers and rhinoceroses are targeted for their body parts for use in traditional remedies, whilst snow leopards and red pandas are targeted for their stunning pelts.
- The forests of the Western Ghats have been heavily fragmented and selectively cut across their whole range.
- For monoculture plantations of tea, coffee, rubber, oil palm, teak, eucalyptus, and wattle as well as to make room for reservoirs, highways, and railways, forests have been removed.
- More forests are lost due to encroachment into protected areas. On slopes that were once covered in forest, cattle and goat grazing inside and close to protected zones severely erodes them.
- The conflict between humans and wildlife has increased as a result of population growth in protected zones and other woods. In an effort to stop more harm, wild animals are routinely killed or hurt, and farmers are typically under-compensated.
- The stunning flora and wildlife of the Sundaland Hotspot are being rapidly destroyed by industrial forestry on these islands
- Global traffic in animals, uses tigers, monkeys, and turtle species for food and medicine in other nations.
- Only in this area are orangutans located, and their population is rapidly declining.
- Organisms introduced into habitats where they are not native are termed as exotics. They can be thought of us biological pollutants and are considered to be among the most damaging agents of habitat alteration and degradation in the world. Inducing species intentionally or unintentionally (accidentally) from one habitat into another where they have never been before is a very risky business.
Measures needed
- There is a need for remote sensing based vegetation characterisation of biodiversity hotspots in India, with a consistent spatio-temporal scale and vegetation classification.
- A comprehensive study could provide reliable, accurate and up-to-date estimates of biological attributes, vegetation types, diversity, endemism, anthropogenic disturbance, human population density and forest fragmentation.
- In the face of global environmental change, there is need to identify the transition zones in the distribution of endemic plants due to climate change induced species’ migration, which could be addressed by designing dynamic networks such as the ‘Protected Areas Resilient to Climate Change’ (PARCC) developed by UNEP
Conclusion
Biodiversity hotspots are critical for a healthy ecosystem. Biodiversity is the foundation of all life on Earth. There would be no air to breathe, no food to eat, and no water to drink if there were no species. There would be no such thing as human society. The coexistence of living and natural resources is essential for the entire ecological life support system.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: en.wikipedia.org
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 community reserves, their importance and issues faced by them and possible solutions to 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 community reserves
Body:
First, write in detail about the importance of community reserves – conserve natural resources and biodiversity, as well as to provide opportunities for research, education, and eco-tourism etc.
Next, write about the issues surrounding community reserves – human-wildlife conflict, poaching and illegal wildlife trade, a lack of funding, limited participation of local communities, and climate change etc.
Next, write about steps that are needed overcome the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Conservation reserves and community reserves in India are terms denoting protected areas of India which typically act as buffer zones to or connectors and migration corridors between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests of India.
The State Government may designate any community land or private land as a Community Reserve if the members of that community or individuals involved agree to offer such areas for the protection of fauna and flora, as well as their traditions, cultures, and practises.The designation of such an area aims to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the people who live in such areas while also conserving wildlife. A Community Reserve Management Committee oversees the Reserve.
There are 220 existing Community Reserves in India covering an area of 1455.16 km2, which is 0.04% of the geographical area of the country (National Wildlife Database, Jan. 2023).
Body
Importance
- These protected area categories were first introduced in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 − the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
- These categories were added because of reduced protection in and around existing or proposed protected areas due to private ownership of land, and land use.
- It provides a flexible system to achieve wildlife conservation without compromising community needs.
- They are protected area systems in India that bring together local communities and private organisations to manage protected areas.
- Amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act in 2003 provided a mechanism for community-led wildlife protection efforts to be recognised and legally supported.
- It offers a flexible system for wildlife conservation without jeopardising community needs.
- These categories were created in response to decreased protection in and around existing or proposed protected areas as a result of private land ownership and land use.
Threats
- There is still very little awareness among communities and most of the community members are not aware of this policy in its entirety.
- logging, poaching of protected animals, mining, and encroachment by human settlements and agriculture.
- Human activities outside of protected areas are also often a threat – such as those leading to pollution, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species.
- Few protected areas are large enough to support more than a few individuals of these species, and many are isolated from other areas of natural habitat.
- Putting representative protected area networks in place and managing them effectively requires money.
Measures
- Effective management is essential to ensure that nature is being conserved within a park’s boundaries.
- Mangement activities include monitoring the health of habitats, ensuring that the rules of the protected area are respected, and working with local people to balance nature protection with their needs and aspirations.
- The linking of protected areas to form networks or systems is very important for the survival of many species; however, such connectivity remains rare.
- There is a clear need to find new and sustainable financial resources to supplement funding for existing protected areas and to support the establishment of new protected areas.
Conclusion
These categories were created in response to decreased protection in and around existing or proposed protected areas as a result of private land ownership and land use. People living within a Community Reserve have the same rights as those living within a Conservation Reserve.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions;
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Reference: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Lexicon Publications.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Philosophical Mondays’ in Mission-2023 Secure.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about deontological ethics in detail.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining deontology.
Body:
Explain that Deontology is duty ethics, so it compares a person’s actions against some duty or imperative. Discuss the rationale behind it. Write about the significance of the deontological ethics and with suitable illustrations explain it. Write a critique of deontology.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
Deontology is also referred to as duty-based ethics. Deontological ethics focuses on how actions follow certain moral rules. So, the action is judged rather than the consequences of the action. The biggest proponent of deontological ethics was Immanuel Kant who said that moral rules should be adhered to if universalising the opposite would make an impossible world
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Deontological (duty-based) ethics are concerned with what people do, not with the consequences of their actions.
- Do the right thing.
- Do it because it’s the right thing to do.
- Don’t do wrong things.
- Avoid them because they are wrong.
It is based on each individual’s duty or obligation towards each other, all living things, and the environment based on moral beliefs and values. It teaches about always acting in good faith and adheres to the Golden Rule to treat others the way you want to be treated by them.
Examples
- The Ten Commandments are examples of deontology.
- In Mahabharata, during Kurukshetra battle Arjun finds himself in ethical dilemma while attacking his kinships. At that time Krishna talks about Deontological Ethics suggesting to focus on rightful duty and not on the Consequences and deaths while delivering the rightful duty.
- Similarly, whole Geeta is based on “Detachment of oneself with consequence and focussing on Duty”
Deontological ethics place special emphasis on the relationship between duty and the morality of human actions
- Emphasises the value of every human being
- Duty-based ethical systems tend to focus on giving equal respect to all human beings. This provides a basis for human rights – it forces due regard to be given to the interests of a single person even when those are at odds with the interests of a larger group.
- It creates a level of personal responsibility.
- Deontology also asks that people act as if they were responsible for creating laws and expectations within their society. Actions should only be taken in a way that would harmonize society if all the laws and procedures enacted were to harmonize. Creating disharmony would be considered ethically wrong, so it would be an action to be avoided.
- It creates a guideline to follow.
- In deontology, right is always “right” and wrong is always “wrong.” There are no exceptions to this black-and-white concept, even if the situations rise to the extreme. It is a process where all members of a society can aspire to be virtuous because they understand what is expected of them from an ethical standpoint.
- It offers motivation.
- People hesitate when making decisions because they fear what the consequence of a decision will be. In deontology, the consequence is taken out of consideration. Only the action is evaluated for “right” or “wrong,” so that creates a better level of motivation to make decisions.
- It delivers justice.
- Deontology may offer an individualized perspective, but there are no shades of gray within this ethical approach. It is a black-and-white evaluation process. Something is either “right” or “wrong,” which dictates that the individual must always choose the option that is “right.”
- It can still operate under objective guidelines.
- Deontology can create similarities between individuals with like-minded ethics. It is also something that can be handed down from generation to generation. Individuals can learn what is consistently “right” and consistently “wrong” and teach that knowledge to others.
Conclusion
Deontology is simple to apply. It just requires that people follow the rules and do their duty. This approach tends to fit well with our natural intuition about what is or isn’t ethical. Unlike consequentialism, which judges actions by their results, deontology doesn’t require weighing the costs and benefits of a situation. This avoids subjectivity and uncertainty because one only has to follow set rules
Value addition
The advantages of Deontological ethics are
- Emphasises the value of every human being
- Duty-based ethical systems tend to focus on giving equal respect to all human beings. This provides a basis for human rights – it forces due regard to be given to the interests of a single person even when those are at odds with the interests of a larger group.
- It creates a level of personal responsibility.
- Deontology also asks that people act as if they were responsible for creating laws and expectations within their society. Actions should only be taken in a way that would harmonize society if all the laws and procedures enacted were to harmonize. Creating disharmony would be considered ethically wrong, so it would be an action to be avoided.
- It creates a guideline to follow.
- In deontology, right is always “right” and wrong is always “wrong.” There are no exceptions to this black-and-white concept, even if the situations rise to the extreme. It is a process where all members of a society can aspire to be virtuous because they understand what is expected of them from an ethical standpoint.
- It offers motivation.
- People hesitate when making decisions because they fear what the consequence of a decision will be. In deontology, the consequence is taken out of consideration. Only the action is evaluated for “right” or “wrong,” so that creates a better level of motivation to make decisions.
- It delivers justice.
- Deontology may offer an individualized perspective, but there are no shades of gray within this ethical approach. It is a black-and-white evaluation process. Something is either “right” or “wrong,” which dictates that the individual must always choose the option that is “right.”
- It can still operate under objective guidelines.
- Deontology can create similarities between individuals with like-minded ethics. It is also something that can be handed down from generation to generation. Individuals can learn what is consistently “right” and consistently “wrong” and teach that knowledge to others.
There are few shortcomings too
- Duty-based ethics sets absolute rules. The only way of dealing with cases that don’t seem to fit is to build a list of exceptions to the rule.
- Allows acts that make the world a less good place
- Because duty-based ethics is not interested in the results it can lead to courses of action that produce a reduction in the overall happiness of the world.
- No consequences are considered. Deontology looks at the action be taken on its own. There is no consideration given to the consequence of an action. Even though the concepts of “right” and “wrong” can be taught to others, it is up to each person to decide their individualized ethics.
- It is selfish. At its core, deontology only considers the individual and what is best for that person, at that time. There is no thought of others, of culture, or of society. It focuses on each decision, in the moment, and determines the ethics of that choice at that time.
Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Philosophical Mondays’ in Mission-2023 Secure.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Key Demand of the question: To write about the trusteeship model of Gandhi and its ethical implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by giving context of trusteeship model of Gandhi
Body:
First, explain the core aspects of trusteeship model of Gandhi.
Next, write about the ethical implications of trusteeship model of Gandhi and major values encompassing.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
Trusteeship is a socio-economic philosophy that was propounded by Mahatma Gandhi. It provides a means by which the wealthy people would be the trustees of trusts that looked after the welfare of the people in general. Gandhi believed that the wealthy people could be persuaded to part with their wealth to help the poor. Trusteeship is not merely a principle not even a philosophy. His idea of trusteeship needs to be revisited in today’s times of growing inequality.
Body
Gandhiji’s doctrine of Trusteeship was an instrument of human dignity:
- Gandhi’s economic ideas were part of his general crusade against poverty, exploitation against socio-economic injustice, and deteriorating moral standards.
- Gandhi was an economist of the masses and his approach was rooted in human dignity.
- His pragmatic approach gave a new direction to the existing socio-economic problems in the process of protecting human dignity.
- Gandhism as a socio-economic philosophy suits not only to accomplish the higher ideals of democratic freedom and socialism but it was also thoroughly developed to meet the challenge of national and international forces of communism and capitalism.
- The core of Gandhian economic thought is the protection of the dignity of human person and not mere material prosperity.
- He aimed at the development, upliftment, and enrichment of human life rather than a higher standard of living with scant respect for human and social values.
- Fundamental ethical values dominated his economic ideas. He wanted to liberate the modern economic philosophy from the quagmire of materialism and bring it to a higher spiritual plane.
- Human actions were motivated by social objectives of the protection of human rights.
- He based his doctrine of trusteeship on the first sloka of Isopanisad, according to which one is asked to dedicate everything to God and then use it only to the required extent.
- The principal condition laid down in it is that one must not covet what belongs to others.
- In other words, in the first instance, everything must be surrendered to God and then out of it one may use only that which is necessary for the service of God’s creation, according to one’s strict needs.
- This makes it clear beyond doubt that it is not in industrial and business sectors only that the doctrine of trusteeship is to be made applicable.
- The spirit of this doctrine is detachment and service. Unless these two virtues are inculcated, it is impossible to obey the command “covet not anybody’s riches.”
- Therefore, Gandhi’s idea of trusteeship arose from his faith in the law of non-possession.
- Man’s dignity, and not his material prosperity, is the centre of Gandhian economics. Gandhian economics aims at a distribution of material prosperity keeping only human dignity in view.
- Thus, it is dominated more by moral values than by economic ideas.
- According to Gandhi, trusteeship is the only ground on which he can work out an ideal combination of economics and morals.
Conclusion:
The philosophy of Trusteeship believes in inherent goodness of human beings. The Gandhian perspective is more relevant today than it was ever before. Gandhi wanted to ensure distributive justice by ensuring that business acts as a trustee to its many stakeholders, and specified that economic activities cannot be separated from humanitarian activities. Economics is part of the way of life which is related to collective values.
Value addition:
Relevance of trusteeship in contemporary world:
- The revolutions that are raised from time to time in different countries are motivated by the same objectives of human dignity, justice, and equity.
- It is very clear that the idea is relevant today as it aims at the social, economic, and political changes in the world.
- One of the first steps to achieve this human dignity, justice, and equity is to eliminate the ever-present troublesome element of class struggle in the society.
- Though the Gandhian concept of trusteeship does not seek to destroy any particular class, it provides us with an idea of how to narrow the class gap.
- The practice of all the democratic nations has been to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor to a minimum.
- In India we find this motive behind our cooperative policies, the community development projects, and the taxation policy that heavily taxes the upper class and gives some relief to the lower strata of society.
- We find the manifestations of the Gandhian concept of trusteeship in these policies.
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