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: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
It is confounding how something that is stridently ‘good’ in ethical and legal terms can run into a wall of opposition built on narrow professional and commercial interests. As in the case of the Right to Health Act that was passed in Rajasthan last week, and the unprecedented kerfuffle that followed, with doctors in the State vehemently protesting what they called a ‘draconian law’.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the feasibility of health as a fundamental right in the country.
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 giving a brief about health care in India.
Body:
First, mention the need for Right to Health that would promote the health of various weaker sections of the society and also boost economic development. Further link the benefits of better healthcare systems to that of various existing schemes like Ayushman Bharath.
Next, write about the readiness and potential of India to have a fundamental right to health.
Next, bring out the impediments to declare health care a Fundamental Right.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a balanced opinion regarding health as fundamental right.
Introduction
The right to health, as with other rights, includes both freedoms and entitlements and would be a part of Article 21. Freedoms include the right to control one’s health and body (for example, sexual and reproductive rights) and to be free from interference (for example, free from torture and non-consensual medical treatment and experimentation). Entitlements include the right to a system of health protection that gives everyone an equal opportunity to enjoy the highest attainable level of health.
Body
Background
It is confounding how something that is stridently ‘good’ in ethical and legal terms can run into a wall of opposition built on narrow professional and commercial interests. As in the case of the Right to Health Act that was passed in Rajasthan last week, and the unprecedented kerfuffle that followed, with doctors in the State vehemently protesting what they called a ‘draconian law’.
Need for making healthcare a fundamental right
- The right to equality guaranteed under Article 15upholds non-discrimination on the basis religion, race, caste, gender, place of birth, etc.
- However, the dismal investment in public health for decades has made healthcare a privilege available to a few.
- The constitutional right to health is critical to breaking discriminatory structures that will otherwise continue to perpetuate inequality in all spheres of life, including education, opportunity, wealth, and social mobility.
- The judicial interpretation of the right to life and liberty under Article 21in several judgments as inclusive of health was crucial, but has its limitations.
- The universal access to healthcare is now as achievable as it is indispensable. The rights of people are not stagnant, and must evolve as the country evolves.
- Ayushman Bharatis an ambitious scheme with great potential, but there is a difference between a rights and a service-delivery model of development.
- India has never spent more than 2% of its GDP on healthcare. And healthcare facilities across the country straddle different levels of efficiency and sufficiency.
- The impact of COVID-19 has shaken even States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu that traditionally did well in the area of healthcare.
- There are other dimensions to making health a fundamental right. For example, Delhi is the world’s most polluted city. In winter especially, you can barely venture out in the morning smog without catching an infection.
Making Health as fundamental right will be of immense help
- If health is a fundamental right, it will give a spine to the entire health ecosystem, empower doctors and healthcare workers, and ensure transparency, inclusivity, and accountability.
- Moreover, it will pave the way for special legislation, capable institutions, increased budgets, medical training and research, wellness and prevention, and outreach of services.
- It instils immense confidence and positivity amongst the citizens.
- In a country where 63 million people slip back into povertydue to catastrophic healthcare costs, it is hard not to see the logic of legally mandating health as a right, and thereby empowering the citizen to hold the state accountable for it.
- By declaring health as a fundamental right, the government would be compelled to think seriously about the pollution aspect or the environmental impactwhen, say, granting permissions for new industries or framing development policies.
Challenges in making health a fundamental right
- India has never spent more than 2% of its GDP on healthcare.
- And healthcare facilities across the country straddle different levels of efficiency and sufficiency.
- The impact of COVID-19 has shaken even States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu that traditionally did well in the area of healthcare.
- A 2019 NITI Aayog report highlighted that states in India had unequal public health systems.
- This imbalance was primarily due to restricted technical expertise and fiscal constraints.
- While fiscal dependence of states on the centre continues to be a major challenge, if the subject of health was moved to the Concurrent List, it would lead to excessive bureaucracy, red tape and institutional constraints.
Measures needed
- The implication of and central to the success of such a resetlies in creating appropriate cadres.
- More immediately,there must be a public health cadre manning the posts at the PHC and CHCs consisting of sub-specialists in family medicine, public health and public health management.
- Likewise, among nurses, the cadre should comprisetwo distinct sets of personnel — public health nurses (not ANMs promoted based on seniority) and nurse midwives capable of independently doing all clinical functions for handling pregnancies and women’s health issues except surgical interventions.
- Primary care in India can get traction only if new skills, drastically upgraded competencies and a new mindset are embedded within the vision of a patient, family and community-centred health system.
- There is also a need to declutter policy dialogue and provide clarity to the nomenclatures. Currently, public health, family medicine and public health management are used interchangeably.
- It is time our political systems listen topeoples’ voices for a family doctor to ensure their everyday needs — and not easy options like privatisation, commodification and medicalisation of the system.
- Resetting the system to current day realities requires strong political leadership to go beyond the inertia of the techno-administrative status quoist structures.
Conclusion
It is time India declared the right to health a fundamental right. Strong health laws will help build societal resilience to future pandemics and public health emergencies. Emergency responses can’t come at the cost of neglect of human rights obligations. It is critical then that the right to health be implemented, using the principles of transparency, proportionality and solidarity. The COVID19 experience has also demonstrated the importance of a decentralized/polycentric response – India’s co-operative federalism, therefore, must be strengthened.
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Live Mint , Insights on India
Why the question:
A new study seems to confirm that China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is in trouble. It reveals that Beijing’s bailout lending to debt-ridden countries, who are overwhelmingly participants in China’s BRI program, has shot up to a colossal $240 billion.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the challenges for China in its BRI and concerns for India.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving the context.
Body:
In the first part, BRI – its aims, objectives and current progress.
Next, discuss the challenges and concerns for China – financial problems and political tensions with partner countries, which have undermined its progress and potential impact.
Next, write about the concerns of India from the BRI and steps that India has taken to deal with and further steps that are needed.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Introduction
The Belt and Road Initiative, reminiscent of the Silk Road, is a massive infrastructure project that would stretch from East Asia to Europe. It was launched in 2013.
The plan is two-pronged: the overland Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road- The two were collectively referred to first as the One Belt, One Road initiative but eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative. The project involves creating a vast network of railways, energy pipelines, highways, and streamlined border crossings.
Body
China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Geopolitics
China has both geopolitical and economic motivations behind the initiative.
- The country has promoted a vision of a more assertive China, while slowing growth and rocky trade relations with the United States have pressured the country’s leadership to open new markets for its goods.
- Experts see the BRI as one of the main planks of a bolder Chinese statecraft under Xi, alongside the Made in China 2025 economic development strategy.
- The BRI also serves as pushback against the much-touted USA’s “pivot to Asia,” as well as a way for China to develop new investment opportunities, cultivate export markets, and boost Chinese incomes and domestic consumption.
Setbacks to BRI
- At the recently concluded summit 2022 of G-7 leaders in Germany, US and his allies unveiled their $600 billion plan called the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Intelligence.
- This is being seen as a counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), valued at a trillion U.S. dollars by some experts.
- Setback in Pakistan: Multiple reports have shown that shipping activities at the Gwadar Port is almost negligible so far, with only some trade to Afghanistan.
- Gwadar residents have also protested against the large security force deployed to protect Chinese nationals involved in projects.
- Chinese nations has also became the target of multiple deadly attacks by Baloch freedom fighters.
- Coal plants were set up and managed by Chinese firms to improve the power situation in Pakistan.
- Chinese power firms closing down their operations as the latter did not pay dues worth 300 billion in Pakistani rupees (approximately $1.5 billion).
- Maldives: Most of China’s investment in the Maldives happened under former President Abdullah Yameen, seen as pro-China. The reality is now changed
- Bangaldesh: BRI projects include Friendship Bridges, special economic zones, the $689.35 million-Karnaphuli River tunnel project, upgradation of the Chittagong port, and a rail line between the port and China’s Yunnan province.
- However, multiple projects have been delayed owing to the slow release of funds by China.
- Fossil fuel usage: While debt is a major concern driving the rejection of BRI projects, there is another growing concern over the fact that China is pushing for coal-fired power plants on the global front while going green within its own borders.
- No local employment: Further, the promise of trade and employment seems to have taken a hit, considering the discontent amongst partner countries regarding Beijing’s move of using Chinese workers over locals for the BRI projects.
Mounting Debts
India’s concerns
India has tried to convince countries that the BRI is a plan to dominate Asia, warning of what some analysts have called a “String of Pearls” geoeconomic strategy whereby China creates unsustainable debt burdens for its Indian Ocean neighbors in order to seize control of regional choke points.
- In particular, New Delhi has long been unsettled by China’s decades-long embrace of its traditional rival, Pakistan.
- The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Baluchistan, both of which are home to a long-running insurgency where it faces terrorism and security risks.
- CPEC would hamper India’s strategic interests in the South Asian region.and can aid Pakistan’s legitimacy in the Kashmir dispute too.
- Also, attempts to extend CPEC to Afghanistan may undermine India’s position as economic, security and strategic partner of Afghanistan.
- China’s Strategic Rise in the Subcontinent: Along with China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) and CPEC, China is also developing the China-Nepal Economic Corridor (CNEC) which will link Tibet to Nepal.
- The endpoints of the project will touch the boundaries of the Gangetic plain.
- Thus three corridors signify the economic as well as strategic rise of China in the Indian subcontinent.
Conclusion
China, in order to go ahead and protect its own interests has put in place a network of investments which has led to several low and middle income countries in severe debt.
There are ways to deal with it but any individual country cannot go ahead and provide an alternative to BRI but the larger and stronger economies can come together to find a way ahead.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
Come 1 April, payments above ₹2,000 done using prepaid payment instruments on this platform, which make up a tiny sliver of its usage, will no longer be free. On these, the bank of the merchant accepting payment will have to shell out an interchange fee of 0.5%-1.1% to the payer’s bank.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the achievements of UPI and to comment on the move to levy a fee on UPI transaction.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining UPI.
Body:
First, write about the mechanism of UPI.
Next, write about the successes of UPI in India – convenience, speed, security, interoperability, and increasing adoption.
Next, write about the move to levy a fee on UPI transactions and other limitations associated with UPI.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a technology that consolidates various bank accounts into a single mobile app (of any participating bank) – Providing an instant real-time payment system; Allowing users to transfer money across multiple bank accounts without revealing details of one’s bank account to the other party. It is an enhanced version of Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), around–the–clock funds transfer service that enables faster, easier, and more seamless cashless payments.
It was launched by the NPCI in 2016 in conjunction with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks Association (IBA).
Body
Background
Come 1 April, payments above ₹2,000 done using prepaid payment instruments on this platform, which make up a tiny sliver of its usage, will no longer be free. On these, the bank of the merchant accepting payment will have to shell out an interchange fee of 0.5%-1.1% to the payer’s bank.
Success of UPI
- Preferred Payment Mode: BHIM UPI has emerged as the preferred payment mode of the citizens and has recorded 803.6 crore digital payment transactions with the value of ₹ 12.98 lakh crore in January 2023.
- Instant and convenient mode of payment: Unlike cash, money can be instantaneously transferred to the beneficiary account using digital modes like BHIM-UPI and IMPS. Moreover, using the BHIM-UPI mode, one can effect a digital transaction via mobile phone using mobile number or easy-to-remember virtual payment address (email-like address). BHIM-UPI has enabled access to multiple Bank accounts in a single mobile app, facilitating ease of payments.
- Enhanced financial inclusion: Digital payments offer anytime, anywhere access to accounts, thus making it easy for citizens to receive payments in their accounts and to also make payments using their phone. People who may have been deterred by the time, and travelling cost involved in physically accessing a bank outlet for transactions can now conveniently access the bank account digitally and get various benefits of being part of the formal banking system and becoming financially included. Recently launched UPI 123PAYenables feature phone users to make digital transactions through UPI in assisted voice mode, facilitating digital transactions and financial inclusion in rural areas.
- Increased transparency in government system: Earlier cash payments were subject to “leakage” (payments that do not reach the recipient in full) and “ghost” (fake) recipients, particularly in the context of social security benefits by government transfers. Now, benefits are directly transferred to target beneficiary (direct benefit transfer) account through digital modes of payments.
- Improved speed and timely delivery:In contrast to a cash payment that travels at the speed of its carrier, digital payments can be virtually instantaneous, regardless of whether the sender and receiver are in the same town, district or country.
- National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) system: NETC system enables the customer to make electronic payments at NETC-enabled toll plazas on the highway without stopping at the toll, using Radio Frequency Identification technology.
- Bharat Bill Payment System: Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) provides an interoperable and easily accessible bill payment service to consumers via multiple channels like Internet banking, mobile banking, mobile apps, BHIM-UPI etc. Citizens can make easy bill payments anytime, anywhere through BBPS.
- Enhanced Credit Access: Unlikecash payments, digital payments automatically establish a user’s financial footprint, thereby increasing access to formal financial services, including credit. Banks and other lending institutions can utilise digital transaction histories to take cashflow-based lending decisions for both retail lending and lending to businesses, including small businesses who may face difficulty in getting credit in the absence of verifiable cashflows.
- Safe and secure: Recipients of cash payments not only often have to travel considerable distances to receive their payments but are also particularly vulnerable to theft. Digital payments across India are secure as multiple levels of authentication are required for making transactions.
Shortcomings of UPI
- The threat of cybercrimein the global banking and financial services industry has increased amid the coronavirus pandemic.
- g. Malicious Software Cerberus
- Fraudulent claims, chargebacks, fake buyer accounts, promotion/coupon abuse, account takeover, identity theft, card detail theft and triangulation frauds are emerging as challenges.
- The lack of digital literacy is another challenge facing many.
Way forward & conclusion
- A rightly structured Public-Private Partnership (PPP) policymay provide a 21st century engine to harness the power of market players for greater digital infrastructure, access, and literacy for the Indian population.
- In a vibrant Indian democracy, a public policy-driven digital empowermentof the Indian electorate can help ensure responsible digital conduct in the interest of consumers and the larger public interest.
Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI), loosely the India Stack and more, is a marvel of our times, shaped in a unique partnership between governments (Union and States), regulators, the private sector, selfless volunteers, startups, and academia/think tanks.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about Dpi, its components and their growth and opportunities it offers.
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 DPI
Body:
First, write about the key components of DPI in India – Aadhaar, Digital Locker, Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and National Knowledge Network (NKN) and its their usage.
Next, write about the growth of DPI and their applications in the various sectors.
Next, write about the opportunities in DPI for the future and how India can harness it.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Digital Public Infrastructure are non-excludable and non-rivalrous. The UN defines DPIs as “Open-source software, open data, open AI models, open standards and open content that adhere to privacy and other applicable international and domestic laws, standards and best practices, and do no harm, and help attain the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals].” DPGs are aimed at achieving the SDGs.
India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI), loosely the India Stack and more, is a marvel of our times, shaped in a unique partnership between governments (Union and States), regulators, the private sector, selfless volunteers, startups, and academia/think tanks.
Body
Digital Public infrastructure and India’s progress
- India is pioneering the concept of digital public goods that enhance the ease, transparency and speed with which individuals, markets and governments interactwith each other.
- Built on the foundation of Aadhaar and India Stack, modular applications, big and small, are transforming the way we make payments (UPI revolution), withdraw our PF, get our passport and driving licence and check land records,to name just a few activities.
- Children have access to QR-coded textbooks across state boardsand languages, the economically disadvantaged have access to the public distribution system and beneficiaries of government schemes have money transferred directly into their bank accounts.
- There is an opportunity for India to embark on digital diplomacy — to take its made-in-India digital public goods to hundreds of emerging economies across the world.
- This could be astrategic and effective counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative(BRI). But India needs to bring transformation in its technological, startup and innovation ecosystem.
Benefits and significance
- Cost-Benefit ratio is high: The cost of setting up an open source-based high school online educational infrastructure, to supplement the physical infrastructure, for an entire country is less than laying two kilometresof high-quality road.
- Less resources major reward: The investments required for transporting digital public goods are minuscule in comparison and there is no chance of a debt trap. Also, the code(platform) is highly reusable.
- Instant Visible Outcomes: Unlike physical infrastructure such as ports and roads, digital public goods have short gestation periods and immediate, and visible impact and benefits.
- Processes get streamlined and wait times for any service come down dramatically.
- Issuances of passports, PAN cards and driving licences are such examples.
- Plugs the Leakage: It eliminatesghost beneficiaries of government services, removes touts collecting rent, creates an audit trail, makes the individual-government-market interface transparent and provides efficiencies that help recoup the investments quickly.
- Productivity goes upand services can be scaled quickly. Benefits can be rapidly extended to cover a much larger portion of the population.
- The digital public goods infrastructure compounds while physical infrastructure depreciates. Compounding happens for two reasons.
- One is the growth of technology itself. Chips keep becoming faster, engines more powerful, and technology keeps improving.
- The second reason is the network effect. As more and more people use the same technology, the number of “transactions” using that technology increases exponentially — be it Facebook posts or UPI transactions.
Impediments to realise full potential of Digital Public goods
- Privacy Issues: Potential violations of privacy and possible weaponization of data is a primary issue related to such digital initiatives.
- Digital Divide:Success in the digital provision of services is dependent on many underlying factors, including digital literacy, education and access to stable and fast telecommunication services.
- In this setting, undertaking large-scale digitisation of services without bridging these digital divides could result in increasing existing inequalities.
- Security Issues:There is a cybersecurity challenge in ensuring end-to-end protection of data throughout the whole ecosystem.
- While channels and databases used by the Government for transmission and storage are usually secure, other players in the ecosystem may not possess the requisite expertise or security to prevent and respond to breaches.
- The alleged breach of the Aadhar database is a case in point.
- Unserved Remote Areas:With digital services not being uniformly distributed, communities in remote areas often require on-ground staff to deploy and supplement digital tools.
Conclusion
India’s digital diplomacy can be beneficial to and welcomed by, all emerging economies from Peru to Polynesia, from Uruguay to Uganda, and from Kenya to Kazakhstan. It can take made-in-India digital public goods across the world and boost India’s brand positioning as a leading technology player in the digital age. It will also enable quick, visible and compounding benefits for India’s partner countries and earn India immense goodwill. And it will help create a strong foothold for India globally to counter the extravagantly expensive, brick-and-mortar led Belt and Road Initiative of China.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Difficulty level: Easy
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 the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, its strengths and limitations.
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 the answer by writing about the objectives of Environment Protection Act.
Body:
First, write about the major revisions of Environment Protection Act – set standards for emissions and discharge of environmental pollutants, establishes regulatory bodies to regulate pollution, and provides for the regulation of hazardous substances., penalties and punishment for violation of its provisions.
Next, write about the strengths and limitations of the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward
Introduction
The Environment (Protection) Act (EPA) was enacted in 1986 with the objective of providing the protection and improvement of the environment. The Act is largely regarded as a response to the Bhopal gas tragedy. The Act was enacted by the Government of India in accordance with Article 253 of the Indian Constitution, which authorises the union government to establish legislation to give effect to foreign agreements made by the country.
Body
Major features of EPA
- The Central government is also empowered to:
- Plan and Execute a nation-wide programmefor the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution.
- Lay down standards for the quality of environmentin its various aspects.
- Lay down standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutantsfrom various sources.
- The restriction of areasin which any industries, operations or processes or class of industries, operations or processes shall/ shall not be carried out subject to certain safeguards.
- The Central Government mayappoint officers under this Act for various purposes and entrust them with the corresponding powers and functions.
- The central government as per the Act has the power to direct:
- The closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry, operation or process.
- The stoppage or regulation of the supply of electricity or water or any other service.
- Restriction on Pollutant Discharge:No individual or organisation shall discharge/emit or permit to discharge/emit any environmental pollutant in excess of the prescribed standards.
- Compliance with Procedural Safeguards:No individual shall handle or shall be caused to handle any hazardous substance except in accordance with the procedure and without complying with the safeguards, as prescribed.
- Powers of Entry and Inspection:Any person empowered by the Central Government shall have a right to enter (with the assistance deemed necessary) at any place:
- For the inspection of compliance of any orders, notifications and directions given under the Act.
- For the purpose of examining (and if required seizing) any equipment, industrial plant, record, register, document or any other material object may furnish evidence of the commission of an offence punishable under this Act.
- Establishment of Environmental Laboratories:The Central Government, as per the Act, is entitled to:
- Establish environmental laboratories.
- Recognise any laboratory or institute as environmental laboratories to carry out the functions entrusted to such a laboratory.
- The Central Government is also entitled to make rules specifying the functions of environmental laboratories.
- Appointment of Government Analyst:A Government Analyst is appointed by the Central Government for the analysing the samples of air, water, soil or other substance sent to a recognised environmental laboratory.
- Penalties for Offences:Non-compliance or Contravention to any of the provisions of the Act is considered as an offence.
- Any offences under the EPA are punishable with the imprisonment of upto five years or a fine upto one lakh rupees or both.
- Offences by Companies:If an offence under this Act is committed by a company, every person directly in charge of the company, at the time of the commitment of offence, is deemed to be guilty unless proven otherwise.
- Offences by Government Departments:If an offence under this Act has been committed by any Department of Government, the Head of the Department (HoD) shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence unless proven otherwise.
- Any officer, other than HoD, if proven guilty, shall also be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
- Cognizance of offences:No Court shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act except on a complaint made by:
- The Central Government or any authority on behalf of the former.
- A person who has approached the Courts after a 60-day notice has been furnished to the Central Government or the authority on its behalf.
Strengths of the Act
- It empowers the Central Governmentto establish authorities charged with the mandate of preventing environmental pollution in all its forms and to tackle specific environmental problems that are peculiar to different parts of the country.
- The Central Government shall have the power to take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment in coordination with the State Governments.
- The Act is one of the most comprehensive legislationswith a pretext to protection and improvement of the environment.
Limitations
- While the Centre is given broad powers, the state governments are given none, the former is prone to arbitrariness and abuse.
- The Act likewise makes no mention of public participation in environmental protection.
- Citizens must be involved in environmental preservation to counteract arbitrariness and promote understanding and empathy for the environment.
- The Act does not address current concepts of pollution such as noise, overcrowded transportation systems, and radiation waves, all of which contribute to the deterioration of the environment.
Conclusion
EPA was enacted with the primary purpose of conserving and enhancing the environment and associated issues. It empowers the Central Government to make all necessary efforts to avoid and control pollution, as well as to construct effective machinery to protect, improve, and regulate environmental pollution.
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 the role of NTCA in tiger conservation of tiger population.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing about the objectives of NTCA.
Body:
In brief, write about the mandate and functions of the NTCA.
Next, write about the achievements of NTCA – increasing the tiger population, protecting tiger habitats, using technology, and involving local communities in conservation efforts etc.
Next, write about the limitations of NTCA – inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, human-wildlife conflict, and inadequate staffing in many tiger reserves etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Tigers are at the top of the food chain and are sometimes referred to as “umbrella species” that is their conservation also conserve many other species in the same area.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body tasked with the management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger Reserves in India. It was established in December 2005 following the recommendation of the Tiger Task Force. The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 was amended in 2006 to provide for constituting the NTCA. Under the organisation, there are eight Conservations Units each headed by a director who is responsible for his/her reserve area.
Body
Situation of Tiger in India
According to results of the Tiger census, the total count of tigers has risen to 2,967 in 2018 from 2,226 in 2014 which is an increase of 741 individuals (aged more than one year), or 33%, in four years. The Tiger estimation exercise that includes habitat assessment and prey estimation reflects the success or failure of Tiger conservation efforts.
Role of NTCA
- Providing authority to Project Tiger so that its recommendations are implemented to its fullest extent.
- Nurturing accountability in the management of Tiger Reserves either by the state or Central governments through providing a basis of operations within the federal structure.
- Addressing livelihood interests of local people in areas surrounding Tiger Reserves.
- Alerting the States as and when required by transmitting information related to poachers
- Advising the States for combing forest floor to check for snares/traps
- Providing assistance to States for anti-poaching operations
- Using information technology for improved surveillance using thermal cameras set up in Jim Corbett National Park.
- Launching tiger reserve level monitoring using a camera trap to keep a photo ID database of individual tigers.
Some Important Initiatives of NTCA
- Monitoring Tigers, Co-predators, Prey and Their Habitat
- Management Effectiveness Evaluation
- M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) for Tiger Reserves
- Reintroducing Tigers in Tiger Reserves (Eg. Sariska and Panna)
- Constitution of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF)
- Voluntary Village Relocation Program
Conclusion
NTCA has been at the forefront of tiger conservation efforts in India. Its work domain ranges from on-the-ground protection initiatives to science-based monitoring of tigers and their habitat using cutting-edge technological tools, independent assessment of tiger reserves using the MEE framework, financial and technical support to tiger reserves, creating inviolate space for wildlife while ensuring community development, and international cooperation.
Value addition
Powers and functions of NTCA
- Evaluate and assess aspects of sustainable ecology while ensuring that no environmentally destructive activities such as mining, the industry is carried out within the proximity of Tiger Reserves.
- Provide information on protection measures including future conservation plan, estimation of population of tiger and its natural prey species report on untoward happenings such as poaching and any other illegal activities
- Ensure critical support including scientific, information technology and legal support for better implementation of the tiger conservation plan
- Facilitate ongoing capacity building programme for skill development of officers and staff of tiger reserves.
- Facilitate and support the tiger reserve management in the State for biodiversity conservation initiatives through people’s participation by supporting similar initiatives in adjoining areas consistent with the Central and State laws
- Ensure critical support for Tiger Conservation in India by including scientific, information technology and legal support for better implementation of the tiger conservation plan.
General Studies – 4
Topic: ethics – in private and public relationships;
Difficulty level: Moderate
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Abstract Thursdays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.
Directive:
Elucidate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define ethics in respect to administration and mention the need to knowing the distinction between your powerful rights and the right thing to do.
Body:
From the perspective of an administrator further elaborate on the quote and as to why it is imperative for the administrator to do the right thing. Use examples to substantiate your point.
Bring out the various facets of integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections that an administrator has to consider before taking any actions.
Conclusion:
Complete by summarizing the need for doing the right thing especially for those who are in power.
Introduction
Ethics is the study of what is right or wrong in human conduct. It is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending and recommending concepts of right and wrong behaviour. Ethics seeks to resolve questions of human morality by defining concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime. Ethics helps us in guiding decisions and impacts on one’s behaviour or conduct. Law, religion, family and societal norms tells us what is right to do. But conscience tells us what is right to do.
Body
What You have the Right to Do and What is Right to Do
Article 19 of the Indian Constitution provides for Right to freedom of speech and expression. It gives rights to every citizen to hold public meetings, demonstrations and take out processions. However, it doesn’t mean that citizens can block the road, railway and other transportation. Hence, holding strike and creating hurdles for others is not the right thing to do.
Similarly, under the Article 25, every citizen has freedom to profess, practice and propagate the religion. But, promoting religious conversion through bribery, coercion, violence is wrong and illegal action.
Under the PM Arogya Yojana, the Government offers a sum insured of Rs. 5 lakh per family for secondary care as well as tertiary care. But around 23,000 fraud transactions have been recorded in hospitals in Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Jharkhand. Here, beneficiaries have the right to utilise services, but its misuse defeats the purpose.
Emotional Intelligence: Being governed by strong ethical principles, emotional intelligence ensures that the best choices are being made. Communities often develop a code of ethical principles that members agree to uphold when acting in public for the benefit of the community. This gives the public and the officials a clear sense of what is expected of them.
Example: Right to freedom of speech should not be used for spreading fake news. An activity taken out of a desire for reward or out of fear of punishment may be socially acceptable, but it is not moral. For example, performing acts of charity to gain social respect is immoral.
Conclusion
It is ethics which help us in differentiating what we have the right to do and what is right to do. Rights are provided to live a better life, which help in capacity building of an individual, but its misuse defeat the very purpose.
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