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: geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindi , Insights on India
Why the question:
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has found in a new report that the world’s sea level is rising at an unprecedented rate, portending potentially disastrous consequences for the weather, agriculture, the extant groundwater crisis, and social disparities.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes and impact of sea level rise.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving statistic regarding the rise of sea level due to global warming.
Body:
First, write about the various natural and man-made causes for rise sea level – thermal expansion of seawater, melting of glaciers and ice caps, loss of ice shelves and ice sheets, and land subsidence.
Next, write about its impact – coastal erosion, flooding, saltwater intrusion, damage to crops and biodiversity, and displacement of people.
Next, write about the steps that are needed to mitigate the impact.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Sea level rise is an increase in the level of the world’s oceans due to the effects of global warming and other factors. As per the WMO’s ‘State of the Global Climate 2022’ report, the world’s sea level is rising at an unprecedented rate. The rate of global mean sea-level [GSML] rise has doubled from 2.27 mm/year in 1993-2002 to 4.62 mm/year in 2013-2022.
Body
Alarming rate of sea level rise
- Sea levels have risen by between 180 to 200 mm since 1900.
- Nearly5-0.7% of the world’s land area is at a risk of episodic coastal flooding by 2100, impacting5-4.1%of the population assuming there are no coastal defences or adaptation measures in place.
- By 2100, the global population potentially exposed to episodic coastal flooding will increase from 128-171 million to 176-287 million.
Causes behind sea-level rise
- Thermal expansion:
- When water heats up, it expands. About half of the sea-level rise over the past 25 years is attributable to warmer oceans simply occupying more space.
- Melting glaciers:
- Large ice formations such as mountain glaciers naturally melt a bit each summer.
- In the winter, snows, primarily from evaporated sea water, are generally sufficient to balance out the melting.
- Recently, though, persistently higher temperatures caused by global warming have led to greater than average summer melting as well as diminished snowfall due to later winters and earlier springs.
- That creates an imbalance between runoff and ocean evaporation, causing sea levels to rise.
- Loss of Greenland and Antarctica’s ice sheets:
- As with mountain glaciers, increased heat is causing the massive ice sheets that cover
- Greenland and Antarctica to melt more quickly.
- Scientists also believe that meltwater from above and seawater from below is seeping beneath Greenland’s ice sheets, effectively lubricating ice streams and causing them to move more quickly into the sea.
- While melting in West Antarctica has drawn considerable focus from scientists, especially with the 2017 break in the Larsen C ice shelf, glaciers in East Antarctica are also showing signs of destabilizing.
Consequences of sea-level rise on coastal states
- Loss of habitat: Almost 3 billion people are living within 200 km of the coasts and islands all over the world.
- A sea level rise will lead toloss of habitation and hence leads to de-urbanization.
- Indonesia is planning to shift its capital fromJakarta, the “world’s fastest-sinking city” owing to sinking of land by 25 cm per year.
- It may also significantlyaffect tourism and recreation through impacts on landscapes (e.g., beaches), cultural features etc.
- Agriculture: SLR will affect agriculture mainly through land submergence, soil and fresh groundwater resources salinisation, and land loss due to permanent coastal erosion, with consequences on production, livelihood diversification and food security.
- Coastal fisheries and aquaculture: The negative effects of SLR on fisheries and aquaculture are indirect, through adverse impacts on habitats (e.g., coral reef degradation, reduced water quality in deltas and estuarine environments, soil salinisation, etc.).
- Impact on Small Island Nations: Because of small islands’ high coastline to land area ratio, most of their human settlements, agricultural lands, and critical infrastructure are at or near the coasts.
Vulnerability of India to global warming induced sea level rise
- As per the study by Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services,Sea levels along the Indian coast are projected to rise between 3.5 inches to 34 inch (2.8 feet) by the end of century due to global warming.
- India’s coastal regions, home to about 170 million of the country’s 1.4 billion people, are on the front lines of a shifting climate, experiencing sea-level rise, erosion, and natural disasters such as tropical storms and cyclones.
- The latest evidence of this vulnerability occurred in May 2020, as the strongest storm recorded in decades in the Bay of Bengal—Cyclone Amphan—hit, forcing several million people to evacuate.
- Climate change is expected toinundate significant sections of Mumbai by 2050, impacting millions of people.
- India lost 235 square kilometers of land to coastal erosionbetween 1990 and 2016, placing people’s livelihoods and homes in jeopardy, with flight to safer places occurring voluntarily or, as a last resort, through government intervention.
- Scientific prediction suggests that 36 million Indiansare likely to be living in areas experiencing chronic flooding by 2100.
- Sea level aroundAsia in the North Indian Ocean has increased faster than global average, with coastal area loss and shoreline retreat.
- Similarly, mega cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata are at high risk of flooding and sea-level rise, with millions living in these urban coastal areas likely to be relocated to safer places in the future.
- In such circumstances, forced migration and displacement would be inevitable in the absence of well-managed, pre-emptive relocation of populations from high-risk areas.
Adaptation measures
- Integrated coastal management: It will help in resource management following an integrative, holistic approach and an interactive planning process in addressing the complex management issues in the coastal area.
- Coastal Regulation Zone notifications issued under Environmental Protection Act, 1986 will help in this integrated management.
- Community ownership: Policy makers should engage stakeholders in the early stages of decision-making and throughout the entire decision-making process to enhance overall resilience in coastal areas, while supporting community ownership.
- Barriers to urban areas:Rotterdam has offered a model to other cities seeking to combat flooding and land loss. Rotterdam has built barriers, drainage, and innovative architectural features such as a “water square” with temporary ponds.
- Adaptation to Sea Level Rise
- Relocating utility infrastructure, such as treatment plants and pump stations, to higher elevations would reduce risks from coastal flooding.
- Understanding and modelling groundwater conditions will inform aquifer management and projected water quantity and quality changes.
- Coastal restoration plans may protect water utility infrastructure from damaging storm surge by increasing protective habitat of coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and wetlands.
- Theinjection of fresh water into aquifers can help to act as a barrier, while intrusion recharges groundwater resources.
- Limiting global warming: More use of renewable energy (wind, solar) can help reduce carbon emissions. Nations must act fast to attain their NDC’s and work on carbon sequestration.
Conclusion
The Paris Agreement provides a clear vision on limiting global warming and thus, Sea level rise. There must be awareness among the representatives of the public, different agencies of the government, scientists, industry and the communities on the threat posed by climate change and the steps to counter it. Sea level rise is a slow disaster that will become magnanimous and all steps must be taken to ensure that such disasters are mitigated.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The Constitution of India was drafted by the Constituent Assembly. The idea was initially proposed in December 1934 by M.N. Roy, a pioneer of the Communist movement in India and an advocate of radical democracy. It became an official demand of the Indian National Congress in 1935 and was officially adopted in the Lucknow session in April 1936 presided by Jawaharlal Nehru, who also drafted the Objectives Resolution. The proceedings of the Constituent Assembly show the richness of ideas that characterised it. The Drafting Committee was presided over by B.R. Ambedkar.
Key Demand of the question:
To explain Fraternity and the reasons as to why it was included in the constitution and to comment on its relevance in the present day.
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving 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:
Start by defining Fraternity.
Body:
Write about how Fraternity mentioned in the constitution has been interpreted in India. Fading of divisions of caste and religion, ideology of friendship, mutual respect, despite all our differences, of religious belief, caste, language, culture, ethnicity, class and gender which leads to unity of the nation.
Mention the reasons why constitutional makers chose to include Fraternity in our preamble. Especially the arguments of Dr B.R Ambedkar in this context.
Write about the relevance of fraternity in the present day, especially in the times of pandemic. striving for a just and humane society, collective caring, social protection and reducing intolerance and communalism etc.
Conclusion:
Summarise the importance of Fraternity as the conclusion.
Introduction
According to Dr. Ambedkar “Fraternity means a sense of common brotherhood of all Indians — of Indians being one people. It is the principle which gives unity and solidarity to social life,”. No one should treat a fellow citizen as inferior. While the morals of Preamble like- Justice, Equality, Liberty have been explicitly and implicitly ensured through Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and other constitutional provisions, this is not the case with Fraternity.
Body
Fraternity in Indian Context
- The concept of Fraternity signifies moral obligations rather than rights, an obligation to treat fellow human beings justly and respectfully. It implies placing social cohesion above individual identity.
- The Constitution views fraternity significantly as a source of affirming “the dignity of the individual” and the “unity” of the nation.
- The former is accomplished by recognising the moral equality of individuals, upheld through mutual respect, despite all our differences, of religious belief, caste, language, culture, ethnicity, class and gender.
- Both Ambedkar and the Constitution derive the unity of the nation from fraternity. Not from forcing minorities to adhere to majoritarian principles, but instead a sense of mutual belonging and respect that transcends all other differences between the people.
- Fraternity is both a way of feeling, and a political principle.
- The idea of fraternity is closely linked to that of social solidarity, which is impossible to accomplish without public empathy;the daily, lived realisation that human beings who look different, wear different clothes, worship different gods, speak different languages, have different political persuasions, actually have exactly the same intrinsic human dignity, and experience the same emotions—dreams, hopes, despair, pain, happiness, anger, love, triumphs and defeats—that we all do
- India which is divided on the basis of caste, which Ambedkar termed as anti-national, must overcome this hurdle to become a nation. Without fraternity, equality and liberty will be no deeper than coats of paint.
- Dignity of Individuals by maintaining material betterment of individual and democratic setup.
- Sense of common brotherhood transcending religion, language, regional or sectional diversities(Article 51A). This is to be promoted through single citizenship.
- The Supreme Court , as the ultimate protector and interpreter of our Constitution, has also invoked the principle of fraternity, though less frequently than the invocation of liberty and equality.
- “Fraternity”, thus, implies the acknowledgement that we share our space, our existence with others, including individuals of another family, tribe, group, race, or religion, who have been in India for ages, who have lived and died here, have made India what it is, a country of improbable diversity, multiplicity of religions and culture.
Relevance of fraternity in contemporary India:
- Our Constitution makers discussed about fraternity 75 years ago and their views seem relevant to a present India.
- There is simultaneously a precipitous decline in the civility of our public discourse, in which hectoring and blighting one’s adversaries are seen as markers of high oratory and political muscularity. These together constitute in India a grave threat to our constitutional values, and most of all to fraternity.
- Incidents such as communal violence during 2002 Gujarat riots, ongoing Citizenship Amendment Act protest and violence, North-South divide based on languages, and other social disturbances due to differences in diversity and inability to come to common terms for living in harmony are common.
- Still secessionist movements persist like demand for Greater Nagalim, lack of unified polity manifested in temporary provisions for certain states like Article 371, border disputes, especially with Pakistan and China. At psychological level issues include communalism, regionalism, linguism etc.
- In a nation where citizens are lynched for their choice of food or communities argue for cultural/religious practices to precede constitutional guarantees, we need to adopt a way of life wherein we live the value of fraternity – our success as a nation depends on this.
- The idea of fraternal relations does not exist in a vacuum, it is instead the foremost pillar on which a functioning democracy rests and we have somehow glossed over it entirely. In that respect, as we enter the 75th year of our independence, we need a re-imagination of community relations.
- The focal point of this re-imagination has to be fraternity, providing adequate shared spaces to empathise, evolve and foster a composite culture based on Constitutional and humanitarian ideals.
- Otherwise, we will be proving Ambedkar’s fears right: “Democracy is just a top dressing on the Indian soil which is essentially undemocratic.”
- Thus, Fraternity is the most radical and important idea of our times, the necessary foundation to fight all the world’s injustices, hate and inequalities.
Conclusion
A fine example of what fraternity can accomplish in times of hate was offered in the last months of Mahatma Gandhi’s life, which were surely his finest hour. In these months, he cemented powerfully the foundations of India as a humane, inclusive, secular country. He showed us the possibilities of fraternity to imagine – and live – a different India.
Fraternity is an important element for a strong nation-state that encompasses diversity as large as that of India’s. This had been cherished during nationalist freedom struggle also reminded by 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act by adding the word integrity.
Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
With another year of meetings on reforming the United Nations — and particularly the question of the expansion of the Security Council — coming to a close in June, India lashed out at the U.N. system with its most scathing attack thus far.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the various issues with the UN system, its implications and reforms needed in it.
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 the role of UN system in maintaining global multilateral order.
Body:
First, write about the various shortcomings in the UN system and how it is the manifestation of the structural adequacy of the UN.
Next, write about the various negative the above-mentioned shortcomings and substantiate them with examples.
Next, write about the measures that can be taken to address the above-mentioned shortcomings.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
The long-simmering debate over UN reforms — and particularly over the role of the Security Council, which does not represent today’s world and which failed to prevent Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — has suddenly become acute.
With another year of meetings on reforming the United Nations — and particularly the question of the expansion of the Security Council — coming to a close in June, India lashed out at the U.N. system with its most scathing attack thus far.
Body
Need for Reform at UN
- At present, the UNSC comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent member countries which are elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
- The five permanent members are Russia, the U.K., China, France and the United States and these countries can veto any substantive resolution. There has been growing demand to increase the number of permanent members to reflect the contemporary global reality.
- India, Brazil, South Africa, Germany and Japan are strong contenders for permanent membership of the UNSC which has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
- At a special session marking 75 years of the United Nations on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for reform of its “outdated structures”, pointing out that in the absence of comprehensive changes, the world body today faces a “crisis of confidence”.
- India has been at the forefront of demanding reform in the UN, particularly its principal organ, the Security Council, for decades, staking its claim as one of the world’s largest economies and most populous countries, with a track record in promoting a rules-based international order, and contributing to peacekeeping through UN forces.
- The UNSC does not include a permanent member from the African, Australian and South American continents, and the pillars of the multilateral order, such as the G-4 group of Brazil, India, Germany and Japan, have been ignored for long.
- Frequent divisions within the UNSC P-5 end up blocking key decisions. These issues are underlined in a year where the coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to a standstill; yet, the UN, the UNSC, and WHO have failed to play an effective role in helping nations deal with the spread.
- For India, what has been most frustrating is that despite the dysfunctional power balance that prevails, the UN’s reform process, held through Inter Governmental Negotiations (IGN) has not made progress over decades, despite commitments.
- The UN has chosen to “rollover” the discussions of the IGN, which are looking at five major issues: enlarging the Security Council, categories of membership, the question of the veto that five Permanent members of the UNSC wield, regional representation, and redistributing the Security Council-General Assembly power balance.
- The grouping of India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) expressed “frustration” over the “slow” pace of progress on reform of the UN Security Council and said the time has come to move towards a result-oriented process to expand the key global body.
Way forward in contemporary times:
- The reform of Security Council will stop it from becoming obsolete.
- Broader membership of the Security Council, with increased and enhanced representation of countries with the capacity and willingness to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, including from Africa, will allow it to preserve its credibility and create the political backing needed for the peaceful resolution of today’s international crises.
- Given the capacity and willingness to take on major responsibilities with regard to the maintenance of international peace and security, there is a clear need for an enhanced role of developing countries and of major contributors to the United Nations to make the Council more legitimate, effective and representative.
- On the one hand, the world is experiencing unparalleled levels of prosperity and connectivity,. Yet these advances are associated with ever greater complexity and systemic risks, increasing the liberal order’s vulnerability to collapse. The world’s global and national institutions are increasingly incapable of managing stresses to the system.
- Faced with threats ranging from climate change to massive technological advancement, the world is in desperate need of stable and able global governance. And yet there is surging opposition to liberal governance due to rising inequalities and frustration with the perceived failures of the liberal order.
- Populism and the rise of parochial economic nationalism as among the gravest threats to future stability. The risk of a disorderly collapse of the old system is more real than ever.
Conclusion:
The world is shifting to a new multi-polar order with the US and China at its centre. We need to restore and rebuild stable institutions and rules that acknowledge the changed context. They will need to be more inclusive, representative and legitimate. The role of international mechanisms of cooperation such as the UN, G20, regional organizations, non-state actors – especially financial and philanthropic actors – will also need to be elevated. It should start with reform of UNSC.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
Highlighting a spike in cost of production and a decline in crop in Darjeeling and the Dooars region of West Bengal, the tea industry has urged the Commerce Ministry to declare a floor price for tea.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the issues with tea production and measures needed to overcome them.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by briefly citing statistics regarding the extent of tea production in India and India’s share in global market.
Body:
First, write about the importance tea industry.
Next, write about the various issues in the tea industry – archaic laws, labour issues, pesticides, lack of standards etc.
Next, write about the measures that are required – draft Tea (Promotion and Development) Bill, overcoming labour issues, supply chain bottlenecks etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
India today is the second-largest producer of tea in the world, accounting for a fifth of the world’s production with annual production in excess of 1.2 billion kgs. It is also the fourth biggest exporter, behind China, Sri Lanka and Kenya.
Highlighting a spike in cost of production and a decline in crop in Darjeeling and the Dooars region of West Bengal, the tea industry has urged the Commerce Ministry to declare a floor price for tea.
Body
Issues impacting tea production in the county
- Decline in tea price: Due to various causes, the auction price of the tea has seen a steady decline over the years. According to World Bank, the tea prices declined by almost 44% in real terms.
- In India, all the profits from the tea gardens were siphoned off and there was no real or proper reinvestment in improving quality of tea.
- License and quotas: Manufacturing tea requires a separatelicence.
- Exports are controlled and there are quotas and allotments.
- Draconian provisions: As the tea sector went into a steady decline in the seventies, the government armed itself with powers to take over the management of any estatewhich remains closed for more than three months without investigation.
- Less production of tea: There are multiple problems being faced by the tea industry such as finance crisis, power problems, labour problems, poor labour schemes, inadequate communication system, increased revenue tax for tea gardens, increased pollution fee, less transport subsidy etc.
- All these have altogether put the tea industry in a bad situation, resulting in low production of tea leaves and tea.
- Labour demand: Leaving aside the natives, most of the workers in the tea gardens in Assam and Bengal are the ones who have migrated from states like Bihar, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, since the later part of the 19th century. These workers are solely dependent on the tea industry for their daily income and livelihood.
- However, the migration of labourers has reduced in recent times, resulting in the reduction of the number of labourers in the tea factories.
- The local labourers have also reduced due to a smaller number of tea labourers for NREGA.
- No proper storage: The problem of storing premium quality teahas always been there. Due to delay in transportation and lack of storage facilities, the processed tea gains moisture from the atmosphere and deteriorates in quality.
- Climatic factors: Unfavourable climatic conditions for tea plantations owing to scanty or very heavy rainfallhave badly affected the tea industry.
Impact of Climate change on tea industry
- Variations in temperature and precipitation are known to affect tea yield, as well as alter the complex balance of chemicals that gives tea its flavour and potential health benefits.
- In a 2018 survey of tea-farm workers in Assam, 88% of managers of plantations and 97% of smallholders said that adverse climate conditions were a definite threat to their tea-growing operations.
- Climate change is pushing rainfall in Assam to the extremes, leading to an overall decrease in precipitation but with more instances of drought and heavy rain.
- The intense rains cause the erosion and waterlogging of soil, which damages root development and reduces the yield of the tea plants.
- A 2016 study in Assam found that drought did not affect yield, but other research suggests that drought increases the susceptibility of tea plants to insect pests.
Measures needed to re-orient tea industry
- Tackling climate change: In tackling climate change the industry will have to work with multiple agencies and partners such as TRA Tocklai to research and develop new tea clones, provide information on improving soil fertility, and to study rainfall and water management systems.
- Scrapping old laws:It has been suggested that as in Sri Lanka, India may consider the dovetailing of various government schemes with the benefits being provided by PLA, 1951 – this will reduce the burden on Tea producers regarding compliance with the PLA, 1951 – and also help increase the quality of life of the workers.
- Marketing of products: Need to provide a marketing arrangement for small tea growers to help them sell their product at the right price and also increase their market accessibility.
- Increase awareness regarding better plantation techniquesand plantation worker rights and provision of financial assistance to increase mechanization in Tea gardens.
- Community development,including improving education, healthcare and access to welfare, facilitating access to government schemes, and ensuring safe migration.
- Building the capacity of smallholders on good agricultural and pest management practices and improving integration with the rest of the industry
Conclusion
The law must provide solution to how to develop and scale-up approaches to deal with the sustainability challenges facing the Indian tea industry and communities, so that producers thrive, workers lives’ and the environment are improved, and buying companies can be assured that they are sourcing sustainably produced teas.
Topic: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
Ten security personnel returning from a counter-insurgency operation and a civilian driver were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in was blown up by Maoists, in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada on Wednesday afternoon, according to State police.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the challenges posed by Maoism and government’s counter-insurgency measures but the need for further vigil and action to successfully overcome it.
Directive word:
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidence. You must appraise the worth of the statement in question. There is scope for forming an opinion here.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by citing stats about the trends of Maoism and Maoist violence.
Body:
First, write the about the challenges posed by Maoist insurgency to internal security of India. Write how the Naxalist movement still remains a potent threat to the internal security of India in the various ways. Cite examples and data to substantiate your points.
Next, write about various measures taken by the government to tackle Maoist violence, successes and limitations of the same.
Next, suggest various measures that are further required to tackle this issue.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward on taking a multi-pronged approach to defeat Maoism.
Introduction
The left-wing extremism or Naxal insurgency in India originated in a 1967 uprising in Naxalbari, West Bengal by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). They are the group of people who believe in the political theory derived from the teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong. The Naxals strongly believe that the solution to social and economic discrimination is to overthrow the existing political system.
Ten security personnel returning from a counter-insurgency operation and a civilian driver were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in was blown up by Maoists, in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada on Wednesday afternoon, according to State police.
Body
Causes of left-wing extremism in India
- Inequitable development: The failure of land reforms especially land redistribution after independence.
- Socio-economic inequities, unemployment, despair about the future.
- Dishonest and self-serving dominant groups.
- Political deprivation leading to hopelessness or a sense of powerlessness.
- Lack of title to public land cultivated by the landless poor.
- Governance deficit in the remote parts of Red Corridor regions.
- Lack of food security – corruption in the Public Distribution System (which are often non-functional).
- Disruption of traditional occupations and lack of alternative work opportunities.
- Displacement of people: Eviction from lands traditionally used by tribals.
- Forced Displacements caused by mining, irrigation and power projects without adequate arrangements for rehabilitation. As a result, livelihoods were lost.
- Large scale land acquisition for ‘public purposes’ without appropriate compensation or rehabilitation
- Discrimination against tribals: Poor implementation of laws prohibiting transfer of tribal land to non-tribals in the Fifth Schedule areas.
- Non-regularisation of traditional land rights under FRA,2006.
- Hasty rejections of land grants to tribals.
Measures and change in strategy needed to solve Maoism
Home Ministry came up with the strategy of Samadhan. It is a strategy to frame short term and long-term policies to tackle LWE. It includes: S- Smart Leadership; A- Aggressive Strategy; M- Motivation and Training; A- Actionable Intelligence; D- Dashboard Based KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and KRAs (Key Result Areas); H- Harnessing Technology; A- Action plan for each Theatre; N- No access to Financing.
In lieu of this, governments must pro-actively tackle left wing extremism.
- Modernizing the police force: The scheme focuses on strengthening police infrastructure by construction of secure police stations, training centres, police housing (residential) and equipping police stations with required mobility, modern weaponry, communication equipment and forensic set-up etc.
- On the administrative side, changes include separation of investigation from law and order, specialized wings for Social and Cyber Crimes are initiated in several states.
- Various technological reforms are pushed including modernization of the control room, fast tracking Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS), pushing for National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) and pushing for incorporation of new technology into policing
- Social Integration:State Governments havesurrender and rehabilitation policy, while the Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments through the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme for LWE affected States.
- Additional incentives are given for surrendering with weapons/ammunition.
- The surrenderers are also impartedvocational training with a monthly stipendfor a maximum period of 36 months.
- Skill Development: Skill Development in 34 Districts affected by Left Wing Extremism” under implementation from 2011-12 aimsto establish ITIs and Skill Development Centresin LWE affected districts.
- Infrastructure Development:Road Connectivity, communication needs to be rapidly scaled up in LWE affected districts. Eg: Mobile towers being set up in remote areas.
- Major counter-insugency measures in states
- Andhra Pradesh established elite force called Greyhounds to successfully crack down on naxal leaders. It also squashed mass organisation activities through civilian “vigilante” groups that had been encourged through the surrender and rehabilitation package.
- West Bengal government implemented confidence building measures with the people living in the Maoist infested Jangalmaha region. It created a linkage between people and the institution.
- Odishaand Chhattisgarhtrained many local tribal youths as Special Police Officers against Maoist insurgency.
- Biharhad set up a 400-member special task force and Special Auxiliary Police for counter insurgency operations. Currently the naxal influence has come down from 22 districts to 4.
- Maharashtracreated adistrict level force called as C-60 Commando.
- SMART Policing: Smart policing paradigm promotes integration & interoperability of information & communication systems.
- Broadly, smart policing involves interventions incorporating application of evidence-based and data-driven policing practices, strategies and tactics in order to prevent and control crime.
- Recruit specialized personnel: Specialized crimes require specialized approach and personnel to deal with them. There should be core technical team to handle modern technology related crimes.
- Community policing improves interface with citizens and makes police more sensitive. E.g. (i) Janamaithri Suraksha Padhathi, Kerala (ii) Friends of Police Movement (FOP), Tamil Nadu (iii) Suraksha Setu – Safe City Surat Project
- Improve communication network: There should be sharing of information & knowledge to improve the functioning of police force.
- Better Surveillance and Monitoringwith standardisation, deployment and integration of private security surveillance system.
- It promotes pro-active policing by preventing criminal activity through enhanced police visibility and public engagement.
Need of the hour
- Central and State governments, the administration and the security establishment need to recognize that the movement cannot be approached from a purely law and order point of view.
- The process of improving the conditions of the poor and the tribals clearly need to be speeded up if the movement is to be effectively checked.
- Winning the hearts and minds of the tribal population and other marginalised groups will lie at the core of the counter-insurgency strategy
- Development of road and rail infrastructure will not only enhance economic growth and development but will also help in countering Maoist propaganda
- The improved road connectivity will also have a multiplier effect on the effectiveness of the security forces in carrying out operations.
- Providing incentives and alternate life support system to those surrendered
Conclusion
An ideology based on violence and annihilation is doomed to fail in a democracy which offers legitimate forums of grievance redressal. Through a holistic approach focusing on development and security related interventions, the LWE problem can be successfully tackled.
General Studies – 4
Topic: dimensions of ethics;
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-2023. Secure.
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 contentment.
Body:
Write about the how contentment is natural wealth and importance of contentment. Substantiate with examples.
Next, write about Luxury is artificial poverty and how running behind riches of life will not lead to satisfaction. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
Contentment means to be happy with what you have, who you are, and where you are. It is respecting the reality of the present. It is appreciating what you do have and where you are in life. Contentment does not mean the absence of desire; it just means you are satisfied with your present, and you trust that the turns your life takes will be for the best.
It can be contended that contentment is the natural wealth and luxury is artificial poverty. A state of contentment leads to a state of well-being and happiness. Humanity has been in pursuit of the elusive state of happiness or bliss for centuries.
Body
Many people today think life is a race where you must be the best at everything. We might want a fancier car, a bigger house, a better-earning job, or more money. The moment we achieve one thing, the race for the next thing starts. Rarely do many individuals spare a minute to just sit back, relax, and be grateful for all they have achieved. Instead of looking back at the distance they have covered, they stretch themselves to cover the distance that remains. And in some cases, this is when ambition becomes greed.
There is often a fine line between ambition and greed. People may think that when they have achieved all they need for their dream lifestyle, they will be satisfied with what they have—but this is rarely the case. Even after you have ticked off all the achievements from your list, you still don’t feel at ease. There may remain an uneasy feeling that something is still missing. That missing feeling is contentment.
Contentment can help us distinguish between wants and needs. When we are content, we may not desire for anything more than what we need. The abundance of the present is enough to lead a happy and healthy life. Contentment often leads to the realization that joy doesn’t come from material things. Instead, joy comes from deep within.
Conclusion
If we wish to feel the essence of contentment, it’s important to practice gratitude, be aware of the fact that nothing is permanent, understand that material things do not often promote long-term happiness, and realize that life is not a race or competition: it is about self-sustenance. The more thankful we are in the present, the happier we may be.
Topic: corporate governance.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Abstract Thursdays’ in Mission-2023. Secure.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about shortcomings of corporate governance in 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 defining corporate governance.
Body:
Write about the various limitations and shortcomings of corporate governance – frequent scams, lack of transparency, absences of accountability, corruption etc. Give recent examples like Yes bank, NSE scam.
Suggest steps to overcome the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Corporate governance is the system of rules, practices, and processes by which a firm is directed and controlled. Corporate governance involves balancing the interests of a company’s stakeholders such as shareholders, senior management executives, customers, suppliers, financiers, the government, and the community.
In recent times, the issues of fraud in ICICI bank, YES bank, Adani group and so on are case in point.
Body
Corporate governance establishes the relationship, among various primary participants of the firms those are shareholders, directors, and managers, in formulating the directions and performance of their firms. In a broader sense, it delineates the rights and responsibilities of each primary stakeholder and the design of institutions and mechanisms that induce or control board directors and management to best serve the economic interests of shareholders along with safeguarding the interest of other stakeholders of a firm.
A company’s corporate governance is important to investors since it shows a company’s direction and business integrity. Good corporate governance helps companies build trust with investors and the community. As a result, corporate governance helps promote financial viability by creating a long-term investment opportunity for market participants.
Communicating a firm’s corporate governance is a key component of community and investor relations. Example, On Apple Inc.’s investor relations site, for example, the firm outlines its corporate leadership—its executive team, its board of directors—and its corporate governance, including its committee charters and governance documents, such as bylaws, stock ownership guidelines and articles of incorporation.
Most companies strive to have a high level of corporate governance. For many shareholders, it is not enough for a company to merely be profitable; it also needs to demonstrate good corporate citizenship through environmental awareness, ethical behavior, and sound corporate governance practices. Good corporate governance creates a transparent set of rules and controls in which shareholders, directors, and officers have aligned incentives.
Issues in corporate governance
- Conflict of Interest:The challenge of managers potentially enriching themselves at the cost of shareholders. E Recent case of former ICICI bank head Chanda Kochar approved a loan to Videocon for a quid pro quo deal for her husband.
- Weak Board:Lack of diversity of experience and background represents a major area of weakness for these boards. There have been questions about board performing in the larger interests of the shareholders. In case of IL&FS, not a single red flag was raised by any board member.
- Separation of ownership and management:In case of family-run companies, the separation of ownership and management remains a key challenge in majority of companies including some of India’s top ones.
- Independent directors:Independent directors are partisan and are not able to check promoters unethical practices.
- Executive Compensation:Executive compensation is a contentious issue especially when subject to shareholder’s accountability. Executive compensation needs to stand the test of stakeholders’ scrutiny.
- Concentration of powers:Ownership of corporations in India, is still held in a few hands. A single shareholder or family controls a large group of companies. This leads to several governance related challenges and has often led to poor decision making that harms company’s profits.
- Board directors: Independent directors were supposed to be the biggest corporate governance reform. However, they have hardly been able to make the desired impact due to the passive role played by them on board. The frequent removal of directors by promoters of the company is an issue. This has not been addressed effectively yet, despite the strengthening of the regulations regarding independent directors.
- No Proper Structure:Corporate Governance has no proper structure or design and is largely ambiguous. There is still a lack of awareness about various issues like compliance with rules and regulations, roles and responsibilities of Board of Directories, shareholder’s rights, etc. This leads to poor governance and impacts the working of companies.
- Insider Trading:Corporate insiders like officers, directors and employees by the virtue of their position have access to confidential information. Many misappropriate that information to reap profits. SEBI lacks the thorough investigative mechanism and a vigilant approach due to which the culprits are able to escape. In most of the cases, SEBI failed to produce evidence and corroborate its stance before the court.
- Noncompliance with disclosure norms: Noncompliance with disclosure norms is common in Indian businesses with hardly any punitive action. While the Companies Act provides clear instructions for maintaining and updating registers, in reality minority shareholders have often suffered from irregularities in share transfers.
- Family-owned business:Many Indian businesses are old family establishments. With the growth of family and its business, there is an increase in inefficiencies and internal conflicts that threaten the continuity of the business. Family control also brings governance problems like a lack of checks and balances over executive decision making and a lack of transparent reporting.
Measures and way forward
- Implement the recommendations of Uday Kotak Panel, such as:
- Minimum 6 directors to be on board of listed entities; every listed entity to have at least 1 independent woman director
- More transparency on appointment of independent directors and should play a more active role on the boards.
- Audit Committee must review use of loans/adv/ investment by holding co in arm over Rs 100 crore.
- Diverse boards are better boards:In this context, ‘diverse’ is all-encompassing, including gender, ethnicity, skills and experience.
- Robust risk management policies:Adoption of effective and robust risk management policies for better decision making as it develops a deeper insight into the risk-reward trade-offs that all Corporations face.
- Effective governance infrastructure:Policies and procedures which guide ethical behaviour should form the base of any organizational behaviour. Ensure separation of the line of responsibility between board and management.
- Evaluation of the Board’s performance:The Board should consider addressing weaknesses uncovered in board evaluations, enhancing their governance processes.
- Communication:Facilitating shareholder communication with the board is key. There is a need to provide a contact person with whom shareholders may discuss any issue.
- Responsibilities of the Board: The corporate governance framework should ensure the effective monitoring by the board and the board’s accountability to the company and the shareholders.
- Objective performance evaluation: Privilegesand compensation of executive directors should be based on an objective performance evaluation process conducted by the board.
- Enhancing objectivity: A code of conduct and code of corporate governance should be put in place in order to dictate desired behaviour.
- Relations with Shareholders: The board should be responsible for ensuring that an appropriate dialogue takes place among the organisation and its shareholders. The corporate governance framework should ensure the equitable treatment of all shareholders, including minority and foreign shareholders.
- Effective internal audit function: An effective audit mechanism should be in place to prevent insider trading. Both the board and the management should establish formal and transparent arrangements to appoint and maintain an appropriate relationship with the organisation’s auditors.
- Transparency:The corporate governance framework should ensure that timely and accurate disclosure is made on all material matters regarding the corporation, including the financial situation, performance, ownership, and governance of the company.
Conclusion
Corporate governance is very essential for overall growth of the companies. Ethical culture can be regarded as the insurance for successful business. So for good corporate governance ethics is essential. It is every company’s moral duty to implement the ethical codes in their business.
Corporate governance is a system that aims to instill policies and rules that helps maintain the cohesiveness of an organization. It exists to help hold a company accountable, while helping them steer clear of financial, legal, and ethical pitfalls while addressing conflict of interests at various levels. The importance of corporate governance is made abundantly clear by the direct benefits seen when a good corporate governance framework is in place.
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