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: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the features and importance of folk dances of India.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Give the context of numerous folk dances across the country.
Body:
First, write about as to how folk dances that reflect the life of the common people of a certain country or region – how cultural aspects of that regions and are distinct from one another. Cite examples to substantiate.
Next, write about the importance of folk dances of the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
Folk dances are regional variations, the dances of rural and tribal areas, which range from simple, joyous celebrations of the seasons, harvest or birth of a child to dances for the propitiation of demons or for invoking spirits.
Body
Characteristics of Folk-dances:
- Every state and its regions have different dance styles and folk music; with which they express the nature of their community.
- Every part of India has its unique folk dance, which isn’t as complex as the classical form of dance but, in its simplicity, it reflects the deep-sited beliefs of their people.
- They are extremely simple with minimum of steps or movement.
- Some dances are performed separately by men and women while in some performances men and women dance together.
- On most occasions, the dancers sing themselves, accompanied by artists with instruments.
- Each form of folk dance has a specific costume and rhythm.
- Most of the costumes, worn for folk dances, are colourful with extensive jewels and designs.
- Bhangraof Punjab; Rasa Lila; Jhumar; Kaksarof Bastar; Chhau in Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal; Bihu of Assam; Theyyam in the Malabar region of kerala; Dollu of Karnataka are few of the many folk dance forms.
- Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala; Kalbeliafolk songs and dances of Rajasthan and Chhaudance are included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Linkages of folkdances with culture:
- Seeking divine intervention:
- The dance is performed in groups to celebrate the nine days Hindu festival of Navratri.
- It is performed in rings and concentric circles representing the cycle of birth and death in Hinduism, leaving only one constant which is the divinity of God symbolized by the idol of the Goddess or the Garba Deep.
- Depiction of good over evil:
- Ex: Bardo Chham is performed by the Sherdukpen tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. The dancers wear masks of 12 different animals and perform to the beats of many percussion instruments. Sherdukpen tribe believes that there are 12 different evil forces and they all appear in different months to mar the happiness of the community. The masks represent evil forces and the main objective of this art form is to ward off these evil forces.
- Performed before harvesting crops:
- Bhangra and Giddhaare folk dances of from the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, mostly performed during the harvest festival of Baisakhi.
- Pulikaliis a colorful recreational folk art from, performed on the occasion of annual harvest festival of Onam.
- Ponungis one of the most important folk dances of Arunachal Pradesh. Performed before the harvest of staple crops, it has women dancers.
- Performed during various festivals:
- Raslilais the most popular form of folk dance of India, especially during the festivals of Krishna Janmashtami and Holi in the regions of Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh.
- Bihuforms the most important part of the Bihu festival celebration. The dance is performed by young men and women, accompanied by the playing of pipes & drums.
- Buiyadance performed by the Digaru Mishmis of Arunachal Pradesh, is the main attraction of many tribal festivals.
- Celebration of nature:
- Bagurumbais believed to have been inspired from nature, it can be further classified into different dance forms – each inspired from elements of nature like animals, plants, birds, insects, water, air and so on.
- To relax and rejuvenate:
- Jhumuris the dance is performed by the tribal people who work in tea estates of Assam. It is often their only recreational activity and this certainly rejuvenates them after a long and tiring day.
- Showcase of rich tradition and culture:
- Ojapali dance of Assam.
- Cheraw Dance of Mizoram.
- Paying respects to the deity worshipped by the tribe:
- ongkram Dance of Meghalya.
- Celebration of victory over an enemy:
- Chang Lo dance of Nagaland.
- To celebrate weddings:
- Matki Folk Dance of Madhya Pradeshis considered as an important dance art from the state, performed usually on wedding occasions.
- Maruniis the main attraction of Sikkim weddings.
Conclusion
Nurtured for centuries, dance in India has evolved in different parts of the country its own distinct style taking on the culture of that particular region, each acquiring its own flavour. The tribal and folk dances of India draw the most fascinating canvas shaded with vivacity and the deep-rooted culture. These dances are not merely a form of dance rather a way of life for Indian people. Each of them has enfolded an entrenched history and culture within itself.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about quasi-judicial bodies, issues in their functioning and reforms required.
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.
Introduction:
Begin by writing a about the quasi-judicial bodies in India.
Body:
First, in general, write about the need of quasi-judicial bodies in India and their major functions.
Next, write about the issues in the functioning of quasi-judicial bodies in India – understaffed. Their engagement with duties such as law and order, protocol, coordination and other administrative functions leaves them with much less time for court work. Their access to court clerks and record keepers is limited. Several of the presiding officers lack proper knowledge of law and procedures etc.
Next, write about the reforms that are needed to overcome the above performance issues.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Quasi-judicial bodies are an entity such as an arbitrator or a tribunal, generally of a Public Administrative Agency, which has powers and procedures resembling that of a Court of Law or Judge, and which is obliged to objectively determine facts and draw conclusions from them so as to provide the basis of an official action. Such actions are able to remedy a situation or to impose legal penalties, and may affect the legal rights, duties or privileges of specific parties.
Body
Quasi-Judicial bodies in India
- Election Commission of India.
- National Green Tribunal.
- Central Information Commission (CIC)
- Income Tax Appellate Tribunal.
- Lok Adalat.
- National Human Rights Commission
- Nation Commission for Women
- National Green Tribunal and so on
Advantages and benefits of quasi judicial bodies
- Not restrained by rigid procedures: To bring flexibility and adaptability as they are not restrained by rigid rules of procedure.g., Simplified procedure to apply RTI application under Central Information Commission. Natural justice followed in NCLT, Lok Adalats.
- Less expensive: They are set up to be less formal, less expensive, and a faster way to resolve disputes than by using the traditional court system.
- Ease the burden: The system also gives the much-needed relief to ordinary courts of law, which are already overburdened with numerous suits. E.g. NCLT reduces the burden of financial cases from judiciary. Lok Adalat resolves minor issues which would otherwise be long drawn in courts.
- Technical expertise: They play an important role and part in the sphere of the adjudication of disputes especially when the subject demands technical expertise. g., National Green Tribunal avail expertise to deal with environmental issues.
- Public Awareness and suo moto powers: They enjoy some of the powers of a civil court, viz., issuing summons and allowing witnesses to give evidence. Its decisions are legally binding on the parties, subject to appeal. E.g., National Human Rights Commission can take suo moto cognizance of human rights violations. It also did awareness campaign for sensitisation towards LGBTQ community and HIV infected people.
Issues in their functioning
- There is an unfair imbalance between represented and unrepresented parties. It is unfair to people who are not represented and cannot get legal aid to come up against a rich corporation. Since richer parties are allowed to employ skilled representation, they are consequently more likely to win.
- The no-costs rule and lack of legal aid penalize poor litigants, although they do keep costs down.
- The lack of fees encourages poor applicants, although it may also result in ill-founded claims.
- Tribunals can become complex over time – as did the courts – rules of procedure grow up caused by the use of representatives who as a result make representation desirable in future.
- They may lack some of the perceived independence of the judiciary.
- It can still be difficult for the people who go to tribunals to represent themselves because of the inherent difficulty in presenting a case in any environment.
- It undermines the celebrated principle of separation of powers.
Conclusion
Government needs to address this issue by enabling sufficient number of appointments at various Quasi-Judicial Bodies. However, as a fool proof appointment mechanism plays a crucial role in ensuring quality, the Government is duty bound to provide for the same. Only then can India’s Quasi-Judicial Bodies expedite not only the resolution of disputes but also dispensation of justice.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The theme of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023 is to make menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030. The predominant objective is to create a world where no one is held back because they menstruate. The article discusses the significance of menstrual health as a public health concern. It emphasizes the need to address the challenges faced by women and girls regarding menstrual hygiene, access to sanitary products, and social taboos surrounding menstruation.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the importance of menstrual hygiene, challenges faced by women and steps needed to improve it.
Directive:
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:
Briefly give data about
menstrual hygiene issues in Indian Society.
Body:
First, write about the Importance of Menstrual Health as a Public Health Issue, impact of menstrual health on women’s overall well-being, connection between menstrual health and reproductive health and role of menstrual health in achieving gender equality etc
Next, write about the challenges faced by women and girls in menstrual health – Lack of access to affordable and hygienic sanitary products, Inadequate knowledge about menstrual hygiene management, Stigma and taboos associated with menstruation and Limited access to clean water and sanitation facilities etc.
Next, write about the measures to improve menstrual health -Promote menstrual health education and awareness programs, enhance access to affordable and sustainable sanitary products, Improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities and Address cultural and social taboos through community engagement
Conclusion:
Conclude writing a way forward.
Introduction
Menstrual hygiene refers to the practices and conditions that help maintain menstrual health and well-being. It includes using clean and safe menstrual products, washing and changing them regularly, having access to clean water and sanitation facilities, and managing menstrual pain and discomfort.
The theme of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023 is to make menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030. The predominant objective is to create a world where no one is held back because they menstruate.
Body
importance of menstrual health
- India is home to more than 350 million women and girls who menstruate every month.
- However, menstruation is still a taboo and a source of shame and discrimination for many of them.
- In a recent incident, a man from a city in Maharashtra allegedly killed his 12-year-old sister because he mistook period stains on her clothes as a sign of a sexual relationship.
- According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), even though there has been significant progress in the past years, approximately 27% of young rural women still resort to unsanitary means of protection during their menstrual cycle.
- Among the urban population, 10% of young women reported using unhygienic methods.
- As per the report, 16 states and union territories (UTs) have a usage rate of over 90% for hygienic menstrual products.
- Nevertheless, some of the most impoverished states in India have a poor record in this regard.
- Bihar has the lowest usage rate (59%) of safe menstrual protection, followed by Madhya Pradesh (61%) and Meghalaya (65%).
Challenges faced by women and girls
- Period Poverty: A survey conducted by the NGO Child Rights and You (CRY) revealed that access to sanitary pads was limited to many girls, with 44.5% of girls admitting to using homemade absorbents or cloth. The report also found that around 11.3% of the girls did not know the correct cause of menstruation and said that it was a curse from God or caused by disease.
- Access to toilet: An estimated 355 million Indian women and girlsmust find ways to cope with monthly menstrual hygiene. Most of these women either have no access to toilets or are faced with unclean lavatory
- Access and safety:Moreover, they usually wait until night-time before using public toilets or fields, which exposes them to various forms of physical attacks.
- Lack of awareness: The main reasons for this taboo still being relevant in the Indian society are high rate of illiteracy especially in girls, poverty and lack of awareness about menstrual health and hygiene. Only less than 18 per cent of Indian women use sanitary pads.
- Taboo: In some families, menstruation is being perceived as an unclean or embarrassing thing, extending even to the mention of menstruation both in public and in private. Most girls even hide themselves out of fear or embarrassment on their way to a medical store, rather majority of them cannot afford to buy hygienic sanitary pads.
- School dropout:In some families, menstruation is being perceived as an unclean or embarrassing thing, extending even to the mention of menstruation both in public and in private.
- Most girls even hide themselves out of fear or embarrassment on their way to a medical store, rather majority of them cannot afford to buy hygienic sanitary pads.
- Unclean ways of handling menstruation:A majority of rural women in India employ clothes and rags for feminine hygiene. These materials might predispose women to reproductive tract infections since it may be difficult for them to keep their used napkins clean and free of harmful bacteria.
- Affordability: While commercially available sanitary napkins provide a possible alternative, only 12 percent of Indian women can afford this option
- Lack of Policy Measures:The 2022 ‘Right of Women to Menstrual Leave and Free Access to Menstrual Health Products Bill’ specified three days of paid leave for women and transwomen during their periods, and additional benefits for students is yet to become act. Only two states, Kerala and Bihar, currently have menstrual leave policies for women.
Measures that can be undertaken to improve menstrual health
- Awareness about periods along with efforts to address harmful social and gender norms.
- Menstrual products, both reusable and disposable, must be more available through various access channels.
- Female-friendly community and public toilets to be built more to provide safe, private, clean facilities to manage periods.
- The provision of dustbins and incinerators in female toilets for waste disposal and management.
- Addressing the needs of menstruating people in urban slums and refugee camps.
- Catering the menstrual needs of formal and informal women workforce and workspaces.
- An Inclusive approach catering to the menstrual needs of the differently abled, trans-male/female, and people with other gender identities who menstruate. Gender-nonconforming persons face safety problems and a lack of menstrual supplies. We need to urgently understand their unique needs as well.
- Engaging local communities through innovative peer education programs can help break the silence and stigma surrounding menstruation. These programs can train and empower women and girls to become menstrual hygiene ambassadors.
- Both girls and boys should receive accurate, timely information on the biological and psycho-social aspects of puberty, menstruation, and MHM from all three channels—mass media, influencers, and targeted education.
- There are significant challenges across these three areas with supporting evidence. However, girl-targeted education and community influencers are particularly important enablers for improving menstrual health for women and girls in India
Conclusion
Menstrual health & hygiene is not just a personal hygiene matter but a public health concern demanding immediate action from governments, civil society, and individuals. To overcome these challenges, we need a comprehensive strategy involving education, awareness campaigns, policy reforms, infrastructure enhancements, and better healthcare services. By destigmatizing menstruation, ensuring affordable sanitary products, and providing comprehensive menstrual health education, we can enhance menstrual hygiene in India.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Technology missions;
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The article explores the potential benefits and controversies surrounding genetically modified (GM) food in the context of sustainable food production.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the potential benefits and concerns associated with GM crops.
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 context.
Body:
First, in brief, write about the needed for GM crops in the country to meet the challenges of food security and make farming commercially viable and tackle challenges posed by climate change – Enhanced crop yields and productivity, Reduction in environmental impact, Improvement in nutritional content and Addressing Food Security etc.
Next, write about the concerns associated with the above – Health risks associated with GM food, Ecological impact and biodiversity concerns, Socio-economic implications and farmer dependency etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Genetic engineering aims to transcend the genus barrier by introducing an alien gene in the seeds to get the desired effects. The alien gene could be from a plant, an animal or even a soil bacterium. In most cases, the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species.
Body
Potential benefits of GM Crops:
- Food Security: Given the increased growth of global population and increased urbanisation, GM crops offer one of the promising solutions to meet the world’s food security needs.
- Improved Stress Tolerance: Genes that give greater tolerance of stress, such as drought, low temperatures or salt in the soil, can also be inserted into crops. This can extend their range and open up new areas for food production.
- Faster Growth: Crops can be altered to make them grow faster, so that they can be cultivated and harvested in areas with shorter growing seasons. This again can extend the range of a food crop into new areas or perhaps allow two harvests in areas where only one is currently practical.
- More Nutritious Crops: Plants and animals can be engineered to produce larger amounts of essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron, helping to solve nutrition problems in some parts of the world. They can also be altered to change the amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and saturated and unsaturated fats that they contain. This could lead to the production of foods designed specifically for a healthy diet for all consumers.
- Production of Medicines and Vaccines by Crops: It may be possible to have plants and animals produce useful medicines and even vaccines, so that prevention and treatment of human diseases in some places can be achieved cheaply and efficiently through the diet.
- Resistance to Herbicides: Crops can be modified to be resistant to specific herbicides, making it much easier to control troublesome weeds. Farmers can simply apply the weed killer to a crop field, killing the unwanted plants and leaving the food crop unaffected. For example, GM oilseed rapeseed – the source of canola oil – is resistant to one chemical that’s widely used to control weeds.
- Better Tasting Foods: Foods can be engineered to taste better, which could encourage people to eat healthier foods that are currently not popular because of their taste, such as broccoli and spinach. It may be possible to insert genes that produce more or different flavours as well.
- Economic benefits: GM crops can increase yield and thus income. Genetically modified foods have a longer shelf life. This improves how long they last and stay fresh during transportation and storage.
Concerns/Challenges associated with GM Crops:
- Human Health Risks:
- Potential impact on human health including allergens and transfer of antibiotic resistance markers.
- The impact of growing GM crops poses risks to human health as their resistance to antibiotics can turn medicines ineffective and may result in the formation of new toxins and allergens.
- Toxins produced by GM crops can not only affect non-target organisms but also pose the danger of unintentionally introducing allergens and other anti-nutrition factors in foods.
- Bio safety concerns:
- They can reduce species diversity.
- For example, Insect-resistant plants might harm insects that are not their intended target and thus result in destruction of that particular species.
- Cross-pollination in GM crops paves the way for herbicide-resistant super weeds that can further threaten the sustenance of other crops and pests because of its uncontrolled growth
- GM technology could also allow the transfer of genes from one crop to another, creating “super weeds”, which will be immune to common control methods.
- Viral genes added to crops to confer resistance might be transferred to other viral pathogens, which can lead to new and more virulent virus strains.
- Implications on Farmers and Consumers:
- Critics claim that patent laws give developersof the GM crops a dangerous degree of control over the food supply. The concern is over domination of world food production by a few companies
- National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research’santicipation that Bt brinjal’s high yield and increased shelf life will benefit consumers and farmers owing to cut in retail price of brinjals ignores the scenario that companies might charge premium prices for Bt brinjal seeds, in which case farmers may not benefit at all.
- Economic Concerns:
- Introduction of a GM crop to market is a lengthy and costly process. It has not resulted in high yields as promised.
- For instance, the highest yields in mustard are from the five countries which do not grow GM mustard — U.K., France, Poland, Germany and Czech Republic — and not from the GM-growing U.S. or Canada.
- Inefficient Regulatory system:
- Seeing the lapses in the regulatory system and irregularities in the assessment of Bt brinjal (in terms of labelling and unapproved and illegal sowing of GM crops) Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Science & Technology, Environment and Forests recommended:
- A thorough probe by a team of eminent independent scientists and environmentalists for commercialization of GM crops.
- Endorsed labelling GM foods to protect a consumer’s right to know.
- Ethical Concerns:
- Violation of natural organisms’ intrinsic values by mixing among species.
- There have also been objections to consuming animal genes in plants
Way Forward
- The government must take decisions on GM technologies on the basis of scientific evidence.
- Need to start cultivating an environment of openness and transparency to allay genuine fears
- The government should adopt a participatory approach to bring together all stakeholders to develop regulatory protocols that restore trust in the process.
- There is a significant uncertainty over their safety, so precautionary principle is that country shall wait till a broader scientific consensus is achieved.
- Need for better policy, pricing and to rationalize the input costs
- GEAC needs to be a transparent body. it should put it in the public domain that on what grounds it has approved GM mustard
- There has to be strong liability laws if there are any environmental hazards or if something goes wrong in future
- Agriculture is a state subject; therefore, it is important for the Centre to take into consideration the views of State Governments as well.
- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has rightly pointed out in 2004, “Science cannot declare any technology completely risk free. Genetically engineered crops can reduce some environmental risks associated with conventional agriculture, but will also introduce new challenges that must be addressed”.
Conclusion
Clearly, there can be no credible argument against scientific experiments in agriculture that advance the goal of developing plant varieties that can withstand drought, resist pests and raise yields to feed the growing world population. But this should be done through a transparent regulatory process that is free of ethical conflicts. All this underscores the need for a cautious approach — one that fosters scientific inquiry, allows for scrutiny and is underpinned by regulation. Enacting a comprehensive law that covers all aspects of GM crops should be a priority.
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article discusses the growing threat of cybercrime in the modern world.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the challenges posed by cybercrime and measures needed to combat 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 defining cybercrime with a few examples.
Body:
First, write Challenges posed by cybercrimes – Increasing prevalence and variety of cybercrimes, Global nature of cybercrimes Rapidly evolving techniques and technologies used by cybercriminals, Difficulty in attributing cybercrimes and apprehending perpetrators and Potential economic, social, and psychological impacts of cybercrimes etc.
Next, write the measures needed to combat cybercrimes – Strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing international cooperation for extradition and legal assistance, Improving cybersecurity infrastructure, Promoting awareness and education on cybersecurity, Developing robust technical measures to protect critical infrastructure etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Cybercrime is any criminal activity that is committed using digital devices or the internet. Examples of cybercrime include hacking, identity theft, cyberstalking, and phishing. It is a threat to country’s external and internal security and monetary status. Crimes committed against publics with an illicit intention to cause physical or psychological harm, or loss to the victim directly or indirectly, by means of contemporary telecommunication networks such as social media network, the Internet and mobile phones.
Body
Challenges posed by cyber crimes
- Stolen personal and financial data – used, for example, to gain access to existing bank accounts and credit cards, or to fraudulently establish new lines of credit – has a monetary value.
- This drives a range of criminal activities, including phishing, pharming, malware distribution and the hacking of corporate databases, and is supported by a fully-fledged infrastructure of malicious code writers, specialist web hosts and individuals able to lease networks of many thousands of compromised computers to carry out automated attacks.
- Cyber crime is a truly global criminal phenomenon which blurs the traditional distinction between threats to internal (criminality and terrorist activity) and external (i.e. military) security and does not respond to single jurisdiction approaches to policing.
- The cyber space has provided an advantageous platform for cybercriminals for executing their malicious activities, spreading hate propaganda, etc. over the internet. E.g.: Hate speech, Doctored videos leading to communal clashes.
- Cyber extortion is used as an umbrella term for a wide array of cyber-crimes. Cyber extortion occurs when hackers or cyber-criminals try to threaten a targeted business or organisation to compromise its confidential data unless they receive a ransom. Therefore the two most common types of Cyber extortion are ransomware and DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) Attacks.
- One of the most witnessed form of exploitation is cyber harassment. Cyber harassement which is defined as unsolicited, repeated, hostile behaviour by a person using cyberspace with the intention of intimidating, harassing, threatening or humiliating a person. E.g: Cyber Stalking, Cyber Bullying etc.
- promotion and easy availability of pornography especially Child pornography which refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child. Abuse of the child occurs during the sexual acts which are recorded in the production of child pornography.
- Nowadays, cybercrimes do not only confine itself to fraud, cyber bullying, identity thefts but also infringement of copyrights and trademarks of various business and other organisations.
Measures to combat the cyber-crimes:
- Real-time intelligence is required for preventing and containing cyber attacks.
- Periodical ‘Backup of Data’ is a solution to ransomware.
- Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for predicting and accurately identifying attacks.
- Using the knowledge gained from actual attacks that have already taken place in building effective and pragmatic defence.
- Increased awareness about cyber threats for which digital literacy is required first.
- India needs to secure its computing environment and IoT with current tools, patches, updates and best-known methods in a timely manner.
- The need of the hour for Indian government is to develop core skills in cyber security, data integrity and data security fields while also setting stringent cyber security standards to protect banks and financial institutions.
- Global Cyber Law should be implemented.
- More centralized coordination at regional and interregional levels, to streamline the fight against cyber crime.
- Collaboration, particularly with the private sector, to proactively identify features of future communications technologies liable to criminal exploitation, and to design vulnerabilities out of technologies and environments which are in development.
Conclusion
Cybercrime poses a significant challenge to law enforcement agencies in the digital era. The anonymity and jurisdictional issues associated with cybercrime make it challenging to identify and prosecute perpetrators. However, the introduction of new laws and regulations, as well as increased international cooperation, is essential in addressing the challenge of cybercrime. As technology continues to evolve, governments and organizations must remain vigilant and work towards developing more robust legal frameworks to tackle cybercrime.
Value addition
Types of cyber security threats: Cyber Security is protecting cyber space including critical information infrastructure from attack, damage, misuse and economic espionage.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
Difficulty Level: Easy
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the philosophy of Utilitarianism and the way it resolves moral issues.
Directive Word:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a balanced judgment on the topic.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining the philosophy of Utilitarianism in brief.
Body:
In your own words, explain that Utilitarianism is a theory of morality that advocates actions that foster happiness or pleasure and oppose actions that cause unhappiness or harm. When directed toward making social, economic, or political decisions, a utilitarian philosophy would aim for the betterment of society as a whole.
Next, write a critique of utilitarianism.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
Utilitarianism is a theory of morality, which advocates actions that foster happiness or pleasure and opposes actions that cause unhappiness or harm. When directed toward making social, economic, or political decisions, a utilitarian philosophy would aim for the betterment of society as a whole. Utilitarianism would say that an action is right if it results in the happiness of the greatest number of people in a society or a group. The theory was propounded by John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham.
Body:
Utilitarianism as an ethical philosophy can simply be defined as a system in which ‘the theory that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its usefulness in bringing about the most happiness of all those affected by it. It leads to maximum utilisation of resources.
The Three Generally Accepted Axioms of Utilitarianism state that
- Pleasure, or happiness, is the only thing that has intrinsic value.
- Actions are right if they promote happiness, and wrong if they promote unhappiness.
- Everyone’s happiness counts equally.
Jeremy Bentham describes his “greatest happiness principle” as: “Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do.”
For instance, Bentham’s utilitarianism would approve of active euthanasia, as it would not only relieve the suffering of the terminally ill patient but also would be beneficial for the family, both monetarily as well as emotionally.
However, there are grounds on which the Utilitarianism is criticized too.
- Utilitarianism is based on the notion that whatever functions should or should not be performed by the individual should be tested on the touch-stone of utility. If this notion is accepted, each individual will work only for his own pleasure. One will ignore benevolence, renunciation, service and sacrifice.
- For instance, slavery is justified from a utilitarian perspective as it benefits agrarian economy; however, it is unjust as it undermines the universal moral principle of ‘human dignity’.
- Utilitarianism also has trouble accounting for values like justice and individual rights.
- For example, say a hospital has four people whose lives depend upon receiving organ transplants: a heart, lungs, a kidney, and a liver. If a healthy person wanders into the hospital, his organs could be harvested to save four lives at the expense of his one life. This would arguably produce the greatest good for the greatest number. But few would consider it an acceptable course of action, let alone an ethical one.
- Utilitarianism is allegedly the foundations of our legal system, so it is important to ask ourselves whether it is actually fair or whether some are denied the simple right to have their own interests respected.
- For instance, Utilitarianism cannot be applied to entities that do not have the capacity to feel pleasure and pain or at least to have recognisable goals that they are aware of fulfilling. This debatably does not include some animals, advanced AI, the planet as a whole, a deity or the victory conditions of an overall storyline, game or narrative. Many people will argue that they should be ascribed certain rights or their interests recognised.
- Another limitation of utilitarianism is that it tends to create a black-and-white construct of morality. In utilitarian ethics, there are no shades of gray—either something is wrong or it is right.
- Utilitarianism also cannot predict with certainty whether the consequences of our actions will be good or bad—the results of our actions happen in the future.
- For instance, bringing down of illegal shops run mostly by poor on road sides is in line with policy and also is good for maximum of people. However, keeping in mind the livelihood needs of the poor, the demolition process should be such that enough time is provided to the poor so as to shift and if possible must be provided with an alternative.
- Utilitarianism cared only for physical comfort, and have ignored the suppression of sense and self-control. It also doesn’t care for the spiritual comfort which one derives from self-sacrifice for the sake of humanity.
Conclusion
So, although utilitarianism is surely a reason-based approach to determining right and wrong, it has obvious limitations. Focusing on consequences only may lead to ignorance of ethicality of actions.
Topic: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics – in private and public relationships.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: plato.stanford.edu
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4.
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:
Start by describing the Rawl’s theory of justice.
Body:
Elaborate on Rawls developed a theory of justice based on social contract theory, holding that the natural state of human beings is freedom, not subjugation to a monarch, no matter how benign or well intentioned. Rawls’s theory views human beings as inherently good and, echoing Kant, inclined toward moral rectitude and action.
Next, write a critique that Rawls’s theory focuses primarily on the issue of distribution, because decisions made in ignorance can neither reward innovation and enterprise nor encourage risk.
Conclusion:
Complete by summarising.
Introduction
John Rawls (1921-2002) was a contemporary philosopher who studied theories surrounding justice. He gave a theory of Justice as Fairness, giving a deontological theory on Justice. He was in influenced by Immanuel Kant who believed in human dignity and hence he gives utmost priority to liberty.
Body
John Rawls theory of Justice
- Rawls’ theory of justice as fairness encompasses a central contention that principles of justice is essential to the structure of a constitutional democracy. It must be viewed as political in contrast to more comprehensive moral, philosophical or religious doctrines.
- His concept of justice gives emphasis to fairness, it must be fair to all, to the most talented as well as the most disadvantaged section.
- Rawls uses the idea of a veil of ignorance to argue that fair and just distribution can be defended on rational grounds. He says that if a person keeps herself/himself under the ‘veil of ignorance’ then s/he would come up with the just distribution, fair laws and policies that would affect the whole society.
- Rawls further says that the institutions must be fair or just. They must keep themselves above parochial interests. In many societies there are such institutions which have been created to serve group’s interests and such institutions cannot serve the interests of justice.
- The contents of the “social primary goods” specified by Rawls are of particular importance, for the fair distribution of them, namely, liberty and opportunity, income and wealth and basis of self-respect in a society will undoubtedly help to achieve the much-needed social justice.
- For example: The recent 10% reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections in education and jobs; reservations for SC/ST etc.
- Another important aspect of his theory is that while laying emphasis on the equal distribution of the “social primary goods”, he envisages “an unequal distribution” of the “social primary goods” if such unequal distribution is “to the advantage of the least favoured”.
- Example: progressive tax system in India, multi-tiered GST system, Philanthropy.
- In envisaging such “unequal distribution” of the social primary goods to benefit the “least favoured” in the society.
Critical assessment
- Advocates of strict equality argue that inequalities permitted by the Difference Principle are unacceptable even if they do benefit the least advantaged.
- The Utilitarian objection to the Difference Principle is that it does not maximize utility. In A Theory of Justice, Rawls uses Utilitarianism as the main theory for comparison with his own, and hence he responds at length to this Utilitarian objection and argues for his own theory in preference to Utilitarianism
- Libertarians object that the Difference Principle involves unacceptable infringements on liberty. For instance, the Difference Principle may require redistributive taxation to the poor, and Libertarians commonly object that such taxation involves the immoral taking of just holdings.
- The Difference Principle is also criticized as a primary distributive principle on the grounds that it mostly ignores claims that people deservecertain economic benefits in light of their actions.
- Advocates of Desert-Based Principles argue that some may deserve a higher level of material goods because of their hard work or contributions even if their unequal rewards do not also function to improve the position of the least advantaged.
- They also argue that the Difference Principle ignores the explanations of how people come to be in the more or less advantaged groups, when such explanations are relevant to the fairness of these positions.
- The Original Position and the Veil of Ignorance may exclude some morally relevant information. the theory excludes in order to promote rationality and is biased in favor of rationality.
- Some criticize it for being similar to Utilitarianism in as much as these two principles could permit or demand inequalities and suffering in order to benefit the least well off.
- There is also the difficulty in applying the theory to practice. It is difficult if not impossible for people to place themselves under the Veil of Ignorance in the Original Position in order to formulate what conduct would be required of them by the MAXI MIN Principle.
- Some question whether or not people are rational enough to assume the veil of ignorance and operate under the two principles.
- The theory was developed more to handle problems within society and there are difficulties in applying the principles to individual decision-making involving specific others.
Conclusion
From increasing economic choices which can lift countries out of poverty to increasing opportunities for cultural expression and artistic excellence, political liberties lay important seeds that lift societies on many levels. The biggest benefit of liberty, however, is truly personal. With the right political, cultural, economic, and social framework rooted in liberty, societies can lay the groundwork for people truly exploring and pursuing the highest levels of personal, spiritual, and philosophical transcendence.
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