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: Moderate
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 contributions of Ancient India to science and technology and its link to the present.
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:
Briefly give context of India’s ancient calibre of development in science.
Body:
First, write about like people in any other part of the world Indians too, have a rich legacy of scientific ideas. A desire to now the unknown, accompanied with experimentation and observation have always generated scientific temper. The dependence on nature could be overcome by developments in science. In ancient India, religion and science worked in close proximity
Next, write about the linkages with modern science and the science of past with examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
India has a rich heritage of science and technology. The dependence on nature could be overcome by developments in science. In ancient India, religion and science worked in close proximity. India belongs to one of the oldest civilized cultures with a long tradition in science and technology. Her history of science can be studied in a different context compared to that of other modern civilizations
Body
- Astronomy: Jyotishvedanga texts established systematic categories in astronomy but the more basic problem was handled by Aryabhatta (499 AD). His Aryabhattiya is a concise text containing 121 verses. It contains separate sections on astronomical definitions, methods of determining the true position of the planets, description of the movement of the sun and the moon and the calculation of the eclipses.
- Mathematics: The town planning of Harappa shows that the people possessed a good knowledge of measurement and geometry. By third century AD mathematics developed as a separate stream of study. Indian mathematics is supposed to have originated from the Sulvasutras.
- Brahmagupta’s Brahmasputa Siddhantais the very first book that mentioned ‘zero’ as a number, hence, Brahmagupta is considered as the man who found zero. He gave rules of using zero with other numbers.
- Aryabhatta discovered algebra and also formulated the area of a triangle, which led to the origin of
- Medicine: From 600 BC beganthe period of rational sciences. Takshila and Varanasi emerged as centres of medicine and learning. The two important texts in this field are Charak Samhita by Charak and Sushrut Samhita by
- Metallurgy: The vedic people were aware of fermenting grain and fruits, tanning leather and the process of dyeing. By the first century AD, mass production of metals like iron, copper, silver, gold and of alloys like brass and bronze were taking place. The iron pillar in the Qutub Minar complex is indicative of the high quality of alloying that was being done
Linkages between modern sciences and ancient scientific heritage
- Ayurveda: The plants and herbs mentioned in Charaka Samhita is relevant even today and is the foundation of Ayurveda.
- In the last few decades there has been growing interest inalternative forms of therapy globally.
- There are attempts bybiomedical and Ayurvedic researchers to correlate Ayurvedic understanding of the nature of disease with modern biomedical concepts
- Yoga: Many western nations have adopted Yoga for mental and physical well-being.More research is being done in this regard.
- Yoga has been found to lessen symptoms of depression and anxiety, ease chronic back pain, lower stress levels, boost brain function and improve heart health.
- Decimal system: What we use as the modern decimal system was compiled in its entirety in India. Although other cultures had introduced some features of the numeric system beforehand, it was completed in India by the 9th century AD.
- Chandrasekhar Limit: Indian Nobel Prize-winning physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar discovered the calculation used to determine the future of what would happen to a dying star.
- If the star’s mass is less than the Chandrasekhar Limit it will shrink to become a white dwarf, and if it is great the star will explode, becoming a supernova.
- It is said that he was influenced by ancient astronomical texts.
- Physics and nuclear energy:The concept of atom can be traced to Acharya Kanad. Kanad founded the Vaisheshika school of philosophy where he taught his ideas about the atom and the nature of the universe. Today India is one of the few countries that possesses nuclear technology.
Conclusion
As illustrated above, modern sciences that exists today in India and elsewhere has roots to the ancient scientific past of India. Many advancements in fields of science and technology can be traced to the basic foundational knowledge that exists in India. In medieval times, this knowledge was disseminated through translation of ancient Indian books by Arabs and Persians. Such developments are believed to have taken India’s wisdom to Europe and other western nations.
Topic: Effects of globalization on Indian society.
Difficulty level: Moderate
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 hyper-globalisation, its impact on the society and measures needed to counter its impact.
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:
Begin the answer by defining hyper-globalisation.
Body:
First, write about the various features of hyper-globalisation citing a few examples.
Next, write about the impact of hyper-globalisation on the various aspects of Indian society – freer movement of goods, resources and enterprises, and ultimately more jobs, cheaper products and increasing economic growth, prosperity and wealth. Also, mention the negative impacts like – increasing inequalities, lack of opportunities, dependence and political disconnect etc.
Next, write about the ways in which risks posed by hyper-globalisation could be overcome.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Hyper Globalisation is the concept that believes that globalization is happening is an enormous way and there is an emergence of a homogenous global culture. The period of hyper globalization has been associated with the most dramatic turnaround in the economic fortunes of developing countries.
The main difference between globalization and hyper globalization is very narrow and can be best described as the rate of speed at which the process of globalization takes place. The period between 1870 and 1914 the Golden Age of globalization in which world trade in terms of gross domestic product went from a 9 percent to 16 percent share. However, in the current age of hyper-globalization, which includes both goods and services, the gross domestic product share has reached 33 percent.
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Impact of hyper globalization on Indian society
- Economic inequality: Hyper Globalization is increasing the inequality around world.
- GAFA (Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon) are the wealthiest companies in the world. The wealth created is enjoyed by only few individuals.
- The increased income of persons with required new skills (such as knowledge of Artificial Intelligence) is far less than decreased income of unskilled person, leading to decrease in net prosperity.
- FDI and investment: Some countries are unable to attract FDI, other developing countries who have the ability to attract FDI, are unable to maximize the benefits for indigenous firms.
- Against the poor: WTO Agreement on Agriculture, are result of hyper globalism, which have capability to reduce the prosperity of farmers by limiting government’s support to them.
- Intellectual property: Similarly, agreements such as TRIPS do not let all to enjoy the benefits of innovation there by reducing their chance to increase their prosperity. All these are threatening human prosperity directly or indirectly.
- Ecology and indigenous people: Hyper globalism is also leading to increased extraction of raw materials, de-forestation without any value addition to indigenous people. Moreover, these people need to bear cost of resulting damage to ecology, increased pollution, hence reducing their prosperity.
- This can be better understood when we look at the plight of millions of climate refugees from island nations etc.
- Technological warfare: Technology is going to make warfare more dreadful. Buying and selling dangerous weapons is never as easy as it is in era of hyper globalism.
- If at all war occurs, the damage to property is un-predictable. Eg: Russia-Ukraine war.
- Moreover, if the money used for defence is used for welfarist policies, it would have helped the poor and destitute by making them prosperous.
- Overdependence and disruption: The increasing price risk due to disruption of supplies (eg crude oil and edible oil crisis due to Ukraine war) will have direct impact on poor due to inflation.
- Eg: Dependence on API’s from China during Covid-19 pandemic and people running from pillar to post for common cold medicines.
- Reduced to exporter of raw material: As industrialized countries have a better comparative advantage, poor nations are yet again becoming exporters of raw materials. This can also be called as neo-imperialism. Decision making powers are still with the Western nations continuing the trend from World War 2.
Measures needed to counter the risks
- Reduce over-dependence: In the real world, countries need to de-risk against overdependence on few suppliers, especially of products entailing heavy foreign exchange outgo.
- Halving import dependence in edible oils from the current 60-65 per cent is a goal worth pursuing, provided such Atmanirbharta does not degenerate into protectionism.
- Domestic producers can be given one-time capital subsidy and tariff support based on long-term import parity pricing.
- Domestic investment: When the global economy is sluggish, only domestic investment can move demand.
- India has an intrinsic advantage of population and its vibrant domestic demand.
- If enough manufacturing capacity as per the policy can be achieved, India can provide good market and employment its products and population.
- Eg: PLI scheme for electronics.
- Monetary policy: Appropriate monetary policy decisions should be made to boost investment. Moreover, reigning in inflation
- Infrastructure: Any policy should be accompanied with public infrastructure especially the transport sectors which also increase would demand. This would also reduce cost of logistics and make Indian goods competitive in the global market in turn increasing India’s prosperity.
Conclusion
Hyper globalization is not entirely detrimental to India, rather it has increased technology transfer and increased investment flow. India must reduce the risks to leverage the benefit of hyper globalism. Upskilling youth with new age technology can lead to reaping of rich demographic dividends while decreasing poverty.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article discusses the recent inauguration of the new Parliament building in India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It highlights the significance of the new building in symbolizing the country’s democratic spirit, modernization, and commitment to progress.
Key Demand of the question:
To write the features and importance of Parliament.
Directive word:
Elucidate – 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 writing the definition of parliament and importance of parliament in democratic systems.
Body:
First, write about the functions performed by the parliament – making laws, representing the interests of the people, and holding the government accountable. Parliament also plays a crucial role in budgetary control, ensuring fair representation of minority interests, and promoting peaceful conflict resolution. Cite examples to substantiate.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
India has a parliamentary system of government. The Union Parliament consists of two houses- Rajya Sabha & Lok Sabha and President of India. The functions of the Parliament are mentioned in the Indian Constitution in Chapter II of Part V. The functions of the Parliament can be classified under several heads.
In the 75th year of Independence, India’s new Parliament building, embodying the culture, pride and spirit of the entire nation, was recently inaugurated by the PM of India.
Body
- Law Making:
- A modern Parliament, either in India or in any other country, is not merely a law making body. It has many other functions to do. But still, the most important function among them is the function of law-making. Parliament can make laws on a wide range of subjects allotted to it under the Union and the Concurrent lists in the VII schedule to the Constitution. Residual powers also vests with the parliament in the matters that are not specifically assigned to the States. States can make law on subjects enumerated in the State list.
- Administrative Accountability Function:
- In India, Parliament does not interfere with the day to day administration of the executive but exercise surveillance on it. Parliamentary scrutiny is exercised through various procedures like questions, motions, discussions etc.
- Question Hour:
- Question hour is the hour where members of the parliament can raise any question with regard to the administrative activity. There the concerned minister is obliged to answer to the parliament, either orally or in writing. Questions may be either starred or non-starred.
- Discussions:
- When the member who raised a question feels that the answer given to a question is not complete, he may be allowed by the speaker of the house to raise a discussion in the house for half an hour. This is generally termed as the Half an Hour discussion.
- Committees:
- Another method of having administrative surveillance is by way of Parliamentary Committees. They may be either Standing Committees or the Adhoc Committees. Standing Committees are constituted every year and they work on a continuous basis whereas the Adhoc Committees are created temporarily for a specific task. There are Standing Committees both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
- Executive Responsibility:
- In India, head of the executive is the President and the executive powers are vested in him and are taken in his name. But he is only the formal head as he acts only on the aid and advice of the council of ministers. The parliamentary control over the executive is based on the constitutional provisions of collective responsibility of Council of ministers to the House of people. This has been specifically enshrined in Article 75(3) of the Indian Constitution.
- Collective Responsibility:
- The collective responsibility concept lies on the principles that the minister must not vote against the government policy or speak against the government policy and all the decisions taken by a minister is the decision of the government. The ministers are also individually responsible to the head of the State in the sense that Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President.
- Conflict Resolution and National Integration Role:
- Conflicts are natural to man. Conflicts may be either of ideas or interests or may be for the struggle for power by various contending forces. The role played by the Parliament in resolving conflict is great. That is there the members of parliament who are from the different parts of the country irrespective of their caste, creed, religion or region; they meet informally and discuss in groups the problems which affect the country as a whole. It creates the feelings of national integrity.
- Informational Role:
- The parliament also has its significant function of informational role. That means the parliament has right of being informed. Government should feed the parliament with information’s by way of reports or by way of lying papers on the table of the house or by placing documents in the parliamentary library.
Powers of the parliament:
- Legislative Powers: All the subjects in our constitution are divided among state, union and concurrent lists. In concurrent list Parliamentary law is over riding than state legislative law. Constitution also have powers to make law with respect to state legislature in following circumstances:
- When Rajya Sabha passes a resolution to that effect
- When national emergency is under operation
- When two or more states request parliament to do so
- When necessary to give effect to international agreements, treaties and conventions
- When President’s rule is in operation.
- Executive Powers:According to parliamentary form of government executive is responsible to the parliament for its acts and policies. Hence parliament exercises control by various measures like committees, question hour, zero hour etc. ministers are collectively responsible to the Parliament.
- Financial Powers:It includes enactment of budget, scrutinizing the performance of government with respect of financial spending through financial committees (post budgetary control)
- Constituent Powers: The Parliament also has the power to alter, repeal or amend any provision of the Constitution and such amendments cannot be question before any court of law on any ground unless they tend to alter or violate the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution.
- Judicial Powers:
- Impeachment of President for violation of constitution
- Removal of judges of Supreme Court and High court
- Removal of Vice- President
- Punish members for breach of privileges like sitting in the house when the member knows he is not an eligible member, serving as member before taking oath etc.
- Electoral Powers:It has its participation in the election of President and Vice-President. The members of Lok Sabha elects speaker and deputy speaker from among its members. Similarly, members of Rajya Sabha elects deputy chairman.
- Other Powers:
- To discuss various issues of national and international importance
- Imposing emergency
- Increase or decrease area, change names, alter the boundary of the states
- Create or abolish state legislature etc. any powers can be added from time to time
Conclusion
Constitution of India is the law of our land and all the three organs, the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary are the machineries formed under the foundation of this Constitution. Constitution of India is been formed on the principles of rule of law, so Legislature in India has been vested with its constitutional functions and powers and so has limitation too. It can be said that the prime function of legislature is to anchor for the will of the people and to enact laws. But legislature is not the actual law makers but the executive is. And judiciary plays its vital role in guarding the constitution, the sentinel on the qui vive.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
The article titled emphasizes the need for creative approaches to address the funding gap for climate-related initiatives.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the challenges in climate funding, strategies required to balance climate funding with inclusive growth.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly explain the concept of the climate funding gap.
Body:
First, write about the challenges in climate funding and inclusive growth – Discuss the limitations of traditional funding mechanisms for both climate initiatives and inclusive growth and explain the need to align climate action with inclusive growth ambitions
Next write about the Innovative methods for bridging the gap and promoting inclusive growth – Private sector involvement and impact investment, Green bonds, sustainable finance, and social bonds, Climate funds, international cooperation, and development aid, Technological innovation, research funding, and skill development etc.
Conclusion:
Suggest way forward and conclude.
Introduction
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth’s climate system and caused change on a global scale
Climate finance refers to local, national, or transnational financing—drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing—that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change.
The UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement call for financial assistance from Parties with more financial resources (Developed Countries) to those that are less endowed and more vulnerable (Developing Countries).This is in accordance with the principle of “Common but Differentiated Responsibility and Respective Capabilities” (CBDR).
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Background
- In 2009, at the UNFCCC COP15 (held in Copenhagen), the developed country parties, to achieve meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation, jointly set a target of USD 100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries.
- The climate finance goal was then formally recognized by the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties at COP16 in Cancun.
- At COP21 in Paris, Parties extended the $100 billion goals through 2025.
- After COP26 there was a consensus that developed nations will double their collective provision of adaptation finance from 2019 levels by 2025, in order to achieve this balance between adaptation and mitigation.
- Despite the G7 having accepted the need for transfer of funds at Rio in 1992, the promise made in 2009 to provide at least 100 billion dollars per year in climate finance remains unfulfilled.
- Climate finance is needed for mitigation because large-scale investments are required to significantly reduce emissions.
- Climate finance is equally important for adaptation, as significant financial resources are needed to adapt to the adverse effects and reduce the impacts of a changing climate.
- Climate Financing recognizes that the contribution of countries to climate change and their capacity to prevent it and cope with its consequences vary enormously.
- Hence, developed countries should also continue to take the lead in mobilizing climate finance through a variety of actions, including supporting country-driven strategies and taking into account the needs and priorities of developing country Parties.
- Climate finance is critical to tackle the issues posed by climate change and achieve the goal of limiting the rise in the earth’s average temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels, something the 2018 IPCC report has predicted.
Gaps in climate funding and bridging the gap
- Funding Biases: Despite the existence of various financing sources, there has been an inherent funding bias (more than 80%) in favour of climate-change mitigation activities. Adaptation measures remain under-funded. This can be attributed to: (a) Results from mitigation investment are perceptible in the short run, g. returns on investments in energy efficiency or in renewable energy can be perceived through the financial cost savings, as well as from the estimable break-even periods. The same is not true for adaptation projects. For instance, returns on investment in cyclone-resistant structures might not be perceptible if cyclones do not occur; (b) Adaptation projects find less traction amongst funding agencies because of the “public goods” nature of such projects. The private sector does not consider financing “public goods” as viable investments.
- Missed Target: According to an expert report prepared at the request of the UN Secretary-General, the US$ 100 billion target is not being met (available data for 2018 is US$ 79 billion), even though climate finance is on an “upward ” trajectory. Moreover, the annual US$ 100 billion commitment, “is a floor and not a ceiling” for climate finance, according to the UN.
- Gap in Finance, Low Target: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that adaptation costs alone faced by developing countries will be in a range of US$ 140-300 billion per year by 2030, and US$ 280-500 billion annually by 2050. IPCC estimates that US$ 1.6–3.8 trillion is required annually to avoid warming exceeding 1.5°C. In this context, the target of US$ 100 billion per year is very low.
- Pandemic and its economic effects: The Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), a non-profit research group based in San Francisco, California, warns that the pandemic and its economic effects have put an emphasis on spending in areas such as public health (developed nations spent trillions to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic), making the mid-to-long-term prospects of climate finance uncertain.
Strategies to be adopted
- Carbon Markets and Carbon Credits are components of emissions trading, a market-based approach to to reduce the concentration of Greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. It works by providing economic incentives for reducing the emissions of the designated pollutants. A carbon market allows investors and corporations to trade both carbon credits and carbon offsets simultaneously.
- Carbon credits (or allowances) work like permission slips for emissions.
- When a company buys a carbon credit, they gain permission to generate more CO2 emissions.
- Climate finance has to be made predictable and assured. The developed countries should own up their responsibility and provide enhanced funding for adaptation.
- In addition to enhanced support, processes and mechanisms must be developed to ensure transparency in funding (e.g., to check greenwashing) and proper use of funds (to prevent diversion). Proper auditing and reporting mechanisms can ensure transparency. National Budgets can also have separate line items to provide clarity on funding receipts and usage.
- Climate Financing must be guided by principle of equity. The focus should be on providing assistance to the poor and the most vulnerable nations while ensuring development to raise living standards.
- Gender aspects should be given due consideration, as women remain disproportionately affected by climate change. In this context, a framework has been suggested by a UK-based think tank.
Conclusion
Climate Finance so far has remained an unfulfilled promise. As Al Gore emphasised, it is time to realize that the window to act to address climate change is getting shortened and developed countries are “not doing enough”. Climate Finance is the most potent tool to mitigate and adapt to effects of climate change. The faster the consensus on climate finance is reached, the better. In this context, all levers, public and private should be mobilized to meet the enhanced financing target.
Value addition
Climate finance options
- Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established by UNFCCC to operate the financial mechanism under the Convention on an on-going basis, subject to review every four years to provide funds to developing countries.
- Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) was created in 2001 to complement other funding mechanisms to finance projects relating to: (a) capacity-building; (b) adaptation; (c) Technology Transfer; (d) Climate change mitigation and economic diversification for countries highly dependent on income from fossil
- Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) is intended to support a special work programme to assist the LDCs.
- Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allows a developed country with an emission-limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to implement an emission-reduction project in developing countries. Such projects can earn saleable certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting Kyoto targets.
- Adaptation Fund became operational with the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol in 2008 to finance practical adaptation projects and programmes in developing countries and support capacity-building activities.
- Climate Investment Fund (CIF) was established in 2008 by several multilateral development banks. The CIF has balanced and equitable governance with equal representation from developed and developing countries. It includes: (a) Clean Technology Fund: Finances transfer of low carbon technologies; (b) Strategic Climate Fund: Targeted programs to pilot new approaches and improvements.
Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article discusses India’s progress in the field of supercomputing and highlights its potential in driving scientific research and technological advancements.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the importance of supercomputers, its features and its applications in different fields.
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:
Begin by briefly explaining the concept of supercomputers and their significance in scientific research and technological innovation.
Body:
First, write about the role and Importance of Supercomputers – contribute to solving complex problems and conducting simulations in various scientific disciplines, role in accelerating research and development etc.
Next, write about the Key Features of Supercomputers: characteristics that distinguish supercomputers from conventional computers, such as processing speed, parallel processing capabilities, and large-scale memory.
Next, write about the applications of Supercomputers: Provide examples of how supercomputers are applied in different fields, such as computational fluid dynamics, molecular dynamics simulations, genomics, and astrophysics. Discuss their role in advancing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
A supercomputer is an extremely powerful and high-performance computer capable of performing complex calculations and processing large amounts of data at incredibly fast speeds. It is used for tasks that require immense computational power. It performs at or near the currently highest operational rate for computers.
The AI supercomputer ‘AIRAWAT,’ located at C-DAC in Pune, India, has achieved a ranking of 75th in the world on the Top 500 Global Supercomputing List. The deployment of AIRAWAT will empower academia, research labs, the scientific community, industry, and startups to develop indigenous AI-enabled products and solutions, particularly for addressing India-specific challenges.
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Significance of Supercomputers
- World-wide supercomputing facilities have enabled countries in their S&T capabilities in areas such as designing vehicles, aeroplanes, massive structures like high rise buildings and bridges, infrastructure, discovery of new life saving drugs, discovery and extraction of new energy sources including oil, natural gas etc.
- Over the years, supercomputers have benefitted mankind in several ways.
- Weather prediction has reached accuracy of forecast as well as real time tracking of natural phenomenon.
- Timely warning of cyclones in the recent past have saved many lives and property.
Key features of Supercomputers
- These types of computers are able to solve large amounts of calculations, and complicated calculations as well.
- Multiple users are capable of accessing the supercomputer at same time.
- It Is more expensive so ordinary users can not purchase that computer.
- Use for special areas where there is a high amount and complicated calculations.
- Having huge storage capacity.
Applications of Supercomputers
- Biology:
Mostly, supercomputers are used to diagnose various diseases, and provide the assistance for producing good results in strokes, brain injuries and other blood flow issues in your body.
- Military and Defense Missions:
Supercomputing helps to provide virtual testing for nuclear explosion and weapon ballistics.
- Climate Patterns:
Supercomputer applications are able to study and understand climate patterns.
- Airlines Industry:
With the help of a supercomputer, designed flight simulators for newbie pilots and this simulator helped to train new pilots.
- Weather Forecasting:
To gather the information related to weather forecasting, supercomputers run in the NOAA’s system, which means National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NOAA system is able to execute all types of simple and logical instructions.
- Scientific Research areas:
In the weather and science research areas depend on the supercomputer for analyzing data from the exploring solar system, satellites that round earth, and other areas such as nuclear research.
- Advance database :(Data Mining)
Some large scale companies need the supercomputer for extracting useful information from data storage houses or in the cloud system. Such as insurance companies.
- Financial Market Place:
Supercomputers play a vital role in real financial success in the emerging online currency world such as bitcoin and the stock market.
- Simulated Environment in Automobile:
Supercomputers provide the help to people for buying vehicles because before purchasing the vehicle, customers can test through simulation environments that are created by supercomputers.
- Smog Control System:
Scientists use supercomputers in their own laboratory for predicting the fog and other pollution levels in particular areas, and then take final steps to prevent them.
Conclusion
India has undertaken the National Supercomputing Mission (2015) which aims at development of highly professional High Performance Computing (HPC) aware human resource for meeting challenges of development of these applications. The Mission envisages empowering national academic and R&D institutions spread over the country by installing a vast supercomputing grid comprising of more than 70 high-performance computing facilities.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Down to Earth , Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3.
Key Demand of the question:
To analyse the role of private sector as a partner with the government to harness space technology and innovations for social welfare.
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, write about the impact a global treaty on plastics and plastic pollution can have – . It would establish international standards and regulations to reduce plastic waste and its environmental impact.
Write about its impact on India – it could provide a regulatory framework, promote technology and infrastructure development, have economic implications, and require international cooperation.
Next, write about the potential shortcomings on the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
On May 29, 2023, members of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) gathered in Paris for the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution, also known as INC-2.
INC-2, a successor of INC-1, held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, last year, is the international community’s chance set the stage for negotiations on a global deal to end plastic pollution.
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Global treaty on plastic pollution
- The treaty aims to end plastic pollution across its entire lifespan: from the extraction of fossil fuels to refining for petrochemicals, plastics production, consumption, waste trade and disposal. Thus far, plastics have been approached as a littering problem to be managed after they are used.
- This has been the case despite resolution 5/14 adopted in the United Nations Environment Assembly in March last year that finally acknowledged the role of upstream industries as a source of the plastic pollution crises.
- Should a treaty be framed along the lines of this resolution, it will lead to a significant reduction and eventual phasing out of certain kinds of plastics.
Plastic waste scenario in India
- According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India generates close to 26,000 tonnes of plastic a day and over 10,000 tonnes a day of plastic waste remains uncollected.
- According to a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)study the plastic processing industry is estimated to grow to 22 million tonnes (MT) a year by 2020 from 13.4 MT in 2015 and nearly half of this is single-use plastic.
- India’s per capita plastic consumption of less than 11 kg is nearly a tenth of the United States of America (109 kg).
Impact of a global treaty on plastic pollution in India
- An uniform set of laws applies to all countries thereby boosting the cumulative effort across globe to tackle plastic pollution.
- A legally binding framework, with measurable targets and periodic reviews will force the countries and India to take action.
- Without effective action, global plastic production is predicted to triple by 2060 and large amounts of plastic will end up in environment and oceans.
- Regulating plastic pollution on a global level is therefore an important step that can contribute to the climate transition, as well as protect the oceans, the environment and biodiversity.
- Strengthens the global drive to curb the plastic pollution of all types – land, marine etc.
- Helps build a financial mechanism to boost the efforts towards fighting plastic pollution.
- Not all countries could be able to abide by the treaty as alternative to plastic may be unaffordable or inaccessible or unavailable. In such cases, CBDR must be adopted.
- A significant direction that India has taken at the national level is recognising informal waste workers and has mandated their inclusion in the waste management systems. This needs to be amplified at the global level and India must strongly advocate for inclusion of the informal recycling waste workers in the current framework and the global treaty dialogues.
Conclusion
Plastic pollution is perhaps the biggest threat facing after planet after climate change. UNFCCC has provided a systematic framework for collective action to address Climate Change. The UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution can provide a similar mechanism to combat plastic pollution. The UNEA has set a deadline of 2024 to agree on the treaty. All nations should support the negotiation process to reach a consensus as early as possible and stick to the 2024 deadline.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Reference: plato.stanford.edu
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about about Kantian Categorical Imperative and its role in evaluating moral right actions.
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 Categorical Imperative of Emmanuel Kant.
Body:
Begin the body by explaining in detail about your understanding of Categorical Imperative with examples. Mention how it can be used to evaluate moral actions. You can use simple but effective examples to put forward your ideas regarding Universal Moral Law etc.
Conclusion:
Give a concise summation of your views to conclude the answer.
Introduction
Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) argued that the supreme principle of morality is a standard of rationality that he dubbed the “Categorical Imperative” (CI). Kant characterized the CI as an objective, rationally necessary and unconditional principle that we must always follow despite any natural desires or inclinations we may have to the contrary.
Body:
The CI states that it is immoral to use another person merely as a means to an end and that people must under all circumstances be treated as ends in themselves. This is in contrast to some interpretations of the utilitarian view, which allow for use of individuals as means to benefit the many.
Kantian ethics refers to a deontological ethical theory ascribed to the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. The theory, developed as a result of Enlightenment rationalism, is based on the view that the only intrinsically good thing is a good will; an action can only be good if its maxim – the principle behind it – is duty to the moral law.
CI provide a way for us to evaluate moral actions and to make moral judgments
- Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
- It states that one should choose our ‘codes of conduct’ only if they serve perfect / imperfect duty and are good for all.
- Perfect duties are blameworthy if not met and are the basic requirements for a human being.
- An exampleof perfect duty is the avoidance of suicide.
- Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means to an end.
- This states that we should not use humanity of ourselves or others as a means to an end.
- An examplewould be that of slavery or prostitution.
- For Kant to treat people with dignitywas to treat them morally. This idea became a rallying point for those struggling against social hierarchies and for human rights. It represent what is called the moral conception of rights.
- Taking the example of forced labour and jajmani systemwhere human beings are treated as “means” for achieving the “ends” that is profit motive. Human intrinsic worth i.e. dignity is not respected and they are exploited for petty gains. This led to inequality in society where one section of people exploiting other section for self-motive.
- Every rational being must so act as if he were through his maxim always a legislating member in the universal kingdom of ends.
- This states that we should consider ourselves to be members in the universal realm of ends.
- We should consider our actions to be of consequence to everyone else in that our actions affect not only ourselves but that of others.
- :Eviction of tribes from forest land for construction of a dam and rendering them homeless.
Conclusion
Kant’s philosophy of human individuals as end in itself endorses the golden rule of “treating others as one’s self would wish to be treated”. As no one would wish to be used simply as a means, therefore one should not also use other human beings as means to achieve their ends. This philosophy can be of great help in resolving the ethical dilemmas where there is debate between relative importance of means and ends.
Value addition
Kant’s Categorical Imperative:
- Kant believed that there was a supreme principle of morality, and he referred to it as The Categorical Imperative.
- The CI determines what our moral duties are.Kant thought that all acts should be judged according to a rule he called the Categorical Imperative.
- A categorical imperative denotes an absolute, unconditional requirement that exerts its authority in all circumstances, both required and justified as an end in itself.
- He gives the highest honor for the categorical imperative because it became universal law that can be applied to any and every one.
- Kant is saying that simply willing that our moral rule become a universal law produces a logical contradiction.
- His categorical imperative ensures that we aren’t doing these acts in mimic of others but rather in line with one universal law.
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