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: Static syllabus
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2024 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the features of Mansabdari, its merits and demerits and learnings from it for present day administration.
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 giving context of Mansabdari system as an important corner stone of Mughal administration.
Body:
First, write about the various features of Mansabdari system – appointments, ranks, payments, purpose etc.
Next, write about various merits and demerits associated with the Mansabdari system in detail.
Next, write about the key learning from Mansabdari system to present day administrative practises which can be implemented to make the administration better.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
The Mansabdar was a military unit within the administrative system of the Mughal Empire introduced by Akbar. The word mansab is of Arabic origin meaning rank or position. The system determined the rank and status of a government official and military generals. Those mansabdars whose rank was one thousand or below were called Amir.
Body
The mansab of a Mughal noble denoted the following:
- Salary of the officer
- Status of the officer
- Number of soldiers, horses and elephants etc., maintained by an officer.
Every mansabdar had to maintain as many soldiers as were indicated by his rank of ‘Zat’ while the rank of ‘sawar’ indicated the number of horsemen among them. Irvin expressed the view that Zat indicated the actual number of cavalry under a mansabdar besides other soldiers while sawar was an additional honour.
During the reign of Akbar, the mansabdars were asked to keep as many horsemen as were indicated by numbers of their ranks of sawar. But, the practice was not being maintained by other Mughal emperors.
Main Characteristics of the Mansabdari System:
- The king himself appointed the Mansabdars. He could enhance the Mansab, lower down it or remove it.
- A Mansabdar could be asked to perform any civil or military service.
- There were many categories of the Mansabdars. Based on the rank salary was given. Only the princes of the royal family and most important Rajput rulers were given a Mansab of 10,000.
- A Mansabdar was paid his salary in cash.
- Sometimes Jagir was given to Mansabdars to realise revenue and salary.
- Mansabdari system was not hereditary.
- Mansabdar had to maintain out of his” salary a stipulated quota of horses, elephants, camels and mules and carts.
- The horses were classified into six categories and the elephants into five.
- For every ten cavalry men, the Mansabdar had to maintain twenty horses for horses had to be provided rest while on march and replacements were necessarily in times of war.
- A record of the description (‘huliy’) of each horseman under a Mansabdar and of branding (‘dag’) horses to prevent corruption was kept.
Changes introduced by Jahangir and Shah Jahan:
- Difference in the highest Mansab
- Reduction in the number of soldiers
- Difference in the categories of Mansabdars
- Relaxation in control
Merits of the Mansabdari System:
- Removal of the chief defects of the Jagirdari system
- Increased military efficiency
- Extra revenue to the state
- Merit as the basis of selection
Demerits of the Mansabdari System
- The mansabdars got their salaries from the emperor and paid themselves the salaries to their troops. This made the troops more loyal to the mansabdars than to the king.
- The system proved very expensive.
- Dishonest mansabdars and officials used to ally together during inspection, borrowed horses from one another and showed their full quota.
- Caste system prevailed in the mansabdari system.
- Since the property of a mansabdar was confiscated after his death, he used to spend it lavishly during his life time.
Conclusion
The Mughal rulers maintained a large and efficient army till the reign of Aurangzeb. This was necessary to do so for they conquered several parts of the country and were accordingly required to maintain law and order and check revolts and Mansabdari system was the most efficient system.
Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The explains the concept of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and its interaction with El Niño.
Key Demand of the question:
The question expects us to explain what IOD is and discuss in detail how it impacts monsoons in India along with El Nino
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:
Start by defining IOD.
Body:
First, write in detail how both IOD and El nino impact monsoons in India. Discuss the impact of both positive IOD and negative IOD.
Next, discuss the combined impact of IOD and El Nino.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
The Indian Monsoon is expected to be influenced by the El Nino phenomenon in 2023, there are also anticipations of a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) developing, which could potentially offset the impact of El Nino.
Body
IOD and El nino interactions
- IOD, sometimes referred to as the Indian Nino, is similar to the El Nino phenomenon, occurring in the relatively smaller area of the Indian Ocean between the Indonesian and Malaysian coastline in the east and the African coastline near Somalia in the west.
- The El Nino is the warmer-than-normal phase of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, during which there are generally warmer temperatures and less rainfall than normal in many regions of the world, including India.
- One side of the ocean, along the equator, gets warmer than the other.
- IOD is said to be positive when the western side of the Indian Ocean, near the Somalia coast, becomes warmer than the eastern Indian Ocean.
- It is negative when the western Indian Ocean is cooler.
Negative and positive IOD and El nino interaction
Negative
- The air circulation in the Indian Ocean basin moves from west to east, that is from the African coast towards the Indonesian islands, near the surface, and in the opposite direction at the upper levels. That means the surface waters in the Indian Ocean get pushed from west to east.
- In a normal year, warmer waters in the western Pacific near Indonesia cross over into the Indian Ocean and make that part of the Indian Ocean slightly warmer. That causes the air to rise and helps the prevailing air circulation.
- In the years when the air circulation becomes stronger, more warm surface waters from the African coast are pushed towards the Indonesian islands, making that region warmer than usual. This causes hotter air to rise, and the cycle reinforces itself.
- This is the state of negative IOD.
Positive
- Air circulation becomes slightly weaker than normal. In some rare cases, the air circulation even reverses direction. The consequence is that the African coast becomes warmer while the Indonesian coastline gets cooler.
- A positive IOD event is often seen developing at times of an El Nino, while a negative IOD is sometimes associated with La Nina.
- During El Nino, the Pacific side of Indonesia is cooler than normal because of which the Indian Ocean side also gets cooler. That helps the development of a positive IOD.
Impact
- In the Indian Ocean, IOD exhibits an ocean-atmosphere interaction that closely resembles the fluctuations observed during El Niño events in the Pacific Ocean. However, the IOD is considerably less powerful compared to El Niño, resulting in relatively minimal impacts.
- A positive IOD helps rainfall along the African coastline and also over the Indian sub-continent while suppressing rainfall over Indonesia, southeast Asia and Australia. The impacts are opposite during a negative IOD event
Conclusion
Hence, even in an el nino year, a positive IOD will offset the effects of EL Nino and bring normal monsoon to India, thereby maintaining the rainfed agriculture of this country.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The article discusses India’s upcoming presidency of the G20 and the opportunities it presents for strengthening multilateral development banks (MDBs).
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the need for reforms in various MDBs.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining MDBs with examples.
Body:
First, in brief, write about the major aspects of global economy that these MDBs deal with.
Next, using facts and figures to substantiate, give the successes and limitations of MDBs– voting rights, dominance by global north, foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world etc.
Next, suggest possible reforms that are needed in the MBDs.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Multilateral development banks (MDBs) are financial institutions that provide loans, grants and technical assistance to developing countries for their economic and social development. MDBs include the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank the Inter-American Development Bank, etc. MDBs have been instrumental in supporting the development of both low-income and middle-income countries (LICs and MICs) by addressing issues such as poverty reduction, infrastructure development, human capital formation, etc.
Body
Role of Multilateral Development Banks
- Supporting the Implementation of the SDGs:
- The SDGs(sustainable development goals) are a set of 17 global goals that aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all.
- MDBs can help developing countries align their national policies and strategies with the SDGs, mobilize resources and partnerships, monitor and evaluate progress, and address gaps and challenges.
- MDBs can also support cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, human rights, governance, etc., that are essential for achieving the SDGs.
- Provide Concessional Finance and Grants:
- Providing concessional finance and grants to
- Low-income countries (LICs) and fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS) face multiple challenges such as low growth, high debt, weak institutions, social unrest, violence,, that hinder their development prospects and increase their vulnerability to shocks.
- MDBs can provide concessional loans and grants to these countries to help them meet their basic needs, build resilience, promote stability, and foster economic transformation.
- MDBs can also leverage their convening power and influence to mobilize additional support from other donors and partners for LICs and FCS.
- Promoting Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity:
- Middle-income countries (MICs) are a diverse group of countries that have achieved significant progress in reducing poverty but still face persistent inequalities and social exclusion.
- MDBs can help MICs address these challenges by supporting policies and programs that enhance productivity, competitiveness, innovation, diversification,, as well as those that improve access to quality education, health, social protection, infrastructure, etc., for all segments of society.
- MDBs can also help MICs tackle emerging issues such as climate change, urbanization, digitalization, etc., that have implications for their development trajectories
India and its engagement with MDB’s
- India, as a leader and partner of the Global South, has a stake and a role in shaping the reforms of MDBs to make them more responsive and effective in addressing these issues and opportunities.
- India is also a major borrower and beneficiary of MDBs, especially the World Bank Group and the Asian Development Bank.
- India has received loans and grants from these institutions for various sectors such as infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, etc.
- India is also a contributor and shareholder of MDBs.
- India has provided capital and resources to these institutions to support their operations and lending capacity.
- India has also participated in their governance and decision-making
Reforms needed
- The current legal and institutional framework of MDBs is outdated and inadequate to deal with the rapid changes and complexities of the digital ecosystem.
- The current framework was established after World War II to address the post-war reconstruction and development needs of the less developed countries.
- The current framework does not reflect the contemporary realities and aspirations of the developing countries, especially those of the Global South.
- To Enhance their Relevance and Performance in Supporting Developing Countries:
- The current operation strategies and business models of MDBs are not optimal for meeting the diverse and evolving needs of developing countries in pursuing inclusive and sustainable development.
- The current strategies and models do not leverage the full potential of MDBs to mobilize resources and partnerships, foster policy dialogue and alignment, monitor and evaluate progress, and address gaps and challenges.
- The current strategies and models do not diversify their portfolio of instruments and modalities to provide tailored and flexible solutions for different contexts and sectors.
- The current strategies and models do not support innovation and technology transfer for development solutions, especially for adaptation and resilience.
- To Improve their Governance and Accountability:
- The current governance structure of MDBs is not representative and responsive to the needs and interests of their shareholders and stakeholders.
- The current structure does not reflect the changing balance of power and influence among developed and developing countries in the global economic order.
- The current structure does not ensure effective participation and voice of developing countries in decision-making processes.
- The current structure does not ensure transparency and disclosure of MDBs’ operations and impacts.
Conclusion and wayforward
- Reforming MDBs is a crucial and timely initiative that holds out the promise of not only upgrading the current legal regime but also redefining the contours of how technology is regulated in India.
- Reforming MDBs is likely to have far-reaching implications for the digital ecosystem and its stakeholders in terms of opportunities and challenges.
- Reforming MDBs requires extensive consultations and deliberations among various stakeholders to ensure that it is inclusive, participatory and future proof.
- India has a key role and responsibility in reforming MDBs to make them more relevant and effective for the development of the Global South.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The article emphasizes the importance of shifting the focus from GDP growth to poverty reduction and inclusive development.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the challenges associated with poverty and to evaluate the performance of various measures taken to alleviate poverty and suggest further measures.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Describe the giving statistic regarding the current status of poverty in India.
Body:
First, write about the various challenges associated with eradication of poverty in India.
Next, Evaluate the pros and cons of the various poverty alleviation measures in India – Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), National Social Assistance Programme, Land Reforms, MGNREGA and various PDS initiatives etc.
Suggest measures to overcome the above the limitations of the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
According to World Bank, Poverty is pronounced deprivation in well-being, and comprises many dimensions. It includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic goods and services necessary for survival with dignity. Poverty also encompasses low levels of health and education, poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate physical security, lack of voice, and insufficient capacity and opportunity to better one’s life.
In India, 21.9% of the population lives below the national poverty line in 2011. In 2018, almost 8% of the world’s workers and their families lived on less than US$1.90 per person per day (international poverty line).
Body
Achievements in poverty alleviation over the years
- Decline in Extreme Poverty: Extreme poverty in India was 3% points lower in 2019 compared with 2011,as poverty headcount rate declined from 22.5% in 2011 to 10.2% in 2019, with a comparatively sharper decline in rural areas.
- Slight moderation in consumption inequality since 2011, but by a margin smaller than what is reported in the unreleased National Sample Survey -2017.
- The extent of poverty reduction during 2015-2019 is estimated to be notably lower than earlier projections based on growth in private final consumption expenditure reported in national account statistics.
- The World Bank defines “extreme poverty” as living on less than USD 1.90 per person per day.
- Rural vs Urban Poverty: Poverty reduction washigher in rural areas compared with urban Indiaas rural poverty declined from 26.3% in 2011 to 11.6% in 2019, while in urban areas the decline was from 14.2% to 6.3% in the corresponding period.
- Rural and urban poverty dropped by 7 and 7.9% points during 2011-2019.
- Urban poverty in India rose by 2% in 2016, coinciding with the demonetisation, and rural poverty rose by 10% in 2019.
- Small Farmers: Smallholder farmers have experienced higher income growth.Real incomes for farmers with the smallest landholdings have grown by 10% in annualized terms between the two survey rounds (2013 and 2019) compared to a 2% growth for farmers with the largest landholding.
- The growth in incomes of smallest landholders in rural areas provides more evidence of moderation in income disparity in rural areas.
- Smallest landholders comprise a larger share of the poor population.This income includes wages, net receipt from crop production, net receipt from farming of animal farming and net receipt from non-farm business. Income from leasing out land has been exempted.
Various poverty alleviation programs in India since Independence:
- Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP): It was introduced in 1978-79 and universalized from 2nd October, 1980, aimed at providing assistance to the rural poor in the form of subsidy and bank credit for productive employment opportunities through successive plan periods.
- Jawahar Rozgar Yojana/Jawahar Gram Samriddhi Yojana: The JRY was meant to generate meaningful employment opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed in rural areas through the creation of economic infrastructure and community and social assets.
- Rural Housing – Indira Awaas Yojana: The Indira Awaas Yojana (LAY) programme aims at providing free housing to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in rural areas and main targets would be the households of SC/STs.
- Food for Work Programme: It aims at enhancing food security through wage employment. Food grains are supplied to states free of cost, however, the supply of food grains from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns has been slow.
- National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS):This pension is given by the central government. The job of implementation of this scheme in states and union territories is given to panchayats and municipalities. The states contribution may vary depending on the state. The amount of old age pension is ₹200 per month for applicants aged 60–79. For applicants aged above 80 years, the amount has been revised to ₹500 a month according to the 2011–2012 Budget. It is a successful venture.
- Annapurna:This scheme was started by the government in 1999–2000 to provide food to senior citizens who cannot take care of themselves and are not under the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS), and who have no one to take care of them in their village. This scheme would provide 10 kg of free food grains a month for the eligible senior citizens. They mostly target groups of ‘poorest of the poor’ and ‘indigent senior citizens’.
- Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY):The main objective of the scheme continues to be the generation of wage employment, creation of durable economic infrastructure in rural areas and provision of food and nutrition security for the poor.
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005:The Act provides 100 days assured employment every year to every rural household. One-third of the proposed jobs would be reserved for women. The central government will also establish National Employment Guarantee Funds. Similarly, state governments will establish State Employment Guarantee Funds for implementation of the scheme. Under the programme, if an applicant is not provided employment within 15 days s/he will be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.
- National Rural Livelihood Mission: Ajeevika (2011):It evolves out the need to diversify the needs of the rural poor and provide them jobs with regular income on monthly basis. Self Help groups are formed at the village level to help the needy.
- National Urban Livelihood Mission:The NULM focuses on organizing urban poor in Self Help Groups, creating opportunities for skill development leading to market-based employment and helping them to set up self-employment ventures by ensuring easy access to credit.
- Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana: It will focus on fresh entrant to the labour market, especially labour market and class X and XII dropouts.
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana:It aimed at direct benefit transfer of subsidy, pension, insurance etc. and attained the target of opening 1.5 crore bank accounts. The scheme particularly targets the unbanked poor.
Assessment
- However, none resulted in any radical change in the ownership of assets, process of production and improvement of basic amenities to the needy.
- Scholars, while assessing these programmes, state three major areas of concern which prevent their successful implementation. Due to unequal distribution of land and other assets, the benefits from direct poverty alleviation programmes have been appropriated by the non-poor.
- Compared to the magnitude of poverty, the amount of resources allocated for these programmes is not sufficient. Moreover, these programmes depend mainly on government and bank officials for their implementation.
- Since such officials are ill motivated, inadequately trained, corruption prone and vulnerable to pressure from a variety of local elites, the resources are inefficiently used and wasted. There is also non-participation of local level institutions in programme implementation.
- Government policies have also failed to address the vast majority of vulnerable people who are living on or just above the poverty line. It also reveals that high growth alone is not sufficient to reduce poverty.
- Without the active participation of the poor, successful implementation of any programme is not possible
Measures needed
- Immediate support package will need to quickly reach both the existing and new poor.
- While existing safety net programs can be mobilized to get cash into the pockets of some of the existing poor relatively quickly, this is not the case for the new poor.
- In fact, the new poor are likely to look different from the existing poor, particularly in their location (mostly urban) and employment (mostly informal services, construction, and manufacturing).
- the identification of poor and vulnerable groups is need of the hour.
- India should consider fixing a universal basic income in the post-Covid period through a combination of cash transfers, expansion of MGNREGA, and introduction of an urban employment guarantee scheme
- Employment generation for the masses:
- A large fiscal stimulus along with intermediate informal employment insurgency through MGNREGA and other employment generation programmes are urgent to rein the adverse impact of covid-19 on the welfare of the masses.
- Multilateral global institutions must support the developing nations:
- Oxfam is calling on world leaders to agree on an Emergency Rescue Package of 2.5 trillion USD paid for through the immediate cancellation or postponement of 1 trillion in debt repayments, a 1 trillion increase in IMF Special Drawing Rights (international financial reserves), and an additional 500 billion in aid.
- An effective response in support of poor and vulnerable households will require significant additional fiscal resources.
- Providing all the existing and new extreme poor with a cash transfer of $1/day (about half the value of the international extreme poverty line) for a month would amount to $20 billion —or $665 million per day over 30 days.
- Given that impacts are likely to be felt by many non-poor households as well and that many households are likely to need support for much longer than a month, the sum needed for effective protection could be far higher.
- Decision-makers need timely and policy-relevant information on impacts and the effectiveness of policy responses.
- This can be done using existing, publicly available data to monitor the unfolding economic and social impacts of the crisis, including prices, service delivery, and economic activity, as well as social sentiment and behaviours.
- In addition, governments can use mobile technology to safely gather information from a representative sample of households or individuals.
- Phone surveys can collect information on health and employment status, food security, coping strategies, access to basic services and safety nets and other outcomes closely related to the risk of falling (further) into poverty.
Conclusion and way forward
- The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index-2018released by the UN noted that 271 million people moved out of poverty between 2005-06 and 2015-16 in India. The poverty rate in the country has nearly halved, falling from 55% to 28% over the ten-year period. Still a big part of the population in India is living Below the Poverty Line.
- Rapid economic growth and the use of technology for social sector programs have helped make a significant dent in extreme poverty in the country.
- Despite rapid growth and development, an unacceptably high proportion of our population continues to suffer from severe and multidimensional deprivation. Thus, a more comprehensive and inclusive approach is required to eradicate poverty in India.
Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article emphasizes the importance of addressing the various issues surrounding highway development in India.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the efforts to improve road infrastructure in the country, causes behind increasing road accidents and measures need to improve road safety.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by giving statistic relate to road safety in the country.
Body:
Frist, write about the various measures that have been taken in the recent past to improve the road infrastructure in the country.
Next, write reasons behind increasing road accidents – poor quality, lack of air bags, information deficit, overburdened roads etc.
Next, write about ways to reduce the road accidents and casualties due to it.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The impact of road safety goes a long way. In addition to ensuring an easier, comfortable, and more secure commute, safer roads also have a positive impact on the environment. In 2021, India reported 4,03,116 crashes, each of which adversely impacted the environment in various ways and in different degrees.
Body
Statistics on road safety
- In 2020 alone, speeding was responsible for 91,239 road crash fatalities, comprising 69.3% of all road crash deaths registered.
- Speeding has consistently been responsible for over 60% of all road crash fatalities in India in the last five years.
- Simulation exercises in Europe have demonstrated that cutting motorway speed limits even by 10 km/h can deliver 12% to 18% fuel savings for current technology passenger cars, along with a significant reduction in pollutant emissions, particularly Nitrogen Oxides and particulate matter (PM) output, from diesel vehicles.
Road safety and environmental sustainability linkage
- Most vehicles contain toxic metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium or hexavalent chromium, which are detrimental to the environment.
- Fuel and fluid leaks are seen at crash sites. Severe road crashes lead to automobile wreckage, which becomes a part of unusable end-of-life vehicles.
- This gives rise to scrappage. India is estimated to have about 22.5 million end-of-life vehicles by 2025.
- Despite being one of the largest car and light commercial vehicle markets in the world, India’s National Automobile Scrappage Policy, launched in 2021, is still in its nascent stages.
- With the absence of widespread, systematic facilities dedicated to their proper recycling, vehicles after road crashes as well as old end-of-life automobiles are left to rot by the wayside.
- Some end up at landfills or at informal recycling facilities where rudimentary hand tools are utilised to unscientifically dismantle them.
- This leads to the leakage of hazardous constituents such as oils, coolants and glass wool.
- Vehicle landfills turn into automobile graveyards leading to wasteful and sub-optimal land usage and water and soil pollution for decades.
Causes of road accidents
- Many road accidents are the result of faulty road-design especially a single-lane one with a sharp curve.
- Eg: In Cyrus Mistry accident, a parapet wall was protruding dangerously.
- Infrastructural deficits: Pathetic conditions of roads and vehicles, poor visibility and poor road design and engineering – including quality of material and construction.
- Negligence and risks: Over speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, tiredness or riding without a helmet, driving without seatbelts.
- Distraction while driving like talking over mobile phones while driving has become a major cause of road accidents.
- Overloading to save cost of transportation.
- Weak Vehicle Safety Standards in India: In 2014, crash tests carried out by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) revealed that some of India’s top-selling car models have failed the UN’s frontal impact crash test.
- Lack of awareness among people regarding importance of safety features like airbags, Anti-lock Braking system etc. Moreover, Vehicle manufacturers do not provide them as standard fitment but only in higher class of vehicles reducing their reach.
Measures needed
- Implementation of Legislation: The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act of 2019 has provisions that aim to bring about change.
- Behavioural Changes: Increasing motorcycle helmet use, increasing seat-belt uses and increasing child restraint use. Awareness regarding influence of alcohol on driving.
- Safe Roads: Safety consideration during the planning, design, and operation of roads, can contribute to reducing road traffic deaths and injuries.
- Vehicular Safety Standards: Vehicle safety features such as electronic stability control, effective Car Crash Standards and advanced braking should be made mandatory.
- Awareness and Publicity: Mass media and social media should be used effectively for spreading awareness about road safety.
- Training and capacity building: Training courses and training workshops have been organized for building capacity in road safety audits and road safety engineering.
- Motor Vehicle Accident Fund is proposed to be created. It will provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India for certain types of accidents.
Way forward
- Zones of excellence in Road Safety Model: Union and state governments can earmark smaller areas in some cities as Zones of Excellence in Road Safety (ZoE).
- All roads in the ZoE should be properly lane-marked, zebra-marked, and signposted.
- Most markings and signage should, in addition to the pictorial image, define the instructions in words for easy understanding, and as a source of regular education of the road users.
- A dedicated corridor for emergency vehicles must be marked.
- Corrective action on the “black spots” should be completed on top priority in a ZoE.
- In the meantime, temporary measures can be put in place to slow down, and guide the traffic.
- It is also important to gradually provide enabling conditions such as improved, handicap-friendly footpaths, a safe lane for cyclists and pedestrians, more zebra paths with an inbuilt safety mechanism.
- Round-the-clock checks should be conducted to enforce adherence to traffic norms in the earmarked ZoE.
- All available tech devices should be deployed, and private IT agencies of repute roped in.
- Regular road safety awareness and education programmes should be conducted in residential areas, over the weekends, with the active assistance of the RWAs/local bodies/NGOs.
- A three-tier administrative structure can be put in place to run a ZoE in a smooth, war-zone like spirit.
Conclusion
Roads and the environment are inseparable spaces. They are not just our shared resources but also our joint responsibility. Therefore, safer roads and a sustainable environment can be ensured only through the joint efforts of road-owning agencies, enforcement officials and the public.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
6. What does this quote means to you? (150 words)
“The truth may hurt, but lies hurt even more in the long run.” – Unknown
Difficulty level: Moderate
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Quotes Wednesdays’ in Mission-2024 Secure.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by explaining the literal meaning of the quote.
Body:
Write about being honest and truthful with oneself and how its importance in developing character. Elaborate upon how being honest and being truthful with oneself results so many benefits for individual morality. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of the honesty in the present day.
Introduction
“Truth prevails ultimately” also captures the essence of the above quote. This quote says that the truth is a stubborn thing. It says that people won’t always appreciate the truth. It says that some will attack it with malice in their hearts and minds. It says that some will deride it because of their lack of understanding.
But still, the truth remains. There it is. Unwanted, unappreciated, unwelcome. But it just won’t go away.
Body
Honesty, or telling the truth the first time and every time, is important because without a reputation for honesty, who could possibly belive you when you are in need of help? Honesty, and a reputation for the lack of it, is the moral of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” story.
While honesty is but one aspect of character, a lack of honesty will impune the entirety of your character. Who can believe any statement or rumor of virtue when it is told by a known liar? Eventually, the truth will be known, but the reputation of the liar will delay the revealing of the good while it will hasten the revelation of the lies. Remember that trust is the first victim of a lie. Only afterwards does the reputation fall.
“Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail of the knowing me: it is a wise father that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of your son: give me your blessing: truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long; a man’s son may, but at the length truth will out.“ (Merchant of Venice)
It basically means that no matter what one does to cover something up, the truth will eventually come out. Even the act of covering up the truth reveals that there is a truth being covered up. That truth is within you.
Conclusion
Truth alone triumphs is in the emblem of India and no matter how trivial or the big the matter is, truth in all circumstances prevails over falsehood/lies.
Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
7. What does this quote means to you? (150 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Quotes Wednesdays’ in Mission-2024 Secure.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by explaining the literal meaning of the quote.
Body:
Write about need of various interpretation of being happy.
Next, using examples mention how in order to become more happier than others we end up being unhappy. Cite examples like wealth, power, status, social media fame etc.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of the quote in the present day.
Introduction
Contentment is to be happy with what you have and find satisfaction in your present circumstances. Learning how to be content comes from a combination of intentional mindset shifts, habit changes, and being aware of our thoughts and actions. One must learn to be grateful to be happy with one’s circumstances and the way in which their life is going.
Body
Happiness is not a tangible substance that can be bought by money. It is a state of being at peace with what we have and where we are in life. Often, we measure our condition with a benchmark or what society deems to be ‘success’.
This may differ from person to person. For instance, for a poor man, owning a pucca house might give happiness and for the richest man, having good health might be source of happiness. It varies in context, time and place.
But as long as one is happy with where they are, they do not have to go in search of happiness. Although there is no one-size-fits-all program to be happy, one can still learn how to be content and in turn be happy.
- Practice gratitude: It is impossible to develop contentment without gratitude—they are inseparable. And a grateful person is one who has learned to focus on the good things in their life, not the things they lack.
- Take control of attitude: A person who lacks contentment in their life will often engage in “when and then thinking” – “when I get _______, then I will be happy.”
- Instead, take control of the attitude. Happiness is not reliant on the acquisition of any possession. It is based solely upon one’s decision to be happy.
- Stop comparing with others: Comparing one’s life with someone else’s will always lead to discontentment. There will always be people who “appear” to be better off than us and seemingly living the perfect life.
- Be content with what you have but grow: Never stop learning, growing, or discovering.
- Take pride in one’s personhood and the progress that one has made, but never become so content that we cannot find room for improvement.
- Contentment is not the same as complacency.
One must find True contentment. True contentment is a deep-seated sense of accepting who and where we are at any given moment. Too often, we get so entrenched in our busy lives that we don’t even notice where we are. We only focus more on where we were or where we want to be instead of where we are now. In other words, our focus is on the past or the future, rather than the present.
Conclusion
Happiness gained through success or materialism is only temporary. The grass is always greener on the other side. Happiness can be gained by being content and grateful. Contentment is simply gratitude, appreciation, and acceptance for the way things are right now. Once this is attained, an individual will not have to hunt for his own happiness.
Join our Official Telegram Channel HERE
Please subscribe to Our podcast channel HERE
Subscribe to our YouTube ChannelHERE
Follow our Twitter Account HERE
Follow our Instagram ID HERE
Follow us on LinkedIn : HERE
