[Mission 2024] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 13 July 2023

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: The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.

1. The Surat Split was caused by a clash of ideologies and leadership styles within the Indian National Congress (INC). While it weakened the national movement in the short term, it also had long-term impacts, including the growth of mass-based politics, the rise of militant nationalism, and the influence on future movements and leaders. Examine. (250 words)

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 discuss and contrast the ideologies and methods of Moderates and Extremists which ultimately resulted in the Surat Split.

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:

Write about the factors that led to the split -Bring out the shortcomings of liberal moderates and their disconnect with the masses and the rise of extremists to fill this gap. Contrast the ideas of Extremists vis-à-vis the Moderates such as use of methods of appeals as against the radical moves, belief in masses, use of press with a strong language against the British by Tilak, personalities such as Aurobindo promoting superiority of our own civilisation etc.

Next, write about the short-term impact of the split.

Next, write about the long-term impact of the split.

Conclusion:

Mention that although the end was to attain Swaraj, the means to achieve it was different in the eyes of the Moderates and Extremists and that mutual distrust led to the Surat split.

Introduction

In the early twentieth century the nationalism was gaining fervour so Curzon decided to divide Bengal, to break the unity of Indians and to check the growth of nationalism. This move was inception point to Surat split of INC in 1907. The ideological difference between moderates and extremists further widened with moderates opposing the resolutions on Swaraj, Swadeshi, Boycott of foreign goods and National Education and also there as issue with the leadership of congress sessions as well that ultimately led to Surat split.

Body

causes behind the Surat Split

• There was a great deal of public debate and disagreement among Moderates and Extremists in the years 1905-1907, even when they were working together against the partitioning of Bengal.
• The Extremists wanted to extend the Swadeshi and the Boycott Movement from Bengal to the rest of the country.
• They also wanted to gradually extend the boycott from foreign goods to every form of association or cooperation with the colonial Government.
• The Moderates wanted to confine the boycott part of the movement to Bengal and were totally opposed to its extension to the Government.
• Matters nearly came to a head at the Calcutta Congress in 1906 over the question of its Presidentship.
• A split was avoided by choosing Dadabhai Naoroji.
• Four compromise resolutions on the Swadeshi, Boycott, National Education, and Self-Government demands were passed.
• Throughout 1907 the two sides fought over differing interpretations of the four resolutions.
• By the end of 1907 the Extremists were convinced that the battle for freedom had begun as the people had been roused.
• Most of them felt that the time had come to part company with the Moderates
• Most of the Moderates, led by Pherozeshah Mehta, were no less determined on a split. They were afraid that the Congress organization built carefully over the last twenty years, would be shattered.

Impacts of Surat split

Short term

• Following the Surat Split in 1907, the Moderates demanded colonial self-government in contrast to the Extremists’ demand for total independence.
• The moderates’ constitutional politics did not impress the British government, as evidenced by the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909.
• The Moderates had lost touch with the nationalism’s younger generation. The younger generation desired results, which fuelled the rise of revolutionaries.
• Following the incarceration of leaders such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the moderate-dominated Congress went dormant.
• Separate electorates were granted to Muslims in 1909. This was a setback for Congress because the most critical and vocal elements were not included in the INC.

Long-term

• To suppress militant nationalists, the British used a divide and rule strategy.
• Extremism was mostly confined to Bengal, Maharashtra, and Punjab, where the rise in terrorist activity allowed the government to unleash repression.
• The exit of the Extremist left the Congress paralysed for more than a decade as the Moderates could achieve very little.
• It was only in 1916 after re-entry of the Extremists and exit of the Moderates (1918) that the Congress was reactivated.
• But now it was a different story all together. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had entered the political scene and associated himself with the programme of the Extremist.
• He represented a new synthesis of faith and reason, law and impulse and inaugurated a new era in Modern India History.

Conclusion

British policy of Divide and Rule, saw a major victory in form of Surat Split and the British believed that they were in control of the affairs of the INC after significant period of time. While the leadership of the Congress remained in the hands of the Moderates for some time more, as the Extremists worked separately till 1916. Later both groups reunited at Lucknow session of Congress in 1916 due to the efforts of the leaders of Home Rule movement.

Topic: The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.

2. While the Home Rule Movement had its limitations, including a limited scope and the inability to achieve immediate self-rule, its impact on the national movement cannot be undermined. Comment. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

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 explain the limitations of the Home Rule Movement, especially with regards to Home Rule leagues. Also, to explain the legacy of the movement.

Directive word: 

Comment– here we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving context about Home Rule Movement, its leaders, inspiration and aims and objectives.

Body:

Elaborate further upon the Home Rule movement and its nature of functioning and spread.

Bring out the limitations of Home Rule, lack of cohesiveness between Tilak’s and Besant’s leagues, Skepticism of Congress, Lack of leadership post-1917 etc.

In the next part write in detail about the legacy of the movement. Giving impetus to national movement during the war period, facilitating the re-entry of extremists in Congress, Lucknow, creating a platform for upcoming leaders, and preparing India for the arrival of Gandhi and mass movements.

Conclusion:

Summarize the overall importance and the legacy of the Home rule movement.

Introduction

The home rule movement was the Indian response to the First World War in a less charged but in a more effective way. With people already feeling the burden of war time miseries caused by high taxation and a rise in prices, Tilak and Annie Besant ready to assume the leadership the movement started with great vigour. Two Indian Home Rule Leagues were organised on the lines of the Irish Home Rule Leagues and they represented the emergence of a new trend of aggressive politics. The League campaign aimed to convey to the common man the message of home rule as self-government.

Objectives of Home Rule Movement:

• To achieve self-government in India.
• To promote political education and discussion to set up agitation for self-government.
• To build confidence among Indians to speak against the government’s suppression.
• To demand a larger political representation for Indians from the British government.
• To revive political activity in India while maintaining the principles of the Congress Party.

Major contributions of Home Rule Movement to the freedom struggle of India:

1. The leagues organised demonstrations and agitations.
2. There were public meetings in which the leaders gave fiery speeches.
3. They were able to create a stir within the country and alarm the British to such an extent that Annie Besant was arrested in June 1917.
4. This move by the British created a nation-wide protest and now even moderate leaders joined the league. Besant was released in September 1917.
5. The Home Rule League functioned throughout the year as opposed to the Congress Party whose activities were confined to once a year.
6. The movement was able to garner huge support from a lot of educated Indians. In 1917, the two leagues combined had around 40,000 members.
7. Many members of the Congress and the Muslim League joined the league. Many prominent leaders like Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Joseph Baptista, G S Kharpade and Sir S Subramanya Iyer were among its members.
8. The moderates, extremists and the Muslim League were briefly united through this movement.
9. The movement was able to spread political consciousness to more regions in the country.

• This movement led to the Montague Declaration of 1917 in which it was declared that there would be more Indians in the government leading to the development of self-governing institutions ultimately realising responsible governments in India.

This Declaration, also known as August Declaration, implied that the demand for home rule would no longer be considered seditious. This was the biggest significance of the movement.

Reasons for movement to fade out:

1. The movement was not a mass movement. It was restricted to educated people and college students.
2. The leagues did not find a lot of support among Muslims, Anglo-Indians and non-Brahmins from Southern India as they thought home rule would mean a rule of the upper caste Hindu majority.
3. Many of the moderates were satisfied with the government’s assurance of reforms (as preluded in the Montague Declaration). They did not take the movement further.
4. Annie Besant kept oscillating between being satisfied with the government talk of reforms and pushing the home rule movement forward. She was not able to provide firm leadership to her followers. Although ultimately she did call the reforms ‘unworthy of Indian acceptance’.
5. In September 1918, Tilak went to England to pursue a libel case against Sir Ignatius Valentine Chirol, British journalist and author of the book ‘Indian Unrest’. The book contained deprecatory comments and had called Tilak the ‘Father of Indian Unrest.’
6. The Government made use of Defence of India Act, 1915 to curb the activities of the agitators.
7. Students were prohibited from attending Home Rule meetings.
8. Tilak was prosecuted and his entry in Punjab and Delhi was banned.
9. Indian Press Act of 1910 was imposed on the press and restrictions were enforced.

• Tilak’s absence and Besant’s inability to lead the people led to the movement’s fizzing out.
• The movement was left leaderless with Tilak going abroad and Besant unable to give a positive lead.
• After the war, Mahatma Gandhi gained prominence as a leader of the masses and the Home Rule Leagues merged with the Congress Party in 1920.

Conclusion: 

The home rule movement lent a new dimension and a sense of urgency to the national movement. Although its role in the Indian independence movement had been modest, it did succeed in helping to sustain the movement’s impetus during the war years—as manifested in the signing of the Lucknow Pact in December 1916.

Topic: History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society.

3. It is important to recognize that the effects of colonialism are enduring and continue to shape the social, economic, and political landscapes of many regions today. The question of whether colonial countries should keep or return cultural treasures obtained during the colonial period is a complex and contentious issue. Debate. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question:

The Netherlands will return stolen artefacts to Indonesia and Sri Lanka, reigniting the debate on whether colonial countries should keep or return cultural treasures obtained during the colonial period.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about colonialism, its social and economic impact across the world and debate surrounding return of articles amassed during colonial times to their native country.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Begin by defining colonialism.

Body:

First, write about the social impact of colonialism. Write both the positive and negative impacts witnessed across the world.

Next, write about the economic impact of colonialism. Write about the drain, the deindustrialisation, the economic stagnation as well positive impact of colonial rule.

Next, write about the debate regarding whether colonial countries should keep or return cultural treasures obtained during the colonial period.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a balanced opinion on the issues.

Introduction

The recent news that the Netherlands will return 484 valuable artefacts it looted from Indonesia and Sri Lanka during the colonial period — it includes the fabled “Lombok treasure” of precious stones, gold and silver jewellery to Indonesia and the exquisitely-decorated bronze-and-gilt cannon of Kandy to Sri Lanka — once again puts the focus on an issue that will not go away. Should colonial countries continue to hold on to cultural artefacts and precious objects that were stolen during the period of imperial domination, or acknowledge their misappropriation and return them to their original homelands

Body

Social and Economic impact of Colonialism

• Deindustrialisation of markets: the effect on third world countries of social and economic change caused by skewed industrial revolution of first world countries. This led to rising unemployment in various sectors of economy of various nations.
• Boost to Mercantilism: Mercantilism, in a way, was both the cause as well as the effect of colonialism. Mercantile economic policies were definitely an impetus for the start of colonization. But subsequently, the benefits due to colonial exploitation further reinforced the ideology of mercantile capitalism and augmented its spread across Europe. As a result, these countries saw very rapid increase in trade volume while colonies suffered proportionally.
• Economic impact of colonialism is the ‘drain of wealth, led to control over production and trade, the exploitation of natural resources, and the improvement of infrastructure.
• Political deprivation: No rights for Indians in political administration. Laws and regulations made for British welfare. Role of Indians in administration very miniscule. Decision regarding welfare of Indians taken by administrators in Britain.
• Slave Trade: To effectively utilize the resources, colonizers needed immense amount of labour. During the initial years, the European settlers met labour requirements by enslaving the native populations. However, the decline in the native population led to importing slaves from Africa which emerged as a lucrative alternative.
• Social inequality: Indians were treated as inferior compared to British. Interest and tradition of Indians were not respected. People forced to follow British social order and Indians not given due respect. Equality between Indians and British non-existent.
• Columbian Exchange: The term Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread exchange of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas that occurred between the new world (Americas) and the Old World (Eurasia) in the 15th and 16th centuries, as a result of European colonization and trade.

Debate on returning the cultural treasures

• The return of cultural artefacts is rather a moral obligation which the West owes to its colonies, just as reparations can be morally justified as the wealth and the economic success of these former colonial powers were built on the broken backs of their colonies.
• The return of cultural items offers a semblance of justice as well as expiates a legal and moral obligation which cannot and should not be ignored.
• The return of some of the treasures looted from India in the course of colonialism is also a much easier solution than financial reparations would be.
  • The money exacted by the British from India in taxes and exploitation has already been spent, and cannot realistically be reclaimed.
  • But individual pieces of statuary sitting in British museums could be, if for nothing else than their symbolic value.
  • After all, if looted Nazi-era art can be (and now is being) returned to their rightful owners in various Western countries, why is the principle any different for looted colonial treasures

Conclusion

There must be atonement to the historic wrongs done by the colonial nations. An act of genuine contrition at, ideally, Jallianwala Bagh, like Mr. Trudeau’s over Komagata Maru — might work best as a significant gesture of atonement. And building a Museum of Colonialism would show a determination, in the metropolitan country, to learn the lessons of the Empire — to teach British schoolchildren what sources of loot, pillage and profit built their homeland, just as German children are shepherded to concentration camps to see the awful reality of what their forefathers did.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

4. What is Consumer Price Index (CPI)? Do you think that the CPI basket conceals the true picture of inflation? State your opinion. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: The Hindu

Why the question:

The article suggests that a more accurate representation of inflation should be based on updated and realistic weights that better reflect consumer spending patterns.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about CPI and its limitations.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by defining CPI.

Body:

In the first part of the body, write about CPI – calculates the inflation rate by comparing the price changes of a basket of goods and services over time.

Next, write about the issues in CPI as a measure of inflation – may not accurately reflect the inflation experienced by the average consumer. It highlights that the weights assigned to various items in the basket do not align with the spending patterns of households.

Next, suggest measures to overcome the above.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a balanced opinion forward.

Introduction

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of changes in the prices of a group of consumer goods and services that are regularly purchased by households in a certain region or country.

The Consumer Price Index measures the overall change in consumer prices based on a representative basket of goods and services over time. The CPI is the most widely used measure of inflation, closely followed by policymakers, financial markets, businesses, and consumers.

Body

About Consumer Price Index

• It measures price changes from the perspective of a retail buyer. It is released by the National Statistical Office (NSO).
• The CPI calculates the difference in the price of commodities and services such as food, medical care, education, electronics etc, which Indian consumers buy for use.
• The CPI has several sub-groups including food and beverages, fuel and light, housing and clothing, bedding and footwear.
• Four types of CPI are as follows:
• CPI for Industrial Workers (IW).
• CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL).
• CPI for Rural Labourer (RL).
• CPI (Rural/Urban/Combined).
• Of these, the first three are compiled by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Fourth is compiled by the NSO in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
• Base Year for CPI is 2012.
• Recently, the Ministry of Labour and Employment released the new series of Consumer Price Index for Industrial Worker (CPI-IW) with base year 2016.
• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) uses CPI data to control inflation. In April 2014, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had adopted the CPI as its key measure of inflation.

Flaws in the CPI Index system

• Obsolete basket of goods: The CPI basket should not be viewed as an unchangeable artefact frozen in time.
  • On the contrary, the real consumption basket of a common Indian is fluid and continually evolving, mirroring the shifts in societal needs, preferences, and economic conditions.
  • As time progresses, consumption patterns of individuals and households inevitably change.
  • Technological advancements introduce new products and services.
• Composition of food: In the current CPI (base year 2012), weights of various groups are as follows: food and beverages (45.86); paan, tobacco and intoxicants (2.38); clothing and footwear (6.53); housing (10.07); fuel and light (6.84); miscellaneous (28.32).
  • The weightage of food in the CPI basket has decreased from 60.9 (in 1960) to 57.0 (in 1982) and to 46.2 (in 2001).
  • This gradual decline indicates that as the economy grows, the proportion of income spent on food decreases.
  • This is a common trend known as Engel’s Law, which suggests that as income rises, the proportion of income spent on food falls, even if the absolute expenditure on food rises. Over-reliance on food inflation today distinguishes Indian inflation from many other developed countries where the food weight is much smaller.
• Further, the startlingly high weight of 9.67 assigned to cereals in the current CPI is undoubtedly excessive and casts a stark light on two critical issues.
  • First, as nations undergo economic advancement and societal progress, a typical trajectory involves diversifying food intake and embracing a broader range of nutrient-rich options beyond cereals. This paradigm shift in dietary habits would have undoubtedly manifested over the past decade, diluting the relative expenditure on cereals.
  • Second, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana has substantially reduced cereal expenditure for a large segment of the populace. It has likely led to modifying consumption patterns and further reducing the relative expenditure on cereals.
• Consumption expenditure data: Weights for CPI can only undergo a significant shift after we have data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (CES) data.
  • Currently, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is in the midst of the CES, with the first round slated to conclude in July 2023 and the second round a year later, in July 2024.
  • The Ministry will require an additional three to six months to process the collected electronic data. However, one should be perturbed with such long processing times in this digital age.
  • Nevertheless, even when the CES results are finally published around December 2024, the creation of a new CPI based on this fresh data will consume several more months.

Conclusion and way forward

• We’re unable to determine the population under the poverty line accurately, and our ability to track inflation effectively has been severely undermined.
• Our tools for understanding and managing our economic reality are grossly inadequate. Consequently, it’s an absolute necessity for MoSPI to address these gaps promptly.
• Additionally, efficient data processing should be a non-negotiable priority. Lastly, for MoSPI to sit indefinitely on the findings of different surveys is an abdication of responsibility that India can ill afford.

Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

5. Given the significant environmental risks and uncertainties surrounding deep sea mining, there is a growing need for careful evaluation and consideration of alternative approaches. Critically examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: The Hindu

Why the question:

The article provides an explanation of deep-sea mining and highlights the concerns related to the industry.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the issues and concerns regarding deep-sea mining operations.

Directive word:

Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by defining deep-sea mining.

Body:

First, write about the various issues regarding the above – potential environmental impact, biodiversity loss, disturbance of the deep-sea ecosystem, and the potential for negative impacts on fisheries and coastal communities.

Next, write about the need for careful evaluation and consideration of alternative approach to it.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward. 

Introduction

Deep-sea mining is the process of retrieving mineral deposits from the deep seabed the ocean below 200 metres and covers two-thirds of the total seafloor. According to International Seabed Authority (ISA), an agency under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for monitoring all activities related to mineral resources in the deep sea, the international seabed is the area that lies beyond the limits of national jurisdiction and represents around 50% of the total area of the world’s oceans.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has decided that it will start taking permit applications from companies that want to mine the ocean floor. More than 1.5 million square kilometres of the international seabed have been set aside for mineral exploration.

Body

Issues posed by Deep sea mining

• Environmental impact:
  • According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), these deep remote locations can be home to unique species that have adapted themselves to conditions such as poor oxygen and sunlight, high pressure and extremely low temperatures.
  • Such mining expeditions can make them go extinct even before they are known to science.
  • The deep sea’s biodiversity and ecology remain poorly understood, making it difficult to assess the environmental impact and frame adequate guidelines.
  • Environmentalists are also worried about the sediment plumes that will be generated as the suspended particles can rise to the surface harming the filter feeders in the upper ocean layers.
  • Additional concerns have been raised about the noise and light pollution from the mining vehicles and oil spills from the operating vessels.
• Technology:
  • The specialized drills and extraction-technology that would be required pulling out the metals from the deep sea would develop a major technical challenge.
• Commercial Viability:
  • The latest estimate from the ISA says it will be commercially viable only if about three million tonnes are mined per year. More studies are being carried out to understand how the technology can be scaled up and used efficiently.

International conventions regulating deep sea mining

• The Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority was established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It holds authority over the ocean floors outside of its 167 member states’ Exclusive Economic Zones.
• At the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille (September 2021), IUCN Members adopted Resolution 122 to protect deep-ocean ecosystems and biodiversity through a moratorium on deep-sea mining unless and until several conditions are met.
• The UN High Seas Treaty,to protect the world’s oceans outside national boundaries.

National Conventions

• Draft Deep Seabed Mining Regulations, 2021:It has been formulated by the Indian government to provide a legal framework for the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Conclusion

There is an urgent need for an international charter as in the absence of a clear charter, deep sea mining operations could cause irreversible damage to a little understood ecology. A new set of exploration guidelines must be worked out with discussions involving multi-stakeholders like ISA, IUCN, UNCLOS, littoral nations etc.

General Studies – 4

Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;

6. When faced with a conflict and needing to make a decision, prioritizing virtues in a hierarchical order can be a useful framework. Elaborate. (150 Words)

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Abstract Thursdays’ in Mission-2024 Secure.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about taking decision and overcoming conflicts by having a hierarchy of values.

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 giving context regarding conflicts in decision making.

Body:

First, write about the ways conflicts impact decision making and its outcome – delays, improper decision making, dereliction of duty etc.

Next, write about how having a set of hierarchy of virtues can help in resolving conflicts.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

Introduction

There are many putative virtues, and they often appear to conflict: courage against prudence, love against fidelity. honesty against kindness, loyalty against common decency. Such conflicts raise questions about the coherence of the list of traits called virtues. And even when those traits coincide rather than conflict, as when both love and prudence recommend marriage. coherence is a problem because the question of motive is almost always significant.

Body

Hierarchy of values is an illusion

Isiah Berlin came up with the concept of Value Pluralism. Hierarchy of values is impossible. The conflict and ethical dilemma always occurs because the virtues are incompatible with each other sometimes. That does not mean one can rank these virtues and use this hierarchy to solve the problems. For example, liberty is not just distinct from equality, justice or compassion but is in some ways in unavoidable conflict with them. You can’t have everything: ‘freedom for the wolves has often meant death for the sheep’, he writes. In addition, Berlin argues that irreducible diversity and confrontation between moral ends is ubiquitous rather than exceptional within our own lives and in our social interactions. And, finally, we are told that the idea that there exists some absolute and universal moral yardstick that permits us to rank human values and ideals and resolve moral disagreement is an illusion.

Conclusion

Some societies may give higher priority to equality while some in West may give significance of liberty. Decisions involving moral turpitude requires careful circumstantial evidence before taking any decision. Value systems of people differs in different societies and must be taken into cognizance. There cannot be a Univeral hierarchy of virtues. Infact, some may think in utilitarian terms, and some may think of individual justice. There is no one size fits all approach here.

Topic: dimensions of ethics

7. Environmental integrity implies that the environment should be kept in a state where it can fulfil its essential ecological roles and support the diversity of life. Discuss. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Abstract Thursdays’ in Mission-2024 Secure.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about environmental integrity, its features and its importance.

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 ‘environmental integrity’.

Body:

In the first part, write about the various features of environmental integrity and its dimensions.

Next, write about the importance of environmental integrity and cite examples to substantiate your points.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

Introduction

Environmental integrity is a condition where the natural processes of a place occur with the strength and frequency expected in the region. Places with environmental integrity experience normal patterns of rainfall, fires, and other processes and contain ecosystems that house the living and non-living species native to the area.

“Environmental integrity” is often used in legal and philosophical writing to refer to an undisturbed state of natural conditions. These are circumstances in which plant, animal, and human life can continue freely. Living beings can receive all of the resources essential to their growth and reproduction, such as water, food, and shelter.

Body

The concept of environmental integrity in philosophy was developed in the early twentieth century by a philosopher and ecologist named Aldo Leopold. His seminal “land ethic” philosophy looked at the holistic relationship between living beings, with homo sapiens as mere members of the land community.

Food webs, nutrient cycling, natural disturbances, and other natural processes have to be present to allow animal and plant species to thrive, reproduce, and populate the area naturally. Any human activity that disturbs the development of a healthy natural system negatively impacts the notion of environmental integrity.

This very intersection between human activity and environmental integrity is an area of continued contention. Humans have exploited the natural environment, particularly in the past few centuries, for their survival at the cost of other plant and animal lives. We’ve turned forests into farms and wetlands into housing projects with almost no regard for the health of the environment.

Conclusion

Establishing a balance between the well-being of humans and other living beings in the environment is the key objective of environmental integrity. As some writers have argued, it’s morally important for the environment to remain intact for all living beings, including humans. Only then can the environment have positive instrumental value for all of its inhabitants.