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.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India.
Why the question:
July 23 was the birth anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, whom Mahatma Gandhi called “the Maker of Modern India”, and Jawaharlal Nehru described as the “the Father of the Indian Revolution”.
Key Demand of the question:
To understand the key role of Tilak as a leader in India’s struggle for Independence.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Give a brief introduction of Tilak – the nationalist, the politician and a fearless leader of the masses.
Body:
Mention key factors that leads to term Tilak as a pragmatic leader – to realise the need to connect to the masses, the true nature of British rule etc. Further elaborate on his four point programme such as stating of Deccan education Society, two newspapers, and New English school to promote education and awareness of the masses. Tilak’s approach to economic exploitation of the British was to Boycott and protect and promote the indigenous industries and artisans while passive resistance was an extension of the Boycott principle, to encourage the masses to not pay taxes and prepare them for self-rule.
In the next part, mention the contributions of Tilak in detail apart from the above. His part in spreading nationalist consciousness, Home rule league, creation of mass base etc.
Conclusion:
Stress on the timely interference of Tilak to demystify the true nature of the British and bring in a new vigour to India’s freedom struggle.
Introduction
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was an Indian social reformer and freedom activist. He was one of the prime architects of modern India and probably the strongest advocates of Swaraj or Self Rule for India. His famous declaration “Swaraj is my birth right, and I shall have it” served as an inspiration for future revolutionaries during India’s struggle for freedom. The British Government termed him as the “Father of Indian Unrest” and his followers bequeathed upon him the title of ‘Lokmanya’ meaning he who is revered by the people.
July 23 was the birth anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, whom Mahatma Gandhi called “the Maker of Modern India”, and Jawaharlal Nehru described as the “the Father of the Indian Revolution”.
Body:
Tilak’s contribution towards India’s national movement:
- Ideology:
- Tilak joined the Indian National Congressin 1890. He soon started vocalizing his strong opposition to the moderate views of the party on self-rule.
- He maintained that simple constitutional agitationin itself was futile against the British. This subsequently made him stand against the prominent Congress leader, Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
- He wanted an armed revolt to broom-away the British. Following the partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon, Tilak wholeheartedly supported the Swadeshi (Indigenous) movement and Boycott of British goods.
- Due to this fundamental difference in outlook, Tilak and his supporters came to be known as the extremist wingof INC.
- Tilak’s endeavours were supported by fellow nationalists Bipin Chandra Palof Bengal and Lala Lajpat Rai of Punjab.
- Protests and Imprisonment:
- Under directives from Pune Commissioner W. C. Rand, the police and the army invaded private residences, violated personal sanctity of individuals, burned personal possessions and prevented individuals to move in and out of the city.
- Tilak protested against the oppressive nature of the British efforts and wrote provocative articles on it in his newspapers on the epidemic of Plague in Pune and adjacent regions
- His article inspired the Chapekar brothersand they carried out assassination of Commissioner Rand and Lt. Ayerst on June 22, 1897. As a result of this, Tilak was imprisoned for 18 months on Sedition charges for inciting murder.
- During 1908-1914, Bal Gangadhar Tilak spent had to undergo six years of rigorous imprisonment in Mandalay Jail, Burma.
- He openly supported the revolutionaries Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki’s efforts to assassinate Chief Presidency Magistrate in 1908. He continued to write during his years of imprisonment and the most prominent of which is Gita Rahasya.
- Tilak and All India Home Rule League:
- Tilak returned to India in 1915 when the political situation was fast changing under the shadow of the World War I.
- He then returned to politics with a mellowed down outlook. Deciding to re-unite with his fellow nationalists, Tilak founded the All India Home Rule Leaguein 1916 with Joseph Baptista, Annie Besant and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
- By April 1916, the league had 1400 members that increased to 32,000 by 1917.
- He rejoined the INC but could not bring about reconciliation between the two opposite-minded factions.
- Newspapers:
- Towards his nationalistic goals, Bal Gangadhar Tilak published two newspapers –‘Mahratta’(English) and ‘Kesari’ (Marathi).
- Both the newspapers stressed on making the Indians aware of the glorious pastand encouraged the masses to be self-reliant. The newspaper actively propagated the cause of national freedom.
- Tilak fearlessly published reports about the havoc caused by famine and plague and the government’s utter irresponsibility and indifference about ‘Famine Relief fund’.
- Social Reforms:
- After completing his education, Tilak spurned the lucrative offers of government service and decided to devote himself to the larger cause of national awakening.
- He was a great reformer and throughout his life he advocated the cause of women education and women empowerment.
- Tilak proposed Grand celebrations on ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ and ‘Shivaji Jayanti’. He envisioned these celebrations inciting a sense of unityand inspiring nationalist sentiment among Indians.
Conclusion:
Tilak had a long political career agitating for Indian autonomy from the British rule. Before Gandhi, he was the most widely known Indian political leader. Unlike his fellow Maharashtrian contemporary, Gokhale, Tilak was considered a radical Nationalist but a Social conservative.
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.
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 write about the historical significance and impact of the American War of Independence and the American Civil War.
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:
Give the context of American War of Independence and the American Civil War, emphasizing their importance in shaping American history and global developments.
Body:
First, write about the impact of American War of Independence – Emergence of the United States as a sovereign nation, Nation-building, Formation of a new political system, democratic institutions, Constitution drafting etc.
Next, write about the impact of American Civil War – Post-war reconstruction period and societal changes, Global significance, Impact on international perception of the United States, abolitionism influence etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
The American War of Independence culminated in the freedom of the American colonies and laid the foundation of the first democratic government with a written constitution in the world. It introduced new political, social and economic structure in the United States of America. It was not only a war against the colonial domination of England but was also fought against aristocracy and reactionary elements.
The American Civil War is also known as the “War Between the States”. It was one of the worst wars in American history and was fought between the northern and southern states of the US. The Civil War started in 1861 when the group of slaves of the south founded the Confederate States of America whose president was Jefferson Davis. The northern states, under, President Abraham Lincoln, were totally against slavery. Although the Confederates won some early battles but later the Union became stronger and defeated the southern states in 1865.
Body
Significance of American Revolution
- The revolution led to the establishment of a republic based on the first written constitution in the world.
- This was a clear contrast to the other states were Monarchies were still in power. This inspired people across the world to struggle for democratic and republican forms of government.
- It established a federal state with powers divided between the federal government and states.
- This provided a nice template for power-sharing in diverse countries that needed complex polities.
- Besides, there was a separation of powers among various organs of the state.
- Certain inalienable rights were given to the individuals – this limited the government against the authority of people and reduced government interference in their lives.
- Democracy was established, but it was far from perfect. Sections like Negroes and women were denied voting rights. But the journey to democracy had begun.
- It led to many uprisings in Europe, with the French revolution being the biggest. Many generals who participated in the war was instrumental in the French revolution.
- Thinkers like Thomas Paine also participated in the revolution. This led to the spread of modern ideas in Europe.
Significance of Civil War
- The civil war was one of the most important and historic wars in history. It brought about a revolution in the entire world. Some of the points are worth remembering and they are:
- The war put an end to the so-called institution of slavery.
- Because of the war, there was the use of more machines – which enhanced production.
- National Banking Act was introduced and the use of paper currency which contributed to the growth of nations wide business.
- After the war, new and advanced weapons were used.
- The war led to the growth of large scale manufacturing industries and small scale industries as well.
- The abolishment of the secession of states was done for all times to come.
- More area was brought under cultivation – particularly in the western regions on North America.
- Transport and communication were improved to a very large extent.
- The war was an inspiration to other countries – to abolish slavery.
- The Civil War of 1861-1865 determined what kind of nation is about to begin.
Conclusion
The war which started in 1775 finally ended in 1781 where British troops under the command of General Cornwallis surrendered to Commander in Chief Washington at Yorktown. The war finally came to an end by the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
After the American civil war the defeated states were gradually allowed back into the United States. The period after the war in which attempts were made to solve the political, social, and economic problems arising from the readmission to the Union of the former Confederate states is known as Reconstruction (1865–77).
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.
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 impact of French Revolution on France and rest of the world.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Give the context of French Revolution of 1789 as a total revolution.
Body:
First, write about the impact of the revolution on France – Political, Economic and Social impacts in detail are to be written.
Next, write about the ways in which the revolution impacted the rest of the world in different ways. Mention its impact on India.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing about the legacy of French revolution.
Introduction
French Revolution (1789-1799) was a period of social and political upheaval in France resulting in the overthrow of Monarchy and establishing of Re French revolution was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. The outbreak of revolution was due to the political incompetency of King Louis XVI, disorganized administrative step, sharp inequalities in the society and impending financial crisis.
Body
The French Revolution was not only a popular uprising against the absolute power of the king but was also against the privileges and wealth of the elite. The causes are generally agreed to be a combination of social, political and economic factors, which the existing regime proved unable to manage.
Its causes were multi-dimensional:
- Cultural: Enlightenment to think rationally, critically led to lowering the status of Church and Monarch, while promotion of secular, scientific and humanistic values.
- Social: Aspiration of Bourgeois class to be politically equal to Clergy and Aristocratic class.
- Financial: France’s involvement in the American Revolution leading to increased taxation at home and reduction in privileges
- Political: Provincial Courts’ opposition to the reduction in their privileges.
- Economic: Deregulation of grain prices leading to high inflation of bread and bad harvest leading to food shortage provoking the masses to revolt.
Impact on French Society
- Monarchy was abolished and Republic took its place.
- Political sovereignty introduced at individual and nation-state level with a centralised government.
- Serfdom, Feudalism, Slavery were abolished and the influence of Church decreased in personal lives.
- Idea of separation of public and private realm emerged.
- The abolition of Slavery after the French revolution was the first move against this repressive system and Britain followed suit in 1833 while the USA banned it in 1865.
- It led to the destruction of feudalism in France as all laws of the old feudal regime were repealed and lands of the nobles and church were confiscated and redistributed.
- The Jacobian constitution, which although never came into effect, was the first genuinely democratic constitution. It gave the right to vote to all, and even the Right to Insurrection, which implies the right to revolt or rises against the government.
- Ending the arbitrary royal rule, the revolution paved the way for rule by law under a constitutional order.
- Some Shortcomings: Limited suffrage, especially women were excluded, Slavery was reintroduced by Napoleon.
Impact on World
- Napoleon carried ideals of the Revolution to the rest of Europe: Liberty, Modern Laws, Democratic Rights, protection of private property. This, in turn, gave rise to Modern Nationalism paving way creation of the sovereign nation-state.
- Liberalism as government form got crystallised in North and South America.
- It inspired other revolutions: Haitian Revolution, Independence Movements in Spanish and Portuguese colonies in South America.
- Raja Rammohan Roy and Tipu Sultan in particular and Indian Nationalist Freedom Struggle incorporated ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
Conclusion
Thus, the importance of the French Revolution laid in laying the foundation of Modern States based on Liberal Democratic ideals. Also, indirectly it laid the groundwork for the growth of Socialism and Communism by providing an intellectual and social environment in which these ideologies could flourish.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Down to Earth , Insights on India
Why the question:
There was a delay of 17-50 months in identifying areas and people affected by mining in Chhattisgarh, an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) found.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the powers, functions and responsibilities of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in India add to analyse its performance.
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 stating that the Constitution of India provides for an independent office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and relevant articles mentioned in the constitution.
Body:
In the first part, write about the major functions of CAG – responsible for auditing and accounting of all receipts and expenditures of the Government of India and the state governments.
Next, write about its audit functions – performance audits, compliance audits, and financial reviews of various government programs and initiatives. Write about its reports to uphold transparency and accountability – reports prepared by the CAG are presented in the Parliament, and the findings are discussed and debated by the Members of Parliament.
Next, write about the performance of CAG with respect to its above-mentioned functions in the recent years. Write about its achievement and limitations. Substantiate with facts and examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stating a balanced opinion.
Introduction
The Constitution of India provides for an independent office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in chapter V under Part V. The CAG is mentioned in the Constitution of India under Article 148 – 151. He is the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department. He is the guardian of the public purse and controls the entire financial system of the country at both the levels- the centre and state. His duty is to uphold the Constitution of India and the laws of Parliament in the field of financial administration.
Body:
Powers: CAG derives its audit mandate from different sources like:
- Constitution (Articles 148 to 151)
- The Comptroller and Auditor General’s (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971
- Important Judgments
- Instructions of Government of India
- Regulations on Audit & Accounts-2007
Duties:
- He audits the accounts related to all expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India, Consolidated Fund of each state and UT having a legislative assembly.
- He audits all expenditure from the Contingency Fund of India and the Public Account of India as well as the Contingency Fund and Public Account of each state.
- He audits all trading, manufacturing, profit and loss accounts, balance sheets and other subsidiary accounts kept by any department of the Central Government and the state governments.
- He audits the receipts and expenditure of all bodies and authorities substantially financed from the Central or State revenues; government companies; other corporations and bodies, when so required by related laws.
Functions:
- He audits all transactions of the Central and state governments related to debt, sinking funds, deposits, advances, suspense accounts and remittance business.
- He audits the accounts of any other authority when requested by the President or Governor e.g. Local bodies.
- He advises the President with regard to prescription of the form in which the accounts of the Centre and states shall be kept.
- He submits his audit reports relating to the accounts of the Centre to the President, who shall, in turn, place them before both the houses of Parliament.
- He submits his audit reports relating to the accounts of a State to the Governor, who shall, in turn, place them before the state legislature.
- He ascertains and certifies the net proceeds of any tax or duty and his certificate is final on the matter.
- He acts as a guide, friend and philosopher of the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament.
- He compiles and maintains the accounts of state governments. In 1976, he was relieved of his responsibilities with regard to the compilation and maintenance of accounts of the Central government due to separation of accounts from audit.
- He submits 3 audit reports to the President: audit report on appropriation accounts, audit report on finance accounts and audit report on public undertakings.
Responsibilities:
- His duty is to uphold the Constitution of India and laws of Parliament in the field of financial administration.
- The accountability of the executive (i.e., the council of ministers) to the Parliament in the sphere of financial administration is secured through audit reports of the CAG.
- The CAG is an agent of the Parliament and conducts an audit of expenditure on behalf of the Parliament.
- Therefore, he is responsible only to the Parliament.
- The CAG has more freedom with regard to the audit of expenditure than with regard to the audit of receipts, stores, and stock. ―Whereas in relation to expenditure he decides the scope of the audit and frames his own audit codes and manuals, he has to proceed with the approval of the executive government in relation to rules for the conduct of the other audits.
- The CAG has to ascertain whether money shown in the accounts as having been disbursed was legally available for and applicable to the service or the purpose to which they have been applied or charged and whether the expenditure conforms to the authority that governs it.
- In addition to this legal and regulatory audit, the CAG can also conduct the propriety audit, that is, he can look into the wisdom, faithfulness and economy ‘of government expenditure and comment on the wastefulness and extravagance of such expenditure.
- However, unlike the legal and regulatory audit, which is obligatory on the part of the CAG, the propriety audit is discretionary.
Performance of CAG over last few years
- There was a delay of 17-50 months in identifying areas and people affected by mining in Chhattisgarh, an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) found.
- The CAG has showcased at least half-a-dozen such case studies showing use of these tools in a ‘Compendium on Responsible Artificial Intelligence’.
- The Odisha Train Crash Was the Terrible Cost of Ignoring CAG Audits.
- CAG has strengthened its engagement efforts not only through various innovative products such as ‘departmental appreciation notes’ and ‘management letters’ but also by increasing level of interaction and touch points.
- CAG’s engagements with political exectutives have helped in creating shared understanding of the most pressing concerns, nuances of the challenges faced and possible solutions which would help in furthering the shared goal of good governance.
- Another sphere where the CAG is moving away from the traditional role and adopting a pro-active role is in trying to bring about mid-course corrections and suggesting ways and means to achieve economy and efficiency even during the course of the audit process.
- In the past, the CAG’s role was limited to reading of accounts while maintaining total distance from policy design and execution.
- Another area witnessing CAG’s proactive initiative is in the effort to improve effectiveness and efficiency of local self-government bodies be it the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) or the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
- The Comptroller Auditor General of India (CAG) is now aggressively trying to rebuild its image from being the quintessential watchdog finding loopholes in the country’s public expenditure books to a “friend, philosopher and guide,” especially to the state governments.
Conclusion:
CAG helps the parliament/state legislatures hold their respective governments accountable. He is one of the bulwarks of the democratic system of government in India. It is for these reasons Dr. B R Ambedkar said that the CAG shall be the most important Officer under the Constitution of India and his duties are far more important than the duties of even the judiciary.
General Studies – 2
Topic: changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article highlights the significance of India’s exports for the country’s economic growth and calls for concerted efforts from the government and industry stakeholders to overcome the hurdles and revive the export sector to achieve sustainable growth.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the reasons for declining India’s exports and suggest measures to improve it amidst uncertainty.
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 the answer by giving context to India’s export performance.
Body:
First, write about the reasons for the declining trends in Indian exports.
Next, write about the steps that are needed to overcome the above slump– emphasising on export competitiveness, focus on small and labour-intensive firms and removing supply chain bottlenecks etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Exports are the goods and services one country sells to other countries. A country’s flow of exports can impact its economy and the entire global economy.
After hitting a record $775 billion in 2022-23, India’s exports are off to a rocky start this year. Outbound shipments of goods, that had crossed $450 billion last year, have contracted 15.1% through the April to June 2023 quarter. There has been a decline in the import bill as well over the first quarter, albeit at a slower pace than exports.
Body
Importance of Exports for a nation
- Exports facilitate international trade and stimulate domestic economic activity by creating employment, production, and revenues.
- By selling their goods or services to different countries, domestic businesses can acquire new markets and increase their profits.
- Selling to various markets can also diversify their business’s investments and spread out economic risk. This means that they aren’t overly dependent on one sector, and if one of their investments loses value, their other investments can make up for it.
- Expanding their operations by entering international markets, business owners can reduce the per-unit cost of their products. This is because manufacturing products in bulk can lessen production costs.
- Businesses can also benefit from exporting by gaining new knowledge and experience from foreign countries.
- Selling their products and services to new communities with diverse cultures can inspire a business owner to invent innovative technologies and marketing strategies.
- If a country’s businesses are expanding their operations to export their goods and services, it can stimulate economic activity and create more jobs.
- Exports can also raise the standard of living in a country. A country’s standard of living is the amount of wealth, material comfort and services available to individuals and communities in the country.
- When businesses export goods and services, their customers from other countries pay in a foreign currency.
- Exporters deposit this foreign currency into their local bank to exchange it for local currency to pay their workers, buy supplies and conduct other spending.
- Exports are a very important tool to spur economic growth in a country. This means that exports can also be used to recover from recessions.
- exports have become even more important because they appear to be directly linked to economic growth.
Impediments for exports in India
- Engineering goods(the backbone of India’s merchandise exports previously), fell by 21%. The Engineering Export Promotion Council of India attributed the slowdown to –
- High inflation in developed regions,
- Falling demand in China,
- The slowdown in the EU and the U.S. and
- The Russia-Ukraine war.
- In October, a decline of $2 billionworth of exports was seen in steel and allied products.
- Due to the export duty leviedon these products to help increase local availability.
- The government has since removed this duty.
- The Diwali festive seasonprompted workers to take leave, thus impacting output.
- Inflation: Inflation has been driven up more by local factors, including higher food prices, than imported reasonsand that those pressures are set to dampen thanks to easing international commodity prices and the arrival of Kharif crop.
- Retail inflation has been consistently above 7% these past few months, but stood at 6.8% for October, 2022.
- Fall in Oil and other Export:
- Oil export growth fell to -11.4% y-o-y from 43.0% in September 2022, partly reflectinglower global crude oil prices, while non-oil exports plunged -16.9% y-o-y, with the decline broad-based across iron ore, handicrafts, textiles, some agricultural goods, plastics, gems & jewellery, engineering goods, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and leather goods.
- Rising Global Trade Tension:
- Recent trade war between the US and China and other global trade wars has impacted growth all over the world.
- It has impacted manufacturing and exports in different parts of the world, including the Indianeconomy too.
- Weaker Global Demand:
- The global economic growth is decelerating sharply in the wake of persistently high inflation across developed countriesand, as a result, as sharp tightening of monetary policy .
- With growth contraction across the board — UK and US are set to see recession while the euro area is likely to stall even as China struggles to grow — the demand for Indian goods has plummeted. That is why exports have contracted.
Way forward
- The weakness in India’s exports is likely to sustain because global growth is likely to remain weak. Weaker exports, in turn, will have a dampening effect on the growth of India’s gross domestic product (GDP).
- The government urgently needs to bring out a revised foreign policy to address both our historical trade imbalance, and the slowing of exports, rather than wait out the tumult as it intends to, having again deferred the new policy release till April next.
- The government should take appropriate measures to improve the credit cycle through investment and savings and promotion of foreign investment will bring the economy from slowdown in future.
Conclusion
Going forward, the weakness in India’s exports is likely to sustain because global growth is likely to remain weak. Weaker exports, in turn, will have a dampening effect on the growth of India’s gross domestic product (GDP). A revised foreign trade policy can give much needed impetus and boost to exports so that manufacturers in India try for export trade.
Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The article celebrates ISRO’s journey of growth and its position as a pioneer in space exploration.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about growing reputation of IRSO in commercial launches and benefits from it. Also, to write about to the need to ensure balance between commercial interests and the nation’s needs.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context.
Body:
In the first part, write about the various commercial projects undertaken by ISRO successfully.
Next, write about advantages of the above – revenue, technology development, reputation, competition etc.
Next, write about the concerns associated with commercialisation of ISRO – potential impact of commercialization on ISRO’s core mission of space exploration and research.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
India’s third mission to the moon was launched on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The mission aims to achieve what its predecessor could not — land softly on the lunar surface and explore it with a rover. The Chandrayaan-3 mission aims to demonstrate India’s ability to soft-land and operate a robotic rover on the lunar surface.
ISRO recently launched Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is performing its final orbit-raising maneuver today, preparing for lunar insertion. It will land in the Moon’s South Pole area by late August.
India previously launched Oneweb for UK. These launches not only established LVM3 as a commercial vehicle propelling ISRO’s entry into the commercial heavier launch market, it also earned the agency upwards of Rs 1,000 crore.
Body
ISRO’s commercialization efforts
- Till date, ISRO has launched 384 foreign satellites from at least 36 countries, with at least 10 dedicated commercial missions and several other Indian missions where they were carried as co-passenger satellites.
- India has been concentrating on increasing its share of the global commercial space market ever since the country decided to open the space sector to private players in 2020.
- It is one of the world’s major space-faring nations, but it only has 2% of the commercial market at the moment.
- With 36 OneWeb satellites launched in October 2022, the heavy launch vehicle entered the commercial market.
- The government plans to increase India’s 2% share in the commercial market to 10% by 2030 through commercial launches by ISRO and launches offered by private companies like Skyroot and Agnikul, which are in the process of developing their own launch vehicles.
- Keeping the commercial sector in mind, ISRO has also developed the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV),which is meant to provide on-demand launch services commercially.
- A report of the parliamentary standing committee on the budget of the space agency said that there has been an increase in the revenue generated by ISRO’s commercial arm New Space India Limited, created in 2019.
- As per the report, revenue generated by NSIL has increased from Rs 1,731 crores in 2021-22 to a projected Rs 3,509 crores in 2023-24.
- This is also suggestive of the fact that the Department of Space is transitioning from a research based institution to a more commercially oriented agency with buoyant internal revenues.
Advantages of Commercialization of ISRO
- Additional revenue:ISRO can earn some money by making its facilities and data available to private players.
- Explore other avenues: ISRO will be free to develop projects of national developmental-security importance.
- Better utilisation of space resources:Existing ISRO infrastructure, both ground- and space-based, scientific and technical resources, and even data are planned to be made accessible to interested parties to enable them to carry out their space-related activities.
- Strategic benefits: ISRO, like NASA, is essentially a scientific organisation whose main objective is exploration of space and carrying out scientific missions. The private industry will also free up ISRO to concentrate on science, R&D, interplanetary exploration and strategic launches.
- Widening the horizon of Private participation:Commercialization will promote private players in end-to-end space services, including building and launching rockets and satellites and providing space-based services commercially.
- Reorients space activities: Commercialization will reorient space sector from a ‘supply-driven’ model to a ‘demand-driven’ one, thereby ensuring optimum utilization of the nation’s space assets.
- Leveraging the potential of Young Country:So far only ISRO was doing all space related activities. Opening up of the space sector means the potential of the entire country can be leveraged
- Boost to Space Start-ups:This will not only result in an accelerated growth of the sector but also enable India to generate large scale employment in the technology sector.
Challenges posed due to commercialization of ISRO
- Challenges of effective implementation
- Possible issues with the intellectual property rights sharing; technology transfer etc.
- Lack of comprehensive legislation that clarifies on the amount of space of operation the government is ready to provide
- space sector is a very risky business with high negative returns and failures. The private sector demands a clarification on research and development risk funding which is critical to develop new technologies.
Way forward
- India should have national space activities legislation which takes on board all stakeholders.
- A public-private partnership (PPP) model can be looked into to realise ISRO’s workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), with a joint venture between ISRO and the private sector.
- In the UK, space ventures are treated as a complement to big organizations and not a competitor. This should be encouraged in India too.
- A supportive international partner and likeminded local partners helps to set up a space business.
- The idea should be to let the private industry build their own facilities after gaining enough expertise.
- ISRO has built a space technology park spread over 25 acres in Bengaluru where the entire range of facilities have been set up for use by the industry.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics;
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Philosophical Mondays’ in Mission-2024 Secure.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about Normative ethics and its role in ethical decision making.
Directive:
Explain – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In the introduction, given brief of major aspects of normative ethics.
Body:
Explain the detail the various of features of normative ethics and its role in helping decide the rightness or wrongness of the actions. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
Normative ethics is the branch of philosophy that theorizes the content of our moral judgments or, as a limiting case, denies that any such theories are possible (the position of the so-called antitheorists).
Body
The word ‘normative’ is an adjective which comes from the word ‘norm’, which means a ‘standard’, or a ‘rule’, so moral norms are standards or principles with which people are expected to comply.
While meta-ethics focuses on foundational issues concerning the semantics of moral utterance and how our moral views fit more broadly into a general conception of reality, normative ethics focuses on the major theoretical approaches to the content of moral reflection.
It is shaped by the historical inheritance of the tradition of moral philosophy in the West in its focus on deontology, consequentialism, and virtue ethics as the major forms of normative ethical theory.
Virtue, deontological, and consequentialist (utilitarianism, for example), theories are all instances of normative ethical theories. These theories aim to arrive at standards or norms of behavior, and in doing so provide a framework for ethical thinking.
Conclusion
Thus, Normative ethics addresses such questions as “What should I do?”, thus endorsing some ethical evaluations and rejecting others. They examine the rightness and wrongness of actions. In a sense, it is a search for an ideal litmus test of proper behavior
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