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: poverty and developmental issues,
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article discusses the increasing number of farmer suicides and emphasizes the need to protect farmers from the uncertainties of nature.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about causes of farmer suicides and measures needed to prevent them.
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 statistic regarding farmer suicides in India.
Body:
First, write about the causes of farm suicides – Low per capita land, indebtedness, high loan rates, high costs of production and labour, inability to pool up resources, need for hiring labor due to shortage of time, low agriculture products prices and low MSPS, decreasing water tables and increasing costs of pumping water out, economic exploitation by dealers selling agriculture equipment, seeds, fertilizers etc.
Next, write about the steps that are needed to prevent farmer suicides.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
According to the National Crime Records Bureau data, a total of 10,881 persons from the farming sector died by suicide in 2021—this includes farmers and farm labourers. Several socio-economic factors have enabled an environment vulnerable to distress in the agricultural belts of the nation. Unable to cope with mounting debt and the inability to take care of their families, many choose to end their lives.
Body
Factors behind increasing cases of farmer suicides
- Plummeting incomes, mounting debt, and high interest rates (particularly of non-institutional sources) have pushed the peasantry towards deprivation
- The high debt burdenwas the primary reason behind 75% of farmer suicides.
- Large chunk of persons were underemployed or disguisedly unemployedduring 2016–17 in Punjab.
- The mismatch between farm inputs and output prices, crop failures, and unfavourable terms of trade between prices paid and received by the farmers have contributed fairly to declining farm incomes.
- Cost of cultivation:
- The MSP of wheat and paddy increased at the rate of 2% per annum while the cost of cultivation increased at the rate of 7.9% during the last one and a half decades.
- With a growth rate of around 1.6% (during 2012–17) and the stress on natural resources, thefarm sector is trapped in a vicious circle of crisis. Expectedly, small farmers are the worst sufferers.
- Due to the declining water table, the cost of irrigation structures has increased as the farmers have to replace centrifugal pumps by costly submersible pumps.
- According to the Niti Aayog, in 2022-23, of the 21 crore hectares of sown area across India, 11.5 crore hectares had access to irrigation—54.76% against 47.80% in 2013-14.
- The farmers are being exploited by traders and dealers providing them spurious seeds and agrochemicals.
- Agriculture in Punjab suffers from mono-crop culture of mainly wheat and paddy. With this cropping pattern, farming itself is becoming an unviable occupation, due to rising fixed and variable input costs, and low remuneration leading to falling profit margins.
- Cost of inputs:
- Variable costs increase due to rising prices of inputs like fertilisers, pesticides, weedicides, diesel etc.
- Fixed costs like installation and deepening of submersible pumps due to the dipping water table increase the financial woes of farmers.
- For a small and marginal farmer, it is economically unviable to make such investments, especially by borrowing from informal sources at high rates of interest
- Data Anomaly:
- Existing studies have analysed the intensity of farmer suicides in isolation, i.e. without comparing farmer suicides with those by other professionals
Policy measures needed to prevent farmer suicides
- The “Scheme for Debt Swapping of Borrowers” should be made more effective for converting the non-institutional debt into institutional debt.
- The AMSCs should be set up at every village to provide custom-hiring services to small farmers on a priority basis.
- Quality farm inputs like seed, fertilisers, and pesticides must be supplied to the farmers at subsidised prices.
- Rationalisation of subsidies, especially in favour of small farmers may control appreciating farm costs and making small farming viable.
- For alternative employment, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme should be effectively implemented by ensuring stipulated annual employment of 100 days, rather than the existing 30 days, to each family in the state.
- Identifying and developing crop niches that will encourage allied activities in appropriate agro-climatic zones of the state, and developing cooperative primary processingand marketing units for crops and activities in these zones can help improve the economic well-being of the farmers.
- Effective irrigation facilities should be provided. Drip and sprinkle irrigation should be popularized. Canals should be built to reach deep into villages.
- Using Information technologies and electronic media (like DD Kisan channel) to spread awareness about government schemes and monsoon predictions.
- Skill Development of farmers, so that they can develop alternative sources of income. Government should initiate alternative employment generation programmes.
- Land pooling, where lands of small farmers can be pooled into a larger piece, and benefits can be maximized.
- Effective implementation of various government schemes like pradhan Mantri Krishi sinchai yojana, pradhan Mantri fasal bima yojana and Soil Health Card scheme.
Topic: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article explores the concept of fraternity in India and how it differs from the ideal enshrined in the Constitution.
Key Demand of the question:
To explain Fraternity and the reasons as to why it was included in the constitution and to comment on its relevance in the present day amidst various social issues.
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:
Start by defining Fraternity.
Body:
Write about how Fraternity mentioned in the constitution has been interpreted in India. Fading of divisions of caste and religion, ideology of friendship, mutual respect, despite all our differences, of religious belief, caste, language, culture, ethnicity, class and gender which leads to unity of the nation.
Write about the relevance of fraternity in the present day, especially in the times of pandemic. striving for a just and humane society, collective caring, social protection and reducing intolerance and communalism etc.
Conclusion:
Summarise the importance of Fraternity as the conclusion.
Introduction
According to Dr. Ambedkar “Fraternity means a sense of common brotherhood of all Indians — of Indians being one people. It is the principle which gives unity and solidarity to social life,”. No one should treat a fellow citizen as inferior. While the morals of Preamble like- Justice, Equality, Liberty have been explicitly and implicitly ensured through Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and other constitutional provisions, this is not the case with Fraternity.
Body
Fraternity in Indian Context
- The concept of Fraternity signifies moral obligations rather than rights, an obligation to treat fellow human beings justly and respectfully. It implies placing social cohesion above individual identity.
- The Constitution views fraternity significantly as a source of affirming “the dignity of the individual” and the “unity” of the nation.
- The former is accomplished by recognising the moral equality of individuals, upheld through mutual respect, despite all our differences, of religious belief, caste, language, culture, ethnicity, class and gender.
- Both Ambedkar and the Constitution derive the unity of the nation from fraternity. Not from forcing minorities to adhere to majoritarian principles, but instead a sense of mutual belonging and respect that transcends all other differences between the people.
- Fraternity is both a way of feeling, and a political principle.
- The idea of fraternity is closely linked to that of social solidarity, which is impossible to accomplish without public empathy;the daily, lived realisation that human beings who look different, wear different clothes, worship different gods, speak different languages, have different political persuasions, actually have exactly the same intrinsic human dignity, and experience the same emotions—dreams, hopes, despair, pain, happiness, anger, love, triumphs and defeats—that we all do
- India which is divided on the basis of caste, which Ambedkar termed as anti-national, must overcome this hurdle to become a nation. Without fraternity, equality and liberty will be no deeper than coats of paint.
- Dignity of Individuals by maintaining material betterment of individual and democratic setup.
- Sense of common brotherhood transcending religion, language, regional or sectional diversities(Article 51A). This is to be promoted through single citizenship.
- The Supreme Court , as the ultimate protector and interpreter of our Constitution, has also invoked the principle of fraternity, though less frequently than the invocation of liberty and equality.
- “Fraternity”, thus, implies the acknowledgement that we share our space, our existence with others, including individuals of another family, tribe, group, race, or religion, who have been in India for ages, who have lived and died here, have made India what it is, a country of improbable diversity, multiplicity of religions and culture.
Relevance of fraternity in contemporary India:
- Our Constitution makers discussed about fraternity 75 years ago and their views seem relevant to a present India.
- There is simultaneously a precipitous decline in the civility of our public discourse, in which hectoring and blighting one’s adversaries are seen as markers of high oratory and political muscularity. These together constitute in India a grave threat to our constitutional values, and most of all to fraternity.
- Incidents such as communal violence during 2002 Gujarat riots, ongoing Citizenship Amendment Act protest and violence, North-South divide based on languages, and other social disturbances due to differences in diversity and inability to come to common terms for living in harmony are common.
- Still secessionist movements persist like demand for Greater Nagalim, lack of unified polity manifested in temporary provisions for certain states like Article 371, border disputes, especially with Pakistan and China. At psychological level issues include communalism, regionalism, linguism etc.
- In a nation where citizens are lynched for their choice of food or communities argue for cultural/religious practices to precede constitutional guarantees, we need to adopt a way of life wherein we live the value of fraternity – our success as a nation depends on this.
- The idea of fraternal relations does not exist in a vacuum, it is instead the foremost pillar on which a functioning democracy rests and we have somehow glossed over it entirely. In that respect, as we enter the 75th year of our independence, we need a re-imagination of community relations.
- The focal point of this re-imagination has to be fraternity, providing adequate shared spaces to empathise, evolve and foster a composite culture based on Constitutional and humanitarian ideals.
- Otherwise, we will be proving Ambedkar’s fears right: “Democracy is just a top dressing on the Indian soil which is essentially undemocratic.”
- Thus, Fraternity is the most radical and important idea of our times, the necessary foundation to fight all the world’s injustices, hate and inequalities.
Conclusion
A fine example of what fraternity can accomplish in times of hate was offered in the last months of Mahatma Gandhi’s life, which were surely his finest hour. In these months, he cemented powerfully the foundations of India as a humane, inclusive, secular country. He showed us the possibilities of fraternity to imagine – and live – a different India.
Fraternity is an important element for a strong nation-state that encompasses diversity as large as that of India’s. This had been cherished during nationalist freedom struggle also reminded by 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act by adding the word integrity.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2 and mentioned as part of Mission-2024 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the features of NEP and its potential in overcoming challenges faced by public universities.
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 giving context NEP, its aims and objectives.
Body:
In the first part, mention major components of NEP.
Next, write about the issues faced by public universities in India – inadequate funding, outdated curriculum, poor quality of teaching, inadequate infrastructure, bureaucratic hurdles, and lack of autonomy etc.
Next, write about the role that NEP can play in addressing the above issues.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
India’s higher education system is the third largest in the world, next to the United States and China. Higher Education sector has witnessed a tremendous increase in the number of Universities/University level Institutions & Colleges since Independence. Some institutions of India, such as IITs, NITs, IIMs have been globally acclaimed for their standard of education..
Body
key features of National Education Policy (NEP), 2020
Transforming School Education:
- Ensuring Universal Access at all levels of school education:
- NEP 2020 emphasizes on ensuring universal access to school education at all levels- pre-school to secondary.
- About 2 crores out of school children will be brought back into main stream under NEP 2020.
- Early Childhood Care & Education with new Curricular and Pedagogical Structure:
- With emphasis on Early Childhood Care and Education, the 10+2 structure of school curricula is to be replaced by a 5+3+3+4 curricular structure corresponding to ages 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years respectively.
- This will bring the hitherto uncovered age group of 3-6 years under school curriculum, which has been recognized globally as the crucial stage for development of mental faculties of a child.
- The new system will have 12 years of schooling with three years of Anganwadi/ pre schooling.
- Attaining Foundational Literacy and Numeracy:
- Recognizing Foundational Literacy and Numeracy as an urgent and necessary prerequisite to learning, NEP 2020 calls for setting up of a National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy by MHRD.
- Reforms in school curricula and pedagogy:
- The school curricula and pedagogy will aim for holistic development of learners by equipping them with the key 21st century skills, reduction in curricular content to enhance essential learning and critical thinking and greater focus on experiential learning.
- Students will have increased flexibility and choice of subjects.
- There will be no rigid separations between arts and sciences, between curricular and extra-curricular activities, between vocational and academic streams.
- Vocational education will start in schools from the 6th grade, and will include internships.
- Multilingualism and the power of language:
- The policy has emphasized mother tongue/local language/regional language as the medium of instruction at least till Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond.
- Sanskrit to be offered at all levels of school and higher education as an option for students, including in the three-language formula.
- Other classical languages and literatures of India also to be available as options.
- No language will be imposed on any student.
- Equitable and Inclusive Education:
- NEP 2020 aims to ensure that no child loses any opportunity to learn and excel because of the circumstances of birth or background.
- Special emphasis will be given on Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups(SEDGs) which include gender, socio-cultural, and geographical identities and disabilities.
- Robust Teacher Recruitment and Career Path:
- Teachers will be recruited through robust, transparent processes.
- Promotions will be merit-based, with a mechanism for multi-source periodic performance appraisals and available progression paths to become educational administrators or teacher educators.
- A common National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) will be developed by the National Council for Teacher Education by 2022, in consultation with NCERT, SCERTs, teachers and expert organizations from across levels and regions.
- School Governance:
- Schools can be organized into complexes or clusters which will be the basic unit of governance and ensure availability of all resources including infrastructure, academic libraries and a strong professional teacher community.
- Standard-setting and Accreditation for School Education:
- NEP 2020 envisages clear, separate systems for policy making, regulation, operations and academic matters.
- States/UTs will set up independent State School Standards Authority (SSSA).
- Transparent public self-disclosure of all the basic regulatory information, as laid down by the SSSA, will be used extensively for public oversight and accountability.
- The SCERT will develop a School Quality Assessment and Accreditation Framework (SQAAF) through consultations with all stakeholders.
Transforming Higher Education:
- Increase GER to 50 % by 2035:
- NEP 2020 aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education including vocational education from 26.3% (2018) to 50% by 2035. 3.5 Crore new seats will be added to Higher education institutions.
- Holistic Multidisciplinary Education:
- The policy envisages broad based, multi-disciplinary, holistic Under Graduate education with flexible curricula, creative combinations of subjects, integration of vocational education and multiple entry and exit points with appropriate certification.
- UG education can be of 3 or 4 years with multiple exit options and appropriate certification within this period.
- For example, Certificate after 1 year, Advanced Diploma after 2 years, Bachelor’s Degree after 3 years and Bachelor’s with Research after 4 years.
- Regulation:
- Higher Education Commission of India(HECI) will be set up as a single overarching umbrella body the for entire higher education, excluding medical and legal education.
- HECI to have four independent verticals – National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) for regulation, General Education Council (GEC) for standard setting, Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) for funding, and National Accreditation Council (NAC) for accreditation.
- HECI will function through faceless intervention through technology, & will have powers to penalise HEIs not conforming to norms and standards.
- Public and private higher education institutions will be governed by the same set of norms for regulation, accreditation and academic standards.
- Rationalised Institutional Architecture:
- Higher education institutions will be transformed into large, well resourced, vibrant multidisciplinary institutions providing high quality teaching, research, and community engagement.
- The definition of university will allow a spectrum of institutions that range from Research-intensive Universities to Teaching-intensive Universities and Autonomous degree-granting Colleges.
Other Provisions for transformation of educational sector:
- Motivated, Energized, and Capable Faculty:
- NEP makes recommendations for motivating, energizing, and building capacity of faculty through clearly defined, independent, transparent recruitment, freedom to design curricula/pedagogy, incentivising excellence, movement into institutional leadership.
- Faculty not delivering on basic norms will be held accountable
- Teacher Education:
- A new and comprehensive National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education, NCFTE 2021, will be formulated by the NCTE in consultation with NCERT.
- By 2030, the minimum degree qualification for teaching will be a 4-year integrated B.Ed. degree.
- Stringent action will be taken against substandard stand-alone Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs).
- Mentoring Mission:
- A National Mission for Mentoring will be established, with a large pool of outstanding senior/retired faculty – including those with the ability to teach in Indian languages – who would be willing to provide short and long-term mentoring/professional support to university/college teachers.
- Financial support for students:
- Efforts will be made to incentivize the merit of students belonging to SC, ST, OBC, and other SEDGs.
- The National Scholarship Portal will be expanded to support, foster, and track the progress of students receiving scholarships.
- Private HEIs will be encouraged to offer larger numbers of free ships and scholarships to their students.
- Professional Education:
- All professional education will be an integral part of the higher education system.
- Stand-alone technical universities, health science universities, legal and agricultural universities etc will aim to become multi-disciplinary institutions.
- Adult Education:
- Policy aims to achieve 100% youth and adult literacy.
- Financing Education:
- The Centre and the States will work together to increase the public investment in Education sector to reach 6% of GDP at the earliest.
- Open and Distance Learning:
- This will be expanded to play a significant role in increasing GER.
- Measures such as online courses and digital repositories, funding for research, improved student services, credit-based recognition of MOOCs, etc., will be taken to ensure it is at par with the highest quality in-class programmes.
Challenges faced by Public Universities
- Financial issues
- Spending on higher education as a percentage of government expenditure has stagnated at 1.3-1.5% since 2012.
- Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education continues to push higher education institutions to increase their intake capacity by 25%
- The Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA), which provides funding for all infrastructure loans to institutions, saw its budget reduced from ₹2,000 crore in FY 20-21 to ₹1 crore in FY 21-22.
- Management Issues
- Management of Indian education faces challenges of over-centralization, bureaucratic structures and lack of accountability, transparency, and professionalism.
- Inadequate Research Grants
- There are insufficient resources and facilities, as well as limited numbers of quality faculty to advise students. Most of the research scholars are without fellowships or not getting their fellowships on time which directly or indirectly affects their research.
- Moreover, grants under the UGC’s minor and major research project schemes have declined from ₹42.7 crore in FY 2016-17 to ₹38 lakh in FY 2020-21.
- India has over 1,040 universities, but just 2.7% offer PhD programmes, given paltry funding and poor infrastructure.
- Infrastructural Issues
- Investments in university infrastructure have shrunk.
- Most Indian universities and colleges have overcrowded classrooms, poor ventilation and sanitation, and unsatisfactory hostel accommodation.
- Poor Teaching Capacity
- The QS World University Rankings 2022 revealed that although Indian universities have improved their performance on academic reputation metric and research impact, they continue to struggle on the teaching capacity metric.
- No Indian university ranks among the top 250 for faculty-student ratio.
- Poor performance on teaching capacity is not because of any drop in hiring, but rather an increased student intake mandated by the government to implement reservations for economicallyweaker sections.
- Fall in Academic Standards
- Academic standards and processes are not being maintained. Examination paper leaks have become common.
- Candidates have anecdotally highlighted examination centre operators charging a hefty amount from candidates to help them pass.
Measures needed to improve status of Indian Universities:
- The best Indian universities would require a kind of “cultural revolution” to join the ranks of global world-class universities and to be able to lure top faculty.
- It is virtually impossible for India to attract large numbers of international professors of high standing and ability without dramatic changes in many aspects of the existing governance structure in higher education. Dramatically enhanced funding would also be required.
- The Ministry of Human Resource Development should be working closely with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to have a road map that incentivizes CSR funding to be made available for universities.
- There need to be an immediate move to attract more candidates, such as the faculty recruitment drive in the US, and monetary incentives like the Young Faculty Incentive Fellowship Scheme.
- Parallel development in infrastructure is necessary to accommodate the research needs of incoming faculty.
- The structural and practical realities of Indian universities make them generally unattractive to academic talent from abroad, this must be rectified at the earliest.
- The key motivation for hiring foreign faculty must be to improve international competitiveness and secure positions in global rankings, which in turn would also attract more motivated students.
- Attracting foreign nationals, Indians who studied at prestigious foreign universities by offering higher salaries and other benefits.
- The moral and motivation of the academics have to be maintained. Not only attract the quality but also retain the quality of teachers. For this, the recruitment and the promotion policy have to be looked into. Recruitment policy on merit, kind of promotion on merit and in intervals would retain good teachers.
Way forward
- Thus a complete revamp is needed to meet the present demand and address the future challenge that India is about to face.
- To reap the diverse culture demographic dividend and to maintain peace and social harmony among them quality education with values are the necessary area to focus.
- The higher education is facing many challenges as pointed
above, most the challenges are difficult but are not impossible to resolve. - Our goal to be a world power, the resolving and restructuring of higher education is must, then only we will be able to harness the human potential and resources of nation to the fullest and channelize it for the growth of the
- Youth is the most important asset for a country their future is the future of the Nation. So, the government must be compelled to provide basic education and skills.
Conclusion
If universities become center of fresh knowledge production, then things change. Complete freedom of thought in direction and ideas is need of the hour. There is a prevailing culture that knowledge is finite and job of student is to master pre-existing knowledge. This has a limiting problem in educational culture which needs to be challenged.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2 and mentioned as part of Mission-2024 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the feasibility of health as a fundamental right in the country.
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 giving a brief about health care in India.
Body:
First, mention the need for Right to Health that would promote the health of various weaker sections of the society and also boost economic development. Further link the benefits of better healthcare systems to that of various existing schemes like Ayushman Bharath.
Next, bring out the impediments to declare health care a Fundamental Right.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a balanced opinion regarding health as fundamental right.
Introduction
Amidst the pandemic, the frantic cries for oxygen, hospital beds, medicine and even a place to cremate their own, laid bare our failure to extend dignity in both life and death. This was compounded with the loss of income, debt, food insecurity, and illiteracy. That is the situation of lakhs of families in India today. The most profound loss is of people’s faith in the ability of the country’s healthcare system to protect them. It is the primary responsibility of government to reinstate this faith.
Body
Background
- India has never spent more than 2% of its GDP on healthcare. And healthcare facilities across the country straddle different levels of efficiency and sufficiency.
- The impact of COVID-19 has shaken even States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu that traditionally did well in the area of healthcare.
- There are other dimensions to making health a fundamental right. For example, Delhi is the world’s most polluted city. In winter especially, you can barely venture out in the morning smog without catching an infection.
- If health was a fundamental right, then the government would be compelled to think seriously about the pollution aspect or the environmental impact when, say, granting permissions for new industries or framing development policies.
Need for making healthcare a fundamental right
- The right to equality guaranteed under Article 15 upholds non-discrimination on the basis religion, race, caste, gender, place of birth, etc.
- However, the dismal investment in public health for decades has made healthcare a privilege available to a few.
- The constitutional right to health is critical to breaking discriminatory structures that will otherwise continue to perpetuate inequality in all spheres of life, including education, opportunity, wealth, and social mobility.
- The judicial interpretation of the right to life and liberty under Article 21 in several judgments as inclusive of health was crucial, but has its limitations.
- The universal access to healthcare is now as achievable as it is indispensable. The rights of people are not stagnant, and must evolve as the country evolves.
- Ayushman Bharat is an ambitious scheme with great potential, but there is a difference between a rights and a service-delivery model of development.
- If health is a fundamental right, it will give a spine to the entire health ecosystem, empower doctors and healthcare workers, and ensure transparency, inclusivity, and accountability.
- Moreover, it will pave the way for special legislation, capable institutions, increased budgets, medical training and research, wellness and prevention, and outreach of services; thereby instilling immense confidence and positivity amongst the citizens.
- In a country where 63 million people slip back into poverty due to catastrophic healthcare costs, it is hard not to see the logic of legally mandating health as a right, and thereby empowering the citizen to hold the state accountable for it.
Conclusion
As the legal guardian responsible for the safety and security of all its citizens, it is the state’s duty to protect its citizens from mortality and morbidity caused by disease and illness as well. Making health a fundamental right would thus give citizens the power to hold the state accountable for fulfilling its responsibility toward them.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article discusses India’s unemployment challenge and argues that it cannot be effectively tackled through the traditional approach of providing financial doles.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about causes behind unemployment and measures need to create jobs.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by citing statistic to give a current scenario of unemployment in the country.
Body:
First, write about the causes behind unemployment in India – historical, unequal growth, lack of job specialisation, automation related losses etc.
Next, suggest measures that are needed in order to ensure job creation and to reduce unemployment in the country rather than relying on income support schemes.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Introduction
Body
Causes of unemployment in India
- Jobless growth: There is mounting concern that future growth could turn out to be jobless due to de-industrialization, de-globalization, the fourth industrial revolution and technological progress. As per the NSSO Periodic Labour Force Survey 2017-18, India’s labour force participation rate for the age-group 15-59 years is around 53%, that is, around half of the working age population is jobless.
- Asymmetric demography: The growth in the working-age ratio is likely to be concentrated in some of India’s poorest states and the demographic dividend will be fully realized only if India is able to create gainful employment opportunities for this working-age population.
- Lack of skills: Most of the new jobs that will be created in the future will be highly skilled and lack of skill in Indian workforce is a major challenge. India may not be able to take advantage of the opportunities, due to a low human capital base and lack of skills.
- Low human development parameters: India ranks 130 out of 189 countries in UNDP’s Human Development Index, which is alarming. Therefore, health and education parameters need to be improved substantially to make the Indian workforce efficient and skilled.
- Informal nature of economy in India is another hurdle in reaping the benefits of demographic transition in India.
Measures to ensure job creation
- Building human capital: Investing in people through healthcare, quality education, jobs and skills helps build human capital, which is key to supporting economic growth, ending extreme poverty, and creating a more inclusive society.
- Skill development to increase employability of young population. India’s labour force needs to be empowered with the right skills for the modern economy. Government has established the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) with the overall target of skilling/ up skilling 500 million people in India by 2022..
- Education: Enhancing educational levels by properly investing in primary, secondary and higher education. India, which has almost 41% of population below the age of 20 years, can reap the demographic dividend only if with a better education system. Also, academic-industry collaboration is necessary to synchronise modern industry demands and learning levels in academics.
- Establishment of Higher Education Finance Agency (HEFA) is a welcome step in this direction.
- Health: Improvement in healthcare infrastructure would ensure higher number of productive days for young labourforce, thus increasing the productivity of the economy.
- Success of schemes like Ayushman Bharat and National Health Protection scheme (NHPS) is necessary. Also nutrition level in women and children needs special care with effective implementation of Integrated Child Development (ICDS) programme.
- Job Creation: The nation needs to create ten million jobs per year to absorb the addition of young people into the workforce. Promoting businesses’ interests and entrepreneurship would help in job creation to provide employment to the large labour force.
- India’s improved ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index is a good sign.
- Schemes like Start-up India and Make in India, if implemented properly, would bring the desired result in the near future.
- Urbanisation: The large young and working population in the years to come will migrate to urban areas within their own and other States, leading to rapid and large-scale increase in urban population. How these migrating people can have access to basic amenities, health and social services in urban areas need to be the focus of urban policy planning.
- Schemes such as Smart City Mission and AMRUT needs to be effectively and carefully implemented.
Conclusion
India is on the right side of demographic transition that provides golden opportunity for its rapid socio-economic development, if policymakers align the developmental policies with this demographic shift.
To reap the demographic dividend, proper investment in human capital is needed by focussing on education, skill development and healthcare facilities.
Value-addition
Steps taken by government in recent times
- Dedicated Shram Suvidha Portal: That would allot Labor Identification Number (LIN) to units and allow them to file online compliance for 16 out of 44 labor laws.
- Random Inspection Scheme: To eliminate human discretion in selection of units for Inspection, and uploading of Inspection Reports within 72 hours of inspection mandatory.
- Universal Account Number: Enables 4.17 crore employees to have their Provident Fund account portable, hassle-free and universally accessible.
- Apprentice Protsahan Yojana: Government will support manufacturing units mainly and other establishments by reimbursing 50% of the stipend paid to apprentices during first two years of their training.
- Revamped Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana: Introducing a Smart Card for the workers in the unorganized sector seeded with details of two more social security schemes.
- The National Career Service is being implemented as a mission mode project to provide various job-related services information on skills development courses, internships etc
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
The article discusses the potential for Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to expand their exports through private labels.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about private labels and their role in promoting the export capabilities of Indian MSMEs.
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 private labels.
Body:
First, Mention about the challenges faced by MSMES in exports – challenges faced by small enterprises, including limited access to credit, regulatory hurdles, and competition from larger players etc.
Next, mention the role private labels can play in overcoming the above – pathway to international markets. increased export opportunities, reduced marketing costs, and access to global supply chains and quality control and branding etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
A private label product is one that a retailer gets produced by a third-party but sells under its own brand name. The retailer controls everything about the product or products. That includes the specs of the product, how it’s packaged, and everything else besides.
Body
Challenges faced by MSMES in exports
- Limited Access to Finance: MSMEs often face difficulties in accessing affordable credit. Banks and financial institutions may be hesitant to extend loans to them due to perceived risks associated with smaller businesses.
- Lack of Export Documentation Knowledge: Many MSMEs lack knowledge about the required documentation and procedures for exporting goods. This includes understanding customs regulations, export licenses, and paperwork related to international trade.
- Quality Standards and Compliance: Meeting international quality standards and compliance requirements is crucial for exporting. MSMEs may struggle to implement and maintain the necessary quality control processes.
- Inadequate Infrastructure: Insufficient transportation, logistics, and warehousing facilities can hinder the smooth flow of goods from the production site to the port of export.
- Limited Technological Adoption: Many MSMEs may not have adopted modern technologies for production, communication, and managing export-related operations. This can put them at a disadvantage compared to competitors.
- Market Research and Product Adaptation: Understanding the preferences and demands of international markets and adapting products accordingly is essential. Lack of market research and product adaptation can lead to ineffective export strategies.
- Language and Cultural Barriers: Communication barriers, including language differences and cultural nuances, can pose challenges in negotiating deals, understanding market trends, and building relationships with foreign buyers.
- Access to Information and Training: MSMEs may not have access to the latest information about global markets, trade policies, and export-related opportunities. Proper training and awareness programs are often lacking.
- Competing with Large Enterprises: MSMEs face stiff competition from larger, more established companies that have greater resources for marketing, research, and development.
- Fluctuating Exchange Rates and Currency Risks: Currency fluctuations can impact the profitability of exports, especially for smaller businesses that may not have the resources to hedge against such risks.
- Trade Barriers and Tariffs: Non-tariff barriers, such as quotas, licensing requirements, and technical standards, can create hurdles for MSMEs looking to export their products.
- Political and Regulatory Instability: Political instability and changing regulations in foreign markets can disrupt export operations and pose risks for MSMEs.
- Sustainability and Environmental Compliance: Meeting international standards for sustainability and environmental compliance can be challenging for smaller businesses that may not have the resources for extensive sustainability initiatives.
- Intellectual Property Protection: Protecting intellectual property rights in foreign markets can be complex and costly, which can be a significant concern for MSMEs with innovative products or technologies.
The role private labels can play in overcoming the above challenges
- Market Differentiation: Private labels allow MSMEs to differentiate themselves in the market. By offering unique and exclusive products under their own brand, they can stand out from competitors and create a niche for themselves.
- Control Over Quality and Standards: With private labels, MSMEs have full control over the quality, production process, and compliance standards of their products. This ensures that they can meet the specific requirements of international markets.
- Enhanced Margins: Selling products under a private label typically results in higher profit margins compared to selling generic or unbranded products. This increased margin can provide MSMEs with the financial resources needed to invest in export-related activities.
- Reduced Competition: Private label products are not directly competing with branded products in the market. This can provide MSMEs with a less crowded space in which to operate and potentially gain a foothold in international markets.
- Flexibility in Pricing: MSMEs have the flexibility to set their own pricing strategies for private label products. This allows them to be more competitive and adapt to the pricing dynamics of different international markets.
- Brand Loyalty and Trust: Building a strong private label brand can lead to increased customer loyalty and trust. Consumers who have a positive experience with a private label product are more likely to become repeat buyers.
- Customization for Target Markets: MSMEs can tailor private label products to meet the specific preferences and demands of different international markets. This customization can lead to higher acceptance and success in those markets.
- Lower Marketing Costs: While establishing a private label brand requires initial investment, over time, MSMEs can benefit from lower marketing costs compared to promoting a new brand from scratch. The brand already has recognition and loyalty.
- Supplier Relationships and Control: MSMEs can build strong relationships with their suppliers, ensuring a steady and reliable supply chain for their private label products. This can lead to greater control over the production process and timely delivery.
- Flexibility in Product Range: MSMEs can expand their product range under their private label to cater to a wider audience or to target different market segments. This flexibility allows for diversification and adaptability to changing market trends.
- Sustainability and Ethical Practices: MSMEs can prioritize sustainable and ethical practices in the production of their private label products, which can be a strong selling point in international markets where consumers are increasingly conscious of these factors.
Conclusion
While the benefits of private labels are substantial, MSMEs must invest in quality assurance, branding, and marketing efforts to realize their full potential. With careful planning and execution, private labels can empower MSMEs to overcome export-related challenges and unlock new opportunities in international markets. As a result, private labels emerge as a strategic tool for the growth and success of MSMEs in India’s export landscape.
General Studies – 4
Topic: dimensions of ethics;
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.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining contentment.
Body:
Write about the how contentment is natural wealth and importance of contentment. Substantiate with examples.
Next, write about Luxury is artificial poverty and how running behind riches of life will not lead to satisfaction. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
Contentment means to be happy with what you have, who you are, and where you are. It is respecting the reality of the present. It is appreciating what you do have and where you are in life. Contentment does not mean the absence of desire; it just means you are satisfied with your present, and you trust that the turns your life takes will be for the best.
Body
Many people today think life is a race where you must be the best at everything. We might want a fancier car, a bigger house, a better-earning job, or more money. The moment we achieve one thing, the race for the next thing starts. Rarely do many individuals spare a minute to just sit back, relax, and be grateful for all they have achieved. Instead of looking back at the distance they have covered, they stretch themselves to cover the distance that remains. And in some cases, this is when ambition becomes greed.
There is often a fine line between ambition and greed. People may think that when they have achieved all they need for their dream lifestyle, they will be satisfied with what they have—but this is rarely the case. Even after you have ticked off all the achievements from your list, you still don’t feel at ease. There may remain an uneasy feeling that something is still missing. That missing feeling is contentment.
Contentment can help us distinguish between wants and needs. When we are content, we may not desire for anything more than what we need. The abundance of the present is enough to lead a happy and healthy life. Contentment often leads to the realization that joy doesn’t come from material things. Instead, joy comes from deep within. A state of contentment leads to a state of well-being and happiness. Humanity has been in pursuit of the elusive state of happiness or bliss for centuries.
Importance of Contentment for Civil Servants
- As a public servant, the responsibility is to serve people and not looking for personal gains.
- Public life has major dimension of selflessness which comes when one is contended.
- Without contentment a person in public life will be swayed away by individual desires and greed which may stand opposite in the direction of public interest.
- For example, at the root of unhealthy social problems like corruption in public life involves the lack of contentment.
- Thus, it helps check corruption, immorality and exploitation of public resources .
- Contentment helps in dispassionate analysis of the situation and helps him explore what his needs, both material and mental, are and whether they can be met in legal and transparent ways. .
- Being contended, a civil servant thinks of public welfare without any quid pro quo.
Conclusion
If we wish to feel the essence of contentment, it’s important to practice gratitude, be aware of the fact that nothing is permanent, understand that material things do not often promote long-term happiness, and realize that life is not a race or competition: it is about self-sustenance. The more thankful we are in the present, the happier we may be.
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
