[Mission 2024] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 3 October 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: Salient features of world’s physical geography.

1. Throw light on the importance of monsoon for India and account for variations in Indian monsoon year after year. Discuss the need for an all-weather insurance for Indian farmers against vagaries of global climate. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference:  Insights on India

Why the question:

The article discusses the variability of the monsoon in India and its significance. It highlights the importance of understanding the complexities and variations of the monsoon, especially in the context of climate change.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about importance of monsoon for India and causes for its variation and need for an all-weather insurance.

Directive word: 

Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Start by introducing Indian monsoon and its importance briefly.

Body:

First, write in detail about the overall importance of Indian monsoon.

Start by briefly mentioning about mechanism of the monsoon and the reasons for fluctuations in Indian monsoon according to the seasons. Divide the answer in to various months and how monsoon varies with it. Use a diagram to explain it more systematically. Do include the Western Disturbances, Somali Jet Streams, Easterly Jet streams etc, climate change. Write about its impact.

Next, write about the need for an all-weather insurance and its advantages.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

Introduction

Monsoons are seasonal winds which reverse their direction with the change of season. The monsoon is a double system of seasonal winds. They flow from sea to land during the summer and from land to sea during winter. Monsoons are peculiar to Indian Subcontinent, South East Asia, parts of Central Western Africa etc. Indian Monsoons are Convection cells on a very large scale. They are periodic or secondary winds which seasonal reversal in wind direction.

Body

Seasonal variation in the India monsoons

Significance of Monsoon on Indian economy: 

• The monsoon is important for India’s farm-dependent $2 trillion economy.
• It is a crucial source of water supply necessary for agriculture, industry and households in the country.
• India gets around 70 percent of its annual rainfall during the monsoon season.
• This affects the yield of some key kharif crops like rice, pulses and oilseeds such as soybeans.
• Around 50% of India’s total food output comes in the form of Kharif crops.
• India is primarily an agrarian economy—agriculture contributes 16% of India’s GDP.
• It is also crucial for rabi crops as monsoon has an impact on the ground water and also reservoirs which are critical for rabi crops irrigation.
• Bumper farm output keeps food prices under control and keep inflation in check.
• This boosts demand for consumer goods as well as income of rural people.
• All of this leads to a stronger economic outlook that in turn help lift equities, especially of companies selling goods in rural areas.
• Monsoon rains also replenish reservoirs and groundwater that helps in improving irrigation and also boosts hydropower production.
• Good Monsoon can reduce demand for subsidized diesel used for pumping water for irrigation.
• Good monsoon also checks government spending.
• Industries use raw materials like cotton, sugarcane, vegetable oils and natural rubber. The prices of these raw material fall in times of good monsoons.
• The loan portfolio of banks rises and banks net interest margins also rise.
• Easy interest rates prevail in the economy and bank stocks rise in value.
• A good monsoon will mean more farm related employment leading to a higher cash flow into the economy, all with a positive impact on the overall GDP.

Effects of poor monsoon on Indian economy:

• A poor monsoon season can have a rippling effect on India’s economy and overall GDP growth of India.
• A delayed monsoon can lead to supply issues and even accelerate food inflation.
• Higher food inflation translates into higher interest rates, which in turn raises the borrowing cost across the country and impacts profitability.
• Below normal monsoon can also lead to drought-like situation, thereby affecting the rural household incomes.
• Other sectors affected by the health of the rural economy are banking, NBFCs and microfinance institutions.
• Droughts result in NPAs, as farmers are unable to repay loans.
• Groundwater levels will continue to fall dangerously.
• This affects the farm sector which employs over half of the total population of India.
• Crop failure and/or deficient rainfall is one big reason for mass farmer suicides across the country.
• A poor monsoon weakens demand for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) products, tractors, two-wheelers and rural housing.
• It forces the government to spend on the import of food as well as take measures like farm loan waivers. These widen fiscal deficit.
• This not only results in banks facing losses, it also disturbs the credit discipline of borrowers.
• The impact even ripples overseas, as commodity markets are starved of Indian sugar and rice.
• States like Kerala, Karnataka, MP and Maharashtra -could face challenges from a deficit monsoon, as they have poor irrigation availability.

Way forward:

• Monsoon does play a big role in India. It has social, political, as well as economic implications.
• Thus monsoon doesn’t only affect the crops but all the industries in the country.
• The monsoon-dependent Indian economy needs climate-sensitive budgeting.
• The excessive dependence on monsoon may be mitigated by the construction of modern irrigation canals, afforestation, and diversification of Indian industries.
• Farmers, especially smallholder farmers, need advance warning of emergent weather conditions at a local level.
• Develop climate-smart agriculture practices.
• Build adaptive capacities to climate variability and strengthen the sustainability of farming systems.
• Preventive measures for drought that include growing of pulses and oilseeds instead of rice.
• Mobile telecommunication systems are increasingly cost-effective and an efficient way of delivering weather-based agro-advisories to farmers at a large scale.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Citizen’s Charters

2. One of the primary limitations of citizen charters in India is their non-binding nature. They do not have the force of law, which means that there are no legal consequences for government agencies if they fail to meet the commitments outlined in the charters. Examine. (150 Words)

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 (revision).

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 defining citizen charter.

Body:

First, mention the shortcoming of citizen charters – not formulated through a consultative process, lack of awareness, absence of grievance redressal etc.

Next, suggest steps to overcome the above shortcomings.

Conclusion:

Conclude by stressing on need to make the charters effective to provide high quality public service delivery.

Introduction

A Citizens’ Charter represents the commitment of the Organisation towards standard, quality and time frame of service delivery, grievance redress mechanism, transparency and accountability. The concept of Citizens Charter enshrines the trust between the service provider and its users.

 Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in Government of India (DARPG) initiated the task of coordinating, formulating and operationalising Citizen’s Charters.

Body

The basic objective of the Citizens Charter is to empower the citizen in relation to public service delivery.

Importance of Citizen’s charter in the Governance of developing nation like India:

• To make administration accountable and citizen friendly.
• To ensure transparency.
• To take measures to improve customer service.
• To adopt a stakeholder approach.
• To save time of both Administration and the citizen

Problems faced in implementation of Citizen’s charter:

• One size fits all: Tendency to have a uniform CC for all offices under the parent organization. CC have still not been adopted by all Ministries/Departments. This overlooks local issues.
• Silo operations: Devoid of participative mechanisms in a majority of cases, not formulated through a consultative process with cutting edge staff who will finally implement it.
• Non-Dynamic: Charters are rarely updated making it a one-time exercise, frozen in time.
• Poor design and content: lack of meaningful and succinct CC, absence of critical information that end-users need to hold agencies accountable.
• Lack of public awareness: only a small percentage of end-users are aware of the commitments made in the CC since effective efforts of communicating and educating the public about the standards of delivery promise have not been undertaken.
• Stakeholders not consulted: End-users, Civil society organizations and NGOs are not consulted when CCs are drafted. Since a CC’s primary purpose is to make public service delivery more citizen-centric, consultation with stakeholders is a must.
• Measurable standards of delivery are rarely defined: making it difficult to assess whether the desired level of service has been achieved or not.
• Poor adherence: Little interest shown by the organizations in adhering to their CC. since there is no citizen friendly mechanism to compensate the citizen if the organization defaults.

Way forward:

• Wide consultation process: CC be formulated after extensive consultations within the organization followed by a meaningful dialogue with civil society.
• Participatory process: Include Civil Society in the process: to assist in improvement in the contents of the Charter, its adherence as well as educating the citizens about the importance of this vital mechanism.
• Firm commitments to be made: CC must be precise and make firm commitments of service delivery standards to the citizens/consumers in quantifiable terms wherever possible.
• Redressal mechanism in case of default: clearly lay down the relief which the organization is bound to provide if it has defaulted on the promised standards of delivery.
• One size does not fit all: formulation of CC should be a decentralized activity with the head office providing only broad guidelines.
• Periodic updation of CC: preferably through an external agency.
• Fix responsibility: Hold officers accountable for results: fix specific responsibility in cases where there is a default in adhering to the CC.

Conclusion

Citizen’s Charter is playing a prominent part in ensuring “minimum government & maximum governance”, changing the nature of charters from non-justiciable to justiciable & adopting penalty measures that will make it more efficient & citizen friendly. The Sevottam model proposed by 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission for public Service Delivery can be regarded as a standard model for providing services in citizen centric governance.

Topic: Role of civil services in a democracy.

3. Efficient and effective civil services are essential for a nation’s development and unity. Reforms aimed at improving their functioning can lead to better governance, reduced corruption, and enhanced service delivery. Elaborate. (250 words)

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 (revision).

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the importance of civil services and reforms that are needed in them.

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 writing a few introductory lines about the Civil services in India.

Body:

Discuss in points the role played by civil services in a democracy and try to connect them with Indian civil services – Role in Governance, Role in provision of public goods and services, Economic policy improvement and implementation, Role in fiscal sustainability, Role in institutional development etc.

Next, mention the various drawbacks and limitations with respect to civil services in India and the various reforms that are needed in this regard.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

Public Servants are the glue between the State and the people. They have a wide array of responsibilities from formulation, implementation of various rules, policies to service delivery to citizens. They are granted with sufficient powers to carry on their work in an unhindered manner.

When India attained independence, Sardar Vallabhai Patel was the first to envision civil services as the ‘steel frame’ of Independent India. Today, more than six decades later, the Indian bureaucracy is both celebrated and reviled. Far from what Patel had warranted, his vision of a “steel frame” is now derided as “babudom”.

Body

Importance of civil services

• In a democracy, the civil services play an extremely important role in the administration, policy formulation and implementation, and in taking the country forward towards progress and development.
• Civil servants by maintaining law and order protect the life and liberty of the people.
• Due to their administrative expertise, they are the “think tank” of the Government. They collect data and information related to core issues.
• They assist the ministers in formulating policy and are responsible for implementing these policies wherein ministers are accountable to parliament and civil servants are accountable to ministers.
• It is also the responsibility of the civil servants to check the feasibility of the proposals in relation to the Constitutional provisions. They also take up the task of implementing the laws and policies of the Government.
• The civil service is present all over India and it thus has a strong binding character.
• It offers non-partisan advice to the political leadership of the country, even in the midst of political instability.
• Since citizens are the main focus point of the administrative system, the civil servant has become a connecting bridge between the State and the society.
• Formulation of appropriate developmental goals and programs in order to secure the support of the people and for the development of the nation is the responsibility of the civil servants.
• The service gives effective coordination between the various institutions of governance, and also between different departments, bodies, etc.
• It offers service delivery and leadership at different levels of administration.

Existing issues with model of bureaucracy in India

• The permanence of the job is a problem. Punishment for over-reach or misuse of power is a transfer, either from a weightier ministry to a lighter one or from high-profile capitals to geographically remote ones.
• Accountability is lacking: The punitive action against bureaucrats is to remove them from public eye and exonerate them later on.
  • The result is that all civil servants, never mind their ability or competence, operate in a system of limited accountability.
• No motivation or financial incentive to do good work:Many models across the globe serve as evidence that better financial incentive will shake the bureaucracy from their lethargy and prevent red tapism.
  • The bureaucratic entrepreneurshipwhich transformed China’s economy can largely be attributed to pay reforms. The low base pay of bureaucrats was supplemented with high add-on pay for economic performance.
  • Similarly, the bureaucracy of Singapore enjoys high supplemental pay that incentivizes performance.
    • Bureaucrats in Singapore can earn four types of performance pay—a non-pensionable annual allowance, an annual variable component, a performance bonus and a national bonus.
    • All this can add up to 20 months of a bureaucrat’s regular salary.
  • Politico-bureaucratic nexus:A sense of professional duty is usually inadequate to motivate public servants, and other incentives such as plum postings are too weak and/or randomly assigned (with high error rates) to act as strong motivators.

Measures needed:

• Personal self-interest should be secondary to the common good in all situations, especially when such circumstances give rise to conflict of interest.
• A dilemma should be dealt appropriately by considering and reformulating all the options in a systematic and coherent manner.
• To resolve ethical dilemmas, an order or a sequence of logical reasoning is must to integrate and rearrange the process of dealing with ethical dilemmas.
• The decisions should be guided by following principles:
  • The provisions of Indian Constitution.
  • Democratic accountability of administration.
  • The rule of law and the principle of legality.
  • Professional integrity.
  • Impartiality and neutrality.
  • Larger public good.
  • Responsiveness to civil society.
• The bureaucracy should be loyal to the country and its people while decision making considering consequences of such decisions.
• It is fundamental ethical duty of civil servants to show a spirit of neutrality and discretion and keep their own personal preferences out in the performance of their duties and responsibilities.

Conclusion

A bureaucracy must be an enabler and not a hinderer that clogs the decision-making pipeline. Honest and competent civil servants—and there are many—need to initiate human capital reform to create high-performing machinery that does fewer things but does them better.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

4. Explain the concept of mRNA vaccines, outlining their potential benefits in preventing infectious diseases like COVID-19, and discuss their limitations and challenges. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Hindu

Why the question:

The article explains the concept of mRNA vaccines and their role in the development of effective COVID-19 vaccines.

Key Demand of the question: 

To write about mRNA vaccines, their potential benefits and challenges and limitations associated with their use.

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 introducing the concept of mRNA vaccines and their relevance, especially in the context of recent vaccine developments.

Body:

Firstly, explain the fundamental concept of mRNA vaccines, including how they work to stimulate an immune response.

Next, write about the advantages of mRNA vaccines, such as their rapid development potential, versatility against various pathogens, and effectiveness in preventing infectious diseases. Highlight their role in addressing public health emergencies, like the COVID-19 pandemic, through quick vaccine development.

Next, write about the limitations associated with mRNA vaccines, such as the need for ultra-cold storage, potential short-term side effects, and the relatively recent nature of this technology.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

mRNA vaccines are a type of vaccine that uses messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct cells in the body to produce a specific viral protein, such as the spike protein of a COVID-19 virus. This protein triggers an immune response, helping the body build immunity against the virus. Notably, mRNA vaccines do not contain live or weakened viruses, making them safe and effective tools for preventing infectious diseases like COVID-19.

The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their research enabling the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.

Body

How it works?

1. To produce an mRNA vaccine, scientists produce a synthetic version of the mRNA that a virus uses to build its infectious proteins.
2. This mRNA is delivered into the human body, whose cells read it as instructions to build that viral protein, and therefore create some of the virus’s molecules themselves.
3. These proteins are solitary, so they do not assemble to form a virus.
4. The immune system then detects these viral proteins and starts to produce a defensive response to them.

Significance of mRNA vaccines:

• There are two parts to our immune system: innate(the defences we’re born with) and acquired (which we develop as we come into contact with pathogens).
• Classical vaccine moleculesusually only work with the acquired immune system and the innate immune system is activated by another ingredient, called an adjuvant.
• Interestingly, mRNA in vaccines could also trigger the innate immune system,providing an extra layer of defence without the need to add adjuvants.

Benefits of mRNA vaccines

• mRNA vaccines are considered safe as mRNA is non-infectious, non-integrating in nature, and degraded by standard cellular mechanisms.
• As RNA vaccines are not constructed from an active pathogen (or even an inactivated pathogen), they are non-infectious. In contrast, traditional vaccines require the production of pathogens, which, if done at high volumes, could increase the risks of localized outbreaks of the virus at the production facility.
• They are highly efficacious because of their inherent capability of being translatable into the protein structure inside the cell cytoplasm.
• RNA vaccines can be produced faster, cheaper, and in a more standardized fashion (i.e. fewer error rates in production), which improves responsiveness to outbreaks.
• An additional ORF coding for a replication mechanism can be added to amplify antigen translation and therefore immune response, decreasing the amount of starting material needed.
• Additionally, mRNA vaccines are fully synthetic and do not require a host for growth, e.g., eggs or bacteria. Therefore, they can be quickly manufactured inexpensively to ensure their “availability” and “accessibility” for mass vaccination on a sustainable basis.

Shortcomings of mRNA vaccines

• The mRNA strand in the vaccine may precipitate an unexpected immune response. To reduce this, the mRNA vaccine sequence may affect the heredity of mammalian cells.
• The vaccine’s access to cells is extremely challenging because RNA in the body soon disintegrates.
• The storage of RNA vaccines needs to be very low temperature. Therefore, it will be stored only in those places where cold storage chain will exist.

Conclusion

According to an article by Thomas Schlake et al, in RNA Biology, RNA as a therapeutic was first promoted in 1989 after the development of a broadly applicable in vitro transfection technique. A couple of years later, mRNA was advocated as a vaccine platform. The refinement of the mRNA platform owes everything to COVID. Rapid advancements within a remarkable period of one year allowed the technology to gain several revolutionary steps ahead, in order for it to be used successfully to drive vaccines that work.

Topic: basics of cyber security;

5. Due to instances of spyware being used by governments to monitor and potentially harm individuals, including activists and journalists, there is a need for greater regulation and accountability in their usage. Comment. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Hindu

Why the question:

The article explores how government agencies employ commercial spyware for surveillance and targeting of opponents.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about spywares, issues created by it and measures to tackle it.

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 defining spywares and cite examples.

Body:

First, write about the threats and problems posed by spywares – Data theft, Identity fraud, Device damage etc.

Next, write about the various precautions which can be taken various levels in order to prevent various attacks from spywares.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

Spyware is defined as malicious software designed to enter your computer device, gather data about you, and forward it to a third-party without your consent. Spyware can also refer to legitimate software that monitors your data for commercial purposes like advertising. However, malicious spyware is explicitly used to profit from stolen data.

Whether legitimate or based in fraud, spyware’s surveillance activity leaves unsuspecting victims open to data breaches and misuse of your private data. Spyware also affects network and device performance, slowing down daily user activities.

Body

Background

• Spyware has been used for surveilling a political opponent in a country.
• In 2021, investigations under the Pegasus Project revealed the massive scale of potential targets of spyware — more than 50,000 phone numbers in 50 countries.
• Reports shared that victims of the spyware attacks were in India, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
• The Pegasus spyware was also reportedly used by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to target journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s wife months before his death.
• Khashoggi, a U.S. resident, was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. He was a known critic of the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

Problems caused by spywares

• Data theft: Malicious spyware is installed without your informed consent. Step-by-step, spyware will take the following actions on your computer or mobile device:
  • Infiltrate via an app install package, malicious website, or file attachment.
  • Monitor and capture data via keystrokes, screen captures, and other tracking codes.
  • Send stolen data to the spyware author, to be used directly or sold to other parties.
• Breach of privacy: In short, spyware communicates personal, confidential information about you to an attacker. Eg: Pegasus spyware giving whatsapp message info of users to third party.
• Identity Fraud: Spyware can steal personal information that can be used for identity theft.
  • If malicious software has access to every piece of information on your computer, it can harvest more than enough information to imitate your identity.
  • Information used for this purpose includes browsing history, email accounts, and saved passwords for online banking, shopping, and social networks.
  • Also, if you’ve visited online banking sites, spyware can siphon your bank account information or credit card accounts and sell it to third parties — or use them directly.
• Computer Damages: Spyware can be poorly designed, leading to system-draining performance. The lack of performance optimization can take up an enormous amount of your computer’s memory, processing power, and internet bandwidt
  • As a result, infected devices may run slowly and lag in between applications or while online. Worse cases include frequent system crashing or overheating your computer, causing permanent damage. Some spyware can even disable your internet security programs.
• Disruptions to Your Browsing Experience: Spyware can also manipulate search engine results and deliver unwanted websites in your browser, which can lead to potentially harmful websites or fraudulent ones. It can also cause your home page to change and can even alter some of your computer’s settings.
  • Pop-up advertisements are an equally frustrating issue that accompanies some types of spyware.
  • Advertisements may appear even when offline, leading to inescapable annoyances.

Precautions to address these issues

• At user-level
  • Basic Security Hygiene : Not visiting untrusted websites, installing untrusted third party applications or certificates, keeping device and application software updated is needed.
  • Using licensed software: Users must ensure pirated software are not used and also update latest security patches to their devices.
  • Non-disclosure of sensitive information: Awareness to ensure people are not deceived by unsrcupulous actors regarding confidential information. Eg: Bank Login, OTP, debit/credit card details.
  • Using trusted software: Users must not give unbridled access to phone’s content to suspicious apps.
  • Two-layer authentication: Strong passwords with OTP login can help secure devices, apps from unauthorized access.
• At Government level: Initiatives
  • CERT-IN is the national nodal agency to respond in crisis situation.
  • CERT-fin has also been launched exclusively for financial sector.
  • CERT-in is also operating Cyber Swachhata Kendra, a Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre
  • National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) to battle cyber security threats in strategic areas such as air control, nuclear and space.
  • Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative to strengthen Cybersecurity ecosystem in India. It is first public private partnership of its kind and will leverage the expertise of the IT industry in cybersecurity.
  • National cyber coordination centre (NCCC) to scan internet traffic coming into the country and provide real time situational awareness and alert various security agencies.
  • Cyber Forensic Lab set up in Bangalore, Pune, Kolkata in collaboration with NASSCOM.

Conclusion

India must develop core skills in data integrity and data security fields, to ensure protection of user data as well as security of critical infrastructure. Expertise of the private sector must be leveraged to build capabilities. Meanwhile user awareness is equally necessary to prevent them from becoming victims of cybercrime.

New foundation for a global law on cybersecurity must be laid. It will help in guiding national legislation or policy against cybercrimes. Cyber-Deterrence must be ingrained in the policy on cybersecurity with both defensive and offensive approach.

Rapid capacity building and Skill development in cyber space is required considering the fact that India’s IT segment accounts for 51 percent share of the IT-BPM sector (2018-19).

Value addition

Types of spyware

Spyware is generally classified into four main categories:

• Trojan spyware enters devices via Trojan malware, which delivers the spyware program.
• Adware may monitor you to sell data to advertisers or serve deceptive malicious ads.
• Tracking cookie files can be implanted by a website to follow you across the internet.
• System monitors track any activity on a computer, capturing sensitive data such as keystrokes, sites visited, emails, and more. Keyloggers typically fall into this group.

General Studies – 4

Topic: accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance;

6. A free and independent media that can investigate and report on government activities, exposing wrongdoing is an effective way to ensure transparency and accountability in government organisations. Examine. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Why the question:

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

Key Demand of the question:

To write about ways to build and maintain a culture of accountability in government organisations.

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 transparency and accountability.

Body:

First. Write about how transparency and accountability are not prioritised in government offices.

Next, write about the role of free media in ensuring accountability of the government.

Next, with relevant examples elaborate on how a culture of accountability can be instilled – citizen charters, RTI, Reward & Recognition, Autonomy & Trust, Feedback & Coaching, communication etc.

Conclusion:

Complete the answer writing about the link between accountability and efficiency.

Introduction

Press is the fourth pillar of democracy, but in the largest democracy of the world it is facing serious challenges. India ranked 150th among the 180 countries (World Press Freedom Index 2022 published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

While the press in India has played critical role to raise the voices of common citizen against the state. In recent times in absence of weak regulation, lack of self control, degradation of ethical and professional values is making the press nothing but a tool used by political and corporate bodies for their own self interest

Body

Rationale behind a free and independent media

Ways to Ensure robust Media and Freedom of the Press:

Conclusion

Free and robust media is essential for the functioning of a healthy democracy. It is important for journalists and media institutions to maintain their neutrality, fact-check news items, and ensure diversity in their newsroom culture.

Topic: Work culture, Quality of service delivery,

7.  How would you define ethical behaviour in a workplace? Do you think acknowledging and providing incentives for ethical conduct can bolster the overall ethical culture? State your opinion. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Why the question:

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

Key Demand of the question:

To write about components of ethical workplace culture and ways to build it.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Start by describing an ethical work culture.

Body:

Write about the major factors that create and maintain a culture of ethical behaviour – leadership, organizational structure, policies and procedures, training and communication, rewards and recognition, organizational values, and industry norms and regulations.

Next, write about ways to build ethical workplace culture and environment.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

Introduction

Work Culture or Organization Culture is set of collective beliefs, values, rules and behaviour which organisation as whole conforms to. In a layman approach it is culture that a group as an organisation follows. Culture varies with family, region, social class and hence in work environment.

Ethical behaviour in a workplace refers to the adherence to the ethical work culture by individuals belonging to the workplace.

Body

Components of an ethical workplace culture and environment

• Priority to employee rights
• Fair procedures and treatment
• Equity in pay and promotion,
• Promotes tolerance, compassion, loyalty and honesty in the treatment of customers and employees.

Yes, acknowledging and providing incentives for ethical conduct can bolster the overall ethical culture

• A clear expectation for behaviour among all members of an organization is the first step towards a more ethical organizational culture.
• Organizational leaders must be mindful of their actions as others in the organization will likely follow their lead when it comes to ethical behaviour and attitudes.
• Offering opportunities for recognition, awards, and social reinforcements for desirable ethical behaviors’ can go a long way to promote the types of ethical culture desired in any organization.
• Workshops, easy to use reference materials, ongoing and readily available consultation from peers or mentors are just some of the many ways institutions can assist in training students and staff to best use the tools that are available to them to participate in better and more thoughtful ethical decision making.
• Ethical ambiguities can be reduced by creating and disseminating an organizational code of ethics. It should state the organization’s primary values and the ethical rules that employees are expected to follow.
• The organization needs to provide formal mechanisms so that employees can discuss ethical dilemmas and report unethical behaviour without fear of reprimand. This might include creation of ethical counsellors, ombudsmen, or ethical officers.

Measures I would take to make workplace more ethical

• Lead by example:a leader leads from the front. We should be able to do what we preach and is the best way to motivate our subordinates. e.g. SAM MANEKSHAW, valor of Alexander
• Persuasion:Senior can persuade the subordinates by making them informed about values and output they would create if they perform better. If subordinate understand what tangible their efforts would lead, they get motivated and work toward achieving that goal.
• Fairness:we should be fair in the task allocation and should treat all our subordinates in a fair manner irrespective of their background. e.g. without any differences of caste or creed
• Transparency:a public servant should be transparent in his working and should be open to suggestions.
• Flexibility:we should be flexible, open to suggestions and should hear suggestions from experienced subordinates. this would give them recognition and at the same time would be beneficial for the organization.
• Recognition:give recognition to the employees who have worked on the ground will motivate them to work even harder the next time. e.g. mayo hawthorne experiment
• Incentivization:Incentives whether financial or awards create an atmosphere of competitiveness among subordinates and therefore they get motivates and improve their performance.
• Employee engagement:in various constructive activities will help them to channelize their energies in the right direction. e.g. doing some activities with the employees
• Grievance redressal:keeping some part of the day especially for hearing and solving grievances will help them to be self-motivated. e.g in armed forces officers have daily some time for the grievance redressal of the jawans.
• Adopting physical fitness and healthy lifestyle culture, yoga-meditation so that people can be physically and emotionally fit to perform their duties. Making motivational courses intrinsic part of training.

Conclusion

A self-motivated worker will work his heart out for the betterment of the organizations and leaders should strive their best to achieve it.

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