[Mission 2024] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 5 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: Social empowerment

1. Transparency in collecting and sharing caste census and caste-related data will promote informed policymaking and social justice leading to empowerment of backward classes. Examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Indian Express

Why the question:

The article discusses the importance of including caste data in official counts and how it is crucial for honest politics in India.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about benefits of collecting caste-based data in census and its role in empowering backward classes.

Directive word: 

Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving context of caste-based census in India.

Body:

In the first part, discuss the pros of caste-based census – lack of accurate data related to many affirmative action programmes of the government, helpful in the debate related to reservation policy, targeted poverty reduction programmes etc

Next, Discuss the cons of caste-based census – creates chasms within society, historical apprehensions etc.

Next, write about how the above data can be used for empowerment of backward classes.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

Every Census in independent India from 1951 to 2011 has published data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but not on other castes. Caste Has Important Position in Indian Society, while census data has been captured for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, religions and linguistic profiles, there has been no profiling of all castes in India since 1931.

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The 2021 Census of India, the 16th Indian Census, will be taken in 2021. But the growing demands for a caste census from various sections of society have once again surfaced the issue like its immediate need and long-term repercussions.

Merits of Caste Census

• Benefit in Policy Making:The purpose of a caste census is not merely geared to the reservation issue; a caste census would actually bring to the fore the large number of issues that any democratic country needs to attend to, particularly the number of people who are at the margins, or who are deprived, or the kind of occupations they pursue.
  • A caste census, which will generate exhaustive data will allow policymakers to develop better policies, implementation strategies,and will also enable a more rational debate on sensitive issues.
• Enumerating the marginalized:A caste census would actually bring to the particular the number of people who are at the margins, or who are deprived, or the kind of occupations they pursue, or the kind of hold that institutions like caste have on them.
• Also Reveal Privileged Section of Society:Caste is not only a source of disadvantage; it is also a very important source of privilege and advantage in our society.
  • We have to stop thinking of caste as being applicable to only disadvantaged people, poor people, people who are somehow lacking.
  • The opposite is even truer: caste has produced advantages for certain communities, and these also need to be recorded.
• To Address Prevalent Inequalities:Unequal distribution of wealth, resources and education has meant an acute shortage of purchasing power among the majority of Indians.
  • As a democratic nation, we cannot forcibly overthrow the system,but we need to address it in a democratic, scientific and objective manner.
• Constitutional Mandate:Our Constitution too favours conducting a caste census. Article 340 mandates the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes and make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by governments.
• Caste doesn’t marginalize:We need to do away with the idea of caste being applicable to only disadvantaged people, poor people, people who are somehow lacking.
• Rids away caste rigidities:Counting of caste doesn’t necessarily perpetuate caste or the caste system. Myths of caste elitisms can be debunked through a caste census.
• To Burst the Myths:There are a lot of myths which actually deprive a large number of people, particularly on the margins.
  • g.: In Karnataka, for a long time, there were claims that among the castes, the Lingayats are the most numerous.
  • But a lot of other studies have brought out that this may not be true, and these kinds of myths lead to the argument that given that this is a caste which is numerous, it has to be constantly placated. These myths can be debunked through a caste census.
• Reduce Inclusion and Exclusion Errors:With accurate data of castes, most backward castes can be identified.
  • Some have benefited so much across the years, while there are people in this country who have not benefited at all.
• The Supreme Court has time and again asked governmentsto provide the data related to castes; however, this has not been possible due to the non-availability of such data.
  • As a result, our national life suffers from mutual mistrust and misconceptions among different castes.
  • All such commissions have had to rely on data from the last caste census (1931).
• Data for Policymaking:This information is absolutely necessary for any democratic policymaking.
• Judicial backing:The courts in India have often emphatically said that it is important to have adequate data with regard to the reservation.

Associated Challenges with Caste Census

• Repercussions of a Caste Census:Caste has an emotive element and thus there exist the political and social repercussions of a caste census.
  • There have been concerns that counting caste may help solidify or harden identities.
  • Due to these repercussions, nearly a decade after the SECC, a sizable amount of its data remains unreleased or released only in parts.
• Caste Is Context-specific:Caste has never been a proxy for class or deprivation in India; it constitutes a distinct kind of embedded discrimination that often transcends class. For example: People with Dalit last names are less likely to be called for job interviews even when their qualifications are better than that of an upper-caste candidate.
  • They are also less likely to be accepted as tenants by landlords. Thus, difficult to measure.
  • Marriage to a well- educated, well-off Dalit man still sparks violent reprisals among the families of upper-caste women every day across the country.
• 50% breach:It is argued that a Socio-Economic Caste Census is the only way to make a case to breach the 50% cap on reservation and rationalize the reservation matrix in the country.
• Rising assertiveness:More the State ignores out caste, the more is the tendency to preserve caste, protect it. This has been observed in many states.
• Chaos:Data gathering itself is a big problem because it can become very, very invasive. But we need to actually balance it with enabling people and asserting citizen equality.
• Social friction:Caste identification can lead to friction amongst various classes.

Way Forward

• India needs to bebold and decisive in tackling caste questions through data and statistics in the way the United States (US) does to tackle race issues, by collecting data around race, class, language, inter-race marriages, among other metrics.
  • This data provides a mirror to the State and society of the US in which they can see themselves and take decisions to do course corrections.
• Creation of National Data Bank:The Sachar Committee Report recommended setting up a national data bank.
  • The Justice Rohini committeewas appointed in 2017 to look into the sub-categorisation of the OBC communities; however, in the absence of data, there can be no databank or any proper sub-categorisation.

Conclusion

With every passing day and increasing social awareness, the urgency to do away with the caste system is being sharply felt. Dr. BR Ambedkar stated that if India had to attain a place of pride among the comity of nations, caste would have to be annihilated first.

The most important thing is improving existing databases is more crucial to this than getting into the debate of whether to do a caste count or not. Accurate and timely data is central to India’s effort to tackle poverty. Poor data diminishes the efforts to design welfare programmes.

The 21^st century is the right time to solve India’s caste question, which would otherwise extract a heavy price, not just sociologically, but also politically and economically, and make us fall behind in the development index.

Topic: population and associated issues

2. Analyse the challenges posed by India’s aging population and the need for a new health insurance model to address their specific healthcare requirements. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Live Mint

Why the question:

The article suggests that a customized health insurance model that considers the unique healthcare needs of the elderly, such as chronic illnesses and long-term care, is essential to ensure their well-being.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about challenges posed by India’s aging population and ways to overcome them.

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/statistic regarding elderly population in India.

Body:

In the first part, write about various issues with elderly population – elder generation is often seen as slower, change-resistant, expensive, and ultimately even useless. Mention about the elderly being neglected in many aspects including in their own families and in public policies.

In the next part, write about the steps and policies that are needed in this regard especially with respect to their healthcare needs and insurance policies.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

Currently, India’s population is among the youngest in an ageing world, however, a major proportion of India’s population will be aged by 2050. This calls for more forward-looking policies incorporating population dynamics, education and skills, healthcare, gender sensitivity and most importantly geriatric care.

The United Nations Population Fund, India, has released the “2023 India Ageing Report,” which projects a significant increase in the elderly population in India

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Major Findings of the Report:

Issues associated with elderly population in India

• Feminisation of ageing: The sex ratio of the elderly has increased from938 women to 1,000 men in 1971 to 1,033 in 2011 and is projected to increase to 1,060 by 2026.
  • The report also noted that between 2000 and 2050, the population of 80-plus people would have grown 700% “with a predominance of widowed and highly dependent very old women”and so the special needs of such old women would need significant focus of policy and programmes.
• Financial issues: Retirement and dependence of elderly on their child for basic necessity.
  • Sudden increase in out-of-pocket expenses on treatment.
  • Migration of young working-age persons from rural area have negative impacts on the elderly, living alone or with only the spouse usually poverty and distress.
• Health: Multiple disabilities among the elders in old age.
  • Health issues like blindness, locomotor disabilities and deafness are most prevalent.
  • Mental illness arising from senility and neurosis.
  • Absence of geriatric care facilities at hospitals in rural area.
• Social issues:Indian society is undergoing rapid transformation under the impact of industrialization, urbanization, technical & technological change, education and globalization.
  • Consequently, the traditional values and institutions are in the process of erosion and adaptation, resulting in the weakening of intergenerational ties that were the hallmark of the traditional family.
  • Feeling of powerlessness, loneliness, uselessness and isolation in elderly.
  • Generational gap.

Roadmap for elderly care with passage of time

• Increasing the monthly pension of elderly to minimum of Rs 2,000 per month.
• Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Housing for the aged, particularly the aged poor, must be a priority.
• Assisted living facilities for indigent elderly, particularly those with age-related issues like dementia, needs policy focus.
• More tax benefits, or at least removing tax on deposit interest for seniors.
• Enhancing the geriatric care health infrastructure especially in rural area.
• Allocation of special budget for elderly population at both levels.
• Providing entertainment facilities like libraries and clubs at panchayat level.
• Appreciations for the contributions of elderlies at village level.

Conclusion

Social security is the concurrent responsibility of the central and state governments as, mandated under Indian constitution i.e., Well-being of senior citizens – Article 41 in particular and 46 in general of Indian constitution. In this regard, National Policy on Senior Citizen, 2011 was framed.

For the welfare and care for the older persons, we must focus on the protection of already existing social support systems/traditional social institutions such as family and kinship, neighbourhood bonding, community bonding and community participation must be revived and kins should show sensitivity towards elderly citizens.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

3. National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 offers a comprehensive framework to address the challenges faced by public universities in India by enhancing funding, autonomy, research opportunities, and accessibility, thereby aiming to revamp the higher education landscape in the country. Discuss. (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 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.

4. Do you think India is ready to have health as a fundamental Right? Critically examine. (250 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).

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

The right to health, as with other rights, includes both freedoms and entitlements and would be a part of Article 21. Freedoms include the right to control one’s health and body (for example, sexual and reproductive rights) and to be free from interference (for example, free from torture and non-consensual medical treatment and experimentation). Entitlements include the right to a system of health protection that gives everyone an equal opportunity to enjoy the highest attainable level of health.

Body

Background

It is confounding how something that is stridently ‘good’ in ethical and legal terms can run into a wall of opposition built on narrow professional and commercial interests. As in the case of the Right to Health Act that was passed in Rajasthan last week, and the unprecedented kerfuffle that followed, with doctors in the State vehemently protesting what they called a ‘draconian law’.

Need for making healthcare a fundamental right

• The right to equality guaranteed under Article 15upholds 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 21in 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 Bharatis an ambitious scheme with great potential, but there is a difference between a rights and a service-delivery model of development.
• 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.

Making Health as fundamental right will be of immense help

• 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.
• It instils immense confidence and positivity amongst the citizens.
• In a country where 63 million people slip back into povertydue 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.
• By declaring health as a fundamental right, the government would be compelled to think seriously about the pollution aspect or the environmental impactwhen, say, granting permissions for new industries or framing development policies.

Challenges in making health a fundamental right

• 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.
• A 2019 NITI Aayog report highlighted that states in India had unequal public health systems.
• This imbalance was primarily due to restricted technical expertise and fiscal constraints.
• While fiscal dependence of states on the centre continues to be a major challenge, if the subject of health was moved to the Concurrent List, it would lead to excessive bureaucracy, red tape and institutional constraints.

Measures needed

• The implication of and central to the success of such a resetlies in creating appropriate cadres.
• More immediately,there must be a public health cadre manning the posts at the PHC and CHCs consisting of sub-specialists in family medicine, public health and public health management.
• Likewise, among nurses, the cadre should comprisetwo distinct sets of personnel — public health nurses (not ANMs promoted based on seniority) and nurse midwives capable of independently doing all clinical functions for handling pregnancies and women’s health issues except surgical interventions.
• Primary care in India can get traction only if new skills, drastically upgraded competencies and a new mindset are embedded within the vision of a patient, family and community-centred health system.
• There is also a need to declutter policy dialogue and provide clarity to the nomenclatures. Currently, public health, family medicine and public health management are used interchangeably.
• It is time our political systems listen topeoples’ voices for a family doctor to ensure their everyday needs — and not easy options like privatisation, commodification and medicalisation of the system.
• Resetting the system to current day realities requires strong political leadership to go beyond the inertia of the techno-administrative status quoist structures.

Conclusion

It is time India declared the right to health a fundamental right. Strong health laws will help build societal resilience to future pandemics and public health emergencies. Emergency responses can’t come at the cost of neglect of human rights obligations. It is critical then that the right to health be implemented, using the principles of transparency, proportionality and solidarity. The COVID19 experience has also demonstrated the importance of a decentralized/polycentric response – India’s co-operative federalism, therefore, must be strengthened.

General Studies – 3

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

5. e-RUPI (Digital Rupee) could spur e-payments in India to take a leap towards better systemic stability and play a pivotal role in extending financial services to unbanked and under-banked populations. Discuss. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Live Mint

Why the question:

The article discusses the potential of a e-RUPI in India and how it could become the next Unified Payments Interface (UPI) revolution.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about potential of e-RUPI and suggest measures to improve it.

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 explaining the concept of e-RUPI.

Body:

In the first part, write about the benefits of e-RUPI – financial inclusion, the cashless society, decrease the cost of printing, expanding the digital economy and empowering citizens etc. Cite examples/statistics to substantiate.

Next, write about challenges with regards to e-RUPI – User adoption, security, complexity, domination by Chinese and Opportunity cost due to RBI’s reluctance etc.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

e-RUPI is a one-time contactless, cashless voucher-based mode of payment that helps users redeem the voucher without a card, digital payments app, or internet banking access. It is  basically a digital voucher which a beneficiary gets on his phone in the form of an SMS or QR code.  It is a pre-paid voucher, which he/she can go and redeem it at any centre that accepts it.

Body

Benefits of e-RUPI:

To the Consumer

• e-RUPI does not require the beneficiary to have a bank account, a major distinguishing feature as compared to other digital payment forms.
• It ensures an easy, contactless two-step redemption process that does not require sharing of personal details either.
• Another advantage is that  e-RUPI is operable on basic phones also, and hence it can be used by persons who do not own smart-phones or in places that lack internet connection.
• Only mobile phone and e-voucher required – Users redeeming the voucher need not have a digital payment app or a bank account.
• Safe and Secure: Beneficiaries do not need to share personal details and hence their privacy is maintained.

To the sponsors

• e-RUPI is expected to play a major role in strengthening Direct-Benefit Transfer and making it more transparent.
• Since, there is no need for physical issuance of vouchers, it will also lead to some cost savings as well.

To the Service Providers.

• Being a prepaid voucher, e-RUPI would assure real time payments to the service provider.
• Visibility for voucher utilisation – Voucher redemption can be tracked by the issuer
• Quick, safe & contactless voucher distribution

e-RUPI is the first step towards the adoption of digital currency in India

• The main objective and long-term vision behind e-RUPI is to reach 190 million unbanked citizens, fold them into a formal financial system, and close part of the digital gap.
• This digital payment system can provide equal access to financial, healthcare, and welfare services to each and every citizen of our country.
• The government is already working on developing a central bank digital currency and the launch of e-RUPI could potentially highlight the gaps in digital payments infrastructure that will be necessary for the success of the future digital currency.
• This new transfer system could be put to widespread use in public- service delivery, as it allows for money to be spent only for intended purposes and reaches the correct beneficiary.
• With the government’s focus on direct benefit transfers for assorted welfare programmes, the e-Rupi can prove pivotal in terms of preventing leakages and providing last-mile connectivity for routine state provisions and other forms of support.
• Reduced cash utilisation, especially when an institution is distributing benefits. This can have significant adverse tailwinds for companies like Sodexo, if organisations use a part of their kitty to issue purpose specific e-RUPI – such as learning allowance on specific portals.

Challenges:

• Rural-urban divide, both in terms of technology and access to banking infrastructure.
• A large gap still exists in terms of internet access. As per the latest data available from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, there are 34.6 rural internet subscribers per 100 people in the country, as opposed to 104 in urban areas (as on end December 2020).
• Internet penetration also varies widely across states. Internet subscribers per 100 persons ranges from 210 in Delhi and 87.6 in Punjab to 40.8 in Uttar Pradesh and 32.9 in Bihar.
• There are around 190 million unbanked citizens in our country, residing mostly in rural parts.
• As the existing digital payment methods require a bank account and internet/smartphone, until these gaps are filled, complete financial inclusion will remain a developmental challenge.

Way forward:

• The M-Pesa in Kenya can be an example on which e-RUPI can build on.
• e-Rupi has been announced just for specific purposes, but it could be scaled up massively.
• In the US, there is the system of education vouchers or school vouchers, which is a certificate of government funding for students selected for state-funded education to create a targeted delivery system. This could be emulated in India too.

Topic: Disaster and disaster management.

6. What is a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF)? Analyse the vulnerability of the Himalayan region to such events due to climate change and glacier melt. Suggest steps to mitigate the impact of GLOFs in mountainous regions. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India

Why the question:

The article discusses a recent glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) incident in Sikkim, India, which resulted in significant damage and loss of life.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about GLOF, India’s vulnerability and preparedness in tackling it.

Directive word: 

Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by defining a GLOF.

Body:

First, write about how vulnerable India is to a GLOF. Cite statistics to substantiate and previous GLOF disaster faced by India.

Next, write about preparedness of India in handling a GLOF disaster – mention the steps that have been already taken, their strengths and limitations. Mention further steps that can be taken in this regard.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is a release of meltwater from a moraine- or ice-dam glacial lake due to dam failure. GLOFs often result in catastrophic flooding downstream, with major geomorphic and socioeconomic impacts.

Glacial lakes form when a glacier retreats, leaving the debris mass at the end of the glacier – the end moraine – exposed. The moraine wall can act as a natural dam, trapping the meltwater from the glacier and leading to the formation of a lake. The moraine dams are composed of unconsolidated boulders, gravel, sand, and silt. As with landslide dams, they can eventually break catastrophically, leading to a glacial lake outburst flood or GLOF.

Body

Background

• Fourteen people have died, and 102, including 23 Army personnel, are missing in Sikkim after the burst of the South Lhonak Lake, a glacial lake in North Sikkim, due to heavy rains.
• The released water created flash floodsin four districts, including Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong, and Namchi, through the Teesta River.

India’s vulnerabilities to GLOF

• In August 2014, a glacial lake outburst flood hit the village of Gya in Ladakh, destroying houses, fields and bridges.
• Many settlements at Chungthang are potentially exposed to the future GLOF of South Lohnak Lake, one of the fastest-growing glacial lakes in Sikkim,
• Several Indian states are considered vulnerable as there are 9,575 glaciers in the Himalayan region contiguous to the country.
• According to an estimate, over 200 of these are susceptible to outbursts.
• Research by a group of scientists last year found that the highest GLOF risk currently is in the eastern Himalayan region where the risk level is at least twice that in adjacent regions.
  • The scientists were of the view that the possibility of hazards in the future in this zone would “almost triple” due to more lake formations.
• In the Indian Himalayan region, the first GLOF was reported in 1926 in Jammu and Kashmir.
• In the 1980s, scientists observed two instances of sudden emptying of moraine-dammed lakes in Himachal Pradesh.
• In 2013, Uttarakhand faced an unprecedented flood after the Chorabari glacier melted, leaving a death toll of more than 5,000 people.

Preparedness to handle disaster of GLOF

NDMA guidelines are extensively given to handle GLOF disasters as follows.

• Identifying Potentially Dangerous Lakes: Potentially dangerous lakes can be identified based on field observations, records of past events, geomorphologic and geotechnical characteristics of the lake/dam and surroundings, and other physical conditions.
• Use of Technology: Promoting use of Synthetic-Aperture Radar imagery (a form of radar that is used to create two-dimensional images) to automatically detect changes in water bodies, including new lake formations, during the monsoon months.
  • Methods and protocols could also be developed to allow remote monitoring of lake bodies from space.
• Channeling Potential Floods: To manage lakes structurally, the NDMA recommends reducing the volume of water with methods such as controlled breaching, pumping or siphoning out water, and making a tunnel through the moraine barrier or under an ice dam.
• Uniform Codes for Construction Activity: Developing a broad framework for infrastructure development, construction and excavation in vulnerable zones.
  • There is a need to accept procedures for land use planning in the GLOF prone areas.
• Enhancing Early Warning Systems (EWS): The number of implemented and operational GLOF EWS is very small, even at the global scale.
  • In the Himalayan region, there are at three reported instances (two in Nepal and one in China) of implementation of sensor- and monitoring-based technical systems for GLOF early warning.
• Training Local Manpower: Apart from pressing specialised forces such as National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), ITBP and the Army, NDMA has emphasised the need for trained local manpower.
  • It has been observed that over 80% of search and rescue is carried out by the local community before the intervention of the state machinery and specialised search and rescue teams.
  • The local teams could also assist in planning and setting up emergency shelters, distributing relief packages, identifying missing people, and addressing the needs for food, healthcare, water supply etc.
• Comprehensive Alarm Systems: Besides classical alarming infrastructure consisting of acoustic alarms by sirens, modern communication technology using cell and smartphones can complement or even replace traditional alarming infrastructure.

Conclusion and way forward

• Early warning system: There is an urgent need to use multiple methods for better risk assessment and early warning. It is important to regularly monitor lake development and dynamics. This approach could help limit the damages caused by the glacial lake outburst events.
• Better land planning: Further development processes in these ecologically fragile areas should be guided by better land-use planning.

Value addition

Causes of GLOF

• Rapid slope movement into the lake
• Heavy rainfall/snowmelt
• Cascading processes (flood from a lake situated upstream)
• Earthquake
• Melting of ice incorporated in dam/forming the dam (including volcanic activity-triggered jökulhlaups)
• Blocking of subsurface outflow tunnels (applies only to lakes without surface outflow or lakes with a combination of surface and subsurface outflow)
• Long-term dam degradation

General Studies – 4

Topic: dimensions of ethics;

7. Contentment plays a vital role in promoting mental and emotional well-being, maintaining healthy relationships, and fostering personal and societal growth. Elaborate.

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.

It can be contended that contentment is the natural wealth and luxury is artificial poverty. 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.

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.

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.

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