Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
4. The efficacy and fairness of the death penalty in India remain contentious issues, with ongoing discussions about its moral, ethical, and practical implications. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The proposed criminal law seeks to increase the number of crimes attracting the death penalty from 11 to 15 in India.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the reforms needed in awarding and sentencing of capital punishment.
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 giving the awarding of capital punishment in ‘rarest of rare’ case.
Body:
First, write about the various developments regarding capital punishment over the years – Bachan Singh vs State of Punjab, context death penalty.
Next, write about the various lacunae in the awarding of death penalty in Indian criminal justice.
Next, suggest reforms based on recent SC judgement and various recommendations of commissions.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
