[Mission 2024] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 17 November 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: poverty and developmental issues,

1. The issue of farmer suicides is a complex and multifaceted problem that stems from a combination of social, economic, and environmental factors. Examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Indian Express ,  Insights on India

Why the question:

The article discusses the increasing number of farmer suicides and emphasizes the need to protect farmers from the uncertainties of nature.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about causes of farmer suicides and measures needed to prevent them.

Directive word: 

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

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving statistic regarding farmer suicides in India.

Body:

First, write about the causes of farm suicides – Low per capita land, indebtedness, high loan rates, high costs of production and labour, inability to pool up resources, need for hiring labor due to shortage of time, low agriculture products prices and low MSPS, decreasing water tables and increasing  costs of pumping water out, economic exploitation by dealers selling agriculture equipment, seeds, fertilizers etc.

Next, write about the steps that are needed to prevent farmer suicides.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

According to the National Crime Records Bureau data, a total of 10,881 persons from the farming sector died by suicide in 2021—this includes farmers and farm labourers. Several socio-economic factors have enabled an environment vulnerable to distress in the agricultural belts of the nation. Unable to cope with mounting debt and the inability to take care of their families, many choose to end their lives.

Body

Factors behind increasing cases of farmer suicides

• Plummeting incomes, mounting debt, and high interest rates (particularly of non-institutional sources) have pushed the peasantry towards deprivation
• The high debt burdenwas the primary reason behind 75% of farmer suicides.
• Large chunk of persons were underemployed or disguisedly unemployedduring 2016–17 in Punjab.
• The mismatch between farm inputs and output prices, crop failures, and unfavourable terms of trade between prices paid and received by the farmers have contributed fairly to declining farm incomes.
• Cost of cultivation:
  • The MSP of wheat and paddy increased at the rate of 2% per annum while the cost of cultivation increased at the rate of 7.9% during the last one and a half decades.
• With a growth rate of around 1.6% (during 2012–17) and the stress on natural resources, thefarm sector is trapped in a vicious circle of crisis. Expectedly, small farmers are the worst sufferers.
• Due to the declining water table, the cost of irrigation structures has increased as the farmers have to replace centrifugal pumps by costly submersible pumps.
• According to the Niti Aayog, in 2022-23, of the 21 crore hectares of sown area across India, 11.5 crore hectares had access to irrigation—54.76% against 47.80% in 2013-14.
• The farmers are being exploited by traders and dealers providing them spurious seeds and agrochemicals.
• Agriculture in Punjab suffers from mono-crop culture of mainly wheat and paddy. With this cropping pattern, farming itself is becoming an unviable occupation, due to rising fixed and variable input costs, and low remuneration leading to falling profit margins.
• Cost of inputs:
  • Variable costs increase due to rising prices of inputs like fertilisers, pesticides, weedicides, diesel etc.
  • Fixed costs like installation and deepening of submersible pumps due to the dipping water table increase the financial woes of farmers.
  • For a small and marginal farmer, it is economically unviable to make such investments, especially by borrowing from informal sources at high rates of interest
• Data Anomaly:
  • Existing studies have analysed the intensity of farmer suicides in isolation, i.e. without comparing farmer suicides with those by other professionals

Policy measures needed to prevent farmer suicides

• The “Scheme for Debt Swapping of Borrowers” should be made more effective for converting the non-institutional debt into institutional debt.
• The AMSCs should be set up at every village to provide custom-hiring services to small farmers on a priority basis.
• Quality farm inputs like seed, fertilisers, and pesticides must be supplied to the farmers at subsidised prices.
• Rationalisation of subsidies, especially in favour of small farmers may control appreciating farm costs and making small farming viable.
• For alternative employment, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme should be effectively implemented by ensuring stipulated annual employment of 100 days, rather than the existing 30 days, to each family in the state.
• Identifying and developing crop niches that will encourage allied activities in appropriate agro-climatic zones of the state, and developing cooperative primary processingand marketing units for crops and activities in these zones can help improve the economic well-being of the farmers.
• Effective irrigation facilities should be provided. Drip and sprinkle irrigation should be popularized. Canals should be built to reach deep into villages.
• Using Information technologies and electronic media (like DD Kisan channel) to spread awareness about government schemes and monsoon predictions.
• Skill Development of farmers, so that they can develop alternative sources of income. Government should initiate alternative employment generation programmes.
• Land pooling, where lands of small farmers can be pooled into a larger piece, and benefits can be maximized.
• Effective implementation of various government schemes like pradhan Mantri Krishi sinchai yojana, pradhan Mantri fasal bima yojana and Soil Health Card scheme.

Topic: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

2. Water stress is a significant challenge faced by many countries including India, and addressing it requires a comprehensive approach. Analyse. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: Down to Earth , Insights on India

Why the question:

About half of the world’s children (953 million) were exposed to high or extremely high water stress in 2022, according to a new UNICEF report.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the measures needed to overcome water stress in the country.

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 and giving the status of water stress in India. Cite a statistic of show the level of water stress in the country,   

Body:

First, write about the impact of water stress on the quantitative as well as qualitative aspect of fresh water and how it will impact us.

Next, write about the urgent steps that are needed to make sustainable water practises – planning regulation of groundwater usage, rejuvenation of catchment areas, sustainable agriculture, aquifer recharge, rainwater harvesting and technology to monitor progress, community participation and rejuvenating existing water bodies etc.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

Water stress occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available amount during a certain period or when poor quality restricts its use. When per capita availability of water is below 1700 m³/year, water availability is termed as “stressed”.

About half of the world’s children (953 million) were exposed to high or extremely high water stress in 2022, according to a new UNICEF report.

Body

Water stress causes deterioration of fresh water resources in terms of quantity as well as quality

• India has 4 % of the world’s freshwater which has to cater to 17 % of the world’s population.
• Approximately 600 million people or roughly around 45 % of the population in India is facing high to severe water stress.
• As per the report, 21 Indian cities will run out of their main source of water i.e. groundwater by 2020.
• Nearly 40 % of the population will have absolutely no access to drinking water by 2030 and 6 % of India’s GDP will be lost by 2050 due to the water crisis.
• As per NITI Aayog report (CWMI) released in June 2019, India is facing the worst-ever water crisis in history.
• A disastrous water crisis has been creeping up on us for years. Water tables have declined precipitously, even by thousands of feet in some parts of Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. Tanks and wells have gone dry.
• Some rivers have shrunk while other smaller ones have completely dried up.
• Water rationing is routine in many urban areas, while in many villages women are trudging longer distances to fetch water.
• A recent report mentions that over 70% of surface irrigation water is being simply wasted, nationally.
• Not only farmers are affected by the water crisis, urban dwellers in cities and towns across India are also facing a never seen before drinking water scarcity.
• In India, there are conflicts between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over sharing of Cauvery waters, between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh over sharing of Narmada waters, between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over sharing of Krishna waters, etc.

Measures to overcome water stress in the country

Seeing India’s looming water crisis through the locus of ‘urban’ and ‘rural’ not only allows a better grasp of the causative factors but also enables a stronger grip on the strategies to be deployed to reverse the water crisis.

• Urban water resource management

• Ground water management is of utmost importance in urban areas where 50% water is drawn from ground. E.g.: Encroachment of flood plains, ground water recharge are areas to work with.
• Loss of green cover in urban areas and heat island effect are reasons for depleting water sources. e.g.: Urban forests needs to be created like in Aarey, Mumbai.
• The Ministry of Water Resources must reconfigure its relationship with other Ministries and Departments (Urban Development, Local Self-Government and Environment).
• Enhanced integration and coordination are needed through effective land and water zoning regulations that protect urban water bodies, groundwater sources, wetlands and green cover while simultaneously working to enhance waste water recycling and water recharge activities targeting aquifers and wells through rainwater harvesting.

• Rural water resource management
  • Water and food security: At the sectoral level, the Ministries and Departments of water resources must coordinate efforts with their counterparts in agriculture, the environment and rural development for greater convergence to achieve water and food security.
    • g.: Water guzzler crops like paddy and wheat in Punjab have turned the soil saline and depleted ground water.
  • Whole of government approach: At the disciplinary level, governance and management should increasingly interact and draw from the expertise of fields such as hydrology (watershed sustainability), hydrogeology (aquifer mapping and recharge) and agriculture sciences (water-sensitive crop choices and soil health).
  • Surface water management: Again, the importance given to groundwater conservation should not ignore surface water conservation including the many rivers and lakes which are in a critical and dying state due to encroachment, pollution, over-abstraction and obstruction of water flow by dams.

Way Forward

• Effective land and water zoning regulations would protect urban water bodies, groundwater sources, wetlands and green cover.
• Enhance waste water recycling and water recharge activities targeting aquifers and wells through rainwater harvesting.
• Governance and management should increasingly interact and draw from the expertise of fields such as hydrology (watershed sustainability), hydrogeology (aquifer mapping and recharge) and agriculture sciences (water-sensitive crop choices and soil health).
• The importance given to groundwater conservation should not ignore surface water conservation including the rivers and lakes which are in a critical state due to encroachment and pollution.
• The Ministry of Jal Shakti must focus on protecting and conserving water resources on the one hand and minimising and enhancing efficiency of water usage on the other.

Topic: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.

3. The question of state-funded elections involves a delicate balance between curbing corruption and ensuring fair competition. It requires careful consideration and comprehensive reforms to address the concerns of all stakeholders. Examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: The Hindu

Why the question:

The article explores about the transparency in election funding and ponders Should elections be state funded instead?

Key Demand of the question:

To explain Fraternity and the reasons as to why it was included in the constitution and to comment on its relevance in the present day amidst various social issues.

Directive word: 

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

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Briefly explain what is – State funding of elections.

Body:

First, write about State funding of elections; brief history of the origin of the idea, its evolutions etc. The state funding of polls was recommended by the Indrajit Gupta Committee in 1998. The committee had suggested that state funding would ensure a level playing field for poorer political parties and argued that such a move would be in public interest.

Next, List out the merits of such a concept. Then move onto state that despite having some positive offshoot, the proposal is more unlikely to curtail the menace of corruption and it has too many systemic and other grey areas (state these cons). Discuss what needs to be done.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a balanced opinion on the issue.

Introduction

State or public funding of elections means that government gives funds to political parties or candidates for contesting elections. Its main purpose is to make it unnecessary for contestants to take money from powerful moneyed interests so that they can remain clean. The Election Commission of India has informed the Government that it is not in favour of state funding of elections.

A Constitution Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, recently reserved its judgment on petitions challenging the validity of the electoral bonds scheme.

Body:

Importance of state funding of elections:

• Indian elections cost huge sums of money.
• This money can hardly come from retail contributions of political-party sympathisers. It has to come from big corporate houses.
• But, contributions from corporate houses are largely from undeclared income and, hence, the contribution is not recorded.
• As long as India’s politics is systemically dependent on unaccounted money for its finances, there can be no decisive political will to eradicate black money.
• Political parties spend huge amounts in election years but report income that is only a fraction of what they spend. When the bulk of their spending is financed by unaccounted income, it compromises the integrity of governance, corrupts the civil service, promotes crony capitalism and makes managing the government a decisive core competence of entrepreneurship.
• All this will change only if the sources of political funding are made fully transparent.

Pros of state funding of elections:

• Political parties and candidates need money for their electoral campaigns, to keep contacts with their constituencies, to prepare policy decisions and to pay professional staff. Therefore, public funding is a natural and necessary cost of democracy.
• In theory, State funding would provide a level playing field for political parties and cut out money power from the equation, but in practice, things may not work out so linearly. India collects only about 16% of GDP as a tax.
• Public funding can increase transparency in party and candidate finance and thereby help curb corruption.
• In societies where many citizens are under or just above the poverty line, they cannot be expected to donate large amounts of money to political parties or candidates.
• If parties and candidates receive at least a basic amount of money from the State the country could have a functioning multi-party system without people having to give up their scarce resources.

Challenges posed by state funding of elections:

• Those against this idea wonder how a Government that is grappling with deficit budgets, can provide money to political parties to contest elections.
• They also warn that state funding would encourage every second outfit to get into the political arena merely to avail of state funds.
• Also, given that state expenditure on key social sectors such as primary healthcare is “pitifully small”, the very idea of the Government giving away money to political parties to contest polls, is revolting.
• The funds that a political party advances to its party candidates in an election vary from one candidate to another, and there is much variation across political parties in this regard.
• Assuming that there are five contending candidates in a constituency, and even if each one of them does not spend as much, but just half of their elected counterpart, an amount of about ₹15 crore will be spent in each constituency, which with about 4,215 MLAs in India works out to an about ₹13,000 crore per annum.
• While the legal limit that a Lok Sabha candidate can spend is ₹70 lakh, a victorious candidate on an average does not spend less than ₹10 crore for the purpose. Suppose we assume again an average of five candidates per constituency, and halving the amount to losers, about ₹30 crore will be spent in each Lok Sabha constituency, and given 543 members of the Lok Sabha, about ₹3,300 crore per annum.
• Then there are elections to the Upper Houses, both at the Centre and in some States, and the local governing bodies. Hence, it is argued that public funding places unnecessary burden on the exchequer.

Measures to ensure transparency in electoral funding:

• In India, the main reason for the prevalence of black money in election spending is the unrealistically low limits set by the Election Commission of India on campaign spending by political parties and candidates. More realistic campaign spending limits should be set.
• Part-public funding of election campaigns is a practice in some countries. e.g. United States and Britain. We could have our own version.
• The strict monitoring of expenditure by political parties and their functionaries at every level, starting with the panchayat, polling booth area and municipal ward should be done.
• Every party should disclose its expenditure every month at every level.
• This should be open to challenge by rival parties, media, etc.
• The Election Commission could determine the actual expenditure and ask the parties to show the source of income.
• Parties will have to collect money in the open.
• These steps will ensure transparency.

Way Forward:

• A party’s expenditure limit should be 50% or less of the combined maximum spend prescribed for all of its candidates.
• Individual spending needs to be capped based on whether a candidate has stood for an assembly or a general election.
• Anonymous donations should be limited to 20% of a party’s total collections.

General Studies – 2

Topic: India and its neighbourhood- relations.

4. A measured and comprehensive approach that addresses both the immediate humanitarian needs and the long-term political challenges is essential to restore democracy and stability in Myanmar. Critically examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question:

A coordinated offensive by Myanmar’s ethnic rebels against the junta in several parts of the country late last month is the clearest sign yet that the coup regime’s hands are overstretched.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the constraints faced by international community, importance of Myanmar to India’s foreign policy and steps needed put Myanmar back on a democratic path.

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 giving context regarding Indo-Myanmar relations.

Body:

In the first part, mention about the importance of Myanmar to India’s foreign policy. Throw light on economic and strategic significance, act east policy of India etc.

Next, write the various options to ensure the return of democracy in Myanmar. Using U.N and ASEAN, Bilateral diplomacy etc.

Next, write about the other measures of outreach that must be explored by India for a successful Act east policy.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

Myanmar (formerly called Burma) military grabbed power in a coup, third time in the nation’s history since its independence from British rule in 1948. Military (also called Junta and Tatmadaw) has alleged that the general elections held in November 2020 were full of irregularities and that therefore, the results are not valid. This marked the end of Myanmar’s short-lived experience with democracy which began in 2011, when military implemented parliamentary elections and other reforms.

Myanmar today remains pessimistic about its future. Exactly two years ago, the military staged yet another coup, snatching power from the elected leaders. It derailed the limited democracy of the previous decade, violating the 2008 constitution which the generals had given to the people.

A coordinated offensive by Myanmar’s ethnic rebels against the junta in several parts of the country late last month is the clearest sign yet that the coup regime’s hands are overstretched.

Body

Geo-strategic significance of Myanmar for India

• Geopolitical interests:Myanmar sits at the intersection of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policies, and therefore is an essential element in India’s practice of regional diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific, and serves as a land bridge to connect South Asia and Southeast Asia.
• Strategic location:It serves as a buffer between India and China. Myanmar has coastal access to the Bay of Bengal. It connects Bangladesh, China and the restive North-eastern states of India. It is also close to India’s Nicobar archipelago.
• National security:Myanmar-China border has become the epicentre of local armed separatist groups operating on Myanmar soil, and Indian groups, ranging from ULFA in Assam to the NSCN (IM) in Nagaland.
• Economic interests: India has interests in natural resources of Myanmar and also developing certain projects like India–Myanmar–Thailand trilateral highway and Kaladan multi-modal project which is to link India’s landlocked north-eastern States to the Myanmar Port of Sittwe, located in the Bay of Bengal. Instability in Myanmar will be a roadblock to these ambitions.
• Countering China:A weakened Myanmar falling into the clutches of China as a satellite state will pressurize India to do Beijing’s bidding in regional affairs.

Various options to ensure the return of democracy in Myanmar

• International efforts should provide strong incentives and support for critical democracies in the region such as India, Japan and Indonesia to increase dialogue with and assistance for pro-democracy political parties and non-state ethnic nationalities authorities in Myanmar.
• The United States should increase high-level diplomatic engagement with ASEAN to enhance that organization’s resilience to attempts by China to undermine the role the bloc may play in putting the country back on a path toward democracy.
• Despite the military’s best effort to quash it, civil society in Myanmar persists and serves an increasingly important role providing essential services to vulnerable communities and by organizing anti-coup activities.
• The United States and other democracies should continue to provide financial and technical support to civil society.
• Support political dialogues across Myanmar’s diverse, anti-coup movement. These include dialogues under the People’s Representative Committee for Federalism and the National Unity Consultative Council.
• Where possible, the United States should support solidarity and trust-building within the anti-coup movement.
• Dialogues should aim to sincerely address past discrimination and abuses, including those by the NLD and others who have held positions of power.

Approach to be taken by India

• India faces the most challenging dilemma on how to respond to the military coup in Myanmar. India supports the process of democratic transition in Myanmar.
• Though India has expressed deep concern over recent developments in Myanmar, cutting off from the Myanmar military is not a viable option as India has significant economic and strategic interests in Myanmar and its neighbourhood.
• The dual power centres of the military and the civilian government that existed in Naypyitaw until recently, suited India.
• While India’s national interests clearly lie in dealing with whoever is in power in Myanmar, India would find it difficult to openly support the junta given the strong western and American stance.
• On the other hand, it can ill-afford to offend the junta by actively seeking a restoration of democracy there.
• India should continue to engage with the present regime in Myanmar working towards mutual development of people of both the countries while it should support sharing experiences in constitutionalism and federalism to assist Myanmar in resolving the prevailing stalemate.

Conclusion

India is left with very few clear policy options. And yet, it must continue to maintain relations with the government in power in Myanmar while discreetly pushing for political reconciliation in the country. In the meantime, the focus must be on improving trade, connectivity, and security links between the two sides.

General Studies – 3

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

5. Discuss the contributions of Chandrayaan-3 mission to India’s continued lunar exploration and its position in the global space community. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: Insights on India , wikipedia.org

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2024 Secure timetable.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the objectives of Chandrayaan-3 and its potential contributions

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving context.

Body:

First, write about the major objectives of Chandrayaan-3 – conduct scientific studies of the Moon’s surface and sub-surface using a lander and rover. The mission will also aim to study the lunar atmosphere and determine the presence of water and other minerals on the Moon etc.

Next, write about its contributions to India’s Space Exploration.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing about the importance of space missions to moon.

Introduction

Chandrayaan-3 is the successor to the Chandrayaan-2 mission and it will likely attempt another soft-landing on the lunar surface. It will be a mission repeat of Chandrayaan-2 but will only include a lander and rover similar to that of Chandrayaan-2. It will not have an orbiter. As per ISRO, the total cost of Chandrayaan-3 mission will be over Rs 600 crores. In comparison, the total cost of the Chandrayaan-2 mission was Rs 960 crores.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s successful soft landing on the Moon marks India’s significant achievement, becoming the fourth nation in history to reach the lunar surface.

Body

Study objectives of the mission:

Significance of Chandrayaan-3 for India

Conclusion

The successful landing of rover of Chandrayaan 3, made India the fourth country to soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon after the United States, USSR and China.

Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

6. Gaganyaan mission represents a significant leap forward for India in space exploration, showcasing the country’s commitment to advancing its capabilities in space science and technology. Discuss. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Insights on India

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2024 Secure timetable.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the Gaganyaan mission, challenges in it and its relevance.

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 of Gaganyaan mission as first manned space mission of India.

Body:

First, write the major aims and objectives of Gaganyaan mission.

Next, write about the relevance of manned spaced mission for India – Boost to industries, Technological development, Spurs research and development, National Prestige and economic opportunities etc.

Next, write about the challenges in the mission and steps that are needed to overcome them

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

Introduction

Mission Gaganyaan is India’s first Human Space Flight Programme which aims to make India the fourth nation in the world to launch a Human Spaceflight Mission. So far, only the USA, Russia and China have launched human spaceflight missions.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) commenced the first uncrewed developmental flight of its ‘Gaganyaan’ human spaceflight mission from Sriharikota, designated TV-D1. The launch vehicle, a single-stage rocket, carried a crew module fit with a crew-escape system (CES) to an altitude of 12 km. There, the CES detached itself with the crew module from the rocket and climbed up to 17 km. In response to a command, the CES separated from the crew module, leaving the module to reorient itself before dropping over the Bay of Bengal. Its descent was slowed first by drogue parachutes and then by the main parachutes. Finally, the module splashed into the Bay a short distance from Sriharikota, where the Indian Navy hauled it out..

Body

Aims & Objectives of the Mission:

• Enhancement of science and technology levels in the country
• A national project involving several institutes, academia and industry
• Improvement of industrial growth
• Inspiring youth
• Development of technology for social benefits
• Improving international collaboration

Relevance of a Manned Space Mission for India:

• Boost to industries: The Indian industry will find large opportunities through participation in the highly demanding Space missions. Gaganyaan Mission is expected will source nearly 60% of its equipment from the Indian private sector.
• Employment: According to the ISRO chief, the Gaganyaan mission would create 15,000 new employment opportunities, 13,000 of them in private industry and the space organisation would need an additional manpower of 900.
• Technological development: Human Space flights are frontier field in the science and technology. The challenges the Human Space Flights provide to India, and the benefits accruing from taking up those missions will be very high and will lead to further thrust for technological developments in India
• Spurs research and development: It will boost good research and technology development. With a large number of researchers with proper equipment involved, HSF will thrust significant research in areas such as materials processing, astro-biology, resources mining, planetary chemistry, planetary orbital calculus and many other areas
• Motivation: Human space flight will provide that inspiration to the youth and also the national public mainstream. It would inspire young generation into notable achievements and enable them to play their legitimate role in challenging future activities
• Prestige: India will be the fourth country to launch human space mission. The Gaganyaan will not only bring about prestige to the nation but also establish India’s role as a key player in the space industry

Challenges:

• For a manned mission, the key distinguishing capabilities that ISRO has had to develop include the ability
  • to bring the spacecraft back to Earth after flight
  • to build a spacecraft in which astronauts can live in Earth-like conditions in space
• India is yet to perfect fool-proof launch vehicle technology, the basic requirement for a manned space mission.
• The Polar Satellite launch vehicle and the Geosynchronous Launch vehicle, the two Indian spacecraft deployed to launch satellites and modules into space, are yet to be man-rated.
• India does not even have the facilities to train astronauts.
• ISRO has not been able to put in place India’s own Global Positioning System in spite of completing the NavIC due to dysfunctional atomic clocks in the satellites, rendering the fleet a dud.
• The launchpad at the Sriharikota spaceport, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, will have to be enhanced for the human mission.
• While the launch vehicle, crew module, re-entry technology, crew escape system are in place, monitoring and tracking systems, Environmental Control & Life Support System (ELCSS), space suit and crew support systems are still in the developmental phase.

Way forward

• It is important to ensure engagements at political level to obtain long term commitment for India’s human space flight missions
• Financial implications of a long-term human space-flight programme development should be assessed and the returns and benefits should be clearly articulated
• It is important to overcome the technological challenges to ensure a safe, successful manned space mission. International collaboration in this domain can help India ensure a robust technology for its HSF programme.
• Selection of Indians for astronauts will be an important step. Procedures and specifications for astronauts and a rigorous selection process is suggested.

General Studies – 4

Topic: Case Study

7. Rani was a bright and ambitious young woman living in a small town in India. She was determined to make something of herself, despite the limited opportunities available to her. Rani’s parents were proud of her and supported her dreams, but they were also traditional in their ways and believed in the practice of dowry.

When Rani turned 21, her parents started searching for a suitable match for her. They finally found a family who they believed would be a good fit for Rani. The family seemed well-educated, financially stable, and had a son who was close in age to Rani. However, the boy’s family demanded a hefty dowry in exchange for their son’s hand in marriage.

Rani’s parents were initially hesitant to agree to the demand, but they felt pressured to comply as they did not want to risk losing the opportunity of a good match for their daughter. They started gathering funds and assets to give as dowry, even though it was a financial burden for them.

As the wedding date approached, Rani started feeling uneasy about the situation. She didn’t want to start her married life with the burden of a dowry hanging over her head. She talked to her parents about her concerns, but they dismissed her worries, saying that it was a customary practice and that they had done it for their own daughters’ weddings.

On the day of the wedding, Rani was dressed in her bridal finery, but her heart was heavy with the weight of the dowry. During the ceremony, the groom’s family demanded more money, citing reasons such as the expensive jewellery Rani was wearing and the cost of the wedding arrangements. Rani’s parents had already spent a considerable amount of money on the wedding, and they refused to give any more.

The groom’s family became aggressive and started threatening to cancel the wedding if their demands were not met. Rani was terrified, and she started to cry. She knew that if the wedding was called off, her reputation would be ruined, and she would be shamed in front of the entire community.

Despite having left with no choice, Rani’s family lodge are still hesitant to file a complaint. But one relative secret informs the S.P of the region.

1. 1. 1. Identify the ethical issues in the above case.
      2. If you were the S.P, what action will you take? Will you persuade them to stop demanding dowry and go ahead with the wedding or book them for demanding/taking dowry?
      3. As a well-wisher and a family friend of Rani’s family, what will be your advice to the family on this issue?
      4. Is greed the major reason behind the demand of dowry? How can we eliminate the practise of dowry?

Introduction

A majority of dowry-related cases in India take place to adhere to the customs and traditions of the Indian society. People tend to follow what has been followed through the years and stick to such customs even if it causes discomfort to them. Many families in India give dowry to get rid of their insecurity of ill-treatment of their daughters by their in-laws. There is a perception that giving dowry will ensure their daughter’s security after marriage and non-discrimination.

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Ethical issues

• Dowry is against the law of the land
• It perpetuates patriarchy
• It indirectly keeps the society see women as a burden
• It makes woman a property of the man
• It is against women empowerment
• It is violative of rights of the woman and dehumanising.

Action taken as SP

• As a police officer it is a matter of concern and violation of law. It would be my duty to arrest those demanding for dowry. But thinking from well-wisher point of view, i should also think of the well-being of Rani and her family.
• But eventually it is clear that the family that is demanding more dowry and is threating the girl’s family that they ll stop wedding should never be trusted with future of their daughter Rani.
• The boy’s family as is clear will not keep Rani safe or secure and even if i by mistake persuaded the family to do the wedding in future there is no guarantee that Rani will be safe.
• So my advice to the family will be to call off the wedding and i will help in getting them back the money they invested in the wedding. Even if it means that it may cause damage to their societal standing. Because ultimately Rani would not be happy with the family where they demand dowry and create ruckus. Clearly uncultured people like that should not be trusted.
• I would convince them to find an alternate match who would no demand dowry and would want an equal partner in marriage.
• To begin with Rani herself was uneasy about this alliance and should never go ahead with it.

Reason for dowry

• Customs and traditions– A majority of dowry-related cases in India take place to adhere to the customs and traditions of the Indian society. People tend to follow what has been followed through the years and stick to such customs even if it causes discomfort to them.
• Social structure– The Indian society is mainly patriarchal and the dowry system is largely the manifestation of the patriarchal nature of the Indian society where women are being considered as a burden on the family and giving dowry is one kind of compensation for transferring its burden whereas male offsprings are considered to be superior and breadwinners thus making families demand dowry for them.
• Fear of ill-treatment– Many families in India give dowry to get rid of their insecurity of ill-treatment of their daughters by their in-laws. There is a perception that giving dowry will ensure their daughter’s security after marriage and non-discrimination.
• Societal pressure– Many a time, it becomes a matter of status to give dowry. In Indian society, it has become a common phenomenon to measure one’s status by the amount of money one spends on their daughter’s marriage. Similarly, the more educated and well-to-do family, the groom belongs to, the amount of dowry is that high. The pressure thus increases on both fronts, on the bride’s side to pay more, on the groom’s side to demand more.
• Social constraints– Compulsion to marry within one’s caste or clan further intensifies the problem. These limitations deplete the pool of desirable grooms leading to a lack of desirable options thus helping the desirable side to demand more.
• Illiteracy – Lack of education and awareness among people persuades them to give and demand dowry. If families were aware that women have equal status as men and they are not to be treated as a burden, then this system might have not perpetuated.

Eliminating the practice of dowry

• Proper implementation of anti-dowry laws may help. In addition, misuse of such laws must be checked.
• Women should be encouraged to become self-dependent and efforts should be made to make education accessible to every girl child.
• Efforts to spread awareness should be made against dowry and dowry-related violence and women should be made aware of their rights. Awareness campaigns should be organised at school and local levels.
• People should be encouraged not to practice such traditions which harm women rather treat women at par with their male counterparts and help them live a dignified life.
• Social practices like marriage within one’s caste or clan should be abolished so that there is the availability of a wide range of choices and women are not forced to enter into marriage with a person with dowry demands.

Conclusion

As we see, the problem of dowry is multi-faceted with several dimensions to be dealt with. The causes of dowry and its effects have grim implications for society. With women playing a major role in society, the onus lies with them as well to fight this social evil and help other women stand against it. Women education and their empowerment with change in the social mindset is the way forward.

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