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: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
President Droupadi Murmu’s suggestion that the creation of an All-India Judicial Service (AIJS) will help diversify the judiciary by allowing bright youngsters from varied backgrounds to become judges through a merit-based process revives the debate on whether a national system of recruitment at the district judge level is desirable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the feasibility of All India Judicial Service as a reform in recruitment and appointment to the subordinate judicial services in India.
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 the giving context of All India Judicial services in brief.
Body:
First, present brief history of the origin of the idea; 14th Report of the Law Commission of India in 1958, aimed at creating a centralized cadre of District Judges. In the All-India Judges case in 1992 the apex court had opined that the recommendations of the Law Commission on the setting up of AIJS should be examined and implemented etc.
Next, write about advantages and disadvantages of creating AIJS.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a balanced opinion.
Introduction
The vision document titled ‘Strategy for New India @ 75’, released by the NITI Aayog, amongst other things, also proposed a spate of judicial reforms. The think-tank has come out batting for the creation of an All India Judicial Service(AIJS), akin to the other central services like the IAS and the IPS.
President Droupadi Murmu’s suggestion that the creation of an All-India Judicial Service (AIJS) will help diversify the judiciary by allowing bright youngsters from varied backgrounds to become judges through a merit-based process revives the debate on whether a national system of recruitment at the district judge level is desirable.
Body:
Status of AIJS:
- The idea was first mooted by the Law Commission in the 1950s to have an AIJS. Under this the district judges will be recruited centrally through an all-India examination. They will then be allocated to each State along the lines of the AIS.
- The proposal for an All-India Judicial Service was first suggested in the Chief Justices’ Conference in 1961 as a way to remove any scope for judicial or executive intervention in the appointments to the judiciary in the High Courts and the Supreme Court in India. The idea had to be shelved after some states and High Courts opposed it.
- The Constitution was amended in 1976 (42nd Amendment) to provide for an AIJS under Article 312. Article 312 was amended to confer power on the Rajya Sabha to initiate the process for setting up an AIJS, by passing a resolution supported by two-thirds majority in the upper house.
- The proposal was again floated by the ruling UPA government in 2012 but the draft bill was shelved again after opposition from High Court Chief Justices who labelled this an infringement of their rights.
- Currently, on similar lines subordinate and district judges are recruited by High Courts on the basis of a common examination.
Other recommendations:
The 14th Report on Reform of Judicial Administration — alluded to the need for creating a separate all-India service for judicial officers. This report favoured an AIJS to ensure that subordinate court judges are paid salaries and given perks at parity with government bureaucrats, thereby incentivising the option of the state judiciary as a viable career prospect.
Need for AIJS:
- The AIJS is an attempt to ensure that younger judges are promoted to the SC and HCs. In the existing system, recruits join as magistrates in the subordinate judiciary and take at least 10 years to become district judges.
- This is expected to ensure a transparent and efficient method of recruitment to attract the best talent in India’s legal profession.
- Currently India’s legal infrastructure is facing various issues, particularly the lower judiciary. At present India has just 13 judicial posts per million people, though the Law Commission had recommended 50 judges per million of the population, based on the ratio prevalent in the US previously.
- Judiciary is suffering from massive vacancies across the nation and the scarcity is worsened in some states due to judicial absenteeism. Hence there is need of urgent mechanism to appoint new judges.
- As a consequence, the pendency is high with the number of cases about 2.8 crores.
- Similarly, judiciary suffering from various infrastructures related issues, like newly appointed judges does not have required court rooms; hence there is need of huge investment.
Issues with AIJS:
Solving Vacancy issues:
- The AIJS is being proposed as a panacea to cure the chronic vacancy crisis plaguing the Indian subordinate judiciary.
- An all India service potentially offers is a more streamlined and regularised recruitment process for the limited number of vacancies for district judges in the country.
Violates Basic Structure Doctrine:
- Niti Aayog’s document rather ambitiously proposed an AIJS to cover entry level civil judges, prosecutors and legal advisers to comprise the service (subordinate judges).
- A sweeping mandate would require considerable amendments to the Constitution, especially with respect to the appointments process for the lower subordinate judiciary (that is, all ranks below that of a district judge).
- Presently, the appointments to the subordinate judiciary are made under Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution under State High Court Purview.
- These amendments, establishing a centralised appointments mechanism, may arguably be constitutionally untenable and vulnerable to being struck down as flagrant violations of the basic structure doctrine and judicial federalism.
Oversimplification:
- The idea of an AIJS has been significantly contentious within the legal fraternity and other concerned stakeholders.
- The proposal for AIJS was floated by the ruling UPA government in 2012 but the draft bill was shelved again after opposition from High Court Chief Justices who labelled this an infringement of their rights.
- Taking into account local laws, practices and customs which vary widely across States and even training judges in this line would be a problem.
- The need to ensure reservation for locally domiciled citizens, the central selection mechanisms will throw up grave concerns impugning their utility and legality as judicial reforms.
Way Forward:
- It is through an all India judicial services examination conducted by the UPSC in order to maintain “high standards” in the judiciary.
- In addition to proposing an AIJS as a solution for judicial vacancies, it may be more prudent to investigate the reasons and causes for the large number of vacancies in the poorly performing States.
- AIJS is facing hurdles from the administrative block and also from High Courts, even though Supreme Court has asked for AIJS twice.
- Therefore, AIJS should be designed in a manner to remove its shortcomings and it can be an effective solution to the vacancy in Judiciary.
- Adequate judges can be made available only if they are recruited in large strength through AIJS just like we see in case of IAS, IPS, IFS and other civil services. Hence there should be no more delay.
- Moreover, after the selection, a Judicial service officer can be provided sufficient training to handle the job. A meritocratic judiciary is the need of the hour which is possible with a competitive recruitment process.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Difficulty: Tough
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
India must avoid the ‘patent paradox’ suffered by China—where policy has spawned a patent-filing frenzy of very little value.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the issues with the granting of patents and the need for a balanced approach regarding it.
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:
Give a brief introduction of what is Patent.
Body:
Give its significance to India. Mention section 146(2), Patents Act, 1970 a unique provision not found in patent laws of most other countries. Talk about its needs for India as a developing country and mention the example of a Compulsory license for the production of Bayer Corporation’s Nexavar. You may mention, the amendment to the Patent Rules, 2020 and form 27 which has caused dilution of section 146(2).
Next, list down a few issues- at the national as well as at the International level with respect to patents. Write about the need to strike a balance between grant of patents and upholding public interest.
Next, suggest solutions for it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
A patent is a form of preservation of intellectual property. It is an exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem.To get a patent, technical information about the invention must be disclosed to the public in a patent application.
India must avoid the ‘patent paradox’ suffered by China—where policy has spawned a patent-filing frenzy of very little value..
Body
Background
- It pertains to FL 2027, a potato variety with high dry matter and low sugar content better suited for making chips. Normal table potatoes have more moisture, which adds to dehydration and energy costs during processing, and higher sugar, which causes blackening on frying.
- FL 2027 was developed in 1996 by Robert W Hoopes, a US breeder employed with Frito-Lay Agricultural Research, a division of PepsiCo Inc.
- The latter has been manufacturing potato chips sold under its Lay’s brand using this processing-grade variety, which is grown by some 14,000 farmers in India via contract cultivation and buy-back at pre-fixed rates.
Significance of patents and its importance
- Prosperity Rights: Intellectual Property Rights actually translates into India’s progress in real-time and extends Intellectual Property Right to India’s Prosperity Right.
- Innovation Powerhouse: Like geographical boundaries guard our country’s interests, Intellectual Property is the guardian of our country’s prospects. Powered by Intellectual Property, India can be the “Innovation Powerhouse“ of the world.
- Create Livelihoods: Intellectual property is the cornerstone of a nation’s progress & showcases the ingenuity of our youth. The IP has the power and potential to change lives and create livelihoods for billions.
- Help in Progress: More proficient IP regimes contribute to making India an innovation hub. It is the key for success of Start-up India, Make in India & Design in India.
- Accordingly, section 146(2), a unique provision not found in patent laws of most other countries, requires every patentee and licensee to submit to the Patent Office an annual statement (Form 27 format) explaining the extent to which they have worked the invention in India.
- This statement is meant to help the Patent Office, potential competitors, etc. to determine whether the patentee has worked the invention in India and made it sufficiently available to the public at reasonable prices.
- Compulsory Licencing (CL): CL is the grant of permission by the government to entities to use, manufacture, import or sell a patented invention without the patent-owner’s consent. Patents Act in India deals with CL.
- CL is permitted under the WTO’s TRIPS (IPR) Agreement provided conditions such as ‘national emergencies, other circumstances of extreme urgency and anti-competitive practices’ are fulfilled.
- Compete Globally: A strong IPR regime will empower the expansion & energise the industry in challenging times. It is one of the most valuable assets in India’s ability to compete in the global economy.
- Transparency: These initiatives are bringing transparency & ease of access for IPR seekers.
Challenges in the patenting system in India
- Major problems: Among the issues raised are concerns about what can be patented, waiting times for obtaining patents, reporting requirements, and data safety.
- Patent issues highlighted the threat of patent revocations, lack of presumption of patent validity and narrow patentability criteria as issues which “impact companies across different sectors.
- One of the main points of contention between India and the U.S. has been Article 3(d) of the Indian Patent Act.
- Section 3 deals with what does not qualify as an invention under the Act.
- Section 3(d) in particular excludes the mere discovery of a new form of a known substance which does not result in the enhancement of the known efficacy of that substance.
- Section 3(d) prevents what is known as “evergreening” of patents.
- Issues relating to judicial delays: The 2015 Commercial Courts Act offered an opportunity to reduce these delays and increase expertise but only a limited number of courts have benefited under the Act.
- Jurisdictional challenges are reducing the courts’ effectiveness and courts are also suffering due to inadequate resources and training.
- The abolishing of the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB): the overall scrapping of IPAB, which efficiently had been dealing with proceedings involving complex IPR issues, may create a void in the appellate resolution of cases leading to their shift to Commercial or High Courts thereby increasing pendency of cases.
Conclusion
As the patent system is a critical aspect of the national innovation ecosystem, investing in the patent ecosystem will help in strengthening the innovation capability of India. The right interventions should be made for the promotion of the quality of patent applications and collaboration between academia and industry.
Value addition
Patent amendment rules 2021
- Patent Fees for Educational Institutions Reduced: Educational institutions engage in many research activities, where professors and teachers and students generate several new technologies which need to be patented for facilitating commercialization of the same.
- At the time of applying for patents, the innovators have to apply these patents in the name of the institutions which have to pay fees for large applicants, which are very high and thus work as a disincentive.
- In this regard and to encourage greater participation of the educational institutions, official fees payable by them in respect of various acts under the Patents Rules, 2003, have been reduced by way of the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021.
- Benefits related to 80% reduced fee for patent filing & prosecution have been extended to all educational institutions.
- This benefit was earlier available to all recognised educational institutions owned by the government.
- Extension of Expedited Examination System: The fastest granted patent is the one which was granted in 41 days after filing of such request. This facility of Expedited Examination system was initially provided for patent applications filed by Startups.
- It has been now extended to 8 more categories of Patent Applicants:
- SME (Small and Medium Enterprises), Female applicants, Government Departments, Institutions established by a Central, Provincial or State Act, Government Company, an Institution wholly or substantially financed by the Government and applicants under Patents Prosecution Highway.
- The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) is a set of initiatives for providing accelerated patent prosecution procedures by sharing information between some patent offices
General Studies – 3
Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Optical fibres are made of thin cylindrical strands of glass. The diameter of a typical fibre is close to the diameter of a human hair.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the advantages of optical fibre technology over conventional technologies used for communication.
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 about growth of optical communications.
Body:
Write about the advantages of optical fibre technology over conventional technologies on the basis of – data transmission, speed, bandwidth, attenuation losses, cost, infrastructure, compatibility etc.
Next, write about the applications of optical fibres.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
An optical fibre is a flexible and transparent fibre made by drawing glass (silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly thicker than that of human hair. Optical fibre is the technology associated with data transmission using light pulses travelling along with a long fibre which is usually made of plastic or glass.
Optical fiber works on the principle of total internal reflection. When light travelling in an optically dense medium hits a boundary at a steep angle (larger than the critical angle for the boundary), the light is completely reflected. This is called total internal reflection.
Body
Design Of An Optical Fibre
Optical fiber is made of a thin glass core (diameter 10 to 100µm) surrounded by a glass coating called cladding, protected by a jacket of plastic.
A Fibre Optic Relay System consists of the following components:
- The Transmitter – It produces the light signals and encodes them to fit to transmit.
- The Optical Fibre – The medium for transmitting the light pulse (signal).
- The Optical Receiver – It receives the transmitted light pulse (signal) and decodes them to be fit to use.
- The Optical Regenerator – Necessary for long-distance data transmission.
advantages of optical fibre technology over conventional technologies
- Digital signals: Optical fibers are ideally suited for carrying digital information, which is especially useful in computer networks.
- Higher carrying capacity: Because optical fibers are thinner than copper wires, more fibers can be bundled into a given-diameter cable than copper wires. This allows more phone lines to go over the same cable or more channels to come through the cable into your business or home.
- Less signal degradation: The loss of signal in optical fiber is less than in copper wire.
- Less expensive: Several miles of optical cable can be made cheaper than equivalent lengths of copper wire. This saves your provider and you money.
- Thinner: Optical fibers can be drawn to smaller diameters than copper wire. Light signals: Unlike electrical signals in copper wires, light signals from one fiber do not interfere with those of other fibers in the same cable. This means clearer phone conversations or TV reception.
- Low power: Because signals in optical fibers degrade less, lower-power transmitters can be used instead of the high-voltage electrical transmitters needed for copper wires. Again, this saves your provider and you money.
- Non-flammable: Because no electricity is passed through optical fibers, there is no fire hazard.
- Lightweight: An optical cable weighs less than a comparable copper wire cable. Fiber-optic cables take up less space in the ground.
- Flexible: Because fiber optics are so flexible and can transmit and receive light, they are used in many flexible digital cameras for medical imaging in bronchoscopes, endoscopes, laparoscopes; for mechanical imaging used in inspecting mechanical welds in pipes and engines (in airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, cars); and in Plumbing, to inspect sewer lines.
Applications
Telephone
Telephone calls are made between different two locations that are near or far away from each other. Implementation of such communication between two different places is a difficult task. Therefore optical fibers are used that make this connection and communication between two far places easy and clear.
Medical Applications
The structure of the optical fibers is very flexible and is of small size. Therefore optical fiber is used in medical applications to view the internal body parts. During the surgery of internal body parts, there is a need to transmit light, therefore, optical fiber is required.
CCTV cameras
Installation of CCTV cameras requires a high initial investment. So CCTV cameras and the applications that make use of them need to work properly for a long period of time. CCTV cameras are therefore installed using fibres optic cables for long use.
Computer Networking
In a network multiple systems are connected together. These systems are connected with the help of fibre optic cables. Fibre optic cables can connect the devices together that belongs to same network or another network. In these connected networks fibre optic cables can transmit the data fastly and efficiently as compared to other copper wires.
Internet
Internet is widely used for every application today. Fibre optic cables are majorly used in internet. Fibre optic cables are used in internet as they can transmit large amount of data and over long distances. Using fibre optic cables provides with advantages such as high transmission, flexibility, low weight etc. Therefore in internet fibre optic cables ae used.
Defence and Space related Applications
The most basic necessity in defence and space related applications is security.Fibre optic cables thus provides with more security of data. In space applications there are various tasks such as communication between satellites, high data transmission etc. This tasks can be performed with grater efficiency by fibre optic cables.
Automobile Industries
Today the automotive industries are expanding very rapidly.For lighting the interior and exterior parts and for providing the security fibre optics is widely used in vehicles. This fibre optic cables can helpt to transmit the light from one part to another and provides with faster communication between them.
Television Cables
The use of fiber optic cables for television is being widely increasing. Fibre optic cables have high speed and high bandwidth therefore they are used for the transmission of high-definition television. As compared with other copper wires fiber optic cables are cheaper but provide more features and benefits.
Mechanical Inspections
On-site inspection engineers use optical fibres to detect damages and faults which are at hard-to-reach places. Even plumbers use optical fibres for the inspection of pipes.
Conclusion
With a goal to securing communication and promoting quantum science, the Government of India announced a national mission in the Union Budget of 2020. The proposed budget for this ‘National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications’ is Rs 8,000 crore over a period of five years. The possibilities of fibre optic networks are growing at an accelerated rate, reaching all the way into our homes. Along with quantum optics, fibre optic communication stands on the cusp of a new era.
Topic: Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money laundering and its prevention.
Difficulty level: Easy
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 threats from the social media and steps needed to prevent them.
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.
Body:
In the first part, write about the challenges to internal security from social media – spread misinformation, fake news, and propaganda, leading to communal violence, unrest, radicalization and recruitment of terrorists, and cybercrimes.
Next, write about the measures that are needed to tackle it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
While the advantages of social media are so many, the threats to internal security in various forms like Cyber Terrorism, Fraud, crime, spreading violence, etc. are alarmingly become frequent now. Various external state and non-state actors are using various social media platforms to spread propaganda globally, including in India.
Body
Threats posed by Social media to the internal security
As internet has increased its reach and has become very accessible, it is a tool effectively used by state and non-state actors to spread ‘Internet-enabled’ terrorism, spread hate and tensions and disrupt the overall stability through their agenda:
- Radicalisation of youth: Propaganda information to recruit for terror groups like AQIS, LeT on telegram have been intercepted by NIA.
- Use of Internet by Daesh: Daesh has been using Internet to spread its propaganda using platforms such as twitter, YouTube etc.
- Constant involvement and interaction: By ‘cyber-planners’, who will be responsible for planning terror attacks, identifying recruits, act as “virtual coachers”, and provide guidance and encouragement throughout the process.
- In Recruitment from other countries: India has also suffered from it however less severely. Increasing number of cases of youth being influenced by social media to carry out propaganda of hate and violence has been reported in many areas.
- Rise of sentiments over sensitive issues: By spreading false propaganda and fraudulent ideologies over sensitive and triggering issues of India using morphed videos, or false claims of proof of injustice etc.
Challenges
- Vulnerability of users: Several users get blackmailed, or taken advantage of using their vulnerability and misguided knowledge.
- Server location and laws of different countries: Lack of geographical boundaries makes social media regulation an arduous task. Major complicating factors to secure the networks and media are a huge concern.
- Encrypted message and anonymity: Use of phones/WhatsApp to send and receive messages, concerns the government because the communications sent via such devices and applications are encrypted and cannot be monitored and consequently hinders the country’s efforts to fight terrorism and crime.
Way forward
- Review of the IT Act to make it stronger and setting up a crack team to respond to unusual incidents on a war footing.
- Strengthening the existing infrastructure: e-Surveillance Projects: National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), CERT-In, Central Monitoring System (CMS), Internet Spy System Network and Traffic Analysis System (NETRA) of India, National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIPC) of India etc.
- Strengthening of social networking sites.
- Responsible social media by citizens themselves can avoid a major risk threat.
- Awareness programmes regarding the safe usage of Internet and social media among the people.
- Training and employing ethical hackers to check vulnerabilities present in the cyberspace and respond quickly when there is a cyber-attack.
Topic: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
Difficulty level: Easy
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 importance of CDS to the nation’s security and reforms needed in the post of CDS.
Directive word:
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidence. You must appraise the worth of the statement in question. There is scope for forming an opinion here.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by mentioning the rationale behind creation of the post of CDS.
Body:
In the first part, mention his role – he will be the single-point military adviser to the government as suggested by the Kargil Review Committee in 1999.
Next, Mention the roles and responsibilities of CDS – oversees and coordinates the working of the three Services, ensure the Army, Navy and IAF, which often pull in different directions, truly integrate to slash wasteful expenditure amidst the ongoing severe fund crunch for military modernization.
Next, write about the various limitations associated with CDS in its shorts existence and steps needed to overcome them.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The Chief of Defence staff (CDS) is a four-star General/Officer who acts as the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister on all tri-services (Army, Navy and Indian Air Force) matters. The Government is reassessing the concept of post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as well as the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and is looking to streamline the setup.
Body
Rationale behind creation of CDS
- Increasing demands
- With the increasing complexity of security challenges in the modern warfare arena, there was a need for an integrated approach towards defence strategy.
- There are communication issues, budgetary overruns by individual commands, inter-alia which demanded joint working of Army, Navy and Air Force.
- Jointness:
- CDS will ensure and promote thejointness (functioning together of the three services independently) through joint planning of command operations, logistics, transport, training, communications, repairs and maintenance of the three services within three years of operation.
- This will ensure close cooperation and collaborationamongst the defence forces.
- Integration:
- There is a need for inducing integration (putting together the three Services at different levels and placing them under one commander) in different services.
- However, there is a difference between integration and jointnessof command.
- Lack of Resources:
- CDS as‘first among equals’ will act as a single point advisor and could be held accountable for his actions and decisions taken.
- Restructured military commands for optimal utilization of resources will avoid unnecessary duplication and wasteful expenditure.
- Expertise:
- Being into the services for so long, the expertise and knowledge of CDS to deal with the adverse situations could be appropriately utilized in order to achieve the desired aims, creating an architecture for joint commands.
Responsibility of CDS:
- CDS will administer the tri-services organisations/agencies related to Cyber and Space.
- CDS will look into monitoring of contracts, promoting the use of indigenous equipment, leveraging of current systems and transforming them, and prioritising the procurement of defence equipment in a better way.
- He will also assign inter-services prioritisation to capital acquisition proposals based on the anticipated budget.
- CDS will bring reforms to augment the combat capabilities of the forces and is expected to evaluate plans for ‘out of area contingencies’ for countries in India’s neighbourhood.
Challenges:
- Mandate for defence of the nation is still with the Department of Defence but the procurement process except capital acquisitions lies with CDS.
- This gives birth to dichotomy as on one hand CDS is expected to prioritise the expenditure between the three services but the wherewithal still lies with the Defence Secretary.
- Hence, the budgetary power still lies with the bureaucrats which demands timely intervention by the government.
- CDS has the mandate of force planning(planning associated with the creation and maintenance of military capabilities).
- Changing role of warfare- being more technology-oriented over rationalisation/rightsizing of manpower needs to be addressed properly.
- India faces frequent conflicts on its land frontiers. Balancing this realisation that both maritime and air power are going to play an increasingly important rolein India’s rise as a leading power will be among the initial strategic challenges that would be faced by the CDS.
- The government is yet to take a call on who the new CDS will be, despite the post lying vacant for nearly five months.
Conclusion and way forward
- The appointment of a CDS, can lead to the development of theatre commands in the future.
- Theaterisation has its advantages but the debate among the services on the need for such a move is far from over.
- The success of the CDS will depend on the kind of powers the person appointed to the post enjoys. For the CDS to be effective, he would need to have control on the decision-making apparatus.
- If the Ministry of Defence has the power to overrule the CDS, especially in the case of procurement of equipment for the three services, the move may yield low dividends.
- The positives that this move may have can’t be ascertained until the government reveals the nuts and bolts of its plan.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
6. What does this quote means to you? (150 words)
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” – Thomas Jefferson
Difficulty level: Moderate
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by explaining the literal meaning of the quote.
Body:
Write about being honest with oneself and how its importance in developing character. Elaborate upon how being honest with oneself results so many benefits for individual morality. Substantiate with examples.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of the honesty in the present day.
Introduction
Honesty is a component of moral character that connotes positive and virtuous attributes, such as integrity, truthfulness, and openness including clarity of conduct, along with the absence of lying, cheating etc. Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge and good judgment and it is the capacity to understand Emptiness.
Body
Honesty also involves being reliable, trustworthy, loyal, fair, and sincere. While wisdom is the ability to both think and act using experiences, skills, and judgment. To be wise, one must intentionally act with prudence and common sense. Wisdom has a connotation of judiciousness, pause, and discipline.
Wisdom, the discipline to synthesize knowledge and experience to do what is required, begins with honesty. Being true to oneself is the key to wisdom: One must first be true and honest with oneself. One must be principled in one’s dealings with others as one can’t be wise without also being truthful and honorable.
Dishonesty is synonymous to deception: Honesty is the foundation of wisdom. If a person is proven dishonest, how could you believe him or her even if he or she has managed to become wise. Even people indulging in ‘inconsequential lies’ without any intent to deceive anyone are portraying their lack of wisdom. These acts of dishonesty, even if done to become more socially acceptable, without being rude or offensive, put a blanket over one’s wisdom in another’s eyes.
Wisdom breeds trust only with honesty. For instance, for a civil servant, there cannot be a more immoral act than being dishonest. Being dishonest can make people think that the person holding the public office is not trustworthy and aspersions are cast over his character as well. Once a public servant loses trust of the public, all is lost. His/her wisdom has no meaning. But being honest can assure others that the person can be trusted.
Conclusion
Thus, being honest often requires courage and sacrifice, especially when others try to persuade to justify dishonest behavior. When you are honest, you build strength of character that will allow you to be of great service to others. At a personal level, an honest person will be blessed with peace of mind and self-respect. Thus, honesty is necessary for both learning and teaching and practicing wisdom.
Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
7. What does this quote means to you? (150 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by explaining the literal meaning of the quote.
Body:
Write about bhakti in religion in the context of liberal and progressive bhakti movement in India.
Next, write about hero-worship in politics. Mention the consequences of such worship. Cite examples across the world.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of the quote in the present day.
Introduction
John Rawls (1921-2002) was a contemporary philosopher who studied theories surrounding justice. He gave a theory of Justice as Fairness, giving a deontological theory on Justice. He was in influenced by Immanuel Kant who believed in human dignity and hence he gives utmost priority to liberty.
Body
From the very beginning both man and the state have been making efforts for the security of their freedom. Freedom is a very precious condition without which neither the state nor the individuals can make any progress. We remember very well how cruelly the absolute monarchs ignored the claims of liberty in England in ancient and medieval ages. Today liberty is severely curtailed in nations like North Korea, Afghanistan with Taliban takeover especially for women, in Saudi Arabia etc.
When people feel that they can freely express their frustrations and feel that they petition the government regarding their grievances, they don’t feel ‘pushed’ to take matters into their own hands. Instead of taking up arms, heading for the hills, and waging guerrilla war against the central government, disaffected people can take to the airwaves. They can take out ads, and they can participate in the political discourse. When governments give a proper forum for dissenting voices, the society as a whole is more stable because people and dissenting groups don’t feel so disaffected, marginalized, or suppressed that their only option in bringing about change is through violent revolution or regime change brought about by military means.
Societies that focus on individual liberties, free societies, often produce economic freedom. This leads to better economies. When there are more choices in a market, there is a tendency for lower prices at higher quality levels for products and services. When individual liberties against government control, monopolization, and standardization are protected, individuals are encouraged to experiment and offer different products and services which can benefit society as a whole since there are more choices available. The more choices people have, the better for the economy. By protecting individual businesses from arbitrary government action, the economy benefits since there are more solutions and more economic diversity.
Conclusion
From increasing economic choices which can lift countries out of poverty to increasing opportunities for cultural expression and artistic excellence, political liberties lay important seeds that lift societies on many levels. The biggest benefit of liberty, however, is truly personal. With the right political, cultural, economic, and social framework rooted in liberty, societies can lay the groundwork for people truly exploring and pursuing the highest levels of personal, spiritual, and philosophical transcendence.
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