[Mission 2024] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 15 December 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. Addressing gender-based violence and challenging entrenched patriarchal norms in India indeed requires an efficient state intervention. Examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Live Mint , Insights on India

Why the question:

United Nations data over the past decade has maintained that as many as one in three women globally have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Indian women too reel from exposure to risks of gender-based violence (GBV), exacerbated by an entrenched patriarchy and limited state capacity to intervene.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the reasons for unabated gender-based violence and steps that are needed to tackle this chronic problem.

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 and mention the NCRB data on increasing cases of gender-based violence.

Body:

In the first part, mention the reasons for this chronic issue. Legal loopholes, social conditioning, culture of violence, Caste dynamics etc.

Write the steps that are the need of the hour and role of state intervention – Effective implementation of Laws, investigating agency and prosecution more proficient, awareness, gender sensitisation etc..

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

Gender- based violence against women is among the most egregious and commonly experienced abuses of women’s rights. Intimate partner violence, female genital mutilation, early and forced marriage and violence as a weapon of war, sexual and gender-based violence, are a major public health concern across the world, a barrier to women’s empowerment and gender equality, and a constraint on individual and societal development, with high economic costs.

United Nations data over the past decade has maintained that as many as one in three women globally have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Indian women too reel from exposure to risks of gender-based violence (GBV), exacerbated by an entrenched patriarchy and limited state capacity to intervene.

Body

Gender based violence against Women: Statistics

In 2019, 400,000 cases of crimes against women were reported, up from about 378,000 in 2018. These account for only 10% of the crimes against women. The conviction rate for rape cases is a dismal 30%.

Reason for crimes against women in India

• Entrenched Patriarchy: India is a deeply patriarchal society. Popular culture equates masculinity with sexual aggression and encourages men and boys to bully and harass women, even rape them, to “tame” them and teach them a lesson.
• Gender and caste violence: Raping Dalit women takes thismisogyny further. A Dalit woman is raped not just to punish and humiliate the woman but also her family and community. It is aimed at underscoring the powerlessness of Dalit men and the larger Dalit community to protect “their” women.
• Justice system: It is a social fact that the criminal legal system often merely re-arranges a system of illegalities. For example, rape survivors are routinely pressurized to “compromise” illegally and turn hostile in trials, failing which they may be threatened or even killed.
• Humiliation to victim:Victims, instead of getting justice, had to face several unnecessary humiliating questions.
• Crime in home:Most crimes still happen within the confines of homes & victims are raped by people they know well like relatives/friends/etc, most of these cases don’t even make it to the statistics.
• No preventive measures:In case of any crime committed against women, the discussion always goes towards punishment for the crime only, but never towards the prevention of crime.

Rethinking policies to make safer spaces for women

• Law enforcement must swiftly bring the perpetrators to book and state governments must ascertainareas of high crime rates and double safety protocolsin those areas.
• Men and young boys must be brought into the conversation to dismantle patriarchy and power structures that destroy the lives of women.
• Plugging Gaps in Justice Delivery: The most severe gaps in the justice delivery system are reporting a police complaint. Therefore, the focus of the criminal justice system needs to shift from sentencing and punishment to the stages of reporting, investigation, and victim-support mechanisms. In this context, the following measures must be ensured:
  • The victim reports a case without any fear.
  • Police to conduct a sound investigation.
  • Victim protection throughout the trial.
  • Making testification as easy and as quick as possible.
  • Allocation of resources and more robust implementation of the law than is currently evident.
• Sensitisation At a Broader Level:Despite the ever-increasing ambit of the death sentence, there has been little effort to address prejudices in society.
  • Addressing the prejudicesin the society against sexual offences requires sensitisation of functionaries of the justice system & more importantly society.
• Victim protection: Adequate protection must be given to the victim until the case is closed to ensure they are not threatened.

Role of men against the issue of sexual violence against women:

• Promoting gender equality is a critical part of violence prevention.
  • The relationship between gender and violence is complex. Evidence suggests, however, that gender inequalities increase the risk of violence by men against women and inhibit the ability of those affected to seek protection. There are many forms of violence against women; this briefing focuses on violence by intimate partners, the most common form. Though further research is needed, evidence shows that school, community and media interventions can promote gender equality and prevent violence against women by challenging stereotypes that give men power over women.
• School initiatives are well placed to prevent violence against women.
  • School-based programmes can address gender norms and attitudes before they become deeply ingrained in children and youth. Such initiatives address gender norms, dating violence and sexual abuse among teenagers and young adults. Positive results have been reported for the Safe Dates programme in the United States of America and the Youth Relationship Project in Canada.
• Community interventions can empower women and engage with men.
  • Community interventions can address gender norms and attitudes through, for example, the combination of microfinance schemes for women and methods that empower men as partners against gender-based violence. The strongest evidence is for the IMAGE microfinance and gender equity initiative in South Africa and the Stepping Stones programme in Africa and Asia. Community programmes with male peer groups show promise in changing attitudes towards traditional gender norms and violent behaviour, but they require more rigorous evaluations. Well-trained facilitators and community ownership appear to boost the effectiveness of these interventions.
• Media interventions can alter gender norms and promote women’s rights.
  • Public awareness campaigns and other interventions delivered via television, radio, newspapers and other mass media can be effective for altering attitudes towards gender norms. The most successful are those that seek to understand their target audience and engage with its members to develop content. We do not yet know, however, whether they actually reduce violence.
• Programmes must engage males and females.
  • There is some evidence that microfinance schemes that empower women (without engaging with men) may actually cause friction and conflict between partners, especially in societies with rigid gender roles. Further research is needed to explore how such possible negative effects might be overcome.

Way forward: 

• Addressing the deeply entrenched patriarchal attitudes of the police, lawyer and other judicial officers that continues to contribute to low reporting and conviction rates.
• Bridging the gap between GBV laws and its correlated areas such as legal rights to property, land, inheritance, employment and income that allows a woman to walk out of an abusive relationship and specific emphasis on political and economic participation of women.
• Systematic intervention for multisectoral linkages between Health sector (medical and psychosocial support), Social Welfare sector (Shelters, counselling and economic support/skill), Legal (legal aid)
• Not just engage with “men and boys” as change agents but also acknowledge the expectations linked to masculinity, their position as victim of violence especially for young boys to address the perpetuation of cycle of GBV.
• Recognize sexual and reproductive health and rights by promotion and protection of women’s right to have control and decide freely over matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health, family-planning choices and access to comprehensive sexuality education.
• Reclaiming the spaces for women to increase their presence in visibility through political and economic participation and diversifying their engagement in non-traditional sectors.
• Use of technology and emerging concepts such as Smart City in urban policy for ensuring safer and gender friendly infrastructures and spaces that prevents GBV.

Conclusion

Crimes against women are on the rise in recent times. Safety of women is of utmost important to ensure that the society will prosper. The extent of violence against women in India is shameful, and shows little sign of abating. While, as a community, it is possible to pass laws to criminalise the violence, law alone will not ask men to respect the opposite gender. What needs to be ingrained in the society is this “stronger people don’t put others down; they lift them up”. The year 2012 brought a drastic change in the way the State and society began viewing the epidemic of sexual violence; nine years later, India still has a long way to go.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

2. Ending poverty requires a comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses the root causes of poverty, focusing not only on income but also on education, healthcare, gender equality, and sustainable development. Analyse. (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.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the challenges associated with poverty and to evaluate the performance of various measures taken to alleviate poverty.

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: 

Describe the giving statistic regarding the current status of poverty in India.

Body:

First, write about the various challenges associated with eradication of poverty in India and the progress made so far as mentioned in the above report.

Next, evaluate the pros and cons of the various poverty alleviation measures in India – Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), National Social Assistance Programme, Land Reforms, MGNREGA and various PDS initiatives etc.

Suggest measures to overcome the above the limitations of the above.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

According to World Bank, Poverty is pronounced deprivation in well-being, and comprises many dimensions. It includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic goods and services necessary for survival with dignity. Poverty also encompasses low levels of health and education, poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate physical security, lack of voice, and insufficient capacity and opportunity to better one’s life.

In India, 21.9% of the population lives below the national poverty line in 2011. In 2018, almost 8% of the world’s workers and their families lived on less than US$1.90 per person per day (international poverty line).

Body

Poverty : A massive challenge in India

• Population Explosion:India’s population has steadily increased through the years. During the past 45 years, it has risen at a rate of 2.2% per year, which means, on average, about 17 million people are added to the country’s population each year. This also increases the demand for consumption goods tremendously.
• Low Agricultural Productivity:A major reason for poverty in the low productivity in the agriculture sector. The reason for low productivity is manifold. Chiefly, it is because of fragmented and subdivided land holdings, lack of capital, illiteracy about new technologies in farming, the use of traditional methods of cultivation, wastage during storage, etc.
• Inefficient Resource utilisation:There is underemployment and disguised unemployment in the country, particularly in the farming sector. This has resulted in low agricultural output and also led to a dip in the standard of living.
• Low Rate of Economic Development:Economic development has been low in India especially in the first 40 years of independence before the LPG reforms in 1991.
• Price Rise:Price rise has been steady in the country and this has added to the burden the poor carry. Although a few people have benefited from this, the lower income groups have suffered because of it, and are not even able to satisfy their basic minimum wants.
• Unemployment:Unemployment is another factor causing poverty in India. The ever-increasing population has led to a higher number of job-seekers. However, there is not enough expansion in opportunities to match this demand for jobs.

Achievements in poverty alleviation over the years

• Decline in Extreme Poverty:Extreme poverty in India was 3% points lower in 2019 compared with 2011, as poverty headcount rate declined from 22.5% in 2011 to 10.2% in 2019, with a comparatively sharper decline in rural areas.
  • Slight moderation in consumption inequality since 2011, but by a margin smaller than what is reported in the unreleased National Sample Survey -2017.
  • The extent of poverty reduction during 2015-2019 is estimated to be notably lower than earlier projections based on growth in private final consumption expenditure reported in national account statistics.
  • The World Bank defines “extreme poverty” as living on less than USD 1.90 per person per day.
• Rural vs Urban Poverty:Poverty reduction was higher in rural areas compared with urban India as rural poverty declined from 26.3% in 2011 to 11.6% in 2019, while in urban areas the decline was from 14.2% to 6.3% in the corresponding period.
  • Rural and urban poverty dropped by 7 and 7.9% points during 2011-2019.
  • Urban poverty in India rose by 2% in 2016, coinciding with the demonetisation, and rural poverty rose by 10% in 2019.
• Small Farmers:Smallholder farmers have experienced higher income growth. Real incomes for farmers with the smallest landholdings have grown by 10% in annualized terms between the two survey rounds (2013 and 2019) compared to a 2% growth for farmers with the largest landholding.
  • The growth in incomes of smallest landholders in rural areas provides more evidence of moderation in income disparity in rural areas.
  • Smallest landholders comprise a larger share of the poor population.This income includes wages, net receipt from crop production, net receipt from farming of animal farming and net receipt from non-farm business. Income from leasing out land has been exempted.

Measures needed

• Immediate support package will need to quickly reach both the existing and new poor.
  • While existing safety net programs can be mobilized to get cash into the pockets of some of the existing poor relatively quickly, this is not the case for the new poor.
  • In fact, the new poor are likely to look different from the existing poor, particularly in their location (mostly urban) and employment (mostly informal services, construction, and manufacturing).
  • the identification of poor and vulnerable groups is need of the hour.
  • India should consider fixing a universal basic income in the post-Covid period through a combination of cash transfers, expansion of MGNREGA, and introduction of an urban employment guarantee scheme
• Employment generation for the masses:
  • A large fiscal stimulus along with intermediate informal employment insurgency through MGNREGA and other employment generation programmes are urgent to rein the adverse impact of covid-19 on the welfare of the masses.
• Multilateral global institutions must support the developing nations:
  • Oxfam is calling on world leaders to agree on an Emergency Rescue Package of 2.5 trillion USD paid for through the immediate cancellation or postponement of 1 trillion in debt repayments, a 1 trillion increase in IMF Special Drawing Rights (international financial reserves), and an additional 500 billion in aid.
• An effective response in support of poor and vulnerable households will require significant additional fiscal resources.
  • Providing all the existing and new extreme poor with a cash transfer of $1/day (about half the value of the international extreme poverty line) for a month would amount to $20 billion —or $665 million per day over 30 days.
  • Given that impacts are likely to be felt by many non-poor households as well and that many households are likely to need support for much longer than a month, the sum needed for effective protection could be far higher.
• Decision-makers need timely and policy-relevant information on impacts and the effectiveness of policy responses.
  • This can be done using existing, publicly available data to monitor the unfolding economic and social impacts of the crisis, including prices, service delivery, and economic activity, as well as social sentiment and behaviours.
  • In addition, governments can use mobile technology to safely gather information from a representative sample of households or individuals.
  • Phone surveys can collect information on health and employment status, food security, coping strategies, access to basic services and safety nets and other outcomes closely related to the risk of falling (further) into poverty.

Conclusion and way forward

• The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index-2018released by the UN noted that 271 million people moved out of poverty between 2005-06 and 2015-16 in India. The poverty rate in the country has nearly halved, falling from 55% to 28% over the ten-year period. Still a big part of the population in India is living Below the Poverty Line.
• Rapid economic growth and the use of technology for social sector programs have helped make a significant dent in extreme poverty in the country.
• Despite rapid growth and development, an unacceptably high proportion of our population continues to suffer from severe and multidimensional deprivation. Thus, a more comprehensive and inclusive approach is required to eradicate poverty in India.

Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

3. Digitisation of land records offer numerous benefits ranging from increased efficiency and transparency to economic growth and rural development. Discuss. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate.

Reference: Live Mint

Why the question:

With the government trying to nudge the private sector to invest in infrastructure projects, it is imperative that land titles are properly recorded.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the benefits of digitisation of land records.

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 giving context regarding land resource management.

Body:

Frist, write about the various steps taken towards digitisation of land records – Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN), National Generic Document Registry System (NGDRS) and transliterating the land records in any language under Schedule VIII of the Constitution etc.

Next, write about how these steps will provide substantial advantages in land use and economic benefits. Also, write about limitations of the above.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

Digitization of land records was introduced to computerize all land records including mutations, improve transparency in the land records maintenance system, digitize maps and survey, update all settlement records and minimize the scope of land disputes. This would provide clear titles of land ownership that could be monitored easily by government officials, facilitate quicker transactions, and reduce disputes. Most importantly it would reduce construction timelines and overall cost for the developer, the benefits of which can be transferred to consumer making property prices more attractive.

Body

Some of the reforms in Budget 2022-23 Speech

• Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN)
  • It is an Aadhaar-like identification for a land parcel or plot. Each land parcel or plot is assigned a unique identification number.
  • Like Aadhaar, the agencies and services can use the land database from anywhere in the country to authenticate a farmer or the beneficiary’s identity for the purpose of delivery of services.
• National Generic Document Registry System (NGDRS) — One Nation One Registration Software System
  • It is undoubtedly a major initiative for urban property registration.
  • It is a software application platform that facilitates online registration of immovable properties and documents as compared to the manual registration process used earlier.
• Transliterating the land records in any languageunder Schedule VIII of the Constitution.
  • The objective is to break the linguistic barriers in land records.
  • Presently, land records are largely in regional languages.
  • These linguistic barriers need to be overcome in order to open up the national economy.

Need for digitization of land records:

• High litigation:
  • A World Bank study from 2007 states that some estimates suggest that land-related disputes account for two-thirds of all pending court cases in the country. These land disputes include those related to the validity of land titles and records, and rightful ownership.
  • A NITI Aayog paper suggests that land disputes on average take about 20 years to be resolved. Land disputes add to the burden of the courts, tie up land in litigation, and further impact sectors and projects that are dependent on these disputed land titles.
• Agricultural credit:
  • Land is often used as collateral for obtaining loans by farmers. It has been observed that disputed or unclear land titles inhibit supply of capital and credit for agriculture.
  • Small and marginal farmers, who account for more than half of the total land holdings, and may not hold formal land titles, are unable to access institutionalised credit.
• Development of new infrastructure:
  • Land that was earlier used for farming, is now being used to set up industries, power plants, manufacturing units, build roads, housing, and shopping malls.
  • However, several of the new infrastructure projects are witnessing delays, with land related issues often being a key factor.
  • These delays occur because of non-availability of encumbrance free land (evidence that the property in question is free from any monetary and legal liability), non-updation of land records, resistance to joint measurement survey of land records, demands for higher compensation by land owners, and filing of large number of arbitration cases by land owners.
  • For example, obtaining a land ownership certificate can take around 60 days in Gujarat and up to 12 months in Chennai and Odisha.
• Urbanisation and the housing shortage:
  • More recently, land use is also changing due to urbanisation and further expansion of such urban areas.
  • While census towns are places with urban characteristics (population above 5,000, at least 75% of the population engaged in non-agricultural work, and a population density of at least 400 people per sq. km.), statutory towns are urban areas with a local authority.
  • Under new schemes for urban development (Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT), cities are trying to raise their own revenue through property taxes and land based financing. This further necessitates the importance of providing a system of clear land titles in urban areas.
• Benami transactions:
  • A Benami transaction is one where a property is held by or transferred to a person, but has been provided for or paid by another person.
  • The White Paper on Black Money (2012) had noted that black money generated in the country gets invested in Benami properties.
  • Unclear titles and non-updated land records enable carrying out property transactions in a non-transparent way.
  • The Standing Committee on Finance (2015) examining the Benami Transactions Prohibition (Amendment) Bill, 2015 noted that generation of black money through Benami transactions could be pre-empted and eliminated by digitisation of land records and their regular updation.
• Unused land:
  • A large proportion of government land lies unused. A large part of the unused land is high-value property in prime areas in major cities
  • Land hoarding by government agencies has created artificial scarcityand is one of the main drivers of skyrocketing urban real estate prices.

Challenges in digitization of land records:

• In India, we have a system of registered sale deeds and not land titles.
• The Transfer of Property Act, 1882, provides that the right to an immovable property (or land) can be transferred or sold only by a registered document.
• These documents are registered under the Registration Act, 1908. Therefore, the transaction gets registered, and not the land title.
• This implies that even bona fide property transactionsmay not always guarantee ownership, as earlier transactions could be challenged.
• Land ownership is established through multiple documents maintained by different departments, making it cumbersome to access them
• For example, sale deeds are stored in the registration department, maps are stored in the survey department, and property tax receipts are with the revenue department
• These departments work in silos and do not update the data in a timely manner, which results in discrepancies. One has to go back to several years of documentation to find any ownership claims on a piece of property, which causes delays.
• The cost of registering property is high and, hence, people avoid registering transactions
• While registering a sale deed, the buyer has to pay a stamp duty along with the registration fee.
• In India, stamp duty rates across states vary between 4% and 10%,compared to 1% and 4% in other countries. The registration fee is an additional 0.5% to 2%, on an average.
• Under the Registration Act, 1908, registration of property is not mandatory for transactions such as the acquisition of land by the government, property leased for less than one year, and heirship partitions

Conclusion

A good land records system is a necessity for any harmonious and progressive society. The book would ultimately lead to an improved land governance system, reduction in land disputes, prevention of Benami transactions and a comprehensive Integrated Land Information Management System in the country, by sharing best practices.

Value addition

Government efforts towards digitization of land records so far:

• The land digitisation efforts in India received a new boost at both the Centre and state levels after the launch of a survey of villages and mapping with improved technology in village areas under the SVAMITVA scheme last year.
• The scheme seeks to confer land titles in so far unmapped and inhabited parts of rural India and to distribute property cards in villages.
• The Digital India Land Records Modernization programme (DILRMP) was launched by Government of India in August 2008. The objective of the programme was to streamline and reduce the scope of land and property disputes, thereby improving transparency in the maintenance of land records. The main aim of the programme was to computerize all land records, digitize maps, upgrade the survey and settlement records and sustain the same.
• Karnataka was the first state in India to computerize land records under the “Bhoomi Project” followed by Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in the year 2001.
• Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha are the best performing Indian states in land record digitisation, according to an annual land records index prepared by Delhi-based think-tank National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).
• The NCAER’s Land Records and Services Index (NLRSI) 2020-21 released recently said nearly all states and union territories — 29 out of 32 — showed a gradual improvement in their efforts to digitise land records compared to the previous year.

General Studies – 3

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

4. Do you think that the economic reforms of 1991 have resulted in inclusive growth in the country? State your opinion. (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.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the impact of LPG reforms on inclusive growth in the country.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving context about the LPG reforms.

Body:

First, in detail write about the LPG and how they would play a part in the economic development of the country.

Next, write about the positive contributions of the LPG reforms on inclusive growth in the country. Cite statistic and examples to substantiate.

Next, write about the shortcomings of LPG reforms.

Conclusion:

Conclude by giving a balanced opinion on LPG reforms.

Introduction

The liberalization, privatization and globalization regime launched in 1991 completed its 30 years in 2021. The 1991 was a landmark moment in India’s post-independence history that changed the nature of the economy in fundamental ways.

A severe balance of payments problem triggered an acute economic crisis in 1991. In response, India’s economic establishment launched a multipronged reforms agenda to repair India’s macroeconomic balance sheet and ignite growth.

Body

India’s Post-1990 Economic Strategy

• It dismantled the vast network of controls and permits that dominated the economic system.
• It redefined the role of the state as a facilitator of economic transactions and as a neutral regulator rather than the primary provider of goods and services.
• It led to moving away from a regime of import substitution and to integrate fully with the global trading system.

Positive effects of LPG Reforms

• By the first decade of the 21st century, India began to be seen as one of the fastest growing emerging markets.
• India’s annual average growth rate from 1990 – 2010 has been 6.6 % which is
  almost double than pre reforms era. GDP growth rate surpassed 5% mark in early 1980’s.
• The 1991 reforms unleashed the energies of Indian entrepreneurs, gave untold choice to consumers and changed the face of the Indian economy.
• Far from poverty increasing, for the first time, there was a substantial reduction in it.
• 1991 reforms boosted services sector provided opportunities for individuals to develop their skills.

LPG reforms and inclusiveness

• During the reform period most Indian states experienced high average growth ratesin real unskilled informal wage and real unskilled agricultural wage. This explains the fall in poverty rates.
• Declining urban poverty and increasing income inequality were associated with growth in manufacturing exports and imports.
• Among manufacturing exports, during the 1990s, there was a phenomenal growth in exports of skill-intensive high-technology goods.
  • This change in the skill composition of Indian manufacturing export basket offers a plausible explanation of the rise in income inequality during the 1990s.  
• Three unskilled labour-intensivemanufacturing goods clothing, textiles, and leather still account for around 40% of manufacturing exports.
  • Expectedly, their growth had a favourable impact on urban poverty through increase in the unskilled money wage.
• Growth in aggregate output both in per capita net state domestic product (PCNSDP) and gross domestic product (GDP) is another source of lower urban poverty and higher income inequality.
• Exports found to be causing GDP growth means that the growth impact of trade may be an important factor underlying the observed changes in poverty and inequality.
  • Growth in exports of high-technology goods seems to be one major source of such trade growth nexus.

Increasing inequalities post liberalisation

• Post liberalisation, there was more focus on assuring investor confidencefor which the fiscal deficit ought to be well within limits and the climate for investment to be conducive.
• Socialist mind set thus far was to spontaneously change to pro-market.
• This saw an illustration of Karl Marx’s “Primitive Capital accumulation” wherein there was displacement of poor from their places which made them inevitablylose the opportunity to grow out of their livelihood option that they inherited.
• The job growth has seen only marginal increase of 0.2%in the period of great economic growth indicates this.
• If we go byGini index pertaining to consumption the inequality is starker as compared with that we obtain pertaining to income, another fact that reinforces the above claim.
• Thus, poverty has beenreduced in absolute terms but not in equitable terms making inequality much deeper. India has to rein in over the income disparity to begin with.

Way Forward

• For reducing inequality, some advocate measures such asredistribution of assets and wealth in favour of the poor via higher taxes for the rich.
• However, these may not be pragmatic solutions. The tax/GDP ratio has to be raisedwith a wider tax base.
• Fiscal instruments like public investment in physical andsocial infrastructure can be used to reduce inequality.
  • The new generation wantsequality of opportunity rather than redistributive measures.
  • Everyone irrespective of caste, class and gender should have equal opportunities in education, health, employment and entrepreneurship.
• Economic andemployment opportunities improve with education and skills.
• The new generation wants better quality in schools and higher education.
• Finally, economic reforms should focus more on efficient delivery systems of public services.
• Many reckon that poor governance is the biggest constraint in achieving the aspirations of a new generation and reduction in poverty and inequality.
• A major institutional challenge is the accountability of service providers, particularly the public sector.
• Recent literature also focused on eradication of corruption for reduction in inequalities.
• Issues like electoral reforms, crony capitalism, election funding and corruption should be part of thereform agenda to reduce inequalities.

Conclusion

The 1991 reforms helped the economy stave off a crisis and then bloom. It is time to outline a credible new reform agenda that will not just bring GDP back to pre-crisis levels, but also ensure growth rates higher than it had when it entered the pandemic.

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

5. Delhi declaration on Artificial Intelligence (AI) aims to create a regulatory framework that fosters innovation and growth while ensuring that AI is developed and deployed responsibly. Analyse. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India

Why the question:

The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), an alliance of 29 members, has unanimously adopted the New Delhi declaration underscoring the need to mitigate risks arising from the development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) systems, and promoting equitable access to critical resources for AI innovation, including computing and high-quality diverse datasets.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the importance of Delhi declaration on in creating a middle path between promotion and regulation of AI.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving context of Delhi Declaration on AI.

Body:

First, in detail write about the major areas of AI that the declaration touches upon – Importance, Inclusive AI benefits, Principles for a global AI framework etc.

Next, write about the advantages of the above.

Next, write about the shortcomings of the above.

Conclusion:

Conclude by giving a way forward.

Introduction

The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) – an alliance of 29 member countries, has unanimously adopted the New Delhi declaration. The declaration underscored the need to mitigate risks arising from the development and deployment of AI systems, and promote equitable access to critical resources for AI innovation.

Body

Major outcomes of New Delhi Declaration

Significance of New Delhi Declaration

• This was the first time the group’s members were meeting after generative AI platforms like ChatGPT and Google Bardburst into the scene, propelling conversations around AI into the mainstream.
• GPAI members also agreed to support AI innovation in the agriculture sector as a new “thematic priority”.
  • Indiawas pushing for the inclusion of agriculture as a priority sector in AI innovation.
  • This is essential for implementing resilient agricultural practicesthat increase productivity and production.
• The development of and access to risk-proportionate trustworthy AI applications is essential for ensuring sustainable food production systemsand strengthening capacity for mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
• This is a significant win for India, which has batted for a collaborative approach towards building AI systems as it looks to push its model of digital public infrastructure (DPI)across the world.
• Access to computing capabilities from member nations will also boost New Delhi’s plans of building a sovereign AI system, crucial for countering dominance from a handful of foreign companies in the space.

Conclusion

The ‘New Delhi Declaration’ sets a path for GPAI members to collaboratively work on responsible AI development and governance. The summit highlights the importance of international cooperation in harnessing AI for global good, with a particular focus on inclusivity and addressing contemporary challenges.

General Studies – 4

Topic: Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and nonpartisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.

6. What do you understand by the core value system of civil servants? (150 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of Mission-2024 Secure.

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 defining the core value system.

Body:

Write about the role of core values in judgement of civils servants– impartiality, legality, integrity, empathy and transparency. Elaborate with examples as to how it guides the judgement of civil servants and ensure that right decisions are taken.

Conclusion:

Conclude by Summarising.

Introduction

Core values can be defined as those which are inherent and sacrosanct; they can never be compromised, either for convenience or short-term economic gain. In the context of business ethics or company ethics, they are the source of a company’s distinctiveness and must be maintained at all costs.

Body

Core values are the fundamental beliefs of a person or organization. These guiding principles dictate behaviour and can help people understand the difference between right and wrong. Core values also help companies to determine if they are on the right path and fulfilling their goals by creating an unwavering guide.

Integrating Core Values into company’s actions

• Core values need to be integrated into every employee-related process—hiring methods, performance management systems, criteria for promotions and rewards, and even dismissal policies.
• From the first interview to the last day of work, employees should be constantly reminded that core values form the basis for every decision the company makes.
• Core values usually complement the corporation’s mission statement. There are many examples of common core values for a business or other type of organization.
  • Eg: A commitment to sustainability and to acting in an environmentally friendly way.
• Govern personal relationships: Core values helps in creating peer to peer relationships in a company. They strive to keep employee relations amicable, respectful and enagaging.
• Guide business processes: Any business decision is guided by core values, be it creativity, innovative, commitment towards society while execution and so on.
• Objectives of Core values:
  • Guides in making decisions
  • Underpin the whole organization
  • Require no external justification
  • Essential tenets

Conclusion

In an ever-changing world, core values are constant.  Core values are not descriptions of the work done by a company or the strategies employed to accomplish some mission.  The values underlie the work, how they interact with each other, and which strategies are employed to fulfil a company’s mission.  The core values are the basic elements of how one goes on about their work.  

Topic:  Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and nonpartisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker- sections.

7. Justice, accountability and responsiveness in administration is an essential precondition for ensuring that citizens are treated fairly and their rights are upheld. Discuss. (150 Words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Lexicon Publications.

Directive:

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.

Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of Mission-2024 Secure.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Begin by defining justice, accountability and responsiveness.

Body:

Begin by talking about values which are important to the level of justice and continuity in public administration with suitable examples.

Mention about how public servants must be accountable to the government for the effective delivery of its programs.

Then finally talk about responsiveness of the administration to the government of the day within the law and the how constitution is key to the effective implementation of government policies in an equitable manner.

Conclusion:

Complete the answer by suggesting ways for neutrality in public administration in an increasingly polarizing world.

Introduction

Justice Accountability and Responsiveness are characteristics of good governance. Good governance has 8 major characteristics. ‘It is participatory, consensus-oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law.

Body

• Justice:
  • Legal framework should be enforced impartially, especially on human rights laws.
  • Without rule of law, politics will follow the principle of matsya nyaya ie law of fish which means the strong will prevail over the weak.
• Accountability:
  • Good governance aims towards betterment of people, and this can not take place without the government being accountable to the people.
  • Governmental institutions, private sectors, and civil society organizations should be held accountable to the public and institutional stakeholders.
• Responsiveness:
  • Institutions and processes should serve all stakeholders in a reasonable period of time.

Challenges to good governance

• Corruption is a major obstacle in improving the quality of governance. While human greed is obviously a driver of corruption, it is the structural incentives and poor enforcement system to punish the corrupt that have contributed to the rising curve of graft in India.
• Opaqueness in decision making in governance without accountability. People get affected by governance decisions and they must not be made in non-transparent manner.
• Justice delayed: A citizen has the right to avail timely justice, but there are several factors, because of that a common man doesn’t get timely justice.
• Lack of Accountability – Very rarely disciplinary actions are initiated against delinquent officers. There is no performance evaluation structure.
• Red Tapism – Bureaucracies have to adhere to rules and procedures which are important for good governance, however sometimes these rules and procedures are ill-conceived and cumbersome, and they do not serve the very purpose of their existence.
• Low Levels of Awareness of the Rights and Duties of Citizens – Awareness of rights and duties would ensure that officials and other citizens discharge duties effectively and honestly.
• Ineffective Implementation of Laws and Rules – We have a large number of laws to protect the rights of the citizens and vulnerable sections of society, but the weak implementation of these laws erodes the faith of the citizens in the Government machinery.

Conclusion

Thus, Justice, accountability and responsiveness is significant in public institutions to conduct and manage public affairs and resources to guarantee human rights in free of abuse and corruption, and with due regard for the rule of law.

Good governance is thus, a function of installation of positive virtues of administration and elimination of vices of dysfunctionalities. It makes the government work effective, credible and legitimate in administrative system and citizen-friendly, value caring and people-sharing.

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