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: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Iceland is one of the most volcanically active regions on the planet. It witnesses an eruption every four to five years. However, since 2021, the frequency has spiked to almost one eruption per year.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the volcano formation and its types with suitable examples and reasons for high volcanic activity in Iceland.
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:
Define what Volcanoes are.
Body:
First, write about the process of volcano formation in detail.
Next, write about types of volcanoes with suitable diagrams and descriptions. Present the various landforms associated with it. Both intrusive and extrusive.
Next, write about reasons for high volcanic activity in Iceland.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
A volcano is a rupture in the crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface. The process is called Volcanism and has been ongoing on Earth since the initial stages of its evolution over 4 billion years ago.
Body
- The majority of volcanoes in the world form along the boundaries of Earth’s tectonic plates—massive expanses of our planet’s lithosphere that continually shift, bumping into one another.
- When tectonic plates collide, one often plunges deep below the other in what’s known as a subduction zone.
- As the descending landmass sinks deep into the Earth, temperatures and pressures climb, releasing water from the rocks.
- The water slightly reduces the melting point of the overlying rock, forming magma that can work its way to the surface—the spark of life to reawaken a slumbering volcano.
- Not all volcanoes are related to subduction,
- Another way volcanoes can form is what’s known as hotspot volcanism.
- In this situation, a zone of magmatic activity—or a hotspot—in the middle of a tectonic plate can push up through the crust to form a volcano.
- Although the hotspot itself is thought to be largely stationary, the tectonic plates continue their slow march, building a line of volcanoes or islands on the surface. This mechanism is thought to be behind the Hawaii volcanic chain.
Types of volcanoes
- Types of volcanoes found due to convergent plate boundaries:
- Composite Cones or Strato volcanoes
- Cinder cone (Tephra cones)
- Calderas
- Types of volcanoes found due to divergent plate boundaries:
- Conical Vent and Fissure Vent
- Shield Volcanoes or Lava domes
- Mid-Ocean Ridges
- Types of volcanoes found due to Hotspots:
- Shield Volcanoes or Lava domes
- Lava Plains and Basalt Plateaus
Reasons behind a volcanically active Iceland are
- Iceland is one of Earth’s most volcanically active areas, with 32 active volcanic sites.
- It averages an eruption every four to five years — though the frequency has increased closer to every 12 months since 2021.
- Iceland’s volcanism can be attributed to its location on the Mid Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean, where the Eurasian and North American plates are moving apart a few centimeters per year.
- In Iceland, this produces volcanic rift zones, regions where the Earth’s crust is being pulled apart and fractured, and here molten rock, or magma, rises up, and some reaches the surface and erupts as lava and/or ash.
- Eruptions can occur from central summit vents or flank vents of a volcano, or from linear ‘fissures’, metres to kilometers in length, which develop parallel to the rift zone.
- Iceland is also widely considered to be underlain by a ‘mantle plume’, a hot zone in which there is increased melting of rock in the earth’s mantle.
- Such a ‘hotspot’ causes enhanced volcanic activity in addition to that already occurring due to the spreading movement of the plates.
- The island’s geological setting, as well as climatological circumstances, results in unusually diverse styles of volcanism in the region, for example, some volcanoes are beneath the sea (submarine) and some are beneath ice caps (subglacial).
- One of the country’s largest active volcanoes is Katla, which is closely watched, because it lies under thick glacial ice, meaning that any eruption could melt the ice and trigger widespread flooding.
- Katla last erupted in 1918, and that eruption lasted almost a month, starving crops of sunlight and killing some livestock.
Conclusion
Volcanoes have a huge impact on man and material as urbanization and globalization increases. The effects have impacts on flora, fauna and the global warming which can accelerate the climate change.
Topic: urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the importance of incorporating the impact of climate change in our urban development plans and taking steps to tackle 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:
Begin by giving context.
Body:
First, in brief, how climate change is impacting modern cities and its predicted impact in the future. Substantiate with examples. Also, mention how the progress made so far maybe be nullified due to the impact of climate change.
Next, write about the steps that are needed in this regard to address it – Climate planning and city planning, Stakeholders and participation, Vulnerability assessment, Monitoring and evaluation etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Climate change is altering the nature of each and every country. It’s like a pandemic, it doesn’t know political boundaries. Even the most advanced countries are not being spared by nature. India is one of the nations most vulnerable to the ravages of climate change. The solution to climate change lies in understanding the impact of climate change in our life and taking steps to achieve climate resilience.
In India, the monsoons, are primarily turning into an erratic and destructive force. As climate change intensifies, the monsoon is becoming more erratic and violent. A recent report by the World Bank titled “Thriving: Making Cities Green, Resilient, and Inclusive in a Changing Climate” provides guidance to local and national policymakers on how to create greener, more resilient, and inclusive cities.
Body
Urban development and climate resilience
- About 1.4 million people move to cities around the world every week and nearly 55% of the world’s population now lives in urban areas. Such rapid urbanisation can strain local capacities, contributing to increased risk from natural and human made disasters.
- As more people are concentrated in cities, dependent on local services and networks, the risks from natural and human made disasters grow.
- The poor and vulnerable, living in substandard, hazardous places are most at risk with around 1 billion people living in slums.
- People exposed to natural hazards in poorest nations are more than seven times likely to die than those in the richest.
- Challenges to resilience can also be economic, cultural, civic and social and develop over time such as economic downturns or crises, high unemployment, lack of inclusion, social cohesion or discrimination, disease outbreaks and terrorism.
- Fast-growing coastal cities are in particular danger because of sea-level rise, increasing storms and the global addiction to concrete and asphalt which exacerbate flooding.
Building climate resilient cities
- Cities can protect against economic shocks by diversifying their economy, creating opportunities for business and employment, and engaging the private sector.
- They can build socially cohesive societies becoming democratic, sustainable and inclusive by ensuring residents from all backgrounds take part in decision making.
- To build climate and environment resilience, authorities need to plan cities properly to minimize the overall effect on the environment as well as ensuring resilience through strengthened infrastructure, good planning and public education.
- Responses to disasters in urban areas can promote greater resilience to future crises and support long-term development goals.
- The need for resilient cities is recognised in the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement for Climate Change, the Sendai Framework and in the New Urban Agenda (Habitat-III).
- An important step would be moving away from an endless consumption of land. This means using the land we’ve already developed to build more dense and walkable neighbourhoods, connected with mass transit. It also means living with nature instead of fighting against it.
Conclusion
Addressing the challenges of climate change and creating sustainable cities requires a multi-faceted approach. It involves prioritizing green practices, building resilience to climate impacts, and promoting inclusiveness in urban development. Taking action at the city level is crucial in mitigating climate change and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Recently, President Droupadi Murmu suggested that an All-India Judicial Service (AIJS) will help diversify the judiciary.
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 of AIJS.
Next, write about advantages of the above – Merit-Based Selection, Equal Opportunity for Bright Youngsters, Reducing Nepotism and Political Influence, and Enhancing Inclusivity etc.
Next, write about disadvantages of creating AIJS – Resistance and Autonomy of judiciary, Potential for Bias in Standardization, Implementation Challenges etc.
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.
General Studies – 3
Topic: money laundering and its prevention.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The enforcement of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 has caused much consternation especially after its unusual interpretation by the Supreme Court of India in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary and Ors vs Union of India and Ors. (2022).
Key Demand of the question:
To write successes and limitations of PMLA in achieving its stated objectives and misuse of the law by enforcement agencies.
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 writing about the aims and objectives of PMLA.
Body:
In the first part, write about the various features of PMLA – its successes and limitations when it comes to holding the launderers accountable.
Next, abuse of authority by the central investigating agencies and the abuse of the process of court as per PMLA.
Next, write about the measures that are needed to tackle it.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was enacted in 2002 and it came into force in 2005. The chief objective of this legislation is to fight money laundering, that is, the process of converting black money into white. The act aims at Preventing money laundering, Combating the channelising of money into illegal activities and economic crimes, Providing for the confiscation of property derived from or involved in money laundering and Providing for any other matters connected with or incidental to the act of money laundering.
Critics argue that amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) stripped a person of his right under Article 20(3) (fundamental right against self-incrimination) of the Constitution.
Body
About PMLA
- It is a criminal law enacted to prevent money laundering and to provide for confiscation of property derived from, or involved in, money-laundering and related matters.
- It forms the core of the legal framework put in place by India to combat Money Laundering.
- The provisions of this act are applicable to all financial institutions, banks (Including RBI), mutual funds, insurance companies, and their financial intermediaries.
- PMLA (Amendment) Act, 2012:
- Adds the concept of ‘reporting entity’ which would include a banking company, financial institution, intermediary etc.
- PMLA, 2002 levied a fine up to Rs 5 lakh, but the amendment act has removed this upper limit.
- It has provided for provisional attachment and confiscation of property of any person involved in such activities.
Efficacy of PMLA
- Indian banks were reluctant to depart from their strict bank secrecy policies, and this further allowed individuals in India to launder money. The problem of money laundering in India is complicated further by Hawala’s ancient underground banking system.
- ED has been given the responsibility to enforce the provisions of the PMLA by conducting investigation to trace the assets derived from proceeds of crime, to provisionally attach the property and to ensure prosecution of the offenders and confiscation of the property by the Special court.
- ED has been given the responsibility to conduct investigation into suspected contraventions of foreign exchange laws and regulations, to adjudicate and impose penalties on those adjudged to have contravened the law.
Issues with PMLA
- PMLA is pulled into the investigation of even “ordinary” crimes and assets of genuine victims have been attached.
- PMLA was enacted in response to India’s global commitment (including the Vienna Convention) to combat the menace of money laundering. Instead, rights have been “cribbed, cabined and confined”.
- PMLA was a comprehensive penal statute to counter the threat of money laundering, specifically stemming from trade in narcotics.
- Currently, the offences in the schedule of the Act are extremely overbroad, and in several cases, have absolutely no relation to either narcotics or organised crime.
- Even the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) – an equivalent of the FIR – is considered an “internal document” and not given to the accused.
- The ED treats itself as an exception to these principles and practises [of criminal procedure law] and chooses to register an ECIR on its own whims and fancies on its own file.
- There is also a lack of clarity about ED’s selection of cases to investigate. The initiation of an investigation by the ED has consequences which have the potential of curtailing the liberty of an individual.
Conclusion
The evolving threats of money laundering supported by the emerging technologies need to be addressed with the equally advanced Anti-Money Laundering mechanisms like big data and artificial intelligence. Both international and domestic stakeholders need to come together by strengthening data sharing mechanisms amongst them to effectively eliminate the problem of money laundering.
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.
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 situationscould 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: Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity;
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of Mission-2024 Secure.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about importance of probity for an organisation.
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 what is Probity.
Body:
Argue on the lines that for a moral society, it is necessary for all the stakeholders- the government, the corporate and the civil society must express the highest levels of probity in public life. Congruence and alignment of morality among the stakeholders is a major prerequisite to ensure a harmonious and ethic al existence of all the players promoting a just society. Illustrate the same with suitable examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by saying that Probity is one of the main pillars for a just society.
Introduction
Probity is “the quality or condition of having strong moral principles, integrity, good character, honesty, decency”. It is the act of adhering to the highest principles and ideals rather than avoiding corrupt or dishonest conduct. It balances service to the community against the self-interest of individuals.
Body
Probity is the evidence of ethical behaviour in organisational processes, adhering to the standards of integrity, transparency, and honesty
- Integrity and probity in public life are the standards that society expects those elected or appointed to public office to observe and maintain in the conduct of the public affairs to which they have been entrusted.
- These standards are what safeguard the nation from corruption by politicians and public officials who have been given almost unrestricted access to public resources together with the power to take decisions that impact on the lives of everyone and the nation as a whole.
- The absence of integrity and probity in public life is manifested in corruption which is a worldwide phenomenon.
- But its impact is strongest and most pervasive in small states that already suffer from all the known disadvantages that characterise smallness such as unfavourable economies of scale, high per capita cost of government, remoteness, and distance from large markets and centres of large populations among others.
- In addition to all these, small States also tend to suffer from ineffective parliamentary oversight, weak and undeveloped systems of checks and balances like a strong and independent media as well as civil society groups with the capacity to investigate, challenge and call to account those in positions of power.
- Leaders who are corrupt will exploit these weaknesses to the fullest to enrich themselves and those closest to them at the expense of the country.
- In societies where a blind eye is turned to corruption elements in the private sector give bribes to those exercising power in order to curry favour.
- The giving and taking of bribes leads not only to personal enrichment but also to wrong decision-making with consequential misallocation of national resources into high profile “political” projects that will attract votes at the expense of less spectacular but economically and socially more useful ones.
Measures to ensure probity
- Statutory Code of Values and Ethics for Public Services– It should be expressed in simple language, easily understandable and should lay down fundamental values that ought to govern the conduct of public servants. For example, British Civil Services Code.
- Ethical framework –Need for an ethical frameworkthat should provide for prevention and guidance, investigation, disciplinary action, and prosecution.
- Ethical Guidance –It should include training in ethics, awareness and development of essential skill for ethical analysis and moral judgement.
- Sanction and punishment –Violation and breaches of the Code of Ethicsshould invite sanction and punishment under the disciplinary rules. A simplified disciplinary regime should be put in place which, while following the principle of natural justice, may speedily and summarily decide cases and take punitive action against delinquent employees.
- Independent office of Ethics Commissioner– Need to create such an independent office on the US patternto provide leadership in ethics and values. Ethics Commissioner should issue and interpret rules which govern standards of conduct and conflict of interest.
Conclusion
It is a shared belief that the adoption of standards like “accountability”, “transparency” and “responsiveness” will lead to clean and efficient governance. However, standards do not, by themselves, ensure ethical behaviour: which requires a robust culture of integrity and probity in public life. The crux of ethical behaviour does not lie only in standards, but in their adoption in action and in issuing sanctions against their violation.
Topic: Philosophical basis of governance and probity
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of Mission-2024 Secure.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the attributes of ethical governance.
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining ethical governance.
Body:
Write about the various attributes of ethical governance – ethical behaviours, processes, procedures, culture, ways of doing and being that ensure high standards of performance, economy, effectiveness, efficiency, quality and satisfaction etc. Cite examples to substantiate.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
The World Bank defines governance as the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for development
According to the United Nations Development Programme, Governance has been defined as the rules of the political system to solve conflicts between actors and adopt decision (legality). It has also been used to describe the “proper functioning of institutions and their acceptance by the public” (legitimacy). And it has been used to invoke the efficacy of government and the achievement of consensus by democratic means (participation)
Ethical governance meant that the manner in which power is exercised for an organisation by using its resources, including social and economic, is acceptable by all. It could range from personal rights to effective service delivery for all.
Body
Ethical governance is the right and justified conduct of activities of an organization (or government) to serve the larger public interest. Impartiality, accountability, transparency, honesty, integrity, probity, perseverance, truthfulness, citizen centricity, patriotism among other are some of the values which are must for attainment of ethical governance.
Major Features of Ethical Governance:
Participation
- Good Governance truly promotes inclusive democracy allowing Right to Freedom.
- Promote Citizen centric governance
Transparency
- Easy accessible available affordable information
- Promote accountable government
Rule of Law
- Rule of law warrants that fair legal frameworks are implemented impartially.
- It also means protection of human rights.
Responsiveness
- This implies that processes and institutions should serve all stakeholders within a reasonable time frame.
Consensus oriented
- Consensus oriented decision-making ensures that even if everyone does not achieve what they want to the fullest, a common minimum can be achieved by everyone which will not be detrimental to anyone.
Accountability
- Accountability should be there not just for the government, but also for citizens, the private sector, industry, NGOs, and all stakeholders.
Conclusion
Hence, governance shall be good as well as ethical to promote citizen centric participatory inclusive equitable development among all.
Join our Official Telegram Channel HERE
Please subscribe to Our podcast channel HERE
Subscribe to our YouTube ChannelHERE
Follow our Twitter Account HERE
Follow our Instagram ID HERE
Follow us on LinkedIn : HERE
