[Mission 2024] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 2 February 2024

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: Effects of globalization on Indian society.

1. Globalization has had a profound impact on Indian society and culture, bringing both positive and negative consequences.  Critically analyse. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: Insights on India

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2024 Secure timetable.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about positive and negative effects of globalization on Indian society and culture.

Directive word:

Critically analyze – 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. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a balanced judgment on the topic.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by defining Globalisation.

Body:

First, write about the positive effects of globalisation on Indian society and culture – cite examples and statistics to substantiate.

Next, write about the negative effects of globalisation on Indian society and culture – cite examples and statistics to substantiate.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward to minimise the negatives and maximise the positives.

Introduction

Globalization is an international platform for maintaining evenness in the living mode of the people all over the world. Globalization is the resultant of the interchange of worldly views, opinions and the various aspects of the culture everywhere around the world. The impact of globalization on Indian and rural life has a tremendous influence which is both positive as well as negative. The Indian urban and rural life is viewed as the two faces of the same coin. They are mutually interdependent and both have a greater impact of globalization.

Body

Impact of globalization on Indian rural society

• Positives:
  • Commercialization of agriculture: There is an increased trend of commercialization from sustenance farming. This has been successful only with farmers having large tracts of lands.
  • Expansion of agro-industries: Increased crop yield has led to development of agro-processing industries which help in adding value to the products and increasing their shelf life. E.g.; Tomato Ketchup, Potato chips etc.
  • Wider use of information, communication and technologies: Agricultural extension techniques like Kisan TV, sms about weather conditions has helped farmers plan better. Initiatives like e-Nam have helped farmers get better prices in certain areas.
  • Increased Mechanization, better inputs: Mechanization like use of tractors, harvesters, tillers has eased the job. High yield variety seeds, fertilizers have given better yield as seen during Green Revolution
  • Socio-economic development: With telemedicine and teleeducation, people are able to access the health and education facilities at the remotest areas. Adult literacy has helped in fighting for their rights.
  • MSMEs: There has been a rise of MSMEs with women entrepreneurs heading it.
• Negatives:
  • Changes in Land-Use patterns
  • Internal labour migration: Labour migration  to  cities from  rural  areas  in  search  of  employment  was  a  common phenomenon.  This  was  for  various  reasons  especially  for luxurious  life,  handsome  salary  and  for  numerous  job opportunities
  • Increasing privatization of resources: Rural population is still    suffering    from    unemployment    as    rural    labour    is    mostly    uneducated and unskilled.  Machines and latest technologies   have   reduced   the   number   of manpower a lot
  • Loss of jobs and Displacement: due to mechanization, women are the worst sufferers. When big-ticket projects like Dams, Roads, and Mining come up, people are displaced making them internal refugees.
  • Increased inequality: Regional and sectional disparity due to only a few reaping the benefits.
  • No Behavioural changes: Open defecation still present, caste discriminations are still prevalent.

Impact of globalization on Indian urban society

Positives:

• Increased Urbanization: It has been estimated that by 2050 more than 50% of India’s population will live in cities. The boom of services sector and city centric job creation has led to increasing rural to urban migration.
• Increased job opportunities: due to inflow of MNCs, FDIs, people have a wide choice of job opportunities provided they have the requisite skills. Startups like Ola, Swiggy etc. have revolutionized the Gig-Economy. Development of Industries have also provided with jobs.
• Higher Per capita income: employees are paid well albeit lesser than the global pay levels.
• Enhanced lifestyle: due to higher PCI and wide array of facilities available from which the consumer can choose. It has raised the quality of life of many.
• Better infrastructure: In terms of education, health, transport available to people. This has in turn enhanced the agglomeration of economies leading to industrial belts, IT parks, SEZ, CEZ etc.
• Rapid Digitization: for faster and ease of connectivity, most of the services are digitized. This also increases the awareness of citizens in terms of rights, happenings around world etc. On the Governmental side, there is more accountability and transparency and faster delivery of services.

Negatives:

• Family Structure: The increasing migration coupled with financial independence has led to the breaking of joint families into nuclear ones. The western influence of individualism has led to an aspirational generation of youth. Concepts of national identity, family, job and tradition are changing rapidly and significantly.
• Marriage Values: Similarly, marriages have also lost their values. It is very much evident from the increasing number of divorce cases and the extra-marital affairs reported every now and then.
• McDonaldization: A term denoting the increasing rationalization of the routine tasks of everyday life. It becomes manifested when a culture adopts the characteristics of a fast-food restaurant. McDonaldization is a reconceptualization of rationalization, or moving from traditional to rational modes of thought, and scientific management.
• Walmartization: A term referring to profound transformations in regional and global economies through the sheer size, influence, and power of the big-box department store WalMart. It can be seen with the rise of big businesses which have nearly killed the small traditional businesses in our society.
• Rise in Lifestyle diseases: due to reduced physical activity, increased habits of liquor and smoking etc.
• Urban Sprawl: Increasing slums, unplanned urbanizations are on the rise which is a ticking time-bomb.

Conclusion

It is difficult to say that the impact of globalization has been totally positive or totally negative. It has been both. Each impact mentioned above can be seen as both positive as well as negative. However, it becomes a point of concern when, an overwhelming impact of globalization can be observed on the Indian rural and urban society.

Topic: Effects of globalization on Indian society.

2. Hyper-globalization is marked by the deepening interdependence of nations and the widespread influence of global factors on local economies and societies. Examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Insights on India

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2024 Secure timetable.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about hyper-globalisation, its impact on the society and measures needed to counter its impact.

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 answer by defining hyper-globalisation.

Body:

First, write about the various features of hyper-globalisation citing a few examples.

Next, write about the impact of hyper-globalisation on the various aspects of Indian society – freer movement of goods, resources and enterprises, and ultimately more jobs, cheaper products and increasing economic growth, prosperity and wealth. Also, mention the negative impacts like – increasing inequalities, lack of opportunities, dependence and political disconnect etc.

Next, write about the ways in which risks posed by hyper-globalisation could be overcome.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

Hyper Globalisation is the concept that believes that globalization is happening is an enormous way and there is an emergence of a homogenous global culture. The period of hyper globalization has been associated with the most dramatic turnaround in the economic fortunes of developing countries.

The main difference between globalization and hyper globalization is very narrow and can be best described as the rate of speed at which the process of globalization takes place. The period between 1870 and 1914 the Golden Age of globalization in which world trade in terms of gross domestic product went from a 9 percent to 16 percent share. However, in the current age of hyper-globalization, which includes both goods and services, the gross domestic product share has reached 33 percent.

Body

Impact of hyper globalization on Indian society

• Economic inequality: Hyper Globalization is increasing the inequalityaround world.
  • GAFA (Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon) are the wealthiest companies in the world. The wealth created isenjoyed by only few individuals.
  • The increased income of persons with required new skills (such as knowledge of Artificial Intelligence) is far less thandecreased income of unskilled person, leading to decrease in net prosperity.
• FDI and investment: Some countries are unable to attract FDI, other developing countries who have the ability to attract FDI, are unable to maximize the benefits for indigenous firms.
• Against the poor: WTO Agreement on Agriculture, are result of hyper globalism, which have capability to reduce the prosperity of farmers by limiting government’s support to them.
• Intellectual property: Similarly, agreements such as TRIPS do not let all to enjoy the benefits of innovation there by reducing their chance to increase their prosperity. All these are threatening human prosperitydirectly or indirectly.
• Ecology and indigenous people:Hyper globalism is also leading to increased extraction of raw materials, de-forestation without any value addition to indigenous people. Moreover, these people need to bear cost of resulting damage to ecology, increased pollution, hence reducing their prosperity.
  • This can be better understood when we look at the plight of millions of climate refugees from island nations etc.
• Technological warfare: Technology is going to make warfare more dreadful. Buying and selling dangerous weapons is never as easy as it is in era of hyper globalism.
  • If at all war occurs, the damage to property is un-predictable. Eg: Russia-Ukraine war.
  • Moreover, if the money used for defence is used for welfarist policies, it would have helped the poor and destitute by making them prosperous.
• Overdependence and disruption: The increasing price risk due to disruption of supplies (eg crude oil and edible oil crisis due to Ukraine war) will have direct impact on poor due to inflation.
  • Eg: Dependence on API’s from Chinaduring Covid-19 pandemic and people running from pillar to post for common cold medicines.
• Reduced to exporter of raw material: As industrialized countries have a better comparative advantage, poor nations are yet again becoming exporters of raw materials. This can also be called as neo-imperialism. Decision making powers are still with the Western nations continuing the trend from World War 2.

Measures needed to counter the risks

• Reduce over-dependence:In the real world, countries need to de-risk against overdependence on few suppliers, especially of products entailing heavy foreign exchange outgo.
  • Halving import dependence in edible oilsfrom the current 60-65 per cent is a goal worth pursuing, provided such Atmanirbharta does not degenerate into protectionism.
  • Domestic producers can begiven one-time capital subsidy and tariff support based on long-term import parity pricing.
• Domestic investment: When the global economy is sluggish, only domestic investment can move demand.
  • India has an intrinsic advantage of population and its vibrant domestic demand.
  • If enough manufacturing capacity as per the policy can be achieved, India can provide good market and employment its products and population.
  • Eg: PLI scheme for electronics.
• Monetary policy: Appropriate monetary policy decisions should be made to boost investment. Moreover, reigning in inflation
• Infrastructure: Any policy should be accompaniedwith public infrastructure especially the transport sectors which also increase would demand. This would also reduce cost of logistics and make Indian goods competitive in the global market in turn increasing India’s prosperity.

Conclusion

Hyper globalization is not entirely detrimental to India, rather it has increased technology transfer and increased investment flow. India must reduce the risks to leverage the benefit of hyper globalism. Upskilling youth with new age technology can lead to reaping of rich demographic dividends while decreasing poverty.

Topic: population and associated issues

3. Raising awareness about the benefits of smaller family sizes, family planning methods, and the importance of reproductive health can contribute to voluntary and informed decision-making leading to better population control. Examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India

Why the question:

In her interim budget speech, Sitharaman said that a high-powered committee will be formed to extensively consider the challenges of fast population growth and demographic changes.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the need of population control and ways to do so.

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 citing statistic regarding the population growth in India.

Body:

First, write about the need for population control – Social problems, Environment, Scarcity of resources and services, Inflation and Standard of living etc.

Next, write about the measures needed to control population – such as, incentives, strengthening public health infrastructure and raising awareness that are better suited to control population.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

India is projected to become the most populous country in the world by 2027 (currently at 1.37 billion). In 2050, India’s population is projected to be 1.69 billion, which will be higher than that of China. Undoubtedly, India has a population problem, but any strategy to change fertility rates should be carefully thought out. India’s population concern is largely restricted to Bihar, UP, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and MP.

Body

Statistics on population

• The National Population Policy 2000 affirmed a commitment to achieve replacement levels of fertility (total fertility rate of 2.1) by 2010.
• Ten states — Karnataka, Punjab, Gujarat, Assam, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala — and Jammu and Kashmir, have achieved this goal, albeit much delayed.
• Kerala and Tamil Nadu had accomplished it decades earlier. This fertility decline over half of India has cut across all sections of society — the privileged and the poor, those educated or not, and the high and low caste.
• The National Family Health Survey-4 has shown how TFR has reduced even among illiterate women from all religions in the southern states — even in Kerala and Telangana which have a high proportion of Muslims.
• India has entered a demographic sweet spot that will continue for another two to three decades. Half of India’s population is under 29 years of age, which means that in this period, a greater proportion of young people will drive India’s economic growth and social progress.
• So, they must not only be healthy, knowledgeable and skilled but must also be provided with the rights and choices to develop to their fullest potential, including, and especially, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

Need for population control

• It is indeed a fact that population of India is growing and will continue to grow for the next couple of decades.
• This is because, as compared to the past, there are a higher proportion of people in the marriageable age group who will produce children, and people are now living longer.
• In India, the global demand for water in 2050 is projected to be more than 50 per cent of what it was in 2000.
• The demand for food will double in the year 2050 and even if India manages to feed its expanding population, its growth may not be ecologically sustainable.
• Though China’s one-child policy has been criticized as against human dignity and rights, it has improved and controlled the nation’s population by a possible 400 million people as per the report of East India Forum.
• If Population control won’t happen, there will be no resources left, and the growing population’s demand will increase to the next level, resulting in increasing death rates increasing in the country.
• Changing social norms is one of the biggest challenges for India to address the needs of the next generation.

Thus, due to the burgeoning growth of Population it can lead to failure of realization of our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) namely the zero hunger, eradicating poverty etc. and economic aspirations.

Need for population control law: Critical Analysis

• Counter-productive measure: Through an affidavit filed in court, the central government argued that “international experience shows that any coercion to have a certain number of children is counter-productive and leads to demographic distortions”.
• Against international obligations: India is committed to its obligations under international law, including the contained in the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action, 1994.
• Foremost in those principles was a pledge from nations that they would look beyond demographic targets and focus instead on guaranteeing a right to reproductive freedom.
• Against right to reproductive freedom and privacy: In Suchita Srivastava & Anr vs Chandigarh Administration (2009), the Court found that a woman’s freedom to make reproductive decisions is an integral facet of the right to personal liberty guaranteed by Article 21.
  • However, In Javed & Ors vs State of Haryana & Ors (2003), the Court upheld a law that disqualified persons with more than two children from contesting in local body elections.
  • In Devika Biswas vs Union of India (2016), the Court pointed to how these population control camps invariably have a disparate impact on minorities and other vulnerable groups.
• Negative consequences: An already skewed sex ratio may be compounded by families aborting a daughter in the hope of having a son with a view to conforming to the two-child norm.

Conclusion

Experiences from other States in India show us that there are more efficacious and alternative measures available to control the growth of population, including processes aimed at improving public health and access to education. Incentivise later marriages and child births; make contraception easy for women and promote women’s labour force participation. This should be substantiated with better education and awareness rather than an iron hand policy to control the population. Government should improve the implementation of poverty alleviation measures which can also help control population.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints;

4.  Agriculture is the key to alleviate rural poverty, stop distress migration and most importantly ensuring food security in India. Discuss the issues in the agricultural sector and ways to address them. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question:

The report released by the Finance Ministry and the vote-on-account presented by the Finance Minister are concerned more about portraying a glowing image of the government than about the financing plans for 2024-25.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the importance of agriculture to Indian economy.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving a brief about role of agriculture in Indian economy. Cite statistics to substantiate.

Body:

First, write about the role of agriculture in alleviating rural poverty and how agriculture plays an important in it, agriculture prevents distress migration by ensuring livelihoods and incomes to the farmers, ensuring food security in India and cite statistics to substantiate etc.

Next, write about the various issues in the agricultural sector.

Next, write about the ways to make agricultural sector grow and thrive.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

While the 14 volumes of the Dalwai Committee Report on doubling farmers’ income provided a road map for transition from a mere Green Revolution to an Income Revolution for farmers, the country is yet to solve the ‘Riddle of Agriculture distress’.

Background: Need for agrarian reforms

• Agriculture currently contributes justabout 15% to the national output and about 50% of the population directly or indirectly depends on it for employment.
• Farmer distress is a real and pressing problem, as evidenced by the protests currently taking place in various parts of the country.
• In the past, Government strategy primarily focused onraising agricultural output and improving food security rather than recognising the need to raise farmer’s income.
• Low global prices have affected exportsand the cheaper imports have hurt domestic prices in the country.
• Natural disasters and crop loss leading to impoverishment of rural households.
• Increasing demographic pressure, disguised employment in agricultureand conversion of agricultural land for alternative uses, have drastically reduced the average land holding.

Challenges faced by Agriculture sector

• Institutional vis-à-vis Non-Institutional Agricultural Credit:Traditionally, rural agrarian credit needs were met primarily through money-lenders, which led to large scale indebtedness.
• Small land holdings: It is fragmented and 87% of farmers are small farmers doing subsistence farming.
• Low productivity: Indian farms are smaller (1-2 hectares on average), making it harder to achieve economies of scale.
• Low mechanization:It is relatively low and Indian farmers do not utilise many high-yield input varieties used in other agri-producing countries.
• High logistics costs:India’s cost of logistics is currently around 14% of GDP – higher than developed country exporters like the US (9.5%).
• Limited value addition: India is a more prolific exporter of primary commodities than of value-added agriculture products – the country ranks 10th globally in processed meat, 18th in the export of processed fruits and vegetables and 35th in dairy.
  • Reasons for low value addition include relative lack of private sector investment and adequate incentives.
• Procurement: 69 to 73% of the rice and wheat produced in 14 years was not procured by FCI/state agencies.
  • Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state government agencies are one of the main platforms available to the farmers for sale of agriculture produce, but these agencies cannot be a wholesome substitute for an efficient marketing system, said the 4th volume of the Dalwai Committee Report on doubling farmers income.
• Shortage of APMC markets:In 5 states—Bihar, Kerala, Manipur, Mizoram and Sikkim—these markets do not exist.
  • Further, there is no APMC market in the UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli too.
• Infrastructure shortage:The poor state of infrastructure in these markets is another important aspect which continues to be ignored. Just 15 per cent of the APMC markets have cold storage facilities. Weighing facilities are available in only 49 per cent of the markets.

Reforms suggested

• ICAR and SAUsshould develop models of farming system for different types of socioeconomic and bio physical settings combining all their technologies in a package with focus on farm income.
  • This would involve combining technology and best practices covering production, protection and post-harvest value addition for each sub systems with other sub systems like crop sequences, crop mix, livestock, horticulture, forestry.
  • Such shift requires interdisciplinary approach to develop on knowledge of all disciplines.
• Aboutone third of the increase in farmers’ income is easily attainable through better price realization, efficient post-harvest management, competitive value chains and adoption of allied activities.
  • This requires comprehensivereforms in market, land lease and raising of trees on private land.
• Agriculture has suffered due to absence of modern capital and modern knowledge.
  • There is a need to liberalise agriculture to attract responsible private investmentsin production and market.
  • Similarly, FPOs and FPCs can play big role in promoting small farm business.
• Precision farming:Evidence is growing about scope of agronomic practices like precision farming to raise production and income of farmers substantially.
• Target markets for export:Identify markets with high export potential for competitive value chains and sign beneficial bilateral or multilateral trade agreements with them, raising sanitary and phytosanitary production levels to meet their quality standards and negotiating with them to remove non-tariff barriers.
• Solve Value Chain Clusters (VCC) holistically with focus on value addition:The clusters would also serve to converge the government’s spends and schemes, as well as seek any additional funding required, for building the necessary infrastructure at competitive costs for value addition, promoting research and development and promoting “Brand India” in global markets.
• Similarly, modern machinery such aslaser land leveller, precision seeder and planter, and practices like SRI (system of rice intensification), direct seeded rice, zero tillage, raised bed plantation and ridge plantation allow technically highly efficient farming.
  • However, these technologies developed by the public sector have very poor marketability.
  • They require strong extension for the adoption by farmers
• Technological innovations, along with price support measures and the supply of subsidized key inputs like irrigation, fertilizer, and electricity, have played an important role in the growth of Indian agriculture.
• A policy shift from price to income support under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) program is deemed better as it would incentivize farmers as money is transferred to their bank accountsand bring in much needed efficiency in input use

Conclusion

The government should shift its focus from providing only price support to farmers and focus on building better infrastructure, minimizing the gap between farmers and the market, land reforms, policy reforms to increase flow of credit to farmers, establishing food-processing industries for perishable goods, providing better irrigation facilities etc so, that agriculture emerges as a viable means of sustenance.

Value Addition

Initiatives by the government

• Per Drop More Crop : Centre set up a Micro Irrigation Fund under NABARD with a corpus of 2000cr and 3000crfor 2019 and 2020 respectively.
  • Assistance to states will be given at concessional rates.
  • The target is to bring 10 million hectares under Micro-Irrigation.
• Diversification towards high value crops: IFPRI and ICAR are promoting horticulture crops such as pomegranate and mushroom farming with adequate skills training to farmers.
• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): Enhance horticulture production, augment farmers, income and strengthen nutritional security; Improve productivity by way of quality germplasm, planting material and water use efficiency through Micro Irrigation.
• Soil Health Cards: The objectives of the Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme are to issue soil health cards to farmers every two years so as to provide a basis to address nutritional deficiencies in fertilization practices.Soil testing reduces cultivation cost by application of right quantity of fertilizer. It ensures additional income to farmers by increase in yields and it also promotes sustainable farming.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana:
  • In order to promote organic farming, the government has started the Paramparagat Krish iVikas Yojana (PKVY), under which 2 lakh hectareshas been made suitable for organic farming thereby benefitting 5 lakh farmers.
  • It is to to ensure a successful “Organic Farming Revolution” in India on the lines of “Green Revolution” so that the farming community benefits from it.
• Ensuring Credit availability to enhance productivity
  • Kisan Credit Cardsprovides agriculture credit to farmers at subsidized rates, with a 2% interest subvention (IS) and Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI) of 3% so as to make the effective rate of interest as 4%.
  • PM-KISAN:With a view to provide income support to all farmers’ families across the country, to enable them to take care of expenses related to agriculture and allied activities as well as domestic needs, the Central Government started a new Central Sector Scheme, namely, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAmman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
    • The scheme aims to provide a payment of Rs. 6000/- per year, in three 4-monthly installments of Rs. 2000/- to the farmers, subject to certain exclusions relating to higher income groups.
  • Minimum Support Price wasenhanced to 1.5 times the cost of production for the year 2019-2020.

Topic: Government Budgeting.

5. The Blue Economy can contribute significantly to India’s prosperity while preserving the health of its oceans. Evaluate the measures announced in the recent budget for holistic development of blue economy. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: Down to Earth , Insights on India

Why the question:  

The interim budget speech delivered by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 provided a boost to Blue Economy 2.0.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the potential of blue economy and India’s strengths and weaknesses in this regard. Also, to write about measures announced in the budget.

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: 

Start by defining blue economy and its components.

Body:

Frist, write about the importance of Blue Economy; Contribute to food security, poverty alleviation, Mitigation and resilience to the impacts of climate change, Enhanced trade and investment, Enhanced maritime connectivity. Explain these points in detail.

Next, write about measures announced in the budget with respect to blue economy. Write India’s strengths and weaknesses in harnessing blue economy in India.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

“Blue Economy” refers to strategic and sustainable use of Marine Resources for the development of Economy and the well-being of human. Gunter Pauli’s book, “The Blue Economy: 10 years, 100 innovations, 100 million jobs” (2010) brought the Blue Economy concept into prominence. It offers “Green Approach” to meet the aspirations of mankind. India is endowed with a vast coastline of approximately 7500 Km and hence better placed to harness the “potential of oceans” – with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.02 mn. sq.km. It is an upcoming sunrise sector.

The interim budget speech delivered by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 provided a boost to Blue Economy 2.0 with the announcement of a new scheme “for restoration and adaptation measures, coastal aquaculture, and mariculture with an integrated and multi-sectoral approach”.

Body

Potential of blue economy for sustainable economic growth

• Economy: Blue economy, through sustainable use of oceans, has great potential for boosting the economic growth by providing opportunities for income generation and jobs etc.
  • It can support food security, and diversification to address new resources for energy, new drugs valuable chemicals, protein food, deep sea minerals, security etc.
  • At least 3-5% of global GDP is derived from oceans
• Socio-Economic Development:
  • Blue economy presents India with an unprecedented opportunity to meet its national socio-economic objectives as well as strengthen connectivity with neighbours.
  • Blue Economy can help in focusing on livelihood generation, achieving energy security, building ecological resilience, and improving health and living standards of coastal communities.
  • Blue economy would reinforce and strengthen the efforts of the Indian government as it strives to achieve the SDGs of hunger and poverty eradication along with sustainable use of marine resources by 2030.
• Environmental Benefits:
  • Mangroves and other vegetated ocean habitats sequester 25 percent of the extra CO2 from fossil fuels, i.e., Blue Carbon.
  • Protection of coastal communities from disasters like floods and storms.
  • A Sustainable Blue Economy can help to achieve commitments under UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030, Paris climate agreement 2015 and the UN Ocean Conference 2017
• Renewable Energy:
  • Sustainable marine energy can play a vital role in social and economic development.
  • As energy sources on the surface are limited, in the near future the dependency on marine resources will increase, which will require more human resource to be deployed in the field of environment engineering and marine resource protection
• Mineral Wealth:
  • According to ISA there are vast reserves of Poly-metallic Nodules, sulphides, cobalt rich ferro-mangenese crust( rich in cobalt, bismuth, iron, lead, platinum).
  • ISA has notified two major areas “clariton-clipperton fracture zone” and Central Indian Ocean Basin.
  • India has already signed a contract and entered in the league with Japan, USA, China
• Fisheries: Sustainable fisheries can generate more revenue, more fish and help restore fish stocks.
• Maritime Transport:
  • Over 80% of international goods traded are transported by sea.
  • Marine services sector could serve as the backbone of its blue economy and help India become 10 trillion dollar economy by 2022.
  • Indian Ocean is a major conduit of trade with as much as 80% of global oil trade happening through it.
  • Tourism:
  • Ocean and coastal tourism can bring jobs and economic growth.
• Climate Change and Bio-diversity:
  • Oceans are an important carbon sink (blue carbon) and help mitigate climate change.
  • Oceans protect biodiversity, keep the planet cool, and absorb about 30% of global CO2 emissions.
  • Oceans cover three-quarters of the Earth’s surface, contain 97% of the Earth’s water, and represent 99% of the living area on the planet.
  • Waste Management:
  • Better waste management on land can help oceans recover.

Issues with sustainable development of blue economy

• Threat of sea borne terror:
  • Piracy and armed robbery, maritime terrorism, illicit trade in crude oil, arms, drug and human trafficking and smuggling of contraband etc.
• Natural Disasters:
  • Every year tsunamis, cyclones, hurricanes typhoons etc leave thousands of people stranded and property worth millions destroyed.
• Man-Made disasters:
  • Oil spills, climate change continue to risk the stability of the maritime domain.
• Impact of climate change:
  • Threats of both slow-onset events like sea-level rise and more intense and frequent weather events like cyclones.
  • Long-term climate change impacts on ocean systems like changes in sea temperature, acidity, and major oceanic currents.
• Marine pollution:
  • In form of excess nutrients from untreated sewerage, agricultural runoff, and marine debris such as plastics.
  • Deep sea mining can cause long term irreversible ecological damage to marine ecosystem.
• Geopolitical issues:
  • Geopolitical tussle between in various regions like South China Sea, Indian Ocean Region etc. and undermining International Laws like UNCLOS limits the countries from achieving the full potential of Blue Economy.
• Overexploitation of marine resources:
  • Illegal, unreported, and unregulated extraction of marine resources.
  • FAO estimates that approximately 57 percent of fish stocks are fully exploited and another 30 percent are over-exploited, depleted, or recovering.
• Unsustainable development near marine areas:
  • Physical alterations and destruction of marine and coastal habitats & landscapes largely due to coastal development, deforestation, & mining

Conclusion and Way forward

• India should look to adopt the sustainable approach of balancing economic benefits with sustainability for meeting the broader goals of growth, employment generation, equity and protection of environment.
• We need to come up with technology to explore the minerals deep down at seabed.
• India must focus on marine ICTs, and transport (shipping) and communication services, and the creation of a knowledge hubfor marine research and development.
• An effective response mechanism to address humanitarian crises and natural disastersshould be made for the evolving Indian Ocean security strategy.
• India should not look at its oceans as just water bodies, but as global stage for continued economic, social, and cultural dialogue.
• Ever increasing marine pollution must be abated and India’s vow to curb plastic pollution must be pursued relentlessly.
• Tackling the Global warming and submergence of low lying islands as part of Paris Climate deal agreement and initiatives like FIPIC.

Topic: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

6. Establishing a comprehensive research and development ecosystem in India faces several challenges that span institutional, financial, cultural, and structural dimensions. But, by strategically focusing on innovation in sunrise domains, India can address several challenges within its research ecosystem. Analyse. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: Live Mint

Why the question:

In her interim budget, Sitharaman spoke of a ₹1 trillion corpus to boost research and innovation in “sunrise domains.”

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the challenges it may face in establishing a comprehensive research ecosystem and potential of sunrise domains.

Directive word: 

Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving context.

Body:

First, write about the major impediment to R&D in the country – Funding, Infrastructure, collaboration, bureaucratic hurdles etc.

Next, write about the sunrise domains and their potential and how India can harness it to make research and development in India more inclusive, sustainable, and aligned with broader societal goals for holistic development.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

Sunrise industry is a colloquial term for a burgeoning sector or business in its infancy stage showing promise of a rapid boom. Sunrise industries are typically characterized by high growth rates, numerous start-ups, and an abundance of venture capital funding. These industries generate a lot of “buzz” as investors’ interest in its long-term growth prospect and public awareness increases.

In the interim budget, Finance minister spoke of a ₹1 trillion corpus to boost research and innovation in “sunrise domains.”

Body

A sunrise industry is often characterized by a high degree of innovation, and its rapid emergence may threaten to push into obsolescence a competing industry sector that is already in decline. Because of its dim long-term prospects, the competing industry sector is referred to as a sunset industry.

The following are the few examples of the sunrise industry:

• IT industry of California and Bangalore
• Hydrogen fuel production
• Petrochemical industry
• Food processing industry
• Space tourism
• Online Encyclopaedias

Key characteristics of Sunrise Industry:

• A sunrise industry is a new business or business sector showing potential for substantial and rapid growth.
• Notable characteristics of sunrise industries include high-growth rates and a lot of start-ups and venture capital funding.
• As a sunrise industry develops, it may transition to the maturity stage and then to the sunset stage.
• To remain relevant and on an upward trajectory, sunrise industries must prove their viability and sustainability.

Challenges faced by Sunrise industries

• Regulatory Challenges
  • Sunrise Industries in emerging markets often face regulatory challenges that can hamper their growth.
  • Regulations in these markets are often complex and can vary from one region to another.
  • This can make it difficult for businesses to operate and comply with the laws.
  • In addition, regulatory bodies in emerging markets may lack the resources and expertise to effectively enforce regulations.
  • This can create an environment where businesses can easily flout the law.
• Infrastructure Challenges
  • Emerging markets often lack the necessary infrastructure to support Sunrise Industries.
  • This includes access to reliable power, transportation, and communication networks.
  • Without these basic amenities, businesses may struggle to operate efficiently and effectively.
• Talent Challenges
  • Sunrise Industries require a highly skilled workforce with specialized skills.
  • However, emerging markets often lack the necessary talent pool to meet these demands.
  • This can make it difficult for businesses to find the right talent to drive their growth.
• Financial Challenges
  • Sunrise Industries require a significant amount of capital to fund their growth.
  • However, access to capital in emerging markets can be limited.
  • This can make it difficult for businesses to raise the necessary funds to fuel their growth.
• Competition Challenges
  • Sunrise Industries in emerging markets face intense competition from both local and international players.
  • Local businesses may have a better understanding of the market and may be able to offer lower prices.
  • International players may have more resources and expertise to compete effectively.

Way forward

• Businesses need to partner with local experts who understand the regulatory environment in these markets.
• Businesses need to invest in building their own infrastructure or partner with local businesses to leverage their infrastructure.
• Businesses need to invest in training and development programs to build the necessary skills in their workforce. They can also partner with local universities and colleges to create a pipeline of talent.
• Businesses need to explore different financing options such as venture capital, private equity, and crowdfunding. They can also partner with local banks to access loans and other forms of financing.

Conclusion

Sunrise Industry is characterised as an Industry with rapid innovation and product development for which the market is not yet saturated with only a handful of frequent buyers. These industries have high growth potential and that is the reason why they create buzz. To survive in a sunset industry, companies may need to adapt and innovate to meet changing market conditions. This may involve diversifying their product or service offerings, adopting new technologies, or entering new markets. Companies may also need to restructure and streamline their operations in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

General Studies – 4

Topic: laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance;

7. Moral philosophy empowers us through its method and substance to reflect upon and talk about challenging moral issues. Elaborate. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Lexicon Publications.

Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about how Moral philosophies guide our moral compass to describe conscience, our inner sense of right and wrong offers a framework to guide our actions.

Directive:

Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Start by describing what you understand by moral compass (conscience) which governs the actions you take in day-to-day life.

Body:

Elaborate on how the moral philosophies aids in deciding what right from is wrong. Use examples to substantiate your points. Example, Rights Theory that obligates us to respect the rights of others and live up to our obligations towards them.

Another Example is to utilitarian perspective to do maximum good for maximum people.

Conclusion:

Complete the answer by bring out how the moral compass prevents us acting purely from self-interest and helps us live a life of integrity.

Introduction

Moral compass can be defined as the person’s ability to judge what is right and wrong and act accordingly. Some people also define it as a set of values that guides our decision-making, affects our actions, and defines us as a person.

In essence, a moral compass is just as its name suggests. It points us in the right direction. Even if all of us have different definitions of right and wrong, our moral compass provides an objective standard. It doesn’t just help us see what is right and wrong. It also helps us see what must be done for the greater good even if it may not be beneficial for us.

Body

Role of moral philosophy to decide right and wrong

• The quest to identify unifying ethical principles is something that has vexed philosophers for centuries. But moral philosophies through ages have evolved and it helps us in contemplating between choices that we need to make.
  • Eg: Should we use utilitarian principleor follow Kants principle of human dignity and treat every man as an end in himself.
• Aristotle’s Golden meansadvocates the middle path and to lead a life of balance.
• The core of Gandhian philosophy is that Only right means leads to right destinations and ends do not justify the means as Machiavelli advocated. Because on sowing the seeds of babool, one cannot reap rose flowers. Similarly, he that soweth vice does not reap virtue.
• John Rawls gave a comprehensive doctrine on Justice as Fairnessand came up with a thought experiment behind a veil of ignorance. This was to ensure that distribution of resources in a society must seem fair and only then there will be justice.

Ultimately conscience will guide us home. It is the canvas of your emotional & psychological behaviour. The conscience keeps all the records of our conscious and subconscious behaviours, thoughts & actions.

If your body is a temple, your conscience is the God. A clear conscience helps us to connect to our inner powers & treasures, through its intuitive language, to guide through moments of crisis and difficult situations.

Conclusion

As long as we know right from wrong and have an active aware conscience, we will follow a moral compass. Without basic rules surrounding morality, there will always be chaos. This is where moral philosophies can aid an individual.

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