[Mission 2024] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 6 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: Salient features of world’s physical geography.

1. Why is the theory of plate tectonics considered to be more complete than the continental drift theory? Examine. (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:

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 write about plate tectonics and the movement of continents and various theories put forward to explain them.

Body:

Write in brief about the continental drift theory and explains it briefly – forces it considers for the movement, supporting evidences it considers, critique of theory regarding the movement of the continents and its acceptance among scientists etc.

In the next part, write about plate tectonic theory, the mechanism of it and how it successfully explained the movement of continents. Use small and neat diagrams for better representation.

Conclusion:

Mention about general importance of the two theories and conclude your answer.

Introduction

Continental drift describes one of the earliest ways geologists thought continents moved over time. It was a theory that explained how continents shift position on Earth’s surface due to various forces existing on the earth. The theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth’s solid outer crust, the lithosphere, is separated into plates that move over the asthenosphere, the molten upper portion of the mantle. Oceanic and continental plates come together, spread apart, and interact at boundaries all over the planet. Today, the theory of continental drift has been replaced by the science of plate tectonics.

Body:

Continental drift

• The theory of continental drift is most associated with the scientist Alfred Wegener. In the early 20th century, Wegener published a paper explaining his theory that the continental landmasses were “drifting” across the Earth, sometimes ploughing through oceans and into each other. He called this movement continental drift.
• Pangaea
  • Wegener was convinced that all of Earth’s continents were once part of an enormous, single landmass called Pangaea.
  • According to Wagener’s theory, during the Jurassic period, about 200 to 130 million years ago, Pangaea started to break up into two smaller continents, which he called Laurasia and Gondwanaland.
• His theory was inspired by the fact that edges of the continents south America and Africa fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, fossil remains of the same extinct animal or plant can be found across several continents, identical rocks could be found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. These rocks were the same type and the same age , evidence from ancient glaciers.
• Scientists did not accept Wegener’s theory of continental drift. One of the elements lacking in the theory was the mechanism for how it works, why did the continents drift and what patterns did they follow

Plate tectonics:

• Wegener’s idea eventually helped to form the theory of plate tectonics, but while Wegener was alive, scientists did not believe that the continents could move.
• Continents rest on massive slabs of rock called tectonic plate The plates are always moving and interacting in a process called plate tectonics.
• Plate tectonics is the theory explaining the motion of the outer crust or the lithosphere of earth. Lithosphere is divided into tectonics plates. The crust moves due to convective forces generated within the asthenosphere, fuelled by the internal heat of the earth’s core.

How  plate tectonics is an improvement over continental drift theory:

• Plate tectonic explains the mechanism of the motion of the tectonic plates while continental drift theory left this question completely unanswered.
  • Tectonic plates have been constantly moving over the globe throughout the history of the earth. It is not the continent that moves as believed by Wegener. Continents are part of a plate and what moves is the plate.
• Wegener had thought of all the continents to have initially existed as a super continent in the form of Pangaea. However, later discoveries reveal that the continental masses, resting on the plates, have been wandering all through the geological period, and Pangaea was a result of converging of different continental masses that were parts of one or the other plates.
• At the time that Wegener proposed his theory of continental drift, most scientists believed that the earth was a solid, motionless body. However, concepts of sea floor spreading and the unified theory of plate tectonics have emphasised that both the surface of the earth and the interior are not static and motionless but are dynamic.
• Sea floor spreading:
  • The mobile rock beneath the rigid plates is believed to be moving in a circular manner. The heated material rises to the surface, spreads and begins to cool, and then sinks back into deeper depths. This cycle is repeated over and over to generate what scientists call a convection cell or convective flow
  • The ultimate proof of this was the discovery of “magnetic stripes “on the seafloor later in the 1960s: the magnetic domains in oceanic rocks recorded reversal of Earth’s magnetic field over time. The pattern was symmetric to the ridge, supporting the idea of symmetric seafloor spreading. The idea of subduction zoneswas born
  • With plate tectonics, we have a theory that explains Wegener’s observations and how lithosphere can be produced and consumed so that Earth does not change its size
• Wegener’s continental drift theory lacked was a propelling mechanism. Other scientists wanted to know what was moving these continents around. Unfortunately, Wegener could not provide a convincing answer. The technological advances necessitated by the Second World War made possible the accumulation of significant evidence now underlying modern plate tectonic theory.
• The following two forces are too small to bring in change:
  • Pole-fleeing or centrifugal force:
    • The spinning of Earth on its own axis creates a centrifugal force i.e., force oriented away from the axis of  rotation towards the equator. Wegener believed the centrifugal force of the planet caused the super continent to break apart and pushed continents away from the Poles toward the equator. Therefore, He called this drifting  mechanism as the “pole-fleeing or centrifugal force”
  • Tidal force:
    • Wegener tried to attribute the westward drift of the Americas to lunar-solar drag i.e., by invoking tidal force that is the gravitational forces of the sun and the moon .He also admitted that it is probable that pole- fleeing or centrifugal force and tidal force are responsible for the journey of continents. Wegener failed to devise a sound mechanism for the movement of the continents. For Wegener the drifting mechanism was the most difficult question to solve.
  • Plate tectonicsis the grand unifying theory of geosciences that explains
    • Movement of continents
    • Earthquakes, volcanism most major features on Earth’s surface, including mountain building, formation of new lithosphere ,consumption of old lithosphere, mid-ocean ridges

Conclusion:

It took nearly 60 years for the idea of continental drift to be scientifically confirmed in the form of plate tectonic theory. Ultimately it added new dimension in the understanding of the global distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes and identification of disaster-prone areas.

Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.

2. Glacial landscapes are not only visually striking but also provide valuable information about the processes that have shaped our planet over geological time scales. Explain. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

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 the various forms of glacial landforms and their significance.

Directive word: 

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 describing glaciers and its types.

Body:

In the first part, write about the erosional landforms created by the glaciers.

Next, write about the depositional landforms created by the glaciers.

Next, the significance of glacial landforms in geomorphic process, economy and ecology.

Conclusion:

Mention a way forward to protect the glaciers from the effects of black carbon.

Introduction

A glacier is a large mass of ice that is persistently moving under its own weight over the land or as linear flows down the slopes of mountains in broad trough-like valleys. Glaciers are formed in the areas where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation (melting and sublimation) over many years, often centuries. Glaciers move under the influence of the force of gravity.

Body

Key features of glacial landforms:

Erosional Landforms:

• Cirque:
  • Cirques are horseshoe shaped, deep, long and wide troughs or basins with very steep to vertically dropping high walls at its head as well as sides.
  • Cirques are often found along the head of Glacial Valley
  • The accumulated ice cuts these cirques while moving down the mountain tops.
  • After the glacier melts, water fills these cirques, and they are known as cirque lake.
• Horns:
  • Horns form through head-ward erosion of the cirque walls.
  • If three or more radiating glaciers cut headward until their cirques meet, high, sharp pointed and steep-sided peaks called horns form.
• Aretes:
  • Arete is a narrow ridge of rock which separates two valleys.
  • Aretes are typically formed when two glacial cirques erode head-wards towards one another
  • The divides between Cirque side walls or head walls get narrow because of progressive erosion and turn into serrated or saw-toothed ridges referred to as aretes with very sharp crest and a zig-zag outline.
• Glacial Valleys:
  • Glaciated valleys are trough-like and U-shaped with wide, flat floors and relatively smooth, and steep sides.
  • When the glacier disappears, and water fills the deep narrow sections of the valley, a ribbon lake is formed.
• Fjords/Fiords:
  • A fjord or fiord is a long, narrow and steep-sided inlet created by a glacier
  • They are formed where the lower end of a very deep glacial trough is filled with sea water
  • Fjords are common in Norway, Chile, and New Zealand etc.
• Hanging Valleys:
  • A hanging valley is a tributary valley that is higher than the main valley. Hanging valleys are common along glaciated fjords and U-shaped valleys.
  • The main valley is eroded much more rapidly than the tributary valleys as it contains a much larger glacier
  • After the ice has melted tributary valley, therefore, hangs above the main valley
  • The faces of divides or spurs of such hanging valleys opening into main glacial valleys are quite often truncated to give them an appearance like triangular facets.
  • Often, waterfalls form at or near the outlet of the upper valley
  • Thus, the hanging valley may form a natural head of water for generating hydroelectric power

Depositional Landforms:

• Outwash plains:
  • An outwash plain is a plain at the foot of the glacial mountain
  • They are made up of fluvioglacial sediments, washed out from the terminal moraines by the streams and channels of the stagnant ice mass.
  • As it flows, the glacier grinds the underlying rock surface and carries the debris along.
• Moraines:
  • The unassorted coarse and fine debris dropped by the melting glaciers is called glacial till.
  • The long ridges of deposits of these glacial till is called as Moraines
  • Depending on its position, moraines are classified into be ground, lateral, medial and terminal moraine.
• Eskers:
  • An esker is a long, winding sinuous ridge of stratified sand and gravel
  • Eskers are frequently several kilometres long and, because of their peculiar uniform shape, are somewhat like railway embankments
  • When glaciers melt in summer, the water flows on the surface of the ice or seeps down along the margins or even moves through holes in the ice.
  • These waters accumulate beneath the glacier and flow like streams in a channel beneath the ice.
  • Such streams flow over the ground with ice forming its banks.
• Drumlins:
  • Drumlins are smooth oval shaped ridge-like features composed mainly of glacial till with some masses of gravel and sand.
  • The drumlins form due to the dumping of rock debris beneath heavily loaded ice through fissures in the glacier.
  • The long axes of drumlins are parallel to the direction of ice movement.
  • They may measure up to 1000m in length and 30-35 m or so in height.
  • One end of the drumlins facing the glacier called the stoss

Significance of Glaciers:

• Glaciers and Thermo (heat) Haline (salt) Circulation:
  • The melting fresh water from glaciers alters the ocean, not only by directly contributing to the global sea level rise, but also because it pushes down the heavier salt water, thereby changing the currents in the ocean.
• Glaciers and winds:
  • As the planet’s air conditioner, the polar ice caps impact weather and climate dynamics, such as the jet stream.
• Glaciers and climate change:
  • Glaciers are also early indicators of climate changes that will have a somewhat more delayed impact on other parts of the Earth system. Glaciers are sentinels of climate change.
• Glaciers provide drinking water:
  • People living in arid climates near mountains often rely on glacial melt for their water for part of the year. e.g.: Ganges, Yangtze
• Glaciers irrigate crops:
  • In Switzerland’s Rhone Valley, farmers have irrigated their crops for hundreds of years by channelling meltwater from glaciers to their fields.
• Glaciers help generate hydroelectric power:
  • Scientists and engineers in Norway, central Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and South America have worked together to tap into glacial resources, using electricity that has been generated in part by damming glacial meltwater.

Threats posed by Black Carbon:

• Black carbon results from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. BC is produced both naturally and by human activities as a result of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuels, and biomass. Primary sources include emissions from diesel engines, cook stoves, wood burning and forest fires.
• The fine particles absorb light and about a million times more energy than carbon dioxide.
• It is said to be the second largest contributor to climate change after CO2. But unlike CO2, which can stay in the atmosphere for years together, black carbon is short-lived and remains in the atmosphere only for days to weeks before it descends as rain or snow.
• Black carbon absorbs solar energy and warms the atmosphere. When it falls to earth with precipitation, it darkens the surface of snow and ice, reducing their albedo (the reflecting power of a surface), warming the snow, and hastening melting.
• India is the second largest emitter of black carbon in the world, with emissions expected to increase dramatically in the coming decades, says an April 2019 study in the journal Atmospheric Research, with the Indo Gangetic plains said to be the largest contributor.

Conclusion

Glaciers are one of the most visible icons of the “cryosphere”, the cold parts of the world where temperatures fall below the freezing point of water, a natural tipping point that profoundly changes the environment. From the Andes to the Himalayas, the loss of mountain glaciers is a real concern.

value addition

Glaciation generally gives rise to erosional features in the highlands and depositional features on the lowlands, though these processes are not mutually exclusive because a glacier plays a combined role of erosion, transportation and deposition throughout its course. It erodes its valley by two processes viz. plucking & abrasion.

• Plucking → Glacier freezes the joints & beds of underlying rocks, tears out individual blocks & drags them away.
• Abrasion → Glacier scratches, scrapes, polishes & scours the valley floor with the debris frozen into it.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

3. Evaluate performance of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in improving sanitation facilities and making India open defecation free (ODF). (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question:

In the past decade, improving sanitation coverage has been one of the key public policy miracles in India.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the successes and limitations of Swachh Bharat Mission in making India ODF free.

Directive:

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 giving a brief about aims of Swachh Bharat Mission

Body:

First, in brief, write about the major components of Swachh Bharat Mission

Next, write about achievements of Swachh Bharat Mission – constructing over 100 million household toilets in rural India, providing over 99% of households with access to toilets, raising public awareness about the importance of cleanliness and sanitation, investing in basic sanitation infrastructure etc.

Next, write about the shortcomings of Swachh Bharat Mission – sustainability of the infrastructure and behavioural change it has created, the substantial funding required to construct sanitation infrastructure, limited attention to waste management, an urban-rural divide in achieving its goals etc.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward to overcome the above limitations.

Introduction

Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched on October 2, 2014, to fulfil the vision of a cleaner India by October 2, 2019.  The objective of the Mission was to eliminate open defecation, eradicate manual scavenging, and promote scientific solid waste management.

In the past decade, rural India has witnessed remarkable progress in sanitation coverage, aligned with Goal 6 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Body

Achievements of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in promoting cleanliness and sanitation:

• Sanitation coverage in India: It surged from 39% in 2014 to 100% in 2019under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G).
  • SBM aimed to achieve Open Defecation Free(ODF) status by October 2019, with a subsequent goal to transition to ODF Plus by 2024-25.
• ODF Status:Currently, about 85% of villages have attained ODF Plus status.
• Toilet Access:According to the National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) Round 3, 95% of India’s rural population had toilet access, with 79% owning their facilities
  • This has helped reduce open defecation which leads to diseases.
• Public toilets: The mission has helped construct over 6 lakh community and publictoilets across India.
• Waste collection:Several cities and towns have seen improvements in door-to-door waste collection, waste segregation, and scientific waste processing through biomethanation plants, material recovery facilities etc.
  • This is helping tackle India’s immense waste management challenge.
• Behavioural Change and Awareness: The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan emphasized behavioural change through mass awareness campaigns, encouraging citizens to adopt cleaner practices.
  • Swachh Bharat Mission has helped bring sanitation and cleanliness into public discourselike never before.
• Competition for cleanliness: Activities like Swachhta leagues and rankings of clean citieshave created a positive competition between towns and cities to improve cleanliness systems and practices.
  • Surveys show rising public satisfaction with sanitation and cleanliness.
• Waste management: The mission has mobilized over Rs 20,000 croresfor investment in solid and liquid waste management systems. This is strengthening urban infrastructure across India.

Shortcomings of Swachh Bharat Mission:

• Low Toilet Usage:Despite achieving 100% sanitation coverage by 2019, only 85% of rural Indians utilize safe and hygienic toilets, indicating a usage gap.
• Quality and Infrastructure Issues: Problems such as malfunctioning facilities, unhygienic conditions, and structural defects like full pits or collapsing superstructures impede toilet usage.
• Water Scarcity Impact:Limited water access, particularly in rural areas like Gujarat’s Dahod district, contributes to increased non-usage of toilets.
• Behavioural and Social Norms: Cultural norms and behaviours influence toilet usage, with some households repurposing toilets for activities other than defecation.
• Caste-Based Variances:Toilet access and usage exhibit variations across castes, with surprising trends showing higher non-usage rates among upper castes.
• Challenges in Larger Households: Overcrowding and inadequate facilities pose challenges to toilet usage in larger households.
• Issues in solid waste management:While toilet construction has been successful, scientific collection, segregation and disposal of growing waste volumes remain an issue due to resource and capacity constraints of urban local bodies.
• Partial focus on plastic waste:The mission has focused mostly on toilet construction and solid waste. Effectively tackling and recycling plastic waste is still a gap area.
• Centralized approach and targets: The focus has been on meeting toilet construction targets in a centralized, top-down manner. Decentralized, community-driven efforts have been fewer.

Way forward

• Greater focus on behaviour changecommunication and public awareness campaigns, especially for hygienic toilet use, waste segregation and not littering. Engaging school children and youth groups can be highly impactful.
  1. The “Darwaza Band” campaignand community-level awareness programs have promoted positive sanitation norms.
• Innovations in Technology:Decentralized sewage treatment plants, as seen in Devanahalli, highlight technological advancements in sanitation.
• Strengthening capacities of urban local bodiesfor scientifically collecting, segregating, transporting and processing different types of waste. Mechanized sweeping, underground waste bins can be expanded.
• Linking with other programmes:Align sanitation initiatives with other related programs like the Jal Jeevan Mission for better outcomes.
• Developing localized waste management modelsthrough community participation, and public-private partnerships, so that solutions are tailored to local needs.
  1. Programs like the “Nirmal Gram Puraskar”foster community involvement and awareness in achieving open-defecation-free villages.
• Expanding solid waste processing infrastructurethrough biomethanation plants, material recovery facilities, composting units etc. across towns and cities.
• Improved monitoring for functionality and maintenanceof public/community toilets through citizen oversight and social audits.
• Expanding coverage of toiletsto include slums and public spaces like bus stops, and parks, through customizable, prefabricated toilet models.
• Incentivizing waste segregation, recycling and reuse through both regulatory policies as well as awareness programs on circular economy principles.

Conclusion

The mission should transition from a toilet-construction-focused programme to a more holistic, decentralized, community-driven cleanliness model relying on public participation for sustainability. The aim should be to make Swachhata a national way of life.

Topic: Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

4. Women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) can play a significant role in tackling malnutrition by combining economic empowerment, education, and community engagement. Discuss. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question:

Uttar Pradesh is a remarkable example of the importance of women’s empowerment in tackling malnutrition by supporting community-based micro enterprises led by self-help groups.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the impact of malnutrition and suggest measures to tackle malnutrition in India and role of women SGHs in doing so.

Directive word: 

Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving statistic regarding malnutrition in India based on NFHS-5.

Body:

In the first part, write about the consequences of malnutrition – which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals). The other is overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer).

Next, write about how women SHGs play a crucial role in ensuring food security and nutrition within families, and their empowerment can have a significant positive impact on reducing hunger.

Next, suggest measures needed to tackle hunger and malnutrition in the country.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

In malnutrition, the body becomes deficient in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients required to maintain healthy tissues and organs. It occurs in people who are either undernourished or over nourished.

India has 5,772,472 children below five years affected by severe wasting, the most in the world, alerted UNICEF. It had been reported in 2017 by the National Health Survey that approximately 19 crore people in the country were compelled to sleep on an empty stomach every night.

Body

Malnutrition in India

• India, currently has the largest number of undernourished people in the world around 195 million.
• Nearly 47 million or 4 out of 10 children in India do not meet their full human potential because of chronic undernutrition or stunting.
• 9% of children under 5 years are stunted and 20.8% are wasted, compared to the Asia average of 22.7% and 9.4% respectively.
• Rate of overweight and obesity continues to rise, affecting almost a fifth of the adults, at 21.6% of women and 17.8% of men.
• Inequities in food and health systems increase inequalities in nutrition outcomes that in turn can lead to more inequity, perpetuating a vicious cycle.

Consequences of malnutrition

• Malnutrition results in a reduced ability to work and increased susceptibility to disease, and depending on the nutrients lacking: anaemia, blindness, mental retardation, or death.
• Undernutrition increases the risk of infectious diseases like diarrhoea, measles, malaria and pneumonia.
• Chronic malnutrition can impair a young child’s physical and mental development. Cognitive impairment resulting from malnutrition may result in diminished productivity in academic performance.
• As per estimates of World Bank, childhood stunting may result in a loss of height among adults by 1%, which may further lead to a reduction in individuals economic productivity by 1.4%
• Undernutrition puts women at a greater risk of pregnancy-related complications and death (obstructed labour and haemorrhage).
• Widespread child undernutrition greatly impedes a country’s socioeconomic development and potential to reduce poverty.
• India loses 4% of its GDP annually due to malnourishment.

Role of SHG in tackling malnutrition

• Women’s self-help groups (SHG) are fast emerging as an ideal platform to effect change in health and nutrition behaviors.
• As forums of adult women, they directly reach target populations of pregnant and lactating women, as well as other women within the household who might play an instrumental role in decision making, e.g. mothers-in-law and grandmothers.
• In addition, these platforms are often specifically aimed at the poor and marginal households within rural communities who are at the greatest risk.
• Finally, through the activities that SHGs engage in– savings and credit, agriculture and livelihoods, support for women– they are already building social capital working towards the economic, social and political empowerment of women.
• Interventions focused on health and nutrition are now layered on to the vast network of existing SHGs and include BCC and counseling, information on coordination with FLWs and service delivery.

Case study

The Jagriti Prerna Mahila Laghu Udyog, a a women’s self-help group in Malva block of Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh is involved in delivering ‘take home ration’ (THR) to 282 Anganwadis in the block, benefitting a total of 25,677 people, including children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years, pregnant and lactating women and adolescent girls. The SHG is a manufacturing unit of ‘take home ration’ The SHG is a manufacturing unit of take home ration and its members belong to Scheduled Caste and OBC communities, indicating social inclusiveness in the initiative. The group is instrumental in carrying forward the state government’s Take Home Ration Scheme that aims to fight malnutrition by the distribution of nutritious supplementary ration for people, especially children.

Further, the SHG microenterprise has been able to settle Rs 48 lakh against the advance of Rs 60 lakh through revenue generated from the business. To serve the dual goals of combating malnutrition and fostering women’s self-reliance, the Yogi Adityanath government has engaged at least 60,200 women SHGs to effectively r un the state’s Take Home Ration Scheme.

Way Forward

• Government programs on malnutrition can be implemented through SHGs.
• This will not only improve the transparency and efficiency but also bring our society closer to Self-Governance as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Constant and enduring structural handholding support from the self-help group promoting institutions (SHPIs).
• Frequent awareness camps can be organised by the Rural Development department authorities to create awareness about different schemes.
• Periodic capacity-building of all members, to make the group the collective.
• With the Government’s focus on digital financial inclusion, investing in training of group members for transition towards technological platforms.
• It is important to invest in providing the right kind of support to maximize the impact these groups can have on livelihoods.
• Emphasising SHG movement on women’s entrepreneurship as an engine of growth in rural India.
• There should not be any discrimination among members based on caste, religion or political affiliations

Conclusion

SHG approach is an enabling, empowering, and bottom-up approach for rural development that has provided considerable economic and non-economic externalities to low-income households in developing countries. SHG approach is being hailed as a sustainable tool to combat poverty, combining a for-profit approach that is self-sustaining, and a poverty alleviation focus that empowers low-income households. It is increasingly becoming a tool to exercise developmental priorities for governments in developing countries.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

5. Biodiversity loss can lead to imbalances in ecosystems. Restoring biodiversity is a multifaceted challenge that demands global cooperation, innovative approaches, and a deep understanding of ecological systems. Examine. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Down to Earth , Insights on India

Why the question:

The Global Reporting Initiative Biodiversity Standard was developed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), an international independent standards organisation that assists businesses, governments and other entities understand and report their impacts on issues related to climate change, human rights and corruption.

Key Demand of the question:

To write causes of biodiversity loss across the world and measures needed to prevent it.

Directive:

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: 

Start by giving context.

Body:

First, write about the reasons for biodiversity loss.

Next, write about the impact of biodiversity loss – directly impact human health when ecosystem services are compromised.

Next, write about the ways to restore biodiversity and ensure sustainable development.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

Biological diversity is the resource upon which families, communities, nations and future generations depend. It is the link between all organisms on earth, binding each into an interdependent ecosystem, in which all species have their role. It is the web of life.

The Global Reporting Initiative Biodiversity Standard was developed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), an international independent standards organisation that assists businesses, governments and other entities understand and report their impacts on issues related to climate change, human rights and corruption.

Body

Biodiversity in India

• India hasfour biodiversity hotspots and 90% of this area has been lost, according to the Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) new report entitled ‘State of India’s Environment in Figures 2021’.
• As per the data compiled in the report, theIndo-Burma hotspot is the worst affected and has lost 95% of its vegetation area, going from 23.73 lakh sq. km to 1.18 lakh sq. km.
• Another worrying aspect is that in these four hotspots, 25 species have also become extinct.

Loss of biodiversity: Impact on human health

• Prone to disaster: Biodiversity builds resilience against natural disasters like floods and storms, besides offering protective barriers against pandemics.
  • Loss of over 35% of the earth’s mangrove forests has made us vulnerable to floods and is resulting in rising sea levels that threaten coastal agriculture.
• Deforestation and zoonosis: Deforestation, with loss of multiple plant species, is damaging soil integrity and causing landslides precipitated by loose soil.
  • Deforestation also leads to increased spread of zoonotic infections, by removing the protective boundaries between wildlife and human communities.
• Food security: The availability of biodiversity is often a “safety net” that increases food security and the adaptability of some local communities to external economic and ecological disturbances.
  • Farming practices that maintain and make use of agricultural biodiversity can also improve food security.
• Ecosystem services: According to IUCN, the World Conservation Union, the monetary value of goods and services provided by ecosystems is estimated to amount to some US$33 trillion per year.
• Energy security: Wood fuel provides more than half the energy used in developing countries. Shortage of wood fuel occurs in areas with high population density without access to alternative and affordable energy sources.
• Clean water: The continued loss of forests and the destruction of watersheds reduce the quality and availability of water supplied to household use and agriculture.
• Health: A balanced diet depends on the availability of a wide variety of foods, which in turn depends on the conservation of biodiversity. Moreover, greater wildlife diversity may decrease the spread of many wildlife pathogens to humans.
• Global warming: Carbon sequestration refers to the long term removal or capturing of carbon from the atmosphere to control or mitigate global warming, and this is done naturally using biological, physical and chemical processes.
  • A decline in these services means a decline in the capturing of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Conclusion

Biodiversity in natural ecosystems is of the utmost importance. It helps provide the resources and services that we rely on every day. The development and urbanization of humans poses a serious risk for natural biodiversity.

If nothing is done to reduce these changes, there will be disastrous consequences. There are many things we can do in politics, science, and even in our daily lives to help fix these issues. As humans we need to understand the risks associated with our consuming lifestyles and work hard to fix what is already damaged and prevent future harm.

Value Addition

Goods and Services provided by ecosystems include:

• Provision of food, fuel and fibre
• Provision of shelter and building materials
• Purification of air and water
• Detoxification and decomposition of wastes
• Stabilization and moderation of the Earth’s climate
• Moderation of floods, droughts, temperature extremes and the forces of wind
• Generation and renewal of soil fertility, including nutrient cycling
• Pollination of plants, including many crops
• Control of pests and diseases
• Maintenance of genetic resources as key inputs to crop varieties and livestock breeds, medicines, and other products
• Cultural and aesthetic benefits
• Ability to adapt to change

General Studies – 4

Topic: Work culture, Quality of service delivery,

6. A strong ethical foundation is crucial for the long-term sustainability of an organization. Recognizing and rewarding ethical behaviour contributes to a positive and resilient organizational culture. Discuss. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Why the question:

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

Key Demand of the question:

To write about components of ethical workplace culture and ways to build it.

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 describing an ethical work culture.

Body:

Write about the major factors that create and maintain a culture of ethical behaviour – leadership, organizational structure, policies and procedures, training and communication, rewards and recognition, organizational values, and industry norms and regulations.

Next, write about ways to build ethical workplace culture and environment.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising.

Introduction

Work Culture or Organization Culture is set of collective beliefs, values, rules and behaviour which organisation as whole conforms to. In a layman approach it is culture that a group as an organisation follows. Culture varies with family, region, social class and hence in work environment.

Body

Components of an ethical workplace culture and environment

• Priority to employee rights
• Fair procedures and treatment
• Equity in pay and promotion,
• Promotes tolerance, compassion, loyalty and honesty in the treatment of customers and employees.

Ways to build ethical culture at workplace

• A clear expectation for behaviour among all members of an organization is the first step towards a more ethical organizational culture.
• Organizational leaders must be mindful of their actions as others in the organization will likely follow their lead when it comes to ethical behaviour and attitudes.
• Offering opportunities for recognition, awards, and social reinforcements for desirable ethical behaviors’ can go a long way to promote the types of ethical culture desired in any organization.
• Workshops, easy to use reference materials, ongoing and readily available consultation from peers or mentors are just some of the many ways institutions can assist in training students and staff to best use the tools that are available to them to participate in better and more thoughtful ethical decision making.
• Ethical ambiguities can be reduced by creating and disseminating an organizational code of ethics. It should state the organization’s primary values and the ethical rules that employees are expected to follow.
• The organization needs to provide formal mechanisms so that employees can discuss ethical dilemmas and report unethical behaviour without fear of reprimand. This might include creation of ethical counsellors, ombudsmen, or ethical officers.

Measures I would take to make workplace more ethical

• Lead by example:a leader leads from the front. We should be able to do what we preach and is the best way to motivate our subordinates. e.g. SAM MANEKSHAW, valor of Alexander
• Persuasion:Senior can persuade the subordinates by making them informed about values and output they would create if they perform better. If subordinate understand what tangible their efforts would lead, they get motivated and work toward achieving that goal.
• Fairness:we should be fair in the task allocation and should treat all our subordinates in a fair manner irrespective of their background. e.g. without any differences of caste or creed
• Transparency:a public servant should be transparent in his working and should be open to suggestions.
• Flexibility:we should be flexible, open to suggestions and should hear suggestions from experienced subordinates. this would give them recognition and at the same time would be beneficial for the organization.
• Recognition:give recognition to the employees who have worked on the ground will motivate them to work even harder the next time. e.g. mayo hawthorne experiment
• Incentivization:Incentives whether financial or awards create an atmosphere of competitiveness among subordinates and therefore they get motivates and improve their performance.
• Employee engagement:in various constructive activities will help them to channelize their energies in the right direction. e.g. doing some activities with the employees
• Grievance redressal:keeping some part of the day especially for hearing and solving grievances will help them to be self-motivated. e.g in armed forces officers have daily some time for the grievance redressal of the jawans.
• Adopting physical fitness and healthy lifestyle culture, yoga-meditation so that people can be physically and emotionally fit to perform their duties. Making motivational courses intrinsic part of training.

Conclusion

A self-motivated worker will work his heart out for the betterment of the organizations and leaders should strive their best to achieve it.

Topic: challenges of corruption.

7. Efforts must be intensified to improve governance frameworks and strengthen actions to improve the prevention, detection and sanctioning of corruption. Discuss. (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 improving efforts at combating corruption.

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.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Begin by defining corruption.

Body:

First, write about the major implications of corruption on political and social progress for countries at all levels of development. Write about the steps that are place to check and prevent corruption.

Next, write about the improvements needed in the governance frameworks to eliminate corruption in the country.

Conclusion:

Complete by writing a way forward.

Introduction

Corruption is dishonest behavior by those in positions of power. It starts with the tendency of using public office for some personal benefit. Moreover, it is unfortunate that corruption has, for many, become a matter of habit. It is so deeply entrenched that corruption is now considered a social norm. Hence, corruption implies the failure of ethics.

Body

Importance of fighting corruption:

• Corruption is an insidious plague that has a wide range of corrosive effects on societies. It undermines rule of law, leads to violations of human rights and allows organized crime to flourish.
• Corruption in India is not limited to collusive high-level scams.
• Petty corruption, which affects the delivery of basic services and rights to people, is rampant.
• Corruption impacts societies in a multitude of ways. In the worst cases, it costs lives. Short of this, it costs people their freedom, health or money. The cost of corruption can be divided into four main categories: political, economic, social and environmental.
• On the political front, corruption is a major obstacle to democracy and the rule of law. In a democratic system, offices and institutions lose their legitimacy when they’re misused for private advantage. This is harmful in established democracies, but even more so in newly emerging ones. It is extremely challenging to develop accountable political leadership in a corrupt climate.
• Economically, corruption depletes national wealth. Corrupt politicians invest scarce public resources in projects that will line their pockets rather than benefit communities, and prioritise high-profile projects such as dams, power plants, pipelines and refineries over less spectacular but more urgent infrastructure projects such as schools, hospitals and roads. Corruption also hinders the development of fair market structures and distorts competition, which in turn deters investment.
• Corruption corrodes the social fabric of society. It undermines people’s trust in the political system, in its institutions and its leadership. A distrustful or apathetic public can then become yet another hurdle to challenging corruption. This especially impacts the poor and marginalized, who are most dependent on public provisioning of rations, pensions, health, and education. Serious cases of several big corruptions have surfaced in the last five years, including banking frauds and the Rafale deal. The popular sentiment that helped the incumbent Government in the 2014 general election was resentment against corruption in public life.
• Environmental degradationis another consequence of corrupt systems. The lack of, or non-enforcement of, environmental regulations and legislation means that precious natural resources are carelessly exploited, and entire ecological systems are ravaged. From mining, to logging, to carbon offsets, companies across the globe continue to pay bribes in return for unrestricted destruction

Measures to curb corruption:

The solution to the problem of corruption has to be more systemic than any other issue of governance. Merely shrinking the economic role of the state by resorting to deregulation, liberalization and privatization is not necessarily the solution to addressing the problem.

• Adopting effective and coordinated policies against corruption
• Developing a coherent anti-corruption policy which identifies the causes of corruption and commits to practical, coordinated and effective measures to address these causes is a prerequisite for success.
• Fair and transparent system of public procurement

• Establishing a procurement system, built on the principles of objectivity, transparency and competition, is important to both saving public money and to ensuring that the policy and developmental objectives of the government are met.
  • : GeM Government E-market Placeis a step in the right directions. With this, Public Finance Management System also helps in tracking the real-time usage of funds.

• Strengthened transparency and public reporting

• An informed society with free access to information is a strong deterrent to corruption.
• This underlines the importance of transparency, public reporting and access to information in preventing corruption.
• Right to Information needs to be strengthened to make the public officials and governments more accountable to the citizens.
• Citizens must be Vigilant: Otherwise, like Plato said “The punishment suffered by the wise who refuse to take part in government, is to suffer under the government of bad men”

• Institutional monitoring and legislative reforms

• Prevalent institutional arrangements have to be reviewed and changes made where those vested with power are made accountable, their functioning made more transparent and subjected to social audit with a view to minimize discretionary decisions.
• Napoleon who said, ‘Law should be so succinct that it can be carried in the pocket of the coat and it should be so simple that it can be understood by a peasant’.
• The2^ndARC recommended that The Prevention of Corruption Act should be amended to ensure that sanctioning authorities are not summoned and instead the documents can be obtained and produced before the courts by the appropriate authority.

• E-governance

• The focus should be on e-governance and systemic change. An honest system of governance will displace dishonest persons.

• Other Reforms

• All procedures, laws and regulations that breed corruption and come in the way of efficient delivery system will have to be eliminated.
• The perverse system of incentives in public life, which makes corruption a high return low risk activity, need to be addressed.
• In this context, public example has to be made out of people convicted on corruption charge

Second ARC guidelines to prevent corruption

• Vigilance and Corruption:
  • Strengthening pro-active vigilance to eliminate corruption and harassment to honest civil servants including, wherever necessary, limiting executive discretion.
  • Addressing systemic deficiencies manifesting in reluctance to punish the corrupt.
  • Identify procedures, rules and regulations and factors which lead to corruption.
• Relationship between Political Executive and Permanent Civil Service: Improvements in the institutional arrangements for smooth, efficient and harmonious relationship between civil service and the political executive is needed.
• Code of Conduct for different organs of Government: This includes Political Executive, Civil Services, etc.

Conclusion

“Rivers do not drink their waters themselves, nor do trees eat their fruit, nor do the clouds eat the grains raised by them. The wealth of the noble is used solely for the benefit of others.”

Corruption needs to be rooted out from the very core of our nation, so that there is justiciable distribution of resources in the country leading to inclusive growth and ‘Sabka Vikas.’

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