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.
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 to factors which determine the salinity of the oceans.
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:
Explain what is ocean salinity.
Body:
Write about the various factors that determine the salinity of the oceans – Evaporation, Freshwater flow influx, temperature, density, Ocean Currents, Precipitation, Atmospheric pressure and Wind direction. Give examples from across the world.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising the above.
Introduction
Salinity refers to the total content of dissolved salts in sea water. It is calculated as the amount of salt (in gm) dissolved in 1,000 gm (1 kg) of seawater. The salinity of ocean water is usually around 35 parts per thousand on an average at zero degrees Celsius. This implies that in the total weight of ocean water, dissolved salts amount to 3.5 percent. Sodium chloride or the common salt is the most common among all the dissolved salts in the sea.
Body
Variation in salinity:
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- On an average, salinity decreases from equator towards the poles. However, it is important to note that the highest salinity is seldom recorded near the equator though this zone records high temperature and evaporation but high rainfall reduces the relative proportion of salt. Thus, the equator accounts for only 35‰ salinity
- The highest salinity is observed between 20° N and 40° N (36‰) because this zone is characterized by high temperature, high evaporation but relatively low rainfall
- The average salinity of 35‰ is recorded between 100 -300 latitudes in the southern hemisphere
- The zone between 40 deg -60 deg latitudes in both the hemispheres records low salinity where it is 31‰ and 33‰ in the northern and the southern hemispheres respectively.
- Salinity further decreases in the polar zones because of influx of Glacial melt-water. On an average, the northern and the southern hemispheres record average salinity of 35‰ and 34‰ respectively
- Vertical distribution of salinity:
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- Salinity changes with depth, but the way it changes depends upon the location of the sea.
- Salinity at the surface increases by the loss of water to ice or evaporation, or decreased by the input of fresh waters, such as from the rivers.
- Salinity at depth is very much fixed, because there is no way that water is ‘lost’, or the salt is ‘added.’ There is a marked difference in the salinity between the surface zones and the deep zones of the oceans.
- The lower salinity water rests above the higher salinity dense water.
- Salinity, generally, increases with depth and there is a distinct zone called the halocline (compare this with thermocline), where salinity increases sharply.
- Other factors being constant, increasing salinity of seawater causes its density to increase. High salinity seawater, generally, sinks below the lower salinity water. This leads to stratification by salinity.
Factors influencing salinity are: Factors affecting the amount of salt in different oceans and seas are called as controlling factors of oceanic salinity.
- Evaporation: The salinity of water in the surface layer of oceans depend mainly on evaporation. Where the evaporation is greater, the salinity is higher, for example, Mediterranean sea.
- Freshwater flow influx: Surface salinity is greatly influenced in coastal regions by the freshwater flow from rivers, and in polar regions by the processes of freezing and thawing of ice.
- Where the freshwater flow into the oceans is greater, the salinity is lower.
- For instance, at the mouths of rivers such as Amazon, Congo, Ganga etc., the ocean surface salinity is found to be lower than the average surface salinity.
- Temperature and density: Salinity, temperature and density of water are interrelated. Hence, any change in the temperature or density influences the salinity of an area.
- In general, regions with high temperatures are also, regions with high salinity.
- Ocean Currents: They play an important role in the spatial distribution of dissolved salts in ocean waters.
- The warm currents near the equatorial region push away the salts from the eastern margins of the oceans and accumulate them near the western margins.
- Similarly, ocean currents in the temperate regions increase the salinity of ocean waters near the eastern margins. For instance, Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic Ocean increases the salinity of ocean waters along the western margins of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Precipitation: Precipitation and salinity share an inverse relationship.
- In general, regions with higher levels of precipitation have lower levels of salinity. This is the reason why though the equatorial region is as hot as the sub-tropics; it records lower salinity than the sub-tropics since the former receives heavy precipitation in a day.
- Atmospheric pressure and Wind direction: anti-cyclonic conditions with stable air and high temperature increase salinity of the surface water of oceans
- winds help is redistribution of salinity, as they drive away saline waters to fewer saline areas resulting into decrease of salinity in the former and increase in the latter
Conclusion
However, the effect is greater if the salty water gets cold, as temperature has a greater effect on density than salinity does. A combination of high salinity and low temperature makes seawater so dense that it sinks to the bottom of the ocean and flows across ocean basins as deep, slow currents.
Topic: Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent);
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 the resource richness of the Indian ocean and its economic implications.
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 brief of Indian ocean and its vast ocean resources.
Body:
First, draw a neat diagram showing major resources. Write in detail the economic implications of the resources mentioned in the introduction.
Next, write about the importance of marine resources – Fishing, Marine Biotechnology, Minerals, Tourism & Leisure and Education and research etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising and ways to sustainably harness the above.
Introduction
The Indian Ocean matters today, arguably more than ever. It is a major conduit for international trade, especially energy. Its littoral is vast, densely populated, and comprised of some of the world’s fastest growing regions. The Ocean is also a valuable source of fishing and mineral resources. The Indian Ocean basin is of particular importance for India, as the region’s most populous country and geopolitical keystone.
Body
The Economic importance of IOR for India includes:
- Trade and Commerce:
- It enjoys a privileged location at the crossroads of global trade, connecting the major engines of the international economy in the Northern Atlantic and Asia-Pacific. This is particularly important in an era in which global shipping has burgeoned.
- Today, almost 90,000 vessels in the world’s commercial fleet transport 9.84 billion tonnes per year. This represents an almost four-fold increase in the volume of commercial shipping since 1970.
- The Indian Ocean has vital sea lanes of communication crisscrossing it and which feeds Asia’s largest economies. Around 80 per cent of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes through the choke points of this ocean and therefore it literally connects the east to the west with 40 percent passing through the Strait of Hormuz, 35 percent through the Strait of Malacca and 8 percent through the Bab El-Mandab Strait.
- The Ocean’s vast drainage basin is important in its own right, home to some two billion people. This creates opportunities, especially given the high rates of economic growth around the Indian Ocean rim, including in India, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, and Eastern and Southern Africa.
- 95 per cent of India’s trade by volume and 68 per cent of trade by value come via the Indian Ocean.
- Presence of 13 major ports and over 200 minor ports provide avenues for exports of Indian goods to world.
- Blue Economy: The Indian Ocean is rich in natural resources.
- Oil and Natural Gas:
- Forty per cent of the world’s offshore oil production takes place in the Indian Ocean basin.
- Energy security and resources are absolutely critical. The Indian Ocean Region is immensely rich in that.
- 28 million barrels per day—or nearly 80 per cent of India’s crude oil requirement—is imported by sea via the Indian Ocean. Taking into account India’s offshore oil production and petroleum exports, India’s sea dependence for oil is about 93 per cent, according to the Indian Navy.
- India is also the fourth-largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), with about 45 per cent coming by sea.
- India has her own oil rigs in the Indian ocean region. Example: Bombay high
- Minerals:
- Mineral resources with nodules containing nickel, cobalt, and iron, and massive sulphide deposits of manganese, copper, iron, zinc, silver, and gold present in sizeable quantities on the sea bed.
- Indian Ocean coastal sediments are also important sources of titanium, zirconium, tin, zinc, and copper.
- Additionally, various rare earth elements are present, even if their extraction is not always commercially feasible.
- In 2014, the International Seabed Authority issued licenses for the Indian Ocean ridge, opening up new opportunities for deep seabed mining. This region is estimated to have massive reserves of manganese, as well as cobalt, nickel, and copper, all of which are scarce on Indian soil.
- Placer Deposits – Vitally important, thorium resources in placer sands of Malabar coast are a promise to Nuclear Energy security. Similarly Placers of Thailand, Indo-China and Australia are source of precious heavy metals critically important for Electronics and semiconductors industry.
- Fishing and Aquaculture:
- Fishing in the Indian Ocean now accounts for almost 15 per cent of the world’s total.
- Aquaculture in the region has also grown 12-fold since 1980. Although global fishing is reaching its natural limitations, the Indian Ocean may be able to sustain increases in production.
- The largely unregulated overexploitation of its fishery resources. The consequences of over fishing, which is actually largely a result of activity by countries outside the region, could eventually have serious consequences for littoral states that depend heavily on maritime resources to feed their populations and also provide valuable export revenues.
- India captured 4.1 million tonnes of fish in 2008, placing it sixth in the world and its fishing and aquaculture industries employ some 14 million people.
- Fisheries and aquaculture industries are also a major source of exports. India’s maritime exports grew 55 times in volume between 1962 and 2012 and fisheries exports now account for Rs. 16,600 crore or about $2.5 billion.
- Tourism:
- Coral atolls in Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands attract many tourists from India as well as abroad. This helps the livelihood of many islanders.
- Oil and Natural Gas:
Conclusion
Indian Ocean is an “ocean of economic opportunities” for India. The security threats posed by State and non-state actors are impeding the progress. The Government initiatives like SAGAR, IORA, Sagarmala etc. should ensure that the fruits of Blue Economy is well reaped.
Topic: population and associated issues
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The announcement in the interim Budget of a “high-powered committee to extensively consider the challenges arising from rapid population growth and demographic changes” is groundbreaking.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the need of population control and ways to do 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 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 ways to control population and manage demographic changes.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
According to the UNFPA State of World Population (SOWP) Report 2023, China is projected to hand over the baton of the most populous country to India by mid-2023. The report further added that India will have a population of 142.86 crores by mid-2023, which is 2.9 million higher than China’s population of 142.57 crores.
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.
Measures needed to ensure that population growth is a boon for India
- Employment or job creation: If India is able to generate sufficient and quality jobs for its bulging working age population.
- Education, skills generation and ensuring a healthy lifespan: It is critical not only for better productivity but it also reduces excessive public spending and helps in greater capital creation.
- Good governance: Reflected through conscientious policies, it will help in creating a healthy environment for increasing efficiency and productivity of the population.
- India needs to invest more in the health sector. India invests only 1.3% of its GDP. The family planning budget is only 4% of the entire health budget and within that India spends only 1.5% on birth spacing methods.
- Investments should be made particularly for the old people because by the year 2050, India’s population of old people is going to grow almost 10 times more.
- Education is very important, not only for empowering women but for fertility to decline.
- Education should be made free for women till college-level.
- Better education will help women in better decision making for family planning.
- Unless women are part of the workforce, no society can bring down fertility rates with progress. Therefore, policies must look at the whole issue of declining workforce participation by women.
- India needs to focus on some areas which are socially, culturally, economically depressed. Identification of 140 high focussed districts is the right step by the governmentin this direction. However, it needs to work in the whole of Bihar, U.P., Madhya Pradesh and Assam.
- India needs to give huge stress on declining sex ratiosand the discrimination towards girls so that people don’t have a high number of children in the hope of having a boy.
- India can achieve a number of SDGs if it links them with family planning.Family planning is a promotive and preventive method for bringing down maternal mortality and child mortality.
- It is important to see the issue of population growth not only from the national perspective but also from the state’s point of view i.e. different states need to be encouraged to take necessary steps for containing the population.
Conclusion
Opportunities and costs are the two sides of the coin when it comes to being the world’s largest populous country. However, the relatively younger population of India provides higher support ratios.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article discusses the increasing number of farmer suicides and emphasizes the need to protect farmers from the uncertainties of nature.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about causes of farmer suicides and short term and long measures needed to prevent them.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving statistic regarding farmer suicides in India.
Body:
First, write about the causes of farm suicides – Low per capita land, indebtedness, high loan rates, high costs of production and labour, decreasing water tables and increasing costs of pumping water out, economic exploitation by dealers selling agriculture equipment, seeds, fertilizers etc.
Next, write about the short-term measures that are needed to prevent farmer suicides.
Next, write about the long-term measures that are needed to prevent farmer suicides.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
State-level data show that in 2023, as many as 1,088 farmers ended their lives in eight districts of Marathwada, Maharashtra’s most drought-affected region. Several socio-economic factors have enabled an environment vulnerable to distress in the agricultural belts of the nation. Unable to cope with mounting debt and the inability to take care of their families, many choose to end their lives.
Body
Factors behind increasing cases of farmer suicides
- Plummeting incomes, mounting debt, and high interest rates (particularly of non-institutional sources) have pushed the peasantry towards deprivation
- The high debt burden was the primary reason behind 75% of farmer suicides.
- Large chunk of persons were underemployed or disguisedly unemployed during 2016–17 in Punjab.
- The mismatch between farm inputs and output prices, crop failures, and unfavourable terms of trade between prices paid and received by the farmers have contributed fairly to declining farm incomes.
- Cost of cultivation:
- The MSP of wheat and paddy increased at the rate of 2% per annum while the cost of cultivation increased at the rate of 7.9% during the last one and a half decades.
- With a growth rate of around 1.6% (during 2012–17) and the stress on natural resources, thefarm sector is trapped in a vicious circle of crisis. Expectedly, small farmers are the worst sufferers.
- Due to the declining water table, the cost of irrigation structures has increased as the farmers have to replace centrifugal pumps by costly submersible pumps.
- According to the Niti Aayog, in 2022-23, of the 21 crore hectares of sown area across India, 11.5 crore hectares had access to irrigation—54.76% against 47.80% in 2013-14.
- The farmers are being exploited by traders and dealers providing them spurious seeds and agrochemicals.
- Agriculture in Punjab suffers from mono-crop culture of mainly wheat and paddy. With this cropping pattern, farming itself is becoming an unviable occupation, due to rising fixed and variable input costs, and low remuneration leading to falling profit margins.
- Cost of inputs:
- Variable costs increase due to rising prices of inputs like fertilisers, pesticides, weedicides, diesel etc.
- Fixed costs like installation and deepening of submersible pumps due to the dipping water table increase the financial woes of farmers.
- For a small and marginal farmer, it is economically unviable to make such investments, especially by borrowing from informal sources at high rates of interest
- Data Anomaly:
- Existing studies have analysed the intensity of farmer suicides in isolation, i.e. without comparing farmer suicides with those by other professionals
Policy measures needed to prevent farmer suicides
Short term measures
- The “Scheme for Debt Swapping of Borrowers” should be made more effective for converting the non-institutional debt into institutional debt.
- The AMSCs should be set up at every village to provide custom-hiring services to small farmers on a priority basis.
- Quality farm inputs like seed, fertilisers, and pesticides must be supplied to the farmers at subsidised prices.
- Rationalisation of subsidies, especially in favour of small farmers may control appreciating farm costs and making small farming viable.
- For alternative employment, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme should be effectively implemented by ensuring stipulated annual employment of 100 days, rather than the existing 30 days, to each family in the state.
- Identifying and developing crop niches that will encourage allied activities in appropriate agro-climatic zones of the state, and developing cooperative primary processingand marketing units for crops and activities in these zones can help improve the economic well-being of the farmers.
Long term measures
- Effective irrigation facilities should be provided. Drip and sprinkle irrigation should be popularized. Canals should be built to reach deep into villages.
- Using Information technologies and electronic media (like DD Kisan channel) to spread awareness about government schemes and monsoon predictions.
- Skill Development of farmers, so that they can develop alternative sources of income. Government should initiate alternative employment generation programmes.
- Land pooling, where lands of small farmers can be pooled into a larger piece, and benefits can be maximized.
- Effective implementation of various government schemes like pradhan Mantri Krishi sinchai yojana, pradhan Mantri fasal bima yojana and Soil Health Card scheme.
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on February 8 that the Government has decided to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along Myanmar border to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about FMR and impact of its suspension on Indo-Myanmar relations.
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 of FMR.
Body:
In the first part, write in detail about the FMR – its nature, purpose and importance.
Next, write about the various issues in the FMR that necessitated its suspension.
Next, bring in the impact of the suspension of FMR on India-Myanmar bilateral relations as well broader geopolitical implications of the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced opinion on the issue.
Introduction
The Free Movement Regime (FMR), implemented in 2018, permits residents on both sides of the 1,643 km India-Myanmar border to travel up to 16 km into each other’s territory without a visa. This requires a border pass with one-year validity, allowing a two-week stay. The border spans four states: Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.
The central government has decided to scrap the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR), announced Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday. The decision was taken to maintain the country’s internal security and demographic structure of the northeastern states. The announcement is an attempt to avoid the spillover effect of the ongoing Myanmar crisis on India.
Body
Reasons for scrapping FMR
- Concerns have arisen about the influx of illegal immigrants, particularly the Kuki – Chin, Naga communities and Rohingyas from Myanmar, potentially straining resources and impacting local demographics
- The porous border facilitates theillegal movement of drugs and weapons, posing a threat to internal security to India and fueling crime.
- As per data from the Manipur Chief Minister’s Office, in 2022, Manipur witnessed 500 cases filed and 625 individuals arrested under theNarcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
- The FMR has been misused byinsurgent groups operating in northeastern India, allowing them to cross the border easily and evade capture.
- Deforestation and illegal resource extraction along the border are attributed to unregulated cross-border movement.
- China’s growing influence in Myanmar and its potential impact on border security add another layer of complexity to the situation.
impact of its suspension on bilateral relations with Myanmar and the broader geopolitical implications
- The agreement was brought to facilitate local border trade, improve access to education and healthcare for border residents, and strengthen diplomatic ties.
- Under the agreement, individuals were also allowed to up to two weeks in the neighbouring country by getting a one-year border pass
- Given the interests of the local population, however, neither the complete removal of the FMR nor full fencing of the border may be desirable.
- Livelihoods will be impacted, and essential travel for health care and education may be hit.
- The policy change might strain the cultural and social fabric of communities with shared ethnicities across the border.
- Besides the cultural affinity, trans-border trade is the lifeline of the villagers and they do trade through ‘customary practice’ by using simple custom documents or a kind of barter system allowing them to exchange locally produced products or other trade items carried as a head load.
Way forward
- India and Myanmar should have a clear plan regarding the FMR, and the aspiration of the people of NER should be incorporated into India’s Myanmar strategy.
- Focus should be on revising FMR and transforming informal to formal trade by focusing on infrastructural development at LCSs, regulatory mechanisms and an effective ICP.
- Designated multiple entry points, within reasonable distance along the IMB, and strict vigilance by deploying the border guards as per requirement, must be initiated. Through these designated entry points, people should be strictly informed to use the designated point for going and coming across the border.
- Building several border haats at main entry point, to reduce the number of head load traders.
- Improve connectivity, development of infrastructure, building schools, hospitals, and vocational training centres and facilitating other opportunities, will stop the youth from getting involved in illicit activities and joining insurgency at borders. Such policy will be beneficial for the people living on both sides.
- Deployment of manpower 24/7 and increasing their number, is a must to check the frequency of traders’ movement, locals and people with local head loads.
- Strict checking or frisking of ladies should be done in a separate compartment, especially for women by deploying more number of women in uniform.
- Strict vigilance at entry points by deploying sufficient security guards. Selective fencing in specific regions is required, rather than the option of complete fencing of the IMB, since it is not feasible due to tough and harsh terrain.
- Developing a friendly and cordial relationship between locals and Assam Rifles personnel is pertinent, spreading awareness among the youths by organising camps and meetings, convincing them of the deadly implications of drugs, will be beneficial for the region.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint , Insights on India
Why the question:
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the ambitious goal of doubling farmers’ incomes, a committee was set up in April 2016 to delve into the feasibility of this target.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the measures needed to double farmers income.
Directive:
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 causes for the falling crop incomes and unsustainable agriculture – Small holdings make agriculture uneconomic, Perpetual indebtedness, Inability to procure quality seeds, Lack of water and poor yields etc.
Next, suggest measures that are needed in order to overcome the above and double farmers income in India – Crop Diversification, Irrigation Facilities Providing Credit and Insurance, Strengthening Market Linkages, Investing in Agricultural Research and Development etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
In 2016, the Government had set the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022-23. To achieve this goal, the government had set up a committee to recommend changes to all parts of the agricultural production and supply chain. The Committee listed its recommendations in a 14-volume report. At the time, by the government’s own calculations, a farming household in India earned an average of INR 8,059 per month, or about INR 97,000 per year. The Government is likely to miss the target as less than a year remains in the timeline. No individual state is likely to achieve it either.
Body
Challenges in achieving the goal of Doubling Farmer’s Income
- Decreasing Profitability in agriculture sector: Profitability has been declining in recent years due to plummeting agricultural prices and rising cultivation costs. Recently, prices of critical inputs such as fuel and fertilizers have risen sharply as well. Further there have been issues in land and labour productivity on farms, post-harvest processing, agricultural research and extension, among others.
- Web of Middlemen: There exists a strong web of intermediaries that enjoy maximum profit and leaves bare minimum revenue for the farmers. A major share of the income is cornered by the middlemen.
- Policy Lacunae: According to many experts, the policies to achieve the growth rates have not been clearly articulated by the Centre to the states. This becomes extremely crucial considering agriculture is a State subject. In addition, there have been issues in the implementation of policy initiatives. For example, many States have opted out of PMFBY due to implementation issues.
- High Input costs: Land degradation has become a major challenge and cost of farming is constantly rising with usage of fertilizer, pesticides, expensive seed varieties, machinery, labour cost, rise in fuel prices, vagaries of monsoon. This further complicates the livelihood of farmers
- In India, farmers are poor due to low productivity (yield per hectare) of all major crops.
- Growth in rural lending has decreased and indeed most of the rural lending is indirect rather than direct.
- Credit, finance and Insurance: Raising the MSP, price deficiency payments or income support schemes can only be a partial solution to the problem of providing remunerative returns to farmers.
- A functional institutional credit system which is accessible and accountable to all cultivators.
- This covers not only land-owning farmers but also sharecroppers, tenants, adivasi and women farmers, and animal-rearers.
- Credit products for agriculture need to be tailor-made based on cropping and rain cycle, specific to a particular region. The regional offices of commercial banks should contribute in this exercise. Registration of all cultivators and providing Kisan credit cards.
- The period of crop loan should be extendable to four years, given that, on average, every second or third year the spatial distribution of rain pattern is erratic in India.
- Land holdings: The average size of farm holdings declined from 2.3 hectares in 1970-71 to 1.08 hectares in 2015-16.
- Policies for land consolidation along with land development activities in order to tackle the challenge of the low average size of holdings.
- Farmers can voluntarily come togetherand pool land to gain the benefits of size. Through consolidation, farmers can reap the economies of scale both in input procurement and output marketing.
- Remunerative Prices: Extending reach of minimum support price which has been dedicated to few crops and in a narrow geographical area is important.
- Set up of Futures and Trade markets, tie up of farmer and private companies for procurement should be looked into as alternative methods against distress sale.
Reforms to envision doubling of farmer’s income
- Intervention of the Government: The government schemes will not help them double their income unless the government policies on agriculture are comprehensive, grant freedom of technology and market, and infuse more money into infrastructure development.
- Ad hoc policies and schemes will not help farmers as long as the government intervenes in the market to control prices to keep the consumers happy at the cost of farmers.
- Need for Technology & New Practices: The country needs to increase the use of quality seed, fertiliser and power supply for agriculture. Adoption of agronomic practices like precision farming to raise production and income of farmers substantially.
- Since India is a diverse country where the majority of agriculture is monsoon dependent therefore interventions are needed which include research, technology promotion, extension, post-harvest management, processing and marketing, in consonance with the comparative advantage of each State/region and its diverse agro-climatic features.
- Expansion in Required Areas: Area under irrigation has to be expanded by 1.78 million hectares and area under double cropping should be increased by 1.85 million hectares every year.
- Besides, the area for fruits and vegetables is required to increase by 5% each year.
- Improvement in Livestock Management: In the case of livestock, improvement in herd quality, better feed, increase in artificial insemination, reduction in calving interval and lowering age at first calving are the potential sources of growth.
- Need for Comprehensive Reforms: About one-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 comprehensive reforms in market, land lease and raising of trees on private land.
- Enhance Participation: Most of the development initiatives and policies for agriculture are implemented by the States. Therefore, it is essential to mobilise States and UTs to own and achieve the goal of doubling farmers’ income.
- Need to Liberalise Agriculture: To attract responsible private investments in production and the market. Similarly, FPO (Farmers Producer Organisation)/FPC (Farmers Producer Company) can play a big role in promoting small farm businesses.
Conclusion
To achieve government’s goal of doubling farmers’ incomes by 2022-23, the Dalwai Committee points out that farmers real incomes need to grow at 10.4 per annum, that is 2.8 times the growth rate achieved historically. To secure future of agriculture and to improve livelihood of half of India’s population, adequate attention needs to be given to improve the welfare of farmers and raise agricultural income. It is essential to mobilize States and UTs to own and achieve the goal of doubling farmers’ income with active focus on capacity building (technology adoption and awareness) of farmers that will be the catalyst to boost farmers’ income.
General Studies – 4
Topic: laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance;
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:
Using the metaphor of the 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 compass aids in deciding what right from is wrong. Use examples to substantiate your points.
One way is to treat others the way you want to be treated.
Next way, to use Rights Theory that obligates us to respect the rights of others and live up to our obligations towards them.
Another way is to utilitarian perspective to do maximum good for maximum people.
Conclusion:
Completed 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 is a term used to describe our inner sense of right and wrong offers a framework to guide our actions. Conscience is inner moral sense of a person which guides him/her to regulate his behaviour. Voice of conscience corresponds to an inner voice that judges your behaviour. Voice of conscience is the source of ethical decision making for many.
Body
Conscience can be defined as something within each of us that tells us what is right and what is wrong. Therefore, if one uses his/her conscience when making decisions it would be guided by what is the right thing to do and what is wrong.
The traditional test is to apply ethical decision-making methods such as Rights Theory that obligates us to respect the rights of others and live up to our obligations towards them. Another approach is to evaluate the possible benefits and harms of alternative courses of action on stakeholders who may be affected by our possible actions and choose the one that maximizes net benefits.
- Our conscience is our inner guide and it helps you figure out how to make good choices. As we grow up, we learn right from wrong. Our conscience is the thought and feeling we have that tells us whether something is a right or wrong thing to do or say. Thus voice of Conscience is a consistent guide to ethical decision making.
- A person can prepare himself/herself to heed to the voice of conscience by:
- Pausing and thinking about the dimensions of issue.
- Practicing the power of silence.
- Meditating and prayer.
- Freeing oneself from external influences and selfish interests.
- A human being always comes across ethical dilemmas in the decision making the process. Voice of Conscience acts as the guide for taking correct decisions when we have to choose between competing sets of principles in a given, usually undesirable or perplexing, situation. Example: Helping accident victim on your way to an interview.
- The voice of conscience of an individual help in analysing the situation from different perspectives and help in taking the right decision.
- Voice of Conscience helps in avoiding Conflicts of interest for better decision making. It can help in deciding between personal gains and public welfare.
- Voice of Conscience is our ability to make a practical decision in light of ethical values and principles.
- Voice of Conscience is a person’s moral compass of right and wrong as well as the consciousness of one’s actions. Expressions such as ‘gut feeling’ and ‘guilt’ are often applied in conjunction with a conscience.
- The voice of conscience might suggest different principles and different behaviours to different situations. But it for a moment help individual from not doing wrong based on universal values.
Conclusion
Acting purely from self-interest, at best, keeps us parallel to the original position and can turn our compass south if our actions do harm to others. We avoid going in that direction by living a life of integrity. We also need to understand and appreciate why we should consider the needs of others before acting. We could simply go back to The Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated. None of us, presumably, wants to be disrespected so we should treat others respectfully.
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