[Mission 2024] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 10 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

Answer the following questions in 150 words:

General Studies – 1

1. 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.

Reference: Insights on India

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.

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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.

2. The changing dynamics around marriage as a social institution do not necessarily imply its complete irrelevance but rather a transformation in how people approach and perceive this institution. Analyse.

Reference: Times of Time , Insights on India

Introduction

The institution of marriage is the central draft of all the forms of human society which are a part of civilization. The significance of an institution of Marriage lies in the fact that it results in the cause and effect of procreation besides providing a moral and ethical social bonding. Marriage not only brings about the union of two persons but two families as well.

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Importance of Marriage as a social institution:

• Humans are social by nature and it is not fit for them to live alone. Marriage is a bond like no other. It makes two souls become one. It gives one a life partner, a teammate, a best friend for life as we move through the challenges of life together.
• As common as a single-parent family is in the modern day, it would be wrong to say they don’t function as well as or achieve things as a two-parent family.
• However, studies do suggest that children raised with both mother and father do have certain advantages over children raised in households with one parent.
• Studies also suggest that children without one parent show an increase in mental and behavioural disorders as well as criminal activities and substance abuse.
• On the other hand, a child raised in a healthy family gets to experience the lasting benefits of a strong family.
• Marriage also provides an opportunity to grow together and live selflessly as you serve your spouse and children. It is more than a physical union, it is also a spiritual and emotional union.

The role of marriage has been changed by the trend of the social, the culture consequence, the bond between marriage and parenthood. The reasons for the same are:

• Cohabitation:Some people might not marry and cohabit instead, because they are not ready to make a commitment to their partner and might cohabit first instead and ‘trying before buying’, with cohabiting together as a trial run, to experience what it would be like to live with that person.
• Compromising on a career: As an independent and strong person, he/she is completely bounded towards career and personal growth but when it comes to marriage, there comes a responsibility of the complete household and in this problem, he/she may have to give up or compromise on his/her career.
• Increasing divorces: Today divorce is a lot more socially acceptable, with lots of media influence and more benefits for single parents and also the fact it is a lot easier. Many people don’t really see marriage as that important anymore and instead of living in an ‘empty shell marriage’, which is when a couple remain legally married even though it is technically over, in the eyes of the husband and wife, they simply get divorced, as we seem to have a lot more freedom now.
• Choice:Some people have the notion of either marrying or not. It depends on their choice. They do not think about social pressures or the pressure from their families. Young people are mostly sided towards their choice part.
• Adopting kids is no more considered as a taboo:Couples can adopt a child and raise it without any other formalities of marriage.
• Expensive affair: expense of marriage, as marriages can cost up to the thousands of pounds. Many people don’t see the point in spending thousands of pounds on getting married and due to the current recession, lots of people are struggling financially and cannot afford it, so decide to just ‘cohabit’ together.

Conclusion:

As far as Indian society is concerned, the relevance of marriage is still intact. Though there might be some changes in the opinions and perspective about marriages yet we see marriage is still given much importance even today. Despite live-in relationships becoming a norm in the metropolises.

General Studies – 2

3. What is the Free Movement Regime (FMR)? Analyse the impact of its suspension on bilateral relations with Myanmar and the broader geopolitical implications.

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

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.

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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

4. Privatisation of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) can bring about positive changes such as efficiency gains and innovation, but it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Examine.

Reference: Indian Express

Introduction

Disinvestment, or divestment, refers to the act of a business or government selling or liquidating an asset or subsidiary or the process of dilution of a government’s stake in a PSU (Public Sector Undertaking).

Amid calls for aggressive privatisation—a policy that the present government has very much pursued—an advice to go slow on privatisation of PSU banks comes as a surprise, if not anything more.

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Rationale behind divestment and strategic sale of PSU’s

• Financing economic recovery: There is a pressure on the government to raise resources to support the economic recovery and meet expectations of higher outlays for healthcare.
  • The increase in public spending in the upcoming Budget will have to be financed to a large extent by garnering disinvestment proceeds and monetising assets.
• Minimum government Maximum governance: To eliminate the need for the government’s involvement in non-strategic areas.
  • Government must not to business, is the rationale behind the divestment.
  • Government presence distorts competitive dynamics for private players.
• Raising efficiency: To diversify the ownership of PSU for enhancing efficiency of individual enterprise. Eg Hindustan Zinc is the world’s second-largest zinc-lead miner and one of the top 10 silver producers. It benefitted from the privatisation.
• Better economic potential under private players: Economic potential of such entities may be better discovered in the hands of the strategic investors due to various factors, infusion of capital, technology up-gradation and efficient management practices
• Better utilization of taxpayer money: Loss making PSU’s results in consumers and taxpayers bearing the brunt of inefficient PSU operations. Instead, government can use the same resources into areas that directly benefit people.

Macroeconomic impact

• Government has mostly used disinvestment for fiscal reasons rather than growth objectives.
• Process of disinvestment is not favoured socially as it is against the interests of socially disadvantaged people.
• Over the years the policy of divestment has increasingly become a tool to raise resources to cover the fiscal deficitwith little focus on market discipline or strategic objective.
• Sometimes with the emergence of private monopolies consumer welfare will be reduced.
• Mere change of ownership from public to private does not ensure higher efficiency and productivity.
• It may lead to retrenchment of workers who will be deprived of the means of their livelihood.
• Private sector governed as they are by profit motive has a tendency to use capital intensive techniques which will worsen unemployment problem in India.
• Loss making units don’t attract investment so easily.

Way Forward

• Monetization of PSU assets instead of disinvestment which yield more.
• Define the priority sectors for the government based on its strategic interests.
• Investment in PSUs has to be in terms of generation of adequate social and strategic returns.
• It should be time bound programme.
• The government ownership is required for sectors with strategic relevance such as defence, natural resources, etc. The government should, exit non-strategic sectors such as hotels, soaps, airlines, travel agencies and the manufacture and sale of alcohol.
• The government should look into strengthening the regulatory framework that ensures efficient market conditions.
• Instead of creating PSUs, the government should create regulations that would ease the entry of new players. The regulations should also ensure that the basic necessities of the consumers are met.
• Allowing both domestic and foreign buyers to bid freely for stakes.

Value Addition

Types of Disinvestments

• Minority Disinvestment: A minority disinvestment is one such that, at the end of it, the government retains a majority stake in the company, typically greater than 51%, thus ensuring management control.
• Majority Disinvestment: A majority disinvestment is one in which the government, post disinvestment, retains a minority stake in the company i.e. it sells off a majority stake.
• Complete Privatisation: Complete privatisation is a form of majority disinvestment wherein 100% control of the company is passed on to a buyer. Examples of this include 18 hotel properties of ITDC and 3 hotel properties of HCI.

5. To harness the opportunities presented by deep tech, India needs to invest in research and development, foster collaboration between academia and industry. Discuss.

Reference: Indian Express.

Introduction

Deep tech, a term that includes advanced manufacturing and robotics, blockchain, AI, and big data, remains the fastest growing group globally. They aim at solving the most complex challenges in the world around us.

DeepTech refers to start-ups whose business models are based on high-tech innovation using recent technological advances in multiple areas. At present, 19% of tech start-ups are leveraging DeepTech solutions to build product competencies for their market expansion.

Finance Minister promised to launch a new scheme to strengthen deep-tech capabilities in the defence sector.

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Potential of Deep tech for India

• Healthcare (e.g., AI-ML based medical devices and software solutions for automated diagnosis of cancer and other ailments),
• Cybersecurity (e.g., external threat as well as insider threat),
• Consumer (e.g., home automation, AR / VR based virtual try-on),
• Industrial (e.g., Industry 4.0, IIOT solutions, robotics),
• Finance (e.g., AI based risk modelling, fraud detection),
• Education (e.g., AR / VR based educational toys, usage of AR / VR based content in curriculum),
• Agriculture (e.g., robotics, AI based predictive inputs, insights) and others.

Need for proper policy support for Indian Deep tech ecosystem

It has been argued that businesses prosper when governments sleep. But this may not hold true for deep tech start-ups in sensitive sectors.

• Cost: The cost of running industries need to come down if India has to compete with the likes of China, and sustain its momentum.
• Institutional mechanism is needed to encourage commercial utilisation of research done using government funds.
  • It has also been reported that there are proposals of having an overarching body at the centre that will be able to make quicker decisions on labour laws, taxation provisions, and land leasing.
• Make In India came at a time when there was a weakening of the global trade except in China and India.
  • It identified 25 sectors where India should focus on to build itself as a manufacturing economy. It also looked at developing the country’s start-up ecosystem.
• Focus on further strengthening the existing enterprises, infrastructure and aid in building high-quality enterprises.
• Government must plan to tackle the capital issue and ensure that medium and small business flourish by giving access to affordable funds.
• And lastly, ensure enhancing skills for future manufacturing.
• Globally, there is increased government interest in funding, supporting, and promoting self-reliance in sectors critical to national security like semiconductors, space infrastructure, 5G and defence.
  • For example, the US government actively promotes investments, hands out grants and contracts to companies such as SpaceX, BlueOrigin etc.
  • They also recently announced a $150 billion funding programme dedicated to semiconductors and chip manufacturing.
  • India must emulate the same. Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX), a defence ministry initiative, is one such effort to leverage the startup environment to improve India’s defence preparedness, equipment design and manufacturing capabilities.

Conclusion

If provided the right kind of support, it is foreseeable that the next generation of unicorns in our country will be powered by the deep tech startups that experiment, scale and forge strong partnerships with local and national governments.

Answer the following questions in 250 words(15 marks each):

General Studies – 1

6. Rapid population growth and demographic changes can pose various challenges. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive and sustainable policies that focus on population management and economic development. Discuss.

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

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.

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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

7. Including affluent sub-castes within the reservation system may result in the concentration of benefits among a few privileged individuals within a particular community, leaving the majority of that community still disadvantaged. In the light of the aforementioned statement, state your opinion on excluding affluent sub-castes among backward classes from the reservation quota.

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Introduction

A seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has asked why those sub-castes among the backward classes which are well off should not be excluded from reservation lists. The bench is headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud. It is examining the matter of whether state governments can identify and sub-classify groups within the Scheduled Caste category, with an eye on who deserves more. The matter was referred to this bench by a five-judge bench in 2020, when it held that a coordinate bench’s judgement on sub-classification not being permissible needed to be reconsidered.

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Reasons to exclude affluent sub-castes

• Targeted Assistance: Critics argue that reservation policies should be designed to benefit those who are genuinely disadvantaged and marginalized within a community. Excluding affluent sub-castes could ensure that the benefits of reservation reach those who need it the most.
• Preventing Concentration of Privilege: Including affluent individuals within a reserved category may concentrate the benefits among a select few, leaving the majority of the community still disadvantaged. Exclusion could help prevent the perpetuation of privilege within a particular sub-caste.
• Effective Resource Allocation: Resources allocated for reservations are often limited. By excluding affluent sub-castes, policymakers aim to optimize the impact of these resources, ensuring that they reach individuals and communities with the greatest need. This approach promotes the efficient use of public resources to address social inequalities.
• Encouraging Meritocracy: Critics argue that including affluent individuals in reservation benefits can undermine the principles of meritocracy. By focusing on the economically and socially disadvantaged, reservation policies aim to provide equal opportunities based on merit, addressing historical inequalities without compromising on fairness.
• Avoiding Backlash and Resentment: Including affluent sub-castes within reservation benefits can lead to resentment and opposition from both within and outside the community. Excluding the economically well-off segments helps in maintaining public support for affirmative action policies and ensures that reservations remain a tool for uplifting the most marginalized.
• Focusing on Socially Marginalized: Affluence alone may not capture the full extent of social disadvantages faced by individuals within a community. By excluding affluent sub-castes, policymakers can focus on addressing the unique social, cultural, and historical barriers that have marginalized certain sections, leading to a more targeted and effective intervention.
• Encouraging Self-Reliance: Some argue that excluding affluent sub-castes promotes self-reliance within communities. By not providing reservation benefits to those who are already economically privileged, there is an expectation that these individuals can contribute to the community’s overall development, thereby reducing dependence on affirmative action measures.

Issues of exclusion

• Complexity of Disadvantage:
  • Critics argue that disadvantage is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Exclusively relying on economic criteria may not fully capture the historical and social disadvantages faced by individuals within a community. Socio-economic indicators alone might overlook deep-rooted inequalities and discrimination.
• Intersectionality:
  • Disadvantage often intersects with various factors, such as caste, gender, and region. Excluding affluent sub-castes may overlook the nuanced ways in which individuals within these groups still face discrimination. Intersectionality calls for a more comprehensive understanding of disadvantage, considering various dimensions.
• Need for Detailed Studies:
  • To determine the impact of reservation policies accurately, comprehensive studies are necessary. Critics argue that decisions about exclusion should be based on empirical evidence that identifies the specific challenges faced by different sub-castes, rather than relying on broad assumptions about affluence.
• Avoiding Stigmatization:
  • Excluding certain sub-castes based on economic criteria alone can lead to stigmatization within communities. It may create divisions and internal conflicts, with accusations of unfair exclusion. A more inclusive approach is seen as fostering unity and preventing intra-community tensions.
• Resistance from Within the Community:
  • Within marginalized communities, there is often resistance against excluding any sub-caste from reservation benefits. This resistance may stem from a belief that historical discrimination affects all members of the community, regardless of their current economic status. Exclusion can be perceived as divisive and counterproductive.
• Economic Mobility:
  • Some argue that economic status can change over time, and today’s affluent individuals might have faced historical discrimination. Excluding them based on current economic indicators may not account for the potential intergenerational impact of discrimination.
• Ensuring Social Justice:
  • The overarching goal of reservation policies is to achieve social justice by addressing historical injustices and promoting equality. Critics of exclusion argue that a more holistic and inclusive approach aligns better with the principles of justice and fairness.
• Policy Reforms Instead of Exclusion:
  • Rather than excluding certain sub-castes, advocates for inclusivity propose reforms within the reservation system. This may involve revising income criteria, implementing sub-quotas, or conducting regular reviews to ensure that the benefits are reaching those who need them the most.

Conclusion

The argument against excluding affluent sub-castes from reservation benefits underscores the importance of a nuanced and evidence-based approach. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive studies, acknowledges the complexity of disadvantage, and highlights potential negative consequences associated with exclusion. Striking a balance between addressing historical injustices and ensuring that reservation policies remain effective and fair is a challenging task that requires careful consideration and ongoing refinement.

8. The evolution of cryptocurrencies in India has seen a transition from scepticism to a more nuanced approach. Ongoing developments and regulatory decisions will shape the future of cryptocurrencies in India. Analyse.

Reference: Live Mint

Introduction

Cryptocurrency, sometimes called crypto-currency or crypto, is any form of currency that exists digitally or virtually and uses cryptography to secure transactions. Cryptocurrencies don’t have a central issuing or regulating authority, instead use a decentralized system to record transactions and issue new units. It is supported by a decentralized peer-to-peer network called the blockchain.

As crypto grows and becomes more widely used, the easier it becomes for hackers to use various methods to steal sensitive information and investor assets. Recently, founder of the collapsed crypto exchange FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested in the Bahamas. FTX crashed almost overnight after failing to meet a run on deposits, throwing the crypto industry into its latest crisis.

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Need for a streamlined crypto tax regime, constructive and adaptive regulatory environment

• Phishing Attacks: Hackers rely on phishing scams to have crypto users turn over their digital assets. Spear phishing, DNS hacking, phishing bots and fake browser extensions are examples of common phishing attacks hackers will use to take advantage of crypto investors.
• Illegitimate Trading Platforms: Because cryptocurrency is still evolving, new trading platforms are emerging, hoping to gain the trust of people interested in investing in crypto. However, not all of these platforms are legitimate.
  • Consider One Coin, for example. One Coin was a seemingly reputable cryptocurrency company that lured users in by promising big returns, but the entire currency system ended up being a scam. It was found to be a multi-level marketing scam that ended up costing people a lot of money.
  • Not every risk associated with crypto comes in the form of a hack or data breach.
  • Sometimes, the fraudulent activity is happening in plain sight.
• Using Third-Party Applications: In some cases, crypto investors will rely on third-party applications or software to manage their digital assets. For example, it’s common for investors to use crypto tax reporting services, but this can open them up to more cybersecurity risks.
  • It was reported that a hacker was able to steal data from over 1,000 users after breaking into CryptoTrader.Tax. The hacker gained access by entering a marketing and customer service representative’s account, which displayed all kinds of sensitive information that put users at risk.
• Malware: Essentially, crypto-malware is a form of malware that allows unauthorized users to mine cryptocurrencies using someone else’s computer or server. Hackers will use one of two methods to infect someone’s computer.
  • Victims are tricked into installing malware code onto their computers using phishing-like tactics.
  • Cybercriminals inject malicious code into websites or ads. When victims interact with them, the code runs and gives hackers access. In 2018, Forbes reported that crypto-malware had grown by 4,000%.
• Cryptocurrency Account Security: It’s critical to understand that users access their digital assets by using a “private key,” which is essentially a complex password code. Many users will store their private keys on their computers, but that comes with risk. If hackers gain access to your computer, they’ll also be able to use that private key to log in to your digital account.
  • Once a private key is stolen, there’s no way of getting it back because cryptocurrency is not highly regulated.
  • Investors are the only ones responsible for keeping their private keys out of the hands of hackers, which makes crypto investing riskier compared to traditional investments.
• Unregulated Cryptocurrency Exchanges: As mentioned above, crypto is almost like the Wild West because it’s unregulated and a bit of a free for all. Cryptocurrency is decentralized, meaning that no agency, organization or governing body oversees the creation, management or movement of cryptocurrencies.

Prevention measures

• An individual’s private key is the only way to access this kind of investment, therefore it’s vital to keep it safe.
• One must not share the private key or login credentials with anyone, regardless of if they claim to represent a reputable cryptocurrency company. Consider keeping the key stored on an external device, such as a USB.
• Do due diligence and research companies and their tokens before investing.
• Don’t respond to unsolicited offers to invest in crypto. Avoid clicking on any suspicious links or ads — this could open you up to more cybersecurity risks.
• Keep an eye on the latest crypto trends, news stories and any announcements related to cryptocurrencies you invest in.
• Use strong, unique passwords at all times to make online accounts more secure and keep hackers at bay.

Conclusion and way forward

• Regulation is the Solution: Regulation is needed to prevent serious problems, to ensure that cryptocurrencies are not misused, and to protect unsuspecting investors from excessive market volatility and possible scams.
  The regulation needs to be clear, transparent, coherent and animated by a vision of what it seeks to achieve.
• Clarity on Crypto-currency definition: A legal and regulatory framework must first define crypto-currencies as securities or other financial instruments under the relevant national laws and identify the regulatory authority in charge.
• Strong KYC Norms: Instead of a complete prohibition on cryptocurrencies, the government shall rather regulate the trading of cryptocurrencies by including stringent KYC norms, reporting and taxability.
• Ensuring Transparency: Record keeping, inspections, independent audits, investor grievance redressal and dispute resolution may also be considered to address concerns around transparency, information availability and consumer protection.
• Igniting the Entrepreneurial Wave: Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain technology can reignite the entrepreneurial wave in India’s start up ecosystem and create job opportunities across different levels, from blockchain developers to designers, project managers, business analysts, promoters and marketers.

General Studies – 3

9. Iron ore mining has played a pivotal role in India’s development, contributing significantly to the country’s economic growth and industrialization. However, the industry faces critical challenges related to sustainability and fairness that must be addressed for its long-term viability. Analyse.

Reference: Live Mint

Introduction

India is the world’s second-largest iron ore producer, after Australia. In 2023, the iron ore mine production output in India was 257.6 million tonnes (Mt). Over the five years to 2021, production from India increased by a CAGR of 5% and is expected to rise by a CAGR of 0.57% between 2022 and 2026. India accounts for 10% of global production, with the largest producers being Australia, Brazil, China and Russia.

However, Exports of iron ore from India declined by 40.27% in 2022 over 2021, with the highest share being exported to China. India’s iron ore exports are expected to drop at a CAGR of 9.99% between 2022 and 2026.

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contributions of Iron ore sector to India’s growth

• The iron & steel sector is extremely vital in the country’s economic progression because it has one of the highest economic linkages in overall GDP with the present contribution of around 2 % to India’s GDP.
• It provides employment to a large number of people directly and indirectly, supporting livelihoods in mining, transportation, processing, and allied industries.
• Investment in iron ore mining and processing facilities stimulates infrastructure development, including roads, railways, and ports, enhancing connectivity and facilitating overall economic growth.
• Iron ore exports contribute significantly to India’s foreign exchange earnings, bolstering the country’s financial stability and facilitating investments in other sectors.
• The availability of iron ore domestically fuels growth in downstream industries such as steel manufacturing, construction, and machinery, driving industrial development and diversification.
• Government Revenue: Taxes, royalties, and other levies from the iron ore sector contribute to government revenue, supporting public services, infrastructure projects, and social welfare programs.

Challenges faced by Iron ore mining sector

• The sector is taking a massive hit because of high tax rates in India due to instances of duplication of taxes including Royalty over Royalty, Overlapping State-Specific Taxes like in GPF in Goa & SPV in Karnataka, coal compensation cess, etc. which makes it difficult for India to compete with global peers.
• The differential pricing of iron ore is likely to create competition concerns and exports of iron ore should also be discouraged, according to a study by fair trade regulator CCI.
• The allocation of captive mines to some players creates entry barriers in the iron ore and steel sector as entry and successful operation becomes costly for new firms
• In Japan and Korea, less than 1.1 tonnes (and in several developed countries 1.05 tonnes) of crude steel is required to produce a tonne of saleable steel. In India, the average is still high at 1.2 tonnes.
• The per capita labour productivity in India is at 90-100 tonnes which is one of the lowest in the world. The labour productivity in Japan, Korea and some other major steel producing countries is about 600-700 tonnes per man per year.
• Most of the public sector units are plagued by inefficiency caused by heavy investment on social overheads, poor labour relations, inefficient management, under­utilisation of capacity, etc. This hinders proper functioning of the steel plants and results in heavy losses.
• Although India has huge deposits of high grade iron ore, her coal reserves, especially high grade cooking coal for smelting iron are limited. Many steel plants are forced to import metallurgical coal.
• Lack of modern technological and capital inputs and weak infrastructural facilities leads to a process of steel making which is more time consuming, expensive and yields inferior variety of goods. Such a situation forces us to import better quality steel from abroad.

Way forward

• For India which is on the path of exponential growth, it is pertinent to unlock the potential of the country’s Iron & Steel sector through policy reforms which can further enhance ‘ease of doing Business’ with utmost focus on sustainability.
• This will pave the way for the country to become an attractive destination for global supply chain owners, who would like to find the right balance between economic prospects and social consciousness and make India a preferred global sourcing hub for Steel and value-added products.
• A well-mapped positive trajectory like this will help India achieve its double-digit growth dream supported by the catalysing power of the steel industry.
• There is also a need for a clear regulatory framework to incentivise the adoption of clean technology and facilitate the transformation of production processes towards sustainability.
• Governments should ensure ease in implementing rules to alleviate the high cost of compliance for industry participants.

10. Balancing security needs with broader geopolitical and ecological concerns is essential in making effective decisions regarding border management. Do you think fencing the entire border with Myanmar will yield desired level of border safeguards and security? Examine. (250 words)

Reference: The Hindu

Introduction

India has one of the longest and most varied of international borders. Historical and political reasons have left India with an artificial unnatural border. Border Management is an integral approach towards borders in which along with security enhancement, infrastructure & human development is undertaken. The challenge of coping with long-standing territorial and boundary disputes with China and Pakistan, combined with porous borders along some of the most difficult terrain in the world, has made effective and efficient border management a national priority.

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Border Management in India and its complexities

• Porous borders: International borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh run through diverse terrain including deserts, marshes, plains and mountains. This porosity of borders facilitates various illegal activities such as smuggling, trafficking of humans, drugs and arms and infiltration.
• Contested International borders: History of mistrustand constant border skirmisheswith Pakistan along line of control (LOC) makes India highly susceptible to cross-border terrorism. Similarly, India’s border with Myanmar is threatened by several insurgent groups that have found sanctuaries in jungles along the border. Political boundary issues of “enclaves and adverse possessions” in Bangladesh have resulted in political sensitivity along the entire eastern border.
• Inefficiency in Border management: Indian borders continue to be guarded by military and police forces that report to different ministries in the Centre and states, making the border management task arduous and leading to duplication of efforts by the security forces.
• Lack of critical infrastructure: Critical infrastructure such as observation towers, bunkers, Border Flood Lights etc. are lacking in many border areas which also prevent deployment of hi-tech equipment.
• Poor intelligence and resource efficiency: Security forces are ill-equipped to handle border management given poor intelligence capabilities and severe resource deficiency.
• Ethnic conflicts and separatist movements: The situation has worsened due to the changed demographic profile of many Border States and shift in ethnic balance of communities as a result of illegal migration.
• Over-population in the border areas: Density of population in the border areas at some places is approximately 700-800 persons per square km on the Indian side and about 1,000 persons on the Bangladesh side.
• Political instability and disorder in its periphery impacts India’s security directly or indirectly. Proxy war between India and Pakistan adds to this security risk.

India’s border fencing with Myanmar and its consequences

Pros

• India and Myanmar share an unfenced border and people on either side have familial and ethnic ties which prompted the arrangement in the 1970s. FMR was last revised in 2016.
• Violence in Manipur: The Manipur Chief Minister has attributed the ongoing ethnic violence in the State that has claimed around 200 lives since May 2023 to the unregulated movement of people across the porous border.
  • A border may help combat allegations by the Manipur state government of ‘illegal migration’ of Kuki-Zo or ‘external aggression by kindred militant groups on the other side of the border.
• Refugee influx: To contain any spillover of the anti-military conflict in Myanmar in the form of refugees or militancy.
• Illegal activities: It will help prevent a growing illegal and informal trade in drugs, gold, betel nuts and timber and tackle Valley-based, Naga and Assam-based Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) sheltered in Myanmar.

Cons

• Diplomatic Relations: Fencing the entire border may strain diplomatic relations between the two countries. It could be perceived as an aggressive act and lead to increased tensions, impacting not only border security but also overall regional stability.
• Cross-Border Cooperation: Collaborative efforts with Myanmar, such as intelligence sharing and joint patrolling, might be more effective in addressing security concerns. Building trust and cooperation can contribute to long-term stability.
• Impact on Environment: Fencing can have ecological consequences, disrupting wildlife habitats, migration routes, and biodiversity. It may lead to environmental degradation and negatively affect local ecosystems, which is a significant concern given the shared natural resources along the border.
• Impact on Local Populations: Fencing can affect the lives of communities living along the border, potentially dividing families and disrupting traditional livelihoods. It may lead to social and economic challenges for these communities.
• Financial Burden: Fencing an entire border can be a costly undertaking. The financial resources required for construction, maintenance, and personnel to man the border need to be carefully considered in relation to the overall security benefits.

Conclusion

Fencing the entire border with Myanmar may provide certain security benefits, but it is essential to examine the approach in the context of broader geopolitical and ecological concerns. While border fencing can be an effective measure in some cases, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution

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