[Mission 2024] Insights SECURE SYNOPSIS: 15 February 2024

NOTE: Please remember that following ‘answers’ are NOT ‘model answers’. They are NOT synopsis too if we go by definition of the term. What we are providing is content that both meets demand of the question and at the same

General Studies – 1

Topic: Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent)

1. Examine the factors that led to growth and evolution of silk industries in India. What changes have been witnessed in silk industries as they have evolved? (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: Insights on India

Why the question:

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

Key Demand of the question:.

Explain the factors that determine the location of Silk industries in India and as well trace the change in these locations from 19th century till the present times.

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:

Briefly first bring out the current locations of silk industries in the country.

Body:

Explain the factors that determine the location of silk industry leading to their growht. Comment on the key factors – labor, raw material and market. Use the map of India to highlight the factors and respective locations – Karnataka, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir etc.

Next, trace the changes in the location of silk industries; discuss the factors such as technology, advancement in science etc.

Conclusion:

Conclude with importance of the industry in the country.

Introduction

India’s Silk Industry is world’s second largest after China. The total production of silk in India stood at around 23,000 tons in the year 2011-12. India produces four varieties of silk produced, viz. Mulberry, Eri, Tasar and Muga. About 80% of silk produced in country is of mulberry silk, majority of which is produced in the three southern States of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Sericulture Provides gainful occupation to around 63 Lakh persons in rural and semi-urban areas in India. About 97% of raw silk in India is produced in five Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir.

Body

Factors that determine the location of Silk industries in India

• Raw Material: Mulberry plants can be grown in any type of soil even in forest fringes, hill slopes. They can withstand draught and grows well in non-green revolution, non-irrigated areas of East and NE India.
• Labour: Sericulture does not involve hard labor. Silkworms can be reared by women and old people. In Eastern States, Farmers earlier used to grow Jute but Jute demand declined so they shifted to Sericulture.
• Capital: works on simple technology, no sophisticated equipment needed and can be done by small and marginal farmers, tribals.
• Market: There is still good demand for Silk Saris in India. With rise in the e-commerce, the demand has now spread across the globe.
• Technology: Technology has enabled faster processing of the silkworms leading to variety of products in large scale.

Changes in the location of these industries from 19th century till the present times

• Technology: Central Silk board located in Bangalore. Further, technical knowledge sharing by Japan Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
• Machinery /devices: Machinery / devices used for drying, cooking, reeling and re-reeling processes. Move from handlooms to machine looms has helped in mass production of silk sarees.
• Government Policy: Sericulture done via cooperatives, SHGs which are more efficient and standard production compared to individual farmer.
• Extension services: Government provides extension service, training to farmers which act as secondary source of income.
• Export policies which has helped the spread of market to countries across world.
• Market: The sale of silk sarees through e-Commerce websites.

Conclusion

High Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) with potential to generate huge employment involving women, augmenting income of farmers, eco-friendly options which help in preserving the biodiversity makes Sericulture a viable option in India.

Topic: factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).

2. Non-geographical factors can significantly impact the decision-making process for businesses when choosing where to establish their industrial operations. Discuss. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: Insights on India

Why the question:

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

Key Demand of the question:

Explain the non- geographical factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world in detail with suitable examples.

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:

Explain that Industrial locations are complex in nature. These are influenced by the availability of many factors. Some of them are: raw material, land, water, labor, capital, power, transport, and market. However there are many non-geographical factors too.

Body:

Discuss the non-geographical factors in detail – Capital investment, Availability of loans, Investment climate, Government policies/regulations, Influence of pressure groups etc. manufacturing activity tends to locate at the most appropriate place where all the factors of industrial location are either available or can be arranged at lower cost. In general, it should also be noted that both lower production cost and lower distribution cost are the two major factors while considering the location of an industry. Sometimes, the government provides incentives like subsidized power, lower transport cost, and other infrastructure so that industries may be located in backward areas.

One should quote relevant examples from India and across the world to justify the answer.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising the importance of above.

Introduction

Industry refers to an economic activity that is concerned with production of goods, extraction of minerals or the provision of services.

Body

Many important geographical factors involved in the location of individual industries are of relative significance. But besides such purely geographical factors influencing industrial location, there are factors of historical, human, political and economic nature which are now tending to surpass the force of geographical advantages. Consequently, the factors influencing the location of industry can be divided into two broad categories – Geographical and Non- Geographical factors.

Non- Geographical factors:

• Capital:
  • Modem industries are capital-intensive and require huge investments.
  • Capitalists are available in urban centers.
  • Big cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Chennai are big industrial centers, because the big capitalists live in these cities.
• Government Policies:
  • Government activity in planning the future distribution of industries, for reducing regional disparities, elimination of pollution of air and water and for avoiding their heavy clustering in big cities, has become no less an important locational factor.
• Industrial Inertia:
  • Industries tend to develop at the place of their original establishment, though the original cause may have disappeared.
  • This phenomenon is referred to as inertia, sometimes as geographical inertia and sometimes industrial inertia.
  • The lock industry at Aligarh is such an example.
• Efficient Organization:
  • Efficient and enterprising organization and management is essential for running modem industry successfully.
  • Bad management sometimes squanders away the capital and puts the industry in financial trouble leading to industrial ruin.
• Banking Facilities:
  • Establishment of industries involves daily exchange of crores of rupees which is possible through banking facilities only.
  • So the areas with better banking facilities are better suited to the establishment of industries.
• Insurance:
  • There is a constant fear of damage to machine and man in industries for which insurance facilities are badly needed.
• Political and economic situation:
  • Political harmony and peace in a particular region encourage the establishment of industrial units.
  • On the other hand, disturbed political and economic set up discourages the growth of industries in the region.
  • On account of Naxalites movement in West Bengal, Industries started moving out of West Bengal.
  • Similarly, is the case in certain other states where, on account of political disturbances, manufacturers have started thinking to settle elsewhere and further industrial expansion has been greatly affected.
• Availability of research facilities:
  • The main aim of any industrial undertaking is to have maximum production with minimum cost.
  • Constant research and experimentation is undertaken to develop products and improved methods of production.
• Possibilities of future expansion:
  • The area for location should be such as to provide all possible opportunities for future development and expansion of the industrial unit without involving extra cost.
  • Every industrial undertaking is established with the aim to expand in future.

Conclusion

Thus, the location of industries is dependent on a combination of geographical and non-geographical factors.

General Studies – 2

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

3. What are the major issues plaguing prisons in the country? reforming the prison system in India can contribute to a more humane, effective, and just criminal justice system in the country. Examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India

Why the question:

For a society built upon the principles of justice and human rights, the treatment of prisoners becomes a critical measure of its commitment to these values.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about issues with Prisons in India and suggest prison reforms.

Directive Word:

Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by citing a statistic regarding the prisons in India.

Body:

First, mention the various issues plaguing prisons – overcrowding, impact of covid-19, slow place of justice, impact on mental health etc

Next, write about the suggestions of various committees in regards to prison reforms.

Next, suggest measures reforms that are needed to the criminal justice system and measures to reduce overcrowding of prisons.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

The Prisons in India are more than a century-old system which are in dire need of repair. Prisons in India, and their administration, are a state subject covered by item 4 under the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. But they have been in general overlooked and ill maintained.

A recent Supreme Court intervention addresses the substandard treatment of prisoners, emphasising their entitlement to the fundamental rights despite incarceration. Prisoners, recognised as humans with constitutional rights, retain these entitlements even during confinement, as established in State of Andhra Pradesh vs Challa Ramkrishna Reddy.

Body

major issues plaguing prisons in the country 

Technological reforms needed

• Artificial intelligence start-ups employ facial biometrics to conduct tests on Indian faces. The integration of this biometric identification system with criminal justice departments aims to enhance efficiency and coordination.
• The Supreme Court is setting up an integrated criminal justice system that will link the police, courts, and prisons on one platform to facilitate real-time information exchange, including FASTER (Fast and Secure Transmission of Electronic Records), a new electronic system to transfer e-authenticated copies of bail orders to prisons to enable immediate release of undertrials.
• The Madras High Court has implemented an E-Bail Module to expedite the bail process from the application stage.
• The Indian government is also working to enhance the cohesion of the criminal justice system through the implementation of e-prison initiatives under the Model Prison Act of 2023.
• Implementing video-based telehealth consultations can streamline healthcare services, cutting costs by eliminating the requirement of a large medical workforce while providing real-time diagnoses by trained professionals.
• AI can be used to monitor inmates. For example, the Uttar Pradesh Police uses JARVIS (Joint AI Research for Video Instances and Streams), an AI-powered audio and video analytics platform, for monitoring inmates. Such AI systems employ facial recognition, behavioural analysis and movement tracking to detect anomalies among inmates and enhance safety.
• AI-based video analysis also streamlines parole processes by analysing prisoner conduct, potentially reducing overcrowding by helping grant more paroles.
• Electronic ankle tags can further help monitor prisoner movements, ensuring they remain within the network. Such innovations improve safety, support proactive interventions, and offer solutions to prison overcrowding.

Way forward

• Governments and courts adopt a public health and gender-sensitive approach to the question of mass incarceration of undertrial prisoners.
• The participation of prison watchdogs in bringing accountability to these dark custodial spaces must be restored.
• The decline in the rate of release of undertrials from prison and the increase in custodial deaths must be named as a humanitarian crisis.
• The bureaucratic approach of the HPCs should be reviewed.
• Courts must privilege prisoners’ experiences of “lockdown” prisons rather than pay lip service to dead letter reform.
• Qualified health professionals — independent of the prison administration — are essential to provide services to inmates.
• Prison and Jail Overcrowding Commission: Should meet regularly and dispose of any prison related issue.
• Ensuring Accountability of Police – any crime like custodial violence must be fast tracked within specified time period through Independent investigation Agency

Conclusion

                It is time to end the law’s attachment to inflicting cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment on pre-trial prisoners. The mass incarceration of pre-trial prisoners must be abolished. Surely institutionalised indifference to the cruel and inhuman conditions of custody must be abhorrent to any society.

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.

4. The issue of mandatory menstrual leave has been a subject of discussion in various countries. Advocates argue that it promotes gender equality and supports their well-being. Critically analyse the statement. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: The Hindu

Why the question:

Data show that a mere 0.9% of women in the workforce avail of menstrual leave days in Japan’.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the issues of menstrual leave for women and its impact.

Directive word:

Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a balanced judgment on the topic.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving context.

Body:

First, write about the issue of menstrual leave and its impact – promotes gender equality, acknowledges health needs, and enhances productivity etc.

Next, write about impediments about menstrual leave – potential discrimination, stigmatization, and operational challenges etc.

Next, write about what India must do in this regard.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

Menstrual leave is a type of leave where a woman may have the option to take paid or unpaid leave from her employment if she is menstruating and is unable to go to work because of this. According to a study, out of the 40% of women who are part of the labour force 20% experience a condition called dysmenorrhea that causes pain during menstruation.

Online restaurant guide and food ordering platform Zomato recently said it is introducing up to ten days of ‘period leaves’ for all women employees to build a more inclusive work culture in the organisation.

Body

Rationale for the mandatory menstrual leaves:

• The support for period leave rests on a sound rights-based argument — that workplaces need to accommodate for biological differences between co-workers.
• Period leave allows women to rightfully rest during their menstrual cycle.
• It is well-documented that women experience a wide range of health complications during their monthly cycle — cramps, back and muscle pains, bloating, headaches, nausea, among others.
• These symptoms can assume greater severity for women suffering from chronic conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis.
• While the experience of a period is different for different women, and certainly differs month-to-month for the same woman.
• Period leave is thought to be a means to legitimise the physical toll of a painful monthly cycle, to be taken if required, a means to create equity at the workplace.
• It is also cited as a way of normalising conversations around menstruation.

Examples from India:

• Zomato in 2020,announced a 10-day paid period of leave per year, and Swiggy and Byjus have also followed suit.
• Among State governments, Bihar and Kerala are the only ones to introduce menstrual leave to women.
• The Bihar government, then headed by Lalu Prasad Yadav, introduced its menstrual leave policy in 1992, allowing employees two days of paid menstrual leave every month.
• Keralaannounced that the State’s Higher Education department grants menstrual and maternity leaves for students in universities that function under the department.

Global Examples

• Spain became the first European countryto grant paid menstrual leave to workers, among a host of other sexual health rights.
• Japan introduced menstrual leave as part of labour law in 1947after the idea became popular with labour unions in the 1920s. At present, under Article 68, employers cannot ask women who experience difficult periods to work during that time.
• Indonesia introduced a policy in 1948, amended in 2003, saying that workers experiencing menstrual pain are not obliged to work on the first two days of their cycle.
• In the Philippines, workers are permitted two days of menstrual leave a month.
• Taiwanhas an Act of Gender Equality in Employment in place. Under Article 14 of the Act, employees have the right to request a day off as period leave every month, at half their regular wage.
• South Korea takes a slightly different route, allowing for monthly physiologic leave under Article 73 of their labour law, allowing all female workers to get a day off every month.
• Among the African nations, Zambia introduced one day of leave a month without needing a reason or a medical certificate, calling it Mother’s Day.
• Companies across nations, such as Nike and Coexist, have introduced menstrual leave as an internal policy.

Challenges in granting the mandatory menstrual leaves:

• To achieve the stated objectives, we cannot ignore the economics of a period leave. We need to be clear where the funding for menstrual leaves comes from.
• If menstrual leave is structured like maternity leave, it threatens to increase the cost of hiring women. This has implications in the long-run.
• Teamlease Services found that 1.1-1.8 million women lost their jobs in 2018-19 across 10 major sectors owing to the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2016 which doubled paid maternity leave from three to six months.
• Similarly, there are other costs associated with hiring women that lead to unsaid but rampant discrimination.
• It is well-known that many employers in India are hesitant to hire women for jobs that require frequent travel as they need to make special arrangements for their safety.
• Essentially, society’s failure to keep women reasonably safe leads to a public cost internalised by employers as a private cost. Paid period leave can further exacerbate this situation.
• Even if this by itself does not keep women out of jobs, it can lead to discrimination in hiring and promotion and raise the barriers for women to enter and climb the corporate ladder.
• It also creates grounds for companies to offer lower in-hand salaries to women, justifying it on the basis that the cost to company for women and men should be equal.
• About 55% of urban working women were in regular, salaried employment in 2018-19. Of these, 71% had no written job contract, 51% were not eligible for paid leave, and 53% were not eligible for any social security benefit.
• Period leave will not touch the lives of millions of casual women workers in the informal economy in both urban and rural areas.
• By increasing the costs of hiring women, we, in fact, risk keeping them out of the workforce.

Way forward:

• A good solution might be to increase the number of paid sick leaves by law for both men and women, but keeping it equal.
• While it increases the overall cost of doing business in India, it treats men and women at par.
• Paid sick leaves can be viewed as a form of social security.
• In industries where remote working has proven to be effective, employers can be encouraged to institute work-from-home policies that allow employees to work remotely for a fixed number of days in a month.
• This flexibility will ensure that women can work from the comfort of their home, in case they find it inconvenient to travel or work from office during their period.
• Menstruation Benefits Bill was tabled as a private member bill in the Parliament in 2018. It is imperative to look at the significance of the provisions, for a gender sensitive labour policy.
• Menstrual leave policies must be introduced alongside measures to increase workforce participation of women.
• Efforts at making workplaces more inclusive and gender sensitive is essential. Separate toilets for men and women with facilities for disposal of sanitary napkins should be ensured.

Conclusion:

To improve working conditions of the 10% women who are in the formal workforce, we must not forget about the remaining 90% women workers who are in the informal sector for whom such policies threaten to become the gatekeepers. Given all these apprehensions, we need to find a balance between creating space for women to seek period leave when required and ensuring that it doesn’t become another ground for employers to favour men over women.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

5. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) has faced criticism for its relevance and limitations in capturing the complexities of contemporary industrial activities. Analyse. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Live Mint

Why the question:

An issue with the current Index of Industrial Production series is that it doesn’t account for improvements in capacity or technological changes.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about IIP and its criticism.

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 defining IIP.

Body:

First, write about the mechanism of calculation of IIP – process involving the selection of representative items, data collection, and the application of a weighted formula.

Next, write about its shortcomings – include limited coverage, changing industrial structures, data quality issues, globalization impacts, and the emergence of new sectors.

Conclusion:

Conclude by giving a way forward.

Introduction

The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is a measure of the rate of growth in the economy’s various industry groups over a given time period. The Central Statistical Organization (CSO) computes and publishes the IIP index on a monthly basis. The Index of Industrial Production, or IIP, is a measure of manufacturing activity in various sectors of an economy. The IIP figure compares industrial output for the current time, which is generally a month, to the reference period. IIP is a key economic indicator for the manufacturing sector.

Body

Significance of IIP

• IIP is the only measure on the physical volume of production.
• The all-India IIP provides a single representative figure to measure the general level of industrial activity in the economy.
• It is used by government agencies including the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank of India etc, for policy purposes.
• It forms a crucial input for compilation of Gross Value Added (GVA) of the manufacturing sector in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on a quarterly basis.
• IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the quarterly and advance GDP estimates.
• It is also used extensively by financial intermediaries, policy analysts and private companies for various analytical purposes.

Calculation of IIP

• IIP is calculated by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO). It is published every month keeping a gap of six weeks.

• Electricity, crude oil, coal, cement, steel, refinery products, natural gas, and fertilisers are the eight core industries that comprise about 40 percent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production.

• Mining, manufacturing, and electricity are the three broad sectors in which IIP constituents fall
• A list of industries representing various sectors of the economy is chosen for inclusion in the index.
• Each selected industry is assigned a weight based on its contribution to the overall industrial output. These weights are typically based on the value added by each industry.
• Data on the production levels of the selected industries are collected from various sources such as government agencies, industry surveys, and production reports.
• The production levels of the selected industries are compared to a base year’s production levels to calculate the growth or decline in industrial output.
• The IIP is then calculated using a formula that combines the production levels of all selected industries, weighted by their respective weights, to provide a single numerical value representing the overall industrial production trend.

Shortcomings of IIP

• Limited Coverage: The IIP may not include all sectors of the economy, leading to a partial representation of industrial activity.
• Weighting Issues: The weights assigned to industries may not accurately reflect their contribution to the economy, leading to distortions in the index.
• Data Quality: Data collection methods and reporting standards may vary, affecting the reliability and accuracy of the index.
• Base Year Bias: Using a fixed base year for comparison may not account for changes in technology, production methods, and consumer preferences over time.
• Seasonal Variations: The IIP may not adequately adjust for seasonal fluctuations in industrial activity, leading to misleading interpretations of trends.
• Informal Sector: Activities in the informal sector, which can be significant in some economies, may not be captured in the IIP, leading to underestimation of industrial output.

Conclusion

IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the quarterly and advance GDP (Gross Domestic Product) estimates. In India, even as the suite of high-frequency data has become richer, the original activity gauge, that is the monthly index of industrial production (IIP), which is considered a ‘leading’ indicator of the economy, is slowly losing its relevance. IIP prints are increasingly proving to be out of sync with GDP trends and often produce results that contrast with other macro data, like external trade, the annual survey of industries (ASI) and company results.

Topic: Security challenges and their management in border areas

6. Securing border areas through infrastructure development requires a sensitive approach that balances security needs with environmental, cultural, and humanitarian considerations. Elaborate. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Print , Insights on India

Why the question:

In order to bolster border infrastructure, India and China are ramping up construction of villages in their respective border areas.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the challenges managing border by building infrastructure areas and steps that are needed to do so.

Directive word:

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

Structure of the answer:

Introduction: 

Begin by giving context about extent of border areas in the country.

Body:

First, write about the various challenges pertaining to border areas in the country.

Next, write about a dynamic and sensitive approach to border management in the country by building infrastructure – strengthen regional connectivity, thereby boosting economic linkages at a sub-regional level, improve overall relations with border countries.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

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.

In order to bolster border infrastructure, India and China are ramping up construction of villages in their respective border areas.

Body

India has had to deal with numerous challenges with respect to border management such as:

• Porous borders: International borders with Pakistan and Bangladeshrun 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 skirmishes with 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.

The implications on the internal security due to the above challenges of border management is marked by

• increased cross-border terrorism
• infiltration and ex-filtration of armed militants
• emergence of non-state actors
• nexus between narcotics traffickers and arms smugglers
• left-wing extremism
• fake Indian Currency network
• separatist movements aided and abetted by external powers
• illegal cattle trade

Diverse influences in borderlands and issues

• Economic support for insurgency: The Golden Triangle (comprising Myanmar, Laos and Thailand) has provided an economic boom for the insurgent groups to sustain themselves.
• Availability of weapons: Easy availability of small arms in neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar has been another factor behind the sustenance of insurgency in the region.
• Terrain of Border: Difficult terrain along border with different countries in north east make means of transportation and communication difficult and as a result, the border area remains sparsely populated with depressed economic development.
• Boundary issue: Even though the international boundary between countries like India and Myanmar had been formally delimited and demarcated following the boundary agreement in 1967, the boundary has not crystallised on the ground as lines separating two sovereign countries.
  • Border with China is disputed, and Kashmir has been an ongoing issue with Pakistan since Independence without solution.
• 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.

Strategies for effective border management have been continuously evolving. Some of them are:

• 24x7x365 day surveillance along Indo-Pak border with 5-layer smart fence
• Agreement on basic guiding principles and standard operating procedures
• Increasing confidence building measures and communication linkages to avoid unnecessary confrontation and escalation
• Integrated border management by involving and enhancing cooperation with counterparts of neighbouring countries especially along open borders.
• Effective implementation of the recommendations of One Border One Force by the Task Force on Border Management to weeds out inter agency frictions.
• Community measures and awareness can be deployed along open borders to prevent illegal activities.
• Implementation of Border Area Development Programme and other developmental initiatives so that there is no feeling of being left out.

Way forward:

• Infrastructure along with border has to be improved – rail connectivity along with road connectivity has to be provided for quick mobilization.
• Building of additional checkpoints and Border posts along major and minor trade routes connected with borders
• Building of floating bridges, walls & electrical fences where there is high probability of infiltration.
• Taking up of joint Border management with Countries like Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal.
• Improving healthcare, physical infrastructure and digital connectivity in villages around borders thus making them stakeholder in Border Management.
• Madhav Godbole task force recommendations on border management need to be implemented.
• It had recommended that the CRPF should be designated as the primary national level counter-insurgency force. This would enable the other central paramilitary forces like the BSF and Indo-Tibetan Border Police to return to their primary role of better border management.
• It had also recommended that all paramilitary forces managing unsettled borders should operate directly under the control of the army and that there should be lateral induction from the army to the paramilitary forces so as to enhance their operational effectiveness.
• The principle of ‘single point control’ must be followed if the borders are to be effectively managed.
• The advances in surveillance technology, particularly satellite and aerial imagery, can help to maintain a constant vigil along the LAC and make it possible to reduce physical deployment.

Conclusion

Keeping a strong vigil on its border is very important for any nation to check any kind of illegal activities or intrusion through them. For India, the task becomes difficult where terrain and climate is very complex across some of its border areas. Focussing on improved technology will help in making the task easier for the security forces and make its borders more secure.

General Studies – 4

Topic: Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.

7. Emotional intelligence is a personal attribute that is very useful in easing conflict. People with a high emotional intelligence are empathetic and sensitive to the feelings of others. Discuss. (150 Words)

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Why the question:

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

Directive word: 

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

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Begin by defining emotional intelligence.

Body:

Next, mention the various components of emotional intelligence that help in reducing conflicts at the work place. Link it with proper examples real or hypothetical ones to substantiate your points.

Conclusion:

Conclude by stressing on training public servants to use emotional intelligence for conflict resolution.

Introduction

Emotional intelligence or EI is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, and those of the people around you. Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive emotions, to access and generate emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions and emotional knowledge, and to reflectively regulate emotions so as to promote emotional and intellectual growth.

Body:

According to Daniel Goleman, an American psychologist who helped to popularize emotional intelligence, there are four key elements to it viz. Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness & relationship management.

Significance of Emotional intelligence:

• Appraising emotions arising from situations:
  • Using emotions for reason based decisions and policy making.
  • Identifying emotions in faces, voices, postures, and other content during public management activities.
• Stress tolerance:
  • To stay focused, stress should be managed and it involves own reactions to stress or the reactions of others to the stress.
• Impulse control:
  • Independent people evaluate the alternatives and initiate the work by taking appropriate action by executing the right options. People who manage their impulses avoid being distracted and losing control of the situation.
• Negotiation:
  • Whether you’re dealing with a trading partner, competitor, customer or colleague, being able to empathize and be creative in finding win-win solutions will consistently pay off.
• Peer relationships:
  • Good networking skills are a staple of job effectiveness for the average worker. Networking has too often been associated with “using” other people, but a heightened EQ ensures a mutually beneficial approach to others.
• Social responsibility:
  • When a leader cares about others, he is not a centre of attention and keeps everyone in the loop by making their intentions known.
• Optimism:
  • Optimistic people have a target that they’re aiming toward. These people are confident in their ability to carry out the required actions and meet the target by looking for successful solutions to problems.

Ways to develop emotional intelligence in civil servants:

• Assessing personal strengths and limitations
• Providing feedback with care
• Maximizing learner choice
• Encouraging participation
• Linking learning goals to personal values
• Adjusting expectations
• Gauging readiness
• Fostering a positive relationship between the trainer and the learner
• Maximizing self-directed change
• Setting clear goal
• Maximizing opportunities to practice emotional intelligence
• Providing frequent feedback on that practice
• Enhancing insight into emotions and thought patterns

Conclusion:

The Center for Creative Leadership even draws on research to suggest that 75% of careers are negatively impacted by emotional competency-related themes. These include the inability to respond adaptively to change, nurture trust, lead teams during tough times, and deal effectively with interpersonal problems. So developing your EI skills will help civils servants perform better in the workplace.

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