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);
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
Late Dr K.T. Achaya, in his book ‘A Historical Dictionary of Indian Food’ (Oxford University Press, 1998) mentioned that coffee seeds were brought to India by Arab traders for use by the gentry.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the types of coffee and issues in coffee in industry.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context of coffee production in India.
Body:
In the first part, write about the types of coffee produced in the country and regions it is produced. Mention the details.
Next, write about the various issues in the Indian coffee industry – Pests and Diseases, Market Prices and Fair Trade, Climate Change etc and steps required to overcome those challenges.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
India is among the top 10 coffee producers of the world accounting for approximately 3 per cent of global production. In India, two types of coffee are grown, namely Robusta and Arabica, with later being the preferred variety. Among the coffee producing states, Karnataka accounts for 70 per cent of the country’s coffee production.
Coffee is a tropical plantation crop. Blessed with a tropical climate, the Southern states of India are nurturing ground for coffee cultivation, with Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu contributing over 90% of the country’s coffee production.
However, Coffee cultivation is becoming an increasingly loss-making proposition in India. More than 75% of Indian coffee production is Exported. India’s share in the global coffee market is less than 5%. The coffee community in India, comprises close to 4 lakh coffee growers, hundreds of large planters, and associations.
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varieties of coffee grown in India
ARABICA COFFEE
- Arabica coffee is a small tree in its original habitat but grows like a shrub with bushy growth when trained.
- Arabica has a delicate flavor and balanced aroma coupled with a sharp and sweet taste.
- They have about half the amount of caffeine compared to Robustas.
- Arabica produces superior quality coffee but is susceptible to diseases like leaf rust and pests like white stem borer.
- Arabicas are harvested between November to January and are typically grown on higher altitudes ranging from 600 to 2000 meters in cool, moisture-rich, and subtropical weather conditions with rainfall ranging from 1600 to 2500mm.
- This leads the systematic breeding efforts for genotypes with respect to leaf rust resistance, high yielding potential, wide adaptability, and superior quality.
ROBUSTA COFFEE
- Robusta, the less expensive option in the supermarket aisles, has twice the caffeine content of Arabica.
- It produces more fruit, is easier to grow, and produces stronger coffee.
- However, it lacks Arabica’s distinct aroma.
- It has a grainy texture and a bitter aftertaste instead.
- Robusta is grown in hot and humid climates between December and February at elevations ranging from 500 to 1000 metres.
- Robusta is less concerned with its surroundings.
- When compared to Arabica, it has higher pest resistance. Robusta now accounts for 30 to 40% of global coffee production.
Coffee growing areas in India
- The Western Ghats are home to the majority of Indian coffee plantations.
- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka are coffee cultivation hotspots.
- Eastern Ghat patches such as Andhra Pradesh and Orissa are new coffee destinations.
- Finally, there are plantations in the Northeast’s seven sisters.
- Thirteen Indian locations are hot spots for coffee cultivation.
Problems being faced by coffee producers
- Erratic weather conditionsare helping pests to breed and new diseases to emerge.
- fruit rot, stalk rot, root rotand other irreparable damage due to heavy rainfall and landslides.
- Between 2015 and 2017, there were dry spells, then between 2018 and 2022, there were unseasonably severe rains, floods, and landslides
- The volatility in market pricesand the reduced influence of producers in the value chain render coffee cultivation an increasingly loss-making proposition.
- Indian coffee is losing market share to coffee exported from other countries like Brazil due to high production costs and poor marketing.
- The Western Ghats, which are home to many ecologically vulnerable areas, are where most coffee is cultivated in India. One of the top 25 hotspots for biodiversity in the world is this. This makes it difficult to promote coffee farms.
- Cost of financing: Most private banks insist that growers provide collateral for financing leading to interest rates being higher for small and medium-sized growers who lack collateral.
- The rise in the cost of inputsyear on year and the increase in the cost of labour and benefits, constitute 60% to 70% of total plantation expenditure.
- In Brazil, labour costs make up 25% of the total cost of production, but in India, planters claim they make up 65%.
- Plantations face power cutsduring the summer months. This makes irrigation expensive as the cost of diesel is high.
- Identity crisis:Indian coffee is still facing an identity crisis in global markets as Indian coffee was never considered a separate origin coffee. It was always used as filler.
Way forward
- Finding alternative sourcesof revenue and increasing domestic consumption
- Branding and promoting Indian coffee better in the global market on the other.
- Inter-cropping:Growers should create additional revenue streams through inter-cropping or through innovative measures.
- Considering the change in land use, the government could permit growers to plant alternate crops on land not suitable for coffee cultivation.
- Sturdy and weather-resistant varietiesof coffee may help.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2 and mentioned as part of Mission-2024 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about features of parliamentary form of government, its pros and cons.
Directive:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by describing parliamentary form of government adopted by India.
Body:
In the first part, write about the major features of Parliamentary forms of government in India. Nominal and Real Head, Executive is a Part of Legislature, Majority Party Rule, Collective Responsibility etc.
Next, write about its advantages – Represents Diverse Group, Better Co-Ordination Between Legislature and Executive etc.
Next, write about its limitations of the parliamentary form of government.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a balanced opinion on parliamentary form of government.
Introduction
India is a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic and Republic country which follows the Parliamentary form of government which is also known as Westminster model of government or Cabinet government or Responsible government. This form of government is prevalent in Britain, Japan, Canada and India among others. Parliamentary system has been taken from the United Kingdom because U.K. constitution is the mother constitution of parliamentarianism.
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Major features of parliamentary form of government
- Bicameral legislature: System may be either bicameral (two houses of the parliament) or unicameral(single house of the parliament). India follows a bicameral legislature in which the members of the Lower House (Lok sabha) are elected by the people and members of Upper house (Rajya sabha) by elected representatives.
- The President can dissolve the Lok Sabha on recommendation of the Prime Minister while Rajya Sabha is a permanent house and cannot be dissolved.
- Nominal and Real Executives:There are two parts of the executive in India, nominal executive, and real executive. The President, the Head of the State is the nominal executive.
- Theoretically, the Constitution of India vested all the executive powers in the President of India. But, in practice, are actually used by the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister is the real executive.
- Majority Party Rule:The party which wins majority seats in the elections of the Lower House forms the government. The President appoints the leader as the Prime Minister and the other ministers on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
- The President may invite a coalition of parties to form the government, in case no party got a clear majority.
- Collective Responsibility:The council of ministers is collectively responsible to the parliament. The lower house of parliament can dissolve the government by exercising the no confidence motion.
- Opposition:Party who gets the second highest vote counts in elections forms an opposition party. The opposition plays a crucial role in keeping a check on the ruling government.
- Secrecy:The members of the executive follow the principle of secrecy in official legal matters of the country. Ministers take oaths of secrecy before entering their office.
Advantages of parliamentary form of government
- Better coordination between the administration and the legislation: Since the administration is part of the legislation, and most legislatures generally support the government, it is easier to pass laws and implement them.
- Prevent authoritarianism:since the executive branch is accountable to the legislature and can vote against it with motions of no confidence, there is no authoritarianism. Also, unlike a presidential system, power will not be concentrated in one hand.
- Participatory and inclusive decision-making.
- Responsible government ministers are accountable to Parliament for their actions. Tools: time for questions, debates, motions for adjournment, motions of no confidence.
- Be prepared to replace the government if you lose majority support. “The leader of the opposition party is the deputy prime minister” Jennings.
- Representation of different groups:In this system, the parliament provides representation for different groups in the country. This is especially important for countries like India.
- Flexibility: The system is flexible because the PM can be easily changed as needed. During World War II, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was replaced by Winston Churchill. This is different from the presidential system, which can only be replaced after the entire term or in the event of impeachment.
Demerits of Parliamentary form of Government
- Unstable Government: The parliamentary system does not provide a stable government. The government depends on the mercy of the majority legislators for their continuity and survival in office. Political defection or evils of the multiparty coalition can make the government unstable.
- No Continuity of Policies:The parliamentary system is not conducive for the formulation and implementation of long-term policies. A change in the ruling party is usually followed by changes in the policies of the government.
- Dictatorship of the Cabinet:Whenever the ruling party enjoys an absolute majority in the Parliament, the cabinet becomes autocratic and exercises nearly unlimited powers.
- Against Separation of Powers:In the parliamentary system, the legislature and the executive are together and inseparable. The cabinet acts as the leader of the legislature as well as the executive. Hence, the whole system of government goes against the letter and spirit of the theory of separation of powers.
- Government by Amateurs:The parliamentary system is not conducive to administrative efficiency as the ministers are not experts in their fields. The Prime Minister has a limited choice in the selection of ministers; his choice is restricted to the members of Parliament alone and does not extend to external talent.
Conclusion
As the representative body that checks the government’s activities, Parliament plays a crucial role in our democracy. It is critical for Parliament to function properly in order to fulfil its constitutional purpose.
Value addition
Reasons for India to adopt parliamentary system of Government:
- By the time of constitution framing, India already had some experience of the parliamentary system under the Government of India Act 1919 and 1935. So Indian people were familiar with it.
- This experience also showed that the executives can be effectively controlled by the representatives of the people.
- The makers of the constitution wanted to make the government responsible to people’s demands and should be accountable to them.
- The makers were reluctant to go for the presidential system as it gives excessive powers to the president who works independently with the legislature.
- The presidential system is also prone to the personality cult of the president.
- The makers of the constitution wanted to have a strong executive branch but with strong safeguards to avert the risk of a personality cult.
- In the parliamentary system, there are several mechanisms to make the executive more answerable to and controlled by the people’s representatives.
- So, the constitution adopted a parliamentary system for India.
Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2 and mentioned as part of Mission-2024 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about importance of preamble.
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 various views of significance of Preamble for the constitution.
Body:
In the first part, write about the all the core constitutional features of the Preamble.
Next, Mention about the significance of the constitution like how it tells the nature of Indian state, objective of constitution, how it is useful to judiciary.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising that the preamble represents the soul and spirit of the Indian constitution.
Introduction
Preamble to a constitution is the window to what is there inside the constitution. It is a resolution of Indian people to establish a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic. In this republic, people will have justice – social, economic and political; liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; and equality of status and opportunity; this will promote fraternity among them and assure the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.
Body:
Background:
- The preamble was written after the Constituent Assembly had written the whole constitution.
- It emerged from the Objectives Resolution which was introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru on the fifth day of the inaugural session of the Constituent Assembly debates.
- In the Keshavananda Bharati Case in 1973, Preamble was held as an integral part of the Constitution.
- The original Preamble did not mention “Secular”, “Socialistic”, and “and Integrity”. They were inserted in it through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment.
Significance of Preamble
- The Preamble embodies the basic philosophy and fundamental values—political, moral and religious —on which the Constitution is based.
- It contains the grand and noble vision of the Constituent Assembly, and reflects the dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers of the Constitution.
- In the Berubari Union 16 case (1960), the Supreme Court said that the Preamble shows the general purposes behind the several provisions in the Constitution, and is thus a key to the minds of the makers of the Constitution.
- Further, where the terms used in any article are ambiguous or capable of more than one meaning, some assistance at interpretation may be taken from the objectives enshrined in the Preamble.
- The Preamble contains the fundamentals of constitution. It serves several important purposes, as for example
- It contains the enacting clause which brings the Constitution into force.
- It declares the basic type of government and polity which is sought to be established in the country.
- It declares the great rights and freedom which the people of India intended to secure to its entire citizen.
- It throws light on the source of the Constitution, viz., the People of India.
- The Preamble can also be used to shed light on and clarify obscurity in the language of a statutory or, constitutional provision.
- The preamble acts as the preface of the constitution of India and lays down the philosophical ideas.
- It also states the objects which the constitution seeks to establish and promote.
- Preamble as Projector of ‘Desired Established State’
- The Preamble proclaims the solemn resolution of the people of India to constitute India into a ‘Sovereign socialist secular democratic republic’.
- Preamble as Interpreter of Legislation and statutes:
- The Constitution of India starts with a preamble which contains the spirit of the constitution. Every legislation framed is in conformity with the spirit of the preamble and thus the constitutionality and objects of the statutes are tested.
Views of stalwarts about the Preamble
- In the words of Sir Alladi Krishnaswami Iyer, a member of the Constituent Assembly who played a significant role in making the Constitution, ‘The Preamble to our Constitution expresses what we had thought or dreamt so long’.
- According to K M Munshi, a member of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, the Preamble is the ‘horoscope of our sovereign democratic republic’.
- Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava, another member of the Constituent Assembly, summed up the importance of the Preamble in the following words: ‘The Preamble is the most precious part of the Constitution. It is the soul of the Constitution. It is a key to the Constitution. It is a jewel set in the Constitution. It is a proper yardstick with which one can measure the worth of the Constitution’
Conclusion
Preamble shows the vision of India and strives for the values enumerated in it, for the people of India. Both in ideas and expression it is a unique one. It embodies the spirit of the constitution to build up an independent nation which will ensure the triumph of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. However, it is non-justiciable and is neither a source of authority or prohibition on powers of Parliament. Yet it epitomises the very idea of India as an Independent nation.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
The RBI has ordered the payments bank subsidiary of Paytm to halt the acceptance of fresh deposits in its accounts.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about various banking reforms in the light of rise of payments banks, further reforms that are needed for long term viability of baking sector.
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 payments bank.
Body:
First, write about the recent rise of payments bank in the banking sector. Cite statistic in this regard.
Next, write about the successes and shortcomings of the above banks.
Next, suggest reforms that must be taken in order to overcome the above mentioned limitations – strengthening governance, addressing asset quality issues, ensuring adequate capital levels, investing in technology upgrades, and ensuring a robust regulatory framework.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Niche banks are banks that have a specific purpose, focused on a particular subset of the population. A niche bank’s entire operations, marketing, and product mix are all developed to cater to the target market’s preferences. Small Finance Banks and Payments Bank are Niche Banks whose concept first came in the year 2007
A payments bank is a new type of bank that can perform most banking operations but cannot issue credit cards or loans. Payments banks are registered as public limited companies and licensed under the Banking Regulation Act of 1949. Payments banks can accept deposits up to ₹200,000 per customer, but this limit may increase.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed additional restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) due to “persistent non-compliances” revealed in an external audit report. The central bank has prohibited PPBL from accepting fresh deposits and credit transactions.
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Successes of Payment banks
- Payment banks help unbanked people join the formal banking system while also speeding up financial inclusion.
- The growth of banking will also aid in the financial literacy of the poor and the fight against poverty.
- Payment banks reach out to people in rural areas.
- The issuance of licences to Payments Banks and Small Finance Banks (SFBs) has helped achieve last-mile connectivity in the financial inclusion drive by lending more to micro, small and medium enterprises.
- For instance, SFBs had mobilised deposits of ₹82,488 crore and extended credit of ₹90,576 crore to small and marginal farmers, and MSMEs (micro small & medium enterprises) by the end of FY 2019-20.
- Niche banks have managed to stick to their stated objective of improving financial inclusion by lending more to micro, small and medium enterprises.
- SFBs have also seen a rapid rise in their deposit base. Since microfinance institutions were largely the entities which converted to small finance banks, their focus has been to get access to cheaper funding by raising deposits.
- There has been rise in the number of Payment Banks and small finance bank branches.
- Most of the payments bank candidates came with a background of mobile wallets. They have been offering a closed or a semi-closed wallet with a tie-up with licensed bank to offer small payments like paying utility bills, mobile recharge, taxi payments, remittances etc.
- India is predominantly a cash economy. This creates a major hurdle for government or regulators to catch the offenders. The digital cash will create electronic footprints, which will help the tax authorities go after the evaders.
Shortcomings of Payment Banks
- Niche banks have to compete with existing public sector banks and RRBs.
- Micro Finance Institution (MFI)/NBFC are specialised in micro lending operations with limited exposure to banking operations; that means they have to hire, train talent from the banking industry.
- The cost of deposit mobilisation will be higher for niche banks as they cover rural and underserved segment.
- Niche banks especially payment banks are required to invest minimum 75 per cent of its “demand deposit balances” into government securities. This limits their ability to earn from the deposit base as well.
- Experience from Jan Dhan Yojana has shown that many such no-frill accounts have remained dormant, thus affecting the viability of the banks.
- Medium of operation for these banks is the internet. India is struggling with very low internet speeds, which hinders the growth of these banks.
Way forward
- There is a need for niche banking to cater to the specific and varied requirements of different customers and borrowers.
- The perception and trust of people in new systems is of utmost importance. There will be a need for creation of awareness through proper communication strategy and depositor education.
- Essentially, these specialised banks would ease the access to finance in areas such as RAM (retail, agriculture, MSMEs), infrastructure financing, wholesale banking (mid and large corporates) and investment banking (merchant banking and financial advisory services).
- The niche banking reforms should focus on the need for higher individual deposit insurance and effective orderly resolution regimes to mitigate moral hazard and systemic risks with least cost to the public exchequer.
- While promoting niche banks, the government should tighten the loose ends by allowing them to build diversified loan portfolios and have cross-holdings to mitigate concentration/market risks
- Further, Government should establish sector-wise regulators, bestowing more powers to deal effectively with wilful defaulters, and paving the way for the corporate bond market (shift from bank-led economy) to create a responsive banking system in a dynamic real economy.
- Risk management can be more specific and the neo-banks can leverage the technology to further (digital) financial inclusion and finance higher growth of aspirational new India.
Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday (February 18) launched a new-generation meteorological satellite, INSAT-3DS, meant to carry out enhanced monitoring of the Earth’s surface, atmosphere, oceans and environment.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the evolution of GSLV technology.
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context.
Body:
First, write about the GSLV technology in its initial stages and major issues in it.
Next, write about the major improvements made by ISRO to GSLV and write about the successes achieved through it.
Next, write about the significance of the above – not only strengthened ISRO’s capabilities but has also contributed to India’s standing in the global space community.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday (February 18) launched a new-generation meteorological satellite, INSAT-3DS, meant to carry out enhanced monitoring of the Earth’s surface, atmosphere, oceans and environment.
The INSAT-3DS satellite rode on the GSLV-F14 rocket to reach its intended geostationary orbit. GSLV is one of the three main rockets used by ISRO for carrying its satellites, the other two being PSLV and LVM3 (earlier called GSLV-MkIII).
GSLV has had a rather patchy track record thus far, because of which it has been described as the ‘naughty boy’.
Body
About GSLV
- GSLV is an expendable launch vehicle designed to deliver satellites into geostationary transfer orbits and as a launcher for intermediate circular orbits.
- It is part of ISRO’s efforts to achieve self-reliance in launching heavier communication satellites.
- GSLV is a more powerful rocket than PSLV and can carry much heavier satellites.
- The GSLV has capabilities to carry heavier payloads compared to the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle), including larger satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO)
- It can carry more than 2,200 kg to geostationary orbits, and over 6,000 kg to the low earth orbits.
- One of the distinguishing features of the GSLV is its cryogenic upper stage, which uses liquid hydrogen as fuel and liquid oxygen as an oxidizer. Cryogenic engines are technologically complex due to the extremely low temperatures required to maintain the propellants in liquid form.
GSLV Composition
- GSLV-F14 is a three-stage launch vehicle.
- The first stage (GS1) has a solid propellant motor and four earth-storable propellant stages(EPS). EPS includes a supporting structure, propellant tanks, and an engine.
- The second stage (GS2) is also an earth-storable propellant stage
- The third stage (GS3) is a cryogenic stage,with propellant loading of liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2).
- The GSLV-F14 is the 16th flight of the GSLV, and the 10th flight with the indigenous cryo stage.
GSLV – ‘Naughty Boy’
- The GSLV has had a mixed track record with several successful launches and some failures, attributed to various technical complexities, particularly related to its cryogenic stage.
- GSLV had flown 15 times before this, and four of these had been unsuccessful, a very high failure rate for any rocket.
- GSLV’s most recent failure was in August 2021, when it was attempting to carry an earth observation satellite EOS-03 into space.
- Five minutes into the flight, it deviated from the scheduled trajectory, lost the power to carry on, and fell somewhere in the Andaman Sea.
- Its problems have mainly been with the cryogenic engine that powers the third and final stage of the flight.
- The GSLV uses a cryogenic engine that is reverse-engineered on a Russian design.
- The Russians had won a deal to supply cryogenic engines, and technology, to ISRO in the late 1980s, but that deal had come under pressure from the United States which claimed that it violated provisions of Missile Technology Control Regime, an international legal framework meant to stop the proliferation of missile technology.
significance of GSLV
GSLV missions are crucial for India’s communication satellite deployment, enhancing the country’s infrastructure in telecommunications, broadcasting, broadband, and satellite-based navigation.
Conclusion
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) is a pivotal component of India’s space program, designed for deploying 2.3-ton class satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), including communication and navigation satellites. GSLV is renowned for its indigenous cryogenic engine, reducing reliance on foreign technology. It has successfully contributed to both domestic and international space endeavors, offering commercial launch services and enhancing India’s self-reliance in space technology. Furthermore, GSLV plays a vital role in national security, deploying surveillance and communication satellites. Overall, GSLV stands as a symbol of India’s space achievements, promoting global collaboration and enabling diverse space-based services.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour;
6. What do you understand by altruism? Discuss. (150 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: plato.stanford.edu
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define altruism.
Body:
Elaborate, Everyday life is filled with small acts of altruism, from holding the door for strangers to giving money to people in need. News stories often focus on grander cases of altruism, such as a man who dives into an icy river to rescue a drowning stranger or a donor who gives thousands of dollars to a local charity.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of altruism in present day and the need to use it for positive outcomes.
Introduction
‘The Best Way to Find Yourself Is To Lose Yourself In The Service Of Others’ – Mahatma Gandhi.
Altruism is defined as acting in the best interests of others rather than one’s own. When a person’s behavior is motivated by a desire to help someone other than oneself, it is referred to as altruistic behavior.
Ethical altruism is an ethical doctrine that states that people have a moral obligation to help, serve, or benefit others, even if it means sacrificing their own interests. To put it another way, an action is morally right if the consequences of that action are more favorable than unfavorable for everyone except the agent.
Body
Altruism and criticism
- Friedrich Nietzsche held that, the idea that it is virtuous to treat others more important than oneself is degrading and demeaning to the self.
- He also believed in the idea that others have a higher value than oneself hinders the individual’s pursuit of self-development, excellence, and creativity. Eg: America’s decision to abandon Afghanistan and letting Taliban takeover etc.
- He maintained that it was an ideology fabricated by the weak for the weak, and masks self-poisoning resentment about individual and collective powerlessness.
- Ayn Rand said that most problems in the world come from the doctrine of Altruism, and argues that there is no rational ground for asserting that sacrificing yourself in order to serve others is morally superior to pursuing your own self-interest.
- Furthermore, if the state were to enforce Altruism as a moral ideal, this could ultimately result in the state forcing everyone into a collectivist political system.
- Others have argued that actions formerly seen as altruistic are in reality just a form of enlightened self-interest.
Nonetheless, most moral philosophers hold altruistic actions in high regard and believe they play a role in morality. Mildly altruistic moral principles, on the other hand, may be rejected by altruistic principles that require extreme personal sacrifices.
People’s moral judgments are often driven by emotion. And empathy for others seems to encourage altruism. Another emotion, called “elevation,” appears to inspire altruistic behavior, too. We feel elevation when we see another person act virtuously, such as by helping someone in need. Altruism also builds social connections. For example, studies show that people who are altruistic tend to be happier, to be healthier, and to live longer. So, while altruism leads us to do what’s best for others, it also makes us good human beings.
Importance of Altruism in contemporary society
- Although we often act selfishly, we also seem to be wired to cooperate with others. For example, studies show that when people look for mates, they tend to look for kindness more than any other quality.
- People’s moral judgments are often driven by emotion. And empathy for others seems to encourage altruism. Altruism is when we act to promote someone else’s welfare, even at a risk or cost to ourselves. Studies have found that people’s first impulse is to cooperate rather than compete. For e.g.: Good Samaritans are driven by sheer altruism to help road users involved in a crash.
- Altruism has deep roots in human nature because helping and cooperation promote the survival of our species. Darwin himself argued that altruism, which he called “sympathy” or “benevolence,” is “an essential part of the social instincts.”
- Another emotion, called “elevation,” appears to inspire altruistic behaviour, too. We feel elevation when we see another person act virtuously, such as by helping someone in need. For e.g.: Helping the homeless can be altruistic as long as it is not done for recognition or to make oneself feel better.
- Altruism also builds social connections. For example, studies show that people who are altruistic tend to be happier, to be healthier, and to live longer.
- So, while altruism leads us to do what’s best for others, it also makes us feel good in the process.
Conclusion
Altruism is a vital component of a good society precisely because one cannot anticipate all the occasions on which people may need to be helped, and therefore cannot formally assign duties to help. In a dog-eat-dog world where there is cut throat competition to survive or gain power over others, expectations of altruism personally or between nations is a distant dream. Yet, humans need to find better ways of sharing the burden of altruism so that everyone helps sometimes, and no one is required to sacrifice himself completely to altruistic causes.
Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: plato.stanford.edu
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4.
Key Demand of the question:
To form a critique of hedonism.
Directive:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into 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. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by explaining hedonism.
Body:
First, explain in detail the various components of hedonism.
Next, write to what extent how sensual pleasures can be considered as the ends and the limitations of the above school of thought. Cite examples to substantiate.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced opinion.
Introduction
The term “hedonism,” from the Greek word (hēdonē) for pleasure, refers to several related theories about what is good for us, how we should behave, and what motivates us to behave in the way that we do. All hedonistic theories identify pleasure and pain as the only important elements of whatever phenomena they are designed to describe. If hedonistic theories identified pleasure and pain as merely two important elements, instead of the only important elements of what they are describing, then they would not be nearly as unpopular as they all are. However, the claim that pleasure and pain are the only things of ultimate importance is what makes hedonism distinctive and philosophically interesting.
Body
Background
Perhaps the earliest written record of hedonism comes from the Cārvāka, an Indian philosophical tradition based on the Barhaspatya sutras. The Cārvāka persisted for two thousand years (from about 600 B.C.E.). Most notably, the Cārvāka advocated scepticism and Hedonistic Egoism – that the right action is the one that brings the actor the most net pleasure. The Cārvāka acknowledged that some pain often accompanied, or was later caused by, sensual pleasure, but that pleasure was worth it.
As a theory of value, hedonism states that all and only pleasure is intrinsically valuable and all and only pain is intrinsically not valuable. Hedonists usually define pleasure and pain broadly, such that both physical and mental phenomena are included. Thus, a gentle massage and recalling a fond memory are both considered to cause pleasure and stubbing a toe and hearing about the death of a loved one are both considered to cause pain. With pleasure and pain so defined, hedonism as a theory about what is valuable for us is intuitively appealing. Indeed, its appeal is evidenced by the fact that nearly all historical and contemporary treatments of well-being allocate at least some space for discussion of hedonism. Unfortunately for hedonism, the discussions rarely endorse it and some even deplore its focus on pleasure.
Critiques of hedonism
- The most common argument against Hedonism is that pleasure is not the only thing that intrinsically contributes to well-being.
- Living in reality, finding meaning in life, producing noteworthy achievements, building and maintaining friendships, achieving perfection in certain domains, and living in accordance with religious or moral laws are just some of the other things thought to intrinsically add value to our lives.
- When presented with these apparently valuable aspects of life, Hedonists usually attempt to explain their apparent value in terms of pleasure.
- A Hedonist would argue, for example, that friendship is not valuable in and of itself, rather it is valuable to the extent that it brings us pleasure.
- Furthermore, to answer why we might help a friend even when it harms us, a Hedonist will argue that the prospect of future pleasure from receiving reciprocal favors from our friend, rather than the value of friendship itself, should motivate us to help in this way.
Conclusion
The future of hedonism seems bleak. The considerable number and strength of the arguments against Hedonism’s central principle (that pleasure and only pleasure intrinsically contributes positively to well-being and the opposite for pain) seem insurmountable. Hedonists have been creative in their definitions of pleasure so as to avoid these objections, but more often than not find themselves defending a theory that is not particularly hedonistic, realistic or both.
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