75 Days Mains Revision Plan 2024 – Governance
Governance
Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
Q1. Do you agree that National Commission of Women has faced problems in tackling the problems that women face in society? Give reasons for your answer. (10M)
Key Demand of the question:
To evaluate the challenges faced by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in addressing women’s issues and provide reasons for these challenges.
Directive:
Give reasons for your answer – Support your view with appropriate reasons and examples.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Briefly introduce the National Commission for Women (NCW) and its mandate.
Body:
First part: Challenges Faced by NCW
Highlight Manipur crisis in example (a tribal woman’s dignity was violated by parading her naked in the public) as example
Limited Powers and Jurisdiction
Resource Constraints
Bureaucratic Hurdles
Political Interference
Awareness and Accessibility
Second part: Highlight some positives
Role played in Domestic violence bill
Abolition of triple talaq
Setting up of Mahila Lok adults
Rehabilitation of acid attack victims
Conclusion:
Suggest the need for empowering the NCW with more authority, resources, and autonomy to effectively address the issues women face in society.
Introduction:
The National Commission for Women (NCW) was established in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, to safeguard and promote the interests of women in India.
Body:
Its mandate includes investigating and examining all matters relating to the safeguards provided for women under the Constitution and other laws, recommending remedial legislative measures, facilitating redressal of grievances, and advising the government on policy matters.
Challenges Faced by NCW:
- Limited Powers and Jurisdiction: The NCW lacks the power to enforce its recommendations. It can only make recommendations to the government and other authorities, which are not binding.
- Example: In the Manipur crisis, where a tribal woman’s dignity was violated by being paraded naked in public, the NCW could only condemn the act and recommend actions but had no authority to enforce its recommendations
- Resource Constraints: The Commission suffers from inadequate funding and resources, which affects its capacity to operate effectively.
- Example: Resource constraints limit the NCW’s ability to extend its presence and influence in rural areas, where women often face severe and systemic discrimination.
- Bureaucratic Hurdles: Slow administrative processes hinder timely action on urgent issues affecting women.
- Political Interference: Political influence can impede the functioning of the NCW, affecting its impartiality and independence.
- Example: Allegations of political bias in handling cases or prioritising issues based on political pressures rather than the severity of women’s grievances.
- Awareness and Accessibility: A significant portion of the population, especially in rural areas, remains unaware of the NCW’s existence and functions.
- Example: Rural women, Poor women.
Positive Contributions of NCW:
- Domestic Violence Act: The NCW played a crucial role in the enactment of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, which provides a comprehensive framework for the protection of women against domestic violence.
- Abolition of Triple Talaq: The Commission has been instrumental in advocating for the abolition of the practice of triple talaq, leading to the enactment of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.
- Setting Up of Mahila Lok Adalats: The NCW has facilitated the establishment of Mahila Lok Adalats (women’s courts) to provide speedy and amicable settlement of family disputes and other issues concerning women.
- Rehabilitation of Acid Attack Victims: The NCW has been actively involved in the rehabilitation of acid attack victims, providing support and advocating for stringent laws and penalties against perpetrators.
Conclusion:
The National Commission for Women has made significant strides in advocating for women’s rights. However, to enhance its effectiveness, it is crucial to empower the NCW with more authority, resources, and autonomy by constitutionalising the body. Raising awareness about the Commission’s functions can also ensure that the NCW can more effectively tackle the problems women face in society.
Topic: E-governance: Applications, Models, potential
Q2. “Data has become a critical resource for the economy and is the key for advancing decision making, governance and service delivery by government and private sector”. Analyse in the context of National Data Governance Framework Policy, 2022. (15M)
Key Demand of the question:
To analyse how data is crucial for the economy and governance, and how the National Data Governance Framework Policy, 2022, addresses these aspects.
Directive:
Analyse – Examine in detail by breaking down the topic into its components and discussing their interrelations.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define the importance of data in the contemporary economy and governance. Briefly introduce the National Data Governance Framework Policy, 2022.
Body:
First part: Significance of Data
Explain how data drives innovation, creates new business models, and enhances productivity.
The role of data in making informed decisions in both government and private sectors.
Data improves transparency, accountability, and efficiency in governance.
Personalised and efficient service delivery.
Second part: National Data Governance Framework Policy, 2022
Outline the primary objectives of the policy,
Main provisions, including data standardisation, data sharing etc.
Third part: Challenges and Recommendations
Identify potential challenges in implementing the policy, such as data privacy concerns, technical infrastructure, and inter-departmental coordination.
Suggest measures to overcome these challenges, including robust data privacy laws, investment in technology, and effective governance mechanisms.
Conclusion:
Summarise the critical role of data in the economy and governance.
Introduction:
Data has become an important resource in the modern economy, enabling advancements in decision-making, governance, and service delivery. The National Data Governance Framework Policy (NDGFP), 2022, is designed to leverage data’s potential to drive innovation and efficiency across various sectors while ensuring data privacy and security.
Body:
Significance of Data:
- Driving Innovation and Creating New Business Models: Data analytics and machine learning allow businesses to develop new products, optimize processes, and improve customer experiences.
- Example: companies like Ola and Zomato use data to enhance their services and tailor offerings to customer preferences.
- Informed Decision-Making: Data aids in formulating policies and making evidence-based decisions.
- Example: the use of data analytics in schemes like Ayushman Bharat has enabled better healthcare delivery by identifying areas needing urgent medical attention.
- Improving Transparency and Accountability: Open data initiatives, such as the Indian government’s Open Government Data (OGD) Platform, promote transparency by making datasets accessible to the public, which in turn enhances accountability.
- Personalized and Efficient Service Delivery: Data enables personalized healthcare solutions, improving patient outcomes.
Example: initiatives like Aarogya Setu have used data to track COVID-19 infections and provide real-time updates.
Draft National Data Governance Framework Policy, 2022:
The NDGFP aims to overhaul and modernize India’s government data collection and management processes through the following measures:
- Establishment of the India Data Management Office (IDMO): The IDMO will develop rules and guidelines for data, datasets, and metadata, ensuring safeguards align with emerging technological needs.
- It will also design and manage the India Datasets Platform, which will offer access to non-personal and anonymised data for Indian researchers and startups upon request.
- Involvement of Private Entities: The NDGFP encourages private organizations to contribute non-personal and anonymized data to the India Datasets Programme.
- Capacity Building for Government Bodies: The initiative includes support for ministries and departments to establish Data Management Units (DMUs) and improve the data and digital literacy of their officers.
Challenges associated with the NDGFP include:
- Subjectivity in Use-Case Appropriateness: The IDMO has the authority to decide on database access requests, but these decisions can be subjective and may infringe right to privacy.
- Clarity on Usage Rights: While data usage rights belong to the data principal, it is unclear whether this refers to the IPR holder or the entity sharing the data.
- Additionally, the Kris Gopalakrishnan Committee (2020) noted that individual ownership cannot apply to non-personal data due to the lack of identifiable data principals.
- User Charges: Charging for access to the India datasets repository would contradict its purpose as a public resource intended to support research and startups.
- Challenges in Separating Personal and Non-Personal Data: Even anonymized data can pose re-identification risks, leading to potential security and privacy issues.
Conclusion:
Data is a critical asset that underpins economic growth, governance, and service delivery. The National Data Governance Framework Policy, 2022, aims to harness this potential by standardizing data practices, promoting data sharing, and ensuring data security. Addressing challenges such as data privacy, technical infrastructure, and coordination can further enhance the effectiveness of this policy, ensuring that data serves as a catalyst for innovation and development.
ETHICS
What does this quote mean to you?
“Character may almost be called the most effective means of persuasion.” – Aristotle [10M]
Key Demand of question:
To explain how the character acts as a means of persuasion and provide its dimensions.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction: Start with the definition of persuasion.
Body:
- First explain how a character can be called as persuasion.
- Next, mention a few limitations to persuasion and character.
- Then give some way ahead to inculcate the best character and values.
Conclusion:
Conclude by highlighting its significance in public administration.
Introduction:
Persuasion involves influencing others’ beliefs, attitudes, or actions through communication and argumentation. It aims to align others with one’s perspective or motivate them to take specific actions. Among various persuasive techniques, character is often highlighted as a key factor in effective persuasion.
Body:
Character is often the most effective means of persuasion because:
- Trustworthiness: A strong character builds trust, making others more likely to listen to and be influenced by the individual.
- Eg: Who said what to whom matters a lot in persuasion.
- Integrity: Demonstrating consistent moral principles enhances credibility and makes persuasive efforts more compelling.
- Eg: Medha Patkar’s promoting environment sustainability will have a higher impact as she is a key figure in the environment movement.
- Authenticity: Genuine character resonates with people, fostering a deeper connection and making arguments more convincing.
- Inspiration: A person with a commendable character can inspire others, thereby increasing their influence and persuasive power.
- Eg: Chiru Badratha scheme where actor Chiranjeevi promoted blood donors to donate blood.
However, character sometimes fails as a persuasion tool due to:
- Personal biases: If a character is undermined by personal biases, it can erode trust and weaken persuasive efforts.
- Eg: Gender stereotypes and orthodoxy in society in characters.
- Lack of empathy: Failure to address the audience’s concerns or needs can limit the effectiveness of persuasion, regardless of character.
- Eg: A nation like the USA imposed a ban on the export of COVID-19 drugs in 2021 which hamper the USA as a global leader.
- Inconsistencies: Inconsistent behavior or messages can diminish credibility and reduce persuasive impact.
- Eg: Athletes promoting sugar-content drinks like Coca-Cola.
- Substance over character: Prioritizing character without addressing practical needs or providing substantial arguments can lead to ineffective persuasion.
Conclusion:
Building character involves maintaining honesty and integrity in all actions and interactions. Understanding and addressing the perspectives and concerns of others enhances persuasive effectiveness. Consistent behavior and messages reinforce credibility and trust, supporting stronger persuasion.
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