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
Introduction
The convergence of digital access, financial gamification, and psychological vulnerability is fuelling a new age of behavioural addictions that threaten India’s social fabric and youth stability.
Body
Rise of behavioural addictions such as online gambling in India
- Digital proliferation and ease of access: Smartphones and 24×7 internet have made gambling apps instantly accessible across age groups.
- Eg: India had 759 million internet users by 2024, with over 150% rise in gaming app downloads between 2020 and 2023 (IAMAI Report, 2024).
- Psychological design of platforms: Gamified reward systems, variable payouts, and peer competition induce compulsive behaviour.
- Eg: WHO (2019) recognised gaming disorder as a mental health condition caused by compulsive digital engagement.
- Lack of regulation and age checks: Absence of enforceable age filters or financial caps on betting apps increases youth vulnerability.
- Eg: The Rajasthan suicide case involved a man losing ₹5 lakh on an unregulated betting app.
- Economic stress and escape mechanisms: Rural and urban youth often turn to digital gambling as a coping mechanism for insecurity or unemployment.
- Eg: ASER 2023 found that over 25% rural youth faced skill-employment mismatch, creating frustration and escape-seeking.
- Social validation and peer influence: Social media communities glamorise online gambling wins, fuelling imitation.
- Eg: Studies by TISS Mumbai (2022) noted the rise of “influencer gamblers” on platforms like YouTube and Telegram.
Broader societal impact of behavioural addictions
- Breakdown of family trust and cohesion: Addictions lead to secrecy, financial stress, and emotional disconnection within households.
- Eg: NCRB 2022 recorded over 10,000 family disputes linked to financial mismanagement through online betting.
- Rise in mental health disorders and suicides: Addictions lead to anxiety, depression, and in extreme cases, suicide.
- Eg: Tele MANAS (MoHFW) noted a spike in calls related to digital behaviour-related distress between 2023 and 2024.
- Financial exploitation and indebtedness: Unregulated apps often lead to debt traps, payday loan abuse, and extortion.
- Eg: In Telangana (2023), police uncovered illegal loan apps linked with gambling platforms targeting youth through UPI fraud.
- Distortion of social values and aspirations: Easy money culture weakens the work ethic and promotes speculative attitudes.
- Eg: NCERT Survey (2024) noted that 18% of Class XI-XII students aspired for gaming-based earnings over traditional careers.
- Threat to community well-being: Collective moral panic, domestic violence, and crime have shown links with addictive online behaviours.
- Eg: Karnataka police (2024) linked 46 local crimes to betting-related disputes and debt recovery gangs.
Comprehensive interventions to address the menace
- Digital regulation and licensing framework: Create a central regulatory body to license, monitor, and penalise digital gambling platforms.
- Eg: The Ratan Watal Committee (2020) recommended real-time monitoring of fintech platforms, which can be extended to gambling apps.
- Community-based mental health outreach: Scale up Tele MANAS, school counsellors, and SHG-based awareness in rural and peri-urban India.
- Eg: Kerala’s ‘OTT-Free Schools’ initiative (2023) combines parental training and child counselling to prevent digital addiction.
- Financial literacy and behaviour change campaigns: Use social media and influencers to promote risk awareness and responsible digital behaviour.
- Eg: SEBI’s 2024 campaign used local influencers to bust investment myths in rural Maharashtra, which can be adapted for gambling.
- Incorporation into school and college curriculum: Embed digital ethics, emotional intelligence, and addiction education in NEP-aligned syllabi.
- Eg: The NEP 2020 advocates for 21st-century life skills including digital and emotional literacy from early grades.
- Involvement of civil society and faith-based organisations: Leverage trust-based actors to destigmatise addiction and offer support channels.
- Eg: NGOs like SPYM and NIMHANS have successfully worked with faith networks to spread awareness about substance use, a model now adaptable to digital addictions.
Conclusion
Behavioural addictions are the unseen pandemic of a digital-first society. India must act now with a synergy of policy, pedagogy, and public participation to rebuild digital safety and societal resilience.
Introduction:
Despite growing awareness of its environmental and economic value, public transport in Indian cities fails to attract users due to inconsistent service, lack of integration, and poor commuter experience.
Body
Public transport suffers from lack of reliability
- Infrequent and unpredictable services: Irregular frequency makes public transport unviable for time-bound commuters.
- Eg: 50% of Delhi bus stops have average waiting times exceeding 10 minutes.
- Declining service efficiency and fleet inadequacy: Limited fleet expansion leads to overcrowding and reduced access.
- Eg: Bus fleet of 19 STUs grew by just 4.6%, while ridership dropped 5.8% between 2014–2019
- Lack of integrated planning and interchange connectivity: Fragmented corridors increase travel time and reduce ridership.
- Eg: 15 of 16 metro cities in India have only corridor-based systems, limiting coverage (IIT Delhi, 2023).
- Longer total journey time: Poor interchange planning and congestion lead to time delays in multimodal transport.
- Eg: Peak-hour speed in Delhi drops by 56% in evenings, delaying buses and commuters
- Low user comfort and security: Overcrowding and poor infrastructure create a deterrent, especially for women.
- Eg: Delhi Transport Corporation reported a 40% drop in female ridership between 2016–2022 (DTC internal study).
Corrective strategies to improve reliability
- Set and monitor service-level benchmarks: Regular frequency, reduced waiting time, and uptime targets must be enforced.
- Eg: MoHUA’s Service Level Benchmarks (2017) must be revised to include frequency, uptime and occupancy targets.
- Expand last-mile connectivity infrastructure: Walkability, cycling lanes and formal feeder modes should be funded.
- Eg: Bangalore’s metro now includes e-auto integration and walking paths to boost access (BMTC, 2024).
- Strengthen multimodal and network planning: Transit plans must ensure seamless integration of modes and schedules.
- Eg: Surat’s Unified Mobility Plan links buses, BRTS and feeder autos via a common mobility card (UMTA Surat, 2023).
- Link public transport funding to reliability indicators: Incentivise state transport undertakings to improve commuter metrics.
- Eg: 15th Finance Commission proposed conditional urban grants tied to mobility performance metrics.
- Promote data-driven service design: Use real-time commuter feedback, GPS and AI to optimise routes and frequency.
- Eg: Ahmedabad BRTS deploys real-time passenger data to reduce bus bunching and optimise schedules.
Conclusion:
The challenge is not commuter apathy but system inefficiency. Only a reliable, accessible and efficient transport system can win back urban commuters and drive a sustainable modal shift.
General Studies – 2
Introduction:
The undertrial crisis in India is not just a legal failure but a systemic denial of liberty rooted in poverty, delayed processes and institutional apathy.
Body
Reasons for continued incarceration of poor undertrials
- Inability to furnish bail bonds: Poor prisoners often lack sureties or funds to post bail even when granted.
- Eg: As per India Justice Report 2025, over 25% of undertrials remain in custody despite being granted bail due to non-payment of sureties.
- Lack of legal aid awareness and access: Many undertrials are unaware of free legal aid or do not receive effective counsel.
- Eg: NCRB 2023 shows only 13% of prisoners accessed legal aid lawyers; most lacked consistent representation.
- Delays in police investigation and filing of chargesheets: Undertrials suffer long detention due to slow case processing.
- Eg: In the Satender Kumar Antil v. CBI (2022) case, SC highlighted how delays in chargesheet filing prolong custody.
- Judicial backlog and systemic delay: Courts are overburdened, leading to prolonged pre-trial detention.
- Eg: As per NJDG 2025, over 4.7 crore cases are pending in Indian courts, with 71% of prison population being undertrials.
- Discretionary and inconsistent application of bail norms: Courts often deny bail for similar offences due to subjective standards.
- Eg: The Law Commission 268th Report noted inconsistent bail practices as a key cause of pre-trial injustice.
Reforms to address the issue
- Short-term reforms
- Operationalise the Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme: Actively identify eligible inmates and disburse funds for bail/fines.
- Eg: MHA’s 2023 scheme remains underutilised despite funds allocated via NCRB and clear SOPs issued.
- District legal aid clinics inside jails: Regularly monitor undertrials and assist with bail applications.
- Eg: Delhi Prisons Legal Aid Model shows success in weekly paralegal interface and bail filing.
- Mandatory bail review hearings for long-term undertrials: Periodic judicial review for those detained beyond prescribed limits.
- Eg: SC direction in Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1979) led to speedy trial being recognised as a fundamental right.
- Digitisation of undertrial data with tracking: Real-time prison-court coordination to track eligibility and avoid delays.
- Eg: ePrisons project by MHA enables real-time prisoner data tracking and flagging of long-term detentions.
Long-term reforms
- Codify uniform bail norms through legislation: Reduce judicial discretion and ensure equity in pre-trial release.
- Eg: Recommended by Criminal Justice Reforms Committee (Madhava Menon, 2007) for structured bail guidelines.
- Increase judicial capacity and special bail benches: Appoint more judges and create fast-track bail courts.
- Eg: Justice Ramana’s 2021 recommendation to increase judge strength from 21 to 50 per million population.
- Community bail bond and public surety schemes: Use of state/NGO-verified sureties for indigent accused.
- Eg: Telangana’s pilot bail bond pooling scheme (2022) showed success in reducing undertrial numbers.
- Strengthen undertrial review committees (UTRCs): Regular monthly meetings with measurable accountability.
- Eg: NCRB Guidelines 2023 recommend active tracking of undertrial cases through District Legal Services Authorities.
Conclusion:
India cannot afford a justice system where liberty is priced by economic status. True criminal justice reform must begin by dismantling the structural barriers that keep the poor locked behind bars without conviction.
Introduction
Latin America offers a geopolitical and resource-rich avenue to recalibrate India’s trade diplomacy, reduce overdependence on traditional markets, and leverage South-South cooperation amidst a shifting global order.
Body
Opportunities in India’s outreach to MERCOSUR
- Access to critical minerals and energy security: Latin America is rich in lithium, copper, and rare earths essential for India’s green transition.
- Eg: Paraguay’s hydropower capacity and lithium reserves in Bolivia and Argentina are key to India’s electric mobility goals (NITI Aayog, 2023).
- Diversification of trade partnerships: Engagement can reduce India’s reliance on China, EU, and the US.
- Eg: India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) since 2004 covers 450 items but trade remains below USD 15 billion annually (MEA, 2024).
- Untapped agri-food export market: Demand for rice, pharma, and textiles in Latin America remains high.
- Eg: India is the 4th largest supplier of generic drugs to Brazil, with pharma exports crossing USD 700 million in 2023 (Pharmexcil, 2024).
- Strategic leverage via multilateral groupings: Engagement strengthens India’s presence in global South-South platforms.
- Eg: IBSA and BRICS cooperation with Brazil and South Africa aligns with India’s multilateral diplomacy.
- Complementary digital and space sectors: India’s IT and space capabilities match Latin American development needs.
- Eg: ISRO’s cooperation with Argentina’s CONAE for satellite launches reflects high-tech synergies.
Challenges in deepening India-MERCOSUR relations
- Logistical and connectivity constraints: Long distance and absence of direct shipping lines increase transaction costs.
- Eg: No direct air or sea routes between India and most South American countries as of 2025 (FIEO, 2024).
- Low institutional presence and outreach: Diplomatic missions are limited and trade offices sparse.
- Eg: India opened its embassy in Paraguay only in 2022, and still lacks resident missions in several MERCOSUR nations (MEA, 2024).
- Internal divergences within MERCOSUR: Political ideologies differ, affecting bloc cohesion.
- Eg: Argentina’s right-leaning Javier Milei vs. Brazil’s leftist Lula da Silva show intra-bloc friction .
- Overlapping trade pacts with China and EU: India faces stiff competition in Latin American markets.
- Eg: China-Latin America trade crossed USD 450 billion in 2023, outpacing India’s modest presence .
- Limited awareness and language barriers: Indian exporters face hurdles due to Spanish/Portuguese language and legal differences.
- Eg: FICCI’s 2023 survey showed that over 65% of MSMEs found Latin America difficult due to regulatory opacity.
Steps to strengthen India’s presence in Latin America
- Upgrade PTA to a comprehensive trade agreement: Broaden scope beyond goods to cover services and investments.
- Eg: Commerce Ministry’s 2025 proposal to expand India-MERCOSUR PTA to include pharma, IT, and agri-tech.
- Institutionalise India-Latin America summits: Create regular high-level forums to coordinate policy and trade.
- Eg: India-Africa Forum Summit model can be replicated for Latin America with rotating host countries.
- Enhance diplomatic footprint and trade facilitation: Open more embassies and Invest India desks.
- Eg: Vietnam model of trade attachés in niche markets has boosted their exports in Latin America.
- Strengthen logistic linkages and shipping routes: Invest in direct maritime and air connectivity.
- Eg: Sagarmala-linked Indo-Pacific shipping partnerships can extend to Atlantic ports in Brazil and Uruguay.
- Leverage diaspora diplomacy and cultural exchange: Promote goodwill through cultural missions and scholarships.
- Eg: India-Brazil Festival of Democracy (2023) improved soft power ties and academic collaboration.
Conclusion
India must look beyond traditional geographies to shape a resilient and multipolar economic future. Latin America offers that possibility—what is needed now is sustained diplomatic will and institutional commitment.
Introduction
The credibility of democratic institutions rests on their perceived independence from political incentives. The trend of appointing retired constitutional functionaries to executive or political roles raises concerns over institutional neutrality.
Body
Impact on institutional credibility
- Perception of compromised neutrality: Post-retirement roles may create a belief that decisions during tenure were influenced by political considerations.
- Eg: Former CAG Vinod Rai’s comments on political outcomes post-2G audit led to public debates on audit independence.
- Erosion of public trust: Citizens may lose faith in constitutional roles if retirements lead to quick political absorption.
- Eg: Former CJIs Ranjan Gogoi and P Sathasivam took post-retirement roles in Rajya Sabha and as Governor, triggering debate.
- Chilling effect on dissent: Serving officials may avoid decisions that displease the political executive, fearing post-retirement fallout.
- Eg: Former EC Ashok Lavasa’s transfer to ADB after dissenting on Model Code violations raised concerns over institutional pressure.
- Weakening of checks and balances: Constitutional posts act as counterweights to executive excess. Post-retirement incentives may dilute this role.
- Eg: Election Commission’s silence on electoral bond transparency during 2019 raised questions on executive influence.
- Politicisation of regulatory and quasi-judicial bodies: Frequent appointments of ex-officials can alter the independence of oversight institutions.
- Eg: Former bureaucrats appointed to tribunals and commissions without open selection, violating SC directives (Madras Bar Association v. UoI, 2020).
Need for a statutory cooling-off period
- Restoring neutrality and dignity of office: A gap period can remove perceived linkage between decisions in office and political rewards.
- Eg: Loksatta’s proposal (2020) suggested 2–3-year cooling-off for SC judges, ECs, and CAGs to ensure credibility.
- Preventing conflict of interest: Cooling-off helps prevent direct benefit from prior regulatory decisions.
- Eg: TRAI Act already bars its chairperson from future government employment post-tenure.
- Global best practices: Mature democracies enforce restrictions to protect institutional sanctity.
- Eg: In the USA, top public officials observe a mandatory lobbying ban post-tenure under ethics legislation.
- Legal clarity and uniformity: Absence of a standard rule leads to arbitrary post-retirement placements.
- Eg: 2nd ARC Report on Ethics in Governance (2007) recommended codifying post-retirement restrictions across constitutional offices.
- Strengthening institutional independence: Curbing incentives ensures decisions are based solely on law and conscience.
- Eg: Law Commission of India recommended clear norms for appointments to tribunals and commissions.
Conclusion
Ensuring institutional neutrality demands that public functionaries are insulated from post-retirement temptations. A statutory cooling-off period can institutionalise this firewall, restoring faith in the architecture of India’s constitutional governance.
General Studies – 3
Introduction:
India’s 6.5% GDP growth in FY 2024–25 has been impressive amid global volatility, but sustaining this pace demands navigating complex macroeconomic pressures rooted in both domestic shifts and international uncertainty.
Body
Key macroeconomic challenges in 2025–26
- Weak private investment momentum: Corporate capex remains cautious due to global demand concerns.
- Eg: RBI’s May 2025 OBICUS report shows capacity utilisation fell to 72%, limiting new investments.
- Urban consumption plateauing: Pandemic-era drivers like excess savings and wage hikes have faded.
- Eg: Fitch Ratings 2025 noted a dip in urban 4-wheeler sales and premium FMCG growth.
- Public capex saturation: Fiscal constraints are limiting further expansion of government capital expenditure.
- Eg: Union Budget 2025–26 projected only a 5.7% rise in capex, much lower than the previous year’s 33%.
- Labour market dualism: The informal sector recovery remains slow despite headline growth.
- Eg: CMIE April 2025 reported female LFPR still stagnant around 20%, limiting inclusive growth.
- Energy price volatility: Despite recent moderation, imported energy shocks remain a risk.
- Eg: IEA 2025 warns of Brent crude returning to $90/barrel if Middle East tensions escalate.
Risks from global policy unpredictability, fiscal tapering, and domestic demand slowdown
- Global policy unpredictability
- US tariff uncertainty: Unclear US trade posture under legal flux is dampening investor confidence.
- Eg: US Supreme Court ruling questioned broad tariff powers under IEEPA, raising unpredictability.
- Global FDI hesitation: Trade policy fragmentation is deferring investment decisions globally.
- Eg: UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2025 noted a 12% drop in FDI flows to emerging Asia due to trade uncertainty.
- Supply chain dislocation risks: Re-routing from China faces logistic and geopolitical hurdles.
- Eg: GVC Index 2025 shows India’s integration remains below Vietnam and Mexico, despite ‘China+1’ potential.
- B. Fiscal tapering constraints
- Limited headroom for counter-cyclicality: FRBM targets tighten space for fiscal stimulus.
- Eg: Finance Commission 2025 Review Committee urged fiscal deficit to be kept below 4.5% by FY26.
- Subsidy compression affecting demand: Rationalisation of food and fertiliser subsidies impacts rural liquidity.
- Eg: Budget 2025–26 cut fertiliser subsidy by 13%, affecting farmer spending power.
- Slowing domestic demand
- Rural distress and job quality: MGNREGA demand remains high despite agriculture rebound.
- Eg: Rural Development Ministry data showed 16 crore person-days demanded in April alone.
- Housing and real estate slowdown: Rising unsold inventory signals demand moderation.
- Eg: Knight Frank Q1 2025 reports unsold inventory up by 9.5% in top 8 Indian cities.
- Widening consumption inequality: Growth is concentrated in upper-income brackets, reducing mass demand.
- Eg: Inequality Report flagged top 10% households account for 77% of total wealth.
Way forward
- Accelerate trade diversification: Fast-track FTAs with the US, EU, and EFTA to hedge against tariff shocks.
- Eg: India–UK FTA 2025 is projected to add $10 bn to exports over 5 years (Commerce Ministry).
- Boost rural and MSME demand: Frontload schemes like PMAY-Gramin and ECLGS 4.0 with enhanced credit access.
- Eg: RBI’s Financial Stability Report 2025 notes MSMEs still face NPAs at 8.6%, needing structured relief.
- Enhance monetary policy transmission: Ensure rate cuts benefit end-users via NBFCs and cooperative banks.
- Eg: RBI April 2025 Monetary Policy Minutes stressed need for faster MCLR pass-through.
- Implement labour and land reforms: Enact 4 labour codes and reduce regulatory burden on industry.
- Eg: Economic Survey 2024–25 estimated 15% rise in job formalisation post implementation of labour codes.
Conclusion:
India’s growth story in 2025–26 hinges on managing transition from public-led to private-led drivers, amid external turbulence. Balancing domestic reform with global positioning is not just a necessity—it is an economic imperative.
Introduction
India’s white-collar workforce is facing structural disruption as generative AI replaces routine cognitive tasks, threatening entry-level roles and raising concerns over employment-led growth and future workforce preparedness.
Body
Impact of generative AI on white-collar employment
- Displacement of routine cognitive roles: Gen AI is automating documentation, customer support, HR onboarding, and coding.
- Eg: Infosys launched over 200 AI agents automating HR, compliance, and workflow tasks across sectors (Topaz suite, Google Vertex AI)
- Erosion of entry-level job pipeline: AI systems perform tasks traditionally assigned to freshers, limiting job creation at the bottom of the pyramid.
- Eg: LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index (2025) reported that two-thirds of employers believe AI will overtake many entry-level tasks.
- Sectoral shifts in hiring patterns: Industries like IT, media, and banking are replacing junior staff with AI tools.
- Eg: TeamLease Report (April–Sep 2025) showed job growth slowed to 2.8% from 7.1%, citing AI-enabled operations and cost optimization
- Growing skill redundancy: Skills like basic data entry, scheduling, and content creation are being rendered obsolete.
- Eg: Goldman Sachs (2023) projected that 300 million full-time jobs globally could be impacted by Gen AI, with white-collar jobs most at risk
- Rise of human-AI collaboration models: Instead of full job loss, roles are evolving to include AI tools as co-workers.
- Eg: Deloitte AI Trends Report (2025) found 70% of Indian companies are integrating Gen AI to augment tasks rather than replace all roles
Economic implications of automation-led job displacement
- Decline in private consumption demand: Reduced employment in entry-level jobs affects household incomes and GDP growth.
- Eg: Private Final Consumption contributes 56.5% to India’s GDP; automation-linked displacement threatens this engine.
- Jobless growth phenomenon: Output rises due to AI efficiency, but employment does not follow suit.
- Eg: IMF Report (2024) estimated 40% of jobs globally to be affected by AI, risking economic decoupling between growth and jobs
- Widening socio-economic inequality: AI benefits firms and skilled elites while leaving low-skilled youth behind.
- Eg: World Economic Forum (2024) highlighted that 85% of AI investment flows to developed economies, with limited access for low-income segments
- Underutilisation of demographic dividend: India’s large youth population remains unemployable without AI-aligned skills.
- Eg: CMIE (2024) noted youth unemployment at 17%, worsened by tech-led hiring saturation in services
- Mismatch between education and industry: Current curricula fail to address AI integration, worsening structural unemployment.
- Eg: AICTE-SAMARTH audit (2023) found that over 65% of technical institutes had no AI curriculum or lab exposure
Strategy for skilling and labour market adaptation
- Curriculum overhaul for AI-readiness: Incorporate AI, data literacy, and algorithmic thinking in higher education and vocational training.
- Eg: NEP 2020 + NCrF guidelines (2023) encourage integration of 21st-century skills, but rollout remains uneven across states
- AI-focused reskilling initiatives: National programs for retraining mid-career and entry-level employees in AI and automation tools.
- Eg: Skill India Digital Platform (2024) launched AI Upskilling Modules targeting 1 crore learners by 2026.
- Promotion of public-private skilling partnerships: Industry-led training with government incentives to align supply and demand.
- Eg: Tata STRIVE + NSDC collaboration offers AI/ML bootcamps with placement-linked outcomes
- Regional skilling hubs for displaced sectors: Setup of localized centres for industries undergoing automation.
- Eg: Tamil Nadu AI Mission (2023) piloted district-level AI skilling hubs to upskill those affected by automation in MSMEs
- Inclusive skilling for vulnerable groups: Focus on women, rural youth, and tier-2/3 college graduates in AI-based roles.
- Eg: FutureSkills PRIME portal by MeitY + NASSCOM offers free AI foundational courses with a focus on women and underrepresented groups
Conclusion
India stands at a critical junction where AI can either widen the employment crisis or catalyse a productivity revolution. Only a proactive, inclusive, and scalable skilling ecosystem can ensure India’s demographic dividend is future-proofed in the age of AI.
Introduction
India’s bioenergy policy, anchored in compressed biogas (CBG) and feedstock diversification, reflects a shift towards self-reliant, decentralised, and circular energy systems that align clean energy goals with rural prosperity.
Body
Contribution of compressed biogas (CBG) in bioenergy policy
- Waste-to-energy conversion: CBG transforms organic waste into clean fuel, reducing landfill burden and methane emissions.
- Eg: Indore CBG plant by GAIL processes 400 tonnes/day organic waste and generates 17,000 kg/day of biogas (GAIL Annual Report, 2024).
- Import reduction and forex saving: Domestic CBG cuts down LNG imports, saving foreign exchange.
- Eg: The 5% CBG blending mandate by 2028 could save over ₹10,000 crore in oil imports (MoPNG, 2025).
- Rural livelihood generation: Biomass sourcing and plant operations create jobs and income for farmers and SHGs.
- Eg: IOC’s CBG plant in Punjab sources paddy straw from local farmers, offering viable income over stubble burning.
- Support to sustainable urbanisation: CBG plants decentralise fuel access and aid in solid waste management.
- Eg: Pune’s CBG buses run on fuel from municipal biogas plants, reducing city emissions (Smart Cities Mission Report, 2023).
Role of feedstock diversification in bioenergy policy
- Stability in ethanol production: Multiple feedstocks ensure uninterrupted ethanol supply despite crop cycles or failures.
- Eg: Ethanol feedstocks now include molasses, maize, surplus grains and sugarcane juice (MoPNG, 2025).
- State-specific crop utilisation: Localised feedstock choices allow tailored policy implementation and agro-industry growth.
- Eg: Maize-based ethanol plants in Bihar and MP leverage regional crop abundance.
- Boost to allied bio-economy: Encourages investment in biotechnology and processing infrastructure.
- Eg: National Bio-Energy Mission (Draft) incentivises multi-feedstock bio-refinery R&D (MNRE, 2024).
- Reduction of agri-waste and emissions: Crop residues become valuable inputs, cutting open burning and emissions.
- Eg: Godavari Biorefineries converts sugarcane press mud and spent wash into ethanol and biogas (NITI Aayog, 2023).
Promotion of circular energy economy
- Resource reuse efficiency: Biomass, agri-waste, and organic residues are re-entered into the energy value chain.
- Eg: Panipat refinery’s hybrid hydrogen-CBG project integrates biomass gasification into refinery operations.
- Emission reduction through waste valorisation: Reduces GHGs by substituting fossil fuels with bio-derived gases.
- Eg: CBG from dairy waste in Gujarat fuels public transport, cutting methane and diesel use.
- Income loop for farmers and local producers: Waste generated by agriculture and food processing becomes a revenue stream.
- Eg: SATAT model contracts pay farmers and waste aggregators for biomass, ensuring local economic circularity.
- Integration of decentralised energy systems: Localised CBG and ethanol units reduce transmission losses and boost energy equity.
- Eg: CBG clusters in Maharashtra and Haryana power village-level grids and local transport networks (MNRE Pilot Reports, 2023).
Conclusion
India’s bioenergy model reflects a paradigm shift from fossil reliance to regenerative energy loops. Ensuring price incentives, logistics support, and private sector participation will be key to scaling this circular momentum.
General Studies – 4
Q9. What does the following quotation convey to you in the present context? (10 M)
“Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle”. – Benjamin Franklin
Introduction
In an era of systemic crises and social fatigue, the quote urges us to replace complaint with constructive effort. It upholds the value of moral action and civic initiative in the face of adversity.
Body
Meaning of the quote
- Encourages ethical initiative over blame: Calls for positive action instead of passive criticism.
- Eg: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (2014) saw citizens cleaning streets, reflecting ethical responsibility over blaming authorities – Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
- Symbolises moral leadership in crisis: True leaders respond to problems with solutions, not despair.
- Eg: Dr. Verghese Kurien’s leadership in Amul helped fight rural poverty through cooperative models – Operation Flood, NDDB
- Stresses individual responsibility: Change begins with self, not external actors.
- Eg: RTI Act 2005 was driven by citizen-led movements demanding transparency – 2nd ARC Report on RTI
- Promotes solution-oriented optimism: Ethical conduct requires hopeful action rather than cynical inaction.
- Eg: During COVID-19 lockdowns, NGOs like Goonj distributed relief to migrants instead of merely criticising the state – NITI Aayog Report (2021)
- Reflects constitutional ethics: Echoes Article 51A which enjoins citizens to uphold human values and civic duty.
- Eg: Youth-led platforms like Youth Ki Awaaz advocate civic engagement aligned with constitutional ideals – UNDP India (2023)
Relevance in present context
- Curbing social media negativity: Urges proactive solutions over online outrage.
- Eg: Cyber hygiene campaigns by Digital India volunteers promote awareness and positive engagement – MeitY, 2023
- Inspiring local climate action: Individuals and communities are taking the lead on sustainability.
- Eg: Takachar, a climate-tech startup, transforms agri-waste, offering solutions to stubble burning – Earthshot Prize (2021)
- Bridging gaps in governance: Citizens innovating where the state falls short.
- Eg: Mohalla Clinics in Delhi addressed health access gaps through scalable grassroots models – NITI Aayog Health Index (2024)
- Pushing civil service reform: Calls for reformist mindset within institutions.
- Eg: Baswan Committee (2016) advocated structural changes in UPSC recruitment for better governance.
- Empowering youth participation: Encourages democratic engagement through constructive channels.
- Eg: SVEEP programme by ECI fosters youth voting and civic participation – ECI Annual Report (2024)
Conclusion
Lighting a candle is the ethics of action in a time of complaint. Today, this spirit is essential—not just to navigate challenges but to rebuild trust, reform systems, and renew hope.
Introduction
Corporate scams not only violate the law but erode ethical conduct, social capital, and trust that form the bedrock of a just economic system.
Body
Ethical dimensions involved in financial scams
- Breach of fiduciary responsibility: Scams often involve betrayal of investor trust and misuse of entrusted capital.
- Eg: IL&FS crisis (2018) saw top executives conceal debt risks from investors, breaching their fiduciary duty (SFIO report).
- Deception and manipulation: Misleading financial disclosures distort ethical transparency.
- Eg: Satyam scam (2009) involved inflating profits and manipulating assets, violating honesty and transparency norms.
- Exploitation of information asymmetry: Taking advantage of investor ignorance for unethical gain.
- Eg: Hyderabad Urban Market scam (2025) misled lay investors by offering fake high-return schemes through a tech platform.
- Moral disengagement and lack of remorse: Perpetrators justify unethical actions to reduce guilt.
- Eg: Theranos scandal (US, 2016) saw Elizabeth Holmes deny wrongdoing despite false test results, invoking startup pressures.
- Systemic erosion of ethical culture: Failure of ethical leadership and institutional values.
- Eg: DHFL scam (2019) revealed deliberate creation of fake loan accounts, enabled by weak ethical oversight and internal complicity.
How personal integrity is tested in such contexts
- Temptation of greed and quick gains: Individuals face moral conflict between profit and ethical restraint.
- Eg: In the NSEL scam (2013), executives continued luring investors despite knowing the scheme’s collapse was imminent.
- Peer pressure and fear of exclusion: Organisational culture may punish ethical resistance.
- Eg: Enron scandal (2001, US) saw junior staff accept unethical accounting practices due to peer conformity.
- Silence over wrongdoing: Lack of whistle-blower protection undermines ethical courage.
- Eg: In PNB scam (2018), employees noticed red flags but didn’t report due to fear of retaliation and power hierarchy.
- Weak moral compass or ethical blindness: Lack of internalised values makes fraud easier to commit.
- Eg: Cambridge Analytica case (2018) involved employees misusing personal data without grasping its ethical implications.
- Conflict between role morality and personal values: Dissonance arises when institutional duties clash with moral beliefs.
- Eg: In the Volkswagen emission scandal (2015), engineers admitted they followed deceptive instructions despite personal reservations.
Conclusion
In the age of digital enterprise, ethics must precede enterprise. Integrity in business is not just an internal virtue but a public obligation that sustains economic justice and societal trust.
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