SECURE SYNOPSIS: 12 OCTOBER 2018
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 time gives you extra points in the form of background information.
General Studies – 1
Topic– Events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
Why this question
NAM has been the cornerstone of free India’s foreign policy for several decades and its principles have helped make the world a better and more peaceful place and also provided the required strategic autonomy to newly independent states, including India. It is therefore important to discuss in detail about the NAM.
Directive word
Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write in detail about the principles of NAM and how the movement adopted a soft balancing strategy aimed at challenging the superpower excesses in a normative manner.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the NAM, its founding members etc.
Body-
Discuss about the NAM and its principles and write in detail as to how the movement adopted a soft balancing strategy aimed at challenging the superpower excesses in a normative manner. E.g The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and its precursor, the Bandung Afro-Asian conference in 1955, were examples of soft balancing by weaker states towards great powers engaged in intense rivalry and conflict; Despite all its blemishes, the NAM and the Afro-Asian grouping acted as a limited soft balancing mechanism by attempting to delegitimize the threatening behaviour of the superpowers, particularly through their activism at the UN and other forums such as the Eighteen Nation Committee on Disarmament, as well as through resolutions; “Naming” and “shaming” were their operational tools. They worked as norm entrepreneurs in the areas of nuclear arms control and disarmament. They definitely deserve partial credit for ending colonialism as it was practised, especially in the 1950s and 1960s in Africa, parts of Asia and the Caribbean through their activism at the UN General Assembly which declared decolonisation as a key objective in 1960;
The non-aligned declarations on nuclear testing and nuclear non-proliferation especially helped to concretise the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty. They also helped create several nuclear weapon free zones as well as formulate the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty etc.Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Non aligned movement:-
- The Non-Aligned Movement was formed during the Cold War as an organization of States that did not seek to formally align themselves with either the United States or the Soviet Union, but sought to remain independent or neutral.
- It identifies the right of independent judgment, the struggle against imperialism and neo-colonialism, and the use of moderation in relations with all big powers as the three basic elements that have influenced its approach.
How Non aligned movement adopted a balancing strategy:-
- The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and its precursor, the Bandung Afro-Asian conference in 1955, were examples of soft balancing by weaker states towards great powers engaged in intense rivalry and conflict.
- As they had little material ability to constrain superpower conflict and arms build-ups, the newly emerging states adopted a soft balancing strategy aimed at challenging the superpower excesses in a normative manner, hoping for preventing the global order from sliding into war.
- NAM and the Afro-Asian grouping acted as a limited soft balancing mechanism by attempting to delegitimise the threatening behaviour of the superpowers, particularly through their activism at the UN and other forums such as the Eighteen Nation Committee on Disarmament, as well as through resolutions.
- “Naming” and “shaming” were their operational tools. They worked as norm entrepreneurs in the areas of nuclear arms control and disarmament.
- They definitely deserve partial credit for ending colonialism as it was practised, especially in the 1950s and 1960s in Africa, parts of Asia and the Caribbean through their activism at the UN General Assembly which declared decolonisation as a key objective in 1960.
- Nuclear testing:-
- The non-aligned declarations on nuclear testing and nuclear non-proliferation especially helped to concretise the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty.
- They also helped create several nuclear weapon free zones as well as formulate the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
- The tradition of ‘non-use of nuclear weapons’, or the ‘nuclear taboo’, was strengthened partially due to activism by the non-aligned countries’ at the UN.
- Many of their policy positions were adopted by USSR under Gorbachev and later partially by the U.S.
- Strengthening International Peace and Security
- promote the peaceful settlement of disputes, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, as well as with the UN Resolution and international law
- Save future generations from the scourge of war and military conflict.
- Realize the three pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, development and human rights.
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Work towards the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, leaving no one behind.
- Ending poverty and hunger in all its forms and dimensions.
Way forward:-
- As the great powers are once again launching a new round of nuclear arms race and territorial expansion and militarisation of the oceans, a renewed activism by leading global south countries may be necessary to delegitimise their imperial ventures, even if they do not succeed immediately.
- If these states do not act as cushioning forces, international order could deteriorate and new forms of cold and hot wars could develop. China, the U.S. and Russia need to be balanced and restrained and soft balancing by non-superpower states has a key role to play in this.
- More concrete initiatives may have to rest with emerging states in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) grouping. Engaging China and India more intensely while restraining the U.S. and Russia from aggravating military conflict in Asia-Pacific can be the effort of the developing countries.
General Studies – 2
Topic– Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
Why this question
NHRC of India has been facing severe criticism from many corners including the SC which has termed the organisation as a toothless tiger. In this connection it is vital to discuss the PHR bill, 2018 and analyze its reform potential as well as its shortcomings.
Directive word
Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to probe deeper into the PHR bill and bring out its positive points as well as shortcomings and them form a substantial opinion on the overall issue.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the NHRC, its constitutional status and mandate.
Body-
- Discuss the positive reforms anticipated in the PHR bill, 2018. E.g The Bill reduces the term of office to three years or till the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier. The Bill also allows for the reappointment of chairpersons of the NHRC and SHRC; The Act provides for two persons having knowledge of human rights to be appointed as members of the NHRC. The Bill amends this to allow three members to be appointed, of which at least one will be a woman; The Bill provides for including the chairpersons of the National Commission for Backward Classes, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities as members of the NHRC among others.
- Discuss its shortcomings. E.g The selection committee tasked with appointing the chairperson and the members to the Commission is dominated by the ruling party. It consists of the prime minister, home minister, Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Deputy-Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. There is thus a need to diversify the selection committee; the bill does not seek to address NHRC’s selection process which is very obscure. Very often, the government does not publicise vacancies in the Commission. The criteria to assess candidates is also not specified. As a result, appointments to the NHRC have been fraught with disputes; long pendency of the Commission’s requests for additional funds; Police officials investigating for the NHRC are sent on deputation by their forces. Their allegiance lies with their home cadre to which they return after their tenure at the Commission is over. This conflict of interest restricts the scope of their work, as they often are charged with investigating abuse of power by law enforcement personnel. Adding officials of the Intelligence Bureau to the mix only muddies the water. The bill fails to address such issues among others.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Background :-
- NHRC investigates human rights violation cases, sometimes in remote areas. However National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has been often accused of being unable to protect ordinary citizens from human rights violations, committed at times by the state machinery.
Protection of human rights bill 2018 :-
- The Bill amends the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The Act provides for a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), State Human Rights Commissions (SHRC), as well as Human Rights Courts.
- Composition of NHRC:
- Under the Act, the chairperson of the NHRC is a person who has been a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Bill amends this to provide that a person who has been Chief Justice of India, or a Judge of the Supreme Court will be the chairperson of the NHRC.
- The Act provides for two persons having knowledge of human rights to be appointed as members of the NHRC. The Bill amends this to allow three members to be appointed, of which at least one will be a woman.
- Under the Act, chairpersons of various commissions such as the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, and National Commission for Women are members of the NHRC. The Bill provides for including the chairpersons of the National Commission for Backward Classes, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities as members of the NHRC.
- Chairperson of SHRC:
- Under the Act, the chairperson of a SHRC is a person who has been a Chief Justice of a High Court. The Bill amends this to provide that a person who has been Chief Justice or Judge of a High Court will be chairperson of a SHRC.
- Term of office:
- The Act states that the chairperson and members of the NHRC and SHRC will hold office for five years or till the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier. The Bill reduces the term of office to three years or till the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier. The Bill also allows for the reappointment of chairpersons of the NHRC and SHRCs.
- Powers of Secretary-General:
- The Act provides for a Secretary-General of the NHRC and a Secretary of a SHRC, who exercise powers as may be delegated to them. The Bill amends this and allows the Secretary-General and Secretary to exercise all administrative and financial powers (except judicial functions), subject to the respective chairperson’s control.
- Union Territories:
- The Bill provides that the central government may confer on a SHRC human rights functions being discharged by Union Territories. Functions relating to human rights in the case of Delhi will be dealt with by the NHRC.
- Amended Act will be in sync with the agreed global standards and benchmarks on ensuring rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of individuals in the country
- The amendment to the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 will make the NHRC and State Human Rights Commissions more compliant with the Paris Principle concerning its autonomy, independence, pluralism and wide-ranging functions in order to effectively protect and promote human rights.
Concerns :-
- Amendment Bill intends to strengthen human rights institutions in this country. But it falls short of this objective.
- The selection committee tasked with appointing the chairperson and the members to the Commission is dominated by the ruling party.
- It consists of the prime minister, home minister, Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Deputy-Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. There is thus a need to diversify the selection committee.
- NHRC’s selection process is very obscure:-
- Very often, the government does not publicise vacancies in the Commission. The criteria to assess candidates is also not specified.
- As a result, appointments to the NHRC have been fraught with disputes.
- Conflict of interest:-
- Police officials investigating for the NHRC are sent on deputation by their forces. Their allegiance lies with their home cadre to which they return after their tenure at the Commission is over.
- This conflict of interest restricts the scope of their work, as they often are charged with investigating abuse of power by law enforcement personnel.
- The NHRC does have powers to conduct its own investigation in cases where the Centre or state government do not respond within the time stipulated by Section 17 of PHR Act. However, the Commission has rarely used this power.
Way forward :-
- The much-needed diversification that the Amendment Bill seeks to introduce could be realised through the inclusion of civil society members and academicians with proven track record in the improvement of human rights.
- The NHRC could certainly benefit from the grass roots level experience, widespread community outreach and the expertise of these organisations or individuals.
- The NHRC urgently requires officers of its own to carry out independent investigations, and the government should provide it resources for the same.
Topic – India and its neighborhood- relations.
Why this question
Some of the recent events highlight the growing inability of the SAARC to achieve its stated and desired objectives. It is important to examine those events and issues, and discuss the need for a realignment in the strategy on part of India.
Directive word
Comment- here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to express our knowledge and understanding of the SAARC and its relevance today. Based on our discussion we have to form an opinion on the need for realignment in India’s strategy towards SAARC and the related member states.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the SAARC, its members, when it was formed etc.
Body-
- Discuss the shortcomings of the SAARC which have hampered its functioning at the required levels. E.g discuss the role of Pakistan and consequent India-Pak rivalry; India being unable to sponsor large development projects; India’s refusal to engage Pakistan unless Islamabad addresses its concerns on cross-border terrorism etc.
- Discuss some of the recent issues which highlight the growing redundancy of SAARC in terms of achieving its stated objectives as well as India’s national interests. E.g Cancelling of the meet last year in Pakistan; A meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan planned recently could not take place; Sri Lanka has begun to describe itself as an Indian Ocean country. Colombo is by no means betraying South Asian regionalism. It is merely rediscovering its geographic centrality in the Indian Ocean and celebrating it. Maldives, too, has so much to gain by leveraging its Indian Ocean location rather than pin its hopes on the dystopian SAARC etc
- Discuss how India’s strategic and economic interests can be better realised.e.g discuss the role and importance of BBIN and BIMSTEC and discuss the need to strengthen those institutions etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Background:-
- The European and ASEAN experience is testimony to the contribution of regional cooperation in the economic growth of the countries.
- BIMSTEC is a bridge between South Asia and South East Asia. It includes all the major countries of South Asia, except Maldives, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Given this composition, BIMSTEC has emerged as a natural platform to test regional cooperation in the South Asian region.
- Recently, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has gained more favour as the preferred platform for regional cooperation in South Asia. The fourth summitof Bay of Bengal Initiatives for Multi-sectoral, Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was recently held in Kathmandu.
SAARC is losing steam :-
- The dormant status of SAARCand the changes underway in the regional and global landscape triggered India’s initiative to invite the BIMSTEC leadership . Its goals, therefore, are being redefined to add ballast to India’s “Act East Policy”.
- Despite India’s keen interest in cooperating and strengthening intra-regional connectivity by backing the SAARC–Motor vehicle agreement, the agreement was stalled following Pakistan’s reluctance.
- Similarly, the SAARC satellite project that India proposed was abandoned following objection from Pakistan in 2016
- SAARC has also faced obstacles in the area of security cooperation. A major hindrance in this regard has been the lack of consensus on threat perceptions, since member countries disagree on the idea of threats
- For instance, while cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan is a major concern for India, Pakistan has failed to address these concerns.
- Cancelling of the meet last year in Pakistan and a meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan planned recently could not take place have made SAARC even more redundant.
BIMSTEC is providing the alternative:-
- One of the reasons for BIMSTEC’s popularity is that the member countries have generally cordial relationships, something patently missing among the SAARC countries.
- As a trade bloc, BIMSTEC provides many opportunities:-
- The region has countries with the fastest-growing economies in the world. The combined GDP in the region is around US$2 trillion and will likely grow further.
- Trade among the BIMSTEC member countries reached six percent in just a decade, while in SAARC, it has remained around five percent since its inception.
- Compared to SAARC, BIMSTEC has greater trade potential as well. Among the member countries, India’s intra-BIMSTEC trade is around 3 percent of its total trade.
- BIMSTEC includes all the major countries of South Asia, except Maldives, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Given this composition, BIMSTEC has emerged as a natural platform to test regional cooperation in the South Asian region.
- Urgency of promoting regional and sub-regional cooperation via BIMSTEC and BBIN has to be seen in the context of China’s BRI/OBORand the compelling strategic challenge posed by China’s muscular geo-economic and geo-political interventions in Asia, particularly in India’s neighbourhood.
- Though maritime disputes in the South China Sea attract global attention, the Bay of Bengal has moved centre stage as the next strategic and economic arena in the Indo-Pacific region.
- BIMSTEC and ASEAN both have seminal roles, in re-integrating the Bay of Bengal as an economic hub and strategic space.The salience of BIMSTEC has, therefore, grown for India to secure its strategic space in the neighbourhood and the Bay of Bengal region.
- The development of the Northeastern region, by opening up to Bangladesh and Myanmar, is another incentive for India.
- The ongoing India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the India-Myanmar Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Projectare expected to further augment connectivity and economic cooperation in the sub-region and beyond.
- BIMSTEC serves two purposes for India – it makes it easier for India to share a common regional platform with its neighbours in South Asia (sans Pakistan) and secondly, BIMSTEC also establishes a linkage between South and Southeast Asia.
- It is an extra feather to India’s act east policy :-
- India was motivated to join BIMSTEC as it wanted to enhance its connectivity with ASEAN countries: a major component of its Look East Policy, now rechristened ‘Act East’ policy.
- In terms of connectivity, BIMSTEC has at last three major projectsthat, when finished, could transform the movement of goods and vehicles through the countries in the grouping.
- One is the Kaladan Multimodal project that seeks to link India and Myanmar.
- Another is the Asian Trilateral Highway connecting India and Thailand through Myanmar. It represents a significant step in establishing connectivity between India and Southeast Asian countries.
- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) have signed a pact for the movement of goods and vehicles among them.
- The political rivalry between India and Pakistan never allowed SAARC to be the driving factor in an augmenting regional cooperation within South Asia. Hence, it would be pragmatic for India to work closely with BIMSTEC and ASEAN to expand regional cooperation in areas of mutual concerns including terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime and insurgency; food security, energy; trade and investment, connectivity and infrastructure, poverty alleviation to name a few.
- India’s stimulating outlook towards Southeast Asia vis-à-vis Asia-Pacific as expressed through Act east policy and the other way round, i.e, the Asia-Pacific’s desire to have India as a strong stakeholder in the region.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
Why this question
The latest report by IPCC has brought into focus once again, the need to act fact on climate change, because the window to act is fast closing. Subsequently, there is a focus on climate engineering technology to counter the adverse impacts of anthropogenic climate change. The purpose of this question is to critically examine the potential , application of such technology.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to first explain what geoengineering is and give examples of such technology. Thereafter, we need to bring out the pros and cons of such technology in dealing with climate change. Finally, we need to provide our view as to whether investing in developing such technology makes sense.
Directive word
Critically examine – When you are asked to examine, you have to probe deeper into the topic, get into details, and find out the causes or implications if any . When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, all you need to do is look at the good and bad of something and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Highlight United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a new report which makes several calls for further investigating climate engineering technology known as geoengineering. The IPCC report, titled “Global Warming of 1.5 °C, an IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways”, warns that without investment into geoengineering technology the Earth’s temperature will continue to increase.
Body
- Explain what geoengineering is – Geoengineering is the deliberate and large-scale manipulation of the weather and climate using a variety of technologies.
- Give some examples of such technology to bring out how such technology works. Eg One popular form of geoengineering being explored by IPCC scientists is known as Solar Radiation Management (SRM), a process which involves planes spraying aerosols in the skies designed to reflect sunlight in an effort to combat “anthropogenic global warming.”
- Discuss the pros and cons of using such technology. While the pros are more obvious, in cons one can discuss the disproportionately high investment for uncertain results etc
Conclusion – Give your opinion as to whether investing in developing such technology would make sense and discuss the way forward.
Background:-
- The world may increasingly look to geoengineering in the wake of the latest UN climate report, which says it could be adopted as a temporary remedial measure if the world heads towards dangerous levels of warming.
Geoengineering interventions:-
- Geoengineering interventions are large-scale attempts to purposefully alter the climate system in order to offset the effects of global warming. Most geoengineering proposals can be divided into two types: solar radiation management (SRM) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR).
- Climate engineering offers the hope of temporarily reversing some aspects of global warming and allowing the natural climate to be substantially preserved whilst greenhouse gas emissions are brought under control and removed from the atmosphere by natural or artificial processes
- One such technology is inspired by volcanoes that entails spewing sulphate aerosols into the upper atmosphere to deflect sunlight and artificially cool the planet.
- One popular form of geoengineering being explored by IPCC scientists is known as Solar Radiation Management (SRM), a process which involves planes spraying aerosols in the skies designed to reflect sunlight in an effort to combat “anthropogenic global warming.
Negatives of geoengineering:-
- A recent study shows that rapid application, followed by abrupt termination of this temporary tech-fix can in fact accelerate climate change.
- The increase in temperature from the abrupt termination is so quick that most species, terrestrial or marine, may not be able to keep up with it and eventually perish.
- The increase in temperature is two to four times more rapid than climate change without geoengineering. This increase would be dangerous for biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Reptiles, mammals, fish and birds that have been moving at 1.7 km/year on average will now have to move faster than 10 km/year to remain in their preferred climatic zones. This raises serious concerns, especially for less-mobile animals like amphibians and corals.
- Not just species but entire ecosystems could collapse by suddenly hitting the stop button on geoengineering.
- For example, temperate grassland and savannahs, which are maintained by specific combinations of temperature and rainfall, may experience increasing rates of temperatures, but an opposing trend in rainfall, after 2070.
- Ineffectiveness
- The effectiveness of the techniques proposed may fall short of predictions.
- In ocean iron fertilization, for example, the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere may be much lower than predicted, as carbon taken up by plankton may be released back into the atmosphere from dead plankton, rather than being carried to the bottom of the sea and sequestered.
- Model results from a 2016 study, suggest that blooming algae could even accelerate Arctic warming.
- Moral hazard or risk compensation
- The existence of such techniques may reduce the political and social impetus to reduce carbon emissions
- Albedo modification strategies could rapidly cool the planet’s surface but pose environmental and other risks that are not well understood and therefore should not be deployed at climate-altering scales.
- In the case of environmental risks, the offsetting of greenhouse gases by increasing the reflection of sunlight is not going to be perfect. Some people, potentially a small minority, will get less rainfall. There is concern about what particles might do to the ozone layer.
- The drop off of tropical storms in one area would actually lead to a spike in drought in parts of Africa, according to the data.
Positives of geoengineering:-
- As expected, the climate would begin to cool once geoengineering commences. This initial cooling phase, would provide relief, particularly for species that were unable to keep up with past warming.
- Also birds and fish which may have moved in response to elevated temperatures in the past will possibly turn back.
- If solar geoengineering were ramped up slowly to half the rate of warming over the coming decades, then it seems likely it would reduce many climate risks. Solar geoengineering deployment can be ended without the impacts of a termination shock if it is gradually ramped down over decades.
- The climate models reveal that the large-scale action would indeed calm things down a bit and potentially reduce the number of North Atlantic cyclones.
Conclusion:-
- In any case in the meantime, two aspects are certain: under no scenario could climate engineering serve as a substitute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and it would be better to implement such technologies with more nuanced research.
Topic- Part of static series under the heading – “Green revolution”
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to discuss the salient features of green revolution, due to which green revolution bypassed the eastern parts of the country despite conditions conducive for agriculture.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Give a brief introduction to Green Revolution.
Body – discuss the reasons such as
- Green Revolution in India focused on areas in India that were already better placed from the agricultural point of view.
- major goals of the Green Revolution was for India to achieve self-sufficiency, which is why the focus was on crops such as wheat which India was in dire need of in order to feed its rapidly increasing population.
- Irrigation formed a major component of the Green Revolution, which is why Punjab, the land of the rivers, is the most successful instance of the Green revolution etc
Conclusion – Discuss the problem of unequal development that such a strategy has led to and discuss how we can address this situation.
Background :-
- Major goals of the Green Revolution was for India to achieve self-sufficiency, which is why the focus was on crops such as wheat which India was in dire need of in order to feed its rapidly increasing population. Barring few pockets, the green revolution virtually bypassed the eastern region of the country despite the fact that it has fertile soil and plenty of water.
There were several reasons for the same :-
- This region was bypassed due to institutional factors.
- It has been established that the best performing areas in Green Revolution were under Mahalwari region in Punjab. Although Zamindari system was abolished, yet its influence remained in the eastern parts of India.
- More than 80% of the total land holdings in Eastern India were / are small and marginal land holdings. Even in Punjab and Haryana, the new technology was too expensive to adopt for small and marginal farmers
- The cost of inputs was unaffordable for majority of the farmers in eastern region.
- The cropping pattern in Eastern India was traditionally dominated by rice and other low value crops.
- Rice responded late to new technology but meanwhile western region marched ahead with jumps in production of wheat, maize and bajra.
- Given that Bihar and Odisha were most poor states in the Indian Union having substantial number of households below the poverty line, majority of the farmers practiced subsistence farming in low value crops.
- Irrigation formed a major component of the Green Revolution, which is why Punjab, the land of the rivers, is the most successful instance of the Green revolution etc.
However it is not true that Green Revolution has totally bypassed Eastern India:-
- Over a period, it has spread to large parts of the nation and has brought prosperity. On this basis, there are three distinct phases of Green Revolution.
- The third phase of green revolution spread to the erstwhile low-growth areas of the eastern region of West Bengal, Bihar, Assam and Odisha during 1980–83 to 1992–95. During this phase, the southern region registered a higher growth of rate than the north-western region.
- The third phase contributed little in reducing the regional inequalities but then, the euphoria of green revolution lasted only till that time. After that the growth levels and yield per hectare came down in comparison to earlier decades.
General Studies – 4
Topic– Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
Directive word
Comment- here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to form our opinion on the issue based on a proper discussion showcasing our knowledge and understanding of the issue in hand.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– Give a simple and a complete definition of Integrity. You can also present a related quote here.
Body-
Discuss about the concept of integrity in detail and bring out how integrity helps build and sustain trust among people in an organisation. Illustrate your point by giving some real life examples which highlight the importance of integrity, particularly in public service today. E.g people tend to judge people based on their own values, not theirs. When they think someone lacks integrity, what they usually mean is that the observed behaviour doesn’t match with their own values; People seem to regard trust as either yes or no rather than the kaleidoscopic range of colour that it actually is and integrity is one of the most important indicators of trust in public service; Since values drive your behavioural decisions, integrity could be said to be how well you live according to your values and it helps build trust among coworkers etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Answer :-
Integrity can be described as the strength of someone’s honesty and ethical standing. A person with strong integrity is less likely to be influenced by those of a lesser moral value. You can have honesty without integrity, but you cannot have integrity without honesty.
It deals with exhibiting fairness and honesty in all professional and personal relations. It is considered as a personal choice which is uncompromising under any kind of circumstances. It ensures correct actions and stands in stark contrast to hypocrisy.
Integrity forms the building block of ethical conduct and competency. It is conducting of one’s professional duties and obligations with complete honesty in conformity with the professional code of ethics.
In public service there might be many instances where an officer would face situations where his/her integrity is tested but sticking to his/her integrity reveals to us that in order to be successful you must not only learn to persuade, but also recognize when not to be persuaded.
The public servants integrity and commitment to the welfare vision shows that he/she cannot be persuaded by the deceptive inducement of financial gain. Thus, it was her/his integrity and commitment to her personal principles that contributed to enduring success as a public servant.
When a person lives with integrity in both personal and professional life his/her opinion will be respected as people trust the officer’s values and principles to be unbiased and in larger interest. So persuasion becomes easy when a person has integrity.
