SECURE SYNOPSIS: 03 DECEMBER 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.
Mastering World History by Norman and Lowe; Russia and the revolutions, 1900-24
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 factors which were responsible for the downfall of the provisional government formed after the February revolution of 1917.
Structure of the answer
Introduction-
Write a few introductory lines about the February revolution of 1917. E.g By January 1917, most groups in society were disillusioned with the incompetent way the Tsar was running the war. The aristocracy, the Duma, many industrialists and the army were beginning to turn against Nicholas, feeling that it would be better to sacrifice him to avoid a much worse revolution that might sweep away the whole social structure.
Body-
Discuss in points about the factors responsible for the downfall of the provisional government formed after the February revolution. E.g It took the unpopular decision to continue the war, but the June offensive, was another disastrous failure; The government had to share power with the Petrograd soviet, an elected committee of soldiers’ and workers’ representatives, which tried to govern the city; The government lost support because it delayed elections, which it had promised, for a Constituent Assembly (parliament), arguing that these were not possible in the middle of a war when several million troops were away fighting. Another promise not kept was for land reform – the redistribution of land from large estates among peasants; There was increasing economic chaos, with inflation, rising bread prices, lagging wages and shortages of raw materials and fuel. Industry was severely handicapped by a shortage of investment. In the midst of all this, Lenin and the Bolsheviks put forward what seemed to be a realistic and attractive policy etc.
Conclusion- based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Background :-
- The Provisional Government replaced the tsar’s government that collapsed during the revolution in March 1917.
Problems faced by provisional government which led to overthrow of this government are:-
- The Provisional Government never really ruled Russia:-
- Right from the start, it had to share power with the Petrograd Soviet, which had a rule that its members should only obey the Provisional Government if the Soviet agreed with it. For this reason, March to November 1917 is sometimes called the period of Dual Governmentin Russia.
- Disastrously, the Provisional Government did not really carry out any major reforms. All it did was abolish the Okhrana and press censorship, and allow political freedom. This gave the government’s opponents – such as Lenin’s Bolsheviks the freedom to attack the government for the problems it was not solving.
- The main problem of the Provisional Government was that it tried to continue the war. In June 1917, it organised an attack on Austria. When the attack failed, people began to turn against the government. Instead, they started to follow Lenin whose welcome message was: ‘Peace, bread, land’.
- The Provisional Government did nothing to stop the war. In fact, as desertions increased, it set up death squads to hunt down and execute deserters. The soldiers came to hate the Provisional Government.
- The Provisional Government had to share powerwith the Petrograd Soviet. Members of the Soviet always rejected the Provisional Government.
- The Provisional Government was unable to end the shortages of food and fuelin Petrograd. This was because it continued the war, which was causing the shortages. The workers came to hate the Provisional Government.
- The Provisional Government did nothing to solve the land problem. In the countryside, peasants started taking over the land of the nobles, many of whom had run away. The Provisional Government sent soldiers to take the land back by force. The peasants came to hate the Provisional Government.
- The Provisional Government did little to deal with its opponents. Even after the Bolsheviks rebelled in July 1917, it allowed Lenin to preach his popular message of ‘all power to the Soviets’. People came to despise the Provisional Government.
- The government lost support because it delayed elections, which it had promised, for a Constituent Assembly (parliament), arguing that these were not possible in the middle of a war when several million troops were away fighting.
- There was increasing economic chaos, with inflation, rising bread prices, lagging wages and shortages of raw materials and fuel. Industry was severely handicapped by a shortage of investment. In the midst of all this, Lenin and the Bolsheviks put forward what seemed to be a realistic and attractive policy etc.
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.
Mastering World History by Norman and Lowe; Italy, 1918-45: the first appearance of fascism
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 delve deeper into the rise and fall of fascism in Italy and bring out in detail as to what benefits did fascism provide to the people of Italy and then also discuss in detail about the problems which it could not solve.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the emergence of fascism under Mussolini in Italy. E.g Beginning in the summer of 1924, using a mixture of violence and intimidation, and helped by divisions among his opponents, Mussolini gradually developed Italian government and society along fascist lines.
Body-
- Discuss the benefits that accrued to the people of Italy on account of Fascism. E.g Industries were encouraged with govt. support wherever necessary; so that iron and steel production doubled by 1930 and artificial silk production increased tenfold; Mussolini believed that Italy must have a strong currency if it wanted to be a strong state. He revalued the lira at 90 to the pound sterling instead of 150 (1926). This had mixed results: it helped some industries, notably steel and chemicals, by making imported raw materials cheaper. But unfortunately it made Italian exports more expensive on the world market and led to reduced orders, especially in the cotton industry; The ‘Battle for Wheat’ encouraged farmers to concentrate on wheat production and raised tariffs (import duties) on imported wheat as part of the drive for self-sufficiency; The ‘Battle for Births’, launched in 1927, was a campaign to increase the birth rate. Mussolini believed that a population of 40 million was too small for a country aiming to be a great power; they simply wouldn’t have enough soldiers! The target was to double the birth rate and raise the population to 60 million by 1950; this was to be achieved by taxing unmarried men heavily, giving tax relief and promotion at work for men with large families and paying generous family allowances; A programme of land reclamation was launched in 1928, involving draining marshes, irrigation, and planting forests in mountainous areas, again as part of the drive to improve and increase agricultural yield etc.
- Discuss the problems that fascism in Italy could not solve. E.g Little had been done to remedy Italy’s basic shortage of raw materials – coal and oil – and much more effort could have been made to develop hydroelectric power. In spite of the modest increase in iron and steel production, Italy could not even match a small state like Belgium; Although the ‘Battle of Wheat’ was a victory, it was achieved only at the expense o f dairy and arable farming, whose output fell; the climate in the south is suited much better to grazing and orchards than to growing wheat, and these would have been much more lucrative for the farmers. As a result, agriculture remained inefficient and farm laborers the poorest class in the country; Another failing of the government was in social services, where there was nothing approaching a ‘welfare state’ etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
- Background :-
- Italian Fascism was rooted in Italian nationalism, national syndicalism, revolutionary nationalism, and the desire to restore and expand Italian territories which Italian Fascists deemed necessary for a nation to assert its superiority and strength and to avoid succumbing to decay
Fascism benefits to Italy :-
- In the short term, the government worked to reform the widely abused tax system, dispose of inefficient state-owned industry, cut government costs and introduce tariffs to protect the new industries.
- Industry was encouraged with government subsidies where necessary, so that Iron and steel production doubled by 1930 and artificial silk production increased tenfold. By 1937,production of hydro electric power had doubled.
- Battle for the Lira:-
- Mussolini believed that Italy must have a strng currency if it wanted to be a strong state. Revaluing of Lira helped some industries ,notably steel and chemicals
- Battle for wheat:-
- It encouraged farmers to concentrate on wheat production and raised tariffs on imported wheat as part of the drive for self sufficiency.
- A programme of land reclamation was launched in 1928 involving draining mashes, irrigation and planting forests in mountainous areas
- An impressive public works programme was designed among other things to reduce unemployment. It included the building of motorways, bridges ,blocks of flats, railway stations etc.
- The after work “Dopolavoro” organization provided the Italian people with things to do in their leisure time. There were cheap holidays, tours and cruises etc. Very poor families received welfare support from Dopolavoro.
Problems it could not solve :-
- After the initial gains made by Italy under the Fascist government, many of its negative effects also began to come to surface.
- The Fascist State made all around efforts to curb political freedom in all forms.
- After consolidating his power, Mussolini became a dictator and concentrated all the military and civil powers in his own hands.
- All political parties except the Fascist party were banned.
- The system of jury was abolished and special courts were set up where the Fascist civilian and military officers were empowered to decide political cases.
- Press was completely censored, freedom of speech and assembly was curbed and political opponents of Mussolini were mercilessly assassinated.
- Little had been done to remedy Italy’s basic shortage of raw materials coal and oil
- Although the battle of wheat was a victory it was achieved only at the expense of diary and arable farming whose output fell.
- Agriculture remained inefficient and farm labourers the poorest class in the country. The attempt at self sufficiency had been a dismal failure.
- It had caused an unpopular shortage of consumer goods and had greatly increase Italy’s national debt.
- The great depression impact:
- Exports fell further and unemployment rose to 1.1 million yet Lira was not devalues till 1936.Instead wages and salaries were cut. Particularly frustrating for industrial workers was that they had no way of protesting since strikes were illegal and unions weak.
- The economy was also hampered by the sanctions placed on Italy by the League of nations after the invasion of Ethiopia in 1935.
- Social services:-
- There was no official government health insurance until 1943 and only an inadequate unemployment insurance scheme which was not imporved even during the depression.
- The regime was inefficient and corrupt so that many of its poliies were not carried out.For example inspite of all the publicity about the land reclamation only about one tenth of the programme had been carried out by 1939 and work was at a standstill even before the war began.
- The Battle for Births launched in 1927 was a campaign to increase the birth rate .He specified 12 children as the ideal number for a family. This was one of Mussolini’s complete failures.
Topic- Part of static series under the heading – “History of the world will include events from 18th century such as colonization, decolonization”
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to explain that freedom struggles in several West African countries were also led by such western-educated Africans. It expects us to bring out the role played by leaders in African National movement and the impact of their struggles.
Directive word
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 .
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Give a brief introduction to the anti colonial upsurge in western Africa – Anti-colonial upsurge in West Africa was a part of the larger rush of decolonization after the massive wanton destruction of the World War II.
Body
- Highlight that just as Indian freedom movement, in the 20th century, found a leader in M. K. Gandhi, a western-educated lawyer, freedom struggles in several West African countries were also led by such western-educated Africans
- Discuss the role of leaders such as
- Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, educated in London and US, led Gold Coast to freedom in 1957, and rechristened the country Ghana.
- Nnamdi Azikiwe, educated in US, led Nigeria to a successful anti-colonial struggle, leading to its independence in 1960.
- Amilcar Cabral, educated in Portugal, led Guinea-Bissau to freedom from Portugal. He was assassinated before the official independence declaration of the country, but served as an inspiration for other revolutionary leaders elsewhere, such as Fidel Castro.
- Tovalou Houenou, defended the equality of race, opposed Eurocentricism and founded the Negritude movement, the writings of which gave a fillip to anti-colonial struggles in West Africa.
- Leopold Sedar Senghol and Felix Houphouet- Boigny were western educated individuals who respectively led Senegal and Ivory Coast to independence.
- Explain the nature of movement led by them – Some of these struggles were peaceful and constitutional while some had the blueprint of non-cooperation and civil disobedience. Some struggles were outright violent revolutions.
Conclusion – Nations of West Africa, however, have seldom witnessed stability and peace after independence. The countries have been marred by civil wars, brutal dictatorships and military coups.
Background :-
- Around the world, the intelligentsia has played an important role in shaping the country’s polity. India too found leadership from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. B.R Ambedkar, M.K.Gandhi who western educated. Similarly, in West Africa, west educated leaders contributed significantly to the anti colonial struggle.
Western educated Africans who led the anti colonial struggles in West Africa :-
- Kwame Nubrumah, a London and US educated scholar played a pivotal role in achieving independence of Gold Coast (later rechristened as Ghana)
- Nandi Azikiwae, an western educated liberal was instrumental in the hard struggle for Nigeria’s emancipation.
- Amilcar Cabral, educated in Portugal, led Guinea-Bissau to freedom from Portugal. He was assassinated before the official independence declaration of the country, but served as an inspiration for other revolutionary leaders elsewhere, such as Fidel Castro.
- Tovalou Houenou, defended the equality of race, opposed Eurocentricism and founded the Negritude movement, the writings of which gave a fillip to anti-colonial struggles in West Africa.
- Leopold Sedar Senghol and Felix Houphouet- Boigny were western educated individuals who respectively led Senegal and Ivory Coast to independence.
- When these scholars returned to their native country’s after their stint abroad they could clearly perceive the injustice meted out to them and their countrymen. Having spent some time in land of where mutual respect, equality, freedom and dignity were enjoyed, they could understand the artificial rules and exploitation under colonial administration in a clear manner.
- Some of these struggles were peaceful and constitutional while some had the blueprint of non-cooperation and civil disobedience. Some struggles were outright violent revolutions.
Conclusion:-
- Nations of West Africa, however, have seldom witnessed stability and peace after independence. The countries have been marred by civil wars, brutal dictatorships and military coups.
General Studies – 2
Topic: India and its bilateral relations
Why this question
European Union releasing its strategy on India after 14 years. Launching the strategy document, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to India, Tomasz Kozlowski, underlined that “India is on the top of the agenda of the EU in the field of external relations… this strategy paper reflects that EU has taken India’s priorities very seriously. We are ready for a joint leap.” The 2004 EU-India declaration on building bilateral strategic partnership, which this road map replaces, has not had much of a success in reconfiguring the relationship as was expected. Hence it is important to know about the status quo of India EU relations along with the impact of this strategy document.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to explain the status of India EU relationship along with the impact of 2004 EU-India declaration. Thereafter, it expects us to explain the new strategy document and how it will benefit India EU relations going forward. Finally, we need to provide a view of why good relationship between the two matters and how it is to be achieved.
Directive word
Comment – When you are asked to comment, you have to pick main points and give your ‘opinion’ on them based on evidences or arguments stemming from your wide reading. Your opinion may be for or against, but you must back your argument with evidences.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Explain about the new strategy document and the 2004 declaration.
Body
- Discuss the status quo of India EU relationship from an economic, political, strategic view point.
- Bring out the reasons behind limited progress in the relationship – dealing with the bureaucratic maze of EU, India also objected to the high moralistic tone emanating from Brussels. Where individual nations of the EU started becoming more pragmatic in their engagement with India, Brussels continued to be big-brotherly in its attitude on political issues and ignorant of the geostrategic imperatives of Indian foreign and security policies.
- Explain how the strategy document released seeks to change that – The new strategy underscores a transformative shift in Brussels vis-à-vis India and talks of key focus areas such as the need to conclude a broader Strategic Partnership Agreement, intensifying dialogue on Afghanistan and Central Asia, strengthening technical cooperation on fighting terrorism, and countering radicalisation, violent extremism and terrorist financing. More significant from the perspective of the EU, which has been traditionally shy of using its hard power tools, is a recognition of the need to develop defence and security cooperation with India.
Conclusion – Give your view on the future of the relationship and discuss way forward.
Background :-
- European Union has recently released its strategy on India after 14 years. The new document is sweeping in its scope and lays out a road map for strengthening the EU-India partnership.
- It talks of key focus areas such as the need to conclude a broader Strategic Partnership Agreement, intensifying dialogue on Afghanistan and Central Asia, strengthening technical cooperation on fighting terrorism, and countering radicalisation, violent extremism and terrorist financing.
Common factors :-
- In this age when US is upending the global liberal order so dear to the Europeans, and China’s rise is challenging the very values which Brussels likes to showcase as the ones underpinning global stability, a substantive engagement with India is a natural corollary.
- As the wider EU political landscape evolves after Brexit, and India seeks to manage the turbulent geopolitics in Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific, both recognise the importance of engaging each other.
- There is widespread disappointment with the trajectory of China’s evolution and the Trump administration’s disdain for its Western allies is highly disruptive. At a time when India’s horizons are widening beyond South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, Brussels is also being forced to look beyond its periphery.
- The EU will be part of the International Solar Alliance, and has invited India to escort World Food Programme vessels to transport food to Somalia. The two have been coordinating closely on regional issues.
- India needs resources and expertise from the EU for its various priority areas, such as cybersecurity, urbanisation, environmental regeneration, and skill development.
- Both are natural partners, based on principles of democracy, human rights, tolerance and internal diversity.
- EU and India share the same values of democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms and support the rules-based global order centred on multilateralism.
- India was one of the first countries to develop relations with the European Union. The Joint Political Statement of 1993and the 1994 Co-operation Agreement were the foundational agreements for the bilateral partnership.
- The EU is concerned about China flooding global markets with inexpensive steel and the strength of China’s relationship with EU member states themselves is heterogeneous, with China trying to make inroads into Eastern and Central Europe through infrastructure investments. This makes it vital for India to cement its bonds with the EU further.
Issues faced by India and EU :-
- EU continued to be big-brotherly in its attitude on political issues and ignorant of the geostrategic imperatives of Indian foreign and security policies. The result was a limited partnership which largely remained confined to economics and trade.
- Even as the EU emerged as India’s largest trading partner and biggest foreign investor, the relationship remained devoid of any strategic content.
- Though India did initially make a push for reviving the talks on EU-India bilateral trade and investment agreement, nothing much of substance has happened on the bilateral front.
- Differences on intellectual property rights (IPR)
- India fears that any commitment over and above the WTO’s intellectual property rights (TRIPS, or Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) will undermine its capacity to produce generic formulations
- Further, data exclusivity measures (which allow pharmaceutical companies to exclusively retain rights to their clinical test results for a certain time period) would delay the production of generic medicines. That explains India’s strong opposition to the proposal.
- EU is not granting “data secure” certification to India- a condition that facilitates the cross-border transfer of personal data, key to a number of companies services, especially in the IT industry.
- Trade in agriculture and food items:-
- There is a fear that the EU dairy products will flood Indian markets if import duties are reduced.
- India wants the EU to cut its agricultural subsidies while the EU has interests in India reducing its duties on dairy products, poultry, farm and fisheries.
- Thus, both India and the EU have strong defensive interests with respect to agriculture and food items, which would be difficult to reconcile.
- India wants a greater ease of movement of temporary skilled workersto provide services in the EU and the EU wanting greater market access for its automobiles and its wines and spirits.
- There were efforts to harmonise rules on work permits and visas across the union, but they have met with limited success. Moreover, the recent surge in populist sentiments against immigration has reduced policy space for ceding ground on Mode 4.
- The lack of political will on FDI in retail in Indiaand lack of willingness to open Indian legal services for European law firms undermine India’s negotiating capacity on critical issues.
- India’s automobile companiesfear that reduced duties on cars under the EU-India BTIA will impact their market share and flood India with coveted European cars. Besides, European automakers will have no incentive to set up a local manufacturing base in India.
- Disagreement on whether the protection of foreign investments will be part of the BTIA ordealt with in a stand-alone treaty.
- The EU is also seeking greater market access in the services sector, particularly banking, retail trade, telecommunications, legal and accounting services.
- India has also expressed its opposition to the inclusion of sustainable development issues related to labour and environment under the proposed agreement.
Way forward:-
- Upgrade the yearly dialoguebetween the high representative/vice president of the EU and the Indian minister for external affairs to a regular strategic dialogue.
- Establish regular bilateral, as well as trilateral dialogueson/with Africa, to discuss security, economic issues, as well as connectivity.
- Intensify dialogue on Afghanistan and Central Asiain the appropriate settings.
- Similarly, strengthening its IPR regime will help attract more FDI and aid R&D. India shouldn’t press on clauses like exhausting domestic legal remedies before proceeding for international arbitration under its investment rules.
- The, EU, too needs to be flexible on its demand for TRIP+ rules that encourage ever-greening and hurt the cause of innovation.
Topic – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Why this question
FSSAI has recently launched a campaign to end consumption of trans fats by 2022. In this connection it is essential to discuss and understand trans fats in detail.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write a detailed description of trans fats and also write in detail about the recent initiative of the government taken to decrease the consumption of trans fats.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– Write a few introductory lines about the trans fats. E.g Globally, trans fat intake leads to more than 500,000 deaths of people from cardiovascular disease every year etc.
Body-
- Discuss about the trans fats in detail. E.g There are two broad types of trans fats found in foods: naturally-occurring and artificial trans fats. Naturally-occurring trans fats are produced in the gut of some animals and foods made from these animals (e.g., milk and meat products) may contain small quantities of these fats. Artificial trans fats (or trans fatty acids) are created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid; Trans fats are easy to use, inexpensive to produce and last a long time. Trans fats give foods a desirable taste and texture. Many restaurants and fast-food outlets use trans fats to deep-fry foods because oils with trans fats can be used many times in commercial fryers etc.
- Discuss the health impact of consuming trans fats. E.g Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Discuss the recent FSSAI initiative in this direction. E.g FSSAI has launched a new mass media campaign calling for the elimination of industrially produced trans fat in the food supply.Called “Heart Attack Rewind”, the 30 second public service announcement (PSA) – the first mass media campaign of its kind – will support FSSAI’s global target of eliminating trans fat in India by the year 2022, a year ahead of the global target by the World Health Organization (WHO) for complete elimination of trans fat. This is in line with its objective to get Freedom from ‘Trans Fat: India@75.
Conclusion- based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
Transfats:-
- There are two broad types of trans fats found in foods: Naturally-occurring and artificial trans
- Naturally-occurring trans fats are produced in the gut of some animals and foods made from these animals (e.g., milk and meat products) may contain small quantities of these fats.
- Artificial transfats are created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid.
- Since they are easy to use, inexpensive to produce and last a long time, and give foods a desirable taste and texture, they are still widely used despite their harmful effects being well-known.
- The primary dietary source for transfats in processed food is “partially hydrogenated oils.”
Impact on health :-
- Transfats raise bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels.
- Eating transfats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Studies have recently shown that 60,000 deaths occur every year due to cardiovascular diseases, which in turn are caused due to high consumption of trans fats.
Government measures :-
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently launched a new mass media campaign in order to create awareness about trans fats and eliminate them in India by 2022.
- Heart Attack Rewind” is a follow-up to an earlier campaign called “Eat Right”. As part of the campaign, edible oil industries took a pledge to reduce transfat content by 2 per cent by 2022.
- Later, food companies also took a pledge to reformulate packaged foods with reduced levels of salt, sugar and saturated fat.
- Heart Attack Rewind is a 30-second public service announcement and will be broadcast in 17 languages for a period of four weeks on YouTube, Facebook, Hotstar, and Voot.
- It will also be placed on outdoor hoardings and run on radio stations in Delhi and the National Capital Region. The campaign will warn citizens about the health hazards of consuming trans fats and offer strategies to avoid them through healthier alternatives.
- Swasth Bharat Yatra, an initiative started under the “Eat Right” campaign will end on January 27, 2019, will also seek to create awareness among citizens about trans fats.
- World Health Organization released a step-by-step guide for the elimination of industrially-produced trans-fatty acids from the global food supply. Since then, a lot of countries have made efforts to reduce the levels of trans fats and in some cases, have completely banned them.
Way forward:-
- Eat a dietary pattern that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish and nuts. Also limit red meat and sugary foods and beverages.
- Use naturally occurring, unhydrogenated vegetable oils such as canola, safflower, sunflower or olive oil most often.
- Look for processed foods made with unhydrogenated oil rather than partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated vegetable oils or saturated fat.
- Limit commercially fried foods and baked goods made with shortening or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Not only are these foods very high in fat, but that fat is also likely to be trans fat.
General Studies – 3
Topic – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Disaster and disaster management.
Why this question
Ganga is the largest and one of the most important rivers of India given the population it caters to and the extent of pollution and threats it faces. The govt recently allowed first inland vessel voyage across the river Ganga and it also has put forward a draft NRGB which aims at Ganga rejuvenation. In this context it is essential to look into these happenings and deliberate upon the same.
Directive word
Analyze-here we have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts, and present them as a whole in a summary.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to dig deeper into the plight of the Ganga river and the recent developments associated with it in order to bring out why there is a need for both political will and ethical responsibility for saving the Ganga river.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the recent developments related to the Ganga river. E.g mention the recent inland voyage of PepsiCo container and also mention about the draft National River Ganga Bill 2018 (NRGB).
Body-
- Discuss briefly about the draft NRGB. E.g It has proposed the setting up of an armed ‘Ganga Protection Corps’, with the powers to arrest offenders who pollute it, to keep the river clean and help in its rejuvenation; The offences and penalties punishable under the draft NRGB include spoiling or defacing ghats or stairs or throwing any “offensive matter” in the river; stone quarrying, commercial fishing without permission, deforesting hill slopes or other sensitive areas, withdrawing groundwater for organised consumption through tube wells or industrial needs, among many others; These offences are punishable with imprisonment up to two years or fine of up to Rs 50,000.
- Bring out the lack of political will and ethical responsibility on part of the government and the people to preserve the Ganga river. E.g bring out the deficiencies in the draft bill- like the major issues are building barrages and diverting flow of the river, dredging to make way for inland waterways, hydroelectric projects that impact the flow and massive deforestation destroying the overall ecology. The draft doesn’t mention how these will be tackled etc; Instead of freeing the flow of the river, maintaining its flow regime, monitoring sewage disposal, checking the excess withdrawal of water, saving and increasing the forest cover, and revitalising the water bodies feeding into the rivers, river rejuvenation in most cases has been equated with riverfront development. Thus, it involves concretisation and encroachment of riverbanks and floodplains for commercial activities, and water diverted from other sources to create an impression that the river is still alive etc
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue. E.g As long as the river continues to be seen merely as an entity for extraction, its further concretisation and pollution will continue unabated. There is a need for the government as well as the civil society to take the responsibility and tackle the problem of river pollution upfront etc.
Background:-
- According to a map of Ganga river water quality presented by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to National Green Tribunal (NGT) in August 2018, only five out of 70-odd monitoring stations had water that was fit for drinking and seven for bathing.
- After three decades of efforts to clean the national river, it is a sad state of affairs that the river is not even fit for bathing.
Recent developments :-
- The draft National River Ganga Bill 2018 has proposed the setting up of an armed ‘Ganga Protection Corps’, with the powers to arrest offenders who pollute it, to keep the river clean and help in its rejuvenation.
- The bill aims to rejuvenate Ganga to its pristine stage and ensure its uninterrupted flow.
- The bill says the Centre will take control of management, regulation and development of the Ganga, and gives it the status of a national river.
- Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP)
- The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on National Waterway-1 is being implemented with the financial and technical support of the World Bank.
- The Project entails development of fairway between Varanasi and Haldia (Phase-I)
- The project will contribute in bringing down the logistics cost in the country.
- The project involves channelising the braided river, massive dredging, frequent desilting, and barraging to increase its depth artificially.
- Significant pollution risks are being ignored.
- Also ignored is the destruction of the habitats of the aquatic life and livelihoods of the fisherfolk and boatmen.
- Endangered species like the Ganges river dolphins are being pushed towards extinction.
- PepsiCo consignment in Varanasi
- PepsiCo moved containers from Kolkata to Varanasi on river Ganga.
- Ganga does not have the carrying capacity for the navigation of 1,500 tonne vessels.
- Ganga Hariteema Yojana
- Uttar Pradesh Government has launched Ganga Hariteema Yojana (also known as Ganga Greenery scheme) in 27 districts of the state located on the bank of river Ganga.
- The scheme aims at enhancing green cover in catchment areas of river Ganga and control land erosion.
Where is government failing :-
- Unsustainable sand mining, encroachments into the river and extraction of groundwater and other resources at increasing rates continues.
- Sand mining and hydropower development in the Ganga has reduced its flow at most places.
- The source of the Ganga’s perenniality, the Himalayas, are increasingly becoming dry, hollowed out, and made fragile.
- Under Namami Gange programme, maintaining an ecological flow is not abided by the project owners.
- Building barrages and diverting flow of the river.
- Dredging to make way for inland water ways.
- Hydroelectric projects that impact the flow.
- Massive deforestation destroying the overall ecology.
- No proper assessment of impacts of the above interventions on the river. This has resulted in further deterioration of the Ganga.
- The state of deteriorating Ganga is also mentioned by CAG, Parliamentary Committee on Ministry of Water Resources, the World Bank, the Central Pollution Control Board, and National Green Tribunal.
Way forward :-
- The Indian government should come out with credible road map, set up pilots, ensure that existing sewage and industrial effluent treatment plants worked as per design, set up decentralised STPs and opt for eco-friendly treatment options. These steps would facilitate reuse of treated waste water.
- Government should take steps to reduce sugarcane cultivation, go for water-saving and yield-enhancing SRI, a method applicable for crops other than rice. All these efforts could have also helped improve the state of flow in the river.
- Government should set up an independent committee to assess the continued usefulness of Farakka barrage. It should make river governance democratic, with clearly defined norms of transparency, participation and accountability.
Topic – Issues related to agriculture
Why this question
Loan waiver has been a very frequent demand by the farmers in India including in the current protests in Delhi. Despite several experts advising against it, the political capital gained through such an exercise makes such waivers a politically convenient tool. This question therefore seeks to help you prepare the finer points of the loan waiver issue.
Key demand of the question
The question expects you to first highlight the frequent demand for loan waivers and thereafter, bring out the pros and cons of it in terms of improving the status of farmers. Finally, we need to provide a fair and balanced conclusion and discuss the way forward.
Directive word
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Highlight that loan waiver is a very frequent demand raised by farmers.
Body –
- Explain why loan waivers are frequently demanded by farmers. Discuss the pros and cons of loan waivers.
- This idea seems to be bad politics as well as bad economics because it may win the political party some votes but is not sustainable in the long run. Waiver of loan is a plain action where the credit climate is hampered. It will be counter productive not only for the state but for the entire credit market. It is a sub-optimal policy. A good policy would have been a set of things which were suggested by the Swaminathan Committee Report. On an average, the income of farmers is so low that their daily survival becomes a problem. Farm loan waivers is becoming a necessity now because these deep rooted problems are not being addressed related to farmers and their sufferings cannot be ignored. As per the NSSO’s 59th survey, about 40% of farmers dislike farming and would quit if they can therefore, finding of short-term and long-term solutions can severely impact food security.
- Examine the impact it has on the condition of small and medium farmers.
Conclusion – Give your opinion on farm loan waivers and discuss the way forward. farm loan waivers act only as a temporary solution to the problems of farmers and it will not make them free from issues like decreasing farm income, debt trap or crop failures. The problems need creative engagement through which the surplus workers in the farming sector can be taken away to more productive sectors through education and skilling thereby making farming more profitable and sustainable for all stakeholders.
Background:-
- Agriculture currently contributes just about 15% to the national output and about 50% of the population directly or indirectly depends on it for employment.
- Farmer distress is a real and pressing problem, as evidenced by the protests currently taking place in various parts of the country.
- In the recent past, widespread demands have been heard for farm loan waivers amid continuing agrarian distress.
Why farm waivers are important :-
- Agriculture in India has been facing many issues like fragmented land holding, depleting water table levels, deteriorating soil quality, rising input costs, low productivity.
- Output prices may not be remunerative. Farmers are often forced to borrow to manage expenses.
- Indebtedness is a key reason for the many farmer suicides in the country.
- Loan waivers provide some relief to farmers in such situations.
- Farm loan waivers are at best a temporary solution.
- Farm loan waivers is becoming a necessity now because these deep rooted problems are not being addressed related to farmers and their sufferings cannot be ignored.
Negative implications
- Less long term impact:-
- Loan waivers might help the government buy peace with farmers in the short run, but they are unlikely to change much on the ground.
- Research shows that loan waivers do not result in greater investment or better labour market outcomes.
- Experience shows failure:-
- No improvement in farm productivity for households qualifying for loan waiver indicates a failure of the programme to achieve its desired goals.
- Loan waivers can also affect the flow of credit:-
- It creates distortions in the credit market, as repeated waivers incentivise default.
- They can not only increase the deficit and interest burden, but also limit the ability of the government to undertake capital expenditure. Lower capital expenditure affects longer-term growth prospects, including that of the agriculture sector.
- Debt waiver in case of default, farmers are likely to reduce productive investments and spend more on consumption.
- Providing loan waivers in some states promote farmers from other states also demanding farm loan waiver.
- Due to farm loan waivers, overall borrowings of the government would go up and that can lead to crowding out private borrowers and increase the cost of borrowings for others.
- This idea seems to be bad politics as well as bad economics because it may win the political party some votes but is not sustainable in the long run. Waiver of loan is a plain action where the credit climate is hampered. It will be counter productive not only for the state but for the entire credit market.
- Farm loan waivers may act as a temporary solution and can prove to bemoral hazard in future because those farmers who are able to pay their loans might not pay it expecting a waiver.
- Affects banking system:-
- The banks may become wary in providing loans to the poor farmers who actually need it. These waivers will add to the NPAs of the banks and it will cost taxpayers.
- The real benefit to small and marginal farmers will not come from loan waiver programmes.
- This is because only 15% of small farmers have access to institutional credit (formal credit), and loan waiver schemes typically cater to farmers who have availed formal loans
- Quite often small farmers use the money saved from loan waivers for consumption purposes instead of using it as an investment to augment farm productivity.
- In the year following loan waivers, small farmers lose out on three counts:
- lower access to formal loans, falling agricultural revenue because of higher informal loan cost, and falling agricultural productivity.
- This has a wider implication on income distribution.
Solutions that go beyond loan waivers are:-
- As a long term measure, agriculture should be made sustainable by:
- Reducing inefficiencies and increasing income
- Providing protection through insurance schemes
- Better risk management and more efficient agricultural markets
- Subsidies should be directed towards the farmers not the companies.
- Incentivise people to move out of agriculture by expansion in the manufacturing sector.
- Apart from efforts to increase yields, land leasing should be strengthened, which will not only allow consolidation, but will also give an opportunity to unwilling farmers to exit the sector.
- Adequate safeguards need to be built in order to protect farmers against both production and price risks.
- Central and state governments will need to work together in order to enhance the viability of the sector.
- Investment in practically every aspect of the farm economy, including irrigation, agricultural research, storage and marketing.
- Require policy decisions in other areas like FDI in multi-brand retail, which would lay the groundwork for cold- chain storage infrastructure that support the sector.
- Formulate eligibility rules for loan waiver that depend on historical loan-utilization, investment, and repayment patterns.
- Alternative policy intervention is the agricultural insurance.
- The money waived could be invested for creating infrastructure that makes farmers independent of cartel of traders and help them to reap maximum economic benefit of their produce.
- Considering loan waiver only up to a specified threshold limit (mostly Rs 1 lakh), and any amount over that will have to be paid so that there may not be a significant worsening of credit culture.
Topic – Climate Change
8) Examine the adverse impacts caused by heat waves and how India should deal with it?(250 words)
Why this question
The Lancet countdown on health and climate report was released recently. Coming on the eve of the UN climate conference in Katowice, Poland, the report of the Lancet panel for 2018 brings clarity, placing connected issues in perspective for governmental action. At a time, when climate change is having multifaceted impacts, understanding the health impact of climate change as explained in the report is important.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to first highlight that heat waves have become quite frequent as a result of climate change. Thereafter, we need to examine the adverse socio economic and health impact of heat waves and analyze how India should deal with the problem.
Directive word
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 .
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Explain that one of the major fallouts of climate change is persistent heat waves.
Body
- Explain the adverse health impact of heat waves
- There has been increase in frequency, duration and intensity of heat waves in India which has resulted in increased deaths due to heat stroke, heart failure, acute kidney failure and frequent cases of dehydration.
- Because of heat waves, there has been loss of work hours and labour capacity. The maximum impact of heat wave has been in the agricultural sector – a large section of the population that depends on farming.
- This has resulted in decline in household income. As per World Bank estimate, in India there will be high socio-economic cost which may lead to erosion of 2.8% of GDP by 2050.
- The increase in heat wave may also result in pre-mature deaths, increase in vector borne disease, decrease in labour capacity and it will also adversely affect food production leading to food insecurity.
- Highlight what should be India’s response
- Identification of heat spots
- Review occupational health standard
- regulate safety of work force amid rising temperature. Etc
Conclusion – emphasize on the seriousness of the problem and discuss way forward.
Background:-
- According to Lancet report from 2014-2017, the average length of heatwaves in India ranged from 3-4 days compared to the global average of 0.8-1.8 days, and Indians were exposed to almost 60 million heatwave exposure events in 2016, a jump of about 40 million from 2012.
Heat waves :-
Adverse impacts :-
- Health:-
- Heatwaves are associated with increased rates of heat stress and heat stroke, worsening heart failure and acute kidney injury from dehydration.
- Children, the elderly and those with pre-existing morbidities are particularly vulnerable.
- Promote the spread of diseases like cholera and dengue fever across endemic areas.
- Economic:-
- Labour less:-
- India lost nearly 75 billion hours of labour in 2017 as a result of rising temperatures.
- This made sustained work increasingly difficult and negatively affecting workers’ output.
- The agriculture sector experienced the largest increase in labour loss.
- Almost 153 billion hours of labour were lost globally in 2017 due to heat, an increase of 62 billion hours from the year 2000.
- Agriculture sector was more vulnerable compared to the industrial and service sectors because workers there were more likely to be exposed to heat.
- Labour less:-
- Since 1990, every region of the globe has become steadily more vulnerable to extreme increases of heat.
How India should deal with heat waves:-
- Identifying heat hot-spots through appropriate tracking of meteorological data and promoting timely development and implementation of local Heat Action Plans with strategic inter-agency co-ordination, and a response which targets the most vulnerable groups.
- The report prepared jointly with the Public Health Foundation of India also urges a review of existing occupational health standards, labour laws and sectoral regulations for worker safety in relation to climatic conditions.
- Policy intervention and coordination across three sectorshealth, water and power is necessary.
- Expedite the rollout of the National Action Plan on Climate Change and Health
- Preventing temperature-related morbidity and mortality could be a key programme under this mission.
- Ensure an adequate supply of water. Timely access to drinking water can help mitigate this escalation.
- Provision of drinking water within housing premises and indoor toilets.
- Further research using sub-district level datato provide separate indices for urban and rural areas to enable more targeted geographical interventions.
- Deeper analysis of urban ward-level datato provide intra-city vulnerability patterns.
- Provision of public messaging(radio, TV), mobile phone-based text messages, automated phone calls and alerts.
- Promotion of traditional adaptation practices, such as staying indoors and wearing comfortable clothes.
- Popularisation of simple design featuressuch as shaded windows, underground water storage tanks and insulating housing materials.
- Advance implementation of local Heat Action Plans, plus effective inter-agency coordination is a vital response which the government can deploy in order to protect vulnerable groups. This will require identification of “heat hot spots”, analysis of meteorological data and allocation of resources to crisis-prone areas.
- Other states can follow this:-
- Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has adopted a heat action plan which necessitates measures such as building heat shelters, ensuring availability of water and removing neonatal ICU from the top floor of hospitals. It has helped bring down the impact of heat wave of vulnerable population.
