SECURE SYNOPSIS: 09 DECEMBER 2019
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.
Topic: Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Why this question:
The article highlights the works of Dara Shukoh who worked with Sanskrit scholars to translate the Upanishads to Persian — an example of the closely intertwined histories of Sanskrit, Persian, Urdu.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss the significant role that Mughal administration played in enriching the diversity of the country.
Directive:
Elucidate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief discuss the cultural aspects, socio-religious aspects that prevailed in the Mughal administration.
Body:
Talk about the diversity in terms of trade, religion, art and architecture, literature etc.
Highlight the ways and means in which the Mughal administration enriched the culture in multiple ways.
Conclusion:
Conclude with essence of the diversity that the Mughal empire brought to the country.
Introduction:
The Mughal Emperors attained great power in India from 1526 to 1757. They lived surrounded by incredible opulence, created magnificent Architecture and developed Arts and Culture. The Mughals came to India as conquerors but lived in the subcontinent as Indians, not colonisers. They merged their identity as well as that of their group with India and the two became inseparable, giving rise to an enduring culture and history.
Body:
Mughals’ contribution to the diversity of the country:
Religious Tolerance:
- The Mughal rulers also adopted the policy of religious toleration to consolidate the Mughal rule in India. Only Aurangzeb reversed the policy.
- Akbar had introduced an excellent system of administration to strengthen the nascent Mughal empire for which he has rightly been called as the true founder of Mughal rule in India.
Art and Literature:
- Prior to the advent of Turks, painting had made remarkable progress in India. But during the pre-Mughal period, the Turk and Afghan rulers discouraged it.
- Again the Mughals revived the art of painting and under their patronage it reached the stage of perfection.
- The Mughal painting represents a happy blending of Persian and Indian elements.
- Akbar had a great liking for painting. He set up a separate department of painting and the head of the department was Khwaja Abdus Samed.
- The emperor extended his patronage to Hindu and Muslim painters, personally examined their work every week and gave them rewards according to their progress.
- According to Abul Fazl, there were 100 good painters at the court of Akbar.
- The eminent Muslim painters were Min Sayyad Ali, Abdus Samed and Farrukh Beg. The eminent Hindu painters were Daswant, Basawan, Sanwal Das, Taraihand, Keshva and Jagannath.
- Dara Shukoh worked with Sanskrit scholars to translate the Upanishads to Persian — an example of the closely intertwined histories of Sanskrit, Persian, Urdu.
- Dara Shukoh’s Upanishad translation was a monumental project with lasting significance for both Hindus and Muslims.
- During the Mughal rule, the Rajput princes did not neglect the art of painting. The Rajput school of painting grew up. Religion is closely associated with art in this school. The Rajput paintings depict the life of the innocent villager, his religion, his pursuits and pastimes.
- The 16th and 17th centuries marked the growth of Hindi literature.
- The first notable Hindi writer was Malik Mohammad Jayasi, who wrote the famous Philosophic epic Padmavat.
- The history of Hindi literature entered upon a new epoch with the accession of Akbar. He was deeply interested in Hindi poetry and Song.
Music:
- The art of music was also patronized by the Mughal rulers. Babur was fond of music.
- Humayun also loved the company of musicians and used to listen music three times in a week.
- Akbar was a great patron of music. According to Abul Fazl, Akbar paid much attention to music and was the patron of all who practiced this enchanting art.
- There are numerous musicians at the court—Hindus, Iranis, Turanis, Kashmiris, both men and women.
- Due to the joint efforts of both the Hindus and Muslims, Hindustani music made a great advance. New varieties of Ragas were introduced by the noted musicians.
Architecture:
- The Mughal emperors were interested in fine arts and they were great builders. Architecture made tremendous progress under the patronage of the Mughal emperors.
- According to Fergusson, the Mughal style of architecture was foreign in origin. But this view has been criticised by Havell.
- Sir John Marshall has opined that India is a vast country with manifold diversities so it cannot be said that architecture ever conformed to a single universal type.
- It was defended upon the personal tastes of the emperor.
- The Mughal architecture is a mixture of Persian and Hindu architecture.
- Akbar took great interest in the construction of buildings. According to Abul Fazl, Akbar kept control over the price of building materials and fixed the wages of the crafts men.
- The first building during Akbar’s reign is the Tomb of Humayun at Delhi and it was constructed by Humayun’s widow, Haji Begum.
- It clearly exhibits the influence of Persian style. Akbar’s tomb at Sikandara is another building of the same class. Its style resembles a Hindu temple or Buddhist Vihara.
- Akbar had constructed excellent forts at Agra, Allahabad, Ajmer and Lahore.
Conclusion:
The Mughal contributed to the complementary culture of India in a diverse way. This is evident till date in the everyday lives of individuals.
Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Why this question:
The article captures the success and failure aspects of Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme propounded by Odisha government.
Key demand of the question:
The question is straightforward and one must discuss in detail the relevance of Farm Income support scheme initiated by various state governments.
Directive:
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 the significance of PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) scheme to the farmers of the country.
Body:
Explain first the need of the hour. Discuss why the state governments have emerged with specific state schemes.
Discuss the pros and cons with suitable example. Say the Odisha case of KALIA.
Deliberate upon the possible challenges that the States may face.
Discuss the relevance of PM-KISAN and its aspects of utility.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Introduction:
The Government with a view to augment the income of the farm families implemented a Central Sector Scheme, namely, “Pradhan Mantri KIsan SAmman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)”. The country’s agricultural output, measured as gross value added, grew at a sedate pace of 2.8% in Dec 2018 quarter, far slower than the 5.3% in the June 2018 quarter. The governments at states have come up with schemes of Direct Income Support.
The state government in Odisha has decided to converge its farmer assistance project Kalia with PM-Kisan scheme to minimize the impact on the state’s fiscal health
Body:
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi:
- With a view to provide income support to all land holding eligible farmer families, the Government has launched PM-KISAN.
- The scheme aims to supplement the financial needs of the farmers in procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm income.
- Under this programme, vulnerable landholding farmer families, having cultivable land up to 2 hectares, will be provided direct income support at the rate of Rs. 6,000 per year.
- This income support will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers, in three equal instalments of Rs. 2,000 each.
- The complete expenditure of Rs 75000 crore for the scheme will borne by the Union Government in 2019-20.
Rythu Bandhu scheme:
- The Telangana government has implemented this scheme to support farmers’ investment for two crops a year.
- The government is providing 83 million farmers Rs4,000 per acre per season to support farm investment twice a year, for the rabi and kharif seasons.
- The scheme is costing the state exchequer roughly Rs 12,000 crore per annum.
- It appears to have reached more than 90 per cent farmers, and yielded political dividends.
- Gulati et al have estimated that the cost of this scheme would be 97 trillion if the government implemented it at an all-India level, assuming a payout of Rs10,000 per hectare per year.
Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation or KALIA Scheme:
- The Odisha government has implemented this and involves payments to encourage cultivation and associated activities.
- Primary targets are small farmers, cultivators and landless agricultural labourers.
- All farmers will be provided Rs 10,000 per family as assistance for cultivation.
- Each family will get Rs 5,000 separately in the kharif and rabi seasons, for five cropping seasons between 2018-19 and 2021-22.
- Targets 10 lakh landless households, and specifically SC and ST families. They will be supported with a unit cost of Rs 12,500 for activities like goat rearing, mushroom cultivation, beekeeping, poultry farming and fishery.
- It will assist the elderly, sick and differently-abled population who are unable to take up cultivation, by providing Rs 10,000 per household per year.
- The scheme includes a life insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh and additional personal accident coverage of the same amount for 57 lakh households. Crop loans up to Rs 50,000 are interest-free.
- This is also going to be an area-specific scheme in the sense that an input support for a particular trade, say mushroom cultivation, will be provided if it is prevalent throughout that locality so that there is aggregation of produce.
- the scheme is likely to cost about Rs 10,180 crore over three years.
Shift in the policy is due to:
- The various options like Minimum Support Price for about 25 crops, Farm Loan Waiver schemes undertaken by various state governments have failed to alleviate the problem.
- As per NSSO 2012-13, less than 10 per cent of the country’s farmers sold their produce at MSPs. Only about 6% of the farmers were aware of MSP.
- Farm Loan- waiver schemes doesn’t cover many small farmers aren’t eligible for bank credit.
- According to RBI, loan waivers scheme is responsible for credit indiscipline, increased fiscal deficit of states, crowding out effect and loss in interest payments
- crowding out effect and loss in interest payments.
- It makes them ineligible for farm loan waiver as well as borrow at exorbitant interest rates from private sources.
- A study by RythuSwarajyaVedika in June 2018 showed that 75% of farmer suicides in Telangana are by tenant farmers, who have no or least access to formal credit.
- The Direct Cash/Investment scheme has however fared better and is a prudent scheme.
- This shift will be better for the country as it is more predictable and less market distorting.
Pros of Direct Income schemes:
- Unlike a loan waiver, in which banks appease a few farmers, KALIA’s main targets are rural activities as a whole.
- It will support farming on a small scale, sharecropping, fishing, animal herding, which are not covered under bank loans, but are caught in debt traps set up by local moneylenders.
- A farm loan waiver will reduce credit available to farmers in the long term, while income support can be used to make a repayment or at least activate a bank account which can then receive a loan.
- It can be enforced to include almost all the farmers who have access to formal banking channels (Jan-Dhan Accounts).
- Provides financial help at proper time/ season and would also spur the investment cycle in the farm economy.
- Helps large as well as small farmers and can even be capped to limit unwarrantedly huge transfers to rich farmers.
- The corruption issue can be eliminated as farmers directly get the cash in their accounts.
Cons of the Direct Income schemes:
- Fiscal Sustainability and Prudence: The huge costs involved may have an impact on Public investments in other infrastructure spending. The lack of clear revenue sources to fund such schemes is another limitation.
- State’s fiscal deficits: States like WB, Jharkand and even Central Government has started the implementation of direct income scheme. This can lead to increased burden on states which are already deviating from FRBM targets.
- Targeting Issues: Poor land record maintenance, exclusion of tenant farmers in some states, no women-farmer friendly provisions can lead to targeting issues. This can lead to status quo despite huge spending.
- Not a panacea: Until India reforms its agri-marketing laws and frees agri-markets, it is time to atone through a structured and stable income policy for farmers for at least the next five years.
Way Forward and Conclusion:
Policy focus should be rather on investment — in efficient water management and irrigation, plant breeding and genetics, crop husbandry, market linkages and in breaking the middleman’s hold over the farm-to-consumer value chain, replacing it with farmer-led enterprises, whether cooperatives or producer companies, that allow farmers to capture a share of the value added to their produce along its journey to the factory or home.
Long-term solution to farmer distress would be improving the supply chain, establishing agro-processing zones and creating a better agri-logistic platform.
An income transfer scheme for poor farmers based on the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) that has already mapped household deprivation may be a complementary and alternative scheme to MSP and Loan waiver.
Topic:Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Why this question:
The Central government has asked the Supreme Court of India to refer to a seven-judge Bench the question whether the creamy layer concept should apply (or not) to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes while giving them reservation in promotions. Thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
One must comment upon the Supreme court’s historical Indra Sawhney judgment that has proven to be a landmark case. Also discuss the relevance of Jarnail singh case and the current context of reservation amidst the creamy layer principle.
Directive:
Analyze – When asked to analyse, you 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.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief discuss the reservation system prevalent in India, trace its historical coming into existence.
Body:
Explain that the progression from poor to bourgeois to elite is a welcome evolution in nation-building.
Present the debates over reservation around the concept of creamy layer.
Explain that a close reading of relevant constitutional provisions and the verdict in Indra Sawhney make it clear that the SC/STs are given job reservations not because they are poor but because they are excluded. The first part of Article 335 stipulates job reservations for SC/STs as a right of representation, not as a welfare measure. However, the creamy layer among SC/ST employees helps fulfill the second part of Article 335 that requires maintaining the “efficiency of administration.
Discuss the current scenario, explain the government’s stand.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Introduction:
The creamy layer concept distinguishes between the affluent among disadvantaged sections. These are “some members of a backward class who are highly advanced socially as well as economically and educationally.” The Union government has called upon the Supreme Court to form a seven-judge Bench to reconsider the formulation in M. Nagaraj vs Union of India (2006) that it should be applied to the SC and ST communities. This verdict was a reality check to the concept of reservation.
Body:
Article 335 of the Indian Constitution recognises that special measures need to be adopted for considering the claims of SCs and STs in order to bring them to a level-playing field.
Creamy layer and its application to SC/ST:
- Indra Sawhney vs Union of India: In its landmark 1992 decision, the Supreme Court had held that reservations under Article 16(4) could only be provided at the time of entry into government service but not in matters of promotion.
- And the principle would operate only prospectively and not affect promotions already made and reservation already provided in promotions shall continue in operation for a period of five years from the date of the judgment.
- More significantly, SC ruled that the creamy layer can be and must be excluded.
- On June 17, 1995, Parliament, acting in its constituent capacity, adopted the seventy-seventh amendment by which clause (4A) was inserted into Article 16 to enable reservation to be made in promotion for SCs and STs.
- The validity of the amendment was challenged before the Supreme Court in the Nagaraj case (2006).
- Upholding the validity of Article 16 (4A), the court then said that it is an enabling provision.
- “The State is not bound to make reservation for the SCs and STs in promotions. But, if it seeks to do so, it must collect quantifiable data on three facets — the backwardness of the class; the inadequacy of the representation of that class in public employment; and the general efficiency of service as mandated by Article 335 would not be affected”.
- The court ruled that the constitutional amendments do not abrogate the fundamentals of equality.
Jarnail Singh case:
- Jarnail Singh judgement of Supreme court has ensured that principles enshrined in the Art 16 (4) are not violated.
- As per Art 16(4), State can make any provision for reservation of appointment or posts in favour of backward class of citizens which in its opinion is inadequately represented.
- By removing quantifiable data collection by states, Supreme court has reiterated Indra Sawhney 1992 judgement citing that SC/ST are socially backward class and their warranty of backwardness is ensured in the Presidential list under Art 341 or Art 342.
- There is no need for data regarding this. Moreover, data with each passing year changes and its computation is difficult for states.
- Creamy layer principle to SC/ST will help the most ‘backward’ of all, i.e. under-privileged among the under-privileged.
- Thus, this is also in line with Article 16(4) and 16(4A) of the Constitution as State can make provision for backward class of citizens. By this, we are giving opportunity to them, thus ensuring right to equality.
- Reservation was introduced by the makers of our Constitution to facilitate equal opportunity to those who have faced deprivation of rights, discrimination since ages.
- By removing the hurdle faced by states in collecting data and extending creamy layer principle, SC has ensured equality of opportunity to the ones who need the most.
Way forward:
- A comprehensive piece of legislature that would deal with ambiguity related to reservation in promotions is needed.
- The creamy layer of SC&ST community should take up the responsibility to help the backward section join the main-stream of the society, and work for their true development in a peaceful manner.
- Improve the basic standards of the SC and ST.
- Voluntary giving up of Reservation for the cause of poorer section of the group —E.g. Son of a Dalit doctor, Dalit Politician, Dalit Businessmen must give way the reserved space for the son of a Dalit landless labourer, or son of an urban wage earner.
- India could learn from the experiences of Malaysian model of economic empowerment and South African policy for Blacks.
- It is now for the court to decide for rooting out social and economic backwardness
- The Act should try to rectify the current issues such as
- Undefined parameters of efficiency.
- Absence of transparency in evaluating backwardness and efficiency of STs/SCs
- Presence of ambiguity regarding whole process of promotions in government services.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Why this question:
In 2017, 2.9 million children in India less than one year of age had not been vaccinated with the first dose, according to UNICEF. In one year, the number of unvaccinated children in India had reduced from 2.9 million to 2.3 million.
Key demand of the question:
One should present the child mortality case prevalent in India with focus on the need and relevance of Immunization to overcome the challenge of child morbidity and mortality.
Directive:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief highlight some facts related to child immunization and mortality equation in the country.
Body:
Explain using the case study of the measles; In 2018, measles caused an estimated 10 million cases and 1,42,000 deaths globally, according to the report published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
Discuss the factors responsible for such a scenario.
Explain the concerns involved.
Suggest an effective strategy to resolve the situation.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Introduction:
India’s under-five mortality rate now matches the global average (39 deaths per 1,000 live births), but the number of infant and neonatal deaths–and the performance of India’s poorer neighbours–indicate that tackling new-born health remains a formidable challenge.
Body:
The causes for child mortality are various and are multidimensional. To sum up, they include:
- Household food insecurity and Illiteracy specially in women. Children in the poorest households are nearly twice as likely to die before the age of five as those from the richest, as well as those whose mothers lack any secondary or higher education.
- Lower access for girls to effective prevention and treatment health services are likely responsible for the marked gender differences in mortality.
- Poor access to health services. In 2017, 2.9 million children in India under one year of age had not been vaccinated with the first dose, according to UNICEF.
- Lack of availability of safe drinking water. within India, large disparities between states on health indicators such as infant mortality show high levels of inequality in access to healthcare and sanitation levels.
- Early marriages of girls. High rates of anaemia (affecting 50% of pregnant women nationally), low nutrition levels (23% of mothers are underweight) and over-burdened government and private health facilities are part of the challenge in delivering healthy children.
- Teenage pregnancies resulting in low birth weight of the new-borns.
- Poor breastfeeding practices
- Poor complementary feeding practices
- Ignorance about nutritional needs of infants and young children and repeated infections further aggravate the situation.
- Number of other factors such as environmental, geographical, agricultural, and cultural including various other factors have contributive effects resulting in malnutrition.
- In India, the first dose of measles vaccine is given at nine-12 months of age and the second dose is given at 16-24 months of age through the national immunisation programme. But it appears that millions of children in India do not receive measles vaccine through routine immunisation activities.
The steps being taken by the government to further combat infant mortality and increase vaccine coverage under the National Health Mission are as under:
- Promotion of Institutional deliveries through cash incentive under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) which entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free ante-natal check-ups, delivery including Caesarean section, post-natal care and treatment of sick infants till one year of age.
- Strengthening of delivery points for providing comprehensive and quality Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) Services, ensuring essential newborn care at all delivery points, establishment of Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU), Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSU) and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) units for care of sick and small babies. Home Based Newborn Care (HBNC) is being provided by ASHAs to improve child rearing practices.
- India Newborn Action Plan (INAP) was launched in 2014 to make concerted efforts towards attainment of the goals of “Single Digit Neonatal Mortality Rate” and “Single Digit Stillbirth Rate”, by 2030.
- Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for rest six months and appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices are promoted in convergence with Ministry of Women and Child Development.
- Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs) are observed for provision of maternal and child health services and creating awareness on maternal and child care including health and nutrition education.
- MAA-Mothers’ Absolute Affection programme in August 2016 for improving breastfeeding practices (Initial Breastfeeding within one hour, Exclusive Breastfeeding up to six months and complementary Breastfeeding up to two years) through mass media and capacity building of health care providers in health facilities as well as in communities.
- Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is being supported to provide vaccination to children against many life threatening diseases such as Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Measles. Pentavalent vaccine has been introduced all across the country and “Mission Indradhanush” has been launched to fully immunize children who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated;
- Measles Rubella Campaign is being undertaken in select States for children from 9 months to 15 years of age with the aim of eliminating Measles by 2020.
- Name based tracking of mothers and children till two years of age (Mother and Child Tracking System) is done to ensure complete antenatal, intranatal, postnatal care and complete immunization as per schedule.
Way forward:
- Achieving the ambitious child survival goals requires ensuring universal access to safe, effective, high-quality and affordable care for women, children and adolescents.
- Measures should be taken to ensure early registration of pregnancies, and for early detection of high risk cases, improving institutional deliveries, providing skill development training to health staff.
- Education campaign should be taken up to aware the mother of the merits of antenatal care, institutional delivery, importance of exclusive breast feeding, immunization, home care for diarrhoea; all these are meant to create awareness among family members to provide support to women during pregnancies and deliveries.
- India continues to show impressive decline in child deaths. The investment on ensuring holistic nutrition under the POSHAN campaign and national commitment to make India open defecation-free by 2019 are steps that will help in accelerating progress further.
- Mortality rates among children and young adolescents are not only key indicators for child and young adolescent well-being, but, more broadly, for sustainable social and economic development.
- SDG goal 3 calls for an end to preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age and specifies that all countries should aim to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 deaths per 1,000 live births and under-five mortality to at least as low as 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030.
- Tackling the diseases and conditions associated with the quality of care around the time of childbirth will help tackle newborn deaths. This will depend on strengthening health services and ensuring more births take place in hospitals and are attended to by trained staff.
Topic:Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Why this question:
After the rape and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad on November 28 and the burning of a rape survivor in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, on December 5, there has been an outcry for justice for the victims. Within and outside Parliament there has been a clamor to make the criminal justice system tougher on an offender committing sexual crimes against women and children.
Key demand of the question:
One must trace the evolution of the laws on rape and sexual crimes in the country and in what way they have changed over the years and what should be the way forward to ensure the country is free from incidence of such evils.
Directive:
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:
In brief discuss the current system that is in place since the time of the rule of British.
Body:
Discuss the following aspects:
- Rape’ as a clearly defined offence was first introduced in the Indian Penal Code in 1860.
- The codification of Indian laws began with the enactment of the Charter Act, 1833 by the British Parliament which led to the establishment of the first Law Commission under the chairmanship of Lord Macaulay.
- The first Code of Criminal Procedure was enacted in 1861, which consolidated the law relating to the set-up of criminal courts and the procedure to be followed in the investigation and trial of the offence.
- Then move on to discuss and debate over the laws available currently; if the laws are gender neutral? Are the laws stricter and stringent now? Etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what should be the way forward.
Introduction:
The recent gruesome incidents in the country namely the rape and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad on November 28 and the burning of a rape survivor in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, on December 5, there has been an outcry for justice for the victims. Within and outside Parliament there has been a clamour to make the criminal justice system tougher on an offender committing sexual crimes against women and children.
Body:
Evolution of laws on rape and sexual crimes in India:
- ‘Rape’ as a clearly defined offence was first introduced in the Indian Penal Code in 1860.
- The first Code of Criminal Procedure was enacted in 1861, which consolidated the law relating to the set-up of criminal courts and the procedure to be followed in the investigation and trial of the offence.
- Section 375 of the IPC made punishable the act of sex by a man with a woman if it was done against her will or without her consent.
- The definition of rape also included sex when her consent has been obtained by putting her or any person in whom she is interested, in fear of death or of hurt.
- Also, sex with or without her consent, when she is under 18 years is considered rape. However, under the exception, sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his wife, the wife not being under 15 years of age, is not rape.
- Section 376 provided for seven years of jail term to life imprisonment to whoever commits the offence of rape.
- Post the Mathura Custodial rape case verdict by SC in 1978, the Criminal Law (Second Amendment) Act of 1983.
- A new Section 114A in the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 was inserted which presumed that there is absence of consent in certain prosecutions of rape if the victim says so. This applied to custodial rape cases.
- In the IPC, Section 228A was added which makes it punishable to disclose the identity of the victim of certain offences including rape.
- The nationwide public outcry, in 2012, following the December 16 gang rape and murder in Delhi, led to the passing of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act in 2013 which widened the definition of rape and made punishment more stringent.
- Parliament made the amendments on the recommendation of the Justice J.S. Verma Committee, which was constituted to re-look the criminal laws in the country and recommend changes.
- The 2013 Act, which came into effect on April 2, 2013, increased jail terms in most sexual assault cases and also provided for the death penalty in rape cases that cause death of the victim or leaves her in a vegetative state.
- It also created new offences, such as use of criminal force on a woman with intent to disrobe, voyeurism and stalking.
- The punishment for gang rape was increased to 20 years to life imprisonment from the earlier 10 years to life imprisonment.
- Post Kathua rape and murder case, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 was passed which for the first time put death penalty as a possible punishment for rape of a girl under 12 years; the minimum punishment is 20 years in jail.
- Another new section was also inserted in the IPC to specifically deal with rape on a girl below 16 years. The provision made the offence punishable with minimum imprisonment of 20 years which may extend to imprisonment for life.
Way forward:
- Following the direction of the Supreme Court in a public interest litigation (PIL) initiated by a non-governmental organisation to widen the definition of sexual intercourse in Section 375 of the IPC, the Law Commission in its 172nd report recommended widening the scope of rape law to make it gender neutral.
- While the rape law in India even today remains gender specific, as the perpetrator of the offence can only be a ‘man’, the 172nd report led to the amendments in the Indian Evidence Act in 2002.
- A new provision was inserted which barred putting questions in the cross-examination of the victim as to her general ‘immoral character’ in rape or attempt to rape cases.
- The Indian government has, in recent years, adopted significant legal reforms for sexual violence cases but major gaps remain in their implementation.
- It is the certainty and uniformity of the punishment, rather than the nature of it, which actually deters an offender from committing a crime.
- Deterrence of the crime and the victim’s access to justice require both better implementation of existing laws and systemic changes.
- Many Indians – men and women – refuse to believe that sexual violence is a serious problem eating away at India’s vitals. It is essential to recognise that the crisis lies in the precise manner in which the existing criminal justice system unfolds.
- India’s growing rape culture can be best reversed by enhancing conviction rates through reforms in the police and judicial systems, and by augmenting measures to rehabilitate and empower rape survivors.
- Criminal justice system remains vulnerable to political pressures and allows many of the accused to go scot-free.
- The re-training of police officers dealing with various aspects of sexual crimes.
- Strict action must be taken against the police officer found guilty of obstructing the probe or colluding with perpetrators of such cases.
Conclusion:
Society itself will have to take the responsibility of giving it the right direction. Without this, we cannot achieve all the promise that we had as a nation at the time of Independence. We must collectively rise to the occasion and create a safe India for our children.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
6. While the present climate activism movement has certainly helped the cause in terms of raising awareness, it spells out little in terms of meaningful action. Comment with suitable justifications. (250 words).
Why this question:
The article brings out the concerns associated with climate activism and argues over the success of the same.
Key demand of the question:
One must
Discuss the instance of climate activism, explain the challenges involved therein.
Directive:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief narrate what you understand by climate activism.
Body:
Explain the concerns involved as to what are the issues, why the movement of climate activism isn’t achieving its true agenda.
What are the flaws? – Failure to recognise the need for a sustainable outcome.
Explain with suitable examples, take hints from the article.
Discuss what needs to be done to ensure the movement achieves true outcomes.
Conclusion:
Conclude with need to foresee and that fighting climate change is a mammoth task and we need all hands-on deck if we are to have a real shot.
Introduction:
Climate change is the greatest threat faced by the world in history, according to a 26-country survey released by the Pew Research Center. The United Nations has called climate change as the “defining issue of our time”.
Body:
More words than actions towards climate activism:
- Awareness and support for climate action has risen rapidly in the recent years, especially amongst the youth.
- 2019 has been a momentous year for climate activism with millions of people protesting for climate action all over the world.
- On September 20, over four million protesters gathered in more than 150 countries making it the largest climate strikes in world history.7
- Crowds full of children, youth and even older people have come out and participated in these strikes happening throughout the year.
- Thus, the present climate activism movement has certainly helped the cause in terms of raising awareness.
However, the issue with present climate activism lies in the fact that it spells out little in terms of meaningful action. This is because
- Millions of people striking for a cause without defining what outcomes they expect.
- Asking the governments to declare a state of climate emergency seems a little meaningless, because there are no set actions a government needs to take to accompany that declaration.
- People continue with business as usual, while publicly being in a state of climate emergency accompanied by a loosely defined “action plan”.
- Another issue with the movement in its present form is that it doesn’t hold companies or developed countries proportionately accountable.
- Lack of common but differentiated responsibility:
- There is no clarity on responsibilities of the companies and developed nations who are historically responsible for greenhouse emissions
- developing nations expected by the youth of the world to share equal burden of a problem which has been primarily created by some developed nations
Way forward:
- The climate movement in each city, state or country needs to define what steps they would like to see their governments and the private sector take in different areas such as transport, energy, waste management, urban development and ecosystem management, and protest specifically in demand of their fulfilment.
- There should also be a way for citizens to pledge individual actions, however small, in support of the movement.
- This would highlight the commitment of the supporters and ensure that climate consciousness becomes a part of people’s everyday lives instead of being just a once a week ‘event’.
Topic: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
Ethics by Lexicon Publications.
Why this question:
In rapidly changing society, there is a need of good public administration.
The question seeks to examine the need and importance of public values for effective delivery of public services by the civil servants.
Key demand of the question:
One should explain the essence of public values, importance and their need in public services to ensure a welfare state.
Directive:
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:
Briefly explain the concepts of Public Service and Welfare State. A Welfare State can be described as a ‘system of government organized to ensure the well-being of citizens’. Public service is associated with the government and it is offered by administrative bodies to people living within its region and considered essential to modern life.
Body:
Discuss the core principles of the welfare state.
Highlight the relevance of public values to the civil servants.
Explain why values are important and essential? How they aid in effective delivery of public services.
For bureaucracies, adherence to high-level public service values can produce substantial public trust and assurance. On the contrary, weak application of values or promotion of incorrect values can lead to reductions in these essential elements of democratic governance, as well as to ethical and decision-making quandaries. Though a core set of public service values is necessary, it is also factual that different values apply to different parts of the public service.
Conclusion:
Conclude by reasserting the significance of values to public administration in general.
Introduction:
A public service is associated with government and it is offered by administrative bodies to people living within its region and considered essential to modern life. It refers to the broad framework under which government personnel extend services with the aim of advancing greater public good.
Body:
Importance of Public service:
- It acts as the backbone of administration of any country and serves its own people in the form of facilitation, protecting rights, welfare schemes, maintaining law and order, etc.
- It helps reduce the inequality and bring all on the same pedestal.
- It gives voice to the marginalized and vulnerable sections of the society.
- A proficient public service is vital for creating a favourable investment climate and facilitating people’s participation in economic life.
For this to be fruitful, a public servant must ensure that he possesses the following virtues:
- Integrity: It ensures that public servants work with the honesty of highest standards.
- Non – partisanship: this is a must to ensure an inclusive reach of services and that there is no injustice.
- Objectivity: This helps take decisions with rationality and logic.
- Humility: the actions must not be high-handed and should be free of any vanity.
- Transparency and Accountability: this increases the credibility and public trust on the public services.
- Compassion: this guarantees that the relationship between the citizens and service provider is firm and based on trust.
Conclusion:
Public service in both the developed and developing world has significant contribution in providing public goods, such as defence, public order, property rights, macro-economic management, basic education, public health, disaster relief, protection of environment, and managing private sector activity.
