Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
5. Do you think National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) detrimental for the secular nature of India? Critically Analyse. (250 words)
Why this question:
The question is amidst the uproar across the country against the implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that are being considered detrimental for the secular nature of the nation.
Key demand of the question:
Explain that lately, it would seem, that some biases are beginning to emerge in many circles in India as well, undermining its long held secular precepts.
Discuss the impact of the two policies brought out by the government and their repercussions on the secular fabric of the country.
Directive:
Critically 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. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Provide briefly the details of the two.
Body:
First explain what are the issues of concern associated with the NRC and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 has had huge consequences on both the domestic and foreign policy front.
In India, widespread protests that began in the Northeast are now raging across the country.
On the international front, soon after the protests broke out, two Bangladesh ministers cancelled their visit to India, the Japanese Prime Minister postponed his visit to the country and the annual India-Japan summit was cancelled.
From the perspective of India’s ambitious development plans and strategic diplomacy, the question that arises is whether the Central government factored in the ramifications of the CAA on India’s Act East Policy and its potential side effects on the country’s relationship with foreign stakeholders heavily invested in the Northeast.
Discuss the short term and long term challenges posed and what needs to be done to address such concerns.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions to ensure the secular fabric is conserved and protected.
