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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: History of the world will include 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.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about reasons for rise of Industrial revolution in England.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by defining Industrial Revolution.
Body:
In detail, write about the reasons for rise of Industrial revolution in England – Agricultural changes, Population boom, Economic innovations, New ideas and a scientific viewpoint, Transportation foundations, Natural resources, supportive government and numerous colonies .
Conclusion:
Summarize how all the above factors converged to start the revolution in England.
Introduction
The Industrial Revolution saw a rapid development of industry take place in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, soon spreading to Western Europe and North America. New and improved large-scale production methods and machinery marked the beginnings of Industrialization. Many different factors contributed to the rise of the Industrial Revolution in Britain and paved the way for Britain to become an industry-driven country.
Body
Major factors leading to rise of industrial revolution
- Agriculture
- As a supplier of raw materials, the agricultural sector was closely linked to the industrial; this was the main source of occupation for the British population.
- Half of the arable land had been enclosed, while half remained in the medieval open field system.
- Industry
- Most industries were small scale, domestic and local, but traditional industries could meet the domestic demands.
- There was some inter-regional trade, but this was limited by poor transport.
- Population
- The nature of the British population has implications for the supply and demand for food and goods, as well as the supply of cheap labor.
- The population had increased in the earlier part of the 18th century, especially closer to the middle of the era, and was mostly located in rural areas.
- The people were gradually accepting of social change and the upper and middle classes were interested in new thinking in science, philosophy. and culture.
- Transport
- Transportation and communication were comparatively easy and cheap, since no part of Britain is more than seventy miles away from the sea, and even less from some navigable waterway.
- Canals were built in the rivers of Britain from 1760-1800 to allow ships to transport goods and for a quicker rate.
- Railroads were also built to allow more efficient trade and transportation of goods.
- Provincial ports had developed, such as Bristol and Liverpool.
- Trade
- Britain had access to local and international economies because of their powerful Navy and other ships.
- The British government allowed foreign trade and domestic to occur to expand the economy and grow industries.
- The main market for British goods was Europe, and the government maintained a mercantilist policy to encourage it.
- Finance
- By 1750, Britain had begun to move towards capitalist institutions — which are considered part of the development of the Revolution.
- The produce of trade was creating a new, wealthy class prepared to invest in industries.
- Raw Materials
- Britain had access to cotton from its colonies and could use slaves to collect it. As technology improved, cotton picking became easier and was a booming industry.
- Coal, iron, lead, copper, tin, limestone, and water power were also readily available for the British to use for their industrial advancement.
- New Inventions:
- A series of inventions in the eighteenth century increased the efficacy of each step of the production process.
- They enhanced the output per worker, enabling each worker to produce more, and they made possible the production or stronger threads and yarn.
- A Stable Government/Stable Monetary System
- All of these changes occurring in Britain were held together by its stable government.
- There were drastic differences in the economies when comparing Britain to other European mainland countries.
- The pound sterling was the national currency during the entire pre-industrial and Industrial Revolution time period time, and it is still the currency used to today in Britain.
Conclusion
Britain in 1870 had the following which has all been stated as necessary for an Industrial Revolution. Good mineral resources, growing population, wealth, spare land and food, ability to innovate, laissez-faire government policy, scientific interest, and trading opportunities, all of these began to develop simultaneously. The result was a massive change.
Topic: History of the world will include 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.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the positive and negative impact of Industrial revolution as well as its impact on India.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start the answer by mentioning the manifold of major changes brought on Industrial revolution.
Body:
In the first part mention the positive impact of Industrial revolution – Growth of modern Industry, emergence of cities, new capitalistic class, improvement in lifestyle, technological innovations etc.
Next, mention the negative impact of IR – poor working conditions, poor living conditions, low wages, child labor, Luddite movement and pollution.
Next, in detail, write about how IR in Britain impact the Indian colony.
Conclusion:
Summarise the overall impact of Industrial revolution.
Introduction
The Industrial Revolution refers to a series of significant shifts in traditional practices of agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation, as well as the development of new mechanical technologies that took place during the late 18th and 19th centuries in much of the Western world. During this time, the United Kingdom, as well as the rest of Europe and the United States soon after, underwent drastic socio-economic and cultural changes.
Body
Effects of Industrialization
Positives:
- The Industrial Revolution brought about sweeping changes in economic and social organization.
- These changes included a wider distribution of wealth and increased international trade.
- Managerial hierarchies also developed to oversee the division of labor.
- By the late 1700s many people could no longer earn their living in the countryside. Increasingly, people moved from farms and villages into bigger towns and cities to find work in factories.
- The Industrial Revolution marked a dramatic change for women as many of them entered the workforce for the first time. Women had to compete with men for jobs. Female factory workers often made only one-third as much as men.
- Machines greatly increased production. This meant that products were cheaper to make and also cheaper to buy. Many factory owners became rich.
- The middle class began opening up new factories for which they required financing and therefore, the banking and finance system began developing.
- Better transport, communications and mechanized goods made life comfortable for man.
Negatives:
- Advancement in technology and better agricultural production led to better medical facilities and greater employment which led to population explosion.
- Although the machines made work easier in some ways, factory work created many problems for the laborers. Factory employees did not earn much, and the work was often dangerous. Many worked 14 to 16 hours per day six days per week.
- Women and child labour was badly exploited.
- Workers sought to win improved conditions and wages through labor unions. These organizations helped establish laws to protect workers. Such laws, for instance, limited the number of work hours for employees and guaranteed they would be paid a certain amount.
- Cities grew larger, but they were often dirty, crowded, and unhealthy.
- Industrial Revolution made the production of goods easy and ready in much less time. Therefore, more and more goods began to be produced which led to the exploitation of resources.
- The process of industrialization continues around the world, as do struggles against many of its negative effects, such as industrial pollution and urban crowding.
- It led to wars of imperialism and colonization.
Impact of Industrial revolution on India:
- The Industrial Revolution in England impacted the nature of trade of the British in India.
- The Industrial Revolution transformed India into a country that supplied raw-materials to the industrial houses of Britain.
- Prior to the Industrial Revolution British traders purchased cotton piece- goods and other handicraft items from India and used to net huge profit by selling those in the European markets.
- With the Industrial Revolution Britain started manufacturing various articles in a short time. For the manufacture of such articles huge raw-materials were needed.
- Thus they procured raw-materials from India at a cheap price.
- At the same time Britain flooded the Indian markets with the machine-made products produced in British factories.
Conclusion:
Industrialization changed our world for the better in many ways. It is up to us to clean up the pollution that comes about as a side effect to these efforts. If we’re unwilling to approach our environment in the same way that we look at our economies, then this planet we have may not be around much longer.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Ahead of the reconstitution of the 24 Department-Related Standing Committees (DRSC), Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu sent a detailed record of participation by the members in committee meetings over the past year to the political parties, calling them to nominate members only based on their participation and interest.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the importance of standing committees, the decline in their performance and steps need to utilise their full potential.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by write about standing committees, their mandate and their functioning.
Body:
In the first part of the body, write about the importance of the standing committees – discuss laws and policies by analysing them in-depth, non-partisanship, track government expenditure, scrutinise policies and bills and seek expert advice, consensus-building among parties etc.
Next, write about their diminished role – reduced sitting, pandemic, less attendance, partisanship etc – cite stats to substantiate your points.
Suggest steps to utilise their full potential.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
In the Indian Parliament, a Standing committee is a committee consisting of Members of Parliament. It is a permanent and regular committee which is constituted from time to time according to the provisions of an Act of Parliament or Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. Both houses of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha have similar Committee structures with a few exceptions. Parliamentary committees draw their authority from Article 105 (on privileges of Parliament members) and Article 118 (on Parliament’s authority to make rules for regulating its procedure and conduct of business).
Body:
Significance of Parliamentary Standing Committees:
- Parliament is the embodiment of the people’s will. Committees are an instrument of Parliament for its own effective functioning.
- Committees are platforms for threadbare discussion on a proposed law.
- The smaller cohort of lawmakers, assembled on the basis of the proportional strength of individual parties and interests and expertise of individual lawmakers, could have more open, intensive and better-informed discussions.
- Committee meetings are ‘closed door’ and members are not bound by party whips, which allows them the latitude for a more meaningful exchange of views as against discussions in full and open Houses where grandstanding and party positions invariably take precedence.
- Members of Parliament may have great acumen but they would require the assistance of experts in dealing with such situations. It is through committees that such expertise is drawn into law-making.
- Executive accountability to the legislature is enforced through questions in Parliament also, which are answered by ministers. However, department standing committees go one step further and hear from senior officials of the government in a closed setting, allowing for more detailed discussions.
- This mechanism also enables parliamentarians to understand the executive processes closely.
Role of committees:
- Support Parliament’s work.
- Examine ministerial budgets, consider Demands for Grants, analyse legislation and scrutinise the government’s working.
- Examine Bills referred to by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha.
- Consideration of Annual Reports.
- Consideration of national basic long term policy documents presented to the House and referred to the Committee by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha.
Challenges faced:
- Persistent absenteeism from meetings of department-related standing committees should cost MPs their spot on these parliamentary panels was a strong view that emerged during a meeting of chairpersons of the committees with Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu recently.
- Eleven of the 22 Bills introduced in the ongoing session of Parliament have been passed, which makes it a highly productive session after many years.
- But these Bills have been passed without scrutiny by parliamentary standing committees, their purpose being to enable detailed consideration of a piece of legislation.
- After the formation of the 17th Lok Sabha, parliamentary standing committees have not been constituted as consultations among parties are still under way.
- Partly as a result of this, the Bills were passed without committee scrutiny. They were discussed in Parliament over durations ranging between two and five hours.
Way forward:
- Parliamentary committees don’t have dedicated subject-wise research support available. The knowledge gap is partially bridged by expert testimony from government and other stakeholders.
- Their work could be made more effective if the committees had full-time, sector-specific research staff.
- The national commission to review the working of the Constitution has recommended that in order to strengthen the committee system, research support should be made available to them.
- Currently, the rules of Parliament don’t require every bill to be referred to a parliamentary committee for scrutiny. While this allows the government greater flexibility and the ability to speed up legislative business, it comes at the cost of ineffective scrutiny by the highest law-making body.
- Mandatory scrutiny of all bills by parliamentary committees would ensure better planning of legislative business.
Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
As India grows more urban, the importance of effective governance and service delivery by city governments becomes central to the well-being of Indians.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the benefits of e-governance at local level with respect to service delivery and achieving socio-economic goals.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by defining e-governance.
Body:
In the first part, address the how e-governance improves service delivery – give examples from across the country.
Next, link e-governance with achieving broader socio-economic goals like – poverty alleviation, equity, security and sustainable development etc.
Conclusion:
Write a way forward how local governments can move towards e-governance.
Introduction
As India grows more urban, the importance of effective governance and service delivery by city governments becomes central to the well-being of Indians. We hope to live in ‘smart cities’, where digital systems enable the use of data — generated by people living and working in the city itself — to continuously improve how the city functions. E-governance holds the promise of improving local governance and is actively being promoted across the nation.
Body
Background: e-governance in local governments
- If the Panchayats and municipal bodies are to perform efficiently and effectively all the mandated tasks, which are increasing day by day, extensive use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is needed.
- Moreover, there is a strong need to build a “digital inclusive society” where large sections of rural population are able to benefit from new technologies; can access and share information and services freely and can participate in the development process more effectively.
- In cities, ease of citizen services is a pre-requisite. For example :BBMP in Karnataka will soon start issuing digitally signed khata certificates in Bengaluru to facilitate registration of properties. It is called e-Aasthi.
Role of e-governance in Local self-governments
- Transparency: Government of India formulated E-Panchayat Mission Mode Project for e-enablement of all the Panchayats, to make their functioning more efficient and transparent.
- Automation of internal workflow processes of Panchayats: PRIASoft – an online cash-based double entry accounting software that implements the Model Accounting System for PRIs, has been a major success with 1.2 lakh Panchayats on board and about 65,000 Panchayats are making online voucher entries during 2011-2012.
- Budgeting: Cities such as Bangalore and Pune have experimented with citizen budgeting receiving many online budgets. This shows the most important issues that need resources from local bodies.
- Improving delivery of services to citizens: Citizens can be part of governance and
- Capacity building of Panchayat/Municipality Representatives and Officials: Online materials and training to Panchayat representatives can go a long way in achieving
- Social Audit: Social Audit can become much easier, if the information on all the development details are made publicly available.
- Accountability, Efficiency and RTI compliance of Panchayats: e-governance in local self-government will lead to better utilisation of funds and decrease the discretionary powers of officials. Thereby reducing scope for any misappropriation.
Conclusion
All the benefits we associate with e-governance the ease of interaction, the gains in efficiency through both performance management and process reform, and the potential for data-driven preventive maintenance of infrastructure, hinge upon adoption of the system by local government employees and citizens themselves.
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
A meeting of foreign ministers from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries, which was set to be held in New York on Saturday, has been cancelled. Sources report that the member states were unable to agree upon the participation of Afghanistan, with Pakistan and India in particular at loggerheads over the issue.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the potential ramifications of recent geo-political changes on SAARC and to comment on potential point of achieving south Asian solidarity without Pakistan.
Directive word:
Comment– here we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context of recent cancellation of SAARC FM meet.
Body:
In the first part, bring out the current uncertainties which forebode a bleak future for SAARC – Crisis in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Indo-Pak equation, Covid crisis etc.
Next, mention as to why India should take the lead in considering alternative. It will ensure integrated, connected, secure and prosperous South Asia, and lead economic, technological, cultural, and social development’ of the region.
Next, deliberate as to whether reviving SAARC will be in India’s interest?
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward and diplomatic steps needed to achieve south Asian solidarity.
Introduction
Afghanistan was inducted into SAARC in 2007, a decision that recognised its struggle to emerge from years of war and isolation, and its historical, political, religious, economic and cultural links to the rest of the region. The takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban is a massive setback to South Asia.
Recently there was cancellation of the SAARC foreign ministers meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, in the backdrop of Taliban takeover. Rightly, India does not want to recognise to legitimise Taliban.
Body
SAARC and the Afghan crisis
- Pakistan wanted the Taliban to represent Afghanistan during the SAARC meet. Several members, including India, objected to Pakistan’s proposal, and the meeting was cancelled due to ‘lack of consensus’.
- After the deadly terror attack on the Indian security forces at Uri in 2016, India refused to engage with the SAARC.
- Since then, the SAARC has become almost marginal to the regions’ collective consciousness and other organisations such as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) came into the forefront.
- It has been years since there was a summit, principally because it is Pakistan’s turn to host it, and Delhi has refused to participate due to the tensions between the two countries over terrorist incidents and other issues.
- Other SAARC arrangements, including regional trade, have never been able to get off the ground due to the forever hostility between the two big neighbours.
- Now with Taliban takeover, many SAARC nations are not willing to engage with them.
Alternative to SAARC sans Pakistan
- There is no mistaking the fact that Pakistan had joined the SAARC in 1985 with a clear view to utilise the organisation as an anti-India platform by mobilising the smaller nations of the region.
- The future success of the SAARC lies in making Pakistan irrelevant.
- India should create alternate group conversations such as BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal), and lead more such conversations and consortiums and make such alternate gatherings aspirational for others to sign up.
- In other words, the only way ahead is to promote sub-regionalism within the SAARC to carry out the developmental projects and other integrating ideas.
- India and Sri Lanka on the one hand, and Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal on the other could join hands to work together.
- As it is, there is already the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) that connects South Asian countries (except Pakistan and Afghanistan, which are not members) with Myanmar and Thailand.
- Connectivity and development through the sub regional route is very much permissible under the SAARC Charter.
- The idea is to go ahead without Pakistan.
Conclusion
It is being increasingly realised that since Pakistan is not interested in implementing the existing SAARC decisions on regional connectivity, trade and terrorism, and it continues to interfere in the internal matters of other member countries in sharp violation of the SAARC Charter, it will be better to proceed with a “small SAARC” option.
Value addition
About SAARC
- In 1980’s the idea of SAARC was initiated by General Zia Ur Rehman of Bangladesh, which resulted in the first summit of the seven leaders of the region in 1985.
- Later, Afghanistan joined in 2007. However, in the nearly 35 years of its existence, SAARC has not lived up to its promise of regional integration.
- South Asia is the world’s least integrated region; less than 5% of the trade of SAARC countries is within.
- A South Asian Free Trade Zone, which was agreed on in 2006, has not been materialised yet.
- The 19th SAARC summit, scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November 2016, was postponed after the terrorist attacks in Uri; none has been held since then.
General Studies -4
Topic: Case Study.
What will be your course of action? Justify. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Case Study Fridays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.
Introduction:
Begin by laying out the context of the case study and evil of drug menace.
Body:
Note down all the relevant stakeholders and ethical issues in the case study.
Mention about the possible courses of action such as starting from accepting the radical plan in its entirety to totally rejecting. Analyse the pros and cons of such actions.
Then mention the course of action you would take which is ethically as well as legally justified but also solves the issue of drug menace. Analyse its pros and cons. Also, mention how you will tackle any ramifications emerging out of it.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarizing the morally justified solution and positive way forward.
Introduction
India is vulnerable to narcotic drug trafficking as it is located between two largest Opium producing regions of the world i.e. Golden Crescent in the west and Golden Triangle in the east. Drug trafficking and abuse also pose serious threat to our societies.
The above case study pertains to issues of drug menace and ways to tackle it. It also challenges a probationary training of IPS officer and his courage in the face of undue pressure. The case depicts the cobweb of drug mafia present in the society and the implications of the same on various stakeholders.
Body
Stakeholders involved
- Myself as an IPS Probationary officer: Ethical values Courage, accountability, responsibility, Integrity, Wisdom is at stake.
- Drug peddlers who are detrimental to the society, causing violence and blooshed.
- MLA of the ruling party, who is a political representative of people.
- NGOs who work for public welfare.
- Society as a whole.
Ethical issues involved
- Test of integrity of a police officer
- Welfare of people
- Law and order problems
- Political neutrality and not becoming a pawn under the hands of political masters.
- True to self and service.
Possible courses of action
- Accepting the radical plan in its entirety
- Merits: As I’m a probationer, a tiff with MLA will be avoided and my service will not be affected.
- Demerits : Dedication to service is compromised, dedication to work is diluted, and it shows lack of courage, fortitude, integrity. Joining the police force comes with a responsibility to protect people and maintain law and order. By agreeing to this plan, I will be putting all those values and duties under the bus.
- Rejecting the radical plan in its entirety
- Merits Upholding the values such as moral responsibility, moral courage, moral duty, integrity, self-accountability and societal welfare. I wont be privy to a plan that does not adhere to legal laws and statutes.
- Demerits: I may face the severe opposition from the political masters, even may face a threat. My probation may not be confirmed due to this.
My course of action
As a probationer, there is not much authority with me to put a stop to this plan, but only try to reason with the MLA at best. So I will try to convince him that his action plan is like “replacing King log with King stork”. It will do more harm than good, as more and more people will find it easy to access drugs. It is like giving a hallpass to the drug smugglers to exploit the society.
I will try to convince the MLA regarding the danger of this plan, as it will only perpetuate the drug menace and impact the social fabric of the society. If the MLA, forcibly continues and dictates that the plan be implemented, I’ll take it to my superior officers who can actually ensure that such a plan is not allowed to be implemented.
Secondly, the social workers need to be counselled, to not side with the MLA on the issue and to exhort upon their representatives to give up on the plan. Their concern of rehabilitation, finding addicts can be done by not giving leeway to drug peddlers. As the two issues are different, they can be dealt without the need for the MLA’s plan to allow drug menace to flourish.
Any other adversity to my action, especially to my service can be dealt in a court of law and justice will prevail. As the saying goes, Truth always triumphs.
Conclusion:
Nearly, 72 lakh Indians need help for cannabis-use problem according to Ministry of social justice data. Addiction should not be seen as a character flaw, but as an ailment that any other person could be struggling with. Therefore, the stigma associated with drug taking needs to be reduced. Society needs to understand that drug-addicts are victims and not criminals. Drug smuggling and distribution must be strongly monitored.
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