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General Studies – 1
Topic: Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent);
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 explain the factors responsible for the formation of soil.
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving 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 mentioning about the diversity of soils in India and their profile across major regions they are found in.
Body:
Talk about reasons for diversity in the Indian soil profile and some important characteristics and crops sown in each soil briefly. A small map of major soil regions of India could be drawn for better presentation purpose.
Then in detail mention about the various factors responsible for (Pedogenesis) soil formation in India. Explain about factors such as Parent Material, Relief. Climate and Natural Vegetation. Substantiate your answer with relevant examples.
Conclusion:
Complete the answer by stressing on the importance of diversity in the soil profile of India.
Introduction
Soil is a relatively thin layer of unconsolidated mineral and organic material on the immediate surface of the earth. Soil is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life. Pedogenesis or soil development is the process of soil formation as regulated by the effects of place, environment, and history.
Body
Factors responsible for formation of soils in India
- Active factors
- Climate
- precipitation or rainfall
- Temperature
- Organism
- Passive factors
- Relief (topography)
- Parent material
- Time
- Climate
- Alluvial Soil:
- These are formed by the deposition of sediments by rivers.
- They are rich in humus and very fertile. These soils are renewed every year.
- This soil is well-drained and poorly drained with an immature profile in undulating areas. This soil has potash deficiency.
- The colour of soil varies from light grey to ash.
- This soil is suited for Rice, maize, wheat, sugarcane, oilseeds etc.
- They are found in Great Northern plain, lower valleys of Narmada and Tapti and Northern Gujarat.
- This soil is divided into Khadar Soil (New) and Bhangar Soil (Old).
- Black or Regur Soil:
- These soils are made up of volcanic rocks and lava-flow.
- It is concentrated over Deccan Lava Tract which includes parts of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- It consists of Lime, Iron, Magnesium and also Potash but lacks in Phosphorus, Nitrogen and Organic matter.
- It has high water retaining capacity and good for the cotton cultivation, Tobacco, citrus fruits, castor, and linseed.
- Red Soil:
- These are derived from weathering of ancient metamorphic rocks of Deccan Plateau.
- The presence of ferric oxides makes the colour of soil red. The top layer of the soil is red and horizon below is yellowish.
- Generally, these soils are deficient in phosphate, lime, magnesia, humus and nitrogen.
- This soil is good for the cultivation of wheat, cotton, pulses, tobacco, millets, orchards, potato, and oilseeds.
- They cover almost the whole of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and parts of Orissa.
- Laterite Soil:
- These soft, when they are wet and ‘hard and cloddy’ on drying.
- These soils are formed due to intense leaching and are well developed on the summits of hills and uplands.
- They are commonly found in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and hilly areas of Orissa and Assam.
- These are poor in organic matter, nitrogen, potassium, lime and potash.
- These iron and aluminium rich soils are suitable for the cultivation of rice, ragi, sugarcane and cashew nuts.
- Mountain Soil:
- These soils are formed as a result of the accumulation of organic matter derived from forest growth.
- They are found in Himalayan region and vary in different regions according to altitude.
- Tea is grown in those areas which receive sufficient rainfall.
- These soils are immature and dark brown in colour.
- This soil has very low humus and it is acidic in nature.
- The orchards, fodder, legumes are grown in this soil.
- Desert Soil:
- This soil is deposited by wind action and mainly found in the arid and semi-arid areas like Rajasthan, West of the Aravallis, Northern Gujarat, Saurashtra, Kachchh, Western parts of Haryana and southern part of Punjab.
- They are sandy with low organic matter.
- It has low soluble salts and moisture with very low retaining capacity. If irrigated these soil give a high agricultural return.
- These suitable less water requiring crops like Bajra, pulses, fodder, and guar.
- As evaporation is in excess of rainfall, the soil has a high salt content and saline layer forms a hard crust.
- Peaty and Marshy Soils:
- This soil originates from the areas where adequate drainage is not possible.
- It is rich in organic matter and has high salinity.
- They are deficient in potash and phosphate.
- These mainly found in Sunderbans delta, Kottayam, and Alappuzha districts of Kerala, Rann of Kachchh, deltas of Mahanadi etc.
- Saline and Alkaline Soils:
- Theses also called as Reh, Usar, Kallar, Rakar, Thur and Chopan.
- These are mainly found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra.
- Sodium chloride and sodium sulphate are present in this soil.
- It is suitable for leguminous crops.
Conclusion
The need of the hour is to educate farmers in other regions as well about what they can do to improve the health of their nutrient-depleted soil by following practices such as crop rotation, and using organic manure boosters such as cow dung and dried leaves.
Topic: Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent);
Difficulty level: Moderate
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 mention in detail about different types of vegetation in India and to identify major threats to Indian vegetation.
Directive:
Elaborate – 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:
Begin by talking about how the varied climatic conditions has given rise to wide range of natural vegetation.
Body:
Mention about the different types of vegetation present in India. Draw a simple representative map of India highlighting major vegetation in India.
Explain in detail, the types of vegetation. Account for the major climatic factors responsible for it, the major features of each vegetation and major flora – fauna found there.
In the next part, bring out the major threats to Indian vegetation such as deforestation, mining, over grazing, climate change and invasive species etc. Cite some facts from recently released Indian State of Forests Report 2019 to substantiate above.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward on how to safeguard the Indian vegetation.
Introduction
The natural vegetation is the endowments of nature. They grow naturally by following the climatic variables. The types of natural vegetation differ according to precipitation, soil, climate, and topography. The cultivated crops and fruits, orchards form part of vegetation, but not natural vegetation. India is bestowed with a wide range of flora and fauna. Due to a diverse geographical and climatic condition, an extensive range of natural vegetation grows in India.
Body
Types of Natural Vegetation in India
- Tropical Evergreen Rain forests
- The Tropical Evergreen rain forests are found in the areas where precipitation is more than 200 cm.
- They are largely found in the Northeastern regions of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, the Western Ghats, the Tarai areas of the Himalayas, and the Andaman groups of Islands.
- They are also found in the hills of Khasi and Jaintia.
- The trees in this area have intense growth.
- The major trees found in this area are Sandal Wood, Rosewood, Garjan, Mahogany, and bamboo.
- It has copious vegetation of all kinds – trees, shrubs, and creepers giving it a multilayered structure.
- The elephants, monkey, lemur are the common animals found in these areas.
- Deciduous or Monsoon type of forests
- The Deciduous forests are found on the lower slope of the Himalayas, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Orissa, Karnataka, Maharashtra Jharkhand, and the adjoining areas.
- The precipitation in this area is between 100 cm and 200 cm.
- Teak is the dominant species seen in the area.
- Along with that Deodar, Blue Gum, Pal Ash, Sal, Sandalwood, Ebony, Arjun, Khair, and Bamboo are also seen.
- The trees in this forest shed their leaves during dry winter and dry summer.
- Based on the availability of water, these forests are again divided into moist and dry deciduous.
- Dry deciduous forests
- These forests grow in areas where the precipitation is between 50 cm and 100 cm.
- These are mainly seen in the areas of the Central Deccan plateau, Punjab, Haryana, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and South-east of Rajasthan.
- Mountain Forests/Montane Forests
- Montane forests are those found in mountains.
- Mountain forests differ significantly along the slopes of the mountain.
- On the foothills of the Himalayas until a height of 1500 meters, evergreen trees like Sal, teak, and bamboo grow copiously.
- On the higher slope, temperate conifer trees like pine, fir, and oak grow.
- At the higher elevation of the Himalayas, rhododendrons and junipers are found.
- Further, then these vegetation zones, alpine grasslands appear up to the snowfield.
- Tidal or Mangrove forests
- The tidal or mangrove forests grow by the side of the coast and on the edges of the deltas
- Ex: the deltas of the Cauvery, Krishna, Mahanadi, Godavari, and Ganga.
- In West Bengal, these forests are known as ‘Sundarbans’.
- The ‘Sundari’ is the most major tree in these forests.
- The important trees of the tidal forests are Hogla, Garan, Pasur, etc.
- This forest is an important factor in the timber industry as they provide timber and firewood.
- Palm and coconut trees beautify the coastal strip.
- Semi-deserts and Deserts vegetations
- This area receives rainfall of less than 50 cm.
- Thorny bushes, acacia, and Babul are found in this vegetation region.
- The Indian wild date is generally found here.
- They have long roots and thick flesh.
- The plants found in this region store water in their stem to endure during the drought.
- These vegetation are found in parts of Gujarat’s, Punjab, and Rajasthan.
Major threats to vegetation in India:
- Encroachments:
- Organized encroachment of forest land started as early as 1950s.
- The direct impact of encroachment is habitat loss, besides the existence of constant threat on the forests by the fringe people.
- In addition to their involvement directly in the illegal activities they provide shelter for the unscrupulous offenders of the plains who are engaged in all kinds of illegal activities.
- Cattle grazing:
- Grazing by cattle in forest, although not rampant as elsewhere in the country, is identified as a threat to biodiversity.
- The grazing not only removes the biomass and competes with wild herbivores, but also spread contagious diseases to wild animals.
- Intensive grazing will lead to domination of a single or a few species, changing the species composition of natural vegetation.
- Cattle grazing speeds up the invasion of weeds.
- Collection of Fire Wood:
- Firewood collection directly poses threat in the form of removal of biomass, which affects microhabitat of flora and fauna, and indirectly leads to extensive fire and other illegal activities.
- The proximity of settlements to the forests is the main factor, which determines the intensity of firewood collection.
- The firewood collection leads to degradation of habitats which subsequently alters the species composition and vegetation types.
- Man-Animal Conflict:
- A major problem associated with the conservation of wild animals especially the herbivores like elephants in India is that of crop depredation and man-slaughter.
- Animals such as elephants, gaur, sambar, wild boar and birds like peacock, cause extensive damage to the crops.
- This phenomenon has registered significant increase in recent years due to habitat fragmentation and degradation of natural forests and corridors.
- Almost all the Protected Areas and Non-Protected Areas contain a large number of settlements either inside or on the periphery.
- This leads to degradation of surrounding habitats.
- The traditional tolerances among the people who live inside the forests or its adjacent areas are fast disappearing and people have become increasingly antagonistic.
- As a result, the people tend to kill the animals either by poisoning or by other means, like keeping crackers in fruits, etc.
- Poaching:
- The abundance of wild animals and high demand for their products in the clandestine, market pose threat to wild animals.
- Herbivores like gaur, sambar, chital etc. are being poached for their meat.
- A lot of other not so spectacular species of animals ranging from reptiles to birds as well as plants and medicinal herbs are all part of the illegal wildlife trade.
- The major impact of poaching is species loss and change in their demography apart from extensive fire and other illicit activities.
- Illegal and unsustainable/unscientific collection of Non-Timber Forest Produce:
- Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) collection is one of the major livelihoods of the local people.
- The NTFP consist of a variety of products, which are sources of food, fiber, manure, construction materials, cosmetics and cultural products.
- The users of NTFP range from local individuals to multinational companies. With the development of modern techniques, the number of products and uses based on NTFP has increased by many folds.
- This market driven utilization became instrumental in their unsustainable exploitation and resulted in degrading the natural vegetation.
- Mining:
- Mining is also a severe threat to the biodiversity.
- Sand mining is prevalent in the central and southern parts.
- It is a threat to the stability of a landscape, which results in land sliding and lowering of water table.
- The removal of habitat will endanger the survival of riparian species since most of them occupied a very narrow habitat niche.
- Mass Tourism and Pilgrimage:
- Mass Tourism and Pilgrimage are considered to be one of the major and increasing threats to biodiversity conservation.
- Approximately 13 million people visit forest areas annually either as pilgrims or visitors.
- Among all the Protected Areas in India, Periyar Tiger Reserve receives a maximum number of tourists.
- The large influx of people into the forests in short duration makes severe changes to habitat.
- The major impact of tourism and pilgrimage is littering and over-utilization of resources such as soil erosion; fire, disturbance to wild animals for feeding, ranging etc. are also reported due to a large number of pilgrims and unruly behavior of visitors.
- Forest Fires:
- Fire is one of the major threats facing the forests of India.
- People who are engaged in grazing livestock often burn the area to get fresh shoots for their cattle, during lean season.
- Apart from this, those who are involved in illicit activities such as ganja cultivation, poaching, tree felling, NTFP collection and very often the ignorant tourists and pilgrims are also responsible for big forest fires.
- The effect of fire depends on the type of vegetation, frequency and intensity of fire and season of burning.
- Fire causes extensive damage in deciduous forests and grasslands due to heavy fuel load.
- Illicit Felling:
- Tree felling is one of the severe threats to biodiversity conservation in the state.
- The primary effect of tree felling on bio diversity is the removal of biomass and loss of habitat for many epiphytic and arboreal species.
- Tree felling leads to soil erosion and change of the soil properties.
- In some cases, people involved in tree falling set fire to the forests.
- Invasive species:
- These are non-indigenous or non-native plants and animals that adversely affect the habitats and bio regions they invade economically, environmentally and ecologically.
- Examples of plant invasion include Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and Lantana (Lantana Camara).
Conclusion
There is an urgent need to address these problems and Environment Management Act is a dire need along with Environment Service Cadre for better management of forests and wildlife in India.
Topic: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The decision to recognise November 15 — the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda — as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. This step is the most significant milestone towards recognising the contribution of the tribal fraternity.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the contributions of Tribals to the India’s freedom struggle.
Directive word:
Elucidate – 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 mentioning that eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries witnessed many peasant uprisings against the oppression of ruling class.
Body:
Mention about the various issues faced by and tribals in colonial India which forced them to rebel.
Cite few instances of peasant and tribal revolts such as Bhil, Mappila, Santhal etc to substantiate your points. Mention how these are confined to passing references in historical records and how Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas will give them their due recognition.
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning in National freedom struggle, tribals struggle became part an important aspect of national movement eventually.
Introduction
Tribal movements in India arose during the British colonial period due to the colonial oppression. The rebellions were due to occupation of tribal land and interference and overwhelming them with outside cultures hampering the lives of the tribals.
The Government recently celebrated the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda — as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas on November 15. Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas celebrations honour the tribals’ contributions to India’s freedom struggle, role in national development.
Body
The causes for the tribal uprisings included
- Imposition of Land revenue Settlement. For instance, Famine, enhanced land revenue demands and economic distress goaded the Chuar aboriginal tribesmen of the Jungle Mahal of Midnapore district and also of the Bankura district (in Bengal) to take up arms.
- British policies and acts like the establishment of the Forest department in 1864, Government Forest Act (1865) and Indian Forest Act (1878)which restricted the activities of tribals in forest areas led to their ire against the British. g.: Koya revolt against British for denial of tribal’s rights over forest areas.
- Extension of settled agriculture. E.g.: : The British expansion on their territory led to an uprising by the martial Pahariyas of the Raj Mahal Hills in 1778.
- New excise regulations which imposed a ban on tribals to make their own liquor, an important trait of their culture.
- Large scale transfer of forest land. g.: large-scale transfers of land from Kol headmen to outsiders like Hindu, Sikh and Muslim farmers and money-lenders who were oppressive and demanded heavy taxes.
- Restrictions on shifting cultivation in forest. For e.g.: Khasi and Garo rebellions against occupation of hilly land and ban on shifting cultivation.
- Introduction of the notion of private property.
- Exploitation by low country traders and money lenders. E.g.: Santhal rebellion against moneylenders and traders. The Ulgulan uprising against money lenders
- Work of Christian Missionaries and against the interference of other religions such as Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. g: Tana Bhagat Movement
The need to recognize tribals and their contributions
- There is much to learn from tribal communities.
- Since time immemorial, their love for nature has inspired the rest of society.
- Their integrity in protecting and preserving indigenous art, culture, environment and forests is worth appreciating at a time when the world is struggling to build a consensus around climate change.
- Across India, these communities challenged the British, whose actions to line their pockets by destroying abundant natural resources were directly affecting the economic and social framework of tribal communities.
- The fight against the British-imposed system by the Paharia, Chuar, Kol, Bhil, Ho, Munda, Santhal, Khond, Koya, Koli, Ramosi, Kuki, Khasi, Singpho — among other movements — was led by people of indomitable spirit, who encouraged the masses to revolt.
- The sacrifice of the tribals became a beacon of strength for others, inspiring them to achieve freedom.
- Tribal communities also have a better sex ratio (990) than the national average (940).
- There is relatively less dowry in tribal communities.
- A sense of togetherness ensures that the girl child is welcomed.
Conclusion
As the first Janjatiya Gaurav week ends, we as citizens of India, must pay tribute to these unsung heroes. It is our duty to highlight the stories of tribal heroes and heroines from the freedom struggle and introduce them to the new generation. As fellow citizens, we must pledge to preserve their distinguished art, culture and customs in the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
India needs reforms that will revive the health of its soil and water resources, provide employment for people and enhance quality of life in rural India.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about structural, institutional and administrative measures need to ensure holistic rural development.
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:
Give a brief of Rural development in India and its aims.
Body:
First, in brief, write about the measures taken to ensure rural development – their success and limitations.
Next, mention the various structural, institutional and administrative measures that are required presently, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic – Agri reforms, Promoting small-scale industries, Preventing rural migration, healthcare, education and de-bureaucratise state-citizen transactions.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Rural development still remains the core of the overall development of the country. According to 2011 Census 68.84% of population lives in villages. According to 2011 Agricultural Census of India, an estimated 61.5% dependent on agriculture. Technical developments in field of agriculture have increased the gap between the rich and poor, as the better off farmers adopted modern farm technology to a greater extent than the small farmers. About one-third of rural India is still below the poverty line.
Body
Structural inequities, institutional and administrative deficits and political distortions of rural India
Rural India has been witnessing slowdown:
- Rising prices of agricultural inputs, landholding size decreasing, non-availability of water, soil suitability and pest management.
- Small and marginal farmers face a greater burden of debt
- Sub-optimal utilisation of MSP.
- Green Revolution caused regional and other disparities.
Poor Development of human resources
- including–literacy, more specifically, female literacy, education and skill development–health, addressing both sanitation and public health
- Privately-run facilities burgeoned, creating an ethos that boosted commercial goals in health care and schooling. Stuck between state minimalism and commercial entrepreneurship, villages lost what capacity they had for regenerating their economy or intellectual resources.
- All such arguments and the data they were based on provided a comfortable rationale for policies that encouraged emigration of a vast section of the rural population to cities.
- Weaknesses with the zamindari abolition
- The absence of adequate land records made implementation of these acts difficult.
- Zamindars refused to hand over the land records in their possession, forcing the government to go through the lengthy procedure of reconstructing the records.
- Implementation of the law was made difficult with the collusion between the landlords and lower-level revenue officials.
- Weaknesses of tenancy reforms
- The provisions introduced to protect the small landowners were misused by the larger landlords with the active connivance of the revenue officials.
- The inordinate delays in enacting and implementing the legislations
- Weaknesses in Land Ceiling Legislation
- Post-independence India had more than 70 per cent of landholdings in India under 5 acres so the ceiling fixed on existing holdings by the states were very high.
- A large number of exemptions to the ceiling limits were permitted by most states following the Second Plan recommendations that certain categories of land could be exempted from ceilings.
- Digitization of land records failed
- Insufficient data: Lack of clear and sufficient data and mismanagement between the various agencies handling land records, the data registered at various government levels is not identical.
Holistic measures needed for Rural development
- A substantial and phased withdrawal from the Green Revolution model of promoting subsidised agriculture that’s based on the use of industrial chemicals must be initiated.
- It will not be apt to have a single model of “natural farming” for India’s diverse agro-climatic cultural zones.
- Instead, a combination of regionally evolved and established sustainable agro-cultures, that can be tweaked to rid them of their social inequities (such as bonded labour and tenancies) and made amenable to the new climatic trends, is required.
- Policies to ensure equitable distribution of resources — land as well as water — and access to a range of alternative economic practices and support structures must also be framed.
- Instead of subsidies, moratoria on loans and populist pay-outs just before elections, it is imperative that payments be made to promote the spread of “restorative agriculture” — one that regenerates our soil and water resources and promotes seed and agro-biodiversity.
- Supporting farmers to form collectives in which resources, labour, skills and knowledge are pooled for production, value addition and marketing could go a long way in correcting the multiple ways in which they are excluded from profits or gains.
- Democratisation and decentralisation of agricultural planning can be linked to revitalising ecologically suitable cultivation, facilitating local collection and distribution and sustaining local food cultures that can alleviate malnutrition.
- A new seed policy, which focuses on enabling local seed banks, can help farmers circumvent the problematic commercial seed industry.
- Promoting small-scale industries and processing centres that help rural areas to retain resources and skills along with providing employment is the answer to the vexed issue of unemployment and migration.
- Rural India requires a new economic deal that addresses past mistakes and heals the wounds caused by years of neglect in healthcare, education and other avenues that enhance the quality of life.
- Public institutions such as panchayats, anganwadis, schools and primary health centres require urgent reforms that de-bureaucratise state-citizen transactions and ensure that rural residents are treated as citizens, and not supplicants.
Conclusion
Agricultural sector development and rural entrepreneurship is the way of converting developing country into developed nation. Promotion of rural entrepreneurship is extremely important in the context of producing gainful employment and reducing the widening disparities between the rural and urban. Monitoring rural development programmes by supplying right information at the right time, providing timely and adequate credit and continuous motivation of bankers, Panchayat union leaders and voluntary service organizations will lead to the development of rural entrepreneurship and in turn rural development.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
A joint report by Nasscom and Zinnov also forecasts that India is on track to have a 50-plus strong unicorn club in 2021 and a 100 unicorn club by 2025.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about potential benefits proper regulation and policy support of Unicorns to the Indian economy,
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:
Begin by defining a Unicorn and give context about the rapid rise of unicorns in India in 2021.
Body:
First, in brief, give reasons for the unicorn boom in India.
Next, write about the need for proper regulatory mechanism – mention the issues these unicorns face, policy based, scrutiny based, compliance based etc.
Next, write about facilitating policy support for start-ups to turn Unicorns and sustain that position. Also, add the need to avoid hype and ensure that the potential is realised with respect to job creation, growth, technological advancement, valuation etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
In the venture capital industry, the term unicorn refers to any startup that reaches the valuation of $1 billion. The term was first coined by venture capitalist Aileen Lee in 2013. Mostly, all the unicorns have brought a disruption in the field they belong to. Uber, for example, changed the way people commuted. Airbnb changed the way people planned their stay while travelling and Snapchat disrupted the usage of the social media network etc.
India currently stands third in the global list of the number of companies that have attained unicorn status.
Body
Challenges faced by unicorns in India
- Capital: For running a company from being startup to unicorn, a significant amount of working capital is required. Many startups, especially at early stages, are bootstrapped, i.e. self-funded through the founders’ own savings, or using capital from friends and family.
- Complex regulatory environment: The government of India has introduced policies that aim to ease the business environment for startups.
- However, the present regulatory framework in which startups/unicorns operate is widely seen as difficult, inefficient and unpredictable.
- Bureaucratic process: Companies in India often feel encumbered by bureaucratic processes, which appear to lack underlying standards.
- They have insufficient possibilities to find information, and there is little planning security about how long processes can take.
- In addition, regulations can suddenly change or startups receive random notices.
- As a result, startups have to find frustrating workarounds, waste valuable time or pivot their business model.
- A further challenge for startups is to take their products to the market as Indian markets appear difficult to penetrate.
- Competitive landscape: Often, many firms are already present and many more enter the market, including copycats.
- A second reason is that startups are at a disadvantage compared to large companies.
- Huge uncertainty: Recently, the biggest-ever initial public offering (IPO) in India fell flat on its face on the first day of its listing in the stock exchange, with shares being traded at prices less than 27% of the IPO price.
- On the one hand, this is due to the fact that big market players are more capable of dealing with bureaucratic regulations.
- On the other hand, public procurement is seen as weak and government prefers to sign contracts with established companies.
- For many job-seekers, joining a startup as an employee is not an attractive career option, due to the inherent risk that the startup might fail.
Need for proper regulatory mechanism
- The factors enabling the rise of unicorns comprise the availability of private equity funds, increasing Internet penetration and digital payments, more robust infrastructure and the rising pool of skilled talent.
- Considering the focus on creating an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, however, the nation’s policymakers, risk-taking corporates and funding agencies need to foster a conducive climate for ensuring easier availability of domestic capita
- As business models get more complex and interlinked, the regulators have to play a more proactive role in formulating appropriate regulations that encourage innovation and support emerging business models rather than hindering innovation.
- Besides promoting local funding, the government and corporate entities may need to invest in a big way through leading academic institutions to de-risk start-up investments in the long run.
- It appears that corporations and valuation experts overestimate the Indian economy’s potential to consume services by assuming exponential demand growth over longer time periods.
- Firms spend a lot of money to offer huge discounts to clients in the hopes that people would become so used to these platforms that they will continue to use them even if the prices are raised. This could lead to cartelization and market monopoly on a long run.
Conclusion
By providing the “minicorns” (a start-up with $1 million-plus valuation) and “soonicorns” (funded by angel investors or venture capitalists and likely to soon join the unicorn club) the right regulatory ambience and local sources of funding, India can create a truly innovative and resilient economy.
Value addition
Benefits of a unicorn
- The Indian start-up ecosystem is nothing short of a revolution with $106-billion worth of value-creation by 44 unicorns, in turn creating 4 million direct and indirect jobs.
- Start-ups have helped women entrepreneurs to contribute immensely to the start-up ecosystem
- It’s increasingly seen as a sign that the Indian economy is reaching a turning point and that its entrepreneurial culture is maturing.
- Ancillary industries rise up creating more avenues of innovation, growth and employment.
- The unicorns like ola, flipkart which are consumer centric have created an alternate gig economy for workers, which gives them much needed felixibility.
- Due to competition among unicorns, consumers are benefited through competitive pricing.
- It has created an ecosystem in cities such as Bengaluru and Delhi, which has paved way for more capital and investments flowing into the nation.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The Supreme Court has reserved its decision on widening of roads that are part of Char Dham project in Uttarakhand. The Centre, citing the Chinese build-up on the other side, has appealed for widening the road, which, it said, are feeder roads for the border areas and are of great strategic importance.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about balancing environmental concerns as developmental and security ambitions.
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 writing a brief about the aims of Char Dham road project.
Body:
First, mention the developmental aspect of Char Dham road project – connects the four shrines of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath in upper Himalayas, the religious tourism and economic importance.
Next, mention the security viewpoint – Chinese build up on the other side, security of the nation, facilitate movement of heavy vehicles carrying troops, self-propelled artillery and various machinery required by the army.
Next, write about the environmental concerns – felling of trees, damage to Himalayan ecosystem, landslides etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing measures for effective management of the Char Dham road project by balancing all concerns.
Introduction
The Char Dham road project, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016, is an ambitious attempt to widen nearly 900 kilometres of hill roads at the cost of ₹12,000 crore. The project, which will be executed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), aims to provide all-weather connectivity to the four major shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.
Body
Background
- Considering the fragile nature of Himalayas, in 2018, it was challenged by an NGO for its potential impact on the Himalayan ecology.
- The Ministry of Defence (MoD) filed an appeal for a double-lane road with an even higher road width to meet the requirement of the army.
- Subsequently, Min of Road Transport and highways (MoRTH) amended its 2018 circular and raised the 5.5m width limit to 10m.
- The Supreme Court (SC), in 2020, after consultation with the high-powered committee (HPC) and on the basis of MoRTH guidelines, said that the width of the roads cannot exceed 5.5 m.
Challenges posed by developmental projects in Himalayas
- Most of the development work in the Himalayas is being carried out without an understanding of its fragility, seismicity, glacial behaviour, climatic changes and their collective destructive power.
- The flash floods due to the burst of an artificial lake created by a huge landslide (rock, frozen mud and ice) in Rishi Ganga, inside Nanda Devi Sanctuary, is the one such warning given by the Himalayas to the blind supporters of “development” in the fragile mountains.
- Similarly, the Char Dham project will significantly reinforce mass wasting processes and erosion rates given the steepness of the slopes, earthquake activity and erosivity of increased monsoonal precipitation.
- The unique Himalayan landscape with steep slopes and sharp gradients is not amenable to human engineering.
- For instance, during the monsoons, owing to the massive hill-cutting for the Char Dham road project, several landslides have occurred in the region. The recent floods in the Dhauli Ganga, Rishi Ganga and Alaknanda rivers claimed over 200 lives.
- As a mountain system, the Himalayas have had earthquakes, avalanches, landslides, soil erosion, forest fires and floods, and these are its natural expressions, parts of its being.
- Road and hydro projects are being operated in the Himalayas with practically no rigorous research on the ecological history of the area, cost-benefit analysis and many other aspects including displacement of communities, destruction of biodiversity, agricultural land, pastures as well as the cultural heritage of the area.
Measures needed:
- Disaster-resilient, safe and stable infrastructure is the only solution for commuting by road in the hills.
- The need of the hour is to keep the scale of human-induced disturbances to the minimum level possible.
- Industries across sectors must come together on a common platform to address the issues concerning economic development and environment protection.
- Policies need to be simplified to create an ecosystem for new sustainable businesses to flourish.
- Good environmental governance which limits exploitation of natural resources to sustainable levels.
- We need to strengthen participatory processes such as public hearings in the environmental and forest clearance process.
- Strict environmental regulation and Environmental Impact Assessment may reduce environmental damage significantly.
- Regions and countries can benefit from the knowledge of indigenous people and their understanding of large ecosystems.
- The linkage of biodiversity and environmental sustainability highlights the critical need to integrate biodiversity considerations in global decision-making.
Conclusion
Development remains the greatest pursuit as well as a challenge, faced by humanity. However, despite the unprecedented economic and social progress that has been made over the last century, poverty, famine and environmental degradation still persist on a global scale. Moreover, environmental deterioration and climate change have started to show irrevocable damages to the developmental progress made so far. Thus, development goals must be pursued without breaching environment regulations.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
7. What does this quote means to you? (150 words)
“Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama
Difficulty level: Easy
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Quotes Wednesdays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by explaining the literal meaning of the quote and highlighting the relation between happiness and ones action.
Body:
Write about ones action determines the consequences of the action as well the emotions from it. Good actions lead to happiness and bad actions to sadness/guilt. Mention how happiness is an outcome of our own actions. Justify with examples.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of the quote in the present day.
Introduction
Happiness is physical, mental or emotional state of well-being. It can be defined by some positive emotions ranging from pleasant feeling to intense joy. It is the happiness of one & one’s loved ones which matters & drives the actions of a person.
Body
Happiness comes from within and can’t be imbibe from external sources. A happy mind always has attributes of empathy, love, compassion, benevolence, solidarity etc. for the fellow human beings which serve as the purpose of life. More specifically, your right actions will lead to increased levels of happiness. The act of expressing gratitude to those you love will immediately affect your level of happiness.
For e.g.: An act of telling thankyou to your mother when she cooks lunch for you.
The act of giving immediately changes your physiology, especially when you give to someone who is clearly in need. The selfless act of giving without any expectation of receiving brings out an emotional energy that fills you with a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Some people find their happiness in material possessions and money etc. But all these gives us temporary happiness. The happiness which comes from our own actions will be never forgotten by us and it is permanent i.e. still to the end of our life.
For instance, a simple act of giving or donating gives immense happiness while at times a multi-billionaire with huge bank balance will not be happy. Likewise, parents found their real happiness in their child’s success. This happiness will be ever and last long.
Happiness is when there is no strings attached to it. It should not be a result of materialistic comfort and should be purely attached to an individua. Listening to music, watching aesthetic beauty of nature or being with someone can give happiness. One needs to find it as his individuality decides.
For e.g.: .For Swami Vivekananda it is about serving the weak while Mother Teresa led a content life serving disabled and lepers.
Conclusion
Thus, True happiness lies in doing something in welfare of others, helping & protecting others & showing compassion & sympathy & doing one’s duties in an honest, morally upright & responsible way. Lord Buddha argues that “Happiness is not in having a lot, but it is in giving a lot.”
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