[Mission 2022] SECURE SYNOPSIS: 3 December 2021 – INSIGHTSIAS

 

 

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.

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General Studies – 1

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Topic: geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

1. Mangrove swamps protect coastal areas from erosion, storm surge, and tsunamis. Mangroves in India are getting ecologically fragile and climatically vulnerable. Comment. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Class-XI NCERT: India Physical Environment.

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 importance of mangroves and to bring out the various threats faced by them.

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:

Begin the answer by briefly writing about mangroves and their ecosystem.

Body:

You can draw simple and illustrative of map showing important mangroves.

Write about the role of mangroves as the first line of defence against erosion and flooding. Also mention about the other ecological benefits of mangroves as well as its unique flora and fauna.

Next, write about the various threats that mangroves are facing which is making them ecologically fragile and climatically vulnerable such as Coastal development, clearing for agriculture, excessive Aquaculture &Salt Production, River changes: Dams and irrigation, Destruction of coral reefs, Pollution and Climate change etc. Cite necessary examples, facts and figures to substantiate your point.

Conclusion:

Write a way forward to protect the Mangrove ecosystem of India.

Introduction

Mangroves are the characteristic littoral plant formation of tropical and subtropical sheltered coastlines. They exhibit remarkable capacity for salt water tolerance, strong wind velocity, varying tides and high temperature (FAO-1952). E.g.: Rhizophora, Avicenia, Bruguiera etc. Total cover of Mangroves in India is about 4,975 sq km as per latest State of Forest Report 2019.

Body

Ecological Services by Mangroves:

• Mangrove plants have (additional) special roots such as prop roots, pneumatophores which help to impede water flow and thereby enhance the deposition of sediment in areas (where it is already occurring), stabilize the coastal shores, provide breeding ground for fishes.
• Mangroves moderate monsoonal tidal floods and reduce inundation of coastal lowlands.
• They prevent coastal soil erosion.
• They protect coastal lands from tsunami, hurricanes and floods.
• Mangroves enhance natural recycling of nutrients.
• Mangrove supports numerous flora, avifauna and wild life.
• Provide a safe and favourable environment for breeding, spawning, rearing of several fishes.
• They supply woods, fire wood, medicinal plants and edible plants to local people.
• They provide numerous employment opportunities to local communities and augments their livelihood.

Threats to Mangroves:  

A scientific study reported that 100 per cent of mangrove species, 92 per cent of mangrove associates, 60.8 per cent of algae, 23.8 per cent of invertebrates and 21.1 per cent of fish are under threat.

Natural forces due to climate change:

• Sea-level rise: Mangrove systems do not keep pace with changing sea-level and fall
• Extreme high-water events: affect the position and health including through altered sediment elevation and sulphide soil toxicity
• Storms: increase damage to mangroves through defoliation and tree mortality and they collapse
• Precipitation: decreased rainfall and increased evaporation will increase salinity, decreasing net primary productivity, growth
• Temperature: Changing species composition, Changing phenological patterns (e.g., timing of flowering and fruiting)
• Ocean circulation patterns: affect mangrove propagule dispersal and the genetic structure of mangrove populations, with concomitant effects on mangrove community structure.

Anthropogenic activities:

• Mangroves are being destroyed and facing severe threats due to urbanization, industrialization, and discharge of domestic sewage, industrial effluents and pesticides.
• Saltpans and aquaculture also pose major threat to the mangroves.
• 40 per cent of mangrove forests in West Coast of India have been converted into farmlands and housing colonies over the last three decades.
• Some of the mangrove species like Bruguiera cylindrica and Sonneratia acida are at the verge of extinction.
• Due to shrimp farming, about 35,000 ha of mangroves have been lost in India.

Scientific Management of Mangroves

• Nationwide mapping of the mangrove areas, by remote sensing techniques coupled with land surveys, and time series to assess the rate of degradation of the ecosystems.
• Quantitative surveys of area, climatic regime, rate of growth of forest trees and seasonal variations of environmental parameters.
• Inclusion of mangrove species under threat in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red list. g. Sonneratia griffithii in India
• Assessment of suitable sites for reserve forests. g.: Artificial regeneration through mangrove nurseries or aerial seeding.
• Joint management of mangroves with local community participation.
• Disease and pest control. g.: Crab cuts are prevented by painting hypocotyls in yellow or Placing seedlings inside bamboo containers.
• Afforestation of degraded mangrove areas;
• Study of management methods, the ecology of mangroves, their flora and fauna, their microbiology and the biochemistry of organic matter and sediments.
• Mangroves for Future is a unique partner-led initiative for coastal ecosystem conservation. This project is being coordinated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) covering, initially, eight countries (including India) in South Asia, South East Asia and Western Indian Ocean, for the protection of the mangroves.
• The mangroves have been afforded protection under Category I (ecologically sensitive) of the CRZ.

Conclusion:

An increase of 54 sq. km in mangrove cover has been observed as notes in SFR 2019. There is a need to build on this progress for stabilization of low-lying coastal lands. Mangroves being natural filters of pollutants from water, it becomes even more necessary to conserve them.

Value addition

Characteristics:

• Mangroves are salt tolerant trees, also called halophytes, which survive high salinity, tidal regimes, strong wind velocity, high temperature and muddy anaerobic soil – a combination of conditions hostile for other plants.
• The mangrove ecosystems constitute a symbiotic link or bridge between terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
• They are found in the inter-tidal zones of sheltered shore, estuaries, creeks, backwaters, lagoons, marshes and mud-flats.

Role and Significance of Mangroves

• Mangroves moderate monsoonal tidal floods and reduce coastal inundation.
• It prevents coastal soil erosion.
• It supplies firewood, medicinal plants to local inhabitants.
• They support numerous flora, avifauna and wildlife.
• Mangroves support seashore and estuarine fisheries.
• It protects inland agricultural lands, livestock and coastal lands from hurricane and tsunami effect.
• Mangroves enhance natural recycling of nutrients.
• Mangroves are flood buffers and they also help in stabilizing the climate by moderating temperature, humidity, wind and even waves
• They are natural carbon sinks.

 

Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography;

2. Compare and contrast, the continental drift theory, sea floor spreading theory and the plate tectonics theory. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: NCERT Book For Class XI: Fundamentals of Physical Geography.

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 differences as well as similarities between most important theories that tried to explain the plate tectonics.

Directive:

Compare and contrast – provide for a detailed comparison of the two types, their features that are similar as well as different. One must provide for detailed assessment of the two.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Write about plate tectonics and the movement of continents and various theories put forward to explain them.

Body:

This is a very straightforward question and to answer it, drawing a table would be apt in order to compare and contrast the theories.

Bring out differences in the continental drift theory, sea floor spreading theory and the plate tectonics theory on the following parameters such as Authors of the theory, what the theory explains, forces it considers for the movement, supporting evidences it considers, critique of theory if any and its acceptance among scientists etc.

Conclusion:

Mention about general importance of the theories and conclude your answer.

Introduction

Continents cover 29 per cent of the surface of the earth and the remainder is under oceanic waters. The positions of the continents and the ocean bodies, as we see them in the map, have not been the same in the past and it is now a well-accepted fact that oceans and continents will not continue to enjoy their present positions in times to come.

Body

Various theories have been proposed to substantiate the present locations of the continents and oceans.

 

Comparison: Continental Drift – See Floor Spreading – Plate Tectonics

Conclusion

Thus, it is a combination of all these various forces which has led to formation of diversity of land and sea forms across the globe. It is a continuing process since the beginning of formation of earth and various activities like volcanoes, earthquakes, formation of new land masses stand testimony to these activities.

 

Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

3. India today is a hub of the global fertility industry and The Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill (ART) allows safe and ethical practice of ART services but the bill is discriminatory. Critically examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Easy.

Reference: The Hindu

Why the question:

Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020, that was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, has done, by excluding two categories — LGBTQIA+ and single men.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the features of ART bill and examine how the bill is discriminatory in nature.

Directive word: 

Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into 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. 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: 

Start by giving the aims and objectives of ART bill.

Body:

First, mention the widespread nature of ART services which makes hub of the global fertility industry with medical tourists flocking to the country for a variety of services. Cite statistic to substantatie your points.

Next, mention the key features of ART bill which safe and ethical practice of ART services.

Next, mention how the bill is discriminatory by excluding LGBTQIA+ and single men.

Conclusion:

Conclude with solutions to address the issue.

Introduction

Recently, Lok Sabha has passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021. The ART Regulation Bill aims to regulate and supervise assisted reproductive technology clinics and banks, prevent misuse of the technology and promote the ethical practice of the services.

Body

Key features of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill (ART)

• Definition of assistive reproduction: Under the Bill, ART will include all techniques that attempt to obtain a pregnancy by handling the sperm and/or the oocyte (immature egg cell) outside the human body, and transferring the gamete or the embryo into the reproductive system of a woman.
• Setting up of ART Banks: The Bill defines an ART bank as an organisation set up to supply sperm or semen, oocytes, or oocyte donors to ART clinics or their patients.
• Regulation of ART Clinics: The Bill provides for the establishment of the National Registry of Clinics and Banks, which will act as a central database for details of all the clinics and banks in the country.
  • The Registry will grant registration to ART clinics which will be valid for five years and can be renewed for a further five years.
  • Registration may be cancelled or suspended if the entity contravenes the provisions of the Bill.
• National and State Boards: The Bill also provides for the establishment of National and State Boards for Surrogacy for the regulation of ART services.
  • The National Board shall advise the Central Government on policy matters relating to assisted reproductive technology.
• Rules for ART service providers: ART procedures can only be carried out with the written informed consent of both the person seeking ART services as well as the gamete donor.
• Rights of a Child Born through ART: The Bill provides that the child born through assisted reproductive technology shall be deemed to be a biological child of the commissioning couple and the said child shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges available to a natural child only from the commissioning couple under any law for the time being in force.
• Pre-implant testing: The Bill mandates that pre-implantation genetic testing shall be used to screen the embryo for known, pre-existing, heritable, or genetic diseases.
  • The National Board will lay down conditions on pre-implantation testing.
• Offences: Offences under the bill include clinics offering sex selection, abandoning or exploiting children born through ART, the selling, buying, or importing of human embryos and exploiting the couple or donors concerned in any form.
  • Proposed jail terms for violations range from five to 12 years, and fines from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.

Issues with the bill

• Discrimination in Accessibility: The Bill allows for a married heterosexual couple and a woman above the age of marriage to use ARTs and excludes single men, cohabiting heterosexual couples and LGBTQ+ individuals and couples from accessing ARTs.
• Not Inclusive: Bill doesn’t include lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender people (LGBTQ) or single men (the Bill includes single women) for exercising the right of ART.
• Expensive: As ART procedures are expensive, the bill does not have any provision for availing ART technologies for poor and marginalised sections.
  • So, the bill violates Article 14 (equality before law and equal protection of law) of the Constitution.
• Multiple bodies: Both ART and Surrogacy Bills aim to set up multiple bodies, that might result in duplication or lack of regulation.
  • For example, a surrogacy clinic is not required to report surrogacy to the National Registry.

Way forward

• Clinics must have ethics committees and mandated counselling services should be independent of them.
• Prior versions of the Bill regulated research using embryos, which must be brought back and definitions of commissioning “couple”, “infertility”, “ART clinics” and “banks” need to be synchronised between the Bill and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill.
• All ART bodies should be bound by the directions of central and state governments in the national interest, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency and morality.
• All the constitutional, medico-legal, ethical and regulatory concerns raised by the Bill must be thoroughly reviewed before affecting millions.

 

 

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General Studies – 2

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Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

4. The absence of a personal data protection law makes it difficult to know what rights are specifically available to us, rendering the fundamental right to privacy ineffective. Examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Live Mint

Why the question:

our Personal Data Protection law that has been in the making ever since a panel led by Justice Srikrishna submitted a framework for it in 2018 still seems bereft of the privacy focus it needs.

Key Demand of the question:

Examine the need and significance of protection of personal data of the people in 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: 

Begin by writing personal data and why it requires protection especially in the light of recent events.

Body:

First, write about the evolution towards data protection law since SC judgement of 2027 – Just srikirshna committee, JPC on the draft law etc.

Next, write about why protecting personal data is important? – Data protection regulations ensure the security of individuals’ personal data and regulate the collection, usage, transfer, and disclosure of the said data and how without a law it renders fundamental right to privacy ineffective.

Conclusion:

Conclude writing a way forward.

Introduction

Data protection is the process of protecting data and involves the relationship between the collection and dissemination of data and technology. It aims to strike a balance between individual privacy rights while still allowing data to be used for myriad purposes. The sheer volume of people’s data on the internet and the advancements in technologies such as Artificial intelligence, Data mining and machine learning poses a threat of abuse and misuse of data.

Body

Data protection in India

• Several countries have dedicated law for data protection like Japan’s Act on Protection of Personal Information. European Union has also adopted General Data Protection Regulation 2018.
• India does not have any dedicated legal framework for data protection. Presently some acts cover the data protection in general.
  • Sec 43A of Information Technology Act 2000 protects user data from misuse but it is applicable to only corporate entities and not on government agency. Also, the rules are restricted to sensitive personal data only — medical history, biometric information among other things.
  • Other acts like Consumer Protection Act 2015, Copyrights Act 1957 among others also attempt to protect the personal information.
• The need for a more robust data protection legislation came to the fore in 2017 post the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd) v. Union of India that established the right to privacy as a fundamental right.
• In 2018, a draft version of the bill was prepared by a committee headed by retired Justice B N Srikrishna. Recently, the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology.

Need for Data Protection in India

India has around 40 cr internet users and 25cr social media users who spend significant time online. The average cost for data breach in India has gone up to Rs. 11.9 crore, an increase of 7.9% from 2017. Moreover, in the KS Puttaswamy case, the Supreme Court has declared Data Privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21. Hence it becomes all the more significant to ensure data protection. The reasons are as follows:

• Data Export: Most of the data storage companies are based abroad. Especially the e-commerce companies that have exabytes of data on Indians. They also export data to other jurisdiction making it difficult to apply Indian laws.
• Data Localization: Enforcing data localization has faced backlash from many private entities and their home governments. There hundreds of private players are involved in data dynamics which makes it difficult to apply uniform data protection framework.
• User Consent: Generally, the application using pre-ticked boxes on consent while asking users regarding the acceptance to the terms and conditions.
• Privacy Breach: It is usually difficult to trace the perpetrator invading the data privacy.
• Privacy laws: Currently, the usage and transfer of personal data of citizens is regulated by the Information Technology (IT) Rules, 2011, under the IT Act, 2000. However, this are applicable only to private entities and not on government agency.
• Data ownership: As per TRAI guidelines, individuals own the data, while the collectors and data processors are mere custodians of data who are subject to regulations.

Conclusion

Considering the data privacy as the fundamental right of a citizen and economic downturns of the potential breaches in data, government need to reconsider the above pending issues. A robust Personal data protection law is the need of the hour. Due importance needs to be given on public awareness, better implementation and regulation and efficient grievance redressal as well.

 

 

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General Studies – 3

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Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.

5. In the aftermath of repeal of farm laws, measures are still needed to accelerate agricultural growth and bring remunerative prices to farmers. Discuss. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Live Mint

Why the question:

On 19 November, in a sudden announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the withdrawal of three contentious farm laws passed by Parliament last September. And they were repealed on the very first day that the House convened for its winter session.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the issues of farmers and suggest steps to improve their livelihood and achieve agricultural growth.

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: 

Begin by giving context regarding the repeal of the farm laws.

Body:

In the first part, write about the issues plaguing farmers in India – Small holdings make agriculture uneconomic, Perpetual indebtedness, Inability to procure quality seeds, Lack of water and poor yields etc.

Next, mention the steps that are need to accelerate agricultural growth in India – access to modern technology, research priorities, extension services and investment priorities, land leasing laws etc.

Next, write about the steps that are need to ensure renumerative prices to farmers in India – new opportunities for small and marginal farmers in allied activities, improve price realsiation, preventing losses etc.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.

Introduction

Future of agriculture is a very important question for the planners and all other stakeholders. Government and other organisations are trying to address the key challenges of agriculture in India, including small holdings of farmers, primary and secondary processing, supply chain, infrastructure supporting the efficient use of resources and marketing, reducing intermediaries in the market.

Prime Minister announced the withdrawal of three contentious farm laws passed by Parliament September 2020.

Body

Issues faced by Indian farmers

• Non-remunerative agriculture: Indian landholdings are so small that makes little marketable surplus. This makes them to go for subsistence agriculture and also difficult for mechanisation.
• Fragmented holding: It creates difficulties for marginal farmers to access credit or new technology, severely affecting farm productivity and their incomes, making them entirely dependent on usurious moneylenders.
• Unorganised agriculture: No systematic institutional & organisational planning in cultivation, irrigation harvesting & marketing. Minimum purchase price fixed by the government do not reach to the poorest farmers.
• Poor Government program penetration: Government has implemented agricultural debt waiver, debt relief scheme etc. Most of the subsides & welfare schemes announced by the central & state government do not reach up to poor farmers. On the contrary, only big land holders are benefited by these schemes.
• Unaffordable good quality Seeds: Seed is a critical and basic input for attaining higher crop yields and sustained growth in agricultural production. Unfortunately, good quality seeds are out of reach of the majority of farmers, especially small and marginal farmers mainly because of exorbitant prices of better seeds.
• Low average yield: Indian soils have been used for growing crops over thousands of years without caring much for replenishing. This has led to depletion and exhaustion of soils resulting in their low productivity.
• Irrigation: Although India is the second largest irrigated countryof the world after China, only one-third of the cropped area is under irrigation.
• Lack of mechanisation: Most of the agricultural operations in larger parts are carried on by human hand using simple and conventional tools and implements like wooden plough, sickle, etc. This lead to lesser productivity.
• Agricultural Marketing: Agricultural marketing still continues to be in a bad shape in rural India. Most of the farmers are left with small volume of produce.
• Scarcity of capital: Agriculture is an important industry and like all other industries it also requires capital. The role of capital input is becoming more and more important with the advancement of farm technology.
• Unreliable Monsoon: Indian Monsoon is always a gamble. If it’s doesn’t rain farmers will be worst hit of drought and famine. Excessive rain may destroy farmer’s crop or he would not get good price due to high supply in Market due to over production.
• Social Problems: Indian farmers get birth in debt, live in debt & died in debt. This is the important social problem in our country. General causes of social problems :
  • Drought & Natural calamities.
  • Totally depend on agriculture.
  • Lack of supplementary side business.
  • Traditional method of agriculture & lack of updates knowledge.
  • Conflict, dispute among family members.
  • Unwanted activities & expenditure on modern life style.
• Unorganised agriculture: No systematic institutional & organisational planning in cultivation, irrigation harvesting & marketing. Minimum purchase price fixed by the government do not reach to the poorest farmers.
• Literacy & opposition to developments: Most of the marginal farmers are illiterate. Therefore he find difficult to learn about new techniques. Similarly, farmers are superstitious, traditional & not easily accept challenges & inventions. This culture called as a poverty of culture.

Measures to improve condition of farmers in India:

• Reforms in MSP: political interference in MSP-setting, crop-wise and regional imbalances in MSP-led procurement operations, inefficient distributional and stocking policies, and undue and ad-hoc interference in tariffs and trade restrictions should be overcome.
• Irrigation facilities: Small land farmers are unable to arrange irrigation systems. They need proper irrigation. So government should have to take initiative for providing irrigation to the small land owners.
• Education to farmers: Many farmers are not aware about crop rotation. Though education in urban areas has improved a lot, the government has ignored the same in rural areas in general & in agriculture sector. So Government agencies should start efficient mechanism in this regard.
• Need for better water management: Currently available irrigation facility do not cover the entire cultivable land. In most cases, it is not the lack of water but lack of proper water management that causes water shortage. Improved modern methods of rain water harvesting should be developed.
• Developing alternate source of income for farmers: The Government should take up the responsibility for providing training to the farmers to acquire new skills to reduce the dependence on agriculture. New areas like horticulture, aquaculture, and fishery should also be promoted.
• Forming collectives for marketing their products is essential .
  • Apni mandi in Punjab, Rytu bandhu in Andhra Pradesh, dairy cooperatives are some of the successful cases in marketing.
  • The real challenge lies in organising the small and marginal farmers for marketing and linking them to high value agriculture.
  • Thus, group approach is needed for getting benefits from marketing
• Sustainable farming methods: Organic farming is the way out for sustainable farming. Organic certification process should be faster. Precision farming helps to get out of drought adversities by targeted input delivery. It requires minimum input and also reduces cost of production.
• Women support: Women farmers don’t enjoy entitlement to their land. GoI is in process of digitisation of land records. In that process women farmers of that family can also be done to get their Rights. Further smart farm tools and machineries must be gender neutral in its accessibility.
• Climate Resilience farming (CRF): It depends mostly on technological tools like smart weather forecast using big data analytics. Plant biotechnology by developing short duration varieties, submerged crop varieties for coastal regions, drought resistant varieties for arid areas can further promote CRF.

Conclusion

The future of world agriculture and food production is expected to increasingly depend on middle-income countries such as China, India, Brazil, and Indonesia, just like the high-income countries dictating the fortunes of global agriculture in the past five decades. To make the best use of this great opportunity, India needs to put in place an agricultural regulatory system that would make it easier for its farmers to conduct agricultural activities, thereby improving their productivity, competitiveness, and income.

 

Topic: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.

6. The E-Shram portal has potential to ensure informal workers’ social security but technological and operational impediments in it must be addressed. Analyse. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: scroll.in

Why the question: 

In just under three months since launch of e-Shram portal, over 9.1 crore – 24% – of the expected 38 crore had registered by November 25. More than half work in the agriculture sector, India’s largest employer.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the benefits of e-shram portal for unorganised workers and other measures further need to ensure their welfare.

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 about the e-shram portal and its objectives.

Body:

In the first part, throw a light on the current status of unorganised workers in India.

Next, mention the potential benefits for the unorganised workers by registering themselves on the portal – health, DBT, ration etc. mention how e-shram helps alleviating the issues of unorganised workers.

Next, Discuss the various challenges or impediments being faced in the e-Shram portal. Talk about technological issues, eligibility issues, how it is a long process, complex identity issues, dependence on state governments etc.

Provide suitable measures to overcome the above.

Conclusion:

Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction

The government aims to register 38 crore unorganised workers, such as construction labourers, migrant workforce, street vendors and domestic workers, among others. The workers will be issued an e-Shram card containing a 12 digit unique number, which, going ahead, will help in including them in social security schemes. Of the 38 crore unorganised workers in India, just 24% have registered in the portal’s first three months.

Body

E-shram and targeted welfare schemes

• Hitherto, unorganised sector workers were effectively excluded from the purview of labour laws.
• Through this portal, after registering unorganised workers, the government says that it will be able to provide social security benefits such as insurance coverage, maternity benefits, pensions, educational benefits, provident fund benefits, housing schemes etc.
• The UAN number will be valid across the country and will help to provide workers, especially migrant workers, with social security benefits regardless of their location.
• The database will also help to create a central portal through which all social security benefits can be accessed.

E-shram portal: Potential

• Delivery of benefits: The portal will not only register them but would also be helpful in delivering of various social security schemes being implemented by the central and state governments.
• Maintaining a database of workers in unorganized sector: In India, 38.2% of the population is employed, shows the recently-released Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2019-’20. And, the unorganised sector represents 81% of the workforce, according to the ministry’s annual report.
  • A large number of unorganised workers are home-based and are engaged in occupations such as beedi rolling, agarbatti making, papad making, tailoring, embroidery work, workers who are working or engaged as street vendors, head loaders, brick kiln workers, cobblers, rag pickers, domestic workers, washermen, rickshaw pullers, landless labourers etc.
• Welfare of workers: The number of unorganised workers is expected to have increased due to the pandemic-infused economic burdens. Hence portal will help workers get their due benefits.
• Portable: This system is also aimed at helping migrant workers by making the benefits they are entitled to more “portable”.
  • The access to schemes for interstate migrant workers ranges from 5% to 27.5% which means the lowest level of access is 0.5% of migrant workers and highest is 27.5%
  • Portal will remove this discrepancy.

Technological and Operational Challenges

• It is focused on creating a database of workers and does not offer clarity on the social security benefits, besides accident insurance, that registered workers are supposed to receive.
• Mandatory Aadhaar-based mobile linkage is proving a hurdle for registration of many workers, and biometric authentication at common service centres is problematic.
• Language barrier and slow servers are proving hurdles for self-registration
• The Common service centres overcharge their customers for services such as issuing of certificates, banking through Aadhaar-enabled payment systems, submitting applications for PAN cards and accessing health benefits
• The Centre of Indian Trade Unions has said that arrangements for off-line registration are needed, given that all workers may not be able to access the online portal.
• The e-Shram portal captures migration data if the migrant is a semi-permanent migrant and is confined to one vocation only, as against Supreme Court mandated aim at registering circulatory migrants.

Way Forward

• Allow multiple forms of ID: The mandatory usage of Aadhaar for registration is unconstitutional and exclusionary, and must be removed. Other government provided ID cards should be allowed for authenticating a worker’s identity.
• Allow the latest numbers to be used: Workers should be allowed to use any number of their choice for registration. The portal must also allow the registered number to be modified by the workers.
• Allow offline registration: The government must create a way to register in the database offline. To this extent, common service centres can be leveraged to hold ‘registration camps’ for those who wish to register offline. Workers who are registered on pre-existing databases must automatically have their data supported into the new database.
• Increase ease of registration: Both central and state governments must organise local events and door-to-door campaigns to help workers register on the database. A helpline should be created to deal with complaints about the portal. Industry bodies and associations must share the responsibility to register workers

Value-addition

Registration in e-shram portal

• The registration of workers on the portal will be coordinated by the Labour Ministry, state governments, trade unions and CSCs.
• A worker can register on the portal using his/her Aadhaar card number and bank account details, apart from filling other necessary details like date of birth, home town, mobile number and social category.
• The initial benefits of registration include insurance coverage of Rs. 1 lakh in case of partial disability and Rs. 2 lakh in case of permanent disability or death.
• As of 30th August, more than 9.2 lakh workers have been registered on the portal.

 

 

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General Studies – 4

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Topic: Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.

7. Emotional intelligence can lead us on the path to a fulfilled and happy life by providing a framework through which to apply standards of intelligence to emotional responses. Elucidate. (150 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Key Demand of the question: To explain concept and the importance EI.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

In your own words, define Emotional intelligence and what it means to you.

Body:

First, very briefly describe the key 5 components of EI.

Explain why it is so valuable. Mention how can lead us on the path to a fulfilled and happy life. Mention its role in better management of emotions, understanding oneself, self-awareness etc. Cite examples to substantiate your points.

Conclusion:

Conclude by summarising the overall importance of Emotional intelligence.

Introduction

The term ‘Emotional Intelligence’, first coined by psychologists Mayer and Salovey (1990), refers to one’s capacity to perceive, process and regulate emotional information accurately and effectively, both within oneself and in others and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions and to influence those of others.

Body

Emotional intelligence can lead us on the path to a fulfilled and happy life

According to Daniel Goleman, an American psychologist who helped to popularize emotional intelligence, there are four key elements to it viz. Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness & relationship management.

• Self-awareness:
  • The ability to recognize and understand personal moods and emotions and drives, as well as their effect on others.
  • For instance, Hallmarks of self-awareness include self-confidence, realistic self-assessment, and a self-deprecating sense of humour.
• Emotional awareness:
  • This deals with knowledge of one’s emotions and their effects. People having this competency are more aware of their feelings and performance.
  • For instance, a person who is short-tempered will know how to manage his anger.
• Accurate self-assessment:
  • This involves being aware of one’s strengths and weaknesses. One is open to feedbacks, new viewpoints, etc.
• Self-confidence:
  • This relates to complete affirmation of one’s worth and abilities. They are usually more confident and are able to make sound decisions despite any uncertainties or pressures
• Self-management:
  • Ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods, and the propensity to suspend judgment and to think before acting.
  • Hallmarks include trustworthiness and integrity; comfort with ambiguity; and openness to change.
• Adaptability:
  • This involves flexible attitude towards change. People with this competency find it easy to handle changing routines, multiple roles and even shifting priorities.
  • g.: An Emotionally Intelligent person is more likely to try new things, take risks and face new challenges without fear.
• Innovativeness:
  • This involves getting easy with and open to new information and ideas. People who possess this are able to gather new ideas from multiple sources, set challenging roles and are able to take calculated risks. They evolve original solutions to various problems.
• Social Awareness:
  • The ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people. A skill in treating people according to their emotional reactions.
  • Empathy does not necessarily imply compassion. Empathy can be ‘used’ for compassionate or cruel behaviour. Serial killers who marry and kill many partners in a row tend to have great emphatic skills.
• Relationship management:
  • Proficiency in managing relationships and building networks, and an ability to find common ground and build rapport. Hallmarks of social skills include effectiveness in leading change, persuasiveness, and expertise building and leading teams.
  • EI equips to understand other point of view especially if it’s a divergent view.
  • EI acts as relationship builder.
  • g.: Your department is facing some challenges. There is too much politics, back biting and arguments. Recently there was an outburst from one of. Your team members. Using EI, you can manage destructive emotions and can manage this situation effectively.
• Motivation:
  • A passion to work for internal reasons that go beyond money and status -which are external rewards, – such as an inner vision of what is important in life, a joy in doing something, curiosity in learning, a flow that comes with being immersed in an activity.

Conclusion

Thus, EI, unlike its relatively fixed cousin, IQ, is instead a dynamic aspect of one’s psyche and includes behavioural traits that, when worked upon, can yield significant benefits, from personal happiness and well-being to elevated success in a professional context.

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