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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: effects of globalization on Indian society.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu , Indian Express
Why the question:
The World Inequality Lab, a research centre at the Paris School of Economics, released the 2022 World Inequality Report (WIR) on December 7, 2021.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about relationship between inequalities and globalisation and measures needed to tackle the same.
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 citing statistic about growing inequalities in India.
Body:
In the first part, write about how globalisation was supposed to bring equitable benefits but it has caused growing inequalities. Account for the various causes for it and the impact of the same.
Next, write about various steps that are needed to address inequalities in in India.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Globalization is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. Being multi-dimensional and global in nature, this process has effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world.
India is one of the world’s most unequal countries, with the top 1% getting 21.7% of the national income. Top 10% of Indians capture 57% of the national income, while the share of the bottom 50% is only 13%.
Body
Globalization has increased inequalities in India
- Globalization created opportunities only for the skilled or wealthy people.This increases the inequality between the rich and poor. This has made urban poor lives much harder, and caused the creation of slums.
- On top of that, unhealthy process of urbanizationis causing the deficiencies in the basic services such as housing, water supply, sanitation. This eventually made the poor as worst victims.
- With globalisation, a trend of establishing industries in the rural areas has started as the availability of land is cheaper as well as unorganized labour. This may sound fruitful but because of the pollution from the industries, lives of the rural people have deteriorated.
- Unemployment ratehas increased and the growth of employment was slowed down during post-globalization period.
- The inequalityalso increased in terms of sectoral share in GDP and employment, and inter-states per capita income.
- In India, globalisation is leading to growth of a new generation of young and rich, and then there are millions of rural and urban poor and this inequality is growinThe rich are becoming preoccupied with their own advancement, given global complexities, the poor are in a state of existential poverty.
- India is also infamous for child labour and underpayment.
- The problem of jobless growth persisted with many people participating in agriculture (disguised employment )
- Greater incorporation of technology which was ill suited for Indian labour market and gave rise to informal sector.
However, Globalisation has also helped to reduced poverty
- High economic growth
- Globalization has become a major factor behind the high economic growth in the country. The favorable economic conditions have put a positive impact on the overall standard of living of the country.
- Between 1981 and 2001 the percentage of rural people living on less than $1 a day decreased from 63 to 42 per cent in India
- Percapita income increase
- Due to the high economic growth, there has been rapid progress in the civic amenities. The per capita income has increased which has improved the standard of living of the masses. As economic growth is a great factor behind the improvement of the poverty, the rise in the economic condition of India had a favorable impact on the reducing the rate of poverty in the country.
- Employment
- Due to the high demand and the supply chains, there has been significant growth in the market. As such, more and more job opportunities are being created in different sectors. This has increased the per capita income considerably which has improved the poverty level to a great extent.
- Agriculture benefitted
- Due to the globalization, Indian agriculture has improved to some extent which has helped to reduce the poverty problems of the rural masses. Due to the globalization and introduction of better equipments, there has been a stark improvement in the techniques of agriculture.
- Improvement in health care costs
- Globalization has also positively affected the overall health care situation in the country. More and more medical innovations are coming in which are improving the health situation in India. The infant mortality rate and the malnutrition rate have significantly come down since the last decade.
- Women
- Technology has also increased access to education in India, especially to women. This has decreased the gap between men and women which was created by stratified gender roles.
- Industrialization
- It offers advantages such as production-scale efficiency, innovative technology, efficient utilisation of labour, net of tax price equalisation, and equalisation of productive world savings and investment resources.
Conclusion
The gap between rich and poor cannot be resolved without deliberate inequality-busting policies. Despite the onslaught of second generation reforms and India joining the club of top economic actors at the global level, there is a long way to go for India before it can boast of substantive achievements in these critical areas. Apart from economic factors, non-economic factors such as deepening democracy and decentralisation can help in reducing inequalities.
Value addition
Key findings of the World Inequalities Report, 2022:
- The gap between the rich and the poor in terms of share of national income is quite large, and growing rapidlyas a result of government policies that favour the affluent elite. The richest 10% of the global population takes home 52% of the global income, whereas the poorest 50% got only 8.5% of it.
- Global wealth inequities are worse than income inequalities. While the poorest 50% own just 2% of the global wealth, the richest 10% own 76% of all the wealth.
- Inequality between countries was narrowing while inequality within countries was increasing. While the gap between the average incomes of the richest 10% of countries and the average incomes of the poorest 50% of countries has dropped from 50x to less than 40x, the gap between the average incomes of the top 10% and the bottom 50% of individuals within countries has almost doubled, from 8.5x to 15x.
- Countries are growing richer, governments are becoming poorer:The share of privately owned wealth in national wealth was rising, while that of public wealth (buildings, universities, roads, hospitals etc) was shrinking.
Topic: Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: New Indian Express
Why the question:
The Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to the education of children in India. Many children had ended up working in nearby farms or faraway industrial units, and stayed away from lectures regularly.
Key Demand of the question:
to Discuss in detail the impact of the pandemic on child labour and steps required to tackle it.
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:
Begin the answer by giving statistic regarding child labour in India.
Body:
First, write about the impact of covid-19 pandemic on drop outs and increasing trends of child labour. Cite other factors which lead to child labour.
Net, write about the measures that are needed to be taken to ensure holistic development of children and prevent the menace of child labour.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Child labour typically means the employment of children in any manual work with or without payment. It is a deep rooted social ill in India. As per the 2011 Census, in the age group 5-14 years, 10.1 million of 259.6 million constituted working children. The true extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child labour is yet to be measured but all indications show that it would be significant as children are unable to attend school and parents are unable to find work. However, not all the factors that contribute to child labour were created by the pandemic; most of them were pre-existing and have been exposed or amplified by it.
Body
- The number of children working as child labourers came down by 100 million in last two decades (1991 to 2011) which demonstrates that the right combination of policy and programmatic interventions can make a difference; but COVID-19 pandemic has undone a lot of gains
- The Covid-19 crisis has brought additional poverty to these already vulnerable populations and may reverse years of progress in the fight against child labour- ILO
- A report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF warns that 9 million additional children are at the risk of being pushed into child labour by the end of 2022 globally, as a result of the pandemic.
- In India, the closure of schools and the economic crisis faced by the vulnerable families, triggered by the pandemic, are likely drivers pushing children into poverty and thus, child labour and unsafe migration.
- There has been a significant increase in the proportion of working children from 28.2% to 79.6% out of the 818 children who were surveyed, mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic and closure of schools, reveals a study conducted by Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL).
- The coronavirus pandemic is forcing India’s children out of school and into farms and factories to work, worsening a child-labour problem that was already one of the direst in the world.
- Orphaned children are particularly vulnerable to trafficking and other exploitation like forced begging, or child labour. In such families, there is also the likelihood of older children dropping out of school to support their younger siblings.
- Children are seen as a stop-gap measure to fill jobs left vacant by migrant labourers who fled cities for their rural homes during the lockdown.
- According to the CACL survey, more than 94% of children have said that the economic crisis at home and family pressure had pushed them into work. Most of their parents had lost their jobs or earned very low wages during the pandemic.
- A total of 591 children were rescued from forced work and bonded labour from different parts of India during the lockdown by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, a civil society group on children’s rights
Challenges before policy makers with respect to child labour.
- The pandemic is hampering enforcement of anti-child labour laws, with fewer workplace inspections and less vigorous pursuit of human traffickers.
- NGOs point to the fact that the real spike in child labour is yet to come. When economic activity begins accelerating, there is a risk of returning migrants taking children along with them to the cities.
- Children’s access to education, basic nutrition and other critical requirements for their development and wellbeing, have suffered a huge setback and many new children have fallen into the trap of forced labour along with further deteriorated conditions for the existing child labourers.
- Child labour is not uniform. It takes many forms depending upon the type of work that children are made to do, the age and sex of the child and whether they work independently or with families. Due to this complex nature of child labour, there is no one strategy that can be used to eliminate it.
- Incoherency between laws that prescribe a minimum age for employment and those for completion of compulsory school education. It also means that the expansion of quality universal basic education has to extend beyond the fulfilment of statutory provisions.
Way Forward
- Abolition of child trafficking, elimination of poverty, free and compulsory education, and basic standards of living can reduce the problem to a great extent.
- Legal measures
- Strict implementation of labour laws is also essential in order to prevent exploitation by parties or multinational companies
- Child Protection Committees should work efficiently to identify vulnerable children and support their families through social protection schemes.
- Strengthening policy and legislative enforcement, and building the capacities of government, workers’ and employers’ organisations as well as other partners at national, State and community levels should be prioritized.
- Education
- Spreading literacy and education is a potent weapon against the practice of child labour, because illiterate persons do not understand the implications of child labour
- The single most effective way to stem the flow of school-aged children into child labour is to improve access to and quality of schooling.
- School authorities need to ensure that every student will have free lunches at home until schools open. Special efforts should be taken to identify children orphaned due to COVID-19, and arrangements of shelter and foster care for them should be made on a priority basis.
- Financial support or relaxation of school fees and other related school expenses should be given to those children who wouldn’t be able to return to school otherwise
- Eradicate Unemployment
- Another way to stop child labour is to eliminate or rein in unemployment. Because of inadequate employment, many families cannot afford to meet all their expenses. If employment opportunities are increased, they will be able to let their children read and write and become worthy citizens
- Coordinated policy efforts should be taken to provide employment and income support to all informal sector workers to stimulate the economy and labour demand.
- Continued progress against child labour requires policies that help mitigate the economic vulnerability of households.
- Accelerating progress towards universal social protection is key, as social protection helps prevent poor households from having to rely on child labour as a coping mechanism.
- Attitude change
- It is important that the attitudes and mind-sets of people are changed to instead employ adults and allow all children to go to school and have the chance to learn, play and socialize as they should.
- A sector-wide culture of child labour-free businesses has to be nurtured.
Conclusion
These measures will no doubt respond to the emergency needs that COVID-19 has generated and also ease the life of children directly or indirectly to some extent. However, it is clear that more needs to be done to prevent children from lapsing into child labour.
Eliminating child labour is firmly placed within Goal 8 of the SDGs. A stronger nexus between the discourse on SDGs and the discourse on eliminating child labour can take the advantage of complementarities and synergies of a wide range of actors engaged in both areas of work. The fight against child labour is not just the responsibility of one, it is the responsibility of all.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The Government refrained from commenting on a Supreme Court notice issued to it on a petition that seeks directions to the respondents to take steps to remove anomalies on the grounds of divorce, maintenance and alimony.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about analyse the debate regarding introduction of the Uniform civil code.
Directive word:
Critically analyze – 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. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a balanced judgment on the topic.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as per article 44.
Body:
First, explaining the aims and objectives behind UCC in India.
Next, discuss in detail the arguments for UCC in India – Mentioned in DPSP, uniformity of laws, achieving equality, simplification of law, progressive measure etc.
Next, discuss in detail the arguments against the UCC in India – Lack of consensus, against cultural diversity, right of minorities, tribal customs etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a balanced opinion regarding UCC.
Introduction
A Uniform Civil Code is one that would provide for one law for the entire country, applicable to all religious communities in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc. It proposes to replace the personal laws based on the scriptures and customs of each major religious community in the country with a common set of laws governing every citizen.
Article 44 of the Constitution lays down that the state shall endeavor to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India.
Body
Background
- While delivering a judgment legitimising the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867, the Supreme Court reportedly described Goa as a “shining example” with a Uniform Civil Code
- The previous Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde recently lauded Goa’s Uniform Civil Code, and encouraged “intellectuals” indulging in “academic talk” to visit the state to learn more about it.
- The Delhi High Court, in a very revolutionary decision, backed the need for a Uniform Civil Code observing that there is a need for a Code – ‘common to all’ in the country and asked the central government to take the necessary steps in this matter.
Time is ripe for UCC in India
- Promotion of secularism: One set of laws to govern the personal matters of all citizens irrespective of religion is the cornerstone of true secularism. A secular republic needs a common law for all citizens rather than differentiated rules based on religious practices. It would help end gender discrimination on religious grounds and strengthens the secular fabric of the nation.
- Protection of Vulnerable & Women’s Rights: It will protect the vulnerable sections of society. Women have been denied via personal laws in the name of socio cultural-religious traditions. Therefore UCC could bring all communities together to ensure Women the Right to a dignified life and control over their life as well as body.
- Gender justice:The rights of women are usually limited under religious law, be it Hindu or Muslim. Many practices governed by religious tradition are at odds with the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Indian Constitution. Courts have also often said in their judgements that the government should move towards a uniform civil code including the judgement in the Shah Bano case.
- Prevents religion-based discrimination: Personal laws differentiate between people on grounds of religion. A unified law having the same provisions regarding marital affairs would provide justice to those who feel discriminated against.
- Ending unjust customs and traditions: A rational common and unified personal law will help eradicate many evil, unjust and irrational customs and traditions prevalent across the communities. For example, Law against Manual scavenging. It might have been a custom in the past but in a mature democracy like India, this custom cannot be justified.
- Indian laws do follow a uniform code in most civil matters –Indian Contract Act, Civil Procedure Code, Sale of Goods Act, Transfer of Property Act, Partnership Act, Evidence Act etc. States, however, have made hundreds of amendments and therefore in certain matters, there is diversity even under these secular civil laws.
- Justice Prathiba M Singh of Delhi HC stated that the modern Indian society was gradually becoming homogenous, the traditional barriers of religion, community and caste are slowly dissipating and thus UCC ought not to remain a mere hope.
- Eases Administration: UCC would make it easy to administer the huge population base of India.
Challenges facing the passage of UCC:
- Violation of fundamental rights:Religious bodies oppose uniform civil code on the ground that it would be interference into religious affairs which would violate fundamental rights guaranteed under article 25 of the constitution.
- Reduces diversity:It would reduce the diversity of the nation by painting everyone in one colour. Tribals have their unique customs and traditions as per their culture. Replacing their customs and traditions with a unified law may lead to the identity crisis of the tribals. This may further lead to social tension.
- Communal politics:It would be a tyranny to the minority and when implemented could bring a lot of unrest in the country.
- Threat to Multiculturalism: Indian society has a unique identity in the form of its being multiculturalism, and unified law might do away with these unique characteristics of this nation.
- Affects Majority as well: For example, even Hindus themselves have separate Hindu laws for themselves. Thus, it is not merely a question for minorities but it also affects the majority.
- Lacking Political Will: Bigger issues have been resolved by the BJP Government like Ayodhya Dispute, repeal of Article 370, so with adequate will from the political community, UCC could also be implemented
- Sensitive and tough task – Such a code, in its true spirit, must be brought about by borrowing freely from different personal laws, making gradual changes in each, issuing judicial pronouncements assuring gender equality, and adopting expansive interpretations on marriage, maintenance, adoption, and succession by acknowledging the benefits that one community secures from the others. This task will be very demanding time and human resource wise. The government should be sensitive and unbiased at each step while dealing with the majority and minority communities. Otherwise, it might turn out to be more disastrous in a form of communal violence.
- Time is not yet suitable for this reform – Considering a major opposition from Muslim community in India over this issue overlapping with controversies over beef, saffronization of school and college curriculum, love jihad, and the silence emanating from the top leadership on these controversies, there needs to be given sufficient time for instilling confidence in the community. Otherwise, these efforts towards common will be counterproductive leaving minority class particularly Muslims more insecure and vulnerable to get attracted towards fundamentalist and extremist ideologies.
Way forward
- Major sensitization efforts are needed to reform current personal law reforms which should first be initiated by the communities themselves.
- Current institutions need to be modernized, democratized and strengthened for this change. Sincere efforts towards women empowerment have to be taken for all women of all religions.
- UCC can only emerge through an evolutionary process, which preserves India’s rich legal heritage, of which all the personal laws are equal constituents.
- The social transformation from diverse civil code to uniformity shall be gradual and cannot happen in a day. Therefore, the government must adopt a piecemeal approach and no knee-jerk decisions.
- There is need for deliberations and discussions among members of various communities to reach a common ground.
Conclusion
The guiding principles of the Constitution itself visualize diversity and have tried to promote uniformity among peoples of different denominations. A uniform law, although highly desirable but may be counterproductive to the unity and integrity of the nation. Hence, only those elements of customs and traditions should be brought into a unified law that causes injustice to individuals. In a democracy and rule of law, a gradual progressive change and order must be brought about.
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Indian Express
Why the question:
RBI Monetary Policy Highlights: In line with expectations, the RBI MPC keeps key rates unchanged. This is the ninth consecutive time since the rate remains unchanged
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 giving the mandate of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) monetary policy committee.
Body:
In the first part, mention the reasons for the status quo – rise in commodity prices, possible supply-side disruption due to the spread of the new coronavirus variant and moderation in global growth and international trade, reinforced inflationary pressures., A possible faster normalization by the Federal Reserve etc.
Next, bring out the pros and cons of the above move.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a balanced opinion about the move to continue with status quo
Introduction
For the 9th time in a row, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) monetary policy committee (MPC) decided to leave key policy rates unchanged. Repo rate and reverse repo remained unchanged at 4 percent and 3.35 percent respectively. As expected, given the pervasive uncertainty following the Omicron variant, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to maintain status quo on policy rates.
Body
Factors for RBI’s decision on benchmark interest rates
- To revive growth: Overall, the recovery that had been interrupted by the second wave of the pandemic is regaining traction, but it is not yet strong enough to be self-sustaining and durable.
- The MPC has retained the growth target at 9.5 per cent for FY2022. India’s economy expanded 8.4 per cent in the September quarter from a year earlier.
- The RBI also retained retail or consumer price inflation projection at 5.3 per cent in 2021-22
- Emergence of new Omicron variant: The tone of the statement was cautious, and more dovish than expected, presumably due to the uncertainty stemming from the new Covid variant.
- Inflation controlled: Central message of RBI was that, as inflation remains under control, and considering “the slack in the economy”, that parts of the economy, especially private consumption, are below their pre-pandemic level, and hence continued policy support is warranted.
Advantages of the move
- The monetary policy stance is primarily attuned to the evolving domestic inflation. In the current situation, it is important to keep inflation aligned with the target while focusing on a robust growth recovery.
- With fears of further restrictions on travel and activity, there is considerable uncertainty at this moment on how the growth-inflation dynamics will pan out in the immediate months.
- Thus concentrating on growth is more important than ever, to take India on path of economic prosperity.
- RBI has maintained ample surplus liquidity in the banking system to nurture the nascent growth impulses and support a durable economic recovery.
- With rates unchanged, this momentum will be sustained.
Disadvantages of keeping rates unchanged
- Emergence of Omicron could pose downside risk to growth, while inflation is also edging up. Tolerating inflation to support growth was right call, but change is needed in future.
- While the strategy of tolerating high inflation to support growth was the right one over the last two years, going forward, the RBI needs to start normalising rates to ensure a positive real rate of interest for savers.
- In recent months, inflation has soared in a number of countries amid elevated commodity prices and input prices, prompting their central banks to start raising rates or accelerate the pace of monetary policy normalisation.
- While low interest rates helped in mitigating the impact of the pandemic on businesses and borrowers, it was a drag on savers as they earned negative returns on their savings.
- As growth picks up further in the next few months, interest rates need to be normalised for those who save especially in bank deposits.
- In the recent period, the decline in borrowing costs has resulted in decline in returns for depositors. This has resulted in a decline in household deposits.
- The slide in bank deposit rates prompted greater participation by households in stock markets.
- While retail investors have been investing in IPOs, a deep correction in stock markets could impact the earnings of small investors.
Conclusion
The decision of the monetary policy has facilitated swifter and more complete monetary policy transmission and the orderly conduct of the market borrowing programme of the Government. The Reserve Bank will continue to manage liquidity in a manner that is conducive to entrenching the recovery and fostering macroeconomic and financial stability, as per the Governor’s recent statement.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the need to tackle plastic pollution by regulating its manufacturing as well as managing plastic waste.
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 giving a statistic regarding the extent of plastic pollution in India and the world.
Body:
First, mention the various sources of plastic pollution and its impact.
Next, write about the steps that have been taken to regulated the manufacture of plastic in India.
Next, enumerate policy measures and other initiative to tackle plastic waste management in India. Examine the performance the above measures.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward to holistically tackle the issue of plastic pollution.
Introduction
In 2019, the Union government in a bid to free India of single-use plastics by 2022, had laid out a multi-ministerial plan to discourage the use of single-use plastics across the country. In this direction, the Environment Ministry recently issued draft rules that mandate producers of plastic packaging material to collect all of their produce by 2024 and ensure that a minimum percentage of it be recycled as well as used in subsequent supply.
Body
Plastic waste scenario in India
- According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India generates close to 26,000 tonnes of plastic a day and over 10,000 tonnes a day of plastic waste remains uncollected.
- According to a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)study the plastic processing industry is estimated to grow to 22 million tonnes (MT) a year by 2020 from 13.4 MT in 2015 and nearly half of this is single-use plastic.
- India’s per capita plastic consumptionof less than 11 kg, is nearly a tenth of the United States of America (109 kg).
Impact of Plastic Waste
- Economic Losses:Plastic waste along shoreline has a negative impact on tourism revenue (creates an aesthetic issue).
- For example, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, are under the plastic threat and facing the aesthetic issue because of the international dumping of plastic wasteat the island.
- Implications for Animals:Plastic wastes have profoundly affected animals in aquatic, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems.
- Plastic ingestionupsets or fills up the digestive systems of the animals thus contributing to their death due to intestinal blockage or starvation.
- Marine animals can also be trapped in plastic wastewhere they are exposed to predators or starve to death.
- The plastics may also contain toxic chemicalswhich can harm the animal’s vital organs or biological functions.
- Implications for Human Health:The chemicals leached from the plastics contain compounds, like polybrominated diphenyl ether (anti-androgen), bisphenol A (mimics the natural female hormone estrogen) and phthalates (also known as anti-androgens), impact human health leading to various hormonal and genetic disorders.
- These chemicals can interfere with the functioning of the endocrine systemand thyroid hormones and can be very destructive to women of reproductive age and young children.
- Land Pollution:Plastics leach hazardous chemicals on land, resulting in the destruction and decline in quality of the earth’s land surfaces in term of use, landscape and ability to support life forms.
- Air Pollution:Plastic burning releases poisonous chemicals into the atmosphere impacting general well-being and causing respiratory disorders in living beings.
- Groundwater Pollution:Whenever plastics are dumped in landfills, the hazardous chemicals present in them seep underground when it rains. The leaching chemicals and toxic elements infiltrate into the aquifers and water table, indirectly affecting groundwater quality.
- Water Pollution:Many lakes and oceans have reported alarming cases of plastic debris floating on water surfaces, affecting a great number of aquatic creatures. It leads to dreadful consequences to marine creatures that swallow the toxic chemicals. In 2014, United Nation report estimated the annual impact of plastic pollution on oceans at US$ 13 billion.
- Interference with the Food Chain:Studies determine that the chemicals affect the biological and reproduction process resulting in reduced numbers of offspring thus disrupting the food chain.
- When the smaller animals (planktons, mollusks, worms, fishes, insects, and amphibians) are intoxicated by ingesting plastic, they are passed on to the larger animals disrupting the interrelated connections within the food chain.
- Poor Drainage:Drainage system clogged with plastic bags, films, and other plastic items, causes flooding.
- Impact on Habitats:Seafloor plastic waste sheets could act like a blanket, inhibiting gas exchange and leading to anoxia or hypoxia (low oxygen levels) in the aquatic system, which in turn can adversely affect the marine life.
- Invasive Species:Plastic waste can also be a mode of transport for species, potentially increasing the range of certain marine organisms or introducing species into an environment where they were previously absent. This, in turn, can cause subsequent changes in the ecosystem of the region.
Measures taken so far to tackle plastic pollution
- In 2019, the Union government in a bid to free India of single-use plastics by 2022, had laid out a multi-ministerial plan to discourage the use of single-use plastics across the country.
- Currently, the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags and plastic sheets less than 50 microns in thickness in the country.
- The Environment Ministry has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.
- These rules prohibit specific single-use plastic items which have “low utility and high littering potential” by 2022.
- The permitted thickness of the plastic bags, currently 50 microns, will be increased to 75 microns from 30th September, 2021, and to 120 microns from the 31st December, 2022.
- At the policy level, the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), already mentioned under the 2016 Rules, has to be promoted.
- The Central Pollution Control Board, along with state pollution bodies, will monitor the ban,identify violations, and impose penalties already prescribed under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986.
- The Central Pollution Control Board has reported that 22 States have, in the past, announced a ban on single-use plastic, but this has had little impact on the crisis of waste choking wetlands and waterways and being transported to the oceans to turn into microplastic.
- So far, 22 States and Union Territories have joined the fight to beat the plastic pollution, announcing a ban on single-use plastics such as carry bags, cups, plates, cutlery, straws and thermocol products.
- India has also won global acclaim for its “Beat Plastic Pollution” resolve declared on World Environment Day last year, under which it pledged to eliminate single-use plastic by 2022.
Way forward
- As consumers, we should ensure that all plastic waste leaving our homes is segregated and is not contaminated with food waste.
- Managing plastic waste requires effective knowledge, not only among those who produce the plastic but also among those who handle it.
- The brand owner and manufacturer should try and understand the fates a plastic packaging material would meet after its purpose of packaging has been served.
- Citizens have to bring behavioural change and contribute by not littering and helping in waste segregation and waste management.
- To encourage innovation in development of alternatives to identified single use plastic items and digital solutions to plastic waste management, the India Plastic Challenge – Hackathon 2021, has been organized for students of Higher Educational Institutions and start-ups recognized under Start-up India Initiative.
Conclusion
The pressure on producers to streamline the collection, recycling and processing of all forms of plastic is bound to grow. Individuals and organizations should now actively remove plastic waste from their surroundings and municipal bodies must arrange to collect these articles. Startups and industries should think of newer ways of recycling plastic.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Difficulty level: Easy.
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To explain the major causes of water pollution in India.
Directive:
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:
Initiate the discussion by highlighting the importance of water as a public good, its importance for life in general.
Body:
First, write about Over 70% of India’s surface and groundwater is contaminated by human and other waste and is likely to be polluted.
Next, write about the major causes of water pollution and analyse them.
Next, suggest steps to mitigate water pollution in India.
Conclusion:
Write a way forward.
Introduction
Water pollution is caused when water bodies such as rivers, lakes, oceans, groundwater and aquifers get contaminated with industrial and agricultural effluents. When water gets polluted, it adversely affects all lifeforms that directly or indirectly depend on this source. The effects of water contamination can be felt for years to come.
NITI Aayog reckons that nearly 600 million Indians are already facing “high to extreme” water stress. The situation is set to worsen as the water demand is likely to double by 2030.
Body
Acute water crisis in India
- According to the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report released by the NITI Aayog in 2018, 21 major cities (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others) are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people.
- The CWMI report also states that by 2030, the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual 6% loss in the country’s GDP.
- Maharashtra and nearly half the country is facing an acute water shortage. Besides Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana are facing a water shortage of unprecedented level.
- 90% of India’s water is consumed in farming and 80% of this irrigation is for water-guzzling crops — rice, wheat and sugarcane. Reducing this number is the most effective way of solving India’s water problem.
- India’s farmers, even in drought-prone areas, grow these water-intensive crops because these crops have a steady demand due to government assured procurement and Minimum Support Price (MSP).
- Inefficient and dilapidated canal irrigation systems have led to a spurt in groundwater development. India is the largest user of groundwater in the world with over 60% of irrigated agriculture and 85% of drinking water supplies dependent on aquifers.
Major causes of water pollution and stress
- Population growth leads to high water demand both by households and agriculture.
- Concentration of Polluted River Stretches: Almost 60% of polluted river stretches exist in eight states: Maharashtra, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal and Karnataka.
- Disproportionate Sewage Treatment: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2019 directed that 100% treatment of sewage needed to be ensured before 31st March, 2020.
- However, these states have sewage treatment capacity disproportionate to the sewage generated.
- Agriculture run-off: Agricultural runoff contains dissolved salts such as nitrates, phosphates, ammonia and other nutrients, and toxic metal ions and organic compounds.
- Urbanization: Rapid urbanization in India during the recent decades has given rise to a number of environmental problems such as water supply, wastewater generation and its collection, treatment, and disposal.
- Many towns and cities which came upon the banks of rivers have not given proper thought to the problem of wastewater, sewerage, etc.
- Religious and Social Practices: Religious faith and social practices also add to the pollution of the rivers, especially Ganga.
- Dead bodies are cremated on the river banks. Partially burnt bodies are also flung into the river.
- Mass bathing in a river during religious festivals is another environmentally harmful practice.
Solutions to water pollution issues
- Put a realistic price on water: We charge so little for it, yet it costs so much to manage, that there’s little motivation to address the pressing needs of the aging water infrastructure.
- Educate to change consumption and lifestyles: In the end, changing the face of this crisis involves education to motivate new behaviours. Coping with the coming era of water scarcity will require major overhaul of all forms of consumption.
- Invent new water conservation technologies: In areas where aquifers are drying up and rainwater is increasingly unpredictable, innovation is needed.
- Recycle waste water effectively. Eg: Grey water for toilets, especially in large IT parks with many employees.
- Solar-powered water purifiers: Hot climates suffer from water shortage the most.
- Eg: Deepika Kurup invented a way to use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in containers that expose it to ultraviolet radiation and cleanse the water, making it suitable to drink.
- Improve irrigation and agricultural practices: Some 70 percent of the world’s freshwater is used for agriculture like drip irrigation, sprinkle irrigation, less extraction of ground water.
- Develop energy efficient desalination plants: To date, desalination has been an energy- intensive solution to water scarcity.
- Typically, the Middle East has capitalized on its large energy reserves to build desalination plants.
- But Saudi Arabia could be fostering a new kind of desalination with its recent announcement to use solar-powered plants.
- Improve water catchment and harvesting: Rainwater harvesting is a method to capture and store rainwater for various uses.
- It is also used to recharge groundwater aquifers.
- It is a low cost and eco-friendly technique for preserving water by guiding the rain water to borewell, pits and wells:
Way forward
- Need of national Water policy, on lines of Rajasthan – 1st state to implement sewage water policy
- Extraction of by-products: such as salt, nitrogen, phosphorous will be useful for local businesses.
- Industrial applications: for cooling purposes in power stations, industrial machinery etc; Singapore uses reclaimed water called ‘NEWater’ to serve 30% of its needs.
- Role of government, municipalities: need to enforce stricter norms regarding dumping of wastewater, improve process for treatment of wastewater.
- Improve infrastructure: setting up more wastewater treatment plants in every municipality funding them through municipality bonds.
- Cultural change: the culture of wasting water needs to be changed through educational campaigns.
- New technology: like sequencing batch reactor – C-TECH technology that was adopted in Navi Mumbai, meets the standards of EUROPEAN UNION in terms of treated water quality.
- A paradigm shift from “use and throw – linear” to a “use, treat, and reuse – circular” approach is needed to manage wastewater.
Conclusion
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 specifically focuses on water and sanitation, with Target 3 addressing water quality, but the availability of water is a cross-cutting issue upon which every aspect of development hinges. Put simply, water is life, and without a sustained commitment to improving and benefiting from effective wastewater management, that precious resource, and the billions of lives it nourishes, is in peril.
Topic: Case Study.
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.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
You may begin by bringing out the gravity of the issue of custodial violence in India.
Body:
- In the light of recent events, suggest various steps to ensure proper mechanism to ensure transparency, safety of convicts, informing family members, making legal aid available to arrested etc.
- Debate as to whether superintendents of police should be held accountable for custodial violence. The Pros and cons of such report. Suggest a way forward.
Conclusion:
Stress on the need to end the menace of custodial violence in India.
Introduction
Right to life and Right to live with dignity are the fundamental rights provided by the Constitution to every citizens of India. Custodial torture is global, old and stubborn. Incidence of increase in custodial deaths (both police custody and judicial custody) in India provides a warning signal to regulate the respective areas.
Body
Custodial torture is an inhuman practice:
- It represents the worst form of excesses by public servants entrusted with the duty of law enforcement.
- The practice of custodial power is about men — and sometimes, women — who are in positions of power, even if for a brief while and over a limited terrain, having custody over a powerless person.
- Custodial death, when not ‘natural’, is the extreme end-point of custodial torture. The death penalty, notwithstanding ‘due process’, is a close kin to this lawless and heartless game.
Measures needed:
- In a matter that concerns ‘life and liberty’, the Supreme Court is the guardian of the Constitution’s guarantees.
- The Law Commission of India submitted its 273rd report recommending government to ratify the UNCAT and also proposed the Prevention of Torture Bill 2017.
- Police Reforms: Guidelines should also be formulatedon educating and training officials involved in the cases involving deprivation of liberty because torture cannot be effectively prevented till the senior police wisely anticipate the gravity of such issues and clear reorientation is devised from present practices.
- Access to Prison:Unrestricted and regular access to independent and qualified persons to places of detention for inspection should also be allowed.
- CCTV cameras should be installed in police stations including in the interrogation rooms.
- Definition of torture should be broadened to include discrimination of any kind as one of the purposes of torture. It is widely recognised that discrimination based on religion, caste and association with ideas does have an impact on the incidence and extent of torture.
- Given the fact that there is a possibility of a range of acts that can be committed under torture, cruelty and ill-treatment leading to differing severity of harm—the punishment prescribed should have further gradation. Also, death penalty should not be included as the punishment.
- The anti-torture legislation should enlist possible factors based on which the calculation of compensation should be devised.
- Surprise inspections by Non-Official Visitors (NOVs) should also be made mandatory which would act as a preventive measures against custodial torture which has also been suggested by Supreme Courtin its landmark judgment in the DK Basu Case in 2015.
Should superintendents of police be held accountable?
- Yes, the SP should be held accountable in a particular district for custodial deaths.
- Police system in India follows a hierarchical order where the lower officers are accountable to their higher ups.
- Thus, grave human rights incidents such as custodial death can be avoided if the 2-way accountability mechanism is implemented well, which is the responsibility of SP.
- The responsibility devolves on senior police officers, who need to devise methods to monitor the number of suspects in each police station and the reasons for their detention.
- Any detention or arrest should be promptly reported to district superintendents, who should, thereafter, ensure that SC and NHRC guidelines are strictly adhered to.
- To check against such abuse of power, various countries have adopted safeguards, such as accountability of the police to the political executive, internal accountability to senior police officers, and independent police oversight authorities
Way forward
- Once the police are given functional independence, they must be held accountable for the wrongs they do.
- The existing mechanisms of accountability must be strengthened and improved.
- In addition, new mechanisms, working independently to monitor the functioning of the police and to inquire into public complaints against the police, must be established.
- The performance of the police as an organization and the behaviour of police personnel as individuals both need constant monitoring.
Conclusion
The prevention of torture has been one of the key human rights developments in the last decade. With India’s strong stake for a seat at the UNSC, the issue has assumed importance. There is an urgent need to address the ways in which inequalities continue to exist and question the nature of our criminal justice system which turns a blind eye to torture. Erring personnel must be promptly punished to send out the clear message that no one is beyond the reach of the law.
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