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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: Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Down to Earth
Why the question:
Witch-hunts are still highly prevalent in 12 of Odisha’s 30 districts — especially Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam — a new report has claimed.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about literary advancement during Vijayanagar period.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing a brief about this ghastly practise of witch hunting in India.
Body:
First, write about the various causes of this particse – poverty, patriarchy, superstition, illiteracy, rumour mongering, property disputes etc. Next mention about the impact of it on modern society.
Next, write about some legislations aimed at preventing this. Argue for an effective central legislation banning the practice of witch hunting with a strong enforcement mechanism is the need of the hour.
Next, write further steps that are needed – measures to eradicate poverty, ensure better living standards, public health, educational facilities, infrastructural facilities in the isolated areas and villages. Organization should be established to deal with such cases expeditiously and in a delicate manner as a matter of priority. It is
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning only when evils like witch hunting are eradicated from the society that the complete enjoyment of civil liberties by people can become a reality.
Introduction
India is a land where the women are considered as a token of their community, family, caste and all other diverse divisions. In some places people worship women as goddess but somewhere else they are killed considering them witch. Though many state laws are in place the problem has not been uprooted from the society.
Body
Witch hunting in India
- Witch hunting is a superstitious practice which entails the worst forms of cultural violence against women in a society. It’s manifestation of violence against women that is practiced in the name of culture, religion and social norms and practices, which are usually overlooked by the society.
- It’s a stigmatization of specific groups of people, which mostly contains widowed women, women who are childless, old women, women of lower caste etc.
- Socio-Cultural Deprivation: Practice of witchcraft and ‘witch-hunting’ in parts of India appears to be prevalent predominantly among certain castes and tribes. These communities have lived a socially, economically, educationally excluded and deprived life for centuries.
- According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), more than 2,500 Indians have been chased, tortured and killed in such hunts between 2000 and 2016 and Jharkhand topped the chart of witch-hunting murders.
- Human Right Violation: Guwahati High Court has observed that branding of a man or a woman as a witch and then resorting to witch hunting is the most dehumanising act and is one of the worst forms of human rights violations.
Reasons for witch hunting
- Patriarchal Attitude in Society: In a survey it was found that, women who dare to protest and speak up against the social hegemonic structure are targeted as witch by exploiting India’s caste system and culture of patriarchy.
- Vested Interest: Many times, branding women as witches is a tool used by land grabbers to deprive families of their property. Sometime people instigate such practices against the lower caste men and women in order to maintain their status in the society.
- It is also used as a weapon of revenge against women who refuse to yield to sexual advances.
- Personal Gain: Practice of witch hunting has become a social and religious business for the local doctors/medicine men/Ojhas to fulfil their materialistic requirements.
- Issue with the criminal justice system: Many of the cases registered were closed because of shoddy investigation, lack of evidence and witnesses or a compromise being worked out between the victims and the perpetrators.
- Lack of proper scientific awareness and education are one of the reasons of large prevalence of witch hunting in India e.g.: women were held responsible for all the calamities like rising infant mortality, famine, flood, and epidemic diseases etc.
Laws and legislations in this regard
There is no specific and particular national level legislation that penalises witch hunting. Hence the provisions under the Indian Penal Code 1860 (Sec.302 which charge for murder, Sec307 attempt for murder, Sec 323 hurt, Sec 376 which penalises for rape and Sec. 354 which deals with outraging a woman’s modesty) are used as an alternative for the victim.
- Witch-hunting violates Articles 14, 15(3), 15(4), 21, 51, 51A of the Indian Constitution and other national legislations including Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes (prevention of atrocities) Act, 1989 and involves acts punishable under the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
- In 1999, Bihar enacted the Prevention of Witch (DAAIN) Practices Act which was eventually adopted by Jharkhand as well in 2001.
- Jharkhand established “Anti Witchcraft Act” in 2001 to protect women from inhuman treatment as well as to provide victims legal recourse to abuse.
- In 2001, Assam police had introduced Project Prahari, a community project by the police against killing of women after branding them as witches.
- Chhattisgarh effected the Chhattisgarh Tonahi Pratadna Nivaran Act in 2005.
- Rajasthan government passed “Rajasthan Women (Prevention and Protection from Atrocities)” Bill, 2006, which makes it illegal as well punishable for calling any woman as “dayan” or to accuse a woman for practicing witchcraft.
- Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Bill, was approved by the president in 2015.
Measures needed
- National law: India has signed Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1993 and had agreed to eliminate discrimination and social cruelty against women.
- In addition to it Section 5(a) of the concerned convention explicitly provides that the states should take appropriate measures to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women.
- Hence a national legislation criminalizing witch-hunting is the need of the hour.
- Affirmative measures must be taken to ensure appropriate investigation into a complaint by the police and other officials.
- Setting up special cells in states where this offence is rather prevalent will protect women from unwarranted brutality and violence.
- The victims must be provided with compensation and rehabilitation facilities.
- Promoting scientific temper under Article 51-A for ensuring the empowerment of fringe communities.
- Comprehensive approach consisting of legal remedies, psychosocial support, economic empowerment, education, persecution of the perpetrator, to achieve better indicators in human development.
- Improving access to health care by ensuring that mental health care and support reaches villages with the appointment of psychiatrists and psychologists at the block level while ensuring delivery of justice to accused women through all mean with accelerated programmatic and policy action.
- Supporting awareness programmes and campaigns to aware people about the debilitating psychological and economic impacts on women who are made victim of accusations of being a witch and alter the deep-rooted value system of patriarchy that discriminate and subordinate women.
Conclusion
Witch hunting is a violation of right to life especially for women. Sabka Vikas cannot be possible in New India until and unless evils such as witch-hunting is stopped completely. Government must engage with different stakeholders to ensure convergence and strategic actions by different departments towards addressing the issue of witch branding.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
At a programme on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi transferred ₹1,000 crore to bank accounts of self help groups to benefit around 16 lakh women.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the impact of pandemic on the SHG’s and measures needed to address it.
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 mentioning the aims and objectives of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) with a special emphasis on SHG’s.
Body:
First, mention the advantages of SGH’s – empowering society, bringing women into public sphere, increasing women participation in workforce, augmenting income, financial inclusion etc.
Next, write about how the pandemic has their functioning. Lack of funds, repayment issues, infrequent meetings, halting of income generating activities etc.
Next, suggest measures to overcome the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Self-help groups are informal groups of people who come together to address their common problems. These self-help groups consist of around 8-10 women who pool their savings and use the corpus to give credit to members to earn a living. They are promoted under the central Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) launched in 2011 to empower women by providing them with easy access to credit. But in the last one year, they have gone beyond this role to do community work with funding from governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including tasks normally performed by health activists.
Recently, Prime Minister transferred ₹1,000 crore to bank accounts of self-help groups to benefit around 16 lakh women under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM).
Body
Work done by SHG’s during pandemic
- Nearly 76 million women in rural India had taken up self-help initiatives that proved instrumental in managing the food insecurity and healthcare challenges posed by the pandemic, an October 2020 report by the Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy (IWWAGE) said.
- Since March 2020, and as per July 21 data from the DAY-NRLM dashboard, these groups have manufactured nearly 170 million masks, 500,000 pieces of protective equipment and 500,000 litres of sanitiser.
- Through community kitchens, they also served more than half a million cooked meals to people from vulnerable communities.
- To help deal with this crisis, self-help groups helped rural communities by distributing food and ration supplies and creating awareness.
Impact of COVID on SHGs
- With perennially scarce resources and a lack of funding, many NGOs are no longer able to provide capacity-building support to SHGs. As a result, the less-established SHGs are disintegrating.
- The NPAs of the SHG-BLP surged from ₹.423 crore in 2007-08 to ₹4,524 crore in 2018-19. This situation of bad loans will be further accentuated and dent the sustainability of SHG-BLP on account of Covid-19 pandemic if the SHGs do not convert the problems into opportunities.
- Despite increased activity, SHGs are having a hard time dealing with loss of income and rising debts as members deal with the economic impact of the pandemic, studies have found.
- Livelihood opportunities have been severely impacted due to the economic shock of Covid, especially its impact on non-farm livelihoods, in which a large section of women members of SHGs are involved.
- Self-help group members saw a higher borrowing rate (59%) against 42% women on average, a study of 15,000 women and 2,300 men from low-income households across 10 states conducted between October and November 2020 found. But members have been struggling to return their loans taken from SHGs.
- COVID has thrown many challenges to the members of SHGs with regard to conducting physical meeting, mobilising savings (physical currency notes) of the group, rotating the money for internal lending among the members, depositing the physical cash towards repayment of loans, and maintaining hard copy of records.
- Several rural women who were members of SHGs from different districts, claimed that their financial condition was affected by the pandemic, pushing them further into debt.
Way forward
- Given the adverse impact on the economy, there is an urgent need to think about new funding dedicated to crisis amelioration (perhaps through cash transfers), as well as an extended moratorium period or flexible repayment schedules for existing loans.
- Government or development sector stakeholders like the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development could help sustain and strengthen SHGs by federating them and helping them access the funding they need to increase their already significant impact on rural livelihoods.
- Federating would imply clustering the self-help groups together, which would give them a larger pool of savings to leverage, more negotiating power, and the benefits of economies of scale.
- Federating SHGs would also introduce greater transparency and professionalism to the groups, while requiring the simplification of their legal structures, allowing members to manage them without the need of hiring costly professionals.
- By embracing digital tech like e-banking, e-commerce and social media, SHGs can tide over the operational problems thrown up by the pandemic.
- Leading from the front, self-help groups have played a critical role in providing resilience for households during the pandemic and going forward, there is a heightened need for strengthening their links to institutions and creating a supportive ecosystem for them.
Conclusion
With the proper support, self-help groups can have an even greater impact, at a time when their women-centric, community-based approach is particularly needed. Government and development sector stakeholders should act now to strengthen this time-tested model: Women in India, and around the world, have never needed it more.
Topic: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: New Indian Express
Why the question:
Electoral bonds have received tremendous attention and scrutiny as a unique poll funding instrument since their introduction in 2018. Critics have termed this a significant step backward in achieving the goal of transparency in political funding.
Key Demand of the question:
To critically analyse the performance of electoral bonds in improving transparency.
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 giving aims and objectives of introduction of electoral bonds.
Body:
In the first part, mention the functioning and features of electoral bond scheme – can be bought by any Indian citizen or company incorporated in India. The scheme allows parties to receive these bonds.
Next, write about how this new instrument of political party funding is aimed to ensure greater transparency by addressing the issue of anonymous financing. It sought to eliminate black money from the system.
Next, write about how they have increased opacity instead of increasing transparency.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward to improve transparency with respect to electoral bonds.
Introduction
Electoral bonds will allow donors to pay political parties using banks as an intermediary. Although called a bond, the banking instrument resembling promissory notes will not carry any interest. The electoral bond, which will be a bearer instrument, will not carry the name of the payee and can be bought for any value, in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh or Rs 1 crore.
Electoral bonds have received tremendous attention and scrutiny as a unique poll funding instrument since their introduction in 2018. Critics have termed this a significant step backward in achieving the goal of transparency in political funding.
Body
Rationale behind the electoral bonds:
- Electoral bonds have been introduced to promote transparency in funding and donation received by political parties.
- The scheme envisages building a transparent system of acquiring bonds with validated KYC and an audit trail. A limited window and a very short maturity period would make misuse improbable.
- The electoral bonds will prompt donors to take the banking route to donate, with their identity captured by the issuing authority. This will ensure transparency and accountability and is a big step towards electoral reform.
- The previous system of cash donations from anonymous sources is wholly non-transparent. The donor, the donee, the quantum of donations and the nature of expenditure are all undisclosed.
- According to government the system of Bonds will encourage political donations of clean money from individuals, companies, HUF, religious groups, charities, etc.
- After purchasing the bonds, these entities can hand them to political parties of their choice, which must redeem them within the prescribed time.
- Some element of transparency would be introduced in as much as all donors declare in their accounts the amount of bonds that they have purchased and all parties declare the quantum of bonds that they have received.
- The electoral bonds are aimed at rooting out the current system of largely anonymous cash donations made to political parties which lead to the generation of black money in the economy.
Findings on Electoral bonds:
- Since its introduction, electoral bonds have become an essential source of financing for all major political parties.
- Between March 2018 and January 2021, electoral bonds worth Rs 6,514.50 crore were redeemed by parties.
- While the ruling BJP has managed to receive the lion’s share (60.17%) of political funding made through the bonds, over half of the total income of all national and regional parties too was contributed through this method.
- for both the principal political parties, it seems that the quantum of political donations channelised through cash donations/non-identifiable sources has decreased substantially.
- Instead, today more funds are channelised through the formal banking system. This was not the case with the earlier system in which half of the political donations were not traceable as they were made in cash form.
- Viewed from this angle, the electoral bonds scheme is an improvement over the previous system.
electoral bonds have only legitimized opacity:
- The move could be misused, given the lack of disclosure requirements for individuals purchasing electoral bonds.
- Electoral bonds make electoral funding even more opaque. It will bring more and more black money into the political system. electoral bonds would cause a “serious impact” on transparency in funding of political parties
- With electoral bonds there can be a legal channel for companies to round-trip their tax haven cash to a political party. If this could be arranged, then a businessman could lobby for a change in policy, and legally funnel a part of the profits accruing from this policy change to the politician or party that brought it about.
- The amendments would pump in black money for political funding through shell companies and allow “unchecked foreign funding of political parties in India which could lead to Indian politics being influenced by foreign companies
- Companies no longer need to declare the names of the parties to which they have donated so shareholders won’t know where their money has gone.
- They have potential to load the dice heavily in favour of the ruling party as the donor bank and the receiver bank know the identity of the person. But both the banks report to the RBI which, in turn, is subject to the Central government’s will to know.
Alternative mechanisms for electoral funding:
- According to Former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi, an alternative worth exploring is a National Electoral Fund to which all donors can contribute.
- The funds would be allocated to political parties in proportion to the votes they get. Not only would this protect the identity of donors, it would also weed out black money from political funding.
- The total cost of MPLADS funding for all MPs is nearly ₹4,000 crore every year, and scrapping the scheme even for one year in an MP’s five-year term will be enough to bankroll state funding of Lok Sabha candidates. This is a legalized way of allowing MPs and MLAs to shower money on their constituencies at state expense.
- Direct funding of candidates, who will be reimbursed according to their final share of the votes cast.
- The best way to bring about such transparency in political funding is to put a complete ban on cash donations by individuals or companies to political parties.
- Making it mandatory for all parties to receive donations only by cheque, or other modes of money transfer.
- There should be clear provisions for getting tax benefits for all those making such donations.
- Make it mandatory for political parties to submit details of all donations received with the Election Commission and also with the income-tax department.
- State funding of political parties can be considered. The Indrajit Gupta Committee on State Funding of Elections had endorsed partial state funding of recognised political parties.
- The mechanics of this process need to be carefully worked out to establish the allocation of money to national parties, State parties and independent candidates, and to check candidate’s own expenditure over and above that which is provided by the state.
- Voters have to be made aware through awareness campaigns about ill effects of money power during elections. Bringing political parties under the preview of RTI act.
Conclusion
The 255th Law Commission Report on Electoral Reforms observed that opacity in political funding results in “lobbying and capture” of the government by big donors. Various commissions, including the Election Commission, have given detailed recommendations on suitable remedies. Public funding needs to be examined and introduced with proper checks and balances.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
The Reserve Bank gave license to the Rs 6,000 crore National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL), a move that will help kickstart operations of the bad bank.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the potential of NARCL to solve the NPA issues 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 defining National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL) and its purpose.
Body:
First, describe the structuring of the NARCL and also mention its mandate that makes it a bad bank.
Next, write about the potential of NARCL – high capital, backing of the government, reduce the burden on taxpayers, revival or reclamation of assets etc.
Next, write about its limitations – presence of private ARC’s, issues with restructuring and write off, corruption etc.
suggest need of right team with the right incentive structure and an innovative approach in handling assets for an effective performance of NARCL.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The Reserve Bank of India on October 4 gave licence to the Rs 6,000 crore National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL), a move that will help kickstart operations of the bad bank. K V Kamath Committee also suggested setting up Bad bank to revive sectors such as Trade, Textile, NBFCs, Steel and construction, etc.
Body
Overview on Non-Performing Assets and need for bad bank
- Scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) were carrying NPAs worth Rs 8.96 lakh crore on their balance sheet at the end of March 2020.
- Likely resurgence in NPAs: With Covid-related stress, Indian banks are expected to see a resurgence in their non-performing loans from Rs. 8.34-lakh crore in end-FY21 to ₹10-11 lakh crore by end of this fiscal.
- Declining performance of IBC: The IBC of late is following the law of diminishing returns—after the initial success of selling a few big steel mills and other good assets, where the lenders recovered well over 50% of their dues, things have gone downhill.
- In some high-profile cases, such as Videocon, Ruchi Soya and Jet Airways, the lenders have hardly recovered 5-6% of their dues.
- Pending cases: Also, too many cases and too few NCLT judges have meant pile-ups and most resolutions taking twice the time limit originally set under the IBC.
- Problem with existing ARCs: Also, the asset construction route has also run into issues. Here too the recoveries have slowed and the ARCs are also facing capital issues.
- Their security receipts are being downgraded by rating agencies as the recovery expectations move downwards.
About National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL)
- It will be a five-year guarantee for the National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL)-issued security receipts to banks.
- Under the proposed mechanism, the NARCL will acquire assets by making an offer to the lead bank.
- Private sector asset reconstruction (ARCs) firms may also be allowed to outbid the NARCL.
- Separately, public and private lenders will combine forces to set up an India Debt Resolution Company (IDRC) that will manage these assets and try to raise their value for final resolution.
- A 15% cash payment would be made to the banks based on some valuation and the rest will be given as security receipts.
- Once the NARCL and the IDRC have finally resolved the asset, the balance 85% held as security receipts would be given to the banks.
- If the bad bank is unable to sell the bad loan, or has to sell it at a loss, then the government guarantee will be invoked and the difference between what the commercial bank was supposed to get and what the bad bank was able to raise will be paid from the Rs 30,600 crore that has been provided by the government
Potential of NARCL
- While there are 28 ARCs in the private sector, there was a need for government-backed receipts for big ticket resolutions.
- The government guarantee for the proposed security receipts is a positive stepping stone for unlocking stressed assets’ value.
- The upfront cash payment by the NARCL to banks will immediately be accretive for the profitability and capital of the banks, however the ability of the NARCL to resolve these assets in a time-bound manner will be critical for future provision writeback by banks
- The whole idea is to ensure that these assets for which this whole set-up is being created, and the value that is locked in the assets is realised and comes back to the banks; they use it as a growth capital and the banking system becomes more robust
- From the perspective of a commercial bank saddled with high NPA levels, it will help.
- That’s because such a bank will get rid of all its toxic assets, which were eating up its profits, in one quick move.
- When the recovery money is paid back, it will further improve the bank’s position.
- Meanwhile, it can start lending again.
- From the perspective of the government and the taxpayer, the situation is a little more muddled.
- After all, whether it is recapitalising PSBs laden with bad loans or giving guarantees for security receipts, the money is coming from the taxpayers’ pocket.
- While recapitalisation and such guarantees are often designated as “reforms”, they are band aids at best.
- The only sustainable solution is to improve the lending operation in PSBs.
- Lastly, the plan of bailing out commercial banks will collapse if the bad bank is unable to sell such impaired assets in the market.
Conclusion
While the objective of NARCL is a novel one, the success lies in its implementation and downstream reforms in banks in lending. The NARCL will have to deliver on the recovery front or risk being a dump yard. Dump yards do not facilitate redistribution of capital in an economy and therefore have a cost.
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 importance of wetland ecosystem.
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 by defining a wetland and its types.
Body:
Write about the various functions performed by a wetland- water-related ecosystem services, productive areas for plant life and animals, major habitat for most of the world’s waterbirds and key habitat for migratory species, important source of food and high recreational, historical, scientific, and cultural values.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising their importance.
Introduction
Wetlands are ecotones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They get periodically get inundated with water. They support a flourishing community of aquatic organisms including frogs and other amphibians. Swamps, marshes and mangroves are examples of wetlands. Wetlands are indispensable for the countless benefits or “ecosystem services” that they provide humanity, ranging from freshwater supply, food and building materials, and biodiversity, to flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate change mitigation.
The total number of Ramsar sites in India are 46 in the country. Wetlands declared as Ramsar sites are protected under strict guidelines.
Body
Critical role played by Wetlands in the Ecological conservation of Earth:
- Carbon Sequestration: Swamps, mangroves, peat lands, mires and marshes play an important role in carbon cycle. Wetland soils may contain as much as 200 times more carbon than its vegetation.
- g.: In India, coastal wetlands are playing a major role in carbon sequestration. The total extent of coastal ecosystems (including mangroves) in India is around 43000 km. Overall, mangroves are able to sequester about 1.5 metric tonne of carbon per hectare per year and the upper layers of mangrove sediments have high carbon content, with conservative estimates indicating the levels of 10 percent.
- Flood attenuation: Wetlands function as natural sponges that trap and slowly release surface water, rain, snowmelt, groundwater and flood waters. Many water-stressed regions in South Africa are subject to high intensity rainfall over very short periods, often resulting in flash floods. Wetlands are effective in spreading out and slowing down floodwaters, thereby reducing the severity of floods downstream.
- g.: A large network of lakes and ponds in major cities like Srinagar, Bhopal, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad were constructed with the objective of flood control
- Regulation of stream flow & groundwater recharge: wetlands are often compared to sponges, in their ability to absorb water in wet periods, and release it during dry periods. The absorption thus helps in groundwater recharging too.
- g.: floodplains of rivers like Ganga and Brahmaputra
- Nutrient assimilation & recycling: removal by the wetland of phosphates and nitrates carried by runoff water. This takes place through the presence of wetland vegetation and the action of anaerobic bacteria (which would otherwise not exist in fast-flowing, energized streams or rivers). Thus, they help in nutrients recycling and they carry out water purification by filtration of sediments and nutrients from surface water.
- Erosion control: wetlands can limit the extent of erosion, predominantly through the protection provided by vegetation, and through their ability to reduce stream flow velocity. Buffer (act as a riparian buffer) shorelines against erosion and pollutants.
- g.: the mangroves along the sea shores, especially on the western coast in West Bengal and Odisha have been playing a major role in protecting the coastal environment from the destruction of cyclones that frequently emanate in the Bay of Bengal.
- Microclimate regulation: Wetland ecosystems play an important role in regulating local and regional climates through evaporative cooling effects that affect the exchange of energy and water with atmosphere.
- g.: For every land cover type in wetlands, vegetation has a better stabilizing effect on temperature, whereas a water body has a better stabilizing effect on wind speed and humidity. Dal lake in Kashmir has a cooling effect on surroundings.
- Promotes Biodiversity: Wetlands are important in supporting species diversity. Because wetlands provide an environment where photosynthesis can occur and where the recycling of nutrients can take place, they play a significant role in the support of food chains.
- g.: In India lakes, rivers and other freshwater bodies support a large diversity of biota representing almost all taxonomic groups. For example, freshwater ecosystems of Western Ghats alone have 290 species of fish. Similarly, Loktak Lake is famous for being the only refuge of the endangered Sangai (Manipur brow-antlered deer).
- Productive Ecosystem: Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. An immense variety of species of microbes, plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish and mammals can be part of a wetland ecosystem.
- g.: In many such wetland areas of India, like Bharatpur wild life sanctuary in Rajasthan, and little Rann of Kutch and coastal areas of Saurashtra in Gujarat, many migratory species of birds, including siberian crane, from western and European countries come during winter.
- Promotes Genetic diversity: They act as a genetic reservoir for various species of plants, especially rice.
- Tourism: Wet-lands such as coral reefs, beaches, reservoirs, lakes and rivers are considered to be a significant part of the tourism experience in the country.
- For instance, as per an estimate, every year, around seven million tourist visit Kerala’s backwaters, beaches and wildlife sanctuaries, 3 million visit Uttarakhand’s lakes and other natural wetlands and one million visit Dal lake in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Cultural Significance: Wetlands especially lakes and ponds are intrinsically linked to the local culture. They are revered by the masses in recognition of the fact that they are the means of sustenance of their livelihood.
- g. Pushkar lake in Rajasthan and Ramappa lake in Telangana
Measures needed
- Protection: The primary necessity today is to protect the existing wetlands. Of the many wetlands in India only around 68 wetlands are protected. But there are thousands of other wetlands that are biologically and economically important but have no legal status.
- Planning, managing and monitoring: Wetlands that come under the Protected area network have management plans but others do not. It is important for various stakeholders along with the local community and corporate sector to come together for an effective management plan. Active monitoring of these wetland systems over a period of time is essential.
- Comprehensive inventory: There has been no comprehensive inventory of all the Indian wetlands despite the efforts by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Asian Wetland Bureau and World Wide Fund for Nature. The inventory should involve the flora, fauna, and biodiversity along with values. It should take into account the various stakeholders in the community too.
- Legislation: Although several laws protect wetlands there is no special legislation pertaining specially to these ecosystems. Environment Impact Assessment needed for major development projects highlighting threats to wetlands need to be formulated.
- Coordinated approach: Since wetlands are common property with multi-purpose utility, their protection and management also need to be a common responsibility.
- Research: There is a necessity for research in the formulation of national strategy to understand the dynamics of these ecosystems. This could be useful for the planners to formulate strategies for the mitigation of pollution.
- Building awareness: For achieving any sustainable success in the protection of these wetlands, awareness among the general public, educational and corporate institutions must be created.
Conclusion
Communities engage with wetlands in various ways – from seeking livelihoods to spiritual fulfilment. The values community hold for wetlands are expressed in diverse ways. It is important to integrate community linkages in wetlands management planning, and incentivize community stewardship. This is crucial as over 85% of wetlands in India are in the form of village ponds and tanks.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Difficulty level: Easy.
Reference: Environment by Shankar
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 threats faced by The wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in India.
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 mentioning that The Union Government has established a country-wide protected area network for protection of these species and their habitats of threatened flora and fauna under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Body:
First, write about the threats to wildlife sanctuaries and national parks from habitat loss. Substantiate with examples. For e.g: Clearance of partis of Valley of flowers for Chardham road project.
Next, write the reasons for decline in key species – due to over-collection to supply domestic and foreign medicinal markets, over exploitation, forest degradation etc.
Introduction
India has around 5% of its geographical area as protected area with 566 existing wildlife sanctuaries and 104 existing national parks in India. Despite being party to CITES and enacting Wildlife protection Act in India, there are many conservation challenges faced by sanctuaries and national parks.
Body
Threats faced by wildlife sanctuaries and national parks
- Habitat loss: Due to flood and siltation, size of water bodies inside the park are shrinking. Siltation also affects the grazing areas of herbivorous animals.
- Invasive species such as water hyacinth and Mimosa are great threats to Kaziranga. Water hyacinth clog water bodies and depletes oxygen in the water.
- It threatens underwater life and shrinks the size of water bodies.
- Exotic leguminous species Mimosa was introduced in Tea gardens of Assam. The species have a poisonous amino acid (Mimosin). So, they are harmful for herbivorous
- Man-animal conflicts: No park exists in isolation, and that fact is becoming increasingly clear as the areas surrounding parks are developed for living space, agriculture, mining, forestry, and more.
- The iconic species protected inside the parks don’t recognize boundaries and must often move in and out of the parks to feed, mate, or migrate.
- Avani Tigress was killed due to public backlash.
- Roads through sanctuaries: Experts found as many as 85 roadkills in the past six months within the sanctuary limits.
- There is uncontrolled passage of heavy vehicles during night-time threatening biodiversity.
- Poor conservation infrastructure: The rangers and frontline staff deployed in many parks and sanctuaries lacks modern weapons, advanced communication systems and efficient means of transportation. There is also lack of proper camps and watch towers.
- Human interference: Illegal livestock grazing, illegal fishing, unplanned tourism infrastructure, highway traffic, tourism pressure, crop raiding, etc.
- Mining, petroleum prospecting, clear-cut lumbering, and other developments are generally prohibited inside parks—but they still pose serious threats to water quality, clean air, and other vital aspects of the park environment.
Need of the hour
- WWF-India Eco-development project aims to develop a model programme that can be used all over the country to help resolve this conflict.
- Involve local communities in decision making like Critical tiger habitats Gram Sabha is given importance similar to the forest rights act.
- Implementing the Gadgil committee and K Kasturirangan committee and not to water down the original recommendations.
- Patrolling and wildlife monitoring had to be taken up on a priority basis and scientific studies to ascertain the status of key species have been undertaken with the help of research organizations.
- Participation of local communities: The participation of local youth has been actively sought for the management of Manas and its buffer regions.
- These youth were employed as conservation volunteers on a monthly stipend and ration.
- They assisted the forest department in surveillance and patrolling activities.
- With the help of national and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), some of the youth were also trained to act as nature guides for small ecotourism enterprises.
Conclusion
The wildlife sanctuaries and national parks are established to provide protection to the endangered species. It is relatively hard to always relocate the animals from their natural territory, therefore, conserving them in their normal setting is advantageous. On of wildlife has major impact on entire human race and therefore must be taken up on war footing.
Measures and interest need to be channelled towards regrowing trees and increasing the land cover for forests. Reforestation and afforestation need to be promoted throughout the world. Proper forest management bodies need to be enforced to monitor wildlife actions and update on the latest. Care and habitation need to be provided to extinct species and efforts need to be taken to save them from becoming extinct.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
7. What does this quote means to you? (150 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Quotes Wednesdays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by explaining the literal meaning of the quote.
Body:
Write about need of various interpretation of being happy
Next, using examples mention how to be more happier than others we end up being unhappy. Cite examples like wealth, power, status, social media fame etc.
Conclusion:
Summarise by highlighting the importance of the quote in the present day.
Introduction
Today we live in the age of social media where everything from mundane things is made to look glamorous. Unfortunately, as is the human nature we tend to set these as our benchmark goals that need to be achieved to be truly happy. Contrastingly, people show only the happy part to the outside world and we create imaginary goals that may not exist. Such comparison can be detrimental to one’s long-term happiness. This quote aptly captures the above theme.
Body
It is the nature of human beings to compare ourselves to others and we aim to achieving a certain benchmark which we set based on what we perceive as another individual’s success. There are many externals our society teaches us to chase: success, wealth, fame, power, good looks and so on. But are they really the keys to happiness?
The research says no, at least when it comes to long-term happiness. A prestigious award, a big raise, an exciting new relationship, a fancy new car, losing weight, these things can make us feel great at first, but the happiness doesn’t last very long. Human beings are quick to adapt to new circumstances—a quality that has helped us survive and thrive. But it also means that the positive things that initially make us happier soon become our new normal and we return to our old happiness baseline.
One can genuinely increase our happiness and overall satisfaction with life—and it doesn’t require a winning lottery ticket or some other drastic change in comparison to someone else. What it takes is an inner change of perspective and attitude.
Conclusion
A big part of how happy we are depends on our mindset, the habits we practice, and the way we live each day. By learning the key ingredients of happiness, we can use them to become happier. The best way to reach any goal is to begin with small, specific actions. After doing these for a while, they become habits — things that fit into your day without you thinking about them too much. That’s when you move on to build a new daily habit. Achieving small, specific goals can add up to big happiness
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