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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: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism and secularism
1. Discuss the impact of Social media on young women in India? (250 Words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: The New Indian Express
Why the question:
The increasing impact of social media such as Instagram on teenagers especially the young girl has highlighted the concerns
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Cite recent examples to give the context of the question.
Body:
Enumerate various negative impacts that social media have on Young women e.g. Eating disorder risk increased with social media use, depression, lower self-esteem, appearance anxiety and body dissatisfaction are all associated with social media use, etc.
Also, give few positive impacts.
Then briefly explain how the negative impact can be curbed. Highlight societal aspects in the answer.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
Today ‘s era is the era of social media whose presence and active involvement has swiftly and widely spread the ideologies for women empowerment. Social media has become the agent of social change which helped and supported women‘s empowerment in various aspects such as mobilizing attention of glocal community towards women‘s rights and challenges discrimination and stereotypes across the globe. Social media has given platform to discuss issues and challenges of women through blogs, chats, online campaign, online discussion forums, and online communities which is mostly not disseminated or propagated by mainstream media.
Body
Positive impacts of social media in the lives of women
- Social media is easily accessible and it’s also the meeting point of today’s internet savvy audience.
- Women’s rights
- A concrete relationship definitely exists between social media and women’s rights
- Social media has opened doors and made everything available for everybody everywhere, thus eliminating gates and gatekeeping of any sort.
- Intrinsically, women’s rights violations and women’s rights movements have been quickly capitalized on social media’s unparalleled awareness-raising potential.
- social media has become a tool for women to campaign against issues like gender stereotyping, gender suppression etc.
- Curbing violence against women
- Internet and social media can enable activists and others to challenge myths and stereotypes as well as create new forums for the perpetuation of violence against women.
- Hashtag movements to end violence and discrimination against
- Social media is a strong platform to discuss and share views, experiences to channelize hashtag movements to stop sexual violence and discrimination against
- It is a new frontier to organise campaign or rally by women‘s rights activists to come forward and fight for gender
- Through social media, women across the globe are connected and supporting each other such as lawmakers, politicians, business owners for gender equality.
- Twitter’s hashtag function in particular allows women to easily follow issues that matter to them and forge coalitions based upon shared concerns, from immediate personal needs to calls for large-scale social change. E.g: #MeToo movement, #SelfieWithDaughter etc.
- Women Entrepreneurs
- Social media is becoming one of the most powerful tools where women can start new companies, venture or start-up as they can contact and converse with customers and consumers directly.
- Female entrepreneurs can do marketing through social media which is very cost effective and can be easily channelized.
- Social media with the help of new technology pave the ground for millions of people to find online jobs for themselves or create businesses for others globally.
- For instance, Shradha Sharma is the Founder and Chief Editor at Yourstory.com, which is an online media platform for start-ups and It is India‘s leading online media technology which has narrated more than 20,000 stories in 12 Indian languages of entrepreneurs which reaches to more than 10 million readers very month.
- Making the voices heard
- In digital platforms, the cost of participating for a cause or in a protest is cheaper. This encourages more people to participate and force governments to pay heed.
- While women still remain underrepresented, social media provides a level playing field by allowing individual voices from a wider range of backgrounds to be heard, with or without the traditional power.
- It fills up the lacunae presented by the traditional media, where women receive only 38% of bylines.
- Global Communities
- Female-based communities are evolving in a way that cuts through particular companies and physical limitations and connects female players throughout industries and geographies.
- Because the internet bypasses so many barriers that separate us, women who were formerly isolated can now access high-profile players in their field and, conversely, build an accessible, highly visible platform for self-promotion.
- Women have historically had a more difficult time capitalizing concepts and proposals, but the interplay of social media and crowdfunding is turning that paradigm on its head.
- For instance, In July of 2020, women took to instagram to post black-and-white pictures of themselves with the caption “#challengeaccepted”. Women who participated in the challenge would nominate another woman and tag them in the post of their selfie, challenging them to post a black-and-white picture of themselves and nominate someone else.
- Breaking barriers
- Social media breaks cultural barriers, legal restrictions, economic barriers and more, enabling the better representation of women from across the globe, even from countries following misogynistic systems.
- It has played a critical role during the pandemic in enabling the continuation of activism even amid the lockdown and social distancing.
Negative impacts of social media on women
- Women are the most vulnerable to cyber abuse like online harassment.
- Increased attention of women in social media often makes them the target of repressive activities. This results in gendered barriers for women online as in public places.
- Online offences are often normalised due to the difficulty in tracing offenders and the complexity and inaccessibility of the justice delivery mechanisms
- This creates mistrust of the public towards the justice system, leading to the further marginalisation of women.
- In this backdrop, social media has become a tool for the rapists to threaten their victims to not report the crime.
- Such platforms are used by harassers to silence women who strive to break the misogynistic social norms.
- A study revealed that a third of the surveyed women stopped opinionating online due to the fear of abusers.
- Online trolling is now going beyond the digital realm, leading to cases like suicides.
- An international survey found that 20% of women being harassed offline believe that those attacks were connected to online abuse they receive.
- Some are even vulnerable to stalkers because of their online presence. This is especially prevalent in regions where law enforcement is weak, patriarchy is strong and online trolling is commonplace.
- Fake profiles are often created for sullying victims’ reputation.
- In recent years, the internet has become a tool to discriminate against women, with a high prevalence of hate campaigns across the world. E.g. Revenge porn.
- With the worldwide restrictions due to the pandemic pushing more people online, cases of online gender abuse have escalated.
Measures needed:
- Government level:
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal shall be designated as the national portal under-reporting requirements in the POCSO Act in case of electronic material
- Union Government shall be empowered through its designated authority to block and/or prohibit all websites/intermediaries that carry child sexual abuse material
- Law enforcement agencies should be permitted to brake end to end encryption to trace distributors of child pornography.
- A cybercrime portal was launched in 2018 to enable citizens to report obscene contents.
- Cyber police stations and cybercrime cells were set up in each state for reporting and investigating cybercrime cases.
- Use of Artificial intelligence:
- Tools can be developed which can analyse the behaviour of every internet user. So it can help prevent the user from falling into cyber bullying.
- Developing some mobile applications that can alert parents if the child is under threat of cyber bullying.
- Prevent malware attacks by tying up with antivirus agencies.
- Multipronged approach to handle cases:
- Need to handle the cases of cyber bullying through multipronged approach such as counselling through Psychiatrist, approaching police, etc.
Way forward:
- Social media platforms have moral obligations to safeguard their users.
- They must strive towards ensuring transparent and efficient reporting systems so that people can use them to curb cyberbullying.
- Making social media platforms accountable
- Countermeasures against online trolling must be encompassed within the women empowerment policies
- Online women-specific crime reporting unit must be set up for quicker disposal for complaints regarding targeted harassment of women users of social media.
- Increasing political representation of women for removing societal inequality, discrimination and misogyny
- The cybercrimes in social media platforms are mainly addressed under the IPC provisions that deal with conventional offences like sexual harassment, privacy violation etc.
- They are largely inefficient in dealing with techno-motivated crimes, which have more impact on victims than those traditional offences due to the lack of justice.
- Therefore, the cybercrimes under the IT Act must be repealed and IPC must be modified to cover all cybercrimes, including those currently covered under the IT Act.
Conclusion:
As part of a knowledge society in the new media era, social media considerably contribute to women empowerment by offering information and education that presents women users with strategies offering better informed decision making from anywhere and everywhere which may not be possible otherwise.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Indian Constitution– historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Reference: Polity by M. Laxmikanth
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable
Key Demand of the question:
The importance of fundamental rights, and the criticisms associated
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate them with relevant associated facts
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Brief on the importance of Fundamental Rights in Indian Constitution
Body:
First, mention the significance of Fundamental Rights in Indian Constitution
Then, the criticisms associated
Can further give an opinion of great leaders regarding Fundamental Rights as well
Conclusion:
A relevant closing statement
Introduction
The Fundamental Rights is defined as the basic human rights of all citizens. These rights, defined in Part III of the Indian Constitution are guaranteed by the constitution to all person without any discrimination. They are enforceable by the courts, subject to specific restrictions. The sanction behind these FRs is for promoting the ideal of political democracy
Body
Significance of Fundamental Rights
- Bedrock of political democracy
- Provides material and moral protection
- Bulwark of individual liberty
- Facilitate the establishment of rule of law
- Protect the interests of minorities and weaker sections of the society
- Strengthen the secular fabric of the Indian state
- Acts as a check to the absolute authority of the government
Criticisms of Fundamental Rights
- Excessive Limitations
- They are subjected to innumerable exceptions, restrictions, qualifications and explanations.
- No Social and Economic Rights
- The list is not comprehensive as it mainly consists of political rights.
- It makes no provision for important social and economic rights like right to social security, right to work, right to employment, right to rest and leisure and so on.
- No Clarity
- They are stated in a vague, indefinite and ambiguous manner.
- The various phrases and words used in the chapter like ‘public order’, ‘minorities’, ‘reasonable restriction’, ‘public interest’ and so on are not clearly defined.
- The language used to describe them is very complicated and beyond the comprehension of the common man.
- No Permanency
- They are not sacrosanct or immutable as the Parliament can curtail or abolish them, as for example, the abolition of the fundamental right to property in 1978.
- Hence, they can become a play tool in the hands of politicians having majority support in the Parliament.
- Suspension During Emergency
- The suspension of their enforcement during the operation of National Emergency (except Articles 20 and 21) is another blot on the efficacy of these rights.
- This provision cuts at the roots of democratic system in the country by placing the rights of the millions of innocent people in continuous jeopardy.
- Expensive Remedy
- The judiciary has been made responsible for defending and protecting these rights against the interference of the legislatures and executives.
- However, the judicial process is too expensive and hinders the common man from getting his rights enforced through the courts.
- Preventive Detention
- The critics assert that the provision for preventive detention (Article 22) takes away the spirit and substance of the chapter on fundamental rights. It confers arbitrary powers on the State and negates individual liberty.
- It justifies the criticism that the Constitution of India deals more with the rights of the State against the individual than with the rights of the individual against the State.
- No Consistent Philosophy
- According to some critics, the chapter on fundamental rights is not the product of any philosophical principle.
- Sir Ivor Jennings expressed this view when he said that the Fundamental Rights proclaimed by the Indian Constitution are based on no consistent philosophy.
Conclusion
The Fundamental Rights, as contained in Part III of the Constitution, are neither rooted in the doctrine of natural law nor are they based on the theory of ‘reserved rights’. They are conferred rights and embody the social values of the present generations. As the social values are not static, the Fundamental Rights are subject to changes and modifications in order to fulfil the aspirations of the people in the context of changed conditions and the environment in which they live. It was, therefore, not the intention of the Constitution-framers to render the rights sacrosanct, otherwise they would not have ventured to strike a balance or effectuate a reconciliation between them and the need and the welfare of the society as a whole.
Topic: Indian Constitution– historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Reference: Polity by M. Laxmikanth
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 2 and mentioned as part of Mission-2022 Secure timetable
Key Demand of the question:
The importance of Article 32, and its provisions
Directive word:
Comment– here we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Brief on Article 32, and any opinion statement regarding it
Body:
First, mention the provision related to Article 32
Then, elaborate on how these provisions protect other fundamental rights
Further, link any Supreme Court Judgement on the importance to Article 32
Conclusion:
A relevant summarising statement
Introduction
Article 32 falls under Part III of the Constitution that includes the fundamental rights of individuals. It allows an individual to approach the Supreme Court if she or he believes that her or his fundamental rights have been violated or they need to be enforced.
Dr B.R. Ambedkar had once said, “If I was asked to name any particular article in this Constitution as the most important — an article without which this Constitution would be a nullity — I could not refer to any other article except this one (Article 32). It is the very soul of the Constitution and the very heart of it.”
Body
Rationale behind Article 32 called the heart and soul of the constitution:
- Right to constitutional remedies works on the Doctrine “Ubi Jus Ibi Remedium” which means when there is a right there is a remedy.
- It gives the power to the citizens of India to go directly to the Supreme Court of India, rather than by way of appeal, if they feel that any of their Fundamental Rights have been violated. Article 32 makes the Supreme Court the defender and guarantor of the fundamental rights.
- Article 32 came out to be the greatest safeguard that could be provided to protect the fundamental rights of the citizens and “It is a right fundamental to all the other Fundamental Rights”.
- Courts, as the judicial sentinel of the fundamental rights, are equipped with constitutional weapons i.e., WRITS.
- Writs which are being performed both by The Supreme Court and The High Court under Article 32 and 226 are for the violation and enactment of the Fundamental Rights.
- Both the courts have the power to issue directions, orders, and writs, including writs of Habeas corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Quo warranto, and Certiorari, for the enforcement of any of the rights.
- On the other hand, Parliament has the right to empower any other court with such authority so that it can act as “Protector and guarantor” of such rights.
- Supreme Court in basic structure doctrine made clear that right to move to Supreme Court cannot be suspended except otherwise provided by the Constitution. This implies that this right suspended during a national emergency under article 359
Conclusion
The constitutional remedies provided to the citizens are the most powerful orders with immediate effects and results and that is why it has always been considered as the most important fundamental right engrafted in the Constitution of India. The Constitution of our country isn’t rigid and the various cases and court proceedings keep on challenging the basic structure of the Constitution. Article 32 still ensures that the fundamental rights of the citizens will always be protected and enforced by the Judiciary of India. And no citizen will be left unheard and deprived of his/her rights being the citizens of an independent country.
Value addition
Landmark cases of Article 32:
- In a judgment in the L. Chandra Kumar vs. Union of India and Others case and P. Sampath Kumar vs. Union of India case, it was declared that Article 32 was an integral and essential feature of the Constitution and constituted its basic structure.
- During the 1975 Emergency, in the ADM Jabalpur vs. Shivakant Shukla case, SC had ruled that the right to constitutional remedies under Article 32 would remain suspended during a national emergency. People were unable to seek redressal when their fundamental rights were being hampered.
- The most recent incidents where Article 32 was discussed, was when Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan languished in jail, and debate around the relevance of Article 32 continued inside and outside the Indian courts, the reason being that the Supreme Court may no longer entertain bail petitions under Article 32 of the Constitution.
- The court had then said that “The right to approach the Supreme Court under Article 32 is itself a fundamental right and that there is no doubt that if a citizen of India is deterred in any case from approaching this Court in exercise of his right”.
- In the recent case of Arnab Goswami, where PIL’s were filed against him under Article 32 of the Constitution, Hon’ble Chief Justice had said that Supreme Court wouldn’t exercise its powers for matters under Article 32 and also contended that it should be solely done by the High Court with appropriate jurisdiction so as to protect the interest and rights of individuals.
- The impact of article 32 has been huge with landmark cases like Shreya Singhal v Union of India where supreme court struck down Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, Meera Santosh Pal and Others v Union of India and Others where Supreme Court gave judgment on medical termination of pregnancy of a 24-week foetus etc.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The New Indian Express
Why the question:
Data has been called the ‘New Oil’ by economic survey and there is a need to provide equity in data usage to make communities empowered and reduce inequality
Key Demand of the question:
Enumerate ways to empower communities for better control and use of their data
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Introduce by giving the current status of data usage and how it is creating inequality
Body:
Enumerate the suggestions for effective data governance by communities and sustantatite it with examples. E.g. laws should strive to devise frameworks that enable data principles to share the economic gains derived from their data.
Do mention some of the recommendations of the various committee for effective sharing of benefits out of data use as well as safeguarding private data from misuse.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a relevant way forward
Introduction
Data is touted as the new oil of digital era. Through interconnectedness aided by digital revolution idea of global village has been realised. According to recent report Top 7 tech companies of US that work on big data business models picked up combined $3.4 trillion in market cap in 2020 powering through pandemic and broader economic crisis .
Body
The tech business models rely mainly on behavioural data of users generated without informed consent and no benefit sharing with community, thus creating greater inequity and inequality in benefit sharing
For e.g.: Monopoly of social media juggernauts like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp controlled by single entity and recent instances of data breach of users personal information are the areas of concern
Thus there exists a need to help communities for better control and use of their data
- Need of robust data protection law that can ensure privacy and informed consent wrt access to personal data.
- For instance, Personal data protection bill ,2019 with better data privacy and limitation on data access and flow is great Step in the process
- Need a framework on lines similar to Access and benefit sharing agreement of biodiversity act 2002 thus sharing benefits (economic gains) with beneficiary.
- g.: TRIFED- using market data to sell tribal products all over India
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning with human touch to address technical problems and data scarcity
- g.: recent instances of exclusion of PDS cardholders because of inability to identify beneficiaries
- Affordability and accessibility of data to all sections of society
- g.: Global health data by World Bank -Comprehensive database of health , nutrition and population statistics
National and international efforts undertaken
- UP government initiative to collect data of migrant workers returned to state and their upskilling for employment in different schemes of state
- Data protection authority of India with wide powers over data collection and processing and through cyber awareness campaign and Data custodians India aims to move towards data equity
- GDPR ( General Data Protection Regulation ) of EU is regulation over data protection and privacy with rights and control over personal data
- European commission data strategy for inclusive digital growth and innovation against data monopoly and common infrastructure are right steps for inclusive and accessible data sharing
- India’s stance against OSAKA declaration of free data flow
Conclusion
With growing utility of data analytics and automated response to analytic decree their lies need of collective global efforts which ensure inclusive and equitable data sharing and data equity where it incentivise beneficiaries and minimise risk of abuse and misuse of data .
General Studies – 3
Topic: Various security forces and agencies and their mandate
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Security agencies and their working are part of GS Paper 3. The need for synergy and coordination among agencies has been highlighted by India’s Home Minister as well as the parliamentary committee report.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain why security agencies need to coordinate especially state and central agencies and how can they do so.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Give a brief introduction of India’s security architecture including the intelligence agencies.
Body:
Highlight the various lacuna in India’s security coordination e.g. non-effective implementation of NatGrid, weakness of multi-agency center (MAC). Also, show how changing the security situation needs much more synergy between various agencies especially the coordination between centre and state.
Afterward, give suggestions for better coordination between agencies such as integration of networks (e.g. currently 429 SMAC nodes and 251 district-police offices are connected to the MAC/SMAC Network), codification of India’s security doctrine, etc.
You may refer to an article on this in Orfonline
Conclusion:
Conclude with a futuristic view about coming threats especially from the cyber domain.
Introduction
The national security threats that India confronts today are much more diverse and complex than ever before. These threats range from nuclear-armed adversaries like China and Pakistan, to Maoists, and militancy and terrorism arising from within its borders and beyond. The question that we must ask is whether the country has a strategic measure of these challenges and the willingness and ability to confront them and, if required, pre-empt them. The tasks before India’s intelligence community are similar to those that are confronted by their counterparts across the world: they relate to strategic intelligence, anticipatory intelligence, current operations, cyber intelligence, counterterrorism, counter proliferation and counter intelligence.
Body
Multi Agency Centre (MAC) is a common counter-terrorism grid under the Intelligence Bureau that was made operational in 2001 following the Kargil War. As many as 28 organisations, including the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), armed forces and State police, are part of the platform. The Union government has asked the States to share more intelligence inputs through the MAC.
Need for comprehensive and coordinated approach among its security agencies
- India suffers from inadequate inter-agency coordination which, in turn, leads to lack of effective intelligence monitoring and security response.
- States are often reluctant to share information on the platform.
- There are several gaps in sharing critical information at the right time.
- Plans are afoot for more than a decade to link the system up to the district level.
- Co-ordination and tasking in need of improvement amongst intelligence agencies and between state and Central agencies
- Intelligence collection is ad-hoc in the absence of clear-cut requirements from the consumers of intelligence
- Poor cadre management and inability to recruit qualified language specialists and technical skills result in a shortage of personnel
- Lack of intellectual capacity and investment in education system exacerbate recruitment shortfalls in intelligence agencies. Engaging private players for specialist tasks is therefore necessary.
- Agencies suffer from chronic shortage of military expertise Big data analytics capabilities need to be commissioned and customised for the Indian context
- Special forces capabilities need to be ramped up and their concept of use ‘married’ with the capabilities of intelligence agencies
- China’s growth and the multiplication of its capabilities requires a more focused effort in TECHINT (Technical Intelligence) and HUMINT (Human Intelligence)
- There has been, over the years, a duplication of resources and capabilities, mainly because of ineffective coordination.
- The R&AW and the Aviation Research Centre (ARC) both are gathering electronic intelligence on China albeit on different platforms.
- The NTRO is now designated as the nodal agency for technical intelligence, but it is yet to gain control of all or acquire assets for other
- Lack of political attention and effective guidance has prevented reform and optimal functioning of the intelligence system
Way forward
- To improve the level of coordination, inter-operability amongst the agencies must be enhanced.
- There exists a necessity to co-opt the private sector in intelligence work to make up for the shortfall
- Political attention and leadership which is attuned to the security needs of the country, as well as possessing a nuanced understanding of the ways of bureaucracy
- While there exists a necessity to create additional capabilities, duplication of assets and capabilities must be rationalised given the economic costs
- Terrorism has moved beyond the physical space to the digital space. In this context, the gathering of intelligence needs to become multi-faceted as well.
- India should build robust systems to ensure uninterrupted and safe operations of the country’s digital infrastructure.
- There is a need for one agency to focus on open source information and internet-based communications which will cover all mediums, including newspapers, radio, the internet and social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.
- Collaboration between government, media and public to raise awareness about anti-terrorism.
Conclusion
It is imperative that intelligence agencies and the armed forces develop the capacity to deal with unpredictable threats. This calls for urgent and comprehensive reform and restructuring of the intelligence apparatus. The initiative must come from the political leadership committed to secure the country’s strategic interests in the face of phenomenal and often unexpected challenges.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world
Difficulty level: Easy
Why the question?
The growing tendency among people to choose comfort over courage
Structure of the answer
Introduction
Define courage and comfort in the context of the question
Body
- You should try to explain through examples as to how we are choosing comfort over courage in our lives through examples. Ex: hesitancy to help others during an accident. Give as many diverse dimensions as possible in the examples.
- Identify the reasons what makes us choose comfort over courage
Conclusion
Suggest a way forward to reemphasize courage over comfort
Introduction
Anything great that has ever been attempted is a result of people choosing courage over comfort. In our self-gratifying minds, we may wish for a life of relative ease and comfort. But nothing of significance has ever been attempted or accomplished this way.
Body
Comfort and courage are two distinctly different ideas. We can have one without the other, but we cannot have both. While the rest of the world is moving, comfort says, ‘you’ll be just fine right where you are. You don’t need to pursue anything or push to reach any goals; everything you want will just come to you.’ Sure, comfort is pleasurable for a time but it brings very little benefit in the long-run. Comfort will keep you back from pursuing your goals, fulfilling your dreams, and living up to your potential.
An apt example is of UPSC Aspirants itself, who will not achieve success, unless they have courage to face failures and come out of their comfort zones during their preparation.
Courage, on the other hand, gives us vision to see what others cannot see, to pursue what others would not dare to go after. Courage combined with faith relieves us of the fear of taking risks and gives us the guts to attempt great things. I have never known a person to accomplish anything worthwhile without courage. Courageous people see mountains, and instead of turning back, they march manfully over it. The goal in front of you should always be more important than the trouble you will endure to get there. We are all but an arm’s length from reaching our ultimate potential. Inspite of negative situations and negative people, we can choose courage that defeats what others say and believes that whatever we dream can and will come to pass.
For instance, when Gandhiji was being compelled to stop his Salt Satyagraha in 1930, he braved arrest rather than giving up what he believed in.
Conclusion
Comfort provides an easy road of fun, but ultimately, leads to failure. Courage however demands that we pull out all that is in us to beat the odds, to dream the impossible, and to be unstoppable. Courage forces change where necessary. With each small step, we are able to learn and grow towards the greatness that results from courage within.
Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world
Difficulty level: Easy
Why the question?
Rising irrationality in society in recent times.
Structure of the answer
Introduction
Define religion in a brief manner
Body
Try to deconstruct the statement in a simple manner. This could be done through examples. Ex: Emphasis on Neem in Indian customs is based on scientific principle, on the other side we have certain regressive practices such as female genital mutilation, etc.
Identify what makes people neglect rationalism while practicing religion
Explore if religion and reason could be reconciled in the present times
Conclusion
Suggest a way forward to reconcile them adequately
Introduction
Religion and reason are both sources of authority upon which beliefs can rest. Reason generally is understood as the principles for a methodological inquiry, whether intellectual, moral, aesthetic, or religious. Religions are “social systems whose participants avow belief in a supernatural agent or agents whose approval is to be sought.”.
Body
Religion and reason are complementary to each other
- It has been generally presumed that faith and reason are in conflict with each other.
- In reality, faith and reason work together seamlessly to help us understand the world and beyond in a better way.
- In fact, faith is a prerequisite for the reason.
- For instance, even doctors at times are surprised when a terminally ill patient gets cured. ISRO takes a small scale prototype of their actual rockets and get it blessed before their actual launch.
- In order to reason about anything, we must have faith that there are laws of logic which correctly prescribe the correct chain of reasoning.
- Since laws of logic cannot be observed with the senses, our confidence in them is a type of faith.
- Since reason would be impossible without logic, which stems from the faith, we have a very good reason for our faith: without our faith, we could not reason.
- Though the role of reason is secondary for getting religious knowledge, its role is necessary.
- It is necessary for keeping blind faith from religion and attaching values to religion.
- Religion-based terrorism is increasing due to the negative impact of reason.
Conclusion
Hence, reason and faith are not counter but complementary to each other. There is a need to spread more rational views of religion and try to weed out the irrational customs and rituals which discriminate people in the name of religion.
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