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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
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The Government has listed its proposal to raise the age of marriage for women to 21 for legislative business in Parliament in the coming week. The move comes within days of the Union Cabinet approving the proposal which is based on the recommendations of a task force constituted last year.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about pros and cons raising the age of marriage for girls.
Directive word:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context.
Body:
First, in detail, mention the various pros of raising marriage age by for girls – impact on reproductive health, education, tackling social evils, reducing burden on family, empowerment. Substantiate with statistic and examples.
Next, mention how this maybe not be successful without social support – evidences of child marriage, further solidifying patriarchy, affect autonomy of girls etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The Union Cabinet on December 15 took the decision to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. The legal age of marriage for men is 21 years. With this decision, the government will be bringing the age of marriage for both men and women at par. The proposal to raise the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 was based on the recommendations of a task force headed by Jaya Jaitley.
Body
Background
- In June 2020, the Ministry for Women and Child Development set up a task force to look into the correlation between the age of marriage with issues of women’s nutrition, prevalence of anaemia, IMR, MMR and other social indices.
- The committee, headed by former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitly, also had on board NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul and secretaries of several ministries.
- The committee has recommended the age of marriage be increased to 21 years, on the basis of feedback they received from young adults from 16 universities across the country. Over 15 NGOs were also engaged to reach out to young adults in far-flung areas and marginalised communities.
Raising marriageable age for women: Reasons
- Nutrition levels and wellbeing: The government decided to re-examine the age of marriage for women for a number of reasons, including gender-neutrality. An early age of marriage, and consequent early pregnancies, also have impacts on nutritional levels of mothers and their children, and their overall health and mental wellbeing.
- Mortality rate: It also has an impact on Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate, and the empowerment of women who are cut off from access to education and livelihood after an early marriage.
- To reduce child marriage: The recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS) revealed that child marriage has come down marginally from 27 per cent in 2015-16 to 23 per cent in 2019-20 in the country, but the government has been pushing to bring this down further.
- Gender neutrality: Women Labour force participation is only 25% in India whereas the global average is 60%, to become world power, we cannot afford women to be out of service.
- There is a need to bring in gender-neutrality.
- Removing stereotypes: In a consultation paper of reform in family law in 2018, the Law Commission argued that having different legal standards “contributes to the stereotype that wives must be younger than their husbands”.
- Women’s rights activists too have argued that the law perpetuates the stereotype that women are more mature than men of the same age and therefore can be allowed to marry sooner.
Criticism against the move
- Child and women’s rights activists, as well as population and family planning experts have not been in favour of increasing the age of marriage for women on the basis that such a legislation would push a large portion of the population into illegal marriages.
- They have contended that even with the legal age of marriage for women being kept at 18 years, child marriages continue in India and a decrease in such marriages has not been because of the existing law but because of increase in girl’s education and employment opportunities.
- They have said the law would end up being coercive, and in particular negatively impact marginalised communities, such as the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, making them law-breakers.
- According to the State of the World Report 2020 by UNFPA, in India, 51% of young women with no education and 47% of those with only a primary education had married by age 18.
- Hence lack of education is a bigger problem.
- Further, a study by the International Centre for Research on Women has found that girls out of school are 3.4 times more likely to be married or have their marriage already fixed than girls who are still in school.
Way forward and conclusion
- For any society to make sustainable progress it is necessary to empower women and for that two most important weapons are quality of education and skills and for this they should not be under any pressure to get married early.
- Early pregnancy is associated with increased child mortality rates and affects the health of the mother. Thus, there is a need to focus on a mother’s health and readiness to carry a child.
- Government needs to emphasize upon economic and social empowerment of women and girls, as well as targeted social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) campaigns. Increasing the minimum age of marriage of women will also lead to gender-neutrality.
- Extending the scope of the Right to Education for girls up to vocational studies.
Topic: Social empowerment,
Difficulty level: Moderate.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday urged all stakeholders, including the private sector, to supplement the government’s efforts in the field of adult education and skills training. Stressing the need to make every adult literate, he called for focus on digital and financial literacy among the people.
Key Demand of the question:
To Discuss in detail socio-religious observations made by Fa-hien.
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 that India has the largest number of illiterates in the world.
Body:
First, write in detail about various social impacts of illiteracy – poverty, rise in crimes, fundamentalism, wastage of demographic dividend etc.
Next, write about how technology can act as bridge for improving learning outcomes. Cite examples to substantiate. Mention various government measures to promote literacy.
Next, write limitations of technology – access, digital divide, infrastructure etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
India has the highest illiteracy rate as 287 million adults are illiterate in India. As per the UNESCO report of 2017-18, 35% of the world’s illiterate population resides in India. The statistics pointed towards the staggering disparities in the educational levels in India.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu recently said that a country cannot claim itself to be developed when 15 percent of the country’s population is not educated, while stressing the need for increased attention to adult education.
Body
Impact of high illiteracy on Indian Society
- Unemployment and vicious cycle of poverty: Illiteracy has a direct impact on the high unemployment rate of India. Currently standing at 7.8%, a major chunk of the unemployed are illiterate people. Illiteracy has deemed them unable to find a job and earn.
- This causes poverty, which in turn causes illiteracy.
- People are unable to afford education for their children, and they grow up illiterate. Thus, they are unable to find a job, and the cycle starts all over again.
- Low GDP growth: Illiteracy has a direct relation with this low GDP. Illiterate people have lesser access to education, growth, and opportunity. Thus, they are unable to contribute to any form of GDP growth.
- Child labour: Every 11th child in India is a victim of child labour. Over1 Million kids are working in various industries to support their families. These sky-high rates are once again, a result of poverty caused due to illiteracy.
- Crime rate: The NCRB data shows that of the 4,78,600 lodged in various prisons in India, 1,32,729 (or 27.37 per cent are illiterate and 1,98,872 (or 41.55 per cent) have studied below Class 10 level. Together, the two categories account for nearly 28 per cent of jail inmates.
- Education increases work opportunities and therefore discourages criminal activity.
- Wastage of demographic dividend: India’s demographic window will last till 2055 as per UNFPA data.
- A drastic overhaul in educational budgets and policies is required to get the benefits of the bulge in the working-age population that will last till 2055.
Technology to bridge gaps in literacy and improve learning outcomes
- Remote education: The pandemic-induced learning crisis and the Fourth Industrial Revolution have made it necessary to reimagine education and align it with the unprecedented technological transformation.
- Learning through apps: According to a report released by Counterpoint Research, India has become the second biggest smart phone market in the world after China with more than 220 million active users.
- This presents a huge opportunity for delivering e-learning content through mobile apps.
- Developers are creating educational apps based on particular subjects.
- They are simplifying complex concepts with easy-to-understand illustrations and animations, puzzles games etc.
- Improving the classroom process of teaching, learning and evaluation: Many schools and universities in India are integrating online Learning Management System or LMS platform into their web portal.
- Students can remotely login to access course material and also attend live classes with teachers.
- Pre-recorded lectures, videos can be uploaded on the LMS platform making it easy for students to go through it multiple times.
- Improving access to education: In areas where schools are sparse and where it is difficult for students to reach far off schools, making available smart phones and laptops to access online educational videos can go a long way in bridging the learning gap.
- Improving the overall management of the entire education system: Technology can also help in identifying children at risk of drop out and counsel them through timely intervention.
- It can also aid in bringing students who have dropped out of school once again into the education system.
Conclusion
India’s new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is responsive to the clarion call to integrate technology at every level of instruction. It envisions the establishment of an autonomous body, the National Education Technology Forum (NETF), to spearhead efforts towards providing a strategic thrust to the deployment and use of technology. The next target must be to achieve 100% literacy rate aided by technological revolution in the field of education.
General Studies – 2
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The Sri Lankan Navy on December 19 seized eight Indian fishing vessels and arrested 55 fishermen on the charge of poaching.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the Palk bay conflict, its impact on Indo-Lankan relations and suggest measures to resolve it.
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 the providing context in brief, about the Palk bay conflict between India and Sri Lanka.
Body:
In the first part, give context, causes and various facets to the conflict – island of Katchatheevu, frequent poaching by Indian fisherman in Sri Lankan waters, and the damaging economic and environmental effects of trawling. Bring out the impact the issue has on Indo-Lankan relations.
In the next part, mention various steps taken to address this issues which have not been fruitful in resolving the issue – setting up of Joint Working Group (JWG).
Suggest steps in which the issue can be resolved peacefully and amicably. Replacing trawlers with deep sea fishing vessels, ban on unsustainable fishing, joint patrolling, orderly sharing of and sustainable use of resources by fishermen from both sides and de-politicization of the issue etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
In line with the “Neighborhood First” approach and the “Sagar” doctrine, New Delhi attaches “a special priority” to its relations with Colombo. However, fishermen issues are persisting since a long time. Palk Bay, a narrow strip of water separating the State of Tamil Nadu from the Northern Province of Sri Lanka is a rich fishing ground for both countries and continues to be the disputed space. The major issue in Indo-Sri Lankan relations is the ongoing disagreement over the territorial rights of the island of Katchatheevu.
Body
Fishermen issues: Major concerns
- Sri Lanka has accused Indian fishermen of frequent poaching in the island nation’s waters, and damaging the marine environment through frequent trawling.
- As in the past, fishermen from Rameswaram and nearby coasts continue to sail towards Talaimannar and Katchatheevu coasts, a region famous for rich maritime resources in Sri Lanka.
- Plenty of catch in this oceanic region had triggered a proliferation of fishing trawlers in Tamil Nadu coast in the past three decades.
- There were many favourable reasons too for Indian fishermen as their access to Sri Lankan waters was easier at the time of Sri Lankan civil war.
- Bottom trawling: In July 2017, Sri Lanka became the first Asian country to ban the aggressive method of fishing and declared it an offence by unanimously passing an amendment to the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, attracting a fine of LKR 50,000 with two years of imprisonment.
- Since then many Indians were jailed.
- Political issue: While the conflict is multilayered, its political dimension has tended to overshadow other important factors.
- It has been often a sensitive political issue in Tamil Nadu in the past one decade.
- Indians jailed: In particular, Indian analysts say, the trauma faced by the families of
fishermen detained in foreign jails hasn’t received much attention.
-
- It is pertinent that in most cases, the arrested fisher-folk have been the sole earners for their families.
- Their incarceration in Sri Lankan jails has inflicted trauma and suffering on their families.
- Katchateevu issue: While the unpopular truth in the entire conflict is accusations about Tamil fishermen entering Sri Lankan waters, ownership of Katchatheevu island, where Tamil fishermen had traditional fishing rights for centuries, also remains an unresolved issue.
Resolution of fishermen issues
- The department of ocean development and ministry of agriculture have to ensure assistance to the states so that fishermen are able to find alternative livelihood to fishing in Palk Bay.
- The Sri Lankan Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Minister appointed a three-member committee to find a lasting solution to the issue.
- According to the minister, India had accepted a draft solution submitted by Sri Lanka in January last year, but further progress was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Sri Lanka had suggested joint patrols and operations between the two countries to guarantee effective results on illegal fishing and trespassing. There is an immediate need to sign a protocol for joint patrolling.
- If both countries are unable to settle the dispute, then they could seek assistance from international maritime experts.
- The Indian government has renewed the thrust on ocean economy in recent times with the PM signing MoU on ocean economy with Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Maldives in 2015.
- Both countries have agreed on certain practical arrangements to deal with the issue of bona fide fishermen of either side crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.
- Through these arrangements, it has been possible to deal with the issue of detention of fishermen in a humane manner.
- India and Sri Lanka have agreed to set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries between the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare of India and Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development of Sri Lanka as the mechanism to help find a permanent solution to the fishermen issue.
Conclusion
Despite having met more than once since 2016, a solution is yet to be finalized. Irrespective of the circumstances, a potential solution to the dispute relies on the response from the respective governments of India and Sri Lanka. There is a glaring need for institutionalisation of fishing in Indian waters by the government of India so that alternative means of livelihood are provided. Government will have to mark up a comprehensive plan to reduce the dependence of Indian fishermen on catch from Palk Bay.
Value addition
Kachchatheevu island
- Kachchatheevu is a small island located about 10 miles north east of Rameshwaram.
- The fishermen used it to dry their nets and catch fish.
- When the Zamindari system was abolished, Kachchatheevu became a part of the Presidency of Madras.
- When India became independent and initiated a boundary negotiation at the maritime level with Sri Lanka, Kachchatheevu was a disputed territory between Ceylon and the British and there was never an agreement on boundary ever.
- In 1947 and 1976, as per agreements, the issue was bilaterally resolved between India and Sri Lanka, and the resultant maritime agreement has allowed Indians to visit Kachchatheevu for pilgrimage for which no visa is required.
- The Indian government has maintained that the right of access to Kachchatheevu does not cover any fishing rights.
Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
After two years of deliberation, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 (JPC) tabled its report this week. The recommendations are appended with a redrafted version of the law, named the “Data Protection Bill, 2021”
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:
Begin by giving the aims and objectives of the Data Protection Bill, 2021.
Body:
In the first part, mention the various features of Data Protection Bill, 2021
Next, bring out the positives of the bill.
Next, write about limitation of the bill in ensuring privacy of the citizens – surveillance reform, exempted departments, constitution and composition of Data Protection Authority etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a way forward to address the above issues.
Introduction
Data protection is the process of protecting data and involves the relationship between the collection and dissemination of data and technology. It aims to strike a balance between individual privacy rights while still allowing data to be used for myriad purposes. The sheer volume of people’s data on the internet and the advancements in technologies such as Artificial intelligence, Data mining and machine learning poses a threat of abuse and misuse of data.
Body
Background: Data protection genesis in India
- India does not have any dedicated legal framework for data protection. Presently some acts cover the data protection in general.
- Sec 43A of Information Technology Act 2000 protects user data from misuse but it is applicable to only corporate entities and not on government agency. Also, the rules are restricted to sensitive personal data only — medical history, biometric information among other things.
- Other acts like Consumer Protection Act 2015, Copyrights Act 1957 among others also attempt to protect the personal information.
- The need for a more robust data protection legislation came to the fore in 2017 post the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd) v. Union of India that established the right to privacy as a fundamental right.
- In 2018, a draft version of the bill was prepared by a committee headed by retired Justice B N Srikrishna. Recently, the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology.
Features of Data protection bill
- Non-personal data: The Bill has a changed name and scope. It is now called Data Protection Bill 2021 changed from Personal Data Protection Bill. This means the Bill would also include non-personal data.
- The Parliamentary committee has also said that this Bill should cover both sets of data till an additional framework is established to distinguish between personal and non-personal data.
- Collection and storage: The bill regulate personal data related to individuals, and the processing, collection and storage of such data.
- Data Principal: Under the bill, a data principal is an individual whose personal data is being processed.
- Data fiduciary: The entity or individual who decides the means and purposes of data processing is known as data fiduciary.
- Data processing: The Bill governs the processing of personal data by both government and companies incorporated in India.
- Data localization: It also governs foreign companies, if they deal with personal data of individuals in India.
- General consent: The Bill provides the data principal with certain rights with respect to their personal data. Any processing of personal data can be done only on the basis of consent given by data principal.
- Data Protection Authority: To ensure compliance with the provisions of the Bill, and provide for further regulations with respect to processing of personal data of individuals, the Bill sets up a DPA.
Issues with the bill regarding exemption to state
- Exemptions to the govt: Section 35 of the bill permits the Central Government to exempt any agency of the Government from the provisions of the law.
- No reasonable exemptions: There is no sufficient reason for government agencies to be exempted from basic provisions of the Bill.
- Easy breach: Though this would be subject to procedures, safeguards, and oversight mechanisms to be prescribed by the Government.
- Executive hegemony: There is no scope for oversight over the executive’s decision to issue such an order.
- Arbitrary and intrusive: As demonstrated by the Pegasus case, the current frameworks for protecting citizens from arbitrary and intrusive State action lack robustness.
Concerns regarding provisions leading to surveillance state
- Grounds of expediency: the use of this provision on grounds of expediency is an extremely low bar for the Government to meet.
- Non requirement for exemption order: There is no requirement for an exemption order to be proportionate to meeting a particular State function.
- No oversight on executive actions: There is no scope for oversight over the executive’s decision to issue such an order or any safeguards prescribed for this process.
- State surveillance: Section 36(a) of the Bill provides for an exception where personal data is being processed against criminal investigation. This provision could therefore encourage vigilantism or enable privatized surveillance.
Conclusion
Considering the data privacy as the fundamental right of a citizen and economic downturns of the potential breaches in data, government need to reconsider the above pending issues. A robust data protection law is the need of the hour. Due importance needs to be given on public awareness, better implementation and regulation and efficient grievance redressal as well. While notwithstanding the above measures, the law should not become a weapon in the hands of the state to use it to extraneous reasons. Adequate checks and balances are required to ensure the law does not lead to a surveillance state.
Value addition
Need for Data Protection in India
India has around 40 cr internet users and 25cr social media users who spend significant time online. The average cost for data breach in India has gone up to Rs. 11.9 crore, an increase of 7.9% from 2017. Moreover, in the KS Puttaswamy case, the Supreme Court has declared Data Privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21. Hence it becomes all the more significant to ensure data protection. The reasons are as follows :-
- Data Export: Most of the data storage companies are based abroad. Especially the e-commerce companies that have exabytes of data on Indians. They also export data to other jurisdiction making it difficult to apply Indian laws.
- Data Localization: Enforcing data localization has faced backlash from many private entities and their home governments. There hundreds of private players are involved in data dynamics which makes it difficult to apply uniform data protection framework.
- User Consent: Generally, the application using pre-ticked boxes on consent while asking users regarding the acceptance to the terms and conditions.
- Privacy Breach: It is usually difficult to trace the perpetrator invading the data privacy.
- Privacy laws: Currently, the usage and transfer of personal data of citizens is regulated by the Information Technology (IT) Rules, 2011, under the IT Act, 2000. However, this are applicable only to private entities and not on government agency.
- Data ownership: As per TRAI guidelines, individuals own the data, while the collectors and data processors are mere custodians of data who are subject to regulations.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Difficulty level: Moderate.
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 evaluate India’s performance with respect to its Paris Agreement targets and suggest steps to improve it.
Directive word:
Evaluate – When you are asked to evaluate, you have to pass a sound judgement about the truth of the given statement in the question or the topic based on evidence. You must appraise the worth of the statement in question. There is scope for forming an opinion here.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing about India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) with respect to Paris Climate Deal.
Body:
In the first part, form a detailed analysis as to India’s performance with respect to its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). Mention the steps in terms of policies, laws, rules and orders that have been taken in this regard. Compare its performance to other major powers. Write about the shortcomings of the same.
Next, suggest further policy changes on part of the government as well as mass behavioural changes on part of the citizens that are needed further so that India not only achieves its targets but goes very much beyond it.
Conclusion:
Summarise the need to think and act logically and ecologically to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Introduction
At the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (December 2020), India was the only G20 nation compliant with the agreement. India has been ranked within the top 10 for two years consecutively in the Climate Change Performance Index. Despite accomplishments, global pressures were intensified on India to commit more towards the Conference of the Parties (COP26), in November 2021 in Glasgow.
Body
India’s INDC, to be achieved primarily, by 2030
- To reduce the emissions intensity of the GDP by about a third.
- A total of 40% of the installed capacity for electricity will be from non-fossil fuel sources.
- India also promised an additional carbon sink (a means to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by the year 2030.
India’s performance in Nationally Determined Contributions
- Exceeding the NDC commitment: India is on track (as reports/documents show) to meet and exceed the NDC commitment to achieve 40% electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based sources by 2030.
- Reduction in emission intensity of GDP: Against the voluntary declaration for reducing the emission intensity of GDP by 20%-25% by 2020, India has reduced it by 24% between 2005-2016.
- More importantly, we achieved these targets with around 2% out of the S.$100 billion committed to developing nations in Copenhagen (2009), realised by 2015.
- Renewable energy expansion: India is implementing one of the most extensive renewable energy expansion programmes to achieve 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030.
- Investment in green measures: As part of the fiscal stimulus after the pandemic, the Government announced several green measures, including:
- a $26.5-billion investment in biogas and cleaner fuels
- $3.5 billion in incentives for producing efficient solar photovoltaic (PV) & Advanced chemistry cell battery.
- $780 million towards an afforestation programme.
- India’s contribution to global emissions is well below its equitable share of the worldwide carbon budget by any equity criterion.
- Other initiatives towards NDC:
- The Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) scheme is the world’s largest zero-subsidy LED bulb programme for domestic consumers.
- India provided leadership for setting up the International Solar Alliance, a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
Further actions needed to achieve its targets of Paris deal by 2030
- Introduce new, more efficient and cleaner technologies in thermal power generation.
- Reducing emissions from transportation sector.
- Promote energy efficiency, mainly in industry, transportation, buildings and appliances
- Develop climate resilient infrastructure.
- Aggressively pursue development of hydropower.
- Achieve the target of 63 GW of installed nuclear power capacity by 2032.
- Hasten the process to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 through additional forest and tree cover by National Green mission, Green highways etc.
- To switch over quickly to the Hydrogen economy as envisioned in National Hydrogen Mission.
Conclusion
India has made strong progress on its climate commitments and remains a key international stakeholder when it comes to increasing ambition and charting a low carbon future. India has a pivotal role in future greenhouse gas mitigation and at the same time has massive climate adaptation needs with millions already suffering due to extreme heat, drought, and floods. With most of the country’s infrastructure still being built and the energy supply of the future yet to be installed, India has the opportunity to establish a low carbon development paradigm for the rest of the developing world.
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 suggest ways for India to achieve net zero emissions by 2070.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context regarding India’s announcement at cop-26 at Glasgow.
Body:
First, mention the various steps that have already been taken in this regard to cut down emissions.
Next, part suggest innovative measures that India can take to cut down emissions – mainstreaming solar, harnessing nuclear energy, moving towards EV, bio fuels, carbon capture and storage etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way froward.
Introduction
Net-zero emission is the method of balancing the greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere by the greenhouse gas absorption from the atmosphere. In zero-carbon emission, the country will focus on limiting carbon emission. But in Net-zero carbon the country will focus on bringing the net carbon emission to zero.
Body
Background
At the 26th Conference of Parties (CoP26), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a five-fold strategy — termed as the panchamrita — to achieve this feat. These five points include:
- India will get its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 gigawatt (GW) by 2030
- India will meet 50 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030
- India will reduce the total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now onwards till 2030
- By 2030, India will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45 per cent
- So, by the year 2070, India will achieve the target of Net Zero.
Challenges for India to achieve carbon neutrality
- India is the world’s third-biggest emitter of GHG.
- India’s per capita CO2 emissions – at 1.8 tonnes per person in 2015 – are around a ninth of those in the USA and around a third of the global average of 4.8 tonnes per person.
- India must also meet the aspirations of 1.4 billion people for faster economic development. This will limit India’s development potential.
- Meeting the nation’s existing target of 450 gigawatts of renewables by 2030 is already a massive lift. Hitting net zero will require an even more dramatic acceleration.
- By 2050, India’s total electricity demand would be about 5500 to 6000 terawatt-hours (TWh), roughly a factor of five on today’s level.
- In developed countries, emissions have already peaked. Their decision is only about the path to net-zero. Emerging economies like India, instead, will go through a high-growth phase with rising energy demand and emissions. So, before a net-zero year can be targeted, India must discuss options for its peaking year
- Many argue that net zero is not equitable and fair as it does not differentiate between developing and developed countries in sharing the burden of mitigation.
- Some also criticise mid-century net zero as allowing uncontrolled emissions today while relying on uncertain technologies to offset emissions in the future.
- Many net zero pledges are premised upon trading and offsetting emissions, allowing the rich to continue emitting and buying their way out.
Measures needed:
- Focus on Energy Efficiency:
- Will need energy efficient buildings, lighting, appliances and industrial practicesto meet the net-zero goal.
- Increased usage of Biofuels:
- Can help reduce emissions from light commercial vehicles, tractors in agriculture.
- In aviation, the only practical solution for reducing emissions is greater use of biofuels, until hydrogen technology gains scale.
- Transition towards Electric vehicles:
- This will further help curb the carbon emissions.
- Carbon Sequestration:
- India willhave to rely on natural and man-made carbon sinks to soak up those emissions. Trees can capture 0.9 billion tons; the country will need carbon capture technologies to sequester the rest.
- Carbon Pricing:
- India, which already taxes coal and petroleum fuels, should consider putting a tax on emissions to drive change.
- Deploying lower-carbon Energy:
- There are four main types of low-carbon energy: wind, solar, hydro or nuclear power. The first three are renewable, which means these are good for the environment – as natural resources are used (such as wind or sun) to produce electricity.
- Deploying lower carbon energy would help address both domestic and international climate challenges while simultaneously improving the economic well-being of India’s citizens.
- Mainstreaming Renewable energy:
- India’s energy mix is dominated by coal powered electric generation stations as of now.
- The need of the hour is increase the share of renewable energy in this energy mix.
Way forward for India:
- Given the massive shifts underway in India’s energy system, we would benefit from taking stock of our actions and focusing on near-term transitions.
- This will allow us to meet and even over-comply with our 2030 target while also ensuring concomitant developmental benefits, such as developing a vibrant renewable industry.
- We can start putting in place the policies and institutions necessary to move us in the right direction for the longer-term and also better understand, through modelling and other studies, the implications of net-zero scenarios before making a net-zero pledge.
- It would also be in India’s interest to link any future pledge to the achievement of near-term action by industrialised countries.
- That would be fair and consistent with the principles of the UNFCCC and also enhance the feasibility of our own actions through, for example, increasing availability and reducing costs of new mitigation technologies.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world to the concepts of morality;
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Philosophical Mondays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about how the ideas and ideal of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr still have an impact in India and across the world.
Directive:
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:
Write a brief intro about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Body:
In the body write in detail about the Civil Rights Movements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and the influence of Mahatma Gandhi on him.
Mention about how the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr are still relevant in the todays worlds especially in the backdrop of black lives matter movement of America, the rights issue acorss the world such as women rights, minority rights, LGBTQI+ rights etc.
In India, write on the growing issues of Dalit, tribal and minority communities and how the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr advocating equitable rights applies to them.
Conclusion:
Summarize the overall legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Introduction
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience. He negotiated the darkness of conflicts using the human values of conscience, non-violence, Truth, Equality of all by taking on oppression and discrimination, prejudice and injustice.
Body
- Reflecting on the legacy that Dr. King left in setting the U.S. on the path to a more inclusive society and polity assumes significance in the context of persisting racism leading to the death of innocent African-Americans coupled with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.
- It is befitting to reflect on his lasting legacy in India
- Focusing particularly on the ideas he articulated and the movement he led, which have enduring and universal appeal, particularly at a time when some of those ideas are under threat.
- King’s dream
- If there is one idea that captures the essence of Dr. King’s contribution, it is his dream of an inclusive America.
- Though the election of Barack Obama as the first African-American President in 2008 was a major stride towards the fulfilment of this dream, Dr. King’s dream was much more grandiose in its breadth and scope.
- He expanded the horizons of the dream both in its conceptualization and actualization in the 1950s and 1960s.
- In his 1963 oration at the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King eloquently unpacked his vision for an inclusive and equitable America, which is famously remembered as the “I have a dream” speech.
- Acknowledging the contribution of President Abraham Lincoln who signed the Emancipation Proclamation that set the African-Americans free from slavery, he underscored that “the life of the coloured American is still sadly crippled by the manacle of segregation and the chains of discrimination.”
- Given persisting racial injustice even after a hundred years since 1863, he gave a clarion call saying: “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand’s of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”
- The spirit of Jesus Christ’s Sermon on the Mount and the Gandhian method of nonviolence burst forth beautifully when he cautioned his community not to “satisfy the thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”
- He raised a perceptive question: “When will you be satisfied?” And he answered it saying, “We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity.”
- From thereon he made the world spellbound with his inimitable oratory by expounding the dream that he had for America.
- “It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed… that all men are created equal.”
- He unfolded the dream further by saying, “I have a dream my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.”
- He ended the speech with the old Black spiritual that gave them hope against all hopes, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
- The Civil Rights Movement
- King’s contribution to the Civil Rights Movement was remarkable.
- There have been many African-American leaders who have propagated the message of freedom and dignity since the mid-19th century.
- Among them, Dr. King was unique; he changed the very architecture of the movement. He added flesh to these insightful ideas by leading a relentless and nonviolent movement.
- He was fully aware that his majestic dream could never be realised without galvanising all those who have the same vision.
- The movement adapted ideas from India’s forays into civil disobedience.
- Right through the movement, Dr. King strived to be the conscience and unifier of a nation that was deeply divided on racial lines.
- He bridged the gulf between the dream and reality.
- King’s major contribution to the U.S. in general and African-Americans in particular is in invigorating the benchmarks of equality, justice and dignity.
- The power of these illuminating ideas and the tenacious movement eventually resulted in a number of path-breaking laws such as Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, which ended several vestiges of racial discrimination and led to the empowerment of African-Americans like never before.
Conclusion
The teachings of Dr. King will remain a moral compass for the generations to come. Today, as the world battles climate change, religious bigotry and rising intolerance, world leaders have much to learn from these tall leaders. Their fundamental message was that unless we learn to put aside our differences and work together, we will never create a better world. The need of the hour is to inculcate such values in individuals through value-based education, moral parenting and socialization.
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