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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: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday unveiled a hologram of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate, where he said a grand statue of the freedom fighter would be placed soon.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about steps taken by Bose towards National freedom and national construction.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving a brief intro of Subhas Chandra Bose and his way of politics/
Body:
First, in detail, mention the various approach taken by Bose towards Indian freedom after resigning from Indian Civil Service.
Next, mention the various measures towards national reconstruction and his socialistic tendencies to achieve the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing about his legacy in the present day.
Introduction
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was an Indian nationalist, whose defiant patriotism made him a hero in India. Bose viewed freedom not only in terms of political self-rule but also freedom from socio-economic inequalities, casteism, intolerance etc. Bose held steadfast to a vision of large scale industrialisation and a politics devoid of irrationality and religiosity.
Indian government has decided to install a grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate to commemorate his 125th birth anniversary and as part of the yearlong celebrations
Body
Bose’s political ideology:
- Bose’s fight was not only for political freedom but also social and economic freedom. Thus, he was strongly of the opinion that Social reforms and national freedom movement were inextricably related.
- He worked with this vision and it is clearly seen in his ideas and activities during the Indian national movement.
- He believed that basic education should be grounded in one’s own national and cultural context, which would then prepare students for higher education in a wider international environment.
- He had been a strong proponent of socialist reconstruction of the nation. He stood for increased national production and equitable social distribution.
- He strongly emphasised on Panchayati Raj Institutions, radical land reforms, cheap credit to the peasant and likewise development of social forestry and cultivation .This shows his determination of creating a modern and a socialist state based on economic regeneration to improve the lot of millions of down trodden masses.
- Tolerance of differences in terms of ethnicity, caste, gender, religion is the ultimate sign of maturity for a people and a nation. How Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians could all unite under one banner and one slogan – Unity, Faith and Sacrifice.
- He wanted different communities in the country to enjoy basic human rights, good health, literacy, decent employment, and live together in peace and harmony.
- The creative spirit must set to work the social, religious and commercial life.
- Society must be purged of narrowness and inequality.
- His vision of religion was one which is free from bigotry and superstition.
- He wanted the Indian business community must grow into a healthy self-conscious and public-spirited body corporate.
- To promote gender parity, he himself led by example by creating Rani Jhansi regiment in his army.
- In the domain of culture, according to Bose, India needed more genuine poets, painters, sculptors, historians, philosophers, economists imbued with the spirit of scientific research and endowed with a real creative talent.
Conclusion
Bose’s socialism and patriotism is respected even today as he created a sense of enthusiasm, made women participated in the Indian national army ,tried to make India a true place for all castes and classes. His vision of equity and justice remain exemplary and profound till date and in the times to come.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Difficulty level: Easy.
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:
To write about the shortcomings of PRI’s on fiscal and functional decentralisation and suggest measures to overcome them.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing about the aims and objectives of 73rd Constitution Amendment Act
Body:
First, write in detail about how political decentralisation has been a success with respect to PRI’s.
Next, write about various shortcomings of PRI’s on fiscal decentralisation – lack of funds, issues with CSS, lack of agency to generate own revenues etc.
Next, write about various shortcomings of PRI’s on functional decentralisation – overlapping functions with state government, absence of a proper workforce, accountability issues etc.
Next, suggest measures to overcome the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act 1992 is a significant landmark in the evolution of grassroot democratic institutions in the country. It transformed the representative democracy into participatory democracy. It is a revolutionary concept to build democracy at the grassroot level in the country.
However, after decades of this historic amendment, Panchayati Raj Institutions have remained laggard in the developmental process.
Body
Success of Panchayati Raj
Gandhiji’s dream of Gram Swaraj and Oceanic Circles of Power were realised through the Panchayati Raj System.
- The PRIs are the local self-governing bodies that ensure the opportunity for people’s participation and involvement in the formulation and implementation of rural development programmes.
- The main objective of Panchayat System in India is to strengthen the base of democracy at the grass root level.
- It was introduced as a real democratic political apparatus which would bring the masses into active political control from below, from the vast majority of the weaker, poor sections of rural India.
- They play the role of a catalytic agent in integrating development of tribal masses in rural areas.
- Plan documents of both the central and state governments and various committees have emphasised the importance of these bodies in the polity. Five-year plans have also laid special emphasis on the role of Panchayats in rural developments.
- Rural Development includes measures to strengthen the democratic structure of society through the PRIs.
- PRIs have been used to improve the rural infrastructure, income of rural households and delivery systems pertaining to education, health and safety mechanisms. These institutions are to be galvanised to become effective instruments of social and economic change at the local level.
- Reservation for women (33%) has increased their presence in the public life.
Failures of democratic decentralisation especially in Panchayats
- Overwhelming dependency on government funding: Panchayat’s own resource base to raise finances is low and the financial resources are tied to certain schemes and initiatives. When Panchayats do not raise resources and instead depend on external funding, people are less likely to enforce social audit and efficacy of the schemes.
- g.: In case of Urban local bodies, majority of municipalities have not increased property tax since many years and have not leveraged the municipal bonds for betterment of city infrastructure.
- Creation of Parallel Bodies: Parallel Bodies have usurped the legitimate space of local bodies. For instance, Smart City scheme is being implemented in major cities through Special Purpose Vehicles, squeezing the limited space of urban local governance in municipalities.
- Lack of adequate Devolution: Many states have not devolved the 3F’s of function, funds and functionaries, to enable local bodies to discharge their constitutionally stipulated functions.
- Excessive control by bureaucracy
- In many Gram Panchayats, Sarpanches have to spend an extra ordinary amount of time visiting block Officers for funds and/or technical approval. These interactions with the Block staff office distort the role of Sarpanches as elected representatives.
- Multiple institutions like parastatals, development authorities, public works departments, and ULBs themselves report to different departments of the state government and have been entrusted with overlapping responsibilities.
- Poor Infrastructure: It is found that nearly 25% of Gram Panchayats do not have basic office buildings. Capacity building of elected representatives is another hindrance in the grass roots democracy. In case of urban local bodies, Mayor position is merely ceremonial.
Measures Need to strengthen Panchayats
- Central Government has started the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyaan.The campaign is undertaken under the name of “Sabka Sath, Sabka Gaon, Sabka Vikas”.
- It aims to draw up Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs)in the country and place them on a website where anyone can see the status of the various government’s flagship schemes.
- Gram Panchayats have been mandated for the preparation of GPDP for economic development and social justiceutilizing the resources available to them.
- Government of India formulated E-Panchayat Mission Mode Project for e-enablement of all the Panchayats, to make their functioning more efficient and transparent.
- Social Audit:The power of social audit was proven by Jan Sunwai in Rajasthan. Transparent, third party Social Audit can enable people to hold the representatives accountable.
- Citizen Participation: In case of Gram Sabhas, their functions and roles must be clearly defined as in the PESA Act, to enable to function effectively.
Conclusion
The need of the hour is to bring about a holistic change in the lives of people among the villagers by uplifting their socioeconomic and health status through effective linkages through community, governmental and other developmental agencies. People’s demands for the sustainable decentralisation and advocacy should focus on a decentralisation agenda. The framework needs to be evolved to accommodate the demand for decentralisation.
Topic: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Difficulty level: Moderate.
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:
To write about Fifteenth Finance Commission recommendations and how they impact local bodies.
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 giving the role of Finance Commission in fiscal augmentation of local bodies.
Body:
In the first part, in brief mention the major recommendations of 15th Finance Commission with respect to local bodies.
In the next part, mention positive aspects of the recommendations vis-à-vis 14th FC recommendations with a special emphasis on Urban Local bodies.
Next, mention the limitations of the above recommendations.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward to overcome the limitations.
Introduction
The Fifteenth Finance Commission was constituted by a Presidential Order in November, 2017 under the Chairmanship of Shri N. K. Singh to decide the formula for devolution of revenue between Centre and States, for a period of 5 years – April, 2020 to March, 2025. The XV FC, however, was given an extension of a year due to uncertainties in key macro areas such as new monetary policy framework, GST, bankruptcy code, demonetization, etc.
Body:
Major recommendations of XV FC w.r.t local governments:
The XV FC Commission has significantly raised the bar on financial governance of India’s municipalities in the interim report in at least four specific ways.
- Overall outlay:
- The Finance Commission has granted Rs 4,36,361 crore from the central divisive tax pool to local governments, both rural and urban, for 2021-26.
- Of the total grant, Rs 236,805 crore is for rural bodies for local governments (Panchayat institutions) while urban bodies (municipal corporations, municipalities, etc.) get Rs 121,055 crore.
- An additional Rs 70,051 crore is earmarked as health grants for such local governments.
- Rise in Devolution:
- Compared with the Fourteenth Finance Commission there is a 52% increase in the vertical share.
- Even if we deduct the grant of ₹70,051 crore earmarked for improving primary health centers, the share is still an all-time high of 4.19%.
- Higher Inclusivity:
- Under the 14th FC, grants for local bodies included only the village Panchayat, excluding the block and district panchayats. It also excluded the village Panchayats in areas under the Fifth and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
- Similarly, for urban local bodies, it didn’t make any distinctions based on population and geographical sizes. The cantonment boards in urban areas were also excluded from grants.
- The 15th FC has included all levels of rural panchayats and also the panchayats in scheduled areas as mentioned above, besides cantonment boards.
- In spirit of Co-operative federalism:
- All the Commissions since the Eleventh Commission have tied specific items of expenditure to local grants and the Fifteenth Finance Commission has raised this share to 60% and linked them to drinking water, rainwater harvesting, sanitation and other national priorities in the spirit of cooperative federalism.
- Encouraging standardization of accounting system:
- An important recommendation of the Fifteenth Finance Commission is the entry-level criterion to avail the union local grant (except health grant) by local governments.
- For panchayats, the condition is the online submission of annual accounts for the previous year and audited accounts for the year before.
- For urban local governments, two more conditions are specified: fixation of the minimum floor for property tax and improvement in its collection.
Shortcomings of the 15th Finance Commission:
- Performance based grants slashed:
- It reduced the performance-based grant to just ₹8,000 crores — and that too for building new cities, leaving out the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) altogether.
- The performance-linked grants thoughtfully introduced by the Thirteenth Finance Commission earmarked 35% of local grants specifying six conditions for panchayats and nine for urban local governments and covered a wide range of reforms: from the establishment of an independent ombudsman to notifying standards for service sectors such as drinking water and solid waste management.
- Missed opportunity to ensure minimum public services:
- While the grants to the primary health centers must be acknowledged as a great gesture, a good opportunity to ensure comparable minimum public services to every citizen irrespective of her choice of residential location has not been taken forward in an integrated manner.
- No equalization principle for local governments:
- Although the Fifteenth Finance Commission stresses the need to implement the equalization principle, it is virtually silent when it comes to the local governments.
- Gram Panchayats are left out of the entry level criterion.
- Equity and efficiency side-lined:
- The Fifteenth Finance Commission employed population (2011 Census) with 90% and area 10%weightage for determining the distribution of grant to States for local governments.
- The same criteria were followed by the Fourteenth Finance Commission.
- While this ensures continuity, equity and efficiency criteria are side-lined.
- Abandoning tax effort criterion incentivises dependency, inefficiency and non-accountability.
Way forward:
- The allocations for the incubation of new cities and shared municipal services are designed to foster innovations in urban governance to transform our cities with speed and scale. They are seed or venture capital for innovations.
- The expectation is that state governments would complement these with larger outlays.
- There is an urgent need for synergistically combined area-based development to spur economic growth and job creation, and decongesting through the development of satellite townships.
- We need our local governments’ legislation to reflect progressive and enabling financial governance of our cities through five reform agendas of fiscal decentralisation (including strengthening state finance commissions), revenue optimisation (to enhance own revenues), fiscal responsibility and budget management (to accelerate municipal borrowings), institutional capacities (towards an adequately skilled workforce) and transparency and citizen participation (for democratic accountability at the neighbourhood level).
Conclusion:
The foundation for some of these were laid by previous finance commissions, particularly the thirteenth and fourteenth. However, the ultimate responsibility for municipal finance reforms remains with state governments. Constitutional bodies such as the finance commission cannot be seen as principal actors in driving transformational change in our cities. They can, at best, prepare the ground and provide incentives and disincentives.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
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 various adverse impacts of the bill on ease of doing business – regulatory burdens, impediments to start ups, data transfer and onerous regulatory environment 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
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.
- 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.
Issues regarding ease of doing business
- The framework under the Bill is premised on a centralised Data Protection Authority with a wide discretionary remit to formulate regulation.
- The Bill has broad-based restrictions on the transfer of data overseas that are likely to splinter our market from the global digital economy.
- It seeks to impose onerous compliance obligations that have little to do with data protection.
- It sets forth an inflexible framework that is bereft of any formal consultative rule-making process.
- Substantial portions of the Bill are out of sync with international data protection practices, which could blunt India’s competitive advantage as a digital market..
- A narrower category of personal data that is considered “critical” would be entirely prohibited from transfer outside India. It is the authority who is to define “critical data” without even an indicative hint of its scope in the Bill. These requirements destroy the basic value of the digital economy — connectivity beyond physical barriers.
- The burden of onerous regulation will be fatal to new entrants, while the costs will be absorbed by established incumbents.
- The Bill, if adopted, will ensure that the start-up ideas of today that could become unicorns of tomorrow are stillborn.
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.
Value generation through technology requires an open and innovation-friendly regulatory environment. The government, therefore, must closely consider each of the policy prescriptions in the Bill including the unintended but deleterious consequences of the regulatory regime mooted.
Value addition
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.
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.
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.
Topic: Government Budgeting.
Difficulty level: Easy.
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question: The last budget had presented a roadmap for fiscal consolidation, projecting to bring down the fiscal deficit from 9.5 per cent of GDP in 2020-21 to 6.8 per cent in 2021-22, and thereafter, to below 4.5 per cent by 2025-26.
Key Demand of the question: To write about the impact of fiscal deficit and the steps to overcome it.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining fiscal deficit.
Body:
In the first part, give the context of pandemic and increased fiscal deficit due to it.
Next, write about the impact of fiscal deficit – price stability and inflation, push up overall demand in the economy, raising the cost of inputs, ‘crowding out’ effect etc.
Next, suggest policy measures to overcome the above.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction
Fiscal Deficit is a term used to denote a deficit in government earnings during a financial year. A fiscal deficit occurs when the total expenditure of the government exceeds the total revenue (excluding borrowed funds). Fiscal deficit is “reflective of the total borrowing requirements of Government”.
The last budget had presented a roadmap for fiscal consolidation, projecting to bring down the fiscal deficit from 9.5 per cent of GDP in 2020-21 to 6.8 per cent in 2021-22, and thereafter, to below 4.5 per cent by 2025-26.
Body:
Fiscal Deficit:
- The difference between total revenue and total expenditure of the government is termed as fiscal deficit.
- It is an indication of the total borrowings needed by the government.
- Generally fiscal deficit takes place either due to revenue deficit or a major hike in capital expenditure.
- Capital expenditure is incurred to create long-term assets such as factories, buildings and other development.
Significance of fiscal deficit:
- In the economy, there is a limited pool of investible savings. These savings are used by financial institutions like banks to lend to private businesses (both big and small) and the governments (Centre and state).
- If the fiscal deficit ratio is too high, it implies that there is a lesser amount of money left in the market for private entrepreneurs and businesses to borrow.
- Lesser amount of this money, in turn, leads to higher rates of interest charged on such lending.
- So, simply put, a higher fiscal deficit means higher borrowing by the government, which, in turn, mean higher interest rates in the economy.
- A high fiscal deficit and higher interest rates would also mean that the efforts of the Reserve Bank of India to reduce interest rates are undone.
Impacts of Fiscal Deficit:
- It can mean that the Government is spending money on unproductive programmes which do not increase economic productivity. (For example MNREGA, most of the money is eaten midway by the Sarpanch and Local officers.)
- As government borrows from RBI which meets this demand by printing of more currency notes (called deficit financing), it results in circulation of more money. This may cause inflationary pressure in the economy.
- When Government keeps borrowing and borrowing to fill up the fiscal deficit pothole, then bond yield will increase. It is not good because more and more of taxpayers’ money (i.e. Government ‘s incoming money) will go in repaying that bond interest rate rather than going into education or healthcare.
- Government may be compelled to borrow to finance even interest payment leading to emergence of a vicious circle and debt trap.
- Fiscal deficit “Crowds out” investment from private sector as Government borrows most of the cash.
- Borrowing is in fact financial burden on future generation to pay loan and interest amount which retards growth of economy.
Strategies to Reduce Fiscal Deficit:
- There is a need to implement NK Singh committee recommendations with respect to Fiscal deficit for a stable economy.
- Suggested a fiscal deviation band of 0.5%.
- This means that the government can deviate by 0.5% from the fiscal Deficit target if the economy is in slowdown.
- The flexibility has been allowed for the government to create space for stimulus to pump-prime the economy.
- On the other hand, when the economy is doing well, the deficit can be compressed by 0.5%.
- A deficit is usually financed through borrowing from either the central bank of the country or raising money from capital markets by issuing different instruments like treasury bills and bonds.
- A drastic reduction in expenditure on major subsidies. Reduction in expenditure on bonus, LTC, leaves encashment, etc. Austerity steps to curtail non-plan expenditure.
- Tax base should be broadened and concessions and reduction in taxes should be curtailed. Tax evasion should be effectively checked. More emphasis on direct taxes to increase revenue. Restructuring and sale of shares in public sector units.
- Famous economist John Maynard Keynes opined that deficits actually assist nations in climbing out of economic recessions.
- However, fiscal conservatives believe that deficits should be avoided by the government which should be inclined towards a balanced budget policy.
Conclusion:
For better economic management and long term economic growth other factors and measures should be considered along with fiscal deficit. In the current scenario, the most important thing is to bring back confidence among consumers as well as businesses. This will help in fuelling the economic recovery.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Difficulty level: Moderate.
Reference: sciencealert.com , Insights on India
Key Demand of the question:
To suggest ways for India to achieve its ‘Panchamrit’ declaration.
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 five components of ‘Panchamrit’ declaration.
Next, 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
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.
Body
Panchamrit strategy
The five-fold strategy 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.
Ways to achieve ambitious ‘Panchamrit’ declaration:
- 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.
Value addition
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.
General Studies – 4
Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world to the concepts of morality;
Difficulty Level: Tough
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 Kant’s Universal moral law.
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 writing about deontology of Kant.
Body:
In detail, explain the maxim of universal moral law as propounded by Kant and its role in guiding human action. Give examples to substantiate your points and mention its limitations.
Conclusion:
Conclude the answer by summarising.
Introduction
Kantian ethics refers to a deontological ethical theory ascribed to the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. The theory, developed as a result of Enlightenment rationalism, is based on the view that the only intrinsically good thing is a good will; an action can only be good if its maxim – the principle behind it – is duty to the moral law.
Body
Moral law
- When Kant speaks about the moral law, he is essentially referring to that sense of obligation to which our will often responds.
- Our response is toward that moral sense which Kant believes each of us has, in virtue of being rational and free. It is conscience.
- The moral law is not given to us from outside.
- Kant does not associate the moral law with what God commands. Nor with civil law. Nor with what society recommends.
- The moral law is nothing other than rational will — the will which is entirely “devoted” to, or guided by impartiality and universality of reason.
How laws must be according to Kant:
- Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
- It states that one should choose our ‘codes of conduct’ only if they serve perfect / imperfect duty and are good for all.
- Perfect duties are blameworthy if not met and are the basic requirements for a human being.
- An example of perfect duty is the avoidance of suicide.
- Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means to an end.
- This states that we should not use humanity of ourselves or others as a means to an end.
- An example of the second maxim would be that of slavery.
- Every rational being must so act as if he were through his maxim always a legislating member in the universal kingdom of ends.
- This states that we should consider ourselves to be members in the universal realm of ends.
- We should consider our actions to be of consequence to everyone else in that our actions affect not only ourselves but that of others.
Conclusion
Kant’s philosophy of human individuals as end in itself endorses the golden rule of “treating others as one’s self would wish to be treated”. As no one would wish to be used simply as a means, therefore one should not also use other human beings as means to achieve their ends. This philosophy can be of great help in resolving the ethical dilemmas where there is debate between relative importance of means and ends.
Value addition
Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) argued that the supreme principle of morality is a standard of rationality that he dubbed the “Categorical Imperative” (CI). Kant characterized the CI as an objective, rationally necessary and unconditional principle that we must always follow despite any natural desires or inclinations we may have to the contrary.
The CI states that it is immoral to use another person merely as a means to an end and that people must under all circumstances be treated as ends in themselves. This is in contrast to some interpretations of the utilitarian view, which allow for use of individuals as means to benefit the many.
Kant’s Categorical Imperative:
- Kant believed that there was a supreme principle of morality, and he referred to it as The Categorical Imperative.
- The CI determines what our moral duties are. Kant thought that all acts should be judged according to a rule he called the Categorical Imperative.
- A categorical imperative denotes an absolute, unconditional requirement that exerts its authority in all circumstances, both required and justified as an end in itself.
- He gives the highest honor for the categorical imperative because it became universal law that can be applied to any and every one.
- Kant is saying that simply willing that our moral rule become a universal law produces a logical contradiction.
- His categorical imperative ensures that we aren’t doing these acts in mimic of others but rather in line with one universal law.
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