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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: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Difficulty level: Moderate.
Reference: Insights on India
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the influences on Vijayanagar architecture and its nature.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
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 mentioning the Vijayanagar rulers were great patrons of art and architecture.
Body:
First, Mention the various features of Vijayanagar architecture and their progress – Vijayanagar temples are surrounded by strong enclosures and characterized by ornate pillared kalyanamandapa (marriage halls); tall rayagopurams (carved monumental towers at the entrance of the temple) built of wood, brick, and stucco in the Chola style; and adorned with life-sized figures of gods and goddesses.
Next, write about the unique features of Vijayanagar architecture and other influences on it such as Portuguese and Islamic influences.
Conclusion:
Conclude by commenting on the overall nature of architecture of Vijayanagar.
Introduction
The rulers of Vijayanagara borrowed concepts and building techniques which they then developed further. Vijayanagar architecture is a vibrant combination of the Chalukya, Hoysala, Pandya, and Chola styles, which evolved from prior empires in earlier centuries. It is also influenced by later Deccan and Dravidian styles. Preferred for its durability, local hard granite was the building material of choice, as it had been for the Badami Chalukyas. However, soapstone, which was soft and easily carved, was also used for reliefs and sculptures.
Body
Vijayanagara architecture and its progress
- They used the Dravidian style of architecture later added some unique features to it and it came to be called as Vijayanagara style.
- Preferred for its durability, local hard granite was the building material of choice, as it had been for the Badami Chalukyas.
- Vijayanagar temples are surrounded by strong enclosures and characterized by ornate pillared kalyanamandapa (marriage halls); tall rayagopurams (carved monumental towers at the entrance of the temple) built of wood, brick, and stucco in the Chola style; and adorned with life-sized figures of gods and goddesses.
- This Dravida style became popular during the reign of Krishnadeva Raya and is seen in South Indian temples constructed over the next two centuries.
- The courtly architecture of Vijayanagar is generally made of mortar mixed with stone rubble and often shows secular styles with Islamic-influenced arches, domes, and vaults.
Unique features of Vijayanagara architecture
- Religious architecture
- The Tamil Dravida-influenced style became popular during the rule of king Krishnadevaraya and is seen in South Indian temples constructed over the next 200 years.
- Examples of Rayagopuram are the Chennakesava Temple in Belur and the temples at Srisailam and Srirangam.
- In addition to these structures, medium-size temples have a closed circumambulatory (Pradakshinapatha) passage around the sanctum, an open mahamantapa (large hall) and a temple tank to serve the needs of annual celebrations.
- Vijayanagar temples are also known for their carved pillars, which depict charging horses, figures from Hindu mythology, and yali (hippogriphs).
- Some of the larger temples are dedicated to a male deity, with a separate shrine intended for the worship of his female counterpart.
- Some famous temples exemplifying the Vijayanagar style include the Virupaksha Temple at Hampi and the Hazara Rama temple of Deva Raya I
- Hampi Stone chariot is influenced by Raths made in Mahabalipuram by Pandayas. Example: Dharmaraya rath, Draupadi Rath etc.
- Palaces and Courtly Architecture:
- Most of the palaces faced east or north and stood within compounds surrounded by high, tapering stone and earth walls.
- They were built on raised granite platforms with multiple tiers of mouldings decorated with carved friezes.
- The courtly architecture of Vijayanagar is generally made of mortar mixed with stone rubble and often shows secular styles with Islamic-influenced arches, domes, and vaults.
- Examples are the Lotus Mahal palace, Elephant stables, and watch towers.
- Civic Architecture
- Gateways were distinctive architectural features that often defined the structures to which they regulated access.
- The arch on the gateway leading into the fortified settlement as well as the dome over the gate are regarded as typical features of the architecture introduced by the Turkish Sultans.
- Located on one of the highest points in the city, the “mahanavami dibba” is a massive platform rising from a base of about 11,000 sq. ft to a height of40 ft. There is evidence that it supported a wooden structure.
Conclusion
The temple building activity of the Vijayanagar rulers produced a new style, the Vijayanagar style. Though often characterized as Dravida Style, it had its own distinct features as discussed above. The rulers were great patrons of art and architecture and it is a beautiful amalgamation of various architectural styles of South India which makes it unique as well as propagation of heritage architecture.
Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To bring out the factors responsible for formation and movement of ocean current.
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining ocean currents.
Body:
Draw a small illustrative diagram showing major ocean currents.
Mention primary and secondary factors responsible for their formation – insolation, atmospheric circulations, gravity and the effect of Coriolis force, Temperature and salinity differences and water density etc.
Conclusion:
Summarize the importance of Ocean currents.
Introduction
Ocean currents are the continuous, predictable, directional movement of seawater. It is a massive movement of ocean water that is caused and influenced by various forces. They are like river flows in oceans. Ocean currents are the most important ocean movements because of their influence on climatology of various regions.
Horizontal movements are referred to as currents, while vertical changes are called upwellings or downwellings. Ocean currents impact humankind and the biosphere due to their influence on climate.
Body
Primary factors responsible for formation of Ocean Currents
- Insolation: Heating by solar energy causes the water to expand. That is why, near the equator the ocean water is about 8 cm higher in level than in the middle latitudes.
- This causes a very slight gradient and water tends to flow down the slope. The flow is normally from east to west.
● Wind (atmospheric circulation): Wind blowing on the surface of the ocean pushes the water to move. Friction between the wind and the water surface affects the movement of the water body in its course.
- Winds are responsible for both magnitude and direction (Coriolis force also affects direction) of the ocean currents. Example: Monsoon winds are responsible for the seasonal reversal of ocean currents in the Indian ocean.
- The oceanic circulation pattern roughly corresponds to the earth’s atmospheric circulation pattern.
- The air circulation over the oceans in the middle latitudes is mainly anticyclonic [Sub-tropical High Pressure Belt] (more pronounced in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere due to differences in the extent of landmass). The oceanic circulation pattern also corresponds with the same.
- At higher latitudes, where the wind flow is mostly cyclonic [Sub-polar Low Pressure Belt], the oceanic circulation follows this pattern.
- In regions of pronounced monsoonal flow [Northern Indian Ocean], the monsoon winds influence the current movements which change directions according to seasons.
- Gravity: Gravity tends to pull the water down to pile and create gradient variation.
- Coriolis force: The Coriolis force intervenes and causes the water to move to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.
- These large accumulations of water and the flow around them are called These produce large circular currents in all the ocean basins. One such circular current is the Sargasso Sea.
Secondary factors responsible for ocean currents
- Temperature difference and salinity difference are the secondary forces.
- Water density: Differences in water density affect vertical mobility of ocean currents (vertical currents).
- Water with high salinity is denser than water with low salinity and in the same way cold water is denser than warm water.
- Denser water tends to sink, while relatively lighter water tends to rise.
- Coastline shape: The shape of coastline is also an important factor that affects the current in the oceans.
- Temperature difference: Cold-water Ocean currents occur when the cold water at the poles sinks and slowly moves towards the equator.
- Warm-water currents travel out from the equator along the surface, flowing towards the poles to replace the sinking cold water.
Conclusion
Although there are a number of factors which impact the formation of ocean currents, the ocean current themselves play a major role in determining regional as well as global climate. Without currents in the ocean, regional temperatures would be more extreme- super hot at the equator and frigid toward the poles and much less of Earth’s land would be habitable.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday evening left for Japan on a two-day visit to attend a summit of the Quad leaders which is aimed at further bolstering cooperation among the member nations of the influential grouping and discussing developments in the Indo-Pacific region.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the various initiatives of QUAD and impact of various geopolitical conflicts on QUAD.
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 aims and objectives of Quad.
Body:
In the first part, Mention, the initiatives of Quad – maritime security, cyber security and disaster response to connectivity and infrastructure, climate action, vaccine production, student mobility, resilient supply chains, combating disinformation and counter-terrorism etc.
Next, mention the challenges – Ukraine crisis, withdrawal of U.S from Afghanistan, formation of AUKUS, Free and open Indo-Pacific, formation of AUKUS, issue of Quad expansion and Chinese aggression etc.
Conclusion:
Write a way forward to overcome the above challenges and realise their collective goals.
Introduction
The Quad, also known as, the ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’ (QSD), is an informal strategic forum comprising of four nations, namely, United States of America (USA), India, Australia and Japan. One of the primary objectives of the Quad is, to work for a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
Body
Objectives of QUAD
- The motive behind the Quad is, to keep the strategic sea routes in the Indo-Pacific, free of any military or political influence.
- It is basically seen as a strategic grouping, aimed at reducing the Chinese domination.
- The core objective of the Quad is, to secure a rules-based global order, freedom of navigation and, a liberal trading system.
- The coalition also aims to offer, alternative debt financing for nations in the Indo-Pacific
- The Quad leaders exchange views on contemporary global issues, such as, critical and emerging technologies, connectivity and infrastructure, cyber security, maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, climate change, pandemic and education.
Quad significance of India and Indo-Pacific
- In the current scenario, given Chinese intransigence and our misreading of their imperialist-expansionist intent, Sino-Indian tensions are likely to persist.
- If India is not to cede ground physically or diplomatically, it must muster all elements of its “comprehensive national power”, including the maritime, and create a strong negotiating position.
- Apart from the balance of forces on land favouring China, there is also the Beijing-Islamabad Axis that awaits activation.
- Keeping tensions confined to the Himalayan arena is, therefore, not only militarily advantageous to China but a continental focus also helps to keep India contained in a “South-Asia box”.
- It is also time to seek an enlargement of this grouping into a partnership of the like-minded.
- Other nations feeling the brunt of Chinese brawn may be willing to join an “Indo-Pacific concord” to maintain peace and tranquillity and to ensure observance of the UN Law of the Seas.
- News of Australia being re-invited to participate in the Malabar exercise deserves a conditional welcome, given Canberra’s past inconsistency and political flip-flops.
Challenges to Quad
- Divergence of interest on Russia-Ukraine crisis can spell doom for QUAD to kick off in a substantial manner. This may reduce the solidarity against China.
- India’s defence purchase from Russia is an irritant for USA.
- There are varied interests and diverging opinions on matters of trade, intellectual property, Ukraine crisis and support for Ukraine among others.
- Any ambition to formalise the Quad as a substantive manifestation of a free and open Indo-Pacific is likely to encounter difficulties. The future of the Quad beyond its current consultative format is not certain.
- Given the complex array of interests at play across the dynamic region, key partners are more likely to preference loose coalitions based on dialogue and cooperation over more fixed, institutionalised formats.
Way forward
- The opportunity to discuss emerging regional issues, from piracy to maritime pollution and disaster management, through such a platform should be seen as a positive.
- At the same time, assuring ASEAN of its role and relevance to Indo-Pacific, including through established dialogue mechanisms like the EAS, could reinforce notions of inclusivity, build support for the key rules shaping behaviour, and mitigate against the threat of strategic drift within the region.
- Engaging others, including China, in dialogue about the Indo-Pacific project through such mechanisms will be integral to realising the long-term vision for a stable and inclusive region.
Conclusion
A formal revival and re-invigoration of the Quad is called for. It is also time to seek an enlargement of this grouping into a partnership of the like-minded. Other nations feeling the brunt of Chinese brawn may be willing to join an “Indo-Pacific concord” to maintain peace and tranquillity and to ensure observance of the UN Law of the Seas.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
A few years ago, a top economist from EAC-PM also flagged the issue when he pointed out that India’s growth was mostly driven by the demand generated by 100 million people at the top of the socio-economic ladder, and that demand had begun to reach a saturation point. He had warned that if the situation does not improve, India may fall into the middle-income trap.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about middle-income trap and ways to avoid it.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining middle income trap.
Body:
First, mention the various facets of middle-income trap and substantiate with facts and figures regarding it. Cite some examples of countries facing middle income trap.
Next, write about the various measures that can be taken to avoid the middle-income trap,
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
The middle-income trap refers to a situation whereby a middle-income country is failing to transition to a high-income economy due to rising costs and declining competitiveness. Few countries successfully manage the transition from low to middle to high income. The concept of a middle-income trap was first coined by Indermit Gill and Homi Kharas, the term refers to a sustained economic slowdown following a period of strong growth.
World Bank defines The middle-income trap as a development stage that characterizes countries that are squeezed between low-wage producers and highly skilled and fast-moving innovators for a variety of reasons—especially a failure to build institutional, human and technological capital.
Body
The Economic Survey 2018 (volume I) made a theoretical examination of India facing a Late Convergence Stall and the risk of falling into the Middle-Income Trap. However, India could use its demographic dividend to avoid this predicament and achieve the critical velocity needed to move into the high-income bracket.
Middle Income Trap and India:
- The economic reforms that India unleashed in 1991 led to a period of strong growth lifting millions out of poverty and increasing the size of the economy by almost nine times in about 30 years.
- However, unlike China and other prosperous East Asian nations, there was no mass shift from farm to factories.
- India failed to create a robust manufacturing sector, which today accounts for less than 17% of the economic output.
- In late convergers like India, ‘premature deindustrialization’ (tendency for manufacturing to peak at lower levels of activity and earlier in the development process) is a major cause of concern.
- Service led economic growth lead to a jobless growth. Consequently, India’s economic growth has been powered by investments in the services sector, which could only create a few million high-skilled jobs, thereby forcing a staggering 81% of the workforce to be employed in the informal sector.
- India has very low levels of human capital growth for an ambitious and fast-growing major economy.
- The new advances in technology not only require skilled human capital, but also demands them to learn continually.
- As opposed to these requirements, there is a wider educational attainment gap between lower income countries and advanced economies.
- Agricultural productivity is crucial both for feeding people and for ensuring human capital moves from agriculture to modern sectors. With climate change, ambient temperature has increased and weather extremities have become a recurrent phenomenon.
- This is, in particular, a threat to India where agriculture is heavily dependent on precipitation.
- Fall in private consumption, muted rise in fixed investment and sluggish exports have led to slowdown in the economy and increase India’s vulnerability to the middle-income trap.
Measures to overcome the Middle income trap:
- Transitioning from diversification to specialization in production: Specialization allowed the middle-income Asian countries to reap economies of scale and offset the cost of disadvantages associated with higher wages. E.g. Electronics industry in South Korea.
- High levels of investment in new technologies and innovation-conducive policies are two overarching requirements to ensure specialized production.
- Developing good social-safety nets and skill-retraining programs can ease the restructuring process that accompanies specialization.
- Improve productivity: Re-allocation of labour from low-productivity agriculture to high-productivity sectors, such as manufacturing, has been a primary channel through which today’s advanced economies raised their living standards.
- In 2020-21, it accounted for only 14.5% of India’s gross value added, down from 17.4% in 2011-12.
- An essential first step in improving productivity would be strengthening this sector.
- Strengthen manufacturing sector: Industrial labour relations is among the most critical elements to revitalize India’s manufacturing sector especially in the context of labour productivity.
- These labour laws created incentives for firms to remain small and uncompetitive, thereby affecting productivity.
- The new code, once implemented, would increase the threshold relating to layoffs and retrenchment in industrial establishments to 300 workers.
- Other countries, such as China, Vietnam and Bangladesh, with whom India competes for foreign investment and export markets do not require the approval of administrative or judicial bodies for dismissals.
- Therefore, in spite of recent reforms, India’s labour laws stay rigid in comparison with those of its competitor countries.
- Technology intensive manufacturing:
- Engendering innovation in higher value-added, tech-intensive activities is important for economies before they reach that juncture.
- If exports are taken as a proxy for the manufacturing capabilities and competitiveness of an economy, the present status of tech-intensive manufacturing in India leaves a lot to be desired.
- As per World Bank data, high-tech exports accounted for only 10.3% of India’s manufacturing exports in 2019.
- Rival countries had a much higher share of the same: 31% in China, 13% in Brazil, 40% in Vietnam and 24% in Thailand.
- Low R&D spending in India, ranging from a mere 0.64% to 0.86% of gross domestic product over the past two decades, has held the country back.
- Addressing barriers to effective competition: There is a need to address rigidities that can arise from bankruptcy laws, stringent tax regulations, limited enforcement of IP regulations, imperfect information, discrimination etc.
- Decentralized economic management: Greater powers should be vested in local governments to ensure speedier decision making
- Sustaining macroeconomic stability
- through flexible fiscal framework that limited deficits and debt, and a flexible exchange rate mechanism backed up by a credible inflation-targeting monetary policy could help sustain long periods of growth.
- Effective restructuring, regulating, and supervising of the financial sector must be ensured so that the present NPA crisis can be effectively handled.
- Changing orientation of social programmes that targets middle class besides poorer sections of the society which would propel the demand driven growth.
- low-cost housing for first-time home buyers in cities, programs to ensure that recent graduates get suitable employment opportunities, paying more attention to public goods like safety, urban transport, and green spaces etc.
Way forward:
- India has to do much more work in terms of revamping its education system, enhancement of the skill sets of its workforce, availability of abundant quantity of different manufacturing skills at identified locations, better logistics connectivity, a simplified and friendly tax regime, land and labour reforms, etc., to escape the middle income trap.
- Long-term structural reforms and provision of better social security to people who have not benefited from India’s growth.
- Without a demand push, economic recovery is not plausible. Measures to stimulate demand, like reduction in GST rates, higher employment creation, universal basic income, lower personal Income Tax rates etc., should be the government’s attention.
Conclusion
The status of our country is a multi-aspect problem that needs deep structural reforms. The concern is not just limited to only increasing demand and GDP but environmental aspects too. Almost every sector requires a policy change. India has fewer natural resources left along with a low GDP growth rate as compared to other middle-income countries. This calls for a policy that has a wider perspective than only focusing on the economic aspect. There is a need to redistribute the collective resources based on the equity principle.
Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping;
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: The Hindu , The Hindu
Why the question:
India, which surprised the world with its decision to bar wheat export with immediate effect, appears to be on the defensive now after its May 13 announcement.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the impacts of lack of a policy on food security.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by key facts relevant to the context of the question.
Body:
First, write about reasons for despite being self-sufficient in food production, India faces problems of hunger and food insecurity.
Next, write about the impact of lack of a coherent policy on food security.
Next, mention the various measures that are needed to be taken in this regard.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
India, which surprised the world with its decision to bar wheat export with immediate effect, shows the policy is not consistent and coherent wrt food security. Economists believe that such policy flip flops can hurt farmers, traders and India’s soft power as well.
However it was taken in lieu of food security issues and rises food grains prices due to unbridled rise in inflation.
Body
Background
- India, currently has the largest number of undernourished people in the worlde. around 195 million.
- Nearly 47 million or 4 out of 10 children in India do not meet their full human potential because of chronic undernutrition or stunting.
- 9% of children under 5 years are stunted and 20.8% are wasted, compared to the Asia average of 22.7% and 9.4% respectively.
- Rate of overweight and obesity continues to rise, affecting almost a fifth of the adults, at 21.6% of women and 17.8% of men.
- Inequities in food and health systems increase inequalities in nutrition outcomes that in turn can lead to more inequity, perpetuating a vicious cycle.
Causes for food security despite being self-sufficient in production of food grains
- Poverty: Poverty restricts the food choices and has been the causative factor of hunger related deaths.
- Poor access to safe drinking water: Safe and tap drinking water is still a luxury in many parts of rural India and urban slums/shanties. Unsafe water causes water borne diseases and children are prone to it more than adults.
- Issues with agriculture: The change from multi to mono cropping systems limits the diversity of agricultural products.
- Inclination towards cash crops and changing food habits result in malnutrition, undernutrition and even micro-nutrient deficiencies.
- Local cuisine such as millets are not being consumed causing nutrient deficiencies and anaemia.
- Food wastage: Food wastage is also an emerging challenge that undermines the efforts to end hunger and malnutrition. According to the FAO, the global volume of food wastage is estimated at 6 billion tonnes of primary product equivalents.
- Poor health services: The relationship between poverty and access to health care can be seen as part of a larger cycle, where poverty leads to ill health and ill health maintains poverty.
- Insufficient education and training: In developing countries, children do not have access to basic education because of inequalities that originate in sex, health and cultural identity. It has been revealed in reports that illiteracy and lack of education are common factor that lead to poverty and in turn hunger.
- Covid-19 impact: The momentum set by this entire nutrition movement was disturbed once Covid lockdowns led to the shutting of schools, Anganwadi centres, Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres.
- States tried to cope to the best of their abilities by replacing hot-cooked meals with dry ration or cash transfers.
Impact of lack of a coherent policy on food security
- The higher prices in the domestic market compared to the minimum support price offered by the Government were projected as favourable for farmers. They will be now affected with falling prices.
- Also, just days before the Government’s decision, an official announcement was made that trade delegations would be sent to countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, and Indonesia to explore possibilities for wheat export.
- Trust of the international community gets affected and nations will deem India as an unreliable partner.
- In addition to Egypt, Turkey had given its approval for the import of Indian wheat, and an announcement had been made that the current year’s target for wheat export had been fixed at 10 million tonnes, three million tonnes higher than last year.
- This will hurt the traders and in turn the farmers losing golden opportunity to get high income for their produce.
- Food security is both an immediate and long-term concern and does not require “surgical strikes”. A well-functioning PDS can control prices and offer relief to consumers.
Measures needed to ensure food security
- Agriculture-Nutrition linkage schemes have the potential for greater impact in dealing with malnutrition and thus, needs greater emphasis.
- Recognising the importance of this link, the Ministry for Women and Child Development launched the Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh in 2019.
- There is a need to promote schemes directed to nutrition-agriculture link activities in rural areas. However, implementation remains the key.
- Early fund disbursement: The government needs to ensure early disbursement of funds and optimum utilisation of funds in schemes linked to nutrition.
- Underutilisation of Resources: It has been pointed out many a times that expenditure made under many nutrition-based schemes is considerably lower than what was allocated under them. Thus, emphasis needs to be on implementation.
- Convergence with other Schemes: Nutrition goes beyond just food, with economic, health, water, sanitation, gender perspectives and social norms contributing to better nutrition. This is why the proper implementation of other schemes can also contribute to better nutrition.
- The convergence of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission with schemes pertaining to nutrition, will bring holistic changes to India’s nutrition scenario.
Conclusion
India’s decision has faced criticism from the G-7’s Agriculture Ministers. After its U-turn, the Government should not persist for too long with its current position of “restrictions” on the export of wheat, as the move seems to have hit the farmers, if reports of a fall in the price are any indication. Apprehensions of a food shortage are misplaced, and the Government would do well to lift the “restrictions” sooner rather than later.
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
International Day of Biodiversity was celebrated on May 22. It gave us an opportunity to appreciate the wonder of biodiversity and renew our commitment to nurture and protect all the many forms of life with which we share our planet.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the importance of biodiversity, threats to it and nature based solutions to conserve it.
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 defining biodiversity.
Body:
First, write about the reasons as to why Biodiversity is important to humans. Economic—biodiversity provides humans with raw materials for consumption and production, Ecological life support, Recreation—many recreational pursuits rely on our unique biodiversity, Cultural and scientific. Bring out the link of biodiversity and many livelihoods – such as those of farmers, fishers and timber workers, are dependent on biodiversity. Give specific examples.
Next, present the threats and destruction faced by biodiversity. Substantiate with examples and statistics.
Next, discuss ‘nature-based solutions’ as a measure to conserve biodiversity and its importance.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
In simple terms, biodiversity is the number and variety of living organisms present in a specific geographical region. It includes various plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they have and the ecosystems formed by them.
It relates to the diversity among living organisms on the earth, including the diversity within and between the species and that within and between the ecosystems they form.
Body
Importance of biodiversity
- Ecological role: Species of many kinds perform some of the other functions in an ecosystem. Every organism, besides fulfilling its own needs, also contributes something useful to different other organisms in the environment.
- Species capture, store and utilise energy, produce and decompose organic materials, are part of cycles of water and nutrients throughout the ecosystem, fix gases in the atmosphere and also help regulate the climate.
- Thus, they help in soil formation, reducing pollution, protection of land, water and air resources. These functions of biodiversity are important for ecosystem functions and stability.
- Ecosystem services: Biodiversity underpins the basis of all the ecosystem services on the planet.
- Provisioning Services: Various plants, animals and microorganisms which form the biodiversity, provide us with foods such as cereals, fishes etc., fibre for our clothes such as cotton, wool etc., fuelwood for survival as well as pharmaceutical products such as neem, tulsi etc.
- Regulating services: Biodiversity regulates the local as well as global climate, manages the global levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases, maintains freshwater quality by vegetation slowing runoff, absorbs carbon by acting as carbon sinks etc. Thus biodiversity regulates the life and life processes on the planet.
- Supporting services: Biodiversity helps in pollination, nutrient cycling as well as recycling, greenhouse gas reduction by sequestration.
- Social and cultural services: Biodiversity provides us with aesthetic pleasure. It provides recreational avenues and rich biological diversity encourages tourism in the region. Many communities and cultures have co-evolved with the surroundings and the resources provided by a biologically diverse environment. Hence, it performs an important social role as well. Important services which are provided by biodiversity are: Recreation and relaxation Tourism especially ecotourism, Art, Design and inspiration Spiritual experiences.
- Food web maintenance: Biodiversity helps in maintaining food webs as higher the diversity of an ecosystem, more complex is the food web because there are so many options to eat. Therefore, higher the chances of survival of every species. This results in more stable food chains and food webs.
- Scientific role: Biodiversity help in scientific research, education and monitoring. For example, research about new genetic materials with the help of gene pools. Biodiversity, thus, helps in understanding the functioning of life and the role that each species plays in sustaining ecosystems of which we humans are also a part.
Threat to biodiversity
- Habitat loss and fragmentation: The habitat loss and fragmentation have been through changes of land use, in particular, the conversion of natural ecosystems to cropland, development of infrastructure projects like rails and roadways, increasing urbanisation and mining activities.
- As per the Living Planet report, there has been about a 30% decline in wetlands in the last 40 years.
- Wetlands have been primarily reclaimed for agriculture and urbanisation.
- Also, about 50% of the tropical and subtropical forests and 45% of the temperate grasslands have been converted for human use.
- Degradation: Besides total loss, the degradation of many habitats by pollution also threatens the survival of many species.
- When large habitats are broken up into smaller fragments because of different human activities, mammals and birds which require large territories and certain animals with migratory habits are adversely affected, causing a decline in their population.
- Over-exploitation of species: Unsustainable use of ecosystems and over-exploitation of biodiversity are a major reason behind biodiversity loss.
- Over-hunting or poaching of species, overfishing and overharvesting of plant products can quickly lead to a decline in biodiversity.
- Changing consumption patterns of humans is often cited as the key reason for this unsustainable exploitation of natural resources.
- Many species which got extinct in the past 5 centuries, like Steller’s Sea cow, passenger pigeon, were subject to over-exploitation by humans.
- Introduction of alien species: Plants, animals and microorganisms transported deliberately or unintentionally from an outside geographical region can cause great damage to native species by competing with them for food and shelter, spreading diseases unknown to them, causing genetic changes through the process of interbreeding with native species, and disrupting various aspects of their food chains and the physical environment.
- For example, in India Water hyacinth was introduced by the British for beautification. But over time, it has become an invasive species, clogging rivers, lakes and other water bodies, thus not allowing any aquatic life to grow and survive.
- Environmental pollution: The accumulation of Pollution such phosphorus and nitrogen largely from excess fertilizers running off farmland, harmful chemicals firm urban and suburban runoff, industrial effluents etc. which are discharged into the natural water bodies. For example, oil spill off the port of Ennore in Chennai in 2017.
- Similarly, plastic pollution causes the death of animals. Also, air pollution from industries and vehicles has resulted in the death of many bird species in urban areas.
- Global climate change: Climate change is projected to become a progressively more significant threat to biodiversity in the coming decades.
- Already, changes in the flowering and migration patterns as well as in the distribution of various species have been observed throughout the world.
- These changes have altered food chains and created mismatches within ecosystems where different species have evolved synchronised inter-dependence.
- Co-extinctions: When a particular species becomes extinct, the plants and animals associated with it in an obligatory way also come under the danger of becoming extinct.
- For example, when a host fish species becomes extinct, its unique assemblage of parasites also meets the same fate.
- Natural causes: Like floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters also cause loss of biodiversity.
Conservation of biodiversity: Nature-based solutions
- Biosphere reserves: Large areas of protected land for conservation of wildlife, plant and animal resources and traditional life of the tribals living in the area.
- May have one or more national parks or wildlife sanctuaries in it.
- Conserving the Sacred Groves: India’s ethnic people have played a vital role in preserving the biodiversity of several virgin forests and have conserved flora and fauna in sacred groves of tribals. Otherwise, these flora and fauna might have disappeared from the natural ecosystem.
- National Parks: These are small reserves maintained by the government. Its boundaries are well demarcated and human activities such as grazing, forestry, habitat and cultivation are prohibited. For eg., Kanha National Park, Bandipur National Park.
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: These are the regions where only wild animals are found. Human activities such as timber harvesting, cultivation, collection of woods and other forest products are allowed here as long as they do not interfere with the conservation project. Also, tourists visit these places for recreation.
- Effective Implementation of the FRA: The government must make an effort to build trust between its agencies in the area and the people who depend on these forests by treating them as equal citizens like everyone else in the country.
- The FRA’s loopholes have already been identified; all it needs is to work on amending it.
- Traditional Knowledge of the Tribal People for Conservation: The Biodiversity Act, 2002 mentions about the equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use and knowledge of biological resources with the local communities.
Way forward
- Integration of International Treaties: Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) implementation of Nagoya Protocol cannot work in isolation and thus must be commensurate with other international treaties. Therefore, integration between ABS and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) need to consider the legislative, administrative and policy measures that cross each other’s path.
- People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR): PBR should aim to document folk knowledge of status, uses, history, ongoing changes and forces driving changes in biodiversity resources, and people’s perceptions of how these resources should be managed. PBRs can be useful to preserve the rights of farmers or communities over the traditional knowledge they may hold over a particular variety. Additionally, PBRs provide geographical identity to the bioresources and can be useful in providing a tool for clarification when disputes over biopiracy and intellectual property rights arise.
- Engaging Industries: The integration of legislations such as corporate social responsibility with ABS can be beneficial to industries who wish to closely share benefits accrued from use of biological resources
General Studies – 4
Topic: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
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 the role of intuitionism, moral idealism and utilitarianism in ethical decision making.
Directive:
Comment– here we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by explaining ethical decision making.
Body:
First, write about intuitionism in ethical decision making – decision maker’s ability to perceive a moral issue that is provided by knowledge stored in long-term memory.
Next, write about moral idealism in ethical decision making – judgments based on ethical principles and that the right actions will lead to expected results.
Next, write about utilitarianism in ethical decision making – maximum good for the maximum people.
Conclusion:
Comment with a balanced opinion regarding ethical decision making.
Introduction
The problem with ethical decision making is that a decision in itself cannot be taken in a vacuum; one single decision affects lots of other decisions and the key is to strike a balance to ensure a win-win situation is arrived upon.
Though there are no golden rules to resolve ethical issues but administrators can take a number of initiatives to resolve ethical issues
Body
Principles of ethical decision-making
- The principle of intuition works on the assumption that the administrator is competent enough to understand the seriousness of the situation and act accordingly, such that the final decision does not bring any harm to any person involved directly or indirectly.
- The principle of moral idealism on the other hand states that there is a clear distinction between good and bad, between what is acceptable and what is not and that the same is true for all situations. It therefore asks to abide by the rule of law without any exception.
- Utilitarianism concerns itself with the results or the implications. There is no clear distinction between what is good and what is bad; the focus is on the situation and the outcome. What may be acceptable in a certain situation can be unacceptable at some other place. It underlines that if the net result of the decision is an increase in the happiness of the organization, the decision is the right one.
- Before taking a decision, moral decisions need to be thought upon and not just accepted blindly. Deliberation throws some light into the unknown aspects and widens the horizon of understanding and rational decision making.
Integrating ethical decision making in administration
- Recognize there is an issue
- Identify the problem and who is involved
- Consider the relevant facts, laws and principles
- Analyse and determine possible courses of action
- Implement the solution after considering the three principles
Utilizing the rules-based principle to resolve an ethical dilemma necessitates considering which decision would provide the greatest good for the greatest number of people. When trying to resolve an ethical dilemma, the Golden Rule principle considers only the legal aspects of the problem.
Most ethical decisions exist in a gray area where there is no clear-cut or obvious decision that can be determined solely through quantitative analysis or consideration of objective data or information. Ethical decision making requires judgment and interpretation, the application of a set of values to a set of perceptions and estimates of the consequences of an action. Sometimes ethical decisions involve choosing not between good and bad, but between good and better or between bad and worse.
Conclusion
All decisions have an ethical or moral dimension for a simple reason, they have an effect on others. Managers and leaders especially in governance need to be aware of their own ethical and moral beliefs so they can draw on them when they face difficult decisions. At the same time, they must follow morality and the welfare factor wherein their decisions benefit many people. This however does not mean injustice to some while providing benefit for many.
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