CIVIL SERVICES (MAIN) EXAMINATION, 2014
Analysis of GS Paper IPaper 1 consisted of 25 questions of 10 marks each. A relevant shift from previous year has been the absence of subsections to a question and so the word limit has come down but at the same time vagueness and complexity of the question has increased substantially. Questions are more interlinked and intertwined and checks the analytical ability of respective student and may reflect the pattern of UPSC questions in the years to come. This year more weightage has been given to World Geography and to Indian culture and society.
Section wise distribution of marks in PAPER-1
| SECTION | MARKS | DIFFICULTY LEVEL | |
| Indian Heritage and Culture | 40 | Difficult | |
| History of the world | 30 | Moderate to Difficult |
|
| Indian History | 30 | Difficult | |
| Society | 50 | Moderate | |
| Indian Geography | 30 | Moderate | |
| World Geography | 70 | Difficult to Easy |
|
Analysis of GS Paper II
GS Paper – II consisted of 20 questions of 12.5 marks each in comparison to 25 questions each of 190 marks of CS M) Examination, 2014. Thus we can say that the length of paper reduced this year. The questions in Paper 2 were designed to test a candidate’s basic concept in polity and constitution and their relevancy with current scenario. The questions asked were more or less of the same type as were asked in year 2013 but the nature of questions was more complex. Questions were asked across various field such as judicial activism, parliamentary privilege, fundamental rights etc.
Section-wise distribution of marks in PAPER-2
| SECTION | MARKS | DIFFICULTY LEVEL |
| Governance & Economic Sector Policies | 62.5 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Constitution & Polity | 62.5 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Welfare schemes & Policies of HRD | 62.5 | Moderate to Difficult |
| International Relations | 62.5 | Moderate to Difficult |
Analysis of GS Paper III
More conceptual questions were asked in the paper as compared to 2013 Main. This year 20 Questions were asked instead of 25 Questions each carrying 12.5 marks with the word limit of 200, and the overall word limit for paper comes down to 4000 as compared to previous year with 5000 in 3 hrs.
The questions were more conceptual in nature e.g. the topics involving broader areas as: “Economy”- Q.1, which demands the understanding of Indian development and the role played by industrial base in it.
“Science & Tech”- Q. 10, which demands the actual scenario in scientific development and its pursuance as a career, etc. to name a few.
Since the marks were increased and the word limit was reduced, it has slightly raised the difficulty level in terms of presentation of answers. This in turn demands more alertness in terms of comprehending ability and crisp informative lay out of answers.
As per the Syllabus of GS Paper 3, only one question is direct theory based (APMC Act-Food Processing industries) rest all are of contemporary relevance and current information based.
Overall the difficulty level of the paper is “Moderate to Tough”, which demands a good hold on current updates and the relevancy of information in the contemporary times with good analysis so as to develop more conceptual base.
Sectional Break-up of Question Paper
| SECTION | MARKS | DIFFICULTY LEVEL |
| Economy | 62.5 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Agriculture | 25 | Easy to Moderate |
| Infrastructure & Development |
25 | Easy to Moderate |
| Environment | 37.5 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Science & Technology | 37.5 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Security issues | 62.5 | Moderate to Difficult |
Analysis of GS Paper IV
Like the previous year, General Studies Paper – IV was divided into two sections namely, Section A and Section B. There were 14 questions in all to attempt, out of which 8 questions belonged to Section A and 6 questions belonged to Section B. Except Que no. 6, 7 and 8, rest all questions (i.e. 1- 5) were divided into two parts and each part carried 10 marks following the words limit of 150. All 6 questions of part B had 250 words limit and the assigned marks and were of 20 marks each. Thus there were 130 marks for section A and 120 marks for section B.
Section A included questions based on Indian philosophy, importance of ethics in public life, understanding of probidity in present day context, Statements based questions, questions in relation with famous personalities, responsibilities and accountability of public servants, corruption and poverty, attitude and sexual violence against women.
Section B included questions based on case studies. Case studies were based on decision making and rational thinking, ethical conduct in public services.
Overall this paper was comparatively easier than the first three GS papers.
Section-wise distribution of Marks
| Sections | Marks |
| Definition, personal views and quotes of eminent thinkers (theoretical) | 130 |
| Case studies (applied) | 120 |
Actual questions of Paper IV reflected a glimpse of CL’s Main Mock Test Series. The questions pertaining to case studies as well as decision making coincided with the questions asked in the Main Mock Test Series.
All the best
Team CL !!
GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER–I)
Time allowed : Three Hours Maximum Marks : 250
QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
(Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions)
There are TWENTY-FIVE questions in Paper.
All questions are compulsory.
The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than the authorized one.
Word limit in questions, if specified, should be adhered to.
Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
Answer questions in NOT MORE THAN 150 words each. Contents of the answer is more important than its length. All questions carry equal marks. 10 × 25 = 250
1. To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss. 10
2. Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain. 10
3. Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss. 10
4. The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought at Panipat? 10
5. Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Hindu / Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment.
10
6. Examine critically the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-eighteenth century till independence. 10
7. In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India? 10
8. What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated the anti-colonial struggle in India? 10
9. What were the events that led to the Suez Crisis in 1956? How did it deal a final blow to Britain’s self-image as a world power? 10
10. The New Economic Policy – 1921 of Lenin had influenced the policies adopted by India soon after independence. Evaluate. 10
12. Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments. 10
13. Whereas the British planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalayas from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling area. Explain. 10
14. Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and good availability of water? 10
15. The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss. 10
16. Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India. 10
17. How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West? 10
18. Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree? 10
19. Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between the global distribution of fold mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes. 10
21. Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why? 10
22. Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent. 10
24. Critically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in the world. 10
25. How does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa?
10
GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER–II)
Time allowed : Three Hours Maximum Marks : 250
QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
(Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions)
There are TWENTY questions in Paper.
All questions are compulsory.
The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than the authorized one.
Word limit in questions, if specified, should be adhered to.
Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
Answer questions in NOT MORE THAN 200 words each. Contents of the answer is more important than its length. All questions carry equal marks. 12.5x20=250
2. Though the federal principle is dominant in our Constitution and that principle is one of its basic features, but it is equally true that federalism under the Indian Constitution leans in favour of a strong Centre, a feature that militates against the concept of strong federalism. Discuss. 12.5
3. The ‘Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and its Members’ as envisaged in Article 105 of the Constitution leave room for a large number of un-codified and un-enumerated privileges to continue. Assess the reasons for the absence of legal codification of the ‘parliamentary privileges’. How can this problem be addressed?
4. What do you understand by the concept “freedom of speech and expression”? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of expression? Discuss. 12.5
5. Instances of President’s delay in commuting death sentences has come under public debate as denial of justice. Should there be a time limit specified for the President to accept/reject such petitions? Analyse. 12.5
6. The size of the cabinet should be as big as governmental work justifies and as big as the Prime Minister can manage as a team. How far the efficacy of a government then is inversely related to the size of the cabinet? Discuss. 12.5
7. Though 100 percent FDI is already allowed in non-news media like a trade publication and general entertainment channel, the Government is mulling over the proposal for increased FDI in news media for quite some time. What difference would an increase in FDI make? Critically evaluate the pros and cons. 12.5
9. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India can be most effective when its tasks are adequately supported by other mechanisms that ensure the accountability of a government. In light of the above observation assess the role of NHRC as an effective complement to the judiciary and other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights standards. 12.5
10. The penetration of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas in promoting participation in development programmes is facing socio-cultural hurdles. Examine. 12.5
11. Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required social resources for them, lead to their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economics? 12.5
12. An athlete participates in Olympics for personal triumph and nation’s glory; victors are showered with cash incentives by various agencies, on their return. Discuss the merit of state sponsored talent hunt and its cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement. 12.5
13. Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in designing courses and also decide mode/criteria of selection of students. Discuss in light of the growing challenges. 12.5
14. Has the Cadre based Civil Services Organisation been the cause of slow change in India? Critically examine. 12.5
15. Two parallel run schemes of the Government viz. the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether or not both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve developmental benefits and equitable growth.
12.5
17. The aim of Information Technology Agreements (ITAs) is to lower all taxes and tariffs on information technology products by signatories to zero. What impact should such agreements have on India’s interests? 12.5
18. Some of the International funding agencies have special terms for economic participation stipulating a substantial component of the aid to be used for sourcing equipment from the leading countries. Discuss on merits of such terms and if, there exists a strong case not to accept such conditions in the Indian context. 12.5
19. India has recently signed to become founding a New Development Bank (NDB) and also the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) .How will the role of the two Banks be different? Discuss the significance of these two Banks for India. 12.5
20. WTO is an important international institution where decisions taken affect countries in profound manner. What is the mandate of WTO and how binding are their decisions? Critically analyse India’s stand on the latest round of talks on Food security. 12.5
GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER–III)
Time allowed : Three Hours Maximum Marks : 250
QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
(Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions)
There are TWENTY questions in Paper.
All questions are compulsory.
The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than the authorized one.
Word limit in questions, if specified, should be adhered to.
Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
Answer questions in NOT MORE THAN 200 words each. Contents of the answer is more important than its length. All questions carry equal marks. 12.5x20=250
1. Normally countries shift from agriculture to industry and then later to services, but India shifted directly from agriculture to services. What are the reasons for the huge growth of services vis-a-vis industry in the country? Can India become a developed country without a strong industrial base? 12.5
2. While we found India’s demographic dividend, we ignore the dropping rates of employability. What are we missing while doing so? Where will the jobs that India desperately needs come from? Explain. 12.5
3. There is also a point of view that agriculture produce market committees (APMCs) set up under the state acts have not only impeded the development of agriculture but also have been the cause of food inflation in India. Critically examine. 12.5
5. The right to fair compensation and transparency land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement act, 2013 has come into effect from 1 January 2014. What implication would it have on industrialisation and agriculture in India? 12.5
6. Capitalism has guided the world economy to unprecedented prosperity. However, it often encourages shortsightedness and contributes to wide disparities between the rich and the poor. In this light, would it be correct to believe and adopt capitalism driving inclusive growth in India? Discuss. 12.5
7. Explain how private public partnership agreements, in longer gestation infrastructure projects, can transfer unsuitable liabilities to the future. What arrangements need to be put in place to ensure that successive generations’ capacities are not compromised? 12.5
8. National urban transport policy emphasizes on moving people instead of moving vehicles. Discuss critically the success of various strategies of the government in this regard. 12.5
9. Foreign direct investment in the defence sector is now said to be liberalised. What influence this is expected to have on Indian defence and economy in the short and long run? 12.5
10. Scientific research in Indian universities is declining, because a career in science is not as attractive as our business operations, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming consumer oriented. Critically comment. 12.5
11. Can overuse and the availability of antibiotics without doctor’s prescription, the contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved. 12.5
13. Should the pursuit of carbon credit and clean development mechanism set up under UNFCCC be maintained even through there has been a massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic growth. 12.5
14. Drought has been recognised as a disaster in view of its party expense, temporal duration, slow onset and lasting effect on various vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010 guidelines from the National disaster management authority, discuss the mechanism for preparedness to deal with the El Nino and La Nina fallouts in India. 12.5
15. Environmental impact assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before project is cleared by the government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at Pitheads. 12.5
16. The diverse nature of India as a multireligious and multi-ethnic society is not immune to the impact of radicalism which has been in her neighbourhood. Discuss along with the strategies to be adopted to counter this environment. 12.5
17. International civil aviation laws provide all countries complete and exclusive severity over the airspace above the territory. What do you understand by airspace? What are the implications of these laws on the space above this airspace? Discuss the challenges which this poses and suggests ways to contain the threat. 12.5
18. How illegal transborder migration does pose a threat to India’s security? Discuss the strategies to curb this, bring out the factors which give impetus to such migration. 12.5
19. In 2012, the longitudinal marking of the high-risk areas for piracy was moved from 65° East to 78° east in the Arabian Sea by International Maritime organisation. What impact does this have on India’s maritime security concerns? 12.5
20. China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for development of an economic corridor. What thread does it dispose for India’s security? Critically examine. 12.5
GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER–IV)
Time allowed : Three Hours Maximum Marks : 250
QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
(Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions)
There are FOURTEEN questions divided in two Sections and printed in ENGLISH.
All questions are compulsory.
The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than the authorized one.
Word limit in questions, if specified, should be adhered to.
Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
Answer questions in NOT MORE THAN the word limit specified for each in the parenthesis. Content of the answer is more important than its length.
SECTION—A
1. (a) All human beings aspire for happiness. Do you agree? What does happiness mean to you? Explain with examples. 10
(b) What does ethics seek to promote in human life? Why is it all the more important in public administration? 10
2. (a) In the context of defence services, ‘patriotism’ demands readiness to even lay down one’s life in protecting the nation. According to you, what does patriotism imply in everyday civil life? Explain with illustrations and justify your answer. 10
(b) What do you understand by ‘probity’ in public life? What are the difficulties in practicing it in the present times? How can these difficulties be overcome? 10
3. (a) “Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.” What do you understand by this statement? Explain your stand with illustrations from the modern context. 10
(b) “Human beings should always be treated as ‘ends’ in themselves and never as merely ‘means’.” Explain the meaning and significance of this statement, giving its implications in the modern techno-economic society. 10
4. (a) Which eminent personality has inspired you the most in the context of ethical conduct in life? Give the gist of his/her teachings giving specific examples, describe how you have been able to apply these teachings for your own ethical development. 10
(b) There is a heavy ethical responsibility on the public servants because they occupy positions of power, handle huge amounts of public funds, and their decisions have wide-ranging impact on society and environment. What steps have you taken to improve your ethical competence to handle such responsibility? 10
5. (a) The current society is plagued with widespread trust-deficit. What are the consequences of this situation for personal well-being and for societal well-being? What can you do at the personal level to make yourself trustworthy? 10
(b) It is often said that poverty leads to corruption. However, there is no dearth of instances where affluent and powerful people indulge in corruption in a big way. What are the basic causes of corruption among people? Support your answer with examples. 10
6. What factors affect the formation of a person’s attitude towards social problems? In our society, contrasting attitudes are prevalent about many social problems. What contrasting attitudes do you notice about the caste system in our society? How do you explain the existence of these contrasting attitudes? 10
7. What does ‘accountability’ mean in the context of public service? What measures can be adopted to ensure individual and collective accountability of public servants? 10
8. We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it, the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace. 10
SECTION—B
In the following questions, carefully study the cases presented and then answer the questions that follow:
9. Now-a-days, there is an increasing thrust on economic development all around the globe. At the same time, there is also an increasing concern about environmental degradation caused by development. Many a time, we face a direct conflict between developmental activity and environmental quality. It is neither feasible to stop or curtail the development process, nor it is advisable to keep degrading the environment, as it threatens our very survival.
Discuss some feasible strategies which could be adopted to eliminate this conflict and which could lead to sustainable development. (250 words) 20
10. Suppose one of your close friends, who is also aspiring for civil services, comes to you for discussing some of the issues related to ethical conduct in public service. He raises the following points :
(i) In the present times, when unethical environment is quite prevalent, individual attempts to stick to ethical principles may cause a lot of problems in one’s career. It may also cause hardship to the family members as well as risk to one’s life. Why should we not be pragmatic and follow the path of least resistance, and be happy with doing whatever good we can?
(ii) When so many people are adopting wrong means and are grossly harming the system, what difference would it make if only a small minority tries to be ethical? They are going to be rather ineffective and are bound to get frustrated.
(iii) If we become fussy about ethical considerations, will it not hamper the economic progress of our country? After all, in the present age of high competition, we cannot afford to be left behind in the race of development.
(iv) It is understandable that we should not get involved in grossly unethical practices, but giving and accepting small gratifications and doing small favours increases everybody’s motivation. It also makes the system more efficient. What is wrong in adopting such practices?
Critically analyze the above viewpoints. On the basis of this analysis, what will be your advice to your friend? (250 words) 20
11. You are a no-nonsense, honest officer. You have been transferred to a remote district to head a department that is notorious for its inefficiency and callousness. You find that the main cause of the poor state of affairs is the indiscipline of a section of employees. They do not work themselves and also disrupt the working of others. You first warned the troublemakers to mend their ways or else face disciplinary action. When the warning had little effect, you issued a show cause notice to the ringleaders. As a retaliatory measure, these troublemakers instigated a woman employee amongst them to file a complaint of sexual harassment against you with the Women’s Commission. The Commission promptly seeks your explanation. The matter is also publicized in the media to embarrass you further. Some of the options to handle this situation could be as follows:
(i) Give your explanation to the Commission and go soft on the disciplinary action.
(ii) Ignore the Commission and proceed firmly with the disciplinary action.
(iii) Brief your higher-ups, seek directions from them and act accordingly.
Suggest any other possible option(s). Evaluate all of them and suggest the best course of action, giving your reasons for it. (250 words) 20
12. Suppose you are the CEO of a company that manufactures specialized electronic equipment used by a government department. You have submitted your bid for the supply of this equipment to the department. Both the quality and cost of your offer are better than those of the competitors. Yet the concerned officer is demanding a hefty bribe for approving the tender. Getting the order is important both for you and for your company. Not getting the order would mean closing a production line. It may also affect your own career. However, as a value-conscious person, you do not want to give bribe.
Valid arguments can be advanced both for giving the bribe and getting the order, and for refusing to pay the bribe and risking the loss of the order. What those arguments could be? Could there be any better way to get out of this dilemma? If so outline the main elements of this third way, pointing out its merits. (250 words) 20
13. Rameshwar successfully cleared the prestigious civil services examination and was excited about the opportunity that he would get through the civil services to serve the country. However, soon after joining the services, he realized that things are not as rosy as he had imagined.
He found a number of malpractices prevailing in the department assigned to him. For example, funds under various schemes and grants were being misappropriated. The official facilities were frequently being used for personal needs by the officers and staff. After some time, he noticed that the process of recruiting the staff was also not up to the mark. Prospective candidates were required to write an examination in which a lot of cheating was going on. Some candidates were provided external help in the examination. Rameshwar brought these incidents to the notice of his seniors. However, he was advised to keep his eyes, ears and mouth shut and ignore all these things which were taking place with the connivance of the higher-ups. Rameshwar felt highly disillusioned and uncomfortable. He comes to you seeking your advice.
Indicate various options that you think are available in this situation. How would you help him to evaluate these options and choose the most appropriate path to be adopted? (250 words)
20
14. In our country, the migration of rural people to towns and cities is increasing drastically. This is causing serious problems both in the rural as well as in the urban areas. In fact, things are becoming really unmanageable. Can you analyze this problem in detail and indicate not only the socio-economic but also the emotional and attitudinal factors responsible for this problem? Also, distinctly bring out why—
(a) Educated rural youth are trying to shift to urban areas;
(b) Landless poor people are migrating to urban slums;
(c) Even some farmers are selling off their land and trying to settle in urban areas taking up petty jobs.
What feasible steps can you suggest which will be effective in controlling this serious problem of our country? (250 words) 20
· The essay must be written in the medium authorized in the admission certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this question-cum-answer (QCA) booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than authorized one.
· Word limit, as specified, should be adhered to.
· Any page or portion of the page left blank, must be struck off clearly.
· Write TWO Essays, choosing ONE from each of the Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each :
125 × 2 = Total 250 marks.
Section–A (125 marks)
Write any one of the following essay in 1000-1200 words.
1. With greater power comes greater responsibility.
2. Is the growing level of competition good for the youth?
3. Are the standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress?
4. Words are sharper than the two-edged sword.
Section–B (125 marks)
Write any one of the following essay in 1000-1200 words.
1. Was it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country?
2. Is sting operation an invasion on privacy?
3. Fifty Golds in Olympics: Can this be a reality for India?
4. Tourism: Can this be the next big thing for India?
ENGLISH
(COMPULSORY)
Time allowed : Three Hours Maximum Marks : 300
QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
(Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions)
All questions are compulsory.
The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in ENGLISH only.
Word limit in questions, if specified, should be adhered to.
Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
1. Write an essay in about 600 words on any one topic: 100
(a) What kind of crisis is India facing — moral or economic?
(b) Participating in sports helps develop good character.
(c) Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?
(d) Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.
2. Read carefully the passage below and write your answers to the questions that follow in clear, correct and concise language: 5 × 15 = 75
A complete reading program, therefore, should include four factors : at least one good book each week, a newspaper or news magazine, magazines of comment and interpretation, and book reviews. If you keep feeding your intelligence with these four foods, you can be sure that your brain cells will be properly nourished. To this must be added the digestive process that comes from your own thinking and from discussion with individuals or groups.
It is often desirable to make books that you own personally part of your mind by underlining or by marking in the margin the more important statements. This will help you to understand the book as you first read it, because out of the mass of details you must have selected the essential ideas. It will help you to remember better the gist of the book, since the physical act of underlining, with your eyes on the page, tends to put the thought more firmly into your brain cells. It will save time whenever you need to refer to the book.
Above all, never forget that creative intelligence is correlation of facts and ideas, not mere memorizing. What counts is what you can do with your knowledge, by linking it with other things you have studied or observed. If you read Plutarch’s life of Julius Caeser, think how his rise to political power paralleled the technique of Adolf Hitler, or that of your local political boss. If you read a play by Shakespeare, think how his portrayal of the characters helps you to understand someone you know. In everything you read, keep at the back of your mind what it means to your life here and now, how it supports or challenges the things you were taught in school, in church and at home, and how the wisdom you get from books can guide you in your thinking, in your career, in your voting as a citizen and in your personal morals.
Questions:
(a) What are the four things required for a complete reading program and why? 15
(b) What else is required to feed your intelligence? 15
(c) Why does the writer recommend underlining or marking in the margin the more important statements? 15
(d) What use can you put your knowledge to? 15
(e) How can what you learn from books help you in your life? 15
3. Make a precis of the following passage in about one-third of its length. Please do no give a title to it. Précis should be written in your own language. 75
If this century has, in the famous phrase, made the world safe for democracy, the next challenge is to make a world safe for diversity. It is in India’s interest to ensure that the world as a whole must reflect the idea that is already familiar to all Indians — that it shouldn’t matter what the colour of your skin is, the kind of food you eat, the sounds you make when you speak, the God you choose to worship (or not), so long as you want to play by the same rules as everybody else, and dream the same dreams. It is not essential in a democratic world to agree all the time, as long as we agree on the ground rules of how we will disagree. These are the global principles we must strive to uphold if we are to be able to continue to uphold them securely at home.
We want a world that gives us the conditions of peace and security that will permit us to grow and flourish, safe from foreign depredations but open to external opportunities. Whether global institutions adapt and revive will be determined by whether those in charge are capable of showing the necessary leadership. Right now many of us would suggest that there is a global governance deficit. Reversing it would require strong leadership in the international community by a number of powers, including the emerging ones. India is an obvious contender to provide some of that leadership. India should aim not just at being powerful – it should set new standards for what the powerful must do.
This is a huge challenge, and one to which India must rise. An analogy from another field is not encouraging; many would argue that India has not acquitted itself well when given the chance to have global impact in one domain — that of the sport of cricket, where India accounts for more than 80 percent of the game’s revenues and perhaps 90 percent of its viewership, giving it an impact on the sport that no country can rival. Clearly, international opinion does not believe that in its domination of world cricket, India has set new standards for what the powerful must do. Broadening the analogy to global geopolitics, one could well say : India, your world needs you.
So India must play its due part in the stewardship of the global commons (including everything from the management of the Internet to the rules governing the exploitation of outer space). We can do it. India is turning increasingly outward as a result of our new economic profile on the global stage, our more dispersed interests around the world, and the reality that other countries, in our neighbourhood as well as in Africa, are looking to us for support and security. India has the ability and the vision to promote global partnerships across the broad range of its interests; it only needs to act.
The world economic crisis should give us an opportunity to promote economic integration with our neighbours in the subcontinent who look to the growing Indian market to sell their goods and maintain their own growth. But as long as South Asia remains divided by futile rivalries, and some continue to believe that terrorism can be a useful instrument of their strategic doctrines, that is bound to remain a distant prospect. We in South Asia need to look to the future, to an interrelated future on our subcontinent, where geography becomes an instrument of opportunity in a mutual growth story, where history binds rather than divides, where trade and cross-border links flourish and bring prosperity to all our people. (603 words)
4. (a) Rewrite the following sentences after making necessary corrections. Please do not make unnecessary changes in the original sentence. 1 × 10 = 10
(i)School is very near my home.
(ii) They never fail who die in great cause.
(iii) It rained an hour before.
(iv) He wrote a most complete account of his travels.
(v) Either of these three answers is incorrect.
(vi) You will be late until you hurry.
(vii) He is seldom or ever absent from school.
(viii) The colours so passed off one another that she could not distinguish them.
(ix) The general as well as his soldiers were killed in the battle.
(x) The boat was drowned.
(b) Supply the missing word: 1 × 5 = 5
(i) If you see him give him_______message.
(ii) I hope to reach the station_______an hour at the outside.
(iii) _______Rustam and Sohrab, there were three other boys present.
(iv) Invalids are not capable_______continued exertion.
(v) _______he had not paid his bills, his electricity was cutoff.
(c) Use the correct forms of the verbs in brackets: 1 × 5 = 5
(i) His company is greatly_______after. (seek)
(ii) His courage_______him. (forsake)
(iii) The terrified people_______to the mountains. (flee)
(iv) The police_______no stone unturned to trace the culprits. (leave)
(v) The robber_______him a blow on the head. (strike)
(d) Write the antonyms of the following: 1 × 5 = 5
(i) Ability
(ii) Precise
(iii) Constructive
(iv) Extravagant
(v) Pretentious
5. (a) Rewrite each of the following sentences as directed without changing the meaning.
1 × 10 = 10
(i) He finished his exercise and put away his books. (Change into simple)
(ii) In the event of his being late, he will be punished. (Change into compound)
(iii) He said to me, “I have often told you not to play with fire.” (Change into indirect speech)
(iv) He said that he had come to see them. (Change into direct speech)
(v) He drove too fast for the police to catch. (Remove ‘too’)
(vi) The audience loudly cheered the Mayor’s speech. (Change into passive voice)
(vii) A reward was given to him by the Governor. (Change into active voice)
(viii) Sita is not one of the cleverest girls in the class. (Change into comparative degree)
(ix) I was doubtful whether it was you. (Change into negative form)
(x) It is sad to think that youth should pass away. (Change into exclamatory sentence)
(b) Use each of the following words to make a sentence that brings out their meaning clearly. Do not change the form of the words. (No marks will be given for vague and ambiguous sentences): 1 × 5 = 5
(i) gratitude
(ii) flavour
(iii) explosion
(iv) dismal
(v) clumsy
(C) Choose the appropriate word to fill in the blank: 1 × 5 = 5
(i) He got a_______blow from his enemy. (deadly/deathly)
(ii) The_______of his speech was very lucid and natural. (delivery/deliverance)
(iii) I do not know how to express my gratitude; you have been_______to me.
(beneficial/beneficent)
(iv) My friend will_______me to the hospital. (accompany/escort)
(v) We sat in the_______of a tree and relaxed a while. (shadow/shade)
(d) Use these phrases in sentences of your own to bring out their meaning clearly. Do not change the form of the words. 1 × 5 = 5
(i) According to
(ii) All of a sudden
(iii) Ready money
(iv) A burning question
(v) Ins and outs
Time allowed : Three Hours Maximum Marks : 250
QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
(Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions)
There are TWENTY-FIVE questions in Paper.
All questions are compulsory.
The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than the authorized one.
Word limit in questions, if specified, should be adhered to.
Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
Answer questions in NOT MORE THAN 150 words each. Contents of the answer is more important than its length. All questions carry equal marks. 10 × 25 = 250
1. To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss. 10
2. Gandhara sculpture owed as much to the Romans as to the Greeks. Explain. 10
3. Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss. 10
4. The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought at Panipat? 10
5. Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Hindu / Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment.
10
6. Examine critically the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-eighteenth century till independence. 10
7. In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India? 10
8. What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated the anti-colonial struggle in India? 10
9. What were the events that led to the Suez Crisis in 1956? How did it deal a final blow to Britain’s self-image as a world power? 10
10. The New Economic Policy – 1921 of Lenin had influenced the policies adopted by India soon after independence. Evaluate. 10
- How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle class working woman in India?
12. Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments. 10
13. Whereas the British planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalayas from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling area. Explain. 10
14. Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and good availability of water? 10
15. The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss. 10
16. Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India. 10
17. How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West? 10
18. Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree? 10
19. Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between the global distribution of fold mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes. 10
- Explain the formation of thousands of islands in Indonesian and Philippines archipelagos.
21. Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why? 10
22. Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent. 10
- Account for the change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world.
24. Critically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in the world. 10
25. How does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa?
10
GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER–II)
Time allowed : Three Hours Maximum Marks : 250
QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
(Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions)
There are TWENTY questions in Paper.
All questions are compulsory.
The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than the authorized one.
Word limit in questions, if specified, should be adhered to.
Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
Answer questions in NOT MORE THAN 200 words each. Contents of the answer is more important than its length. All questions carry equal marks. 12.5x20=250
- Starting from inventing the ‘basic structure’ doctrine, the judiciary has played a highly proactive role in ensuring that India develops into a thriving democracy. In light of the statement, evaluate the role played by judicial activism in achieving the ideals of democracy.
2. Though the federal principle is dominant in our Constitution and that principle is one of its basic features, but it is equally true that federalism under the Indian Constitution leans in favour of a strong Centre, a feature that militates against the concept of strong federalism. Discuss. 12.5
3. The ‘Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and its Members’ as envisaged in Article 105 of the Constitution leave room for a large number of un-codified and un-enumerated privileges to continue. Assess the reasons for the absence of legal codification of the ‘parliamentary privileges’. How can this problem be addressed?
4. What do you understand by the concept “freedom of speech and expression”? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of expression? Discuss. 12.5
5. Instances of President’s delay in commuting death sentences has come under public debate as denial of justice. Should there be a time limit specified for the President to accept/reject such petitions? Analyse. 12.5
6. The size of the cabinet should be as big as governmental work justifies and as big as the Prime Minister can manage as a team. How far the efficacy of a government then is inversely related to the size of the cabinet? Discuss. 12.5
7. Though 100 percent FDI is already allowed in non-news media like a trade publication and general entertainment channel, the Government is mulling over the proposal for increased FDI in news media for quite some time. What difference would an increase in FDI make? Critically evaluate the pros and cons. 12.5
- The setting up of a Rail Tariff Authority to regulate fares will subject the cash strapped Indian Railways to demand subsidy for obligation to operate non-profitable routes and services. Taking into account the experience in the power sector, discuss if the proposed reform is expected to benefit the consumers, the Indian Railways or the private container operators.
9. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India can be most effective when its tasks are adequately supported by other mechanisms that ensure the accountability of a government. In light of the above observation assess the role of NHRC as an effective complement to the judiciary and other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights standards. 12.5
10. The penetration of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas in promoting participation in development programmes is facing socio-cultural hurdles. Examine. 12.5
11. Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required social resources for them, lead to their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economics? 12.5
12. An athlete participates in Olympics for personal triumph and nation’s glory; victors are showered with cash incentives by various agencies, on their return. Discuss the merit of state sponsored talent hunt and its cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement. 12.5
13. Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in designing courses and also decide mode/criteria of selection of students. Discuss in light of the growing challenges. 12.5
14. Has the Cadre based Civil Services Organisation been the cause of slow change in India? Critically examine. 12.5
15. Two parallel run schemes of the Government viz. the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether or not both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve developmental benefits and equitable growth.
12.5
- With respect to the South China sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China.
17. The aim of Information Technology Agreements (ITAs) is to lower all taxes and tariffs on information technology products by signatories to zero. What impact should such agreements have on India’s interests? 12.5
18. Some of the International funding agencies have special terms for economic participation stipulating a substantial component of the aid to be used for sourcing equipment from the leading countries. Discuss on merits of such terms and if, there exists a strong case not to accept such conditions in the Indian context. 12.5
19. India has recently signed to become founding a New Development Bank (NDB) and also the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) .How will the role of the two Banks be different? Discuss the significance of these two Banks for India. 12.5
20. WTO is an important international institution where decisions taken affect countries in profound manner. What is the mandate of WTO and how binding are their decisions? Critically analyse India’s stand on the latest round of talks on Food security. 12.5
GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER–III)
Time allowed : Three Hours Maximum Marks : 250
QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
(Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions)
There are TWENTY questions in Paper.
All questions are compulsory.
The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than the authorized one.
Word limit in questions, if specified, should be adhered to.
Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
Answer questions in NOT MORE THAN 200 words each. Contents of the answer is more important than its length. All questions carry equal marks. 12.5x20=250
1. Normally countries shift from agriculture to industry and then later to services, but India shifted directly from agriculture to services. What are the reasons for the huge growth of services vis-a-vis industry in the country? Can India become a developed country without a strong industrial base? 12.5
2. While we found India’s demographic dividend, we ignore the dropping rates of employability. What are we missing while doing so? Where will the jobs that India desperately needs come from? Explain. 12.5
3. There is also a point of view that agriculture produce market committees (APMCs) set up under the state acts have not only impeded the development of agriculture but also have been the cause of food inflation in India. Critically examine. 12.5
- “In the villages itself no form of credit organisation will be suitable except the cooperative society.” – All Indian rural credit survey. Discuss this statement in the background of agriculture finance in India. What constrain and challenges do financial institutions supplying agricultural finances? How can technology be used to better reach and serve rural clients?
5. The right to fair compensation and transparency land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement act, 2013 has come into effect from 1 January 2014. What implication would it have on industrialisation and agriculture in India? 12.5
6. Capitalism has guided the world economy to unprecedented prosperity. However, it often encourages shortsightedness and contributes to wide disparities between the rich and the poor. In this light, would it be correct to believe and adopt capitalism driving inclusive growth in India? Discuss. 12.5
7. Explain how private public partnership agreements, in longer gestation infrastructure projects, can transfer unsuitable liabilities to the future. What arrangements need to be put in place to ensure that successive generations’ capacities are not compromised? 12.5
8. National urban transport policy emphasizes on moving people instead of moving vehicles. Discuss critically the success of various strategies of the government in this regard. 12.5
9. Foreign direct investment in the defence sector is now said to be liberalised. What influence this is expected to have on Indian defence and economy in the short and long run? 12.5
10. Scientific research in Indian universities is declining, because a career in science is not as attractive as our business operations, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming consumer oriented. Critically comment. 12.5
11. Can overuse and the availability of antibiotics without doctor’s prescription, the contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved. 12.5
- In a globalised world, intellectual property rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms – copyrights, patents and trade secrets.
13. Should the pursuit of carbon credit and clean development mechanism set up under UNFCCC be maintained even through there has been a massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic growth. 12.5
14. Drought has been recognised as a disaster in view of its party expense, temporal duration, slow onset and lasting effect on various vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010 guidelines from the National disaster management authority, discuss the mechanism for preparedness to deal with the El Nino and La Nina fallouts in India. 12.5
15. Environmental impact assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before project is cleared by the government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at Pitheads. 12.5
16. The diverse nature of India as a multireligious and multi-ethnic society is not immune to the impact of radicalism which has been in her neighbourhood. Discuss along with the strategies to be adopted to counter this environment. 12.5
17. International civil aviation laws provide all countries complete and exclusive severity over the airspace above the territory. What do you understand by airspace? What are the implications of these laws on the space above this airspace? Discuss the challenges which this poses and suggests ways to contain the threat. 12.5
18. How illegal transborder migration does pose a threat to India’s security? Discuss the strategies to curb this, bring out the factors which give impetus to such migration. 12.5
19. In 2012, the longitudinal marking of the high-risk areas for piracy was moved from 65° East to 78° east in the Arabian Sea by International Maritime organisation. What impact does this have on India’s maritime security concerns? 12.5
20. China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for development of an economic corridor. What thread does it dispose for India’s security? Critically examine. 12.5
GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER–IV)
Time allowed : Three Hours Maximum Marks : 250
QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
(Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions)
There are FOURTEEN questions divided in two Sections and printed in ENGLISH.
All questions are compulsory.
The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than the authorized one.
Word limit in questions, if specified, should be adhered to.
Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
Answer questions in NOT MORE THAN the word limit specified for each in the parenthesis. Content of the answer is more important than its length.
SECTION—A
1. (a) All human beings aspire for happiness. Do you agree? What does happiness mean to you? Explain with examples. 10
(b) What does ethics seek to promote in human life? Why is it all the more important in public administration? 10
2. (a) In the context of defence services, ‘patriotism’ demands readiness to even lay down one’s life in protecting the nation. According to you, what does patriotism imply in everyday civil life? Explain with illustrations and justify your answer. 10
(b) What do you understand by ‘probity’ in public life? What are the difficulties in practicing it in the present times? How can these difficulties be overcome? 10
3. (a) “Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.” What do you understand by this statement? Explain your stand with illustrations from the modern context. 10
(b) “Human beings should always be treated as ‘ends’ in themselves and never as merely ‘means’.” Explain the meaning and significance of this statement, giving its implications in the modern techno-economic society. 10
4. (a) Which eminent personality has inspired you the most in the context of ethical conduct in life? Give the gist of his/her teachings giving specific examples, describe how you have been able to apply these teachings for your own ethical development. 10
(b) There is a heavy ethical responsibility on the public servants because they occupy positions of power, handle huge amounts of public funds, and their decisions have wide-ranging impact on society and environment. What steps have you taken to improve your ethical competence to handle such responsibility? 10
5. (a) The current society is plagued with widespread trust-deficit. What are the consequences of this situation for personal well-being and for societal well-being? What can you do at the personal level to make yourself trustworthy? 10
(b) It is often said that poverty leads to corruption. However, there is no dearth of instances where affluent and powerful people indulge in corruption in a big way. What are the basic causes of corruption among people? Support your answer with examples. 10
6. What factors affect the formation of a person’s attitude towards social problems? In our society, contrasting attitudes are prevalent about many social problems. What contrasting attitudes do you notice about the caste system in our society? How do you explain the existence of these contrasting attitudes? 10
7. What does ‘accountability’ mean in the context of public service? What measures can be adopted to ensure individual and collective accountability of public servants? 10
8. We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it, the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace. 10
SECTION—B
In the following questions, carefully study the cases presented and then answer the questions that follow:
9. Now-a-days, there is an increasing thrust on economic development all around the globe. At the same time, there is also an increasing concern about environmental degradation caused by development. Many a time, we face a direct conflict between developmental activity and environmental quality. It is neither feasible to stop or curtail the development process, nor it is advisable to keep degrading the environment, as it threatens our very survival.
Discuss some feasible strategies which could be adopted to eliminate this conflict and which could lead to sustainable development. (250 words) 20
10. Suppose one of your close friends, who is also aspiring for civil services, comes to you for discussing some of the issues related to ethical conduct in public service. He raises the following points :
(i) In the present times, when unethical environment is quite prevalent, individual attempts to stick to ethical principles may cause a lot of problems in one’s career. It may also cause hardship to the family members as well as risk to one’s life. Why should we not be pragmatic and follow the path of least resistance, and be happy with doing whatever good we can?
(ii) When so many people are adopting wrong means and are grossly harming the system, what difference would it make if only a small minority tries to be ethical? They are going to be rather ineffective and are bound to get frustrated.
(iii) If we become fussy about ethical considerations, will it not hamper the economic progress of our country? After all, in the present age of high competition, we cannot afford to be left behind in the race of development.
(iv) It is understandable that we should not get involved in grossly unethical practices, but giving and accepting small gratifications and doing small favours increases everybody’s motivation. It also makes the system more efficient. What is wrong in adopting such practices?
Critically analyze the above viewpoints. On the basis of this analysis, what will be your advice to your friend? (250 words) 20
11. You are a no-nonsense, honest officer. You have been transferred to a remote district to head a department that is notorious for its inefficiency and callousness. You find that the main cause of the poor state of affairs is the indiscipline of a section of employees. They do not work themselves and also disrupt the working of others. You first warned the troublemakers to mend their ways or else face disciplinary action. When the warning had little effect, you issued a show cause notice to the ringleaders. As a retaliatory measure, these troublemakers instigated a woman employee amongst them to file a complaint of sexual harassment against you with the Women’s Commission. The Commission promptly seeks your explanation. The matter is also publicized in the media to embarrass you further. Some of the options to handle this situation could be as follows:
(i) Give your explanation to the Commission and go soft on the disciplinary action.
(ii) Ignore the Commission and proceed firmly with the disciplinary action.
(iii) Brief your higher-ups, seek directions from them and act accordingly.
Suggest any other possible option(s). Evaluate all of them and suggest the best course of action, giving your reasons for it. (250 words) 20
12. Suppose you are the CEO of a company that manufactures specialized electronic equipment used by a government department. You have submitted your bid for the supply of this equipment to the department. Both the quality and cost of your offer are better than those of the competitors. Yet the concerned officer is demanding a hefty bribe for approving the tender. Getting the order is important both for you and for your company. Not getting the order would mean closing a production line. It may also affect your own career. However, as a value-conscious person, you do not want to give bribe.
Valid arguments can be advanced both for giving the bribe and getting the order, and for refusing to pay the bribe and risking the loss of the order. What those arguments could be? Could there be any better way to get out of this dilemma? If so outline the main elements of this third way, pointing out its merits. (250 words) 20
13. Rameshwar successfully cleared the prestigious civil services examination and was excited about the opportunity that he would get through the civil services to serve the country. However, soon after joining the services, he realized that things are not as rosy as he had imagined.
He found a number of malpractices prevailing in the department assigned to him. For example, funds under various schemes and grants were being misappropriated. The official facilities were frequently being used for personal needs by the officers and staff. After some time, he noticed that the process of recruiting the staff was also not up to the mark. Prospective candidates were required to write an examination in which a lot of cheating was going on. Some candidates were provided external help in the examination. Rameshwar brought these incidents to the notice of his seniors. However, he was advised to keep his eyes, ears and mouth shut and ignore all these things which were taking place with the connivance of the higher-ups. Rameshwar felt highly disillusioned and uncomfortable. He comes to you seeking your advice.
Indicate various options that you think are available in this situation. How would you help him to evaluate these options and choose the most appropriate path to be adopted? (250 words)
20
14. In our country, the migration of rural people to towns and cities is increasing drastically. This is causing serious problems both in the rural as well as in the urban areas. In fact, things are becoming really unmanageable. Can you analyze this problem in detail and indicate not only the socio-economic but also the emotional and attitudinal factors responsible for this problem? Also, distinctly bring out why—
(a) Educated rural youth are trying to shift to urban areas;
(b) Landless poor people are migrating to urban slums;
(c) Even some farmers are selling off their land and trying to settle in urban areas taking up petty jobs.
What feasible steps can you suggest which will be effective in controlling this serious problem of our country? (250 words) 20
Essay Paper
Instructions· The essay must be written in the medium authorized in the admission certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this question-cum-answer (QCA) booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than authorized one.
· Word limit, as specified, should be adhered to.
· Any page or portion of the page left blank, must be struck off clearly.
· Write TWO Essays, choosing ONE from each of the Sections A and B, in about 1000-1200 words each :
125 × 2 = Total 250 marks.
Section–A (125 marks)
Write any one of the following essay in 1000-1200 words.
1. With greater power comes greater responsibility.
2. Is the growing level of competition good for the youth?
3. Are the standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress?
4. Words are sharper than the two-edged sword.
Section–B (125 marks)
Write any one of the following essay in 1000-1200 words.
1. Was it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country?
2. Is sting operation an invasion on privacy?
3. Fifty Golds in Olympics: Can this be a reality for India?
4. Tourism: Can this be the next big thing for India?
ENGLISH
(COMPULSORY)
Time allowed : Three Hours Maximum Marks : 300
QUESTION PAPER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
(Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions)
All questions are compulsory.
The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in ENGLISH only.
Word limit in questions, if specified, should be adhered to.
Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
1. Write an essay in about 600 words on any one topic: 100
(a) What kind of crisis is India facing — moral or economic?
(b) Participating in sports helps develop good character.
(c) Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?
(d) Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.
2. Read carefully the passage below and write your answers to the questions that follow in clear, correct and concise language: 5 × 15 = 75
A complete reading program, therefore, should include four factors : at least one good book each week, a newspaper or news magazine, magazines of comment and interpretation, and book reviews. If you keep feeding your intelligence with these four foods, you can be sure that your brain cells will be properly nourished. To this must be added the digestive process that comes from your own thinking and from discussion with individuals or groups.
It is often desirable to make books that you own personally part of your mind by underlining or by marking in the margin the more important statements. This will help you to understand the book as you first read it, because out of the mass of details you must have selected the essential ideas. It will help you to remember better the gist of the book, since the physical act of underlining, with your eyes on the page, tends to put the thought more firmly into your brain cells. It will save time whenever you need to refer to the book.
Above all, never forget that creative intelligence is correlation of facts and ideas, not mere memorizing. What counts is what you can do with your knowledge, by linking it with other things you have studied or observed. If you read Plutarch’s life of Julius Caeser, think how his rise to political power paralleled the technique of Adolf Hitler, or that of your local political boss. If you read a play by Shakespeare, think how his portrayal of the characters helps you to understand someone you know. In everything you read, keep at the back of your mind what it means to your life here and now, how it supports or challenges the things you were taught in school, in church and at home, and how the wisdom you get from books can guide you in your thinking, in your career, in your voting as a citizen and in your personal morals.
Questions:
(a) What are the four things required for a complete reading program and why? 15
(b) What else is required to feed your intelligence? 15
(c) Why does the writer recommend underlining or marking in the margin the more important statements? 15
(d) What use can you put your knowledge to? 15
(e) How can what you learn from books help you in your life? 15
3. Make a precis of the following passage in about one-third of its length. Please do no give a title to it. Précis should be written in your own language. 75
If this century has, in the famous phrase, made the world safe for democracy, the next challenge is to make a world safe for diversity. It is in India’s interest to ensure that the world as a whole must reflect the idea that is already familiar to all Indians — that it shouldn’t matter what the colour of your skin is, the kind of food you eat, the sounds you make when you speak, the God you choose to worship (or not), so long as you want to play by the same rules as everybody else, and dream the same dreams. It is not essential in a democratic world to agree all the time, as long as we agree on the ground rules of how we will disagree. These are the global principles we must strive to uphold if we are to be able to continue to uphold them securely at home.
We want a world that gives us the conditions of peace and security that will permit us to grow and flourish, safe from foreign depredations but open to external opportunities. Whether global institutions adapt and revive will be determined by whether those in charge are capable of showing the necessary leadership. Right now many of us would suggest that there is a global governance deficit. Reversing it would require strong leadership in the international community by a number of powers, including the emerging ones. India is an obvious contender to provide some of that leadership. India should aim not just at being powerful – it should set new standards for what the powerful must do.
This is a huge challenge, and one to which India must rise. An analogy from another field is not encouraging; many would argue that India has not acquitted itself well when given the chance to have global impact in one domain — that of the sport of cricket, where India accounts for more than 80 percent of the game’s revenues and perhaps 90 percent of its viewership, giving it an impact on the sport that no country can rival. Clearly, international opinion does not believe that in its domination of world cricket, India has set new standards for what the powerful must do. Broadening the analogy to global geopolitics, one could well say : India, your world needs you.
So India must play its due part in the stewardship of the global commons (including everything from the management of the Internet to the rules governing the exploitation of outer space). We can do it. India is turning increasingly outward as a result of our new economic profile on the global stage, our more dispersed interests around the world, and the reality that other countries, in our neighbourhood as well as in Africa, are looking to us for support and security. India has the ability and the vision to promote global partnerships across the broad range of its interests; it only needs to act.
The world economic crisis should give us an opportunity to promote economic integration with our neighbours in the subcontinent who look to the growing Indian market to sell their goods and maintain their own growth. But as long as South Asia remains divided by futile rivalries, and some continue to believe that terrorism can be a useful instrument of their strategic doctrines, that is bound to remain a distant prospect. We in South Asia need to look to the future, to an interrelated future on our subcontinent, where geography becomes an instrument of opportunity in a mutual growth story, where history binds rather than divides, where trade and cross-border links flourish and bring prosperity to all our people. (603 words)
4. (a) Rewrite the following sentences after making necessary corrections. Please do not make unnecessary changes in the original sentence. 1 × 10 = 10
(i)School is very near my home.
(ii) They never fail who die in great cause.
(iii) It rained an hour before.
(iv) He wrote a most complete account of his travels.
(v) Either of these three answers is incorrect.
(vi) You will be late until you hurry.
(vii) He is seldom or ever absent from school.
(viii) The colours so passed off one another that she could not distinguish them.
(ix) The general as well as his soldiers were killed in the battle.
(x) The boat was drowned.
(b) Supply the missing word: 1 × 5 = 5
(i) If you see him give him_______message.
(ii) I hope to reach the station_______an hour at the outside.
(iii) _______Rustam and Sohrab, there were three other boys present.
(iv) Invalids are not capable_______continued exertion.
(v) _______he had not paid his bills, his electricity was cutoff.
(c) Use the correct forms of the verbs in brackets: 1 × 5 = 5
(i) His company is greatly_______after. (seek)
(ii) His courage_______him. (forsake)
(iii) The terrified people_______to the mountains. (flee)
(iv) The police_______no stone unturned to trace the culprits. (leave)
(v) The robber_______him a blow on the head. (strike)
(d) Write the antonyms of the following: 1 × 5 = 5
(i) Ability
(ii) Precise
(iii) Constructive
(iv) Extravagant
(v) Pretentious
5. (a) Rewrite each of the following sentences as directed without changing the meaning.
1 × 10 = 10
(i) He finished his exercise and put away his books. (Change into simple)
(ii) In the event of his being late, he will be punished. (Change into compound)
(iii) He said to me, “I have often told you not to play with fire.” (Change into indirect speech)
(iv) He said that he had come to see them. (Change into direct speech)
(v) He drove too fast for the police to catch. (Remove ‘too’)
(vi) The audience loudly cheered the Mayor’s speech. (Change into passive voice)
(vii) A reward was given to him by the Governor. (Change into active voice)
(viii) Sita is not one of the cleverest girls in the class. (Change into comparative degree)
(ix) I was doubtful whether it was you. (Change into negative form)
(x) It is sad to think that youth should pass away. (Change into exclamatory sentence)
(b) Use each of the following words to make a sentence that brings out their meaning clearly. Do not change the form of the words. (No marks will be given for vague and ambiguous sentences): 1 × 5 = 5
(i) gratitude
(ii) flavour
(iii) explosion
(iv) dismal
(v) clumsy
(C) Choose the appropriate word to fill in the blank: 1 × 5 = 5
(i) He got a_______blow from his enemy. (deadly/deathly)
(ii) The_______of his speech was very lucid and natural. (delivery/deliverance)
(iii) I do not know how to express my gratitude; you have been_______to me.
(beneficial/beneficent)
(iv) My friend will_______me to the hospital. (accompany/escort)
(v) We sat in the_______of a tree and relaxed a while. (shadow/shade)
(d) Use these phrases in sentences of your own to bring out their meaning clearly. Do not change the form of the words. 1 × 5 = 5
(i) According to
(ii) All of a sudden
(iii) Ready money
(iv) A burning question
(v) Ins and outs
SOLUTION – GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – I
1. To what extent has the urban planning and culture of Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to present day urbanization? Discuss.
Ans: Urban Planning and culture of Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) which provided inputs to present day urbanization,
Ans: Gandhara art flourished largely under the rulers of Kushan Empire in northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. In its interpretation of Buddhist legends, the Gandhara School incorporated many motifs and techniques from Classical Roman art, including vine scrolls, cherubs bearing garlands, tritons, and centaurs. The Gandhara School drew upon the anthropomorphic traditions of Roman religion and represented the Buddha with a youthful Apollo-like face, dressed in garments resembling those seen on Roman imperial statues. The Gandhara art also inculcates the Greek Classical realistic style, attitudes, hairstyle and fashion in clothes such as chiton and himation.
3. Taxila University was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss.
Ans: Taxila University is not considered as university in modern sense because,
4. The Battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why was so empire shaking battles fought at Panipat?
Ans: All empire shaking battles were fought in Panipat or Haryana in general because,
Ans: Although the Sufis and other medieval mystic saints opposed various practices like inequality, rituals and helped build a medieval culture tolerant and appreciative of Non Muslims, they failed to modify the practices or outward structure of society in general because,
Ans: Mercantalism(1757-1813): Aim is accumulate wealth, aggressive policies in India (for favourable trade), British government trying to gain more control over Company affairs(Regulating act 1773, Pitts India Act), financial bleeding of India started(revenue settlements, hegemony over Indian territories)
One Way Free Trade(1813- 1860): By dawn of 19th century Industrial revolution in England, needed raw materials and markets for its manufactured goods, Company monopoly removed, British goods entered India virtually free while Indian products entering Britain faced high tariffs.
Finance Capitalism (1860- 1947): Started establishing modern industries in India (itz industrial policy only aimed at commercializing India and to compete with other industrial powers), basic industries neglected, destroy attempts of Indian entrepreneurs who made attempts to start modern industries.
7. In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India?
Ans: Reasons,
8. What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated the anti colonial struggle in India?
Ans: Political, economic and social developments in the world,
Ans: Events,
Ans: New Economic Policy 1921 of Lenin and its impact on India:
Ans: Impact of patriarchy in middle class working woman,
Ans: Reasons of the adverse sex ratio for women in some of the most prosperous regions of India:
Ans: Reasons why the British Planters did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling area:
Ans: Green revolution bypassed eastern region of India because:
Ans: Features of traditional and modern Joint family,
16. Discuss the various economic and social cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture In India.
Ans: Various economic and social cultural factors are liable for the feminization of agriculture,
Ans: By Secularism in principle we mean, people belonging to one religion don’t oppress people belonging to other religions.
Ans: El Nino begins as a giant pool of warm water swelling in the eastern tropical Pacific that sets off a chain reaction of weather events around the world, some devastating and some beneficial.
19. Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between the Global distribution of Fold Mountains and earthquakes and volcanoes.
Ans: Fold Mountains are formed where two continental plates move towards each other or a continental and an oceanic plate. The movement of the two plates forces sedimentary rocks upwards into a series of folds. Fold Mountains are usually formed from sedimentary rocks and are usually found along the edges of continents. This is because the thickest deposits of sedimentary rock generally accumulate along the edges of continents.
Major Earthquake and volcano prone areas are found around Pacific Ocean, Indo- Australia plate boundary, north and South Atlantic Ocean, Western side of North America. In all these regions the plate boundaries converge causing earth quakes and volcanoes.
20. Explain the formation of thousands of islands in Indonesia and Philippines archipelagos.
Ans: An Archipelago is a group of islands closely scattered in body of water.
Ans: Reasons why tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico:
Ans: Effects on Indian subcontinent,
23. Account for the change in the spatial pattern of Iron and Steel industry in the world.
Ans: Reasons for change in spatial pattern of iron and steel industry in the world:
Ans: Various resources of oceans,
Ans: The major challenge India faces over resource rich Africa is influence of China in the region. To counter this, India plans to use a mix of soft power, invest in human resource and share business expertise. A striking example of India’s new strategy has been the launch of Pan- African e- network, the biggest project for long distance education and telemedicine in Africa. India has also created India- Africa virtual university and promised scholarship to more than 20,000 students. The Indian companies have to move into Africa in a more democratic manner as compared to Chinese companies which have been accused of plundering Africa’s resources and having poor labor practices. India needs to play a constructive and forward looking role through technological transfer in Africa because in the long run it needs its natural resources( including oil, gold, cobalt, uranium, silver and cocoa beans) to fuel its resurgent economy.uranium, silver and cocoa beans) to fuel its resurgent economy.
SOLUTION – GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – II
1. Starting from inventing the ‘basic structure’ doctrine, the judiciary has played a highly proactive role in ensuring that India develops into a thriving democracy. In light of the statement, evaluate the role played by judicial activism in achieving the ideals of democracy.
Ans: After playing a largely “interpretative” role in the 1950s and 1960s, the Supreme Court, starting from the 1970s has been the major force standing up against legislative and executive excesses and inactions. Judicial activism results in upsetting the balance of power between the executive, legislature and the judiciary. However, such an argument firstly assumes that the legislature and executive are performing their functions efficiently and secondly that the judiciary is incapable of intervening in a manner which helps further the ideals of democracy. Since right to housing was a fundamental right which the state had failed to provide, the judiciary directed the state and the inmates to “engage with each other meaningfully and in the light of the values of the Constitution, the constitutional and statutory duties of the municipality and the duties of citizens concerned” to resolve the dispute. The judiciary should not create policies to enforce rights but must require the government to draft its own policy and submit it along with a timetable for execution. According to this principle, the judiciary, while evaluating executive/ legislative action (or inaction), should modify the policy framed only when the reasons provided are not reasonable. A court should merely see whether the reasons provided by the executive justify its decision, not whether the court would have reached the same decision. This standard should be applied not only when a policy is tested before the courts but also by courts to see if inaction is justified.
2. Though the federal principle is dominant in our Constitution and that principle is one of its basic features, but it is equally true that federalism under the Indian Constitution leans in favour of a strong Centre, a feature that militates against the concept of strong federalism. Discuss.
Ans: Indian Federalism is unique in nature and is tailored according to the specific needs of the country. Federalism is a basic feature of the Constitution of India in which the Union of India is permanent and indestructible. Both the Centre and the States are co-operating and coordinating institutions having independence and ought to exercise their respective powers with mutual adjustment, respect, understanding and accommodation. Tension and conflict of the interests of the Centre and the respective units is an integral part of federalism. Thus, the Indian federalism was devised with a strong Centre. Federalism with a strong Centre was inevitable as the framers of the Indian Constitution were aware that there were economic disparities as several areas of India were economically as well as industrially far behind in comparison to others.It seeks to draw a balance between the forces working in favour of concentration of power in the Centre and those urging a dispersal of it in a number of units. A federal Constitution envisages a demarcation of governmental functions and powers between the Centre and the regions by the sanction of the Constitution, which is a written document. From this follows two necessary consequences-
(i) That the invasion by one level of government on the area assigned to the other level of the government is a breach of the Constitution.
(ii) That any breach of the Constitution is a justifiable issue to be determined by the Courts as each level of government functions within the area assigned to it by the Constitution.
3. The ‘Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and its Members’ as envisaged in Article 105 of the Constitution leave room for a large number of un-codified and un-enumerated privileges to continue. Assess the reasons for the absence of legal codification of the ‘parliamentary privileges’. How can this problem be addressed?
Ans: Article 105 of the Constitution of India which provides for the powers, privileges and immunities of the Houses of Parliament and of the Members and the Committee thereof reads as follows:—
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and to the rules and standing orders regulating the procedure of Parliament, there shall be freedom of speech in Parliament.
(b) No Member of Parliament shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in Parliament or any Committee thereof, and no person shall be so liable in respect of the publication or under the authority of either House of Parliament of any report, paper, votes or proceedings.
The limitation on the privilege regarding free speech in Parliament is few. One limitation obviously is that the freedom is subject to the constitutional provisions and the rules and procedures of Parliament. The rules are those framed under Article 118 of the Constitution. Under Article 121, Parliament cannot discuss the conduct of Judges of the Supreme Court and of the Judges of the High Court. Even if there is any violation of these limits it would still be a matter exclusively for Parliament to deal with and the courts would have no jurisdiction to look into the matter. In view of Article 122, the courts are also explicitly barred from enquiry into the validity of any proceeding in Parliament.
4. What do you understand by the concept “freedom of speech and expression”? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of expression? Discuss.
Ans: Hate speech is, outside the law, speech that attacks a person or group on the basis of attributes such as gender, ethnic origin, religion, race, disability, or sexual orientation. Freedom of speech is the political right to communicate one's opinions and ideas using one's body and property to anyone who is willing to receive them. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used. Every government restricts speech to some degree. Common limitations on speech relate to: libel, slander, obscenity, pornography, sedition, hate speech, incitement, fighting words, classified information, copyright violation, trade secrets, non-disclosure agreements, right to privacy, right to be forgotten, public security, public order, public nuisance, and campaign finance reform. For example, freedom of speech is limited in many jurisdictions to widely differing degrees by religious legal systems, religious offense or incitement to ethnic or racial hatred laws. Freedom of speech and expression is the concept of being able to express oneself freely whether through words of mouth, literature, art, or any other medium of communication. It is often regarded as an integral concept in modern liberal democracies. Despite the fact that the Constitution of India does not expressly mention motion pictures as a medium of speech and expression, they have been so accepted through various court decisions. Films in India have been censored on the grounds of obscenity, sex and violence. Films have been banned or targeted in the name of maintaining public order; respecting beliefs, sentiments and traditions; or for criticizing the State on certain issues.
5. Instances of President’s delay in commuting death sentences has come under public debate as denial of justice. Should there be a time limit specified for the President to accept/reject such petitions? Analyse.
Ans: “Constitution of India, Articles 32 and 21, Death sentence awarded by court, Undue delay in execution of death sentence. It entitles the condemned prisoner under Article 32 of Constitution of India to approach court that his death sentence be commuted to life imprisonment. No fixed period of delay, however, could be fixed to make the death sentence in-executable-The delay which could be considered to make the death sentence in-executable starts from the date the judgment by apex court is pronounced, when judicial process has come to an end-The delay which is to be considered is the delay is disposal of mercy petitions or delays occurring at the instance of the executive”. An undue delay violated Article 21 of the Constitution (protection of life and personal liberty). Unless the delay is properly explained or justified, it makes the death penalty immoral, illegal and unconstitutional. The trauma and physical stress coupled with solitary confinement of a convict known as the “death-row phenomenon” is itself a cruel punishment. The prospect of pending execution exacts a frightful toll during the inevitable long wait between the imposition of the sentence and the actual infliction of death.” The Constitution doesn’t provide any maximum time-limit within which a mercy petition has to be decided. There have been instances of mercy petitions lying with the President for over a decade without any decision being taken. The Ministry of Home Affairs can’t ask the President to speed up the process.
6. The size of the cabinet should be as big as governmental work justifies and as big as the Prime Minister can manage as a team. How far the efficacy of a government then is inversely related to the size of the cabinet? Discuss.
Ans: A cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the top leaders of the executive branch, usually called ministers or some other title. The functions of a cabinet are varied: in some countries it is a collegial decision-making body with collective responsibility, while in others it may function as a purely advisory body to a decision making head of state or head of government. In some countries, the cabinet is named "Council of Ministers" or "Government". Large cabinets are made most of the time just to sate the ambitions of the various coalition partners. Ministers have a lot of powers and plenty of machinery at their disposal.They can be bribed, coaxed or coerced into various action or inactions that can be harmful for the Government of the day. Indian politics is very tedious and very dangerous; its best to not give too much power to people that you do not absolutely trust. A small cabinet means that fewer people handling more tasks. For those who say that Cabinet Ministers will be overloaded or will not be able to perform their duties satisfactorily are ignorant of how the Government functions. The Policy is actually decided by the Party or the PM and the minister merely passes on the task to the Bureaucrats who then do the necessary hard work with files and others. The Minister's job is to merely ensure smooth operation and efficiency. In short, having a small cabinet has the perks of being more disciplined and easier to monitor.
7. Though 100 percent FDI is already allowed in non-news media like a trade publication and general entertainment channel, the Government is mulling over the proposal for increased FDI in news media for quite some time. What difference would an increase in FDI make? Critically evaluate the pros and cons.
Ans: A low FDI cap of 26 percent now inhibits and dis-incentivises the infusion of foreign funding in the electronic news media resulting in perpetuating the monopoly power of Indian news conglomerates. Concomitantly, lack of competition in the news space has resulted in the stunted and skewed growth of news channels in India.Broadly speaking, a simple comparison between general entertainment channels where 100 per cent FDI is allowed with the state of affairs of electronic news media amply underlines the need for increased FDI regime for the electronic news space. FDI can enhance competition in electronic news with the introduction of best practices and act as the voice of the people, bring out diverse view point and thus strengthen India’s unity and diversity. As the fourth pillar of Indian democracy media can play a meaningful role. It will also lead to other benefits ranging from news syndication and editorial assistance to marketing and technological inputs leading to an improvement in overall product quality. The economy would be enriched given the rise in employment and income levels brought about by increased competition.However while considering increased FDI norms for the electronic news media the government can build-in necessary checks and balances to prevent entry of undesired and anti-national elements to get into the news segment. Granting liberalised FDI regime in electronic news media is the dire need of the hour to salvage this sector. Such an initiative would transform the Indian broadcast industry into a world class industry and help India become the broadcast hub of the world.
8. The setting up of a Rail Tariff Authority to regulate fares will subject the cash strapped Indian Railways to demand subsidy for obligation to operate non-profitable routes and services. Taking into account the experience in the power sector, discuss if the proposed reform is expected to benefit the consumers, the Indian Railways or the private container operators.
Ans: The Rail Tariff Authority comprise of a Chairperson and four Members at the apex level and will be vested with the function to develop an integrated, transparent and dynamic pricing mechanism for the passenger and freight segments of the Indian Railway's business. The ratio of the average freight tariff to average passenger fare in India is one of the highest among major railways in the world. Because of low passenger fares the traffic volume for this segment of rail operations is very high but the revenues are disproportionately low. The Rakesh Mohan Committee Report (2001) also pointed out that the financial crisis faced by the Railways was, to a large extent, due to its low quality and over-priced freight services and a lack of market incentives. It had also approved a draft amendment Bill seeking changes in the Railways Act, 1989, which will tantamount to vesting in RTA full powers of fixing and notifying tariffs. The rail ministry has all along been against such a move, preferring only an advisory role for the regulatory body. It harbours a fear that the manner in which the cabinet note has been framed the RTA’s role will not be that of an advisory body but final authority to decide tariffs, thus usurping the powers vested in the ministry under the Indian Railways Act.If IR is to achieve the twin objectives of improving operating efficiency and financial viability, it must allow some form of competition. Currently, there is no regulation of freight or passenger tariffs on Indian Railways (IR). The Railway Board can change tariffs within its discretion but always subject to political oversight.
9. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India can be most effective when its tasks are adequately supported by other mechanisms that ensure the accountability of a government. In light of the above observation assess the role of NHRC as an effective complement to the judiciary and other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights standards.
Ans: NHRC India was the first National Human Rights Institution to be established in the South Asian Region. NHRC India is effective and demonstrates that human rights protection does not have to rely entirely on courts and gradually how National Human Rights Commission has become locus of human rights awareness at national level factor is relevant for explaining the rationale for an independent human rights commission. In a country specific setting like that of India courts may not be in the position to deliver relief for infringement of rights due to institutional weaknesses and what Epp calls “weakness of the support structure for the legal mobilisation” i.e. legal aid, very little support for advocacy groups, absence of development of sustained, deep judicial policy making on individual rights and the fragmentation of the Indian interest group system. Until the early 1990s, the Indian Government displayed scant regard for local human rights and civil liberties organisations. Their reports, appeals and petitions on human rights abuses, particularly in view of anti insurgency operations in Kashmir, Punjab and northeast states, met with deafening silence. ‘Human Rights’ means the right relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution of India or embodied in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and cultural Rights and enforceable by the courts in India.
10. The penetration of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas in promoting participation in development programmes is facing socio-cultural hurdles. Examine.
Ans: In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic. Members with the same issues can come together for sharing coping strategies, to feel more empowered and for a sense of community. A self-help support group is fully organized and managed by its members, who are commonly volunteers and have personal experience in the subject of the group's focus. These groups may also be referred to as fellowships, peer support groups, lay organizations, mutual help groups, or mutual aid self-help groups. Professionally operated support groups are facilitated by professionals who most often do not share the problem of the members, such as social workers, psychologists, or members of the clergy. The facilitator controls discussions and provides other managerial service. Such professionally operated groups are often found in institutional settings, including hospitals, drug-treatment centers and correctional facilities. In support groups, people must have the desire to support and help each other, and many times participants go on the sites in order to get help themselves or are limited to a certain subgroup. The group work was applicable for the following purposes: corrective/treatment; prevention; normal social growth and development; personal enhancement; and citizenship indoctrination. Common needs addressed by social work groups include coping with major life transitions; the need to acquire information or skills; the need to improve social relationships; and the need to cope with illness; and the need to cope with feelings of loss or loneliness; amongst other reasons
11. Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required social resources for them, lead to their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economics?
Ans: Vulnerable groups are the groups which would be vulnerable under any circumstances (e.g. where the adults are unable to provide an adequate livelihood for the household for reasons of disability, illness, age or some other characteristic), and groups whose resource endowment is inadequate to provide sufficient income from any available source. By 2030, India’s urban population is set to reach 590 million, an addition of approximately 300 million to India’s current urban population. While their contributions are indispensable to the smooth working of urban spaces, these people, their needs are overlooked in the planning and vision of urban development. Urbanisation in India subscribes to forces of the neo-liberal economy, where citizens are expected to become self-reliant and not be an economic liability for the State. Ninety nine per cent of this shortfall pertained to the economically weaker sections and lower income groups in which migrants typically fall. The underground economy is also indicative of the state’s absence in service delivery and lack of institutional support. India does not stop its citizens from internal migration. People are free to move across States to escape destitution or in search of better opportunities. However, local governments and India’s middle class largely view economically poor migrants as outsiders making illegitimate claims to life in cities. An acceptance of the permanence of the poor migrant population is critical to better planning, provisioning, and integration into India’s urban development.
12. An athlete participates in Olympics for personal triumph and nation’s glory; victors are showered with cash incentives by various agencies, on their return. Discuss the merit of state sponsored talent hunt and its cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement.
Ans: In sports, character, value, physical and mental strength are all challenged in a short span of time. Sports can tell us a lot about ourselves as individuals and as a society. Yet, apart from a fanatic obsession with Cricket, we have very little to show for our passion in sports. While there is certainly better infrastructure available today, sport is not a popular part of Indian culture. These days there has been lot of talent search to pick up bright students suitable for jobs right from the colleges by several MNCs as well as Indian Companies. Who comes in search of talent in Sports. The sponsors make a queue when some one becomes popular in some sport or the other. If the huge money earned by the Cricket Board is partially spared for the promotion of other sports no other sponsor is needed.A country with 100 Billion people with a few individual medals in Olympics over a period of 60 years of independence. Therefore, the companies apart from running after cricket celebrities should come forward to pick up young talent in other sports, adopt them, extend necessary facilities to the young talent so that they could win medals for the country in the international events and bring pride for the country and for them. The Govt. may give some exemptions to the companies in IT etc., for this purpose. The Govt. should come forward to build good avenues for the development of sports and games in our country. The funds allotted to the sports ministry in various States and the Union Government is always megre. The Governments do not feel it necessary or important to provide adequate funds for sports. Even the funds allotted are seldom spent properly. The Sports Authorities in many states are mere ornamental organizations. They should be filled with people who have adequate knowledge of sports and interest to promote sports.
13. Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in designing courses and also decide mode/criteria of selection of students. Discuss in light of the growing challenges.
Ans: India needs these two institutional systems of higher education to be bigger, a geographical expansion of the kind outlined one of each in every state is a real challenge if quality is to be preserved, more so for IIMs than for IITs. IITs have had some connection with social sciences right from their beginnings, but their reputation was built on core engineering disciplines. They teach their students to slog really work hard. After the years here any real world challenge may be daunting for other reasons, but hard work is not one of them. It is not for everybody really. Many would fail under this pressure and they really should not be here at all. But for those who can take the heat, they are also taught to bear the load. It is a professional course, not academic – this means you are employable at the end of it all. No person who has graduated from these institutes needs to fear being jobless for long except by choice. There is a gamut of useful skills that cannot be learned here that are not taught in other higher education. The graduates of these institutes get a wage premium over most others. IITs and other professional institutes offer excellence for various reasons and not all of them have to do with great faculty. Basics like water, electricity, good buildings, good laboratories, libraries, teaching support, research capabilities and much more are also required.
14. Has the Cadre based Civil Services Organisation been the cause of slow change in India? Critically examine.
Ans: The IAS is an All-India Service that ensures an equitable mix of ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ officers in each state. Half of the vacancies go to officers who come from the state, and the other half to officers from other regions. Among insiders, 33% are promoted from the State Civil Service. But some state governments are not keen on receiving civil servants ‘imposed’ by the central government, especially since the end of the Congress hegemony and the emergence of opposition regional parties. The pan-Indian character of the IAS is sometimes considered incompatible with the federal principle, erosive force acting against the autonomy of the states, while its members are viewed as the agents of the central government in the regions. The All-India Services are jointly controlled and managed by the Centre and the States. The central government, through the Ministry of Personnel, has a considerable say in the careers of IAS officers. In the states, the Chief Minister, at the head of the regional government, possesses a triple prerogative on IAS officers: he can transfer them from one district to another, promote and suspend them. Transfers are a normal feature in personnel administration, according to the Weberian concept of separation of the incumbent from the office he is holding. Despite the nexus between politicians and bureaucrats, the latter are always in a precarious position since they can be arbitrarily transferred at any time, especially if they threaten certain local vested interests.
15. Two parallel run schemes of the Government viz. the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether or not both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve developmental benefits and equitable growth.
Ans: UIDAI is being rolled out in 16 states, NPR is a nationwide project. A lot of the confusion is in the states where both projects are gathering data concurrently. UP, for instance, is a non-UID state. Delhi has both. NPR, based on demographic data collected during Census 2011, proposes to issue cards bearing Aadhaar numbers. A resident of an NPR state need not bother about UID. Aadhaar is the unique number both NPR & UIDAI issue based on biometric data. If NPR rejects UIDAI data, you won't be registered. It was decided by the Cabinet Committee on UIDAI that all residents would be issued National Multi-purpose Identity Cards under NPR, and UIDAI would generate Unique identification number for entire population. Both UIDAI and NPR were to share the biometric data collected by them for issuing NMIC and generating unique identification number. The NPR is a comprehensive identity database maintained by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Home Ministry. MNREGA will require authentication before payout therefore in such a scenario, it will be essential to map UID of the resident with MNREGA Job Card number and other demographic information. Similarly, banks and insurance carriers may want to map Aadhaar numbers of all their customers. The objective is not to replace the currently used unique identifier of the customers/ residents/ beneficiaries with Aadhaar but the objective is to seamlessly enable Aadhaar authentication without impacting any other interface that the service providers maintain with their customers.
16. With respect to the South China sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China.
Ans: Territorial disputes in the South China Sea involve both island and maritime claims among several sovereign states within the region, namely Brunei, the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. There are disputes concerning the Spratly and the Paracel islands, as well as maritime boundaries in the Gulf of Tonkin and elsewhere. There is a further dispute in the waters near the Indonesian Natuna Islands. Notwithstanding Chinese objections, India went ahead to enhance its presence in hydrocarbon-rich South China Sea and inked a pact with Vietnam for exploration in two additional oil and gas blocks besides deciding to step up cooperation in key areas of defence, security, trade and counter-terrorism. India has long been involved on the margins of the South China Sea issue. Most notably, it has been pursuing joint energy development opportunities with Vietnam in waters that both Hanoi and China claim. Altogether, some 55 percent of India’s trade passes through the Strait of Malacca. The interests of different nations include acquiring fishing areas around the two archipelagos; the potential exploitation of suspected crude oil and natural gas under the waters of various parts of the South China Sea; and the strategic control of important shipping lanes.It is ironic that while China appeals to the principles in UNCLOS Articles 74 and 83 in this strategy, it is the only claimant that denies UNCLOS’s tribunal the jurisdiction to interpret an apply those Articles relating to sea boundary delimitations.
17. The aim of Information Technology Agreements (ITAs) is to lower all taxes and tariffs on information technology products by signatories to zero. What impact should such agreements have on India’s interests?
Ans: The Information Technology Agreement (ITA) is a plurilateral trade agreement that requires participants to eliminate their tariffs on a specific list of information technology (IT) and telecommunications products. During the Uruguay Round negotiations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the electronics sector was one of the so-called “zero-for-zero” sectors for which U.S. trade negotiators hoped to achieve complete elimination of tariffs by major trading partners. “India’s experience with the ITA-1 has not been encouraging as it has almost wiped out the IT industry from India. After examining the matter in consultation with the nodal Ministry i.e. Department of Electronics and Information Technology and other stakeholders, it has been decided, for the present, not to join the negotiations as it will not be in our national interest. India is a signatory to the Information Technology Agreement (ITA-I) of WTO. Under this agreement India is obliged to allow zero duty import of IT products. The list of IT products is mentioned in the agreement. During the Uruguay Round negotiations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the electronics sector was one of the so-called “zero-for-zero” sectors for which U.S. trade negotiators hoped to achieve complete elimination of tariffs by major trading partners. The IT industry associations of the United States, Europe, and Japan recommended to the G-7 meeting in Brussels on the Global Information Infrastructure (GII) that tariffs in the IT industry be eliminated though the adoption of an information technology agreement. But all these were not being fulfilled in context to Indian expectations.
18. Some of the International funding agencies have special terms for economic participation stipulating a substantial component of the aid to be used for sourcing equipment from the leading countries. Discuss on merits of such terms and if, there exists a strong case not to accept such conditions in the Indian context.
Ans: India has been providing significant economic and military aid to neighboring countries in South Asia since the 1950s, soon after its independence. It is only in the last decade, however, that India has relied on foreign assistance as an increasingly important foreign policy tool to further its own economic, political, and strategic interests. There are three parts to India’s foreign assistance spending: “grants and preferential bilateral loans to governments, contributions to international organisations (IOs) and financial institutions (IFIs), and subsidies for preferential bilateral loans provided through the Export Import (EXIM) Bank of India. The new economic reform, popularly known as, Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG model) aimed at making the Indian economy as fastest growing economy and globally competitive. The series of reforms undertaken with respect to industrial sector, trade as well as financial sector aimed at making the economy more efficient. “India focuses on smaller interventions, allows recipient countries to define their own priorities and encourages mutual economic growth and long-term trade linkages rather than purely a development impact.” Therefore, the overall objective is focused on “promoting goodwill” and “local capacity.” Funding for foreign assistance programs is channeled through multiple ministries of the Indian government. For example, in the Ministry of External Affairs’ expenditure proposal, foreign assistance is allocated under the title of “Technical and Economic Cooperation with Other Countries.” India does not have a dedicated aid agency, most aid work is conducted through multiple programs operating within different ministries of the Indian government.
19. India has recently signed to become founding a New Development Bank (NDB) and also the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) .How will the role of the two Banks be different? Discuss the significance of these two Banks for India.
Ans: The five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, People’s Republic of China, South Africa), at a summit in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza, announced the establishment of the New Development Bank (NDB) and a related Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA). The NDB is intended to offer development finance without the policy conditionality required by other major development banks, while the CRA will help stabilize currencies, potentially in competition with the IMF. The NDB will start with a capital base of $50 billion and equal voting rights for its five members, while the CRA will start with a $100 billion pool of currency swaps.. The AIIB is intended to address the enormous need for infrastructure financing in the Asian region. Given the high demand for infrastructure financing in Asia, the AIIB, once operational, may well move ahead faster than the NDB. Given the PRC’s comfortable fiscal position, it could increase the AIIB’s capital base quickly, putting it on a par with major existing banks. As for India, the AIIB is going to offer further options and availability of finance for its immense infrastructural needs. India will need $1 trillion for five years beginning 2014-15. The AIIB will have voting rights based on benchmarks which will be a combination of GDP and purchasing power parity. Based on these China and India will be the biggest stakeholders.
20. WTO is an important international institution where decisions taken affect countries in profound manner. What is the mandate of WTO and how binding are their decisions? Critically analyse India’s stand on the latest round of talks on Food security.
Ans: The WTO is run by its member governments. All major decisions are made by the membership as a whole, either by ministers (who meet at least once every two years) or by their ambassadors or delegates (who meet regularly in Geneva). Decisions are normally taken by consensus. When WTO rules impose disciplines on countries’ policies that is the outcome of negotiations among WTO members. The rules are enforced by the members themselves under agreed procedures that they negotiated, including the possibility of trade sanctions. But those sanctions are imposed by member countries, and authorized by the membership as a whole.. From India’s point of view, services present a different picture from agriculture and industrial tariffs. As an emerging global power in IT and business services, the country is, in fact, a demander in the WTO talks on services as it seeks more liberal commitments on the part of its trading partners for cross-border supply of services. India has taken offensive positions in this area as it has export interests in information technology (Mode 1). The country also seeks greater access to the EU and the US in terms of the movement of natural persons, or what is termed as Mode 4 in cross-border supply of services. As far as agriculture negotiations are concerned, the playing field may be tilted further against India if it is required to undertake deep tariff cuts without any concurrent elimination of farm subsidies by developed countries.
SOLUTION – GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – III
Ans: The reach of regional rural banks (RRBs)in the countryside both in terms of the number of clients and accessibility to the small and marginal farmers and other poorer segments is far less than that of cooperatives.
Some of the major factors that will influence defence and economy of India are as under:
11. Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without Doctor’s prescription, be contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved.
Ans: In India the infectious disease burden is among the highest in the world and recent report showed the inappropriate and irrational use of antimicrobial agents against these diseases, which led to increase in development of antimicrobial resistance.
12. In a globalized world, intellectual property rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms – copyrights, patents and trade secrets.
Ans: Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are legal and institutional devices to protect creations of the mind such as inventions, works of art and literature, and designs. They also include marks on products to indicate their difference from similar ones sold by competitors.
The difference between the copyrights, patents and trade secrets is as follows:
Ans: Carbon credits are tradable permit schemes in accordance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change also called as UNFCC .This scheme gives the holder a right to emission of one equivalent of tonne of carbon dioxide.
Ans: Droughts in the Indian region are mainly due to various kinds of failures of rains from southwest monsoon. Also there seems to be some association between El Nino and La Nina events and weak monsoons. Over more than hundred year's period between 1871-1988, 11 of the 21 drought years were El Nino years. During the 90 years period between 1901-1990 rainfall was sufficient in all 7 strong El Nino cases. The El Nino phase of the Southern Oscillations (ENSO) has direct impact on drought in India which causes weak or enhanced summer monsoon. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in its guidelines has identified many current challenges in drought management includes:
1) Criteria followed for drought declaration and the time when the drought is declared differs across the states
2) Indicators used and the methodology followed for drought intensity assessment and drought monitoring differ largely from state to state
3) Data sharing for drought assessment and drought declaration
4) Insufficient use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools by various agencies in management of drought
5) Lack of check dams in the rain-fed areas results in inadequate storage-water in times of need or drought
6) Lack of community participation in drought management activities at the village/tehsil level, and the low levels of involvement of Self Help Groups, NGOs and the corporate sector.
15. Environmental impact assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before project is cleared by the government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at Pitheads.
Ans: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an important management tool for ensuring optimal use of natural resources for sustainable development.
Ans: India is a very diverse place with people from many different religious backgrounds, who speak many different languages and come from many different regions. The term “radicalism” always points to some analytical or revisionist function.
Therefore, the need of the hour is to inculcate harmony and prosperity in the
society by timely organization of the campaigns and bringing the awareness in
the society for the peaceful environment.
17. International civil aviation laws provide all countries complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their territory. What do you understand by airspace? What are the implications of these laws on the space above this airspace? Discuss the challenges which this poses and suggests ways to contain the threat.
Ans: Airspace is the area or portion of the atmosphere above a country’s territory that is controlled by that country. International air law provided that a nation's sovereignty extended vertically to the airspace over its territory.
18. How illegal trans-border migration does pose a threat to India’s security? Discuss the strategies to curb this, bring out the factors which give impetus to such migration.
Ans: India faces various internal security challenges owing to hostile neighbors, long and porous land border. These internal security threats continue to destabilize our society and economy.
19. In 2012, the longitudinal marking of the high-risk areas for piracy was moved from 65° East to 78° east in the Arabian Sea by International Maritime organization. What impact does this have on India’s maritime security concerns?
Ans: A spate of piracy-related occurrences in the Eastern Arabian Sea over two years ago had prompted the industry to extend the scope of ‘High Risk Area’ (HRA) across the Arabian Sea (areas west of 78 degree east longitude).
20. China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for development of an economic corridor. What threat does it pose for India’s security? Critically examine.
Ans: China and India are locked in a global energy game that is being played out via ports in nearby nations. For China the goal is expansion. For India, it is avoiding encirclement by its larger neighbour.
SOLUTION – GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – IV
SECTION- A
Ans: Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of our actions and to the decency and wickedness of the motives and the ends of such actions.
Ans: Probity is the quality of a person to be completely honest. It is being morally and ethically above reproach, having integrity. It encourages a person to choose and to follow the right against the wrong. It provides a level of assurance that the done work was executed in a manner that is fair and equitable.
Ans: Human beings are the best creation of nature that is capable to exploit other natural resources to satisfy their needs. But in modern techno-economic society human beings have been converted into productive machines. Techno-economic development and advancement is considered to create more convenient and pleasurable atmosphere for human beings. But with the growth of human society, materialistic and consumerist approach also increased and currently people are living in a situation, in which they have more time to earn but no time to enjoy their earnings. People are involved to get more and more techno-economic growth and they are continuously going away from natural style of human life.
(b) There is a heavy ethical responsibility on the public servants because they occupy positions of power, handle huge amounts of public funds, and their decisions have wide-ranging impact on society and environment. What steps have you taken to improve your ethical competence to handle such responsibility?
Ans: The role of civil servants in a modern state, especially in a welfare state, has become very important as they have to deliver a large number of services to citizens. I have taken following steps to improve my ethical competence to handle responsibilities of a civil servant:
(b) It is often said that poverty leads to corruption. However, there is no dearth of instances where affluent and powerful people indulge in corruption in a big way. What are the basic causes of corruption among people? Support your answer with examples.
Ans: Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It hurts everyone who depends on the integrity of people in a position of authority. It is one of the biggest threats to the well-being of a society. A number of causes create corruption among the people.
Ans: An attitude is a manner of thinking, feeling, or behaving that reflects a state of mind or disposition. It may be positive or negative on an issue according to circumstances.
Ans: Accountability is the obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. It includes the responsibility for money or other entrusted property also. It is an essential aspect of good governance. It ensures appropriate delivery of public services.
Ans: No social crime can be checked by only enactment until its social aspect is addressed. Sexual violence against women is the result of a criminal mind set of men. Only a few people seriously adopt it as a social problem rather than a legal crime. In Indian society, where a large number of people are still unaware about legal provisions, it should not be expected that a social crime can be checked by only legal proceeding. Social measures are more important to meet this challenge.
In the following questions, carefully study the cases presented and then answer the questions that follow:
9. Now-a-days, there is an increasing thrust on economic development all around the globe. At the same time, there is also an increasing concern about environmental degradation caused by development. Many a time, we face a direct conflict between developmental activity and environmental quality. It is neither feasible to stop or curtail the development process, nor it is advisable to keep degrading the environment, as it threatens our very survival.
Discuss some feasible strategies which could be adopted to eliminate this conflict and which could lead to sustainable development.
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi said, “The Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”. Its true that development and environment degradation often go hand in hand. Though environmental degradation caused by development can not be compromised. So now the time comes when we have to put more focus toward ‘green sustainability’. There is an immediate need of investment in environment and emphasize on ‘green hygiene’. Moreover, there must be a coherent and collaborative sharing of processes between the developmental bodies and environmental authority. WE have to choose less severe and more eco-friendly path, which starts from our daily routine works and extends upto the industrial development. In other words, we have to switch towards ‘greener way of living’. Environment clearance norms must be more stringent and feasible. Some strategic key points for ‘green-development’ are as follows:
Strategies:
10. Suppose one of your close friends, who is also aspiring for civil services, comes to you for discussing some of the issues related to ethical conduct in public service. He raises the following points:
(i) In the present times, when unethical environment is quite prevalent, individual attempts to stick to ethical principles may cause a lot of problems in one’s career. It may also cause hardship to the family members as well as risk to one’s life. Why should we not be pragmatic and follow the path of least resistance, and be happy with doing whatever good we can?
(ii) When so many people are adopting wrong means and are grossly harming the system, what difference would it make if only a small minority tries to be ethical? They are going to be rather ineffective and are bound to get frustrated.
(iii) If we become fussy about ethical considerations, will it not hamper the economic progress of our country? After all, in the present age of high competition, we cannot afford to be left behind in the race of development.
(iv) It is understandable that we should not get involved in grossly unethical practices, but giving and accepting small gratifications and doing small favours increases everybody’s motivation. It also makes the system more efficient. What is wrong in adopting such practices?
Critically analyze the above viewpoints. On the basis of this analysis, what will be your advice to your friend?
Ans: Answer for this question can be given on the basis of ethics and aptitude, determinants of and consequences of Ethics in human actions and dimensions of ethics. My advice to my friend who is an aspiring for civil services will be according to his doubts and apprehension and will be as follows:
(i) This problem arises due to deteriorating values in the present society and values are the cradle of ethical behavior. I will suggest him that civil service is an empowered opportunity to serve our nation and society. And hence it demands strong and scatheless personality and inner built up to deter such situation. I will give him examples of some famous bureaucrats who have been ‘Standing High and Walking Tall’.
(ii) Again I will counsel him with an example of Mahatma Gandhi, who said that “Be the change the you want to see in the world”. It means that the change starts within ourselves. I will suggest him the value and effort of the single person. Undoubtedly, I will try to make him believe that one day people and authority will recognize him and will acknowledge his work.
(iii) Here the confusion can be cleared on the basis of probidity and accountability in civil services. And as for as the economic development is considered, no country can grow on the basis of the corrupt policies. For this we need financial ‘hygiene‘ and ‘economic surgery’. Ethical considerations can delay the process, but in long run they will be beneficial and result orientated.
11. You are a no-nonsense, honest officer. You have been transferred to a remote district to head a department that is notorious for its inefficiency and callousness. You find that the main cause of the poor state of affairs is the indiscipline of a section of employees. They do not work themselves and also disrupt the working of others. You first warned the troublemakers to mend their ways or else face disciplinary action. When the warning had little effect, you issued a show cause notice to the ringleaders. As a retaliatory measure, these troublemakers instigated a woman employee amongst them to file a complaint of sexual harassment against you with the Women’s Commission. The Commission promptly seeks your explanation. The matter is also publicized in the media to embarrass you further. Some of the options to handle this situation could be as follows:
(i) Give your explanation to the Commission and go soft on the disciplinary action.
(ii) Ignore the Commission and proceed firmly with the disciplinary action.
(iii) Brief your higher-ups, seek directions from them and act accordingly.
Suggest any other possible option(s). Evaluate all of them and suggest the best course of action, giving your reasons for it.
Ans. Explaining yourself to the Women’s Commission makes your stand clear and above all gives you a platform to present the facts of the case from your point of view. But going soft on the disciplinary action is not advisable as this creates a possible future scenario which the miscreants can exploit further.
i. Though taking disciplinary action against employees sets a good precedent of standards and it reflects your intolerance towards inefficient workers, ignoring the Commission is just not a viable solution. If this comes into the notice of media the matter will further embarrass you and put you in public limelight.
ii. Seeking the advice of seniors who have more experience than you in the field, may open up lot of viable options and they may be able to provide you with expert opinion. They could act as mediators between you and the employees. They could further vouch for your character in front of women’s commission.
iii. Put the facts of the matter in front of Women’s Commission and media. This arrests the bad publicity and public glare. Let the commission investigate the matter and come to a logical solution. After the case has been resolved, you deal with the miscreants with an iron hand and set a good precedent.
iv. Talk to the woman employee pressing charges and apprise her of the fragile nature of the situation and how highly her decision matters. Ask her to withdraw the case, following which take strict disciplinary action against the miscreants.
According to me the best course of action would be the last option. It removes your bad public image and at the same time deals with the inefficiency of the office.
12. Suppose you are the CEO of a company that manufactures specialized electronic equipment used by a government department. You have submitted your bid for the supply of this equipment to the department. Both the quality and cost of your offer are better than those of the competitors. Yet the concerned officer is demanding a hefty bribe for approving the tender. Getting the order is important both for you and for your company. Not getting the order would mean closing a production line. It may also affect your own career. However, as a value-conscious person, you do not want to give bribe.
Valid arguments can be advanced both for giving the bribe and getting the order, and for refusing to pay the bribe and risking the loss of the order. What those arguments could be? Could there be any better way to get out of this dilemma? If so outline the main elements of this third way, pointing out its merits.
Ans: The case study reflects the issue of the ethical dilemma. Again the solution comes from the values and ethical guidance. The decision must be taken on the basis of the “Call of the conscience”. Try to get the order on the basis of the just and genuine product. To design and deliver the better product is the ISP of your company and will only sustain and maintain the repo of your firm. Try to convince the higher management about the issue and pursue them for a fair deal, this can lessen your apprehension of losing your own job. And if the deal is done, it can will send a strong a positive message among the other firms. Just believe in one thing, ‘Bribe begets the bribe’. This case study is also to check the argues that whether the contracts induced by means of bribery should be valid. Very clearly, nullity and voidability decrease the incentive for voluntary disclosure, moreover they assist corrupt actors with enforcing their bribe agreements and provide leeway for abuse. Thus, they run counter to effective anti-corruption.
13. Rameshwar successfully cleared the prestigious civil services examination and was excited about the opportunity that he would get through the civil services to serve the country. However, soon after joining the services, he realized that things are not as rosy as he had imagined.
He found a number of malpractices prevailing in the department assigned to him. For example, funds under various schemes and grants were being misappropriated. The official facilities were frequently being used for personal needs by the officers and staff. After some time, he noticed that the process of recruiting the staff was also not up to the mark. Prospective candidates were required to write an examination in which a lot of cheating was going on. Some candidates were provided external help in the examination. Rameshwar brought these incidents to the notice of his seniors. However, he was advised to keep his eyes, ears and mouth shut and ignore all these things which were taking place with the connivance of the higher-ups. Rameshwar felt highly disillusioned and uncomfortable. He comes to you seeking your advice.
Indicate various options that you think are available in this situation. How would you help him to evaluate these options and choose the most appropriate path to be adopted?
Ans: Again this case study is about the delusion and ethical dilemma in public services. The case of Rameshwar is no different and it is very common experience felt by young recruits. I will advise him to lodge a complaint with suitable evidences if he has. And other malpractices by the staff and personal use of official resources by the staff must be brought to the knowledge of the senior’s officers. He needs to think rationally and to overcome the problem of ‘crisis of conscience’. Dealing such situation he needs the concept of emotional intelligence too. Rameshwar can find that the ethics is rarely a matter of concern in the ideology debate on the role of the state officers, but ethics is a natural concern in the discussion on the actual role of the civil servants. Hence, no matter how big or small is the problem, and what role a civil servant plays (or supposed to be playing), both the ‘status and role’ are have to deal with discretionary powers; they make decisions that affects a lot of people. Therefore, these decisions ought to be based on some form of ethics. For instance, the public
(a nation’s citizens) will normally expect the country’s politicians and public servants to serve in the public interest, and to serve in a rational and efficient way. They will not want them to pursue narrow private, personal, or group interests.
14. In our country, the migration of rural people to towns and cities is increasing drastically. This is causing serious problems both in the rural as well as in the urban areas. In fact, things are becoming really unmanageable. Can you analyze this problem in detail and indicate not only the socio-economic but also the emotional and attitudinal factors responsible for this problem? Also, distinctly bring out why
(a) Educated rural youth are trying to shift to urban areas;
(b) Landless poor people are migrating to urban slums;
(c) Even some farmers are selling off their land and trying to settle in urban areas taking up petty jobs.
What feasible steps can you suggest which will be effective in controlling this serious problem of our country?
Ans: In a country like India, which a the land of 600 million farmers, of which 40 percent are willing to quit farming for various reasons, mass migration from rural to urban areas has increased rapidly. Between 1991 and 2001, 73 million people have migrated from the rural areas to elsewhere. Mass migration is a phenomenon that is a consequence of various problems in the rural India. There are many numbers of reasons for this, namely: health, poverty and hunger, water and sanitation, women and children, and employment, environmental problems, resources, industries and corporates, etc. Now, let us analyze each reason and how and why the proposal cannot turn into action.
Solutions can be as follows:
(a) Educated rural youth are trying to shift to urban areas:
The problem is of employment. Hence employment generation at the local level will be a solution. For this the skill development initiative will be very helpful.
(b) Landless poor people are migrating to urban slums Employment generation such as MGNREGA will be helpful in such situation.
(c) Even some farmers are selling off their land and trying to settle in urban areas taking up petty jobs.
Counseling of such farmers and telling them about the importance of the ‘substantial agriculture’ in place of ‘subsistence agriculture’ can provide a shift.
1. To what extent has the urban planning and culture of Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to present day urbanization? Discuss.
Ans: Urban Planning and culture of Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) which provided inputs to present day urbanization,
- The quality of municipal town planning and efficient municipal governments based on high priority on hygiene.
- Perfectly laid out grid pattern, comparable to the present day New York City.
- Urban sanitation systems and disposal of waste water to covered drains. All houses had access to water.
- Their precise accuracy for measuring length, mass and time. They followed the decimal system and developed a system of uniform weights and measures.
- The discoveries of massive reservoirs suggest they collected and stored rainwater, equivalent to present rainwater harvesting systems.
- Their fine artistic sensibilities portrayed in their highly realistic sculptures, terracotta figures etc. gives us a glimpse of the culture prevalent at that time.
- A recent report suggests that IVC script developed into Vedic- Sanskrit. If that is true, then a huge debt is owed to the IVC because written language is the first essential building block for learning, enabling people to pass on their knowledge.
Ans: Gandhara art flourished largely under the rulers of Kushan Empire in northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. In its interpretation of Buddhist legends, the Gandhara School incorporated many motifs and techniques from Classical Roman art, including vine scrolls, cherubs bearing garlands, tritons, and centaurs. The Gandhara School drew upon the anthropomorphic traditions of Roman religion and represented the Buddha with a youthful Apollo-like face, dressed in garments resembling those seen on Roman imperial statues. The Gandhara art also inculcates the Greek Classical realistic style, attitudes, hairstyle and fashion in clothes such as chiton and himation.
3. Taxila University was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss.
Ans: Taxila University is not considered as university in modern sense because,
- The teachers at Taxila may not have had official membership of particular colleges.
- Taxila University seems to lack built lecture halls and residential quarters, a sharp contrast compared to the later Nalanda University in eastern India.
- Each teacher formed his own institution, enjoying complete autonomy in work, teaching as many students as he liked and teaching subjects he liked without conforming to any centralized syllabus. Study terminated when the teacher was satisfied with the student's level of achievement.
- In most cases the "schools" were located within the teachers' private houses, and at times students were advised to quit their studies if they were unable to fit into the social, intellectual and moral atmosphere there.
- Examinations were treated as superfluous and not considered part of the requirements to complete one's studies.
- No convocations were held upon completion, and no written "degrees" were awarded, since it was believed that knowledge was its own reward.
4. The Battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why was so empire shaking battles fought at Panipat?
Ans: All empire shaking battles were fought in Panipat or Haryana in general because,
- One of the parties almost always came from the North/Northwest. Having crossed the Khyber Pass they had to pass through Punjab and Haryana before reaching Delhi and normally the defending king met the invading marchers outside the forts of Delhi i.e on the plains of Haryana.
- Both parties wanted to capture Delhi, because it lies in the middle of two of the most agriculturally productive regions of the world i.e The Plains of the Indus and the Ganga. Also the people of India considered the person sitting on the throne of Delhi as their King. So in short, whoever controlled Delhi, controlled North India.
Ans: Although the Sufis and other medieval mystic saints opposed various practices like inequality, rituals and helped build a medieval culture tolerant and appreciative of Non Muslims, they failed to modify the practices or outward structure of society in general because,
- Unlike Hinduism and Islam which were directly linked to the state via land grants in the case of Hindus and Sharas in the case of Islam, Sufis and other mystics never directly involved with the state.
- They weren’t wide spread due to wide opposition from orthodox elements.
- They didn’t propose a new system to replace the old existing one.
Ans: Mercantalism(1757-1813): Aim is accumulate wealth, aggressive policies in India (for favourable trade), British government trying to gain more control over Company affairs(Regulating act 1773, Pitts India Act), financial bleeding of India started(revenue settlements, hegemony over Indian territories)
One Way Free Trade(1813- 1860): By dawn of 19th century Industrial revolution in England, needed raw materials and markets for its manufactured goods, Company monopoly removed, British goods entered India virtually free while Indian products entering Britain faced high tariffs.
Finance Capitalism (1860- 1947): Started establishing modern industries in India (itz industrial policy only aimed at commercializing India and to compete with other industrial powers), basic industries neglected, destroy attempts of Indian entrepreneurs who made attempts to start modern industries.
7. In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India?
Ans: Reasons,
- The Navy was heart of Britain’s success. It was the centre of their pride, the reason for their rise as traders and then rulers around the world. The same ships and boats had now become a threat.
- The mutiny made the British officials lose their trust in the Indian army, navy and air force. They knew these units were no longer trustworthy.
- It was largest revolt by any of the imperial naval units. Prime Minister Clement Atlee knew the empire would not hold on for long and within two months, Atlee’s Cabinet mission promulgated the plan to decolonize India that paved the way for Independence.
8. What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated the anti colonial struggle in India?
Ans: Political, economic and social developments in the world,
- First and Second World War, economies of the world mainly, imperialist powers shattered.
- The continuous support of USSR against anti colonial struggle.
- The concept of supremacy of race shattered (soldiers returning home after war dispelling any such notions).
- Defeat of Russia by Japan in 1905 and an attempt by the people to throw the Czar of Russia out, followed by Russian revolution.
- The Economic crisis of 1929 affected the developed as well as developing countries to a great extent.
- To protect the Ottoman Empire after the aftermath of World War 1, Khilafat movement was started which eased Hindu Muslim relations to a great extent.
- Industrial revolution created a new social order in the world and consequently professional middle class emerged as an important regulator of the social and political system.
Ans: Events,
- Britain had ruled Egypt for a long time and wanted to continue it because of Suez Canal (reduced miles of sea journey from Europe to Asian markets) and discovery of immense oil reserves in the Middle East. The Middle East was also an important strategic point with respect to cold war. However the British presence was not welcomed and it resulted in many conflicts between the two.
- In 1956 the Suez Canal was nationalized by the Government of Egypt. This resulted in invasion of Egypt by Israel followed by Britain and France. The aim was to regain western control of Suez canal and to remove Nasser the then president of Egypt.
- After the fighting had started, the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Nations got involved diplomatically, forcing Britain, France and Israel to withdraw.
- After the crisis though British influence continued in the Middle East, Suez was a blow to British prestige in the Near East that Britain never recovered from. Increasingly, British foreign policy thinking turned away from acting as a great imperial power.
Ans: New Economic Policy 1921 of Lenin and its impact on India:
- Lenin sanctioned the co-existence of private and public sectors. India also adopted a policy of mixed economy.
- Lenin represented a move away from full nationalization of certain parts of industries. This was because foreign investments were expected by the Soviet Union under the NEP, in order to fund industrial and developmental projects with foreign exchange or technology requirements. India also followed this policy.
- Lenin put an end to grain requisitions and instead instituted a tax on the peasants, thereby allowing them to keep and trade their surplus, promoting production. India opted for land reforms to reduce inequality in land distribution and promoted increase in production.
- During the rule of Lenin labor unions became independent civic organizations. Constitution of India embedded a series of fundamental labor rights.
Ans: Impact of patriarchy in middle class working woman,
- Formal exclusion of women from top positions.
- Discrimination against women in hiring and promotion.
- Creation and maintenance of gender linked job categories, which tie women into lower level positions.
- Maintenance of male career patterns which require mobility, full time work and no interruptions (for child bearing).
- Maintenance of on-the-job work organization which excludes integration of child rearing and work and opposition to alternatives such as independent work at home, or neighbourhood based decentralized office arrangements.
- Lobbying and applying political pressure to maintain policies that keep women in subordinate positions.
- Supporting other elite groups with similar practices, such as trade union elites who don’t protest against corporate sexism.
Ans: Reasons of the adverse sex ratio for women in some of the most prosperous regions of India:
- Above of all is the mind set, prevalent in those regions, which prefers a male heir against a female heir. At the heart of the matter though, is the low status of women and girls, and the deep-rooted prejudices they face throughout life. The issue needs to be seen in the context of a male-dominated social and family structure and a value system based on son preference. Further, the practice of dowry translates daughters being seen as liabilities.
- Easy access of ultra sound technology has resulted in increased sex selection and rapid decline in the child sex ratio.
- A major shift towards ‘One child’ norm as compared to ‘two child’ norm among families living in prosperous regions.
- Major prosperous regions lie in the agricultural belt, where literacy rate is less and discrimination of women is still followed.
Ans: Reasons why the British Planters did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling area:
- Difficulty in accessibility to the region.
- Presence of Large forests. They had to be cleared first for tea plantation.
- Under utilization of water resources.
- Lack of availability of electricity and no connectivity to nearby markets.
- Lack of indigenous labour workforce. They had to be shifted there.
Ans: Green revolution bypassed eastern region of India because:
- Large sustained apathy from the Central Government.
- Lack of enterprise on the part of state governments.
- Under utilization of its resources(eg- the region possesses nearly 46% of country’s entire water resources but uses only 3% of that for crop irrigation)
- Lack of exposure to modern technology, new yielding seeds and other yield enhancing crop inputs.
Ans: Features of traditional and modern Joint family,
- Common property – Everyone lives on the same piece of land that stays in the family for generations. But in modern joint families it is common for wealthier, older generations to either gift or sign over property to a young couple when they get married.
- Common finances – All the money family members earn is pooled together and governed by the family. But issue of finance is more separate in modern joint family.
- Common kitchen – Eating together is one of the most important determiners of being a family. But in modern join family.
- Common leader – The family is led by the oldest male relative (patriarch) in traditional joint family. Grandparents still have a lot of authority and influence, but not like in the past.
- Common place of worship – On the family grounds, there will be a small temple or a place where the family god is kept. But currently the local temple on the farm is replaced by the puja closet in the high-rise apartment.
16. Discuss the various economic and social cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture In India.
Ans: Various economic and social cultural factors are liable for the feminization of agriculture,
- Increased male migration towards cities in lookout for jobs has been associated with feminization of the rural agricultural economy.
- Liberalization has led to governments trying to reduce its deficits. When social subsidies are removed, women became responsible for supplementing the increased cost thereby increasing presence of females in farms to increase productivity.
- Difference in wages paid to women over men has increased their preference over male counterparts.
- Less access of education for women have compelled women to remain in subsistence agriculture.
Ans: By Secularism in principle we mean, people belonging to one religion don’t oppress people belonging to other religions.
- Indian debate on secularism revolves around the broad principle consisting of tolerance, love, peaceful co-existence and harmony among people belonging to different religion and ideologies. It can be called positive secularism. Though the different Indian schools of philosophies have criticized each other, yet they have influenced each other and there was a unity of moral and spiritual outlook. The Bhakti movement represents the peak point.
- In the west, secularism has always had a narrow connotation. It mainly means that state doesn’t follow any religion. This concept evolved around the period of capitalism and for capitalism to sustain it needs better consumers. Religion and spirituality were considered as impediments towards capitalist growth. So separation of church and state was sought and this presented the present Western Secularism.
Ans: El Nino begins as a giant pool of warm water swelling in the eastern tropical Pacific that sets off a chain reaction of weather events around the world, some devastating and some beneficial.
- ‘YES’- Weaker monsoon rains in India, Scorching droughts in Australia, hottest year on record and mass die-off of corals
- ‘NO’- This time WMO(World Meteorological Organization) had predicted weak El- Nino, Monsoon recovery with about half of India receiving normal rains at later stage.
19. Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between the Global distribution of Fold Mountains and earthquakes and volcanoes.
Ans: Fold Mountains are formed where two continental plates move towards each other or a continental and an oceanic plate. The movement of the two plates forces sedimentary rocks upwards into a series of folds. Fold Mountains are usually formed from sedimentary rocks and are usually found along the edges of continents. This is because the thickest deposits of sedimentary rock generally accumulate along the edges of continents.
Major Earthquake and volcano prone areas are found around Pacific Ocean, Indo- Australia plate boundary, north and South Atlantic Ocean, Western side of North America. In all these regions the plate boundaries converge causing earth quakes and volcanoes.
20. Explain the formation of thousands of islands in Indonesia and Philippines archipelagos.
Ans: An Archipelago is a group of islands closely scattered in body of water.
- Formation of islands in Indonesia archipelagos: These islands were formerly part of mainland Asia during the last ice age, and their separation could be due to subsidence of some part of land or rise in sea level(glacial retreat), so that lowland links are submerged by the sea.
- Formation of islands in Philippines archipelagos: These are made of oceanic islands. This means the islands were formed by volcanoes erupting from ocean floor. These are formed over single hotspot. Earth crust shifted while the hot spot stayed put, creating a line of islands.
Ans: Reasons why tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico:
- They occurs when ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone) shifts northwards in the Northern Hemisphere, a series of low pressure ripples develops within ITCZ creating favourable conditions for tropical cyclones.
- Presence of coriolis force.
- Tropical cyclone derives its power from the heat source from the water (warm waters near the equator provide favourable condition)
- In addition, a strong anticyclone prevalent directly above the low-level inflow.
- Lack of subsidence air, instable air prevalent.
Ans: Effects on Indian subcontinent,
- The rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers will first increase the volume of water thereby making people living in plains vulnerable. But in a few decades the water level in rivers will decline, causing massive economic and environmental problems.
- As glacier water flows dwindle, the energy potential of hydroelectric power will decrease causing problems for industry.
- Himalayan glaciers feed Asia’s largest rivers all the year round. Their melting would mean reduced irrigation which in turn results to lower crop production. Hunger will intensify and child mortality will climb.
- Large people affected by water shortage.
- It will also cause snow and rock slides and have bad affect on water resources.
23. Account for the change in the spatial pattern of Iron and Steel industry in the world.
Ans: Reasons for change in spatial pattern of iron and steel industry in the world:
- Location of industry near raw materials, first near forests, then coal fields and finally coastal areas(for iron ore or coking coal)
- Depletion of raw materials followed by transportation of raw materials by wagons. To make it economically viable the industry was setup in the new resource rich location too.
- Recycling plants do not need to be established near mines. They can be established anywhere.
- Upgradation of technology reduced the relevance of location of industry near raw materials.
- Strategic reasons, lessons learnt from aerial bombing in World War 2 resulted in setting up of industry in diverse location and not resource centric.
- Development policies and incentives of the government, so as to develop a particular backward region.
Ans: Various resources of oceans,
- Manganese Nodules: They consist of ferromanganese oxides, typically accompanied by a considerable amount of nickel, copper and cobalt. The chemical elements are precipitated from seawater or originate in the pore waters of the underlying sediments. Manganese nodules are half-buried at a depth of 4,000-6,000 meters
- Cobalt-rich manganese crusts: They are ferromanganese oxides. The crusts accumulate when manganese, iron and a wide array of trace metals dissolved in the water (cobalt, copper, nickel, and platinum) are deposited on the volcanic substrates. Cobalt-rich manganese crusts cover the slope or top of seamounts like asphalt at a depth of 800-2,400 meters.
- Hydrothermal deposits: Hydrothermal deposits consist of heavy metal sulfides that contain copper, lead, zinc, gold and silver. These are formed at submarine plate boundaries, where an exchange of heat and elements occurs between rocks in the Earth’s crust and the ocean due to the interaction of volcanic activity with seawater. They are derived from hot water that vented from the seafloor at a depth of 1,500-3,000 meters.
Ans: The major challenge India faces over resource rich Africa is influence of China in the region. To counter this, India plans to use a mix of soft power, invest in human resource and share business expertise. A striking example of India’s new strategy has been the launch of Pan- African e- network, the biggest project for long distance education and telemedicine in Africa. India has also created India- Africa virtual university and promised scholarship to more than 20,000 students. The Indian companies have to move into Africa in a more democratic manner as compared to Chinese companies which have been accused of plundering Africa’s resources and having poor labor practices. India needs to play a constructive and forward looking role through technological transfer in Africa because in the long run it needs its natural resources( including oil, gold, cobalt, uranium, silver and cocoa beans) to fuel its resurgent economy.uranium, silver and cocoa beans) to fuel its resurgent economy.
SOLUTION – GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – II
1. Starting from inventing the ‘basic structure’ doctrine, the judiciary has played a highly proactive role in ensuring that India develops into a thriving democracy. In light of the statement, evaluate the role played by judicial activism in achieving the ideals of democracy.
Ans: After playing a largely “interpretative” role in the 1950s and 1960s, the Supreme Court, starting from the 1970s has been the major force standing up against legislative and executive excesses and inactions. Judicial activism results in upsetting the balance of power between the executive, legislature and the judiciary. However, such an argument firstly assumes that the legislature and executive are performing their functions efficiently and secondly that the judiciary is incapable of intervening in a manner which helps further the ideals of democracy. Since right to housing was a fundamental right which the state had failed to provide, the judiciary directed the state and the inmates to “engage with each other meaningfully and in the light of the values of the Constitution, the constitutional and statutory duties of the municipality and the duties of citizens concerned” to resolve the dispute. The judiciary should not create policies to enforce rights but must require the government to draft its own policy and submit it along with a timetable for execution. According to this principle, the judiciary, while evaluating executive/ legislative action (or inaction), should modify the policy framed only when the reasons provided are not reasonable. A court should merely see whether the reasons provided by the executive justify its decision, not whether the court would have reached the same decision. This standard should be applied not only when a policy is tested before the courts but also by courts to see if inaction is justified.
2. Though the federal principle is dominant in our Constitution and that principle is one of its basic features, but it is equally true that federalism under the Indian Constitution leans in favour of a strong Centre, a feature that militates against the concept of strong federalism. Discuss.
Ans: Indian Federalism is unique in nature and is tailored according to the specific needs of the country. Federalism is a basic feature of the Constitution of India in which the Union of India is permanent and indestructible. Both the Centre and the States are co-operating and coordinating institutions having independence and ought to exercise their respective powers with mutual adjustment, respect, understanding and accommodation. Tension and conflict of the interests of the Centre and the respective units is an integral part of federalism. Thus, the Indian federalism was devised with a strong Centre. Federalism with a strong Centre was inevitable as the framers of the Indian Constitution were aware that there were economic disparities as several areas of India were economically as well as industrially far behind in comparison to others.It seeks to draw a balance between the forces working in favour of concentration of power in the Centre and those urging a dispersal of it in a number of units. A federal Constitution envisages a demarcation of governmental functions and powers between the Centre and the regions by the sanction of the Constitution, which is a written document. From this follows two necessary consequences-
(i) That the invasion by one level of government on the area assigned to the other level of the government is a breach of the Constitution.
(ii) That any breach of the Constitution is a justifiable issue to be determined by the Courts as each level of government functions within the area assigned to it by the Constitution.
3. The ‘Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and its Members’ as envisaged in Article 105 of the Constitution leave room for a large number of un-codified and un-enumerated privileges to continue. Assess the reasons for the absence of legal codification of the ‘parliamentary privileges’. How can this problem be addressed?
Ans: Article 105 of the Constitution of India which provides for the powers, privileges and immunities of the Houses of Parliament and of the Members and the Committee thereof reads as follows:—
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and to the rules and standing orders regulating the procedure of Parliament, there shall be freedom of speech in Parliament.
(b) No Member of Parliament shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in Parliament or any Committee thereof, and no person shall be so liable in respect of the publication or under the authority of either House of Parliament of any report, paper, votes or proceedings.
The limitation on the privilege regarding free speech in Parliament is few. One limitation obviously is that the freedom is subject to the constitutional provisions and the rules and procedures of Parliament. The rules are those framed under Article 118 of the Constitution. Under Article 121, Parliament cannot discuss the conduct of Judges of the Supreme Court and of the Judges of the High Court. Even if there is any violation of these limits it would still be a matter exclusively for Parliament to deal with and the courts would have no jurisdiction to look into the matter. In view of Article 122, the courts are also explicitly barred from enquiry into the validity of any proceeding in Parliament.
4. What do you understand by the concept “freedom of speech and expression”? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of expression? Discuss.
Ans: Hate speech is, outside the law, speech that attacks a person or group on the basis of attributes such as gender, ethnic origin, religion, race, disability, or sexual orientation. Freedom of speech is the political right to communicate one's opinions and ideas using one's body and property to anyone who is willing to receive them. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used. Every government restricts speech to some degree. Common limitations on speech relate to: libel, slander, obscenity, pornography, sedition, hate speech, incitement, fighting words, classified information, copyright violation, trade secrets, non-disclosure agreements, right to privacy, right to be forgotten, public security, public order, public nuisance, and campaign finance reform. For example, freedom of speech is limited in many jurisdictions to widely differing degrees by religious legal systems, religious offense or incitement to ethnic or racial hatred laws. Freedom of speech and expression is the concept of being able to express oneself freely whether through words of mouth, literature, art, or any other medium of communication. It is often regarded as an integral concept in modern liberal democracies. Despite the fact that the Constitution of India does not expressly mention motion pictures as a medium of speech and expression, they have been so accepted through various court decisions. Films in India have been censored on the grounds of obscenity, sex and violence. Films have been banned or targeted in the name of maintaining public order; respecting beliefs, sentiments and traditions; or for criticizing the State on certain issues.
5. Instances of President’s delay in commuting death sentences has come under public debate as denial of justice. Should there be a time limit specified for the President to accept/reject such petitions? Analyse.
Ans: “Constitution of India, Articles 32 and 21, Death sentence awarded by court, Undue delay in execution of death sentence. It entitles the condemned prisoner under Article 32 of Constitution of India to approach court that his death sentence be commuted to life imprisonment. No fixed period of delay, however, could be fixed to make the death sentence in-executable-The delay which could be considered to make the death sentence in-executable starts from the date the judgment by apex court is pronounced, when judicial process has come to an end-The delay which is to be considered is the delay is disposal of mercy petitions or delays occurring at the instance of the executive”. An undue delay violated Article 21 of the Constitution (protection of life and personal liberty). Unless the delay is properly explained or justified, it makes the death penalty immoral, illegal and unconstitutional. The trauma and physical stress coupled with solitary confinement of a convict known as the “death-row phenomenon” is itself a cruel punishment. The prospect of pending execution exacts a frightful toll during the inevitable long wait between the imposition of the sentence and the actual infliction of death.” The Constitution doesn’t provide any maximum time-limit within which a mercy petition has to be decided. There have been instances of mercy petitions lying with the President for over a decade without any decision being taken. The Ministry of Home Affairs can’t ask the President to speed up the process.
6. The size of the cabinet should be as big as governmental work justifies and as big as the Prime Minister can manage as a team. How far the efficacy of a government then is inversely related to the size of the cabinet? Discuss.
Ans: A cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the top leaders of the executive branch, usually called ministers or some other title. The functions of a cabinet are varied: in some countries it is a collegial decision-making body with collective responsibility, while in others it may function as a purely advisory body to a decision making head of state or head of government. In some countries, the cabinet is named "Council of Ministers" or "Government". Large cabinets are made most of the time just to sate the ambitions of the various coalition partners. Ministers have a lot of powers and plenty of machinery at their disposal.They can be bribed, coaxed or coerced into various action or inactions that can be harmful for the Government of the day. Indian politics is very tedious and very dangerous; its best to not give too much power to people that you do not absolutely trust. A small cabinet means that fewer people handling more tasks. For those who say that Cabinet Ministers will be overloaded or will not be able to perform their duties satisfactorily are ignorant of how the Government functions. The Policy is actually decided by the Party or the PM and the minister merely passes on the task to the Bureaucrats who then do the necessary hard work with files and others. The Minister's job is to merely ensure smooth operation and efficiency. In short, having a small cabinet has the perks of being more disciplined and easier to monitor.
7. Though 100 percent FDI is already allowed in non-news media like a trade publication and general entertainment channel, the Government is mulling over the proposal for increased FDI in news media for quite some time. What difference would an increase in FDI make? Critically evaluate the pros and cons.
Ans: A low FDI cap of 26 percent now inhibits and dis-incentivises the infusion of foreign funding in the electronic news media resulting in perpetuating the monopoly power of Indian news conglomerates. Concomitantly, lack of competition in the news space has resulted in the stunted and skewed growth of news channels in India.Broadly speaking, a simple comparison between general entertainment channels where 100 per cent FDI is allowed with the state of affairs of electronic news media amply underlines the need for increased FDI regime for the electronic news space. FDI can enhance competition in electronic news with the introduction of best practices and act as the voice of the people, bring out diverse view point and thus strengthen India’s unity and diversity. As the fourth pillar of Indian democracy media can play a meaningful role. It will also lead to other benefits ranging from news syndication and editorial assistance to marketing and technological inputs leading to an improvement in overall product quality. The economy would be enriched given the rise in employment and income levels brought about by increased competition.However while considering increased FDI norms for the electronic news media the government can build-in necessary checks and balances to prevent entry of undesired and anti-national elements to get into the news segment. Granting liberalised FDI regime in electronic news media is the dire need of the hour to salvage this sector. Such an initiative would transform the Indian broadcast industry into a world class industry and help India become the broadcast hub of the world.
8. The setting up of a Rail Tariff Authority to regulate fares will subject the cash strapped Indian Railways to demand subsidy for obligation to operate non-profitable routes and services. Taking into account the experience in the power sector, discuss if the proposed reform is expected to benefit the consumers, the Indian Railways or the private container operators.
Ans: The Rail Tariff Authority comprise of a Chairperson and four Members at the apex level and will be vested with the function to develop an integrated, transparent and dynamic pricing mechanism for the passenger and freight segments of the Indian Railway's business. The ratio of the average freight tariff to average passenger fare in India is one of the highest among major railways in the world. Because of low passenger fares the traffic volume for this segment of rail operations is very high but the revenues are disproportionately low. The Rakesh Mohan Committee Report (2001) also pointed out that the financial crisis faced by the Railways was, to a large extent, due to its low quality and over-priced freight services and a lack of market incentives. It had also approved a draft amendment Bill seeking changes in the Railways Act, 1989, which will tantamount to vesting in RTA full powers of fixing and notifying tariffs. The rail ministry has all along been against such a move, preferring only an advisory role for the regulatory body. It harbours a fear that the manner in which the cabinet note has been framed the RTA’s role will not be that of an advisory body but final authority to decide tariffs, thus usurping the powers vested in the ministry under the Indian Railways Act.If IR is to achieve the twin objectives of improving operating efficiency and financial viability, it must allow some form of competition. Currently, there is no regulation of freight or passenger tariffs on Indian Railways (IR). The Railway Board can change tariffs within its discretion but always subject to political oversight.
9. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India can be most effective when its tasks are adequately supported by other mechanisms that ensure the accountability of a government. In light of the above observation assess the role of NHRC as an effective complement to the judiciary and other institutions in promoting and protecting human rights standards.
Ans: NHRC India was the first National Human Rights Institution to be established in the South Asian Region. NHRC India is effective and demonstrates that human rights protection does not have to rely entirely on courts and gradually how National Human Rights Commission has become locus of human rights awareness at national level factor is relevant for explaining the rationale for an independent human rights commission. In a country specific setting like that of India courts may not be in the position to deliver relief for infringement of rights due to institutional weaknesses and what Epp calls “weakness of the support structure for the legal mobilisation” i.e. legal aid, very little support for advocacy groups, absence of development of sustained, deep judicial policy making on individual rights and the fragmentation of the Indian interest group system. Until the early 1990s, the Indian Government displayed scant regard for local human rights and civil liberties organisations. Their reports, appeals and petitions on human rights abuses, particularly in view of anti insurgency operations in Kashmir, Punjab and northeast states, met with deafening silence. ‘Human Rights’ means the right relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution of India or embodied in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and cultural Rights and enforceable by the courts in India.
10. The penetration of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas in promoting participation in development programmes is facing socio-cultural hurdles. Examine.
Ans: In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic. Members with the same issues can come together for sharing coping strategies, to feel more empowered and for a sense of community. A self-help support group is fully organized and managed by its members, who are commonly volunteers and have personal experience in the subject of the group's focus. These groups may also be referred to as fellowships, peer support groups, lay organizations, mutual help groups, or mutual aid self-help groups. Professionally operated support groups are facilitated by professionals who most often do not share the problem of the members, such as social workers, psychologists, or members of the clergy. The facilitator controls discussions and provides other managerial service. Such professionally operated groups are often found in institutional settings, including hospitals, drug-treatment centers and correctional facilities. In support groups, people must have the desire to support and help each other, and many times participants go on the sites in order to get help themselves or are limited to a certain subgroup. The group work was applicable for the following purposes: corrective/treatment; prevention; normal social growth and development; personal enhancement; and citizenship indoctrination. Common needs addressed by social work groups include coping with major life transitions; the need to acquire information or skills; the need to improve social relationships; and the need to cope with illness; and the need to cope with feelings of loss or loneliness; amongst other reasons
11. Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required social resources for them, lead to their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economics?
Ans: Vulnerable groups are the groups which would be vulnerable under any circumstances (e.g. where the adults are unable to provide an adequate livelihood for the household for reasons of disability, illness, age or some other characteristic), and groups whose resource endowment is inadequate to provide sufficient income from any available source. By 2030, India’s urban population is set to reach 590 million, an addition of approximately 300 million to India’s current urban population. While their contributions are indispensable to the smooth working of urban spaces, these people, their needs are overlooked in the planning and vision of urban development. Urbanisation in India subscribes to forces of the neo-liberal economy, where citizens are expected to become self-reliant and not be an economic liability for the State. Ninety nine per cent of this shortfall pertained to the economically weaker sections and lower income groups in which migrants typically fall. The underground economy is also indicative of the state’s absence in service delivery and lack of institutional support. India does not stop its citizens from internal migration. People are free to move across States to escape destitution or in search of better opportunities. However, local governments and India’s middle class largely view economically poor migrants as outsiders making illegitimate claims to life in cities. An acceptance of the permanence of the poor migrant population is critical to better planning, provisioning, and integration into India’s urban development.
12. An athlete participates in Olympics for personal triumph and nation’s glory; victors are showered with cash incentives by various agencies, on their return. Discuss the merit of state sponsored talent hunt and its cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement.
Ans: In sports, character, value, physical and mental strength are all challenged in a short span of time. Sports can tell us a lot about ourselves as individuals and as a society. Yet, apart from a fanatic obsession with Cricket, we have very little to show for our passion in sports. While there is certainly better infrastructure available today, sport is not a popular part of Indian culture. These days there has been lot of talent search to pick up bright students suitable for jobs right from the colleges by several MNCs as well as Indian Companies. Who comes in search of talent in Sports. The sponsors make a queue when some one becomes popular in some sport or the other. If the huge money earned by the Cricket Board is partially spared for the promotion of other sports no other sponsor is needed.A country with 100 Billion people with a few individual medals in Olympics over a period of 60 years of independence. Therefore, the companies apart from running after cricket celebrities should come forward to pick up young talent in other sports, adopt them, extend necessary facilities to the young talent so that they could win medals for the country in the international events and bring pride for the country and for them. The Govt. may give some exemptions to the companies in IT etc., for this purpose. The Govt. should come forward to build good avenues for the development of sports and games in our country. The funds allotted to the sports ministry in various States and the Union Government is always megre. The Governments do not feel it necessary or important to provide adequate funds for sports. Even the funds allotted are seldom spent properly. The Sports Authorities in many states are mere ornamental organizations. They should be filled with people who have adequate knowledge of sports and interest to promote sports.
13. Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in designing courses and also decide mode/criteria of selection of students. Discuss in light of the growing challenges.
Ans: India needs these two institutional systems of higher education to be bigger, a geographical expansion of the kind outlined one of each in every state is a real challenge if quality is to be preserved, more so for IIMs than for IITs. IITs have had some connection with social sciences right from their beginnings, but their reputation was built on core engineering disciplines. They teach their students to slog really work hard. After the years here any real world challenge may be daunting for other reasons, but hard work is not one of them. It is not for everybody really. Many would fail under this pressure and they really should not be here at all. But for those who can take the heat, they are also taught to bear the load. It is a professional course, not academic – this means you are employable at the end of it all. No person who has graduated from these institutes needs to fear being jobless for long except by choice. There is a gamut of useful skills that cannot be learned here that are not taught in other higher education. The graduates of these institutes get a wage premium over most others. IITs and other professional institutes offer excellence for various reasons and not all of them have to do with great faculty. Basics like water, electricity, good buildings, good laboratories, libraries, teaching support, research capabilities and much more are also required.
14. Has the Cadre based Civil Services Organisation been the cause of slow change in India? Critically examine.
Ans: The IAS is an All-India Service that ensures an equitable mix of ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ officers in each state. Half of the vacancies go to officers who come from the state, and the other half to officers from other regions. Among insiders, 33% are promoted from the State Civil Service. But some state governments are not keen on receiving civil servants ‘imposed’ by the central government, especially since the end of the Congress hegemony and the emergence of opposition regional parties. The pan-Indian character of the IAS is sometimes considered incompatible with the federal principle, erosive force acting against the autonomy of the states, while its members are viewed as the agents of the central government in the regions. The All-India Services are jointly controlled and managed by the Centre and the States. The central government, through the Ministry of Personnel, has a considerable say in the careers of IAS officers. In the states, the Chief Minister, at the head of the regional government, possesses a triple prerogative on IAS officers: he can transfer them from one district to another, promote and suspend them. Transfers are a normal feature in personnel administration, according to the Weberian concept of separation of the incumbent from the office he is holding. Despite the nexus between politicians and bureaucrats, the latter are always in a precarious position since they can be arbitrarily transferred at any time, especially if they threaten certain local vested interests.
15. Two parallel run schemes of the Government viz. the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether or not both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve developmental benefits and equitable growth.
Ans: UIDAI is being rolled out in 16 states, NPR is a nationwide project. A lot of the confusion is in the states where both projects are gathering data concurrently. UP, for instance, is a non-UID state. Delhi has both. NPR, based on demographic data collected during Census 2011, proposes to issue cards bearing Aadhaar numbers. A resident of an NPR state need not bother about UID. Aadhaar is the unique number both NPR & UIDAI issue based on biometric data. If NPR rejects UIDAI data, you won't be registered. It was decided by the Cabinet Committee on UIDAI that all residents would be issued National Multi-purpose Identity Cards under NPR, and UIDAI would generate Unique identification number for entire population. Both UIDAI and NPR were to share the biometric data collected by them for issuing NMIC and generating unique identification number. The NPR is a comprehensive identity database maintained by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Home Ministry. MNREGA will require authentication before payout therefore in such a scenario, it will be essential to map UID of the resident with MNREGA Job Card number and other demographic information. Similarly, banks and insurance carriers may want to map Aadhaar numbers of all their customers. The objective is not to replace the currently used unique identifier of the customers/ residents/ beneficiaries with Aadhaar but the objective is to seamlessly enable Aadhaar authentication without impacting any other interface that the service providers maintain with their customers.
16. With respect to the South China sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China.
Ans: Territorial disputes in the South China Sea involve both island and maritime claims among several sovereign states within the region, namely Brunei, the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. There are disputes concerning the Spratly and the Paracel islands, as well as maritime boundaries in the Gulf of Tonkin and elsewhere. There is a further dispute in the waters near the Indonesian Natuna Islands. Notwithstanding Chinese objections, India went ahead to enhance its presence in hydrocarbon-rich South China Sea and inked a pact with Vietnam for exploration in two additional oil and gas blocks besides deciding to step up cooperation in key areas of defence, security, trade and counter-terrorism. India has long been involved on the margins of the South China Sea issue. Most notably, it has been pursuing joint energy development opportunities with Vietnam in waters that both Hanoi and China claim. Altogether, some 55 percent of India’s trade passes through the Strait of Malacca. The interests of different nations include acquiring fishing areas around the two archipelagos; the potential exploitation of suspected crude oil and natural gas under the waters of various parts of the South China Sea; and the strategic control of important shipping lanes.It is ironic that while China appeals to the principles in UNCLOS Articles 74 and 83 in this strategy, it is the only claimant that denies UNCLOS’s tribunal the jurisdiction to interpret an apply those Articles relating to sea boundary delimitations.
17. The aim of Information Technology Agreements (ITAs) is to lower all taxes and tariffs on information technology products by signatories to zero. What impact should such agreements have on India’s interests?
Ans: The Information Technology Agreement (ITA) is a plurilateral trade agreement that requires participants to eliminate their tariffs on a specific list of information technology (IT) and telecommunications products. During the Uruguay Round negotiations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the electronics sector was one of the so-called “zero-for-zero” sectors for which U.S. trade negotiators hoped to achieve complete elimination of tariffs by major trading partners. “India’s experience with the ITA-1 has not been encouraging as it has almost wiped out the IT industry from India. After examining the matter in consultation with the nodal Ministry i.e. Department of Electronics and Information Technology and other stakeholders, it has been decided, for the present, not to join the negotiations as it will not be in our national interest. India is a signatory to the Information Technology Agreement (ITA-I) of WTO. Under this agreement India is obliged to allow zero duty import of IT products. The list of IT products is mentioned in the agreement. During the Uruguay Round negotiations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the electronics sector was one of the so-called “zero-for-zero” sectors for which U.S. trade negotiators hoped to achieve complete elimination of tariffs by major trading partners. The IT industry associations of the United States, Europe, and Japan recommended to the G-7 meeting in Brussels on the Global Information Infrastructure (GII) that tariffs in the IT industry be eliminated though the adoption of an information technology agreement. But all these were not being fulfilled in context to Indian expectations.
18. Some of the International funding agencies have special terms for economic participation stipulating a substantial component of the aid to be used for sourcing equipment from the leading countries. Discuss on merits of such terms and if, there exists a strong case not to accept such conditions in the Indian context.
Ans: India has been providing significant economic and military aid to neighboring countries in South Asia since the 1950s, soon after its independence. It is only in the last decade, however, that India has relied on foreign assistance as an increasingly important foreign policy tool to further its own economic, political, and strategic interests. There are three parts to India’s foreign assistance spending: “grants and preferential bilateral loans to governments, contributions to international organisations (IOs) and financial institutions (IFIs), and subsidies for preferential bilateral loans provided through the Export Import (EXIM) Bank of India. The new economic reform, popularly known as, Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG model) aimed at making the Indian economy as fastest growing economy and globally competitive. The series of reforms undertaken with respect to industrial sector, trade as well as financial sector aimed at making the economy more efficient. “India focuses on smaller interventions, allows recipient countries to define their own priorities and encourages mutual economic growth and long-term trade linkages rather than purely a development impact.” Therefore, the overall objective is focused on “promoting goodwill” and “local capacity.” Funding for foreign assistance programs is channeled through multiple ministries of the Indian government. For example, in the Ministry of External Affairs’ expenditure proposal, foreign assistance is allocated under the title of “Technical and Economic Cooperation with Other Countries.” India does not have a dedicated aid agency, most aid work is conducted through multiple programs operating within different ministries of the Indian government.
19. India has recently signed to become founding a New Development Bank (NDB) and also the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) .How will the role of the two Banks be different? Discuss the significance of these two Banks for India.
Ans: The five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, People’s Republic of China, South Africa), at a summit in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza, announced the establishment of the New Development Bank (NDB) and a related Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA). The NDB is intended to offer development finance without the policy conditionality required by other major development banks, while the CRA will help stabilize currencies, potentially in competition with the IMF. The NDB will start with a capital base of $50 billion and equal voting rights for its five members, while the CRA will start with a $100 billion pool of currency swaps.. The AIIB is intended to address the enormous need for infrastructure financing in the Asian region. Given the high demand for infrastructure financing in Asia, the AIIB, once operational, may well move ahead faster than the NDB. Given the PRC’s comfortable fiscal position, it could increase the AIIB’s capital base quickly, putting it on a par with major existing banks. As for India, the AIIB is going to offer further options and availability of finance for its immense infrastructural needs. India will need $1 trillion for five years beginning 2014-15. The AIIB will have voting rights based on benchmarks which will be a combination of GDP and purchasing power parity. Based on these China and India will be the biggest stakeholders.
20. WTO is an important international institution where decisions taken affect countries in profound manner. What is the mandate of WTO and how binding are their decisions? Critically analyse India’s stand on the latest round of talks on Food security.
Ans: The WTO is run by its member governments. All major decisions are made by the membership as a whole, either by ministers (who meet at least once every two years) or by their ambassadors or delegates (who meet regularly in Geneva). Decisions are normally taken by consensus. When WTO rules impose disciplines on countries’ policies that is the outcome of negotiations among WTO members. The rules are enforced by the members themselves under agreed procedures that they negotiated, including the possibility of trade sanctions. But those sanctions are imposed by member countries, and authorized by the membership as a whole.. From India’s point of view, services present a different picture from agriculture and industrial tariffs. As an emerging global power in IT and business services, the country is, in fact, a demander in the WTO talks on services as it seeks more liberal commitments on the part of its trading partners for cross-border supply of services. India has taken offensive positions in this area as it has export interests in information technology (Mode 1). The country also seeks greater access to the EU and the US in terms of the movement of natural persons, or what is termed as Mode 4 in cross-border supply of services. As far as agriculture negotiations are concerned, the playing field may be tilted further against India if it is required to undertake deep tariff cuts without any concurrent elimination of farm subsidies by developed countries.
SOLUTION – GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – III
- Normally countries shift from agriculture to industry and then later to services, but India shifted directly from agriculture to services. What are the reasons for the growth of services vis-à-vis industry in the country? Can India become a developed country without a strong industrial base?
- The growth of India’s services sector, its contribution to GDP, and its increasing share in trade and investment has drawn global attention. In India, there has been a shift from agriculture to the services sector.
- Services sector started to grow in the mid-1980s but growth accelerated in the 1990s when India initiated a series of economic reforms after the country faced a severe balance of payment crisis. Reforms in the services sector were a part of the overall reform process, which led to privatization, removal of Foreign Direct Investment restrictions and streamlining of the approval procedures, among others.
- Creating a strong industrial base is necessary in India for a variety reasons:
- First and foremost, manufacturing is an essential sector of all economies, especially for a developing country. Without a base in industry, strong and sustainable growth is not possible in India.
- Improving the manufacturing sector is the first step in increasing exports from the country.
- For developing more manufactured goods in India is the increase on self-sufficiency and reliance from domestic firms, making the national economy stronger.
- While we flaunt India’s demographic dividend, we ignore the dropping rates of employability. What are we missing while doing so? Where will the jobs that India desperately needs come from? Explain.
- One cannot be too optimistic about this trend considering its poor education system from bottom to top. Demographic dividend in the country is not being appropriately used and there is a need to revisit the demographic policy so as to tap benefits from the youth.
- Faster non-agricultural job creation has become enaviable for skilled youth. The reason for unemployment could be the lack of employment because of the quality of education or lack of opportunities.
- A vibrant manufacturing, especially, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector can play a key role in creating jobs and high economic growth. It has the potential to provide employment for the exceptionally large labour force that is still working in agriculture.
- The most promising solution to these challenges is investing effectively in skills throughout a lifetime: from early childhood, through compulsory education, and during the working life.
- Innovative schemes to promote skill development like “Skill Development Initiative” (SDI), Kaushal Vikas Yojana (KVY) for setting up Industrial Training Institutes and Skill Development Centers in uncovered areas and skill development plan will help.
- There is also a point of view that agriculture produce market committees (APMCs) set up under the state acts have not only impeded the development of agriculture but also have been the cause of food inflation in India. Critically examine.
- The journey of a commodity from farm to fork involves multiple levels of transportation and handling expenses, agents’ commission and mandi taxes — all jacking up the final price of the farm produce by up to 20 per cent.Also, anywhere between 5 per cent to 40 per cent of food is wasted depending upon the perishability of the item.
- Thus, the farmer’s farm gate price is suppressed while retail price is inflated. The major chunk of this difference is appropriated by intermediaries, leading to low net realisation to farmers and demand for hikes in support prices.
- Besides, coverage of select farm commodities under the minimum support price (MSP) weakens the effectiveness of price signals in ensuring optimal resource allocation.
- Higher MSPs are needed to compensate for the rising cost of farming, but arbitrarily raising MSPs of cereals vis-à-vis non-cereal food items such as eggs, milk, pulses, fruit and vegetables increases the relative price gap between the two categories.
- Procurement of food grains by Food Corporation of India also contribute to food inflation.
- The absence of trading monopolies and an environment where produce and price information flow freely will soften the impact of supply disruptions easing the subsequent rise in food inflation.
- “In the villages itself no form of credit organisation will be suitable except the cooperative society.” – All Indian Rural Credit survey.
Ans: The reach of regional rural banks (RRBs)in the countryside both in terms of the number of clients and accessibility to the small and marginal farmers and other poorer segments is far less than that of cooperatives.
- In terms of number of agricultural credit accounts, the Short Term Cooperative Credit System (STCCS) has 50% more accounts than the commercial banks and RRBs put together.
- However, the health of a very large proportion of these rural credit cooperatives has deteriorated significantly.
- Rural finance refers to financial services used in rural areas by people of all income levels, and agricultural finance is the financing of agriculture-related activities, from production to market.
- Financial institutions seeking to work in rural areas face numerous constraints, such as poor infrastructure, dispersed demand, price and yield risks, and collateral limitations.
- Moreover, the main products of many microfinance institutions—short-term working capital loans with frequent expected repayments—may not be well-suited to longer-term agricultural activities, nor the resulting seasonality of the cash flow of rural households.
- Improvements in technology, regarding information and communication , are making it increasingly viable for providers to sustainably and effectively reach people in rural areas, though a better understanding of potential customers and their financial needs will be necessary to make significant improvements.
- The right to fair compensation and transparency land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement act, 2013 has come into effect from 1 January 2014. What implication would it have on industrialization and agriculture in India?
- But many economists and industrialists hold that the new act is as much a deterrent to growth as the old one was.
- Some of the implications associated with industrialization and agriculture in India w.e.t this act are:
- The acquisition process will be more lengthy and costly making it difficult for private companies.
- The social Impact Assessment is likely to delay the process of acquisition.
- Large patches of acquisition for smart cities will be difficult as it will require 70% consent for public-private partnership.
- Government will have to shell out huge cost to pay two to four times of market value and further spend on rehabilitation and resettlement.
- Land acquisition for private projects will need 80 % consent from affected families, which will be a big problem.
- In case the acquired land remains unutilized for 5 years after acquisition, the Act empowers state to return the land either to the owner or to the State Land Bank.
- Capitalism has guided the world economy to unprecedented prosperity. However, it often encourages shortsightedness and contributes to wide disparities between the rich and the poor. In this light, would it be correct to believe and adopt capitalism for bringing inclusive growth in India? Discuss.
- Post 1991, India has been moving towards capitalism with gushing force. Liberalization and globalization opened Indian economy for foreign direct investment (FDI) has attracted great investment and employment opportunities. Liberalizing FII (Foreign Institutional Investor) norms has helped in easy availability of capital.
- Even after 60 years of independence we are unable to address the problems of poverty, education, housing, food, sanitation, etc. Most of the rural areas, which comprise almost 70 per cent population of India are under developed.
- The growth that we observe around us is lopsided, helping rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. All these are the results of excessive capitalism and reliance on industrialization and urbanization. We are promoting industrialization at the cost of agriculture.
- Development means developing the rural areas. Technology should reach rural India to increase self-sufficiency. Medical and educational facilities should be provided. Basic amenities should be provided. There should be creation of facilities so that villagers feel no need to migrate to urban areas.
- Explain how private public partnership agreements, in long gestation infrastructure projects, can transfer unsustainable liabilities to the future. What arrangements need to be put in place to ensure that successive generations’ capacities are not compromised?
- Public private partnerships (PPPs) are seen to have a significant role in bringing in much needed investments as well as efficiencies in utilization and management of resources.
- Despite improvements in physical infrastructure development in the country during the recent years, significant gap exists between demand and supply of critical infrastructure facilities, which has become a binding constraint on the rapid pace of economic progress.
- A sustained growth of the Indian economy is critical for equitable development in the country which can impact all strata of society. The requirement for sustainable infrastructure development is paramount both to provide the backbone for economic activities as well to ensure that resources are conserved and used most efficiently.
- PPP projects must contribute to sustainable development and protection of the environment as a key priority.
- This must be achieved by balancing the public’s current needs with the responsibility towards future generations.
- Responsibility of PPP projects often rests with the economy, finance and transport ministries, rather than the environment ministries.
- National urban transport policy emphasizes on moving people instead of moving vehicles. Discuss critically the success of various strategies of the government in this regard.
- The policy primarily focuses on majority of the population using public transport and non-motorized modes. Urban transport is a key urban service that imparts efficiency to the city by providing mobility to the workforce and hence best productivity.
- In 2009, Ahmedabad used this funding to launch Janmarg, India’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which has an average daily ridership of 132,033 passengers. This system has served as a success story to encourage other cities around the country to plan and implement similar systems.
- Also in 2009, the central government helped 61 cities procure more than 15,000 buses in order to launch new city bus services or augment existing services.
- Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) includes development of transport services. Implementation of metro rail services and mono rail services in various is also an effort to improve movement of people. Government is also promoting light e-vehicles for public transport within urban areas.
- However at present there is a huge deficit in urban transport services and infrastructure both in quality and quantity.
- Foreign direct investment in the defense sector is now said to be liberalized. What influence this is expected to have on Indian defense and economy in the short and long run?
Some of the major factors that will influence defence and economy of India are as under:
- It will increase availability of financial resources and upgraded technology for defence industry.
- It will reduce dependence on import for defence hardware.
- It will create more space for research and development work in defence sector.
- It will contribute in the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and share of defence sector in GDP. It will create new opportunities for skilled and unskilled workforce in the country.
- It will increase share of defence hardware in the export of country.
- It will present Indian Economy, in global scenario, as investor friendly.
- It will ensure delivery of up to date equipment for Indian defence forces.
- Scientific research in Indian universities is declining, because a career in science is not as attractive as our business operations, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming consumer oriented. Critically comment.
- The recent trend observed in secondary and tertiary education sectors is toward non science courses. Inadequacies in the policies of the government, negligence of its importance by political parties and social organizations, etc., have accelerated the decline.
- Universities have long abandoned the accent on research and have become mere teaching centers. Research aptitude in students is not properly developed during their course of study. Teachers refuse to undertake research along with teaching and are resistant to major structural changes in the system unless it is beneficial to their career.
- Research management in universities is another very serious problem faced by many Indian universities.
- A major reason for this trend is that the career in science is not attractive like a profession in business administration or in politics.
- Remedial measures are necessary for rejuvenating the interest in science and for ensuring productivity. If evaluative conclusions are made at this level we can reasonably describe the situation needs immediate attention of the policy makers and the society, in general.
11. Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without Doctor’s prescription, be contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved.
Ans: In India the infectious disease burden is among the highest in the world and recent report showed the inappropriate and irrational use of antimicrobial agents against these diseases, which led to increase in development of antimicrobial resistance.
- The health sector in India suffers from gross inadequacy of public finance.
- A national task force has been constituted under the Chairmanship of DGHS, with Director NCDC being the member Secretary for containment of Antimicrobial resistance in the country with the following terms of reference/agenda:
- To review the current situation regarding manufacture, use and misuse of antibiotics in the country.
- To recommend the design for creation of a national surveillance system for antibiotic resistance.
- To enforce and enhance regulatory provisions for use of antibiotics in human, veterinary and industrial use.
- To recommend specific intervention measures such as rationale use of antibiotics and antibiotic policies in hospitals.
- Strengthening of diagnostic Methods pertaining to antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring Antimicrobial resistance will result in difficulty in controlling the diseases in the community and ineffective delivery of the health care services.
12. In a globalized world, intellectual property rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms – copyrights, patents and trade secrets.
Ans: Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are legal and institutional devices to protect creations of the mind such as inventions, works of art and literature, and designs. They also include marks on products to indicate their difference from similar ones sold by competitors.
The difference between the copyrights, patents and trade secrets is as follows:
- Patents: protect functional expressions of an idea – not the idea itself.
- A machines, method/process, manufacture, compositions of matter, and improvements of any of these items can be patented.
- Copyrights: protect the specific creative expression of an idea through any medium of artistic/creative expression – i.e., paintings, photographs, sculpture, writings, software, etc.
- A copyright protects your painting of a haystack, but it would not prohibit another painter from expressing their artistry or viewpoint by also painting a haystack.
- Trade Secrets: Trade secrets encompass manufacturing or industrial secrets and commercial secrets.
- The unauthorized use of such information by persons other than the holder is regarded as an unfair practice and a violation of the trade secret.
Ans: Carbon credits are tradable permit schemes in accordance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change also called as UNFCC .This scheme gives the holder a right to emission of one equivalent of tonne of carbon dioxide.
- They provide a mechanism which effectively reduces the greenhouse gas emissions and thus allowing earning through the emission reduction. In rural areas, India has huge potential to earn emission allowances through the provision of domestic energy which is replacement based.
- Since a high proportion of India’s energy comes from coal, and because the country’s escalating fuel needs raise concerns around security of supply, Indian policymakers are taking a growing interest in promoting energy efficiency and renewables, as demonstrated by the recently launched National Action Plan on Climate Change.
- Considering that just over half of India’s current CO2 emissions are from large point sources it may be that such current and future sources could be a suitable starting point for capturing emissions, transporting them, and then storing them in porous rock as a mitigation strategy against dangerous climate change.
- India is considered one of the biggest beneficiaries of carbon trading among the developing countries, through the implementation Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
Ans: Droughts in the Indian region are mainly due to various kinds of failures of rains from southwest monsoon. Also there seems to be some association between El Nino and La Nina events and weak monsoons. Over more than hundred year's period between 1871-1988, 11 of the 21 drought years were El Nino years. During the 90 years period between 1901-1990 rainfall was sufficient in all 7 strong El Nino cases. The El Nino phase of the Southern Oscillations (ENSO) has direct impact on drought in India which causes weak or enhanced summer monsoon. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in its guidelines has identified many current challenges in drought management includes:
1) Criteria followed for drought declaration and the time when the drought is declared differs across the states
2) Indicators used and the methodology followed for drought intensity assessment and drought monitoring differ largely from state to state
3) Data sharing for drought assessment and drought declaration
4) Insufficient use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools by various agencies in management of drought
5) Lack of check dams in the rain-fed areas results in inadequate storage-water in times of need or drought
6) Lack of community participation in drought management activities at the village/tehsil level, and the low levels of involvement of Self Help Groups, NGOs and the corporate sector.
15. Environmental impact assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before project is cleared by the government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at Pitheads.
Ans: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an important management tool for ensuring optimal use of natural resources for sustainable development.
- There are numerous damaging environmental impacts of coal that occur through its mining, preparation, combustion, waste storage, and transport. Coal-fired power plants are responsible for one-third of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions—about the same amount as all transportation sources -- cars, SUVs, trucks, buses, planes, ships, and trains – combined.
- A 1000 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant produces approximately the same amount of global warming as 1.2 million cars.
- In addition to atmospheric pollution, coal burning produces hundreds of millions of tons of solid waste products annually, including fly ash, bottom ash, and flue-gas desulfurization sludge that contain mercury, uranium, thorium, arsenic, and other heavy metals.
- The environmental problems however can be solved to some extent during the medium term by adoption of super-critical technology and Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) technology now being followed by the USA, Europe and Japan.
- The adoption of these technologies leads to higher energy conversion efficiency and lower gaseous emissions per unit of power generated and reduction in land required for waste ash disposal.
- In addition there is reduction in capacity of coal and ash handling plants and cooling water systems resulting in lower auxiliary power consumption.
Ans: India is a very diverse place with people from many different religious backgrounds, who speak many different languages and come from many different regions. The term “radicalism” always points to some analytical or revisionist function.
- Radicalism tends to be comprehensive; no matter where it starts, it tends to assimilate all aspects of life to the initial principle.
- The Constitution did create rights for the citizen, but it did not eradicate caste from the hearts and minds of the citizens it created.
- Despite the undeniable demographic, technological and economic changes taking place in the country, the division into castes and communities remains the ineluctable and ineradicable feature of Indian society.
- The most important measure The socially eccentric locus of origin of radicalism appears to be a particularly auspicious perspective for the deliberate appraisal of the ordinarily taken-for-granted texture of everyday life, and it may well be that man’s consciousness of himself and of the world around him is the assimilated aggregate of past and forgotten radicalizations.
- Radicalism can be counteracted by adopting the financial inclusion, economic development and the ideology based campaign as part of the strategies to curb it.
Therefore, the need of the hour is to inculcate harmony and prosperity in the
society by timely organization of the campaigns and bringing the awareness in
the society for the peaceful environment.
17. International civil aviation laws provide all countries complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their territory. What do you understand by airspace? What are the implications of these laws on the space above this airspace? Discuss the challenges which this poses and suggests ways to contain the threat.
Ans: Airspace is the area or portion of the atmosphere above a country’s territory that is controlled by that country. International air law provided that a nation's sovereignty extended vertically to the airspace over its territory.
- Airspace that does not fall within the territory of any particular nation, such as that above the ‘high seas’ is known as ‘international airspace’.
- Countries may sometimes make agreements to control certain sections of international airspace, for example, a significant part of the airspace over the Pacific Ocean is controlled by the United States of America, despite it being international airspace.
- The term “space law” refers to the body of international and national laws and customs that govern human activities in outer space.
- The legal regime established by the Outer Space Treaty has been successful in maintaining peace in outer space since the height of the Cold War.
- The challenges associated with the space laws:
18. How illegal trans-border migration does pose a threat to India’s security? Discuss the strategies to curb this, bring out the factors which give impetus to such migration.
Ans: India faces various internal security challenges owing to hostile neighbors, long and porous land border. These internal security threats continue to destabilize our society and economy.
- Indian border are porous. Both geographic reason - like unfavorable topography, climate (Eg: Border with Pakistan,china, Myanmar,Nepal and Bhutan) and international commitment - like maritime border contributes to this porosity.
- The consequence of this porous border is illegal human trafficking, smuggling, arms transfer, escape route for criminal and terrorism. These problems not only threatens basic environment of border area but also internal security.
- These have effect on Nation's unity and thus its ability to provide safe and secure environment.
- Advanced technology based devices should be used by border security forces to check illegal immigration. Economic development, especially development of infrastructure, in frontier areas is another measure to curb it.
- A major cause of illegal immigration, in India, is the poor economic structure of neighbouring countries. Political and social unrest, terrorism in neighbouring countries and availability of comparatively better economic opportunities, in India, are other causes.
19. In 2012, the longitudinal marking of the high-risk areas for piracy was moved from 65° East to 78° east in the Arabian Sea by International Maritime organization. What impact does this have on India’s maritime security concerns?
Ans: A spate of piracy-related occurrences in the Eastern Arabian Sea over two years ago had prompted the industry to extend the scope of ‘High Risk Area’ (HRA) across the Arabian Sea (areas west of 78 degree east longitude).
- Over 2 years back, the longitude marking off high-risk areas for piracy was moved from 650 east to 780 east after the Enrica Lexie incident.
- One of the fallouts of this move was an increase in the insurance premium of vessels plying in areas with a high risk of piracy.
- With piracy coming down, India has been demanding a rollback of this international guideline, designating seas close to its western coast as being under high risk to piracy.
- The threat of piracy has been wiped out from the country’s West Coast through the combined efforts of the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard.
- But the move interfered with our coastal traffic, creating trouble. Further, as a relatively cheaper counter piracy measure, many vessels began to embark privately-contracted armed guards in Indian waters, causing serious security concerns.
20. China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for development of an economic corridor. What threat does it pose for India’s security? Critically examine.
Ans: China and India are locked in a global energy game that is being played out via ports in nearby nations. For China the goal is expansion. For India, it is avoiding encirclement by its larger neighbour.
- China has indicated it will go ahead with building infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) despite India’s concerns, signing a memorandum of understanding with Pakistan on a transport corridor expected to pass through the disputed region.
- While India has made its concerns known over the projects considering the region’s disputed status, China has appeared to push forward.
- India has long been sensitive and suspicious to the Sino-Pakistan relationship, even suspecting that China secretly helped Pakistan master nuclear technology.
- To counter this threat and increased presence of China into the Indian Ocean, India has already increased its diplomatic presence and is now also strengthening to increase its economic presence in Afghanistan.
- As China develops Gwadar port in south-western Pakistan, Chabahar port in south-eastern Iran is filling India’s strategic need.
- India is developing a north-south trade corridor from Central Asia to Afghanistan through Chabahar, from where goods could be shipped by sea to India to counteract the China’s “string of pearls” strategy.
- Sino-Indian tension, particularly over unresolved border issues and naval competition in the Indian Ocean, will persist in the years ahead and could even precipitate armed conflict, although this remains a relatively remote possibility.
SOLUTION – GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – IV
SECTION- A
- (a) All human beings aspire for happiness. Do you agree? What does happiness mean to you? Explain with examples.
- Happiness is the state of mind. It is a state of non-contradictory joy. A joy that is without penalty or guilty and that does not clash with values and does not work for one’s own destruction.
- It to us is anything that can bring a smile to someone's face. It implies an active or passive state of pleasure or pleasurable satisfaction. It results from the possession or attainment of what one considers good.
- Happiness has less to do with circumstances than with our attitude and approach to life. Thus it lies in our thoughts.
- For example we can find such people who are consuming materialistic articles on a large scale but they are not happy. On the other hand true saints and monks, who are away from luxuries, feel quite happiness.
Ans: Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of our actions and to the decency and wickedness of the motives and the ends of such actions.
- Values are what we learn from childhood; the 'stuff' we acquire from our parents and immediate surroundings. Thus ethics teach us how to behave with others for the smooth run of the social structure.
- Public administration is the key instrument to implement the commands and instructions of the political set up.
- Modern states, especially democratic states, are considered as welfare states in which political set up works for welfare of citizens. Since a state is a composition of diversified people on the basis of their economic and social status, ethics become more important in public administration to fulfill the objectives of the political system.
- Ethics motivate the administration to perform it’s duties in such a way that ensures economic, social and political justice along with availability of opportunities for the appropriate growth of citizens.
- (a) In the context of defence services, ‘patriotism’ demands readiness to even lay down one’s life in protecting the nation. According to you, what does patriotism imply in everyday civil life? Explain with illustrations and justify your answer.
- Patriotism in everyday civil life means to contribute in the maintenance of unity and integrity of the nation and to work for the growth and development of its people. It is to share in the consolidation of the nation and to perform the duties of a citizen with honesty.
- It is an emotion that motivates a person to prefer the greater interests of his/her countrymen rather than his own interests and to play his role, in the everyday life, according to his status.
- For illustration a teacher who stays after school to help his students with their homework, so they can reach their full potential, is a patriot. A civil servant, who honestly discharges his duties, is a patriot. A worker who honestly contributes in the construction of national assets is a patriot.
Ans: Probity is the quality of a person to be completely honest. It is being morally and ethically above reproach, having integrity. It encourages a person to choose and to follow the right against the wrong. It provides a level of assurance that the done work was executed in a manner that is fair and equitable.
- A number of factors, such as personal ambitions, unfair demand of family members, irrational religious beliefs and social norms, illegal pressure of senior officials and ruling political parties in public offices, and above of all weakness of one’s own character and nature enforces a person to practice against probity.
- Willpower is the strongest instrument to ensure probity in personal practices. But in the public life it needs for collective efforts. Establishment and empowerment of such institutions, such as Lokpal, that ensure probity is also a measure to tackle the problem.
- To seed probity as a human value in the people from childhood may be fruitful exertion to encourage probity in the society.
- (a) “Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.” What do you understand by this statement? Explain your stand with illustrations from the modern context.
- In the absence of knowledge integrity can not be maintained for a long time. With the course of time perfection becomes irrelevant if it is not updated with concurrent required knowledge. Integrity is adrift in the absence of knowledge and it can not be used for the welfare of human beings. It is knowledge that ensures the use of integrity in a better and useful perspective.
- But in the absence of integrity knowledge becomes dangerous. Incomplete knowledge often leads in a wrong direction. A little knowledge always has a risk to cause destruction of an individual or society. Many times incomplete knowledge is provided to gain a mala fide objective. For illustration only such aspects of information and events, in national and international politics, are revealed and produced that can fulfill a specific aim. Different interpretations of MH 17 Malaysia plane accident were presented before the world by different countries according to their own interests.
Ans: Human beings are the best creation of nature that is capable to exploit other natural resources to satisfy their needs. But in modern techno-economic society human beings have been converted into productive machines. Techno-economic development and advancement is considered to create more convenient and pleasurable atmosphere for human beings. But with the growth of human society, materialistic and consumerist approach also increased and currently people are living in a situation, in which they have more time to earn but no time to enjoy their earnings. People are involved to get more and more techno-economic growth and they are continuously going away from natural style of human life.
- Techno-economic achievements also divided human society into exploiter and exploited classes and it caused ideology based class-struggle in which human beings are considered as instruments to achieve ideological aims. Materialistic achievements have become the parameter of prosperity and thus the end of society.
- If the human society will continue to participate in this blind race of techno-economic growth it will be converted into human machines-out of sentiments, emotions and humanity.
- (a) Which eminent personality has inspired you the most in the context of ethical conduct in life? Give the gist of his/her teachings giving specific examples; describe how you have been able to apply these teachings for your own ethical development.
(b) There is a heavy ethical responsibility on the public servants because they occupy positions of power, handle huge amounts of public funds, and their decisions have wide-ranging impact on society and environment. What steps have you taken to improve your ethical competence to handle such responsibility?
Ans: The role of civil servants in a modern state, especially in a welfare state, has become very important as they have to deliver a large number of services to citizens. I have taken following steps to improve my ethical competence to handle responsibilities of a civil servant:
- I respect the dignity and rights of all persons.
- I maintain privacy and confidentiality of information about others.
- I believe in professional competence and follow scientific method to achieve my goals.
- I accept responsibility of my own acts.
- I keep honesty and integrity in my professional as well as personal relationships.
- I try my level best to manage multiple relationships and conflict of interests.
- I try to maintain public trust by self monitoring.
- I respect constitutional and legal structure of the system.
- I care of social, cultural and religious sentiments of people.
- I fallow an impartial and justified approach.
- (a) The current society is plagued with widespread trust-deficit. What are the consequences of this situation for personal well-being and for societal well-being? What can you do at the personal level to make yourself trustworthy?
- I will keep my words. I will ensure pursuance of my promises.
- I will deliver my responsibilities in a timely and complete manner. I will present myself as a responsible citizen at my workplace, neighborhood, and community.
- I will follow, as per requirement, to strengthen my work process and will keep my activities flowing forward.
- I will be fully purposeful in my words and actions. I will faith in myself, in what I will do and how I will do it.
(b) It is often said that poverty leads to corruption. However, there is no dearth of instances where affluent and powerful people indulge in corruption in a big way. What are the basic causes of corruption among people? Support your answer with examples.
Ans: Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It hurts everyone who depends on the integrity of people in a position of authority. It is one of the biggest threats to the well-being of a society. A number of causes create corruption among the people.
- Low pay scale of personnel and limited job opportunities in the government sector. For example third and fourth class employees are paid too little to fulfill their basic needs.
- Lack of quick and strict legal proceedings and punishment. For example a large number of scam cases are under trial for years.
- Lack of awareness and unity in the people. For example in the public distribution system and in the banking sector benefits of common people are captured by corrupt personnel but the people do not oppose it.
- Lack of transparency in the work culture of the government system. For example a number of government departments do not disclose their procedure and it promotes corruption.
- Acceptance of corrupt practices as a conduct of society. For example the people do not condemn a person that is involved in corrupt practices.
- Encouragement of unhealthy competition in economic sector. For example often corporate companies occupy monopoly over the market to gain unjustified profit.
Ans: An attitude is a manner of thinking, feeling, or behaving that reflects a state of mind or disposition. It may be positive or negative on an issue according to circumstances.
- All our attitudes are learned from our experience of the social context around us. The influence of the family, schooling, and peer groups waxes and wanes as we grow into adolescence and adulthood. The final source of attitudes is the culture in which a child grows up.
- The caste system, in India, is based on social and economic discrimination. However it is determined by birth. A person gets the membership of a caste according to the caste of the family in which he is born.
- The existence of contrasting attitudes about caste system, in our society, is due to contrasting interests of the people. The people, who are benefited or who think that they are benefitted by the caste system, want to maintain it but the people who find it against their growth oppose it. Such people also that consider it, due to their impartial attitude, against the growth and inclusive development of society, oppose it.
Ans: Accountability is the obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. It includes the responsibility for money or other entrusted property also. It is an essential aspect of good governance. It ensures appropriate delivery of public services.
- Various measures can be adopted, according to circumstances and objectives, to ensure accountability. First of all the rules and regulations, regarding individual and collective accountability, that conduct the activities of civil servants should be clear without any ambiguity and they should be followed strictly. Individual accountability must be ensured in such projects also that are implemented collectively.
- There should be an independent mechanism to evaluate and scrutinize the performances of civil servants.
- Accountability must be one of basic measures to consider while providing promotions and incentives to civil servants. Accountable personnel should be granted more discretionary powers and the personnel, that violate the expected standard of accountability, should be punished for unaccountable behavior.
Ans: No social crime can be checked by only enactment until its social aspect is addressed. Sexual violence against women is the result of a criminal mind set of men. Only a few people seriously adopt it as a social problem rather than a legal crime. In Indian society, where a large number of people are still unaware about legal provisions, it should not be expected that a social crime can be checked by only legal proceeding. Social measures are more important to meet this challenge.
- A pan Indian campaign must be launched to make the people aware about social and legal aspects of the crime of sexual violence.
- Sexual violence is just a part of mal practices prevalent against women in the society. Other mal practices, such as female feticide, child marriage, discrimination against girls in the family also should be stopped to change the mind set of people against women.
- Old age women, as they also are women, should play pioneer role to teach their progenies to respect the dignity of a women. 10
In the following questions, carefully study the cases presented and then answer the questions that follow:
9. Now-a-days, there is an increasing thrust on economic development all around the globe. At the same time, there is also an increasing concern about environmental degradation caused by development. Many a time, we face a direct conflict between developmental activity and environmental quality. It is neither feasible to stop or curtail the development process, nor it is advisable to keep degrading the environment, as it threatens our very survival.
Discuss some feasible strategies which could be adopted to eliminate this conflict and which could lead to sustainable development.
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi said, “The Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”. Its true that development and environment degradation often go hand in hand. Though environmental degradation caused by development can not be compromised. So now the time comes when we have to put more focus toward ‘green sustainability’. There is an immediate need of investment in environment and emphasize on ‘green hygiene’. Moreover, there must be a coherent and collaborative sharing of processes between the developmental bodies and environmental authority. WE have to choose less severe and more eco-friendly path, which starts from our daily routine works and extends upto the industrial development. In other words, we have to switch towards ‘greener way of living’. Environment clearance norms must be more stringent and feasible. Some strategic key points for ‘green-development’ are as follows:
Strategies:
- Population increase, poverty and inequality, all these are hindrances in the process of sustainable development and needs to be controlled or kept in check.
- Increase in consumption of energy and reliability on non renewable resources propels unsustainable growth. A major shift in government policy to renewable resources like solar, wind energy etc. is needed.
- Human health is another such hindrance, and considerable monetary resources need to be focused towards this sector.
- Transportation sector is one of the driving engines of economic growth. Petrol and diesel consumption is on rise and a shift towards ecofriendly fuels like bio fuels and CNG could prevent further environment degradation.
- Create awareness and encourage people for organic farming, recycling of wastes and emphasis on conservation rather than follow ‘use and throw’ policy
10. Suppose one of your close friends, who is also aspiring for civil services, comes to you for discussing some of the issues related to ethical conduct in public service. He raises the following points:
(i) In the present times, when unethical environment is quite prevalent, individual attempts to stick to ethical principles may cause a lot of problems in one’s career. It may also cause hardship to the family members as well as risk to one’s life. Why should we not be pragmatic and follow the path of least resistance, and be happy with doing whatever good we can?
(ii) When so many people are adopting wrong means and are grossly harming the system, what difference would it make if only a small minority tries to be ethical? They are going to be rather ineffective and are bound to get frustrated.
(iii) If we become fussy about ethical considerations, will it not hamper the economic progress of our country? After all, in the present age of high competition, we cannot afford to be left behind in the race of development.
(iv) It is understandable that we should not get involved in grossly unethical practices, but giving and accepting small gratifications and doing small favours increases everybody’s motivation. It also makes the system more efficient. What is wrong in adopting such practices?
Critically analyze the above viewpoints. On the basis of this analysis, what will be your advice to your friend?
Ans: Answer for this question can be given on the basis of ethics and aptitude, determinants of and consequences of Ethics in human actions and dimensions of ethics. My advice to my friend who is an aspiring for civil services will be according to his doubts and apprehension and will be as follows:
(i) This problem arises due to deteriorating values in the present society and values are the cradle of ethical behavior. I will suggest him that civil service is an empowered opportunity to serve our nation and society. And hence it demands strong and scatheless personality and inner built up to deter such situation. I will give him examples of some famous bureaucrats who have been ‘Standing High and Walking Tall’.
(ii) Again I will counsel him with an example of Mahatma Gandhi, who said that “Be the change the you want to see in the world”. It means that the change starts within ourselves. I will suggest him the value and effort of the single person. Undoubtedly, I will try to make him believe that one day people and authority will recognize him and will acknowledge his work.
(iii) Here the confusion can be cleared on the basis of probidity and accountability in civil services. And as for as the economic development is considered, no country can grow on the basis of the corrupt policies. For this we need financial ‘hygiene‘ and ‘economic surgery’. Ethical considerations can delay the process, but in long run they will be beneficial and result orientated.
11. You are a no-nonsense, honest officer. You have been transferred to a remote district to head a department that is notorious for its inefficiency and callousness. You find that the main cause of the poor state of affairs is the indiscipline of a section of employees. They do not work themselves and also disrupt the working of others. You first warned the troublemakers to mend their ways or else face disciplinary action. When the warning had little effect, you issued a show cause notice to the ringleaders. As a retaliatory measure, these troublemakers instigated a woman employee amongst them to file a complaint of sexual harassment against you with the Women’s Commission. The Commission promptly seeks your explanation. The matter is also publicized in the media to embarrass you further. Some of the options to handle this situation could be as follows:
(i) Give your explanation to the Commission and go soft on the disciplinary action.
(ii) Ignore the Commission and proceed firmly with the disciplinary action.
(iii) Brief your higher-ups, seek directions from them and act accordingly.
Suggest any other possible option(s). Evaluate all of them and suggest the best course of action, giving your reasons for it.
Ans. Explaining yourself to the Women’s Commission makes your stand clear and above all gives you a platform to present the facts of the case from your point of view. But going soft on the disciplinary action is not advisable as this creates a possible future scenario which the miscreants can exploit further.
i. Though taking disciplinary action against employees sets a good precedent of standards and it reflects your intolerance towards inefficient workers, ignoring the Commission is just not a viable solution. If this comes into the notice of media the matter will further embarrass you and put you in public limelight.
ii. Seeking the advice of seniors who have more experience than you in the field, may open up lot of viable options and they may be able to provide you with expert opinion. They could act as mediators between you and the employees. They could further vouch for your character in front of women’s commission.
iii. Put the facts of the matter in front of Women’s Commission and media. This arrests the bad publicity and public glare. Let the commission investigate the matter and come to a logical solution. After the case has been resolved, you deal with the miscreants with an iron hand and set a good precedent.
iv. Talk to the woman employee pressing charges and apprise her of the fragile nature of the situation and how highly her decision matters. Ask her to withdraw the case, following which take strict disciplinary action against the miscreants.
According to me the best course of action would be the last option. It removes your bad public image and at the same time deals with the inefficiency of the office.
12. Suppose you are the CEO of a company that manufactures specialized electronic equipment used by a government department. You have submitted your bid for the supply of this equipment to the department. Both the quality and cost of your offer are better than those of the competitors. Yet the concerned officer is demanding a hefty bribe for approving the tender. Getting the order is important both for you and for your company. Not getting the order would mean closing a production line. It may also affect your own career. However, as a value-conscious person, you do not want to give bribe.
Valid arguments can be advanced both for giving the bribe and getting the order, and for refusing to pay the bribe and risking the loss of the order. What those arguments could be? Could there be any better way to get out of this dilemma? If so outline the main elements of this third way, pointing out its merits.
Ans: The case study reflects the issue of the ethical dilemma. Again the solution comes from the values and ethical guidance. The decision must be taken on the basis of the “Call of the conscience”. Try to get the order on the basis of the just and genuine product. To design and deliver the better product is the ISP of your company and will only sustain and maintain the repo of your firm. Try to convince the higher management about the issue and pursue them for a fair deal, this can lessen your apprehension of losing your own job. And if the deal is done, it can will send a strong a positive message among the other firms. Just believe in one thing, ‘Bribe begets the bribe’. This case study is also to check the argues that whether the contracts induced by means of bribery should be valid. Very clearly, nullity and voidability decrease the incentive for voluntary disclosure, moreover they assist corrupt actors with enforcing their bribe agreements and provide leeway for abuse. Thus, they run counter to effective anti-corruption.
13. Rameshwar successfully cleared the prestigious civil services examination and was excited about the opportunity that he would get through the civil services to serve the country. However, soon after joining the services, he realized that things are not as rosy as he had imagined.
He found a number of malpractices prevailing in the department assigned to him. For example, funds under various schemes and grants were being misappropriated. The official facilities were frequently being used for personal needs by the officers and staff. After some time, he noticed that the process of recruiting the staff was also not up to the mark. Prospective candidates were required to write an examination in which a lot of cheating was going on. Some candidates were provided external help in the examination. Rameshwar brought these incidents to the notice of his seniors. However, he was advised to keep his eyes, ears and mouth shut and ignore all these things which were taking place with the connivance of the higher-ups. Rameshwar felt highly disillusioned and uncomfortable. He comes to you seeking your advice.
Indicate various options that you think are available in this situation. How would you help him to evaluate these options and choose the most appropriate path to be adopted?
Ans: Again this case study is about the delusion and ethical dilemma in public services. The case of Rameshwar is no different and it is very common experience felt by young recruits. I will advise him to lodge a complaint with suitable evidences if he has. And other malpractices by the staff and personal use of official resources by the staff must be brought to the knowledge of the senior’s officers. He needs to think rationally and to overcome the problem of ‘crisis of conscience’. Dealing such situation he needs the concept of emotional intelligence too. Rameshwar can find that the ethics is rarely a matter of concern in the ideology debate on the role of the state officers, but ethics is a natural concern in the discussion on the actual role of the civil servants. Hence, no matter how big or small is the problem, and what role a civil servant plays (or supposed to be playing), both the ‘status and role’ are have to deal with discretionary powers; they make decisions that affects a lot of people. Therefore, these decisions ought to be based on some form of ethics. For instance, the public
(a nation’s citizens) will normally expect the country’s politicians and public servants to serve in the public interest, and to serve in a rational and efficient way. They will not want them to pursue narrow private, personal, or group interests.
14. In our country, the migration of rural people to towns and cities is increasing drastically. This is causing serious problems both in the rural as well as in the urban areas. In fact, things are becoming really unmanageable. Can you analyze this problem in detail and indicate not only the socio-economic but also the emotional and attitudinal factors responsible for this problem? Also, distinctly bring out why
(a) Educated rural youth are trying to shift to urban areas;
(b) Landless poor people are migrating to urban slums;
(c) Even some farmers are selling off their land and trying to settle in urban areas taking up petty jobs.
What feasible steps can you suggest which will be effective in controlling this serious problem of our country?
Ans: In a country like India, which a the land of 600 million farmers, of which 40 percent are willing to quit farming for various reasons, mass migration from rural to urban areas has increased rapidly. Between 1991 and 2001, 73 million people have migrated from the rural areas to elsewhere. Mass migration is a phenomenon that is a consequence of various problems in the rural India. There are many numbers of reasons for this, namely: health, poverty and hunger, water and sanitation, women and children, and employment, environmental problems, resources, industries and corporates, etc. Now, let us analyze each reason and how and why the proposal cannot turn into action.
Solutions can be as follows:
(a) Educated rural youth are trying to shift to urban areas:
The problem is of employment. Hence employment generation at the local level will be a solution. For this the skill development initiative will be very helpful.
(b) Landless poor people are migrating to urban slums Employment generation such as MGNREGA will be helpful in such situation.
(c) Even some farmers are selling off their land and trying to settle in urban areas taking up petty jobs.
Counseling of such farmers and telling them about the importance of the ‘substantial agriculture’ in place of ‘subsistence agriculture’ can provide a shift.
