SECURE SYNOPSIS: 24 OCTOBER 2018

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insights ias October 26, 2018

SECURE SYNOPSIS: 24 OCTOBER 2018

NOTE: Please remember that following ‘answers’ are NOT ‘model answers’. They are NOT
synopsis too if we go by definition of the term. What we are providing is content that both
meets demand of the question and at the same time gives you extra points in the form of
background information.

General Studies – 1

Topic – Part of static series under the heading – “salient features of Indian society and
diversity”

1) Indian family system has undergone drastic change in response to development in terms
of industrialization, education and urbanization. Comment. (250 words)

Key demand of the question

Various changes have taken place in our society over the years as a consequence of
industrialization, spread of education and urbanization. These have also impacted the nature
of families in India. The question expects us to comment on the changing nature of Indian
families, if at all they have changed, as a result of changes brought by industrialization,
urbanization and spread of education.

Directive word

Comment – When you are asked to comment, you have to pick main points and give your
‘opinion’ on them based on evidences or arguments stemming from your wide reading. Your
opinion may be for or against, but you must back your argument with evidences.

Structure of the answer

Introduction – Mention that Indian family system is marked as a very important social
institution in society. Earlier Indian societies were mostly joint or extended family but owing
to industrialisation and urbanisation there is a trend of a subsequent change to nuclear
family.

Body

Discuss the impact of industrialization and urbanization on Indian family

Change in family structure – forced families to live in nearby urban clusters leading to
change in family structure
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 Greater individuality

Heightened ambition as a result of which people are willing to overlook the comforts of
joint family for a nuclear family

Reduced solidarity – Some sociologist are of the view that industrialisation and
urbanisation resulted in reduced mechanical solidarity i.e. feeling of likeness, fraternity
to organic solidarity which are more orientated towards cooperation and need basis.

Social problems such as wearing down of social security of senior and very senior
individuals.

Improved HDI as a result of urbanization. This has also led to better education, less
social stratification among indian caste system.

Discuss the impact of education

Better education has led to better family planning etc

Aspirations have increased – People are willing to travel long distances for better
education in the hope of better quality of life etc

Social issues such as gender inequality etc within families has declined

Etc

Conclusion – Comment on the nature of changes that have taken place in Indian families as a
result of aforementioned factors.

Background :-

In India, the traditional joint family system with features such as patriarchal in nature,
members of family had no individual identity, the decision-making power lied exclu​‐
sively with the eldest male member of the family etc underwent rapid changes due to
industrialization ,urbanisation and education

Industrialisation and urbanisation impact :-

Decline of Extended Family System :-

There is a worldwide movement towards small, nuclear family maintaining a
separate and independent household and breaking down of the traditional
extended (joint) family system and other types of kin groups.
Their influence is declining in every field of life. A modified extended family
structure is emerging in which individual nuclear families retain considerable
autonomy and yet maintain connections with other nuclear families or so-
called ‘joint family’.
Changing Authority Pattern :-
There is a change in the division of labour and authority in the family. Male
authority is declining in the modern family. The authority is slipping from the
hands of family elders because of new economic and political opportunities.
Young couples do not rely on family elders for job instructions or education of
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 their children. Because of the dual-career marriages, there is a significant
change in the attitude towards equality between married partners.
Changing Status of Women :-
The rights of women are becoming more recognized in respect to both initi​‐
ation of marriage and decision-making in the family.
Changing Economic Functions :-
Modern family is no longer united by shared work on the farm. It is now a unit
of consumption instead of a unit of production as it was in the agrarian
society. It is now united by feelings of companionship, affection and recre​‐
ation only.
Decline in Family Size :-
Economic considerations force the young to have smaller family with one or
two children.
Changing Attitudes towards Marriage:-
There is an increase in male-female couples who choose to live together
without marriage. This has given rise to the concepts of ‘living together,’ ‘living
arrangements’ or ‘live-in relationships.
Also new types of families crop with where same gender couples also
cohabitate.
Declining Trend in Non-essential Functions:-
The most of the socializing functions today, like child raising, education,
occupational training, caring of elderly, etc., have been taken over by the
outside agencies, such as creches, media, nursery schools, hospitals,
occupational training centres, etc. These tasks were once exclusively
performed by the family.
The protective functions of the family are on the verge of decline. For example,
the function of providing help and shelter to the sick, aged and handicapped
has been taken over by agencies like health institutions, old-age houses, deaf
and dumb institutions, etc.
As a part of the revolution, the nuclear family emphasizes the importance of the
freedom of the individual to choose his/her own life and control his/her own destiny.
Accelerated rate of rural-urban migration, diversification of gainful economic
activities and individual-friendly property laws, have had consequential impact in
terms of drastic reduction in the size of family in the country.
Family is now essentially democratic and most of the decisions in the family are
taken collectively. However, the extent of autonomy and democracy may vary from
region to region, community to community and caste to caste, depending upon the
degree of its adaptation of the modern values and the urban way of life.
Marriage is considered not as a sacred one but a social contract . It has been found
that, divorces and separation are on the increase.
Much distress has been witnessed in the social relationships between husband and
wife. No doubt, the technology has elevated the social status of women in the family.
But at the same time it has put the fabric of social relationships at stake.
Improved HDI as a result of urbanization. This has also led to better education, less
social stratification among Indian caste system.
Education:-
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 One of the starking changes which has been observed that religion has also
lost ground. People are becoming more secular, rational and scientific but less
religious in their outlook.
Inter caste marriages are on rise.
Better education has led to better family planning etc
Aspirations have increased – People are willing to travel long distances for
better education in the hope of better quality of life etc
Social issues such as gender inequality etc within families has declined.

Topic–Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern
times.

2) The bronze casting technique and making of bronze images of traditional icons reached
a high stage of development in South India during the medieval period. Discuss.(250
words)

NCERT, An Introduction to Indian Arts.

Ncert

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 Directive word

Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the
key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of
the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.

Key demand of the question.

The question wants us to write in detail about the bronze art of the southern India and its
significant aspects and achievements.

Structure of the answer

Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the bronze art of India. E.g Indian
sculptors had mastered the bronze medium and the casting process as much as they had
mastered terracotta sculpture and carving in stone. The cire-perdue or ‘lost-wax’ process for
casting was learnt as long ago as the Indus Valley Culture.

Body-

Discuss the bronze art of south India as it developed during the medieval period of Indian
history. E.g Although bronze images were modelled and cast during the Pallava Period in the
eighth and ninth century south India, some of the most beautiful and exquisite statues were
produced during the Chola Period in Tamil Nadu from the tenth to the twelfth century. The
technique and art of fashioning bronze images is still skillfully practised in South India,
particularly in Kumbakonam. The distinguished patron during the tenth century was the
widowed Chola queen, Sembiyan Mahadevi; The well-known dancing figure of Shiva as
Nataraja was evolved and fully developed during the Chola Period and since then many
variations of this complex bronze image have been modelled;

A wide range of Shiva iconography was evolved in the Thanjavur (Tanjore) region of Tamil
Nadu. The ninth century kalyanasundara murti is highly remarkable for the manner in which
Panigrahana (ceremony of marriage) is represented by two separate statuettes; During the
sixteenth century, the Vijayanagara the sculptors experimented with portrait sculpture in
order to preserve knowledge of the royal patron for posterity.Life-size standing portrait statues
were cast in bronze, depicting Krishnadevaraya with his two queens, Tirumalamba and
Chinnadevi. The sculptor has combined the likeness of the facial features with certain
elements of idealisation. The idealisation is further observed in the manner the physical body
is modelled to appear imposing as well as graceful etc.

Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given
issue.

Background:-

The great civilizations of the old world worked in bronze for art, from the time of the
introduction of the alloy for tools and edged weapons.
Indian sculptors had mastered the bronze medium and the casting process as much
as they had mastered terracotta sculpture and carving in stone. The cire-perdu or
‘lost-wax’ process for casting was learnt as long ago as the Indus Valley Culture.
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 Bronze sculptures and statuettes of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain icons have been
discovered from many regions of India dating from the second century until the
sixteenth century. Most of these were used for ritual worship and are characterised
by exquisite beauty and aesthetic appeal.

Bronze casting in India :-

‘Dancing Girl’ from Mohenjodaro is the earliest bronze sculpture datable to 2500 BCE.
Interesting images of Jain tirthankaras have been discovered from Chausa, Bihar,
belonging to the Kushana Period during second century CE. These bronzes show
how the Indian sculptors had mastered the modelling of masculine human physique
and simplified muscles.
Even during Gupta period bronze casting was demonstrated very skillfully.

However bronze casting achieved high stage of development in medieval period:-

Although bronze images were modelled and cast during the Pallava Period in the
eighth and ninth centuries, some of the most beautiful and exquisite statues were
produced during the Chola Period in Tamil Nadu from the tenth to the twelfth
century.
Pallava period:-
Among the Pallava Period bronzes of the eighth century is the icon of Shiva
seated in ardhaparyanka asana (one leg kept dangling).
Chola period:-
Although bronze casting has a long history in south India, a much larger and a
much greater number of bronze sculptures in all sizes ranging from massive to
miniature were cast during the Chola period than before, further attesting to the
importance of bronze sculpture during this period.
Chola bronzes are the most sought- after collectors’ items by art lovers all over
the world.
The well-known dancing figure of Shiva as Nataraja was evolved and fully
developed during the Chola Period and since then many variations of this
complex bronze image have been modelled.
A wide range of Shiva iconography was evolved in the Thanjavur (Tanjore)
region of Tamil Nadu.
The ninth century kalyanasundara murti is highly remarkable for the manner
in which Panigrahana (ceremony of marriage) is represented by two separate
statuettes.
It should be noted that when in worship, these images are bedecked in silk
costumes, garlands, and gem encrusted jewels, befitting the particular avatar
and religious context.
Decorating temple bronzes in this way is a tradition at least a thousand years
old and such decorations are referred to in 10th-century Chola inscriptions.
Vijaynagara period:-
During the sixteenth century, during the Vijayanagar Period in Andhra Pradesh,
the sculptors experimented with portrait sculpture in order to preserve
knowledge of the royal patron for posterity.
At Tirupati, life-size standing portrait statues were cast in bronze, depicting
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 Krishnadevaraya with his two queens, Tirumalamba and Chinnadevi.
The technique and art of fashioning bronze images is still skillfully practised in South
India, particularly in Kumbakonam.

Topic– urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

3) Slums are a natural development of India’s economic and political structure. Do you
agree. Comment. Also discuss why the various slum development strategies in India have
not delivered the required results. (250 words)

Livemint

Why this question

Slums are an omnipresent reality for most of the major cities of India and various efforts have
been made by the government to address the issue. In this context it is essential to understand
the relationship of India’s slums with its political and economical structure and discuss why
the slum development and relocation strategies have not bore the results.

Directive word

Comment- here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an
overall opinion thereupon.

Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the
key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of
the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.

Key demand of the question.

The question wants us to express our opinion as to whether slums are a natural development
of India’s political and economic structure. We have to form our opinion based on a proper
discussion and presentation of valid arguments and facts.

The question also wants us to write in detail as to why various slum development initiatives
and strategies have failed in India.

Structure of the answer

Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the growth of urbanization in India and
the problems this has led to.

Body-

Discuss how slums are a natural development of India’s political and economic
structure. E.g most of the nation is still rural and agriculture dominated; Seasonal nature
of employment in agriculture and various other push and pull factors have led to
migration of poor people from the rural areas and led to slums; urban India’s growth is
built on the back of cheap labour in everything from construction to domestic work.
Various combinations of rent control, opaque and distorted land markets, stifling
regulation and laughably low floor space indexes have resulted in a severe lack of
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 affordable housing in India’s premier cities. Slums are the natural outcome etc.

Discuss why most slum development strategies have failed in India. E.g There are
many hurdles, both major and minor. The lack of adequate data and land titles in slums
meant expensive, time-consuming delays were common. Failure to take slum dweller
representatives on board meant that the informal economic networks underlying the
slum economy would be disrupted by the redevelopment. So would the community
networks that fill the gaps left by missing social safety nets. Lack of common standards
meant that the housing built for slum dwellers was often of execrable quality. As for the
problem of slum dwellers selling or leasing the houses and returning to their previous
housing, poor quality, unaffordable maintenance costs and disrupted networks often
had a role to play here etc.

Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given
issue.

Background:-

Recently the Maharashtra government signed off on the latest initiative regarding
slum development. A special purpose vehicle with 80% private and 20% government
stake to redevelop Dharavi as a whole rather than in separate sub-clusters as
previously envisioned. In this light there is a need to assess the slum d envelopment
strategies in India.

Why are slums natural development of India’s economic and political structure :-

State policies of forced evictions:-

From the 1950s through the 1970s, forced demolition and relocation was
common in various states.
The Maharashtra government’s Maharashtra Vacant Lands Act 1975 was
particularly draconian. Such policies ignore basic economic logic. Internal
migration is a driver of growth and development
Fast pace of urbanization in post-independence India resulted in increased migration
of rural and peri-urban population to cities and towns in search of jobs.
Multiplying to it the natural population growth gradually affected the ability of city
managers to cope up with incremental slum population.
Particularly in an economy like India a large chunk of the rural population is
seasonally employed in agriculture.
Urban India’s growth is built on the back of cheap labour in everything from
construction to domestic work.
Various combinations of rent control, opaque and distorted land markets, stifling
regulation and laughably low floor space indexes have resulted in a severe lack of
affordable housing in India’s premier cities. So Slums are the natural outcome.
Eventually increase in absolute number of slum population suggests that past pro-
poor initiatives had been lacking somewhere and could not contribute to restrain
slum population growth.

Various slum development strategies in India:-

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 In 1970s programmes like the slum rehabilitation programme executed on a large
scale, relocating people to remote corners outside the city and disrupting the lives
and livelihoods of the slum dwellers. These projects proceeded to cause social
disturbance in the slum communities.
Some other programmes are Integrated Low Cost Sanitation Scheme (ILCSS) 1981,
Urban Basic Services Scheme (UBSS) 1986, Urban Basic Services for
the poor (UBSP) 1990, National Slum Development Programme1996, Valmiki
Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAMBAY) 2001 and many more slum rehabilitation
and upgradation programmes. Although having a number of schemes for urban poor
lack of inclusive planning, and incapability of putting them in right order and place
resulted in failure of most of the schemes.
Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP)-a sub-mission of Jawahar Lal Nehru National
Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), 2005 has been a major shift from traditional slum
improvement approach.
JNNURM-has contributed significantly to achieve the objective.
The focus was enlarged to security of tenure, affordability of housing, and
social security along with provision of water, sanitation, health, and education
facility.
It is the first time when beneficiaries are involved as an active stakeholder of
the programme.
Rajiv Awas Yojna (RAY) was unique in many ways.
The Slum redevelopment approach employed here is a milestone shift towards
bridging the gap of exclusion of slum dwellers in various aspects and at various
phases of the slum redevelopment programme; and empowering them to have basic
infrastructure services at par with and integrated to the city.

Failure of India’s slum development strategies is due to the following reasons:

Many projects themselves failed:-

For instance, the World Bank-funded Slum Upgradation Programme, the Slum
Rehabilitation Scheme, rolled out in Maharashtra in 1995 under the Slum
Rehabilitation Authority etc none of them have been successful.
Current slum policies primarily focus on housing, relocation or in-situ
development of multi-storey complexes, which free up swathes of prime real
estate. But in doing so, they miss out on the brewing socio-economic distress
in slums. This was revealed in two projects conducted in Bengaluru and which
could apply to other Indian cities too.
The lack of adequate data and land titles in slums meant expensive, time-consuming
delays were common.
Failure to take slum dweller representatives on board meant that the informal
economic networks underlying slum’s economy would be disrupted by the
redevelopment.
Lack of common standards meant that the housing built for slum dwellers was often
of execrable quality. As for the problem of slum dwellers selling or leasing the
houses and returning to their previous housing, poor quality, unaffordable
maintenance costs and disrupted networks often had a role to play here.
Forced evictions took place:-
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 Millions of poor people, or squatters, have been evicted until late 1980s around
the world in the name of Urban Renewal Projects, most of them (tenants)
without a share in any benefit. Excluding the already excluded poor from
developmental opportunities aggravates the problem.
Tiers of slums:-
Many cities across India has two tiers of slums those with official government
recognition and those without, and the JNNURM did not push cities hard
enough to directly intervene in slum areas without recognition.

Way forward :-

Redevelopment plans need to take slum residents on board and addresses the
socioeconomic fallout of relocation:-
Once the beneficiaries’ perception is adjudged and participation is ensured,
issue identification and prioritization for decision making will be more
subjective as well as effective. Above all, integrity of governance for
slum redevelopment surely led to sustainable environment management.
Instead of forced evictions, authorities should plan an in-situ upgrading approach.
Easy financing and loaning options at affordable interest rates for upgrading,
building and extension of the existing shelter should be made available.
Management of urban environment through redevelopment of slums should take an
integrated, inclusive, and participatory approach that primarily needs understanding
of capabilities, choices, and willingness of slum dwellers along with
strong commitment of governance to create and maintain conductive environment.
Management approach must consider location specific all the possible and
innovative alternatives for slums redevelopment and future development. A
comparative impact analysis between physical environment and socio
economical environment may guide in prioritization of issues that could lead to a
sustainable plan of action through participatory and inclusive planning.
Adequate data:-
India must get concrete figures on these temporary and semi-permanent
settlements.
Slums have a fluid definition and legal pedanticism leads to exclusion of
people. The 2011 Census estimated 65 million people in slums, a marked
shortfall from the UN-HABITAT’s 2014 estimation of 104 million. This needs
clarification.

Topic –Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture
from ancient to modern times.

4) The lofty mountains on the north-west of the Indian subcontinent served more as
channels of economic, political and cultural exchange than as barriers, as often claimed.
Discuss. (250 words)

Early India by Romila Thapar; Landscapes and Peoples

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 Directive word

Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the
key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of
the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.

Key demand of the question.

The question wants us to write in detail about the north-western lofty mountain ranges and
why they were important channels of communication rather than barriers to exchange.

Structure of the answer

Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the Indian subcontinent and its historical
association with the lofty Himalayas on the north, northwest and northeast.

Body- Discuss how the northwestern lofty mountain passages acted as channels of
communication and exchange. E.g mention the Gomal, Bolan, khyber pass; mention that due
to low height as compared to the mighty north himalayas, they remained open for most of the
year; mention the pastoralists of central asia and Afghanistan who used the pass regularly;
the Indo-Aryans; missionaries from Persia; Trade caravans; Armies; Shakas; KUshans;
Parthians; Alexander’s army etc. Mention and discuss in detail about the use of the north-
west mountain passes

Also discuss to what extent they acted as barriers to exchange.

Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given
issue.

Background:-

The northern mountains have been described in the past as a barrier to

communication that isolates northern India from Asia. But in effect they were
rarely barriers and the north-west of the subcontinent was in continuous
communication with peoples and places in western and central Asia.
It was almost as if such communication focused on the passes in the north-western
mountains and intensified cross-cultural activities.

Significance:-

The Hindu Kush is also a watershed, an elevated area that provides the
geographical interface between the Oxus and the Indus Valleys. When seen from this
perspective it ceases to be the barrier cutting off access to central Asia which it was
once thought to be.
Less snow bound:-
The passes in the north-west mountains, although arid, were less snow-bound
than those of the higher Himalaya and therefore more frequently used.
These included the Bolan, Gomal and Khyber passes. The fertile Swat Valley
formed another route, as did the Hunza and Upper Indus Valley.
Political:-

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 The Khyber played an important role in the British attempt to
control Afghanistan and contain the Russian presence in the nineteenth
century, and has therefore been much romanticized in literature, becoming the
focus of historical attention.
Bolan may have been the more important route in the earliest period. It led to
the Seistan area and the Helmand valley in Afghanistan, which in turn gave
access to north-eastern Iran and central Asia.
The Swat Valley attracted attention in modern histories because of
its connections with the route of Alexander of Macedon.
The junction of the Khyber pass with the plain forms an area
particularly sensitive to the politics and trade of the local regions.
Economic:-
Pastoralists arriving from and returning to Afghanistan, or even central Asia,
travelled regularly through the passes and the valleys.
They continued to do so until a few years ago, as did immigrants coming from
central Asia, Iran or Afghanistan, or large groups of Indians trading and settling
in these distant places.
Missionaries from Persia, caravans of merchants and, from time to time,
invading armies used the same routes. Settlements at both ends point to the
importance of controlling the passes.
These passes were corridors of communication:-
Contact with what are now referred to as central Asia, Iran and Afghanistan
goes back to the third millennium BC, the period of the Indus cities, and the
passes are likely to have been used by people in even earlier times.
Cultural:-
There was a historical continuity of peoples entering northern India, such as
with the migrations of the Indo-Aryan speakers, sporadically with the armies of
Alexander of Macedon and more consistently with the Indo-Greeks, Parthians,
Shakas, Kushanas, Hunas and Turks.
The most regular movements were those of herders and of trading caravans.
Many Sufi saints, artists travelled to India .
Scientific knowledge of Indians, Arabs was exchanged as these passes were
the path of travel to the Western Asian countries.
The Hindu Kush and nearby regions gradually converted to Buddhism by the
1st century CE, and this region was the base from where Buddhism crossed
the Hindu Kush expanding into the Oxus valley region of Central Asia

To what extent these ranges were considered a barrier:-

Alexander army could not cross these ranges and enter India.
The Hindu Kush served as a geographical barrier to the British empire, leading to
paucity of information and scarce direct interaction between the British colonial
officials and Central Asian peoples.

Topic– Part of static series under the heading – “salient features of Indian society and
diversity”

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5) There is an emerging trend where we are witnessing many dominant and Landholding
castes asking for backward reservation. Examine.(250 words)

Key demand of the question

The question basically talks about the phenomenon of dominant castes asking for reservations
such as the Jats, Marathas, Gujjars etc. We need to discuss the reasons why this is so and
whether giving them reservations is going to solve whatever issues they are facing. We need
to conclude with a way forward.

Directive word

Examine – When you are asked to examine, you have to probe deeper into the topic, get into
details, and find out the causes or implications if any .

Structure of the answer

Introduction – Mention that there is a growing trend of dominant castes asking for
reservations and give some examples such as Patels in Gujarat, Jats in Haryana, Marathis in
Maharashtra and Kapus in Andhra Pradesh.

Body

Discuss the reasons why they are asking for reservations

Agricultural distress

Crippled urban economy leading to lesser number of jobs availability

Successful quota system

Political support as they are the “dominant caste” as defined by MN Srinivas

Examine whether giving them reservations would solve the issue

Mere inclusion in OBC list will not address structural deficiencies in the caste system
and the societal hold it enjoys. This will lead to demand for reservation by more castes.

Already we are seeing in several areas that even within reservation, there is a stiff
competition

Etc

Discuss the way forward

Rethinking the idea of reservation

Fulfill the real purpose of reservation which was substantive equality

Etc

Conclusion – It is high time that we rethink the idea of reservation. The revised idea of
reservation should ideally exclude creamy layer, develop capabilities of deprived section.

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Background:-

People from various middle castes like Patels in Gujarat, Jats in Haryana, Marathis in
Maharashtra and Kapus in Andhra Pradesh have been demanding for reservation.
This is an emerging trend where India is witnessing many dominant and landholding
castes asking for backward reservation.

Why many landholding castes are demanding reservation :-

Farmer’s distress :-
There is tremendous amount of Farmer distress in Countryside in last few
years due to agrarian crisis. Since most of these communities are landed
agrarian caste, they are facing the brunt of agriculture slowdown.
Crippled urban economy:-
Due to less number of jobs created in the economy, dominant castes who are
turning away from agriculture have very less opportunities to get job in private
sector and thus only option left for them is government jobs, however there
general status is making the competition tough for them. Therefore they are
asking for reservation.
Resentment against other OBC communities:-
Due to social, economic and political disparity between these groups and the
groups who are already OBCs, these castes want them to be given OBC status.
Successful quota system:
Due to reservation the representation of OBCs in government jobs has
increased significantly in last few years which has made these castes envy of
these other OBC community and therefore motivated them to demand for
reservation.
Political support:-
Most of this dominant caste are electorally and politically very powerful in that
state, and they get support from opposition parties for vote bank politics
Most of the landowning castes have a large share in the state’s population, they own
large tracts of land and have enjoyed dominance in the realm of politics. But this
traditional dominance is being threatened in the new economic order where
educations and jobs matter more than farm incomes.
Demands for reservation by dominant communities such as Marathas, Jats and
Patidars is increasing due to the perception that real economic power is
increasingly shifting from rural areas to big corporations, which are often backed by
the state, while they themselves are ill-prepared to shift towards the urban and formal
sector.
Reservation has ceased to be a tool for social justice. It is now being increasingly
seen as the only tool available for upward social mobility.
Apart from the gap in education, there is very little to differentiate the peasant
castes from the upper castes.

Why providing reservation to these dominant castes is not the solution:-

Mere inclusion in OBC list will not address structural deficiencies in the caste
system and the societal hold it enjoys. This will lead to demand for reservation by
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 more castes.
Even in OBC list these castes will have to face stiff competition and not to mention
opposition from other OBC castes, resistance among higher castes. Without
education, mere inclusion will just give short term benefits.
There also arises the problem of correct evaluation and inclusion of deserving
castes as to see who are the real people who deserve to be benefited from the
reservation policy of the government.
Other challenge is the possibility of a domino effect with other upper-caste groups
and dominant sub-castes (or jatis) also demanding quotas for the economically
weaker sections.
Precipitous decline in public jobs, a stagnant private investment scenario has
become the reason for using reservations as a tool to get back to normalcy. It only
generates a sense of being a false stabiliser amid a gloomy economy.
An overwhelming amount of evidence suggests that these communities are not the
most marginalised in their respective states. Additionally, these jatis have
consolidated their advantage over the marginalised groups and have narrowed gaps
with the dominant groups in their respective states between 2004–05 and 2011–12.

Way forward:-

The whole idea of reservation was to provide for substantive equality, i.e., to make
the condition of those who were historically disadvantaged better so that they can
lead a good life. But, with time, the rich and privileged took more benefits than those
who needed.
At a time, when there is a demand for reservation from dominant caste, India needs
to ensure that it creates a better version of reservation which includes the poor and
backward and excludes rich and dominating sections.
Before, extending reservation to more groups, the entire reservation policy needs to
be revisited. These efforts should be coupled with a vigorous national effort to
provide opportunities to the disadvantaged.

Topic – Indian Geography: Issues

6) Critically analyze the need for multiple time zones in India?(250 words)

Indian express

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 Why this question

The debate over the need to have multiple time zones in India has always been there
considering India’s vast longitudinal extent. However, a recent report by CSIR – NPL itself
argues for having two time zones in India which means the topic needs to be prepared.

Key demand of the question

The question expects us to first explain what is meant by multiple time zones – the basic
geography behind it. Thereafter, we need to discuss the proposal of CSIR – NPL and analyze
its pros and cons. Finally, we need to give a fair and balanced opinion and discuss way
forward.

Directive word

Critically analyze – When asked to analyze, you have to examine methodically the structure
or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a
summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, all you need to do is look at
the good and bad of something and give a fair judgement.

Structure of the answer

Introduction – Explain in brief how time is maintained.

Body – First, discuss the proposal of CSIR NPL. Thereafter discuss the pros and cons of such
a move. Eg on the pros side, we can discuss energy savings etc. On the cons side, one can talk
about the practicality of such a solution.

Conclusion – Based on arguments made above, we need to provide a fair and balanced
opinion and discuss way forward.

Background:-

Recently Scientists at the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research’s National

Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), which maintains Indian Standard Time, have
published a research article describing the necessity of two time zones, with the new
one an hour ahead of the existing time zone.
The research paper proposes to call the two time zones IST-I (UTC + 5.30 h) and IST-
II (UTC + 6.30 h). The proposed line of demarcation is at 89°52’E, the narrow border
between Assam and West Bengal.
States west of the line would continue to follow IST (to be called IST-I).
States east of the line i.e.., Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunanchal Pradesh,
Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar Islands —would follow IST-II

Why multiple time zones are needed in India :-

Benefits to North eastern states:-

Since the sun rises earlier in North-Eastern India, workers in some sectors who
make an early start, such as tea gardens and the petroleum industry, already
follow an alternative system of time.
For instance tea gardens follow ‘Bagan Time’ or ‘Tea Garden Time’, which
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 is an hour ahead of IST.
Improved efficiency and productivity if the North-Eastern states can make
better use of their daylight hours, which start sooner and end earlier than in
other parts of the country.
Experts argue that by shifting the clocks forward people in these states can
make optimum use of their natural daylight hours, and also make best use of
energy resources.
To make better use of both capital and human resources in the North East .
Single time zone is causing the loss of many daylight hours by the time offices
or educational institutions open, and that early sunset, for its part, leads to
higher consumption of electricity.
Separate time zones would not just increase work efficiency, it would also
boost up the local economy.
International examples:-
Experts cite the case of countries such as Russia, Canada and the USA, that
have multiple time zones to optimize the use of daylight and minimize energy
consumption.
Economic:-
This move can lead to country’s potential savings in energy consumption 20
million kWh a year if it does follow two time zones.

Arguments against two separate time zones :-

Historical:
India originally had two time zones, while under British rule. These were
Bombay Time and Calcutta Time. However after Indian gained independence a
standard time zone was introduced in order to facilitate coordination across
the country.
Difficult to follow:-
Farmers and cattle would be the worst-hit as they would take the longest time
to adjust and change the setting of their body clocks.
Lack of coordination:-
Separate time zones would also cause a lack of coordination between different
parts of the densely populated country and cause obstacles in running the
railways.
Experts cite impracticability particularly the risk of railway accidents, given the
need to reset times at every crossing from one time zone into another.
With a time difference of one hour in the mornings and in the evenings, there would
be nearly 25% less overlap between office timings in the two zones. This could be
important for banks, offices, industries and multinational companies which need to
be constantly interconnected. This will be further detrimental to productivity and to
the interests of the eastern region.
There is already a sense of alienation between the relatively prosperous and
industrialised western zone and the less developed eastern zon
The people in the Northeast sense a distance from the mainland and a
separateness in clock time may accentuate it.
Grant of a different time zone is only the first temporal step towards conceding
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 spatial autonomy.
Committee set up in 2002 did not recommend two time zones because of the
complexities involved,

Way forward:-

Another alternative:-
One proposal is to introduce neither time zones nor DST, but to advance IST by
half an hour to being six hours ahead of GMT, once and permanently. Such a
suggestion has been made before, but until now no one has computed the
energy savings that would accrue as a result using a correct model and
dependable data.
This proposal of advancing IST by half an hour avoids the problems
apprehended in the other two proposals (of time zones and DST) but provides
maximum energy saving during evening hours when the utilities fail to supply
continuous power.
It is now time to initiate a process of consultation to consider all sides of the
question afresh. General Studies – 2

Topic: Indian Polity : Issues

7) It is trite to say that there must exist a balance between the freedom of expression and
the right to reputation. In this light, critically analyze India’s defamation laws?(250 words)

The hindu

Why this question

Criminal defamation complaint is again in the news, courtesy the metoo movement, where the
rich and powerful have again used this tool to preserve their “reputation”. While the SC last
year, had upheld the validity of criminal defamation laws, the misuse of the law by the rich
and powerful as a means of coercion is problematic and needs to be discussed.

Key demand of the question

The question expects us to bring out the conflict between the need to protect reputation which
is done using the defamation laws and the need to protect freedom of speech, which is
threatened by defamation laws. The question expects us to bring out the pros and cons of
having a defamation law like India does and give a fair and balanced opinion on whether a
change is required.

Directive word

Critically analyze – When asked to analyze, you have to examine methodically the structure
or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a
summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, all you need to do is look at
the good and bad of something and give a fair judgement.

Structure of the answer

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 Introduction – Explain in brief about India’s defamation laws and an overview of the debate
surrounding it.

Body

Explain what it meant by the statement in question – why maintaining a balance is

necessary.

Discuss the issues with having a strict defamation law and how it stifles freedom of
expression

unlike many other countries, defamation in India is a criminal offence (and not just a
civil wrong), and a conviction entails both social stigma and potential jail time.

Second, there is a very low threshold for a prima facie case of defamation to be
established by a complainant. Simply put, he must only show that an “imputation” has
been made that could reasonably be interpreted as harming his reputation.

while in a civil defamation case, a defendant need only show that her statement was true
in order to escape liability, in a criminal defamation proceeding, an accused must show
that her statement was true and in the public interest. This leads to the paradoxical
situation where our legal system is more advantageous towards those at the receiving
end of civil defamation proceedings, and harsher towards those who have to go through
the criminal process!

Discuss why having strict defamation laws are necessary – Can give the arguments
given by the 2 judge bench while declaring section 499 as constitutional

Discuss the problem in the present context , in light of Metoo allegations and the use of
criminal defamation to silence the victims.

Conclusion – Give a fair and balanced opinion and discuss way forward.

Background:-

Defamation exists as a particular interface between two rights – expression and

reputation. Major risks exist whereby defamation law and policy can violate
expression, and the need in many places is to establish frameworks for legitimate
limitations, at least in national offline space

Why there is a need for balance between freedom of expression and right to reputation:-

No legal system can allow false and slanderous statements to be made publicly, with
impunity. Defamation law is the tool that is used to strike the balance . But it is the
shape and the form of defamation law that often determines whether the balance
has been struck appropriately, or whether, in the guise of protecting reputation, the
freedom of speech and expression has been effectively stifled.
The right to free speech cannot be read to mean that one citizen can defame
another. The theory of balancing of rights in the particular context of the fundamental
right to speech and expression alludes to the imperative need for protecting the
human dignity of an individual.
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 The theory of balancing of rights dictates that along with the right to freedom of
speech and expression, there is a correlative duty on citizens not to interfere with
the liberty of others, as everyone is entitled to the dignity of person and of reputation.
Freedom of expression cannot be taken as something that should always trump the
right to
However, what has been made very clear by the UN Human Rights Committee, is that
any balancing should maintain the essence of all the rights involved, to the greatest
extent possible.

How India’s defamation laws stifle freedom of expression:-

India’s criminal defamation law is seen as a law to stifle freedom of expression. A

colonial relic introduced by the British regime to suffocate political criticism, Section
499 of the Indian Penal Code provides an ideal weapon for powerful individuals to
silence critical or inconvenient speech.
Unlike many other countries, defamation in India is a criminal offence and a
conviction entails both social stigma and potential jail time.
There is a very low threshold for a prima facie case of defamation to be established
by a complainant.
Even the defences open to an accused are insufficiently protective of speech , to an
extent that is even less than what civil defamation allows.
For example, while in a civil defamation case, a defendant need only show that
her statement was true in order to escape liability, in a criminal defamation
proceeding, an accused must show that her statement was true and in the
public interest.
This leads to the paradoxical situation where Indian legal system is more
advantageous towards those at the receiving end of civil defamation
proceedings, and harsher towards those who have to go through the criminal
process.
Powerful men are allowed to use the law to silence this new mode of public
expression.
Criminal defamation is weaponised to restore the old status quo, and preserve
and perpetuate the hierarchies that the #MeToo movement has challenged.

But sometimes right to reputation cannot be compromised because:-

Right to reputation is part of one of the most important fundamental rights to life
and personal liberty and cannot be “crucified” for the freedom of speech and
expression, the Supreme Court said while upholding validity of 156-year-old penal
laws on defamation.
Reputation of one cannot be allowed to be crucified at the altar of the others right of
free speech.
Once it is held that reputation of an individual is a basic element of Article 21 (right to
life and personal liberty) of the Constitution and balancing of fundamental rights is a
constitutional necessity and further the legislature in its wisdom has kept the penal
provision alive, it is extremely difficult to subscribe to the view that criminal
defamation has a chilling effect on the freedom of speech and expression

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Way forward:-

Example from other countries:-

US Supreme Court responded in one of the most famous judgments in its
history, New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964), it substantially modified
defamation law to ensure that it could no longer be used as a tool of
harassment and blackmail. India need to emulate this.
Indian judiciary :-
There are enough ways to judicially interpret Section 499 to ensure that it no
longer remains the tool of the powerful to blackmail, harass, and silence
inconvenient speech.

General Studies – 4

Topic– Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in
human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human
Values.

8) Nearly boundless scope of AI technology poses several ethical challenges before us.
DIscuss.(250 words)

Reference

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 Directive word

Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the
key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of
the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.

Key demand of the question.

The question wants us to write in detail about the ethical challenges posed by Artificial
Intelligence before humanity.

Structure of the answer

Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the potential applications of AI and the
rate at which AI technology is evolving.

Body-

Discuss in paras the ethical challenges posed by AI. e.g

Unemployment. What happens after the end of jobs?

Inequality. How do we distribute the wealth created by machines?

Humanity. How do machines affect our behaviour and interaction?

Artificial stupidity.

Racist robots. How do we eliminate AI bias?

Security. How do we keep AI safe from adversaries

Evil genies. How do we protect against unintended consequences?

Singularity. How do we stay in control of a complex intelligent system?

Robot rights. How do we define the humane treatment of AI?

Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given
issue.

Background :-

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been implemented and is delivering on its promise at
least at large companies including Facebook, Google, and Netflix. Retailers are using
AI-powered robots in their warehouses, Utilities use AI to forecast electricity demand,
Automakers are using AI for autonomous cars, and Financial Services companies are
using AI to better understand their customers, look for potential fraud, and to identify
new products/services customers will want.
By using artificial intelligence, a company can drastically cut down on relying on the
human workforce, and this means that revenues will go to fewer people.

However boundless cope of AI technology poses several ethical challenges:-

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 Humans have attributes that AI systems might not be able to authentically possess,
such as compassion. AI currently is unable to replicate, such as contexual knowledge
and the ability to read social cues.
Reliability and safety
AI could make errors and, if an error is difficult to detect or has knock-on effects, this
could have serious implications.
Transparency and accountability
It can be difficult or impossible to determine the underlying logic that generates
the outputs produced by AI.
Machine learning technologies can be particularly opaque because of the way
they continuously tweak their own parameters and rules as they learn.
This creates problems for validating the outputs of AI systems, and identifying
errors or biases in the data.
Data bias, fairness, and equity
Although AI applications have the potential to reduce human bias and error,
they can also reflect and reinforce biases in the data used to train them.
Concerns have been raised about the potential of AI to lead to discrimination
in ways that may be hidden or which may not align with legally protected
characteristics, such as gender, ethnicity, disability, and age.
Effects on patients
Concerns have been raised about a loss of human contact and increased social
isolation if AI technologies are used to replace staff or family time with
patients.
Effects on healthcare professionals
Healthcare professionals may feel that their autonomy and authority is
threatened if their expertise is challenged by AI.
The ethical obligations of healthcare professionals towards individual patients
might be affected by the use of AI decision support systems
Malicious use of AI
While AI has the potential to be used for good, it could also be used for
malicious purposes. For example, there are fears that AI could be used
for covert surveillance or screening.
The question of who is responsible when AI is used to support decision-making;
difficulties in validating the outputs of AI systems, securing public trust in the
development and use of AI technologies etc are other ethical issues.

Copyright (C) INSIGHTS ACTIVE LEARNING

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