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Insta Secure Synopsis for IAS Mains 2023

The document provides a detailed summary of the Insta Secure Synopsis for GS Paper 1 to be held in December 2023. It outlines the key topics to be covered in the exam related to Indian culture, India's freedom struggle, post-independence developments, society, role of women, urbanization, social issues, physical geography, geophysical phenomena, and environmental changes.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

33 views89 pages

Insta Secure Synopsis for IAS Mains 2023

Uploaded by

sudarshan singh

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Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

INSIGHTSIAS

IA SIMPLIFYING IAS EXAM PREPARATION

INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

MAINS MISSION 2023

GS- I

DECEMBER 2023

www.insightsactivelearn.com | www.insightsonindia.com
INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

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.

Table of Contents
Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to
modern times. ................................................................................................................................... 6
Preserving UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India requires a comprehensive and sustainable
approach that goes beyond mere conservation efforts. Elaborate. (250 words).......................... 6
With the rise in global travel options, India is confronted with competition from other countries
that offer similar attractions. Continuous innovation and differentiation are required to
emphasize its rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and historical landmarks in order to
stand out in the global tourism market. Discuss. (250 words) ...................................................... 8
Showcasing lesser-known tourist attractions of historical and cultural importance and
celebrating their intangible heritage is crucial to the overall well-being of both the cultural
heritage and the people associated with it. Discuss. (250 words) ............................................... 12
The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different
parts of the country. ........................................................................................................................ 15
How did the revolutionary movement evolve under Bhagat Singh? Elaborate upon his idea of
‘revolution’. (250 words) ............................................................................................................ 15
The Act of 1935 laid the groundwork for India’s eventual transition to independence and its
constitutional development. Examine. (250 words) ................................................................... 18
Discuss the contributions of C. Rajagopalachari to the Indian independence movement and post-
independence India. (250 words) ............................................................................................... 20
Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. ....................................... 22

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INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

The partition of India had far-reaching consequences, impacting the socio-economic, political,
and cultural dimensions of both nations. The scars of partition continue to shape the historical
narrative and the complex relationships in the region. Examine. (250 words) ........................... 22
India intervened in the conflict between East and West Pakistan on moral and humanitarian
grounds, witnessing the massive humanitarian crisis unfolding in East Pakistan. Examine the
causes of Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 and reasons which led to India’s victory in it. (250
words) ......................................................................................................................................... 24
Throw light on the Instrument of Accession through which Jammu and Kashmir became a part
of India. What were the resultant issues that were the outcome of Kashmir’s accession to India?
(250 words) ................................................................................................................................. 27
Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. ........................................................................ 29
The Kashi-Tamil Sangamam serves as a symbolic representation of India’s rich cultural diversity
and the unity that underlies within the concept of ‘Ek Bharat Sreshtha Bharat’ emphasizing the
unity of the country despite its linguistic, cultural, and regional variations. Elaborate. (250
words) ......................................................................................................................................... 29
Role of women and women’s organization; population and associated issues, poverty and
developmental issues, ..................................................................................................................... 31
With Indian becoming world’s most populous nation in 2023, it offers opportunities as well as
poses a lot of concerns. It will depend on how the government frames policies and strategies to
effectively unleash the full potential of its young people. Analyse. (250 words) ........................ 31
Urbanization, their problems and their remedies............................................................................. 34
Assess the vulnerability of India to earthquakes. Discuss the factors that have led to an increase
in the number of earthquakes in the country. (250 words)......................................................... 34
The integration of climate considerations into urban development is imperative for creating
cities that are resilient, sustainable, and capable of adapting to a changing climate. Examine.
(250 words) ................................................................................................................................. 37
Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism. ..................................................... 39
What do you understand by gender inequality? The need of the hour is to enact and enforce
laws that further promote gender equality in areas such as employment, education, and
healthcare to combat gender inequality. Examine. (250 words). ................................................ 39
Hate speech has the potential to escalate into real-world violence and conflict. Clear legal
frameworks can act as a deterrent and provide a basis for holding individuals accountable for
promoting hate and intolerance. Analyse. (250 words) .............................................................. 42
What factors contribute to the decline in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR)? Evaluate the difficulties
that India faces as its fertility rate decreases in a thorough manner. (250 words) ...................... 45
Addressing gender-based violence and challenging entrenched patriarchal norms in India indeed
requires an efficient state intervention. Examine. (250 words) .................................................. 48
Explain the factors contributing to the communalization of society and elaborate on the actions
necessary to foster unity and acceptance among individuals. (250 words) ................................ 51
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, sets a legal framework for the protection and
promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in India. However, ensuring
accessible infrastructure remains a challenge. Analyse. (250 words).......................................... 55

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Salient features of world’s physical geography. ............................................................................... 59

How is smog formed? Examine its impact in detail and ways to mitigate it. (150 words) ........... 59
Explain the various factors that are responsible for varying vertical and latitudinal distribution of
temperature of the oceans. (250 words)..................................................................................... 62
What are the various factors that affect the formation of Savanna type of climate? Examine the
various threats to Savanna biomes. (250 words) ........................................................................ 64
How are air masses classified? Explain the process of formation of air masses? What is the
impact of air mases on weather across the world? (250 words) ................................................. 66
Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,
geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-
bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. .................................. 69
El Niño is often associated with a weakening of the Indian monsoon, which is critical for
agriculture in the country. Analyse. (250 words) ........................................................................ 69
As global temperatures rise, permafrost is thawing at an accelerated rate, leading to a variety of
environmental, social, and economic consequences. Examine. (250 words) .............................. 72
Explain the process of how volcanoes are created and their types. Why is Iceland so volcanically
active? (250 words) ..................................................................................................................... 74
The world’s glaciers are shrinking at a faster rate than before. Discuss in detail the impact of
glacial melt across the World. (250 words) ................................................................................. 77
Factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various
parts of the world (including India). ................................................................................................. 81
Agglomeration industries have been analyzed in the literature as drivers of economic growth, as
these contribute to productivity enhancement. Elaborate on the reasons as to why firms
agglomerate? (250 words) .......................................................................................................... 81
Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-
continent); ...................................................................................................................................... 84
Describe in detail the process of rat hole mining and explain the challenges linked to this
practice. (250 words) .................................................................................................................. 84

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Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and
Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Preserving UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India requires a comprehensive and
sustainable approach that goes beyond mere conservation efforts. Elaborate. (250
words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Down to Earth , Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper –1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the role played by the UNESCO world heritage sites in conservation efforts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing the objectives of UNESCOs world heritage sites (WHS).
Body:
In the detail, write about the issues faced by sites having cultural, historical and scientific significance
in present day – poor conservation, negligence, encroachment etc.
Next, write about the measures taken by UNESCOs WHS in order to overcome the above.
Next, write about the successes and criticism of UNESCOs WHS programmes. Substantiate with
examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

A World Heritage site is classified as a natural or man-made area or a structure that is of

international importance, and a space which requires special protection. These sites are officially
recognised by the UN and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, also
known as UNESCO. UNESCO believes that the sites classified as World Heritage are important for
humanity, and they hold cultural and physical significance. They are protected under a international
treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage,
adopted by UNESCO in 1972.

Body

Types:
1. Cultural heritage sites include historic buildings and town sites, important archaeological
sites, and works of monumental sculpture or painting.
2. Natural heritage sites are restricted to natural areas.
3. Mixed heritage sites contain elements of both natural and cultural significance.

Role of UNESCO in context of World Heritage Sites

 It seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural
heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
 This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection
of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.
 The most significant feature of the 1972 World Heritage Convention is that it links together
the concepts of nature conservation and the preservation of cultural properties in a single
document.

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 The Convention recognizes the way in which people interact with nature, and the
fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two.

Threats to Indian Art Heritage:

 Theft: The incidents of thefts have been observed usually from unprotected monuments,
ancient temples. The thefts cases have also been seen in the protected monuments and
museums as well. It is due to negligence of security guards in museums, monuments etc.
 Smuggling: illicit traffic and smuggling in antiquities. Illicit traffic is motivated often by profit
and sometimes by the demand for luxuries.
 Tourism: Unregulated tourism, tourist activities run by touts, private agents have affected
the art heritage places. For instance, the Culture Ministry of India has reported that up to 24
Indian monuments have been declared “untraceable” or “missing” by the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI).
 Issues with security of museums: Most of the museums are poorly guarded due to shortage
of manpower leading to theft of artefacts, fire accidents etc.
 Lack of public awareness: This leads to poor maintenance, vandalism, spoiling the
monuments artefacts. Replacing the structures or building structures close to the
monuments leading to
 Duplication: Fakes of paintings and art forms leading to threat to livelihoods of artists.
 Poor Maintenance: The state of the wall paintings in Ajanta caves is continuously getting
worse, which can be attributed to humidity as well as to a lack of care.
 Encroachment of monuments: Another miss from the ministry has been encroachments of
monuments. For instance in India, over 278 centrally protected monuments have been
encroached upon or have illegal occupants, as per government data.

Way forward

 Cultural awareness:
o Curriculum modification – Identification and inclusion of heritage as an asset in
school, Open departments of Heritage management on the lines of Ahmedabad
University
o Introduction of a compulsory offline and online training for tourism purposes willing
to undertake ventures.
o Heritage depiction and promotion through immersive technology & augmented
reality
o Re-Classify heritage and announce awards for people with exceptional heritage
sense.
o Greater involvement of universities in schemes promoting arts and culture as well as
inclusion of Fine Arts as a subject in universities.
 Adaptive reuse of heritage sites:
o Restoring the historical sites in the form of festivals and inducing festivity link
perceptions.
o Recognizing ‘cultural heritage tourism’ as an upcoming industry by building cultural
resources with an adaptation of scientific and technological knowledge to local
circumstances as well as forming partnerships between local and global bodies.
 Strengthening Legislations and Initiatives:
o The Antiquity Act of 1947, Antiquities and Art Treasures Act of 1972 particularly
provide for the prevention of smuggling and illegally dealing in antiques.

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o Recent bill to amend The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains
Act which allowed construction within 100m of the protected monuments should be
avoided.
o In 2015, the ministry launched an initiative of e-ticketing services in over 116
monuments under the ASI and launched an initiative to digitise cultural resources.
 Strengthening institutions:
o The CAG report on Preservation and Conservation of Monuments and Antiques
clearly indicates that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for this purpose needs
to be more proactive and vigilant in its efforts and the ministry needs to develop an
aggressive strategy for the same
o Tapping of the Public —Private Partnership models for sustenance of Arts and
Crafts.
o Setting up at least one museum in each district with different chambers for visual
and other forms of art, architecture, science, history and geography with regional
flavour.
o Artistes from the field of architecture, sculpture, painting, handicrafts, puppetry,
music, dance, theatre, and literature will be graded by the Centre on the basis of
their performance.

Conclusion

It is the duty of every citizen to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture. The
art and culture of our nation are a vast continuum, evolving incessantly since time immemorial.
Naturally, preservation and conservation of India’s rich cultural heritage and promotion of all forms
of art and culture, both tangible and intangible, including monuments and archaeological sites,
anthropology and ethnology, folk and tribal arts, literature and handicrafts, performing art of music-
dance-drama and visual arts of paintings-sculpture-graphics is essential and assumes a lot of
importance.

With the rise in global travel options, India is confronted with competition from other
countries that offer similar attractions. Continuous innovation and differentiation are
required to emphasize its rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and historical
landmarks in order to stand out in the global tourism market. Discuss. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
An international war has broken out to attract post-pandemic travellers that we ought to join in
earnest. Our current tourist arrivals are well below the potential of a country that offers Himalayan
retreats, medieval palaces and backwater cruises.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the potential of tourism sector in India and the steps that India needs to take to boost
tourism in the country.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving statistic related to tourism in India.

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Body:
First, write about the status of tourism in India. Give facts and figures related to revenue and forex
earnings, tourist footfalls.
Next, highlight the areas where work is needed in the tourism sector– security, infrastructure,
connectivity and so on.
Next, discuss the steps that need to be taken still to fill in the gaps and attract tourism in the country
amidst global competition.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

Every region in India is identified with its handicraft, fairs, folk dances, music and its people. Hence,
India is a country with a great potential for tourism. The tourism industry employs a large number of
people, both skilled and unskilled. It promotes national integration and international brotherhood.
There is no other country in the world which offers such a wide choice of destinations like India.

An international war has broken out to attract post-pandemic travellers that we ought to join in
earnest. Our current tourist arrivals are well below the potential of a country that offers Himalayan
retreats, medieval palaces and backwater cruises.

Body

Tourism Status in India

 In the Pre- pandemic times, tourism sector contributed ~US$ 250 billion in 2018 to India’s
GDP.

 It crumbled down to US$ 122 billion in 2020 due to pandemic.

 The share of Tourism to GDP has hovered around ~5-6%. With post-pandemic recovery, the
tourism industry is expected to reach US$ 512 billion by 2028.

 In 2020, the Indian tourism sector accounted for 39 million jobs, which was 8% of the total
employment in the country. By 2029, it is expected to account for about 53 million jobs.

 India ranked 34th in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019 published by the
World Economic Forum.

 Data show that domestic tourism has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, even exceeding it in
some cases. This is evident in a record 1.84 crore domestic tourists visiting Jammu and
Kashmir in 2022

Positive effects of Tourism in India

 Employment generation: Tourism sector provides diverse opportunities for jobs like in
hospitality/hotels/accommodation, transportation, tour guides, travel operations etc.
 Revenue Generation: Tourism contributes 6.23% to the national GDP and 9.3% of the total
employment in India. More than 20 million people are now working in the India’s tourism
industry.

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tourism and hospitality is expected to earn US$ 50.9 billion as visitor exports compared with
US$ 28.9 billion in 2018.

 Preservation of National Heritage and Environment:Tourism helps preserve several places

 Developing Infrastructure:Tourism tends to encourage the development of multiple-use

infrastructure that benefits the host community, including various means of transports,
health care facilities and sports centers, in addition to the hotels and high-end restaurants
that cater to foreign visitors. The development of infrastructure has in turn induced the
development of other directly productive activities.

 Promoting Peace and Stability:The tourism industry can also help promote peace and
stability in developing country like India by providing jobs, generating income, diversifying
the economy, protecting the environment and promoting cross-cultural awareness.
However, key challenges like adoption of regulatory frameworks, mechanisms to reduce
crime and corruption, etc, must be addressed if peace-enhancing benefits from this industry
are to be realized.

Measures needed to boost Tourism sector

 Infrastructure: The Government has been increasing investments in strengthening of the

country’s road and rail networks and promoting port development is a significant driver for
the growth of the Tourism sector. The Adarsh Station Schemeis helping modernize railway
stations, while the Regional Connectivity Scheme – UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), is
helping make air travel more economical and widespread to hitherto unserved routes.
The Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes aim to stimulate growth in niche tourism
segments such as religious, heritage, wellness, medical, adventure, MICE, wildlife etc. Under
the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, the Government has launched several theme based circuits
like Buddhist circuit which covers destinations associated with the life of Lord Buddha.

 Promotional Campaign: Promotional activities such as the Incredible India 2.0campaign

focuses on niche tourism products including yoga, wellness, luxury, cuisine wildlife among
others. “Find the Incredible You” Campaign focuses on the promotion of niche tourism
products of the Country on digital and social media.
 Information Helpline: The government has introduced the concept of e-tourist and e-
medical visaswhich has helped increase inbound tourists to the country. Additional
initiatives such as Atithi Devo Bhava, a 24×7 multi-lingual Tourist Helpline, among others
have helped improve the safety and security of tourists. On a pilot basis, an ‘Incredible India
Helpline’ has been set up to guide the tourists.

 Safety: The Ministry of Tourism has adopted a code of conduct for safe tourism, which
contains a set of guidelines to encourage tourism activities to be undertaken with respect to
basic rights like dignity, and safety of both tourists and local residents, in particular women
and children.
 Investment: The government allows 100% Foreign Direct Investment in the Travel and
Tourism sector through the automatic route to increase investments across the sector. More
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INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

recently, the GST rate cut on hotel room tariffs across the board has been a positive move
for the industry and is expected to boost the sector’s competitiveness globally.

 Cleanliness and Hygiene: Major cleanliness campaign has been launched under the Swachh
Bharatmovement for protecting and preserving the sanctity of monuments of national
heritage. The Ministry of Tourism has also launched awareness campaign to ensure
cleanliness of surroundings and help create a Swachh Bharat, Swachh Smarak.

 Assistance to States: Financial assistance to states, including places of religious importance,

for various tourism projects in consultation with them subject to availability of funds, inter-
se priority, liquidation of pending utilisation certificates and adherence to the scheme
guidelines.

 Digital Database: In September 2021, the Government launched NIDHI 2.0(National

Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry), a scheme which will maintain a hospitality
database comprising accommodation units, travel agents, tour operators and others. NIDHI
2.0 will facilitate digitalisation of the tourism sector by encouraging hotels to register
themselves on the platform.

 Skilling: The Ministry of Tourism has introduced the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator(IITF)
and Incredible India Tourist Guide (IITG) Certification Programme to create an online
learning platform of well-trained tourist facilitators and guides across the country.

Way forward

 The government should continue to promote India’s diversity and rich heritage to re-
establish its position as a tourist paradise.
 The promotional campaigns should target both domestic and foreign tourists. Similarly, the
extent of theme-based tourist circuits can be expanded.

 Tourism sector has a potential to provide lot of livelihood opportunities in smaller

cities/towns. Upskilling and Reskilling can help address the issue of jobless growth.
 The government should also promote green and sustainable tourismto tackle issues relating
to water crisis, pollution, waste management, etc.

 There is need to balance the promotion of tourism with safeguarding the physical, social,
and cultural environment in the destination areas.

 The Government should further reform the tourist visa norms and processes to facilitate
tourism. The Government should also explore the possibility of expanding the visa-on-arrival
facility.

 The focus should also be on supporting and promoting the emerging segments of tourism.

Conclusion

If the goal of positioning of India as one of the world’s best tourism destinations by 2047, there is
need to integrate various schemes of different ministries. Need to involve various stakeholders, and
local communities; necessary interventions at urban and rural level should be a priority.

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Showcasing lesser-known tourist attractions of historical and cultural importance and

celebrating their intangible heritage is crucial to the overall well-being of both the
cultural heritage and the people associated with it. Discuss. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The ministry of tourism has planned a mega initiative — a series of festivals — to showcase lesser
known tourist attractions of historical and cultural importance by celebrating their intangible
heritage.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the potential of lesser known tourist places in India and the steps that India needs to
take to boost tourism in the country.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving statistic related to tourism in India.
Body:
First, write about the status of tourism in India. Give facts and figures related to revenue and forex
earnings, tourist footfalls.
Next, write about the potential of lesser know tourist attractions in the country and issues associated
with it.
Next, write about the importance of intangible heritage and steps required to promote it.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

The ministry of tourism has planned a mega initiative — a series of festivals — to showcase lesser
known tourist attractions of historical and cultural importance by celebrating their intangible
heritage.

First in the series will be a three-day Carnatic music festival — Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam —
starting Sunday, which is to be held in Vijayawada, known for its Undavalli caves featuring ancient
rock-cut temples.

Body

Tourism Status in India

 In the Pre- pandemic times, tourism sector contributed ~US$ 250 billion in 2018 to India’s
GDP.

 It crumbled down to US$ 122 billion in 2020 due to pandemic.

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 The share of Tourism to GDP has hovered around ~5-6%. With post-pandemic recovery, the
tourism industry is expected to reach US$ 512 billion by 2028.

 In 2020, the Indian tourism sector accounted for 39 million jobs, which was 8% of the total
employment in the country. By 2029, it is expected to account for about 53 million jobs.

 India ranked 34th in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019 published by the
World Economic Forum.

 Data show that domestic tourism has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, even exceeding it in
some cases. This is evident in a record 1.84 crore domestic tourists visiting Jammu and
Kashmir in 2022

Positive effects of Tourism in India

 Employment generation: Tourism sector provides diverse opportunities for jobs like in
hospitality/hotels/accommodation, transportation, tour guides, travel operations etc.

 Revenue Generation: Tourism contributes 6.23% to the national GDP and 9.3% of the total
employment in India. More than 20 million people are now working in the India’s tourism
industry.

 Source of Foreign Exchange Earnings:Tourism Sector was the third-largest foreign exchange
earner for the country in 2019. Tourism is an important source of foreign exchange earnings
in India. This has favorable impact on the balance of payment of the country. By 2028, Indian
tourism and hospitality is expected to earn US$ 50.9 billion as visitor exports compared with
US$ 28.9 billion in 2018.

 Preservation of National Heritage and Environment:Tourism helps preserve several places

which are of historical importance by declaring them as heritage sites. For instance, the Taj
Mahal, the Qutab Minar, Ajanta and Ellora temples, etc. would have been decayed and
destroyed, if the efforts had not been taken by Tourism Department to preserve them.
Likewise, tourism also helps in conserving the natural habitats of many endangered species.
 Developing Infrastructure:Tourism tends to encourage the development of multiple-use
infrastructure that benefits the host community, including various means of transports,
health care facilities and sports centers, in addition to the hotels and high-end restaurants
that cater to foreign visitors. The development of infrastructure has in turn induced the
development of other directly productive activities.

Measures needed to boost Tourism sector

 Infrastructure: The Government has been increasing investments in strengthening of the

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helping make air travel more economical and widespread to hitherto unserved routes.
The Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes aim to stimulate growth in niche tourism
segments such as religious, heritage, wellness, medical, adventure, MICE, wildlife etc. Under
the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, the Government has launched several theme based circuits
like Buddhist circuit which covers destinations associated with the life of Lord Buddha.

 Promotional Campaign: Promotional activities such as the Incredible India 2.0campaign

 Information Helpline: The government has introduced the concept of e-tourist and e-
medical visaswhich has helped increase inbound tourists to the country. Additional
initiatives such as Atithi Devo Bhava, a 24×7 multi-lingual Tourist Helpline, among others
have helped improve the safety and security of tourists. On a pilot basis, an ‘Incredible India
Helpline’ has been set up to guide the tourists.

 Investment: The government allows 100% Foreign Direct Investment in the Travel and
Tourism sector through the automatic route to increase investments across the sector. More
recently, the GST rate cut on hotel room tariffs across the board has been a positive move
for the industry and is expected to boost the sector’s competitiveness globally.

 Assistance to States: Financial assistance to states, including places of religious importance,

for various tourism projects in consultation with them subject to availability of funds, inter-
se priority, liquidation of pending utilisation certificates and adherence to the scheme
guidelines.

 Digital Database: In September 2021, the Government launched NIDHI 2.0(National

Way forward

 The government should continue to promote India’s diversity and rich heritage to re-
establish its position as a tourist paradise.

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 The promotional campaigns should target both domestic and foreign tourists. Similarly, the
extent of theme-based tourist circuits can be expanded.

 Tourism sector has a potential to provide lot of livelihood opportunities in smaller

cities/towns. Upskilling and Reskilling can help address the issue of jobless growth.

 The government should also promote green and sustainable tourismto tackle issues relating
to water crisis, pollution, waste management, etc.

 There is need to balance the promotion of tourism with safeguarding the physical, social,
and cultural environment in the destination areas.

 The Government should further reform the tourist visa norms and processes to facilitate
tourism. The Government should also explore the possibility of expanding the visa-on-arrival
facility.

 The focus should also be on supporting and promoting the emerging segments of tourism.

Conclusion

The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors

/contributions from different parts of the country.
How did the revolutionary movement evolve under Bhagat Singh? Elaborate upon his
idea of ‘revolution’. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express ,Insights on India
Why the question:
The men who jumped into Lok Sabha were apparently inspired by one of the most heroic acts of
India’s freedom struggle: on April 8, 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw feeble bombs
and pamphlets in Delhi’s Central Assembly from the visitor’s gallery
Key Demand of the question:
To write about how the philosophy and nature of revolution evolved under Bhagat Singh and its
essential dimensions.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must
be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Give a brief about the ideology of Bhagat Singh.
Body:
Mention how the ideology evolved under Bhagat Singh. From the belief in violence and heroic action
towards national liberation and then the building of a new socialist society.
Mention the features of the new revolution he believed in. Preventing exploitation of all forms,
Freedom, justice, ending communalism, scientific temper etc. Mention the various approaches taken
by him to achieve the above goals.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing about the legacy of Bhagat Singh.
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Introduction

Bhagat Singh, an iconic revolutionary, thinker, voracious reader and one of the well-read of
political leaders at that time, was a giant of an intellectual. He pursued his passion for reading and
writing relentlessly, despite fighting violently against Britishers. He studied to arm himself with
arguments in favour of his cult of patriotism and enabled himself to face the arguments advanced
by opposition.

Body:

Bhagat Singh: a hero of the masses:

 He was revered by the youth, loathed by British Raj and opposed by none other than
Mahatma Gandhi, like other revolutionaries he dreamt of freedom for motherland.

 As much as he was involved in violence against the government, he exercised his conscience
and used non-violence and fasting as a tool to break the hegemony of British power.

 He always vouched for human dignity and rights beyond sectarian divide.

A new idea and interpretation of revolution:

 Revolution was no longer equated with militancy and violence.

 Its objective was to be national liberation—imperialism was to be overthrown but beyond

that a new socialist order was to be achieved, ending “exploitation of man by man”.

 As Bhagat Singh said in the court, “Revolution does not necessarily involve sanguinary strife,
nor is there a place in it for personal vendetta. It is not the cult of bomb and pistol. By
revolution we mean the present order of things, which is based on manifest injustice, must
change.”

 Bhagat fully accepted Marxism and the class approach to society—”Peasants have to free
themselves not only from the foreign yoke, but also from the yoke of landlords and
capitalists.”

 He also said, “The struggle in India will continue, so long as a handful of exploiters continue
to exploit labour of common people to further their own interests.

 It matters little whether these exploiters are British capitalists, British and Indian capitalists
in alliance, or even purely Indians.”

 He defined socialism scientifically as abolition of capitalism and class domination.

 Bhagat was fully and consciously secular—two of the six rules drafted by Bhagat for
the Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha were that its members would have nothing to do with
communal bodies and that they would propagate a general feeling of tolerance among
people, considering religion to be a matter of personal belief.

 Bhagat Singh also saw the importance of freeing people from the mental bondage of
religion and superstition—”to be a revolutionary, one required immense moral strength,
but one also required criticism and independent thinking”

Conclusion:

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Bhagat Singh and his comrades made an abiding contribution to the national freedom movement.
Their deep patriotism, courage and determination, and sense of sacrifice stirred the Indian people.
They helped spread nationalist consciousness in the land.

Value addition:

Vision of Bhagat Singh:

At tender age he realised the larger goals of life rather than being circumscribed to accomplishing
personal goals. He transformed the revolution ‘terrorism’ movement to a socialist one. He was a
great innovator in two areas of politics

 Raised the serious issues and threats of communalism

 Raised the conscience of people in freeing them from mental bondage of religion and
superstition.

Revolutionary ideology and goals of revolution:

 A real breakthrough was made by Bhagat Singh and his comrades in terms of revolutionary
ideology, forms of revolutionary struggle and the goals of revolution.

 The Hindustan republican association’s (HRA) Manifesto (1925) declared that the it stood
for abolition of all systems which made exploitation of man by man possible. Its founding
council had decided to preach social revolutionary and communistic principles.
 The HRA had also decided to start labour and peasant organizations and to work for an
organized and armed revolution.

 Emphasizing the role of ideas in the making of revolution, Bhagat Singh declared that
the sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting-stone of ideas. This atmosphere of
wide reading and deep thinking pervaded the ranks of the HSRA leadership.

 Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha:

o Singh had turned to Marxism and had come to believe that popular broad-based
mass movements alone could lead to a successful revolution.

o That is why Bhagat Singh helped establish the Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha in
1926 as the open wing of the revolutionaries.

o The Sabha was to carry out open political work among the youth, peasants and
workers.

 Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev also organized the Lahore Students Union for open, legal
work among the students.

 Patient intellectual and political work appealed to be too slow and too akin to the Congress
style of politics which the revolutionaries wanted to transcend.

 Effective acquisition of new ideology is a prolonged and historical process whereas the need
of the time was a quick change in the way of thinking.

 These young intellectuals faced the classic dilemma of how to mobilise people and recruit
them. Here, they decided to opt for propaganda by deed, i.e., through individual heroic
action and by using courts as a forum for revolutionary propaganda.
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The Act of 1935 laid the groundwork for India’s eventual transition to independence
and its constitutional development. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the impact of The Government of India Act of 1935.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by giving the context for the introduction of the Government of India Act,1935.
Body:
First, write about the major proposals in the act – federal structure, granting provincial autonomy
and limited electoral reforms.
Next, write about the points supporting the Indian leaders to resent the Government of India
Act,1935 such as the concept of federation with Provinces to join the imperial power and have a
reserved representation, promoting feudal despotism, communally divisive approach and economic
control of federal budget. Stress on the point that as much as the Indian leaders resented it, they
were appealed by the constitutional means involved and participated in the elections.
Next, write about the impact of the act.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving a balanced opinion.
Introduction

The Government of India Act 1935 was an important act in the history of India. As a result of several
previous Governments of India Act and Round Table Conferences, the Government of India Act 1935
was introduced. It changed the Federation of India in the aspects of the structure of government,
legislation and so on. It granted Indian provinces autonomy and provided for the establishment of
Indian Federation. The Government of India Act, 1935, which acted as a framework did lay out some
federal features.

Body

Features of Government of India Act 1935

This Act gives many salient features out of which some has been considered as the major ones and
some as the minor ones. These salient features are given below:

 This Act shows the dominance power of the British Parliament or its superiority.

 This Act had proposed to establish an All-India Federation and this federation should
consist of provinces and Princely states considering both as one unit.

 This Act introduced a system of Provincial Autonomy into the provinces in place of the
dyarchy system. This time dyarchy was not introduced at the state level it only introduced
at the central level.

 A federal court was established after the recommendation of this Act. This court was
introduced after two years of the passing of this Act, i.e., 1937.
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 This Act provides the recommendation for the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India to
control the regulation of currencies and credits of this country.

 After the establishment of this Act, the Council of India that was established by the
Government of India Act, 1858 was abolished.

 Muslims, Sikhs, and others except depressed classes were provided separate
electorates after the implementation of this Act.

 This Act proposed the expansion of Universal Adult Franchise from 3% of the population to
14% of the population.

 This Act gave Governor the Critical emergency powers that were only enjoyed by him.

Shortcomings of the GOI,1935 Act

 Numerous ‘safeguards’ and ‘special responsibilities’ of the governor-general worked as

brakes in proper functioning of the Act.

 The process of constitutional advance in India is determined by the need to attract, Indian
support for British Raj.

o In provinces, the governor still had extensive powers.

o The Act enfranchised 14 per cent of British Indian population.

o The extension of the system of communal electorates and representation of various

interests promoted separatist tendencies which culminated in partition of India.

 The Act provided a rigid Constitution with no possibility of internal growth.

 Right of amendment was reserved with the British Parliament.

 Suppression could only be a short-term tactic. in the long run, the strategy was to weaken
the movement and integrate large segments of the movement into colonial, constitutional
and administrative structure.

 Reforms would revive political standing of constitutionalist liberals and Moderates who
had lost public support during the Civil Disobedience Movement.

 Repression earlier and reforms now would convince a large section of Congressmen of the
ineffectiveness of an extra-legal struggle.

o Once Congressmen tasted power, they would be reluctant to go back to politics of

sacrifice.

o Reforms could be used to create dissensions within Congress—right wing to be

placated through constitutional concessions and radical leftists to be crushed
through police measures.

 Provincial autonomy would create powerful provincial leaders who would gradually become
autonomous centres of political power. Congress would thus be provincialized and central
leadership would get weakened.

Conclusion

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The 1935 Act was condemned by nearly all sections and unanimously rejected by the Congress. The
Congress demanded, instead, convening of a Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of adult
franchise to frame a constitution for independent India. For a brief period till the start of 1942 Quit
India Movement, Congress fought the provincial elections on the basis of the Act and won in
majority provinces.

Discuss the contributions of C. Rajagopalachari to the Indian independence movement

and post-independence India. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
C. Rajagopalachari founded the ashram at Pudupalayam in Namakkal district in February 1925 with
the goal of promoting khadi, countering untouchability and weaning men off drunkenness. For
generations, several families have relied on Gandhi Ashram for their livelihood. Now, this institution
is in decline.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the contributions of C. Rajagopalachari.
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the
context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant
associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Give a brief about C. Rajagopalachari.
Body:
Write about the contributions of C. Rajagopalachari to pre and post independent India – Last
governor-general of India, freedom fighter, writer, politician, statesman, liberal economics,
conservative on social issues, Non-cooperation movement, Swatantra Party, opposed Nehru’s
socialism, pacifist during World War II, forward-thinking views on free markets, nuclear
disarmament, and communal harmony etc.
Conclusion:
Summarise and conclude.
Introduction
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, commonly known as C. Rajagopalachari or Rajaji, was a prominent
Indian political leader, freedom fighter, and statesman who made significant contributions to both
the Indian independence movement and post-independence India.

Body

Contributions to the Indian Independence Movement:

 Role in the Non-Cooperation Movement: Rajagopalachari actively participated in the non-

cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in the 1920s. He resigned from his
government position as a protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and joined the non-
cooperation movement.

 Participation in Salt Satyagraha: Rajagopalachari played a crucial role in the Salt Satyagraha
(1930) by leading the Vedaranyam Salt March in Tamil Nadu. He marched to the coastal
town of Vedaranyam and symbolically violated the salt laws imposed by the British, inspiring
others to do the same.

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 Advocacy for Economic Self-Reliance: Rajagopalachari emphasized economic self-reliance

and the promotion of village industries as a means to achieve social and economic
empowerment. His ideas aligned with Gandhian principles of rural development and self-
sufficiency.

 First Indian Governor-General: After India attained independence in 1947, Rajagopalachari

served as the first Indian Governor-General from 1948 to 1950. He was appointed by the last
British Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, and continued to hold the position even after India
became a republic.

Contributions to Post-Independence India:

 Contribution to Constitution Drafting: Rajagopalachari made significant contributions to the
drafting of the Indian Constitution. He chaired the committee responsible for drafting the
constitutional and administrative provisions for the princely states. His efforts helped in
integrating these states into the Indian Union.

 Governor of West Bengal: Rajagopalachari served as the Governor of West Bengal from
1947 to 1948. His tenure was marked by efforts to restore peace and manage the aftermath
of communal riots during the partition of Bengal.

 Chief Minister of Madras State: Rajagopalachari served as the Chief Minister of Madras
State (now Tamil Nadu) after independence. His tenure, known for its administrative
reforms and economic policies, focused on education, rural development, and
industrialization.

 Founder of Swatantra Party: In 1959, Rajagopalachari founded the Swatantra Party, a

political party that advocated free-market principles and economic liberalism. The party
aimed to counter the socialist policies of the dominant political parties in India.

 Literary and Philosophical Contributions: Rajagopalachari was a prolific writer and thinker.
He wrote extensively on various subjects, including politics, economics, ethics, and
spirituality. His works, including retellings of Indian epics like the Mahabharata and
Ramayana, are widely acclaimed.

 Advocacy for Prohibition: Rajagopalachari was a strong advocate for prohibition and
actively campaigned against alcohol consumption. As Chief Minister of Madras State, he
implemented measures to restrict the sale and consumption of alcohol.

Conclusion

Rajagopalachari’s contributions spanned various domains, from his active involvement in the
independence movement to his roles in post-independence governance, constitutional drafting, and
advocacy for economic and social causes. His legacy continues to be remembered as that of a multi-
faceted leader and visionary.

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Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.

“Partition” – the division of British India into the two separate states of India and Pakistan on
August 14-15, 1947 – was the “last-minute” mechanism by which the British were able to secure
agreement over how independence would take place. At the time, few people understood what
Partition would entail or what its results would be, and the migration on the enormous scale that
followed took the vast majority of contemporaries by surprise.

Body

Impact of Partition on India:

Social impacts

 Huge number of refugees belonging to religious minorities crossing over the border

 In terms of human resource, the loss was enormous as it received about 16 million
uprooted, homeless refugees who had to be rehabilitated at
 Demographic changes due to migration and overcrowding in border districts, towns and
cities

 Emergence of ethno-cultural, ethno-religious minorities leading to inter-ethnic conflict

 Influx of people in the metropolis of Kolkata resulting to over-urbanization

 Logistics of rehabilitation of refugees

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 Rise in the number of unemployed

 Later bouts of communal tension generated further movement, with a trickle of people still
migrating as late as the 1960s.

Economic impacts

 West Punjab and Sind traditionally formed a great source of food supply so much so that
they were called the granary of undivided India.

 But since the two regions came to belong to Pakistan after the partition, India was hit
hard so far as food production was concerned.

 The industrial sector suffered considerably from the impact on agriculture, for reasons of the
traditional linkage of industries with the agricultural sector for deriving raw materials
produced in the agricultural regions. Eg cotton grown in Pakistan and industries in India.

 In addition the riots that ensued after the partition led

to a massive migration of skilled labour from India to Pakistan. A majority of the skilled
workers and artisans were incidentally the people of the Muslim community.

 The biggest calamity in the jute sector arose from the fact that nearly 80% of jute
production went to east Pakistan because of the partition.

Geographical impacts
 Loss of territorial resources, i.e. fertile agricultural land, in this case an extensive area under
jute crop, forest lands, loss of huge mangrove forests in the deltaic region of Sunderbans

 Sharing of water resources between upper and lower riparian states

 Border disputes related to demarcation of boundary running through riverine delta areas
and flat alluvium plains
 Inadequate transport and communication network system between newly created
independent nations

 Inadequate infrastructure for inter and intra-regional trade and commerce

 Enclaves on either side of the border

Geopolitical impacts

 The geopolitical situation is a direct impact of unwise partition of territories the implication
of which is far- reaching.

 To achieve a lasting peace in the sub-continent a pragmatic foreign policy and settlement of
unresolved issues such as sharing of water, border management, settlement of border
disputes, disbanding of terrorist outfits are of prime importance.

Conclusion

Today, the two countries’ relationship is far from healthy. Kashmir remains a flashpoint; both
countries are nuclear-armed. Indian Muslims are frequently suspected of harbouring loyalties
towards Pakistan; non-Muslim minorities in Pakistan are increasingly vulnerable thanks to the so-

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called Islamisation of life since the 1980s. Seven decades on, well over a billion people still live in the
shadow of Partition.

India intervened in the conflict between East and West Pakistan on moral and
humanitarian grounds, witnessing the massive humanitarian crisis unfolding in East
Pakistan. Examine the causes of Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 and reasons which
led to India’s victory in it. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
On December 16, 1971, at precisely 1655 hours IST, Lt Gen AAK Niazi, Commander of the Pakistan
Eastern Command, signed the Instrument of Surrender in the presence of Lt Gen JS Aurora, GOC-in-C
of the Indian Eastern Command, in Dacca (now Dhaka).
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes for Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 and to explain reasons for India’s
victory.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context of the conflict between east and west Pakistan.
Body:
In the first part, write about the reasons for the outbreak of the war. Ethnic clashes, Economic
disparities, Political asymmetry, Language issue and the immediate cause etc.
Next, write about the reasons for India’s involved in the war – opportunity of the century, countering
Pakistan, Bengali movement for autonomy and shared heritage, refugee crisis, security threats etc.
Next, write about the reasons for India’s victory over Pakistan.
Conclusion:
Link the outcome to present day and Bangladesh celebrated 50 years of its Liberation movement.
Introduction

On December 16, 1971, at precisely 1655 hours IST, Lt Gen AAK Niazi, Commander of the Pakistan
Eastern Command, signed the Instrument of Surrender in the presence of Lt Gen JS Aurora, GOC-in-C
of the Indian Eastern Command, in Dacca (now Dhaka).
Bangladesh War of Independence was a revolution and armed conflict sparked by the rise of the
Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan. Bangladesh’s independence
has been considered India’s most successful neighbourhood intervention.

Body

The causes that led to the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971

 Economic Prowess of East Pakistan:

o Most of the foreign exchange was earned by exports from East Pakistan which was
poorly defended when the big war of 1965 with India was fought.

 Disparity of Governance:

o Punjab and the Punjabi-dominated army ruled Pakistan soon after the birth of Pakistan.
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o The services were also dominated by Punjabis through quotas but East Pakistan
dominated in literacy and high education.

o Top seats in the civil services exams always went to East Pakistan.

 Military Rule:

o General Ayub Khan took over Pakistan in 1958, the East Pakistan’s needs and demands
were completely suppressed.

o Until 1962, martial law continued and Ayub purged a number of politicians and civil
servants from the government and replaced them with army officers.

 Distance factor:
o Pakistan couldn’t tackle the strange phenomenon of being divided by a thousand miles
of India.

 Six-Point Program discarded:

o The six point program of Mujib-Ur-Rahman in 1966 for economic and political autonomy
of East Pakistan was discarded.

 Imposition of Urdu:

o Urdu was made the “National Language” of Pakistan. The requests from East Pakistan
and option of Arabic were turned down.

 Genocides and Refugee Problems:

o There was a systematic ethnic slaughter which qualified as genocide. There was clear
ethnic or religious targeting of the Hindu minority among the Bengalis.

o By July-August 1971, 90% of the refugees were Hindus concentrated in the border
districts of West Bengal with large Muslim populations.

o The Response of West Pakistan to 1970 cyclone which ravaged East Pakistan was
minimal and lacked compassion.

 Immediate Cause:

o The Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won a landslide victory in the
national elections in 1971 and demanded autonomy for East Pakistan.

o This victory also gave it the right to form a government, but Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the
Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party refused to let the Sheikh become the Prime
Minister of Pakistan. This initiated the war.

India was compelled to intervene in the Bangladesh War of 1971 due to various strategic, domestic,
economic and humanitarian factors.

 Strategic:

o Having a hostile West Pakistan and East Pakistan on both sides of its borders was a
strategic concern for India.

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o This was compounded by the strain in Sino-Indian relations which culminated in the
war of 1962.

o Unprovoked military aggression by Pakistan on the North-West India in 1972 needed

to be responded in a stringent manner.

o Therefore, the intervention in 1971 was necessary to safeguard the long term
strategic interests.

 Domestic:

o The constant influx of migrants from East Pakistan was creating various problems in
the Border States.

o The resources were limited and there was constant struggle between locals and
refugees over the use of these resources.

o Besides there were various other ethnic and social problems due to this inflow of
migrants.

 Economic:

o The country was spending huge resources to absorb these refugees.

o Being a closed economy, India was not in a position to continue spending resources
for long and hence a long term solution to the problem was needed.

o Beside, having a hostile East Pakistan was hindering the development of north-
eastern part of the country due to limited connectivity.

 Humanitarian:

o Lastly the atrocities committed on the people of East Pakistan forced India to
intervene in the conflict on humanitarian ground to prevent a large scale crisis.

Factors that led to India’s victory over Pakistan

 Timing of war

o India chose to fight against Pakistan in the winter months when the Himalayan
passes were snowbound thus cutting China’s military support to Pakistan.

 Decisive Leadership

o Indira Gandhi had been a hawkish leader known for her firm decisions.

o Her stand didn’t collapse even under US pressure by 7th Fleet Naval mobilization
threat.

 Astute Diplomacy

o The then Prime minister Indira Gandhi sought international opinion to the cause of
Bangladesh and made aware of India’s unbearable burden of refugees.

o She build a consensus to force a UN resolution condemning the Pakistani atrocities

in Bangladesh.
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 Military assistance

o India not only gave sanctuary to the Bangladeshi government-in-exile but also
trained and equipped the Mukti Bahini.

o Large-scale usage of Indian Air Force compared to 1962 War against China.

o Success of operations conducted by navy on western fronts by attacking Karachi and

blockading of eastern front by naval ships.

 Mutual cooperation

o Mutual cooperation between Indian armies and Bangladeshi local population in the
East Pakistan making it difficult for Pakistani armies to survive there.

 Friendship treaty

o To secure itself against a possible U.S.-China intervention in case events led to war,
India signed on August 9 a 20-year Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and
Cooperation.

Conclusion

India played the great role in emergence of independent Bangladesh and was the first
country to recognise Bangladesh as separate state. India’s humanitarian intervention in Bangladesh
has shaped South Asia, made it a responsible power in the region. India’s links with Bangladesh are
civilisational, cultural, social and economic. The shared colonial legacy, history and socio-cultural
bonds demand that the political leadership of the two countries inject momentum into India-
Bangladesh relations.

Throw light on the Instrument of Accession through which Jammu and Kashmir became
a part of India. What were the resultant issues that were the outcome of Kashmir’s
accession to India? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah again attacked India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on the
Kashmir issue.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about issues regarding accession of Kashmir, issues regarding and steps that are needed to
resolve it.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context regarding Kashmir Accession.
Body:
First, write about the Instrument of Accession and its nature post which Kashmir became a part of
the Indian union.
Next, write about the Article 370 and trace the resultant issues till present day developments.
Next, write about the various issues in the above, leading to the illegal occupation of parts of Kashmir
by Pakistan and India’s response to it. Trace the developments to the present day.
Next, write about the possible solutions to settle the Kashmir issue.

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Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

It was in 1947 when Pakistan illegally occupied certain parts of Jammu and Kashmir; India refers to
this area as ‘Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’ (PoK). The region comprises two ethnically and
linguistically different regions: which includes parts of Kashmir and Jammu; and Gilgit
Baltistan, which makes up 86 percent of the total area of PoK.

Body

Background: Instrument of Accession and illegal occupation

 Hari Singh tried to negotiate with India and Pakistan to have an independent status for his
state. He offered a proposal of Standstill Agreement to both the Dominion, pending a final
decision on State’s accession. On August 12, 1947, the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
sent identical communications to the Government of India and Pakistan.

 Pakistan accepted the offer and sent a communication to J&K Prime Minister on August 15,
1947.

 Pakistan, though entered into Standstill Agreement with Jammu and Kashmir, had an eye
on it. It broke the Standstill Agreement by sponsoring a tribal militant attack in Kashmiron
October 1947.

 Maharaja of Kashmir initially harboring ambitions of independence, but after coming under
attack from Pakistan, he hadsigned the Instrument of Accession unconditionally — which
the Governor General of India had accepted unconditionally.

 The devil was in Mountbatten’s letter of 27 October 1947 to the Maharaja, conveying the
acceptance of the state’s accession. In doing so, Mountbatten added that India would
ascertain the wishes of the people of the state on the return of normal conditions.
 On 27 October 1947, Nehru had told both Mehr Chand Mahajan,who had reached Srinagar
as the new prime minister of Jammu and Kashmir days earlier, and Sheikh Abdullah, the
leader of the National Conference, of his decision to involve the United Nations to
supervise the referendum to ascertain the people’s wishes.

India’s response

 India referred thedispute to the United Nations Security Council on 1 January 1948.
Following the set-up of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP), the
UN Security Council passed Resolution 47 on 21 April 1948.

 The issue of Kashmir also became a victim of the politics of the Cold War, in which the
aggressor, Pakistan, through the management of deft policy initiatives, managed to have the
upper hand for some time.

 Externally, ever since 1947, Kashmir remained a major issue of conflict between India and
Pakistan (and between India and China to a minor extent).

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 Pakistan has always claimed that Kashmir valley should be part of Pakistan. The conflict
resulted in 3 main wars between India and Pakistan – 1947, 1965, and 1971. A war-like
situation erupted in 1998 as well (Kargil war).

 Pakistan was not only the illegal occupant of the Kashmir region. China too started claiming
parts of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.

 By the 1950s, China started to gradually occupy the eastern Kashmir (Aksai Chin).In 1962,
India fought a war with China over its encroachments, however, China defeated India. To
make matters worse, Pakistan ceded the Trans-Karakoram Tract of Kashmir (Saksham
valley) to China.

Way forward

 Engaging the non-state actors through interlocutors, Tier-2 diplomacy should help alleviate
the fears and misunderstandings that have cropped up.

 The way out of the deadlock is to strengthen democracy.

 Economic development through investments can be a game changer for Kashmir. All
Kashmiris should get the due share in the growth story of India.

 Urgent steps should be taken to bridge the gaps of trust deficit in the minds of Kashmiri
youth.

 De-radicalisation camps should be organised for the youth.

 A balanced mix of hard and soft powers can help improve the situation in J&K. The need of
the hour is proper integration of Kashmir, Jammu, and Ladakh with India. Integration should
not be seen in a limited dimension of territory. India should be able to win the heart of the
people of Kashmir.

Conclusion

Many steps have been taken for maintaining peace in the state; but political instability, separatism
and Pakistan-sponsored terrorism continue to surround the state of J&K. But India has been clear
that no third party will be involved in the resolution of Kashmir issue and has vehemently opposed
even other countries talking about interfering in Kashmir issue.

Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.

The Kashi-Tamil Sangamam serves as a symbolic representation of India’s rich cultural
diversity and the unity that underlies within the concept of ‘Ek Bharat Sreshtha Bharat’
emphasizing the unity of the country despite its linguistic, cultural, and regional
variations. Elaborate. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express , Indian Express
Why the question:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kashi Tamil Sangamam at Namo Ghat, Varanasi.
First held last year, the Kashi Tamil Sangamam seeks to celebrate North and South India’s historical
and civilisational connections.
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insightsonindia
INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the unity diversity in India and role of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam in highlighting it.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must
be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam.
Body:
In the first part, write in brief about the reasons for the organisation of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam and it
connects culturally diverse regions.
Next, write about the vast diversity in India across regions, languages, religions and ethnicities etc
and yet how the spirit of Ek Bharat Sreshtha Bharat’ has been upheld. Cite examples to substantiate.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kashi Tamil Sangamam at Namo Ghat, Varanasi.
First held last year, the Kashi Tamil Sangamam seeks to celebrate North and South India’s historical
and civilisational connections. Last year, Kashi Tamil Sangamam was organised as part of the ‘Azadi
ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to uphold the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

The vision was to revive the centuries-old bond between Tamil Nadu and Kashi. Over 2,500
delegates from Tamil Nadu, including cultural and folk artists, litterateurs, entrepreneurs, farmers,
religious leaders, athletes, and others, attended the Kashi Tamil Sangamam festival in small groups.
Apart from Kashi, Tamil Nadu delegations also visited Prayagraj and Ayodhya. Alongside various
events in the fields of education, art and culture, literature, sports, and so on, the convention
featured exhibitions of art, films, handlooms and handicrafts.

Body

Upholding spirit of unity among Indians

 India is a geo-cultural country,and the basis of our unity is our cultures.

 Kashi Tamil Sangamam is a great effort for the rejuvenation of India’s cultural unity in the
year of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

 Kashi Tamil Sangamam worked to create a new atmosphere of trust and love between the
two oldest cultures.

 This program hashelped create a bridge between the two peaks of India’s culture, to
ensure that the distances are erased, and paving a way for the cultural renaissance of India.

 Kashi–Tamil Sangamam, has become a wonderful platform for exchange of spiritual, cultural,
architecture, literature, trade, education, art, dance, music and languages.

 Through Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, the entire North India and all Indians have come to know
that Tamil is one of the oldest languages in the world.

 The program has been a great initiative to combine many aspects of both the cultures and
the effort has given a message to Tamil Nadu.

Unity in diversity: Reasons

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 Religious co-existence: Religion tolerance is the unique feature of religions in India due to
which multiple religions co-exist in Freedom of religion and religious practice is guaranteed
by the Constitution itself. Moreover, there is no state religion and all religions are given
equal preference by the state.

 Inter-State mobility: The Constitution guarantees freedom to move throughout the territory
of India under Article 19 (1) (d), thus promoting a sense of unity and brotherhood among the

 Other factors such as uniform pattern of law, penal code, and administrative works (eg. All
India services) too lead to uniformity in the criminal justice system, policy implementation

 Economic integration: The Constitution of India secures the freedom of Trade, Commerce
and Intercourse within the Territory of India under Article Further, the Goods and Service
Tax (GST) have paved way for ‘one country, one tax, one national market’, thus facilitating
unity among different regions.

 Institution of pilgrimage and religious practices: In India, religion and spirituality have great
significance. . From Badrinath and Kedarnath in the north to Rameshwaram in the south,
Jagannath Puri in the east to Dwaraka in the west the religious shrines and holy rivers are
spread throughout the length and breadth of the Closely related to them is the age-old
culture of pilgrimage, which has always moved people to various parts of the country and
fostered in them a sense of geo-cultural unity.

 Fairs and festivals: They also act as integrating factors as people from all parts of the
country celebrate them as per their own local Eg. Diwali is celebrated throughout by Hindus
in the country, similarly Id and Christmas are celebrated by Muslims and Christians,
respectively. Celebration of inter-religious festivals is also seen in India.

Conclusion

India is a plural society both in letter and spirit. It is rightly characterized by its unity and diversity. A
grand synthesis of cultures, religions and languages of the people belonging to different castes and
communities has upheld its unity and cohesiveness despite multiple foreign invasions. National unity
and integrity have been maintained even through sharp economic and social inequalities have
obstructed the emergence of egalitarian social relations. It is this synthesis which has made India a
unique mosque of cultures. Thus, India present seemingly multicultural situation within in the
framework of a single integrated cultural whole.

Role of women and women’s organization; population and associated issues,

poverty and developmental issues,
With Indian becoming world’s most populous nation in 2023, it offers opportunities as
well as poses a lot of concerns. It will depend on how the government frames policies
and strategies to effectively unleash the full potential of its young people. Analyse. (250
words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:

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To write about to opportunities and concerns associated with a large population and need for proper
policymaking to reach the full potential of population.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context.
Body:
First, write about the advantages of a having a large population – demographic dividend, More
working-age population, more tax revenues and high growth rate etc.
Next, write about the disadvantages of a having a large population – resource crunch, high rate of
poverty and hunger, unemployment etc.
Next, write about the need to have proper policymaking and strategy to reap the full potential of
India’s demographic dividend and components of policy.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

According to the UNFPA State of World Population (SOWP) Report 2023, China is projected to hand
over the baton of the most populous country to India by mid-2023. The report further added that
India will have a population of 142.86 crores by mid-2023, which is 2.9 million higher than China’s
population of 142.57 crores.

Undoubtedly, India has a population problem, but any strategy to change fertility rates should be
carefully thought out. India’s population concern is largely restricted to Bihar, UP, Jharkhand,
Rajasthan and MP.

Body

Rising population is a boon for India

 Population is a resource as long as the country’s carrying capacity is intact.

 There are greater prospects for demographic dividend than a disaster.

 With 68% of the working age population in 2023, the country continues to have a
demographic window of opportunity for the next 35 years to reap an economic dividend.

 A demographic window of opportunity in itself will not automatically turn into an economic
dividend.

 Declining and ageing populationin Japan, China, the US and other major economies.

o Potential to become a worldwide market for both production and consumption,

with lower manufacturing costs due to a relatively cheaper workforce.

o This is very much evident in India’s IT sector.

 Potential to boost per capita GDPby an additional 43% by 2061, provided the socio-
economic and political enabling environment is conducive.

Increasing Population is a bane for India

 Drastic population control methods run the risk of inducing forced population ageing.

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o A total fertility rate of lessthan 8 may not be economically beneficial for India.
Once fertility tends to decline, it is hard to reverse it.

 What the country needs are policies that support an enabling environment that can provide
high-quality education, healthcare, employment, infrastructure, and gender empowerment.

o If India falls short in this, its “demographic dividend” can become a “demographic
disaster”.

 Population growth acts as a hurdle in addressing effectively the problem of poverty, hunger
and malnutrition and also in providing the better quality of health and education.

 SDGs 1, 2, 3 and 4are going to be affected adversely because of India’s existing pattern of
growth in the population.

 Presently, India is producing around 25 million job seekers in the country, however, the
country is able to provide jobs only to 7 million.This gap of 18 million is increasing the
burden of unemployment and underemployment in the country, turning a demographic
dividend into a demographic disaster.

 India’s population growth is not sustainable.India is only about 35-40% of China’s landmass.

 In the 19th century, when Europe had a demographic explosion, it had occupied America,
Australia etc. India does not have another landmass to occupy and the available landmass
cannot take this population growth.

Measures needed to ensure that population growth is a boon for India

 Employment or job creation: If India is able to generate sufficient and quality jobs for its
bulging working age population.

 Education, skills generation and ensuring a healthy lifespan: It is critical not only for better
productivity but it also reduces excessive public spending and helps in greater capital
creation.

 Good governance: Reflected through conscientious policies, it will help in creating a healthy
environment for increasing efficiency and productivity of the population.

 India needs to invest more in the health sector. India invests only 1.3% of its GDP. The family
planning budget is only 4% of the entire health budget and within that India spends only
1.5% on birth spacing methods.

o Investments should be made particularly for the old people because by the year
2050, India’s population of old people is going to grow almost 10 times more.

 Education is very important, not only for empowering women but for fertility to decline.

o Education should be made free for women till college-level.

o Better education will help women in better decision making for family planning.

o Unless women are part of the workforce, no society can bring down fertility rates
with progress. Therefore, policies must look at the whole issue of declining
workforce participation by women.

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 India needs to focus on some areas which are socially, culturally, economically depressed.
Identification of 140 high focussed districts is the right step by the governmentin this
direction. However, it needs to work in the whole of Bihar, U.P., Madhya Pradesh and
Assam.

 India needs to give huge stress on declining sex ratiosand the discrimination towards
girls so that people don’t have a high number of children in the hope of having a boy.

 India can achieve a number of SDGs if it links them with family planning.Family planning is
a promotive and preventive method for bringing down maternal mortality and child
mortality.
 It is important to see the issue of population growth not only from the national perspective
but also from the state’s point of view i.e. different states need to be encouraged to take
necessary steps for containing the population.

Conclusion

Opportunities and costs are the two sides of the coin when it comes to being the world’s largest
populous country. However, the relatively younger population of India provides higher support
ratios.

Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

Assess the vulnerability of India to earthquakes. Discuss the factors that have led to an
increase in the number of earthquakes in the country. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Down to Earth , Insights on India
Why the question:
There has been an increase in the number of earthquakes in January to November, 2023 compared to
the last three years, Union Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju told the Lok Sabha
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the vulnerability of India to earthquakes and reasons of the increase in the number of
earthquakes
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context.
Body:
First, write about the vulnerability of India to earthquakes. Draw a map showing different seismic
zones.
Next, write about the factors that have led to an increase in the number of earthquakes in the
country – activation of Almora Fault, increased dam seismicity etc.
Next, write about several measures the government needs to take mitigate their impact – building
codes and standards, retrofitting old buildings, early warning systems, education and awareness, and
emergency response planning.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.

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Introduction

An earthquake is the shaking of the surface (occurs without warning) of the Earth resulting from a
sudden release of energy in the Earth’s lithosphere that creates seismic waves. It is tectonic in
origin and results from the release of accumulated stress of the moving lithospheric or crustal plates.

There has been an increase in the number of earthquakes in January to November, 2023 compared
to the last three years, Union Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju told the Lok Sabha.

Body

The Earthquake Risk in India:

 India has been divided into four zones– II, III, IV and V – according to the seismic zoning map
of India prepared by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Zone V is seismically the most
active region, while Zone II is the least.

 Around 11% of the country falls in Zone V, 18% in Zone IV, 30% in Zone III and the
remaining in Zone II.

Reasons for the Earthquake proneness in India:

 The Indian plate is driving into Eurasiaat a rate of approximately 47 mm/year.

 Himalayan belt:Collision between Indo-Australian plate with Eurasian plate causes lots of
strain in underlying rocks’ energy, which is released in the form of earthquakes.

 Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Seafloor displacement and underwater volcanoes disturb the
equilibrium of earth’s surface.

 Deccan Plateau: The emergence of a fault line and energy build-up along the fault line of the
river Bhima (Krishna) near Latur and Osmanabad (Maharashtra).

 Increasing population and unscientific land usefor construction make India a high-risk land
for earthquakes.

Risks of high magnitude Earthquakes

 Primary damage: Damage occurs to human settlement, buildings, structures and

infrastructure, especially bridges, elevated roads, railways, water towers, pipelines, electrical
generating facilities.

 Aftershocks of an earthquake can cause much greater damage to already weakened

structures.

 Secondary effects include fires, dam failure and landslides which may block water ways and
also cause flooding, landslides, Tsunami, chemical spills, breakdown of communication
facilities, human loss.

 There is also a huge loss to the public health system, transport and water supply in the
affected areas.

 Tertiary impactof earthquake includes Post Trauma Stress Disorder (PTSD), long term
psychological issues, loss of livelihood, disruption of social capital due to relocation related
issues, etc.

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India’s current policy on earthquake preparedness

 Operates primarily at the scale of structural details

 National Building Codes: Includes specifying dimensions of the structural members –

columns, beams, etc.

 National Retrofitting Programme 2014: Under the programme, the RBI directed banks to
deny loans for buildings that do not meet the earthquake-resistant design.

Earthquake preparedness measures needed

 Earthquake monitoring centres (seismological centres) for regular monitoring and fast
dissemination of information among the people in the vulnerable areas should be
established. Currently, Centre for Seismology (CS) is the nodal agency of Government of
India responsible for monitoring seismic activity in and around the country.

 A vulnerability map of the country along with dissemination of vulnerability risk information
among the people can be done to minimize the adverse impacts.

 Planning: The Bureau of Indian Standards has published building codes and guidelines for
safe construction of buildings against earthquakes. Before the buildings are constructed the
building plans have to be checked by the Municipality, according to the laid down by-laws.

 Important buildingssuch as hospitals, schools and fire stations need to be upgraded by

retrofitting techniques.

 Community preparedness and public educationon causes and characteristics of an

earthquake and preparedness measures is important. It can be created through sensitization
and training programme for community, by preparation of disaster management plans by
schools, malls, hospitals etc. and carrying out mock drills, by preparing documentation on
lessons from previous earthquaes and widely disseminating it.

 Engineered structures: The soil type should be analysed before construction. Building
structures on soft soil should be avoided. Similar problem persists in the buildings
constructed on the river banks which have alluvial soil.

 Encouraging use of Indigenous methods – Indigenous earthquake-resistant houses like the

bhongas in the Kutch Region of Gujarat, dhajji diwari buildings in Jammu & Kashmir, brick-
nogged wood frame constructions in Himachal Pradesh and ekra constructions made of
bamboo in Assam are helpful in this regard.

Way forward

 Earthquake preparedness needs to act –

o In the realm of policy and not just legal enforcement.

o At the scale of building details as well as that of cities.

 A comprehensive policyto create a system of retrofitting existing structures and enforcing

seismic codes with more efficiency. Such a policy should include measures –

o To create a system of tax-based or development rights-based incentives for

retrofitting one’s building up to seismic codes.

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o To ensure better enforcement of seismic codes through a similar model.

 Generate earthquake vulnerability mapswith the percentage of vulnerable structures in the

area, the availability of evacuation routes, the location of nearest relief services, etc.

Conclusion

It is not possible to prevent the occurrence of an earthquake; hence, the next best option is to lay
emphasis on disaster preparedness and mitigation rather than curative measures. A policy on
earthquake preparedness will require a visionary, radical and transformative approach. It would be
unwise to wait for another earthquake to learn how to be better prepared for one. Hence, a robust
early warning system, decentralised response mechanism is the best way forward.

Value addition

Best practices (Japan and San Francisco):

 Japan has invested heavily in technological measures (skyscrapers with counterweights,

small houses on flexible foundations, public infrastructure with automated triggers) by
cultivating an industry around earthquake mitigation and fostering expertise.

 San Franciscois the world’s most famous earthquake-prone city which implemented policy
changes similar to Japan.

 The Gujarat government:Immediately adopted (after the 2001 Bhuj earthquake) new town
planning schemes that widened roads and created routes for evacuation and relief work.

 Programmes like the ongoing Urban 20 meetings: An excellent opportunity for international
knowledge exchange on earthquake preparedness.

The integration of climate considerations into urban development is imperative for

creating cities that are resilient, sustainable, and capable of adapting to a changing
climate. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the importance of incorporating the impact of climate change in our urban
development plans and taking steps to tackle it.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context.
Body:
First, in brief, how climate change is impacting modern cities and its predicted impact in the future.
Substantiate with examples. Also, mention how the progress made so far maybe be nullified due to
the impact of climate change.
Next, write about the steps that are needed in this regard to address it – Climate planning and city
planning, Stakeholders and participation, Vulnerability assessment, Monitoring and evaluation etc.

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Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

Climate change is altering the nature of each and every country. It’s like a pandemic, it doesn’t know
political boundaries. Even the most advanced countries are not being spared by nature. India is one
of the nations most vulnerable to the ravages of climate change. The solution to climate change lies
in understanding the impact of climate change in our life and taking steps to achieve climate
resilience.

In India, the monsoons, are primarily turning into an erratic and destructive force. As climate change
intensifies, the monsoon is becoming more erratic and violent. A recent report by the World Bank
titled “Thriving: Making Cities Green, Resilient, and Inclusive in a Changing Climate” provides
guidance to local and national policymakers on how to create greener, more resilient, and inclusive
cities.

Body

Urban development and climate resilience

 About 1.4 million people move to cities around the world every week and nearly 55% of the
world’s population now lives in urban areas. Such rapid urbanisation can strain local
capacities, contributing to increased risk from natural and human made disasters.

 As more people are concentrated in cities, dependent on local services and networks, the
risks from natural and human made disasters grow.

 The poor and vulnerable, living in substandard, hazardous places are most at risk with
around 1 billion people living in slums.

 People exposed to natural hazards in poorest nations are more than seven times likely to die
than those in the richest.
 Challenges to resilience can also be economic, cultural, civic and social and develop over
time such as economic downturns or crises, high unemployment, lack of inclusion, social
cohesion or discrimination, disease outbreaks and terrorism.

 Fast-growing coastal cities are in particular danger because of sea-level rise,

increasing storms and the global addiction to concrete and asphalt which exacerbate
flooding.

Building climate resilient cities

 Cities can protect against economic shocks by diversifying their economy, creating
opportunities for business and employment, and engaging the private sector.

 They can build socially cohesive societies becoming democratic, sustainable and
inclusive by ensuring residents from all backgrounds take part in decision making.

 To build climate and environment resilience, authorities need to plan cities properly to
minimize the overall effect on the environment as well as ensuring resilience
through strengthened infrastructure, good planning and public education.

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 Responses to disasters in urban areas can promote greater resilience to future crises and
support long-term development goals.

 The need for resilient cities is recognised in the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris
Agreement for Climate Change, the Sendai Framework and in the New Urban Agenda
(Habitat-III).

 An important step would be moving away from an endless consumption of land. This
means using the land we’ve already developed to build more dense and walkable
neighbourhoods, connected with mass transit. It also means living with nature instead of
fighting against it.

Conclusion

Addressing the challenges of climate change and creating sustainable cities requires a multi-faceted
approach. It involves prioritizing green practices, building resilience to climate impacts, and
promoting inclusiveness in urban development. Taking action at the city level is crucial in mitigating
climate change and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

What do you understand by gender inequality? The need of the hour is to enact and
enforce laws that further promote gender equality in areas such as employment,
education, and healthcare to combat gender inequality. Examine. (250 words).
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The G20 Summit in Delhi adopted a Declaration which resolved to set up a “working group on the
empowerment of women.” Given the continuing discrimination against women and girls, this is
welcome.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes for gender inequality and its impact and ways to overcome it.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by giving context.
Body:
First, write about the various causes for gender inequality – historic, educational, economic and
social causes.
Next, write about the how the gender inequality impacts the Indian society. Cite examples and
statistics to substantiate.
Next, write about the various measures needed to bridge the gender gap. Throw light on the
importance of laws in promoting gender equality.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

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Gender inequality is discrimination on the basis of sex or gender causing one sex or gender to be
routinely privileged or prioritized over another. Gender equality is a fundamental human right and
that right is violated by gender-based discrimination. Gender disparity starts in childhood and is right
now limiting the lifelong potential of children around the world – disproportionately affecting girls.

India ranks 135 among a total of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index, 2022, released by
the World Economic Forum. The Global Gender Gap Report, 2022, says it will now take 132 years to
reach gender parity, with the gap reducing only by four years since 2021 and the gender gap
closed by 68. 1%. India ranks poorly among its neighbours and is behind Bangladesh (71), Nepal
(96), Sri Lanka (110), Maldives (117) and Bhutan (126). Only the performance of Iran (143),
Pakistan (145) and Afghanistan(146) was worse than India in South Asia. In 2021, India ranked 140
out of 156 nations.

Body

Causes for Gender inequality in the country

 High gender divide: The gender gap in the country has widened, with only 62.5% of it
closed and especially low gender parity in political empowerment and economic
participation and opportunity.

 Wage gap: Women are paid considerably less than men, with some research showing that
the gender pay gap between women and men in the same jobs with equivalent
qualifications can be as much as 34%.

 Labour force participation: India, as of 2020, has the lowest female labour force
participation rate among South Asian nations, with four out of five women neither working
nor looking for jobs.

 High Job loss: According to Oxfam, 17 million women in India lost their jobs in April 2020,
with their unemployment rate rising far higher than that among men.

 Lesser opportunities for women: Women were found to be seven times more likely to lose
their jobs during the lockdown phases, and if rendered unemployed, were 11 times more
likely to remain jobless than their male counterparts.

 Uneven domestic responsibility: Potential reasons for this include the increased burden of
domestic responsibilities that Indian women typically had to bear, in terms of not just
household chores but extra time needed for elderly care and children’s studies, with
schools shut.

 Even pre-pandemic, a Time Use Survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office
showed that women spent nearly 4.5 hours on childcare and other care-giving
responsibilities, in contrast with the meagre 0.88 hours for men.

Impact on society
 Pre-natal sex-selective Abortion:The most extreme expression of the preference for sons is
female infanticide and sex selective abortion. A study in a Bombay hospital found that 96%
of female were aborted.

 Sexual Harassment at work places: is a harassment of a sexual nature, typically in the work
place. Sexual harassment is considered a form of illegal discrimination. Sexual harassment at

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work place is not an isolated phenomenon but a mainfestaion of the larger gender
discrimination in society.

 Female are malnourished: India has exceptionally high rate of child malnutrition, because
tradition in India requires that women eat last and least throughout their lives, even when
pregnant.

 Women are uneducated: Families are far less likely to educate girls than boys and far more
likely to pull them out of school, either to help out at home or from fear of violence. So
women and girls receive far less education than men both due to social norms and fears of
violence.
 Women are in Poor health: Females receive less health care than males. Many women die
in childbirth. The practice of breast feeding female children for shorter periods of time
reflects the strong desire for sons.

 Women are overworked: Women work longer hours and their work is more than the men
(agricultural Work).

 Women are Unskilled: Women have unequal access to resources.

 Injustice Policy of Reservation in Public office:The women occupy 46% of the Indian
population but reservation is given for only 33% where reserved.

 Women are mistreated:In recent year there has been an alarming rise in atrocities against
women in India in term s of rapes, assaults and dowry related murders.

 Women are Powerless:While women are guaranteed equality under the constitution. But
due to lack of power to decide who they will marry and are often married off as children.

Need of the hour

 Behavioral Nudge: For instance, by using taxes to incentivize fairly sharing child-care
responsibilities, or by encouraging women and girls to enter traditionally male-dominated
sectors such as the armed forces and information technology. Eg Supreme Court in India
declared that women could now hold commanding positions in Army.

o Paternity leaves for men, to share the responsibility of child rearing.

o Incentivizing companies to employ women, and reach 50% target.

 Gender Justice at Work

o Bridging the wage gap for equal work.

o Making work places safer through strong laws. India has enacted Sexual Harassment
at workplaces act.

o Promote diversity and anti-bias courses for all employees.

o Comprehensive leadership training for women to excel in their fields.

 Gender sensitization: Breaking the social barriers by gender sensitization and education at
families, schools and workplaces. Eg : In the NCERT Books, gender roles, bias and prejudice
inducing writings were removed.

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 Social security and financial literacy: Formalization of jobs should be pushed to avail
benefits to many women. Until then, social security benefits should be provided to women
in unorganized sector. Eg : Self Help Group-Bank Linkage Programme in India

o Embedding financial literacy in programmes where women have significant

representation could be a good starting point.

 Strong laws and policies wrt equal pay for equal work, maternity benefits are needed to
promote women’s representation in economy.

 Political Representation: India has provided 33% reservation for women in the Panchayats
and Local Bodies. Capacity Building and training can increase their capabilities further.

Way forward

 Learning from the Nordic region, noteworthy participation of women in politics, institutions
and public life is the catalyst for transformational change.

 Women need to be equal participants in the labour force to pioneer the societal changes the
world needs in this integral period of transition.

 Every effort must be directed towards achieving gender parallelism by facilitating women in
leadership and decision-making positions.

 Social protection programmes should be gender-responsive and account for the differential
needs of women and girls.

 Research and scientific literature also provide unequivocal evidence that countries led by
women are dealing with the pandemic more effectively than many others.

Conclusion

Gender equality is a human right which entitles all persons irrespective of their gender to live with
dignity and with freedom. Gender equality is also a precondition for development and reducing of
poverty. Gender shouldn’t be an unreasonable determining factor curbing the potential of women.

Hate speech has the potential to escalate into real-world violence and conflict. Clear
legal frameworks can act as a deterrent and provide a basis for holding individuals
accountable for promoting hate and intolerance. Analyse. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Live Mint , Insights on India.
Why the question:
Laws designed to prevent the proliferation of hate have proven to be ineffective.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes for the rise of revolutionary national movement and its contribution.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Introduction:
Begin by defining hate speech.
Body:
First, in detail write about the impact of hate speech on society – affects human rights and the rule of
law. If left unaddressed, it can lead to acts of violence and conflict on a wider scale etc.

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Next, write in detail about various legal and constitutional measures that have been provided for
curbing hate speech. Also, mention measures needed to curb hate speech.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

The term hate speech is understood as any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour,
that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group
based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, color, descent, gender or other identity factor.

The Law Commission, in its 267th report on hate speech, said such utterances have the potential to
provoke individuals and society to commit acts of terrorism, genocide, and ethnic cleansing.

There is no international legal definition of hate speech, and the characterization of what is ‘hateful’
is controversial and disputed.

Body

Impact on the society

 Hate speech is a discursive process of pushing marginalised groups outside of social,

economic and political spheres of society by disseminating hate propaganda and
encouraging discrimination.

 At its most harmful, it is widely recognized as a precursor to ethnic cleansing.

 Internal Security: The Muzaffarnagar riots of 2013 was triggered by a fake video that incited
communal passions. In the West, hate speech combined with fake news on minorities has
induced an anti-immigration sentiment (e.g. : France, Italy, Greece)
 User homophily and Bubble phenomenon: Users with matching political views exchange
one-sided information and opinions that suit their own convictions, reinforcing them even
further, even if those were based on false information. E.g. : Twitter prompts users to follow
those who express similar views or posts.

 Igniting extremist sentiments: Fake news’ perpetuates, previously locally found, extremist
ideas and groups together dangerously like-minded people e.g. – Neo-Nazis in Germany,
Separatists in Kashmir.

 Mob lynching: Rumours of child lifting in Jharkhand led to mob lynching on innocent victims.

 Violence: An atmosphere of violence and chaos is created directly or indirectly. The

Christchurch Terror attack on a mosque by an extremist was a result of Islamophobia (a
direct result of hate speech).

 Misinformation and disinformation due to hate speech and fake news have led to riots as
seen in the Delhi Riots case 2020.

Legal Provisions to deal with hate speech

 Indian Penal Code:

o Sections 153A and 153B of the IPC: Punishes acts that cause enmity and hatred
between two groups.

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o Section 295A of the IPC: Deals with punishing acts which deliberately or with
malicious intention outrage the religious feelings of a class of persons.

o Sections 505(1) and 505(2): Make the publication and circulation of content which
may cause ill-will or hatred between different groups an offence.

 Representation of People’s Act:

o Section 8 of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951 (RPA): Prevents a person

convicted of the illegal use of the freedom of speech from contesting an election.

o Sections 123(3A) and 125 of the RPA: Bars the promotion of animosity on the
grounds of race, religion, community, caste, or language in reference to elections
and include it under corrupt electoral practices.

More measures needed

 For a country like India with a massive population of diverse backgrounds and
culture, subjects like hate speech become a complex issue to deal with as it is difficult to
differentiate between free and hate speech.

 Several factors are to be considered while restraining speeches like the number of strong
opinions, offensive to certain communities, the effect on the values of dignity, liberty, and
equality.

 Certainly, there are laws for such atrocities, but a major part of work is still left.

Way forward

 Clarity and technological upgradations needed to deal with this and a mechanism to get
down such material, which is prone to disturb social setup.

 Improving the level of training in equality and non-discrimination among police forces and
legal bodies, improving research and encouraging reporting of such content.

 Indian government has been pushing for internet platforms to locate their servers in the
country, which might help address dangerous speech in real time.

 Generating contra-narratives on social networks and raising public awareness

through campaigns to tackle extremism.

 There can be an internationally accepted law that places the responsibility on social media
companies like Facebook to tackle hate speech by deleting obviously illegal content within
24 hours if there is a request from the Government of a particular nation.

 Social media platforms need to take responsibility to ensure transparency, accountability

and a system of rules and guidelines that users can recognize as standards, and which
when enforced in a regularized fashion can begin to act as precedents. Thus, users, police
and civil society actors will have a clear sense of what kind of material is likely to be taken
down.

 Public authorities must be held accountable for dereliction of the duty of care and also for
non-compliance with this court’s orders by not taking action to prevent vigilante groups
from inciting communal disharmony and spreading hate against citizens of the country and
taking the laws into their own hands.
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 Therefore, giving a proper definition to hate speech would be the first step to deal with
the menace and other initiatives such as spreading awareness amongst the public is the
need of the hour.

What factors contribute to the decline in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR)? Evaluate the
difficulties that India faces as its fertility rate decreases in a thorough manner. (250
words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India/
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes of falling TFR and the challenges it poses.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context from the NFHS-5 data.
Body:
First, write about the factors that have contributed to declining TFR are: Higher education, increased
mobility, late marriage, financial independence among women and overall prosperity.
Next, possible challenges that the falling TFR may lead to.
Conclusion:
Conclude by suggesting solutions to the challenges.
Introduction
Total fertility rate (TFR) indicates the average number of children expected to be born to a woman
during her reproductive span of 15-49 years. The data in NFHS 2019-21, the fifth in the survey
series, shows the fertility rate at 1.6 per cent in urban areas and 2.1 in rural India.

Body

Recently released data from National Family Health Survey’s fifth round (NFHS-5) reveal that
India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has decreased to 2.0 from 2.2 in the previous round. TFR is the
number of children born to a heterosexual couple during their reproductive life. Given that 2.1 is the
figure at which the population is maintained at a stable level, taking into account the likelihood of
some child deaths, the latest number suggests that the spectre of population explosion need no
longer haunt India.
Even as the goal of population stabilisation is being achieved, it is imperative that we invest in
fostering the health and wellbeing of all our people, throughout their life course. Decline in fertility
frees up funds for investment in development of our human resources.

Value addition

Trends in the declining Total Fertility Rate in India

 NFHS-5 places the total fertility rate (TFR) at 2.0. known as replacement level of fertility. This
decline is spread evenly across the country.

o 28 states and UTs have a TFR of 9 or less, with seven below 1.6.

o All southern states have a TFR of 1.7-1.8, similar to that of Sweden.

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 Even states that have not reached replacement fertility — Bihar and Uttar Pradesh — seem
to be head in that direction.

 Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan that were part of the lagging states have
achieved TFRs of 0.

 With falling fertility (currently 2.0), the median age of India has risen from 24 years in 2011
to 29 years now and is expected to be 36 years by 2036.

o With a falling dependency ratio (expected to decrease from 65% to 54% in the
coming decade taking 15-59 years as the working age population), India is in the
middle of a demographic transition.

Reasons for falling fertility rate:

 Higher education, increased mobility, late marriage, financially independent women,

overall prosperityare all contributing to a falling TFR.

 It goes below 2 in both urban and rural areas, where girls complete schooling and reduces
further as they pass college.

 Bihar, with the highest TFR of 3.2, had the maximum percentage of illiterate women at
26.8%, while Kerala, where the literacy rate among women is 99.3%, had among the lowest
fertility rates.

 Increased focus on family planning by use of Contraceptives, increased tubectomies and

relatively lesser vasectomies have also contributed to the reducing TFR.

 Urbanization, reduced joint family system, increasing nuclear and single-parent families,
higher cost of living in urban areas and higher wages have discouraged aspiring parents to
reduce the number of kids.

 Working people in urban areas want better pay, implying that they have to reduce the
number of children so as to increase the time they spend at their workplace.
 As more cities come up, people move for jobs and employment tenure gets shorter, TFR may
fall further.

Decreasing fertility rate and its challenges:

 The decrease in fertility and the associated decrease in the dependency ratio, in turn lead to
an increase in the share of the population concentrated in the working ages and hence in
the ratio of the working age to the non-working age population.

 Dependency ratio:
o The proportion of workers rises sharply, even as the proportion of dependants falls.
In many countries, the ratio of workers to dependents goes up, giving a huge boost
to per capita income.

o India will see a significant rise in working age adults India’s dependency ratio that is
the number of dependents to working people is low at 0.6, compared with the

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developed countries. That ratio is going to decline further with fertility rates
continuing to fall.

 For the next few decades India will have a youthful, dynamic and productive workforce than
the rest of the world.

 A demographic trend where the proportion of persons aged 15-24 in the population
increases significantly compared to other age groups which paired with limited employment
opportunities may contribute to increased poverty, hunger, malnutrition, poorer health,
lower educational outcomes, child labour, unsupervised and abandoned children, and
rising rates of domestic violence.

 Education constraints:

o There are serious problems with Indian higher education. These include a shortage
of high quality faculty, poor incentive structures, lack of good regulation

o India is home to the world’s largest concentration of illiterate people in the world

 Health:

o At the primary level, there are also serious problems with health and nutrition that
impact the effectiveness of education and the capacity for learning.

o In future large proportion of older working aged people who face longer periods of
retirement, accumulate assets to support themselves.

Way forward:

 Health and education parameters need to be improved substantially to make the Indian
workforce efficient and skilled.

 Enhance, support and coordinate private sector initiatives for skill development through
appropriate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models; strive for significant operational and
financial involvement from the private sector

 Focus on underprivileged sections of society and backward regions of the country thereby
enabling a move out of poverty; similarly, focus significantly on the unorganized or informal
sector workforce.

 Measures should have pan Indian presence and not just concentrated in metropolitan cities
as most of the workforce is likely to come from the rural hinterland.

 Investing in people through healthcare, quality education, jobs and skills helps build human
capital, which is key to supporting economic growth, ending extreme poverty, and creating
more inclusive societies

 New technology could be exploited to accelerate the pace of building human capital,
including massive open online courses and virtual classrooms

 Policymakers should have a greater incentive to redouble their efforts to promote human
capital so that it can contribute to economic growth and job creation

Value addition

Findings from NFHS-5

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 NFHS-5 finds that there has been a significant increase in current use of any modern
contraceptive method, which stands at 56.5 per cent in 2019-21 against 47.8 per cent in
2015-16. The share of condoms is 9.5 per cent against 5.6 per cent in 2015-16.

 The uptake of female sterilisation has gone up to 38 per cent against 36 per cent in 2015-16.

 The uptake of injectable contraceptives, introduced in 2017, remains abysmally low at 0.6
per cent.

 The increase in female sterilisation shows that the onus of family planning remains with
women, with men not participating in the process and “shrugging responsibility.

 The quality of care in family planning has shown significant improvement with 62 per cent of
current users reporting that they received information on side effects from service providers.
This has increased from 46 per cent in the last survey.

 The number of women who have a bank account they operate themselves has increased
significantly from 53 per cent in 2015-16 to 79 percent, the data show.

Addressing gender-based violence and challenging entrenched patriarchal norms in

India indeed requires an efficient state intervention. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint , Insights on India
Why the question:
United Nations data over the past decade has maintained that as many as one in three women
globally have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Indian women too reel from exposure to
risks of gender-based violence (GBV), exacerbated by an entrenched patriarchy and limited state
capacity to intervene.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the reasons for unabated gender-based violence and steps that are needed to tackle
this chronic problem.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context and mention the NCRB data on increasing cases of gender-based violence.
Body:
In the first part, mention the reasons for this chronic issue. Legal loopholes, social conditioning,
culture of violence, Caste dynamics etc.
Write the steps that are the need of the hour and role of state intervention – Effective
implementation of Laws, investigating agency and prosecution more proficient, awareness, gender
sensitisation etc..
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction

Gender- based violence against women is among the most egregious and commonly
experienced abuses of women’s rights. Intimate partner violence, female genital mutilation, early
and forced marriage and violence as a weapon of war, sexual and gender-based violence, are a

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major public health concern across the world, a barrier to women’s empowerment and gender
equality, and a constraint on individual and societal development, with high economic costs.

United Nations data over the past decade has maintained that as many as one in three
women globally have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Indian women too reel from
exposure to risks of gender-based violence (GBV), exacerbated by an entrenched patriarchy and
limited state capacity to intervene.

Body

Gender based violence against Women: Statistics

In 2019, 400,000 cases of crimes against women were reported, up from about 378,000 in 2018.
These account for only 10% of the crimes against women. The conviction rate for rape cases is a
dismal 30%.

Reason for crimes against women in India

 Entrenched Patriarchy: India is a deeply patriarchal society. Popular culture equates masculinity
with sexual aggression and encourages men and boys to bully and harass women, even rape
them, to “tame” them and teach them a lesson.

 Gender and caste violence: Raping Dalit women takes thismisogyny further. A Dalit woman is
raped not just to punish and humiliate the woman but also her family and community. It is
aimed at underscoring the powerlessness of Dalit men and the larger Dalit community to protect
“their” women.

 Justice system: It is a social fact that the criminal legal system often merely re-arranges a system
of illegalities. For example, rape survivors are routinely pressurized to “compromise” illegally
and turn hostile in trials, failing which they may be threatened or even killed.

 Humiliation to victim:Victims, instead of getting justice, had to face several unnecessary

humiliating questions.
 Crime in home:Most crimes still happen within the confines of homes & victims are raped by
people they know well like relatives/friends/etc, most of these cases don’t even make it to the
statistics.

 No preventive measures:In case of any crime committed against women, the discussion always
goes towards punishment for the crime only, but never towards the prevention of crime.

Rethinking policies to make safer spaces for women

 Law enforcement must swiftly bring the perpetrators to book and state governments must
ascertainareas of high crime rates and double safety protocols in those areas.

 Men and young boys must be brought into the conversation to dismantle patriarchy and power
structures that destroy the lives of women.

 Plugging Gaps in Justice Delivery: The most severe gaps in the justice delivery system are
reporting a police complaint. Therefore, the focus of the criminal justice system needs to shift
from sentencing and punishment to the stages of reporting, investigation, and victim-support
mechanisms. In this context, the following measures must be ensured:

o The victim reports a case without any fear.

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o Police to conduct a sound investigation.

o Victim protection throughout the trial.

o Making testification as easy and as quick as possible.

o Allocation of resources and more robust implementation of the law than is currently
evident.

 Sensitisation At a Broader Level:Despite the ever-increasing ambit of the death sentence, there
has been little effort to address prejudices in society.

o Addressing the prejudicesin the society against sexual offences requires sensitisation of
functionaries of the justice system & more importantly society.
 Victim protection: Adequate protection must be given to the victim until the case is closed to
ensure they are not threatened.

Role of men against the issue of sexual violence against women:

 Promoting gender equality is a critical part of violence prevention.

o The relationship between gender and violence is complex. Evidence suggests, however,
that gender inequalities increase the risk of violence by men against women and inhibit
the ability of those affected to seek protection. There are many forms of violence
against women; this briefing focuses on violence by intimate partners, the most
common form. Though further research is needed, evidence shows that school,
community and media interventions can promote gender equality and prevent violence
against women by challenging stereotypes that give men power over women.

 School initiatives are well placed to prevent violence against women.

o School-based programmes can address gender norms and attitudes before they become
deeply ingrained in children and youth. Such initiatives address gender norms, dating
violence and sexual abuse among teenagers and young adults. Positive results have been
reported for the Safe Dates programme in the United States of America and the Youth
Relationship Project in Canada.

 Community interventions can empower women and engage with men.

o Community interventions can address gender norms and attitudes through, for example,
the combination of microfinance schemes for women and methods that empower men
as partners against gender-based violence. The strongest evidence is for the IMAGE
microfinance and gender equity initiative in South Africa and the Stepping Stones
programme in Africa and Asia. Community programmes with male peer groups show
promise in changing attitudes towards traditional gender norms and violent behaviour,
but they require more rigorous evaluations. Well-trained facilitators and community
ownership appear to boost the effectiveness of these interventions.

 Media interventions can alter gender norms and promote women’s rights.

o Public awareness campaigns and other interventions delivered via television, radio,
newspapers and other mass media can be effective for altering attitudes towards gender
norms. The most successful are those that seek to understand their target audience and

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engage with its members to develop content. We do not yet know, however, whether
they actually reduce violence.

 Programmes must engage males and females.

o There is some evidence that microfinance schemes that empower women (without
engaging with men) may actually cause friction and conflict between partners, especially
in societies with rigid gender roles. Further research is needed to explore how such
possible negative effects might be overcome.

Way forward:

 Addressing the deeply entrenched patriarchal attitudes of the police, lawyer and other
judicial officers that continues to contribute to low reporting and conviction rates.

 Bridging the gap between GBV laws and its correlated areas such as legal rights to property,
land, inheritance, employment and income that allows a woman to walk out of an abusive
relationship and specific emphasis on political and economic participation of women.

 Systematic intervention for multisectoral linkages between Health sector (medical and
psychosocial support), Social Welfare sector (Shelters, counselling and economic
support/skill), Legal (legal aid)
 Not just engage with “men and boys” as change agents but also acknowledge the
expectations linked to masculinity, their position as victim of violence especially for young
boys to address the perpetuation of cycle of GBV.

 Recognize sexual and reproductive health and rights by promotion and protection of
women’s right to have control and decide freely over matters related to their sexuality,
including sexual and reproductive health, family-planning choices and access to
comprehensive sexuality education.

 Reclaiming the spaces for women to increase their presence in visibility through political and
economic participation and diversifying their engagement in non-traditional sectors.

 Use of technology and emerging concepts such as Smart City in urban policy for ensuring
safer and gender friendly infrastructures and spaces that prevents GBV.

Conclusion

Crimes against women are on the rise in recent times. Safety of women is of utmost important to
ensure that the society will prosper. The extent of violence against women in India is shameful, and
shows little sign of abating. While, as a community, it is possible to pass laws to criminalise the
violence, law alone will not ask men to respect the opposite gender. What needs to be ingrained in
the society is this “stronger people don’t put others down; they lift them up”. The year
2012 brought a drastic change in the way the State and society began viewing the epidemic of
sexual violence; nine years later, India still has a long way to go.

Explain the factors contributing to the communalization of society and elaborate on the
actions necessary to foster unity and acceptance among individuals. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:

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The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.

Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes of communalism and ways to counter it.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must
be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining communalism.
Body:
First, write about the various causes behind the communalisation of the society – Divisive Politics,
Economic Causes, History of Communal Riots, Politics of Appeasement etc.
Next, write in detail about various measures to counter communal tension in the society.
Finally, write about what can be done in future by government, civil society etc so as to reduce
communalism.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction

Communalism is basically an ideology which consists of three elements:

 A belief that people who follow the same religion have common secular interests i.e. they
have same political, economic and social interests. So, here socio- political communalities
arise.

 A notion that, in a multi-religious society like India, these common secular interests of one
religion is dissimilar and divergent from the interests of the follower of another religion.

 The interests of the follower of the different religion or of different ‘communities’ are seen
to be completely incompatible, antagonist and hostile.

Body

Factors responsible for growth of Communalism in India:

 A Legacy of Past:

o On the basis of the “Two Nation” theory of Jinnah, India was partitioned. Communal
politics had played its nasty game during the immediate past of independent India.
The “Divide and Rule” policy of the British Government served their colonial
interest. The partition of India was the ultimate outcome of their politics.

 Presence of Communal Parties:

o Religion in India has become an important agency of political socialization and it is

also reflected in the ideology of a number of political parties. A number of
communal and sectarian political parties and organisations are present in India.
Muslim League, Jamaat—Islami, Hindu Mahasabha, Akali Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad
are directly or indirectly responsible for the emergence of communalism.

 Isolation of Muslims:

o Indian Muslims have developed a tendency of isolationism even long after the
creation of Pakistan. They remain aloof from the mainstream of national politics.

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Most of them are not interested to take part in the secular-nationalistic politics of
the country. They insist on to be treated as a separate entity.

 Poverty:

o Mass poverty and unemployment create a sense of frustration among the people. It
generates backwardness, illiteracy, ignorance, etc. The unemployed youth of both
the communities can be easily trapped by religious fundamentalists and fanatics.
They are used by them to cause communal riots. The weak economic status often
breeds communalism.

 Hindu Chauvinism:

o The growths of Hindu chauvinistic attitudes have further strengthened the

communal tensions in India. The Hindu religious groups like Shiv Sena, Hindu
Mahasabha, Viswa Hindu Parisad often pressurize the government to take steps
suitable to the interest of Hindus. They consider each Muslim as pro-Pakistani and
anti-national. To face the possible challenge of other communal forces, they
encourage the growth of Hindu communalism.

 Social Cause:

o The two major communities of India have been suspicious towards each other. The
Muslims complain of the threat of Hindu cultural invasion upon their lives and have
become more assertive of their rights. Either due to ignorance or insecurity, they do
not fully accept the need of family planning and help in increasing population.

 Communalization of Politics:

o Electoral politics in India has become more expensive and competitive. Different
political parties are not hesitating to use any means, fair or foul, for electoral victory.
They even create communal tensions and try to take political advantage out of it.
Concessions are granted to various minority groups for appeasing them.

 Cross-Border factors:

o Communal tensions in India sometimes are highly intensified due to the rule of two
neighbouring theocratic countries. These countries try to create communal
problems in the border states. The communal problems of Punjab and Jammu
Kashmir are caused due to provocation of Pakistan. So long as this cross-border
factor is not removed, communal problems are likely to stay in India.

 Failure of Government:

o Both the Union and the State Governments often fail to prevent communalism in
the country. Due to lack of prior information, they fail to take any preventive
measures. So the communal violence can easily take innocent lives and destroys
property. The post-Godhra riot in Gujarat shows the inefficiency of the government
to control the communal riot. Failure of immediate and effective steps has been a
cause of the continuance of communalism.

Ramification of Communalism:

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 Genocides: With mass killings, the real sufferers are the poor, who lose their house, their
near and dear ones, their lives, their livelihood, etc. It violates the human rights from all
direction. Sometimes children lose their parents and will become orphan for a lifetime.

 Ghettoization and refugee problem are other dimensions of communalism induced

violence, whether its inter country or intra country.

 Sudden increase in violence against any particular community causes mass exodus and
stampede which in turn kills many number of people. For example, this was seen in the case
of Bangalore in 2012, with respect to people from North eastern states, which was
stimulated by a rumour.
 Apart from having effect on the society, it is also a threat to Indian constitutional values,
which promotes secularism and religious tolerance. In that case, citizens don’t fulfil their
fundamental duties towards the nation.

 It becomes a threat for the unity and integrity of the nation as a whole. It promotes only the
feeling of hatred in all directions, dividing the society on communal lines.

 Minorities are viewed with suspicion by all, including state authorities like police, para-
military forces, army, intelligence agencies, etc. There have been many instances when
people from such community have been harassed and detained and finally have been
released by court orders guilt free. For this, there is no provision for compensation of such
victims, about their livelihood incomes forgone, against social stigmas and emotional trauma
of the families.

 Barrier for development: Communal activities occurring frequently do harm the human
resource and economy of the country. And then again it takes years for the people and the
affected regions to come out the traumas of such violence, having deep impact on minds of
those who have faced it. They feel emotionally broken and insecure.

 Terrorism and Secessionism: As seen during the Khalistan movement in Punjab.

Steps to be taken to prevent communalism

 Economic:

o Poverty is one of the major factors for communal violence. Poverty alleviation
measures are thus important for promoting communal harmony.

o Eradicating the problem of unemploymentamong the youths, illiteracy and poverty

and that too with honesty and without any discrimination.

o Reducing educational and economic backwardness of minorities like Muslims.

o This can uplift their socio-economic status and reduce their deprivation compared to
Hindus

 Social:
o The religious leaders and preachers should promote rational and practical things
through religion promoting peace and security.
o Children in schools must be taught through textbooks and pamphlets to maintain
brotherhood and respect for all religions
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INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

o Creating awareness in the society about the ill effects of communism through mass
media

 Political:

o Political communism should be avoided recent Supreme court’s directives

o Identification and mapping of riot prone areas. For Example,Delhi police used
drones to monitor to maintain vigil during communal festivals

o Media, movies and other cultural platforms can be influential in promoting peace
and harmony.

o Social Mediashould be monitored for violent and repulsive content and taken off
immediately.

 Recommendations of Committee on National Integration

o Joint celebration of community festivals

o Observing restraint by Hindus while taking processions before the mosques

o Formation of peace and brotherhood communities at local level to prevent anti-

social elements from engaging in communal riots

o Respect for religious customs, rituals and practices

Conclusion
In a vast country like India which is made up of diverse cultures, backgrounds, religions, identities
etc. it really requires to maintain a sense of equality among its citizen to provide a meaning to the
term democracy. The core reason behind all these discrimination are based on the nature of
unacceptance of diversities. We tend to commit heinous crimes to eradicate the population which
chooses a different set of traditions to follow. But these intolerance can lead India to get collapsed
from being a secular country to communal. And India is known to the world by the term “diversity”.
It is beautiful when the people irrespective of their differences are co-existing.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, sets a legal framework for the
protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in India.
However, ensuring accessible infrastructure remains a challenge. Analyse. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
The article discusses that there need to be more inclusive opportunities and employment in the rural
areas as a majority of persons with disabilities live here
Key Demand of the question:
To write about Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, its successes and limitations in ensuring
accessibility and steps needed to overcome limitations.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing about the aims and objectives of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
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INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

Body:
First, mention the major provisions of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and mention how
it was a landmark step to boost inclusivity and accessibility.
Next, write about various shortcomings of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and also
additional barriers the disabled face in India.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward to achieve inclusivity.
Introduction

According to Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, “Person with disability” means a person
with long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which, in interaction with
barriers, hinders his full and effective participation in society equally with others. According to
Census 2011, India is home to 26.8 million people with disabilities and that is a huge
underestimation.

There is compelling global evidence that media accessibility features are useful for all, including the
hearing and the sighted, albeit in different ways. The Billion Readers initiative has shown that
features like Same Language Subtitles or Captions will advance the reading literacy and language
skills of one billion TV viewers.

Body:

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: A landmark step for disabled

 It becomes the duty of the Union, states as well as Union Territories to take up the matter.
 It is also important to ensure that all government buses are disabled friendly in accordance
with the harmonized guidelines.

 Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept.

 The types of disabilities have been increased from 7 to 21. The act added mental illness,
autism, spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, chronic neurological
conditions, speech and language disability, thalassemia, haemophilia, sickle cell disease,
multiple disabilities including deaf blindness, acid attack victims and Parkinson’s disease
which were largely ignored in earlier act. In addition, the Government has been authorized
to notify any other category of specified disability.

 It increases the quantum of reservationfor people suffering from disabilities from 3% to 4%

in government jobs and from 3% to 5% in higher education institutes.

 Every child with benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years shall have
the right to free education.

 Government funded educational institutions as well as the government recognized

institutions will have to provide inclusive education.

 Stress has been given to ensure accessibility in public buildingsin a prescribed time frame
along with Accessible India Campaign.

 The Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and the State Commissioners will act as
regulatory bodies and Grievance Redressal agencies, monitoring implementation of the Act.

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 A separate National and State Fundbe created to provide financial support to the persons
with disabilities.

Shortcomings of the act

 The Bill strangely makes the clauses on non-discrimination in employment mandatory only in
government establishments.

 The Bill continues with the 1995 act’s provision of having a chief commissioner and state
commissioners. Neither the commissioners nor any of the members of their advisory
committees are required to be Persons with Disabilities.

 Despite a Supreme Court judgment in 2013 that reservations should be decided on the basis
of the total number of vacancies in a particular cadre, rather than the posts identified by the
government to be filled by persons with benchmark disabilities, the bill has stuck to the
latter.

 Also, like it does for the institutions wanting to be registered as ones for PWDs, the bill does
not specify the time frame for a certificate of disability to be issued. This gives PWDs no way
to address the trials and tribulations they face when tackling the bureaucracy in receiving
what has been their right for years now.

 The amended bill does define public buildings and public facilities and services towards
making such infrastructure accessible to PWDs in a “barrier-free” manner. However, for all
the benefits that this bill strives to provide, basic issues of accessibility, including to
information and communication technology, and certification of disability remain a distant
unfulfilled dream in the absence of any political will.

Way forward

 Although RPWD Act, 2016 is a rights-based legislation, the success of the statute will largely
depend on the proactive measures taken by the respective state governments on its
implementation.
 It is time to leverage this vast human capital. It is hoped that the proposed new law, a robust
rights-based legislation with a strong institutional mechanism, shall ensure enjoyment of
rights by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with the non-disabled citizens of India.

 Many disability certificates can now be issued by primary health care doctors after specific
training, which will be a boon to many disabled patients in rural areas. However, the
disability guidelines should have also given the power of certification to the private
practising doctors, so that the shortage of human resources could have been taken care of,
with adequate checks and balances.

 Considering the sociocultural prejudices against them, and the inability, rather the refusal, to
keep in mind the needs of PWDs, this bill, as was the fate of the 1995 act, will go only so far
to ensure for them the rights that should have been a given. Till they are treated as second-
class citizens, and not recognised as capable individuals in their own right, India will continue
to be an unjust and inequitable society.

Conclusion

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Until each of us is firmly committed to the idea of implementing the two fundamental
changes sketched above, we will continue to live in an environment in which, even as we sing praises
of the disabled who achieve success despite the obstacles placed on their path, we do not pause to
reflect on what it is that makes it so hard for them to succeed in the first place and what we can do
to reverse this state of affairs.

Value addition

Major provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016:

 Disabilities covered:

o Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept.

o The types of disabilities have been increased from existing 7 to 21 and the Central
Government will have the power to add more types of disabilities.

o Persons with “benchmark disabilities” are defined as those certified to have at least
40 per cent of the disabilities specified above.

 Rights and entitlements

o Responsibility has been cast upon the appropriate governments to take effective
measures to ensure that the persons with disabilities enjoy their rights equally with
others.
o Additional benefits such as reservation in higher education (not less than 5%),
government jobs (not less than 4 %), reservation in allocation of land, poverty
alleviation schemes (5% allotment) etc. have been provided for persons with
benchmark disabilities and those with high support needs.

o Every child with benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years shall
have the right to free education.

o Government funded educational institutions as well as the government recognized

institutions will have to provide inclusive education to the children with disabilities.
o For strengthening the Prime Minister’s Accessible India Campaign, stress has been
given to ensure accessibility in public buildings (both Government and private) in a
prescribed time-frame.

 Guardianship

o The Act provides for grant of guardianship by District Court under which there will be
joint decision – making between the guardian and the persons with disabilities.

 Establishment of Authorities
o Broad based Central & State Advisory Boards on Disability are to be set up to serve
as apex policy making bodies at the Central and State level.

o Office of Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities has been strengthened who
will now be assisted by 2 Commissioners and an Advisory Committee comprising of
not more than 11 members drawn from experts in various disabilities.

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o Similarly, the office of State Commissioners of Disabilities has been strengthened

who will be assisted by an Advisory Committee comprising of not more than 5
members drawn from experts in various disabilities.

o The Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and the State Commissioners
will act as regulatory bodies and Grievance Redressal agencies and also monitor
implementation of the Act.

o District level committees will be constituted by the State Governments to address

local concerns of PwDs. Details of their constitution and the functions of such
committees would be prescribed by the State Governments in the rules.
o Creation of National and State Fund will be created to provide financial support to
the persons with disabilities. The existing National Fund for Persons with Disabilities
and the Trust Fund for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities will be subsumed
with the National Fund.

 Penalties for offences

o The Act provides for penalties for offences committed against persons with
disabilities and also violation of the provisions of the new law.

o Any person who violates provisions of the Act, or any rule or regulation made under
it, shall be punishable with imprisonment up to six months and/ or a fine of Rs
10,000, or both. For any subsequent violation, imprisonment of up to two years
and/or a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs five lakh can be awarded.

o Whoever intentionally insults or intimidates a person with disability, or sexually

exploits a woman or child with disability, shall be punishable with imprisonment
between six months to five years and fine.

o Special Courts will be designated in each district to handle cases concerning violation
of rights of PwDs.

Salient features of world’s physical geography.

How is smog formed? Examine its impact in detail and ways to mitigate it. (150 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the mechanism of formation of smog, factors aiding formation of smog and its
impact.
Directive word:

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Begin by defining smog.

Body:
First, write about the mechanism that leads to the formation of smog in the atmosphere.
Next, write about smog and the factors that result in the formation of smog.
Next, mention the adverse impact of smog on – weather, health, transportation, buildings, plants etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by mentioning steps to overcome the adverse effects of smog.
Introduction

Smog is a harmful mixture of fog, dust and air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, volatile organic
compounds, etc. which combine with sunlight to form a dense layer of ground-level ozone. It is a
specific type of air pollution. It is a combination of harmful pollutants that are introduced into
the atmosphere by both natural and human induced processes.

Body

various factors that aid the formation of smog

 Nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, ozone, smoke, and other particles make up this type of
visual air pollution.

 Seasonal changes – As the winter months approach, airborne dust and contaminants
become immobile.

 Smog develops as a result of these pollutants becoming trapped in the atmosphere by

ineffective winds, which also impact weather patterns.

 Stubble burning, Coal combustion emissions, automotive emissions, industrial emissions,

forest and agricultural fires, and photochemical reactions of these emissions all contribute
to man-made events.

 The reaction of pollutants from automobiles, factories, and industries with sunlight and the
environment cause smog.

Impact of smog

 Inhaling smog over a long span of time can inflame your breathing passage, much like
cigarette smoking.

 Smog causes inflamed lungs, and inflamed lungs, in turn, secrete interleukin-6 which can
cause blood clots in people, cardiac and respiratory disorders, leading to heart attacks or
strokes.

 Smog can dry out the protective membranes of your nose and throat.

 It can jeopardize your body’s ability to resist infection, hence, increasing your susceptibility
to illness.

 It can greatly decrease the UV radiation, leading to low production of important elements
like Vitamin D.

 Plants and animal life are negatively impacted by the collection of chemicals contained in
photochemical haze.

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 Smogs can also damage plants as it reduces the amount of photosynthesis that plants can
engage in, further leading to plants’ discolouration.

 Smog harms animals by affecting their lungs, triggers asthma, and causes chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease.

 Smog also impacts buildings and infrastructure by accelerating their deterioration through
acid damage. It speeds up the erosion of marble, limestone and other materials.

 When deposited in water bodies, smog pollutants can harm aquatic life and disrupt entire
ecosystems. It impacts plankton, increases water acidity.

Measures needed

 Short term measures should be accompanied by measures that increase the forest cover of
the land and provide farmers with an alternative to burning the remains of their crops.

 An innovative approach could be to use climate change funds to turn farm residues into a
resource, using technological options such as converting them
into biofuels and biofertilizers.

 Proactive engagements are necessary to persuade and reassure farmers.

 It is important to find other uses for stubble such as biomass, which may encourage farmers
to look for alternative sources of income.
 India should at least now give high importance to the WHO warning about air pollution
being the new tobacco. Sharply escalated, deterrent parking fees can be implemented.

 From an urban development perspective, large cities should reorient their investments
to prioritise public transport, favouring electric mobility.

 Incentives for adoption of alternate mobility technologies should be promoted.

 The World Bank has said it is keen to enhance its lending portfolio to tackle air pollution,
opening a new avenue for this.
 Governments should make the use of personal vehicles in cities less
attractive through strict road pricing mechanisms like Congestion tax, Green-house Gas tax

 Need to speed up the journey towards LPG and solar-powered stoves.

 Addressing vehicular emissions is within India’s grasp but requires a multi-pronged

approach. It needs to combine the already-proposed tighter emission norms (in form of BS
VI), with a push for shared mobility and public transport and adoption of alternate mobility
technologies.

 NCAP should take precedence from emerging practices in the country—pollution cess in
Delhi on truck entry, big diesel cars, and diesel fuel sales and the coal cess—to generate
dedicated funds to finance clean air action plan.

 Tackle road dust by mechanised sweeping and water-sprinkling but what would be more
beneficial is if the sides of the roads could be paved or covered with grass that holds the soil
together and stops the production of the dust in the first place.

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 Attention to non-technological aspects such as urban planning, to reduce driving, and to

increase cycling, walking, and use of public transport are needed.

Conclusion

India has 12 out of 14 cities which are high levels of air pollution. Involvement of Supreme Court in
this issue is a significant moment in India’s battle for clean air, emphasising the need for a
comprehensive plan presenting systemic solutions and reminding governments that a plan can be
executed successfully only if all stakeholders work in tandem. This template should also be adapted
for other Indian cities that suffer appalling air quality. Air pollution extracts an enormous price in
terms of health, particularly of children. Combating it must become a governance priority.

Explain the various factors that are responsible for varying vertical and latitudinal
distribution of temperature of the oceans. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the vertical and latitudinal distribution of temperature in ocean waters along with
factors responsible for such a distribution.
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the
context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant
associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by mentioning that temperature varies across the oceans of the world.
Body:
Write about the factors responsible – The study of temperature of the oceans is important for
studying the movement of large volumes of water, distribution of marine organisms, other properties
such as salinity. This distribution pattern of temperature of ocean water can be studied through two
ways – vertical and latitudinal distribution.
Enumerate the factors responsible for the above distribution. Use appropriate examples wherever
necessary
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

The temperature of the oceanic water is important for marine organisms including plants
(phytoplanktons) and animals (zooplanktons). The temperature of sea water also affects the climate
of coastal lands and plants and animals therein.

Body:
Factors Affecting Temperature Distribution:

 Latitude: the temperature of surface water decreases from the equator towards the poles
because the amount of insolation decreases poleward.

 Unequal distribution of land and water: the oceans in the northern hemisphere receive
more heat due to their contact with larger extent of land than the oceans in the southern
hemisphere.

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 Prevailing winds: the winds blowing from the land towards the oceans drive warm surface
water away form the coast resulting in the upwelling of cold water from below. It results
into the longitudinal variation in the temperature. Contrary to this, the onshore winds pile
up warm water near the coast and this raises the temperature.

 Ocean currents: warm ocean currents raise the temperature in cold areas while the cold
currents decrease the temperature in warm ocean areas. Gulf stream (warm current) raises
the temperature near the eastern coast of North America and the West Coast of Europe
while the Labrador current (cold current) lowers the temperature near the north-east coast
of North America.

 Minor Factors:

o Minor factors include:

o submarine ridges,

o local weather conditions like storms, cyclones, hurricanes, fog, cloudiness,

evaporation and condensation, and

o Location and shape of the sea.

Vertical distribution of temperature in ocean waters:

 The temperature-depth profile for the ocean water shows how the temperature decreases
with the increasing depth. The profile shows a boundary region between the surface waters
of the ocean and the deeper layers. The boundary usually begins around 100 – 400 m below
the sea surface and extends several hundred of metres downward. This boundary region,
from where there is a rapid decrease of temperature, is called the thermocline.

 About 90 per cent of the total volume of water is found below the thermocline in the deep
ocean. In this zone, temperatures approach 0° C. The temperature structure of oceans over
middle and low latitudes can be described as a three-layer system from surface to the
bottom.

 The first layer represents the top layer of warm oceanic water and it is about 500m thick
with temperatures ranging between 20° and 25° C. This layer, within the tropical region, is
present throughout the year but in mid latitudes it develops only during summer.

 The second layer called the thermocline layer lies below the first layer and is characterised
by rapid decrease in temperature with increasing depth. The thermocline is 500 -1,000 m
thick.

 The third layer is very cold and extends upto the deep ocean floor. In the Arctic and Antartic
circles, the surface water temperatures are close to 0° C and so the temperature change
with the depth is very slight. Here, only one layer of cold water exists, which extends from
surface to deep ocean floor.

Latitudinal distribution of temperature in ocean waters:

 The average temperature of surface water of the oceans is about 27°C and it gradually
decreases from the equator towards the poles. The rate of decrease of temperature with
increasing latitude is generally 0.5°C per latitude. The average temperature is around 22°C at
20° latitudes, 14° C at 40° latitudes and 0° C near poles.

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 The oceans in the northern hemisphere record relatively higher temperature than in the
southern hemisphere. The highest temperature is not recorded at the equator but slightly
towards north of it.

 The average annual temperatures for the northern and southern hemisphere are around 19°
C and 16° C respectively. This variation is due to the unequal distribution of land and water
in the northern and southern hemispheres.

 It is a well known fact that the maximum temperature of the oceans is always at their
surfaces because they directly receive the heat from the sun and the heat is transmitted to
the lower sections of the oceans through the process of convection.
 It results into decrease of temperature with the increasing depth, but the rate of decrease is
not uniform throughout. The temperature falls very rapidly up to the depth of 200 m and
thereafter, the rate of decrease of temperature is slowed down.

Conclusion:

Thus, both vertically and horizontally the temperature varies in the oceans which impacts
both the marine life as well as local climate.

What are the various factors that affect the formation of Savanna type of climate?
Examine the various threats to Savanna biomes. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the various factors favouring the formation of Savanna type of climate and threats to
them.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Give a brief about Tropical savannas or grasslands that they are associated with the tropical wet and
dry climate type.
Body:
First, write about the factors conducive for Savanna type of climate – tropical regions 8° to 20° from
the Equator, warm to hot, the dry season is associated with the low sun period etc.
Next, mention that the Savanna climate provides for a diverse vegetation such as grasslands, hardy
weather proofed trees and diverse fauna and mention different Savanna regions such as East African,
Llanos, Pampas etc and how they differently impact their ecology.
Next, mention the various threats such as water logging, fire, drought, grazing etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stating that in the present context of Climate change it is imperative to address the
threats faced by the Savannas and ensure ecological balance.
Introduction

Savanna regions have two distinct seasons – a wet season and a dry season. There is very little rain
in the dry season. In the wet season vegetation grows, including lush green grasses and wooded

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areas. As you move further away from the equator and its heavy rainfall, the grassland becomes
drier and drier – particularly in the dry season.

Body

Savanna biomes

Savannas – also known as tropical grasslands – are found to the north and south of tropical
rainforest biomes. The largest expanses of savanna are in Africa, where much of the central part of
the continent, for example Kenya and Tanzania, consists of tropical grassland. Savanna grasslands
can also be found in Brazil in South America.

Various factors that affect the formation of Savanna type of climate

 Savanna type of climate is located between 5°-20° latitudes on either side of the equator.

 Thus, savanna climate is located between equatorial type of climate (Af) and semi-arid and
subtropical humid climate.

 In other words, this climate is located between equatorial low pressure belt or rain
producing inter-tropical convergence and subtropical high pressure belt.

 The regions of Savanna climate are affected by low and high pressure systems in a year.

 Due to northward migration of the sun during summer solstice (21 June) the equatorial low
pressure belt and doldrum are shifted northward and thus Savanna climate comes under the
influence of Inter Tropical Convergence (ITC) which is associated with atmospheric
disturbances (cyclones) which yield rains.

 Due to southward migration of the sun during winter solstice (23 December) Savanna
climatic zone comes under the influence of subtropical high pressure belt and thus
anticyclonic conditions dominate the weather and bring dry conditions.

 The descending stable winds under anticyclonic conditions cause dry conditions.

 Besides, the coastal areas are affected by local winds and sea breezes.
 Eastern coasts are influenced by trade winds. Strong and high velocity tropical cyclones
dominate the weather conditions during warm season.
 It is apparent that the Savanna type of climate is induced due to the introduction of wet
summer and dry winter seasons because of northward and southward migration of the sun
respectively.

 Since the Savanna climate is located between equatorial wet and tropical dry climates and
hence there is gradual variation in weather conditions away from the equator as the aridity
increases poleward.

Various threats to Savanna biomes

 Anthropogenic activities

o Unsustainable water usage and irrigation methods could potentially dry up life-
giving rivers and water holes.

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o In regions where indigenous people regularly include bushmeat – wild meat – in

their diet, ungulate populations have dropped at noticeable rates.

o Some savanna wildlife is also hunted as trophies; black rhinoceroses, in particular,

are hunted for their valuable horns.

o Even some plant species are over-harvested due to their commercial value.

o Carvings made from African Blackwood, a savanna tree, are often sold at tourists’
markets.

 Agriculture, drought and Heavy Grazing

o Agriculture is another environmental threat to the savanna. Large areas of land are
being cleared to grow crops and farm livestock. The livestock competes with local
animals for grazing and can decimate the natural ecosystem.

o Prolonged, severe drought has a dangerous effect on a savanna ecosystem, with

grazing patterns exacerbating this effect.

o The combination of severe drought and grazing can change a grassland of primarily
edible, perennial grasses to a savanna dominated by inedible grasses and plants.

 Desertification

o Tropical savannas often border on arid, desert regions, and the spread of desert-like
conditions into dry grassland areas is called desertification.

o This threat to a savanna ecosystem include effects caused by climate change,

farming practices, overgrazing, aggressive agricultural irrigation, which lowers the
level of the water table away from plant roots, deforestation and erosion.

o Each year, over 46,000 square kilometers of African savanna becomes desert.

 Carbon Emissions

o A 2012 survey attributed large increases in woody plant mass to the “CO2
fertilization effect.” The authors posited that the increase in the rate of woody plant
growth was caused by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
o A dramatic increase in the amount of trees and shrubs could threaten the entire
savanna ecosystem, as these plants use more water than grasses.

Conclusion

While forests are undoubtedly great carbon sinks, grasslands are not all that far behind. Studies
reveal that restoring grasslands is an immensely effective and economical way to combat climate
change, as these landscapes store large amounts of carbon below ground. When a nuanced and
informed understanding of the importance of grasslands filters into conservation and climate change
policies, it will be win-win for pastoralists, grassland biodiversity, and the planet.

How are air masses classified? Explain the process of formation of air masses? What is
the impact of air mases on weather across the world? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India

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Why the question:

The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the classification, process of formation and the impact of air masses in weather.
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the
context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant
associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define what air masses are and the chief characteristics of Air masses.
Body:
First, bring out the classification of Air Masses – various types, their characteristics.
Next, write about the processes behind the formation of air masses – essential conditions for
formation of an air mass such as uniformity in meteorological conditions, ample time and plain
topography which plays an assisting role.
Next, explain how air masses impact the micro climate – creation of an occluded front, maritime air
masses causing rainfall, cyclonic and anti-cyclonic conditions etc. Give examples for these impacts on
micro climate.
Conclusion:
Summarise the major impacts air masses.
Introduction

An air mass is a large volume of air in the atmosphere that is mostly uniform in temperature and
moisture. Air masses can extend thousands of kilometers across the surface of the Earth and can
reach from ground level to the Stratosphere -16 kilometers into the atmosphere. Air masses form
over large surfaces with uniform temperatures and humidity, called source region They acquire a
distinct identity by their humidity, origin and movement.

Body:

 Classification of Air masses:

o Latitudinal origination – Arctic, Tropical, Equatorial, Antarctic,etc.

o Continental air mass/ Oceanic air mass

 An air mass may sit over its source region for long periods of time, or it may migrate.
 An air mass on the move begins to transform as it passes over new landscapes, while at the
same time retaining enough of its original conditions to alter local weather.

 Conditions for the formation of Air masses:

o Source region should be extensive with gentle, divergent air circulation (slightly at
high pressure).

o Areas with high pressure but little pressure difference or pressure gradient are ideal
source regions.

o There are no major source regions in the mid-latitudes as these regions are
dominated by cyclonic and other disturbances

 Air Masses: influence on the World Weather

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o Most of the migratory atmospheric disturbances such as cyclones and storms

originate at the contact zone between different air masses and the weather
associated with these disturbances is determined by characteristics of the air masses
involved.

o Low windspeeds let air remain stationary long enough to take on the features of the
source region, such as heat or cold.

o When winds move air masses, they carry their weather conditions (heat or cold, dry
or moist) from the source region to a new region.

o When the air mass reaches a new region, it might clash with another air mass that
has a different temperature and humidity. This can create a severe storm.

o The properties of an air mass which influence the accompanying weather are
vertical distribution temperature (indicating its stability and coldness or warmness)
and the moisture content.

o The air masses carry atmospheric moisture from oceans to continents and cause
precipitation over landmasses.

o Frontal Precipitation – when warn air mass and cold air mass come in contact frontal
precipitation occurs. It is widely witnessed in temperate region.

o The Air masses when pass through warm water or currents acquire their moisture
and cause rainfall in coastal regions.

o The climates of most regions worldwide are affected by air masses.

o For example, maritime-tropical air sourced over warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean,
Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, primarily between 10 and 30 degrees north of
latitude, is the main contributor of precipitation for much of North America east of
the Rocky Mountains.

o They transport latent heat, thus removing the latitudinal heat balance.

o Desertification:

 They cause arid conditions when dry air mass is present in a region. Sahel
region of Africa is impacted by this.

o Cyclonic and Anticyclone conditions:

 When these continental air masses move towards pole side and polar air
masses move towards equatorial side both of them form fronts.

 These cyclonic fronts are responsible for cyclonic storms at temperate

regions

o Stormy cyclones form near the air-mass fronts.

o The temperate cyclones occur in the mid latitude of both the hemisphere. These
cyclones are born along the polar front, particularly in the region of Icelandic and
Aleutian sub –polar low-pressure areas in the northern hemisphere.

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o A continental polar air mass originating from the tundra of northern Canada may
push southward during the winter.

o It brings frigid temperatures to the central United States, even as it warms up

somewhat on its journey across lower latitudes.

o While dry in its source region, such an air mass often picks up substantial moisture
during an early-winter transit of the Great Lakes, allowing it to dump so-called lake
effect snow on leeward coasts

o Also helps in creation of an occluded front

Conclusion:

Air masses spread across massive region up to 1600 km or more. They exercise a considerable
influence on the climatic conditions of the region over which they lodge and carry with them
distinctive climatic features of their source region.

Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic

activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical
geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and
fauna and the effects of such changes.
El Niño is often associated with a weakening of the Indian monsoon, which is critical for
agriculture in the country. Analyse. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about El-Nino and also write in detail about its effects on India and need to prepare for its
impact.
Directive word:
Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the
topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by writing a few introductory lines describing the El-Nino.
Body:
First, write about the mechanism of El-Nino – The role trade winds pushing warm water, difference in
temperature across the equatorial pacific, circulation between east and west in the Pacific etc.
Next, write about impact of El-Nino of global climate and the impact of El-Nino on Indian monsoon –
very dry weather on the western parts of India, crop failures and lower agricultural production etc.
Next, write about steps that must be taken in order to have better forecasting models to help predict
the impact of El Nino on agriculture and the economy and other steps to mitigate its impact.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
Introduction
El Niño is a naturally occurring phenomenon that is linked to a periodic warming in sea surface
temperatures across the central and east-central Equatorial Pacific. El Niño is Spanish for “the boy
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INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

child,” which is often used to refer to Jesus Christ, and the phenomenon earned this name because it
typically occurs in December around Christmas. El Niño occurs every 2-7 years, and can last
anywhere between nine months and two years.

Body

Mechanism

During El Niño, the trade winds weaken or even reverse: Instead of blowing from east (South
America) to west (Indonesia), they could turn into westerlies. As the winds blow from the west to
east, they cause the masses of warm water to move into the central and eastern equatorial Pacific
Ocean. The rise in SSTs there, thus, produces increased rainfall along western Latin America, the
Caribbean and US Gulf Coast, while depriving Southeast Asia, Australia and India of convective
currents.

The causes for El Niña are:

The two opposite phases, “El Niño” and “La Niña,” require certain changes in both the ocean and the
atmosphere because ENSO is a coupled climate phenomenon. “Neutral” is in the middle of the
continuum.

Neutral phase:
 In the neutral state (neither El Niño nor La Niña) trade winds blow east to west across the
surface of the tropical Pacific Ocean, bringing warm moist air and warmer surface waters
towards the western Pacific and keeping the central Pacific Ocean relatively cool. The
thermo cline is deeper in the west than the east.

 This means that under “normal” conditions the western tropical Pacific is 8 to 10°C warmer
than the eastern tropical Pacific. This warmer area of ocean is a source for convection and is
associated with cloudiness and rainfall.

El Nino:
 The trade winds push warm water on the surface of the ocean from east to west (westerly).
This causes the warm water to build up on the western side of the ocean near Asia.
Meanwhile, on the eastern side of the ocean, near Central and South America, cold waters
are pushed up towards the surface.

 Because of this, there is a difference in temperature across the equatorial pacific, with warm
water to the west and cold water to the east. The warm water in the west heats the air,
making the warm air rise and leading to drastic weather, including rain and thunderstorms.

 The rising warm air causes a circulation between east and west in the Pacific, with the warm,
moist air rising in the west, and cool, dry air descending in the east. All of these natural
occurrences lead to a reinforcement of the easterly winds, and cause a self-perpetuating
motion in the air in the Pacific.

Impacts

El-Nino impact on Indian monsoon:

 El Nino, characterized by warming of surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, is associated

with lower than normal monsoon rainfall in India.

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 El Nino has been found to impact almost half the world triggering droughtsin
Australia, India, southern Africa and floods in Peru, Ecuador, the United States, the Gulf of
Mexico, and the Colorado River basin.

 El Nino affects the flow of moisture-bearing windsfrom the cooler oceans towards India,
negatively impact the summer (south-west) monsoon.

 After all, the south-west monsoon (June-September) accounts for over 70% of the country’s
annual rainfall and irrigates over half of the crop land.

 The rain-fed kharif crops are heavily dependent on the monsoon and the quantity of rainfall
determines agricultural production.

 El Niño years tend to be drier than average, but one of the strongest El Nino of the century
(1997-98) produced a monsoon season with above-average rainfall for India.

 Researchers also believe that even the location of the warming in the Pacific may possibly
have an influence on the monsoon.

 Disasters:

o Heat-waves in India leading to deaths of people and fauna.

o Water sources dry up leading to increased distress migration and climate refugees.

 Economic impacts:

o India is the second-biggest grower of wheat, rice, sugar and cotton, and the largest
buyer of palm, soybean and sunflower oils.

o The livelihood of millions of farmers in the country of about 1.4 billion people
depends on rains brought by the winds from the Indian Ocean.

o The farm sector is the main source of income for 60% of its population and accounts
for 18% of the economy.

o The monsoon is critical to India’s farm output and economic growth at a time when
the country, where man-made systems like canals and tube wells irrigate only a part
of the land, is battling soaring food prices.
o Timely and normal rains are set to boost production outlook for monsoon-sown
crops such as rice, soybeans and pulses and help in softening soaring inflation.

o Bountiful rains would also fill reservoirs, which in turn would brighten prospects for
winter crops, usually planted during October and November.

o The early arrival of the south-west monsoon comes at a time when parts of
Northwest India were experiencing extremely high maximum temperatures.

 Social Impacts:

o A WHO Paper said that El Niño 2015-2016 is affecting more than 60 million people.

o Rising temperatures and more variable rainfall patterns can often reduce crop
yields, compromising food security.

o This can lead to social unrest, civil wars, increased inequality between people.
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INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

o El Niño conditions can cause a wide range of health problems, including disease
outbreaks, malnutrition, heat stress, and respiratory diseases.

 Environmental impacts:

o Effect on aquatic species and sea birds: fish either migrate to other regions or die
during an El Niño because they lack adequate food for growth and survival.

Way Forward:

 The government must expand the farm insurance cover and advice banks and financial
institutions to settle crop insurance claims in the drought-hit areas without delay.

 High quality seeds of alternative crops must be distributed among farmers in the drought-
affected areas.

 Technologies like drip and sprinkler irrigation, precision agriculture.

 Monetary Control measures to tackle inflationary trends in country.

 Financial support from global organizations for rehabilitation and rebuilding.

 Disaster Response Forces to tackle floods and droughts.

 Developing early warning systems and alerting the people much in advance.

 Global co-operation to tackle the climate change which can further aggravate El- Niño and
La- Niña conditions.

As global temperatures rise, permafrost is thawing at an accelerated rate, leading to a

variety of environmental, social, and economic consequences. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: cosmosmagazine.com
Why the question:
Our world is undoubtedly warming. But while we try and turn the ship around, the permafrost slowly
melts, uncovering more and more organisms and compounds from under the ice
Key Demand of the question:
To write about permafrost, its global distribution and impact of its thawing.
Directive word:

Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining permafrost.
Body:
First, with a map, show the major areas of the world that are covered with permafrost.
Next, write about the thawing of permafrost under the impact of global warming.
Next, write about the impact of thawing of permafrost – Thawing permafrost can raise water levels
in Earth’s oceans and increase erosion, resurrecting trapped pathogens, giving rise to potential public
health threats etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward to handle the above challenges.

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Introduction

Permafrost is any type of ground, from soil to sediment to rock—that has been frozen continuously
for a minimum of two years and as many as hundreds of thousands of years. It can extend down
beneath the earth’s surface from a few feet to more than a mile—covering entire regions, such as
the Arctic tundra, or a single, isolated spot, such as a mountaintop of alpine permafrost.

Body

Thawing of Permafrost

 While global warming is upping temperatures around the world,the Arctic is warming twice
as fast as anywhere else and faster than it has in the past 3 million years.

 And when surface air temperatures rise, below-ground temperatures do, too, thawing
permafrost along the way.

 Scientists estimate there is now 10 percent less frozen groundin the northern hemisphere
than there was in the early 1900s.

 One recent study suggests that with every additional8°F (1°C) of warming,an additional 1.5
million square miles of permafrost could eventually disappear.

 Even if we meet the climate targets laid out during the 2015 Paris climate talks, the world
may still lose more than 2.5 million square milesof frozen turf.

Impact of permafrost thawing

 Huge Carbon Sink: An estimated 1,400 gigatons of carbon are frozen in Arctic permafrost,
making it one of the world’s largest carbon sinks.

o That’s about four times more than humans have emitted since the Industrial
Revolution, and nearly twice as much as is currently contained in the atmosphere.
o According to a recent report,2 degrees Celsius increase in temperature, expected by
the end of the century will result in a loss of about 40 percent of the world’s
permafrost by 2100.

 Loss of trapped Greenhouse gases: Packed with many thousands of years of life, from
human bodies to the bodies of woolly mammoths, permafrost is one of earth’s great stores
of global warming gases.

o Indeed, permafrost in the Arctic alone is estimated to hold nearly twice as much
carbon as exists in the atmosphere now, as well as a sizable amount of methane—a
powerful greenhouse gas that traps more than 80 times more heat on the planet
than carbon does.

 Toxins: A recent study found that Arctic permafrost is a massive repository of natural
mercury, a potent neurotoxin. Indeed, it’s estimated that some 15 million gallons of
mercury—or nearly twice the amount of mercury found in the ocean, atmosphere, and all
other soils combined—are locked in permafrost soils.

o Once released, however, that mercury can spread through water or air into
ecosystems and potentially even food supplies.

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 Crumbling Infrastructure: About 35 million people live in a permafrost zone, in towns and
cities built on top of what was once considered permanently frozen ground.

o But as that solid ground softens, the infrastructure these communities rely on grows
increasingly unstable.

o Eg: Recent Russian Norilsk diesel oil spill is an ongoing industrial disaster, which
occurred at a thermal power plant that was supported on permafrost, crumbled.

 Altered Landscape: Thawing permafrost alters natural ecosystems in many ways as well. It
can create thermokarsts, areas of sagging ground and shallow ponds that are often
characterized by “drunken forests” of askew trees.

o It can make soil—once frozen solid—more vulnerable to landslides and erosion,

particularly along coasts.

o As this softened soil erodes, it can introduce new sediment to waterways, which
may alter the flow of rivers and streams, degrade water quality (including by the
introduction of carbon), and impact aquatic wildlife.

 Diseases and viruses: it can also trap and preserveancient microbes.

o It’s believed that some bacteria and viruses can lie dormant for thousands of
years in permafrost’s cold, dark confines before waking up when the ground warms.

o A 2016 anthrax outbreak in Siberia, linked to a decades-old reindeer carcass

infected with the bacteriaand exposed by thawed permafrost, demonstrated the
potential threat.

o In 2015, researchers in Siberia uncovered the Mollivirus sibericum, a 30,000-year-

old behemothof a virus that succeeded in infecting a rather defenceless amoeba in a
lab experiment.

o About a decade earlier, scientists discovered the first Mimivirus, a 1,200-gene

specimen measuring twice the width of traditional viruses, buried beneath layers of
melting frost in the Russian tundra. (For comparison, HIV has just nine genes.)

o This can be the case with other diseases, such as smallpox and the 1918 Spanish
flu—known to exist in the frozen tundra, in the mass graves of those killed by the
disease.

o Human contact with zombie pathogens may risk new pandemics, if there is
unabated mining of metals from permafrost.

Conclusion

By reducing our carbon footprint, investing in energy-efficient products, and supporting climate-
friendly businesses, legislation, and policies, we can help preserve the world’s permafrost and avert
a vicious cycle of an ever-warming planet.

Explain the process of how volcanoes are created and their types. Why is Iceland so
volcanically active? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express

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Why the question:

Iceland is one of the most volcanically active regions on the planet. It witnesses an eruption every
four to five years. However, since 2021, the frequency has spiked to almost one eruption per year.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the volcano formation and its types with suitable examples and reasons for high
volcanic activity in Iceland.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect
it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so
we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define what Volcanoes are.
Body:
First, write about the process of volcano formation in detail.
Next, write about types of volcanoes with suitable diagrams and descriptions. Present the various
landforms associated with it. Both intrusive and extrusive.
Next, write about reasons for high volcanic activity in Iceland.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising.
Introduction

A volcano is a rupture in the crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava,
volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface. The process is called
Volcanism and has been ongoing on Earth since the initial stages of its evolution over 4 billion years
ago.

Body

Formation of volcano:

 The majority of volcanoes in the world form along the boundaries of Earth’s tectonic
plates—massive expanses of our planet’s lithosphere that continually shift, bumping into
one another.
 When tectonic plates collide, one often plunges deep below the other in what’s known as
a subduction zone.

 As the descending landmass sinks deep into the Earth, temperatures and pressures climb,
releasing water from the rocks.

 The water slightly reduces the melting point of the overlying rock, forming magma that can
work its way to the surface—the spark of life to reawaken a slumbering volcano.

 Not all volcanoes are related to subduction,

 Another way volcanoes can form is what’s known as hotspot volcanism.

 In this situation, a zone of magmatic activity—or a hotspot—in the middle of a tectonic plate
can push up through the crust to form a volcano.

 Although the hotspot itself is thought to be largely stationary, the tectonic plates continue
their slow march, building a line of volcanoes or islands on the surface. This mechanism is
thought to be behind the Hawaii volcanic chain.

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Types of volcanoes

 Types of volcanoes found due to convergent plate boundaries:

 Composite Cones or Strato volcanoes

 Cinder cone (Tephra cones)

 Calderas

 Types of volcanoes found due to divergent plate boundaries:

 Conical Vent and Fissure Vent

 Shield Volcanoes or Lava domes

 Mid-Ocean Ridges

 Types of volcanoes found due to Hotspots:

 Shield Volcanoes or Lava domes

 Lava Plains and Basalt Plateaus

Reasons behind a volcanically active Iceland are

 Iceland is one of Earth’s most volcanically active areas, with 32 active volcanic sites.

 It averages an eruption every four to five years — though the frequency has increased closer
to every 12 months since 2021.

 Iceland’s volcanism can be attributed to its location on the Mid Atlantic Ridge in the North
Atlantic Ocean, where the Eurasian and North American plates are moving apart a few
centimeters per year.

 In Iceland, this produces volcanic rift zones, regions where the Earth’s crust is being pulled
apart and fractured, and here molten rock, or magma, rises up, and some reaches the
surface and erupts as lava and/or ash.

 Eruptions can occur from central summit vents or flank vents of a volcano, or from linear
‘fissures’, metres to kilometers in length, which develop parallel to the rift zone.

 Iceland is also widely considered to be underlain by a ‘mantle plume’, a hot zone in which
there is increased melting of rock in the earth’s mantle.

 Such a ‘hotspot’ causes enhanced volcanic activity in addition to that already occurring due
to the spreading movement of the plates.

 The island’s geological setting, as well as climatological circumstances, results in unusually

diverse styles of volcanism in the region, for example, some volcanoes are beneath the sea
(submarine) and some are beneath ice caps (subglacial).

 One of the country’s largest active volcanoes is Katla, which is closely watched, because it
lies under thick glacial ice, meaning that any eruption could melt the ice and trigger
widespread flooding.

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 Katla last erupted in 1918, and that eruption lasted almost a month, starving crops of
sunlight and killing some livestock.

Conclusion

Volcanoes have a huge impact on man and material as urbanization and globalization increases. The
effects have impacts on flora, fauna and the global warming which can accelerate the climate
change.

The world’s glaciers are shrinking at a faster rate than before. Discuss in detail the
impact of glacial melt across the World. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The World Meteorological Organization’s recent report, The Global Climate 2011-2020, gives a broad
view of the planet’s response to greenhouse gas emissions. In the section on the state of glacier
health, it points out that, on average, the world’s glaciers thinned by approximately a metre a year
from 2011 to 2020.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the causes and impact of glacial melt across the World.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the
details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for
and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context.
Body:
First, write about the major causes leading to glacier melt. Cite statistics to substantiate.
Next, write about the impact of glacial melt – Altered River flows, Impact on economic activities,
Impact on weather pattern, Impact on humans and wildlife etc.
Next, write about the various measures that need to be taken.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
Introduction

A glacier is a large, perennial accumulation of crystalline ice, snow, rock, sediment, and often liquid
water that originates on land and moves down slope under the influence of its own weight and
gravity.

The world’s glaciers are melting at faster rate than before—putting densely-populated parts of the
world at the twin-risk of flooding and water shortage. The World Meteorological Organization’s
recent report, The Global Climate 2011-2020, reveals a concerning trend of glacier thinning, with an
average reduction of about one meter per year from 2011 to 2020.

Body

Key findings of the report:

Key Findings Implications

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Atmospheric concentrations of major greenhouse gases (GHG) continued

to rise, especially CO2, reaching over 413 ppm in 2020, primarily due to
Temperature fossil fuel combustion and land-use changes.
Trends
Record high temperatures contribute to extreme weather events, posing
risks to ecosystems, agriculture, and human populations.

Accelerated ocean warming and acidification (with 90% of total

Oceanic
accumulated heat stored in the ocean) highlight the vulnerability of
Changes
marine ecosystems, necessitating conservation efforts.

Increased frequency of marine heatwaves poses threats to marine life and

ecosystems, impacting fisheries and coastal communities.
Marine
Heatwaves Accelerated sea level rise calls for adaptive measures to protect coastal
and Sea Level areas and vulnerable populations from potential flooding.
Rise
Global mean sea level rise accelerated to 4.5mm/yr from 2011-
2020, mainly due to ocean warming and ice mass loss

Global glacier thinning impacts water supply, necessitating water resource

management strategies in regions dependent on glacial melt.

The significant loss of ice from Greenland and Antarctica (lost 38% more
ice compared to 2001-2010) contributes to rising sea levels, with
implications for coastal regions.
Glacier and
Ice Sheet Loss
The report warns of the rapid growth of pro-glacial lakes, contributing to
glacier lake outburst floods (GLOF), with past incidents, like the
Uttarakhand floods

With current greenhouse gas emission rates, glaciers may decline by 55%
to 75%, impacting freshwater supply significantly by 2050

Ongoing Arctic Sea ice decline (30% below the 1981-2010 average)
Arctic Sea Ice
underscores the vulnerability of polar regions to climate change and its
Decline
cascading effects globally.

Impact of Arctic and Antarctic Ice Melting:

Impact Implications

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Rise in Sea Levels: Threatens coastal communities; IPCC projects

significant sea level rise.

Albedo Effect Reduction: Loss of ice increases solar radiation absorption,

contributing to planetary warming.

1. Impacts on Disruption of Ocean Currents: Melting ice disrupts thermohaline

Climate circulation, influencing global climate patterns.

Release of Greenhouse Gases: Melting permafrost releases methane,

exacerbating global warming.

Increased Weather Extremes: Influences jet streams, contributing to

global extreme weather events.

Habitat Loss for Species: Polar bears and penguins face habitat loss,
affecting populations and distribution.

Changes in Marine Ecosystems: Altered temperature and salinity levels

impact marine biodiversity, including plankton.

2. Impacts on Ocean Acidification: Increased CO2 absorption leads to acidification,

Marine Life harming marine life, especially shell-forming species.

Disruption of Food Chains: Changing ice conditions affect algae and krill
availability, essential for many marine species.

Increased Predation and Competition: Alters marine ecosystem balance,

leading to increased competition and predation.

Coastal Infrastructure and Housing: Rising sea levels necessitate

significant investments in coastal infrastructure adaptation.

Impact on Fisheries: Changes in marine ecosystems affect global fisheries

3. Impacts on and dependent economies.
Global
Economy Increased Insurance Costs: Extreme weather events lead to higher
insurance costs for businesses and governments.

New Shipping Routes: Melting ice opens new Arctic shipping routes,
altering global trade patterns.

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Agricultural Changes: Altered weather patterns influence agricultural

productivity, impacting food prices and security.

Measures needed

 Mitigating Climate Change:

o International Agreements: Strengthening commitments under theParis

Agreement. For example, countries increasing their Nationally Determined
Contributions (NDCs) to reduce emissions.

o Renewable Energy Initiatives:Germany’s Energiewende program, which aims to

transition to renewable energy, serves as a model for reducing reliance on fossil
fuels.

 Protecting Marine Ecosystems

o Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): The establishment of the Great Barrier Reef
Marine Parkin Australia demonstrates effective conservation of marine biodiversity.

o Sustainable Fishing Practices:Norway’s implementation of sustainable fishing

quotas and strict regulations to protect fish stocks.

 Adapting Coastal Infrastructure

o Flood Defense Systems:The Netherlands’ Delta Works, a series of dams and storm
surge barriers, exemplify advanced coastal protection infrastructure.
o Managed Retreat Strategies:The planned relocation of the Alaskan village of
Newtok due to rising sea levels is an example of a managed retreat.

 Promoting Sustainable Economic Practices

o Circular Economy Models:Japan’s focus on recycling and waste reduction under the
concept of a “Sound Material-Cycle Society.”
o Green Bondsand Sustainable Investments: The issuance of green bonds, such as
those by the World Bank, to fund environmental projects.

 Scientific Research and Monitoring

o Polar Research Programs: The European Space Agency’s CryoSat mission,

monitoring polar ice and snow, contributes valuable data on ice melt and sea level
rise.

o Climate Research Institutes:The Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the

USA conducts cutting-edge research on climate change and its impacts.

 There has been an increased focus on monitoring Greenland’s ice loss through satellite
missions like NASA’s ICESat-2.

Conclusion
The melting of Arctic and Antarctic ice poses serious challenges to our global climate
system, marine ecosystems, and economies. However, these challenges also present opportunities

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to foster global cooperation, advance scientific understanding, and implement innovative

solutions.

Factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector
industries in various parts of the world (including India).
Agglomeration industries have been analyzed in the literature as drivers of economic
growth, as these contribute to productivity enhancement. Elaborate on the reasons as
to why firms agglomerate? (250 words)
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To bring out the reasons for agglomeration by industries and firms.
Directive:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context.
You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated
facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin the answer by defining agglomeration industries. Cite few examples of Agglomeration
Industries in India such as Diamond Agglomeration of Surat, Transportation Industry of Namakkal
etc.
Body:
In the first part of the body, elaborate upon Agglomeration industries as drivers of economic growth.
From improved access to market centers to from enhanced intra-industry linkages and inter-industry
urbanization economies, which all enhances productivity.
In the next part of the body, bring out in detail, the factors responsible for agglomeration of
Industries such as Proximity to Customers and Suppliers, Labor Market Pooling, Intellectual or
Technology Spillovers, Natural Advantages, facilities for the development, local trade of specialized
inputs and better availability of public intermediate inputs tailored to the technical needs of the
industry. Substantiate these with examples from India and across the world.
Conclusion:
Summarize the overall importance of agglomeration industries, especially in their role in urbanization
and conclude the answer.
Introduction
Industries based on cheap, bulky and weight-losing material (ores) are located close to the sources
of raw material such as steel, sugar, and cement industries. Many industries benefit from nearness
to a leader-industry and other industries. These benefits are termed as agglomeration economies.

Body:

Agglomeration Economies as factors of Economic Growth:

Agglomeration economies or external economies of scale refer to the benefits from concentrating
output and housing in particular areas.

If an area specialises in the production of a certain type of good, all firms can benefit from various
factors such as:

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 Good supply networks

 Supply of trained workers

 Infrastructure built specifically for the industry

 Good transport links.

Due to agglomeration economies, people and firms often concentrate in particular areas. For
example, people tend to move to cities where is there is a greater choice of jobs, social activities and
specialist services

Examples of Agglomeration Economies:

Silicon Valley. IT setups tend to cluster in similar regions, such as Silicon Valley California, and major
cities, like London. The reason is that these areas attract highly skilled IT personnel and it is easier to
recruit the right staff. Also, the support infrastructure will surround the areas. There will be a
competitive market for designers, software engineers, and proof readers.

Chinese clothing manufacturers. China has seen a strong growth in manufacturing industries on the
south-east coast. These areas have good transport links for exporting to the rest of the world. Also,
the areas have attracted migrant flows from northern China, enabling wage costs to remain low

Factors responsible for the agglomeration of manufacturing industries in India:

 The most dominant factor of industrial location is the least cost.

o Cost of obtaining raw materials at site: Manufacturing activity tends to locate at the
most appropriate place where all the raw materials of production are either
available or can be arranged at lower cost.

 Cost of production at site: These are influenced by availability of labour, capital, power, etc.
Thus industrial location is influenced by the costs of availability of these factors of
production.

 Cost of distribution of production: The distance of industry from market influence the
transportation costs. Transportation costs influence the cost of distribution of production.

 Raw materials:
o Indeed, the location of industrial enterprises is sometimes determined simply by
location of the raw materials.

o Finished product of one industry may well be the raw material of another. For
example, pig iron, produced by smelting industry, serves as the raw material for
steel making industry.

 Power:

o Regular supply of power is a pre-requisite for the localisation of industries. Coal,

mineral oil and hydroelectricity are the three important conventional sources of
power.

o The iron and steel industry which mainly depends on large quantities of coking coal
as source of power are frequently tied to coal fields.

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 Transport:

o Transport by land or water is necessary for the assembly of raw materials and for
the marketing of the finished products.

o The development of railways in India, connecting the port towns with hinterland
determined the location of many industries around Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai.

 Market:

o The entire process of manufacturing is useless until the finished goods reach the
market. Nearness to market is essential for quick disposal of manufactured goods.

o It helps in reducing the transport cost and enables the consumer to get

o Things at cheaper rates.

 Water:

o Water is another important requirement for industries. Many industries are

established near rivers, canals and lakes, because of this reason.

o Iron and steel industry, textile industries and chemical industries require large
quantities of water, for their proper functioning.

 Site:

o Site requirements for industrial development are of considerable significance. Sites,

generally, should be flat and well served by adequate transport facilities.

 Climate:

o Climate plays an important role in the establishment of industries at a place.

o Harsh climate is not much suitable for the establishment of industries. There can be
no industrial development in extremely hot, humid, dry or cold climate.

 Capital:

o Modern industries are capital-intensive and require huge investments. Capitalists

are available in urban centres.

o Big cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Chennai are big industrial centres,
because the big capitalists live in these cities.

Additional capacities are being planned to be installed in all the major manufacturing units.

 Government Policy:

o Government activity in planning the future distribution of industries, for reducing

regional disparities, elimination of pollution of air and water and for avoiding their
heavy clustering in big cities, has become no less an important locational factor.

o A public procurement policy has been proposed incorporating technology along with
common facility centres while the Khadi Mark steps has been launched to promote
Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.

 Banking Facilities:
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o Establishment of industries involves daily exchange of crores of rupees which is

possible through banking facilities only. So the areas with better banking facilities
are better suited to the establishment of industries.

 Insurance:

o There is a constant fear of damage to machine and man in industries for which
insurance facilities are badly needed.

Conclusion:

Policies in the form of taxation concession, stable policy, cheaper land, administrative ease and good
governance facilitates the development of Industrial clusters. In pursuance to this GOI passed the
Special Economic Zones Act, in 2005. Further Government has established National Investment and
Manufacturing Zones for increasing the manufacturing share in country’s GDP. Governments adopt
‘regional policies’ to promote ‘balanced’ economic development and hence set up industries in
particular areas.

Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and
the Indian sub-continent);
Describe in detail the process of rat hole mining and explain the challenges linked to
this practice. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express. , Insights on India
Why the question:
Though many agencies helped make it happen, the courage and tenacity of the rat-hole miners and
those who worked for long hours for the cutting operations inside the pipe were truly inspirational.
They are the real heroes, along with the 41 trapped workers who displayed unflagging fortitude.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about rat hole mining and issues regarding it.
Directive word:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the
context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant
associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining rat hole mining.
Body:
First, write in detail about what rat hole mining is – involves digging of very small tunnels, usually
only 3-4 feet high, which workers (often children) enter and extract coal. Rat-hole mining is broadly
of two types – side-cutting procedure, where narrow tunnels are dug on the hill slopes and workers
go inside until they find the seam, box-cutting, a rectangular opening is made, varying from 10 to 100
sq m, and through that is dug a vertical pit, 100 to 400 feet deep.
Next, write about issues in the above – being unscientific and unsafe for workers. The state
government has appealed the order in the Supreme Court.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a balanced opinion on the above.
Introduction

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Rathole mining involves digging of very small tunnels, usually only 3-4 feet high, which workers
(often children) enter and extract coal. It is broadly of two types.

 Side-cutting procedure: Narrow tunnels are dug on the hill slopes and workers go inside
until they find the coal seam. The coal seam in hills of Meghalaya is very thin, less than 2 m
in most cases.

 Box-cutting procedure:A rectangular opening is made, varying from 10 to 100 sq. m, and
through that is dug a vertical pit, 100 to 400 feet deep. Once the coal seam is found, rat-
hole-sized tunnels are dug horizontally through which workers can extract the coal.

Body

Background

Two scientific methods of mining — vertical drilling and auger or horizontal drilling — were
employed to rescue 41 workers on November 28 after 17 days of being trapped in the partially-
collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand. The last leg of the rescue involved rat-hole mining, once
used extensively in Meghalaya.
Though many agencies helped make it happen, the courage and tenacity of the rat-hole miners and
those who worked for long hours for the cutting operations inside the pipe were truly inspirational.
They are the real heroes, along with the 41 trapped workers who displayed unflagging fortitude.

NGT ban on Rathole Mining:

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned it in 2014, and retained the ban in 2015, on
grounds of it being unscientific and unsafe for workers.The NGT order bans not only rat-hole mining
but all “unscientific and illegal mining”. The court placed much emphasis on a report of O P Singh,
professor of environmental studies of North Eastern Hills University of Shillong that explained the
grave environmental concerns and health concerns.

Major issues associated with Rathole Mining:

Ecology:

 In their petition to the NGT, Assam’s All Dimasa Students’ Union and the Dima Hasao District
Committee complained that rat-hole mining in Meghalaya had caused the water in
the Kopili river (it flows through Meghalaya and Assam) to turn acidic.

 No biological lives are seen in the river. The rocks in the river bed turned yellowish, which
also indicates flow of acid mine drainage

 Ecologically Sensitive Zones are being degraded due to increased mining activities.

 Entire roadsides in and around mining areas are used for piling of coal which is a major
source of air, water and soil pollution.
 Off road movement of trucks and other vehicles in the area caused further damage to the
fragile ecology of the area which lies in the Zone 5 seismic area.

Risk to lives:

 During the rainy season, water floods into the mining areas resulting in death of many
employees/workers.

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 Health hazards due to poisonous gases like Hydrogen Sulphide, Methane can cause instant
death of miners.

 The lack of regulations, treacherous work conditions lead to over-work and meagre pay.

Economic:

 According to government reports, the coal mining industry was among the biggest revenue
earners for the state, generating about Rs. 700 crore annually, prior to its ban in 2014.

 The value of extracted coal stored in Meghalaya was officially estimated at over Rs. 3,078
crore four years ago.

 The Katoki panel reported that nearly 24,000 illegal mines are present in Meghalaya as
interpreted from satellite images.

Reasons for its continuance:

Loopholes in the law:

 The ban has been rendered meaningless by the Supreme court-sanctioned permission to
transport “already-mined” coal till January 2019. Mine owners have used this loophole to
continue mining operations illegally.

 The State of Meghalaya has promulgated a mining policy of 2012, which does not deal with
rat-hole mining, but on the contrary, deprecates it.

 Meghalaya comes under the 6th Schedule of Constitution. The provisions allow for
community ownership of land and autonomy over its use. However they are taken over by
private players and tribals are left helpless.

Lack of Political and Executive will:

 The unholy nexus of Politicians and Contractors: About 33% of political candidates have
stakes in coal mining and transport companies, thus lobbying against the ban order.

 A committee (headed by Retired Justice B.P. Katoki) appointed by the National Green
Tribunal (NGT) has blamed poor implementation of NGT order by executive.

 The committee revealed that the state government shockingly has no records about the rat-
hole mines, number of workers involved and any other data relating to death or injuries to
the workers.

Geological Conditions:

 No other method would be economically viable in Meghalaya, where the coal seam is
extremely thin unlike that in Jharkhand (where open-cast mining is followed).
 Sustainable extraction methods are likely to be technology-intensive and expensive. Not the
preferred option of mine owners, legal and otherwise.

Lack of Alternate Sources of Livelihood:

 It takes long to locate the quarry as local people were scared to divulge information, fearing
a backlash from mine owners and lose their livelihood.

 It gives quick money for day-to-day survival.

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INSTA SECURE SYNOPSIS

 It is a cheap method for the mine owners to extract coal and presence of abundance of
Migrant labour.

Way Forward:

 The Supreme Court must rectify this situation by banning transport of all coal, or by lifting
the ban but enforcing regulation to make the mining non-polluting and safe.

 The State mining policy should include ways of alternative towards Rathole mining.

 The Schedule VI provisions must be implemented in true letter and spirit by granting
community ownership rights. Involvement of Autonomous District and Regional Councils to
further implement the orders is needed.

 Alternative employment or economic engagement for the coal mine owners and labourers
must be provided. g.: MGNREGA.

 Strict implementation of Child labour prevention laws and Right to Education Act for the
children involved in mining.

 Use of Satellite imagery and drone technology to find the locations of illegal mines as
suggested by BP Katoki committee.

 Involvement of Social Activists, NGO’s and Local communityand education of the people
about perils of rathole mining.

Conclusion:

In May 2023, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the Coal Ministry approved mining
leases for four of the 17 prospective licence applicants. This would lead to the commencement of
‘scientific’ mining ensuring minimal environmental impact through sustainable and legally compliant
extraction procedures. Anti-mining activists, who are assaulted by miners off and on, said that
‘scientific’ would eventually be a fancy tag in a State where profit has driven coal mining.

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