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Q. Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti literature and its contribution to Indian culture. (Answer in 150 words)
The term Bhakti refers to devotion. Bhakti literature which began to be composed in the 6th century AD in South India reflects a new form of devotion to God, a personal bond between the devotee and the deity.
▪️Nature of the Bhakti Movement.
✅ Use of Vernacular Language: The Bhakti saints did their entire teaching in the local vernacular language to
make it comprehensible. E.g.: Bhattadeva had translated the Bhagavad Gita into Assamese.
✅ Social Reform: The bhakti literature opposed caste rigidity, blind faiths, and social dogmas.
✅ Simple approach to religion: The sophisticated philosophy of Vedas and Upanishads literature was difficult for people to understand. Bhakti literature formed an alternative.
✅ Secular Nature: Although the bhakti literature was propagated by Hindu saints, it was tolerant to other religions.
▪️Contribution to Indian Culture.
✅ Religious Contribution: The movement aroused awakening among the Hindus and Muslims regarding the futility of ritualism.
✅ Contribution to the regional languages: In the south, the Bhakti movement aided the establishment of regional languages such as Telugu and Kannada.
✅ Socio-Political Contribution: The followers of the Bhakti movement rejected the caste distinction and emphasized on Equality.
✅ Moral Contribution: It emphasized earning of wealth through hard work and honest means and encouraged the value of social service to the poor and the needy.
The Bhakti literature definitely succeeded in realizing its two-fold objective i.e., bringing about reforms in Hinduism and developing harmonious relations between the Hindus and the Muslims. However, it further divided the Hindu society. For example, the followers of Kabir came to be known as Kabir Panthis.
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Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society ? Elaborate your answer with illustrations.
Caste is a system of social stratification with associated values and ideas that legitimized and reinforced the existing social structure in Indian society. Caste has for long been viewed as a distinctive feature of Indian society.
▪️But due to many factors such as the visionary Indian Constitution, modern education, industrialisation, urbanization, etc. Indian society has started giving less consideration to „caste‟. It can be seen in following ways:
✅ Achieved status is of greater importance: Class is more important today than caste. Educational qualification, occupational position, income etc. are the bases of identification of the individual rather than caste identity.
✅ Reservations have improved socio-political representation: This has changed the very
basis of caste-based discrimination.
✅ Caste no longer decides occupation: One can no longer deduce a person‟s caste by looking at his occupation. People today want to be identified as liberal, broad-minded and cosmopolitan. This multi-cultural society finds caste to be a backward mindset, disrespectful and violative of the Constitution.
✅ Public and private establishments: Restaurants, shopping malls, regional celebrations, local festivals, public institutions, private establishments, do not consider the caste factor.
✅ Inter-caste marriages: Strict codes of marriage and inheritance have been diluted due to increased inter-caste marriages. But caste as an entity has not become completely irrelevant even in today‟s society.
✅ Caste decides aspirations: Caste still plays a great role in deciding personal aspirations and social capital. This is particularly strong in the rural areas.
▪️Inter-caste marriages are not that common. Even matrimonial sites cater to caste-based preferences for marriage.
✅ Casteization of Politics and Politicization of Caste: Politics in today‟s Indian society is
ridden by caste-based identities.
✅ Violence based on caste is still prevalent: Several incidents have been highlighted in the media and rogue elements in social media have sometimes used these incidents to flare up caste sentiments.
✅Manual scavenging: Most of the occupations must have become caste-free, but Manual
scavenging, the worst surviving symbol of untouchability, is still an occupation of the people from the so-called untouchable caste.
Conclusion: It can be difficult to fully eliminate the influence of caste, as it is deeply ingrained in many aspects of Indian culture and society. Caste as a dominant force may not be easily visible today in our multicultural society, however, it still thrives in subtler ways and holds clues to the dynamics of our society. Caste has become less relevant for the upper caste and upper class, while for the lower castes, caste has become all too visible in both, suffering as well as getting benefits from the State.
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How is the S-400 air defence system technically superior to any other system presently available in the world? (150 words )
The S-400 Triumf is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM) designed by Russia. It is the most dangerous operationally deployed modern long-range SAM (MLR SAM) in the world, considered much ahead of the US-developed Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system (THAAD) and Patriot PAC-3.
▪️Comparative Analysis of S-400 with other advanced defence system:
🔸S-400 Triumf (Russia)
✅ Capable of firing any aerial
target within a range of 400km.
✅ It has an ability to simultaneously track upto 160 objects in 600 km.
✅ It can intercept and shoot the moving targets with a maximum speed of 17km/hr.
✅ It can be assembled and deployed within five minutes.
✅ It is economical as it costs approximately only $500 million.
🔸Patriot PAC-3 (The Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target (PATRIOT) Advanced Capability-Three) USA
✅ Ability to intercept aerial
targets at a range of 180 km. and of launching ballistic missiles upto a range of 100km.
✅ It can track only 36 objects
simultaneously.
✅ Whereas, it can intercept and shoot moving targets with a maximum speed of only 8km/hr.
✅ It takes around 25 minutes to get assembled.
✅ The estimated cost of PAC-3 is around $1billion.
🔸THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Air defence)
✅ USA It can fire only one type of missile (ballistic)upto a range of 150- 200 km. It cannot engage aerial targets.
✅ It has a single layer defence.
✅ Only one object at a time.
✅ It cannot intercept even a fighter jet.
✅ It cannot be deployed as fast as PAC-3 or S-400.
✅ The estimated cost of THAAD is $3 billion.
Hence S-400 is technically superior to its counterparts and this is the reason why India opted for S-400 despite US apprehensions.
Q. Explain the difference between computing methodology of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) before the year 2015 and after the year 2015. (10 Marks)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the final value of goods and services produced within the domestic territory of an economy in a particular financial year. In India, economic growth is measured as change in GDP at constant prices. The Central Statistical Office (CSO), in 2015, changed its methodology to calculate GDP as recommended by the United Nations System of National Accounts.
▪️The following were the major changes introduced in 2015:
1. In 2015, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) did away with GDP at factor cost and adopted the international practice of GDP at market price and the Gross Value Addition (GVA) measure to better estimate economic activity.
GDP at market price = GDP at factor cost + Indirect Taxes – Subsidies
2. Sector-wise wise estimates of Gross Value Added (GVA) would be provided at basic prices from 2015 onwards instead of factor cost which was the earlier norm.
GVA at basic prices = GVA at factor cost + (Production Taxes – Production Subsidies)
3. Broadening of data pool: Previous data was sampled from Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), which comprised about two lakh factories. But the new database draws data from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA21) where more than five lakh odd companies registered.
4. Change in calculation of Labour and Agricultural Income: In the new series, an Effective Labour Input (ELI) method is used. This method distinguishes workers on productivity by assigning weights to different categories of workers (such as owner, hired professional or a helper), changing overall output contributed by these sectors.
5. Changes in calculation of agricultural income: Value addition in agriculture is now taken beyond farm produce. Livestock data is critical to new methods. Value attached to by-products of meat.
All these changes were made to align Indian accounts as per IMF approved methodology. However, this approach can work seamlessly in an economy where all value addition is tracked formally. Thus, new methodology will be successful only if all the disaggregated information in MCA21 database on activities of a firm is classified properly into appropriate sectors.
Q. The political and administrative reorganization of states and territories has been a continuous ongoing process since the mid-nineteenth century. Discuss with examples. (10 Marks)
✅ British government reorganised states and territories into various provinces for administrative
efficiency and political significance.
▪️British government carved following provinces:
✅ Central Provinces: Created in 1861 from Nagpur Province.
✅ Assam: separated from Bengal in 1874 as the North-East Frontier province.
✅ Andaman and Nicobar Islands: established as a province in 1875.
✅ North-West Frontier Province: created in 1901 from Punjab Province.
✅ Eastern Bengal and Assam: created in 1905 upon the partition of Bengal.
✅ Britisher followed policy of divide and rule on the basis race, religion, language which is impacting Indian polity till date leading to various reorganization.
▪️Political and administrative reasons for reorganization:
✅ In 1953, a separate state Andhra Pradesh was forcefully established for Telugu speaking people.
✅ Fazl Ali Commission recommended creation of states based on language.
✅ Reorganisation of States acts 1956 re-established the boundaries of Indian territories and states based on regional language.
✅ Separation of Maharashtra and Gujarat due to political reason
✅ Creation of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand for administrative efficiency and development.
✅ Recently, Telengana was created to address development deficit
▪️Present scenario:
✅ Demand for creation of Vidharbha & Marathwada in Maharastra and Surashtra & Kutch in Gujarat for development
✅ Demand for creation of Gorkhaland, Bodoland and Greater Nagaland for political reasons
✅ Demand for creation of Dravidland for ethnic and political reasons
▪️Way Forward:
✅ Economic and social viability rather than political considerations must be given primacy.
✅ It is better to allow democratic concerns like development, decentralisation and governance rather than religion, caste, language or dialect to be the valid bases for conceding the demands for a new state.
Q. Explore and evaluate the impact of ‘Work from Home’ on family relationship. (10 Marks)
The ‘Work from Home’ concept is a breakthrough in the traditional characteristics of work. Maintaining the productivity levels as well as ensuring safety is the ‘Work from home’ model. WFH have a widespread impact on family relationships:
▪️Positive Impact:
✅Time saved in commuting can be spent qualitatively with family. More over work can be scheduled accordingly.
✅ WFH improved family relationships through proper adaptive processes, and the relations were moderated by the education level and age of individuals.
✅ Increased work expectations and distractions, reduced communications with family and ultimately impacts the mental and physical health.
✅ Blurred work-life boundaries can make it difficult to detach mentally from work which can increase stress and anxiety.
✅ More time to children reduces the friction between child and father.
▪️Negative Impact:
✅ Domestic violence – The WHO report showed a general trend of increase in sexual violence and intimate partner violence rates whenever there was an occurrence of disaster shadow pandemic.
✅ Salary cut in some organization has made depressing environment at home, resulting into loss of emotional intelligence.
✅ Work load on women member have increased, which made her more irritating and frustrating.
Communication and boundaries aren’t just meant for remote employees – these precedents set up a model for how relationships work in the future, and shape how they become in coming years.
Q. Examine the potential of wind energy in India and explain the reasons for their limited spatial spread. (10 Marks)
✅ Wind is used to produce electricity using the kinetic energy created by air in motion.
✅ This is transformed into electrical energy using wind turbines or wind energy conversion systems.
▪️Potential of Wind Energy in India as per Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC):
✅India currently has 13.4 GW of prospective projects in wind energy, which are expected to drive installations until 2024 in the market.
✅ India is expected to add 3.2 GW in 2022, 4.1 GW in 2023 peaking to 4.6 GW in 2024, thereafter declining to 4 GW and 3.5 GW in the next two years.
✅ It is found by the National Institute for Wind Energy (based in Chennai) that western states have larger potential in terms of a stable, steady and a speedy wind flow starting from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of wind energy producing 9,075MW in 2019.
▪️Reasons for Limited Spatial Spread:
✅Eastern Coast of India is frequently affected by the cyclones hence it is difficult to harness their full potential.
✅ Static air mass in the northern part of country makes it difficult to harness the wind energy.
✅ It requires minimum interference but due to the dense population, very large open areas are not common.
E.g.: Mumbai and Chennai- High populated.
✅ Acquisition of land and pressure on land use. E.g.: Land is state subject.
✅ Competition with other renewable forms of energy like solar energy which are easier to harness.
Hence, National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018 and National Offshore Wind Energy Policy, 2015 with EEZ along with Indian coastline are sustained and increase growth in wind-based generation capacity, policymakers need to streamline the procedures to grant permits, including land allocation and grid connection projects.
Q. Discuss the natural resource potentials of Deccan Traps. (10 Marks)
✅The Deccan Trap is a thick series of late cretaceous basaltic lava flows that occupy approximately 500000
square kilometres of peninsular India.
✅ This basaltic lava soil has been eroded step by step as a result of erosion, and it is known as the Deccan trap.
✅ This Deccan trap is common throughout the Deccan plateau, which includes Saurashtra, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and portions of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
▪️Potentials of Deccan Traps:
🔸Bellary-Chitradurga- Chikmaglur-Tumkur belt
✅Karnataka has large reserves of iron ore. The Kudremukh mines situated in the Western Ghats of Karnataka are a 100% export unit.
✅Kudremukh mines are known to be one of the largest iron ore deposits and the ore from this mine is transported as slurry through a pipeline to a port near Mangalore.
🔸 Maharashtra – Goa Belt:
✅This belt comprises the state of Goa and Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.
✅The ores of this belt are not of very high quality, but they are exploited efficiently and it is exported through Marmagao port.
Hence, the older rocks (Deccan Traps) have syncline for potential groundwater resources. It will be done under the Jal Jeevan Mission (Maharashtra will be the first state).
Q. Launched on 25th December, 2021, James Webb Space Telescope has been much in the news since then. What are its unique features which make it superior to its predecessor Space Telescopes ? What are the key goals of this mission ? What potential benefits does it hold for the human race? (Answer in 250 words) 15
▪️James Webb Telescope:
✅ The telescope is the result of an international collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency.
✅ It can see backwards in time to just after the Big Bang by looking for galaxies that are so far away that the light has taken many billions of years to get from those galaxies to our telescopes.
✅ It's the successor to Hubble Telescope.
▪️Unique Features of James Webb Space Telescope (JWST):
✅ Wavelength: Hubble telescope use Ultraviolet rays of wavelength, whereas James Webb use Infrared rays.
✅ Orbit: Hubble telescope orbits around the Earth, whereas James Webb orbits around the Lagrange point(L2).
✅ The JWST is capable of detecting the heat of a bumblebee as far away as the moon.
✅ The James Webb Space Telescope is expected to be about 100 times more sensitive than the Hubble telescope which has the capability to transform scientific understanding of the universe.
▪️Key Goals of the JWST:
✅ To search for the first galaxies that formed after the Big Bang.
✅ To determine how galaxies evolved from their earlier formation until now.
✅ To observe the formation of stars from the first stages to the formation of planetary systems.
✅ To measure the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems and investigate the potential for life in such systems.
▪️Potential Benefits:
✅ Study black holes from a different angle, particularly, the cooler gases and stars dancing around their invisible neighbour.
✅ Predicting Solar flares, sun spots that have impact on the communication system.
✅ Searching more earth-like planets in the Goldilocks zone to understand the origin of life.
✅ Understanding the evolution of galaxies as well as earth which in turn helps to predict the future of life on earth.
✅ Understanding the primitive changes in the atmosphere to know the impact of global warming and climate change.
Hence, James Webb telescope’s capabilities will enable a broad range of investigations across the fields of astronomy and cosmology. Webb’s infrared telescope will explore a wide range of science questions to help us understand the origins of the universe and our place in it.
Q. Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997. (Answer in 250 words) 15
✅ As per IPCC 5th Assessment Report, Global Warming is defined as an increase in combined surface air and sea surface temperatures averaged over the globe and over a 30-year period.
▪️Effects of Global Warming on Global Climate:
✅ Rise in temperature leading to ice melt: Thinning ice of Northern Seas will make the atmospheric conditions vulnerable to control.
✅ Threat to Marine Life: Leads to destruction to marine and coral life underwater.
✅ Loss of Settlements: Rise to Sea level threatens infrastructure and human settlements.
✅ Impact on Health: Crop failure due to global warming leads to food insecurity and malnutrition.
✅ Control measures, in light of Kyoto protocol (KP) (1997):- It commits industrialised countries to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). It binds emission reduction targets only for developed countries.
✅ However, the Protocol also offers three market-based mechanisms:
1. Emissions trading (Carbon trading): A new commodity was created in the form of emission reductions or removals. Carbon is now tracked and traded like any other commodity. This is often termed the carbon market.
2. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): It is defined as it allows a country with an emission-reduction or emission-limitation commitment to implement an emission-reduction project in developing countries such as a rural electrification project using solar panels or the installation of more energy-efficient boilers.
3. Joint implementation (JI): It allows a country with an emission reduction or limitation commitment to earn emission reduction units (ERUs) from an emission-reduction or emission removal project in another country, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting its Kyoto target.
Hence, National Clean Air Programme, Global Air Quality Guidelines, National Action Plan for Climate Change, UNFCCC provide an effort for reducing GHG abatement in the developed countries and also in developing countries.
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Q) Discuss the concept of 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance' in the context of public administration and governance reforms in India. How can this principle be effectively implemented to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of government institutions and services?
(250 words, 15 marks)
📍Answer:
"Minimum Government, Maximum Governance" is a popular slogan that
encapsulates a key principle
of public administration and governance reforms in India. It emphasises the need for a lean and efficient government that focuses on its core functions while ensuring maximum effectiveness and
responsiveness in delivering public services. To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of government institutions and services in India, it could be implemented in the following ways:
✅Reducing Bureaucratic Red Tape: Streamlining
administrative processes, cutting down on unnecessary paperwork, and simplifying regulations can make it easier for citizens and businesses to interact with the government. Digitalization and automation of processes can play a significant role in achieving this goal.
🔰For example: CBDT’s efforts for face-to-face meetings with officials.
✅Focus on Core Functions: "Minimum Government" implies that the government should concentrate on its core functions, such as law enforcement, national security, infrastructure development, and social welfare.
🔰 For example: UP’s single window clearance, the Nivesh Mitra portal for investment
✅ Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Collaborations between the government and the private sector can help achieve "Maximum Governance" by harnessing the expertise and resources of both sectors especially in sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.
🔰For example: Redevelopment of Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium, Delhi
✅Decentralization: Empowering local governments and communities can enhance governance at the grassroots level. Devolving decision-making authority and financial resources to local governments can lead to better-targeted services that address the unique needs of different regions.
🔰For example: 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts
✅Transparency and Accountability: A key aspect of "Maximum Governance" is ensuring transparency and accountability in government operations. Regular audits and performance evaluations can also hold government institutions accountable for their actions.
🔰For example: Right to Information Act and implementing e-governance initiatives.
🔰Social Audit in MGNREGA
✅Citizen Engagement: Encouraging citizen participation and feedback mechanisms can help make
governance more responsive to the needs of the people. Platforms for public consultations, grievance
redressal mechanisms, and citizen surveys can provide valuable insights for policy formulation and service delivery.
🔰For example: MyGov: A platform for citizen Engagement towards Good Governance
✅Capacity Building: Building the capacity of government institutions and civil servants is crucial for effective governance. Training programs, professional development, and
performance-based incentives
can enhance the skills and motivation of public servants.
🔰For example: MISSION KARMAYOGI iGOT
✅Use of Technology
🔰Initiatives like digital payments, online service portals, and data analytics can streamline service delivery and reduce corruption.
🔰e-Court, My GOV platforms, Government e marketplace (GeM), etc.
The concept of "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance" is about optimizing the role of government
in India by making it more efficient, accountable, and responsive to the needs of its citizens. Effective implementation of this principle requires a combination of policy reforms, technology adoption, and a commitment to
transparency and accountability. By pursuing these strategies, India can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its government institutions and services, ultimately improving the quality of life for its citizens and fostering economic growth and development.
Q. Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti literature and its contribution to Indian culture. (Answer in 150 words)
The term Bhakti refers to devotion. Bhakti literature which began to be composed in the 6th century AD in South India reflects a new form of devotion to God, a personal bond between the devotee and the deity.
▪️Nature of the Bhakti Movement.
✅ Use of Vernacular Language: The Bhakti saints did their entire teaching in the local vernacular language to
make it comprehensible. E.g.: Bhattadeva had translated the Bhagavad Gita into Assamese.
✅ Social Reform: The bhakti literature opposed caste rigidity, blind faiths, and social dogmas.
✅ Simple approach to religion: The sophisticated philosophy of Vedas and Upanishads literature was difficult for people to understand. Bhakti literature formed an alternative.
✅ Secular Nature: Although the bhakti literature was propagated by Hindu saints, it was tolerant to other religions.
▪️Contribution to Indian Culture.
✅ Religious Contribution: The movement aroused awakening among the Hindus and Muslims regarding the futility of ritualism.
✅ Contribution to the regional languages: In the south, the Bhakti movement aided the establishment of regional languages such as Telugu and Kannada.
✅ Socio-Political Contribution: The followers of the Bhakti movement rejected the caste distinction and emphasized on Equality.
✅ Moral Contribution: It emphasized earning of wealth through hard work and honest means and encouraged the value of social service to the poor and the needy.
The Bhakti literature definitely succeeded in realizing its two-fold objective i.e., bringing about reforms in Hinduism and developing harmonious relations between the Hindus and the Muslims. However, it further divided the Hindu society. For example, the followers of Kabir came to be known as Kabir Panthis.
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Q. Are tolerance, assimilation and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism? Justify your answer. (15 Marks)
✅ Indian form of secularism is not about passive attitude towards religion but an equal treatment of all.
✅ Thus Tolerance, assimilation and pluralism is its pillars to achieve the idea of Fraternity in our Constitution.
▪️Tolerance as a key element:-
✅ Tolerance in a democratic country like India means that the country belongs to minorities as much it belongs to majority community/religion. It ensures the minority rights and prevents Authoritarianism or
Majoritarianism.
✅ The instances of various communal clashes including the Kashmiri Muslims and Pandits, Babri masjid demolition, Godhra and Muzzafarnagar riots bring in the consequences of intolerance.
✅ Further, the secularism also entails tolerance within a religion. The instances of dalit lynching, discrimination, exploitation of women in the name of religion gives instances of intolerance threatening the secular fabric of the nation. Assimilation as a
▪️key element of Secularism
✅ Indian model of secularism does not talk about assimilation, but every group can have their distinct identity, the only requirement is giving respect and promote brotherhood and enjoy the differences.
✅ Example: Muslim distributing Water bottle to kawariyas.
▪️Pluralism as a key element of secularism:
✅ Pluralism is the belief that all (or rather the aforementioned ‘two or more’) religions are “true” and that their truths are not mutually exclusive. It acknowledges the existence of all religions as equal.
✅ Secularism wants to keep religion in general, and any religion in particular, out of the public square; pluralism wants to find a place for all of the religions, and ideologies, in the public square.
✅ Both want to avoid the public square being dominated by any religion (or sect or ideology); secularism wants to achieve this result by keeping religion out of it altogether, pluralism wants to prevent it from being dominated by any one religion by allowing all an equal place at the table.
While pluralism is the end, in India, secularism as envisaged in the Preamble of our Constitution, is a means to achieve the same. A plural society and a secular one are quintessential for a thriving democracy that is as
diverse as ours.
Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree?
✅ Customs are a widely accepted discourse to behave or do something that is clearly defined in a particular society, whereas traditions are about the transmission of these customs or beliefs from generation to generation.
✅ Customs are perpetuated because they are transmitted by tradition.
Obscurantism is the practice of deliberately making something difficult to understand to stop
people from knowing. This leads to blindly following customs and traditions, which is against human reason. Customs and traditions that discriminate against certain groups of people or that are based on superstition or myth can even become a source of conflict.
▪️Cases where blind following of tradition has caused exploitation
✅ Customs like Sati and child marriage were perpetuated for long because of obscurantism.
The tradition of animal sacrifice in ceremonies is still practiced in many religions. The custom of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is still practised by few communities. „Honor killings‟ in India in the name of caste.
✅ The evil traditions of nikah halala and triple talaq propagated for so long in India despite the tradition being illogical and unreasonable, just because of obscurantism by the Muslim Personal Law Board.
✅ "Values" are sometimes used to justify forced marriages in Afghanistan, virginity testing
in Indonesia, "honor crimes" in Iraq, and marital rape in Kyrgyzstan, thus, violating human rights.
✅ Caste discrimination is perpetuated even today in some places in the name of customs
and purity.
✅ Religion against the Right to Equality: For instance, the Sabarimala case or Haji Ali Dargah, where women are strictly not allowed.
✅ For LGBT people, the language of traditional values tends to cast homosexuality as a moral issue, and not a rights issue.
✅ During Covid, social distancing was a norm to maintain public health. But some religious leaders evoked customs and traditions to promote social gatherings. Similarly, the vaccine hesitancy among certain communities is traced to their belief that vaccination is against the natural will of God.
▪️But customs and traditions, if understood with reason and adapted as per changing times, are aimed at maintaining social harmony and wellbeing. This can be seen as follows:
✅ Some customs are always relevant: Indian traditions of greeting people, etiquettes like washing the hands and feet before entering the house, etc. are good practices that will always remain relevant. Even the western countries are adopting these Indian traditions post-Covid.
✅ Customs help maintain social bonds: Customs and traditions can provide a sense of identity and belonging, and can help to maintain social cohesion and stability. For instance, prostrating before parents and elders is an act of respect.
✅ Customs and traditions as sources of knowledge: Some customs and traditions may be
based on accumulated knowledge and experience, and may reflect insights and wisdom that are relevant to the community or culture in which they are practiced. For example,
traditional medical practices may be based on an understanding of the properties and uses of various herbs and other natural remedies, and may be effective in treating certain conditions.
Conclusion: The relationship between customs and reason is complex and multifaceted, and depends on a variety of factors. Customs and traditions form an important part of human civilization and help people to align themselves in closely knit bonds but they can also be sources of conflict and tension. By their very nature, customs and traditions are supposed to evolve constantly and meet the changing requirements of time and social contexts. Thus, there must not be any scope for obscurantism in customs and traditions and for that, reason must be the guiding light.
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Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree?
✅ Customs are a widely accepted discourse to behave or do something that is clearly defined in a particular society, whereas traditions are about the transmission of these customs or beliefs from generation to generation.
✅ Customs are perpetuated because they are transmitted by tradition.
Obscurantism is the practice of deliberately making something difficult to understand to stop
people from knowing. This leads to blindly following customs and traditions, which is against human reason. Customs and traditions that discriminate against certain groups of people or that are based on superstition or myth can even become a source of conflict.
▪️Cases where blind following of tradition has caused exploitation
✅ Customs like Sati and child marriage were perpetuated for long because of obscurantism.
The tradition of animal sacrifice in ceremonies is still practiced in many religions. The custom of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is still practised by few communities. „Honor killings‟ in India in the name of caste.
✅ The evil traditions of nikah halala and triple talaq propagated for so long in India despite the tradition being illogical and unreasonable, just because of obscurantism by the Muslim Personal Law Board.
✅ "Values" are sometimes used to justify forced marriages in Afghanistan, virginity testing
in Indonesia, "honor crimes" in Iraq, and marital rape in Kyrgyzstan, thus, violating human rights.
✅ Caste discrimination is perpetuated even today in some places in the name of customs
and purity.
✅ Religion against the Right to Equality: For instance, the Sabarimala case or Haji Ali Dargah, where women are strictly not allowed.
✅ For LGBT people, the language of traditional values tends to cast homosexuality as a moral issue, and not a rights issue.
✅ During Covid, social distancing was a norm to maintain public health. But some religious leaders evoked customs and traditions to promote social gatherings. Similarly, the vaccine hesitancy among certain communities is traced to their belief that vaccination is against the natural will of God.
▪️But customs and traditions, if understood with reason and adapted as per changing times, are aimed at maintaining social harmony and wellbeing. This can be seen as follows:
✅ Some customs are always relevant: Indian traditions of greeting people, etiquettes like washing the hands and feet before entering the house, etc. are good practices that will always remain relevant. Even the western countries are adopting these Indian traditions post-Covid.
✅ Customs help maintain social bonds: Customs and traditions can provide a sense of identity and belonging, and can help to maintain social cohesion and stability. For instance, prostrating before parents and elders is an act of respect.
✅ Customs and traditions as sources of knowledge: Some customs and traditions may be
based on accumulated knowledge and experience, and may reflect insights and wisdom that are relevant to the community or culture in which they are practiced. For example,
traditional medical practices may be based on an understanding of the properties and uses of various herbs and other natural remedies, and may be effective in treating certain conditions.
Conclusion: The relationship between customs and reason is complex and multifaceted, and depends on a variety of factors. Customs and traditions form an important part of human civilization and help people to align themselves in closely knit bonds but they can also be sources of conflict and tension. By their very nature, customs and traditions are supposed to evolve constantly and meet the changing requirements of time and social contexts. Thus, there must not be any scope for obscurantism in customs and traditions and for that, reason must be the guiding light.
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Q. “Economic growth in the recent past has been led by increase in labour productivity”. Explain this statement. Suggest the growth pattern that will lead to creation of more jobs without compromising labour productivity. [250 Words] [15 Marks]
✅In the post liberalization period, our economic growth increased to 6% in 1990s and then it touched 7% to 8% in the 2000 decade. But this higher growth was mainly driven by service sector (IT, telecom, finance etc.) which touched 10% while agriculture and manufacturing sector remained around 3% and 5% respectively.
✅Our economic growth is being termed as jobless growth with the declining employment elasticity which is the ratio of percentage change in employment to percentage change in GDP.
✅So, India has been the fastest growing economy but without creation of much jobs.
✅This means that we are able
to produce more output with the same amount of labour which proves that our labour productivity has increased.
✅Labour productivity = Output (GDP)/Labour As the output is increasing without the increase in labour/employment, this means that our economic growth is driven by an increase in productivity of labour.
✅And our labour is becoming more productive because of use of more capital/machines.
✅But with growing population and workforce, India needs to create more jobs and for that our growth should come from the following sectors:
🔸 Labour intensive manufacturing like textiles, footwear, toys etc.
🔸Shifting to high value agriculture crops like livestock, dairy, fisheries, horticulture etc.
🔸 Surplus labour should shift from agriculture to non-farm jobs like food processing, storage infrastructure, logistics, unskilled manufacturing etc.
🔸 Shifting to precision and smart farming techniques
🔸Building rural infrastructure and integrating with global supply chains which can increase our share of exports from the present level of 21% of GDP.
🔸Government should focus on building infrastructure and reducing logistics cost.
Government should focus more on infrastructure and logistics which can make the economy more efficient and, in the process, increasing the overall labour productivity and gains to the overall economy.
Q. Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective? Explain. [150 Words] [10 Marks]
✅India has set a target of 50% electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030. India presently has non-fossil fuel based installed capacity of 155 GW (39%).
India in most likelihood will be able to achieve this target as:
✅ The growth in the non-fossil fuel-based installation capacity is much higher as compared to the fossil fuel-based energy.
✅ Govt. is running various schemes like establishment of 50 Solar Parks of 500 MW with the help of state governments.
✅ Government has launched Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing domestic solar modules Govt. is providing various subsidies on renewable energy generation and moving away from the subsidies provided for fossil fuel.
✅ Government provides subsidies on solar rooftops and agriculture solar pumps under KUSUM scheme.
✅ Government imposing ‘Clean Energy Cess’ of Rs. 400/tonne on coal used for power projects.
✅ Ministry of Power in consultation with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy setting target of ‘Renewable
Purchase Obligations (RPOs) on States.
✅The above steps will help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of ‘affordable and clean energy’
(SDG – 7) and ‘climate action’ (SDG – 13).
Q. What are the main bottlenecks in upstream and downstream process of marketing of agricultural
products in India? [150 Words] [10 Marks]
The agriculture sector in India is growing at around 3.5%. In the last few years the growth in the agriculture sector is constrained due to the challenges on the marketing side. The following are the challenges on the upstream and the downstream process of agricultural marketing:
▪️Upstream challenges:
✅ Lack of cold storage facilities for perishable agricultural commodities
✅ Lack of processing facilities
✅ Lack of assaying facilities
▪️Downstream challenges:
✅ Lack of transportation facilities linking the rural areas
✅ Most of the states not allowing private wholesale mandis
✅ Direct sale by farmers to retails chains (contract farming) is also restricted by most states
✅ Lack of formal/organized players in retail sector
The reforms launched in the last few years like Model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Act 2017,
‘Model Contract Farming Act 2018, SAMPADA scheme etc. will definitely help in resolving the above-mentioned challenges and will play a critical role in doubling farmers income.
Q. What are the main bottlenecks in upstream and downstream process of marketing of agricultural
products in India? [150 Words] [10 Marks]
The agriculture sector in India is growing at around 3.5%. In the last few years the growth in the agriculture sector is constrained due to the challenges on the marketing side. The following are the challenges on the upstream and the downstream process of agricultural marketing:
▪️Upstream challenges:
✅ Lack of cold storage facilities for perishable agricultural commodities
✅ Lack of processing facilities
✅ Lack of assaying facilities
▪️Downstream challenges:
✅ Lack of transportation facilities linking the rural areas
✅ Most of the states not allowing private wholesale mandis
✅ Direct sale by farmers to retails chains (contract farming) is also restricted by most states
✅ Lack of formal/organized players in retail sector
The reforms launched in the last few years like Model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Act 2017,
‘Model Contract Farming Act 2018, SAMPADA scheme etc. will definitely help in resolving the above-mentioned challenges and will play a critical role in doubling farmers income.
Q. What is Integrated Farming System? How is it helpful to small and marginal farmers in India? [150 Words] [10 Marks]
✅ Integrated Farming System (IFS) is an innovative approach wherein solo agriculture systems are integrated with livestock, aquaculture, forestry, or other inter-related set of enterprises to multiply gains and reduce input cost. Waste from one enterprise becomes an input for other, thus cost is reduced, production is increased and the ultimate income gets multiplied.
▪️Integrated Farming System is best suited for small-sized farms with limited resources in the following ways:
✅ More output can be produced from small-sized farmers due to integration of different agricultural systems
✅ Major focus in IFS is on high value crops resulting in more income per acre
✅ Regular stable income through the products like egg, milk, mushroom, vegetables, honey and silkworm cocoons from the linked activities in integrated farming
✅ IFS has more resource use efficiency resulting in less cost and more income for farmers
✅ Sustainable soil fertility and productivity through organic waste recycling and is resilient and adaptive to climate variability.
✅ The Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed 60 location specific, cost effective, eco-friendly, socially acceptable multi-enterprise IFS models in farmers’ participatory mode to reduce risk in farming, enhance farm productivity/profitability and secure livelihoods of resource poor small and marginal farmers.
Q. What is the basic principle behind vaccine development? How do vaccines work? What approaches were adopted by the Indian vaccine manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines ? (Answer in 250 words) 15
✅ According to WHO vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective method of protecting individuals against
dangerous diseases before they are exposed to them.”
✅ Principle of vaccination:
Vaccines stimulate the immune response (T-cells and B-cells together work) to recognise a pathogen (a
disease-causing organism) or part of a pathogen.
✅ It induces protection against a pathogen by mimicking its natural interaction with the human immune system.
▪️Vaccines Work:
✅ When the vaccine is introduced into the body, the white blood cells come in the response.
✅ The WBCs recognise the vaccine as foreign substance by the surface molecule on the vaccine.
✅ After recognition the B and T cells start dividing rapidly.
✅ T-cytotoxic and B killer cells started responding to the vaccine. That's why fever is common after vaccination.
✅ Some WBCs differentiate as B- memory cells which are stored within the body.
✅ When the pathogen attack takes place or is given a booster dose, the B-memory cells start giving faster
reaction as the body has accepted the surface particle as foreign previously.
▪️COVID-19 Vaccines by Indian Manufactures:
✅ Covaxin (Bharat Biotech): They contain dead, inactivated forms of virus, incapable of infecting people. Inactivated vaccines do not replicate and are therefore unlikely to revert and cause pathological effect, but still able to instruct the immune system to mount a defensive reaction against an infection.
✅ Covishield (SII with Oxford University): is a recombinant non-replicating virus which is genetically engineered to produce coronavirus proteins in the body, but the virus is weakened and cannot cause the disease.
✅ iNCOVACC (Bharat Biotech): is a non-replicating viral vector-based vaccine. Novel kind of Nasal vaccine
works by suppressing the broad immune response of the virus in nasal cavity by neutralising IgG antibodies suppressing mucosal IgA antibodies and T cell response.
✅ Gemcovac-19(Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceutical): Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein that will trigger an immune response inside our bodies. After vaccination, the mRNA will enter the muscle cells.
Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases, before they come into contact with them.
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Q. How is the growth of Tier 2 cities related to the rise of a new middle class with an emphasis on the culture of consumption? (10 Marks)
✅The middle classes constitute a critical market for most goods and services.
✅ A sizable portion of any nation’s tax revenue is collected either directly or indirectly from this group and they are important for economic and social development via urbanization and. industrialization.
✅Middle class working in metro cities but due to heavy land cost, they are purchasing lands in Tier 2 cities. Ex:- Sonipat because of NCR Development.
✅ Work from Home has resulted into demand of goods and services in Tier 2 cities, thus opening of Pizza
outlets, Dosa corner etc.
✅ The major reason of rise in Consumption in a new middle class can be Work, Stress and Enjoyment Purposes.
✅ Start-ups find that initial costs are much
✅And Aesthetics are as important as functionality, an office should be a space where employees feel excited to step in, every day. Ex:- Nissan’s Digital Hub in Thiruvananthapuram
✅ Today the millennial does not just want to satisfy their needs, but satisfied at faster pace. Ex: - Zepto10 Minutes delivery and Amazon delivery in small towns too.
✅ Purchasing power of middle class have increased and thus shift in the pattern of consumption has been observed.
The middle class is claimed to be the ‘bird of gold’. India’s rising middle class is an engine of growth. The rising middle class is both a causal factor behind India’s improved economic and social outcomes growth, education, home ownership, and social security as well as a consequence of the rise in the middle class.
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