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Que. “While the national political parties in India favour centralisation, the regional parties are in favour of state
autonomy.” Comment. (Answer in 250 words) 15 marks
Answer: India opted for federal structure of the government, after independence. Our federalism is tilted towards centre to maintain unity and integrity of India. National parties favours Centralisation:
✅ Easy to govern
✅ Ideological base is wide.
✅ Considers Regional aspiration as disintegrating force.
✅ Understand the issue of National security comprehensively.
✅ Represents the wider presence of different sections in the party itself.
✅ Delays the international negotiation and hampers Bilateral relation.
Ex:- Teesta issue.
▪️State Parties Favours Decentralisation:
✅ Appoint of Governors and misuse of Article 356
✅ Emergency powers with centre
✅ Dependence of the states on the centre for financial assistance
✅ Appoint of Governors.
✅ Residuary power with centre.
Commissions’ setup by regional parties to review federal structure:
✅ Rajmannar Commission, 1969: demanded readjustment of the VII schedule and residuary power to the states.
✅ Anandpur Sahib Resolution, 1973: It demanded greater autonomy for the States seeking Centre’s authority to be confined to only :
🔸Defence,
🔸Foreign relation,
🔸Communications,
🔸Railways, and
🔸Currency.
Commissions’ setup by National parties to review federal structure:
✅ Sarkaria commission recommended status quo in the Centre-State relations, especially in the areas, relating to legislative matters, the role of Governors, and the use of Article 356.
✅ M.M Punchi 2007, suggested reforms to address the issue of states.
In this situation we can say that if there is a demand for greater state autonomy, creates instability in the government
and developmental works will be affected. However genuine autonomy to states with necessary centralization factor is the way for political progress.
Q.Discuss the significance of the lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art and architecture. (15 Marks)
Answer: Animals played a very significant role in early Indian art and iconography. Among the elements in nature, animal portrayals received greater attention. Among animals lion and bull received much attention in mythology, art and architecture.
Significance of the lion figure:
✅ From the primitive era, the lion is considered as the symbol of strength and power and worshipped through all ages in India as a symbol of royalty, leadership and protection as well as of wisdom and pride.
✅ Lions symbolically have played significant roles in magic, as deities or close association with deities.
✅ The lion symbolism and its cultural depictions can be found in Hindu and Buddhist art of India and Southeast Asia.
✅ Narasimha ("man-lion"), Narasinga, is described as an incarnation (Avatara) of Vishnu in the Puranic texts of Hinduism.
✅ Lions are also found in Buddhist symbolism. Lion pillars (Sarnath Lion capital, Sanchi Lion capital) erected
by Ashoka show lions and the chakra emblem.
✅In Buddhist architecture, lion figure were used as protectors of Dharma and symbolic of the Bodhisattvas.
Significance of the bull figures:
✅ The Bull is associated with a number of divinities but, primarily, its association with Siva in Hindu religion, Adinatha in Jaina religion and its relation with the Buddha Sakyamuni. It was a secular symbol.
✅ Nandi is the sacred bull of the Hindu god Shiva. Nandi is Shiva’s animal form, his means of transportation, and his most ardent worshiper.
✅ The white colour of the bull symbolizes purity and justice.
✅ Nandi is also believed to promote fertility, its relation to the fertility cult and its usefulness as a domesticated animal as reflected in ancient Indian art.
✅ During Indus valley civilization bull was presented in stone, clay, metal, seals and terracottas.
✅ In Ashoka pillar, the figure of bull was embossed on their capital or found relieved on abacus.
✅ During Gupta period, it became an established religious symbol.
✅ Chola’s constructed sacred bull of shiva (nandi) in various temples.
Thus, In Indian mythology, art and architecture animal not only represents just nature element but also religious, cultural and social significance.
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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Q. ‘The emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Digital Revolution) has initiated e-Governance as an integral part of government.’ Discuss. (10 marks)
Fourth Industrial Revolution includes development of new digital technologies that has improved the functioning of society. Components include Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Machine Learning etc that have been a recent phenomenon.
▪️Role of fourth industrial revolution in integrating e-governance
✅ Easier access to services: Through digital revolution and technology improvement, access to government services has become easier. Latest technology such as cloud computing have improved connectivity issues that had been plaguing digital governance.
✅ Better policy measures: New technology such as Big Data, Data Mining etc has capacity to identify useful aspects from large datasets. This will allow policy makers to make clear distinction between what is useful for the future. This ensures better policy measures.
✅ Faster resolution of grievances: Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies have helped in evolution of new grievance resolution techniques such as bots. This has led to faster reduction in public issues.
✅ Transparency: Technology growth has created new opportunities for improving transparency in governance. This includes monitoring misgovernance such as corruption or favouritism.
However, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is facing different challenges like: Poor Internet Connectivity, Digital illiteracy and Issue of security and Privacy . The World Economic Forum has launched a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) in India.
Government along with other stakeholders should cooperate effectively to use this opportunity to enhance e-governance under the umbrella of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
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Q. Examine the status of forest resources of India and its resultant impact on climate change. (15 marks)
Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) survey released in 2019 accounts almost 24.5% of area held by forests. The Government of India has a target of 33% to be reached within the next few years. Key forest resources include Timber, leaves, medicinal plants, food plants and honey etc.
▪️Status of forest resources and impact on climate change:
✅ Pan India degradation of Forests: with respect to quality and acreage. E.g.: north east India showed a decline in first cover.
✅ Large scale deforestation due to commercial activity, mining, clearing for agriculture and development projects.
✅ Marginal increase in Mangrove cover by 88 sq. km. but Sundarbans has seen a decline in mangrove acreage due to shrimp farming and clearing for agriculture.
✅ India intends to create a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes by 2030 but at present, degradation of forests is doing otherwise.
✅ A report by TERI points at a 1% loss in GDP due to forest degradation.
✅ There has been an increased instance of flooding, water scarcity and man animal conflict pointing to worsening condition of forests
✅ Forests in India support over 250 million people with lives and livelihood.
▪️Steps taken for afforestation:
✅ CAMPA funds to fund National afforestation program
✅ Partnership with Global Institutions on REDD and REDD+
✅ India’s commitments under INDCs and increased mix of renewables in energy basket
✅ Bonn Challenge: Global effort to bring 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested land into restoration by 2020 and 350 million by 2030
Forests provide a host of services- development, regulatory and provisional. Being the 4th most vulnerable country to environmental disasters, Forest Conservation stands as a survival necessity and needs multi-faceted and multi stakeholder action.
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## India's Demographic Dividend: A Double-Edged Sword ⚔️
The Opportunity 📈
India's young and growing population presents a significant demographic dividend, offering a potential for rapid economic growth. However, realizing this potential requires effective policies and investments.
Key Challenges 🚧
* Low Labor Force Participation: Despite a large working-age population, the labor force participation rate remains relatively low.
* Skill Shortage: The workforce lacks adequate skills, hindering productivity and competitiveness.
* Outdated Labor Laws: Complex and outdated labor laws create barriers to business growth and job creation.
* Inefficient Manufacturing: The manufacturing sector, despite being labor-intensive, has not fully leveraged the demographic dividend.
Strategies for Success 🚀
* Skill Development: Investing in skill development programs is essential to equip the workforce with the necessary skills.
* Labor Law Reforms: Modernizing labor laws can create a more conducive environment for businesses and job creation.
* Manufacturing Boost: Promoting growth in the manufacturing sector can absorb a larger portion of the workforce and drive economic development.
* Entrepreneurship: Encouraging entrepreneurship can create new jobs and stimulate innovation.
* Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborating with the private sector can leverage their expertise and resources to address development challenges.
Possible Prelims Question:
* What is the approximate median age of the Indian population?
* A) 25 years
* B) 30 years
* C) 35 years
* D) 40 years
Possible Mains Question:
* Analyze the challenges and opportunities presented by India's demographic dividend. Discuss the strategies that India can adopt to harness this potential for sustainable economic growth and development.
Sevottam Model
✅Sevottam is a generic framework for achieving excellence in public service delivery. It comprises of 3 modules namely:
✅ Citizen’s Charter
✅ Grievance Redressal Mechanism
✅ Capability Building for Service Delivery
✅The first component of the model requires effective charter implementation thereby opening up a channel for receiving citizens’ inputs into the way in which organizations determine service delivery requirements.
✅ The second component of the model, ‘Public Grievance Redress’ requires a good grievance redress system operating in a manner that leaves the citizen more satisfied with how the organization responds to complaints/grievances, irrespective of the final decision.
✅ The third component ‘Excellence in Service Delivery’, postulates that an organization can have an excellent performance in service delivery only if it is managing the key ingredients for good service delivery well and building its own capacity to continuously improve delivery.
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Q. Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in the Gandhara art (10 marks)
✅ The Gandhara School of art shows Buddha in the symbolic form, not a human form. It was developed between the 1st century BCE and the 7th century CE during Kushan rule, of which Gandhara sculpture was an important part, depicting sculpture of Buddha.
✅The central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in the Gandhara art:
▪️Greek Influence:
✅ Hellenistic features like curly hairs, moustaches on face.
✅ Vajrapani protector image.
✅ Muscular body.
✅ Coins with Greek script.
✅ Draperies covering both shoulders.
✅ Stucco plastering.
▪️Roman influence:
✅ Buddha is sometimes presented in Roman motifs like Triton.
✅ Buddha of Gandhara sometimes through a wine scroll.
✅ Buddha in human form is inspired by Roman tradition.
✅ The outer rope of Buddha of Gandhara like Kaya resembles Roman gods.
▪️Central Asian Influence:
✅ Bluish Schist used in Gandhara Art.
✅ Disc shaped halo around the Buddha head.
✅ Buddha presented in human form.
✅ Kharosthi letters on Buddhist inscriptions in Gandhara.
The above influences can be well justified because of the strategic location of Gandhara school. Thus, in this regard it can be claimed that the art that flourished in the Gandhara valleys was a blend of different cultures.
European Travellers in Medieval India
Question: European travellers' accounts in the medieval period have played an important role in shaping our understanding of the empires and people of that period in India. Comment. (Answer in 250 words)
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Q. Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate. (Answer in 150 words)
The Pala period, spanning from the 8th to the 12th centuries, marks a pivotal chapter in the evolution of Buddhism in India. This epoch is characterized by the remarkable resurgence and growth of the religion under the auspices of the Pala dynasty, whose rulers were staunch patrons of Buddhism.
▪️Some of the key reasons for the significance of the Pala period are:
✅Patronage of Buddhism: Pala kings, such as Dharmapala and Devapala, were devout Buddhists and supported the religion through the establishment and maintenance of monasteries, temples, and educational institutions.
✅Development of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism: These new schools of thought provided fresh impetus to the religion, leading to an increased number of followers and a deepening of Buddhist practices.
✅Establishment of renowned monastic universities: The Pala kings were instrumental in the establishment of famous monastic universities, such as Nalanda, Vikramashila, and Odantapuri. These institutions attracted scholars and students from across the Indian subcontinent and beyond, making them significant centers of learning, scholarship, and cultural exchange.
✅Proliferation of Buddhist art and architecture: The Pala school of art, which emerged during this period, is known for its distinct style and fine craftsmanship.
✅ Spread of Buddhism beyond India: The transmission of Buddhist teachings, texts, and art forms to these regions can be largely attributed to the patronage and support provided by the Pala rulers.
✅Preservation of Buddhist texts: Monks and scholars at institutions like Nalanda and Vikramashila undertook the task of translating Buddhist texts from Sanskrit into other languages, thereby ensuring the survival and dissemination of Buddhist knowledge.
Conclusion: The Pala period was a highly significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. The Pala dynasty's patronage, along with the development of new schools of thought, the establishment of renowned monastic universities, and the spread of Buddhism beyond India, all contributed to the growth and impact of Buddhism during this time.
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🔆Federalism
✅It refers to the constitutionally allocated distribution of powers between two or more levels of government ie at national, provincial, state or local level.
✅ Features :
🔸 Consent of both levels
🔸 Financial autonomy of each
🔸 Promote unity and regional diversity
🔸 Two or more tiers of government
🔸 Constitutional guarantee
✅ Strengthening :
🔸 Horizontal federalism- competitive and cooperative federalism
🔸 Financial devolution reforms
🔸 Role of state government in covid 19 crisis.
🔸 formation of bodies like niti aayog & gst council.
✅ Weakening :
🔸 Rising regional demands
🔸 Arbitrariness- misuse of office of governors
🔸 Economic incapabilities
🔸 Developmental narratives- one nation one market, one nation one grid etc
✅ Reforms :
🔸 Relook 7th schedule
🔸 Effective utilization of federal institutions like interstate council Niti Aayog
🔸 Financial devolution of funds to state and local governments.
🔸 Shift from one size fit all model to flexible model of federalism.
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Q. Judicial Legislation is antithetical to the doctrine of separation of powers as envisaged in the Indian
Constitution. In this context justify the filing of a large number of public interest petitions praying for
issuing guidelines to executive authorities. (15 marks)
The doctrine of separation of powers implies minimal interference by one organ in the functioning of another
organ. However, recently judicial legislation has emerged as a process in which the judiciary does the duty of the legislature and formulates laws, rules and regulations. One of the mechanisms for Judicial legislation is Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
▪️Antithetical to Separation of Power:
✅ It is argued that the social and economic domain should be largely the prerogative of the other branches of government, which are better equipped to analyse, formulate, and implement complex policies, and that much of PIL is inappropriate judicial activism” or “adventurism.
✅ PIL has significantly contributed, to expand their own powers and shield themselves from scrutiny and accountability.
✅ To some, it appears as though the courts may be spending time on frivolous and ineffectual PIL cases at the expense of the real administration of justice, and choose to do so because PIL burnishes their popularity, no matter if it goes against Separation of Power.
▪️Justification of large number of Public Interest litigation:
✅ Liberal Interpretation of Locus Standi: Locus Standi means a right or capacity of an individual to approach
or appear in a court on the behalf of any person that is economically or physically incapable of appearing in a
court.
✅ Making Socio Economic Right Judicially enforceable: Even though social and economic rights have been
laid down in Part IV of the Indian constitution, the PILs aren’t legally enforceable under the constitution.
✅ Therefore, the courts have listed under the fundamental rights thus making them judicially enforceable. For example: Under Article 21 which states ‘right to life’ also inculcates the right to free legal aid, live with dignity, education, work, freedom from torture, etc.
✅ Giving voice to the voiceless: In Hussainara Khatoon case, PIL concentrated on the barbaric conditions of prisons and how the prisoners who were under trial were kept in those prisons.
✅ Raise awareness on Important question: Supreme Court in Parmanand Katara Judgement ensured action against public officials who coerce or intimidate Good Samaritans to reveal his or her name and personal details.
✅ Direct Access to Justice: In the Asiad Workers judgement case, Justice P.N. Bhagwati held that anyone getting less than the minimum wage can approach the Supreme Court directly without going through the labour commissioner and lower courts.
The concept of Public Interest Litigation has managed to bring out surprising results that were impossible to derive 5 decades ago. Many cases of degraded bonded labourers, blinded prisoners, exploited children, etc got relief from PILs filed by various social activists
Extreme Rainfall Events in India in recent times
Question: Identify the reasons behind increasing number of extreme rainfall events throughout India in recent times. Assess their socio-economic impact. (Answer in 150 words)
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