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13 How far was the Industrial Revolution in England responsible for the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India? (Answer in 250 words)
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Approach:
Introduce answer writing briefly about buffer stocks with relevant facts.
Explain what buffer stocks are and their role in price stabilization.
Highlight key benefits, including food security and support for farmers.
Identify major issues like storage inadequacies and procurement imbalances.
Suggest improvements in infrastructure and distribution efficiency.
Conclude positively with emphasizing the potential for enhanced food security and market stability.
Introduction
Buffer stock is a reserve of commodities aimed at offsetting price fluctuations and emergencies. Introduced during the 4th Five Year Plan, it stabilizes agricultural prices, ensures food security, and protects farmers incomes.
Body
The importance of buffer stocks for stabilizing agricultural prices in India
Approach:
Introduce with the mentioning the meaning of the quote in brief
Outline the ethical considerations of the powerful nations with examples
Conclude suitably
Introduction:
The quote stresses that peace is not achieved through words or belief alone; it requires concrete actions and commitment to bring it into reality.
This highlights the ethical responsibility of nations to act on their commitment to peace, rather than allowing self-interest to fuel ongoing conflicts worldwide.
Body
Ethical Considerations of the Powerful Nations:
Responsibility for Global Peace: Powerful nations must prioritise peace over profit, avoiding actions that fuel conflicts, such as arms sales to war-torn regions.
Example: India supports a UN ceasefire for Gaza, advocates for a two-state solution, and condemns civilian casualties.
Promoting Human Rights: They must ensure that their foreign policies uphold human rights, avoiding support for oppressive regimes.
Example: Operation Dost in Turkey and Syria is a prime example of India's rapid humanitarian assistance
Diplomatic Solutions: They should pursue peaceful resolutions through diplomacy rather than military intervention.
Example: The US and EU's role in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Supporting Disarmament and Reducing Proliferation: Major powers must adhere to international treaties, such as the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), to curb the spread of weapons of mass destruction and prevent escalating global violence.
Regulate Weapon Industries: Nations must enforce strict arms regulations, including licensing, oversight of arms production, and mandatory sales reporting to ensure accountability and global stability.
Countries should collaborate internationally to prevent weapon proliferation and promote responsible practices among arms manufacturers.
Conclusion
In an interconnected world, powerful nations have a critical role in shaping a more peaceful future. As the global landscape evolves, the effectiveness of these nations in fostering peace will ultimately determine the success of collective efforts to prevent future conflicts.
Conclusion
To safeguard marine ecosystems from rising sea surface temperatures, it is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop climate-resilient infrastructure. At the same time, conserving marine ecosystems through sustainable practices and improving forecasting capabilities will enhance the region's resilience to extreme weather events.
Approach
Define Sea Surface Temperature (SST).
Explain the role of SST rise in the formation of tropical cyclone.
To conclude, suggest safeguarding mechanisms for rising sea surface temperature.
Introduction
Sea Surface Temperature (SST)is defined as the temperature of the uppermost layer of the ocean.The rise in sea surface temperature is primarily driven by human-induced climate change, with significant contributions from greenhouse gas emissions.SSTplays a crucial role in influencing weather patterns, especially in the formation of tropical cyclones.
Though efforts were made to uplift the status of women prior to independence, the women’s movement in India gained prominence in 1970s and 80s. These movements have tried to bring the women specific issues in the public domain.
However, it is found that these have not been able to address the issues of the women of lower social strata, belonging to SC, ST, minorities, and BPL families.
It is being seen that activists within the movements are urban, western, and middle class. Therefore, the movement is being considered a Western product. It has little to do with the lives of thousands of poor, rural, underprivileged women all over India.
Women continue to have unequal access to land and other resources. Compensation policies in case of displacement are inevitably discriminatory towards women of lower strata due to multiple reasons such as lack of awareness, education etc. Women from these sections also find it more difficult to get loans.
Recently, several movements have raised the gender issues through temple entry movement, triple talaq, etc. But temple entry movements are restricted to the specified places only, and triple talaq especially in hinterland or rural areas, go unnoticed.
Sexual and domestic violence is mainly perpetrated against the women from lower caste and poor women but this issue has not acquired centre-stage in the discourse of women movements.
Issues of women agricultural labourers (e.g. fair wages etc.), women domestic workers and women manual scavengers has not been raised by the women movement prominently.
However, there is also a counter view that the urban, middle-class women are one of the participants in the movement. It is rather the poor women which are the backbone of the movements, exemplified the presence of poor women in the anti-alcohol agitation in Andhra Pradesh, and other parts of India.
Similarly, the movement to protect the environment was started by poor women in Reni village of Uttarakhand and thereafter, it spread to other parts of the country.
But there are substantial evidences to prove that women movements have neglected the lower strata women. The National Federation of Dalit Women (NFDW), formed in 1995, has forced women’s movements in India to address the caste question seriously. Thus there is an urgent need of women movements to be more inclusive and just, embracing the cause of poor and vulnerable women.
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The unilateral US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the historic nuclear deal between the permanent members of the UN Security Council, E.U. (P5+1) and Iran, which limited Iran’s nuclear programme and lifted the crippling economic sanctions, will have serious ramifications for nations having strategic interests in the West Asia.
India’s relations with Iran extend beyond the geopolitical and geo-economic binary. The cultural relations between India and Iran extend centuries, but the recent US behaviour has led India on crossroads. This controversy would affect India in following ways-
Strategic Autonomy - Strategic Autonomy has been the guiding principle of Indian foreign policy since independence. India maintains that it abides by only UN sanctions and not unilateral sanctions by any one country. In this case, US is coercing India and other countries to sever ties with Iran. This has direct implications on autonomous policy making.
Oil Supply - Iran has been one of the top three oil suppliers to India. Sanctions on Iran, which would be the next logical step by the Trump administration, will disrupt the crude oil supplies. US has presented India with shale imports, but the Gulf region has regional proximity to India. The withdrawal will also raise the crude oil prices, this fluctuation has a direct impact on the Indian economy (inflation, Balance of Payment, Current Account Deficit).
Indian Investments - India’s plans to acquire stakes in Iranian natural gas field, build pipelines as well as develop the Chabahar port – a key Indian connectivity initiative – all stand to be seriously affected.
Indian Diaspora - In case this spirals out into direct confrontation between US allies and Iran, then lives Indians living in the Gulf region would be at stake. Their protection and evacuation would be a huge diplomatic and military manoeuvre.
Terrorism - Instability in the region has already resulted in rise of extremist group and more uncertainty will only provide them with more safe havens. This might have a direct effect on India’s national security.
Other partners of the agreement are willing to move forward despite the US withdrawal. India is an important stakeholder in the issue. So, India should work with like minded countries to defuse the situation and if possible, bring US back to the table if not, then prepare a separate mechanism for dealing with Iran including other stakeholders.
India has always maintained that the Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy by respecting Iran’s right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy international community’s strong interest in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.
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According to historian Bipan Chandra “communalism is the belief that because a group of people follow a particular religion, they have as a result, common social political and economic interests.” The majority community alleges that minorities have an anti-national approach while the minority points to the insecurity they are facing which often collides and trigger tensions.
Communalism is a modern phenomenon which took its origin in the British colonial period and gained momentum at the time of freedom struggle and reached its heights at the time of partition. Its fundamental causes are secular like competition for share in political power or government jobs and a feeling of relative deprivation. Religion is not its fundamental cause but becomes an instrumental cause because it has great mobilizing power.
Example – The Bhiwandi communal riot (1970)
The struggle for political power and a sense of relative deprivation creates communal problems. Bhiwandi in Maharashtra was a centre of powerloom industry with minority community’s domination in ownership and labourers. Some members of minority community having amassed much wealth wanted to get a hold in the political set up of Bhiwandi, challenging the traditional leadership in Municipal administration. This led to a major riot in 1970.
The practice of mixing up religion with politics or using religion for the sake of political and economic gains is a reason for conflict between communities.
The progress of one community is viewed with unpleasantness and the economic collapse of the opposite side is gladly welcomed in a communally charged atmosphere. The vested interest groups having economic and other anti-social motives trigger communal conflicts in order to gain through a riot.
Religion, when deliberately used as a tool for attaining power, both political and over resources, leads to the growth of communalism. The rising trend of communalism and the violent aftermath that follows it is a major threat to the integrity of India. So, efficient and effective measures must be adopted against the evil of communalism and checking its spread on the social fabric of India.
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The NITI Aayog in its recently released Composite Water Management Index warned that India is facing its ‘worst’ water crisis in history. Critical groundwater resources, which accounted for 40% of India’s water supply, are being depleted at “unsustainable” rates.Twenty-one cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad will run out of groundwater by 2020, affecting 100 million people.
Though there are many ways to check the further depletion of ground water and increase the level of water such as limit of water-extraction, change in crop-patterns, diverting river streams, building reservoirs and plantation drives but water harvesting system provides ideal solution for the problem.
Water Harvesting (WH) means capturing rain water, where it falls and capture the runoff from, catchment and streams etc. Local people can easily be trained to build expand systems themselves. It will not only reduce water bills; provide an alternative supply during water restrictions but also ensure supply of high quality water - pure, free of chemicals. In fact, depending upon tank size and climate, rainwater harvesting can reduce main water use by 100%. RWH also decreases storm water runoff, thereby helping to reduce local flooding and scouring of creeks. RWH is most suitable where groundwater is scarce, contaminated, rugged or mountainous terrains, risk to aquifer from salt water intrusion.
Approaches for Effectiveness of WH in Urban India
▪️Water Harvesting in urban small areas is done by surface runoff harvesting and rooftop rainwater harvesting. Since present day urbanization has resulted both in shrinking of open spaces and very minimal area remaining unpaved, so small structures like recharge pit, recharge trenches, dug wells, recharge shafts, and percolation tanks should be built to capture the runoff and inject rainwater into the soil during rains.
▪️For better effectiveness of water harvesting in urban areas, existing water bodies should be protected and revived without allowing any further construction in them in future. This will have to be undertaken by the government. At the micro level every resident/individual should implement both rooftop and driveway runoff harvesting in their respective homes, commercial complexes, office premises, factories etc.
Most metro cities in India are water starved but not rain starved. We should not forget the fact that water harvested is water produced and make sincere attempts to harvest every drop of water that falls within every premises, locality, city and country. For this, WH should be made mandatory in new buildings.
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In a quest for global supremacy, Central Asia has become a part of the ‘New Great Game’ between regional and world powers. Being rich in energy and mineral resources, it acts as transit corridor for regional and global trade. Also control over Central Asian hinterland provides strategic supremacy over peripheral regions such as Persian Gulf.
As a result, major powers like US have military bases in region while China through Belt and Road Initiative is building connectivity projects to Europe through the region. But India also has huge stake in the region as it is important for India’s ambition as regional power, securing energy and trade transit needs. Its importance is evident from India’s joining the Ashgabat Agreement.
Joining Ashgabat Agreement will:
Enable India to utilize the existing transport and transit corridor to facilitate trade and commercial interactions with the Eurasian region through better integration with Eurasian Economic Union and Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Increase scope of Chabahar to become a vital gateway and the shortest land route to Central Asia.
Provide access to high-value minerals of Central Asia.
Increase India’s trade with Central Asia which is currently over $1 billion - only 0.11% of Central Asia’s trade.
Sychronize the existing trade corridors with International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) – complimenting India’s efforts for enhanced regional connectivity and accessibility.
Therefore, Ashgabat Agreement acts as a India‘s doorway to Central Asia - thereby providing accessibility for trade, energy security and strategic balance to global power politics.
Additional Information
Ashgabat Agreement - A multimodal international agreement aiming at the establishment of Transport and Transit corridor between Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Oman and Iran and enhance connectivity within the Eurasian region. @RenaissanceIAS @DailyMainsAnswerWritingPractice.
Poverty is a social and economic condition in which a part of the society is unable to fulfill its basic requirements. Reducing poverty has become an international concern as SDG 1 targets to end poverty in all its forms everywhere.
Removal of poverty has been a prime focus of Indian policy makers. Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) initiated in early 1980s was one of the early poverty alleviation programmes. Since then a large number of programmes and schemes have been launched, but they have not been able to give the desired results. Reasons for existence of poverty in India are:
Numerous already functional poverty alleviation programmes work in silos.
There is no systematic attempt to identify people who are below poverty line; to determine and address their needs; and enable them to move above the poverty line.
There are cases of corruption in identification of beneficiaries, and there is also a lack of authentic data at every level.
A typically low administrative capacity, coupled with problems of implementation at State level has often resulted in the under utilization of funds.
Leakage at different levels has led to diversion of resources meant for deprived ones.
These programmes have focused on top to bottom approach, but such approach lacks coordination in decision making and causes clogging of funds and asymmetry in distribution.
Poverty eradication in a country with a huge population like India needs to involve programmes and policies with bottom up approach, technological interventions, and a mix of innovative ideas like Universal Basic Income.
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The means-ends debate is a paramount ethical dilemma. ‘Ends justify the means’ (Machiavelli) refers to a situation in which the final aim is considered so important that any way of achieving it is acceptable. Whereas, people like Gandhi firmly rejected the rigid dichotomy between ends and means to the extent that they believed that means and not the ends provide the standard of reference. Gandhi wrote, “The means may be likened to a seed, the end to a tree; and there is just the same inviolable connection between the means and the end as there is between the seed and the tree.”
The answer to the question depends on what the ends or goals are and what means are being used to achieve them. If the goals are good and noble, and the means we use to achieve them are also good and noble, then yes, the ends do justify the means. But that is not what most people often mean when they use the expression. Most use it as an excuse to achieve their goals through any means necessary, no matter how immoral, illegal or unpleasant the means may be. Even Hitler believed that his means (holocaust) were justified for the ends of racial purity in Germany. The ‘ends justifying the means’ usually involves doing something wrong to achieve a positive end and justifying the wrong doing by pointing to a good outcome. There are certain things to consider in such a situation: the morality of the action, the morality of the outcome, and the morality of the person performing the action.
If someone is looking for a justification to their acts, it is often because they are doing something unethical. The ‘means are of paramount importance’, view is clearly more appropriate, ethical and desirable.
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One Belt One Road (OBOR) is one of the major initiatives of China focusing on improving connectivity and cooperation connecting Asia to Europe and Africa.
It has two dimensions: Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB), a land route and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) an ocean route.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is one of the flagship project of SREB.
It provides rail-road connectivity between Gwadar in Baluchistan, Pakistan to Xinjiang province of China and passes through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
It is one of the largest bilateral initiatives between China and Pakistan with a budget of around $46 billion. CPEC is considered as a boon to struggling Pakistani Economy.
India has openly expressed it displeasure over CPEC due to following reasons:
CPEC passes through Indian Territory, thus interferes with India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
There is a lack of transparency around the way the project is funded. It is considered as a part of Chinese policy of debt-equity swap.
It may disrupt and destroy Himalayan Ecology.
It is said that India should join the CPEC as it will benefit the region at-large and can lead to an improvement in ties between India and Pakistan as economic inter-dependence between the two will increase.
However, it should also be noted that India’s concerns regarding sovereignty and integrity have not been addressed by either China or Pakistan. It will not be good for India to join a project, which challenges India’s sovereignty. In addition, there is no clarity about the funding of the project.
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CAG acts as the guardian of public purse and controls the entire gamut of financial administration. Article 148 envisages the post of CAG with a tenure of six years. He is appointed by President and can be removed on the grounds of proved misbehavior or incapacity - on the basis of a resolution passed by a special majority by both the houses of parliament.
Moreover, CAG’s salary and allowances are charged upon Consolidated Fund of India, ensuring immunity from Vote of Parliament. Thus, there are strong inbuilt safeguards available to ensure autonomy for the CAG to effectively discharge its role.
Role of CAG
Conducts legal, regulatory and propriety audit.
Audits expenditure from Contingency Fund, Public Account, Consolidated Fund of India and the states.
Submits audit reports to President and Governor for legislative scrutiny.
Audits the receipts and expenditure of Government companies and entities substantially financed from the Central or State revenues.
Acts as a guide to Public Accounts Committee of Parliament ensuring transparency in financial administration.
Its role as the highest auditing authority is intrinsically linked to the efficacy of government policies by keeping a watch on financial aspect of Good Governance, thereby preserving the democratic ethos.
Approach:
Begin by giving a brief of the Industrial Revolution in England and how it used resources from its colonies.
Explain the exploitation of Indian industry by the British.
Conclude by summarizing the arguments.
The Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 18th century in Britain, was a period of rapid industrialization which introduced mechanized production, steam engines, and factories, leading to mass production of goods. British colonies acted as a resource pool (of cotton, indigo, etc.) as well as a market for these goods.
Industrial Revolution and a Declining Handicrafts and Cottage Industry
Hand v/s Machine Made Goods: A subsidized flow of mass-produced machine-made goods was bound to throw handcrafted and expensive, Indian goods out of the market.
Discriminatory Policies: The British imposed a policy of laissez-faire, levying high tariffs on Indian goods exported to England while allowing cheap British goods to enter India with minimal tariffs.
Unemployment and Shift to Agriculture: The destruction of local markets weakened the livelihoods of artisans, causing many to lose patronage from rulers and wealthy patrons.
An unemployed workforce was forced to abandon their craft and turn to agriculture or other menial jobs to survive.
Exploitative Farming: Population with sizable amount of land was forced to carry out cash crop cultivation of specific crops which were needed for the British industries. e.g., The Indigo Plantation.
Eventual Decline in Innovation: The influx of cheaper machine-made goods reduced demand for handcrafted items, leading to lower production and quality, as artisans couldn't afford to innovate.
Indian Perspectives
Drain of Wealth: Dadabhai Naoroji's theory highlighted how British exploitation drained India's wealth, hindering industrial growth and development.
Swadeshi Movement: Mahatma Gandhi emphasized that British industrialization came at the cost of Indian livelihoods, and urged Indians to boycott foreign goods.
Jawaharlal Nehru: In his book ‘The Discovery of India’ argued that British policies deindustrialized India, turning it from a manufacturing hub into a supplier of raw materials.
Conclusion
The structural damage to the Indian society caused by the Industrial Revolution still lingers on. However, framers of our constitution understood the power of cottage industry for a country like India and hence Article 43 clearly prompts the country to establish them.
Food Security: Ensures food grain availability for vulnerable populations during adverse conditions like droughts or floods.
Public Distribution: To ensure monthly release of food grains through the Public Distribution System (PDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).
Emergency Response: To address unexpected situations arising from crop failures, natural disasters, etc.
Price Stabilization: Helps maintain stable prices of essential grains by regulating supply. For instance, in 2022-23, the FCI released 34.82 lakh tonnes of wheat, reducing retail inflation in cereals.
Support to Farmers: Guarantees a minimum support price (MSP) for produce, stabilizing farmer incomes and encouraging agricultural production.
Disaster Management: Provides immediate food relief during natural disasters, exemplified by the supply of free rations during Covid-19.
Challenges:
Storage Issues: Inadequate storage facilities cause significant wastage and spoilage, with around 74 million tonnes (22% of foodgrain output) wasted annually in India.
Procurement Imbalance: Excessive procurement of rice and wheat leads to overstocking, neglect of other grains, and hampers crop diversification.
Financial Burden: Large buffer stocks incur high costs in procurement, storage, and distribution, with transit losses causing FCI to lose approximately Rs. 300 crores annually.
Distribution Inefficiencies: The Public Distribution System (PDS) faces issues like leakages, pilferage, and corruption, with leakages at 22% as per the 2022-23 NSS survey.
Quality Concerns: Maintaining the quality of food grains over long periods is a major challenge.
Conclusion
Buffer stocks are vital for stabilizing prices and ensuring food security in India. Addressing storage and procurement issues, along with improving infrastructure and distribution, will make the system more effective and benefit both farmers and consumers.
Q. Elucidate the importance of buffer stocks for stabilizing agricultural prices in India. What are the challenges associated with the storage of buffer stock? Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)
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Q. "It is not enough to talk about peace, one must believe in it; and it is not enough to believe in it, one must act upon it ". In the present context, the major weapon industries of the developed nations are adversely Influencing continuation of a number of wars for their own self-interest, all around the world. What are the ethical considerations of the powerful nations in today’s international arena to stop continuation of ongoing conflicts? (Answer in 150 words)
#GS4 #Ethics #CSM24
Body
Impact of SST Rise on Tropical Cyclone Formation :
Energy Source:Rising sea surface temperatures provide the necessary heat and moisture, which are crucial for the formation and intensification of tropical cyclones.
Convection:Higher SSTs enhance convection processes, leading to the development of tropical cyclones.
Development Threshold:If SSTs are below the 26°C threshold, the energy available for cyclone development is insufficient.
Intensity:Warmer SSTs not only initiate cyclone formation but also contribute to the intensification of existing storms, potentially increasing their wind speeds and destructive capacity.
Frequency:Rising global temperatures may increase the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones by raising sea surface temperatures.
Changing Tracks: As SSTs rise globally, tropical cyclones may form in new regions or shift their paths, affecting areas previously unaffected.
Q. What is sea surface temperature rise? How does it affect the formation of tropical cyclone ? (Answer in 150 words)
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Q. ‘Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.’ Substantiate your view.
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Q. In what ways would the ongoing U.S-Iran Nuclear Pact Controversy affect the national interest of India? How should India respond to this situation?
#GS2 #IR #CSM18
Q. Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation’. Argue by giving suitable illustrations.
#GS1 #IndiaSociety #CSM18
Q.The ideal solution of depleting ground water resources in India is water harvesting system”. How can it be made effective in urban areas?
#GS1 #Geography #CSM18
Q.A number of outside powers have entrenched themselves in Central Asia, which is a zone of interest to India. Discuss the implications, in this context, of India’s joining the Ashgabat Agreement, 2018.
#GS2 #IR #CSM18
Q.Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing’. Explain by giving reasons.
#GS1 #IndianSociety #CSM18
Q.With regard to morality of actions, one view is that means are of paramount importance and the other view is that the ends justify the means. Which view do you think is more appropriate? Justify your answer.
#GS4 #Ethics #CSM18
Q.The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is viewed as a cardinal subset of China’s larger ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. Give a brief description of CPEC and enumerate the reasons why India has distanced itself from the same.
#GS3 #Economicdevelopment #CSM18
Q. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has a very vital role to play.” Explain how this is reflected in the method and terms of his appointment as well as the range of powers he can exercise.
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