EDEN IAS

(MODEL ANSWERS)

STEPS -23/07/2018- GS I

Q1. Analyse the location, distributional pattern and problems associated with the cotton

textile industry in India. (10)

Answer:

Cotton is a non perishable raw material with no weight loss when converted to yarn or textile

and so proximity to source of raw materials doesn't bring any benefit. The factors that

determine the location of cotton industry are labour, proximity to markets, energy supply and

availability of capital or finance. Climate to is a factor as dry climate not suitable for mass

production as cotton threads break and manually have to be joined again. Government policy

and credit-insurance mix can also affect location of cotton textile industry.

Problems of Cotton Textile Industry:

Although cotton textile is one of the most important industries of India, it suffers from many

problems. Some of the burning problems are briefly described as under:

1. Scarcity of Raw Cotton:-Indian cotton textile industry suffered a lot as a result of partition

because most of the long staple cotton growing areas went to Pakistan. Although much

headway has been made to improve the production of raw cotton, its supply has always fallen

short of the demand. Consequently, much of the long staple cotton requirements are met by

resorting to imports.

2. Obsolete Machinery:-Most of the textile mills are old with obsolete machinery. This results

in low productivity and inferior quality. In the developed countries, the textile machinery

installed even 10-15 years ago has become outdated and obsolete, whereas in India about 60-

75 per cent machinery is 25-30 years old.

3. Erratic Power Supply:-Power supply to most cotton textile mills is erratic and inadequate

which adversely affects the production.

4. Low Productivity of Labour:-Labour productivity in India is extremely low as compared to

some of the advanced countries. On an average a worker in India handles about 2 looms as

compared to 30 looms in Japan and 60 looms in the USA. If the productivity of an American

worker is taken as 100, the corresponding figure is 51 for U.K. 33 for Japan and only 13 for

India.

5. Strikes:-Labour strikes are common in the industrial sector but cotton textile industry suffers

a lot due to frequent strikes by a labour force. The long drawn strike in 1980 dealt a severe

below to the organised sector. It took almost 23 years for the Government to realise this and

introduce legislation for encouraging the organised sector.

6. Stiff Competition:-Indian cotton mill industry has to face stiff competition from power loom

and handloom sector, synthetic fibers and from products of other countries.

7. Sick Mills:-The above factors acting singly or in association with one another have resulted in

many sick mills. As many as 177 mills have been declared as sick mills. The National Textile

Corporation set up in 1975 has been striving to avoid sick mills and has taken over the

administration of 125 sick mills. What is alarming is 483 mills have already been closed.

8. Exports:-India is a major exporter of cotton textiles. Cotton yarn, cloth and readymade

garments form important items of Indian exports. Indian garments are well known throughout

the world for their quality and design and are readily accepted in the world of fashion.

Q2. “Buddhist architecture in India is not only a cultural repository but also an infrastructural

delight”- Comment. (10)

Answer:

In India this early Buddhist art was influenced to a large extent by Asoka. He was responsible for

the construction of several stupas, which are sacred mounds of brick commemorative of the

Buddha. Asoka also constructed stone pillars symbolizing his creed. These were lofty free-

standing monolithic columns erected on sacred sites. The most famous of these is at Sarnath.

Principal components of Buddhist architecture in India-

1) Stambahs (or latas)

2) Stupas

3) Rails

4) Chaityas

5) Viharas

From the first century CE onwards Viharas developed into educational institutions, due to the

increasing demands for teaching in Buddhism. As permanent monasteries became established,

the name “Vihara” was kept. Some Viharas became incredibly important institutions, some of

them evolving into major Buddhist Universities with thousands of students, such as Nalanda.

Nalanda was the first university in the world which taught a number of subjects and disciplines

to its thousands of students. The university was centuries ahead of its time in this respect. It

took centuries for the countries to develop similar institutions.

Examples of Viharas (Buddhist Architecture) in India-Biharail (earliest Vihara); Ellora caves;

Nalanda; Kalera caves; Mahabodhi Temple; Ajanta caves etc. A chaitya can be defined as a

Buddhist shrine or prayer hall with a stupa at one end.

The more spectacular and more numerous chaitya, however, were cut into living rock as caves.

An ancient practice, rock-cut architecture has had a long tradition of Buddhism. Ancient

Buddhist chaitya can be found in remote parts of Maharashtra, especially the Ashokan caves.

The stupas are funerary mounds which were built at locations which house relics of the

Buddha/ the places where he meditated. The stupas started out to be simple funerary mounds,

but as Buddhism became more popular, the stupas were financed by wealthy merchants and

the ruling class alike. The stupas grew in size and developed an architectural style peculiar to

them. The stambhas/latas were rather than being a building type themselves were placed in

and around existing or new structures.

Thus, it is safe to say that Buddhist architecture was way ahead of its time in regards to their

design and structural know-how. The Buddhist architecture in India was just a starting point

which amalgamated with a number of other architectural styles to create the Indo-Saracenic

style of architecture in India. Even in modern day India we see a number of buildings having a

high resemblance or at least borrowing a little bit from the ancient styles of Buddhist

architecture in India. It was a brilliant example of civil engineering combined with aesthetic and

cultural values. Thus it is safe to say that Buddhist architecture in India is not only a cultural

repository but also an infrastructural delight.

Q3. “Marx was a materialist. That is, he considered in the development of nature and society,

matter is primary, thought, consciousness etc. are secondary and derivative.”-Elaborate. (15)

Answer:

Karl Marx (1818–1883) is best known not as a philosopher but as a revolutionary, whose works

inspired the foundation of many communist regimes in the twentieth century. It is hard to think

of many who have had as much influence in the creation of the modern world. Trained as a

philosopher, Marx turned away from philosophy in his mid-twenties, towards economics and

politics. However, in addition to his overtly philosophical early work, his later writings have

many points of contact with contemporary philosophical debates, especially in the philosophy

of history and the social sciences, and in moral and political philosophy. Historical materialism

— Marx’s theory of history — is centered around the idea that forms of society rise and fall as

they further and then impede the development of human productive power.

Dialectical materialism is the world outlook of the Marxist-Leninist ideologies. It is called

dialectical materialism because its approach to the phenomena of nature, its method of

studying and apprehending them, is dialectical, while its interpretation of the phenomena of

nature, its conception of these phenomena, its theory, is materialistic.

Marx sees the historical process as proceeding through a necessary series of modes of

production, characterized by class struggle, culminating in communism. Marx’s economic

analysis of capitalism is based on his version of the labour theory of value, and includes the

analysis of capitalist profit as the extraction of surplus value from the exploited proletariat. The

analysis of history and economics come together in Marx’s prediction of the inevitable

economic breakdown of capitalism, to be replaced by communism. However Marx refused to

speculate in detail about the nature of communism, arguing that it would arise through

historical processes, and was not the realisation of a pre-determined moral ideal.

For Marx matter was primary and he considered that ethics, morality and all other loftier ideals

flow once material desires are met. Material consciousness of Marx was unparalleled he

considered religion as the opium of the masses. i.e. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed

creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of

the people. The foundation of irreligious criticism is: Man makes religion, religion does not

make man. Religion is, indeed, the self-consciousness and self-esteem of man who has either

not yet won through to himself, or has already lost himself again. But man is no abstract being

squatting outside the world. Hence we can say Marx was a materialist. That is, he considered in

the development of nature and society, matter is primary, thought, consciousness etc. are

secondary and derivative.

Q4.”If we do not voluntarily bring our population growth under control in the next one or two

decades, then nature will do it for us in the most brutal way, whether we like it or not”:-

Comment. (15)

Answer:

Few economists have had such controversial ideas, and generated a debate on such a scale as

Thomas Malthus. In “An Essay on the Principle of Population”, published in 1798, the English

economist made public his theory on population dynamics and its relationship with the

availability of resources.

In the late 18th century, Thomas Malthus, an English political economist, advanced a theory of

crisis in his Essay on the Principle of Population, based on a posited relation of disproportion

between the rate of demographic growth and the rate of growth of food supply.

According to this thesis, population naturally increases in geometric ratio but the means of

subsistence, or agricultural production increases only in an arithmetic ratio making it impossible

for agricultural production to sustain growing populations indefinitely. These two opposing

natural tendencies generate periodic crises of food supply corrected by reduction of population

size.

Malthus describes two distinct forms of checks on population size: ‘positive’ checks such as

war, epidemics, famine, and ‘preventive’ checks such as various forms of birth control, including

abortion, and infanticide. Since food scarcity, however, is the condition for the operation of

these checks, it is the ultimate check on population increase.

Marx has however criticised Malthus and proclaimed that it is the evils of capitalism that is

responsible for the growth of population and unless productive relations are rearranged in

favour of labour the growth shall continue.

However climate change and global warming has revived the Malthusian approach in the form

of Neo-Malthusianism. Neo-Malthusianism is the advocacy of population control programs, to

ensure resources for current and future populations. In Britain the term Malthusian can also

refer more specifically to arguments made in favour of preventive birth control, hence

organizations such as the Malthusian League. Neo-Malthusians differ from Malthus's theories

mainly in their enthusiasm for contraception. Malthus, a devout Christian, believed that "self-

control" (abstinence) was preferable to artificial birth control. In some editions of his essay,

Malthus did allow that abstinence was unlikely to be effective on a wide scale, thus advocating

the use of artificial means of birth control as a solution to population "pressure”. Modern "neo-

Malthusians" are generally more concerned than Malthus was, with environmental degradation

and catastrophic famine than with poverty. Neo-Malthusians are pessimists and hence believe

that If we do not voluntarily bring our population growth under control in the next one or

two decades, then nature will do it for us in the most brutal way, whether we like it or not.

EDEN IAS

(MODEL ANSWERS)

STEPS -24/07/2018- GS II

Q1. “The Promulgation of an Ordinance is an extra-ordinary measure that should be resorted

to only in extra-ordinary situations”-Discuss. (10)

Answer:

Article 123 of the Constitution authorises the President to promulgate ordinances if a law is

“immediately necessary” and at any time, except when both Houses of Parliament are in

session. But ordinances aren’t permanent. They lapse unless they are converted into Acts

within a specified duration.

The demand for ordinances to be promulgated has to be seen in the context of the failure of

the parliament to function. The ordinance as a short route has therefore often been criticised,

even by us for bypassing Parliament. In this case it does not. On the contrary, it takes already

deliberated and examined Bills on which a consensus has been reached, but is marred by

Parliament’s failure to legislate.

The provision of Article 123 of the Constitution states that ordinances can be passed when

Parliament is not in session and “circumstances exist which render it necessary for him (the

President) to take immediate action.”

When the people of India have been faced with a Parliament that has been deliberately non-

functioning, they have no choice left but to demand that the government and President use

these provisions to bring in laws on which there was a clear consensus. This demand is made in

a context where Parliament has barely functioned.

Ordinance is an extraordinary device at the hand of the executive it is not an instrument to by-

pass legislative process. The Supreme Court has said that Re-promulgation of ordinances is a

fraud on the Constitution and a subversion of democratic legislative processes.

In a blow to Ordinance Raj, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court widened the boundaries

of judicial review to the extent that it can now examine whether the President or the Governor

was spurred by an “oblique motive” to bypass the Legislature and promulgate an ordinance. It

is meant for exigency hence should be used for the same.

Q2. “Education is the planned process of inducing those attitudes and transmitting those

skills that are essential for local, regional and national development”- Analyse (10)

Answer:

Education is fundamental to development and growth. The human mind makes possible all

development achievements, from health advances and agricultural innovations to efficient

public administration and private sector growth. For countries to reap these benefits fully, they

need to unleash the potential of the human mind. And there is no better tool for doing so than

education.

First, foundational skills acquired early in childhood make possible a lifetime of learning. The

traditional view of education as starting in primary school takes up the challenge too late. The

science of brain development shows that learning needs to be encouraged early and often,

both inside and outside of the formal schooling system. Prenatal health and early childhood

development programs that include education and health are consequently important to

realize this potential. In the primary years, quality teaching is essential to give students the

foundational literacy and numeracy on which lifelong learning depends. Adolescence is also a

period of high potential for learning, but many teenagers leave school at this point, lured by the

prospect of a job, the need to help their families, or turned away by the cost of schooling. For

those who drop out too early, second-chance and non formal learning opportunities are

essential to ensure that all youth can acquire skills for the labor market.

Second, getting results requires smart investments—that is, investments that prioritize and

monitor learning, beyond traditional metrics, such as the number of teachers trained or

number of students enrolled. Quality needs to be the focus of education investments, with

learning gains as the key metric of quality. Resources are too limited and the challenges too big

to be designing policies and programs in the dark. We need evidence on what works in order to

invest smartly.

Third, learning for all means ensuring that all students, and not just the most privileged or

gifted, acquire the knowledge and skills that they need. Major challenges of access remain for

disadvantaged populations at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. We must lower the

barriers that keep girls, children with disabilities, and ethno linguistic minorities from attaining

as much education as other population groups. “Learning for all” promotes the equity goals

that underlie Education for All and the SDGs. Without confronting equity issues, it will be

impossible to achieve the objective of learning for all.

Achieving learning for all will be challenging, but it is the right agenda for the next decade. It is

the knowledge and skills that children and youth acquire today—not simply their school

attendance—that will drive their employability, productivity, health, and well-being in the

decades to come, and that will help ensure that their communities and nations thrive.

Q3. “The Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in India are functionally inadequate and fiscally

starved.”-In the light of the above statement discuss the recommendations given by The

Second Administrative Reforms Commission and the Fourteenth Finance Commission

regarding the functioning and finances of PRIs. (15)

Answer:

The second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) has made a number of

recommendations in its report on local governance, favouring democratic decentralization and

making local bodies “citizen-centric.”

The commission has recommended promotion of local democracy, which is much more than

decentralization and which seeks to build up local bodies as self-governing institutions.

In the sixth report, the ARC recommended that the government place before Parliament a

framework law for local bodies on the lines of the South African Act for laying down the broad

principles of devolution of power, responsibilities and functions to the local bodies.

At the district level, a third tier of democratic government is proposed to replace the present

system, which is a colonial legacy. In its place a district council, representing both urban and

rural areas, should be constituted and the District Collector should work as the chief secretary

of the council while reporting to the State government for regulatory functions. This will

ensure convergence of planning and developmental activities for rural and urban areas.

The Commission recommended abolition of octroi and suggested that the government evolve

mechanisms to compensate local governments for revenue loss.

Yet another recommendation pertained to Parliament making provision for constitution of a

legislative council in each State. It would comprise members elected by the local bodies in order

to strengthen the voice of local bodies.

Local bodies are receiving grants since 10th Finance Commission. Grants were conditional-

sector specific. Conditionalities on State governments – noncompliance meant loss of funds to

local bodies. Fourteenth Finance Commission has sought to correct this through: Enhancement

of grants; Minimal Conditionalities; Placing trust in local bodies.

14th Finance Commission recommended that the local bodies should be required to spend the

grants only on the basic services within the functions assigned to them under relevant

legislations. 14th Finance Commission recommended that local bodies and States explore the

issuance of municipal bonds as a source of finance with suitable support from the Union

Government. The States may allow the larger municipal corporations to directly approach the

markets while an intermediary could be set up to assist medium and small municipalities who

may not have the capacity to access the markets directly.

The 14th Finance commission has given due consideration to the fiscal federalism framework in

India by devolving a larger amount to local governments. The 14th Finance Commission has

recommended a grant-in aid for local governments that is equal to an estimated 3% of the

divisible pool. This is higher than the recommended allocation of 2.5% by the 13th FC.

The panel has recommended the grants to states for local bodies be in two parts, a basic grant

and a performance grant. The ratio of basic to performance grant is 90:10 with respect to

panchayats and 80:20 in the case of municipalities.

Q4. “India’s relations with its neighbours will depend upon not only the developments in

individual countries but also the broader trends which shape the region as a whole.”-

Elucidate (15)

Answer:

India’s relations with its neighbours will depend upon developments in individual countries but

also the broader trends which shape the region as a whole. Several critical drivers that may

influence the South Asian situation can be identified. These drivers are uncertain but can have

huge impact. They include demography, internal stability, economic growth, energy security,

climate change, food and water security, terrorism, anti-India sentiments and external powers.

Depending on how these drivers pan out, South Asia could see either a cooperative or a conflict

scenario. For a cooperative scenario to materialise, the rising population must be turned into an

asset and the demographic dividend must be exploited through creation of educational and

employment opportunities.

There would be a need to invest in social and physical infrastructure as well as greater regional

cooperation. Energy shortages must be overcome through investment in renewable sources of

energy. The emphasis must be on inclusive growth and regional cooperation. However, a

conflict scenario in South Asia can also materialise. This would happen if the security dilemmas

faced by the countries of South Asia are not addressed. A slowdown in economic growth could

also breed instability. The increasing population could create pressures on energy, food and

water availability. India’s policies might be seen as interference leading to rise in anti-India

sentiments. Absence of meaningful regional cooperation could lead to tensions and conflicts.

In the 20-year-scenario, India’s relations with its neighbours will be dominated by human

security concerns. While Pakistan, its nuclear weapons and its nexus with China will continue to

present national security dilemmas, for which India should be prepared at all times, India’s

foreign policy agenda will be packed with issues like terrorism, food, energy and water security

issues and visa regimes. At present, regional integration in South Asia is limited. The situation

will most likely change in the next 20 years. Borders will become softer and connect rather than

divide. This will present both challenges and opportunities.

India, being the pre-eminent country, will have to take the lead in forging closer links with its

neighbours and forging a sense of South Asian identity. Many of the instability scenarios

predicted in this volume can be altered if India takes the initiative in crafting polices which put

premium on connectivity rather than separation.

India will need not only a different policy outlook but also human, diplomatic and financial

resources to put in place policies which secure India by forging closer links with her neighbours

at different levels. India’s delivery mechanism must be improved significantly if it has to earn

the respect of its neighbours.

The next 20 years will see a rapid change in the neighbourhood and will therefore be years of

uncertainty. If nothing is done now to prepare the country for these uncertain years, India will

suffer massively. At the same, time through proactive policies India can look for opportunities

that will surely arise as the region changes.

EDEN IAS

(MODEL ANSWERS)

STEPS -25/07/2018- GS III

Q1. “Major infrastructure development requires a substantial influx of investment capital.”-

Discuss (10)

Answer:

Major infrastructure development requires a substantial influx of investment capital. The

policies of the Indian Government seek to encourage investments in domestic infrastructure

from both local and foreign private capital. The country is already a hot destination for foreign

investors.

In order to increase FDI inflows, particularly with a view to catalysing investment and enhancing

infrastructure, the Indian Government has introduced significant policy reforms. For example

the abolition of FIPB; 100% FDI in various sectors; Labour reforms; Infrastructure corridors and

Dedicated link etc. In 2016, India jumped 19 places in World Bank's Logistics Performance Index

(LPI) 2016, to rank 35th amongst 160 countries.

India has a requirement of investment worth Rs 50 trillion (US$ 777.73 billion) in infrastructure by 2022 to have sustainable development in the country. India is witnessing significant interest from international investors in the infrastructure space. Some key investments in the sector are listed below.

In June 2018, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has announced US$ 200

million investment into the National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).

Private equity and venture capital (PE/VC) investments in the infrastructure sector

reached US$ 3.3 billion with 25 deals during January-May 2018.

Indian infrastructure sector witnessed 91 M&A deals worth US$ 5.4 billion in 2017

In February 2018, the Government of India signed a loan agreement worth US$ 345

million with the New Development Bank (NDB) for the Rajasthan Water Sector

Restructuring Project for desert areas.

In January 2018, the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) partnered with

UAE-based DP World to create a platform that will mobilise investments worth US$ 3

billion into ports, terminals, transportation, and logistics businesses in India.

The Government of India is expected to invest highly in the infrastructure sector, mainly highways, renewable energy and urban transport, prior to the general elections in 2019. Infrastructure sector is a key driver for the Indian economy. The sector is highly responsible for

propelling India’s overall development and enjoys intense focus from Government for initiating

policies that would ensure time-bound creation of world class infrastructure in the country.

Infrastructure sector includes power, bridges, dams, roads and urban infrastructure

development.

Q2. “The increasing and wide spread use of social media is not only creating privacy issues but

also creating major challenges for internal security.”- Elaborate (10)

Answer:

Online social networks are becoming a major growth point of the internet, as individuals,

companies and governments constantly desire to interact with one another, the ability of the

internet to deliver this networking capabilities grows stronger.

A social network is a social structure made up of a set of social actors (such as individuals or

organizations), sets of dyadic ties, and other social interactions between actors. Privacy

concerns with social networking services is a subset of data privacy, involving the right of

mandating personal privacy concerning storing, re-purposing, provision to third parties, and

displaying of information pertaining to oneself via the Internet. Social network security and

privacy issues result from the astronomical amounts of information these sites process each

day. Features that invite users to participate in—messages, invitations, photos, open platform

applications and other applications are often the venues for others to gain access to a user's

private information. In addition, the technologies needed to deal with user's information may

intrude their privacy.

The social media also possess a serious threat to the national security of a nation.

Used by terrorists – Due to the easy availability and widespread use of social media, most of

the terrorists use this medium to achieve their goals. Around 90% of the organized terrorism on

the Internet takes place through the social media. The terrorist groups spread their messages

through the sites like You Tube, Twitter or Facebook and recruit people via them. For example,

the terrorist group of ISIS spreads their messages and activities through the social media.

International users – The other national and international users such as the political parties,

NGO's, hackers pose a serious threat using the social media. For example, during the civil

turmoil in the Arab Spring Uprising, the various governments were threatened through the

social media.

Communal Violence – With the help of social media, people have started attacking each

other's religion on this platform. Sensitive tweets regarding religion are becoming a common

phenomenon. Circulation of certain pictures through social media also creates a panic among

the masses. This is a threat to the internal security of the nation as it disturbs the communal

harmony.

Threat to internal security – With the advent of social media, issues like economics, media and

science are open to all. Uploading information related to these fields on the social networking

sites can be a threat to the internal security.

Revolution – Some countries in the world feel threatened by the fact that social media can

bring the people together and thus, create a revolution. This in turn can cause political

instability.

Q3. “Multiplicity of cropping systems has been one of main features of Indian agriculture and

it is attributed to rainfed agriculture and prevailing socio-economic situations of farming

community.”- Examine (15)

Answer:

Cropping systems of a region are decided by and large, by a number of soil and climatic

parameters which determine overall agro-ecological setting for nourishment and

appropriateness of a crop or set of crops for cultivation? Nevertheless, at farmers’ level,

potential productivity and monetary benefits act as guiding principles while opting for a

particular crop/cropping system. These decisions with respect to choice of crops and cropping

systems are further narrowed down under influence of several other forces related to

infrastructure facilities, socio-economic factors and technological developments, all operating

interactively at micro-level. These are:

Infrastructure facilities: Irrigation, transport, storage, trade and marketing, post-harvest

handling and processing etc.

Socio-economic factors: Financial resource base, land ownership, size and type of land holding,

household needs of food, fodder, fuel, fibre and finance, labour availability etc.

Technological factors: Improved varieties, cultural requirements, mechanization, plant

protection, access to information, etc.

The multiplicity of cropping systems has been one of the main features of Indian agriculture. This may be attributed to following two major factors:

1. Rainfed agriculture still accounts for over 92.8 million hectares or 65 percent of the cropped area. A large diversity of cropping systems exists under rainfed and dry land areas with an overriding practice of intercropping, due to greater risks involved in cultivating larger area under a particular crop.

2. Due to prevailing socio-economic situations (such as; dependency of large population on agriculture, small land-holding size, very high population pressure on land resource etc.), improving household food security has been an issue of supreme importance to many million farmers of India. An important consequence of this has been that crop production in India remained to be considered, by and large, a subsistence rather than commercial activity.

Under influence of all above factors, cropping systems remain dynamic in time and space,

making it difficult to precisely determine their spread using conventional methods, over a large

territory. However, it has been estimated that more than 250 double cropping systems are

followed throughout the country.

Q4. “Disaster management in India has evolved from an activity-based setup to an

institutionalised structure.”-Discuss (15)

Answer:

India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique geo-climatic

conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been a recurrent

phenomena. About 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various intensities; over 40

million hectares is prone to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclones and 68% of

the area is susceptible to drought.

Disaster management in India has evolved from an activity-based setup to an institutionalized

structure; from single faculty domain to a multi-stakeholder setup; and from a relief-based

approach to a ‘multi-dimensional approach for reducing risk’. The beginnings of an institutional

structure for disaster management came during British period following the series of disasters

that hit the country. These were the Famines of 1900, 1905, 1907 & 1943, and the Bihar-Nepal

Earthquake of 1937.

Over the past century, the structure for managing disasters in India has undergone substantive

changes in its composition, nature and policy. The British administration chose a reactive

approach for managing disasters and set up relief departments which provided emergency

relief during disasters. This was an activity-based setup which was functional only in the post-

disaster scenarios. The policy was relief-oriented and activities that were initialized as part of

this setup included designing the relief codes and initializing food for work programmes. Post-

independence, the task for managing disasters continued to rest with the Relief Commissioners

in each state, who functioned under the Central Relief Commissioner, with their role limited to

delegation of relief material and money in the affected area.

The emergence of a permanent and institutionalized setup began in the decade of 1990s. The

disaster management cell was established under the Ministry of Agriculture, following the

declaration of the decade of 1990 as the ‘International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction’

(IDNDR) by the UN General Assembly.

Further, India witnessed series of disasters such as Latur Earthquake (1993), Malpa Landslide

(1994), Orissa Super Cyclone (1999) and Bhuj Earthquake (2002) which reoriented the policy

action and led to the shift from financing relief to a holistic approach for addressing disaster

management. Consequently, the disaster management division was shifted under the Ministry

of Home Affairs in 2003 and a hierarchical structure for disaster management evolved in India.

Institutional structure for disaster management in India

National Disaster Management Authority is the nodal authority for all disaster management

actions in the country. It is the policy making body that frames broad guidelines for the other

ministries at the centre and authorities at the state level. The state authorities further lay down

the guidelines for ministries and departments at the state level and the districts falling in their

respective jurisdictions. Similarly, district authorities direct the civil administration,

departments and local authorities such as the municipalities, police department and civil

administration. The Executive Committees at each level are responsible for execution of the

tasks envisaged by the Authorities.

To build a safe and disaster resilient India we must develop a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster

oriented and technology driven strategy through a culture of prevention, mitigation,

preparedness and response.

EDEN IAS

(MODEL ANSWERS)

STEPS -27/07/2018- CURRENT AFFAIRS

Q1. “Effecting transfers under the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, presents a win-win situation

for India”- Comment. (10)

Answer:

The right to return to one’s home country is assured under Article 12(4) of the International

Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. A sentence served in a foreign land, far away from family,

familiar food and language, has been globally perceived to be more onerous than one served at

home.

Therefore, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963, provides for information to

consulate, consular protection and consultation upon arrest, detention and during trial in a

foreign country including entitlement to travel documents.

India legislated its Repatriation of Prisoners Act in 2003, which came into force on January 1,

2004. The first part deals with the transfer of sentenced foreign national prisoners from India,

while the second deals with the transfer of sentenced Indian nationals into India. It explains the

eligibility for transfer, the transfer process and obligations upon the transferring and receiving

states with regard to consent, communication and custody of a prisoner.

The humanitarian intent behind the Act is to allow convicted foreign nationals a chance to get

transferred to their home countries, and prisoners of Indian origin in other states to be brought

back to India, to serve the remaining part of their sentences. It is based on the belief that being

close to their families in their native countries would help prisoners in the process of

rehabilitation. Effecting transfers under the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, presents a win-win

situation for India as it need not spend unduly on the housing of foreign national prisoners. It

can also save the cost of providing consular services abroad by bringing back Indian prisoners. It

can simultaneously satisfy the public expectation of bringing nationals home and the meeting

of international humanitarian commitments.

Q2. Analyse the implications of the provision which allows one person to contest election

from over one constituency simultaneously. (10)

Answer:

Public interest litigation has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a direction to do

away with the provision which allows one person to contest election from over one

constituency simultaneously, for being unjust to the voters and a financial burden on the

exchequer. The PIL has been filed by advocate and social-political activist Ashwini Upadhyay

praying that Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which allows a person

to contest a general election or a group of bye-elections or biennial elections from two

constituencies, be declared ultra-vires to the Constitution and its basic structure.

Allowing candidates to stand from more than one constituency was a “drain on the exchequer” and the electorates since people were compelled to participate in an unwarranted and forced

by-election.

The Goswami Committee on Electoral Reforms in 1990 and the Law Commission in its 170th

report in 1999 agreed with the Election Commission that a person cannot contest from more

than one seat at a time. Some have argued for a monetary penalty on those candidates who

decide to contest from two seats

A monetary penalty will not deter these so-called larger-than-life leaders from contesting from

multiple seats. But apart from money, it is a waste of time for lakhs of voters. It is also not fair

to upcoming leaders, who have to vacate space to so that the bigger leaders can get their

second seats. This is a violation of principle of equality, bringing to mind the Orwellian saying:

“All are equal, but some are more equal than others.”

The only way out is to make a leader’s candidature void if he or she files a nomination from

more than one constituency. Like “one person, one vote”, the principle of “one leader, one

constituency” should also be followed. Indeed, Section 70 of the RP Act prevents a leader from

holding on to more than one seat.

Q3. “With the US ramping up sanctions against countries deemed as "enemy nations", India is

in a bit of a spot”- In the light of the above statement discuss the salient features of

Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and its impact over India.

(15)

Answer:

With the US ramping up sanctions against countries deemed as "enemy nations", India is in a

bit of a spot. Russia and Iran are both under sanctions. As the world’s largest economy, the US

finds sanctions an effective diplomatic weapon to put pressure on its enemies. Countering

America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) is now a major tool to scarce away all

those who wish to defy the US.

CAATSA was passed overwhelmingly by the US Congress on August 2, 2017; it aims to counter

the aggression by Iran, Russia and North Korea through punitive measures.

India, which does business both with Russia and Iran, is likely to be hit hard. Despite growing

warmth in ties with the US the spin-off may adversely affect India’s relations with the US.

Recent reports have highlighted that India’s planned defence procurement from Russia could

potentially come under US sanctions under a newly enacted law, Countering America’s

Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

CAATSA has the potential to adversely affect India’s defence purchases from its traditional

partner, Russia, besides putting to test India’s growing defence and security relations with the

United States.

Section 231 of the Act empowers the US President to impose at least five of the 12 listed

sanctions — enumerated in Section 235 of the Act — on persons engaged in a “significant

transaction” with Russian defence and intelligence sectors.

Successive Indian governments have followed a policy of not honouring sanctions slapped

unilaterally by any country. Only sanctions which are endorsed by the UNSC are followed by

New Delhi. Indications are this policy is not about to change.

While CAATSA is unlikely to be imposed on India anytime soon, it is nonetheless a dampener on

an otherwise booming defence relationship between India and the United States. As a

sovereign country, India cannot be dictated to go slow or suspend its existing or future defence

cooperation with Russia. It is also practically impossible for India to ignore Russia in view of the

latter’s importance in meeting some of the critical defence hardware requirements of the

Indian armed forces and also because of the overwhelming share of Russian weaponry in the

Indian arms inventory, the upkeep of which necessitates New Delhi’s continued dependence on

Moscow for the foreseeable future.

At the same time, India also needs to be prepared for any eventual CAATSA-related sanctions,

which, though unlikely in the immediate future, may surface in the long run. India may

safeguard its interests by expanding the scope of its existing guidelines for penalties in business

dealings to include a provision for banning defence companies of countries which resort to

banning entities of other countries for foreign policy purposes. Moreover, India may also like to

be cautious while issuing multi-billion dollar arms tenders to countries that are perceived to be

unreliable.

Q4. “We cannot expect to achieve much in human development without a meaningful higher

education system”- In the context of this statement critically examine the entry of foreign

universities in India. (15)

Answer:

There are diverse views on the issue of foreign educational institutions operating in India.

Opponents argue that it would limit access and lead to commercialisation. Proponents argue

that it would increase choices for students and enhance competition in the sector. There are

some experts who support limited entry based on the reputation of the institution.

Present rules permit foreign universities to collaborate with Indian partners through various

mechanisms. However, few globally renowned universities collaborate with India. The NITI

Aayog supports the entry of foreign universities in India on the ground that foreign

universities will help meet the demand for higher education in the country, increase

competition and subsequently improve standards of higher education.

Challenges in inviting foreign universities

1) Vested interest of foreign Universities-Foreign universities may come with commercial

motive. This may raise the cost of higher education in India; Most foreign institutes

invest in technical courses which the market needs rather than in quality education and

research which is important for creating and developing human resource.

2) Weakening of Indian universities-Foreign universities may attract best faculty from

Indian institutes subsequently making them weak;

3) Dangers of low grade institutions-Global experiences show that majority of institutions

entering foreign market are not prestigious universities but rather low-grade institutions

seeking market access and income opportunities.

4) Weakening of regulator-Foreign Universities demand greater autonomy and relaxed

regulatory norms. This would create a difference between Indian and foreign institutes.

There may be problem regarding regulation of courses in foreign universities. Foreign

universities offered innovative methodologies and abundant flexibility to its

academicians and students. This may continue to attract large number of Indian

students abroad. Foreign universities don’t guarantee mass education.

There are currently 651 foreign education providers in India which have either entered into

collaborative twinning programmes, share faculty with partnering institutions and offering

distance education.

One of the reservations on foreign universities operating in India was that they would raise the

cost of education, rendering it out of reach for a large part of the population. On this, the NITI

Aayog has said “financial assistance in the form of loans and scholarships should be made

available to deserving students irrespective of their ability to pay based on merit-cum-means”.

With foreign universities in India, it will become easier for knowledge osmosis at the domestic

level through the various collaborative engagements between Indian and India-based foreign

universities. Indian universities will be forced to innovate, bright young minds will find a place

to flourish in India rather than going abroad and in decades to come, a whole new wave of

impressive young leaders will emerge.

We cannot expect to achieve much in human development without a meaningful higher

education system. Our efforts for last 70 years have not yielded what was expected. Hence this

is a powerful hope that must transcend political interests.