Procedure for election of the President of India

ROHINI DASGUPTA
The union executive consists of the President and the Council of Ministers with the Prime Ministers
at the head. The members of the Constituent Assembly after a lot of deliberations decided in favor of
the British model of cabinet- system of Government or Parliamentary form of government for India.
Under this system the President of India is a nominal head of the executive and the Prime Minister is
the real head. Despite the fact that the President of India is nominal head of the executive he plays a
very significant role in the constitutional set up of the country.
The constitution of India lays down way simple qualification for the august office. He should be a
citizen of India, who has completed the age of thirty five years and is qualified to use elected as a
member of the House of the People. He should not hold any office of profit under any government
local authority. The President cannot be a Member of Parliament or a state legislature
simultaneously. If such a member is elected President he has to resign his seat before assuming
office.
He is entitled to a rent free official accommodation in Rashtrapati Bhawan. His salary, allowances
and privileges are determined by the Parliament from time to time. Presently his monthly salary is
Rs.__________/- which cannot be reduced during his term of office. He also gets
Rs._________________/- towards his annual pension after retirement.
The majority of members in the Constituent Assembly after a great deal of debate decided in favour
of an indirectly elected President. The factors that influenced their decision were a) his little effective
powers in the constitutional set up of the country, b) The large size of the Indian electorate, c) The
financial burden on the exchequer to elect a non-functional head of the state and d) The aspirations
of an elected President for more powers.
Art 53 lays down that the President shall be elected by an electoral college consisting of a) the elected
members of the Parliament and b) the elected members of the state legislature assemblies. The
significance of including Legislative Assemblies in the Electoral College is to ensure a non-partisan
election of the President. If only the Parliament elects the President it is just possible that the party
having a comfortable majority can get its candidate elected easily. But when the Legislative
Assemblies join the Electoral College the position might just be different in view of the party
positions in different Assemblies.
Election :
The President of India is elected according to secret ballot by the system of proportional
representation through single transferable vote. An attempt is made to secure the uniformity of
representation of the different states, according to population and the total number of elected
members of legislative Assembly of each state so that parity may be maintained between the state as
a whole and the union. This has been done to ensure that the votes of the states shall be equal to that
of population of the country. This makes the representative of the President broad based.
In the election of the President the weightage system is used to bring about a parity between the
votes of the members of Parliament and the members of the Assemblies. Since the strength of
legislative assemblies differ owing to differences in population the exact weight of votes of the
members of the Assemblies are determined by a definite formula by dividing the population of the
concerned state by the total number of elected members of the Assembly which is further divided by
one thousand. If the remainder is less than to 500 is should not be taken into account. If it is more
than 500 the member should be increased by one.
For example According 1991 census the population of Orissa was 31,659,736 and the member of
elected members of the legislative assembly was 147. The formula to determine the weight of vote is
Population of the state
-------------------------------------- 1000
No. of M.L.A.s in the state
In that case the weight of vote of each Orissa MLA was
31659736
-------------- + 1000 = 215
147
Since the remainder was 372 it was neglected. Similarly the weight of the votes of the members of
Parliament is also worked out by a formula by dividing the total number of votes assigned to all the
M.L.A.s of the country by the member of elected members of Parliament. If the remainder is more
than one half one more vote is added and if it is less than one half than it is ignored.
Total no. votes assigned to all the M.L.A.s
------------------------------------------------------- = Weight of votes of each M.P.
Total no. of elected M.P.s
Taking a hypothetical example we may assume the weight of the votes of all the elected M.L.A.s is
554459 and the total strength of the elected MPs is 783. In this assumption the weight of votes of
each M.P. is 708. The fraction of 1 in this case has been ignored.
In the election of the President of India the members of the Electoral College are allowed to exercise
their preferences for the candidates in order of their choice. Each voter is allowed to exercise as many
preferences as candidates are there. The voter indicates his order of preferences on the ballot paper.
A candidate in order to be elected must secure his quota of votes which is 50% of valid votes +1. If no
candidate secures the quota or the number of votes required to win, subsequent rounds of counting
shall be taken up. The counting will continue till a candidate gets the quota of votes required to win.
Whenever the presidential office falls vacant on account of his death, resignation or impeachment
the Vice-President succeeds him for a period of six months. The election of the President must be
conducted within six months from the date of vacancy. In case of resignation, the President hands
over the letter to the Vice-President of India.


What measures do you suggest for the eradication
of untouchability in Rural India?
SWASTIK
Since untouchability is a course for humanity, a root cause for the backwardness of the Hindu
Society and a serious problem of national integration; therefore, we suggest the following measures
for the eradication of this evil.
1) Spread of Education:
Education is the best method for the untouchability eradication. Therefore, it should be spread
among the untouchable castes. Moreover, and arrangement should be made by the government. For
the spread of general as well as technical education among Harijan students, special inducements in
the form of scholarships, free hostel accommodation books, stationery etc should be provided to
untouchable students to attract more and more towards education. Education should be free and
compulsory in this context.
2) Economic facilities:
The economic condition of the untouchable castes still continues to be miserable. Harijan upliftment
would remain a pious hope as long as their economic position remains unchanged. Hence, they
should be given vocational training in various crafts and technical skills and financially be assisted to
start small cottage industries of their own economic backwardness of Harijans can only be removed
with opportunities for gainful employment and improvement in social status, provision of land
irrigation facilities; supply of bullock, agricultural implement; seeds and manures; development of
rural cottage industries; development of communication co-operative societies etc will go a long way
in improving their economic positions.
Thus, for the eradication of untouchability, all economic facilities should be provided to the people
who belonging to untouchable castes.
3) Housing facilities:
Harijans, at present mostly like in the worst type of strums and segregated from the residential areas
of the higher castes. Bad housing conditions not only affect their health but also affect their morality.
Therefore the Harijan should be given ample housing facilities so that they develop their living
conditions.
The Government while improving the housing conditions should provides new houses to the
houseless Harijan. Besides, maximum financial assistance also provided to them for repairing of old
and worst type of house.
4) Employment facilities:
For improvement of the standard of living of Harijans and other backward classes, Government
should provide as much employment facilities as possible to them. Along with Government services,
reservation of vacancies for Harijan should be made in all industrial enterprises and private sectors.
5) Emancipation for Dirty Occupation:
Harijans at present mostly engage in various dirty occupations. It is true that one engaged in some
dirty and worst type of occupations, appear unclean to other. It also deteriorates his personality.
Therefore, efforts should be made in all levels to emancipate them from dirty occupations as far as
possible.
6) Abolition of Caste System:
Caste System is the root cause of the origin of untouchability. Therefore, the abolition of Caste
System is very essential for the eradication of untouchability. Under Caste System, the untouchable
are leading their lives just like animals it creates inequality among the members of higher and lower
castes. Hence for the removal of untouchability, caste system should be abolished.
7) Encouragement to inter Caste Marriage:
It is a very effective means for the eradication on untouchabilty by inter caste marriages, not only two
persons of different castes but their families too shall be united to destroy age old prejudices it
should be the policy of Government to give all types of facilities to those who have married out of
their own caste. Hence, for the removal of untouchability, inter caste marriages, especially between
the higher castes and the untouchables castes should be encouraged by all possible means.
8) Propaganda against Untouchability:
For the eradication of untouchability, propaganda should be relentlessly directed by he Government
and other social organisations against this evil through the mass media communications like radio,
telephone, press, television, newspaper, platform and so on. All educational institutions also work in
this direction. As a consequence the feeling of untouchability find no place in the minds of people
and in automatically eradicated.


Six Major Problems Faced by Indian Agriculture
ANKITA
The major problems confronting Indian agriculture are those of population pressure, small holdings,
depleted soils, lack of modern technology and poor facilities for storage.
(a) Population Pressure:
India has a huge population of over one billion and it is increasing at a very fast rate. According to
2001 census figures the over all density of population is 324 persons per sq. km. This is likely to
increase further in future. This has created great demand for land. Every bit of land has been brought
under the plough. Even the hill slopes have been cut into terraces for cultivation.
(b) Small and Fragmented Land Holdings:
The pressure of increasing population and the practice of dividing land equally among the heirs has
caused excessive sub divisions of farm holdings. Consequently, the holdings are small and
fragmented. The small size of holdings makes farming activity uneconomical and leads to social
tension, violence and discontentment.
(c) Inadequate Irrigation Facilities:
By and large the irrigation facilities available in India are far from adequate. So for half of the total
area under food crops has been brought under irrigation and the remaining half is left to the mercy
of monsoon rains which are erratic in time and space.
(d) Depleted Soils:
Indian soils have been used for growing crops for thousands of years which have resulted in the
depletion of soil fertility. With deforestation the sources of maintaining natural fertility of soil has
been drying out. Lack of material resources and ignorance of scientific knowledge have further
depleted the soils of the natural fertility. Earlier only animal waste was enough to maintain soil
fertility.
(e) Storage of food grains:
Storage of food grains is a big problem. Nearly 10 per cent of our harvest goes waste every year in the
absence of proper storage facilities. This colossal wastage can be avoided by developing scientific
ware-housing facilities. The government has taken several steps to provide storage facilities.
(f) Farm Implements:
Although some mechanisation of farming has taken place in some parts of the country, most of the
farmers are poor and do not have enough resources to purchase modern farm implements and tools.
This hampers the development of agriculture.

What was the Attitude of the Indian National
Congress towards the World War - II?
PRATIK DAGA
a) The constitutional Deadlock:
World War - II broke out in 1939. The Congress refused to let the government use Indian men,
money and material in the war. They could be used only on the condition of granting the right of self-
determination to the Indians. But the government refused to accept this and the Congress ministries
resigned.
The Viceroy, Lord Linlithgo, without consulting the Indian leaders, declared in the Central
Legislature that India had joined the war against Germany. The Indian leaders criticized the
Governor-General's action in very harsh words.
b) Forward Block:
The extremists were not at all satisfied with the reforms of 1935 and chalked out a forward spirited
programme. In 1939, Subhash Chandra Bose was elected the President of the Congress. He was
forced to form his executive after the will of Mahatma Gandhi. He didn't agree and left the Congress
to form his own separate party named Forward Block.
The British Government was very particular about the activities of Subhash Chandra Bose and
arrested him in 1940. But he escaped in 1941 and visited Germany, Japan and other south-East Asian
countries. He formed the Indian National Army and attacked India in 1945. Though he could not
gain a victory, yet the British were frightened.
c) The August 1940 Offer:
In 1940, Lord Linlithgo made an offer on behalf of the British Government to expand the Central
Legislature by taking more Indians in it.
In fact, he aimed at enlisting the Indian co-operation in the war-effort. But the Congress demanded
an immediate provisional national government with all powers of defence under it. The Muslim
League too rejected it as it had no reference to Pakistana separate land for the Muslims.
d) Cripp's 1942 Proposals:
The constitutional deadlock continued and Japan too declared war against Britain in 1941. Not only
this, she captured Singapore and Rangoon and advanced towards India. The British were alarmed
and so they sent Sir Stafford Cripps, a socialist leaders of England, with some proposals to pacify the
Indians.


346 words short Essay on Indian Festivals
SOUMYA
Indian calendar has almost each day as festival and it expects people to celebrate each day but some
important festivals occupy an important place in the list. It is one of the four important festivals of
the Indians. It further tells that people lighted candles and lights to welcome their Maharaja. The
normal traders celebrate it bay performing Puja of Lakshmiji and Kuber. They start the new books
next day.
Sikhs celebrate it as a day of Guru Deeksha and they decorate the main Gurudwaras very intensively.
Deepawali festival mostly comes in the month of November. This is the time when farmers get time
to clean and whitewash their houses. They perform Puja and plan for the next year.
Deepawali celebration has further addition to exchange gifts and costly presents. Some people play
cards and gamble on this festival. They waste and spoil the glamour of the festival. Festivals are
actually to facilitate pleasures after the tiresome and hectic life of business or agriculture.
Deepmala of candles or divas provide jobs to millions of people. It feeds the families of handicraft
workers. The present celebrations are tarnished when we find very rotten sweets bean sold in the
market and the consumers are exposed to all sorts of infections and health problems. There should
be a strict supervision on the trade.
Children enjoy Deepawali by burning crackers and bomb blasts of otash. The storage and
manufacturing is mostly done in the city and quiet often the places catch fire and burn the nearby
markets also. This is highly dangerous and deplorable. There should be a mass protest against this
bad feature. This does note befit a struggling nature, which fights for every penny in the world of
comparison and competition. Provision of gifts and sweets should be for poors and down-trodden.
They wait for the day when people will have a merciful attitude for them also. This will be the most
decent way to celebrate Deepawali and all the best prayers and blessings will be offered by the
masses to the hearts full of mercy and love.

Importance of foreign trade in indian economy
SHIYA
Foreign trade has got an important place in the economic development of a country. What is the
importance of foreign trade for economic development of country is stated below:
Firstly, foreign trade helps to produce those commodities which have a comparative cheaper cost
than others. It results in less cost of production in producting a commodity. If all the countries adopt
this procedure to produce these goods in. which they have less comparative cost, it will lead to
availability of goods at a lower price.
Secondly, foreign trade increases the scope of market because of domestic demand and foreign
demand for the product. So there is mass production. If the production of goods increases, average
cost declines and price of goods declines.
Thirdly, foreign trade helps the people to get different varieties of goods both in quantities terms and
qualitative terms.
Fourthly, foreign trade helps a developing country like India in its economic development. Iron and
steel industry, has been established due to stored iron-ore and coal. But for the establishment of this
type industry, we have to import technical knowledge from foreign countries. Had there been no
foreign trade, then it would not have been only difficult but also too expensive.
Without foreign trade, it is not possible to fulfill the demand for petroleum products and it will
retard the economic development of our country. There is also scarcity of consumer goods due to
natural calamities or due to any other reason. During the time scarcity of consumer goods, we import
these goods from foreign countries and keep prices stable which help people to get their
commodities.
Due to all these above reasons, foreign trade has got an important place in every country.

675 words essay on Non-Resident Indians
ARPITA
Non-Resident Indians are those Indians, as is obvious by the name who are Indians by birth but,
they have taken residence in a foreign country - and settled outside India.
This group of Indians is a very great asset to their own country, in spite of residing out of it. It is this
large section of the Indian people who earn crores and crores of foreign exchange for the country.
With their earnings in foreign lands, India can very coolly boast of a swelling treasury a treasury full
of foreign currencies. Besides this financial aspect of the NRIs' contributions in normal times, we
find this community of affluent Indians very magnanimous in times of emergency back home in
India.
For instance, whenever a natural calamity strikes India this group of loyal Indians come to our
financial aid. They contribute huge sums in reconstructing destroyed areas a new.
The financial aspect is of course rather rosy but, that is not all they present to India. Wherever they
go, in whatever capacity they go out of India almost all of them bring name to the Indian brain.
They do well in whatever field they catch on to and bring laurels to India, so much so that today, the
Indian brain is supposed to be one of the best brains of the world. In this aspect of their contribution
to India there is another way of looking at it.
Some people argue that, when Indians can be so very brilliant why don't they work for India, and use
their brain power to enhance the fortunes of their motherland? It is argued that, if these best brains
of the country work for India as well as they work for foreign lands, India would progress more and
faster.
This sounds quite reasonable and sound that, the brain drain from India drains all the good brains
out of India, leaving the mediocre to work for India. Yes it sounds quite correct but when that brain
sends back home to his country his earnings it is all for the country's development.
This would mean that, indirectly though, he is serving his own country. The brain drain is duly
compensated by his financial back up support to India.
Let us analyse how and why this community of NRIs has grown? The youth of the country naturally
look for greener pastures after their studies are over - and so, as soon as they can fly off to these
places beyond home they go away. Once an individual goes out and settles abroad - his entire circle
of relations and friends tend to join him. This is how the numbers outside the country keep
increasing.
The next question that now arises in our minds is that, why do people prefer to go out rather than be
at home? The reasons are not far to seek. In India for one, there is no work culture and so, those who
genuinely want to do some real work and do something substantial, find it impossible to grow here in
India.
For this one single but very important reason, the cream of the youth of the country find place for
themselves in any foreign land. In those lands, work is a pleasure and for those who like to work,
those outside places are natural havens.
Besides the pleasure, outside India work is also extremely rewarding both financially and morally. A
good job done will always be appreciated so, natural as it is, we love to work there. With these points
in mind, most of our brilliant Indian youth prefer to go out of India and this is how this community
of NRIs has grown to a huge size.
If we genuinely wish to stop this exodus from the country, we have to mend our ways to say the least.
We have to create a working environment that is wholesome and then also pay them as well as they
are paid outside India. If we do this we may be able to hold on to our brilliant and promising young.

What is the importance of the process of
socialization in our life?
BHARAT KUMAR
The importance of socialization in our life can hardly be exaggerated. The following description
makes it very clear.
1. Socialization converts man, the biological being into man, the social being.
Man is not born social; He becomes social by virtue of the process of socialization. Various instances
like-that of Kaspar Hauser, Anna, the wolf children of India and others have made it very clear that
only through constant training the newborn child becomes social in nature.
2. Socialization contributes to the development of personality.
Personality is a product of society. In the absence of groups or society, no man can develop a
personality of his own. But socialization is a process through which the personality of the new born
child is shaped and molded. Through the process, the child learns an approved way of social life. At
the same time, it also provides enough scope for the individual to develop his individuality.
3. Helps to became disciplined.
Socialization is social .learning. Social learning is essentially the learning of rules of social behavior.
It is the values, ideals, aims and objectives of life and the means of attaining them. Socialization
disciplines an individual and helps him to live according to the social expectations.
4. Helps to enact different roles.
Every individual has to enact different roles in his life. Every role is woven around norms and is
associated with different attitudes. The process of socialization assists an individual not only to learn
the norms associated with roles but also to develop appropriate attitudes to enact those roles.
5. Provides the knowledge of skills.
Socialization is a way of training the newborn individual in certain skills, which are required to lead a
normal social life. These skills help the individual to play economic, professional, educational,
religious and political roles in his latter life. In primitive societies for, example, imparting skills to
the younger generation in specific occupations was an important aspect of socialization.
6. Helps to develop right aspiration in life.
Every individual may have his own aspirations; ambitions and desires in life. All these aspirations
may not always be in consonance with the social interests. Some of them even be opposed to the
communal interests. But through the process of socialization an individual learns to develop those
aspirations. Which are complementary to the interests of society. Socialization helps him to direct or
channelize his whole energy for the realization of those aspirations.
7. Contributes to the stability of the social order.
It is through the process of socialization that every new generation is trained acceding to the Cultural
goals, ideals, and expectations of a society. It assures the cultural continuity of the society. At the
same time, it provides enough scope for variety and new achievements. Every new generation need
not start its social life a fresh. It can conveniently rely on the earlier generation and follow in cultural
traditions. In this regard, socialization contributes to the stability of the social order.
8. Helps to reduce social distance.
Socialization reduces social distance arid brings people together if proper attention is given to it. By
giving proper training and guidance to the children during their early years, it is possible to reduce
the social distance between people of different castes, races, regions, religions and professions.
9. Provides scope for building the bright future
Socialization is one of the powerful instruments of changing the destiny of mankind. It is through the
process of socialization that a society can produce a generation of its expectations can be altered
significantly. The improvement of socialization offers one of the greatest possibilities for the future
alteration of human nature and human society- Kingsley Davis.

Write an essay on Energy Conservation
NIHARIKA BHATI
Energy is an essential input for the industrial development. Energy is produced from commercial
sources like coal, petroleum, hydroelectric schemes as well as from non-commercial sources like
cowdung, fuelwood and agriculture wastes. Per capital consumption of commercial energy is
something used as an index of the economic advancement that a country as attained. Indias per
capita consumption of commercial energy, however, is very low. It is only one eight of the world
average.
Commercial energy accounts for a little over half of the total energy used in the country, the rest
coming from non-commercial sources. Share of agriculture in commercial energy consumption has
risen rapidly over the past two-and-a-half decades.
Energy generation and environmental conservation are the twin issues arising from exploitative
interaction of man with natural resources. Report of the International Energy Agency contains a
simple but remarkable statement: Investment in energy conservation at the margin provides a
better return than investment in energy supply.
Now, what do mean by this? This means that conservation of a unit of energy is cheaper and
environmentally more desirable than to generate an additional unit. For, it is estimated that
generation of every additional kilowatt for one hour of energy requires an investment of Rs. 7,000 to
12,000 in the form of new energy generation equipments.
Excessive utilization of coal and oil for generation of electricity leads to the multiple problems of acid
rain, and rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. There are also political and economic
implications like the increasing tension in the Persian Gulf, which is the major petroleum exporting
area, and failing international competitiveness. All these threaten to strangle the world economy in a
stagnation. Let us see how some steps taken to resolve these complex problems have tangled the
issues further.
To reduce dependence on oil for generation of electricity by burning coal and oil, hydroelectric power
stations and atomic energy stations were advocated. Huge dams can make substantial contributions
to economic development in electricity-short developing countries like India, but as in any large-
scale electricity generating option, there are trade-offs. Reservoirs inundate forests, farmland and
wildlife habitats and uproot entire communities of indigenous people.
Thus, hasty solutions to a given problem may create more complications rather than solving it. In the
recent past, countries have been expanding their energy budget presumably thinking that energy
expenditure was the only way to development, but today the perspective has changed. One of the
greatest challenges facing poor countries is to meet their energy needs without repeating the
mistakes made by the rich countries. A goal of reducing national energy expenditure, if pursued
rigorously, can lead to a strong emphasis on energy efficiency, improve economic competitiveness,
and limit oil dependence.
A policy of Polluter pays must be adopted. In effect, this means specific disincentives are required to
ensure that industries do not become too heavily dependent on fossil fuels that threaten life-support
systems. The need of the day is to insist on industries adopting clean technologies wherever
available.
The answer to the countrys energy needs can only life in adopting non-conventional sources of
energy. A beginning is being made by Government of India to give the same type of resources and
support to developing alternative sources of energy as have so far been extended to the development
of conventional energy sources. The latter, as experience has shown, pose a great danger to the
environment. Many environmentally safe alternatives have been found today, which await
encouragement from the Government for proper exploitation.

747 words essay on the Kashmir Problem of India
ARPITA
The State of Kashmir has always been a bone of contention, an eye sore ever since India achieved its
independence. The position at that time was that, all the States that comprised India, and had been
independent, had three clear options, available to them.
The three options were that, either they accede to India, or accede to Pakistan. The third option was
that they could remain independent of both India and Pakistan.
While all the States did the needful the State of Kashmir took a unique turn, an eventful and an
unprecedented turn. The then Prime Minister of India stated that, regarding the accession of the
State of Kashmir the wishes of the people of the State would be taken into account, and not only the
rules applicable to the other States.
This condition gave the State of Kashmir a peculiar status which no other State had, to enjoy. This
little declaration by the Prime Minister turned the tide of events for the State of Kashmir which, till
today has not seen the light of an amicable solution.
Taking full advantage of the declaration of the Prime Minister that, the people of Kashmir will decide
their own fate, Pakistan has, all through these past fifty and odd years of independence of India been
harping on the taking of an opinion poll in the State.
This is so because, Kashmir has a Majority population of Muslims and, Pakistan is convinced and
rightly so that, if opinion is taken, the Muslim majority will most certainly vote for the option of
acceding to Pakistan.
In the pursuit of this view only, Pakistan has been spreading terrorism in the State and ousting the
Hindu Minority so that, the few non Muslim are also out of the scene of voting if the need arises.
All through these fifty years of India's independence Pakistan is very clearly and methodically trying
to lay their claim and rightful authority over the State, whether it is with force, murder, or mischief.
This means that, a little mistake in the past has caused and is causing havoc to the State and to the
people of the State of Kashmir. Seeing no benefit accruing to it by small and far apart skirmishes of
big and small magnitude for the last ten years Pakistan is trying to eliminate the minority of Hindus
from the State by reigning terror in the State.
They are training, financing and inspiring young men and sending them across the Indian border to
spread fear in the State. The trainees are working under the guidance of hard-core Muslim terrorists
to kill and plunder in the State.
There have been talks and declarations a number of times but there seems to be no end of the
continued struggle for the little State of Kashmir.
After having dealt with the problem for fifty years, it is felt that, even to-day, the problem defies any
solution, at least in the near future. The situation is in reality absolutely inflammable as, Pakistan
continues to send Jihadist/terrorists to wreak destruction in the State.
The plea taken by the Jehadis is that, they are fighting for their right of freedom. India has all
through these years sought to find a solution to the problem, which is amicable and mutually
acceptable to all the parties involved. The latest attempt to find peace with Pakistan is the declaration
of a unilateral ceasefire by India.
Even to this step taken by India the Pakistani reply is not a follow up of a ceasefire by them but with
guns and shells.
To this sort of a situation where both parties to the struggle have their own styles of functioning, all
solutions seem to obstruct any results.
The policy of 'wait and watch' can only be the keyword to the Indian policy on Kashmir, let us see
when Pakistan realizes the futility of a cold attitude towards its neighbor and its cold blooded revolt
against India in the process of which, only innocent people are jailed, kidnapped and hacked to
death.
The net result of all this being a big zero - we remain as is where is even after fifty years of attempting
for a solution.
With this situation remaining for so long a period, it does not appeal to any reason that, relations of
the two neighbors will ever improve. The relations are keeping on moving down the ladder of
discontent and suspicion of each other, and there is nothing - just nothing achieved.

1359 words essay on International Monetary Fund
VINEET PRAKASH
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has a part in shaping the global economy since the end of
World War II. It is an organization of 18( countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation,
secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable
economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world It provides policy advice and financing to
members in economy difficulties and also works with developing nations to help them achieve
macroeconomic stability and reduce poverty.
During the cooperation and reconstruction phase after the end c Second World War, the IMF was
assigned the task of overseeing the international monetary system to ensure exchange rate stability
and encouraging members to eliminate exchange restrictions that hinder trade. When the system of
fixed exchange rates collapsed in 1971 as well as during the oil shocks of 1973-74 and 1979, the IMF
stepped in to help countries deal with the consequences.
It assisted in coordinating the global response to the international debt crisis caused due to oil
shocks. It played a central role in helping the countries of the former Soviet bloc transition from
central planning to market-driven economies.
During the recent economic crisis too, the IMF has been on the front lines of lending to countries to
help boost the global economy. The founders of the Bretton Woods system had taken it for granted
that private capital flows would never again resume the prominent role they had in the nineteenth
and early twentieth centurys, and the IMF had traditionally lent to members facing current account
difficulties.
However, the fragility in the advanced financial markets was uncovered by the latest global crisis and
the IMF was inundated with requests for stand-by arrangements and other forms of financial and
policy support.
The international community recognized that the IMF's financial resources were as important as
ever and were likely to be stretched thin before the crisis was over. With broad support from creditor
countries, the Fund's lending capacity was tripled to around $ 750 billion. To use those funds
effectively, the IMF overhauled its lending policies.
It created a flexible credit line for countries with strong economic fundamentals and a track record of
successful policy implementation. Other reforms, including ones tailored to help low-income
countries, enabled the IMF to disburse very large sums quickly, based on the needs of borrowing
countries and not tightly constrained by quotas, as in the past.
The IMF supports its member countries by providing policy advice to governments and central banks
based on analysis of economic trends and cross-country experiences; research, statistics, forecasts,
and analysis based on tracking of global, regional, and individual economies and markets; loans to
help countries overcome economic difficulties; concessional loans to help fight poverty in developing
countries; and technical assistance and training to help countries improve the management of their
economies.
The world has changed dramatically since the IMF was founded, bringing extensive prosperity and
lifting millions out of poverty, especially in Asia. In many ways the IMF's main purpose to provide
the global public good of financial stability is the same today as it was when the organization was
established. More specifically, the IMF continues to provide a forum for cooperation on international
monetary problems; facilitate the growth of international trade, thus promoting job creation,
economic growth, and poverty reduction; promote exchange rate stability and an open system of
international payments; and lend countries foreign exchange when needed, on a temporary basis and
under adequate safeguards, to help them address balance of payments problems.
The IMF's way of operating has also changed over the years. It has undergone rapid change since the
beginning of the 1990s to meet the changing needs of its expanding membership in a globalized
world economy. Most recently, it has launched an ambitious reform agenda, aimed at making sure
the IMF continues to deliver the economic analysis and multilateral consultation that is at the core of
its mission ensuring the stability of the global monetary system.
The turbulence in advanced economy credit markets in 2007-08 has demonstrated that domestic
and international financial stability cannot be taken for granted, even in the world's wealthiest
countries. The spike in food and fuel prices, which has hit import-dependent poor and middle-
income countries particularly hard, is another aspect of the globalized economy. The IMF has
responded by enhancing its lending facilities by creating a new Short-Term Liquidity Facility and a
new Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust. It has taken several steps to improve economic and
financial surveillance and strengthen the monitoring of global, regional, and country economies.
In order to help resolve global economic imbalances, in its World Economic Outlook, the IMF has
provided finance ministers and central bank governors with a common framework for discussing the
global economy. The IMF now also has the ability to call for multilateral consultations to discuss
specific problems facing the global economy with a select group of countries an innovative way of
facilitating collective action among key players in the global economy.
The IMF is devoting more resources to the analysis of global financial markets and their linkages
with macroeconomic policy. Twice a year, it publishes the Global Financial Stability Report, which
provides up-to-date analysis of developments in global financial markets. The IMF also offers
training to country officials on how to manage their financial systems, monetary and exchange
regimes, and capital markets.
The IMF is currently facilitating the drafting of voluntary guidelines for Sovereign Wealth Funds and
works closely with the Financial Stability Board to promote international financial stability. The IMF
and the World Bank jointly run the Financial Sector Assessment Program, aimed at alerting
countries to vulnerabilities and risks in their financial sectors.
The IMF's helps resolve crises, and works with its member countries to promote growth and alleviate
poverty. It has three main tools at its disposal to carry out this mandate surveillance, technical
assistance and training, and lending. These functions are underpinned by the IMF's research and
statistics. On a regular basis usually once each year the IMF conducts an in depth bilateral
surveillance and appraisals of each member country's economic situation.
It discusses with the country's authorities the policies that are most conducive to a stable and
prosperous economy. The main focus of the discussions is whether there are risks to the economy's
domestic and external stability that would argue for adjustments in economic or financial policies.
IMF offers technical assistance and training to help member countries strengthen their capacity to
design and implement effective policies. The main areas in which it provides technical assistance and
training are: monetary and financial policies; fiscal policy and management; compilation,
management, dissemination, and improvement of statistical data; and economic and financial
legislation.
In the event that member countries experience difficulties financing their balance of payments, the
IMF is also a fund that can be tapped to facilitate recovery. The IMF cooperates with the national
authorities in designing a policy program supported by financing. Continued financial support is
conditional on the effective implementation of this program. The IMF also provides low-income
countries with loans at a concessional interest rate through the Poverty Reduction and Growth
Facility (PRGF) and the Exogenous Shocks Facility (ESF).
In recent years, the IMF has applied both its surveillance and technical assistance work to the
development of standards and codes of good practice in its areas of responsibility, and to the
strengthening of financial sectors. Besides collaborating with the World Bank, the regional
development banks, the World Trade Organization (WTO), UN agencies, and other international
bodies, the IMF also interacts with think tanks, civil society, and the media on a daily basis.
With its near-global membership, the IMF is uniquely placed to help member governments take
advantage of the opportunities and manage the challenges posed by globalization and economic
development more generally. The IMF tracks global economic trends and performance, alerts its
member countries when it sees problems on the horizon, provides a forum for policy dialogue, and
passes on know-how to governments on how to tackle economic difficulties. It also provides policy
advice and financing to members in economic difficulties and also works with developing nations to
help them achieve macroeconomic stability and reduce poverty.

Essay on Constitutional Development in India
ROHINI DASGUPTA
So far as the constitutional development in the pre-independent India is concerned the year 1858
should be considered as the watershed. It was after the first war of independence (Sepoy Mutiny) in
1857, the transfer of power from the East India Company to the British crown was affected by the
Government of India Act. 1858. It was subsequently followed by the Indian Councils Act, 1861 and
the Indian Councils Act, 1892.
Though the British Govt. repeatedly asserted its desire of providing better and more participatory
government to the Indians, all the acts cited above, in effect, strengthened the hands of the British
government. The much lauded Indian Councils Act, of 1909, which, in fact, initiated the process of
decentralisation had a positive vice in the form of introduction of communal representation for the
first time.
The seeds of separation between the Hindus and the Muslims were sown for the first time aiming to
weaken the nationalist agitation. During the First World War, which started in 1914, the British
government, in order to elicit Indian support, declared on 20th August 1917 its desire to associate the
Indians in a significant manner in the administration after the end of the war.
However, the Government of India Act, 1919, which was subsequently enacted, was a big
disappointment for the Indians. Apart from retaining the unitary and centralised features of
administration, it sought to perpetuate the communal representation system introduced in 1909.
Subsequent to the enactment of the 1919 Act, a seven-man Statutory Commission was appointed in
1927 under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon to report on the working of the 1919 Act. The Indian
National Congress boycotted the Commission as all the members were English men. The report of
the Commission was placed before a Round Table Conference which was boycotted by the Congress.
The findings of the conference was again examined by a Joint Select Committee of the British
Parliament and on the recommendations of the Select Committee, the Government of India Act, 1935
was enacted. While this Act, promised to set up a federal government in India, an attempt was
simultaneously made to deepen the communal cleavages in the country further by providing separate
representation not only to the Muslims, but also to the Sikhs, the European, Indian, Christians and
Anglo-Indians.
The Congress won overwhelmingly in the 1937 elections held as per the provisions of the 1935 Act.
However, with the outbreak of Second World War in 1939, the Indian National Congress
governments resigned demanding right of self determination by framing their own Constitution
through a Constituent Assembly. Such a demand was earlier made by the Congress for the first time
in 1935 and repeatedly made several times between 1935 and 1939. It was never paid any attention
by the British Government till 1942, when it was faced with the danger of defeat at the, hands of
Germany.
The Cripps Mission which came to India in 1942 though accepted the demands of an elected
Constituent Assembly to frame a constitution, it indirectly accepted the plans of the Muslim League
for a separate state i.e. Pakistan.
The rejection of Cripps proposal was followed by the dynamic Quit India Movement in August 1942.
It was only after the end of the war, the British Government despatched the Cabinet Mission to India
in March 1946. As per its recommendations, elections were held to the Constituent Assembly.
The Muslim League members, though elected, boycotted the proceedings of the house which started
on 1 Dec. 1946. The grouping clause of the cabinet recommendation indirectly accepted the Muslim
League's demand. Ultimately on 20th February, 1947 the British Government announced its decision
to transfer power to India by June 1948, keeping the option open to hand over power to a truncated
India.
The Mountbatten Plan envisaged by Lord Mountbatten clearly decided in favour of partitioning
India. With surprising speed, the Indian Independence Act 1947 was passed by the British
Parliament on 4th July and received royal assent in 18th July 1947. Accordingly, India and Pakistan
were to emerge as two independent Dominions and the Constituent Assembly of each Dominion was
to have unlimited powers to frame and adopt any constitution it liked. India and Pakistan became
two completely sovereign states on the 'appointed day', that is 15 August 1947.

What are the importance and aims of disaster
mitigation ?
MOHIT IASIJA
The most important part of implementing disaster mitigation is the full understanding of the nature
of threat. In India, different states are vulnerable to different types of hazards. Some states are prone
to floods and droughts, others to floods and cyclones. Some states are prone to earthquake, falling in
highly active seismic zone (zone 5 or 4). Most states are prone to combination of various hazards.
The effects these hazards are likely to have and the damage they are likely to cause depends mainly
on the following:
i) Population in that region,
ii) Type of houses,
iii) Sources of their livelihood (Agriculture, others),
iv) Infrastructure
To understand hazards of a specific region/state and to develop mitigation strategy, one should have
knowledge of:
i) Causes of hazards and how they arise,
ii) Disaster History of the area
a. Occurrence of hazards,
b. Frequency,
c. Magnitude (severity),
iii) Physical mechanism of destruction caused,
iv) Elements at risk (most vulnerable to their effects),
v) Economic and social consequences after damage.
Importance of Disaster Mitigation
The worst effects of any natural disaster are loss of human life, injuries and health problems of the
affected people apart from loss of property and livelihood. Understanding the way that people are
killed and injured in a particular disaster is a prerequisite for reducing casualties.
In an Earthquake, 90% of the casualties are caused by house collapse. Hence, saving the lives in
earthquakes means focusing on prevention of building collapse. Similarly, in floods, most of the
deaths are because of drowning in fast flowing or turbulent waters. Reducing loss of life by floods is
possible by preventing or minimizing the extent of water flow or keeping people out of the track of
potential water flow.
Mitigation is planned after studying the elements at risk. Saving human life is of the highest priority
in mitigation plans, followed by those of animals. Next comes safety of crops, infrastructure, and
other elements at risk. Identification of elements most at risk indicates priorities for mitigation.
Mitigation also entails the protection of the economy from disasters.
Aims of Disaster Mitigation
The specific aims of disaster mitigation are as follows:
i) Creating awareness of risk at community level,
ii) To promote local actions through community participation to reduce such risks,
iii) Induction of mitigation measures in the national and regional development plans, land use
planning proposals and in project design and appraisal in disaster prone areas.
iv) To assist decision makers (politicians and administrators) to understand the nature and extent of
various risks faced by the communities in their area of responsibility, and to assess the economic
effects of natural disasters on agriculture, commerce and industry.
v) To demonstrate ways and means to reduce those risks within the limits of national, regional or
socio-economic conditions through proper decision making and planning.
vi) To introduce effective measures to implement disaster mitigation plans at the different levels of
public administration based on risk assessment and vulnerability analysis.
In brief, mitigation is involvement of community, administration, politicians and decision makers in
reduction of risks through local actions and taking mitigation measures in the local, regional and
development plans.

Little known information on the District Rural
Development Agency
PRASHANTH REDDY
District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) was set up by the Ministry of Rural Development, The
basic objective behind setting-up this institute is to oversee the implementation of anti-poverty
programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development and to implement the Integrated Rural
Development Programme (IRDP). Gradually DRDA become the main organisation entrusted with
number of programmes of both Central as well as state government.
The schemes introduced by the DRDA are many. DRDA plays a crucial role by identifying the need of
particular rural population and ensuring the appropriate solution to them. In implementing the
schemes, the role of DRDA has been Technical, Managerial and Financial. Thus, DRDA is not only a
body to disburse the funds for the schemes but also provide appropriate Managerial and Technical
support as and when required by the entrepreneurs. Followings are the flagship programmes
undertaken by DRDA.

What are the Objectives and Functions of District
Industries Centre?
PRASHANTH REDDY
The 'District Industries Centre' (DICs) programme was started by the central government in 1978
with the objective of providing a focal point for promoting small, tiny, cottage and village industries
in a particular area and to make available to them all necessary services and facilities at one place.
The finances for setting up DICs in a state are contributed equally by the particular state government
and the central government. To facilitate the process of small enterprise development, DICs have
been entrusted with most of the administrative and financial powers. For purpose of allotment of
land, work sheds, raw materials etc., DICs functions under the 'Directorate of Industries'. Each DIC
is headed by a General Manager who is assisted by four functional managers and three project
managers to look after the following activities :
Activities of District Industries Centre (DIC):
i. Economic Investigation
ii. Plant and Machinery
iii. Research, education and training
iv. Raw materials
v. Credit facilities
vi. Marketing assistance
vii. Cottage industries
Objectives of District Industries Centre (DIC):
The important objectives of DICs are as follow :
i. Accelerate the overall efforts for industrialisation of the district.
ii. Rural industrialisation and development of rural industries and handicrafts.
iii. Attainment of economic equality in various regions of the district.
iv. Providing the benefit of the government schemes to the new entrepreneurs.
v. Centralisation of procedures required to start a new industrial unit and minimisation- of the
efforts and time required to obtain various permissions, licenses, registrations, subsidies etc.
Functions of District Industries Centre (DIC):
i. Acts as the focal point of the industrialisation of the district.
ii. Prepares the industrial profile of the district with respect to :
iii. Statistics and information about existing industrial units in the district in the large, Medium,
small as well as co-operative sectors.
iv. Opportunity guidance to entrepreneurs.
v. Compilation of information about local sources of raw materials and their availability.
vi. Manpower assessment with respect to skilled, semi-skilled workers.
vii. Assessment of availability of infrastructure facilities like quality testing, research and
development, transport, prototype development, warehouse etc.
viii. Organises entrepreneurship development training programs.
ix. Provides information about various government schemes, subsidies, grants and assistance
available from the other corporations set up for promotion of industries.
x. Gives SSI registration.
xi. Prepares techno-economic feasibility report.
xii. Advices the entrepreneurs on investments.
xiii. Acts as a link between the entrepreneurs and the lead bank of the district.
xiv. Implements government sponsored schemes for educated unemployed people like PMRY
scheme, Jawahar Rojgar Yojana, etc.
xv. Helps entrepreneurs in obtaining licenses from the Electricity Board, Water Supply Board, No
Objection Certificates etc.
xvi. Assist the entrepreneur to procure imported machinery and raw materials.
xvii. Organises marketing outlets in liaison with other government agencies.

873 words essay on democracy in India
SUBRAT MANGARAJ
Democracy is the rule with the consent of the majority government 'of the people, for the people,
by the people'. It recognizes the paramountcy of the people's will. Vox pupuli, vox dei: 'the voice of
the people is the voice of God'. This will is expressed through the accredited and elected
representatives of the people sitting in parliament.
In a true democracy even the powers and jurisdiction of these representatives are strictly limited and
defined by a constitution, which, again, cannot be altered or amended except through rigid
parliamentary processes. In other words, every effort is made to prevent the accumulation of power
in the hands of any particular individual or group.
It follows that the proper functioning of democracy depends upon its electoral system, through which
the people can make its will operative. Elections must be broad-based on adult franchise, so that
every man and woman, having attained majority, is entitled to vote.
At the same time, democracy can function properly only if the electorate is educated, and is able to
understand the political significance of the vote. The modern society is so complicated by various
economic and other factors that without proper education, the ordinary voter is liable to get
confused. Further, elections must be free and fair. Every voter should have unhindered access to the
ballot box and he must be assured of the secrecy of his vote.
No electoral system can be foolproof and perfect democracy can be found only in the Utopias of poets
and dreamers. We must be satisfied with the nearest approximation to it. Hence democracy is an
evolutionary process, dependent on constant modification and change in the light of experience. It
must always be ready to broaden the foundations, remove impediments to the free expression of
people's will, and minimise the risk of any one class becoming preponderant.
Hence, democracy depends on freedom of speech and writing as also on the efficient functioning of
the democratic institutions. To ensure pure democracy, supremacy of the constitution and unfettered
working of the parliament are pre-conditions. The people must have complete freedom to ventilate
their opinions in the press and on the platform. The proceedings of parliaments must be open to the
public and must be duly published. There must also be periodic elections in order to reflect the
changes in the people's views and opinions. Power must be kept perpetually fluid. Finally, in a true
democracy, the people must have the right of recalling their representatives, should they cease to
represent them.
India, the largest democracy in the world, perhaps is making the boldest bid to attain true
democracy. The democratic system has struck roots firmly in Indian soil. The franchise is based on
adult suffrage and every effort is made to ensure that the will of the people is properly and freely
exercised.
Now an eighteen-year old is a voter in India. Yet certain drawbacks should be attended to and
removed At present, the electorate is so large and far-flung that only a rich individual or a rich
political party can set up candidates. The cost of running election is going up enormously. The result
is that the wealthy classes and parties, dependent on their wealth, enjoy an undue advantage. So
unless all the voters become sufficiently alert, it might be necessary to go back to the Gandhian
formula of having a pyramidal constitution with the village panchayet at the bottom and the National
Parliament at the top.
Another drawback that India is experiencing is that in a vast country the procedure is bound to be
complicated. The dread of voting being abused by individuals has led to constitutional checks.
In other words, democracy needs a simplification of the administrative machinery, so that the
executive can function smoothly. It is suggested that cost of running for election should be borne by
govt. for All-India party candidates. But the ministry or cabinet of joint responsibility should have to
be fully answerable to legislature. It will not be Govt. by the people if there is an attempt to buy the
people goes on, with the finance that a political party gets from the international companies.
Perhaps with our representatives drawing salaries and emoluments, we are finding democracy a
somewhat costly affair. A single day sitting in parliament costs a huge sum. But that is inevitable, for
the representatives of the people must be assured of a reasonable economic security in order to do
their duties properly.
India has already managed to establish her claim to be a really democratic state. In Pakistan,
democracy has been thrown overboard, and the status of the minority is yet undefined there. In the
USA the President enjoys unusual over-riding powers over the House of Representatives and even
over the Senate.
In Russia at present, democracy is in a nascent state. President being the supreme. Only in Britain,
the Parliament is all-powerful. We have now largely managed to avoid these shortcomings and
defects. We may now be content with the British system of allowing the minority of today to become
the majority of tomorrow through the slow process of periodic elections. Two strong partiesthe
Congress and the B.J.P are emerging in India to balance the democratic set-up.