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Structure
• Intro + Body (Part 1) - Significance of the Agricultural sector for the Indian Economy.
• Body (Part 2)- Highlight the issues in the Agricultural sector.
• Conclusion - What measures need to be taken in order to resolve the same.

Answer
• Agricultural sector was the only sector in our Indian Economy which has shown positive growth even the the
whole nation was under lockdown and had come to a standstill.
• The significance of Indian Agriculture is way beyond its substantive mandate of national food security, on one
side where it is the highest Employment Provider - employing around 48% directly or indirectly, it holds the direct
key to reducing India’s malnutrition problem thus ensuring the mission of nutrition security of India and upon
that it also has the potential to spur India’s overall GDP by augmenting the economic growth.
• However, in the last few years the growth in the Agriculture sector has become stagnated even reaching to sub-
zero levels in some of the quarters, which raises alarms over the dwindling issues looming in the agriculture sector
such as-
o Non substantive increase in Income - Since Independence, the income of every entity in every sector has
increased manifold but Agriculture. The income level of Indian framers especially small and marginal
farmers has increased marginally, thus forcing famers to either leave farming or go for suicides because
of the amounting debts every agricultural season. According to NCRB Every day, 28 people dependent
on farming die by suicide in India
o Consumer Oriented Policies - Since food security is the paramount service of every Government, therefore
the prices of the Agricultural products are kept under check moreover whenever there is a price rise in
any agricultural commodity,, the Government imposes restrictions on exports to protect Indian
customers, thus creating hindrances for farmers taking the benefit of higher price in domestic and foreign
markets
▪ Upon that Essentials Commodities Act, has meant lower private investment in export
infrastructure such as warehouse and cold storage systems.
o Flawed Agricultural Marketing Policies - Today the APMC acts passed by various states are marred by
various lacunae and reforming them has proven to be a major task because of the politics involved, and
upon that since Agriculture is a state subject thus causing Federalism issues when centre imposes any
new set of laws. 4.Marginal Land holdings - Indian Agriculture is characterised by marginal and small
farmers mainly who comprise 85% of the total land holing in the country.
• In such a scenario, major reforms are needed in the Agricultural sector, both in the input and the output streams,
recently brought Agricultural acts were the steps in the same direction, however seem to be failing in solving the
purpose as they were brought without any consultation with the famers unions, had the top to bottom policy
approach which should have been bottom to up and upon that the way these bills were passed in the Rajya Sabha
raises contentious issues over the Constitutionality of these bills.
• Today the need of the hour is to allow land leasing, increasing avenues for Non-farm income, addressing Subsidies
problem, improving Agricultural Export Scenario, Agricultural marketing reforms and at last investing in
Agriculture infrastructure, in order to double the Farmer’s income by 20202 come to reality.
 • Today India’s GDP stands at 2.8 trillion USD (2020) whereas the
poverty rate still stands of 29.6% (Tendulkar committee report), this
paradox shows the apt scenario where India has shown growth but
not development. In order to achieve both, Inclusive growth is
required which has salient features as

o Economic growth is a precondition for inclusive growth,

though the nature and composition of growth has to be
conducive to inclusion. – Growth and development

o Inclusive growth is to include the poor and lagging socio-

economic groups such as ethnic / tribal groups, weaker
sections as well as lagging regions as partners and beneficiaries of economic growth – Economic Inclusion

o The Inclusive growth addresses the constraints of the excluded and the marginalised. It has to open up
opportunities for them to be partners in growth.

Social Inclusion
• Inclusive growth should be non-discriminatory and favourable for the excluded. This implies that inclusive growth
has to be broad-based in terms of coverage of regions, and labour- intensive in terms of creating large-scale
productive employment opportunities in the economyRegional inclusion

• Inclusive growth is expected to reduce poverty faster in the sense that it has to have a higher elasticity of poverty
reduction- Financial Inclusion

• Demographic dividend can only be sustained and enhanced through the process of Inclusive growth.

• Inclusive Growth is required for Digital and Environmental Inclusion

• India has been steadily marching towards its aim of achieving Inclusive Growth in ways such as –

o As per the Multidimensional Poverty Index (2018), India has lifted 271 million people between 2005 to
2016 with the poorest regions, groups and children reducing the poverty fastest.

o Government is working with NGO’s and International Groupings in policy making - eg. Bill and Melinda
Gates foundation, DISHA project is being implemented in partnership with UNDP for employment of
women in India.

o NITI Aayog’s strategy for New Indian @75 has been designed specifically keeping in mind the objectives
of Inclusive Growth.

o India has brought out various schemes like MNREGA - Poverty Reduction, Mid Day meal scheme Ujjwala
, PM Jan Dhan Yoajan - Financial Inclusion, Ayushman Bharat - Healthcare Inclusion etc has tried to
establish welfare state.

• However, when we look at the larger picture, today also India is home to largest number of poor and highest
number of malnourished people children in the world.

o In the Inclusive Development Index by World Economic Forum, India is ranked 62nd out of 74 emerging
countries and was among the least inclusive countries in group of G20 countries

o According to Oxfam Report, India is among the bottom 11 countries for its commitment to reduce
 inequality.

• All these facts and data shows that the road to Inclusive Growth is less travelled as of now and the challenges
India is facing in this journey of Inclusive Growth are –

o Poverty - Indian is the second largest populated country in the world and despite the massive gains, 374
million Indians continue to experience extreme deprivations and around 20% of the population is
vulnerable to multidimensional poverty,

o Unemployment - As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey, unemployment rate among the urban
workforce was 7.8% and for rural workforce was 5.3%, national average calculated at 6.1%.

▪ The quality-quantity of employment in India is a problem due to illiteracy, informal sector over
dependence, disguised employment in Agriculture, and almost zero or no social security.

o Social Development Issues –

▪ Low level of growth in percentage to GDP expenditure in sectors such as Health and Education
as compared to other developing countries of G-20.

▪ Significant regional, social, and gender disparities, social indicators are much lower for OBC, SC,
ST and other marginalised sector.

▪ Factors like caste system, growing gap between rich and poor etc.

Strategy of Inclusive growth

• Short term policy -Supplying those goods and service to disadvantage and marginalised sections of society which
are bare minimum and essential in nature.

o Food and Nutrition – National Nutrition Mission, Mid day meal, national Food security nature.

o Healthcare and sanitation -Swachh Bharat Mission, Ayushman Bharat Scheme etc.

o Housing -PM Housing for all by 2022.

o Drinking water -National rural Drinking water Program etc.

o Education -SarvaSiksha Abhiyan, Model School Schemes etc.

• Drawbacks of short-term policy

o It is subsidy based which incurs heavy drain on national exchange.

o Not fiscally sustainable in long run.

o The schemes fail to make the target population self-dependent.

• Long term policy - Aimed at bringing in self-dependence in target population. This policy contains in itself the
sustainable element too. These include

o All the schemes which aim at poverty alleviation and employment generation.

o Schemes which promote Education – Skill Development.

o Skill India Mission etc.

• Therefore the Gov. must bring a mixed of both short term and long-term policies for reaping both the short- and
long-term effects of growth and development process and to make India a truly Inclusive society.
Answer
• The three Round Table Conferences (RTC) of 1930-32 were a series of conferences organised by the British
Government to discuss constitutional reforms in India. They were conducted as per the recommendations in the
report submitted by the Simon Commission in May 1930.

• The First RTC was the first ever conference arranged between the British and the Indian as equals thus signifying
the growing pressure of the Indian agitations in the form of Swadeshi Movement, NonCooperation Movement
and Civil Disobedience Movement. It was also a symbolic recognition of Indians as stakeholders in the decision-
making process to decide upon constitutional reforms.

• However, the First RTC wasn’t too fruitful as the Congress, the largest political group, had boycotted the
Conference because the Viceroy Lord Irwin refused to provide assurance that the purpose of the round table
conference was to draft a constitutional scheme for dominion status.

• To have the Congress attend the Second RTC, a settlement was brokered between the British Indian Government
and the Congress, known as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. However, the National Government in Britain, being
dominated by the Conservatives, was not willing to concede much. Also, the other Indian participants rejected
Gandhiji’s claims that the Congress alone represented political India, and that the “Untouchables” were Hindus.
The Second RTC ended with MacDonald announcing a Communal Award. Gandhiji came back empty-handed.

• The Third RTC was boycotted by both the Congress and the Labour Party, defying the whole purpose. Again, like
in the two previous conferences, little was achieved. The recommendations were published in a White Paper in
March 1933. This became the basis for the Government of India Act, 1935.

• Overall, the three RTCs neither led to Independence nor to Dominion Status, and rather brought forward the
unwillingness of the British government to introduce genuine reforms.
Answer
• Prime Minister of India - Lal Bahadur Shastri in the aftermath of the war between India and Pakistan in 1956 at a
public gathering at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi gave voice to this famous slogan.

• During that time there was scarcity of food grains in the country. PM Shastri gave this slogan to enthuse the
soldiers to defend country and simultaneously cheer famers to do their best to increase the production of food
grains and to reduce dependence of import, thus hitting the bull’s eye as per the depend of the time and
therefore becoming a very popular slogan.

• With the time, “Jai Vigyan” was added to above slogan by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1998, to underline the
importance of science and knowledge in India’s progress. With reference to the 2021 Union Budget, Shashi
Tharoor rephrased the slogan as “Na Jawan Na KIsan” in the parliament in the wake of ongoing Farmer’s protest
in the country.

• The slagon of “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” seems to be losing its glory if we look at the fact that around 11000 farmers
committed suicide in 2019 alone and at the same time, the plight of Soldiers in Army and other paramilitary
forces seems to be worsening with time, Viral video by BSF soldier Tej Bahadur Yadav was a reflection of the
same.

• Today need of the hour is to restore the fading away glory of the famers and soldiers on whose shoulders the
Idea and vision of India stands.
• Doctrine of separation of power, forms the part of the basic structure of Indian constitution as envisaged by
Supreme Court in Keshava Nanda Bharathi case of 1973. This doctrine is manifested in Indian Constitution through
Ar. 50,121 and 211.

• However, in the recent times, Judicial legislation has come under scrutiny as it is seen as an encroachment on
power of legislature and executive by judiciary, therefore disturbing the delicate balance between three organs
of government in ways such as –

o Directive by Supreme Court to play National Anthem in cinema halls.

o MC Mehta case - Ban on BS 4 vehicles.

o Ban on alcohol on roads by Supreme Court.

o Arun Gopal case - Fixed timings for fireworks on Diwali.

• But on the other side, PIL as an instrument of judicial activism on the other hand has also led to a delivering of
the several important judgements such as –

o Assuring social justice - The vulnerable groups like workers, prisoners, elders etc. get justice through PIL.
Example in Hussinara Khatoon Case 40,000 undertrials were released from jail.

o Enforcing rights of the weaker sections, thus making the justice more inclusive. Example in Asiad workers
case, Supreme Court ruled that workers not getting minimum wage can approach Supreme Court directly.

o Putting legislative and executive bodies into action - Example Vishakha guidelines provided the
framework for Sexual Harassment Prevention and Prohibition Act of 2013.

o Environmental protection - Supreme Court directed the central government to form an EPCA for Delhi
environment betterment, directions regarding smog towers etc.

o Election Reforms - Supreme Court has spearheaded the process of electoral reforms through various
judgements. Example the PIL filed by Lily Thomas and Lok Prahar resulted into disqualification of
convicted MP’s.

o Filling the vacuum created by inaction of legislature and executive, PIL acts as a route through which
people seek redressal for inaction.

• Thus, PIL is an effective powerful instrument of legislation when used judiciously and in order to check the misuse
of PIL, Supreme Court has given guidelines in State of Uttaranchal versus Balwant Singh case. These guidelines
must be followed by all court so that judicial activism does not turn into judicial adventurism.
• An unexamined human life, is deprived of the meaning and purpose of existence. The ability to introspect removes
the individualistic absurdity by invoking a commitment to moral integrity and social solidarity.

• Just like a seed needs soil, sunlight and water for its germination, human life needs introspection and examination
for its growth.

• Mahatma Gandhi’s examination of self through his autobiography ‘My experiments with truth’ also highlights the
significance of reflection on life, through examination he was also able to question his prejudices and understand
his strength as a human being.

• The fast-changing societies and consumerist culture in the contemporary world leave less time for human beings
to examine and think about the changes and thus adaptation to changes have become automatic and
unquestionable.

• Today when human beings are burdened with the histories of war, colonisation, nationalisation, erosion of
morality in the scientific and technological advancements and the sense of spiritual up rootedness, this quotation
gives a sense of wisdom to follow the direction of the virtuous path.
• 2020 GS paper 1 - Breakdown 1-10 Questions
o Discuss - 2
o Enumerate - 1
o Evaluate - 1
o Justify - 1
o How - 2
o Account - 1
o Comment - 1
o Argue - 1
• 2020 GS paper 1 - Breakdown 11-20 Questions
o Discuss - 2
o Comment - 1
o Critically Examine - 1
o Account - 1
o Elaborate - 2
o Examine - 1
o Justify - 1
o Do you Agree - 1
• 2020 GS paper 2 - Breakdown 1-10 Questions
o Comment - 1
o Discuss - 3
o How far - 1
o Highlight the key Points - 1
o What - 1
o Suggest Reforms - 1
o Critically Examine - 1
o Comment with Examples - 1
• 2020 GS paper 2 - Breakdown 11-20 Questions
o Elucidate – 1
o In this context, Justify - 1
o In this context, Highlight - 1
o In this context, Highlight the factors - 1
o Which steps are required - 1
o Analyse - 1
o Evaluate - 1
o Critically Examine - 1
o Discuss - 1
o What and Discuss – 1
• When you will compare the directives for English and Hindu language, they both are different because of different
translations depending on the context of question.
o ‘Discuss’ is interpreted differently in different questions in UPSC

• Facts - internal and External

• Value Judgements - interpretations and Judgements - Beyonds facts - What do you understand from those facts.
• Explanatory Directives - (Mainly asks for the facts)
o What
 o Why
o How
o Explain
o Define
o Describe
• Comparative Directives - (Both facts and value-based Judgements)
o Compare
o Differentiate
o Contrast
o Relate
• Analytical Directives - (Value Based Judgements)
o Comment
o Criticise
o Discuss
o Examine
o Evaluate
o Interpret
• Representation Directives - (Basically to summarise the things)
o Innumerate
o List
o Summarise.
• Types of Questions asked at present - Single, Multiple and Compound.
o What are the challenges that agriculture sector is facing at present in India?
• What are the challenges that agriculture sector is facing at present in India? What are the reasons behind these
ongoing challenges?
• What are the challenges that agriculture sectors and is facing at present in India? What are the reasons behind
these ongoing challenges? How these challenges can be addressed.
• What are the challenges that agriculture sector is facing at present in India?
• Discuss So Majority of the questions asked are from Single directives questions and the least from Compound.
So Single directives are the most important.

• What –
o Facts relating to subject in questions. (Internal and External).
o Try to give No Value Judgement, No opinions at all.
▪ Exception - ‘Once a speaker, always a speaker’ Do you think this practise should be adopted to
impart objectivity to the office of speaker. What could be it implications for the robust
implications of parliamentary business in India.
o Example - What are we studying? What are Economic Reforms?
o You need not judge whether the things is good or bad, result in success or failure.
• Discuss –
o Debate - Open ended, put both for and against arguments and in the end come to a conclusion, do not
leave it open ended.
o Discuss the ongoing farm protests in India.
• Explain –
o Here you have to give, in detail in depth explanation, mainly focuses on the keywords asked in the
questions.
o Explain the reason which account for increased frequency of floods in India.
• Define –
o Generally asked for that concepts for which as such there is no generally accepted common definitions,
 you have to define that particular topic based on your information, your knowledge etc. Here you
basically write your own definition.
o Define the term ‘Asian Century’
• Comment –
o Subjective in Nature - Your opinion, your commentary.
o In this you need to stick to the tone with which you have begun, you cannot change your stance in
between.
o In the conclusion part, you can shed a light on the other side of the Context.
o Example - Recently introduced Farm Acts are a ground breaking legislation. Comment.
• Illustrate –
o Basically, you have to give the knowledge of the subject, ample amount of ways to produce the
knowledge - examples - flow charts - diagrams - Inferences etc.
o Indus Valley Civilisation marked the zenith of modernisation in Ancient Indian times. Illustrate.
• 2020 GS paper 1 - Breakdown 1-10 Questions
o • Discuss - 2
o Enumerate - 1
o Evaluate - 1
o Justify - 1
o How - 2
o Account - 1
o Comment - 1
o Argue – 1
• 2020 GS paper 1 - Breakdown 11-20 Questions
o Discuss - 2
o Comment - 1
o Critically Examine - 1
o Account – 1
o Elaborate - 2
o Examine - 1
o Justify - 1
o Do you Agree
• 2020 GS paper 2 - Breakdown 1-10 Questions
o Comment – 1
o Discuss - 3
o How far - 1
o highlight the key Points – 1
o What - 1
o Suggest Reforms - 1
o Critically Examine - 1
o Comment with Examples – 1
• 2020 GS paper 2 - Breakdown 11-20 Questions
o Elucidate - 1
o In this context, Justify - 1
o In this context, Highlight - 1
o In this context, Highlight the factors - 1
o Which steps are required - 1
o Analyse - 1
o Evaluate - 1
o Critically Examine - 1
o Discuss - 1
o What and Discuss – 1
• When you will compare the directives for English and Hindu language, they both are different for different
translations.
o ‘Discuss’ is interpreted differently in different questions in UPSC.
• Directives are certainly based on 2 broad parameters –
o Facts - internal and External
o Value Judgements - interpretations and Judgements - Beyond facts - What do you understand from
those facts.
• Explanatory Directives - (Mainly asks for the facts)
 o What
o Why
o How
o Explain
o Define
o Describe
• Comparative Directives - (Both facts and value-based Judgements)
o Compare
o Differentiate
o Contrast
o Relate
• Analytical Directives – (Value Based Judgements)
o Comment
o Criticise
o Discuss
o Examine
o Evaluate
o Interpret
• Representation Directives - (Basically to summarise the things)
o Innumerate
o List
o Summarise.
• Types of Questions asked at present - Single, Multiple and Compound.
o What are the challenges that agriculture sector is facing at present in India?
o What are the challenges that agriculture sector is facing at present in India? What are the reasons behind
these ongoing challenges?
o What are the challenges that agriculture sectors and is facing at present in India? What are the reasons
behind these ongoing challenges? How these challenges can be addressed.
o What are the challenges that agriculture sector is facing at present in India? Discuss
• So, Majority of the questions asked are from Single directives questions and the least from Compound. So Single
directives are the most important.

• What –

o Facts relating to subject in questions. (Internal and External).

o Try to give No Value Judgement, No opinions at all.

o Exception - ‘Once a speaker, always a speaker’ Do you think this practise should be adopted to impart
objectivity to the office of speaker. What could be it implications for the robust implications of
parliamentary business in India.

o Example - What are we studying? What are Economic Reforms?

o You need not judge whether the things is good or bad, result in success or failure.

• Discuss –

o Debate - Open ended, put both for and against arguments and in the end come to a conclusion, do not
leave it open ended.

o Discuss the ongoing farm protests in India.

 o Explain

▪ Here you have to give, in detail in depth explanation, mainly focuses on the keywords asked in
the questions.

▪ Explain the reason which account for increased frequency of floods in India.

• Define

o Generally asked for that concepts for which as such there is no generally accepted common definitions,
you have to define that particular topic based on your information, your knowledge etc. Here you
basically write your own definition.

o Define the term ‘Asian Century’

• Comment

o Subjective in Nature - Your opinion, your commentary.

o In this you need to stick to the tone with which you have begun, you cannot change your stance in
between.

o In the conclusion part, you can shed a light on the other side of the Context.

o Example - Recently introduced Farm Acts are a ground breaking legislation. Comment.

• Illustrate

o Basically, you have to give the knowledge of the subject, ample amount of ways to produce the
knowledge - examples - flow charts - diagrams - Inferences etc.

o Indus Valley Civilisation marked the zenith of modernisation in Ancient Indian times. Illustrate.

• So, Majority of the questions asked are from Single directives questions and the least from Compound. So Single
directives are the most important.

o Critically Analyse - Don’t mean to criticise as such, it just means to go deeper into that thing. You have
to give both “for and against arguments” and in the end you have to take a stand based on the
judgements which you have made. “But in a very mild manner”.

▪ Question - Critically Analyse the impact of Globalisation on Indian culture.

▪ Here Subjective analysis are allowed.

o Critically Evaluate - Quantitative evaluation - Objective evaluation, you need to provide data facts,
example alongside your opinion, Reports, Sources of your arguments.

▪ Here you have to do the objective Evaluation.

▪ Questions - Critically Evaluate the Govt’s effort to support the dying Agriculture sector in India.

o Critically Examine –

▪ Here you have gone more deeper than in Analysis or Evaluate, basically you have to investigate
and put point from both the ends - For and against and in the end, you have to conclude based
on the facts which you have stated above.

▪ Your conclusion shall always be based on the Facts which you have provided above.
Example
• Critically Evaluate the various land Reforms take in India since Independence.

• Critically Examine the various land Reforms taken in India since Independence.

Points to be Noted
• Evaluation is of a thing who can be proved through facts - figures and numbers. Something for which data points
can be provided - For example - A program, A scheme, Reforms etc.

• Discuss, Examine, Comment, Analyse directives are asked for non-material things for which even if data - facts -
figures are provided they can be negated
• Parliamentary oversight refers to function of Parliament to hold the executive accountable for its policies,
schemes, their implementation and efficiency and these actions are empowered by the Constitution under Ar. 75.
• Tools for Parliamentary oversight –
o Debates and Motions
o Parliamentary Committees
o Question Hour
o Zero Hour
• However, Recently the functioning and efficiency of these Parliamentary oversight tools have eroded because of
the following reasons
o Neglect of Parliamentary committees - Sudden drop number of bills referred to committees in recent
times. Example - In 15th Lok Sabha, 71 % of the bills were referred where as in 16 Lok Sabha only 25 %
of the bills are referred.
o Single party rule - This affects the questions raised or motions passed against the executive function. 3
o Cancellation of zero hour in motion session due to Covid.
o Ineffective Opposition - Clearly hampers the quality of debates on important public issues
o Continued disruption in both hours, resulting into decreased time allocation for question hour.
• These trends have a deep impact on Indian polity, some of them being
o Increased unitary functioning of government, where Parliament does not effectively check the executive.
o Shift of power in favour of executive thus disturbing balance of power and the system of checks and
balances.
o Interest of various groups are not considered while law making, this results into continued processed
protest examples CAA, Farm Bills, J&K Reorganisation Act etc. drew large protests.
o Principle of Responsible Government, as envisaged by Constitution makers also gets hampered.
• In order to restore the morality and authenticity of Constitution, various measures need to be taken such as
o The role of opposition should be increased. It could be done by allowing opposition to set agenda of the
day on certain days as was recommended by All India Whips Conference.
o Restoring the Questions hour.
o All committee reports must be discussed in Parliament as recommended by National commission to
review the working of the constitution (NCRWC).
o Greater transparency in functioning of committees and to increase the oversight on regulators like TRAI,
SEBI etc. whom executive power is often devolved as Second ARC has also recommended.
• These changes can only ensure that Parliament works for democratic social and political well-being of all.
Click here to watch the following Question on YouTube

• Dr. X is a leading medical practitioner in a city. He has set up a charitable trust through which he plans to establish
a super specialty hospital in the city to cater to the medical needs of all sections of the society. Incidentally, that
part of the State had been neglected over the years. The proposed hospital would be a boon for the region.

• You are heading the tax investigation agency of that region. During an inspection of the doctor’s clinic, your
officers have found out some major irregularities. A few of them are substantial which had resulted in considerable
withholding of tax that should be paid by him now. The doctor is cooperative. He undertakes to pay the tax
immediately.

• However, there are certain other deficiencies in his tax compliance which are purely technical in nature. If these
technical defaults are pursued by the agency, considerable time and energy of the doctor will be diverted to
issues which are not so serious, urgent or even helpful to the tax collection process. Further, in all probability, it
will hamper the prospects of the hospital coming up.

• There are two options before you:

o Taking a broader view, ensure substantial tax compliance and ignore defaults that are merely technical
in nature.

o Pursue the matter strictly and proceed on all fronts, whether substantial or merely technical.

Answer
• Stakeholders Involved

o Doctor X

o Me as the head of tax investigation agency

o People of city

o Government

• Facts Involved

o Philanthropic doctor wants to build hospital for poor.

o Irregularity in tax payment on part of doctor

o Technical procedures which may hamper the prospects of hospital.

• Dilemmas Involved

o Means versus Ends

o Objectivity vs Subjectivity

• Values Involved

o Empathy and justice for local people

o Right to health of citizens

o Virtues of Objectivity and Legality of a civil servant.

 o Hospital as a common good

o Trust and credibility of the government

Taking broader view aiming towards the service of common public and thus ignoring the technicalities
• UTILITARIAN PRINCIPLE lens when applied to the above case, technical issues can be easily ignored as it will lead
to largest balance of benefits over harm.

o As Mahabharata preaches - “Saving a life that is in jeopardy is the origin of dharma”, thus this would be
in-line with dharma to save the lives.

• Dr. X can focus more on his noble profession of treating patients rather than wasting his time and energy in the
complex procedures of tax filings.

• Social capital of tax agencies may increase resulting in more tax compliance.

• Dr. X will remain motivated and will have demonstration effect on others.

• Tax agency will not have reputation of harassing citizens.

Pursuing the matter strictly, even on technical grounds

• Will Lead to fulfilment of professional duty of being legal and rational.

o Bhagavad Gita teaches to do one’s duty as highest dharma.

o As per Kant’s categorical imperative, if something cannot be made universal law it cannot be moral. We
cannot accept violation of technical rules universally; hence it cannot be ignored here as well.

o Gandhiji had remarked that “a duty well performed creates a corresponding right”. Integrity of the
process of tax collection will be maintained.

o Diligence, work culture, and organisational values will be safeguarded.

• Values of impartiality and non-partisanship will be safeguarded which provides credibility and legitimacy to
bureaucracy.

• Corruption begins on a small scale and in benign form. However soon it snowballs into worst forms, detrimental
to socioeconomic development of society

• Based on above analysis I will follow the rule in totality. However, certain steps can be taken to make the tax filing
process for Dr. X and others easy and quick in the spirit of good and ethical governance so that “Dharma of saving
lives can also be upheld.”

o Procedure can be relaxed only by my senior or the politician who have the discretion in this regard, I can
send a report to them in this regard to fasten up the process.

o I can also help the doctor to fulfil administrative requirements in the construction of the hospital in
personal capacity and become part of a noble cause.
 • India accounts for 18% of global population with only 4% of world’s water resources. This inherent water shortage
is amplified by inefficient management, in effective usage, climate change and reckless wastage.

Present conditions of water crisis in India –

• In terms of Quantity of water available –

o Water shortage - Indian cities is are facing extreme water scarcity. According to Composite Water
Management Index of Niti Ayog, nearly 21 cities by 2021 will face zero ground water condition.

o Excessive groundwater exploitation - India alone accounts for 25% of global ground-water withdrawal,
triggering zero water day scenario for around 12% of its population.

o Net water exporter - Indian agriculture is disproportionately skewed in favour of water guzzling crops,
making India a virtual water exporter in face of severity.

• Water crisis in terms of Quality of water available –

o Decreasing oxygen levels in water - According to IUCN, 2% of oxygen in water has been lost due to
climate change.

o Sewage and water waste disposal - Quality of river water like Ganga has been severely have harmed by
waste disposal.

o Increasing uranium contamination and heavy metal pollution in ground water, making it unsafe for
human consumption.

Efficient water conservation can only resolve the present crisis following steps can be taken in this regard:
• Community water management - Theni district model of water conservation which won Skoch gold ward a gold
award can be replicated it involves building common structures for water conservation.

o Desiltation of existin0067 water bodies.

o Curbing of sand mining on river beds.

• Water harvesting structures on line of Kakatiya water Management structures.

• . Changes in agriculture, which consumes 90% of groundwater.

o Development of micro irrigation capacity like drip irrigation.

o Checking the skewed cropping pattern in India according to its local geography.

• Holistic policy interventions like a forestation, curbing climate change, community awareness, waste treatment
will go a long way in dealing with the water crisis in India.
 • Recently, India-Nepal relations save a downturn, due to ongoing border dispute at Lipulekh, Kalapani,
Limpiyadhura and Susta. Present dispute was triggered by road construction at Lipulekh pass by India.

• Timeline of Border-dispute between India and Nepal –

o 1816 - Sanguali Treaty - Demarcation of Borders

o 1981 - Joint Boundary Committee Discussions

o 2008 - 98% of Border Issues resolved

o 2009 - Lipulekh Road Construction by India started

o 2020 - Present Ongoing dispute

Structural Changes in India - Nepal Relations –

• Internal Context –

o Anti-India sentiment rising in Nepal, due to perceived interference by India in constitution making of
Nepal.

o Nepal using China card to balance its relations with India.

o Rising demand in Nepal to restructure 1950 India-Nepal Friendship Treaty.

o Delays by India in various projects like Pancheshwar dam Project, has triggered Nepal’s search for
investments by other regional players.

• External Context –

o Backdoor Diplomacy - China’s is using backdoor diplomacy to change the equation of India-Nepal
relation.

o Globalisation has opened options for Nepal to look beyond India, both for investment and Infrastructural
needs. Thus reducing Nepal’s dependence on India.

In such scenario various experts like Rakesh Sood, C.Raja Mohan have following solutions –
• India should let go its fear of loosing “special” relation with Nepal and redesign Friendship Treaty on basis of
current dynamics.

• Gear-up diplomatic engagements with Nepal, to resolve disputes without further escalation.

• India and Nepal should avoid looking relation from Chinese lens and strengthen bilateral ties.

• Keeping aside certain border issues, India-Nepal are working closely on other domains like renovation of
Pashupatinath temple, Biodiversity conservation across borders etc. It is in best interest of both nations to iron-
out differences and maintain a united front specially during the phase of rising aggression in the region.
Click here to watch the following question on YouTube

• Communalism arises from feeling of attachment, belongingness and ownership towards one’s own community.
It is given negative connotation when it leads to “Otherisation” and superior versus inferior debate.

• Communism in its worst form can lead to acts of Terrorism for example –

o Partition of India and rise of terrorism in Pakistan.

o Recent terrorist acts in Paris (France), Christchurch (NewZealand), recent shooting at FedEx office in
Canada.

o Continuous violence in Middle East because of division Shia Sunni lines.

• However, on the other hand, Communalism in its subtle form is also reflected in the form of rising intolerance to
cultural diversity world over like –

o Ethnic disputes: Between Tamil and Sinhalese in Sri Lanka and Uighars and Buddhist in China.

o Europhobia and intolerance towards culture of migrants for example –

▪ Building of wall between USA and Mexico.

▪ Brexit was fuelled by demand of culture isolation.

▪ Hate crimes against migrants.

▪ Racial intolerance Example - George Floyd case and #BlackLivesMatter Movement.

▪ Cultural Intolerance - Example Rise of Islamophobia In Europe and USA.

▪ Rise of Right-wing politics on demand of protectionism.

• Communalism can also play a positive role in community development and cohesion among community
members. But it becomes problematic when community is sole source of identity to a person.
• Regionalism is the expression of common sense of identity and purpose by people associated with a region due
to various factors like common language, culture and history.

• Since Independence, Indian soil has witnessed various forms of Regionalism such as –

o Secessionist Tendencies - By taking excessive pride inn one’s region or culture. Example - Khalistan
movement and demand of separation of Kashmir.

o Linguistic Reorganisation - Generally associated with attachment and unity due to regional language.
Example - Separation of Andhra Pradesh from Tamil Nadu, Haryana from Punjab.

o Clash between Migrants and Natives - By promotion of “Son of Soil” doctrine. Example - Bihar migrants
facing hatred in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh recent decision to give incentives to industries if 70% of
their workforce is local people.

o Inter State Dispute - Resources of one state or region being used or being shared by neighbouring
regions, Flamed on regional consciousness of people. Example - Kaveri Dispute between TN and
Karnataka, SYL dispute between Punjab and Haryana.

o Politics is influenced by regionalism - Example Formation of regional parties like DMK, Akali Dal.

• However, on the other side of the coin, Regionalism has also contributed positively, in sense of competition
among states for development and welfare. Example - Karnataka and Maharashtra and also common issues
within the regions can be solved with unity only.