Mar 16, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [12th March,2021] Day 53: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [12th March,2021] Day 53: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. What sort of challenges will a civil servant face if he/she lacks emotional intelligence? Illustrate. Approach: Question is asking you to illustrate, such an answer should generally involve the use of many examples, such as tables, figures, graphs, or concrete research statistics and evidence. Introduction: "Anybody can become angry, that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way, that is not within everybody’s power, that is not easy." —Aristotle. Emotional intelligence is the ability to sense, understand, and effectively apply the power and acumen of emotions as a source of human energy, information, connection, and influence. It is valuable in a multicultural society and has five main elements that are Self-awareness, Self-regulation, Motivation, Empathy and Social skills. Body: CHALLENGES WILL A CIVIL SERVANT FACE IF HE/SHE LACKS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE The most effective civil servants tend to exhibit a high degree of emotional intelligence as it is the single best predictor of performance in the workplace and the strongest driver of leadership and personal excellence. With the lack of emotional intelligence, the civil servants will face the following issues: A civil servant with weak EI will not be having a stable mind due to which he won’t have a balanced family and work life and hence won’t be able to contribute much to the system. A civil servant with weak emotional intelligence cannot reconcile the differences among co-workers or different factions of people and hence can’t resolve problems in an effective manner. A civil servant with weak emotional intelligence will not try new things nor will he be able to take risks and will face new challenges with fear. Hence, he won’t be able to find an innovative solution to different problems. A civil servant with weak emotional intelligence will negatively influence the working attitude of each employee and hence bring negative energy to the system. A civil servant with weak emotional intelligence will not be able to communicate policies in the best possible manner and hence he won’t be flexible, empathetic and clear in expression. A civil servant with weak emotional intelligence will be unfair and partial during conflict of interests as he won’t be aware of anyone’s wants and hence his decision-making power will be affected as well. A civil servant with weak emotional intelligence will lack the focus to listen attentively to the problems of people and can’t empathize properly with their situation and hence he won’t be that trustworthy in the eyes of citizens. Conclusion: Civil servants with emotional intelligence have understanding about their duty, responsibility and commitment. Present day dynamic civil services require officers to have soft skills including leadership, empathy and innovation. Effective governance can be made possible only by ‘pro-people, pro-active bureaucracy’. Even those civil servants with weak emotional intelligence can develop it through experiential learning, training, support and learning transfer. As Daniel Goleman rightly said "what really matters for success, character, happiness and lifelong achievements is a definite set of emotional skills – your EI— not just purely cognitive abilities that are measured by conventional EI tests."  2. Does emotional intelligence play a role in the design and delivery of various welfare schemes? Examine. Approach: The students have to simply write how emotional intelligence is critical for an administrator to maintain honesty while implementing various welfare schemes. The student is expected to write the role of emotional intelligence in administration and how it effectively maneouvers the administrator to stay upright and conscious of his duties. Introduction: Emotional Intelligence is the ability to perceive emotion, integrate emotion to facilitate thought, understand emotions and to regulate emotions towards personal growth. An emotionally intelligent administrator would understand the demand of the public, take stock of the people in distress or need and act effectively to resolve some of their issues while having a level-headed attitude throughout. With the kind of complexity involved in the service delivery due to exclusion and inclusion or the advent of technology, the civil servant is mandated to approach every situation with proper assessmen and due diligence, therefore being emotionally intelligent is one of the important traits for him to have to advance and grow for the service of the nation.  Body: The standards underpinning the new social work degree include requirements for practitioners to ‘to develop and maintain effective working relationships; reflect on your own background experiences and practice that may have an impact on the relationship. Goleman’s definition of Emotional Intelligence is the widest ranging, and most performance orientated, encompassing abilities beyond the specific processing of emotions including: self-awareness emotional resilience motivation/drivers empathy/sensitivity influence/rapport intuitive  decisions conscientiousness. In delivering the service to the  general public, the ability of being emotionally intelligence attains prominent position for: Understanding the  need of the public- From policy-making to target delivery the role of the administrator  is paramount to look at the larger picture with utmost unbiasness and no prejudices. Even then, he has to frame a policy with utmost care to make in inclusive as well as effective for the general public. For instance, the government came up with PM-KISAN just when the growth of agriculture sector was low and there existed rural distress.  Effective Decision Making- While delivering or implementing the welfare schemes there is resistance among a group of people or even political pressures, but how he effectively manages to curb all that stress to finally overcome and deliver success needs emotional intelligence.  Selection on the basis of Eligibility: Targeting the right people is the utmost priority for a civil servant. Therefore being emotionally headstrong is fundamental to this idea as emotionally weak may succumb to pressure and therefore compromise his position.  Managing his team: An emotionally intelligent administrator would be very effective in managing his team, understanding their demand, listening to their issues and comforting them in terms of need while remaining objective for overall performance in the service delivery. For instance, Abhishek Pallava IPS Officer in Naxal hit area has a very strong team with him which has achieved tremendous success in the respective region. Even the officials of his department reach out to him when in need to effectively come out of their problems. This overall, improves their functioning in service delivery in the area.  Strong Motivation- With good emotional intelligence, the administrator can bring changes in the behaviour, persuade public to adhere to certain rules and regulations for smooth delivery of the any service in the area. For instance, with good emotionall intelligence, the administrator can motivate people to use toilets more-often within their homes rather than defecating in the open, this would improve the health and cleanliness of the whole region.  Positive affect is associated with a range of mental capacities that have a direct impact on judgement and decision making. These include: expanded and creative thinking; ability to link between different sources and types of information or ideas; better elaboration about information; greater flexibility in negotiation situations; improved diagnostic/assessment ability. Conclusion: Understanding and handling one’s own and others’ emotions is a critical aspect at every stage of the service delivery task: engagement, assessment, observation, decision making, planning and intervention. It is also an essential skill for administrator who need to ‘develop and maintain a practice which is self aware and critically reflective. Emotional intelligence or competence is also pivotal to gaining the co-operation of other colleagues and services on which civil servants depend to achieve their outcomes, and to surviving and thriving in a very tough occupation. It seems ironical in a profession so steeped in relationship-based theories that such arguments need to be re-stated. But the place of relationships and emotion in civil service is in danger of becoming increasingly marginalized. If it takes the concept of Emotionally Intelligent, despite its limitations, to refresh and re-engage with emotion as a central concern in the service delivery field, then this can only be beneficial.  3. What do you understand by emotional self-awareness? Why is it important? Explain. Approach A straightforward question where in the candidate needs to showcase his/her understanding of emotional self-awareness in the first part and also explain its importance in the second part of the answer. Introduction Emotional Self-Awareness is the capacity to tune into our own feelings, sense inner signals, and recognize how our feelings affect us and our performance. It is an important skill for leadership at any level, as well as many aspects of life. Body Emotional Intelligence (EI) are the emotional capabilities, studied and described by Daniel Goleman as the capacity we all have to lead our relationships and ourselves. EI consists of four essential capabilities: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and social skills. Self-awareness is the art of going deep inside of yourself to get to know your own desires and motivations. It is composed of emotional self-awareness, accurate self-assessment and self-confidence. The purpose of developing Emotional Self-Awareness is that it allows us to understand how our bodily sensations and our emotions impact ourselves, others, and our environment. Without Emotional Self-Awareness, it is difficult to become proficient in and consistently use the other Emotional and Social Intelligence Competencies. Emotional Self-Awareness, which is the least visible of the Emotional Intelligence competencies, has a surprising role as the foundation for the others, research has revealed. In this regard, its importance can be gauged from the following points – People strong in Emotional Self-Awareness typically demonstrate 10 or more of the 12 competencies. This, in turn, lets them make frequent use of positive leadership styles, which results in the best working climates for their teams. On the other hand, those low in Emotional Self-Awareness tend to show strengths in only one or so of the competencies—and their leadership and team climate suffer accordingly. Emotional Self-Awareness isn’t something that you achieve once and then you’re done with it. Rather, every moment is an opportunity to either be self-aware or not. It is a continual endeavour, a conscious choice to be self-aware.  It is common knowledge that no one is self-sufficient, we all rely on others from the day we are born until the end. In this sense, living in society, the way we behave and react influence not only our lives, but also the people around us and our environment.   The purpose of developing emotional self-awareness is that it allows us to understand how we could regulate or control our emotions, preventing impulsivity, which could damage our image and relationships. Impulsive behaviour is the process of acting without reflecting upon the consequences and being emotionally driven. In addition, our emotions bring different corporeal sensations which, depending of the intensity, could also affect our health. As an example, in situations when we feel too much pressure, we could have adrenaline and cortisol discharge. Both hormones, when in excess, increase your heart rate, elevate your blood pressure and increase sugars in the blood. On the other hand, positive emotions can affect our lives in a good way, having an influence on the survival of the human species. Here, emotional self-awareness in the sense of inculcating positive emotions helps in the long term to deal with the varied universe of human emotions. Conclusion Thus, the present world as well as the post pandemic stage has necessitated the importance of becoming “Emotionally Smart” by paying attention to the signals of our self-awareness and enhance human living experience for the larger good of all. 4. How does emotional intelligence help in negotiations? Explain with the help of suitable examples. Approach Candidates are expected first define emotional intelligence and then explain how emotional intelligence helps in negotiations with suitable examples. Introduction Emotional Intelligence is the ability to “Recognize, understand and manage our own emotions Recognize, understand and influence the emotions of others In practical terms, this means being aware that emotions can drive our behaviour and impact people (positively and negatively), and learning how to manage those emotions  both our own and others . Body Emotional intelligence useful for negotiation: Negotiators high in Emotional Intelligence, have many abilities that assist them in creating joint value for all parties involved in the deal. For example former IAS officer O P Chaudhary in establishing an Education City in Dantewada district, Chattisgarh was made possible only by winning the confidence of the tribals with ability if negotiations. Competitive bargaining in a negotiation, where one side gains at the cost of the other, is only half of the story. Effective negotiating also depends on the ability to ensure that other parties’ interests are also met. Leaders should be able to adapting to changing circumstances in their workplaces. For example if a teammate leaves, an emotionally intelligent leader will try to find a suitable replacement and know how to keep his team motivated. Ability to understand and manage their emotions and of those around them help emotionally intelligent leaders to navigate through difficult circumstances. People high in EI are fully aware of their natural response to ‘tension.’ Thereby, they are more open to cope with and even adapt to such situations. This allows them to think objectively about how to achieve their goals in the negotiation. For examples Bureaucrats need to know emotions, moods and drives of persons with whom they are negotiating targeted for better acquaintance with the nature of problems in society and their possible solutions. By creating a positive negotiating atmosphere, a negotiator high in EI is likely to get better results. In addition, by understanding subtle cues and observing counterpart’s reaction, they would be able to determine the optimal offer necessary to satisfy the counterpart. For example Whether you’re dealing with a trading partner, competitor, customer or colleague, being able to empathise and be creative in finding win-win solutions will consistently pay off.  Person lacks EI often is misunderstood it’s hard to understand how you come across to others. You feel misunderstood because you don’t deliver your message in a way that people can understand this snap relationship and hamper negotiation process with people and team. For example recent farmer protest and rallies highlights the inadequate negotiation with farmer this affects the trust towards system and working of bureaucracy. Maintaining composure and a positive problem-solving attitude benefits the creation of joint objective value. Another component of EI, that is, regulating ones’ emotions, also facilitates the negotiation process. For example NSA chief Ajit doval is known for negotiation for insurgency handling in northeast area. Therefore, EI helps a civil servant to deal effectively with unreasonable people. Conclusion The value and benefits of emotional intelligence are vast in terms of personal and professional success. It is a core competency in many vocations, can support the advancement towards academic and professional success, improve relationships, and boost negotiation skills, the list goes on. 5. What are your views on the idea of domicile-based reservation in private jobs? Substantiate your views. Approach- Candidate is required to give context of the question and then provide the constitutional argument and supreme court judgements on the same. Citing some global examples answer can be concluded with the future of workforce in globalised world. Introduction The Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2021 provides for reservation for a local candidate, which has been defined under the law as someone “domiciled in State of Haryana”. Under the law, every employer is required to employ 75% local candidates for posts where the gross monthly salary is not more than ₹50,000. Body What constitution says? Article 16(2) states that “no citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect or, any employment or office under the State”. However, Article 16(3) of the Constitution provides an exception by saying that Parliament may make a law “prescribing” a requirement of residence for jobs in a particular state. This power vests solely in the Parliament, not state legislatures. Is domicile based reservation justified? When the Constitution came into force, India turned itself into one nation from a geographical unit of individual principalities and the idea of the universality of Indian citizenship took root. India has common citizenship, which gives citizens the liberty to move around freely in any part of the country, the requirement of a place of birth or residence cannot be qualifications for granting employment in any state. Equality enshrined in the Constitution is not mathematical equality and does not mean all citizens will be treated alike without any distinction. To this effect, the Constitution underlines two distinct aspects which together form the essence of equality law non-discrimination among equals, and affirmative action to equalise the un equals. While issue of domicile based reservation in public employment is widely discussed, and as a state instrument can be used for public welfare. But the private sector is highly competitive and in a global emerging market this step stands regressive. India in past protested against the same law, which makes it mandatory for firms to employ locals in Kuwait. This led to massive job loss for Indians. If we apply the same logic, state has to make sure that meritocracy be basis of any private job, and not the privilege of being born in particular state. We live in highly integrated world. Free flow of goods, services and labour forms basis of future. With this step we might be closing our gates to new talent and innovative ideas. What is the view of supreme court? The Supreme Court has ruled against reservation based on place of birth or residence. In 1984, ruling in Dr Pradeep Jain v Union of India, the issue of legislation for “sons of the soil” was discussed. The court expressed an opinion that such policies would be unconstitutional but did not expressly rule on it as the case was on different aspects of the right to equality. In a subsequent ruling in Sunanda Reddy v State of Andhra Pradesh (1995), the Supreme Court affirmed the observation in Pradeep Jain to strike down a state government policy that gave 5% extra weightage to candidates who had studied with Telugu as the medium of instruction. Some of the States are adopting ‘sons of the soil’ policies prescribing reservation or preference based on domicile or residence requirement for employment or appointment…Prima facie this would seem to be constitutionally impermissible, said the court. Though the argument presented is in relation to public employment, the same logic can be applied to private sector. Private sector is strength of our emerging economy, these reservations will ultimately limit the options and is against the fundamental rights. Conclusion India has one of the largest working population in the world. The demographic  dividend India enjoys, if not utilised well will turn into disaster. In the chronic unemployment scenario we have to create an environment of competent, skilled and secure employment opportunities. India as integrated market will emerge only when we address this inward looking attitude. Indian Citizen from any corner of country enjoys fundamental right of equality and shall not be deprived of opportunities at any level. TLP HOT Synopsis Day 53 PDF

Mar 16, 2021 AIR

Press Conference of Drugs Controller General of India - All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC

ARCHIVES Search 3rd January, 2021 Spotlight News Analysis here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx Topic: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation In News: The Subject Expert Committee of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) met on 1st and 2nd January, 2021 and made recommendations in respect of proposal for Restricted Emergency Approval of COVID-19 virus vaccine of M/s Serum Institute of India and M/s Bharat Biotech as well as Phase III clinical trial of M/s Cadila Healthcare Ltd. India moved a step closer to getting a vaccine against the novel coronavirus as two candidates -- Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and the Serum Institute of India's Covishield -- have been recommended by a government-appointed panel to the DCGI for emergency use in the last two days. As per an official release, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) made its recommendations in respect of the accelerated approval process request of the SII, Bharat Biotech International Ltd as well as about phase-III trials of Cadila Healthcare Ltd. The DCGI formally announced the approval of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and the Serum Institute of India's Covishield for 'restricted use' in the country DCGI VG Somani said both the drug firms have submitted data on their trial runs and both have been granted permission The Announcement The overall efficacy of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine was 70.42%, while Bharat Biotech's Covaxin was "safe and provides a robust immune response. The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) has reviewed the data on safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine and recommended for grant of permission for restricted use in emergency situation in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, to have more options for vaccinations, especially in case of infection by mutant strains. The clinical trial ongoing within the country by the firm will continue. M/s Serum Institute of India, Pune has presented a Recombinant Chimpanzee Adenovirus vector vaccine (Covishield) encoding the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein with technology transfer from AstraZeneca/Oxford University.  The firm submitted safety, immunogenicity and efficacy data generated on 23,745 participants aged ≥ 18 years or older from overseas clinical studies. The overall vaccine efficacy was found to be 70.42%.  Further, M/s Serum was granted permission to conduct Phase-II/III clinical trial on 1600 participants within the country.  The firm also submitted the interim safety and immunogenicity data generated from this trial and the data was found comparable with the data from the overseas clinical studies. M/s Bharat Biotech has developed a Whole Virion Inactivated Corona Virus Vaccine (Covaxin) in collaboration with ICMR and NIV (Pune), from where they received the virus seed strains. This vaccine is developed on Vero cell platform, which has well established track record of safety and efficacy in the country & globally. The firm has generated safety and immunogenicity data in various animal species such as mice, rats, rabbits, Syrian hamster, and also conducted challenge studies on non-human primates (Rhesus macaques) and hamsters. All these data has been shared by the firm with CDSCO. Phase I and Phase II clinical trials were conducted in approx.800 subjects and the results have demonstrated that the vaccine is safe and provides a robust immune response.   The Phase III efficacy trial was initiated in India in 25,800 volunteers and till date, ~22,500 participants have been vaccinated across the country and the vaccine has been found to be safe as per the data available till date. M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech vaccines have to be administered in two doses. All the three vaccines have to be stored at 2-8° C. Why was it necessary? Because a COVID-19 vaccine will involve two jabs spaced at least four weeks apart, and will need to be administered to potentially over a billion Indians, it requires more planning, personnel and logistical arrangements. India’s priority list of beneficiaries includes healthcare workers, municipal workers, police personnel, those over 50 years of age, and younger people with identified co-morbidities.  This, the government has calculated, works out to 300 million people, and given the pace of vaccine production and administration, it will be August till all on the priority list are inoculated.  With at least two vaccines on the EUA list, the whole exercise involves an unprecedented level of digitisation (Co-WIN Application). The purpose of the dry run was to assess operational feasibility of using Co-WIN application in field environment, to test the linkages between planning, implementation and to identify the challenges and guide way forward prior to actual implementation.  This is also expected to give confidence to programme managers at various levels Must Read: Vaccine Development for COVID-19 Connecting the Dots: Essay: The cure must not be worse than the disease Vaccine Nationalism

Mar 16, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th March 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) World Health Assembly's 1st resolution on Meningitis Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – Health In news World Health Assembly endorsed the 1st ever resolution on meningitis prevention and control recently. Important value additions  Meningitis  It is a serious infection of the meninges - the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord It is a major global public health issue causing up to 5 million cases each year. It can be caused by many different pathogens including bacteria, fungi or viruses.  The highest global burden is seen with bacterial meningitis. Examples of bacteria: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis  Transmission: Person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers. Global Centre for Traditional Medicine Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - International Relations; Health  In news The World Health Organisation will set up a Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India. Key takeaways  The centre will support WHO's efforts to implement the WHO traditional medicine strategy 2014-2023.  Aim of the medicine strategy: To support countries in developing policies and action plans to strengthen the role of traditional medicine as part of their journey to universal health coverage. Seabuckthorn Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Biodiversity; Environment  In news The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to start planting seabuckthorn in the cold desert areas of the state.  Important value additions Seabuckthorn  It is a shrub which produces an orange-yellow coloured edible berry. In India, it is found above the tree line in the Himalayan region, generally in dry areas such as the cold deserts of Ladakh and Spiti. In Himachal Pradesh, it is locally called chharma.  Ecological, medicinal and economic benefits: (1) Treating stomach, heart and skin problems; (2) Its fruit and leaves are rich in vitamins, carotenoids and omega fatty acids; (3) Helps troops in acclimatising to high-altitude; (4) Important source of fuelwood and fodder; (5) Prevents soil-erosion; (6) Checks siltation in rivers; (7) Helps preserve floral biodiversity; (8) Used in making juices, jams, nutritional capsules etc. Community in news: Zo People  Part of: GS Prelims and GS – I – Society &  GS- II - International Relations  In news Zo community was recently in news.  A Mizoram-based group representing the community has petitioned Indian President and Prime Minister to impose sanctions on military-ruled Myanmar. Important value additions  The Zo people are an ethnic group of India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.  They are known as "Chin" and "Zomi" in Myanmar, and "Mizo", "Zomi “and "Kuki" in India. In north-eastern India, they are present in: Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Assam. Water Quality Testing Framework  Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – Policies and interventions  In news Water Quality Testing Framework was recently rolled out under Jal Jeevan Mission.  Citizens can now get the water quality in their taps tested at reasonable rates, as part of the framework  Key takeaways  A network of National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited labs will be set up in every State, district and block over the next year. At the panchayat level, teams of women of the village water and sanitation committees will be given field testing kits. Limited number of Private players can also be included.  Estimated cost: ₹600 for all 16 water quality parameters Turnaround time for chemical tests: 24 hours Turnaround time for the biological contaminants: 48 hours. All results of testing will be fed into the Water Quality Information Management System (WQMIS).  It is a portal developed with the support of the Indian Council of Medical Research. Martian Blueberries find a parallel on Earth Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Space; Sci & Tech In news According to a recent research paper, Martian ‘blueberries’ find a parallel on Earth. Key takeaways  In 2004, NASA’s Mars exploration rover ‘Opportunity’ found several small spheres on the planet, informally named Martian blueberries. Opportunity’s spectrometers noted they were made of iron oxide compounds called haematites. Presence of haematites suggests that there was water present on Mars.  Haematite is known to form in oxidising environments. Do you know?  Study of the Jhuran formation in Gujarat (which is between 145 and 201 million years old) of the haematite concretions revealed that they resemble the ones on Mars. Bamboosa Bambos likely to threaten Nilgiri biosphere Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Environment; Biodiversity  In news The flowering of bamboo inside the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) may pose a threat to wildlife in the Nilgiri biosphere, a major tiger and elephant habitat. Key takeaways  The bamboo groves in the Wayanad forest are the mainstay of herbivores in the Nilgiri biosphere during summer. With the onset of the summer, migration of wild animals starts from the adjacent sanctuaries in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to Wayanad due to shortage of fodder and water. The flowering may adversely affect migration, especially by elephants, wild gaur, and other lower herbivores due to the mass destruction of bamboo groves after the flowering. Important value additions  It is a tall, bright-green coloured spiny bamboo species, which grows in thickets consisting of a large number of heavily branched, closely growing culms. Bamboosa bambos is a monocarpic (flowering only once) plant.  Family: Poaceae family (grass family).  Its flowering cycle varies from 40 to 60 years. It is also known as the giant thorny bamboo, Indian thorny bamboo, spiny bamboo, or thorny bamboo. It is a species of clumping bamboo native to southern Asia. Do you know?  The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is an animal sanctuary in Wayanad, Kerala, India. Miscellaneous Baralacha Bara-lacha la is also known as Bara-lacha Pass.  It is a high mountain pass in Zanskar Range.  It connects Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Leh district in Ladakh.  It is situated along the Leh–Manali Highway. The pass also acts as a water-divide between the Bhaga river and the Yunam river. The Bhaga river, a tributary of the Chenab river, originates from Surya taal lake.  (Mains Focus) FEDERALISM/ POLITY Topic: GS-2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States GS-2: Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure Centre versus State in Delhi Context: The Centre has recently introduced the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (GNCTD) in Lok Sabha, reviving the dispute on the distribution of powers between the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor (L-G). Constitutional Framework of Delhi  Delhi’s current status as a Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly is an outcome of the 69th Amendment Act through which Articles 239AA and 239BB were introduced in the Constitution.  The GNCTD Act was passed simultaneously to supplement the constitutional provisions relating to the Assembly and the Council of Ministers in the national capital.  For all practical purposes, the GNCTD Act outlines the powers of the Assembly, the discretionary powers enjoyed by the L-G, and the duties of the Chief Minister with respect to the need to furnish information to the L-G. What does the 2021 amendment Bill say? In light of Supreme Court Judgement: In the statement of objects and reasons section, the Centre claims that the amendment Bill seeks to give effect to the Supreme Court’s interpretation and that it further defines the responsibilities of the elected government and the Lt Governor in line with the Constitutional scheme.  Clarification on the term Government: The bill clarifies that the term “government” in any law made by the Legislative Assembly shall mean the L-G. This, essentially, gives effect to former L-G’s assertion that “Government means the Lieutenant Governor of the NCT of Delhi appointed by the President under Article 239 and designated as such under Article 239 AA of the Constitution”.  Prior Opinion of LG: The Bill adds that the L-G’s opinion shall be obtained before the government takes any executive action based on decisions taken by the Cabinet or any individual minister. What did the Constitution Bench say? Concurrence of LG: In its 2018 verdict, the five-judge Bench had held that the L-G’s concurrence is not required on issues other than police, public order and land.  Communication between CoM & LG: SC also had added that decisions of the Council of Ministers will, however, have to be communicated to the L-G.  Upheld the spirit of Representative Governance: SC stated that “It has to be clearly stated that requiring prior concurrence of the Lieutenant Governor would absolutely negate the ideals of representative governance and democracy conceived for the NCT of Delhi by Article 239AA of the Constitution”. The L-G was bound by the aid and advice if the council of ministers, it had said. Status of LG and Delhi: The Court pointed out that “The status of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi is not that of a Governor of a State, rather he remains an Administrator, in a limited sense, working with the designation of Lieutenant Governor”. It had also pointed out that the elected government must keep in mind that Delhi is not a state. Consequences of the SC Judgement The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, therefore, tilted the scales in favour of the elected government through its 2018 verdict. Encouraged by the Supreme Court verdict, the elected government had stopped sending files on executive matters to the L-G before the implementation of any decision.  It has been keeping the L-G abreast of all administrative developments, but not necessarily before implementing or executing any decision. It is observed that it was because of the judgment that the elected government was able to clear policy decisions like giving free power to those using under 200 units, free bus riders for women and doorstep delivery of ration. Does the L-G enjoy no discretionary power under the current arrangement? Article 239AA(4): The L-G does have the power to refer any matter, over which there is a disagreement with the elected government, to the President under Article 239AA(4).  2018 SC Verdict & Article 239AA(4): The Delhi Law Secretary had in 2019 written in an internal memo that the elected government cannot use the Supreme Court verdict to keep the L-G in the dark about its decisions as that would prevent him from taking informed decisions on whether to invoke Article 239AA(4) or not.  SC on invoking 239AA(4): But the SC had also categorically pointed out that the L-G “should not act in a mechanical manner without due application of mind so as to refer every decision of the Council of Ministers to the President”. What will change if the amendments are cleared by Parliament? Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Bill, which “seeks to drastically curtail powers of the elected government”, is “against” the Supreme Court judgment. The amendment, if cleared, will force the elected government to take the L-G’s advice before taking any action on any cabinet decision. The Bill seeks to add a provision in the original GNCTD Act, 1991, barring the Assembly or its committees from making rules to take up matters concerning day-to-day administration, or to conduct inquiries in relation to administrative decisions. By making it mandatory for the elected government to route all its files through the L-G, the amendments will essentially take away the government’s autonomy and the dream for full statehood for the state. Connecting the dots: Power tussle in Puducherry: Between Lt. Governor and Chief Minister EDUCATION/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-3: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. A Kerala Model for Universal Education Context: India tops the list of countries with out-of-school children. The 2011 Census affirmed that 84 million children in the country do not go to school at all and 47 million children get eliminated even before Class 10. Did You Know? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in Article 26(1) and (2) by the General Assembly of the UN emphasises in clear terms that every individual has the right to education and that it should aim for holistic development which in turn would evolve respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Seven decades after the UDHR, 58 million children are out of school globally and more than 100 million children get eliminated from the schooling system before completing primary education Kerala Model Kerala is known for its highest literacy rate in the country and one hundred per cent enrolment of children in primary and secondary education. Reasons for success of Kerala Model are: Roots in Colonial Period: The historic royal rescript of 1817 proclaimed education as the “responsibility” of the state. Simultaneously, it emphasised that “political will” is more important than the political economy to decide the expenditure on education. Strength of Teachers: With around 46 lakh students, 16,000 schools and 1.69 lakh teachers, the student-teacher ratio and student-school ratio reveal a desirable scenario. With more than 20,000 non-teaching staff, the teachers are not burdened with non-teaching or administrative work and are free to concentrate on their pedagogical roles Consistency of Policies: The total literacy campaign started by the then Left Front government in 1989. The successful implementation of PRISM (Promoting Regional Schools to International Standards through Multiple Interventions) and whooping allocations to develop one school in each assembly segment to international standards is what can be seen as the reason behind the tectonic shift of 2.35 lakh students from private to public schools. Funding: Successive governments in Kerala have increased the capital outlay to education and simultaneously decentralised financing of education through local bodies. The per capita expenditure on education is also on a steady rise. Comprehensive Intervention: The Kerala model shows that comprehensive interventions pertaining to nutrition, health, sanitation, and early simulation can help to achieve sustainable growth in human development.  Challenges in Universalization of Education The Constitution of India provides for free and compulsory education for all children up to 14 years of age. In pursuance of this Government of India has enacted the Right to Education Act, 2009. However, the goal of universalization of primary education is still far from our reach. The factors that can be attributed to this are as follows: Low Public Spending: The Union Budget 2021 budget allocated only 2.75 percent of the GDP to education. However, the Incheon Declaration to which India is a signatory, expects member states to spend 4-6% of their GDP on education to achieve SDG4. Privatization of education: Decline of Public school system and simultaneous rise of expensive private schooling has made a large number of children being eliminated from the system at early stages. Private schooling are also criticised for their low quality, neglect of values, excessive focus on jobs and systemic inefficiencies Qualitative Issue: Universalization of compulsory education has failed to catch up to the desired target because quality control of primary education has not been maintained. The successive ASER survey reflects the poor state of learning outcomes in primary education. Way Forward Active Role of State: To make education universal the state must find resources to provide ancillary services such as school health, mid-day meals, free supply of textbooks, writing materials, school uniform, etc (Similar to comprehensive intervention of Keral Model). Civil Society Participation: The success of Kerala is made possible thanks to the collective efforts of the various departments of the government, officials, volunteers, NGOs, and friendly associations. Social Auditing: There should be a Village or Mohalla School Committee in each village or urban area. Such a committee would look after the construction and maintenance of buildings, playgrounds, and school gardens, provision for ancillary services, the purchase of equipment, etc. Increased Commitment: The kind of commitment or collective will shown for the provisions of electricity, water and roads needs to be developed for education as well.  Conclusion Unless education becomes an election and emotional issue akin to nationalism, we will have only a few pocket boroughs of royal rescripts like Kerala. Connecting the dots: National Education Policy 2020 (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 Jhuran formation is found in which of the following state of India?  Odisha  Tamil Nadu  Assam  Gujarat  Q.2 Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in : Kerala Tamil Nadu  Andhra pradesh  Meghalaya  Q.3 Citizens can now get the water quality in their taps tested at reasonable rates, as part of the Water Quality Testing Framework, under which of the following?  Swacchh Bharat Abhiyan Jal Jeevan Mission  Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana  Aatmanirbhar Bharat  ANSWERS FOR 15th March 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 C 3 A Must Read On farmers’ crisis: Indian Express On SC order on local body elections: The Hindu A giant leap forward for the Quad: The Hindu

Mar 16, 2021 UPSC Interview Discussion-TRP

[INTERVIEW INITIATIVE] Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP) [DAY 10] 2020 for UPSC/IAS Personality Test!

ARCHIVES (of TRP) - > CLICK HERE Those who have appeared for UPSC Mains 2020, fill up the Google form given below. Students who fill the form will be added to a telegram group so that there can be healthy discussions with other students who will be appearing for the Interview/Personality Test. Also, Mohan sir, Bureaucrats and Ex-Bureaucrats will be interacting one on one with all the students who will be appearing for the same. REGISTER HERE – CLICK HERE   Interview Discussion: Think, Rethink and Perform; (TRP)- Day 10 Set 1: Ask these questions to yourself; contemplate and come out with a concrete answer (not to be discussed on this forum). Invest at least 30 minutes on this set of questions.  Do you regret any of your past actions?  What could have been done to avoid that mistake?   What lessons have you derived from that action?  Set 2: Analyse the following issue:  What are your views on the evolving geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific? Do you see India playing an active role in this region? What are India’s interests there? Share your views on the evolving Quad dynamics? Should India proactively engage with the Quad members to forge a strategic alliance  against China? How may China respond to the Quad?  We expect you to discuss the above question (Set 2) in the comments below and come out with a balanced view of the issues. Thank You IASbaba

Mar 16, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 1 Questions [16th March,2021] – Day 56

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1- ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 1 Questions [16th March 2020] – Day 56 We will make sure, in the next 100 days not a single day is wasted and your mains preparation is solidified. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. We are giving 5 Mains Questions on a daily basis so that every student can actively participate and keep your preparation focused. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” To Know More about the Initiative -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. Do you think decentralised planning is an effective tool to ensure inclusive growth? Substantiate your views. क्या आपको लगता है कि समावेशी विकास सुनिश्चित करने के लिए विकेंद्रीकृत योजना एक प्रभावी उपकरण है? अपने विचारों की पुष्टि करें। 2. Critically evaluate the performance of India in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). सतत विकास लक्ष्यों (एसडीजी) को प्राप्त करने में भारत के प्रदर्शन का समालोचनात्मक मूल्यांकन करें। 3. How does social structure and hierarchy create conditions for poverty? Illustrate in the Indian context. सामाजिक संरचना और पदानुक्रम गरीबी के लिए कैसे स्थिति बनाते हैं? भारतीय संदर्भ में वर्णन करें। 4. Examine the factors that have contributed to the monopoly of China with respect to rare earth metals. What are its strategic implications? Discuss. दुर्लभ पृथ्वी धातुओं के संबंध में चीन के एकाधिकार में योगदान करने वाले कारकों की जांच करें। इसके रणनीतिक निहितार्थ क्या हैं? चर्चा करें। 5. Should OTT platforms be regulated by the government? Critically comment. क्या ओटीटी प्लेटफार्मों को सरकार द्वारा विनियमित किया जाना चाहिए? समालोचनात्मक टिप्पणी करें। P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm everyday. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each others answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

Mar 16, 2021 Ace The Prelims (ATP)

Ace The Prelims (ATP) – 2021– PRELIMS – [16th March, 2021] – Day 62

ARCHIVES Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s Ace The Prelims (ATP) – 2021 – PRELIMS & MAINS – [16th March, 2021] – Day 62   UPSC Quiz - 2021 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz 16th March 2021 UPSC CSAT Quiz – 2021: IASbaba’s Daily CSAT Practice Test – 16th March 2021 UPSC Static Quiz – 2021: IASbaba’s Daily Static Quiz (PYQs) – Polity [Day 62]   The way ATP molecules provide energy to every single cell of our body and help us in achieving our day to day tasks, similarly, the ‘Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021’ Programme will help in providing energy and direction to your prelims preparation and push you beyond the cutoff of Prelims 2021. Ace the Prelims (ATP) – 2021 will include Daily Static Quiz (PYQs) Daily CSAT Practice Test Daily Current Affair Quiz 60 Days Plan (starts from 2nd week of March) To Know More about Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021 - CLICK HERE   Thank You IASbaba

Mar 16, 2021 Daily Static Quiz

UPSC Static Quiz – 2021: IASbaba’s Daily Static Quiz (PYQs) – Polity [Day 62]

ARCHIVES DAILY STATIC QUIZ (PYQs) It will cover PYQs all the topics of static subjects – Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Environment and Science and technology. Daily 5 questions (Monday to Saturday) will be posted from static topics (PYQs) The questions will be in the quiz format so you will be able to answer them directly on the portal. Schedule Week 1 – Polity Week 2 – Economics Week 3 – History and Art & Culture Week 4 – Geography Week 5 – Environment and Science & Technology Same cycle will be repeated from Week 6. Make the best use of the initiative. All the best! To Know More about Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021 - CLICK HERE Important Note: Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) After completing the 5 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken and solutions. To take the Test - Click Here

Mar 16, 2021 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2021 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz 16th March 2021

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. We will make sure, in the next 4 months not a single day is wasted. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” To Know More about Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021 - CLICK HERE Important Note: Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) After completing the 5 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken and solutions. To take the Test - Click Here

Mar 16, 2021 IASbaba’s Daily CSAT Quiz

UPSC CSAT Quiz – 2021: IASbaba’s Daily CSAT Practice Test – 16th March 2021

ARCHIVES Daily CSAT Practice Test Everyday 5 Questions from Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension will be covered from Monday to Saturday. Make the best use of the initiative. All the best! To Know More about Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021 - CLICK HERE Important Note: Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) After completing the 5 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken and solutions. To take the Test - Click Here

Mar 15, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [11th March,2021] Day 52: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE SYNOPSIS [11th March,2021] Day 52: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies) 1. What are the key challenges faced by women in workspace? Discuss. What measures should be taken to make workspace more equitable and safer for women? Approach: Question is asking you to discuss so you have to discuss in detail and cover all dimensions comprehensively. Introduction: It will take 257 years to reach gender equality in economic participation and opportunity, according to the WEF’s 2020 global gender gap report. In fact, the report shows that while other metrics of gender equality have improved (education attainment and health are close to parity, for example), the economic participation and opportunity metric has regressed to 57.8%.  Body: THE KEY CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN IN WORKSPACE  Disproportionate earnings: As of today, women earn $0.81 for every $1 a man makes, resulting in far lower take-home income and associated financial security. In India too, the fight for equal wages continues. The Labour Bureau in India has found that in rural areas in the agricultural sector, the daily wage for men is ₹264.05 and ₹205.32 for women. In non-agricultural sects, the average daily wage rate for men is ₹271.17, while for women it is ₹205.90. Lack of community and support: The old adage “It’s lonely at the top” can certainly be true for the women who do make it to senior roles within their organizations.  Shortage of professional opportunities: 42% of women in the workplace say they’ve experienced gender-based discrimination, including being passed up for important assignments, experiencing repeated, small slights, and being treated as though they weren’t competent. This makes women almost twice as likely to experience these grievances compared to men (22%). Representation of Women: Women continue to remain underrepresented at every level, starting from entry level jobs to C-suite roles. What’s interesting to see is that the number of women and men leaving their companies is almost the same. Therefore, attrition can’t be blamed for this inequality and misogyny. Unemployment Penalty: During child rearing years, the unemployment penalty for women is longer. What this means is that when women take longer leaves, they have a much harder time to get rehired. Increased risk of workplace harassment: Women are far more likely to experience sexual harassment in the workplace, whether they are in a position of power or not.  MEASURES THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN TO MAKE WORKSPACE MORE EQUITABLE AND SAFER FOR WOMEN  There are plenty of steps that can and must be taken to improve gender equality in the workplace. These includes: Put an end to salary secrecy: Increased transparency around salaries and remuneration is one definitive step any organization can make. Dismantle the glass ceiling: Lack of female representation in senior, high-paying positions only seeks to reinforce the gender pay gap. As such, this must be addressed head-on within each organization.  Remove barriers for flexible working: Lack of flexibility, or stigma, related to varied working hours can be a barrier to progression for many female workers, as women tend to take on more active parenting duties.  Women make up about half the global population; representing a huge pool of talent, resources, and potential innovation. Hiring, training and investing in women makes good business sense, as well as being morally imperative.  Conclusion: Gender inequality can be an entrenched issue in the office. It reveals itself in pay grade differences, lack of representation at senior level, and sometimes incredibly minimal intervention against gross misconduct. Reaching gender equality requires radical action in organizations. The world talks about progression and creating an environment where all people are treated equally. But, why does it stop when it comes to women? While there are men who have come forward to support women in all their endeavours, why is the word “feminism” branded with so much hatred and contempt? It’s time we shatter toxic masculinity and make people understand that feminism’s goal is to reduce gender gaps and achieve political, economic, personal, and social gender equality. 2. Certain political parties have floated the idea of giving remuneration to women homemakers. What are your views on this? Discuss. Approach: Question is straight forward in its approach students are expected to express their views about the idea of renumeration to women by the political parties by giving a detailed explanation with examples as well. Introduction: The expanding role of freebies in Indian Politics in the last decade has become an intriguing question in the Indian political economy. Freebies have become a strategy to woo voters latel. The Election Commission, earlier 2019, has revealed an analytical emphasis on the distribution of freebies and attractions to voters by almost all the political parties. Recent announcement by a political party of giving renumeration to homemakers is an election freebie promise but it has a larger perspective through ideological and economic aspects as well. Body: Renumeration to homemakers has been advocated by feminist groups from a long time. It involves paying homemaker against the work done in home such as cooking, looking after the elderly, washing clothes etc. so as to bring them in parity with those working outside home and giving recognition to their efforts as well. In these times where societies are largely patriarchical efforts of homemakers usually go unnoticed and is not considered work at all. Idea of giving renumeration to homemakers is a drastic step towards change in following ways- One extremely significant dimension that has gone largely ignored in the purview of the measurement of economic activity – is household unpaid work by women. This is the flip side of women’s low labour force participation, which is among the lowest in the world in India. Women who are not in the workforce are not sitting at home enjoying leisure time – they’re engaged in child and parent care, cooking, cleaning and performing other household chores. The fact that women’s household work is unpaid and therefore goes unrecorded as part of the GDP understates women’s contribution to the economy. According to research by the International Monetary Fund, raising women’s participation in the labour force to the same level as men can boost India’s GDP by 27 percent. One way to do this is by giving homemakers, the majority of whom are women, a salary. As a matter of public policy, schemes targeted at economically vulnerable households can and should be fine-tuned by recording the value of women’s work. Finally, as a matter of macroeconomics, capturing women’s unpaid labour would give a truer picture of GDP and, therefore, a more realistic assessment of the size of the economy and of economic growth. This will help shatter the stereotypical image of Indian women who are portrayed as domestic and social parasites living on their husbands’ earnings and contributing nothing. A large number of women live with domestic violence and cruelty because they are economically dependent on others, mainly their husbands. Time-use data from 2019 gathered by the National Sample Survey Organisation revealed that only about a quarter of men and boys above six years engaged in unpaid household chores, compared to over four-fifths of women paying renumeration to homemakers will ensure their  financial independence to a large extent and is thus an inclusionary measure as well. Supreme court also advocated that value of the work of homemaker must be at par with the office going individual and fixing renumeration and recognising the value of the labour of homemaker is the acceptance of the idea that these activities contribute to the economic condition of the family in a real way. Once recognised as work, this arena of unpaid domestic labour that is dominated almost entirely by women can become one where women can demand some degree of parity in terms of the time and energy expended on it. It moves us towards a more holistic understanding of labour: Labour isn’t purely tied to the exchange value of a service on the market, and recognises an extremely intimate form of labour that has proved essential to keeping the unit of the family intact and functional However there are some challenges as well which are as follows- Paying home-makers would disincentivize even the educated women to stay indoors and receive some sort of salary. This would impact the overall LFPR of women which is already low.  In rural areas, where patriarchal mindset exists women would serve as proxies to their husbands. The amount they would receive would directly be spent by their husbands leaving them disempowered (financially).  Identifying the beneficiaries would be a herculean task for the government, as too much of arbitrariness exists.  It would burden the already curtailed fiscal space of the state governments which are currently reeling under the high fiscal deficit in the post-Covid scenario and would therefore have far-reaching impact on the state-exchequer. Conclusion: Needless to say, women constitute almost half the population and their needs and issues have to be addressed. A homemaker doesn’t need any favours. She is already contributing to the economy. A salary for her work at home would be a tool towards her empowerment, give her a life of dignity. Idea of renumeration isn’t new it needs a serious thought on part of policy makers to bring equality in the society which has been marred by discrimination from quite a long time now. 3. Why is it important to have more women in politics? What will be achieved by greater participation of women in matters of politics and governance? Put forward your views with the help of suitable arguments. Approach The candidate needs to bring out the importance of having more women in politics in the first part of answer while in the second part, the candidate needs to put forward his/her views regarding the positive effects of greater participation of women in politics and governance. Introduction Despite women constituting half the world’s population, they account for less than a quarter of the membership of national parliaments globally. Such descriptive or numerical under-representation can have consequences for substantive representation of women’s interests as well as overall societal interests, which clearly highlights the importance of women’s participation in politics. Body Importance of having more women in politics – In the Beijing Platform for Action, stemming from the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing 1995, the prioritization of women’s leadership was considered vastly important. Two decades later, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underscored the need and urgency to achieve gender parity in leadership through SDG Target 5.5. The full and active participation of women in legislatures, equal to men, is not just a goal in itself, but central to building and sustaining democracies. The equal presence of women, their leadership and their perspective in parliaments is essential to ensure greater responsiveness to citizens’ needs. For political institutions to be democratically legitimate and responsive to all citizens, they must be inclusive of the plurality of groups that exist within the population. This requires greater representation of women in national parliaments and broader diversity. People’s interests and priorities are often shaped by their respective social, economic and ethnic differences. Female legislators belonging to various backgrounds can therefore bring a wide array of issues to the table.  Furthermore, any democratic system benefits from having people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences represented in its political institutions. It enables us to draw on the full array of capacity and skills in the population in shaping policies for the advancement of all. The meaningful participation of women in national, local, and community leadership roles has become an important focus on global development policy. In this regard, following can be some of the achievements through greater participation of women in matters of politics and governance – Women's political participation results in tangible gains for democracy, including greater responsiveness to citizen needs, increased cooperation across party and ethnic lines, and a more sustainable future. Research has shown that women in government tend to work in more collaborative and bipartisan ways and employ a more democratic leadership style compared to men’s more autocratic style. Women are also more effective at building coalitions and reaching consensus. Women’s participation in politics helps advance gender equality and affects both the range of policy issues that get considered and the types of solutions that are proposed. There is also strong evidence that as more women are elected to office, there is a corollary increase in policy making that emphasizes quality of life and reflects the priorities of families, women, and ethnic and racial minorities. For example, in Norway, a direct causal relationship between the presence of women in municipal councils and childcare coverage was found. Women’s parliamentary presence could also have a role model effect. A 2012 study conducted in India explained that the increased proportion of women village leaders had closed the “aspiration gap” between girls and boys by nearly 25 percentage points and had eventually erased or reversed the gender gap in educational outcomes.  Further, in many instances, greater political participation by women does result in policy choices more attuned to women’s needs and concerns. Moreover, having more women in elected office has been shown to lead to broader societal benefits such as better infant mortality rates, better education outcomes in urban areas and lower corruption.  For example, research on panchayats (local councils) in India discovered that the number of drinking water projects in areas with women-led councils was 62 per cent higher than in those with men-led councils.  Moreover, not every woman elected to parliament or another legislative body will place women’s issues or rights at the forefront of her own agenda. Clearly, women’s representation is not the only factor, but it is a critical factor for the development of inclusive, responsive, and transparent democracies. Measures to Empower Women – Creating a gender-responsive policy environment. Support women’s leadership development programmes. Enact legislated candidate quotas and reserved seats. Create enabling environment for voluntary party quotas. Conclusion The positive impact of women in politics and governance is undeniable where the world can’t afford wasting a precious resource through the dramatic underrepresentation of women in leadership positions which clearly brings out the need for male and female legislators to work together in order to solve the myriad of problems in the world to meet worldwide development goals and build strong, sustainable democracies. 4. Discuss the role of women self help groups in uplifting the rural economy. Approach Candidates are expected first to write about self help group. And then highlight the role of Self help group in uplifting the rural economy.  Introduction The origin of SHGs in India can be traced back to the establishment of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in 1972. Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are informal associations of people who choose to come together to find ways to improve their living conditions. It can be defined as self governed, peer controlled information group of people with similar socio-economic background and having a desire to collectively perform common purpose. Body Role of self help group in uplifting the rural economy: Financial Inclusion: Priority Sector Lending norms and assurance of returns incentivize banks to lend to SHGs. The SHG-Bank linkage programme pioneered by NABARD has made access to credit easier and reduced the dependence on traditional money lenders and other non-institutional sources. Alternate source of employment: It eases dependency on agriculture by providing support in setting up micro-enterprises e.g. personalised business ventures like tailoring, grocery, and tool repair shops. For example Kudumbashree in Kerala has helped in providing skill training and poverty eradication of women. Banking literacy: It encourages and motivates its members to save and act as a conduit for formal banking services to reach them. Credit availability: Bank credits are not easily accessible to individual poor, but by forming a SHG, there are make better prospects for bank credits. (often without collateral). Under the SHG-Bank linkage programme, many SHGs have become institutions of micro-credit.  The need to solve problems at the ground level: India is a country that has diverse culture, traditions, historical backgrounds, etc. Therefore, it is difficult for the government to solve the socio-economic problems by itself. Thus, bringing together the people who face similar problems may be a game-changer for the Indian economy. Rural poverty: SHGs have become a vehicle to lift people from below poverty line, generate awareness about welfare and developmental schemes of government, monitor its implementation etc. For example SHGs like SEWA, Lizzat papad promotes entreprenurial culture among women. Positive correlation between SHGs and poverty can be inferred from the fact that southern states with high number of SHGs (71%) have average poverty rate at 9% as against nation’s average of 21%. Need based service enhance economy: Commercial Banks and NABARD in collaboration with the State Government continuously innovated and designed new financial products for these groups. For example Community managed resource centre (CMRC) under MAVIM was launched to provide financial and livelihood services to SHGs. CMRC is self-sustaining and provides need-based services.  Easier access to government schemes: The government schemes are mostly meant for the marginalised sections of the society. The inclusion and identification of these people are highly difficult. If they are grouped together, it is easier for the government to identify those who are in need of assistance quickly and efficiently. It also prevents the exploitation and corruption of the government at the ground level. Challenges faced by SHG: There are about 1.2 lakh branches of banks in rural areas as opposed to 6 lakh villages in the country. There is a need to expand banking amenities further. Patriarchal mindset, primitive thinking and social obligations discourages women from participating in SHGs thus limiting their economic avenues. Measures to Make SHGs Effective: Extension of Self-Help Groups to Urban/Peri-Urban Areas efforts should be made to increase income generation abilities of the urban poor as there has been a rapid rise in urbanisation and many people remain financially excluded. Need to establish a separate SHG monitoring cell in every state. The cell should have direct links with district and block level monitoring system. The cell should collect both quantitative and qualitative information. Conclusion SHG approach is an enabling, empowering, and bottom-up approach for rural development that has provided considerable economic and non-economic externalities to low-income households in developing countries. SHG approach is being hailed as a sustainable tool to combat poverty, combining a for-profit approach that is self-sustaining, and a poverty alleviation focus that empowers low-income households. 5. What is your notion of true women empowerment? Explain with the help of suitable examples. Approach- Candidate is required to define women empowerment by the empirical observation and elaborate further with suitable examples of empowered women around us in day to day life. Introduction Women’s empowerment can be defined to promoting women’s sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others. Body What is women empowerment? It is closely aligned with female empowerment – a fundamental human right that’s also key to achieving a more peaceful, prosperous world. Gender equality is a basic human right, and it is also fundamental to having a peaceful, prosperous world. But girls and women continue to face significant challenges all around the world. Women are typically underrepresented in power and decision-making roles. They receive unequal pay for equal work, and they often face legal and other barriers that affect their opportunities at work. In the India, girls and women are often seen as less valuable than boys. Instead of being sent to school, they are often made to do domestic work at home or are married off for a dowry before they are adults. As many as 12 million underage girls are married every year. Why is it important to empower girl or women? Empowering women is essential to the health and social development of families, communities and countries. A key part of this empowerment is through education. Girls who are educated can pursue meaningful work and contribute to their country’s economy later in life. They are also four times less likely to get married young when they have eight years of education, meaning that they and their families are healthier. The empowerment and autonomy of women and the improvement of their political, social, economic and health status is a highly important end in itself. The full participation and partnership of both women and men is required in productive and reproductive life, including shared responsibilities for the care and nurturing of children and maintenance of the household. In all parts of the world, women are facing threats to their lives, health and well- being as a result of being overburdened with work and of their lack of power and influence. In most regions of the world, women receive less formal education than men, and at the same time, women's own knowledge, abilities and coping mechanisms often go unrecognized. The power relations that impede women's attainment of healthy and fulfilling lives operate at many levels of society, from the most personal to the highly public. What are some examples? Popularly known as the ‘padwoman of India’, Maya Vishwakarma calls herself the ‘standing example’ of the dire repercussions caused to the girls and women. Born to a family of agricultural labourers in a village in Narsinghpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Maya did not have access to sanitary napkins until she was 26. This caused her to face many health issues later in life, thus triggering her ambition to remedy the situation. At the age of 36, she quit her job and started the Sukarma Foundation in 2016, to create awareness around menstruation, promote the importance of using sanitary napkins and busting the stigma and myths around it. the foundation also manufactures affordable sanitary napkins which are given to the women in the remotest areas of the country. Almost 200 kilometres from Pune, the town of Mhaswad in Satara district of Maharashtra has a unique bank that provides loans as low as Rs 15 to rural women! The Mann Deshi Bank, established by Mumbai-based Chetna Sinha in 1997, provides financial aid to rural women, making them truly empowered. So far, the bank and its eight branches have empowered more than 3,00,000 women through 140 field facilitators. In 2017, a Mumbai-based non-profit organization, ‘SheSays’ led by Trisha Shetty, began a campaign, #LahuKaLagaan, which called to abolish tax on sanitary napkins. As the campaign went viral across the country, other organisations picked up the cause. Eventually, in 2018, the 12 per cent tax on sanitary napkins was scrapped by the government. Dr Rani Bang in naxalism hit district of gadchiroli in Maharashtra is working relentlessly for last thirty five years to provide basic healthcare to tribal women who face complications in pregnancy. A gold medalist from John Hopkins university, she chose to serve and empower fellow women and make them independent when it comes to health. Conclusion Women empowerment is multifaceted. Empowerment starts from home, by dividing responsibilities, by taking important decisions together, by making women financially more literate, by respecting their choices of employment and by listening to the unheard desires. Giving them a new voice, showing them a right path and providing her a right platform to express her fully so that she can realise her deep true self is the real empowerment. As a society we have to travel a long road to empowerment but we have to start from ourselves first. TLP HOT Synopsis Day 52 PDF