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Approach – Answer: General Studies Mains Mock Test 8-(540) (2014)

1. Is India's linguistic diversity a threat to national integration? 10

Approach:

• Briefly explain the nature of linguistic diversity

• Then explain what are the problems which are/can be faced due to this diversity

• Finally conclude on a positive note that even after such linguistic diversity, India has unity

Answer:

Nature of India’s linguistic diversity:

In India, there are more than 200 languages, being spoken by different groups. There exists ‘linguistic

pluralism’ in India, which is a state of ‘mutual existence’ of several languages in a contiguous space. The

plurality of languages has led to ‘language problems’, in the past. These problems being: i) Linguistic

reorganization of the states in India ii) Status of ‘minority languages’ in the states iii) Official language

issue.

Language Problems and National Integration:

• Linguistic reorganization of states was primarily done for administrative convenience. It also helped

in fulfilling the aspirations of different linguistic groups in India, without threatening national unity.

• Discriminatory practices or policies against ‘linguistic minorities’ in different states, can in the long

term threaten national integration. Prejudiced treatment against linguistic minorities, can perpetuate

‘separatism’. Example: Bengali speaking people in Assam, Kanada, Malayalam speaking people in

Andhra Pradesh. There are various Constitutional Provisions, to safeguard the interests of ‘linguistic

minorities’, enshrined in Articles: 29, 30, 347, 350.

• ‘Hindi, English’ are the ‘official languages’ of the Union. There are ‘regional languages ‘recognized as

the ‘official languages’ of the states. There has emerged a ‘hierarchy of official status’. The 1960s

witnessed ‘anti-Hindi’ agitations’, in the southern states, speaking Dravidian family of languages. The

fear of Hindi becoming the ‘national language’ was allayed by the continuance of English as the

official language. Also the ‘Three language formula ‘was devised to accommodate the different

languages, in the educational curriculum.

Linguistic Unity and National integration:

• However, the linguistic heterogeneity has not always been disruptive for national integration. With

linguistic diversity, one has also witnessed, the development of an ‘all India common vocabulary.’ Ex.

Sanskrit, which has not only acted as bridge between different Indo Aryan languages, but also

between Indo Aryan and Dravidian languages. Ex. In contemporary times, “Hinglish”, which is the

blending of English language with Hindi and other languages spoken in India.

• The mainstream cinema ‘’Bollywood’’, has immensely contributed to the development of an all India

vocabulary.

• The popularity of many ‘Epics’ and ‘fictional non-fictional literature’, has lead their translation into

many different languages. This has also contribute to ‘linguistic unity’ in India.

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2. Explain India’s 'diversity in unity’. Illustrate from the socio- cultural life of people. 10

Approach:

• Write down how India is a plural society with extensive diversity in religion, races, languages, culture,

heritage etc.

• Provide some examples for each

Answer:

India's Diversity in Unity:

India's Diversity in unity refers to the existence of plural-ethnic, racial, religious and linguistic cultures

together within the nation of India.

The concept heralds the geo-political unity of the nation state of India encompassing several diverse

cultures within its uniform matrix.

The test examples of 'Diversity in Unity' can be highlighted through the following examples from the

socio-cultural life of the Indian people.

The Indian festivals are known for their enhancement and liveliness throughout the world. The most

important example, Diwali is celebrated by all. However, the meaning and methods of celebration change

across various religions and regional communities.

The architectural heritage symbolizes India's historic past and glory. The Taj Mahal is famous as the

symbol of love and dedication across all people. At a broader level, it is quite interesting to see people of

various cultures visiting such heritage monuments; accepting them as their common heritage.

• The Multi-National corporations have brought in a new 'cosmopolitan' culture to India through

globalization; these companies employ people across various ethnicities, caste and class, creating a

diverse yet unified environment.

• The caste system as a system of hierarchy identifies an Indian. So much so, that it has taken within its

hold, people across various caste, communities and religions.

• The 'power of patriarchy' is another common thread of value found prevalent in India. It includes the

diverse sexes – men and women too.

• The Popular phenomena such as Cricket and Bollywood also represent diverse cultures celebrating

together. The Indian Premier league is a good example of this.

3. How has globalization affected Indian culture? Does it pose a threat to our indigenous crafts and

knowledge systems? 10

Approach:

• The first part demands briefly explaining what culture is. A short definition such as “a way of life”

would suffice. Then explain that it has been affected by globalization in three ways primarily – some

parts of culture have been wiped out , some new elements such as new festivals have become its

part and finally some existing elements have been enriched

• Second part must deal with cases of intellectual property theft such as bio-piracy and exploitation of

local crafts (buying cheap, selling dear by the MNCs)

• Finally, suggest some measures to counter this threat such as traditional knowledge digital library

must be mentioned.

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Answer:

There are divergent views on the cultural dimensions of reforms in the content of globalization. Three

clashing notions of cultural change has been identified in Indian context in the era of globalization.

• Homogenization: It refers to increasing global interdependence & interconnectedness which would

lead towards growing cultural standardization & uniformisation for eg : increasing homogeneity of

world values (market competition, human rights, commodification) ; Cocacolisation, Walmartization,

Corporate culture, fast food chains, concept of e-money etc.

• Cultural Clash: The market-centred globalization is making deep in roads into local & regional

cultures, which is seen as a threat by many. As a result, there is increasing assertion of identities to

defend against onslaught of globalization for eg : Reactionary movements like assertion by elders

against western culture of live-in-relationship or against public display of affection.

• Glocalisation: It emphasises on the process of translocal cultural mixing, manifested in cultural

heterogeneity and hybridisation e.g. Mcdonalidization (Mcdonald's going vegetarian during Navratris

etc.); resorting to both allopathic & homeopathic treatments ; knowledge economy.

Moreover, Indian society has also witnessed in recent times rebirth of many long – lost culture for eg :

Yoga , Transcendental meditation etc.

Globalization is generally perceived as an attempt to establish cultural imperialism and hence considered

as a threat to Indigenous craft & knowledge systems.

For e.g. Many theatre groups have become defunct, traditional weavers and craftsman due to their in

ability to invest in technology have failed to adapt to the changing customer tastes.

However it is in the realm of knowledge systems globalization poses a real challenge. In India various

forms of traditional knowledge systems especially in the fields of medicine and agriculture have been

preserved and passed on from one generation to the other. Recent attempts by some multi-national

companies to patent the use of Tulsi, Haldi (turmeric), Rudraksha and Basmati rice has highlighted the

need for protecting the base of its indigenous knowledge systems. To protect its indigenous crafts and

knowledge systems, the Government of India has initiated a project to identify and digitalize all such

knowledge.

Thus globalization can be both helpful as well as detrimental to Indian culture and its crafts and

knowledge systems. It’s incumbent upon the governments to frame policies which maximized the

benefits and minimizes the losses for its citizen.

4. Census 2011 indicates that there is a stark north-south divide with respect to the ongoing demographic

shifts in India. Explain this phenomenon and discuss its policy implications for both northern and

southern states? 10

Approach:

• Explain the difference between demographic shift taking place in northern and southern states. For

instance as per recent data, one in every 3 children in 0-14 is from UP or Bihar. On the other hands

southern states have stabilized their population long back and are now seeing a rapid rise in their old

age population.

• Policy implications such as – northern states need to invest more on education, skill building etc.

While southern ones due to their ageing population should invest more on healthcare, pensions,

insurance.

Answer:

There is a significant north-south divide on demographic growth in India as seen in the 2011 census.

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• The southern states are showing faster decline in the population growth rate as compared to the

northern states. For instance as per recent data, one in every 3 children in 0-14 is from UP or Bihar.

On the other hands southern states have stabilized their population long back and are now seeing a

rapid rise in their old age population.

• As a result of this, there is scarcity of unskilled labor in the south which is currently filled in by

migration from other parts of the country.

• India will have extremely different structure of population across states; while in some states the

population age structure will be adult concentrated and will move to old age, other states will have

still more concentration of child and young population. This implies that the governments need

entirely different policies to tackle issues in these contexts.

• It means that northern states need to invest more on education, skill building etc. While southern

ones due to their ageing population should invest more on healthcare, pensions, insurance.

5. What is reproductive health? How does it differ from the existing family planning and maternal and

child health programmes? 10

Approach:

• The answer should clearly define the concept of reproductive health. It should bring out the basic

ideas, motivations and the approaches taken by the existing family planning and maternal and child

health programmes and contrast it with the ideas driving a reproductive health programme.

Answer:

According to WHO, reproductive health implies that “people are able to have a responsible, satisfying

and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and

how often to do so”. Implicit in this are the right of men and women to be informed of and to have

access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of fertility regulation of their choice, and the

right of access to appropriate health care services that will enable women to go safely through

pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant.

Reproductive health interventions are most likely to include attention to the issues of family planning,

STD prevention and management and prevention of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity.

Reproductive health can also address issues such as harmful practices, unwanted pregnancy, unsafe

abortion, reproductive tract infections including sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, gender-

based violence, infertility, malnutrition and anemia, and reproductive tract cancers.

In India, the Reproductive and Child Health Programme, was launched in 1997.Its aim was to integrate

services for the prevention and management of unwanted pregnancy, the promotion of safe

motherhood and child survival, and the prevention and management of reproductive tract infections and

sexually transmitted infections. The programme aimed at expanding services to meet the needs of

hitherto under-served and neglected population groups, including adolescents, and economically and

socially disadvantaged groups, such as urban slum and tribal populations.

How this concept is different from existing family planning and maternal and child health programmes:

• The objectives, design and evaluation of family planning programmes were largely driven by a

demographic imperative, without due consideration to related health issues such as maternal

health or STD prevention and management.

• In general, such programmes exclusively targeted women, taking little account of the social,

cultural and intimate realities of their reproductive lives and decision-making powers.

• They tended to serve only married people, excluding, in particular, young people.

• Services were rarely designed to serve men even though they have reproductive health concerns

of their own, particularly with regard to sexually transmitted diseases.

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Hence, a reproductive health approach would differ from a narrow family planning approach in several

ways. It would aim to build upon what exists and at the same time to modify current narrow, vertical

programmes to ones in which every opportunity is taken to offer women and men a full range of

reproductive health services in a linked way.

6. Compare and contrast the features and consequences of urban poverty vis-a-vis rural poverty. 10

Approach:

• Straight forward question. Compare the two.

Answer:

FACTORS RURAL POVERTY URBAN POVERTY

Features:

Causes Stagnation in agriculture, fragmented

land holdings, lack of diversified

economic activities, disguised

unemployment, lack of institutional

support

Urban areas invite excessive migration

leading to over-population vis-à-vis the

available resources for exploitation, higher

rate of inflation

Composition Landless agricultural laborers, share-

croppers, craftsmen

Casual labor in informal sector (

contractual labor), hawkers, daily wage

earners etc., more variety of people

Environmental

Surroundings

Have houses to live in but usually of

shabby nature, lack of access to basic

amenities – large travelling distances,

use of rivers, open defecation in fields

etc., are mostly separated from

influential areas

Slum areas, houseless households – living

on footpaths etc., have access to basic

amenities but that is irregular; the

separation is not that strict here

Density Low High

Caste/Class Generally low caste and low class

(ascriptive status)

Mostly low class but may be of a variety of

castes (largely achievement based)

Literacy Rate Very low Moderate to good

Skill Level Largely unskilled – labor intensive

(2400 calorie requirement)

Semi-skilled; relatively less labor-intensive

(2100 calorie requirement.)

Occupational

Roles

Largely agrarian sector, activities such

as pottery and other low-earning jobs

Industrial and infrastructural sector,

services include – house-hold work, self-

employment

Consequences:

Health Unhealthy and diseased due to

Malnutrition, illness due to ignorance

Unhealthy and diseased due to disability

affected due to living and work conditions

primarily.

Awareness Not much awareness about their

rights; politically less mobilized

Have a lot of awareness; high level of

political mobilization (trade unions)

Feeling of

Relative

Deprivation

Low but extreme – and consequent

lesser crime-rate; more cases of

suicides

High but moderate– higher crime rate and

deviance; lesser cases of suicides

Criticality for

Economy

Do not contribute much to economy Are integral to running and sustenance of

the economy.

Govt.

programmes

Ex. MGNREGA; temporary livelihood

programmes – aim to enhance

productivity in agriculture and diversify

into related sectors such as animal

husbandry

National Urban Livelihood Mission – aim

to create new job or self-employment

opportunities

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7. Regionalism is not opposed to national integration; rather both can co-exist in a creative partnership.

Critically analyse this statement in the context of India. 10

Approach:

The answer should attend to the following sub-questions:

• What is regionalism?

• What are the causes for the proliferation of regionalism?

• Why regionalism is considered antithetical to national integration?

• How can regionalism and national integration be reconciled?

Answer:

• Regionalism can be defined as “a phenomenon in which people’s political loyalties become focused

upon a region, often in preference to the country or state of which the region is a part”. Demand

for separate state, state autonomy, etc. are expressions of regionalism

• Regionalism is characterized by the following often in combination with each other:

o Geographical concentration

o cultural, historical (cultural heritage, folklore, myths and symbolism)

o language

o caste

o religion

o ethnic (tribal identity, racial identity)issues

o economic factors

• Regionalism in India is rooted in India’s diversity of languages, cultures, tribes, and religions, which

is often encouraged by the geographical concentration of these identity markers in particular

regions, and fuelled by a sense of regional deprivation. Indian federalism has been a means of

accommodating these regional sentiments.

• Regionalism is believed to be a threat to the nation-building efforts. It is evident by the separatist

movements in Punjab and the North-East; son of soil movement in Maharashtra; Regionalism can

also breed disharmony between states as witnessed in the river water disputes (between Kerala and

Tamil Nadu etc.).

• However, at the same time regionalism can have manifestations which is not a threat to national

Integration. As we know, Regionalism is in sense a desire to concretize an identity based on ethnicity,

language, religion, etc. so if the federal polity provides enough space for expression of regional

identities, then regionalism or regional pride can be channeled to spur the development of the

particular region. Secondly, formation of states based on economic under-development or demand

for devolution of powers, greater financial resources, administrative authority etc. is not a threat to

national integrity.

• Hence it is important to assess the degree of underlying reason for the need for representation and

its consequences on unity and integrity of the nation.

• Moreover, the important condition for reconciling the competing claims of regionalism and national

integration is that the political system of the country should remain federal and democratic. It is

quite natural that regional communities, who are conscious of their distinctive culture, should

interact with federal government on the basis of more equal partnership. It will reduce the

centralizing tendencies in a nation and power will shift from the Centre to the states.

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8. (a) Describe “counter-urbanization” and “suburbanization” in the context of India. 5

Approach:

• Define both counter urbanization and suburbanization

• Then mention, how they are being manifested in India

Answer:

• Counter-urbanization is a “demographic and social process whereby people move from urban

areas to rural areas as a reaction to inner-city deprivation, pollution and overcrowding”

• Suburbanization is the “growth of areas on the fringes of cities”. It is one of the many causes of the

increase in urban sprawl. Many residents of metropolitan regions work within the central urban area,

and choose to live in satellite communities called suburbs and commute to work via automobile or

mass transit. Others have taken advantage of technological advances to work from their homes. The

skyrocketing real estate prices are one of the main reasons for suburbanization process.

• In India, suburbanization as a process is being witnessed in areas around metropolitans. The trend is

strongest in cities like Delhi where a more efficient public transport system allows people residing on

the periphery of the urban sprawl to commute to the cities.

• True counter-urbanization marked by taking up typical rural occupations is almost non-existent in

India, notwithstanding the mushrooming ‘farm houses’ on city outskirts. The situation as it exists

may be taken as a cross between sub-urbanization and counter urbanization.

8. (b) “Economic empowerment, in the absence of social empowerment is meaningless”. Do you agree? 5

Approach:

• First explain what the economic empowerment means

• Explain how various means of economic empowerment for women such as increasing their

ownership of assets, don’t mean much if they don’t have effective decision making powers within

their families and societies regarding how to utilize these resources/assets.

• Finally show that though not a sufficient condition, economic empowerment is nevertheless, a

necessary condition.

Answer:

• Economic empowerment means “giving the disempowered or weaker sections of the societies,

effective decision making powers in economic sphere”. This includes making the ownership of

assets equitable, giving those fair wages, ensuring fair participation in employment opportunities

etc.

• However, all these steps would be rendered meaningless if this economic empowerment is not

backed by giving social empowerment. Social empowerment means “giving the disempowered or

weaker sections of the societies, effective decision making powers in social sphere – this includes

matters pertaining to marriage, family, customs, traditions etc.”

• For example: As has been the case with women in India, although the laws such as Hindu

(Succession) Act, 2005 give equal rights to women as far as rights over inheritance are concerned,

due to inadequate social acceptance, the asset holding pattern continues to be in favor of men only.

Only 2% of land and 10% of all assets in the country are owned by women. ( you can quote more

examples or case studies to justify the above argument)

• However, studies have suggested that the economic empowerment can be a very effective

instrument in bringing about changes in social sphere over long terms. Thus, by improving its

economic level, an individual or a community or a section of society can also improve its social

status.

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9. Any discourse on environmental movements in India is incomplete without analyzing the role of

women in it. Comment. 10

Approach:

• Elaborate on the basics of environmental movements in India. Then argue how, access to natural

resources is central to Women’s lives in India, which is the basis of environmental movements in

India.

• Further, an analysis could be given of CHIPKO movement, which is indeed the starting of

environmental movements in post-independent India. Conclude w.r.t the birth of ecofeminism in

India.

Answer: [Student Note: Answer has been kept long to discuss the issue in detail.]

• Environmental movement is a “diverse scientific, social and political movement for addressing

environmental issues.”

• Environmental movements in developing countries are struggles of the dispossessed, the

marginalized, the victims of discrimination, among whom can be counted women, tribal and the

non-commercial farmers.

• Reasons for the movement are control over natural resources; resistance offered by ecosystem

people to the resource capture by omnivorous; environmental degradation; socio-economic reasons

(tribal issues).

• Hence, any discourse on environmental movements in developing countries cannot be complete

without understanding how they are related to livelihood issues & its gendered context. This is in

contrast to the discussions on environment conservation in developed countries which often

revolves around the issues of quality of life, animal rights etc.

• Women have direct contact with natural resources like fuel, food and fodder, forest, water and land

especially in rural areas where 70% of Indian population reside and directly dependent upon natural

resources. Women are also responsible for using these resources to satisfy the basic needs of their

families.

• Women have given different perspective to the environmental issues due to their different

experience base. They view the issue in a broad and holistic manner aiming at long term benefits of

subsistence and survival as against short term commercial gains.

• Therefore, conservation of natural resources and promotion of environment cannot be done without

involving the women in planning and training for promoting the values for conservation and

promotion of environment.

• The emergence of the Indian environmental movement can perhaps be dated to 1973, when the

famous Chipko movement began in the central Himalayas. The Chipko movement emerged as a

protest against granting of permission for access to the forests to commercial timber operators,

while the local people were refused access to the forests for making agricultural implements.

• The movement which spread rapidly to other villages saw the active involvement of women. They

worked jointly with the men of their community, and in some cases even against them, when they

differed with them over the use of forest resources. Women were more concerned with the long-

term gain of saving the forests and environment, and hence, subsistence and survival issues, rather

than short-term gain through commercial projects like monoculture forests, potato-seed farms, etc.

• The scope of the movement broadened and involved issues of male alcoholism, domestic violence,

women’s representation in village councils, as well as against mining in the hills. It helped women

recognize the inter-connections between nature and human sustenance. The movement was carried

forward largely by women using Gandhian techniques of protest.

• It was just the beginning, which was followed by several other movements such as Green Belt

movement in 1977 (planting trees), Appiko movement (hugging the trees) , Narmada Bachao

Aandolan etc. which saw significant participation of women at all levels.

• We need to analyze women’ s interaction with nature and their responses to environmental

degradation with respect to the material reality of gender, caste, class and race based division of

labor, property and power. It is the poor, lower class and lower caste, and within them, the peasant

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and tribal women, who are worst, affected and hence, they are the most active in the protests.

Women are victims of environmental degradation as well as active agents in the regeneration and

protection of the environment. The adverse class-gender effects of these processes are reflected in

the erosion of indigenous knowledge systems and livelihood strategies on which poor, rural women

depend.

• The history of environmental movements in India shows that women have bear the major brunt of

environmental degradation & hence have also been the first ones to spearhead conservation

movements from Chipko to the Narmada Bachao Andolan.

• Moreover the strong connection between women and the issues of the environment led to the

emergence of the concept of ecofeminism. The term which grew out of the various social

movements that were occurring all over the world involves the concept of feminism, peace and the

ecology and signifies the role of women in environmental conservation.

10. Secularism should not only mean equal respect to all religions, but allow disagreements with some

aspects as well. Comment. 10

Approach:

• Expand on the lines that the Indian mode of Secularism is not only about inter-religious equality but

also intra-religious equality and comment on how the India state plays a pro-active role in achieving

the same.

Answer:

The Indian idea and practice of secularism, though was inspired by its western origins yet, was firmly

rooted in India’s own unique socio-historical circumstances- i.e. the remarkable religious diversity in

contrast to the mono-religious nature of western societies, the freedom struggle which advocated an

equal support & equal respect for all religions, upon the fact that the practice of one’s religion was not

seen as antithetical to practice of democracy but as one which would strengthen it in the long run.

Religion is comprised of 3 parts per se – objects of reverence, rituals and ceremonies and a group of

believers. The Indian conception of secularism recognized the deeply religious nature of Indian society &

infused the principle of equality within the practice of religion.

The concept is identified as giving equal respect to all the revered objects across all religions. It also

gives freedom to practice respective and related rituals and ceremonies. However, the desirability of

state intervention into religious matters has been upheld under the Indian conception of secularism to

give space to progressive voices within every religion and to allow disagreement with some aspects of

religions. For example, the abolition of untouchability, sati, dowry, the amendment of Hindu marriage

& inheritance laws & the demand for establishing the uniform civil code etc. can be seen as an

application of this concept.

Secularism, with respect to the community of believers of a particular religion, was turned into an non-

negotiable basic feature of constitution & the term itself was reinvented to allow intervention of state

into religious matters when it was being done to promote not only inter religious equality (i.e. “equal

rights for all citizens irrespective of their religious preferences, along with added protection for religious

minorities”) but also intra religious equality (“by ensuring that one sect of a religion does not dominate

over other”).

At the same time, the Indian ideal of secularism clearly cautions against allowing religion to interfere in

state matters, thereby disallowing mobilizing the electorate on religious lines for winning elections on

one hand while strictly spelling out that the Indian nation-state shall have no state religion.

Thus, the Indian concept of Secularism means not only equal respect to all religions, but allows

disagreements as well.

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11. Evaluate if the developmental policies pursued by the Indian state since independence have adversely

affected the tribal population of Central Indian heartland. Has there been any change in the

developmental paradigm in the past few years? 10

Approach:

• First mention that post-independence, massive expansion in public infrastructure such as dams etc.

as well as large PSUs (for mining, rail, steel etc.) has led to large chunk of forested land being

acquired which adversely effected the tribals

• This process of alienation of land has only accelerated since early 1990s due to policies of

liberalization, privatization and globalization

• Then mention the changes taking place in development regime which emphasizes on giving rights to

the tribals – Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas, Forest Rights Act, provisions related to STs in

the Land Acquisition Act must be mentioned.

Answer:

• The Central India Tribal Belt stretches from Gujarat in the west up to Assam in the east across the

states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. It is among the poorest regions of the

country. Bulk of the Belt's tribal population is rural, with primitive agriculture.

• It is argued that the tribal’s of central India have been the worst victim of developmental policies

pursued since independence. The issues concerning tribals are two pronged: firstly control over vital

economic resources like land and forests; secondly, issues relating to matters of ethnic-cultural

identity.

• In Indian context, the imperatives of development have governed the attitudes towards tribes and

shaped the policies of the state.

• After the independence, emphasis was laid on establishing big projects such as huge hydroelectric

dams; big industries PSUs such as SAIL, mines etc. which required massive land acquisition. Since the

tribal areas were located in mineral rich and forest covered parts of the country, tribals have paid a

disproportionate price for the development of the mainstream society.

• According to governments own estimates, in the 60 years since independence, more than 60Million

people have been dislocated due to “developmental” projects. And less than a third of those have

been rehabilitated.

• Such dislocation of tribes in the name of development got worsened after 1991 due to Liberalization

of the economy because now even private sector entered in areas like mining in a big way.

• The process of dispossessing tribes of their land has occurred as a necessary byproduct of the

exploitation of minerals and the utilization of favorable sites for setting up power plants. The loss of

forests is seen as a major blow. Moreover tribal regions have also been experiencing the problem of

heavy in-migration of non-tribals in response to the pressures of development.

• Overall this process of development has benefitted the mainstream at the expense of the tribes.

• However in the last two decades, due to increasing resistance and opposition from tribals and

resorting to extremism, there seems to be a growing realization about failure of state policies in

accommodating the tribals. This is reflected in number of laws which have been passed for improving

the conditions of tribal communities

• Parliament has enacted two historic legislations such as the Provisions for Panchayats (Extension to

Scheduled Areas) Act 1996, popularly called PESA, and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional

Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006, popularly called FRA, which provide inter

alia for self-governance and ownership and management by the indigenous communities of natural

resources along with control over dispute resolution processes and schemes.

• Similarly Food Security Act and Land Acquisition Act passed last year also are greatly sensitive to the

concerns of tribal communities.

• However, effective implementation of the law continued to be a challenge, as most states failed to

devolve effective powers to tribals.

• Hence, highly empowered committee was set up in 2013 under chairmanship of Mr. XaXa to

suggest policy initiatives as well as effective outcome oriented measures to improve development

indicators and strengthen public service delivery to tribes

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12. “Slums are not just a result of migration, but are also an outcome of the failure of housing policies.”

Examine. What are the steps being taken by the Government of India to address this situation? 10

Approach:

• Here the answer should explain that migration is only one of the factors responsible for slums. There

are slums which have existed and grown for decades– continuance of these slums is not the result of

migration.

• The answer should briefly discuss and criticize the housing policies of the government. For instance –

interest subsidy scheme to provide financial assistance to low income groups (LIG)and economically

weaker sections (EWS) have reached only less than fifteen thousand people due to irrational

regulatory restrictions

• Then explain the Rajiv Awas Yojna to make India slum free country and Rajiv Rin Yojna to overcome

financial barriers for LIG and EWS.

Answers:

• Slums are defined as “residential areas where the dwelling are considered unfit for human habitation

because they are dilapidated, cramped, poorly ventilated, and unclean”. It’s a place where people

live in highly congested conditions without any basic amenities of life.

• It is characterized by overcrowding, poor environmental conditions, scarcity of welfare services,

absence of minimum level of residential accommodation.

• Data from 2,613 of the 4,041 statutory towns show that the population living in slums has increased

by 25 per cent in the last decade, reaching 65.4 million in 2011.

• It would be incorrect to attribute migration as the principal reason for the increase in slums.

• For many years, policy makers were concerned predominantly with rural and agriculture economy.

Cities as an engine of growth were not much appreciated, therefore the problem of urban areas was

treated more as welfare problem and sectors of residual investment rather than issues of national

importance.

• It was only in 7th and 8th plan that importance of urban housing was recognized (NHB, urban basic

services for poor etc.). Even after that, government planning was not able to keep pace with the

housing needs of poor, middle class people. There was improper city planning; moreover private

developers were not interested in building houses for poor as it was less profit yielding. Despite of

financial assistance, contractors used low quality material to earn profits.

• Further, concept of Gated communities also led to lack of access to land.

• There was lack of synchronization amongst economic development, urban planning and land

allocation.

• With above arguments, it is evident that it was the failure of housing policies which led to

aggravation of slums. Moreover, the expert group on urban poverty and slums for the formulation of

the Twelfth Five-Year Plan has clearly stated, the proliferation of slums is a result of the failure of

housing policies.

• For further substantiation, let us consider the example of the interest subsidy scheme, which is

meant to provide financial assistance to lower income groups to secure housing and enable

construction of three lakh units, has so far reached only 13,485 beneficiaries. Similarly, many State

governments have failed to implement the National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy’s

recommendation to allocate 15 per cent of land in residential projects for housing the poor.

• Following the failure of many earlier schemes, the government launched a new one entitled Rajiv

Awas Yojana (RAY) in 2011. RAY has promised slum free cities in future, and commits to rehabilitate

existing slum dwellers in the same place where they are living, provide secure tenure and improve

access to services and sanitation

• To help economically weaker sections avail housing, Government has launched Rajiv Rin Yojna which

seeks to provide interest subsidy up to 5 percent for affordable housing loan. Under the RRY, loans

are offered to the economically weaker sections (EWS) on subsidized interest rates for a 15-year

tenure for buying houses

• The key challenge is to provide serviced land for social housing. Realizing this, the National Advisory

Council, in its suggestion to improve RAY, has recommended that cities should earmark about 25 to

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40 per cent of land in their development plans for social housing. Without this important measure, it

would be difficult to prevent the formation of new slums.

13. Demographic Dividend, if not nurtured properly can become Demographic Disaster. Explain in the

context of India. 10

Approach:

• Focus should be on the initiative of Government to harness the huge demographic dividend of the

countries and the progress we made in this sphere till now.

• Also need some reference on the Ill-effects of Not Properly handling the vast Demographic Dividend,

which in absence of Skills and Employment, may result in their disenchantment.

• Some facts regarding Demographic dividend.

Answer:

• Demographic dividend refers to a period, “when a greater proportion of population are young and in

working age group”.

• According to latest reports, 65% of India is under 35 year of age, 50% of India is under 25 year of age.

Average Age in India is 29 years, unlike other countries including Japan with average age 47, China

with 40+, Europe with 46, US with average age of 40. Today India has Youthful, Productive and

Dynamic population ready to work and transform the world. According to ILO, by 2020, we will have

116 million people in the age group of 20-24 in comparison to China having only 94 million.

• A population bulge in the working age group is considered advantageous. Firstly due to this bulge,

the dependency ratio declines. Secondly, surplus available for investment after the current

consumption increases which results into spurring economic growth.

• This situation just creates a potential for economic growth, it does not guarantee it.It depends on

two factors: firstly, on the quality of those entering the workforce and secondly on the employment

opportunities are available to them.

• Hence, if we educate and train these youth, we can transform not just our own economy and society

but the world.

• Moreover, youth is known for their idealism and energy and if their energy is not properly harness by

providing them skills and training, it may lead to youth unrest and also pose security threat in the

form of Maoist insurgency that include unemployed, frustrated, under-educated youth in its cadre.

• Although, IT software, back-office services and research and development activities are all booming.

But none of these, however, has jobs for the underprivileged, the undereducated and the under

skilled.

• Jobs are the missing element in the Indian economy today and job-generation will be the key to

India sustaining its blistering growth rates. India will need to create jobs in large-scale, labor-

intensive manufacturing to stop these extremist movements from turning into something even more

serious.

• In order to get there, it will require the government to relax labor laws that penalize large scale

manufacturing and that force companies to use expensive labor-substituting technology rather than

the cheap manpower that India has in abundance.

• It will, above all, require the government to create the fiscal space for massive investment in human

capital through health and education so that the productive potential of India’s young workforce can

be fully utilized.

• It will also require a colossal investment in physical infrastructure, lifting infrastructure spending as

a share of GDP to 7-8 per cent from 4.6 per cent. If India acts urgently, it may well be next global

economic powerhouse, as everyone wants to believe. If not, all bets are off.

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14. “Disability is as much social as it is physical." Comment. 10

Approach:

• As the question is asking to “comment”, you can be either in favour or oppose to the statement

given. Here the favorable stance is taken

• Support the stance taken with logical arguments. Here how disability is magnified by social apathy

and indifference is taken up.

Answer:

• Disability is nothing but “restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in a manner considered

normal for a human being”.

• The term has a negative connotation and is generally used in context of developing countries as

against “differently abled”.

• The differently abled are not ’disabled’ only because they are physically or mentally impaired but

due to the inherent nature of society which stigmatized and ostracized these differently abled

people.

• The very term disabled is significant because it draws attention to the fact that it’s the public

perception of the disabled which denies/deprives them of all the opportunities for social and

economic development.

• Here are some common features central to the public perception of disability all over the world:

o Disability is understood as a biological given.

o Whenever a disabled person is confronted with problems, it is taken for granted that the

problem originates from her/ his impairment.

o The disabled person is seen as a victim.

o Disability is supposed to be linked with the disabled individual’s self-perception.

o The very idea of disability suggests that they are in need of help.

In India labels such as disability, handicap, crippled, blind and deaf are used synonymously. Often these

terms are hurled at people as insult. Labels such as ‘bechara’ (poor soul) accentuate the victim status for

the disabled person. The roots of such attitudes lies in the cultural conception that views an impaired

body as a result of fate. The common perception views disability as retribution for past karma (actions)

from which there can be no reprieve. The dominant cultural construction in India therefore looks at

disability as essentially a characteristic of the individual.

The social construction of disability has yet another dimension. There is a close relationship between

disability and poverty as incidence of disability among poor is higher than that the people among easier

circumstances.

The disable people are often confronted with the problem of accessibility to quality education,

information and communication, entertainment and technology. Secondly, irrespective of them

constituting substantive chunk of the population, their basic needs for social security, individual dignity

and meaningful employment remain unmet. Hence they suffer from triple jeopardy of being disabled,

poor and stigmatized.

Various international conventions and domestic legislations have been put in place to deal with the

plight of disabled people. Still much needs to be done to realize their objectives both in letter and spirit.

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15. Discuss the socio-economic factors responsible for the growth of communalism in India.10

Approach:

• The answer should clearly bring out the socio-economic reasons for the proliferation of

communalism in India with suitable examples. There is no need to discuss philosophical or religious

reasons here.

Answer:

• Communalism refers to a “belief or ideology according to which all people belonging to one

religion have common economic, social and political interests and these interests are contrary to

the interests of those belonging to another religion”. There are three stages (degrees), discernible in

the development of communalism:

o Mild : People following the same religion have similar interests

o Moderate : Dissimilarity of interests between people of different religions

o Extreme: Interests of people following different religions are antagonistic to each other,

based on fear and hatred of other religions.

• Communalism is an important issue in Indian context as it has been a recurrent source of tension and

violence.

• In its not so violent manifestation, communalism amounts to discrimination against a religious group

in matters such as employment or education

• The causes of communal clashes as such are rarely religious in its fundamental character. In India,

communalism arises when religion is used as a marker to highlight socio-economic disequilibrium

between communities and as a force multiplier to demand concessions.

• Improper cultural synthesis, perceived or relative deprivation, regional or social imbalance in

development and lack of opportunities may be pointed out as the reason for the genesis of

communalism. Political mobilization in the age of democracy tends to consolidate these

movements.

• The rise of communalism has been a very complex process. Communalism in India has its

beginnings in the British policy of ‘divide and rule’. A prominent reason why this policy gained

currency was that the Muslim middle class had lagged behind the Hindus in terms of education,

which contributed to their low representation in government jobs. Due to lack of enough economic

opportunities at that time, a government job was highly coveted by the middle classes. Moreover,

the post-1857 anti-Muslim bias of the British also gave a slight edge to the Hindus, who took to

modern enterprises/professions with great keenness. As a result, the demand for a separate nation

of Pakistan got the fervor due to marked inequalities in socio-economic indicators including

representation in the seats of power.

• The first so-called communal clash during colonial rule was the Mappila Rebellion, which was more

of a proletarian strike against the landed gentry than a communal riot. It only so happened that the

landed gentry were Hindus and the peasants were Muslims.

• Hence a stagnant secularization process (involving separation of religion and politics) due to: (1)

Slow development of economy, (2) Competition between Hindu and Muslim elite (3) Weak

mercantile bourgeoisie vis-a-vis feudal lords, (4) British policy of divide-and rule led to growth of

communalism in pre-independence era.

• Post-independence, things did not change much for Muslims, which was well substantiated with the

findings of Sachar committee report. According to this report:

o The literacy rate among Muslims is far below the national average and this gap is greater in

urban areas and for women.

o Working population ratios are lower for Muslims than any other socio-religious community

and this is more so in the rural areas.

o Moreover, Muslim workers are concentrated in self-employment- small traders, enterprises

etc. due to more exposure to disruptions and damage caused by urban conflict and

violence.

o Muslims have poor access to bank credit. The average size of credit is meager and low

compared to other socio-religious groups.

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• Hence, among all the socio-religious communities, Muslims are the most economically vulnerable,

educationally backward and financially excluded.

• State over the years has failed to wither away this vicious cycle of illiteracy-unemployment-poverty

despite many policies being framed to deal with the menace.

• As a consequence, youth are getting disillusioned, discontent, frustrated, looking for ways to exert

pressure there by further aggravating extreme communalism.

• Hence, the demand of the situation is to act swiftly on the recommendations of the Sachar

committee and create a conducive environment for the holistic development of Muslim

community. Generate awareness amongst the youth so that they don’t fall in the trap of the politics

of opportunism where people for their secular gains take undue advantage of their plight.

16. Intensified globalization has resulted in a transformation of youth in India. Comment.10

Approach:

• Answer should focus on effect of globalization on youth and not a general debate on globalization.

• Coverage should include all aspects like cultural and social along with economic aspects.

Answer:

Indian youth are embracing globalization in a way that the previous generation never imagined. The most

significant effect can be compared across the rural and urban profiles for that is where the intensity of

globalization varies.

• Education: Youth stand to benefit with increased awareness and accessibility to new sources and

approaches to literacy and education. The urban youth has far more accessibility than the rural ones.

• Employment: As India transforms into a knowledge economy, the urban youth has gained through

increased and well-paying job opportunities. On the other hand, the rural youth – because of being

unskilled or semi-skilled, face lack of adequate job opportunities due to increasing mechanization of

work. Higher levels of competition, has rendered most of the young rural enterprises unsustainable.

However, across the urban youth, the entrepreneurial activity is on an increase. Young people are

experiencing the encouragement and the freedom to break from traditional family norms and

practices of the rural areas to find opportunities in the city. The primary ambition of young Indians

from the smallest villages to the largest cities is to ''become rich.'' Young people hope to achieve this

goal through enterprise and education. The most highly regarded careers like civil service,

engineering, and medicine are giving way to high-paying jobs in high tech and the media.

• Family Values and Loss of Identity: The nuclear family has resulted in youth isolation more strongly

in the urban areas due to lack of sufficient time. Also, excessive migration of youth from rural areas

results in isolation from the family. In both the cases, consequently, there has been increased stances

of deviant behavior. There has been a rise in number of suicide cases. Youth are not as close to their

grandparents as were earlier generations and spend less time with the older generation resulting in

loss of wisdom handed down from generation to generation.

• Lifestyle Changes: More health issues now occur due to the lifestyle – obesity, heart diseases etc.

The youth lead a more stressful life. The same is seen in rural youth also, who now go for luxuries

leading to lifestyle problems. Youth are now more gadget-oriented – tablets, gaming etc.

• Youth see themselves as global teenagers. They belong to a much bigger community than the

community they were born into. The younger generation is embracing western popular culture and

incorporating it into their Indian identity. There is a subtle and powerful hybridization of western and

Indian values occurring – particularly evident among Indian youth.

• The traditional Indian dress is declining, especially among urban youth, in favour of new fashions

from the west. Buying the latest cars, televisions, electronic gadgets, and trendy clothes has become

quite popular. The younger poor population is particularly susceptible to the allure of expensive

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products seen in advertisements and when they cannot respond to these ads, they get frustrated.

Crime can be the result of their frustration.

• The coming of Consumerist culture and the corporate culture has altered the belief systems and

ways of living life for the youth. Present day youth, with its more materialistic ambitions and more

globally informed opinions, are gradually abandoning the austere ways and restricted traditional

Indian markets. Youth demand a more cosmopolitan society that is a full-fledged member of the

global economy.

• Most religious activities are becoming irrelevant to the youth. They want to see changes in religion.

They are not internalizing traditional ideas; rather, they are merely tolerating them. Though they do

find some indirect value with religion.

• Importantly, there is no going back from globalization. The youth enjoy having the opportunity to be

modern, progressive, and be a part of the development which is taking place.

17. There is a general consensus that the loss of languages harms the cultural diversity of the world. In the

light of above statement, explain the importance of the new central scheme on identification of

endangered languages in India. 10

Approach:

• Emphasis of Language as reflection of culture and ethos.

• Elaborate on importance of Identification of endangered language scheme by Human Resource

Development Ministry

Answer:

• A “Living Language” is one which is in wide use as a primary form of communication by a specific

group of living people. Whereas, an Endangered Language is a language that is at risk of falling out of

use as its speakers die out or shift to speaking another language.

• Language loss occurs when the language has no more native speakers, and becomes a “dead

language”. While languages have always gone extinct throughout human history, they are currently

disappearing at an accelerated rate due to the process of globalization and neo-colonialism, where

the economically powerful languages dominate other language.

• A vast majority of speakers of endangered language consider the loss of their language to be vital

break with their cultural identity and tradition, and many work actively to counteract impeding

language loss.

• Language diversity is essential to the human heritage. It is not only the carrier of culture, but also its

ethos and subtle core values. It is also the encyclopedia of the knowledge gather by that culture.

• Hence, to preserve and conserve this knowledge and identity, the ‘Scheme for Protection and

Promotion of Endangered Languages’ or SPPEL, has been launched by the Ministry of Human

Resource Development, which will ascertain the exact number of endangered languages in country

as previous data has remained inconclusive. The scheme will be taken up under the 12th Five-Year

Plan.

• The need for SPPEL arose because the UNESCO could not accurately list the number of endangered

languages in India. It identified 192 languages as endangered in India which included Manipuri, very

much an alive and vibrant language in the northeastern parts of the country.

• Objectives of the central scheme are as follows:

� It will identify, document and take measures to protect the endangered languages.

� The census data too does not list languages with less than 10,000 speakers. Therefore SPPEL

will provide a comprehensive list of endangered languages in the country.

� To bring out dictionaries, preserve the folklore and grammar rules so as to revitalize the

languages.

� Identifying universities to organize research, based on their proximity to native speakers of

a particular endangered language, to mobilize the communities.

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� Identify people with their culture who often tend to assimilate because of low self-esteem

regarded with their language.

� Development of linguistic studies – leading to more evolutions and advancement in

language.

� Saving diverse cultures.

• Hence, the importance of new scheme lies in the fact that it will help the communities conserve

their culture and thus aid the process of national integration.

18. What are the reasons behind National Population Policy failing to check population growth in India?10

Approach:

• Straight forward question. Write down few of the reasons.

• Conclude with few suggestions.

Answer:

• India was the first country to launch a national programme on population in 1952. In fact India’s

quest for population stabilization began in 1951 with the formulation of the first five year plan. Yet

more than 60 years goals remain elusive.

• In India, there has not been an effective institutionalized mechanism to reduce birth rate. On the

other hand, efforts to bring down the death rate have been quite successful. Improvement in

conditions of health and hygiene has lowered the death rate. The family planning movement gains

national importance in such a situation of imbalance development and population growth.

• Hence, the government for the first time formulated a policy( effort to regulate economic and social

conditions which are likely to have demographic consequences) in 1976, with an aim to decrease

birth rate, legalize abortion, check the concentration of population, giving incentives and

disincentives. But it boomeranged because of its coerciveness, overzealous attitude and

compulsory sterilization.

• Further, the government with a revived approach to fight the menace of population growth

introduced the national population policy in 2000. It aimed at achieving the objective of stable

population by 2045, at a level consistent with the requirement of sustainable economic growth,

social development and environmental protection. Its objective was to address the needs for

contraception, healthcare, infrastructure and health personnel and to provide integrated service

delivery for basic reproductive and child health care. The policy had set goals for 2010 with respect

to IMR, MMR, TFR, institutional deliveries etc. but it failed to achieve these targets.

• The reasons for the failure were lack of political will, lack of responsive policy, lack of awareness,

cultural inertia etc. hence government came up with the revised population policy in 2010.

• The aim of the national policy was to impress upon the people the need for small, planned families

for their own good as well as for the wellbeing of their children. The 20 point programme envisages

family planning on voluntary basis as a people’s movement. What is needed to inculcate awareness

among the people through the media and oral communication about the significance of the small

family norm. Female literacy and education can play a decisive role in bringing down the rate of

population growth.

• The following suggestions have been put forward to curb population growth:

o Group acceptance of small sized family.

o Personal knowledge about family planning methods.

o Ready availability of birth control devices and services.

• Hence, the crux of the population policy is the reduction of the national birth rate; irrespective of

social, cultural and economic milieu. Coercing people to adopt family planning methods has not

worked. Volition alone, created through awakening, can be an effective measure.

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19. Can a multi-dimensional poverty index (MPI) be a better indicator than poverty line in the context of

India? 10

Approach:

• The answer should try to bring out the comparative advantages/disadvantages of the MPI over the

poverty line. Recent controversies regarding the poverty line can also be covered.

Answer:

• Poverty is general scarcity or dearth, or the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material

possessions or money.

• The methodology for arriving at poverty estimates has been in place for the last several years and

various committees in the past have arrived at estimates based upon certain indices of poverty from

time to time.

• These Committees include dandekar-rath committee (poverty line formula that has been used since

1971 measures only the calorie content of an Indian’s diet), the Alagh Committee (1977) (the poverty

line as monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) level of Rs.49.09 for rural areas and

Rs.56.64 for urban areas at 1973-74 prices at national level.), the Lakdawala Committee (1989)

followed by the Tendulkar Committee (2005) which submitted its recommendations in 2009..

• The Suresh Tendulkar committee, computed poverty lines for 2004-05 at a level that was equivalent,

in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, to $1 per person per day, which was the internationally

accepted poverty line at that time. The Planning Commission subsequently released new poverty

estimates of Rs. 29 per person per day which is equivalent, in PPP terms, to the new internationally

accepted poverty line of $1.25.

• Although, poverty line is just to provide an estimate that allows one to compare the number of people

below a certain consumption level. Still it is overwhelmingly used by the government to formulate its

social policies.

• Poverty is often defined by one-dimensional measures, such as income. But in reality, no one

indicator alone can capture the multiple aspects that constitute poverty

• poverty is a multi-dimensional concept made up of several factors that constitute poor people’s

experience of deprivation – such as poor health, lack of education, inadequate living standard, lack

of income (as one of several factors considered), disempowerment, poor quality of work and threat

from violence.

• A multidimensional measure can incorporate a range of indicators to capture the complexity of

poverty and better inform policies to relieve it. Different indicators can be chosen appropriate to the

society and situation.

• Hence, The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was developed in 2010 by Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative and the United Nations Development Programme.

• The MPI uses data for each person or household and creates a profile of the deprivations being

experienced, looking across health, education and living standards.

• The poverty is calculated on the above mentioned three dimensions based on 10 indicators.

• It combines two aspects of poverty: Percentage of people who are MPI poor (incidence of poverty); Average intensity of MPI poverty across the poor (%)

• The MPI can help governments, civil society, and agencies to reduce poverty in following ways:

Identify interconnections among deprivations. This is needed to address MDGs strategically.

Show impacts Reflects the results of policy interventions quickly.

Allocate resources effectively. Target those with the greatest intensity of poverty.

These can help design effective, coherent policies.

• Hence, this approach can thus be a far better indicator of “poverty”.

• However, MPI has been criticized by economist for lack of "Moral/Emotional/Spiritual Dimensions" of

poverty.

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20. What is “Jiyo Parsi Campaign”? Why was it launched? Describe its objectives and features. 10

Approach:

• Explain that it is a central sector scheme launched by Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of

India. Give some insight about low and declining population of the Parsi community and also the

reasons behind it. (Fact are not necessary)

• Explain the objectives and features of the scheme – which include giving free medical treatment,

counseling to Parsi couples etc.

Answer:

• Jiyo Parsi Campaign, the Central Sector Scheme for containing population decline of Parsis in India

was launched in September 2013 by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. This campaign aims at

stemming the steady decline in Parsi population through advocacy and medical assistance.

• The population of Parsis declined from 114,000 in 1941 to 69,001 in 2001 according to Census 2001

data. The studies conducted by the National Commission of Minorities have identified late and non-

marriages, fertility decline, emigration, marriages outside the community, and separation and

divorces as important causes for the decline in the population of Parsis.

Objectives:

The main objective of the Jiyo Parsi scheme is to reverse the declining trend of Parsi population by

adopting scientific protocol and structured interventions, stabilize the Parsi population and increase the

population of Parsis in India. To achieve this free medical counseling and treatment are adopted as key

strategies.

Main features:

• 100 percent funded by Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India.

• Medical interventions under Standard Medical protocols in empanelled Hospitals/clinics.

• Confidentiality of the patients to be given utmost importance.

• Target groups: The scheme is designed only for Parsi community. It will be available for Parsi married

couples of child bearing age who seek assistance and adults/young men/women/adolescent

boys/girls for diagnosis of diseases.

21. Differentiate between the concept of secularism as practiced in India and the west. 10

Approach:

• Bring out the similarities and differences between secularism as practiced in India and the west.

Explain why our secularism is different from that of the west and what purpose does it serve.

Answer:

Secularism is the “principle of the separation of government institutions and persons mandated to

represent the state, from the religious institutions and the religious dignitaries”. It is devoid of both

inter-religious domination and the intra-religious domination. It promotes freedom within religions and

equality between, as well as, within religions. It also includes separation between the state and religion.

In fact the nature and extent of separation may take different forms, depending upon the specific values

it is meant to promote and the way in which these values are spelt out.

• In the west, principle of mutual exclusion is followed, i.e. both the state and the religion are

mutually exclusive in there sphere of operation. Whereas in Indian context, equal protection is given

to all the religions by the state .i.e. state protects all religions, but does not favor one at the cost of

other and does not adopt any religion as state religion.

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• The reason for different interpretation is, in the west, secularism emerged as a protest movement of

the ‘oppressed’ against a theocratic state for individual freedom. Hence strictly follows the principle

of separation between state and religion. However, in India, this idea of secularism, underwent a

change due to extensive religious diversity, the impact of colonial policies, and the response of

different sections of Indians to colonial rule. Therefore in independent India, this has led to

secularism acquiring a changed meaning: the idea that all religions shall be treated equal.

• In west, liberty is interpreted as liberty of individual and freedom as freedom of the individual and

equality as equality between individuals. There is little scope for community based rights or minority

based rights. Whereas in India it not only deals with the religious freedom of the individuals but with

the minority communities also.

• Western society is more or less homogenous society, hence focus is on the intra-religious

domination thus state maintains an arm’s length distance from religion in all matters. Whereas Indian

secularism allows for principled state intervention in all religions. Such intervention betrays

disrespect to some aspects of every religion. The secular state does not have to treat each aspect of

every religion with equal respect. It allows equal disrespect for some aspects of organized religions.

Example practicing social evils as essential part of religion.

In the context of India, it is sometimes argued that the concept of secularism has been imported from

the west. But it is clear from the above differences that in the west, strict church and state separation is

the main area of focus; while in India peaceful co-existence of all religions is the focus.

22. Discuss the social and economic consequences of abolishing child labor in India. 10

Approach:

Try to cover the following points with respect to child labor:

• Reason for child labor

• Disadvantages

• Positives and negatives of the abolition

Answer:

• Child labor refers to “the work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their

dignity and that is harmful to physical and mental development.”

o India has the unwanted distinction of having the largest population of child laborers in the world.

They mostly find employment as household servants, tea shop apprentices, street vendors and in

labor-intensive industries like textiles, matches, fireworks etc.

o Reasons for persistence of child labor:

i. Supply-side push factors:

� Poverty of families

� Formal education failures

� Social-cultural constraints

� Lack of awareness amongst parents

� Unemployment

� State-run juvenile homes are lacking in both quantity and quality which forces many

orphaned children to fend for themselves

ii. Demand-side pull factors:

� Easy to hire and fire children

� Rapid urbanization

� Emergence of new middle class keeps domestic child labor

� Profit earning due to less wage-payment

o The risks/disadvantages of child labor can be summarized as:

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� Children working in certain industries/sectors (fireworks, cotton textile, beedi

manufacturing) grow up suffering from chronic illnesses

� Vulnerability to economic exploitation (underpaid, overtime)

� Vulnerability to sexual exploitation

� Child labor adds to India’s burgeoning mass of uneducated and unskilled/semi-skilled

(i.e. less productive) workers

• Social Consequences of abolition:

o Positives: Children freed from the shackles of child labor can have the opportunity for

empowerment via education, more so in case of the girl child; population growth can be

checked.

o Negatives: Abolishing child labor in India is a hard choice as lack of sustenance options many

push many children towards more dangerous forms of abuse like child trafficking, beggary and

prostitution. Since both the state and private sector cannot yet guarantee education and

employment to all, it may prove difficult for these children to find employment later on

• Economic consequences of abolition:

o Positives: It would shift a large number of people from unorganized sector of employment to the

organized sector

o Negatives: Many MSME and unorganized sector industries who are the beneficiaries of the lower

costs of child labor may end up losing their cost-competitiveness

23. Globalization has undermined as well as revived local cultures. Illustrate. 10

Approach:

• Focus should be on both revival and undermining aspects of globalization with regard to Culture.

• Restrict going into subjective analysis on the influence of globalization on local cultures.

• It is important to quote examples – for the question wants you to Illustrate.

Answer:

• Globalization is a process by which national and regional economies, societies, and cultures have

become integrated through the global network of trade, communication, immigration and

transportation.

• There exists a debate as to how this process has resulted in evolution of a homogenized culture

diminishing differences across the local cultures; vis-à-vis the revival of local traditions in defence to

the ‘outside’ norms and cultures.

• Various illustrations present that both these processes are happening currently in our society.

Globalization has undermined local cultures in the form of:-

• Mcdonaldization- occurs when a culture possesses the characteristics of a fast-food restaurant. It is a

comparatively recent idea of the world wide homogenization of cultures. It can be summarized as

the ways in which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more

sectors of society. Also Cocacolisation.

• Walmartization - When a large chain store moves into a region and devastates local businesses

driving displaced workers into low paying chain store jobs. It not only outdo local stores but also

create a kind cultural impact making people prone toward consumerism.

• Increasing Consumerist Culture and the Corporate Culture – which stands as an overhaul to the

native beliefs and working philosophies across countries.

• The coming of e-commerce to some extent has also undermined the culture of buying through brick

and mortar shops.

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Globalization has served to revive local culture in the form of:-

• Providing Global Platform – Globalization, through its various means provide platform to various art

form and local culture. Market forces result in the customization of various form of ancient tradition

and hence in their revival. E.g. : Yoga is now practiced more in west but in its different avatars like

Artistic Yoga, Vikram Yoga, Transcendental Meditation etc.

• New Age Movement- Counter culture movement which is initiated by people who were frustrated

by dominant American Culture, and Increase acceptance of Eastern cultural values also result in

revival of local culture. E.g. ISKCONN movement.

• The local arts have been revived through the increasing demand of globalized fashion industry.

Examples include the famous ‘Chikankari’ of Lucknow, ‘Bandhani’ art of Jaipur, etc.

• The concept of tagging products as ‘Geographical Indicators’ has been another example for

identifying and associating a product with its native region.

Thus, there may be homogenization of certain aspects of the economy and the society, but, at the same

time, there will be an affirmation of distinctive cultural identities. Thus, globalization continues to

influence the local cultures through times.

24. Feminization of agriculture has led to women empowerment in rural India. Critically analyze. 10

Approach:

• Define first what do we mean by two terms-feminization of labour & feminization of poverty &

relate it to Indian agriculture. Next would be to talk about how both of them are related to the

invisible hand of patriarchy & finally to point out how feminization or defeminisation of labour force

is determined by the intertwining of market forces with patriarchy.

Answer:

The gendered division of labour under the pervasive influence of patriarchy has traditionally ensured

that women are restricted to household work which is easily passed off as unpaid domestic labour.

However the invisible hand of patriarchy is not only at work within the household but also in cases where

women manage to gain an entry into the labour market.

The participation of women in agriculture & thus outside the traditional domain of domestic work has

been in the backdrop of agrarian distress in agriculture which forced the male members of families to

move out of rural-agriculture - low wages sector into the relatively better paying jobs in the informal

sector in urban economies. It is believed that this phenomenon has been induced by casualization of

work, unprofitable crop production and distress migration. Migration has been noticed to other rural

areas, to urban slums and to highly labour-exploitative sectors of the economy such as construction.

This trend in the agriculture sector was most visible during 1999-2005 period in India marked by

declining agriculture growth rates which saw a distress migration of male members to relatively better

paying jobs either in the urban informal economy or the agriculturally prosperous states and “distress

employment” of 17 million females in this sector.

This phenomenon of increased participation of women workforce in the agriculture sector was termed as

feminization of agriculture which itself was a manifestation of feminization of poverty- the fact that in a

market economy functioning under a patriarchal mind set females often find themselves cornered into

relatively lesser paying jobs with minimal rights, no job security, sexual harassment at workplace & a

gender insensitive policy framework which has failed to take up the issue of capacity building of female

farmers on a priority basis.

For example: Women employed as wage labour receive lower wage than men do. Even when women are

categorised as cultivators, their ownership and control over resources such as land, livestock, farm

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machinery, and transport equipment are limited. In addition, their access to credit, technology and

market information is highly restricted. Their opportunities for education, skill formation and of

shifting to better paid work are also narrow. Disadvantages experienced by women become apparent

once women’s work comes out into the open, as in the case of female wage labour and women-headed

households. Female wage labourers are the lowest paid in the economy. The women-headed

households in rural areas are seen in the lowest income class. Hence, the major implication of

feminisation of agriculture is the increasing burden of work on them and lower compensation.

Therefore, it is evident from above illustration that increase in female participation in agriculture was

thus driven by the need to supplement declining family income (or rather male income) termed as

“distress employment” & not by any desire to give them an equal status either in the formal economy or

within the household with the result that females worked on wages that their male counterparts found

to be below subsistence level in the first place.

Feminization being an unintended consequence of the low agricultural growth did not lead to the

women empowerment in true sense. Moreover, the limited increase in bargaining power of rural women

within family fuelled by participation in formal economy itself was short lived. This is exemplified by the

fact that women labour force participation in rural areas declined again in 2005-2009 period which was

marked by relatively better agricultural growth rates & increasing wages as a result of positive influence

of MGNREGA &Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), a phenomenon which has been termed as

defeminisation of agriculture leading to withdrawal of 19 million females from this sector during this

period

Thus while increasing labour force participation of women definitely carries the potential of uplifting

their position within the family & society, no sustainable gains can be made unless the gendered division

of labour is frontally attacked by gender sensitive policies of the state which actively support women

employment. Moreover, the nexus between market forces & patriarchy will have to be broken in the first

place for which the state & civil society will have to play a vibrant role.

25. Why is it that the societal trends that maintain a violent order against women have remained intact,

when there has been a legal expansion of women’s rights in India? 10

Approach:

• Argue on the lines that -Rights may be self-evident or constitutionally secured; however

they do not automatically implement themselves.

• Comment on why, despite far reaching legislations, rape and sexual assault are still common

and how caste based institutions (Khap Panchayats, Kangaroo Courts) have asserted their

rights over that of the Women. – i.e. Societally sanctioned rape and assault cases in India

Answer:

The gravest issue which has confronted the Indian society over the years is the violent order against

women. "Violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between

men and women" and that "violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which

women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men". These include violence carried out

by ‘individuals’ as well as ‘states.’

It has got manifested in the form of rape; domestic violence; sexual harassment; coercive use of

contraceptives; female infanticide; prenatal sex selection; as well as harmful customary or traditional

practices such as honor killings, dowry violence, female genital mutilation, marriage by

abduction and forced marriage.

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Some forms of violence are perpetrated or condoned by the state such as war rape; sexual

violence and sexual slavery during conflict; forced sterilization; forced abortion; violence by the police

and authoritative personnel; stoning and flogging. Many forms of violence such as trafficking in

women and forced prostitution are often perpetrated by organized criminal networks.

In Indian context, past year has seen a much delayed yet needed discussion on women security & related

issues in the civil society, media & legal domain which fuelled the establishment of Justice Verma

committee, the passage of sexual harassment at workplace bill and a proactive supreme court taking up

gender related issues in a big way. Yet, the paradoxical finding has been a study in 2011 conducted by the

International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) on gender attitudes which showed that 68 per

cent of the Indian men surveyed agreed that women should tolerate violence to keep their families

together, while 65 per cent believed that sometimes a woman deserves to be beaten. The most

interesting finding from the study was this one — 92 per cent of those surveyed knew of the laws

pertaining to violence against women. The figure quoted above tells us that legislation alone is not going

to stop violence against women from occurring.

This apparent paradox of expanding legal rights on one hand& a backlash from a society can be seen

either in the form of either poorly formulated or poorly implemented laws dealing with gender related

issues in India, whether it is the case of laws relating to foetal sex determination or the poor conviction

rate in rape cases or the persistence and thriving of Khap Panchayats in rural areas despite the Supreme

Court describing them as unconstitutional and illegal; lack of adequate institutional mechanism to

ensure its implementation, lack of awareness amongst the women about their rights.

However this ‘apparent paradox’ has a simple logical explanation- the deeply patriarchal nature of

society which legitimises the use of violence to discipline women. The hegemony of this parochial mind-

set and lack of gender sensitivity, which can be seen in the fact that some degree of violence against

women is considered as both necessary and desirable not only by males but also by females in Indian

society. The gross under reportage of violence related cases against women in India is a result of this

basic fact.

Against this backdrop of a patriarchal society, the state passes some progressive laws but lacks the

capacity to effectively implement them because the vital political will is missing in the first place.

Secondly “The Law decides the direction in which society might go, it is the culture and family which

decides the direction in which the society actually goes”. Hence it’s the failure on the part of institutions

such as education system, family values and norms etc. to deal with the menace of the violence against

women.

The only way out of this trap is to bring the society out of the cultural inertia which has adversely

affected the supposedly progressive laws to fight the violent order at all its stages: formulation,

implementation, evaluation.

Perhaps a good point to start is by providing reservation to women in the legislative bodies so that

instead of viewing women in development, we ensure women and development.

Copyright © by Vision IAS

All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in

any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission

of Vision IAS

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