Q1. India’s internal reorganisation posed the country’s next major issue after independence. Discuss how the reorganisation was accomplished while maintaining the country’s unity. (250 words)   Paper & Topic: GS I – Post Independence India Model Answer: Introduction: Province boundaries in pre-1947 India were created in a random way due to the British invasion of India, which lasted over a century. The lack of attention paid to linguistic or cultural cohesiveness resulted in the majority of provinces becoming bilingual and multicultural. The intermittent princely states had added a layer of variability to the mix. Body: Background: One of the most difficult tasks after independence was reorganising more than 500 princely entities into functional provincial units. The K. Dhar Commission (1948) and the JVP Committee (1948) proposed for state reconstruction based on geographical proximity, administrative convenience, financial self-sufficiency, and development potential. However, the death of Potti Srirammalu following a hunger strike in support of Andhra state produced a volatile scenario, prompting the establishment of the Fazl Ali Commission (in 1953), whose recommendation for state reorganisation based on linguistic criteria was adopted. India’s reorganisation while maintaining its unity: Official Language: As leaders of a multilingual country, the constitution-makers understood that they could not neglect, or even give the idea of ignoring, the concerns of any one language area. India’s official language is Hindi, written in Devanagari script with international numerals, according to the constitution. English was to be used in all official capacities until 1965. State linguistic reorganisation: The linguistic reorganisation of 14 States and six Centrally-administered territories was largely completed in 1956, based on the recommendations of the State Reorganisation Commission (SRC), with several other States to be reorganised subsequently. This was a huge reorganisation of state power, not just to build different kinds of power and authority, but also to rearrange social, cultural, geographical, and linguistic diversity into more manageable enclaves of state control. The empowerment of the masses: The establishment of these states altered the character of democratic politics and leadership. People speaking regional languages, rather than the limited English-speaking elite, now had a road to politics and power. Language, in combination with regional and tribal identity, proved to be the most important tool for the creation of ethnonational identity in India. Tribal identity was preserved thanks to special rights granted to tribal territories. Because of the ability to communicate in a common language, the reorganisation resulted in a greater number of local people participating in the administration. Conclusion: The political leadership of newly independent India had the vision to see the ramifications of refusing to give in to public demands. Of fact, the rearrangement of states did not address all of the language issues. Disputes over state borders, linguistic minorities, and economic difficulties such as water sharing, power, and surplus food continue to exist. However, their choice to restructure the states linguistically has removed one significant issue that may have compromised India’s integrity, bolstering the cause of Indian unity. Q2. Nehru advocated for the integration of tribal people into Indian society by making them an integral part of the Indian nation while preserving their own identity and culture. Elucidate. (250 words)   Paper & Topic: GS I – Post Independence India Model Answer: Introduction: The government’s tribal integration policy prioritised the preservation of the tribal people’s unique social and cultural legacy. ‘The first problem we have to face there [in the tribal areas] is to inspire them [the tribal people] with confidence and to make them feel at one with India, and to realise that they are part of India and have an honoured place in it,’ said Jawaharlal Nehru, the main influence in shaping the government’s attitude toward the tribals. At the same time, ‘India should represent not just a defending but also a liberating force to them.’ Nehru believed that Indian nationalism could accommodate the indigenous people’s diversity. Body: The integration of indigenous people into Indian society was a Nehruvian aim: There were two major perspectives to how tribals should be treated in Indian society. One strategy was to leave the tribal people alone, free of modern influences from outside their society, and allow them to remain as they were. The second strategy was to fully integrate them into Indian society as rapidly as possible. The demise of the tribal way of life was not to be lamented; rather, it was to be embraced as a sign of their ‘upliftment.’ Both of these techniques were rejected by Jawaharlal Nehru. The first method, which he saw as insulting, was to treat the indigenous people “like museum specimens to be examined and written about.” He argued that the tribal people “could not be left closed off from the world as they were.” Isolation was in any case impossible at this point, because the outside world’s penetration had progressed too far, and ‘it was neither possible nor desired to isolate them.’ According to Nehru, the second option of enabling them to “be absorbed by the bulk of Indian humanity” or absorption by the use of regular outside forces was similarly incorrect. This would result in the tribals’ social and cultural identity, as well as its numerous virtues, being lost. Rather than these two approaches, Nehru advocated for integrating tribal people into Indian society, making them a vital part of the Indian nation while also preserving their own identity and culture. The tribal Panchsheel policy of Nehru: The Nehruvian method had two main tenets: ‘the tribal areas must progress,’ and ‘they must progress in their own way.’ Progress did not imply “a rote replication of what we have in other regions of India.” Whatever was excellent in the rest of India will “gradually be absorbed by them.” Jawaharlal Nehru created the following five principles for pursuing tribal policies, popularly known as Tribal Panchsheel: People should develop in accordance with their own talent, and alien values should not be imposed. Land and forest rights of tribes should be honoured. The work of administration and development should be taught to tribal groups. Tribal

Q1. In India, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated class disparities and poverty. Discuss. (250 words) Paper & Topic: GS I – Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies. Model Answer: Introduction: According to the UNDP, India was able to raise 271 million people out of poverty between 2006 and 2016. However, India’s Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, which conducts the National Sample Survey, reported in the same year that, for the first time since this type of measurement was available, the percentage of Indians living in poverty had begun to rise again, owing to rural poverty (where about two-thirds of the population still lives). This trend has been greatly accelerated by the Covid-19 problem. Body: In terms of possible economic and societal consequences, the coronavirus (COVID-19) is unlike any other disaster the world has encountered in recent decades. According to the World Bank, the epidemic could push 49 million people into extreme poverty by 2020. It also states that worldwide poverty rates are expected to climb for the first time since 1998. According to UN projections, by the end of the year, 8% of the world’s population, or half a billion people, will have been forced into poverty, owing mostly to the pandemic. India’s current state of inequity and widespread poverty: Oxfam has highlighted a concerning post-pandemic trend in its recent study, showing the rising gap between the rich and the poor in the global community, particularly in India. “Indian billionaires’ wealth climbed by 35% during the shutdown and by 90% since 2009 to $422.9 billion, ranking India sixth in the world after the United States, China, Germany, Russia, and France,” according to the report titled “The Inequality Virus.” Multiple projections by multilateral agencies reveal that the COVID-19 epidemic will impact India the worst, putting 40 million people in “severe poverty,” worsening hunger and income disparity, and yet the government appears unconcerned, offering no data, estimations, or policy responses. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 260 million people will be back in poverty by 2020, nearly as many as the 271 million who escaped poverty between 2006 and 2016. Covid-19 is expected to force over 400 million employees in India’s informal sector deeper into poverty, according to the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO) in the second week of April 2020. Previous efforts to combat poverty around the world include: In 1990, 1.9 billion people, or 36 percent of the world’s population, lived on less than $1.90 a day. Because of improvements in South Asia and China, that figure had reduced to 734 million people, or 10% of the world’s population, by 2016. According to the United Nations, India saw the most progress, with 210 million people pulled out of poverty between 2006 and 2016. Since 2000, Bangladesh has lifted 33 million people out of poverty, accounting for 20% of the country’s population, by sponsoring initiatives that have boosted literacy, raised life expectancy, and offered education to girls. Famines are no longer common in South Asia, and the population is less prone to sickness and starvation. Impacts all across the world: Experts believe that if governments struggle with sluggish growth rates or economic contractions as the world enters a recession, this progress may be reversed, and financing for anti-poverty programmes may be curtailed. While everyone will be affected, the developing countries will be the most severely affected. According to the World Bank, Sub-Saharan Africa will experience its first recession in 25 years, with roughly half of all employment on the region being lost. South Asia’s economy would most certainly have its worst year in 40 years. People working in the informal economy, which employs 2 billion people without access to benefits such as unemployment insurance or health care, are the most vulnerable. Because of the lockdown, 1 million garment workers in Bangladesh lost their employment, accounting for 7% of the country’s workforce, many of whom were unofficially employed. Countries like India and Bangladesh, which have spent a lot of money on education and health care programmes, may no longer be able to afford them. There will be groups of people who have risen up the economic ladder but are now trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty. After the Indian government declared a lockdown, millions of migrant workers were rendered jobless and homeless overnight. Millions of people may go hungry in areas of Africa as a result of employment losses and food aid distribution networks being snarled by lockdowns. Remittances that families rely on have dried up in Mexico and the Philippines as primary breadwinners lose their jobs and are unable to send money home. A United Nations resolution committing the organisation to eradicating poverty and hunger and giving universal access to education by 2030 may now be a pipe dream. Measures that must be taken: Policies to combat poverty and its distributional effects will have to be tailored to the environment and conditions of each country. Having said that, the figures above indicate that throughout the countries affected: Developing countries must be supported by multilateral global institutions: Oxfam is urging world leaders to agree on a 2.5 trillion USD Emergency Rescue Package, which would be funded by cancelling or deferring 1 trillion in debt repayments, increasing 1 trillion in IMF Special Drawing Rights (international financial reserves), and providing an additional 500 billion in aid. A successful solution to the needs of poor and vulnerable households will necessitate substantial additional financial resources. Providing a cash distribution of $1 per day (about half the value of the worldwide extreme poverty limit) to all existing and new extreme poor for a month would cost $20 billion, or $665 million per day over 30 days. Given that many non-poor households are expected to be affected, and that many households may require assistance for much longer than a month, the amount required for effective protection could be significantly greater. Any assistance package must promptly reach both existing and

Q1. What problems and difficulties does the GST System present? (250 words) Paper & Topic: GS III – Indian Economy Model Answer: The supply of products and services from the point of manufacture to the final consumer is subject to a single tax known as the GST (Goods and Services Tax). GST turns India into a single shared market by establishing a single indirect tax for the entire nation. Through the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, it was introduced in 2017. GST initial issues: The many rate structures, large tax slabs, and challenging tax filing requirements that underlie India’s GST are among the problems. In actuality, these were the initial problems with the GST’s administration that led to some of its current problems. Technical solutions, however, such as streamlining tax filing procedures and GST rates, cannot address the fundamental problems with GST. Additional underlying issues: Politics has an impact on the decision made by the GST Council: The GST Council, which consists of 31 States and Union Territories, will meet for the 43rd time on May 28. A Council established to decide on indirect taxes must be politically neutral. The epidemic prohibited the GST Council from convening for two quarters even though it was supposed to do so at least once every three months. In order to better manage their finances, a number of the 14 group members who are connected to parties other than the one in charge at the Center requested the Finance Minister call the GST meeting. None of the 17 members of the ruling group considered it necessary. It is definitely a political decision that even the need for a meeting to determine how much money the states should get in taxes. Lacking of faith: The GST Council symbolises a trust agreement between the States and the Centre within the larger context of Indian democracy. The GST Council’s tragic situation stems from the fact that it must work under the radar of politicians and is rife with animosity. If the GST Council’s operations are dictated by election whims and the politics of vengeance that follow, GST will continue to be nothing more than a caricature of its initial promise. Conclusion: The big GST experiment in India is doomed to failure unless there is a significant change in the tenor and tone of Indian federal politics, supported by an extension of the income guarantee for the States for another five years. Q2. Why is Sponge City Technology important? (250 words) Paper & Topic: GS III – Environment related issues Model Answer: About a sponge city: A sponge city is made to improve a city’s capacity to take up and utilise the water that is shed onto it. Rainwater is absorbed by sponge cities, where the earth filters it biologically before it enters urban aquifers. This makes it possible to use wells to extract water from the ground in urban or peri-urban areas. Simply treated, this water is suitable for use in city water systems. In the built environment, this refers to continuous open green spaces, connected streams, channels, and ponds that can naturally hold and filter water. Examples of urban missions that can successfully provide support for urban ecosystems, biodiversity, and newer cultural and recreational opportunities include the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), and the Smart Cities Mission. The following should be dealt with as the mission’s top priority: Wetland policy: The shallow ends of most of our lakes, which regularly extended above the level of a full tank, have disappeared. Wetlands are the best way to describe these shallow ends. Regardless of ownership, land use on even the smallest scales needs to be restricted through development management. A strategy for managing watersheds and emergency drainage comes next. Both the policy and the legislation need to make this clear. The third is the outlawment of terrain modification. The city has been permanently and irreparably harmed by builders, property owners, and governmental organisations that levelled the terrain and altered drainage routes. Use of porous material: Thanks to the type of materials being used, not only are our cities growing more crowded, but they are also becoming more water resistant. In order to expand the city’s capacity to absorb water, new porous technologies and materials must be promoted or made widely necessary. These technologies include of bioswales and retention systems, permeable materials for roads and pavement, green roofs and rainwater harvesting systems in buildings, drainage systems that allow storm water to trickle into the ground, and permeable materials for roads and pavement. Conclusion: We can establish a relationship with nature, use the government to regulate behaviour, and strategically decide where to build. We must promptly rebuild our cities so that they can absorb and release water without causing the agony and harm that we have seen to the most defenceless parts of our society.

Q1. What are the reasons for urban water logging? What steps need to been taken in this regard? (250 words) Paper & Topic: GS III à Environmental Conservation Model Answer: Urban water logging causes include: Natural Causes: Heavy downpours, cyclonic storms, and thunderstorms are meteorological factors. Hydrological factors include overbank flow channel networks and high tides that obstruct coastal city drainage. Anthropogenic Causes: Unplanned urbanisation: This is the main factor contributing to urban flooding. Blocking of natural drainage channels by construction work and encroachment on catchment regions, riverbeds, and lakebeds are both serious issues. Urbanization has a number of significant hydrological implications, including: Increased water demand, which frequently exceeds natural resource availability; Increasing wastewater, harming the environment and fouling rivers and lakes In Indian cities, lake destruction is a significant problem. Lakes have the capacity to control water flow and store extra water. However, the risk of flooding has increased due to the contamination of natural urban water bodies and their conversion for construction purposes. Paving surfaces results in less infiltration because it enhances surface flow and minimises ground absorption. Decreased stream base flow, increased groundwater usage, and decreased groundwater recharge. Storm-water Drainage systems: These were created to handle 12 to 20 mm of rainfall. Given the increased rainfall in Indian metropolitan areas, these antiquated designs are no longer appropriate. Another element that makes cities in India susceptible to flooding is the outdated and poorly maintained drainage system. Encroachments: In many cities and towns, encroachments are a significant issue. Alongside rivers and watercourses, settlements began to expand into towns and cities. This has led to an increase in water flow that is proportional to the urbanisation of the watersheds. Flooding has occurred as a result of the natural drains’ declining capacity. From 644 wetlands in 1956, there are now only 123 in 2018. Extreme weather occurrences have been brought on by climate change, which is the result of numerous anthropogenic activities. Poor Solid Trash Management System: Dumping of construction debris into drains and the disposal of household, commercial, and industrial waste all considerably lower the capacity of these systems. The accumulation of non-biodegradable trash, silt in storm-water drains, improper waste management practises, and building debris are all serious issues. Reducing Seepage: Indian cities are growing more water-impervious due to increased building as well as the type of materials utilised (hard, a non-porous construction material that makes the soil impervious). Lax Implementation: Despite the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA(a )’s regulatory tool) inclusion of provisions for rainwater harvesting, sustainable urban drainage systems, etc., user uptake and enforcement remain poor. Absence of Community Participation: Flood control strategies developed without the impacted community’s input are unsustainable because they fall short of the requirements of important parties. Steps that must be taken include: Need for Comprehensive Engagement: The municipal authorities cannot contain urban floods of this magnitude by itself. Without coordinated and targeted investments of time, effort, and money, flooding cannot be controlled. Municipal corporations should collaborate on this task along with the Metropolitan Development Authorities, National Disaster Management Authority, State revenue and irrigation departments. Such investments can only be made in a mission-driven organisation with the active involvement of metropolitan-scale civil society organisations. Create Sponge Cities: A sponge city is designed to increase a city’s ability to absorb and use the water that falls upon it. Rainwater is absorbed by sponge cities, where it is organically filtered by the soil before entering metropolitan aquifers. This enables the use of urban or peri-urban wells to draw water from the earth. This water is simply treatable and suitable for use in city water systems. Stricter Wetland Regulations: Wetland management must be given more attention, and local communities must be included. Without a doubt, there needs to be stringent regulation of terrain modification and a moratorium on further changes to the landscape. New porous technologies and materials need to be promoted or required on a wide scale in order to increase the city’s capacity to absorb water. These technologies include green roofs and harvesting systems in buildings, bioswales and retention systems, permeable materials for roads and pavement, drainage systems that allow storm water to trickle into the earth, and permeable materials for roads and pavement. Q2. What are the duties of the Chief Minister according to Article 167 of the Indian Constitution? (250 words) Paper & Topic: GS III à Indian Constitution Model Answer: According to Article 164 of the Constitution, the governor is to nominate the Chief Minister. The chief minister of the state is chosen from among the members of the party with the most votes in the assembly elections. Powers and capabilities: Regarding the Council of Ministers: Only those individuals who are suggested by the Chief Minister are appointed as ministers by the governor. He divides up the ministers’ portfolios and rearranges them. Since the Chief Minister is in charge of the council of ministers, his resignation from office could result in its dissolution. Regarding the Governor: The Chief Minister serves as a liaison between the Governor and the state council of ministers in accordance with Article 167 of the Constitution. When it comes to choosing the chairman and members of the State Public Service Commission, the State Election Commission, etc., CM advises the Governor. Regarding the state legislature: He makes all of the policy announcements on the home’s floor. He advises the Governor to dissolve the legislative body. Other Purposes: He is the State Planning Board’s chairman. He serves by rotation as the vice-chairman of the relevant zonal council and is in office for a year at a time. He participates in both the Governing Council of NITI Aayog and the Inter-State Council, both of which are presided over by the prime minister. He serves as the state government’s principal spokesperson. In times of crisis, he serves as the top crisis manager at the political level. As the head of the state, he interacts with various groups of the populace and receives notes from them outlining their issues, concerns, and so forth.

Q1. Why Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose formed the Forward Bloc and the Indian National Army? (250 words) Paper & Topic: GS I à Modern History Model Answer: Subhash Chandra Bose was twice elected president of the Indian National Congress, the nation’s most significant political force demanding independence from the Raj or British authority (1938 in Haripur and 1939 in Tripur). Why he formed the Forward Bloc: He organised the All India Forward Bloc, a faction within the Congress, in Bengal after resigning from the position of Congress President in 1939 due to political differences. The goal was to strengthen Bengal, his native state, as a stronghold for the political left. Why he formed the Indian National A: Bose organised large-scale protests in Calcutta and was detained. From the place where he escaped, he was eventually placed under house arrest. He travelled from Afghanistan to Germany. Bose, however, gave up on Germany being able to aid in India’s freedom in 1943. He subsequently switched his attention to Asia, where he eventually took over command of the Indian National Army (INA). Bose established the Azad Hind government under the auspices of the INA, which received backing from Indians living abroad and went on to create its own currency, postage stamps, court system, and civil code. The Axis states recognised it. Bose’s reputation is still highly regarded in India, but in the West, he is mainly despised due to his cooperation with the Axis powers during World War II. Bose led the Indian National Army’s men into action against the British during the war’s final two years, with significant Japanese support. Q2. What are the benefits of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India? (250 words) Paper & Topic: GS III à Indian Economy Model Answer: A single tax known as the Products and Services Tax (GST) is applied to the delivery of goods and services from the point of manufacture to the final customer. GST creates a single indirect tax for the entire country, transforming India into a single shared market. It was introduced in 2017 through the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act. Benefits of Goods and Services Tax (GST): Simple compliance: The GST regime in India would be built on a solid and comprehensive IT infrastructure. All tax payer services, including registrations, returns, payments, etc., would therefore be accessible to taxpayers online, making compliance simple and open. Uniformity in tax schemes and rates: By ensuring that indirect tax rates and structures are uniform across the nation, GST will improve company certainty and efficiency. In other words, regardless of the location of a business, GST would make conducting business in the nation tax neutral. Elimination of cascading effect: To ensure that there is little tax cascading, a system of seamless tax credits that extends across the value chain and across State lines must be in place. This would lower unintentional business expenses. Leads to higher level of competition which is beneficial for the final consumers and the Indian Economy as well: The ability of trade and industry to compete would gradually increase with a reduction in transaction costs. The Goods and Service Tax (GST) and the elimination of interstate checkpoints, according to the World Bank, are the two most important reforms that could increase India’s manufacturing sector’s competitiveness. Gain for exporters and manufacturers: The cost of locally produced products and services would decrease with the inclusion of significant Central and State taxes in GST, complete and thorough set-off of input goods and services, and the gradual elimination of Central Sales Tax (CST). This would raise Indian exports and improve the competitiveness of Indian goods and services on the global market. The homogeneity of tax laws and procedures across the nation will also significantly lower the cost of compliance.

Q1. What is Production Linked Incentives Scheme? (250 words) Paper & Topic: GS II à Government Policies and Interventions Model Answer: About: Increased import substitution, employment creation, and indigenous manufacturing capability were all goals of the PLI programme. The budget for 2022–2023 included an additional allocation of Rs. 19,500 crore for PLI for solar PV modules in addition to the Rs. 1.97 lakh crore already given by the government under the PLI programmes for various businesses. The March 2020 launch of the initiative initially concentrated on three industries: manufacturing of medical devices, electrical components, and mobile and related components Rewards provided by the plan: The incentives, which are based on the rise in sales, can be as low as 1% for electronics and technology products and as high as 20% for the development of particular medication intermediaries and significant key starting medications. In other companies, such those producing sophisticated chemical cell batteries, textiles, and drones, the incentive to be paid will be based on sales, performance, and local value addition over a five-year period. For the following industries, the PLI Scheme has been made available: PLI programmes have been developed by the government for 14 businesses so far, including companies that are involved in drones, advanced chemical cell batteries, solar panels, white goods, telecom, electronics and IT hardware, metals and mining, communications, medicines, and solar modules. Objectives: The government established this scheme to reduce India’s reliance on China and other foreign countries. It fosters labor-intensive companies and works to increase India’s employment rate. This strategy tries to enhance indigenous production while reducing import costs. The PLI Yojana, on the other hand, invites foreign companies to open offices in India while simultaneously encouraging indigenous companies to expand the size of their production facilities. What challenges does the PLI Scheme encounter? No common set of parameters exists: A single set of measurements could not be used to comprehend the value addition by companies that have received or are anticipated to earn incentives under the PLI scheme. Currently, it is impossible to compare two distinct PLI schemes because various ministries each track the value addition of their respective programmes. The number of jobs generated, the rise in exports, and the improvement in quality cannot all be tracked in one centralised database. Targeting Businesses for Too Steep Incentives: Departments and ministries that collaborate with companies in their sector face particular challenges. For instance, the requirement for businesses to be eligible for incentives may occasionally be too high. Domestic companies rely on one or two supply chains: Only three to four of the fourteen companies that had been approved were able to achieve the incremental sales requirements up until the previous fiscal year in order to be eligible for the PLI scheme. Contrary to international organisations, the majority of local businesses relied on one or two supply chains that have been severely affected. As a result, many enterprises will be ineligible for the incentive despite having done nothing wrong. Q2. Why Inflation holds so much importance for an economy? (250 words) Paper & Topic: GS III à Indian Economy related issues Model Answer: What is Inflation: Inflation is the term used to describe an increase in the price of most commonplace or everyday products and services, such as food, clothing, housing, leisure, transportation, consumer staples, and so on. Inflation is the average annual increase or decrease in the cost of a certain basket of goods and services. Inflation is the term used to describe a decline in the purchasing power of a nation’s currency. Inflation is given a high significance in the UPSC IAS exam Economy Syllabus. The major and preliminary exams both frequently include this topic. The definition of inflation, various inflation measurement techniques, and inflation measurement in India are all covered in this article. How is inflation calculated? It’s simple to determine inflation by comparing current prices for products and services to those from the base year (target year of comparison). (For additional details on this topic, click here: Base Year) Assume that the price of a litre of milk right now is 50 rupees. A litre of milk cost us 40 rupees exactly one year ago. Here, the cost of a litre of milk has gone up by Rs. 10, so instead of buying a litre, Rs. 40 now only buys 800ml of milk annually. Aiming at Inflation Taregting: “Inflation targeting” is a central banking tactic that focuses on modifying monetary policy to reach a predetermined annual inflation rate. The fundamental tenet of inflation targeting is that maintaining price stability, which is attained by containing inflation, is the best strategy for fostering long-term economic growth. New Zealand was the first country to embrace inflation targeting, and since then, many nations, like India, have made it their primary tool for monetary policy. Measures to limit inflation: There are primarily two things that can cause inflation. Cost-push inflation and demand-pull inflation are the two types of inflation that affect the supply. Every demand-pull inflation control strategy focuses on reducing demand. This can be done by either restricting the money supply or taxing more to raise prices. Expanding supply to meet market demand and lowering prices by providing subsidies and technological know-how are the main goals of cost-push inflation control measures. There are three types of measures used to control inflation: monetary, fiscal, and administrative.

Q1. Discuss India China Border Disputes? (250 words) Paper & Topic: GS II à International Relations Model Answer: The India-China border dispute refers to the ongoing territorial conflict between China and India over the control of two very sizable and numerous smaller partitioned portions of land. India and China are separated by 3,488 kilometres. Regrettably, there are differences over the entire boundary. The border between the two countries is colloquially known as the McMahon Line in the region of Arunachal Pradesh after its creator, Sir Henry McMahon. It is known as the Line of Actual Control in the territory of Jammu and Kashmir (LAC). This article will quickly explore the border dispute between China and India. Overview of India and China’s Border Conflict: The shared border between China and India is approximately 3,488 kilometres long (second largest after Bangladesh). The majority of the Sino-Indian border is made up of the western, middle, and eastern sectors. Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh are the states that border China. The history of the China-India border dispute: Western Sector: They share a western border that stretches for 2152 kilometres. It is located midway between the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir and the Chinese province of Xinjiang. There is a territorial dispute in this region involving Aksai Chin. In 1962, a conflict between the two countries was caused by the Aksai Chin dispute. India asserts it is a part of Kashmir, while China maintains it is a part of Xinjiang. The Aksai Chin issue stems from the British Empire’s inability to draw a clear legal border between China and its Indian empire. While Britain still dominated India, two proposals for a border between that country and China were Johnson’s Line and McDonald Line. In contrast to the McDonald Line, which was proposed in 1893, the Johnson Line, which was proposed in 1865, placed Chinese authority over Aksai Chin in Jammu and Kashmir. While India sees the Johnson Line as the proper boundary with China, China sees the McDonald Line as the proper international border. Currently, the Indian states of Jammu & Kashmir and Aksai Chin are separated by the Line of Actual Control (LAC). It is comparable to the Chinese Aksai Chin claim line. Middle Sector: In this region, India and China share a border that runs 625 kilometres from Ladakh to Nepal. In this region, the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are close to Tibet’s border (China). The two parties don’t really disagree on anything in this area. The Southeast Sector: India and China are divided by a 1,140-kilometer border in this area. It stretches from Bhutan’s eastern border to a spot not far from the Talu Pass, which connects Tibet, India, and Myanmar. This line is known as the McMahon Line. Except where the Kemang, Subansiri, Dihang, and Lohit rivers cross it, the boundary was established along the Himalayan crest of that watershed. Following discussions between Indians and Tibetans, the British-Indian administration organised a tripartite meeting in 1913 to legally establish the border between India and Tibet. The boundary between India and Tibet was established as a result of a Convention. China asserts that the McMahon Line is illegal and unacceptable because Tibetan representatives who signed the 1914 Shimla Convention, which drew the line on a map, lacked the legal authority to do so. Johnson Line vs. McDonald Line: Even on the Johnson and McDonald lines, which separate the two countries’ borders, the two countries have maintained their different positions. The Johnson Line, a recognised border between India and Myanmar, designates Aksai Chin as Indian territory. The McDonald Line states that Aksai Chin is a part of Chinese territory. India-China War of 1962: The reason for the battle was the dispute over sovereignty between Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh. There were several reasons for this, but the main one was that China saw India as a threat to its authority over Tibet. Throughout the summer of 1962, India and China were involved in a number of battles and military encounters. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China attacked India on October 20, 1962, in Ladakh and in Arunachal Pradesh beyond the McMahon line. India made only a few preliminary preparations before the battle began because they were certain there wouldn’t be a war. On November 19, 1962, China unilaterally declared an end to the fighting after a month-long conflict. By that time, China had made substantial progress on both fronts. India experienced a significant setback and was soundly defeated. China now has control over the Aksai chin, which was its goal. With their men in the eastern sector, they fled north of the McMahon line. India and China have engaged in several border wars since the war, during which Chinese troops have crossed into India and Indian troops have infiltrated Chinese territory. However, the Indo-China border has remained relatively tranquil save from two severe battles in 1967, the first at Nathu La and the second at Cho La. Everything started when the PLA attacked Indian forces at Nathu La. The conflict in Cho La lasted five days even though it ended on the same day that it started at Nathu La. The 1967 battles are viewed as a triumph for India because of the more amicable conclusion that resulted from India’s ability to recapture the Chinese troops. Accord/Border dispute resolution efforts: A summit was held in Shimla in 1914 with representatives from Tibet, China, and British India to determine the border between that region and North East India. Following the negotiations, the agreement was signed by British India and Tibet, but not by Chinese officials. China currently contests both the Shimla pact and the McMahon line, claiming Tibet lacked the authority to sign treaties because it was not a sovereign state. According to the Shimla Convention, India recognises the McMahon Line as the physical border between India and China. According to the Panchsheel idea, all parties must “respect each other’s sovereignty and geographical integrity.” Although

Q1. Discuss the Presidential Electoral Process in India. (250 words) Paper & Topic: GS II à Indian Parliament Model Answer: To elect the president of India, representatives from the federal and state levels participate in an electoral college system. The elections are supervised and administered by the Indian Election Commission (EC). The electoral college is made up of the elected representatives of the State legislatures and the union territories, as well as the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha members of Parliament (MPs) (MLAs). Constitutional clauses pertaining to this: Article 54: Elected President Article 55: The method used to elect the president. Article 56: The President’s Powers Article 57 deals with eligibility for reelection. Article 58: Conditions for the Election of the President Procedure: The nomination process, which comes before voting, entails submitting a prospective candidate’s name together with a signed list of 50 proposers and 50 seconders. A proposer or a seconder can be any member of the electoral college at the state or federal level.   The rule for securing 50 proposers and seconders was implemented when the EC noticed, in 1974, that several candidates, many without even a bleak chance of winning, would file their nominations to contest the polls. The same elector cannot propose or second the nomination of more than one candidate. What is the value of each vote, and how is it calculated? The vote of each MP or MLA does not count as one vote. In the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, an MP’s vote has a set value of 700. Each MLA’s vote value changes from State to State in accordance with a formula that accounts for each State’s population in relation to the number of lawmakers in its legislative Assembly. The Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act of 2001 mandates that the population of the States be determined using information from the 1971 Census. This will change when the Census results from the one taken after 2026 are made public. The value of each MLA’s vote can be determined by multiplying the State’s population by the number of MLAs in its legislative Assembly, and then by 1000. For instance, Uttar Pradesh, with 208 votes per MLA, has the highest vote value. One MLA vote is worth 175 in Maharashtra but only eight in Arunachal Pradesh. What is required to guarantee victory? Instead of winning with a simple majority, a nominee is elected by amassing a certain number of votes. The electoral college’s paper ballots are totaled by the EC during the counting procedure, and a candidate must receive 50% of the total votes cast plus 1 in order to prevail. In contrast to general elections, where voters choose a candidate from just one party, electoral college electors rank candidates’ names on the ballot paper. According to the proportional representation system, one transferable vote and a secret ballot are used to elect the president. Q2. What is Impeachment Process and in what cases can President of India removed from office? (250 words) Paper & Topic: GS II à Indian Parliament Model Answer: Impeachment of the president is a constitutional remedy for serious offences against the political system. It is the initial step in a corrective process that may also lead to removal from public office and probable future ineligibility. Constitutional Position of the President: The President may be removed from office through an impeachment process for “violation of the constitution.” However, the Constitution does not specify what a “violation of the Constitution” is. Article 61 of the Indian Constitution describes the procedure for impeaching the president. President Impeachment laws in India: The impeachment allegations may be brought by either House of Parliament. These claims must be signed by one-fourth of the House members who are accused of framing them, and the President must be notified 14 days in advance. When the impeachment resolution has been accepted by a two-thirds majority of all members of that House, it is sent to the other House, which is entrusted with looking into the allegations. The President is entitled to appear during such an investigation and be represented. If the other House agrees with the charges and passes the impeachment resolution by a two-thirds majority of its members, the President is dismissed from office as of the day the resolution is passed. As a result, impeachment is a sort of judicial procedure in Parliament. The following two points should be kept in mind in this situation: elected members of state legislative assemblies and the union territories of Delhi and Puducherry may not participate in the impeachment of the President even though they participated in the election of the President even though they did not cast a ballot in that election.   Has any President been impeached in India so far? No Indian president has yet been removed from office. Conclusion: Instead than targeting particular individuals for punishment, impeachment works to protect constitutional government. Impeachment, a quasi-judicial procedure, begins with an inquiry requested by the opposition party and calls for a special majority of two-thirds of members present and voting in both chambers.

Q1. In biotechnology, new areas are opening up, and the utilisation of health data can help to improve preventive healthcare. Discuss how biotechnology will change our approach to human health in this context. (250 words) Paper & Topic: GS III à Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights. Model Answer: Introduction: Biotechnology is a type of technology that uses biological systems, living creatures, or components of them to generate or produce various goods. Biotechnology is the use of genetically modified microorganisms, fungi, plants, and animals to produce biopharmaceuticals and biologicals on a large scale. Therapeutics, diagnostics, genetically modified crops for agriculture, processed food, bioremediation, waste management, and energy production are all examples of biotechnology applications. Biotechnology would enable underdeveloped countries to achieve goals that they could never achieve on their own. Body: Biotechnology in India Scenario: India, the world’s 12th largest biotechnology economy and home to the second-highest number of US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA)-approved plants, is not only optimistic about its domestic prospects but also about the rebirth in the US. According to BioSpectrum, a widely read trade newspaper in India, the Indian bioeconomy increased to $4.3 billion at the end of the 2013 financial year, up from $530 million in 2003. Despite being focused in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, units are cropping up all throughout the country; there are already 350 enterprises in operation. The biopharmaceutical sector, which includes vaccines, medical devices, and stem cells, is the key driver of biotechnology growth in India, accounting for over 63 percent of total sales in 2013. Biotechnology’s Implications for Human Health: Medications: Recombinant DNA technology has had a significant impact in the field of medicine. Recombinant medicines do not cause undesired immunological responses as do similar products obtained from non-human sources, allowing for mass manufacture of safer and more effective therapeutic pharmaceuticals. Insulin that has been genetically modified Adult-onset diabetes can be controlled by taking insulin at regular intervals. Insulin is made up of two short polypeptide chains, chain A and chain B, connected by disulphide bridges. Insulin is synthesised as a prohormone in mammals, including humans. The pro-hormone, like a pro-enzyme, must be digested before it can mature into a fully mature and functional hormone) that has an additional stretch termed the C peptide. The C peptide is absent in mature insulin and is eliminated throughout the maturation process. The most difficult aspect of employing rDNA technology to produce insulin was getting it assembled into a mature form. Gene Therapy Is it possible to undergo corrective therapy for a genetic ailment if a person is born with it? This is what gene therapy is attempting to do. Gene therapy is a set of techniques for correcting a gene abnormality that has been identified in a child or embryo. To treat an illness, genes are injected into a person’s cells and tissues. When a genetic abnormality is corrected, a normal gene is delivered into the human or embryo to take over the function of the non-functional gene and compensate for it. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency treatment The immune system cannot operate without the adenosine deaminase enzyme. Adenosine deaminase deficiency is caused by the loss of the adenosine deaminase gene. Lymphocytes from the patient’s blood are cultivated in a culture outside the body as part of gene therapy. These cells are then inoculated with a functioning ADA cDNA (through a retroviral vector) and returned to the patient. However, such genetically altered lymphocytes must be infused into the patient on a regular basis. A lasting treatment could be achieved if a gene isolate from marrow cells that produces ADA is injected into cells at an early embryonic stage. Diagnosis at the molecular level Early diagnosis and understanding of a disease’s pathogenesis are critical for effective therapy. Early detection is impossible using traditional diagnostic approaches (serum and urine tests, for example: Recombinant DNA technology, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay are some of the tools that can help in early diagnosis (ELISA). A pathogen’s presence (bacteria, viruses, etc.) is usually suspected only after the infection has caused a clinical symptom. However, pathogen concentrations in the body are already very high. Amplification of a bacteria’s or virus’s nucleic acid by PCR can be used in molecular diagnosis to detect very low concentrations of bacteria or viruses. Obtaining an HIV diagnosis: In suspected AIDS patients, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is now regularly employed to detect HIV. It’s also being used to look for gene alterations in cancer patients. PCR is a strong tool for detecting a wide range of genetic diseases. In a clone of cells, a single stranded DNA or RNA tagged with a radioactive molecule (probe) is allowed to hybridise with its corresponding DNA. It is followed by autoradiography detection. Because the probe does not have complementarity with the mutant gene, the clone with the mutated gene will not appear on the photographic film. ELISA is based on the antigen-antibody interaction principle. The presence of antigens (proteins, glycoproteins, etc.) or antibodies synthesised against the pathogen can be used to detect pathogen infection. CRISPR technology is a simple yet effective method for genome editing. It enables scientists to readily change DNA sequences and gene function. CRISPR-Cas9 is a genome-editing mechanism that evolved spontaneously in bacteria. CRISPR arrays are DNA segments created by bacteria that catch fragments of DNA from invading viruses. Bacteria can recall viruses thanks to CRISPR arrays. If the viruses resurface, the bacteria will create RNA segments from the CRISPR arrays to assault the viruses’ DNA. It’s being studied for a number of diseases, including single-gene diseases like cystic fibrosis, haemophilia, and sickle cell disease. About stem cell therapy Medical experts believe that stem cell therapy has the potential to revolutionise human illness treatment. Adult stem cell therapies already exist, including bone marrow transplants for the treatment of leukaemia. It was a milestone when stem cell transplantation was first utilised to treat blood diseases. The stem cells

Q1. Examine the factors that harmed the social fabric of India after independence. What was the leadership’s response to these challenges?   Paper & Topic: GS I à Post Independence India Model Answer: Introduction: The end of colonial rule in India occurred on August 15, 1947, and the country found itself on the cusp of a new period in which the challenge was to construct a powerful nation. While India gained independence from the British, it still needed to gain independence from the social, economic, and political issues that had proven a stumbling block to its development. Body: THE ISSUES THAT AFFECTED INDIA’S SOCIAL FABRIC INTEGRITY POST-INDEPENDENCE: British Indian provincial boundaries have been set and changed haphazardly, with no regard for cultural and linguistic cohesiveness. The majority of provinces were bilingual and multicultural, and several former princely states were merged into them following independence. There was a demand for provinces that were linguistically similar. India had a population of almost 340 million people when it won independence. At the time, only roughly 41 million people were literate. The refugee crisis arose as a result of India’s partition. By mid-1948, over 5.5 million non-Muslims had entered India, while a substantial number of Muslims had fled to Pakistan. India’s poverty rate was around 80%, or around 250 million people, at the time of independence. Famines and starvation forced India to seek outside assistance to ensure its food security. The Naxalite Movement was a revolutionary movement in Bengal that was initiated by the Naxalbari, a Maoist-inspired organisation in Andhra Pradesh. The Andra Naxalites were primarily active in two states: Telangana and Srikakulam, which bordered Odisha. In both states, the issue of land and forest was a source of contention. The tribals and peasants were the principal casualties. The recession was exacerbated by the mid-70s oil crisis, and all of these events together resulted in riots, large-scale unrest, strikes, and a loss of support for the Congress among the poor and middle classes. Violence erupted between Hindus and Muslims. The government, both at the centre and at the state level, was crippled by ideological differences. The assassination of the Nirankari sect’s leader sparked the terrorist movement led by Bhindranwale and Amrik Singh. THE LEADERSHIP’S RESPONSE TO SOCIAL CHALLENGES POST-INDEPENDENCE: Article 370 of the Indian Constitution is adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly, granting Jammu and Kashmir unique status and internal autonomy. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru announces India’s first five-year plan, which establishes the Nehruvian paradigm of economic planning and development. The five-year plan, which is modelled after the Soviet model, also develops a model of mixed economy and big government that is typical to India. The States Reorganization Commission’s recommendations led to the reorganisation of India’s states in 1955. Because this was done based on the people’s native tongue, each state has some cultural cohesion. The government eliminated patrimonial feudalism and, as a result, the rajas’ secret purses and compensations were also abolished. People have migrated from villages to towns and cities as a result of education. Hindi and other national languages are receiving more attention. In all of India’s states, the policy of learning three languages at the school level has been implemented. The Community Development Programs (CDPs) were established on October 2, 1952, with the goal of improving the lives of rural people. The Panchayati Raj programme was implemented on October 2, 1959′′, originally in the states of Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, to overcome some of the difficulties in the implementation of these schemes. The development programmes were to be implemented by the chosen leaders of the rural people at three levels, namely the village, the block, and the district, in response to the ‘felt needs’ of the rural classes. Several programmes for the welfare of city dwellers and industry workers were implemented. The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 and the Hindu Succession Act of 1956 were passed by the Indian government. To discourage child labour, legislation was also enacted. Conclusion: It should be highlighted that the secularism and federalism concepts enshrined in Indian constitutional law are the cornerstones of Indian democracy. Indian democracy is a complex paradigm with a wide range of socioeconomic, religious, and cultural diversity. Western political analysts believed that the Indian democratic model would not last long. India’s strong devotion to constitutional ideals, on the other hand, allowed it to not only survive as a nation, but also to emerge as the leader of the newly independent countries. Q2. How did the state of Punjab become a hotbed of insurgency? What tactics were used to combat the insurgency? Discuss. Paper & Topic: GS I à Post Independence India Model Answer: Introduction: In the face of enormous diversity and forces pulling her in diverse directions, India emerged as a cohesive nation after independence. The Khalistan movement in the late twentieth century, which sought to carve out an independent state from what was then India and some portions of Pakistan with a large Sikh population, was one of the most powerful “self-determination” movements. Pakistan supported the Punjab insurgency both openly and secretly, while other factors such as Punjabi speakers feeling neglected, Sikhs desiring a separate state, and other issues such as the Satluj Yamuna Link and Chandigarh as Punjab’s sole capital created the groundwork. Body: Factors that contributed to the advent of insurgency in Punjab include: 1947 India’s partition – For Sikhs, India’s independence was not a happy occasion, and division left them bitter at the loss of their traditional lands to Pakistan. The Punjabi Suba Movement was the catalyst for the fight for a separate Sikh state. The Akali Dal, a political organisation dominated by Sikhs, aimed to establish a separate Sikh Suba or Province. The Akali Dal’s demand for separate states was denied by the States Reorganization Commission, which was established to investigate the demand for separate states by linguistic groupings. Down 1966, however, the Indira Gandhi administration gave in after a series of violent riots. The state was divided into Punjab, which is Punjabi-majority, Haryana, which is