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Model Answer

Introduction:

Mention the context of recent incidents:

New Delhi’s actions at Doklam;

its surgical strikes against Pakistan in 2016 after the Uri terror

attacks;

and the Balakot air strikes in the wake of Pulwama attacks

Are examples of a new found offensive and risk-taking foreign policy.

Give information about evolution of India’s foreign policy and its

features, criticism etc.

Following independence, India’s strategic outlook was shaped by

Jawaharlal Nehru, who viewed\ the West with skepticism and had a rosy

view of socialist ideals. This led to foreign policy that was built on three

key pillars:

Nonalignment in the international arena;

Preservation of autonomy in domestic affairs; and

Solidarity among developing nations, particularly those that had

recently gained Independence from colonial powers.

Five-point agreement or the Panchsheel between New Delhi and

Peking in 1954.

Body

Discuss about current changes in foreign policy:

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and an economic crisis at

home. India slowly opened its economy through careful economic

liberalization.

Three emerging shifts in the international order have played a key

role in catalyzing India’s rising stature in the international order:

terrorism, climate change, and the rise of China.

Counterbalancing China:

What has changed in Indian policy?

India’s newfound multi-alignment approach

Q1. There has been a debate about whether it can be really said

that India’s foreignpolicy is undergoing fundamental change.

Analyze.

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India has moved decisively from a P2 (US and China) mindset to a

P5+2 approach to position itself as a power that makes it its

business to do business with all, rather than keeping distance or

taking sides.

Warmth in Indo-US strategic ties:

The bilateral Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement: It

was signed with the United States in 2016 for facilitating logistical

support, supplies and services between the United States and Indian

militaries on a reimbursable basis and providing a framework to

govern such exchanges.

Signing of Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement

(COMCASA) in 2018 to facilitate access to advanced defense

systems and enable India to optimally utilize its existing U.S.-origin

platforms.

What has not changed in Indian policy?

India’s style of foreign policy has changed but the content

remains the same.

The current government is still following non-alignment, as it is

balancing between the United States and China.

It has changed the nomenclature from “Look East” to “Act

East,” but in practice India’s engagement with East and

Southeast Asia remains a continuation of the past. It may want

to be a big player on the global stage, but still it doesn’t have the

ability to project its aspirations adequately.

Current challenges for India’s foreign policy:

The Trump administration is challenging the fundamentals of

economic globalization and its trade and technology conflict

with China is escalating. A stable global economic order is

important for India’s global rise.

India-U.S. tensions with trade are bubbling.

India-U.S. strategic partnership is becoming stronger.

World is hurtling towards Chinese unipolarity; international

borders are becoming irrelevant as climate change and cyber

terror bypass them.

Way forward:

Building an institutional framework which can engage in long-term

strategic thinking more effectively than in the past as well as

strengthening the economic and military building blocks of India’s

comprehensive national power.

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Incorporating defence diplomacy in the overall diplomacy: It needs

improvement in coordination between the ministries of defence and

external affairs and the armed forces. Such coordination so far has been

ad hoc and inadequate.

The US-China trade war: India should devise strategies not only to

exploit the new opportunities but also to safeguard it against dangers.

Conclusion:

The success or failure of India’s foreign policy will be tested on issues

like- India being a global rule-maker or is it still a rule-taker, membership

of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) or the UN Security Council,

resolution of regional conflicts etc.

But what’s clear is that India has made a significant shift in favour of

multi-alignment, as opposed to an equidistant, non-aligned posture.

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).

Model Answer

Intro

'Green' crackers have a small shell size compared to

traditional crackers. They are produced using less harmful

raw materials and have additives which reduce emissions by

suppressing dust.

Green crackers don't contain banned chemicals such as

lithium, arsenic, barium and lead. They are called Safe Water

Releaser (SWAS), Safe Thermite Cracker (STAR) and Safe

Minimal Aluminum (SAFAL) crackers. Green crackers

release water vapour and don't allow the dust particles to rise.

They are designed to have 30% less particulate matter

pollution.

QR codes on green cracker packages will help consumers

scan and identify counterfeits.

Why they are introduced- Such 'green' crackers were researched

and developed by scientists at CSIR-NEERI as per the court's

directions. They are introduced because of increasing pollution in

Delhi and neighboring states during Diwali festival. The burning of

traditional crackers causes more pollution in the capital and NCR.

(Barium used as an oxidizer and to emit green light, is a crucial

component of crackers. Due to its low prices and ready

availability, it is used across a range of products, including ladi,

anaar and chakkars. A ban on barium indirectly meant a ban on nearly

three-fourths of the crackers produced.

Q2. Supreme Court mandated their use, the government

launched ‘green crackers’ as a low-pollutant alternative.

Regulators call it a 'myth'. Expand (15 Marks)

Approach

Intro: What are green crackers? Why they are introduced. Explain

this term “myth” in the given context

Body: Discuss the ban of Supreme Court and its impact

Conclusion: Provide positive solution

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Body

Hence, in 2016, the top court banned the sale of firecrackers in

Delhi to control air pollution. Other rules of Supreme Court:-

Last year, the court issued three country-wide guidelines to

enforce a systemic change: There would be no sale, use or

manufacture of joined crackers (ladis), no online sale of

fireworks, and no use of barium—one of the main pollutants

in a cracker—in the manufacturing process.

In an attempt to control air pollution, the Supreme Court bans

crackers using barium, which accounted for nearly 75% of

crackers sold. The ruling allows the use of only “green

crackers" across the country. The National Environmental

Engineering Research Institute (Neeri), part of the

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CISR), was

later tasked with facilitating their development. The

Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO),

under the Union commerce ministry, was told to test the

efficacy of the final product before it received the SC’s

approval.

NEERI proposed two formulae for green crackers. The

“new" formula eliminated barium nitrate in some

products of light and sound category. The “improved"

formula, developed jointly with fireworks manufacturers,

used reduced amounts of barium nitrate along with

additives to be approved by the Petroleum and Explosives

Safety Organization’s (PESO’s).

Impact of the SC ban

POSITIVE- It has led to reduction in the environmental pollution.

This will lead decline in the mortality rate due to air pollution

NEGATIVE-

1. Loss of employment- It has created lots of unemployment at

the national level. For instance- In Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu

nearly 4,000-5,000 people surrounded the sub-collector’s

office due to loss of livelihood.

2. Migration- Due to unemployment, it leads to migration of

people to Delhi, Kerala in order to search of livelihood.

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3. QR codes- All the crackers don’t have QR codes on green

crackers packages. Hence consumers will not be able to

identify.

4. Time Consuming- It would take between 5-10 years for the

rules to be gazette.

5. NEERI- Only provided the formulae for three varieties of

crackers to the manufactures out of 800 without the approval

of PESO.

WAY FORWARD

1. Ministry of Science and Technology holds a press

conference inaugurating the first ever batch of “green

crackers" using NEERI’s formula.

2. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has joined the

fight against the use of firecrackers this Diwali. The

Central agency has been urging people not to burn

firecrackers, in its Clear Air Campaign ahead of the festive

season.

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Model Answer

Intro:

Sangam period is the period of history of ancient Tamil Nadu and

Kerala (known as Tamilakam) spanning from c. 6th century BCE to

c. 1st century CE.It is named after the famous Sangam academies of

poets and scholars centered in the city of Madurai.

Three Sangams held between 100-250AD

I. First sangam: attended by Gods and Sages

II. Second: only Tolkappiyam (grammar book) survives.

III. Third (last) Sangam: has eight anthologies (Ettutogai).

Body

Sangam literature: Comprises some of the oldest extant

Tamil literature and deals with Love, wars, governance, Trade and

bereavement. It comprises of

Oldest surviving Tamil grammar (Tolkappiyam),

The Ettuttokai anthology (the "Eight Collections"),

The Pattuppattu anthology (the "Ten Songs").

3.Sangam literature is about tamil grammer but it provides

information on the socio-economic conditions of the Sangam

period. Discuss.

Approach

Intro: Write about sangam period in brief.

Body:

Mention Tamil literatures of sangam age and their classifications.

Write about socio– economic and political conditions.

Conclusion:

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Social condition during sangam age:

Culture: South Indian society celebrated both love

(Akam poems) and wars (Puram poems) and Heroic death,

sacrifice, stones and memorials greatly cherished.

Gender issues: Women were allowed to choose their partners,

Love marriages were common practice. Life of Widows were

miserable and sati practice was also prevalent in upper caste.

Social life: Society was divided on clan based groups called

“Kuti”.

1. Inter-dining and social interaction among Kuti groups was

permitted.

2. Meaning a stringent 4-fold stratification and Jati system

of North Indian type, was not prevalent during that stage of

Tamil Society, but appeared at later period.

3. Society essentially in tribal-pastoral in character: Tribal

customs, totem worship prevalent. People wore amulets to

ward off evil, bring rain and luck.

Economic conditions during sangam age:

Trade practices:

Both inland and external trade was practiced.

Major export: silk, cotton, ivory, pepper and pearls- All

highly valued by the foreigner. Sangam Poems narrate about

how Yavans came in their own vessels, purchased pepper

with gold, and supplied wine and women to Indian rulers to

get trading permissions.

(Despite having no formal taxation system) Chola, Chera

and Pandiyan kingdoms became wealthy mainly by

exporting these commodities to Roman Empire and South

East Asian kingdoms.

Wars and raids :

All three kingdoms (Chola, Chera, and Pandya) wanted to

subjugate lesser chieftains, hence war, raid and plunder were

normal feature of the society- leading to destruction of

resources and manpower. We can infer this from Sangam

poems describing the sorrow of villagers, whose cattle and

farm produced were plundered by enemy chieftains.

Occupation:

Agri, hunting, gathering, fishing and pastoralism = main

activities

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Cattle raids are frequently mentioned in the poems= pastoral

economy.

Tools were mainly used for hunting and raids. But Crafting

specialization was rudimentary, only served as secondary

source of income.

Traders were prosperous- dealt with salt, corn, textile and

gold.

Conclusion:

Sangam literature is one of the main sources used for documenting the

early history of the ancient Tamil country. The ancient Sangam poems

mention numerous kings and princes, the existence of some of whom have

been confirmed through archaeological evidence. Sangam literature is still

the main source for the early Cholas, the Pandyas and the Cheras.

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Model Answer

Intro

For a litigant to get judgment it takes around two-and-a-half

years. But only 41 per cent of this time, or 36 weeks, was

spent in court functioning.

The remaining period was spent in awaiting

orders/instructions from the high court and adjournments for

absence of judges.

More than two lakh cases are lying in courts for 25

years, while over 1,000 cases have not been disposed of

even after five decades.

Supreme Court has ruled out that the right to speedy

trial in all criminal prosecutions is an inalienable right

under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Body

What are the reasons for delay?

The government is the biggest litigant.

Judges’ vacancies

Problems with the Supreme Court

Poor funding on judiciary

Low judicial quality in lower courts

Q4.The burgeoning burden of pending cases that weighs down

the judiciary is not because of its lumbering judicial processes

alone, as it is often made out. Critically examine. (15 Marks)

Approach

Intro: Give brief info about the problem of pendency of cases.

Body: Explain various causes behind the problem apart from

sluggish judicial process. Compare their effect with the slow

judicial process.

Conclusion: Give a concluding along with suggestions for

resolving the issue.

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Archaic Laws or Vague Drafting of Laws

Too many holidays

Poor implementation of electronic solutions

Ignoring Court managers

Conclusion:

The burden of pending cases that weighs down the judiciary is

because of many structural and functional issues.

Way forward:

Filling vacancies:

The Economic Survey states that in the district courts

only 2,279 vacancies need to be filled up to achieve

100 per cent clearance rate and 2,580 posts can be left

vacant.

Technological interventions

Ensure that cases are listed before judges in a

scientific manner and take into consideration certain

parameters, such as the age of the case, the subject

matter, the number of days between each hearing, and

the timeline within which it has to be disposed

More funding:

This situation demands a massive infusion of both

manpower and resources.

Improving case management

Judgment writing is an art and it must be developed by the

adjudicating authorities.

Monitor the progress of cases based on urgency and the type

of case

Time limits to dispose certain types of cases

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Model Answer

Intro

Intro:

A study commissioned by PM Council noted that in an indication of

shrinking options informal employment and stalled labour reforms,

it’s the organised sector in India that has begun to increasingly non-

contractual employment between 2012 and 2018.

The study commissioned by the Economic Advisory Council to the

Prime Minister on “Emerging Employment Patterns of 21st

Century India”,

Major findings of the study

The study found that it is the organized sector in India that has

begun to increasingly non-contractual employment between 2012

and 2018.

Q5. A study on “Emerging Employment patterns of the 21st century

in India found that it is the organized sector in India which has begun

to increasingly non-contractual employment between 2012 and 2018.

What is “Non-Contractual Employment? Discuss the reasons for

rising “Non-Contractual Employment’. (15 marks)

Approach

Intro:

o Introduce the major key findings of the “Emerging

Employment patterns of the 21st century in India.

Body:

o Define “Non-Contractual Employment

o Then, discuss the reasons for Rising “Non-

Contractual Employment’.

Conclusion:

o Provide a balanced conclusion

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o Since 2012, the Organised sector employed 2.44 crore on

non-contractual terms and 2.65 crore on contractual terms.

o In 2018, however, the respective numbers were 3.61 crore and

2.80 crore.

The study also found that since 2004, the rate of population

growth has been almost twice the rate of growth in jobs.

(Archive)

The study finds that not only the rate of employment growth over

this period is far slower than the rate of population growth (1.7

per cent), most of the employment generated is of casual nature.

Body

Non-Contractual Employment’ is a type of employment under

which employers not only pays less money for the same amount of

work but also provides little by way of security of job or work

conditions.

Reasons for Rising “Non-Contractual Employment’:

For long, the economy’s growth and its ability to create jobs have

been victims of inflexible labour laws that make it difficult for firms

to hire and fire contingent on economic conditions.

The reason for the rising “Non-Contractual Employment’ are

as follow

Structural hurdles: The structural hurdle reflected in most of

the employment being restricted to the unorganised sector and on

non-contractual terms.

The inflexibility of the Indian Labour Law: One obvious

explanation for businesses preferring casual labour over formal

contracts is the inflexibility of Indian labour laws.

Stringent Labour Law: Stringent labour laws not only make it

difficult to hire and fire employees depending on the economic

situation but also make it costly.

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Conclusion

In order to get rid of the issue of Non-Contractual Employment, the

Indian government must deploy proper machinery for the proper

implementation and monitoring of the several labour laws.

The government of India has adopted a multi-prolonged approach to

ensure access to achieving quality employment regarding wages,

social security, to all with a special focus on the poor and the weaker

sections of the society.

The approach of the government has been at striking the desired

balance between quantitative and qualitative dimensions of

employment so that employment emerges as a key catalyst for

achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030.

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